m ,.,er'f. Editor and Publisher. UK IS A FREEMAX Yf flOM THE TKTTTU MARKS F1IEB, AXD ALL AUG SLATE BF.SIDK Terms, SS per yeer; In advance. VTS5r- x f - b 1 ' . 5;:' ill'.mi-: vii. 7 - J Tlio World, jjjj EBENSBURG, PA., FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2(5, 1S73. NUMBER 48. I 'I ' T: -i-: ,,t . ... Ine' M S. u V I : 1 ' " f Ti. ii'iorli-s in New York ! jlniH. the t;irtlinjf Ke rn Wi-cnn-iin. Iowa. Kansas . , i nv me flection of a Dem :m l-:i. atid t lie election of a t.f Tr iumph already wnn has nf' t me organization, tv i tue piiiiciples of t!ie I W'riM i h:is hnn faith u I;. -n Mint heart talked of a , : i . an .a new part 3-. it bore 1 .1 l ie indomitable Dom : i' t,.:ir. inc rihed with the le , Ki '! rn liners' Kiirhts. Hard .i...('4ii.-!. Democrats of ',; (in 1 nil ton glorious ic 1 . r- n T majorities of 37,000 and . . th i:s for the Demncacy i i . ; i tiMif ticent than its . , 1 1 r . ; tint be with (he found- ii -. ;i expansion cross the ; i- ut my of prosperity nml r i f fu'tire, as of it? pnst ii.Iis. l- "till a s'ea.il'ast adhe : V !! "II. nil Ullllillfhllljf lidel- - ! 1 1 i' 1 M-nioerat if party t: !l'ul :i now to be :ip ur National. State and Mu rl,.. uuitni jiri'l denioraii r.ip corrupt ami profliirite ;!!:! localize powers cn- '- 1' rv ants, to liberate on r r. tr' isol a liaioarous Jar !i !!!ictuutions of an irre- :-.'?-. and our nirric-ultnre Mi li-riiiir of tioih. as well ns in! tin a niin I I in in wrought . t the Kepublicun party, . Wiiri.i in thi onward Mi ra'ic hosts to victory, in f ; ill. fnl truth, inirwork I I. pi ition as Ins Voiti.w everywhere to aid us in j t-i! hroadcast over the !.c period so important to " i, . t , -i: .- "v ltinocrat work fo ef j t . '..:: ii-;oii of the pi ineiples uf - .!!,, ,! t.iutnph at the La!lot-lio : : ; l v piocurinx new readers for i., ;ff :;i .(. The IVoitin will spare '-ru-y. '" maintain and advance :. rink of metropol tan jour-!-. a ii 'i laiif, various and aeeurate whole circle of current . v t i- ! i-ii.us."d as hecinnes n i"'.-n: ' . .n 'F Opimiiv, with enn r ' v. t ii.t; to sound public and - ... v ; i -I'iciiil kni) livlxe f r -, -.'. v.iiii nr:oi!s nri'i wu;e- .;-, ! -; ii of the in!inifo!d int r- j'i'1 in'i ii in their homes, their j -; .. ..rk.-lK-'ps and tiieir farina. !( J't'lvi'.- C211 r-c '.';.. a .VcJ:ie iuj) for t he con n- l. -;.-t Piiic: s -irraplietl from all -- '! ii'.- I'!i:t.'ii i.tt. ol Live St'-ek. Pi !'. i ;.!! v.ii Pi- i lii :T every ! f Mocks, and Freights in i ' .". -vn i- I' i;k with nil t he doinjrs of 1 !!. "t America't Institute, "ii ,.r.t fartiiers. and seientftic i hi t -1 1 ' ol" f .nan' i'.r. .I. i "U rut 1'am ll.v l I iie I.E. of 1; v-i v ll'l-. "ii Tin l"i H-r-i? ti: Novels rtitrin ;!U N'l'.wS in c fr.ri:;. 18 THE Pittsburgh Post! The publishers of Thk Post take pleasure in airain ealuriif the attention or their numerous tus o'r"S tile l"l,,iL' t(J tno HI1IJual prospec- THE WEEKLY POST, an eipht-pap-e, fifty-six column familv journal, find without doubt the largest, cheapest and St iteW, tkl Ioli,ic"1 lin'1 literary paper in the The stirrinfr events contingent upon the itn niediale future are of such vast i m portanef that every citizen will be anxious to secure a concise and true record of current events. THE CU1JAX COMPLICATION'S, which for weeks have so intense! v asrituted the punlic mind will jfrtiw in importance with the assembling of t.'nnirreso ami I he proirres of the session. We shall make it a point to furnish the readers of Thk Post with a clear, concise and reliable history of events ns t hey trar spire, with tno iatitit news up to the hour of goiiitf to press CUIUS TMA S JI OltXIXG. BY CHARLES DKKESS. I" i ni-si'.ti v and r'vi-1 iv ;w i . ,- 'i-kiy. Kin .m- Iw.i ; I- ri''- ; he year, v I x 1 1 1 h ' c ! , . i ' i vt-'i; ' ,' ' 'lit "I v 'i-I. fo i.ll..-."'V ;!.-. i.. i. "!' ' I' '1 . Si '.' , I If I lil'J.' 11 .";-.- -.,1 -, ' .I'l 'l 1 III' l-!l f.-r M'-V - -i ; ... 1 ;. Vo. i'd Almcnsc for -'074. I..- e:y -I'l-ii.i ,:.., . i. i : I . I-1' l. ' ccnli. Inc ci-.j.iitis. iCt'.-;. I osfri"!' Tnil. . V.l'-i ri ! f.,r li.'r..rc t.rll 1. H74. u !:i:k i.v vhf;ld. r-"ii'. 1-I'-li i-..ji -parately addressed. -.'.ini ' , 7-oi' v r . .-.- to cub ajfetit. Yl ' i--l- -i-'v ii.r!u!uifctit. ?i'.il0 '' ' ii iv- to chib ajf't niUnl " ' ' .--ij'.) MK.-lit luO.lK) ;;.mi-v r. i'-;k i.v world. "'i ipy separately addressed. " $ ;um s mi , l.nu . '-s:-:' 1 v to club ajfent.. . Su.uu 'l u;ms. - nij Pof-offieo money or-.-r 1. jt. red letter. 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','t t"r ,J'Jt'r- The best tales Jl 1 ' r""' literature are care 1 V.t , " v,,'iy printed in its pa-res. Va..,"'.-' r,' -'-.'tiitijrul paper. The ; u rV, " ve articles on nirricul u"';'i Mj-pear in tbisUepurt- J'- j,"'1"'" political paper, ttelonjr. T'i;':-. , "!i 1 "aririk; no collar. It ' , '"r ,he election of the ih-Y!"' " sp. ially devotes its , w !"-iii. ,,f 1 he r reat corrnp-'j-i. ", ' '' M"'' rtnrract- our eoun- . " ''I lll'.!...!mi. r,l II ... .. IT-I.UIII.-Hl Hi ll has no fear of naves. ''Hi. r - " ".11 ui. ir supporters " 1'; " ' t'l.. . v.. i n.,t P i s t.,r ih- ladies and the ' spei-ially the cattle-l'-iv particular attention. i'-r paper putilis)H-d. in-e it lor any sub- 1.1 ,r Tlir "''. v u' B','t "n a club in l'Vi., lLV- ":'-V fl'X at this it '"r year ''u.-r r. r ls 11 l "if 10 dollar kr i'entg. 'irih rutf. " j v n r. .i US- 1 ". H lk. a year. A ilis eluhs of 10 or trri.r. t . -i 1 . -.: - - -- ' intv . i.ohi- lour-pau-e -Jf'r i iuu n "!l"nus. Dailr tr'"n,, , -,A11 f news for o,r- Tn ,1",' ( f't a month, Prr,,!'.'' "f ,r ovt"r' ' TIIK M ." A i". . " " ,.V. ''i l,M;-ni-R(i, Pa. :: L1. '.1. :rV' ' 'Pfo-i Rlair's i ia.i'11. : -4.-tf.l ' THE DEMOCRATIC REVOLITO OF ISTII places a new phase on American jiolitics. and The Post will continue to be, as it bas always been, the fearless, independent, consistent and etraivrhtrorward advocate of Pure and Unadulterated Democracy, upon the final triumph of whose principles "the prosperity of the country and the perpetuity of Democratic-Kepublicun institutions depend, it will continue to be the Ailiorttte of the I'enjrfe's Ilights against all foes whatsoever, in favor of an hon est and economical jro vernmeiit. and will de mand that the unjust favors between Monopo lies, and the discrimination ajrainst Labor mid in ravor of Capital, shall be revoked and re stored to the People, from whom they were wrenched by corrupt Itu. ileal legislation. THE PITTSBURGH WEEKLY TOST is in every sense a Jieirutprr, for the diffusion of useful k nowleiiire and information, containing-all the latest Korrifrn, iioniestic and Local News up to the latent hour of troinar 10 press. Its a rious departments will becari f uliv edited with a view to please and instruct the reader. l.itlTlt lll-O Vlt will receix e special care and attention, and will embrace nothmir hut the test and purest se lections fitted for the household and fireside, while its NEWS AND FVJISCELLAKY will contain the latest mutters or importance from all parts of the world bv mail and tele graph. Particular attention will be paid to Agriculture and Industries. as wfil ns every branch of general and house hold economy, the sciences, etc. A leading fea ture w ill be The Live Sleek Markets. ! which are earcluiiy reported for Tjie Post, i and one of the rcalesl 1 111 porta lice j,, the far I mers r Western Pennsylvania. Ohio and West j Virginia, as well as all the drain and Geneial j Markets in all the trade centres of America and Kiiiope, by telegraph. j TJ-JiJZS: Always in Advance. rAii.Y Post, one year, no Wi.kKf.v Post, S puires, o columns -'.no in clubs of live and over,. . l.'ii) Ail orders mnt be aecoinpunted with the ' e .. liich should be sent by P. I . order, di al t by x press. ?peeimen copies sent free on I'I'j iie. ition. Address h" pu nlihers. JAS. P. JLMiK i CO.. I'ittsburb. Pa. ! THE BEST PAPER! ffilTH BEAUTIFULLY ILLUSTRATED. The SI IliMlIK Al . I V A ", now in its ?.nii year, enjoys tue w idest circulation of any u eekiy newspaper of t lie i- Hid in I he world. A new oliime commences January 3, 1-S74. I t-s contents embrace t hf latest and most in-tereatinjj- iiilormation pertHinimf 10 the Indus trial, Mechanical, and sicientihe Proirress of the- World : fiescriptions. with lieautiful F.11 vra vines. of New Inventions. New Implements, New Pn.ewBses. and improvfil Indust ries of all kinds; L'selul Moles, Hecipes, Suirtrestions and Advice, i.y Practical Writers, tor Workmen and Kmployers, in all the various art". The SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN is the cheap est and best illustrated weekly paner published. Every number contains from 10 to 15 oi itfiiml einrra vinys or new machinery and novel inven tions. ENiJltA YIXGS, illustrating Improvements, Discoveries, and Important Works, pertaining to Civil and Mechanical Lnif inecri mr. Miilir'. Minmsr and Metaliuivy; Kecoros ot the Late.-t Proiess in the Applications of Steam, steam Enifiiifcrir.fr. Kail w a s. Ship- Mtiildinr, Naviua tuin. Telegraphy, Telen aph Knvcineerinir, Elec tricity, Mairuel it-m. Liiit and Meat. I'All.'l EUS,.Meetianies. Engineers. Inventors. .MunufHCUrers, Chemists, Lovers of Science, Teacher. Clergymen. Lawyers, and People of all Professions, will lind the Scikxific AMEit 1CAN uselul to them. Jtshouia havea place in every Family, Library. 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Address for the Pa per. or concerning Patents, ML'XN A CO., 37 Park How, N. V. Branch Of fice, cor. F and 7th Sts.. Washington, D. C. (jThe SciKMinc Amekicax and Cambria Fkkeman will both be sent one year toauy ad dress for 4.25, cash in advance. '74 The Patriot '74 THE KARRiSCURC WEEKLY PATRIOT contains more reading matter than any other newspaper published in Pennsylvania. Its lit erary excellence i.s u nquest ioned. and as a ve hicle or State News it is unsurpassed. During: the session of the Legislature it will prove es pecially interesting on account of its full re port of the proceedings of that body : 1. M.mm.r?9 1 copy, one vear 1 copy, durinir session of LeKi9l'ure 4 copies, one year, each 10 " 0 4 .......' rj i i 4 ............. A copy, f roe for one yer, to any jicrsoii sena iujr a club of ten or more. THE DAILY PATRIOT. The only first-class newspaper in Central Pennsylvania, and the only paper at Harris burjr that receives Associated Press Telegrams 7.tX per annum. During session of Legisla ture, 2.I.H. tAl subscriptions to Daily and Weekly must be paid in advance. Address "PAT1HOT," Ilarrisburjr. Pa. JAMES T MIIjLIKKX, Attorney at Law and Real Estate Agent, 1IOLLIDA YSI5C KG, PA. SPECIAL ATTENTION riven to tho collec- tioti of claims in lllair. Cambria. Hiintiug- Uon, Ri-dford, Centre and Clearfield counties. ' Parties wishing to purchase, rent, sell or ex ehaue real estate will find it (rrently to their advantage t call on or address me. tJ6Cirresponlenco in ither English or Ger man soiicned. lliept, :o, i7i-tf." 'Twas the morning of Christmas : And Benny anil Xed Had captured their stocliings, And gone back to lied ; And there in their night-gowns, As soon as 'twas light, . Thev emptied their treasures ; And O, what a sight ! Such stockings ! long stockings ! (Mamma's, I suppose.) Tilled full to the openings. And crammed to the toes. "Isn't Santa Thins dood, Xed ?" Cried Iicntiy, "Dus' look And see what he's div tne ; A drate picture book." "And me '." exclaimed Neddy ; "Mine's difTrent from youm : 'Tis chuck full of stories, And long -words to learn ! But then you know, Benny, I'm older than you, And need older presents, As Santy Claus knew." "O o-o !" shouted Benny, "A big Noah's Ark ; An" lots of wild animals ; And here is a tart Viv a little horse in it ; He looks like our Ace, For he's tinder spotted. And dot a white face." "I never '." said Neddy, "What's this, do you thiuk? A bag full of marbles, I guess, by the chink. Besides a grc:;t buzz top. All red, white and blue ! And a two-bladed jack-knife ! Have you got one, too?" "Dess not," answered Benny, "But I've dot a cat ; Atid a sheep vat says ba-ha ! 'Few pinch him like that. And then there is some tin Tied up with a strin' O, Neddy, 'tis tandy ! Dus put oore hand in ! D'ye feel what a lot 'tis ? i fought I'd have some ; Forma said I .should have, When Santa Tlaus tutu." "Merry Christmas, my darlings: Why not up before?" And mamma with baby, Appeared at the door. CJI HIS 1 MA S G II OS T. A Reminiscence ol" Hie Mpje of Vicks- On Christmas eve, in I was borne on the Mississippi steamer, Continental, bound down the river for Vicksburg, then, as is well known, in possession of the con federates. The Continental formed a por tion of the fleet -which carried Gen. Sher man's army, and which was destined to attack Yieksburg from the direction of the Yazoo river, while, as was intended, Gen. Grant was to march down overland, and co-operate by an attack from the land side j to the north of the confederates, strong- I hold. j Wo were nearing Yicksburfj on Christ- : mas eve, and all knew that a fleht, and a desperate one, was imminent. In yiew of thin approaching danger, it was resolved to make the most of the opportunity, and so a lively season was inaugurated. The boat carried General Frederick Steel and j staff; and anybody who knew Steel, I'ad- j dock, poor Sokalaki, Charley Scaramon, i niarj ana me ouier members or mat crowd, in-, tare terrible wounds, about which the eluding the humble wiiter hereof, will tin- ' i)lood L.ld coagulated, and around which derstand that if the whiskey and sugar j there were jrreat patches of red. to recognize him. The last I had known of him was that he had been elected second lieutenant in an infantry company that was raised in the town where he resided. "How in God's name is this, Tom? I thought you were lieutenant in the Twelfth Iowa." ''So I was. But I have been in trouble since. I wnnt you to listen to me for a few minutes, for I have something of im portance to tell you." I sat down on the edge of his blanket, ana then Tom proceeded to unfold his secret. I knew that he was very devoted to a qufte pretty girl at home, and, as I sup posed, they were to be married. She was a giddy young woman, very fond of a flirta tion, and anxious to carry as many lovers' scalps at her belt as she could secure. I learned from Tom that when he left as lieutenant of the Twelfth, they were en gaged. At fthiloh, the regiment was cap tured almost to a ma:, and himself among the others. He had been taken south but four or five months later he had made his escape and returned north. lie reached home full of eager anticipations, and dis covered that his fiancee, accepting a re port of his death, had buried his memory. j and was now on the eve of marriage with i a prominent citizen of the town. I'roken down by the shock to his hopes, Tom went on a prolonged spiee, nnd had Lis commission taken from him, had final ly run away and enlisted as a private in a cavalry regiment, from which he had been selected to serve as Steele's body guard. As Tom concluded his narration, he hesi tated a moment to regain his composure. He was Tory much broken down bv dis ease, or dissipation, and seemed in the last stage of a decline. "What I wish particularly of you,"' he resumed in a little while, is this : "I have a presentment that I shall be killed in the coming fight. I have a photograph and some letters from Laura, and I wish you to take charge of them, and carry them to her with the assurance that I died loving her, and that she is responsible for my death." I tried to rally him on the absurdity of presentments, but it was all useless. He knew he should be killed, and when I fur ther attempted to argue with him he final ly ceased to listen and seemed buried in a profound and painful memory. Giving up tho attempt to convince him as being fu tile. I took the small package, shook hands with him, and returned to the after cabin. The battle of Chickar.n w Bayou occurred on the second or third day after. Steele's fm ccs occupied the extreme left, and labor ed gallantly but uselessly all that bloody day to secure the position on the bluffs oc cupied by the confederates. Near midnight I was standing on the deck of a steamer on which were being brought such of the wounded as could be reached under the confederate guns. Among others w ho were carried 0,1 board I recognized, in a mass of blood, dirt and torn uniform, the face of Tom S. He was laid on the cabin floor; but when I attempt ed to attract his attention I found that he was unconscious. His face was deadly white, savo where streaked with blood. His eyes were fixed, his under jaw had fal len, and he seemed already in fftremi. Hunting up an assistant surgeon, I se cured an examination of the wounded His breast wa bared and levealed a risiox or ciiuistmas. broken by a voice which raid : "Is it me. You bet it's me !" "And aren't you dead?" ! 11 w'asri the h'.eak December, as I watched ''Dead? Me dend? Come o ,t I each blazing ember, show you hat if I'm dead, how the dead 1 ARd fn'sl1 froni "a,ure's loo,,, Kmed the do comfort themselves." R-irmcnt of the spow , T tt,;l- ,-f t c , . , .. I An t,,e Christmas liells were nngir.g to .- - ...... . - ! v u uiai uc icsl was made with and it acted like an exor- ! j cism. To see whether I was awake or ! J dreaming I applied the test to myself, too. ! j We repeated the test. In less than an j I lu,nr 1 was entirely satisfied, not only that j j I was awake, but that the apparition was ! one of flesh and blood, and the one bun- ! died and sixty pounds remnant of my poor j Tom S. whom I left mortally wounded and dying in the cabin of the steamer on the night of the battle of Chickasaw Bayou. I was duly informed, -while we were em ploying the hot Scotch test, that Tom did , not die on that night, or any other ; that I he recovered in time, was discharged, went