Show STUDENT LIFE 2S A Christmas Legend In the latter part of the seventeenth century there lived In the northern part of Norway a priest by the name of Peter Pass lie was a good shepherd and a great poet The wonderful clearness and simplicity of his style and his masterly way of portraying nature made him the most popular writer of his day Even to this day his writings are held in high esteem especially in the locality where he lived Greater still than his works was his personality out of which has grown the most wonderful legends wherein he was the hero People said he had been to the Wittenberg school of black art and that he was even greater in that profession than Martin Luther himself lie could at his pleasure make the witches dance in a hot skillet until they would scream and beg to be released The devil himself would obey his command as a slave would his master No one ever dared to enter his private room after dark A candle was always burning there whether he was home or not and the strangest sounds were heard from within Though many of these legends have only local fame a few have a wider circle One however has attained to national fame and is told from one end of the country to the other It appears that the King of Denmark and Norway had heard of the famous magician of the north and wanted to test his power lie therefore sent a command wherein Peter Dass was summoned to preach the early mass in Copenhagen on Christmas morning The King designed for the message to reach Peter on Christmas Eve thinking it impossible for him to be there This was in those days at least a week’s journey Peter Dass not abashed at this summoned the devil at once and the journey began Peter resting calmly on the old one’s back At first all went well In passing over the North Sea however Peter Dass noticed they were sinking and soon his feet were dragging in the water Suddenly the Ievil said: “What do you say Peter Dass when your lifeisindar- ger ?” Thinking “Now I’ve got him for as usual he will say ‘Lord Jesus help me’ and I’ll drop him’’ Put Peter Dass too shrewd for Old Nick answered sharply: “Higher up and quickly forward you black devil’’ Christmas morning to the astonishment of the King Peter Dass was in the pulpit and preached a powerful sermon During the sermon the King noticed that the preacher was smiling and after the service asked his reason “That I can not tell’’ said Peter “Put I command you’ said the King “Well then said Peter “I saw the Devil standing beneath the pulpit taking the names of all who slept’ in church The calfskin on which he was writing proved to be too small At first he tried to stretch it w ith his hands but found it impossible Furious at this he placed one corner of it between his teeth and gave a sudden pull The skin broke and the Devil struck his head against a sharp corner of the pulpit” At this the king laughed also COMPLETED PROVERBS “Until a man finds a wife he is only half thereafter he is still less” “lie who sings drives away sorrow but often causes sorrow to his neighbors” “True love never grows old It is generally killed bj' its mother in infancy” “Woman is the apple of man’s eye— the apple — Ex of discord” ANOTHER GOOD WAY Chimmy:— “Wot is de best way to teach a girl how to swim?” Johnny:— Well yer want to take her gently by de hand lead her gently down to de water put yer arm gently around her waist and Chimmy: — Oh cut it out! It’s me sister Johnny:— Oh! push her oif de dock BREAKING THE NEWS Johnny:— Mother may I go in swimming? Mother: — When my son? Johnny: — Yesterday if you please Lady entering a store: — Have you smoked herring? Clerk: — No stogie but I’ve smoked a Pittsburg |