HomeMy WebLinkAboutExeter Advocate, 1904-12-22, Page 6A Christmas
Toboggan
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In a sheltered cleft on the moun-
tain lele where the scraggy pines
elude polite obeisanee to their been -
headed neighbors, the HWY-way
house had Ston, a harbinger of
comfort, for a sere of years.
And new, though the old stage lay
• rotting in the valley aue tete travel-
er thundered along by, rail beneath
• its very foundations, the friendly
gables seemed beekoning to irnagia-[
ary guests.
To -tight, too, the pine branches
crackled Merrily on the wide hearth,
as if the szwbs of a progressive pub-
lic were not worth minding.,1ighUn
up the long, low room in the gloane!
ing of the Ohristmas Eve.
Two Women conversed in tender
=motet -ma in the cheery illumination,
and the elder was saying : "The pa-
per cannot be found and, of course,
the property goes to your Uncle
Hermon."
The other rose wearily from her
place before the fire and stood lean-
irig her head against the black old-
• •fasnioned,,mantel. , . •
"Then uncle really intends taking
our home awayefrora us?" she said,
interrogatively, looking down into
• the patient mother lece.
'1Oertaituiy my deeighteree, came
the reply in. cheerfel resignation,
"and he expects to take possessien
soon, too. But your father always
made much of the Christmas time,
and, for his sake, wo will keep the
day gladly, you know."
I know," and the girl turn-
ed away toward the nextroom,
tucking up her sleeves with little
gbagerly thrusts as she weat
The brace of partridges Brother
Ned had snared the day before made
a pretty picture as they waited,
plump and roan:4, for the last turn
of the skewer. After they were
ready for the morrow's roasting the
tall, queenly girl went over to the
open doorway a moment to contem-
plate the picturesque landscape she
tad loved all her life.
"Even the scrubby oaks are rest-
ful up here,". she mused, "and I
don't see how I am to bring myself
to be turned out like—a beggar!"
Making a sudden dash at her oyes
with her handkerchief, she resumed;
"Of course, if mother is bent on hav-
ing a sunny Christmas in the face of
it all, why, I won't be shadowy."
Hearing a cheery whistle outside
she continued : "Ned .doesn't are
about it—boys don't. 0 yes" (cor-
recting the uncharitable thought),
'he does care, but not as I do.''
The mother rocked to and fro be-
fore the fragrant blaze, humming an
old refrait. The dusk gathered
gloomily ea the corners of the room
while the dancing light glinted along
the smoky rafters as if eager to dis-
pel all thought of loneliness.
Mrs. Cameron glanced upward. In
the years agone, when. the rafters
were not so smoky and the dear old
rooms not so dingy as now, the
Half -wee' house was the social hub
of the mountain side. But now—
A sturdy lad of 12 years came
bustling in with his arms full of
holly and his pockets full of mail.
"The road down to the 'village is
as smooth as glass," he said, brush-
ing the snowflakes from his clothes
on to the bright hearth. "Horses
will have to be sharp shod to make
the slide to -morrow, I know."
leaneeng some letters to his moth-
er, he began to plan for a "jolly
good time" the next day, while he
SOParatnd the sprays of' the &obey
evergreen,
Attended by, his festive man:ner,
his sister voltinteered to help, and
fell to sorting the crimson clusters
for decorating the table and bright-
ening up the rooms on the Morrow.
"Of course he can't care much,"
she whispered, rebelliously, watch-
ing the malefaction shining on the
boyish face.
"We'll nave popcorn and chestnuts,
and browned birds—and everything."
cried Ned, as his pans bubbled over.
"Everything," 'repeated his sister,
bitterly, "and then by, and by have
nothing."
But Ned did not hear, for his
mother was saying: "Here's a note
from Cousin. Jessie," while a smile
lighted up her careworn face.
Then she passed the paper to
Fatah, murmuring- : "M1 winter long
in the dear old house."
"Papa. has concluded to let you
stay' in the •house until spring, as
he cannot And a tenant before that
time He will stop n his wayt
Fulton's in the morning and talk
with you about the matter," was
what Edith read. Then see laid the
slip of paper on her brother's palm,
wondering if by that time anything
would happen that they would not
have to go at all.
Ned tossed the note into the ma-
ternal lap contemptuously and his
sunny face darkened. "Who cares
for his charity extensien,, I'd like to
know?" he exclaime1:7' "It!s Only
because he can't 'do otherwitee ' and
make'it pay." •
His lip cerled disdainfully had
geinered into silence. e He, • did
"care,e' after all; poor 'little-. broth-
er. • And -Editlne heart ninote her as
she kissed his flushed cheek en sis-
terly sympathy. After all, he had
been braver than she.
"It's a veritable toboggan," ex-
claimed Hermon Cameron's wife as
the fine team cantered up the treach-
erous "slide." "Really, I am afraid
of an accident.
"Fudge, Mrs. Faintheart; what
can happen?" laughed her husband;
gayly, as he cracked his whip over
the sleek bays.
Truly, it did not seem possible for
anything to happen out of harmony
withthe lovely holiday. Neverthe-
less, a few minutes later the seren-
ity of the day was all broken up for
the Camerons. Frightened at some-
thing by the roadside, the horses
became unmanageable and, in a
twinkling, becoming detached from
the sleigh, ran wildly around the
upper turning, throwing Mr. Camer-
on heavily to the ground.
The impetus of the accident sent
the vehicle spinning down the glassy
incline, its occupants perfectly help:
less to stay their mad flight
The Fultons, startled to see a run-
away team dash into their grounds,
ran out to recognize it as that of
their friend Cameron, and in a short
time they were bending solicitously
over the unlucky man who, prone on
the Christmas snow, was moaning
unconsciously.
"We will take him up to the wid-
ow's," said Mr. Fulton, glancing in
the direction of the friendly gables,
"while you go for the doctor," al -
dressing his son, "and then we will
look for the rest of them."
• Prudence Cameron prepared a couch
for her unfortunate brother-in-law,
with a queer sensation tugging at
her heartstrings. He had meant to
stop, but in this manner. Surely
there was a Providence in it.
"Here are some papere we pienell
ae," said Mr. Fulton, laying a roll
in the widow's hand. "They must
'belong to lien. Examine them and
see. I haven't my glasses with me."
lier own room Mrs. Cameron
looked the papers aver. "Of course
they're his," she mused, unrolling the
grimy outer wrapper. ThIoing the
ins do paper she read"I hereby give
and bequeath the Half -way house to
ray eisternn-law, Prudence Cameron,
ant11--"
Slie read no further. Dome at the
battora of the instrulment was the
•peeuliar chirograpey o lier injured
brother-in-law.
"It was never lostl" stlie exclaimed;
"but Hermon never meant tliat
sleeted See this."
Putting the predates aocume,nt away
carefully, she, went downstairs with
a queer little smile triumphant on
lier patient face,
The physician and Hermon's family
had arrived and the wife was saying:
Pen° went right on tobogganing
down to the uneven road tte the low-
er turning,. Teen the cutter went to
pieces against a tree and we were
'upset, but not Met."
Slie ended with a hysterical laugh,
as she looked toward' the white-faced
lintsband.
"swims(' a, considerable, bruised' a
.bie, but fairly ready for his Christ-
mas dinner," said the elector as he
took his leave.
In the' kitChen Edith gurveyed tire
brace of partridges ,and wondered if
there was "enough to go round." But
while slie cogitated the Fultons carne
in with a boehtiful dinner.
"We planned for coreniany," laughed
jolly Airs. Fulton, "and we're bound
to have it, even if we meet • them
half -way." land soon the Christ-
mas chain: fillet! the' lonely eld reoits1
• In, the midst'. ef:the merry Christ:.
pies dinner Prudence Cameron looked
Across the titbie at her brinliereitelaty
who, , pc • in an. arra-chethe
wee „Matching ae browned -Iiir.d, -Axel
said; playfullye,"Cheistrnes gift, •Bro-
ther Hermon:"
"I meant to lia,ve brought some-
thing," he stammered, in confusion,
"buten"
"Thank you, I know you did," in-
terrupted Prudence, her face glowing
with victory, "and it Is all right.
Mr. Fulton gave it to me—the will,
mean—and I thank You again."
Had the house tulle:bled down the
mountain side Hermon Cameron
could not have been more surprised.
He satn back among the pillows with
a suppressed groan. "My hearten he
shid, faintly. "My heart!"
"You are hurt more seriously than
we thought fore.' cried the Fultons,
in alarm.
"On, no," murmured Hermon. "I
am just a little overcome."
And so it proved. But, although
he revived and chatted with his
friend, Fulton, over the tootlineme
plum pudding, lie did not look Pru-
dence Cameron's way again that itlay.
