a lmella BLyuons ACK and Ellen Dyson couldn't J find a thing for which they could be thankful and merry this Christmas—Jack out of work and Ellen with so little in the house left for meals. But to make matters worse, shortly after Jack left, Ellen missed the emerald setting out of her ring. She hadn't worn it for a long time but it had been her great- —— - Lm ” Jack and Ellen Joined Hands and Danced About in Their Joy. est consolation—if the “worst came to worst’’—it could be sold. with it gone! “Five presents here and they aren't from the five and ten, either, Jack! I know, you took my emer- ald to buy these, didn’t you?’ Ellen cried out, something she would’t have said had her nerves and pa- tience not been frayed to the thin edge. “You honestly think that of me, Ellen? If that's the way you feel, all right, think what you please!” Neither of them realized that they were hardly accountable for their mutual lack of understanding. Tears fairly blinded Ellen as she went out to bring in the little red hen, the last member of their little flock. She kept thinking that at least this, her last offering to the holiday dinner, was honest. Then suddenly she caught sight of the familiar emerald—there in the little red hen’'s insides was hidden the gem she had thought poor Jack had taken. It took but a moment or two to wash up, snatch up the em- erald and dash into the workroom where she went to her knees before her husband. “Forgive? wonder. fool I'd have gone on and explained myself. You see, darling, on the street today 1 found a packet of their owner, he gave me twenty dol- lars as a reward and after he found out I was unemployed, he offered me a beginner's job in his office!” Even an old grouch would have had to grin had he seen Jack and Ellen then join hands and dance about in their joy for a merry, lucky Christmas! © Western Newspaper Union ER S85) I py Custom of Burning Yule Log From Scandinavians HE Christmas custom of burn- ing the Yule log originated among the ancient Scandinavians. During the period of winter solstice, they kindled great bonfires honor- ing the god Thor. This was at the feast of Juul. The Saxons and the Goths also celebrated a winter fes. tival which they called Jul, and so we derive our expression of *‘Yule- tide,” for the Christmas season In the time of the feudal lords, the cutting down and bringing in of the huge Yule log, or *‘clog' as it was then called, was a ceremony of great importance. One old writer tells us that the Yule clog ‘‘was to be lighted with a brand of the last year's log, which had been care. fully laid aside for the purpose, and music was to be played during the ceremony of lighting." oT = EE | AEE EREEAREREREERRRERREe CHRISTMAS AND HOW tres Ems sSETSaSRNSATENERERE EEE REER = 4 | Personal id Christmas : sighed as she hrough the old for the Christmas Sighed, and felt ashamed. For why should she be lonely, with two fine grown successful enough to satisfy mother? But Mrs. Greene missed her tousled-headed lads, and as she fin- gered the battered drum, the out- grown mittens, the books and souve- nirs, she felt a deep pang that no one needed her any longer. She found the decorations bustled down. Mary, the keeper the boys provided, ished. There was really not to be done. She thought c tired Christmas eves, stand the oppression of mem no longer. “I'm going out.” said, and with no other explanatios vet out into the night. RS. GREENE rummaged t M trunk decorations i also i sons, any It was crisp and starlit, walked far. The light and warmth of a cafe attracted her, and she stopped for tea. Over the rim of her teacup her eyes met those of a small boy just outside the window. He drew back shyly, leaving a moist spot where his nose had touched the pane. He looked very hungry, not just the healthy hunger which her sons had brought home from school, but though he were really in need. Mrs. Greene smiled and beck- oned. “Come in,” she invited and she as | food was too much. | “That's better,” Mrs. Greene ap- | proved, when he was seated oppo- | site her, with a great bowl of soup. “I just needed someone to talk to.” | And before long she had heard the | boy's whole story. Having no folks, | he lived with an uncle, but he want- | ed to get out on his own. There He Sure Was Here | RR Tk TU RR RR PR RR Re Re Rk ek 5 The CHRISTMAS | HARVEST a By ALSON SECOR 7 in Successful Farming RR poet | ( LD SANTA CLALS Some don't believe in him because He makes them spend T hey like to borrow, That | Which permeates this time of year. but never lend Christmas cheer They are tight fisted cynics, these They never know how presents please The little kids, and others; The sisters and the brothers ; The caresworn dads and weary mothers. They never learned to live Because they never learned to give You've got to plant before you reap. { If all you get you keep Your soul gets barren, sterile, sour, It takes the power Of cheerful giving To give a zest to Living vs, and after ng. He'd he could , ow, if he now where there's a bicycle tanding useless in an attic corner." | said Mrs. Greene. “It belonged to | my sons. You shall have it.” His shining eves made the whole And Before Long She Heard the Boy's Whole Story. night seem brighter. gether. There was more than the bicycle. It seemed a shame, Mrs. Greene said, for mittens not to be used, and these books, now, and—well, why not? Mary would be scandalized, and her sons might not understand-— but there was their room, never opened now-— “Listen, lad,” she said. “I've been aching my heart out for a son. And you need a home. Couldn't we give ourselves to each other for a Christmas present? Won't you be my son?” “Gee!” cried the boy, voicing a wonder of love and gratitude. “You can sure have me, and Merry Christmas! Merry, Merry Christ- mas, Mother!” © Western Newspaper Union, They left to- ENGLISH PLUM PUDDING HERE are those to whom Christmas dinner would not be Christmas dinner without end- ing with plum pudding. Scald 2% cups stale breadcrumbs with 1 cup cream. Cream % pound beef suet and add to it % cup brown sugar, % cup corn syrup, 5 well-beaten eggs, % pound chopped citron, % pound cur- rants, 2 teaspoons baking powder and % cup brandy or rum. Turn into a buttered mold and steam for 24 hours, 12 hours one day and 12 hours the next. Turn into a tin and seal until ready for use, when it must be reheated for serving. Serve with a sauce of choice. IKE to give yourself a -~ lift for the Year, Milady? Then spruce up Sew-Your-Own — the easy way to chic. Here, for instance, are three swell swing models that will make you modern as tomorrow and put you he title, “best Right now New material plus 8 yards of gros grain ribbon to trim as pictured. Pattern 1397 is designed for 12 to 20 (30 to 40 bust). Size § 3? of 39-inch dressed woran.' it's | sizes parties yr nking of, so pick requires 3% yards a pair of eligibles from this trio. Will You Dance? he New Year's Party Spice 'n’ Classic. | {in coins) each 5 al ; New Pattern Book. Send 15 cents Barbara 3ell Fall and Wi attern i 3 % . | Boc x clive, { practical anc lothes, | selecting Bare bara Bell well-planned, easy-to- make patterns. © Bell Syndicate. «WNU Service, Herne uf morning aft- be | for the nter Make ocione CesiE ng. Make one | n flat crepe and a carbon is superb wre Rising Tide ’ n Ls ew magazine has its Ah, My Friends. : arance on the newsstands of about a two-piecer of lame } untry. It is 1 y ) in sheer wool--it mad maae y pieces, nd figure | have your aunt ANEUAEeSs Th hs and ahs and the | azine is sorted to be a ] | on carrying no more | vertisin it such matter that is of | interest to the people of the world { who are seeking answers to their Pattern 1330 is designed | own problems. It is said that these sizes 12 to 20 (30 10 40 b Size | problems are covered without re- 4% yards of 39-inch | gard to race, class or creed. leven countries u non- ac- The Patterns, ( for ust). 14 requires | PRR Sao SEER Retail price, 35¢ pov guar. 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