Show candles on the tree aglow holly red and mistletoe faces rapturous cries in the nursery wondering eyes stockings full and bulging out toy of every sort about music joyous glad and gay all of christendom at play I 1 season of the holy child dearest gift divine and mild aneel bonss dispelling ear tule the blessed yule Is beret rose hills powers in youths companion MANNER OF GIVING PRESENTS simple little embellishments such as ribbons seals and holly count for much at no time does the manner of doing a thing count or so much aa at the time ot christmas giving and while in a few instances there are those who overdo the outward embel ot gifts none ot us now like to offer the simplest little kemem brance unless wrapped in spotless pa per tied with gay ribbons and adorned with bright seals expressing merry greetings and this Is as it should be for the holiday season gains a great deal ot cheeriness and zest from the ot beribboned white parcels whisking to and fro and we do not regret the passing ot the yellow paper bundle ot our grandmother s day dut the attractive appearance ot the gift Is not all that counts we must be careful of the how and when and where ot presenting it the time that custom more and more sets apart for the exchanging of gifts among friends is christmas eve any time from dusk to midnight but christmas day itself is sacred to presenting gifts within the family circle some families put all the gifts in the library or living room in separate plies and then after a deliberate breakfast they all walk in and open the packages in the presence of each other never give a gift in person if you can contrive to send it or put it where it will be found awaiting the recipient when he or she Is alone tor when received in this way the gift makes its strongest appeal to one s appreciation in giving money even to near rela alves the utmost care should be taken to give it in the most delicate way possible especially it you know the money Is needed one ot the cleverest ays is to take a tiny japanese umbrella place the money in a paper bag and alter rolling and tying the bag around the up per part ot the handle underneath close the umbrella over it and tie with narrow ribbon another good way Is to present an attractive little booklet with a check or a greenback for a bookmark writ ing on the flyleaf note page 14 turning to see what Is noted the fresh new paper money la seen and the recipient appreciates the manner ot its presentation no less than the material benefit WHY YOU HANG STOCKINGS popular christmas custom said to have come down to Us from old italian practice there la a atory from italy alch some suppose to be the beginning ot the present idea of the christmas stocking years ago good old st nicholas of padua used to throw knitted purses with money in them in at the windows ot the poor these knitted purses were not unlike a stocking without a foot and later it became the custom ot the people to hang this knitted sack just inside the window that st nicholas might put something in as be passed when these purses went out ot use the stockings were substituted in the northern part ot italy it was a little too chilly to leave the windows open and the stockings were duag by the mantel place so that they might be filled from the chimney play santa it you will but 5 don t get your whiskers burnt v |