Sfull^toeKing |
j TVteh fo Bryant ^jj
, ? i ? - ? ?? '!???? ? ? '
^r\, 1 TJCH weather, and Chrlat
uu but a few days away.
The cfly was properly
?jY\3Mr dressed for the occasion ]
! ^heLjPv Snow covered the atreeta
*Dd th9 *tei>* leadln* to
fgD^sTrt the beautiful homea on the
boulevard where every hol
iday wlah of the people
would be (ratified.
The brl(ht-?yed, thinly-clad boy on
the etepe of "one of theae beautiful
homea waa not wanting any time In
envying the rich. He had waited
there for borne mlnutee for the big au
tomobile he knew waa due to arrive
from the hoepltal about that time each
day.
The big car pulled up bealde the
curb. A big. kindly-faced man a topped
from It and started up the atepa.
"Bay. are you the doc?"
The surgeon paused half-way up the
steps and glanced at the small bit of
humanity balanced on the atone hand
rail.
"Why, yea, my little man, what can
1 do tor you?" he asked tenderly, aa
be stepped over and put a band on
the lad's knee. He waa ramlltar with
the type of boy who had greeted him,
and It waa a type of boy he liked, a
fearless. Independent, little wait of
the streets. In the great hospital, of
which he waa the bead, they were his
most uncomplaining and appreciative
patients, even if they were not the
profitable onea.
"Nothln' for meself; It's fer me brud
der." The little fellow spoke earnest
ly and looked straight into the eml- 1
nent surgeon's kindly gray eyes.
"Your brother? Oh. 1 see. Well,
what's the matter with your brother?"
"Cripple." The one word, with the
saddened tone, told the whole story
to Doctor Harrison. He knewthe rest
of the tale from long experience, and
asked no further questions. 1
"Come In the house, and let's talk It
over."
"Say, doc, I don't believe you want
me to come in. 1 ain't got np money."
" "Why, that's lust the reason I want i
you to come In." the doctor replied,
with n merry twin kid In his eye. and i
ran up the steps closely followed by
the small urchin. As the door closed i
behind them he seized the youngster i
In a playful bear hug. and landed blm
In a heavily upholstered leather chair. I
It war such a chair as that boy bad
aeen In the great shop windows, but
had never thought of sitting In. and
the warmth of its soft cushions gave
a pleasant thrill to his shlvsriag lit
tle body. ?
"What U your name?" ,
"Tom McOuiru. Tou know Pat Mo- ?
Quire that tends bar down In East
Downey street?"
"No, I don't believe I do."
"Well, he'a me nnele, and he aaye
yon set tale leg, time of the big rail
road emaah-up at Hanover."
"Tee, 1 remember going out to Han
over with a lot of other doctors at the
time of the accident; but that was ten
years agp."
"That don't make any difference to
Uncle Pat. He never forgets favors.
Ouess he ain't had many In his life."
"Did your Uncle Pat send yoa to see
me. ' asked the surgeon.
"Naw, but It's because what he told
me 'bout you made mejthlnk It might
be all right to come and see 'bout
Pete's leg."
"Where is ypur brother. Thomas?"
">w, don't call "me that. I ain't
Thomas. I'm lust Tom. Raggy Tom
they call me 'round the square. I sells
papes on the southwest corner of the
square. Business ain't so bad this
time o' year, and I'm breakln' In
Pete."
"He can walk, then, can he?" The
physician had slated himself close to
his small- caller, and was giving his
whole attention to the case In hand.
"Tell me more about Pete."
"Pete was born that way. Doctor
said one leg wasn't no good and never
was goln' to be, so when Pete got big
enough, 1 saved me pennies and
bought him. a crutch, and after 'while
he got so's he could use 1L Then I
took him down to the corner and he
helped me sell papes In rush hours.
He likes to be doln' sonthln', but he
gets awful tired boldin' the papes and
hangln' on to his crutch."
. "Does he stay there all day?"
"Naw, not all the time. Business
ain't rushln' only mornta's and
ntghts, and Pete stays home part of
the time. On cold days he gits shivery 1
'cause he can't get 'round very fast '
so's to keep himself warm."
"Is there any news stand on - that ,
corner?" the doctor asked, becoming
still more Inter ssted.
"Naw. we dassen't put one up. Btlly
Hahn, he's the feller what had that
corner before me, he tried to get J
leave to put up a stand alongside of
the 'ountain where there's plenty of
room, but the aldermen turned htm '
down. He didn't have no pull, and 1
ain't got none neither. Me and -Pete
was up on the northeast corner, and '
when Billy got wet feet and pneumonia '
and died, we come down to his cor- J
Mr"
"Tom, are your father and mother
tiring?"
"Maw la. I dunno much about paw.
He ain't no good, ifcicle Pat aaya he
eeSi him hangln' round once In
awhile. Maw'a got two younger'n me
andePete. I'm ten and Pete'a goln' on
nine. Maw works awful hard takln'
care of the kids and aewln' fer a de
partment store. She aaya to ma one
time: 'Tom, you look after Pete and
HI take care of theyhung una.' Maw
can't hardly get enough to'- buy 'em
clothes-ao I chip In when bfs Is good.
Say, I read In my papea 'bout
that kid yon Ixed up laat week, and
ITT bet ten cents Pete'a leg's last like
that' Thinks I, when I read that. 'I'm
goln' to see Doc Harrison and tell him
bout Pots.' J-Jsw, dec. on the lereL
how much do yon charge for g job like
that?"
*" ' - ?? ;4
...... ... I ...?
"I received (3,000 (or that opera
tion." There was a merry twinkle In
the doctor'a eye that waa loet on hie
little visitor.
"Aw, eay, doe, wot yer gtvln' me?
You didn't make all that In one day?"
"Yea, In two hour*. Tom."
The youngster's eyea filled with
teara, and he bit bla Up to bold back
the aoba. A good leg meant ao much
to Pete, and he would gladly give
(3/000 for one for him If that were
possible, but the doctor might have
aa well naked for the moon In, pay
ment for that leg. Hla vialon of Pete
without the bated crutch waa faat die
appearing, but be would not let It get
away entirely.
"Don't yon never charge no leaaT"
the boy managed to ask. without giv
ing away to the buret of teara ready
to flow at hla dlaappolntment.
"Oh, yea. Indeed; but you naked me
bow much I received for an operation I
like laat week'a, and I never per- i
formed one ]uet like that before. It
waa very difficult and peculiar."
Tom alld out of the chair aa If to
go. "I gueaa lt'a all off, doc. 1 ain't
in your claaa."
"Tom, alt down there." The doc
tor'a tone of command waa flUed with
more laughter than aeverlty. "Let'a
talk buaineaa."
The youngater obeyed, watching the
eminent aurgeon with n puzzled look,
uncertain whether the great man waa
really going to make a eonceaalon or
upbraid him for taking hla time. Faint
though It waa, a new hope eprang up
In the amall breast. Poaalbly there
might be aome terma of payment that
he could meet aa be grew older and
could earn more than the tew pennlea
that meant the day'e proflta on hla
paper aalea.
""Tom," the doctor continued, "I
know Pete."
"You know Pete?" Tom gaaped In
amaaement
"Yea, I have Been him down by the
fountain at the equare. You know we
specialists always keep our eyea open
tor anything In our line, ao I have
noticed blm several tlmea aa I passed
the corner. Of course, I can't aay posi
tively. but I think an operation will
give Pete two lega Instead of one.
Now, how much can you afford to pay
for such an operation?"
The youngster's eyes .shone like
two live coals. 8o the doctor knew
Pete, and thought he could cure html
Waa It a dream? Tom pinohed hlm
telfi to make sure It was all real. Yea.
bePwaa awake all right. How much
could he-afford? He felt he could af
ford anything to give Pete a new leg,
but bow little that waa compared with
ten-year-old man of affair*, and ton
ad to a patient waiting In the outer
ode*.
Tom McQulre bad known all too lit
tle of bapplneaa In bit hard tan year*,
but tbta waa aurely the climax of bla
earthly bliaa. A new lag for Petal
Could anything be flnerl He ran moat
of the way back to the aquar*. and
nearly knocked the cripple over In hla
aagerneae to tell tb* good news.
."Say, Pete, you're goln' to.hare' a
new leg."
"What?" the bewildered Pete waa
too Intent on aclllng paper* to bother
about new leg*.
"A new leg, I any. Doc Harrison,
what 1 told yon 'bout, la goln' to make
one fer yon."
"Aw, gwan. Wot yer gtvln' me?"
grunted the akeptlcal Pete, Ignoring
the dhtbualaam of the head of the
houae.
"Com* on, I'll ahow you."
"Naw, you don't You don't get me
loein' what leg I've got."
"Honeat, Pete, I'm on the level. The
doo aaya he beta he can tlx you up
good aa new."
"Nlxy fer me. I'm fer keepln' me
bum prop. I reada how a doc saws
off a boy'a lega Juat for fun."
"Aw, Pete, don't be allly. The doc
wod't hurt you."
"Don't you belteVe It" Pet* replied,
and atarted down the aldewalk to get
away from temptation Tom knew
Pete'* (tolid strength of will, and de
cided on another tack. He felt In his
pocket and found sixteen cents. Count
ing out hive pennies, be ran across the
street and soon had Dr. Harrison on
the wire.
"Hello, this you, doc??Pete won't
come?Naw, he's ' afraid you'll hurt
htm. He's read how a doc cut off a
feller'* leg Just fer fun ?Send up a
pape? Sure, but you'll have to hide
yer sign, or be won't never come In.?
All right, 111 send him up. Pleaae
don't hurt blm, will you, doc??Good
by
Tom ran back to the corner. ~
"Hey, Pete," he called, aa soon aa
he was within earshot of the cripple,
"a guy lust told me to bustle a Star up
to 345 Weet Alden avenue. Get on a
Prince street car, and hurry up. Here's
a dime for carfare."
"There ain't no profit In that," Pete
grunted, "go yerself an' save the
dime."
"Do as yer told. I'm boss o' this
corner," the young financier retorted,
shoving Pete toward a car as fast as
the cripple could hobble. "Get off at
Walnut street and walk west half a
block," he shouted as he helped Pete
on the car platform.
For the first time In twenty-two
years Dr. Harrison's sign was hidden
as the cripple struggled up the steps
and rang the bell. ,
"Here's yer pape," be said in a mat
ter-of-fact tone, holding out the first
edition, when the maid opened the
door.
"Paper?" asked the girl, pretending
ignorance. "Step In a moment and
I'll see if It belongs here."
Pete stepped inside and took off his
cam- The girl disappeared, but return
ed presently, and pointed to an often
door down the hall. Pete hobbled In
the direction pointed, and entered the
doctor's outer office.
"Sit down a minute." came a pleas
ant voice from somewhere, and Pete
The Physician Had Seated Himself Close to His Sn.all CsilM and Was Glv
Ing His Whole Attention to the Case In Hane.
f f
what the doctor would expect! Both
>at In silence tor oreraimlnute. The
surgeon knew what was going on In
the youngster'* mind, but thought best
to let him come to his own conclusion,
rhe boy fumbled his cap nervously
while he considered the grist ques
tion, and at length looked up suddenly
Into the surgeon's face. There war no
loubt or uncertainty In his face or
tone a* he announced his decision.
"Doc, the only thing I've got In the
world Is me corner down by the foun
tain, where me and Pete sells papers.
[ cant give you all that, for I wouldn't
lave nuthln' for me and Peto to live
>n and to help maw with the kids. I'll
all you what I'll do, doc, 111 let you
lave half o' that cofrier. You can hire
b kid to sell papes fer you and hare
tome dough left, but you won'*, make
10 93,000 In kingdom &ofne."
The doctor knit his brows and Tom
magtned he could see a quick refusal
if his proposition, but the kindly gleam
tame back Into the doctor's eye and
rom began to hope again as the doc
tor pondered over the proposition for
1 moment. Then the. doctor said:
"All right, Tom; I'll accept that
proposition, and we'll draw up the
Lgreement^ right now. Let's see, this
s December eighteenth. We'll start
he new arrangement beginning with
fanuary first." _
In the course of a quarter of an
lour the paper was duly prepared and
ilgned and witnessed, and Tom saw
he doctor (lie tt rare fully In the strong
iox In hia sate. With a hearty hand
ibake, Use surgeon bade adieu to bis
crawled up Into 'Jjti of the Urge
chain. The next <4* minutes were
about the busiest cripple had ever
known. Pictures, actuary, books, fur
niture?never In Ida short Ufe had he
seen such an at ray. How could he
possibly remember all to tell Tom?
Before the survey was half finished,
however, a tall man with a kindly
face stood before him and held out his
hand for the paper. Pete handed him
the 8tar and arose to go.
"Hold on a minute, how much do 1
owe youT' .
"Two cents." V.
"Two cents?" the doctor shoo ted, so
loud that Pete feared he had over
charged him "Didn't youlnay carfare
to get heref" )
"Yea, Tom paid thatJl-T'ete smiled
with relief.
"Tom? Who's Tom?"
"He's me big brudder." This time
the smile bespr re pride and thank
fulness.
"Likely sort of chap?"
"Yes, sir; Tom's all right" The smile
was wider than ever.
'.'Do you know who I am?" the doc
tor asked in his kindliest tone, plac
ing his hand on the boy's shoulder.
"No."
"I am Dr. Harrison." The smile dis
appeared and the boy" began to trem
ble at mention of the awful name.
"Possibly you have heard of me?" ,
"*e?ea," Pete whispered. too
scared to realise whether he; was say
Ins "yea" or "no.",
"Now, Pets, take a good look at
! me," the doctor continued as he arose
"1. - ? ' ' ' ?
from hla chair shd stood in the mid
dle of the room for the orlpple'e In
spection. 'Tn not really each an aw
ful man, am I./PeteT
"N?a?o?o." Pete annwered. more
because the surgeon's tone needed a
negative reply than because he knew
what be was saying.
"Pete, I like little boys," the doctor
weot on, ignoring the lad's terrified
expression. "And if kind of think
some of them like me. Do you think
you could T"
"Ma?a?ay be," the youngster was
doing hla best Jo be brave.
The doqtpr glanced at the open door
and nodded tb the maid.
"Tom McOuIre Is out at the door
and wants to see yon," she said..
"Bend him In," the surgeon an
swered heartily. "Well, I never. Hel
lo. Tom!"
"Hello, doc I Done anything to
Pete's leg?*'.
"Why, no. we haven't mentioned
legs. Have we, Pete?"
"Not yet," said Pete, with a feeling
that somdtMttk 'teas still to come.
"Say, doc, look at It now, will yon?"
Tom exclaimed energetically and be
gan to take off bis brother's shoe.
"Hold on a minute, Tom; this Isn't
the place to examine legs, and besides.
wssa all thBBbt trying to get that let
ter open and part of It was torn be
fore tbe envelope would give up It*
secret Tbe note was abort and type
written but It took Topi nearly lite
minutes to read It aloud. Each word
seemed to bate taken a new meaning
to the astonished boy.
"Mr. Thomas McUutre, 148 WUlow St.,
City.
Dear Sir:
I hate tbe honor to Inform you that
the application of McOulre and Har
rison for a news stand adjoining tbe
fountain on tbe southwest corner of
tbe square baa, been granted and pos
session may be taken at once. Be
lieve me. Tours very truly,
"JOHN J. 8WEENET,
"Alderman 17th District"
"Great Jewhillkens," Tom shouted,
and hla' mothdr.*" too, made some sort
of an exclamation that was drowned
In the racket of tbe two smaller Mc
Oulres, who felt called upon to add
to the general din.
"Me and the doc's goln' to hare a real
news stand light where I wanted It
Don't I wish Pete was home to hear
the good news! What do you think
o' that, mawT A great big news Stan#
right at the fountain where we can
V Jt-wO^. a. I ' I
Jgi* "Aw, Gwan, Wot Yer Glvln' MoT" Grunted the Skeptical Pete.
I never make an examination without
the owner's consent"
"Tell the doq you want to have yer
leg looked at" Tom commanded lb a
tone that bore authority.
Before Pete could answer, the doc
tor had Interposed a good natured ob
jection.
"Tou keep out of this, Tom. This
'? Pet?'? teg, and he shall hare the
whoje aay about what Is done to that
leg."
This announcement was a revelation
to Pete, who had had visions of being
bound and gagged while the doctor at
tacked his leg with a common hand
saw.
"U that straight ?" he asked, look
tag up dubiously into the surgeon's
face.
"Absolutely!" the doctor exclaimed
I won't touch a linger to that leg till
you give me your consent."
"There, Pete, what'd 1 tell you." Tom
broke In, but the doctor frowned at
him to keep quiet. The eyes of both
Tom and the surgeon were now on
Pete.
"What'11 It cost?" The cripple
seemed about to yield but wanted one
roore obstacle cleared away.
"Never mind the cost, Tom and 1
have arranged that between us."
The look of appreciation and grati
tude that the cripple brother gave
torn at that moment would have re
pald any aacrillce-yes, even the whole
or the corner paper privilege. Pete's
?yes glistened with teardrops as he
turned to the doctor,
, " ?1? *br,d' doc ?? "wything you
*?ut. only don't hurt me too much,
say, ain't Tom all right?"
ins-sle1 be '*?" th? doctor replied,
3?? the cripple to the inner
*
ChTf."LWM bU'y a" be could be on
t-hrlstmas eve snd It was well after
tTe'd^dhMWaen "* cr**led lnt0 bis lit
tie bed. tired and lonely, for Pete had
*one to the hospital three days ?
"\k?ew awa* d<"?n deep in his
imVfi. , u *ould do#p good to hang
p his stocking, but hope dies hard
In the young and the stocking was
pinned to Uie side of the chair.
The sun had shone for an hour or
more when Tom awoke and realised
that it was Christmas day. He hardly
dared to glance at the stocking but
summoned up courage and looked at
the chair where it bun?. The stock
and TV ?.mb'y Tom """bed over
k 1? mal,# iure and then
crawled beck under ,he bedclotheg
For the flsst time in hla life the rough
ness of the world had overcome him
?nd In spite of all the strength he
could muster, the great hot tears
crowded Into his eyes and flowed down
his cheeks. He burled his face in the
pillow and cried a great big soulful
cry.
"Tom! Tom!" it was his mothsr i
calling, but he only palled the bed
clothes over his head and pretended
not to hear. He would not for the
world let maw know that he would
cry. he who was supposed to bear the
burden of the family on his shoul
ders.
"Tom! Tom! Tom!" come the call
again, "here's a letter for you."
A letter for Tom? Such an event
had come into hla life only twice,
once when the fresh air society of
fered him a week in the country which
he could not afford to take, and a let
ter from the license bureau with his
newsboy badge. The dry side of the
pillow served as handkerchief and tow
el. anf, holding his bead low to hide
hla red eyes,, be ran Into the next
room.
"John J. Sweeney," he read on the
oonwn- of the envelope, "why, he'a the
aldefman frdm this district.' Fingers
tell tea time* more papes! Aln t the
a bully Christmas present? Say, maw,
the doe s a brick and don't you forget
H - ' * r,' ' "*"
"Well, hurry up and get dressedor
you won't hare much Christmas Day
left *'
Tom vaulted chair and cradle on his
way back to the bedroom and slammed
his tear soaked pillow Into a corner
of the room as an expreasion of his
feelings toward tears.
"A real news stand. A great big
stand all to ourselves. I can see Just
how It's goin' to look. Gee! Aln t that
grand!"
But greater news was on the way
and before he had pulled on the empty
stocking be heard a noise In the other
room and peeped out, Th?r? 1*
big man In a fur overcoat at the door
with another letter and he was not the
postman either. ?
"Tom, here's another one for you.
The summons was needless for Tom
?as already at his mother's side and
had seised the white envelopfe.
"James B. Harrison, M. D., he read
"That's about Pete. Jlmmlny Christ
mas! Say, maw, you open It My
hands Is all shaky.
Mrs McGulre could not make much
better headway opening the envelope
than Tom. but she managed to pull
out the letter and Tom began to read
laboriously. % .
"Mr. Thomas MqGuire, 148 Willow St.
Dear Tom v '*"
Merry Christmas from Pete and the
doc. Hurrah for Pete! The operation
was a great success. Pete villi be run
ning around without a crutch long be
fore next Christmas. Come mound to
the hospital at lour o'clock. Sincerely
rour friendjAMEa ? HARRISON."
,,j> *g By the way, Tom, I don't be
lieve 1 shall have time to take care
'of my halt of that newspaper pr rilege ,
at the corner, so 1 return herewith the
agreement cancelled. Leave a P?P?r
at my house every night while Pete Is
in the hospital and we will can It
square. >
?Three cheers Ier Eete," Tom yelled,
and gave Ihe table such a kick with
his bare toe that It almost made him ,
howl. A little thing like that was not ,
allowed to break up the celebration so
he grasped his mother's hands, and (
swung her around and around In a 1
"ring around a rosy" until the poor
woman hardly knew whether It was
Christmas or Fourth of July.
? Ain't this a grand Chrlatmasr he \
shouted. "Ain't the doc bully. Alnt
Peter the luckiest feller In the whole
W''Ydes,' yes, yes." groaned Mrs. Me- ,
Quire, trying her best to regain^her
breath and balance. O, Its?too? ,
good?to be true!" 1
"Well, It Is true, fer I knew the doc ,
wouldn't fool me. Ain't he the grand- ,
""Tom you'll never be ready to go to ,
the hospital by four o'clock If you l
don't get dressed." <
Tom rushed Into the bedroom and ,
came back with the empty stocking ,
that had hung on the chair. 1
"Say maw. Ill shut my eyes, and you
stick them two letters in me stocking
and I'll pretend I found ^
Ain't this a bee-ootlful Christmas? ,
(Copyright, by W. O. Chapman.) 1
Friendly Advice.
"Tea," said the Fairy Prince, "you ,
may have whatever you want for a
Christmas present,'?
"I will choose," said the Fortunate
Person, "either a wife or an automo- ,
b nk^w fOoUah!" exclaimed the Fklry
Prince. "Why do you not select
[ something that you can maaagnT
2L' 1 ?
REV. G. H. DURHAM
IS AGAIN PRESIDENT
NEARLY ONE THOUSAND DELE
GATES AT CONVENTION IN
RALEIGH.
MEET NEXT AT CHARLOTTE
Foreign Mleelon Report |, Very Oretl
fying.?One Seeelon It Held at
Wake Forest.
ZTJrZ :
ente^wl'th SUU" ?onventl?"> ?5 del- j
wlth ?r"7 indication that the
w'11 re?^ 1.000. Rev. C. i
H. Durham of Winston-Salem waa re
elected preeident for a third term ,
Other officer, elected were: Vice
^ ? ?? Vann. Wln.ton-Su
P Kin.. M H'gh P?lBt ?"* H
Chili n nt KtTy- ""-e'et'ee. Dr. ,
Brew,r' w?><e Poreat College ,
-7' *' OIlmor*' Louiaburg;' ,
I^Tk * ,ecret*rr.,R?v. Living. ,
?tone Johnson. Haleigh; auditor, p. H.
Igga. Raleigh; treaaurer, Waltera ]
Durham, Raleigh; member of heart
trustees to succeed Rev. W. c. |
Pruett, Charlotte.'*" U *"
aa^hl ^on,v?nt,6n "elected Charlotte <
Doctor fVk tneeting piece and named (
ooctor O Kelly, pastor of the F1 at
tW C?Urch' ??*?- to de"."
the annual sermon. Tie report rco
omendlng Charlotte a. ?e,t conve-v
F^nkUm*" F?d bT P H*"itl of
Frankllnton and waa adopted unanl- i
mouBly. In view of a pressing invita
tion that came from Charlotte. H
Foreign misaiona were up for ape
oonaideration in the Daptlat State
convention with an interesting report
presented by Rev. Bruce Benton and
stirring talks on mission and several
pBel1' bT Rev' J' F- Lowe 1
n w u f MU,lon Board. Rev.
" w Herring and Rev. W. E. Crock
er missionaries to China,-and C J
zsrsjt?* -"?
rep?rt0 MPaented by Mr. Ben
ton showed Southern Baptist mission i
work in the papal countries ol.Argen
tlna. Braail. Italy and Mexico and the
Pagan countries of Africa, China and
ir-:,.th4t ,there "" 278 missionaries
WKh 635 native helpers; 380 churches
339 schools, 9.379 students. 13 medc
"'"'onaries and eight hospitals
and 13 dispensaries that treated the
Past year 74,899 patients. Norfh Car- I
ollna paid to foreign missions 354,318 <
a,lL?d ftl1 coming year to raise
W0.000. The foreign missionaries re- H
ported the past year 5,252 baptisms,
a gain of 1,831 over any previous I
year, the biggest gains being reported I
frtm China.
The convention considered Baptist <
educational matters at the sessions in 1
wake Forest, especially gratifying re- I
Jf.CV" W*ke Pore#t College, Mere- <
dith College, Chowan College. Oxford I
Seminary and the various secondary I
schools. The report as to Wake For- I
est College showed annual expenses i
of 362.850 of which 40 per cent Is tak- I
en care of by the student fees and the (
remainder covered by endowment. I
The eightieth year of the college finds I
It with an enrollment of 445, a gain 1
of 11 over last year. ,
The report on Meredith College I
showed 355 students enrolled and the "
endowment grown to 190.000.
Chowan College reported 95 stu
dents, and Oxford Seminary 100. The t
report in secondary schools showed I
360,000 raised during the last live <
years to pay ofT Indebtedness and the i
property valuation of the three col- t
leges and 15 country schools control! ?
ed in North Carolina by the Baptists 1
of 31,394,210, 194 {eachers and 4,000 I
students. ,
? 1
To Maintain Good Roads.
Ashevllle.?The policy of the new
board of Buncombe county commis
sioners, as announced at the meeting
held recently will be to maintain the
present roads which traverse the
county rather than to buHd new
ones. Reaching this decision, tue
commissioners went over many of
the highways In the western section
of the county to familiarize them
selves with prevailing conditions.
$40,000 Fire at Ashevllle
Ashevllle.?Damage to the amount
of $40,000 was done by fire a few
nights ago to the plant of the Ashe
vllle Milling Cqptpany, on Haywood
street the loss being covered by in
surance to the amount of $25,000. The
lire had Its origin In tfye motor room
it the southeast corner of the build
ing and spread with such rapidity to
S.B sections of the structure that la
borers on duty at the mill were unable
to use the Are extinguishers which
bad been placed to every floor.
Klneton Pushes Improvements.
Klnston?The purchasers of $100,
100 of municipal 'bonds voted here
last June, are expected to make pay
ment for the Issue before January 1,
md actual construction of extensive
itreet, lighting and sewerage exten
ilons will be given Bret consideration,
tnd will be of proportions to connect
ap every house within the corporate
limits with the system. The adminis
tration expects to decrease the sur
prisingly low death TCfe of last sum
mer considerably. If the work can be
completed by the hot inonths.
Passes 15,000,000 Pounds.
Greenville.?November was a great
month on the Greenvllld tobacco mar
ket Contrary to the general Impres
sion that all the tobacco la~out of the
country. It poured Into this market
snd farmers went home with money
In their pockets. There were really
only two sales days last week, but
Ihoae two days meant the passing of
over 1,000.000 pounds from the farm
ers to he buyers at satisfactory prices.
About the highest prices ruling were
up to about 40 cents, but averages of
from 20 to $0 oenta.
V ? S
Initmonal"
SUNMrSflKE
Lesson
<h> k. o bp:lush*. AcWn* Director of
Sunday School Course.) " ^ ?
LESSON FOR DECEMBER 20. j
THE ASCENSION.'
I.ESSON TEXT-Lsk. 21*0-11: Acts t<U
IL
'in[J)KN*TEXT-H? wu tikm up: and
? cloud rooelvsd Him out of their sight.?
Act. t:t.
We hare now reacbed the final lea
?on of the present coarse In the Ufa
of Cbrlst, next Sunday being devoted
to tbe review. The lesson committee
have selected the continuous account
of tnls final earthly act of our Lord
as (lven us by St Luke, for the Hook
of Acta la a continuance of the Qoe- %
pel of Luke (Acta 1:1). Inasmuch aa
this Is really but one account we will
consider only that found In the Acta.
I. Tha Proof of tha Resurrection,
w. 1 3. This book of "Tha Acta" la ar
continuation of what Jesus "began to
do" and gives ua the record of how ho
continued this work by means of those
"whom he had chosen" (v. I). Fol
lowing hla resurrection ho gave them
commandments "through the Holy
Bplrit," vis. In the power of
the Holy Spirit. A like honor rests
upon every believer to hear and to
ubey the commands of Jesus given In
the power and demonstration of the
Holy Spirit. The alt-sufficient proof
(see also I Cor. IS:4-8) was that Jesus
had been seen for a period of 49
days. This Is the "many Infallible
proofs." During that time they not
alone saw the risen Lord, but con
versed with him. ate with blm, and had
communion with him. During these
days of communion be gave tbem his
commands as to the "things concern
ing the kingdom of Qod." This en
taljed a burden that these commands
be proclaimed In ever widening cir
cles to the utmost bounds of the earth.
Additional Experience.
II. Tha Promise of the Father,
w. 4-8. Tbe disciples were not to be
gln the proclamation of their message
until they were fully equipped, until
they had received that all essential
preparation, the enduement of the
Holy Spirit. Here, again, the Scrip
tures are to be fulfilled (Isa. 44:3;
Joel 2:8, also Luke 24:41). That ten
days' delay was not time lost, for time
spent In preparation Is never time
lost. We must not suppose these
men as not regenerate (John 13". 10;
15:3), but as lacking an equipment
necessary for the successful execution
of their Important task. We aa be
llevera cannot call him Lord except
by the power of the Spirit (I Cor.
13:3), but we do not all have that In
diting of the Spirit which alone will en
able ua to render effective service.
This le an additional experience, but
one .open to all who will honeatly and
Intelligently aeek It (aee Acta 8:13,
and other referencea). This experi
ence la (a) commanded, "charged not
to depart till, etc.." (b) to b* preceded
by "repentance," and *c) to carry with
It authority, v. T R. V. It does not
mean, either, temporal power nor la It
the prerogative of a visible church
and confined to an elect few. This
kingdom Is s spiritual one. Ths pro
tram of Jesus Is Spirit-filled men to be
its witnesses, and tq begin "at Je
rusalem." A true reception of the
Holy Spirit means world-wide mission
ary endeavor.
Presumptive Ignorance.
III. The Preeent Piece of Jesus.
re. 9-11. Even yet the disciples failed
:o grasp the Idea of a spiritual king
dom as evidenced by verse six. Ia
t moat emphatic way he telle them
that It Is not for them to know the
'times and seasons which the Father
aath set within his own power" (au
Ihorlty, v. 7, R. V.). Their power Is
lot to be earthly, but spiritual (?. t).
It Is the height of presumptive ignor
ance for any one to set the date of
Dur Lord's return (Deut. 29:29).
Jesus has-given us explicit tnformv
tic% on this question (Matt. 24:3d),
and his parables all warn us to
"watch." While Jesus talked with
hie disciples concerning ' the recep
tion of this new power and the place
where they were to begin to exercise
It, his feet were parted from the earth
ind a cloud received him from their
sight as he ascended "Into heaven"
(Luke 24:61; I Pet. 3:22; see also
Sen. 6:24 and Heb. 9:28 R. V.). His
parting benediction was an adjuration'
to a life of service not In their weak-(
aess, but In the blessed enduemenk
if power. Yonder Into heaven he had
gone to prepare a place, for us (John!
14:2, Heb. 9:24.) There" he ever llvi
eth to Intercede for us (Heb. 7:2()j
His presence there makes us , eter
nally secure (Rom. 8:34, Heb. 7:16),
His presence In the heavenlles Is the
guarantee that we, too, shall one day "
le "with him" (John 12:28, Rev. 2:11).
lazing thus Into the heavens, "look
ng ? uto Jesus," two men In white
raiment stood by and asked them the
-eason tor their upward looking,
rhere Is a time for gazing upward and
k time to be going about the execn
1on of the Master's commands (see
:h. 7:66). Did they expect another In
:erv?ew? If so the answer to their
juestlon Is suggested In the words of
he heavenly messengers, "this Jesus,
which was received up from you Into
leaven, shall so come in like manner
is ye behold him going Into heaven"
[R. V.). For nearly two thousand
rears the church has been waiting for
mother Interview with her risen. Lord.
A'e are looking for another Jesus, but
' this same Jesus" just as he went,
personally, visibly,?and In "great
[lory." What a mockery to say that
[R. V.). What a mockery to say that
)e came ln!,1874 or any other year,
>r that In 1914 he came with spiritual
>ower, the manifestation of which In
ret to be seen. Or on the other hand,
f we honestly fsce his parables, what
leed that we "watch" If his coming be
lot till arter the millennium? This
promise Is-,the great hope of the
ihurch (Tltns 2:18); for that return,
we are not only to be ready, but earn
istlv looking (Hfcv. 22:W).