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The Exeter Times, 1892-12-15, Page 9A Christmas hymn. Rejoice ! rejoice ! on Christmas -day, Let every heart be glad find gay ; Be joyful for that distant more When Christ, the Prince of Peace, was born. The holy time is here, 'Tis Christmas day, Good cheer ! good cheer Angels are near. Loud lett the joy -bells ring,, And sing, oh, sing, 'Tis Christmas -day.. He loved the world and came to be Tho Helper of Humanity. The lowly tenant of a stall, He brought greet gifts of love to all. Rejoice ! rejoice! your glad, heart bring The dear Lord loves such offering. He brought you joy which naught can dim— Give back your gladness iii this hymn. The holy time is here, 'Tis Chriatntas-day, Good cheer ! good cheer ! Angela are near. Loud let tine joy -bells ring, And sng,'oh, sine, 'Tis Christmas -lay. —[William S. Lord. Christ male Eve. The children dreamed the whole night through Of stocking hung the hearth beside ; And, bound to make each gift come true, ,. Went Santa Claus at Christmas -tide. Black stockings, rod, brown, white and Lona g, little, warm, or patched and thin— The kindly Saint found. on his way. And, smiling, popped his presents in. But as he felt his hoard grow Light, A tear drop glistened in his eye: " More children on this earth to -night, Than:atars are twinkling in the sky." Upon the white and frozen snow .Ede knelt Lis empty bag beside— "Some little socks must empty go, Alas !"--said lie—" this Chrismas-tidel "Though I their stockings may not heap With gifts and toys and Christmas Cheer, These little ones from sorrow keep ; For each, dear Lord, to Thee le dear! Thou Wert a little Child like them"— Prayed he—" For whom x would pro- vide Long years ago in Bethlehem, That first and blessed Christmas -tide 1 "As soothed Thee then Thy mother's kiss, And all her comfort, sweet and kind, So give them love, lest they may mien The gifts I know not, wore to find! "That sweetest gift, dear Lord, bestow On all t'to children far and wide ; And give them hearts as pure as snow" Prayed Santa„ Clans--" at Christmas - d© tr 1" THE LORE OF YULE -TIDE. MAiTNExts' : elD CUSTOMS IN MANY LANDS. Christ was born on Christmas Day, is the story as told in an ancient carol, But who can tell how have grown up the multitudinous customs according to which the anniversary is kept ? Who can tell the j'connection between the birth of the Wondrous Child at Beth- lehem of Judea and the host of obser- vances, merry and solemn, that in suc- ceeding'ages have inarked the date? The origin of most of them is hopeless- ly lost,and the best the antiquarian now can do is to put their character on record as a memorial against the muta- tions of social manners. In this young country, young v,ith youth of scarce four hundred summers, thereare scarce- ly any, distinctive Christmas customs. Nearly all are borrowed from cousins and great-uncles beyond the sea. So it is to them one must look for the love and the legends of Christmastide. The Christmas carol ;Song of Joy" —is of almost universal use and very ancient date. " The earliest Christ- mas carol," observes Bishop Taylor, " was the 'Gloria in Excelsis' which the choir of angels sung to the congre- gation of shepherds on the Judean hill- side." . In France the songs of "Noel" were common many centuries ago. Henry VIII°of England and his family were fond of singing carols at the splen- did feasts with which they marked the Christmas season. In the days of Shakespeare singing formed a conspicu- ous part of the ,Christmas celebration. There were•.tw ± kinds of carols. One wa eng in the open air, from house to house, early on the morning of Christmas Day—a practice still popu- lar in England. These carols were devotional in tone. The other kind was convivial in character, and was used at the feasts which occurred later the day. One of the earliest, prob- ably the vexy first, printed collections of Christmas carols appeared in 1521. The ringing of church bells and chimes has also for a ges been a popular Christ- mas custom in England. It is to this that the splendid stanzas refer, i Tennyson's "In Memorim," beginning with "Ring out, wild bells, to the wild sky, The flying aloud, the frosty light 1 The year is dying in the night Ring out, wild bells, and let him die!" Christmas -trees are another ancient feature of the day ; older, indeed, some have declared,; thin the clay itself—if the bull be permissible. It had its origin