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. SANTA CLAUS isa friend of every child. 'His spirit of jolly good } will is the spirit that } Dickens spoke" about when he said: 'Do all § the good you can, and J don't make any fuss# about it." j He has millionsof helpers, who carry out J his royal commands # most ha pily. It does 'not matter where the child lives, the jolly old spirit takes every precaution to have his presents ar-¥ rive on time. He sees hat happiness enters 7 Kis § i = =) the most tempting delicacies. ¥§ Christmas dinner for some three hun AB discovered by Sebastian Cabot and his cook on those voyages to the newly found Western Continent. turkey is the aristocrat of Christmas birds, pleasing substitute. The Toulouse goose was a French bird, but has 'been greatly improved by English breeders in recent years. rh turkey or goose, one is remin S350 luxuries; and let who will have the necessities." PLUM PUDDING. Canadian housewives do not give such prominence to the-plnm = pudding as do their English sisters. Christmas without a plum pudding would not considered eomplete. Canadians have many delightful pudding substitutes. VU SRE AR[IR ENR EN INRIRVER go through life. F CHRISTMAS 'THIS IS THE TWENTY-FIFTH TIME we have wished our readers--"A Merry Christmas,"' and each time we have felt a little more at home in expressing that wish. We have grown to know and respect each other as we : During those twenty-five years we have recorded much that has been very pleasing, and there have been many evi- dences that in the pleasures of life there has a true Christmas sharing. . ¥ ® B @ Pleasure is not the only thing that has bound us together in good fellowship. Sorrow has done its share, and has taught us how loyal and true our friends can be; and how thoroughly , we can depend on our friends in time of need. May this spirit of kindliness grow from year to year, because that is the only spirit that will really help to remove our troubles. The 'Golden Rule" is better than the gold standard to solve the difficulties of the world. The Golden Rule is the Christmas Spirit. THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS "Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house . Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse; The stockings were hung by the chimney with care, In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there. The children were nestled all snug in their beds, While visions of sugar-plums danced through their heads ; And Mamma in her kerchief, and I in my cap, Had just settled our brains for a long winter's nap. When out on the lawn arose such a clatter, I sprang from my bed to see what 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 fallen snow Gave a lustre of mid-day to objects below; When what to my wondering eyes should appear, But a miniature sleigh and eight tiny reindeer. With a little old driver, so lively and quick, . I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick! More rapid than eagles his coursers they came, And he whistled and shouted and called them by "Now, Dasher! Now, Dancer! now, Prancer! now Vixen | On, Comet! on, Cupid! on Donner and Blitzen! To the top of the porch, to the top of the wall, Now dash away! dash away! dash away alll" As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly, When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky, So up to the house-top the coursers they flew, THE STORY OF CHRISTMAS, fromthe time of the glorious : ; announcement by the angels to the present day festivities and goodwill, has been like a ray of sunshine through the history of mankind. To those who were fortunate enough to come under the influence of that story, there has been given an enriched life and a happier outlook. THE CHRISTMAS FEAST has always been an important part of the Christmas cele- bration. Cooks and bakers and confectioners have vied with each ather in producing 38 WB Turkey has been the prized bird for the red years, ever since it was ¥ ¥ 4%. While the the goose is a very [78> In considering either ed of Mark Twain's bright remark -- "Give me the Ee eNRINY |g 8 4 Druids. the thorns an With the sleigh full of toys, and St. Nicholas, too! And then in a twinkling, I heard on the roof The prancing and pawing of each little hoof; As 1 drew in my head and was turning around, Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound! He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot, And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot ; A bundle of toys he had flung on his back, And he looked like a peddler just opening his pack. His eyes how they twinkled! his dimples how merry! His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry! His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow, And the beard on his chin was as white as the snow. The stump of his pipe he_held tight in his teeth, And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath; He had a broad face and a round little belly, That shook when he laughed, like a bowl full of jelly. He was chubby and plump--a right jolly old elf, And 1 laughed when I saw him in spite of myself. A wink of his eye and a twist of his head, Soon gave me to know 1 had nothing to dread. He spake not a word, but went straight to his work, And filled all the stockings; then turned with a jerk, And laying his finger aside of his nose, And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose. He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle, And away they all flew like the down of a thistle; And 1 heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight, "Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night!" UNDER THE MISTLETOE The strange and mysterious appearance of Mistle- toe caused it to be an object of worship among the : + Under it might be given '"The Kiss of With each kiss a berry was plucked. No Peace."' { berries, no kisses. We have but little mistletoe. TT DECORATIONS. There is a note of warmth in decorations for Christmas. a deep, rich red being the prevailing color. ( first place as a decorative plant for Christmas in England. The strong, glossy leaves and the bright berries made a pleasing display. This plant was supposed to be "hateful to witches' the red berries reminding the witches of Christ's crown of thorns. EIRIVIBIVIBIBIZR NER ERERI Holly used to hold THE CHRISTMAS TREE is the centre of the home feasts. Upon it we heap our presents and the brightest decorations. That tree may well represent our whole attitude toward Christmas. We express our love and goodwill in every gift, and our joyousness of spirit in every shining ornament. Well may we be happy when we realize the great sacrifice made for us by the King of kings. He led the way. He made our happiness possible, He inspired that spirit of love that has enriched our lives and comforted our distress, To Him we owe all that has made life happy,and at the day's end we might well pause in the soft light of the candles and the warm glow of the fire to review the story of His great love. s