Bloomington Progress, Volume 19, Number 42, Bloomington, Monroe County, 16 December 1885 — Page 5

hc $tpMk(m. prioress.

IDAY SU

LE3MENT

' MS CHRISTMAS SLED. BT JAMES WKITCOMB XILBT. X weh him, -with, his Christinas sled ; 80 hitches on behind A paeaing sleigh, with glad hooray And whistles down the wind; Be hears the horses champ their bits And belts that jingle-jingle Too Wooly Capt you Scarlet Mitts I Your minatnre Kris Kringlel I almost catch your secret joy Yotir cuucklings of delight The -while yon whizz whore glory ia "Eternally in sight ; With yon I catch my breath, as swift Your Jaunty sled goes gliding O'er classy track and shallow drift. As I behind were riding ! Ee winks at twinklings of the fros And, on his airy race, Iks tingles beat to redder heat 11m rapture of his face. Tbe colder keener is the air The lews he cares a feather. Sat, there! he's gone! And Igamoa Utee wintriest of weather I Ah, boy 1 still speeding o'er the track Where none returns again, To sigh for yon, or cry for yon. Or die for you were Tain And so, speed on! the while I pray All nipping frosts forsake you Bide stili ahead of grief, but may Att glad things overtake you I THE FIR TREE.

4 Fairy Story for the Season. BT HASH 0HK1STTAV ASDEESOW. Dot in the forest stood a delicate little ftr tree. It had a good place ; it received the un : there was air enongh there; around grew man? lanrnr cnmracles. Dine as well as fire. Bnt

a - ' the little fir tree wished so longingly to become terser. It regarded not the warm sun and the fresh air; it took no notice of the little peasants children who ran around and chattered whet, they came out to pick strawberries and raapbarrie. Often they came with a whole tubful, or strung the strawberries on straws; thenthej : seated themselves near the little fir tree and aKi: "See how delicately small it is!" Thar the tree did not care to hear at all. In the following year it was larger by a long branch, and the year after by yet a longer one; for in fir trees one can see by the number of joints how many years they have been growing "Oh, would that I were a big tree like thu others!" sighed the little tree; for then t conid stretch out my branches so widely and witk my top look so far out into the world. The birds would bnild their nests in nrr branches, and, if the wind blew, I could nrxi majestically, just like the others there!" It took no pleasure at all in the sunshine, in the little birds, and in the red clouds which sailed orer it, morning and evening. When it was winter, and the snow lay around whitj and sparkling, then a little hi. re frequently came springing np, and jumped right over tha little tree oh, that was so aggravating! But two winters passed, and in the third tholirtto tree 'had become go targe that the hare wa compelled to run around ii "On, to grow, to grow, to become big and old; that is the only bssntifnl thing in this world!" thought to tree. In autumn many wood-choppers always came and felled many of the largest bees; tint happened every year, and the young trot, which had become quite large, shuddered t gee It; for the large, beautiful trees fell with crashing and cracking to the earth, their branches were cot off, and the trees looked sr bare, long, and slender, they were scarcely to be nognized. Then they were bud upon a wagon, and horses drew tiieia away out of the wood. Where do thev go What fate awaitsthem?

lit spring when the swallows and storks came the little tree asked them: Do yon not know

where they are earned Have yon not met

The swallows knew nothing, but the stork looked thoughtful, nodded his head, and said: "Yes. I think I have! Many new ships met roe

as I tew ont of Egypt; upon the ships were M

stately masts; I dare say that these were they; they had the tir-tree smell: I can carry greeting to them many times; they are grand, they are grand!" sOh, that I were large enongh to go over the sea. Really, how is this sea, and how does it look?"

