The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-12-23

The whole yard was strewo with the braucbee.
and We, the favored auiocrats OF the nfst cta-s
were choten 10 make the garlands, OF whcn we
required o less than $50 teet Ihus, waat with
winding garlands, cutting fresh branches aDt
| collecting brtght-green moss TO lay round tue
| base of the trees, and to entwiue with the gar
| lands, four or FIVE days quickly passed, during
which time we were no slight objects oil envy 10
| the younger or stupider part OF the community
| that were not included among the FIRST" But
| the evenings brought pleasure and riotlng
amusement that was shared by all alike: For
| gry dually tho boxes aud chests OF Cbristmas
| presents, sent by fond mammas al papas, began
| to arrive in the post to Wn, hudolsIadt, whence
| they had to be fetched by Barop's own man, aud
| from time immemorial 1t mad been the custom
| in Keilhau for the boys TO assemble at the door
and endeavor to gain possession of the boxes.
which of course were opened and put in
| the places devoted to each in the grand saloon
where the "Bet tchecrung' took place. As soon
as the cry Friedrich kommt!" Frederick is
coming (Barop's coachman), was heard re-
echoing through the house, one and AL rushed
| TO the door, which was already defended by
| Ba1op and Schatfner, one of the masters, and
| son-in law of Barop's, each armed with tre-
mendous birch broom, which they had to WELD
| with un1aeging energy and adroitness on the
backs and shoulders of the attacking party.
| Great was the glee and deafening the uproar
| when two or three of the strongest fell over an
unusually large chest and gained temporary
| possession of 1t. But 1t was a very temporary
| one indeed, for Barop, man SIX feet six inches
IN height, and proportionately muscular, soon
| rained down a shower OF birch on the devoted
After the boxes had once been brought in the
grand saloon was forbidden ground to any one
| except the old masters and one or two of the
boys who were old Keihauers, and were re-
| quired TO assist in arranging the presents aud
writing the names OF the various eclpents on
strips of paper, which were then laid in each
respective place.
Christmas Eve arrived. Contrary to the usual
custom throughout Germany of having the
'Bescheerung," lighting up the tree and making
q W kai lhorn had -
on the Christmas morn at seven O'Clock. But
on the preceding evening we we've regaled with
the national dish ior that day, to wit, herring
salad, consisting of picked herring, potatoes
sliced thin like cucumber, endive and onions,
all mixed up together with the due proportions
of oil, vinegar, pepper, and salt.
After supper we went up to our desks and cup
boards, and took whatever presents we intended
to make our comrades or masters to Barop and
Schaffner, for them to lay in their respective
places, and then with joyful anicipations of
the morrow, ''of and to bed,n as honest Pepys
hath 1t.
Long before the first grey streak of morning
appeared in the cold eastern sky,we were awake
and awaiting the signal for rising which was
given by Barop and Schatfner singing kind of
carol, accompanied by the guitar, on which
Schatner was an accomplished virtuoso:-
"Au', auf, ibr Buben
Was schlaft ihr so lang?
Der Morgen BRIGHT
Frohiocket dem Herrn
Des Ohrislklndlein brlngt,
Euch was yum bescheeren."
No lingering in bed and catspawing the
frozen water on Christmas morning. In half
the time ordinarily spent in getting ready we
finished our toilet, and assembling in the ball.
were marshalled two and two in procession.
Then the doors of the saloon were thrown open,
unfolding uni scene to the eye compared towhich
the vista del Paradise" in the Sixtine Chapel
at Rome Is miserable failure. Twelve large
trees were ranged round the room, reaching
from the tables TO the ceiling, aud two bowers,
npUnfan N Ro md Eroha lie fofni
side, all ablaze with tapers and glittering with
rosy-cheeked apples, gilt walnHts, and all kinds
OF bright-colored ornaments. The windows
were covered in with transparencies painted
by celebrated painter. once pupil of the
institution, and, though dimmed by the black of
the countless tapers, flooded the whole scene
when morning dawned with Iich, varied color,
as in some Gothic cathedral. And as we entered
the saloon Christmas hymn arose from the
choir, which was concealed behind an artificial
shruboery OF pines and juniper bushes, and
walking slowly round the room till we formed
circle. the chaplain took bis place in the midst
and offered up the morning prayers, with an
extra oration specially improvised for the
occasion, to which, however, l am bound to
say, our attention was not much directed. As
soon as the much wished-for Amen was pro-
nounced, the "Gratulation" began, the Christ
mas congratulations, and every one, from TIC
place and see what the Chris.-kndlein
mad brought him. Each soon found out
his especial nook, and long before the
| hrst hush OF excitement was over the pale
morning grey began TO steal in, changed by the
| transparencies from its cold, cherries appear.
ance into rich flood of golden light, becoming
still more light and JOYOUS when further illum-
mated by the cheerful, gladstone faces of the
| delighted juveniles. 1t was a scene enough to
| have converted any mlsanthrope and pessimist
| that ever lived, not even excepting old Schopen-
| hauer. The dark-ereen pines, the garlands and
| bowers, the snowy cloths, the ghttering pre-
! sents, the blshels upon bushels of apples, nuts,
and pears ,and, above all, the Joyous assembage
| of youthful faces all tempered by the dim,
| mystic light, exercise an Influence upon the
| mind none can resist.
| Such is Christmas in Germany, the land of
| pines, the land where the monklet, Luther,
| assem5 5led his children around the first Christ.
| mas tree, whose lights shed purer and a truer
| doctrine throughout the wide lands of the earth
than ever since the first days after Calvary.