St. Joseph County Independent, Volume 21, Number 23, Walkerton, St. Joseph County, 28 December 1895 — Page 12

iw -W V- v X M Wlrß MB -.2^ l ^ G ont ’ 5 e joyous New Year ’■ ML '"“"■ -3_ V-^*’ long out the old, ring in the | “ new! Each brazen throat triumphant swells. As if, old bells, ’twere much to you. This happy, merry, gladsome time, A'ou're ringing in with joyful chime. Perhaps 'tis so; so long you've hung, So long- in that old steeple gray, Methinks each iron, clanging tongue Is glad to tell its tale to-day. Each ringing, swinging, tuneful bell Its twelve month’s tale would gladly tell. A happy twelvemonth 'twas to some; Alas! that ’twas not so to all! But joy and grief alike must come, Into each life some rain must fall. Oh. tolling, rolling, hon y bells. How solemn sound j our deep-toned knells! j YcTve rm for life, you’ve rung for death. . You’ve sped the old year’s parting breath, | Ami welcome oft the New Year bright: You elan m tw mging, no. a b. Ils, That each a different story tells! bit, oh. . .mrm !■!• st. blithest tune, YoUl- . ■ Hr ■ ’ ■ . sweet , <t la v You chime from Ju .. i" ■ on.-nt June. On ev’ry happy w. Idina day. Then trilling, thrilling, blithely swells Your pa an glad, oh, m i triage bells' But. dear old bells, whate'er your song, Though sad or merry be your lay, I’ve loved you well my whole life long. I’ll love you till my dyim: .lay, You rippling. rhythmic, dulcet bells, Wherein a world of music dwells! — Miriam Myers, in N. Y. Sun. ■ CHRISTMAS. Facts Which show That This Holiday Is Christ's Birthday. Is to-day the veritable anniversary of the birth of Jesus of Nazaret h ? it is a question often asked, but never quite satisfactorily answered. Ilex erent preuisposition can always find sufheient evidence to answer yes. xx bile it is to be noted that the question of itself implies a degree of religious skepticism. Alen have even stood in pulpits with little enough to do to devote an hour’s oratory to the disproof of it. It is quite as certain that Jesus was born on the 25 th of December as that Augustus, the emperor under xvhom he xvas born, xx as born in the sixty-third y ear before him. or that Tiberius, the emperor under whom he died, came into the world forty-two years, one month and nine days before him. 1 hat is to say, it is the decent habit <>f the world tone tory have to offer concei tent. It is certain that as early as the year 150 the date we noxx celebrate was universally recognized among ( hristians without a question as their Sax tout s natal day. That fact alone is ail-sut iieient for succeeding generations. 11 all records and allusions to t he date ot the birth of George Washing ton were to be blotted from all American writ ings earlier than 1900 it would besiificient for posterity that at the beginning of tlw txventieth century the - M of February was uni versa i 1 y reeogn tzed. and that thedax was observed as a h a holiday. This is the best foundation we have for (he authenticity of Decern ber 25 as the birthday of Jesus. In the year 140 St. Justin Martyr, t Im first great Christian apologist. -aid that the best record extant ot the biithd iy of Christ was to be found in t he archives at Home. Addressing the emperor and Roman senate, he sa id : “ 1 here is a o r tain village in the land of Judea, dm tant thirty-five stadia from Jerusalem, in which Christ Jesus was born, as ye can learn from the enrollment- com pleted under < yreniii', your first pro curator in Jerusalem. In t hey ir Tertullian said the same t. tig । naliy, concerningthe census euro preserve as a faithful witness of tin Lord s nativity. Anx mau b feenlh century xx ho xxants mote < x plicit proof of a matter that is not oi great vital moment anyxvay must havi in his mind a private scheme in whier the rest of the world can have no pos sible interest. —Detroit Evening Nexxs THEIR CHRISTMAS GIFT. Only a Twelvemonth More of Life, But Ii Brought Happiness

promise your wife anot her year of life. Aon may go in and see her.” He went into the sick chamber, and physicians, nurses and all left the two —husband and wife—alone together. in the midst oi her suffering she found courage to smile. “It is my ( hristmas gift,” she whispered, “and yours. Wo shall have twelve months more of lifeand happiness together. God is very good to us, . darling’ - .” Perhaps people who did not have i enough to eat Christmas day may find it in their hearts to give this man and

de, HOW SANTA c( Aus GOT A FALL. BY B ’ WELCH ’

A story’s related about Santa Claus, How he once got a terrible fall While out on his regular Christmas trip. With his gifts for his little friends all; And a sad fall it was for the dear old soul— If the story about it is true. Which doubtless it is—however, I’ll tell I Ills unique Christmas story to you.

I Haifas MSt Y; $ IM* *. W K ® Met ' / r I1 I til'la m | tW”’~ i • r -

Old Santa had climbed, v 1, Down a chimney at just twe And decked it all over with g?ts and t Using up a good part of his stock ; There were soldiers and doll-babies, guns and books, Hanging all about over the tree, / d ! ttle w x candles of every hue, Be de in. thick a could be.

