The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1915-12-17
CHRISTMAS ~RosEBUDs.
Charming Belief Of Roumanian Peas
ants In Coming Of the Christ Child.

Charming Belief Of Roumanian Peas
ants In Coming Of the Christ Child.
Every year on Christmas eve. they
say. the Christ Child. on his way to
Germany. through the Rouma-
MAN bills to gather rosebuds and to
kiss into the hearts OF those he cannot
carry a love charm which has power to
awaken a lasting love in the heart Of
any one to whom 1t il presented. pro-
vfaed the gift Is made in the open air
In solitude before the hour OF 10 and
ere a word Of greeting has been spo-
ken. On the night before Christmas.
therefore. the gypsy SWANS 20 rose
bud hunting. and on Christmas day the
chosen maidens who accept lovers
suits wear the buds.
What roses are to holiday Roumania
grapes are to gypsy France. Lovers
divide Il perfect bunch Of them: beg
CARS offer grapes to passersby. expect
ing In return u coin for each one TAX
en-. Similarly in Hungary lovers share
a dumping pie. In Italy a Christmas
fagot. IL it be the last in the bunch, il
a token OF affection and is saved to
light the wedding fire when given BY
a maiden to her lover. In Spain there
are colored lights and fireworks which
lovers watch together. And in Somer-
setshire. England. where the Christmas
thorn grows. 1t was long the custom
for young people to gather underneath n
thorn trek to hear the buds burst into
bloom.
Pierre looked at her admiringly. and
Bette blushed with pleasure. Beneath
her open lowered frock skirt she wore
her best quilted plush petticoat. She
had on her best green stockings and
her new high heeled shoes. which had
just come from Holland. He had teased
her In English. too. that hard. hard
study. which Bette thought was like
Greek and Latin. necessary for boys.
but not for girls.
Smiling at these ~recOllections. Pierre
entered the door Of White Hail. the
governors mansion. and met his grand
father just coming out. Governor
S%tuyvesant rarely showed temper to
his favorite grandchild. but now he
frOwned and said: 60 home, sir: this
Is no place for you. ! am going to the
fort" "Oh. let me CO." pleaded Pierre.
and because his grandfather did not
hear him he took silence for consent
and followed.
The fort was full of soldiers. burgh-
ers and citizens. all a~nxiously and
eagerly waiting for the governor. The
English ships lay In the harbor with
sails reefed.
A Governor S~tuyyesant looked upon
the scene his temper burst like . whirl
wind. Ten thousand devils. what II
this | hear?" no reared. Surrender!
Never: Rather will hang and draw
the hrst traitor who suggests it," All
kept silent. There was no use In striv-
Ing with old Pegleg "Hardkopping
Piet" (headstro0g, Peterp when 10 was
In one Of hts RACES.
But every . vas saved his neces-
sity By the appearance Of m English
nd. who made his way to the governor
and presented t. him . paper from the
English commodore requiring the SUR
render Of the town BY order OF hts high
ness the Duke Of York. brother Of his
ma jssty King Charles II. Of England.
For Auswer to this request .HardkOp-
ping Pet" tore the letter In pieces. de-
claring that surrender he would not
while the breath remained In his body.
Pierre expected to hear the Q o.
xuns and the voice Of hattie. but in
stead something very different DC
Cured. Much to his chagrtn. he learned
that the Inhabitants Of New Amster
dam did not share the lofty patriotism
OF their governor: that for the sake Of
the quiet which they loved and the
commerce which they loved still .
they were willing no only to tolerate
the English. but to allow them to b.
come masters Of the city. and when 4
d%epmtation Of seventy burghers. among
whom was Pierre's father. besought
the governor upon their knees to &C.
cent the c~ommodore's terms. declaring.
besides. that they would In nowise.
either by arms. money or consent. help
to defend the town. the brave old lead
er was forced to yield. Forsaken by
his own. even he wal pOwerless. So the
letter was picked up. pieced together
and a proper answer sent to the Eng
fish commander.
As the messenger left the fort Pierre.
who had crept close TO his grandfather.
took his hand and looked up revercntly
Into the stern old face. Il would have
fought with you. grandfather" he whis-
pered. loyal In defeat. The governor
looked down at him proudly. If they
had been like thee" he answered in the
good old Dutch tongue. Holland might
not have been disgraced."
New Amsterdam thus became New
York. Pierre formed q plan to raise
troops. make the Indians allies and
drive the English away. He had just
decided to make himself captain when