Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1896-12-17

mystic plant upright hatchets OF
brass, entitled cells, fixed to stave.
Then followed the prince or chief of
the druids, accompanied by all his
flock and followers. The chief mounted
the oak. with a golden sickle detaehing
the mistletoe, and presenting II TO the
priests vino received and bore the
branches away with deep reverence.
On the first day of the year the branch
es, after resting on the druidical affairs
in the interval, were distributed among
the people as a sacred and holy plant,
he druid priests crying THE mistletoe
for the new year.
Many were the superstitions attach
ing to this plant. Among the latter
day charms associated with it, when
suspended in bunch in the servants
hall was the Evolutionary and favorite
observance of kissing the maids under
Its branches, the superstition prevail
ing that the maiden who missed being
heartily kissed under the mistletoe at
Christmas would forfeit her chance of
early matrimony, and certainly not be
married in the ensuing twelve months,
A medieval observance which always
followed the gathering of holly and
mistletoe was the cutting and hauung
home Of the Yule log. The favorite
Yule log was cross grained block OF
elm, or the rugged root of q tree of
fantastic and grotesque form, and this
was drawn home TO the kitchen, or
great hall, with the same merrymaking
that attended the gathering OF the hol-
ly. Before the crowniIA event Of kind
ling the Christmas log from the char
red remains of its predecessors of the
year before there were sports in plenty
70 be pc. formed.
Ofttmes these logs were directed 10
be provided by the lords of the manor.
The furnishing Of Christmas logs was
a form Of tenure; thus the cellarist of
N Eamundshury held under the abbey
the manor Of Hardwick, and was bound
by the conditions of his title to provide
annually four Christmas stocks, each
~ eight feet in length.
Formerly the members Of the fanny
and guests sat down IN turn Gu the
Yule log, the throne of the master Of
the reyeIs; sang Yule song and drank
to merry Christmas and happy new
year AS part of their feast. Yule
dough or Yule cakes were consumed
These bore impressed figures in the
shape OF an image, sometimes they
were made in the form of an infant,
nor was the manger overlooked,
Another employment for the log. era
It's conflagraton. was provided BY the
old Christmas gambol of drawing Dun
ou' Of the mire, an ancient institution
often mentioned The Mule stock,
drawn into the middle Of the floor. be-
came Dun, the cart horse" for the
nonce the cry was raised that he had
stuck I'm the mire Two of the COM
pany, with or without ropes advanced
10 extrieate Dun. After various real
and feigned exertons, they called for
more help, until all present were mixed
ip IN the rough and tumble exertion.
4 AK I'll tAANrt tiOill A1t utll StlEAN VI
The revelers falling about. and cont..y-
Ing 70 roll or drop the log on eacA
pthers toss. This was kept Zip with
hearty enjoyment until. the fun being
exhausted, Dun was drawn out .
The carol singers and waits" were
| regular feature of the day The I
'ormer visited the homes of the rich
tnd filled the w,ntry air with their
music while tile waits performed on
musical instruments and were largely
'mploved for the Christmas plays and
lindred amusements These who We're
,ol employed went from house 70 house
irtssea IN grotesquc costumes and re-
'eivea gifts Of money for their per-
ormanees,
The regular watchmen also went
ebont shouting out Christmas verses,