The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, December 13, 1912, Image 1
a 3 to 70111 YKAH NO. 01). SUIMMiKMKXT TO THE CITIZEN, KKIDAV, DKCKMIIKK 1SJ, 1012. A .MKKItV XMA8 TO A LI (Lbristmas l'Vom WASHINGTON' IKVING. Localized . bv- c. a. Mccarty. POETHY clings with cherishing game and holiday revel, from which it has derived so many of Its themes as the ivy winds Its ricli foliage about ahe Gothic arch and fondness about the rural mouldering tower, grate fully repaying their support, by clasping together their tottering re mains, and, as it were, embalming them in verdure. Of all the old festivals, however, that of Christmas awakens the strongest and most lieartfelt associa tions. There is a tone of solemn and sacred feeling that blends with our conviviality, and lifts the spirit to a state of hallowed and elevated enjoyment The services of the church about this season are ex tremely tender and inspiring; they dwell on the beautiful story of the origin of our faith, and the pas toral scenes that accompanied its an nouncement; they gradually Increase In fervor and pathos during the sea son of Advent, until they break forth In full jubilee on the morning that brought peace and good-will to men. I do not know a grander ef fect of music on the moral feelings than to hear the full choir and the pealing organ performing a Christ inas anthem in a cathedral, and fill ing every part of the vast pile with triumphant harmony. It is a beautiful arrangement, also, derived from days of yore, that this festival, which commemorates the announcement of the 'religion of peace and love, has been made,the reason for gathering together of family connections, .and drawing closer again those bands of kindred hearts, which the cares and pleas ures and sorrows of the world are continually operating to cast loose; of calling back the children of a family, who have launched forth In life, and wandered widely asunder, once more to assemble about the paternal hearth, that rallylng-place of the affections, there to grow young and loving again among the endearing mementos of childhood. There Is something In the very season of the year, that gives a charm to tho festivity of Christmas. At other times, we derive a great portion of our -pleasures from the mere beauties of Nature. Our feel ings sally forth and dissipate them selves over the sunny landscape, and wo " live abroad and everywhere." The song of the bird, the murmur of the stream, tho breathing frag rance of spring, the soft voluptuous ness of summer, the golden pomp of autumn; earth with Its mantle of re freshing green, and heaven with its deep delicious blue and its cloudy magnificence all fill ue with mute exquisite delight, and we revel in the luxury of mere sensation. But In tho depth of winter, when Nature lies despoiled of every charm, and wrapped In her shroud of eheeted snow, wo turn for our gratifications to moral sources. Tho dreariness and desolation of the landscape, the Bhort gloomy days and darksome nights, while they circumscribe our wanderings, shut in our feelings also from rambling abroad, and make us more keenly disposed for the pleas ures of tho social circle. Our thoughts are more concentrated; our friendly sympathies more aroused. We feel more sensibly tho charm of each other's society, and are brought more closely together by dependence on each other for enjoyment. Heart calloth unto heart, and wo draw our pleasures from the deep wells of living-kindness which lie in tho quiet recesses of our bosom; and which, when resorted to, furnish forth the pure element of domestic felicity. Tho pitchy gloom without makes the heart dilate on entering tho room filled with tho glow and warmth of tho evening fire. The Tilflilv hlflTn HlffifRna nn nrtlflplnl cum. - ....... . ... . mer and sunshlno through the room, and lights up each countenance into a kindlier -welcome. Where does the honest face of hospitality expand into a broader and more cordial emllo whero is tho shy glance of love more sweetly eloquent than by the winter fireside? and as the hollow blast of wintry wind rushes through the hall claps tho distant door, whistles about tho casement, and rumbles down tho chimney, what can bo more grateful than that leellng of sober and sheltered se curity, with which wo look round upon tho comfortablo chamber, and tho scenes of domestic hilarity; Tho English, from tho great pro valence of rural habits throughout every class of society, have always been fond of those festivals and uoi idays which agreeably Interrupt tho stillness of country lire: and they were In former days particularly ob servant of -the religious and social rights of Christmas. It Is inspiring to read oven tho dry details which W Christmas Number, Nineteen Hundred and Twelve. some antiquaries have given to the quaint humors, tho burlesque page ants, the complete abandonment to mirth and good fellowship wltb which this festival was celebrated It seemed ito throw open every door, and unlock every heart. It brought tho peasant and tho peer together, and blended all ranks In one warm generous flow of Joy and kindness. Tho old hall of castles and manor houses resounded with the harp and the Christmas carol, and their amplo boards groaned under tho weight of hospitality. Even the poorest cot tage welcomed tho festive season with green decorations by bay and holly, tho cheerful flro glanced its rays through the lattice. Inviting tho passengers to raise tho latch, and join the gossip knot huddled round the hearth, beguiling the long even ing with legendary Jokes, and oft told Christmas talcs. Ono of tho least pleasing effects of modern refinement Is tho havoc it has made among the hearty old holiday customs. It has completely taken off the sharp touchlngs and spirited reliefs of these embellish ments of life, and has worn down society into a more smooth and pol ished, hut certainly a less character istic surface. Many of the games and ceremonials of Christmas have entirely disappeared, and, like the sherds sack of old Kalstaff, are be come matters of speculation and dispute among commentators. They flourished in times full of spirit and lustihood, when men enjoyed life roughly, hut heartily and vigorous ly; times wild and picturesque, which have furnished poetry with its richest materials, and the drama with Its most attractive vari ety of characters and manners. Tho world has become more worldly. Thero Is more dissipation and less of enjoyment. Pleasure has expanded into a broader, but a shallower stream, and has forsaken many of those deep and quiet chan nels, where It llowed sweetly through tho calm bosom of domestic life. Society has acquired a more en lightened and elegant tone; but it has lost many of its strong, local peculiarities, Its homebred feelings, its honest fireside delights. Tho traditionary customs of golden hearted antiquity, its feudal hospi talities, and lordly wassailings, have passed away with the baronial cas tles and stately manor-houses In which they were celebrated. They comported with tho shadowy hall, the great oaken gallery, and tho tapestried parlor, but are unfitted to the light showy saloons and gay dre.wlng-rooms of the modern .villa. Shorn, howover.u&sx'itifff. o kilts ancient and mas is still a period of delightful excitement in England. It 1s grati fying to see that home feeling com pletely aroused which holds so pow erful a place in every English bo som. The preparations making on every side for the social board that is again to unite friends and kind red, the presents of good cheer pass ing and repassing, those tokens of regard and quickeners of kind feel ings, the evergreens distributed about houses and churches, emblems of peace and gladness, all these have the most pleasing effect In produc ing fond associations, and kindling benevolent sympathies. Even the sound of the waifs, rude as may ho their minstrelsy, breaks upon tho midwatches of a winter night with the effect of perfect harmony. As I havo been awakened by them In that still arid solemn hour "when deep sleep falleth upon man," I have lis tened with a hushed delight, and connecting them with the sacred and joyous occasion, have almost fancied them Into another celestial choir, announcing peace and good-will to mankind. How delightfully tho imagination, when wrought upon by these moral Influences, turns every thing to melody and beauty! Tho very crowing of the cock, heard sometimes in tho profound repose of tho country, "twilling tho night watches of his feathery dames," was thought by the common people to announce tho approach of this sacred festival. Amidst tho general call to happi ness, tho bustlo of the spirits, and 6tlr of tho affections, which prevail at this period, what bosom can re main Insensible? It is, Indeed, tho season of regenerated feeling tho season for kindling not meroly the fire of hospitality in tho hall, but the genial llamo of charity In the heart. Tho scene of early lovo again rises green to memory beyond tho storllo waste of years, and tho Idea of homo,4raught with tho fragranco of home-dwelling Joys, reanimates tho drooping spirit, as tho Arabian breezo will sometimes waft the freshness of tho distant fields to the weary pilgrim of tho desert. Stranger and sojourner as I am In the land though for mo no so cial hearth may blaze, no hospitable roof throw open Its doors, nor the warm grasp of friendship welcome mo at tho threshold yet I feel tho Inlluonco of the season beaming Into my soul from itho happy looks of thoso around mo. Surely happiness is reilectivo, Hko tho light of heav en; and every countenanco bright with smiles, and glowing with Inno cent enjoymout, is a mirror trans mitting to othor8 tho rays of a su premo and over-shining benevol ence. He who can turn churlishly awny from contemplating the felicity of his fellow-beings, and can sit down darkling and repining In his loneliness when all around Is joy ful, may have his momenta of strong excitement and selfish gratification, but ho wants the genial and social sympathies which constitute tho charm of a merry Christmas.