title: The children's book of Christmas
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Norwood, Mass., U.S.A. ©CI.A207320 A IS THERE A SANTA CLAUS ? [This question addressed to The Sun, New York , received this reply.~^ W E take pleasure in answering at once and thus prominently the communication below , expressing at the same time our great gratification that its faithful author is numbered among the friends of The Sun: — Dear Editor : I am 8 years old. Some of my little friends say there is no Santa Claus. Papa says , “ If you see it in The Sun it's so.” Please tell me the truth ; is there a Santa Claus ? Virginia O' Hanlon. Virginia , your little friends are wrong. They have been afflicted by the scepticism of a sceptical age. They do not believe except they see. They think that nothing can be which is not comprehensible by their little minds. All minds , Virginia , whether they be men’s or children’ s y are little. In this great universe of ours man is a mere insect , an ant y in his intellect , as compared with the boundless world about him , as measured by the intelligence capable of grasping the whole of truth and knowledge. Tes y Virginia , there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist , and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy. Alas l how dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus ! It would be as dreary as if there were no Virginias. There would be no childlike faith then y no poetry , no romance , to make tolerable this existence. We should V vi IS THERE A SANTA CLAUS? have no enjoyment , except in sense and sight. The eternal light with which childhood Jills the world would be extinguished. Not believe in Santa Claus ! Tou might as well not believe in fairies. Tou might get your papa to hire men to watch in all the chim- neys on Christmas Eve to catch Santa Claus , but even if they did not see Santa Claus coming down, what would that prove ? Nobody sees Santa Claus, but that is no sign that there is no Santa Claus. The most real things in the world are those that neither children nor men can see. Did you ever see fairies dancing on the lawn f Of course not , but thafs no proof that they are not there. Nobody can conceive or imagine all the wonders that are unseen and unseeable in the world. Tou may tear apart the baby's rattle and see what makes the noise inside , but there is a veil covering the unseen world which not the strong- est man , nor even the united strength of all the strongest men that ever lived , could tear apart. Only faith , fancy , poetry , love , romance , can push aside that curtain and view and picture the supernal beauty and glory beyond. Is it all real ? Ah, Virginia , in all this world there is nothing else real and abiding. No Santa Claus ! Thank God! he lives , and he lives forever. A thousand years from now , Virginia , nay, ten times ten thousand years from now, he will continue to make glad the heart of childhood. FRANK P. CHURCH. CONTENTS Is there a Santa Claus ?. An Editorial by the late Frank P. Church in the New York Sun. Christmas Greens .... Adapted from Some Curiosities of Popular Customs by William S. Walsh. I saw Three Ships come Sailing In ..... A Kentish Version of an old English Christmas Carol. The Angels and the Shepherds The Gospel Story as in the Children’s Series of the Modern Reader’s Bible, edited by R. G. Moulton. While Shepherds Watched The famous Christmas hymn written in about 1700 and attributed to Nahum Tate. The Wise Men from the East The Gospel Story as in the Children’s Series of the Modern Reader’s Bible, edited by R. G. Moulton. Strooiavond in Holland Adapted from Holland by Beatrix Jungman in the Peeps at Many Lands Series, with one paragraph simplified from Servia and the Servians by Chedo Mijatovich. How St. Nicholas came to Volendam From the volume on Holland by Beatrix Jungman in the Peeps at Many Lands Series. Keeping Christmas in the Old Way From an entertaining old pamphlet published in 1740 entitled “ Round about Our Coal Fire, or Christmas Entertainments,” quoted in Christmas: Its Origin and Associations by W. F. Dawson. As Joseph was A-walking An Old English Christmas Carol known as The Cherry-tree Carol. In many versions another stanza said to be of later origin is added. CONTENTS viii PAGE The “ Jule-Nissen ” and Blowing in the Yule 21 From The Old Town by Jacob A. Riis, copyright by The Macmillan Company, 1909. Christmas Eve in Merry England 23 From Marmion by Sir Walter Scott. When Christmas was not Merry 25 Compiled from Christmas : Its Origin and Associations by W. F. Dawson, and from general sources. Going Home for Christmas 28 From Old Christmas at Bracebridge Hall by Washington Irving. God Rest You Merry, Gentlemen 31 An Old English Carol. The Date of Russia’s Christmastide 33 Compiled from general sources, and in part from Russia by L. Edna Walter in the Peeps at Many Lands Series. St. Barbara’s Grain 37 Adapted from an unsigned article in Macmillan's Magazine and from creole folk-lore. Before the Paling of the Stars 38 By Christina Rossetti. A Midnight Mass in France 39 Adapted from an article in Macmillan's Magazine with added details drawn from an article in The Century by Mme. Th. Bentzon. The Christchild and the Pine Tree 42 A weaving together of bits of folk-lore drawn chiefly from The Child and Child- hood in Folk-thought by Alexander F. Chamberlain. A Birthday Gift 44 Part of a hymn for children by Christina Rossetti. The Christmas Fire in Servia 45 Adapted from Servia and the Servians by Chedo Mijatovich. The Day of the Little God .... From Servia and the Servians by Chedo Mijatovich. 47 CONTENTS IX Nature Folk-lore of Christmastide Compiled from several sources, including The Old Town by Jacob A. Riis and magazine articles. PAGE 50 Good King Wenceslas 53 An Old English Carol in the version by John Mason Neale. A Mexican “Mystery” seen by Bayard Taylor 54 From Eldorado by Bayard Taylor. Breaking the Pinate 57 Collated from Mexico , the Wonderland of the South by W. E. Carson, copyright by The Macmillan Company, 1909. Christmas upon a Greenland Iceberg 59 Collated from Christmas : Its Origin and Associations by W. F. Dawson, and The Great White North by Helen S. Wright. Luther’s Christmas Carol for Children 61 Translator unknown. The Good Night in Spain 63 Adapted from the account by Ferdinand Caballero, translated by Katharine Lee Bates. A Christmas Tree in Japan 66 From Letters from fapan by Mary Crawford Fraser, copyright by The Mac- millan Company, 1899. From Far Away 72 A Christmas Carol by William Morris. Lordings, Listen to our Lay 73 A fragment of the earliest existing carol ; sung in the thirteenth century. Where the Christmas Toys come From 74 Compiled from general sources, including In Toyland, an article in The Royal Magazine, copyright by C. Arthur Pearson, Ltd. The Making of a Christmas Doll 76 The material of this article also has been drawn from The Royal Magazine by permission of its publishers, C. Arthur Pearson, Ltd. Irina’s Day on the Estates 79 Adapted from Russia by L. Edna Walter in the Peeps at Many Lands Series. X CONTENTS PAGE A Visit from St. Nicholas 83 By Clement C. Moore. The Cratchits’ Christmas Dinner 85 From A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. After the Christmas Dinner ......... 88 From The Old Town by Jacob A. Riis, copyright by The Macmillan Company, 1909. Hang up the Baby’s Stocking 89 Author unknown. A German Christmas 90 Collated from Home Life in Germany by Mrs. Alfred Sidgwick, Music Study in Germany by Amy Fay, and Elizabeth and Her German Garden. Crowded Out 95 By Rosalie M. Jonas. An English “Adoration” 96 Adapted from The Children's Book of Art by Miss A. E. Conway and Sir Martin Conway. The Children’s Own Saint 99 Based on legends chiefly drawn from Curiosities of Popular Customs by W. S. Walsh. The Befana Fair in Rome 102 From Ave Roma Immortalis by F. Marion Crawford, copyright by The Mac- millan Company, 1898. The Golden Carol 104 An Old English Epiphany Carol. Babouscka 105 By Carolyn S. Bailey. Copyright by the Milton Bradley Company. Reprinted by permission from For the Children's Hour. The Three Kings 107 Adapted by permission from The Memoirs of Mistral , copyright by the Baker and Taylor Company, 1907. Christmas Peace no From The Little City of Hope by F. Marion Crawford, copyright by The Mac- millan Company, 1907. PLATES IN COLORS The Annunciation .... Dante Gabriel Rossetti . Frontispiece PAGE The Nativity Botticelli . . . Facing 4 Shepherds and Shepherd Boy 20^ In a Christmas Market on the Neva 36 / The Yule Sheaf 52 Nuremberg Where the Toys are Made 72 Roumanian Boys in a Religious Procession 80 An English “ Adoration ” 96 * ILLUSTRATIONS IN BLACK AND  24 A Christmas Gift on the Way to Christmas Dinner 28 The Holy Night .... Correggio 32 The Bells Blashfield 40 The Triumph of the Innocents . Hunt 44 Bethlehem . . . Hofmann 48 xi xii ILLUSTRATIONS IN BLACK AND WHITE The Christmas Tree Market in New York Heads of the Christ Child from Raphael’s Paintings The Holy Family with the Shepherds .... Titian Making Glass and Tinsel Ornaments for Christmas Trees Doll-making Wig-making A Christmas Tree at the Immigration Station, New York “ We joined hands and danced around the tree ” Dressing Dolls in Germany for American Christmas Trees. An American Christmas Tree The Adoration of the Magi Memling The Adoration of the Shepherds Bouguereau PAGE^ 56 60 64 68 76 78 84 v 88 7 92 100 V 104 v 108 * COMPILER’S NOTE Wherever it has been possible, the material used has been quoted in the exact words of the writer. In some cases omissions have been made of sen- tences which would be unintelligible because that part of the original book to which they refer is not herein included. In a very few cases where the books quoted were not written for children, the selections have been condensed and the language simplified. It is hoped that injustice has been done to none. / THE CHILDREN’S BOOK OF CHRISTMAS Christmas Greens It is hard for you who have never felt the lack of heat and light to know what the long dark winter must have meant to the men of long ago who first kept the midwinter feast. Many of them really believed that as the days grew shorter and shorter, and the nights long and cold, there was danger that the sun might go out altogether and the whole world die in the darkness. When, late in December, the days began to lengthen, and they saw that the sun was coming back to bring again the flowers and the summer heat, they fancied that a new sun had been born. So then for gladness they kept a feast which naturally in later years was changed into a festival in honor of the birth of Christ, “ the sun of righteousness.” With the feast itself some other of their old customs have been handed down to us, and among them is that of bringing into the house in midwinter the boughs of Christmas green. For these far-away folk believed that wood-spirits — you know them as brownies, fairies, and elves — were living in the forests outside, and were so sorry to think of them shivering under the snow-laden trees and in damp icy caves, that they used to place in the corners of their houses great branches of hemlock and balsam fir, that “ the good little people ” might creep into 2 THE CHILDREN’S BOOK OF CHRISTMAS the sort of shelters they loved and be warm. And as the heat of the fire brought out the sweet smell of the fir, it seemed to them like a “ thank you ” from their friends of the summer woods. Thus they, first of all men, felt the wish to give which is the heart of the Christmas spirit. And soon they began to hang little gifts for their unseen guest upon the green boughs, and to make them bright with the berries of holly and ash. After that it may be that some night hunter, crouch- ing in the underbrush, looked up to the stars, and felt that his tree was incomplete without twinkling lights. However that may be, the custom of trimming the house with ever- greens, holly, and lights at Christmas time is an old, old one. I saw Three Ships come sailing in I saw three ships come sailing in, On Christmas day, on Christmas day ; I saw three ships come sailing in, On Christmas day in the morning. And what was in those ships all three, On Christmas day, on Christmas day? And what was in those ships all three, On Christmas day in the morning? The Virgin Mary and Christ were there, On Christmas day, on Christmas day; The Virgin Mary and Christ were there, On Christmas day in the morning. I SAW THREE SHIPS 3 Pray, whither sailed those ships all three, On Christmas day, on Christmas day? Pray, whither sailed those ships all three, On Christmas day in the morning? O they sailed into Bethlehem, On Christmas day, on Christmas day; O they sailed into Bethlehem, On Christmas day in the morning. And all the bells on earth shall ring, On Christmas day, on Christmas day; And all the bells on earth shall ring, On Christmas day in the morning. And all the Angels in Heaven shall sing, On Christmas day, on Christmas day; And all the Angels in Heaven shall sing, On Christmas day in the morning. And all the souls on earth shall sing, On Christmas day, on Christmas day; And all the souls on earth shall sing, On Christmas day in the morning. Then let us all rejoice amain, On Christmas day, on Christmas day; Then let us all rejoice amain, On Christmas day in the morning. 4 THE CHILDREN’S BOOK OF CHRISTMAS The Angels and the Shepherds Now in the days of Herod, King of Judea, the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city in Galilee named Nazareth, unto a virgin whose name was Mary, to whom he said : Hail, thou that art highly favored ! the Lord is with thee ! blessed art thou among women ! But she was greatly troubled by his greeting and wondered what such words could mean. Fear not, Mary ! for thou hast found favor with God, he said, and went on to tell her of the Son who should be hers, and whom she was to call Jesus. He shall be great, she was told, and shall be called the Son of the Most High ; and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David; and he shall reign over the house of Jacob forever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end. Now it came to pass there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be enrolled. And all went to enroll themselves, every one to his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house of the family of David ; to enroll himself with Mary. And it came to pass, while they were there she brought forth her firstborn son ; and she wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. And there were shepherds in the same country abiding in the field, and keeping watch by night over their flock. And an angel of the Lord stood by them, and the glory of the THE ANGELS AND THE SHEPHERDS 5 Lord shone round about them : and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Be not afraid; for behold I bring you good tidings of great joy which shall be to all the people: for there is born to you this day in the city of David, a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this is the sign unto you ; ye shall find a babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, and lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying: Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace Among men in whom he is well pleased. And it came to pass, when the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing that is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. And they came with haste, and found both Mary and Joseph, and the babe lying in the manger. And when they saw it they made known concerning the saying which was spoken to them about this child. And all that heard it wondered at the things which were spoken unto them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these sayings, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, even as it was spoken unto them. And when eight days were fulfilled his name was called JESUS. 6 THE CHILDREN’S BOOK OF CHRISTMAS While Shepherds Watched While shepherds watch’d their flocks by night, All seated on the ground, The Angel of the Lord came down, And glory shone around. “ Fear not,” said he (for mighty dread Had seized their troubled mind); “ Glad tidings of great joy I bring To you and all mankind. “To you in David’s town this day Is born of David’s line The Saviour, who is Christ the Lord; And this shall be the sign: “The heavenly Babe you there shall find To human view display’d, All meanly wrapt in swathing-bands ; And in a manger laid.” Thus spake the seraph; and forthwith Appear’d a shining throng Of angels praising God, and thus Address’d their joyful song: “All glory be to God on high, And to the earth be peace; Good-will henceforth from heaven to men Begin, and never cease ! ” THE WISE MEN FROM THE EAST 7 The Wise Men from the East Now when Jesus was born, behold, Wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we saw his star in the east, and are come to worship him. And when Herod the king heard it, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. And gathering together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ should be born. And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judea: for thus it is written by the prophet: And thou Bethlehem , land of Judah , art in no wise least among the princes of Judah : for out of thee shall come forth a governor , which shall be shepherd of my people Israel. Then Herod privily called the Wise men, and learned of them carefully what time the star appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search out carefully concerning the young child ; and when ye have found him, bring me word that I also may come and worship him. And they, having heard the king, went their way; and lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was. And when they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. And they came into the house and saw the young child with Mary his mother; and they fell down and worshipped him; and opening their treasures they offered unto him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way. 8 THE CHILDREN’S BOOK OF CHRISTMAS Now when they were departed, behold an angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise and take the young child and his mother and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I tell thee: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him. And he arose and took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt ; and was there until the death of Herod. Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the Wise men was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the male children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the borders thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had carefully learned of the Wise men. Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying: A voice was heard in Ramah , weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children; and she w&uld not be comforted, because they are not. But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeareth in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, saying, Arise and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel: for they are dead that sought the young child’s life. And he arose and took the young child and his mother, and came into the land of Israel. But when he heard that Arche- laus was reigning over Judea in the room of his father Herod, he was afraid to go thither; and being warned of God in a dream, he withdrew into the parts of Galilee, and came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, that he should be called a Nazarene. THE SHEPHERDS ADORING STROOIAVOND IN HOLLAND 9 Strooiavond in Holland A Dutch boy does not have to wait until December 25 for the great gift-day of the year. He is one of those who look for the gift-bringing saint on the eve of his own day which falls on December 6. For days beforehand the shops have been filled with toys and gaily trimmed, and on the evening of December 5 St. Nicholas is supposed by the little ones to make choice of the special treasure intended for little Dutch Jan or Martje. Indeed, it is one of the childrens treats to go out on that night to see the shops; and in the doorway of many of them stands a gorgeously clad likeness of the saint. At home the children in turn are visited by the saint ; in he walks carrying a big sackful of candies, oranges, apples, and so forth, which he scatters on the floor. Indeed, the Eve of St. Nicholas is called in Holland Strooiavond \ which means “strewing evening.” This idea of a strewing evening crops up curiously often as one reads of the various customs con- nected with the December holidays the world over. In southern France the Provencal women strew wheat on the surface of shallow dishes of water, planting St. Barbara’s grain; in Mexico the children try to break with a long stick a bag or jug swung high above their heads, scattering the contents at last all over the floor. In some parts of Servia there is found among the Christ mas customs one which is probably the remnant of an early rite from which all of these “strewing evenings” come. In IO THE CHILDREN’S BOOK OF CHRISTMAS that country, after the Christmas fire has been started with due ceremonies, the mother of the family brings in a bundle of straw which has been made ready early in the day. All the young children arrange themselves behind her in a row. She then starts walking slowly about the hall, and all the adjoining rooms, throwing on the floor handfuls of straw, and at the same time imitating the hens sounds, “ Kock . . . kock . .. kock ; ” while all the children, representing the hen’s little chickens, merrily follow shouting, “ Peeyoo ! . . . peeyoo! . .. peeyoo ! ” The floor well strewn with straw, and the little folk in breathless heaps upon it, the oldest man of the family throws a few walnuts in every corner of the hall. After this a large pot, or a small wooden box, is filled with wheat and placed a little higher than a man’s head in the east corner of the hall. In the middle of the wheat is fixed a tall candle of yellow wax. The father of the family then reverently lights the candle, and, folding his arms on his breast, he prays, while all who are present stand silently behind him, asking God to bless the family with health and happiness, to bless the fields with good harvests, the beehives with plenty of honey, the sheep with many lambs, the cows with rich creamy milk, and so on. When he finishes his prayer, he bows deeply before the burning candle, and all those standing behind him do the same. He then turns toward them and says, “ May God hear our prayer, and may He grant us all health ! ” to which they answer, “ God grant it. Amen ! ” In Holland the very little children believe that while they are busy gathering up the saints goodies, or else in the STROOIAVOND IN HOLLAND ii night, he hides away the presents meant for them all over the house. Before they go to bed they place their largest shoes — wooden sabots, such as you see in almost every picture of Dutch children — in the chimney place, where in the morning they find them stuffed with fruit, nuts, and sweets. There are no lie-a-beds in Holland on St. Nicholas’ morning. There is a glorious game of “ seek-and-find ” going on in every house where there are children. Piet takes down one of the shining copper saucepans hanging beside the chimney place and finds curled up inside it the many-petti coated doll which of course he hands over to a delighted little sister, who has somewhere discovered his box of gaily painted leaden soldiers. There are plenty of hiding holes in an old Dutch house; thick oak beams support the walls and roofs and make wide ledges upon which Rupert may find a packet containing two flat silver buttons which once belonged to his great-grandfather. He is the oldest son, beginning to be particular about his striped waistcoats and the tight fit of his blue or red coat. He will be immensely proud to wear, as every other man in the old village does, two silver buttons at the waist of his baggy trousers. In the parts of Holland where the new fashions have not spoiled the old, silver buttons are to the men what such coral necklaces as Rupert’s sister wears are to the women. These buttons are always as big as the men can afford, and some- times are like saucers; the little boys, even the tiniest ones, are dressed exactly after the pattern of their fathers, but their two flat buttons are smaller, about as large as fifty-cent pieces, and stamped with some design, the favorite one being a ship. 12 THE CHILDREN’S BOOK OF CHRISTMAS When all the gifts have been hunted out (down to a pair of skates with long curved tips for a boy so little that you would think St. Nicholas must have made a mistake if you did not know that Dutch children learn to skate almost as early as you learn to walk), the children are ready for the season’s other special treat, the gingerbread cakes. Delicately spiced gingerbread is made into many fantastic shapes, but every one, young or old, receives a gingerbread doll. Figures of men are given to the women folk, and of women in ruffles and straight skirts to the men. It is interesting to see how exactly like these gingerbread figures are in outline to those in early Dutch paintings. The models from which they are patterned frequently date from the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries. H ow St. Nicholas Came to Volendam One winter I was staying with my husband at the little fishing village of Volendam, and we wished that the little Volendamers, who are all very poor, should for once have a splendid St. Nicholas. A French artist, who was there at the same time, was of our opinion, and we were equally supported by our host Spaander and his wife and their family of blooming daughters. In the wooden hotel there is a “coffee-room,” long and low, of really vast proportions. In the summer-time half of it forms the draw- ing-room. At the farther end of this apartment is a small stage, with wings. On this occasion (thanks to Spaander) the whole of it was covered in spotless white, tables were •• HOW ST. NICHOLAS CAME TO VOLENDAM 13 erected, and upon their surface were arranged about a thousand toys and as many oranges and cakes. A white throne was placed for St. Nicholas, whose part was taken by the Frenchman. He wore a long white woollen robe falling over a purple silk underdress, a cape of costly old yellow brocade, and a gorgeous jewelled mitre, and he was made venerable by long white hair and beard. The dress of the black slave, whose part was taken by my husband, was equally correct and effective — a long tight- fitting garment of green velvet, showing a white robe underneath ; an orange silk turban was wound round the black locks of a disguising wig and lit up his cork-black face. So much for the preparations, completed with con- siderable trouble and a great deal of amusement. My husband painted a large poster, on which was set forth a notice to all the children of Volendam that at 6.30 a boat would land upon the quay, bearing St. Nicholas and his faithful slave laden with gifts. One may easily imagine the joy and delight of these poor fisher-children, into whose uneventful lives what English children call a treat hardly ever enters. They crowded about the an- nouncement, and read that St. Nicholas would come laden with gifts. Who can say what wild, beautiful hopes filled their hearts ? Before five o’clock the youngsters began to assemble. The quay was crowded with them, so was the narrow road leading from the quay to the hotel. The parents also were there, quite as excited and almost as credulous as their children. Indeed, all Volen- 14 THE CHILDREN’S BOOK OF CHRISTMAS dam turned out to welcome the saint. Rain began to fall; but, although it soaked their poor clothes, it seemed to have no damping effect upon their spirits, all afire as they were with expectation. Meanwhile, the saint and his slave rowed out to their boat. It was now almost dark, but in the faint light one could still distinguish the fish- ing-boats which always crowd the harbor, their tall masts and sails dimly defined against the gray sky, and their narrow flags gently flapping in the rain. At one point there was an opening between the boats, a glimmering waterway, where those who were in the secret expected the boat to appear. The time passed slowly. It was seven o’clock; and every one was very wet. Still, all Volen- dam was full of cheerful good humor. At length a blaze of bright light far out on the water revealed the saint — a venerable figure standing in the boat, crosier in hand, evidently blessing the expectant crowd. In a few moments the boat reached the landing-place. With blare of trumpets, and by the light of the torches, a procession was formed. How radiant were the faces illu- mined by the flickering glow! Soon the warm, well-lighted cafe was reached. The saint sat on his throne, and his good slave rapidly distributed presents to the little ones, safely housed from the inclement weather ! Alas ! they were very wet; but, as not one of the seven hundred coughed during the distribution, it may be concluded that the young Volendamers do not easily take cold. Their surroundings are so damp that they are almost amphibious. HOW ST. NICHOLAS CAME TO VOLENDAM IS Every face beamed with happiness. The genial St. Nicholas and his hard-worked slave; the Spaander family all helping vigorously; the three fine, tall Volendamers, who, in their yellow scarves of office, kept order so gently and gaily; down to the very youngest child, — all the faces were sweet and patient, and aglow with the pleasure either of giving or receiving. The crowd of children looked plump and healthy, and although many garments were much patched, there were no rags; the poorest seemed to be well cared for and comfortable. Seven hundred of them were made happy with toys and fruit ; but there was no scrambling or pushing, nothing but happy expectation, and then still more happy satisfac- tion. All too soon it was over; the last child clattered down the long room with its precious armful. Afterwards we heard from the schoolteachers and the children’s parents that most of them believed firmly that it was the real saint descended from heaven who had laid his hands on their heads in benediction as they received their presents from the black slave. — Beatrix Jungman. 16 THE CHILDREN’S BOOK OF CHRISTMAS Keeping Christmas in the Old Way There is an amusing account of how Christmas used to be observed in England in the time of George II, in a little book called “ Round about our Coal Fire, or Christmas Entertainments/’ published in 1740. The author begins: — “ First acknowledging the sacredness of the Holy Time of Christmas , I proceed to set forth the Rejoicings which are generally made at the great Festival. 