A BOOK OF INSTRUCTION AND AMUSEMENT FOR ALL YOUNG PEOPLE. WITH NUMEROUS ILLUSTRATIONS. LONDON: JAMES BLACKWOOD, PATERNOSTER ROW. 1856. 249.4.58. TO MY READERS. IN the houses of both rich and poor all over the great German fatherland, they have, at this time of year, a Christmas Tree. Its branches spread wide over the table on Christmas Eve, and its lights shine and twinkle right merrily; and among its green leaves hang toys and presents for every one of the family. And as the clock strikes nine, they all— mothers and fathers, masters and servants, children and grandsires-crowd round and search for their allotted presents. It is a pleasant and a merry game. In our Christmas Tree, too, there are toys and trinkets for both young and old. Come and choose for yourselves. And as the Christmas Tree is annually renewed as the winter comes round—always bearing something fresh and gay, and different from the presents of last year-so we, too, in Our Christmas Tree hope to provide a treat from year to year, at which many shall make merry. And the Christmas Tree that we light up has this great advantage over its better known and more illustrious namesake-that the value of its gifts will not be forgotten or lost, or pass away with the season! CHRISTMAS, 1855. |