And be sure to visit the Victorian Christmas Gift Shop to pick up a little memento of your visit.

I’ve got a lovely baseball and a bat
To make my spirits flow with feelings glad–
Alas! ah, little me! in spite of that,
At heart I’m very sad.

My mother, though she’s always more than kind,
Should more consistent and more thoughtful be.
I know her tender love for me is blind,
Or she would surely see

That it is never, never right at all,
Upon this bright and glorious Christmas day,
To give a lovely shining bat and ball
To gild my hours of play…

She won’t let me play ball in-doors–oh, dear,
The vases all as precious are as gold!
She won’t let me play ball out-doors, for fear
I’ll catch my death of cold.

From Harper’s Young People, 1894

NOTE: The vintage Christmas illustration above can be found in our clip art shop.

Old Winter, in his coat so white,
Is knocking at the door to-night.

CHILDREN

“Ah, Mr. Winter! is that you?
Glad are we to see you,–how do you do?
We thought you a long way off, you know,
Yet here you are all covered with snow;
And, since you are come, you may just tell us all
What you have brought for us children small.”

WINTER

“Oh! I have brought you more than you can take,–
A Christmas merry, with pies, fruit and cake;
And plenty of nice, smooth, slippery ice,
Where you can catch a tumble in a trice.
Now you may slide, and make snow-balls beside,
And on your sleds have many a ride;
Make a snow-house and a snow-man too;
Such are the gifts that Winter brings to you.”

Let us for the poor have care;
Let us from our plenty spare;
Help the little children who
Have, to help and teach them, few!
Jesus Christ was born this day;
He to heaven doth lead the way;
Let us try to do his will,
And his law of love fulfill.

“Suffer them to come to me!
Little children, come!” said he;
We his holy word will heed,
For his help from sin we need.
Jesus Christ was born this day;
He to heaven doth lead the way;
Let us try to do his will,
And his law of love fulfill.

Anna Livingston
The Sick Doll and Other Tales, 1868

Download a high resolution clip art image of the Snowdrop

The botanical name, Galanthus, is taken from the Greek, and signifies milk-flower.

So many of our young friends have asked us to show them a snowdrop, that we have had this picture made for them. Can they tell which are the flowers of the plant, and which are the leaves?

We can count six flowers in the bunch. Three of them are almost in full bloom; but the other three are not. The snowdrop is the first blossom of the year. We saw it in bloom the twentieth day of last February, and it often blooms until April.

Is it not a dainty little flower, as it droops from its tender stalk? It has three outer petals of a pale green, and inside of these are three white ones, pure as snow amid which it is born.

The snow and frost do not kill this brave little snowdrop. The French call it the snow-piercer. The Germans call it the snow-bell; and the old Greeks called it the milk-flower. It is the emblem of hope. There is a little fable which some one has made up, and which, if you care to hear, I will tell.

It is said that Hope, one winter day, stood watching the snow as it fell to the earth. Hope wished that the white flakes were fair blossoms to gladden the land, rather than snow to chill it. And then Spring, who was not far off, raised her fair arms, and, smiling sweetly, breathed on the falling flakes till they took the forms of flowers, and fell on the earth in clusters of snowdrops. On seeing this, Hope, delighted, caught one of the blossoms, and made it her emblem or sign.

Once, long ago, there lived near the ancient city of Strasburg, on the river Rhine, a young and handsome count, whose name was Otto. As the years flew by he remained unwed, and never so much as cast a glance at the fair maidens of the country round; for this reason people began to call him “Stone-Heart.”

It chanced that Count Otto, on one Christmas Eve, ordered that a great hunt should take place in the forest surrounding his castle. He and his guests and his many retainers rode forth, and the chase became more and more exciting. It led through thickets, and over pathless tracts of forest, until at length Count Otto found himself separated from his companions.

He rode on by himself until he came to a spring of clear, bubbling water, known to the people around as the “Fairy Well.” Here Count Otto dismounted. He bent over the spring and began to lave his hands in the sparkling tide, but to his wonder he found that though the weather was cold and frosty, the water was warm and delightfully caressing. He felt a glow of joy pass through his veins, and, as he plunged his hands deeper, he fancied that his right hand was grasped by another, soft and small, which gently slipped from his finger the gold ring he always wore. And, lo! when he drew out his hand, the gold ring was gone.

Full of wonder at this mysterious event, the count mounted his horse and returned to his castle, resolving in his mind that the very next day he would have the Fairy Well emptied by his servants.

He retired to his room, and, throwing himself just as he was upon his couch, tried to sleep; but the strangeness of the adventure kept him restless and wakeful.

Suddenly he heard the hoarse baying of the watch-hounds in the courtyard, and then the creaking of the drawbridge, as though it were being lowered. Then came to his ear the patter of many small feet on the stone staircase, and next he heard indistinctly the sound of light footsteps in the chamber adjoining his own.

Count Otto sprang from his couch, and as he did so there sounded a strain of delicious music, and the door of his chamber was flung open. Hurrying into the next room, he found himself in the midst of numberless Fairy beings, clad in gay and sparkling robes. They paid no heed to him, but began to dance, and laugh, and sing, to the sound of mysterious music.

In the center of the apartment stood a splendid Christmas Tree, the first ever seen in that country. Instead of toys and candles there hung on its lighted boughs diamond stars, pearl necklaces, bracelets of gold ornamented with colored jewels, aigrettes of rubies and sapphires, silken belts embroidered with Oriental pearls, and daggers mounted in gold and studded with the rarest gems. The whole tree swayed, sparkled, and glittered in the radiance of its many lights.

Count Otto stood speechless, gazing at all this wonder, when suddenly the Fairies stopped dancing and fell back, to make room for a lady of dazzling beauty who came slowly toward him.

She wore on her raven-black tresses a golden diadem set with jewels. Her hair flowed down upon a robe of rosy satin and creamy velvet. She stretched out two small, white hands to the count and addressed him in sweet, alluring tones:—

“Dear Count Otto,” said she, “I come to return your Christmas visit. I am Ernestine, the Queen of the Fairies. I bring you something you lost in the Fairy Well.”

And as she spoke she drew from her bosom a golden casket, set with diamonds, and placed it in his hands. He opened it eagerly and found within his lost gold ring.

Carried away by the wonder of it all, and overcome by an irresistible impulse, the count pressed the Fairy Ernestine to his heart, while she, holding him by the hand, drew him into the magic mazes of the dance. The mysterious music floated through the room, and the rest of that Fairy company circled and whirled around the Fairy Queen and Count Otto, and then gradually dissolved into a mist of many colors, leaving the count and his beautiful guest alone.

Then the young man, forgetting all his former coldness toward the maidens of the country round about, fell on his knees before the Fairy and besought her to become his bride. At last she consented on the condition that he should never speak the word “death” in her presence.

The next day the wedding of Count Otto and Ernestine, Queen of the Fairies, was celebrated with great pomp and magnificence, and the two continued to live happily for many years.

Now it happened on a time, that the count and his Fairy wife were to hunt in the forest around the castle. The horses were saddled and bridled, and standing at the door, the company waited, and the count paced the hall in great impatience; but still the Fairy Ernestine tarried long in her chamber. At length she appeared at the door of the hall, and the count addressed her in anger.

“You have kept us waiting so long,” he cried, “that you would make a good messenger to send for Death!”

Scarcely had he spoken the forbidden and fatal word, when the Fairy, uttering a wild cry, vanished from his sight. In vain Count Otto, overwhelmed with grief and remorse, searched the castle and the Fairy Well, no trace could he find of his beautiful, lost wife but the imprint of her delicate hand set in the stone arch above the castle gate.

Years passed by, and the Fairy Ernestine did not return. The count continued to grieve. Every Christmas Eve he set up a lighted tree in the room where he had first met the Fairy, hoping in vain that she would return to him.

Time passed and the count died. The castle fell into ruins. But to this day may be seen above the massive gate, deeply sunken in the stone arch, the impress of a small and delicate hand.

And such, say the good folk of Strasburg, was the origin of the Christmas Tree.

How many a Christmas has the old clock seen,
And always with the same unchanging face!
Come, let us wreathe him round with evergreen,
And do him honour for a little space.
Yet what is Time to Love? And Love is here,
To give us happy Christmas, glad new year.

How many tunes, by many people played,
Must through this room have echoed long ago,
When ladies swept the floor with long brocade,
Through stately dances minuetting slow!
But what is Time to Love? And Love, my dear,
Will make a Christmas in the saddest year.

How many children, in how many a romp,
Have wished the clock hands would not move so fast?
Come, let us wreath him now with merry pomp,
And bid him chime to heart’s content at last.
For what is Time to Love? We need not fear,
Love will be with us through the coming year.

And very soon the carol sweet and gay,
With Christmas melody will greet the morn;
“Christians, awake! Salute the happy day
Whereon the Saviour of mankind was born.”
Oh, what is Time to Love? And Love is here,
The Lord of Christmas and the changing year.

A Father Christmas

One popular mode of distribution is to have Father Christmas make the presentations. Whoever is chosen to impersonate this important character should be ready-witted, capable of saying something bright and humorous at least to the junior members of the party as he hands them their presents. He should be dressed in a red robe, with a long white beard and a wreath of holly on his head, a stick in one hand and a large bag containing the presents in the other. This, if not too large, he may carry in and put down in front of him; if too large, he may walk in front of a procession of girls and boys and take his place behind the presents, which should be hidden beneath a tablecover.

He may have a musical procession if he can sing, or some one may play the piano while the children sing.

All the gifts should be packed up and addressed, if Father Christmas is to distribute them, otherwise they may fall into the wrong hands.

When all are distributed he should lead this procession of boys and girls, who follow him singing a Christmas verse.

The Magic Cave

is another mode of distributing gifts. For this a corner of a room, or if a hall is used and is large it may be easy to arrange the structure there; a screen will materially assist, or two screens are even better. Any large, dried grasses and palms are handy to pile up on one side, on the other crystallized wadding made to look like stalactites by pulling it into points, gumming and sifting over glass powder, will give the effect of a cave.

If cotton, wool, or wadding of any description be used, the very greatest care should be taken that no light of any description is allowed to be near it, as it is of such an inflammable nature that mischief would be very unlikely to make the result, and therefore, during the making the cave, as well as using it, no light should be suffered to approach it.

At the door of the cave a fairy should stand with a want in her hand, and after making some mystic movements with it, she may silently enter the cave, bring out the present and hand it to the person for whom it is intended, then with her want beckon to another to approach her, and so on.

Pretty, soft music should be played during the distribution.

The Christmas Tree

still hold its place in many homes; it is very attractive, especially when the recipients of the Christmas gifts are mostly children.

The Bran Tub

When a number of presents of about equal value are provided, a large tub filled with bran, and the presents papered up and covered with the bran, is very good fun for children, as they grope about, uncertain which to take, and this provides amusement.

The Fairy’s Well

is also a source of considerable amusement. All the presents for this mode of distribution must be put into a deep tub, which may be decorated round the sides with evergreens and grasses, and made to look like a well. One or two short fishing-rods are used to draw the presents out with.

In every household we would strongly urge the use of Christmas decorations. All, from the oldest to the youngest, should unite in the work of gathering and preparing the decorations. There is much pleasure in united home-work; and great good will surely come from a general, cheerful observance of anniversaries in the home. And we should enlarge our sympathies, embracing some in our kindly remembrance outside our immediate family. Christmas decorations make the rooms seem cheery and homelike, and in the work itself of preparing them there is a positive pleasure. Any such work of home interest strengthens the home love. It makes happier and better children, as well as truer, more devoted parents.

It is a pity that we have not, except in occasional sections of the Southern States, the mistletoe, with its curiously forked branches, and their terminal pairs of pale green leaves and their crystalline berries. In old England, no house would be thought complete in its Christmas decorations without it. Thanks, however, for the holly, the laurel, the hemlock, and other fine native evergreens in tree, shrub, and vine, with which America is favored. For some tings the double fir is lovely. Cedar and the trailing evergreen are pretty when they are first arranged, but soon look dry and faded; while the hemlock will remain bright and glossy as long as we care for it, giving us no trouble about shedding its leaves.

Holly, where it can be had, is of course the special tree of the season. Its leaves bent into various curves, its thorny points, and its bundles of coral-red berries, make it the prince of evergreens for decorative purposes. It is a good plan to strip off the berries, and use them strung in bunches, as the berries get hidden when the sprigs are worked into wreathes and devices, and the berries bent into little bunches, dotted about the festoons here and there, look very effective.

Laurel is a very useful green in sprays, and the leaves may be applied with excellent effect in wreathes, or overlapping one another in borders.

Myrtle and box also are pretty in narrow borderings, into which colored everlasting flowers may be introduced. Of course, if chrysanthemums, roses, carnations, &c., can be obtained, the general effect is heightened, and the decoration becomes more elaborate and more elegant.

The best wreathes for Christmas decorations are those made in a rope of evergreen sprigs. There are several ways in which such wreaths are made. One way is as follows: Get a rope or strong cord of proper length and a quantity of twine and a handful of evergreen twigs. Begin at one end of the rope, which should be attached firmly to something. Arrange a bunch of twigs around the rope, and tie them on with twine; then arrange another bunch so that the leaves may conceal the stocks of those already on, and give the twigs a turn round them, fastening it with a running knot, and so on until the rope is finished. This must be done at the fastening of each bunch of twigs. Another way very frequently adopted is in place of a rope to use only a piece of strong twine to run through the wreath so as to prevent its falling to pieces, and instead of twine to tie the twigs on, to use fine wire, which must be firmly twisted round the twigs.

In all kinds of wreaths, the thickness of the wreath must be carefully regulated at the outset, and evenly maintained throughout, and care should be taken that all the foliage be turned in one direction. The wreaths may be made of one kind of evergreen only, or of any number of kinds mixed; the latter has the best effect. There should be an equal mixture of the fine kinds to keep the wreath light and sprayey. The holly and bitter-sweet berries should be fastened as best to imitate their natural effect. In fastening the wreath to a pillar or wall, take care not to put it on upside down, as foliage must not be placed in a direction contrary to that of its growth. When the wreaths are finished, before hanging them up they should be kept in some cool place, or else they shrivel up; if necessary, a little water may be sprinkled over them. If holly and bittersweet berries are scarce, a good substitute may be found in rose-hips, which may have a small piece of wire passed through them as a stalk, and several twisted together. Split peas may be passed through them as a stalk, and several twisted together. Split peas may be made to resemble holly-berries by pouring over them red sealing wax melted in spirits of wine.

Where definite shapes are required, there are several ways of securing the desired effect. Some use a groundwork of tin or perforated zinc.

Holly strung has a very good effect. It is very quickly done, and looks like a rich cord when finished. It is made by threading a packing-needle with the required length of twine, and stringing upon it the largest and most curly-looking holly leaves, taking care to pass the needle through the exact center of each leaf. Flat borderings, to lie along panels of cabinets, doors, or mirrors, &c., should be made of leaves sewn in strips on strong paper or yards of buckram cut in strips, and sewn together to the required lengths. Garlands or half-wreaths are best made on barrel hoops for their foundation. For making letters, there is nothing that bends to the shape of the letters so well as crinoline wires. Single letters are best cut out in strong paper, and the leaves sewn on with a needle and thread. Borders of evergreens may be placed around the room, and used to form attractive frames for pictures and mirrors. Scrolls, with mottoes bidding people to be welcome and happy, either laid on bright-colored calicoes with holly bordering, or else merely the word “Christmas” done in laurel leaves, and variegated with immortelle flowers.

In our first illustration, the monogram signifies Christmas, and is exceedingly pretty made either of leaves and berries, or moss, glued on cardboard, and edged with three different shades of immortelles. The border is made of bosses of different colored immortelles, and the outside row of star-points with fern fronds. Our second illustration is bold and effective device of a large space. The cross-pieces are stout sticks, which should be joined in the center by a cross-joint. They can then be wreathed with holly to suit the taste. The legend surrounding them is made of letters in gilt paper pasted on to colored cardboard, and the figure of the robin is cut in cardboard, and painted. Grace the dinner-table with an evergreen pyramidal center-piece, surmounted with a sugar-load figure of old Father Christmas. (editors note: I will post the images for this article shortly).