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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Seaforth News, 1924-12-18, Page 2Gnats. What news? ' What cheer? The trees have come to town! The. In:: est grew too sombre. They've conte down To loop for faces that they learned to knew In summer time, a little space ago: They saw fine smoke a -curl from chimneys high; Born. of; white fires that leap and blaze, and lie Warmly at last within the red log's R Other People. The pine trees saw the smoke and This is the season above all others dreamed the rest! 'for taking thought away from our They knew there would be merriment 'selves toward oilier people: What a miserable festival it would be if all within, And growing lonely for the joyous din our. mind turned inward, our gaze Of weal roniembered voices, packed for were i±ttrospsctive and rear desire be- gan and ended in a ring about our- town—Laugbing as burly woodmen hewed selves! Rank selfishness is this, to invade them down. the b'!essed time with care purely for Last night I passed: along a crowded °ur own concerns, with anxious medi- street !etalon of our own revolving problems, And hummed a song that to my soul however insistent and intrusive these. is sweet, may be. We need never look far to When some one—somewhere—whir-I discern the fess fortunate; however peered in any ear, I unhappy we think we` are, there is a plight at our doorstep more serious "Good friend, pray, not so fast! Bee!than our Diva. We need to look reso- heerftillg away from our A row. of trees, just newly, come to petp.eaaty, for the health of our minds, for the good et our souls, for town , t ha -f the happiness of others which we are And as I looked their flagrant p , bound to consider. lane down It does not matter so much that we The very pine I loved so well—in shall bring our own dream true for Jurte---• . ourselves as that we shall bring hap - Beneath whese shade I hummed my hold me here!' I lately and c f I piness in the long run to another, even little tune—. 'though it be with sacrifice. "Greater Was there before me, like a Christi- love hath no man than this," A true, abiding affection is tested most of all mas guest, by its willingness to renounce. And. A -thrill with. gladness for :a finished' let no gloomy face be carried to the quest, altar of the oblation but a high proud And other trees were calling other, smiting countenance. • thrill, Byes shine, and hearts beat names. ? For it takes fr t e beauty of an To furnish leasure 'for an hour or ` quicker. The cal the grip, of Christ Do you put it out on the balcony, ! 'Sometimes, and you forgot: from h be y y p q h g p, That people who a pp' My own strands now, just where the p p pass may happier be service to the race—or to any member two. mas, still hold power. jj To look at its pretty greenery? The bels were tuned firelight flames ! p y g y you and our wife live, and I wan g of it --if we play the part in a dreary, Seo, where those sapling pines out in But you what of you? If Christ- Just yesterday—one's missing from y Y Upon broad boughs that I have hung melancholy key, as of one who con- rho glade brings thrill h lest y y g to have a part in the, war thin you your Christmas the "reins little . 31,90t1 il)C et tbee tie? little tnibn of etblebent, 4,033 gtill`the gee Lige lie! ' ��bsbe tbp beep garb brealnle� Ater �iac Mient gtato go bp; Pet ill tbp bath greet abiutth Ije ebtriazting Kigb ; bopesS ant fears of -ail tbe•pesr� Sart met in dace trAngbt. bolp Pin( of Ottblebeut f - •;+ efscettb to 110, the prap ; - Ea t' out our gitt,: anb enter; i;t, e horn � u0 to=bap. e ear t'�e ebtiOttr a S angets4 A t lab tibia telt ; �lje area � . g Ceb, conte to uC abibe tnttb e.6, Our iorb Cmrrtorateli Mantel{ lama My Christmas 'free, Each year as sure as Christmas comes around, The family send me out to get a Tree, And heretofore my habit's always been Ta take the very first that I could see. But lately I've been giving it some thought And now it seems a senseless thing to do -- The Heart. of a Child. If Cludstmas brings no thrills; something is wrong, not with Christ- mas, but with yourself. Christmas Is nineteen hundred years old, but age has not withered its charm. Much has crashed since the cry of a Child r The Breast PratakSet. ,. 7 The home missionary's wife o ecl out at the swirling snow and sighed. There couldn't be much for, Christmas this year. She sighed again. She hadn't had a real' Christmfls dinner : since shehad come west, .and that was . . eight years .ago. F `Tired, mother?" inquired a sweet _ little voice, sand, turning, the mission- ary's wife looked into the sober eyes _ -..r. �.'