NG DjJUJDj mkm SB J VOL. X-No. 149. PHILADELPHIA, 1 THUESDAY, DECEMBER 24, 18G8. TRirLE SHEETTIT RES CENTS. CGMST1AS! wmm 1 Greeting, Happiness, and Joy to All. A Discourse uporAhe Origin and ' History of the Day, - How the Festival vas An ciently Observed, and How it is now Observed, ' Legends, Sports, Musio, Gar lauds, Feastings, Qifts Christianity's Natal Pay (lie Grandest Day of the Year. Herry-makings in the Various Countries Throughout the World. Etc.. Etc., Etc., Etc,, Etc, Ete. Kind reader, today, anticipating a few brief hours, we bid yon, thrice bid 70a, a "Merry Christmas." To-night, the ringing of bells, the shouting of youths, the din of noisy, jostling, happy crowds, and indesoribably mingled sounds of all sorts will split the welkin's ear, not only here in this good Old Quaker City, but all over the earth, in clamor telling yon that the world's festival is at hand. Childish eyes hare twinkled for weeks as childish imaginations dwelt upon the sure approach ef the happy time; and older eyes hare gladdened for weeks beneath loviallv-arohed brows as they beheld the speak- ing joy of the younger folk. Long stockings are already being stretched to their extremest length, before midnight to be hang to waiting bed-posts; and green trees are already being planted in many a oorner to await their deckings of Christmas trinkets, Qay have been the stores, gayer hare been the streets, and gayest hare been the beaming throngs whioh harried along the one and en tered the other. Although times are hard, to be sore, yet parse-strings have loosened libe rally, and legal-tenders have been profusely exchanged for all kinds of articles to be given away as presents. What you are to receive let the morrow determine, bat do not ran the risk of being behindhand yourself by abstain ing from giving in the fear that nothing will be given to you. If there be any time at all when a man's heart should warm benevo lently, is it not the merry Christmas time T With the passage of a single night the day will be upon us. Shall we not then dwell awhile upon the history of the festival its if it . -a. j a m Is the Oat Correct? thrtnerb the (inflation whatkar tha 25th r fa Ka rlKwijmMa Him fwanlliBllw Oaf i l.,! ht Mia Ahaaftanwt tr yiavkiumy usitrau a j vvboitnuuq vi A S .1 . L 1 A M m YV1IIIIIMI1- Mill! MrVlllllHllLH M 1 VKI1UMI1 IBB least, have the coloring of plausibility. It was anciently observed by some Churches in April, May, and other months, as well as De cember, but it has nor for a long time been restricted by every Christian denomination to the latter month, and we presume the cus tom will never again be found to vary. Still, it may not be unprofitable to glance at the authorities which dwell npon this subject. When we do so, we not only find that all the arguments oonoerning the true date are based upon mere tradition, but they are ooafused and ontradictory to a perplexing degree. At the earliest period to whioh we oan traoe the observanoe of Christmas as a professedly Chris tian festival, we find that some of the Churches oe'ebrated it on the 1st and others on the Cth of January. Others, again, made it oolnolde with the Jewish Passover, by fixing it on the 29th of March; while by others the Feast of Tabernacles, whioh oocurs on the 29 th of Sep tember, was the favored season of the year. But some time before the reign of Constantino, In the fourth century, the New Year season Irrevocably fixed its claims to this additional rejoioing. Even then, however, there was a difference in the practioe of the Eastern and Western Churches. By the former the 6th of January was observed, and by the latter the 26th of December. The Western Churoh was finally triumphant, the date being fixed by a mandate of Jalius I, who was the head of the Roman Bee from A. D. 337 to 302. We are lnfoixned by St. Cbrysostom, who died in the early, part of the fifth century, that Pops Julia?, being solicited by St. Cyril, of Jerusa lem, so to do, canned inquiries to be made Into the matter, and authoritatively deoided that the most authentio traditions were in favor of the 25th of December. ' Ilintory or the Festival. Having received the countenance of the Churcb, and being based on customs whioh were revered by the common people, Christ mas continued down to the Reformation to be oelcbrated throughout the Christian world with great rejoioing. When the Protestant sects sprang into existence, this great festival, in common with many others on the Roman calendar, retained its plaoe among the cus toms of the Lutheran and Anglican Chrirohes;! but by the adherents of Calvin it was re jected in toto, as without any warrant in Sorip tore. It was to the prevalence of this spirit ' among the Puritan settlers of New Eng'and 1 that we owe the origin of our national festi val of Thanksgiving. As Sootland was the oountry in whioh the Calvinistio doc trines beoame most prevalent, . it was there that the clergy made the most determined efforts to do away with the obser vance of the obnoxious festival. The result of this course is the absenoe, even at the present day, of anything in the way of festi vity on Christmas, exoept in the Highlands 1 and the county of Forfar. But even in the Calvinistio Lowlands the tendency to re joicing at the close of the year is so irrepressi ble that New Year's Day and the preceding evening, known as Hogmanay, are seasons of general jollification. In this oountry, while Christmas was formerly regarded by the Presbyterians with as muoh aversion as it is by those of their belief in the Old World, it has at last come to be observed by them gene rally, but merely as a season of festivity, with out partaking of any sanctioned religious character. , ' The Festivities. In this country, and, indeed, throughout the world, the Christmas festivities may be said to oommence with the evening of Deoem ber 24. But according to the weight of the ecoleeiastioal authorities, the festival should begin on the ICth day of the month, which is designated in the calendar as 0. Sapientia, from the name of an anthem sang daring Advent. The proper termination of the fes tivities Is the 1st of February, or the eve before the Purification of the Virgin Candle mas Day by which time, In aooordanoe with the canons " of the Churoh, all the holiday decorations of plaoes of wor ship should be removed. In England, however, the festivities continue at the pre sent day scarcely a. fortnight, ending with Twelfth Day; while in this oountry it is but seldom that they last beyond the commence ment of the New Year. Considering that Christmas is preeminently a Christian festival, it would seem strange that many of the cus toms peculiar to the day are to be traced back to heathenish sources for their origin. When the different European nations were first ooa verted to Christianity, it was found that the rites peonliar to their former faith had taken suoh a hold upon the popular heart that it was almost impossible to prevent their con tinned observance. The ' early missions ries, therefore, made the best of this oir cumstance by engrafting on the anoient cere monies and superstitions of their converts the principles of the new faith whioh they had accepted, thus rendering the transition less sudden and less obnoxious. This was par ticularly the case with respect te Christmas in Great Britain, from whioh oountry we hav borrowed nearly all of our own methods of ob serving it. The origin of the prinoipal cere monies was the Saturnalia of the Romans The season chosen for this grand merry-making was the time of the winter solstice, on the 21st of December, when the days, having arrived at the period of their shortest duration, began to lengthen, thus heralding the approaoh o( spring and summer, whioh was regarded as a fit subject for rejoioing. The Roman Satur. nalia was characterized by universal lioense and jollity. The relation of master and slave, for the time being, was completely severed; the former frequently attending npon the latter as servants. The houses were made gay with evergreens, and games and presents were the staple occupations of the old and young of all classes. Among the ruder nations of the North of Europe there was a similar festival, at the same , period of the year, characterized in this case by the sacrifice of men and cattle, the hanging np of the saored mistletoe, and the universal kind ling of fires, indoors and out. From the last of these Is derived the Yule Log of "Merrie Old England." It is also said that the anoient Persians, between whom and the Druids of Western Europe there is supposed to have been an intimate- eelatlonwere accustomed to kindle fires on an extensive soale at the same period of the year. At different times, to the peculiarities of the Saturnalia were added the weird rites of the Druids and the grim obser vances of the Baxon mythology; and from this odd mingling ef Pagan ceremonials sprang the Christmas festivities of our forefathers, thriitmai Greene. From time immemorial It has been the habit of all Christian peoples to decorate their dwellings and plaoes of worship daring the ' continuance ef the festival. Fox this pur poseso far as the dwellings were oonoerned, while use was made of all species of ever, greens the mistletoe was chiefly regarded in former ages. This parasitioal plant was held in great veneration by the anoient Draids, especially when it was found olinging to the oak, whioh was supposed to be regarded with peonliar favof by their god "Tutanes," who was identioal with the "Baal," or Sun, of the Phoenicians. It was In his honor that the great festival of the winter solstioe, corres ponding to the Saturnalia of the Romans, was celebrated. On this oooasion the anoient Bri tons would sally forth, with all the parapher nalia of rejoioing, the Druids or priests at tbeir head, to gather the mysterious plant. On reaching the oak, two white bulls were first secured to it, and then the chief Druid, arrayed in robes ef white, to typify his purity, ascended the tree, and with a . golden knife severed the saored plant, whioh was caught in falling in the robe ef another priest. The bulls, and in some instances human victims as well, were then saorifioed; after whioh the plants thus gathered were divided among the people, and by them hung up in