CHRISTMAS AMUSEMENT FOR YOUNG FOLKS.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 2567, 22 December 1888, Page 2 (Supplement)

CHRISTMAS AMUSEMENT FOR YOUNG FOLKS.

Bella's Christmas Box. Once agiin the glad old name comes to us—a name full of sweetness and thanksgiving, and of joy—dear old Christmas. This is just what an English child might say ; but then our Christmas in this fair sunny land is so different from the home of out' fathers ! There is noico, no snow, no sleet, no cold ; and above all, no pinching poverty and misery, as one sees at home, as we all call the clear old country. Here all is sunshine and pleasure—picnics, races, excursions and outings ; and in the midst of all this gaiety we can hardly understaud what Christmas really means aa our grandfathers and grandmothers understood it. Yet we cling to the name and love it, for it is a name dear above all other names, a name that gives life and hope to the world such as no other does.

How would you, my clear little reader, like to go home iuto one of the large cities and feel yourself surrounded by biting frosts and chilly snows, and with hardly enough to eat or to wear ? To see around you miserable little creatuees tramping the streets barefooted, selling matches or sprays of holly and ivy, and with no certainty that they could make the price of a Christmas dinner on the morrow. Do be thankful you are not one of these, and bless God your lot has been cast in this fair land, where Nature at least is ever kind. " What are you making, Katie ?" said a little girl named Fanny to her sister one afternoon at school, (luring sewing lesson. " Oh, nothing—a small article—a little present." " For whom ?" Fanny said again. " Well, you are very inquisitive, Fanny," replied Katie with some impatience. " Could you not let me finish it, and then I should have told you." " lam sorry I troubled you, Kit, by asking, but " "Oh never mind," replied Ratie with a sly smile, " you'll see byand-by." Just then another girl named Annie Page came up, and glancing archly at Katie, said, — " Don't hide it, Katie ; you know you told me that lace collar was for mamma, —a Christmas box, you said." " Oh Annie ! you are a tell-tale." " No,' : said Annin, "Fauny told me she was also making something, and why should you not ? I think it is very good to try and please mother like thiw. I have also got something to surprise mamma with on Christmas morning." So the cat was out of the bag, and the children, as all children will do, could not keep silent. Katie and Fanny, who were sisters, had made up their minds to suprise their mother on Christmas morning by offering her a Christinas box. Their mother knew nothing of it at all. The material of which the lace collar wa3 to be nude had been bought by Katie with the little pocket-money given to her during the year.

Fanny had in her mind an embroidered apron for her mamma, and very earnestly and industriously did she work to have the same finished in time.

I have said that Katie and Fanny were sisters, and that they attended the same school ; but I should have said long since that they had a younger sister who alao attended. Her name was Bella. Many a time Katie and Fanny asked Bella what she intended to offer to mamma as a Christmas-box, but Bella was always silent. She would say she did not know, or could not tell. She was very reserved, and even to her kind teacher she would not say a word. Sometimes she would look up with a far-see-ing gaze, and reply that she could not tell what mamma liked best; then she would drop her eyes, while they filled with teare, and appear very sad.

The midnight bells were ringing in the glart tidings of peace and goodwill to men on earth, when the three sisters Jay down to sleep. Their good mamma had kept them up rather late to tell them of many things, and among these was the beautiful story of mau's redemption that night begun in the poor crib in the far-off land of Palestine. Each sought her iunocent pillow—two at least doubly glad, as on the morrow they would have the pleasure of offering their dear mother a surprise in the shape of a Christmas-box. Poor little Bella alone was troubled ; and, as she closed her eyes and imagiued she saw the crib, the stable, and the shepherds looking after their flocks on the hills near to Bothlehciii, she sighed." "I wonder if mother will take my Christmas-box." Christmas Day ! bright, beautiful, and

calm ! The air full of sweetness aud melody, and the trees loaded with fruit. The joyous sun looked into the windows of the little sleepers and told them it was time to arise. On Christmas morning after breakfast Mrs Patience sat in her drawing-room, when three gentle, little girls came in and wished her a " Merry Christmas !" " A merry Christmas, my little dears " said tho good mother, kissing theryi in in turn. " Mamma," said Katie, " a Christmasbox for yon." at the same Mine nhowiug the lace collar. "And another mamma," Bairi Fanny unfolding the apron. "We wish you many and many a merry Christmas." Mrs Patience looked at her children with loving eyes, and then said : " Thank you, my dear little ones, this is so good and thoughtful of you. I hope we shall always have a merry and a happy Christmas. How very good of you to think of me like this 1" •Just then Mrs Patience looked at her younger daughter, Bella, and said : "Bella, dear, what do you say? Have you no Christinas box me ?" Bella stepped forward, aud gently embracing her mother while the great tears stole down her cheeks, said : " Mamma, dear, I have nothing to ofFer yon." " What, nothing !" replied the mother. " Nothing, mamma, like Katie and Fanny," anil then she sobbed again. " Well, dear, what hare you to give me?" Come, don't cry." "Nothing, mamma," sobbed Bella, "only, to tell you that I have tried to keep the promise I made you this day last year, not to vex you till next Christmas. Oh, mamma, have I kept my promise ? If I have, that is my Christ-mas-box." Mrs Patience was much affected. She kissed her child while her own eyes filled with tears. " My darling," she said, "go away, and God bless you." Mrs Patience's heart was too full to say any more. I wonder what money could buy a Chistmas-box like Bella's ? PUZZLES. ENIGMAS. No. I. I i-ivRD before ihe flood, but still am young, I speak all languages, yet have no tongue, In schools I've often been, but though no fool. I ne'er could understand a grammar rule ; Yet when the haughty courtier talks to me, I vc as polite a dialect as he, I sympathise with all in joy or pain, Laiifii with the merry, wilh the sad complain, Hy nature taught such an obliging way, I ne'er shall contradict a word you say, I am no singer, yet I often sing, I cannot walk—have neither foot or wing ; And yet to varied parts I rove about, Am often indoors, and am often out. I follow beggars, lords ai,d kings, And see no difference in such earthly things, I am quite peaceful, but am oft in war, Yet wrander not what people quarrel for, He who can name me, never saw me. And the best artist could not draw me.

i No. 2. t Say, why a hypocrite may see j iietter than either you or me, To count a cat's paws readily ? J No. 3. 1 Found long ago, yet made to-day i Employed while others slepp ; , What few would wish to give away, A.nd none would wish to keep. 1 No. 4. We are a score, or something mere 3 Within a cave, reside ; 3 Ar.d though we new r disagree, We very oft divide, If we fall out, it is a doubt If we e'er meet again Koth beau and belle our worth can toll, I Though oft we cause them pain. In white array, the ladies gay And sprightly often show us, And w.i. indeed would well succeed Who'd find a plea to grow us. No 5. j A word of one syllable easy and short, . Read backwards and forwards the same. It expresses the sentiments warm from the heart. And to beauty, lays principal claim. 1 No. 6. :• I daily am old, I daily am new, , lam praised, lam blessed, lam false, lam true, I'm the talk of the nation, while I am yet in ray ) Hut forgotten when once I've outlasted my 8 time j In the morning, no miss is more courted than I, x In the evening, behold me thrown carelessly by ; • Take warning ye lair one—l, like you, have my j Your charms will, like mine, too soon pass away. 3 j CONUNDRUMS. , 1. Name the most unpopular General of the day. I 2. Why is an umbrella like yesterday? ! 3. Which is (he longest word in the English , language ? 4. When is a man not a man ? 5. What mikes a most unsatisfactory meal ? , 6. When is a dog most like a man ? 3 £When»al«lylikeacap,iPun,? a. vv nat is Harder than earning money ? 3 9. What does every one thirst after ? t 10. Why would tying a slow horse to a post im- \ prove his pace ? , 11. When is butter like Irish children? ' 12. Why should a dog not wag his tail? The answers to tho above puzzles will be given ■ in our supplement next week.