‘DECEMBER 12-1239

Eagerly, Peter rose from his chair in the farm sitting-room and look- ed out of the window. In the room n log-fire burning brightly, soft rugs arTd easy chairs, were offering 11 man warmth and comfort. Out- side it was snowing.

"I think I'll go and look round a bu," he said, dropping the morn- lng paper to the floor. Gazing still at the white landscape, he stretch- (‘d his arms wide. A strong-look- 111g fellow of twenty-nine, Peter Ramsey had met a few storms in life. and had come through them unspoiled.

"You'll never be going out in this." said his mother in surprise. She bent down to put another log 011 the fire. "I'd wait a bit."

"Hark to the wife of a farmer,” laughed Peter, taking the frail fig- urc into his arms. “But a chap. Mummy. doesn't come home every my of the week. I felt pretty wild when I saw the snow this morning. Too much like Canada. But there. Ehffisll sznow is different. and the proper thing for Christmas. any- how. And there'll be lots to look at, and-folks to see."

He spoke with enthusiasm. still holding his mother in his arms.

"You're not a bit changed, Peter. dour," shewvhispcred against his broad chest. "Just tl1e same eager boy, Oh. it's good to have you home. Well, oif you go then. I won't grudge you a minute of it."

A short time later Peter was in the lane, and was gazing upwards towards the sloping meadows. The snow had now stopped falling, and his eyes filled with satisfaction as he studied the white expanse be- fore him, the outline of which hc knew so well. Then his eyes trav- elled on. a. little drcarily‘, towards the chimneys of a farm in the distance-tho farm belonging to the Hunts.

Hastily removing his glance, he remembered that. in thesoreness of his heart seven years ago he had said that he would never look at that place again. '

Yet he understood more fully bv this time Sally's point oi view, as

he couldn't when she broke with '

him. "I could never stand that life, Peter," she had stammered. her blue eyes full of tears.

"You could. if you loved me well enough," he had stormed. "And there's no spot for me here. Bob will have the farm when the old folks are done with it. and I ca11 ncvcr be anything but a farmer."

Sally, however, would not listen to his pleading. She had been too frightened to set out on the ad- venture he wished to offer her. And now that he knew Canadian lilc so well he felt her fears were not. unjustified. _Lifc on a Canad- 1.1:1 farm is 11ot easy for women.

When he had heard a year after 111;.- departure, however, that Sally had forgotten him sufficiently to marry Dick Edmonds, a lawyer who lived in.,a t0\v11 near her home, he had sworn he had clone wiih women and with England.

Yet love for the old home brought him back after a while.

Peter ivcnt- on his way now, look- 1113.; in at one or two cottages and 1111; village shop to greet the in- liubitailts. All were delighted to sec him.

At the Vicarage he ivas made to stay to lunch. where he found 11111cl1 to ice and to hear. and out. i11 the s11o\v again, happy and rzirefree, he realised that no tour o1 the place could be comvme M‘ 11-1- all. unless he visited the lluilts. The farmer and his wife had itlwnys been good friends, a11d l1.1d been sorry when Sully hadro- luscd to go with hini to Canada. though it. pleased them better to have her so ileur. The Hunts would think it churlish if he did 11ot run 111 for a few minutes, anyhow. thought Peter. now that. he was back. And. after all. 11c 11111sn't lei. anything 111 the past l1u1't him greatly any more.

llc was soon in the drive which lr~<l up to the Hunts‘ farm. He walked a. little soberly over the snow-clad ground. thollzh- lfyiflg tu forget the times he had rushed up eagerly t0 meet the girl hc loved.

Hc knocked, and after a short interval of waiting he heard light footsteps approach. The dovr W35 opened, and a girl came forward. Her eyes were very blue ‘Ind 5mm‘ lug. and her pretty film 11051195 "i little.

"Sally!" he gaslml- ‘PM blwd pounded at his heart.

"r111 not Sally, but ,K1ttv," she answered cheerily. "And N011 “Y” Peter Ramsey. aren't you? We heard you were coml118~ I was only a schoolgirl when you went away. and I believe you have for- gotten me. But come 111. Pew!" Daddy and Mummy are out, but they will be back prcsently- 1 W“ Just putting up the holly."

“Jovo—then let me help." "m Peter, moving 111w the wen-lighted hall. At. one end of it was a DB" of steps on which Kitty had been standing when she heard him knock. He was glad to find a 10b like this to hide the intense em- barrassment he felt at discovering the child Kitty ma fumed 1M0 another Sally. He was not Sure that he liked it. It put a man off his balance, but he must pull him-

5') . :"'.

5913 Wkether quickly. He was not

‘ going to lose his head a second

time. He knew too much now of life. He would never ask another Ellllifih girl to marry him and to E0 out to Canada.

Kitty, it was comforting to see, was not sharing his embarrass- ment. Completely at ease, she was Mcenting his offer of help.

“Thai. bit can go on top of the grandfather clock, and this-here," she decided. letting him hand 11p the holly to her. "on: doesn't u; all look Christmassy and lovely!” she cried at length. “and now come into the sitting-room, Peter, and let me give you tea. we won't; wait for Daddy and Mummy. ’I‘l1cy've gone over to see Sally, and may be a little late."

Checking herself suddenly. she sat down by the fire in the sitting- room. where she had led him, Th, room was very much as he rem_ embcrcd it.

Kitty, taking 11p the teapot, gaz- ed at him with interested eyes. HI looked so strong and handsome, she thought. She wondered if ‘he still minded about Sally. I-Ie had, been tremendously in love with hcr, she knew.

She handed him his tea and drew him gradually into animated conversation.

'I‘l1_e talk, however. had a way of settling 011 Sally, though for some time Kitty struggled to keep out her name; but she felt at last that there was no need to do this, and she began telling Peter how disap- pointed they were that Sally and Dick could not come to them as usual for Christmas, as Billy, their little boy, Hvas recovering from measles. It “'11s a pity.

There was silence after Kitty had foltd him that; then he blundered ou :

"She's very happy?" was a little defiant. .

"Yes." Kitty retumed,‘ softly, "Dick is awfully good to her. Sally. you know. never liked the farm much. Life in a town, with then- tres, dances, and a smart set oi’ fl'll‘l'lfi.< are 11111cl1 more in her line. Arid, of course, she i1as the ch11- drcn." .

Peter frowned.

“She never cared awfully for the things we did here. did she, Peter? She hated riding and horses: and a field full of cows"—she smiled- “filled her with abject fear. You remember we used to tease her."

“I thought that was all fun and Just a pose," answered Peter, al- most roughly. “But, all the same, I see now that life in Canada wouldn't have suited her. I think she showed sense over that."

"Oh, Peter, we were so scrryl" struck in Kitty sympathetically.

"A manegot to face that sort of thing if he chooses a life like mine, I suppose," came his answer. "And we haven't had a. bad time among ourselves, but there are no pretty prettles to it. Good lord!" he went on, "your mother would have a fit if she saw the shack I live in with three other chaps. and the way we do our own cooking and washing. and our mending too. uri- less we go over to Mrs. George. She's in the nearest farm, eight miles away. She sometimes seesto things for us.“ ‘

“It must be lonely for you, isn't it?" queried Kitty.

"I do11't say it is. One gets used to it. and until one has ploughed the ground for a field of Canadian wheat. one hasn't lived, I guess." His laugh now had a touch of pride in it. "'I'hei1 we get to the towns sometimes. and go over to see George and his wife in the farm next."

"And George is married?"

"Yes-to a Canadian. You should see her on a. horse-the way she can handle it. But she doesn't ridc much now. She hasn't time, but if any chaps on the farm are ill, or want. anything. then it's Mrs. Llcorge to the rescue. But I can't think sue gets a lot out of life for herself except the thanks of the men who would die for her. But it can't be mi1cl1 catch for a wom- arr-with kids too, who have to be kept indoors for weeks at a time because the weather's too bitter for them. But then, of course, she's terribly fond of George."

"And I expect shc wouldn't change her lot either," came soft- 1y

His voice

"She doesn't grumble about it, anyhow. but I'd never nsk an Eng- lish girl now to do what she docs," he said decidedly. "It isn't right, and I've learnt e thing or two, you see. by this time."

He frowned at his rough hands and tried not to look at the girl who. with her sympathetic eyes on his face, was sitting at the other side of the fire. He felt almost re- lieved when ht last he heard her father and mother coming in.

The welcome they gave him was tremendous, and Mrs. Hunt. said she had meant. to send a note to Peter's mother. They wanted them all to come along on Christmas night to have dinner. Kitty was expecting a few friends in to dance, and various old acquaintan- ces of his own would be there.

Peter handed the invitation on to his mother when he got home, and she saw he was quite ready to ac- cept it. The friendliness of the people round had been very mark- ed. He was glad to have more of it. If thought of Kitty's blue eyes and cheery voice stole into his con- sciousness sometimes, making him vaguely uneasy, he resolved not to think of her again: or was she, by the way, Just, a little more beauti- ful? Anyway she, too, he supposed.

hodsweetheartsnnd one of them I

1111: unAkaurraluwiv _ 9y i151)

IAN

The sun streams through the win-

dows of the Church of the Nativity‘

in Bethlehem as a priest of the Greek Orthodox church cieans the beautiful chased brass lamps that shine beside the birthpface of Christ. The lamps belong to three denominations- of Christians, each of which tends its own lamps at a dif- ferent time. The Churchlof the Na- tivity is the oldest in the world, a grotto having been built there in 326 A. D. by the Empress Helena, wife of Constantine, the first. Christian emperor. it 1s un the site of the manager. where. Christ. was born. I11 CIRCLE 1s shown a pilgrim 11nd her daughter who ,afier i.ra.vclling him- dreds of miles, kiss the ‘pillars’ ‘on

entering the Church of the Nativity. .

would soon be carrying her from the farm.

As for the sweethearts, Peter soon saw he had not been mistak- en. His mother had dropped a hint. or two about a young man in particular who worked at a bank in the nearest town. Harry Law- son wes his name.

All the same, he felt a little sulky when he saw Harry Lawson so much in evidence with Kitty at the ‘Christmas party. Yet the day had had its quiet satisfaction. There had been the morningin the village church, the Christmas hymns, the familiar voice of the Vicar giving Out his Christmas message. There were some things ne had forgotten, he found. all these years-things which had been treasured. and might be again] He had turned in the pew and had caught the eyes of his mother. His hand stole into hers, and he knew her loving heart was full of mem- ories.

And now here, in the Hunt's din- ing-room, with its old oak beams and oheery decoration and famil- iar faces, were more treasures which, as a lad, he had never viii- ued as he valued thcm now.

He even found Aunt Judy's con- vcrsatlon entertaining. Aunt Judy was Farmer Hunt's eldest sister, and in the old days he had thought her rather a terror.

Kitty was running about now looking after the guests, offering

Modern Christmas

Thirty-six years of the twen- tieth century have nearly passed by. And what drastic clhailges, what drastic revolutions we have witnessed ovcr that span of years. When considered in connection with Christmas, perhaps the change is even 111ore impressive.

Let us imagine an individual who has been out of touch with civil- izatlon for the past thirty or more years arrives in your city just in time for our 1936 Yuletide celebra- tions. Can you imagine his e1no- tio11s upon entering a big city like Montreal, Toronto, Halifax. Winni- peg or Vancouver on Christmas Eve? Could you wonder at his amazement. at his rubbing his eyes at the vast array of inventions and innovations that have swept the world in that period of years.

For no longer must we await. the slow. uncertain means of horse- drawn vehicles. Fleet. stream- lined trains, automobiles, airplanes and ocean liners speed across land and sea bearing with them gifts and greetings for loved ones.

And while letters still play an important role ntchristmas, speedy telezraph and cable services aid us in the dissemination of messages. money and flowers.

~Even~the old gramaphone has been superceded by the radio which brings us music. Christmas greetings and other messages from the world over u the vast net- works of every great nation are linked together at this festive season.

Our imaginary friend would find civilization no longer isolated by great distances but rather united into one tn~the celebration of the birth of Christ.

"Peace on earth. goodwill toward men," has n vastly different and enlarged meaning-today. 1 ~ '

fare which she herself had cooked; so Aunt Judy told Peter, her wrin- klcd face full of pride. "That- girl's a. treasure." she said, as she tack- led her share of Christmas pud- ding. “Harry Lawson's lucky. And he looks as if he thought so, doesn't he?"

Kitty was now in her place again and was sitting next to Harry.who seemed to have taken possession of her as a. matter of course. Pres- ently, the dessert and crackers were brought along. and Peter found himself glaring across the table to where Kitty's shining fair head and Harry's dark one bent over motioes they were reading to- gether.

“You'll be marrying yourself one i of these days, I expect, young man," said Aunt Judy, who had never beeni noted for her tact, to Peter.

"I don't think so," he returned a trifle sharply. though he tried to laugh.

"What nonsense. All farmers should marry. They can't do with- out a woman. None of them. Now you must find a nice girl while you're i11 England, Peter."

“That's a luxury to come when I've retired with enough money to buy a farm at home, I think. Here. young Ned, pull this one with me." Peter turned to present a cracker to the Vicar's schoolboy son.

Presently, when the dancing be- gan, Peter had Kitty in his arms. He danced well. and, in spite of himself. his heart was soon pound- ing with a painful longing as he felt her so close to him. If Kitty had struck him as beautiful the first time he sa\v her, it was noth- ing to what he thought her now. And tonight. in her white evening frock and with the pearls at her neck, her loveliness was intoxicat- ing. -

’I'11\'i11g fiercely to pull himself to- gcthcr, however. Peter made a laughing remark, but noticed, to his surprise, that Kitty was no longer full of gaiety. She had grown very sole111n—looked almost (incredible though it secmedi on the verge of tears. "How could she?" he asked himself. "And at, Christmas." But no doubt she yves tired. She had been doing so much. He drew her a little closer and

‘heard her catch her breath. and

presently they were under the mis- tletoe. There had been all sorts of lighthearted jokes about it, he remembered. and Aunt Judy had been duly honoured-and he won- dcred if he dare.. .But. no, the music was going on. and they must. move away. The dance must not mean anything to him.

On went the lively tune, and he

Alice-They say a woman can't select Christmas cigars.

May-Nonsense. I have been sounding my husband and he says he likes light cigars. All you hav to do ll match the elude. --

tricd to recall other dances he had had in Canada during the last few years, when he had gone with the other men into the towns. He thought of the Jokes of the men, the stuffy but jovial atmosphere of the saloons. the noisy music and the kisses of the girls given so readily. Yes. of course, he had enjoyed it, but—-

“Kitty, shall we stop-T‘

He led her through the hall and to an open door. The ‘garden lay peaceful under the moonlit snow. He felt suddenly that something was choking him.

iHe turned quickly to her.

"I say—won't you be'cold? It was hot in there."

"I love the moonlight on the snow. Don't you, Peter?" she whis- pered. “It's so peaceful and-and satisfying. It tells one somehow— doesn't it, what Christmas means."

Her hand stole into/his. He grasped it tightly. A wave of sym- pathy held them together. But his heart. next moment, was bleeding. He wished fiercely that he had never come home.

"Come on, Kitty-my dance, you know." came a. sharp voice behind them.

Kitty started, and Harry Lawson took her away.

Peter stood by the door alone, looking out into the moonlight.

The days passed. Peter had his trip to London with his mother. and had done his best to avoid Kitty.

All the same, he could no longer

_The Mistletoe Kiss

While the chaste salute of man and maid ‘neuth the mistletoe is still associated with the Yuletide festivities, few of the old customs and superstitions that enveloped its origin adhere to i1. today.

We must go back to the days of the earliest Scandinavian races to discover the origin of the use of the mistletoe bough. When these peoples were wont toworship their mighty god Thor, it. was with mistletoe that they honored him. After searching their grcut and gloomy forests in the (iepths of mid-winter for the berried boughs they would festoon their vastcom- munal halls with the mistletoe and even then a kiss was regarded as plighting a troth that nothing on earth could sever.

The ancient Druids i11 Great Britain and the Romans to.) found particular significance in the mis- tletoe. Then were the boughs borne back with singing to the temples and villages and the dwell- ings adorned with sprigs from the sacred greenery.

In remote parts of Europe there are still those that associate per- ticular healing powers and good and bad omens with their conduct under the mistletoe. For instance, it has been a firm belief for many generations in certain rural dis- tricts of the North of England that if a girl is not kissed under the mistletoe at Christmas her chances of being married during the en- suing year are completely nil.

All these are odd customs but it is to be hoped that the race of civ- ilization will not entirely wipe them from our minds-particularly the suggestion of the simple and not especially significant Mistletoe Ktul .

make a secret of the terrible thing that had happened to him, He 1111s now deeply in love with i121".

His love. this time. threatened in hurt him more than it had dour- when he parted from Saiy lu- had loved her as an lflCXDCIlCltl" t1 boy. Peter's love for Kitty Wit.‘ different. It wins stronger ~1~11 deeper, the sure love of a gro,.11 man.

If his unhappiness was gucssi-zl by his mother he did not knuw. But she did not complain when he went off to tramp for hours iii soi- itudc along the country lanes 11nd. across the fields. when he spoke of returning to Canada earlier than he had intended she did not ciemur. She sighed. and he knew regretted it, but he felt tlmt per- haps she understood. ‘

One afternoon he was coming back after a tramp, and was walli- ing along the edge of a field which bordered on the lane leading home- wards.

Ho was moving slowly. conscious now of a sense of wcarnicss, when a clatter of horse's hoofs 1n 1111- distance broke into the silence of the countryside.

Peering quick}: < ovr-r the l1edgc towards the road, he saw what was happening. .