Zurich Herald, 1925-12-24, Page 7S44
ON...THE FIRST CRR1STMAS 'TREE
re! 00
BY: LEREaNE BALLA.NTYNE.
This story is t4d of how •spangles as net to lose their way. They erept
Caine to be draped upon the Christmas up the candles -very close to the flame
trees; Long years to,go, before little and let the warmth of the glow. perm-.
boys and girls even thought of having trate their bodies, and it felt very
tree trimmed for Christmas, there good, Then (me old father spider said,
lived in a large hose on the top of "Come, children, let us go before we
a bleak hill some little boys and girls ei.e swept out again," They thought
with their parents tied the servants of that very good advice and one by one
the home. Their father had gone on they all followed their silken trail
a long jourpey, and they were not back again to .the window, end out
eure that he .would return in time for they went, down the wall and back
• the Yule festivities. However, they again to their new home in the balsam
• watched daily for him with their lit- tree.
tle faces pressed close to the latticed Soon after that the star which the
window. Wise Men had followed years before
As they looked out they saw no- appeared in the sky, and the Christ -
thing but the wide sweeps of snow, child came to earth again to discover
broken only by the scattered spruce where •the children dwelt who loved
and cedar trees standing here and
' there like sentinels upon the land -
nape. Suddenly they got the idea
that they would like to have one of
the trees in the house, to light their
• Christmas candles upon its branches.
So they ran to that mother and asked
her if they plight do this, and after
, thinking about it for a few minute's
she agreed that it was a pretty
thought and said they might have the
tree. So she called the servants and
told them that the house must be
.cleaned from the .outer doors up to
• the attic, and not a speak of dust must
remain, for the children were going
to light a tree with candles to honor
"-Elie' birthday of the Christ -child.
The Servants started cleaning the
"house, and they began right up at the
attic. They cleaned and brushed and
swept every atom of dirt out, and
every little cobweb -from every little
torner. Then they came downstairs
Him. ,He saw the bright lights from
afar on the tree which was trimmed
to do honor to His birthday, and He
came and stood In the room to be-
hold it, -He was so surprised to find it
covered with tiny cobwebs, and al-
though He ,loves every creature, even
the tiny spiders, yet Be knew the
children did not mean to have them
on the tree,
So He touched the silken webs with
His finger.' touched them ever so
gently, andlo! the tree stood covered
from Op to bottom, with • glittering
silver spangles—the most beautiful
tree in. the world! And he*use the
story of it spread afar,' to this day
we still hang spangles upon the
Christmas Tree.
'The Christmas Tree's Toilette.
Before attempting to dress a -Christ-
mas tree it should be made very firm
and again they cleaned and brushed by placing the plant in a barrel of
every bit of dirt and every 'little cob-
soil or sand if it is of any size. Even
web frem every corner. And hidden
if the tree is a small one it is advis-
away among the ittle cobwebs were
able to do this, although in such case
l
many little spiders, and one by one
a large flower -pot will serve the pur-
they were swep, t out with the dust,
• until at the end of the week there
remained not a single little spider in
• all the house, nor a speck of dust, nor
a cobweb.
• Then with great ceremony the old-
est servant was despatched to select
the most beautiful tree of perfect
proportions, and it was cut down, -and
brought into the house. When made
fast, candles were brought, and the
little boys and girls spent a most
delightful days fixing them upon the
tree.
They did not tie one here and an-
other there—oh no! Each. one was
placed carefully so as. to be just a
certain distance from the last, so that
when lighted the whole tree would ap-
pear to be a wonderful harmonious
blaze of light. At -the very top of the
• tree, fastened to the highest twig
which points4straight up to Heaven,
they fastened the tallest and best
candle. It as late when they .finish-
ed and they were all tired, so they
went to bed, after opening the window
just a teeny weeny bit so that Santa
Claus might be able. to get in, when
attracted by the brilliantlights, if he
considered their conduct had been
good enough during the year to merit
•reward.
The household was soon asleep, and
at midnight no one save the dog in
his kennel heard the exquisite tinkling
of bells which rang out upon the clear
frosty air, when Santa Claus drew up
with his magic sleigh before the win-
dow. Softly he entered the house and
tip -toed first to the room where the
children slept to see if they were all
abed and sleeping soundly. Not even
a little mouse was awake so he went
back and after surveying the wonder -
fin tree, he left toyssweetmeats and
all sorts of good things, including a
fresh supply of candleS, for the little
boys and girls to find in the morning.
