Holiday upplemenl
MEEKY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR
HER CHRISTMAS BALLS/ ' -
Well , what difference would it make ?
One might as well be happy while one
could , and who wouldn't have been
happy , blissfully , radiantly , divinely
happy with that dear oldDanube waltz
throbbing on the perfumed air , with
his dear arms around one , his tender
eyes smiling , his breath waving the
fluffs of shining hair , his lips whisper
ing the dearest and the sweetest love
words that were ever listened to by
mortal woman ? Ah if it could only
last forever ! If they could but float
on if the music would never cease if
there was no past no future if there
was nothing but music and Hal and
herself if life could only end while one
was happy if and the waltz was
ended , and she raised her eyes to his
with a smile and a sigh.
"Come , sweetheart , it is almost time
for me to go. Say good-bye to me in
the dear old library ; " and she let him
lead her away though she knew that
her mother was watching with angry
eyes. And in the library she clung to
him and promised to be true to him
and wait for him , no matter what
happened. Then with fondest words
and tenderest kisses he left her , for he
must catch the train that was to bear
him "over the hills and far away" to
where he might win fame and fortune ,
before coming back to claim her from
her haughty mother. And she ran to
her room , bathed her tear-wet face
and hid the traces with velvet powder
before rejoining her mother's gusts.
The music was so sad , the people said
such silly things. Why did her mother
persist in always having a ball on
Christmas night ? Would they never
go ? And after they were gone she
went to her own room to cry her heart
out. But that did no good , for even
after all her tears were shed , her heart
was so heavy that she could hardly
smile. The days were so long , and the
months dragged so slowly by. And
her mother would not allow her to
stay at home. She must go to operas ,
balls and dinners , and accept the at
tentions of men who were odious to
her , even though they were rich , and
most of them young and handsome.
What was life to her without her
handsome Hal ? How could she enjoy
dancing and music while he was work
ing his life out for her ? She would
never waltz the dear old Danube till
he came back , at any rate they could
not compel her to do that. And so
she obeyed her mother and danced
and sang , but she would not obey so
far as to encourage the attentions of
any of the men selected by her mother ,
even though one persistent suitor re
jected by the daughter appealed to the
mother , and Mrs. Haughton , flattered
and pleased with the idea of seeing her
only daughter the wife of so wealthy
and prominent a man , gave Hilda no
peace day or night. Only a mother
knows how to nag a daughter on to
almost any desperate deed , and
Hilda's life became one long and never-
ceasing torment , having no leaven of
comfort in it except the knowledge
that it could not last forever , for Hal
would come and take her away.
Mrs. Haughton allowed no correspon
dence between her daughter and Hal
Chester. Hilda was entirely too lovely
to be thrown away on a poor man ,
even though he was the son of an old
friend who had lost his entire fortune
through the dishonesty of his partner.
Thus Hilda lived on. Sometimes
her courage almost gave Avay , and she
felt that anything would be better
than the life she led , but her love for
Hal saved her from yielding to her
mother's persuasions and her own
despair.
* * * * * *
Hal had been gone nearly four years ,
and it was drawing on to Christmas
and her mother's annual ball. She
entered heartily into thepreparations ,
This is the way
Little Johny Gray
Lett his sleigh.
her lieart seemed light , and laughter
and song came from her smiling lips.
Her mother congratulated herself that
Hilda was coming to her senses at
last , and forgetting her school-girl
penchant for Hal Chester.
But ah , no ! Hilda's thoughts were
all of Hal , for on that Christmas night
almost four years ago , had he not
promised to dance the Danube waltz
with her ? to comeback to her in four
years ? Who wouldn't sing the old
songs when he would soon be asking
for them ? And he would never leave
her again , for she had * resolved to
marry him let him be poor as he
might be ; her mother should not in
fluence her now. Whjr , her heart kept
singing "Hal , " "Hal , " from morning
till night , and her first waking and
last sleeping thought was of him. She
was proud of her beauty because it
her mother's guests , happy , smiling ,
lovely , dressed as nearly as fashion
would allow , like the Hilda of four
years ago. All day she had been in a
state of expectancy , but npwshestood
with a half-eager , half-waiting expres
sion in her lovely eyes. Hal was in
the city , so much she had learned from
a friend , and now she had but to wait
a little while , but ah ! this little while ,
this last half hour was longer than the
past four years.
She went into the front room where
her mother was receiving a few late
comers.
"Hilda , my love , here is an old friend
for you to welcome. "
Hadshegotten a glimpse into Heaven
that made her lovely face so radiant ?
"Hal ! "
He held her hands in his as he spoke
frank words of greeting.
"And here , Hilda , is my wife Aline ,
t his is my dear old friend and sweet
heart , Hilda. You two must love
each other as much as I love you
both. "
And Hilda took the dainty hand
held out to her , and spoke kindest
words of greeting to Hal's wife , while
the radiance died out of her face and
life forever , as borne to her ears on the
heavy perfumed air came the wailing ,
moaning , sobbing tones of the Danube
waltz !
Christmas Bells.
0 list the joyful sounding bells !
What is tlie tale their music tells ?
'Tis but the oft-repe.ited strain
First heard on Judith's star-lit plain.
When shepherds , watching flocks by night ,
Saw round them shine a wondrous light ,
And trembling heard the angels say :
"Fear not to you is born this day
would please Hal to see how she had
improved.
She dreamed of the happy future
that was to be passed with him , and
when she saw smiling wives and hus
bands with their children around
them , she blushed as she thought of
how blest she would be with "Hal's
children in her arms.
She felt as though she trod on air ,
as though the world was made for her
and Hal to love each other in , and
that every human being , every living
thing , must share and rejoice in her
happiness. Life was goldeif to her ,
and her loveliness became almost
radiant. Love beautifies all women
and Hilda as ut rly absorbed in
her love for Hal.
The days passed on and Christmas
night had come. Hilda was among
This is the way
That old Mr.Gray
Met the sleigh.
A Saviour , which is Christ the Lord ! "
The Heavenly host with one accord
Joined with the angel , saying , then :
"Peace on earth , good will to men ! "
No messenger in angel guise
Comes now before our mortal eyes
Nor evermore in our dull ears
Shall sound a voice fromHeavn'ly spheres ;
Nor need we , like the men of old ,
Wander to seek with gifts and gold ,
The babe who in the manger lay ,
In David's city far away !
Lo ! at our doors he waits to take
The gift none is too poor to make
A lieart which will His love leeeive ,
And humbly say , "Lord , I believe ! "
For this trie cells ac nnstmas ring !
"Good tidings of great joy" they bring !
For "whoso * will" at length may see
Him who once walked in Gallilee" !
Little boy or girl , commencing with Mer
ry Christmas , be notsimply good , but good
for .something.
A HAPPY NEW YEAR.
Unless we believe that true 'happi
ness can come only through high de
velopment , the wish for happiness for
ourselves and others is not the best
wish that we can offer. But how
naturally and sincerely the wish rises
from our hearts. Most of us have
learned that happiness seldom comes
when we set out to seek for it , that it
is often near when we think it very re
mote , and far away oftenvhen we
fancy it quite near. It is not found in
circumstances and surroundings so
much as in ourselves , and lies more
within our reach and control than we
often reali/e. Dutiful ways are not
always the pleasantest or easiest , but
it is the earnest following of these
ways that gives happiness. In reach
ing out toward noble ends , seeking
each day the means by which to grow
toward the higher life , we find the
sweetest content possible this side of
heaven. We must light evil wherever
seen and struggle to get up higher as
best we can.VhatArnold says in his
great poem on sorrow may also be
said of struggle. It is :
"Shadow to life , moving where life doth
move ;
Nor to be laid aside until one lays
Living aside , with all its changing states ,
Birth , growth , decay , love , hatred , pleasure ,
pain ,
Being and doing. "
Writes a friend : "Whatever serves
to warm and vivify those processes of
thought , sometimes , too coldly intel
lectual , by which we arrive at our con
clusions respecting the worth and
meaning of lite , is of value. Itight here
we find the use of Christmas time and
other holiday seasons , of which we
have too few. They help to preserve the
ideal side of life. The cheery greetings
of "Merry Christmas , " and "Happy
New Year , " may not suffice of them
selves to usher in the brotherly help
fulness and love of good will to men ;
but they serve as excellent helps and
reminders of duty to that end Imagi
nation , the spirit of "make believe , "
which in its broadest interpretation is
but the endeavor to make true our
highest conception of the beautiful and
good , is as necessary a factor in the
solution of life's problems as the in
dustries of scientific reason.
"It takes the ideal toblowa hair's breadth
off. '
"The dust of the actual , " says Mrs.
Browning , in oft-quoted lines , "how it
chokes and stifles and blinds thy
vision , this dust of the actual , when
we attempt to remove it by some
house-cleaning process , as the weekly
sweeping. But open the windows , let
the sweet airs of heaven blow bree/ily
through the soul , and both vision and
understanding are quickly cleared.
Our holidays are valuable , then , as
means for increasing man's sensibility
to happiness , which becomes both a
virtue and an accomplishment in vi\
age given over to restless , joyless
acquisition. We are at such pains to
cultivate ourselves in a variety of
other arts , that it seems a pity that
of simple happiness should be left out. "
The following verses relating to the
opening of the new year , will doubtless
be acceptable to many of our readers
at this time :
' 'A flower unblown ; a Book unread ;
A Tree with fruit unharvested ;
A Path untrod ; a house whose rooms
Lack yet the heart's divine perfumes ;
A Landscape whose wide border lies
In silent shade 'neath silent skies ;
A wondrous Fountain yet unsealed ;
A Casket with its gifts concealed ;
This is the year that for you waits
Beyond to-morrow's mystic gates.
Oh , may this Flower unfold to you
Visions of beauty sweet and new ;
This Book on golden pages trace
Your sacred joys and deeds of grace ;
May all the fruit of this strange Tree
Luscious and rosy-tinted be ;
This Path through fields of knowledge go ;
This House with love's content o'erflow ;
This Landscape glitter with the dew
Of blessed hopes and friendships true ;
This .Fountain's living crystal cheer ,
As fail the springs that once were dear ;
This Casket with such gems be stored
As shine in lives that love the Lord. "
Ik
This is the way
The fiery , untamed sleigh
Landed Gray.
