\ (
Beneath 'the-star-strewn Heaven
The shepherds vijril kept ;
While Imslieil to rest about thens
'Hie world in silence slopt.
Then "burst-the anthem Holy ,
While Heaven's gates flung wi < 2 ,
FhwxSpfl The earth with glory
'On that first Christmastime.
With 'holy excitation
The aiiRoIs-saa the birth
Of Christ , the King of Glory ,
WhTb'came a babe to cnrih.
Pence , peace , on earth forever ,
And sweet jjo : d will to men !
While all adown the jigcs
Still rings the joyous strain.
Oh , Tloly Babe , King Jesus !
The long years come and go
Like -sunlight's checkered shadows ,
"With rcnl mingled woe ,
Into our hearts , we pray Thee ,
'Come Thou , : rnd there abide.
2n royal measure grant ns
Tlry peat-e this Chrlstmastide.
- Mrs.George Pnull.
S 'THE PHILIPPINES.
HRISTMAS , 1S93 , is
near. The American
sentry on patrol duty
before the long row of
tents and frame quarters -
ters just outside of
Manila paces the
monotonous round In
a lazy , languid way
even the jests of
groups gathered here
tllOIV * < 1irontn/1 nt-
Irinvor audible to him fail to arouse either
interest or response.
He is thinking of home , is Pierce Grin-
neJl , this sturdy , hardy soldier boy who
liad gone to Aguinaldo's land to uphold
the Hag and help retain the glories which
Dewey had won home and the approach
ing Christmas.
It is Hie harder to bear the memory of
the olden Yuletide , because there is absent
in camp as in the nearby Philippine cap
ital all that preparation , anticipation en
semble that in the poorest village of his
native land blossoms forth at holiday
lime once a year only , maybe , but once
a year magically , mightily Merry
< ! Jhristmas !
He came off duty looking more bored
than wearied , and lingers for a moment
where an animated group are piling up
boxes , logs , refuse.
* * A year ago , " a grizzled plainsman is
saying , "there was ten feet of snow at
Fort Custer. and "
"You didn't belong to the army of occu
pation then ! " breaks in a suggestive voice.
"Oceurat'on ? I call this gcntlemanly
leisnre ! " was retorted tartly. "Only say ,
fellows ! I'd give a week's rations to have
a chill just to remind me of home , and
snow , and real Christmas weather ! Pile
those boxes straight , boys ; now then ,
criss-cross the loss. "
"What are you about here , anyway ? "
inquired young ( JrinnH a little curiously.
"What are we about ? Why ! " stares
1
'
. UJ-\UT TiiUMi Ki >
the W.e -tcr-ier. as jf affronted , "Christ
inas jweparatfons.of course ! "
Tl o young - soldiersmiles , half sadly.
" 1 .don't . any Christmas taes , or
holly , or w.ji-x vandlc.s , or - ' '
"Kmwon'tT" comet ! jthe terse intermp-
IIOH"SiilJ. . wtM-c gouijr to make the best
play at if w-o LJOW hot' when the -date
arriviv. . "
"Andthat is "
"To biiijd ; i roaring campfire first. "
"Isn't iliu dinwte nuiwrally warm
enough for you Y'
"Nevt-r you jniud ! We're twing to build
a regular ; corcherwrap bhnitets around
us , huddle up as jf we were frozen to
death , imagine we're . out on those gl-lori-
ous plains where n fellosv can alvr/iys feel
Christinas , if hf don't see much of it
.and tell stories about last year , awJ the
ye/jr before , and the years when the ? gu-
lari had some kind of a holiday , evea jf
> t Wtfjs a ragged one. "
Tlw ilicer of the day smiles indnlgentJr
on Hu > ; torl > uleiit infraction of camp rules ,
71 od tjbje mrXJonel and staff appear to hand
fn their rwjfcribntion a box , not a box of
cigars.
There are | tiuVipple.s , cocoanutB , bana-
; ! R' ' PJ'fng.i'N ! , U't more than one wry
face shows thru a juicy red pippin , n
pan of hickorp-nuts , would have been more
acceptable V'mn "all those smothering al
lals ! " as the Westerner dubs the ample
tropical fare.
"If tttir Christmas shty had ou\y \ conn
in ! ' ' he remarked , and with a fixisl stare a
a : omrade who had ftist come from towi
a stare with a winlc in it observes :
"Steamer probably delayed , you told me
Perkins ? "
"That's what , " is nodded.
All hands look savage at this. Christ
mas cheer was on its way to them o
that they had been advised by way o
Hong Kong -week since but the steam
er was overdue , probably delayed by i
storm , nnd their holiday cheer from hem <
might not arrive till New Year's day.
Still , asGrinnell watches the West
erner and olwerves him more than one
gaze covertly in the direction of the cor
dnroy camp road , he wonders if lie is no
nursing some spirited surprise that In
will spring later on.
Th < e stories begin , and soon nil tire en
grossed. One man tells of a Christmas a
a far "Western Indian-beleaguered fort
where the event of the day was the steal
ing of the only wild turkey in laiowledgi
from a sportsman savage. Another hai
wen ' ! 'in Alaska , where a keg of f rozei
cider was the only reminder of home. ; '
third described the best Christmas dinne
lie had ever eaten , and all mouths water
ed. aiid here there is an uproar !
The sound of cumbersome wheels echoe
there is the snap of a whip , and , wav
ing his whip and yelling to his mules , inti
camp bursts the negro driver of the com
inissary wagon.
' "Tli. dah ! " ho srins , "am dis Cam
.Tawge Columbus Christopher Washing
tonV"
"You know it is. you rascal ! " roared th
Westerner , springing to his feet , aglow
"Out with it ! the steamer is in' : "
"She am , sab. I waited , sail , as yo'n
ilareckted. Pah's a pa heel foh de cam ;
dat Chris'mas consignment hab arriv
. "
.en !
"Whoop ! "
Pandemonium breaks loose. Over th
camp spreads the news. Half-dressed men
riotous runners , make for the campfire , a
up to it , straining mightily under th. .
heavy load of crates and boxes and bai
rels , puff and pant the mules with thei
Christmas store of remembrances.
Even the camp dogs rally to the call o
the tumult. Then , surrounded by a press
ing , eager crowd , the Westerner mount
the load , hatchet in hand.
He pries open those "pahcels , " he be
gins to deliver them. Hearts gladden , lip
quiver , eyes sparkle even in the far
away Philippines Christmas had come !
"Pierce Grinnell" with tremulou
hands the young soldier receives his pack
age , and steps back a bit from the crusl
to inspect it.
Ah ! it is glorious to be remembered
There is a Bible from mother , a watcl
from father , a dozen handkerchiefs fron
10-year-old sister Sue , a cookie , ribbon
tied , caraway-dotted , from (5-year-ol <
Xell "all cooked by my own self" and-
another parcel.
The soldier boy's heart thumps mightily
Well does he know who sent this last. I
is a response to a question that the loneli
ness of the camp , time to think over hov
dear pretty , winsome Claire Rushton a
home is to him a homely , blunt , "Claire
when this 'Spanish war' is over , will yo\
' ' "
'have me ?
Griunell opens the package a pair o
dainty home-knit mitts. What in tin
world does he want of mitts in the broil
ing Filipino country ! Still , the good in
tent is there.
Then his finger tips tingle and trembh
so as he feels a tiny note in one of tin
mitts , that he drops everything to tin
ground.
Nell's cookie must have caught the snifi
of a hungry camp dog. It makes a bolt
misses the cookie , and grabs up and runs
off with the mitts with the note in them
" him him ! "
"Stop sto-o-op
"What is it ? "
"Hi , the robber ! "
A crowd "catches on" to the appalling
mishap. There is pursuit. They corner
( he canine , but not until he has torn tiu
onmitt. .
"Why , there's a note in here ! " torments
the rescuer of half one mitt , and Grinnell
levours a torn fragment of dainty , scented
letter paper.
"I won't have "
That is what his blurred sight reads ,
ind his heart falls.
"Hey , Grinnell here's the other half ! "
The poor fellow puts the two pieces of
japer together.
"I won't have anybody but you ! "
There is the sentence , complete. De
spite himself , the happy soldier boy ut-
ered a fervent , relieved yell of delight.
"What's bit you a tarantula ? " de-
nands a staring comrade.
"No ! " shrewdly guesses the jolly West-
> rner , reading between the lines "Santa
Dlaus ! "
Satisfying Him.
"I have called , " said the captious critic ,
'to find out what reason you can give for
presenting the New Year as a nude
mall boy. "
"That is done , " responded the art edi-
or , "because the year does not get its
lose till the 31st of December. "
Then the captious critic went out and
irokc his nice new pledge. Indianapolis
rournal.
At Bethlehem.
The children at Bethlehem are told by
heir mothers that on Christmas Eve a
heir of angels always sings above the
lace where Christ was born. Travelers
ay that on this evening scores and sorne-
irnes hundreds of children may be seen
i the open air looking up to the sky , wait-
ig to hear the angels sing.
Yule Cakes.
Yule dough , a kind of baby or little
nage intended to represent the child Je
ns , made of paste , was formerly baked at
Christmas and presented by bakers to
lieir customers "in the same manner as
lie chandlers gave candles. " They are
till called Yule cakes in the county of
> urham , England.
An Unusual Honor.
"Do you expect to have a good time on
hristmao ? "
"You bet ! My wife has invited me to
ike dinner at her club. " New York Her-
d.
The Youns Idea.
Bobbie Papa says Santa Glaus leaves
ore things at the big houses.
Freddie Of course he does. They've
t bigger chimneys. Judge.
Pleasure an.I Pain.
lien we go to a Christmas party ,
\nd ciirns are the worst of our woes ,
e object-not to "rings on our fingers , "
But we do to the "belles on our toes. "
A FARM .CffillSTMAiU
STORY OF THE DAY'S CELEBRA
TION IS TRULY TOLD.
Momentous Preparations for the L'in-
ner of Dinners And Finally th-j
1'arty at Farmer Hav.-kins' oil That
Memorable Christmas live.
HE week before
Christmas. Hog
killing is over , all
the turkeys are
dressed and sent to
town. Suppressed
excitement rules in
side the house and
out. Extra hands
are busy over the
last bit of coin-
h u s k i n g. Bump ,
bump , b u m p e t y
bump , the wagon
moves slowly over
the frozen ground.
Two stalwart fellows in jean trousers ,
ducking coats and woolen comforters fol
low the wagon , keeping up a continuous
fire of ears of corn into the box. With
gathering thoughts of Christmas trees ,
play parties , dances and taffy pullings ,
the husking grows furious , and twice be
fore noon the wagon bed is filled. Thumb
stalls and husking pegs are much in de
mand. The boys all around the kitchen
fire at night nursing blistered thumbs and
awkwardly sewing finger stalls of drill
ing , double in thickness and fastened on
the hands securely with leather strings.
" 'Clare ter goodness hits miff ter p'voke
er saint , hit is dat , " declares the old col
ored auntie. "Da's dem cookies , bu'nt tea
a plum crisp an'me can't git to de oven
'dout trompin on somebody's corns. Da's
dem pigs' feet in de ashes need scrapin'
dese two houahs ! Git out o' heah ! Ef
yo' des tek yosefs off , soon's I get er min-
nit's peace , I mek yo' fawty 'leven Gngah
stalls. "
As this is what the boys have all been
waiting to hear they troop out instantly ,
making a mental memorandum of "neck-
erchers" and bandana "head han'ker-
chers" which Aunt Maria wants for
Christmas.
By 5 o'clock the next morning , while the
stars are still shining , the wagons rattle
off to the fields. The jolly face of the
country sun lights up myriads of frost
diamonds hung on the sparse spears of
vellow grass. Along the roads Avagons
) ass in the distance , noiselessly , silhouct-
ed against the sky like toy vehicles ,
Irawn by toy horses.
Inside the farmhouse everything is in
mstliug confusion. The blinds of the
spare room have been drawn up to let in
i Hood of bright winter sunshine. Dis-
: rict school has closed for the holidays.
The children are in the kitchen stoning
raisins , helping pare apples , slyly steal
ing cake dough , and watching the sau
sage as it is ground out from the sausage
mill in strings.
"Ho , ho ! " the youngsters suddenly
shout in chorus. "Yonder comes Tom
Hawkins , riding up the lane on 'Ole Ser
rel. ' full tilt. "
Tom dismounts by putting his arms
Jmnmd "Ole Sorrel's" neck and sliding
down her forelegs to the ground. He is
riding bareback.
"Our folks is goin' to give a party ! " he
announced.
"When ? " shout Bob and the others , in
great excitement.
"Night 'fore Chris'mas ; 'n I'm goin'
'round to tell ever'body , right this niorn-
iif ! "
"Play party ? "
"Yep ! Pa says he don't care fer 'em
dancin' , but ma says 'at you have to take
up the carpets , er have 'em mint. An'
then , ma says she don't know as it's right
fer church members. "
Tom's invitation , delivered with many
assurances that "You must be sure to
XO KIDDI.KU LIKE HIM.
come ; we'll all be a lookin' for you. ' ' cre
ates no small commotion at the house.
Before the day is over it is known that
the party will be a big affair.
Christmas eve finally comes. The whole
neighborhood is agog. In the course of
BRINGING HOME THE TRhE.
* /toSSfe I / w'3a
up , " while everybody shoves his chair
back against the side of the wall to clear
the center of the Hoor. "Twa-ang , scr-a-
ape , tweedle , leedle , leedle , le-e , " goes the
fiddle , while Uncle Ben screws his face
into a thousand wrinkles. Sometimes , of
late , the Hills boys have furnished the
music for the parties , much to the disgust
of Uncle Ben. He declares that "wen
dem boys gits hole o' one o' dem new fan-
gle gityars an' anodder one on 'em goes
slap-e-ty bang on Miss Hawkins' planner ,
hit 'em jis' miff ter mek yo' har stan' on
en' . 'Tain no mo lak music dan beatin'
on er dish pan. "
As 12 o'clock approaches everybody is
alert to get everybody else's Christmas
gift. This ceremony being over , the party
breaks up. the young folks race home , and
big and little hang up their stockings in
front of the fireplace.
THE FIRST CHRISTMAS GIFT.
Make Your Gift a Pure One , and Give
Itwith I ovc.
"If you had the wealth of the world yo ; :
could not equal that iirst Christmas gift , "
writes Ruth Ashmore in an article on
"Girls and Their Christmas-Giving , " in
the Ladies' Home.Tomnal. "And you can
only imitate it by making your gift a pure
one , and giving it with love. You want
to share , this Christmastifle. yonr faith ,
your hope and your charity \vith those you
love. You want to make your very 'good-
morning' tell of that good morning that
came so many hundred years ago when
the little Child first wakened on this earth.
You wstnt to think of the gifts that were
brought to Him and what they typified.
You want to have your heart full of joy.
and love , and hope so full that it will
brim over and the rest of the world share
it with you. You want to t > n. in your
speech and in your eyes , and from your
heart , of the gladness of the time. You
want to make this gladness go out to some
one who is in grief. These are the days-
when you must needs give of your good
WHEN SANTA CLAUS IS PRESIDENT.
the afternoon the girls in the various
homes lay out every bit of finery to be
worn to the party. The boys are not for
gotten by their sisters. Their coats and
trousers , white satin ties , boiled shirts ,
are all put out on the bed in easy reach.
Aunt Maria shines the shoes until you can
see yourself on their polished surfaces.
The boys , in a home-made sleigh , are off
for the girls , sometimes five or six miles
away. The girls at the house wait for
their beaux , who come likewise from the
neighboring houses or from the little
'
towns near by. "Zip , sip , ha , ha , hurrah , "
and up comes a sled with a dozen young
folks bound for the party. The sled is a
long one , with a wagon box mounted on
the cross-beams. Three or four wagons
have been stripped of their spring seats to
equip the sleigh. The bed of the box is
filled with hay , which keeps everybody's
feet warm. Away the sled whirls , taking
a short cut across the bottoms , running
counter to rocks and logs under the snow ,
and almost spilling the whole party out.
Out in the open road another sleigh turns
in at the crossing ahead. This is the sig
nal for a race. The horses knoAV it. and
give a bound that brings the two wagon
boxes abreast of each other.
The party is in full swing by 8 o'clock ,
and supper is served by 10. Old Uncle
Ben furnishes the music for "snap , "
"Weevilly Wheat , " and all the other rol
licking games. Uncle Ben begins to "tune
things , and among all your possessions
there is nothing so good as a belief in
God and a hope for the future. That was
what the little Child came to tell about.
Surely the Christmastide is the feast of
all others that appeals to women , and as
the story is told again and again by the
bells as they ring , by the carols as" they
are sung , by the preacher from the pulpit ,
we know that 'Unto us a Child was born , '
and peace and good will reign all over the
land. Let peace and good will be in yonr
heart , and from you they will go and
spread all over the land. It is to the wom
en , thank God , that the happiness of the
Christmastide specially conies. And wom
en are generous , else one of them never
would have given her Son to die that all
might live. She gave to all the world her
only Son the gift that meant eternal
life. "
Liord of Misrule.
Down to the reign of Henry VIII. . and
occasionally since , a "Lord of Misrule"
was appointed to direct the amusements
of the English court during the holidays.
He presided over the festivities , prepared
the games , directed the sports , and saw
that the court was kept properly amused
during Christinas week. The office Avas
considered highly honorable , and the
"Lord of Misrule" was generally some
wealthy nobleman wl > --vas willing to
spend money lavishly in promoting the
gaieties of the court. It is of record that
during the reign of Elizabeth , Essex , as
"Lord of Misrule. " spent in one Christ
mas season 3.000 of his own money on
the court games.
liis Sad Pat \
"Kind sir. " said the bvgirar. "will you
aid me ? Uncc I was worth ? . ) ! ) .OnO. and
now I am penniless sir. "
"What ruined you ? " asked Uojack.
"Buyinir Christmas presents , sir. * '
Thereupon llojr.ck gave the man a dollar
lar , for he knew how it was himself.
A Feast in Prospect.
Wiggles How are you fixed for Cliris"-
mas ?
Waggles Right in clover. I made a
play dat I was de champion all-'round eat
er in de northwes' and ( ley's got up a
match fur me.
She I wish Christmas really was a sea
son of general peace and good will. He
Well , it might be if somebody hadn't in
troduced the custom of giving Ghristir.r.s
Dreseuts. Puck.
CHRISTMAS TROTH.
/n,5irai
, ,
3V/Ari"1iWi .
T- ' * i.
" jta&
HK old gray txll in
the old gray
tower
I-s ringing so glnd-
iy across the
town ,
Ami the red. red
dawn. like a
shaken flower ,
Scatters t U e-
Christmas glory
down.
Oh. the light of
the sacred
jiiorn
Of the day when
the dear Lord
< ; h r I s t w a s-
bonil
oh. ihe sweet or
the winter air , .
When it's Christ
inas. Christmas everywhere.
Let's hie away to the church , my lad.
To th dear , gray church where the can
dles shine.
hearts so-
I'd brwithe a prayer while my
I'd t'a'tc'h a prayer from thee lips of thine !
Love. love , love-ami It's Christmas ( lay-
And yon and I in the church to pray !
Sweet the howlnsr. ami West the prayer-
For it's Christmas. Christmas every
where !
Dear Lord , what gift thou Smst sent us
twain
T. ) pledge our troth on rhy nr.tnl day ?
Oh j y that is almost keen as pain.
Oh fove more sacred than 15ts ran sayl
Here where the caudles burn so white , .
Hes-e where the holly "listens bright.
Make She heart of the love we hear
Christ-like airays and everywhere !
James Hnckham. . . -
NEW YEAR'S IN EUHOPZ.
The ! > : : ; - IIolils a Prominent Place fij
the Popular Calendar.
In Europe New Year's day holds a
prominent place in the popular calendar.
For many centuries past it has been the
custom of northern nations to watch the
going out of the old year and the coming :
in of the : : e\v with demonstrations of mer
riment and conviviality. It is a rare case-
that an English family fails to sit ip on =
the last night of the old year with a few
intimate frit'iids , awaiting the stroke of
the midnight hour. The day' is observ
ed by a few visits among nearest relatives
and intimate friends , but most particular
ly by festive family gatherings in the
evenings. The custom of making pres
ents ou Xe\v Year's day has become al
most obsolete in England. That is no\v
almost entirely confined to Christmas day.
The observance of New Year's day as a.
holiday fell almost into oblivion , with the-
exception of the few simple remembrances
mentioned above. In business life the day
is observed as a legal holiday "bank
holiday , " as they call it but even that is-
coufini'd almost exclusively to large whole
sale houses. The retail trade is carried on.
as briskly as on every other day of the-
year.
The first day of the year is observed in
France in a very different way. particu
larly in Paris , where to this day the cus
tom of giving presents is kept up with.
surprising vigor. The streets of the beau
tiful capital present a very livt-ly and pic
turesque appearance. Innumerable car
riages , from the humble one horse cab to-
the elegant landau , with liveried servants ,
drawn by fiery steeds , crowd every thor
oughfare. They are filled with well-dress-
ed men and loaded with fragrant flowers.
Large social gatherings , balls and reception
tion- public and -private , bring the aus
picious day to a festive conclusion.
In ( Jermany calls are made among rela
tives and intimate friends only , " except
that in the ponderous bureaucratic system
of Germany every Government officer is-
expected to call on somebody above him
in rank. Presents are not exchanged on
New Year's day that is exclusively con
fined to Christmas day.
As Rome gave the name to the first
mouth in the calendar year , so Home also-
gave the custom of making presents on ,
the first day of the year. A very innocent
little pastime it was in the beginning , but
in these days of modern ideas it has expanded - -
panded and is expanding until now the
most valuable and elaborate gifts are used
as an exchange of friendly sentiment.
Mistletoe and Christmas.
The connection of mistletoe with Christ
mas is a very curious one , and far fronx
being a general one. Literature is , per
haps , mainly responsible for it , in that
allusions to a custom in a great degree
purely local have made a large number
of persons interested in the plant. It ,
moreover , seems that the custom of using-
it in Christmas decorations depends on
two considerations first , its evergreen.
: iabit ; and second , the veneration in which.
it was held by the Druids.
The reasons mentioned have no doubt
ilone much to secure for the mistletoe the
place which in recent times it has held in
Christmas festivities , but it is not so uni-
rersally honored at Yuletide as the holly.
Foil may have a very merry Christmas-
ivithout any mistletoe at all , but to the-
najority of the people a Christmas with-
) ut a sprig or two of holly would scarcely
seem to be Christmas at all.
-Disappointment.
She- I hear you , t a little brother for
a New Year's present. Ain't vcr glnU ?
He Nnv !
She Did yer want a sister ?
lie Naw. I didn't want no brudder
nor no sisterneider. . 1 wanted a fightin'
dorg an * a pair o * skates ! Life.
An Aid to Merriment.
"My dear , " said Mr. Darley to his wife ,
"I have decided to have a merry Christ
mas this year. "
"I am very glad to hear that , love. "
"With that purpose in view. " Mr. Bar
ley went on , "I have decided not to go-
with you at all while you are doing- your
Christmas shopping. "