davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1882-12-28
Christmas EVergreens.

The use of evergreens and flowers as
means of decoration seems an instinct
of human nature. Green boughs were
used by the Jews at the Feast of Tab
ernacles, and the Romans ornamented
their temples and houses with them,
during the Feast of Saturn. The an
cient Druids hung green branches and
the mistletoe over their doors as a pro-
pitiation to the woodland sprites. A sur
vival of this superstition was found
among the English peasantry, not two
hundred years ago. They hung up
evergreens in their cottages, in the be-
lief that the sylvan sprites would flock
thereto, and SO the boughs would re-
main unnipped by the frOsts till a mild
er season. The English custom of deck
ing houses and churches with ever
green's at Christmas springs, therefore,
from an ancient practice and human
instinct. The favorite plants are holly.
bay, rosemary, laurel and ivy. Objec-
ton was formerly made to the use of
ivy in church decorations on account of
its associations with the orgies in honor
of Bacchus. The mistletoe was also
excluded because it was the plant most
intimately associated with the heathen-
ish rites of the Druids
Though accommodated from the
church the mistletoe was the popular
plant for decorating English homes
When Druidism was the religion of the
Britons, the mistletoe was held in great
veneration. 1t was gathered with mys-
tic rites from the oak on which it had
grown, and then. divided into small
pieces, distributed among the people.
They hung up the sprays over their
dwellings as a Precipitation to and a
shelter Tor the woodland deities, during
the season of frost Even as late as the
seventeenth century apiece of mistletoe
suspended from the neck was supposed
to guard the wearer from the baleful in
fluence of witches.
In modern times the mistletoe has
tendency to attract men towards
witches of fairer face and a more
amiable nature. A branch of the mys-
tic plant is at Christmas hung from the
ceiling. If any man or boy can by
coaxing or cunning induce fair girl to
come under the spray, he is entitled to
kiss her. Gossip does report that maid
ems have been known to pass on pNr-
pose under the salute-provoking branch.
Among the old Christmas carols may
be found some in praise of the ever
greens used IN decorations. OF the
holly it is said:
Here comes holly that is no gent
To please all men in his inteat.
Ailelujah!"
The ivy is praised in these lines:
ivy is soft and meek of speech.
Against all bale she is bliss.
Well is he that may her reach"
-YotttHS Companion.
The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1882-12-28
TIE ORRLsTMAs TREE.

Where grows the Christmas tree
The green, deep-rooted Chr tmas tree?
BY what brave toll. I'm what rich soil,
Can spring the blooming Christmas tree2
Is IL from prairies broad and deep,
where future haryests softly sleep,
And nOcks of q res. far and free,
Lie level as q WaYeiess scar
Or is IL where q breeLe-skein twines
Between the lofty plumaged pines7
On where sweet steaifhy Languor rov0s
Among the Southland orange RroYes2
Or blooms IL best mid city homes,
With Wealths unnumbered spires ana dome52
Or is IL where, through chanReful day,
The mountain shadows creep and play,
And swift g cleaning sun-nood rides
Along the tall cliffs dappied sides?
High grows the Christmas tree,
The sweet, Unexplained Chistmaa tree
Where eP extends the hand OF friends;
Wherever heartcaressings be.
What bears the Christmas tree
The bright rich-fruited Christmas tree7
What gather they. expectant-gay,
Who throng around the Christmas tre02
Leaves picked by love-instructed art
From on the branches OF the heart;
Fruits culled from every tree and vine
Where Zephyrs ny and eunbeams shine
Whate' er can brighten to our gaze
The trembling dawn of childhood days;
Whate' or can feed more clear and high
Inc flame of youths expectant eye;
Whate'er can make more richly good
The blood OF man or wOmanhOOd,
Or bid old age look smiling round
AT gems Of earth-joy newly found:
Whatc' err can say: awhile strength endures,
Ny life has love and help for yours"
Rich CLOVIS the Christmas tree,
The heart-protected Christmas tree
With tokens dear that bring more near
Gods earth-lent love 10 you and me.
wa Carleton
The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1882-12-28

which have berries much like those of
mistletoe). together with the little
clinging cleavers and bed straw of our
hedgercws. which are somewhat more
remotely connected with the original
ancestor. But certain allied rsces like
the sandalwood family. are parasitic on
the roots of other plants. The ancestor
of the mistletoe. which was clearly in
termediate between those two types
whence the dispute as to its proper
place in the old linear arrangement
must have more or less comb ned both
habits; it must have been at once a
creeper and a parasite. In this way it
could ascend the trunks of trees, and
then fasten itself ON to the soft tissues
OF the bark, at first, no doubt, by means
OF suckers The mistletoe has be-
come, in the ordinary'but very incorrect
language of botanists. perfect para
site. The means by which it has accom-
plished this change may still be observed
in the existing berry.
Looking closely at the top of the little
white fruit one can see four small. black
ish marks, which are the scars left be-
hind by the four calyx pieces in falling
Oh. These scars show the place of the
plant beside such other bushes as the
dogwood and the wayfaring tree. Now.
If the berry is cut OPEN. the inner pulp
appears as an extremely viscid mass of
slime-indeed, the very word ''viscid''
is but the ad ective of viscum; and from
this pulp birdlime is manufactured En-
bedded in the slime is single hard
seed. The use of such an arrangement
to the mistletoe is easy enough to under
The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1882-12-28
THE HOUSEHOLD CHRISTMAS GIFT.

More than five solid years of Christ
mas DAYS since the Star of Bethlehem
began to shine! What radiant cluster
of throne-white gems in the circle of
Christian ages they would make! But
we want them just as they are strewn,
one a year, along the lines of our lives.
Like the well and the palm in the
desert. they are places where pilgrims
call a halt, and unburden, and lie down
to pleasant dreams, and rise up with
sweeter memories, truer hopes, fresher
strength, nobler aspiration, and tenderer
humanity.
Whoever does not feel angels in the
air on Christmas Eve, though he may
not see the shining of their wings, has
too little imagination to obey the Golden
Rule. To be younger and happier for
the day we must be like them of whom
the Savior said ''For of such is the
kingdom of Heaven" Christmas is
chiLdreH's day. Little and big, let us
all. for twenty-four hours a year, be
children. every one. The first Christ
mas gifts brought to the babe in the
far-away village, who was not born in a
human dwelling. were "gold and frank
incense and myrrh." They were the
offerings of the wise men of the East.
But there have been wiser men and
richer gifts since then; faith in things
unseen; hope that wakens through the
night, impatient for the morning; love
that casteth out fear. 1t is not wrath
but lore that makes us brave to dare, to
do, to suffer; and fortitude is the sublim-
est of courage. Miles Standish, belted
and booted, striding forth with his stout
heart and sword to the savage 'front.'
was valiant; but the Pilgrim 10omen,
shivering around their cabin fires,
strong to suffer. and waiting serene and
patient for the Christmas, stood there
in that long gone December, the New
Worlds guardian angels of the virtues
of mankind.
swish yer merry Christmas! Gin
me centr' That is what l heard, all
in q breath. on q clear Christmas morn
ing, when the silver steel air was full of
the Jingle of frost and the tinkle of bells,
and the snow was crisp and fresh as if
new bank-notes foot deap covered the
ground. This is what saw: an eight
year-old in ragged coat some bigger
boy had shed; a cap suggesting q
drowned muskrat that never came up;
hands bare; face ripe, unless, like a
blackberry. it was red when it was
green; and with the look of having been
put to the grind-stone and sharpened.
Poor little skirmisher. too early on life's
line of battle, whose idea of happiness
could dwell in horizon narrow as the
rim of cent! took twenty-five times
The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1882-12-28
Christmas as We Grow Older.

As we grow older, let us be more
thankful that the circle of our Christmas
associations and of the lessons that they
bling eXpanps! Let us we come every
one of them and summon them to take
their places oy the Christmas hearth.
We come, cd aspirations. e ittering
creatures of an ardent fancy, to your
places underneath the holly! We know
you, and have not out,ived you vet.
Welcome. old projects and Old loves,
however fleeing, to your hooks among
the steadier lights that burn around us.
Welcome, all that was ever real to our
hearts; and for the earnestness that
made you real thanks to Heaveni Do
we build no Christmas castles in the
clouds now? Let our thoughts. 1utter-
ing like butterflies among these flowers
of chi dren. bear witness.
Before this boy there stretches out a
future higher than we ever looked on in
cur romantic time, but bright with hon II
and with truth. Aryund this lite head,
on which the sunny Curis lie heaped,
the graces sport as prettily, as airiiy as
when there was no scythe within the
reach of Time to shear away the curls of
our first love. Upon another girls face
near it-piacider but smiling bright-a
quiet but contented little face, we see
home fairly written.
Shining from the word as rays shine
from star, we see how, when our graves
are old, other hopes than ours are young;
other hearts than ours are moved; how
other waves are smothered; how other
happiness blooms, ripens and decays
no, not DECAYS, for other homes and
other bands of children not yet in being,
nor for ages yet TO be, arise and boom
and ripen 10 the end of all.
Welcome everything! Welcome alike
what we hope may be to your shelter
the holly, to your places
round the Christmas fire, where what is
sits open-heartedI In yonder shadow do
we see, obtruding furtively upon the
The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1882-12-28
TIE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS.

Twas the night before Christmas, whea All
ThroIa yh the house
Not creature vas stirring. not even a mouse:
The stockings were hung by the chimney with
In hopes mat 81 Nicholas soon would be
me en,Idrca were nestled all snug In their
While Visions Of sugar plams danced in their
heads.
And mamma in her kerchfef, and in nv cap.
Had Just settled our brains for long winters
When out on the lawn there arose such ciat-
Isprang from my bed to see what was the mat
ter.
Away 20 the window 1 Dew like q Dash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.
The moon, on the breast Of the new-falien
Gave q Iuster OF midday To objects below;
when, what TO my wondering eyes should APP
But miniature sleigh and eight tiny reindeer.
With little old driver, SO lively and quick,
More rapid than eagles his coursers they
And he whistied ana shouted and called them
"Now, Dasheri row. Danceri now. Prancer
On. Comet! on. Cupid, on. Donder AMI Bit
To the too of the porch. to the top of the wall,
Now, dash away, dash away, dash away allr'
AS dry leaves that before the Wild hurricane
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to
81, up to the house-top the coursers they dew.
With the sleigh fun OF toys-and ST. Nicholas,
And then in a twinkIing. heard on the roof
The praneing and paving OF each little hoof.
Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a
bound
The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1882-12-28

confront On New Years day alone
is this state of things changed. Most
men are on that day less occupied with
business than at other times, and find
it possible to call at the houses of their
friends with little trouble or ceremony.
They know that they will be expected
and welcomed, and they need not re-
main long enough to be called on for
more conversation than the most bashful
man is equal to. 1t is a good time to
call on old friends, of whom a man has of
late years seen less than he formerly did.
Besides this, many gentlemen are in
timately associated in business, and
have the warmest regard for each
other, but from one season to another
never know each others families. This
is an easy time to begin such an &C.
quaintance. Another thing a man
should do. is to call upon all the ladies'
of his connection. He need not select
the young, pretty and stylish ones.
The plain old ladies are probably just
as worthy, and the poor ones will APP
preciate a call quite as much as the
rich. In some family connections the
old gentlemen neverforget this courtesy,
but invariably cali on each of their
graceful or dignitied compliment than
such a call. ii young man belongs to
a large family this may occupy the
most of his day. but he could not spend
it more proftably. Apart from the
matter of natural feeling it is a good
thing for anybody to keep up relations
with his family. Kinsfolk may quarrel
little among themselves sometimes.
but blood is thicker than water, and a
family that holds together solidly is
sure to be a power in the community.
New Year s Day is also a time when g
stranger may properly extend his ac-
quaintance among ladies. But no man
should dare to go to a house where he is
not known unless he is taken by friend
who would be just as competent to in
troduce him any other day in the year
as then 1t is an outrageous thing for q
man to presume on the hospitality of an
open house and force himself into q
place where he could not go at any
other time. No gentleman would do
such a thing. 1t is Il fact, however,
that there have been most glaring in
stances of this sort of cheekiness. In
deed, the thing became so serious few
years ago that many families prefer to
shut their doors rather than have their
hospitality abused, and still more refuse
to make any public announcement of
their reception.
VIC hdNC nOb SuC ICSSSb
make of the fashionable New Years re-
ception. If dozen or two Young
ladies wish to meet at the house of one
of them, and then in full dress, in gas
lit parlors. receive their guests with
flowers and band music, they will prob
ably enjoy it very much and certainly
present very pretty picture. Indeed,
there are some ad, antages to this plan.
A gentleman will thus be enabled to see
more ladies than he possibly could meet
if he had to call at each house. But
while this is all very well. it is quite as
fashionable and proper for lady to sit
quietly in her own parlor. in dark
dress, and welcome to simple refresh
ments her husbands and fathers
friends. Indeed. if there is to be a
choice, this is the best wav in which to
celebrate New Years Day.-Indian-
dpoltS Herald.
The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1882-12-28
New Years Calls.

Nobody can doubt that the original
idea of Now Year calling is q very pleas
ant one. In this country men who are
past their first youth generally have
little time and less inclination for much
visiting. With the kindest feelings in
the world towards the ladies of their &C
quaintance and Connection. there may
never occur time all the year round
when a call can be made upon them
without certain formality which is
quite too much for an ordinary man to
The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1882-12-28

the amount of stock in his supreme con-
tent that he asked for, and he went
down the street on the bound, Ike a
snow-bird. shouting: "Now Jenny can
have the jumpin' jack she cried for. and
lots of'-his sentence was rasped in two
as he turned sharp corner and was
gone. And said to myself, Three of
us-Jenny, characterization and land
a quarter gees roundl Joy for two and
a pleasant thought for one" 1t was a
good Investment. and lost pound of
lead out of my shoes, and went on
thinking.
The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1882-12-28

Practical philantrophy.-''I wish
you a happy New Year?' said Pingrey.
'-Oh. that's easy enough to say re-
piled Fenderson; ''but what will you do
towards making my new year happy
one?" Anything L can," said Pingrey.
''Do you mean itg'' cried Henderson,
dramatically. ''Do you mean it? Well,
well, good-by. FAREWELL What's the
matter with you?" asked the mystifed
The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1882-12-28

Edmund Yates says that ''the Anne
rican Christmas is purely due to Charles
Dickens When he invented or rather
revived Christmas, the Americans took
up the matter warmly. Before that
they had only three festivals-the
Fourth of July, New Year and Thanks
giving"
The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1882-12-28

Pingrey. "Why, you are going away
forever, aren't you? You said you
would do anything you could to make
me happy. Farewell, old boy. fare
well" And Henderson walked briskly
around the corner, while the perplexed
Pingrey stood as If rooted to the spot
for the space of five minutes. -Bosto1s
Transcript.
The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1882-12-28

Oregon and Washington Territory Win
Puget Sound. The transfer across the
The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1882-12-28

The Western Trunk Line passenger as
ISOLATION say il will probably disbani
The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1882-12-28

in this latitude. His treatment of our
neople demonstrates tina: he is precisely
The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1882-12-28

pave DfUuSHV- ssSssssy -
Is ON the dollar. The NEWS be
then, and believes still, that it
The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1882-12-28

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The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1882-08-11
PERSONAL.

Mr.. and Mrs. Mountjoy returned from Salt
Lake City last Saturday.
Mrs. G. G. Brdseye, of Blackfoot, is in
town and returns to-day.
week attending to the sale of Algonquin
property.
Miss Sadie Hutchings, of Butte, went to
Missoula Tuesday, and expects 10 return in
few days and viii friends in Deer Lodge.
Mr.C. c. Ruthrauff, Of Salt Lake City, en-
rou 10 Helena TO put the electric works
there in operation, was in town yesterday.
Hon. WIN. H. Claggett expects TO be in
Montana next month. We have heard il
stated that his family will locate temporarily
in Salt Lake city.
HIS. Clark for County Clerk and l.. r..
Maillett for Assessor are candidates in Silver
Bow, subject 10 the decision OF the Demo-
cratic Convention.
Miss Leavitt, who gives instructions in
hand painting, embroidery, lace and chenille
work and has large classes in Butte, IL now
in Deer Lodge organizing classes
Mr.. Tom Clark, of Lost Creek who was
quite i'll here for some weeks and who went
east aud had an operati on performed on him,
il not improving and expects 10 be operated
on again.
Mr.. Willis Spear, of New Chicago, picked
up negotiable check for S400 on the street
"Wednesday morning but hunted up the en-
dorser, who happened TO BIZ Mr.. NJ. Duffy, OF
Philipsburg.
We this week made a pleasant acquaint
ance and renewed pleasant memories by
meeting Mr. A. S. HofiStot, formerly Of Eas,
Palestine, Ohio, and now with the Northern
Pacific survey party at Birney's Station.
Messrs. r. Blickensderfer, constructing en-
gineer Z. & n. R'y Co, George w. Irwin
Assistant Secretary, and Mrs. j. I. Talaher'
arrived from Butte last evening. Mr.. Blick
| ensderfer says the road will be completed Il
Stuart to-day and TO Warm Springs by tn
18th or Goth.
| Mr.. Mcclellan informs us that Mr. Hasen
Wrinkle, who played in Montana two or tire
seasons, is now In Chicago translating a ne'
i German play, with which he and Miss Ste
/ phanie will start on the Southern route !
September. Billy Arlington is on the roa
with dramatic company. The Katie Pu
nam trip to Australia was losing venture
and she has returned and was playing recen
ly at Fargo, Dakota.
Mr.. Ernest Ingersoll, very pleasant MAJ
azine writer and well known to the reade
of the Century and Harpers', arrived last Fr
day from Portland and left on Sunday II
Salt Lake and Denver. He is writing Sc
les of articles for Hdrpers Magazine on Il
northwestern country, which, as they will
finely illustrated, will not probably appe;
for several months. Mr.. Ingersoll has dol
good deal of work in the West in the pa
few years, to a large extent IN Colorado al
} Mexico, and is eminently qualified to maj
} an interesting AMI able contribution to u
} literature of our northern land. He visit
, Helena and other East Side points IN lS'
. an correspondent of the New York Trtbu'
= and is quite familiar with Montana.
The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1882-08-11
ROLL OF HONOR.
Cash Department. New N"rth-west.
West Side Postal Matters.

Mr. Zimmerman, special agent OF the Nv
n,,or,n.nt returned this week from Mlssou-
1. and westward, where he has been making
investigations of postal matters and proceed"
..s, The mail now comes from the west 10
tn. end of the n. p. track. The mail soe'
from the east to Horse Plains, leaving gap
or k5 miles. A line Of coaches Is now on 'h'
ground, ready TO run between Mhsou'" anu
che Second Crossing" to which point tue
o,oom.r will be running in few days anu
.oa, after the railroad will be constructed.
a., Getting service ordered on this gap we
,vouId therefore have immediate postai com
,runication along the entire route Oh the ~
y r. II. Mr.. Zimmerman Is thorough going
and efficient officer, having been LOT eish'
,,.ars In the New York postoince, ana ior
,wo vcors the private secretary OF J..
III. + lanes. when he made the Newho rK
~ .ho ,no,l.l one of the world. Doubtless
he has seen the necessity for ana VIII 'e'
ommrnd the service spoken OIL
While Mr.. Zimmerman was III Deei Ae'ee
h;s attention was directed TO petitioh from
.philipsburg, asking certain changes !" ''."e
an the New Chicago and Philipsbnrg sector
-~hi,h will be of material advantage 10 th'
n.onl. on that route; also in relation 10 MAJ
s.ryic. a. Willow Glen and the distributing
Office on the rail road; also In relation 10 Tn
failure of the contractor on the route fou
Helena TO Helmville, the necessity lot LII
mediate service, and the advisabinty VI 'e
staring the route from Brney'S To BiacRioo'
IN all of which he promised early ana we true
favorable report We make mention OF 'heS
facts as our services have been asked IN tines
matters, and we desire 1t known that 'he rel
PRESENTATIONS of petitioners have been promp
~ urpeo through the channel deemed mo-
ngsctiy.. We believe good results Will :
snesdy and trust they will, as our West ele
,n,iI matters have been In bad shape In man
- ..o rast few weeks.