Bloomington Progress, Volume 19, Number 42, Bloomington, Monroe County, 16 December 1885 — Page 6

CHRISTMAS TIME. BY SIB WALTER 8COTT. Heap on more wood ! the wind is chill ; Bat let it whistle an It will. Well keep our Christmas merry still. Bach age has deemed the now born year The Attest time for festal cheer ; Even heathen yet, the savage Dane At lot man deep the mead did drain ; High on the beech his galleys drew And feasted all his pirate crew ; Then in his low and pine-built hall. When shields and axes decked the wall. They gorged upon the half -dressed steer. Caroused in seas of sable beer ; While round, in brutal jest, were thrown The half-gnawed ribs of marrow-bone, Or listen all in grim delight While scolds yelled oat the joy of fight. Then forth in frenzy would they hie. While wildly loose their red looks fly. And flwyrtng round the blazing pile They make such barbarous mirth the while As best might to the mind recall The boisterous Joys of Odin's balL And well our Christian sires of old Loved when the year its course had rolled. And brought blithe Christmas back again. With all its hospitable train. Domestic and religions rite Gave honor to the holy night ; On Christmas ere the bells were rang. On Christmas eve the mass was song. That only night in all the year Saw she staled priest the chalice rear. The damsel donned her kirtle sheen. The hall was dressed with holly green ; Forth to the wood did merry-men go To gather in the mistletoe. To vassal, tenant, serf and all. Power laid his rod of role aside. And Ceremony doffed his pride ; The heir, with roses in his shoes, Ulght that night riling partners choose ; The lord, undelegating, share The vulgar game of -post and pair," All hailed with uncontrolled delight And general Toice the happy night That, to the cottage as the crown. Brought tidings of salvation down. The fire, with well-dried logs supplied. Went roaring up the chimney wide ; The huge hall table's oaken face, Scrubbed till it shore the day to grace, Bon then upon its nassive board No marks to part the 'squire and lord. Then was brought in the lusty brawn By old, blps-coated serving man ; Then the srim boar's head frowned on high. Crested wish bays and rosemary. Wen can the green-garbed ranger ten How, when, and where the monster felt; What dogs before his death he tore, And aU the battling of the boar. The wassail round, in good brown bowls, Oamished with ribbons, blithely trowls ; Thore the huge sirloin reeked ; hard by Fhuaojorridge stood, and Christmas pie; Nor failed old Scotland to produce At such nigh tide her savory goose. Then came she merry-makers in. And enrols roared with blithesome din. If unmelocious was their song. It was with hearty note, and strong. Who lists may, in their murmmrings, see Traces of nicient mystery, While skirts supplied the masquerade. And smutted cheeks the visors made. But, oh, what maskers richly dight Can boast of boaOras half so light England vms merrie England when Old Christmas brought his sport again. Twas Christmas broached the mightiest ale ; Twas Christmas toki the merriest tale ; A Christmas gambol oft could cheer The poor man's hearfior half the year. OUR NORTH POLE CHRISTMAS.

BY LIEUT. OB 1. It was Christmas Eve in Grinnell Land, as in all the world besides. The temperature was moderate for the season, ranging from twenty-fire to thirty degrees below the zero of Fahrenheit. For two days, however, a severe storm

of high wind and drifting snow had prevailed, rendering onr usual out-of-

door exercise dimcuK ana aangero-s.

For seventy days the cheerles gloom and darkness of the long Arctic night had been npon us, leaving their im

press in the shape of failing appetites, fading odor and depressed spirits.

How more than ever came to onr minds

a sense of isolation and a remembrance

of that world from which we were sep

arated by long and dreary expanses of

ice and snow.

Bat Christmas Eve had come, and it

was tone to bestir ourselves, and, m a

spirit of. imison with onr fellow-men, prepare to celebrate the advent of oar

Lord. Amidst the storm, and gloom,

and dara-m-an of this day, we had made

shift to do honor to the birthday of one

of onr party Corporal Saler but would storm and wind allay, and give

ns a brighter Christmas? This w

the question which disturbed onr

At noon, to onr delight, the. wind fell and a few hours later, the snowy clouds vanished as if by magic and once again the starry beauties of the

polar heaven shone forth in all their glory. This sudden change spoke well for the morrow and gave new vigor to Sergeants Riee and Brainard, who had set their hearts upon a fitting celebra

tion of the coming day. They asked the use of all flags, banners and other

decorative articles, intimating at the same time that my absence from the men's quarters until 6 p.m. was desirable. At that hour entering the men's Quarters, the results of their work

stood disclosed. The bright flags.

neat banners and gay guidons were

tastefully arranged and presented a marked and delightful contrast to the

smoke-begrimed walk and ceiling.

