Somerset Herald.
MpccL They lag behind the othr
Christian nations. Their Christmas
ev-ft'Is on our "it li of January, as the
IJussiaiw never s:irr'iidersl the Julian
Calendar. The Christmas fcstivhii-s
are marked wiih quaint games in
which jittrt. are assigned for youths
and maidens, ami a strict code of eti
quette is oljst-rved through them all.
In the Spanish-American cities of
Central America solemn ol--rvanccs
take pini-e in the churches on Chri--nias
Eve. Among the customs is the
exhibition of minintiir ligurt of wax
illustrating the Nativity and colored
in i ordiug to nrit'ire. Tlii... r j rt .-cnt.i-tiou
is calli-l uacim'.'. tito, mid every
family of ( onsj-n tH-e prepares nin-,
which is set iu the last room. A'
Old World CJiristmas ?ro?erbs.
mil
n,nns of Publication. r
omei
,,kVj every Wednesday monilng at
rc,:"" IU if paid in advance, otherwise j
I'.nrublyt charged,
i " ..:,, will be discontinued until
" ""IntiS- us he" subscriber do not
4
tta-ir pP- wt!1 " beld resPnJbl
ESTABLISHED 1827.
..rilltiOU.
rvim'vi! from one postoffiee to
Should f i" u the nUMt of tonn"
tbC l'""1
VOL. XLIV. NO. 28.
SOMERSET, PA., WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 2flTl895.
KoMCBurr, I'm.
WHOLE NO. 2317.
eralo.0
i lie
aset
r F. It' NOTARY rUBLIC.
I. Sometaet, Pa.
1 1 mihwI, IVnn'a.
D Sn"It
A "Z? ..rui..i'i"- - udelny.
tuOrJ k -
... ... . a f t" 1 J
.rrv'KN Evs-AT-LA w
ud .NOTARY I'L liLIC,
Somerset, Ia.
..sail Court House.
U v.. Kounli SU Piltsbure, Pa.
il(jw.Ntl-AT-UA,
Kiimerat't Pa.
.LorfKicr-'lkiot Store
.. r1.-?L'f VV
1 1 U A 1 i --" 1 1-A 1-UA W.
i A-- tsouierxet. Fa.
A.
- nuii.N tY-AT-LAW,
tSouierset, Ha.
t -nrtiJoliU ILl'uL
.v iI'GE It. SCl'LL,
tl .
Somerset, Fa.
. . - i:ii--;K.rKKIL
f -somerset. Pa.
L5 rriutint Huu.- II". op-wsiu Court
J il
soiut'rst-t, Fa.
I'.'
1. " . . . .. VI'V.IT.I W
All .'iv-. - " f
t-oiut-rset, Pa.
J. G. CKJLK.
.-vrpr-'iwl'l a"'i:in u busiut t-D-'
' . ..-.ri-n iiiJvMiHWlaudiiiljoiuiug
'TlXNTlNK HAY,
I AJn'UtA-AT-LAS,
bouKTsi t, Ia.
,.Ii,WiuKrtilKuite. Will attend to
, uinbW u aiscare :lii iruliilli-
.L ii. nii
tuierMc't, Pa.
i.-.!npt!v alUnd ti all tUMnin fn
rj'o tj;:u." i..iit-y advuin-wl u colleo-
,u t.';ji'.viu i;iunuolii iltx-k
H.N U. KIMMKL,
AlHi;.Vti-AT-LAW,
Somerset, Pa.
t;;tii4toIl luiiiew eiiiruntc-d to bis
-..urIrt Ultl lidJUIlllllC Ml..l., 11U
.U!.iii tidriiiy. Ulluvou Aia ill Cruui
rU.'iriollrwUi oructry More.
iMLsL lit; 1 1,
A11VK.N t Y-AT-LA W,
IsouieRK-t, Pa.
in Vummotli Blork, up stairs. Kn
r a Umu irwu Coli.tiotui
- :.iii'd. title rxaiulued, and a'i
:....jc iirudisl to lUl prompuini
: 0 'J UX. L. C CXJLBORX.
VIMS i COLIiOKN,
AH uKN t YS-A 1 -LA W,
tSomc-rtivt, Pa.
. i,a:D itruted to our cure will be
kA Biitiiluiiy Btt-iiucd to. Colleo
.ii"iuMMwiei. lit-dloid and adjoio-!ur-eyni
aud couvejaiioius;
x ut. itast.luLUir UT1UA.
tT LK.VKR,
(it AlRtBNEY-AT-LAW,
J toluiTtjet, I1-
. tr-.Hf in Soiucrw and ailjoiniug
i A.i tusiuo t-utrusted to biiu wUl
i-M i'nu.t.;Ui'lilluli.
0 h HH'TH. W. U. HfPPEL.
jm:MTH 4 ItriTEL,
AHuUN EYs-AT-LA W,
(someniet, Pa.
I Ua :w mtruiili'd to ttii-ir re will be
lidul I'Uuctinliy utKiidt-d to. OUice
)U.u (.! MrivL. oii.wi.iU: ManiiuotU
W. I'AIiOTHKIiS, M. D.,
Somerset, I'a.
on ftilrwt Stivet, o,.,iO!.itc I". B.
V
i P. F. SHAFFKIt,
!iiK nrt, Pa.
. irfy i priif.wiiHul services U the cill
oiri mid viriuily. ulhc next
'- I'JXUK-rviai ilotti.
V T r T IT'TIIT'T
. .u. l. il i iir.ii,
IL,t strwt, nr of J rus Ktore.
f- U. S. KIMMELL,
li pniWiomil wr io to the Citi-
":.u.tiet mid VKiiiity. I'nleMt pro
1 ; ii:,,l !, csiti ! found at Liik cf-
I)- J S-McMILLEX,
... -
ttt.-uiic.n to the rwMTTation
j. r. ...... . . ....
'.'u'""'.'Itr L H- iavi A. to's suirv.
ui vwmui'iI riot tr-t.
