Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume], December 21, 1899, Image 7

About Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925

Image provided by: Wisconsin Historical Society

                
A Merry Christmas!
.v’ * *' -- , ’ *. .i• fl
OLD CAROL.
Now thrice welcome Christmas,
Which bringeth good cheer —
Mince pies and plum porridge,
Good ale and strong beer;
With pigs, goose and capon,
The best that can be,
So well doth the weather
And our stomachs agree.
Observe how the chimneys
Do smoke all about;
The cooks are preparing
For dinner no doubt;
With holly and ivy
So green and so gay
We deck up our houses
As fresh as the day,
With bays and rosemary
And lawrel compleat,
And every one now
Is a king in conceit.
* * * *
But as for all curmudgeons
Who will not be free,
1 wish they may hang
- On the three-legged tree.
—Old English Almanac.
My Christmas Wooing.
There has been many a memorable
Christmas in my life, seared and
scarred as it is by Time’s rebuffs, but
none is so fixed in my mind as that
of 18 —, none that conies back to me
with so stirring, so boldly—outlined,
so sweet a memory.
Perhaps it is as well not to dilate on
my personality in that year, except to
say that I was fresh from college.
aDd full of the energy with which we
all began the real battle ot' life. Per
..ttaps I was handsome. I thought so.
at least, although I was not vain, and
I am quite sure that one other cer
tainly agreed with me. It wasaabut
I must stop descanting on rryself, for
I cut but a sorry figure in this tale.
Among my circle of acquaintances
at college was Eugene Kerr, wealthy
beyond the dreams of avarice, keen
souled and bright-eyed, dark-featured
and handsome, taller than I by sev
eral inches, and with a nature as free
and open as his speaking sparkling
eyes. It was to his home that I had
been invited to spend the holidays
before engaging in the business of
which I was destined to become the
head in a few yars.
At the Kerr home, a delightful
country residence near New York, I
was but one of a gay young party, for
the Kerr family kept open house for
a score of friends during the holidays.
As usual at these gatherings, we
were thrown together continually, and
my whole soul had suddenly gone out
to the sister of my friend Eugene.
Her head was covered with dark,
shining chestnut hair, luxuriant hair,
that looked all the more luxuriant,
perhaps, hy reason of the careless
■way in which it was wrapped about
her head. The great gray eyes were
set deeply under a straight wide
brow. A delicate nose that would turn
up a little when she lifted her head,
and a splendidly-cut, clever, wide
mouth, the lips of which parted every
now and then with a sweet smile, were
there. This was her face, and it was
fair enough: but It was her figure, her
glorious, graceful, full, yet supple fig
ure that struck me most.
Nor was she averse to my attentions,
yet I noticed from time to time a cold
ness in the voice and face of Mrs
Kerr, the mother of my young friends.
She was a stately matron, and in her
sleeping black velvet dress and soft
ly falling delicate white lace, which
nestled about her head and throat,
looked strikingly handsome.
Grace —that was the name of the
daughter—seemed at times to be under
the spell of the mother’s eye. I no
ticed that the conversation woulu lag
when the elder woman entered the
room, and that all the airy gayety ana
sprightliness of the daughter would
disappear under the withering glance
of the mother. a
There was a secret, a mystery which
I had determined to faibom and so I
proceeded about it in anything but a
diplomatic manner, for 1 was young
and thoughtless. My whole soul had
become wrapped up in Grace. She was
the ideal woman I had pictured in my
dreams, and I had determined that she
must be mine at any cost.
1 look back to those days with
wonderment, more perhaps at my own
temerity under the circumstances, for
I did not even know that I was loved
in return.
“Gene,” I remarked, one morning,
after 1 had lain awake all pight plan
ning and hoping. “I want to talk with
you about a ipatter that concerns me
nearly—concerns us both.’/
He looked at me in some little
amazement. Then putting his arm
through mine, laughiigly pushed me
along, saying, “Well 1 should judge
from your long face, it’s something se
rious. Drive it away, old man, don t
consort with your cares during tlio
holidays. Never worry in December.
January is an awful good month lor
broken vows, worrimems and ail that
sort o’ thing."
’’Gene, I’m going to bluit it out and
have it over with. I’m head over liei Is
in love with your sister!"
“Walter!”
If I haven’t mentioned it before I
will say the above is my given name,
although it really has nothing to do
with the story.
There was that in Eugene's face
which fairly dazed me. He seemed
terror-stricken at my abrupt but simple
announcement. All the acts of my life
passed before me, as I was in vain en
deavoring to find a cause for his con
sternation, and then 1 poured out my
soul.
“Truly, ’Gene, there can be nothing
against me. I have some wealth, ex
cellent prospects, I am not a roue ”
“Hush, my boy,” cried Eugene. "It
isn’t that! why my sister has been
engaged for a year, and do you thftfk
my mother would forego a coronet!
It’s impossible!”
“Engaged! A coronet! What do
you mean,” I cried.
“I mean simply this,” he replied,
putting his hands on his shnuldrs.
“Grace was abroad with mother a year
ago as you know. At that time—but
pl'-ase remember that this is all con
fidential, it’s a family secret —Lord
Oeerland fell madly in love with Grace
and proposed for her hand. Mother
accepted the young man with alacrity,
and I think Grace likes him. The for
mal announcement Is to he made after
the holidays and they are to be mar
ried in the spring. That's all there is
to the story, my boy. and now don’t
make a fuss over it, but Just accept the
inevitable.”
I presume 1 looked crestfallen ffter
this disclosure and for twenty-four
hours kept to my room. det*.'■mined te
get over my chagrin,- and not to spoil
the Christman party by any hasty de
parture
On the following day. the day before
Christmas, I summoned all my cour
age and went down stairs into the
midst of the gayety. The expression
of Mrs. Kerr's face had undergone a
delightful change. She fairly beamed
on me, and a lurking suspicion filled
my mind. 'Gene had undoubtedly told
his mother and sister all. for in no
other way could I explain the, rhap
sodic expression on the mother’s face,
and the sadnegs that seemed to have
come over the younger woman. That
of course was simply pity, I argued.
She was like all the others, ready to
play the coquette though she knew sli ■
would break a heart or two. ji "
By a most fortunate chance I re
ceived a message late in the morning
which summoned me to the city for a
few hours on a matter of business.
Eugene had arranged a sleighing
party for the afternoon, and this I was
forced to forego. My train left
shortly after noon, and 1 was waiting
at the station scanning a paper, ray
thoughts on a sweet face In the Kerr
home, when I heard my name men
tioned by the agent as he. directed
someone to the house on the hill. It
was a telegram announcing the com
pletion of the business and informing
me that it would not be necessary for
me to leave.
On this trifling incident hung my
fate, for when I returned I found that
tl\e only one of the party who had not
felt equal to the long drive was—Miss
Grace.
I )-
“A CHRISTMAS TREE i N THE PHILIPPINES.”
She saw me coming up the hill, ana
in her amazement as 1 afterward as
certained, thought I had purposely de
ceived her mother and brother.
Oh, hut her heart was beating for
someone, and when she met me 1
knew by her sweet eyes that all the
happiness of the days before my dis
closure had come back to her heart.
1 had her all to myself that after
noon, that glorious afternoon, the ra
diance of which has sent Its light
along the pathway of my whole life.
1 dare not tell you what occurred,
except to say that when the party
came back I had my telegram to ex
plain my sudden - turn but no word
of explanation for ihe joy in my soul.
And now for the ftnale. Vet it wasr
only a finale to the old lady's ambi
tion, and but the beginning of my
"long s\yeet story." '
The Christmas dinner was oW‘. I
could tell you every detail of it. i> ,
could tell you whei-e Grace sat, and I
remember distinctly every flower in
her corsage. .1 see in my mind’s eye
every laughing face, every feature of
the table and of the room. Aye, I
remember even the dainty eountry
naid, with her natty cook’s cap, coni
ng into the room with a steaming
fowl. You must bear in mind that
this was long ago, before the days of
the country house luxury which now
prevails.
1 recall the arrival of the dainty
maid, for It was at that moment that
Grace, contrary to all banquet formu
las, arose, and looked her mother aim
brother full in the face, her eyes aglow
. with the spirit within, her face hand
somer than ever in its framing of
Amerian pluck, and her stately form
like that of a queen.
1 want you all,’’ she said, “to listen
to an American girl’s Christmas deter
mination. Perhaps what I am going
to say is not according to rule, but 1
think it is according to right. I. an
American girl, promise to become the
wife only of an American citizen. 1
piomise that 1 will preside over an
American home or over none at all.”
1 cannot picture the consternation
of the mother. 1 am quite sure that
it completely spoiled her Christmas
dinner. The guests, who knew noth
ing of the mother's plans, applauded
the sentiment to the echo.
As for Eugene! Why. lie is a sensi
ble fellow, and lie rather prides him
self on his brother-in-law even to this
day. Mrs. Kerr never fully forgave
me, and even to her dying day occa
sionally referred in the saddest of ac
cents to “that dear broken-hearted
Lord r eerland.”
Am. Grace! Why. she’s dressing
for the Christmas dinner even as 1
write.—E. It. Barton.
PRINCES' CHRISTMAS SHOPPING
Children of the Kaiser are Taught the
Value of Money.
Writing of Christmas with an Em
peror Nagel von Brawe gives this in
teresting description in the Ladies'
Home Journal of the ceremonies at
tendant upon the great feast day in
the German palace: “The royal chil
dren have exchanged gifts chosen with
much solicitous deliberation at a .weft
known toy shop. Any one happening
to be in the shop at the tipie tniglir.
have seen the empress enter with he.
children, each provided with bis oWu
purse, and completing his purchases
aside so that the others might lie sur
prised. The younger three princes de
manded the advice of their mother ip
their selections. The princes investi
gated everything, but. upon inquiring
the price generally found it too dear.
‘Three marks for this boot-rack?’ and
with a glance into his purse, “No, that
is too expensive. I haven’t over sev
enty-five pfennigs. What can you give,
me for that price?” And the shopgirl
proceeds to show the princes some
thing quite nice for the required
amount. But now the brothers and
sisters have exchanged thanks for
their gifts; the first impetuosity of
the Christmas rejoicings has given
place to a more tranquil examination
and inspection, and ladies and gentle
men of the court have made the
rounds in a general state of admira
ion. Lackeys prepare a collation In
the midst of the gifts, for which, hojv
ever, the young people find no time.
It fares with them as with all healthy
children in the excitement attendant
on Christmas eve, for they ar
healthy and genuine German chil
dren. The Christmas celebration 'n
the Shell Salon, the excitement and the
rejoicings have produced their mtt
dt>U reaction on them, and at nine
o’clock even the elder princes are
abed.” *
SifirnSljPJ’THE CHRISTMAS DIN
-'‘*7 NER.
.
“Place the table for the Christinas
dinner in the center of the i%om, un
der the chandelier if there is one, and
then see that it is perfectly level and
th c leavea-jweli fitted,” writes Mrs. g.
T. Korer in' the Indies’ Home Journal.
“From the chandelier hangs a large
spray of mistletoe or holly tied with
scarlet ribbon. If there be a mantel
piece in the room, bank It with* holly
and ferns. Arrange a pretty corner,
blending all the greens used in dec
orating. Cover the table first \Vith a
heavy cotton flannel cloth, and place
over It the spotless linen tablecloth.
Place in the center of the table a mat
of Christmas ferns, in the center of
which stands a high fruit-dish, filled
with polished red apples, grapes and
such other fruits as may he obtained.
Cover the base of the dish with
sprays of holly; on each side of this
place cut-glass or china dishes filled
with bonbons, olives and salted al
monds. The water-bottles and a dish
or two of celery may occupy the other
places.”
THE CHRISTMAS MESSAGE.
Cold must be the heart that lias no
response to this great Christmas senti
ment. barren indeed the home into
which no recognition of the Chris!
child enters, no thought of that ines
timable gift that has made all man
kind brethren. To the poorest and
humblest of us this Christmas me-sage
speaks. The wise men required the
guiding of the star, but to the watch
ing shepherds the angel spoke fare to
face, and there is a Christmas sent!
ment in all these gay streets and jost
ling crowds that the wise men of our
day were not always the first to under
stand. In a few days more the ever
greens will have faded, and we shall
be going about otir business with all
the stern realities of the new year be
fore us. But we shall carry something
over fro u this great holiday that will
not fade if we care to keep it green, a
new impulse of faith and love thus
will will the world still growing
brighter and better because of Chrisi
mas day.—Philadelphia Times.
HANGING THE HOLLY.
I’lie English holly is finer in qual
ity than that grown on American
shores, says the St. Louis Republic.
I he leaves are a better green and the
berries larger, and before the holiday
season sets in great hampers of it. are
shipped from the English ports to de
light American eyes and hearts. An
attractive manner of using it is to tie
J)ig bunches with long satin ribbon
loops and ends, matching in shade the
hue of the berries, and place them
over pictures or mantel shelf, or
fasten against the wall, especially In
some picturesque nook or corner.
Cnderneath the mantel, where there
Js no fireplace, the space may be
banked with masses of the spiny
leaves and bright berries; Jars or vases
may be filled with them, while holly
wreathes and ropes are another form
of decoration very effective both In
large and small apartments.
ST. NICHOLAS’ WHITE HORSE.
In Holland St. Nicholas is a reality,
hut he comes driving a white hors >
and not reindeer. The children are
taught to be thoughtful for the wel
fare of the white steed, and on Christ
mas eve each pair of little shoes is
carefully cleaned, and being filled with
oats and hay they are placed on the
hearth. The hay and oats are for the
good Mint'd white horse. In the morn
ing the hay and oats are gone, and in
their place are found toys and sweet
meats for the good children and rods
for the bad onus. Exchange.
AT SCHOOL AND AT HOME.
My teache - doesn’t think I read
So very special well;
She’s always saying. “What was that
l-ast. word?” and makes me spell
And then pronounce it after her,
As slow as slow can be.
"You'd better take a little care”—
That's what she says to me—
"Or else I'm really ’fraid you'll find
Someone of these, bright days,
You’re always behind your primer
class,"
That's what my teacher says.
Out when I’m at my grandpa’s house
He hands me out a hook,
And lets me choose a place to read,
And then he’ll sit and look
At me, and listen, Just as pleased!
I know if from his face.
And when I read a great, long word,
He’ll say, “Why, little Grace,
You'll hate to teach our deestrlct
school
Someone o’ these bright days!
Mother, you come and hear this child."
That’s what my grandpa says.
OVERCOME WITH SPRPRISE.
'^VTy^v.
,
Shorty Smith (distributing gifts at
the Sunday-school Christmas tree)
—Here's a present for our superin
tendent and i guess It will be a nice
surprise for him.”
Then his whiskers took fire from a
candle.
/wi~
'"yr~ u \<“
and he took a backward somersault.
M
sS%f‘:
fJISpSE;
•p- / /
wC: ;
L I
Superintendent—‘‘Yes, indeed! This
is a great surprise! In fact, lam as
tounded!”
OLD DALKEITH PALACE.
Dalkeith Palace, in Scotland, Is a
plain building, but it has a fine situa
tion. with a good howling green and a
beautiful bridge of white stone span
ning the Esk river, within sight of the
house. The present building, erected
in 1700, stands on the site of the old
castle of Dalkeith, which is alluded to
as far back as 1130, when William de
Graham, who had received a grant of
lands from David 1., was the occupant,
in the fourteenth century the castle,
along with the barony of Dalkeith,
passed by marriage to the house of
Dongles. In 1502 it was the scene of
’much gayety on the occasion of the
marriage of'lames IV., when the bride,
Princess Margaret, was conducted to
Scotland by the Earl of Surrey. For a
fortnight the rejoicings were kept up
and the couple, with their followers,
then went to Edinburgh to celebrate
the marriage of Holyrood. Sixty years
later the centre of attraction at the
palace was Mary Queen of Scots, and
it had at other times visits from most
of tlie Kings of Scotland. Queen
| Victoria, on her first visit to Scotland,
in 1842, held her court at Dalkeith.
Privileged visitors to the palace at
Dalkeith may view the apartments
she occupied and also the state draw
ing room, besides which are usually
pointed out the apartments of George
IV., and also of General Monk. The
grounds extend to over 1,000 acres and
there are extensive gardens at Lugton,
formed In 1839, in connection.
THE OPEN HEART.
Would you understand
The language with no word.
The speech of brook and bird,
Of waves along the sand?
Would you make your own
The meaning of the leaves,
The song the silence weaves
Where little winds make moan?
Would you know how sweet
The falling of the rlii,
The calling on the hill —
All tunes the days repeat?
Neither alms nor art.
No toil, can help you hear;
The secret of the ear
Is in the open heart.
—John Vance Cheney in Century.
President Rogers told the Northwest
ern university students that Chief Jus
tice Marshall settled the question of the
power of the government to acqulra
teri Rory.