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About The Lincoln independent. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1895-1896 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 20, 1895)
V 1 I 'A it ! n Si? ill it t Fa i , 1 -A, Vlk. S ' . Vi, , 7. 1 T ' fs I 4, V ! 4rfl1lk4i, - - 4 ' -W." . T'M'.:M. T was a stormy Christmas Eve, and tho llttlo town of 1 Tromsoe was com- pktfly enveloped ', In tlie ermine man U tlo of mld-wlntnr. V v.v' 4 Snow had boon rall- jp' iniT nil 'lay, and ns tho night ep proachnd, larpto flahes were etill be ing driven hithrr and thither by the furious wind, which howled and roared in tho chimneys, shook the carefully closed windows, and died away In tho dlstanco Uko tho last despairing wail of a lost soul. , In one of the most miserable houses of a wretched street, In tho worst quar ter of the town, a woman by the dim light of a flickering candle watched be side the sick-bed of her last remaining child. Sho was weeping bitterly, but strove to stifle her sobs for fear of dis turbing tho fitful slumbers of the suf ferer. As the furious tempest shook the dilapidated tenement, she trembled si If she already felt the dread presence of the Angel of Death. No Christmas fagot blazed on the miserable hearth, the hoppy voices of laughing children and kind friends had for her long been stilled, and the cold, srrrow, and pov erty which reigned within seemed but a counterpart of the desolation without Behind tho lowered curtains of the bed cou'd bo heard from time to time the short cough and labored breathing of the child, who at last, suddenly awak ing, raised herself on her elbow, and looked across the room, where, as In a vision, she again behcM tho Christmas trees c" her earlier years, with their accompaniments of tapers, bon-bons, toys and golden stars, gleaming amid the darhness of that somber room. She was a young girl of twelve or fourteen years of age, and the sweet, palo face, although In the Inst stage of emacia tion, still retained traces of delicate youthful beauty. With her dying volco she still con tinued to talk of the fete-days of long ago, when she was a rosy, healthy little child, and her brothers and sisters, Eric, John, Anton, Hilda and Bertha, crowded around her with their pretty Christmas offerings; when her father danced her on his knee, and her mother sang sweet lullabys by her cradle. Those days seemed far away. Eric and her father had perished In a shipwreck; then, one by ono, tho others had fol lowed, till death had left behind only the grim sisters, sickness and misery, as the sole companions of the widow and her child. The vivid remembrance of past hap piness had brought a strange light Into Greta's eyes, and soon these childish remlulscences gave place to hope. ' Sho spoke of tho spring which would bring back the birds and flowers, and In giv ing life to all else would surely not en tirely forget herself. "You know, mother, the doctor said that, when the roses camo, my suffer ings would be over. Will the roses soon be In bloom?" "I have seep somo already," replied the mother; "the governor's wlfo and daughter had them In their hair when I saw them get Into the carriage, but those roses, I think, only grow In the ht-houses of the rich." There was sllcuco, broken only by Greta's short cough. AH at once, curried away by ono solitary fixed Idea, such as so often haunts the bruin of tho tick, she began to talk again about the roses, t pine sorrowfully f r their potsnei- slon. and by alternate beseeching, coax CHHISTMAS rw- 7- J to 7,7 J W 4 - X Ins and commanding she at last In duced her mother to go out in search of some for her. The poor woman left tho bedside pos sesHOd with tho one desire of pacifying her child, and traversed the streets with weary steps, debating In her mind what excuso she would make on her return for not having procured that which sho felt was entirely beyond her reach. With bowed head and sorrowful heart she kept repeating to herself tho word3 of the physician, bo full of hope for Greta: "At tho coining of tho first roues she would suffer no more;" and well as she guessed the mournful mean ing of tho prophecy, taho could not help being Inspired for an instant by that spirit of hopo which buoyed up her child. Qiilclu-aing her steps, sho took the road as if by a sudden inspiration toward tho governor's house, hesitated as sho reached tho brilliantly lighted mansion, but at last, taking courage, knocked timidly ct the door, which was inunediatoly opened by a man-servant. "What do you want, my good wo mr.n':" "To speak to Madame Paterson." "I cannot disturb rnadamo at such an hour of the night." "Oh! I implore you, let mc see her!" Tho servant repulsed the poor mother, and was about to shut tho door In her faco when Madame Paterson and her daughter, with ro;ies "... their hair and on their bosoms, urosscu tho hall, paused to question the servant, and then approached the widow, who briefly and tearfully told her pathetic story. "0, madamc! 0, mademoiselle! I Imnlore you to give wo cne rose, only one. for my dying child! God, who gave His .ion for the redemption of the world, will reward you." Madame Paterson shrugged her shoulders with a mocking laugh, and parsed on. Her daughter, the brilliant Edcle, remarked that her father did not buy roses for their weight In gold, to throw them away upon street beggars. Thcvdoor cloned, and the woman turnef toward her homo. On passing the Church of Salnte-Drltta, she per ceived tho clergyman's wife laying largo bouqtiet3 c" roses on the altar, full blown blooms of rich red, as well as branches of exquisite buds of blush, orange and pink, Tho lady formed' a sweet picture as sho bent over and arranged tho floral treasures sent her by a rich parishioner of her husband's. Her blue eye? spar kled with delight, and her voice was soft and silvery. Sho was tho mother of six lovely children, and the widow felt that sho would surely pity her In her bitter grief. Full of these hopeful thoughts, she entered the church, ap proached tho altar, nr l preferred her modest request for ono rose wherewith to gladden the eyes of her dying child. Madamo Nells, although by no means devoid of kindly feeling, was proud In her own way, and had determined that Salnte-Iirltta should bo tho best deco rated church In the town, la what she mistook for pious enthusiasm, she for got that tho only true templo of God Is tho human heart- that a charitable action Is more precious In his sight than the costili'st earthy offerings which can ln laid on bis material altar. In the ardor of her outward devotion, she for got that Christ had himself de lared."ln BRmnch ns ye havo dime it unio ore of tho least of these my brethren, ye h?ve done It unto i.ie," and In her mistaken zeul she, avowed that It would !n lit Je los than sacrilege to rob the alinr of Go! of even one fair bliMxotn. I'pon nr MEMORIES. m a Wait great and Joyful a festival as Christ mas, it showed, she added, a lamentable. lack of religious feeling to prefer 6uch a request. She pointed out that pov erty, sickness and death were sent by God himself, and that the true Chris tian should submit to them, not merely without a murmur, but joyfully, kissing tho rod In remembrance of the gracious declaration, "As many as I love I re buke and chasten." She offered to call on the following day for the pur poeo of exhorting Creta to submit to tho will of God with entire resignation. Tho mother had now lost all hope, and was returning to her borne in a still more desponding frame of mind than that in which she had quitted It. She walked on as in a dream, scarcely noticing the far.t falling snow, while longing with an intensity bordering on agony that she might have been able to procure even a few common flowers for her Greta. But none wore to be found. Even the snowdrops hid them selves In the bosom of the earth, and no primrose nor violet would bo seen for months. Thus sorrowfully musing, sho continued her walk, and In a few minutes would have reached her mis erable home, when by the light of her lantern she saw a few green leaves peeping from tho foot of a hedge which enclosed a garden In tho neighborhood. Stooping down, she scraped away tho snow with her hand. Yes, thero were leaves, largo and lustroun, tinder which she found a few green blossoms, somo full blown, others in bud, but all pale, 1 small and without color, perfume or beauty. "Ah!" though she, "as there were no roses to be procured, theso little llowers have been sent that ray child may be spared the pain of knowing that thero are hearts so cold and hard that no woes of others can soften" thern, and who care for no sorrows except their own!" As sho hastened onward, the deep toned bell struck tho hour of midnight and the Joyous Christmas chlme3 broke V.? 4.7,, , -jV C !, f' ) ! 'f7A,'w,s y a y iim iftaemoajtrind -mis tm7, J HAPPY MoRH IrnriKl Tilr c Era vvncnaji inc. ?yNor-icAVtn - '1 ETERNAL KING, uS OF WEDDED MAID AND VIRGIN MTA1ER BoRM 10UR GREAT REDEMPTION FRoMABoVE DID . n K . 4. . 1 1 . . 4- y... ..... i 4- m . . Th AT 4E.0UR DEADUipfe l forfeit smouldrfi ftvsp' FORFEIT 5OtJLD ANDWITMHl? FATHER WORKi& on her ear. Kneeling reverently on tne snowy ground, tho mother's heart went up In gratitude, and she prayed tho All- Merciful One to look with inlying eyes on her sweet and cherished Greta, pressing the humble flowers to her bosom, "in another moment, she naa risen nnd passed onward with her treasure. As she drew back the curtain to offer the dark leaves and lilt! green blos soms to her darling, she nude a discov ery which Stan led her. They had given place to 1 rge, exquisite white blooms tinged with u delicate pink. "Roses! nines'." cried Greta, "0, mother, who gave them to you?" It was a ClirUimas prcti-nt," replied the nKtonifhcd mother. At tho sight of tliexe lovely Christmas roiiv. Mie Uyitig r;n bowea ier no.ni, mid softly Mwd each precious blos som. J lien mio n u mien on uer piuow with a Klch. "The light that was never on land or sen" camo Into the beauti ful Imifl ee, nt:d her I'pa half-opened with a radiant rrnlle. The prophecy of the du tor n fulfilled. Tho ro had a;icind. and lur sunYrltiM ero rndd. Hit pcre jimiiu upltit had liwii iiptt.tfd In one ecst.itlj Lurt of 'me M I'tsnknglvlnn. tilnt-0 that Unio (!ns SR") the fHnt sh!c' ithim un It the Ite.lKi-i, iicnnta the Kiiuy ef wlnttr, ha roiUiimed to prol'c l)t iti.'iil hit b!itif!ii4 and r- .t - I thf win of "The c; rixttu u Ui imV wiil.h (ivn ta It ly XMAS DECORATIONS. Wa liar Copied the Custom of Non Chrlttlan Countrle. Among the votaries of the early Druids there was a superstition that the houses should be decoratad with evergreens In December, in order that the Sylvan spirits might eater them and thus bo kept free from the blast of the cold North wind and tho frost, until a milder season renew tho foliage of their usual haunts. Tho Christmas tree Is really from Egypt, where tho palm tree puts forth a branch every Month, and where a spray of this tree with twelve shoots on it, was tided in Egypt at ho time of the Winter sol stice, as a symbol of the year com pleted. ".Yho doss not know tho poem be ginning The mistletoe hung In tho ea:;tlo hall, The holly branch shone on tha old oak wall. Years ago over every man's door In England hung a sprig of miatlctoo at this season. There still hovers a mys tic charm about the mistletoe, and many a girl now, with a thrill of ex pectancy, places a branch of It under tho chandelier or over the door. Ac cording to a former belief, when a girl Is caught and kissed under a mistletoe a berry must bo picked oil with cac'A kiss, and when the berries havo all been plucked the privilege ceases. Among the ancient Britons the mistletoe that grows on the oak tree was the kind held in favor. Because of its heathen origin it is not used often In church decorations, a fact which is referred to by Washington Irving in his "Bracebrldge Hall," where ho has tho learned parson rebuke tho unlearned clerk for this very thing. In Germany and Scandinavia tho holly or holy tree is called Christ's thorn, because it puts forth Its berries at Christmas tlrne, and therefore Is es pecially fitted for church decorations. 1 Ji f, ) - il r ftp. ,..iV IV. RELFASF. 4 44 With Its glosy. dark leaves and bright. red berries, It Is an attractive decora' tion for the house. The Jews used to decorate at their Feast of Tabernacles with evergreens and flowers The laurel was used at the earliest times of the Romans as a decoration for all Joyful occasions, and Is significant of peace and victory. In some places It U customary to throw branches of latin 1 on the Christ mas fue attd wntch fur omens while the leaves curl and crackle In the heat und flame The evergreen tree Is a symbol tiej as tlir lif vat 01 mature, wnini 4 .. LI I. tranomlcnlly Flfrnliirs the return of th Run. Hung with liKhta and offerings the tiv has for utiiiie been one of the principal characteristics of Christ maztide. tli Triii llirlatniH. "ll.ia," .nld Mr. I A-gue, wiping her tinr-dSnimrd e i t... l in i!i morn h I.eltin. n 1 loj h'! " "IM n. ide a m'iuke In 'l"' ' repllej f i'.-n I Hi' ' if al a ! I. il lit" ii'-i tn n-i I. t. ... 4 I. AM 1 RiHRham apron. "tbU h t'l-aunls. rnry i.Kt? ! VAl VA" 'M' It CM! . " -.Vj- of tho day r W William .Stp-aml fcfM'V VI ' W t 1 V;.r ' .: - . from ...Mr.Bft.r iei"im,udd him ;V ,! ' ti l -is'M ' V. .'V - ' Ve.." ei-cufd h.r hu.MJ. Khar,,- - ) V "i J 7 u f V'. " . ... f enlet; t!. .arur l-f P -tory to T71 t '-- AvT Vv'-. ' V."'"'' e,-.t..4 aluly l.rnv. tt.rk.y. "It M J.Zyu-h -A A.,- tx.y in 4M lie lie -nt ' J?-,: 1 ..;'' V.'l ',! V" '''. 'S' "V '' ami a itl-ut J .-..u...'. i " i;i ' ' 5 it 7 V .' I W v:" ' f ' Hut don't )... thlnU )-i -r 1 V' U .V.V.V . ' j '' At '.! . i A Utile Imrl on hi. u. ,'H' K-.ii.nly, . ,'f, ' . J liKit I I1! Vy 4 Ji? s -w.i - "mwv. J ft i J , - Si 1 h Aunt So Xmas Day is your birthday, Harold. What ore you going to havet Harold Well, mamma raid I can have either a party or a Xmas-tree. Aunt And which did you choose? Harold Oh, a pr.rty, of course because I can't hang girls on a tree. rk! Some one has entered the gate. It lsit is our son Wl li.:m! A molher's instinct is never wrong. Yes I recog nize hia footsteps. Oh, we shall have a real merry Christmas ence more!" And Mrs. Ulogue, treinLling like an spen, sprang from her scat and quickly opened the door. A rough-bearded seedy-looking man stood on the thresh old. "Oh, William, my son," cried Mrs. Ulogue, throwing her arms around the stranger and almost dragging him into tho house, "you have come home at last. I knew you would. This is indeed a merry Christmas." 1 'Scuse me, ma'am," returned tho. stranger, struggling to free himself from the affectionate embrace of the woman. "Me name's not William, an' I ain't nobody's eon. My parents passed la their checks afore I had time to got on speakin' terms with 'em, an' I'm a wanderin' horphan. "Mo name's Henry Tennyson Naggs, but me pards call me 'Skinny the Tramp for short. But I sees how you've got a vacant cheer at the festive board, an' I don't mind bcin' your son pro tern, as the Latin t;harps srz, spe cially as I left home without dhiin'." "Here, Tigft!" called Silas, opening a door leading Into the kitchen; and as a doi? as largo as a now-born calf sprang Into the room, Skinny the Vramp made a hu"ty exit. As he passed through the yard he absent-mindedly picked up a new hatchet, which he soiJ at the next villac.e for the price of five beers. So the tramp had a merry Christmas after all. TnbhT'n Chrlatmn. It was car.'y Christmas morning, and the streets were empty. A boy with a big turkey knocked at the kitchen door of a large, pleasant house, end while j ho was talking with the cook, cold, homeless little Tabby Tiptoes slipped In between his heels so softly that nobody saw her. "Good!" she thought. "Now I can get warm!" She patted lightly up-stairs on her lit tle velvet paws, and found herself in a snug and eor.y room. A bright fire snapped In tho grate, and beside it hung a small stocking, ciamnicd full from top to toe. Tabby was so pleased with her warm quarters that she turned a somersault on tho soft rug. Then she played that the toe of the stocking was a mouse. Sho caught it with her sharp claws, and gavo It a little pull. But tho stocking was overloaded al ready, and down it came on tho hearth. Tho checkers and dominoes and sugar plums rolled to every-slde. Poor Tabby Ju.st had time to hide In the empty shocking before Neddy rushed Into the room. "Why, mamma!" he celled, "Santa Claus must h.tve dropped my stacking!" Then he put his hand into it. "A live kitten!" he shouted again. "Oh, how did Santa Clans know! That wa3 Just what I wanted!" And Indeed, of all his pretty presents, Neddy liked little pussy best. A Hint. I ftlsh you a merry Christmas! Let's try wl lie we're repeating The dear ol I-fa-hlor ,ed gr cilng. To add a kind. uns.l.l!.h at. And make the wish a bbwod fact. Hid M ir. Upon the nisht's black Mem, ueholj A million .-.bluing buds unfold And llr,ht her gard-n's tuure lawn W'hcrn walks the nioun frtia dark to dawn. SOME CHRISTMAS WAITS. "I , r4.. r. I ,ti, , . . '-; , 7 V' ....., -7.2 ': vjll Tint Chrlitmm Tree. Only a star! a shining star! More glorious than our plane's are, But watched by wistful eyes and bright. And longing hearts, that wondrous night. Only a manger, shadow-throi.ged. That to some public inn belonged, Where sweet breathed cattle quietly For midnight slumber bent the knea Only the light of tapers small, That on two tender faces fall, Two tender faces one divine- That Etill through all the centuries shine From palace walls, from thrones ct gold, From churches, shrines, cathedrals old, Where the grand masters of their art Wrought faithfully with hand ana heart. Only a babe! In whose email hand Is seen no sceptre of command, But at whose name, with Freedom's sword, Move the great arrnic3 of the Lord. Only a cross! but oh, what light Ehiiicn from God's throne on Calvary's height! His birth, His, life, tho angels see, Written on every Christmas tree. M. A. Dentean. ; The Yol I.off. A custom at one time prevalent la England, and still observed In some ot the northern districts of the old coun try, is that of placing an lmmen&e loj of wood sometimes the root of a great tree in the wide chimney-place. Th!u log Is often called the yule log, and it, was on Christmas Eve that It was put; on the wide hearth. Around it would gather the entire family, and its en trance was the occasion of a great deal of ceremony. There was music and re joicing, while the one authorized te light it was obliged to have cleaa hands. It was always lighten a brand" left over from the log of the previous ( year, which bad been carefully pre-" nmiiirt1 tft ih A rillfUflCrt A TtfUit tit 11 fI nfl it In this way: With tho last yeore's br?.nd JIglll. U10 UUW UlUCil, B1KI For good success in hU spending. On your paaltrlcs play, That sweet luck may Come while the leg 13 a teendiog. The Yule log was supposed to, be a protection against evil spirits, and it was considered a bad omen If the fira went out before the evening was over.' The family and guests used to seat themselves in front of the brightly burning fire, and many a story and mer ry jest went round the happy group. Merry ( lirUtma. Christmas ought to be the merriest day of the year. Fnm the busy maa ta tho little child, let the cheerful greets' ing, "Merry Christmas," ring out gladly to all. Chrl.itinas is the time when, after weeka of expectancy, Santa Clans . 1 1 . VII 1 .. F. 1 . t . .';I)'.uh ii) iu ue. ii l aiu.i ..ii. hid u.nn has como for tho hanging iid of stool Ing. and mnny bright eyes will Ioj ?! on Christinas mom tin the chimney a glimpse of Santa CIau;i "and his ef I liny reindeer." The days will coV, nben belief in the beautiful myth I'.infl Mint titll ittiflf.lt.ttip lull Inl last k,o lm.g n-i It ran nnd gladilin t!.3V hearts of happy childhood. -;-.v..-T--r7'.-?l !Si.n4 jmt vf Titi:r.o. ii, ri "i iiin. On Chrln n tiimlt(t I joo hT, with ft VI- iiip tl", in b' lrt. Tb t'H b ' b'l''4 ''', Ai d r I I! ! Vlfi.lly -. t. t t "!.( nl, t',-rf .rt, III '.,. a; ! H IU h i' l' t'n !f , I; in 1 1 i li i! A i l i . n f r, Ali ( i',.'. 4 f. .:!Ki t !f. tlli.sin If thl tti.iV 'H i) Ue . bul I ha t. "i our l cr.t 'y l.t W :-s? y-tJ. .la. (hlo " fh st tit 1 1 iniii!s t,a..ie, Ii' t r ft i.U -.4 '-d I tn! p il riia plat oc I') '?", j I . . ie lie 1M M - - i , .-flu iu. -. i.' t , 'Tw