And that night Ned sat before the
crackling fire on the broad hearth,
while the dancing light touched his
ruddy fare and glinted up along the
smoky rafters., and whispered be-
tween his palms: "Dear. Lord, we
are so tliannful for the blessed Christ-
riesestide; but just now we are thank, -
fuller for the 'tippet of Uncle
Hermon!"
HOW DID WE GET CHRISTMAS?
The decorated Christmas tree, lad-
en with presents, will soon be the
very general centre of attraction in
the homes and churcbes of America.
But why .do we get this g-reen
ir-
tree from the mountain -side, and
place it in our homes, to dispense
its joy to young and old?
When we study the localities where
this part of the Christmas celebra-
tion ,was first introduced, • and is
most prevalent, wo shall notice that
it is a distinctively German custom.
One hundred years ago we might
have 'found the goose and the mistle-
toe in the 'Virginia colonies, in the
Knickerbocker settlement of New
AnesterdaM. Santa Clone, geed
heilig man, distributed his myster
ious pac'kages, In Pennsylvania the
Christmas tree was then already hole
in veneratioe, and, with the spread
of the German element, has now be-
come well-nigh universal. We must
then look to des Vaterland for the
origin of this Peculiar Custom.
The old Teutonic and Saxcon rams
in Central and Northern gurope, be-
fore the Introduction and spread of
Cheistianitg, had a great veneration
for trees. They would never will-
ingl3r damage them, Under large
trees, especially old oaks, the great
councils were held and judgment
given; and the grave § of this people
were found in groves,—they always
being buried ,under the roots of a
tree. This ell was the result of a
superstition that their gods lived in
those trees. In the linden -tree Bore
took
dwelt,oho.seof
l,a benign spirit who
the babies, and rock-
ed their cradles when the nurses fell
asleep; In the oak, Donar, the thun-
• der -god; in the willows, all sorts of
spirits; in the elder -trees, the divalent.
Whenever the festivals of these gods
were celebrated, their trees were de-
corated with lights, wreaths, and
questen (tassels), and offerings were
hung in the branches, which, how-
ever, were plundered again when the
festival was over, the gods - being
supposed only to appropriate the
best,n
Oe of the principal festivals was
the Joel -feast (prounced Yule).
"Joel", means, "wheel," and- repre-'
sents the sun which a,t the' erkt1 gf
• the year is standing lowest, and theri
again commehces to rise. It :was
in honor pf.the geld of light, Wuo-
;ban, and lasted twelve. eights, 'from
vecornher 25th 'to January- sue.
Alvery work Ives suspended. The gods
were said to • walk on earth, and
every man had to be at peace with
his neighbor if he would not receive
an unpleasant visit from some dark
deities. Yule -logs (yet in England)
were burned on the hearth, and burn.-
ing wheels were sent rolling from the
mountain -sides; and in front of the
doors nr-trees were planted, and
• decorated with lights, and garlands,
and offerings,—these trees being chos-
en because the only ones green in
winter -time, signifying that nature
is not entirely dead.
When the Christian Chrurch, a few
centuries after Christ's death, be-
gan to introduce its religion
amongst the barbarian e of Northern
Europe, we find the priests making
the new religion acceptable to the
people by amalgamating old heathen
customs with the Christian festivals.
The time of Joel -feast falling to-
gether with the time of the Nativity,
as accepted by the church, customs
of the former were adapted to the
latter celebration. At the Reforma-
tion, the Reformed Church of France
and Holland, in its aversion to all
symbols, discarded these aceesories;
and the Chrietmas-tree at the pre-
ent day is entirely unknown in those
countries, except by importation.
The Lutheran Church of Germany,
however, which by its doctrines look-
ed still upon the efficacy of repre-
sentations, retained the Christmas
treee
Few realize that the Christmas
tree is older than Christmas.
Goose -dancing in winch mon wear
women's hats' and women men's coats
is the Christmas amusement in the
Sicilly Isles.
Tlie largest Christmas candles made
are nearly 6 feet higli, weigh about
e0 pounds, are of pure white bees-
wex, and cost $25 a.plece.
Tbe people in the Scandinavian is-
land of Dago have a curious custom
of I utting five candles on each
branch of the Christmas tree.
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WHEN MARY, THE MOTHER,
KISSED THE CHILD.
