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Show I Gifts at Baptism. Gifts to infants on their baptism ar of ancient origin. Formerly the sponsors spon-sors generally offered gilt spoons to the .- child. These spoons were called apostle spoons, because the figures of the 12 apostles were carved at the top of the handles. Rich sponsors gave the complete com-plete set of 12, while for those who were not 60 opulent four was considered the proper number, and poor sponsors would content themselves with offering one. In the latter case the handle of the spoon generally exhibited the figure of any saint in honor of whom the child received receiv-ed its nama It is in allusion to this custom that, when Cranmer professes himself to be unworthy of being sponsor spon-sor to the young princess, Shakespeare makes the king reply: "Conic, come, my lord, you'd spare your 6poons." The mug or spoon and fork offering of the present day appears as a very debased survival of a really beautiful christ cuing ffcring. Westminster Review. |