FATHER’S PRESENTS. Why He Sometimes Thought They CISIO® Oust a Little Too U H eful. |; They were Calking about Chris* t)iS piesents, the girls and mother ai*^ xvhen hit her came in. Then xve charil I the subject just a. little bit, bee 3 it wtts father's presents we vjX£ re discussing-. Father sat down byj.j () ! le ■ stove and rubbed his hands—he * f'* 1 . just been out at the barn —and aqi , 1 | expression slow ly settled upon hist? 1 ** ures. I lb I “Say, mother, and Ned, and girls, I , said. “I don’t want any mi ye to 1C c * I

qtafd on a high, wabbly stool Dear Santa was perchßva.sk so pleasant, As he worked at fiis i r c then in the house Determined that every^'' Christmas present; Should receive a ni w ’ 'hen he thought of the joy He merrily laughed r ’ l ^ s would be, To his dear lit*!- tnP^ig they all got up When early ’>e*t mo^^iificent tree. And beheld the mA|

. as! poor Santa, his smile was soon changed T a comical grimace of pain, i >r, leaning far back on his shaky perch A good view of the pretties to gain, The jolly old soul lost his balance and fell To the floor with a horrible crash, And grabbing the tree brought it down on hi head With a toy-breaking, ruinous sma u "1 itn'i no von for :i birth IV l>l<‘ 'Hi hist

his hands, settled himself back comfortably in his big chair, and his eyes I twinkled more than ever. Well, let’s see," he went on, in a runi ina t i ng 1 ma nner,"doyou remem-ber t.he dozen hem-stitched han’kerchiefs that ! you gave me last Christmas, Leny? ; Igucssl usedoncol'em just mice. Some way or other (with a genial, impartial glance at the company), Leny and Noli have been usin’ of ’em and I’ve been usin’ of Leny and Nell’s old torn, stained ones. He, he, 1 don’t know jest how’t was, but. it's a fact.! Then, Ned, do j you remember the compass you got me <

us oxer again thoughtlessly used the dear old man’s things.—American Agriculturist. Concerning Kvsoiut ions. He—l made a lot of good resolutions I last year. She—Not atall. They were all bad. He—How do you make that out? She They wouldn i keep.—Chicago Tribune. Things Go hy < onl mrics. * k ’l lio contrariness of human nature I is out'of she most rcma rkable phenomena possible,” mused Rev. Dr. Thirdly. ■

The goodies went flying all over the room As the tree fell on poor Santa’s pate, Frightening Tabby from her cocy nap On the rug at the side of the grate; It was a great pity such ruin to see As was strewn there all over the floor. Misfortune so dreadful I’m sure never came Any Christmas to Santa before.

The tumble he got didn’t bother him much, For it happened he landed just right; But sorry indeed was Santa to see All around him so sorry a sight; The damage was great. but he quickly repaired Everything that was injured at all, And out on his journey he went forth again None the worse for his terrible fall.

Y”- ; .-MH ' T< -f vc F, a ; ’j i Lr^ H Y should we mourn the v ” ar? u J t‘ What hath it brought of I love or cheer That is not ours to keepalway? Why meot the coming y< ar with fear? What can it bring of toil or tear That shall not bless ns in its day? Alike lo God’s good purpose true. Our h. arts, in clearer light, will own. •I'lu v go. they . one . w<- will not sigh — Which It.•oimg'y'krs forus have sown. Holida.x Attentions —” “My dear, you're looking ver; Ww* tonight,” (That means a Chrismas cloak.) 'Til get your slippers and your pipe—a light,” (That’s business, and no joke!) ‘Y’ou'll kill yourself if you keep working (That speech is bound to win!) j "Darling, 1 could not live if you should ■ (That means a diamond pin.) 'Tve had the girl make just the nicest tea!” (My head has fallen back!) "The kind you liked best xvhen you married me!” (Mercy! a fur-trimmed sacque!) “Poor, tired d.-ar! I’ll nil.- your head for (In mute despair I look.) “When I _-o shopping i’ll be tired, too!” (That means —my pocketbook!) A Good XX ord. Joe was a voutli of such exceeding popularity with his uncles and aunts that his mother xvas compelled to . ill a halt on her 100-indulgent brothers and sisters, xx ho. she claimed, with justice. were spoiling the youngster with tin ir reeklc- generosity and rendering site vv;i' plain in** liei’ troulilc “tlie re. f vt\ -tv.o present.” Magazine. ' I a j i s • ; Y<‘s. but I ain't ?oing to wear them. Dav after to-morrow is (hristmas.” — \ Christmas Som;. Id t only Tevins looks Beam from your eyes. Whil< bells of Christmas ring Almost a Hint “I got a holiday hint from my wife,” he replied, with’a sigh that made his “What was it?” "A cardboard bearing the inscription: ‘The Lord Loveth a Cheerful Giver.’’’—Texas Siftings. >( A CaUulating Boy. j pect, and I knexv 1 xvould. — Pos+on Transcript. A Hint. I wish you a merry Christmas'. Let's try while we're repeating Still on Hand.