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Say It TSsyh/ia A Christmas igqrg

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AVE HOLDEN chose his up with some one of those 10W" homestead high ill’ 11"‘ sllClkS, and I wont care then whe- tooihill valley 110i (‘"13" ilirr I no farming or not." for tho >hl‘llf‘l' “I 5m‘ "Dent you \\‘[ll‘l‘_Y ovcr that. I'm rounding 1111i‘ "lid Pm‘ not isiiiiinin: on taking up with any _ Ximlifr’ 1° F""""‘“" ‘if town sheik-nor with a big boy like rlllllfl‘ mid ]"d1"""'p°i“ Dave Holden TllllllillL!‘ ziround loose." Pm“- "c had “Humor W“'\U“V1\'Y But Dave \\'tll'l'li'{ir nut the same rct.'cail:ii.; so far lroin t‘i‘.lilLIi\l10ll- “m! bl‘, m‘, _§,,(.,,nd hm, m. knpw he Tlldl l\‘1l.»Ull “as Slll/lilpililllcl- _ iiiui occasion for it. Sylvia's talk Dave ﬁll“ Slill“ h“ hm‘ W“; had turned from crops and coun- togviili‘? (“"11 ‘he ‘mum ‘vhmw try picnics and nil things of the lulfh vvvr‘ lwfll- T11" i‘ land to sport and irnnis and par- <11 iii" sun» rfiiilii- ‘i tiwilarly one, Jiici: Fulton whose name ims oltcn on hcr lips. Dave had a i-cling of bring taken a‘: a disaiiiaiizagc. Instratl of wooing Slillil for liiinsi-lt‘ lie bluntly char- acti ln-r “iii! having transferred

nit-g dancrs. will m- n Sill v ni-zht. Willi ~ lvs L>l(it‘. Dave had drlhu‘ ill?‘ l" 1c ‘rink. “one ton cat. r (it I i their (likllllfViilil- Ai-‘l F"

(u tiiaily on

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1 I N dim ages long ago ' When the hoary-whiskered druid Underneath the mistletoe _ Spilled the victinrs vital ﬂuid, People who beheld the rite Felt a certain veneration For the pretty parasite _ Which demanded such oblation.

2

Later, when the authentic thrill

Of the sacriﬁce was missing, Mistletoe was honoured still

As a good excuse for kissing. Gallants with a ready lip

Bussed each pretty maid with unction, And the custom gave a zip

To the dullest Christmas function.

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socmrd 111111" ¢“'1l""‘5 the way.

any formal (‘llgtlgPlllﬂli them. It hardly seemed no“ 'l‘iii\v iiiiil "unnv tout-inn” m lill t that .S(illil‘lilllv.‘, Dan- _~.lli7l)t)d.‘<| will ‘rum, m. “y; in, a posliltvn to uiil-i" hm- zt iionic. lic would till hcr m. and SVHKI. “Pllill say. "All J ' ‘ Dave. \\'llt‘ll\'.\l’ you are r011 . 'l‘hcn siic iroiiid iurn hcr icinniiiii: mouth to him, and he would hi» hcr tenderly and n little difiurcn - ly, now that siic ivas so soon to be his bl‘l(i(‘.

Bu; Dilh‘ liad not manic/l on a woman's ivill-and what comps cf it. At eighteen Sylviit, having Ll‘- CilFPfl her teacher's certificate, an- plitvl for and was accepted by a

W1}. nutty Strong, Dave.“ Sylvia Teaser], “Better Be Careful "

town some distance from hcr hoinc. She wnsnll enthusiasm and cxcilc merit over hcr plunge into the great szlf supporting world.

Dave may have shared her ox- citemcnt. but. not hcr enthusiasm. He told hcr s0.

"Why, Dave Holden. Tm surpris- ed at you!" Sylvia rctortcd. "I ai- ways thought you would be glad to sec me get a chance."

"Of course, I want you to have your chance," he explained. “bull I'm figuring: on fixing a chance for you too- Dad is paying me a mauh wages now. In another your or two

Ill be all sci. to take up land of my own, and thcn——" ‘

Shc waited for him to put som '- thlng definite into words, but a certain shyness hold him hack. Any

way she kncw what he meant. Sli- gaw- his discnuagcd hand a girlish iqurcz".

“Phat will be fiuc," sllc said. ‘You will make a good farmer, I am sure. Dave.“ '

be Very Merry, and

w I ‘i

with Happiness.

Phone 296 or 877.

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May Your Christmas

the New Year filled

DAVIS & FRASER

It was true there had ll\“-'l‘l' been i)('l\l.'< cll

"mlaybc," hc admitted. "And may be by that. time you‘ll have taken

lit-r aiil-ttioiis to Fulton.

“I ain't blaming you." he said, SilJ‘('él.'\lll'llii_l'. ‘Nu doubt. he is a rory fine follow. But if I meet him smut» day perhaps we'll sec which is tiiv lwst mun "

“lies pretty strong, Dave," Sylvia teased. "Better be careful."

Whcrcupoii Dare lost his tcinpei‘ ﬁllflsvthcr. "aiaybc I should be care nit. and mayybtv you should be carc- iiil, too. What I'm saying is, either You give him up, or I'm through!"

That was too much for the spirit- cd Sylvia. Whether or not she car- od for Jack Fulton, she wasn't go- iiii.’ io tithe orders about it from Dave. Dave ncrer had actually ask -d hcr to marry him, although she had him opportunity enough.

I ; you're through!“ she said, and whi>kcd hcrsrit out of his presence.

Dave had not expected that re- sult, but lie had gone too far to re- treat. Hehad thought that Sylvia

' would bow to his ultimatum. Her

curt rejection hurt his pride more than anything he had thought pos- sible. Hc felt that he hnd suddenly lost; all faith in human nature, and that life among his old associates would be intolerable. So he drew his ivugcs, gathered up his equip- ment. and trekked into the foothill country to the very farthest home- stead on the map.

He found a. place by a mountain stream, cut down spruce logs, and built himself a cabin. Wmn winter sot in. he began cutting posts and rails for fencing on his farm. ,To keep from thinking he worked fr- vcrishly, early and late. But tlzcn the thoughts would come, in spite of all he could do to stop them, and Particularly as thc Christmas sea- son drciv zicai" his mind would turn to the old farm down on the plains. What ample preparations would be point.’ on in his mother's kitchen! lVliﬂt slacks of food! What; happy chatter, sobcrcd a bit perhaps be- cause of the boy who had left home in a hull‘ and nnvcr had written back! And Sylvia! Sylvia would be home now for the Christmas vaca- tion. Pcrhnps this Fulton ‘fellow, would be visiting with her.

“l Am Jack Fulton," lle Said "Perhaps You Have Heard of Me?"

Dave turned with a sliruzz and shoved more wood into his rusty stove.

After all he told lninsirii, he was not so badly off. Hi- had a cabin and plenty of fuel. lie had a dog, and a. gun, a team of horses, half q dozen yearling calves-

He was taking comfort in such thoughts when suddenly his dog sprang up, barking. Dave was on his feet. in an instant. his gun 1n hLs hand. Perhaps a (lccr or a bogu- hnd wandered into his litiin clear- ing. ‘

t 4

Therefore, though the fogies W89!‘

For the glamour that no more is, Mistletoe can only keep

Some pale remnant of it glories. Soon it will be swept away

With the old Victorian lumber Since it has become to-day

Only a. back Christmas number!

. 3”?" “it (,1

TOUCHSTONE.

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3 Now the maid that’s up-to-date Seldom such a. boon refuses; She declines to complicate Life by seeking for excuses. ’Tis no more a daring feat To anticipate the favour Nor are kisses halt‘ so sweet Now they lack that stolen ﬂavour.

At that moment came a. knock. something which never before had happened on his cabin door. For an instant Dave hesitated, and then he swung the door ollen- T410 HEM fell on t-hc figure of a. young man-

"Are you Dave Holden?" the stranger enquired.

"Yes. Come in."

The stranger entered. Dave made him comfortable and gave him his supper, waiting t0 hear his mission.

When they were seated on either side of the hot stove the stranger began. "I am Jack Fulton," he said. “Perhaps you have heard of mo?"

Dave's veins seemed to freeze. "What brings you here?" he dc- mimded. “Can't you leave me hcrc alone?"

Fulton kept his temper. “No, not under the circumstances. Let mc tell you~f will be brief. I am the principal oi‘ the school where Miss Palmer tcachcs- All through the term I have seen that she was wor- ried. At last. I asked hcr why. Na.-

turallv she was diffidcnt at. first. but. finally told mc. Shc is wearing hcr heart out for you.‘

Dave faocd him. "Is this true and Why do you tell me? I thought

"Because I'm to be married to a little girl o! my own at Easter, and I think that I know how both of you feel. so I got your location

from the homestead officials, and £00k my Christmas vacation to look Y0" UP- I huiic you are notannoy- cd by my interval?"

Dave seized his hand. thought all the timc—"

“Never mind what you thoughtt I've Walked in from the nearest

Slalom have o mm that .- 13a?

"And I

can travel you can make the rail- way station by morniriu- End eat your Christmas turkey at Sylvia Palmefs. I'll stay and look after you: cattle. It will be a real holiday for me."

But Dave had both his hands in his. "My friend! I dolft know what I can say—"

"say it to Sylvia! I'll give you six days to get back. And bring her with you, or I'll charge you for my time!" ,

“I’il bring: hcr with me-or you can ksvr» the farm," said Dave, who was alrsndy climbing into his heavy overcoat.

A fnll of snow on Christmas Day is regarded as the sign of a. lucky New Year.

ii ‘ ._.__ " a Ml!!! you enjoy a Very W Merry Christmas, and é the New Year be ﬁlled with Ilealth, Ilappineu,

and Prosperity. “

v (ZOFFIN 8: CO. Phone 106 '

iélalmnnzrtll!!!

Irish Moan on Cards

Side-Lights On‘ Christmas

‘mlsn Moss on cams Avnllable to Fortunate one; who Live Ne» the Sec

Odds and Ends of Information

Girls ho ll b Pertaining to the Great Festival. w v6 y the ‘ea have

many Christmas resources. and Irish moss makes the best blanc XIII-use and the moss of commerce “$511132: $338 ehnniabffer u m” m b’ oomlmed m m“ “m” hu b el cud - of 1,000 pounds for a short set of em em a e 5nd carefully d“ verses for Christmas cards. You urehue 5rd,, The Eve of Eplhany, or Twelfth Show‘ mywfly not a; theizmgc:

Night (January 6). is to the child- t u h b kl ren of Rome what Christmas fs to tgecmor: £71m’: :2: own‘? ’ “Sm!

m’ Al soon as taken from the sea,

Straw ls said to be used for deco- place the weeds in a dish or water ration in Greek homes on Christ- and arrangeithgni 9n m, card by mus day in memory of the stable of 511mm,; l; "m" “cyst” and 1h Bethlehem. erally floating» thoweed into p95}-

Chrlstmas carols originated in the tlon; then Dllcg {he can! between eleventh century, being sung be- Se“ o; Clem bum" “p” and dry tween the scenes of the miracle and under prmui‘; No pa“ a needed myaterl’ plays of the period, , as the weeds contain a sticky gub-

The turkey has not; always been sgmcm » -_ the favorite bird on the Christmas men". the Peacock, fn ancient times lhklnc its place on the festive board.

Good King Wenceslaus, of carol

time as our _ - ‘rhe wreath is not used tbiiauch In extent. now l: Evrzm aim Canada, although

ecora ions wvlth evergreens are much used.

‘the oldest name for Christmas u "The Feast of Lights," in "mm- bronco of the lllhted heavens in "m"! the B08815 8090mm! on the first Christmas day.

Christmas boxes got their nune from the boxes-mm, o: clgy-i-ln which. at. Christmas. apprentices had the rlzht to collect gifts of mo- ney from their masters’ customers.

‘rhe use of the Christmas wreath ls believed to be tfggggble m the pagan custom of decorating bulld-

lnlb and places of worship at. the {Silt whlrh funk “mm- .06. u-u .......

Continued frmn . p“, y 9

What is. Name P.

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A CHRISTMAS PROGRAM

Suggestions For the School Boom In Whloh Old 01ml! An Sun] and Scene: Awful

A simple fireplace _orran8ement

will make a pleasant and suitable background for the Christmas pro- grim herein llllleﬂtbd for the school mom. The selections to be read, or noted, group themselves naturally about the hearth. Chil- dren love to "dress up" and may do m, for the singing of the Carols. as well as for the acting-

The Christmas carols suggested are old favorites. Others may be substituted orcdded where the tea- cher finds it. advisable. The pro-

- gram will be brieﬂy as follows:

1. Christmas Music. "It came upon the midnight clear." I

2. Selections from Snow-Bound by Whittier.

3. Fmm “A Christmas Carol" by Dickens, the scene, {Bob Cra/tchlrs Christmas." .

4. "Twas the Night Before Christ- mas." ‘

Christmas Music. “Holy Night,

4 Silent Night."

Costumes for the Christmas mu- sic can be ainular to those used for the Dickens’ sketch.

“Snow-Bound", a Winter Idyl by John Greenleaf Whittier, should be appropriately announced. Two small page; or heralds might do this, or one of the members of the cast might come before the curtain and give the title.

The poem is too long to be gl- ven in full. It would need to be cut. The boys would probably like the first parts, and the girls could bake up the part starting with:

“Shut in from all the world with

out.

We sat the clean-winged hearth

hbmit!‘

Different actions for the BNuP are suggested in the lines:

"We sped the time with stories

old

Wrought puzzles out, and riddles

told

Or stammered 1mm our school

book lore." etc.

The aunt and uncle could be gi- ven, but perhaps not In full, and the “master of the district school." ' "Another guest" could be omitted to advantage and the poem taken. up at this point:

“At last the great logs crumbling

low

Bent out a dull and duller glow." and finish with the description of the Doctor.

If any slight changes are neces- sary for the stage, instrumental music could come next, before the youthful page: announce: "A Chrlstmla Carol" by Charles Dick- em.

A render for the descriptive parts will be noceasny and he can alt at- one side of the stage 1n front or the curtain.

Ilbr ft would never do to omit, "rhea up mac Mrs. Crabchit, Bob Oratchlt’: wife, dressed out but poorly in ribbons which are cheap and make a goodly show for six pence," etc.

The first action will be shown In nantomlne. while the reader gives the first long paragraph. Mrs. Cratchit/s first line starts, “What has ever got your precious father then?"

The dialogue continues 1n a, 11W. ly manner until the reader takes up the tale with, “Bob's voice was ti mulous ll n» told them this." and continues with the Christmas dinner, the actors performing 1n pantomlne. _

‘The dialogue starts again with “A Merry Christmas to us all, my clears, God bless us." '

Th8 D5115 of Scrooge ma the Spirit seem necessary to the story and can be 1mm! by two children or read by the reader. A last para. graph seems to close the pretty lit.- "9 6915060 nicely with "Scrooge had his eye upon them 5nd ggpg. ciallv on ‘miy Tim, until the last."

‘PM was summed, "Holy Night, Silent MIN," would be a happy finish use sort of benediction, len- vlng a pleasant and yet reverent "Wlllht to can’? away home.

"Now, Iran's n treat for you, Mac, 50m Whlnkv twenty-ﬁve rem old." "Well, it's mighty small m; 1;, "e3. .

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