Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1888-12-21

knelt in the rough stone chapel. Then
Helmer swung the AK, and as it rung
far into the green log, with sudden
muffled sound, he prayed aloud
Give me of Thy aburdancea happy
Christmas. O Cod"
He did not notice Theckla again but
sent blow after blow to the heart of the
tree, until it fell as he desired, on the
lucky side, and with the clean break
that betokens a good year.
Theckla, as soon as the tree fell, ran
TO pick up the virgin chips with which
to propitiate the fates at home, repeat
| ing As she did so:
"Veseli badnie DAM" "A merry
log-day."
1t was not necessary for the welfare
of his family that Helmer should carry
the logs home. A yoke OF oxen with a
hired man did that work, but il was
| Helmer, as the only son of the house,
who was to lean each log against the
homestead, while the Householder
PRAYED over them, and afterwards he
must carry them in and put them in
their place in the great chimney, while
all the friends sprinkle wine and corn,
and the house-father says 10 the great
| flame:
"Goodly be thy birth"
Helmer did not like this part Of the
Christmas festivity at all. He was a
soldier, a youth of fire and spirit, and
he disliked the rites that made him
work like a peasant. Besides, he
wanted TO make love TO Theckla.
There was a handsome gypsy fellow of
| her tribe, with n fierce mustache and
an aquiline nose, who was madly in
love with the girl, and there was no
bar sinister to Mcir union. And then
! Helmer had heard of country where
every house was "a palace, and money
could be picked up on the streets, and
where all soldiers were officers. And
! he had made arrangements TO gothere
and come back in few years to marry
Theckla if she would have him.
When he had cut enough logs he
gave his AK n great throw, which left
it quivering in the heart OF balsam,
and called to Theckla;
Come, my princess, the sun is up.
| We have done all that l. required
come and eat. The house-mother ex-
poets you. | am hungry for pogatch
and some of the olive wine that is
sweet like the gypsy's kiss-oh, my
! Theckla."
The two spent the day together row
ing about at will. No mother was
afraid to trust her son with a gypsy
girl who could not be wife TO him, and
would never be less. When Christ
mas eve came, Helmer went as re-
CURED and carried in the yule-log
while all the family stood and prayed,
leach TO himself a. he knows best"
The other ceremonies were then OBJ
served, and low table was set, and
all sat down to a repast OF fruits and
pOQdtch. the un,eavened bread OF the
festival. They then sang quaint old
songs.
MAY no enemy pass,
Christmas sits on the grass;
No evil spirits come a-nlgh.
Christmas watches in the sky"
Another was sung by Helmer with
many loving looks at Theckla, who
was assisting his mother in her duties.
"Seud me little shepherdess,
And may her shadow never be less.
UNDERSIGNED folk will wall tonight,
Will of-the-wisps will glimmer light,
But tie no charm on your jacket sleeve
For Christ was born on Christmas eve.
Good folk go merry, bad folk grieve,
Madens must love make, Christmas
eve.n
No sooner was this over than the
yule-log, which had burned out must
be replenishcd. This tlme loaf OF
pogdtch was broken over it, and while
the households were praying, Helmer
was pinching Theckla's chin, and tell
ing her that the dimple in it meant
'Christ-kissed.
Then every kind of sweet cake that
ever was heard of in that country
where sweets are Injuries, was hand
ed round and eaten. There was also a
wheel cake, so called because its CEN
ter radiated like the spokes of wheel.
In the center OF this was a glass Of
wine, which was to be given to the
youngest of the maidens present. IL
she was bad, il would bewitch her,
but II good il would insure her hap
py life. Inside the cake was luck
coin, which was great gift for him
who got it. The whole was lighted by
wax tapers, which had caught the
blaze of the yule-log.
Theckla, as the youngest one, re-
ceived the wine, which she took in her
simple purity, rs n sacrament, loving
ly and religiorsly. There was a great
shout when Helmer got the coin.
bring in there another yule-log,"
said the house-father, Christmas is a