‘lvliracles

the Christ Child Indian Brave, Guided bu Great Spirit, Reveals Story of Clirtetmds. , By Katharina Edalinsei N THE far-flung land of the west the early winter p“ been unusually mild and a1. b01181! it was nearing be or an , - w iiilhltut d cleawalm” liklgv in its mildneea. m mm‘ ‘ erywhore that the snags the Christ Child mid res-died. m: and women were busy and happy PNPI-ring for the great day, a new and added joy of life surging with- in their hearts. Into each home there bad come -a strengthening and rekiridling oi family tie; mg _ a new birth of ' . , . love and service

Out on the reservation, however, the Indians went their tasks as "ll-Ill. for no hint of the wonder and the glory of the Christmas time had yet come to them. And if they felt a mys- terious some- thing in the air at this time,

they understood lt not at all. for the brightness frem the Star of Bethelehem had not yet burst “Don them.

Moonlight Brook was very lone- ly-she had only little Silver Star, her daughter, with her now-the big chief had sent Strong Oak, her husband; with other braves, on a mission to a distant village. And Moonlight Brook bad missed him every hour, for their love was still burning as bright as the big camp fire that blazed near the tepees at dusk.'

Her love of the great open spaces helped to cheer her during the long hours oi his absence. Every day with little Silver Star she wander- ed afar. In these lonely places that she went there always came to her the sense of some unknown pres- ence-the hand oi’ some greet power.

Early one ‘morning Moonlight Brook called little Silver Star to her and told her-that they would goforalongwakawayupto Roaring Creek. Moonlight Brook was lost in wonder at the beauty of the scene, but a great and sudden change bad eerris over the day. Now, looking at the lowering.

threatening sky. she decided that

she must make all possible basic back to the village. For with the darkness and the gloom that had oorneoveralltherehsdcoinmtco, irornvaeross the prairie a low men- Mlfl! wind that carried with it at times smalL-dry snowflakes

With Sliver Star in her arms Moonlisht Brook started in the direction of the village. walking with the swift. strong stride oi the woman who lives much in the open. The mow now was coming down in large flakes and m; wind had grown blizzard-like in its ve. 10¢"?! H099 was fast dving with- in her. for die was trembling from exhaustion. ‘lhen overwrought nature did the thing which she ind tried hard tc_ keep from happening '4"! B!!! upon the snow-her last thouiiht as she felt conscious- ness leaving her. to wrap the blan- ket closer about little Silver Star

andtewaftaprayertnthgqmg

UblrlttetaheoareofSti-ongOak

when dis was gone. ~ . U I I Q Q 311i prairie has many stories

i» W11 sir-nae thinss um have

happened than. and on this day

there was added to the list another of ihosc coincidences which ism-u, oftcner ln real life than some ‘ would have us ‘ belie ve. For ' Strong Oak and his party cami- by the very spot where Moon- light Brock. and Silver Star lay a short timr ‘ after they ha" sunk exhausted

er trail, bu‘

something with

in him. the‘

strange. uif ,

known force ‘ '-‘ "

which comes to all at times. him moose the Roaring Creek trail Instead and he found his loved ones and with the help of the guides they reached the village in safety.

A few hours later, Moonlight Brook and Strong Oak sat hand in hand. the estatio happiness of be- _ing reunited surging within ihem.

Moonlisht Brook over and ovecthat itwae amiraols that the Great Spirit had wrought that Strong Qak should have found her. And Strong Oak told her that while he had been gone he had heard the story of the Christ Child who had come upon on this day. which ever since has been‘ called Christmas. As

Jsborilixht ,Brcok listened to the beautiful

story that has been told so much. but which keeps its thrill throueh ' the aces, she felt, ibat this day "w:

her bioriasd brave, the fiery broiiaht her a wonderful peace and stilled the restless lonliflll which had some toner so dtenin the

,indeedadsycimiracles.rer,

LIVING’

Tliemostirnsicriarnfitoleam iniifeishowtolive.

Birthday Oi The Saviour

.i____

181E111. holiday plans, lifts

ving whatever her youthful fancies desired. On the sixth Christ- mas eve. lust as the little gin was Being to bed. Santa Claus appeared in fine array. Placing his pgck with. in her reach. the jolly old fellow save her an unlimited supply of toys and sweets. The twelth Christ- mas was marked by a party at the neighboring hotel; neither care nor expense were spared in making the event a grand one.

It was drawing near the Christ- mas season again. Mr. and Mrs. Clark held least-by oonsultatfins. What" she-ll we give our girl this W"? For once in her life Madeline seemed listless and uninte ‘. "It is only another week

thousht to herself. and impatiently "IIWBNII. "Whatever you like," when lied what wonderful plans they would make this year.

Dw- 1-0 bwurht a fa‘. letter, bear- ing a foreign postmark. Mr. Clark's sister wrote from Chins that n11 hei- il-BWPB. their husbands, her brothers, their wives. were having a family reunion at Vancouver. "Let Madel- ine visit some friends and we p”. ents will enjoy a carefree. happy Christmas together. Leave as scon as possible. Let's give Mother and Dad the surprise of their llves."

Mr. and Mrs. Clark looked at each other in glad anticipation, but in a moment the thought uneirprcssed

_but present in each mind was. "But what about Madeline's celebration?"

Th9 Youri! lady in question entre- 0d the study at that mome . Hear- ing of Aunt Sue's plan. she urged her parents to go. The novelty of a Christmas alone appealed to her, and practicedfln the art of coaxing she permiaded he mother and father to sooccpt the invitation. "But who will give you a Merry Christmas?" asked Mother reluc_ tantly. Then Madeline told her hastily-conceived plan of inviting Aunt Betty and cousin Ruth for

Christmas and New Year's Diy. “The week before they come. I'll be busy with Nora arid Jane getting ready for my guests." she said. ’

the 17th Mr. and Mrs. Clark left on the First Montreal train, and Madeline, in her new-foimd freedom. did an unheard ct thing. With‘ a large basket and a well-filled purse. she set out alone to do her Christmas shopping. other years each gift had been ordered by her mother, but now, in the throngs of

shoppers, Mbdeline felt a

giving," she heard a mother explain to a little girl. as they chose s, gift for Daddy, from whom-n. it was evi- dent, they were hiding in the crowd. Even the tired clerks seemed filled with a kindly spirit of good cheer. A~ little boy and girl ragged and shivering. stood with noses pressed against the pane of the toyland window. Their eyes were wide with 101181118. and Madeline know for the firsttimc thercaljoyoigivingas she led the little ones into the store and bought each the most loved toy.

The Salvation Army stood at one of the busy street corners, singing and playing alternately. The beauti- ful Christmas carols rose above the hum. and these words were sung in a sweet soprano voice:

"How silently. how silently,

That wonderous gift was given

So God imparts to human hearts 'I'he blessings of His Heaven.

No car may hear His coming

But in this world of sin Whcraumced: souls will receive Him

s ‘The dear Christ enicrs in."

Tired and weariod. Madeline went home, but in her heart a little song kept. rifting. -

‘mien followed a wonderful week. more shoppins. the selection or ‘a

, and

ted with the neighbors and associates of everyday life. Such a. score of friends Madeline found in the least expected places-dear, poor, lonew people whom she could give to. and love, and entretain for

Christmas.

On Christmas eve. as Madeline sat alone. tired but intensel, happy. she listened to the songs of tho carolers in the street below. The morrow would be busy with the entertainment of Aunt Betty and Ruth, and the others, who were coming to the Manor. lest C” ' tmas to them iioiiid be lonely and un- lovely. So because Madeline was using all of Jesus‘ birthday for others. in thelhuah of the evening hour there came to her the sweet fulfilment of the message, borne t0 her on the snowy, wintry air:

‘Oloiy Child of Bethlehem, Descefid to us we pray; Cast out cru- sin and enter in,

11

Christmas angels Their great glad tidings tell, - 0 come to us. abide with us. our Iord. mimanue fl-Jbrchange

Christmas Customs Are International’

-Christmss national. The origin of Christmas grows out oi the momentous events in Syria. The Christmas tree carries to us from Germany. The citsiom of hanging up of stockings for presents is from the French. Santa Claus is the Dutch Krisa Krlncle. of many generations’ standirig.~ mglsnd first used the plum - ding and the yule log at Cat- inas-time. The turkey is America's novel contribution to the Christ-

7118 Qrigin of Ancient Beliefs That Still Persist

LIIYIIIKIIIINIIIIMIIIIII

s. Sir Charles Igglesden.

Cl-IRISTMABTIDE arrives in an evlnwpiiero of tion. for it must be remembe oil that the intro- duction oi Christianity was respon- sible ior many of the commonplace eililtretitiims of today.

The strict line of demarimtion between the priesthood and the un- edul-‘B-Wil NOD18 was very pro- "Olllwed. and many common super- stitions of today, symholical of re- llaicus ritual, can be traced to this fact. Th cexplanation of the duper- stition connected with the ladder. ls that. when placed a wall, it forms the emblem of the Trinity, BM Only the priest could pass under it in the old days.

The originofavastnurnberof

.0151!" "llloretitions apparently ab-

surd can be traced to the witch. who carried on her trade, or nefar- ious practices-whichever term you like to new-by scaring the people of the countryside.

For instance, she might see a woman pass a-loed cf hay and warn her that unlem she bought an anti- dote at once. bed luck would befall her. Thus. the meeting with a load of hay was henceforth looked upon as unlucky. And hundreds of simi- lar instances can be found-super- stitions utterly ridiculous with lack of tangible explanation other than the one I have given.

Much superstition once sur- rounded the mistletoe. The head of a family considered it incumbent upon him to kiss every woman in the house. the dignified wife, his cheery daughters and giggling maid- servants. Unless this custom was carried out bad luck would befall the house for twelve months. In the West of England it is unzed that if the mistletoe be not burned on Twelfth Night. all unmarried couples who have kissed beneath it will be foes before the end of the year

Holly must be brought into the house at Christms-stide. but it is absolutely ecesss y to burn it and never throw it away in the dustbin.

The origin of this superstition is ihdt the hollv berry is the food of the robin. which. in ancient days. was looked upon as s. holy bird. No Christ-mas evergreen should ever be allowed to remain in the

house after Twelfth Night, and even at the present tiins p, [gr-mg] $311110!!!’ is carried out in some parts of England by taking down the decorations, into a garden and burning them.

If this solemn ritual be not car- ried out, the house will be visited by evil spirits.

A child born during Christi-nu- tide. lasting from Christmas Day until New Year's Day, will glwgyg be lucky. but,it must always be pricked with a holly leaf, on the right leg if it be a boy and on the 1°" 1B8 l! ll- 50 I 8111. Should snow be on the mound at the time of its birth. the infant should be roiled in it before it is six hours old.

‘rhiecudom of rolling a. newly- born child in the snow was carried out by the old midwives until quite recently, and one of these old wo- men whispered to me that she be- lieves in many places this risky practice is indulged in surreprp

, tiously today.

A lover on Christmas morning should walk to the house of his be- lml-hfid 8nd. if the snow is on the Found. throw a snowball at her window. If there be no snow. a. small pebble also ensures happi- "955 5314 P0551515’ marriage during the year.

There is a general superstition that if a girl sits on a table she will never be married. But Christmas Day is an exception. If she should be desirous of attracting the at. tentlon of a man in one room on that day, she should sit on a table and thus secure his admiration. If the bait is taken, the flsh will be landed before the 21st June.

Green, except for an Irish girl, is a colour considered unlucky for a. bride. but anyone married on Christmas Day or Boxing Day can wear it without the slightest risk. We find several oiiher instances where a certain action may bring bad luck during the rest of the year but 100d luck on Christmas Dav. For instance. it is unlucky to cut your nails on a Friday, but should Christmas Day fall on s. Friday, you should make every effort to cut at least one nsil for good luck.

In the ordinary wav it is consid- ered necessary to rake out all em- ber-s from a fire-grate before re-

carrying them '

-_u.<-suuu

tiring to bed, to keep the Devil from coining down the chimney; coal is repugnant to him, while, on the other hand, he enjoys the warmth of hot embers. On Christmas night, however, the Evil One dare not wine down the chimney whether the embers be red or black. and you can safelydeave the fire burning all niglt,

You ' will find no more super- stitious men than the shepherds, and there is a tradition in Romney Marsh that at dawn on Christmas morning gyery sheep faces the East

three flmcs

and. bows .

A par-son one visited an old shepherd on his sick-bed and was requested to read his favourite hymn in which the following line oceurred:~'"rhe roseate hues of early dawn." The cld man. who could not read, had always believed these words were: "The rows of ewes at early

A common practice of the shep- herd is to make a cross with his fingers on the beck of fifty-two sheep on Girlsisnas Dey. This en-

l sures fifty-two lucky weeks for the flock.

Some eottegers in Ireland live in awe of Christmas Day, for it is a custom of the head of the house to light a. hue candle on Christmas Eve, and the manner in which it burns determines the fate of at least one member of the family.

This candle is placed in the win- dow, and lighted. while the family gather round in fear and trembling lest it should flicker out after burn- ing only s. few seconds. If this un- toward event happeus, it means a death in the family; if, however. the flame bin-sis on. it means a lucky year for all those who are assembled in the room.

To have the good old Christmas pudding served without a sprig of holly would be unthinkable: but it is not generally known that the mason for burning spirits is no.‘ to give +he pudding a soecisl taste. but the fie-mes drive the Evil Spirit sway. leaving the holly surrounded by good luck.

The eating of a mince pic starts ori Christmas Day and continues to be a dish for twenty-eight davs. For ever-v mince pie eaten in n. dif- ferent house. a month of good luck for the coming year is ensured.

Christmas And "God Bless Us Every One!”

Continued from page 2

So we know that the Christmas celebrations were not in the be- ginning of religious significance. But with Ohrtstianityi dawn the many old customs that remained were given a religious symbolism. There are a number of our pres- ent-dsy customs that are pictur- esque arid interesting because of their great antiquity.

When we tramp into tics winter woods and bring homo loads of scarlet-bended holly and mistle- toe we are merely following in the footsteps of our pagan ancestors. When we wreaths our dooreills and windows with the beautiful. waxy white clusters of mistletoe. when we ornament the mantle above the bright fire with its darkgreen clusters we are but unconsciously repeating the pagan custom of old when the Druids, the ancient priests performed their mystical rites upon their forest altars.

The cutting and burning of the Yule log is, today, as important as a feature of the Christmas cele- brations of the manor homes of ‘Merrie England" as it was before the world knew the meaning of a true Christian observance of the season. The cheery, heartenlnq salutation "Merry Christmas!" orig- inated in England. This greeting has never been known to fail in brining a srnils to even the most woe-begone countenance.

And an English Christmas is. in- deed, s. wonderful thing to exper- ience. Even the very tales of the Englishman's Yuletide make our hearts best faster and our imag- inations run riot. The time has not yet arrived when Dickens‘ "Christmas Carol" with its descrip- tions of the Christmas market stalls with their long rows of hanging geese decorated wit-i bunches of sage and onions. oi w“, puddings and sweetmeate will lose its delicious charm and mouth-watering powers.

And who can write about Christ- mas without thinking of the hum- ble, though none the less delectable dinner presided over by WW5 Bob Oratchet-arld my ‘rim mt- ed at the board with his fr!"- small rinsers cleaning his ewe-l

and repeating honest Bob's bless- ing as he filled upon his adoring family—-“God bless us. every one! Poor little Tim with his crutch acrou his kneel

Seine authorities state that the Christmas tree as we know it originated in Scandinavia. Others claim that the Germans first made use of it. Certain it ls that we. in our own land. did not have our brightly d trees urlll after the German immigrant arrived.

Christmas carols are sung in many lands: in Finland. in Pram" where they ere called "noele." in Wales, Ireland and Italy and in many other countries. lb ftaly- ll the season of Advent, the Cala- bidan shepherds troop down from their hills and chant their unusual mountain aonaa in the citiea Th; word "carol" is derived from “con- tare." rneariihe to‘ sins and "role." an interjection of jov: therefore it is not a ‘musical form peculiarly belonging to Christmas, although

r REAL SPIRIT

l? TEE real Ipiiit of Christmas is within us we wifl, indeed, find that it is more blessed to give than to receive, and we will give out of the fullness oi our hearts and because of the joy that giving brings us. instead of from any other motive. Sc to get the N81 JOY of giving and to receive the richness of the Christmas spirit in fullest measure. give because your heart prompts you to and forget all else.- Katheririe Edelman.

J

it is usually associated with this season. One of the most ancient, if not the very oldest carol of a re- ligious nature is the exquisite. "While Shepherds Watched Their‘ Flocks by Night." It was written by Nahum Tate. Iceland's W" laureate in 1092.

Quaintold Eildlish carols that are still sung are: "God Rest You. Merry Gentlemen." "Good Kim! Wencesles" and “The Holly and Ivy.” These were suns by the waits who went from house t0 house in the old dayl- A whim’ book could be made interesting bl! recounting the customs of the Ml-

../,¢-

//n\\\\\\‘"""'

(Jervis 81ml h: Waits Who Wcnf

llease to Ilonac cicnt carol singers of the aisle-ET, lands.

In connection with the Christ- mas candle which has been used as a beautiful symbol in many countries from ancient days to the Present it is interesting to know thlt 9181i the gypsles, thong wgn‘. 5811118» mysterious vagabonds of unknown origin and self-confesse’ Dlllilllm. have a legend about a burninl candle that was set at a certain season to light the way oi a mother and child sums the darkness o! a desert laud, 11113 legend is to be found somewhere in an OICUOQ-Qdflllpl it was rs.

able tc locate it again. Aftcr all. it is the plrit of any that truly

observance counts.

The Three Ships

As I went up the mountain-side, The sea. below me glittered wide, And, eastward, far away, I spied On Christmas Day, on Christ- mas Day, The three great ships that take the tide

On Christmas Day in the morn- ing. .

Ye have heard the song, how these must ply - From the harbors of home to tho ports o’ the aw! Do ye dream none knoweth the whither and why On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day. The three great ships go sailing by' On Christmas Day in the morn- ins? ‘ ,