+�•�,--• •-r -- _•" of little BettY• s "No, dear, not tired, just thinking," T� � Surat a ea he" was the quick reply. "Anti that re. The bags are packed and ready, minds me; I must mend father's acute Nicholas! He has to attend a meeting in Merri- Your gloves I laid together, in the ( kale ;to-merre.w.e hnll, "Will he firing us anything?" asked The thickest pair; it's cold to -night, little Betty wistfully: Your cap over your forehead! What repPull down / "Pm afraid not, dear," the mother lied, "Father has no money for a boy presents now." You are to caper so! Stand still, you She went into the little bare bad - child , room and from the closet took the only Of children, till I see your collar. good coat that the missionary owned. There! Fig luadn't worn it since he had at - I knew you'd put that old coat on; it's tended the convention in the fall, She torn smiled a little. What a rich spiritual From last year's journey, and you feast that convention had been for hid it where him! And what a kind hostess he had I could not find it, . purposely! Of hada The red ussbeautifai, and they expect As the missienary's wife sat down To see you in it, but I tiled to make .and" laid the coat across ilei leap she •felt a paper craelcle. • She. put .her are of these, ask yourself whether you. were not better' and happier when you did trouble. 'You were? Ah, then you, must get, back. You may have got on in the world, but that is not everything. The heart of a child is greater than riches, and faith more: than many mansions., The new one lust as bright. ?.here's hand into the. breast pocket and took no time now . + out an envelope. Father's left a let, ' To change. And, Nicholas, be very sure The envelope bore no address, and To handle Vixen earefu.ly; she's. full wonderingly she opened it and drew Of little tricks—you've stabled her out a sheet of paper. Pinned to it ter in his coat," she remarked to Betty was heard in Bethlehem=kings, king- I were two ten• o ar s a 4 And might lead on the others, Pleas°: She stared. Then she read the few civilizations � > dome, empires, religions, civ. —but Christmas, = the Child festival, dill stands firm and four-square en- trenched What Do You Do With Your dont let • linos an the paper. `Them take you near the trees; your. „nqy dear friend," the note began, Christmas Tree. sleigh's so small "I am putting into this enve.ope in a million hearts. What'do you do with your Christmaa And not well-balanced; branches catch o Christmas! The very word hold a th i 'h f twenty-five dollars. Your work has To rob the Future of a stately tree touched me profound.y, end I am giv- ing you this small: amount with joy and thankfulness that such people as with gems # mus rings no rr you have as What do you do with Bents rather than elects to live and to Straight as a lance are reaching something. Perhaps faith and hope' tree? Near Comet's head. You said he rub - Lovelier than My Lady's diadems! rise to the whole of a duty. towards the sun. and charityhave gone, pushed out to we appreciate your self denials and When we earns into this world we Now, these will all be flue bigtrees g° : P Four little girls at afternoon tea bed It Oil saCrifi aril And I Want yon to use the make place for a bitter cynicism, !Stripped its branches, for cushions, Against a chimney. How I like to money far your Diva comfort. Your are doing. I want you to feel that; sit and watch the fitful gleamsthat did not come into a solitary paradise. some day stir-- We found the scene thronged and the If I don't end what Nature has be - I dream—of gold and fr uikincense rules fixed and the game to be played gun. and myrrh— as others had soberly agreed to play But here's a little spruce beneath the Three Magi—. It's a story that I know it. There has to be an ordered strut- shade Of shepherds on a hillside, long ago— ture of society, for the defence of Of this great, husky, moss -clad for - A still young Mother and a sleeping interdependent mankind against the est king, Child— !independence of the lawless and the A slender chance has he to reach his A Star—'a . Song—a little world be predatory. We cannot let the world be prime, nese of to -day than' the fragrant chic -a -des dee, The lest, wee letter that Dame in With shining oyes and thrust the f ] d h 1 t Th t 11 h' to t b et Free to -day twenty-five dollars into his hand. The world may have buffeted you, I with glee, think sincere friend, Mary L. Evans." and it may seem that yon stand alone, And found how sweet its scent' could Of all these chiming tongues that The missionary's wife sat there a chilled and cold and forgotten. Burl bel sprinkle sound little dazed.. Mary L. Evans! Mrs. Christmas is