sprays over the entrances to their dwellings. Not only was the plant considered to possess the power to propitiate the sylvan deities during the season of frost and snow, but it was held to impart a healing influence to all who thus re vered it. As might naturally be expected, there was a strong opposition to introducing it into the Christian . churches, and it is be lieved that it was but seldom used at any time, exoept through the ignorance ot the sextons. This, however, did not prevent it from entering into the decoration of private houseB, and as long as it could be easily ob tained it was extensively used for that pur pose. One of the most enticing games of Christmas Eve is conneoted with this plant. A branch 0 it is suspended from the wall or ceiling, and when one of the gentler sex passes under it, either purposely or by aocldent, she inours the penalty of being kissed by any one of the other sex who so chooses. If she be not kissed, it Is the supposition tthat she will re main single during the coming year.' While It had been oustomary to employ In the deco ration of the churches nearly all the season able varieties of evergreen the mistletoe being always excluded the plants that are held in highest favor in England for this pur pose are the holly, bay, rosemary, and laurel. The ivy is also used, but from its associations with Bacchus and the Infernal orgies cele brated in his honor, it is generally considered undesirable. It is still the custom, however, at the two great English universities to deck the windows of the college ohapela with this plant. Cypress, also, Is sometimes exoluded on account of its funereal associations. Ia this country, where many of the more appro priate evergreens are but soantily produced, the cedar, box, and pine are employed, from the necessities of the oase. In the deooration of houses every available shoot of green is pressed into service, although holly and ivy have usually the preference. In Oxfordshire, England, there was a peonliar penalty at tached to the negleot of this ceremony. The maid-servant would request the man to fur nish a supply of ivy for decorating the house; and if for any reason he did not oomply, a pair of his unmentionables were inevitably sailed up over the gateway. Feasting on Fat Things. The distinguishing feature of Christmas as a season of festivity is the universality with which the custom of feasting on that day is observed. Not only here in this ooun try, but all over the world, Christmas Day is a nonentity without a Christmas board. The other peculiarities of the festival have arisen and increased their number through the lapse of years some have become obsolete, while others have come into vogue; but from the .very beginning the custom of making It a feast in the true sense of the word a minis tration in chief to the stomach has uninter ruptedly prevailed. Every lay whioh has been composed in its praise contains some allusion to the "groaning table," or, descend ing to gpeoiflcs, advances the olaims of plum pudding, turkey, goose, or hot punoh. In fact, to the younger people it is no more than an opportunity afforded to glut themselves to their hearts' content with sugar-plums and bon-honsA season when parents are liberal in the giving of good things and chary of oaution in their use. The ' hung stocking" tells the whole tale, proves the truth of what has already been said, and obviates aBy necessity for further oomment. StevenBon, in his "Twelve Months," thus describes a Christmas in 1GC1: "Now, capons and hens, besides turkeys, geese, ducks, with beef and mutton, must all die; for in twelve dajs a multitude of people will not be fed with a little. Now plums and sploe, sugar and honey, square It among pies and broth. Now a journeyman cares not a rush for his master, though he begs his plum porridge alalia twelve days. And if the cook do not lack wit, he will sweetly lick his fingers." In anoient times it was the boar's head that held the first rank among the Christmas dishes of England. This dish appears to have been popular at a very early period. Holtn shed, in speaking of the coronation of the Prince Of Wales in 1170, says that King Utnry II "served his aon at the table as rewer, bringing up the Bore's Head, with trum pets before it, according to the manner." The oeremony of "Bringing in the B re's Bead" in these early days was attended with great pomp and ceremony. It was the first and foremost dish upon the Christmas table of the feudal chieftains, and was served in a manner strictly in accordance with the bois. terous oustoms of the day. As the "sewer" bore it to the table he sang thuB: "Caput ApH drero JReddtm laude domino. The Bore's Head In hand brlnge I, Wltti garlandei gay and rosemary, I pray you all syoge merely, Qui eitu in convivio. "The Here's Head, 1 understand. Ia tbe cbefe servyce Id ibis lande; Loke wherever il be fande, Servile cum Canlico. "Be elndde, lords; both more and lame. For tbls bath ordaynedour stewarde, To cliere yon all tula ChrlBtmasse, ' The Bore's Head with mustarde. Caput A prx defcro Redden laude $ domino." The dish next in regard to the boar's head in anoient times was the peaoook, whioh was served up in rare and magnlfioent style. After being prepared the lady-gaest of noblest birth or most bewitohing beauty was selected to bear this royal dish into the hall; and fol lowing her, to the sound of musio, came the rest of the dames, in the order of their rank. On suoh ocoasions the gallant knights would swear over the dish to engage in the suooor of such gentle beings as they might find in dis tress, no matter what peril attended the enter prise. And sometimes there was then and there tournament, the viotor ia whioh was permitted further to display his skill in the cutting up of small beasts. Third in order of rank, perhaps but first in modern estimation oomes the Christmas pudding, a dish of quite modern origin, al though it had its progenitor in the plum-porridge of ancient days. This last was so highly esteemed that it was always served with the first course. Says Addison, in the Taller, "No man of the most rigid virtues gives offense by excess in plum-pudding or plum-porridge." Now we reach the Christmas pies, indispen sable accompaniments of every Christmas board. As early as 1696 Christmas pies were popular under the title of "mutton pies." At a later period neat's-tongue took the plaoe of the mutton, the remaining ingredients being nearly the Bame as at present. So highly esteemed at one time were these Christmas pies, that a watch was always set npon them to forestall the depredations of thieves. The proper time to commence eating them, according to old Dr. Parr, was 0. Sapientia, or the 16th of December. Having so informed an inquisi tive female, the Doctor added: "But please to say Christmas pie, not minoe pie; mlnoe pie ts puritanical." The Puritans, indeed, were bitter foes of anything that savored of Christmas superstition, and to their prejudices we are indebted for the following amusing stanza: "All plums the Prophet's sons deny, ABd bplce-brolbs are too hot; Treason's In a December-pie, And death within the pot." The famous legend of "Little Johnny Horner" oan properly be introduced In this connection. Here we have it: "Parvus Johannet Ilorner Sedebat In a oorner, JCdentu Christmas pie; Jnseruit his thumb, Extrahita, plum, Exclamans, 'quid smart puer am I." In our days the boar's head, the peaeook, and other dishes anoiently esteemed, have given place to the turkey, the goose, and the chioken. The first of these is now the essential dish, and ever ocoupies the position of honor on the table. What an amusing calculation it would be for some enterprising statistician to add up the countless thousands of these doomed birds which are annually slaughtered just at this season I The Music Another distinguishing feature of the "Merry Christmas" time is its musio. Ia England there is a class of xnusloians who are termed "Christmas Waits," although it is not known whether the word originally de noted the musio, the performers, or the in struments upon whioh they played. As early as the year 1400 a company of "waits" was established at Exeter, oonoerning whom Itjmer gives a long account, commencing as follows: "A wayte, that nlghtelye from Mlcbelmaa to BbreveThorsdaye plpelbe ihe waiehe wlihea tbls oourie lower timet; In the somcre nygutes It tyines, and makethe bon gayte ai every chambere-dore and offyce, as well for feare of pyckeres and plllera. He eateth la the Ualle with mynstriefles. and takethe lyverye (allow ance) at nyghte a lofle, a galone of alle, eta" From this account it would appear that, in the time of Edward II, the "waits" were pages of the court; but in later days they were merely minstrels, whose strains were heard only at Christmas time in England, and in Sootland Christmas being there tabooed at New Year. In London, at the present time, they perambulate tbe streets at night for two or three weeks before Christmas, performing the popular airs of the day on various wind instrument s. Their labors oease on Christmas Eve, and soon after they call upon the inhabi tants for their contributions. The singing of Christmas carols is another custom which has long prevailed in England. The Christmas carol is as old as the festival itself, and in the primitive days of the Church it was customary for the bishop, surrounded by his elergy, to take part in this simple and beautiful ceremony. In those times the carol was exclusively a religions soug, but it has beoome so secularised that bat little of the religious element now remains. We subjoin a few Btaniis from one of the most toaohtng of these Christmas ballads: - : "And all the bells on earth shall ring ' On Christmas day, on CbrUimas day; . And all the bells on earth shall ring On Christmas day In the morning. "And all tbe angels In heaven shall sing On Christmas day, on Cbrlrttmas day; And all the angels In heaven shall sing ' , On Christmas day In the morning. "And all the souls on earth shall sing On Christians day, on Christmas day; And all tbe souls on earth shall slog On Christmas day In the morning. "Then let ns all rejoice amain On Christmas day, on Christmas day; - Then let ns all njoloe amain ' On Christinas day In tbe morning." In this country the singing of Christmas carols has never been popularly adopted, ftporls and Festivities. With years always oomes sedateness. This holdB true not only in regard to the life of a man, but also in regard to the life of a custom In bygone ages, as has already been remarked tbe festival of Christmas was observed in noiee and clamor, and while, .sooth to say, it is kept even in this present age in a manner rather unquiet, yet, as it has grown old, its celebration is not now attended with any ap proach to that boiBterousnesB which marked it centuries ago. Nevertheless, Christmas sports make up muoh of the attractiveness of the time. In the days of yore the "Yule Log" was the grand culmination of the sperts of Christmas Eve. The custom is still retained in some sections of England, although It is sadly Bhorn of the pomp and ceremony whioh formerly attended It. The festival of the winter solstice, as celebrated by the ancient Goths and Saxons, was termed Juul or Yule, by the latter of which terms Christmas is still known in the Soottish dialect. The term is most probably derived from the Gothto word giul or hiul, from which is derived the English "wheel," and which has the same slgnlfioanoe. Juul, or Yule, Is therefore supposed to signify the turning-point of the year a supposition whioh is confirmed by the faot that in the old clog almanacs the Yale-tide is designated by the device of a wheel. The ceremony of bringing in the Yule Log was conducted in the following manner The party repaired to the woods where the log lay, and having placed themselves in the harness, dragged it in triumph to . the hall, each wayfarer raising his hat as it passed. Arriving there, they were greeted by the min strels with a song, of which the following supposed to belong to the period of Henry VI. is a fair specimen: Welcome be thou, heavenly King, Welcome born on this morning. Welcome for whom we shall sing, Welcome Yule) "Welcome be ye, good New Year, Welcome Twelfth-day, both In fere Welcome saints, loved and dear, Weloome Yule!" The log was then rolled npon the ample hearth and Ignited with a coal from the rem nant of the Yule Llog of the preceding year. This- done, a candle of monstrous size was lighted, and then the Christmas party made themselves merry with musio and wassail. "Kissing under the Mistletoe" was another favorite game of Christmas Eve in olden times, while still another was the "Procession of Mummers," styled guisers or guizards in Scotland, a ceremony which is still kept up ia some sections of England. The term "mum mer," which is synonymous with "masker," comes from the Danish mumme, or the Dutch momme. The custom was probably derived from the Roman Saturnalia, of whioh xnasque rading was a favorite feature. The early Christians, on New Year's day, were aocustomed to run. about the. streets tn masque, in ridioule of the custom of their Pagan neighbors. From these practices It Is supposed sprang the "mys. teries," or "miracle plays," whioh were for many centuries a favorite amusement of all the European nations. The mumming ceremonies of Christmas Eve were In many respeota similar to these popular "mysteries," although the religious element, which was prominent in the latter, was almost entirely wanting in the former. The persons engaging in them would array themselves in the most outlandish and fantastio oostumes, combining all the oddities of men and brutes, and then make the round of the prinoipal houses within their reach, to the intense de light of old and young. The oeremony was not strictly confined to the Christmas season in old times, although it ia at present, wher ever practised in England. At Tenby, in South Wales, it ia kept up for three weeks, every house in the town being visited. In Sootland( mumming, or guiaing, is performed at New Year, as are all the other festivities of the winter solstioe. The "Lord of Misrule" now takes his plaoe as next on the list of Christmas sports of Jthe days of onr ancestors. This functionary, in a word, was the master of the Chriptmas revels. We have the following aocount of the custom by Stow: "In the feast of Christmas there was in the king's house, wheresoever he lodged, a 'Lord of Misrule,' or Master of Merry Desports, and the like had ye in the house of every nobleman of honor or good worship, were he spiritual or temporal. The Mayor of London, and either of the Sheriffs, had their several Lords of Misrule, ever contending, without quarrel or offense, who should make the rarest pastime to delight the beholders. These lords beginning their rule at Allhallond Eve, continued the same till the morrow after the Feast of the Parifioatton, oommouly called Candlemas Day,' in whioh space there were fine and subtle disguislngs, masks, and mam' merles, with playing at cards for counters nayles, and points In every house, more for pastimes than for game." ' ..;)... In the University of Cambridge this func tionary, regularly elected from among the Masters Of Art, was termed lmperator, or Pro feetui Ludorum, and his duties were not only to superintend the' diversions of Christmas, but of the annual representations of the Latin plays by the students as well. A similar cus tom prevailed at Oxford. In the Inns of Court in London the- Lord of Misrule reigned in great splendor, being surrounded by all the) paraphernalia of royalty, including a lord keeper and treasurer, a guard of honor, and two chaplains, whe "regularly preaohed before him ia the Temple Churoh on Sunday. Ills sovereignty terminated on Twelfth Day.' In 1635, this mook-royal personage expended 2000 out of his own pocket, and In return received the honor of hnighthood at the hands of Charles I. As an illustration of the outra geous lioense enjoyed by these functionaries, we subjoin an extract from the "articles" by which the Right Worshipful Rlohard Evelyn, Esq., constituted Owen Flood, his trumpeter, the "Lord of Misrule of all good orders daring the twelve days:" ' "I give free leave to the said Owen Flood to command all and every person or persona', whatsoever, as well servants as others, to be at bin command Whensoever he shall sound tain trumpeter musio, and to do him good servloe. es though I were present myself, at their peril. I give lull power and authority to his lordship ' to break up all locks, bolts, bars, doors, and latches, and to fling up l doors oat of hinges to come at those who presume to disobey his lord snip's commands. God save the King 1" The Lord of Misrule commenced his reign by absolving all his subjeots from their wis-, dom, commanding them to retain Just enough sense to know' how to oonduot themselves like fools. In Sootland, previous to the Reforma tion, a functionary entitled the "Abbot of Un reason" was elected by the monasteries to iu, perintend the Christmas festivities. In France, . likewise, they had an Abba BtuUorvM, or "Pope of Fools," of a similar character. The Scottish Parliament abolished the oustom by statute in 1555. As might have been ex pected, the eld Puritans were bitterly opposed to these praotloes, and denounced, them in un measured terms, as relics of the "Roman Saturnalia and Bacchanalian festivals, whioh should cause all pioas Christiana eternally to abominate them." 1 From time out of mind, even to onr present day, has descended the sport called "Snap dragon." Both in England and America it is one of the favorite games of Christmas. The operation is very simple, although it requires a considerable amount of nerve and rapidity of motion. A quantity of plums' or raisins are deposited In a large shallow bowl, and over these is poured brandy, or some other liquor, which is then ignited. The by- . standers then plunge their hands Into this mimio lake of fire and draw forth, if they oan, a plum. . It is quaintly sung in the following verses: "Bere he cornea with flaming bowL Don't he mean to take his toll, tinlp! Bnspl Dragon I "Take care you don't take too much. Be not greedy In your olutob, Snip! Snap! Dragon! "With bis blue and lapping tongue Many of yon will be stung. Bnlpl Bnapl Dragon! "For be snaps at all that oomes, Snatching at his feast of plums, Bulp I Bnap! Dragon 1" Among the minor sports in vogue at Christ mas time maybe mentioned "Blind Man's Buff ', and the game of "Forfeits," both of whioh are so well known as to require no particular notioe. In addition to these there are count less others some played here, some there each locality having its own particular one,' the best and most detailed enumeration of whioh would not only, of neoessity, prove in complete, but run to no one knows whither. Odd Motions and Superstitions. No other season in the year no other festi val in the calendar is aooompanied by so many singular fancies and aotual supersti tions as Christmas. Many of these have an origin anterior even to the discovery of our continent; others again have sprung into ex Istence in days comparatively recent. Human nature is the same always and everywhere, so that not only the people of the Old World, bat the people of the New, now retain, and may hap believe in, many of these superstitions. Among them, perhaps one of the most ancient and singular is that concerning the "crejvlng. of the cook." It was believed of yore that this bird, whioh of course Is silent daring the hours of the night, crowed from the setting of the sun on Christmas Eve to its rising on Christmas morn. Shakespeare has seized upon this popular tradition, and turned it to good advantage in one of the ghost soenes in Uam Ut. "Maroellus" reminds his companions, that the ghost "faded on the crowing of the cock," and then oontinuea In, the following, beautiful strain: "Some say, that ever 'gainst that seaeoa eomea. Wherein our Saviour's birth U celebrated, This bird of dawning slogeth all night long;. And then, they say, no splrlt-sUrs abroad: The nights are wnolenomf; then no planet strikes; No fairy takes, nor witch hath power to ehtfm: -Bo haUow'a and so graclone la the time." In old times there was a prejudice among the people of Sootland against 'spinning on Christmas Day." The Calvinistio preaohert, overflowing with aaU-Chrietma pivjadloes, took especial pains to rid their flocks of thla idea. Their efforts In that direction are thua
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