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PAGE 6, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 17, 1980, "CHRISTMAS SUPPLEMENT", WHITBY FREE PRESS excerpts from by Charles Dickens From the centre of the ceiling of . . . [the] kitchen, old Wardle had . . . sus- pended, with his own hands, a huge branch of misletoe, and this same branch of mistletoe instan- taneously gave rise to a scene of general and delight- ful struggling and confu- sion; in the midst of which, Mr. Pickwick, with a gallantry that would have done honour to a descend- ant of Lady Tollimglower herself, took the old lady by the hand, led her beneath the mystic branch, and saluted her in all courtesy and decorum. The old lady submitted to this piece of practical politeness with all the dignity wiidli'lJefitted so important and serious a solemnity, but the younger ladies, not being so tho- roughly imbued with a superstitious veneration for the custom; or imagining that the value of a salute is very much enhanced if it cost a little trouble to obtain it: screamed and struggled, and rati into corners, and threatened and remon- strated, and did everything but leave the room, until some of the less adventu- rous gentlemen were on the point of desisting, when they all at once found it use- less to resist any longer, and submitted to be kissed with a good grace . . . Wardle stood with his back to the fire, surveying the whole scene, with the utmost satis- faction; and the fat boy took the opportunity of appropriating to his own use, and summarily devour- ing, a particularly fine mince-pie, that had been carefully put by for some- body else. Now, the screaming had subsided, and faces were in a glow, and curls in a tangle, and Mr. Pickwick,after kiss- ing the old lady as before mentioned, was standing under the mistletoe, looking with a very pleased counten- ance on all that was passing around him, when the young lady with the black eyes, after a little whispering with the other young ladies, made a sudden dart for- Ward, and, putting her arm round Mr. Pickwick's neck, saluted him affectionately on the left cheek; and before Mr. Pickwick distinctly knew what was the matter, he was surrounded by the whole body, and kissed by everyone of them. It was a Dleasant thing to see Mr. Pickwick in the cen- tre of the group, now pulled this way, and then that, and first kissed on the chin, and then on the nose,'and then on the spectacles: and to hear the peals of laughter which were raised on every side; but is was a still more pleasant thing to see Mr. Pickwick, blinded shortly afterwards with a silk hand- kerchief, falling up against the wall, and scrambling into corners, and going through all the mysteries of blind-man's buff, with the utmost relish for the game, until at last he caught one of the poor relations, and then had to evade the blindman himself, which he did with a nimbleness and agility that elicited the admiration and applause of all beholders. The poor relations caught the people who they thought would like it, and, when the game flagged, got caught themselves. When they were all tired of blind-man's buff, there was a great game at snapdragon, and when fingers enough were burned with that, and all the raisins were gone, they sat down by the huge fire of blazing logs to a substantial supper, and a mighty bowl of wassail, something smaller than an ordinary wash-house cop- per, in which the hot apples were hissing and bubbling with a rich look, and a jolly sound, that were perfectly irresistible. "This," said Mr. Pick- wick, looking around him, "this is, indeed, comfort." ai O FROM YOUR DURHAM WEST M.P.P. C 'DIS 3201 "Our invariable cus- tom," replied Mr. Wardle. "Everybody sits down with us on Christmas eve, as you see them now- servants and all; and here we wait, until the clock strikes twelve, to usher Christmas in, and beguile the time with forfeits and old stories. Trundle, my boy, rake up the fire." Up flew the bright sparks in myriads as the logs were stirred.- The deep red blaze sent forth a rich glow, that penetrated into the furthest corner of the room, and cast its cheerful tint on every face. Christmas Legend There is a beautiful legend about the Helle- borus, or Christmas rose. The legend tells of a little girl who wept outside the stable at Bethlehem, because she had no gift to offer the new- born Babe. An angel brushed the earth where her tears fell with a wing and lo! a plant at the child's feet began to bloom, blos- soming into lovely, white flowers. The little girl eagerly plucked the flowers and took them to the man$er. As they brushed the Infant's tiny foot, the petals flushed a soft pink. Christmas Plants The most prized Christ- mas decoration, until the middle of the 19th century, was the rosemary plant. Symbolizing remembrance, the rosemary was used to decorate and flavor the boar.'s head of old English custom. Ivy, laurel, yew and bay were also popular greens in years gone by. They have long been re- placed by such modern fa- vorites as holly, fir trees and poinsettias. Let's Put Christ Into Christmas! Hflere's wishing you lots Io temember ail year. The Fireploe Plus 900 Hopkins St. at Burns WHITBY. Ontario 668-3192 GS BEST WISHES FOR A JOYOUS CHRISTMAS. A RM EN 579.2948Sth t w.en Rd. COUNT BAKING PRODUCTS Marwood Ave., Unit 3, oshaws we re n I*e fldust".I Mail Christmas Joy Our sincerest wish this holiday season is that ail our friends may know the joy of Christmas. Thank you for your patronage throughout the year. Agnes Disney's Fashionable Half - Sizes 108 BROCK ST. S.. WHITBY 668-4375 1 -«--" at ý ""e , ý/W