The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1925-12-08

Some say that ever 'gainst that sea-
son comes
I,rbercon our Saviour's birth is cele-
brated
.rbo bird of dawning s;ngeth all night
long. shakespeare
Teaends of birds are as old as his
ory itself. Many and quaint are the
oncs associated with the birth and life
. II our Master The reference above
Elbows that the great poet was familiar
Artb the old story Of the cocks crow
mo at midnight, at the Saviour's birth,
4, legend dating back to the fourth CEN
i There seem to be many more stories
connected with the crucihxion than
NTH the birth of Jesus. Robins, swal-
laws and owls have in this way be-
come almost sacred because OF some
oretty story about them. These le-
qends are told to the youngsters OF
2nanv countries, and have created a
eeTng of afectionate regard for the
birds. resulting in many pretty Gus
toms, designed to show forth their
love-
For this reason among the rural viii
hges and farms of northern Europe,
where Friend Robin stays all winter,
1 he is especially remembered by the
1rb1dren. Grain is scattered about on
NE roofs for his Christmas, and he
offered shelter III barns and hay
stacks.
What They Do in Sweden.
In Sweden the good farmer, assist
ed by his children, takes a sheaf of
smthreshed wheat and ties it to pole
for Robin to feast upon. The children
watch for his coming, and have all
sorts of little thrills over his pleasure
in their gift.
Alas for the poor little wren. 1t
fares most unhappily this season in
Ireland and on the Isle of Man. Gus
toms. the origin of which is lost i'll
. the mists of time, decree that little
I wren must die.
On the Isle of Man, it happens thus.
Amid great excitement the wren is
sought and killed and tied to a stick.
\ 1t is then carried from house to house
h while a crude rhyme is recited, and
money is besought Finally it is bur
. led with great solemnity in the grave
Yard. with singing OF dirges.
1t is thought by Mr.. Ingersoll, to
whose book, Birds in Legend, Fable
and Folklore" we are indebted, that
4 ihis may be traced back to the early
hatred the Christians felt toward the
Druids. The wren was the Druid bird.
\ From its chirpings the priest drew
Inquiries, and thus the poor little bird
became an object of disapproval, If
. bot hatred to the Christians The kill
Eng OF it became the symbol OF the
symbol of severance of all connection
sTith Druidical practices. Variations OF
4 Ibis savage custom are found in Ire
s and, belonging to both Christmas
.Fnd St. Stephens Day.
Turkeys for Christmas.
Ii he but knew, the turkey, too,
8 would dread the approach OF Christ
has. We think of this bird as the one
that should be served on Thanksglv-
big, because of the Puritans, who did
pot observe Christmas to any extent,
banded down to us this custom. While
#hey, no doubt, were influenced by
he fact that it was found in great
Rumbers here, in those hard days, still
&hey may have brought the custom
pom England with them.
n Going back good ways, boar,s
cad was the special Christmas dish.
Then came the religious struggles
4 ghen the English Dissenters" and
N Papists" were continually at swords
Points. The Dissenters could not coun-
enance anything savoring of "Papist"
lractices And besides, turkeys were
abundant during those troublous days
4 the Reformation. So the noble
&rd' became the special meat tor
Christmas, and still is.
s Another legend of bird has come
#own to us. varying in different coun-
&rieS, As told by the peasantry OF the
English Midlands, mother had
fTge lump of dough, which she prom
Ped to bake for Jesus. Her daughter,
educed the size of the lump until
|hen it finally went into the oven 1t
Eas very small indeed.
However, as it baked it swelled to
9ormous size, and the girl exclalm,,
n "Heu, Heu" The sound suggested
pat OF an owl and the girl was forth
Clth transformed into that bird. Ophe,,
n says, in Hamlet, They say the owl
as a bakers daughter" reference
4 this old legend
Baker Changed to Cuckoo.
In northern Germany, a baker