THE CHRIST-CHILD.
HIS world has
whirled on in
its way
For nineteen hun
dred years ,
Since Bethlehem's
babe , who came
In Love ,
Wept over us His
tears.
Still swings above
the golden star
That on that night stood still
Above the humble village inn ,
By the Judaean rill.
F -
And wise men seek the path today
The crowned Masl found
The mother heart of womanhood
Makes that. Earth's holy ground.
The singing angels hover now
Above the manger , there.
Where God's light shone upon His
brow ,
The Prince of Peace so fair !
The wondrous story , never old , .
Thrills on the wakened heart ,
Who led us to His Heavenly Fold ,
Who walked from men apart.
Awake , today , in spirit strain ,
The song ttat never dies !
Find out that.glittering star again.
The scales dropped from our eyes !
For God's dear love is potent now
As when His reign began ;
The chanting of the seraph band
Shames restless heart of man.
Here , in our midst , the Heavenly Dove
Seeks an eternal rest ; -
Descending from His throne above
To hide within each breast.
Wake ! Better Natures , sleeping long !
Cast off the thralls of sin !
List to the choiring angels' song
And let the White Dove in !
Mute by the graves of vanished hates ,
Greet all in love today !
Lift up your brows with hearts elate.
And meet Him on our. way !
Richard Henry Savage.
_
I
HERE did the
Christmas tree or
iginate ? This is
a question that
doubtless would
puzzle most people
to answer. It came
to us from Eng
land , and it is pret
ty well settled that
it "was taken there
from Germany , for
custom of setting up a tree hung
iifts at Yule-tide was by no means
in Britain until after the
of Queen Victoria to a Ger-
to this there was a sort of
in England. The
"Waseail bob , " a bunch of holly or
other evergreens on a pole , decked with
ribbons and hung with oranges and
apples , and sometimes bearing a pair
of dolls , was carried about in York
shire at Christmas nearly a century
ago. And until 1830 the "besant" was
escorted by a procession with music at
Shaftesbury it being a tree-shaped
framework covered with ribbons , flow
ers and peacock feathers , on which
were hung jewels , coins and other ar
ticles of value , loaned by the local gen
try. Hutchins' history of Dorset states
in 1S03 that the decorations of this
"besant. " or "byzant , " or "bezon , " as
it was variously called , were sometimes
worth as much as 1,500.
These and kindred customs prevail
ing in the England of a century ago
are generally regarded by archaeolo
gists as survivals of tree worship ,
which seems to have existed every
where.
Germany probably received the tree
from Scandinavia , where the ancient
legend tells of "Yggdrasil , " the ash ,
which binds together heaven , earth
and hell ; its branches spreading over
the whole world , and reaching above
the sky ; its roots running in three dl-
"THE WASSAIL BOB. "
rections , one to the Asa gods in heav
en , one to the Frost giants , and the
third to the under-world.
In the far East , Japanese sacred
books , written a dozen centuVies ago ,
relate how the gods pulled up by the
roots on the mountain Kager the Saka
tree , on the branches of which they
hung jewels , a mirror and blue and
white peace offerings to the shining
goddess of the heavens.
The Hindoo Parijata and Kalpavris-
ksha yielded all the objects of the de
sires of gods and mortals , and so , too ,
did the Iranian Harvisptokhm , "the
tree of all the seeds. "
At cremation ceremonies in Bud
dhist Slam a framework representing
a tree , to which are tied limes and nut
shells containing money and lottery
tickets , occupies a prominent place , and
after the rites these "fruits , " which
are called "karaphruk , " are scrambled
for by the crowd.
In Upper India , the scavenger caste
carry in processions , in honor of their
god Zahir , a bamboo framework deck
ed with bright colored cloths and pea
cock feathers , and hung with fans and
bunches of cocoa nuts.
Lucian described trees covered with
ornaments and sacred attributes which
were brought each year to be burnt
offerings to the goddess Atergatls at
Hicrapolis of Syria ; and he told also
of great trees ; loaded with goats , sheep ,
garments and gold and silver objects
which were burned before the Syro-
PhoenScian gods.
