HF NEW YOR JBL-C LIBRARY

Still we look back to this grand dream,

Still stoop to drink at this wide stream,

Wider each year we live;
And on one yearly blessed day,

Christmas! What magical, electrifying sound that word has for children, for those who love children, for all who think back to their own childhood. It is and should be a time of joy and happiness. Being originally the anniversary of the birth of Jesus Christ, and the great est festival day of the Christian church, it has more and more become a day of popular joy among all classes, even those not belonging to any church; when everybody, seeing his greatest happiness in making others happy, shows his affection and kindness to those dear to him by making them presents and fulfill ing their wishes. Christmas is celebrated in many different ways in the different countries, and there are many different customs and usages, the origin of which does not always lie in the church, but very often in remembrances of old heathen customs and beliefs. But I do not think that Christmas is observed in any country in a more generally joyful, poetical, or in a deeper manner than in Germany, where it is more than a common holiday, where Christmas is a much-meaning day of happiness, remembrance and retrospection to old and young, rich and poor.

In Germany the children's Chrismas time begins with the 6th of December, St. Nicholas day. Then St. Nicholas ("Pelznickel" or "Pelzmaertel" as he is called by the "Pelz fur- overcoat that he

wears), the servant of the Christchild, goes round the cities with his donkey to buy all the nice Christmas presents for the good children, comes round in the evening to every family to inquire whether the children have been good during the year. He is attired in a long fur coat, wears a large bag over his shoulder, and carries a switch, with which he punishes the naughty children, whilst to the good ones he empties his bag containing apples, nuts and cakes. He announces his coming by rattling with a big iron chain, which he has for chaining up and carrying away the very naughty children of course this is not done in reality, but is only believed to be used for that purpose by the children. Usually some friend of the family makes up as St. Nicholas, and the children have to speak little prayers or verses, and tell him whether they have been good or naughty and to promise to be good and obedient to their parents and teachers. This is also the day when the children write their wishes down in a letter to the Christchild, which they hang outside the window. The first thing next morning is to see whether the Christchild has taken it, and the joyful expectation is great when it is gone (taken in by the parents). Then begins the time of mysterious packages and bundles and locked drawers. The children go out to their relatives and friends to do their handiwork, with which