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u CHRISTMAS TIDE. their own race from which such great things sprang. It isperhaps an acknowledgment of this Although Christmas falls within the trao mystery and principje of life, especially as i PEOPLE WHO HAVE NO CHRISTMAS i There are people who can enjoy only a ‘llllonary mud: halcyon d531, “'8 always Christ's acceptance and experience of human Willi-‘3 it i“ 0“? minds With 010‘": {WSW life presents it, that we dress our churches Wealhcr- SP‘nlus allows» 3?““““8 3‘3“, and houses with wreaths and garlands of “ml bells that Chime With 33 “0313' 3' “Mile ; evergreenâ€"symbols of life and of deathless : as the 5PMle Of the 5‘3“ Yeti 0f com”! ! lifeâ€"excluding no other green than that ivy . . t , the weather has nothing whatever to do With who}, belongs to Bacchus and to drunken I 0“? "331 “ccepla‘mn 0f the an)" Smce It has i delirium and excess, and the mistletoe, i And his scanty costume it. com- been Celebmkcd "311 “(mm-1 the {can ln which belongs to the Druidic worship andl ’ News March and in beptember. and since .13 to scenes of Sayer and lighter chem. ; those \\ ithlitstrather widcaccordion. e uatorial regions it has to be accompanie l j - . , . i , , p ai s . . l’l f. l . 1 d . . 1 me Tue- E .08ng generally chosen, too, like the holly, _ But smnhe spmls Ins gorgeous 0' “13 in“ “)0 erg: 3'“ “'95 ‘ “3 m l: ‘ 3; the laurel, the spruce, and hemlock, that skin R FESSOI‘ DRIER licrewitlisendsi H u _ h _ _ . _ A‘OClm-Qmm; reeth," to his friends I, \\ ith a plasteiing tnat looaslikedirt . 1,3,“: in,“ tile (was, and the my. ‘ For he finds a packet of-choco.atc creamS.â€"- . u , - y al 1 en, “'liich is very much to his taste it seems. l . . . . . . The absorbing Interest it creates, “her he “as “at 3 cm, His pictured petticoat illustrates ful there than the necessary because historic ‘ me perenniany green and fresh. It is in no Pl‘lln‘Pudding 3" its banquet tablc- ‘ want of reverence for the day that this cus- _ For Christmas, after all, has to find its . tom was borrowed from the worship of other ‘ best atmosphere in the heart ; and whether so-called deities ; for the Christmas modes Whose ’0‘“- >lllall part, if any, of the happiness of f the Christmas season. Such are l kings and emperors, for exaiizple. who F have all through the year, in the greatest fabundance, every pleasant thing that usu- i ally distinguishes Christinasfromother days. lFoi one thing, they sit down to a L‘hrisi~ f mas diniicr aoont three hundred and Sixty. ; five times a year. Madame L'arcttc, who i was second reader to the Empress Eugene, has told the world lately that the court party i the Tuilcries had green peas, strawberries at. and peaches for dinner nearly every day of 'thc year. Not canned, as we have them, lnor preserved, but fresh from tlic green~ l houses of Versailles. , i They had besides what she called “double 1 courses,” and all served with such case and rapidity that they dcspatchcd the entire re- it falls under the patronage of good old gen- erous St. Nicholas or under that of the become Kriss Kringleâ€"Abe acknowledgment of its beauty and preciousncss has to spring out spontaneously, as the blossoms of that Glastonbury thorn which is said to be the staff of Joseph of Arimathea used to do when the time of the year came round to the sacred birth, and aroused in it the blossoming impulse. \Vlierever the heart itself welcomes the coming of Christmas it makes no odds whether the day is uShered in with the singing of carols or with the burning of gunpower, as the habit is in some portions of our Southern country. Christ Childâ€"the Christ-Kindlein that has! And who is there that has not a welcome for Christmas? Even he who considers religion as belonging to 'the region of the o celebration were largely derived from and iii-kneaded with the ways of observing the old Saturnalia, which came at this period of the sun’s course, and marked some tradi- tional era. resembling its own, when golden Saturn reigned in piping times of peace, when all men loved each other, and sin and suffering were unknown on earth, and in whose festivities tapers were lighted, ever- greens were hung, slaves assumed purple tunics and white togas and caps of freedom, and masters waited on them, and all was good-will and good cheer. It. is in this spirit and atmosphere of good- will and good cheer that our Christmas greetings and our Christmas gifts are made. And while we make them, do we never pause and reflect as to whether we have sc- cured anythingkto offer the blaster. of :the And these few gifts also presents, ” “'itli all the se.ison’s compliments. 80‘ Jack declares and sails away, .7 past in three quarters of an hour. It is obvi~ ously impossible that people who are fed in this way allthe time can have any particular pleasure in a Christmas dinner. T hen as to presents. \Vho can give such persons anything? They can show you pints of diamonds and ropes of pearls. The only thing they really want is another province. which no one can give them except some other king or emperor, and he will not, but keeps all the world in a suppressed broil by his own desire for provinces. So these royal unfortunates can liavcno Christmas presents or at any rate, none which give them any peculiar pleasure. You may reply that,ou Clirist-iniisDay,kings and emperors exercise the royal privilege of giving. But giving is part. of their trade, a. matter of course. They buy diamond snuff , boxes by the dozen, gold watches by the gross, India shawls by the halo. lacc by the hundred pieces; likewise ringsand brooches in great numbers. ‘ ' professor Drier has carefully packed Some cxacker bonhons ip’the box ; But the king adornsliis woolly locks ' With the fringled-out ends, andthe insides _ ' eats, . As if the Bengal lights were 'sw'eets. festival Himself? The kings of the East brought Him gold andfrankincense and myrrh, but others in this latter day, what. . have they brought for Him? ' . . For his time is short he cannot sta . unknowablc, and disregards all religious g Y events, must feel the contagion of the gen- eral joyfulness, and be glad, one would I.» _. ' j a, "I , \‘i'itli his usual fine and kindly tact, For the Christmas-tree, it now befalls, Now, really, people who have to giv pretty objects away in such numbers can enjoy but a trifling and languid pleasure in the act. These things aremoasurably true of many .pause and think of what it is that the in- think, of the day. If he is not, let him fluence of the day has brought about and established. Let him picture the state of the world before the dawn of that firsLChrist- mas Day of allâ€"â€" its oppressions, its barbar- ity, its slavery, its poverty beyond speech here, its wealth beyond dreams there, its indifference to human life. and distress, its cruelty, its ignorance, its sin ; and then 'let. him look at it. now, with its'conccrn for the race, its outlook for the poor, its enthusiasm for humanity, its freedom for nations, its alleviatious of suffering, its vast enlighten- ment, its penetration into the great secrets of the cosmos, its endeavor after righteous- ness ; let. him remember that where we did not know so much as the nature of the cloud, now we know that of the stars; where we wallowcd in the senses, now we search the mystery of life; where we grovelled, now we fly ; let. him remember all this, and then ask if this day and its cause is not one of those gifts concerning which the apostle said, “Every good gift and every perfect gift. comet-h from above.” One of the great scientists of the period has said that when he attempts to give the power manifested in the universe a name, it evades him, declines to be made objective, and he is overshadowed by its mystery. But in the same way, it has been pointed out, the beloved disciple said, “The light shinetli in darkness, and the darkness com- prehendetli it not. ” And they who hold with St. John, feel that this light, this power, this being, does not evade search or decline recognition, but taking on human life has given us reason for rejoicing in the gift of Christmas Day, finding that there is no greater miracle in that act of taking on hu- man life. than in the fact of the existence of life itselfâ€"life, of which a great religious thinker has said: “ “'0 know not what it is, how it comes or goes, and most imper- fectly has the keenost and most patient human scrutiny been able to trace even the mode of operation. In itself and all the varied modes of its operation it is the stand- ing miracle of the universe, the most won- derful of all the forces working in the realm of nature.” And thinking thus of the day as the one that marks and accentuates the great gift of life and being to every individ- ual, as well as of the holy life and being in whose remembrance it is instituted, they would keep it in a selfish seclusion who were‘ffot glad to have humanity of all nations and of every belief recognize what- i ever they can in the day, welcoming them to it as they would welcome all people to one hospitable hearth. The very fact of the custom that has been chosen for one of the , children. chicf secular features of the day’s observance -~the making of gifts, the relieving of want, the carrying to each other all the gladncss the earth has to offerâ€"shows the feeling which offers the freedom of the day to all who will join in its festive spirit. Lct Christmas come how and where it , will. it speaks of the value of life, and 50% of humanity ; to the believer, of the value of that humanity for which the great author and principle of life could leave the heaven A of heavens, and into which he could stoop ; to the unbeliever, at least of the value of that humanity for which Christianity has done so much more than any other known; agency, and he need not hesitate to celc-l brute the day as that of the birth, if not of the great precept “that ye love one another," l Your hands have worked well. Isyourcouragc In handwork only ’I. > Have you nothing best \Vhioh generous souls may perfect and prescnt.’ ‘Of teaching. liberal. nations. for the poor “ ‘Vhat glitts‘for'Chiist, then, bring ye with the, re- spent AndHe shall thank the givers for i No light ; \Vlio sit in darknessyvhcn it is not; night? No cure for wicked children? Oh, no cure, No help for women sobbing out of sight ' Because incnmade the laws "l" And what gifts have we as individuals, as children, as servants ‘2, And inwhat. far or near Christmas is it that each one of us all shall have burned away» the dross of self, and shall give to the source and cause of all our Christmas the perfect gifts of love and sacrifice? The Little Stranger. There is a popular household story that is repeated year after year to German child- ren at the beginning of the Christmas holi- days, to kindle the spirit of charity, which illustrates to the child mind the words of our Lord: “I was a stranger, and ye took me in.” In Germany every child passes through fairyland, and receives the great truths of moral and spiritual life in parables. The story is substantially as follows : In a little cottage on the borders of a large forest there once lived a poor wood- chopper, with his wife and two children. He was a good and pious man, but was scarcely able to earn enough to provide food for his family. For all that he began his daily duties with prayer, and ended them with praise, and the family were very happy. His children’s names were Valentine and Marie. One snowy evening when the woodchop- per came home, he brought. with him some green boughs, and after the evening meal began to hang them over the mantel- iece. “ Christmas is here,” said he,“ and have no presents for you ; but we will offer to the Lord the beautiful alters of grateful hearts. God will bless us.” He then said grace at the simple table, as they gathered around it to partake of the evening meal. There came a knock at the door. “ Who is there ‘3” asked the woodchopper. “ A homeless child.” “ Come in." A child entered, very beautiful, but in ragged clothing, and stood before the fire. “ Who are you 1‘” asked the woodchopper, kindly. “ Whencc do ‘you come?” “ I am a stranger, and have no home,’ answered the. child. “ Come to the table, little stranger,” said Marie. “ There is not bread enough for us both ; you shall have my supper." “ And I will let you sleep in my bed,” said Valentine. “ There is not room enough for two. I will sleep on the floor." I The family sung their evening liymn,â€"- ! "The woods are all silent. and the little stranger quickly fell asleep in Valentine's bed. At midnight. the family was awakened by the sound of music without the door. The storm had abated, and the stars shone clear in the cold sky. Very sweet music it was. “ Hark '3" said Marie. “ It is the song of \Vhat do they sing ‘3" “ Listen l" said Valentine. was still, and the voices sang : "0 happy home, to heaven nighest. \Vhercin Thou. Little Stranger. licst." Like the softly attuned musical glasses l seemed the music out of which rose the carol. The family heard it with delight. The song was repeated : “O_happ__v home. to heaven nighcst. l \\ herein Thou, Little Stranger. licst." . The music drifted away as in a cloud of 3 light, higher and higher, and was lost in the ‘ air. In the mornin ' the Little Stranger. woke. and said that lie must go. “ You will be blessed," He said, simply, l “ because you took me in. Take this sprig ‘ of evergreen," He added, breaking a twig: I , from the tree that the cotter had broil litl home, “and plant it, and you shall one i uy ‘ know Who I am." It was a sprig of thc fir. The cotter did as he was hidden. and the l sprig grew, and the fir-tree bore silver nuts ; The king and queen with joy receive The box of gifts, you may. believe ; And as it quickly is, undone, Eagerly curious, each one . Comes crowding, every dusky dame.- The donor’s face in guilded frame Is first unpackedâ€"This giftâ€"his own King Baba appropriates ior a. crown. He gives a most. delighted laugh, And tearing out. the photograph, He sticks the frame on his woolly hair: “ Such a beautiful crown for Sunday wear I” The queen’s quick search rewards her haste, And she finds a gift to her royal taste ; She was never so pleased before nor since. ’Tis a drum, that was sent to the youngest prince, int. she uts it upon her ueenl head, P ‘1 3’ And a charming coiffurc it makes instead. In the height. of fashion she now appears, \Vitli the drumâ€"sticks thrust through her AWI Swami”; teeth, Shi‘iCkS out: “ Alia’ pretty ears. The kite was passed from hand to hand, The family A But the Princess Bubu fastened its hand l Around her delicate dusky waist, And as a tournure herform it graced. , She wears it, indeed. with infinite .. chic," She grasps poor baby to do her worst : And gives its tail the “ court-train kick.” 3'“ “f the gnu“ h"wa “l’pum‘ion of lh“ i and golden apples, and Marie and Valentine; A net ‘0 CdtCh Speclmeu lmttcrflies. precept, and he can let the wreath adorui his window, the garland be hung above his door, and he can load his children with gifts, and help on the joy of the day with the best of them. \\'e have heard it said that of late many " grows celebrate Christmas : and we do not know why they should find that difficult to-dny, were it only regard for l never again knew the want of food or a bed, or of an abundant Christmas table. i It was the first Christmastree. 1 Who was the Little Stranger 2 ‘ A man born in a state of povcrt never 5 feels its keenest to :but he who as fallw, on from a life of uxury feels them with all their bitterness. -{Junes Ellis. King Babs considered a royal prize : And appointed a slave the net to bear Over his head as he takes the air. The lace-like cap on its slender pole He takes for his ensign, and every soul Must bow him low to the royal crest Thus borne aloft at the king's behest. Prince Bobo is happy : only look ! c has seized on a wonderful picture-book, Lem-e5 much'_very much’_m be desired. ‘ ‘ Four dozen gilt and colored balls I l 3‘ - - . ‘ . his. " With the last gift their joy increased : Are quite enough to, for once. content rich people, whose very gifts frequently The family taste for ornament. cause more pain than pleasure. Thoir neph- ews, nieces and cousins are dispose‘d,in many instances, to magnify their own claims and their uncle’s wealth : “ Only this little diu- mond ! Only this trifling check, and Uncle John so rich l” Not that such words arc often uttered aloud, but the sentiment fre- quently cmbitters what might otherwise have been a welcome b'encfaction. It is poor people and poor nations, and people in the ordinary walks of life, that get. the most enjoyment from festive days. As they are closely engaged, day by day, in do- ing their part of the world’s mighty task, a feast is a rarity, and the whole year often passes unbroken by a single event of a fes- tive nature. A Canadian traveller in Ireland, Spain, l’oland, Italy, is pleased to see the universal happiness which the approach of Christmas diffuses. Merely having a. chicken for dinner gives to a poor family in the south of Europe a novel and thrilling delight. Two or three Christmases ago a certain Toronto gentleman was in Spain. He found the cheap cars on all the railroads filled with sons and daughters travelling to spend Christmas with the old folks at home. and all the stations crowded with their relations coming to greet and escort them. Some of the ncwsboys in our large cities have a joyful Christmas. Observers are aware tliata change has come over the news~ boys of late years. They are no longer, as a class, the disorderly ragamuflins they used to be before the day of the Newsboy’s Home and the Children’s Aid Society. There is getting to be less and less room inthc world for the careless and un rinci< pled. The proprietors of newspapers iscov- cred a good while ago that. boys who are careless as to their other duties are the last to be trusted with the responsible task of delivering morning papers. For various reasons the boys who are now carrying newspapers in Toronto and Mon- treal are among the best boys we have. Many of them are earning their chancc to go through the High School by delivering pap era, and sometimes the whole family join in the work, even to the little sister, who runs across a square with a paper, or trots up a. long path and thrusts the morning shch intotlic box provided for it. Such ncwsboys have an interesting time on Christmas morning when they go their rounds. True, there is Old Growler, who scolds if his paper does not. arrive by half- past six, but. never remembers on Christmas morning the faithful boy who brings it to him. There is also the happy family, hil- arious over their presents, who sends out. ten cents “to get rid of him ”-â€"him, who got up at four and worked till seven three hundred and thirteen times to bring them their paper. On the other hand, there is the benevolent old gentleman who always has a brilliant silver dollar for his ncwsboy, and comes to the door himself to give it to him, with a Merry Christmas. So we see that Christmas follows the gen- eral rule ; whatever pleasant days and ex- ceptionally nice things come along, although the rich and the pom rful mayliavc their share of them, it is the man who is doing the or- dinary work of the world, and who shares only its common emoluments and rewards, who derives from them the greatest amount of pleasure and benefit. Those who have a Christmas every day have no Christmas at all. ' Twas a life-Sized doll, " though last, not least.” It has a most lovely golden hair,â€" The Professor’s wife is not more fair. The delighted king into ruptures goes, \Vhereat'. the queen turns up her nose. | The king with ardor clasps the child, ' The queen with jealous rage is wild. She grabs the doll, he holds it fast, They pull and tug, until, at last, By chance she pulls a string, aiidâ€"-ali ! The unlucky baby cries “Ba~ba l" Now, horror-struck, King Baba stands, Stores at the queen, who, with twitching hands ‘Ba-ba !’ I thought so l-Ha ha 1â€"‘Ba-ba! Furious with wrath, for blood athirst, Its little arm by her teeth is crushed. “‘4 A l l fii t " __ ‘ -. m 83;“ !is her mou h \uth fine saw Where They Many Young. It is especially in the Argentine Republic, the child marriages of India being kept out. of the count. Official statistics arc-just pub‘ lished showing that Sperccnt. ofthe girls who get married in the Argentine are under If). The A rgentinians encourage early marriages. Having the population question in view, their statesmen praise the practice, and they have songs in recommendation of it. .54) have we : Gather ye roucbuds while ye may. «Old time in still a flying ; And this mine [lower that n-‘mllcu Uri-day. Toomorrow may be dying. C O O 0 That age is best which is t ic first. _ “'hcn youth and bloml arc warmer : ’ But helm; ~ will. and worn! and wont / Times Hill succeed the former. " Then he not coy, but use your time. / And while you may. go marry : / For having lost. but once yourprim You may forever tarry. The Silver Question. .I' A.â€"“ “'hy do you refer to J-' M". a silvery tongue ‘3" B.â€"“ Because he never ate to strike you for a do At this terrible sight King Babs turns, But the gunpowder now in his stomach burns. He roars with pain, the queen roars. too. The little princes weep, “ Boo'hoo l" The court is in a hullabaloo, And Christmas winds up with a general row. 'l'hus. sometimes. merely not knowing how 1‘0 appreciate blessingsâ€"though much ad. miredâ€" leu be if = .Z‘. W. ,,igl,¢;.:w;“;g.;~r;.::;«a: My... 14- ... . «'AflWWo-dinum