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"I thought you would be pleased to know about him,” said he, keep- ing his: eyes, according to custom, averted from her face. ”The others are all very well, but Ainslie is real- ]y a. promising lad. and some day, Miss Welby. you and I will be proud of him. But he's only reached the foot of the ladder yet, and it takes a long time to get to the top. Como, Miss Welby, your tea. has done you good. You’re more like yourself again: and do you know that is a very becoming dross you have got on? I wish I was young enough to dance with you, but I'm not, so I' ll pour-ante: bfit she felt on thorns of anxiety to hear where he had gone, what he was doing, when there Wonk} She knew it too well. and would not have stood in the way of his success; no, not to have seen him every day, and all day long. And now, while 'she felt it might. be years before they would meet again. there was yet a. pleasure in talking of him. after the suspense and uncer- tainty of the last three days. that threw it. reflected glow of interest. even on the person to whom she could unbosom herself. Next to Gemrd. though a. long way on‘, and papa. of course. she felt. she liked Mr. Vandeleur better than anybody. He read her like a. book, and con- tinued to play the same game. be a chance of seeing him again; and thrrefore she answered in a. calm, cold voice that by no means deceiv- ed her companionâ€" “I ne-xcr heard a word of it! I am \ory glad for Mr. Ainslic' s sake. I believe he Was exceedingly anxious to Let, his commission. Oh! Mr. Vandclcur, how kind of you to in- ten-st yourself about him!” ““0 are all interested in him, I think, Miss “'elby,” he answered with a. meaning smile. "I told you long ago I thought he had the mak- ings of a man about. him. Well; he has got a. fair start. We won’t lose sight of him, any of us; but‘ you know he must, follow up his profes- sion." ' When he looked at her again, he could s~e by the way her whole face had brightened that she heard this intelligence for the first ,time. He 0!'-ser\‘ed. with inward satisfaction. that there could have been no inter~ change of correspondence; and reflec- ting that young ladies seldom read the papers very diligently, or inter- est themselves in gazettes. was able to appreciate the value of the news he had just communicated. Norah preserved her selfâ€"command. as. whatever may‘ be their weakness under physical pressure. the youngest and simplest woman can in a moral emergvncy. It was unspeakable rcâ€" Xief to learn there Was a. reason for his past neglect and present non-ap- "How kind of you. Miss Welby. to come and sit. quietly with an old gentlrman in an icehousc when you “Big-ht I‘o dancing forty miles an 1102‘? with a young one :in an oven. Dandy Burton. or whatever his name isâ€"the man with the shirt-frontâ€" must hate me pretty cordially. That's another conquest; Miss Wel- hy: and so is his friend. the fat. one. You spare none of us. Old and young! No quarter. No forgiveness. La me put your cup down!” “Tho other's the flower of them all, Miss Wolby. to my fancy. and I am very gXad I was able to do him a turn. He got his commission. you know, the very day you left Marston. I should think he must. have joined by DOW. I dare say he is hard at work at the goose-stop al- ready." He moved away to place ii; in saf- on and she did not fail to notice “ith gxatitudc that he kept his back turnr-d while he proceeded-â€" _ “I like the fat one best," she an- swered, smiling, while she gave him her cup. "You do, indeed!" 'shc answered grmm'uily. for the woundx-d. :mxious lwurt ti‘vrv w-«s sométhinp; both soothing md reassuring in the kindâ€" ly mannvéand frank. mmilv \oiu- ‘ A cvrta.’ u latent cn orgy , a. suppressâ€" -ed powi-r . lurked about Viundccur (-ssmtiuily pleasing to women. and Norah i‘t-it tho influence pf thosfi male qualities to their full extent while he brought hcr the promiScd tea. dis- ]IOSvd h: 1' tho it“ out of the draught, and scair‘d hit: 5011' b} hi-r side. 'imrn he led the conxc-rsation gra- dually to the news she most desired to hour. It was V'and’oieuf's habit to alive: at good-humorod superiority in his inn-rcourw with young ladies. as m‘ a man who was so much their senior that hv might préfoss interest without consequence and‘ admiration without impertim-ncc. Perhaps he 1' :3:(‘ it. answer. Perhaps. after all. it was but the result of an inherent bonhmnic. and a fran' moss bordering on crc:cntricity. At any rate. he began in his usual strain-â€" "I am glad you like it. Miss Wol- by." said \‘andcleur. with a flatterâ€" ing onwhusis on the pronoun. 'LNow sit down. while I got you Sumo tea. and I‘ll give you leave-to go- and chum-‘agnin directly I see morezcol- or in your face. I take good care of you. don‘t. I?" ' "This is dctightx‘uli” exclaimed Norah. drawing a. fun breath of the pun; mo! night air. that played through the roomy consvrvatory. and looking round in admiration on the quaintly-twisu-d pillars. the in- laid [uni-mum, the glittering foun- tain, and the painted lanterns hung- in::' zunngst broad-leafed tropical plants and gorgvous flowors. It. It ."J-mlwd a difiercnt world from 112v bun-room. and Would have been Paradise. if oniv Germ-(l had been there! ’5’ 1 @))9593 9a>9>>»»»9»>9>»b)>§m§)»9mm‘ u CIIAPT ER X II. I. II. N00 3 Or, The Maid of the Mill“ $1 per annum. And Norah embarked on the intri- cacies of the “Lancers." under the lpilotage of Dolly Egermont, who comriwd to make her laugh more ‘than‘ouce before the set was finish- ¢cd. She recovered her spirits rap- :idly. After all, was she not young, :lmndsome. well-dressed, admired. and :fond of dancing? She put oll‘ reflec- Itlcn, misgivings, sorrOW, memories. :and regrets, till the ball was over ‘at last. Lady Baker. dull as she ;might be. was yet sufficiently 9. WOâ€" man to- ‘ nptice the change in hor 'young friend's domeanour, and hav- ,ing sor-n her come from the conserva- ‘tory on their host‘s arm. not only drew her own conclusions. but con- fided them to her neighbor, Mrs. :Brown. dodging out of a small. humblyâ€" furnishvd bedroom, was snmowhur. staztlcd by :1: energy with which this: enthusiast thrmv himsc‘zl‘ at but feet, and mixing hL-r'hzmd in both his ‘owyw; ‘ exclaimed xvith alarming vohemonccâ€" “Adorable being, has not your heart long since apprised ye that Rinaldo is your devoted slave? He loves ye: he worships ye; he lives in your glances; he dies beneath yourâ€"" ”I or. Mr Brufl‘, ” exclaimed Fan- ny, “why, how vou go on! I declare love-making seems npver to be out of your head.’ Few places could perhaps be less adapted for a private rehearsal than the staircase of a. lodging-house in a provincial toWn. A provincial town enlivened only by a theatre open for six weeks of the year. and rejoicing in the occasional presence _of the depot from 'which a matching ‘regiment on foreign service drew its supplies of men and officers. Never- theless. this unpromising locality had been Selected for the purpose of studying his part by an individual whose exterior denoted he could be- long to no other profession than that of an actor. As the man stood ges- ticulating on the landing, he appear- ed unconscious of everything in the world but the character it Was his pux‘poSe to assume. Fanny Draper. Mr. nnm‘. thus adjurcd. rose, not very nimbly, to his feet, and assum- ing. with admirable versatility, what he believed to bathe ‘air ota man of consummate fashion, apologized for the eccentricity of his demeanoug. every minute. brought it nearer yet. What was the use of counting hours now, when years Would intervene b0-~ fore she should look on his frank young face, hear his kind, melodious voice? Her eyes filled and ran over. but papa Was fast asleep, so what did it signify? She was so lonely, so miserable! In all the darkness there was but one spark of light, in all the sorrow but one grain of con- solation. Strangely enough, or ra- ther, perhaps, according to the laws of sympatlw and the force of asso- ciation, that light. that Solace seein- ed to identify themselves ‘with the presence and companionship of Mr. Vandeleur. “My dear." said her ladyship. “I’ve fol/ind out something. Mr. Vandol'eur will marry again;â€"yo_u mark my words. And he's made his choice in this very room to-night." Mrs. Brown. a’Tady 01' mature yours. with rather a. false smile. and very false teeth. showed the whole of them, Well-pleased. {or she owned a marriagable daughter, at that moment flirting ch'cgiously with Vandcleur. in the 531110 room: but her face fell when Lady Baker. whose im- partial obtuscnoss sparvd neither friend nor foo, continued in the same monotonous voiceâ€"- _ She pitied herself. poor Norah. an hour afterwards, looking biankly out from the brougham window on the dismal grey of the summer's morn- ing. Papa was fast asleep in his corner, satisfied with his victory ovor the Greek particle, and thor- oughly persuaded‘ that his darling had enjoyed her dance. The pleas- ure, the excitement Was over, and now the. reaction had begun. It seemed so strange. so blank, so sad. to leave one of these festive gathâ€" erings. and not to have danced with Gerard. not even to have seen him: Worse than all, to have no meeting in anticipation at which she could tell him how she had missed him, for which she could long and count the hours as she used to do when "Poor girl! I pity her!" said the other, touching her forehead. as she passed into the supper-room and. commenced on cold chicken and tongue. "Who is it? and how d’ye know?" she demanded rather austoroly, though in :i'guurdcd whisper. “He might do worse, and he might do better. He's done some foolish things in his life, and perhaps he thinks it's time to reform. I hope he. will, I‘m sx‘lrc. She's giddy‘ and flight): no (lbubtfbut I dare Say it's tho host thing for him. after all!” and hardened round her mouth. too. haw doubts about, her daughter's chance. “It’s Norah Wolby, and I hoard him ask her,” rnpliod Lady Baker, recklessly. and in an audible voice. watch you instead. It's no compli- ment to you to say you're very good to look at indeed.” "I am glad you think so," she answered. quitting his arm at the door of the dancing-room: and he fancied, though it was probably on- ly fancy. that she had leaned heavâ€" ier on it while they returned. At any ratv. Vandcleur bctook himself to the socivty of his other guests. by no means dissatisfied with the progress he had mado. «mair’sgsa‘he; "ii fee: the}. CHAPTER XIII. Had she been but half an hour later, had the post been delayed. had an accident happened to the mail- train, my story would never have been written. Ah! these little bits of paper, what destines they carry about with them, under their trim envelopes and their (lemure. neatly- written addresses! We stick a pen- ny stamp on their outside. and that modest insurance covers a freight that .is sometimes worth more than all the gold and silver in the coun- try. How we thirst for them to ar- rive! How blank our fares, and how dull our hearts. when they fail us! How bitter we are. how unkind and unjust towards the guiltless cor- respondent. whom we make answer- able for a hundred possibilities of accident! And with what a reaction of tenderness returns the flow of an all'ection that has been thus obstrucâ€" ted for a. day. Funny read the letter over more than once. The first time her‘ face tool; the leaden. aShy hue of the. dead; but her courage seldom failed her 10:12:. either for good or evil, and there was a Very resolute look about her (\W‘S and mouth ere she was half way through the second peruSaI. llnd it reached its rightful owner, Ijthink it would have been covered with kisses and laid next to a warm. i111â€" pulsive, wayward, but loving; heart. It was a production. too. that might have been read aloud at Charing Cross without prejudice to the writ- er's modesty and fair fume. Here it is:â€"â€"- ' “Dvar Mr. Ainslio.â€"â€"I have to thank you for your letter in papu‘s flame and mv own. NO was vorv much pleased to hear you had joined your I'vgfiiuwnt, and we all wish you (“very success and happim-ss in your now profession. We Were disappointed not to 84-0 you boforo you left M2. Arvhm'. who always speaks of you as his favorite pupil; and. induod. I had no idva. when we ant 10 Lon- don. that you ern going to leave cur nuigl’u‘orhoocl so soon. We should certainly lmvo putVol‘x‘ our journvy certainly hzu’v wt off our journey for :1 (My 0:“ th Had we thought “‘0 \\‘1‘?‘t' not even to hid you good-bye. But you know you have our very bust wishes for your welfare. I will give your message to papa. and shall be so glad to hear again if we can be of any Service to you here. Even if you have nothing Very particular to say, you may find time to send us a. few lines. Your favorite roses are not yct'faded, and I gathered somé this morning, which are stand- ing on my writing-table now. Good- bye, dear Mr. Ainslie, with kindest, regards from us all believe me ever, “Yours very truly, "Leonora Welby. on this, as on former occasions, your penetration will distinguish he- tWoen the man and his professional avocations. I am now engrossed With tho part of a lover in genteel comedy. My exterior will doubtless suggest to you that I auxâ€"eh? what shall I say‘3â€"not exactly disqualified for tho character!” The apartment Was empty, and Fanny drew bruath. 0n the table lay a. letter that had arrived but. a few minutes by the mast. She pounced won it. and fled upstairs as noiselessly, but far more quickly than she came down. Then she lockâ€" ed the door, and tore open the en- Volope with tho; cruel gesture of one who destroys some venomous or ob- noxious reptile. “You were born to be an actress." said he; “and I shall take care that you have box-orders every night. while our company remains. It is a pleasure to know, even in such emp- ty houses as these. that there is one person to whom a man can play and feel that his en‘orts are appreciated, and the nicotics of his calling under- stood.” Then Mr. Brnn‘ lifted his hat with an air combining, as he was persu- aded, the roistoring demeanour of professed libertinism with the dig- nity of a. stage nobleman. siecle Louis Quatorze, and went his way re- joicing to the adjacent. tavern. Fanny must. indeed. havehcen a good actress. No sooner was he gone than her whole face fell. and on its fresh rosy beauty came that anx‘ ions look‘ it is so painful to see in tho countenances of the youngâ€"the look that is never there unless the conscicnco be ill at, easeâ€"the look of a woundvd, Weary spirit dissatisfied with itsvlf. She waited on the landâ€" ing for a minute or two, listoninp; in- (onllfy'. than stole downstairs, glided along the passage on tip-toe and with a pale cheek and beating heart turned the handle of the sitting- room dorr. “Fanny glanced at his exteriorâ€"a. Square figure, a. tightlyâ€"buttoned coat, a. closechavcd face, marked with dvvp lim‘s. and illumincd by a prominent red nose. She laughvd and shook her head. “Don't, keep me long than, Mr. ‘n‘ufl‘. and don't make love to me in oarnvst. pleaSc, more than you can help." “Stand there, madam, I beg of you." said he. “A little further off, if you please. Head turned some- what away. and a. softening glance. Could you manage a softening glance. do you think, when I come to the cue ‘nnd dies beneath your scorn"? Are you ready?" and Mr. Brurl‘ plumped down on his knees once more to begin it all over again. Funny threw herself hit!) the part. It Was evidently not the. first time that she had thus served as a. lay. figure. so to speak, for the prosecu- tion of Mr. Brui‘i's studies in his art. She sneered, she flouted. she bridled, she languished, ‘and finally bent over his close-cropped head in an access of tenderness relieved by a flood of tears. with an air of passionate re- ality that, as Mr. Brufl observed while he wiped the dust from his trousers, and the perspiration from his fate. was "more touching, ' and infinitely more true, than nature it- self." While she spoke she looked anxious- ly along the passage, as though aafraid of observation. Mr. Brun' at once bccmnc Rinaldo to the core. "Marston Rectory. Sept. â€"th." Then the last page was crossed 2:, Durham and Victoria Standard J MILLBROOK, ONT.. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 18. 1903. ND 0 Pudding: Mince one lb. walnuts, one lb. blanched alme't'“ end one lb. seeded raisins. Mix thorougn‘q together. (1111.11le a rich sponge cake and mix with above ingredients. Sweeten to taste. Then make a. plain boiled custard with 2 eggs, one pt. milk, sweetened, and pour while hot over the sponge cake and nuts, etc. When cold, sprinkle a. litt‘e cinnamon or pink confectioner's sugar over custard. When making custard be sure to boil milk first; then pour over well beaten eggs, re- turn to fire. stirring constantly un- til it thickens like cream. Let fire be slow. for if it boils it will (‘tn‘dlc and Spoil. THE HIGHER THE BETTER. Mr. Meleagris Gallovapoâ€"My dear, this is one month or the year when high living don’t. hurt the turkey family. a safer one than drugs. This simple recipe is well 7\7\_'orth tryipg. ‘ (quite unnecessarily, for there was plenty of space below the signature) with two linos,-â€"“I think I have written you a luttm' as correct and proper as your mm. but, I Was so glad to get it all the same." Preserved Walnuts '_‘ To every 20 green walnuts allow half 1b. sugar. Pierce nuts with a needle and put them into stone jar with the sugar. Stand the jar in a deep saucepan of boiling water and allow it. to con- tinue boiling steadily for three hours taking care water does not get. into jar. The sugar when dissolved should cover the walnuts. When done, tie down and in six months the preserve will be ready for use. Considering the medicinal properties of the walnuts when preserved, it. is a wonder it is not more generally prepared. For a young child one walnut is a sufficient purgative, and Fanny's smile Was not ph'aSant when she concluded this harmless cf- fusion. It deepened and hardened Mrs. Brown, usscnting, began to while she placed the lnttcr in an on- wlopo, scaled it carefully. and direcâ€" ted it to John Vandeleur, E3q., Onkovor, shire; but. it left her face very grave and sad, under a. smart little bonnet and double black Veil, while she walked stoulthily to the post-office and dropped her mis- sive in the box. The little traveling “twin pincush- ions” in art linen, oblong in shape, with a. flap of linen. containing needles folded over the top, em- broidered with hexnstitched frills and fitted up, make dainty presents, and a notebook or journal or engagement book is bound in red linen, embroid- ered gayly in green clover leaves. Salad : An equal quantity of celery cut into small pieces (or pun, apples: if celery cannot be got), and English walnuts broken into little pieces, mixed with a smooth mayonnaise dressing, makes a delicious salad {or dinner or tea. A pair of splendid portieres we”) carried out. on linen in flax thread in a beautiful bold design of old- fashioned flowers, suggestive of sum- plers in their quaint form and color- ing. The execution of this piece of work was extraordinarily assured and free. Wistaria figured on a set which would make a most engaging pre- sent. Nightdress. tie. handkerchief and glove cases, in pale-Si; linen with the beautiful creeper gracefully em- broidered in the silk-like flux thread. A {lax lace woven to combine tints of the various shades used completed the charming schema. A little invalid tray, shamrock shaped had a woven shamrock-green border, and Into the tray itsell fitted a. tiny trefoil cloth, sprinkled with the leaf that brings luck. Among a. bewildering collection 0! examples of line stitchery are shown some very pretty table centres. A delightful one in pale coral linen had applied. poppies in a. conventionâ€" al design, their dull green leaves on- l'rauning the irregular edge as if they had been real flowers laid upon it. In a handsome set ol lim-u ‘~ the tablecloth was round and of pale blue linen, inserted with medallions at ecru guipure lace. The servithes had small central medallions and a narrow line of lace just inside of the stitched borders. A cot cover was carried out in the same materials and hues, but, in a. different. pattern; here the pointed leaves met over the poppics' heads like cherub's wings. Another natur- al flmvcr idea. was a. tablecloth strewn with multi-Colored sweet peas. Colored Embroidery on Colored Linen. LINEN PRESENTS . NUT DAINTI ES. (To be continued.) if»; VIE Besides Scandinavia and Iceland, England has most faithfully preserv- ed the custom of Yulclog. It is a massive piece of wood, usrually the rugged root of an oak, whrich is kept burning at Christmas time for twelve days. A piece is kept for the folâ€" lowing year. It, was first lit in honor of the hoathnn sun god, then the custom was trunslvrrcd to signi- In Scandinavia there is, probably, the greatest \‘eneration ior Yuletide of all countries. The courts are closed, old quarrels forgotten. feuds adjrsted. A pretty symbol of the spirit that reigns is the practice of placing in a row every pair of shoes in each household, so that during the year the family will live in peace and harmony. Candles are left, burn- ing to show the way to Yule Trumpte (the Christmas Spirit), who brings the gifts. One sets a. cake 0! meal in the snow as a Christmas offering; for the birds a sheaf of wheat is placed on a pole in front of each house to provide them with food. The family itself has no time to take a regular meal on the 24, although baking and cooking begin about four weeks before. 011 the day of the celebration, at noon, the whole household will assemble in the kitchen and dip a piece of bread in the ham broth. Then everybody has to prepare again for the Yule- klapp and the great supper following. After this games are played. They are usually interrupted by a knock at the door. Four or five boys dressed in white enter. One carries a star- shaped lantern and another on orna- menteuaic' containing two dolls, the Virgin and the-.i'hrist child. The boys sing Christmas cm ls. After- ward appear masked performing who do tricks and play panlnmiizes. Christmas celebrations are drawn from diverse sources and are by no means all of Christian origin. in so far as the ceremonies and festivities are concomed. In fact, many of them antedate the religion of Christ. In the countries of Romanic descent the Roman Saturnnlia has left dis- tinct traces. This great festival in honor of the Roman God of Agricul- ture, Saturn, was celeb ‘nted in old Rome every December. Children and slaves were overwhelmed with pre- sents, and merriment reigned in every form for a. whole week. Southern Europe and Spanish and Portuguese America. have retained Christmas mostly as an eeclestial festival, but The customs of Scandinavia and Iceland rely most distinctly on the old northern myths. The celebration of the solstice was a great festival in olden times. For a long time it was believed that the year stood still at the solstice. With it began again the reign of Freyr, the sun god. The Yuletide, the Scandinavians call Christmas, “Yul' means wheel. The old inhabitants of Scandinavia imag- ined the sun to be like a wheel. “Yuleklapp” signifies the clapping of the wheels and the expression is still in use for the manner in which the presents are distributed in the north of Europe. They are thrown into a. room and packed in a mysterious manner, so that nobody can guess what the contents are. Verses gen- erally accompany each bundle direct- ing the presents from one person to another: This peculiar usage is de- rived from the mysterious manner in which the sun god gave his Dre.h sents, i.e., the flowers, the green grass and the leaves. Therefore. the green decoration is still in use for Christmas. Also the Christmas tree is derived from early sources. It is of iight a fir tree because this re- mains alWa‘vs green. It symbolizes eternal spring. Christmas applied to it the worship of Christ because through Him eternal spring began for humanity. The candles signify eternal light, which came into the world with Christ. a joyful one, a time of public rejoic- ing; while in the northern countries its celebration has a. more domestic character. It is a. home and family feast. The derivation of Northern customs may be traced to the. gods of ”.1dda,” the greatest source of northern mythology. Its scriptures were found in Iceland. The customs derived from Saturnalia and those from northern myths were by and by partly amalgamated through the mixture of peoples, but still every country has its own peculiar cere- monies of Christmas. Y ULETIDE . CHRISTMAS 08930906669960”. MEE CUSTOMS “ch. each bet was for a bottle of whiskey. and so he lost two weeks' payâ€"and his job almost."- “Jagwuy election. didn‘t “No, he lost consider. . “Why, he told me he had ten bets and he won them all.” ('auh the} main 1111 cooking free from mutter wiil be as turkey. tion, 1’ qucnlOn l’O( 100: and Griz; This is 11 It is x “01' ll) (".11. all (-I'ctwis m at the basis pincsts. ing this mm» wish to (-11 without any over-gm: «ting All this is well known, it one only stops to recall it. The secret of happiness was disclosed when the first mother gave birth to the first child. Her joy consisted not in the pleasure of possession, but in the opportunity for devotion. The world is held Jogether not by'the cohesive power of public plunder, but by the adhesive force of sacrifice. The fam- ily persists because all natare conâ€" spires for the protection of the young through the dm‘otion of the old. The state continues because that mater- nal instinct sometimes called patrio- tism impels to its defense. And when the family of nations recognim that friendly coâ€"omration is b than ‘Iti‘btilc competition, the flags will be‘ ft'rled and " . earth shall slumber, lapt in univcr law." Giving is the impelling force of pro- gress. The man who sits in his oilice reaching out after power and wealth for their own sake does in advance himself, but pulls wealt' power back to him. On tl hand the giver of that wh is drawn forward I ’ attraction of h' The basis of happiness is giving rather than receiving. The philoso- phies, ancient and modern, more or less dimly recognize this fundamental truth. One of the last century’s philosophical novelists said thxt there could be no perfect happiness without complete selfâ€"forgetiulness. The Nirvana of the Buddhist, is such complete absorption in things out- side of 5le as to leave no room for thought oi self. A Certain rich man once sought the recipe for happiness. and the Teacher told him to gixe his wealth to the neodv. Christmas is the anniversary of a Gift. It inspired the anthem of peace and good-will. Hatred and stxifc me not proxokod bx ghing. They r'" me £50m golf-seeking. Alexan- der \xept because he had no moxe worlds‘ to conquer. Had he devoted himself to the happiness of his fellow men rather than to his own glory he would haw rejoiced at the oppor- tunity for helpfulness that his posi- tion afforded. fy the Eternal Light. The log is drawn in triumph from its resting place amid shouts of laughter, every wayfaror dofi‘mg his hat as it pass- cs. Formerly the minstrcls hauled, with song and music. ' This is an example of the old Yule song :â€" In England a very important sym- bol of decoration is the mistletoe. It is customary for every young man to try to bring his beloved under the mistletoe, where he is mlowed to kiss her. For this custom we are indebted to Scandinavian mythology. The plant was dedicated to the god- dess Friga. It was the emblem of love, and everyone who passed under it received a kiss. In France we find a mixture of var- ious customs. The upâ€"to-date Pariâ€" sian divides his Christmas dinner, taking each at a different place and the “Reveillon” into many courses, reaching home for the last cup of coffee at breakfast time. The hang- ing up of stockings Christmas night is a. common French custom. The children receive their presents hidden in these like the Roman children at the time of the Saturnalia. The Pro- vencals in the south of France venerâ€" ate the Yulelog called there “Cache flo." St. Nicholas is especially venerated in Russia. The emperors mostly carry his name. In the rural we of Russia, Christmas evening is an important event. At sunset young and old assemble, forming a. proces- sion, and visit the \iflage dignitaries singing carols and receiving coppers. This part of the ceremony is called “Kolenda.” which means begging for money or presents. A masquerade follows in which the adults trans- form themselves into cows, pigs, and other animals in icmembrance of the Nativity in thelmanger. In the evening supper is served on a. table covered with straw. The feast be- gins hy dividing" the blessed water. An old Christmas custom‘ in Russia is to singe a hour. An old woman, 8. man and a boy execute that func- tion. The gold bristled animal is symbolic of light. Bringing in the boar's head was immerly an elabor- ate ceremony during the Christmas day repast at all mansions oi the wealthyâ€"Queen \‘ictciia kept up this always. The bear appears on Christ- mas Day, with a lemon in his mouth the old symbol of plenty. Part must be kept wherewithvto tend The Christmas log next yearc, And where ’tis safety kept the fiend Can do no mischief there.. Hero is a “a :g this bird» u ixh to (-njuy THE BASIS OF HAPPINESS. 11:1 plu and m .is of cthi ST. NICHOLAS. MIRROR-1* W . RICHARDS, Publisher and Proprietor mo: ton Wore cm English Plum Pudding.â€"For this genuine English plum pudding mix s‘lx ounces flour, six ounces stale bread crumbs, three-quarters of a pound each Seeded raisins and CD'- rants. threequarters of a. pound fine- ly chopped suet, 10 ounces sugar. one cup molasses. three ounces can- died orange peel, one teaspoon each nutmeg and mace, six eggs well beat- en. and salt to taste. Turn into a thickly floured cloth, tie securely and plunge into a. kettle of boiling wa- ter. Keep the water boiling around the pudding vigorously for five hours or the result will not be satisfactory. This pudding must be mixed with the hand, otherwise it is impossible to incorporate the ingredients thor- oughly. It is well to haVe the pudding made a day or two in ad- vzmce, as it can be readily heated it! a Steamer in about an hour or so Garnish the pudding: with sprays holly well laden with its bright berries and a hard sauce urn wiLh candied cherries. 1’ third cup brandy, which 1 g00d quality, din” ° Mushroom Sauce.â€"flelt three table- spoons butter, add a’ few drops onion juice and cook until slightly browned; then nd one half tablespo our, one cup czeam the water dr .ned from cooking one- half pound mushroom stems with enough more cream to make one-hall cup liquid. Season with salt and paprika and add one tablespoon meat extract. Add mushroom caps cut in slices and sauted in butter five minutes. Stuffed Apples en Surpriseâ€"Gore and cut in cights eight apples. put in stewpan with one-half cup map}! syrup, one cup sweet. cider, two slices cut from a. lemon, one-quarter teaspoon salt, one tablespoon butter and a. few gratings of nutmeg; then cook until soft. 000], and fill shells made by taking a thick slice from stem end of bright red apples and scooping out inside. Cover with meringue made of whites of two eggs beaten stiff, two tablespoons powder- ed sugar and one teaspoon lemc. juice. Place under gas flame of gas range to brown meringue. Chestnut Stuffingâ€"To make the dressing, cook one-half tablespoon finely chopped shallot “ith three tablespoons butter five minutes; then add one-fourth pound sausage meat. Sausage fixst heed from their out- side skin and cook two minutes; add 12 finely chopped mushrooms and one cup chestnut puree. Season with salt and pepper and add one-half tablespoon finely chopped parsley. Heat to boiling point, add one-hall cup fresh bread crumbs and 24 whole cooked French chestnuts. This may be done a day in advance. for it needs to be cold when it is put into the bird. This is an expensive stufi‘ ing, but one wants to have the best on Christmas day. Apple sauce should always accom- pany roast goose. Then garnish the Christmas goose with stufied apples en surprise and a few bits of laurel. Roast Gooseâ€"A goose should be carefully dressed for roasting, or it is liable to have a strong flavor Which is very undesirable. When ready for the operation singe the bird. remove pinJeathers and wash. The goose needs, literally, a bath in hot soap- suds and a scrubbing, too, with a. vegetable brush. Then draw, which is removing the contents of the in- side. nget comes. next '2 Wash and rinse in clear, cold water, then wipe just as dry as possible. NOW the goose is ready for the stufling and trussing and sprinkling with salt and pepper. Then put on a. rack in a dripping pan and lay six thin slices 0! fat salt pork over the breast. Put in a. Very hot oven and the sputtering begins. A 10â€"pound goose will take about one hour and threeâ€"quarters for the roasting, and it should be hosted every 15 minutes with tlze fat in the pan, removing the Pork, if you please, the last half hour of the cooking. 9999999999935999993‘” fiééééfi @ééé‘éé €§€€€€€€< Christmas Dinner...