in Germany, and G-ermantradi- tion traces it back to the very Garden of Eden and makes it a symbol of the Tree of Knowledge. it is probably a heathen custom, engrafted, as innum- erable heathen customs have been, upon the ceremonials of Christendom. Long before the beginning of the Christian era the Romans in certain festivities .made use of pine -trees, the branches of which were laden with lit- tle earthenware images sacred to the gods. Among the ancient Hermans, Goths and Scandinavians the advent of the winter solstice was celebrated with great interest,and the chief fea- ture'of the occasion was the erection in every house of a fir-tr eej adorned with burning tapers; This tree was first 'made a part of the Christmas ceremonial by Gregory the Great, doubtless with a view to making the Northern nations feel more at home in the Christian Church. The mistletoe, which plays soinxpor- tant a part in Christmas festivities, was selected for this: honor many cen- turies ago, before the Christian era. The Northern people found it growing on the holy oaks, and remaining•green in winter -time, So they supposed its seeds had fallen fi om heaven, and they held it sacred to Baldur, the Sun-god. They decorated their homes and theiral- tars with it at Yuletide,andeverygreet- ing beneath it was inspired with love and friendship in the name of Allfather Odin's pure and righteous son. Baldur had been put to death through the treachery of . dark -hearted Hoedur. But he had arisen to life again, And so the mistletoe, green and full of life when all the trees of the forest seemed dead, was a fitting emblem of hint, It was the Teutons, then,that found- ed the Christmas festival. The birth- day of the Saviour was not celebrated by the early Church, nor does any rec- ord of its date appear to have peen kept. Century after century pursed, and there was no thought of observing such an anniversary. But at the be- ginning of the fifth century the Gau's had come down upon Rome, and Ten tonic influences prevailed. The festival of Yule and the honors paid to Balder superseded the Roman Saturnalia. And so the politic Churchmen hit upon the happy expedient of commending Christianity to the Northern conquer- ors by establishing an identity between the festival of Christ and the festival of Baldur. Nor was Scriptural authority lacking. The words of Jot,n the Baptizer were quotecl,where speak- ing of Christ, he says, " He must in- crease, but I must decrease." So the nativity of Christ was set at the 25th of December, when the days begin to increase, and the day of St. John the Baptizer at Juno 24, when they begin to decrease. Feasting has always been a Christ- mas custom, almost the world over. In England the Yule log, the boar's head and the wassail bowl were in olden times the features of the festival. The first -named was a Iiuge log of oak, decked with holly wreaths and mistle- toe. At. Christmas it was clrr.gged into the great hall by all the members of the household, the merriest of thein, dubbed the Lord cf IVlisrule, seated upon it singing songs and Making jests. It was rolled into the fireplace and made a inighty blaze all day and night. This was a survival of the Scandina- vian custom of kindling great fires at Yule-tide—the winter solstice. The boar's head was the dish of honor on the Christmas table, and was brought in on a huge platter, garnished with leaves and fruit. It was a German custom, and down to the present day the German Emperor has sent each Christmas a boar's head as a present to the Queen of England. This also is a relic of the Scandinavian myths. Treyr the god of peace and plenty, used to ride upon the back of a hoar, and a festival was held in his honor at Yule- tide. Of course the wassail • bowI— " Was Haell"—came down from the hard-headed old Norsemen who could fight all day and drink ale and mead all night. Its contents were a mix- ture of ale, roasted apples, cloves, gin- ger, nutmegs and sugar, and it was drunk smoking hot. Peacock -pie was a famous Christmas dish in Shakespeare's time. So was "plum porridge," in which may be discerned the antetype of the plum -pudding of our clay. An invitation to a Christmas dinner in 1657 advertises the cheer to be as fol- lows: " A Messe of Plum Pottage. a Sirloyne of Roasted Beefe, a Minced Pye, are -sorry Cup of Sacle." COODIE3 FOR CHRISTMAS. FRUIT CAKE AND MINCE -MEAT TO DE- LIGiiT AN EPICURE. Christmas is just about the time we are apt to find out