old farm home rush nil grandchildren for nas time. Truly it is ! .son of all the year, md sisters and cousins ma's for the holidays, -l city and village and •andl'ather meets the s each party as it ar farm in the great bob • best team, and that is re of the Christmas ler, the second, as tiio s been the first. many of them, are practically so, to eaih lake the family party a ust be entertained in a ;et them thoroughly ar randmother and grand ess and host, must pro nent of a sort that will ; 3. At the same time the- 1 must recall the old the ciders, so what is iate than the old farm ! ever new. There must for every minute of the fto prevent the fonna that would breed antag ; the various sets of cou -e must be enough of ip all interested. r takes hold of the ar- ! or the out-door games, j Uings, there must be a .y, for the children from v none of its pleasures j ig bob-sled comes into o its commodious box arc | e wee mites of the party, j ndance of hay and warm 1 Behind the big sled j ral small hand sleds, th; J ) of all being at the ex f the line, and onto these oys and girls, and often of their parents, who have n the joys of such a frolic, j :hey go, up hill and down, : ts of roads and around j •s. And at the sharp cor- j re the greatest fun comes I —•<>"- **j£ - 'ith the horses going at a good fte small sled at the end of the almost sure to upset and spill lants into the drifts beside the 'o be sure, all will want the id excitement of riding on that !, and to avoid controversy iher must have arranged a s so as to give each one a at it, and must try to be im n the spilling of them into the ifts. ■er amusement that grandfath take charge of might be called iunt, only there is no fox, and il must be marked by bits of pa .tiered along. If the snow is is not practical to make the )0 long, or into the deep drifts, ould follow marked paths, but he snow is not deep it may go ?re about the farm. The hur.t st follow the trail 'oy the bits of ed paper, and at the goal there be a little prize for the winner, 1 not one of sufficient value to he less fortunate ones feel badly having won. our.se grandfather and grand v will have little presents for all ildren, and it adds to the interest r e a Christmas tree for them, but ne of the ordinary sort that is ) in the parlor. Instead, if the >er is not too severe, it should b<- doors, and any orchard or shad'? .bat is not too high may serve as egulation evergreen. If night ir, n as the time for the Christmas estivities, a few lanterns may the purpose of candles, and the •en should climb the ladder in .1 of their own presents. Of e the boys, as the better climbers, d be made to climb the higher for their presents. • grandmother's part, inside the ; there a-e many games in which in engage. The games should be le, so that they may be readily .stood. The old-fashioned coun ames are by far the best for such etasion. ndman s buff needs no explana and is a jolly way in which to an hour's time, but cannot be inued too long, or the children ! will tire of It. Another game that is less noisy is blindman's wand, in which the parties playing form a circie j about the one who is blindfolded. Th 3 blindfolded one has a cane or small stick, and after the others have circled about him to the accompaniment of any well known song, he points his wand at one in the circle and imitates the noise made by some animal. The one pointed to must repeat the noise, disguising his voice so that he may not be known. Three times may the test be repeated, imitating a different animal each time. If at the end of the three tests the blindfolded one is still undecided as (o who he is pointing to he may run his wand over him an,! find out in that way, if possible. If he guesses who it is places are exchanged and the game begins over again. Chi istmas candles sound Chriat masy, and will be remembered by the elders as one of the pleasures of long ago. A lighted candle is placed upon a small table, when one person is blindfolded and stationed with his back to the candle, and close to it. Hi is then to take four steps forward, turn around three times and return and blow out the candle. Simple as the game is, it will afford amusement for an hour on Christmas eve. If grandfather wishes to provide something especially for the boys, and has a big barn, he can get up a series of races, at which the girls will be in terested spectators. A three legged race, in which the legs of two contes'ants are tied together, will be exceedingly funny, especially to the onlookers. Another is a sack race, In which th^ THE FUN OK A HITCHING PARTY. I contestants are encased from the waist I down, or, if the sacks are long enough, j from the neck down. Thus prepared, they are given a certain distance togo, and are prepared to cover the distance in any way they can quickest, as, for example, jumping or rolling, A potato race, or an egg race, is yet another game which will furnish great amuse ment. In these there is laid out on the bain floor a row of potatoes or eggs for each contestant, and these must b j cariied one at a time «.nd deposited in i a basket or box. In case of eggs being | used the breaking of one of them loses j the race. The boys will also enjoy a 1 pig race. For the purpose a pig for j each boy should be released in a room jin the barn, and the boys be given each a designated pig to catch, it may be hard on the pigs, but it will be great sport for the boys and the audi ence. Christmas night in the house is the gayest time of all the holiday season. Grandmother lias prepared for it, and the last trace of embarrassment ha:) | worn away from the shyest of the j youngsters. "13ob apple" is a good be ginning for the evening. Place a num- I ber of apples in a bowl of water and ! let each have a try at catching one of I them by the stem with their teeth. ; \Vet faces and soiled dresses will be | fully compensated for in the amount lof fun that is had. Later, a hunt through grandomther'B garret will provide the necessaries for Christmas mummers, in which old Father Christ mas leads the revellers, composed of such characters as Dame Plum Pud ding, Sir Loin of Beef, Miss Pumpkin Pie, etc. Charades and shadow shows follow in rapid succession, and then, j as a climax, comes a Virginia reel, in | which old and young participate. Then the singing of a Christmas carol, aod the happy guests are off to bed and j pleasant dreams. When grandfather's big sled carries I them back to the trains that are to dis | tribute them to their far-away homes they will vote this the merriest Christmas of all they have had, and grandfather and grandmother will wish that Christmas might last throughout all the year. A Costly Experiment. Crawford—lnstead of buying you a Christinas present, why don't you have your wife make you something with her own hands? Crabshaw —Can't afford it. She once made me a one-dollar-forty-nine-cent smoking jacket, and the materials she bought cost me the least part of a ten spot.—Judge. CAMERON COUNTY PRESS, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 22, 1904 THE SPIDER'S WEB A SUBSTITUTE FOR THE CHRISTMAS TREE The Christmas tree has by no means passed the day of its use fulness, and let 11s hope that it never may do so. but a variety is some times desirable at Christmas time, as well as at other times, and to get it the spider's web may be substituted fur the tree. The way of arranging it is to have a large spider made of wire and other material suspended from the ceiling, or attached to the wall. To this are brought a number of reels, or spindles, one or more for each person to be remembered. Each spindle should contain a different colored string or ribbon, and these are then threaded in a bewildering maze through the furniture, from room to room, up and down stairs, and Christmas for the 1 | Sunday School $ | % By WILLIS S. EDSON % <s> Superintendent Covenant Hapiist Bunday <y School, Chicago. W THERE is no Sunday school but should have and does have its Christmas celebration. It is not a question, then, of "Shall we cele brate?" but "How shall we celebrate?" Christmas comes but once a year, but when it comes, it does not always bring good cheer to the Sunday school superintendent and his helpers, who along in the fall after the trials of pic nic time have passed, become haunted by this question which comes up and must be settled. It is an important question. The matter should not be carelessly considered. Those having the arrangements in charge should not forget that something more essential than sweetmeats and gifts, and a jolly good time, with Santa Claus and Christ mas tree, to make the celebration an abiding joy and blessed memory. The Christmas celebration should not be the end in itself, but should be the means to the end of honoring the Christ, in memory of whose birth the celebration is held. It is so easy in the burden and rush of planning for the event—the greatest event in the whole year for the Sunday school —to forget the spirit and purpose which should lie behind the preparations, and give in spiration and direction to all the plans. It is the birthday party of the Christ child, if you please, and He should not be forgotten; all thought and all plans should center about Him. I know of one school that in a pretty little prayer service a few weeks previous to Christ was formally invited Jesus to be pres ent at His birthday party, and asked Him to help them in making the plans. And .lesus was there in the person of 20 or 30 of His little ones from a neigh boring orphanage, anil the boys and girls of at least one Sunday school real ized the beauty and force of the words of Jesus: "Inasmuch as ye did it unto one of the least of these ye did it unto Me." The spirit and purpose of the celebration must not be forgotten. Hut what shall the celebration be? There are four divisions into which this subject naturally falls: Decora tions, which includes the Christmas tree, if one is used; the entertainment, the gifts and the offerings. The deco rations comprise a very important and beautiful part of the celebration. They create the atmosphere, and give the first impressions, which go far towards the success of what follows. Scripture texts should be liberally used, selecting »uch as are appropriate to the occa sion. The lettering can be done in evergreen, or gilt or colored letters may be used. The star should be con spicuous. The extent of the decora tions depends, of course, largely upon thrt amount of money to be spent, but with a resourceful and tasty person in charge it is surprising how far a few dollars can be made to go. The colored paper decorating, which can be ob tained at all Sunday school and denom inational supply houses very cheaply, makes a good substitute for the more expensive evergreen and holly. If the entertainment is held after Christmas, it is easy to secure tree and trimmings from those who have used them in their homes, and in this way consid erable expense may be saved. The work of the decorations committee may be lightened by enlisting the interest of the individual classes and getting a fetv of the older ones to furnish some feature of the decorations or some text In evergreen or paper lettering. Utilize all the latent talent and ability In your school. Th* unities of the entertain- ment feature of the celebration are al most infinite. First determine the kind of entertainment, that is, whether it shall be a cantata, a part programme in which the boys and girls sing and speak, or an entertainment furnished by some outside talent. The latter is desirable with schools of over 500 membership, but in smaller schools it is undoubtedly better to have the pro gramme furnished by the talent in the school, as it appeals to the sympathy, pride and loyalty of its members, and parents love to see their children shar ing in the exercises. Space will not permit our going into details, but we may be able to make some suggestions that will prove helpful to those having the matter of entertainment in charge. Don't have the programme too long. Have it full of bright, sweet Christmas fun and frolic, but do not forget to have a strong undercurrent of the true purpose and spirit of the blessed Christ mas time. You do not need to give the children a Christmas sermon or lec ture, but you do need to be careful that the dear Jesus, in whose name the cele bration is held, has opportunity to make his presence felt. The entertain ment committee ought to pray earn estly over the plans, and seek Divine guidance. At some specially favorable and appropriate part of the programme let the thought of the claims of Christ be sweetly and briefly pressed home to the heart of the child. I remember one entertainment where, after a very touching piece, sweetly spoken, entitled "No Room for Jesus," the pastor in a few well-chosen words drove the thought home to the hearts of the boys and girls, and the influence of which was noted in the weeks following by many making open confession of the ' Christ whom they made room for at the Christmas entertainment. One ! school I know of planned a "Surprise ; Christmas." Each class provided a . surprise for the school. Some arranged the entertainment, some looked after ; the decorations, while the older classes ; provided treats and little souvenirs for j the younger classes. The work was so divided that, no one specially felt the burden and every one was made bless edly happy in planning for the happi ness of some one else. I have not said anything about a Santa Claus, because | I feel that there are so many other I and more attractive features which can Ibe provided. Have your Santa Claus j if you must, but pray over the matter and let Jesus "show you a more ex j cellent way." Now as to the gifts and offerings. It is right and proper that the school | should provide something for its boys and girls, but whether it is wise and | best to put so much money in cheap candy, nuts, etc., is a question which each school must decide for itself. One thing is becoming more and more rec ognized among the schools of the land, j especially of the larger cities, and that j is that "it is more blessed to give than ■to receive." The school that overlooks this means of joy and blessing misses ; the very heart and spirit of Christmas. | Give to the children by all means, but | be sure that carefully laid plans are | made to enlist their sympathies and to I encourage them to give. Provide a | definite object for the children's benefi cence. Be sure they understand exactly I what is wanted and that it is within I their easy means of giving. Presenft I the matter in such attractive way that ; there will be uniqueness and charm in j the giving. Announce that the classes are to make their offerings in stockings made of bright colored cambric; that these stockings are to be hung up be fore the school and the classes are to see which class will have the largest stocking. In one school where this was tried some of the stockings were so big and heavy that they could not be hung up, but han to be stood against the wall at the back of the pulpit. And such fun and laughter as there was, with then at the far end of the ribbon is the present. To secure the present the child must follow the windings of the ribbon wherever it may lead until the gift is arrived at and claimed. Such a plan is productive of much innocent amusement, and the surprise at the end of the ribbon is all the more appreciated for the search it has taken to find it. For Christmas house parties, either for children or for "grown ups," the scheme will add much to the pleasure of the occasion, and will serve as a means of getting all present better acquainted. When the sons and daughters and grandchildren return to the old home for the holi day season a spider's web will add to the merriment of the season. • the deep joy underlying it all of giving 1 to those in need. One stocking, knit by t an old lady when she was a little girl for i her dol!, was filled with silver coin. 1 i The school contributed an express I ! wagon load of provisions, fruit, nuts and i candy, toys, and dolls, and clothing, be ) I sides nearly S2O in money, and that by t a school of only 300, a majority of whom - came from homes of working people, s Another year this same school adopted , 20 to 30 orphans from a neighboring in -1 1 stitution. Each class had a particular - j boy or girl who was present at the en- L! tertainment and was right royally en > i tertained by the class and then sent j ' back to the institute laden with various ; bundles of wearing apparel and toys. . The individual need of each adopted . ! orphan was intelligently consulted ; | through the matron of the institution ) and those things for which it had spe s cial need provided. It was the happiest, . busiest Christmas which I ever saw a ! ; school spend. And no school should . ! miss the blessedness which comes from giving. In all of the Lord's work. . | whether it is Christmas, Easter. Chi 1- i dren's day, picnic, scholars' social, or . 