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HomeMy WebLinkAboutZurich Herald, 1941-12-18, Page 7The Christrn.s Christmas eve. Streets white -with swirling snow flakes. Marionetta, behind the counters of the five-and-ten, peered into one of the little ten -cent mirrors it was her business to sell. Marionette was crying because there was no Santa Claus. Moro than anything she hated to go back to the tiny basement flat that she and mother and Jim called home, and tell Jim the truth. Jim, oa• Jimmy, as Marionette ,.Iways called him, was crippled, Marionette insisted that he was too little yet to know about Santa Claus. She had gone without her lunch for days and days and saved ber nickels and dimes to buy the things Jimmy wanted. That very morning she had start- ed out to work, her precious sax- legs avlegs tucked away in her purse, her heart all but singing outloud. Then, when she got oft the car, meone in the motley crowd '9rnm'ped her elbow and her puree was knocked from her hand. Mar- ionette dived for it, but another dived at the same time and when she straightened up a small, flying figure was crossing the street, That was why her feet lagged on her homeward way. Her hand on the door of the basement flat, at the dirty tene- ment house where she lived, she noticed a big automobile drawing up at the currb, and an elegantly dtreseed lady slumming. Showing oft! She turned her back on the picture, flung open the door and stepped inside. "Hello, Sis." Jimmy looked up brightly. "Tonight's the night!" Marionette looked dully at her another. "I haat my purse," she said tone- lesaaly. "Some kid snatched it this morning. It looked just like that McCarty kid that comes to play with Jimmy so much but he ran to tut I couldn't be sure." "Don't cry, honey," her mother said. "We'll make out, somehow." There was a knock. Mrs. Clancy went to the door and opened it. There stood the lady of the big automobile, her arms piled high with packages, "Is this where Jimmy Clancy lives?" "Yea ma'am." Mrs. Clancy stepped back, "Won't you come The lady stepped inside. She kept stilling at Jimmy whose eyes were wide and bright. "I met Santa Claus down the street this afternoon, Jimmy," she said,' and he asked if I would bring these things to you. He said he was going to be very busy to- night.' Jimmy was feverishly tearing at. the packages, which the lady had dropped into a big chair beside him. As his heart's desires emer- ged from their tinsel wrappinge Jimmy shouted with delight. Under cover of the excitement Marionette, drew near the protty lady and whispered: "Tell me how you knew about Jimmy?" "'Why, my dear, it's such a strange story! This morning 1 saw a little boy snitch a purse that itoarieone dropped, and when he ran May I had my chauffeur follow Mm and bring him back to me. He told me he wanted to keep the money to buy some toys for a littlecrippled friend whose folks were. too poor to buy things for him. I promised him I'd play Santa Claus to Jimmy If he'd pro :ire ore to wait on that corner for the girl who dropped the purse, every morning et the same hour, lentil he found her and .gave, :it back to her," 0 "Why," cried Marionette. "Did you ever hear anything so like a fairy tale? That was my purse, and it really was Jerry McCarty, mother! There was such a crowd he couldn't see who dropped it. He'd never have stolen—but it wasn't stealing, And just to think that a nioanent ago I was doubting the Christmas saint!" . The lady laughed. Then in that clear voice she said: "Well just to make you even more sure of him, I'm going to bring a famous doctor to see Jim- my the clay atter tomorrow, and I'm going to have him take Jimmy to a hospital and cure that bad leg of his, The good Christmas saint doesn't want to find him crippled when he comes back next year." The Cock Crowed Why does the cock seem to crow with unusual persistence during December? Our ancestors believ- ed it was to scare away evil spir- its from the holy season. They cherished many legends which made a hero of Chanticleer at Christmas time, although they continued to eat him with zest. The most widely - circulated story concerned the bird's behavi- our in Herod's palace on the first Christmas morning. The king had observed the lon- ely star of Bethlehem in the sky, . and asked his steward to inter- pret its meaning. "It is a sign," said the steward, "that a greater than Herod is born." "Nonsense," commented the king. "I would sooner believe. that the cock on my platter could crow." Whereupon the well- dressed fowl, lying on the royal plate, stretched forth a bony neck and crowed lustily. Simple Games For New Year's Party • Nest' Year's parties aro always fun, but they will achieve new life and interest if several new games are included with the, old favorites. Spelling bees and guessing con- tests have been played for many years, but a few modern varia- tions of these games can make them more popular than ever. Spell sdrawkcaB Little enthusiasm will probably be noticed when a good old-fash- ioned spelling bee is announced. Before the game is over, however, the guests will probably be wond- ering if they ever knew how to spell, because the words in this contest must be spelled back- wards .A. little competition will enliven the game, so arrange the guests into two or three teams, then tell them that to save embarrassment the words will all be simple ones. Each contestant will be eliminat- ed from the game when he makes his second miss, and the first team to be spelled down loses the game. After casually announcing that the words must be spelled back- wards and with no "second chance" it a wrong start is made, start the ,game going with simple words such as dog, cat, boy- and so on. When the players have caught on, make the words increasingly difficult. Te keep the game a moving ing and to dispel any possible sus- picion of favoritism it is best to read the words from a list pre- pared in advance. Guessing Time Anybody can estimate the length of a second, but few people know how long two or three minutes will last. Have the guests sit in a circle around the room and • announce that you aro going to ask them to estimate the amount of time itta-ices tor' four minutes to pass. The Nativity (St, Luke II) ,. 8 And there were in thea same country shepherds abiding le' the field, keeping watch, 0 their flock by night. 9 And, le, the angel of fire Lord came upon then., and, "tire glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. 10 And the angel said • wito then., Fear not: for, behold,;l bring you good tidings of grt. joy, which shall be to. .at}l people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, winch is Christ the Lox'd. 12 And this` shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying In a manger, 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly b.ost praising God, and saying, 14 Glory to G-od in the high- est, and on earth peace, good will toward men. Clap your hands when the four Add Gay Colors minutes is to start. To, prevent the guests from counting out'the time to themselves pass -around some more refreshments, or if soneone can play the piano, sing a song they all know.. Vile not tvlll- not last more than a minute or: two, and it will throw the .`player's. completely off count. Then sit in silence, waiting for the time to pass. Soon the guests wille begin calling off "four minutes" and from there on the game will fake care of itself. The "secret of success" at a par- ty of this kind is to play each, game only a short time beforo changing to a new gaame,, No mat tre how much the guests"•aro eii: Suing a, game, it is advisable to stop the game after a few minutes and change to something. else. , se Mothers' Night • The oldest English name dor Christmas is , Moddra : Night, of Mothers' Night. In the eearly days, when our Saxon forefathers had just settled down in tt a coun- try that was to Ise Euglantl,- the day of December 25th wee gitien over to feasting, but the night•'w-as dedicated to the special honour of neothers. They oeeiiect; fibre sem of honour, and everyone brought them gifts. Sons and'daughteee, who had gone out into the world strove to be at home en. teat one night in the year. A little later the name Yule wee'., given to Christmas, : and the-' re- joicings of the day were prolong- ed into night, when nen sang and told stories sitting round stile cheerful blaze of the Yule log. The old customs of. Mothers' Night gradually died oat, though they still survive in a few parts of the 'country. Its place hasp ;been taken to some extent by :Nother- ing Sunday in the North of Eng- land. ngland. On that day everyone who, can do so still makes a pilgrim- age homewards, and the mother receives the homage of her .fam- ily. To Yule Candles Christmas candles for gifts or table decorations can be made at home from bits of discarded can - 'dies, and the whole family may have fun doing it. `There is no, limit to the shape and size of mold'to be used. Card- board boxes such as salt packages or ice cream cartons are very sat- isfactorye The cartons in which buttermilk is sometimes sold are good for the tapered candles. Good results leave even been re- ported with fancy gelatin molds of certain types and with jelly glasses. ' The wick may be fastened through a hole in the bottom of the cardboard containers, but in smooth -bottomed molds, it must be kept in place by pouring in a little wax at a time around it, and then allowing it.to harden. Arrange two small sticks at right,angies at the top of the mold and, tie the wick in the centre so that it will be held securely in place during the whole process. Common string; the wick from an oldcandle, or commercial ,candle wicking sold at variety stores , or in needlework depart- n►ehts may all be used for ,the bxneinade.candles. • Dipped Candles All wax to be used in a single ' candle should be melted in the came,: container, as it is difficult to •match colors. Wax crayons are good coloring matter, and some ;women. have used lipstick with'success: As the wax cools in the Mold, a hole will be formed down the centre. Enough wax of the same color should be saved to fill this hole. Lacking enough old candles to make the large ones now so pott- ier, tallow candles can be made from these proportions: 10 ounces of tallow, .i/i ounce of camphor, 4 ounces of beeswax and 2 ounces of alum. Melted paraffin, which'" is sometimes used, is hard to dye and breaks easily. To make dipped candles, one end of the wick is fastened to a stick or pencil, and the wick dip- ped into the melted wax for a short time. As many candles as canbe fully immersed at each ` dipping may be made at one time. If the surrounding air is cool, it is not necessary to dip the candles in cold water. For a clear bright red candle, it is best not to use such dark' colors as blue and fizeen candles in the melting down process. How- ever, very often the layer of color is just on the outside, and it can be scraped off and the rest of the candle used. Christmas Carols The singing of Christmas carols originated in England. According to tradition, this is the chorus of the 'very first: "Glory to God in the Highest, and on. Earth, Peace, Good will toward Men." A Real Christas Wrapping Srnall Gifts An unusual way to wrap a num- ber of small gifts that are to be given in a good-sized Christmas box is to tuck each one in an en- velope made of either plain red, holly, silver or gold paper. Wrap each gift that in plain white tis- sue paper, folded in envelope style, and seal the flaps of both the inner and outer envelopes with contrasting seals. Patterns for the envelopes eau be out from ordin ary envelopes by tearing one apart and either enlarging on it or trim- ming it down. Christmas Special A Iattice crust sets off a color- ful fruit pie. It's made with strips of dough twisted or laid flat across the pie at right angles. Each strip, should be moistened where it meets the rim of pastry. Another trick to show off the fill- ing, and at the same time make the pie a Christmas special, is to cut out little trees and stars from the pie dough, prick with a fork, dust with nutmeg and granulated sugar, and bake in a hot oven a few minutes until lightly browned. Then arrange the pastry cut-outs on the cooked pie. • First Christmas Tree In Strassburg, Germany, in 1604, the first Christmas tree ap- pears in literature. It is thought that the custom of using Christ- mas trees in Germany spread from Strassburg. When Queen Victoria married Prince Albert, he introduced the Christmas tree custom into Eng- land. ' From the early emigrants of Germany and England was derived the custom of the Christmas tree in America. Accidents Offer Threat To Gaiety Nothing can spoil the festive gai- ety of a Christmas celebration more completely than a fire or ac- csident in the home. There are sev- eral essential precautions which will help to assure a truly Merry Christmas. Don't risk using frayed cords and broken plugs. Don't handle electrical applian- ces with wet hands. Don't yank at cords or run them ruder rugs. Don't forget to have insulated staples on hand for stringing cords around Uon't overload your house cir- cuit, Usually 1,000 watts is as much as any one circuit 11111 stand. Don't neglect presiding plenty of extra lamp bulbs of the various sizes and colors you're neing for Christmas cheer, so you can re- place burned out ones. Don't put pennies in a brown- out fuse. A blown fuse is a warn- ing) Don't have high -wattage lamp bulbs herr fancy inflammable or- naments,` synthetic materials, pa- per or eotton, Watch out about using candles too near draperies, wall paper or woodwork. Don't plan to have a row of candles too close to tt mirror or the heat nnay crack it. And above all, d:ou't burn real can(11os on your Christmas vias tree enlesS it has first ban tllorongely 1 reimotil ed. 1u "Oh, lookit, lookit, Jimmie, Doesn't it look like a real baby? Just 'magine it's for me!" And. little Sally's face was radiant with, the imagined joy, "Ah, that's nothing but a doll! You girls!" and Johnnie's nose turned up with disgust. "If . you're lookin', just lookit that!" and he pointed to a scooter that leaned proudly against the wall in the show window. "That's what Santa Claus has picked out for me." And Johnnle'S eyes shone. A well-dressed man standing near them heard the words, and looked curiously at the ragged children. As he saw bis wife ap- proaching, the children started on, but not before he heard the boy say to his sister, "It's no use 'mag- ining anything this year. Aunt Meg doesn't even have a. chimbley for Santa to crawl down, and he probably doesn't even knew that daddy and mother aren't here any more," and his brave little lip quivered. The man turned to his wife, who had just reached him. "aladge, look at that window." But her yoke was shrill with a hysterical grief, as she exclaimed: "Oh, Phil, I can't look at those toys. You know I can't. When little Elsie is dead, and we have no one to make Christmas for." "But, Madge, that is what I mean. We have someone to make a Christmas for. See those kids there, just going round the cor- ner? They are the Mayne child- ren, whose father and mother were killed in that factory fire last month. They're living with their aunt, who already bas four chic- - dren of her own: and her husband is only working part time since the fire." He said no more but watched his wife anxiously. Her look of grief turned slowly to one of ci-aestioning and then pleasure. "We'll do it'.' she exclaimed in glad tones. "I heard them tell each other what they wanted," Phil said joy- ously. So on Christmas snoring Sally and Johnnie. were surprised to have an auto drive up in front of their Aunt Meg's house, and have a nue big man ask them to go home with him to dinner. Aud there, when they had taken off their coats and bats, they found a lovely Christmas tree with a beau- tiful doll and a perfectly grand scooter, and a new suit for John- nie and a dress for Sally which made her eyes sparkle with joy. "We don't want you to go home," Mrs. Vigars said when the children began to talk about hav- ing to go, after the dinner of tur- key and cranberry sauce and all the fixings. "We want you to stay, don't we, Phil?" "Indeed we do, for we need a little boy and girl in our house." Phil Vigars replied, with a happy smile on his face. And he added, under his breath, as he gave his -wife a mighty hug. "This is a real Christmas, Madge. I'm glad there was plenty of room at this inn," Candles The: c candles are such lovely things All Lam—ler-tipped and bright. They gine the mellow radiance I like on Christmas night. So 1 have lighted small rod ones Upon the waiting tree; Tall green 0110s on the mantel shelf To show the recur to ore. But this so slender, silver one— Much beauty cheaply priced—. I bought to mark my window sill With the bolo of the ('heist. And shepherd -Brice, all three:;h the: night, Watching afros the hill, it will remind some traveler Of peaces—and of good will. Lacks 3 uie��>g d'..khfUn 'elle poinsectie has deo Cerisl.lrns tradition. b(x blit! rct9 and green J.0 at • ( the 'i:t,teers themselves ht•:1.:: rho s 1,.i; see 1ow. centres), and heing mailable at • this season, the l,.rilii:lnce au1(i color of thio pieta a d ,ouch to Christmas deem:Ta 01):. Tee plant is native to Central A 111 +a:l end Mexico and tt:is alr.rpte,l some yearsngo to ,.(ti()n 1,,y lir. Paine: It of ('L o r raen, 1'. 1'. 1e is distinctly model,; and Araeattan.