ammo- Fish? i s? PAGE TWELVE Dot Finds Her Lost t Spirit i 1 i». (l H, yeah?" ' "Oh. decidedly yes." re- plied Air. Burton, gently- "You think you are vory iiard-ilvlll-‘li and ultra-modern, no\v that you art! u. pretty young miss of ttventy-one years, But don't for heaven's sake e! so cynical that you don't believe fin any Christmas spirit" "Christmas spirit be hanged." snap- ped Dot. the pretty young daughter. "All everybody docs at Christmas is buv a whole lot oi things ior their friends Just because they know their friends are going to buy something for them. And enrryiiiidy lives ini agony ior rrlil‘ they have forgotten to send snnit-ooiiy a (Jhrisinins card. I say Chflallli‘ is the bunk —it's just '1 v lie Wise Men anivher . "l Eflpllibg piyd he perfectly happy i1 l\l\l.'i‘ iii your fiii-iiils or any of ihi- Linzilv ever wve you . anything lhz: thrhiiiiis‘. iisliid bi-oimi- m: 1.1-... viit- i1iii~i 51.11. oi liic iiilit‘ l!u.i'»n ;ii ~ i-i1.11r fil‘<| 111-- 11'i. ill.‘ lie i.'i.!. l’ ' ll i (‘l‘\l'(i he . a1tit tin .. inc‘ liiiiilli iiiitlici ‘ r- l ew ear l l i that bind Scots to their .\'e Iiiiicl are never so rliiiiii» iii-awn together as at Jllllilllii iesilcal of New Year. For giiii-nitions the cclcbrzitlon of ",',L‘iii-1='.iii:1s in Scotland was prac- 1 lly ignored, but tlils is no ignored, but. this is no r tiuo the recngiiltloncf llilllkl I t_'.' and tho holding .1‘ s nnd festivities at this H151 ' 1 i .\'i.ri-. mu’ il~.1' r-r» .".L iii on it. ‘ m “"113, I (ilillt thiiilt ili z v.1..-.' _ “Don't gi-t exc-irrd. i- in ‘.\'l"1t l, called you hcre iili‘ uni. to d-\1~'-- some selienie whereby v. e lllillll .‘<l.|\ti,] 1 .e11iling rilpiill)‘ llll'0ll.l-,'l1- ifflilPk a bit of that cynicism from li-sr out ‘rot (illtl. Yet it ‘ still true to hwid. It's iii-coining a little too‘ v ti: t ln most hum 'ihc New Year strong in one so young." iitiiiirs liolil-thti fiiviii-ite place. Illlii "ll. r11 t‘: diiilu-oiii," szild Bill (sia hi‘; ll i111 Ni w Yc'ir's Eve or in 1d. llli- iiii11:i_v. n: it is‘ ('.'llil'ii. Every >1 n txillicti in tiic lib- hiilil l|\.s in 1 l.'.l in hilllllliLii iii ii11-.ii. nnd :ii'l mamii r 0i‘ cakes and iwinfii-iioiis it i"ill ailoril, "ilflllillfi of u lacy ilflli port wine. I ii k0! wise; l‘ll l .11 i11i1i: afii-r; ii.-i'i'l,1' for '.'llllilii< Iillli . pt (if - i: hi: cr-ls-cil ‘i‘.1 on: llzc .'\ w Yciii"! I£\'ii'_v exile f-imily riri-li‘ is present if fi§t§t M ( g ADDY_ who is Santa Claus?" What a simple question! But how difficult to-anavrer! it is a question that has boen naked oy Ohlliren-Bnd not a few grown- ups-for more than fifteen hundred years. Think oi it! Fifteen hundred years old. and still a new queationl ~ And why? Because Santa Claus il tho most. famous, the most widely known and the most beloved of ail legendary characters the world over. We 1n‘ Canada call him Santa Claus: Olhflll call him St. Nicholas or Pore Noel.- or Krlss Kringle. They all mean the same. Do you know who he is? Can you answer this childish question? Suppose w. try. In the first place, it must be made clear that Santa Claus. or St. Nicholas cannot be associated with Christianity Just because ho hop- pens to pay us a visit on the day we celebrate the birth of Clirlst. Strange as it seems, Christmas and the Santa Ciiiusiau festival, now so inseparable, are nevertheless quite unrelated. Christmas. as the very name im- plies. is distinctly a Christian rite. although a similar day, under a dif- ft-rent name was celebrated long tie- fore the birth of Christ. The ancient Druids in England. long before ‘the conquering hordes of Romans and Norse, hold feasts and festivals at about the some time of the year that wo look for the appearance of Santa Claus. In other countries too-in Greece, Rome, in Egypt. as early as iiis- tory records. the winter solstice was “l” 1mm“ S"""'>* the occasion for revelry and festivity. All oi‘ which doesn't tell us much "5 “"91 n” about Santa Claus. Suppose, for a while, we change 1"“ “h” """"'i- it"s” his name to St. Nicholas. Patron Saint of Russia Some time in iho fourth century : t ll l l , . . '1 i ." pm ‘UH, ,1" pm‘; .,'.',:‘.,,',.‘8m,§,y fliiugpgzf, (the actual date is not known), there i l iiii . 11 \\' . - lived in LyClIl the Archbishop oi‘ -. l l 1 5111i -l.~l1. ~ ' _ _ ¢ w Myra. So i, it-heurtcci a miin was ’ ' l l \ K ' hr,“ l "flunk _ he that he b umc the patron Saint {we (“ILIITS ‘on. P31: oi’ both Ru a and Italy. _ i H " i‘ m 0"" m This man vi. s of huge proportions .liil'i\'ii crow, whichever is ~ llilhllllf ground 'I'l| ' iuzrhing grou 1 i ‘q if‘ uimation and hanged between ‘ of "Aulil 1.11 G111» or parcels |_\' oifuriugs such iihuu-is hot li~ .\h11i:l .~.-iil, e.- tr. fruit. wine. and m, .11....“ i'i'\‘ll a pltrc ni‘ i-iiiil which is con- i-:il.-r1 ll to bring gin-d lur-k. Sumo 1' Si... ,-\_.k,».d_ ‘lull must be taken, luiwi-vcr modest, ‘ .11 ' ' ' rive without it would he sure 1' ill-luck on the house isltcd. 1, j ..\ lil it. must hr» 1i dark person who ll.~' throat ziuil ill‘ ist-lrioi." for only such l. who \Villlt-_1i] lll'l: r lcil as bringing giioil luck. v _ lTlll‘ flTFl~i<1llYf‘l‘S nrekiut for a night 11.11." 1.» ii", I tlimk we all have _.i.1i Ii. and piocred from home to 1.ou.~r~, niiil lterp up their iriuitlly ‘ lls until the tnrly hours of the Hiiizi-iiiiig. For those oi‘ more serious iiiitl 1k. there " wirh-night scr- liut after the _ .. 1. l1. iinc ll mt ii. ut 1.- ~ inn the w rshili :i-11-t their mix-i 1 tho. i.uu" s for ‘i - \‘ilillll.‘li. and a constant. round of lting goes on among ri-litllous and ' nlliziil matches and otlici‘ s arc also on the day's . , custom all works iii-c » ‘l llll‘ ll \\'l"1l<. but for some years 11 lvis lwon on incr rising desire i) iiiluiiz the holiday pr ‘od. 'f‘.\l.\.‘§ l.\' J.-\.\'l’.»\R\' ' not recognized as """i oi‘ Dcceinhcr r-iccs. such as irate January G lug happiness in his woke, whoro E7719 Christmas Yvlirocle nirilti- p.11‘ the Sqllfli-o, town He was bcmwd because he protect“, the weak against the strong: the p00!‘ gainst the rich. the good agninsq the cvil. All through the land he ucut ieav-l Over flic riir came n Christmas TOOHI. e o s o "P" l‘ l‘ ‘l 1"l‘-1'l1111lv.=a\-.-i. 1'11 go coo- <1i1i1 I i.i.1.y iii. ' _ goorl idrri," said ill v.':‘ll drive you ..t- two of tlhcm left ' \\'1-! 1' sour for nh: ui an hour ‘- L.’ lll-' il‘~‘.‘ii Linc about get~ . iinil Lack. 1 l .\'1 l- lit tililll‘ fiiini the front room v._i1 ll ihrv r-rimc lil'ii\ll]ll io the frint; i1i ll - .hi1'1-i~ and i‘l‘il' 1 i’: ihc a bit Sud- !" \\'-"f= [lowing the wide Ill! into the front room. on. File Jumped simultaneously s and laughter _ 1 '1 ll] lli|llt"’ll!(fll. Thcrc i 11! loom >h~ .~ iw n huge .- i|'1 i1. all (ll'i"ll'.'iil'(i tvith <11. illlq‘ niiil l1; its. with , 1 '“‘_*'."l'11‘1l :~ll :ii'ou1i<l and ‘ 1' :1 \‘.El|l Iiwyrqic \\-.--..,I,,~..| i“ ., ‘_ ‘ _ _ w‘ ill \\'illlt' i ~- -i.- ‘r1..- I .,_,__,> , Y‘ u “m, the trio \'.'.'iS liticrrti f. 1.1." . ' - Miiiiiiil the room sat slilll u .~1 ' or more of her "HQ. i'li1i.iiii:i.=," F 1‘ ~ ' 1 ' lip F“? luliw 5Y1» “firs; L 1 l 1.. they cricd in ..,...---_ .. , ‘hi, !.-,,.\, HEY hail forgoitciit All iliiy the thought was light- ing its way to the surface of John's mind hut for Anna's sake he ill-ill it iiiilklUfl. Now, out under the stars. ot burst forth in all the tor- ment of a disappointed heart. Christmas Eve-nnd they had'for- gotten! The words stood out Ililillfidl)’ be- fore his iviuntcil eyes. lt must tgvcs. Anna still hr‘? \'(‘ii in miracles. g1... thduulit they \'.l‘1llili come. hlirat-lcsl , Johns tlilii lure quivr-rcil and his mouth set in lines til‘ liitti-rnrss. He pnsscti a weary hand nvcr his eyes. Miracles tlld not. happen in the hills. High on the topmost bench of u llriiish Columbia volley John Morri- Caml frilling soflly info flm t .1‘. mmstlsr F‘! loot-Wu inertia- nivJL ERRY " A The b- i-"ircss and misery had been before. llut on Llcccmtier 6. 1H2. so history records, ho died-in the flesh, but 1:0 t in the spiiit. For many years iiftcr. great feasts were held in his hnnor on this data. iifl wi he iviis drawn tightly biick from a pliiin br d the spirit of Soini Nicholas was supposcil tn return and leave gifts on ih strong brown hands and quick‘ avy movements. Her grey hair own furs. wrinkled in a fine net- work —a heritage of years lived in the crisp outdoors. v When John came in she smiled. Anna's smile had brought him by many and varied milestones. \vl de Still, icn he saw it something stirred ep down in John's being and ha be silently worshipped. fuccd John could light iin longer. Now he shut the door carefully Ile hud come nut. to the burn to. and sat down with a low sigh. gi-t away from the look ‘iii Anna's. "Lovely night, mother. Real Christmas weather." She turned ‘hack to her trce and hc could not know that the smile had vanished and that her lips qulvered. Mother Saves Trinket: "I'm glad. John, for if the children are com-u‘ it will be easier for them than if it was deep snow." John looked ut her. wonder in his l . I. . . ,, I‘ w, _. . i... m. .H __;,..V >. ) son hail lorwtcil his fiirm. Crazy "rm 1.3mm . - . 1.‘. I iii.» i..'v ll" 1r. iiitvlliyfii.‘ n H“ Sh‘ llllgl’ lllld "Pl-Tl! 71"" will?" h“ “ml “Anna, you aren't still expectin‘ _ y! ..,_,,p ,'_,. Ab. W] H! um I t v climbed an r up the hillside, crazy them?" _ . h . I, m‘ .. hp m" M1‘ , l“ "llmlif- to plrint his ii'l‘i'.< so nr-nr the clouds. she mmed shay-my’ bu", "and. l 1 ill iii . l- 1, .1.:i1r iillv‘ \'\lr....|‘.:|_-ll""s H“ HSNYW" i" n" PM» H9 Wflllifid hard down nn the table behind her. , 1 111 1-.‘ 11. I-l l V l‘('illl’iiigu\‘\l-hrjlr““_ if‘; freedom for his chililrcn to grow. "Expocun. them? o. course I am - lmiii. {i5 ' i .1 fir], “w, ‘,"' ‘MP0 "l <|l'\'l'lllll Fl lllfm W "N"! M5 John. It's Christmas. They won't ‘p. s, .. . . ‘ ‘ ' ,' " _"‘." 5"" lllllf" "l9 llrillll‘? time lllllm- forget The night train is ust in; l I 1 1r B 11.» i‘ ..1..~ vimiii. .1 lllfllulllli \\"ilt‘f%ll_“pu m" m- Ilihe m“? M" °"m.‘.‘:'.‘.'.!.‘!.. ">‘?§°‘l: they might have been on that." .lil lll s...‘ hut U In“, , v _ H iiiirm "ll" "PQ-‘l ‘Y9K’ 5m n‘ 1 John stirred uneasily. Anna _ 1l\rl.lvr l1i1r voice. ll-lcrry hut the chiliirin were ‘gone. Gone, mughem .i.| shc cried. "iivllm brcause they rliil not. like the lonell- n“ they wow “ken, may gm o“ ii.i\en't sun you i-n -i- you t Ilr-llo, Mary. f7 1m,- .t surprise, all rltrht.‘ m.» s...‘ i-“vr l‘~ pii- v 11 '.1..11< toiciiih- iwldculy and iniil:r~.| ,1» '|...|. - ~11. hor eyes biilillll.’ ‘lliit ill‘ h1- 11 ll'll'i'l me to sit llilllilll "mi ‘ "lifiibll WM m“: "HT "I ‘iv-ii _\l1|r ortnxcntziiilms l ll t m‘ H: ' ‘rm twirr itllli int ymi enjoy 31M. ..1,,.“. ' - FYI ..;,.. f! mini '1" '\‘11.~ \1.-1i-o misty wiih ti 11., 1-]; . !.'"‘n m son“, 2\ii~.~= lluiionspukc up "ftiiiig ]i-..| n. m,“ M,” 3.0%.. l think \ "e cnrrird this thing tun 5;”. jmphm-L “lxl"iv\u V, h" (“hwy far lint she said. tuiiilui; lo hi..- "uill |l'i\'l" tn piv ifll‘ 11,. _.,,_ m,’ il-iiiqhtt-r. "all the (fl 1-1 ~....» |,.._\-., Frrvos you rlcht lur not letting n1 ""11 Fml “'('i'E so nn. . in give in on your llli; iwiii-i " F-‘NQ tl|l't1r1) l“ v “cri- not \'|'|I r11 y wt -.1|l. um! rrin out of the room. Mi. lluitoii l'm“) will l)" lleli\'t1ri.-vl llllif |1»»."-_1 lu smiled. a few minutes. You I"i]\ pun m me Quit-t firming at Ilonm Mme us tho rest. it '.\'i-- all ll mi; Phrhinitis do)’ iirrivi-l nt. last. hut “wk” "m" "mwr n” "'1 "i "ll ihiit we were not It \\'|'< i. qiii-v 11.1.; it] ill!‘ iiui-inrii . Pr‘ .11 fir-cuts ‘ l!" lJ-t i-l the u-hiilv (illY tho evcn- ' ihlftvsfoflr‘ The "Ems ‘m "M" “Tr? Y\'.'l.‘~ till‘ \\lli"l fiii‘ Dot, t“! d In!“ to ‘hi3 lmliv ‘r .|i-1 four oi iii. i wore sitting in RM Ml‘- Bllfilln <llll persisted ".- tlrn. Not a sound came from "wdl- H Fl"? COW" in hrrv‘, she's my ,.| m...“ grit. to seriously iiilmlt that there i; ililfliiflfliitl Dot jumped up from her swimming to Christmas alter all." T'l'lli' rmi throw hcr hook on the "Oh. l do!" cried Dnt, betwun tJl-lle. I V‘ laughter and tears. "I really do, i c-int stand this any longer. nover realized until l thought l w“ slic sni-i in iii-spervttion. "l'm bin); going to miss it l'm ton-um. !5r|\y_ m-ss of clouds and ltlllside, because they could nnl Pill)’ with stare. John's heart nclicil with mcmnrlcs 0f them. A soft thu-l 11ml the sohlilng sigh oi u cow in tlii- atiililo I1i united across his thoughts. (‘hristinus iCw-h Anna. bcllcvmi in Anna was wrong. gotten. Trrlln Conn-s and (iocs Par riou u the valley a faint clear whliitie sounded. The night train! Ji= ‘I stlllencd. The snoitlng and pa. ‘ing oi’ the iron monster came lo ly U! nls ears but tho whistle (iiu not sound again . it thundered nn H's iigzlre sag 10d 'illl.l the light fu it'd from his eyes. It Wilt-i perfect Chilstmns weather. S"l‘l8 snow had fallen lint now the stirs shone bright mill close. Over mirrirloii hilt They iind for- of the silver birch in lines. John's heavy tooiate crunched wearlly on the fro en ground as he started down to the house. Anna was dflfwrating ii t." , , , a fir tree standing in a pot in the centre of a great round table. iinld bright to deliver those Christmas presents I think tho Ch-Lt _ to the relief headquarters. I‘. don't derfulil! x q m“ ‘mm " “on .. W "'- Lnrch llill a moon cl hcd the trunks "any" 1 remqmbe, when w‘ so‘ at Salmon Arm to get Laura. You know Jim would huvo to bring Laura. They might all come bust- lin' in that. door . . ." ER eyes were bright. John could not know she was praying tho door would open. He leaned forward his chair and his worn hands hung hopelessly between his kmea think they could. they have. matter now? "They've tori-tuition Anna. l didn't but l'm afraid What do you and i They're on thrii feet." Ha Itoorl up and lonked at the little tree. "You fixin’ all this for ‘em. wit“. Even aiivln all thaae pret- ti . little tinleled star to Sin was a biz raw-boned won»! H, isn't fiilr." His eyes misled as he fingered a hanging at the of the tree. it was tistiered and ryr,‘ y“, >-._ vi. l ‘he! i1- " ~ . 541l- éitw 1a».- ~..s- u...» 45-» 4-.» haw‘ 4-»- 1' Y» 1 w an oi tie Hour fir.» b-Ls- ~...- \...--\~..1 it“ \ I 4f 1 ‘.. <. i‘ ‘ i: ,0}. yoflh _ fora children wore stockings, they would place their "solicits or wooden shore by the fireplace for St. Nicholas to fill. it they had been good boys and girls thmughout the year. their shoes were stuffed with - tusytiiiiigs and nuts and cendyi if they were naughty children. a small rod was placed hesidu tho shoe as a lesson to the child. l _.., ~-<|n- s». . V-rhi- aiiefiufh i fir... First l. Christmas Treel ' an iiiinit i hi... ' found its way tlirou] e tress and But its iaht upon the little outings in the clearln . maitlu it bright and cheerful in c auroutidiu] gloom of the forest. ' inside tii eottng all s bu"; and only ‘The fla.inu s71?! sparks. danceovano crackled merrily in the _ fireplace. shedding a soft. shadowy [low about the mom. Seated in front of tholflrc lau. II old mun alt reading. On qth gi- n". eat tivq small chit-iron. sir s s; lirigh" {lube s en‘ t - d NicllU Q8. o . P‘. o‘ ‘m’, o‘ Elia bid a sto d raised his fit: to liilitemuwu‘ ‘n. Strange how" we. l. uu , y highly civilized people. atili celebrate occasions as old as time itself. bt. Valentine's Day. H l | | ° W 9'”- Thankagivlng Day and Christmas, all were "holidays" when men clad in skins roamed the woods in search of food. Santa's Wife J But wait. We've forgotten some- thins’- Who was Santa's wife? Now there is a P059" In Italy, the children. while they believed Saint Nicholas was their piitmii saint, worshipped his wife instead. Rather a shill 111 U" m" for good old Sniiit Nick. Unfortunately. her story is con- siderably more legendary than the story of Santa Claus. in her youth. when told that the tin-ca wise men were passing by her window, she refused to look. Just why she re- gretted this so much is not quite clear, but at any rate. she fried i0 atone for her mistake by making the Ii-fliiflh chiiiiieii nnimy- Al“! contrary to most goddesses she was reputed to be very ugly. Rather than steal any of her hue- bnnd's thunder, she holds her own littla celebration on the tlth of January which was her birthday. There is a Santa Claus And here 1a a question for the grown-ups. Is the Clauslan festival dying out? Why should this race, with all its culture and education and lack of superstition, believe in Santa Claus! Because industry won't let it. Because children will always he- But gradually ill in favor of ti He is no such occasions. celebration faded festival at Christmas. known in this country. tinder h German "iium do plume", Sam Claus, and his spirit returns 0i Christmas (lay laden with gifts t1- Mnny hundreds of years ago. be- this dlnkus. For Eileenks first tree. weren't it?" Anna smiled shukily. "Yes. John, nnd do you remembe: how she wanted the pretty star thii: iuid fallen off the top of the Mil. Eileen was the clever one." She laughed proudly. John's smile, was hitter. i "Clever. yes. nnd we scrimped and saved to send her to school. When she's finished she goes off to the city. because its lonely here." Anna crime around the table and put. tier hand through his arm “But it is lonely here, John, and Eileen is so young." She fingi-risd the star. He. flung aumy from the table and out. to the kitchen. "Look, it's eleven o'clock; soon be Christmas Day. Do you think we wouldn't know hy now ii‘ they were comln‘7" His voice was gruff nnd angry. "l'm goin’ to bed. Como. Anna. it ain't no use." Anna stood rigid by the little tree. "John i" ' She sounded small and frightened. "Wait until midnight. Oh. John. I can't bear it, I can't." Great dry sobs shook hcr frame. her hands moved in little questing circles before her. ' "Don't. Anna, don't." He was leading her to n chnlr. “It won't help any . . ." She rocked back nnd forth as she held his hands. "It's Jim. 0h. where he was." Jlml John's thoughts rushed back to that early spring day when he and the boy stood in the orchard. "You are twenty-one to-day. Jim." he had said. and it's all yours." Jim said "No!" John still writhed at the bitter words clashing iind hint-ting between them, still flinchbd as he remember- ed Jim's flnnl, "I'm going!" Pride kept him from culling tna boy buck. Pride still kept the smile on his lips even as deep ullthin fear coursed through his veins, fol he. ton. wondered about Jim. He. put a gentle mind on Anna's shoulder. ‘Jim's all right. Anna. wherever he in." if I only knew A iinock on the liiiiir Anna straightened and wiped her eyes. "Laura knows glosses, Anna?" ilevo in the supernatural as long as uarents aoe fit to let them believe. So every industry. whether it be to manufacture of railway engines : the preparation of dill pickles, da- >nds to a varying degree on the iristmaa festival. Therefore we can't let it dio. All hnll Santa Clausl There really is one,’ QETTYLAi/IONT She'll come with them to-night, Yuletide By A FAMOUS cunt‘ '1‘ Christmas time. more than any other in the year, tradi- tional English dishes come into their own. Consequently. our 193i 'Christnuis fare will not be so very 1 different from that our forefathers enjoyed. No matter how good its ingredients. a Christmas dinner can be ruined through insufficient attention being paid to details. I have prepared iiinny hundreds of them, so perhaps some hints 1 have found useful may be worth passing on. You cannot do better» than start your dinner with a good soup. Here is the recipe for hare soup, a favor- ite of the great Charles Dickens: Roast s. hare and then pound it in a mortar. Fry some carrots, onion. celery, raw ham. thyme and parsley with butter. Add more butter to tho pounded mixture. Cook over a. slow fire. An alternative Christmas soup its cookie leekle. made with the neck. feet and glblets of our friend the turkey, boiled with leeks, carrots, turnips and celery. As to the turkey itself, bear these points in mind when choosing the bird: ‘ A cock turkey is better than a hen. Heads should be red, and eyes bright. Fest should be supple, and loge black and smooth to the touch. Breasts should be firm and skin unbroken. Bread. crumbs and sausage moat. are the best stuffing for turkey, and I think the ideal accompaniments are roast potatoes, green salad and bread sauce. _ Roast beef is the alternative tio tur- key, and it is certainly more tradi- tionally English. To go with it pro- you‘ll see." "To-night l" John was losing patience. "Anna, the night is nearly over. See-a. quarter to twelve. They aren't coming." Heavy crunching footsteps sound- ed on the snowy ground. A knock sounded. Anna flung up her head. "John!" Her eyes shone. ,"John . . . open the door." John stumbled forward. "on... John hung weziltly to the door. 1 long sigh escaped Anna's lips, but. her smile choked it back as lhe mime toward tho man. "Why, Mr. Brakes, what you doin’ way up here on o. night like this? erry Christmas!" ‘Telegram came over from Salmon ‘m fcr you, John. and a special livery litter. My missus allowed s might be from the kids, so she iiuri-led me right off to bring it to ye.’ He fumbled in the folds of his hrzugv nuii-klnaw. "Hero she be." Anna ind John looked al each other. "Twlcgioiri? It's from Jim." John's fingers trembled as he tors it open. "I can't Where John, open it. see. are my "Here. John, here." Togither. they trembled over the p nf yellow paper. "Merry Christmas, Mother and find. Listen in over CKWX nt midnight sharp if you want a surprise. IJOVG. Eileen and Jim." Thc Clirhltmns Miracle Anna was weeping and laughing. "John. they didn't forget. ae they didn't forget . . . and Jim's at Vancouver with Eileen. Come in. Mr. Brakes. we forgot you for a minute. You forgive us, don't you‘! Oii. John, John." She crumbled into a chair. flung her apron over her head and sobbcd. John's eyes were shining as he rciid tho telegram again. "You were right. Anna. they didn't forget." ' He flung up his bcad. "Anna . . . thc radio . . . they soy to listen in . . ." The chimes of the old clock in the kitchen broke ln. "Mldnightl Listen, Anna girl . . . a surprise . . . what would it be, now?" ' ' E flung tho telegram on the table and rushed to the radio. His gray hair fcll over his forehead and his gray eyes shone in his thin, brown face. _ Over the nir came a Christmas carol, trllllng softly into the room. vldo horse-radish sauce. roast pota- toes. brussols-sprouts and, of course, Yorkshire pudding. Yorkshire Pudding The Yorkshire pudding should be half an Inch thick and. made of an equal number of eggs and tablespoon- fula of sifted flour. new milk being added to make a batter tho consist- ency of cream. It. should stay in the oven H) 1o 2i! minutes. The most successful Christmas pud- ding is not a result of using the most expensive fruits; balance-tho exact proportions of this and that-ls quite as important. Here ls1n. full recipe: Mix three-quarters of a. pound of grated bread crumbs with half a. pound of best suet chopped very fine. In another bowl mix three-quarters of s. pound of sccdcd and chopped raisins, three-quarters of a pound of currnnts. six ounces of chopped cun- died orange and lemon peel, two ounces of chopped almonds; ndd all- splce, mnce, cinnamon, Jamalctv gin- ger, powdered cloves, and s. little cayenne pepper. Mix these ingred- ients thoroughly and add the brood crumbs and choppcd- suct. When thoroughly mixed add six eggs well beaten with half a pint of brandy and milk in equal quantities with six ounces of sugar. Mix very. very thoroughly, then pack the pudding mixture into greas- ed moulds and boil fnr six hours at the ti e of making and six hours be- fore t oy are wanted for the table. When you put the puddings away after the first boiling see that: cloths are tied over them tightly so as to make the puddings air-tight. and put them in a dry place. Serve the pudding very. very hot. and if you care to sprinkle it with rum or brandy, be suro not to light it till the very last moment. I think custard or brandy sauce arc the best accompaniments. Lastly, one or two ivnrils about mince pies. If you make your own mince-meat, thr: mixed ingredients should h~. kept in a hermetically sealed jar for nt lczist a month, being stirred i-ncli wcck. The. right propor- ilnns for fill‘1g the forth-t moulds are three-qua rs puff‘ pastry to one- quiirti-r niiiicc-iiicut. Mince pies should be strved vcry hot, nnd Iirniiily sauce riinkcs an cxecliciit ac- Cfllllpilllillii ‘It. I hope thiit those frw hints of mine will help you to enjoy your Clirist- mus dinner~~to my mind tho most important meal oi‘ the year. DIISTLETOI‘) Mistletoe is a small parasitic growth which appears on ccriiiiu types of trees. in ancient times it u-us thought to have great magical properties nnd it was always in evi- filllng the corners with a sweet rush of melody. . . . "Silent night, holy night." Anna lay back in her chair. She had won . . . her babies had remem- bsred. A sob walled up in her throat. John put out his hnnd nnd touched hers in a firm grip oi un- derstsnding. "This ia CKWX . . ." Anna out forward. Words poured into the room. announcing gin ti". usual event . someone sending greetings . . . then flung out over the sudden silence . . Eileen's voice . . . Eileen‘: fresh young laugh. "Dad . . . Mother . . it's Eileen. She laughed a low, loving chuckle. "How I wish I were there with you two old deara. Mother, ii i could only hear you speak." Her voice broke. "I've got ii Christmas pres- ent for you both and l'm giving it to you over tho radio. I'm loving ou . . . hard. Here's your present. one-by. . . ." "Eileen . . . watt . . . wait!" \\'ili'iti m. i,‘ They Pllv-‘r those always stuck w," Anna was on her knees alsinat. the radio as though by the force of im will she Ctllild iii-iii; Eillln into the room. Nothing answered hut the sputter and crackle of static. » "Oh, my dear. I wont you so." Bhelsnk with a moon against the tabla. "Hulls. fnliis, here's Elm-aw dtnce during the holiday season. Jim . . Ind Intvnntwto shake hands. Honestly. I do." John gripped the top of the radio . . niirii. . . ' "hinthor. what are you Alttifilll‘ Decorating the lrec. and btnfl- ing . . ." ' John looked down. Anna clutched and she smiled. "Believe mo. mother, that. emits has helped me through the last few months. l'm with Eileen now. and I'm coming home as soon as l can get there. ‘rims is about up. dad . . . I've got to go. . . . Mother. we would love to be with you to-morrow . . . just remember that." "CKWX signing off . . . Merry Christmas. everybody." Anna pulled tiei-set up and laid a gentle hand on the speaker. "Isn't it wonderful. John? Out of the air they came to us." Mr.» Brakes was blowing till no" luetily as tie stomped up and _do;vn_ theJorrh. ' 1' " r. Brakes, onma tn. coma inp" - l-Ie wiped his frosty old eyes pestediy , "I Will In but it was toe not, mnm." ni- tallied-and blow agsidt» "l mar-i sin, mnm. Nevsi time briattnar oressnt. Dad . . , it's the like before. Fine kids. l ls fins. . . . Mother and tether, too." him around the knees as she knelt‘. ' "What's that?" he allot!- From outside the cottage the" some u, faint cry. In a few momenta it became louder-mow unmistakably the crypt a child. Tits children dashed across _ mom and opened the door. °,":Vhl:‘ya.it’a a little boy." cried one The man brought with him a o m8 torch from the fire. ‘I ‘b "Yea. it's a little boy, all right." 71.0 laid. "But how on earth could hCH avo wandered so far?" l felted tho iitti Id i h "m" £115 Dlaced himelnathsugharlr the fireside. . The boy was U" poorly clad but hill faco, lighted by the.soft glow from 1 31° TIPQPIRI-‘e. was almost angelic as ha slept the tired sloop of Qxhaugflgn and hunger. "Ha must be starved." said one of the children. "Lot's get him pom; broth. And with that they dashed out into the tiny kitchen. No sooner had they returned when "l" ""18 b0)’ Awake. rubbed his eyes and looked about him. xwhere am I?" ho asked, wearily. Dun t worry. 1nd. 0li'1l bs all right" in a minute, or; m; y“; Hvo. "I don't. livo anywhere," said tho boy. "I was lost in the woods and I saw the light from your window, And I wns awfully tired." "Hero have some of this." And the two- children’ offered him the 22:2: and broth which they bad pro- wiieii he iisa finished, m. sis milk Sflfikfilfiidgilllh " ow c ran, you must get way to bed. 'if you expect Saint. Nickola- to visit to-night." "But where's ho going to ll t" asked one f tb tnti to bnyI in theochislir-‘tm Po n‘ “QM " guess you’ l have to nil-kl mo! in your bed for him." replied. the Irina.‘ "There's no place else on - "Oh tbsfil be grad I soul eiiiiiii-iii tiigstthii-i-amsiiaiwviiii i: armooroun i stung. ‘ . made for their. .0‘ r m‘ 00N all was quietness h he house. The old nun was sitting by,, the fire agshi,» smoking hll h! ' plpo and. dreaming of days [one w,’ and days to come. Suddenly to his oars eons led sound of music. It grew louder and louder and a could hear the soft. ‘fifth stains l a harp and the meio ous singing of,‘ a. e o r. . 1 Tho music awakened the _ - too, but tothei‘ profit earns-is they awoke they found that the little stronger had gone. "Whore could he be," they asked as they ran to. the window. Otitslda the little clearing was bright and guy with silver-clad chil- dren. 1 I-liich was playing a golden harp and their voices blended in ivoiidrous harmony as they sang a Christmas carol. The mun watched with a look of amazement on his face. Surely ha was dreaming? And where had tho lost boy disappeared to? Them came a knock on the door and when tlio children opened it again‘, who should be standing be- fore them but the etrapger-ohild. now richly clntl in u silver costume. There was a strange radiance about him as ho spoke. "l um tho Christ-child. I spend my life wandering throughout the world bringing peace and ha piness to all good children. To-night when I ivne lui-it. you took Mo in. When I was hungryz you fed Mo, and when I was turd you gave Mo a place to rest. I was a poor child. and now you shall hnvc your blessing." , From u nearby fir itreo He broke n twig and planted it in the ground. "This tit-lg," He laid. "shall eoon lit-come a trcc, and shall bring forth fruits mid good things year by year to nil who are-good and deserving, for it has My blessing." with that. Ho and Hie mer imiipe disappeared into the fores . and their music gradually died away until it could no longer ba heard. That is the story of the first Christmas tree. which has since be- come Irpiirt of the Yuletide festival in every country. . n l Ila wound his muffler securely around his neck. "Must go down and tell the missus . , . never heard the like before." .- John stood by the radio, dreaming. Jim would bo homo in the aprinl .. . . to help seed . . . to fix tho bhsgiw i I .. I t‘ oh‘ look-tie ettar. See it's fiioifi jinn." A ' _ na pulled it from its envelope. " i- Mother and Dad Morrison. Ilb beard from Jim. You have _ He told me about the radio surprise. I'm so happy. may,‘ I some to-morrow for Christmas ulti- per. l do want to be with you. Laura." It was so hour part uiiatiiflil when John uzeln climbed the tin tq the stables. such a abort Wait boforo lio Md stood titers slab s‘! heart. Now he was nappy. ' The moon was low lo t s sky at!‘ tbQJtara bent eion in tit it own brilliant light. TM‘ breathless hulh , f a sleeping wildhlml iiiil l billi- _| over everythlnl. A restless thud n th sheds and the ‘low mirbi I of s stopped iilin short. Avru e f q y . . .1 soft animal sigh. _ ,1’ n started forward. then step- mflhvith a smile. . Why should :0 0Q Miracles did happen . . . " If! tliaruow. - ..»b ii i ‘ t ‘opposes you ‘ezp