AChr istm aMeie'w
'O Betrdefiem. aslumber amidst thy starlit hills.
(Those fair Judaean pastures, whose? ancient lore fulfils
jThe prayer of Priest and Prophet, the hope of Heaven and Eartlt-
Dast hear, in dreams ecstatic, the anthem of Love's , birth ?
Dost see in wondrous vision, the aureole -crowned King
The star-led Magi, speeding, their precious gifts to bring ?
Dost see the Mother bending with yearning heart and eyest)
perUutjncarnatex5avieur.-.thej,Lord of earth andkiesfr
p'heartrdost'hear the story Tor art thou tooTasleep
so weary with the vigil mat human hearts must Keep?,
Dost know mat thou 'dost shelter. liKe Bethlehem of old,1
Thp Son of Cod incarnate, and gifts of grace untold ?
And as the star illumined The Way, that holy night.
Thy life may guide all wanderers, with Love's eternai. Ught'
O Bethlehem, awaken! O Heartarise and sing! '
HThis ... is arte -Advent Glorious, .the. Birthday jof JhyjCikg f
Elizabeth, .RugglegJ
CHRI5TAAb
ADBD was the book-
keeper, for it had been ;
a wearisome day in
the office. An almost
constant hum, hum of
voices, and footsteps
going in and out, and accustomed as
he was to it, noise grated on the
bookkeeper's nerves, for it was near
the. close of the month's business,
when the trial balance wou';-S be on,
and the balance of the year expected.
He was tired, brain tired, nerve
tired and soul -tired, and the long
rows of figures seemed Instinct with
life, little dancing impsr trying tor
dodge and hide from his memory, lur
ing him on to errors which would
afterwards cause endless search and
trouble to discover.
The manager had gone homeland
the other employes, having finished
their work, were at liberty to go also.
"Going, home, Mr. Smith?" asked
the clerk, a fresh cheeked young man,
whose voice fell pleasantly on the
bookkeeper's ear. He had been
young, care free and sanguine him
self once, and he had a tender feeling
for young men.
-Not just now, Charlie. About an
hour's work here yet." He looked
after the Jaunty, elastic figure, with
a slight sigh for his own lost youth.
He was old; be felt it in every nerve,
joint and brain cell, and he wondered
how many years of rest it would take
to obliterate the impress of life's toil.
There must be figures imprinted'on
bis brain, he thought, and figures
danced before his eyes at niarht when
he would sleep, in never ending pro
cession. "It's going to be cold to-night, Mr.
Smith, said the janitor, when at last
the -safe was locked and the book
keeper struggled into his overcoat far
too thin for the weather, old and
worn in the battle of life, like him
self. "Yes. Light the fires a little early,
Johnson, please, for I shall be on
hand before the others.""
"All right, sir." The janitor looked
after him with a-pitying smile. "Poor
old "duffer. 1 expect he knows he's
got to put In his best licks if he holds
'his job. Itts a hard world, that's
what It is.- .
It was a' small cottage home where
the weary footsteps at last halted,
and there was a female figure on the
little porch in front. .
"Is that ypu, papa?"
"YeSi Mattie) How is my dear to-
- "How is my dear? Your dear is
all right,! she answered, with brisk
pleasantry, as she locked her arm in
his, and v; swung "the door wide open.
"I know you are tired. 1 can feel
your muscles quiver.;;
' "Yes, Mattie. How warm and sav
ory you smell in here, he said, inhal
ing the pleasant odor and- - warmth
gratefully. It . was such a cheerful
little sitting room, with pictures
.tastefully hung, draped windows, and
restful easy chairs invitingly placed.
In one corner stood: an organ and in
the warmest comer a couch, wherethe
I father could stretch; his weary limbs
,nt nlfrht and listen to the old sonss.
which, better ihan the finest opera
music, resieu ms iaggeu ; uraiu auu,
lifted f him out of , his present into a
happier' past or into, the swlftcom
ing future, where the; books wir be
4
opened, and credit given to a poor,
weary, old bookkeeper who has, done
his best.
Just beyond, the little tea table
with its snowy cloth and glimmer of
modest silver and glassware, beck
oned temptingly, but Mattie shook
her finger in warning.
You are not
even to look toward the dining room
until I call you, papa," she said,
laughingly. "I should have had sup-
per all on if you were not such an
unpunctual party. Sit down now and
get warm while I am gone."
He sank into the red covered rocker
'With the slippers standing suggestive
ly before it, with a smile. It is so
good to be at home, and. Mattie was
such a cheery little homekeeper that
his mantle of care slipped off for the
moment, and his weary eyes drooped
dreamily in the warm firelight.
"I do believe you have been nap
ping, papa, Mattie said, as she came
In ten minutes later. She did not tell
him that she had dropped a tear, and
a kiss as light and soft as a downy
snowflake on bis tired eyes to awaken
him, as she stood beside him, her
heart swelling with a great pity and
love.
"Come, dear, waffles and tea will
rest you, I know, and Aunt Dean has
sent in a platter of fried chicken and
some of her fine, white clover honey."
"Quite a feast, my child, said the
father, smilingly, as he took his seat
before the plate of steaming waffles.
"Aren't you .afraid I shall develop
gout if 'we live so high?"
It was their little joke, and each
laughed merrily as Mattie poured the
tea. "How Is it to-day, jDapa?" she
asked, wistfully, as the meal pro
gressed. She dreaded, too, to' bring
in any of the day's worry or griev
ance, but she had been so anxious.
"Not much better, daughter. Mr.
Rollins was coolly civil, that was alii
and the manager fretted over a mis
take which was more his fault than
mine. It is of no use to disguise the
truth, dear. I can feel it in the air
that there will soon be a younger
bookkeeper at the desk, and the old
man will-have to take what he can
get. ,1 can see they put their heads
together and speak . low, and are
careful to close doors when 1 am
about. They k mean to let me down
easy, I suppose, and not hurt my feel
ings; as if anything would hurt worse
than to know one has outlived his
usefulness." ' Arid all the pain and
trouble of the weeks past; seemed con
centrated . in the tremb lingsblj&erness
of his .tonier. 4 tThere, love; I have
made you cry. forgive me, dear.- It
will be all right, Mattier'. The Lord
will never leave nor forsake me-Awe
have His promise," ; and his; fingers
threaded her brown hair gently .and
with a smile of trust, though the tears
were starting, as : she clung around
hisneck, patting his withered cheek
and teljing him how she loved him
and how tob dear and good he' was
to be the slave of heartless men who
onlycared for business and money,
and could -not; appreciate the honesty
conscientious! service he had givenc
them. - . ' ' "
' It was her foolish,.-woman's - way
of looking on the,, one side when her
love, throbbed so firecely that: her
heart seemed bursting and breaking
with its weight . The tears seemed to
clarify the mental air; aa' an electric
storm takes' out the malaria of the
material atmosphere, and both could
smile again as they went back to the
sitting room. - J
vi The world was big enough for all,
and surely-there must be ample room
somewhere for a tired father whose
lifelong
record of faithfulness , and
integrity had been "his c capital. She
sang for vhlm, tender, quaint songs (
which cheered " and soothed him,? and 1
played soft, restful- melodies which j
smoothed, the knotted, care worn b
brow into tranquillity and filled her
heart with serene peace.
After all, what did it matter ? Only
a few short years, and then rest -the
rest which remains, and whose deep
mysteries none come : back to tell.
What would it matter, there whether
he t finished his, life work with one
or the other, vo' that it was finished
hpnetly and faithtully. k.
- He went to bed early and stretched
his tired limbs with deep thankful
ness for home and the home love
which so took the sting out of life's
contest. Mattie was so like her moth
er, dear girl. God had been very good
to give him the devotion of two such
loving, faithful souls- and thinking
so of her, he fell asleep.
It was 'the day before Christmas,
and struggle against it as he would,
the bookkeeper's heart was still
heavy. The first" of the year would
doubtless see the new incumbent,
whoever it might be, installed in his
place, and he watched every ss
plcous arrival with a feverish anx
iety, t
There was more th.an ever the air
of mystery In the ofilvie to-day, and
the manager whispered, to the clerk,
and the clerk directed off-hand in;
quiry, which might mean everything
or nothing to the cashier, and so it
went until his heart was like lead,
and his hands trembled so with .ner
vous chill that he could scarcely make
his figures.. , l
: "The manager would like to see
you, sir, in his private office, n said
Tom, the office boy, In his ear, and he
arose, trembling.
"Well, Mr. Smith," said the man
ager, in hs easy, prosperous tones;
CHRIST AND THE CHILDREN.
: .,- .,8? Stmt
BY OTT1LLIK
he had his thousands invested, be
sides his position, and had no need
to worry over the price of coal or
breadstuffs. "You have worked for
us about ten years now, I believe."
The bookkeeper lifted aip a haggard
face, in which there was not a trace
of: color. It had come, then, and he
must w carry ' the news to Mattie on
Christmas Eve. "Yes, sir, ten years
come January, " he managed to stam
mer out. if he had looked behind
him he would have seen the door
filled with smiling faces, but he was
too miserable to care who saw his
.misery. 1 , . , "
"Arid all these years you have
served us faithfully." , ...
.I have tried. to, sir."
"We are riot much given to senti
ment, Mr. Smith, b ut it occurs to - us
that.it is only just, sir, 'jthat we cele
brate this holiday occasion with a
little token of our appreciation. Tom,
you beggar, come along here with
that package. . - '
The office boy came, grinning with
a. great bundle which he laid in, the
manager's arms. "We have noticed;
sir; that you' are growing old, as well
as the rest of us, and that' your step
is not as elastic as wnen you. first
a ana ou carmi. fieac
TPtuapu men
mm
0
entered our. employ, pursued .the
jnanager Sis' he cut the strlngvand un?
rolled a' handsome fur jined coat, the
very odor of which suggested lux-,
uriohs warmth," wand' that: you hover
over-the fire a little more, conse
quently, thanwhen your young blood
kept you warm; and as we wish to
keep you' with us for another ten
years, if youdesire it, we thought our
most appropriate gift would1 be some-
thing like our regard and, esteem for
you,, something warm . and lasting
hang ,lt Smith; I cold . the boys'' I
couldn't make a speech standuup
here and try . on this ; coat; for the
tailor is waiting to: exchange it if It
doesn't fit. " 5 V, . 4 ' , . v.. :
The dazed bookkeeper stepped for
ward like : one in a dreamr and J Jield
out i his arms mechanically, and the
manager patted and smoothed ; the
luxurious garment across - the ; ' thin
shoulders, which had lost their up
right, sturdy carriage by long stoop
ing over the books. .
"Such a time, sir, as we have had
getting your measure, " remarked the
cashier, with a : genial smile, i "You
were sure to look around if we had a
word to say to each other.;, ;
; "If , the rest are through with the'
floor, perhaps I can get in a word,
added Mr. Rollins, rtl am authorized,
8ir,tp glv9 you an assistant after
January, and with that help :- your:
hours will be shorter, and the work
less confining.. ,
"I dont mind the work, indeed I
don't, cried the bookkeeper, laugh
ing like a boy, though the great tears
were rolling down . his cheeks un
heeded. " ; , - , J.
"I've never been afraid of work,
sir, but I have felt that-1 no longer
gave you satisfaction; I -cannot tell
you all this means to me," holding
out h is trembling hands to Mr. Rollins
and the manager. "I think, it is the
happiesrday of -my life, srst - ";.
"What we 'meant; it should be, a
merry Christmas, and may there be
many happy returns of the day to
you, sir," replied the manager cor
dially. ;
Mattie was listening with the anx
ious heart which she -always carried
ROEDERSTEIN. '
From M The Christ Face in Art.
of late when her father stayed, later
than usual, for the first sound, of his
familiar step. The kettle was singing
a merry invitation to tea in the
kitchen, and a pair of fine, new slip
pers stood.waiting before the fire for
a pair ofweary feet, Matties Christ
mas gift to her father. . -
I ' . . ( . r , - : .
. She threw the door open' wide as
he came quickly; up the snowy steps,
and she hardly knew him when he
stepped in, so wrapped in t warmth
and loaded with bundles that he
looked ' like a veritable Santa Claus,
his face, radiant with joy. i
Is it merry Christmas, papa?" she
asked , looking up in his face with
surprise and hopeTN- . v'- f? ,
"A meriy Christmas, dear," he
answered; lifting her .expectant face
for a klss.; "It was all a mistake my
darling, and I will tellyou all about
it as we take tea." Mrs..F. M; How
ard, in The Bookkeeper.- .
s; Two French' army dogs have drawn
light ambulances; .the, invention of a
lieutenant, with a load 'of 160 "pqunds
each, for some .375' miles," without 'a
breakdown, showing how they, can be
used in war. ; , ' , , .,1 . '
aooa will
UNITED STATES SENATOR
FROM SOUTH CAROLINA
PRAISES PE-RU-NA.
" mmm ' '
'
Ex-Scsator M. C Bqtler.
DfapepHa is Ofbtn Caused by Catarrh
of the Ste ma chPii rtwva ReUevtt fjatarrh
ol th9 Stomach and U, Thertfwe a Remedy
for Dyspepaia,' ' - tit
rHon. M; Q. Butler. " U. 5. Senator
from South Carolina for two terms, in t-
a letter from Washinjrton. D. C writes f
1 to the Peruna Medicina Co., aa follows: Z
fl oan recommend Perifrtd for t-
; ; dypepna, divti sto t ach trou ble. 1 "i
have been using your medic tne for ' -Jla
fiort period: and I feel very l
4Mici! relieved. It incite rl a
Z.ivanderiil. medicine, '' besides a T
" ' .
GATABRH of the stomach is the cor
rect name for most cases. of dysi)epsial
Only an internal catarrh remedy, such
as Peruna, is available. A
Pcruna Tablets can how be procured.
Ask your Druggist for a Free Pe
runa Almanac for 1009. :
Peruna is sold by your local drug-
; ; '
So.' 5008. 7 :
. .. . , ., L, i , ; ; ' ; '
l jus n n RSa ampte itreatment.
1 2 II II I vS Rbd cosa ndt
IfT, U t Kpw mP Ftu!a Cui e and
:- ' "- . : 1 Book acnt by mail
.:...:rJf.ll- FREE.,.;;;.
REA CO.. DEPT. B. A MINNEAPOLIS.1VIINN.
I mmmmmmmmammmmmmmmmmmmmmm,
, iTIiore r? are peoiiie Mik C-are .; loo
. pleasant . "and - too courteous be-
really
good.
i Capndine .Cures Indigestion Paln.,
Belching,' Sour Stomach, and " Heartburn
from wnaterer cause. It a Liquid.' Kffert
immediately. ' Doctors prescribe it. 10c
25c and 56c. at drus stores. . ;
Pert Paragraphs, j v
When will is right, law is ban
ished. Danish. 1 tt '
"' A dog 's friendship is better thai
his hate. Welsh.
The squirrel slaughter , of Russia ,
amounts to 25,000,000 a year. ...
' Corruption wins not . more than
honesty .-T-ShakespeareJ- - w -r v-;
Envy sets the stronger veal on1. de
sert. Ben Jonson. ' "
. Experience purchased r. by "'suffering
teaches wisdom.-Latin. ; ' A v 3 ,
A handful of migbt: is better than
a sackful : of right. German. ?
Good counsel isl better than a thous
and hands. German. , "
Commit a sin twice and ' you will
think it allowable. Hebrew. - s
; A wise man changes his mind ; a
fool never. -Spanish. ;
The ash borrows poison from the
yjper;- Latin. s 4 "
- A beginner is always a good man.
MartiaL- , , .. r
Kindness : and courtesy need ! elbow
room and are smothered to deatn in
a''cr6wd:,'t . ' : '
Women' don't have, to; swear tc
show how mad they are --There are
,other ways. - ' - . - ,
?, A new broom '.sweeps - cle&n, huif
.alas, it stays av nawvbrooifisueV'a
litUeTwhile.
Industry, is .the parent to success
and the, success belonffS itb' the mair
who wons -the industry:, ' Vr '
;Most. "women are fond of men, buk
so many of them are . so particular ;as
to what men.' r' - J
v-:Clt is. extremely 4ryin g to be obliged
to associate' with people who , always
and inyariabl : would -rather n6trx-; "
1 There may be some way of failing
in love1 and escaping dire results; bui
if so the" average ..man . has t neve
found it out. ' , -
;;;.The -.clocks : in'. some:householdsr suf
,xer so . much irom congestion of .tht
face that ; it seems impossible for any
members of the household ever ,to be
.on time. - .v -.V -
Some people are tso' proud of theij
i;humiliy that , they are constant
committiDg. indiscretions in order thai
they, may . gracefully apologize - fo
them."- '