that men are, after all, only boys grown tall. They as Con- fidently expect fruit cake and miuce- pies as part of their holiday cheer as the smaller twigs of masculinity do their visit from Santa Claus, their stockings well filled and their annual stuffing of small and indigestible good- ies. Of course you can give them fruit cake from the baker and mince -meat from the grocer, But once try making it yourself, and while you may be in danger of being " eaten out of house and home" by the experiment, you'll feel that it's a success after all. Making these two things always seem a gigantic undertaking to the novice, but in reality it is simple work. If it isn't done yet, don't delayy another minute, but follow these directions and, asit says on the old-fashioned gift cups, "Love the giver." For fruit cake enough to do the family—any reasonable family—for Christmas and New Year's Day these things are necessary ; Two pounds currants, three pounds raisins, one pound' citron, one pound candied orange and lemon peel, one pound figs, one pound almonds, two pounds flour, one pound butter, two pounds of the darkest brown sugar you can get, eighteen oggs, one ounce ground cloves, one ounce ground cinnamon, one ounce allspice, two nutmegs grated, one fourth pint of brandy. Prepare the fruit the day before. This simple command is apt to "stump" the experimenter—so this is how it's done. First of all tumble the currants into a panful of tepid water, stir them around a bit and lift out with the hands, letting the water drain off them as you do. Repeat this two or three times, then spread them on a clean tea towel, ns coarse a one as you have, roll them up in it and rub them well to dry them and to get the little stems off. The steins will stick to the .towel and the use of two or evon three towels in. this way will make the currants per- fectly clean. Spread them on a plat- ter and set aside until the morrow. Stone the raisins. This is made easy by letting them stand in nearly bailing water for a minute. A small sharp tfinge fingers else anife a obowl of warm uch of butter water to dip them in, and the seeds are easily removed. Tear them in half as you seed then. Shred the citron.quite fine andcut up the figs in small bits. Chop the (range and lemon peel very small. Blanch the almonds and cut them in quarters. They are blanched by pouring boiling water over them, let- ting them stand in it a few minutes and then popping them out of their brown skins. The raisins, orange peel, citron and almonds should be pressed down in a dish and the brandy poured over them ; then closely cover with aplate. The next day, when the xnkei+tg and baking are to be done, set the flour in the oven to brown, and as it browns remove that dark enough and set the rest back until all is a light brown. Thoroughly rub together the 'butter and sugar with a wooden spoon until creamy. Separate the yolks and whites of the eggs, beat the yolks until light and add butter, then add half the ;lour, next the spices, stirring well after each addition, Sift the other half of the flour over the fruit and add that, putting the figs and almonds in first so that they will be well distrib- uted, then the citron, chopped peel, raisins and currants alternately, a handful of each at a time, and stirring industriously between handfuls. Beat the whites of the eggs to a light—not a stiff -froth and add last. A good idea is to save out two or three spoonfuls of the batter before the. fruit goes in, to spread over the cakes after they are in; the pans, in order to cover the fruit and prevent it burning. Heavy pans that turn out a cake with a hole in the middle or earthern baking dishes are good to bake them in. The oven must be just hot enough to turn a piece of manila paper pale brown in a minute.. It requires three hours to bake a fruit cake thoroughly and the oven must be a "slow " one of even temperature. After three hours open the doors and leave the cakes in the oven for half or three-quarters of an hour longer 'to cook. • When cool wrap them in white cloths and set away in a tightly cover- ed tin box, Now for the crowning touch. About a week or five days before you are going to cut the cake, get a quart bot- tle of champagne—domestic does very well. Puncture the cakes with a knitting needle or larding needle through and through in every direc- tion and pour the wine over them, turn- ing them in it until they drink up every drop.. Set them away again until