When he had gone and the last
tingle of his bells died away on the
crisp frosty air, the moonbeams crept
softly in to see the tree, And the
little birds wakened by the jingle of
bells came out of the trees and looked
in through the window to behold the
tree. And all the little spiders which
hadteen swept out, and had been hud-
dling together in the depths of a bald
sain tree nutside, were disturbed by
the commotion of the birds, and they I
too opened their tiny eyes and saw the
tree glowing with a blaze of light in -1
side the -window.
"Oh what a pretty thing!" sighed
one little spider,
"Let us go closer to see it," urged
another.
"Come along," ventured a third.
So all 'the little spiders ran down
from the tree, and hurried across the,
snow so as not to get their tiny feet
frozere and they ran up the wall to
the window. There they sat a long
tinie lost in amazement at the extra- I
ordinary sight.
Suddenly one of them said, "The
moon-bearni have gone inside; let us
go in, too."
So they all ran ie.thiough the Win-
dow, for Santa Claus had forgotien to
eIose it. After being swept out, there
they were, every last one of theme,
back inside the house again.
• One fellow more venturesome than
• the rest wanted to go right up into
the tree to diScover why it should have
• bright star -lights flickering upon --it
vhfl the trees outside had no such
warm glow -about them, The older
spidees decided that might be a bit
efeeeereug, but the more adventurous
• piles aegtied-thet the moonbeams were
thesidy playing' in the ttee, ande no
arm had conic to them. •
° SO 1,1p they all werit ad exit:mined it
• AO their hearts' content, running over
•"every branch, but :always weambla.'
silky thread ae they went, that they
might have a trail to follow back, co
pose.
The dressing of the tree should al-
ways be started from the top, working
downwards. Fix the heaviest toys to
the upper parts of • the strongest
branches and suspend the more fra-
gile ornaments froti the tips. There
should be no happy-go-lucky distribut-
ing of the gifts, but even the smallest
toy should be labelled for some child.
This not only makes more fun, but
there is a finality about such an ar-
rangement that does .away with all
jealousy.
After the Christmas tree is dis-
mantled plant it at once, if you have
a garden and the tree has roots. But
many Christmas trees have no roots.
In that case let the children have
them to prepare for the birds. They
may be decked with morsels of fat
and, a rew partly shelled nets. Our
feathered friends are hard put to
it at this time of year to find enough.
.food, and the children will love to
know they are giving the birds a party
of their own.
If you have some time to spare for
decorating, don't forget that delight-
ful Christmas friezes may be bought
at most big stores in three -yard
lengths. One design May show
Father Christmas tearing through the
snow with his Sleigh and merry bells,
another a happy family of kiddies
dancing tound the Christmas treet
and there are many other artistic
designs, all charmingly colored with-
out being crude. These are in so much
better taste than the old colored paper
chains and the paper roses in impos-
sible shades.
These friezes should only be fixed
in place here and there with small
drawing -pins, so that no ugly marks
show in the walls when the decora-
tions are taken down.
The best kind of Christmas cake for
children is one of the plain variety,
iced with water icing. It may be de-
corated with the little gold and silver
balls, candied flower petals, and other
little decorations sold at all confec-
tioners for the purpose.
decorations will decorate several cakes
decorations will recorate several eakes:
and make them look so Christmassy
that they will give far more pleasure
to the children than a rich take not
so prettily decorated. A rich fruit
cake with layers of almond icing is
unsuitable foe children, especially at
Christmas -time, when there is so much
rich food about. If children are al-
lowed to overeat it will epoil the fun
for everybody. •
Christmas boxes originated in Rom-
an tirnes, When an altar was erected in
every village, and people put money
in a box. On thio day after Christmas
Day the money was distributed,
0*.:.19...carvpf The' 'Christmas Turkey
ATeW Tips for 'father, Which 0 Followed, Will GiveMother.
a •ChancetO.Enjor lier Dnner TOO.
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Each of the Sketches Above Show a Step in the Correct Procedure for Carving a Turkey. The Accompanying Story Tells You How in Detail.
By Sister Mary
I
After mother has roasted the Christ-
mas turkey to a turn, it is up teIather
to take a hand and wreck the work of
art to enhance it, -according to his skill
at carving.
