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jk A Christmas Litany Jk
gajllll By ALICE CRARY.
>L\ Oh Christ, the true and living Vine,
As Christmas garlands we entwine,
Adorn for us each heart’s time shrine;
We pray Thee ’ Holy Jeeu
fr%g::ss j ,
v •'-p - Oh Christ, of all this world the Light,
f K ** i As Christmas tapers W£ ignite,
Shine on our lives and make them bright;
We pmy Thee ’ Holy Jesu *
r Oh Christ, the heavens were arift
; ;f f jfe ffixy i When Thou didst come, the Father’s Gift,
Through Christmas tokens souls uplift;
JfifW We pray Thee, Holy Jesu.
iaffl ® jHli
Thy Cross shines through the Star to-day,
Lead on until the perfect day;
f|^We pray Thee, Holy Jesu. {
—American Home Monthly.
A CHRISTMAS LEGEND.
(Translated From the French by H. Twitchell.)
NCE upon a time long,
long ago, when the
wonderful things told
Vpf2:TN of in legends hap
/ P eued > the smiling
}wv~ - \*~S country of Avignon
i < A a _„ Q v/ in France was not as
beautiful as it is now.
*£& d* N 0 white cottages and
green'vineyards adorned the hillside.
Only a shepherd’s hut was to be seen.
Here lived Eudes, his wife and two
children.
One cold, stormy Christmas night,
as Eudes was plodding homeward
after sheltering his flock,* he was a
prey to the most melancholy reflec
tions. He thought of his hard lot,
his poverty, and felt that the future
held nothing in store for him. As
he neared his home the north wind
redoubled its fury, and lie heard the
chimes of the nearest church ringing
out through the frosty air.
S “Christmas chimes!” he thought.
“Christmas is for happy and rich peo
ple, not for poor shepherds like me.”
His dark humor did not escape the
notice of his wife when he entered
his lowly hut. She sent the children
to amuse him, and soon saw him
smile as he listened to their prattle.
As the evening wore on the storm
Increased, but seated before the fire
blazing in the chimney, Eudes forgot
his discontent, happy at being shel
tered from the raging tempest. When
the family -were about to sit down to
their evening meal they heard a loud
knock, and a voice outside cried:
“Open the door, my good man, for
love of the living God, whose
birth w r e celebrate this night!”
“Who are you?” asked "Eudes.
"“I am an old man who has traveled
many a weary mile in this terrible
cold. lam at the end of my strength
and can go no further. Open the
door, if thou hast any kindness in thy
heart! ”
Now, Eudes had a great deal of
kindness in his heart, so he opened
the door at once. On the
stood a stately old man, beautiful to
behold, with luxuriant white beard
■and clear, blue eyes. There was
nothing sordid in his dress. He car
ried a heavy cane, upon which he
leaned with dignity and grace.
“Welcome, old man,” said the
shepherd, cordially.
“I thank thee, my son. My bless
ings be upon thy house.” The vis
itor spoke slowly, and his voice w r as
like soothing music.
“May I ask you to share our frugal
meal?” asked Eudes.
“I thank thee again. Thy repast
will be indeed w T elcome, and on listen
ing to thy words of welcome my heart
is already cheered.”
Going up to the cradle where the
children were sleeping, he paused,
and contemplated them. “The
cherubs! How peacefully they sleep,
and how sweet their dreams must
be! On this Christmas night visions
of the Child Jesus doubtless smile
upon them.”
Eudes and his wife felt themselves
-moved in a mysterious way as they
listened to the sweet voice:
“Long ago the Redeemer was born
in a far-away land, where the air is
' :kh,‘
light and pure, and where lilies grow
on the mountainside. The skies were
not overcast on that night, and the
stars sang together.”
Soon after they sat down to the
humble meal. The guest praised the
order and cleanliness which he saw
everywhere. On hearing this Eudes
began to lament because of his pov
erty and his laborious life. He spoke
of his discouragement and failure,
and referred to the future with utter
hopelessness.
