Christmas tve
In Rural England
It WHS N brilliant moonlight night,
but extremely cold. Our chaise whirled
rapidly over tbe frozen ground. The
postboy smacked his whip Incessantly,
And a j>art of the time his horses were
on a gallop, "lie knows where he is
going," said my Companion, laughing,
"and Is eager to arrive in time for
some of the merriment and good.cheer
of the servants' hall. My father Is a
devotee of the old school and prides
himself on keeping up something of
old Euglish hospitality. lie was ail
ways scrtipnlou - in exncthv "iir 1 >ll
days and having us around him on
family festivals. It was the policy of
the icood old gentleman to make his
children feel that home was the hap
piest place in the world, and I value
this delicious home feeling as oue of
the choicest gifts a parent can bestow."
The squire ushered us at once to the
company, which was assembled in a
large, old fashioned hall. It was com
posed of different branches of a numer
ous family connection. They were
variously occupied, and a profusion of
win-den horses, penny trumpets and
tatteri'l dolls about the floor showed
traces of a little troop of fairy beings
th;it ! ill frolicked through a happy
day.
While the mutual greetings were go
ing on between Rracebridge and his
relatives 1 had time to scan the apart
ment. The grate had been removed
TUK IUSCJS WAS * UfeJlllY OSK.
from (he wide, overhanging fireplace
to make way for a tire of wood, in the
midst of which was an enormous log,
glowing and blazing and sending forth
a vast volume of light and heat. Tills,
I understood, was the Yule log, which
the squire was particular in having
brought in nnd illumined on Christmas
eve, according to ancient custom.
It was really delightful to see the old
Bquira seated in his hereditary elbow
Chair by the hospitable fireside of his
ancestor?: and !u< L:liu- ground !Hm likf
ESTABLISHED. 1870
The Stephens Hardware Company
•J If on. Geo. A. Walker's Old Stand*}
EMPORIUM PA.
Special Attractions for Xmas Buyers at this Pioneer and Popular Headquarters for Dependable Good
SENSSEU_E CHRISTMAS PRESENTS FOR THE HOMEI
Champion Steel Ranges, ombination Gas, VC r ood and Coal Stoves, Parlor .Heaters, Bed Roon,
Library and Hali Stoves.
We are positive we have most eauliful and largest variety of Stoves in this County. We would be pleased to have ,ou cali and
see for yourself. See the famous beauties that save fuel and labor.
We JnOite Inspection of our Hundreds
MV with l'rido to our Large Display of Articles Suitable* for (iifls.
Student Lamps. Elegant Gas Chandeliers,
Silver Knives, Fine Line of Library Lamps, With Fancy Domes,
Silver Forks, The Largest Assortment of Carving Sets, Ver\
Standard Aluminum Ware,
Kitchen Scales Carpet Sweepers,
St h? itl (J Large Line of Cutlery, Bndl— Variety of Skates,
Shaving Outfits, Good Razors. 4
I Machines \if Yo Can't Sec What You Waul, Ask Us?
I best i:oer Made We Have the Goods and Prices are Right.
! From sl* to *>6s Let us Make Your Christmas Joyful
1 • ; 1 1.,-. ' ' ' I" » i'iii' 1 -•■'■ l""*? - m -Mm
| The Stephens Hardware Company,
I Masonic Block, FWPOR" PA.
v .> „ .. ,l£ .
•I.in 0112 a vstem, beaming warmth
and glnduess to every heart. Even the
wry du£ that lay stretched at his feet,
us he lazily shifted bis position and
1 yawned, would look fondly up in his
master's face, wag his tail against the
floor and stretch himself again to
tvleep, sure of kindness and protection.
I j Supper was announced shortly after
our arrival, it was served up In a
spacious oaken chamber, the panels
• | of which hone with wax and around
which were several family portraits,
decorated with holly and ivy. Besides
the sccie loinpd lights, two great wax
. tapers, called Christmas candles,
wreathed with greens, were placed on
a highly polished buffet among the
family plate. The table was abun
dantly spread with substantial fare,
but the quire made his supper of
frumenty, a dish made of wheat cakes
> "Hed i*! ini'k. with rich spl.-.-s, being,
a Standing dish in obi times for Christ
mas eve. I was happy to find my old
friend, minced pie, In the retinue of
| the feast.
The supper had disposed every one
to gayety, and an old harper was sum
moned from the servants'hall. * * *
, The dance, like most dances after sup
per, was a merry one. Some of the
older folk joined in it, and the Squire
himself figured down several couples
' with a partner with whom be affirmed
be had danced at every Christmas for
nearly half a century.
The party broke up for the night
with the kind hearted old custom of
shaking hands. As I passed through
the hall on the way to my chamber
the dying embers of the Yule log ;till
sent, forth a dusky glow, and had It
not been the season when "no spirit
dares stir abroad" I should have been
half tempted to steal from my room
at midnight and peep whether tb» fai
ries might not be at their revoks about
I the hearth.
I had scarcely not Into bed when a
strain of music seemed to break forth
in the air just below the window. I
listened and found it proceeded from
n band which I concluded to be the
I waits from some neighboring village.
I drew aside the curtains to hear tbeui
more distinctly. The moonbeams fell ,
through tbe upper part of the eiie
ment, partially lighting up the antl- (
! qunted apartment. Tbe sounds as
they receded lwcame more soft aud
aerial and seemed to accord with ;
quiet and moonlight. I listened and |
listened. They became more and more
tender and remote, and as they grad- 1
ually died away my head sank upon
the pillow, and I fell asleep.—Wash- '
lngton Irving.
A Unique Bell.
A pretty bell may be made by wrap ;
ping a large sized hoop with holly or :
pine, connecting this with a smaller
sized hoop above by four wires or 1
I stout cord. Ilang strands of popcorn
from upper hoop to lower one. Use a
large red apple for a clapper.
OAMKRON COUNTY PRKSS, *'< , fOTO .
A Christmas
Doll Wedding
We are to have a wedding;
Our mothers planned It ull.
You aie to be iny Uttle wife
And I V'iur husband tall.
I love your pretty eyes of brown—
My own are dark and blue-
But as they're only KISISS, my dear.
They'll seo no faults In you.
, My china Hps, they long to kiss
All your dull cart's away.
But 1 must wait for three long weeks
Until our wedding day.
However, time ill pass, sweet maid,
And then we'll never part.
X hwear to I tve y.ei all my life
With Hiy true wooden heart.
Your own
HEC3IN Al.n.
Pec. 3. ISIO.
Such was the love letter written by
Reginald Graham of .Now Vork, a beau
i tiful doll twentj inches tall, light hair,
i blue eyes, with long dark lashes, to
his ladylove, Miss Alice Winchester, a
brown cv»><l doll beauty of Boston.
The fact Is that a marriage had been
urrangt d between these two dollies by
their little mammas and several jaown
-111 > aunties. to lake place at Christmas
time at the home of the doll bride.
But making the clothes! Grandmas,
cousin- and aunties spent days using
their nimble lingers to fashion the tiny
i manly garments, as no Utile girl could
: I'n iblj do the oiili' nit sewing.
It was d' id. d that a black broad
cloth Milt must be made, but as a full
dress evening coat could be used only
for formal occasions a tuxedo or din
ner coat was finally agreed upon as be-
Ing of more >■ rvice.
All the ilme we have been telling
about ti-. bridegroom dear little Alice
has been si. busy having a long while
satin wetld:. g dress made, a real lace
veil and tlie daintiest kind of lace trim
med underwear.
A tnn •II'": fo-.vn of cloth, an au
tomobile ce:it of champagne color, a
white hat with feathers and flowers,
all have been prepared for the"going
away" costume.
A procession of twenty little girls
j with their dollies follows Reginald
and Alice, who march Into the draw
lug room to the music of a wedding
I march played on the piano; then into
the dining room, where the dollies sit
at a fable that has been arranged for
: them, with a liny wedding cake deco
j rating the center.
Then comes the wedding tour
around the garden, and then the newly
married pair go to housekeeping in a
big closet that has been furnished for
; them with till the latest conveniences.
It was really the most brilliant mar
i ringe that was ever made in Toy
land and is the true story of a dear
little brown, eyed girl's Christmas
| present.
A treat niativ dollle (.'nests were in
vited fro i ''tor " I.and, an.
among those most noticed were:
Jack Be Nimble, Jack He Quick,
He w 1 the first One there;
Then Utile Uoldie Docks,
Who ran away from the bear.
i Bright Miss Nancy Etticoat,
t'sed to standing long,
Shone beside Tom Tucker.
Who sang the supper song.
. Mistress Mary, Quite Contrary,
I'.roui i from her garden fair
Several maidens all In a row.
With pretty curling hair.
Bobby S! Ho, from o'er the sea.
Was in i 1 ippy moud:
1 saw him gazing bashfully
At dear Bed Biding Hood,
Utile Ml- M'lffet had left her turret
And surjn d u» all, oh. my!
By going to a corner with little .lack
Horner
And M.arlnj? his Christmas pie.
Shy Bope.-p without her sheep
Many sweet glances won,
And there without his little pig
Was Tom, the I'iper's Son.
Marjorle Daw and big Tom Stout
Attracted much attention
And many more whose names, alas.
1 haven't room to mention.
B was a wedding so very grand,
All In the month of December,
With the very Foui Hundred of'Toy
land there.
As many will lor ir remember.
-Juliuii Jerome.
After Christmas.
Salu the Christmas tree Oy the old back
fence
j To the one just over the way:
j "It seems to ine it is hard to be
Out here in the cold today.
Dam week 1 stood in a brilliant room.
With children dancing by.
And beautiful candles warmed me
through."
Said the other tree, "So did J."
Bald the Christmas tree by the old back
fence
To the one Just over the way:
"I wish out tnere on the mountain side
They only had let mo stay.
My roots were strong, 1 was warm and
green.
While the merry BIIOW llew by.
But now l am trembling, old and weak." !
Said the other tree. "So am I."
Baid the Christmas tree by the old back
fence
To the one just over the way:
"A little boy threw a rock at me
A* he passed along today,
And last week, up by a beautiful doll,
A sled was Banging high
For that bad little boy. I'm tired to
death."
Said the other tree, "So am I."
Said the Christmas tree by the old back
fence
To the one just over the way:
"A little girl that 1 gave a ring
Came by, and I heard her say,
: 'Vou ugly old tree, who cares for you!"
And she made up a face so wry
I wouldn't believe folks could so forget."
Said the otliei tree, "Nor would 1."
Paid the Christmas tree by the old back
fence
To the oue just over the way:
"It's hard to die so far from home,
But I guess we've h.id our day.
And the children maybe In years to com*
Will think of us with a sigh
And the Joy it gave. I am reconciled."
Bald the other tree, "So am I."
I —May It- McNabb in l'ittsburg Dispatch.
KING ARTHUR'S
CHRISTMAS FEAST.
By THEODOSIA GARRISON
Tf ING Arthur gave ft Christmas feast
■** At Camelot, at Camelot,
In honor of the little Christ,
Who was of Virgin born.
And at the hoard sat great and least.
The mirth and wine between.
Merlin, the seer, and Lancelot.
And Guinevere, the queen.
qpHE torches flared, the great legs
*
At C&melof, at Camelot,
In honor of the little Christ.
That was <v Virgin's son.
The wine was poured, the song was raised.
But still with brooding eyes
Upon the queen and Lancelot
Looked Merlin, the most wise.
\ igfff C t
gfef i \ %
"WHAT IS XT THAT THINK KVB.S MAY BE!'. ' '
/ TT S HEN spake King Arthur solemnly.
At Camolot, at Camelot.
I "Thou who hast neither word nor song
But wisdom overgreat,
Whjvt is it that thine eves niiy see
By other eyes unseen
. That thou dost look on Lancelot
And Guinevere, the queen?"
ANSWERED the king the graybeard j
seer,
At Camelot, at Camelot,
"1 see a lit le winged chiid.
As fair as snow and fire.
; Between the two ye hold most dear. ;
A flower o' flame he stands
And he hath smiied on either one
j And touched them with his hands."
■
DROPPED kin# and court on bended
knee.
At Camelot, at Camelot.
"#*hnld. it is the little <~h» : st
Who u t in. Vi,gin's soil!
He comet to bear ui company.
For this our lo ing't sake."
And low wl»h them bent Gtiinevere,.
And Lunctiot of the L».ke.
Bt.'T TWO THF.ftE KNELT TO X.OVB.
*>L'T Merlin held his eyes apart.
At Camelot, at Camelot.
He knew he sow a heathen God.
A God hr might not name.
Who slept not 'neath o Virgin's heart
Nor gavt- -.he jjeace thereof.
Oh, king and court, ih ey knelt to Christ,
But two there knelt to love.
T/*ING Arthur f.ave &. Christmas feast
* ™ At Camelot. at Camelot,
In honor o i the littla Christ,
Who wt.s of Virgin born.
I And at the board sat great and least.
The mirth and wine between.
Merlin, th.; »eer, and Lancelot,
And Guinevere, the queen.
-l.t-w York Evening Mail. I
Makiny Appropriate Gifts.
The year just closing has been so
prosperous that the spirit of philan
thropy will lind \ cry large expr< s.sion iu
the giving ol' Christmas cheer at homo
and abroad, writes Cyrus- P. Jones In
i (Success. The transatlantic mails arc
already burdened with the money let -
j ters sent from America to"the olii
I folks ai home."
Next to the gifts which brighten tho
home of the American citizen, those
I given to worthy charity arc important
j to consider. Too many people give In
: dißcrimiuately. They mean well, but
so did the committee which sent
S2O ,000 worth of fireworks to tho IrMt
l famine sufferers.
titill others give something of no
value whatever. An instance * t* 'j
, was made manifest at a public gatli
; ering In New York, where one ■ 112 tlw
| speakers called attention to the suffer
ers from a prolonged strike and sug
gested Hie advisability of giving i
something. One lu the •ympathetic an
dlenee got tip and - 1. ''l move (14
we give them thfee cheers!" Let us «e,
| lect our*trif• ■■■ wirli reference to tlielj
' appropriateness and utility.