1 what not, there is need of prayer in I planning and planning in prayer; there , ! is need of purpose and method and in , genuity. and underlying it all there , I should be the earnest desire to give true expression to the spirit and purpose of , the day, and in all that is done to honor , ! Him in Whose name the celebration is , | held. , : L NO THOROUGHFARE. Mamma What is troubling you, Toddy? Toddy (new to steam-heated : —I was wonderin' how on earth Santa was ever going to get through that | thing!— Brooklyn Life. Sordid. Now mprry Christmas comes apaln, And Santa Claus doth fret the soul. He nives you diamond searfplns when You'd rather have a ton of coal. Washington Star. To Thaw Frozen Greens. It often happens that Christmas | greeus are frozen in transit. In such j cases put them at once into a very 1 j cool, dark cellar where they can thaw 1 j out very gradually. The temperature ■ ; should not be allowed to exceed 45 de ' grees Fahrenheit. Frozen holly is very little damaged if intelligently treated, but a single night in a warm j express car may cause it to turn black, j Mistletoe and wild smilax are much J more susceptible to frost injury. The ; ! California holly is not a member of | the holly, but of the rose family. It | is not hardy in New England, but is j worth cultivating in all parts of the 1 ; south. A Reminiscence. : I "Well, Johnnie, what are you going | to give your little brother for Christ | mas?" "I dunno. I give liim the measles j last year."—Chicago Record-Herald. ; j CHRISTMAS CUSTOMS ' | i ' FOUND IN DIFFERENT COUN TRIES OF EUROPE. ' ' [ In Many of Them the Farm Animals i Play an Important Part in the . I Observances of the - ! Day. ■ In different nations one finds many ( odd ideas regarding the Christmas sea son. Among the observances that grew [ up by degrees all over Europe, many of i them grotesque and absurd, and some , with profuse and unseemly accompani ments, were also not a few of more pleasing and humanizing kind, and t among the rural population the bruto \ creation was included as interested pur i ties. Among the fancies of this kind that longest survived in Europe, and even • became naturalized in our own prosaic land, was one that 'che cattle, at one s o'clock on Christmas morning, when . ever they were free to do so, would turn > their heads to the eastward and get i down upon their knees to worship the • King that was born in a stable; and •! still another, which continued to com i | paratively recent times, that during the Christmas season the barnyard cocks were accustomed to crow with unusual force and frequency by day and by night. The early inhabitants of the great Scandinavian peninsula were accus tomed to celebrate, at this season, the great festival of their gods. When the people of the peninsula became Chris tians, although no less zealous for their Christmas observances, they retained some of the old practices, and are to thi3 day careful to associate with themselves in its festivities every living thing about them. The author of"The Land of the Midnight Sun" tells us in his account of a Christmas in Norway: "The Christmas feeding of the birds is prevalent in many of the provinces ot Norway and Sweden. Bunches of oats are placed on the roofs of houses, on trees and fences, for them to feed upon. | Two or three days before cartloads of sheaves are brought into the towns for I this purpose, and both rich and poor | buy and place them everywhere. Every ! poorman and every head of a family I had saved a penny or two, or even one | farthing, to buy a bunch of oats for the ' birds to have their Christmas. On this I day, on many farms, the dear old horse, • the young colt, the cattle, the sheep, the goats, and even the pig receive double their usual amount of food. It is a beautiful custom, and speaks well for the goodness of heart of the Scandina vian." A singular custom prevails in Servia and Bulgaria among the orthodox. If it can possibly be avoided no one crosses a strange threshold on Christmas day. j In the same countries an early ceremony I has to be performed by the head of each ! household. Befove breakfast is served corn is placed in a stocking, and the chief of the family sprinkles a little of it before the door, saying: "Christ is born;" to which each of the inmates re plies: "He is born indeed." Then the house father has to wish, and advanc ing to the hearth where logs are tm-n --ing in readiness, strikes them till sparks fly out, with a good wish for the horses, another for the cows, another for the goats, and so on through the whole farming stock, winding up with an extra blow for a plenteous harvest. Then the ashes are collected, a coin is placed among them and the whole is hidden or. in some districts, burned, j As for the Yule logs, they are not per mitted to smolder quite away, but are carefully garnered, and the burnt ends placed in clefts in fruit trves, sp as to insure a bountiful crop.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers