davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1884-12-19


Very effective mottoe, are made by cut
ting letters from pa,tcbC ard, ant then cut
ting strips of white wadding very little
wider than the letters Take white thread
and tack the wadding upon the letters, tax
ing care to keep tie stitches in The center OF
the wadding Now take your needle and
divide the wadding, taking Laif, AMI turn
the edge over towards the center SO that il
will hide the stitches. Turn it over on both
sides, and then rub your finger over it to
make it fluffy. Fasten the letters On to a
background Of black and your letters stand
out like letters of snow.
A pretty way TO fix them for church is
to get some luan TO MAKE a rough frame six
or eight inches wide Tie si2a Of the frame
will depend on the motto. Cove with white
cloth or paper, and fa,ten spray # ever
green on il. Stretch black paper cambria,
with the ungluzed side out, and t0sten it on
the back OF the frame and then fa,ten on the
letters.
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1884-12-19

Youth companion.
Let the gruir and old-tashiuurd nicer at
the folly ami the hol!owness Is they deem
it, OF making presents which are expected
and Of wishing Merry Christmas by send
ing chrome.
Most of what is pleasant and agreeable in
our association with otters comes from the
observance Of cert"in turmaii,ies when
you bid your npi.hto or "2ood-morning, -
what do you mean Gy iti Certainly not TO
give him any information. You say it as
matter o. formal courtesy. 1t means that
and nothing more
But who would abolish the morning greet
ing, the gentlemuns Lanj shake, the baby :
Kiss, the raising Of the hat to all in ly ac-
quaintences AMI to all men acquaintance,
vino are accompanied by ladies, and the
other formal court sic, of life.
An excess of sentiment and an OVERRIDING
OF the outward ext re. sion of feeling are pos
sille But Americans have long road to
travel before t"cy are in any dang of fail
Ing on that dc 1t will be FIR our great
grand-chil ,ren to preach from the textiles
sentiment and more he ~.
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1884-12-19
80, The Mistlctoe Bought"

IVY" says learned professor IVA,
sacred TO iacchus and was used at the
Dionysian love feast Another name for
Bacchus was kissos which also is the
ivy, but whether our custom of kissing
under the mistletoe is relic of Kisses
and the Agap9-doesn't matter in the
least.
Bird lime, it is significant to observe
is made from the berries of the mistletoe,
whence the same words signifies in Greek
both mistletoe and bird lime How many
luckless human bird has been lined
under the mistletoe at Christmas. Some
authorities refer the kissing custom TO a
theory that the mistletoe was the forbidden
tree in Eden. The plant was also used in
religious ceremonies by the Persian Magi.
THE stately ancestral homes in Eng
land are now being richly decorated with
holly. and ivy and amber berred mistle.
toe. and the hearts of the female inmates,
from the fresh faced house maid to the
languid Lady Jane, are beating faster as
they hang the parasite in the most CON
venient hooks and corners in which they
will take good care to be caught on
Christmas Day 1t is IA good custom
may it flourish! And may the time be long
distant when there shall no longer be one
day in the year on which man may kiss
the girl he likes, sans peur ct sans re-
nrOohel"
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1884-12-19

Frank !. JrryiS in The Current
"Merrie Christmas" Is there not some
mistake in the nomenclature? 1t is kindly
Christmas, perhaps happy Christmas, but
merry-No. 1t is time when children,
and grandchildren and the grandfathers,
and grandmother meet together; when
old memories are revived old scenes re-
called the hidden household gods brought
forth; when hands which have never
been clasped for long, long period,
lie EMBODIED in each other, marycling how
they came to be separated. But it is not
a merry season. II makes a man mediate
on how many Christmas Days he has seen;
how many more he is likely to see,
Nonsense nan; look at the childrenf the
bright eyed rosy faced children, like rays
of Gods blessed sunshine pouring through
the house. Hear them laugh, see them
loaded down with toys, the whole world
of life before them, no regrets behind;
every breath they draw pleasure, every
thought they think delight Is not this
to be merry If it he not then there is
no merriment on earth. How could be
SO recreant as to try and filch from Christ
mas its provcrbial adjective? 1t is, it
shall be "MeTy hristmas! till the end
of time
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1884-12-19
CHRISTMAS IN NoRSELAND.


m II Boyesen in The Currcntl
Christmas IN Norway is not, ms with Us,
brief comemoration of the birth Of Christ,
confined only to the day which the church
has fixed upon for this celebration. IL T.
rather the winter vacation-a season Of vi
interrupted festvity, during which every
one, high and low, takes hi, pleasure IN &c
cordance with his taste. a man who has
been sober all the year round Tut regards
being drunk the highest form OF happl-
ness, procures the needed supply OF brandy,
retires TO his room, and celebrates.
Another who prefers convivial celebration,
goes to dancing party and picks quarrels
right and left, conducting himself as "the
cock of the walk" until some one who
cherishes the same addition temporarily
disables him
Young people Of higher tastes make up
large sleighing parties, AMI descend en-
lnasse upon some rich neighbor, who, with
open arms and the large-handed hospitality
peculiar to Norsemen, receives the unbidden
que is AMI provides all the necessares for
Yue-t tide entertainment Laughter, music,
and the vhrl Of dancing feet resound
through the great old-fashioned house, while
the host with his CHEEKY voice encourages
every one to do his lest, and, perhaps even
himself treads a sedate and stately waltz
with the wife of his bosom. When, at last
the tardy daylight surprises the jewellers, the
chances are ten to one that tho hearty host
will otter the whole company beds and bid
them stay and continue the merriment the
next nght. Then they may go yule-bucks,
that is, visit the neighbors round about with
masks and In various grote.que DISCUSSES,
| and afford the latter an excuse for inviting
| them TO another entertainment, and 50 keep
| thu lall rolling"
Thus the holidays pass in the remote coun-
| try districts in Norway; all bu mess is in
| terrupted, and Prince Carnival has full
sway Among the poorer classe', who can
| not afford to celebrate at thoir own expense,
| it i common to send the children out as
| boys, that is, they pull white night
| ,hirts on the outside of their ordinary gar
| ment, and give them a large canvas star,
| with lighted lantern inside of it, These
| children then 60 trudging through the deep
snsw, stopping at every house at the road
side, and singing under the widows III their
| shrill child voices Christmas carols of the
| Star of bethlehem and the Chill in the
manger. Every where they are invited in
and rewarded for their exertions with fool
and pennies.
1t is one of the most pathetic features OF
| Christmas in Norway--these whits-robed
little children with their red, frost bitten
faces, AMI sleir shr.;, eager often dissonant
voices But life is lard up there under the
Arctic Cit Gle for the young as well IA the
| old; and II blessed relief from the daily
struggl, for bread is this brief holiday S"a-
son, during which there is achlally let'e
upon earth and good will among men.
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1884-12-19
The Pnnr Iinhles.

Said the Shade of Christmas with a
world of tenderness in his voice. and II
suspicious damp spot in the corner of one
eye; "Poor babies Why are things so
unequal2 Why is it some Of them get
everything they want and more than they
ought TO have. while these little half clad,
sad eyed creatures never in their lives get
a thing that is bright and wholesome and
glady If could only have my own way
oucc-iust once-ld see that their puny
bodies were warm inside and out, with
turkey and plumpudding for lining,
and books and toys. and games
and all sorts OF things from fairyland to
make them glad for whole year. 1t
takes so little to make poor boy or girl
happy. and there are so many thousands
and thousands Of them-and there are so
few people to help me.
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1884-12-19
eRuDDsR BROWNS "BLesslN."

rp,o,n "chri.tr,.s MIGHT nj th. o,,,rte,.,,. -bv
Irwin Russell In ScriIner'q monthly Ian. ls;bl
Tho si,nnle race is
Tb,t o,vo,l.s tho crnnsr ON cotton ,,tonosi
Original in aet AMI thought
Because unlearnod and untaurht.
H., ,,n,astrained thaic ,rirtb''.bd', bg,ar,,,,
III, ,nar, A. 81 tLa,, sa, md Ia
That navar ,onId orcyr to vnI,,
Soc R,rddar Rrnxyn--,vLo,se e,iug gr,,a
Would sauctifv a ,,,,o,ta,. r,cc- ne e''
f,nt an tha crn,vGoi d.. advouco
~ 1I bn ' a hias,in; IN Jis dance
40 -
y hAaiiIrt ,e' us gum ii'' I'LL "'e' ''h !" w
n,,,,. iii,,o &c hand Pos. what ,.o doo..-,.,,,
~" Jtuse ~ TSriS Nv, NJ V"
A., III IT, i ~ w. h ,.,, t,.,. M
All "'l ne pu, ,,in W uo S'"" We ''''a ~
,,s rlBh. we MN ,,.,,,,,
FL uanc.ma MIons -oh' ""i''' ''' VIC '''"'
eNeue N' 'i''
we iauorS III a. Viheyu u-"or"'h na'u' Il"
N,.,,. 1870. ,. ,,,,,,,,. ,,,.,,,. % ,,, oo,.
No"' snoIely you "oh hoO"s' ei We e"u'
A,,,, III ,li,o,,o l,,,,i, ,oy,i,,
an 'aheS u i'o''e h''"'"y -" ''''' '''''"
ePeii i. ,,, 49,. L.; rt ,
neRase, mex week' we u 'O'r' Ill 're'"' ~"
'''''
Ne'heimoe s Az in n MS i''" S''i'i'
7 ~, ~, ~ 80. ,,'' J., .,,..,. ,.t. ....
Is lenii. 's ! pGm NO 'io''i' "'''' VIZ soo' "''
Az, mi,Iahl. ,.o,,, 81, min, mol, ,,,,i,o
n" III ,i i. w MN WIS S"'''
s.,ie, I III - a. i77,.il ,,,., L.,
,,i, uno ,.inns "'''' ""'' "' 0'' Wv
P'eS"' "''6'
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1884-12-19

Bitter is the life Of the man who, during
the gay month of December, has to conceal
money difficulties from his family and dare
not chill the exuberant holiday JOY. But by
far the greater portion OF men have none Of
the sensitiveness which makes each debt a
poisoned arrow TO some OF their fellows
They laugh, anu are merry, ana kill the
iatted calf-of somebody else They will
hold high wassail in Christmas-tide, although
the heavens may fall But such mortals are
useful We must have the giddy music Of
Offenbach as we'll as the Gregorian chant
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1884-12-19
Berlin superstitions.


The inhabitants Of Berlin are proud of de-
scrbing the capital Of the German empire as
"tha City of Intelligence" This appellation
is, no doubt, well deserved, but even in that
center OF enlightment each recurring Christ
mas shows that countless legends AMI super
stitions hold their ground. For instance, no
clothes lines are allowed TO bo seen in the
house between Christmas and New Year, for
if they are not all carefully taken down it is
believed by all good Berliners that dread
full accident will happen. On the supper
table ON Christmas Eve there must be a carp,
which brings fortune, and if the scales OF the
fish are carried about in the purse it will
never be empty during the coming year, All
dreams between Christmas and Now Year
become true, and all children born at Christ
mas have the gift of prophecy, But we
wonder how many Berliners, intelligent OF
otherwise, really believe these interesting
relics of a -rationalistic age,
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1884-12-19

A custom of the Roman Saturnalia,
which came unchanged 10 our time. i
familiar to Us all. We mean the three
days holiday given to the slaves. The
slaves in our southern states, down to the
close of the war, enjoyed tins privilege.
Throughout the i,umau empire Saves
went about tarchea lcl, except on the
three great days o. tie >aturnalin, when
all were permitted t. wear the cap OF
FAM lar shape, wh'cI st!ll figures as the
liberty cap, upon the tops Of Liberty polcs,
On those DAYS the slaves are supposed TO
have bcea allowed to say anything they
chose to their masters Probably how
ever, they used this liberty vita diScrc.
tics.
The first (hristian congregations in
Italy were largely composed Of slaves and
of the common people, though among
them were found educate and highly
gifted persons. The carly Christan teach
crs had the greatest difficulty to keep
tEcir converts from joiaing in the pagan
festivals to which they had been a'cus
toned, and which were even nccGful to
amcliorate their hard lot and mouotonOus
life
When the Saturnaiia came round the
Christian slave or freedman found him
self struggling between the habits of lis
old life and the claims of his new faith.
If he wthstood the old, he missed the
only holiday which would be- his cur
ing twelve months of labor Ii
he yielded, his religious life might he
injured by contact with idolatrou, rites
1t is not strange therefore, that Chris
ian pastors, seeing the strife of habit
with conscience should seek for the golden
mean between license and prohibition.
They acted upon the principle that though
there must be unity in essentials there
should be liberty in non-essential>, and
love in all things. They took what was
good in the Roman holidays and associ,
ated it with the birthday festival Of Him
who came to bring peace on earth and
good will to men.
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1884-12-19
SNOWFLAkES.
Ye who have scorned each other,
Or Injured friend or brother.

Ye who have scorned each other,
Or injured friend or brother,
In this fast fading year,
Ee who by word or deed,
Have made u kind heart bleed,
Come gather here
Let sinned against and SHINING,
Forget their strife's beginning,
And join in friendship now
be links no longer broken;
BE sweet forgiveness spoken
Under the Holly Bough.
We who have loved each other,
Sister, and friend and brother,
In this fast fading year;
Mother, and sire, and child,
Young man and maiden mild,
Come gather here;
And let your hearts grow fuudar
As memory shall ponder
Each past unbrOkon vow.
Old loves and younger wouiug
Are sweet in the renewing,
Under The Holly Bough.
-tCharles Mackay.
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1884-12-19

1t Is capital fun, We assure yon. Amy
number can play, but each player must bo
provided with a sheet of white paper and
pencil. All must then mark five dot in any
arrangement on the piece of paper before
aim, and pass it to his next neishbor at the
left hand lie then takes the dotted paper
which has been handed 10 him. and tries to
lraw on it some human figure in such "a
posture as to bring one OF the five dots at the
middle Of the top Of the forehead, one at the
point of each foot, and one at each hand.
But no one must take longer than a certain
time, say five or ten mnuteI, in making his
picture. The results sometimes are very
aughable, and the game calls for gooi deal
of invention and skill
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1884-12-19


A London Christmas is heavy affair.
In fact. it is mostly tradespeoplc you see
there on the streets At such times. The
butcher, for example, wears a bouquet
in his blue blouse. And this coarse, greasy
subject has flowers-most by artificial
paper ilowers-stuck all up and down the
dead c0rcasses-ho rrible'-which hang
in rows and dozens about his shop doors.
Other decorations, in similar bad taste
meet you all the time and at every turn.
And everYbodN's nose is red.
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1884-12-19
The Gypsy Legend.

An English gypsy told Mr.. Charles G. Le-
land the reason for using evergreens Oh
Christmas. 1t is this; "Ihe ivy and holly
and pine-tree never told a word where our
Saviour was hiding Himself, and so they
keep alive all winter, and look green all the
year, But the ash, like the oak, told Of Him
when lie was hiding, so they have to remain
dead through the winter. And so we gypSei
always burn en- ash lire every Great Day
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1884-12-19
God iilr>, 1t!

am sure have always thou hit of Christ
mas time, when it la, come round, as a
good time; kind, fpIgivug, charitable
time; the only time know of in the long
calendar OF the year when men and women
seem, by one consent, 10 open Their 'hut-up
hearts freely, and to think OF Ieople below
them as II they were really fel!ow-pa engers
to the grave and not auot',er race OF Great
ures bound on Other journeys. Therefore, l
believe it has done M good, and will do me
good-and say God bless It'll
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1884-12-19

Mr.. Iowison, in his Sketches of Upper
Canada, mentions meeting an Indian at
midnight, creeping along in the stiffness
of a beautiful Christmas Eve. The In
dian made signals TO him to be SILENT
and when questioned as to his reason,
replied, Me watch to see the deer kneel;
this is Christmas Night and all the deer
fall upon their knees to the Great Spirit
and look nm
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1884-12-19
What the Icing Costs.

The elaborate icing that initiates frost and
ice on Christmas cards is done by scattering
particles of ground glass over gumned cards.
These tiny atoms penetrate the lungs of the
poor girls employed in the manufacture, and
either kill them or render them soon helpless
inyalids
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1884-12-19

"And what does Oracle darling expect
10 find in her stocking after Santa Claus
comes" asked fond mother Of her little
girl.
THE baby face looked grave and then
wise cunning little smile curved the red
lips and dimpled the sweet checks, as shD
said plainlively:
Il know, mamma-holesl"
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1884-12-19
Too Exclusively Commercial.

The gift-bearing Christmas tide has for
some years teen losing the fragrance of
the sentiment which should dominate it.
There is too much of the mere trading
feature in it, The exchange of gifts is
too often regarded as compulsory. There
is trading of purchases, tumultuous
crowding 10 meet obligations, as if we
had notes at bank TO pay, and the time was
nearly up, We act too much as If we
were paying impatient creditors. The
old Christmas sentiment. it is true, reigns
in many hearts, but the fact that it is actu-
ally waning is depressing, We are be-
coming too exclusively commercial
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1884-12-19

Inter Ocean; As Thanksgiving is the ami
versary of the Old folKs, Christmas is the an
niversary OF the young, and he who cele
brates it rs he should, he who can lie child
again just for one day, will lind the boon
that the world has always sought for, and
drink at least one drop from the cup tho an
clients called Nepenthe, aud have a fragment
OF his youth restored
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1884-12-19

Cor Detroit Free Press; Christmas is
one of those points of the road at which
we are compelled. whether we like it or
not, to look back and mark the distance
and the region we have travelled. kclro.
spect enervates rs well as improves.
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1884-12-19

Charles Dickens: Happy, happy
Christmas that wins us back to the delu'
fusion of our childish days that can recall
to the old man the pleasures of his youth;
that can transport the sailor and the trav-
eler. thousands of miles away, back to his
own fircsidc and his quiet home.
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1884-12-19

Weekly Magazine: Christmas festiv.
tiles without Christmas sentiment is a
sham hollow mockery, just ~ is the
celebration of the wedding anniversary
wooden, silver or golden-where the
ideal Of marriage has never been realized
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1884-12-19

tIIezekiah Buttcrworth in Wide Awake.
The first still Christmas" in Eng
land occurred in 1925. Henry VIII
was king, and he had not yet forfeited the
respect of his subjects; but great political
events We're at hand
In December the king was sick. The
nation was filled with anxiety. 1t was
decided that the Christmas should be u
silent one; there was no carols, bells or
merry makings.
Silent l!ristmascs were proclaimed in
the protcc,orate of Cromwell. The fcs-
tivai was altogether abolished, and the
display of the emblems of the Nativity
was held to be sedtious. The change was
most notable in London. There was 81
lence on the Strand The church bells
were still ST. Paul lifted its white roofs
over the Thames, and Westminster abbey
its towers but the tides of happy people
in holiday attire no more poured in and
Dut of those ancient fanes The holly and
ivy no more appeared in the windows Of
the rich and the poor. The lulc fires
were not kindled, nor the carols sung.
BELLS indeed rung out ON the frosty air,
hut how different from the chimes of old
Fhey were the hand bel, OF the heradS in
simple garb passing from street TO street
and shifting the air and crying out;
NO Christmas No Christmas
Heads filled the windows and figures The
doors. Crowds stopped on the corners OF
he streets and in the squares The cry
went on:
"No Chrs,mas No Christmasl"
1t smote the hearts of those who LOVED
the old ways and customs.
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1884-12-19
Christmas and the Lonely Old Bachelor.
Cincinnati Enquirer.

I
Cincinnati Enquirer
1t is business custom at this time Of
the wear to post up the books of the years
business and strike Il balance, and the Gus
tom extends to other things than trade.
To an old bachelor who posts the books OF
his experience while he drinks his loae
some coffee the exhibit will be distressing.
One by one the boon companions have
been won away from the large privilege
of the worlds citizenship and found con
tentment in tie leutenancics Of little
narrow worlds, governed by sweet. fond
women and growing babies. ore by one
the golden opportunities, tcmptingly
near, have faded into unattainable dis
lance. Dozen by dozen, habit has driven
away the good resolves of this time n year
ago. One by one the silver hairs have
come, one by one the years have gone
What but smake could blur thc record?
And there ne will sit one hand resting
on the coffee tray, the other holding
lightly the cigar from which he will draw
into thin air, like all the crowding castles
he erected years ago. There will be no
one to talk TO but others quito as misera-
BILE as himself. They will read the apers
of their native land, and think themselves
back home again. Let them read without
interruption, poor fellows; for when they
raise their eyes again they will find they
are indeed "out of the world How big
and empty the World in ut Christmas
Even the stable of the inn, with love Ia
bless IT, is happier far than the gilded
parlOr and no companionship.
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1884-12-19

Dickens: Christmas is time in which
the memory of every remediable sorrow,
wrong and trouble in the world around Us
should be active with U.S.
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1884-12-19

One of the favorlo Christmas games in
Shakespcarcs time was known as snap,
dragon Brandy was set on fire, and
raisins thrown into it, The divers ion
consisted of adventures TO pluck out the
raisins
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1884-12-19
| know, mamma-holesl

Harper's Drawer; Perhaps Christmas
does more than any other one institution
to keep that old fashioned virtue, loving
kindness, alive in the world
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1884-12-19

" Crystemas day on Thursday DO,
A windy wyntyr SO shalle zee
OF wyndes and weders all wrecked
And harde composites stronge and thycke.
The somer shalbe good and drye,
Cornys and bestes shall multyplye;
That yere US good londcs to tylthe;
-lHarisian MS, 10th century.