The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1904-12-24
Christmas Greens.

give me the mistletoe whose magic presence
creates brighter roses than ever were wooed
by the nightingale, whose fairy touch makes
thousands of our merry maidens glow with
laughter, when many youthful cheek Is
red, by lips and voices hither led, and
futtering fancies come and 90 beneath the
Christmas mistletoe This strange plant
is a gypsy, wandering from tree to tree,
having no settled home-no genuine, well
grounded roots.
The generous oaks give 1t resting
place, and many another common shrub
delights in entertaining such an aristocrat. !
The poplar, hawthorn, pear and apple
meeklv hide their own leaves and bear alott !
its shining white berries like royal decora
tons. Traditions older than written record !
tells how it hourished in the Garden Of
the Gods. and won kisses for the goddesseS
ON high Olympus when Jove, with IN
extinguishable laughter 'frolicked ike /
AN immortal youth AIT has preserved /
the mistletoe in a thousand pictures, aud /
literature enshrined it in poetry aud prose
Who can forget that dear old ballad that |
ALWAYS drew tears from our childish eyes |
that sad stcry of The Mistletoe BoushZ
Who can forget the Christmas party al
DINGHY Dell, when Mr. Pickwick was
caught by accident under the mistletoe and,
in spite Of his groans and bushes, kissed
soundly by every female on the premises,
not forgetting the fascinating girl with
black eyes and fur tipped boots2
Who is not made happier and better By
the memory Of the gentle Milly and her
mistletoe motto, Lord keep my memory
green?'
All over the land in the dark winter days
there is a mighty hunting and bustling and
choosing; lads and lasses seeking. amid dry
leaves and dead boushs, this plant 50 dear
to mankind Well may they desire its
presence. for It's shining green leaves and
snowy. waxlike berries would make bright
spot in the barest nom Hanging up the
mistletoe at Christmas = custom old Is
time itself, and the girls Of TO-DAY are but
following the example Of their sisters who
frolicked thus centuries ago,
Those who live in crowded cities mis-
many simple pleasures, and pass By unnum
bered pretty things that are hidden n the
winter woods OF course the golden au
tumn leaves are gone. and in December We
see no flowers but in old fence CORNERS the
scarlet sumac still hides. and many red
rose hip peeps ont from tangled vines.
Under the dead and matted leaves Of the
oak are aeorns-large aud beautitul-set
in clusters of twos and threes, with shallow
cups of fuzzy gray. and mixed with ever
greens. They make admirable Christmas
decorations In cur western country there
are but few Of the traditional plants and
trees given by custom and tradition to holi-
day uses. In the far North are mnFmus
ing pines and hemloek, but we Ilst 20 to
the South Atlantic coast for holly and mis-
tIetoe, the two most celebrated among
Christmas greens.
Perhaps the holly stands first, and It's
bright red berries means more to the con-
mon people It> old English name was
ssholn or holm oak, and il was the
Merry Greenwood Tree OF Shakespeare
and Robin HOOD. Away back in the days
of the Druids this plant vas the emblem
of Immortality, and the people deekod their
homes with its green leaves TO tempt the
sylvan deities to come and dwell within
their walls through. the dark winter days
England is the true home Of this lovely
shrub. There it grows in stout hedges.
often twenty feet in height, thick IN pro
portion. and able to defy the strength Of
man aud beast Near Melruse Abbey
there Is a holly tree that overtopped al its
woodland neighbors, and was told Of others
that we're as large again. And near Lon
don the holly hedges are marvels Of lux.
uriant beauty, and at Christmas their red
berries glow in every home, from the Buck
ingham Palace to the poorest cottage
The laurel is another Christmas green,
celebrated in song and story. In my
thology We read of it as Apollo chosen
plant, and dedicated to poetry and music
Il was the symbol Of victory both in peace
and war, and heroes were crowned with
laurel leaves Favorite singers wore gar
lands of the shining green, and from that
custom we have our Poet Laureate
There is no plant more celebrated in fox
lore; it was charm against danger and
sudden death, was used on all great occas-
ions such as weddings and eoronations, and
in sacrifices to the gods.
The rosemary is another Christmas plant
not found as an evergreen in this country
but in the old world, a special favorite
It's delicate color and peculiar odor make it
acceptable. 1t is devoted to brides, aud
in folk lore causes a renewal of love, aud
strengthens the memory of absent friends.
Who can forget poor hapless Ophelia and
her plaintive cry. There Rosemary
that for remembrance pray you, love,
remember
The ivy is world renowned Christmas
green. We do not have it in such beauty
and luxurianee in this country. Our cold
winters and hot summers are death to its
rich green, so ehangeless and vivid. Ii Is
the great pride of England, and no one
who has seen her ivy-mantled ruins and
towers of living emerald can ever forget the
glorious spectacle. In folk lore 1t was
sacred TO the muses. and they were wont to
bind it on their deathless brows and Irvine
it around their affairs. Poets were crowned
with ivy leaves and songs were composed
in its honor. "A rare old plant is the ivy
green it is an emblem of charity, for it
clings to old ruins. covers up all defects,
and bids US "Hope on, hope ever.
These are the traditional Christmas
greens, without which all our decorations
were Of no value: Fill your vases with
flowers, bring in evergreens from wood and
field, the treasures of your dollhouse, and
florist store. but do not forget these old
time favorites that have been for centuries
associated with the holiday season and
devoted to the Merry Christmas and the
Happy New Year.