The Wingham Advance, 1911-12-21, Page 71
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WILLIE Hairs
LAST CHRISTMAS
—THE GENERAWS STORY—
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Tbe general was sitting at hie fireside
reading when we went dn. He was a
fine speeimen of manhood, in Opite of
the feet that hie grey hairs and wrinia
fece sliowea plainly that tinee and
experience had etentleinod in ith effort to
effect is. appearance in his old age. Des -
pito his years, boo/ever, lo etill bail that
erect carriage which bad Made him the
adniirettion of an who knew aim in the
days of hie activity. The general al-
ways. had an interesting story to tell,
and it was not long before he started in
to relate one of his numerous experieto
yes.
"Ohristme.s day never comes around,"
he said, "without in maid going back to
tvliat Was perhaps one el the etrangest
and most touching experiences I have
ever had. It was duing my Indian ser-
vice, stirring time; they were, too, ripe
with inutiny and murder.
"-at that time I had In my regiment a
little bugler. I had often noticed Min as
being too delicate and fragile for the
life be had to teed, but he was born in
the regiment and we Were bound to make
the be of him. Ris father, as brave a
man aa ever lived, had been killed in ac-
tion, and his mother had drooped and
died six months later, She was a deli -
rate, refined creature, the daughter of
a Scripture reader, and had brought the
aoy up strictly according to her ideas.
She was very much liked and respected
by the men of the regiment, and the boy
was the image of his mother) but, as he
preferred. her company to that of the
'men, he was not popular, and suffered
from many a coarse taunt and mocking
jibe.
"After hie mother died—I heard . all
„this afterward—his Iife was made a mis-
ery to him by the scoffing sneers and ri-
bald jokes of the men whose butt he
was:
"About two years later, when Willie
Holt (for that was his name), was four-
teeo years of age, the regiment was bi-
vouacked some miles from camp for rifle
practice. I had intended leaving the boy
behind, thinking him too delicate for
such work—the ground was swampy and
unhealthy—but my sergeant -major beg -
aged hard eo; be, allowed to take him
along. ,. • .
"'There is misebief in the air, Colonel,'
he said, 'and rough as they twat the lad
--and they do lead him a life—his pluck
andpatience tell on sem, for the boy ia.
a saint, sir, he is indeed.'
"I had a rough lot of recruits just
then, and before we had been out a fort-
niglit severid acts of insubordinatime had.
been brought to my notice—those were
ticklish times ---and I had sworn to
make an example of the very next .of-
fender by having him publicly flogged.
- "One morning it was reported to • me
that, during the night, the butts, or
targets, had been thrown down and mu-
tilated and the usual practice could not
take place .This was serious, indeed and
on investigation the rascally work was
traced to a man or men in the very -tent
in which Willie Holt was billeted, two
of them being the worst chareeters ifl.
the regiment; The whole Jot were immede
lately put under -tamest to be Wel by
court -Inertial, when enough evidence
could be produced to prove- conclusively
that One or more of the prisoners were
quitter of the crirne. In vein were they
appealed to to produce the men, and at
MAI said: 'We have all heard the ,evi-
deem that weaves the perpetrator of
last light's offence to be one of the men
of No. 4 tent—" then turning to the 'pri-
soners I added, If any of you who slept
In No..4 tent last night will come for-
ward and take his punishment like a
nuut, the rest will get off scot free; if
net, iheee remains no alterriative bot
to punish you all, each man to receive
In turn ten strokes of the eat.' '
!Tor the space of a couple of minutes,
lead& seemed like hours, there was a
dead silence; then froin the midst of the
piiioners; where his slight form had been
alniost completely hidden, Willie Holt
stepped forward. He advanced to within
a -couple Of yards from where I sat, his
face was very pale, a fixed ieteosity of
purpose stamped upon evhry line of it
and his steadfast, shining eyes met
mine. cleareand full.
"'Colonel,' he said as he saluted, 'you
have paseed your werd that if any one
of those men who slept in No. 4 tent
last night comes forward to take his
punishment, the rest shall get off free.
I am ready, sir, and please may I take
it now?'
"For a monied I Was speechless, so
utterly was I taken by surprise; then,
inn fury of anger and disgust, I turned
upon the prisoners:
"Is there no man among you worthy
of the name? Are you all, cowards en-
ough to let this ladsuffer for your
tins? for that he is guiltless you know
as well as I.' But sullen and silent they
steed, with never a word.
"Then I turned to the 'boy, whose
patient, pleading eyes were fixed upon
my face, and never in all my life have
I found myself so 'painfully situated. I
knew my word must stand and the boy
knew it, too, as lie repeated ono more—
1 *in ready, sir.'
"Sick at heart I gave the order, and
he Was led away for punishment Brave.
ly he stood evith back bared, as one, two,
three strokes descended. At the fourth a
low moan escaped his white lips, but
while the unwilling hand of the sergeant
was bringing the whip down for the
fifth titne, and ere yet it had touched
Ids bleeding bad: a hoarse cry—almost
a roar—burst from the group of prise*
ere, who had been forced to WitfleaS the
terrible scene, and with one bound Jim
'Sykes, the black sheep of the regiment,
sefzed the scourge as with choking, gasp-
ing utterance he shouted:
7"Stop it, Morel, stop itl tie meup
instead. Ire never dia it. I did,' and With
convulsed and. anguished face ite flung
his arms around the boy.
Fainteng ana, almost, speeehlese.
lifted his eyes to tbe man's fae.e and
9mlIed—suc1 i 91,11110. "!t' U right,noWt
JIM," he whisperoa, fin.tty hydd ere
safe now; the Colonel's wora will stand."
His head fell forwrita,—he had fainted.
The next. day, Chrietmie day, ea I
was making for the ?larvael tent where
the boy lay, T met the doctor.
allow is the ladf' 1asked,
"Sinking. Colonel's he emit!, quietly.
"What!" I almost elioutea, horrified --
startled beyond words.
"Yes, ,the shoe): af yetteraay Was too
much for his feeble etreagre. I loam
knoven lot tame months it was only a
miter of time. This affair has only
issatened matte:v." Then his added.
groffly, mare fit for teeven than
eerth," an, with a suspieioue moisture
Ills kind old tem he etootl neide While
1 pt iato the tent.
dylast lea lay propped on ea the
torso and, loll twang. Ititif Muth.
M Isis aide. wan Jim Sykes. The
I* Os. tors face startled me; it
,
was deathly white, but his eyes were
alining with a wonderful light, strangely
eweet.
The kneeling man Bike las heed, and
I saw the arops of sweat standiag en hie
brow as he muttered, briketiler:
"Why did ye do it, lad? Way did
Ye do itft
"Because 1 wantel to take it for you,
Jim," 'Willie's weak voice answered, ten-
delly. "I thought if I aia miglit help
yea to understaud a little bit why
Christ died for you."
"Why Christ died for me?" the man
repeated,
"Yes; He dial for you because Re
loved ,you, Jim. I only suffered for one
sin, but (twist took the petite/meat, of
all the eine yon have ever eonunitted.
The punishment of your sins was death,
Jim, and Oiliest died for you . Ilo has
pouretleout Hie precious life blood for
you. Re is knocaing at the door of
your heart. Won't you let Rim he? Oh,
you remit, and then we Allan meet
again,"
The lad's voice frilled him, but he lala
his hand gently on the man's howee
head. .
A choking sob was the only answer,
and for a few minutes there was silence..
Standing there in the shadow I felt
my own heart etrangely stirred. I had
hard ef ouch things once, long, long
ago. Thoughts of the mother I had
idolized came floating baelc, out of the
dead past, and tlie words teemed a faint
echo of her own.
How long I stood there I know not,
but I was roused by a hoarse ery from
the man, and then 1 saw that Willie had
fallen back on bis pillarr, fainting,
thought he was gone, bat a few drops -
of cordial from the hable ate his Ode
roused him. Re opened his eyes, but
they were dint andsightlese.
"Sing to ine mother." he whispered.
"Sing 'The ates of Pearl,' 1 am so
tired."
Itt a flash the words came back to- me.
I had heard thent often in the shadowy
past, and I found meraelf repeating thezie
softly to the dying boy:
"Though the day be 'never in long,
It ringeth at length- to evensong,
And the weary worker goes to las rest
With words of peace and pardon blest.
Though the path be never so steep,
.And rough to walk ten and hard to keep,
It will lead, when the weary road is trod,
.TO the Gates of Pearl—the elity 'of God."
"Thank y011, Colonel," he whispered..
"Pli leen be there."
His tone of confidence wined se
strange to me that 1 eald,, :nvoluotterily,
"Where?"
"Why, ,Heaven, Colonel. The roll -call
has sounded for me; the gates are open;
theanico'is paid."
Then, safely, dreamily, he repeated,
as if to himself:
"Just as I am, without one plea.
But that Thy, blood Was Shea for Me,
.And that Thou bidet me come to Thee, •
Oh, Lamb of Cled, I come."
Then he lifted his dim eyea to mine.
"You Will help him, sir?" he breathed,
faintly, laying his hand feebly on the
head of the man at his side; "you will
show idly :the way to—the—Clates—ote-
Pearl ?"
ne each word fell haltingly, fainter and
yet fainter came the breath of the dear
bey. Suddenly a glprious light flaked
into hie dying eyes, and, with a radiant,
happy ery, he flung out his arms, as if
in welcome, elibuting:
"Motheel Mother !"
-His voice rang out, thrilling. the avert
of every man wbo heard it. Then grade -
ally the weak arms dropped; the light
faded from the shining eyes, and the
bratre spirit of the nuirtyted boy fled. to
God, - a
"Sudo my friends, was tho strangest
end meet pathetie Christmas experience
ever had. and one which I would ra-
ther die than have ,to witness again,"
sold the Colonel, wiping the tears from
his clear, blue tome
We seid nothing, but the story will
remain with us as long aa we live. .
4 •
• Dressing,a
,Christaiis Tree
A Christmas tree ought to be selected
with• special reference to the space it is
to occupy; one of those with branches
firm, not too broad, and quite tall is
best, The. upper brow -heti should be
decorated before the tree is set up, in
ease they are too tall to be reached by
step -ladders. This can be managed by
undoing the strands that confine the
upper branches of the trees as prepared
for market, then tying upon the tips of
the boughs white cotton -batting snow
balls, short loops of popped corn, strings
of cranberries, glittering ornaments, etc.
The decoration of the tree may be More
or less elaborate, as desired. To save
expense, yet at the same time to insure
a brilliant effect, it is a good plan to
hang the gifts so that bright, contrast-
ing colors may set off the tree. Bundles
done up in brown paper ate never pret-
ty; but dolls, bright covered batiks, gay-
ly;minted toys, bright silk handkerchiefs
b. a white scarfs, sleds, wagon; etc.,
should be placed in prominent Amt. I
When the gifts are all nicely arrang-
ed, take a liberal quantity of frost
powder and a. dozen, more or less, pack-
ages of gilt and silver fringe (these are
sold at One dollar pee dozen). Spread
the fringe tie ornament as much spite°
posalle, ale cover lightly the front
and eiders of the tree with it. Thee sprin-
- kb e the glittering frost gewder upon the
tree branches. Ileeiet a brilliant light
the tree beeomes i veritable creation of
fairyland. Santa as a dispenser of candy
brigs and bonbons is always welcomed by
the little ones. If he has a fund of
Christmas rhymes, stories and songs to
Mingle with his gifts, he is all the more
welcome.
—a... •
A CHRISTMAS COMMANDMENT.
(By Albert Erederiek Wilson.)
This then shall mrike the Christmas
heart: Love strewn like red, red roves
octets the Chrietmas dawn; not barter
love, like inereheaulke etehanged upon
the market places. but love thrown free
and large from mit the heart's red gar-
den. Greet handfuls eeitttered generous-
ly, yet tenderly, that Youth may not
trample nor Old Age look With cynic
eye. Love strewn like red roses; that
the eltitching hand may drop its sweated
gold to plate the tea, waft Ultimo
within a rusted botoin; that the barren
Maul In every hat and hovel may reads
mit awl greep its firet reel treasure.
Ian tide shall mite the
s It is'.
An.' these shell make the Ct
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A MERRY CaRISTMAS TO ALL
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Christmas Eve at Bethlehem 1
IN-7133"KinZZEITAIE
But peaceful was the night
Wherein the Prince of Light
His reign of peace upon the earth
began.
The winds with wonder whist
Smoothly the waters kist.
Whispering new joys to the maid
ocean.
Who now hath quite forgot to rave,
While birds of calm sit brooding on the
charined wave.
When such music -sweet
Their hearts and ears did greet
As never was by mortal finger strook,
Diyinely-warbled voice
Answering the stringed noise,
As all their mills in blissful rapture
took.
The air such pleasure loth to lose
With thousand echoes still prolongs
each heavenly close.,
e -Milton's "do to the Nativity."
Bethlehem, the central spot of inter-
est in -the Holy Land at Christmastide,
is it Christian. town in the heart of Mo-
hammedanism, where onoe a year the
Greek Church grants the use of the
Grotto of the Nativity to the Latin
Church. The cetemonies begin on De-
cember 24 by the image (or "Bambino"
as it is termed in Italy of the youth-
ful Christ being carried from the Basil-
ica of St. Helena to the sacred Grotto
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of the Nativity, -where the. traditional
spot of Christ's birth is marked by a
silver star set in the rocky pavement.
The service begins at 10 o'clock in
the evening. It opens with the chant-
ing of Psalms, without any inimical ac-
companiment. Tho Patriarch. of amis.,
alem is usually present aud officiates,
but on this occasion he is represented.
by the Latin BisIxop. The interior of
the church is most picturesque, for
there are only n far, chairs provided
for foreign visitors, while the bulk of
the congregation is made up of the
Bethlehemite women in their blue
dresses, with red frontletts, wearing
peaked caps when married and flat caps
when single, covered by white veils.
As they enter the church they .at first,
kneel down and theu situpon the
ground in true Oriental fashion. "In
the dimly -lighted ehurch," says One
who has seen the services, and writes
to the Sphere., "these squatting vari-
colored figures, with their beautiful
faces lit up by fits and starts by flash-
es of the candles, intent on devotion,
seem like so many modern Madonnas
come to celebrite the glory of the first
Madontia."
Precisely at midnight the Pontifical
high mass is celebrated, the figure of
Cheist is brought in a basket and depos-
••••*•••*a.m
Christmas Among
the Negroes
An indispensable factor in the old-
fashioned Christians celebration ou
southern plantation was 11. part contri-
hilted by.the colored folk on the place,
and it is a, utatter for present day eon -
gratulation that wany of the veteran
retainers of the days "bete' de welt"
have, with their children clug eteadfiteie
ly to the old estatee, and are time in a
position to render invaluable assistance
in * revival of old conditione that is now
in progress. No person, can enter wore
zealously into all that pertains to a
Christmas jollification Omit the wire -
free, pleesure-loving negro. To the race
in the eouthlana it has ever been the
pre-eminent holiday of "the year.
just at tile outset of any mention bi
this eubjeet, it should, perhaps, be ca-
ptained that the lomat resumption Of
the lavish open-handed hospitality which
was chareeteristie of the barenial este to
in Dixie in ante-bellum tlays ie largely
aim to the feat that during the past few
years inoneyed, men of leisure from all
parts of the country have been buying
up the splendid private estate e of the
south and resorting thereoh, an nearly as
possible, the conditions of ideal Ameri-
can country life.
In Virginia alone millions of dollars
have lately been invested in this class
of property by wealthy northerners, who,
attraoted by the mild winters, the wog-
nificent saddle horses, the excellent
hunting and other advantages, plan to
make the old dominion their home for
at least a portion of the year. Now the
late autumn and the early winter is one
of the most allerifig sermons of the year
itt. a goodly portion of the south and it
naturally follows that Christmite is
great rallying time. The new owners of
the colonial manor houses bring down
great parties of guests, and find one of
their chief sources of atuuseenigt in the
holiday article of the old-time, impelled
darkies, 1'
As has been explained, the present day
owners of southern plantations have
found, ready to liana on every estate e
large population of the -colored folk. De-
spite. steady, mignition northwards 'of
numbers of southern uogroes, there yet
remain, mayhat as squatters, a liberal'
representation of the blaelts an4 the
twentieth century. "country squires,"
who are seeking to restore the atmos-
phere of tho old, plantation days, have
Leen enabled to enlist as retainers not -
a few formerslaves and veteran house
servants wao are competent to narry
their portion of a, Christmas programme
after the fashien of half a century ago. -
To the white residents of the south a
"green Christmas". k 'something of a dis-
appointment, yet- one withal met in
met eaecs be expected, since a. a. eel.
„ dom that snow and ahlistinas c•»ne to-
gether. The eolonial flak, however, fled
the abseuce of the symbols of whiter no.
muse for sorrow. To them alai -ahem
means a day, or rather several 'layof
feasting, singing aria deeming, fuel they
require no frost -touched air to whet
their appetites for the delicacies. A
Chrietnuts custom dear to the e lett;
of the old-thne darkies itt Diehl, vi well
as to those of the eking generation, is
the practice of settiug off fireeraeleers,
discliarging carmen and otherwise k ng
loua expreesion to joy so that the Wet
holiday of the year is quite as noisy as
the fourth of :telly in other Reeti011$1 of
the country. As a rule the fusilade be-
gins at midnight on Christmas eye. and
in the days before the eivil war there
was little sleep -on the night, before
Christmas either et the great house or
in the "quarters" of the darkies. Jaw
it -ed upon the high altar and the preees-
sion forms to accompany it to trill*
crypt. As the long, chanting proeession
winds through the dimly -lighted elniech
there is something weirdly solemn
about the ceremony, and as the sacred
image passes, various ode of worship
aro performed by the devout attend-
ants. On the prooeesioe moves through
tlie roughhewn, dimly-lit passages from
the Latin church to the Grotto of the
Nativity, When the 'procession of riche
ly-robed ecclesiasticsreaches the silvert
star set in the pavement they pause
aud stand in a group about the basket.
which is deposited, upon the star.
Around the star is the inscription, "Hic
de virgin* nettle est," for this' is the
.spot upon which tradition places the
actual birth of Jesus. There the recital
of the account of the birth of Jesus as
found it' the Gosaels is slowly recited,
and when the peseage (Luke ii. 7),
"And she brought forth her firstborn
son, and wrapped him in swaddling
clothes, and laid Him in a mauger ; be-
cause there was no room for them in
the inn,' is read the figure is reverent-
ly picked up from. the !Aar and carried
over to the opposite side of the groto
to, where it is put into a leek -cut man-
ger. This concludee the serviee of Christ -
mss Eve at 13ethIchem.
prayez Lips all sweet with gratitude;
hands all strong from the workehop's
close eomradery; feet that are weary
from field and street; backs that bend
beneath the -Samaritan load. Yea, these
shall make the Christmas prayer.
And these shall make the Christm,as
carol: The prodigal's tong upon the old
home road.; the scraping of ten thou-
sand chairs in city barracks, where Sal-
vation Army boar& complain beneath
the feast; the tread of giftfolk upon the
tenements' dark stairways; the laughter
of little children in toyland'e mystic
realms; silver bells acrose the hills of
snowr the whole glad world's pure ee.
daisy. Yea, these shall make the
Christmas carol.
IF I WERE SANTA CLAUS.
IT only I were Santa, Claus I'd travel
• ' east and west
TO' every hovel where there lies a
little ohild at .rest;
I'd drive my reindeer over rote
they'd never trod before.
I'd seek the tenements where sleep
the babies on the floor;
Where rags are stuffed in broken
panes to keep the wind away,
And where a warm and cozy room
is never known to -day.
For even there r know I'd find hung
-up and stockings small
As signs that they expected nte on
Christmas tete to gall.
If only T were Sett& Claus, I'd past
the mansiorte by
And seek the cold and eheerletes homes
where pale-faeod youngsters lie;
And as they 'tlept I'd pause a while
and, betiding low, I'd kiss
The lips of every little tot—not one
of them I'd mise; •
And then I'd fill their nothings full
of toys and Boger plume,
And leave them steighe and tkates and
doll and Teddy bears and
• drume.
I would nat pass it cottage by, but
would try to be
A Santa Claw te every tot w -ho still
haa faith in. me.
If only 1 were Santa Clarts-ard make
the mothers glad,
The dear, hard-working enothere who
at Christmass time are ead;
The kind and patient, mothers, who
tock their babies to sleep,
And through the lonely hours of
night soil) bitterly and weep.
They see their precioue little ones
half clad aOd hungry, too,
/Crowing the itorrow that muat come
to then/ when night is through;
To every mother's; faee I'd bring the
*ranee *nee more, and vre
Would spend a while together et har
babies' Ohrktmem tree,
Norman 'Duncan
On Santa Claus
Norman Dunean feels keenly on the
subject of Santa Claus and the kindred
myths et childhood. -In a few words of
preface in his little story, "The Suitable
Child," published by the Revell Com-
pany, lie strongly arraigns those male-
factors who disillusion the child. He
says that—but let hint speek for him-
self:
"Not labor is life: lottor is a thing ac-
complished in provision. Love is life;
and love is diversely concerned. Whose
loves a child loves nob himself but 'God;
whoso delights a chart labors with God
In Nis workshop of the world of hearts;
whose helps a thild brings the kingclom
of God; whoso saves a child from the
fingers Of evil sits in the seat with the
builders of cities and the procurers of
-peace. •
"Nor happily is this divine achleye-
tient beyond the aspiration of such as
aro poor, Such as are humble, such as
are ignorant, such as have 'tested fail-
ure, such as are stricken, such as are at-
quainted with the utmost deprivation.
Into the keeping of the humble is in this
reasonable way committed the salvatiou
of the world; the poor and the meek
and the broken in heart, greater in mul-
titude than the mighty in their power
and in their wisdom and in their many ,
riches of aims and means and rewards.
"They who being able in any proper
way to 'provide those pleasures of Christ-
mas which are meet and due according
to the established custom but still with-
hold them fttem children do thieve jewels
from the helpless; and herein is a mys-
tery; that these stolen riches; (to in no
way benefit the robbers, but change in
their very hands to the weeds of selfish
ways, which spring poisonously and end -
fold and coestriet.
"They who go AM proclaiming
against the festival joy—they who inter -
page a specious wiedoin—they who
would destroy the Miry fictions of the
time—they who withdraw into them-
selves—they who are dried up and sel-
fish and self-suffielent and niggardly
and ottspleions and narrow-believing—
they who preaeli a departure from the
customs of the fathers—they who dirk
cover selfishness in anxious generosity
--they who eoniplain and sneer and M-
I:elle—they who stop their ears Aglaia
laughter Ana lift sour faces to the morn.
big; such do stid aria abet the theft
of' innocent delighe and lowing smiled
eoirnilrptlnt.
oondo etand in peril of the smite
rtali
"TAt them all hewere lest they pettish
indeed! Age is upon them --no tender
hand of the years to beautify and glad-
den; but terrible age of the spirit to
wither and to kill. Stop thief!
OIIRISTIVLAS SNOWDRIFT.
The term Christmas box was first
used in England in 1011.
The goose, as a Christmas 'dish, comes
from Scotland -
There is no historical mention of a
Christmas tree before 1003.
Peacocks at one time took the place
of turkeys on the Christinas table.
-
Last year 3,700 tons of Christmas
eveigreens entered London, their aggre-
gate cost being about 433,000.
Christmas wile are a comparatively
modern instituitin. The idea came from
the French New Year carde.
Paris uses fifty thousand Christmas
trees eaeli year, of whith about twelve
thousand aro bought by foreigners re-
siding in Paris.
In the old days alum pottage—the
form of plum pudding—was Al.
ways serval with •the first course of a
ChTrhieet
iniaasrgdestiearistme candles made
ate nearly six feet high, weigh about
forty pounds, are of pure white bees.
wax and cost /lee pounds apiece.
"Free gangway" 19 usually a specie
Christmas privilege aboard ship in the
navy. It means that any or all can go
ashore, at they please.
Mistletoe is common in several parts
Of the world. It is extremely plentiful
on several apple trees in Normandy and
Driinzttaneyv.
onshire the Yule log is known
as the Ashton faggot. The 'faggot is
composed of a bundle, of ash etieks
bound With nine bands of the same
wood.
giant event of the old Claristmas
dinner four or five hundred years ago
was the entry of the chief cook beetritig
the boar's; head, garnished with rose -
nutty.
The first Christmas tree in a British.
Iloyal palate was in the Deign of George
W. Lord John nitwit was present,
and speaks of the tree being covered
with colored candles.
Turkeys, mince pies iota plunt pud-
dings are tow regarded aa the chief
item in the Christmas dinner; but at
one time they were mere side (Italie; in
an enormous number of courses+.
liWarinaire,*4.41.411,
MAKING it EASY.
Daughter --Mn, I think you'd better
let pa, ern:plat in the house.
Mother -4 should like to know why?'
rhettgliter-aEvery Christmas we have
trouble trying to present for hint
—aterythiug is so expenelve, yen know; '
but We ean alweys get very pretty ask
treys it 25 tante!
•
1•••••i11•10
ot the colored people Iwo funds to pur-
chase a, genuine eament for sucit mho
bratioa liy converting the logo of trees,
into follow the time honored method of
vontributing to the aole'y Christina*
jubilation by converting the logs of
trees; in what might be compared to
giant firecrackers. One or two pounds
of gunpowder is placed, in a stout hol-
low log, one end of wbieli, is plugged up
.and the explosive is Leached off by
memos of :twee of witecea and greasy
string running through gimlet holes bor-
ed la the plugs. The charging of this
big brother of modern cannon cracker
must be done immediately before it is
fired, but the loge are usually choeen
days beforehanel and rolled from the
woods to a, clearing, where the noise will
spread. 'treat care must be exercisediu
the selection of the logs for service as
hem, made firectachere, for where es
sound hard section of a tree trunk will
glee a, clear, sharp report, a rotten log
yielila a notified sound that is as much a
disappointment as is the fizzer Me-
erut:4r to the average small boy. On
Christmas eve or ori Christi:nee night
,there are diselaye onireworks of great-
er or less proportions, and for weeks
before the holiday every cross roads
titer° carries a stock of sky rockets and
Rerun candles and pin wheels, just as
, does the northern merchant prior to
,Independence Day.
. The gaute of 'catching" Cluistmas
kifts has from time out of mind been
.highly popular among the plantation
'derides of the south, who delight in prae-
eticing it upon the lets wary whitenfolk.
According to the rules, whoever -Meets
you between midnight on December 24
arid midnight on December 25, and calls
• out 'Christmas gift" ere you have had
time of presence of mind to say the same
thing has it right to demand a gift, great
oe small. There is a disposition' on the
part of the younger metnbers of each
plantation community to keep up the
preetice during the whole of Christmas
week, when there is much visiting back
and foith on the countryside. Absolute
democracy is observed in so fax as parti-
.cipation in this game is concerned, mac -
ter and servant being on a plane of PCI..
Loot equality, and it must be admitted -
that, the noiseless, negroes are usually
victors in any such contest beeween the
races.
The colored 'help on the southern
plantation ha4 to hear the bruht of the
work of preparation for the Christmas
dinner, but with the proverbial tenden-
cies of the row they make play out of
work to as greet an extent as possible.
Espeeirtlly is this true in connection with
the hunting, which is likely to be a pre-
liminary of the feast, since wild talicey
i$ eeteemed more highly in many sleuth -
ern hotteeholits than is the tame fowl,
and poesum is a delicaey so highly re-
garded by a considerable portion of the
population.
.1,ncouraseeil by their employers, the
plantation (rarities give over four or five
.days at Christmaa time teo feasting. The
tables are heavily laden with rib, saute
:age earl crackling, savory products of
the fine ure of hog killing, coon and
corn pone, 'possum fat and homi v to
say nothing of gingerbread, boiled eliest.nuts aud eider. There is much cracking
of walnuts and the roasting of apples
at the capacious open fireplaces in -the
cabins of the colored folk, and each tight
during the Yuletide season the floor of
the largest cabin is gleared for a dance
and the jig and breakdown, the pigeon -
wing and joba, go boieterously forward
to the accompaniment of the hand clap-
ping and the jigging of a fiddle.
The Bride's First
Christmas.
4.4 0 -444 -11.0 -1* -0-9-10-+÷.4-0-4-0-0 4÷4-6-1.•
Mrs. John Vincent Harris entered the
big department store' and seated herself
at the nearest counter. "No, nothing.
thank you," she said to the solicitous
clerk, "I just want to make sure I have
my list with me. It is so difficult to shop
at this time of the year, and it is al-
ways difficult to find anything for one's
—husbaeul.Yee,1 suppose mealy people
did their shopping earlier, but I didn't,
have hizu then. I mean—
"Why, aou sell neekties, don't you?
How fortunate! They are on my list.
No, I don't, think of any particular kind,
but something for it tali man. He is
whole head taller thau—aton say a four -
holland? Oh, I am afraid he couldn't tie
that, but you might give me a two -in -
hand. Thank you; that is very pretty,
but it is blue. Be doesn't like blue. Of
course you couldn't: know that. Not
that one. Why, niy papa wears them,
and he is lots older. Yes, that one will
do.
"Mr. Floorwalker, where are the col-
lars? Thank you. (She approaches
the counter.) You, please -a-are you
busy? I want some • cohere for my
husbatid. Oh, are these ladies' collars?
How stupid! I told that man distinctly
wanted collars.
(Atthe right piece.) "Are husbands'
collars hero? Weil, / am glad Y have
found the right place at lest. Size/
You clerks always ask so many ques-
tions. I stover bought any before, be.
cause we've been married only— No,
his neck isn't very large. Why, I can
reach—Butehe has real broad should -
dere. How nice you are to think of
theta Yes, a box of assorted elms
would be just the thing. Some, of
them would be sure to be right, and I
could cut the others off—that is, if they
were not too' small. You'd better put
in nearly all large sines. You see, I am
starting out as econemical as can be.
T think it must be so discouraging for a
a man to liave Wanton spend Ins motley
on frivolous things. now, as I Was com-
ing down the street I say a big sale of
hats—men% hats. They had been in the
window and were it little soiled, but /
found such a nice clerk, and lie said if
I got Borne of that "1010" soap it tvould
make them leek like new. Mr. Marie is
Very pattleular about his clothes. He
won't Wear trousers unless they are
pressed. to I bought three of therm hate
Don't you think they will Islet hint it
long tinte and saVe money?
"Mr. Floorwalker, where are the
gloveet Omni:min.'s/ Well, I hope
Ile is. Why, he is my husband. Oh, I,
see what you meant Yes, I want them
for Mr. John Tineent narris. (To
glove salesman.) Now, &MI ask inc
whet size I want. Not too large and%
not to small. I timid think you would
keret some of the different sizes BO you
mulct tell people. (Holding out her
hand.) It's lots larger than that. 'hots
think 1 wear a et Well, theo, you'd bet -
gine etes a le for btu, for he elteelsold
bats gar heads la oaf of 'his. Arelhest
a special sale? Isn't 40 cents erheip for
all that, kid? Mine cost $2. NO, I don't
think ItTe will want more than two or
three pairs. Now for the hose.
(In the women's hosiery department.)
"Are you busy? I have so many other
things to get, please 'hurry. I just
want to know where the other kind of
liose are. It' for my husband. Dank
you. (At the men's hosiery waiter.)
I want to get a hose—not like these,
but —The size? Oh, about ftfter feet.
Why, of emirse, Dwant it longer than it
man. I—I you don't understand. It isn't
this kind I want. No, nor ladies' either.
I 'just want a hose we can both use.
Mr. Floorwalker, may I speak to you?
"That clerk isn't it bit nice, and /
think you ought to punish him. No he
wasn't exactly impudent, but he was too
busy to answer my questions. Thank
you. I have had so much trouble to find
the right kind of hose. I want long—no,
I've been to that counter. I Want one
fifty feet long. You see, we are think-
ingof moving to the country in the
spring, and we shall want to water the
yard. Oh, ought I to have asked for the
conimon garden variety?
"Now I think I have iverything on
my list except cigars, and I may as
well go to a cheaper place for them be-
cause John Vincent Harris always gives
away all that I buy for him, he is se
generous."—Chicago News.
•
A REAL CHRISTMAS.
If yet there lurksin it dark corner
of any man's heart the spirit of old
Scrooge, why not re -read Dickens'.
classic "Christmas Carol?" And if the
heart then refuse to warm to the see -
eon's cheer, Van Dyke's exquisite "The
Other Wise Man" may SIM the day.
Though there are some features of our
present Christmas observances not al-
together admirable, it is yet a splendid
thing to put a child into the michilot
this busy world, to light theagandies
ozt thetree anti to distribute the gifts.
And to live at least one day le the
spirit of good-will—ie it not an antiei-
pation of the, time when all men shall
livein good -will all the days? It is
December the twenty-fifth that keeps
the world from growing old; every year
on that day it renews its youth.
No custom is more beautiful than that
of exchanging gifts. And la it not pos.
ilble to preserve. the giving epirit of
Christmas, freed horn ill taint of tom.
inerelalism? "It is more blessed to give
than to receive" was declared many can -
hake ago. But when it comes to peat
that he who receives a gift We that
lie must give another in return, end of
necessity of eqeal value—when Christ-
mae giving come,' to mean that 1 eeleet
something for my Mende and my friends
*elect something of the suttee value for
me—it has fallen into it mune of quid
pro quo and. has losst the gonuhtc ring -
of Chrittlen fellowship. Ile that gives
thinking only of a return bee yet to
experience giving of the right sort. Let
our giving be to r,atieheber friends, to
chair the lonely. to relieve the needy,
and all to be in the Writ of Tiny Tim's
"OM Were ne, every metes
We wish ell our reedere it very Merry
MORNING is: The uTTLE Tow*
Of RETIUMOIL
I ikus eoiset-yard ef tilis great than and
the open risme *rotted It were erowiled
with travellers reusing bora their
night'e reet ansi inakies reedy for the
dayh journey. In front of the *table*,
half hollowed la the rock beside the
men were eaddliug their horees"azel their
beaste of !Anhui, and there Was Muel)
Robin am), confileiou.
But beyond tbeee, at the end ot the
line, there was n deeper grotto in the
rock, which Wie used only when the
nearer etalle were full. At the entrance
of tide an ars wen tethered, aud a man
ef middle age stood in the doorway.
The sad shepherd saluted him and told
his name. ,
"I am Joseph, the carpenter of Nam,-
retb," replied the man. 'Have you oleo
eeeu the angels of ;ellen* your brother
shepherds came to tell us?"
"1 have seen no angels," anawered Am-
miel," nor balm I any brothers among
the shepherds. But I would fain See
what they have seen"
"It is our first-born sun," Bead Joseph,
"and the Most High has sent leim to
us, tie is n marvellous child; great
thinga. are foretold of Him. Yon may go
in, but quietly for the child and Ids mo-
ther Mary are asleep,"
So the sad. shepherd went in quietly.
Ins long shadew entered befere him, for
the eunriee was flowing into the door
of the grotto. It was made clean awl
put in order, ant a bed of straw we
laid in the corner on the ground.
The child was asleep, but the mother
wes waking, for oho bad taken him from
the manger into ber where Ler maid-
en von of white was spread to receive
him, And she was singing very softly es
she bent over him in happiness and iu
wonder.
Annniel saluted her and aneeled down
to look at the child. II° SOW nothing Of.
ferent from Other ;young ehildren. The
mother waited for lam to speak of an-
gels, as the other shepherds had done.
The sad shepherd said notbing, but only
looked, and as he looked his Nee
changed.
"You have had great pain aud danger
and sorrow for ilis sabre, he Egad. gent-
ly.
"They are past," she answered, taxa
for *Hie sake I bays suffered them glade
From "The Sad Sttepleerda' by- Henry"
van Dyke, in the January Scribner.
CHRISTMAS IN THREE LANDS.
•
Quaint Russian Customs.
At Christmas time in the Ruesian pro-
vince, as rut Hallowe'en in other coma
trice, popular superstition holds that it
is very easy to read the future. The girl*
read the future by'brealiing an egg iu a
glass of water and deducing their fate
from the ishepe it takes, first leaving it
before the shrine of some saint, or by
pouring melted wax into cola Water. The
final tet of fate IS to put a tiner.of each
guest into it large pan, covered with it
618th, being careful, to place three bits
of charcoal and small pieces of bread
and salt at the payeleic angle of the pen.
Tho rings are all turned with a spoon
while the gials sing songs. • At the enti.
of eaeli song, says the Travel Magazine,
a ring is palled out and the song that,
has beeu sung is 1410W11 to foretell tilo
future of the owner of the ring.
In Grenland.
Preparations in Greenland for this joy-.
ous. lestival, ,which is looked forward to
with the most enthusiastic anticipation
begin menthe before. All the gifta, wbich
consist chiefly of clothing, are made by
the women. Not only are clothes, male
as tunios, breeches anil boots, used for
gifts—all must be new -for the °melon,
ao that every one, young and obi, shall
appear at his -best.
A Polish Custom.
A pretty eustom in the Polish provinc-
es is to spread straw under the table at
the Christmas feast, so that no one shall
forget in the midst of their merriment
that the Lord of All was born in a Mau -
ger.
• •
SANTA CALUS PUDDING?'
This must be a complete surprise. The
children must not have the slightest
inkling of it. FM a. large tub with saw-
dust; then wrap the presents itt paper
and tie them so they will not fall out.
Blindfold the Children, lead them into
the room, and have them take hold of'
hands, forming a ring around the tub.
Now take Off the bandages, and say:
"Santa Clauses wishes you a Merry
Christmas, and asks you to see how you
like his pudding." Itoet must have a very
large wooden spoon, or ladle, and let
°meth child, in turn, dip up something
from the tub. It causes no end of fare,
and makes a pleasing change. These are
home amusements, and in ease the lit -
tie ones are unable to go out to a Chriet-
Milli tree is a pleasing way to enter.
tain them. -
Do you ever decorate the rooms with
popcorn and cranberries strung together,
and suspended from pictures? Let the -
children do this, and it will make thein
Very happy. Hark! Did I bear some very
careful mother say, "Dear mei the litter
it makes. The woman Who writes this
mut like a muss." I know the corn will
drop, but it is clean dirt.
Have you ever had the
tattitISTIVAS CAKE.
Make a very large cake, count the
number that are to share it, and put in .
a little gift, for each child; not any.,
thing large, to be sure—a tiny China •
doll, for instance, a little wooden whis-
tie, a five -cent piece, or a little ring, and
frost the top, covering with barley candy
animals. Let minim tut it, and via
piece will cootain a tiny gift. Thla is
it thought in ite nature of a dessert for
the wee ones.
Try the little pastime ealled the
CHRIST:NUS CANDLES.
Get a board and drill holes in it -large
enough to hold some small colored can.
dies, sue)) as are used for birthday cakes.
Nave as many candles as you have
Posts, and put them in the holes
the board. Now bid eiteli guest light
candle. Moe a eke thought res
eath one, like this; "Watch th
as they burn. The one that h
fit -et and goea out, le a SWe
IiiiiSt give tia it song." The
clown uext eon recite, ett.
burned out, the children 1
by beard and eset--
'0 eandlea 0 eendles.
dear,
We hope We
ItTIOtUr
1
HE WAS
"lay dear," he said in h
have *eked wie to do two
itt to von it !WM Piik go
tn send yeur teether
defray her travhLisg 191tPtiti
Ittier4 to do both, tut Ian
'``44t12'eir1 1
mother
,p
reenended the wire,
reeds entered the