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December 25, lf)12 ] T H X I
"Don't ory, Den; they shan't, they shan't;
we will get our coats and slip him to Mother
Northern; she is a friend to everything, and
don't kill nothing. Come on, we shall get back
before tea." In silence they slipped out, with
Tobe, the old bronze turkey, trotting near.
Now and then with a silent pat on his back,
and a whispered word, they fled on. The wind
was blowing fiercely. Soon the snow was
whirling everywhere with blinding intensity.
They ran on with determined hearts, to save
their old playmate. Now and then could be
heard his gobble, gobble.
"I am so cold Nell, are yodf"
"Yes, but we shall soon be there."
"Where are we? Oh' I can't, I can't, Nell."
"With sobs and cries the boy sank down. Little
Nell, too, was almost frozen.
"I am sleepy, Nell, so sleepy." They were
too cold to go on, too sleepy to care.
'Twas gobble, gobble that roused dear Mother
Northern.
"Sir Thomas, that sound reminds me of
Tobe, the children's pet. Where can he be?
DettMe, dearie?if those precious babes arc out
in this!" Gathering a shawl and wrapping it
tightly around her, she opened the door.. What
a gust of snow greeted her. The gobble carttc
plainer. Staggering on, never faltering, with
the same sweet trust, that all would be well,
she finnlly saw the turkey standing over two
Httle white mounds. With quick, trembling
hands, she brushed aside the snow. After
arousing them, she led them slowly, step by
step, until her home was reached. Soon the little
ones were given hot tea, rubbed and petted,
until their little tongues were let loose.
"Mother Northern, where is Tobe?"
"There, dearie, see how proud he is to be
out of the storm."
"You won't let them kill him, will you?"
"No dear, the bird saved you from freezing."
Then they told of their father's order to
have dear old Tobe killed for the Christmas
dinner, and begged to hide him,
"We can't part with Tobe, for he is ours."
The children were.missed at home, and wild
With grief, every onewas out hunting, not caring
for the cold, or ice. but with fpnrfnl
/ - ? ?7
and throbbing pulse, they searched everywhere.
Returning at midnight, the chiming bells pealed
forth from the village churches.
"Peace on earth and good will to men."
For the first time the thought came to them.
Could they have gone to Mother Northern?
Every child sought her for ills and joys.
Soon they were on their way, fighting and
climbing until the gate was reached. Light
and warmth greeted them, and gobble, gobble,
came floating out on the night air.
The reunion was sweet and beautiful. Soon
the news spread over the village. The bells
pealed forth again, bringing peace and happiness
to all.. Tobe was a treasured pet in the
family, never to make a Christmas dinner, and
Mother Northern was, and always had been,
an angel of peace to those in joy and sorrow.
Tarapa, Fla.
HOW>THE ROYAL COURTS OF EUROPE
CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS-TIDE.
. - ... . ' /
BY REV. JAMES JOHNSTON.
Although Christmas has its -world-wide emblem
in the familiar Christmas-tree, nevertheless
it has the most varied observance oi all
festive seasons in the different royal circles of
Europe. f " ' .? ' *
The Christmas festival, a. g., at the^English
court retains all its national traits, ljucen Victoria
would never permit the slightest devia
PRESBYTERIAN 07 THE SO
tion from her Christmas festivities which were
shared in by all the members of Her Majesty's
family, who were at home each Christmas sea- i
son at Osborne, in the Isle of Wight. That
sfcene Was always one of charming, domestic
affection. Nor did the Queen forget her household
staff or the families on the several royal
estates.
During King Edward the Seventh's brief
reign, his Majesty and Queen Alexandra observed
Christmas Day at Sandringham in the
homeliest manner. The late King and his
Queen regarded Christmas essentially as a
home festival; in fact, the children's feast. All
the entertainments were of the simplest kind,
differing in no way from those which take
place in the honsehold of any great English
countrv crentlemen. save that the Kinor'o Phrict.
mas dinner was served with great pomp of gold
plate and Christmas decorations. For their
Majesties' grandchildren there was a Christmas
tree, another for the royal servants, dinners
for the tenants and employees, with a
distribution of gifts and treats for all the
school children of the Sandringham demesne.
King Edward was accustomed to dispatch
presents to foreign royalties, consisting of
Christmas hampers of the primest turkeys and
beef grown on his own farm, prettily packed
with sprigs of holly and mistletoe. The King
in turn, received sturgeon from the Czar of
Russia, venison from the Kaiser, and the head
of a boar shot in Kranichstein forests from the
Grand Duke of Hesse.
The baron of beef which always holds the
chief place on the board of a British sovereign
at Christmas?and is never seen at any other
time?was roasted at Windsor Castle.
Germany is pre-eminently the ancient Teutonic
home of Christmas where the Emperor in
his palace and the peasant in his cot alike, have
the time-honored fir trees. The Kaiser's celebration
of Christmas at the royal palace at
fotsdam 13 easily the most brilliant affair in
Europe. Punetiliously the Kaiser and Kaiserin
maintain every iota of the national custom
when His Majesty specially plays the role of
the father of his people to a remarkable degree.
On the Potsdam estate all the servants receive
a gift from His Majesty's hands, his charities
similarly being on a magnificent scale. With
charming taste the Kaiserin arranges the royal
Christmas tree and as Christmas Eve draws
on, the royal parents mingle in the frolic of
their children by throwing off the cares of
state and sharing in the festivities universally
observed all over the Fatherland.
Second only to the Kaiser's, is the Danish
royal family's celebration of Christendom's
festival in the maginficent Amalienborg palace
at Copenhagen. For generations past an
enormous Christmas tree, about twenty feet
high, has been brought from the woods of
Llernstorff and plaeed in the Knight's hall where
it is hung with the choicest family gifts. Following
an early dinner on Christmas Eve a
procession is formed to the hall, where the
young people, attended by ladies and gentlemen
of the household, after making inspection
of the tree and receiving their respective presents,
pass the remainder of the evening in
dancing, merriment and congratulations. The
royal family of Denmark are singularly devoted
and united to each other and avail themselves
of Christmas-tide to express their mutual
affection.
Unlike other monarchies in Europe, yet in
harmony with the Reformed Church, the Dutch
court scorns to make December 25 and 26 days
"of festivity. Ori the other hand, as early as December
d, the day of St. Nicholas, the children's
tf T H (1397) 7 ]
great saint in Holland, festivity has run riot
among the little Hollanders. It goes without
saying that Queen Wilhelmina has too pleasant
recollections of the coming of St. Nicholaa
to the paiace halls in her own girlhood days, to
neglect his annual return. Graciously does Her
Majesty remember all in her household and
many of the humble families of her kingdom.
Although attending scrupulously the services
in the royal chapel, the Queen has latterly
countenanced the custom of having Christmas
trees in court circles and among her subjects.
In Italy the unrivaled land of popular papeantry
the observance of Christmas tree has
no images, not even the German child Christ on
the top, the Italian "Festa della Befana" is incomparable
for its fantastic liveliness both in
scene and action, mirth and enjoyment. In the
most festive mood the court at the Quirinal par
tieipate in the national celebration. Queen Helena,
who grows in popularity, is most lavish
in her presents to her family and household and
delights to frequent the principal shops in
Rome to make her purchases. Christmas bo'xes
are customary in Italy and are given on a generous
scale at.court. Rome itself, is the center
of a week's gaiety, and the King and Queen
with their guests usually attend the opera in
state. The Queen dispenses most liberally to
the charitable institutions and.enjoys witnessing
the amusements of the children of those
attached to the court of Italy. Together with
the royal family and household the Queen visits
the presepio (manger), and is always impressed
with the beautiful spectacle and representation
of the shepherds in the fields, keeping
watch.
The pnnrt nf Stc orlpn malreo fhriotmoo Wi'a
a joyous season in common with the rich and
poor of the land. Christmas is passed at the
castle of Stockholm and on Holy Eve, Christmas
trees for each member of the family are
prepared in the Queen's sitting room, the scene
cf the family gathering. The grandchildren
bring gifts of their own handiwork, such as
woodcarving or painting, for paterfamilias.
Quite unique, however, iu costliness are the
presents?devoted to philanthropic objects,
which the King and Queen makg to themselves
respectively. Her Majesty, likewise, is beloved
for her bountiful gifts to the poorer of her
subjects. Exceptionally gay is the ice carnival
pt P.hi?Kifmoo 4i?_ 1 ?
v*v vuiiobiuuo liiuu, Miutivnunii a cvcr-pupuiar
festival, in which members of the royal family
join.
Christmastide in Russia is less imposing than
the Easter festival, the greatest celebration of
the year. Notwithstanding which Christmas
is indulged in heartily throughout the Czar's
dominions, a country par excellence in festivities
and fairs. The Czar and his court usually
pass the season in tljeir private castle at
Tsarskoe Selo, where the Czarina has Christmas
trees provided for her children and the day
is spent in the usually merry-making and exchange
of presents. Of imperial splendor, indeed,
are the gifts showered upon the youthful
members of the royal home. After the custom
of the court, Christmas trees are coming into
fashion among all classes of the Muscovites. \
Spanish royalty fervidly pays regard to
Christmas with all the pomp of religious ceremony
and national tradition. Mass is celebrated
on Christmas Eve at the chapel royal
in Madrid and attended by royalty, and on
Christmas Day the Adoration of the "Manger"
tpkes place when the King receives high officers
of state, followed by social pleasures. Tl\e
court of Spain is alive with benevolence and
gaiety at this period of the year the royal family
excelling itself in functions of benevolence.
. (Continued on page 11.)