The New York herald., 1872-12-25

Santa Claus. who win, when Christmas comes
all the people whom he sees buying the precious
things are only doing so 20 take them some
where he wants to leave them, Is 1t q won
der that the youngster grows anxl0us wonders
snoa ss ms 20 Ss o.
ing about the wonders In the shops, ana why Santa
Claus don't let little peoples papas buy them and
and that on the morrow he only wakes up to feel
like crying because the day when st. Nick is to 20
his rounds is yet to him stiil very far away. But
rHR GLAD rIDINGs
60 through the house that tomorrow will be Christ
How IL does drag alongl How every little ones
appetite fails him, and how In his nervous anxiety
sS todass up stairs ana down own stairs 80 many times
on the morrow At last 1t Is bedtime; and who
ever knew youngster who didn't want to 60 to
no arguments; bur-ah that's the key to the NOR
row, those stockings! Are they hung up at the
chimney corner, II won't do for papa or mamma
boy, goes right TO sleep. Not a bit OF Il. He has.
been wasting his young life away for the past six
weeks IN waiting Tor things that twill, come, and
now that he knows that ne s at the threshold OF
the great day close ut hand at last, he Is not will
Ing to put faith any longer even In mammals
promises And why should he go to sleep and trust
to anybody's
HANGING UP HIS sTocKINGsS
tion ior the morrow they should forget to hang
them up at ailS The thought is 80 appalling that
one only has to look back to the Christmas ewes OF
curdiine horror Of the thing. Forget theml and
Santa Claus to come down the chimney and gr0pe
about In IN the dark, and At last with ch1cke,
find no stockingl Horror OF horrOrsl What would
he dor Ask any boy that knows OF him and he will
tell you what touchy fellow the old gentlemen Ia,
and how he would angrily bound up the chimney
and never visit that house agail-never more for
ever. SO, though every yoangster goes to bed
nrQ IN
hung up in his presence beforehand. Then tho
lights are put out and at once begins the troubled
reindeer and the red faced Santa Claus himself
refining up at the r0Of-t0p and
STEALING DOWN THE CHIMNEY
and watching the little ones In bed lest they
should open their eyes to watch his movements,
which would. you know, be dead loss to them
are nlled and, In his good nature, the old man. not
being able to get In them all he wants to give,
gns. and big real grocery W store ON on the CHAR at
Its head, and slips q curly headed dolly. with all
her day clothes on into the arms Of little Lulu in
the crib, who, without knowing what she does,
hugs 1t fondly to her heart. And then what shall
we say OF the morning Bright and early the
''Christ-mas, Christmas has come Christmas has
come! Wake-up p!-Christmasl ChristmasI
MERRY CHRISTMAS ALLln
There are no quicker ears to catch the CHEEKY
sounds than the children, and without even walt
ing to rub their eyes they are bolt upright, and
then-we all know what comes then the surprise.
the cries OF delight that alarm papa and mamma So
who run in just in time to prevent the youngsters
falling headong out Of bed in their eagerness to
get at their well-hlled stockings. Well, we were
all children once ourselves, and who will say that
on Christmas Day, old and bent down with age
oug We tn may 0s Win our n locks % the color q the
about us, who in their turn have some one to call
them papa and mamma-whO will say that to-day
we are not yet young, that the days when we hung
up our stockings are not 30 blended with the pres
cnt that we are once more chlldrenS Who among
us would il he could, for all the gold the world con-
fanC nj / IA m fho aCt nj
the Christmas OF his childho0d's days2 The remem-
brances are yet SO fragrant, when placed side BY
about US, that 1t would be a crime to forget them
They lit our hearts nearer to God, and thus to all Of
u.s. no matter who we may be- the day becomes
really day OF heartfelt religion,
THE DAY AND IT'S HISTORY.
Christmas OF course, like everything else, has q
the olden time. long before our gra6diathers were
born, were peculiar and widely different In various
countries 1t was not unit about the middle OF
the fourth century that the 25th day OF December
was made q day Of observance as the anniversary
OF the birth OF Christ. Pope Julius 1t was who
Sav 70 m & WI % e
that Protestants nowadays In one thing at least
agree with Catholicism Obeying the mandates OF
this decree by julius Christmas had been observed
at many different periods ofthe year by the various
christian some & o. tne churches Kept
most OF the converted Jews observed the
10th Of March, the time Of the Jewish pass
the time OF the Feast OF Tabernacles. Pope Julus'
decision, fixing upon the 25th OF December, was
made alter most careful investigation had been
instituted to ascertain as nearly rs possible, the
date of the Saviour's birth. 1t was acquiesced IN
by both the Eastern and Western churches, and
from that time to this all ChristendOm has OBJ
served the 25th OF December the birthday of the
Redeemer. In regard TO the various strange GUS
toms which in the early ages OF the Church grew
out OF the celebration of Christmas Day, writer
on the subject remarks that "Just emerged from
Paganism and enjoying but oral instrumentalities
converts should now and then degenerate into the
license OF the old heathen festivals. The saturnalla
were an especially seductive temptation, and, In
despair of completely weaving their nocks from its
sinful revelry, the pastors OF the early Church
wisely transferred to the celebration Of Christmas
the more harmless sports and amusements that
made this part OF the old heathen calendar 80
popular 1t Is easy, however, to see that the CON-
promise was made with great reluctance and more
as Of Gh e ss was
denounced by purists and reformers. In the north
OF Europe, among the Teutonic and scandinavian
races, the same method was employed to induce
the people to give up their annual honOrs to Odir
and Thor. and In Great Britain also various Druidi
cal rites and superstitions From THIS cause It ma
come about that even our presents Christmas fes
tvites are strangely mixed up with the old heather
CUSTOMS" In
THE aooD OLD DAYS OF YORR
the day was celebrated In merry England righ
merr ly. The Christmas dinner was the princpa
enjoyment OF the days festivities and upon 1t va
lavished oil the rare devices Of the culinary art
the period. The first and best priced dtsl
was boar's head, which was always
brought into the dining room on q huge platter o
metal amid a flourish OF trumpets and the strains
OF joyous minstrels After the dish was put upon
the table the server sang In gladstone accents IN
old song, half Latin, half English. II began as fol
lows
Caput Apri deferO
Rcddens laudos Domino,
The bOar's head in hand briu.
With garlands gay and rosemary.
pray you all sing merrily,
Qu estis IN convivi0.
It is almost needless to say that this boar's head
custom has died out and that the knighted roast
beef has taken It's place. However. Washington