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WIIITBY FREE PRESS, "CHRISTMAS SUPPLEMENT". WEDNESDAY, DECEMIBER 17, 1980, P~AGE 9 A Visit from St. Nicholas On the first day of Christmas, my truc love gave to me, A partridgc in a pear tree. On the second day of Christmas, my truc love gave to me, Two turtie doves and a partridge in a pear trcc. On the third day of Christmas, my truc love gave to me, Three French hens, 'Iwo turtie doves, and a partridge in a pear tree. On the fourth day of Christmas, my truc love gave to me, Four mocking birds, Three French hens, Two turtie doves, and a partridge in a pear tree. On the fifth day of Christmas, My true love gave to me, Five golden rings, four mocking birds, Refrain On the sixth day of Christmas, my truc love gave to me, Six geese a-laying, Refrain On the seventh day of Christmas, my truc love gave to me, Seven swans a swimming, Refrain On the eighth day of Christmas, my truc .love gave to me, Eight maids a milking, Refrain On the ninth day of Christmas, my truc love gave to me, Nine ladies waiting, Refrain On the tenth day of Christmas, my truc love gave to me, Ten lords a leaping, Refrain On the eleventh day of Christmas, true love gave to me, Eleven pipers piping, Refrain My On thc twelfth day of Christmas, my truc love gave to me, Twclvc drummers drumming, Refrain. Twas the night before Christmas, when al through the bouse Not a creature wvas stirring, flot even a mouse; The stockings were hung by the chimney with care, In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there. The chiidren were nestled ail snug in their beds, While visions of sugar- plums danced in their heads; And Mamma in ber kerchief, and Ilin my cap, Had just settled our brains for a long winter's nap. When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter, I sprang from my bed to see wbat was the matter. Away to the window I flew like a flash, Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash. The moon on the breast of the new-falien snow Gave a lustre of mid-day to objeets below, When, wbat to my wondering eyes did appear, But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer. With a littie old driver, so lively and quick, I knew in a momnent it must be St. Nick. More rapid than eagles bis coursers tbey came, And be wbistled, and sbouted, and called tbem by name. Mistletoe, Anyone? Most likely there is a sprig of mistletoe hung from a chandelier or over a doorway. This is a curjous custom, and one that has been kept alive over cen- turies. Although the mistie- toe's use now is simply traditional, in 'earlier cen- turies it had very specific meaning and it was even believed to have special powers. Virgil was one of the first to refer to mistletoe. In his "Now, Dasber! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen! On Cornet! on, Cupidi on, Donder and Blitzen! To tbe top of tbe porcb! to the top of the walll Now dasb away! dash away! dasb away al!»" His eyes, how they twinkled! bis dimples, bow merryl His cbeeks were like roses, bis n ose like a cherry! His droîl littie moutb was drawn up like a bow, And the beard on bis cbin was as white as the snow. 0 a 0 He spoke flot a word,,but went straigbt to bis work, And filled ail tbe stockings; then turned witb a jèrk, And Iaying his finger aside of bis nose, And giving a nod> up tbe chimney be rose. He sprang to his sleigb, to his teamn gave a wbistle, And away tbey ail flew like tbe down of a thistie. But 1 heard bim exciaim ere he drove out of sigbt, "Happy Christmas to ail .. . and to ail a goodnigbt!" - Clement C. Moore ta le of Aeneas's venture to the underworld, it was a bough of mistletoe which Aeneas plucked from the oak.to safeguard him on his journey. This bough was called the Golden Bough, for as the bernies mature they assume a yellow tinge which the ancients thought symbolized gold. Every Christmnas season there are boughs of holly. There are trees, candles and ail sorts of trim. But nothing has more intriguing appeal than the mistletoe. 4t*'uni> àoin t4evri4ab onrdttiir trersureî, 8it; gob, aînbï fruttdnlienze,2 aniý utgrr4.. Matthew 2:11 i j * i g Glool Tidinus The holidays are here! Fil! 'em up with happiness! CHURCHERS GULF SERVICE 309 Dundas St. W. 255 King St. E. Whitby. Ont. LiN 2M6 mi Oshawa L1 H 1 C5 668-6342 W 576-1970 [m