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| BY LUELLA KINGSLEY, i Siny; wuysiatio us packages, on an| eight inch: Christmas tree-- an, absurdly gay spot for the informal Christmas - dinner--either for the family proup of tor guests--for ups and kiddies. All will en- the amusing gifts it holds. ! And if there is no group, and no traditional Christmas dinner, a little tree helps make the day festive---and, makes a bright and comforting com- panion for a sick child or a lovely _ person. { ' An imitation evergreen about eight inches high can be-obtained-at-a candy; and Christmas favor shop, or at the novelty counter in a larger store. Trees with tiny candles are more ef- fective, but of course, must be lighted with care, and the little flames blown out before a package is taken from the tree. If the base of the tree is attached to a small box, fill the box with heavy nuts or candy. Streamers of tinsel thread or silver paper make sparkling decorations for the branches. "Snow" and a silver shower may be bought anywhere where Christmas decora- tions are so.d, but strips gut from tin- foil, not necessarily néw, or colored paper, do very well and cost next to nothing. If the tree is not in a holder, place t in a box for convenient handling. The heavier packages on the lower branches, on opposite sides, of the tree will balance it. Wrap everything. Cut small equares from colored wrapping paper, or bright colored scratch pad. Tie these with colored string, knitting silk, tinsel thread, or bits of narrow ribbon. The brighter and gayer the colors, the better, but if one has time to work out color schemes, here are two suggestions. Packages wrapped in blue or pink! or white paper, and tied with silver! or gold thread, the white packages == Christmas for the Birds. Among other delightful traits of with pink and blue thread, or string. The blue and pink packages with the tinsel thread, or packages wrapped with red, white, or green tissue paper and tied with tinsel thread or red ribbon. " Tiny "poppers" may be imitated by rolling some small object in tissue paper, frilling the ends and tying in © two places with the gift between. Eatables should be wrapped in wax paper--then in colored paper. In ty- ing all packages leave enough string to loop over branches of tree and tie firmly. In selecting -gifts- miniature size and light weight are important. Some suggestions follow for presents for an inexpensive tree. Five cents worth of peanuts or -animal crackers would supply many trees. Animal crackers, etc, can be wrapped two together. | Large nuts may be wrapped in silver or colored paper--making bright spots on the tree. A handkerchief may be folded as small as a postage stamp. Everything on the list may be obtain- ed at a five and ten cent store, an art shop, or a candy and favor shop. Crackers and nuts of course may-be obtained from the grocer. Tiny calendars, colored thimbles, art gum, beads for stringing, beauty | pins, lingerie clasps, invisible hair- pins, needles, paper clips, elastic bands, water flowers, tiny wooden tops, tiny scissors, dolls and dolls' ac- cersories--these are just a few of the things which may be piaced on the tree. This same plan, of course, may be elaborated upon as much as one wish- «8. Instead of the artificial tree, a real tree, in a very, very small size may be used. And gifts of more value may take the place of the amusing, inexpensive gifts outlined above. And where there are no kiddies--or where Santa overlooks bringing the kiddies a tree-- the tiny miniature one will be doubly appreciated. Christmas feast for the birds! If the | degree of civilization of a people can be measured by its behavior to the the Scandinavian people is their cus-| animals about it, then this custom tom in their Yule festivities of think-' janotes in the Norsemen a very high ing not only of the happiness of their | plane indeed. Kittle ones, but of teaching these chil-| dren to bear in mind the happiness of | rr others "and" in particular 'of the ani- Holly Berries. mals about them. We have seen that, 1. come parts of Ireland holly is they never omit to provide the trusty | regarded as the special tree of the household nisse with his Yule dinner aires. of porridge. But they also remember| 1, Rutlandshire there is a super- the birds. At the Yuletide season the gtition that it is unlucky to take holly market-place of Christiania (now into the house before Christmas. Oslo) presents a very gay aspect, | Holly is valued as a wood by cabinet filled as it is with spruce trees of all! kers. It is white and hard. sizes for the children's festival. But| Holly trees are grown in almost there is a feature in the Norse Christ-| avery part of the world. The leaves mas that I have not heard of in any) on a holly in the Himalayas are from other country, in that in this market-| eight to ten inches long. place there is for each Christmas tree! The South American fiative: drink, a Juleneg, or little sheaf of barley, | mate, is made from the leaves of a each person who buys a tree buying | species of holly. also a sheaf. Then, when the tree is | Holly has been popular*for decora- at 9p i the main Room of ow house | tions since the time of the Druids. at Yule-tide for the bairns (born, as +* they are called in Norway), the sheaf . of grain is fastened on the end of a Ideas bring in nothing unless car- pole and put out in the yard for a'ried out. ~ CHRISTMAS WREATHS AND DECORATIONS BY FLORENCE TAFT EATON. There is surely an interest and en- thusiasm in planning' Christmas house decorations that will carry on into the winter, far exceeding that of any other season. The most stolid person in the world will feel a thrill at the thought of Christmas. greens, and the least senti- mental will glow at the sight of holly and mistletoe. ful shape and efféctive color; place in When we go for our Christmas |it a container for water, and fill with oval bouquet with stems overlapping and concealed in the middle, of arbor vite, cone-fringed hemlock, holly and bright berries; tie a wt over the stems--wide paper ribbon is all right --and hang between the inner and outer window sashes. These are rap- idly made and exceedingly pretty. For the baskets, select one of grace- things we take cutters, twine and ajcone-bearing hemlock, sumac sprays, couple of big baskets. We go first blue-berried cedar and juniper, sprigs to the big pitch pines, for we covet a of everlasting and bayberries. ! Jew twigs of its brilliantly green{ For the "Welcome" wreaths make a' needles, selecting branches bearing round of a stiff but pliable twig; take! the rough, chubby cones. Here we a pair of scissors and a ball of soft | wlso find a certain variety of rich twine and go to work. The foundation | brown heads of seed vessels of a wild is prettiest made of all sorts of green- grass, heads that are very effective in ery of the varieties suggested, includ- | winter bouquets, jing as many cones as possible. Inter-| We then go to a certain hillside sperse the white everlasting and as! where we can find nearly everything many Varieties of berries as you have else. necessary for our purposes-- [at hand, using sprigs of bayberry princess pine, tree evergreen, bar-|liberally. Bunch a mass of ever- berries; and so forth; and greens, cones and berries at the top 'we clip branches of juniper and cedar if you wish. Hang on the front door and pine, and twigs of glowing with a big red bow. sumac berries, which retain their glor-| Small pihe or cedar trees or tiny jous red color through the winter and junipers, potted, are charming. "are very effective in wreaths and bas-| Then there is a moss garden made kets. For sprays of cone-fringed in a big flowerpot saucer. This I fill of the most decorative with leaf mold over bits of charcoal, ! A greens-----we visit the then cover with rich green moss, in la of a friend, where we are which I set all sorts of tiny wood 5 allowed to collect a few twigs of growths--partridge and checkerberry, 'the more 1 cone-bearing ever-| god thread, bits of ferns and so forth. Everything, except the su-'This is sprayed every day, set in the and the seed vessels of sun occasionally, and in it appears all grasses, we clip most .carefuily, sorts of minute growths. Acorns and conservation in mind; and we chestnuts sprout into tiny trees. the slow-growing and dim | One of the very prett - | effective Christmas "A SUGGESTION On your Christmas list, like that of veryone, there are names pre- sent difficulties. Perhaps a friend in hospital, or a nephew who cannot get | home for Christmas, or some far away friend. You search the shops in vain and in despair you turn home--home to your kitchen perhaps, to prepare the evening meal, and then the idea comes--why not send a box or hamper of home-made Christmas dainties to bear your Christmas greetings of cheer. Of course you will want Christ- mas Cake in it, some Shortbread, some home-made candy and nuts. These boxes daintily packed and tied with a bright bow make attractive gifts. SHORTBREAD. 7 cups flour, 2 cups butter, 14 cup fruit sugar, % cup brown sugar. Cream butter, add sugar gradually. Add flour gradually and, mix well, | Put out on floured board. Knead until {it cracks and is of even consistency. | Shape into desired sizes. Bake in moderate oven, 850 degrees, for 20 | minutes. . FRUIT BALLS. 1 cup figs, 1 cup walnuts, 1 cup dates, 1 cup seeded raisins, 1, tablespoon lemon juice. Put fruit and' nuts through food chopper. Add lemon juice. Mix well. Roll into balls. Then roll in granu- lated sugar, powdered sugar, icing sugar, or cinnamon, ae A + Santa Claus, Pawnbroker. The trade sign of -pawnbrokers- is the familiar three brass balls. Few, however, know that the balls have Christmas origin, and owe their exist- ence as a "loan" symbol to Santa laus or St. Nicholas, Russia's patron saint. He was a very rich young man, and among his possessions were three bars of gold, given to him by his parents and treasured accordingly. One night, just before Christmas, he was passing a nobleman's house, and through the open window heard him tell his three daughters that misfortune had come on him, and that the house and all in it must be sold, and that they would have to beg their bread in the streets. Nicholas' heart was touched, and, knowing that money would be refused, he conceived the idea of secretly plac- ing one of the bars of gold in the house. This he did and it was found and looked on as a gift from Provi- dence... He left-another bar.the next night, and was about to do the same on the third night, when the nobleman discovered him. Nicholas pressed him to accept the golden bars, and after a time the nobleman agreed to take them as a loan, to be repaid when bet- ter times came. The story--a legend, of course-- spread, and gradually those who lent money took the three bars as their trade sign. Later they were changed to the "three balis." lpn, The Oxen. Christmas Eve, and twelve of the clock. . "Now they are all on their knees," An elder said as we sat in a flock By the embers in hearthside ease. We pictured the meek, miid creatures where They dwelt in their strawy pen, Nor did it occur to one of us there To doubt they were kneeling then. So fair a fancy few would weave In these years! Yet, I feel, someone said on Christmas Eve, "Come; see the oxen kneel tf "In the lonely barton by yonder coomb Our childhood used to know," I should go with him in the gloom, Hoping it might be so. --Thomas Hardy. The most severe test of friendship is whether it will stand a loan. The Sailor Prince Prince George, youngest son of the King and Queen, was the guest for a few days of the Governor-General at Rideau Hall, Ottawa, while crossing Canada on his way from Oriental waters to England for Christmas. ef eee YE OLD ST. NICK We hear ye jingle of ye sleigh, And gladly in our toil we pause To welcome on thys Christmas Day Ye fat and. jolie Santa Claus; He cometh down ye sootie flue To humble _cot or lordly hall And singeth-out hys loud halloo, "A Merrie Christmas to You AIL" Hys smile is broad, hys heart is warm, He bringeth funne and right good cheer, And be there calm or be there storm, He cometh surely once a year. And in our hearts he lights a glow, Beneath hys magick spell we fall, Till we, too, greet high and low * Wyth "Merrie - Christmas to_ You All" + . 1 Thys day he rules the world, hys laws Are laws of love and peace and mirth; Ah, would thatte gentle Santa Claus Might ever govern on the earth! Yette are we grateful thatte he brings One day of Joy for Great and Small, One day when all ye planet rings Wyth "Merrie Christmas to You Al et pert A Share in the Feast. After ail, the animals have a right to take part in Christmas, for did they not witness that first Christmas, when they stood around a manger, in an old stable at Bethlehem, and watched the wise men, in their great wisdom, bow before the Prince of Kindness? There are always animals in the pictures of the first: Christmas, in the stable where the Christ-child first saw the light, and on the hills where the sheep, as well as the shepherds, heard that wondrous anthem. For the most wondrous chorus of Voices ever heard on earth was not sung before an assembly of princes, or where wealthy or famous people were assembled. It ! was sung on a star-lit hillside, where © men who eafned their living tending sheep were sitting about, waiting for the dawn. And tken they saw that other light, and heard that wonderful song about a child born that night, who was to grow up and teach people the Igw of kindness. | and throughout the home. . very few pennies to the expense, but double the value of the gift. SALTED NUTS. peanuts, remove the red skine. monds are placed in boiling water for about two minutes, till skins soften, and then pour off water and partly cool. Remove brown jackets and dry them. For all kinds put % cup cook- ing oil or 8 tablespoonfuls butter in frying pan. Stir in 1 cup nuts and grease well, remove from fat and drain on paper. = While draining, sprinkle with sale. Grease another cup full and so on. Next place in pan and in oven till as brown as de- sired. Watch well while in oven and have only moderately heated oven for this work. Stir often. PLAIN CHOCOLATE. FUDGE. 2 cups sugar, . 2-3 cup of milk, 2 tablespoonfuls butter, 8 ounces chocolate. | OLD FASHIONED MOLASSES platter; pL ofie of the fathers of | thon. in small pieces with Wrap in wax paper. "ENGLISH TOFFEE. 1 cup white sugar, 1 cup brown sugar, 1 cup corn syrup, 2 1 cup light cream or rich milk, 1, teaspoonful salt. oh Mix in sauce pan and stir over heat Pour into oiled pan, Cut when partly cooled. Later wrap = caramel papers. For chocolate toffee with butter add one ounce of chocolate. Nuts and marshmallows cut in small bits mdy be added as desired. Often these are chocolate coated, too. 2! during the past forty-five years. He Hon. W. H. ora: was the son of the late: a A ---- God With Us. Ob, light the Christmas candies: And {et them shine to-night One pathway straight and clear. Oh, light the Christmas candles, While chanters sweetly sing, Corn syrup is used in many candies] 0] with cane sugar, Candies poured into pans oiled with cooking oils or olive oil have a more attractive surface Boil while stirring till thick enough | than when butter is used on the pans. to drop from spoon as molasses will, that is, when poured back into the rest of the mixture it will pile up on itself a little and not readily mix into the rest as a thinner liquid will (about 7 or 8 minubes). add 1 teaspoonful vanilla and beat till creamy and just ready to harden. Pour into buttered pan and cut when partly cooled. PEPPERMINTS AND WINTER- GREENS. 1 cup sugar, 8 tablespoonfuls water, Boil up well once, till bubbling all Remove from heat,! over surface. Put 3 teaspoonfuls con- fectioners sugar into a bowl and pour syrup onto this, then beat till smooth and flavor. Drop on wax' paper or oiled tin.--E. M. 8. 2 DON'T PUT YOUR HOUSE T0 - SHAME 'AT CHRISTMAS TIME It Is the One Time Of All the Year "- Dressed Up--To Do Its Bit In BY HELEN OLSON. Evefi "our homes, the 'houses In which we live, in their mute way wel- come with joy the advent.of Christ- mas and the holidays. You may not have suspected it--but that is bechuse you have never paused. to consider that. the yuletide season is the only time throughout the year that our houses are "dolled-up" or allowed to wear gay ribbons and bright colors and put forth their most inviting ap- pearance. / Howveer, houses like little girls, sometimes are put to shame by the way their mothers dress them up-- some mothers, as you know, overdoing it--others by their bad taste-- and still others who seem to think that a "hair ribbon" is enough to make one feel dressed up." ~*~ Christmas decorations in the home are not for the family and visiting friends only. Every housewife should realize this fact. Colorful decorations however are very, very essential to the development of the real Christmas spirit feeling, putting the color and action into what otherwise might merely be a drab winter week in De- ember. Simplicity. is always a good rule in art--and who is there who can say that arrangement of color does not cal for a certain sense of the ie? y i First of all considef- the size of the - {house when selecting the decorations 'that ave to be used at doors, windows At the front door a fat bi of red berries, by ail means. The real holly wreath is of course to be preferred. 'holly |] When It Should Be Spreading Yuletide Cheer. dows is a bright red (artificial) & uniformity which is very pleasi in one's yard.. Tiny bright Christmas electric lights only are used. © When the lights are turned on it is beautiful spreads the Yuletide cheer. The most artistic touch of all--was that who first conceived the idea of trankplanting small firs, cedars or ng years of darkness, e waik to-day in Light. Come, set the shining candles, 'Earth sings with Heaven"to-night! --Anne M. Robinson. -- pm - Carol. f all the worlde! . The branches of my apple-tres |Seem very ul to me When laden with white blooms of sere The shepherds s sing; and shail and. cold, I silent