room, where stood the long table, groaning beneath its weight of good things; while four servants ran continually in and out, bringing more substantials and delicacies to grace the board and please the appetite. Winter staggered beneath great trenchers of meat and poultry, pies and s puddings; Spring brought the earliest and freshest vegetables; Summer, the richest creams and ices; while Autumn served the guests with fruit. All were gay and jolly and many a joke was cracked as the contents of each plate and dish melted away like snow 10 before the sun and the great fires roared in the wide chimneys as though singing a glad Thanksgiving song. New Year drank everybody's health and wished them "many returns of the day," while Twelfth Night ate so much cake he made himself quite ill and had to be put 15 to bed. Valentine sent mottoes to all the little girls and praised their bright eyes and glossy curls. "For," said his mother, "he is a sad flatterer and not nearly so truthful, I am sorry to say, as his brother, George Washington, who never told 20 a lie." At which Grandfather Time gave George a quarter and said he should always remember what a good boy he was. After dinner the fun increased, all trying to do something for the general amusement. Mrs. March persuaded her 25 son, St. Patrick, to dance an Irish jig, which he did to the tune of the Wearing of the Green, which his brothers, Windy and Gusty, blew and whistled on their fingers. Easter sang a beautiful song, the little Mays "tripped the light fantastic toe" in a pretty fancy dance, while the 30 Junes sat by, so smiling and sweet it was a pleasure to look at them. Independence, the fourth child of Mr. July, who is a bold little fellow and a fine speaker, gave them an oration he had learned at school; and the Augusts suggested games of tag and blindman's buff, which they all enjoyed heartily. 5 Mr. September tried to read an instructive story aloud, but was interrupted by Equinox, April Fool, and little All Hallows, who pinned streamers to his coat tails, covered him with flour, and would not let him get through a line; at which Mrs. October hugged her tricksy baby and 10 laughed until she cried, and Mr. September retired in disgust. "That is almost too bad," said Mrs. November, as she shook the popper vigorously, in which the corn was popping and snapping merrily. "But, Thanksgiving, you must not Is forget to thank your cousins for all they have done to honor your birthday." 20 At which the demure little maiden went round to each one and returned her thanks in such a charming way it was quite captivating. Grandmother Year at last began to nod over her teacup in the chimney corner. "It is growing late," said Grandpa Time. "But we must have a Virginia Reel before we go," said Mr. December. 25 "Oh, yes, yes!" cried all the children. Merry Christmas played a lively air on the piano, and old and young took their positions on the polished floor with grandpa and grandma at the head. Midsummer danced with Happy New Year, June's 30 Commencement with August's Holiday, Leap Year with May Day, and "all went merry as a marriage bell." The fun was at its height when suddenly the clock in the corner struck twelve. Grandma Year motioned to all to stop, and Grandfather Time, bowing his head, said softly, "Hark! my children, Thanksgiving Day is ended." 1. Make a list of the people who came to this dinner party. In whose honor was the party given? 2. What is the significance of the names of the children of the Months? Explain in each instance. A little buttery, and therein. A little bin, Which keeps my little loaf of bread Some brittle sticks of thorn or brier Close by whose living coal I sit, Lord, I confess too, when I dine, And all those other bits that be There placed by Thee. 'Tis Thou that crown'st my glittering hearth And giv'st me wassail bowls to drink, Spiced to the brink. Lord, 'tis Thy plenty-dropping hand That soils my land, And giv'st me for my bushel sown All these and better Thou dost send That I should render, for my part, Which, fired with incense, I resign As wholly Thine But the acceptance, that must be, = I. In what kind of circumstances is the maker of this prayer? 2. Explain: spars, threshold, pulse, wassail, soils; unfled Not sliced off. IT CHRISTMAS EVE IN NORWAY T IS more than nineteen hundred years since there lay in the manger at Bethlehem, the Child whose birthday is the day of days to the children of Christendom. Every year the message flies around the world, "Peace on earth, good will to men.” Christmas is a joyous season to children everywhere. Not only in our own land but in lands beyond the sea, little voices swell the chorus until the great round earth seems to be filled with joy and gladness. 5 The day before Christmas in Norway is a busy one. 10 Out of doors the men are preparing the Yule wood, which must be perfectly dry, cut into even smooth sticks, and placed under the bench that extends the whole length of the living room. After this has been done the men go up on the mountain side and cut down a load of fir trees. The 15 branches, except a tuft of them at the top, are stripped off. These trees are then set up all around the low house. A pretty sight they make, especially if the snow falls upon them in the night. In the house the women are flying about scouring 20 and decorating floor, furniture, and walls. They suspend from the ceiling a crown of straw from which dangle shreds of bright-colored cloth of green, red, and blue. The gable end of the room is hung with cloth on which Scriptural scenes are pictured. The floor is covered with wisps of 25 rye straw, in memory of the stable in which Christ was born. Polished copper and pewter vessels are neatly |