Demorralicatdpuan 20, i889. Bellefonte, Pa., December em — FOR CHRISTMAS DAY. By H. BUTTERWORTH. [If the words “Glory in the Highest” be sung in the anteroom or choir gallery, this dialogue may be used as a recitation, with musical aec- companiment.] “Where have you come from, Mabel mine, While the stars still shine, the stars still shine, : With a happy dream in those eyes of thine, Early, this Christmas morning ?” I've just come back from Slumber-land ; I've come from the nights in Slumber-land ; I've come from the stars in Silumber-land ; I've come from the music in Slumber-land ; Early, this Christmas morning.” “What did you see there in the night, Mabel mine, Mable mine ?” “I saw a stable and star-lamp’s light, Early, this Christmas morning. “I saw a stable in Slumber-land, And a little babe with a snow-white hand, And ‘round the Babe the!dumb beasts stand, Early, this Christmas morning,” “What did you hear in Slumber-land, Mabel mine, Mabel mine 2” “Music, Mother, a song divne, Early, this Christmas morning.” “ What was the song that the voices sung, When over the stable the low stars hung ?” “ 1 can almost hear it still in tbe sky, Listen, listen.—the strain draws nigh ! ‘Glory in the highest ! Glory !I'” “What else did yon see in Slumber-land, Mabel mine, Mabel;mine 2” «I saw the shepherds listeding stand, Early, this Chrisimas morning.” «What said the shepherd there on the plain ?” “hey touched their reeds and answered the strain, . ‘Glory in the highest! Glory!” When the angels ceased, the shepherds sung ‘Glory in the highest! Rory And the earth and sky with the anthem rung, ‘Glory in the highest! Glory!” “0 Mabel, Mabel, your dream was sweet, And sweet to my soul is your story ; Like the shepherds’s song ‘et our lips repeat ‘Glory in the highest! Gloyry’” Bessie’s Christmas Turkey. Phil Desmond and his wife lived in a neat little cottage in one of the mining districts of Pennsylvania, where he found employment as a sort of under su- erintendent, which occupation enabled Di to earn sufficient to supply their simple wants and at the same time to lay aside a few dollars for a rainy day. People who saw the two for the first time wondered how such a ladylike young creature came to marry the great rough fellow of whom she seemed so proud, but the wonder ceased when they discovered his tender courtesy toward the young wife who had left a happy home, the society of friends, and many other things that tend to make life pleas- ant, in order to unite her fate with his. One afternoon during the week pre- ceding Christmas, Bessie started to Ww , a town about ten miles distant, to do some shopping. She had any number of little surprises in store for Phil against Christmas day, and pur- posed returning before he came into sup- per, thus keeping her journey a secret, as he would be sure to peep into her bundles, and of course that would spoil the fun, if he discovered what she in- tended giving him before that eventful day dawned. After the contents of her purse was exhausted she trudged back to the depot and found, much to her dismay, that the train for Mar ysville had gone out, and she must wait another couple of hours ere another came along. Meantime Phil would be knocking at the door, wondering what had become of her. Fretting will not mend matters, thought Bessie, as she stationed herself au the waiting-room window and watched the passengers alight from the express that had just thundered into the depot. A man was sounding a gong, while several waiters called out, “Hurry along here ! No time to lose! Only fifteen minutos for supper!” +Is this the waiting-room ?” inquired a lady with a chil in her arms. “Yes,” replied Bessie, stepping for- ward as the lady entered and placed the child on a seat. “Will you please take care of baby while I get some supper ?’ asked the stranger. ¢ With pleasure,” was the answer. The lady harried away and Bessie took a seat near the infant, who stared at her with round wondering eyes. She played with it and talked to it, and when the child began to fret took it in her arms and soothed it to sleep. Time sped quickly by. The train which brought the lady and the child to had gone, but the stranger did not appear. Bessie placed the little one an the seat and went in search of her, but failed to find her. “Poor little thing!” she whispered, taking the child in her arms again. «I don’t like to leave you alone, but 1 must, for my train is due.” + After arranging the wraps about the child, she laid it back on its hard couch, kissed it tenderly, then picked up her basket and parcel> and went out on the platform. When about boarding the train a man touched her arm saying : “You have forgotten your baby, madam.” ! “It isi’t ming, sir.” “Not yours ! Why, my good woman, I have been watching you playing with and caressing it for the last hour, and no one else has been near it.” “Yes, I know,” she explainedin a slightly embararassed tone. “A lady Ieftit there over two hours ago, and ask- ed me to take care of it till she return- Soon it became known that a woman had been detected in the act of aband- oning her child, and a crowd gathered around poor Bessie, now thoroughly serriffed. A woman hurried to the wait- ipg-roorn, picked up the child, and rushing forward, thrust it into Bessie's arms, crying : “Shame on you, heartless mother that you are! Take the lntle creature, and thank God that yon were prevented from committing a cruel deed |” “But it isn't mine,” she protested, weeping with vexation and shame. She knew if she inissed the train she