Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-12-17

SAD SIGHTS.
"fve seen some sad sights, too" he contin-
ued IL saw Sir John Oldcastle hung in chains
over a slow FIRE in England in l417 for heresy
and treason.
Bless me. what haven't 1 seen?'' exclaimed
Father Christmas the waves Of memory
rolled in upon him. "Why / was around when
that scheme to murder Henry " under pre-
tense Of having a mock combat on horseback
as one Of the Christmas games was gotten up.
The plan miscarried. you remember.
THE STAR man endeavored 10 look SYM
pathetic a. his misty recollections of history
would permit.
And / heard Henry VIII connecting the
plot that afterward ended in the beheading OF
the scholarly Earl of Surrey-vas afraid, you
see, that the earl might get the throne away
from his son. Prince Edward, and so devised n
trumpers charge OF treason against him on tho
ground that the Earl of Surrey had quartered
the arms of Edward the Confessor on his own
escutcheon. which. by the way, he had a per-
feet right 10 do.
Then when I went to England in 1864 the
first cases Of the great plague had just ap-
peared. The 25th Of the December following
wasn't so merry. | assure you. since there was
scarcely house in England that had not been
visited by the disease.
II was around. too. at the beginning Of the
great frost in 1879, when the Thames was frozen
over so solid that fair was held on the ice and
an OK roasted whole by London bridge. That
freeze up lasted six weeks and right Jolly times
we had while IL continued. Very remarkable
occurrence, remarkable occurrence said
Father Ch-istmas Just imagine your surprise
IL your river here-what is its name?'
Potomac. said THE STAR man.
III the Potomac should cut up such a caper,
and IL would not be nearly as astonishing
that the Thames should do so. since London
has a far milder climate than Washington
THE XMAS HOLLY.
and speaking of Washington" continued
Father Christmas, II am glad to see so many
holly trees scattered through the parks. 1t
shows proper regard for me. though truth
compels me 20 admit that did not originate
the custom ~ with holly and mistletoe
II antcdates me in fact. for the old Romans
used both before / was born. during the festivals
they gave In honor Of their god Saturn. The
made presents 10 each other at such times. Just
as ours Is the custom at this season, and laid
sprig Of holly on the gift an evidence Of love
and good will. When came around and
persedei Saturn that notion about the holly
and mistletoe struck me rather pretty and SO
just perpetuated 1t, for l know good thing
when see il.
Remarkable tree tina. holly" he went on
lyon know the sun. no matter how bright it
shines. can never make II cast a shadow. That
Is because II is q holy tree, its name midi
Gates. the word holly being only a corruption of
the word holy. WHY. the Germans do not niince
matters, but call il the holy tree outright. and
the Swedes and Norwegians speak of it as
Christs Thorn tree. And another thing
If people instead OF wasting their money
putting up lightning rods would just
keep branch of holly over their doors
they'd not only be perfectly secure from light
ming strokes. but, "a | remarked before. lave
money IN their purses besides. And again.
nothing insures successful future to q
born babe like draught prepared from STEPPED
holly bark"
The STAR man tried 20 erase the incredulous
expression that he felt was creeping over his
face but it was too late; Father Christmas had
seen II and with much ire he exclaimed:
You don't believe it?' and continuing. sar-
castically, probably you don't believe. either.
that the bees will sing in their hives this even
ing. and that even now the cattle are preparing
to kneel in their stalls. that the cocks will
crow all night long"
IL have never. myself. happened to see or
hear these things" explained The STAR man.
Have you ever made personal investigation
q these matters. young sir?'' questioned Father
Christmas.
The STAR man was forced to admit that he
had not.
Then don't talk TO me about what is and
what il not so. for I've been observing this
world some 800 odd wears longer than you
have, and n man who has considerably more Of
a reputation a writer than you-I refer to
Mr.. William Shakspeare-has said:
= Ever glin$t that season comes,
Wherein Savior's birth IL celebrated;
The bird y dawning sinFeth all night long.
AM An, th.n th-y say no spirit can walk abroad
NofsiTy takes. nor witch hath power to charm,
- hall0wed and 80 gracious Is the time
(Which ought to settle il il there is any set
Element to IL.
The STAR man felt properly crushed and did
not continue the argument. Father Christ
mas, though, kept right on:
why. even the Indians acknowledge at least
one OF these points, for in my reading last sum
mer came across an account Of Brand the
Canadian traveller. which states that an Indian
being seen gaziag silently the moonlit snow
one Christmas eve, the historian inquired the
cause. whereupon the red man replied: Me
watch TO see the deer knell. This is the night
before Christmas and all tine deer fall upon their
knees TO the Great Spirit and look up,' and
then in another chronicle, written in $780, q
COrnish peasant states that not only has he
seen the cattle kneel. but he has heard them at
the same time make acruel moan like Christian
creatures.
There Is still one man. though, left in this
country who has some sense left about the 25th
Of December concluded Father Christmas
triumphantly. land that is John Vance Cheney
Listen {" him. and Father Christmas struck an
attitude and repeated:
XII not merry fancy with dreary truth.
axe the heel OF years of the neck OF youth;
The myths. the tricks. believe in them ali.
Cate kneel in the silent stall,
~ NE ,irtt ,t SO; nxh h the moonbeAms fall.
A. did the dear souls Of long ago.
Gar ands and berries and ray roundelay,
Wishes and kisses and feasting AMI play
The carols. the l-sung. the great town bell,
What rites today do stead well.
But bless my soul. young sirl'' he abruptly
exclaimed, look how the shadows lengthen
| must be gone"
But ever as he vanished from the door he
was repeating what THE STAR man took to be
another stanza of Mr.. Cheneys poem:
Ch~-rily yule log blaze away,
On the great stone heart tie fairies still PLAY.
Cord housewife. NIL both platter and bowl!
fiil 70 the oriD, Ho. each Jolly soul!