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SO NO OF CHRISTMAS. Bound ever all waters, reach out from all lands The chorus of voicos, tho clasping of hands: Sing hymns that were sung by the stars of the morn, Bing sengs of the angels when Jesus was born. With glad jubilations Bring hope to the nations! The dark mght is ending and dawn has be gun; Rise, hope of the ages, arise like the sun, All speech flow to music, all hearts beat as OU(i Sing the bridal of nations with chorals of love, Bing out the war vulture and sing in the dove. Till the hearts of the people keep time in accord, , And the voice of the world is tho voice of the Lord! Cla3p hands of the nations In strong congratulations; The dark night is ending and dawn has be gun; Rise, hope of the ages, arise like the sun, All sp3:dh flow to music, all hearts beat as one. Blow, bugles of battle, the marches of peace, East, West, North and South let the long quarrel cease! Sing the song of great joy that the angels begun, Sing of glory to God and good will to man- Hark! joining in chorus Tho heavens bend o’er us; The dark night is ending and day has begun; Rise, hope of the ages, arise like the sun, All speech flow to music, all hearts beat as one. —John Q. Whittier. HANG UP THE BABY’S STOCKING. Hangup tho baby’s stocking; Be sure you don’t forget— The dear little dimpled darling! She never saw Christmas yet; But I’ve told her all about it. And she opened her big, blue eyes, And I’m sure she understood it, (She looked so funny ami wise. Dear! What a tiny stocking! It doesn't take much to hold Such little pink toes as baby’s Away from the frost and cold. But then, for the baby’s Christina* It will never do at all; Why, Santa wouldn’t be looking For anything half so small. I know what will do for the baby, l’va thought of the very best plan— I’ll borrow a stocking of grandma, The longest that ever I can; And you’ll hang it by mine, dear mother, Ilight here in too corner, soi And write a letter to Santa, And fasten it on to the toe. Write: “This is the baby’s stock! That hangs in the corner here; You have never seen her, Santa, For she only came this year; But she’s just the biessodest baby— And uow, before you go. Just cram her stocking with goodie*, From the top clean down to the toe.” NEW YEAR HOPES. Oh! never sink ’neat h Fortune’s frown, But bravo her with a shout of cheer, And front her fairly—face her down— She's only stern to those who fear! Here's “Better luck another year!’’ Another year! Aye, better luck another year! We’ll have her smile instead of snoer— A thousand smiles for every tear. With home made glad and goodly cheer. And better luck another year— Another year! W. Gilmore Simms. THE WAIF's"IHRTST.MAS. BY FLORENCE R. PENDER. morn! c_C> J(£>r clcar ’ Bnow - decked, with the bluest of skics, and Jack Frost and old King Sol hold* Mv i D Jf high carnival. j°Uy day! fore 11' told the merry laugh ' ' ® of children as thev tripped briskly along, taking in sundry peeps and wh'ffs of the forthcoming feasts. Huge turkeys robbed of all dignity, lying helpless upon their backs, j their lauk legs upraised m protest, j Savory looking compounds being raix*d by cook’s deft hands, while fruits,spices, ate., littered up the kitchen tables. Plenty and to spare for Gcd’s poor. At least so thought one of them, as he gazed into the kitchen window of a handsome d welling. Not in these words, perhaps, would he have cxpiessed hiin aelf, but why some should have so much more than they wanted and others nothing, was a riddle to him. A moment he lingered, then turned away with the words: “I don’t mind much 'bout myself, but I’d li e summat for tne little ’un.” Rather a comical figure did this young ■ter cut as his bare feet wended them •elves toward a less prosperous part of- Brooidyn. Yet despite the amplitude of ragged trowsers and dilapidated frock coat, with its skirts reaching almost to his ankles, there was something in the boy’s straightforward eyes and honest face that gave evidence that he was de serving ol a better fate than that of a waif. 1 'lothes, however, never troubled him. Something to starve off tho crav ings of hunger and a hole to crawl into into at night, these were the things that were the cause of thought to this child of the streets, more especially since he had luken unto himself a charge. Here tofore he hid led a happy-go-lucky ex ist cnee, notwiths’anding the snubs that fell plentifully to his share. Foraging for breakfast was his errand this morn, but somehow amid so much good cheer, there seemed nothing for him till a little old woman, whose garb showed scanti ness of means, paused at the sight of the lad, and, opening a basket she car ried, said cheerily: “There sonny, there’s a couple of buns and a few cookies I made myself, that I'm taking to the grandchildren. It’s not much, the Lord knows, but ye’re welcome, and a blessed Christmas to ye.” And with a friendly nod she trotted off. Recovering from his surprise, the boy hurried after, exclaiming breathlessly: “Oh! Isay, thank ye. My name’s Bob, an’ if yer got any wood to saw I’m yer man.” “Lor, sonny! I haves it in, in bundles, but you’ve the right heart, and the Lord loves a willing spirit,” then with her wrinkled face aglow with kindliness the worthy soul hastened on her way. “Here’s luck!” ejaculated Bob, “and I’m b’lievin’ what Johnnie’s mother said,” and Bob repeated slowly. “The Lord cares for the orphan,” ad ding emphatically, “and I’m blessed if I ain’t an out-an’-outer; fur a feller couldn’t be orphaner than a feller wot never had no father an’ mother, I take it.” Here, with a whoop, Bob darted across the street. A barrel of molasses bad been stove in, and a swarm of young sters were scooping up the sticky mess by every avaiiablo means. Seizing a broken dish from out an accommodating ash barrel, Bob secured a share of the prize, uttering: “I’m a squealer if we ain’t in fur a regular jollification.” His dish full, off he started, and after sundry turns made his way to a vacant lot, where shielded by a pile of bricks, lay, tilted to one side, a large crate, partially stuffed with straw. “Hello, Johnnie! Wake up!” shouted Bob, at which a little fellow, with the bonniestof blue eyes and the sunniest of curls, poked his head from out of the straw in the crate, with: “Fse here, Bob. Does us have break fast?” “You bet,” replied Bob, displaying tho treat, and continuing with: “We are going to do things in style this Christmas. Nibble on that while I set the table.” and Bob tossed the mile chap a cookie; then, gravely piling sev eral bricks together, he placed thereon the broken dish of molasses and the old woman’s donation, when, wedging ifta self in beside Johnnie, and tucking the straw snugly about them, he ejaculated: “Pitch in, little ’an, and say grace.” Folding his tiny hands, Johnnie lisped, gravely: “For what us ’bout to ’eeive, Lord be thankful. Amen.” To which Bob subjoined: “Here’s to the old lady's good health! Merry Christmas! Hurray!” After this rather peculiar grace the feast proceeded without interruption until Johnnie propounded: “What's Santy Claws!” “Oh, he’s a chap with a jolly, red face an’ white beard, wot goes round Christmas with heaps of toys and sich. ” “Will ho come here.” cried Johnnie, his eyes opening wide. “No, I don’t b’lieve as how he’ll visit our establishment. I only hear tell of him going to the nobs, as can buy plenty for themselves,” answered Bob, grin ning. “P’haps—oh, Bob!—p’haps Mrs.Santy Claws ’ull come to U 3 poor folks?” inter rogated Johnnie, wistfully. “Mrs. Santy Claws? I never exactly heard of sich, but I hear say there's a wo man at the bottom of everythin’; so I guess there’s a nice, jolly old lady Santy Claws,” replied'Bob, assuringly, as he noted Johnnie’s auxious little face. “Where’s Santy Claws live?" was Johnnie’s next query. “Oh, in a swell house,” and Bob, coolly drawing upon bis imagination, added, “no end of tip-top furniture, all gold and heaps of pictures and blazing fires.” “Oh!” uttered Johnnie, with a wistful sigh, and “it ’udbe nice there, wouldn’t it?” Then, nestling closer to his com panion, he added: “But it’s nice here, too, in this warm straw, an’ I like being with you, Bob, I does.” A burst of joyous bells floated toward them on the crisp morning air. A melo dy of welcome to God’s house of prayer “ Johnnie,” called out Bob, “how’d yer like to go to church?” “What’s there?” questioned the little fellow. “Oh, they ses prayers, an’ plays the orgin, an’ sings, an’ folks as wants to take a snooze. ’ “Is it warm?” anxiously asked John nie, cuddling into the 3traw. “Warm? You bet! An’ sofys as soft as—as mud.” “I’ll go!” cried Johnnie, crawling out of his nest. Such a quaint little figu e as he looked all mu filed up in an old shawl, the ends trailing on the ground as he marched happily off, his hand in Bob’s. Shortly after these two children stood watching the handsomely dressed throng as it en tered a fashionable place of worship, till Bob, with “Now, Johnnie, look alive, or the cop’ll nail us,” pushed the child before him into the crowd, and, sure enough, an alert policeman, spying Bob, made a grab for him, which Bob deftly eluded, but meanwhile Johnnie was carried on toward the baize door amid a swirl of silks and satins. The little fellow was a trifle awed at the church’s solemn grandeur; hut as Bob never failed to turn up all right, Johnnie made for an empty pew and curled himself up on a hassock to await his friend’s coming. Presently the or gan pealed forth, and Johnnie’s eyes grew round with astonishment as the voices of the unseen choir mingled with its wondrous tones. But soon the lit tle head drooped, and lulled by the sweet strains and the unusual warmth and comfort, the child slept. Nor heeded lie the advent of a plump, rosy cheeked lady, whose white hair con trasted so prettily with her still young face, and whose companion—a stout, jolly, florid-faced gentleman—possessed a bushy head of hair and beard of silvery whiteness. A faint exclamation escaped the lady; then, turning to the gentle man, she whispered: “Look! The poor little lamb!” “Shall I speak to the usher?” ques tioned he. One swift glance at the pale, little face and the lady shook her head, answering: “No, no! Let him be, the dear.” Many times during the service the lady’s dark eyes strayed to the little sleeper, and once when the child stirred uneasily her daintily-gloved hand softly stroked his pretty curls. A swish—a rustle—the congregation was dismisse d The lady of the rosy cheeks and white hair drew her sealskin about her, but her gaze rested linger ingly upon the sleeping child. “Well, dame?” and a merry twinkle glistened in the speaker’s eyes as he ad ded: “Looks as if a turkey bone might relish, don’t he?” “Bless his little heart, yes—and, oh, don’t you think we might?” And so, what was Bob’s astonishment —for he had lingered round, amusing himself as best he could to see a lady and gentleman come forth from the church, followed by a footman bearing the sleeping Johnnie, carefully rolled up in a handsome carriage rug. Drawn up to the curb was a stylish turnout, into which the lady and gentleman stepped, the footman placing Johnnie on the seat beside him; then, as the lackey swung himself on to the box, away started the carriage down the street, Bob yelling out: “Jiminy cracky! if I don't believe Johnnie’s struck ile!” Darting after the carriage, he clung on behind, taking care, however, to keep out of sight of the driver and foot man. iroon they drew up before a handsome house, whose wide porch wore an air of cheery welcome. Bob, wiggling himself down from his perch as the door closed upon Johnnie and his newly-found friends, ejaculated, somewhat ruefully; 1 ‘Here’s a go! I wonder what ’ull turn up next? Anyhow, I hope it ’ull be something soft fur the little ’un. He ain’t calculated to rough it, like me.” J ill I | ® f ji ‘ l Iv/. A moment later “the little ’un” was gazing wonderingly at his luxurious sur roundings, his little hands softly patting the old gold brocade of the lounge on which he lay. It was every bit true, he thought the gold furniture and pictures and big fires- and “Oh!” he exclaimed, as ihe rosy-cheeked lady came smiling toward him, saying: “Well, my little man, are we ready for turkey and pudding?” “Yes, please, ma’am, Mrs. Santy ( laws.” answered Johnnie, eyeing the lady curiously, as he added, sagely: “Bob said there was a woman in everythin’, and he guessed there’d be a Mrs. Santy (laws.” The lady laughed merrily as a chuckle issued from the region of an easy chair and a voice remarked: “One for you, Dame!” “Who’s Bob, dear?” questioned the lady. “Why, he’s —Bob. He takes care of me. You’re Mr. Santy. Claws, ain’t you?” continued Johnnie, gazing knowingly at the stout gentleman. “Hey? Why? What makes you think so?” “’Cause—’cause ” and slipping dow from the sofa, the child exclaimed, eagerly: “Oh, Mr. £anty Claws, please won’t you bring Bob and me some thin’?—’cause we never has nothin’. We s poor folks, but we ain’t bad, we ain’t.” “Well, well," somewhat huskily spoke the gentlemen, “and what is your name?” As the child, with a look of surprise, replied “Johnnie,” the lady cried in eager tones; “Oh, Ben! Our baby’s name, and the pretty curls and blue eyes, so like. Isn’t it almost as if God bad sent him in ex change for our darling?” “If you please, sir. there’s a boy what insists on seeing you. Says his name’s Bob, sir,” Delivering himself of this message, the servant aw aited his master’s pleasure. “Its Bob. My. Bob!” uttered the child, delightedly. “Show him up,” was the order. Bob paused upon tho threshold of the luxuriously furnished room, feel ing his dilapidated condition for the first time, but Johnnie running eagerly toward hi 3 young friend, drew him for ward as the gentleman said kindly: “Come in, my (lad, and tell us what you want.” “It ain’t nothin’, sir, only J see yer takin’ Johnnie, an’ I just followed to know what yer was minin’ to do. ’Cause I told his mother afore she died that I’d try an’ keep an eye on the little un, as there wasn’t nobody else to do ’t. She was allers good to me, she was, an’ a lady proper, too, if she didn’t rig out flue. Johnnie he can say grace an’ prayers which she teached him, right up to the haudlc, an’ he’s pretty, too, if he had fixings like rich young uns, an’ if yer feel sorter like adoptin’ him, why, I was goin’ to say”—here Bob paused, then added rather hurriedly—“l’ve noth in’ agin it, seeing as yer do the square thing by the little un.” Coaxingly drawing Johnnie toward her, the lady said: “Would you like to live with me al- “Oh, yes!” cried the little fellow, clapping his hands; then, interrogatively, a grave look gathering in his pretty blue eyes. “And Bob, too?” A glance passed between husband and wife, when the former said heartily: “Suppose dame, you keep the little fel low through the holidays, and, well, I’ll look to the lad. How is it, my boy? Would you like to work for me?” “Tip-top, sir,” was the ready reply. And so it came about that these two waifs—Bob in a neat suit, that his kind benefactor had managed somehow to pro cure, and Johnnie in a little frock, long treasured by a mothers constant love— sat down to a Christmas dinner thaf was a series of astonishing delights, to these small folks. Tears had dimmed the eyes of gentle “Mrs. Santy Claws,” as she clothed the tiny waif in garments that once belonged to her little son, her one yew lamb. Yet somehow the touch of Johnnie’s baby fingers carried comfort to her lonely heart and eased the regret that had long dwelt there. That evening as the rescued waif 3tood enjoying the blazing logs and quaint andirons of the old-fasbioned fireplace, Bob suddenly exclaimed: “Here we’ve been havin’ no end of shindy, an’ yer ain’t said gj#ce. Just yer fire ahead now, an’—an’ I’ll shove in a prayer, an’ don’t forget my old lady, cause she started us in on our luck tor day.” Kneeling, Ihe child, clasping his hands, obediently repeated: “For what us ’bout to ’ceive, Lord be thankful. God bless Santy Claws, Mrs. Santy Claws, the old lady an’ Bob an’ me, and please,let us live here, amen.” “Amen! An’don’t yer fergit it, lit tle ’un,” subjoined Bob, gravely. As the child knelt, the firelight caress ing his golden locks, husband and wife stole softly in and listened to the prayer of his baby lips, till, stirred to its very depths was the mother’s love of this gen tle woman’s heart, and so, clasping her helpmate’s hand, she murmured eagerly: “Our children, husband.” “So be it, wife,” was the earnest answer, as, reverently bowing his head, he added: “And God’s gift*’ Dolly’s First Bath. Christinns in Many Climes. In Ireland and in Scotland, as well as in the most of the British provinces, the Christmas customs are very much the same as in England, varied chiefly by local customs and colored by the history and habits of the j eople. The midnight mass in Ireland, attended by a torch light procession, is very impressive. Dancing and open-air games amuse the peasantry on Christmas Day. In the Scotch highlands the day is devoted to feasting and drinking, ball-playing and open-air games. iff n livH* ’ 'V.-y “kino out the old kino in the kew.” “The Americans,” says the Two Re publics, “celebrate Christmas with a tree, the Mexicans with a pinata. Every night till the twenty-fourth, inclusive, the pin ata is broken. It is a large oaken vessel, gayly decorated and filled with tooth some dulces or candies, hung from the ceiling in the center of the room. The children are blindfolded and armed with sticks to break the jug. Many are the efforts madeby the laughing, rollicking, joyous young volunteers to make them selves masters of the situation, which they finally accomplish when some mem ber of the blindfolded brigade with a lucky blow shatters the pinata. The crash of splintered, scattered crockery, the rattle of bon-bons and the candies on the floor,is the signal for the wrench ing off of the mask, and the children throw themselves upon the sweets, knowing that ‘Findings is havings.’” Presents are then passed around, among them China baskets, figures and silk and satin boxes with candies. Dancing then commences and lasts until morning. In Hoiland the patrou saint of Christ mas is Feltz Nickel (Paint Nicholas dressed in fur); he is also called Santa Klaus. He is described as a round, jolly fellow, with a red face and merry, twinkling eyes and white beard, who with reindeer and sledge drives upon the house-tops and comes down the chimney with presents for the children, who are taught by their parents to place their shoes and stockings on the hearth, where he will fill them before morning if the children have been good. * In Austria, Bohemia, Hungary and Poland the day before Christmas is ob served strictly as a religious fast. Nt> meat is eaten, but toward evening, when the first star appears, the tables are lighted and the great banquet is spread, and all partake with appetites sharpened by the fast. At 1” o’clook guns are fired, drums are beaten about the streets, and every sort of noise is made until mass begins. $ iji : •WMW DECORATING FOR CHRISTMAS. Christmas Eve with the pious country folk in Suabia does not mean a mere ex change of presents and compliments, but a devoted thankfulness fpr blessings re ceived during the year. The poor and the rich are for the nonce made one, their object being to insist the few of their fellow townspeople living in squalor and want. During the evening hours of the day preceding the Saviour’s birth quiet joy holds supreme sway in a goodly portion of the thrifty villages of the poetic Neckar Valley, and a good will to all is expressed upon the well-fed faces of young and old. * 1 he Targe front room of every cottage, whose scrupulously clean floor is covered with shining sand, is decorated with em blems suitable to the high holiday. The broad sill by the quaint, old-fash ioned, small-paned window supports a gay Christmas tree loaded down with good things to eat and embellished by dozens of wax whose bright light dazzles the eye. The square and heavy flour t-ougli in the corner is cov ered with gifts for the little ones. The substantial oaken table, which has done duty in the family for per hance a cen tury, is almost breaking down under the weight of tooths >me morsels. Christmas Economy. “Mary,” said an cconohtical husband, “I want to make you a Christmas present this year, but I really do not know what to get. I guess I’ll postpone it until next year and then get something nice.” “John, you raid that last year.” “Really now, did I? Well, that proves that I never forget you.” “But, John, you may be dead by next year.” “Why, that's true,and if I don’t waste my money on Christmas presents you’ll be so much better off. Really, Mary, I’m glad to see you look at matters in such a sensible light.” i Christmas Chuckles. The season of Christmas has many a yuleogist. * A Christmas belle —The girl with the ring in her voice who will always chime in when anything is tolled. Why is it that Christmas is so desired by tell-tale people? Because they then have a chauce to give things away. It is not the expense of a Christina* gift that makes it precious. It is the heart and good feeling that goes with it. A dealer in toys advertises “Fox and Geese” as a Christmas game. The C hrist mas game preferred by most people is the turkey. Every one must have noticed that when a man fetches home a Christmas present for his wife it is usually so large that lie cannot conceal it, while on the other hand the wife's present for her hus band is readily hidden inside the paim of her glove. “Live, live to-day!” the sage has said: The present’s ours, tho future isn't; Regret not Christmases now lied; Content be with the “Christmas present.” A Christmas Eve Serenade. V\ s !' * Russian Christmas Sports. All of the racing is done on the ice. There are many horses with records which would do credit to the American turf which were never given an oppor tunity for speed on a dirt course. They have run on ice and through the principal streets of the city and can be seen in the races without inconvenience. The main streets are veritable race courses daring the winter months, there being no laws to prevent horses racing anywhere, the drivers simply assuming the responsi bility of danger. All men of social standing own fast horses, and on Christ mas day they drive them. The scene is brilliant. The sleighs are beautiful, and are driven by women as well as men. Often three, four and five-horse sleighs are in the races, and the daring displayed is witnessed nowhere else. In some of the bazaars at the churches and winter gardens the girls who are in quest of husbands go to enter the com petition of wife hunters. They are dressed most brilliantly, and the young men who are in search of wives are accompanied by their fathers. More in terest centres in the girls and their costumes than the bazaar. When a young man sees a girl he likes he makes a memorandum, and the next day his negotiator visits her mother or guardian and negotiations begin. It may bo net till a match is made that the txvo see each other face to face. The holidays are not alone celebrated by the elder persons. The children have their sports. As soon as they appear on the streets in the morning they begin to pelt each other with rice, beans,bonbons and preserved fruits. It is a kind of a free treat, in which the parents fre quently indulge ami make up what takes the form of Christmas trees in America. The children form in groups and march through the streets and from house to house, singing carols, and are given sweets wherever they go. They are a happy lot,even though they have not the advantages of school and training the white children of many other countries enjoy. — Philaddphia Time*. A Happy Now-Year. Bring me a rose, and bring me a ring. And bring mo a little plum-cake.my dearie. The old year’s out and the new year’s in, And we must have something to make os cheery /pi| \ 'Mj. < V' Poke up the fire, higher and higher, Light me the candles, and draw me the curtain. Old Jaeky Frost may hunt till he’s lost, Bnt he never will find the way in, that 1 * certain.