A .. ly. “Fred won't come because he can’t Bemorna atin Bellefonte, Pa., December 18, 1908, HMAKING OTHERS THANKFUL. Said old gentleman Gay, “On a Christmas Day, If you want a good time, then give something away.” 80 he sent a fat turkey to Shoemaker Price. And the shoemaker said, “What a big bird, how nice! And since such a good dinner's before me I ought To give Widow Lee the small chicken I bought.” “This fine chicken, oh, see!” said the good Widow Lee. “I would like to make some one as happy as [— I'll give washwoman Biddy my big pumpkin pie I “Just to look at its yellow face giladdens my eyes, Now it's my turn,” said Biddy, “and a sweei ginger cake For the motherless Flinnigan children I'l bake.” Said the Flinnigan children, Rose, Denny and Hugh— “It smells sweet of spice, and we'il carry aslice To little lame Jake, who has nothing that's nice.” “Oh, I thank you, and thank you! said little lame Jake ; “Oh, what a bootiful, bootiful cake, And oh, such a big slice! 1 will save all the crambs, And give them to each little sparrow that comes.” And the sparrows twittered as if they would say, Like old gentleman Gay, “On a Christmas Day If you want a good time, then give something away." ~The Entertainer. MRS. SANTA CLAUS'S CHRISTMAS. ‘‘No Christmas this yem?'’ wailed the twine and Sammy, while Fred and Mary were speechless with 1a2igontion, and ‘I am very sorry, dears, t says we will not observe the any at all. He does not feel about it as we do,” and Mrs. Claus wiped away a few tears. “‘I wish papa was here,’ sobbed Sammy. “We always liad a Christmas tree before he went away to heaven. Will he ever come back, mamma?” “No, darling,” sobbed the mother. “‘Papa is better off, and we must not wish him back;"” but in her lonely heart she echoed the baby’s wish. “Never mind, little ones,” said Mary, whose disposition was as sunny as her bair. ““They are talking about a Christmas tree and a snow house and a Santa Claus in the Sunday school room on Christmas Eve, and we will all go.” “‘Our own Santa Claus?'’ demanded three childish voices. “No, dears,a make-believe Santa Claus,” said Mary, with a little sob. Children’s tears are soon dried, and in a few minutes the liltle ones were deep ina disoussion as to whether the house would be of real snow or nos. Mrs. Claus slipped quietly away to ory where no one would see her, and Fred and Mary held a little indignation meeting in one corner of the big bare kitohen. ‘It’s a shame,’ burst ous Fred. ‘‘Grand- pa takes every oent I make in the daytime, and won't allow me to go to school; but there was no peace till I gave him what I earned in the evenings by extra work to bay presents for the ohildren. Mamma saye itis becanse he is old and childish that be acts so, hut that need not make him selfish and cross, too. She works from morning till night in this cold room be- eause he will not allow her to bave fire in any other room. I don’s see why papa had to die and leave us.” “If we could only get away from here!” seid Mary. ‘‘Don’t you think we coald find a little house where I could do the work while mamma sewed? Thats would be easier for ber than working here from morning till vight. You earn enough to pay for rent and fuel, don’t you?”’ ‘Mary, you have a wonderfal head for a girl,” said ber brother, in delight, ‘Why didn’t I think of thai? There is that Tar- ner cottage, that rents for four dollars a month, and next summer we conld have a garden. Itis tamble-down looking, bus who cares for looks as long as one is inde- panic It base three big rooms. Of course could pay the rent, for I make three dol- lars a week off my papers, avd have time for extra chores, too. I'll see Mrs. Turner this very nigh.” “‘Let’s not say anything to mamma till we see what we can do,’’ said Mary. So the plans were made in secret, and they rapidly assumed definite shape in the minds of the two brave sohemers. Six mouths before Mr. Claus had died in the Wess, whither the family had accom- ied him in his search for health, and a Class had ken bu iNtle flock back r grandfather's home in a pretty little oity in western Ohio, for their scant savings bad all been expended in funeral and traveling expenses. It was a source of perpetual wonder to the poor woman how such a surly, cross old nan could have a son like her husband, for surely there were never a father and sou more widely sepa- rated in disposition than the elder Claus and his cheery son. The littleones had nick- named their fatber Santa Clans aud their mother Mrs. Santa Claus in the old and bap- Bim days, when Christmas was the happiest y of the whole year, but now their own jolly Santa Claus was buried in Colorado, and they bad no joyful anticipation of the great day. Old Mr. Clans complained over and over again of the cost of keeping such a large family, till his disconraged he ter-in-law Jouged for the day when her children should be large enough to support her apart from the crosty grandfather. When the superintendent of the Sunday school announced thas shis year there would be no tree for the scholars, but in- stead each child was asked to bring a pres- eat for the poor of the city, Mary expected reget bums od wins, y happened to be w og » other little ones and fear) vot of e new arrangement. They skip] oy fully home to show Mrs. Santa pe os for good behavior, presented before the whispering tock place,and Mary had not the heart to tell them or ber motherof the changed plans. A dozen youug people had been appointed to arrange aud distribute the on Christmas Day, and they met at home of Harry Douglas to discuss ways and means of distribution. Fred wae among the number, but knowing it would be impossible for him to donate anything, be stayed away from the meeting. “Everybody here?” asked Harry, look- ing around at the chattering young peo- ple. *‘Everybody but Fred Claus, and he’s not coming,”’ annonnoced Dave Harris. “If I bad a grandfather like his I'd run away tomorrow," said George Lake, fierce- bring anything to the donation, and I don’t blame him.” up, outside will bear you if you shout like thas, George,”” said bis sister. “What are his grandlather’s besetting sins?’ “Everything that is mezn,”” cried three people in chorus. al re had lived in town instead of w your grandfather, you wouldn’t bave to inquire. “By the way,’ said , “I bave a plan to propose. Fred and Mary are fix- ing up the Turner cottage as a Christmas surprise for their mother, and are keeping it a profound secret. Why couldn’ we lend a bel hand? Instead of sending our dona them to Mrs. Claus. You must be ver careful not to breathe a word out of th room. What do you all think of she plan?’’ “I think it wonld be a fine plan if we bad more time. Itis only four days till Christmas, and I am almoss bankrupt,” said Helen Stone. “I'd like very much to help,’”’ smd Paul Edwards, “‘but, like the girls, am ous of ” “Good gracious!” exclaimed George, “‘are there no attics to any of your homes?" “‘Attios?’’ said Helen, in a bewildered way. “Everytbing,’’ said Paul, giviog George a rousing slap on the back. ‘‘Why didn’t you mention it, old man, before I bad aoc- quired a gray bair or two thinking bow I could earn a doliar? There are three chairs in our attic as good as new. I'll cart them to the Turner cottage tomorrow.’ “If your mother consents,” put in Kate. “She’ll consent, all right. She was wishing the other day, when she tried to find a place ‘in the garret for the baby’s bigh choir, that some church would hold a rammage sale.” ““There’s the bedding we use when we go camping,” said Harry. ‘We might lend it to Mis. Claus until she gets some of her own.” “I'll clerk in the grocery for papa, send ber some flour and potatoes,” said Helen. ‘‘They are very husy thie week. I beard him say this morning that he could use a good boy, too.” ‘Would you recommend me?’ said Paul. “I'll what I earn for candy for the little children. I don’t believe they ever see a striped stick in that house.’ ““Let’s all earn adollar or two, if we can, and give the poor woman a good Christ- mas,” Dave. At ten o'clock Mrs. Dougias came into the room and said, pleasantly, ‘‘Well,I sap- pose you young people bave made plans to work bard all day Christmas.” Everybody laughed, for nothing bad been said about distributing the gifts of the Sunday school. Of course Mrs. Douglas bad to he sagen iio Sonidenes, mud heart- y approved e plan. At her sogges- tion wm articles were to be gathered at some convenient point, and ou the evening of the twenty-third placed in the cottage. For a wonder, all their plans worked without a hitch. Fred confided to Harry that neither he nor Mary would visit the cottage again till they led sheir mother to it in triumph from the entertainment that was to precede the donation at the church on Christmas Eve. This suited the young people exactly, for they were anx- ious togive Fred and Mary as great a sur- prise as those two bad planned for their mother. Mrs. Douglas began to fear that the Turner cottage would be swamped by the farniture these industrious young folks collected, but she did not know the size of the rooms. The minister received such vague replies from the committee on dis- tribution that he requested ball a dozen middle-aged people to go early to church on Christmas to see that the gifts were properly marked and sent ont. ‘‘I might bave known better than to suggest ap- pointing a lot of giddy young people for the task,’’ said the good man to himself, a8 George Lake shot past on the opposite side of the street with hie arms fall of bundles, and never beeded his beckoning band. “I was young and giddy not eo long ago myself.” The evening of Dec. 23 was warm and cloudy, which the yonog people considered providential, as it enabled them to go early to the Turner cottage and work without a fire in the house. The blinds Fred had carefully put up were securely fastened to the windows, so that no light showad, and the hoy and girls were as quiet as possi- ble for eleven healthy young people to be. Portuuately He Buus tog 3 buck from the street, a e people w were 80 intent on Christmas shopping aod errands that they paid listle attention to the peo- ple moving into the old Turaer house, they supposed. Several more mothers bad been taken into the seoret, and by invitation were on havd to help and advise. There had beec much ram in closets sod storerooms by the good ladies, for Christmas opens all hearts not entire) frozen, and many a bit of linen and hall- worn article was laid aside for Joo Mrs. Clans, as well as substantial gifts in the way of ons. “What is the matter, mamma?’ asked Helen, as Mis. Stone wiped away some tears. “Nothing, dear, except that it is so piti- fal tosee how hard those brave children worked, and how little shey had todo with,” answered Mrs. Stone, surveying the old beds, the broken-down cooking stove, and the boxes for tables, chairs, and cap- board, which was all the furniture the cot- boasted or Douglas came bustling in, followed by George with an armfal of raffled car- tains, which were soon hung at the win- dows and gave the first homelike touch to the rooms. ‘‘They were in the dining room and bedrooms till we were all tired of them,’’ she explained. “They are hall wars, but will look better than none at ’ “Of course they will,”’ said Mrs. Harris, heartily. I wonder if our old sitting room carpet would not fis this sitting room. I'l! step in and measure it.” She was spared the trouble of measuring the room, for three boys were fitting the carpet when a De tty to an 0 garret, he bad ed “De you think it will fis?" inquired Mrs. Bliss, as Mrs. Harrie commenced making a bed with clean, comfortable bedding. “The boys are tacking it down this blessed minute,’ she answered, beating up the pillows. “I wonder where Fred and Mary found that tamble-down stove,’”’ said Bess. “I am afraid to go near it for fear it will fall down.” *“The second-hand man sold it to him for five dollars,” eaid Harry, 0 whom Fred confided everything. *‘I call that an out. rage.” ‘We have a better stove at home in the woodhouse than that, baven’t we, mam- ma?" asked Paul. “Indeed, we have. Do you think you and several more of the boys could load i on the wheelbarrow aud briog it down ?"? to the cburch, let's give | cheated “What have they to do with this “Of course we could ;’’ and forthwith the delegation started. Is wa i hen the sired bus ly del workers started for Sorsaghty they certainly accomplished wonders in that short time. “I wish we could see it in daylighs,’ | was the universal expression a= the: door was at last olosed behind them. This seemed impossible, however, for fear of de- tection, and it was arranged that one of the boys should slip in at twilight on the following evening and light the fires which bad been laid ready for the match. Nota trace of Fred's work appeared, except the blinds as the windows ; even the stove was all ready to cart back to the swindler who the poor boy. The contrast be. tween the bare, cold-looking rooms at six o'clock and their condition at midnight was wonderful. Mrs. Harria’s carpes, with a rog or two over the worn spots, covered the floor and did credit to the boys who put it down. An old-fashioned marble- topped stand filled with blossoming plants stood near the sonth window, while a sah. stantial tahle, covered with a bright scarf, held a workbasket, a good lamp, and sever- al books. In the workbasket was a little note to Mrs. Claus, promising plain sewing and other work, signed by four ladies. The mantelpiece was draped in a cast-off sash of Helen's, and over it hung a huge wreath of holly and evergreen. The words, “Wel. come Home” and ‘Merry Christmas,” were tacked on either side of the wreath, and a few good res from illustrated magazines adorned the walls. The stove was polished to the last degree, and the yoang people who had labored bardest here declared the sitting room the best and prettiest of the three. The mothers smiled and pointed out the fas beds spread with old-fashioned quilts, the rugs on the fioor, and the modest sn ply of bedding on a obair in the corner. In the kitchen the small but good stove held a bright kettle, and the cupboard Dave and Harry bad bad endless trouble in keeping on the wheelbarrow on its trip from Mrs. Bliss's woodhouse was filled to overflow- ing with a motley collection of dishes, pots and pans from ball a dozen kitchens. Each of the boys and gir's had mabaged to earn or save a dollar or two, and a pile of groe- eries testified to their ability in that direc- tion. Mrs. Santa Claus would not come to want for a month at least. Promptly at dusk on Christmas Eve | Harry applied the match to the sitsing room stove, and before the fire had half started one after she other the boys and girls srooped in for a last look. In a short time after their arrival came the mothers with baskets of Christmas goodies, and to assure themselves that vothing had been neglected. Kate and Bess spread the table | with bread, butter, cake, pie, and cold | meats ; George and Dave watered the! plants ; Helen looped back the curtains with pale pink ribbons ; the ladies made coffee in the kitchen and filled stockings to be hung for the little ones, and the rest worked with a will at whatever they found to do. Just as Mrs. Douglas said, *'I really can’t think of a thing we have left an- done,” the door opened and Fred and Mary walked in. Like the others, they had come for a last look before leading their mother home after the entertainment. It would be impossible to describe the astonishment written in their faces as the cheerful, homelike rooms appeared to their gaze, and the rapture that succeeded bewilder- ment when the young people finally con- vinoed Sharp sbas Siiey hed guly helped the surprise a little, the contents of the rooms belonged to their mother. “Please wait here just a minute,” said Fred, breathlessly. ‘“‘Mary and I will never succeed in persuading mother that this beautiful home is bers. She and the cbil- dren are all ready for the entertainment, and I will have them here in five minntes.”’ “Let's stop afew minutes,” said Fred, as they neared the Turner cottage. ‘‘Some of the ladies of the church will hold a little reception for she lady who is to live here, and they waut you to come.” ‘Well, what do you think of the house ?’* said Mis. Douglas, smilingly when Fred had whispered to her whas he bad said to his mother. ‘“Itis a beantifal little bome, and the woman who is to ocoupy it will be forta- nate indeed,” said Mrs. Claus. ‘Who is she ? Fred forgot to mention ber name to me. “You,” cried everyhody at once, and trooped out, leaving Mrs. Sauta Clane and her family the happiest in the city.—By Hilda Richmond. in the Christian Advocate. Pine Grove Mention. Postmaster Barr, of our town, spent Satur. day in the county capital on business per- taining to his office. Mr. and Mrs, Albert Musser rounded up their wedding trip last Saturday and are now at the groom's home on the Branch. George Potter Jr., is walking on air since * | last Friday morning, when a nice baby girl came to share little Dorothy's playthings. Charles and Anna Dale were among the passengers west Tuesday morning to be among the Grangers at Altoona this week. All our merchants report a fair busivess during November. They are now making preparations to dress their stores room in the usual holiday attire, Dr. Frank Bailey and wife, of A {lton, and Dr. J. Baker Krebs and wife, of Jorthum- berland, spent several days ameng friends of their youth hereabouts in the early part of the week. Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Corl are representing Washington Grange; E. C. Musser and wife Centre Grange, and Harry Koch and wife Leonard Grange atithe State Grange sessions in Altoona this week. Frank Bowersox and G. W. O'Bryan, as grand jurors, and J. H. Heberling, M. B. Campbell and J. W. Fry, as traverse jurors, are meting out justice at the quarter sessions in Bellefonte this week. Frank Young, who went west about a year ago in quest of his health and spent the time in Kansas and New Mexico, returned to his home at;Boalsburg last Saturday, quite glad to get back tojold Centre county. Harry Musser,merchant at Struble, almost had = big blaze, last Friday. In some way the carpet near the stove pipe took fire and it was only by the timely arrival of a backet brigadejthat the fire was extinguished. Rev. C. T.!Aiken, president of the Sus- quehanua University, will hold a congrega- tional meeting in the Lutheran church here on Sunday for the purpose ef selecting a pas. tor to succeed Rev. Bergstresser, resigned. Harry Stewart, of Sandy Ridge, is recup- erating his shattered health with his sister Priscilla, at]Boalsburg. Of late he has been having serious trouble with his eyes and has had several operations performed with bat little benefit. | EVOLUTION IN VERSE. A Pootic Masterpiece Recalled by the Death of Langdon Smith. {Lapgdon Smith, war correspondent, novelist, poet and one of the best known newspaper writ ers in the United States, who died the other day at his home in Brooklyn, wrote the following poem, which was originally published in the New York Journal, now the American. It has been extensively published and frequently re- printed as s classic of its kind } EVOLUTION. When you were a tadpole and ! was a fish, In the paleozoic time, And side by side on the ebbing tide We sprawled through the ooze and slime Or skittered with many a caudal flip Through the depths of the Cambrian fen. My heart was rife with joy of life, For | loved you even then. Mindless we lived and mindless we loved And mindless at last we died, And deep in a rift of the Caradoc drift We slumbered side by side. The worid turned oa io the lathe of time, The hot lands heaved amain, Till we caught our breath from the womb of death And crept into light again, We were amphibians, scaled and tailed And drab as a dead man's hand, We coiled at ease ‘neath the dripping trees Or trailed through the mud and sand. * Creaking and blind, with our three clawed feet Writing a laugoage dumb, With never a spark in the empty ark To hint at a life to come. Yet happy we lived and happy we loved, And happy we died once more. Our forms were rolled in the clinging mold Of a neocomian shore, The eons came, and the eons fled, Aud the sleep that wrapped us fast Was riven away in a newer day, And the night of death was past. Then light and swift through the jungle trees We swung in our airy flights Or breathed in the balms of the fronded palms In the hush of the moonless nights, And, oh, what beautiful years were these, When our hearts clung each to each, When life was filled and our senses thrilled {no the first faint dawn of speech! Thus life by life and love by love We passed through the cycles strange. And breath by bresth and death by death We followed the chain of change Till there came a time in the law of life When over the nursing sod The shadows broke and the soul awoke Io a strange, dim dream of God. I was thewed like an Auroch ball And tasked like the great cave bear, And you, my sweet, from head to feet, Were gowned in your glorious hair, Deep in the gloom of a fireless cave When the night fell o'er the plain And the moon hung red o'er the river bed We mumbled the bones of the slain, I flaked a Mint to a culling edge And shaped it with brutish craft, 1 broke a shank from the woodland dank And fitted it head and hait. Then I hid me close to the reedy tarn Where the mammoth came to drink, Through brawn and bore | drave the stone And slew him upon the brink. Loud I howled through the moonlit wastes, Loud answered our kith and kin. From west and east to the crimson feast The clan came trooping in. O'er joint and gristle and padded hoof We fought and clawed and tore, And cheek by jowl, with many a growl, We talked the marvel o'er. 1 carved that fight on a reindeer bone With rude snd hairy hand, | I pictured his fall on the cavern wall That men might understand, For we lived by blood and the right of might Ere human laws were drawn, And the age of sin did not begin Till our brutal tusks werz gone. And that was a million years ago, Ina time that no man knows, Yet here tonight in the mellow light We sit at Delmonico's. Your eyes are deep as the Devon springs Your hair is as dark as jet, Your years are few, vour life is new, Your soul uniried, and yet— Our trail i= on the Kimmeridge clay And the scarp of the Parbeck flags, We have left our bones in the stones And deep in the coraline crags. Our love iz old, our lives are old, And death shall come amsin, Should it come today, what man may say We shall not live again? God wrought our souls from the Tremadoc beds And furnished them wings tofly. He sowed our spawn in the world's dim dawn, And i know that it shall not die, Though cities have sprung above the raves Where the crook boned men made war And the ox wain ereaks o'er the buried caves Where the mummied mammoths are, Bagshot Then ss we linger here O'er many a dainty dish Let us drink anew to the time when you Were a tadpole and I was a fish, Unhealthy Exercise. Almost everybody rides the wheel to- day, and there is a certain ambition in most bicyclists to show a good record of “runs.” Both men and women aspire to records of *‘centurisa.’”’ It is always doubt ful whether so aun as acen- Juiy run is not 300 great a strain upon the y. But even ordinary runs may be an injury rather than a benefit if the physical condition is weak. Exercise benefits onl when the condition is healthy. When there is weakness, especially stomach weakness, the exercise only the Don’t tolerate irregnlarity in the bowels. Don's allow the sewage of the system to accumulate and poison your blood and dull your brain. Regularity can be established nN the use of Dr. Pierce’s Pleasaot Pellets. cure, and can then be dispensed with. —Sabscribe for the WATCHMAN. i 1 . tain and plain The Siar in the East Many centuries ago, tradition says, there was a sacred maoosoript preserved by a boly order which had its seat near the shores of the Eastern sea. In this inspired roll was the prediction that a mighty per- a Redeemer, should appear among men. This expectation was handed down from father to son during many generations. The fathers taught their children to look for the rising of a star, which shoald be the herald of His coming. Twelve of the holiest and wisest of the sacred order were appointed to he ever watobfal for ite radiant beams. Nightly did they meet on the Mount of Victory, sud with prayer and praise await the rising of the star of hope. Their (aithlul vigils at last were ended, for suddenly a star burst forth above them. It shone with mellow and ul light, sod as they beheld it hecame a little child, bearing a cross and wearing a crown, all radiant with glory. A voice from the deep vault of heaven bade them journey to Judea; there should their eyes hehold the promise to she fathers. And so the wise men set out upon their pilgrimage from the remote East. Their guiding star led thes onward over moun. ; they crossed broad rivers and traversed burning wastes ; and when the sun was sinking bebind the western hills encamped, one day, npon the borders of Judea. Their camels, footsore and weary, were laden with she treasures of the East, and their hearts, so long ex- peotant, were filled with gratitode aod praise. As they gathered about their camp- fire the star shove above them with ovo- wonted brilliance, and who shall say, as they lifted their voices in their evening de- votions, there were not with their song miogled the strains of angelic praise heard over the fields of Bethlehem when Christ was born ? . “We saw His atar in the East.” What marvels has the East brought forth ; what treasures of art ; what wealth of wisdom and true devotion ! The oid Egyptians gave the world the priociples of medicine and geometry ; the Phoenicians of old gave to the race the alphabet ; from the early Ba- bylonians came the tables of weights and measures and the principles of astronomy. But the ancient Hebrews, with their genius for holy things, gave to the world the true principles of moral and religious truth. Balaam said, “There shall come forth a star out of Jacob.” Christ, the Messiah, bas come forth-—a star in the galaxy of brilliant teachers—bnt He bas eclipsed them all. Christianity, a system of moral aod religions truth, has risen, a covsteila- tion in the bright zodiac of religions, and outshines them all. From the East, the cradle of the race and the home of its child- hood, have radiated the noble truths and principles whioh bave had their high de- velopment in art and science and religion iy this the crowning centary of the centa- ries. “We saw His star.” All men need a guiding star. Polaris, the north star, has shed his pale and peaceful light upon ad- venturous wanderers from the remotest ages, and bas ever been their guide over unknown oceans and to safe landings on new shores. Tubal Cain and Jubal and Jabal —sons of Lamech—arose like a triple star in the distant pass to cast upon their fellows the light of genius in metall in poetry and song, and in the lore of flocks and berds. God hae from time to time raised np men of commanding genius, who have shone like stars in the dark corners of the heaveus, thus marking the paths of secular knowledge and indus. try ; and, by His grace, a guiding Star has risen apon the horizon of every soul, to di- rect ite way into regions of truth and duty. There is a Light ‘‘which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.” —By Rev. Geoige H. Bennett. Christmas Giving. — ‘Then Peter said, silver and gold have | none; but such as | have give I thee. Acts, iii, 6. A few years ago on Christmas morning there came a bold knocking at the front Joon of the house in which the writer then The door was opened, and there stood a very little boy, poorly dressed, bus rich in smiles and Holiday bappivess. His bright eyes aparkled and his cheeks were crimson —more from excess of cold than surplus of red blood. “I come to give you a Christmas pres- ent,”’ be said, briskly. Bas he did not hold ont anything as he spoke. “I come to say to you, I hope you'll bave a Merry Ch '" he added, and baving delivered this gifs, he turned and ran off as fast as he could. A while before the writer had done him- self a service by doing a small service for this boy. The little fellow hadu’s a cent with which to buy a gilt to express his ap- preciation, but he was big enough and fine enoagh to give the best he bad, aod, though he doesn’t know is, his hope for a M Christmas was the greatest gift which came to shat house that day. Most of the other presents which marked that day are gone. Some are worn out and others were along as soon as was po- litely possible. Bat that Merry Christmas is as good as is ever was—ves, even better, for as the years go on and the insincerity of much Christmas giving is more and more evident to the recipient, it gains in worth and means more and more. What a stride forward it would be if we all followed the example of this child ! What a host of new and better meani would grace the Holiday of Holidays if we were careful to limis our giving to such as we have ; eliminating all that is done for effect or from a feeling of obligation ! What a fine Christmas shat will be which brings to pass a total of gifts given because the givers really wanted to give them—not merely because they felt they COULD or SHOULD give them ! Is amounts to almost a deszeration of the stinivel the aay to make Christmas a sort clearing house for the settlement of past '¥ | debts, or the deposit of advance rewards for favors or courtesies desired. There is only one true standard in this master of gifs- giving. What will best carry my love ; my re- ? That is the only right measure of a gift. If there exist no love, no regard, let there some or much of be as fully ex- the giver can afford. keep one day in the — commercialism. Let day the one where in we recall the priceless gift that was sent wrapped in swaddling clothes and laid in a maoger. Let us emulate the first and greatest of Christ's apostles in our efforts to commemorate this gift of the long ago. “But such as I bave give I thee.” The water famine here, like almost every place else, is becoming a very serious ques- tion. A Letter fram Yansas, Editor Watchmay : As I bave not seen anything in your col- uwmns about Kansas for a long time, I hope you will excuse me for what I may now say. It is of the long ago when people spoke of “bleeding’’ Kansas and “droutby’’ Kan- sas. . It bas become the ln. d of plenty, even of politicians. They say that those States are noblest, grandest, best, that are born of a principle. The world will never tire of the story of Roger Williams, of William Penn or of John Brown. The Kansas mother, as she rocks ber ba . by to sleep, sings as a lullaby, “John Brown's body lies a mouldering in the grave." The makiog of the coustitution for the new State was an oft repeated and a bitter struggle. The pro-slavery party threw down the gaunties, and as joyously the free State party took is up. At lass, at the close of a hot July day, the end came, and as the clerk began to call the roll, the shades off evening were gathering around the hills of Wyandotte. When he}finished, it was found that sla- very had loss{and freedom had won. “Ax some tall cliff that lifts its awful form, Swells from the vale, and midway leaves the storm, Though round its breast the rolling clouds are spread, Eternal sunshine settles on its head.” That convention was made up of excep- tionally able men on both sides, and though filty years have since passed, only one material alteration bas been made— the prohibitory amendment. That shows shat they did sheir work well, and it promises to be enduring. The members, almost to a man, ronuded out honorable lives, and have gone to The uncomplaining grove Where all lie down in peace togather, But their works do follow them. Lawrence, with its baptism of fire and blood, rising Phoenix like, and its signifi cant Plymouth church, and she ohuroh of the Pilgrims, all breathing au air of free- dom, while Lecampton, only eight wiles distant, the once proud pro-slavery capital is a harboring place for owls and bats. Kansas ie a goodly land, and so faras I know, nearly every Centre county man who has gone there has bettered his oondi- tion. I now recall but a single exception. He was, to my notion, one of the brightest men who ever went west from Bellefoute. He made shipwreck of everything by try- iug the oft repeated, never succeeded, ex- periment of drinking whiskey and attend- ing to business at one and the same time. A word now about Carrie Nation, for you have all heard of her. Like John Brown, she is a rough, uncouth specimen of hu- manity—somewhat like a grizzly bear. Aud like Brown, too, she believesthas the way so fight the devil is with fire. You have often read about her being arrested for smashing saloons, but so far as I know, they have never made it stick against her, the only way to make it stick is for raising a rios, for she is a ‘‘boss”’ riot raiser. My understanding ie, (and I don’s think that I am mistaken, ) the Supreme Court of Kansas bas decided that the saloon is an outlaw, and bas no standing in court. A saloon outfit is no more under the protec- tion of she law than a buiglar or counter- feiter’s tools. A saloon keeper cannot re- cover one cent for smashing up his outfit. Of course there is whiskey drank in Kaneas, so are there horses stolen and mur- ders committed. I have heard some eastern people say that Kauneas people are all ‘‘cranks,” and don’t know a good thing even when they see it. I want to say to any eastern man who contemplates carrying snoh potions with him to Kansas, that he better leave them at home unless he wants bis hide hanging on the fence before be is ready for it. While I think of it, I want to say a word on the marriage law of the State, for it is peculiar. Marriage is a joint and equal partner- ship. Neither can sell, mortgage, trade or dispose of in any way, any property belong- ing to either or both of them, without the joint consent of husband and wife. Women vote at manicipal elections, and hold nearly all kinds of offices. As showing the liberal or broad gauge feeling of the people, let me tell you, that some years ago they elected Mr. Harris to the U. S. Senate, and two years ago they DES | only lacked a few votes of electing him Governor over the Republecan candidate. Harris is a Virginian, and was a distin. guished geueral under Stonewall Jackson, and fought all through the war on the Confederate side. I suppose you know that Kansas and Towa are alike, each baving two and one- tenth per cent. of illiteracy, the lowest in the Union. Thus have I tried to give some facts con- cerning the State, that are somewhat out of the usual order of letters to eastern newspapers. Respectiully, DANIEL MBBRIDE, When a woman grows nervons aod irri- table, she says and does things which cause her untold suffering. She says something unkind to her husband, boxes the child’s ears, and then sbuts herself in her room to weep and wonder why she isse ‘‘ogly.” Toan ysician the reason is not far to seek. e is local derange- ment of the womanly orgaus and the nerves are strained to the limit of endurance. The suffering woman is not to blame for lack of self-control. The cure of pervous Sitonders which Farle og Qienses of Jhe womanly organs, is one e special tures of Dr. Pierce's Favorite Prescription. It heals inflammation and ulceration, cures female weakness and the backache, head- ache, and nervousness cansed by these dis- eases are cured at the same time.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers