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..--. `...-- vs ---V l.-v$-uno.-...-u-- Supper , was always provided on a large scale and generally consisted of two or three roasted pigs, turkeys and chickens, with side dishes of vege- tables. in equal proportion. Bushels at sweet potatoes were baked. boiled and fried, and hundreds of rich. golden pumpkin pies were turned out of the ovens. done to a mouth - watering brown. ' A band of musicians was engaged.` for no co n shuckin would be com- plete without it. On those nights ne- groes worked not happily save, to the twanging of the banjo and wailing of the fiddle. - ' A com shucking always lasted three nights continuously on one plantation, and then the negroes moved `on to the next, where three more were devoted to the corn of the owner, and so on until all the maize of the neighborhood had been husked. C CVZQIUVCT V YQUIEJIII Ill` 5 SOIL 9`! OK; A MUSIC 0P'BANJ'0 AND FIDDLE; woolsey frocks, with their heads tied ID in gming red bandanna handker- chiets, the redder the better, and with a white handkerchiel crossed upon their breasts. ' "A:bo1-1rtwiligh? the darkies began to arrive from all over the country. the boys" clad in their `suits of jeans,- with that pride of the darky s heart. his long tailed clawhammet blue. Every negro who made pretensions to being anybody" possessed one in more or less condition or wear. . A "zr':1;':;1;;i'1i.t3o;;'S'tne gthering, was coquettishly dressed in linsey HRISTMAS was never ce'lebi-at} ; ed to any great` extent in the- south back inithe good. old` `days betoh de wah." New Year s day took its place among` the masters. and the prolonged. rollicking co'n shuckin"" supplied the slaves at Kentucky and Missouri especially with all the joliity they desired. It was an institution peculiar to the south, pecul- _iar not in beingconned to those sec- tions, but peculiar in the manner in which_ it was conducted. ,for husking bees have been known in New England since the mind of man remembers and Indian corn has been gathered. 1"I:9I_ -_- -_ __I_ _- _I_1_9 II ____ 3- -1: ---v-an--- vv-.. -vv- cow`... 5-.--v---. ; When a co n shuckin" was decid- ed upon notices were sent out to the slaves of all adjoining plantations stat- ing that on a certain night Judge S. or Squire B. would give _a corn sbuck-* ing of so many thousand bushels and that all colored people, _male and fe- male. were invited to attend. Great preparations were made by ole mas- sa - and ole missus for this event. i for, While they expected a good night's work in the shape of-wagon loads of yellow corn, pleasure was to be the main part of the programme. cI--__-__ ___-... _I_,4 __, __-__ _1__1 ._ _ I'll HD5303 WORKED HAPPILY 1'0 `III Invlnviu Q$ I1 A\!r9A AID1\ 1I Yes. we`: swine to do shuckln , Yes. W8'I swine to de shuckl-1 , We : swine to de shuck1n' or do co'n, An we'll be dar in de mo'nln , An wo'llTbe darln do mo'n1n , `We'll be dar in do mo'nln'. ahuah an yo`: bo n. L inc their tint}, wash to select two of the brnwnieot negroes in the`eompnny,_ who, when called out.` with mnch pride gt their distinction. indulged in a good * hnmored contest of strength. ' which am known as "1-'aesiin to de _capt in." The victor became the master of cere- monies. and upon him devolved the duty of seeing that no one shirked in work or entertainment. A-nnulalpo But, in fact, to propose to oneself to do well is In some sort to do well posi- tively. forithere is no such thing as a stationary `point in human `endeavors. He who` is not worse today `than he `Wes yesterday is better, and he who in hotfhettervjs worse.-1--Charles Lamb. nnatannliv 1.. vs: V. naugnaunn on-v, `nu v-vv :1 "resting pface for thought and medi- tation and a starting point for fresh exertion in the performance of our journey. n-n._ ..._.L _.|_- .1--- ..-a. -a. Inna`-`nun `vs.-Anna`, u " The. man who does not at Ieast`pro- pose to himself to be better this year than he was last must be either very A good or very bzidjndeed. A...'I -..I_. L- ...'_..-...4-tn 1-.` En `uni-Iran Ca -ment. V V: V\rI. u.Iss\.n AIn\A\r\-\ol :7 And only to propose to he better is something. If nothing else it isnn ac- knowledgment of our need to be so, which is the first step toward amend- It Was Celebrated In the. Springtime Nine Centuries Ago. Now the new year reviving old desires, The thoughtful soul to solitude retir-es;. Ah, my beloved, ll the cup that clears Today of past regret and future fears. So sang old Omar. the Persian poet. nine centuries ago, and wear today can but echo.his thoughts at this New Year's season of resolution and festivi- ty,-though kingdoms have, risen and fallen, old nations have decayed and new ones sprung up andwe live in a country where sentiments of freedom and justice abound, for the human emo- tions remain much the same whatever the time or clime in which we live, whatever the religious inuenceswhich govern us. 01 course in the time of Omar in most countries the new year was celebrated in March, that being the beginning of the vernal equinox. [and as it is the season when everything in, nature is given new birth the an- cients probably for, this reason consid- 4 cred it a suitabl.xne to begin their year also. Christianity. however, made a distinct break, and nally in the six- teenth century Jan. 1 was settled on by common consent in all continental countries. Thou New Year Resolutions. _ Every last of January that we arrive at is an `imaginary milestone in the turnpike-track of human life, at once - -___.A_.I..._ _I___ A-.. ;L--__.I_4. ___:I ..__.l! `C v--. 7- v---vow...----`up-pro The matter of the captaincy being decided, the~`7twelve wise men chose four big fellows. who formed a "pack saddle by crossing their hands and the captainwas elevated upon it and car- ried halt` a dozen times around the heaps of corn, while the darkiesr sang this melody or something akin to it: d When our days am done Don't we darkies hab a. time`! When our days am done `lnv-1'0 Ilia (113-nlvdna nuub n anlnlu-`A0 They Originated In Japan, Where They Are Now Obsolete. In Japan originated the art of mak- ing and the custom of exchanging New Year cards. Today both are as obso-' lete in the Flowery Kingdom as is New Year's calling in the United States. `More charming art. more de- lightful custom. are not numbered -among the good things that have passed away to suffer in their time. let us hope, a happy revival. 1'NA_ ,.....A.... LI....._ _ `I-..-....J.....I _-_.... 1.1.- -.. --v._'v, `. --yr`, --.- For more than a hundred years the designing and coloring of New Year cards occupied the attention of the foremost draftsmen and wood engrav- ers of Japan. They were made at the command of the noblemen of the em- peror s court. In size they were from six to eight inches, and each was in- scribed with a poetic sentiment dictat- ed by 'the noble giving the order. They were printed from ve or six blocks. each: color requiring. as in modern color printing. a separate block. The blocks were the property of the noble, who retained or destroyed them at will. No reprints for` another were ever permitted; A nobleman s New Year card was like his coat of arms or his sword. The surimonos, as Japan's New Year's cards were called. were designed specially to please some lady- love.--New York Press. Back to our cabin we will go. Back in the early mo'n. , But we'll be here in de eb'nln' To do de shuckln ob de co_ n. Then the corn shucklng proper be-- gan. Stacks of fuel had been placed at intervals of a few yards near the corn`. anda-fter they had been lighted. under the supervision of the twelve wise men, the fun began. As the corn was husked it was thrown into piles and would be hauled away in the morning. Twelve workers were se- .'lected for each heap of unhusked corn. and, as back in New England. the red ear was eagerly sought for. but with a dierent purpose. When a man got it he shied it at a big nigger's head, and if he hit the mark the unfortunate darky would not `_`marry for ten years. If by shrewd dodging he miss- ed it his. happiness would be crowned within the year. 1 If a dusky belle se- cured, a red ear she had the option of choosing a sweetheart from any of the darkies around the corn pile.-Cincin- nati Enquirer. NEW YEAR S IN OMAR S DAY Her New Year : Gilt. A . Luella. -Gladys Rosamond Ophelia Phyllis May sweetly resolved to make folks glad Upon the New Year's day. V . A basket lled with dainties rate With her own hands she bore And left it without word or sign " Before a poor friend's `door. ` '.'_ItVd,id not even hear my .na.me. gilt that. infull. you see, ,.,q_u:teoc1:paa;1tne,g1tt-::tae1r.".' gniutmured vmiodently. V . _TnA IV.-Q ' NEW YEAR'S CARDS. Iv ucu vux uuya aux UUHU Don't we darldes cut a. shine`! I. uuyu Inc.` :--_.'_l9o__Cu1.j,._ -s.`E. K11:-5__` cnhocoO-u. tn; DARl(Y`S1 % 1 Am-zw YEAR soucf 1:11` kt ho The New Year : Walnut! Cup. Throughout all Europe the wassaif cup in one form or another is a feature of the day. In.old times one cup of gigantic size served the entire compa- ny, and when a man arose and took the huge vessel in both hands to drink to the guests a trusted friend rose with him and with drawn sword stood by this side lest he should be traitorousiy_ stabbed in the breast while drinking.- Selected. - _ `I alwaysbfeel -:1 pity for the poor. yoting men of Greenland, those Eskimo chaps. you know. said Clarence. No matter if thosepoor fellows keep their New Year's resolutions :1 whole year people would throw it up to them that they-could hardly stand by their prin- ciples for two days. Sad, lsn t it? Very.--.Chicago Tribune. 1 New Year : Cookies. Beat to a cream three-quarters of a pound of butter and a pound of sugar. Add three eggs and beat them through the butter and sugar till thoroughly mingled. Then add half a pint of sour milk and a level teaspoonful of salera- ,tus dissolved in a tablespoonful of hot water. Next put in a gill of caraway. seeds and a level teaspoonfuldbf mace. Stir in our till the dough is stim enough to roll out thin. After it is rolled -as thin as pie crust cut the cookies out with a scalloped round cut- ter, lift them with a pancake knife from the pastry board, put them in 8 dripping pan, sprinkle over each cooky a little sugar and bake them in a mod- erate oven. vA_H_o`t;CBicken cosomme, beef tea, clear green turtle soup, ch'cken okra in cups, oyster poulette, c icken, lob- ster and sweetbread, croquettes and patties, lobster Newburg. /1-3.1 ~ L- .. _._-___L L_-__1_-_. -..-..-...,, .......~..', ...-.-, .,--_, -...__-' Sweet Dishes--Ice cream, biscuit, Tor- toni, biscuit glace. cafe parfait. straw- berry parfait, charlotte russe, meringue glace, meringue a la creme, New Year : cookies, chocolate, lemon, orange and jelly layer cakes, fruit cake. mincc,-ap- ple and pumpkin pies, fruit tarts, all `varieties of fresh fruits, varieties of cheeses, crackers, biscuits, wafers. uni", -r-____.._:n_ -..:n..- Dishes Hot and Cold Suitable Fo T the Day. ~ ' T VFollowing is a list of hot` and cold" dishes suitable to be served informally on New Year s day: 77-; f1`I_!_I I,_-A 4-- ..-._-.., -v~-v-_- . ...._a- rCo'1d-Pick1ed_'c>'y'sters, roast turkey. partridge, quail, boiled ham, tongue. Salads-Chicken, lobster, potato, crab. `_ Sandwiches--Ham, chicken, tongue, sardine. cheese, nut, beef, turkey. , 1.3_____:L r11-- \.-u\....pv-u, w--\....w--.1, w--.,v..---_., .....---._ _ Beveraiges--Lemonade. tea, co'lIee, chocolate. V '1`he passlng years are like the men. We have to serve-they pass away. We mourn the master dead. and than The new one welcome and obey. We soon forget, it he is kind.` V -um- no.5... .4 Mn Irlnlv .i.s..I- < Howdy. howdy do. suh; Ha. py days ter you. nuh! , ts er money. Weather sunny. En do whole sky blue. suh!" and out A and Wu 3001] Lurset, u. uu us lung, The virtues of the kindly dead: We do not mourn the ycartbehlnd It hope lies In the one. aheatl .. .. ~ _C. `I! `Fla-n In (`inhuman 'DAnnn_'Al-I ' Mister Nev? Year comm` `long. T1-ompin' crost de snow; ' Say he gwlne ter right de wrong: Make de roses grow! The year is dying: soon `twill lie . Behind us in the fading past. We watch it going. and we sigh To think it couldn't always last. -. All pensive for a little while We count the vanished years and 1'1-0!. ."_.l.`hen greet the new one with a "shine a And hurry onward and forget. _ A "Howdy, howdy do, suh; Heah's my love ter you, suh! Give you money, Milk en honey, Make dat ole coat new. suh!" `Mister New Year, gVoA yo ways! I done had my schoolin ; Seen a. lot er New Year days; I too old fer foo1in l ...~_-an I'too wise fer you. suh, ` . : . V Wid yo Howdy do, suh! Talk too cheap; Go sew e_n reap En bring dem skies er blue, 31111! -Atlanta. Constitutloi. 4 -. 0 THE` NEW YEAR S TABLE; ISTER NEW YEAR. come ex-ions: Make a mighty show! u 8!ngln' er do same ole song 4 ' Evefbody know: "I T00 WISE FER YOU, sun! A Year and 8 Day. Ye'a.I-I and Men. ll bll'V VII` C I __l_p__ChIcago -aus -C5911 and oust! :o1or- `asn Exiiai lled iii?- thd_ -wuu- boy: CRIB _ upon- `ed to it the 59$ THIRTY-EIGHT mnrmas am: A dams Box. a conhurst could boast there was some disappointment in certain quarters, but it was felt that the- honor of the town had. been saved by a small majority. And by one or those sudden turns which public opinion often takes the absent Jackson was made much j of. People who hardly desired to notice him when helived in their midst called upon the committee with parcels and kindly messages that they wished to send to their old. triend. Mr..Ja,cks`on."V , _ J_I_-A. _..__ Anni Jun 6111: --- - ...._--_ _ vvcvvry uuuu -as The select committee entered into the work with enthusiasm. On the rst day there was collected a vast assort- ment or things thatit was thought the soldiers would like. . As the stuff was being packed in the big box that was to be shipped to Manila one of the la- dies chanced to ask the names of the ` boys who had enlisted trom Falcon- hurst. No one present was able to an- swer the question, and, fearful that their town had no heroes whom they- could honor. thebank president's wife went at once to make further inquiries of her husband. Although this worthy `man was supposed to know all about e_vei-yhody who was anybody in Fal- .con_hn1-st, he could not immediately call to mind the name of at single volunteer, and rather shamefacedly he so stated to his wife. But just then hisoice boy, who had overheard the question and answer. spoke up and said that Ike Jackson, who used to workin- Joues livery stable." had joined the army and gone to Manila. The bank- er made an investigation and found that with the exception of Ike Jack- son no one had enlisted from Falcon- lmrst. T - ' When it became known` that Jackson was the only volunteerof whom Fal- .v- l`he town or-Falconhu'rst was a place of aristocratic pretensions, and the leading people of the municipality` prided themselves on being np=tov date. Consequently when the whole country ` was interested in the sending of Christ. mas boxes to soldiers on foreign serv. ice the members of the exclusive set of Falc-onhurst resolved to do their shnre. At an informal mectlngheld one evening at the residence of Brew.- ster De 'I{ allb, the bank president. it was resolved to appoint a committee consisting of six fashlonahlc ladies and . a half dozen of the wealthiest men in the community to prepare a suitable. Christmas box to be sent to the heroes who had left their homes in Falcon- hurst to do battle for their country's mag in the faroff Pliilipplnes? rI`I..-. .-..-.Inn6- an.-yum-.t4.J-A.` ..-.a........a 1-1.- 1.1.- auuu Lu uncu: UIU-Llswuug ....._..... .... _. Possibly no box that wins sent to the Philippines ever contained` a greater variety or present. Everything, from champagne to ginger snaps, was most carefully packed into" the Christmas box- There were reading matter galore, knickknacks of every description. and other good thing too numerous to men- 4!-.. uun. . , When the box was finally nuea and nailed up it took four men `to load it into the wagon which was to haunt to. the depot. - ` _n, , 1- 1_1_-`AI.-_ moi Q`A` va I-I-ll? \`C!I\I|:o ' Having packed the box end Sta-1"t0 the package on its way across the con- tinent, those concerned `in their ,work` felt it obligatory upon. themselves to write Jackson that he `might know to whom to give the`p1-.oper credljt. ; T r.. _-...__ -__- _s...I..4. u... I..mg ni none _in.. America` who _w.<`>11l_1.i; 3 WUOID I0 give HIE prupcr uuzuu. In camp one night the boys. of Coni- pany K were discussing the approachv of Christmas and speculating `upon what they might -get from home`. Poor Jackson took no part, in the" 'conversa- tlon. He had no relatives l`1v4ing,_and to his knowledge" there was *not,:any hon;;ena:nso e to` as 8.! risk J""' " 9, good enougli fellow to get along with. but one whose talents and per- ..__-, ..--- vu -an-use-9 sonallty never would attract-any. par-I tlculnr attention." Previous to his en- listment he `had been a hostler in a nvery stable,` and in the village where: he lived his social status was consid-5 ered n minus quantity. _e . . ment that was camped` in Manila a year agbv there was a. soldier named Isaac Jackson. He why just a common. eV9l"yday-sort ct man. .......I Anni`:-uh 'l\J\-u- L- _-A. _ I IN Company K of n volunter 7l'h3"Ch'istmds[ Dueling: _ -: Q` Private J ackson 1903 ""' " I7 ' '`"`'l"I J, `V UGlvI.LICl.o f`Bles me! Mulroon's come home Sober! -he suddenly remarked` as the bark of a dog came in trom the hall. -mun an ..)...A.I.. _..._ ____ ._uunn - 38;} the . by. _ been heard. _ _.._.. -- .. -.-ca yquav nu gluus use uuu. - How on earthican you tell? I mar-_ veled. for no sound of man's voice had - --v-- paving-on Because his dog doesn't know hlm, answered my friend, with a gleam in.` his eye. For a veterinary surgeon you let 9. great many `horse get on you. old man, ` `___J_V_ - - .- - Ahother period of silence, and then Sherles reached up This long `white hand` and took down the bottle of gin. MA MA, ,. n.g.,yn 1... ............a ..I.....a _._....- ..-- -vva vuvvvl-I uuu UVLLIG Ul- No more or this!" he mused aloud: Now begins a period ot_ hard work for me. ` "f.`Ii*:-1`;"(l woi'k? I asked wonderingly. Why; I haven't `heard of any recent_ murders. robberies or disnppearances. Mann -.\l 51...... 1.1.3.. J..l_._ -1: .._-,_ ----~, gs-wwvooua vu. uLuuyyCu-LuuUc- None -of these this time, old. man. All mysteries. Every young man in town will soon be here to have me nd out what `the Christmas present his girl `gave him is intended tor, don't you know."-New _York Journal. _n wuuu --_vuvIIIIlQI o On Chriitnu en` tlio out sen-geaxit. announced that thirty-eight letters and = a Christmas `box that weighed "about a ton" were waiting to be receipted for by Private Jackson. Company-K had VI`V Inn!-Iv| 1'(V.lunl.6-....... I..-` L\.._-_--I _ _,, . ..-- -..-`_-v.-u -vvnuyuug `II III. a very merry Ohrietmu. but through it all Ike maintained his usual etolid cheertulneee. !l.`_he amount of stun that Jackson received.` together with the lib-` eraiity with which he distributed it, caused to be .circuiated through the regiment `a story to -the eirect that. he was a `millionaire in disguise.--Manila American. . -` - ` A "Christmas Task For liomelookl ' -- she:-lea,` the Detective. ` . It was the [day after Christmas. Homelpck Sherles anti I sat _in` the Butcher street` `rooms "cursing -the snowy. sloppy weather. ` l`Dln~~ .....-I I-AA-V ` snvolution of Christmas. It is said that Christmas was at one time quite a movable feast and kept when the weather and circumstances permitted and that one or` the early popes xed on Dec. 25. Gradually the custom of singing canticles and carols was introduced "by the church in re- membrance of those songs of the heav- enly` host that amazed the shepherds on the Galilean hills and sent them 01! in hot hasteto and the wondrous babe. The holly and mistletoe decorations. of course, descended from the Druids.`and a pretty fancy reigned which suggest-' ed that the sylvan spirits would be in-V duced to follow the evergreenbranches into house_ and church and remain there, sheltered from the utmost rigor of winter frosts and snows. Then the Yulelog was lit on Christmas eve and the tire never allowed to go out before Candlemas, a_ device for securing warmth during the coldest weeks, ' ' while people sat around the hearth and amused themselves with hot cookies and snapdragon. conjuring and for- teits and quafted spiced ale and punch, much as their descendants craclrjokes Vover the walnuts and the wine" of these days between Christmas and the new year, when business is at a stand- still and the `children clamor for par- ties and pantomimes. V are . It Tm. cm t!I `fo'lkn would remember. A- tu_._n_.-, , V v-- - % `%u..::.Ti.:?.:' &WBC Vulawuouuw --v-.----.. -,-- , _ ale: T . . I . . "I`wa.s `Christmas told the mgr:-lest tale. A Christmas garnpol oft would cheat A poor man's heart through halt the year. I _ ; 0hIerva.nees'!_n England. The lighting of Christmas .candle and the burning of the Christmas block were the sure heralds of the season in old England. and the cus- toms still survive in certain parts -of the country. In somecounties a piece of the Yule log is kept from one year to the next". in -order to light the next year's log. In ancient times this frag- ment was supposed to be a protection against tire and thunder. Its ashes were given to animals for `certain sick- ness and "were scattered over the land to keepthe corn from blight. 7.. T\ .... ._..I..l_- 1_I.AL In I-can--on -A `Lg F! 9-D V ' - - - - - - - v - -v ' J . ["Marmion.".] _-_ England was me;-ry England when . Old Christmas brought his aportaagain. -`Twas Christmas broached the mightiest [Written at the use 9: eighty-twoq _ ` _ Hail. blessed Christmas morn! . - `A Hot Mme" Christmas. w ' A WM 1`- 9- hdv W" mm L Australia has hard work to kee ' ` V ` 1, ._ . , P,,` .t _ at ,f`,g;n};,2{;',,f;: grayed?` . when it is time for a visit from Santa Amen! Halieiuiah 1` I `Claus, tor_ it in. then midsummer with -v--- - V . ~ its people.-1-iwiioi are doing `their wisest Q by. _l_ Id7'a_rI` x'a.j`u..'...t V f , I toget away tram the `terrible `heat or uxxgoxi bghing tho.__t_u:unrIku-.-tlgngrgun theterribieiieeunz ~ Fu'nny,though itmay be _e o_.v0,."f' A ., . e.ieeinV. ' have in miiid at'this'*tim_e .. the picture '9! the '1oI1y` generoui _'_19j!k'_`~=!I'a':tl$"lIi"*` " K ; :>.~i.- C$iV,- IV I--uwwnzy aw-cog . -I `A word or godapeed and good cheer To all on earth or tar or near, . Or friend or foe. or thine or mine. In echo of the voice divine 7 Heard when the star bloomed forth and \ II` I'IuUal\I Wuvu uuv Dunno Illvwoonywu uuu -- ..... lit ' the world : rice, with God ; smile on it. Irv lbvvy gnaw \1\rho .\I-- w--g-- . In Devonshire what is known as the Ashton tagot is `burned on Christ- mas eve. and a company watches the falling apart oi` the hoops with which the tagot is bound as they burst with the heat. In some parts of England, after the church service, the people express their Joy by crying out in chorus: Yule! -Yule!" " IVES `Iv I-lihw nvul Iyvvgoc Never look a.Christ1as doll in the moutp. Kitty." counseled her uncle.- Ohlcaco Tribune. - leuonublc -Advice. V _ "I phan t want one." said Kitty. "un- less it-has real teeth." . I-.c4 _ I-uI__.n_A.___-_ .I_II 5.. LL- al ree, ied MYSTERY OF MYSTERIES. II Dull. If Ian-I:-I I sing the birth was born Eonfght, The author both or life and light. nu... .....--1 an am unnn H . T116 uutnur UULII ua. uu: uuu II. The angel so dtdsound It. . ` And like the mvlshed shepherd: said. Wholaw the light and were afraid. WAG nnounhnl` ant` fill Br nu-rIeVt Beecher Stowe. ~ the use Qt eighty-two.] _.I~I_a.1l. blessed mom! , When Christ, child. we: born ` Of Mary. holy `maid. - ' In heavenly `z-ace arrayed._I_ T Y Amen! I-Iullelulahl V7 nu I I9; 1 By June: Whltooinb Buoy. .-...I -1 _.-.I--unoul nut! anon` AIIAAQ CHRISTMAS. Po:-Ms. are .301`! lie ; By 811- Walter Scott. rust- ......I.-... "1 `saw me 11:11: auu war: uu`u.Iu. : aearchedand true they found it. " By Ben Jonson. L- I.a-n. _..... Iunnn on Today. when asked about the case, He seems togrow annoyed `And answers that he suftered from A siege of necktlephold. _1 n ..--- _-- -wvw- w.v----.-- ------`v-v- naked for some reminiscences. -~1'B been a long time ago. and I cannot re` member much of those Christmas times. We of the army had other things to occupy our" attention. But Christmas was one day on which there was no ghting. The ` men received messages and boxes from home, and camp life got an inspiration on that. day. - at ..._.__.I.__ LI.-L __ -__- 't1I___1...|....-- For each pm} be It long or nhoxw-t I ` or sum or -thick and tat. - . i Contained. In varied shape and form. ! A gaudy new ravaL' _' " `T19 ever thus!" moane Scruggs: "In every Christmas wreck I am the aufter'er who get: It always in the neck." The ties were green and red and brown And black and pink and blue. With stripes and dots ahd funny lines 0! truly awful hue. At last -he fretted so about . The things that he fell 111, And then. to add to'a.ll his woes. There was a; doctor's bill. ` the _regk Solcer Boys Ch:-lnttmal. There was never any ghting on Christmas day: during the civil war. said the late General` Hampton when _...I__ J-.. _-_..- __....I..!..___. .A_ IITA. I.-- Christmas In other Lands. in` Norway. where Christmas finds the land buried deep under the snow. the ords frozen and the whole coun- try tight in the grasp of the ice, there are many quaint and pretty Christmas. customs. Perhaps the most interesting of all are the nesting and feeding of the birds. A few days before Christmas new straw and hay are put into every. nest that can be found in the hollows` of trees and the eaves of houses and barns, and straw ` is scattered about over the frozen snow to be carried away by the birds themselves. Then, in every available spot on the thatched roofs. on house tops. _window sills and doorsteps, are strewn large measures of grain. It is a pretty sight to see the flocks of birds swooping down to this feast. So they feed royally during the holiday times, making up for many` days of scant living. for it is hard to find anything to eat where everything is frozen so fast. - ' . ,Vs[cnti":G?sf% sum 4 ` g % _ or nzcxrnnrnonn I10` opened each one when it cunt 1 And slowly grew enraged. And not a. packagq helda. thing That his neat wrath unfazed. The Yuletide Log. A custom at one time prevalent in England and stiliobserved in some of the northern districts or the old.coun- try is that of placing an immense log or wood-ssometimes the root of a `great tree--in_. thewide chimney place. This -is often called the Yule log. and it was on Christmas eve that` it was put on the wide -.h ea'rt,h. Around it would gather the ; entire family, and. its en- trance was the occasion or a `great deal or ceremony. .5'.l.`here were music and -rejoicing,` while the. one authorizedto light -it} was n-obliged to have clean :hands.: It was alway`s..li_ghted' with a brand leftover from the '10:` ot_ a pre- v.1u`year.v:'._'-.~.; . g , . .r.rI_- ---g u I remember that on one "Christmas the ground was covered with snow. The men ranged themselves on sides like schoolboys. and a tremendous bat- tle ensued. For a long time the con- test raged. The lines charged and were broken, formed again and endeavored to execute strategic movements. Final- ly the sporbbecame so exciting and so spirited that two men had their arms broken, and I had to go into the ght and declare a truce."-Washington Star. .avuAD ounuuua, on unruunu ll: -Gqt paolggzea galore, V : Until he wandered it then could B1? chang I-m gnu nu-... uusu nu WUHGBFEII 11 I110!` 81? chance be thy more. "'~1'1.B,,1.'-'VI:`-B has 1" THE xcmrnm ea DVANCE moaned Thomas -Judo. v-- --_v ---rvu vvurunn Taking this piece of silver, the an- cient darky returned to the eld and there performed a ceremony the exact meaning of which has not come down to us. Whetting his jackknife upon the silver, he solemnly. pronounced an invocation for a bountiful crop of corn the following year. And it is doubtful .if_ the , `.`ole massa would have been hny more willing to allow `the husking "to proceed Without ;thi'q kindly prayer `P than would .hi`s,.wl1ite' haired. servitor, b.`J':.d1'1...t,l"y.r1115..*'1!II. thus .93, 3 7? - -ift1t\l19,-.?. hish. Znriet; *0 ` >1 2 They came in groups, and each party of huskers from a neighboring planta- tion was announced long before it ar- rived by the well known tunes preva- lent In those days "oating down the road and over the fields as the happy boys and women hastened to the gath-' erlnz. A favorite tune was this: ' As soon as the darkies were all as- sembled the oldest slave present went to ole massa and begged a piece or silver money. ' This was always ex- 2 pected, and a plantation owner would as soon have thought of hav1ng_,a e shuckin' without corn as to -be un- prepared to produce the bit or silver` ' on the first evening. ` 1 -_ . 'B-I-l_.. LI.-I- +1-`- -3 ...II_-_. LL. __ I 3 I Yieu- As% Old Plantation WRI