Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1892-12-22

GNU oihoh5 thO PSOpiS VI dil SAftlLHCu
lands, it is the n season of the year
marked by O reign of hospitality, merri-
ment and open heartedness. 1t recalls
to the old the pleasures Of youth. and
transports many an absent one back to
his own fireside and quiet home.
In the early annals of New York city,
when it was Men Amsterdam and the
sturdy ~Stuyvesant was commander in
chief; when our now crowded Broadway
was below Wall street and known only
as plain Heere STRAIT; when our basiness
throttled Maiden lane was T'nlaagde
~paatje-''The Maiden's Path"-where
the red checked Dutch girls went to
hang their clothes; when the meat mar
ket was on Bowling Green, and the pres.
ent City Hall park a public pasture out
side the city wall, the 24th and 25th of
December were dedicated to st. Mich.
olas, the patron saint Of the colony. 1t
was his image that constituted the fig
urehead of the ship that brought the
first Dutch emigrants to this shore. 1t
was he who gave his name to the first
church within the walls, and whose ben
isons waIe most solemnly invoked in the
hour of trouble by all Dutchmen on land
and sea.
To the Dutch boys and girls st. Mich
olas was a jolly, white bearded, little,
old anan, smoking his long stcmmed
pipe, and in their fancies driving
through the air over town and country,
oceans and deserts, sending through
space the sharpest of whistles to the
wonderful reindeer team that carried
the wonderful sleigh, These little
Knickerbockers have passed away for
ever, but the children Of today still keep
up tho devotion Of the children uf 1850
for st. Nicholas, only they now call
him Santa Claus. He is the same friend,
the same little, low built, chubby,
merry, mysterious ancient who loves
children Of all ages and all countries.
The in which his coming is
celebrated differs according to the habits
and associations of the people. In the
great cities and the country towns, for
days and weeks beforehand, the markets
and stores, the streets and avenues pro-
claim the approach Of the fete. The
whole community abandons itself to for
aging expeditions. Bundles and baskets
are eyerywhere-on mems shoulders and
IL their hands, in wagons and coaches,
filling the aisles ri street cars and trun-
Cling through the highways in wheel
barrows. Women and children, hus-
bands, bachelors and sweethearts strug-
SIC 5c%c2th their weight. There are
gifts for boys and girls, presents for
men and women, and heaps of presents
for grandfathers and grandmothers.
sold Scrooge" is there. crowding pater-
familias in his endeavGF to buy the big
gest turkey and make amends for his
meanness to his bookkeeper during the
year, while materfamilia8 declares to
herself that her Christmas shall be the
kandsomeSt among all the neighbors.
EGw comes Christmas cve-the fairy
time Of the little ones. And who shall
describe it? The old mantel, with its
row of stockings, large and small; the
%expectant looks CT the youngsters as
they linger around the fireplace won
dering what Santa Claus will bring; the
ereeping into led and listening, while |
the grown folks are making merry over |
their eggnog and mulled cider, for any |
sign OF the coming of the old gentleman
down the chimney; then, when the
house is still, the mysterious movements
OF the happy parents a they produce
the Christmas gifts from their hiding
places and tie them up in the most pro-
yoking knots; the commotion in the
house long before dawn when the chill
dren bounce from their beds TO SIC what
the King has sent them; the chorus of
chuckles and gable Of delight as they
gather around the bedside of tie sleepy
father and mother and arouse every one
the house to display the liberality of
the God of gifts-who shall, who can
tell the story of such a happy time?
By and by the bells in the steeples call
the good people all TO church and chapel,
and away they so, focking through the
streets in their best clothes and with
their gayest faces. Closed stores and a
general cessation from Labor give a Sab
bath sanctity and reserve to the day out
side, very different from the Christmas
Of the night before. A little later
are seated at the Christmas dinner,
zach IL ~nervously impatient to attack
he heaped UP viands. The turkeys and
geese and chickens that caused such a
of baskets on Christmas eve are
'et out stuffed III turn upon the tables,
md Dol after lots of little boys and
sirls are in the same condition.
The feast ended, other pleasures fol
ow. The old folks gather around tho
,iS fireplace to enjoy the ~outpouring of
,ocd feeling and honest interchange of
.~Hectionate attachment which abound
i this season. Ehe ynang people betake
themselves to the frolics of a sleigh
ide, while the children repair perhaps
o the neighboring bills and ponds to
ry the new sleds and skates. This is
he Christmas Of the average home cir
lie Throughout the north and west.
The Christmas of the rich Is also a
in which for one day at least
save the spirit of Kris Kringle
nters TIE ve~luptuous heaven with its
rmament of gas Jets, its carpeted floor.
than clover, its perfumed air, EN-.
roidered curtains and gorgeous Christ
las tree, all aflame with Highland color,
there are gathered q fashionable th.rong
old and young awaiting the bestowal
costly gifts.
p L. the background of eveyl this /.
n~:c.nre i au~olbar--tha families !