The Pioche record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1908-1925, 1912-12-21

.Asltg which Is a chilly
sea, or to the south,
where the blast is not tempered. For
Christmas Island lies straight in the
way of the honest mariner, and the
stream which runs as river through
the sea hath warmth and fragrance,
whereof the shores of the island give
pleasant evidence. Now, the gales that
sweep the island sweep westward
upon the approaching pilgrims, and
eastward upon the departing sails, so
that the stay within the gracious port
is but part of the joy of that sea.
And as the shores came out Of the
horizon, little child called, Christ
mas Isle! Christmas Isle!"-so clear
Is the air of these parts to infant
eyes. And the older folk aboard were
joyful, too, for off the west coast of
the island, which those who have
charted these seas call the Shore of
Memory, fragrant breeze began that
minute to blow; though of these
names | cannot be sure, for the child
had a book of his own wherein this
shore was named Anticipation And
now the journey meant few more
dawns and sunsets ere landing could
be made, but with each league onward
the mellow fragrance was more mark
ed. So there was great dispute among
the elder folk to say just what made
up the pleasant assault upon our
senses, some saying it was composed
mostly of this, and others Of that
1T is lavender" said an old lady.
Lavender and spruce and burning
candles. / remember the night the
new dress was taken from the chest.
and we danced beneath the candles,
and there was mistletoe, my dear,
/. f. that was how met your grand
father. Yes. the breeze from of the
shore Of the isle is lavender and
spruce and burning candles"
"Ho! to mel" cried a bluff and
hearty man. ut is the good smell of
well-warmed horses on the snow,
with ne moon making double tenn
of them, Ard IT is TIE good dry smell
VI pPph'7 49, "a" '"e'ins' apl'es'
On yes ana ! Will ne saving tnere
pe brown turkey IN IL, 100 ana tne
nell of lantern in the barn when
we go out to get the horses after the
dance"
An, SAID another-and as looked
| saw he was habited as priest. IN
ID .he ihcense' INC Chris.nias incense
whicn goes IN gnos'iy coiuinns 10 tne
uai heheu rooi Vi .ne great churci
SION up the aisie a'tehueu ny acoiyteS
anu hooueu nuns " w hoiiase W 'h'
naoe az 'he ai'ai' i.ae'el l nho" W
.ne i,,ies which s.ho'her 'ne incense
W. Si,ris'n'as Is incehse anu nusic
'ua. which iiaAes me preeNe ~
ueiish.iui W you' my sooo peopie.
mo, SAD another, NO. no. An
/ now l know what IL is. IL Is pacl
III Tue NH klrh lhat we are "ner
tne ioot-warmers keep us anv
through 'he Christmas ana us IN
ialh' screening OF honest leather an
the rant sihgeing OF homespuh ina
she breeze is bringing you.
It's caody! It's varnlsn on sleds
us perfume on dolls! It's oranges
ana evergreens, and the smell OF tn
wood nre IN the fireplace, and tn
smell or the colo on mothers furs!
cried the child.
And | know not to what lengths tn
talk might have gone, but the sailor
were calling "Shore!" and there wa
great motion among the pilgrims.
Now, the island is ruled by saiu
whose names are many, but in a
tongues and races they have on
meaning, which is GOOD WILL. An
his name is the law of the isle. Fo
he holdeth that If man hath Goo
VIII he fulfilleth all law; and If h
have not Good viii no law can pu
it within him; but ii he have it h
cannot but give proof OF it. So ths
there is great giving of gifts in tn
island called Christmas, for Goo
VIII is itself a gift which foreve
branches and blossoms and sets t
fruit of its kind, And it is the GU