The Baltimore County union., 1881-12-24
A CHRISTMAS LEGEND.

Christmas has come-Merry Christmas--and
you are glad Why, Of course you are, little one.
And will Santa Claus come! feel sure he will.
good many things change In this world, but ON
Christmas Eve merry old Santa Claus Is always
heard of-his hair as white, his red, as
ever his bag Of toys just as full his cry down
the chimney of"any good children here ?" just as
loud. The boy three years old sees the same
figure in his dreams as did his grandfather sixty
years ago. Santa Claus was always old, but never
will grow older, and never win while parents love
their children. How many little ones, wonder,
haze hung up their stockings \. nisht and cover
ed their heads with the blankets they erept into
bed not daring to peep, though they felt sure they
heard something.
How many have wondered how IL was that big.
fat Santa Claus could squeeze down that narrow,
little crate and Il really 10 too much TO expect Of
him There should be one open fireplace, one
great, wide wood. burning chimney, ~ least In
every house, u only for Santa Claus and Christmas
time.
Kris Kingle is another name for Santa Claus,
and very good name too and stockings are not
the only things 10 hold toys. Little German
peatant children often set their wooden shoes
the hearth At Christmas Eve, pretty sure Of = cake
and toy for children, howeser poor their pa
rents may be, are made much ofin Germany. And
in some places 10 Europe a curious thing happens.
The mother. the father and the rest of the family
sit about the FIRE on Christmas Eve.
All the room i tidy. The children, half hope
fu half terrified, draw close 10 mother, father or
grandmother. a. they hear a sound of trumpet-
horns outside. Then the mother says; "what
can this be-" and then she opens the door. a.
she does 50. number of very strange looking
figures come in-amonsst them one person dressed
In white. with wings, and great basket in his
hand. and another in black with u bunch Of rods.
God bless you all, says the figure in white
"Are there any COOL children here"
Are there any bad children here p asks the
black figure.
My children are all pretty good, the mother
answers.
II attn glad TO hear it," says the white visitor.
Il have gifts here for good children"
"Stop :" the black hguTe cries they are not
good. Hans struck his brother yesterday Jim
and Eruesi broke the church windows; Gretchen
docs not know her eaieehism Petra broke piece
from the sunday cake 1t sat 10 cool on the win
dow-siil. will leave the rods 10 whip them with.
The children begin TO cry. The white figure
spreads out his hands and says:
The little ones will be better next year" Then
be takes of the rods from the black visitor and
drive. him out. The visitors play on the instru.
msn;. they have brought and the whole family
sing Christmas hymns. The angelic visitor then
emp;ics his baskc; on the table. and leaves there
a great number of iced cakes. silded nuts. ginger
bread horses and wooden toys, aud then departs.
The mother tells the children 20 be good all the
year. lest the rod should really be left for them
next Chfis;ina and al have supper and 90 e. bed.
Christmas bay is happy one for mos; children
all over the Christian world. and hope that be-
cause this j. % they will remember that this day
is KEEP, because eightsen hundred and eigh,y-one
years ago Jesus who said "SgHer little children.
and forbid then not. 20 come unto me. for such Is
the Kingdom of heaven vas the fret babe in his
mothers arms. Don't forget that amidst your
merry. making.