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^^>^^^^/^^ws^^AAA/vsAA'\ Mother Is Hem N It was the day before Christinas. Tiipre were, however, no prcjmralions â€" tis far as unyone could seoâ€" in (he home of the Noxons. ^^rs. Noxon was in bed, in fact Iho bed liud been her place of ttbodo for sonio weeks. For the first Iw'o weeks slio had been quilo sickâ€" very hear pneumoniaâ€" and hadOuid a nurse. •M present ahe was very weak and ner- vous.. .,.-,..*- .*..â€" "Wli.it you need," the doctor had said, 'is cheerful Conipajjy and rc^it of mind, You vcwry loo much, my dettr Mrs. Nojcon." a . "Who wouldn't worry?" was her questioning retort, "with such servant* OS 1 l«ve wlial is the comfort of living? ' And, to tell Uie truth, there seemed no prospect of "rest of mind." As for "cheerful company," that was conspic- uous by Its absence. Mr. Noxon was at hl8 olliee the greater part of the day, and when ho returned home tired after. a busy day, he, too, felt- the need of "cheerful company." But he did not have it. The house wns a lonely place nowadays. His wile's usual greeting was some recital of domestic vexation, and he often found her cryiiitr. I!is little cliildren, Grace, aged five, and Bertram, three, were cared for at the home of a friend of the family. Mrs. Noxon could not emluro the noise and confusion of children in her present condilion. And yet on tliis day before Christmas her longing to see her chil.li'en gi'ew in- tense. Mr. Noxon hod gone away the previous day "on business," but he would be back before Christmas. It was lonlier than ever with him away. Mrs. Noxon nursed her grievances al day long. She decided that life was not worth living. The doctor said that she should have nourishing food and plenty of Itâ€" well cooked. "It's easy enough for Dr. Swift to say tilings," was her discotiraged thought when Uetty brought In her lunch al one o'clock; "I wish he could see this." "Tliis" meant the tray of food. Betty, the waitress and chambcrm^iid, had prepared the (ray, and Sally, the cook, had prepared the food. There was a piece of beefsteak so rare that the blood ran out of it and yet 'the outside was badly scorched and black as the stove. Tliero was some burned toast^-lloating in a sea of greasy looking milk and some luktwurru tea. 'I'o make the tray look still more unlnviling, Betty had "slopped" Ihe tea on her way to the sick room. The pepper and salt cups had not been properly cared tor and Mrs. Noxon's napkin looked as if "ll might have done but in the kllelien. The woman who' nepdixl "nourishing food'' took but one piiiall taste of the burned .steak. She lay back on the pillow, weak and faint from want of food. During tho afternoon she thought often of the com- ing Christ mn.s and of Ihe last one. Her own mother liud died when .she was too young to rcmeinlier, but last Chri.slmiLs her inoiher Noxon had been there. In fact her mother Noxon had lived there ever since their marriage, until there had been some hard words and Itiea there was a parting. Molher No.x- on hnil gone back to her lonely old home in (he CDUnlry. "Martin has never teen Ihe some since his mother wont away," she said (o hi'r- self, .sorrowf\illy ; "he has alwny.s said she was .sueh a good Wid devolcd mo- lher. lie Is nn only child, Martin is, and his molher is a widow." Over and over the words repealed Ihcnisilves, "an only child and his mo- lher a widow." "It WHS more my fault (hari. lior.s, anyway," she ailmldcd to hcrscU re- gretfully. "I wish Id been more patient and less dictatorial." She cried hei-.elf asleep. The short winter aftemoon was drawing to n close when Ihe .slanmiing of an outer door awakened her. She sat up in bed, wailing, exjieclnnt. "It must bo Marliii." she said to