The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1897-12-30

and whispering m heF babg eA' rs Slif
I points 10 the little s3bots upon the
I hearth The woman's racial peculiarlt-
les are unmistakable, the child Is Bre-
ton child, the fire IS fed by the boughs
OF some old trees OF Brittany; get she is
saying what he American mother says
as her lutle 10y cuddles down into her
lap FOR Christmas talk, and the BABY
dreams The dreams which enchant his
far-aWIy American brother
/ II is the same thing down in the
dark. Impoverished quarters OF the
"east side" as In the stately house
where the great tree stands in the hall,
reaching 10 The farthest height OF the
clerestory. The gladness is relative, but
It is as true whore the grimy father and
work-worn mother make themselves
clean and bid the children tidy them
selves before they light the christmas
candle" as where. with hardly re-
strained feet, the young heirs and heir
esses march TO splendid music into the
dazzling light of tree which has never
been equalled elsewhere in our country
Mr. JanYier in his Kalends of Pro-
Venice brings out with all the graphic
beauty Of his pOet-pen and att the de-
tail OF his artlst-eyes the reign Of this
necronacy among the genial Proven
calls, and shows us how gods and demi-
gods and many heather rite and ira
dition have been bent to the uses OF the
feast and blossomed out with marvel
lous transformation. Everywhere II is
the feast of innocence. Perhaps for this
cause things unseen become Visible TO
It's, and that witch we cannot hear at
other times Is plainly audible, ut was
the little Joachim whose right II was
because he was the youngest and the
purest to carry the waxen image OF
the infant Christ TO lay tn the man
ger-bed OF the ProvencaI oreche. l
must venture to quote at length one
beautifully suggestive paragraph In
connection with this little child:
Formal procession was made. He
walked at its head, a little chap with
long, curling, golden hair, between his
two grandfathers; the rest followed In
the order of their age and rank; his
two grandfathers. his father and
mother, Monsieur Auguste with the
maid-servant, and the apprentices last
OF all 4 single candle was carried By
one OF his grandfathers into the dark
room-the illumination of which that
night could onl, come from the new fire
kindled before the creche Precisely at
midnight at the moment when all the
clocks OF AK striking together let loose
the Christmas chimes, the child laid the
holy figure In the manger and then the
candles Instantly were abla2e." Child
heart childfaith, child-festival. ruled
b. The sAlnv spirit the world over!
"ncp morning md the disilluslon-
ing sun InaH. Christmas day! we
put up our worldvisors again, we
dream no dreams, our realities are again
hard and defined The day is the day
OF days, but 1t Is ''op the midnight
clear" tat vlaoTR come. Thea was
once a little church, far from beautiful
and married by many u stain, to which
rural congregation went TO worship at
the first hour OF the day for many years.
Usually Its walls We're not only bare
but dfsfgured; on Christmas they were
enriched with abundant greenery. Com
ing from the frosty air, the warm odor
or spicy pine ana fir greeted the senses
at the threshold Arches OF green made
by patient hands formed a rustic rood
screen; reen-covered stands held hlaz-
ing candles; the holly berries glowed.
and the whole place was eloquent Of
Christmas. The music was not for ar
lists ears, but the people sang joyfully
and were aglow with enthusiasm; there
was neither pomp. nor wealth. nor one
element which was not possible any
where among any people whose hearts
desired such a beginning OF the day.
Hands met hands, Indifferent men were
changed TO genial friends. and standing
at the doorstep Of such hearty, cheerful
greeting and congratulation stirred the
winter frost as warmed the earth.
I,n oh nd rNI,Ia urnh-
itecture and fitting accompaniment OF
music and ritual are found where It
once stood. Christmas is honored with
solemn and impressive service within
its high walls, but the tender intimacy
Of the evening vigil Is no longer there,
nor do the people clasp each others
hands al the hour when we are told the
angels wakened the sleeping shepherds
with their song OF glad tidngs to them
land all mankind"
have claimed that the charm OF
Christmas eve was never wanting to
either heart or home whose doof stood
open to It's spirit, and that It's dear in
huences we're impartially bestowed
wherever room was made for Its en-
trance. but ] confess l believe 1t has
enduring prefernces, There are things
needed to evoke it's highest power. 1t
loves best to be where there are chill
dren: 1t shines brightest and discloses
most where the meaning Of the feast Is
not ovefshadowed by material express
sion: It tells Its best secrets where tina.
love IL found which promotes the broth
erhood of man, and its grants its high
est endowments often to hearts that for
get their own griefs to gladden. the lives
Of others.
This year we should surely find 1t
dwelling In the bare room where the
broken fr-bough hangs. dressed with
It's poor bit OF pink cord. If We could
but leave there something in the name
of the Master Of the Feast. surely we
would see more clearly and feel more
deeply than elsewhere.