"Excellent!" cried. "I ara glad to hear that one member of Uti family has gra-ped the true principles of commercial success." "I'm sure I don't know where Millicent gets her ideas from," ighed Mam. "When 1 was her age 1 could no more have said euch thing than T could have flown." •'And you < • T. ..inlv were never built for flying, less now than vcr,"' smiled her husband. Of course I paid little heed to all this half, because 1 was bolting half that jam sandwich, which Minkie ad dropped. Evangeline saw what happened and said nothing, so it .'ill be "Whistle ami I'll come to you, my lad," tonight, lint I woko p to the sounds of battle when Mam wanted to know who was going o church. Everybody said "I," except Schwartz, who had letters to 'rite. Von ought to have watched his face when Minkie said quietly: "In that case you will miss seeing Jack Stanhope, the friend of ."hom I was telling you yesterday." "Jack! Is he at home?" Dolly blurted out and then blushed right own her neck. "Yes. Didn't you know?" "How could I? If it comes to that, how do you know?" "He sent me a Christmas picture post card last evening, one of the ew ones, with the season's wishes and a lot of robins on one side and . ha'penny stamp with the address and a little bit of a letter on the ther. Here it is. Shall I read it ?" "Yes," said the Cluv'nor, rather grimly. Outside the gang he nderstood Minkie better than anybody else, and he evidently won lered why she was making such a dead set against Schwartz. Minkie produced the card from the pocket which held the ju-ju., t was a deep pocket, lengthened by herself. She often needed it to lide a young rabbit when I had induced one to leave his home and riends, because keepers make a beastly fuss about hese Bmall matters if they hear of them. "It has the West Strand postmark, 9 a. m., Jec. 24," said she, "and this is what he writes: "Dear Mlnkle—Just arrived from Marseilles, ex-S. S. 'ersia. It was enough to freeze Dan's tall off crossing ihe channel, but I am glad to he here early, as I can do i bit of shopping (being in need of decoration) before I un down to Dale End. I shall be strolling past the lodge about 6 o'clock and will be delighted if you are • islble. Otherwise we shall meet at church tomorrow and exchange winks If Grampus is there too. Yours ever, JACK. "P. S.—l have brought you a pet mongoose. "That is all." "Quite enough too. May I ask who 'Grampus' s ?" said her father. "His uncle. Jack depends on him for his al- owance, so he has to humor him, but he never agreed with him about hat shooting squabble, you know." '"I know nothing about his views and care less, and I do not wish you o exchange either post cards or winks with him or any of his name." "Tom," putin Mam gently, "this is Christmas morning." 'I have not forgotten that, my dear. Nor have I forgotten this lay two years ago, when the other Stanhope ignored my proffered' land before a dozen of our mutual acquaintances. You hear, Milli ent? I have spoken." \ es, father, dear, but it is such a pity about the mongoose. And had a new word I wanted to surprise Jack with. Christmas picture >ost card is such a mouthful, so I intended to call it a Chris-card. Don't you think that rather neat ?" I do, but it is not comparable to the neatness with which you iraw a red herring across the scent. Of course if he sends you the uongoose you may keep it and write a civil note of thanks, but we can lardly indulge in a close friendship with the nephew when the uncle ■annot find a good word to say for us." I was that delighted that I scraped Minkie's leg to tell her I was indemeath the table. A mongoose coming to join the family! What s a mongoose, anyhow ? Has it four legs or two ? Can it fight ? I nust have murmured my thoughts aloud, because the parrot gave a : ereech that made Schwartz jump. "Go and hide in the nearest rabbit burrow, little dog," he yelled. Run away and bury yourself with a bone. When that mongoose •urns up he'll chase you into the next parish. Oh, Christopher! Aren't we havin' a beano? Another rum 'ot, please, miss." I kept my temper. There is no use arguing with a parrot. You ?an't get at him, and he has an amazing variety of language at com mand. But I must state one small point in his favor. If you pay no aeed to his vulgarity and cut out of his talk the silly bits which seem .o please people who wear clothes, he gives one a lot of useful infor mation. He will not say a word in a friendly way, same as I give even J ibbie the nod it there's a mouse in the kitchen. The best plan l is to sauce him or sneer at him. Then he flies into a rage and talks like a book. "'So, Polly, said I, "you shouldn't strain your voice in that fasli >on. It will make your feet ache." ■, He knew what I meant well enough, because just then he wasi •langing head downward from his perch. lie reached out and took a grip, ji a steel iar in his beak, pretending he had hold of me by the neck. ' "If I were you, I'd whitewash my face in the hope that the mon-, *oose would not recognize me after ihe first round," he croaked. "I believe you are afraid of the thing yourself." j "Say not so, whiskers. Kiss me, mother, kiss your darling. 2$ full grown mongoose will make you ihe sickest dog in the British isles.. Whoop at him, Boxer! B:\ck to him, Bendigo!" "Evangeline," said Mam, ' put the green cloth over that bird. Hoi rrows worse daily, aDd I cannot make out where he learns so muchi cockney slang." Minkie kicked me under the table. She guessed I had been teasing liirn. At anv rate, the parrot clearly expected to witness a first rate «et-to when the mongoose arrived. In his own mind he had already taken a ticket for the front row of the stalls, and I meant to oblige him with a star turn. A mongoose may be able to catch a snake, but he must not put on airs with a dog who killed thirty rats in one minute the last time Jarmer Hodson thrashed his barley stack. I heara Schwartz telling Dolly that he had changed his mind and would goto church, so at, half past 10 they walked off to the village. It was quite warm in the sun, but the air was nippy, so 1 gave Tib a run across the lawn when I found her stalking a sparrow. Then I vent round to see Bob. He was busy eating. I suppose a horse has > get through a lot of hay before he fills up. AJA*'?>.QW, when I asked Bob what a mongoose was he was rather^ CAMERON COTTNTV PRESS, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 17. tgoP. A YJOru orcvncr. "Fine looking old gentleman." "Yes, but he was never known to ! Rive a man his word that he did not j break It." "Dishonest, eh?" "Nope; he stutters."— Houston I'ost. Dignity and ignorance. "So you have decided to call In an other doctor?" "I have."was the reply. "The ab surdity of the man prescribing linseed tea and mustard plasters for people of our position!" A Noble Parent. In writing a sketch of Washington a pupil ended her essay by saying, "Washington married a famous belle, Martha Custis, and lu due time be came the Father of Ilis Country."— j 1 Delineator. Kind words are benedictions. They are not only instruments of power, but of benevolence and courtesy, blessings both to the speaker and hearer of them.—Frederick Saunders. | Ten Doctors Said He Would Die "In 1903 we wrote you regard ing my husband, who was suf fering from heart trouble. He was superanuated by the North Georgian Conference. Ten doc tors at different times said he | would die. You advised Dr. j Miles' Heart Remedy and Re- : storative Nervine; we did as j advised, and improvement was apparent from the very first. He j recovered and the Conference in j' 1904 gave him a charge. He never felt better, although he has very heavy work and does ' a great deal of camp meeting j work. I am so glad we took 1 your advi«e-and gave him the | medicine, and feel that I ought to let you kno\{r of the wonder- j ful good results from its use." , MRS. T. S. EDWARDS, Milner, Ga. j This proves what Dr. Miles' Heart Remedy will do. Get a ! bottle from your druggist and take it according to directions. It does not matter whether your heart is merely weak, or you have organic trouble, if it does not* benefit you take the empty bottle to your druggist and get your money back. Pure Water! DRINK SIZERYILLE MINERAL WATER Clean, Pure and Healthy. We are prepared to furniHh the citizens of Emporium thi« popular Water, either PLAIN OB CARBONATED, in bottles. Drop a postal card—we will do the rest. The analysis of the celabrated Sizerville Water has made it famous all over the country. Orders may be left at Geo. F. Balcom's store, or water may be purchased by the case at the same place. Address, Magnetic Mineral Water Co., SIZERVILLE, PA. SHHBSHSH SB 5B sßSHsc=i c Cj Xmas! Xmas! js | Xmas! | I At the Old Reliable jj | means a saving of |' jjj 10 to 50 per cent, jjjl | FANCY PIPES, New Stock, bj Reduced 20 per cent. ui | ENTIRE LINE OF CHINA, | nl Reduced 40 per cent. [j] CASE GOODS, jjj |ij Reduced 'JO per cent. jjj jjj Corresponding reduction in [jj nJ all other Xuias stock. m Call and examine before you ! tr. loose 20 to 30 per cent. 11l j nj by buying elsewhere. £ ' u nl S OLD RELIABLE Ej [DRUG STORE Wishing You a Merry Christmas WE J3KG TO ANNOUNCE THAT THIS BANK WILL BE CLOSED ON THAT DAY 1 Foreword 1909 J j Jf In entering upon another business year, we desire to thank our depositors and patrons for the loyal confidence imposed in this 1 Bank during the 24 years we have been in bueiness. It shall be our purpose in the future, as in the past, to place our service at your command our facilities at your convenience— our strength and security at your disposal. | Directory ~j v— 4 I The affairs of this bank are directed and managed by men of | business and experience. Below appears a list of the Officers and j Directors: I Hon. B. W. GREEN, President, Hon. JOSIAH HOWARD, Vice President, j John E. Smith, Joseph Kaye, W. S. Walker, N. Seger, W. L. Sykes, J. Pitt Felt. | T. B. LLOYD, Cashier. I Opportunity ] The beginning of a new year is a good time to start your busi ) ness on a systematic basis. We would suggest that you deposit j your money with this bank subject to check. By paying all your ) bills and obligations by check, you will be enabled to keep an abso | lute record of all your transactions. Bills paid by check stay paid. [_ Profit j Did you ever think of it in this way? If you save SIOO, from | your earnings during the year, it is the same amount you would re | ceive on a $2,000 investment for one year at 5 per cent. \ To save, one must sacrifice. The best things of life are gained | in this way. If you want to lay aside a part of your earnings, come | to this bank and open an account. A bank account will assist you • greatly in the undertaking. r si.oo j We make it easy for you to possess a bank account. You can \ open an account here with one dollar —you can add to it as often as | you wish in any amount you desire. We are anxious to do our part I and would urge to avail yourself of the advantages and facilities we | place at your disposal. [ Retrench j The time to retrench is after the Holiday festivities. The extra I expense incident to this season of good cheer thrust upon you the real | ization that you must spend less—that you ought to save a part of \ your income. I FIRST NATIONAL BANK I EMPORIUM, PA. j