THE RED CLOUD CIIIKF.
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THE FEAST TIME OF THE YEAR. 1
This Is the feast-time of tUo year,
When hearts grow warm and homo
inoro dear;
When Autumn's crimson torch expires
To flash again In winter fires;
And they who tracked October's flight
Through woods with gorgeous hues bo-
dlght,
In charmed circle sit and praise
Tho goodly log's triumphant blazo.
This Is tho fesst-tlmc of the year
When Plenty pours her wlno of cheer,
And even humble boards may spare
To poorer poor a kindly share.
Whllo bursting barns and granaries'
know
A richer, fuller overflow,
And they who dwell In golden caso
D1C6S without toll, yet toll to please.
This Is the feast-time of the year;
The blessed Advent drawcth near.
Let rich and poor together break
The bread of love for Christ's sweet
sake,
Against the time when rich and poor
Must ope for Him a common door.
Who comes a Guest, yet makes a feast,
And bids the greatest and the least.
GOOD ST. iNICHOLAS.
(Dy Mary Dlefendorf.)
As tho merry Christmas tide ap
proaches thero is often present in our
thoughts tho vision of tho guardian
spirit of the season, At tho time when
tho name of St. Nicholas, or the more
familiar nickname, Santa Clans, Is so
often upon our lips, It Is surely fitting
that wo should spend a few minutes In
the study of that well-beloved saint,
and of tho traditions in which ho holds
so prominent a place.
Tho birthplace of tho subject of our
sketch was tho city of Patava, In Asia
Minor. There ho was made abbot, and
won renown by his religious devotion.
He afterward became Archbishop of
Myra. At tho latter place, In course
of tlmo he died, and was duly burled.
In May, 1087, his remains were carried
by some pious Italians to Darl, on tho
Adriatic coast. Thero they now rest
in the splendid church that bears his
name.
Every year a pllgrlmago Is mado to
his fchrlno by tho pcoplo for miles
around. No ono seeking food on that
occasion Is refused It by tho priests,
whllo shelter Is given to as many as
tho edifice will hold.
On St. Nicholas Day, Dec. 6, thero
is a great celebration. Early in tho
morning tho sailors, who, as well as
maidens and children, claim to bo
under tho peculiar protection of tho
saint, tako his image from tho priests
and pantdo with it through the town.
Then they sail away with it, returning
nnd bringing it back at nightfall amid
tho general illumination of the city.
Now, this same pious bishop, who
beams so faintly upon our vision
through the vistas of the past, veiled
in a "dim, religious light," Is to us of
the present day, perhaps, the most be
loved saint on tho calendar. More
over, to all Americans ho should be
peculiarly dear, and Invested with
great historic Interest as tho guardian
genius of our metropolis.
In that wonderful book, "Knicker
bocker's History of Now York," that
work so quaint in humor nnd rich in
the perpetuation of old traditions, we
find many edifying references to our
hero. Tho Dutch ship, tho Goedo
Vrouw, so runs tho story, enrao over
from Holland three or four years after
the return of Hudson, bringing settlers
for tho new world, who located at
Communlpaw. At tho bow of the good
ly vessel stood an Imago of St. Nicho
las, smoking a long-stemmed pipe and
wearing a broad-brimmed hat. To his
guiding caro all attributed their pros
perous voyage. In duo tlmo a prophet
among them dreamed a dream, which
was that St. Nicholas appeared and di
rected him to seek another abiding
place. Thereupon Heer Van Kortland,
the dreamer, nnd selected band of
men went in Bcarch of another habita
tion, nnd were stranded on Manhat
tan island. There, after regaling them
selves on oysters, they rested a little
time. Mcanwbilo tho dreamer dreamed
again. Again St. Nicholas appeared,
and Bitting down at tho foot of a tree,
smoked his pipe. And as tho smoke
rose, it spread over a vast extent of
territory, and resolved itself into
many peculiar shapes, as of spires and
Etceplcs, after which It finally cleared
away. "And when St. Nicholas had
smoked his pipe, ho twlBted it in his
hatband, nnd laying his finger besldo
his nose, gavo tho astonished Van
Kortland a very significant look; then
mounting his wagon, he returned over
tho tree-tops nnd disappeared.
"And Van Kortland awoke from his
sleep greatly instructed; nnd he roused
his companions and rclnted to them
his dream and interpreted it that it
was tho will of St. Nicholas that they
should settlo down nnd build n city
here." That spot was Howling Green.
Now, when theso voyagers had re
turned to their homes nnd related this
incident, all "tho peoplo lifted up their
voices and blessed tho good St. Nicho
las." After theso thrifty folk had become
settled In their new abode, they con
structed a fort, and within the fort
they built tho first church erected In
the future city of New York. It was
mado of stone, and named after St,
Nicholas, who, as Irving tells us, im
mediately adopted Now Amsterdam as
his special charge, and becamo Us tu
telar guardian.
Tho 'people 'of New Amsterdam sworo
by St. Nicholas when they had any
swearing to do. They blessed him
when they were happy, thanked him
when they were favored, committed
their voyaging and absent friends to
his guiding and protecting enre, went
to tho field of war singing his great
song nnd fought their conflicts shout
ing, "St. Nicholas and tho Munbat
toes," as their battlo cry.
Interesting as the history of the
grave bishop of Myra may prove,
and Interwoven a his memory
must ever bo with the trddl-
tlnnnnf thn rllv nt ,,., I M, !,., nflrrWir.l
became the tutelary saint, It Is hot
of either of these manifestations tjial ,
the children Ike best to think. It l
" " .f ", l ?n,f! ." ,' t
V. ":.":"'' :,v .VvlK," """"
tho most fascinating glamor.
Ttnvnr.l Tnot... nllo .in Mint nn nl
occasion, when he was In Germany
about December 1, a fair was held In
the town ho was visiting, at which fair .
many toys wcro exhibited,
nnU St
Nicholas, In counterfeit presentment
was everywhere to bo seen. On tunny
of the littlo booths were also "bundle"
of rods with gilded bands," designed,
for the punishment of nnughty chil
dren. On St. Nicholas Eve, December
G, the family with which ho was stay
ing was visited by n gentleman wear
Inc n. "mask, fur robe, nnd long, ta
pering cap," nnd "carrying n. sack, n
bunch of rods nnd n broom." Ho
throw the contents of the sack upon
tho table, and, whllo tho recipients
wero devouring tho nuts nnd candles,
"gnvo them many hnrp win .vr th"
fingers." He remarks further that
Bomo of the children had been taught
to say, "I thank you. Herr Nicholas."
In Germany, in days gone by, nil
presents wcro put in charge of Herr
NlcholaB. called, in Northern Germany,
Knccht Rupert, who talked with each
child about his conduct for the past
year. If ho had been nnughty, ho left
n rod, recommending to tho parents
Kb frequent use. As tho custom is still
followed In some of tho German vll-
laces, wn rniolcn to know that the
"night beforo Christmas" a beautiful
lady generally appears, who pardons
tho fnults of tho culprit. So every
thing ends happily after all.
In America, the descendants of tho
old German and Dutch settlers havo
somo undefined notions of tho PelB
nlchol floating through their brains.
In tho old days, they nro told, Pels
nlchol (Nicholas of tho furs), dressed
In n buffalo robe, and with horns and
tall, would pass from house to houso,
talked gruffly to tho children, who
would fleo for refugo to their mother
and cluster round her skirts.
In some tuch families tho children
still hnng up their stockings in tho be
lief that they will be filled with rods
by Pels-nlchol, the punishing spirit, or
with goodies by Krlss-Krlnglo (Christ
kindlen) tho Christ-child.
It Is. then, a two-fold rolo that our
hero has been called upon to 1111 at
Christmas that of Pels-nlchol, tho
avenger, nnd that of St. Nicholas, tho
beneficent giver. Tho former phaso of
his office, now fast passing Into ob
scurity, was but n subordlnnto ono,
even in tho days gone by. It but gavo
n littlo variety nnd ndded zest to tho
Christmas merriment. Christmas then,
as now, was, above all, n Joyous sea
son. Then, nB now, It was in tho rein
deer steeds that tho children delighted,
and their
"Little old driver, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be St.
Nick.
"Ho was chubby and plump; a right
Jolly old elf;
And 1 laughed when I saw him lo
spite ot myself."
In tho days of Peter Stuyvcsant
most obstinato and best beloved of the
Dutch governors all tho holidays, In
cluding St. Nicholas Eve, wcro cele
brated with especial glee, whllo early
in tho history ot New Amsterdam St.
Nicholas, who once used to ride gayly
along tho tree-tops, dropping presents
down the chimney at any time of year,
changed his habits in that regard, and
thero "was instituted that pious cere
mony, still religiously observed in all
our ancient families of the right breed,
of hanging up a stocking in tho chim
ney on St. Nicholas Eve, which stock
ing is always found in the morning
miraculously filled; for the good St.
Nicholas has ever been a great giver
of gifts, particularly to children."
Chrlitmni Decoration.
The use of holly and mistletoe, tho
plants sacred to Christmas, is now
very general, and ns they nro abundant
In our mnrkets, as well as cheap, every
household may bo mado bright with
them. In parlors and sitting rooms,
wreaths, crowns and festoons can bo
arranged over mantels and windows, as
well as hung from lamps and over pic
tures. For tho Christmas dinner-table, a
largo bowl of holly leaves with the
scarlet and white berries, makes a
beautiful center piece; while tiny
bunches of holly laid at each plate
brighten tho table wonderfully. Cakes
may bo ornamented with enndy
designs of holly, whllo Ices may be
molded and colored In tho same stylo.
If In rcmoto localities it Is not possible
to obtain holly nnd mistlctoo, green
of Bomo other vnrlcty skottld be'-jro-cured.
All-over greens, such n's plno
nnd cedar, can be utilized, and bitter
sweet and Indlnn arrow berries ar
ranged with theso can bo mado into
beautiful decorations. When chrysan
themums nro yet blooming, they add
greatly to tho beauty of tho table; tho
bright yellow and dark crimson are
particularly appropriate for tho Christ
mas dinner table.
In arranging tho table, tho cakes,
bonbons, nuts and fruits may bo placed
on It at the beginning, and will give
It a festlvo appearnnco, rendering very
little additional decoration necessary,
Chrlitmaa Olfti of Money.
"If, after thinking for a long tlmo,
you cannot decide what she (my poor
girl friend) would Hko best," writes
Ruth Ashmorc.'in advising girls as to
their Christmas-giving; "and you
know her well enough to leuvo to her
tho choice of tho gift, then send her
tho money that she may spend it for
herself. Hut mako this money look
moro llko a chosen gift, und less like
that which Is so hardly earned by her;
trouble yourself to go to tho bank nnd
put It in gold, or ?t least In a now
bank noto, and Inclose It in a tiny lit
tle purse."
nT.H f PI AI 10 PlTVTnAW
lJLiLf JLlMlli UUOLUJiO.
wnom nut,np
Tncro , , , , f , ,,,8l
Chrl.tn.o-. Tho golden thread of
Its Influence can be traced through
nearly nineteen centuries. On the first
"' 'J
?, 'r '" " " R ' ".
eaco ""'. Rood "m nifn'
T1,c, " refrain has been repeated
'IVI1 -llaUllil8 ECUSUU Hi rij V.11110
tlnn land, though tho chnrncter of tho
music varies grmtly.
Our ancestors were In the habit of
forming companies which went from
house to house, singing Christmas
enrols In the streets. These benutlful
carols would break the stillness of the
winter night or early Christmas morn
ing, mnklng n most delightful begin
ning to the merry day.
But theso holy jubilees had ns rivals
tho mingling instruments of those
wandering spirits of harmony the
"Walts." Ono nutbnr .-iia. ".
iiuu ninny a tlmo have we been
awakened by the melody of the Walts,
and havo lain and listened to their
wild music, Its solemn swells nnd 'dy
ing falls,' kept musical by tho distance
nnd made holy by tho time, till we
could have fancied that tho morning
stars wero again singing ns of old they
'sang together for Joy, nnd that tho
sounds of their far anthem came float
ing to tho earth."
Tho German children probably be
lieve more firmly In Krlss Krlngle, or
3nntn Clnus, than do tho children of
any other nation. Germany Is the birth
place of Krlss Krlngle, and the won
derland of fnblo and poetry. German
children nre taught to lovo tho
Christ-child. In ninny parts of tho
country It Is tho custom, on tho morn
ing beforo Christmas, to let a figure
representing tho Christ-child wave
past tho window of the room where the
littlo ones sleep. Half awake only, In
tho gray of tho morning they see this
littlo chlld-flguro flit dimly past, and
they go to sleep again In tho blissful
consciousness that the Chrlst-chlld has
not forgotten them, nnd that they will
havo an abundance of presents around
the treo in the evening.
A beautiful custom In Norway and
Sweden is tho Christmas feeding of
birds. Hunches of oats arc placed on
tho roofs of houses, on fences and
w
Wn BlI
BY SHIRLEY
Alone, alono In tho crowded street,
Alono on New Year's night,
Barefoot and wet with the blind
ing sleet,
Palo 'neath the red lamplight,
A littlo match girl through the
crowd
Unifies a feeble cry
Whllo tho New Year bells arc
chiming loud,
"Matches! Oh, will you buy?"
Gay, bright-eyed, smiling children
pass;
They laugh nnd sing and dance
and run
They all havo happy homes; alas!
Dut this hcrolno has none!
Alone, nlono in tho busy street
She cowers on a doorstep nigh
While tho New Year bells arc
chiming sweet,
Still pleading, "Will you buy?"
aV9VVVVW9VVVVVVi
trees. Cartloads of sheaves aro
brought into town for this purpose, nnd
both rich and poor buy and place them
everywhere. Tho sentiment is that n
man must bo very poor indeed If ho
cannot npnre a farthing to feed the lit
tle birds on Christmas day. In many of
tho valleys and mountain dales of the
countries watch Is kept during tho
wholo of the night, and all are merry;
candles are kept burning at tho win
dows, and the pcoplo flock to church at
four o'clook In tho morning, each car
rying a torch.
In somo districts, Immediately after
the service, everyone hurries from
church, either on foot or In sleighs, for
there Is an old saying that he who sets
home firm will havo his crop first hnr
vested. At this holiday season tho
peasants dauco on straw, and tho peas
ant girls throw straws at tho timbered
roof of tho hall, nnd for every ono that
sticks In a crack a lover will come
courting during tho year.
In old English times, at tho close of
tho church services it was customary
for tho clerk In loud nnd emphntlc
tones to wish all tho congregation n
Merry Chrlstmns nnd Happy Nov
Year. In those good old times an Eng
lish gentleman would throw open hla
hall nt daybreak to all his tenants and
neighbors. Beer, blackjacks, toast and
cheeso wcro plentiful. The great sau
sago must be boiled by sunrise, op else
two young men must take the cook by
the arms and run her around the mar
ket place till she is ashamed of her
laziness.
Tho "Yule log" is a great log of
wood, sometimes tho root of a tree,
brought into tho house with great
ceremony on Christmas Eve, laid In
tho fireplace and lighted with tho brand
of last year's log. Whllo It lasted
thero wns great drinking, Blnglng nnd
telling ot tales, Sometimes it was ac
companied by Chrlstmns candles, but
In tho cottages tho only light wns from
the ruddy blazo of tho great wood fire.
Tho Yule log was to burn all night; if
It went out, .t was considered n sign ot
Ill-luck.
Tho Christmas dinner was tho cen
tral feature of nil tho gay festivities.
The tahlo was literally loaded with
good cheer. Tho boar's head held tho
placo of honor and was a lordly affair,
brought In by the butler, attended by
a servant on either side with a largo
wax light. The head was can led on a
silver dish, the tusks piercing bright
red apples, while between them nn
ornngo was laid, the whole graced with
nn abundnnce of satire. When this,
"tho rarest dish In nil tho land," wns
placed at tho bend of tho tnble, one o
the company sang 11 enrol suited tc tho
great occasion.
Tho Christmas peacocks wero also
gorgeous, the bird bolng flayed, roast
ed and then hewed up again In all the
snlcndor of Its brllllnnt feathers, a
plrco of cotton saturated with spirits
being placed within the glided beak
to burn whllo the carver wns at work
Still mrn - ""' "u nilUll'lll
peacock pie, the bird bolng covered by
the crust, save thnt on ono side appear
ed his plumed crest, whllo from the
other sldo protruded tho gorgeous,
sprendlng tail.
Mince pies wero cnlled Christmas or
December pics, as tho old rhyme
went
"Treason's In n December plo
And death within tho pot."
They date back to IMG.
The classical plum pudding must nt
added to tho list of good things,
though, sad to relate, It waB really
plum porridge, and not pudding, us
wo havo always believed.
An old poem says
"And those that hardly nil tho year
Had bread to eat or clothes to wear,
Will have both clothes and dainty fare,
And all tho day be merry."
The lender of all the merry-making
wns called tho Lord of Misrule or Ab
bott of Unreason. Tho wardrobos at
hulls and manor houses wero often laid
under contribution to furnish funtas
tlc disguises.
Snap Dragon wns ono of tho favorite
sports. Raisins were placed In n large
shallow dish nnd brandy poured over
tho fruit nnd Ignited. Tho lights In
tho room wcro extinguished, nnd In
tho weird glarn tho plnyers nttemptcd
to pick tho raisins out of tho flaming
dish:
0
W?pe Ringing.
0
S
0
0
g
0
WYNNE.
Hungry nnd ragged and blue with
cold
Tho wind IiIowb keen nnd loud
Her frozen lingers enn scarely hold
Tho mntches to the crowd.
And still, ns faster falls tho sleet,
Moro piteous grows tho cry
Whllo tho Now Year bells are
chiming sweet,
"Oh, will you will you buy?"
No moro nlono in tho moonrlso
gray,
With faco so wan nnd white;
Tho littlo match girl has gono
awny
To a happy home tonight;
For nn nngel enmo through tho
crowded street,
Hushing tho tempest wild,
Whllo tho New Yenr hells chimed
loud and sweet,
And bore away tho child!
0
0
0
0
"Hero he comes with flaming bowl
Doesn't ho mean to tako his toll?
Snip, snnp dragon.
Tako care you don't take too much,
Bo not greedy In your clutch,
Snip, snap dragon,"
Dut in 1G52, the question of Christ
mas wns brought up in parliament.
Thoy decided It was not in harmony
with tho scriptures; pronounced It
"antl-Chrlstmasso" and abolished ft.
So tho Jolly Lord of Misrule becamo an
outlaw, nnd tho old plcturcsquo Christ
mas faded away with tho severity of
tho Puritan atmosphere; but with the
nineteenth century camo n revival.
Tho now Christmas was merry, but
quieter. What it lost In nolso nnd
frolic, it mado up in cheerfulness and
good, will; and now, remembering the
messngo of that first Christmas morn
ing, wo hall tho merry Christmas da
with
"Peace on earth,
Good will to men."
(ilfU for Women and Men,
"Womcn'H wants, It measured by
their belongings, would seom to be
nlmost Innumerable, and ot a kind
which requlro constant renewing an6
replacing," writes Frances 'iianlgan
telling of appropriate Christinas glfte
for women nnd for men. "Woman'
interests and occupations require a
greater number of small things for
their equipment than do those of men,
and Christmas gifts for them are,
therefore, more easily prepared. WO'
meu'a belongings havo tho further ad
vantago ot being useful nB well at
Itnnutfflll fin n tA nlumva nlAanml
j w,th Hlmplo gt8( und aro ,lsimy em.
bqrrassed when presented with expen
sive articles of any sort. Thi value
to them of u gift is, as It should be
with all persons, In proportion to Its
simplicity nnd usefulness nnd out of
proportion to Its cost."
Life's a short summer; man a flower,
-Dr. Johnson.
CHPISTMAS SONNETS.
Dy Christian llurko.
I.
This Is that Holy Nlghtl-O World, bo
stlll!
Surely, If we hut listen wo shall hear
That Song that all the luminous daik
doth All,
The Choir of Angels chanting soft and
clear,
"Glory to God nnd on tho Earth Good
Willi"
Now with tho eager Shepherds let ub
run
AciOfs tho stnrllt plains, 'mid shadows
dim,
To that poor shelter where the Mother
Maid
Ero break of day her first-born glo
rious Son
With a narrow crib adoring laid,
llecause Ills peoplo found no rest for
Him.
0 mighty Love. tlm .m ;u ".
n... tuivn wilt Thou deign to Beck
Thlno own,
Who gnvo Thre yon baio manger for
Thy' throne!
II.
Come nil yo Faithful! let us wntch a
Bpnco;
Mary nnd Joseph will for us mako
room,
That we may look on 111m Whoso ra
diant faco,
Like some fair flower In nil Its lovely
bloom,
With light nnd glory fills this lowly
phre;
I)! we havo travelled from n country
fnr,
Through yearn of failure, deserts sad
and wild,
And, oven as of old camo Eastern
Kings,
With costly treasures, led hero by Thy
Star.
We, too. would bring Thco our poor
offerings,
O Word Incarnate! Ilcthlehcm's Holy
Child.
Accept our gifts and us of Thy great
grace
Myrrh of our Sorrows, Frnnklncenso
for Fnlth,
And Gold for Ixivc that In more strong
than Death!
NEW YEAH REVERIES.
Two rich men wero flipping wlno In
tho exclusive dining room of 11 New
York clubhouse. Each had seen about
forty years. Each had n prlvnto In
come of not fnr from Hint figure ot
thousands per year. Well kept, not
profligate, were they, for they wero too
bright to throw nway life.
"You would tire of Mexico," drawled
ono of them. "I havo been wandering
about down there, with my private
car, for a year. How's Dresden?"
"My dear fellow, no did I got tired
of Dresden. Five years, don't you
know. You know how dull Europe Is.
I've been over tho pond, too, frequent
ly. I wish somo chap would discover
a brand-now Europo or somo other
new plnce."
"Ah, yes," sighed tho first Bpcaker;
"there's nothing new. Wo have seen
it nil. But" nnd IiIb eye suddenly
grew brighter nnd his hand held his
chnmpngno at 11 hnlt ns ho spoke "I
found n wlno in nn old refectory In n
monastery ot Mexico that was the most
wonderful you ever tackled."
"Wlicro?" exclaimed his friend.
"Give mo tho address!" And a few
days later ho stnrtcd on n Journey of
over thrco thousand seven hundred
nnd fifty miles for a new sensation In
his worn-out world u novel Blp of
wine.
Thero nro thousands of men nnd
women In old aristocratic countries
and hundreds in young republican
America to whom it scorns almost that
a real new yenr can come. Llfo 1b old
In sensations. They havo already seen
and felt it nil. But thero is a way to
renew life to them. It Is to touch tho
heart with a now lovo for tho poor,
tho country, the Buffering times, tho
wants of a weary world. All that be
causo It gives life, from within, a new
purpose, unselfish and wishing to serve
others, would transform tho very ex
istence of such men.
The seventeenth President began llfo
as a tailor. It 1b an honorable calling.
Let us suppose nn honest tailor sitting
at his ease on Now Year'B day. Ho
hates tho thought of tho drudgery of
tomorrow. He looks forward to his
workroom, top floor, back, dingy win
dows looking on back yards und their
garniture ot hung out laundries. His
companions tho hot goose, tho skele
ton garments half finished hanging on
the wall, hanks of thread that kinks
and knots, broad bench on which he
squats and crowds his lungs into his
feoblo heart. Ho wishes for a new
year. How can ho havo It? Let him
recclvo tho lovo of God Into his heart.
Let him forgot self. Then, lo! tomor
row IiIb workroom Is moved, as It wero,
to tho front of tho shop. Its windows
look out on tho flashing Hudson, the
Palisades, and even to the gates of tho
cternnl city by tho sea of glnss. His
thread runs smoothly, his scissors are
gold und his shears sliver. The skele
ton garments around the room seom to
bo finished for angels. Hu sings a new
song, for his llfo Is uncomplaining,
.thankful and unselfish. God knows
that this is the only way In which thou
sands of the bravest and best of the
world can havo a now year. Thoy
must renew heir own spirits from
within and above. And God knows
that this Is the best of all kinds ot a
new year possible to us all.
I cun see the hardy milkman stand
ing on his doorstep ut two o'clock of
tho still dark now day of 1897. Cold
stars aro two-o'clock-ln-the-mornlng
btnrs. Thero is n hard grind of tho
wheels over tho echoing streets. Shiv
ering on his perch, ho notes tho glow
of tho midwinter sunrise over ncrcs
ot roofs where in palatial homes tho
rich aro yet Bleeping. Tho quiet is
gloom. Tho wind Is gloom. Tfco snmo
old slavery Is gloom. Suddenly tho
man thinks of It.
"I am not the so'vnnt of theso rich
customers. 1 servo my pretty baby
boy whom I left In his cradle. Ho
shall havo n better start In llfo thnn
I had. I servo his benutlful mother.
It Is not my own mouth, not my own
back, not my own life, but theirs to
which 1 minister. Ah, hall Now Ycarl
My master Is unselfish love. My king
Is my sense of mnnly duty."
Hn breaks forth Into n bong. Tho
cold stars hear him, tho Iron-bound
wheels ot his milk cart drum an echo
as a king's chariot rnuld not. Ho has
entered Into n new world. Ho has for
gotten himself. Blessed work, when
work Is for n holy love. Alas, for him
who slaves It for his savings-bank ac
count, with small earnings hoping to
get rich nnd growing sick nt heart by
the long delay. Tho wny for most ot
us to i..ri -). iien' year Is not to
count how near or, alns! how far wo
arc to "being Independent," but by
thinking thnnkfuly how many loved
ones aro dependent on us und wo aro
yet able to caro for.
Why not look upon each new load
thnt Is added, yenr by yonr, no a new
sign ot manhood? Why not sco In
ench fresh enre ono moro mark of hon
or from our crentor? Why do we, poor
fools, dream of a tmo when wo shnll
bnve money enough to ho Idle, and
then be obliged to go to Mexico for a
fresh sensntlon of n now wlno7 Is It
not nil n matter of heart, nnywny?
Do tho opulent Idlers escape? Can
Europo renew Itself to n man who has
seen It nil? What difference Is thero bo
tween the men who havo played and
danced till llfo Is old and thoso who
have stored and plodded till llfo Is old?
Tho springs of eternity nro In tho hu
man breast. Alns! for him who hns
dried up thoso sweet waters, whether
by over Indulgence or under thankful
ness. Tho New Yenr cnmcB in tho Invalid's
room, all raged nnd bedridden, It a
bright nnd deathless spirit Inhabits the
paln-rnckcd body. Do wo not know of
such bright chambers? Can wo not
each visit some heroic sufferer to whom
tho unconqucrablo soul within gives
such mastery over tlmo thnt years of
sickness possess 110 powers to cloud?
What is tlmo to tho aged who grow
happier as they grow old? What Is
the date to somo of our fathers nnd
mothers whoso over-youthful lovo
ninlies them seem ns young no their
children's children whom they dnndlo
on their aged knees? Thnnk God for
thn good and unsclflsh heart that never
glows old!
L'lirlntnuii Ony,
"Christmas 1b pre-eminently a church
festival," writes Mrs. Lyman Abbott.
"The llirltnns, seeing only tho super
stitions nnd dlsorderllness with which
Christmas had becomo encumbered,
strove with nil their nrdor to destroy
it, but happily did not succeed. The
nrgument sometimes used against It,
thnt tho birthday of tho Child Jcbub
is not known, nnd therefore cannot bo
observed, does not prevail against the
nlmost universal longing to celebrate
In some wny this great event. 80 we
nro not surprised to learn that In tho
first centuries of tho Christian era
Christians, though generally celebrat
ing the Nativity, woro not unanimous
in tho tlmo chosen for tho festival. At
least a part of the early church ob
served thn sixth of Jnnuury, not only
to commemmornto tho Epiphany, or
the manifestation of Christ to tho
Gentiles, but nlso tho birth of Jesus,
and It wan not until tho end of tho
fourth century, perhaps not until tho
beginning of the fifth, that tho present
date, December 2C, was genernlly ac
cepted. Tho 'ChrlBtmnB season'
is sometimes used to dcslgnata the
tlmo between Decomber 1G nnd Febru
nry 1, moro often the fortnight be
tween December 24 nnd January G.
During nil this period thoro was for
merly, and still continues to be, a spir
it ot Joy nnd festivity which entitles
it to lie called 'the holidays.' Tho vigil
of tho Nativity, or as wo now call It,
Christmas Eve, wns observed from the
first with exceptional devotion, por
haps because tho birth of our Lord oc
curred In tho night. Unllko other vlg
lis It continued through the night, and
made, with Christmas Itsolf, one grcoj
solemnity."
A yucen'e Chrlitroa Ulfti.
"It Is qulto Impossible to form any
Idea ns to tho value ot tho prctrnts
made by Ihe-quoen or given to her,"
writes Lady Joune in nn article on
"What Christmas Means to Queen Vic
toria," In the Lndies' Homo Journal.
"In somo cases, when her gifts consist
of India shawls, Jewelry and tho llko,
they aro very valuable because they
aro unique, but tho presents sho gives
to her family, or In turn receives from
them, uro not expensive Tho royal
purse Is not nn InoxhaiiBtlblo ono, and
the claims on It nro enormous, so
thnt the presents given by royal peo
plo must always bo regarded In tho
light of souvenirs anil not ns costly
gifts. Tho Queou'a children aro not
rich, nnd as they arc not able to afford
expensive presents so we may consid
er the value of all royal gifts from tho
sentimental, not the commercial, point
of view, and It Is Its pleasantest as
well us most touching aspect, for It
shows that simplicity and depth ot
tho family affection, which is neither
nourished nor fostered by ,nny eellng
of greed or expectation, but which is
as hlmplo and genuine as that of the
poorest subject of our great Queen."
8emllilo tlupaneie.
From tho Baltimore American; Tho
Japancso address letters tho reverso of
what wo do, writing tho country first,
tho ctnto or provlnco next, then tho
city, the street and number, and the
nam& last of all.
