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For Woman’s Work. HOME DECORATION FOR CHRISTMAS. ND pray a gladsome Christmas For all good Christian men: Carol, carol Christians, For Christmas comes again.” It is a custom almost as old as the world, to use green boughs for decorations on holy days. The Christmas holy day is of hill feasts of the year, the most joyful tor Christian people. We will not delay, then, but bring >into our homes green boughs— the holly, the laurel, the fir, the ■ mistletoe, the box and trailing vine and winter fern, and make our homes festive and bright, and make merry and glad. “So hallowed and gracious is the time.” Some simple bin's might be accentable to those who wish to bring “the Christ mas greens” within their own four walls. If your home is in the country, you may use the green boughs of holly with its bright berries, branches of pine, spruce or cedar, as they come fresh from the woods, filling empty fire places or big jars with branches. Hang vines and sprays of holly and mistletoe about your pictures and use them with clusters of green en livened by the red of the holly-berries or the pearly mistletoe, in looping your window curtains. The sarsaparilla vine, with its thick clust< rs of crimson berries, givesa wonderfully brightning effect festoon ed from cornices and pictures and relieved by an intertwining of ivy. or some green. Even this general decoration gives a room a gay and holiday appearence which can be much enhanced and beautified by various designs wrought in green The drawing-room and dining-room should be made especially attractive in this way. After this is done, you may make use of certain sacred shapes and symbols. Tn the city, where economy of green is necessary, these suggestive decorations may be u.-ed to advantage, and without profusion taste and device, may make attractive and be fittingly festive. In the country only the amount of trouble you care to take limits the variety and lavishness of decoration. Some of these appropriate symbols and designs may be suggested. Since the time of Constantine, the cross has been the symbol for Christianity There are various forms of this symbol, and each has its own historical interest, which it will be well to keep in mind in our decorations. The Tau Cross takes it’s name form the Greek letter of that form, and is called the cross of the Old Testament It is the sup posed cross of the brazen serpent, and has been called the ideal precursor of the real cross. The Latin cross is generally supposed to be the cross on which our Lord suffered, and is med as an emblem of sorrow—the cross of passion. The Greek cross is said to represent our Lord’s ministry, tho four equal arms representing the gospel preached to the four quarters of the earth by the four Evengelists. The cross is also called the cross of St George,' the cross of all good Englishmen. The Latin cross calls to mind the atonement, while the Greek Cross speaks the religion of the cross. The Maltese Cross, is said with its eight points to symbolize the eight beat itudes. I may also mention the symbo lism of certain forms, which are useful in our Christmas decorations. The five-pointed star, called the Pentan gle of Soloman and in the East used as a charm against witch-craft, and by Pytha goras as an emblem of health, is called the Star of Bethlehem. The seven-pointed which is said to refer to the Lamb in Revelation, “with seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God.” These symbols may be cut of paste board and covered with the ever-gr< ens and placed where most effective. Ever greens used may be spruce, ceder, arbor vitea, holly, laurels, rhododendron, box, ivy, juniper, mistletoe and periwinkle. The colors most suitable for Christmas, are white, which is the most joyous oi all c< lors, and red, which symbolizes God’s love, and green for the bounliiulness of Gid. Gold may be used with the same significance as white—purity and joy. Rooms that are very bright may bear more ornament with wreaths and designs of green, and others that are darker, need to be brightened with scarlet or gold. All this will depend on wall background and room ornament. In the country more lavish dtcoration seemsmore suitable The wreaths and branches can be more easily obtained and east aside when their freshness is gone. It is always wiser to attempt to <lo less decoration and let that little be well done. Put your chief work on one central cross, monogram, motto or star, which shall have the position of honor, and let all other greens lead up to that. Whatever designs you decide upon, let them be carefully drawn, if they are of home manu<acture. Designs and letters can always be bad at ary church decorators. Perforated ziim is the best background, and devices of this material will be useful year after year. If it is not convenient to obtain ti.is, cardboard must be used. The design drawn should be made with compass and rule with great care. The small sprays of green are then sewed with strong carpet thread and coarse needle upon the given shape. On a cross the ends of the four arms are first covered, work ing all toward the center. Care must al ways be taken to cover the stems. Small green leaves are used for decorations on the level with the eye. In a high posi tion the coarse greens may be used with advantage. Circles w’hen needed can be made the right size of strong wire, then wou-d with ever-greens. Three circles crossing each other to form a tangle make a simple and effective device. The three circ’es can be fastened together with fine wire in proper position. A monogram in red in the center ofa circle of green with a -mall cross pattee fastened above, below and at the two sides of the circle is easily managed and is very effective. When red berries are used for a surface, the card board is covered with glue or melted gelatine, and the berries laid thickly over the glued surface. Everlasting flowers may also be used, though I do not my self wholly like them. One is apt to con nect the flowers too much with funeral wreaths. The white and yellow flowers are the pleasante-t in color. We have many varieties of red berries, which have a more natural and cheerful winter appearance than the dried flowers. The holly, bittei sweet and alder may 7 be used. And now the Christmas-tree may be mentioned. Iftbere arechildren ina house hold, if possible give them a Chrstmas tree. Use a Norway spruce or holly rather than cedar or pine. Let the tree be well weight ed, and if possible put on an uncarpe ed floor. This is for the comfort of not be ing afraid of the necessary muss and litter. A curtained-oft end of a hall be tween parlors is a very convenient posi tion, as the tree need not be carried far and is easily removed after the festivities. A walk through the shops and your own nimble fingers will give you the best di rections for the ornamentation of the tree. It may be well to remember that not the costly gift a'one is precious but the one in which we put thought and consideration. I have made no mention of mottoes. The prettiest thing would be an embroidered hanging to keep for Christmas day, and on that day border it with real hoi y leaves and berries, besides its needle-work border. This should be on a strong linen, with only the verse and proper symbols. There is nothing batter than the well-known Bible verses, as any of these: “Behold I bring you good tidings of joy.” “Unto yon is born this day a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.” “Glory to God in the highest, on earth peace, good will to man.” “Hisnameshall be called Wonderful.Counsellor, the Mighty God. the Everlasting Father, the Prince of peace.” If a verseis short, each word maybe seperated with a cross. If the verse is long, the cross may be put simply above and below. Letters cut from paste board and covered with cedar or some ever-green can be made to form appropriate short mot toes when those ofa different character are desired. Over the mantels there maybe placed “A MERRY CHRISTMAS,” “HAPPY greetings for the season,” or anything the fancy suggests. For the hall you may use as a mottoe. “hearty welcome and RIGHT GOOD CHEER ”or simply “WELCOME'’ Vie give a few verses of hymns that may 7 be used for the embroidered hangings, or for Christmas cards. "Oh ye shepherds, what have ye seen To slay your sorrow and heal your teen?” "In an ox-stall this night we saw A babe and a inaid without a flaw.” “And a marvelous song we straight did hear That slew our sorrow and healed our cure,” “To Thee, meek Majesty, soft King, Os simple graces and sweet loves, Each of us his lamb will bring, Each his pair of silver doves; At last iu tire of thy fair eyes Ourselves become our own best sacrifice,” "The heart must ring thy Christmas bells, Thy inward altars raise, Its faith and hope thy canticles And its obedience, praise!” "The world is glad for Thee! The heart Is glad for thee! And all is well And fixed aud sure: because Thou art W hose name is called Immanuel!” What need be added after these to make our homes beautifu 1 , save the words of Scrooge after the visits of the three spirits: “1 will honor Christmas in my heart aud try to keep it all the year.” For Woman’s Work. WHAT WE TALK ABOUT. We do not like to encourage the rather selfish way of constantly 7 staying at home and keeping ourselves to ourselves, but after making a round of social calls we thi .k the question pertinent when we ask C"i bona? Social intercourse is certainly advanta geous when it means meeting with our fel low beings to learn how the world goes with them in their endeavor to successful ly solve the problem of the best way to meet it in all its perplexities, and to ex changeideas—not remarks—on subjects of interest; but seldom is this the object or result of the personal intercourse we carry on with our friends. This is what the average call amounts to: Woman puts on her best and goes to see one of her dear(?; friends, not because it is a real pleasure to her, but because it she doos not exchange the requisite number of calls she may be considered unsocial and eccentric. They meet with marked cordi ality, talk in a lively manner on the latest society news, recent domestic trials and the prevailing styles, and all the while the ladv of the house is noting the minutest details of her visitor s toilet while her companion makes a mental inventory of the drawing room and all its appoint merits, comparing them with her own. They receive a cor rect and critical impression of these two subjects and erhaps their fund of society news and scandal is somewhat enlarged, but what real benefit has the meeting been to them? They have learned nothing that is help ul. nothing that is elevating and improving, nothing that will aid and com fort them in their every day life. They have not talked together freely and unreservedly as two intelligent women with minds and hearts that sh<uld have a common ambition ai d sympathy, but as ladies in the same society circle who are performir g a society duty. The narrow-mindedness of the conversa tion usually carried on between women of intelligence, is something discouraging to those who hope for a more elevated plane of thought and feeling. How few can be entertained by any topics but those of per sonal interest, the old, but ever new, sub ject < f dress, the foibles and weaknesses of absent friends and the current news oi their small world. It is strange that persons of even average intelligence should be satisfied with what is s<» common-place to say the least. One of the pleasantest days we ever spent was with a lady we had met for the first time. We did not know the same people, so could notdissect the character of absent acquaintances; we were too much of strangers to discus's family matters and too well bred to bore each other with-do mestic affairs. How thankful I felt that the fact of our being strangers prevented all possibility of conversation being conducted in the brilliant(?)style to which I have known many persons, considered cultivated, to confine themselves; in trying, by much nr n tai exertion to recall the name of some almost forgotten person, who perhaps had only crossed the path of their life once and would never do so again; or to set le lh« exact date of a death, which e uld be of no more importance to them than it was to the tomb-tone on which it was recorded; or who this One or that one married some twenty years ago. and how they were re motely connected with some one else by some other marriage, etc., etc. S<» 1 was glad we had no acquaintances in common and never had. Will you believe it? The femininetopics of dress, domestic affairs and society, were not mentioned. Why cannot rational human beings meet together and talk in a rational manner? Sometime during a conversation try to express a sentiment that is worthy of you, if you cannot give a bright <>r origii a) thought. Then social calls will not only be a pleasant recreation but something to help and strengthen mind and heart. While not approving of strong minded women, as the term is commonly applied, we do implore that there be more strength, of mind among them. We now speak particularly of women not girls. At mar riage her mental growth becomes even more staunaie than that ofa society young lady. Frequent visits abroad and meeting'many persons give the latter an advantage As a girl she entertains her friends with the sniall-talk of society nothings, jests of a questionable character, garnished with such nonsense and slang as is only conipn hended by the girl of the period, and which has one recommendation— it is of so evanescent a nature that it cannot be kept in the mind for any length of time. As a matron, the bill of fare served t<> visitors is fashion — us essential as salt to some women’s conversational least—the pretty details of house-keeping and the disposition and taking ways of her servant-. Once for six months we lived in the same house with a woman who had a husband and children, and during that time she was not s« en reading a book. She no more thought of doing such a thing than she did of converting her parlor into a chemical laboratory. If her thoughts chanced to leave her kitchen and dining-room, they only wandered as far as the parlor and went as high as the ceiling—no higher. How can such a woman give her children the training a true mother should, or be a com panion lor an intelligent man? If the sweet word wife should be lost, we know no other in the language so fitted to take its place as companion. It is happily true that a woman may industriously occupy her bands with do mestic concern and still not allow her m nd to he entirely absorbed by them. This is where she errs. Among young people there is a great lack of earnestness in conversation. The tendency these days is to ridicule every thing. No person or thing is spared, if something can be said to raise a laugh; nothing is considered sacted. Would it not be rather shocking to gome ears, io bear one girl teasing another in a light and jesting way about the probable attentions <>f a man whose wile had been dead less than a week? This has been heard in good society and personally speaking the effect was painful. Jest is ever appreciated and adds a zest and piquancy to conversation, but let there be some discrimination in choosing a sub ject for it. Charles Reade has given us a sermon in the title of one of his books— ‘•Put Yourself in His Place.” Ridicule and burlesque are enjoyable but not at the expense of friends either present or absent. Indulge in it discreetly, but do not let it exclude the earnestness from your conver sation. The utter indifference of most young people to the development of what is true and noble in their nature, their want of serious thought on the real objects and aims of life, is something that is to us inexpressibly sad. A favorite writer gives us the key-note to this evil, when he says— “Honestyand truth, God’s essentials, are perhaps more lacking in ordinary in tercourse between young men and women, than any where else.” Where does the blame rest? In order to elevate the tone of society, the tone of its conversation must be eleva ted. To do this there are three requisites— read think, feel. Then, in an hour spent with a friend, both may g’ean something worth the keeping, if it is but a kind word that shows a friendly sympathy, an ex pression of interest in a fellow being who also is walking the rugved way of life. Heart and soul will expand and the word society can be used in its intrinsic sense, meaning/eZ/owsAip and companionship. Helen C. Molloy. For Woman’s Work. THE OLD AND THE NEW. Foot sore and weary, leaning upon his staff, the Old Year limps away. He has traveled many a league since the hour when, fresh and radiant and amid the welcoming peal of jocund b-lls, he com menced bis pilgrimage in that path which all the centuries have traveled. As he flits away, gaunt as any spectre, he bethinks him, max hap. of all the scenes through which be has passed, and in, his wallet stows away. “Alms for oblivion.” At how many christenings he has looked in with smiling face. How many feasts he has enliveded with jest and story. Into how many graves he has thrown, in pass ing by a sprig of rose mary. How many lives he has hung with garlands—huw many be has strewn with ashes and woe. Children have plucked playfully at his skirts as he has marched forever on. Young men and maidens have craved choicest benefactions at his hands ; old men and women, gray and wrinkled, have implored him again and again, to tarry —to linger in his march—that they might gather the utmost he had to give. And now he is near the journey’s end. Yonder in the purpling dawn, a New Y«ar comes smiling down this way. So farewell to the Old, and peaceful dreams; Welcome to the New. Latest child of Time, may it be to all of us the best and happiest— that one of all the years to which from the far he.ghts that n<> eye can see, we shall look back with chiefest and fullest delight. C. B. G. Love without religion is a plucked rose. Religion without love—there is no such thing. R' liuion is the bush that bears all the roses; for religion is the natural condi tion of man in relation to the eternal fact*; that is, the truths of bis own being. To live is to love; there is no life but love. What shape the love puts on depends on the persons between wh<>nt is the relation. The poorest love, with religion, is better, (because truer.therefore more lasting.more genuine, more endowed with the possibility of persistence—that is of infinite develop ment.) than the most passionate devotion between man ai.d wuiunn without iu— George Mac DouaLd.