the day before cutting, when they cpn be iced if desired. As to mince -meat, It's principally goodies,and chopping. The ingredients for enough to make a dozen well-filled pies are. Two pounds fresh beef tongue or heart, two pounds suet; two and one half pounds raisinstwo and one-half three currants, pounds apples (pippins), three pounds dark brown sugar, two large tablespoonfuls ground cloves, two of allspice, three nutmegs, grated ; the rind of three large oranges or half a pound of candied orange and lemon peel, one pound of citron, one pint of good whiskey. Boil the heart or tongue gently until tender, which for the heart will be an hour and a half, and for the tongue an hour. Remove all the bard parts and everything except the tender meat from either. Chop very fine. Chop the suet after freeing it from all stringy substances. Mix the two. Pare, core and chop the apples, mix them in and add the sugar, Stir in the spices. Chap the orange and lemon peel and the citron very tine also and mix in well, Prepare the currants and raisins as for fruit cake and mix them in alternately. Pack into a crock and pour the whiskey over it to preserve— and remember, as the children say "you mussen' touch" until you are ready to snake your Christmas pies. Then if it isn't sufficiently moist you can add a very little sweet catawba or sherry wine, or, better still, some sweet cider which has been boiled down one half. The Christmas of Canada, Nowwhere has the distinctive Cana- dian nationality shown itself more clearly than in our own celebration of the Christmas festival. We have had no Dickens as yet to tell the world of the merry times and the sad times that come to our homes at this true holiday of the year, but for all that the scene is there when the lucky possessor of a worthy lense comes to photograph it, As is quite natural, the English Christ- mas .has had a deal to do with shap- ing our celebration, but we have been inclined to reserve the features of the merrymaking that has come to us across the water for the more public occasions, while at the home fireside we have been thoroughly home -like and Canadian. Thus we have the Christmas tree, but it is usually found at the Sunday -school gathering, or even at the public present -giving to the "waifs and strays" of society. In the Canadian home is oftener seen the homelier and—if a bit of Canadian prejudice may be allowed— the custom more full of family love— the custom. of "hanging up one's stack- ing." It is not done by the little folk alone, who have an implicit belief in the existence of Santa Claus ; but by every one, old and young, wise and wiser, for who is wiser than he "who believes in the fairy tales of life in which the dragons are all slain in the nick of time. Neither is it a bedroom rite in which every child has his delight all to himself. The stockings are all hung up together before the familiar fire -pia ce in the living room of the home, w hatever that may be called— sitting-room, drawing -room, or what OA a !Ii i!. I{ 11, III'il, ®r, • SAY, HAVE I GCT TC FELL ALL THOS ii not, A horizontal broomstick laid upon the hacks of two chairs at oppo- site sides of the hearth, is the approv- ed support for the rows of stockings and happy is that home where after baby has been assigned one chair and the boy with the likelihood to get bulky toys, such as sleighs andskatas, the other, there is bard crowding to find room on the stretch of a broom- stick between them for all the other brothers and sisters, and the new brothers and sisters w?io have rnarried into the family,and for the merry aunt who leads the, fen, and the loving grandma, and for the father who jokes the loudest when he has the most feel- ing to hide and the quiet mother whose boundless love has .done it all. The filling of the stockings is made a mystery to no one save to those who yet find pleasure in believing in the jolly old gentleman with his team of reindeer and his preference for chimney entrances. These are quite naturally very early in bed, but not until they assisted in putting the democratic broomstick in place -or out of pli o r,as you view it—and carefully taking all obstructions out of the throat of the grate, so that the venerable Santa will have no difficulty in•making his hurri- ed midnight call. As for the rest, the system is very simple. First mater is firmly and de:idedly invited to h ave the room. Then the door is tyled a el the whole company proceed to fill