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VOLUME 46 PRETTY LEGEND OF CHRIST Old-Folk Tale Relates That Stara Danced and Birds Sang on Day of His Birth. When the child of Nazareth was born the sun, according to the Bosnian legend, “leaped in the heavens and the stars around it danced. A peace came over mountain and forest. Ev&i the rotten stump stood straight and healthy on the green hillside. The grass was beflowered with open blos soms, incense sweet as myrrh pervad ed upland and forest, birds sang on the mountain top and all gave thanks to the great God.” It is naught but an old-foik tale, but it has truth hidden at Its heart, for a strange, subtle force, a spirit of gen ial good will, a new-born kindness, seem to animate child and man alike when the world pays its tribute to the “heaven-sent youngling,” as the poet, Drummond, calls the infant Christ. When the three wise men rode from the east into the west on their sad dle-bows were three caskets filled with gold and frankincense and myrrh, to be laid at the feet of the manger cradled babe of Bethlehem. Begin ning with this old, old journey the spirit of giving crept into the world’s heart As the magi came bearing gifts, so do we also; gifts that re lieve want, gifts that are sweet and fragrant with friendship, gifts that breathe love, gifts that mean service, gifts inspired still by the star that shone over the City of David 2,000 years ago. Then hang the green coronet of the Christmas tree with glittering baubles and jewels of flames; heap offerings on its emerald branches; bring Yule logs to the firing; deck the house with holly and mistletoe, “And all the bells on earth shall ring On Christmas day in the morning/’ —Kate Douglas Wiggin. TO TRIM A CHRISTMAS TREE Pretty Trimmings and Decorations Can Bo Made in Almost Any Home at Slight Expense. As to trimming the Christmas tree, first of all, don’t trim your tree with cotton batting and lighted candles, as (here is always danger in this combi nation, and “safety first” should be the slogan in all Christmas festivities. You can purchase a whole lot of pretty decorations for your tree at the shops, and these come very cheaply, too. But almost any home can furnish the decorations for a really lovely tree without very much expense, and there is no reason why every family where there are children should not have their Christmas tree. Strings of popcorn and red cran berries looped from the branches make an effective decoration. And strings of yellow field corn gleam beau tifully in the Christmas light. Cres cents, stars and hearts cut from heavy cardboard and covered with silver and gilt, or even colored paper, and cornu copias of bright colors filled with candy, and popcorn are very pretty. Form cotton batting into balls the size of an orange and cover with orange colored crepe paper, twist tightly and tie to the tree with a bit of narrow rib bon. These are pretty on the tree and look like oranges. It is best to place all the larger packages under the tree, tying onlt the smaller gifts which are tied up in bright-colored paper to the branches. In this way the tree will not look frayed and denuded when the gifts are distributed, and it may be kept a long time for the children to enjoy. USE OF EVERGREENS. The use of evergreens at Christmas time is older than the Christmas tree. sie Christians seeming to have copied it from their pagan ancestors. In a very old book we find this reference to the use of evergreens at Christmas time: “Against the feast of Christ mas every man's house, as also their parish churches, were decked with holme, ivy, bayes, and whatsoever the season of the year afforded to be green. The conduits and standards of the streets were likewise garnished; among which I read that in the year 1414, by tempest of thunder and lightning, toward the morning of Can dlemas day. at the Leadenhall, in Cornhill, a standard of tree, being set up in the midst of the pavement, fast in the ground, nailed full of holme and ivy, for disport of Christmas to the people, was torn up and cast' down by the malignant spirit (as was thought), and the stones of the pavement all about were cast in the streets and into divers houses, so that the people were sore aghast at the great tempest.” A Rather Vague Order. A Wisconsin boy wrote to Santa Claus as follows:' “I would like a air rifle, a pair <*f Indinploves a mouth or gan a christmus tree and some candy and nuts that is all a game <f check ers for.” It’s a little vague, but we hope Santa will be able to fill the order. WONDERFUL ANIMAL THE GNU And Voice Would Seem to Be Not the Least of His Remarkable Qualities. ew people know what a satisfac tory animal is the guu. Quite a num ber of hoofed animals, like the ibex and the sacred ox. are mere tiresome combinations of Burbankism, but the gnu has qualities all his own. His head is homely as an unpainted barn —flat nose and very broad mouth and ears misshapen and uncouth. His body Is that of an exceedingly powerful pony, with strong neck and rakish tail. His galvanic energy puts to shame the glorious abandon of a cal on a tin roof. When I arrive before his inclosure he has usually retired to the shed in which he sleeps and stands in the doorway with far-away eyes. Efforts to entice him forth are futile. I turn at last as if to go, and as I move he bursts forth with the most heathenish cry that ever clattered from an ani mal throat. If it resembles anything, it is the trench klaxon that warns of an impending gas attack —a series of staccato shrieks which would shake the teeth from a band saw. I don’t see how he can stand the noise he makes. Arm a rabbit with the voice of a gnu and lions will slink from his path. Reaching the bars of his inclosure ii. three or four astounding leaps, the gnu halts, with head averted and feet wide apart ignoring me literally. When T move to right or left he re mains motionless until 15 feet are be tween us: then he closes the distance with a bound, shrieks terribly twice or thrice, and once more affects to be utterly oblivious off my presence. When finally I leave him the clatter of his fearful voice pursues me for hundreds of feet, drowning all other sounds. — Atlantic Monthly. HONOR HELD BY QUAKER CITY First American Edition of the Hebrew Scriptures Was Put In Type in Philadelphia. The first American edition of the He brew Scriptures was put in type at Philadelphia by William Fry. The first translation of the Scrip tures into English by a Jewish scholar in America was that of Isaac Leeser of Philadelphia in 3853, and the first English version prepared by a group of Jewish scholars is that of the Jew ish Publication society of America. Philadelphia, 1917. One of the most important and wide ly used revisions of the Rheims-Douay version was that of Archbishop Ken drick of Philadelphia, 1851-62. Ben Franklin didn’t think the lan guage of the King James version suffi ciently up to date to suit the literati of his time, and he tried his improving hand on the Book of Job with this re sult : “And it being levee day in heaven, all God’s nobility came to court to pre sent themselves before him; and Satan also appeared in the circle, as one of the ministry. And God said to Satan: You have been a long time absent; where were you? And Satan an swered : I have been at my country seat, and in different places visiting my friends.” In the Philippines. In 1917 the Philippine islands ex perienced two typhoons, while oi. hundred and fifty earthquakes were reported from different parts. The damage done was slight and the cas ualties few. They were not so fortu nate in Formosa, where two destruc tive typhoons were experienced in July and August,* and two in Japan in Oc tober. The appearance of the water hyacinth is reported from several places in the Philippines, and the sec retary of agriculture reports that, un less legislation provides for its de struction wherever found, all still or sluggish waters will soon be impass able to craft or logs and even river steamers. The necessity for increasing the working establishment in the for ests of the Philippines, if forest produce is to be preserved, is becoming an ur gent necessity, and it is pointed out that in Java. Japan and British India forest officers are employed to a much larger extent than in the Philippines. Keep Up the Morale. The big thing in life's battles is the morale. You may have the paen and the guns, but if the men lack the ginger they arc impediments to attain ment. It is easy to do things when you are on the winning side. The trouble begins to brew when things go wrong. Anybody can go with the current. It’s breasting the tide that shows where strength lies, and muscular strength is the least side of it. When the brain is right and nerve control dependable you can make machines do muscular tasks. There are few things that man's ingenuity has not submitted to me chanical control. So the problem of today is to keep the head right. It means more than keen thinking. There are men of the keenest intellect who need the constant urge of right morale. EDGERTON, ROCK COUNTY. WISCONSIN, DECEMBER 12, 1919. A CHRISTMAS WALK In silvery softness the anthem closed Like a slowly silenced bell; The sacred calm of a peace divine Like a benediction fell; And out on the morning light that spread A glimmer of amber gray, I walked with Margery home from church On an old, old Christmas Day. A bland, mild day—-for the rugged month Had chosen a kindly mood, Like a wonderful mellow aftermath From the Autumn's plenitude. With scarcely a tang of wholesome cold Did the Winter’s breezes blow, As Margery walked from church with me On a Christmas long ago. The earnest words that had touched our • hearts— The warnings, kindly and wise— Had left a shadow of tenderness In Margery’s violet eyes; The merry, hoydenish maid I’d known For a twelvemonth’s flying space, Had taken on that old Christmas Day, Anew and womanly grace. As through the tremulous opal clouds That shifted and swayed apart, A sun ray lighted the rosy face, The wish was born In my heart That down the trail of the unspent years, Whatever their trend might be, The soft-eyed maiden beside me then. Might walk to the end with me. Absently watching the velvet flakes By the white gale set a-wlng, I breathe the spirit of other years While the bells of Yuletide' ring; And near me, smiling with happy eyes At our children’s romping play. Is the girl who walked from church with me On that old, sweet Christmas Day. —Harriet Whitney Durbin, in People's Home Journal. LESSON OF CHRISTMAS DAY Example of Christ Should Inspire Un selfishness and Make Us Try to Remedy Faults. Christmas should inspire a world of unselfishness. The example before us is almost too perfect, for it rather frightens us to attempt such divine heights of self-abnegation, but we can try. It will at least take us from the depths of selfishness, where most of us now are. Each Christmas day should teach us something of the lesson of the Holy Child’s life. If we could learn from Christmas, today and in the succeeding years the serious lessons of self-betterment and ennoblement it has to offer, how in finitely better it would be than just to look on it as a holiday for gifts and feasts, for extravagance and foolish ness. So take an hour or two off on Christmas day and give it up to retro spective and self-jnspection. You will each find faults, if you judge yourself impartially, for no one is perfect. Then make a serious determination to try to overcome those faults, for only try ing to improve is there any growth in character. If you are satisfied with yourself you stay just as you are with all your faults and virtues. But if you try hard to remedy the faults your character is constantly growing broad er., This is the lesson which Christ mas day lias for each of you. CHRISTMAS Sparkling snow on the ground —an invigorating tang to the air—the mouth-watering smell of cooking from the tozily-warm kitchen- —our boy safely home from overseas with brave stories to tell and all the manhood crys tallized in him —relatives -and old friends gathering at the fes tive table —holly wreaths at the windows and a crackling fire in the open hearth —the hilarious laughter of kiddies as the new toys make them bubble over — mistletoe nailed mischievously above the door for the kiss you mean to give bustling, unsus picious mother —the silvery, tranquil peal of church bells across the soft-snowed open places—an amazing forgetful ness of the dour anticipations and business worries of only yesterday—a sudden re-belief that love is life — That is Christmas! Last Christmas a young man was invited to dinner at the house of one of the leading men in the town. At the dinner table he was placed op posite a goose. The lady of the house was seated on the young man’s left. Seeing the goose, he remarked: “Shall I sit so close to the goose?” Finding his words a bit equivocal, he turned round to the lady and said, In a most inoffensive tone: “Excuse me, Mrs. Blank, I meant the roast one.” Christmas Thanks. For little children everywhere A joyous season still we make, And bring our precious gifts to them Even for the dear child Jesus’ sake. —Cary. TOYLAND **' ' \ Air Guns Pop Guns Horns Kiddle Kars—Adjustable to 3 Sizes This a real money saver as you now get three cars for the price of one. Doll Cabs Wagons Carts FAIRY CITY-The Real Big Game of the Year EDUDATIONAL - CONSTRUCTIVE - AMUSING The regular price of this game is $1.50 Our price is SI.OO Fire Engines Hook and Ladder Dump Carts DOLLS - DOLLS - DOLLS They all say we have the best and largest display of dolls in city. Come and see. Games All the new and the old ones. Extra large variety No Phone Orders XMAS SPECIAL No Delivery Extra large size Unbleached Turkish Towels One Day Only 25c Tuesday, Dec. 16th Borgnis - Edgerton EDGERTON’S HEADQUARTERS FOR SANTA CLAUS STEWART JEWELRY COMPANY In the Peters’ Building,'Corner Fulton and Main Streets attract both sexes—the men no less than the women. But it is a wise man who knows how to buy diamonds advantageously. The safest way is to buy of an estab lished concern that is known for its integrity. We have a fine line. Come in and see them. Watches Chains Fobs ' Scarf Pins Charms Emblem Pins Timely Gifts for the Watches Fobs Bracelets Waist Sets Hat Pins X OYLAND Timely Gifts For If It Comes From Stewart's It's Good! Blackboards Rocking Horses Scooters Pianos heelbarro ws Drums Pile Drivers Drays Circus Wagons Tree Ornaments Bells, Festoons, Tissue Paper, Cards _ • 1 _ Timely Tips—A good clock makes a sat- isfactory gift and gives you service. It orna ments the home and is an hourly reminder of the givers good will. Good clocks of all kinds from $1.50 up rv* A In this line we have placed with 1./IRIXIOHQS the people of Edgerton and vicinity, such a large number of these beautiful stones that it has cre ated a confidence in the quality of the goods we are selling. Prices SB.OO and up Positively the largest display in the city to choose from in Watches, Jewelry, Silverware, Hand Painted China, Clocks and White Ivory. , Emblem Buttons Cuff Buttons Rings Match Boxes Smoking Articles Tie Clasps Lavallieres Opera Glasses Chains Brooches Beauty Pins Milk Trucks Moving Trucks Racing Cars Tool Cl\ests Kitchen Cabinets Stables Trains Stoves Banks Books for old and young. Splendid assortment at bargain prices. Men Cloth Brushes Military Set 6 Ink Stands Fountain Pens Shaving Outfits Waldemar Chains L^adies Cuff Buttons Lockets Mesh Bags Watch Pins Etc., Etc. NUMBER 4