The Dickinson press., 1896-12-26
HOW FATHER CHRISTMAS WAs
BORN IN THE FAlRIES' WOOD.
The German Legend of Kr,. krinslc.

The German Legend of Kris kringlc.
l.
Young Christopher was greatly dis
satisfied with his home. He was an
imaginative lad, entirely out of tune
with his surroundings. He lived in q
little wooden cottage, curiously carved,
that gave him some delight when the
shadows Of night daepened and drew
dark forms and shapes under the long
roof. which sloped nearly to the
ground.
1t was not pleasant to return from n
land Of dreams to the hard facts of
life, and to plait and weave the long.
green willow wands into baskets at his
uncle's command, and to hear the
scOlding tongue of his aunt busy With
her household duties.
Finally he determined that he would
run away and seek life for himself:
but the day never came until lie had
completed his fifteenth birthday, which
was uncelebrated. 1t was upon a
Christmas eve that he decided to break
away.
Down the deserted road he passed,
on and up the hill, where he turned to
bid farewell to the only home he had
ever known. and betook his way into
the dark forest that seemed to call
him into its depths.
How many voices We're there-sweet
ONES. too. unlike any he had ever
heard The Wind blew off his cap, by
Hay of a joke. and. touching him with
~ fingers, said: Come: Come! Come,
Kris. There is warmth in the forest
and rsHeh Joy. Gene" The Pine
~
--f-Hn.>. KRIS coIa.. 1t is true: the
Wind knows. Corae- Gomez
The Wind. not contented. began to
whistle. and dance and push the Won
dering boy along. which was useless
and absurd. for he did not intend to
resist the many voices charming him
into the wood with their softly -mur-
INJURED invitations
AS Kriss passed into the forest he
felt, although he could not see, the
mysterious spirits. The only Being he
was acquainted with was the Moon, of
whom he stood afraid; yet he was
grateful for her golden light that sifted
in through the dark fOrked branches OF
the Cedars and the silvery fronds of
the Firs. The Wind sang and danced,
the Trees beat and swayed, and dow,
came the whirling Snow, dropping 81
softly and gently. and lodging Will,
care upon the flake beneath, as il 1t
feared to burden that with its featllery
weight.
I'VE are dressing you beautifully
dArlings, kris heard the Snowfakcs
say to the Cedars "for Queen Holda'.
Revels. You we are robing in ermine
and you shall have white velvet; yO,
ahaM simmer in satin from top to til,
lowest branch, and when the Moon-(,o,
sees you he will smile and you will
sparkle In his glance like diamonds
Oh. how funny you will look with
powdered wig.''
The Wind-Spirit blew blast upo
her silver trumpet, resulting In 4 grea
lull Of snow falling.
KRIS stood still, wondering wha
would occur next, when young IRE
about his own height, vain of her bea,
ty and patronizing in her manner. sait
|'Sit by me. Kris" and he obeyed. sti
watching and listening to the voices !,
the mysterious spirits Of the Winte
Night. which had gradually become VII
lble, busily preparing for the celebr:
tion Of their Christmas feast.
".
Strange to say. he was not coli
though resting on the velvety snow
nor was he homesick. A gay proce
sion entertained him, issuing out OF til
black hollow of great oak that gil
tered In it's armor of ice. First can
the children of the Winter-Wind, a
fierce-eyed and sharp of featur
dressed In tunics of white and grl
and flowing mantles. Then fOliowG
the Snow Children, in their glistenin
garments of white and fower-shapc
crystal crowns, and after them, Hold
herself. Queen Of Earth and Wood
Queen Of Snow and Of Christmastid
How lovely she was in her gown
emerald velvet with big bunch
snowdrops Mt her breast, and crow
of oak leaves, like Dryad. Her fla
en- hair was bound with strand
pearls, her eyes were blue rs SUNNI
4. rivers, her lips red as pomegranite
Der arms and neck white as the fallil