The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1875-12-23
Christ's Birthday.

am going to tell you how [ came to
love Christmas as Christ's Birthday. /
used to like the Santa Claus part the
reindeer fable, the sled loaded with
gifts, and the stocking part-the specu-
lating part as to what might get, you
know, and the delight of finding the
well-filled stocking in the morning. /
always had this pleasure. l often think
of the poor children who do not-thS'ak
and act. too, as far as [ can. I asked
my mother one day how they knew
Christmas was Christ's Birthday. Does
the Bible say SO"
Well, daughter" she replied, WHIP
ing her spectacles on her clean check
apron, " no the Bible does not tell us
it was on that day so we are not sure.
We suppose it was about that time.
Christmas was fixed upon and observed
many years ago, Christmas is COM
posed of two words, Christ and mass,
and means a holy day OF feast, and is so
observed by some churches"
[ sighed when she told me this, and
felt dissatisfied. AS L grew older [
tried to Investigate the matter by read
ing and asking questions but [ re-
NAMED skeDtical, so much so that I
would toss my head unbeiievingly when
asked to help decorate church or at
tend service. ssYou're not at all sure it
is Christ's Birthday" I'd say, "You'd
be ashamed enough celebrating Wash
ington's on any other than on the 22d of
February, or the 4th of July, in mid
winter. ~
One morning there was a sensation In
our neighborhood. It had been snow
ing all night. Now the walks were
piled high doorsteps and porches
banked up. The evergreens were al
most breaking under their load the
Arba Vita, especially, trying to hold too
much, fringing the willows and elms,
white, glistening, beautiful. The sun
came up with gayest, brightest face,
lighting the scene enchantingly. /
stood at the windows drinking in some
of this beauty, when tap tapi tap
on Uncle Porter's window attracted me.
He beckoned me over. They lived next
door to Us-not any relation, really but
we always called them Uncle and AUlntie
Porter, we loved them so.
"What can Uncle Porter want of me,
I should like to know" [ said to moth
er, as buckled my overshoes. There
was already a good path shovelled to
their kitchen-door. / was soon there,
and Uncle Porter came out to help me
up the steps. 'tWhat is it, / asked.
81 never saw you look so merry.
"Come and see," he answered, keep
ing hold of my hand and drawing me
toward the sitting-room.
'tYou haven't company, / whispered,
pointing to my big dusting-apron, and
holding back.
Guess we have, though, he
laughed, at the same time pushing open
the sitting room door.
There sat dear Aultie Porter with
what do you think, in her lap? I'm
sure YOU never guess-a little bit of a.
baby Yes, she was hugging it close to
her, and looked as smiling and happy as
possible. I stood amazed until Uncle
Porter burst out:
"Can't you say something at first
sight of our first baby e.
Who-whose is it 2" gasped.
"Ours, tell you" roared Uncle Por-
er, making the little bundle Jump, and
he tossed his- cap to the ceiling, and
kicked his slippers, one after another, to
the same place, snapped his fingers and
danced around until Auntie's "Why,
Solomon, " stopped him little, and he
made out to say !:
''Wen, I pause to explain. Last
night, after Deborah had gone to bed
and been asleep awhile, I was awakened
by a strange noise. couldn't think
what it was. raised up on my elbow ;
but I couldn't make out then, SO walked
up Deborah, and says I, Can you make
ont what that noise is e."
sWhy," says she, it sounds like a
baby,-it is baby! Get light quick. /"
sOh, faint no baby. We don't have
such things round our house," I said,
jumping up, though, and getting light,
and putting my clothes on in hurry
LII 90 4,-no nc i 1iuo hofor.n could &,.,.r,