"It is too tedious To explain that," said the stork, and with that he went away. "Rejoice in your youth!" said the sunbeams; rejoice in the fresh growth of the young lite that i in you!" And the wind kiseed the tree, and the dew wept 'ears over it; out the fir tree understood nothing of this. Whom it came toward Christmas, the quiet young trees were cut down, trees which of fain were not as large nor of equal age with this tir tree, which meanwhile had neither quiet nor rest, bat always wished itself away from there. Them young trees, and they were all the mcst beautiful ones, always kept their branches; they were laid upon a wagon and horses drew tbem away, out of the forest Where do they got" asked the fir tree. "They are not larger than I, and there was one tHere that even was smaller! Why do they keep all weir branches? Where do they go? ' We know that! we know that!" twittered the sparrows. 'Sown in the city we have looked in the windows! We know where they go! Oh, they attain to the greatest splendor and magnificence, which one can imagine! We have looked in the windows, and have noticed that they are planted in the middle of a warm sitting room, and are decorated with the most beautiful things, gilded apples, sweet cakes, toys, and many hundreds of lights." "And then ?" asked the fir tree and trembled in all its branches, "and then? What happened then?'' f Indeed, we have not seen more! that was incomparable. "I wonder if I am destined to tread this shining way?" joyously cried the fir tree. That is

yet better than going over the sea! How I offer with longing! Would that it were Chriutmas! Now I am big ami grown np, like the others who were carried away in former years! Oh, I wish I would be the first npon the wagon? Would that I were now in the warm nitting room with all the splendor and magnificence! And then ? Then indeed something better, something more heantifnl rmwtcwi.e; why otherwise would they decorate me o? There mnstsomethinggrander, something finer come! Bat what? Ob, I suffer! I long! I know not myself, how I feel!" "Enjoy yourself," said the air and the sunlight; enjoy your fresh youth under the pure Hue sky!" But it rejoiced not at all, and grew and grew ; winter and summer it stood there green, do:-k-green stood it there. The people who s it said: "That is a beautiful tree!" And at Christinas it was out down first of rill The drove deep into its heart; the tree fell with a sigh, to the ground; it felt a pais, a faintnew, it could not think this goo:l fortune at all : it was grieved at being separated from its home from the place on which it had sprung up; it knew indeed that it would never again we the dear old comrades the little bushes t.nd flower around; indeed, perhaps not en the

bird. The departure was not at Ell pleasant. The taeo first came to itself again when, packed in a yard with othei tr-ea. it heard a mm say: This one lusre h pretty. Wo ned only it is one." Sow two servant 1 ia livery came aad carried the tree into s largo, foeaatitolhalj. around on the walls bung pictures,

and at the sides of file big porcelain oven -ttovo stood largo Chinese vases with Hons upo i tho

covers; thore wore roewng omurs, suk hoi as, n big table full of picture books, and plsytnings worth a hundred times a hundred dollars at least so tho children said. And the fir troi was placed in a big tub filled ith sand; but no one could see that it was a tub, for it .was hung around with some green stuff, and stood upon

a large variegated carpet Oh, how the tree trembled! What would now occur? Tho servants as well as tho ladies decorated It On tho branches they hung little bugs cut out of bright colored paper; every bag was filled with sweetmeats; gilded apples and walnuts hung -hero, as if they had grown fast, and over a hundred red, blue, and white caudles were fastened amid the foliage. Dolls, which looked as n-al aa people the tree had never before seen suchhung from the branch, and high above upon the top was fastened starilsf gold tinsel; it

was grand, quite extraordinarily grand. This evening," said (hoy alL "this everoug it will shine!" "Oh!" thought the tree, "would that it were evening! If only thecamUes would be lighted: and then what happiness! I wonder whether the trees will come out of the forest to ses me? I wonder whether the sparrows will fly airainnt the window pane? I wondor whether I will grow fast here, and will stand adorned winter and summer?'' Indeed it guessed nothing bad! bnt it had fearful bark pains for pure longing, and bark pains, with trees, are just as awful as headache with us. Now the candles were lighted. What brilliancy! What splendor! The tree trembled so in all its branches that one of the ciaidlos burned the foliage ; it scorched fearfully. "God protect us," screamed the woman, and hastily extinguished the fire. After that the tree didnotdaro to tremble once. Oh, that was a misfortune. It vns so

anxious lestit should lose some of its tdorn-

ment; it was quite stupefied with all tho splen

dor. And now the f olding doors flew 0 p.sn and a crowd of children rushed in as if they would

npset the tree; the older people came liehincl

more sedately. The little ones stood quite silent with admiration bat only for ft mranent, then they shouted for joy so that it resounded; they danced around the tree, and one present after another was picked off.

"What are they doing?" thought the tree.

"What is going to happen?" And the candles burned down close to the branches, anci each one, as it burned down, was extinguished, and

then the children received permission to plunder the tree. Oh, they rushed npon it that it cracked si all its branches; if it had nut been fastened to the ceiling with the gold star on the top, it would have fallen down. The children danced around with theii beautiful playthings. No one noticed the tree except the old nurse, who came to look between the branches, bat only to see if a fi; or an apple had been forgotten.

"A story! a story'.'' cried the children and drew a little fat man toward die tree, Mid he ssatcd himself just under the same. "For

there we are in green," said he, "and tie tree

can also have the benefit of hearing. But I relate only one story. Will you hoar tho one

about Ivede-Avede, or the one abontKumpe

Dnnrne. who fell down the staircase and yet

came to honor and receive the Princess? " "Ivede-Avede!" cried some. "Europe

Dnmpe!" cried others. There was a shouting

and a screaming! Only file fir tree stool quite

still and thought, "Do I not come m witli them?

will I have nothing to do about it?"

And the man told of Klampc-Dumpo Jwho fell down the staircase and received tha Princess. And the children clapped their hands and cried, "Bolate! Belate the othor!" They wanted the story about Ivede-Avede, but thoy

received only the one about Klumpe-Dumpe. The fir fiee stood quite silent and thoughtful; never had the little birds p the woods related me like. "Klumpe-Dumpe fell down the staircase and yet received the Princess! Yes, yes, so it goes in the world!" though'; the fir tree, and believed it was so because such a nice man had told it

"Indeed, indeed, who knows? Perhaps I will fall down stairs and receive a pr neons." And it rejoiced in the idea that tho next day it would be decorated with candles and toys, gold and fruit "In the morning I will not tremble," -hought it 1 will properly enjoy all my beauty. In the morning, perhaps, I will again I ear the story of Klumpe-Dumpo and perhaps the one of Ivede-Avede. And the tree stood quite

silent and thoughtful during the whole night In the morning the servants came.

"Now the decorating begins again!" thought

the tree. But thoy dragged it out of te e room uo the stairs into the garret, and here, in a

dark corner, where no daylight shone, they

placed it "What does this mean?" thought the tree. "What shall" I do here? What will I hear here? And it leaned against the wall and

thought and thought and it had time enough,

for days and nights passed and no one came

up; and when Dually some one oia come,

happened it was only to put several teg chests

in the corner. Now the tree stood quite hidden; one must believe that it was entirely for-fotten.

"Now it is winter outside!" thought tho tree.

"The gronnd is frozen and covered wi- h snow,

the people cannot plant me; this is why I will

stand here in shelter until spring! How

thoughtful that is! How good men are!

wish it were not so' dark here and so frightfully lonely! Not even a little hare! ft was so pretty out in the forest when tho snow lay npon the ground and the hare came sprining

by; yes, even when he jumped over me; but

then I could not endure it Up here it is so

fearfully lonely!"

"Plep, ple'p!" said a little mouse, and crept out; and then cams another little ono. Thoy

sniffed at the fir tree, and then slipped up be

tween the branches.

"It is an awfully cold place," said the little

mice. "But it is pleasant to be here; is it not,

yon old fir tree?"

"I am not old at all!" said the fir tr.3e;"thero

are many who are far older than I!"

"Where do you come from?" asked ihe mice,

"and what do yon know?" They were power

fully carious. "Tell us of tho most beautiful

place npon earth! Have yon been there?

Have you been in the pantry where cheeses lie

upon the shelf, and bams hang from the ceil

ing, where one dances upon tallow candles,

goes in lean and comes out fat?"

I do not know about that, said the tree

"but I do know about the forest whore the sun shines and the birds sing!" And 1hen it re

lated everything about its youth, and the little

mice had never heard the like before, and tl-oy listened and said: "Truly, how much you havo

seen! How lucky you have been!"

"I," said the fir tree, and thought over what it had told? "Yes, those wore in truth quit happy times!" But then it related of Christ

mas Eve, when it was adorned wii h candles

and sweetmeats.

"Oh!" said the little mice, "how lucky yon

have been, you old tir tree!" "I am not old at all," said the tree "I first came ont of the forest this winter! I am only so backward in growth." "How beautifully you tell everytl.ing," said the little mice. And the next night they came with four other little mice who wouli hear the tree relate, and the more it told the more plainly it recalled everything and thought:

"After all, those were quite happy tunes, but they can never come again; Klunrne-Duaipe fell down-stairs and yet received the Princess; perhaps I can also receive a Princess!" And then tho fir tree thought of a delicate little birch which grew out in the forest to the fir tree, that was a real, beautiful Princobs. "Who is Ktampe-Dumpe?" asked the Utile

mice. And then the fir tree told tha wholo story; it could remember ovory singlo word; and the little mice came near springing to tho top of the tree out of pure joy. On tho following night many more mioo came, and on Sunday even two rats: bnt th-'y thought tho story not so pretty, and that trauhlod the little mice, for then they thought lesn of it

"Do you know only tho ono story?" asliod tuo

rats.

"Only tho ono!" said tho tiw; "I hoard it on uy luckiest night: I haro thought many timxH

how fortunate I was."

That is a mont miserable story! Do you

know none of bacon and tallow caudles! Jo pantry story?"

"No!" said the tree. "Then we thank you for !.t!" returned the rats, and went back to their own. At last the little mice stayed away, and tho tree sighed "It was so prettj when they sat hero around me, tho fiokU. little mine, and listened aa I talked! Now that ia past! But I will think how I will enjoy myself if I am taken out again!" Bnt when did that happen? Ah, one morn

ing the people came and cleaned honto up 111

CHRISTMAS NORSELAND. BY H. II. BOYESEX, Christmas in Norway is not, wi.h an, a brief commemoration of tho birth

1 of Christ, confined only to tho tlr.y

which the church has fixed upon i.r this celobraiion. It is rather the winter vacation a season of uninterruptml fonfivifcir. rllirillff which OVOfV 0116, hiijh

1. v - -- j , o -and low, takes his ' pleasure in at-i ordance with his taste. A man who hus boon ' sober all the year round, bnt rogar..l 1 being drnnk as the. highest form of j happiness, procures the needed supp ly 1 of brandy, retires to his room, and "celebrate:!, " Another, who prefers convivial celebration, goes to a dauciug party and picks quarrels right and left, conducting himself as "the coek of the walk," until some one who cherishes tho same ambition temporarily disables

; him

the garret ; tho chests veiv not aHtao, aio ireo np large sleighing parties, and ctoscenu

was dragged ont; tney turew 11 piow.. ; ""' en m09se upon aome rich neighbor,

against the floor, Inita servant araggru uium:i

the staircase whore the day shone.

and the lai'g;e-

begins again!" thought tho troo; it fob fresh 4 handed hospitality peculiar w orse-

Nw lifo

is hard up there under tho Arctic circle for the young as well as the old; and a blessed relief from the daily ! struggle for bread is this brief holiday : season, during wh'ch there is actually peace npon earth and good-will among men. i CHRISTMAS FESTIVITIES IN QUEEN I ELIZABETH'S GIRLHOOD. I It was Christmas Eve. The great hall of llatiield House gleamed wi h

tiie light of many caudles that flashed npon sconce, ami armor, and polished floor. Holly and mistletoe, rosemary and bay, and all the decorations of an old-time Knglish Christmas were tastefully arranged. A burst of laughter rang through the ball, as through tho ample doorway and down the broad stair trooped the motley train of the Lord of Misrule to open the Christmas rer-

Young people of higher tastes mase els. A tierce r.nd ferocious looking

fellow was ne, tviin ins greui greeu mustache and his ogre-like face. His dress was a gorgeous parti-colored jerkin and half-hose, trunks, ruff, slouch-

who, with open arms

long enough to do ali that wo would like to do in the givius of gifts? Let us spend all tho money we can afford to spon :1, remembering only that the money that will buy a gift for one may b- made to buy gifts for Iwo, if we ar not content with merely putting 0111 hand in our pocket, bat ; '-o genero u enough to give a littlo time, and a little thought, and a little ingenuity us well. 80 may we give the very best of gifts, and leave no ono out on Christmas Day. CHRISTMAS DECORA TIONS. Decorated Bags for Christmas Trees. Select smooth, perfect eggs, find make a small hole the size of a pea at the large end, and a smaller one at the . other end. A needle in the best to make holes. Put the end with the small hole to your mouth and blow steadily nntil the egg is all blown ont of the shell. Wash through two waters and stand in the sun to dry. Next take pink ribbon, one-third inch wide and three inches long, glue the ends of the

CHRISTMAS GUESTS.

The quiet day in winter beauty cloaea,

An I Hitnie clouds are fringed with crimson dye.

Aa if the blushed 01 our faded rosea

Camo bank'to tint this nonibcr Christmas sky.

A lorely crow loatu o'er the upland ranges,

A robin carols from tho chestnut tree ;

me voice, which olianRos not amid our changes,

Sounds fr.infey freni tho melancholy sea.

We sit and wmeh the twilight darken slowly,

Pies tlio last gleam upon tho loue hillside ;

And in the Btillneos, growing deep and holy,

Our Christmas gueiits come in thlB eventide.

They outer scf-.ly, some with baby facoa.

Whoee svoal bine eyes have scarcely looked on life ; We Mil them welcome to their vacant places Thv won the peace, and never knew the strife. And some, with steadfast glances, meet ns Krivcly; Their hands point bnckwa-rd to tho path thev trcid : Dear ones, we know how long ye struggled bntvnly. And dice. inn the battlefield of God. And some lire here whosa patient souls were riven By our hard words and looks of cold disdain ; Ah, lovitiR liem-ts, to speak of wrons forgiven, Ye conic h visit our dark world again 1 But Ore there is, more kind than any other. Whose presence fills the silent house with light : The Prince of Peace, our gracious Elder Brother, Conioa to His birthday feast Witt us to-night. Thou who want born and cradled in a monger Hat gladdened our poor earth witti hope and resn ; O, Beat-beloved, couie not an a stranger, But tarry, Lord, our Friend and Christmas Guest. Good Word. COOKING THE TURKEY.

-1 1

water two teaspoonfals of Johnson fluid beef. Pour this into the pan fith the minced truffles, seasoning with pepper and salt to taste, and then add a glass of .native sherry. Now set the pan whore the contents may simmer gently for fifteen minutes, when, after skimming the fat from the surface, the sauce is ready to serve. Caterer.

air the first snnoeams ami now u was ont in the yard. Everything happened so quickly thetreo forgot to look at itself; there was so much to soo around. The yard opined into a garden and evorything in thero was b xmving;

the roses hung so fresh and fragrant over tho littlo wall, tho laidon trees blossomed, and tho swallows flow around and said: 'QniiTO-virrt, my man is come!" Bnt it was not the &t tree

they meant. "Now, I will live!" it cried exnlt ngly, and stretched out its branches; but ah, they woro all withered and yellow ; and it lay in a coi ner among weeds and nottles. The star of ti isol yet sat upon tho top and gleamod in the bright sunshine. In the yard playod soveral of tho merry children, who on Christmas Evo had danced round the tree and had been so happy over it One of the smallest ran np and tore off tlio golr star. "See, what sits on top of tho beaut.ful old fir tree!" said ho, and stopped npon Uu branches so that they crackled under hia little boots.

And tho troo looked at all tho freshness and

beauty of tho flowers in the garden; it then looked at itself and wished it had remained in

its dark corner up in the garret; it thought of its fresh yonth in the forest, of tho joyous Christmas 35vo, and tlio littlo mieo who had listened so cheerfully to tho story of Klumpo-

Dumpc.

"Gone! Clono!" said tho old tree. "Would

that I had enjoyed myself when 1 could! Gono! G0110!"

And tho servant camo and cut tho tree into

littlo pieces; n whole pile lay there; brightly it

flamed up under the big browing kettle; a:id it sighed so deeply, and every sigh was like n lit

tlo report; hearing this, the children who payed there ran up and seated themselves before the fire, looked into it and cried: "I'M ! pflff." But at every roport, which was a deop sigh, the tree thought of a summer day in the wood, or a winter night out thero, when tho stars twinkled; it thought of Christmas live and of KlumpeDumpe, the only story it had ever heard and knew how to relate and then the tree was burned up. The boys played in the garden, ami the smallest had upon his breast tho gold star which the tree wore on the happiest evouing of its life; now that was gono, and with sbo too all was gone, and with the story it it also (one, gone! and so it goes with all stories!

men, receives the unbidden guests end provides all the necessaries for a Yuletide entertainment, Laughter, music,

and the whirl of dancing feet resound through the great old-fashioned house, while the host with his cheery voice encourages every one to do his best, and, perhaps, even himself treads a sedate and stately waltz with the wife of his bosom. When, at last, the tardy daylight surprises the revelers, the chances are ten to ono that the hearty host will offer the whole comnany beds, and bid them stay and continue the merriment the next night. Then they may "go yule-bucks," that is visit the neighbors round about witli masks and in various grotesque disguises, and afford the latter an excuse for inviting them to another entertainment, and so "keep the ball rolling." Thus the holidays pass in the remote country districts in Norway ; all business is interrupted, and Prince Carnival has full sway. Among tho poorer classes, who cannot afford to celebrate at their own expense, it is common to send tho children out as "star-boys," that is, they pull white night shirts on the outside of their ordinary garment, and give them a large canvas star, with

a lighted lantern inside of it These

children then go trudging throng!

1 the deep snow, stopping at every

house at the roadside, and singing

under the windows in their shrill

child-voices, Christmas-carols of the

Star of Bethlehem and the Child in the

Manger. Everywhere they are invited in and rewarded for their exertions

with food and pennies.

It is on of the most pathetic featuro-t

of ( 'hristraas in Norway--those white-

robed little children with thoir rod, frost-bitten faces, and their shrill,

eager, often dissonant voices. But life

boots of Cordova leather, and high, befeathered steeple hat. His long staff,

topped with a fool's head, cap anil bells, rang loudly on the floor, as, preceded by his diminutive but pompous page, j he led h's train around and around the

great hall, lustily singing the chorus : "Like Prince and King lie leads tlio ring ; Wight merrily wv go. Hiug hoy-ti i, trim-SO-triN, Tinier the mistletoe ! " A menagerie let loose or the most dyspeptic of after-dinner dreams could not be more bewildering than was this motley train of the Lord of Misrule. Giants and dwarf, dragons and griffins, hobby-horses and goblins, Itobin Hood and the Grand Turk, bears and boars and fantastic animals that never had a name, boys ami g rls, men and women, in every imaginable costume and device around and around the hall they went, still ringing out the chorus : -Sins; hty-trix. iriiu-gi-trix, I'ndcr the mistletoe !" Then, standing in the center of his

court, tho Lord of Misrule bade his herald declare that from Christmas j Eve to Twelfth Night ho was Lord Supreme; that, with his magic art, he transformed ali thero into children, ' and charged them, on their fe vlty, to art only as such. "I absolve them all t from wisdom," he sail; "I bid them be just wise enough to make fools of themselves, and do decree that none shall sit apart and eke in self-sulK-ciency to laugh at others;" and then

the fun commenced. E. S. Brooks, in St. Nii-hola.

ribbon on the end of the egg having

the large hole, so the center will form

a lontr loon to hold it by, and the ends

will cover the hole. Or another way is to put narrow rib

bon through the egg and tie in the center. Now get out your palette board,

tine brushes aud colors. First dip each brush iu turpentine, and use plenty of

megilph witli the colors. Paiut roses,

violets, and daisies on each. 1 never

paint but one spray on each egg. Do not put tho paints on smooth, bnt raise

the petals of roses and blossoms, shad

ing nicely. I have painted four dor.en, no two of them alike; some have birds,

and one large egg shows two cunning

chickens outside of an old coop. The

shells, being empty, are much stronger

and easier to handle, besides lasting for vears. The brown eggs are pret

tily painted in violets or wild roses, THE GYPSY Ll'GEND.'

An English gypsy told Mr. Charles G. Leland the reason for using ever

greens at Christmas. It is this:

"The ivy and holly and pine-tree never told a word where our Savior was hiding Himself, and so they keep alive

al! winter, and look green all the year.

