® Bellefonte, Pa., December 18, 1914. Sa A CHRISTMAS CONSPIRACY How Grandmother's Heart Was Glad- dened by Remembrances From the Children. “Grandmother Jessup!” Stella’s tone was distinctly ae- cusing; it was evident that grand- mother had something to answer. for. | Grandmother, from her invalid chair, | looked across at the girl who stood at her bureau drawer. 'dured years of pain and weakness; but they had not succeeded in quench- ing the spirit in the frail figure; her | voice was as saucy as a girl's. “Not guilty—what is it?” “It’s ~ .your handkerchiefs. How many dozen have you?” “Seved or eight. You see, I have | seven of the dearest grandchildren in the world. It’s queer, isn’t it, that your nose should be so especially honored when you grow old?” But Stella's gray eyes forgot to laugh back at grandmother's. © Some- thing had disconcerted her. She put the handkerchiefs back, made some trivial excuse, and ran up to her own ! room, whert her sister and cousins were holding a Christmas conclave. “I wonder,” she burst out, “that grandmother can endure Christmas at all!” “What under the mean?” Corinne and claimed together. “Corinne, what did you give grand- mother for Christmas last year?” “A box of handkerchiefs. Why?” “And you, Isabella?” “An embroidered handkerchief with little weeny initials.” “Mollie?” . “T'wo handkerchiefs,” Mollie con- fessed. “There didn’t seem to be anything else—except slumber slip- pers, and Aunt Maria always knits those.” “And Laurie and I gave her hand- kerchiefs. We always give her hand- kerchiefs—because she’s old, and they're the easiest thing to think of! Girls—she isn’t old—she’s as young as any of us down in her heart, and she loves pretty things just as much as ever. This year let's give her the biggest surprise of her life—a Christ- mas that will make her really happy.” “But how—what—" Corinne stam- mered. “What do we like best—each of us?” “Jewels!” “Books!” “Hand embroid- ery!” “Candy!” “Silk stockings!” The answers came in a laughing shower. “Well, then, why not? Grandma’d love a bit of jewelry from us—chosen just for her. And books—not TLoughts of Cheer,’ as if she were melancholy, but love stories that end well. And why not embroider her something? And if not silk stockings, then a pair of slippers with tiny vel- vet bows. As for candy, she'd love to have it to pass round, even if she couldn’t eat much herself.” “And let Bob and Archie send her heir absurd jokes as they do to the rest of us? It doesn’t seem—respect- ful.” “But grandma doesn’t want to be seemed-respectful-to,” Stella declared. ‘She’d just love to be counted in with the rest of us, little vanities and jokes and all. O girls, try it once and see!” : And that was the way the Christ mas conspiracy started. Grand- mother’s eyes on Christmas morning were proof of its success.—Youths’ Companion. sun do you Isabella ex- “Some generous person,” said little Socrates Bulginbrow, of Boston, “has been kind enough to send me a copy of Mother Goose's lyrics for Christ mas. Do you know, the theory that 3 representative of the bovine genus at one. time leaped over the chief luminary of the night leads to some Interesting calulations as to the mus- cular development of the cows of that lime. I have ascertained that they must have been endowed with strength proportionate to that of the flea of the present day.” SEASONABLE PRICE tm ' Now doth’ the Christinas shopper With hyppiness elate, “... : Buy something that ‘was fortv-nine,” = - Marked ‘up to ninety-cizht. She had en- | jro—snensenesenens | A Vagrant Christmas Gift | By ALBERT EDWARD CONVERSE VOD IN DVDOIVOVODEVO c——— ¢ I : : : : (Copyright by Frank A. Munsey Co.) R. and Mrs. Jackson Smith understood each other perfectly on the Christ- mas present proposition. This satisfactory state of affairs did not come about the first year of their wedded life, nor even the second. The third Christ- mas was almost a hand before Mr. Smith discovered accidentally, but to his intense joy, that Mrs. Smith rel- tains, rugs, and so on, no more than did he her choice of smoking-jackets, cravats, mufflers, et cetera. That their friends taken in on the combination was, however, a thorn in the flesh of each of them. “The worst has happened,” said Mrs. Smith, interrupting Mr. Smith’s perusal of the paper Christmas morn- ing. ‘ “A messenger just brought a pres- ent from the Snivelys, and I forgot to put them on my list. It’s a book and we've got to send them something.” “Well, what are we going to do about the Snivelys?”’ growled Mr. Smith. “Jack,” said she in, nad an inspiration. a moment, “I've in Lucy sent us? Neither of them will ever know it.” wrap it up neatly. ger boy.” 2d a package, addressed to Mr. Snive- | ly, to a messenger boy and saw him i depart with it, He was luxuriously stretched out on a davenport when minutes iater. “Jack,” said Mrs. Smith, holding a book in her hand, “I thought you i Were going to wrap this book up.” “Great Scott!” exclaimed Mr. Smith, jumping to his feet. “I did wrap up some book. The messenger 1as already been here and I gave it to him.” “How long has the boy been gone?” iemanded Mrs. Smith. “About ten minutes.” “Get your things on. Be quick, and maybe you can reach the Snivelys’ sefore the boy and get that dreadful 00k away from him! How could you 1ave been so careless?” ‘ Mrs. Smith was almost frantic. Down to the nearest street car tore spied the messenger boy. Without waiting for the car to stop, Smith jumped off and started on & run for the boy. At the same moment the messenger %0y ‘saw him, and, without knowing why he was being pursued, he obeyed ais first impulse and ran too. In a moment a dozen had joined n the chase. Down the street came the poor messenger boy, frantically straining every muscle to get away from the mob pursuing him. Sud- lenly two men from a cross street ran in front of the boy. One threw ais arms around the fugitive, hold- ing his fast; the other man seized the package the boy was carrying. “Why, Snively! This package is ad- iressed to you!” he exclaimed. nad caught the boy. In a moment they wére surrounded 0y a crowd. A policeman rushed up and took charge of the boy. “Hold on there, officer, the boy's all right!” cried Mr. Smith, who had arrived upon the scene by this time. “What do you know about this af- fair?” said the policeman respectfully, as he recognized Mr. Smith. ’ But Mr. Smith was standing as one dazed. He had caught sight of Mr. Snively with the book under his arm. “Hello, Smith,” said Mr. Snively. ‘l just now caught this boy, and found him carrying a package ad- dressed to me, so took charge of it. Do you know anything about it?” “Why—why—er—yes,” stammered Mr. Smith, trying to collect his wits. “You see, I sent the package.” “Well, why were you chasing the ooy?” asked the policeman, a little im- patiently. The perspiration stood out on poor Mr. Smith’s forehead. “I—I was afraid I hadn’t given the boy the right address, and was trying to ston him to find out,” he blurted in desperation. The policeman looked at Mr. Smith curiously. He was convinced that he was lying, though with what object he could not imagine. “The package has come to the right fellow anyway,” said Snively, laugh- ing. “I'm going right home, so I'll take it along with me.” “Oh, I couldn’t think of allowing you to do that, old man!” cried Mr. y Smith. “Just give it back to the boy; ished his selection of furs, gloves, cur-* could not he | Why couldn’t we | send the Snivelys the book that Cous- | We'll do it,” said Mr. | “By George! Smith, after considering the propo- sition. “Where is Cousin Lucy's book?” | “It’s on the desk,” said Mrs. Smith. | “Just put our cards in the book and i I'll call a messen- | Half an hour later Mr. Smith hand | Mrs. Smith came into tae room a few | Mr. Smith, fairly consumed with rage. He had arrived at the down town i listrict when, with a thrill of joy, he | Mr. | | he’ll take it to the house for you.” “Nonsense!” said Mr. Snively. ‘it's a light package and .I don’t mind carrying it a particle.” Mr. Smith ground his teeth with rage. How was he to get that book away from Snively? a few doors down the street. Come up and smoke a cigar with me. I've got some good ones.” A few minutes later Mr. Smith ush- ered Mr. Snively. into his office. “Sit down here, Snively,” said he, offering his guest a chair. “Let me have your package; I'll put it over here on my desk.” He took the book eagerly and put it on his desk out of sight. As he smoked and talked, he racked his brain for a scheme to get Snively out of the room without his book. “Good morning, gentlemen. Merry Christmas.” It was Smith’s partner, Perkins, who thus addressed them as he came out of his private office. Suddenly a brilliant scheme took shape in his mind. He proceeded im- mediately to put it into execution. Christmas present for you.” and handed it to him. “But—but—" Perkins protested. fiercely. the astonished Perkins. be getting home. Good