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5, SEA
Deworrahicif
“Bellefonte, Pa., December 19, 1924.
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FAMOUS POEM, “TWAS THE
NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS.”
Immortal verses, written more than one
hundred years ago, would mot have de-
lighted countless little girls and boys if
_ young woman hadn’t copied them.
More than one hundred years ago
Dr. Clement Clarke Moore, of New
York sat down and composed for his
children a poem that will live as long
as there are childish hearts that thrill
in expectancy on “the night before
Christmas.” Dr. Moore, who was then
the greatest Hebrew scholar in this
country, called the poem “A Visit
from St. Nicholas.” a
A young woman who was visiting
the Moores when the poem was writ-
ten copied the verses in her album.
Greatly to the chagrin of its scholarly
author, the poem was published in the
Troy Sentinel the following year and
soon afterward attained widespread
popularity.
Realizing the joy that the poem
brought to countless children, Dr.
Moore let his indignation die. Today
his fame as the compiler of a Hebrew
lexicon has been forgotten. Those to
whom he taught Greek and Hebrew
while serving as a professor in the
General Theological Seminary are
mostly dust. But on account of his
little poem thousands of children
gather around his grave each Christ-
mas Eve in Trinity cemetery, West
Fifty-fifth street and the Hudson,
New York, and place holly wreaths
thereon.
A VISIT FROM ST. NICHOLAS.
>was the night before Christmas, when all
through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a
mouse; :
The stockings were hung by the chimney
with care,
In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be
there; :
The children were nestled all snug in their
beds,
While visions of sugar-plums danced in
their heads; ;
Apd mamma in her kerchief, and I in my
cap, ;
Had just settled our brains for a long win-
ter’'s nap;
‘When out on the lawn there arose such a
clatter,
I sprang from my bed to see what was the
matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
fore open the shutters and threw up the
sash.
The moon on the breast of the new-fallen
SNOW
Gave the luster of midday to objects below,
‘When, what to my wondering eyes should
appear
But a miniature
reindeer, ¢
With a little old driver, sO lively and quick
1 knew in a moment it must be St. Nick.
More rapid than eagles his coursers they
came,
sleigh and eight tiny
And he whistled and shouted and called
them by name;
“Now, Dasher! Now, Dancer! Now,
Prancer and Vixen!
On, Comet! On, Cupid! On, Donder and
Blitzen
To the top of the porch! To the top of
the wall!
Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away,
alli 1?
As dry leaves that before the wild hurri-
cane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount
to the sky,
So up to the housetop the coursers they
flew,
With a sleigh full of toys, and St. Nicho-
las, too.
And then in a twinkling I heard on the
roof
The prancing and pawing of each little
hoof.
As I drew in my head and was turning
around
Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with
a bound.
He was dressed all in fur from his head to
to his foot
And his clothes were all tarnished with
ashes and soot;
A bundle of toys he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a peddler just open-
ing his pack.
His eyes—how they twinkled !
ples—how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a
His dim-
cherry!
His droll little mouth was drawn up like
a bow,
And the beard of his chin was as white as
the snow;
The stump of a pipe he held tight in his
teeth,
And the smoke it encircled his head like a
wreath;
He had a broad face and a little round
belly,
That shook when he laughed, like a bowl-
ful of jelly.
He was chubby and plump, a right jolly
old elf,
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of
myself ;
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to
dread.
He spoke not a word, but went straight to
his work,
And filled all the stockings; then turned
with a jerk,
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose.
He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave
a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a
thistle;
But I heard him exclaim ere he drove out
of sight,
“Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good
night!”
Frosted Creams for Christmas.
One cupful sugar, 1 cupful sorghum,
1 cupful of warm water, 3 cupful of
butter or lard, 4 cupfuls flour, 1 tea-
spoonful soda, } teaspoonful baking
powder.
Raisins and nuts may be added.
Cream, sugar and shortening; then
warm water; add sorghum with soda,
well mixed; add flour and baking pow-
der, nuts and raisins. Bake in a drip-
ping pan; frost and cut in squares.
THE LITTLE CHRIST-CHILD.
There was cheer at the inn, with windows
alight,
But no room to offer a child that night,—
The little Christ-child, so tender and
. small;
They made him a couch in the cows’ rough
stall.
They covered him there in the manger’s
straw;
Only the humble cattle saw.
Warmth in the village, cheer at the inn,
And the straw in the manger scant and
thin ;
But angels sang on a hill near by,
And a gold star rose in the winter sky;
His mother pillowed Him on her arm,
And the little sleeper was glad and warm.
Hundreds and hundreds of years have
gone,
And still the angels are singing on;
Still the light of that lovely star
Over the world-hills shines afar;
Still into hearts where love is bright
The Christ-child enters on Christmas
night!
IS THERE A SANTA CLAUS?
Dear Editor: Iam 8 years old.
Some of my little friends say there is
no Santa Claus. Papa says, “If you
see it in the Sun, it’s so.” Please tell
me the truth; is there a Santa Claus?
VIRGINIA O'HANLON,
Virginia, your little friends are
wrong. They have been affected by
the skepticism of a skeptical age.
They do not believe except they see.
They think that nothing can be which
is not comprehensible by their little
minds. All minds, Virginia, whether
they be men’s or children’s are little.
In this great universe of ours man is
a mere insect, an ant, in his intellect,
as compared with the boundless world
about him, as measured by the intel-
ligence capable of grasping the whole
of truth and knowledge.
Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa
Claus. He exists as certainly as love
and generosity and devotion exist;
and you know that they abound and
give to our life its highest beauty and
joy. Alas! how dreary would be the
world if there were no Santa Claus!
