The National tribune., 1884-12-18
LOYAL WOMbNS WORK
Christmas ide---Home Decoration.
The Household.
A MERRY CHRISTMAS.
A Christmas gambol of could cheer
= l.. shrnnull all the

So sang the great Scottish bard in recounting
the Christmas cheer under the holly and the
mistletoe. And SO we all know 1t has been and
will be as long as the human heart is cheered
by laugh and softened by the voice of love
and sympathy.
Christmas ioys do not end with Christmas
OF with the glad holiday week. 1t is not only
a time for receiving, but for storing away pre-
cious gifts against soberer and often sadder
time to come. Gifts intangible, as well as
those which take on the shape OF beautiful
souyenirs,-the gifts of sympathy and aiiec-
ton, which are only shaped by kiss or ex-
pressed on the wings of prayer. And so, Gear
TRIBUNE readers, one and all, may the glad
holiday week bring you full store OF precious
memories. May your hearts be strengthened
for holier purposes, and your future days be
crowned with a sweeter sense OF trust In all
that is true and pure and good. And SO shall
each and all have a personal share IN tie bene-
diction of the season, Peace on EARTH good
will towards men,"
Perhaps the Young readers of THE TRIBUNE
would like to know something of now the chill
dren of the different Christian nations remem-
Der Christmas Day. Clad in their strange cos
tunes and observing their peculiar customs,
they are still at one with us in that they re-
member the time so dear to all who celebrate
the birth of the babe Of Bethlehem. Here are
some verses, written by Mrs Sherwood for the
soldiers orphans at the S. and S. o. Home,
Xenia, o., which tells the whole story In brief:
CHRISTMAS VISION.
by Kate Broaonlee SherScoodl
The Christmas morn was breaking, and, startled
By merry chimes in chorus and joy-bells loud and
breafbed hurried matin, and turning round my
head
The brightest forms and faces came dancing to my
bed
If on the earth or fairies had stolen me away.
For beaming black eyes dazzied, and laughing blue
eyes shned,
And with the radiant vision mine eyes were nearly
blind.
And, o, the aaxen riaglets and curls of sunny
brown
That over dimpled faces and shoulders rippled
And. o. the silvery voices that rang through house
and hall.
"a merry, merry Christmas! merry Christmas,
But even more marveled. for mingiing in the
Were words of meaning could not well make
out,
"st. Nicholas" kris Kringle" and "Santa
With Peischn hsara Kneehs Rupert and many
another word.
Among the merry dancers was darling little Nell,
And all her darling paymates from near and far as
In floating white, with sashes of blue, and pink,
and red.
And full of fun and frolic was every little head.
And little people, oldest of any ever seen,
Trpped merrily in quaintest of costumes, gray and
The skirts of some were trailing, and some cut at
the knee,
And on their feet were sandals and buskins queer
to see.
One wore gown of linsey, kerchief round her
neck
And wooden shoes, and close cap, and apron made
of check;
And beckoning unto me the modest little miss
i said, "Mein FaWein tell me who your Kris
Kringle is?"
Then modestly the maiden told In her simple
OF dear Kris Kringle going through broad and mar
row ways
To burgher and to cotter as to the mighty King,
And leaving all good children some pretty, dainty
thing.
How on the Christmas even he hangs the lighted
With toys and brightest ribbons and flowers fair to
And how when Kinder gather with glad and smil-
ing eyes,
Knecht Rupert showers candies and laughs at their
surprise.
Then came dimpled darling in linen bib and
And checks and lips, I'm certain, as rcd as any
Then j, % o merry maiden of merry England say,
What do We IN your country on merry Christmas
Day?"
I'VE gather in the holly with scarlet berries bright
We hang the sacred mistletoe and dance by Yule-
We pass the steaming wassail with ribbons round
the bowl,
While merry Christmas carols from hall to cottage
roll,
sand with the bright-leaved holly we gather In
And with the sacred mistetoe we Danish every Ill.
And in the smoking wassail drown enmity and
strife,
And in the tender carol call blessings on our lfe
"And then the mighty pudding stuffed full ofjuicy
And rare mince-pie and cider, and rusk and white
bread crumbs
And far into the midnight the feasting and the
The only night when wee folks have any sort OF
claims"
A lad in kilt and plaidie came bravely up and
talked
Disguised in strangest costumes, with horns and
And danced the reel and hornpipe and lifting
Highland Jigs.
A youth from France. the sunny, came singing
Notre Dame
How people wreathe the affairs with garands and
the balm
OF charties and flowers and words of kindly cheer.
Becomes sweet conservation for each new Christ
mas year.
''What word, o brown Italan?" With dark and
flashing eye,
And floating robe OF crimson he softly glided by
And many glowing pictures OF good ST. Niclas
Who comes each year TO Florence, and Rome and
Venice too,
And brings good gifts and gla6ness to humble
hearth and home,
And nla l<xfx-
DOME
And fills the streets with people, their hearts with
holy fire,
And sings the grand old anthems in proud st.
Peters choir.
And from reInotest countries and further ocean
isles,
Wherever Christ is worshiped, they came with
songs and smiles,
In robes OF fur from Russia in silk from far Siam,
The Lapander in muller, the Hindoo with his fan
And In one mighty chorus they sang q holy
hymn
About the Child Christ dwelling in far-of Beth
lebem
Till In a cloud OF glory I saw them foat away,
Like stars that softly vanish with the coming Of the
day.
But still the anthem fingered through all the
Christmas morn.
The song think the angels sung when Christ, the
When, bending DER the manger, the prophets
hailed their King,
And in the lap Of Mary poured precious Offering
Now God be thanked. who gave this day of ail
the days.
ham hand flaa hia ol.