Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About The Eugene City guard. (Eugene City, Or.) 1870-1899 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 28, 1895)
VOICES OF THE BELLI . Listen to tho Christmas b 1UI While ll tlio world is praying, They am pealing, swelling, tolling, ' And thli I what the bell are saying! We are the voice of vedn and aagna We are the tongue ot prophet and prttut, We aro tho llm of tho sibilant sleeper Who dreami-d of a star In the purple cast Hard by (ho rntc of tho mystical mora When tho Christ waa born. I Wo aro the prayers of the wandering magt ! ' On Syrian din" rts all level and lone. We aro the chorua of Jmln nn shepherds, 1 Wu arc the not" t hat front heaven were blown I Fiem thv poldcn throat of an angel's horn When the Christ waa born. We are the teardrop of grief and of sorrow, We are the erhoc of yeatnrday'a pain, We are the Jubilant voice of tomorrow Lo, peace on cart hi Lot thy good will rclgnl rV oar lip brrak alienee on Christmas morn When tho Christ waa born. Chicago Thus. SANTA CLAUS CAME. "If you please, sir" "Eh? Whntnow?" The crusty old gentleman turned sud denly and sharply nnd B'nrcd from beneath bis shaggy eyebrows nt the little figure bo lde tilin. Tlio figure was that of b girl 8 yean old pcrliups, but small nud frail, f ho wore an enormous sunbonnct Hint nillit bare been inodo fur tho wlfo of the giant Blundorboro, so out of proportion was It to the diminutive wearer, nnd out ot Ita depths poured a thlu little fooe, with big, frightened brown eyes. Her clothing was so oloon and neat that one scarcely noticed how very poor It wns, and as alio stared up Into the terrible face above her one of tho little feet wriggled uneasily in the depths of the oostly rug. "It you please, sir, mother said to toll you that she couldn't come tip today bo--oause she's sick." The childish trolilo was llttlo shaken this time, for the shaggy eyebrows wore very oIoho to hex, nnd they gavo the old gontleman a look that was terrible beyond belief. Ho was In a dreadful temper, this crus ty old gontleman, and nothing made him angrlor than for poor pooplo to get Into his house. He bntod the sight of poverty, and all his servants bad special orders to guard the doors and the gates and to see that no moan ot woo or want ever reaehed his ears. And yot, niter nil, this little beggar had slipped past tho bolts and bar Into his very study, whero his own servants scarcely dared to outer. I don't know what dreadful thing might bavo happenod if it had not been for that one little word "mother" In tho oblld's fluttering speech. Children so soldom itpeak the word nowadays that it Ravo a little shock of surprise. Instantly ho found himself looking beyond the child, at an old, long forgottun scene a little cabin, with a white oountry road winding past It and an awkward boy golug down tho road, stopping at tho lust aurvo to wave his haud to hU mother, who stood In tho door watching him go out Into tho world. Then he remembered himself and asked sharply: . "And who Is your mother, pray, and why should tho come here?" "Please, sir," sold the quavering little voice, "mother's tho dust woman." "Tho what!" ejaculated tho old gontle man, with another dreadful frown. "She comes up once a week nud dust the briu-a-hroo," explained tho child. "The housekeeper hired her. She says she doesn't feel equal to it herself, and mother duos It so nicely." "Aha!" muttered the old grntlomnn with an angry gleam In tho eyes under those fearful brows. "So Mrs. Murray brings outsiders into tho house when my back is turned, does bIio? They're nil alike, a puck of cheats and roblters! I'll teach her to violate my confidence and fill my house with irresponsible pooplo I You may stay In this room till Mrs. Murray comes. Do you hoar? And then I shall have a message to send to your mother." Ho rnng tho bull violently and ordered that Mrs. Murray be sent to him as soon as sho returned. Having made this satis factory arrangement, ho took up his paper again and Ignored tho little figure lu the sunbonnet. But before he had read a dozon linos thero wns a light touch on his arm, and tho brown eyes wcro looking up Into his. "Please, sir, may I look out of the win dow while wo'ro waiting?" He was so astouished that he could cot reply for a moment, but ho did finally give a scornful grunt of assent. Thero was silence lu tho room for a long time. Not a dock ticked, for old Mr. Roberts could not enduro tho ticking ot clocks. Not a loaf stirred, not a cricket chirped. The stillness disturbed him nt lost, and he looked up. The child was out on the llttlo balcony, leaning on the stone balustrade Her bonnet had fallen off, and the sunlight, fulling on the mass of brown hair, wovo it full of gleams of gold. Another touch on his arm there she Was again. Her haud such a little morsel of a hand trembled with somo now emo tion, and ber eyes shone with a struugo light "It must be nlco to llvo on a hill I" was what sho said. The old gentleman In tho armchair had Hover bom n .() astounded In hU llfo. He stared at ber i d forgot to say anything. "I hove always wanted to llvo on a hill," sho wont on. "Our bouso Is away down youder, and you can't see anything but tho houses across tho street. But up here you cau look so fur, and the sky's sc closo to you. Don't you think people oil be hotter whon they llvo on a hill?" Tho newspaper fell to the floor unheeded, and tho crusty old gontleman and the llt tlo girl looked at one another. After awhile the old gentleman went to the bal cony and looked down to tho roofs ot tho crowded houses lu tho narrow streets bo low and then away to the far horizon. This beautiful homo of his crowned tho summit of this purple hill and was up- mtod so far above tho noise aud dust and wretohednoss ot the city that lay below. Truly, It was u pleasant thing to live on a bill. He had never thought of It before, but all at oner ' funded himself down among those n , ,':tble tenements, looking up at this beautiful home nud thinking .how near to heaven It reached. Thero was a hurried tap at tho door, and Mrs. Murray presented herself. Her oomfortablo figure wns nttlred still In the neat dress that she hud worn lu the street. U or round face was wreathed with smiles, hut she was obviously fluttered and quak ing with fear. "Did you leave word that you wanted to see ine, sir?" she asked and then waited tor tho blow to fall. "Mrs. Murray," said the ntleman In his stlffest nud most f.. . manner, "am I to understand thut yuu have em ployed a woman to come bore ouee a week and duet tho hrlo-a-bruc?" "Yes, sir. Mrs. Holmes her name Is, and she's very careful, sir. I couldn't du better in)elf." She glanced up anxiously at tho wooden countenance before her. What Uirriblo thing was ho going to sny next "Mrs. Murray, the woman has sent this child to any that she la too 111 to come. That will do. You will i.xonse her until fche recovers." Mrs. Murray went book to hor own room and full Into a chair. If It had boon consistent with the dignity of Mr. Roberts' housekeeper to stagger, sho oertnlnly would have stugaorcd. Hie kept repeat Inn to herself: "Did you evert" and "I ran t believe It." She mild afterward that you might have knocked ber down with a straw, though that was figurative, of course. This was the beginning of Mnrjorln's visits to the preot house on the bill. Her mother did not come again, but every day tho big sunbonnct went tolling up, and then tho glint of the golden hair would be seen In the great rooms where no child had ever strayed before. Not that she was bois terous, or laughing, or childlike In any way. She would sltlu Mrs. Murray's room for hours, with her hands hided on ber lap, watching the lady at hor work and sometimes talking softly, or she would follow her from room to room, gnzlng with rapt delight at every beautiful object. Mr. Huberts knew that she was In the houso, but ho said nothing. Ho was con scious sometimes that the child stopped near him and stood with bar hands behind ber, regarding bun with grave scrutiny, but be did not drive her away, as be might have been expected to do few weeks bo fore. He was In bis study oue morning when he hoard Mrs. Murray oome Into tho ad Joining room. The door was ajar, and, softly as site spoke, her words came tohliu distinctly. "That was a, present from my son Inst Christmas," sho said. "Dear boy I Ho nevor fulls to send me something every Christmas aud every birthday." Then oame a small voice, full ot wistful meaning: "Mrs. Murray," it sold, "do you liko Christmas?" "Why, Marjorle!" was the shocked re ply. "Why, of course, I dol Everybody likes Christmas I" "I don't," said tho small voice such a desolate little voice It seemed. "I had rather leave Christmas out of the year." "Marjorle!" No words could express tho horror and amazement In Mrs. Mur ray's tone. "I would I" The small volco had grown thinner and higher In Its painful Intensity. "What's tho u so of a Christmas that never gots to somo people at all? There was llt tlo lamo Peter Franks, who lived In tbo room opposite to ours, and, oh, bo wauted a Christmas so much, Mrs. Murrey I He used to bang his stocking np every year, every slnglo year, and hs always thought there'd bo something In It next tunrulng, but there nover was anything not a sin gle thing and now poor Peter's dead, and be never bad a Christmas In all his ltfol" "My dear! My dear!" The old gentleman In the study heard the exclamation, and he knew that tho voice that uttered It was full of tears. Ho rose hastily and slipped out of tho study and then ordered bis carriage nnd went driving. Tho day following was Christmas eve. Carriers from town wore busy all day bringing In tbo presents that ho bad bought for tho servants, and thero was great bnpplnoss In the servants' hall, with much confusion and many awkward at tempts to thank tho master, who waved off every such attempt with an alrof lofty patronage Outsldo of this family of serv ants ho bad never given any ono a present In all bis lifo. He bad cover contributed to oharltlos, publlo or private Ho had never holpod tho poor Indeed be bad never listened to their appeals. He had Important business in another olty which would keep him away all through Christmas week, ho explalnod to Mrs. Murray, and he must leave that oven lng. in tho afternoon ho muffled himself In greatcoat and furs and drove away, and as soon as the carriage was half way down the hill the servants relaxed from their usual stiff propriety and began to enjoy themselves In their own way. A telegram was banded to Mr. Roberts at tho station as bo was about to buy bis tlokot. What little things sometime change tho whole coarse of a lifel Tho In formation thus recolved made tho trip un necessary, and after loitering about the olty for awhilo be returned homo on foot and entered his house qulotly by a sldo door. Sounds of boisterous merriment came from tho servauts' quarters, and the own er ot tbo house frowned ominously. So this was the way they took advantage of bis absence? Ho made his way to his study, unseen by any one, and shut himself in a lonely, selfish, desolate old man. Even tho fire, which still burned In the grate, annoyed him, and he withdrew behind a screen and threw himself Into an easy chair. He hoard Mrs. Murray oome In after awhile, but she only moved about softly and de corously, sotting things In order, and he did not speak. She was Jnst passing Into tho sitting room whon she gave a little cry of alarm, followed by the exclamation: "Mercy me, child I How you frightened rnel" "Mrs. Murray," sold a thin llttlo volco a volco that Mr. Roberts had heard be fore "I've ooiuo up hero to stay all night!" Tho listener behind the screen hoard Mrs. Murray fall into a chair and again she orlod, "Mercy inel" "I Just had to come!" the oager voice wont on. "Mother's vory, very sick and sho noeds things, Mrs. Murray nnd moy bo Santa Claus might bring 'em If he knew and how Is ho to know whon lie never conies thero? But I know If I went to some fine house he'd comoand find mo, and so I came hero." "Poor child! Poor child!" Mrs. Murray bad gathered tho little wait to ber bosom aud wns rocking her softly to and fro. The old gontleman be hind tbo screen could see that by tho shad ow on tbo floor. Ho could see, too, that the housekeeper was furtively wiping ber eyes. Presently she rallied aud said oheerlly: "I'll toll you what we'll do, Marjorle. I'll go right down and see your mother, and you shall go with me, and, who knows, inaybo Santa Claus will come thero, after all." "Oh, no, he won't!" replied the child with sorrowful conviction. "You don't know that place! Santa Claus has never hoard of It! Ho goes to rich people's houses, and so I'vo come here, and I must soe hi in tonight oh, I must, Mrs. Murray! I don't care fur any other Christmas after this, but I must soe him tonight, on moth- ; er's account, you know." There was a dismayed silence en Mrs. Murray's part, but presently she said: "Well, come" along Into Mr. Rolxrts' I study thank goodness he's away from I home and sit !io S before the flro till I oome back. I'll lake John nnd go down and see your mother." In another minute the round of her re treating f" .cps bad died away, nnd tho old gentleman, pooping from behind the seroen, saw a llttlo figure sitting before the Ore, gazing inleutly Into thegluwlng coals. Dusk was settling down over the city. He bod not been conscious of It until the electrlo buruer above bis tnblo flashed Into sudden radiance. Tho flush star (led the child, and he hoard her moving softly about. What was she doing? Preparing to steal something probably. These chil dren from the tenement districts were all thieves. But, col When bo ventured to look again, she was at the study table his ta blewriting. She bad his sacred pen, which no other mortal had ever dared to touch, and sho was writing slowly and la boriously. Could presumption go farther than that? What would thoao pooplo be trying to do next? It took ber a long time to write the let ter, but at lust It wns finished, and sho laid tho pen down with a wc-.ry sigh. Then sho unrolled a little bundle that had boon lying beside hor and shook out could the watcher believe his eyes? a stocking, a poor, forlorn, ragged little stocking! Now what could she want with that? Sho stood on tiptoe and peered around tho corners of tho mantel fur n place to Hang It. Finally something si ruck her fancy as suitable, nnd she hcg.ni pushing a heavy chair toward I lie muntel. When it was near enough, she climbed upon It nnd hung tho stocking upon tho "brave caducous" ot tho bronze Mercury that ho bad bought last year In Home und for which ho had paid such a price! Presently sho hnd Jtiinpod dowu and was surveying tho stocking with tho great est prldo. Thou tho note was carefully folded, and she climbed upou the chair again and plnnod the folded paper to the too so conspicuously that the winged Mcr oury seemed to stand therefor no other purpose than to hold up n ragged stocking for all tho world to see. And then why, then she wns lying down upon tho mg will) her thin cheek on her thin little hand, and tho listener heard a tired sigh. After a long while tho old Rtntlotnnn. behind the screen ventured to move slight ly. After a llttlo lunger ho moved again and so gradually oivino out of bis hiding pluoe. Was that old Mr. Roberts tiptoeing across the room to keep from startling tho poor little wslf sleeping cu his hearth rug? Was that the sordid old mun whom evcu his friends bad come to call a more money machine, that man whose hands trembled as ho unpluucd tho Utile note nnd spread it out before him? DrB Sakta CLArss-When you como to night pleas look at mo. I'll bo down on the nig. Youve never soen me before. You necdent give me ennything, but pleas till t!u stocking with things for mother ahes alrk. I tied up tho toes so they wouldent drop out. The (loo tor says wine and things and housrent. Maiuorik Hoijies. For n longtime tho old man tutt In ths chair before tho Are. Something within him was breaking thocolduml sellish crust that years hnd helped to form, lie sat thero looking from the sleeping child to tho forlurn Utile stocking and from tho stocking to tho child. It was tho first time a stocking bad ever boon hung up In his houso tho first tlmol Suddenly tho old gentleman rose. He lifted tho child gently and laid her on a couch which bad always Urn sacred to bis own usoand covered her with rugs. Then he went softly out und astonished tho unsuspecting servants by appearing among them aud ordering the carriage. Could this bo old Theodore Roberts, tho monoy machine, tho selfish, brusque, irri table old man, this man who went from store to store, ordering and buying and snomllng money as be hud never spoilt it before? Could this bo tho Mr. Huberts that Mrs. Murray knew, this man who went Into that sickroom, followed by a great hamper Oiled with "wine and things and houso rent?" Was this tho man thut all the oharltable organizations shunned, this man who drovo about half the night, leaving behind him n trull of ChrlHtmus rojololng, mingled with sucli blessings as be had novor hoard before? And who was It that drove up tbo bill at last undor tho silent stars, with a car rlago full of bundles and with a stningo, soft fooling tugging at his heartstrings? Ho smiled ns he went, and yet ho hnd to keep wiping his eyes. Ho was glud it was dark, so that no oue could soe. And what strango figure was this in tho study afterward, this figure that moved so stealthily aud thut was so busy stulllng the stocking until It was ready to nurse, and pinning things all over the outsldo of It uutll the bronzo Alorcury socmotl al most to stagger undor his burden? What bad oome over tho old gentleman whom so many people envied and whom nobody loved? Just before day Mrs. Murray, coming softly In, found him sitting by tho flro, watching tho sleeping child. "It'll be a sad time for her," sho said "Hor mother's goue, and whatevcr'a to booomn of the llttlo thing I don't know." "I don't soo why the child shouldn't stay bora, Mrs. Murray, said the old pen tlcman, with his face turnod tbo other way. "It would bo somo extra trouble for you, but I dare say you would not mind It" "S-slr!" Mrs. Murray managed to artlo ulate. Then the old gentleman turned around, and sho saw what was shining on bis cheeks. "Do you see that storking, Mrs. Mur ray?" he cried, In a voice that sho hud never heard before. "That's the first stock ing that was ever hung up In my houso. It looks homelike, doesn't it? I havo do elded that we'll have stockings hung up every your. And here's a child that needs a home, and, thatik heaven, I'vo a homo to give ber." The child sighed and stirred and thun suddenly sat up. "Did ho oome?" sho cried eagerly, with a duzed look nt the bursting stocking, and tho old gentleman beside her gathered ber up in his arms and said: "Yes, my little one, ho cumo!" Phila delphia Times. The Russian Christmas. In mnny parts of Russia, particularly In provinces romoto from tho populous cen ters, Christinas is celebrated inoro as It was when first Introduced. Fumlllos, friends and often sniull neighborhoods gather at one bouse for celebrations. The mistress of thnt bouso at once becomes tho supremo manager of ull tho services and festivities, evcu to selecting tbo youutf men who shall each lie tho special escort of a certain young lady. These "oluo tlons," as they are called, coining In tho season for betrothals and associated as they arc with the mystic Influence of the mistletoe, often lead to festivals where the olive branch Joins tbo holly and urango blossoms. Selected. HOW TO KEEP CHRISTMAS. Lesson From the English I'oeU on tho Holiday's Observance. To learn how to keep Christmas In Its true spirit, one cannot- do better than to turn to the English poets, old and new. England waa my England whrn (1.1 Christmas brought Us sports again. says Sir Walter Scott, and, Instead of giv ing ono little day to this festival, our moth erland devoted 13 days to Its commemora tion. Bo now has come our Joyfulust fravt : Ixl every man be Jolly; Each room with Ivy leaves be drwtt And every pwt with holly. Without tho door let sorrow lie. And If for cold it hnp to die. We'll bury It In a Christmas pie And evermore bo merry, writes Georgo Wlthor, a poet of the seven teenth century. On every Christmas eve the bells of old Cambridge ring out this anclout carol: Ood bleas you, merry gentlemen : Let nothing you dismay. For Jesus Christ, our Saviour, Waa born thia happy day. As the song runs on, Its burden Is that the holy tide ot Christmas must efface all evil memories and nnlte men In tho bonds of lovo and brotherhood. Thackeray thus conveys tho lesson of Christmas: Come wealth or want, come good or HI, Let young and old accept their part, And bow before the awful will. And bear It with an honest heart. Who miaw a or who wins the prue Go, loee or oonquur as you can. But if you fall or If yuu rim Be each, pray Ood, a guntlunian. My song save thia la little worth, I lay tho weary pen astdo And wish you health and love and mirth As fits the aolema Chrtstiuasttde, As flta the holy Christmas birth. Bo this, good friends, our carol still Bo praeo on earth, bo peace on earth, To men uf gentlo will. Charles Mackny's "Under tho Ilolly Bough" breathes tho true Christmas spir it by saying to all who havo scorned or In jured ono another: In't sinned against aud sinning Forget their strife's beginning And join In friendship now. Be links no longer broken, Be sweet forgiveness spoken Under the holly 1 yh. Tennyson sums up tho teachings of scores of Christmas poets when In versos addressed to the bells he sings: King out old shapes of foul disease, King ont tho narrowing lust ot gold. Ring out the tluiuaand want of old, Ring lu the thousand years uf poacu. Ring In the valiant man and free, The larger heart, tho kindlier hnnd, King ont the darknesa of the land, Ring ill the Christ that Is to be. Selected. THE CHRISTMAS HOLLY. An Appropriate ltoooratlon For This Sea son of Itrjulclnc. A picturesque shrub estieclully useful at this time of tho year Is tho holly, with Its tough and shining spinous leaves and its pretty little, full, round berries. It Is the only plant appropriate to this happy period that relieves tho dead green and monoto nous white of tho nonfloworlng plants and vinos supposed to bolung to Christmas and tho days that follow Kpiphany. Llko tho mistletoe, most of the holly ei posed for salo In American marts comes from Great Britain, although somo species of tho plant grow in tho southern states. Tho commercial holly, however, Is out In Scotland nnd sent hero lu liug. It Is most valuablo to work up In combination with laurel, Ivy and mlstlotoo into wreaths, anchors, stars, crowns and other cccloslikstlcul designs, jvhllu fur running dooorutlons that Is, long festoons and great sweeps of green a few of the bright rod berries wound in at regular Intervals heighten the effect and relieve tho eye. Tho favorlto manner of arranging holly for sale Is to make It up into somo one of tho numerous designs appropriate to tho day and the season, and thus most of tho plant offered this year Is fashioned. Holly Is not so oxpenslvo as the mlstlotoo and Is mora hardy and lusting. It has no trndl tlon connected with It, bowover, and thus loses Its sentimental value. But to tho dooorator, tho artist, tho florist and tbo dealer It !s one of tho best, most ornate and suggestive plants for use at homo or In public placesthutcan bo selected at this season. Chicago Times. Old Christmas Customs. Ono custom that has oomo to us from aoross tho son Is that of banging up stock ings on Christmas eve. Little children are taught that St. Nicholas brings in gifts to thorn through closed windows, and It is supposed this custom started from a trudl tlon that St. Nluholas used to throw purses of money In through tho wluduws of poor maidens, so that tbey might bavo marriage portions. Howlson, In his sketches of upper Can ada, says thnt ho met onco at midnight on a beautiful moonlight Christmas ovo an Indian, who was softly creeping along on tho ground. Upon being questioned, the Indian motioned to him to lie silent, and said: "We watch to soe tho door kneel. This Is Christmas night, and all the deer full upon their knoos to tho Great Spirit and look lip." .Selected. Laurel and Ground Tina. Noxt to tho mistletoe and holly tho lau rel and ground plno are most fuvored, tho former's glossy louves and groen berries suggestlvo of good ohoer and always form lng an effectlvo background whon gay ber ries or mosses are used In addition.. Tho ground plno colls easily and gracefully into wreaths and Is Invaluable fur twining about staircases or pillars or for using In decoration on a large scale when boughs of spruce, hemlock nnd oedar aro also much In voguo. St. Louis Republic. Paris Christmas Confection. Parisian confootloners and florists deco rate their shops with some effort at symbol Ism on tho feto days of the your. Last Christmas boulxinnloras of donkeys, with panels of Infant dolls, woredlspluyed, The I fuvorlto cako of this holiday Is almond, thinly mado and covered wlUi figures. Plum cake Is seen In the north of France during tbo holidays. Another cako, "l'enfunt Joeus," cut out in the form of a child, is very popular with tho children. Exchonge. Christmas Bong. Why do bells for Christmas ring? Why do little children sing? Once a lovely shining star Hcvn by shepherds from afar Gently moved until Its light Made a manger's cradln bright. Tin f a d..rllng baby Iny 1 il.v.wd soft upon thu hay, And its mother sang and smiled, "This Is Christ, the holy child." Then-fore Is lis for Christmas ring; Therefore little children sing. -Kiigenx Field In Chicago Herald. HOW PERUVIANS CELEBRATE. Chriatmaa Eve a Peaaon ot Julllflratlon. null FlgtiM After Chureh. A Christmas ouobratlon lu Peru hr.s peculiar feature. In the cities, and more especially In Limn, there are bewildering scenes of activity on Christmas eve. The streets otul square are crowded with a guyly dressed lnwiple. Droves of nsses aro to lie soon In every direction laden with fruit, boughs from the mountains, liquors aud other merchandise. Ice stalls, provid ed with chairs and benches, are crowded by tho perspiring pleasure sivkers, who find Ice necessary on sultry Christmas. As night approaches the streets aro packed with a noisy people, and joke and Just and merry pranks become tho rule. Theso are participated In mostly by strangely attired persons In masks. Muslo of guitars, clultcrliigcustanetsand pebbles rattling In gourds fill the air with mingled discordant sounds. No dour Is closed. There aro muslo nud dancing and the dis tribution ot gifts in every house. All are welcome to enter. Strangers are sure of a hearty welcome, and to be a foreigner Is to have a double claim on hospitality and to receive n double welcome. All ceremony nnd restraint are absent. Suddenly the sceno change. Tho mid night Im'11 at tbo cathedral has summoned all to mass. The houses and streets are nearly diverted, while tho churches, with their decorations and blazing tapers, aro thronged. Again on Christmas morning tfto streets are crowded and the markets aro thronged, but at 9 o'clock tho churches are again filled. After the services oomo tho feast, and tho games, and the sports. Of all tho spurts bull fighting Is tho favorlto, nnd tbo Christmas light is generally tbo Uist of tho season, as eight or ten bulls aro fre quently killed ou that day, besides several horses, and not Infrequently ono or two of tho fighting men. lu this sport women appear to take more outhuslikstla pleasure than tho men. When night comes, there Is n grand pro cession, headed by the priests aud monks, who aro followed by tho soldiers and poo plo. All aro guyly dressed, and ninny in fantastic, costumes aud masks. Banners, flags, streaming rlblHins and green boughs aro carried, and muslo Alls thu air. In the midst ot tho procession thero Is held aloft tho figure of the Madonna bearing In ber arms tho Holy Child. After a long march tho procession returns to the cathedral, there disbands and tho Christmas celebra tion is at an end. New York Herald. MISTLETOE AT YULETIDE. Not Bo Ceuerally l ied as Ilolly Vener ated by the Dralds. Tho connection of mistletoe with Christ mas Is a very curious ono, says Robert Blight In tho Philadelphia Press, and for from being a general ono. Literature Is perhaps mainly responsible for It, In that allusions to a custom, in a great degree purely local, havo mudo a large number ot persons Interested In tho plant. It, more over, seems to mo that tho "istom of using it lu Christmas decorations depends on two considerations first, its evergreen habit, and, secondly, tho veneration In which It was held by tho Druids. In tho orchards of Herefordshire and Worcester shire, lu England, aud in those of Nor mandy, apple trot's may bo seen covered with mlstlotoo to such nu extent that lu wintertime, when divested of their nutural leaves, they present a mass of green in tho leaves of their parasite. Tho reasons mentioned havo no doubt done much to secure tor tho mlstlotoo tbo place which In recent times it has held In Christmas festivities, but it Is not so uni versally honored at Yuletldo as tho bully. In fact, its popularity Is purely local, and its uso as an ornament, in places whero it does uut grow, Is duo rather to ou anti quarian sentiment tbau to any fooling thnt Its prosonco at tho rejoicings ot tho season Is necessary. Yuu may bavo a very merry Christmas without any mistletoe at nil, but to the majority of tho people a Christmas without a sprig or two of holly would scarcely seem to bo Christmas at all. Kvon that rare old plant, the Ivy green, cannot compete with tho holly as a uooos sary part ot domosllo adornment fur tho Christmas merry gatherings. Still mistletoe bos a oertaln amount of soutiment attached to it, aud therefore the mlstlotoo bough finds a pluco in tho farm houses, mansions and cusllcs of tho dis tricts of England whero It grows and in tho dwellings of tho wealthy whero It cau bo purchased, while hero a spray Is bought just for tho saka of old memories. The Chrlstmaa Maaaage, Cold must bo tho heart that has no re sponse to this great Christmas sentiment, barren indeed tho homo Into which no recognition of tho Christ child enters, no thought of thut Inestimable gift that has mado all mankind brethren. To tho poorest and humblest of us this Christmas message speaks. Tho wise men required the guiding of a star, but to the watuhtng shepherds tho augul spoke face to fuoo, nud thero is a Christmas sentiment in all theso guy streets and jostling crowds that tho wlso men ot our own day are not always tho first to understand. In a few days mora tho evorgreens will havo faded, aud we shall be going about our business with all tho stern realities of tho new year before us. But we shall carry something over from this groat holi day that will not fudo it wo oaro to keep it green, a new Impulse of faith and lovo thut will keep the world still growing brighter and bettor hooauso uf Christmas day. Philadelphia Times. Uanglog tho Holly, The English holly Is finer lu quality than that grown on American shores, says tho St. Louis Republic. Tho louves aro a better green and tho berries larger, and before tho holiday season sets In great hampors of It are shipped from the Kngllsh IKjrts to delight American eyes and hearts. An attractive manner of using It Is to tie big bunches with long satin ribbon loops and ends, matching lu shade the hue of tho berries, and place them ovor pictures or mantelshelf, or fasten against the wall, especially lu somo picturesque nook or cor ner. Underneath the mantel, whon thero Is no fireplace, the space may bo banked with masses of tho spiny loaves and bright berries; Jars or vases may be filled with them, whllo holly wreaths nnd ropes aro n not her form of decoration, very effectlvo both In largo and small uiwirtmcnts. St. Nicholas' White Horse. In Holland St. Nicholas Is a reality, but ho como driving a white horse and not reindeer. Tho children aro taught to bo thoughtful for tho welfare of tho white teed, and on Christmas evo ouch pair of little shoes is carefully cleaned, nnd being filled with oats and hay they are placed on the hearth. The buy and outs aro for the good saint's white horse. In the morning tho hay and oats are gone, and In their place sro found toys ami sweetmeats for the goud children and rods fur tho Isid ono. Fxchnnge. NORMAN CHRIST3fAS. CUSrOVSAND FEASTS OF ENGLAND'S ANCIENT RULERS. Cells aud Salons Were the Servant of Their Conquerors Htewed Lamprey From the Severn Drinks of the Early Britons Peacocks and Hoars' Heads. Celtic-superstitions nnd traditions pre vail In F.ngland, the laud of tho mistletoe; the romance of Arthur and his knights lingers around Avulon; Roman luxury is with us in Bath and Cirencester; Somer set recalls the scenes ot Atholney and Glastonbury, and In tho magnificent plies ot Worcester, Gloucester and Hereford wo still gazo In admiration on theso wonders of Norman generosity. But what have these Normans bequeath ed to us of Christmas customs? Nothing distinctive, for tholr ancestors, the son kings, were but offshoot of the sumo Scandinavian forefathers of tho Saxons, and thus wo had already received through Dane and Saxon tbo observance of north ern Yule. But a greater luxury nnd hive ot display In every form entered English life. Quality, no longer quantity, was the fashion of the board. Tho ox nud calf flesh, sheep nnd swlno flesh, appear as beef, venl, mutton and pork; hugo horns of homo brewed ale give place to wines; spiced aud highly seasoned dishes first ap pear. But at heart tho Norman Is no more refined than tho Saxon. Where tho Saxou Is slmplo minded, trustworthy and faith ful, the Norman is crafty, cunning and do oollful. Ills fair words may sound sweet er, 'tis all. Many and varied now are tho dishes at feasts. Our terrapin and canvasbock duck had their prototyo In thu crane, uidls pensulilo at all aristocrat lo feasts, and In Docket's days, for King Henry wns a veritable gormand, wo find such dishes as "dlllegrout," "knrumplo" and "mau plgyrnun." Dlllegrout required great skill on the oook's part, fur It was composed of almond milk, the brawn of capons, sugar and sploea, dilcken parboiled and chopped and Is often known a "la messo degyron." If fat were added to It, thob It booamo "mau plgyrnun." The tonaut ot tho mauur ot Addington In Surrey hold bis lands in return for a uioss of dlllegrout op tbo day ot tho king's coronation. Tho Norman klugs had; learned to ap preciate tho stowed lampreys ot tbo Severn, and the loyalty ot Gloucester was tested overy year by tbo preparation ot a hugo lamprey pip tor the sovereign. So fond was Henry II of this, rich dish that his gluttony overcamo his prudence, nnd his lost Illness and death resulted from the same. John, too, fined! the citi zens ot Gloucester for not sending hliu tholr usual tribute. But when Inihpreys oost oOoonts apiece and a wholo shoep's carcass oould bo bought fur tho same sum, noed we wonder at tbo economical tend encies dlsplnyod toward the worthless king? Tho Christmas lamprey plo, which Gloucester sends to the reigning king or queen, Is woll worth notice. . Last yoar tho custom, fallen Into uboyaDoo, was re vived, and a pie weighing 111 pounds wns dlsputohod to Windsor ami gratefully ac knowledged by her majesty. Aooordlng to an anolont recipe, "tukoout yebocke bono, season yin wltb cloves, luooo, nutmeg, pep per and alhtploo, stow ym In bouf , gravy, port wlue and wine ot Madeira, put yul In a pie, with chopped nnolmvloa, flour and butter; oat yt with loiuou juice, mustard and horse radish." Aooompnnylng this gift are silver skew ers bearing the city arms, engraved or raised In relief. The English had loug era this time been culubruted fur their drink lug capabilities. logo says, "Your pane, your .Gornmri and your swag bellied Hollander are. noth ing to your Kugllsh." The uiond, cldor, ale, pigment nnd momt ot tho Celts and Saxons have Norman suo cessora lu clarof or clnrre, gnrhlufllop nnd hlppooras. Tho Saxou iuorut was niudo ot houoy and mulberries, ami the Norman hlppooras, Indispensable at all high feasts, was sweetened wlno mixed With spice. The garblofljao was a white wine sploed with glrofle or cloves, and we can still read an order of Henry III directing the keeper of bis wines to got ready for Christmas two tuns of white wine to makognrhlofllno and one tun of rod wine for olnrut. Tho same king gives orders for penaoeks and boars' heads for the toast, showing how luxury wns creeping in uiore and mora. It was this king whoso ooronntlon at Gloucester la depleted In one of tho oatbodral windows. In a notable Christ mas spent there In nearly all Ids no bles loft ,hlm because bo hjul given tbo best scut at table to foreigner. But we must never forget thnt until Crocy was fought and won In )iUQ there wns no English Chrlstjlio. Previous to this Saxon and . Norman dwelt apart as servant and muster, tjio Snxun ollnglng to bis simpler If oonrsur piodu of life, i'he Normau satsoornful and aloof lu bis cere monious foasU. . But tho leaven was nono tho less working, and ouch successive gon orutlou ot the two race bocajuo more and mora oogulzunt of tho other's doings. Tbo Saxon dwelling as servant in the Norman's balls must oonfurin In part to the ways of tho household, and tho Norman chlhl do voted to his faithful Saxou Aurvunt listened with eager ears to tho tales of Arthur and his knights, fur tho Saxon and Celt had long era this mado common auuso. We have no tale of tho reverence of tho cross to toll in tho obsorvanoeof a Norman Christmas, and yet tho wars of the orusa drew Saxon and Norman Qluseranil.elnser, until In the tune. of Edward 1U they made common cause aud fought bravely side by sldo, the Saxon full of admiration iur the skill which could oonquur brute foroo In feats ot arms, and the N'ormnn no lon ger disdainful, for he finds the Saxou yeo man a trusty friend, faithful subject and a worthy ally. And so we cumo to the England ot Chaucer, tho fnthur, the well iprlng, tho bright aud mornlngstor ot our language tho richest, the greatest and most comprehensive of tho langnagos ot the world. Lot us join him lu "Nowell crloth every lustle In an." Philadelphia Lodger. Howalls' UappUat Christmas, The merriest Christina I have ever known In my llfo is tho first one that I can remember. The question ot who ex perience the greater happiness and sense of triumph, tho ohlld who has received a now and much ouveted toy on Christmas morning or thu military hero who bus cup tured a groat city, bus been often discussed, but nover satisfactorily decided. W. D. HowclU lu New York World. A Chrlstmaa Fact. Th future haa a golden tinge. The past, too, may seem pleasant. But Just about the i'brlatuiastul There's nothing like the priswnt. -Life.