2 I V THE SONG OF THE FROST KING. BY W. TYLEIt OI.COTT. I'm king of the Alpine heights; I'm lord of the snow-capped peaks; For me the avalanches roar, And the "cold-wrought silence" speaks. I dwell in a palace of gleaming snow, Where the cloud-mists dream of the sunset glow. At my heels the wind-dogs cringe; At my word they swiftly dash In mad career, over all the world, For they fear my stinging lash; And the dawn-pink lingers alone for me In the glorious light of the golden sea. I'm king of the rock-bound crests; I'm lord of the rugged steeps; For me the frost-sprite weaves a veil, And the sluggish glacier creeps. I'm monarch of Earth's vast Solitude, Where the frost and the cold forever brood. A CHRIST3IAS WOOING BY B. B. BARTF.N. There has been many a memorable Christmas in my life, scared anil scarred us it is by Time's rebuffs, but .none is so fixed in my mind us that of 18—, none that comes back to me with so stirring, so boldly—outlined, so sweet a memory. Perhaps it is as well not to dilate on my personality in that year, except to say that I was fresli from college, and full of the energy with which we all liegln tihe renl battle of life. Per haps I was handsome. I thought so. at least, although 1 was not vain, and I am quite sure that one other cer tainly agreed with me. I was at—but I must stop descanting on myself, for I cut but a sorry figure in this tale. Among my circle of acquaintances at college was Eugene Kerr, wealthy beyond the dreams of avarice, keeu souled and bright-eyed, dark-featured and handsome, taller than I by sev era! inches, and with a nature as free and open as his speaking sparkling eyes. It was to his home that I had been invited to spend the holidays before engaging in the business of which I was destined to become the head In a few years. At the Kerr home, a delightful country residence near New York. I was but one of a gay young party, for (the Kerr family kept open house for a score of friends during the holidays. As usual nt these gatherings, we were thrown together continually, and my whole soul had suddenly gone out ,to the sister of my friend Eugene. Her head was covered with dark, shining, chestnut lialr. luxuriant hair, that looked all the more luxuriant, perhaps, by reason of the careless ! way In which It was wrapped about ; her head. The great gray eyes were ! set deeply under a straight wide | brow. A delicate nose that would ! turn tip a little when she lifted her | head, and a splendidly-cut, clever, wide mouth, the lips of which parted every now and then with a sweet smile, were there. This wns her face, and It was fair enough; but It was her figure, her glorious, graceful, full, : yat supple figure that struck me most. Nor was she averse to my attentions. ! yet I noticed from time to time a cold , ness in the voice and face of Mrs. -'Kerr, the mother of my young friends. 'She was a stately matron, and in her sweeping black velvet dress and soft ly falling delicate white lace, which uadtlod about her head and throat hooked strikingly hamdsome. Grace—that was the name of the daughter—soemed at times to be under the spell of the mother's eye. I ' noticed that the conversation would : lag when the elder woman entered the room, and that all the airy gayoly aftd sprtghtllnoss of the daughter would disappear under the withering glance of the mother. Tbore was a secret, a mystery j , [Continued oi which I had determined to fathom and so I proceeded ahoiit it in anything hut a diplomatic manner, for 1 was young and thouglilcss. My whole soul had become wrapped up in O race. Slu was the ideal woman I had pictured in my dreams, and I had determined that she must he mine at any cost. I look hack to those days with wonderment, more perhaps at my own temerity under the circumstances, fot 1 did not even know that 1 was loved in return. "Gene." I remarked, one morning, after 1 had lain awake all night plan ning and hoping, "I want to talk with you uhout a matter that concerns mi nearly—concerns us both." lie looked at me in some little amazement. Then putting his arm through mine, laughingly pushed me along, saying, "Well I should Judge from your long face, it's something serious. Drive It away, old man, don'i consort with your cares during the holidays. Never worry in December. January is an awful good month foi broken vows, worrimeuts and all that sort o' tiling." "Gene, I'm going to blurt It out and have it over with. I'm head ovet heels in love with your sister!" "Walter!" If I haven't mentioned it before I will say the above Is my given name, although it really has nothing to do with the story. There was that in Eugene's face which fairly dazed me. He seemed terror-stricken at my abrupt but simple announcement. All the acts of my life passed before me, for 1 was in vain endeavoring to find a cause for his consternation, and then I poured out my soul. "Truly, 'Gene, there can be nothing against me. I have some wealth, ex cellent prospects, I am not a roue " "Hush, my boy," cried Eugene. "It Isnt that! why my sister has been en gaged for a year, and do you think my mother would ever forego a cor onet! It's impossible!" "Engaged! A coronet! What do you mean," I cried. "I menu simply this," he replied, putting his hands on 'my shoulders, "Grace was abroad with mother, a year ago as you know. At that time —but please remember that this is all confidential, It's a fnmily secret —Lord Deerland fell madly in lore with Grace and proposed for her hand. Mother accepted! the young man with alacrity, and 1 thi..k Grace likes lUni. The for mal announcement is to be made after the holidays and they are to be mar ried in the spring. That's all there is to the story, my boy, and now don'l make a fuss over it, but just accept the inevitable." I presume I looked crestfallen aftei this disclosure and for twenty-foul hours kept to my room, determined to get over my chagrin and not to spoil the Christmas party by anj hasty departure. On the following day. the day hcfort Christmas. I summoned all my coin age and went down stnirs, into tin midst of the gayety. The expression on Mrs. Kerr's face had undergone a delightful change. She fairly benmec on me, and a lurking suspicion tilled my mind. 'Gene had told his mother and sister all. for it no other way could I explain the rhap sodlc expression on the mother's face and the sadness that seemed to linvt come over the younger woman. Thai of course was siuipiy pity, I argued. She was like all the others, ready tc play the coquette though she knew she would hreuk a heart or two. Bv a most fortunate chnnce I re celved a message late in the moruins which summoned me to the city for a few hours on a matter of business Eugene had arranged a sleigliinq party for the afternoon, and this 1 was forced to forego. My train lef< shortly after noon, and I was waltlnj at the station (scanning a paper, m.v thoughts on a sweet face in the Ken (Cage B.] THE COLUMBIAN. BLOOMSBURG, PA. SAXONY SANTA CLAUS HANS RUPPERT WALKS ALL THE WAY FROM RUSSIA. A Gront, Gnllnnt Flsarc, Wltli Top ROOIN IIIK) Miulity Pnck—ChriMttitn* CoHtoniN of tli< Fatli<rln:i<l— Pro coNMlon on rhriNtmnM Eve. Hans Rnppert is tho name of the Santa Olaus of Saxony given by the simple, pious peasantry. "Hans Rnp pert will arrivo tonight!" the children of Saxony cry all along the dear, dark ening twilight of Christmas eve, as they flatten their little Saxon noses against tho cottage window panes, peering out along the winter roads for "our Hans Ruppert." "Hans Rnppert is coming tonight!" say tho simple hearted grown up folk to one another, a people who have one evening in tho winter twilight of their hard, stern lives when it will be all glow and glamour and froth of fun. Hans Ruppert oomes from Russia, from its silent mysteries of steppe and of suows. But he is not a Slav. Hans Ruppert is not the tra ditional Santa Clans of the Teuton land—a jolly old man with curly beard aud winking smile. "Hans Ruppert is a tall, brawny, peasant looking fel low," say the good Saxony folk with a sublimo earnestness as if thoy had seen him. Hans Ruppert has muscles minted from their own brave life of gray toil. Hans Ruppert walks all the way from afar, from the Asiatic Russlaud aud, at every step he takes toward the Caucasus chain, at every stride up aud up, still up tho ledges of its rock and bluff and brao, across its brawling streams, now down on tho other side of its stern shoulder shadowed in tho star calm, at every pace past tho Russian villages twinkling through tho night mists like sparklets struck off from the czar crown way off there above the Nova, as he foots it grandly—this great, grand, gal lant Hans Ruppert—his top boots that at tho beginning of the long Christmas march reached only below tho knee, grow taller and taller, still higher—un til when ho hears tho Rbein-strom mur mur aud tho golden voice above the Lorelei rock, aud at last at the gates of Berlin sees the mighty gleain of the army of tho vatcrland, tho Hans Rup pert is h hoots are up to tho loius, cuiras sier fashion, accordion wrinkled and mirror in their mighty polish the very "Sword of My Illustrious Grandfa ther!" And Hans Ruppert stands a grenadier, one of the sacred bodyguard around an emperor, stands with star on breast and double beaded eagle on hel met, stands a mighty ghost to deal death to the foes of vaterlaud—until next Christmas. Ou his back, through all his long trudge tonight, Huns Ruppert carries his pack. It is a pack of good things. Thou hast no Christmas tree within that mighty bundle, Hans! The peasant children havo made the treo all ready for Hans in the diligent purchase from their little Saxon pfennige on the mar ket day. Hans Ruppert briugß the gar ments for the Christmas tree. Here in his pack is the Christ child's hair, the gold and silver filigree which Hans will twist across tho branches with his own brawny hands. Here are the cau dles, the Christ child's eyes, and the toys and the gifts, "the blessings that drop from the hands of Baby Jesus." And now tho procession forms at 8 o'clock on Christmas eve to go to seo what Hans Ruppert has brought to tho little family. The procession begins with grandfather and grandmother, on whose seamed and yellowed cheeks glistens the gentle tear of age. Then follow the father and the mother and the uuwoddud uncles and aunts, and now the children, according to age and size, who uro awed in anticipation of "our Hans Ruppert" on tho other side of that door toward which the proces sion is now moving. They stand up on tiptoe and peer behind father's stalwart frame, rebuked by das mutterchen, with a solid Saxon cuff ou the unwilling ear. "Ach, mutterchen, it's heiligeNachtl" pleads tho father, and mother moder ates. Here are the servants of the house hold, wearing their good Christmas starch of check apron stiffness. How it stands out in its buokrain beauty! If it were possible—which the dear Herr Gardener of us all forfeud—the apple cheeks of the good house girl glow with a more fruity glisten as she gazes down upon the spheric circuuiferenoe of starch. The housemaid's smile is laun dered, too, and it never leaves her lips until that mysterious door off there is opened by grandfather's trembling old hand, and now some one in the Christ mas procession has struck the sweet, resonant, prolonging chords of the zith er, and tho hymn rises as one "pure concert" along the whole of the house hold's heart: O hoiligo Nnchtl Stills Nttclitl The door is thrown open, and only the stalwart spirits—the Erdgeisto who guard the scallops and volutes of the Teutonic verb —can comprehend the mcaudor and the meaning of the fam ily's exclamations now. Hans Ruppert bus done it all! Hans Ruppurt has done it all I The tree glistens into gracious charm. It is the aurora of the Divine Child. And then tho good Saxon muscles fall to, and full, too, on suppur. Now, the supper is a sweet feature of this great evening. 1897. For only once a year does the marzipan come round —marzi- pan, that dear cake, crusted with pow dered almonds. Only once a year does "stoken" come round, that dearest cake with raisins—raisins plucked by Hans Ruppert in that faroff mystery—raisins that grew and hadn't anything to do with sour grapes. But tho supper passes, and the night is deepening. The eyes of childhood are drooping. Tho family rises and again circles the Christmas tree, hand in hand now, perhaps for the last time on earth. Who can foresee the years? May the dear Christ child guard us all! — New York Commercial Advertiser. f ASTORIA The Kind You Have U* niA Aiwa s B h , AVegetablc Preparation for As- * " similalingtheFoodandßegula- M ling the Stomachs andßowels of JjGcirS tllG m ■ g^g na |- ure PromotesDigestion,Cheerful- W I laH ness and Rest.Contafos neither A f w If, |r Snum.Morphine norMineral. U1 m ft /\ IT otNahcotic. # l\ \J* of Old TkSAMUELPUUJLH 1 A Pump Jan Smd" x % Alx.Stnru * 1 A A AMUSJ*- I • M£\ V #v TV Tho Jh Cartonatr.Tula' I 2l IV 4 L 8 " SIS "a }timSitd- I ,11 U1 H 11 4J ftqnfttd Sugar . I u | Wnkrynm f kmr. ) JM) R I# " I A perfect Remedy forConstipa- f u Af' Iv 111 0 lion. Sour Stomach.Diarrhoea, I liP Worms,Convulsions,Feverish- I IF Al 11 ncss and Loss OF SLEEP. \gP TOU HOVP Facsimile Signature of NK\V YOHIv. lAlways Bought, EXACT COPY OF WBAEPEB. ICISTOBE W ' : '• '"• ' 7 THE CCNTAUR COMPANY NEW YORK CITY STOVE NAPTHA, the Cheapest and Best Fuel.on the market. With it you can run a Vapor Stove for one-hall cent per hour. Give us a call and be convinced. W. O. Holmes, Bloomsburg, Pa. Eshleman & Wolf, L. E. Wharey, " W. F. Hartman, " ELY'S CREAM BALM le ft positive care. Apply into the nostrils. It is quickly absorbed. 50 cente at Druggists or by mail ; samples 10c. by mall. ELY BROTIIEKB, 66 Warren St., New York City- Hints for the Stout- There is but little place in the economy of nature for the woman of superfluous flesh, says the Lon don Daily Mail. But what is she going to do about it, poor thing? If she begins to take care in time; if she starts weight-reducing prac tices when first she notices a little tightness about her bodies and belts the process need not be so very long or so very trying. She must have a great deal of ex ercise and a great deal of fresh air. Two hours of really vigorous exer cise every day—of brisk walking that brings perspiration to the skin; of brisk bicycle riding, or of horse riding, according to her means and tastes —is not too much. Hot baths are part of the weight reducing regime, but as t. ey are also sometimes strength reducing they should be taken with care. Foods containing starch should be avoided. That means the ban ishment of untoasted bread, of po tatoes, and of sweets from the daily bill of fare. Fats are also to be shunned. There should be but lit tle butter and milk used. In the way of definite exercises for the reduction of flesh about the waist and hips—the places where most women suffer from overweight —there is one to be lightly recom mended. The candidate for slimness should assume what is known as "the po sition of a soldier"—shoulders back, chest out, chin in, and ears, shoul der and hips in a vertical line. She must bend from the waist until she touches the floor, but without bend ing the knees, and this she must do often every morning. CASTOR IA For Infants and Children. The Kind You Have Always Bought You can save money on Pianos and Or gans. You will always find the largest stock, best makes and lowest prices. PIANOS, From $175.00 and Upwards. ORGANS, From $50.00 and Upwards We sell on the installment plan. Pianos, 825.00 down and $lO.OO per month. Or gans, $lO.OO down, $5.00 per month. Lib. eral discount for cash. Sheet Music, at one half price. Musical merchandise of kinds. We handle Genuine Singer High Arm SEWING MACHINES, $5.00 down and $3.00 per month. Wc also handle the Demorest Sewing Machine, from $19.50 and upwards. Sewing Machine Needles and Oil for all makes of Sewing Machines. Best makes of WASH MACHINES, FROM $4.00 UP TO $9.00. J. SALTZER. C-iT Music Rooms—No. 115 West Main St., below Market, Illooirsburp, I'a. 311111-3 When American capital and en terprise have been at work a little while in Cuba and Porto Rico Spain will open her eyes at the mine of wealth that for centuries lay un troubled at her feet. She may not mourn her lost opportunities for de veloping a people, hut she certainly will regret her lost chauce for big receipts in the shape of taxes. It will be part of her reproach among nations to see her former colonies grow rich and prosperous under her eyes, but forever out of her reach. Many People Cannot Drink coffee at night. It spoils their sleep, You can drink Grain O when you please and sleep like a top. For Grain-O does not stimulate ; it nour ishes, chetrs and feeds. Yet it looks and tastes like the best coffee. For nervous persons, young people and children Grain O is the perfect drink. Made from pure grains. Get a pack age from your grocer to day. Try it in place of coffee. 15 and 25c. Bd4t OABTOHIA. Bean the /> The Kind You Have Always Bought I Fine PHOTO GRAPHS and CRAYONS at R. B. GROTZ, Bloomsburg. The best are the cheapest. TID-BIT3 FOS MA' HONEY! and tender little juicelets for the chil dren. ate all right, but pana and "the boys" want a good, tug, juicy steak, roast or chop when business O" school duties arc over, and we can cater to them all. Our stock of prime meats is unexcelled for quality, and we send them home in fine shape. J. K. KEIFER. THE DEVELOPMENT of liloomsburg, notwithstanding the late fi nancial and business depression. HAS BEEN PHENOMINAL. Its permanence and prosperity are now as sured. The Hloomsburg I.and Improvement Com pany now offers for sale the most desirable lots for residences and business purposes to be had in this town, at moderate prices and upon easy terms. A SMALL PAYMENT down and small monthly payments thereafter will secure a lot. Those purchasers desiring to build, and own their own homes the company will as sist by advancing the monev there on. WHY PAY RENT when you can own your own home ? Factory Sites Given Away. Maps of the town and our plotted prop erty furnished on application. Bloomsburg Land Improvement Company. J. S. WOODS, N. U. FUNK, Sales Agent. Secretary. io-6-6mos. THE MARKETS. BLOOMSBURG MARKETS. C0BHBCTB1) WBBBLT. HBTAIL TBICBB. Butter per lb $ t2 a Eggs per dozen .24 Lard per lb .08 Ham per pound .09 Pork, whole, per pound ,06 Beef, quarter, per pound,... .07 Wheat per bushel .80 Oats " " 35 Rye " " 50 Wheat flour per bbl 4.40 Hay per ton 9 to $lO Potatoes per bushel, .60 Turnips " " .ag Onions " " 100 Sweet potatoes per peck .25 Tallow per lb .05 Shoulder " " .09 Side meat " " .08 Vinegar, perqt .05 Dried apples per lb .05 Dried cherries, pitted .1* Raspberries .11 Cow Hides per ib .3J Steer " " '• , 0 c Calf Skin ,80 Sheep pelts .75 Shelled corn per bus .60 Corn meal, cwt r.aj Bran, " Chop " ,ne Middlings " Chickens per lb new.. .08 " " old .08 Turkeys " " 12J Geese " " .14 Ducks " " .08 COAL. No. 6, delivered a.60 " 4 and s " 3.85 " 6 at yard a.35 " 4 and 5 at yard 3.60 "PATENTS Caveats and Trade Marks obtained, and si Patent business conducted for MOIIEKATK OUK OFFICE 18 OPPOSITE THE tj. 8. PAT ENT OFFICE. We have no sub-agencies, at business direct, hence can transact patent bust • ness In less time and at. Less Cost than those re mote from Washington. Send model, drawing or photo, with descrlp tlon. We advise If patentable or not, free of charge, our fee not due till patent Is secured A honk, "How to Obtain Patents," with rprer ences to actual clients In your state, County, o towu sent free. Address A. SNOW A CO., Washington, D. C (Opposite U. S Patent Offleo.) SUBSCRIBE FOR THE OLUMBIAN
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers