The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1904-12-22

YOU ever, at about this time
of year, let your thoughts
carry you back to the days of
your childhood, when Christ
mas was THE holiday, planned
for and looked forward to from
January to December, and when Santa
Claus was living, breathing, tangible
being; one to be loved and appealed to
(by letter. in all cases?
1 do.
In the little mountain town that
love to call "home," the people, the
best God ever made, have preserved
the old-fashioned Christmas customs,
too often lost in larger and more i'm
portant centers of population. There's
Il public Christmas tree, of course. It's
hauled for miles in wagon, and the
person chosen to get the tree considers
himself honored by having the privi-
iege of driving to the fir belt and back,
thrust upon him. Usually the celebra-
tion is engineered by the school teach
ers, and after the arrival of the tree,
their troubles commence. The court
house, setting for other and less pleas
ant scenes, is usually chosen as the
home of Santa Claus. Everyone
knows the "6xins" for a Xmas tree.
Golden spangles, silver stars, gaily
colored baubles and decorations, tin
seled angels, colored candles, all
woven in and out with yards upon
yards of snowy popcorn strung upon
thread, and glittering strings of
"boughten trimmins." Among these
purely decorative features are placed
the presents; everybody's presents;
for the little town is just one big
family at Christmas time and every
person sends his or her collection
of gifts to be placed upon the common
tree. When it's all finished and moth
ing is needed but to light the candles
and await the coming of the patron
saint, every one has something there;
no one is forgotten.
And then the great night comes!
The whole population takes its way to
the courthouse, and the big room is
fairly crowded with the happy throng
of revelers. Each new party entering
the room greets the tree, now shining
in all its glory, with exclamations of
delight. "Isn't it just GRAND?" eff it
only doesn't catch alire. Pm so afraid
of fire."
"Oh, how lovely! do wonder what
all those decorations costf" This in an
audible whisper from some inquisitive
old maid. A constant buzz of chill
dren's voices fills the room witt
sound, and the bright, happy faces OF
the youngsters, as they turn in rest
less expectancy toward the poin
where Santa will appear, seem tt
shine with beauty borrowed from th'
tree. A stir and rustic up in from
brings every head around with snap
but it is not the old gentleman. Th'
master, or, as is usually the case, tn
mistress of ceremonies, has steppet
forward and is introducing sh.
young miss "who will recite, 'Th
Night before Christmas while we'r
waiting for Santa" Then follow
"Sheridan's Ride" by some embry
Webster, who may perhaps, be troubles
with the bashfulness and stage frigh
that so troubled the youthful Daniel.
Loud applause greets all efforts, how
ever, and when three little tots begi
"Three Little Maids" and become COZ
fused into total forgetfulness, tn
applause is just as great. And the
HE comes! First tinkle of sing
bell; then louder-and louder, until 6
last, with a great final jingle of all b
musical harness Santa comes!
Yes, sir! Santa Claus himself, in a
his glory. Fur coat and cap; bund
of toys; strings of bells-Oh, he's a
there, all right! A man that dare
say Santa was myth would be
danger of being mobbed. No SAINT
Claus? Perish the thought! Straigl
up the central aisle he goes, making b
speech as he walks along, and from 9
sides comes the shrill treble of chi
dren's greetings: "Merry Christina
Santa Claus" "Merry Christmas
"Rere he is," "Hello, Santa" etc., ct
etc.