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‘ When the long, lighted train pulled into Fairwood on Christmas Eve. Roderick Dale was there to meet the little guests who were coming to spend the holidays with him. Mr. Dale swimg the children to the platform. “Fiveâ€"«sixâ€"sevenâ€"oight,” he counted. Then he hurried them out to a big sleigh and tucked all of thorn in under furry robes. The driver them in under furry robes. The unver spoke to the horses, and away they went, shaking music from their silver bells acmss the snow. When the eleiit‘n reached the house When the sleigh reached the house; ten minutes later the children swarms. ed up the bmad steps. , Mrs. ’. Dale met them at the top. “All eight of you here?" she asked. “All but Rick Payson!” they criedfi “He couldn’t come!" VRoderick's father' stopped short. “But I counted eight,” he declared. The children did not know how that could be; they had thought he was counting Roderick in, they said. “I’ll count them again!” cried Rod- erick. So in the light that streamed from the hall he counted his guests carefully. Three Prestons', two Tor- reys, a Morton and a Rayâ€"that made seven. Then he stopped short in front of a dark, silent little figure that stood apart from the rest. “Who is this boy?" he asked. Sure enough, who was he? They hurried into the lighted hall, and all eyes were turned on the stranger. He was very small and was bundled up in a big overcoat. Between his coat collar and his funny peaked cap a pair of large black eyes stared sol- emnly out. “This little ijothyis having the same trouble another child had,” he Iaid. “Only in a whole town He couldn't find anywhere to-stay." “What .is your n-ame Dale. The little boy replied briefly that it was Timothy. “Timothy what?” “Baxter. And I was going alone to visit my grandfather at Baywood. Where is my grandfather?” Mrs. Dale turned to her husband. “0 William, how did you get hold of this child? His people must be Timothy ate his supper slowly and afterwards withdrew to a corner, where he watched the other children's games with wondering eyes. “We shouldn’t dare play with him,” they said. “He looks so solemn.” When it was nearly bedtime Rod- derrick wandered into the sitting- room. There was a frown on his face. “I wish that stupid little old Tim- othy didn’t have to be here!” he com- plained. “He is so funny and big- eyedâ€"like an owl. And mother says he’s to sleep in my room. Nobody asked him here, and there’s no place for him to stay.” Roderick’s grandfather laid down his book. “What child?” Roderick inquired, interested. “And what town? It; must have been a pretty poor sort of Lace, I should think. Where did the y sleep. grandfather?” The old man picked up his book ngain. “In a. stable, so the story runs," he said. “The name of the town was Bethlehem.” Roderick's che ks g'rew scarlet. He walked over to t e window and press- Qd his hot face to the frosty glass. A big gold star was shining just pbove the sky line. After a while he filmed away Without a word. A few minutes later the household was startled to hear peals of laughter from the playroom. Timothy, wander- ing round alone, had found Roderick’s hobbyhorse behind the door. It was lain that he had never seen such a _ ing in 9.31 his life. He stood in front of it and shouted with delight. Then some one put him on the horse 5 back, and he gathered up the reins, still shouting, and began to ride. He rode hard and fast until it was time to go to bed. Suddenly L155 door opened 5‘ Timothy Baxmr stood on the t hold. Ho Wis Messed in a su Roderick’n night clothes, aad his anxious!” Mr. Dale looked worried. “The boy must have thought the conductor called ‘Baywood,’" he said. “And then I scooped him up with thq rest .and didn’t notice." He hurried away to telephone to the other station, while the children took off their wraps and began laugh and talk again, still casting curious glances at the odd little stranger. “I’ve talked to his grandfather,” ‘Roderick’s father said, coming back. “It’s all. right. There’s no other train to-night, and so Timothy will stay here with us.” Early file next morning the chil- dren came creeping downstairs to get their stockings. They gathered in a joyful circle round the bright fire in the living mom. 2-: The Uninvited Guest 2-: BY VIRGINIA STANARD 9n asked Mrs. ihiahair mres- t of been overlooked. They eyed one an- other in dismay. “Perhaps mine fell‘ on the floor,” Timothy suggested gently. , At Ihae Roderick scrambled to his feet. “See here, Timothy," he said. “You run back to bed for just five stood up all over his head; he gazed with pleasure at the half-emptied stockings. “Which is my stocking, please?" be asked in a clear, high little voice. No one answered, and so he spoke again. “If yo’u please," he repeated quietly but firmly. The children looked uncomfortable. This was too bad. They realized what had happened: in the bustle and confusion the unexpected guest had minutes, and then come down and get your stocking." As the door closed, he turned quick- ly to the others. “We'll have to make up a stocking for him," he said. “And there's no time to lose.” When Timothy appeared, five min- utes later, he had his share with the rest. Throughout the Christian world the Christmas season is celebx‘atqd in much the same spirit, though cus- toms differ greatly, and in some lands church-going is more general than in Canada. In Italy, particplarly, there Canada. in mats is much church-g mas tree is little are exchanged, a! great dinner, the a capon, which t as the Canadian The Russian working people have always seized upon Christmas as an excuse for ceasing all work for a somewhat] lengthy periodâ€"sometimes for a month. Before the recent revo- lution “Kolenda.” was the celebration on Christmas Eve, when the peasants Queeerhriâ€"ghfias Customs of Other Lands. Russian Wot a seized upon for ceasing hat] lengthy month. Befo “Kolenda” “ Le known, ti and each fa 1e feature c akes Elf d the Christ- though gifts family has a » of which is 8 same rank othy’s grandparents had come to him. I The family Went to look for Tim- othy and found him riding the hobby- horse. He was decked out in all his Christmas presentsâ€"a red toboggan cap. a drum, and a horn slung over his shoulders. When he heard that his grandfather was ready for him he dismounted briskly and pulled a pair of colored reins another Christmas giftâ€"from his pocket.- He fastened the reins on the horse's shaggy neck. “Come along, Racer!" he cried. Poor Timothy, he had made a ter- rible mistake! He had understood that the hobby‘rorse, too, was to be! his, to take home, and he believedi that if he only pulled hard enough it, would move forward as well as up and! down. He had even given it a name! When he found out the truth, he bowâ€"I ed his head with its gay toboggan‘ cap and hid his face in Racer's mane. He did not cry; he only stood in dumb despair. A bigger boy would not have made such a mistake, but Tim- othy was only five years old. “Mother,” said Roderick, “let him have the horse. He must have it.‘ Don’t you see?" “Do you mean that, Roddy?" asked Mrs. Dale. Roderick nodded. “I don't want it" so very much," he said. So they lifted thehorse into the back of the big sleigh, while old Mr. and Mrs. Baxter looked on, smiling, gathesred about the houses of the nobles, sang carol-s and scrambled for the coins tossed to them from the Win- dows. Then came a great masquer- ade, when peasants of all ages dress- ed themselves to represent animals, the idea being to perpetuate the memory of the lowliness of the Sa- viour’s birth in the stable. In Rumania it is l(he custom to bless the Danube on Christmas, and a procession of priests and people dressed to represent biblical charac- In Rumania bless the Dam a procession c dressed to rep ters moves thr ing chants and river. wooden Any 0: is regarded as and sure of good cross 1 .e who 0 repre xtremely forum uck for the year )ank of As the sleigh drove slowly out of the gate, the hobbyhorse bounced up land down. Timothy sat erect, drum, i horn and all. It was a strange sight; i all the way down the road people turn- :ed round and looked. Roderick stood ! on the porch laughing. The last thing lhe saw, as the team turned a bend, ' was a spot of bright red bobbing gay- ‘ly in the Christmas sunshine. and the Dales and all the little guests stood by to watch. Timothy would not stir until-the horse was firmly tied in with its head toward the real horses’ heads. Then, when Mr. Dale started to lift him into place between the old people, he squirmed out of his hands and scrambled over the side. “I will ride Racer,” he said in posi- tive tones. No one could stop him. He alimbed to the hobbyhorse’s back and sat there, clutching the reins. Christmas was abomhed by Act of Parliament in the reign of Cromwell. As many mince pies as you taste at Christmas, so many happy months will you have.â€"Old English Saying. Parliament in the reign of CromwellJ , . As many mince pies as you taste; Grandpa 3 AdVlCe. at. Christmas, so many happy months; “Gran-loaf: 535d 3 5N3“ girl, “I will you have.â€"Old English Saying. 1 ned your advxce. I have WHY 58791115)“ . i five cents to spend on Cousin Ethel’s fiflnf“ , |wedding present, and I want to give And the angel sald untolsomething that looks twice as much them, Fear not; for, behold, I as it is. What do you suggest?" . - ' 0 “Well," he' replied, “in considera- bnng you gOOd hdlng" 01: great tion or! the high cost of living. I should 10y, Which Shaunbt? to 8“ peo- buy seventy-five oe'n'bs’ worth of rid. ple.â€"â€"â€"St. Luke. 11.. IO. and boil it.” a large illuminated star mounted upon a pole, and with this star is a guideâ€"es the Wise men were guided to Bethlehemâ€"a procession winds through the streets, the men chant- ing the “Giori-a in Excelsis.” After the parade a great supper is served, and the Christmas Day has begun. In Norway they have a pretty cus- tom. Above every ridge pole is hung a sheaf of Wheat, :1 Christmas feast for the birds. ’ A qua-int ceremonial is observed in Holland on Christmas Eve. At mid- night the men of the towns and vil- lages, dressed in varied costumes, meet in the public squares. One is selected and inbo his charge is given ing‘ he Mexican Christmas is r mixed week of spor 1d religious Observances. 'I never fails to attract or do the bull fights. ,e‘s grand masses are arches in .the morn- gs being elaborately decorated with palms and flowerl. Great chains of flowers are carried to the churches by the children, who parade through the streets singing Christms songs, bands preceding them. In the afternoon there is danc- ing and merrymaking. In Spain the religious note is predominant at Christmas and there are curious peg; formances of mystery plays. In France the_ Christmas celebration lasts three days, and .is the occasion Tor much charity. In the south Q; France there is a quaint custom of blessing the Yule log, not unlike that of England, and on December £5 there is a great family supper. With all 3006. wishes in): u 312mg whrtstmus and a gamut-gm 33m. What constitutes the happi- ness of Christmas? The fact that for one day in the year at least, a larger proportion of mankind contrives to forget self, and give a thought to “the other fellow” than upon any other day. In other words, on one day of the year we con- sciously allow the primiplos and rules of Christian a‘itruism to sway our conduct; for one day in the year we look on the world as the Master of Christmas look. ed upon it, with compaesion. mercy, and love. We say: “It’s Christmas," and we make a genuine effort to conform to the spirit of Christmas. And what is that, spi: is the spirit of peace m which is the inevitable ‘ of good-will among men onstitutes the happi- hristmas? The fact ne day in the year at larger proportion of \I n ? It n earth, outcome