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»> 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 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.