Butt he old man consoled him. He
spoke of the charm of a life so full of
liberty.
“The shepherd, dreaming on the
mountainside, is not an unfortunate
being,” he said. “Think of those who
are pent up in palaces. It is in these
splendid abodes that people die of
weariness and disease. Those whom
thy imagination pictures as powerful
and happy are often infinitely un
happy and unfortunate.”
As he spoke his head w r as sur
rounded by an aureole, and a light
emanated from his entire person. He
continued:
“Happy the humble man who, like
thee, Eudes, walks peacefully along
the pathway of life. I have wandered
far over this world, and have seen
many strange things. I have lived
In splendid palaces of marble and in
- v) '
the cottages of the poor, and I have
found the greatest happiness under
humble roofs.” 4 .
As he ceased speaking the room
was suddenly flooded with light. The
poor shepherds recognized their di
vine guest and prostrated themselves
in prayer.
“Have no fear,” said the guest.
“I am He who brings peace to all.
Live in happiness and contentment,
and thy children shall bring thee joy.
I will take envy out of thy heart;
also, the desire for what thou canst
not have. Ai;d I will adorn thy land
with flowers and fruits, so that
shalt praise My name every day. If
Eudes and his wife were speechless
with awe, and when they recovered
themselves their divine guest had
vanished.
They never forgot His words, how
ever, and contentment and peace
reigned ever after under their lowly
roof They never forgot that the lot
of the>femble had been called blessed
by theWbrd on that stormy Christmas
night. *
The Kgend runs that the land of
AvignorMblossomed like the rose ev
ery yeaiMafter that eventful night.—
Ep wort™ Herald.
Hora Cliristi.
I, MaryfijiA'.nbling wait
The to be;
I shall ha<W ved so high a part
In His namjj-'W
Oh, wonderfum. ;.ce wonderful,
My God hatliH tii>to me!
For this mine hour^^/Npam,
The travail I must^‘ai#v,
There shall be gladness through the years;
And where my tears shall flow
The bloom of Love shall burst in flower,
For God hath told me so.
How gladly shall I bear
All sorrow for His sake!
1 only tremble lest with love
Mine eager heart should break,
For He shall rest within mine arms
Ere the white dawn shall wake!
—Charles Hanson Towne, in Christmas
Number, Lippincott s Magazine.
CHRISTMAS CHIMES FROM MANY CLIMES
Christmas is always a season of
good wishes and loving kindness.
In America almost all children
hang up their stockings on Christmas
eve, to be filled by kind old Santa
Claus. , In Germany they make more
of Christmas than we do in Ameri
ca. Everywhere the Christmas-tree
is used.
If a family is too poor to have a
whole tree, a single branch only will
stand in a conspicuous place, hung
with the few simple gifts.
A week before Christmas St. Nich
olas visits the children, to find out
who have been good enough to re
ceive the gifts the Christ-child will
bring them on Christmas eve.
It is a very usual thing to see on a
German Christmas-tree, up in
the very topmost branch, an image
or doll representing the Christ-child,
while below are sometimes placed
other images representing angels
with outspread wings.
After the tree is lighted the family
gather round it, and sing a Christmas
hymn.
In France may be almost univers
ally seen representations of the man
ger in which Christ was born, with
A Christmas Messenger.
figures of Mary, Joseph and the
child Jesus, and cattle feeding near
by. Often these representations are
decorated with flowers, and lighted
candles burn softly before them.
In Norway the people have a de
lightful custom of putting on the
BIRTH OF THE CHRIST CHILD.
roof of the barn, or on a pole in the
yard, a large sheaf of wheat for the
bird3, who fully appreciate their
Christmas feast.
In England almost every one who
can do so has a family party on
Christmas eve. Young and old join
in the games, many of which belong
especially to Christmas time.
From the ceiling of one of the
rooms a large bunch of mistletoe is
hung. Mfcyty little maid is caught
the one who
catches her take a kiss
from her rosy lips.
In Holland the little Dutch girl
puts her wooden shoe in the chim
ney-place ready for gifts, just as the
little American girl hangs up her
stocking.
And so in some way all over the
Christian world on the eve of the
twenty-fifth day of December the
birth of our Lord Jesus Christ is cel
ebrated. Everywhere the Christmas
chimes are ringing out the message
the angels brought to Bethlehem—
*‘Peace on earth, good-will to men."
—Youth’s Companion.
The Plum Pudding Holly and
Blazing SujA*.
Christmas in Dixie.
(Uncle Ned’s Explanation to a Northern
Visitor.)
Go ’long, boss, an’ quit yo’ foolin’—
Yo’ ain’t seed no Chris’mas, man;
D' ain’t no Chris’mas in de Norf, sah,
Dat kin beat old Dixie Lan’!
Ev’body’s free an' ekul,
An’ each malTjfes’ has his way;
White er black —it makes no dif’ence
’Way down Souf on Chris’mas Day.
Does we go to chu’ch! Oh, no, sah;
We don t have no time fur dat —
’Twouldn’t be no sorter Chris’mas
Jes’ to go whar meetin’s at!
But I sho do b’lieves in meetin’s,
Yet I wants ’em in deir place;
An’ I’m sho no Chris’mas meetin’
Wouldn't suit dis culled race.
You ies’ gimme a little cidah,
Aa a little tas’e uv rye,
Don’t furgit de rum fur aig-nog,
Nur de mince-meat fur de pie;
Den you let de fiddle strike up,
Let Miss Dinah step dis way,
An’ I’ll show you how we shuffles
’Way down Souf on Chris’mas Day.
All do pickanninnies playin’
Jes’ like roostahs ’fo’ de do’,
’Lijah in his boots wid red tops
An’ de brasses on de toe;
Lucy wid huh white dawl baby,
From the painting by Sinkel.
’Rastus wid a big tin ho’n,
Caesar wid anew goat waggin—
Man, dey’s happy sho’s you bo’n!
Chris’mas sho wuz made fur darkies,
An’ de law don’t cut no ice,
White mens w'id'deir clubs an’ blue-coats
Lays ez low an’ still ez mice;
Black Mariah don’t ride nobody,
Ev’y darkey has full sway,
An’ they sho do ac’ like white folks
'Way down Souf on Chris’mas Day.
S'
To be sho at night we en’s up
Wid a gran’ Jim Dandy spree--
One uv dese cake-walks
Er a big co’n shuckin’ bee;
An’ sah, ef it’s one er t’othah,
It’ll las’ ’mos’ th’oo de night,
Den we’ll go home wid de ladies
At de break uv mawnin’ light.
Dat’s de way we spen’s ouah Chris'mas—
You jes’ shet 30’ mouf up, man;
D’ ain’t no Chris’mas in de worl’, sah,
Dat kin beat de ole Dixie Lan’.
Ev’y body’s free an’ ekul,
An’ each man jes’ has his way;
White er black—it makes no dif’ence
’Wav down on Chris’mas Day.
—feilas X. Floyd, in Leslie’s Weekly.
Christmas Present *or Mother.
You couldn’t please many a house
wife better than to treat her to a
freshly-papered room for Christmas.
There are the loveliest broche and
damask effects for drawing-rooms.
The silk frocks are superb. There’s
a Dußarry rose which is exquisite,
and there are greens which make one
forget the lovely woodlands. The one
color effects are to many the most
fascinating, though there are two
color combinations so beautiful as to
fairly outshine them. Delicate peach
and ivory blend most exquisitely.
There’s anew castor shade with
pinky suggestions that will be just
the thing for some rooms.
The pressed papers are also lovely,
especially in the Marie Antoinette
colorings.
New York City. —No style ever
suited young girls better than that of
the overblouse, and it not only retains
its vogue, but is constantly increasing
in favor. This one is charmingly
girlish and attractive and can be
treated in a number of ways. In the
Illustration it is made from a bor
dered voile and the border has been
cut off and utilized for the trimming,
but cashmere is being much worn this
season, and makes lovely blouses and
dresses for young girls; the simple
I r* 1 "
silks are much in vogue, wool taffeta
and a whole host of other ma#j;rials
might be suggested with trim
ming anything irf' contiw Band
ings are exceedingly beautiful, and
are always easy to apply, braiding
with soutache is handsome and sim
pler effects can be obtained by the
use of straight rows of braid or other
trimming. In this instance the
guimpe is separate, and is made of
all-over lace, but the blouse can be
made all in one if liked, and the long
sleeves can be of the same material as
the over blouse, or they can be of
thin material in matching color, while
the yoke is of white. Again they al
low a choice of full or three-quarter
length.
The over blouse is made with front
and back portions that are tucked
over the shoulders and is finished
with the fancy collar and the narrow
sleeves. The guimpe consists of the
front and back with the mousquetaire
sleeves, which form the foundation.
The quantity of material required
for the sixteen-year size is two and
an eighth yards twenty-one or twenty
four, one and five-eighth yards thir
ty-tw r o or one and three-eighth yards
forty-four inches wide, with tw’o and
three-eighth yards eighteen inches
wide for the yoke and sleeves, tw r o
and a quarter yards of banding three
inches wide for the trimming.
Taupe and Amethyst.
There is no abatement of the rage
for taupe color and amathyst shades.
Embroidery.
Embroideries are among the fav
ored millinery specialties this fall.
They are in high relief and adorn the
wide-brimmed hats when no drapery,
and few feathers are used.
Olive Green Hats.
The olive green hats have been
taken up with enthusiasm by young
girls. Some of these have the pheas
ant’s wing in the front just as it is
worn in the Alps.
Black Bridesmaids’ Hats
The large picture hats of L.
maids are in stretched blaov *
encircled with wreaths of d* sati
and white camellias, and they h” k
handsome chains with jeweils ear
dants. Jeweled Pen .
Sheath Skirts of Satin
Sheath skirts in dahlia satin ta , h
ioned on long lines—reachimr
the waist line, with a
oack—are exceedingly handsome
the short blouse of lace worn
them echoes the color of the
its embroideries or similar decoration
Fasten In Front.
It looks as though ail the garment,
of this season will fasten In front,,
stead of the back. From shin
to ball •gowns one sees the sa !
method of fastening. This * e
cially true of one-piece suits, of
orate blouses and of classic nartt
gowns.
Black Dress.
This year the most elegant of all
dresses are the black ones, made in
fine silky broadcloth which has the
richness of silk. A gown of this char
acter, made in the modified long di'
rectoire lines, will prove one of the
best investments the woman of small
means can make.
Infant’s Wrapper.
Such a little garment as this one
belongs In every layette. It can be
slipped on at a moment’s notice, and
mornings are exceedingly apt to b
cool and to require such a condor*
able wrapper, while it can be ma 0
from almost any soft, warm materia'
French and Scotch flannels are ia' oi
ites, but many of the flannelettes a.e
pretty and satisfactory. In the il u *
tration the gown is shown in u
front view made of dotted fi anDe !
while in the back view it is ma -
plain blue N flannel, with the e g
scalloped with heavy embroider} si •
The wrapper is made with 10
and back which a~e tucked at t e
tres, and is finished with a An Tr
over collar, while it is held b.*
ties. There are comfortable -
finished
~i
The quantity of
is tw r o and five-eighth > a! n( j
four or twenty-seven, ° ne ~o r
quarter yards thirty-two o*
inches wide.
Two-Incli Ruchin e *
The neat little edgj- 0
made of crepe lisse 01 j n
girls have been wearing ius t n**
stocks looks old fashion ; g
The new' ruching is two
is triple and very full-
Challis For Indoor ' U^ e3 j
Silk and w'ool challis h ‘% o ffrl
anew lustre this week- I
for indoor frocks in u ‘ id
tones, in stripes and m 1