E. E. BILLIARD, Editor and Proprietor.
WE MUST WORK FOR THE PEOPLE'S WELFARE.
-- - - Jaylot. '.'.If 6.
SCOTLAND NECK. X. C, THURSDAY, dmSimt. 1
SCESCP.IPTIOX: SI 50 TZS. YEAR.
VOLUME V.
.i mi; 1:1; "
1 4
PROFESSIONAL.
W. A. DUNN,
ATTORNEY AT LAW,
SCOTLAND NECK, N. C.
Practices wherever his services ar6
reouir. d. febl3-ly.
W. H. KITCHIN,
Attorney and Counselor at Law,
SCOTLAND NECK, N. C,
"Office: Comer M.dn and Tenth
Streets. 15-ly.
T. E. VjHITAKER,
Attorney and Counselor at Law,
SCOTLAND NEC'Iv, N. C,
Practices wherever his services are
required.
('apt. W. II. Kitchin will appear with
rue iii all cu.-c3. 2-3-ly.
DAVID BELL,
ATTORNEY AT LAV,
KN FIELD, N. C.
Practices in :iT the Courts of Halifax
and ad j "ining counties and in the Su
oreme ar.d Fcd ml Courts. Claims col
lided i:i all pnits
the State, 3 S-lvr
IV. IF. Day,
WW.v n.
A. C. Z n.i.icoi-Tiin,
II n lerson.
It. Kansom
"Wei. Ion.
Day, Zoliiccffer & Ransom,
ATTORNEYS AT LAW,
ELDON, N. C.
:;-s iy.
S. S. ALSQPp
ATTORNEY AT LAW,
ENFIELD, N. C,
Practice s in the Courts of Halifax and
rr1. joining counties.
All business will receive prompt atten
tion.
3 1-v.
THOMAS M. HILL,
ATTORNEY AT LAW,
HALIFAX, N. C,
Practices in Halifax and adjoining
counties, and the Federal ild Supreme
, , its. 3-S ly-
ToW&RO T. CLARK,
Attorney and Counselor at Law,
HALIFAX. N. C,
Practice's wherever l is services are re
tailed. Special attention to collection
4 claim-
3-15 lv.
i 5
1
fl.
f! if tlUI
DEALER IN
r.
rain, Mili-Feed, Hay, Glover
And Grass Seeds,
IMPEOVrD FAUM IMPLEMENTS
A SPECIALTY.
Call ant examine Disc Ilarro.v and
Seeder, and Grass Mower, a model
of Peifeetion.
SCOTLAND NECK, N. C.
janO-lv.
RICHMOND, VA.,
Lumber Commission Merchant,
Gives personal and prompt attention
to ; 1 1 1 consignments of Lumber, Shingles,
Laths. Etc. JiLl
THUS. F. "ILUJLEY,"
WILMINGTON, X. C.
CoI, fcloalasses, Salt,
Genuine German Kainit and Kova Sco
tia Land Plaster.
f?r Quotations on Application.
febll-ly.
DEEP!
SONG OF CHRISTMAS.
Bound over all waters, reach out from all I
lands j
The chorua of voice-!, the clasping of hands: j
8ing hymns that were suns by the stars of j
the morn, ' j
Sing songs of the angel when Jesus was j
Lorn.
With glad jubilations
Bring hojKs to the nations!
The dark night is ending and dawn his be
gun; liiso, hop-j of the age-;, ariso like the sun,
All speech flow to music, all hearts beat aa
one.
Bing the bridal of nations with chorals of
love,
King out the war vulture and sing in the
dove,
Till the hearts ot t'uo people keep time in
accord,
And the voice of the world is tho voice of the
Lord!
Ciasp hands of the nations
In .strong congratulations;
Tho dark night is ending and dawn has bo
cun; Rise, hope of tho ages, arise li'se the sun,
All spo ch flow to music, all hearts beat as
one.
blow, bugles of battle, tho marches of peace,
East, West, North an 1 South let tho long
quarrel tvao!
Sing tho song of great joy that the angels
began,
Sing of giory to f lod and good will to man
Hark! joining in chorus
Tho heavens lx.ii 1 o'er us;
Tho dark night is ending and day has begun;
Iliso, hoie of the ages, aris j lik-i the sun,
All spjech flow to music, all hearts beat as
one.
John G Whittitr.
there seemed nothing for h-mtill a little
old woman, whose garb owed scanti
ness of means, paused at the sight of
the lad, and, opening a basket the car
ried, sail cheer dv :
all mu iled up :n an old shawl, the endi We" poor folks, but we
trailing ou the ground as he marched ain't.'
happily off, his hand in Bob's. Shortly
after these two children stood watching
the bandsomelr dressed throng as it cn-
liu't b-id, wo
"There sonny, therc'3 a couple of buns tered a fashionable place of worship,
and a few cookies I made myself, that j till Lob, with "Now,
onnn e,
looi
I :iri-!i a
Iri Ire'.a i a:
"Well, well," on:e-Lat Lu.ki'y J in the Jn. .. f
spoke the gt-uiltmea, "and what is your
name?"'
As tho child, with a look of urprisc,
repl cd "Johnnie," the lady cried in
eager tones :
"Oh, Ben! Our baby' came, and the
1 a
i :t.
an ( itii -.
Clirclmu 1
a .
.e in
eu
E:
1.
ioCai custom
: d
.
'iANG UP THE BABY'S STOCKING.
Hang up the baby's sto 'king;
Be sure you don't forget
The dear little dimpled darling!
She never saw Christmas yet;
But I've- told her all about it.
And she oi-ne 1 her big, b:ue eyes,
And I'm sure she understood it,
She looked so funny and wise.
Dear! What a tiny stocking I
It doesn't take much to ho!d
Such littlo pink toos as baby's
Away from the frost and co'd.
But then, for tho baby's Christmas
It will never do at all;
Why, S:mta wouldn't bo looking
For anything half so small.
I know what will do for the baby,
I've thought of the very best plan
I'll borrow a stocking of grandma,
Tho longest that ever I can;
And you'll hang it by mine, dear mother,
Right here in t!ie corner, so!
And write a letter to Santa,
And fasten it on to the too.
Write: "This is tho baby's stoekl
Tiiat hangs in tho corner here;
You have never seen her, Santa,
For she only came this j-ear;
But she's just tho blessedost baby .
And now, before you go.
Just cram her stocking with goodies,
From tho top clean down to tho toe."
MEW YEAR HOPES.
Oh! never sink 'neat h Fortune's frown,
Bat bravo her with a shout of cheer,
And front her fairly face her down
She's only stern to those who fear!
Her-j's "Better luck another year!"
Another year!
Aye, better luck another year!
We'll have her smile instead of sneer
A thousand smiles for every tjar,
With home made glad and goodly cheer,
And b.'tter luck another year
Another year!
IE Gil more Simms.
THE AVAIF'S CHRISTMAS.
v?'''-.,v";-.
' W told the m.
of chi hirer
iUITMTIrlfd'm rev. run Ionized the
H V b fa I til Pi ,,rhl fliinnsr the last half
i i ff Lmii t lUl 3v t-nt uy. Nor ieastamori','
tie-w :.;.-rs or inventhe proijrt'ss Is a m"tho1
am! svstfin of work th it can b;i performed all
over i he country wlf'nour.spa rating the workers
froin ttielr homes. IMy liberal: any one cau tlo
til" work; either sex. young or OU; no special
ability required. 'apiiiil not needed; you aro
Erart-'d free. Cut t !as out anil return tons and
we will send you free. sornPtliieir of trreat value
and lmporunce to von. th t will stait you ia
business, which will t rtr g ou la more money,
rtclit awav. than anytiliig else In the world.
Grand outfit free. Address Xiue & Co., AuuAa,
Maine.
3-22-ly.
niniSS filewrdpl are those who read
liiiirll Y'li'-snnd trcn net; they will find
lilUiSL 3 honorali'.e einploymrnt that will
rot take them from their hones and families.
The profits are lange ami sure for every Indus
trious person; many hav made and are now
lu-iklng several hundred dollars a month. Ills
Pisy for any one to mike $5 and upwards p-T
fljy, who Is. willing to worlc. Kit her sex, youn?
or old; capital not neeiied; we start you. Every
thing new. No speciil ability required; you.
reader, can do It as well as any one. Write to
Usatoneefor full particulars, wlihh v.-e mail
tree. Address Stiuson & Co.. Portland, Maine.
3-22-lv.
pa tVonlfn exist In thousands o(
'forms, but are surpassed by the mar
vels of Invention I hose who are ta
teed of profitable work that can tie done whl's
living at home should at once send th-lr address
tj Hallett Co., Portland, Maine, and receive,
free, full Information hw either sex, of all ages,
can earn from $5 to $'25 per day and upwards
wherever they live. You are started free. Capi
ta! r.ot required. Some have made over $00 la a
Eiuie y at this work. All succeed.
S-22-ly.
THOS. F. SEITZINGER,
PRINTERS5 SUPPLIES,
3 W. JlllcheM St.. ATLANTA. U.t.
BY FI.OKKNCE K. PKXDKK.
II Ii I S T M A S morn!
clear, snow - decked,
with the bluest of
skies, and Ja' k Frost
and old King Sol hold-
'ing high carnival.
A jolly day! fore-
merry laugh
children as they
! tripped briskly along, taking in sundry
peeps and whiffs of the forthcoming
feasts. Huge turkeys robbed of all
dignity, lying hc!ples3 upon their backs,
their lank legs upraised m protest.
Savory looking compounds being mixed
by cook's deft hands, while fruits, spices,
! etc., littered up the kitchen tables.
Plenty and to spare for Gcd's poor.
At least so thought one of them, as he
gazed into the kitchen window of a
handsome dwelling. Not in the3e words,
perhaps, would he have expressed him
self, but why some should have so much
more than they wanted and others
nothing, was a riddle to him. A moment
he lingered, then turned away with the
wTords :
"I don't mind much 'bout myself, but
I'd like summatfor the little 'un."
Rather a comical figure did this young
ster cut as his bare feet wended them
eelves toward a less prosperous part of
Brooklyn. Yet despite the amplitude of
ragged trowscrs and dilapidated frock
coat, with its skirts reaching almost to
his ankles, there was something in the
boy's straightforward eyes and honest
face that gave evidence that he was de
serving of a better fate than that of a
waif. Clothes, however, never troubled
him. Something to starve off the crav
ings of hunger and a hole to crawl into
into at night, these were the things that
were the cause of thought to thi3 child
of the streets, more especially since he
had taken unto himself a charge. Here
tofore he had led a happy-go-lucky ex
istence, notwithstanding the snubs that
fell plentifully to his share. Foraging
for breakfast was his errand this morn,
but somehow, amid so much good cheer,
I'm taking to the grandchildren. It's &u, or the cop'll nail us." pushed the
not much, the Lord knows, but ye're i child before hiu into the crowd, and,
welcome, and a blessed ( hristmas to ye." j eure enough, an alert policeman, spying pretty curl and blue eye. v like. Isn't
And with a friendly nod she trotted off. ! Hob, mr.de a grab fur h-.m, which Bob it a!motas if God had :it hi;u in ex
Recovering from his surprise, the boy
hurried after, exclaiming breathlessly :
"Oh! I say, thank ye. ily name's
Bob, an' if yer got any wood to saw I'm
yer man."
Z3a
: s
A f 1 1 l ... Tl 'T -I ...
uciiiy kiu ttu, dui uiuau v jiiie .j ounnie cxiange ior our uar.:ur r
wa3 carried oa toward the baize door "If you please, sir, there' & boy what
amid a swirl cf silks r nd satins. ; insists on seeing you. Sayi h's uame'i
The little fellow was a triflo awed at ; Bob, sir," Delivering himself of this
the church's solemn grandeur; but as ; message, the servant aw aited his master'
Bob never failed to turn up all right, I pleasure.
Johnnie made for an empty pew and j "It's Bob. My Bub'." uttered the
curled himself up en a hassock to await ; child, delightedly
In ymmmnr,
I'll ;
ii',;i,.:,
e
his friend's coining. Presently the or
gan pealed forth, and Johnnie's eyes
"Show him up," was the order.
Bob pained upon the threshold of
and comfort, the child slept. Nor
heeded he the advent of a plump, rosy
cheeked lady, whose white hair con-
trtitrwl cn firft I I v -vvitb Vinr still TAlinrr
T CAnnwt T liorfia if ?n ,'n h,mlln3 i '""l aUU XiUOU t VI 1 1 I U 11 U. a f
J.VIj OUilllJ . A UU1 ltl Illy 1U UUUIVj I
but you've tho right heart, and the Lord ' jy. florid-faced gentleman-possessed
loves a willing spirit," then with her bushy head of hair and beard of silvery
wrinkled face a?low with kindliness the hltencss- A fa.nt exclamation escaped
worthy soul hastened on her way. ; the lady; then, turning to the gcntle-
"Ilero's luck!" ejaculated Bob, "and I man' sLe htspcrcl:
I'm b'lievin' what Johnnie's mother I "ok ! The poor little lamb!"
said." and Bob reneated slowlv. ! "Shall I speak to the usher?" que3-
, j j
"The Lord cares for the orphan," ad
ding emphatically, "and I'm blessed if I
ain't an out-an'-outer ; fur a feller
couldn't bo orphancr than a feller wot
never had no father an' mother, I take
it."
Here, with a whoop, Bob darted across
the street. A barrel of molasses
been stove in, ana a swarm ot young
stcrs were scooping up the sticky mess
by every available means. Seizing a
broken dbdi from out an accommodating
ash barrel, Bob secure 1 a share of the
prize, uttering:
"I'm a squealer if we ain't in fur a
regular jollification."
His dish full, off he started, and after
sundry turns made his way to a vacant
lot, where shielded by a pile of bricks, lay,
tilted to one side, a large crate, partially
stuffed with straw.
"Hello, Johnnie! "Wake up I" shouted
Bob, at which . little fellow, with the
bonniest of blue eyes and the sunniest of
curls, poked his head from out of the
straw in the crate, with:
"I'se here, Bob. Doe3 us have break
fast?" "You bet," replied Bob, displaying
the treat, and continuing with: "We
are oing to do things in style this
Christmas. Nibble on that while I set
the table." and Bob tossed the little
chip a cookie; then, gravely piling sev-
grew round with astonishment a the , the luxuriously furnished room, fed
voices of the unseen choir mingled with . ing his dilapidated condition for the first
its wondrous tones. But soon the lit- time, but Johnnie running eagerly
tie head drooped, and lulled by the toward his youn friend, drew him for-
sweet strains and the unusual warmth ward as the Gentleman said kindlv
tioned he.
One swift glance at the pale, litUeface
and the lady shook her head, answering :
"No, no! Let him be, the dear."
3Iany times during tho service the
lady's dark eyes strayed to the little
sleeper, and once when the child stirred
q uneasily her daintily-gloved hand softly
stroked his pretty curls.
A swish a rustle the congregation
was dismisse 1. The hdy of the rosy
cheeks and white hair drew her sealskin
about her, but her gaze rested ling3r
ingly upon the sleeping child.
"Well, dame"' and a merry twinkle
glistened in the speaker's eyes as he ad
ded: "Looks as if a turkey bone might
re!ih, don't he?"
"Bless his little heart, yes and, oh,
don't you think we might?"
And so, what was Bob's astonishment
for ho had lingered round, amusing
himself as best he could to see a lady
and gentleman come forth from the
church, followed by a footman bearing
the sleeping Johnnie, carefully rolled up
in a handsome carriage rug. Drawn up
to the curb was a stylish turnout, into
which the lady and gentleman stepped,
the footman placing Johnnie on the scat
beside him; then, as the lackey swung
himself on to the box, away started the
carriage down the street, Bob yelling
out :
"Jiminy cracky! if I don't believe
"Come in, my lad, and tell us what
you want."
"It ain't nothin', 8ir, only I fcc yer
takin' Johnnie, an' I just followed to
know what yer was minin' to do. V ause
I told his mother afore she died that I'd
try an' keep an eye on the little un, as
there wasn't nobody else to do 't. She
was allers good to me, she was, an' a
lady proper, too, if she didn't rig out
fine. Johnnie he can say grace an'
prayers which she tcached him, riyht up
Mid hiibil-i vf
ma-s in I re a :.
ii'hi proct'
I fi!u ia' and e;- n aii
oa ( !ir.:i
1- tl
fcatin a .d urioki
ojxru-air
" f V C ' Y
1 A?' l
Mil ' V
. :. . 'i
i- .1 ! y
t r .
it w
iuiproa-.N r
v
' -
.1 li.
rr-tr.t
i.-vt
i I
peas tir.ry
gat"
lav
d '. do i t
a!i.;.e t:
i
-
SILKS , . . .
1'1; i " S.'S -i
'4-i v. t
';. kW '.'
si' n r .
" V J:?, tbr.-- ! .
my n. u- v on t , -. .
l' o tn .i !i : !e- o
;.vt to o i . tv
j. .:. C ; IUl. ''
i it 1 1 1 1 1 1
j 1 he e:i. o.'
j u't-'iiit.
! A t hrittn.- l lie
I !
'
to
;. lm
-e a
hi kl
li":' .:i l i r e
1:1 h n :.r: tht - l o
W !,;. .t tli -I I I,
by t I! t:i r j . ..t I--?
1 . .1 o :i dit:t ( ! 0
1 1 ix tiit l!e t j
U' ft !h .t ;n .ke-
he..rt and i !
A d 11 r in t
x 1 :
h 1 v
.1 t ..
,-irl -a ith t!
t! .t
1 . ,
1 ,-
.1 (":
j.r
. a 1 .
'!;. 1-
rnd
the
' II I SO HI'T III i; U 1 U ! N . IN lilt" M w .
The Am 1 i.
an-:
MtVS
lb-
to the handle, an' he's pretty, too, if bo ! publics, "celebrate hritia.'t w
the Mexicans wi h a pie a a
till the twenty-fourth, iiirleiw,
Two l'e
ith a t:e. ,
ry 1, :!.
the ; 1:1
!;i-:t
had fixings like rich young tins, an' if
yer feel sorter like adoptin' him, why,
I was goin' to say" here bob paused, j ata is broken. It is a lar::e oaken - !,
then added rather hurriedly -"I've noth- I galy de orated .and t !h d with tooth
in' agin it, seeing as yer do the square j some dulccs or candies h inr from tin
thing by the little un." I ceiling in the center of the room.
CoaxinrzK drawinir Johnnie toward i children are blimifohb 1
1 n
'.
!, i' he
t!.. r lei
and
f her ;;'..
T..e
note r
I'hi
the
i
a:;d
r : t -
1
hit
d tl
w 1
t .
vi
;iv 1
l I V
her, the lady said:
"Would you like to live with me al
ways, Johnnie;"
sticks to break the
eral bricks together, he placed thereon Johnnie's struck ile i"
the broken dish of molasses and the old Darting after the carriage, he clung on
woman's donation, whe:i, wedging him- behind, taking good care, however, to
self in beside Johnnie, and tucking the keep out of sight of the driver and foot-
stiaw snngly about them, he ejaculated: man.
"Ditch in, little 'un, and say grace." Soon they drew up before a handsome
Folding his tiny hands, Johnnie house, whose wide porch wore an air of
lisped, gravely: cheery welcome. Bob,wiggling himself
"For what us 'bout to 'ceive, Lord be down from his perch as the door closed"
thankful. Amen." upon Johnnie and his newly-found
To which Bob subjoined: friends, ejaculated, somewhat ruefully:
"Here's to the old lady's good health! "Here's ago! I wonder what 'ull turn
up next? Anyhow, I hope it 'ull be
something soft fur the little 'un. He
Merry Christmas ! Hurray !"
After this rather peculiar grace tho
feast proceeded without interruption ain't calculated to rough it, like me."
until Johnnie propounded:
"What's Santy Claws!"
"Oh, he's a chap with a jolly, red
face an' white beard, wot goes round
Christmas with heaps of toys and sich."
"Will he come here;" cried Johnnie,
his eye3 opening wide.
"No, I don't b'lieve as how he'll visit
our establishment. I only hear tell of
him going to the nobs, as can buy plenty
for themselves," answered Bob, grin
'P'haps oh, Bob ! p'haps Mrs. Santy
Claws 'ull come to us poor folks?" inter
rogated Johnnie, wistfully.
"Mrs. Santy Claws? I never exactly
heard of sichbut I hear say there's a wo
man at the bottom of everything so I
guess there's a nice, jolly old lady Santy
Claws," rtplicdBob, assuringly, as he
noted Johnnie's anxious little face. -
"Where's Santy Claws live?" was
Johnnie's next query.
"Oh, in a twell house," and Bob,
coolly drawing upon hia imagination,
added, "no end of tip-top furniture, all toward him, saying:
gold and heaps of pictures and blazing "Well, my little man, are we ready for
fires." turkey and pudding ;''
"Oh!" uttered Johnnie, with a wistful "ye?, please, ma'am, Mrs. Santy
sigh, and "it 'ud be nice there, wouldn't rj'iaws" answered Johnnie, eyeing the
it?" Then, nestling closer to his com- acy CUriouslv, as he added, sagely : "Bob
rn
A moment later "the little 'un" was
gazing wonderingly at his luxurious sur
roundings, his little hands softly patting
the old gold brocade of the lounge on
which he lay. It was every bitjrue, he
thought the gold furniture and pictures
and big fires--and "Oh 1" he exclaimed,
as the rosy-cht-eked lady came smiling
mmm
1
17. ii V
r
7 m
"Oh, yes!" cried tho littlo fellow,
clapping his hands ; then, interrogatively,
'ih :
and alined with j
Many a;e the ;
effort-; male by the langhin.', r lln K,n ;,
joyous young volunteers to make then
selves ina-ter- of the sir ua' ion. who h
they finally acconi)!i-h when some mem
ber of the blimlfol 'cd brigade with n
lucky blow shatter- tiie p.nata. The
crash of splintered, f-cuttcred c ocl.ery,
the rattle of b n-b ns and the candic-,
on the floor, is th" -ignal for the v.nenc ii
ing off of the misi, titid the 1 1 ; 1 ben
throw themselves upon the sue-'.-,
knowing that 'I'iinliiiLrs is hiving-'''
Drescnts are thcu p i-.ed around, am n
them China basket-, figure and silk and
g.atin boxes with candies. Dancing then
commences and la-ts until inoniing.
In Hoil.and tlic pat:oti saint of hrist
mas is belt, Nickel r aint Ni h-lai
dressed in fur; he is abo called Sunt i
Klaus. He is described as a round, joily
fellow, w th a red fa n; and merry,
nt
1.
' r, 1 p . r . tn
! n l - ' 1 1 t - -
li t !i
A ( liri-t :na- 1.
!. wb; e
t.t !'.e !..
!. 1 'if the
'I 1
! I ' '
in 11 ale.
C
vL
a grave look gathering in his pretty blue ; twinkling eyes and white
eyes. "And Bob, too?"'
A glance passed between husband and
wife, when the former said heartily :
"Suppose dame, you keep the little fel
low through the hclidays, and, well, I'll
look to the lad. How is it, my boy'
Would you like to work for me?"
"Tip-top, sir," was the ready reply.
And so it came about that these two
waifs Bob in a neat suit, that his kind
benefactor had managed somehow to pro
le ard, win
diivci upo
( 1 o w n t ! i 1
with re'ndeer and sleilge
the house-tot s and c me
chimney with presents for the chi'.dre
who are taught by their patents to phi- e
their shoes and sto kings on the b arih,
where he will till them I efore morning
if the children ha c b en good.
In Austria, Bohemia, Hungary .an 1
Poland the day before ' hri-tu.a is ob
served strictly as a religious fast. No
meat is eaten, but toward evening, v, h n
4
'i "
t -j
panion, he added: "But it's nice here,
too, in this warm straw, an' I like being
with you, Bob, I does."
A burst of joyous bells floated toward
them on the crisp morning air. A melo
dy of welcome to God's house of prayer-
"Johnnie," called out Bob, "how'd
yer like to go to church?"
said there was a woman in everything
and he guessed there'd be a Mrs. Santy
Claws."
The lady laughed merrily as a chuckle
issued from the region of an easy chair
and a voice remarked:
"Oneforyoj, Dame'."
"Who's Bob, dear?" questioned the
cure, and Johnnie in a little frock, long j the li-.-.t star appears, the tables a e
treasured by a mother's constant love ' lighted and the great banquet is sj.read,
sat down to a Christmas dinner that was and all partake w th appetites sharpened
a series of astonishing delights, to these ! by the fa-t. At I o'c'.oek guns are
small folks. fired, drums are beaten about, the street-.
Tears had dimmed the eyes of gentle and every sort of noi e is made until
"Mrs. Santy Claws," as she clothed the mass be". ns.
tiny waif in garments that once belonged
to her little son, her one yew- lamb. Yet
somehow the touch of Johnnie's baby
fingers carried comfort to her lonely
heart and eased the regret that had long
dwelt there.
That evening as the rescued waif stood
enjoying the blazing logs and quaint
andirons of the old-fashioned fireplace,
Bob suddenly exclaimed:
"Here we've been bavin' no end of
shindy, an' yer ain't said grace. Just
yer fire ahead now, an' aa' I'll shove in
a prayer, an' don't forget my old lady,
cause she started us in on our luck to
day."' Kneeling, the child, clasping his
hand3, obediently repeated:
"For what us 'bout to 'ceive, Lord be
thankful. God bless Santy Claws, Mrs.
Santy Claws, the old lalyau' Bob an'
me, and please let U3 live here, amen."
"Amen! An' don't yor fergit it, lit
tle 'un," subjoined Bob, gravely.
As the child knelt, the firelight caress
ing his golden lo ks, husband and wile
stole softly in and listened to the prayer thernh are for the
of his baby lips, till, stirred to its very
depths was the mother's love of th s gen
tle woman's heart, and so, c'asping her
helpmate's hand, she murmured eagerly:
"Our children, husband."
flu --tan (' 1
l: of ih" r i'-i:,'
I he. e are m my
W hi' h w ouid do (
tni f w hi h wen- :.
tun ty for speed
have run on o- a
-tie.-! , of tin: t i'
race- v, i I lion' i n
-t ' e.-t - a 1 e v r 1 ! a
the w n.ter in m t i
! c ) 1 ,r c . e n ; ho: "e.
1 ! r 1 v e 1 -, simply
bihty of da' g
' and n g own fa
in ,- day they .Jr
bi.il.atit '11m
a re 1 1 1 ; e n by
1 tften ti'iiee, foni
ar e 1 n tie : a"c ,
1 - w . t ties - 1 n o
as
1 -
h !
d.t to
on tii
with r
lie A ! 1 1 e r
n an
r
nan : :
1 '!:-. ,:
a .'1 1
f.ii :
! t ic ,
-, l'."'e
I ae n '
. - 1 ' - 1 . :.
;. A '.
t bor e
: : th"',i.
1 ; 'h it
! n e ..' a
an I v.
el h-
1 h
e
I 1:11 ; 1.0
a n v ', h r
tin- K
of
o r d i
an
r -
in- ij id
. 1 thn
. .'i
'A
In s
and w
..lie-t
i'
111'
A th
ine 1
and
I i.
b. a
.'.
e h ,r
I'lii!'
a' the
(
t.ji:
: s . -d
a
!.
t I
; i
and
II. e'l.
e s .. 1 !, i
b.pla.e 1
h nr. io t
. are :n
!ian 1
1:
I '
, -i l '
b y A?
'! r &
i c v. Ic
Lf ,( ' t;
of hnd
, t ion of i.'e
d:e-M-il Iiiit bub
men whn a'e m
re e m ; aide. 1 by t h
t ere- e;, 1 i i , in
t lines than the 1
y onj g liKin si i - a g.ri i
a li.emor.'ii.d in, a'el
t eg' tint ir ii.li hi r in
ntid negotiation-) Ix-gin
ti.i a mat' h i- ma le
e n 'n other far e to f n -.
o to
in -
iter th'
Th-y a-.j
d tv: '-Ut,g
-a i . i are
toe
g i : n a . d
i-a.r. Wi
e I i. i h" i
t he l.l'lt l
, her or gna
I' m .y !
,h it the fA
mm
'1 he h',li la;s are
bv the eeb r peroi.
tl.fi: sport-. Ah kc
-tr e' in th" m-
1 .
r. nt a. one c , !.
'I !,' f it: drer
,:. -f tn -y a p
r:. ! 1. ' ! '
their
.' n a
et K i 1
,;. h.S
rd.an
e lift
) XC1J
h iVD
a' on
:. tn
A
pious ro intry
HE' onATivr; Foil c ; r : r
( hristmiM Eve with th'
folk in Suabia does not n.car: a mere :
change of presents and cf..ni:.iirner,t-, but
a devoted thankf nines for h'le--i",gs re
ceived during the year. The j",or ar.d
ior.
their ob e-et be.ng to a--,
their fellow town-poop
made
the r,r.
or.e.
ill
r:g m
SqU
a. or
and
it.
lnri:,g the rjvc
i'.nurs o
f the day pre-
lr .
"What's there?" questioned the little iadv.
fellow. "Why, he's Bob. He takea care of
"Oh, they ses prayers, an plays the me. You're Mir. Santy Claws, ain't you?"
orgin, an' sing, an' folks as wants to , continued Johnnie, gazing knowingly at
take a snooze."
"Is it warm?" anxiously asked John
nie, cuddling into the straw.
"Warm? You bet! An' sofys as soft
as as mud."
"I'll go !"' cried Johnnie, crawling out eagerly: "Oh, Mr. Santy Claws, please
of his nest. won't you bring Bob and me some-
Such a quaint little figure as. ho looked thin'? 'cause we never has nothiu'.
the stout gentleman.
"Hey? Why? What makes you
think so?''
"'Cause 'cause " and slipping
dow from the sofa, the child exclaimed.
Irrth quset joy holds .tjprem: 'way in a
So be it, wife," was the earnest g. od!y portion of the thrifty villages of
. i . t .- 1-.. ' .. . ., ,1 .1
as, reverently oow.ng ms me poei.e .en. ai a i.jv, ooej a . . - i
wiil to all i- t jr.-ssed upon the well fed
facts of young ar.d old.
j The large front room of every ottag,
j whose scrup-.;!oi.b!y lean tlvir is covered
I with shining t-ar.d, is dc o: f.te'l with em
blems suitable to the high holiday. The
broad Bill by the quaint, o d fash
ioned, small - pac d window s-upports a
gay Christmas tree loaded down with
good thing-, to eat and embellished by
answer,
head, he added: "And God's glfu'
Dolly's First Bath.
N ?' i
p it ea h o'Je r w.t.'i r , b-a:.s boii'on i
ami pr- : i. 1 f.n. It .s a i..ml of a
free treat, in '. h ch the j nt ''.
n i'-:."ly in'lnige and n. ike up win -, t-.ke
tie f-.riii of hr.'tr .a . '.: ; in .tn' r;r a.
T' e children for n in groips a d inirch
thr -;gh the rt." e'.s a.! from hnn e to
ho-.-e, n :.g ctrni , and nre g.w-n
sw--"o wnc-r- vc-r th'y go. '1 in-y i-u
h'tppy lot, even tli'.ugh th'-y hav-h
a ivant ig'-s of ":i,'o, an 1 'ralnin . th-;
' h.'e eh.i iren of nnn ,y other rr ;;:.rr,e
enoy. i'.'n ''i-if j , 1 1 ic' .i,
A Happy .V.nt-b'iir.
i rn.g rn'- a r n vl t r , : .g ir. - i r.rig
A ti 1 r.'.v,' rn- a h'te- in. '-u -.r:.y '''-ari-.
1 i.- ', 1 ar - oat an i ' y ar ,
Ali i n.n-t t.a.e r.n tn l ti.nti l
Clu e.'y
i ' - ri.r;;..;;,
tb
dozens of wa rand.es, who-e br:gt
light daz'.es the eye. The o juare a .!
heavy four trough in the earner is cov
ered with gifts f -r the 1 tile ones. The
substantial oaken tabic, which has done
dutv in the family for per Lance a cen- oi 1 Jae--y Fr -i.t may h mt tid tic I' --t,
! tury, is aimo-t on aK ;ng uo w n unuertU'; i-'- n'-er ... ---
! weight of tooths ;me n.or-cis. , o-r:run.
Poke up the fire. high, rend hgh'-r,
Li-ht ni-t th-: ca.n l -', and dra.
r-urta.n.