The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-01-01

| put IL was that of stepladder. NV
ambition at that moment was 10 reach
the lofty altitude of an armchair. The
drumhead, however, refused to sustain
me and fell through with q bang.
How long ! might have remained there
1t Is impossible to say, for never could
have extricated myself alone. The
hearty laugh in which my father in
dulged when he rescued me from nv
| predicament is still o bright spot IN nv
recollection
/ remember very distinctly story
that my father once told me about sn
incident OF his own boyhood- I had
climbed upon his knee one Christmas
Eve and asked for it What is the first
Christmas that You remember was nv
( question.
''Oh, It Is a very long time ago. AN
swered my father. Your grandfather
gave dinner to his old friend, Daniel
Webster. Although I was scarcely out
OF dresses, had been intrusted bv the
butler with the very responsible func-
ton OF decanting the Madeira The
manner in which l performed that task
was revealed later on, when the great
statesman, after slipping his wine in evil
dent disnsy, suddenly said: 'McClel-
Ian, you were always noted for the ex-
cellence of your Madeira, but this Is the
most extraordinary wine ever tasted
hope the spirit of Dan Webster has
forgiven me. In my zeal had mixed
the sherry with his best Madeira
Another incident which | have to re-
call, for it made q great impression
upon me, occurred some years later. I
had grown almost 70 manhood. NV
father, older IN years, OF course, was
still the same bright. happy influence,
filling the hours always with the con-
sciousness of his presence and love.
The chimes OF neighboring church
were rung at midnight to welcome the
anniversary of Christ's birth. l had
been up very late enjoying the happi-
ness of Christmas eve, and hearing the
bells opened the window to listen 20
them Directly beneath me l espied my
father, who vas looking out of his win
dow, too.
''Hello!7 cried. "What are YOU do
ing; trying TO catch cold?'' Hello,
boyP' he answered al always like to
hear the Christmas bells, for feel SO
grateful to our God that He mode the
day possibility"
/ have never forgotten that remark
and the reverent manner IN which it
was uttered. The crisp night air and
the ringing chimes impressed 1T wildly
upon my memory, That dear good
friend, my father, speaks TO mo vet in
those words, even though ne has gone
to be with Him who made Christmas
possibility. GEORGE B. MCCLELLAN.
Eenry Cleus' Christmas Story.
Christmas should be observed in this
country with the same enthusiastic
spirit as it always has been and now is
in England with the young folks As
soon as one Christmas season Is over in
England children at once begin to look
forward TO the next one, and SO it goes
on through their entire lives, and when
they reach mans and woman's estate
they then with their own little ones
start life over again in their merry
making whenever Christmas comes
round. So 1t goes from generation to
generation, ali kinds of childrens
games are introduced in the evenings
of Christmas week, neighbors dropin 70
participate and the servants are atso
expected to take part 1t Is period Of
equality. All join In TO do their share
for the general amusement of the an
nual gathering. Some sing and all
dance and romp with all the vim and
hilarity they can muster The misIetos
bough hangs over the door and makes /
lots of kissing for the little ONES, and
they not unfrequcntly drag the old peo-
pie In besides to the n1errimeBt Of all I
the rest. No family ever thinks OF !
sitting down 70 the dinner table on
Christmas day without having roast /
beef and plum pudding, and plenty Of 1
both to go around twice at least The /
plum pudding La burning hot. In that /
way only does It differ from the o-di- |
nary wedding cake such al we have in 1
this country on bridal occasions, IL 1
then being cold and encasod in small .
boxes instead of one hugo dish Other /
wise both are made alike, having the
same inEredientA / have tired both 10
my hearts content, and have become
satisfied that none but a sturdy John
Bull can eat extravaSsntlyof either tho !
hot or cold without being sure 10 get
the nightmare and dream Of his great
or como other antique
individual not particularly cheer
full TO dwell on In ones sfumbers
as compared TO sweet reposa 4. was
born in England and spent ny childhood
there | speak from the book. 50 I can
not help noticing the great differences
between the observance of Christmas IN
the old country as compared wish the
new. l wish the English Christmas
could be adopted here
Certainly families should at this festiva
season always como together under the
parental root. II - a season ~ revive
youthful recoileetiOns and drive cares
away. II prepares and guides the mind
IF both young and Old TO start the new
year happily. There Is nothing Ike
making a cheerful start on. the Is: Of
zach January. II at that time ones
lie IS made joyful Il sirsost Invariably
q happy Kew Year, and tbs.
-epezted year after yesr, finally glad
lens old age. as then al tie occuYTc0ces
4 youth and middle are crowd ~.
thoughts, and the older on~ gets the
nore vivid become the recoi.ccrions Of
ne l1c4deuE az skriv Ire