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In the Spirit of Christmas '
W f / \ i >
` " at Trinity College, Cambridge, be- 1" the milder °f Chflitmi-9 9°'
1; was one of those clear, snappy
Dgogmbsr nights that exist only in Canadl- The moon shone brightly from the starry sky, making glitter- ing paths across the depths of the white snow.
Nestled in a valley was a tiny
village clad in white. The main street was dimly lighted by a few scattered lights. The two stores too were crowded with people who had forgotten to shop early for Christ- mas.
Just on the outskirts of the vil-
stood a small house-alone.
seemed to give it a look
of desolation. Perhaps it was be. cause the trees hid the moon from it or maybe it was because the big, towering pines made it look so in- significant.
The desolation of the house was
shared by its occupants, ln the small kitchen sat a boy about '16 years of age and a girl nearly four-
L5-Pill
"Surely, Jack, this lsn't Christ-
mas Eve?" Margaret sighed.
“Yesl And so different from last
year.” The boy replied: "Oh, why
did we leave England?"
"We've been here over a. month
new and there isn't a girl whom I can call a friend," Margaret, said
bitterly.
“And think of poor little Buddy
up there sound asleep, fully expect-' ing Santa. to fill his stocking the same as other years. Mother and Dad feel down-hearted, too. Moth-
's gone to bed, but Dad‘s down
`¢r)}eet trying to scrape up some-
thing for Buddy."
“Listenl W‘hat's that?” A sound
of sleighbells was heard without and merry 'voices singing "Jingle
Bells."
"That's one thing We didn't have
in England. anyway! Why. they're stopping herei" The bells ceased jlngling and the singing was repla- ced by young voices laughing and
talking. Boon a knock at the door was answered by Jack. “Come ini Come in, people! Woke
certainly glad to have you," Jack welcomed.
Margaret and Jack were both se'-
cretly wondering what these merry people wanted, but any divers'on was welcome to these homesick children. After being seated comfortably, a
tall lanky youth, who, presumably had been appointed spokesman. said "We thought perhaps you tW0 might not be enjoying yourselves on your first Christmas Eve,in Canada. so we were wondering if you would like to come for a sleigh ride with
us." The others all added: their en- trelbies. and Margaret and Jack were soon bundled up warmly in as many of their own clothes ascould be found and whatever else that was needed was supplied by their new friends.
Before long they were all packed
into the sleigh, covered well with robes, and were skimming over the moonlit snow at a delightfulspeed. This was an entirely new exper- ience to these English children, and they liked it immensely. As they were nearing' home, after
a two hours' drive, one of the boys suggested that they get a Christ- mas tree. A small hemlock was pro- cured, whlch the _boys carried in triumph into the English home. The girls had brought many par- cels with them and soon the tree was brightly decorated and yes- there were presents for them all; Mother, Dad. Margaret, Jack and Buddy. When the guests had de- parted, Margaret and Jack gazed at the tree in silent admiration.
"Oh, vlfck, aren't they wonder-
full" Margaret ejaculated.
“Wonderfull They're more than
that!" Jack responded. "It's the Christmas spirit that prompted that
act."
_ How Parisiane Celebrate
Parisians celebrate Christmas Eve
with a joyful fete in the restau- rants on the grand boulevard. All night the cafes are crowded with singing. gayly dressed people from all walks of life, even the poor clerk and the shabby artist from the La- tin quarter managing somehow to
1save money for this yearly good . e.
My Gift Although I cannot go to Bethlehem
'This night, this holy night of
stars and song;
Although I cannot go to Bethlehem
And carry gold and precious gifts
along;
Although I cannot walk, with stum-
bling feet,
Into the inn where sleeps this
wondrous child;
Nor see the holy rapture in the eyes Of Mary, praying there so pure
and mild,
I still can gaze with tearful, quiver-
ing sight
Into the deepness of the happy
sky: `
And see the stars that sang that
blessed night;
silver. moving softly, swiftly by.
And I can sing my song, and send
it up
Into the heavens: and the Child
_ will hear: Q ood in Highest, glory let there
be:
To men on earth. the greatest of
good cheer."
Although I cannot take my gift to
Thee.
O. Jesus of the tender, loving face
My heart is singing and my song-
my gift,
Oh, let my music ring into the
spacei
Singing Star
l I
P
l if ` vii 'll
christmas ia a time of secrets, Bo I’ll whisper one to you, *Brandon sm that au who try lt.
~» that every word is true,
` - -rouhavoahauwdayl A nm some happiness away."
“Mana am this little secret Should be carried thro' the year, Md 11 all would fry to ness is Earth would soon be full of cheer 'Wwld you have a nanny am ` 91", Uma happiness away."
lS`pying on Santa
I’ll tell 'bout the queerest thing That happened to me Christmas
Eve ` g
When all us kids were snug in bed An' sound asleep--I made believe. When all the house was still as
mice
I CNP' downstairs beside the grate, An' spread a blanket on the floor So's I cud keep awake and_wait° To ketch old Santa when he'd
come
Down the chlm-mi-ny close by me. Oh gee, but I was gettin' scared
And shlvery an’ trem-bi-lyl
I heard a rustlin' several times An almost wisht I'd stayed in bed- Suppose I just imagined that
Some one was walkin’ overhead.
An' once I was so sure I saw Him peepin’ through the door at
me-
Of course, I know he dldn‘t, tho’ 'Cause he'd come down the chim-
mi-ny.
I waited till the clock struck ten, Then thought of what my mother
said:
That Santa never would come in Till all us children were in bed.
Bo then I kep‘ just awful still,
An’ snuggled close up to the fire, An'-then I heard my mothers
voice:
“Why, Alexander Rufus Fryer, You naughty, naughty little boy!" (I saw her face was quite severe. I knew that she was angry, too.) “Whatever are you doing here?" “Merry Christmas," yelled the rest An' then I saw ’twas broad day-
light.
"I wanted to ketch Santa Claus, But didn't mean to stay all night" Dad said, with such a curious look, “If you'd caught Santa Claus. my
DOY.
He'd gone back up thelchim-ml-ny An' never left a single toy." I felt a little sore and stiff, But not as cold as I'd of thought, For over me, with Dad‘s name on. Was an auto robe that Santa had
brought.
An' all our stockings were cram
full,
With heaps of presents everywhere Oh gee, I just can't understand '
How Santa ever got em'therel
Furniture Seats
You now can buy hand hooked
chair seats to match Your rua! and which are just the thins f°\' uphol- stering old fashioned rockers, early American straight cizairs and many other types of occasional chairs.
All great thoughts come from the
H -ll. A. Lynan heart., _ ,
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“Peace on Earth” »
“Peace on Earth, Good Will to
Men." As this gentle benediction °0l¥l8-B Whispering through Christ- _lnas Eva it drives away the mists of hate and strife, and lets shine in fl-lu Blory the Star of Bethlehem. On this dal’ the GIOYY of God is mBKIlified, and the Heart of the World is at Peace.
’
Christmas in Jerusalem
The war found us in odd places.
In the mud of Flanders we fancied we heard the Christmas chimes, and dreamt of fire-.side and festive fare. The burning sun of the desert scorched us, and made us wish for the snow covered pastures of old England. or even the murk of a' London fog. Back through the years iloais a recollection of the land that saw the sheperds follow the Suidlng star thatgd them to Beth- lehem. It was Christmas in Jeru-
salem. 'I'he night was heavy and threatening. In the old city, guard- ed by its massive walls, very little was stirring. All day long ceaseless barter had been going on in the ar- cades. Cold though the weather was the biting wind that had prevailed all through the day, would appear to have lost itself in its narrow by- Ways. and, giving it up as a bad job gone out into the wider world to blow to its heart's content, for, here the somnolent atmosphere of anti- quity prevailed untroubled by the winter blasts. A weird place to ram- ble in the darlmess or e christmas night. A wonderful place in which to conjure strange images. That fl- gure that slides away into the dark-
ness down through the ancient pas- sage called Via~DoIorosa, where the Christ carried His Cross amid the jeers of the soldiery, he might be a. thousand years old for all the chan- ges there ls in him. Out of the dark- ness there stumbles an old Jew. He looks as ancient as the very walls
around, and equally redolent of the past. Up cobbled arcaded lanes one stumbles; the darkness is intense; and then out into a great square where huge cypress treese rise on either hand. The night ls more op- en here, but still dark, Suddenly through a moving wrack of cloud bursts the moon, for seconds on'y, but, in these seconds, flashes. white in the light, the mighty dome of the Momue of Omar. For a moment the 1'ght rests on the gate where Christ entered the Holy City, while the girls flung flowers in His path, and then all is darkness again once more and silence. Silence-except for the guns that have opened out beyond- the ramparis. Outside the walls of the old city darkness still reigns supreme; except that the wind and rain are more in evidence, and the thunder of the guns is greater. Few people move in the streets. Now and again comes an anxious enquiry. "Do you think the Turk will come back?" One answers optimistically and the door closes. Moving onward towards your billet, a ruined house on the outskirts, the realization of candles comes to you. Each window boasts a number. They twinkle and sparkle. Every house displays them. of course l-it is Christmas; Christ- mas in Jerusalem. And so amid the thunder of the guns you sit dovlm and drink to those at home, to the friends and enemies wherever they are, a Merry Christmas, even tho'
the toast is drunk in stewed tea.
Cuclamen Brings Christmas Message
As usual, the man stood before
the Christmas dispiay in the florist shop window. Instead of passing, he entered the shop. I-Ie wished the cyclamen that was in the window, he told Myra Gordon, the owner.
He was Jack Corwin, an actor.
separated from his family, Myra had leamed. The intense longing in his eyes each year as he saw the Christmas window touched Myra's heart.
"Don‘t bother about any change"
offering a bill exceeding the val- ue of the plant. "It's worth every- thing to me.”
"It‘s my wife‘s favorite flower"
he explained, a catch in his voice. "I haverrt seen her for three years. A misunderstanding- separated us. Each year your cyclamens have hidden 'mo go back. I can't ignore their message any longer. 1'm tak- ing this to her today. Merry Christ mas.” And he was gone before My- ra could answer. 'Joy lined My.-rs hem to mini: thatshe _had again selected a cycla- men ` for her window.-'Blanche Tanncrblllin.
(Story of a Famous Hymn)
Many well known hymns were
the outcome of a sudden inspirat- ion and none more so than that fa- mous hymn, “Chrlstia.ns Awake."
The author, Dr. John Byrom.
was living at the time in a quaint hal! timbered building, known as Kersal Cell, which may still be seen in the vale of the Irwell, on thc outskirts of Manchester. The house was at one time a monastic cell, and there is a small chapel. or ora- tory, within.
Byrom had a little daughter nam-
ed Dolly, and, as it was as custom- ary then as it is today to give pres- ents at Christmas tide, her father was struck with the idea. of writing a Christmas carol for her. Taking a sheet of note paper, he then wrote the words of "Christians, Awake," and laid it on the breakfast table on Christmas morn as a g`ft for her.
Little did Dr. Byrom dream~that
in after years the hymn would be- come famous!
= When Christmas was over, the
MS. was, apparently, cast on one side until it ultimately came into the hands of John Wainwright, th: organist of the Parish Church at Manchester, now the Cathedral, who set the words to the now well- known tune, which he named “Stock port" after his native place, but eventually it became known as “Yorkshlre."
Wainwr.ght then called his choir
boys together. they rehearsed thc hymn, and on Christmas Eve, 1750 he took them quietly over to Kersal Cell and. marshalling them around rol to the surprise and delight of the old doorway, they sang the ca- Dr. Byrom, who listened entranced within.
After that, “Chrlstlans, Awake,"
became the most popular Christ- mas carol throughout the country and, notwithstanding the lapse oi time, it .-.ull mihtalns lis pos;tl<`m, its joyous strains being as welcome as ever when Yulctide comes around and the carol singers are abroad. ~ Dr. Byrom, who thus became so
widely known,. was the son of a Manchester linen draper. He was born in Kersal Cell in 1691 and in
due course received his education
Holly Called
Ch~rist’s Thorn
Inseparable in thought are the
Yuletide and the red-berried holly that finds so conspicuous a place in the decoration of church and home; which tumbles out of great boxes at the entrance to the fruit- erer‘s, and which adds the perfect touch to the Christmas plum pud- ding. Holly. which carries with it a special significance of good-will, was known in ancient legends as "Chrlst‘s Thorn" to both the peo- ple of Denmark and Germany, and while the Italians knew it as thc "Holy 'I‘horn.”
Pagan Rome used holly in the
great festival of Saturnalla, a holi- day which preceded the present celebration of Christmas. Barbar- ous tribes of Europe, whose only bond in common was their alleg- iance' to the Roman Empire, ex- changed branches of holly as good- will offerings. Holly, which grows ln many parts of the world, is said to be found in 200 varieties. The holly which in the earliest years 'was used to twine around the doors and posts of the homes of Merrie England was called the holly tree:
There is none more lovely than
the Canadian holly which grows in the woods of Ontario, and which, during the past few years, has been introduced into some of the florist shops of Toronto. A choice gift for the Yuletlde Ls a Canadian woven basket f.lled with the Canadian holly. Unlike the holly from the South, the holly branch found in the Canadian woods carries few leaves. A big bow of scarlet ribbon tied to the handle of the basket adds a real Christmassy touch Y the basket.
-__,__._i.i
“Noel” and Christmas
"Noel" is the French equivalent
coming a Bachelor of Arts in 1712 and a Fellow in 1714.
On leaving Cambridge he appears
to have become mixed up in poli- tics and being an ardent Jacobin look an active part in the plotting in favor of the Pretender. He earn- ed the sobrlquet of “The Poet Lau- leate of the Jacobins." and many a witty and clever rhym emanated from his pen, notably the jeu d’es- prit known as “The Jacobin Toast"
"God bless the King, I mean our
Faith's Defender.
God bless-no' harm in blessing -
the Pretender;
But who Pretender is, or who ls
King
God bless us all, that’s quite anoth-
er thing.”
In 1712 he married his cousin,
Elizabeth, and, with a. view to cam-
lng a livelihood, he invented a sys- tcm of shorthand and began to also teach it among his pupils, who in- cluded such notablllties as Lord Chesterfield, the Duke of Devon- shire, Horace Walpole and Charles Wesley.
In 1741 he succeeded to the es-
tate at Kersal and, henceforth, was able to devote his attention to lit- crature.
The manuscript of Christians,
Awake," is carefully preserved in the Chatham Library. near the Ca- thedral, in Manchester, where it the lbrarian, together with other can be inspected on application to Byrom relics and records.
Dr. Byrom died ln 1762 at the age
of 72 and lies buried in the Byrom Chapel in Manchester Cathedral.
How to Have Bright and
Shining Eyes -
Eyes that wake up bfrght and al-
so shinlng are a boon indeed. Much more usual are eyes that seem to wake up and feel as if they need rubbing to make them see the light of day.
Instead of rubbing your eyes
awake, a. much better plan is to rinse them out with boraclc acid solution or with any good eye wash that you prefer. If they sting use your solution warm as your eyes can stand it at first. Then rinse them out with cool solutions.
If you do close work in an office
or library or anywhere that might be s. strain to your eyes, take a lit- tle tlme off in the middle of the morning and again in the middle of the afternoon and use an eye cup full of solution for each eye, keep them shut a few minutes af- terwards and just sec how much better you feel.
Always keep an eye cup in your
medicine chest In the bathroom and at your place ol’ work. There is no way to clear the eyes so effect ively as to actually rinse them out with an eye solution or tonic. But be careful not to use any commer- cial tonic not recommended by some one who knows your eyes. Your eyes are very sensitive and de serve the utmost care.
If your eyes st'l1 continue to burn
often a few drops of eye medicine properly prescribed just for your eyes, will hclp you. Usually when this happens you need glasses, or more rest or have some form of in- temal disorder which affects your eyes.
For the perfectly good eyes that
merely get tired, palming them is an excellent relief. This consists in
‘covering each eye with the palm of one hand, entirely shutting out all ight and leaving the palms there a few seconds, not pressing them onto the eyes too tightly.
Burning the Yule Log
The custom of burning the Yule
log on Christmas Eve is not preva- lent in England. The custom is still followed in some of the rural sec-
tions. It is more prevalent in the Scandanavian countries.
When one is very young and also
when one is very old. one may en- joy Christmas; things look so dif- ferent`viewed from a perambuia- tor or a high chair.
Robin Hood Died Christnlas
That it was on Christmas Eve in
the ytar |247 that a certain daring son of a noble hollsc, cnc "R/obin Hood," bid good-bye io his doughty comrade, "Little John". mlcl breath- ¢d his last beneath me ancient wks that witnessed their bold ss-
for the English word "Christmaa." ‘ espn",
\
- - _“CHRISTIANS AWAKE” Carols of Chrzstm-as
rols Mr. T. Crlppen, an English au- thority on this fascinating subject. in “John O‘London," points out the often forgotten' distinction between a hymn and a carol. A hymn is de- votional; a carol is a popular play- ful and generally festive treatment of a rel gious subject, though, nc- tually a carol need not be religious at all. Mr. Crippen points out that the earliest English Christmas Ca- rols, written in the Anglo-Norman dialect of the twelfth century is "Lordlings, Christmas loves good drinking,” which has no religious bearing. Many carols have been al- so written for other seasons than Chrstmas, but these are neglected. Italy was the birthplace of the true carol, and Mr. Crippen holds that the actual originators were St. Fran cis of Assisi and his followers. who discovered that bright and homely songs went farther with the com-
mon people than sermons. ,
Mr. Crlppen says that the oldest
English religious carol dates from about 1410, but we have only this fragment,-
"I saw a sweet, a seemly sight:
A blissful bird, a blossom bright, That moum`ng made and mirth
among;
A maiden mother meek and mild, In cradle kept a knave child, That softly slept; she sat and sung, Lullay lulla balow, My bairn, sleep softly now.” ,
Here oi' course, “knavc child”
means male child. There can be no doubt that during a long period the carol conveyed to the poor and ig- norant a great deal more than the Bible. It brought the Bible to them through the ears, and in their own simple speech. Thus the following carol is purely scriptural, but it is
also as easily ass....La:..:.'i as any popular song:
‘To Bethleh;nl city in Jev.'.y it was "That Joseph ani Mary iogcther
did pass,
All for to be taxed with many-sne-
mo',
"Great.Ca,esar commanded the
same should be so.
But when they had entered the city
so fair.
A number of people so mighty were
there
That Joseph and Mary whose sub-
stance was small,
Could find in the inn there no lay-
ing at all.
Thus they were constrained in a.
stable to lie,
Where oxen and asses they used to
tie; ~
Thus laying so simple they held in
no scorn,
And ggsnst the next morning our
Saviour was born.” _
Another old carol quoted by Mr.
Crlppen thus describes the watch- ing shepherdsz-
“About the field they piped lull
right
Even about the midst o' the night; They saw come down from heaven
a light;
Tlrle, tnrle, so merrily the shep-
herds began to blow.
Of 'angels came a company,
with merry songs and melody; The shepherds anon 'gan them
espy:
Tlrle, tirle, so merrily the shep-
herds began t/o blow."
Once a Little Baby Lay
It was a tumbled-doom cottage at
the end of a tiny village, with many stables straggllng behind it like weary sheep at evening. Although the sun had set, there was no light in the bare little room, and its only occupant sat, as though asleep, by the fire.
Suddenly the moon sprang up
from the cluster of trees flooding the snow-covered ground with its sparkling radiance, and the man stirred. After reaching for a lamp he took from behind the hearth- fstone a box and emptied the con- tents upon the table. Soon the whole room seemed to be lit by the golden pieces and the man sat down. and counting them feverishly. Outside a few carollers were feebly render- ing a beautiful song of Christmas- time.
"Once a little baby lay
Cradled on the fragrant hay.
Long ago on Christmas,"
chanted the children. _
"Curses on those brats," cried the
man, jumping up and shaking the poker at them, at wh'ch the sing- ers fled in fear.
The miser went to bed, but he
could not sleep, for something was troubling him. At last, in despair, he arose and went outside to see if his stables were safe. As he opened the door a little cry greeted his ears In fear he stepped back, but than
went fearfully in. Lo and behold! There lay a baby, "cradled on the fragrant hay," tossing his dimpled hands and feet and shaking his head. The man went over to the manger and touched the baby, at which the baby smiled and took his
finger tightly in his pink hand, and suddenly tears began to course on down his wrinkled face, a mean face. as he thought of another Baby who had been cradled in a manger where cattle stood around, of how that Baby, as a man, had said: "In- asmuch as ye do it unto the least of these my brethren, ye do it unto Me." He had not done anything ex- cept evll unto his brethren and also unto christ. With a repentant heart he turned to the house with the ba-
by in h`s arms.
Next morning an unusual sight
greeted thc villagers, for down the street went the smiling miser with a laughing baby in his arms, and on every doorstep he left a bag of gold. He passed from house on to house, smiling happily to himself, for God had sent to him a special Christmas message. -(Frances MacLellan, Aged 13, cer- tified-Alma Lerow.)
The Christmas spirit has grown
with the years until it binds all our Christian hearts together in love
and good fellowship.
Something About Corals
In 1521 wyhkeh de words print-
ed the first known set of Christmas carols.
The carol was originally a joyous
dance, a sign of liberation from the religious austerity oi' the Puritan era. Percy Dearmer, writing in 'The Oxford Book of Carols," says "The carol, by forsaking the time- less contemplative melodies of the church, began the era, of modern music, which throughout has been based on the dance."
The word "carol" is from “can-
tare," to sing, and "rola" a joyful lnterjectioll.
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CHOCOLATE FUDGE
Melt 1-4-cup butter, mix together
in separaie dish 1 cup brown sugar 1-4 cup molasses and 1-2 cup milk or cream; add this to butter :md after it starts boiling continue boil- ing 2 l_-2 minutes stirring rapidly, then add two squares chocolate cut fine, boil 5 minutes, st‘rri~ first rapidly then more sl' nrds the end; take from fil ‘_ l-2
teaspoon vanilla. stir ...tantly until mass thickens, pour in butter- ed pan and set in cool place.
FRUIT CARAMELS
One half pound dates, l-.4 pound raisins, 1-2 pound figs, 1-2 pound grated cocoanut, 1-2 pound nut meats, 1-4 pound candied citron, 1 lemon (juice oil, 1 orange (juice of), sugar. Stone the dates. Put lhe raisins, dates, figs, cocoanut, nut meats and cltron through the food chopper, add fruit juices and mix thoropghly. Roll into balls or pack into a square cornel-;d pan and cut into cubes. Roll in granulated or powdered sugar.
CHOCOLATE CABAMELS
One lb. brown sugar, 2 l-2 can
chocolate, 1-2 cup milk or cream, 1-4 cup butter, 1-4 cup molasses, 1 teaspoonful vanilla. Cook all ingre- dients together except the vanilla. Boil until a frm ball may be foml- ed when tried in cold water. Then remove from fire, add vanilla, and pour immediately into a shallow. well buttered pan. Mark in squares before it hardens.
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