CHRISTMAS.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XIII, Issue 992, 30 December 1856, Page 2

CHRISTMAS.

Although the last issue of the • Southern Cross ' borethe date of Friday — the day after Christmas — its contents were little older than Wednesday evening; we had therefore no opportunity of addressing a word toour readers with reference to the day that had just passed. The recurrence of Christmas-day seemed to be the signal in Auckland for general happiness. A portion of our community, remembering its origin and its intimate connection with the great work of man's ledemption, spent a portion of the day in observances, which, though not to be termed mirthful, must not be supposed less a source of true enjoyment. Others, again — and indeed the larger number — regarded the day as one of pure festivity— as one of genial Christmas joy. The dawn of« Christmas morn brought vividly to the minds of many recollections of old England— of joyous excursions into the country, of th-; Christmas bells and their merry peals, of happy faces that were wont to assemble round the family hearth, of the good cheer which, on that day, loaded the board of every Englishman, however humble his circumstances, and of, it may be, many a tare spree beneath the branches of the misletoe. The weather on Thursday was delightful ; not too warm, for a cooling breeze fanned the atmosphere during most of the day. Hundreds availed themselves of circumstances so favourable to risk the country, and many of the umbrageous retreats to be found the banks of the Waitemata, and in other localities adjoining the city, might have been seen in the temporary occupation of parties bent on pleasure. But it is in hit own home, or amidst those who are dear to them, that the Englishman loves to spend Christmas. In the enjoyment of good cheer, and in the mutual interchange of kindly expressions, he feels happy ; he delights to see his own happiness reflected in the smiling faces of those around him ; and, more than at any other season, is disposed to forgive those who had deeply injured him. He then feels as if bis own happiness was doubled by sharing it with others — as if there was no real pleasure " save to try To breed smiles in the human eye, ' ■ - And cut off the posterity Of every tear and sigh." Readers,— we trust that, in one shape or other, you all spent a merrie Christmas.