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About Lincoln County leader. (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 24, 1896)
1 If Tt Kill WELCOME CHRISTMAS. Thrice welcome, dny of diiys! Tbevskles Ope wide their Ktes ut thy commiiud And IJcuvcu's sublimest symphonies Hull grandly over sea nnd laud. Tin- dva of chiirlty distill Their Incense evervwhere. nnd comes unlveisiil Joy til till The highest and the humblest homes. Thy sen doth Mess with holler kiss! Thy lirenth n grander these doth hymn! Thy wlnjrs do elose the lilnck uliyss Of evil, mid no lunger dim Are valleys of eternal pence. Or mud where Its own restores. But hkies iiiienrtiilned show Increase Of glory on thy crystal shores! And thou dost light for me nirnln The yule-log on the homestead hearth. The graves where long the dead have lain Do open, as a vernal garth, And tilooni for me once more the loves That roseate made my youthful days; Within thy firelight lives and moves My mother, haloed with the rays Of I'arndlse. and ns her twin Lips with the olden fondlings part. Anil I. enraptured, cuddle In The. velvet haven of her heart, I see the pall of doubt unfold, And on the pathway of the snn God's linger writes In lines of gold The words, "For Home and Heaven are one!'' Then, too, thy chimney glow reveals My father's face; the old armchair Is his again, and Lulu kneels Beside him with her Christmas prayer; The sweet-voiced pleadings uttered are, And grandpa's lips do part to say, "Thank Cud the gates are all ajar 'Twlxt Home and Heaven on Christmas Dm-1" Thon. welcome, day of days! Thy dawn Is vibrant with fauilllar tones. The veil that dims our sight Is drawn, Tl'o farther shore thy sunlight zones. No growth of skeptic fancy now Our faith In glad reunion leavens. For 'tis engraven on thy brow That Heaven Is Hume's, and Home Is lira veu's! Century mssn FELLOW -TRAVELERS. ITTci.f i a nAiAJi nn".v from home rijs-1 OjA n1"' "10 loved ones vtr is n dreiirv nnriod of the year. At least so thought Chillies McKeena. a bo Ira versed the toil of. his nine car of pota toes en route for the Siiutht ri mar ket. He wns one of the jriitliiit dealers, nnd, ns 'tis opera tions wore not extensive it wns impera tive for It i in to personally "lite" his own cars. If none of the potatoes were frozen before h: reached New Orleans, n hand some profit would nwait liiin tli-iv, for there was n big margin just W this time. It was loii'soiiie work .it the In-st, not without an clement of dnnsrer. -mil work which required constant attention in or der to keep the lives from iriiing out. Seated before the lire In one of the cars lie rested bis hend on his hands nml med itated about his wile nml th. two little ones. The lire glowed brightly nod his heart was filled with hope, energy and ambition as he gazed .a to its utility dcplhx. The train wns speeiliiii; along at a normal rate, and the ..t-ndy rhythmic sound was resumed upon the r:iU and then be fell esleep How long he rested ill h eha..' he did not know. Then he eatne to himself with a start, being fl'.noat throwi from nis chair by n jolt ns the train again stopped on a switch. Drawing out his watch be consulted It, and then gave an p.clnnin tlon of alarm. He had overs'ept himself; the fires were probably out l.y this lime: the frost bad entered the p dittoes, and he was ruined. Hastily tnnking his way A wm "IIKM.O, Haw m'kkkna." IN ENGLAND. AMONG all the Germanic nations Christmas has ever been the most popular of all church festivals. In England it wns, and is, the one great national feast, and in the Anglican church and among the Lutherans of Ger many the exclusion of many minor festi vals from the calendar has only concen trated the popular affection upon Christ mas. The Puritans made a rigorous battle against what they thought a supersti tion, nnd in IGTiJ it was ordered by Par liament "that no observation shall be had of the tive-niid-twentieth day of Decem ber, coinmoul.v called Christmas Day, nor any solemnity used or exercised in churches upon that day in respect there of." A little before, in 1047, the town crier of Canterbury proclaimed that "Christmas and all other superstitious festivals should be put down, and a mar ket held upon Christmas Day." But uone of these orders had much effect. In Scotland John Knox did succeed in pretty effectually siiTinrpsalnjj the observance of Christmas, in the Lowlands, at least, but he simply transferred the popular cus toms and superstitions to New l'enr's Day. There is an English rhyme of this period that illustrates the popular feel ing on the subject: All plums the prophets' sons defy, Ai.d splce-broths are too hot; Treason's In a December pye, And death within the pot. Christmas, farewell, thy days I fear. And merry days are done; So they may keep feasts all the year. Our Saviour shall have none. In Germany. At home around the tree, is the cul minating point of Teutonic revelry in Yuletide. The enthusiasm and the senti ment of youth nnd age have then at tained their pitch, nnd they are permitted to give full vent to it for the evening. The tree is illuminatod nt the appointed hour; "Still night, holy night," is sung In the domestic circle; n sweet vnpor of domestic unity is Inhaled amid smiles and tears, and the feast of the Nativity is thus initiated. In Norway. One of the prettiest of Christmns cus tom is the Norwegian practice of giving on Christmas Day a dinner to the birds. Ou Christmas morning every gable, gate way, or barn-door is decorated with a shenf of corn, fixed on the top of a tull pole, wherefrom it is intended that the hirds shall make their Christmas dinner. Even the peasant will contrive to have a handful set for this purpose; and what the birds do not eat on Christmas Day all the world and his wife try to find a place in one or other of the fashionable churches, and, after the service is over, all go round to see and criticise the Creche. In Mexico. The devout of Mexico go to early mass on Christmas morning. The minority de vole themselves to a toothsome break fast, in which tortillas, chile con enrne (boiled beef and red peppers), tomnlis (corn husks stuffed with force meat), ore the leading features. After brenkfast come the festivities. These are of ail SERBIANS PREPARING THE NATIONAL DISH. remains for them to finish at their leisure through the winter. In France, In Paris Christmas Day is kept as a religious festival, and many who would not dream of going to church on Sun days make a point of attending mass on le Jour de Noel, and the blaze of the tapers falls on crowded congregations, men, women nnd children, kneeling, standing nnd sitting on the wide area of the Madeleine and Notre Dame. Of late years It has become chic to attend midnight mass on Christmas Eve, and so, pouring down along the boulcvnrds. sorts and are imbued with a religious spirit of almost another age. In each house, where the residence can afford it, a little nneimiento (altar) is raised in par lor, drawing-room or library, which is supixised to typify the birth of the Holy Child. Wealthy people go to great lengths nt times, having a manger and a barn constructed, and hire men to piny the parts of the wise men of the East and St. Joseph. Another curious custom consists In friends going from house to house, tap ping on the door, nnd on being asked: "Who is there?" replying: "The Holy Virgin nnd Saint Joseph ask lodgings in In Kervia, Christmas custom. t,,t 1:1 Christian in their nri: n-l . ' . i i . . ".'bin. mere u ti Badnjnk a piece of wood, corned! somewhnt to the yule log, cut down brought into the house with grea?c tnony, and then, after being basted 1 honey and butter, in th- ... , nnd cattle tuny be prosperous in 7. coming year, is burned; una there ii , sort of Futher Christmas or Santa Cli.! in the person of a l'ohizenik, a speeitfc honored visitor, w ho u ih a... . received Into the house on Christom o iiir, mm mere is the cookini l Hie uiLuuuui urisiuins (USD, turkey is to the American, pork io me oervian. r.veu the poorest ilv will save un nil tha so as to be nble to purchase i pig Christmns. On Christmns Fn. killed, nnd on the following day, "Ufa, dinner hns been served anil the rout pig duly discussed, toasts are drunk, iil heroic songs sung to the accompaniment of a one-stringed instrument. The tm is strewn with straw, in memory oltii stable in which our Lord wbb born, Wbtt tk ii l hi. round Tl Ttf :ii l:t( iil lie In Austria. As early ns the tith of November, Vi. I enna assumes an air of festivity; her A I zeus have not forgotten that It it tit anniversary of their patron saint, 8l Nicholas. After a week's intermission, the public squares are once more cruv mcd with booths of all dimensions uj I description, forming regular avenun.1 crowded several weeks before Christnui with representatives of every soclil grnde. If we take a stroll through tit Hingstrasse, Christmas Eve, we sbil find that aristocratic thoroughfare de serted, but nil the flats or apartments nro Illuminated. Christinas trees, loaded with presents, form the evening's chid attraction. HER F-IFRST CHRISTMAS TO 1-iISB OLD HOME to the next car, to his surprise the fire In the stove was burning brightly, and the luterior. If anything, was too warm lie hurried to the next ear. Thrrs It was even warmer than in the first ear. U itartd at th store In amaitmnt. New York Herald. Meneiz 11 m Raniiav i9V 'That's funny," he commented, mill ing nt his mustiichc. The next rive enrs were In a. liko con dition and he was immensely relieved and more puzzled than ever. Who in the world could have Bred his stoves for him? lie entered the last car, and was surprised to see a tramp seated neat the stove, toasting his toes to his heart's content. . "Hello," said McKeena. "Hello," responded the tramp to M Keena's exclamation. For a moment they stood there, and then McKeenn, waving his hand, said: "Don't mind nie." "All right," remarked the tramp, and with that he seated himself again before the stove. Mclveena also drew up a chair. Then he took a cigar case from his pocket. "Smoke?" he asked. "Thanks." ' After a few whiffs -the tramp remark ed: "He you the feller that runs the pota toes?" "I am." McKeena himself lighted a weed and then said: 1 p'mc 11 w" rou who flred the "It were." "Much obliged." Ti0.?,' m,en,lon To" lmm. rid and I'll call It squar. parf" "Very well. How far are you going?" "New Orleans." Then they both smoked in silence. Mc Keena ezr.mined his eomnnninn i.o..iu "niS TISITOB ATBCOl'M.V." He was a tall man of athletic figure, and . "- oai ue piihsessed enorm ous strength. His face was covered with a bushy growth of whiskers and with tjts about as bright as two coult. Ue puffed at his cigar with evident enjoy ment. "How's potatoes?" he said. "Good." "Any family?" "Yes; wife nnd two, and I miss them especially on Christmas eve." The tramp took another whiff, and something like moisture appeared to his eyes. "I had a wife once," he remarked. "Indeed!" said the other with a show of interest. "Where is she now?" "She was sent to J I mean, she died. She had consumption." McKeena attempted to giTe evidence of sympathy and the ragged Intruder tipped back his head and his eyes gleumed more than ever. "Had a kid, too," he remarked. "What's become of him?" "He's in the reform that Ii to say, stranger, he is now a prosperous mer cuiut in New York.' He lives on Fifth avenue, he does, and baa an English coachman." "You don't tell me?" commented Mc Keeiin. endeavoring to look as though he believed the other's narration. " 'I 'on honor." "Any vittelsr "Yes." McKeena produced his lunch-basket and his visitor ate ravenously, as though he hud not touched food for twenty-four hours. "You turn in. pard," remarked tht trnmp. "I'll keep up the fires." ' The other hesitated, but finally down and took a nap. All the rW New Orleans this programme ff fol- lowed. Early one morning as we un stopped, the tramp said: , "Good-bye. 1 think I'll light out before we git to town." . . .i. Then he turned to the other ami ..- Before Jim- The lor" ed him an envelope.' could answer he wns gone. mechanically handled the envelope gazed doubtfully at the new, crisp bill and the following message: "You Did me a good Turn. ' Christmas present fur de kids, i Hard pressed Wen I cum to yu Took a stranger In an Nourished Giv mi Regards to de little wife; wise de Kids an Bi a Drum i ,, . c . . . 1 I. . I ' .1 U.tra vOtl. kaaSv i und de sriin you wen yu com In, but yu Tere '" ous an I diddent Shoot. I wu tM to Lay yu out an I Ain't sory I o k with Kind reggards. From yur oie ' believe me, verry Faithfully yourn, McGinnlssy." .i, Bill McGinnlssy was the name oi w train-robber whose misdeeds had " him the terror of the South, tu wanted for about fifty crimes. young merchant shuddered ana gazed doubtfully at the new, crisp f bill. - . But l'