The North-Carolinian., 1860-12-22
ole Nortb Garoliniaa.
FAYETTEVILLE, N. c..
A DANISH CHRISTMAS TREE.

On Christmas day I was one of a happy party
met TO keep the anniversary in true Danish fashion
1t was delightful family reunion !; the guests
with few exceptions, being or less akin. There
was nothing deserving especial notice in the Dime,
ltself, Which nightly resembled an English one
down to the huge boiled plum pudding, which, lei
me whisper in your hearing, capitally concoct
ed by an elderly English lady. A touching trait
came under my observation at the conclusion of the
dinner The two little children of the host ran to
him, and said. Thank you for my dinner'-Thiz
IS the constant custom of Danish children every
day. On the company rising simultaneously iron
table another national custom strictly follow
ed. The g.aests Of both sexes shook hapds all round
saving at tle time. Tel bekone dem, which
means literally, Good may 1t do you But those
guests who were previously unacquainted merely
bowed to each Other This is a custom observed
at all dnner-parties throughout the year. We ad-
journed to the drawing room, and certain
whispers and movements intmated to me that some
thing i'll preparation likely to give me a pleas
ant surprise. Nor yas long kept in suspense, for
the word to follow our leader, and away the
entire feet of gaily scudded pell, nell, towards
another room and on sailing In the secret was re-
veaed at single glance.
The Danish Christmas-Tree Yes, there it tow
cred in all its gory-with it's countless, sparkling
lights, and its dangling tickets.
Beautiful, was the novel effect. buzz OF ad-
1niraton burst from all lips and bright eyes grew
brighter, and smiling checks grew more radiant
and pratiers prattled faster and little feet danced
around with irrepressible joyous excitement.
Let me soberly describe the Christmas tree. 1t
vas beautiful living species of an ever green pine
growing in tub placed in the centre of the ROOM
1t was nine ten feet in height and its horizona
branches symmetrcally stretched around, shooting
out widely at the base, and gradually lessenlng un
til the apex formed by the straight single stem
In the branches were fastened scores of various
colored waxlghts, placed in holders, and from
root top suspended paste board tickets each
incribed with certain number.
Interspcrsed gded apples, punches of
raisns and grapes, nuts figs, &c. to be plucked by
the company at pleasure. The host armed himself
with pair of scissors, and calling upon us to aid
him in finding the successfully numbered tickets,
fusion, he commenced operations bJ clipping off
number l. This he delivered to tho guests whose
anne it bore, and he, in turn, presented it to the
hostess, who presiding good Gerius at a large
and long table, completely covered with articles of
all sizes lavsteriouslJ muti1cd in paper, that it
each having number answerable to some partcu-
lar ticket indicate 10 whose share the correspon
ding prize to fall. Having found the article
bearing the Juplcate number, the Office of the good
G enius smillngly to deliver the parcel to him
Or her as the case hi ght be. The fortunate party
would then forthwith eagerly tear off the wrappers,
and cNultingly exhibit the prize to the company.
The rrizes consisted of every convenient variety of
articles and, by what esteemed marked good .A',
were in most not merely ornamental, bat use
full j; few of them were elegant anu expensive
light articles of dress. Neither host or hostess
knew what all the ICES were nor what would tall
to their own personal share; for those which they
designed for each other privately deposited
among the collection, and ticketed at the last mo-
nent~ Number after number was found and call
ed pize after prize delivered and such gleeful,
busy rattling cilattering, happy set we all
never H;.s since the world began to make
merry. i will take my afhdavit-Picturcs Of Sean
atnurtu.