her "stocking," showing each other what they have picked out for her and packing them away in or fas ening them to the toe of the stocking as bulk and convenience may suggest. This done, the curiously bulging and atro- ciously overstrained article of hosiery is carefully pinned about with a. shawl, which neater is in honor bound not to so much as peek under until the next morning. Then everything else is left with her. Everybody entrusts her with their presents to everybody else, demanding her never wearying al p -ov- al of each; and then after all have gone early to becl in order that they inay not be too sleepy when the most enthusiastic youth of the family sounds the reveille in the gray morning, there is a great rustling of papers and filling of stockings near the grate, for mother is playing ber star role of Santa Claus. Tho morning comes early on Christ- mas Day, for what Iad or lassie could drowse when downstairs at the grate, the uncertain light of the coming' R .un is picking out a wonderland of Christ- mas greetings and it is a rigidly obey- ed rule that no stocking is to betouch- ed until all aro in the room, Under this regime, laggards get little comfort of their laziness;; for on this day the babes, like the'Babe of Bethlehem, are kings. But all there at last, every person who has been eyeing his stock- ing from afar descends upon it, and for a time joyous pandemonium reigns. Thus begins the Canadian Christ- mas, and thus may it always begin— the central home festival of the year. It is one of the greenest spots in the memories of all who are now away from their old homes. When one turns to the "curious chamber of mem- ory" and passes "**through its soft curtains unfurled There recline on a couch all cushions and ebony, With my eyes half closed to the light, Turn my face to some corner of pleasantest memory And give myself up to delight." Then it is that the old home festival of Christmas comes back to one like one of the exalted "stations of the cross" on the secular via dolorosa of life. It is one of the steadying influ- ences of a lad's future—one of the points in his mental manhood where mother and father can touch him with mighty power, though their loving hands must be stretched to him across the years and even from beyond that dark veil that limits the vision of the living. But this is a mingling of the cypress with the holly wreath, and though it there for some, neverthe- less there is always so much' more holly in the memory from which a bright store may be drawn that the spray of cypress will but fill the heart the fuller for this festival of deep glad- someness. Singing.ou Christmas Day. To i e siew even in lefty the wonder. ful Christmas singi' g and playing in the thirteenth, fourteenth, and fife. teenth centuries is beyond our limits; yet what scenes, splendid, .romantic, and' glowing with life, form, and color, mention of those old pageants can summon upl Account -books of the day, preserved in the British Museum, show what vast sums were spent upon them, Cheapside, Tower Hill, South- wark, even forlorn and fallen White- chapel, were scenes of such festivities: They wake to life its we read ' of the carolling processions of the olden time; yet, as may well be imaginal, such re- dundant doings led to excesses, and then authority had to step in. Minis- ters and priests forbade much that had been customary, while with the Puri- tans name an absolute law against even the singing 0f carols. Queer droning musie,tuneless and depressing, was that of CromwelI's choice yeti here and there, in the homes of the better classes, voices were not to be silenced. Hail they not the precedent of the angels? As Jeremy Taylor' says of that first Christmas music, "As soon as those blessed choristers had sung their Christmas carol, and ttught the Church a hymn to put into her offices forever on the anniversary of this festivity, the angels returned to heaven," their earthly message sung for all a waking Christian world- Meantimein other lands the people had caught up the Song of the Nativity. In Italy the music of Christmas day for centuries was famous, the Sistine Chapel being historic for its work of praise that great day, and from the sweep of the Benedietus aim illagnifi- cat we reach the sweet, soft notes of those Calabrian shepherds, called Pif- ferari, who come doe from the moun- tains to sing Christmas hymns from place to place, visiting chiefly stables, where they have a tradition the Child. Jesus has passed by. To dictate precisely what should and what should not constitu to good Christ- mas singing is not possible ; but of course there are, as in every branch of the divine art,certain guiding rules, the first one being that all music appro- priate for the day should he joyous and expressive of thanks to God, whiles there are solemn parts of every service of such thanksgiving, of course, as with every deep jay is the "stillness" in: heart and voice and utterance. No home but should have its own festival of rejoicing ; and let those who seek for home harmonies search only the Noels or carols of Frazee, or the hymns of those English writers 'who had vast cathedral aisles to fill, yet contrived to preserve an exquisite sin plicity in all their work. We need to preserve every Christi= tradition dearly. If the yule log can- not be lighted, yet, from year to year -..y we can surely keep a fire of good -will-` and cheer, and rekindle the old fame,. as they who have the yule are wont to do. In the old times we have beeni considering, a custom was maintained which we have seen revered in that same Norfolk dwelling mentioned be- fore, when, after the Christmas dinner had been enjoyed, the loving -cup was passed around, doors at ono end of the long hall were thrown open, and there. entered a company of perhaps fifty people—guests of the host, humble men, and women and children, invited from far and wide AN): a word of 'Webs come, all arose, and, as with one voice, sang that most perfect of old Christ- mas hymns, "With hearts truly grate- ful." Centuries ago other carols were sung there, and, as now, a feast provided for one and all, while tha question of rank was forthat day forgotten. Later, in the orchards, the songs of the sea- son were sung—a tradition prevailing that this insures a good crop for all during the coming year. Our theme is endless, yet it is em- bodied in one dominant idea. Whether the nbtes of a great organ fill a cathe- dral, whether the humblest little band of " waits" go from door to door, there should be one thought uppermost We sing the message of tl.e angels, we praise God, and our hearts should re- member, Peace on earth is the glory of the day. REAL BNGIISII 0nRISTMAS Plant PUDDING.—This is an excellent and reliable reeipe : Take one and one- half pounds of suet, the same quantity each of stoned raisins and of the best currants, one pound of chopped apple, half a pound of mixed orange and lemon peel, the grated rind and juice of two lemons and one orange, three-fourths of a pound each of flour and of fine (:q -crumbs, twelve ounces of suganoait teaspoonful of salt, and of grated nutmeg, twelve eggs, one glass of brandy and one pint of milk. Chop the suet in as cold a place as possible ---I stand the bowl ou a block of ice in a "large pan- until it is as fine as flour. nest, mix the dry isa- gredients thoroughly, then add the eggs' (well beaten), .the brandy, then the milk, and 'finally, _the juice of the oranges and lemons. Have a large mould, butter the inside Welland pour in the mixture. Fit on the cover of the mould, and make it water -tight with a little paste. Tie the mould in a cloth and put it on to boil. This pudding to be perfect, requires about twelve or fourteen hours' boiling. It should be cooked seven hours or more the day before Christmas, and finished on Christmas Day. Poor Richard, in 11;s "Almanac for the year of Christ 1741," says :—" Let no• pleasure tempt thee, no profit allure thee, no ambition corrupt thee, no example sway thee, no persuasion move thee to do any. thing which thou knowest to be evil ; so shalt thou always live jollily ; for a good conscience is a continual Christmas." Two women went to market to sell their eggs. One had more in her basket than the other. The one who had most said to the other. "alive nae one of your eggs, and then I shall have double the number that you have.° "No," said the other. "Give me one of yours, and then we shall be equal.". How many eggs hacl each of these women? -Seven and five. Mistletoe. ---A parasitical bush torn found on many trees in southeo England, and more rarely in other 1 calittes and countries. It has white tra..t ucent berries, and leaves of a yellowish -green color. It was regard- ed as a sacred plant by the Druids in early England. The custom of kissing under the mistletoe appears in both English and German history, The precise origin of this custom is nets kstow n;