Every woman has sat with •bated
breath the first time the man of the
house wielded a carving kiiife over a
turkey. Sill re no ordinary man carvea
a turkey every day here's just how it
should be done.
First, be sure that the carving knife
is sharp. A dull knife will mean trou-
ble and consequent embarrassment.
If an unusually large turkey platter
is used, well and good, if not, a small
platter shouldebe at hand for the
ememelesseese•esseseLese__
The Champion Pie Eater.
wings, thighs and drumsticks.
The platter should -be so placed that
the breastof the turkey will be at the
left hand of the carver. This is im-
portant.
Follow Instructions.
As in illustration No. 1, insert the
carving fork firmly midway of the
breast bone, plunging it deep. The
fork must balance the turkey on the
platter while the disjointing and carv-
ing ,of the breast is accomplished.
No. 2. Make a sharp downward cut
through the skin between the second
joint and the body on the side of the
turkey farthest from the carver. Cut
thrdugh the flesh and skin all the way
arounci•the
No. 3. With the' point of the knife
find the socket, then with a quick out-
ward turn of the blade the thigh is
eov'red from the back. Thi renioves
both ,of the keg joints at .oue time. •
No, 4. The procedure in No. 3 is fol-
, lowed to remove the wings, cutting
straight down between the wing and
th b d -
No. 5. The legs and wings should he
!Placed on a side plate for carving
later.
8. With the fork still firmly
grasped in the left haud, cut the
1 breast in thin slices, beginning where
the wing was removed and slicing
parallel to the breast bone.
1 No. 7. Now remove the fork trona
the breast bone and separate the
second joint from the drum stick. Cut
this meat in slices and serve a slice
of white meat and a slice of dark meat
on each plate:
To Remove Stuffing.
To remove the stuffing, make a sharp
incision through the skim and serve
with a,large spoon.
Unless a very large party is being
served only one side of the turkey is
carved for the thee serving of plates.
After the plates are served the tur-
key is turned cut side down againet
the platter and the carving knife and
fork are placed together across the
end of the platter until needed
A mammoth Christmas pie was
sent from Berwick to London in 1770
as a gift for Sir Harry Grey. It
measured 9 ft. in circumference, and
weighed 168 lbs.
An enormous pie of similar weight
provided the chief dish ata banquet
at Gorleston some years ago. It was
built in three sections, and -walled in
with a stout crust 3 ins. thick. The
ingredients consisted of kidneys, beef-
steak, and rabbets, mingled with po-
tatoes, onions, and carrots.
This monster pie was made by an
old trawl skipper and took forty-eight
hours to cook. After the feast the
remains of the pie were made into
ten gallons of soup for distribution
to the poor.
'When the pie -eating championship
of New Jersey was decided, each pie
consisted ..of a layer et pastry Ye -inch
thick, spread with canned fruit. • The
average weight of the pies was 1,fi
lb. 'Thirty-five- young men entered
the contest, during which the State
record of twenty-six pies in half -an -
hour went by the board,for the win-
ner managed to eat twenty-seven in
the allotted time. For this feat. he
-was awarded the championship belt.
God Be Praised.
Now God be praised,
The years are long, •
The winds of time ... .
Wow loud and strong,
But still our hearts can catch afar
The shining of a star.
Come storm, come change,
'We listen still. •
To angels singing on a hill,- .
And Christmas never fails a.miss—
Now God be praised for this. ..
—Nancy Byrd Turner,
Christmas Comes Again.
Once again we welcome in the happy
Christmas time,
Hopefully we listen to the joy -bells'
merry chime;
How their happy clamor seems to
banish grief and pain,
Chhning "Joy be with you, for old
Christmas comes again."
Ofice again we gather., round the yule -
log's cheery blaze,
Happily on all the faces dear to us
we gaze;
As the sparks fly upward, we can hear
• the bells' refrain:
"Love and Peace be with you, for old
• Christmas comes again."
Whistling winds and snow -wreaths
cannot reach the Ingleside,
Horne, sweet home, is sweeter now,
• where love and joy abide;
From each happy homestead, as the
bells sing their refrain,
Send forth Peace and Goodwill, for
old Christmas comes again.
—Alice Wise.
• Christmas Time.
Moth—"How nice, Santa has left a
Woe lighted candle fee me to fly
around!"
A gtiod conscience is a continual
CI t se F
which NS 419. written the now famous
CAROL, SWEETLY CAROL!
Stories of Our Christmas Songs.
Pew of the people to whom "Good stated that while Charles Wesley, to
King Wenceslas" Is familiar know whom we are indebted for it, was on
that it is set to the tune of "Teinpus 1 his way to church one Christmas
attest Fioriduni," a Spring carol of the meraing, he was so much impressed
thirteenth century. 1 by hearing the belle ringing that he
Still less generally known is the i said—
curious story of "Adestes, fideles"I Hark! how all the welkin rings
("Came! all ye faithful"). It was first I Glory to the Eing of kings.
sung in England at the old chapel I .
But, though his popular carol may
of the Sardinian Embassy in Loudon,• •
have originated thus, he actually wrote
where It was heard, the .e
It. not under the gloomy winter skies
Leeds, who, imaginiug it to be peculiar
to the Portuguese service, introduced
it at a concert of ancient music under
the title of "The Portagaese Heiinn.l.
Soon afterwards it was sung—for
the first time in Scotland—at the
Christmas service in St. .•enclrew's
of England, but amid the sunbaked
plantations of Georgia.
It was, moreover, a happening at sea
that turned his thoughts te. hymn -writ-
ing. The vessel in which he and his
brother left England was struck
*'
•
Chapel, Gla,sgow. Errand boys, it istomni th t
.
Perilous as was tne situation, a num.
nird It.
staid, whistled it in the streets, and
the very blackbirds in the suares
ber of the' passengers-elloraviates—
joined M the chorus- gathered together on deck and calmly
Written for His Daughter.
„
sang the hymns of their country. This
en • impressed the Wesleys that both
turned hynin-writers on landing in
It is, however, not peculiar tothe
Georgia,
oonntry after which it is naraed, but The opening lines of the vale)l in
is known throughout the Roman Charles Weeley's MS, are identical
Catholic Church. It probably belongs with those, attributed to hire. on his
to the Latin hymnody of France about hearing the Christmas bells, and they
the end of the eaventeenth century. are so printed .in "Hymns, Ancient and
"Christians, awake!" is another Modern." Bui the general form is --
carol with a romantic history, At
Chrietmas, 1745, its author, John Hark! the herald aegels sing
Glory to the new
Byrom, who lived at Kersall, a few eborn King,
miles fron 111 I t Who made the alteration is not
. 1 envies er,fulfilled a pro-
mise he had made to his little (laugh- khown.
So
ter to "write something • nice Tor I me collections of carols confetti
Christmee--something that. was to be mere then one thoueand; including
"all for herself." She found on her !mothers et great antiquity. There is
plate, when she came down for break- in existence a care! of the fourth cete
fast, a tiny 'sheet of notepaper, en tory; amt. the oldest printed ,collec-
time in England are those
Wynkye de \Verde, 1521.
I sent my message up into the sky
To the millions of stars shining on 'high;
They promisee sne they'd look down, eirom
e s ....„,,p - 4 4,,,,v,,, ,
. 2 046,
'AM . All
•
*IA Ws ' At this Christmas time on the friends I love,
above,
. se eels** I
,s',,,s' el, To scatter my wishes of Christmas cheer g / ir A Z,
4 1 / d I . le, el hat will last through a levies, glad New la/ •
40-.4. . if , 1Year; s ,, • • 11 • C. G. i.e... e
carol, "Chrietiane, trWakel"
The tune to it was compcsed not
long afterwards by the leader or Ker -
s -all church choir, who sang the carol
on Christmas Eve a few years later
under the windows of Byrom's house,
A rotnauoe is esleo connected with
"Haeki the herald angels sing." It ie
Christmas Birthday Beliefs.
IP many countries of the world
Ithere still exists a belief that people
born on Christmas Day have the
power of healing by the "laying on of
hands," tied also possess second sight.
„ . •There are several other supersti-
•; lions (weeded with "Christmas chil-
I thee," one of which is that they are
able to excel in music. They, are also
eredited with possessing abnormal
ink\ egence.
t
Tn the South of England many folk's
believe that boys born on Chrietrnas
Day are destined to become clergy-
men, while the girls ought to became
nurses. It is supposed that they will
succeed in these occupations. Should
they decide not to follow them, how-
ever, their lives will be dismal Lail-
ures.
This tley shall change all griefs and
quarrels into love.—Shakespeare,
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