It would be as dreary as if there were
no Virginias. There would be no
childlike faith then, no poetry, no ro-
mance to make tolerable this exist-
ence. We should have no enjoyment,
except in sense and sight. The eter-
nal light with which childhood fills the
world would be extinguished.
Not believe in Santa Clous! You
Might as well not believe in fairies!
You might get your papa to hire men
to watch in all the chimneys on Christ-
mas eve to catch Santa Claus, but
even if they did not see Santa Claus
coming down, what would that prove?
Nobody sees Santa Claus, but that is
no sign that there is no Santa Claus.
The most real things in the world are
those that neither children nor men
can see. Did you ever see fairies
dancing on the lawn? Of course not;
but that’s no proof that they are not
there. Nobody can conceive or imag-
ine all the wonders that are unseen
and unseeable in the world.
You may tear apart the baby’s rat-
tle and see what makes the noise in-
side, but there is a veil covering the
unseen world which not tHe strongest
man, nor even the united strength of
all the strongest men that ever lived,
could tear apart. Only faith, fancy,
poetry, love, romance, can push aside
that curtain and view and picture the
supernal beauty and glory beyond. Is
it all real? Ah, Virginia, in all this
world there is nothing else real and
abiding.
No Santa Claus! Thank God! he
lives; and he lives forever. A thous-
and years from now, Virginia; nay,
ten times ten thousand years from
now, he will continue to make glad the
hearts of children.—Frank Church in
the New York Sun.
—— re ———
Any Educational Value in Cross-Word
Puzzles?
Cross-word puzzles are a good di-
version, but have little or no educa-
tional value, according to faculty
members at The Pennsylvania State
College, who were asked if there is
any benefit to students in attempting
solutions of such puzzles.
“I find that children who are just
at the point where they normally ex-
pand their vocabularies receive great
benefit through solving the cross-
word puzzles,” says Dr. Will Grant
Chambers, dean of the school of edu-
cation, which turns out school and
college teachers at Penn State.
The college psychology specialists
are of the opinion that the cross-word
puzzle solution craze that has swept
the country gives only diversion to the
average adult. Many college students
fill in leisure moments solving the
puzzles daily, and some of them en-
joy making up their own puzzles,
chiefly those with humorous words or
definitions.—Ex.
Better ThanPills
; For Laver Ills.»
You can’t
feel so geod
but what
will make you
feel better.
” Povee,
A. sy 25
M60 ICIS “
C. M. PARRISH
BELLEFONTE, PA.
years known as Best,
SOLD BY DRUGGISTS EVERYWHERE
Two Thousand Auto Licenses Sus-
pended in 1924.
Licenses of almost 2,000 motorcar
drivers have been revoked or suspend-
ed during 1924, the State Highway
Department announced recently, and
the names of 812 other persons have
been placed on the department black- |
list. Driving while intoxicated con- |
stitutes the most numerous class of
motor law violation.
In one week, recently, sixteen per-
sons were intoxicated and fifty-nine
others lost their licenses for commit-
ting a similar violation.
Lyon & Co.
waned FEW.....
Last-Minute
Lyon & Co.
Gifts of Permanent Wear
adot Lasting Remembrance
Diamonds
Watches
Rings
Pearl Necklaces
Cigarette Cases
Chains
Cuff Links
Vanity Cases
Silverware
Leather Ware
Waterman Pens
Parker Duofold
Pens and Pencils
F. P. Blair & Son
JEWELERS
BELLEFONTE,
5 We Extend to you the Season’s Greetings
and a Cordial Invitation to join our
1925 Christmas Savings Club
which opens Wednesday December 10, 1924. Be sure of
a Merry Christmas by joining one or more of the follow-
ing Classes :
Class 25 Fixed—Members paying 25¢. a week for 50 weeks will get $12.50
Class 50 Fixed—Members paying 50c. a week for 50 weeks
Class 100 Fixed—Members paying $1 a week for 50 weeks
Class 200 Fixed—Members paying $2 a week for 50 weeks
—with 3% interest added if all payments are made regu-
larly or in advance.
Bellefonte Trust Company
BELLEFONTE, PENNA.
NAVARRE PEARLS
Christmas Gifts Should be fe
“Gifts That Endure” § | }
OMEN love to treasure gifts that
bring back memories of past loves J
and friendships. That's why Navarre | go Ic
Pearls are always so highly appreciated H =]
at Christmas.
It takes you but a moment to select
Navarre Pearls. Come in today and let
us show them to you. Sold only by
F. P. BLAIR & SON
Bellefonte, Pa.
Suggestions
that will aid you in
your Holiday Shopping
Stockings
Silk and Silk and Wool in all popular
shades. An ideal gift for mother, sister
and sweetheart. Also a complete range
of Silk Socks for the tiny tot. Prices
that will meet every purse.
Silverware
in Chests
and
Separate Pieces
Scarfs
Beautiful Woven Wool with contrasting
stripes and Silk with lace effects. A
gift that will be appreciated and long
remembered.
eee SPECIAL.....
Holiday Reductions
ow atiades Coats and Presses
and Misses...
We wish you a Merry Christmas and
a Happy and Prosperous New Year
Lyon & Co. « Lyon & Co.
ET
PENNA.
snmp
Come to the “Watchman” office for High Class Job work.
€«“ és
25.00
50.00
100.00
6 “6
Sacrifice Sale
Shoes
UNTIL CHRISTMAS
you can purchase any pair x
of Ladies Shoes in Yeagers
Store for $4.85, or any pair $1.
of Mens Shoes for $5.85. Lo
Nothing Reserved
Yeager’s Shoe Store
THE SHOE STORE FOR THE POOR MAN oR
LUE ELE EUR EULER EUEUCUEU EEL