H. t-OFFltuTH,
Funeral Director,
Miu Crow SL Iteideut-e,
3J Patriot SL
!;AVK 15. FH't'K,
Land Surveyor
'i LXiilSEKR, Lltie. I-a.
r- J. K. Item-by.
tstate and Collecting
Agency.
, I nu' ,r " 6irmortown
-"u rouniy oreiwa lierr, are
v..i""lir"!fl'-i Kii. pprr ll k.
j !" llfivo toull nmil in-i-'"'"1',"
""d KiratK l prop-
. " ""Mil Mump to on
knei.irr tilock.
txjuierrt. i'a.
Pils! Oils!
r--V,r"lnt.,,i",'--nt Depart-
USiU- --" a penalty of
S", I.nilic
U aut brauds ut
'.inatin? & I nKrWinr, n;ie
& Gasoline,
LlTirtr'',u ro'.m. Weelial-
tn ilb evry kuowo
froiuct of Petroleum
I? v
""k the most uBlformly
fatisfactory Oils
IX Tilt'
t? -Market.
. imiu.
A BEERITS and
WCAr,EKlj!SER,
bujtniet, I'a.
99 Xoo Pure
At all grocery stores tiro sizes
five cents a cake, and a larger
venient and economical for laundry ami general household u;e. If your
Grocer is out of it, insist on his
Thc Paocu oV Gwu Co., Cmtv
-THE-
First National IM
Somerset, Penn'a.
Capital, S50.000.
Surplus, S2D.000.
OCPOaiT RECEIVED IN LANCE ANDSMALl
AMOUNTS. PATABLC ON OCMANO.
ACCOUNTS OF MERCHANTS, FARMERS.
STOCK DEALERS, AND OTHERS SOLICITED
DISCOUNTS DAILY.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
LaUfE M. HICKS, GEO. R. SfULI
JAMKS L. l'l'GH, W. H. MII.LKlt,
JOHN R. SOOTT. KOUT. H. tSC CLL,
FIIEU V. BIKsEt'KElL
EDWARD KCCLL, : : PRESIDENT.
VALENTINE HAY", : VICE PRESIDENT.
HARVEY' M. BERKLEY", . CASHIER.
The funds and securities of this bank are se
curely protected in a celelnit-d CoULi Bira-
su R I'roof Sa kk. The only Kite uiade aoso-lutt-ly
burglar-proof.
OF SOMERSET PA.
sr.
Eshtb itlMd, 1(77. Orphi s t Natlosal, 1890
-O.
CAPITAL, $50,000
?URPUI5 AND I1N.
DIVIDLD fHurua
Clias. J. Harrison, - President
Wm. II. Koontz, - Vice President
Milton J. Tritts, - - Cashier.
Geo. S. Harrison, - Ass't Cailiier.
Directors :
Sam. II. Harrism,
Win. EtidMey,
Jonas M. t'otik,
John Stuflt,
NoahS. Miller,
Jeixmie Stullt,
Jiwiah Sprcht,
John II. Suyder,
Joseph R. Iavi,
HarriMin Suyuer,
Chas. W. Snyder.
Customers oi iuiin "'.""' , , V'
Ulrral treatnieutortwi'-teiit with safe IwnMne.
IVrtW wishine to wnu iiioik v "
can i acwtniuodated by draa for any
ailHVUIlL. ... , . , -
Moiievand TMlulie HTurtu ifj .i..r ...
U.ld- tVlcbraU-d safe, with roost unproved
Co!l1ions made in all part of the United
Suit-. Clutrp-s moderate.
Account and m-poua souciieu.
A. H. HUSTON,
Undertaker and Embalmer.
A GOOD HEARSE,
nd everything- pertalnlnt to funtrals furn
ished.
SOMERSET -
Pa'
Jacob D. Swank,
Watchmaker and Jeweler,
Next Door West of Lutheran Church,
Somerset, - Pa-
I Am Now
ptVfwrtni to M!ily tlw 1'Ul.liC
-lrj- of all descriptions, as Cheap
as the Cheajt.
BEPAIRIXG A
SPECIALTY.
All work guarantor!. Iok at my
eto k U-fure making your
jiurchasfs. .
J. D. SWANK.
ARTISTIC JOB PRINTING
A SPECIALTY.
IIAKI1Y M. BEXSIIOFF,
MANUFACTURING STATIONER
AND
BLAXK BOOK MAKER
HAXNAM II LOCK.
The teet Comity National
BAN K
Johnstown,
Pa.
of Ivory Poan are so!J; one that costs
size. The larger ca'ue is the more con
getting it for you.
Campbei
p
Smith
THE PEOPLE'S STORE.
OUR GREAT
JANUARY SALE
COMMENCED.
From now on until the nd of January
wo otlVr wir Kto-ks at ntlin-d priors.
All winter gMtls haw got to g. l-fore
the oinl f the inontli, a.s we then take
ft'K-k.
Here is your opportunity to get the
greatest l:irniins of the year. Xow-a-tlays
winttT tlon't generally eonimeiitv
until after Christmas, mo the winter is
8tili lufore you ; anl yet we will sell
you newet ainl M'a.-oaallo gotnls at
trenieiiilous reluetioiis.
OUR ENTIRE CLOAK STOCK :
Jackets, Fur and
Cloth dpes.
Muffs all marked dorn.
All our DKESS GOODS stock
marked down.
Flannels and Blankets at
rod need prices.
Special Bargains in Woolen
Underwear for Men. Ladies
and Children.
Do you want to furnish your
House,
or any part of it? Now is your ehanee
our immense .toek of Carpet at your
serviee, aul not only at greatly retlue-
isl ii:.iiJ Imt we villi n::ilii htv n.'i''
line it ir notmiig at any
tlWaiM-e from rill.-hurgh.
iiaole
IS IT FURNITUHEYCU WANT?
Then this is tlie plaec to fiml it ; two
entire I'.' rs liiletl with Furnituro for
Tarlor, lW-l-rooni, Iining-rK)iii, Kitch
en at lowest prices, :inl a sjxH-ial dis
count of 10 per cent, t'uriiig this mouth
to reduce stock.
Kenuinlier we liae two entire floors
lillel with China, Tonvlain anil all
kinds of crockery. Handsome Toilet
sn-ts, Iii!iur and Tea Ware, both in
French and English wart.
Every tiling wanted in the kitehui,
in granite, tin, wooden or wire waie;
also Stoves and liauges, and Cas or
Oil Heating Stoves.
P. S. Ladies' Muslin Under
wear. Come to this, the greatest January sa'e
of Muslin 1'nd. rwear this house tver
attempted. Four of the lest manu
facturers in the country represeiiud.
Prices the lowest ever known.
I ton t forget our mail order depart
ment Sample sent and mail order
promptly attended to.
Fifth Avenue,
cTacrn wood
MITHf CLO STRIC S.
Pittsburgh.
I)IUKCTiXS
for usinu
Cream Balm.
CATARRH
Apply a particle '
lh- l a -a well up
into ihe mMriii.
rlMBAlrVN
After a tiioiiirnt
1 ri w t rone ln-atli
tltroueli the nox".
I' st- Uiiw times a
dayjifternieuls piv-
fi-rnsl. ana tx-iorc
n-tiring.
Ely's Cresim I!;ilni
opt'ii- and eliii)es
the aal -asi;iK
COLD 'N HEAD
Alhiys I'uin and in-
H:inoiii,tion.HiMlstheSon-s.I'rtTtstheniem
bmiu- iniln Colds. U-stor-s the St nw-s of taste
and smell. The Riliu Is quickly uiworned
ami Bives r.-lirfa! once. Price 30 rents, at
DruKgisis or by uutll.
ELY liRoTIIERS, .'si Warren Str.-et, N Y
Well Satisfied with
Ayer's Hair Vigor.
pearly forty years ago, after
come wee ks of sickness, ruy hair
turned gray. I began using Ayer's
Hair Visor, and was so well satis
fied with the resnlts that I have
never tried any other kind of dress-"
ing. Itrequiresoniy
an occasional appli
cation of
AYER'S
Hair Viffor to keep
my hair of good
color, to reniova
dandruff, to heal
itching humors, and prevent the
hair from falling out. 1 never hesi
tate to recommend Ayer's medicines
to my friends." Mrs. II. M. IIaigiit,
Avoca, Xfcbr.
mm
LrJ Hair Vigor
rtepared ey Dr. J.C Aver Ce, Lowell, Vaaa.
Tilts Acrs Sarupari'Ja lor tbt Coapluisa.
Cain
Sffli
i
E j
THE CHEISTMAS LONG A00.
Conic sine a hnle helgh-ho
For the Christmas long ago,
Win the old lo-cahin homed us
From the nljfht of blinding snow.
And the rarest Joy hold rt-lgn.
And the chimney roared amain,
Willi thetlrt li,-ht like a beacon
Through the frosty window-pane.
Ah! the revel and the din
From without and from within.
The blend ofdistunt sleigh-bells
With the plinkiug vh.lln;
The mulll.-d shrieks and rries
Then the glowing checks and eyes
The driving storm of greetings
(lusts of kisses and surriso.
Sing In again Ihe mirth
I f the circle 'round the hearth.
With the rustic Shilatd U lllng us
The strangest tali on earth !
And theMinstrci I Sard we knew,
AVIth his "lAive-l-er so true.'
IJkcwi.sc his "Young Ilonsc-k'yarpenter,"
And "Lov-ed IL-nry," tis!
And forgetting ne'er a thing,
Lift a gladder voice and sing
Of tiie dancers In the kitchen
Ciena from start to -pheon-wlng r
iSing the glory and the glee
And the Joy and Jubilee
The twirling fonn the quickened breath
The sigh of octay.
The eyes that smile nlonc
ltai k into our liappy own
The 'leaping pulse the laughing bkod
The trembling tindertone!
o! lr usotTonce inon
With our feet ujioii the floor.
Hut our heads and hrts in Heaven,
As they were iu days of yore!
James Whitconib Itlh-y, in Interior.
SAMA CLAUS CAME.
"If you please, fcir"
"Eh? What now?"
The crusty old gentleman turned sud
denly anl sliarply and glared from be
neath his shaggy eyebrows at the little
fisrure beside him. The figure was that
tif a girl 8 years old perhaps, but small
aud frail. She wore an enormous sun-
txtuuet that might have lieen made for
the wife of the giant IMunderhore, m
out of proponion was it to the diminu
tive wearer, and out of its depths peer
ed a thin littk- face, with big, frighten
ed brown eyes. Her clothing was so
clean and neat that one w-anvly no
ticed how very txor it was, and as Mie
stared up into the terrible face above
her one of the little feet wriggled un
easily in the depth of the costly rug.
'If you plea.se, sir, mother xaid to
tell you that she couldn't come up to-
lay U-cause file's sick."
The childish treble was a little shak
en this time, for the xliaggy eyebrows
were very close to her, ami they gave
the old genth man a look that was ter
rible bevotid U-'ief.
He was iu a dreadful temjier, this
rusty old gentleman, aud nothing
made him angrier than for poor people
. . i .. . . i i ii. m... -
Mght of poverty, and all his servants
had special orders to guard the doors
and the gates and to see ,hat no moan
of woo or want ever reached his ears.
nd yet, after all, this little beggar
had slipped past the bolts and liars into
his very study, where his own servants
scarcely dared to enter.
I don't know what dreadful thing
might have happened if it had not been
for that one little word "mother" in
the child's fluttering fjieech. Children
so seldom ficak the word nowadays
that it gave a little iJiock of surprise
Instantly he found himself looking be
yond the child, at an old, long forgot
ten scene a little caliii, with a white
country road winding past it and an
awkward boy going down the road,
stopping at the last curve to wave his
hand to his mother, who stood in the
door watching him go out into the
world.
Then he rememliereil himself and
asked sharply :
"And. who is your mother, pray, and
why t-hould she come here?"
"I'lease, sir," said the quavering lit
tle voice, "mother's the dust woman."
"The what !" ejaculated the old gen
tleman, with another dreadful frown.
"She comes up once a week and dusts
the bric-a-brac," explained the child.
"The housekeeper hired her. S'te says
she doesn't feel equal to it herself, and
mother does it so nicely."
"Aha !" muttered the old gentleman
with an angrj- gleam iu his eyes under
thse fearful brows. "So Mrs. Murray
bring! outsiders into the house when
my back is turned, dies she? They're
all alike, a pack of cheats and robliers !
I'll teach her to violate my confidence
and fill my house with irrestaHisible
people ! You may stay in this room
till Mrs. Murray comes. I)o you hear?
And theu I shall have a message to
send to your mother."
He rang the lull violently and order
ed that Mrs. Murray be sent to him as
soon as she returned. Having made
this satisfactory arrangement, he took
up his pa(ier again and ignored the
little figure iu the sunhouneL
Hut before lie had read a dozen lines
there was a light touch on his arm. and
the brown eyes were looking up iuto
his.
"Please, fir, may I look out of the
window while we're waiting?"
He was so astonished that he could
not reply for a moment, but he did fin
ally give a scornful grunt of assent.
There was silence in the room for a
long time. Not a clock ticked, for old
Mr. Itoberts could not endure the tick
ing of clocks. Not a leaf stirred, not a
cricket ehiriiod. The stillness disturb
ed him at last, and he looked up. The
child was out on the little balcony,
leaninsr on the htonc balustrade. Her
bonnet hal fallen of and the sunlight,
falling on the mass of brown hair,
wove it full of gleams of gold.
Another touch on his arm there fbe
was again. Her hand such a little
morsel of a hand trembled with some
new emotion, and her eyes shone with
a strange light
"It must be nice to live on a hill !"
was what she said.
The old gentleman in the armchair
had never been more astounded in his
life. He stared at tier and forgot to
say anything.
"I have always wanted to live on a
hill," she went on. "Our house is
away down yonder, and you can't see
anything but the houses across the
street. Hut up here you can lk so
far, and the sky's so close to you. Don't
you think people cau be better when
they live on a hill ? '
The newspaper fell to the fl tor un
heeded, aud the crusty old gvullemau
and the little girl looki-d at one anoth
er. After awhile the old gentleman
went to the balcony and looked down
to the roofs of the crowded houses in
the narrow streets lielow and then
away to the far horizon. This beauti
ful home of his crowned the summit of
this purple hill and was uplifted so far
above the noise and dust and wretch
edness of the city that lay below. Tru
ly, it was a pleasant thing to live-on a
hill. He had never thought of it be
fore, but all at once he fancied himself
down among those miserable tene
ments, li Miking up at this beautiful
home and thinking how near to heaven
it reached.
There was a hurried tap at the door,
and Mrs, Murray presented herself.
Her comfortable figure was attired still
in the neat dress that she had worn in
the street. Her round face was wreath
ed with smiles, but fhe was obviously
fluttered and quaking with fear.
"Did you leave word that you want
ed to see me, sir?" she asked and theu
waited for the blow to fall.
"Mrs. Murray," said the old gentle
man in his stillest and most formal
manner, "am I to understand that you
have employed a woman to come here
once a week and dust the brie-a-brae ?"
"Yes. sir. Mrs. Holmes her name is,
and she's very careful, sir. I couldn't
do bettor myself."
She glanced up anxiously at the
wooden countenance la-fore her. What
terrible things was he going to say
next ?
"Mrs. Murray, the woman has sent
this child to say that she is too ill to
come. That will do. You will excuse
her until she recovers."
Mrs, Murray went back to her own
room aud fell iuto a chair. If it had
been consistent with the dignity of Mr.
KolsL-rts's housekeeper to stagger, she
certainly would have staggered. She
kept repeating to herself: "Did you
ever?" and "I can't believe it." She
said afterward that you might have
knocked her down with a straw,
though that was figurative, of course.
This was the lieginning of Marjorie's
visits to the great house on the hill.
Her mother did not come again, 'but
every day the big sunhonnct went toil
ing up, aud the glint of the golden
hair would be seen in the great rooms
where no child had ever strayed before.
Not that she was boisterous, or laugh
ing, or childlike in any way. She
would sit iu Mrs. Murray's room for
hours, with her hands folded on her
lap, watching the lady at her work and
sometimes talking softly, or she would
follow her from room to room, gazing
with rapt delight, at every beautiful
object.
Mr. IiolH.-rts knew that she. wasj.r
Ui, ili'.WrtnU'U.Jlil-t'JAiertthat the child
tstopiied near hint ami stood with her
hands behind her, regarding him with
grave scrutiny, but he did not lnve her
away, as he might have lixu expected
to do a few weeks lefore.
He was in his study one morning
when he heard Mrs. Murray come into
the adjoining room. The door was
ajar, and, softly as shespoke, her words
came to him distinctly.
"That was a present from my son
last Christmas," she said. "1 k-ar lioy !
He never fails to send me something
every Christmas ami every birthday."
iTheii came a small voice, full of wist
ful meaning :
"Mrs. Murray," it said, "do you like
Christinas?"
"Why, Marjorie !" was the shocked
reply. "Why, of course, I do! Every-
UmIv likes Christmas V
"I don't," said the small voice such
s . . 1 t'W
a desolate utile voice u seenieu. i
had rather leave Christmas out of the
year."
"Marjorie V No words could ex
press the horror and amazement in
Mrs. Murray's tone.
"I would !" The small voice had
grown thinner and higher in its pain
ful intensity. "Whit's the use of a
Christmas that never gets to some iico-
ple at all ? There was little lame Peter
Franks, who lived in the room opjio-
aite to ours, and, oh, he wanted a
Christinas so much, Mrs. Murray ! He
used t8 hang his stocking up every
year, every single year, and he always
thought there'd be something In It
next morning, but there never was any
thingnot a single thing and now
.or Peter's dead, and he never had a
Christmas in all his life !"
"Mvdear! My dear!"
The old gentleman in his study heard
the exclamation, and he knew that the
voice that uttered it was full of tears.
He rose hastily and slipped out of the
study aud then ordered his carriage
and went driving.
The day following was Christmas
eve. Carriers from town were busy all
day bringing in the presents that he
had bousrht for the servants, and there
was great happiness in the servants'
hall, with much confusion and many
awkward attempts to thank the master,
who waved offevery such attempt with
an air of lofty iwitronage. Outside of
this family of servants he had never
given any one a present in all his life,
He had never contriliuted to charities,
public or private. He had never help
ed the pi Kir indeed he had never list
ened to their appeals.
He had important business in anoth
ercity which would keep him away all
through Christmas week, he explained
to Mrs. Murray, and he must leave that
evening. In the afternoon he lnuflied
himself in greatcoat and furs and drove
away, and as soon as the carriage was
half way down the hill the servants
relaxed from their usual stiff propriety
and iK-gan to enjoy themselves in their
own way.
A telegram was handed to Mr. ltob
erts at the station as he was about to
buy his ticket- What little things
sonietiiii -s change the whole course of
a life ! The information thus received
made the trip uniiecessary, and after
loitering about the city for awhile he
returned home on foot and entered his
house quietly by a side door.
Sjjii J-i of b Hstero'js merriment came
from tlia servants' quarters, and the
owner of the house frowned ominously.
So this was the way they took advant
age of his absence?
He ma le his way to his study, un
seeu by any one, and shut himself in
a lonely, selfish, desolate old man.
Even the fire, which still burned in
the grate, annoyed him, and he with
drew behind a screen and threw him
self into an easy chair. He heard Mrs.
Murray come in after awhile, but she
only moved about softly and decorously
setting things iii order, aud he did not
speak. She was just passing into the
sitting room when she gave a little cry
of alarm, followed by the exclamation
'Mercy me, child ! How you fright
ened me!"
"Mrs. Murray," said a thin little
voitre a voice that Mr. Itolierts had
heard before "I've come up hereto
stay all night !"
The listener behind the screen heard
Mrs. Murray fall into a chair and again
she cried, "Mercy me !"
"I just had to come V the eager voice
went uit "Mother's very, very sick
aud she needs things, Mrs. Murray
and maybe Santa Claus might bring
'em if he knew aud how is he to know
when he never comes there? Hut
knew if I went to some fine house he'd
come and find me, and so I came
here."
"Poor child ! Poor child !"
Mrs. Murray had gathered the little
waif to her bosom and was rocking her
softly to and fro. The old gentleman
behind the screen could sec that by the
shadow on the floor. He could see,
too, that the housekeeper was furtively
wiping her eyes.
Presently she rallied ami said cheer
Hy: "I'll tell you what we'll do Marjorie.
I'll go right down and see your moth
er, and you shall go with me, and, who
knows, maybe Santa Claus will come
there, after alL"
Oh, no, ho won't !" replied the child
with sorrowful conviction. "You don't
Know mat place : itanta Claus lias
never heard of it ! He goes to rich peo
ple's houses, and so I've come here, and
I must sec him to-night oh, I must,
Mrs. Murray ! I don't cure for any
other Christmas after this, but I must
see him to-night, on mother's account,
you know."
There was a dismal silence on Mrs.
Murray's part, but presently she said :
Well, come along in Mr. lioU-rts'
study thank goodness he's away from
home and sit here before the fire till I
come back. I'll take John and go down
and see your mother."
Iu another minute the sound of her
retreating footstetH had died away,
aud the old gentleman, ieeping from
behind the screen, saw a little figure
sitting before the fire, gazing intently
into the glowing coals.
Dusk was settlingdown over the city.
He had not been conscious of it until
the electric burner above his table flash
ed iuto sudden radiance. The flash
rfiVrfhid yiiy'aiMuC' haiuwjiy fere ;
doing? Preiiaring to steal something j
proliably. These children from the j
tenement districts were all thieves.
Hut, no ! When he ventured to look
again, she was at the study table his
table writing. She had his sacred
pen, which no other mortal had ever
dared to touch, and she was writing
slowly and laUiriously. Could pre
sumption go farther than that? What
would these people be trying to do
next?
It took her a long time to write the
letter, but at last it was finished, and
she laid the pen down with a weary
sigh. Then she unrolled a little bun
dle that bad been lying lieside her and
shook out could the watcher believe
his eyes? a stocking, a pair, forlorn,
ragged little stocking! Now what
could she want with that?
She stood on tiptoe aud peered around
the corner of the mantel for a place to
hang iL Finally something struck
her fancy asanitable, and she U-gan
pushing a heavy chair toward the
mantel. When it was near enough,
she climbed upon it and hung the
stocking uikui the "brave caduccus" of
the bronze Mercury that he had bought
last year in Home and for which he
had paid such a price !
Presently she had jumped down and
was surveying the stocking with the
greatest pride. Then the note was
carefully folded, aud she climbed upon
the chair ngaiu and pin tits 1 the folded
paper to the t- so conspicuously
that the winged Mercury seemed to
stand there for no other purpose than
to hold up a ragged stocking for all the
world to see.
And then why, then she was lying
down upon the rug with her thin cheek
on her thin little hand, and the listener
heard a tired sigh.
After a long while the old gentleman
ln-hind the screen ventured to move
slightly. After a little longer he mov
ed and so gradually came out of his
hiding place.
Was that old Mr. Itobcrts tiptoeing
across the room to keep from startling
the poor little waif sleeping on his
hearthrug? Was that the sordid old
man whom even his friends had come
to call a mere money machine, the
man whose bands trembled as he un
pinned the little note and spread it out
before him? .
Dear Saxta Clacs When you
come to-night picas look at me, I'll be
down on the rug. Youve never seen
me liefore. You iieedent give me en
ny tiling, but pleas till tlte stocking
with tilings for mother shes sick. 1
tied up the toes so they wouldent drop
out. The doctor says wine aud things
aud housvreiiL
Marjorik Holmks.
For a long time the old man sat in
the chair before the fire. Something
within him was breaking the cold and
selfish crust that years had help to
form. He sat there looking from the
sleeping child to t'.ie forlorn stocking
and from the stocking to the child. It
was the first time a stocking had ever
been hung up in his house the first
time.
Suddenly the old gentleman rose.
He lifted the child gently and laid her
on a couch which had always been
sacred to his own use and covered her
with rug -v. Then he went softly out
and astonished the unsuspecting ser
vants by appearing among them and
ordering the carriage.
Could this he old Theodore Roberts,
thi m ney machine, the selfish brusque.
Irritable old man, this man who
went from store to store, ordering ami
buyiug and spending money as he had
never spent it before? Could this lie
the Mr. Itiberts that Mrs. Murray
knew, this man who went into that
sickroom, followed by a great hamper
filled with "wine and things an. I bouse
rent?" Was this the man that all the
charitable organizations shunned, this
man who drove about half the night,
leaving behind him a trail of Christ
mas rejoicing, mingled with such
blessings as he had never heard liefore?
And who was it that drove up the
hill at last under the silent stars, with
a carriage full of bundles and with a
strange, soft feeling tugging at his
heartstrings? He smiled as he went.
and yet he had to keep wiping his eyes.
He was glad it was dark, so that no
one could see.
And what strange figure was this in
the study afterward, this figure that
moved so stealthily and that wxs so
busy stuffing the stocking until it was
to burst, and pinning things all over
the outside of it until the bronze Mer
cury seemed almost to stagger under
his burden ? What had come over the
old gentleman whom so many people
en viol and whom uoUsIy loved?
Just liefore day Mrs. Murray, coming
softly in, found him sitting by the fire,
watching the sleeping child.
"It'll lie a sad time for her," she said
"Her mother's gone, and whatevcr's to
la-come of the little thing I don't
know."
"I don't see why the child shouldn't
stay here, Mrs. Murray," said the old
gentleman, with his face turned the
other way. "It would la; some extra
trouble for you, but I dare say vmi
would not mind it."
"S-sir!" Mrs. Murray managed to
articulate.
Then the old gentleman turned
around, and she saw what was shin
ing on his cheeks.
"Do you see that stocking, Mrs. Mur
ray?" he cried, iu a voice that she had
never heard before. "That's the- first
stocking that was ever hung up iu my
house. It looks homelike, doesn't it ?
I have decided that we'll have st-k-
ingsliung up every year. And here's
a chihl that needs a home, and, thank
heaven, I've a home to give her."
The child sighed and stirred and
then suddenly sat up.
"Did he come'."' she cried eagerly,
with a dazed look at the bursting
stocking, and the old gentleman la-side
her gathered her up in his anus and
said :
Yes, my little one, he earner'
I'liHiitL ju'iiti Tiiiix.
Akin?.
"lie stole- from my Isslieea ros.-, ,
My ( lin k was its color the while;
But. ah ! The sly rogue, he well knows
H id he asked it, I must have said no.
Yes, I rememlier that occasion. I
was young then. I am not old now.
was pure aud my checks showed their
rimson. I was happy and healthy.
Jut now, woe is me! I do not see a well
lav. I have these dragging down
pains thus constant weakness, and I
fctil all the time worn and weary. My
husliatid says, he hardly dares to ask
me to put a red rose iu my bodies now,
its color mocks my cheeks. O, that I
might one again be well?" You can,
Dr. Pierce's Favorite Prescription is
the best remedy known for the ills
from which women sutler. It's
guaranteed to cure iu all cases of
"female weakness," irregularities,
displacements and kindred ailments.
It's a great tonic and nervine.
Christmas.
Is to-day the veritable anniversary f
the birth of Jesus of Nazareth? It is
a question often asked, but never quite
satisfactorily answered. Ileven ut pre
disposition can always And sufficient
evidence to answer yes, while it is to In
noted that the question of itself im
plies a tlegree of religious skepticism.
Men have eveu stiaal in pulpits with
little enough to do to devote an hour's
oratory to the dispnaif of it. It is
quite as certain that Jesus was born ou
the iith of IXtvmber as that Augustus,
the emperor under whom he was born,
was born in the sixty-third year la-fore
him, or that Tiln rlus, the t nua-ror un
der whom he diet, came into the
world forty-two years, one month, t nd
nine days lefore him. That is to fay,
it is the decent habit of the wor'd to
accept what testimony, tradition and
history have to oiler concenrng the
birthdays of the great aud therewith
la? content.
It is certain that as early as the year
110 the date we now celebrate was uni
versally recognized among Christians
without a quest inn as their Savior's
natal day. That fact alone is all-sufficient
for succeeding' generations. If
all records and allusion to the date of
the birth of Ueorge Washington were
to la; blotted from all American writ
ings earlier than I'.KW it would la; suf
ficient for jaisterity that at the begin
ning of the twentieth century the d
of February was universally recognized,
and that the day was observed as a le
gal holiday. This is the la-st founda
tion we have for the authenticity of
December as the birthday of Jesus.
In the year 140 SL Justin Martyr,
the first givat Christian apologist, said
that the best record extant of the birth
day of Christ was to lie found in the
archives at Home. Addressing the
emperor and Roman senate, he said:
"There is a certain village in the land
of Judca, distant thirty-five stadia from J
Jerusalem, in which Christ Jesus was
born, as ye can learn from the enroll
ments completed under Cyrenius, your
first procurator in Jerusalem." In the
year Tertullian sudd the same
thing: "Finally, concerning the cen
sus enrollment of Augustus, which the
Human archives preserve as a faithful
witness of the Lord's nativity." Any
uutn in the 'nineteenth century who
wants more explicit proof of a matter
that is not of great vital moment any
way must have in his mind a private
scheme iu which the rest of the world
can have no possible interest. iKt.-oit
Evening AVica.
R-wd front the treasured volume
The poem of thy choice,
And lend to the rliy me of pis-try
TUj buuuty of thy voice.
Which you can not do if you su.Ter
with a Cough or Cold. Hid yourself
of the discomfort by buying a bottle of
Pan-Tina, .he best remedy for Hoarse
ness and Influenza.
Pan-Tin: cists S cents at ti. W
Benford's drug store.
JIMMIEE0Y S LETTER TO SANTA
CLAUS.
Is-ar.saxtn clans If yon mi:M bring
A luiti-nt doll til ibinee and sing.
A five-pound lsx of rarameis,
A set of reins with silver bells;
An eU-i!i:iiit Ihat roar and walks,
A Ilrownli-doll th it laughs ami talks,
A humming-lop tluit i run spin,
A desk to ket p my treasures in;
A boat or two that I ran sail,
A dog to Isirk and wug his tail,
A liilr of little bantam chicks,
A chest of t-sils, a box of tricks;
A sen r let suit of soldier's bsrs,
A spear and ne! for catetiing frugs
A bicycle and a silver wati-h.
A pound or two of hulta-rsK-oti-h;
A small toy farm with lots of trees,
A tfiin to luid with beans and peas
An orange and a mush--lox,
A double M l of buiMiux-blis-ks
If you aill brins me th'-si-, I say,
lU-foi- Ihe eoimiig Chhstiu.is day,
I sort of think, -rh:ips, that I'd
lie pretty nearly satisfied.
J'tttM-r'9 Y'tun'j Iefttr.
GLAD CHRISTMAS TIDE.
HOW DIFFERENT NATIONS OB
SERVE THE HAPPY DAY.
Cu3tonn cf "ilerrie England" Ger
many's Glitteriaj Christmas Trea
Habits of the French and
Other People of Continent
al EuroDC.
The traditions and legends conn.-ct-
ed with Christinas have an interest
peculiarly tlp-ir own, and it i-i worth
noting that the spirit of charity and
good-will, which is the leading char
acteristic of the happy time, pt-rvades
them all. S i:ne of the m;si interest
ing of these customs we will t-udeavor
to briefly descritie.
In England the custom of staying
up till midnight to hear the Christina
waits" is still observed, a! though
many g-asl people if M-ked the ques
tion would hud it dirhcult to give a
reason for doing so. The tradition
that Christ was born at midnight
originated this custom. At one liuie
bauds of singers used to go a'siut from
house to house singing Christmas car
ls. These were the "waits," and by
k-greos the oii.'iutly beautiful carol:;
which they sang degenerated into
mere d.ig en-l, and the custom for a
time fell into disuse. latterly, how
ever, it has lec-:i revived somewhat, a.s
also the custom of singing Christ
mas carols in Protestant Episcopal
churches.
In the feudal times when the old
baronial halls gloried iu vast fireplaces
the bringing hi of the Yule log, an i-n-wiioie,
was a gn-at tveh't mvt;1,-'",'sI
by peculiar ceremonies and greafV
juicing. Then feasting followed; the
mighty wassail bowl was introduced
and the solid pleasures of the table fol
lowed a:id were kept up with a aest
and ability to put away vast quantities
of provisions that would astonish most
people of the present generation. The
central dish was a b;iar's head, flauked
by other spoils of the chase. At the
present day the crowning ideas of
Christmas pleasures in England, as,
indeed, in everywhere else throughout
Christendom, are still the gro-sor joys
of eating and drinking. The "roast
beef and plum pudding" of old Eng
glandhasa Yu'etid ; sm.ick ahiut it
and solid plenty is the characteristic
of Christmas cheer at English tables.
First conies the savory goose roast,
which is the recognized Christmas
dish among all classes, p.t-r and com
moners alike, and the plum pudding,
which is brought in steaming, eaiisWig
young hearts to rejoin.; and bringing
in a vista of future stoni-ie'.i ache and
physic to small b ys. Throug'.ri it the
land charity expands her wings, and
in all the large cities a general move
ment is heartily made to let the p air
have at least one gnl dinner.
In America the custom of hanging
up the stocking is as heartily observed
as ever, aud little hoys and girls in
town and country for weeks la-fore
Chrl tints sjieculate on what S.inta
Claus will bring them. The North
(ierm iti " itom of the Chrl-tmas tree
has been largely revived of lute years,
and in many households has become a
regular oliservance every year. Hoth
the Christmas tree and the S.inta Claus
customs are the relies of the days when
I nor. Wo-len and r nca were wor
shiped, but m.alilied by Christianity
till they are now emblematic of the
charitable feelings of the day of glad
ness. In trance, nuiny vears ago. it w::s
the habit for people to stop all k;:i.U of
lalar at n:an on the day liefore Christ
mas, and masters kept open house and
feasted their employes. It was also
the fashion for the people to assemble
on the outside of churches and cathe
drals long before midnight, and the
time was passed away by singing of
Christians carols, th-e Monks teaching
them h w to sing the carols as well as
th ; Latin canticles of the church. As
the Saturnalian clement began to come
uppermost, the carols became scurril
ous and obscene, and no regret was felt
when the custom was done away with.
In sunny Italy the mast visible char
acteristic is the exi'Msive love and de
votion felt for the Virgin, which shows
itself in many quaint ways. The
whole scope of the Church tends to
ma'teth; people realize the birth of
Christ sis an actual yearly occurrence.
This has led to the manifestation of
the pitt'erari, the bagpipe players, who
are all from the mountains of Calabria.
The piil'erari divide themselves into
three bands, which march down the
streets, stopping at every shrine and
pouring out wild music characterized
rather by loudness than melialy. This
is one of the sights at Home at Christ
mas time. It is the mission of tlte pif
ferari to go through the city and pray
liefore all the shrines to the Virgin to
cheer her spirits while undergoing the
anguish of accouchement In tier
many, Christmas is observed with ie
euliar heartiness. There Santa Claus
h is au abiding homo, and the Christ
mas tree, with its cheerful light, is
found iu every house where money
can lw raised to procure it. Like the
people of England, the Germans place
eating and drinking among the fore
m.ist of pleasures at Christmas tide.
The Hussian observances at Christ
inas are peculiar m one important re-
Every one iu America knows the old
world proverb, "A gri-cii Christmas
ma k es a fat graveyard," but few others
of the old world Christmas saws are
current lu re. Some of these saws an;
exceedingly interesting and not less in
structive as showing the chang." that
time and location have made iu the
proverbs of the country people. Here
are a few:
"A warm Christmas, a i-oM Easter."'
"A light Christmas, a heavy sheaf."
"A grcs-n Chri.-tmas, a white Easter."
"If there is a wind on ( 'hristmas day,
trees will la-ttr much fruit."
"If ice will bear a man la-fore Christ
inas, it will r.oi afterward."
"The shepherd would rather see his
wife enter the stable on Christmas day
than to set the sun shine in at the stable
d sr.''
"If the sun shines through the apple
tree on Christmas day, there will lie an
abundant cropthe following year."
The meaning of all t!u-se is dear
enough, but there is one that is not so
clear:
' If Christmas finds a bridge, he'll
break it; if he finds ien--, he'll make
one."
D) not dally with rhcumatLsin. Cct
rid of it at once by p-.irifying the blood
with Hood' Sar.-aparilia. He sure to
get 11-mmI's.
Christ's er.idSe was as vo;id--rfn! fa
his cross. Persuade me of the Ittst and
I am not surprised at the last. The-
door by which he ciiter-d was as trem
cnd.itis as the d-sr by which he went
out. He had oulv two friend. they.
his parents. No satin lined cradle, no
licttte atteiilii .'is, bili straw, and the
cattle, and the coarse joke and banter
of the camel drivers. From thed-pths
f that p-ivi-rty !:; r-s - until to d iy be
:s honored torouguout all Christendom
and sits triumphant o:i th' imperial
throne in heaven. ii Tulmiige.
Tb.'j"7 Aw 47 Truss s
When our new method is gr;:-raiiict 1
to permanently cure the worst cases of
I rupture, without tiie Use of the kml.
Send i') cents in
ati-l references.
Medical Associat
Hufl'aio, N. V.
stamps for ittMphlot
World's taVii.-pensary
ioa, ;;;: Main Str t,
A Tims of Peaos and Gooi Will.
In the mind of Chri-tendom the
Christmas season 1i:ls for centuries lxt ti
set apart as a time of peai-e and gol
will among men. To the religious.
fi.lt.r 'trtit ;i v- T"-.,,vl J, lliiw -ti,.-..
cultivated by UiC soci::l cu-t- !i;s t.f;d
Isaacs of the i.ple of sill t hr:st::.n
! -m.l.. If 1 e.i. ti:ne i f" 'i;"t-?li:ik:r!S'. of
reco!ieiliaii-i:is. of ntiiii-'us, of ti:e
overcoming or n-ciiUm-nis, ai:t i::e
burying of feuds and enmities. It is
the s;!son when men try harder than
at any other tune to cultivate the spirit
of happiness and peasv. It is la-cause
of this etfort. because of this prevalent
feeling that the Christmas season is
generally associated with what is
telsdt rest, sweetest and holiest i:
human life, that it is so pleasant always
iu anticipation and s delightful ia
recollection. Who can doubt that each
recurring Christ mast ide d-a-s leave
the whole world sisitively U-ttt-r than
it found it, a gentler, kindlier spirit
among mcu.more love, m; -re sympathy,
all the world somewhat further along
towards the day when war shall le no
more and the p.-a-A. of i id shall reign
throughout the earth? ('.'ii'l-tJi
Hjw a Jl3th3r Sarai Her 837.
Little HiUrt Irey lives at Silver
Lake; his mother and father love him
with parental devotion; he is a bright
little fellow. Hobby, as be is called,
1 10k a severe cold, which would not
yield to everything they tried. A
11 -.-ighbor is-rsuadcd the use of Pan
Tina, the great remedy for Coughs,
Colds and Consumption. The first few
ibises relieved and the contents of a
cent bottle made a cure. You can im
agine the mother's joy.
Pan-Tina is sold at ti. W. Hcnford's
drug store.
The Ileal Cnristma3.
The ideal Christmas is found not in
the land of flowers, but in the suow
bound, rugged country of the north.
Without, keen, frosty air, long stretches
of hills and meadows covered with
snow, p nd aud lakes inerusted with
ice; within, roaring tires of hickory
w;al, halls ringing with the shouts of
children and tables high with the good
thinga of life these are the conditions
which seem essential to the complete
enjoyment of the great feast d::y of the
church. AV' Yiu-k lvtt'il.
The popularity of
Chamberlain's
Cough Hemedy and th
lie iitg-.i i-iisem
ill which il is held leads us to belie vo
it to Ik? an article of great worth and
merit. We have the pleasure of giving
the expi-r'.eii'v of three prominent
citizens of Itedondo Heach, Cal., in the
ii.-e of the remedy. Mr. A. V. Trudeil
says: "I have always received prompt
relief when I Used Chamberlain'-
Cough K-mcdy." Mr. James Orchard
say-: "I run satisfied that ChamU-r-lain's
Cough remedy cured inv cold.'
Mr. J. M. Hatcher says: "For three
years I have used ChamU-rlain's Cough
Hcmcdy iu my family and its results
have always been satisfactory."
St. Nicholas, as the patron saint of
the children, now termed Santa Claus,
was canonized, died, according to tra
dition, at Myru, Italy, and was there
buried iu the cathedral crypt. Six hun
dred years later his body was taken to
Hari, and there iu the eleventh century
the great priory of San Nicolo was built.
It is at that priory tliat 011 May 0 each
year the festival of SL Nicholas is held
with great rejoicings by pilgrims from
all parts of the world.
A Uittle of Dr. Wood's Norway 1 iue
Syrup in the house saves dH'tors' bills,
saves trouble and wry often save
precious lives. Gives ahno-st instant
relief in ca--es of coughs, colds, or luug
troubles of any sort.