\T OLXXXII
Silver Ware Free!
Handsonti triple plated hand cngra\«-d Teap'ts.Caki stands, Fruit
stands. Mutters, creams, Spoon hoklei . molasses, sugars, castors,
Porcelain and alarm clocks and oth r artu! both ornani ntal and
useful. Call in and inspect the ware.
GET A (J Alll ).
Purchase- you overcoat lor Men, l'oys and ('lii;«!i\:n Suits, Pant.-, 1
Hats, Capes, I nderv,car, Shirts, Collars, Culi .. Ti - , Suspenders
fi loves, Mil-, Overalls, Jackets, S.v eaters, I mijieilas, 'i run' . Valises,
T« le-.co;.' . W ati hi .. Chains, Charms, Rings, Pins, K rushes, Pocket
a r i i Hill-bo< l:s.Purses,et- and when jour purchase am j 'iits to si".-
co you get your choice of any of the above articles.
Our Stock is complete.
A"d Styles correct.
(Quality the best,
And prices the lowest.
D. A. HKCK,
X > Ikjl. N.Main St, BUTLER, PA
—
Jackets, Capes, Furs,
Silks and Dress Goods.
Hundreds of the people vvho read this
paper come to the city to do their Holi
day shopping, and we ask all who con
template such a visit this year to come
to this store.
Great Preparation has been Hade,
And the collection of Novelties, Cut and Silver
articles, Art Pottery, Lamps, Toys, P»ooks, Fancy Stands,
Pictures, etc., as well ;|s the
More Substantial Gifts
Women's, Girls' and Hoys' Garments, and goods to make
them, Rugs, Portieres, Table Covets niu|
Innumerable other articles
suitable for the purpose, such as Gloves, Handkerchiefs,
Hosier)', Neckwear and the like,
Are such as will make it well worth your while, and the price at
taciied to each and every article, whether the least valuable or the
richest and most elegant, are figured on a basis that must prove it's
to the interest of your pocket book.
This store means to double its usual Holiday business, and the ex
tensive assortments ol nice goods and prices appealing to the better
judgement of the people at large will accomplish it
BOGGS & BUHL,
ALLEGHENY, PA.
<
t
• 5 '
' -1 '' V*. V. |
The place to buy (
GAS COOKING STOVES AND BURN KRS. GAS J.AM PS
FIXTURES, HOSE, WATER FILTERS, BATH TUB ENAMEL
etc, is at
W. II .O'Urieii Ac
lO? Kast ffellorson Htreet.
Harness Shop!
Harness of all Kinds Made to Order.
Repairing a Specialty,
AND PROMPTLY ATTENDED TO.
BLANKETS AND ROUES.
CASH PAID FOR HIDES.
No. 1 1 1 East Cunningham St.. - - BUTLER, PA
[The ohj Times Office.)
FRANK KEnPER, Agl.
Glove Sale!
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Dec. 16* 17' 18-
We uill have a Special Rid Glove Sale—including oui well
known "Perfection" and "Boston" Gloves —at 89 cents.
Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Dec. 19. 20' 21-
Special 19 cent Sale
25c mittens at 19c. 25, 35, and 40c handkerchiefs at 19c.
25, 50c and SI.OO Windsor ties at i<>c.
25 and 50c four-in-hand ties at 19c.
25 and 35c birds at 19c. S 0 and 75c wings at i<>c.
ladies 2<;< vests at |<ic. I'hildrens 2- and 30c unflerwear at 19c
Sweeping reductions in Millinery.
M. F. & M. MARKS,
113 to 117 S. Main St. Butler Pa.
OIAMONfDS KA,« ,«NUS. srAl!l >l , lNs sn . l)a _
'JD A<I«r*TTPS HiKNis <ioi,|», I ,M)IKS <ioi i>;
V*l .'i ACr ATX SIJI » t C«IHNI'» SII.V L:it. I.AOIKH eiUii.AIN.
JE WIIL ;
r :*T»;c. r
RGDGF"? BHO3. 1374 } K7nvKS - '" UKS -, IK n . ATK .
F GRIFR T " K
(_<• vjr\ii_it}, jkwkleb.
tto. 139, Korth. Main St., B JTL£E,|PA.,
THE BUTLER CITIZEN.
jsut« Library julyS.'
Peculiar
; In combination, proportion ui-d p.-oce?*.
Hood's Sarsaparilla possesses peculiar
curative powers unknown to any other
preparation. This is why it haa a record
of cures i icquailod in the history of
medicine. I acts directly ujori the Wood
and by making it pare, rich ami healthy
it cures di«t •i-«- and give 9 good heslth.
Hood's Sarsaparilla
I b the only true blood puriUerpro'.L.'uent-
Ily in the public aye today, fi, six for f5.
Hood's Pills . ;
I AIR
I— "CISHiONS,
I ASCINATINQ
J ALL
A BR ICS.
OUR stock tables are
fil'ed with every new style
and e cry becoming design
in the materials of Cloths
dom, that good form
demands, and good taste
can suggest.
IT is not our goods
alone tiiat are attractive.
Our low prices add to the
combination. That is why
Economical
People
are our best customers.
WE don't ;ry how cheap
we can make clothes (that
is easy) but how good \vt
make them to giv<
you the best value pos-s
ible at the least possible
price.
ALAND,
Tailor.
It's fit in Ti 1 Making.
ffflp
j
-
whether plollu-s ji( well npt. t'liat is
where we Li cel. \Vliether >e stucco I< r
not you can judge by the fact that the
best dressed men in Hutler almost with
out exception patronize us.
l'oorly Made Clothes always look cheap
while '.hoe' V,«'ll t»n,le have an elegant
appearjuce. '1 fit clothes we make are
put together thoroughly. So slop siiop
work i-, tolerated. Try us, and see if we
<lo not answer tliis description.
Cutting Your Cloth to suit the si/.c and
shape is a good thing to push along, also
the t.i|tUiig of our prices to ' nit the de
mands of the publrr. Vou'lj be astonish
ed at the low prices at which we are mak
ing tip our large and elegant stock of
Foreign and Domestic Woolens. Call
and examine our large stock.
can k co
Cor. Diamond, Hutier, Pa
e. i).
ommmmmmo
|Uis<dieir= |
| Wear |
IfPdpts 1
88
~ &
'v filo irrHatioi?
F"?rJo <,i
e® gg
-i'-i ; pricej
OO •
Utr ScKWt»r.
QM/mummmo
All grade of rnderwear at very
low prices.
Larpest stock of h;>ts and
furnishings tor gentleman in the
country. An inspection will prove
this to any ones satisfacturc.
Colbert & Dale,
242 S. Main St., Butler, Penn'a.
BURTON'S
NEW
jSTORE
Is still the talk of the town, noth
ing •but the most
favorable comments
on our method of doing business.
Our Customers DFLKiHTFI.).
}Vt Ann A> I'tea sc. We sell
goods only for cash.
One price to all. It
will do you good to
see Our line ol $7,
y8 s<),s 10,$ i 2,$ 1 (>&siO Overcoats
120 S. MAIN ST.,
BUTLER/PA:
TLKR. PA.. THI 'RSDAY. DEXKMMERII), 1805.
CHRISTMAS AT BLACK "EMMY'S.
T':ncr' gwine > f> c . « . .lwu*
Br.t I dun no '1 s.u •V. ( .1
I olo :. i 1 s •: <• i-< hn • .i:;;
Ain't no w .'k f h:- .»v.
Ho Lank done biL-*: }< ! b . utouvy;
K- v. j'kmtn cr*. r. ".ut c. . 1
hjv •lu k» n :»'A • ■ i v. ... -
Mout Lh- dat »1»- • !«• a. hV ...:d.
j Wiitt'fl dat, DinuJi. WLar %■»' t 1 1 it—
Dat big I«nx yo* r ttin ♦ :.
Fnll o' nuts aji i . - an
j l> m )»n ng h bj • ' af
w Idi *' 1 u-'*.
Mi ka my IT ah tl. .... v.: lj /
Dat h *n:• nl .1 hi i ;.-k i in.in.v
Wha* nil 1 liiiti v lw-n h«» JU' box
Hnh! ? . J-h.i ii it' .. po• uiiiT
Prttedßhawdl i . meal!
T Jiior* snali b * )»ri, . I ~
D r tt dc <lay v gv. in« t . -r.
Ci'arcff t h«*J t n . . .11 ..i chiUnna.
D-.an' 3"o* henh i.« a • i -ay?
TiiiK* t'Ji ah tit ? ; ;■ J^lI 1 -ll* i ingin.
Time dem r rs j di way.
«i.4«rn (' bed ah quit dat talkin;
l)u yeru ain' u j turn fur j lay.
Zt you cUUlon - doan' 1 quit t, •
\o f sca'h 010 Sandy < lav away
Pull dem khivt rj up at-
Shot yo' oyc3 up & ■ 1 an n ,ht.
T'mcr' g .vine 1 " Chi. 'niu, *ii ill una,
An Band.. CI. . - he cum t< nijrht.
—Chicago Timea.
BILLY'S <IIIMSTMAS.
Zepli Davis didn't iiprra with tho
world at all.
Ho found very few things which met
his unqualified appioval, and the more
persons ho found agreed np< u a certain
point llio more certain was he to dis
cover the utter weakness of their posi
tion. He was very shrewd and looked
at tho world from the heights occupied
by a superior and complacent being. It
amused him to see all the women agree
ing on certain lint s of house ornamenta
tion. It provoked him to find all the
nien united on theories of Improvement,
<lre«s and behavior. Ho particularly re
sented tho universal surrender of the
race to tho spirit of Christmas.
"It's all hoky poky," said Zeph.
As Christmas approached his wife
woudered if he would not break his
Usual habit and make some conventional
preparation. She remembered a very
pleasant gayety in these seasons when a
girl, but had been unable to repeat them
since becoming the wife of Zeph. And
her littlo boy, now C years old, added to
her uneasiness. He had caught some
thing of the season's inspiration from
tho children who drifted past bis cabin
home and from tin- ac tivities nt tho great
house of tho squire when he went up
i here one day to do an errand for his
mother.
He was full of questions which his
mother could not entirely answer and
which lie could not suspend when his
father was at home. But down through
his infant consciousness at last Altered
tho conviction that he and his household
were outside tho palo embraced in the
reign of Santa Clans. He had no doubt
the day held a great and joyful sig
nificance to the squire's children, uor
that Santa Claus came dowij a chimney
and gavo presents to all the good littlo
boys and girls in the world. Only, of
course, his house was not included. Tho
gentle sway cf the Christ child could
not naturally embrace the little cabin at
the edge of tho woods. Yet he had au
unformed, pathetic littio regret that it
was so.
Zeph was in town Christmas eve and
staid a littlo later than usual, though
that did not trouble his wife much. Ho
was not ill tho habit of routing home
fill no got ready, not leaving till moved
t>y tho samecousideratiou. Only he was
stiro to come some time, and always
sober. Ho was quite superior to the
nearly universal habit of acquiring 14
personality by imbibing stimu
lants. It was altogether an unmixed
folly to him.
"Town's pretty lively, I reckon," said
his wife as Zeph came in and prepared
for supper. He did not remove an over -
coat. H« wore none Ho looked opoi(
that custom as quite as unnecessary t.s
popular notions usually were.
"Ya-as," snarled Zeph, grinning in
derision of what ho had seen. "Stores
nil lighted up, and candy and thiugs ii>
jjiti winders."
i-Whut in tho winders, pap?"
inquired the boy, his bluo eyes large
and bright.
"Oh, toys, and them things!"
"Whut things?" again, but hfisitat
.Uglj)
Zeph glanced wamingly at tho boy
and then slowly replied:
"Skates and red mittens and some
wooden soldiers and drums and pictiry'
tiOOkn.
Tho boy had never seen tho stores, for
ho had never been in town, bni he had
in his mind a very vivid picture of tho
place and it* glories. And ho looked
very straight at his father as that pic
ture took form Jjeforo |iin,
Many people in town?" questioned
the wife. She had seen those splendors
on Christmas evo, and she had counted
on seeing them again this season.
"Ya-as; the stores was crowded aqd
fhc stfpetu was full of loams. Couldn't
git moro'n (10 cents for that coouskin
and had totakothat in trade. Wouldn't
pay no moro'n 50 cents if I took it in
cash. So I traded for somo truck and
tome home. They tried to sell a loi
■ji plunder, but I don't go none on thc>u.
flings. M
"Whut plunder, pap?" asked tho boy.
The resources for trimming his fancy
stores were really very slender. Ho
needed more materia], Just a hint would
do. It seemed so real to him.
"Oh, a tin horse and wagon and a
candy bird and a woolly littlo sheep
that says 'ball!' "
"Big sheep, pap, or just a lamb?"
I'.£aw. About so high. " And Zeph
measured a span from tho top of tho ta
ble.
That changed the whole interior of his
wonder cave for the boy. These treasures
wero smaller thaq tht* uatural sia... If
mnaller, why could they not be made
larger? So his wonderful creations were
taking delightful shape. It was quite a
pioturo he found himself arranging when
his mother said from the jlepthij of the
Clishpan, where she was finishing the
supper work:
"You're sound asleep, Billy. Co to
bed."
And ho hurried into his littlo pot,
hoping ho could cayry dtuun unbro
t,u{l. ikow they danced before him, those
excellent animals! How gravely tho
birds addressed him, and how reason
able it seemed that tin soldiers should
become live dogs and bark aloud,, and
how swift it ail was, for tlifs was morn
ing. and Dash, tho hound, was challeng
ing some noises ho heard in the xvoods
across tho road.
Thi was just th« sapijj any v >the*
looming to Zepli. tto got up lazily and
dros.-cd in a flood of sunshine, shivering
a little and complaining that his wifo
had 110 better fire. He looked out on the
deep snow and know the hunting would
be excellent.
Juot after breakt'ast a sloigbload ot
people passed, their bells jingling with
tempting melody and jingling still till
the horses stopped in front of tho
squire's farmhouse, when they gavg wajt
,o snoutmgj of cheer and answering
shouts of welcome.
"Must bo Miller's folks, from Burr
Oaks," said Zeph's wife, as she closed
tho door and wondered if her other dress
was not better than this one.
Tho boy stood there at the window,
with his chin on tho s' ll , an.' tiieu to
regaia ni.i uiv.ua estate, from which tho
daylight had ejected him. I'rosently he
saw tho squiro's children coming down
the road with _u basket, ho went on*
and s* od on the steps in the sunshine.
The squire's children were taking a tur
key to old Mr.-. Stevens, down l y tht
lake. They stopj. Dat the gate, ;unl h<
went down to lc« k at their presents.
They each had a pair > f skates and were
, j try them n the hike
vas g d. But no ice • "nld add to th<
present pleasure 'f iwneiship. They
had new shoes and a silk handkerchief,
with a letti r in the corner of it, and a
number of candy horses, and mo of tho
girls had a gold finger ring. They had
hung their stockings 1 u a lino behind
the stove, and everything was tilled in
the morning.
Little Hilly added another view to
hi Christmas lor< It vas a time f'l*
making pe-pie happy. Hu remembered
a party of children that came down li< i
in a light-wagon when hazelnuts v cro
tipt and stopped for a drink of water
from the spring, and ho found himself
wondering what the day had brought to
those children.
Of course it never occuri> <1 to him to
take a personal view < f the matter. He
never imagined himself included iu
that wondrous embrace, "For of such is
tho kingdom of heaven."
Ilis nose was red, and his hands were
. thrust deep in his pockets when he re
turned to tho house. But he sat ou tho
I cliest there by the fireplace and won
dered silently.
Zeph was greasing his boors and re
gretting that lie didn't have oil instead
,of tallow. He rather resented the fact
j that the house was tidier than usual,
' that a plarn of apples was upon the
i table, and that his wife was rolling pie
crust and cutting cookies—her hair d< ne
1 up as she used to wear it when he went
a-wooing. He expressed his disapproval
! of all this hoky poky and asked her
1 what she was going to have for dinner.
I She said nothing for a time. Sho wished
| he had not asked her. There was so lit
tle, but she had planned to make it ap
I pear as fair as possible.
Across her silence came the bark of
Dash over there in the woods, and the
hunter instinct in Zeph was roused.
Since no one had asked him to go hunt
ing ho felt no disinclination to look for
game. So he glanced out of tho win
dow, caught sight of tho hound sitting
there in the timber, looking up for one
moment and then turning his eyes to the
house, barking occasionally the short,
emphatic statement that ho had found a
squirrel.
Billy was in great glee. His mother
had baked a colander full of cookies and
had then molded with her fingers, a lit
tlo crudely perhaps, a number of ani
mals from tho dough. Billy didn't rec
ognize all of them, but when sho told
him lie saw the jwiuts of resemblance.
And when his father capie back ho was
quite happy playing with them.
/uph out a hazel stick as ho camo
back through tho woods, and after tho
squirrels he had shot had been dressed
bo held them on tho stick and broiled
them before the fire. They were deli
cious, and there was a dish of mashed
potatoes—imita au unusual thing—ami
•vine baked apples and the wonderful
cookies. Billy couldn't imagine a bet
ter dinner than that. Zeph ato with
great relish, but by no means forgetting
to regard tho wholp tiling as "hoky
poky." And after dinner ho went down
to tho sawmill and told stories with tho
rest of the men, coming home rather be
fore they had exhausted their jug of ap
plejack. He had taken one drink him
self. and it may he that made the differ
ence. he was moved to unusu
al behavior.
The fire was low, and he stirred up
the burinag ends of logs till the cabin
was filled with a flood of light, and
he turned he saw there- on the pillow at
the side of HIS sleeping MOU'S head a piti
ful littlo menagerie of bent, brown
tlongh and knew that each animal had
been perfect in the largo blue eyes that
had fought so hard to keep unclosed tho
heavy gates of dreams.
Ze.ph Sflyv the happy faeo and knew
tnar somewhere his boy was wandering
among delights more rare than any his
hand had given. And the spirit of con
tention, of rivalry, of a race, awaked
within him.
"Huli I l ' he said, and wondered why
the smoke should burn his eyes to weep
ing. Then he turned to the door and
stole out in the moon gemmed night.
Down the road he went with a sweep
ing step, full of yigor and with rising
liaste, till the miles lay behind him and
he fronted tho lights of the town. It was
early evening, in spito of tho hours of
darkness, and Christmas joy was full.
He turned neither to t',u> right nor the
left, paid no attention to the gaudy doors
of the saloons, where loud young men
were boa. 1 ; ting, or betting, or trying to I
quarrel. He kept right on till he reach
ed tho shop of tho tinker, down Vy the
bridge, and thprp hi; stapipcl tho snow
from his heavy boots.
The tinker had not expected a cus
tomer, and bo had been looking at the
toys left over from the sales of tho sea
son. Ho had done very well, \>ut he
Wished pow ho |iai]pot bought so many,
•flio hand 011 his latch lifted his hopes
a little, and his eager face was a strange
contrast with the puzzled countenance
of Zeph, now for tho first time in his
lifo yielding to the weakness of scanning
Christmas present*
"Jlow much for this?" inquired tho
countryman, touching a camel with his
great forefinger. And the tinker was so
willing to sell that he quoted a figure
far below his ruling pricuS
I'Yu as, and this," continued Zeph.
It was a candy castle, with powdered
gilt and frosted silver 011 tho sides.
There was quite 11 storo of painted
woods and ruffled tins ami molded candy
there at the ppd of the counter by tho
time Zeph reached tho limit of his purse.
He felt the sarno stirrings lie had known
while husking corn, when some boaster
tried to beat him in the race. He bought
without reflection. >vish |m thought but
(hat »'» ijtviug Hilly a better Christmas
than other children had.
And then he tramped back home.
There was no hurry in his walking now.
He simply strode th<> miles, uucopscious
of \iiij splendid mosclen, assured of
reaching homo in time and giving little
care to what the thing might mean.
One house was lighted brilliantly,
and through uncurtained windows 110
saw a Christmas trep. T}h« presents had
beet} s(;fii,pi>d av*ay, but tapers burned
there, and strings of wool and tiny flags.
"Santa Claus brought them there
things 011 his way out, "said Zeph to
himself. "He'll git to Billy on his trip
back home." \'\ r ] l.» tried to sneer
at mo wtiolo affair.
At tho first barb of light Zeph fought
against his drowsiness and turned to
wait till Billy's eyes should open. It
seemed a slow Hut after
a.vliilo the huge, blue eyes unveiled,
tho sense of present things came back to
him, and then they rested on thoso
glories at his pillow. Ho did not move,
but studied them a moment with a look
so strange tbs> f " .u>v tniugs his
wisdom h ;, d not dVoaiued. Then Billy's
eyes were closed again, and soon tho
larger breathing told that he was deep
in dreamland paths, with richer tieas
ures 011 each hand than t ji, rn jiacl been
before
Ho roused at length an I i\v tho toys
again.
"I dreamt of them," ho said and
wondered why his mother smiled. It
was lung beforo he dared to touch them,
and all through tho day his beejsl.
would bo '":sp. 1, .ma bo would look
at them as if afraid th.it they would
vanish into dreams again—tho dreams
where 110 w suro his happy eyes had
found them.
"But it'a all ii'jsy posy," said Zeph
to his wife, as lie shonldf red his ..x and
went down to the mill for th> day.—
Chicago Times Herald.
Tl.b Kuefling Cattle.
Christmas eve in Id Kuglaud was a
time of ijfil-. All v. re . u v»atili,
were tho ancient waiting for
the appearand! of the star. This cus
tom, to f■ in.• extent, yet prevails in
plact-s. One strange belief which obtains
• in Kngland, and particularly in Devon
shire, is that at midnight, at the mo
(in nt Chii -tmas day c< nies to earth, the
cattle fall to their knee.-, a.- the legend
says was done by the oxen that were
around the -acred manger in Bethlehem
at tin- time of Ihe nativity. Vet it is u
sin to look on the cattlo while in this
position or to seek to find them so.
A » ustom which yet prevails in some
■:.f the feme to portions of the British is
■ lauds is to carry corn cako and hot cider
into the orchards and there olt'er them
! up to tho largest apple tree as a gift to
■ tho king of tho orchards.—Exchange.
Th«- Scotch HngiuuDajr.
It you want to make a Scotchman's
| blood tingle, pronounce, if you can, that
j outlandish word, "Hogmanay." If one
attempt to chase this philological freak
through dictionaries and lexicons, the
last state of that man is worse than the
first. That \\ ay madness lies. But Hog
manay to tho Scotchman is Christmas
and New Year's day rolled into oue. It
is tho "rieht guid Willie waught" that
turns to revelry the last days of the
passing year. After Hogmanay, Sandy
drops back into his grim, industrious
life again.
Yule come an Yule's gain*.
An wc ha*; feasted wt« 1.
Sac Jack maun to his llail again
An Jcannie tae her wheel.
—Montreal Star.
Origin of Chri*tmaj* Ciiftn.
At tho time of the Roman saturnalia
friends, masters and slave?, feasted to
gether, and gifts were exchanged in a
manner similar to thejiresent time. In
fart, from tho earliest tiui«>_tht! giving
and receiving of gifts and the
to tho poor have been the way in which
people have expressed thanks and shown
their joyfulness. It is tho thought and
Uot the expense of the Christmas gift
that pleases the recipient.
In giving presents at this season they
should be chosen with love in tho heart
and tho thought of suitableness.—New
York Mercury.
IloHuunal Sing.
Awake, fc«>od < hristians! Long ago
The sin pherdu waked nt night
And saw the heuvena with glory glow
And ungels in the light.
Hosanna! Sing hosanna! Sing
Hosanna in tho height!
New life they told to all on earth,
New life and I>l< ssing bright,
Forewarning of the Saviour's birth
In B« th'ehem this uight,
Hosanna Sing hooonna! Sing
Hobanua in the height!
New life to all, n«*w life to all.
The ti iii gs good recite.
New life ? > all, which did ln fall
At B« thhhem this night.
Hosanna! Sing hosanna I Sing
Hosanna \\i tho height!
—Old Carol.
THE MISTLETOE BOUGH.
Origin of th«* Clirfetmas Tree and Dfrora
tion \\"itli Kvfrgrpeni.
Among the votaries of tho early Druids
there was a superstition that tho houses
should be decorated with evergreens iu
December in order i'.a. the sylvan spir
its might enter them and tiius be kept
free from the blast of the cold north
wind and tho frost until a milder season
renewed tho foliage of their usual
haunt*.
The Christmas tree is really from
Egypt, where the palm tree puts forth a
branch every month, and where a spray
of this tree, with 12 shoots, on it, was
used in Egypt at the time of tho winter
solstice as a symbol of the year com
pleted.
Who does not know the poem begin
ning i
The mistletoe hung in the east hi hall;
The holly brapcU tth»'ii«> on the old oak wall?
Years ago over every man's door in
England hung a sprig of mistletoe at
this season. There still hovers a mystic
charm about the mistletoe, and v'Puy
a girl now, wifh a thrill of expectancy,
places a brfllioh of >t under tho chande
lier or over tlift door. According to a
former belief, when a girl is caught and
kissed under the mistletoe a berry must
bo picked off with each kisfi, and when
tho berries feftvp «U been plucked tho
privilege ceases.
Among the ancient Britons tho mis
tletoe that grows oil tho oak treo was
tho kind held in favor. Because of its
heathen origin it is *\ot used often in
church decnrftfitiuit, a fact which is re
ferred to by Washington Irving in his
"Bracebridgo Hall, "where ho has tho
learned paraon rebuke the unlearned
clerk for this very thing.
111 Germany and Scapd'"»vta the holly
or Lolv tree w called Christ's thorn, 1M;-
cause if puts forth its berries at Christ
mas time, and therefore is especially
fitted for church decorations. With its
glossy, dark leaves and bright, red lor
ries, it is 1111 attractiye tlworatiou for
the hoyisp
The Jews used to decorate at their
feast of tabernacles with evergreens and
flowers.
Tho laurel was used at the earliest
times of the as a decoration for
all joyful occasions and is significant of
peace and victory.
111 somo places it is customary to
throw branches of laurel <>n the Christ
mas firo and watch foy (nt.enti while the
leaves and crackle in the heat and
flame.
The evergreen treo is a symbol used
as tho revival of nature, which, astro
nomically, signifies tho return of tho
sun. Hung with ligtitn and offerings,
tho treo iias for centuries been one of
tho principal characteristics of Christ
mastide. —New York Mercury.
CHRISTMAS" EYt IN S* KN,
A f uuiiy Yer*«s With Rich <;i'i i'lie <iln
gerbr«*»<l Yale HneU.
Christmas presents in ion tiro al
ways distributed 011 Chri cvo. (ho
festival beginning with i» <■ o'clock tea,
with cakes, ®aya Anna Cronhjelm Wall
borg. The lighted Christmas tree is tho
next attraction. Some one plays a merry
polka, and young and old form a ring,
dancing around tho tree. <>» i\ table,
lighted with numerous (tamOes, are ap
ples, oranges, cakes, can
dies, etc., in abundance, and, lording
tho whole, stands a huge Yule buck of
gingerbread an 1 Adams and Kves arm
in arm. Those delicacies haying reoeiv
ed proper ;ttt..(diou and the lights in
tho Christmas tree having been extin
guished, all gather around the biggest
table in tho house, where the head of
tho family presides with a basketful of
Christmas presents Thisisthr japieine
moment for n '.i.L joung hearts have
been longing for months, the wellfealed
presents having gradually be< 11 accumu
lated in mother's closet, where 110 curi
ous eyes were allowed to penetrant
It is custom'.ry >\iito aoino funny
versu on every pnrcel, which is now read
aloud. Tho opening of the presents is
watched by all with tho greatest inter
est, as paper after paper is torn off in
feverish hurry to find out what the
parcel may contain.
But the basket is not bn»to:;«li.<jn, and
tho excit"" 1 'it ini.-- au end. Santa ( laus,
who plays such an important part 111
America and England, is not known to
the Swedish children. However, oouio
one dresses up a - *,h». 'v'ld Christmas
man" »'V .'to amusement of tho chil
dren. —Selected.
VOICES OF THE BELLS.
I.i : nt■» th* Chri>tmu* '«ii-
Willi, all the w rid i« j re. a*
They are pealing, swelling, telling.
A:i«l thi- is what th- \ IN ar- -aving:
We are the voice* fv« da- imi tug a**
W r. the tongu* -.f ;r ■ t u i
y*i .lit. the lip- «.f tht ; !;I -si ;. r-
Who dr<*';une<i • t.l t... n Ti.t. j .i st
Hard by the gat* • < the 1 o «1 « «ora
When the Christ w.:- t s
We are the prayers «.f tli and* 1 r 11. m
On Syrian d« <- rts nil I* v 1 and 1 .
We are tl. chorct of Jo . n nt
not# - that Ti. in li aveu .r« ' A »
i . ' tn»- at ff .at tAiigcl'- horn
When K mj.
Wo are tho teardrops »1 v
We are the echoe J of yes* I«I
S We are the jubilant v»>;< -ft* ;i. r» •
Lo, peace on earth! Let thy ••• *-d will r.
So our lips break silen'• ' li Chr: tnia-. a
When the Christ w.sl ,rn
-CLicag > Tlx. ;
SANTA GLAUS (AMI
"If you please, sir" —
"Eh? What now?"
Tho crusty old gentleman turned sud
denly and sharply and gl:uvd fruin benr; ih
his shaggy eyebrows at the little Ik.V
glde him. The llmre was that .if h »rir! 8
years old perhaps, t>ut -•nail and frail, -hi
wore an enormous sunlinr;net that might
have been made for the wife of the giant
BlunderlMire, so out of proportion was it to
the diminutive wearer, and out of its
depths peered a thin little face, with big.
frightened brown eyes. Her clothing was
so clean and neat that one scarcely noticed
how very poor it was, and as she stared up
into the terrible face above her one of tho
little feet wriggled uneasily in tho depths
of the costly rug.
"If you please, sir, mother said t<> tell
you that she couldn't come ui> today be
cause she's sick."
The childish treble was a little shaken
this time, for the shaggy eyebrows wore
very close to her, and they gave tho old
gentleman a look that was terrible bevoii<l
belief.
lie was In a dreadful temper, this crus
ty old gentleman, and nothing made him
angrier than for poor pot>plo to get into bis
house. "Ih' Itutod the sight of poverty, and
-ttiUtis servants had special orders to guard
the doors'JMMi-tho gates and to see that no
moan of wje Of jwmt ever reached his
ears* And yet, after afr lllii I "War
had slipped past the bolts and iTnf~Jj.to
his very study, where his own servants
scarce ly dared to enter.
I don't know what dreadful thingmight
have happened if it had not Iven for that
one little word "mother" in tho child's
fluttering speech Children so seldom
speak the word nowadays that It gave a
little shock of surprise. Instantly lie found
himself looking beyond the child, at an
old, long forgotten scone—a little cabin,
with a white country mad winding past it
and an awkward boy going down the road,
stopping at the last curve to wave his
hand to his mother, who st<« <1 in the door
watching him go out into the world.
Then he remembered himself and asked
sharply:
"And who is your mother, pray, and
why should she come hero:'"
"Please, sir," said the quavering littlo
voice, "mother's tho dust woman."
"The what!" ejaculated the old gentle
man, with another dreadful frown.
"She comes up once a week and dusts
tho bric-a-brac," explained tho child.
"The housekeeper hired her, Sh« says she
doesn't feel equal to it herself, and mother
does it so nicely,"
"Aha 1 " muttered the old gentleman
with »n angry gleam in tho eyes under
those fearful brows. "So Mrs. Murray
brings outsiders into the house when my
hack is turned, d<"'s she? They're all
alike, a pack of cheat, and robbers! I'll
teach her to violate my confidence and fill
iny house with irresponsible jieople! You
may stay in this room till Mrs Murray
comes. Do you hoar? And then I shall
have a message to send to your mother."
Ho rang tho bell violently and ordered
that. Mrs. Murray bo Soiit to him its soon
as she rotqrpod. Having made this satis
factory arrangement, ho took up his (taper
again and ignored tho littlo ftguro In the
fiunbi >nnet.
Hut before ho had road a doyou ttnes
there was a light touch on his arm, and
tho brown eyes we?e looking up into his.
"PleaHji, aii\ tu.'ty I look out of the win
do\y while we're waiting?"
lie was so astonished that ho could nul
reply for a moment, but ho did finally give
a scornful grunt of assent
There was silence in tho room for a long
time. Not a clock ticked, for old Mr.
lioherts could not endure the ticking of
clocks. Not a leaf stirred, not a cricket
chirped. The stillness disturlvd him at
last, and ho looked up, Tho child was out
on tho little bulooio , leaning on tho stone
balustrade- Her bonnet had fallen off,
ami the »unlight., falling 011 the mass of
brown hair, wove it full of gleams of gold.
Another touch on his arm—there she
was again. Hor hand—such a lit Ho morsel
of a hand—trembled with some now emo
tion, and ie'r vyos shone with a strange
light.
M I» must be nice to live on a hill!" was
what she said.
Tho old gentleman In tho armchair had
never been more astounded in h's lib'. Ho
stared at hor and fofgo( to say anything.
"I have always wanted to live Oil a
hiU," she weut on. "Our house Is away
down yonder, and you can't see anything
but tho houses across the street. Hut up
hero you can look so far, and the sky's so
close to you. Don't yoti tldnh people can
bo bettor when they live on a hill?"
The newspaper fell to the door unheeded,
and the crusty old gentleman and the lit
tle girl looked at one another. After
awhile the old gentleman went to the bal
cony and looked down to the roofs of tho
crowded houses in the narrow stri-ots lie
low and then away to the far horizon.
This beautiful home of his crowned the
summit of this purple bill and was up
lifted so far above the noise and dust and
wretchedness of the city that lay below.
Truly, it was a plcasaut thing to liv.- 011 a
bill. Ho had never thought of it lioforo,
but ali at 01100 ho fancied himself down
among those miserable tenements, looking
up at this beautiful home and thinking
how near to heaven it reached
There was a hviulod tap at the door,
and Mrs Murray presented herself. Her
comfortable figure was attired still In tho
neat dross that she had worn in the street.
Hor round face was wreathed with smiles,
but she was obviously fluttered and quak
ing with fear.
"Did J'OW leave word that you wanted
Vvt see uio, sir?" sho asked and then waited
tor tho blow to fall.
"Mrs. Murray," said tho old jjouilomau
lu his stiff est and most formal manner,
"am I tv uudcrstand that you have em
ployed a woman to come hero once a week
mid dust the brlo-a-hrac?"
"Yes, sir. Mrs. Holmes her name la,
and she's very careful, sir. I couldn't do
butter myself."
Sho glanced up anxiously at the wooden
countenance before her What terrible
thing was ho going to say next?
''Mrs. Murray, tho woman Inn sent this
child to say that she is too ill to come.
That will do. You will excuse her until
site rseovers.''
Mrs. Murray went !>nek to her own
room and fell into a chair. If It had been
consistent with thodignltyof Mr. Roberts'
housekeeper to stagger, sho certainly
would have staggered. She kept repeating
to herself: "Did you ever?" and "I can't
believe It." Sho said afterward that you
might have knocked hor down with a
straw, though that was figurative, of
wiurso.
This was the beginning of Marjorle's
visits to tho great house on the hill Her
mother did not come again, but every day
the big sunbonnet wont tolling up, and
then the glint of the golden ha'.r would be
roen in the great rooms where 110 child had
over strayed before. Not that she was Imilh
terous, or laughing, or childlike in any
way. Slie would sit In Mrs. room
for hours, with lor hands folded on her
lap, watching the lady at her work uud
sometimes talking softly, »ho would
follow her from u».au to room, gazing
with oelight at every beautiful object
Mr. Roberts kuow that she was In thv
house, but lie said nothing. 11;■ vt*n cou
scions sometimes th'tf »»io child stopped
near Idm ativl «.<.khl with her hands liehind
iwt, regarding him with grave scrutiny,
but ho did not drive hor away, as lie might
have liceii expected to do a few weeks lie
fore.
Ho was in his study oue morning v\hen
110 board Mrs. Murray come into the i»d
joining JKMs door was ajar, ami
«*Ur a- ane >j.oke. her words came to him
distinctly.
"That v. is a present from my -on la«t
Christina- *he said. "Dear b.y( Ufl
le v. T fail- to send mo wonwtliltifj every
Christina* and every birthday."
Then " am> 1 -mall voleo full of wistful
moaning:
"Mr- Murray "If aid, "do you like
Christmnsf
"Why. Marji.rie' ' was the sh.vktd re
ply \Vhv. of < ritN 1 I do* Kv.rrbodv
likes Christmas'
1 d.ui • -aid th. small v. .10— »uch a
de-date little o.iee 11 -is in..l. I had
rather leave 1 hri tma out of Ui. year."
■ Murjori. N\< e r.l . ct.iild express
ti.. 1 nror and amaz: ,-,n ui in Mrs. Mur
f i >-'s r.,ne
I w.»uhl' Fhe small voi o had grown
1 lai.tM 1 i.e.| higher in it. joiinful intensity.
What th us. of a Christmas that new
►-* ' ' - oe peoph .it all* I here was lit
tle iai I. I*. tor Franks, who lived in the
ti m to our.; an.l . h be wanted
a< l.riotmas 1 much. Mrs Murray! He
ii. e 1 to hang his Mocking up every year,
'.- -ingh> year uud h. always thought
there d he something in it next morning.
Jul there never was anything— not a sin
gle thing—and now poor I'eter's dead,
and lie never had a Christmas in all his
lift.!"
"My dear! My dear!"
The old gentleman in the study heard
the exclamation, and he knew that the
voice that uttered it was full of tears. Ho
rose hastily and slippid out of the study
and t hen ordered his carriage and went
driving.
The day following was Christmas eve.
Carriers from town were busy all day
bringing in the presents that he had
bought for tho servants, and there was
great happiness in the servants' hall, with j
i much confusion anil many awkward at- J
tempts to thank the master, who waved
i off every such attempt with an air of lofty
| patronage. Outside of this family of serv
-1 ants he had never given any I>ue a present
in all his life. 11c had never contributed
| to charities, public or private. He had
never helped the poor—indeed he had never
j listened to their appeals.
Ho had important business in another
| city which would keep him away all
through Christmas week, he explained to
Mrs Murray, and he must leave that even
ing. In th.- afternoon he muilled himself
in groat-coat and furs and drove away, and
as soon as tho carriage was half way down
th«- hill the servants relaxed from their
usual stiff propriety and liegan to enjoy
themselves in their own way.
A telegram was handed to Mr. lloherts
at the station as ho was about to buy his
" What little things sometimes
change uM- whole course of a life! The in
formation thus the trip un
necessary, and after loitering about the
city for awhile ho returned homo on fool
and entered his house quietly by a side
door.
Sounds of boisterous merriment cam
from tho servants' quarters, and the owe
er of tho house frowned ominously. So
this was tho way they t<xik advantage of
his absence?
He made his way to his study, unseen
by any ono, and shut himself in—a lonely,
selfish, desolate old man. Kven the lire,
which will bu.'lied in the grate, annoyed
him, and he withdrew liehind a screen
and threw himself into an easy chair. He
heard Mrs. Murray come in after awhile,
hut she only moved about softly and de
corously, setting things in order, and he
did not si«ak. She was just jiassing into
tho sitting room when she gave a little cry
of alarm, followed by the exclamation:
"Mercy me, child! How you frightened
mo!"
"Mrs. Murray," said a thin little voice
—a voice that Mr. Roberts had heard lie
fore—"l've come up lien- to stay all
night!"
The listener behind the screen heard
Mrs Murray fall into a chair and again
she cried, "Mercy 1110!"
"I just had to come?" tho eager volco
went on. "Mother's very, very sick—and
she needs things. Mis Murray—and may
Ik> Santa < Haus might bring 'em if he knew
—and how is he to know when he never
comes there? llut I knew if I went to
some fine house he'd come and find me,
Kiul so I ciune here."
"Poor child! Poor child!"
Mrs. Murray had gathered the little
Ivalf «o her bosom and was rocking her
softly to and fro. Tlio old gentleman be
hind the screen could see that by the shad
ow 011 tho floor, lie could see, too, that
the housekeeper was furtively wiping her
eyes.
Presently she rallied and said cheerily:
"I'll ti 11 you what we'll do, Marjorle.
I'll go right down and see your mother,
and you shnll go with me, and, who
knows, maybe Santa Claus will come
there, after all,"
"Oh, no, ho won't!" replied the child
with sorrowful coiivictlon. "You don't
know that place! Santa dims has never
heard of It! lie goes to rich people's
houses, and an I've come here, and I must
see him tonight—oh. I must, Mm. Murray I
X don't care for any other Christmas after
this but I must so*'him tonight, on moth
er's account, you know."
l ucre was a dismayed silence on Mrs.
Murray's part, but presently she said:
"»i;(ll, come along Into Mr. Roberts'
study—thank goodness he's away from
Home—and sit here before the flro till l
come back. I'll take John and go down
and see your mother."
In another minute the sound of her re
treating footstep* had died away, and tho
old gentleman, peeping from behind tho
screen, saw a little figure sitting iiefore
the fire, ga/.lng Intently Into the glowing
coals.
Dusk was settling down over the city.
Ho had not been conscious of It until the
electric burner above his table flashed Into
todden radlanco. The flash startled tho
child, and ho heard her moving softly
about. What was she doing! 1 Preparing
to steal something prol»ably. These chil
dren front the tenement districts were all
thieves.
Uut, no! When he ventured to look
again, she was at the study table—his ta
ble—writing. She bad his sacred pen,
which no other mortal hail ever dared to
touch, and she was writing slowly and la
boriously. Could presumption go farther
than that? What would tin we people bo
trying to do next?
It took her a long time to write the let
ter, but at last It was finished, and she laid
the pen down with a weary sigh Then
she unrolled a little bundle that had been
lying beside her and shook oijt—could the
watcher believe his eves? —a stocking, a
poor, forlorn, ragged llWn stocking! N'ow
what could she want with that?
She stood on tiptoe and peered around
the corners of the mantel for a place to
hang it. "Finally something struck her
fancy its suitable, and she licgan pushing
a heavy chair toward the mantel. When
It was near enough, she climbed u|s>n It
and hung the stocking upon the "bravo
caducous" of the bronze Mercury that ho
hail bought last year In IWmo and for
which he hud paid such a price!
Presently she had Jumped down and
was surveying the stocking with the great
est pride. Then the note was carefully
folded, and she climbed upon the chair
again and pinned the foldod paper to the
toe so Conspicuously that the winged Mer
cury seemed to stand there for no other
purpose than to hold tip a ragged stocking
for all the world to see.
And then—why, then she was lying
down upon the rug with her thin check
on her thin little hand, and the listener
beard a tired sigh.
After a long while the old gentleman
behind the screen ventured to move slight
ly After H little longer he moved again
and so gradually came out of his hiding
place
Was that old Mr. Rolierts tiptoeing
across tho room to keep from startling the
|x»>r little waif sleeping in his hearthrug?
Was that tho sordid old man whoin even
his friends had come to call a mere motley
machine, that man whose hands trembled
as be unpinned the little note and spread
It out before hlmf
I>kait Santa CUAr»«-When you come to
night pli an I"- li a* me. I 'll lie down on the rug.
Youvt uevi r seen me before. \ou ncedent
uive Mwaythltc. hri pirn flu the -tucking
with things f..r mother sin •* sick. 1 tied up
tin t"< «so they Wouklcnt drop out. The doc
tor says wl». anil things anil honarcnt.
MAlmoink UOI.MES.
for a long time the old map sat In the
chair liefore tho tire Something within
himwas breaking thecohl anil selfish crust
tltui year* hail hcl|M-d to form. He sat
there looking from the sleeping child to
the forlorn little stocking and from the
stocking to the child It was the first time
a Stocking had ever been hung up ili his
house—the first time!
Suddenly the old gentleman rose, lit
lifted UIQJ&Ud hkld h«t on u
couch which liad alw.i\ ». ea -end to
bis own um* ilikl ooveni! her with rugs.
Then he went softly out at •! asiouished
the unsuspecting >er\ am* by appearing
among them and orderin;: tlie carriage
Could tlii- be old Th...!.iit. !ho
money machine, the sclfUh, l>.-us>|uc, irrl
table old man, this m.,n who went from
-. re :•> store, ordering ;.i ! buying and
<r> iHllug money as he hud never spent it
l>eforc? Couitl this b tl. Mr. Roberts
that Mrs. Murray knew, this man who
went" into that siekro - n, follow.--! by a
great hamper filled with "wine and ll ings
and house rent!" Was thi- the man that
all the charitable orgat.i/.. ton;; shunned,
this man who drove altou; 1...:t ihe night,
leaving Ivhind him a tr.iil jf Christinas
rcjoicii-.g. mingled with . 1. l u • ii.g: as
he l.ad never heard befo.-.
And who was it that dr. up the i.iit
at last under the silent star,, with a car
riagc full of bundles and with a s trango,
soft feeling tugging at his heartstrings?
Me smiled as he went, and yet he had to
k.s;. wiping his eye- 11. ,sas t 'lmi i, ,vab
dark, so that no one could Sis-.
And what strange Ugure was ihia in the
study afterward, this figure that moved sc
stealthily ami that was so busy stufling
the stocking until it was ready to burst,
*nd pinning things all over the outside of
It until the bronze Mereury seemed al
most to stagger under his burden? What
.wl come over the old gentleman whom so
many people envied and whom nobody
loved?
Just before day Mrs. Murray ning
softly in, found him sitting by lire,
watching the slipping chi'd.
"It'll bo a sail time f. ! " ...Id
'Her mother's gone, and wl .tt to
become of the little thing I n't I >w."
"I don't see why the child > tldn't
stay here, Mrs. Murray," said the . ,I gen
tleman. with his face turned the other
way. "It would he some extra trouble for
you, but I d;ire say you would not mind it."
s-sir!" Mrs. Murray managed to artic
ulate.
Then the old gentleman turned around,
and she saw what was shining on his
cneeks.
"Do you see that stocking, Mrs. Mur
ray?" he cried, in a voice that she had
never heard before. " That's the first stock
ing that was ever hung up in my house.
It looks homolike, doesn't it? I have de
cided that we'll have stockings hung up
every year. And here's a child that needs
a home, and, thank heaven, I've a home
to give her."
The child sighed and stirred and th«n
suddenly sat up.
"Did he come?" she cried eagerly, with
a da/.jd look at the bursting stocking, and
the old gentleman beside her gathered her
up In his arms and said:
" Yes, my little oye, he came!"— Phil
adelphia Times.
The Russian Christmas.
In many parts of Hnssla, particularly In
provinces remote from the populous cen
ters, Christmas Is celebrated more as It
was when first introduced. Families,
friends and often small ncighliorhoods
gather at one house for celebrations. The
mistress of that house at once becomes the
supreme manager of all the services and
festivities, even to selecting the young
men who shall each lie the special escort
of a certain young lady. These "elec
tions," as they are called, coming in the
season for betrothals and associated as
they are with the mystic lulluence of the
mistletoe, often load to festivals where the
olive branch joins the holly and orange
h.ossoins. —Selected.
SANTA ( LAI S IS REAL
THOUGH MANY PEOPLE SPEAK OF
HIM AS A MYTH.
11l Knglaml St. Nicholas Was Itpcugiiixed
as the Giianliau of Youth Legend of the
Wlrkeil Butcher In ticriiiany He l*uts
Gouil Things lu Lucky Hags.
In spite of the fact that Dec. ti waa
St. Nicholas' duy thousands of jieople
talk nf Santa Clans as myth. St. Nicho
las was a very real personage. He was
arclibishtp of Myra iti 842, and the
name under which ho enjoys ail annual
popularity in this country is the Ger
man form that came with tho German
custom of the Christmas tree and all
tho reft of it.
St. Nicholas is a great saint with all
the Teutonic and Scandinavian peoples.
It was his prerogative, says the New
York Recorder, to manifest his piety
when at his mother's breast, for even
then he is said to have fasted Wednes
days and Fridays. As a matter of course
he soon became famous in working mir
acles, and here again be appeared to seek
favor with tho young people.
An innkeeper having killed two young
gentlemen and put them ii: the pickle
tub, intending to sell them as pickled
pork, the saint, who, in a vision, had
seen tiie deed done, declared he would
put a stop to the business, and there
upon he transformed himself from Lycia
to Athens and stood before the astonish
ed innkeeper and said, "What hast thou
done?"
Tho man trembled, confessed and im
plored forgiveness. Having patted the
uian on the back and said, "Don't do it
any more," the holy man turned to the
pieklo tub, when the imitation sides,
ligs and hands of pork began to stir,
and in quick sticks there came forth not
two boys merely, but three, as may be
proved by reference to the Salisbury
missal of 1584, wherein there is a pic
ture of the event, and one of its pecul
iarities is that, as the three boys rise
complete out of the pickle, the barbar
ous butcher is still lmsy in cutting one
of them tip.
St. Nicholas established yet another
claim to bo regarded as tho friend of
youth, for he was partial to boxing and
employed his skill in the "maoly art"
upon the heads of bishops.
The guardianship of tho young by
Santa Claus was of old recognized in
England by the custom of choir boys in
cathedrals choosing a boy bishop on the
day of St. Nicholas, Dec. «. This was
a very important event, as may be seen
by Hono's "Every Day Book," I, 1569,
where theie is an efllgy of a boy bishop
from Salisbury cathedral. The custom
was in full observance from early times
until 1543, when it was abolished by a
proclamation of Henry VIII.
According to the old north German
custom, the happy time for the children
is the vigil of St. Nicholas, the night of
Dec. ft. Then it is that he glides about,
putting good tilings into lucky bags and
spying out the merits and demerits of
boys and girls and sometimes unspar
ingly praising or rebuking them.
Tho north German fashion requires
the saint to pay a visit to the house
where the young are assembled in fes
tivity 011 the night of his vigil. He
speaks in kindly words to the juvenile
throng, reproving some, encouraging
others. On retiring to rest, each member
of the party places an empty shoe on the
table, and the door of the room is at
once locked, and behold! when morning
dawns and the doors are opened in the
presence of all, the shoes an* found to
bo tilled with gifts for their owners and
the table is covered with trinkets and
sweet mi>ats.
We have simply incorporated St.
Nicholas' day with Christmas day and
made the night of Dec. 24 the time of
the saint's visitation. Hut he is not .
myth now tuiy more than he ever was.
He is a very real as well as a very good
taint indeed, and for the children's sako,
may his shadow never grow less!
Tht> Illrd of Kawning.
A popular superstition is that tin the
eve of Christmas the bird of dawning
singeth all night long to frighten off
any evil thing.
It was from this belief that Shakes
peare \£roto:
Home say that ever 'gainst that season <-umus
Wherein <>ur Saviour's birth is celebrated.
The bird of dawning Ningeth all niKht long.
And then, they say, no spirit dare* stirabroad.
The nights are wholesome. Then no phuieta
atrlkp,
No fairy taken, nor witch hath power to
charm,
t&o hallowed and no gracious U the time.
TS u4rS