Attired was she in sable, and the lxxk was I home, and married the young woman who the world glad tidings bringim Of the child Messiah cradled in a manger long ago. While bitter winds were sighing, I saw an angel flying, Fairer, fairer than the snow, fluttering downward like a pall ; It was charity, in pity sent to village, town and city, To heal the broken-hearted, and speak words of love to all. Quick she sped across the alleys tg the wild, snow-covered valleys. Where sat an aged mother by the Wight trim Lnglish fire struck with remorse by the letter and j Tom's tragic end had jilted her last fian j cee, and Lad resolved to die an old maid as ; an expiation of her sins. And th is is the only veritable ghost I ever ; met in my life; and, moi cover, this is the j only true, genuine, real ghost story that ever was written and published. CHRISTMAS IX SVAIX. There is no civilized country on earth in which children are not made happy by the promise of the coming Christmas. But in every country the festival is called by a different name, and its presiding genius is painted with a different costume and man ner. You know all about our iollv Dutch Santa Claus, with his shrewd, twinkling j eyes, his frosty beard, Lis ruddy face, and I the bag af treasures with which he comes i tumbling down the chimney, while his team of reindeer snort and stamp on the icy road. The English Christmas is equally well known, and the wonders of the Ger j man iniracle-trce, the first sight of which no child ever forgets. But you are, per haps notso familliar with the spirit of the blessed season of advent in Southern Eu rope, and I will tell you some of the plea sures and fancies of the Spanish Christmas. The good cheer which it bungs everywhere is especially evident in Spain. They area frugal people, and many a good Spanish family is supported by less than the waste of a household on Murray Hill. But there is no sparing at Christmas. This is a sea sou as fatal to turkeys as Thanksgiving in Xew England. The Castillian farmers drive them into Madrid in great droves, which they conduct from door to door, making the dim old streets gay with their j scarlet wattles and noisy with obstreper ous gabbling. But the headquarters of j the marketing during those days are in the on the table, Which she ceased to read to listen to the Christmas minstrel choir. Anear her sat a m-iMen, her eyes with tear drops laden, Their thoughts were of a new-made grave and of a sailor-boy ; And the angel entered slowly, with a foot step soft and holy. And they felt life still hai left for them a enp of real joy. . rois of war were suspended by melodies ! nh:c!: wre thought to lie delightful. I The beautiful custom of adorning houses ' with evergreens during the Chvislmasholi d.ijs is ascribed to various causes. Those who h:te taken the christian View of the matter refer to those expressions so f.Y--quent'.y met with in the prophetical wri tings, where green boughs are spoken of as ornaments of the sanct-iary and signs of rejoicing. Others have nftinr.ed that the custom hsd a pagan origin nnd refer to the beautiful druidieal custom of harp ing up in the house boughs of green to which the wood spirits might resort to shelter them f.om the hipping blasts of winter. Christmas ont door sports pscs1? a char acter of their own fully nppicciated by all thoe who have shared their delights. Who does not remember, with enthusiasm many a sleigh ride over the smooth pnor, wl if n the influence of the cold wind w?i met and overcome by the warm glow of the heart. There is no element so power ful to combat with winter frost and snow as real contentment, and to him whose heart is weary and lestless, all the fires of Yesuvius would prove insufficient. But at Christmas every one is filled with an ex ultant glow and the cold air is rather re veled in than otherwise. One of the specialities of Christ mns d-v Straightway again she wandered, by a cot- ' in olden times was the Christmas pie, t.-.ge hearth she pondered, wL:ch f(ftcn composed of fish, flesh aii Ha ui .ini struggles lay a lit tle suffering child ; And its father and the mother, clinging closer to each other, In the majesty of sorrow and despair were weeping wild. As the latch she lifted lightly the fireside beamed mora brightly. And from the shrouded spirits the stone of sorrow rolled ; And they saw armve their piuing theStarof BetM'cm shining, Atid knew their lamb was gathered in the tender Shepherd's fold. O, mny this lovely angel be the world's di vine evangel, And gather in the poor around the Christ mas board : Clothe the naked ones who shiver, sing Ho sannas to the Giver, And w ith mistletoe and holly wreathe the cannon and the sword. CI I It IS TM AS GUMS. The first snrigevsi composed in England was a Christmas carol in Anglo Nornan French. The fiiat tragedy in the langunge. and the oldest of the comedies, were brought out as a part of the Christmas frstivitiesof the period. The Saviour hnd not where to lay His head, but His scriptures are translated into , and fowl. In the reign of Henry III, the j sheriff of Gloucester was once oidered by ' that monarch to procure "twenty salmon, ! ten peacocks and ten brawns'" for Christ l mas pies. The peacock was only produced j at solemn and chivalric banquets, such as t that of Christinas, and when thus served ' up with gilded beak and plumed crest, I his head appearing at one end of the pie and his tail at the other, spread out in ail its glory was carried in state into the hall, to the sound of minstrelsy, by the lady most distinguished for birth and beauty, the other ladies following in dun order. Ilnii, all hail the joyons morn ; Tell it forth from earth to heaven, That to us a child is born. That to us a son is given. Angels, bending from the sky. Chanted at the wondrous birth ; "Glory lie to Ood on high, Peace good will to man on earth.' Join we in our feeble lays. To the chorus of the sky ; And, in sons of grateful praise, dory give to God on high. One of the first problems the younj scholar sets Limrelf ta discover is what day of the week Christmas falls oi. tee ing that a little disiojxiiotnient ensued upon the accident of the '2'nh of Decem ber falling on Sunday, it soon became a riaza Mayor, where every variety of fruit! thousand languages and the grandest , 'm'H' io" in lhe nursery how often the event and provision is sold. There is nothin- I structures of the n.odern world are the j W,U liarpcn. Confining himself In tho more striking than those vast heaps of!lKmc of His church, and the temple of His , Prcscut CPnlur-v tIie cllikI fl"ds be- heaps fresh golden oranges, plucked the day be fore in the groves of Andalusia, nuts from Granada, and dates from Africa ; every flavor and rolor of tropical fruitage ; and worship.- tween lvm and r.l'Mi, c hnsttnas dav occ.n Christmas is each year more "enerally ?:l ?'lnJay hlteen times, and during tho Ai,cM. - x- ' , . , " - j hundred years it happens thrice 'm 12t. obsenedin ew England, where it was ,.4s ad is:.; , that leapyear causes Christ! mica TirACnrilfl.l 1 1 .. . . - V . " . I 1 . - . , . . 1.n..-iuui ut i.m, .urn utiuic Hiiunirr i mas uay in lump irom aturciav to .;on- .2.no . 75 . 1.75 . 1.5( . 1.2.5 1.00 would not give out when they started in j for a "lively season," one would be sure to result. I Jollity reigned. Steele's pale face light- ' ed up with a roseate glow, and he was the I gayest of the gay among the jolly crowd j that warmed under the genial influence of steaming "commissary," until the sur- ' rounding darkness rang with volleys of laughter and their chorus of roaring voices. ; Toasts were drunk to the girls we left be- 1 hind us ; "the first who dies" i' view of : the coming battle, had many a steaminjj ' bumper in advance of his heroic sacrifice, I and each contributed his share of anecdote or reminiscence or favored the bacchantes with his favorite song. While the revelry was at its height, which was towards morning, an orderly touched me on the shoulder and said that a soldier wished to speak to me in the for ward cabin. I accompanied him, and found mj-self a moment after standing over a cavalryman, who was lying on the floor on a bed of blankets, with his Lead pillowed on a saddle. "That is the man," said my guide. "Did you wish to speak with me?" I asked. "Yes," he said, feebly, as he, with some "He has been shot through the body in three places, and tho chances are that he will not live, tyventy minutes, certainly not two hours." Such was the report of the surgeon. Soon after I went on another boat, and a few days later I came tip to Memphis with my accounts ef the battle. From thence I mailed to Laura , a circum stantial account of my interview with Tom, Lis wounding and death, Lad the letters and photograpLs which ho Lad committed to my care. In the fall of the following year I left the army and located in the Garden city. Years passed, but I never could quite forget poor Tom, his prostration when I first nt him, on the night of the battle. Tho thing haunted me like a painful mem ory in my own life, and was one of the few recollections of the war which time would neither obliterate nor soften. On last Christmas eve I remained late down town in order to smuggle Lome the knick knacks intended for the morrow's breakfast table. The streets were almost deserted. As I turned the corner of Dear borne and Washington, I found myself under a gas-lamp, and face to face with a pedestrian. I glanced into Lis face, and, in the stalls beneath the gloomy arches the generation it is probable that most of the ! " It will be nine "ars before the 1 -l - -. . . r -a V T I c 1 rr.. i ii t .n , , , , ,1 a , i. , butchers drive their flourishing trade. All lengious denominations here will observe is gay and joyous chaffering and jesting, greeting of friends and filling of baskets. The sky is wintry, but the ground is ruddy and rich with the fruits of summers. At night the whole city turns out into the streets. The youths and maidens of the poorer class go trooping through the town with tamborines castauets, and guitars, singing and dancing. Every one has a dif- the anniversary by public religious exer cise?. A very remarkbble frost was one that began on Christmas day, lTtir;, and lasted till the 17th of January, when there was one day's thaw, followed by another week of excessively tharp frost. The continu ance of intense. cold for nearly a month was terrible in its effects upon the popula- day falls again on Sunday. After the nine years the intervals are.-ix year, live cais. six yeais, eleven years and so on as long as the century holds out ; but the occur rence of '.he centenary spoils the order, there being no bissextile for eight years iit the end of each century. Till: CHRISTMAS TRm. 1 The origin of the Christmas tree, which ! fo many of our citizens have introduced ferent son? to suit his own stur of mind I tion and vegetation. -?to their nousenoids lor the enjoyment ot ' ti . .-r i r , , their children, is thus given i In Germany. The women sing of love and religion, and j 1,16 beautiful spirit of bemficence has , many vear8 ago when tl,e hrtllse8 many rf t f men can sii.g of nothing bet ' endeared Christmas day to the poor and i decorated with evergreens for the Christ- ter than politic. But the part which the tue yunS- ""hat a joyous time it brings 1 mastide. it was the custom to select a large me . he difficulty, rose np so as to rest on Lis el- with a' thrill of astonishment, not unmixed with horror, I recognized the unmistakable lineaments of Tom S. ! ! In the action of a second I recollected it ! was Christmas eve, and the eighth auniver 1 sary of our meeting in the cabin, and of Lis presentiment of Lis death. 31 y senses were frozen with horror, for a single pulsa ! tion. and then I said : "In God's name, Tom, is that you ?" The apparition gazed at me with a seri rtus melancholy meiu for a moment and the next instant my Land was seized with j a grip like that of a vice of frozen steel, ' whil the stillness of the late nijht was bows. "You do not remember continued. "No, I don't," I replied, as Igazcd into his bearded face. "My name is Tom S. I once worked as printer in the office." I recollected him at once. When I had known him ns a printer he was rather hand some, dandified, clean shaven youth, main ly remarkable for his extreme devotion to the beau exe, and the scrupulous neatness of his personal appearance.' As he lay before me, he was bearded, diity, emaci ated, so that it was no woudei that I failed children take in the festival bears a curious resemblance to those time-honored cere monies we all remember. The associa tions of Christmas in Spain are all of tho Gospel. There is no northern St. Nick there to stuff the stockings of good child ren with rewards of merit. Why, then on Christmas Eve do you see the little shoes exposed by the windows and doors? The wise kings of the East are supposed to be journeying by night to Bethlehem, bearing gifts and homage to the heavenly child, and out of their abundance, when they pass by the houses where good children sleep, they will drop into their shoes some of the treasures they are bearing to tho Baby Prince in Judea. This thought is never absent from the rejoicings of Christmas-tide in Spain. Every hour of the time is sacred to him who came to bring peace and good-will to the world toy of the season is called "The Nativity. It is sometimes very elaborate and costly, representing a landscape under a starry night; the shepherds watching their flocks, the magi commg in with wonder and awe, and the child in tho stable, shedding upon tho darkness that . living light which was to overspread the world. John Hay iu St. Nicholas for January, oougn tor a conspicuous place, and on it were placed the presents for the children. After a time the bough became a tree, dressed with symbolical ornaments, ar.d adorned with gifts for the household, of which the children had much the largest share. The custom was imported into Eng land and this country has now become al most universal and each year adds fresh by the Greek church throughout Bussia. ! arvels and delights to the magical fruits It is the baptism v.t Christmas of the pa! i of 'his t'"P P -t T bf mv prrof its nrervirat ion is hnlf of Each village and each city has ' f;1P charm. The bright eves of the little to the heart of childhood '. And how pleas- j ant it must be to a truly generous nature to participate in the usual felicities of the holiday season, and to observe the exulta tion of the young at the tokens of affection they receive ! There is a very curious custom observed tron saint. its particular patron. In the larger towns the ceremony is pcrfot mcd by a bishop. A cross is cut iu the ice, and the patron saint, represented by a carved wooden ef rlgy is baptised The coldest day ever known iu London was a Christmas day just seventy-four years ago. The occurrence is not fresh in uie memory oi many ol us. 1 he register ones turn wistfully toward the locked doors of the room that contains the won drous tree ; they long to take a j-eep, and yet they would not "for the wo; Id." Not they. Some still retain the Ohristmas trpe in its old form that is. after the ornaments are on. space is left for the children's pres ents ; others place all the family gifts on or under the tree, and, after thope of the children : e distributed, the little one A good thing is told of a preacher who edits a paper. It happened in this way : As the forms of the paper were being put on the press Ly some accident, not ex plained, one of them was knocked into pi. Tbe preacher looked at the mountain of type promiscuously piled up and then at his workmen, and said : "Boys, it is theu was sixteen degrees below zero and , discover and present the gifts of the older The favorite ; though that was beaten only ten year ago i made uf tbcir Chlistnias trees mere show in many pans oi L,ngiana, it has not been j pieces on which to arrange artistically the equalled in the metropolis, which is in by ' glittering baubles the stars, angels etc.; no means the coldest latitude of the Island ai,d thesu a,e oftt" accompanied by sucii m, ... .. costly ornaments that such a tree without lhe Christian nations of the woild honor , affifton it will cost hundreds of dollars, the anniversary of the Saviour's birth with j Such niagnitidence muwt, of course. tx on solemn worship and with social joy; with ' exhibition, for it is entirely too artistic the impressive pomp of religious ceremo- 1 nd c,!' an ;nfTiiir to lo throw n away on . , , f . , ' the children alone ; so it is advertised pri- nials ; with poetry, music, eloquence, and va.Hy nt ail the acpi vintances of the spiritual communion. In this beautiful family i visit it between Christ nuis and New festival the grandest and tbe gladdest of Ye:r. It is, in truth, a tribute to family sons of men. they celebrat the sniritnal """J rauiei man io lamuy anecuon , s regeneration of .mankind. Even in rudo t'nies Christmas has had the power to mitigate the ferocities of war. The siege of Orleans, in 1428, the English The second plan s o ns to be ti e mo e desii able The Christmas tree is then what it should be the home centre sa cred to the family, around which gather old and young linked to each other by lov ing remembrances. It is understooii 1ba; the trees belong especially to the children. historian says the solemnities and festivi ties of Christmas gave a short intei val of but it i.s well that they should feel that thf repose. The English l uds requested of the festival is not entirely their own, and evident there ought to be some swearing j French commander, that they might have - ZvlC done here, but you know I am not the one . a night of minstrelsy with trumpets and tno IIT)n , f .jk. nld in short sba.r to do it." J clarions. This was jramsd, and the h.- their Christmas tire with thcin. A: