a
Dewan
Bellefonte, Pa., Dec. 22. 1899.
CHRISTMAS AS IT USED TO BE.
» 1
Christmas like it used to be!
That's the thing would gladden me.
Kith and kin trom far and near
Joining in the Christmas cheer.
Oh, the laughing girls and boys!
Oh, the feasting and the joys!
Wouldn't it be good to see
Christmas like it used to be ?
11.
Christmas like it used to be—
Snow a-bending bush and tree,
Bells a-jingling down the lane;
Cousins John and Jim and Jane,
Sue and Kate and all the rest
Dressed-up in their Sunday best,
Coming to that world of glee,—
Christmas like it used to be.
111.
Christmas like it used to be,
Been a long, long time since we
Wished, (when Santa Claus
come,)
You a doll and I a drum,
You a book and I a sled
Strong and swift and painted red ;
Oh that day of jubilee !
Christmas like it used to be.
IV.
Christmas like it used to be.
* Rw am *
It is still as glad and free,
And as fair and full of truth,
To the clearer eyes of youth.
Could we gladly glimpse it through
Eyes our children’s children do
In their joy-time we would see
Christmas like it used to be.
— Nixon Waterman.
should
ROB’S LITTLE SISTER.
“Its a-comin’ Kitty, sure’s you live and
breathe !”’
With an eager face Kitty raised her head
from the sofa on which she lived, and look-
ed through the window far over the dead
level of the prairie, while her brother Rob
danced about the room.
‘‘Hear that queer kind of a toot? That’s
it. See that streak o’ black smoke—hey ?
That’s it. Now watch.”
The two gazed at a locomotive which
shot into sight from behind a fringe of trees
skirting a small stream. At its distance it
looked little larger than a cow.
‘Hi ! don’t she skite !”’ exclaimed Rob,
unable to control his delight. ‘‘That’s the
first engine runnin’ over this bit of road,
Kitty, and by next week they’ll be runnin’
whole trains, and you can see ’em every
day.”
It was a great event for the settlers on
the far-away Dakota prairies when the rail-
road came through. They had made their
way by slow, laborious journeyings with a
wagon and horses to the patches of land
which they made their own by pre-emption;
that is, living upon them a certain length
of time. Many of them first lived in dig-
outs, then in houses built of sod; for timber,
which had to be hauled for many miles, was
too expensive tobuild with. And many of
the things which we in the older States
look upon as necessities were luxuries far
beyond the reach of these pioneers.
A few days after the appearance of the
first locomotive all the settlers who could
do so gathered at the station, seven miles
from the house where Kitty lived, to see
the first train go through. Kitty could
not go; hut she never expected to go any-
where, and was quite content with her
share of watching the train pass within
sight.
“Watch sharp,” said Rob, as the fami-
ly were about to stow themselves in the
big farm wagon, and her mother bent close
to make sure that Kitty was comfortably
settled for the six or seven hours of their
absence. Then Rob brought her a cup of
water, mother left her a very plain little
supper, and they went off. She had no new
books or magazine or pictures to while away
the long hours, but watched the big wagon
out of sight, and much later the passing of
the smoking, puffing, screaming monster,
trying in her innocent heart to imagine
what it must be to ride in such grand style,
and wondering if such happy fortune might
ever come to her.
‘Oh, Kitty, you could ride on ’em all
day,” cried Rob, bounding to her side on
his return from the most exciting sight-see-
ing of his life. ‘“’Taint like gettin’ into no
wagon, I tell you. It’sjes like goin’ into
a house-—a splendid house. And when you
get in you jes set down on the splendidest
sofy you ever see—bounces like a teeter.
And they do say”’—Rob's face grew solemn
“but I don’t know whether they wasfoolin’
or not, and I ain’t goin’ to be took in—that
they have beds on some 0’ them cars, Kit-
ty. Jes think o’ goin’ to bed reg’lar, like
you was home, and a-goin’ lickety-cut
along as smooth as a hand sled !”’
Kitty heard it all with great interest,
making up her mind that she, being the
sister of so sagacious a boy as Rob, would
not be taken in either by any of these
strange stories.
‘‘And—the wonderfulest thing, Kitty,”
went on Rob growing still more excited, if
such a thing could be. *‘Look—jyou’d nev-
er guess who that was; now would you ?’’
Kitty made an attempt at guessing who
the stranger might be who was coming in
more slowly with her father and mother.
It was a pleasant-faced man, who looked
with kindly eyes upon the wistful-eyed
child who bad lain down so long far away
from all reach of help or treatment which
might afford a possibility of better things
for her poor little life.
“It’s my cousin John Walters, Kitty,’
exclaimed mother, with a glow on her face
which the children seldom saw there.
And Rob could scarcely wait until the
warm hand shake had been followed by
words of friendly sympathy and inquiry
before whispering: ‘‘He’s got something
to do on the railroad, Kitty. Not the big-
gest man on it; for that the President him-
self, sure’s you live. Bill Green told me so.
But Cousin John gets a ride on the cars
whenever he wants it. Tired of it, Kitty !
Told me so himself.”
Kitty gazed in wonder equal to Robh’s
own at the man who could be tired of such
magnificence, listening as he told about his
little children in the far East whom he
might bring out West to live some day.
It was a link to the outside world which
became very sweet to the lonely, proverty
stricken dwellers on the prairie. As the
autumn wore away, and Kitty could mark
that the nights, in which she sometimes
slept but little, grew longer, it was pleas-
ant to be looking for the visits of Cousin
John and to hear his long stories about his
own little girls who would come to see Kit-
ty some day.
The winter settled down, aud Kitty did
not like the wild storms or the deep snows,
for they made it harder for Cousin John to
come from the station to see them, al-
though he still did it when he could be off
duty.
But as the short days grew shorter and
darker Kitty drooped. No one who loved
her could tell what was the matter, but all
of them could see that she grew weaker
and weaker every day. Rob watched in
fear and trembling, although he did not for
some time catch the cold fear that lay at
mother’s breast.
At length a day came in which Kitty did
not want to be carried from her bed to her
place upon the sofa.
‘Not want to be where you can see the
trains pass, Kitty ?”’
‘‘No, Robby; I am so tired.”
Rob gazed for a few minutes at her pale
little face, wondering in his troubled mind
what it might be to him to live without
his little sister, then went to his moth-
er.
‘Mother, I'm goin’ for the Doctor to see
Kitty.”
‘The Doctor, Robby, !”> Such a thing
had never been thought of. Poor folks suf-
fer on without dreaming of such expensive
luxuries.
‘Yes I’m goin’,”” said Rob, stoutly.
And taking another glance at the face on
the pillow, mother could not say no.
‘But the weather looks stormy, Rob,”’
she said following him to the door, and
looking anxiously at a low lying bank of
clouds. ‘I’m afraid there’s going to be a
storm.”’
‘Looks a little blizzardy,’’ said Rob eye-
ing the clouds critically.
‘‘Better wait till it’s over, hadn’t you ?”’
‘‘No,’’ said Rob shaking his head decid-
edly. ‘Don’t you know there’s such a
thing as waiting too long, mother ?”’
Mother looked in his eyes, and said no
more, as he added, cheerily :
‘You see, mother, if it should be a hig
storm, the snow might be so deep that no-
body could get through no telling when; so
I guess I’d better get ahead of it.”’
Father did not object as Rob went to
harness old Brickdust to the rough cutter,
which they had made with their own hands,
only saying, ‘‘Gostraight there, and, if the
storm should get bad, don’t try to come
back tonight.’’
Last of all Rob went in to Kitty : ‘I’m
goin’ to fetch some one to make you feel
better, poor little Kitty,’’ he said kissing
her. ‘Now mayn’t I carry you to where
you can watch me go away, and then watch
for me to come back ?’’
Kitty held up her thin arms, and Rob
tenderly carried her to her sofa. He had a
feeling that he could not go leaving her in
bed ; it seemed to him like such a dreadful
giving of her up to real sickness. And she
could see his hand waving to her as long as
he was in sight before disappearing over a
little rise in the long monotonous road over
the prairie.
‘‘Get up, Brickdust,”’ said Rob shaking
the reins as his quick eye noted the rapid
changes in the sky. ‘‘If you and me don,t
hump ourselves up, old fellow, we’ll be
getting the cold end o’ them clouds down
on us before we get home. ”’
Old Brickdust paid respectful heed to
Rob’s suggestions, always *‘humping’’ him-
self up a half-dozen footsteps, and then re-
lapsing into his former gait. Rob liked
the look of the sky less and less, and as a
few snowflakes came idly floating by his
head, again and again urged his horse for-
ward.
Those who know with what sudden and
fearful force a blizzard descends will not
wonder at Rob’s uneasiness. The spirit of
the storm seems to take delight in forming
them complete in his favorite haunts of
eternal ice and snow, and when fully arm-
ed and equipped, letting them loose to
wreak their force and fury upon whatever
hapless object may be exposed to their ter-
rific power.
Rob had scarcely had time to observe the
fugitive flakes before the air seemed to grow
darker. For afew moments he drew his
reins and hesitated. He knew the danger
that might attend his way; could recall
many a tale of unfortunate travellers who
had wandered upon the pathless prairies
until cold, or hunger, or both, had brought
them to the end of all journeyings.
“What'd you and me better do now
Brickdust ?’’ he asked, taking another com-
prehensive look at the sky. ‘It’s lookin’
uglier, isn’t it, old fellow ? Shall we go on
or shall we turn back? We're just about
half way now, and it’s about as long as it’s
broad, you see. If the snow’ll only come
genteel we’ll get on firstrate, and if we can
only get to the Doctor, of course such a
smart man with such a fine horse can get
out to see Kitty—poor little Kitty ! Get up
Brick, I say.”’ 7
The thought of the pale face choked half
the force of the sturdy command which
came with a vigorous jerk of the reing, but
even then it seemed too harsh a one to give
his old horse, for he added, half penitently:
‘She was as light when I carried her, Brick;
yes, light as a feather. That’s right step
lively, now. I know you think justas I
do ahout it. Let's see your real race-horse
steps.’’ :
But the snow had no idea of coming
*‘genteel.”” The darkness increased, clos-
ing in upon the lonely boy like a cloud.
Swifter and thicker circled the white flakes;
then, with a low, sullen roar the pitiless
storm came flying on the wings of a wind
straight from the frozen zone.
“Hurry up, Brick,”’ again cried Rob.
But as with straining eyes he tried to pene-
trate the white wall which surrounded him
he saw that every landmark wasswept from
his sight.
For a while old Brickdust kept his way
in the road, and Rob strove to urge him
forward. But the fast falling snow soon
filled everything like a track. There was
no fence, nothing to mark the path over the
dreary waste.
Even Rob’s courageous heart trembled a
little as he took in the full gravity of the
situation.
“It’s no use,’’ he presently said. ‘‘If you
can’t keep the track, I can’t. You take
your way now, Brickdust, and get us home.
Kitty’ll be glad tosee us even if we haven’
got the Doctor.”’
But poor old Brickdust’s instinct seemed
to give way before the blast which drove
down upon him. Making a few blind ef-
forts to stem it, he gave up, and plodded
aimlessly on through the deepening snow.
As night closed down, Rob felt an icy
chill stealing over him. His benumbed
fingers could scarcely hold the reins, and
the keen blast seemed to cut like a knife
through his not over well clad body. Still
he tried to encourage his horse, while his
own heart almost failed him. He wrapped
around him an old blanket which was in
the cutter, and for hours sat up straight,
straining his eyes in hope of seeing some
friendly light.
“It’s getting warmer, isn’t it Brick ?’’ he
said at length, witha weary sigh. ‘“P’r’aps
the wind’s letting up a bit.”” The boy’s
frame relaxed, and he sank back with a
dulled sense of his dire extremity, and less
anxiety about how he was to reach safety.
But the next moment he sprang up with
a full realization that the stupor which was
creeping through every limb meant death.
He must not give way to it. Kitty was
watching for him; what if she should watch
and watch and never see him come ?
He stood up, beat himself with his hands,
calling wildly for help. But no help was
near. Again and again he fought against
the cruel power which was slowly overcom-
ing him. Nature yielded at last, and Kit-
ty’s brother lay helpless in the cutter, while
poor old Brickdust stumbled on through
the darkness and snow.
“No, we sha’n’t see Hopeville to-night,’
said the conductor on a train, speaking to a
few passengers.
‘Then some of us won’t get home to spend
Christmas,’’ said one.
“Reckon not,’’ said the conductor, shak-
ing the snow off his coat. ‘‘The snow
plough is working its very best, and still
we're away behind time® There's no tell-
ing when we may have to stop.’’
‘‘What’s that ?’’—a cry came from sever-
al voices, as an alarming jar shook the train
and it presently stood still.
‘‘We’ve stopped now,”” grumbled the
conductor. ‘‘Cattle likely. They make no
end of trouble out this way.”
The men went out into the wild storm.
‘It’s a boy ! Frozen-—dead, I guess. And
here’s a sleigh knocked to splinters.”
‘And here’s the horse—a regular old bag
of bones. He's dead anyway.’’
Kindly hands raised the boy and carried
him into the car where restoratives were ap-
plied with skillful hands.
‘‘He’s coming to, Doctor I’’ The words,
spoken in eager, excited tones, were the
first heard by Rob as he opened his eyes
and saw Cousin John Walters and others
about him. Stinging, burning pains shot
through his hands and feet as he tried to
get up.
‘Keep still, boy,’’ said Cousin John.
“Jack Frost’s been taking a nip at you,
but the Doctor’ll have you all right before
long.”’
‘‘How—did—I—get here ?’’ asked Rob
looking around in dizzy bewilderment.
“Why, we collided with you and smash-
ed you up,’’ said Cousin John, with an at-
tempt at a laugh. “Well for you we did
it, too. It’s the first time I ever heard of a
chap having his life saved by being run in-
to by a locomotive.’
‘‘But,’’ said Rob, with an uneasy glance
at the windows, against which the storm
was beating with untiring fury, “Kitty’ll
be watching for me.”’
Nearly twenty-four hours after she had
seen Rob drive away from the door, Kitty
was watching the point where he had dis-
appeared.
Perhaps it had been good for her, this
break in the dull monotony of her life, even
the break of an anxiety. A little of the
brightness came back to her eyes as she
watched, refusing to leave her outlook
while daylight lasted. Mother watched her
unceasingly wondering whether it would
end in joy or sorrow.
‘‘He’s coming!’ cried Kitty. A little
glow spread over her cheeks as she raised
her head with more energy than her mother
had seen for weeks.
Two horses were slowly plowing their
way through the snow. All its sparkle
seemed reflected in Kitty’s eyes as she dis-
tinguished Rob, wrapped in a buffalo-
robe.
“‘And two men,’”’ said mother.
‘And one of ’ems Cousin John,” said
Kitty.
“Merry Christmas! Merry Christinas !”’
Thesound of the hearty good wishes filled
the house as Cousin John came in, carrying
Rob in his arms.
‘Merry Christmas, little girl,’’ he repeat-
ed, as he laid him beside her on the sofa.
“No, don’t squeeze his hands; don’t even
kiss him very hard.”
After the story of Rob’s deliverance had
been told, the strange gentleman seated
himself by Kitty’ssofa.
“I thought,’’ he said, ‘‘that as I could
not get home for Christmas with my own
little onés, I had better come with Mr.
Waltersand spend it at Kitty’s home.”
And never before had Kitty dreamed of
such a Christmas. Cousin John bad brought
a fir tree, and Kitty lay and gazed in rap-
ture at the things useful and beautiful
which he hung upon it. Rob hobbled
about on his ailing feet, sometimes helping
Cousin John, sometimes rushing up to Kit-
ty with an ecstatic, ‘‘Oh, Kitty! did you
think I wouldn’t come back.’’
Dr. Gilbert unpacked a parcel of books
and pictures which took away from Kitty
all fear of the long winter to come and all
desire to lie still and let her life ebb away
if it would. He watched her pale face
very closely, had a good deal of talk with
her mother, and the next day said good-by,
telling Kitty to be of good eheer.
And Rob, after watching him as he made
his way through the drifts, turned to Kitty
with all his loving heart beaming in his
eyes : ‘Kitty isn’t this a Christmas time?
Isn’t it all peace on earth and good will
and good good times, and me not frozen,
and you a-gettin’ better, and everything
thankful—and just jolly? Hey, Kitty?’
—By Sydney Dayre.
A Disgusting Habit.
Boys should early be taught the heinous-
ness of the offense of spitting both from
the basis of decency and danger to public
health. It is much easier to prevent the
formation of a habit of this kind in a boy
than to correct it in a man, and herein lies
the mother’s part in the warfare against
spitting.
No extension of woman’s rights is neces-
sary to make mothers a power in this neg-
lected realu. All that is required is re-
turn to a duty once faithfully discharged
—but in the rush of modern life neglected
—the vigilant maternal supervision of boys
during the years in which their habits are
formed.
The boy that is taught that to spit on
the hearth—the steps—anywhere about
the house—is an infringement upon the
rights of the family that will not be toler-
ated is not likely as a man to infringe upon
the rights of the public by spitting upon
the sidewalks, on the floors or steps of
public buildings, or in the cars.
In the meantime however, there is a
generatiom of full-grown, active spitters
to be reckoned with in the interest of the
public health, and it is in the opinion of
those who have given careful attention to
the matter that these can be reached more
effectively by the dissemination of knowl-
edge uponsthe subject than by city ordi-
nances or State law.
CHRISTMAS SONG.
Why do bells for Christmas ring?
Why do little children sing !
Once a lovely shining star
Seen by shepherds from afar
Gently moved until its light
Made a manger’s cradle bright.
There a darling baby lay
Pillowed soft upon the hay,
And its mother sang and smiled,
“TFkis is Christ, the holy child.”
Therefore the bells for Christmas ring ;
Therefore little children sing.
— Eugene Field.
The Grangers Finish Up Their Work at
Lock Haven.
The Concluding Sessions of the Annual Grange Meet-
ing at Lock Haven—The Business That Was Unfin-
ished Before the Watchman’s Last Issue Went to
Press.
In the last issue of the WATCHMAN was
published a full account of the proceedings
of the twenty-seventh annual meeting of
Pomona: Grange of Pennsylvania, in ses-
sion in Lock Haven, up to and including
the meeting on Wednesday evening. The
business transacted on Thursday and before
adjournment on Friday was as follows :
The Thursday morning’s session was de-
voted to hearing reports.
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE'S RECOMMENDA-
TIONS.
The executive committee, consisting of
Hon. Leonard Rhone, Louis Piollet and
George W. Oster, presented their report.
The report stated that during the past year
the State was divided into districts for lec-
ture work, and the organizers that were
sent to the various localities did good
work. The committee also had arranged
that subordinate Granges should report
quarterly the amount of business transact-
ed with the several business houses, but as
only one-tenth of the Grangers had report-
ed, the practice will be discontinued. It
has been decided that business houses shall
hereafter report quarterly to the executive
committee the amount of sales made to
Patrons during the quarter, instead of an-
nually tc the treasurer, as done hereto-
fore.
The committee make the following rec-
ommendations : That the secretary have
printed on card board a complete list of
business houses with which the State
Grange has contracts, and that a copy be
mailed to every subordinate Grange; that
the worthy master designate some time in
the near future as ‘‘Grange week’’ during
which every Grange shall make a special
effort to increase its membership; that a
change in the constitution of the State
Grange be made, whereby officers of the
subordinate Grange shall be elected at the
last regular meeting in September and in-
stalled at the first meeting in October, and
that the names of the new officers be trans-
mitted to the state secretary immediately
after their election; that a permanent re-
serve fund be created, in which shall be
placed each year at least $200 of the money
received from business houses, said fund to
be invested in reliable building and loan
associations; that the coat of arms of Penn-
sylvania and the regulation flag of the
state, with the name of the State Grange
emblazoned thereon, he adopted as the of-
ficial flag of the State Grange; that a com-
mittee of five be appointed todesign flags
for the Pomona and subordinate Granges,
and that where farmer’s institutes are held
at state expense that provision be made for
one Grange address.
The statement of the finances of the com-
mittee show : Balance in treasurer’s hands
December 1st, 1898, $5,545.50; receipts
from fees, dues and other sources, $5,823.96;
total receipts, $12,185.70; total dishurse-
ments during 1899, $6,331.69; balance Dec.
1st 1899, $5,854.69; net gain during the
year, $308.51.
The committee on legislation, through
Hon. W. T. Creasy, presented their report.
SPECIAL COMMITTEE REPORTS.
The special committee appointed at the
last session, presented a different method
for holding elections. The report was re-
ferred to the master, with instructions that
it be sent to the National Grange for an
opinion as to its constitutionality.
The finance committee also presented its
report, which was read.
NATIONAL LEGISLATION.
The committee on national legislation
reported favorably on those portions of the
master’s address that had been placed in
their hands for consideration and offered
the following resolutions :
Resolved, That the State Grange of Pennsylva-
nia while fully recognizing the economic advan-
tages resulting from combinations of capital and
the substitution of co-operation for destructive
competition, holds that these advantages equita-
bly belong to the whole people, where protection,
as embodied in the law, alone renders such com-
binations possible and should not be monopolized
by the favored few. Itaccordingly demands such
legislation by congress as shall compel such com-
binations to occupy their true positions as crea-
tures and servants of the public by enforcing pub-
licity of methods and accounts, preventing over-
capitalization in its various forms, forbidding dis-
criminations in charges, and by other means as
experience has shown, or may hereafter show, to
be necessary,
Resolved, That we urge the enactment of a law
regulating interstate traffic in foods, drugs and
condiments, similiar in eftect to the bill present-
ed to the Uuited States congress known as the
Brosius Pure Food bill.
Resolved, That we further ask for the extension
of the free delivery of mail in rural districts as
rapidly as possible, and that the service be placed
on the same permanent footing as the delivery of
mail in cities and towns.
STATE COLLEGE.
Dr. Armsby, director of State College ex-
perimental station, gave an interesting ad-
dress in which he referred to the land acts
of 1862 and 1887. He also discussed the
educational question and spoke of the ne-
cessity of farmers being thoroughly educat-
ed.
COMMITTEEMEN.
S. S. Blymyer, of Armstrong county, was
elected member of the finance committee
and Frank Chandler, of Chester county, was
elected member of the executive commit-
tee.
ROADS.
The committee on roads reported as fol-
lows :
Your committee on public roads to whom
was referred for consideration, that part of
the worthy master’s report relating to pub-
lic roads, report favorably and in addition
submit the following resolutions and re-
spectfully ask its adoption :
Resolved, That while we are in full accord with
the suggestions and recommendations therein
set fourth, and groly believe in the practical
Yicvs expressed by the worthy master in his re-
port.
We also recommend that the legislative
committee of the State Grange, draft and
urge the passage by thenext legislature,
such a road law as will best meet the re-
quirements and demands of the people of
this great commonwealth and that will so
adjust taxation that all classes of property
owners are more justly treated.
DORMANT GRANGES.
The committee on Dormant Granges rec-
ommend the distribution of grange litera-
ture. That county deputies he urged by
the state master to proceed at once to re-or-
ganize Dormant Grangers.
EDUCATION.
The committee on education reported
disprovingly of the resolution asking for the
repeal of the present law governing the
school term; as the committee believes the
term isnot too long: Recommended that
the grange encourage the establishment of
township high schools and better wages
for teachers and expressed dissatisfaction
at the cut in the school appropriation.
POMONA GRANGES.
The committee on Pomona granges, Geo.
L. Ebbs, chairman, made a lengthy report
in which the suggestions contained in the
address of Master Hill were considered.
The report coincided with all the recom-
mendations of the master. The committee
suggested that subordinate granges should
furnish the secretary of Pomona granges
with quarterly reports of the condition of
the local organization, setting forth the
status of the local work to enable the offi-
cers of Pomona to ascertain the exact con-
dition of the order. The report closed
with a plea for representation of Pomona
in the law making power of the order.
Interesting reports were presented by the
assistant steward and the lady assistant
steward.
EXECUTIVE.
The executive committee was requested
to continue their work as provided at last
session, with the master to supervise the
same. A special committee was appointed
to make the system of appeal better.
TRANSPORTATION.
The transportation committee reported
on the injustice of corporations not paying
their share of local taxes.
RESOLUTIONS.
Resolutions were adopted urging the use
of all legitimate efforts to secure the enact-
ment of a law making game the property
of the owner of lands on which it is found,
and that it shall be unlawful for any per-
son to hunt game without permission of
the owner; that the United States Senators
shall be elected by direct vote of the peo-
ple, that all lawful means be used to have
enacted such laws as will equalize taxa-
tion and thus relieve the farmers of their
unjust burdens.
A change was recommended in the num -
ber of delegates to the state grange.
Another resolution was as follows:
Resolved, That we favor direct legislation the
initiative and referendum preserving to the peo-
ple the opportunity of governing themselves by
voting direct upon the laws under which they
must live.
Before adjournment on Friday morning
a resolution of thanks was tendered the
people of Lock Haven for their courteous
treatment and it was practically decided
that Lock Haven shall be selected as the
place for the next annual meeting.
Januaay Jaroas.
The following have been drawn to serve
as jurors at the next session of court, com-
mencing on Monday, January 22nd. 1900.
W. 8. Scholl, carpentor........... eeeeeie Bellefonte.
Geo. Pottsgrove, bookkeeper. Philipsburg
H. F. Miller, carpenter... ...Bellefonte
John F. Fortney, farmer
John Robb, clerk...........
J. W. Foreman, farmer............ccoee.n
A. W. Gentzel, laborer
D. Kline Musser, dentist....
Harris Heylman, bank clerk.
Charles Reese, farmer.......
A. C. Ripka, farmer.........
Thos. Homan, laborer.
John Henderson, farmer.
Benner Turner, farmer...
Samuel Mitchell, tanner.
Charles Wilson, farmer...
H. M. Stewart, laborer...........
Jesse K. Cox, liveryman..............ccoouene Bellefonte
A. C. Williams, teacher...
Jacob Wyle, laborer....
David J. Gates, farmer....
Elmer 8. Williams, laborer
John K. Rockey, farmer.....
S. W. Smith, farmer
TRAVERSE JURORS—I1ST WEEK.
Michael Spicher, farmer............cocceceruen vue. Spring
J. C. Wagner, miller........
J. W. Lukens, plasterer..
Fred Robb, farmer................
F. H. Thomas, superintendent.
Frank Goss, bicycle repairer.
GC. BE. Miller, farmer............c.ccociiee onions
W. 8. Tate, eurpenter.........ic..cceeiconrivens
John Spearly, laborer.....
Charles Kennedy, laborer..
Nathan Krape, farmer......
Harry C. Bailey, farmer.....
J. Henry Fishburn, farmer
Wallace Walker, farmer.....
John P. Johnson, laborer...
Samuel Homan. farmer..........ooueveeeessesnnens Walker
H. K. Harshberger, laborer......c....cceceeeunnn. Potter
A, V. Miller, genfleman.................. State College
John Myers, Sr., 1aborer.. .....o.cvcveeneesvneennnnnn. Rush
Noah Cronimiller, clerk.... .Aaronsburg
Adam Kerstetter, carpenter.
Michael Shaffer, gentleman.
P. Benner Graham, shoemaker...
Benjamin Breon, lumberman....
George Fravel, carpenter......
George Ellenberger, tarmer..
William Colpetzer, laborer.
Foster Williams, clerk....
A. R. Woodring, farmer..
Paul D. Shaffer, clerk.....
Philipsburg
Siees Huston
Philipsburg
..Snow Shoe
Ferguson
....Benner
...Bellefonte
Samuel Bathurst, laborer ........c.. ceenerenens Boggs
John Hunter, laborer........ Liberty
Patrick Hefferin, 1aborer.........eoeveevuersuverns Rush
Aaron Fahr, farmer...
J. O. Stover, teamster.
C. D. Motz, clerk..........
Nicodemus Lose, farmer......
Michael Hazel, labor.............
R. J. Gibbs, farmer...... a
Harry N. Lyon, laborer.. ..Spring
Perry McCaleb, farmer.... .... Walker
George Simler, drayman........... Philipsburg
Jerome Spigelmyer, merchant............... Millheim
Thos. Shaughenssy, carpenter.............. Bellefonte
JA. Way, farmer... ...compsicsicsissciss Halfmoon
William Peeler, merchant..
W. B. Haines, farmer.....
Antes Confer, farmer..........
TRAVERSE JURORS—2ND WEEK.
Miles Zimmerman, farmer.........cceevunenn ne Howard
Thos. D. Weaver, carpenter. ..Snow Shoe
Thos. N. Stover, laborer.....
Orrin Vail, merchant......
Cornelius Stover, farmer
William Miller, farmer.......
Harry Gunsallus, merchant...
Michael Kerstetter, carpenter..
W. E. Frank, laborer.........
Jeremiah Shutt, laborer..
Charles Corl, farmer...
George E. Ishler, butcher..
Wm. Twigg, laborer.....
Jas. M. Ross, farmer....
Geo. M. Brown, blacksmith
William Stover, carpenter .
Jacob E. Snyder, dentist.
Philip 8. Dale, farmer........
W. E. Fisher, farmer
R. R. Richards, farmer
Norman Holt, merchant..
John W. Collins, miner
C. T. Harshberger, liveryman...
J. G. Irwin,gentleman.........
D. O. Hazel, laborer.....
F. 8. Musser, teamster..
S. M. Brown, laborer.....
Edward Haupt, manager.
Reuben Harter, farmer....
David Kinkead, laborer..
ween GTEEE
.... Miles
Howard
hilipsburg
shins Harris
..Bellefonte
«en Penn
Wn. I. Brower, falrmar............ coined Union
Peter Corl, farmer........... ...Ferguson
E. M. Huyett, lumberman................ .Centre Hall
N. O. Weber, faTmer............c cesses esnrasionss Miles
J. M. Hubler, blacksmith
George Austin, teamster.....
J. Kyle McFarlane, farmer ie
J: C. Barnhart, Farmer... ucmiiisiavasiee Boggs
Sam uel Vonada, teamster Bellefonte
H. L. Barger, laborer ...Snow Shoe.
-——= Subscribe for the WATCHMAN.
BETHLEHEM.
Can this be Bethlehem? That was the
exclamation of us all as we tried to ride
through the narrow alleys, over broken
flagstones, amid decay and ruin. I could
think of no other comparison but an old
pond in a piece of New England back-
woods, where the mud is black and deep
below and the hemlocks thick and sombre
above. Yet out of that deep, black mire
come annually to the surface of the water,
with every spring, the purest, sweetest,
whitest largest pond lilies to be seen in the
Hampshire Highlands. Coal black tar
makes white paint. Mud makes lovely,
snow white lilies. Bethlehem introduced
the Christ.
The worn rocks where the tread of san-
daled or bare feet has rubbed out long ruts
from a foot to three feet deep strikes the
imagination with a shock. How long have
human feet ascended these steep and rocky
paths? How many water carriers from
David’s coveted well, how many head-
loaded market women, how many torch-
bearing wedding parties, how many shriek-
ing funeral processions, how many warriors,
maidens, children, mules and dogs have
contributed their imperceptible share to the
abrasions which now seem so deep ? The
old mud and stone houses broken in on
the sides or ‘‘caved in’’ from the roof,
where only one dark room out of six can
now be inhabited, are all monitors of the
ages telling of slow decay, of want, wars,
devastations, taxation, tyranny, as well as
of quiet lives dragging out whole genera-
tion in permeating monotony.
Yet it was here in this stable, under this
gloomy old church, that the Christ child
appeared. A lily amid filth, an electric
gleam at midnight,an angel of beauty with
a background of demons.
While we were stopping in Jerusalem
some of our party went out nearly every
day to Bethlehem and clambered about its
steep, narrow, rocky streets, finding fresh
and romantic situations and queer relics
each day. There is no ride in Palestine,
unless, possibly, we should not include the
drive along the white beach of the Sea of
Galilee, which can exceed in loveliness the
trip over the six miles of good road from
Jerusalem to Bethlehem now. Each mo-
ment the views change, as the road ascends
the crown of a mountain or approaches the
edge of a cliff, and deep ravines, cottage
homes, shelving rocks, caves, sections of
ancient masonry, forests of olives in the
valleys, distant ranges of historic mount-
ains, all appear and disappear as in a
grand dream.
Bethlehem, when Christ was born, must
have been a city of importance and the
headquarters of a Roman tax collector.
That officer then lived in luxury, and his
mansion must have been large and built
about a lovely garden. The new idea ad-
vanced by the archaeologists that Bethle-
hem was one of the ‘‘Library Cities’ of
ancient Syria, ranking with Hebron and
Gaza, is not yet proven by the newly dis-
covered inscriptions and cylinders. But it
was au important outpost for the defense
of Salem (Jeru-salem) as long ago as the
time of Melchisedeck. Dean Stanley labor-
ed with the problem and gathered inter-
esting data, I was told at Bethlehem, which
showed clearly that the village was quite a
different place then from what it is now.
Then the vineyards covered each terrace
and the fruit trees deeply shaded each
ravine and valley and groves covered the
hilltops.
The town was regularly built, and many
of the streets ran under coal arches, and
tunnels now filled in ran under some of the
squares. The hotel, or khan, must bave
been very large, built about an open
square, one or two sides which were used
for the inn and the rest for the stables.
The superstitions of the ages have misled
many writers and handed down in tradition
many absurd statements about it.
But that Bethlehem is the actual place of
Christ's birth, and that the Church of the
Nativity is on the actual location of the
inn there can be no reasonable doubt. I
was so fortunate as to meet at Bethlehem
a dear, saintly old monk from Mar Saba,
whose acquaintance we had made at the
Cliff Monastery near the Dead Sea, who
took me about in a fatherly way and vivid-
ly pictured the scene in Christ’s day. He
described it in such glowing words that I
never think of Bethlehem now without in-
voluntarily imagining it as he portrayed it.
At Bethlehem, as in all those historic
places in the East, one needs to keep as in-
different as possible to the present annoy-
ances and live in the past. The old monk
had mastered the problem. He moved
among the thoughtless travelers, blessed
the beggars, nodded to the water-carriers,
greeted the mule drivers and answered
questions with a far away look and tone
which was a study in psychology. He
walked in the present but lived in the
past. He described the flat roofs, the lat-
ticed windows, the overhanging balconies,
the dark front gateways, the lovely enclos-
ed back gardens, the bazaar and the deep
well in the little square, just as he seemed
to see them twenty centuries back. The
sleeveless, barefooted shepherds, the noisy
maidens about the well, the busy water
carriers from the iun, the veiled wives of
the wealthy riding up the hill, the Roman
soldiers with gleaming helmets, the old
skeiks of the plains, the camels from Edom,
the merchandise caravans camping in the
valley, all seemed to live again for him.
The arrival of Joseph and Mary from Naza-
reth that evening, the crowded condition
of the inn, the taking out into the fields of
some of the animals that Mary might have
the room in the stable for shelter, the
birth, the Child’s first baby cry, the com-
ing of the shepherds, the worship of the
magi, were all to him living scenes.
So while Bethlehem to-day is a small
village built on the ruins of past ages and
its people are poor vine dressers or beggars,
yet the travelers who can school himself
into historic day-dreams, will be inspired
at Bethlehem to review the truthful events
of a most strange and potent past. There
bloomed the Divine Lily which has made
all our domestic peace, our advanced civili-
zation and our religious hope a possibility.
—By Rev. Russell H. Conwell.
A KEEN CLEAR BRAIN.—Your best feel-
ings, your social position or business suc-
cess depend largely on the perfect action of
your stomach and liver. Dr. King’s New
Life Pills give increased strength, a keen,
clear brain, high ambition. A 25 cent box
will make you feel like a new being. Sold
by F. Potts Green, druggist.
——The Florida Alligator was out for-
aging for his Christmas dinner, but the
little pickaninny swimming in the bayou
was utterly unconscious of it. ‘‘Yum,
yum !”’ remarked the alligator ; “I think
I’11 help myself to a little dark meat, with-
out dressing.
To Cure a Cold in One Day.
Take Laxative Bromo Quinine Tablets.
All druggists refund money if it fails to
cure. E. W. Grove’s signature on every
box. 25c. 41-6m