Bellefonte, Pa., Dec. 20, 1895.
CHRISTMAS EVE.
BY CHARLES EUGENE ‘BANKS,
All the air with love is laden,
Where the Yule logs glow and fame,
Hopeful youth and trustful maiden
Softly chant the Master's name.
Now, if there be any sad ones,
Bid their tearful eyes be dried.
Now, if there be thoughtless glad ones,
Be that gladness purified;
For the bells of peace are ringing,
Chiming anthems of the free,
Earth and Heaven join in sigging
Of the glories yet to be.
Seek the boughs, so green and fragrant
Let the waxen tapers dance,
Here is hope for prince, for vagrant,
Christ of every circumstance !
Pile the leaping tagots higher,
Let the wide-mouthed ¢himneys roar,
Clash the cymbals, twang the lyre,
Angels wait at every door,
Soft the day of peace is breaking ;
Gladdest day of all the year ;
And sweet Plenty, want o'ertaking,
Spreads a ‘feast of love and cheer.
— m—
HAPPY ACCIDENTS THAD HELPED
SANTA CLAUS. |
BY JOSBPHINE 4, BALDWIN.
Christmas Eve came to the thriving
little town of Hillside with a bluster-
ing snowstorm. which brought delight
to well-clad boys and girls, who had
visions of new -gleds and jolly sleigh
rides on the morrow, but seemed very
dreary to four shivering children who
lived in a tumble down cottage on the
outskirts of the town. They had no
visions of anything more pleasant for
Christmas thaa the cold, hunger, and
sickness which had crowded more and
more into their lives since their father
died.
A year ago this very night they had
been havging up their stockings and
romping gayly in a comfortable home,
where want and eorrow had never en-
tered. But before the New Year
dawned the father they so dearly
loved lay cold and still in the darken-
ed parlor, and almost before they
oould realize what bad happened the
last solemn words of the minister had
been spoken in the church yard and
the coffin lowered into the frozen
earth. After that poverty was added
to sorrow ; one by one the comforts of
their home had been sold to buy food
and medicine; then they had moved
to Hillside, where rent was cheaper.
Here they had made no friends or ac-
quaiotances. So it happened that
they were especially lonely and sad on
this Christmas Eve. As each fresh
blast shook the windows and blew the
enow in under the door and through
many crevices, the children crouched
nearer to the-small stove with 1ts sput-
tering fire, and talked together in low
tones.
“Just think of the way it must be
snowing in up stairs,” said John.
‘Maybe we'll be found dead in the
morning—frozen stiff!" he added, sol-
emnly, with a half sob in his voice.
“Nonsense,” said Tom, cheerlly—
for Tom had a bappy way of looking
on the bright side of everything. “I’l]
see that you don’t freeze. Snow
makes an excellent blanket to keep
you warm. And then just think how
it must be snowing down town, and
what lots of money we'll be able to
make shovelling patbs to-morrow.”
“To-morrow is Christmas," said five
year old Margaret, plaintively.
“Yes, dear,” whispered Tom, gently
“and if I can I'll borrow a sled and
give you a ride”
“She hasn't any mittens, Tom,” ob-
jected Hattie, “and her shoes are full
of holes. O isn’t it ewful to be poor.
It seems 80 much worse at Christmas
time !—and then to have no father!”
Mrs. Evans, who had been trying to
ease the pain in her head by lying
down in an adjoining room, opened the
door just in time to hear Hattie's
broken sentence. She had been a
brave mother, and in spite of sickness
and poverty had never let the children
know how she grieved. But as the
holidays came near, bringing to her
mind those which her husband’s pres-
ence and love had made so happy, she
found it hard to keep up, and Hattie’s
words made the strain more than she
could bear. Throwing therself in a
chair, she sobbed as if her heart would
break.
Tom, eager to comfort her, sprang
up, knocking over the coal scuitle,
with its shovel and few pieces of coal,
and throwing out his arm to keep from
falling, sent the candle and candle-
gtick to the floor, leaving the room in
utter darkness.
“There! now see what you have
aone !” exclaimed John, as if Tom
were personally responsible for all
their misfortunes.
“Never mind,” said Hattie; “I'll
light it again.”
And while she was coaxing a piece
of paper to catch from the dull coals,
Margaret was trying to feel her way
to her mother’s side. Going near the
door she heard a faint bark; listening,
she heard it again.
“0, mamma,” she cried, “there's a
doggie wants to come in. May we
open the door?”
By this time the candle was relight-
ed, and everybody was listening, their
troubles forgotten for the .moment.
Sure.enough, above the whistle of the
storm a bark was heard, which said
in very polite dog language : “Let me
in, please.” John, who had spent
some time stuffing paper in the cracks
around the door, didn’t want it opened
but Tom said he would put the papers
in again, and adding, mischievously :
‘How would you you like to find ‘a
dog ‘dead, frozen stiff,’ on your door-
step in the morning ?”’ opened the door
to perhape the most forlorn looking |
dog that any of them had ever seen. |
His hair, which was very long, was
matted and frozen with snow and eleet |
so that he looked, as Tom said, like a |
bundle of white rags.
“What a cur!” exclaimed John.
“Poor dog !"” said Hattie,
But the object of their remarks paid |
no attention to either of them, but!
stood patiently on his hind legs before
Tom, who was busy barricading the
door against Jack Frost's army, ofter-
ing him firet one wet paw and then the
other.
“Well, Mr. Rags, you're polite, to
say the least. Look at him trying to
thank me for lettiug him in,” cried
Tom. The children laughed, and
even Mrs. Evans smiled as Tom grave:
ly shook the outstretched paw, and
said : “You're welcome, {’m sure.
Don’t mention it.”
Apparently satisfied with this assur-
ance, and seeming not at all insulted
by his new name, Mr. Rags ran around
the room eriffing at everything, stop-
ping to lick Margaret's hands, as if he
had known ber a long time; and roll-
ing on the floor, whether by way of
performing his toilet or expressing his
joy, no one could tell. As the snow
melted and his hair dried it became
evident even to John that this was no
‘cur’ of low degree, for such a silky
coat of silver gray could belong only
to a well-kept, pure-blooded dog aris
tocrat.
“It is some one’s pet,’ said Mre.
Evans.
“How could he get here through
the snow ?” asked Margaret.
“I don’t know how he came,” said
Tom ; “but guess the reason why he
came was to cheer us up. We needed
it pretty bad. To-morrow, Sir Rags,
we'll find an owner for you ; but now
let's see if you can play ball?’ Roll
ing up a piece of paper, he threw it,
Rags flew alter it, and soon the child-
ren were shouting and langhing mer-
rily, while the dog jumped and ran
and barked with delight.
Two hours later the house was quiet
again, and all but the lonely mother
peacefully sleeping ; while Margaret,
with her arm around a soft, warm bun-
dle of silken hair, was dreaming of a
Christmas tree from which a Santa
Claus, who looked very much like a
large Rags, was giving beautiful pres
ents to everybody.
Christmas morning dawned cold and
clear, and as soon as it was light John
and Tom, dressing quietly, ate a crack-
er, took a drink of milk, and started
out to shovel snow. By eight o'clock
they had earned fifty cents, and were
passing Mr. Hardcastle’s large place,
when Tom said : “Let’s go in here.”
“What's the use ?”’ answered John ;
“you know their man always shovels
their paths.”
“Well, maybe he’s sick. Anyway,
they haven't been touched, and I'm
going to ask.”
Tom was a real gentleman, and so
it happened that his hat came off as
promptly when Bridget appeared at
the door as it would if he had been
speaking to Mrs. Hardcastle herself,
When he acked if she wanted the
paths cleaned, she answered, heartily :
“Yis ; I've been lookin’ for some
one to clane out the paths. Shure, I'd
be up to me neck thryin’ to get through
the drifts, and there’s no tellin’ at all
whin the men’ll get back.”
It was a good two hours’ work for
the boys, and after their scanty break-
fast it made their backs ache and their
‘heads swim, for the drifts, while not
quite up to Bridget’s neck anywhere,
were deep in places, and the paths
were long. As they worked they had
glimpses of a pale-faced girl at the
windows who looked very sad. Tom
was sorry for her, nnd wondered what
could be the matter, while John
thought anybody who could live or
vigit in a house like that need have no
good reason for crying.
When the work was done and the
two boys presented themselves at the
kitchen door the warm hearted Bridg-
et gave them each a cup of hot coffee,
and would have injured their diges-
tions by overloading their stomachs
with something more substantial if
she had known how little they had
eaten that morning. She then gave
each a dollar, saying : “It’s from the
missis for your work, and she wishes
you a merry Christmas, and so do I,
faith, and lots av them ;”
Thanking her politely and wishing
her the same, the boys ran along the
side of the house in great haste to get
home and tell their motber of their
good fortune. But at the corner Tom,
who was ahead, met with an obstacle,
"having suddenly run into Mr. Hard-
castle’s footman, who was just turning
tha corner, and knocked that dignitary
down. The coachman who followed
picked his friend up, scolded Tom
roundly, gave John a few choice epi-
thets, though he certainly had done
nothing to deserve them, and then the
footman, who by this time had recov-
ered his breath, remarked :
“Bad luck to yez, and me fashting
all the morning on a ten mile tramp
after a runaway dog; ve've knocked
the wind clane out o’ me,”
Tom caught the word ‘‘dog,’’ and
eagerly asked : “What dog are you
looking for 9”
“ ‘What dog,’ to be sure! Belike
you stole it, bad cuss to ye, and Miss
Alice crying her eyes out within,”
Thomas drew himself up, and saying
quietly ; “I am eorry:- I knocked you
down ; I didn’t mean to,” walked past
the astonished wen up the front steps
and rang the door bell. As John fol-
lowed he heard the footman exclaim :
“Well, did you iver see the loike o’
that 7"
“I niver did,” eaid Harrigan, but as
there seemed nothing they could do
about it they went on to the kitchen.
In the meantime Tom's request to
eee either Mrs. Hardcastle or Miss
Alice to ask about a dog theg had lost
brought both Alice and ker aunt
quickly to the door. Their errand was
8oon stated, and the boys were scarce-
ly less pleased than Alice as they
found that Mr. Rags was undoubtedly
the dog for whose loes she was griev-
ing.
“Get on your things, Alice,” said
Mrs. Hardcastle. “I'll order the
sleigh, and we will go home with the
boys and bring Thistle back.”
And eo it happened that in less than
half an hour Tom and John were
spinning toward home behind Mr,
Hardeastle’s spirited grays, driven by
Harrigan, at whose side sat the foot.
man, stiff and straight, “for all the
world like a wooden image,” as John
said afterward.
When they reached home there was
great excitement for a time, everybody,
including Thistle, talking at once.
Then, while Alice showed the children
what tricks her dog could do, Mrs.
Hardcastle explained to Mrs. Evans
how a dissipated loafer in the town
had been seen hanging around the
place the night before, and they
thought he must have stolen the dog ;
bat why he should have dropped it
just at her door was a mystery she
could not explain. She said she was
particularly giad to get Thistle back,
because Alice was so miserable in
health as not to be able to bear any
disappointment easily, and, having
lost her mother recently, was in a very
gloomy and nervous condition.
Finally the call was over. Mrs,
Hardcastle, Alice, and Thistle were
gone, and even the tinkle of the sleigh
bells had died away in the distance.
Then Tom and John had to sit
down and teil how it all happened,
and they had scarcely finished when
the handsome grays stopped again be-
fore the door, and the haughty foot-
man brought in a large basket filled
with all sorts of good things for a
Christmas dinner, and the card on it
said: “From Thistle, wilh many
thanks and beet wishes,”
Perhaps there have been dinners
eaten with a greater relish, but I
doubt it. It seemed as if even the
poor old house must bave enjoyed the
new and delicious odors that were
wafted through its barren rooms, and
have been glad that they lingered even
after the feast was over.
Late in the afternoon the four child-
ren gathered about their mother, and
together they sang hymns of praise
such as they had loved to sing with
their father while he lived. Just as
they bad finished “Luther's Cradle
Hymn” the dogr opened softly, and
Alice and hef aunt asked if they
might Se Alice said there
were no childfen at auntie’s house, so
‘she had asked to come and have her
Christmas tree with them if they were
willing. :
“Willing I” You may be sure that
no unwilling hands ever cleared a
room so quickly as did theirs to make
room for the tree which Harrigan and
Barney were bringing in. Then what
.{ fun there was putting ou the candles
and lighting them, stringing popcorn,
hanging glittering balls and dazzling
tinsel, It seemed like fairyland, and
as it it must all be a dream. But then
Thistle was there, barking and getting
under everybody’s feet, and he wasn’t
any dream ; so the children began to
believe that they were awake until the
presents were given out, and then
they were sure it couldn’t be true.
Why Alice had said it was her tree,
but bere were presents for all of them ;
dresses, coats, shoes, skates, toys, sleds
——how could it be ? Alice had a love
ly watch from her aunt, and several
other presents ; but she was so busy
giving to the others, and enjoying their
happiness, that she said herself she
did not even know until he next day
what her presents were, and she
hadn’t felt so well in a year.”
When the fun was at its height,
Mr. Hardcastle came to take his wife
aod niece home ; but before they went
he told Mrs. Fivans that Harris, who
stole the dog, had been arrested, but
on his contession Mr. Hardcastle had
declined to press the complaint out of
pity for his widowed mother. Harris
said that when he was passing the
Evans cottage Thistle barked pretty
loud, and he thought some one in the
house must have heard and be coming
to ‘investigate, for he heard a loud
noise and saw the light go out, but
didn’t wait for anything more—just
dropped the dog and ran.
“You see,” added Mr. Hardeastle,
“The thief doth tear each bush an of-
ficer.” His guilty conscience made a
coward of him.”
After the “loud noise” that Harris
heard had been explained, with much
laughter, the *‘good nights’ were said
and the the little family once more
gathered around the fire.
“I'm rather glad now that I kicked
over the coal scuttle, upset the candle,
and knocked Barney down, since my
accidents have turned out so well,”
said Tom laughing.
“Yee,” said Mre. Evans, “they
seemed like accidents, but see how
they have ‘worked together for good.’
This should teach us that so long as
we love our heavenly Father, alljthings
are working for our good, whether we
are able to see it or not ; and this will
help us to be patient and cheerful al-
ways.”
———
.. Another Million-Dellar Gift.
Miss Helen Culver’s Donation to Chicago Uni-
versity.
CHicago, Iil.,, Dec. 14.—Chicago
University was to-day the recipient of
another million dollar gift, the doner
being Mies Helen Culver, of this city.
The conditions of the gift are that it
shall be devoted to the increase and
spread of knowledge ‘within the field ot
biological science. 1
Miss Culver, who about 60 years
old, isa niece of the late Charles J.
Hull, from whom shé inherited a for-
tune valued at $6,000,000 consisting
largely of property in/lew York, Phila-
delphia and Baltimore., Mr. Hull was
for a considerable time\d member of the
Board of Trustees of the old University
of Chicago, and one of the motives
prompting the gift of Miss Culver was a
desire to honor his memory.
An Awful Death.
He—“I understand Miss Gondgirl,
the Sunday school teacher, 1s dead.
What was the trouble ?”
She—¢‘Suicide. She ate come of the
candy that was hung on the Christmas
tree.”
r—————
THE GOING YEAR.
How stealthily the old year dies!
We may not catch his parting sighs,
Or even on the withered grass
Hear a retreating footstep pass,
And yet we know
This old year has reached his time to go.
—Mrse Emina Frances Anderson.
Allen G. Thurman Dead.
Ohio's Ez-Senator, the “Grand Old Roman,”
Succumbs to Old Age—A Life Full of Active
Work and Good Deeds.
Allen G. Thurman died at his home
in Columbus, Ohio, last Thursday af-
ternoon. Judge Thurman had been sink-
ing slowly ever since the fall he sus-
tained about a month ago. While try-
ing to reach a book which lay on the
centre-table. Judge Thurman fell to the
floor of his library. His hip was severe-
ly bruised, and his physician stated
at the time that the shock would prove
fatal. The judge rallied surprisingly,
but never recovered from the effects of
the fall.
Wednesday evening he grew rapidly
worse. Dr. W. H. Whitaker, the at-
tending physician, informed judge
Thurman’s son Allen W. Thurman,that
his father could live but a few hours.
About 2 a. m. he became unconscious,
and remained so until the end. Since
the death of his wife several years ago,
he has made his home with his son,
where he spent the last days of his life
in a remarkably pleasant and agreeable.
manner. His son Allen W. and his
family with several friends were pres-
ent at his bedside when the end came ;
but his two daughters Mrs. Holliday of
California, and Mrs. McCormack, of
New York, were not in the city.
AN HONORABLE CAREER.
Allen Granberry Thurman’s life was
a picturesque and honorable one. Al-
though distinctly a man of the people,
he came of a proud old Virginia family.
He became a rich man, too, but he
never showed a trace or trait of the aris-
tocracy of birth or purse.
He was born Nov. 13, 1818, in Lynch-
burg, Va., his father being a minister
of the Methodist Episcopal church, and
his mother the only daughter of Colonel
Nathaniel Allen. His parents moved
to Ohio when he was a boy, and with
the Buckeye state he has since been
identified.
The story of his life as a young man
may be briefly stated. He was admit-
ted to the bar in Chillicothe in 1835,
and for 10 years thereafter fought his
way to success. Then he took his first
step in politics, and entered the Twenty-
ninth congress in 1845 as its youngest
member. It was when his maternal
uncle, Senator William Allen, retired
that he was first called “The Old Ro-
man.”’ The sobriquet had long been
applied to Senator Allen, and it nat-
urally fell upon Judge Thurman, whose
career had been in many ways similar
to that of the original bearer of the title.
In 1851 he was elected to the supreme
bench of the state of Ohio, and served
until 1856. During this time he wrote
those five volumes of standard legal
works which are to be found in the Ohio
state reports.
These opinions are models of clear
statement and logical adherence to ele-
mentary law. In no other department
is his greatness so generally recognized
a3 in this. The senator, the politician,
may have been criticised, but “Judge”
Thurman always commanded respect.
After his hard work asa lawyer he
fully appreciated the comparative rest
which he found on the bench, and he
grew into a rugged, genial, middle-aged
gentleman of the finest “old Virginia’’
type. His domestic life was singularly
happy. Hisson, Allen, fulfilled the
father’s fondest hopes, and in later
years his family lived in a residence
joining that of his father, so that the
two families were as one. Judge Thur-
man and his wife. remained lovers
through all their days of wedlock, and
in 1860 no man in Ohio seemed to have
a fairer prospect of peace and content.
The war was a rude awakening and
brought to Judge Thurman a great
load of grief.
He was by family tradition opposed
to slavery in itself, yet held, in com-
mon with Webster, Benton and Clay,
that it was a matter for the states them-
selves to deal with. He denied the right
of any state to secede, but indulged the
hope that some milder method than war
might be adopted to restore the Union.
In 1867 Judge Thurman was nomi-
nated by the Democrats of Ohio for
governor against the popular general
and ex-congressman, Rutherford B.
Hayes. The result was simply astound-
ing. The Republican majority for
some years previous had been over 40,-
000, yet after a superheated campaign
the vote in an ‘off’” year was much
larger than ever before. General
Hayes’s majority was less than 3,000,
and the logislature elected was Demo-
cratic on joint ballot, insuring the de-
feat of Senator Wade. Judge Thurman
was elected in Mr. Wade’s stead and
took his seat in the senate in 1869. Here
he served two full terms, from 1869 to
1881. ‘In his “Twenty years of Con-
gress’’ Mr. Blaine says cf Mr. Thurman,
that ‘bis rank in the senate was estab-
lished from the day he took his seat and
was never lowered during the period of
his service. His retirement from the
senate was a serious loss to his party—a
loss, indeed, to the body. He left be-
hind him the respect of all with whom
he had been associated during his 12
years of honorable service.”
After retiring from the senate Thur-
man settled down in his comfortable
Columbus home with the full intention
of passing the remainder of his days
with his family and his books. But
this his political friends would not al-
low.
Early in 1878 his name was men-
tioned in connection with the presi-
dency. In 1880 he received the vote
of Ohio in the national convention and
some support from other states, but he
was not nominated. Again, in 1884, he
received some votes.
Then in 1888 came the red bandana
campaign. Cleveland and Thurman
were nominated at St. Louis amid great
rejoicing by the Democrats. The Old
Roman was then old indeed. His op-
ponents pictured him as a physical
wreck just about ready todrop in the
harness. But Thurman was not so
decrepit as he appeared. Rheumatism
had long made his steps uncertain, but
he was built of sterner stuff than they
knew. His faithful wife begged and
| protested against his making the effort,
{ but for once he would not listen to her
| advice.
He himself thcught at first that he
t would not survive the campaign, but
his family doctor told him that it would
do him good to stir around. And stir
around he did. He traveled thousands
of miles, made 108 speeches and came
back to his home feeling 10 years
younger. The ticket was defeated, but
Thurman’s life was probably lengthen-
ed several years. ;
After that campaign and up to the
time of the recent accident the Old
Roman was out of public life for good.
It is not to be understood, though, that |
bis mental ftrength had become impair-
ed. His physical forces were too feeble
to keep his body in the front of ‘the
fight, but his mind was as active as ever.
Judge Thurman’s body ‘was laid to
rest in the grave on Saturday. The
death of this eminent statesman was fol-
lowed by a general chorus of praise for
his character, showing how highly he
was regarded by the American people
The Mistletoe.
Natural History of the Famous
Bough.
Christmas
The mistletoe, says Leslie's Month-
ly; is 8a woody shrub, with vellowish-
green leaves, which specially affects
the branches of apple trees, pears, and
poplars. In the purely wild condition,
mistletoe grows mostly on poplars
alone. Mistletoe berries are much
sought after by eundry fruit-eating
birds, but especially by the missel-
thrush, which owes both its common
Eunglish name and its scientific appel
lation, viscicorous, to its marked affec-
tion for this mystic food. Now, as the
bird eats the berries, it gets the seed en-
tangled on its feet and bill by the
sticky surroundings, and then, flying
away to another tree, it gets rid of
them in turn by rubbing them off side-
ways in a fork of the branches. That
bappens to be the precise spot that
best suits the young mistletoe as a
place for sprouting in. If it fell onto
the ground beneath, it would be una-
ble to maintain iteelf without the aid
of a host ; but rubbed off on a poplar
or apple tree, where the missel-thrush
most often carries it in search of more
berries, it bores its way quickly into
the very tissues of its victim, and be-
gins to suck bis blood gayly for its
own advantage, after the hereditary
habit of its wicked kind.
Sach is the life-cycle of the common
English mistletoe.
Bailt the Ark, but Got Lett.
Many were employed by Noah in the
building of the ark who were not saved
by it. They knew well its design, the
material composing it, the details of its
construction, and the way of entrance
into it. Manv long years, they had
regard to his directions in the work as-
signed them. They felt the force of his
exceptional character as he superintend-
ed their labor and also preached to them
of duty and of danger.
It is easy to believe he selected those
not in the fullest sympathy with the
corruption and violence of the times.
Possi bly their employment gave them
some measure of welcome separation
from the worst elements of society and
protection against it, and they may
have been subjected, because of their
relations to him, to something of the
same scorn he experienced. Their con-
tact with him and his words of warning
doubtless awakened clear convictions of
responsibility and interest, but they fail-
ed to heed his teachings, yielded to the
multitude of evildoers, and when the
door was shut they were without and
not within the ark.
Bitten by Dogs.
Two Boys are now being Treated for Hydro-
phobia at Media.
Mgepia, Pa., Dec. 15.—Two young
ons of Charles Geary, of Lower Provi-
dence, master of the hounds of the
South Media Fox Hunting club, were
the victims last night of the most shock-
ing catastrophe, as a result of which
both lads are being treated for hydro-
phobia. They went into a kennel where
seven mad fox hounds were confined, to
feed them, and both were severely bit-
ten. One of the dogs died of rabies
later in the night, and when the others
were killed to-day a post mortem show-
ed that, beyond the least doubt, they
had hydrophobia.
Charles L. Geary, 14 years of age,
was bitten ou the arm, and his lhtile
brother, Howard, 7 years of age, was
bitten on the cheek. It is hoped that
prompt treatment will prevent any ser-
lous results of the Geary boys. Dr. J.
H. Fronfieild went this afternoon to
make arrangements to have the boys
undergo treatment at the Pasteur in-
stitute and it is expected that they will
be sent there to-night or to-morrow.
No Use.
Mrs. Thirdly : None of the girls have
volunteered to trim the church this
Christmas.
The Rev. Mr. Thirbly: Why not?
“They are all engaged.”
Wanted to Got At It.
Hardware Dealer—What do you
want with such a heavy saw ?
Bilkens—My wife has made a fruit
cake for Christmas.
——Llttle Amy—Mamma, Santa
Claus generally comes down the chim-
ney in the fire-place, doesn't he ?”’
Mrs. Flatz— Yes, dearie.
Little Amy—Well, how do you sup-
pose he’ll manage when we’ve only got
steam radiators in the house ?”’
——“What are
child ? y
“Lolo hurt me.”
“How, pray ?”’
“I was going to hit him with my fist,
when he ducked his head, and Wy fist
hit the wall.” _
crying for,
——Johuny, Willie says you threw
him down and jimped on him with
both feet.
Well, ma, I was just playin’.
What sort of play do you call that ?
Football.
——No Christmas dinner will be
complete without some of the dainty
good things now displayed at Sechler’s.
——Christmas is almost in gight and
stockings are much longer than they
were last vear.
For and About Women.
A Merry Christmas and a Happy
New Year.
Pictures offer the holiday shopper
glorious opportunities for securing a
charming gift at a low cost.
Brownie penwipers are cute and in-
expensive.
A growing plant is an acceptable
Christmas gift.
Alice Stone Blackwell, in answer to a
question by a Boston™ paper, wrote :
‘The question, Are women more char-
itable toward the faults of other women
than men are ? must be answered in
the negative. Men see the faults of
women through a certain softening
glamor of sex. Women look at them
clear sightedly and with an impartiality
that is often pitiless.”
This appears to be the green season,
all shades of that color being in vogue.
Green gloves are a novelty, and are seen
in three different tints ; the new chame-
leon silks invariably show a touch of
green in their changing colors ; many
of the new wool fabrics have green as
the predominating shade; the boucle
i cloths show threads of green, and black ;
varying green tints are seen everywhere
in the new jeweled trimmings ; and
green wings adorn many of the new
hats.
About the best thing you can give a
boy for a Christmas present is a receipt
for-a year’s subscription to some maga-
zine. An inexpensive camera—the
prices ranging from the pocket kodak at
$6 to $35, and even higher. Most boys
enjoy games, such as backgammon,
chessman and checkers. Tools always
please them, but the older boys should
have good substantial tools, not mere
toys. A rubber stamp witha boy’s
name will please him, and a tolding
pocket lamp never comes amiss. If he
18 musical, a banjo, a guitar, a mando-
lin or a violin is a good serviceable gift
and will keep him at home nights. A
fountain pen is really an excellent thing
to buy, providing the boy is old enough
to understand its usage, and if you wish
to give him something that can be used
next vacation time, a reel and line and
other fishing tackle would be a nice gift.
A watch or a clock for his room, a pair
of skates with bag for carrying them in,
a good bat and ball are articles that
never came amiss. A stamp album
with a few rare stamps, a pair of shears
and a bottle of good mucilage will while
away many winter evenings. Most
boys like their own individual posses-
sions, and under this head comes desks.
You can buy a good serviceable desk
without any fancy carving for $5, and a
real pretty one for $10. Rocking chairs,
student lamps, pictures or cushions are
welcome gifts for a boy.
In this time of good cheer do not for-
get your servants, don’t give them what
they ére obliged to have and will buy
for themselves but always let your gifts
be of the truly comfortable and service-
able. Pretty possessions for their rooms,
such as pin cushions, bureau scarfs, in-
expensive Japanese basket trays to hold
brush and cemb, a small writing desk
stocked with paper and envelopes, or a
small china tray to hold hair pins find
favor with every girl. A pair of warm
bedroom slippers would be a thoughtful
gift or a head rest for the back of her
rocking chair. Gifts often carry a les-
sons of tidiness with them, a scrap bask-
et, a shoe bag or a linen laundry bag
will teach her that there isa place for
everything, and a pretty work basket
well stocked with the little necessaries
will look nice on the top of the center
table.
Suggestions for Christmas. How to
make sbme dainty gifts that are both
novel and inexpensive. Linen will play
an important part in the manufacture
of Christmas presents this year, for any-
thing that is linen goes. One of the
prettiest bags of finest, sheerest material,
in dimensions about three or four inches,
and shaped, flaps and all, precisely like
a tiny envelope. It is stitched all around
embroidered on the face with the owner-
to-be’s initials, and a long loop of baby
ribbon attached to the point of the flap
finishes this bit of scented daintiness,
which is for no less purpose than to hold
my lady’s money when traveling, which
she usually pins in a soiled chamois
bag or paper envelope to her corsets.
Cut two round pieces of cardboard,
about three inches in diameter ; cover
each one of them with a piece of linen
for the outside, on which has been em-
broidered a monogram, some forget-me-
nots, or a favorite quotation, and a deli-
cate shade of silk on the other, or in-
side. Fasten together at each side by
strong stitches ; then making two bows
of narrow ribbon, the color of the em-
broidery silk used, and a long loop, put
the two bows on to hide where the pieces
are joined together, leaving the loop to.-
hang up by, you have a whisk-broom
holder. ;
If you want to give a girl friend a
useful gift send her a glove-mender.
Buy a ring—which may be of rubber,
wood, silver an ordinary bone ring will
answer—sew pieces of narrow ribbon at
different parts of this ring, letting them
hang down a short distance from the
ring. To the first one attach a pair of
little scissors ; to the next a heart-
shaped needle book ; on the third, a
silver finger—to put in the finger of the
glove while mending and can be bought
of a jewelry store—and to the last rib-
bon a braided strand of different colored
cotton. Right here let me give you a
pointer ; never u se silk to mend kid
gloves, but cotton always. Silk cuts
the kid and your glove does not stay
mended much longer than you are do-
ing the work.
Pillows and cushions are always ac-
ceptable. A pillow in the form of a
foot ball made of a boy's college colors
will please him. ©Another design is to
sew two handkerchiefs together to with-
in about three inches of each corner ;
having put the cushion in, tie the
corners securely leaving the edge go
loose. Again, make two small, flat
cushions and taking two handkerchiefs
fasten the cushions together by tying
the corners of one handkerchief to the
other in knots.
pu /