The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-12-24
Hue and cry After Christmas.

Hue and Cry After Christmas.
A man might then behold
At Christmas. in each hall.
Good fires to curb the cold.
And meat for great and small.
The neighborS were friendly Dldden,
And all had welcome true.
The DOOR from the gates We're not
chidden,
When this old cap was new.
Old Song.
There is nothing in England that
exercises a more delightful spell over
nv IMAGINATION that the fingerlngS OF
the holiday customs and rural games
of former times. They recall the pic
lures my fancy used to draw IN the
May morning of life. when as yet
/ only knew the world through DOCKS
and believed it to be all that poets
painted it, and they bring with them
the flavor of those honest days or
yore i'm which. perhaps with edual
fallacy, / am apt to think the world
was more homebred. social. ana JOY
Gus than at present. l regret 10 say
that they are daily growing more and
more faint. being gradually worn away
by time. but still more obliterated
by modern fashion. They resemble
those picturesque mofselS or Gothle
architecture, which we see crumDllnA
invarious parts of the country, parity
dilapidated by the waste of age. and
partly lost in the additions and altera-
tions of latter days. Poetry. however,
clings with cherishing fondnesS about
the rural game and holiday revel, from
which it has derived SO many of its
themes-as the ivy winds it rich foil
age about the Gothic arch and moulder
ing tower. gratefully repaying their
support, by clasping together their
f0ff. .ir1rr inc mr.
embalming them in verdure.
OF all the old festivals. however
that of Christmas awakenS the strong
est and most heartfelt associations
There is a tone of solemn and sacred
feeling that blends with our conviv-
iality. and lifts the spirit to state
of hallowed and elevated enjoyment.
The services of the church about this
season are extremely tender and in
spring: they dwell on the beautiful
story of the origin of our faith. and
the pastoral scenes that accompanied
it's announcement; they gradually IN
crease in fervor and pathOS during the
season of Advent until they break
forth in full jubilee on the morning
that brought peace and good Will TO
men. / do not know grander eff
IecL of music on the moral feelings
than to hear the full choir and the
pealing organ performing a Christmas
cry part of the vast pile with triumph-
ant harmony.
1t is a beautiful arrangement. also.
derived from days of yore. that this
festival. which commentaries the an
nouncement of the religion of peace
and love. has been made the season
Tor gathering together of family con-
nectOnS. and drawing closer again
those bands of kindred hearts, which
the cares and pleasures and SORROWS
of the world are continually operat-
ing to cast loose; of calling back the
children of a family. once more to
assemble about the paternal hearth,
that rallying-place of the affections,
there to grow young and loving again
among the endearing mementoes Of
childhood
There is something in the very seas
on of the year, that gives a charm to
the festivity of Christmas. AT other
times, we derive a great portion of
our pleasures from the mere beauties
of Nature. Our feelings sally forth
and dissioate themselves over the
snuuy landscape, and we live abroad
and everywhere" The song of the
bird, the murmur of the stream, the
breathing fragrance of spring, the
soft VoluptuOusness of summer, the
golden pomp of autumn; earth with
it's mantle of refreshing green, and
heaven with its deep, delicious blue
and its cloudy magnificence,-all fill
US with mute but exquisite delight,
and we revel in the luxury of mere
sensation. But in the depth of winter,
when Nature lies despoiled of every
charm, and wrapped in her shroud of
sheeted snow. we turn for our gratifi-
cations to moral sources. The dreari-
ness and desolation of the landscape,
the short gloomy days and darksome
nights. while they circumscribe our
wanderings, shut in our feelings al
so from rambling abroad, and make
US more keenly disposed for the pleas
ures of the socialcircle. Our thoughts
are more concentrated; our friendly
sympathes more aroused. We feel
more sensibly the charm of each 9TH
ers society, and are brought more
closely together by dependence on
each other for enjoyment Heart
calleth unto heart, and we draw our
pleasures from the deep wells of liv-
ing kindness which lie in the quiet
recesses of our bosoms; and which,
when risorted to. furnish forth the
pure element of domestic felicity.
The pitchy gloom without makes
the heart dilate on entering the room
filled with the glow and warmth of
the evening fire. The rudy blaze diff
fuses an artificial summer and sun
shine through the room, and lights
up each countenance into a kindlier
welcome. Where does the honest face
of hospitality expand into broader
and more cordial smile-where is the
shy glance of love more sweetly elo-
quent-than by the winter fireside?
and as the hollow blast of wintry
wind rushes through the hall, claps
the distant door, whistles about the
easement, and rumbles down the
chimney. what can be more grateful
than that feeling of sober and she'-
tered security. with which we look
round upon the comfortable cham
ber and the scene of domestic hill
arity?
The English, from the great preva-
lence of rural habits throughout ev-
cry class of society, have always been
fond of those festivals and holidays
which agreeably interrupt the stiffness
oc country life; and they were in for.
mer days particularly observant of
the religious and social rights Of
Christmas. 1t is inspiring to read ev-
en- the dry details which some az
tiquar.es have given of the quaint
humors, the buriesque pageants, the
complete abandonment to mirth AID