[HE LEAVES FROM A SYLVAN RETREAT. Upton H. Gibbs, Church ot heistmas--tive and theweather gives prom ise of an ideal day to-morrow. The ground in its mantle of snow glistens in the moonlight I'he: night is clear, while the whole floor of heaven "is thick inlaid with patines of bright gold Fhe hour is late, tired and I am left alone I'he Ghost of Christmas me. company "Bless ! benignant By Rev 1 The Living my helpmeet has re "reminiscencing Past enters to keep old friend! Your expansive smile bygone years." | laudator temporis acti life that "the old yielding place to new," and we the former must and with good orf bad grace. So we King is the King! and fill the and gladness, them essage as tha you, and welcome ow 4s In countenance um accused of being a I'he experience 'of shows changeth, belong to change with it ry I'he Hail, Christmas arts of the tl dead, long hive present! Come young with joy nd we. the will rejoiced the blessed 1 unners, of a May spirit. ot charity towards all; and is Kind; eth not, which vaunteth not puffed up, which doth not seeketh not thinketh n but things elders with ou bear Same your fdrer 'peace on earth, goo our h May the which envi and 1s not itself un asily pro toward men.' with the be fOlled which will carts they charity you imbue true the season with suffereth long tteeli behave scemly, her own, 1s not ¢ neeth not in which bedr things, hopeth all which rej the n voked, evil quity rejoiceth in truth; 1 believeth a things what ristmas seaso It is hike thy a blessing to human 1 warm bredze of loving kindness chill and wWImngs, land, dispersing the hatred, upon its Providence ar sweeping mg porsonou as of h ul unchar envy tableness Jorne mercy hted clouds of to descend in | For turned nto p carnest ot the \ little child our guided by the beth Tefiem into the Whetl De vibe: the freig showers of bro the wughshares, and we foretold by shall lead us, and Babe refreshing one day at least tre feet are way of 25th an open orities place in the in the But the rem side of . [here historical accuracy of not impogtant in the day, it beautifully peace actual dat Some au springtime and others weight of authority the date is no adequate rea was the question autumn the states ans on traditional crm son tor date but if questioning the * he matter is December 25th be appropriate and ve would fam not have ito iffcides with the vorthmen--efathe the return ( rth, so the Sun « ing in His wings it up to go-to chur only 'meet and essentially a ay have displaced it, yet of "the Rom deem this 1 itself; real 1s singularly sig ancient Wits rejoiced for he 'wintry e¢ return of i he: roug 1 1 \s they h is 13 religious rei rnalia ancient rm I the 'maintenan observance to be most import: religious Indications of this possibility HoLy year otherwise it may degenerate into a saturnalia unfortunately Famiry, CARL MULLER are not wanting. 1 lov®the Christmas service, and my most pleasant recollections are associated with it. How willing we were to Rather the holly and greens for decorations; to weave festoons and fashion various appro priate emblems and oversee their hangings and arrangement! Though--this--required .mueh time and throughs we felt well repaid, when everything was finished and the church stood arrayed in festal dress. The choir dili gently practicing, would enliven the for those working at the rear of the thurch witlk carol, anthem, and hymn Then; the morning came, a goodly congregation assem bled for the "Christ mass," to worship and wdore the original Christmas Giver and His Unspeakable Gift, after which they depart ed to their homes, carrying with them to aug ment the joys of the day, the blessing and the peace of G6&d, which passeth understanding Surely something must be missed, unl Christmas is thus hall it 1s mean ingless if it and kept as some of also, time when ess owed, because not a holy day such pity that the first lines of Charles y's well known Christmas hymn altered As he wrote them, read "Hark! all the welkin rings to the King of Kings This is vastly better than the usual version, "Hark! the Herald Angels Sing, Glory to the New-born King." The original rendering 1s much more suggestive of the mag nitude of the angelic choir dnd in more the words of Scripture: "Suddenly was with the angel a multitude of the host praising God." " two were they how , Glory accord there heavenly with made one of where 1 was to tramp thr frosty air, .to receive af Many years have passed since | a band of waits, in lived. How the snow In a village formerly pleasant it the crisp, our friends and to ough serenade pping and welcome 1 sad each st a warm Chr But when I recall 1 feeling of over me as | think how many of joyful broke on the 1 the night are silent forever on earth. While a shadow is thus the former merry party, how much darker it would not for the light of the Star of Yes, Christmas night brings pea to all those any afflicted or in mind, body, ot To them, as shepherds of old, comfort and hope, is the sign of the Babe, whe the earnest of a and more abundant hie the bringer of and light In the babe all things become new. He is the fulfillment of the past and the golden promise of the future. His very hel him w:th peculiar property of the affections and enlisting the men. He persuasively appeals to the wh 1anity and conditions of mer respond to the of the babe. He lays hold of their hearts, exereising a purify influence them It causes the and father ing up and blo as the rose matter how rough or making them less Bi utish and sot to & higher level I'l is manifestly It ean from-the place stmas greeting these times ness comes those whose voices still ness of now cast over be were it Bethlehem wha are ways estate for tressed, to the given new sweetness are plessness endows the capturir services sorts cry over mother ssom vating force which thus. the babe, exerts not physical, neither 1s it spiritual, intellectual wn God Les us at faith n to 'all be on y coming d« cept the A happy God bless us love, and life with thankfulness and i and a merry Christmas every one! KH ingston British Whig, SONG OF CHRISTMAS BELLS. - "Tis Christmas day! the Streams golden down And worshippers wend th Unto God's house this ho From out the church a sc Sounds from the organ's But g I'he Christmas bells soun and Ove ountams Over tl ide and Singing a glorious I'aught by bright angels out, , INN the joys of the world in a jo our Saviour is hori I'he weary walk with qu While list'ning to their m ['he poor feel rich in hea I'he while y hear thos New hopes and j are 'en in the saddes 1 the bells make 1 I'hey're blessing all the amthem from heaven the C born hearts UNIVERSAL CHRISTMAS. Some say that ever 'gainst that season comes, Wherein our Saviour'y birth is celebrated, The bird of dawning singeth all night long; And then, they say, no spirit Eres stay abroad. The nights are wholesome, strike, No , fairy takes, charm, So hallowed and so gracious is' the time." then no planets nor witdh hath power to The sentiment of Shakespeare's time is that of to-day. The most human-and kindly of seasons is penetrated and irradiated with the feeling of brotherhood, the essential spirit of Christianity, as is June with sunshine and the breath of roses. Santa Claus coming loaded with gifts is but a symbol of the gracious in- fluence which at this tithe descends from hea- ven upon every heart. The day dawns with a benediction; it passes in holiday happiness, and ends in the soft and pensive regret. It could not be the most beautiful of festivities if it were doctrined, or dogmatic, or theologi- cal, or local. It is a universal holiday because the jubilee of a universal sentiment. Christmas looks now out at us from the dim shadow of the graves of the Druids who knew "not Christ. The Christmas log which lerriclk exhorted his merry boys to. bring with a shout to the. firing is the Saxon Yule- log burning on the English hearth. The blaz- ing holiday temples of Saturn shone as do the illuminated churches of to-day. It is the pagan mistletoe, under which the Christian youth kisses the dutiful church-going maid The holly of the old Roman Saturnalia decorates the modern hall on Christmas eve. The smok ing baron of beef, the flowing ale, the unusual spread, survivals of the tremendous ing and drinking of the Scandinavian Walhalla. Thus do customs blend in the rejoicing. The and the Wassail, the prayers and the games, the generous hospitality and the Lord of Misrule, Maid Marian and Santa Claus, are a queer mingling of the old and the new. As the religious thought oNall at a certain elevation, flgws inte an expression which makes the most divergent nations har- monious, so this happy festival gives evidence of the common humanity of the older and later and we seem to hear at its dawn a ce- lestial strain, and catch a deeper meaning in the words: "Before Abraham™Was, 1 am." The English trddigion makes good cheer the glory of Christmas, with, the proclamation that no man shall go hungry. There 1% no joy in an empty stomach except the thin ecstacy of starving. saints in pictures, and they were ' already' dehumanized-- a Christian truth which asceticism has forgot- ten Hospitality is are eat- ral carols ages and countries, races, sunshine sweet, city street, eir way ly day. ft refrain sweetest strain; nder still in belfry-high, d from the. sky over r the . of love, above, 1welodious chime, hristmas time, yous refrain, 1 again cker- feet, usc sweet; v'nly love, bells above again, of men; melody humanity CHRISTMAS! . Bishop Doar Clear through the cer Echo the I turi words of the an "Glory to 1 in the Floating above sound On the dear day of Jesu When Heaven to car Over SH Over th ) é Sor Their | still are Message of love and joy Blessed pr f "pec ['o men good-will When along, gel song, highest," s of earth, es, all 's birth, th came nighest il strife, rows of life, ringing, and mirth, e on earth, ' bringing igh degree, ign anc branch™ anc iristmas chime Story conformed nd warmed, behavior, carth shall cease of peace, 1 Saviour 1 mistletoe, s where'er we go pinned up in a row, are thy gift year has n Il thy never fadin Ch can 1 in. Gree before onths iefly of men only breeches and be must be new, sc that s, December! ade thee old lc of gold, been a cold g ember "hristmas tree, les be, t in keeping ristmas. night dle bright nen "by its light wag sleeping n nl tor joyous All the gifts, clothing 'made by are cloth such as for gifts, but every one, young and ts, used 1 appear at his best 71908, linked 'with giving of gifts. When the Neo- phyte.asked his confessor what was the cen- tral truth of Christianity, an old man answered, Charity--which meant love, and love begot the spirit of umversal fratermity. Almsgiving is but a symbol of that giving of the heart and soul and life to help others, of avhich the $u- preme sacrifice of Christ is the accepted type. Christmas declares the umversal conscious- ness that peace on earth comes only from good will to man. l ALL ARE HAPPY THEN: Odd Christmas Celeprations in Tropical > Lands. Christmas comes in midsummer south of the equator, during the summer solstice, and the "patios" of Brazil and ether Spanish coutnries are luxuriant with tropical growths, The patio is an inside garden with tne housé closing it in on the four sides. The door of every room opens upon this floral lovelines lhe space is often a large one, and all kuhls of tropical vines and cumbing plants here trading their: lengths over the corridors and latuce- work to form a natural I'here are always one or, two fountains splashing cool- ness on the stone walks and surroundwng fol- 1age. 'Lhink of spending Christmas in such a charming environment--outdoors in the sunny, flower-scented air of a courtyard! Tne Brazilian child has ail the\beauty ta revel in, but as the American child would say, "Where 1s tne Christmas 'They have none, but instead keep tne daviour's birthday 1 their own style, which 1s a very difterent one from Ilney mmstead "créche," as it is called in France. "Lhe pre- is to 'be in many private residences, as well as in tne hallways of the public hos- pitals. At private residences 'it is arranged in a shady corridor, like a grotto, the Infant in the manger occupying the centre, surrounded with images of the holy family, kneeling. shep- herds, the Wise-men with costly gifts, and do- mestic animals. Figures of angels and much tinsel generally adorn the presepe, which is left"Standing until after thé Epiphany. This custom is observed in other Catholic cotintries, In Spain they have a little museum, cimiento," that came from Peru, to be two hundred years old. It is in a box. When the lid is lifted, it discloses a repre- sentation of heaven, with angels playing i musical instruments. .The interior is the usual) are screen treer ours have "presepe,' or sepe seen also a "na- and is said stene of the manger, but the front of the box? ple for them. when it is open, represents the Garden of Eden. In Cuba Christmas is celebrated in the same way--among brilliant colors of flowers, the evergreen cactus and the glowing sunlight of outdoors. The houses have colors ranging from sky Blue to pink, with white iron balcon- » \ MADONNA \ ies, and these, with the blue of sky and sea, make a brilhant setting. lhey further cele- brate with baseball games, and dt mgnt set off fireworks, Presents are excnanged sometimes, but it 1s a universal custom to indulge in all kinds of Christmas sweets. They have quaint superstitions relative to Yuletide in those tropical lands. All who can, convemently, attend mass--"Missa de Gallo," or cock s mass, 1t 1s cailed, as it takes place at the nudmght hour." Un the coftee plantations the chudren aiso have their presepe, and the old people say that on Canstmas might the ammais have tne gift of speecn,'and that if only- a child has sumcient courage to go out alone in darkness and silence, it will hear on tne first stroke of twelve tne cock crow in a loud, ciear voice from its highest perch, "Christo nasceu'--Christ is born. The bull, ' in.a deep sonorous bass, inquires from a, dis- tant held, "Onder --wherer 'Ine sheep then answer in caorus, "km Belem de juda'--in Betniehem of Judea. And mn turn ail the do- mestic animals give to the world the glad tid- ings of tae Nativity, And many a cnud wish- es 1t had the 'courage necessary to. enable it to hear this wondertul conversation of the brute creation. Oider tolks have implicit faith in superstitions, and there are many curious customs connected with Christmas. In ether parts of douth America it 1s believed tnat oxen kneel in honor of the Occupant of the manger, tnat cees sing 'a nywn, and taat bells are neard chiang from under the ground.. Caristmas in Mexico en,oys a lana ot sum- mer. the "nacinnento" 1s given in tne village or town nall, and the representation takes in tae bible story trom the Garden of iden to tne birth of Cnrist. The figures used are not but beaut. ful little lifeZlike imitations people 'represented. . There is a back- ground of green moss lighted by many wax candles. -This exhibition 1s open twelve days before Christmas, to give ample time for all the people to see it. There are other similar exhibitions, especially of the shepherds at the birth of Christ. The Christmas and New Year's "clintaro" is the occasion of many pret- ty parties, held for the children in patios or gardens. The cantaro is a large earthen jar with a wide mouth, covered with different col- ers of tissue paper, so that it is completely hidden. It is suspended by a red cor@® from a tree in the courtyard. The children, blind- folded, must find it, and break it with whacks from their sticks. When the jar is broken and the goodies spill out, there is a happy scranit- Another custom is to put toys of beautiful native pottery in a bag, and then pass it around, each child in turn taking the first toy his hand touches. The nearest they come to our Christmas tree is to have a straw basket filled with gifts, decorated with green things arranged in the form of a tree. images, ol tne AND Cuno, ScuooL or Liaxarpo