yours still. It must hold • , Like jets of frosted spray upon the Evans had been her husband's hostess. happy—perhaps holy = memories. For What do you do with your Christmas night! f at the convention! were you not once a child? What bet- tree? I know the children have them.; Dona•At that moment the missionary ter salve can there be for the bitter- Do you deck it with food for the forget I came into the room. She went to him gulled run by those who are themselves un - By strains of Peace on Earth, Good governable "Save he serve no man' � may rule." And each in his place Would we might hear the Angel's song be it high or Iow, is bound to think of Yet for a Christmas Tree he's just memories o tippy an o y yes er a a is ma s a a anqu the thing! days He who shall keep Christ- May hold a snowy reeeh•y? g• " •, —EdthP B d 11 Will to Men!"So I'll take this, d h' home masse, said an old.time philosopher, i Perry owe . shall keep himselfe again! I all the rest, I A Voice the laden branches seems to atir— "They brought Him gifts — gold, frankincense and myrrh." What Will You Buy in Toyland? ' Christmas, expressed in the terms What song—what carols break upon of the child's mind, is synonymous My . ear. "The First Noel!" 0 little Cliildrsn ' w toys' At this holiday season, dear, rnade merry by children and for chile Come in and tlte1 f v Tree, For it has come to town to visit me! —Barbara Young. e Unto Us A Son Is Given. Given, not lent, And not withdrawn once sent, This Infant of mankind, this One, Is still the; little welcome Son. it ga r argess rom m New every year, Newborn and newly dear, He comes with tidings and a song, The ages long, the ages long; Even as the cold Been winter grows not old, As childhood is so fresh, foreseen, And spring in the familiar green. Sudden as sweet Come the expected feet, ' All joy is young, and new all art, And He, too, whom eve have by heart: —Alice Meyneli. The King. "My little Son," she said, 01Vly little Son, My beautiful, my wondrous, Lovely One. 3 kiss Thy head, Thy hands, Thy little feet-- Thou eet-Thou art so small, so helpless, And so sweet. . "They come with gifts And look on Thee with aw And tell, in whispers Of a star they saw. . "I see but Thee I know No more than this, That Thou art soft As rose leaves To my hiss."' —Abigail Cresson. dren, there is a tendency toward be- ing too generous with toys. If not too generous, then too self-centred on the shopping trip to Toyland that we come home with toys bought to suit our own tastes and desires rather than the lit- tle four, five or six year-old for which they are meant. The great joy of receiving toys at; Christmas time for children is getting what they want. Every toy should be made to exercise a dual purpose, that of making the child happy and of assisting him in an educative and cre- ative way. Toys are the treasured possessions of childhood, and the im- pressions they make in childhood days are lasting. It may be you note in advance what the child wants, but it is also neces- sary to, know why. Perhaps little James wants a sled like the one his playmate has. This may be because' it is a bright and shiny one, or be-.' cause it can go faster and farther than any other sled of his playfellows. The boy who teases for expensive me- chanical toys may have his real wish better gratified in the ownership of materials with which to experiment and construct his own metal toys. If Jane is of a studious nature, she will get more hours of real happiness out of •a story book suitable to her age, rather than a set of doll dishes, which for us appears to be the correct gift for any little girl. One can do a child a grave injustice by getting him everything he wants. This is a world of limitation, thwarted wishes and the necessity for sharing with others; If a host of toys and playthings is received at Christmas time, a child's appreciation for new toys later in the year, is dampened. One mother of our acquaintance, al- lows her sons to have only a few of the toys they receive at Christmas time, The remainder is put away and given to them at >appropriate times throughout the year. Then this Christmas morning let your children or your little friend re- ceive the toys for which they have been longing, but let those toys be so selected as to incite happiness and delight in the gift, and stimulate the child mind in an educative way. If you ,wished to walk through all the streets and lanes and alleys in Lender; you would have to walk ten miles every day for nine years. te small boy who asked a gardener how he got the water ibto water- melons' received a reply that was werthy of his question: "I plant the seed in the spring;" said the gardener. a rs, an re me ,: t P n � •� again, If Christmas brings. no thrill, some -I And leave yon sturdy saplings all thing is wrong, Maybe we are not at, Eye of Murdered Man 'holds intact "Peace." Maybe "good will" is not in . Slayer's Image. 'To grow and rear strong columns to , the sky, our hearts. Perhaps we are nursing; The theory that a murder victim's 'Till what I see in fancy turnto old hatreds, bitter memories that; eye may sometimes hold the image of s fact. WH, s should have been banished and for- Itis slayer received scientific centi me- . ^•_ ,� _ gotten years ago, tion from Prof. Doehne of Cologne Civic health is on the toboggan in In that case eve are in antagonism 'university, Berlin. The professor the town where folks use a silver with Christmas, its meaning, its mess- photograpbed the retina of two of the gangs instead of the golden rule, age, and its lesson. Let a Little Child victims of Fritz Angerstein, wealthy .0_..._.—. peed us back to friendliness to for- Hagen merchant who killed eight per - If the energy in a Rash of lightning' giveness, to peace; and to happiness. sons. The retina of one yielded a pie - could be collected and stored up, it For Christmas to mean nothing to tare of Angerstein's face. The other would carry an electrically -operated us is a tragedy. We stand condemn showed the same face, contorted with motor car or van for a distance of five ed. Sonic say they have "got beyond rage, and the blade of the axe with miles. troubling about Christmas." If you which the murders were committed. • A eeicy is sere co move popular with the youngsters and is not difficult to arrange. The snow, man who greets the young guests is made of cotton batting, but he looks' like a real snow man. Twe sticks', wrapped in many thicknesses of cot-. ton form the legs, which are nailed to a block of wood to make a foundation.' The other parts of the body are made of rolls of cotton batting sewed ori wired in place. B:e wears a fur cap and has long white whiskers made of crepe paper, if horse hair is not avail- able. On the floor beside him lies .his pack. In one hand he carries a string of sleigh -bells; in the other, a Christ- mas stocking, The mother or on older sister might act as hostess, acting the part of Mrs. Jack Frost and_superin- tending the games in such a manner that the :young guests will be kept busy. As each child arrives he is given a white paper cap, and when all have' assembled, they are given the armor -1, tunity of decorating;Jack Frost. The . children are blindfolded one at a time and after being turned 'around three orfour times are told to. walls up to• Jack Frostand place their caps. on his head. The child who first succeeds gets a small prize, Each child is then allowed to throw, a soft rubber ball,.. attempting to hit` Jack Frost's string of bells. The first one who succeeds receives the Christ- mas stocking and presides over its contents, Other successful contestants draw a prize from the pack, and at the close of the contest each child draws one of the snow man's gifts. The children will all enjoy the gain° of Jack Frost in which the chil- dren form a circle, with one child who! represents Jack Frost standing in the'•' centre. "Jack" runs around inside the circle, touches a child on the right! hand and goes back to his place again.` The child thus touched says: "Jack: Frost came this way." The child at, her left asks: "What did he do?" Child No. 1 replies; "He nipped my hand" (shaking the hand). Child No. 2 tell No: 3 about Jack Frost, and the same question and answer follow. This is repeated, each 'child doing as No. 1 did, and thus it goes around the circle back to No, l again.' Jack Frost then! steps out and nips this child's left hand, and now beth hands are shake" ing. Bea time Jack nips some part of the body, until the children are hopping up and down and shaking all over, which of course is great fun for them.` Mrs. Jack Frost then says: "Jack Frost is coming this way," and', whispers a' word to each of the chil- dren. To some she whispers, "hish," to others "hush;" and to others "hash." At a given signal from her, the play- ers call out their words together and the result is a big sneeze, which makes all laugh. Some one is then selected to repre- sent Jack Frost, Other players are given the names of Christmas gifted such as a doll, a boxofcandy, or s book. A number of chairs are ar- ranged in the middle of the room, with one chair less- than the number of players, not counting Jack. Frost. Jack, then takes his place in the centre of the room and calls for ,them one at a- time. The first one called comes for- ward and takes held of jack's coat; then each one in turn, as he is callea takes held of the player who precedes him until there is a long line behind the leader. Jack then begins to run around the chairs, the others after him, until he suddenly calls "Christ- mas Gift," when the players must sit down: As there are not enough chairs, one player will be left standing and he must pay a; forfeit. As each player drops out, a chair is removed until only one is left. t e To remove ink stains from the fin- gers, wet the -head of a sulphur match and rub over the stains until they disappear, It asked you for a sheep, and so you "Dear heed!" she cried. "See what MadeAn extra woolly one that squeaked I've found in the breast pocket of „ your coat! 'You wore it at the convene a Ba -a -a I tucked it in your pack right near The missionary took the sheet of tion, you remember? Read this." the top. I paper and read it. Suddenly, lie put They're waiting for you, Nicholas! his arms round his wife. "Make out your list for a Christmas droner, Their eager, little hearts; they beat The missionary's wife did not ens - A pulse that throbs around the world. «Thank God! Thank God!" so fast it's like wer, but in her heart were the words, Good-bye! I'll have a good hot breakfast when Give The Birds a Dinner• you're back. Your gloves? Good gracious, Nick, I told you where They were. I thought of course you had them on! They're in the hall! The moon' is up—look out That Vixen doesn't shy at it. Good - ye —Martha Banning Thomas in Youth's A box nailed to the side of a tree Companion. makes an excellent birds' cafeteria, oi' a; platform with a flew boards across For The.Chaisimas Table. a couple of limbs on the protected side Why not serve Christmas dinner by of the trunk will do equally as well, ceeWehytight? Or if the dinner be at of would be a good idea al make the noon time, just darlten the room. A feeding -grounds a short distance fro;n rather interesting candle -stick may be the house, since some birds dislike too madeinthe following manner: !much publicity. In a very few days The materials .necessary are pieces every species of bird he the neighbor - of white birch wood about one inch in hood will be feeding at your lunch diameter and six to eight inches long, counter, and you will take great plea - circular pieces of woody three inches sure in studying their ways and be - kinds, bits of hohy, and candles. corrin friends with them. By saving Have' as many pieces of •wood, of'both' the- kinds; as you wish candlesticks. Tack toward saving the crops nest year. Christmas is pan ideal time to begin feeding the birds. While we, are eat• ing our own big holiday dinner, a pan of grain or table scraps set out on a low shed roof where it will be away flora the reach of chickens br rodents will, cheer many a hungry little. friend: The birds will soon find it and you will be delighted to watch the feast. re.. •circuiar.prece or woog..ro one en of along piece. See! you have a stick You will help them now. ]most made, The other end of t trds now you will be doing a lot "Ph birds will do their part then if piece of wood should be hollowed out, to hold the candle: Twine the bits of holly about the stem of the candle- stick. Do You see it nowin fancy? A real. outdoor candlestick it is. A bit of white bark with a holly spray; about it, a white candle, the red ofthe ber- 'ries,it is a. charming affair: -J.. W, .Eskimos only use snow houses while travelling; otherwise they live in tents of seaskin in the summer and sami subterannean rock "igloos," or huts, during the winter. London's • famous Lord Mayors teach was built in 1757, weighs nearly four tons, and is not-very,comlortalele to ride in, as it is suspended on leather braces in place 'of springs. A Christmas Song. Never we needed Thee so sore Since the first day began. 0, come and knock at the world's door, Small Son of God and Man! . And if it ope not to Thy knock Shrill crying in the cold, 'freak down the heart hard as a rock And enter and lay !told! l Not:evhen they ;slew our young, and marred The'beaaey smooth and clean, Not: then,. not then, our hearts: were Bard, Arid' and cold -and' moan. Vol* now the Weak are ''do wn, and :trate, And Avaro, Pride; +Phese:are tateieLords'andwith!n our �gate,. 0 Child, be not denied! 10, not in nineteen' hundred years We needed Theo as to -night. Yestreen we washed' ns clean with • tears, ..` ' Their scarlet washed us white. \There is not ono green spot 'on the earth , Where men nor hate nor grieve. 10 Child, come to our hour of dearth And bill the dead heart live, Katharine Tynan, The monuments' of. vrit and learning are more durable than the monuments of power or of the hands. --Bacon.