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1904]

St. Nicholas League

181

The chief of the superb collection is the Orloff diamond, which sparkles on the summit of the imperial scepter. Its history is as interesting as the stone is dazzling.

It formed at one time the eye of an idol in a temple of India. A French soldier, pretending to have been converted to the native religion, gained access to the idol’s temple one dark night, and, by some surgical operation best known to himself, deprived the deity of its bright eye and fled with the prize.

After passing through several bands it was finally purchased, for over half a million of dollars, by the famous Count Orloff, who laid it at the feet of Catharine II as the mast magnificent jewel in the world.

“Home again.” by Fred Bryle, age 15.

CHRISTMAS-TIME.

By Wilkie Gilholm (page 16).

When Nature clasps about her throat a mantle soft and white,And loops from ail the snowy eaves her glittering swords and bright,Oh, then we look for Christimas day—the day to most hearts dear,When sacred birth spread o’er the earth good will to men, and cheer.

Hail, Christmas morn! bright, glowing hearths expel the old Frost King,While from the church the Christmas bells their carols sweetly ring.Adown the stairs with merry laugh comes all the household band—White-locks and rosy Dimple-cheek, hand clasping close in hand.

And grandpa from the Christmas tree, a-glitter toe and top,Soon strips the groaning branches of their wondrous, generous crop.While grown-ups all receive the gifts which grown-up folks enjoy,The drum and doll, gay sled and skate, delight each girl and boy.

Then dinner-time, Oh, turkey dear! I see you brown and grand;Plum-pudding and the veal mince-pie support you hand in hand.Oh, then the laughing repartee, the true and jolly fun;No day is there like Christmas day, the real old-fashioned one!

Next, young folks hied them to the pond, all afternoon to skate,To try Dutch Roll, the Outside Edge, and learn theFigure Fight;Whilst grown folks harnessed up the horse, with sleigh-bells all a-chime,And even the horses seemed to feel that it was Christmas-time!

“A Heading for December.” by John A. Ross, age 16 (Gold Badge.)

AN EPISODE OF RUSSIAN HISTORY IN GERMANY.

By Phillip C. Gifford (age 12).

Near the little town of Eisenach in northern Germany, on a high forest-covered hill, stands the majestic old castle of the Wartburg. In the splendid Hoftburg is a glass drinking-vessel, mended in many places, which the guide pointed out to us, and cold as its romantic story. When Peter the Great started from Russia in 1697 to make a tour of all the principal cities of Germany and Holland and a visit to London, so that he could see for himself how other nations built ship forged metals, and made war, he wished to travel incognito. But the very first man he met at Zaandam had been in Russia working as a smith, and the Czar haying a striking face he was recognized at once. He took lodgings with a man by the name of Kist in two little rooms and a loft, in which he prayed morning and night. While he stayed in Zaandam he built a 60-gun ship.

On his homeward journey he made no attempt at secrecy. He was entertained by the King of England and the Emperor of Germany. He stopped at the Wartburg to see the Elector. At the feast given in his honor, he drank out of this glass and then threw it