6 THE CHRISTMAS BRIGADES. Blare o' the trumpet and roll o' the drum, A glitter of littlo tin Modes, And, led hy their cute little captains, they come— The curly haired Christmas brigades! Was ever an army so fair to view? And It's marching straight to the hearts of you! What shall we <lo 'gainst an army like this. That Is Most of the angels above? tt comes hut to challenge a mother's sweet kiss. And Its beautiful banner ts love! Sure, never was army so fair to view, f)r marched so straight to tho hearts of you! Come on with the trumpet, the little toy drum! Come on with the little tin blades! Our hearts heat a welcome and ery to you, "Pome, Oh, curly haired Christmas brigades!" "omo 011. Utile heroes In gray and in blue, And we'll capture and kiss every soldier of you! —F. L. Stanton. [KIP *. ***„*■ IP* * BRAVE LITTLE \ iin am It wasn't so very happy to begin with. Christmas eve was a littlo dreary. Maggie only hummed a carol because it was moro her way to sing than to cry, and tho carol was the only thing sho could think of just then. It was the first carol she had ever learned. She could remember just how sweet her mother had looked while teaching it to her aud Jimruie, tho brother, who would keep his seventh Christmas to morrow—keep it in heaven, sho thought, with a gleam of sorrowful joy. The dear mother who was iu tho hospital aow, whose Christmas would bo spout in a whitewashed ward, clean, bright and tender, with kindly care, but still not so bright as tho littlo attic room would havo been if only sho could have been there. Maggio's soug grew very queer at this point of her reflections, and her voice was a trifle unsteady, hut 3ho persisted in humming "It came upon tho midnight clear," and even smiled a littlo as sho laid down tho rheap littlo doll sho had boon dressing .'or Sweetie, tho dear littlo sister who was lior darling, and who was now being cared for by kind friends of licr mother's youth. In another moment she was dashing down newspaper alley at full speed, el bowing her way a trifle more gently than tho averago habitue of that far famed locality, but pushing to tho front with a dogged resolution nono the less, and no sooner had the bunch of papers which came in answer to her warcry of "Twonty-fivo specials—throw 'em along quiok, Jimmio!" readied her arms, than she was off with a bound, and a cry of "Papiersl Papiors! Here is yer extry!" which sounded startliug ly loud and harsh to come from that girlish throat. Down Mason street she flew, anxious to roaoh tho "stand" which tho boys of that corner had unan imously ceded to her with rough chiv alry when sho had first appeared upon the sceno, timid, nervous, afraid to cry her wares. Sho was the first of all tho crowd to reach State streot. "Papier, papier! Hero is yer extry 1 All about the accident at Borrioboola Gha!" she shrieked in tho voice which would have been sweet and clear but for its hard treatment and out of doors use, or rather abuso, and a queer little smile curved the corners of her mouth as sho gave vent to her peculiar "trademark," as the "other boys" were wont to call the odd name which invariably closod her exhovtatiou to buy an evening paper. That exclamation had quite a history. When Maggie had been driven by her moth r's illness and tbo want of food in tin homo cupboard to try paper sell ing, tho had been afraid to cry loudly, and her conscience, home taught and tendei. had forbidden her to invent news t.nnouuccments after tho fashion of others of her "porfesb." For some days she ha 1 sold very littlo in consequence, and th i capital she had each morning invested in papers seemed in a fair way to be lost, when Irish Pat, the tough est boy in the gang, had taken her to hisheait aud shown berths mistake which spoiled her sales. "Yer dou't kuowuothin, yor don't," he had said contemptuously, striding along by her side with an exaggerated imitation of the walk of the laßt actor he had admired from the "peanut heav en" of the Academy and keeping level with her as she dejeotedly started homeward, crying softly and wiping the tears away with her ragged but clean handkerchief. "Yer too bloomin scared," be said, again copying tho Academy actor, both in speech aud gesticulation, "an yer'll never do no good till yer makes yer roar more like a better feller than yerself." He paused aud looked at Maggie ex pectantly, but Maggie had no idea that the "better foiler" was Pat himself, ind she never dreamed that the pause should bavo been filled with a compli ment, well deserved, in Pat's opinion, :so she said nothing, and the boy took up his parable again. "Now, this yer's the way yer calls," be said, imitating hor weak little cry to the life, "an this yer's the way yer jughter yell." Aud he let out a shout of "Paper bore! Paper! All about tho great fire on tho west side! Many lives lost 1 Nineteen firemen go down in tho rains!" which startlod Maggie and rang down tho street for a block or more. Maggie Boon found this to be true, if she was to equal tho sales of the other paper sellers. But still, as has beon aid, her conscience rebelled against tho deceit. So sho decided with one of tho compromises possible only to innocent souls upon inventing a cry about an •fveat which could not possibly happen, ami, having read "Bleak House," she chose the words "Borrioboola Cilia" as her "mar." She said nothing to her mother of all this, although the strug gle iu her mind was long and severe, and she longed sorely for sympathy and advice. She had grown so accustomed to using the "yell" that she no longer thought of it at all. Sho called out tho long word as she did that of "Paper!" and it hud no more significance to her. Hilton this particular day, this dreary Christmas eve, as sho stood mechanical ly repeating it, thinking meanwhile of tho added pleasure for her mother and Sweetio which every penny meant, she was startled by a light touch on her shoulder and -turned her head to see a kindly face looking down into hers. "Whero do you say tho accident hap pened?" queried tho tall, pleasant faced man who owned the hand which still lay on her aim. "Did you say Borrio boola Glia? 1 have hoard a great many qnoer cries used by newsboys," ho said with a whimsical smile at tho pretty face, which bent away from him, "but yours is tho most peculiar I havo ever known. Did you borrow it from Dick ens?" "Yes, sir," shu whispered, blushing still deeper, Mid hurrying breathlessly into hei explanation. "Yes, sir. You see, tho boys said I'd have to make up a roar if I was going to sell papers, and I thought that was honest anyway." "Poor little kid!" ho thought later, as ho heard her erv ring out under his window aR lio sat in his comfortable room at the hotel. "Poor little kid! I wish I could do something for her. Sho reminds me of Jennie, somehow. Poor Jennie!" And in reveries of his dear, lost sight of sister he forgot all about Maggie, and thought 110 moro of her until he heard her again tho noxt morn ing—Christmas morning. "Not a cheerful day for a fellow who'H got nothing hut money to help him enjoy himself, and 110 on to share that with," ho thought as he dressed slowly, drearily, for tho day promised to bo long and barren. "I® I only had Jennie and her babies to help 1110 out. By Jove!" and lie quickened his move ments with a look of sudden interest, "I'll hunt up Littlo Borrioboola Gba and give her a jolly Christmas. Sho looks as though it wouldn't do her any harm, and I can 'play pretender," as Jennie's baby used to say, play that she is ouo of Jennie's children." Hastily completing his toilet, ho dis posed of a hearty breakfast, his pulses quickening as ho thought of the pleas tiro which lay before him, the pleasure of giving happiness to another, the one pleasure which neither the world, tho flesh, nor tho devil has the power to mar or spoil. Meanwhile the object of his thoughts laid finished selling her papers the night before and gone slowly homeward, re sisting the temptation to stay out in the brilliantly lighted streets because of her mother's well remembered re quest to this effect, and after buying as much candy and fruit for Sweetie as was consistent with saving a few pen nies to buy a flower to go to tho hos pital with her and the baby tomorrow afternoon and laying enough away to buy her Btock the next day she had got straight into bed. When she awoke, it was broad day light, the shining light of Christmas day, which has never seemed quite like that of ordinary days since that first wondrous dawn nearly 1,900 years ago, and she sprang up with the sweet Christmas joy in her heart and face, in spite of her aching toes and lonely con dition. "Now for a cup of coffeo and a I doughnut," she thought as sho hurried- I ly fastened her garments, "and then for ! my papers." "Well, Little Borrioboola Gha," said the samo kindly voice which had greet ed her the day before, "merry Christ mas to you." "Same to you, sir," she answered shyly, glancing up at hint with the eyes which reminded him so forcibly of his sister. "Paper, sir?" "Well, yes, I suppose so," he re- ! spouded, reaching in his pocket for a if 1 bill. "How aro you going to spend your Christmas?" "I'm going to the hospital to seo mamma after I get through selling," said Maggie, who, with a child's quick intuition, had divined that this was a man to he trusted. "And I'm going to take Sweetio with me." "Who is Swootie?" was tbo next question, asked with a sympathetic iu touation which somehow expressed all tho kindly words he did not say about her mother. And Maggie, whoso heart opened easily to any ono who used the key of "Sweetio" wherewith to unlock it, grow talkative nt once. "Sweetie's my sister," she prattled, forgetting her wares in the joy of tell ing her love to some ono. '' My baby sister. And she's been specially mine over since mamma got sick and had to go to the hospital. Auntie and Uncle Stowart have got her now," she went on, not noticing the start the gentleman gave, "but I'm going to get her back to live with us just as soon as mamma can come home.'' "Is Auntie Stewart your real aunt?" queried her listener, a strange interest in his tone and manner. "And what is your mamma's name?" "No. Auntie Stewart is an old friend of mamma's and papa's," answered Maggie, tuckiftg her papers moro tight ly under her arm, "and mamma's name is Jennie Brownell." "Jennie Brownell!" gasped the man at her side, grasping her arm so tightly that the tender flesh was bruised. "Jen nie Brownell 1 And what was your .papa's name?" ''Papa's uamo was Arthur Brownell,'' said Maggie, wondoring more and more at this man's odd behavior. "But he's been dead a long, long time, and mam ma took care of us until she got sick and I was big enough." "You big enough," exclaimed her listener excitedly. "You big enough, you poor baby! Why, how old aro yon?" "I'm just 18," said Maggie proudly, "and, indeed, sir, I'm big enough. r HE COLUMBIAN. BLOOMSBURG. PA. Wl.y, I've taken care of ns for nearly n year now, and Sweetie would ratlier stay with mo than with Auntie Stewart. I give hor such nice things to eat," she finished innocently. "To say nothing of the lovo you evi dently lavish upon hor," murmured the gentleman to himself. "Well, Little Borrioboola Gha, what do you say to a change? I think you must ho my niece." "Oh, then you must bo Uuclo Jack," said Maggie, accepting this now and wonderful state of affairs with a child's innocent faith and belief in all things wonderful and bright and good. "Yes, you do look like mamma. She's talked of you so muck that I feol I quito know you," she added quaintly. "You're not going to sell papers any more," said her uncle, as they crossed the streot to his hotel. "And now for a merry Christmas. It won't bo possible to do anything about clothes today," with a rueful look at Maggie's gar ments, "but we'll do something nice anyway. Whnt hospital did you say yoni mother was at?" "St. Luke's," answered Maggio, smiling as happily as though the griefs of the morning had never troubled her. "Are you going to see hor too?" "Yes," said Uncle Jack, smiling down at the eager face, "we're going there right away, but we'll stop and buy somo flowers first." And they set forth, only to find dis appointment awaiting them at tho hos pital. Mrs. Brownell had left tho hos pital that morning in tho care of a strange gentleman who had brought a carriage for her. "Was it Uncle Stewart?"asked Mag gie, and the kindly girl hesitated be fore replying, catching tho busy uurso as she turned away. "Uncle Stowart!" she said at length. "Tho old gentleman who came hero with her and sometimes brings tho lit tle girl? No, it was a much younger man." "Did luumuia know him?" nskeil Maggie, with a shade of sadness darken ing hor expressive face in a manner which did not escape lier nuelo's notice, and again the good natured nurse staid her steps to reply. "Yes," sho said, with a pleasant, if hasty, smile, "sho was delighted to see him and went with him at once." Maggie turned away sadly, a tear falling 011 her thabby frock, and sho did not refuse tl.a comforting ptessuro of her uncle's hand as they walked down tbo long ward together. "Let's go to Sweetie," suggested her uncle, with u view to distracting lier. After making inquiries and finding that Mrs. Brownell bad left no address Mag gie, wbo felt that ali was sad and her doll stuffed lyith sawdust with a vengeance, assented drearily. "Mayhosho'll bo gone, too," sho said mournfully, her lip quivering with a pitiful sorrow, as thoy stepped into tho carriage again, and sho did not speak again until the horses drew up at Mrs. Stewart's door. Her uuclo lifted her out. Sho sprang up the stairs and rang the bell, and then—then the world re sumed its normal coloring, and her doll was once moio worth loving, for Sweetie had leaped to her arms, and there in the hall behind was mamma. "Jack!" she said softly after kissing Maggie frantically. "Well, this must be Easter day instead of Christmas. Two resurrections from tho dead!" and she drew his attention to another man who had seized upon Maggie as she re leased her nnd was embracing her as though he would never lot her go again. "My darling! My own little girl I" ho kept repeating, and it suddenly dawned upon Maggio that it must be her papa, alivo again in some wonderful, mysterious, Christmas kind of way and come back to care for her and mam ma and Sweetie. "Wo won't waste tirno upon long ex planations now," said this gentleman as ho put Maggio down at last. "I liavo been prostrated by an accident which caused 1110 to lose my memory until a week ago and my name was mistakenly sent to Jennie hero," indicating his wifo by a tender glance, "as among those killed by tho collision which only injured my brain. When my memory returned to mo, I made all speed to como back to her, and not being ablo to find the smallest traco of hor I thought of dear old Aunt and Uncle Stewart. I knew they would bo kind to my poor darlings. And then I went to the hos pital and bronght her away. Wo never thought of Maggie going there so early, and I was to wait for her there this afternoon. Wo hardly knew how to reach her soouor." "Well, I lost all trace of you all while I was out west," said Undo Jack, taking possession of Maggie again, "and I only fouud this little girl by the morest acoideut." And ho lifted Maggio lovingly to his knee, for they had reached tho parlor by this time. And after that? Well, it was Christ mas day, and all the stores wore closed, but money will do a great deal, and it wasn't long before Auntie Stewart's scantily filled larder was plentifully supplied, and an immense turkey wus roasting in tho oven. And when tho dinner had been eaten and everybody had told everybody else how glad and happy and surprised they were they sat close together and made plans for the future, lovely, wonderful plans, which seemed almost too good to come true. But they did come true, many of thom, and, the best of all, per haps, was Uncle Jack's plan for Maggie. "This littlo girl is going to bo a beau tiful Einger by and by," he said, with a tender good night kiss as he carried her up to tho little attic room Auutio Stewart had insisted upon tbeir using for tho night, while papa followed with Sweetie, "to Eay nothing of being a noble woman if she grows up as bravo and unsellish as she is now. I noticed how strong and sweot her voice bade fair to be tho moment I heard her giv ing the 'roar' which astonished me so much. And I am going to see that it has the best of training. And my pet name for her will always bo 'Little Borrioboola Gha.' " —Chicago Inter Ocean. Big Order for Coffins. A casket company of Allegheny has received an order from the Govern mer.t for 4,000 zinc-lined coffins to be shipped within thirty days. Each cof fin is to be accompanied by a rongh box. The remains of the American soldiers who have died in Cuba and the Philipines are to be brought back to the United States in the coffins and will be buried by friends or by the Government in the national cemeter ies. Each coffin is to be zinc lined and airtight, so that there will be no dan ger of disease spreading through the removal of the bodies. The caskets are to be finished in rosewood mahog any and oak, and will be satin-lined. The same company recently furnished the Government with 1,500 coffins. WHAT SHE WAS TOI.D. "I was sev erely afflicted with salt rheum. I also felt weak and sick. I was told there was 110 medicine that could cure me, but I began taking Hood's Sarsap arilla and it gave me strength. When 1 had taken four bottles the salt rheum was cured and I have not had it since.'' Mrs. A. 11. Amy, Brownhill, HOOD'S'PILLS cure all liver ills. Mailed for 26c. by C. I. Hood & Co., Loweil, Mass. The following story of a new swindle comes from Wyalusing. A smooth faced young fellow called on some of the soldiers' widows in Wyalusing on Monday, claiming that he was sent out by the government. He not only asked, but demanded $1 toward a soldiers' monument, and upon being asked for credentials and 1 ecommenda tions became indignant and made all sorts of threats about having the pen sions stopped; he promises a picture ot the monument to be sent at some future date. Very few, if any invested. He was very persistent and made two and three calls at a house. A PLEASANT DUTY.—"When I know anything worthy of recommend ation, I consider it my duty to tell it," says Rev. Jas. Murdoch, of Ham'sburg, Pa, "Dr. Agnew's Catarrhal Powder has cured me of Catarrli of five years standing. It is certainly magical in its effect. The first application benefited me in five minutes. 1 would not be without it in the house."—B2. Sold by C. A. Kleim. Somebody says that alcohol will re move grass stains from summer clothes. That is right. It will also re move the summer clothes and also the spring, autumn and winter clothes, not only from the one who drinks, but also from his wife and family. It will also remove the household fnrnitnre from the house, and the eatables from the pantry, the smiles from the face of the wife and the happiness from the home. As a remover of things, alcohol has few equals. IN ALL STAGES of Nasal Catarrh there should be cleanliness. As ex perience proves Ely's Cream Balm is a cleanser, soother and healer of the diseased membrane. It is not drying nor irritating, and does not produce snpezing. To test it a trial size is mailed for 10 cents or the large for 50 cents by Ely Brothers, 56 Warren St., New York. Druggists keep it. Upon being placed into the nostrils it spreads over the membrane and relief is immediate. It is an agreeable cure. Boston Bill—"Please, mum, kin you gimme somethin' to eat—jist the meat the dog left will do." Mrs. Miggles—"We haven't any dog.'' "Oh. you ain't? Den you git to work an' cook me a plate u' ham an' eggs an' a cup o' coffee, 'tore I kick ye in the jor!"—lndianapolis Journal. Some Foolish People Allow a cough to run until it gets be yond the reach of medicine. They often say, "oh, it will wear away," but in most cases it will wear them away. Could they be induced to try the suc cessful medicine called Kemp's Balsam which is sold on a positive guarantee to cure, they would immediately see the excellent effect after taking the first dose. Price 25 and 50c. TRIAL SIZE FREE. At all druggists. 12 Bdqt While Frederic Remington was in the West he observed a well executed portrait on the wall of a dark room in a cabin, and asked whose picture it was. "That's my husband," said the woman of the house, carelessly. "But it is hung with fatal effect," urged the artist. "So was my hus band," snapped the woman. PILE TERRORS SWEPT AWAY.— Dr. Agnew's Ointment stands'at the head as a reliever, healer, and sure cure for the Piles in all forms. One appli cation will give comfort in a few min utes, and three to six days application according to directions will cure clnonic cases. It relieves all itching and burning skin diseases in a day. 35 cents.—B3. Sold by C. A. Kleim. Wife (waking suddenly from sleep) -"Henry, did you call?" Husband (who has been spending previous evening with the boys)-"No° I'll raise it five."—Harlem Life. . JpCCxCxSOC<>COC)CC<XXX<XX<>CC.-'^ 44 A PERFECT FOOD —an Wholesome as it is DeliciousA O C? WALTER BAKER & CO.'S V 8 llf BREAKFAST COCOA ft M UIA "H" stood the test of more th.n ico years' use among all„ XI! I') CUG " S ' aDd f ° rPUrity X l,i pi—*- SLS!SAW~ 6 WALTER BAKER & CO. LTD., X Established 1780. DORCHESTER, MASS. GOOOCCOOOOCOOOCCCCCCCOC^ ! ALEXANDER BROTHERS & CO. DEALERS IN Cigars, Tobacco, Candies, Fruits and lints SOLE AGENTS FOR Henry Mail bird's Fine Candies. Fresli Every Week. JP2L.TSTTT-2 GOCES -J 1 - SPECIALTY". SOLE AGENTS FOR |F. F. Ada ; ns & Co's Fine Cut CLewing i oLb<A.u Sole agent 3 for the following brands of Cigars -1 Hor.ry Cl&v, _or.dros, Normal, Indian Trincoss, Samson, oiAC. Bloomsbnrq Pec IF YOU ARE IN NEED OE (ARP ¥T, ni AT f 3' KIA , or OIL CLOT 18, YOU WILL FIND A NICE LINE AT W. 1. BMOWEI'S '2a! Doot above Uouri, House. A lot of Window Curtains in stock. J r ,-, .yr/pn THAT'S JUST IT! l'\ —^ou can t always tell by the locks a " ar,nent w ' s oin ~' ' if rTr* isroT \ )j \ jl " (/Oil Get the WEAR as well as die U II i T looks, when you can have botk a j iiCsf'i Ij y pricb - si2,o ° V r/-7- l ' le carting point of those A j y MvL Edward E. Strauss & Co.'s L ' I JL\l . Famous Custom Tailored ' \Ll' Suits and Overcoats CP "tn • With an ironclad guarantee "All weather ''That's the thrown in free. ; f wSlSljtef IT WILL FAY YOU "rVTAINISC| To ™i™ Hs line, and lt THEIR ** I agent imme- >' our or< - er for one of lhese ha t">- 3HAPE." c?ia.tely." some garments. MADE TO ORDER BV GALLON EDWARD E. STRAUSS S CO. . _ D/ ~. cc America's Popular Tailors, Chicago. a xD j 1 (AGENTS WANTED EVERYWHERE IN _. THE U S. AND TERRITORIES.) ELOOMSBURCr, PA. Demorest's fl, Magazine jf i $| 00 A YEAR. JBL £ The subscription 'Tf 1 ; •; Is reduced to SI.OO a Year. nomnroefc contains more matter, artistic, scienlifi . so UCIHUrCSI 0 c j a j an( j practical, than any other one mai* —, azine contains. It is a magazine for the whole family. It gives as much general matter as an exclusively literary magazine. It treats household topics as fully as a strictly domestic journal It gives as much interesting matter lor young people as a strictly young people's pub lication. It gives as much fashion news a? a strictly fashion paper. It is beaut: printed, illustrated, and carefully edited. Dcmorr stN Kauuztiie Fashion Department Is In every way far ahead of that • > tallied In any ot her publication. Subscribers are entitled each month to patterns of the fashions In woman's attire, at 110 CON! to tliem other than that necessary for postageawi wrapping. No Better Christmas Gift Maiiar.ne can be j ltemlt by money order, rcclatered letter, or cheek, to DEMOREST'S MAGAZINE, no FIFTH AVENUE, NEW YORK Cm f ONLY $1 75 FOR ( Great Clubbing Offer For J The Columbian and Prompt Subscriptionsi Demorest's Family Magazine, i li-17tf V Bend your Subscriptions to this Lnice. LIFE'S A BURDEN.— If the stomach is not right. Is there Nausea? Is there Constipation? Is the Tongue Coated? Are you Light Headed? Do you have Sick Headaches? Any and all of these dencte Stomach and Liver Dis order. Dr. Agnew's Liver Pills act quickly and will cure most stubborn and chronic cases. 40 in a vial for 10 cents. —84. Sold by C. A. Kleim. A ventilated shoe has been invent ed in Cologne, Prussia. A steel spring works a bellows between the heel and sole, and every step the wearer takes drives a stream of fresh air through the perforationis in the inner sole to e\ery part of the foot. O ASS TOB.IA-. Boars tko Kind You Have Always Boogft "Madge is crazy about her three soldier suitors." "How crazy?" "Why, she is afraid to accept any one of them, for fear the others might get promotion first," —Detroit Frte Press. DON'T STARVE YOURSELF to curt Dyspepsia. Eat heartily, and take Dr. Von Stan's Pineapple Tablets. They assist Nature in performing her func tions and. in an imperceptible time disease and suffering vanish and old time good health, comfort and youth ful buoyancy reign, and life puts on. a new and hopeful phase. 35 cents.—3£. Sold by C. A. Kleim. CA.STORIA. Boars the The Kind You Hate Always Bags "T"
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers