Bell Ringing, One of the Oldest Christmas Customs I —————— out the melody of the bells ringing good will toward men? jell ringing is one of the Christmas customs. At one time, In England, the ringers gave thelr serv. free, nor would they accept any special payment. The peal was rung as a matter of course, and natural expression of English ness. The merry music of the bells in Great Britain and wherever churches have peals of bells, Is today feces was joyous. as a feature of Christmas as the decora- tion of church home with and ever- | i The Christmas ; C | By" MARY + ORAHAM a BONNER, i . " 1821, Western Newspaper Union Copy right, Card. I before Christmas of J AM a was put away in a box born shortly after Christmas and Christmas was 1913 1 the next again, and had risen from the price put two cents to cheer which always marks this festive season. What an outery there would be if an edict issued forbidding the ringing of the bells during the coming festive season! Yet this was actually done during the Commonwealth, for in 1652 the wise men of parliament gave orders that “no observation shall be had of the five-and-twentieth of December, commonly called Christ- mag day.” It is quite certain that this edict was disregarded in many places, while in others it led to open rioting., At were to enforce the new rule, but the people were not going to be deprived of their, pleasures so easily, so they took the law into their own hands, broke the mayor's windows—and some of his bones as well—and affirmed thelr in- tention of keeping their Christmas in their own fashion, just as their fathers had done before them. A Good Modeling Material. It is often very difficult to keep a child confined to the house amused. But with a modeling material The next year 1 cost ten cents, Still I did “We'll have to charge a quarter for not sell card,’ owner sald, “and get others my up the prices of of these SOLO bought.” So I quarter. And then 1 0 was purchased, The price mark has been left on me I've th it written on my back ever since. Sometimes, too, | around to a number Christmas time, especially won't be was a and Cost cents been: traveling wi Bo far, too, I've heen greeted with “Oh, good! @ Here's a card which is it possible, but no matter, it did! And it's not written on, either!” 1 do not understand their joy ove: me, but they never keep me with them! Christmas Fish, A fish which resembles considered by a cod This fish Christmas feast, with a milk gravy. ete., they can be kept amused for hours. Take four tablespoonfuls cornstarch, eight tablespoonfuls salt and eight tablespoonfuls boiling water. Mix the dry ingredients and pour on the boiling water, stirring until the mixture is soft. Put on the fire and stir until it forms a soft ball, then remove from the stove and stir for ten minutes. A little color may be added. Wrap in oiled paper when not in use to keep from harden- THE GIFT | CHOOSE. IVE me the hearthstone with A the glow that warms the soul within: 1 choose the gift of kindly smiles, that wealth can never win, The laugh that ripples to the If from hearts where peace sub- me Reigns in the fullness of content to bless the Christmas time. Uncompromisingly Morose, “Christmas comes but once a year” sald the ready-made philosopher, “Yes,” replied Mr, Growcher ; "a tor nado doesn’t come even as often as that. But consider how long It takes to get over it” OUND over all walters, reach out from all lands, The chorus of voices, the clasping of hands; Sing hymns that were sung by the stars of the morn, Sing songs of the angels when Jesus was born! With glad jubllations Bring hope to the nations ! The dark night is ending and down has degun; Rise, hope of the ages, arise like the sun, All speech flow to music. all hearts beat as one! 1 Sing the bridal of nations, with chorals of love, Sing out the war vulture and sing in the dove, Tiil the hearts of the people keep time in accord And the voice of the world is the voice of the Lord! Clasp hands of the nations In strong gratulations ; The dark night is ending and down has begun; Rise, hope of the ages, arise like the sun, All speech flow ro music, all hearts beat as one! Blow, bugles of batre, the marches of peace; East, west, north and south, let the long quarrel cease. Sing of glory to God. peace ro men of good will! Hark, joining én chorus, The heavens bend o'er us! The dark night is ending end down has begun; Rise, hope of the ages, arise like the sun, And speech flow ro’ music, ar one! i i i all hearts boot | And the Postman Passed the House By MARY GRAMAM DORNER 1831, Western Newspaper Union T WAS Old Hiram the window postman eve had He had seen, from the window, groups of people passing fron 01 hur- | rying, u happy ple. Hiram was outlived his family, his by. He had pitals charitable Christmas Palmer waiting Morning. by the sat for Christmas been rather bleak me, smiling peo | old, friends, his day had He had immediate too old long since gone to hos | and He | of the Riven genercusiy and institutions a number of personal presents always, for example, sent some large baskets of fruit the to ing shop arranged so those selves The last Christmas he had only re | ceived two his another from n's lead attractively, to he knew would never buy them such delicacies. presents from West and ine ont a grandehi He nephew id was waiting for these now » postman came along the street, Hiram waited. And he ge u and i » door. | then post i had “Are you man passed by you have | me?’ out. sure nothing for he called ‘Look more care | folly. 1 was ex- pecting some | packages.” The postman looked again “I'm sorry, Mr. Palmer, but there | i= nothing Slowly went back the lonely litle house, He had lived too long. For his nephew had said: “1 guess I won't bother about Uncle Hiram this year. It's a nuisance to shop, and anyway what does he care about a necktie? He can buy all he wants!” And hig grandchild had said: “I've got to cut down ‘my Christmas list. It's so long” And she had run her pencil through her grandfather's name, For she had said: “Christmas is for young people. He's too old to care about presents and a handkerchief or two which 1 might send him!” here.” Hiram into ' CHRISTMAS GIFTS. HE best thing to give to your enemy is forgive ness. to an opponent, tolerance; to a friend, your heart; to your child, a good ex- ample; to a father, deference ; to a mother, conduct that will make her proud,of you; to your- self, respect; to all men, char ity."-=F. M. Balfour, 64 a i a Ironing Board Cover. Cut and hem a plece of unbleached muslin, about four inches wider and longer than your ironing board, so that it laps over about two inches under the board. Then crochet an edge of six chain and fasten, and so on until you have edged the entire plece, Lay the cloth on the board, turn over and lace it with a stout card or tape, the same as you would lace a shoe-—using however, only about every fourth loop, The cover can be easily removed and washed, -— Christmas Eve in the Kitchen Copyright, 1821, Western Newspaper Union By ELEANOR E. KING. N THE kitchen of an apart. ment bullding in the city was seated a large, husky man with a little girl of about seven, on one knee, and & boy of perhaps six, on the other knee, “But grandpa, I don’t see why Santa Claus doesn’t come,” said little Doris. “We have waited so long out here in this old kitchen.” At this, Master Fred laboriously climbed down from his grandpa’s knee and ran over to the kitchen door, and then to the window, “Isn't it disgusting, grandpa?” 1 can't even see him coming.” “Well, you know," said grandpa, as Fred climbed back upon his knee, “Santa Claus was a little boy once himself, and he knows how lmpa- tient little boys are. He has a time, though. Every ‘year he more hoys and girls to bring he had the year before.” ‘But grandpa,” sald Doris, “I never Santa Claus was evér a boy.” “Oh, yes,” nee asserted grandpa firmly " upon were playing in place frees around apen under Ome they little baby asleep, They took the bahy to their queen, The fair les loved the jittle haby, begged iet £0 the them and of him consented queen to him care queen and the ‘Claug’ thrived un the little boy of der the “S-h-h! Cire fairies.” Grand pa, 1 think he's comming, interrupted Fred he again and ran to the w doing.’ gave a flngrman EO Grandpa obeyed the signal and con- tinued: “He fairies until to be qu Then the queen ordered her fairy workmen to build ‘Claus’ a hut, as he was & mortal and could not live the way the fairies did, any longer had of time when he got climbed down ind “Nothing he sald with much disgust and with his arm like the telling a train 10 as 3 signal does when lived under the care of the he grew ite “Claus lots had be. carving things. The fairies to whittle and gan making all sorts of toys “There was a village some distance and every he beard little bo down in the took them children After acquainted with found It them all he would and then and find out which of the had been good, and leave them presents, “When the fairies heard plan they were delighted Claus four and a help him taught him how i: he time iy or gir! who of his to like was sick one little toys grew gf while him ever so much he became children hard to get #0 that he and sce that many around He work all year making toys, go around often. decided of and this gave sled to “After mans work Santa Claus hegan show that he was grow. ing old. The fairies realized that Santa Claus was a mortal and would dle, they" “Santa Claus hag come,” some one shouted from the front room. ‘‘Hurry and finish, grandpa. What did they do?’ queried Doris nervousiy, “They gave Santa Claus everlasting life so that he could make little chil dren happy always,” finished grandpa. “Oh, I am so glad,” said both of the kiddies. “Now, to see what Santa brought sald grandpa, and all three made s rush for the parlor. to wo DAY BEFORE CHRISTMAS, Patience—Aren’t you Sorry now you didn't do your Christmas shopping early? Patrice—Why, I'm going to. I'm going out early this evening to do it, Removing Pencil Marks, Indelible pencll marks may be re moved by soaking for a few minutes in alcohol and then washing in the regular way. The alcohol is just as effective after the material ' thus stained has been washed and ironed — - 40 ‘ PrPPOrT RPP PEPE OEIEI PLO PSP OPOEOEE GY, Tree § ¢ CCP EC EPPIOOOPECEPECEI PP EEEIOPIISO® A ched the North the Christimg his three messes to help wide as love balsam fir trees in the forest Perhaps that there why clings about in my old ho flood of ser Fw amped #0 1 any. ights, garis r every sundred storekeehers make the entirely fraud Wax candles are the only tree, of candles other abomination coal-oll if the or boughs catch fire? do are tawdry, nyhow 1d-fashioned colored look a hundred in the green; made of home, paper and made at times better and fitter peed not have cost forty dollars Washing Windows. If windows are washed when the sun is shining on them they dry before there is time to polish them, and look streaky. Always dust windows before washing them, and polish well MERRY CHRISTMAS HETHER we shout it or sing it, we must be sure to mean it; for if we really mean it when we say, “Merry Christmas, every body,” we will do all in our power to make Christmas a day of unsullled joy for all those within reach of our influence. Christ eame into the world to bring light which brings Joy. He came to bring deliverance to men; to solve their difficult problems; to inspire a higher hope in the spirit of men. That is the cause of the deepest joy to mankind, Yes, Christmas is a joyful day as well as a sacred day. It- Is a day for doing good deeds, as well as thinking good thoughts. It is not a day for receiving gifts only. There are so many opportunities for doing good, that we may receive joy a hundredfold, with the expendi. ture of just a little time and thought, There are many who have little: many who do not know the meaning of this day as you know it; many whose spirits are crushed by disaster. Re member them Boys’ World, cover BB = ¥ Photo Ly Gade 7% Fourrrier Aig ) — J te “ A, “4 i& ~/ NZ] 7 INS iL) -v * const] -~ = - YY TITTY MINN STITT mes = THE FEAST OF LIGHTS A mmm mmm rt LLL LU i LA ie tree anid t ire 8sBia 3 origin in the y our De Jews of (sree is 1180 of lights, the name fication festival, Chan- Jows ————_ Osculation, Allowed by Custom, Cele. brates One of Most Charming Events in Tradition, lecause they like it and bee custom it. Every kiss the mistietoe, however, is a kiss of the Christmas allows most tradi which celebrates one events in tion, The romance goes hack to the days dur the Beautiful was shot by Locke, of Evil, an arrow of But his mother, Venus of with Thus it became an emblem of love and happy celebration. Ancient races held the plant in great veneration, par- ticularly the Druids, who went in pro- cession into the forests to collect fit. After Year's day it was dis tributed among the people as a sacred and holy plant. If any part of the mistletoe touched the ground it was regarded as an omen of impending evil, New A FULL STOCKING. Hock--Santa Claus appareptiy Las gifts to please everybody. Rock-~Yes., It secs that there is nothing he doesn’t keep in stock, He brought one woman of my acquaint ance a diverce with alimony and the custody of the poodle”
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers