Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1886-12-25

pinia mountains, or the rarer mistletOe
brought from far off merrie England; once
more the Christmas stocking, dear to every
heart of childhood, has found its place by
the tireside in thousands of homes; once
more the house has echoed to the hearty
''Merry Christmas" and the cheer
full clatter of the little ones,
rejoicing in the presents awarded
them by dear old mythical Santa Claus.
To-day all the Christian world rejOices,
and "Glory to God" is chanted wherever
the Bible is known and wherever the
Christ has found follower. The story OF
Christmas has been recOunted thousand
times; there is little-I had almost written
'nothing"-that is new to be said; and yet
the tale, like that other and far Older
story, is ever enhancing, ever beautiful,
and it will continue to be rccOunted until
there are no more children to anticipate Its
coming, and no more men and women to
be glorified by the unallOyed happiness ii
brings.
While Christmas is celebrated in all
Christian lands, one must turn to Eng
land, Scotland and Germany for the most
elaborate observance and general rejoicing.
Christmas day in England is very much
like Sunday, the streets being throngcd
by the some band of steady church gOers,
answering to the call of the parish bells,
Full services take place in all the churches,
which are profusely decorated with holly
and evergreens Worship over, the spirit
of merriment breaks forth, the festivities
of Christmas Eve, however, being nearly
as lively rs those of Christmas itself. To
wards evening the merry church bells
peal merrily; blithesome parties gather
around the fire; sports and games com
mence, and the preparations for the NOR
row 90 on apace.
In Scotland, although Christmas is year
~ becoming of more Importance, the pre-
eminence is decidedly given to New Years
day and eve. In the days Of our tOretath
ers, not only relations assembled in thu
house, but all the retainers, youth and age
rich and poor, alike participated in the
mirth attendant upon the season. But IL
England, many ancient customs are falling
into disuse; indeed scarcely more than 8
shadow now remains; for if Christmas i!
still religious festival and family gath
ering, it has lost the distinction of feast
that bound all ranks together, and thai
led to community of feeling between
high and low. 1t was something to speak
of long ago. The huge Yule log was drawn
by the servants into the great hall, where
each member, sitting down in turn on the
log, sang q Yule song, and drank q
cup of spiced ale to merry Christ
mas and n happy new year. Tht
| log was then cast on the blazing fire, will
prayers for the safety of the house aud the
| happiness of its inmates until the next
| Christmas tide should come round again
Then was the riOtOus time of the reign u
the Lord of Misrule; then were the delic
ious Yule cakes; then Were pleasures fol
all; and then the huge candles We're light
ed, and the eXertiOns in dancing, flirting
laughing, kissing under the mistletOe
singing, talking and last, though by III
means least, eating and drinking, haG
well exhausted the company, did the revel
lers gather round the cracking log in thu
capacious chimney, singing songs or telling
legendary tales, until the midnight chimes
dispersed the happy group.
A superstition, common among the ig
norant peasantry, existed till quite lately
This was that if you stole quietly into the
cowhOuse at midnight on Christmas eve
YOU would find the cattle kneeling dowr
Immediately after II o'clock, as common
Grating the supposed similar case of the
oxen in whose resting-place Jesus of Naza
reth was born; also that bees might bt
heard to sing in their hives at the sam,
hour This belief has taken long to be up
rooted.
But it is from Germany that w
have taken our Christmas tree; from tn,
Germans that we have learned to make
our social Christmas more gala day tO
the children, than, as formerly, one o
teasting and riot for ourselves
The German housewife and mother
thinks nothing Trouble which can add t,
the pleasure Of the hOme-circle; her ser
vices, which are many and various, ar
never begrudged, but are heartily given il
the service of love. If she spares no pail.
on ordinary days for her family's benefit
how much more. then, does she try to eX
ert herself in the case Of Christmas joys
Her Christmas tree is of entire hom
growth, and in the presents that are made
the toys that are bought or invented t
hang upon its branches, rs it displays it
annual ylories and ditTuSes radiance from
it's hundred lights on the happy face
about it, not one member of her house
hold but is remembered and represented Of
that tree of love. Their Christmas rs, il
truth, beautiful sight. 1t is the feast Q
the Child, and, therefore, for His sake, O
all children, and The parents derive thei
true enjoyment and delight in giving hap
piness to their little ones. 4 blessing
many blessings, on the innocent, heart,
merriment of such Christmas days! Gu
German cousins have caught the tru
meaning of the festival.
} Not the least of the things which Christ
mas brings to US is good dinner, and to
day the inevitable turkey will loom uI
richly and delieately brown, and smOkin
hot, ON many . tsble. while the oysters
the cranberry sauce. and the time honore
plum pudding will dance an appropriate al
J tendance upon his lordship. The Christina
dinner is a venerable and time-hOnOred inst
tptiOn, varying little from year to year.
mos. nuaSchalds oysters, raw and stewed
with celery, turkey with cranberry sauce
vegetables in the shape OF corn, pOtatoe
and peas, plum pudding With brand
5 sauce, mince pie and fruit cake, with b
of cheese and coffee, forms the bill of fare
and Il is sufficient to satisfy the appetite {
four-fiiths OF humanity. Sometimes, how
, ever, the menu is more elaborate, taking o
form something like this, offered as
rather elaborate suggestion:
White Celery Soup
ClfFied Oysters ON Toast.
Fillet Of Beef with Olives P0Iat1 Croqueite
z Roast Turkey and Sausage,
Cranberry Sauce. Dry Rice.
Goose Pie. Hot Apple Sauce.
Roast sucking Pig Fried Apples.
Boiled Spanish Onions.
Broiled Quail on Toast.
Lettuce Ssiss WITH French Dressing.
Minee Pie. G6ossbsgry Tart.
: Plum Pudding CroQuettes
, Wine Sauce
Glazed Fruits. BOnbons
TsngerineS Bananas. Malaga Grapes.
Edam Cheese. Water Biscuit
Black Coffee.
This is Q trifie long, but one or mol
!. items can readily Be excluded witbOr