When Mary the Mother kissed the Child
And night on the wintry hills grew reild,
And the strange star swung frotri the courte of ant
To serve at a margel: with kings in prayer,
• Thee did the day ter the simple Lai
And the unregarded folk begin.
'When Mary the Mother forgot the pain,
In the stable of melt bran love'e reign;
Wien that new light on their grave eyes broke
The oxen were glad and forgot their yoee;
And the huddled sheep In the far hill fold
Stirred in their sleep and felt no cold,
elhee Mary tthe Mother gave of her breast
To the poor inn's latest ani lowliest guest,
The God born out of the women's side,
The'llabe of Heaven by earth denied,
Then aid the hurt veva cease f,o mow',
And the long-sitar:el anted came to their own,
When ltary the Mother felt faint hands
• Beat at her bosom with life's demands,
And nought to her were the kneeling eines,
• The servina star and the half -seen wings,
Tlien was the little of earth made great,
• And tio man mine back to: the' God's estate:
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' HOLLY A.the efirelneETOE.- brittleness makes it easy to . break
.„ •
the Miedle Ages we „find -env •
The people in ancient times tieed
because pay the Druids hendsoinely,far 'a hit
tradition says .nlerist's craven wee ee the, pedant/A plant. tee Nang, around
Made of hallY. When the briars the neck as a charm against witched :
touched his brow they became point- It was considered sacred .because the
ed leaves, and the berries, whir& be- berries grew in clusters of tluae, an
fore were white, were dyed scarlet emblem of the Trinity. The ehief
with his blood, priests, robed in white, cut the
The holly trees bristle with thorns mistletoe from the oak with a golden
to the height of ten feet; above this sicele. •
the leaves are smooth at the edges. In Austria a sprig is laid over the
There is an old thyme: doorsill to drive away the nightmare.
in 13avaria it is tied with palm and
"Holly and ivy, box and bay, Savin to e hazel stick, and hung above
Put in church on Christmas Day." the entrance of dwellings so that no
witches may come in.
This was religiously done each year
and the greens allowed to remain un-
til February 2nd, when all the
branclies must be carefully removed,
for if so much, as a leaf or a berry
should be left, death was supposed to
visit the family in whose pew it was
fotted; so the mothers, ever mindful
of this tradition, made sure tliat the
church was thoroughly cleansed of
every green scrap before any of the
eamily ventured inside.
The wood of the holly is close
grained and elastic; it is whiter than
any known wood, but when very large
the head wood becomes brown and
hard; it is used.extensively for whip
Oiandles.
Birds can eat the berries without
suffering, but upon people they act
as a violent emetic.
In Rutland no holly must be carried
into the house before Christmas Eve.
then, if the lerrves be smooth, the
wife will be the master for the year;
if otherwise, the master himself will
rule; they are respectively known as
the lie -holly and the slie-holly. •
The American holly is not so dark
and gloseer, and its berries are less
bright than its English cousin, but
it is easily grown in dry, loose soils,
and especially thrives on the Atlan-
tic coast.
From the time of the Druids until
now the mistletoe has always played
an important part ne English winter
festivities, It is a parasite, and in
America is generally found at the top
4
CleleIS'eneAS PHILO S
A holey Christmas stocking catches
no gifts.
Cupid is as busy as Santa Clans
these days.
A winter opening,—The Christmas
unh
stocking,
it
w.ailr.eChristmas makes a grave
The charity that covers a multi-
tude of sins ought to be ample
enough to fill the Christmas stock'
ing of. a needy neighbor.
Cln•Istmas is the only holiday •
the year that brings the whole hue
man family into communion.
Christmas " lippers "—Those who'
kiss beneath the mistletoe.
A. cast-iron turkey may be a sub.
stantial Christmas gift to a poor
relation, but it is ruinous to diges,
tion.
Christmas Eve proverb.—One stock-
ing on the mantelpiece is worth t
on the feet.
Christmas is present time that
should always prove pastime.
If the sun shines through the apple
trees on Christmas. Day, there will
be an abundant crop the following.,
year.
The mantle of Christmas charity is
more comfortable than a eur-lined
circular.
A cheap Christmas present—Offer-
ing your Heart to the girl whose
money you love.
It isn't the longest stocking that
catches the most Christmas gifts.
of some oak or gum tree right in. the Christmas is coming, but the sweet
middle of a large pool of water. Its "buy and buy" is 'already with us-.
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