The Frostburg spirit., December 18, 1913, Image 6

About The Frostburg spirit. (Frostburg, Md.) 1913-1915

Image provided by: University of Maryland, College Park, MD

                
A SANTA CLAUS RHYME
By IDA KENNISTON.
Pictures by Fanny Y. Cory.
This la the Pack This is the Sleigh
That Santa Claus brought at Christ- That carried the Pack
mas.. That Santa Claus brought at Christ'
mas.
These are the Reindeer
That draw the Sleigh
That carried the Pack
That Santa Claus brought at Christmas.
This is the house
Where the Reindeer stopped
That drew the Sleigh
That carried the Pack
That Santa Claus brought at Christ mas.
This is the Chimney big and wide
That Santa Claus climbed down in-
At the House where the Reindeer
That drew the Sleigh ,
That carried the Pack
That Santa Claus brought at Christ-
This is the Hearth, where, ill 1 a
<K .'J The stockings hung waiting for
Tn Santa, you know;
Vyil
)/|fl I HI .j— That Santa Claus climbed down In
ijjl Hlj g Ji® 1 1 At the House where the Reindeer
stopped
jjj k\\ir'~~l That drew the Sleigh
’ " \\ That carried the Pack
r " H I <Q G j.l That Santa Claus brought at Christ
This is the Stocking long and fine
That the little girl hung at the eud |. n
of the line JK
There by the Hearth, where, all in a MW*
The stockings hung waiting tor TOgP
Santa, you know; Epf
They hung by the Chimney big and
That Santa Claus climbed down in- pjßft
At the House where the Reindeer jEgp
stopped PSf
That drew the Sleigh jplf
That carried the Pack JBsSk
That Santa Claus brought at Christ
mas. —From St Nicholas.
DIARY FOR CHRISTMAS GIFT
Paculiar but Pleasing Remembrance
Showing Absent Friend Was in \
Mind of Donor.
On Thanksgiving day a man sat
down and began to write to a distant
triend. But ho wrote only a few
lines, and laid it aside. The next day
he took up the pen, put down the new
date, diary-fashion, and wrote some
item of news of interest to them
both.
So each day from Thanksgiving till
Christmas ho added something to the
letter, as he would in a diary, end
ing and mailing it just in time to
reach his friend on Christmas morn
ing. At the top he had written this
message:
“This is all the gift you get from
me this year; but it carries more
thought of you and more love, I imag
ine, than do some more costly ones
I am sending. But just put it in your
pocket for a dull January day. It will
keep."
And this was a letter from a man
to a man! Damon and Pythias, David
and .Jonathan still live in our prosaic
American business world. —Mother's
Magazine.
PRESENTS BOUGHT FOR SHOW
Exploiting One's Own Vanity in Be
stowal of Gifte is Poor
Policy.
The most miserable Christmas pres
ent. the kind that no human being is
rich enough to afford, is that which
Is bought to make a show, to exploit
one's own vanity.
V' hen you are tempted to buy a
• show of?" present, remember that the
recipient has some rights. One who
understands will be made unhappy
by that kind of gift. You know your
self that when you receive a pres
ent that represents a great sacrifice
on the part of the giver it makes
you feel miserable, even when the
right spirit is behind it.
The cost in money is about the
poorest of measures for any kind of
a gift. The thoughtfulness in it, the
recognition of a desire for things un
asked for, the affection that goes with
it, counts for much more. Every
Christmas each of us receives a mes
sage that means more than the most
expensive gift. Yet we forget that
sometimes in the perplexing selection
of presents for others. —Woman's
Home Companion.
1
THE BEST PART.
"What did you like best at the
Chris'mus party?”
"Oh, when Santy Claus’ cotton whis
kers caught on fire.”
.0.,- THE MAN WHO KNEW 1 S
}:* % SANTA CLAUS BEST ■ 1
:f: I I (I I
■ : jvaopf'
|r\yso sumsfaß. y
Qv? % yrjYrs-Tvn a;r./Y/iWitj!!?* :
f. :: : -——— - '
! VISIT FROM -
|* ST. NICHOLAS
’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, I
f In hopes that Saint Nicholas soon would be there,
j The children were nestled all snug in their beds, \ }■.■¥' £
V While visions of sugarplums danced through their
"■ heads;
( And Mama in her kerchief and I in 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 what was the matter.
Away to the window I fled like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash;
• | The moon on the breast of the new fallen snow
Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below,
' When what to my wondering eyes should appear V
But a miniature sleigh and eight tiny reindeer,
f With a little old driver so lively and quick
| I knew in a moment it must be Saint Nick. :
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,
| And he whistled and shouted and called them by
f."\ name. ?G.Gf I
“Now, Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer! and
f Vixen! ■ - .
| On, Comet! on, Cupid! on, Donder and Blitzen! ’
; To the top of the porch! To the top of the wall 1 \ ,
Now dash away! dash away! dash away,.all!”
As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly
When they meet with an obstacle mount to the sky,
F So up to the housetop the coursers they flew,
With the sleigh full of toys and Saint Nicholas too.
f And then in a twinkling I heard on the roof f
• The prancing and pawing of each little hoof —
[s As I drew in my head and was turning around, | %
Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound. |
; He was dressed all in furs from his head to his foot, r ;
| 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; '
j His eyes--how they twinkled! His dimples, how
\ merry! i::L, ; V
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
His droll little mouth was drawn up in a bow,
And the heard on his chin was as white as the snow;
The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath;
He had a broad face, and a little round belly
\ That shook when he laughed like a bowlful of jtplly.
1 i J He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf, *
And 1 laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself. Jl
[ A wink of his eye and a twist of his head
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.
! | He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work '
\\ And filled all the stockings; then turned with a jerk, i
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;
But I heard him exclaim ere he drove out of sight, Vi
“ Merry’ Christmas to all, and to all a good night.”
I • j*? aestH?*
I V '*s?’’• - ~....-,:.vV-v.. ‘ ;s ’
. • V \ .... ii'v'Sv -. ’ •
h: ' • ' .' <>. \
Won by Love.
The soul that has lived its life striv
ing to do its best, doing all the good
it can for its day and generation will
find its place in the eternal. Won by
love. It is service that counts, not
position; I do not for one moment wish
to dishearten anyone from having a
purpose and aim in life, it is quite
right that we should; but I say this,
let us put the right- things In the right
order, and live for the highest, noblest,
and the best, that our own lives shall
he our testimony to the religion that
w® believe in. the religion of love, the
THE FROSTBURG SPIRIT, FROSTBURG, MD
example of Christ, whose whole life
was spent in doing good to others, as
it was said of him: “He saved others,
himself he cannot save.” Life is a
grand and glorious tiling, live, there
fore, in harmony with its divine musio
and you will understand more clearly,
the problem of life, for to love un
selfishly is the key.—Stanley J. Dark.
In the noble service of many we find
merit without title.
In their own plenty many forget an- |
other’s want*.
! CHRISTMAS GAMES
FOR THE CHILDREN
Many Forms of Merrymaking for
the Little Folks’ Holiday
Party.
By ADELE MENDLE.
“At Christmas play and make good cheer
For Christmas comes but once a year."
AT Christinas time the children
are bubbling over with the spirit
of the season and the grown
folks’ thoughts turn to the little ones’
fun and amusement at no time more
than at the happy Yule Tide.
With a little thought and prepara
tion a children’s Christmas party
may be made such a joyous affair that
its happy memories will linger with
the young folks for many years.
Here are some entertaining games
that will solve a problem for the per
plexed mother who perhaps is wonder
ing “What shall I have the children
play at the party?” For when she
sends her “Come to my Christmas
party” invitations, she knows that a
successful children's party means
something more than just “ice cream
and cake.”
These games will appeal to all the
children—the timid little girl, who is
inclined to shrink in the corner, as
well as the big boy, who usually oc
cupies “the center of the stage.”
Santa Claus’ Reins.
This game is very exciting. Three
pieces of white tape, each about an
inch wide, and the length of the room,
are held at one end by three children.
Three others are given pairs of scis
sors and at a signal the players cut
the tape in half lengthwise. The one
who first reaches the opposite end of
the tape is the winner of that heat.
The different winners contest until
j the champion is declared. Boys and
girls, you know', love racing competi
tions of all kinds and this race is one
that probably they never played be
fore.
Magic Music.
Although this is a game that per
haps the mothers and fathers played
when they went to kindergarten, it
still causes much laughter and is al
ways successful.
One child leaves the room and the
others decide upon something for him
to do on his return. The musician
regulates his playing, and the child
must guide his actions according to
the loudness or softness of the music.
It is astonishing what different tasks
are accomplished after a little prac
tice, and the children’s cries of “let
me go out next” prove their enjoy
ment of “Magic Music.”
Guessing Holly Berries.
For this game the child must put
on his “thinking cap.” Hold a large
spray of holly in your hand and al
low the children to look at it for a
few minutes. Then tell them to write
their estimate of the number of
holly berries on the branch. You
might take a chrysanthemum also
and ask them to guess how many
petals in the flower. Great interest Is
shown when the petals are counted.
A Christmas Doll.
The idea of this gamd is to see who
can make the prettiest doll out of a
long smooth potato, two pieces of
pretty " colored tissue paper, some
small sticks for legs and arms, and
some pins. Or if you /would rather
pass clothes pins and let the children
fashion dolls out of them, that will
also answer the purpose.
Place all the dolls in a row when
completed, and have the children vote
for their favorite one. You will be
surprised to see what ingenuous re
sults the clever little fingers produce.
A Noisy Game.
Yes, it is noisy, but the children
have an idea that "the more noise,
the more fun,” and what mother cares
if “the roof comes down” at a Christ
mas party?
After a child leaves the room, a
proverb is chosen. One word of it
is given to each child. If there are
more children than words contained
in the proverb, then two or more chil
dren are given the same word. When
the child outside the room returns, a
leader counts “One, two, three.” At
the "Three” all the children shout
their given word. The child must
guess the proverb.
Santa Claus’ Grab Bag.
On the invitation state that each
child is to bring something to the
party that he or she no longer cares
for. This article is to be in a neatly
wrapped and tied parcel, so as to hide
its identity. It is placed in a large
bag, on the child’s arrival. Each child
then draws a present from the bag.
Uproars of laughter follow the open
ing of the packages, which probably
will consist of peculiar articles of all
sizes and descriptions.
A Christmas Mix- Up.
Provide the children with paper
and pencil. Give them the following
list of words pertaining to Christmas.
You see the letters are all twisted.
It is their interesting task to straight
en them out.
Key and list:
1. Christmas—Atschsmri
2. Reindeef —Drierene.
3. Sleigh--lleghs.
4. Mistletoe —Etlosmtie.
5. Holly—Oylhl.
6. Plum Pudding—Uplmdpudgni.
7. Santa Claus —Asculatsna.
8. Candles —Lcdnesa
9. Stockings—Kosctsign.
10. Jack Frost —Kcajtrfso.
11. Wreath —Trhwae.
12. Snowball —Ownslabl.
What Santa Claus Doesn’t Like.
This is a simple and successful
game. All the children are seated
except one who says “Santa Claus
doesn’t like C’s. What are you going
to give him instead?” The first child
replies with a word that does not con
tain a “C.” For instance: . “Meat”
would be a correct answer, but “rice”
would not do. If a correct answer is
not given by the time the leader
counts “ten,” a forfeit must be paid.
And we all know the fun of redeeming
the forfeits.
A Peanut Race.
At one end of the room place two
' bowls of peanuts, and at the opposite !
| end two empty bowls. Two children
j are each provided with a knife and at (
, signal they place as many peanuts
as they can on the blade of the knife,
and carry it to the empty bowl with
one hand. Depositing the peanuts, |
they return for more. Each child is
allowed three minutes. A score is
kept and the one who has the larg
est number of peanuts credited to his
name wins the prize.
Puzzle Pictures.
Pretty pictures taken from maga
zines, advertisements and discarded
picture books are cut up into several
pieces and placed into envelopes. A
good idea is to w r rite the same num
ber on the back of the envelope and
all pieces belonging to one puzzle, so
that if a piece gets mixed with the
others it can be readily returned to its
own set.
Each child is handed a puzzle, and
as soon as he succeeds in placing the
pieces in their proper position he is
given credit for it by the score
keeper, and receives another puzzle
to work with. The one who succeeds
in putting together the most pictures
in a stated time receives a well
earned prize.
Snowballs.
This is an amusing game. Snow
balls made of cotton batting and cov
ered with white tissue paper and a
small basket are .required. The play
ers stand about eight feet from the
basket. The one who tosses the most
balls into the basket is the prize win
ner. Each child might be given
three snowballs to start with.
A Christmas Spider Web.
Take as many balls of twine as
there are children expected at the
party. To one end of each ball attach
a card bearing the child's name and
to the other end an inexpensive gift.
Twist the twine around the different
objects in the room. Give each child
the twine and card bearing his name.
At a signal all begin to unwind the
entangled web. Great is the fun and
loud the exclamations when the
young people arrive at the end of
their string and find a gift awaiting
them.
A Pop Corn Party.
If you don’t mind the “muss,” and
of course you won’t, have a pop corn
party. Have the children sit in a
circle on the floor and provide each
with a bowl of popcorn, a needle and
some coarse white thread. Tell them
that the one who strings the longest
popcorn chain before the time is up
will win the prize. Each youngster
takes home his own string of corn.
An Impromptu Entertainment.
When the children are tired of romp
ing, let them sit on the floor in a
circle and tell them you are going
to have an entertainment, and that
each child must do something to help
make it a success. The youngsters
will provide a variety of numbers for
your impromptu program, from nurs
ery rhymes to fancy dancing.
Artists.
Bring in a good sized blackboard
and have the children see who can
draw the best Santa Claus. This will
afford much pleasure for the little folk|.
(Copyright, 1912, by W. G. Chapman.)
JUST REVERSED.
“I s’poee your husband went to the
Christmas dinner dressed to kill.”
“No; he was killed to dress.”
A Christmas Stocking.
It is not always the gift itself, but
the way in which it is presented that
commends itself particularly to the
recipient. To the girl who thinks
she is too old to hang up her stock
ings, send a pair of silk stockings, us
ing one to fill, and roll up the other
and stick it in the foot. The rest of
the stocking should be filled with in
expensive trifles —a home-made jabot,
tie or collar, a handkerchief, some
candy, nuts, raisins, crab apples, a
card or a calendar, perhaps some lit
tle kindly hints at her hobbies that
will amuse her. Each of these ar
ticles should be wrapped separately
in tissue paper and red ribbons, and
the excitement of opening the myste
rious small packages will often exceed
the pleasure taken in one large gift
that would have cost no more than
the numerous small ones.
Measured by Sincerity.
The worth of any greeting is meas
ured by its sincerity; the worth of any
gift is measured by the love which lies
behind it.
My gift to you this Christmas time
shall be no mere coin of word; my
greeting no mere phrase of happy
speech. I shall indeed wish you the
“Merry Christmas” we all so like to
hear this day; but, above and beyond
that, it shall be my joy, so far as lies
within my power, to make that wish
come true, until throughout the whole
round year your every day be Christ
mas day—M. E. Low,
Christmas Greetings.
What is the thought of Christmas?
Giving.
What is the hope of Christmas? Liv
ing.
What is the joy of Christmas? Love.
No silver or gold is needed for giving,
If the heart is filled with Christmas
Love,
For the hope of the world is kindly
living,
Learned from the joy of God above.
Just a Warning.
If you are.going to spend the Christ
-1 mas holidays with the family of
your small niece and nephew, don’t
forget to make the youngsters a pres
’ ent of a drum and trumpet.
By AVIS INGALLS.
fy —v F COURSE there
g \ was snow, newly
J-'t A fallen what
i f|-T\ H would Christmas
Ar nL* V Hbe without that?
I\ g And sleigh-bells;
'S / jf all a tinkle, and
v \ S cheery greetings
and gladsome
smiles on every
hand; and there
" y m/i) L were clear twink
y //A\ ling stars now
[l\tf (. / above the house
\a Tv N ' tops looking down
'JJ from a deep blue
sky, and, of course,
it was nothing but hustle and hustle,
in most places, and all the necessary
hullabaloo that makes Christmas the
adorable holiday that it is—but —and
here is where my story comes in.
On a quiet street, where the better
class of houses stood, a trifle away
from the shopping district and the
street car lines, a little face was
pressed against the window-pane, and
two large tears stole down over a
straight little nose. Other little girls
were joyfully looking forward to this
happy season, but Elizabeth Rockerby
felt sadly at a loss and out of place
as she stood in her black velvet and
lace in her grandmother’s huge draw
ing-room. She had overheard the par
lor-maid and the upper house-maid,
in a whispered conversation.
“The poor darlint,” Nora, the house
maid, had said. “The poor darlint!
And is it Christmas the little one’s
after havin’? Never a bit of it! Don’t
ye believe it! Oh, the poor lamb!
that solemn and stiff-like in her black
dress —”
“Think of Cook's Ruby rigged out
like that!” said Ellen. “Do you think
she’d stand it for a minute? Not on
your life; She'd be down under the
table pulling the cat’s tail; and she’d
be teasing her mother for goodies,
when she got tired of that! But this
pale-faced mite, passed from one
calculating relative to another, till
she hasn’t got a speck of zzip left
in her. Do you know what Ruby’d
do? She’d run away!” and Ellen
laughed outright at the thought.
It was here that Elizabeth had slip
ped into the window recess, her pulses
throbbing.
If Cook’s little girl could run away
why shouldn’t she?
Elizabeth had not known it could
be so cold when one got out Into the
night; but the stars had a friendly
twinkle, and the shop-windows looked
so pretty with their tinsel drapings
and red paper bells that she almost
forgot the cold as she went eagerly
from one gay collection of toys to an
other, an felt the companionship of
children; as she rubbed shoulders with
ragged newsboys and pinched-faced
little girls who gazed quite as eagerly
as she at the Christmas dolls hold
ing outstretched arms to the passers
by.
“Are they—are they to sell?” she
asked timidly, of a little girl who
held her baby sister by the hand and
stamped her feet to keep them warm
“Sakes alive, yes!” said the other,
in astonishment. “Ain’t that one with
the black curls too cute for any
thing!” she added, gazing at it with
wistful eyes.
“Could we go in and—and buy it?”
asked Elizabth earnestly.
“ ’Course we could, if we had the
ninety-eight cents.”
“Come on, then!” said Elizabeth,
and, grasping her incredulous compan
ion by the hand, she plunged into the
store. t'Tlie doll with the black
curls!” she stammered. “May I buy
it for this little girl?”
“Sure,” said the salesman, good na
turedly.
Elizabeth fished a dollar bill out ot
her little chain purse and watched
curiously as the
child lifted the
doll tenderly in her
arms and walked
out, forgetting, in
her delight to say Jm 4
"thank you,” and the
baby sister toddled < 4 4
Out in the street
again Elizabeth saw
two small boys with
their faces glued to
the window of the 1- /L-A-l "
next shop, where j /<ss‘yl’ 25
sticks of candy lay "'y \ f )
in fascinating rows, —®
and chocolates and gum-drops wer
heaped in pyramids, with trays ot
fudge and molasses-candy in between.
She stopped, and, without any hes
itation this time, gave them each a
cent.
Her chain purse was empty now,
her exhilarating occupation gone, and
she stood, a forlorn little figure in her
ermine and velvet, on the corner of
the crowded street.
Through a front window the light
beamed out across the sparkling snow,
-—soft rosy light—and Elizabeth drew
nearer and nearer, fascinated. Inside
danced a band of happy children, hil
arious with joy, and a jolly fat Santa
Claus was handing down gifts from
a fairy tree atwinkle with colored
lights.
Unconscious, Elizabeth stepped over
the low paling and stole across to the
window where she clung, her kid
gloved fingers holding securely to-the
snowy sill.
She had remained thus for some lit
tle time when she heard a quick step
behind her and she was quickly grasp
ed by strong but kindly hands and
swung on to the steps.
“So-ho!” said a big man, who had
come up the street. “It’s Mistress
Elizabeth Rockerby! What are you up
to, Betsy Jane?”
“Cousin Bob!” gasped Elizabeth.
"Yes, ‘Cousin Bob,’ and now, ‘cry
your trail,’ little sister!”
- "I —I ran away,” falterer Elizabeth.
“Well, come along in and I’ll intro
duce you to the cousins,” said Cousin
Bob, cheerfully, and then I’ll ’phone
’em up and tell them that it's our
turn to have you.”
And Elizabeth snuggled her fingers
happily into her big cousin’s hands as
he stepped forward into a new life.