her- self. "I'm glad he has come." Presently .she rang her bell peremp- torily, and Bi'tly appeared. "Mr. Noxon came, did he not?" she said. "\ci, ma'am." Womli/'ing why he did not come to her as u.sunl, ti|io asked v.liiMe he wa». "It's awful cold ami stormy oul," was Belly's answer, "and I guess ho wanted lo get llu! chill off of him before he came In here. He's a wuniiin' himself in the hall." A mile later he entered the room. Kissing her, he said, "Merry Christmas, my dear !" "Oh, you're loo early," was. her rc- •popsc, "besides there Is no u.se In wish- ing mo a 'Kforry Christmas,' (hero's no hope cif my having 11," and there fol- lowed a recital of ll.e day's worries end- ing with Iho descrijjllon of the rejected lunch. "It is too bad," lie said, wllh rc.^dy nympalhy. "I hope lliere will be some- lijing vou can eat tonight." â- ''"nitre will be nolhJn^ lluil will In.sic Rood," was her answer, but she was mislalifii." Not an hour lalor Betty rame in w ilh tho Ipny. Mrs. 'No^n looked al Ihe girl in .surprise nl herlieal a[i|)carauce, IJsual'.y «ho was so cnrcle.'^s about hCJ' nppparnnee as to be a sniirc,'' of rou.slent vexation, but now her hair was smoolh. "rr Aflillc upron .spotless and her maid's rnp nenl. ."^he sft Ihe .tvny down on a «ninll .stand by Iho.bedMrte and Mrs. Kuxon looked at it as if faschiatcd. It was covered wllh a clean napkin, a second clean napkin lying on one side. The soup and (enspooris and forks and "pepper amy^lt" all ^bonQ. There was a lovely diMTof pink (rflinft full of sleam- iog oy)>(fir i>oiip, tli^ 'tioart of a crisp fip(|i(l of cclew, .s(inn» -dainty wafers, a j'irlK eiiinn atp nf Mt tea, and on one niiii) ()! lh(. tray lu^^.thi'ie beautiful car- nation:. â- :â-  "S\liu .-.â-  lit it in, Beity?" she asked. "No one," said Betty, "H was prepared right here in the kitchen"; and she £niiled. . ,. - ,^ "Then mother is here," she cried out joyously. "I thought so as sor>n as 1 saw this (ray. I recognized mother's touch." Mr. Noxon appeared in the doorway. His face was aglow. "Ctfi, Mariln 1" his wifq said.' "1 know mother is her a, bring her in." "Eat joujc spup," he said, Ijiu^hing, "and I'll hunt her up." While. lie was gone cbe alo the soup, wliich wn»' <lclicious. "It reached the right spot,"- she declared to Belly. In anolfter moment Martin came in with his mother, a sweet-faced woman, with capability beaming from every feature. Wife and molher met in a close embrace, after which the former said, "'I'hen that was your business, Martin, to bring molher to us ?" And he answered, "Yes, I couldn't have said 'Peace on earth- tii^morrow if mother wern't here." .- "N'eiiher could I," said his wife. Chrislmas dawned, the sloriii was over and the sun shining. Joy reigned at the N6xons. Little Grace and Bertram were home again. Grandma Noxon hav- ing declared that it would be a Joy to look after them. There were glfls for all. As tor the dinner with Grandma Noxon lo superintend it, it could not be excelled. Three years have rolled into the past since then, but no second break has come. Christmas again I The turkey is browning in Iho oven. The coal Ores are dancing in Ihe grates. Martin Nox- on Is walking (with his molher on one side of him and his wife on Ihe other) up and down the library wailing for Bclty to announce dinner. His right arm Is around liis mother, his left around his wife. "The two be^t women in the world," he says joyously, 'and you are mine." "If I am good," said his wife, laugh- Chwimasiliiner Oysters. CbOiiiJiul soup. Boast turkey. Browned polaloes. Vloshed squash. Cranbeny sauce. , Mixed nuts salted. Deviled macaroni. • Salad. Little plum pudding. Ginger glaco Cheese. Coffee. Oyster a la Dumasâ€" Serve the oysters cilher hs cbdktaifs or on pla'tes with a tea^poonful of Uie following sauce over each: Chop a shallot, a teaspoonful of chives, n (easpoonful of parsley logelhcr and mix in a bowl with a tablespoonful of olive oil, two drops of tabasco, a tea- spoonful of Worcestershire, a table- spoonful of tarragon vinegar, four tab- Icspoonfuls of tomato catsup, and the juice of half a lemon. Add a teaspoon- ful of salt and a sallspoonful of white pepper. Or tho shallots may be cut up exces- sively fine and mixed simply with a Ut- llo ground pepper a tablespoonful of vinegar, and the juice of three lemons. Chestnut Soupâ€" Peel and skin a half a pound of large, sound chestnuts, cook Ihem in broth until soft, and then press through a sieve. Add lo this puree Ihe yolks of two eggs beaten anfl a pint and a half of cold broth. Creamed Squashâ€" Peel and divide a 'large squash into small pieces. Cook in well salted water and press through a sieve. Beturn Ihe pulp to the sauce- pan, work in two or three ounces of bulter and a little warm cream, beat- ing like mashed potato. Devilcl Ma; aroniâ€" Boil, blanch, drain and chop a half package of spaghetti or macaroni. Thicken one pint of cream 0." milk with a roux of flour and butter In the proportion of two tablespoons of each, and add to it one sffllsopon'ul of Cayenne pepper and half teaspoon- ful of mu.stard. Add a tablespoonful of ....,_. r . . , 1 -„.^ I „ onion Juice, a half tablespoon of salt, mg, "1 Ihnjk I must have turned from „;^,, ,^^ ^„^^^^„, *;„ „„,^i„s black to white that happy day «"ree | ,„^,g ,^p ,^ ^^.j,^ j^,,^,^^^ ^^^^ j,^^^^.^^ years ago when it suddenly dawned :^i j,,, ;„ ^y^^ „,.^,„ t^,^ .^ ^^^^ ^^ upon me that mother was here. It • secm.s to nie that I sliU smell those carnations and still taste tho soup." "Dinner is served," onnounced Betty. THE STOnV OF MISTLETOE. an entree and is made more atlractivc by sulistiluting a chopped sweet pepper for the Cayenne. Using cream instead 0.' milk aI.so makes it enough better to pay. .Saladâ€" Mix apples and celery in pro- portion of one-fourth celery lo Ihree- fcuHhs apiiles and odd one chopped red II Grows Luxurhuuly In All Parts ol s^veet pepper. Dress and serve as usual. Ilie Wurld. I Individual Plum Pudding.sâ€" If the pud- . ._.,,, , > ,1 I, _ ding is lo be steamed use the small Least beautiful perhaps of all "c .j,,^^^ ,,,^1,^ have held exlract of beef Chrislmas gnx^ns the inisdetoe slill^ g,^^^, ,^^ f^^,,. ^^,„,^ ^„ holds a place peculiarly its own among way is lo boil Ihem in easier .small baking the decoralions of the season. Song | ' ^ . ^^^^ ^^^ -^^ molds "procured fur , ,, , i-lhe purpose. Use a shallow iron kettle green leaves and its Peoi'l" !„n^, *^,pt (he water como within two- -thirds of the top of the cans, keeping (he kettle closed (ighlly. They will only need to boil an hour and a quarter when made as small as this, and should bJ raised on a trivet or a few nails laid in the bollom of (he kellle. Plum pudding to be at lis best should be fookcd in a clolh pudding bag and hung from a nail fur three or four weeks in a dark place. An old English recipe is (his: Soak six ounces of slale broadcrundis in a cup of hot milk, and allow it lo stand and eoul. V li-jii cold, add one-half pound of brown sugar, Ihe yolks of (hree eggs beaten lo a cream, uno-half jiound of raisins seeded just be- fon^ u-;ing, one-hnlf pound of currants, two ounces of citron chopped, nne-half â- pound nf suel chopped fine and sailed, '(he fruit .should he well dredged in •flnur before adding to (he broad. Now -mix in (wo mnces of lemon peel, one- half Ri-alod nulmeg, juice of one le- Tnon, and two ounces of sw-eet almonds chopped fine. Bo-it well (og^^dier, and, tho Inst (liing, add tho whites of Ihe eggs whipped lo n stitf fioth. Pour Into ft pudding bag \vt k-h has been previous- Iv scolded and dredged wilh flour. In -tyin0 the bag allow for the pudding swelling. Boll seven hours. and stoi-y have invested its unpretcn tious dull like berries wilh a glamor that Is more appealing than the glory of Ihe bur- nished holly leaves and its glow of scar- lel fruit, and, ollhough the wreaths of holly may brighten the wind'ows al Christmas lime and Ihe trailing smilnx nuiko grncoful festoons over pictures I'.nd mirrors, tho mistleloo still holds first place. Tho stiff little bunches (hat ore sold in the city marUeLs give lillle idea of the real appearance of the mistletoe as il was, when it was gathered from its parent (rce, whore it had found a home, afler its first tiny embryo leaves .shot oul from Iho seedling dropped In some Cfinvenlrnt cranny of the hark, by the birds of the air. The parnsile, for nils- Ucloe is a parasKe, loves api)le and pear trees, and once it galn.s a foolhold will sap tho life from Iho (roe, hut il is oftcn- (â- s( fiiunil in hardy oaks, whore it grows i.i slo'Jt Imnohes, all gemmed over wilh Ihe preKy berries. It is cosmopolitan in i(s haliils, growing luxurlandy all through Ihe soulh, abundant in Florida, and yet erpially so in l-^ngland and Ihe S-andlnnvian countries. It ha-s long held a jilaco In lileralure. Sf-h'iol children learn of il llrsl in con- nection with Pruidical worshin, and it figuri-s promlnontly in f'.hrislmas .slo- rifls every year. One of the oldest ol Ihe stories about mistletoe is in n Norse legend about Balder the Onnd. Balder had Ix'on very much troubled by fore- liiiding of impending doalh, and his brolher gods assembled lo avert Ihe danger by evading promises from all tho elemenls, from the diseases, Iho leasts, (he poisons and Ihe trees, that no one of Iheni would do harm lo Bal- der. Afler this they would amuse them- selves by hurling things al Balder, and he wa.s delighted (o show (hem how tree he was from danger. Ho hTid an enemy, however, wh'n was jonlnns nf (he mvsdcal pow-or which prnleelod bfm, and one day this enemy set oul to llnd out from (he goddess Friggo (he ronsnn of all this. .She (old h'm that nil things except one, o little s'lrub (hat grew on Iho eastern side nf Valhalla, and which was ton vnung and feehlo In be nntice.l. had nromisod to spare Bnldor Ihe Cinod. The enemy, Lokl. upon h"nring Ih's, went nl once, fmd nil off the misdelno, nii<l when novl day (he ends aesondilod for their PMstomnrv piny. I.nkl. Ihe (reoehorous, plnC! d til" err- w ho had fashioned from Ihf mistletoe In Ihe hnnd of n blind man, vlvi eo'.dd not know what i( was. d'roMed hl.s arm for hliti, and Batdev Ihe Good fell pierced (hrough and lh!ou:/h. "And 4o you nlwo^j-s go oul of town for Chrislmas, Bcninmln?'' Bonjnniin : "No, my dear; 1 generally go lo escape 11." A Wn§® Tnnrley MOW this turkey lived In a wlldwo«i(| glen. ^^ He *a*iat. and smooth, and sleelf; Hs had ne'er borne love for the haunts cf men. But he loved the little creek; Yes, he loved the creek And Its vfater's play. And tiie forest's leafy shade. He was king of the chase. And lord of the place. Where the speckled eggs were laid. THE STAB OF BETIII.RHEM. Oneo moiw the golden star (hat led Tho wise men nf Iho Kn.st, Is soon i)f men; and sflttoned hearts Of king and [.rince down to the least. Can hear Ihe nngel song again â€" "Peace on .earth, good will to men." Once more the bars our selfish hearts Build up against our fellow kind Our iille hands of love lake down; And, wnndering why our eyes wore blind We waken lo fh" star Ihal .sets To tho heart only that forgets. The star of Inve and charily; The star thai .since eroation's morn Ilftd lnn?iiished for Ihe hour divine, ». Kindled bv God when Christ was born. Is e\'er shining In the skies When we but lift our spirit's eyes. flow softly o'er Ihe ways of men. Like (lew the arid sand, Sdll falls in love tho blessed light That came o'er .lesus" natal Inndl Mav (ho love lesson (W this day Dwell in our chastened hearts alway! 1 ., Doeem : "Ginks had (he most wonder- ful contrnl of his features of any man I ever know." P-mT : "I undersland he \vns niorvel." Breem : "He wa». Whv. I've even seen (hat man look nlonsori wi'en he-wsnw what his wife had bout-ht him for Chrislmas." s I N the turkey tor.gue of his eWer kin. He bad beard cf the day d thanks. And be hurried away as it wandered In, To the creek's secluded banks. And there on the banks Of the little creek. He thought with his thinking brain: " I'm a gobbler now. And one I trow. Forever I will ren»ln I " t f CO he squat him down on a slippery log . That passed through the waters stow, And he said, while his wattles were all agcg. " It's a risky thing, but all the same, you bet • your life I go." And he made a sail A tail-^read sail, That carried him on and on. To the land of the leal. And ihe turkey's weal. Where other good turks had gone. AND all of the turks that stayed behhid, ** In the leafy wildwood glen. Were caught by the men who were much Inclined . To render thanks, and..then . Their heads were cut off, their bodies filled. Yes, with sage v/ere their bodies filled, And they helped give thanks While the bells did pea!. But one gobbler was safe In the land of the teal. For he'd left the little creek-'s banks. I '^^^^^^^^^^^^^^WVWV^ The greatest of French historians has declared that every imporlant event in Ihe history of (he world has sjjrung from the cradle of some new birlh, and hence over every cradle Uie eye of love watches and the star of hope shines. On Christmas Day one name on every lip and in every heoi-tâ€" Jesusâ€" and throughout all lands, muliitudes will remember Bethlehem, beneath the Sy- rian skies, where the Saviour of man- kind was borit. Belhlehem in Judea, the birlhplace of King David, Ihe home of EUmelcch ami Boaz, and the Ephratah in the history of Jacob, is scarcely more than a village in our own times, unwallcd, wilh wirte slone house, situated in a pleasant and inviting coimtry, six miles soulh of Jerusalem. Its population of ;I.OOO souls comprises Latuis. Greelis and Armen- ians, in whose lilllo town is buill tho Church of the Nativity, dear to millions of tho Christian faith, covering the sup- posed site of Christ's birlh. If you were in Jerusalem, five miles from Bethlehem, when the sun's rays had sunk over western Jndean hills, you would see on Christmas eve countless lif,'!ils gleam from Ihe small wuidows of tlu> houses in Jerusalem's narrow, wind- ing sireels. Within these homes you would tlnd women making earnest pre- parations for the Feasl of the Nativity, before joining other pilgrims Ihe same evening, on their way lo the "hifl city." Much as Eastern women delight in jewellery, yet on this special evcniii.g they lay aside armlets, bracelets, neck- laces, and every kind of adornn)ent, and clothe them.selves in a simple while veil, in place of trinkets and highly colored dresses. Long ere midnight comes they join tho throngs from their own and distant I'ands, approaching tho hallow- ed soil of Christ's birlh. Nineteen centuries earlier wise men from the F.nsl trtivelled a part of the very same r(;ad (road.s seldom changing their course in Eastern countries), following the bright star to Bethlehem's manger. On their route thither, sa.vs a legend, after being interviewed by Herod in Jerusalem, they lost tho guiding star, and, went hallingly down Ihc path to Belhlehem, until they reached a well, where they paused to water their ani- inals. They were gwatly troubled, bul to Ihcir surprise and Joy one of them nolicetl the image of a larger star in the water, and, looking heavenwards, he saw the star (Iself, which Svent before thorn, (ill il came and stood over where Ihe young child was." On climbing the pebbled, stony hill, and entering BeHjlehem. poor and de- cayed in oppeaj'Rnce, not very clean or swoet-smelling, Ihere is descried on l!;e south side Ihe dome of the Church of Ihe Nativity, one ol thu oldest Chri.sjjan edifices in Ihe world. The Church of tho Nativity, wilhin the large square building of Iho Convent of the .\alivily, is subdivided among the Lalin, Greek and Armenian worshippers, to prevent rivalry or conllict, on what should be earth's most peacMble ground. To- wards IhLs structure, the pilgrim's from all quarlers of tho globe eagerly journey. Travellers make their passage through Ihe hisloric church and descend into the erypl where Christ's birth is reputed lo have taken place. Here the walls aro^ hung wilh bright, gaudy drapery and other hangings, amid which glistoas a silver star inscribed "Hie de virgino- Maria Jesus Christus natus est" (Here of the Virgin Mary, Jesus Christ was born). The manger is in a low recess cut in tho rock, reputed lo have been an object of veneration and pilgrimage since the second century, A.D. Hither have toiled pilgrims for nigh on 2,000 years, who find il hard uidecd to rea- lize that they are gazing on Christ's birthplace. Yearly, lens of thou.sands in number, the pilgrims prostrate them- selves, kiss the very stones again and again and shed tears in the world's most, precious shrine of adoration. Many are Iho patlictic scenes witnessed. At the- niidnight hour of Chrislmas eve, when â- rowds have gathered in Bclhlchein, Ihe I.alins celebrate the anniversary of the yugusl e.Tnt with a pomp and coro- Miony which never fails to inipre.s.s the Westerns wl-.o may differ from their be- liefs and mode of worship. Tho view of Ihe landscape also from Bethiehem's aill in the morning hours U one of unimaginable charm and at- Iradioii. "Far away." writes a'traveiler, "on the left we see the hazy outline of the blue raounlains of Moab. siretching away on Iho other side of the Jordan. Occasionally we catch a brief glimpse of the Dead Sea, lying far below the i-idge of Ri^iyed hills, ils placid waters si'.immering ,in the sunli^'*i}>«,^vi (h a beauty that surprise? the truveller, wFioT associates Ihe salt sea wilh gloom unci death." Bcmarkable to add, Belhlehem is the onl-v place in all Ihe world which cele- brates Chrislmas three times each year. The Latins, or Itomnns, keep il on Dec. 25; the CreeUs, twelve days later, and tho Annenians observe Ihe Feasl of the Epiphany instead of Chrislmas; and, consequently, the pilgrims in Belhlehem on Dec. 25 are mostly of the Latin Church. In Bethlehem, the Bible city, t the true home of Christmas, the celebra- tions are always picturesque and>nole- â- * worthy, recalling tlie promise-laden « words, ".And thou, Bethlehem, in the . land of Juda, art not the least -omong f Ihc princes of Juda; for out of thee shall i come a Governor, that shall rule my , people Israel," and wonderfully has the ^ word been verified thai "Ihe handful of corn upon Ihe lop of the mountains" ' shall cause the fruit thereof to shake * like Lebanon, * The Nativity in Bethlehem has been, represented hy a host of great painters, and is tho Inspiring thonie of B"^ large |J pari of Handel's noblest triumph, the, "Messiah." 'the very title of Christmas* hears o name which is above ever.? « name, while the years of the centuries nre not dated from Calvary, bul from Ihe cave of Belhlehem. The chniKJesusi not only lakes a place in history? ^iril all hi;;',ory takes place in blm. \ EXPOSFn FOD