'ESTABLISHED IN 1866.
A NEWSPAPER FUR THE PEOPLE.
Terms of Subscription--SI. 50 Ptr Annum
VOL UV.
WELDON, N. V., TIIUltSDAY, DKCKM I5KH 25, 1!1!.
NO. 33
Children Cry
The Kind You Hare JHwayi Bought, and which hai been
la m for over oyer 30 years, has borne the signature of
0 and has been made under his per-
(Ayrfru. aonal supervision since its Infancy.
vhocv. rui jujow no one t0 ,jeceive you jn thiSj
All Counterfeits, Imitations and "Just-as-good" are but
Experiments that trifle with and endanger the health of
Iniunts and Children Experience against Exoeriment.
What is CASTOR I A
Castoria Is a harmless substitute for Castor Oil, Paregoric,
Drops and Soothing Syrups. It Is pleasant. It contains
neither Opium, Morphine nor other narcotic substance. Its
age Is its guarantee. For more than thirty years it has
been in constant use for the relief of Constipation, Flatulency,
Wind Colic and Diarrhoea; allaying Feverishness arising
therefrom, and by regulating the Stomach and Bowels, aids
the assimilation of Food; giving healthy and natural sleep.
The Children's Panacea The Mother's Friend.
GENUINE CASTORIA ALWAYS
Bears the
In Use For Over 30 Years
The Kind You Have Always Bought
i ot mtaum eoMai
Bargains for You
Besi Patent Flour
Compound Lard
Seed Rye,
Clover Seed,
Wheat Midline
W. T. PARKER & CO.,
Wholesale Cash Store
WBLOON, N. C.
Dixon Lumber Millwork Go.
Weldon, N. C.
MANUrAlTUKKlW OF
Building Material for Modern Homes, Sash, Do r
Blinds, Mantels, Door and Window Screen
MADE TOOKDF.lt AMI IIMiULAKNTIK'K SIZES
flood Materials. High tirade Workmanship Our Slogan
m (
m Hi)
m fill
The very newest
Georgettes and
m
We have a complete line of Ladies and
Gentlemen's Furnishings.
m
ti,-
...V ,
GOOD GROCERIES build up the system, stimulate the brain, and
increase your capacity to think. And right thinking brings best re
fults. Our prices make you think. Call in to see us.
L. E. HULL,
for Fletcher's
Signature of
11.5.0
27c.
2.25
10.50
3.65
SAVE s
moneyI
By trading at home and
still be a booster for your
town.
Many Bargains in Win
ter Goods.
styles in Organdies
Crepe-de.Chine. I
YVKLDON. N c
. g
Choice
Hams
There is nothing more
appetizing than a slice of
our choice ham. We have
anything you may want
in the line of meats. All
Kinds of Canned Goods.
WELDON, NX
Telling
If There a
Santa Claus?
Classic Answer of m Neui
York Journalist Affirming
a Little Girl's Belief
NK of the finest things ever
written about Christmas wiw
Hie editorial printed 20 years
ami bv the New York Sun In
uuswer to the earnest appeal of a little
New York girl to be told whether
Santa Clans really exists. Its author,
Frank P. Church, was an accomplished
Journalist and wrote much on many
subjects, but his fame will rest chletly
on this beautiful setting forth of an
eternal truth. With Ir. Clement Clarke
Moore's "A Visit From St. Nicholas,"
It Is one of the great classics of the
Chrlsimns Beoson.
The answer to the eternal question
as printed tn the Sun follows :
"We take pleasure In answering; at
once, and thus prominently, tne com
munication below, expressing at the
same time our great gratlllciitlon that
Its faithful author Is numbered among
the friends of the Sun :
'! Kdltor-I am tight years old.
Some of my little frlsndi uy there li
no Santa Claus. Papa aayt: If you
tea It tn the 8un it's so. I'leasu tell
ma the truth: I. ttn-re a Kama clauiT
'VIRGINIA O HANI.ON.
1U Weit Nlnety-nrst Btrcat.'
"Virginia, your little friends are
wrong. They have been affected by
the skepticism of a skeptical age. They
,in nut believe excent they see. They
think that nothing can be which Is not
comprehensible by their little minds.
All mlnda. Virginia, whether they he
men's or children's, are Ultle. In this
great universe of nura man Is n mere
Insect, an aut, In his Intellect, as com
pared with the boundless world about
him, as measured by the Intelligence
capable of grasping the whole truth
and knowledge.
"Toe, Vlrglnls. there Is a Rants
Clans. He exists as certainly as love
auti generosity nnd dn'bn exist, and
you know that they abound and give
to your Ufa Its highest beauty and Joy.
Alas ! How dreary would be the world
If there were no Santa Claus I It would
be as drenry as If there were no Vir
ginias. There would be no childlike
faith then, no poetry, no romance, to
make tolerable this existence, we,
should have no enjoyment except In :
sense snd sight. The eternal light with
which childhood tills the world would :
be extinguished.
"Not believe In Santa Claual You '
might as well not believe In fairies!
lou might got your pafia to hire men
How Big New York Orocary Hlrm
Keeps Down Rats
Vtoome Co., HuttiT A Clieeae Mir
rhauts. New York City ayi: "We
keep KAT-SNAI1 in our cellar all tlie
lima. It keeps ilnwn rata. Wa buy it
lv ttieKros, would nut he without it."
larmerauae KATHNA1 herauae rata
up all food fur liAT-riSAI'.
Three tinea, 'itie., Sue. and (I.
Bold and guaranteed by Pierce-White.
bout H. Do, WelOoa.
the Story of His Life
ex v
f. ;
ami
to watch In all the chimneys on Christ
mas eve to catch Santa Claus, but even
If they did not see Sunta Claus coin
ing down, what would that prove? No
body sees Santa Cuius, but that is no
sign that there la no Santa Claus. The
most real things In the world are those
that neither children nor men can see.
Hid you ever see fairies dancing on the
lawn? Of course not ; but that's no
proof that they are not there. Nobody
an conceive or Imagine all the won
ders that are unseeu and unseeable In
the world.
"You may tear apart the baby's rat
tle and see what makea the noise In
side, but there la a veil covering thy
unseen world which not llie str.itli.cst
limn, nor even the united slrepgil of
all the strongest men that ever lived,
could teur apart. (Inly fallh. f.incy,
poetry, love, romance, can push aside
Unit curtain and view and picture the
superual beauty and glory hey I. la
It all real Ah. Virginia, in all this
world there la nothing else real and
abiding.
"No Santa Claus I Thank tlod. he
Uvea and he Uvea forever, A thousand
years from now, Virginia, nay lit tiniea
Ill.lMKl year from now, he will con
tinue to muke glad ttie heart of child
hood."
Mr l:red White Sav, ' Don't Idle
Because You Only Sec I Rut
"I dnl. pretty Boon I found my relist
lull They ate my potatoes Altirtiy
inu' HAT I "t dead lata The
li-Ml lat r. They pain up the potatoes
to eat KAI SNAP." If there are lata
aionud your plaeo follow Mr. While's
etample.
I hri'i' Silea, I'.'u , one. and II.
Hold aud ffuaianliedhy 1'ierce-WhiW'
bead Hilar. Co., Weldon
Christ Is Born
Louise F. Elmendorf
The Kuril, ufe nicked it'll pair
through bloody years,
lias climbed Us weary long-fatheo
Calvary,
Where millions died, as Christ.
Hint they might free
Others from uromj and black op
pression's tears.
Once more noic through the world
comes to our ears
The song of all the ages, "Christ
is born."
Mute tongned to notes of joy have
been the bells.
And only childhood and old agt
dared try
To sing, so near the threatening
battle sky.
The song that told, though dulled
by shrieking shells
Whose bursting turned a thousand
homes to hells.
The wonder of the ages, "Christ
is bom."
Our faith in Qod has brought to us
the goal;
War-weary lands have peace on
earth again;
And in the scarred and fire
purged hearts of men,
Hade sweet and strong by suffering
of the soul.
Through trarailofa world once more
made whole.
Anew in human hearts the Christ
is born.
Dear Qod, the Christmas tongs are
fraught with prayer
That Thou wilt be with those
whose tears still pay
That we may have the glory of
this day;
that men may live their Pulltii;
that lives may bear
eternal witness for Thee, every
where I'rnrtaiminq that in ui the Christ
it horn.
Changed His Mind.
Iioris-I thought you and Ueorge
were going skating?
vlarjoile So we were, hut when he
sai, I had my hat trimmed with mis
tletoe he asked me to go for a walk.
hould He Quarantined.
Many phyniciana believe that an, one
wliu hai a had cold tdiould hecumplele
ly laolated to prevent other membera of
the family and aaaociatea from con
tiaetina the dmeaae, as colds are about
aa catching aa measles One thiuiiaure
the aooner oue rida Inmaelf of s cold
the Ichb the dantrer, and you will look a
good a bile before you rind a better
medicine than Chamberlain's Cough
Keiucdy to aid you in curing a cold.
tt5tSi5i5'i5iS(Ji5-!Bj
if
if
if
RALPH HAMILTON
Cwiirlflit, tWIH. W..HT& N..p.i.r UdIuB.i
0,1 J?wi) lit! bIiiiiIi'h of the pretty
VfVBy lioMic were pulled duwii
o 5lBJ and the i(l""i "f duk
$1 Mlirfy w" H'vluti'd ly one
M$$$ '" "" ro",u
(wSfwii wltiTt' the iiiournlnK
dfiilzt'iiK, Humid llrui-e
and IiIh wife. Laurii, Ht. Ttiey were
uwultlliK the arrival uf a taxlrnb or
dered In time to cntrh un evenlnff trnln
for Ttn Soulh. Hoth were aoinher
faced and wearied of mien. They hud
not aiiokeit lor Home time, for It wuh a
situation where wurd meant nothing.
'I'lle wife never lifted her tear stained
eyes, the hiiHhand wore a set expre
sIod upon his face as though exert in
the utmost will power to repress ttio
poignant einollou which consumed him.
Without, Joyous shouts echoed, the
sound of merry sleigh bells tinctured
the air with Christmas eve fervor, ami,
the contrast of this loiiK-autlclputeiti
holiday presentation with wtiat ttieyj
bad hoped and planned for, wrenched
their souls to the point of aniruisll.
Their lives desolated tieyoud repair,
poignant memorlea ever present, they'
Scarce dared to rest their glance upon
the portraits of two smiling, happy
faces looking down from a heavily
framed picture, for only that morning
they had received the terrible newn
that the originals, their only chil
dren, Don, aged alx, aud Etta, two
years his Junior, had been victims,
with many others, of a disaster by
cyclone aud flood that had devastated
ttie district where they had their win.
ter home In Klorlda.
All they knew was that the pretty
bungalow and many others, with their
occupants, had been swept awuy, and
hundreds were suld to have pertKhed,
and no word had been received us to
the fate of their two little ones, nor of
Ithoita Marsh, who had them In chargo,
Hboda Marsh had come Into their
thoughts almost as frequently as little
Ktla and her brother. Kach recalled
that It was u Christmas eve fiSr. years
Both Were Somber-Faced and Wearied
of Mien.
back when Harold Bruce had come
home from the funeral of ills mother,
bringing with him a wistful-eyed, Bad
faced mite of a girl.
"Laura." he suld to hla wife, "this Is
Ithoda Marsh, a poor orphan child
whom my mother adopted, who has
given her the tenderest care to the last
hour of her life aud was a blessing to
her old age. She Is left without a
home. Should we give her one?"
"We should, aud we shall," came the
quick reply, as Mm. Bruce gazed Into
the earnest, longing eyes of the girl of
fourteen, and read there truth and In
nocence and a soulful appeal to all
that was maternal and sympathizing
In her nature.
It proved to he a wise and fortuitous
choice. As the children came along
Ilhoda proved to I hem a true and lov
ing sister, nurse and friend.
Then came a test of the fidelity and
self-sacrifice of the girl Just merging
Into young womanhood. Both of the
children were taken down with a dan
gerous contagious malady. The house
was quarantined. Ithoda braved the
perils of Infection. Pay and night she
won the const nut attendant of Oon
and Ktta. She found so sure a loving
place In the hearts of those she had
benefited, that her eyes beamed with
Joy and happiness whenever she was
In their presence.
The physician who attended th
children was Albion Merrltt. He had
entered the profession the protege of a
ueullhy man. and hnd n'-T'irfrt a
clientele of prominence and a largo
Income. It was when the little ones
were convalescent that he had coim to
Mr. Bruce, who was a close iernona1
friend.
"Bruce," he aatd, "I cannot find
words to express my admiration and
respect, yes, and something deeper, for
that sweet little heroine, Rhoda, whose
studious care of the children, far more
than my ministrations, Is responsible
for their .ecovery."
"Yes,'' answered Mr. Bruce wUh
genuine fervor In his tones, "she la a
Chamberlain's Tablets
These tablets are intended ennccially
for indiirestion and constion. They tone
up the stomach and enable it to per
form its functions naluially. They act
generally 00 the liver and bowels to a
healthy condition. When you feel dull
stupid and consttipatfd give them a
trial. You ate certain to be pleased
with their effect.
iSllSr1
Ni 'fill 1
Sill :
:() :Mm
Ij'wpt of w..n
tl and constancy. Itotli
my wife and myself realize what we
owe to this poor waif who lias en
deared herself to us as though she
weie our own dullgliter."
IliH'lor Merrltt proved his expressed
sentiments by very often veiling the
llruce home after that. The children
loved him and he would drop In fi
hour or two and play with them and
talk with Itln. ila ami listen to her sing-1
It)) nt tin iiliitin, for music wllli Ithmlti
wtiri her one jfrcut pnnnioii. Then1
nt1. it was u visit im his m.rt Hint
IUiihIii illil tin) ttri'H Mill Willi 11 lit'lllltl
fill, tender tluxli ufni) h-r fuir, cxpies
Hive fucc, and one nljvFht tier kindly
ticiiefurtors Indulurd lu pltiyful bndl
nutfe when she Hoeompunled Doctor
Merrltt to ttie door.
"Iioctor Merrltt lias become quite a
t.HHU-eh, Ithoriu?" Iiitimnted Mr.
Hnii'i'.
"Three times In a week," spoke Mrs.
Kniee. "Kliuda dettr, lie In u loyal
cbevuller."
"I'lense don't," pleaded Hhmla, look
Injj serious, shy mid emlmrntssed. "Ili
to only u Kreut good friend to nil f ux,
and he has so enrmiri.Ked my slntzlm;
that It tins made me more finximis than
ever to please hlin."
Karly in November Mrs. Itrine, the
eblldre'i and lUtnda went to the
Florida winter home where the family
spent four months of the .v-'r. There
were anticipated Imppv diiys in the
p:-etty hiniKalow when Mr. Bruce
should Join thein Inn r on. It was just
two weel;s before Christina when Men.
llrtice decided to take it trip North and
remain with tier husband until the
holidays, when he would be ready to
n.'coiiipnity her to I air Villa. H was
a few days after lr r eoiuiiij; (hut her
husband said to le : : "1.:uir:i. !octor
Merrill has fairly h:uin i. the house
evenings slur;- you vent u..ay. I met
tin. tut In unit told him of our plans,
and he was especially press iin lu his
Inquiries about KI.oiIb. I presume he
Will be here this evenitiK to ask voll
iibout Hboda," hut the young pbysielau
did not materialize as expected, and
the neit dav the Urines understood
that he had left the illy.
It was two day.) before Christmas
when the dreadful news came of the
dlsuster lu the South. Kalr Villa had
been prartlraUy swept off the map;
their winter huiiu bad t n earn
uwuy by the ranliiK waters. Telegram
'contained vague aud distracting de
tails. They had no rea to hopt1
that their loved ones had escaped tin
! general fate of those who were
'tug amonif Hie former residents of tic
were now
little Inland town. Tin
ready to go South and seek a trace of ,
their two little children and of Hboda, i
In whom they had so trustingly left
ihem in charge.
"It must be the taxi," spoke Mr. I
Bruce, arousing with a sigh from his
painful reverie as the doorbell rang,
but he crossed the outer threshold to
come face to face with Doctor Merrltt.
The manner and words of the latter
were Jurrlng to the bruised setislbtll- i
ties of the bereaved father, for the
young physician wus radiant of face. 1
His eves suggested u fervent exhllara-;
Hon as he greeted Mr. Bruce w ith riot- (
! ous embrace and waved his hand gay- ,
; ly to Mrs. Bruce, who had followed her
' husband Into the hallway. i
"A glad and merry Christmas to
both of you!" hailed Doctor Merrltt
Jubilantly. I
"You haven't heard?" spoke Mr.
Bruce In a low, reproachful tone.
"Why, what do you mean?" quea
tloued Doctor Merrltt
"The disaster at Kulr Villa the chil
dren." "Why, bless you!" fairly shouted
the doctor "they are right herel" i
Harold Bruce wavered against the
wall for support. Mrs. Bruce uttered
a wild cream. Across the threshold
from the porch there rushed little
lit to and her brother. Joy, delight, '
ecstasy mitigated the shock of what at i
first stunned the frantic parents as an '
appearance from the dead.
"And last, but not least, she whose
mission in life seems ever to be to
bring healing and hupplness, and love.
"Who Said There
Do You Enjoy Your Meals?
If you do not enjoy your meals your
digestion is faulty. E.t modcrately.es- j
pecially of meals, maiticato your fo d
thoroughly. Let S hours elapse between
msslsaod take one of Chamberlain's
Tablets mmediately after supper and
you wilt soon tlud your meals to be ft
i. al pleasure.
uud peace to all those who are dear lo
her!" tn a gently roverenl tone con
tinued Hoelor Merrltt, and Willi su
preme satisfaction the young physician
viewer) the live reunited ones lu it
maze of embraces, kisses and tears.
Ithoda. cllniilng lo Mrs. llruce, hid tier
face lu niodesl confusion, as Doctor
Merrltt recited her brave battle
against the elements in n great storm
upon u bntlered raft until she had
brought tin- children to safety.
"Hut you, Doctor Merrltt?" pro
pounded Mrs. Bruce wonderlngly
"bow came you to be at Fair Villa?"
"1 arrived there after the disaster,"
was the reply, "I had k there on a
specific mission, later executed, to ask
our peerless Ithoda, queen of all worn-
H Covered It With Klnet.
unkind, to become my wife," and is
Ithoda extended her hand he covered
It with kisses and pressed tt to hla
happy, happy heart.
"If there was a mistletoe here I
would march you two promptly under
t tt !" threatened Mrs. Bruce, nnmersea
s In thrilling Joy and gratitude.
"There shall be one before Christ
inas morning arrives I" cried Doctor
Merrltt in tones that rang out like a
cheer. "Come. Bruce, you and I on a
limit for Sunt 11 Claus and the choicest
I gif's he can bestow, Oh I nowhere la
the world, and never to any others.
has there come a happier, merrier
ChrlBtmas than the one we shall cele
brate!" Slei
belli
pet! with
merry iingle,
church belli let
(he air t'ringle. while
with the m the door
belli mingle In a tyncoptied
core There'i the found of hippy
greeting at acqu&inttncei
re meeting ; there'i the knell
of Chhnnus He-Ming the clocki
nrtKeo'erindo'er; Johnnie'i trumpet'i
shrieking thrilly, Philip's drum md
fife'i not ilill, he mavkei Attempt to drown
but illy soundiof gunithaUoutiide roar.
There'i theiquediof Mollic'i dolly, and the
quavwk of Dollie'ipolly, and the icreami of
Uughter tolly from thli hippy linle
four. But above 4ll ChmtmAi noiies
mtde by little gtrlt and boyi U one thai
better thn til toys ii: more good
cheer ithotdi
in
tore.
Til
the
ound
of mother pitcrttn things
about out in the kitchen
u the ctlli (aSe knows
we're itchin') "Come to
dinner)1' through the door.
Ain't No Santa?"
CASTORIA
For Infant: and Children
In Us For Over 30 Years
Always bears
ibe
Ifoanra of
j.
BatUwIor's Open ttotaM.
i.aaWjlir .-J11.1S& '