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About Daily capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1903-1919 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 20, 1913)
Dally Capital JoMFimal PAGES 25 TO 28 THIRTY-SIXTH YEAR. SALEM, OREGON, SATUBDAY, DECEMBEB 20, 1913. PDirr Twr rcwTC N trains and nbiws fKilb, IWU UfliS. stands, fivb chnth By MARION F. RITTENHOUSE FOURTH SECTION The J - J - rzZTI VMk PUY1NG Vvlf 11 MS TOYS fsrq ri :: seeing danta :: JS ' -n I the Fireside 1 A Christmas Story For Children MARY Copyright, 1013, by American PreM Aunoclution. IT WAS a few duys before Chrlst nms, and King Whiter wus pre paring the roads fur Suutu Cluua' Ioub drive. The snowflukes were tumbling over one another to do bis bidding, and Jack Frost shouted to Donald, who was Uattenlng his nose against the wludowpane, that be would better stay .In the bouse If be did not wish to get bis ears pinched. Donuld was "half pant four" and Aunt Madle, sitting before the fire, "half past forty." Early In the for mer's career the two had formed an exclusive mutual admiration society. Tbe little boy climbed upon the arm of the lady's bugo easy chair, aud the two sat cozlly In front of the heater, gazing thoughtfully Into the glowing coals that showed through the encir cling Isinglass uud made the only light In the room. "Is Snnta Clans our papas and mam mas, Aunt Madle?'' "The Santa Clnus I saw certainly wasn't, Donnle." "Did you ever see Sunta . Claus? Honest, did you?" "Let's make It a story. Once upon a time, long, Ions, ago, when 1 was a little girl, we were poor, so poor that Hrother Fred i.vour pupa, Dminlc) and 1 never got much for Christinas. We couldn't utulerstand why Santa Claus did not give the poor a lot and tbe rich Juxt n llltlo to even things up Mother said It was to give the rich a clmuce to be good to the poor aild the poor n clian.'o to grow good by Buffering patiently, and then both would ho worthy to celebrate Christ's birthday. Fred's patched suit hardly kept out tho cold, and this Christmas I tun talking about I bad such a queer lltlo ache way down In iny heart that somd way couldn't get cured. 1 told Fred, but he suld wo uiUHt pretend to be ever so much pleased with whatever we got, even If it should be ouly u stick of candy, be cause mamma would feel so sorry, and she didn't bare nice things either, but bad to work all day long and late at night sewing for the railroad boys." "Poor grandma! Let's give her some thing nice this Christmas. She can have all my pennies." "Mammas don't mind so much not having things if their boys and girls are good, but I am afraid Fred and I worried ber sometimes and made ber much trouble. Anyway, that Christ mas ere I slept with mamma, and I remember we bad hardly enough cot ring to keep in warm." Toor Aunt Madle! Did you got cold and wake up and see Santa Claua thenT "I think aotne kind of noise awoke me. It waa a beautiful night The tnoonbeama that crept between the curtains sat close to tbe shadows, si lently watching, Just like the shepherds tbe first Christmas eve. You remember the story, dear? It was so still that I almost 'expected to hear the angels alng. Then, of course. I began to think of 8RUU Claus. I wanted and wanted to see him. but I was dreadfully afraid I would. My heart was going plttypat when-wbnt do you suppose Donnle? I really saw something move In the corner!" "And It was Pantn Claus?" "It looked like a man, and 1 could ee by the bobbing of hi Irnd that he was onilng toward nie. I thought of Ssntn Claus, and 1 thought of robbers, and I did not know what to think." "What did you do. Aunt Madle?" "Hub. bob. went hln head, and he seei'ii'd In be coming clnwr ond closer. I v:i n ocsred I never thought of mnnni'ii s nil. or whether she would get hurt. Hiippoolng It wan't Panta Clnii". but slipped under the covera, wsv down to the font of the bed." "1 -Khut my -.vp, put my flneera In mr ears and trembled myself to sleep, for the next thing 1 knew something heavy bounced upon the bed, and there - It wis Chrlatmai morn lug and Fred f ' ' ' 'V",. " When U n cnndlo In n pnssloii? An- 7 I" I 4t -V" li' ' " ' ' ' .1 swer-Wben it Ih put out or flnros up. I "- 4 was pelting me with my funny, bumpy stockings." And was that all you saw of Santa Claus?" asked Donald disappointedly. I looked over toward the corner. Would you believe It? there was that liiuu yet. 1 Jumped and pretty nearly screamed and then laughed and laugh ed and laughed." "Why, who was It? Oh, I know. It wus your papa, and ho bad been filling your stockings In the nlht." ."No, slr-e-e! My Santa Clans wasn't either papa or uiainina." "Then It was my pupa, your brother Fred, Aunt .Madle?" "Wrong again, young man. It was niauimu's broom dressed lu Fred's new suit of clothes und new stockings, boots, cap, scurf and mittens. The whole thing was bung up lu a dark corner on the clothesline." "But you said It walked toward yon, Aunt Madle?" "I said H Beeened to be coming clos er and closer. It waa so cold that mamma had let the cat stay In all night, and when kittle played with the man's feet bis bead bobbed und bobbed Just na if be were walking." "Wouldn't I be scared, though! And. my, what a dandy present for Fred! I am jolng to ask papa If he remem bers. Did you get Just aa nice. Aunt ModliT "I was very happy over my presents that morning. I did not have to make believe at all. You see. times were getting better for ua. 1 never had any more heartaches at Christmas aft er that and I learned that to stop some other little hearts from aching Is the best gift we can make." "That's why you send me with such big bundles to the little house around the corner. Can t l give aomcming, too, Auntie?" "Yes Indeed, Donnle. Aunt Madle waa a very little girl, but d you know, she will never got over being ashamed that she waa too big a "frnld cat' to think of manima'a danger." "And your Santa Claus waa only a scarecrow, after all!" Chriitmai Queries. Do "plnnte" for maklna pretty gifts row up to Christmas treesT And are "the aea-son'l greetings" lent br i salt sons of the leaiT An Tule logi cut from snowdrlftwood by Tuletlde wished Mhoret And could you nub a mistletoe against I parlor door? , If Eve had tried from holly twlgi a party gown to weave Do you mppoee that Adam would have called her "Chriitmai EviT" 81 Nlcholai In autoilelgh defle pollci and laws, Do resnilalloni as to ipeed eontala a San ta ola use f "vmwm&m A Lucky Chriitmai. Prognostications are made In Eng land and also In this country, concern ing tho coining year. Its prosperity, weather, etc., depending upon the day on which Christmas f"Ms. Sunday, Monday. Tuesday and Saturday are usually reckoned ill omened days, while It Is lucky to have Christinas fall on Wednesday. Thursday or Friday. One old rime says: If ChrlstmH ilny on Friday be '1'lie llr-Kt of wlnUM hard hhr.ll be, With frnct nii.1 snow anil with gri-ni flood, Put tho onrl th'i''iif It shall be Rot.il. Ajnln, the summer xlii'll In- iiood also . ... Big Dimand For New Coins. (Irent demands are always made on Tni'le Sam for new coins at the Christ mas season. Lust year 2T,000 In halves, quarter and dimes was wash ed and brightened by the treasury de. partment and this year the demands have beon even greater. The banks throughout the country call on the treasury department for bright and shining coins In order to satisfy their customers. "Santa Claus'll Get Us." II JA r.. '. - t ". f -.!Jr ..- ."AVf i ii .' i - .. a ill Qivi Him a Walking Sties. A walking stick Is always accepta ble for a man whether ho Is young or elderly. lie likes a collection, so that he may have different kinds for various occasions. Quite the newest and most unltpio stylos lutvo cigar lighters or tiny electric bulbs concealed In their handles. Such small lights often illu minate the vicinity of the keyhole on u dark night. If he rides a crop will delight him, for the horseman enjoys tho posses sion of a, variety. Holly Und is Chriitmai Trn. In the southern slates holly Is used almost exclusively for Christinas trees. This tree abounds In the forests, and frequently boys earn their Chrlstmns money by cutting and selling them In tho larger town. Occasionally a ce dar tree Is used lit Christmas time. Mistletoe also Is plentiful In the south, but Is difficult to gather, us It usually grows at the very top of the highest oak trees. Fir trees are seldom found in the southern states. Which nre tho most contented birds? Answer Crows, because they never complain without cause. What Is tbe difference between a spendthrift and a pillow? Answer One Is bard up and tbe other soft down. What animal took the most luggage Into the ark and what the least? An swerThe elephiint, who bad bis trunk, while the fox and tho rooster bad only a brush and comb between them. When Is a candle In a passion? An swerWhen It Is put out or flares up. When has n man four hands? An swerWhen ho doubles his (IhIs. Why is a wig like a lie' Answer Because It's a falso hood. Why mustn't yon call nil owl a qunll? Answer Because you would be mak ing game of him. Why did the elderberry whlno? An swerBecause ho didn't get lemon aid. 5 CHRISTMAS IN GERMANY. Whllo there are few civilized coun tries In which tho plan of giving pres ents at Christmas timo Is not almost universal nowadays, this was not al ways the case, Indeed, tho world has acquired many of the customs now lu vogue at this period of tho year from the (ioniums, who pay more attention to Christmas than the people of any other nation. Tt. Is to them perhaps that we owe the Inauguration of the gift giving as well us tho beautiful Institution of the Christmas tree. The presents equally with tho tree have beon populai among the (ioniums from medieval times. With the Introduction of (Jer man customs (chief among which wne the sparkling Christmas tree) Into ii t H r tt ii In at the time of Queen Victoria' mniTlugu with the (iernuin Prlii'v Allien In the middle of the nineteenth century the practice of gen eral Christmas giving doubtless began among Dngllsh speaking people. The Ever Lucky Boy. rptlK C'lirls'imiH tri'o all summer long Is srowlu' In the wood, Hut only so my toucher says For children that are good. Our groc'rymiin he brings It round An' I naves It lit the door. My father carries tt Insldi An' plants It In the door. An' I can help If I don't teas At itrlnifln' It with stuff, But I can't eat tin popcorn much Or then wun't be enough, Nor bite the candles ytller, rid Or white or green or blue. (The was all colored up that way Makee dandy gum to chew!) An' when then aln'l no trtmmln's lift They wait until I'm gone An' safe In bed, an' then they start An' til the present! on. Aw, what thi teacher tolls I know She only lays to lean. That trees an meant for goody kids Is mostly old hot air. For you can bet that ev'ry time There'! loll of things for me. No mallei though I've often been Aa bad 1 can be I IS YOUR BIRTHDAY ON CHRISTMAS? There are ninny predictions concerning the luck of those born itn C 'Ii I'lMt tniiM fltiv. It iIumihiiIm 'e Z somewhat on the day of the week, All old belief was that 'J those horn on this day, when It 1 fell mi suiiiliiy. would live lu bu J great lords: on Monday, would 1 ' lie strong and keen: on Tuesday. V , strong and covetous: on Wednes- , itn y. wise, guy. doughty und criiftv: on Thursday, wise of i, spiss h mid reasonable; on I'rl- 'j 4k nay. long liven: on Miitiirtiay, V wealthy ami prosperous, Why Bhi Ii Waitina. Kllii'l-lf you nre not going to accept Mr, Kelly why don't you tell him to atop calling on you? Clarice-1 will, right after Christmas . By W. B. HOLLAND. I've the beiteit Chriitmas present Any little girl oould git. liki dollin, but I'd rathir Have a ml live pit to pit And I'vi got the pit I wintodi Got him with mi bin right now, How'd I gat him? Will, I'll till you, I aiksd Santa, that II how. I Where Christmas Things Come From c IIILIlltEN ull enjoy tho over- greens and ornaments that aro seen each Christmas, but how tunny of them know what parts of tho country aro ransacked In order to furnish these things for their pleas- mo and delight? Practically all of the evergreens ap pearing lu American homes for tho holiday season are grown in the Dultud Stales. Tho Christinas trees come for tho most part from northern Now Eng land, Michigan, Wisconsin and Min nesota. Thero aro some growing far ther south, but tho bulk of the trees are from the far north. The black spruco grows In swamps, tho white spruce, pine aud (Irs on the higher land. Not only are the little trees cut, but tops of larger trees and limbs If they lire of the proper shape. The holly comes from the woods of New England mid the Allegheny moun tains, In the north It is a shrub, but In the south the holly grows Into great trees, sometimes fifty feet high. With Its red berries It Is most picturesque tree. Mistletoe Is u pnrnslte that tukiw root In the bark of other trees, such as the miiplo mid poplar. It Is not found In the northern states, but mostly In the middle and southern states. What are known ns Chrlstmns grneus or ground pines are very like the ferns and mosses and grow In shady places on the forest floor. Christmas Boxes in Old Custom. The bestowing of Christmas boxes Is of grent nntliiilty and wns formerly the bounty of well disposed persons who were willing to eoutrlliitto some thing toward the Industrious. Later the gift mine to be demanded as a right and became somewhat of a mil sauce. In ICtiglnnd the day after Christmas Is known ns "boxing day from (ho Christinas boxes which used to bo In circulation, In Rrltish mu seums can bo seen boxes covered with green glnr.e, with a slit In tho side for money und presents, "8pug" Movement Spreading Tho "spug" movement originated several years ago and tins grown very rapidly recently. This inline Is derived by using the Initials of an organiza tion formed In Chicago. It Is the Ho- clety Tor Hie Prevention of 1,'tiueces nry living Some members of this am lety give no presents lit nil, while others 'oiitlne their gifts to (he Imme diate family. K J Copyright. 1913. by American Pros elation. MryOTJ are earlier than necea- sary," remarked Aunt Ells 1 as 1 appeared at 10:30 on the night of the third Christ mas, "for we do not sit In the work room for at least fifteen minutes, and I feel sure that you will not find tbe niaing piace, ana uitu not louna you cannot marry Elsie, and if you are not to marry Elsie It la not wise for yoa to see so much of each other." And Elsie's welcoming' kiss was strongly tinctured with reproach. Not liking the reproachful flavor, I Immediately kissed Elsie to dissipate the taste. Then I displayed the gift I had brought and Aunt- Ellse shook ber head reprovingly, even as she gloated ever the solitaire that I slipped on El sie's white hand. "You would better have saved your money, itemember, thia la the third Christmas, and I don't believe you will find the biding place." "Then we will be married right away," I said. "Please bear In mind I now have a salary with which to propitiate tbe wolf when he howls at our door." "And so have I, thanks to dear old uncle!" cried Elsie. Aunt Ellse. by the way, la neither Elsie's aunt nor mine. Elsie and I are, or, rather, wero, the wards of Aunt Ellse's brother, Judge Breen, who died more than three years ago, leav ing tho old Breen home to Aunt Ellae. who had a modest Income of ber own. mid tho remainder to Elsie and me con ditionally, the conditions being set forth In the letter which Lawyer Pat terson, Judge Hreen's Ufeloug friend, whom he hud appointed executor of his will, handed to us during the week following his death. The letter ran: My Denr, Irresponsible Children I have, aa Mr. Patterson will tell you, converted my entire estate, with the exception of the old home, Into money, which I wlah you. Gilbert and Elate, to share equally. I have this money put away for you. It be comes youn at tin moment that you And It. Now, I will remind you that I havi al ways earnestly deplored the Idle, frivo lous pursuit! which have ocoupled you and di'tilred you both to master some use ful ocoupntlon, hut you have tomporlied and frlhbled away the time, and thui 1 have allowed you to grow up without tbi ability to eurn a pennv. Elslo, your artlstlo dauhi and, Gilbert your long winded poemi are all very well for a harmlosa paatlme, but you can nei ther eat, drink nor wenr them. Moreover, 'it la a disgrace for any ablebodled per son to bo without the knowledge of some useful vocation. I suppose that 1 am to blnme for not training the artlstlo tommyrot out of you, but 1 loved you both far too well to exact obedience from you. I now am deter mlnnd to atone for my weakness aa far aa Uos within my power. I have decided that, you must both acquire a vocation and hnvo chosen my own, telegraphy, for you. My bust and hupplest days wen spent In a lum-ly llttlo station In Arliona. You nre to muster this thoroughly. No mora smattering will answer, You an to prove your ability by securing and accept ably filling positions. You nre to begin your studies at ouco. Then In mofnory of me 1 ask you boih to loin your Aunt Kllse In n quarter of an iiour'i vlall In my workroom on Chrlai mns nlnht. 1 wish my Inventlona to re main there untouched. 1 also wish you to wind und aturt the bin clock which I have lost llnlahcil. It will run for the brief tlmo that 1 nsk you to keop tryst with my memory in the workroom where 1 have spent so many, many happy houra. It nfter following my Instrucllnna you do not find your Inheritance, which I In tend to come to you ni a Christian gift, come again for the "lull on the second Chrtstmni, and If you have not touna u then return again on the third, if you have not found It on the third Chriitmai you will have forfeited your legacy ami will And your knowledge of telegraphy must useful to provide bread and a rea sonable amount of butter. Do not under any circumstance! tamper lih the content! of my workroom, which I wish to remain Just ii It Ii during the lifetime of your Aunt Kllse. You failed to obey nil In llfi. but your dlsobedlenoe after my death will b fraught with graver consequence, for un less you meet the requirement! let forth hen you will never know the whenabouli of your legacy. Thlg letter ti written with a heart full of Ioti lor my iponeu children, from UNCUfi amuuobil. And now the time of the vigil of the third Christmas had arrived, and we knew no more about the hldlu plac of our Inheritance thsn on the day that we received the letter. True, we had not followed his Instructions in re gard to telegraphy until very recently. It seemed so preposterous that merely mastering a vocation would aid In the unearthing of our legacies. Bo Klsle and 1 nptlmlstleully painted and poet ized through tho first year, serenely confident that the money would turn up without strenuous effort on our part. On the first Christmas we wound the clock and sat expectantly through the fifteen minutes Nothing happened. We were slightly disappointed, but not at all niiensy. Then during the next year between the Intervals of pictures and poems we ransacked the old place from garret to roller Only n whole some fear of Aunt Wise's anger pre vented our laying viindul hands upon that wretched clock and disembowel ing It In our search for n clew to tho hidden treasure. We met for our sea nre in the workroom without hav ing so much as begun the study of telegraphy. AgMn we sat through tho allotted time, listening to the eccentric, Irregular ticking of the clock with no visible results, save that Aunt Kllse caught a fearful cold. "dilbert." said Elsie soberly that night when wo had adjourned ta the JflT (CoatlnntJ on page 28.)