The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1902-01-24

tMaElffh ANN more ANFlhLIaNh, Iney /
seemed % thrive on persecution. an
hence It was said that "the blood Of |
the martyrs is the seed Of the chursh."
Just think how much we have to be |
thankful for in this age and in this
land OF religious liberty. No martyrs,
no prosecutions. no lnqulsitIon. but ev.
cry man and woman can worship God
according to their own conscience,
with none TO modest or make them
afraid. The turrets and spires OF beau.
tiful churches adorn our land in every
city. town and village, and are a silent
guarantee Of good will and protection
to every stranger that comes.
But Christmas has had no good time
In coming down to us through the ages.
In some countries It was made a frolic
"a bacchanalian reyel. The gay and
the dlsEipated danced to the music Of
silly and profane carols and desecrated
the day with wine and lrreverent song.
This reservation got to be so universe
and 80 shameful that many good Chris
tians ceased to celebrate 1t. TIE Puri
tans refused 70 observe II and so did
the people Of Scotland. The Scotch do
not observe It now. Well, It is a desc.
Grafton even here, for It Is made day
OF thoughtless feasting and frolic In.
stead Of a day Of thankfulness. Christ
mas trees and gifts to the children are
very proper and gifts to the poor are
especially so, but all the day long oul
gratitude to God for His goodness
should be uppermost in the minds Of
all intelligent people, The children,
Of course, we must humor to their in
nocent faith in Santa Claus and his
reindeer, for he is supposed to be
treat and good old man who loves
them and Is wonderfully rich. His
Russian name is st. Nicholas and his
Dutch name is Kriss Kringle, and for
fifteen hundred years he has. beer
known as the patron saint Of all gooa
children. He is no myth, but was a
Yeritable bishop in his day, and was
not only devoted to little children, but
took pleasure in helping young men
and maidens mate and marry. The
mistletoe feature of Christmas came
down from him, 1t is said, and If a
young man and maiden will Dnght
their troth, that is, become engaged on
Christmas day while standing under a
mistletoe bough, they will never for.
sake their loves nor be divorced.
This is enough for me to write about
Christmas. The books have many
pretty stories and poems about this
ever memorable day. The most beauti-
full and impressive Of them all is the
one written by Clement c. Moore, be-
ginning "'Twas the night before
Christmas" The next best is by a
Virginia lady, Kate Festigls." Her
maiden name was Nicely, but she, for
some reason, snapped 1t off for some
outlandish. jaw-breaking name that
don't understand. Her poem is an ex
quisite gem. The last verse says:
LET none unchristmassed go.
Let none from any door
Unwarmed, unfed. taS3
No kind word said
Helpless be turned away
For thine own sake we pray"
That is the best part of Christmas
making others happy-and If l was &
law-maker l would make the whole
week holiday and give good dinner
to the poor and even to the prisoners
in jail And nobody should dun any
body or write dunning letter to dis
turb his tranquility. l received ont
this morning. The clans have begun
to gather at the family mansion anC
the maternal ancestor is happy, anC
trips her light fantastic toes all ovel
the house. 1t does not cost anything
to run Christmas at our house, for tn,
children bring their rations with them
and one of the far-away boys writes
Hire another servant or two at my ex
pense l don't want daddy to have t,
bring in wood and coal any more, an,
want a Sunday dinner every day Ii
the week. Bill Arp, in Atlanta Con
stitution.
Arrangements have been completed