Hut the ash, like the oak, told of Him

when He was hiding, so they have to remain dead through the winter. And so we gypsies burn an ash fire every

Great Day." - ... ... - Yi' t'rysteuias day on Thursday be, A windy yntyr so simile yee Of -wiides and weders all wrecked. And hardc tempestes stron.e and thycko. The iomcr shall jiood and dryo, Comys and bo't-s shall multyplye. That yerc vs ts'i.i loieli s to tylthe. -Hail'I'in ..'.. l,lh c-ii'iin:

THE GIVING OF GIFTS. Grown people know too much to , 1. - i'j . 1 i;nt.

care lor tut cost 01 a gin, ivuii uiuo . - - . children kuow too littlo even to think ! "It i good to remember the poor

of it. So, why distress ourselves with said Jiwpkins on Christmas day, and

tho fear that our purses may pot be , he went off and. treated himself.

How the Christmas Bird Is Best Prepared A Choice of the Hecipea. Authorities differ in their opinions regarding the best method of preparing the noble bird for roasting, some contending that it should not be stuffed, but simply trussed and thus roasted. There is not any doubt that in this way the pure flavor of the bird being unmixed with any taste which does not belong to it, is better preserved; but then it mi3t be remembered that tastes differ, and that which would be grateful to one palate another would pronounce insipid. All, however, agree on one point that the bird should be hung at least a week before dressing.

if the we&ther be at all suitable, and

they also concede that the hen turkey

to be preferred for the flavor of its

flesh. One authonty recommends that . ai.

in Its previous managemeuL uib uuru

should bo emntied and picked a few

hours after it is killed and some par

ings of fresh truffles (or dried onea if the fresh are not procurable) placed in the belly, whioh is then stuffed with clean, sweet, hay. The bird is then to be hungpby tho legs for a week before

is dressed, when the hay is to be

withdrawn, the trutHe parings washed in warm vrater, and a portion of them

stewed in the gravy that is served with

the turkey. For the stuffing, sausage-

meat beat together with an egg is sup

posed to lie the proper thing.

Another way is to tike a young hen

turkey that is perfectly sweet; pluck.

draw and singe it carefully, wiping the

outside with a damp cloth, and after washing it inside drying it thoroughly. Then make a forcemeat as follows:

Soak a quarter of a pound of day-old Vienna bread in milk; squeeze till dry

and add a quarter of a pound of finely chopped sausage-meat, two eggs, a

tablespoonful each of mmced parsley and onion and two ounces of good butter, seasoning with salt, pepper and nut

meg. Mix these ingredients thoroughly together; then stuff the bird with the forcemeat, truss it securely for roasting and put it before a clear fire. It should

not be forgotten that basting is all important When the bird is done enongh

dish it up, pour over it some truffle

sauce and serve hot.

Delle, who holds that the meat of a

fowl plainly roasted ia more pucy and tastes better than when filled with bread dressing, thus gives directions

for preparing the bird: Singe, draw,

and truss a large, tender, dry-pieKed turkey ; salt the inside, and roast about

an hour and a quarter ; untrnss, place on a dish, surrounded with water-cress ; add a little broth to the dripping, strain this over the turkey, and serve with

eranberri' jelly.

None of these methods, however, find full favot in the eyes of the epicure. To him the "truffled turkey" has unrivaled charms, and if he can't have it in this way he would rather forego it altogether. The manner of preparing a trutlled turkey is as follows; Take a plump and young hen turkey weigh-

about ten pounds, and let it

tng

also bo fresh killed. Then select a pound and a half of sound truffles, washing aud cleaning thoroughly to rid of all earthy or gritty substances. Cut a pound of the truffles into balls from an inch to an inch and a half in diameter. Weigh the trimmings or parings and pound them to a smooth paste. Then take an eqnal weight of fat bacon, cut it and pound it until smooth, mix with the trnllle paste and season the whole with salt and pepper. Now blend the mass together, and when perfectly smooth mix tho truffle basis with it and stuff the turkey with this forcemeat. The turkey should hang for at least a week after it it. thus stuffed, or even longer would be better if the weather is cold enough. To roast the turkey out a thin slice of lat bacon and lay it upon the breast, and over the bacon lay a piece of buttered paper. Then place the bird before a clear fire, remembering that a roast turkey is not apt to be injured by too much basting. When done serve hot, wi.th or without- truffle sauce. If the latter is preferred make it as fol

lows: Put half a dozen finely minced

truffles i ato a saucepan with some good butter ; set the pan over the fire, shaking it frequently, for ten minutos, then have djoived & half a pint of boiling

CHRISTMAS IN BENGAL. At sunrise the ever-grateful cup of tea is conveyed to each before rising, through the medium oi ayah or bearer, and by and by the guest drop into the veranda to enjoy the only fresh aar of ' the day, and partake of the chola hotri t little breakfast), which is already waiting. Coffee and tea, with toast, eggs, and fowl, are the usual items of this meal, and while engaged with it you get a view from between the veranda pillars of a dead level country, with

pate lie a of jungle here and there amid wide tracts of cultivated land, while

in the foreground stretches a velvety

compound interspersed with ornamental trees, clnmps of bamboo, shrubs, and flowers. Winding along the avenue

presently appear four great elephants.

which soon draw up in front of the bungalow, and ayahs, bearers, and ohildren, suddenly entering on the scene, turn everything into commotion. Ser

vants hurry to Mid fro with guns, ammunition, and sporting gear, whioh the

sportsmen see safely deposited in the

howdahs; and, lastly, they themselves

mount by a awing on the elephant's

trunk, or by the rope ladder that hnngs

from the side of the howdah, and the mahout gets the order to march. The ladies and children are to join them at breakfast a few hours later at the camp pitched on the hunting-ground, Meanwhile, to pass the time, some of the ladies saunter down to the garden under an archway of acacia, and other

tropical trees that line the avenue; while through the leafy canopy glances the genial sun of the cold season with pleasant warmth, illuminating beautiful flowering creepers, parasites, and trailers that have entwined themselves among the foliage. All the Xevr Hound. . BERLIN SUPERSTITIONS. The inhabitants of Berlin are proud of describing the capital of the German Empire as "the City of Intelligence." This appellation i", no doubt, well deserved, but even in that city of enlightment each recurring Christmas shows that countless legions and superstitions hold their ground. For instance, no clothes-lines are allowed to be seen iu the house lie t ween Christmas and New Year's, for if they are not all taken down it is believed by all good Berliners that a dreadful accident will happen. On the supper-table on Christmas Eve there must be a sarp, whioh brings fortune, and if the scales of the fish are carried about in the

purse it will never be empty during the coming year. All dreams between Christmas and New Year's become tone, and 1 11 children born at Christmas have the gift of prophecy. Bnt we wonder how many Berliners, intelligent or otherwise, really believe these interesting relies of a pre-rationaliatic age. A PLEA FOR PRESENT-MAKING. Let the gruff and old-fashioned sneer at the folly and the hollowness, as they deem it, of making presents which are expected, and of wishing a merry Christmas by sending a chromo. Most of what is pleasant and agreeable in our association with others comes from the observance of eertam formalities. When-;; yon bid your neighbor "good morning," what do you mean by it? Certainly not to give him any information. You say it as. a matter of formal courtesy. It means that, and nothing more. But who would abolish the morning greeting, the -gentleman's hand-shake, the baby's kiss, the raising of the hat to all lady acquaintances and to all men ac luaintances who are accompanied by ladies, and the other formal courtesies of life? An excess of sentiment aud an over-

I doing of the outward expression of : feeling are possible. But Americans have a long road to travel before they are in any danger of tailing on that

side. It will be for our great-grana-children to preach from the text less sentiment and more heart. HAD NO POt'fRY IN MIS SOUL "Georgie, dear, "said she, "didct yon say that you spent last Christmas in the South.?" "Yes, Kitty, aud I enjoyed i "very nineji." "I suppose yon did some kissing under the mistletoe, didn't yon, Georgia, dear? You know that is a favorite

amusement in that section."

"I I no I " "What? Didn't you kiss wider the mistletoe ?" "She I she told me to, bufcl I " "Why didn't you do it then?" "Why, I wasn't going to kiss her foot" Newman Independent.

i -

A Boston girl was showing her rural cousin the Christmas presents she received, and the latter particularly admired a gold watch set with pearls. "But here is a gift," said the Boston girl, taking up a book, "that X value more than all the other presents combined." The rural cousin took the book and read the title, "The Dissection of the Atomic Theory in rh$ Relation to Evolution." . Letters formed of white immortolUs crystallized with alum or commellt light up resplendency. Letter'"lal texts covered with cotton ornamenled with holly-berries are pretty aud suggestive,

m