morning.” After talking a few moments longer, Snively rose to go. now?” he said. “Oh, yes,” said Smith, going to his fas Apparent Annoyance, | desk and searching first calmly and i then with apparent annoyance. | “By George! It isn’t here,” he an- nounced in a surprised tone. Suddenly he sat down and began | laughing uproariously. “Do you know what I've done?” he said as soon as he had his mirth some- ' what under control. “I gave Perkins | your package. I forgot that I took his present home last night, and my wife sent it over this morning with a pres- ' ent for Mrs. Perkins.” “Oh, that’s all right,” said Snively, , laughing. “It doesn’t make a particle | of difference.” They parted, laughing good-natured- ly over the blunder. | Smith arrived home soon after, con- : gratulating himself, on his generalship. “Why, so it!” said the man who : “Oh, Jack,” cried Mrs. Smith, as soon as he stepped into the house, *I hope you haven’t had any trouble!” “Well, I've had just about the most strenuous time I've experienced in many moons,” said Smith. “I came out all right though.” “I'm so sorry,” said Mrs. Smith. “Now I hope you won't be angry, Jack, but you hadn’t been gone but a few moments when I discovered that you hadn’t sent Mrs. Snively’s book, after all. I found her book lying on the floor by the center-table, where, in some way, it had been knocked off. The only book that is missing is the one that Mr. and Mrs. Perkins sent us, so that must have been the one that you sent to the Snivelys.” Mr. Smith collapsed into the near | est chair. “Ding-a-ling-a-ling,” went the tele- phone. Mr. Smith, still in a dazed condi- tion, rose and answered it. “Hello, is that you, Smith?” said a voice. “This is Perkins.” Smith braced himself for the worst. “lI didn’t quite understand about that present you gave me down at the office. . When I got home I found that it had Snively’s name on‘it.” “Oh.” . “I thought there must be some mis- take about it, so I didn’t pen it.” “You say you didn’t open it?” “No.” “Thank Heaven!” “What do you say?” “I said that you did right. It was just a little joke on Snively.” “Is that so? Well, I'll bring the package down to the office with me in the morning.” “Thank you. Good-by.” “Thank heaven,” said Smith as he hung up the receiver and once more settled himself in comfort, “Christ. mas comes but once a year!” “Snively,” said he, my office is only ! “By the way, Perkins, I have a As he i spoke, he picked up Snively’s package | and, holding it so that Snively could | not see it, walked over the Perkins | “Take it and keep your mouth shut, | or I'll choke you!” whispered Smith : “Oh, thank you very much,” said : “Well, I must “Can I trouble you for my package, Searching First Calmly and Then With A [LITTLE "RASTIS | ON SANTA (TAUS 8 Ter good li’l boys, En bring er ho’n en er En yuther toys. But why white chilluns gets dem new I cain’ on’stan’. I guess I knows whut Sandy Claus do— He see’n han’ man! big red drum, mr. . Las’ yeah he clomb down i W’enst I's ersleep, En fotch some oynges—bout half ripe— En th'ee toy sheep, En one dese jomp’ jacks—broken, dough—e But den, my lan’! ; 'Bout dishyere Sandy Claus—I des know i He sec’n han’ man! ouah stovepipe | { | [ as’ my mammy ef Sandy Claus ain’ . Done know des how Ter men’ dem toys, en’ fix dey paint, En she say: “Now, Don’ worry, chile, bout de white folks, ‘cause Hit’s de good Lawd’s plan.” So I guess dat mah Mistah Sandy Claus— He sec’'n han’ man! Puritans of England Made Christmas Illegal and Declared It a Mis- demeanor to Be Gay. English Puritans of the seventeenth century guarded against looking upon the rosy side of life. Because Christmas is really a sur- , vival of the Celts’ Yule, and is not the actual anniversary of the birth. of Christ, they refused to countenance Christmas festivities. Not only did they refuse to recognize the day, but they made laws to that effect. | The parliament of 1644 passed “an ; act ordering all law abiding citizens to observe December 25 as a solemn fast, to be spent in silent atonement for previous Christmas days that had ' passed in riotous living and merry- making. | Naturally the community did not . Share in these ‘hard and fast rules, and many a turkey was surreptitious-, ly killed, and many a plum pudding quietly boiled. But woe betide the unfortunate offender against the act | were he luckless enough to be dis- covered. | Soldiers were sent to search the . housed of those suspected of harbor ing such delicacies as mince pies, ! etc, and many were the pitched bat- tles between disagreeing sections of ‘ the public. THE MISTLETOE To ask a girl if you may kiss her before doing it is an insulting way of laying all the responsibility on her. * 2 @ In a man’s opinion a kiss is an end that justifies any means. * 3 = You needn’t be afraid of a mere kiss. Thousands are exchanged daily by people of the highest reputation. * * = The kissed girl fears no mistletoe. * 2 9 A kiss is as good as a smile—and | & good deal better, too! The ideal kiss is the kiss that is ‘aever given. ® ® 8 A kiss too soon may in the tale of love. be a full stop The child who doubts about Santas Claus has insomnia. The child who believes has a good night's rest. Jel Mah mammy say dat Sandy Claus come | | Origin of Christmas Tree. The Christmas tree is supposed by 3reat numbers of people to have orig: inated in Germany, but from a re liable source we learn that the Christ | mas tree came in the first instance from Egypt, and its origin dates from a period much earlier than the Chris tian era. The palm tree is known to put forth a branch every month, and a spray of this tree with 12 shoots on it was used i» Egypt at the time of the winter solstice as a sym bol of the completed year. AR a EC ——— The modesty of women naturally makes them shrink from the indelicate questions, the obnoxious examinations, and unpleasant local treatments, which some physicians consider essential in the treatment of diseases of women. Yet, if help can be had, it is better to submit to this ordeal than let the disease grow and spread. The trouble is that so often the woman undergoes all the annoyance and shame for nothing. Thousands of wom- en who have been cured by Dr. Pierce’s Favorite Prescription write in apprecia- tion of the cure which dispenses with the examinations and local treatments. There is no other medicine so sure and safe for delicate women as “Favorite Prescription.” It relieves debilitating drains, irregularity and female weak- ‘ness. It always helps. It almost always | cures. CASTORIA. I al A il a 3 rr Tr — if _INFANTS “CHILDREN :| ess and Rest.Contains neither gli {Opium Morphine nor Mineral {Nor NARcoTIC, | | Aperfect Remedy for Consfipt li lon: Sour Sch Distues “| | Worras Convulsions. Feverish ne! | Iness and LOSS OF SLEEP. | THE CENTAUR COMPAKY, ] NEW YORK. At6 months old COU ail Exact Copy of Wrapper. 59-0-e.0.w Dry Goods, Etc. ALCOHOL 3 PER CENT. 8 35 Doses -35 CENTS = | Mothers Know That Genuine Castoria Use For Over Thirty Ysars GASTORIA THE CENTAUR COMPANY, NEW YORK CITY. LYON & COMPANY. O youngest. just a few items selections. FOR Neckties in all the new Leather Bags, Party Boxes, Silver and Gilt. Roses, Ruching and Frillings. special values. Crepe de Chine, * or Comfortable. ‘ prices. a: Wn Wn. Wc WW Wo a gE . gs a a, a a —- _-mae FOR THE HOLIDAYS UR NEW STOCKS are in readiness for your every Christ- mas need. We have made a special effort this Holiday Season with a larger and more attractive stock. We can supply a gift for every member of the family from the oldest to the and varied styles and colors. and Lisle half Hose, ail colors. Sweaters for the big man or the little tots, and a great many other useful things, no space here for every-one in Linen, Silk and Cotton. FOR WOMEN. Silk Hose in all the new Evening and Street Shades. Gloves, Woolen Gloves and Mittens. doir Caps, Jewelry-—All the new and fancy Hair Pins and Combs. Silver Mesh Bags and Coin Purses— NECKWEAR. Cuff and Collar Sets, Collar SILK WAISTS. Every lady will be pleased with a beautiful Silk Waist, Wash Silks and Soft Messaline Waists in all the light colors, Black, Navy and White. SILKS. Our Silk department for Waists and Dresses is most com- Plete, in all the new colors for street and evening, with the Chif- fons, Laces and Marabous to match. Blankets and Comfortables. No gift is so much appreciated as a handsome warm Blanket FURS, COATS AND SUITS. . The continued warm weather has forced us to put the knife in prices now. All Coats, Suits and Furs at January reduction This department must be kept moving. Now is your time to buy at greatly reduced prices. of the many to help make your MEN. Silk Gloves in Kid and Wool. to mention. Handkerchiefs Kid Silk Scarf Girders, Bou- and Vest Fronts, Fancy Bows, Everything of the newest and o Em,» WEB. Wm, WR. NDE. a aE a aS SSSEEESE —_—— Lyon & Co. .... Bellefonte ATTIRE
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers