The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1875-12-24
Christ's Birthday.

| am going TO tell you how L came to
love Christmas as Christ's Birthday. 1
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. often think
of the poor children who do not-think
and act, too, as far as i can. L asked
my mother one day how they knew
Christmas was Christ's Birthday. "Does
the Bible say sol"
"Well, daughter, she replied, WHIP
ing her spectacles on her clean check
apron, 50 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 holy day or feast, and is so
observed by some churches.
I sighed when she told me this, and
felt dissatisfied. AS 1 grew older |
tried to investigate the matter by read
ing and asking questions; but l re-
manned skeptical, so much so that l
would toss my head unbelievingly when
asked to help decorate church or at
tend service. /" you'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 sensation in
our neighborhood. 1t 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. 1
stood at the windows drinking in some
of this beauty, when a tap. tap 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 Auntie
Porter, we loved them so.
"What can Uncle Porter want of me,
| should like to know" 1 said to moth
er, as buckled my overshoes. There
was already u good path shovelled to
their kitchen-door. L was soon there,
and Uncle Porter came out to help me
up the steps. "What is it," 1 asked.
81 never saw You look so merry"
"Come and see," he answered, keep
ing hold of my hand and drawing me
toward the sittingroom.
"You haven't company" / whispered,
pointing to my big dusting-apron, and
holding back.
"Guess we have, though" he
laughed, OF the same time pushing open
the sitting room door.
There sat dear Auntie Porter with
what do you think, in her lapa I'm
sure YOU'D never guess-a little bit of 9
baby Yes, she was hugging it close tc
her, and looked as smiling and happy as
possible. 1 stood amazed until Uncle
Porter burst out
Cant You say something at frs
sight of our first baby =
Who-whose is it 2" gasped.
"Ours, ! tell you," roared Uncle Por
or. making the little bundle jump, anC
he tossed his cap to the ceiling, ant
kicked his slippers, one after another, t.
the same place, snapped his fingers anC
danced around until Auntie's "Why
Solomon" stopped him a little, and 1t
made out to say
"Weu, 1 pause to explain. Las
night, after Deborah had gone to be-
and been asleep awhile, L was awakened
bv strange noise. 1 couldn't thinl
what it was. / raised up on my elbow
but couldn't make out then, SO waket
ND Deborah, and says i, Can you max
ont what that noise is 2"
"Why," says she, it sounds like
.baby.-it il baby Get light quick.
"SOh, faint no baby. We don't hav
such things round our house" L said
jumping up, though, and getting light
and putting my clothes on in hurry
but. as true as I live, before could turl