In the most prominent place was hung

an afggan, whose alternations of snowy

whiteness and crimson color were broken by various devices in delicate

needlework. Its golden anchor of hope.

its silver horseshoe of luck, its white lilies of purity, its sweet violets of remembrance, its polar star and its

cross of faith, were to us all- emblems

ever dear. Wrought by loving hands in other climes, its first usefulness

served to cheer and brighten our lonely Artie quarters on Christmas Eve. After a pleasant and careful inspection of the decorations and genial comments on the care and taste displayed, the distribution of onr Christmas gifts came in order. Unfortunately we could not inn form to traditional customs, for the Christmas tree was wanting. A thorough search the previous autumn had satisfied us that ail Grinnell Land contained but a single living variety of shrub or tree the Arctic willow. The largest specimen of it seen by ns was but a creeping shrub, as thick as one's thumb and about a foot in length. So we were content to distribute our gifts in a more prosaic manner. Onr stock of presents was not large. The greater part of them bad been contribute through the kindness of a lady in New York City, who, although unacquainted with any member of the expedition, had with considerable thongbtfnlness,

forwarded some littlo gift for each one of the party. The present for Lieut. KisliBgbnry, when opened, caused considerable merriment, it being a little wooden dog. It elwrted com the Lieu

tenant a question to Private Schneider, which has been often heard in lower latitudes: "Ah, Schneider, don't you want to buy a dog?" The appropriateness of the remark lay in the fact that Schneider had devoted himself to the Eskimo puppies

and was then caring .especially for two litters of them. The officers' mess was

the recipient of an excellent imitation of an Irish potato. The commanding officer received a fan, which was hardly needed to recall the climes for which it

made. The presents for the men

nearly always included pipes or to

bacco, with the addition of books, slates, pencils, wristlets, etc. Sergeant Kiee thought it an adverse fate which

sent to him a non-smoker a pouch tilled with a goodlyquantity of the weed. Sergeant Gardiner was greatly delighted and surprised by receiving from his sister a comforter knit by her hands. Others, who had been the re

nts of appropriate presents for

their outfit on leaving the Lmted

States, somewhat envied Gardner his Christmas gift from home. A hand

some rug, sent lor one 01 tne men who had been ordered back in the steamer Proteus, in 1881, was disposed of by rattle, and fell to Corporal Elison. The distribution of these gifts was made by Sergeant Bice, who, in presenting them, added in each instance a few words of congratulation or well-meant badinage as best befitted the individual.

The gifts from the commanding offi

cer were now in order, iwenty-iour cans of uniform size, numbered from one upward, were set on the table and disposed of by chance. The highest throw had first choice and selected a

number which entitled him to the

corresponding can. As with Portia s sealed caskets, the privilege of external examination was granted, and as in that case where weighty gold and shin

ing silver lost the prize, so here the heavier and more attractive cans were not always the most valuable. In gen

eral the heavier cans were filled with

beans, nuts, or rice, while the lighter contained orders for confections, fruits,

rum, etc une fortunate inumuuai,

Sergeant Gardiner, drew an order for a ton of ice a second an order "Good for nothing," and a third, a ticket

"Good for a passage to St Johns by

the first steamer." As transpired two years later, Gardiner poor fellow had it in mind to turn the joke upon me and pay me off in my own coin.

On one of the bright days that came to

ns in the spring time at aaDine tor

even amidst all our sufferings and terrible privations, our spirits never entirely failed ns, and some days were

bright and cheerful to us he opened

his wallet and said:

'I have here, Major, a paper that may

interest you. I had intended to pre

sent it to yon to be honored on our ar

rival home, but, as that may never be, I would like you to read it now. "

It was my order for a ton of ice. While the raffling was in progress,

skillful hands had been busy preparing onr Christmas cup, a delicious egg-nog

delicious to us even though the milk

and eggs used in compounding it were

from the can and not freshly from the

farm. The merriment of the evening,

was natural and appropriate, burst

forth in song. Plantation melodies, comic songs, and sentimental dities

were rendered, giving way, as midnight approached, to sacred hymns and those beautiful and tender Christmas carols which have come down to us from the

Middle Ages. Thus with songs of

praise was ushered in that Christmas

morn in our lonely home in the weird

and frozen North-land.

At six o'clock on Chrstmas day the

thermometer registered forty degrees

below zero, but calm weather and a clear sky insured a delightful day, as

Arctic days go at that season of the

year, Onr breakfast came, as usual, at

half-past seven. At ten o'clock the men assembled for the customary Sabbath

service. The selection of Psalms for

Christinas Day was read, as well as the

13tth and 140th Psalms. Situated as we were upon the verge of the world,

and living in the great shadow of that

Arctic night, to ns all came more touchins It and forcibly than ever the truth

of those beautiful words :

If I take the wings of the morning, and re

main in the uttermost parts of the sea.

Even there also shall Thy hand lead me, and

Thy right hand hold me.

If I say, Peradventnre the darkness shall

cover me; then snail my night do turned to

dav.

Yea, the darkness is no darkness, with Thee,

but the night teas clear as the day: the dark

ness and Ught to Thee are both alike.

Need I say that onr morning exercises

were closed with "Praise God from

Whom All Blessings Flow," in which

even the least musical raised his voice? During the day nearly every man took an unusual amount of physical exercise in view of the approaching feast, and the three-mile course to Dutch Island and back was, as usual, the favorite of the day. If high noon brought us naught but the shining stirs and circling planets of the night, yet our eyes and senses, trained to Arctic darkness, enabled ns to keep the rough roadway through the tangled ice-foot and on the pale ocrys tic floes. And if nature by her

frosty touch had banished every living subject from our clime and thus si

lenced the hum of animal life, yet with

grand and wordless voices she spake to ns through the surging tides and cnickling ice-foot.

THE "MERRY CHRISTMAS" MOCKERY. Tis the oustoni at this season, Moresby roto, perhaps, than reason. Every one ye chance to meet, With a festive wish to greet ; Bo they young, or bo they old. Blessed with bo&nty or with gold J Bo they well, or bo they ill, We the solf-sarac task fulfill, Wishing tlunu, both great and small, A Merry Christmas, one untl alll Do we think, though, what wo any. When wo scores of times a day Glibly this same wish repeat, Parrot-like, to all wc mootfDo we truly ffipl one jot What we're wishing ? Wo do nott No ; our words, past all contention. Arc mere matter of convention ; And in truth the festive phrase, A "Merry Christmas 1 naught conveys. Do you doubt us ? Note the cases Any normal lifo embraces ; Take a.peop bobiucl the scones, Move tiio mask which intervenes! Look into men's inner lifo, Bee the sorrows there so rife j Find the anguish hid erewhile, Seek the tears behind tho smile) Till you've learnt to full extent What your "Merry Christmas" meant.

1 city merchant hastens home, with anguish at

his soul;

strove to ropress her sobs that the this good fellow, who can see better in children's attention might not be at- the dark than by daylight, I verily Detracted, It was Christinas eve and liove, and for my steady Old Prince, try as she might to forget, she could who isn't afraid of a snow drift, even not shut out tho picture of the happy with ray weight upon his back, ton evenings of long ago in the pleasant wouldn't have been favored with this old homestead among the Susquehanna unceremonious call, Mrs. Deering." hills, when the great Christmas trees As he spoke he took sundry packages bora a blessed fruitage and mirth and , from his huge pockets and laid them glee filled the moments. upon tho table. A shadow obscured the waning light; "To begin .with," ho said, "I thought a dusky face was pressed against the you might be out of groceries, and

window, and in another moment the door was thrown open, letting in an avalanche of snow upon the clean, white floor, and an Indian strode for

ward and with a gutteral "ugh" took a

brought you a few to last until the roads fire open again. Now let me see my patient." Oh, the load of care and anxiety lifted front that burdened heart! There

seab by the flro and held up his hands i was the shadow of a sinlle upon her

to the flickering blasso. The children left their sports and crowded around him with exclamations of delight; flaxen-haired Lizzie climbing to the place of honor on his knee

face, oh she hastened to make a strong

cup of tea for the travelers and arranged upon the table a tempting lunch from tho supplies they had brought. Even in his sleep, the sick man felt the

wir.li an Hi ftf nrnnrifitni'shiri which the cfloh mesmeric touch of the Doctor's

rest, silently acknowledged. , soft fingers and ceased his mutterings. " Where ith my moccathon yon After a careful examination, the good proouthed me, Toman?" she lisped, physician came out into the kitchen,

CHRISTMAS CAROL

BY CHARLES mm HNS. f core not for Spring ; on his flcklo wing I,et the blossoms and buds be borne ; Ho worn them amain with his treacherous rain, And he scatters them ere tho morn. An inconstant elf, ho knows not himsoli1, Nor his own cliautjlntf mind an hour-; He'll smile in your face, and with wry grimace, He'll wither your youngest flower. I,et (he summer sun lo his bright home ran, Ho shall never 1m- sought by mo ; When he's dimmed by a cloud I can laugh aloud, And care not how sulky he lie ! For his darling child is the madness wild That sixirts in Aeroe fever's train ; And when love is too strong it don't last long, As many have found to their pain. A mild harvest night, by the tranquil light Of the modest and gentle moon. Has a far sweeter sheen for mo, I ween, Than tbo broad and uublushing noon ; But every leaf awakens my grief, As it lieth beneath tho troo ; So let Autumn air le ever so fair. It by no moans agrees with inc. But my song I troll out for Christmas stout, The hearty, the true, and the bold ; A bumper I drain, and with might and main Give three cheers for this Christmas oUl Well usher him in with a merry din That shall gladden his joyous heart. And we'll keep him up while there's bite or sup, And in fellowship good we'll part. In his fine bonost pride, he scorns to hide One jot of his hard-weather soars ; They're no disgrace, for there's much the same trace On the cheoks of our bravest tars. Then again I'll sing till the roof doth ring, And itB echoes from wall to wallTo the stout old wight, fair welcome to-night. As the King of the Seasons all.

aOBl

mm

mam

EXAMINING THE PRESENTS.

The cold, black tide of ruin now has risen pant

control.

Be knows a day or two, at most, will see hia

house go down :

WHl see his honored name besmirched, and sul

lied its renown.

All this he knows, yet not for him the luxury lo

grieve. For friends are gathered round Us hearth this festive Christmas-Eve ; He hopes 'gainst hope that some-will guess ti e load that's at his heart-

That some stanch friend will ask to share, and

then relieve its smart. But tis in vain, for as he comes upon tho scene at last. Though sotto voice whispers as to his strange looks are passed, Convention triumphs o'er concern, all, with the same bland smile, Advance, and give their hand to him, each wishing him the while "A very merry Christmas 1" A banker brought to ruin's verge by heedless speculation, Who yet must with a brow serene seek Christmas relaxation; An actor racked by cruel disease, and debts to press him down, Who still with endless fund of wit amuses all the town; A tradesman knowing that at most he cant tide o'er the week, And then must from remoraoless duns in ruin shelter seek ; A gambler who has staked bis all, and will on Christmas Eve For the last time the ancient home, now his no longer, leave; These are but samples of the types of men on every side

With whom their callous fellow-men will meet at Christmas tide, On whom with thoughtless cruelty they will inflict fresh pain By wishing them with cheery smile, again and yet again "A very merry Christmas I" Enough, though, we have said to show How thoughtlessness can add to woe ; How kindly words, whon idly spoken, May wound a heart already broken ; And how a wish of good intent May add to grief it would prevent. Then let us, ore we glibly apeak These frequent words this Christmas week, See if there is a chance at all A merry Christmas will befall I Yes, let us, if true friends we'd be, Be sure that we right carefully, Before mere idle words wo say, Seek first if wo in any way. By kindly act or thoughtful deed Can help our friends in state of need. Then only when we've done our bost To give thorn aid, and hope, and rest. Can we with right upon our side Wish them a merry Christmastide 1

soft

SAHTA CLAUS. Santa Clans was one of the oldest Mens of Celtic west in pagan times, as he was of the pagan east before. In Christian times he was still regarded with religious reverence, sitting, as he had sat for ages in Egypt and elsewhere, in the arms of his mother. Santa Clans was, in fact, the child Jesus in the middle ages; and throughout that period the festive creed of Germany and all Celtic Europe was that he visited all family dwellings of good Christians on the eve of his anniversary, and brought with him gifts and blessings for the children. This beautiful tradition is still to be found lingering in Germany, though Santa Glaus does not seem to be specially connected with it by name. A snow man of cotton covered with crystal icicles is an innovation designed j to delight the children.

A Red Santa Glaus. A Holiday Story for the Little People. BY SARAH D. HAJiABT. The snow fell softly and steadily;

the keen wind of the morning had swept it into great ridges and billows

upon the lev meadow, and the bit of

woodland beyond the flat seemed made of earven frost trees. A thin, blue smoke curled feebly up from the rude

log house- on whose roof the white covering was piled thickly. It had beaten against the windows till only a

dim light entered, and lay in a huge drift half way up the oaken door. It had been snowing all day; and now that the twilight was falling, the storm increased in violence. A dull despair had settled upon Mrs. Deering's heart as she bent above the fire, stirring the gruel for her sick husband. They were far from friends and neighbors, and ten miles from any village. Their slender stock of wood, only sufficient to last through the night, was piled care'ully in one corner of

patting his dark cheek with her

white hand. "Yon said you'd make me a bow and arrows, Toman," cried Bertie, pulling at his blanket to attract hia attention. "I caught six quails in the trap you made, Tomah," said Davie exultingly; "and when will you teach us to snare rabbits?" The Indian listened to their clamor urresponsively. He drew his chair closer to the fire and with a sidelong glance at the mother said in a harsh voice, "Tomah hungry." Mrs, Deering understood the implied request. In brighter days Tomah had oflien shared their frugal fare and accompanied her husband on hunting excursions. She hastened to spread a cloth upon the table and placed thereon a few fragments of broken bread and a plate of amber honey in its clear, white comb. "It is all we have, Tomah, I wish it were more," she said apologetically. The Indian made no response, but drew his chair close to the table and attacked tho food with a zest that shawed how sharp was his appetite. Ho glanced keenly at the open cupboard doors and noted how bare were

tha shelves; his quick eye observed

the scanty store of wood in the corner

and the feeble fire that only half

wttrmed the room. The sick man, rous

ing from his stupor, renewed his rav

ings, and as his wife attempted to put

cool cloths upon his head snatched

them off and threw them violently from him. "I want the doctor," he shrieked shrilly. "Why don't yon send for the doctor. Mary? Will you stand by and

see me die for want of help?"

Mrs. Deerinc came back into the

kitchen and sinking into a chair cov

ered her face with her hands. She was a slender, sickly woman, but she was revolving in her mind the possibility

oil fighting her way through the storm and drifts to the villasre ten miles away in search of help. Only the thought of the wide, traokless prairie

between her and her destination de

terred her. Tor the sake of the chil

dren, I must do nothing rash," she faltered.

"Papa ith tho thick," explained little Lizzie looking trustfully up into tho Indian's face: "and it'th tho far to

town, and the med'thin ith all gone.

She shook her head gravely ovor the iamilv misfortune, and taking her

white kitten in her arms sat down in

her little chair to rock it to sleep.

Tomah ato on deliberately till the

lost morsel bad diaappeared, then ris-

inc abruptly, he drew his blanket

closer around him and with another

"ugh" went out into tho storm,

The hours went by, the children,

tired and sleepy, were put to bed, Liz-

2ie insisted on hanging their stockings

on the nails by the stove, in spite of the mother's protestations that there was nothing with which to fill them. The tick man, worn out with his struggles, had sunk into fitful slumber, and, kneeling by the bedside, Mrs. Deering was pouring out her soul in an agony of prayer, when a stamping and pounding was heard on the steps, the door was flung open and in rolled a huge figure muffled in furs from head to foot. Behind, walked Tomah, grave

cheerfully rubbing his hands. Just set your mind at rest, Mrs. Deering," he said hopefully. "The crisis is passed and we shall have him up and around again in a short time, I hope.

But you are utterly worn out Go to

bed and leave to Tomah and me the

care of your patient. He shall not suffer for lack of attendance, I promise you. "

Tomnh replenished tne nre; tne doc

tor corning closer to the stove, remarked for tho first time the row of little stockings hanging against the wall. "Poor little chicks," he sighed, "it will

be anything but a 'Merry Christmas'

for them. I wonder if I cannot find

something to help fill these stockings.

A careful search through his pockets revealed two great red apples, a pocketknife, and three half dollars, which he distributed among them. Tomah looked

on with watchful eyes, and at last ap

pearing to comprehend the proceed

ings, took a stout cord from under his

blanket, and selecting a hickory limb

from the pile of fuel, went to work to

fashion out a bow. It was soon com

pleted, and, together with a plentiful store of arrows, was fastened securely

to Bertie's stocking. Next he drew

forth a tiny pair of moccasins which

had evidently been intended for Lizzie,

and a bundle of sharp, slender bones

from the legs of deer, for which he had heard Davie often express a wish;

placed them in their respective desti

nations; then, gathering up the folds of

his blanket, he strode toward the door. "See here, Tomah," said tho Doctor,

starting up as he placed his hand upon the latch. "I thought you were going

to stay and keep me company." The Indian shook his head silently and

went out into the darkness.

As hour after hour passed by the

Doctor, half dozing by the warm fire,

heard a sound as of branches rattling

against tho logs.

When daylight appeared he sought

for the cause of the disturbance and found that during the night a large pile of firewood had accumulated at the door. He was at no loss for a solution

of the mystery, and in confirmation of his suspicions Tomah at this moment

appeared with a fine deer slung across

his shoulders.

"And mamma didn't believe in Thanta Clauth!" cried Lizzie, clasping her hands rapturously as she surveyed her

treasures and the table with its tempt

ing array of fragrant coffee, hot oaken,

and smoking venison steaks; but the

good Doctor, laughing merrily, said:

"It's the first time on record when he

made his appearance crowned with

feathers and wrapped in an old gray

blanket,"

the large kitchen; their store of pro

visions was nearly gone, and, worst, of I 8nd silent, only showing his excitement all. there was neither physician nor i,y tho sparkle of his black eyes nurse to aid the inexperienced wife in "And a blessed time we've hud getthe hard struggle with the fever which j tjng here," exclaimed the good doctor, was sapping her husband's life. Great for he it was, as ho struggled out of tears rolled' down her cheeks, but she j tjg wrappings. "If it hadn't been for

CHRISTMAS HINTS.

Now in the time that tho little boy

begins to insinuate about Christmas.

"I dreamt last night that you gave

me a five-dollar gold piece for Christ

mas, and that pa gave me a ten-dollar

bill."

"My littlo boy, don't you know that dreams go bv contraries. You will be

disappointed," said his mother.

"No, I won't. If the dream goes by

contraries, then you will give me the

ten-dollar bill, and pa will give me the five-dollar gold piece. I am safe, any

how." TeJi-aa SiftiiKjs,

Long stockings are in favor with

children as Christmas approaches.

A MEfcRV New Sfear.

Christmas and a Happy

HANG UP THE BABY'S STOCKING. Hang up tho baby's stooking. Be sure you don't forget, The dear littlo -dimpled darling. Ho ne'er saw Christmas yet ; Bui I'vo told him all about it. And ho opened his big bluo eyes, And I'm sure he understands it j He looks so funny and wise. Dear I what a tiny stocking, It doesn't toko much to hold Such pink toes as baby's Away from frost and cold. But then, for baby's Christmas, It will never do nt all ; Why, Santa wouldn't bo looking For anything half so small. I know what we'll do for tho baby I'vo thought of the very best plan ; I'll borrow a stocking of grandma, The largest that ever I can ; And we'll hang it by mine, dear mother, Bight here in the corner, so, And write a letter to Santa, And fasten it in the toe. Write : "This is tho baby's stocking That hangs in the corner here. You never have seen him, Santa, For ho only came this year : But he's just the Messodost baby Aud now, before you go. Just cram liis stocking with goodies. From the top cleat- down to the too." "THE MISTLETOE BQU0H!"

"Ivv, says a learned professor, "was

sacred to Bacchus, and was used at the Dionvsian love feast. Another name

for Bacchus was Kissos, which also

the ivy, bnt whether our custom of kissing under the mistletoe is a relic of

Kissos and the Agap;t doesn't matter

in the least.

'Bird-lime, it is significant to ob

serve, is made from the berries of the

mistletoe, whence the same word signi

fies in Greek both mistletoe and birdlime. How many a luckless human

bird has been 'limed' under the mistle

toe at Christmas. Some authorities re

fer the kissing custom to a theory that

the mistletoe was the forbidden tree in

Eden. The plant was also used in re

ligious ceremonies by the Persian Magi,

"The statelv ancestral homes in Eng

land are now being richly decorated

with holly, and ivy, and amber -berried

mistletoe, and the hearts of the female inmates, from the fresh-faced house

maid to the languid Lady June, are beating foster as they hang the parasite in the most convenient nooks and cor

ners in whioh they will take good care

to be caught on Christmas day. It is a good custom may it flourish! And may the time bo long distant when there shall no longer be one day in the

year on whioh a man may kiss the girl

he likes, sans peur et Sans reproche.'

COUPONS ON THE HOUDAY BOND.

There is a novel system of trading

among the poorer classes of London,

which lasts the whole year round, whioh has a special reference to Christmas

goose or turkey, or the candied in-

irredients necessary for Christmas

plum-pudding.

A purchaser of the necessities of life

commits his or her trade to such

merchant, and with the purchase of

every week the whole year through

it reach a certain figure, receives a sort

of coupon, due on the bond of the

Christmas luxuries just mentioned. Sad domestic stories are told of lov

ing mothers secreting the tickets with a view to giving a luscious Christmas

dinner to hungry offspring, and then of

drinking father's coming in by stealth

purloining the precious bits of cardboard and pledging them at the inevitable public house to be found on the

corner of every other street m London.

Ah. those fatal "pubs." Whatever may

be the state of trade elsewhere

whether it be Christmas or May Day, January or June, it is always the pub

lie houses which drive the fastest,

most roaring trade. ihe swinging doors are forever on the swing, the beer pumps and gin and whisky bottles

constantly in actaon. CHRISTMAS THOUGHTS.

T will honor Christmas in my heart

and try and keep it all the year.

Christmas is the only holiday in the vnar that brintts the whole human

" family into common communion.

It is good to be children sometimes,

and never better than at Christmas,

when its niiehtv founder was a ohild

himself.

I have always thought of Christmas

time as a good time; kind, forgiving.

charitable, pleasant time.

The only time in the long calendar of the year when men and women seem by one consent to open their ahut-up

hearts freely. Charles Dickens.

Cunning: little pails made of gold or

silver card-boardl, with handles of gold or silver wire, are filled with sweets for the Christmas tree. Wicker-work baskets covered with dark green plush and ornamented with a cluster of balls

of wool are suggestive, to say the least.

The time draws near for that long list of good resolutions for regulating

the coming year.

OLD CHRISTMAS GAMES.

One of the interesting features of a

Christmas in the olden times was the varied assortment of games which were so heartily joined in by both old and yonng assembled round the blazing

hearth. Most ot" these merry pastimes have long ago piissed away ; only a few,

Bueh as snap-dragon, hide-and-seek.

etc., being known by the present generation out of the long list of Christmas games formerly kept up. Thus, an old game played especially at Christmas was "hct cockles," a species of

blindman's bluff," in which the person

kneeling down, and being struck behind, was to gi ess who inflicted the blow. It is deticribod by Gay in the following lines:

As at hot cockles once I laid mo down. And felt the weigbty haul or many a clown, Iluxoma gave a gentle tap. and" I Quick rose and read soft mischief in her eye. In an old tract, "Round About Our

Coal Fire; or Christmas Entertainments," published in the early part of the last century, mention is made of a game called "Questions and Commands." The writex says that the

commander may oblige his subjects

to answer any lawful question, and make the same obey him instantly under the penalty of paying any such forfeit as may be laid on the aggressors. "Handy-dandy" was much

in request at this season. One of the

party concealed something in his hand,

making his neighlxmi guess in which one it was. If the latter guessed rightly, he won the article; if wrongly he lost an equivalent. It is alluded to in "Piers Ploughman," and it is, per

haps, noticed by Shakspeare where

King Lear (act iv., sc. 6) says to Glos-

ter: "Look with thine ears; see how

yon justice rails npon yon simple

thief. Hark, iu thine ear; change places; and, handy-dandy, which is the

justice, which hv the thief?"

Browne, too, in one of his "Pasto

rals" tells how 1kvs

With the nibbles play at handy-dandy.

A childish diversion also usually in

troduced at Christina, in by-gone days, was the "Oame of Goose." It was,

says Strutt, played by two persons, al

though it readily admitted of many

raore, and was well calculated to make

the young pec pin sharp at reckoning

the produce of two given numbers.

ihe table tor playing "uoose" was

about the size of a sheet almanac, and

divided into 02 small compartments,

Arranged in a spiral form, with a large open space in the center, marked with the number 63; the other compart

ments were denoted by' numbers from

1 to 62, inclusive. The game was played with two dice, each player

throwing in turn, and marking with

counter whatever number the dice cast

up. Thus if it wore &. four and five he

marked nine, and so on until the game

was completed. The number 63 had to be reached exactly, and should the

player exceed is, he had to reckon

back and throw again in his turn.

Some doubt emits (.8 to the precise

nature of a game designated "Shoeing the Wild Mare," and mentioned by

Herrick, when he speeks of

Christmas sports, the wassail-howl, Of bund-man-bitff, and -if the care That yon men have to s aoe the mare. "It appears," says Brand, that "the

wild mare was simply ti youth so-called, who was allowed a certain start, and who was pursued by his companions, with the object of being shod, if he did not succeed in outstripping them." Then there weie "cap verses," where one gave a word, to which another found a rhyme; a pastime onoe very

popular.

Among references o old lairistmas

games may be quoted the " Pastou Letters," in which a letter dated December 24, 1484, relates how Lady Morley, on account of the death of her lord, directing what pastimes were to be used in her home at Christmas, ordered

that "there were lione disguisings, nor harping, nor luting, nor singing, nor none loud disports; but playing at the tables, and chess, and cards; such disports she gave her folks leave to play,

and none other."

SOMEBODY ELSE'S "PATTED CALF." Bitter is the life of the man who,

during the gay month of December, has to conceal money difficulties from his family and dare not chill the exuberant holiday joy. But by far the greater portion of men have none of the sensitiveness winch makes each

debt a poisoned arrow to some of their fellows. They langh, and are merry, and kill the fatted calf of somebody else. They will hold high wassail in Christmas-tide, although the '.leavens may fall. But such mortals aw useful. We must have the riddy music of Offenbach as well as the Gregorian chant. Current.

kfc

THE CHRISTMAS STOCK INS. av n. c. do doe. "Dear Santa Clans," wrote littlo Will, In letters truly shocking, Toe been a good boy, so please flu a lumpen up this stocking. I want a drum to make pa sick

ana anvo my mamma cra-

j. i want a (toggle i can ick so he will not set

lazy. I want a powder

gnn to snoot rig at at ray sister Annie, and a big trumpet I can toot just awful loud at granny, t want a drelBe big false face to score in fits our baby. I want a pony I can race around the parlor, maybe. I want a little hatchet, too, soI can do some chopping npon onr grand piano new when mamma goes a-shopning, I want a ni30 hard rubber ball fc smash all into flinders the great big mirror in the hall an ' lots an' lota of winders. An' eandy that'll make nt e sick so ma all night will hold me an' make pa get the doctor quick an' never try to scold me. An. Santa Claus, if pa says I am naughty if s a story. Jus' say If he whips me 111 die and go to kingdom glory."

THE CHILDREN'S WEEK. BT. BOB BTJBDEim Old "Sandy Claws" is traveling round the world this week, with his sample cases chick, chock, plum full of things, for the little people. I wish I was little. I wish I was little Bobbie instead of big Bobbie. I wish I was seven years old again, and Christmas came once a year, and I had a stooking as long as a telegraph pole. The dear little people. You know I believe everything they do. I believe in fairies. Real fairies, you know, about as hig h as my thumb, with gauze wings, and green caps with silver bells on, who dance in the moonlight and live under the hill. People who believe in fairies and giants are good people always. They never swear, seldom lie, and get soundly whipped for it when they do; they never steal anything more than a handful of sugar or a lick of preserves; never any swag as -big mi a whole national bank. They dont go to Ohio to assist in carrying a neighbor's election. They are so good, and pure, wad loving, and gentle that I cannot believe there is any wrong in their creed. Hove to believe as the children do. And this is the children's week. To them belongs the story of the Babe of Bethlehem, and if we would love the story and understand it as they do, we must remember that He who was born in Bethlehem said: "Except ye become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven." The Old Oak and the Little Christmas Tree. "It's very oold this morning," said ft little Christmas tree out in the forest, one windy December day; "though Pm fir from head to foot, Tm all in ft shiver." "You'll be warm enough before bang," said the Old Oak, "I've seen the woodman looking at you several tunes lately." "I know Pve branched out a good

deal for myself the past year," said the little Tree proudly, "and I should not wonder if Santa Claus were very well satisfied with me, when I come to be all dressed up for a Christmas party."

"Ho-ho-ho!" laughed the Old Oak, you and your family are too green;

you snonia nave pur. on aingy orown

jackets like the rest of us, and then you

might Uve to a green old age, as I shall."

Just then the Woodman appeared. "Well!" cried the little Christmas

tree, as the Woodman bore it away,

it's a great honor to be chosen, sad

Christmas comes but once a year.

CHRISTMAS BEAUX. A mature damsel, who has been in

society three years and knows whereof

she speaks, says there is one season ol

thn vpar when a vounc lady can always

tell whioh one, if any, of her admirers

means business.

"Thev come she savs. "right along

the year around until about the 1st of December, and then you see them thin

out First one and then another dia-

anoears until the first tiling yon know

you don't receive a call in a week.

That is a sure sign that Christmas is si hand. Oh, we've got the thing down .

fine and we know what it means. This

time, thoueh. when some of these fel

lows come sneaking back after New

Year's and invite their old friends to take a two-dollar sleigh ride or seventy-five-cent show ticket they'll think something has dropped. The times

may be hard, but I know a dozen girls who are not so hard np for a bean as to overlook a case of mysterious disap

pearance at Christmas tune".

HOME-MADE XMAS GIFTS.

HE LONGED FOR CHRISTMAS. "There's no day like Christmas for me, and I do so like , so have it coma around onoe a year." "Yes, that's so. I always g?t iots of

presents."

"Oh, well, that isnt it so much; but it does give me such an excellent chance to get even with my mother-in-law. This year I'm going to give her two illuminated mottoes, 'The Vacant

Chair,' and 'God Bless Our Home.' Pll

see if she'll take the hint." Boston Times. BROUGHT TO ACCOUNT. Oharlev wanted to give Clara a

Christmas present, but couldn't make no his mind what it should be, so the

next time ho called he frankly told her the difficulty under which he was laboring. "Want to make me present, Char

ley!" Clara exclaimed, in well-disguised

astonishment. "Why, Charley, you

forcret yourself."

Charley took the hint, and offered

himself on the spot. CHRISTMAS EVE.

w;fe Oh! there it comes. That is

the delivery wagon. Husband There what conies?

Wife The the Christmas present

I bought for you.

Husband (going to the door)- You are mistaken, dear. I suppose the

preseut, whatever it is, will come by

mail. "But what did the wagon bring?" "Only the bill, iny love,"

Home-made gifts are of all articles the most to be appreciated. They are inwrought with love, enthusiasm and patience, and their value is above any " money consideration. The husband, father, brother, or son who settles himself in his easy chair before a glowing grate, enwrapped in the folds of an elegant dressing-gown wrought by affectionate hands, and between the paragraphs of his book glances at the beautiful slippers that represent hours , of loving lapor, and feels his heart warm and his eyes grow dim as he thinks of the fingers that set all those dainty stitches, is indeed to be congratulated, both for the love that prompted the labor and that he has the true appreciation in return. As Thanksgiving is the anniversary of the old folks, Christmas is the anniversary of the young, and he who celebrates it as he should, he who can be a ohild again just for one day, will And the boon that the world has always sought for, and drink at least one drop from the enp the ancients oalled Nepenthe, and have a fragment of youth restored. A new disease called bundle paralysis has broken out, and is expected to become pretty virulent just now, as we are nearing Christmas, It attacks business man whose wife has been down town shopping, and has ordered the purchases left at his office in the expectation that he will bring them home at night. A word to the wise ia floient,