Conventional , or "made-up" trees
are pictured on Babylonian cylinders ,
and one of the bilingual hymns trans
lated by Prof. Sayce describes how the
"Place of the Tree" ( of which these
pictured trees were undoubtedly sym
bols ) is the central spot of the earth ,
while its fruits obviously the stars
are of brilliant crystal and reach Into
the liquid vast. "
The pine of Cybele and Attis is still
to be seen on the ancient bas reliefs ,
hung with bells , a reed flute , a wheel
and other objects , and there are sacred
birds among the branches and a ram
FROM A BASRELIEF.
and a bull standing beneath , ready for
sacrifice.
Pictures and other votive objects
were attached to the laurel of Apollo.
Summing up all the evidence , it cer
tainly seems that the Christmas tree
hung with gifts has descended to us
from the times when decorated trees
laden with offerings were worshiped
as representatives of the abstract
"Universe tree , " whose trunk was the
cosmic axis , whose roots were in the
under-world , and whose branches , lift
ed aloft into the skies , bore up the
heavenly hosts.
The custom of decorating the church
es with greenery at Christmas had its
origin iif a pagan ceremony. The
great feast of Saturn was held in De
cember , when the worshipers hung the
temple with such green things as they
could find ; and the Christians adopted
the same method to celebrate the birth
of the Savior , giving it an emblematic
turn by referring to the "righteous
branch , " and justifying it from Isaiah
55 : 13 " .The glory of Lebanon shall
come unto thee , the fir tree , the pine
tree and the box together to beautify
the place of my sanctuary. "
The holly , or holy tree , Is called
Christ's thorn in Germany and Scan
dinavia , from its use in church decora
tions and its putting forth its berries
at Christmas time.
THE YULE LOG.
Christmas day in the primitive
church was always observed as the
Sabbath day , and , like that preceded
by an Eve , or Vigil. Hence our pres
ent Christmas Eve. On the night of
this Eve , people were wont to light
up candles of an uncommon size , call
ed Christmas candles , and lay a log of
wood upon the fire , called a Yule log
or Christmas block , to illuminate tha
house , and , as it were , to turn night
into day. This custom is still kept up
in the north of England. The size of
these logs o wood , which were in
fact great trees , may be imagined from
the fact that in the time of the civil
wars of the last century , Capt. Hosier
burnt the house of Mr. Barker of
Haghmond Abbey , near Shrewsbury ,
by setting fire to the Yule log. At
the bringing in of the Yule log at
Christmas Eve in the ancient castle or
England , the great hall of the castle
was profusely decorated with ivy and
holly berries. As soon as the log was
lighted the Christmas festivities be
gan. The servants were then given a
general holiday and did not go to bed
at all , but rambled about until the
church bells called them to prayer at
12 o'clock. The word Yule signifies
Christmas , which was called in the
Latin or Western church the Feast of
Lights , because they used many lights
or candles at its celebration in honor
of Christ , the Light of all Lights.
In Bermuda the soil often products f
four crops of vecetables In a year , ;
Consul Greene notcss the ca&a of oar
farmer there who last year planted an
acre of tomatoes , and derived there
from a revenue of $1.500while aaosr <
acre , dovoletl to the culture of
yielded $1SOO.
General Andrew T. McReynokls , who
died recently at Gracd Rapids. Mich. , ]
was the oldest Kotght Templar la Jhe ,
world , and assisted In suppnMsla ? ; the ! 1
nullification rebellion in South Carolina
lina In 1S32. afterward senrlajr i
both the Mexican and civil war * . !
THE HOPE OF THE CONTINENT , j
Western Cau tU the "iJrd Uukct of !
tUo
The attention directed to the wheat ;
fields of western Canada durlBR the :
past year has caused ihou&aud * of s fti
tiers from different part * of the Unit *
cd States to make their hotaes there
during the past few months. They re
port that their experience corroborate *
what had been told tUeni of that won
derful country , and they ar * sending
back to their friends ino * ; favorable
reiiorts. During the past summer * !
number \VUcousiu , Michigan and !
Minnesota editors visited western Can- !
ada. and the followlut ; extracts &r
from a very ( tattering letter wrlliea ;
for the Germanla of Milwaukee by Its '
able contributor. Prof. Sheridan :
"Tho numerous elevators along thb
line , towering so far above the sur-
rouudlnc country that they way be
seen for many miles distant , sunicient-1
ly Indicate that the chief Industry is j
the growing of wheat. At the village
of Indian Head inon > than a million '
bushels of wheat were marketed last
year. This was but a fraction of the'
amount of the same product marketed
at the larger cities of Brandon and Re-
glna. At Indian Head the representa
tive of the Germanla was told by a
farmer that ho was about to harvejt
his third crop of wheat from the farm j
upon one ploughing given it the fall ]
of 1S95 , the crops of the current year )
and of last year having been sown
upon the stubble of the preceding crop.
This farmer expected a yleid of not
less than forty bushels to the acre. The
farms are very large. The absence of
hills and rocks contributes to making
farming on a large scale an easy mat
ter. There was an abundance of evi
dence that the country surrounding tbo
cities named above Is an extensive re
gion of fertile lauds , furnishing as
great an opportunity for cattle-raising
and dairying as for the growing of j 1
wheat. "
"We were surprised to find here a
rich growth of nearly every species of
cultivable plant known in Wisconsin.
Various species of trees were growing ,
showing that its soil and its cliinato
are favorable to the growth of forests.
The writer had never seen a more
promising growth of wheat , oats , and
garden vegetables than was observed
here. The experimental farm of Wis
consin , located at Madison , produces
nothing better. "
"The people along the line of the
railroad , however , assured us that we
were still far distant from the north
ern limit of the wheat-growing belt ,
and that five hundred miles farther
north wheat and other agricultural
products were cultivated with success.
The inhabitants do not depend solely
upon the growing of wheat , but utilize
vast acres in raising cattle. The grow
ing grain and vegetables showed that |
a plentiful supply of rain had fallen
during the current year. "
"From this city ( Calgary ) our party
was taken north 200 miles to Edmon
ton , a town of 5,000 people situated |
on the north Saskatchewan river. The j
country at this point is beautiful , pre-1
senting very much the appearance of
many sections in central and southern ;
Wisconsin. The people are engaged in
mining for gold , and in raising wheat ,
potatoes and cattle ; dairying is also
followed. This valley seems to be favored -
vored with sufficient rainfall to pro-1
duce a luxuriant growth of grain and
vegetables. The soil is very fertile
and timber is abundant. Fields of I
wheat were observed that promise a'
yield of forty bushels per acre. Tho'
many good farmhouses seen from the
railway are evidence of the prosperity j
of the settlers. Edmonton is the ter
minus of the road and the place where
U'C overland expeditions start from
lor the Yukon , it being about SOO miles
from Dawson City. "
"The members of the association
made the acquaintance of the Cana
dians of the Northwest and learned
something of the vast extent of their
territory and of its great resources ,
which are destined to make it our most
formidable commercial competitor in
the world's markets for the sale of ag
ricultural products. We learned that
the North west Territory of Canada , In
stead of being a barren waste , as
taught by our geographies of a quarter
o ? a century ago , is capable of sustain
ing an empire of fifty millions of pee
ple. "
For further information apply to j
Canadian Government Agent , Department - (
ment Interior , Ottawa , Canada , or j
to W. V. Bennett. 801 New York Life j
Building , Omaha. Neb. <
"Joyfully dear Is Llie liomcward track ,
If we are but sure of a welcome back. "
l
Piso's Cnro for Consumption 1ms boon a
fnuiilv moduMuo with us M'IICO ISCo. J. it. '
Madison. aiOU 42' ! Ave , ( Jbk-ngo , 111. I
V/hy isn't the doctor who is always
taking somebody off a funny fellow ?
A catalogue of 303 prizes , suitable to
every taste and condition , mailed on J
inquiry. Frir.es' Riven for saving Diamond - i
" " . Address
mend "C" Soap wrappers.
Ctidahy Soap Works , South Omaha ,
Neb.
_
> ny isn't the delirium tremens a
tight fit ?
tU A COIA > TN" ONK D.'ilT
Talio lJtative Ilromo Qniisinu Tablets. All
drur"isls iCiimtUneinoiicv If It fi's ( tocnrc.
? 5c. The KCi.unc ! hr.s I , . li Q. on each tablet.
Force Thft pressure of bodies at
rest. For an example , see the pollen
" " '
" "
force.
The Nw York torrwEpoadeat ot
Philadelphia l dstr nr * ifcal a
day * a so ex-SesaUw Hill d3 i
a friend In a t&btic rtt&sraai ta Al
bany. Darloir Ifcw racal
crats from ilfffr U parts el : Sn ?
erierM , aad. * Hn tin ?
vrcik d up to Jsi s d t owX Jh& 4 . la
eaeb insuisc Ilttt ak < * iVln *
the aatifcr * U * ts ! *
la yo r eaaaiyr4 awt wurJH Jl * *
eras ? . Too moth
Mrs. Fr4eirX
l&e cetorod orator , ic to W Mt it-
of ! a
Tsrri
} e al for : . It Ik
to b * tfe * f
* '
As
prodttciac toll f Ube WOTM !
upon U. l r a aow trW * tW loot
ply to amjdf , : howiB4 * 41 *
tblr ditordrrod utaauurfc. * tul to 4i s - .
the food Oiey ! * * . Houu r" * ituwa
Jtra ltiu r stt * tb
xtomura XJH ! dl ilT
Th onipoK ot d&mr *
tbe Pfc atom
VERY LOW RATKS.
Via
Semi-iaoalhly exconioas to
Soutaweet. Tie rti *
to visit Texas , the esajUre t t
union. uaj txraUel l &s to r MM rce >
produets sad with a a * ra < fx
all the K&stens and Middle Kite * The
statistical reports of prodorta ma rots-
piled by the eorasa ! ioe r * of Tez *
indicate thb s rtioa &a bviag
greatest pocsible advanug la
mild and equable ell ant * sad IB
variety and producilveae * * of iu
For further Information. dcrtpiite
pamphlet and dates of escwrsioo * , a-
ply to Geo. K. MeNutt. D. P. A. . Kan
sas City , Mo.
If a pessimist has noUticg to
hini he worries about that.
S15.0O PER WEEK.
We will pay a salary of ? 15 per
for man with rig to Introduce Perfec
tion Poultry Mixture In the country
the greatest ess producer OB earth.
Address with stamp. Perfection iifg
Co. , Parsons , Kansas.
If you want a wedding cake dress
eat it before retiring.
Diamond "C" Sosp docs not shrink
flannels and it leaves all fabrics is
the most desirable condition.
If sin is ugly , it at least understands
the art of beauty culture.
Dr. Seth Arnold' * Consh KUIer
Is an excellent remedy t. r children , iln. Wd. it
Frogue , Columbus Kan. Sc. a bottle.
If men were not such fools girl ;
wouldn't be such flirts.
Established I7SO.
car's r
* %
celebrated for more
than a century as a
delicious , nutritious ,
and flesh-forming
beverage , has our
well-known
Yeliuw Label
on the front of every
package , and our
tnule-niark."I.aKeUc
riiocolature"on the
back.
NONE OTHER (1UNUING.
MADE ONLY HY
Y/ALTER BAKER & CO. Ltd. , $
-A Dorchester , Mass. $
MaXtbor Jit *
Frxsifca'c * iri-
be jcop * H ! W rnrrlif ISws
Ja a Xj1f J-Ktcr Mstlf
Uws tfcr Eacifefe * f sJfec Klzx
L
k
11 jtliisJ y u
t'of Mr. ! * & * U. Parf * CafcttK *
bis
Vti-
i p/i/f Hp i *
llCGtlitdC / *
it
> ?
fiiapQaP3P&sBi
% 3 ? vie < j\ls/xii Saixs
1
\rith the pills tnll
recoverv. It clcrr-
blood from tit irr.rarr.
is a great toaic ta tbc accs ,
tka
" ' vet
Onr
otUM > I luted i-M'.ik. T Uc
1o t
ii cu S- > * < : * .
s *
_ r
5
fW.N.U. ! OMAHA. No 5T-1S1
; -
Vxhcn Ansveriag Sv
Mcsnos Tlis
Dr. Kay's Rsnovator , gV ?
\i
FAIRBANKS. SCALES
Dr. Kay's luns Balm E.
"A FAIR bACE MAY PROVE A FOUL BAR
GAIN. " MARRY A PLAIN GIRL IF SHE USES
AS IF BY 1 ? AG1C.
EVtRY WAN JVNO WOMAN
SHOUU )
Lives of sulTorlng uuil ml .i > ry from thN rvjwKlvo I HI * NO mmo.t uoV > > \
ness tlirouKli tlni * i i > f
After veure of siHM'l In tlNot\v of tl M.u - .
cln'ly of ratiirrltiil tioubloH. \ \ > liuxmit List voi-iu-a u f "
pennant ntlv I'lirii'nlurrhnl I ISIMIM < lu wn ; tor fm-mlMt j > < v
ntnithu : tlm iiitstlts or ilils tn-alnn ut lr > .1 prlxnlr uru.-llfo r * n\v w
fully tioaliiu : ntnl curlmr lln > most tl > sttuito : ' ' " ' ' . . . ' .lV-- ° n
Outsirrli. or t'it.rrlinl l > ls ? nso our CATARRH , KXPBLUAN1villv
DoafiiPHH , resulting fr.nuiiiirrli. . tiii''My | rurotl
J , IMH of Si iiti > < if .Snioll nml TiiHto ipiloUlv > > toi > il
All rnpulslvosvinptouispcfnlliir tiM'iitiu-rlinl tr < ulil > H. i\ < > foul l > vtU4
Hn lcnjr. C iiKii"l jc. mnl J | iUtlui ; . roHovoil nt oui'o.
r : lurrln l A fToutioiiK of Stouiiicli , l.l\ < i'or Klilnoj H , ouuslhR lu < ufii ji
nltimxR. I > oiri-nfliui. | I OK * ofi lilt Ion ui\il Kiv , t\M > ! > ' -
% 'OSt Of wcitU'iiP-is of ini'ii niul woiui'ti lsii \ ( si'tly tV tun'i > i l Uw ! iw
llml thulr wnv to tlio Hioniiu-li inul Into the M s j. iu l iMU i >
thocntlro . ( Tooting HIM Vttiil uu l ' . * f ror < > - mm 'U' i n
I crvi > tiH it so dicniloil liy cvory uuiu unit \MM\U\I\
These urn i-uroil hy CATARRH EXPCLLANT n. <
Btri-nRtli fullv ro-ttorod Ovori Tiumlti l toxtlim-nluls lu \ > UIM >
coivcd sltico "Jiuumry 1. IbU" . If you liuvo CutnrrUor uv t'.UiVvibtUMv i s
RICHARD'S CATARRH EXPELLAWT
Wlllcuru vou Jimtnssuro IIM wnter wUlnuouoh tlilrif.iHi i iiU\ for , > > , iu vHMU n > 4
"vuluaWu lustrmtlvoitii oroii ttu'su illHi' n H. SI'S I' I 1\VV , \ > i v -
C. H. RICHARDS CO , .
OMAHA , NUVMAHKA-
PRCUgCTILES
So do the pains of NEURALGIAo
So docs ST. JACOBS OIL. t
Pnln surrenders * subdued , knocked out , nnd captured.
J'