- i
nmcrsct
Herald.
Exhaustion of the Soil
of Publication.
we'iies-Iay morning at
,K1a 111 advance, omerwibe
be U:-uMnbd until
IVj?;; roastera ue-
are
cp.
rr
hea nuluM'nlK'rri do uot
,j.r will be held rwponsibl
. n,,wv,i. fro one portofflce to
-Aier- ,.,., r?.ee. Addrwn
rsOMLRMET, Pa.
F. '"Jl NOTAUY FtBLlO.
t TaV WAI-Jvl-Iit,
'1A1.
f - .... .i ,;l.l(
ssouicr&cl, 1 m
1 iitiiivi-j , , ,
rM.iuer.l 1 a.
, ; . l..l ? 'Oil".
i.'v'i V -vl- lii-itvLL.l ,
iA1' ' i-w-W.
-h 1 -
ii...i.ui,
ssuuiersei, I'a.
. i 1X1 nil- iiiot a. ui' lar,
, K. M.TLL,
., U' i,. l--t.-iv
-.il-i..
tKi
I1IH J ?x L, i'a.
v s jTiuW-i Kw, v'j-ai Court
SiuiiK.rM'1, I'a.
' AiU-NlIY-AT-LAW,
"'' !muii rscl, I'a.
AJl'-'Iil-l--'-1"!
(lil ilVJt, 1 A.
Sjiinr--.;, I'a.
..it-.'-r
i :-;.i:. Wiii :cinl to
i:n ii. nii-
.ui Ki-AT-iA'W ,
frttiuvrx-t. Pa.
p!ft:v a:.--i!d l ail l.-u-,i:...- en-
iUJi. -AT-L A W,
Somerset, I'a.
",U.i ::.' bUMUeMi eUUtlsU-d t in
u:,,: .,,i Ht)Huin l''u WIlu
T-;ir'.i'i I " !! UUyimi iala Clxn
IXIs L lTliil,
iKuiii tV-AT-LA V,
tSuiut-r.el, Fa.
H'tiL M-i.-j i'Ii ISIiK K, up 'ualr. Kn-
uu Jj.:; t : - Mln-U .4lilvt'UoUM
c'-i;' v ;t.u. i.i;- i .;iiul'.:vu,a!id nil
.ii-je, kihiictti nu piuiiiiUic&i
J.uLi 'LN. L. C". tOLUUliN'.
U Ai -..i-u .
tiiU'-rscl, I'a.
-j ev:v.i.-l tit .:r me will le
.u !. !! -u V'. l'"l!n
. iu u:t.-tii!i aua cou'.j aucuig
L. BAKn.
All"l:NKV-AT-LAW,
'HUtJl U I1-
Iprof!.-v v. .!!!' -l and aii.'oiuinc
.-.i a.j i i :trulU to tuiu v.iii
t-Vr rull:ij.t A . It'iV. l '11.
H.Cm;H. '1H. V. H. Kl'lTEL.
J AlTuiitAi-UAW,
.Simiorx-l, I'a.
.::;n:--.t .I : tl;- ir care !! I
,'j!i;'!'.a,.v i. ; ll iilj'll III. Ulliw
JUJi Clow hLR-L, lia;nitLe 31ilfillaolb
f Vt". CAi:uiiii-:n, m. i.,
t lill:ilA.NA.vbLi;ljl.U.N,
Somerset, I'a.
" oa I'a'.;;. t rtvt, I'l ixiMie U. P
j.-.u.
,j'.c.j!H nice.
)1P. F. SHAFFKIl,
P ViIsii.iAN imiSUKGEOX,
Soim-ix-t, I'a.
-3r'u. pr..f..i.na1 -n-io to the cili
'WNiiurrv; hu.i vn-i;iity. oilice lAircT
ii'-iMsiiiia ti;nt: r.-l."
K. J. M. LoUTUKiL
l'K i -I'l AN AN 1. U UGKOX,
Max ?:n-., ruirof Imic Ktore.
)S-fl. KIM MI ILL,
U'i'l H--::!i:. L' I ::!- r:i-
' I. . i .. .. 1
. a::, i,; ! j j r-cr:i1iou
"' .'" A:;:'n-uii --! luwrtxl.
' a ; .!ii.rt.tiy. Uliice
, "'-l- it. a C'.'s n;re,
i 1 ar..t tivU.
1
t uaoral Director.
oi" I'a; ri.tt
I'-iud Purveyor
'IN'j KN.nM.KIL Ustie, I'a.
Oilsl
-0-
' r.r p. ., .,.
' r i itti'unr r-ipi'.:tr
-t Li..-,t brau.l, of
iingd Lubricating Oils
:r..,,!
uiu. We clial-
w .'.! rvcry kuuxn
Prod;
act of Petroleum
u-t uiiifnruiiy
isfaetorv Oils
THE
i irs,, ..; .n.j vici:;l-
'''.""K l:t.riUTH and
' ''i-AEA Ki-I".1L
buui'.rw.-t. Pa.
3ilsl
rpi
1 no
VOL. XLV. XO.
Prove tlie merit of Hood's Sarsajarilla post
tive, jxTfri-t, permanent Cure.
Cures of ftcrof'.iU lu severest forms, like
goitre, swelled lu-ck, running sores, Uip
disease, Sires In lite I'jes.
Cures f S.ilt i:heu.n. illi Its Intense Itehing
ami buniinc, scald head. U-tU'r, ele.
Cures d I-oili, Pimples and all oUut erup
tions due to impure blood.
Cures f Ivspepsia and other troubles where
a cood sioinaeh tonic w as needed.
Cures of Klirusiatism. where patienlswere un
able to work or w alk Jr wi-eks.
Cures f Catarrh by expeliin the Impurities
which cause and sustain the iliser.se.
CurCS of Nervousness by projterly toini'gaiid
fiH-iliiig Hie nerves upon pure blood.
Cures f That T'red pK-ling by restoring
strenb'tiu S?:id for book of cures by
Sarsaparilla
To C. I. Hood & Cik. IYrtprietors. Lowell. Mas.
u ! ure the het after-dinn -r
nOaU S PUIS pills, aid uiHou.
THE
First iimal Bank
OF
Somerset, Penn'a.
-o-
Capital, S50.000.
Surplus, 324,000.
DEPOSITS RECEIVE I M LARGE AI 0 SMALL
AMOUNTS. PAYABLE ON DEMAND.
ACCCv'HTS Or MERCHANTS, TARMERS.
STOCK DEALERS. AND OTHERS SOLICITED
DISCOUNTS DAILY.
r.OAUD OF DIRECTORS.
LaUL E M. HICKS, GKO. R. SCVLL,
JAMKS li. Pl'lill, W. H. MIIXKR,
JOHN IL SCOTT, IIOBT. 8. SCUKXh
FliED W. BIEsECKEK
EDWARD SCVLL, : : PRESIDENT.
VALENTINE HAY, : VICE PRESIDENT.
HARVEY M. BERKLEY, - OASUIEB.
The fup1 and s-i:ritie of this ban aree-cun-ly
pn.! cled In a celebrated Coruss BrB
glak1'i:ifSke. The ou'y eafe made abso
lutely buriiir-proof.
Re Ssset Ccimty National
OF SOMERSET PA.
tUb:!ihd, 1877. Orginked tt I Nttlonxl, 1890
CAPITAL,
S50.0C0
SURPLUS AND ON-
DIVIDED PROFITS S23.C00
.
Chas. J. flirriioa, - rrcsidenl
Vni. II. Koontz, - Vice rrcsidenl.
Hilton J. rritts, - - Casliier.
Geo. S. llarrison. - Ass't Cashier.
xy.
Directors .
Sam. B. llarriwin, Wrr. Endsley,
Jitsiah Specht, Jonas M. Cook,
John 1 1. Snyder, John SturTt,
B. Iavi, Noah S. Miller,
Harrison Snyder, Jerome Stufft,
Cha-s. V. Snyder
Cus-tomersof ti.islwnk will meel ve t ne memt
lilK-nl treatment eoiisistent wtttlsafe banking.
i',.nii vikliiiitr to wnd inouey east or wtvt
can )e acoouiiuodated by dxaft lor any
amount. ,
Vonev ana VHluaoieo sernreu oy one m
hold celebrated aaf-s, with most improved
''o'dieetiVtns made In all partn of the United
SL-ites. Chwrge moiierate.
Accounts aud depoMit solicited.
A. H. HUSTON,
Undertaker and Embalmer.
A GOOD HEARSE,
and everything pertaining to funerals furn
ished. 1
SOMERSET - - Pa
Jacob D. Swank,
Watchmaker and Jeweler,
Next Door West of Lutheran Church,
Somerset, - Pa.
I An Now
prepared to mipply the public
with Clocks, Watches, and Jew-t-lry
of all descriptions, aa Cheap
k the Cheapest.
REL'AIKISG A
SPECIALTY.
All work guaranteed. Look at my
tUx k before making your
purchases.
J. D. SWANK
Pivtst.
tirsirs irrsTS.
copystCHTlL mtaJ
Jiw lnfonratirtii art rrn nana ouuk n". vt
ILNS tL CO Sbl BROitoWiT. oat
n:,jrt rfa fnr trur.nf patents IB Amerirw.
rrrr r tnt uten out .y U rolIh or for.
tu. public tf a bc4os1tcd fM Xcaanj la ut.
f ricntific wctitiin
Lm.'ift e'" ullna of stir entlfle fgwr fn'tli
tvr.O. liUilKliair t.lu.trtttcJ. it iulellipeo
tiaa flwii'l b. wlth'jut It WeM, M.OOa
t-t: filrixmontlji. A'IJri, UU.SN A M.
KuAiiufajfil icuadwaj"w VorK Clt, ,
I Sclentifio American
Ajjeacy 1c
J4 TRADE MARKS,
7 7r nrsirs DiTr htk.
28.
CHEISTKAS CAROL.
H.trk, hulk, the wet, nweet chliulog
)f inerry Christ ina itells.
Their low uielodious hymning
A woMdronn ior- tells,
licucnth Jh" stars tliat glisten
e'r dlsfcuit Syrinn plain.
The Viteh(n shepherds listen
Tocliaranjjoiic -iraliis.
"To .-l the llli;h.-st it'oryr'
While heavenly arenes riutf,
ItiHnsive to tlie story
Tlmt tii.ljriel doth sins ;
"The peaeeon ertrth whose blessiii
Slu.ll brills Kxd will lo men ;
And in bis name prorrw.imr.
Sli-ill find the world again.
Anil where the dawn Is streakl:!;;
The eas cm sky, ufar.
T!:.y see the story bnnking
Kis?n ofl'a new'torn s;;:r!
Il shiinw alxtve the fumg t
VVI:i rein a R.he vaa b.r.i.
Am; for ihat ii tir.t Stranger
Areii.ine's h:ii! t'ie moru !
No kiiiKly crow n await lilui.
No ro'ie : Ty i i:tr; dye,
liut heuveiily choirs his prulNes1
A re sounding Ihrou; Ii tiie.-ky !
For Itethlchcnrs lowly mauler
The King of kings contains !
And jrlory, glory, plory.
The Lord of al! he reigns !
BILL'S CHRISTMAS
Half way up the alo? of the moun
tain, at the edge of the timber line, was
s f.irlorn group of cabins, perhaps a
dozen in all, grouped around a some
what larger shant3', called by courtesy
a "hotel." In truth, it was the ever
present whisky dive, carrying as a mat
ter of accommodation a side line of hucIi
absolutely necessary articles as the
primitive character of living in those
solitudes called for, and rejoicing in a
j-pare room for the ue of a chance pros
pector. Business in any of its branch
es was not brwk in the winter time.
All but three or four of the cabins were
empty then, and the population was
shifting aud uncertain at any time of
year. Hut l!ack Pete and his half
breed wife tranquilly held on their way,
while prosjectors came and went, find
ing their "hotel" . surer so'irce of in
come than running f ran lie. ravsnfter
fortune. The ground under then- feet
and around them was supposed to lie
rich in ore of various kinds, but of all
the desperate, feverish men who climb
ed those lonely heights in search of the
secrets locked in nature's calm bosom
few had any luck. Once in a while a
shallow vein of silver hnd been struck,
but not enough to justify sinking a
shaft. They hail kept comiug, how
ever, refusing to believe that the
abundant signs of mineral wealth
which Dame Nature cunningly spread
on every side could mean nothing.
Aud luck had turned at last. Two
men, partners, had in the late fall lo
cated a rich vein and staked out a con
siderable claim. They had begun work
on it, but final'y decided to wait till
spring before g )ing frtlu-r. Thecamp
all agreed that the find was a sure thing
this time, and the stream of men hop
ing to litid similar luck had given
Black Pete a great run of custom till
winter set in.
In one of the ufnost cabins a man
stood in his ojx-n d.-r gazing forth in
to the thick yellow gloom of tne Decem
ber tw ilight. He was rather slight in
build, thin and dlscuntent'l liking.
His light briwu tiard was cropped
rather short, and his blue eyes held a
world of sadness. He gnzd motnlily
down the white, s'.ili sida of the moun
tain and shuddered :ls the soughing of
the piiies wailed iu his eurs. Then he
banged the d :r and stormed angrily
to himsi-if, kicking over the few arti
cles of furniture in the room. The
q uiet was esai-Tii-ratiiig.
"I shall go stark mad in this hateful
hole. Christmas! Heavens! And a man
can't escajte from it. If I ould inako
myself believe it was any other day! If
I could die just now, which I can't
I'd as soon be in purgatory as here. I
won't slay here. Better the drunken,
gambling mob down at the station. It
don't matter much; I ain't got anything
left to be decent for." He bowed his
head, with a sharp groan, as he said
this, but a moment later he was pulling
on his fur coat and leggings, and his
face carried its usual half sad, half de
fiant expression.
Silent Bill, his limited circle of ac
quaintances called him. He was uot
really popular among the rough set
that assembled at Black Pete's. But,
on the other hand, he was not dislik
ed. He "didn't put on airs," and it
was his own business what lie was or
where he cams from, according to the
unwritten etiquette of the west, where
a man has a right to U-ll his name or
not, as suits him. It was even possible
that he might be an escaped convict,
but that, too, was his own business
But little as Silent Bill liked his com
panions in solitude iu return, it was
deadly dull when most of them left in
the winter for more lively places. Even
his "pard" was gone. To bj sure, he
had urged .Silent Bill to accompany
him when he stit oat for Denver, but
the effort was of no avail.
"Ye'll be a stark luny by spring,
Bill," he protested.
"I hope so," was the grim reply.
Bjt a fortnight of loneliness had made
him desperate. It g ive him to: much
time to think, an 1 he felt that any
company was preferable to this mad
dening silence.
"Whir ye p'inting fur?" called
Black Pete as he halted a moment at
the hold.
"(ioodhy, Pete," he said with a smile,
"You're too still here. I'm off for the
station." Pete's face fell. One more
customer gone.
"I'll be back in a few d iys. Hello,
Mrs. Peter' as the woman stuck her
head out of the door, disappointment
in Iter lilt c, lieady, black eyes. "Take
a Christmas present, won't yoi? I
shan't be b ick iu tint-to bring you
ore." lis tissed a goiJpieej Inward
her, anil as sheciught it her sullen
expressi u changed t j a hideous grim
of delight.
Silent Bill struck a f.t trail straight
down through the underbrush and
rocks. It was uearer to the station
than by the half broken roid over
whic'j 31ack Pete h.tuled his supplies.
And while he went swiftly on Ills way
in the fast falling night, filled with un
utterable thoughts of rebellion and bit
terness, a nondescript vehicV, tugg"d
by two sullen broncho, was toiiir tr up
that suow choked road, bearing Christ-
oilier
SOMERSET, PA.,
mas and paradise to him, and he knew
it not. The heavy wheels creaked and
groaned through the snow, and the
j driver U9ed expletives as freely as he
dared, considering his freight, for be-
;sideapreat trunk which served him
! for a sent there sat on a packing Ikx,
j wdl wrspjvd in fur, a young, lieauti-
ful and well dressed woman holding
J e!:e in her arms a 2-year-old Itoy.
i The like of them had never astonished
! the vicinity before. Therefore Bob
Mahaffy drew sparingly on his vocal
ulary and cracked his whip with un
usual force to explain his meaning to
the bronchos. Once in a while a
I sleepy, cross little wail broke on his
eara, and to save bim, he could not
help turning sideways to catch a
g'impse of a little yellow head cuddled
to iis mother's breast.
The lady did not spak during the
entire ride. Her face was very pale
and rigid when at last they stopped at
the "hotel." Through the open door,
as Pete hurried out, came a blur of
ligljt and a wrangle of voices. It was
astonishing how much noise the few
worthies who frequented Black Pete'
could make, perhaps to defy the eter
nal stillness of the mountain. The
lady shrank back with an added pallor,
yet in her eyes shone dauntless courage.
"Whar's Silent Bill?" shouted the
driver.
"Roosts downn the last shanty, but
he's p'inted fer the station to hev his
Christmas with ther boys. Jes' gone."
"Oh, when will he comeback?" ask
ed the lady, with a breathless gasp.
Pete started. He had not made out
the passengers before, though he had
been vainly peering uto the darkness.
His husky voice took on, or tried to, a
softer tone, and he came eagerly to the
edge of the sleigh.
"He'll be in town in a few days
ma'am. No blame it he'll le hyar
at onct Bob kin go right back and
till 'im. Air ye lookin fer 'ira,
ina'ain?"
"J am his wife," she said faintly.
"No! He know ye was coiniu?"
"No."
"Waal, that's too darn bad. But
you jes' come right in, and we'll
have 'im hyar 'fore ye wake up in the
mornin."
She half rose in the wagon and then
sank back, overcome by a fainting sen
sation. How long how much longer,
could she be brave? She fought down
her weakness iu the moment of silence
and girded up her weary nerves to
enter that noisome room. But before
she reached the door the noise was
hushed, and she passed, with her baby,
through the startled group like an ap
parition of the Madonna and the Child.
Every head was stretched out to catch
a glimpse of the sleeping baby. Even
Mr. Pete's hard face softened aa she
took him in her anus, aud she bustled
ah'Mit in hor heavy fashion to make
tiieiu comfortable.
The lady rvvi ted somewhat after a
cup of cotlVe and the Kindly meant if
somewhat rough hospitality aud as
stk.n a possible went to bed.
Meanwhile the group In the barroom
were quennJiing ibeir thirst and their
c iriivity at the same time, for Boh
Mahally staid for refreshments, and
indeed staid so long that he was in no
condition to drive back that night,
and so staid till morning. Aud he
gave minute details of the landing of
the lady ami child ai the station, all of
which was weh-ome as shade in the
desert to the news starved loungers.
Above iu the little attic room Mrs.
John Allison dropped to sleep after a
long struggle w ith disappointment aud
nervousness. The sun was already
high in the winter sky when she
awoke. She wus sad, but still her own
brave self again, and quivering with
the hope that her long, weary search
would be ended to-day. After a hoiy
breakfast she left the baby, still sleep
ing, with the half breed woman and
asked Black Pete to show her the way
to Silent Bill's cabin. The crisp,
bright air raised her spirits and did her
good, and she forgot to be shy of Pete,
who was agonizing in his endeavors to
be civilized and polite.
Her plans were soon matured and iu
operation. Action was imperative now
or she could not stand the suspense; so
Mrs. Pete and a man from the hotel set
to work under lur orders. The heavy
box contained some materials for the
renovation, which though meager,
were riches to her now. She had
known something of the condition of
things which she should be likely to
find and had done the best she could
to prepare for it.
It was aa astonished cabin, that
hardly knew itself, late that afternoon.
When all was done, the kindly helpers
had left her, at her own request, and
she gave one more comprehensive look
about, well pleased with the result
First it was clean. That was the most
astonishing thing. She had brought a
quantity of pretty chintz and red cali
co. The bed, mode of pine posts, was
curtained off from the room. She had
made inroads into Pete's stock of baled
hay for tick and pillows, and her box
had furnished linen and quilts. The
hard bunk hud been draped with chintz
and made into the softest couch for baby
that the means at hand could provide.
A rude but artistic mantel over the fire
place held some pictures and a little
clock, ticking away as cheerily as in
the New England home from which it
came. There was a broad, red lounge
with cuuhions in one corner and a big
armchair a wonder of contrivance,
with cali-o concealing its dry goods
box origin. Other boxes bloomed for:h
a cupboards and bookcase. The oid
table was covered with a crimson spread
and had a hanging lamp valve it
There were shaded and white curtains
at the windows. The floor was scour
ed and had rugs laid down, 'some of
bearskins and some that she had
brought with her. She had obtained
a number of bright hued blankets of
Pete, with which she had draped the
rude walls whenever possible, and pine
boughs and sprigs of evergreen were
everywhere in honor of the Christmas
site had come so far to keep. There
were books and papers in plenty. Her
cupboard had an abundance of food in
it, and to the eyes of the admiring in
habitants at Black Pete's the place was
a bower of luxury. But when at last
she was alone the sickening fear which
had do-id her all day overcame
er, for Jack had uot come. What if
se
ESTABLISHED 1827.
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 23. 1890.
he did not want to see her. What
depths of shamo and anguish had uot
been open to her?
Then her eyes fell on a small wood
en box, still unpacked, which she had
brought with her. She broke into by
terieal laughter. What a fond fool she
had been, for in that box was a Christ
mas turkey, ready roasted, which she
had bought the day licforo in Denver!
What cray.y ideas had filled ber brain
that she could descend on him with
peace and plenty, just if he were ex
pecting her! "Forgiveness in one hand
and a turkey in the other," she cried
between her bursts of laughter. Then
the anguish of the whole thing was
borne ?n on her again, and she turned
from her laughter to eol till the baby
pulled at her dress iu alarm aud added
his wail to hers, "
She caught the boy In her arms the
boy he had nevcrseen. Surely his heart
could not hold out against his son.
"Never mind, baby darling," she
cried softly; "he' got to come 6ome
time, and we'll hive everything ready
for him so."
She unpacked the turkey and put it
in a cold place. The laby eyes follow
ed it longingly, and ever ami anon he
piped out:
"Mamma, div boy some schicken."
"To-morrow, to-morrow, boy," she
answers gayiy, for she can't lear to sea
his face, her ouly sun, cloud over. She
diverts him at last, though he is hun
gry and sleepy, and last touch of sa
tire hangs up his stocking. It had
been part of her plan.
How she lived through that long
lonely evening she never could realize
afterward. It seemed as if the concen
trated misery of almost three years
rent aud crushed her soul as she sat
there before the fire waiting. It grew
to be 9 o'clock 10 11. Aud still she
sat and listened listened, fearing not
the strange aud unaccustomed sounds
altout her, but listening ever for a step
at the door. Half past 11. She had
fallen into a doze, when there was a
sound, and she spraug from her chair.
Down at the station Silent Bill had
passed a day utterly revoking to his
tenacious better nature. It was a small
town and more brutally degraded than
most of the camps of the west People
who expected any good never came
there. A missionary had tried it once
or twice and had been obliged to leave,
sadly, with no good accomplished that
he could see.
When Silent Bill had reached there,
he had felt a deliberate, reckless long
ing to el Tace himself as the man he had
known. He almost felt that in coming
there he had entered into some compact
with the devil, but he could not throw
off the training and traditions of his
life in a day. Misfortune, not crime,
had made him a wanderer on the face
of the earth, and, in the midst of the
debauchery in which he had placed
himself, his coiiscieiuv and tastes ut
tered continual protest, liefore morn
ing dawned he had lost in gambling
every cent of the $'MQ which' he had
brought with him. He never left the
table at which he first seated himself
till it was gone, ll-i did not greatly
care whether he won or not.
He was playing for the fierce fever of
the game and stimulated his interest
by hard drinking. He was not used to
this, and never knew how he got to
bed, or whether he had lost his money
fairly or had it stolen from him. But
when he woke late next morning his
w hole soul was protesting against his
degradation. He could not endure it,
and as soon as he could he drank more
whisky. He had no trouble in getting
trusted. Was he not the man who
had discovered the Poor Man's Luck?
And lieftire night he had won back
half as much money as he had lost.
He did not lose his head again. He
did not mean to. He drank only
enough to keep his odious conscience
from stinging him too deeply.
And all this time Bob Mahalfey was
lying unconscious iu the corner of a sa
loon, his message untold. And up tiie
mountain, in the lonely cabin, a wom
an was eating her heart out with anx
iety and fear.
It was night again, the night liefore
Christmas, when Mahaffy emerged
from his corner and partially from his
stupor. Aud finally he ran against
Silent Bill in the shadow of a building.
As he righted himself after the colli
sion he stood and stared at Silent Bill.
"D d poor taste," he said at last
thickly, "when a man's got a pretty
wife waitiu' fer 'im to home. Why
doucha go home?"
Silent Bill looked at Bob fiercely,
with his hands clinched aud the viens
standing out on his face.
"You brute, how dare you speak like
that to me? What d'ye mean?"
Mahaffy slid back a couple of steps
and tried to assume an air of dignity.
"Be'r look out, Bill, 'u not trifle wi'
me. Mean wha' say. Why doucha
go honie? I jes' gobbaek. Pete tol me
t' tell ye."
Something in his tipsy gravity sober
ed Bill a little. He seized the other by
his shoulders and shook him. "If you
don't tell me what you mean," he said
sternly, "I'll choke your d d breath
out" Mahaffy tried to strike him,
but did not succeed.
"Go home to yer wife," he snarled.
"She's to Pete's. I took her. Now
lemme 'lone."
John Allison turned as if he were
shot and plunged on his homeward
way. There is no other word for it
He only half believed Mahatry. He
asked himself why he should hurry to
meet the woman who had uot trusted
him, who had not cared to write the
few words which would have held
them together? He kept muttering
that there was no hurry about it. 'If
she wfis there, she could wait. He
had waited. It was late in the day to
come to him now. And all the time
he was fleeing as if for his life up the
the rough mountain side.
He reached the camp at last, near
his old cabin, and dropped exhausted
on the snow for a few moments. He
was afraid now that she was not there,
and mixed with that fear was an in
tolerable sense that if she were he
could not forgive her at sight for her
fancied fault Strange that he could
cherish bitterness r.t such a moment,
when paradise was openiug to him,
but in spite of his effort to smother it
-pr
the grievance of years would not down.
"At Pete's," Mahaffy had said. He
would go to the cabin first aud rest
and consider. His haste had changed
to a nervous timidity. The shaded
windows still gave a hint of light
within, but he did not notice it. II
flung open the the door and as it clos
ed behind him staggered against it.
What dream, what vision of a mad
dened brain was this? The hovel
which he had left, dark and mean and
desolate, was changed into a home.
The blazing logs in the fireplace sent
out a glow that brightened every cor
ner of the room. The bits of crimson
color, the' books, the comfort, the
Christmas greens, and, ah, the little
figure in the red armchair by the fire
that starts up in alarm and then
springs toward him with arms out
stretched it is not a dream.
She can not sjieak at first She waits
to hear his voice, but bis look chills
her, and her arms drop.
"Jack," she murmured at last des
perately, "aren't you glad to see me?
Don't you care for me any more?"
He takes a step toward her.
"This is an unexpected pleasure," he
says huskily, yet with a chilling inflec
tion. "It has taken you a long time to
make up your mind that I was fit for
you to associate with."
She trembles so thai she can not
stand and sinks back into the chnir.
He comes nearer, his eyes devouring
her like a flame, his fucc working con
vulsively, but she does not know that
he is fighting with all his pitiful pride
the mal desire to eJasp her in his arms.
Her voice is cold aud controlled when
she speaks.
"This is indeed a fit welcome to the
wife you deserted, and yet she has
been only true to you. I never doubt
ed your innocence, never rested till
your name was cleared of all stain. I
have suffered and toiled and sought for
you all these years, and this is my re
ward." Her quiet words, her listless attitude,
bore conviction to him, and self re
proach swelled up in his heart.
"Margaret," he said more pleading
ly, "why didu't you write to n:e? It
would have made so much difference
when I was wild with misery and
begged of you to believe hip, and I had
never a word from you. Maylx; I was
a coward to run away but I couldn't
stay and lie dragged through the mire
of a scandal."
"No," she said wtterly, "but you
could leave me to be dragged through
it And I wrote to you, Jack, several
times and got no reply. Yet," more
kindly, "I did not accuse you and hate
you, as you have done by me. I have
worked hard to support myself, to clear
your name, to find you; for I U-lieved
in you still. Only three months ago
my detective found the right clew, and
I have journeyed in search of you ever
since. I could not start stumer; I had
no money and there were other rea
sons." Her face flushed a little here, but her
tone and attitude were stiii wearily in
different She felt as if her heart
strings had broken. Even if he believ
ed her now she could not lie happy.
The strain and disappointment had
been too great
"I will go back again," she contin
ued. But she did not know herself.
The next instant there was a w I Id iy re
pentant nian at her feet Overwhelm
ed by the sin of his previous injustice
to her and hy his great im worthiness,
he abased himself t the depths. He
poured out his love, his misery, his re
morse, with sobs that he could uot
control. The revulsion of feeling was
like a flood, sweeping everything be
fore it He dared not even touch her
with his unworthy hands, but he kiss
ed her feet And her heart was not
broken. It was giving great throbs of
joy. hat dil anything matter u ne
still loved her? She raised his bowed
luad and pressed it against her breast.
A few moments later, as the s-troke
of the little clock on the chimney shelf
had just ushered iu Christmas day, in
to a moment of iieaceful silence drop
ped a little sleepy, piping voice from
the bed:
"Mamma, div boy some schicken
now."
Jack Allison started to his feet
Something choked him so that he
could not speuk. His wife ran to the
bed, where the baby was sitting up,
blinking sleepily, his yellow hair all
in a fuzz about his head.
"Come here, Jack," she said shyly.
"Oh, Margaret, I didn't know!" whs
all he could say as he knelt by the bed
aud gazed reverently on the chubby
face of his firstborn.
"Unto us," murmured Margaret ten
derly, "a son is given."
So Christmas found Silent Bill.
Mrs. Paxtou Duard iu Romance.
Ths Keystone State.
Pennsylvania is called the Keystone
State. Two explanations have beeu
given of this name. According to the
first, the Declaratiou of Independence
was trembling in the balance, six col
onies having voted for and six against
it The vote of Pennsylvania was cast
in favor of the Declaration, and thus a
majority was secured. According to
the other explanation, the name was
purely an accident' When the Rock
Creek bridge was constructed, near
Washington, the stones of the great
arch were inscribed with the names of
the states, and wheu it was finished
the discovery was made that the name
of Pennsylvania was on the keystone
of the arch, and thus was applied
afterward to the state.
Christmas Goose.
In England goose is more often the
Cbistmas bird than turkey. To those
who think of substituting a goose for a
turkey the caution is given that the
former, though it may present an am
ple aud templing appcarauce as it is
brought to the table, crisp and aromat
ic, will serve by no means geuerously,
as ouly the breast is available. Under
the moJerti treatment of removing
the tough leg tendons, thus gaining all
the drumstick meat, there is no edible
bird to com pure in ecouomy with the
turkey.
Don't dally with rheumntism. Purify
your Mood aud cure it at once by taking
a course of Hood's Sar.raparil!a.
era
Shall We Give Christmas Gifts.
After the aroma of Thanksgiving
has wafted away there comes in the
atmosphere the fragrance of the
Christmas spirit But too often there
succeed a restless worriment which
takes away from the sweetness of this
spirit "What shall we make for
Christmas?" "What shall we buy for
Christinas?" are questions which now
tx'gin to le repeated in almost every
family, for Thanksgiving has brought
sudden realization of the nearness of
the great winter holiday. Smietinies
this anxious thought becomes actuidly
hurtful, producing such distress of
mind and body that many would ex
claim that Christmas is a burden to tie
endured t tit not to be welcomed.
Many would agree with a writer in the
Century in wishing to do away with
gifts altogether, except for the children.
There has been much written and spok
en upon the subject of bestowing gifts,
but there Ls always a need of more dis
cussion of the subject, and especially
at this time, when everybody Ls con
cerned. In the first place a calm atti
tude of the mind ami plenty of time
are necessary in the selection of gifts.
The stores now display holiday g'xxls,
and the windows are supplied with at
tractive article's. Some of these artic
les are so fascinating that a buyer se
cures one before she is sure that she
wants It, and afterward repents hearti
ly of a meless purchase. At other
times, buyers in sheer desperation seize
upon the article which they happen to
si at the time, aud are then surprised
at the unsatisfactory result To avoid
these two evils, it might be suggested
that it would lie better to make out a
list of really suitable and useful arti
cles liefore approaching the tempting
windows aud counters of stores. If
possible, find out what is really desired,
or, at least, what might be desired.
In all cases, this very American way
of leaving all purchases till the week
before Christmas and then rushing in
crowds to the stores is to lie deprecated.
It is the agony of deciding upon
Christina gifts in a hurry which
makes the beautiful holiday a burden
to many. Gifts have always very ap
propriately been a distinguished fea
ture of Christmas, aud because we
Americans have not learned the art of
selecting, we should not condemn the
custom in a narrowness of understand
ing. By all means let the children be
first remembered ; but do not refuse
elders the right of sharing in the chil
dren's gladness. As to the bestowing
and receiving of presents, each must
be guided by his own sense of delicacy
and fitness.
A Dfean Han't Game.
"The meanest man I ever saw," the
irrepressible Judge Murphy exclaimed
to a crowd of admirers, "has never ap
peared in my court as a defendant, aud
it is lucky for him. As a matter of
course he was a newspaper man a
blaukety blank rascal of a reporter.
One day he was playing seven up with
a young lady, and guess what he did?
He told her that whenever she had the
jack of trumps it was a sure sign her
lover was thinking of her. Then he
watched her, and whenever she blu.-h-
eland looked pleased he wouM lead a
high card and catch her jack. A man
who would do that would steal a hot
stove or write a libelous joke about
me."
National Dishes of Germany.
There is a picture, more or less well
known, from the brush of a humorous
and perhaps patriotic German painter
that very accurately describes the pre
vailing impression concerning the Ger
man palate. The picture iu question
represents a charming young German
girl picking cabbages from a Christ
mas tree, and beneath the painting an
inscription which being freely trans
lated, means that Germany offers a
wonderful kitchen to the contempla
tion of civilization. This national
taste for. cabbage is carried into their
Christmas dinner. Tiiat meal consists
of boiled pork and sauerkraut, sausa
ges, black puddings, goose stuffed
with chestnuts, cheesecakes and baked
apples, beef with sour sauce, smoked
gxtse and potatoes, washed down with
beer.
The IndisDensable Tree.
Of all things for Christmas a Christ
mas tree is indispensable in a house
whew there are children. The explor
ing of overflowing stockings will not
give half the pleasure that com a from
the discovery of a "real live" tree,
with a gray bearded, snow specked San
ta Claus peeping from its branches. It
mutters not how small the tree if it be
prettily decorated. In this it is chiefly
the first cost which counts. Tne same
ornaments, with very few additions,
will do year after year. As for the tree
itself, there are five different kinds, oil
beautiful in themselves pine, henilock,
spruce, cedar and balsam fir.
Philosophy of Giving.
The man who starts out to buy pres
ents does uot stop to count the cost or
inspect the quality of the articles pro
fusely exposed to his fancy. Every
thing goes, as the saying is, and he
crams his pockets with a miscellane
ous assortment of things for which he
pays two or three tiinsa as much as
they are worth, when they are worth
anything, and which nothing could
induce him to purchase, or hardly to
carry home without expense at any
other time of the year.
This Is not the highest expression of
the msaning of Christmas, but it is
authentic aud salutary as far as it goes.
It is in harmony with the spirit of the
festival, and its efforts tend to keep
alive thosa feelings and inspirations
which are the mainstay of society and
the basis of morality and religion. So
long as the germs remain there U sure
to be growth and product.
Home Improvement.
"Tubb says he's been making a
number of improvements about his
home recently."
"Yes, I noticed he's sold the piano."
Loudon Tit-Bits.
LL O
WHOLE NO. 23G9.
A Long Trip.
From the far northwest of this coun
try to Norway, Sweden and Denmark
seems a great way to go to spend the
Christmas holidays, and yet ttousands
of Scandinavians do it every year.
They go to New York city in train loads
during the latter part of November
and the first of December, the jollient,
happiest, most contented emigrants
that leave the country.
The trip across the continent Ls short
ened by good nature and a recounting
of experiences, for they are a simple
folk and readily make friends and ex
change confidence. They area home
loving people, and after lieing here for
a few years and accumulating a little
mouey they almost Invariably return
to Scandinavia to visit and to tell of
their success here.
Those who have gone home to visit
this full are generally men in the prime
of life who have established interests
here, aud who will return in the spring,
after two or three mouths of enjoy
ment and wonder telling among their
relatives aud friends. AH these emi
grants carry much ready mouey, with
which they are liberal to a fault That
which they have is entirely due to
their own energy. They are producers
of the most valuable kiuii. They come
here with the idea of becoming citi-Z'-us
and landowners, and although
they retain their affection for the old
home and the old life they forget or be
little the advantages that they have
received here or the allegiance that
they have promised to their adopted
country. A large percentage of those
who are now visiting at their birth
places will bring wives bock with
them.
When most needed it not unusual
for your family physician to be away
from home. Such was the experience
of Mr. J. Y. Sehenk, editor of the Cad
do, I ud. Ter., Banner, when hi little
girl, two years of age, wa threatened
with a severe attack of croup. He
says; "My wife insisted that I go for
the doctor, but as our family physi
cian wss out of town I purchases! a
bottle of Ci.ambcriaiu's Cough Reme
dy, which relieved her immediately.
I will not be without it in the future."
Z and J) cent bottles for sale by Ben-
ford's Pharmacy.
Grain) of G oil-
Turn a thinker loose, and you shake
the world.
It never hurts truth any to be slap
ped in the face.
Backsliding begins when prai-e
leave the heart
The pleasures of tin are only pleas
ures for a season.
The hardest wound to heal, is the
one inflicted by a friend.
The man who prays right will se to
it that his example is right
If we know how to aim, the bigger
the giant the better the mark.
Iu cases of burns, sprains, scalds, or
any of the other accidental pains like
ly to come to the human body, Dr.
Thomas' E.'tectrie Oil gives almost in
stant relief.
Boiled Bill For the Poor.
In May, 1G1, George Staverton left
a sum of money to purchase a bull,
which bull he gave to the poor of Wo
kingham town and parish. The ani
mal was to be boiled, the hide and the
offal to lie sold, and the proceeds ex
pended iu the purchase of shoe and
stockings, to be bestowed upon poor
children. Up to the year isit a I ull
was regularly boiled on the -1st of Ie
eeniber iu the market place in Wo
kingham, liut in that year the cor
poration of the town determined upon
discontinuing such proceeding, whieh
has since accordingly been omitted.
At Christmas, lsr.5, a mob broke open
during the night the place where cue
of the animals uiu kept and boiled it,
in spite of the magistrate's endeavors
to prevent them, aud similar attempts
have since been made on ether oci a-
sions. Boston Herald.
Knecht Rupert
Santa Claus was introduced into
America by the Dutch, of Holland.
He is the American representative i f
the German Kmcht Bui ert
Tiie wife of Mr. D. Robinson, a prom
iuent lumberman of Hartwick, N. Yn
was sick with rheumatism for five
months. In speaking of it, Mr. Robin
son says: "Chamberlain's Pain Balm
is the ouly thing that gave her any
rest from pain. For the relief of pain
it can not le beat" Many very bad
cases of rheumatism have been cured
by it For sale at 50 cent per bottle
by Benford's Pharmacy.
Telling the Bees.
In Devonshire, England, a ruosen
ger is sent from the house of the farm
er to tell the bees that Christmas day
has come, and they are supposed to
greet the glad tidings with a joyful
hum.
Major C. T. Picton is manager of the
State Hotel, at Denison, Texas, which
the traveling men say is one of the best
hotels iu that section. In speaking of
Chamberlain's Colic, Cholera and
Diarrhoea Remedy Major Picton says:
"I have used it myself and in my fam
ily for several years, and take pleasure
in saying that I consider it an infalli
ble cure for diarrhoea and dysentery.
I always recommend it, and have
frequently administered it to my guests
in the hotel, and lu every case it ha
proven itself worthy of unqualified en
dorsement For sale by Benford's
Pharmacy.
Backlen'i Arnica Salve.
The Best Salve in the world for Cuts,
Bruises, Sores, Ulcers, Salt Rheum, Fe
ver Sores, Tetter, Chapped Hands,
Chilblains, Corns, and all Skin Erup
tions, and positively cures Piles, or no
pay required. It is guaranteed to give
J perfect satisfaction or money refunded,
j Price " cents per box. For sale at J.
( N. Snyder's drug store, Somerset, or
at u. Timers urug score, Benin, rs.
Every farm should be made to prt
duce two or ruorecrop a year if possi
ble, as B can be done by a proper s
tem of n,t ttion. The farmer will ha.-e
to gi t rid .f the impression that there
a-j bu'. tl.ree or four crops that can
grown on a farm, nod bmneli out for
something m-w. W h-ii tit. m r, ,.,t
tl'i Is rl u!t-. arid J t'v price lie jid ls
new lines to his -toi l;, and, its farmiii r
is as much a business its that of selling
merchandise, the farmer can only keep
up with thowe engaged in other pur
suit by adopting any and all met hols
which may ojn better opportunities
in his business. The kind ofrmptt
grow can Hot be determined for the
farmer, as he must regulate hi opera
tions according to the climate am) Lis
soil, butou all farms there Ls room f ,r
something new and an improveme it
upon the old. The farmer w ho U averse
to growing more than ons crop a ye ir
for fear of exhausting his soil Las no
right to attempt farming. The soil
should never become exhausted under
any system of farming that permits
profit tba obtained, as true farmiinj
nie ins that nothing should be taken
from the soil without rendering an
equivalent, and if more than one crop
give a larger profit than l f re then
the ability of the farmer to feed his soil
is correspondingly increased, and be
can invest more lanrely in fertilizers;
in fact, whether he desires it or not, be
i compelled to add plant food to his
soil or he w ill find his land becoming
exhausted whether he grows one crop
a year or more.
NATIKK'S METHODS.
Naturally the land is ever striving ti
produce something. As soon as one
crop Ls removed another takes its plaee,
an t weeds spring up as if by magic,
when the land Ls given up to rest
There is no rest to the soil, if it Ls capa
ble of producing anything at all, and
it migut as well contain something of
value to the farmer as toexpend its sub
stance on weeds. Nature also covers
the ground, aud the forest land w ith a
mulch in winter if the farmer does not
interfere. Under the covering there
are cheiuiirul procees c instantly oc
curring. Plant fod is being manu
factured from iusoluble substances, h l
mus is prepared, and the soil is iu better
condition wheu the spring opens i
produce cultivated crojis. This is well
known to those who have o!rscrv.l
covered land. Pla'ti a biurd on the
ground and it becomes a mtiich. An
examination of the soil under the boarl
in a few weeks or ni iu'.hs a:':r, will
disclose a darker color to the il. mo.-i?
humus is easily noticed, and that little
strip will promote grow th better tlnu
a similar strip adjoining. Nature
tlierefore, covers the ground btth win
ter aud sit miner, and If a field is left o
recuperaliou by natural method the
soil will improve iu fertility, ulthoug'i
nothing bus been added by the firmer.
and yet it was uud-r growth of swu
kind, fr.-::t early spring until late i.t
the fall, and also covered with ttedeud
weed in w in:er.
M'irk cifii'B a.: Mi.n::-: Kr.irriLiznu
The rotation of a number of cro;
gives many combinations. When rye
is sowu iu the fail it become a vi:i-
tereovering. If followed by ear!y
potatoes, and the potatoes by tur
nips, crimson clover can I se 1-
ed as the next winter covering. I;
that case two crops and one green n.:'.-
nurial crop (rye) are fe-ured in o-;e
year With the land seeded do wn to tne
crimson clover. Early potables and
bate cabbage, or early cabbage and late
potatoes, are grown in some section.
Early peas hve been gotten out of the
way for beans, and in order to save
time two crops are grown at once by
planting at different jeriods. For in
stance, sugar corn or cabbage can be
planted between the potato rows before
the latter are dusr, and turnips are al
ways in order T a late catch crop,
while rye and iuson clover can be
carried over th '(.'inter to he plowe'l
under iio -;ng. . c' crops as melons)
and sweet t ot r.ri ue use 1 in the
rotation on 1 5- tv .f ,-iud a crop of
millet or bueV Cr- ' ;r ' lie grown if
seeded dowa a .i u..f t where the
growing seasou is 1 i,, short Bi-t
these crops demand o' .j'"urnier more
fertilizer, an 1 he can ignore them.
He gains more th' before and his
land becomes ricliL vy judicious ap;"i-
cation of fertilizer and the plowing
under of green material. Tiie c.wt is
no item if the land returns it, and if
the productions of the lan t are increas
ed the pro3ts are also larger, the real
wealth, however, derived frorri better
farming being the increased fertility of
the soil.
Fads of Fashion.
One secret of success in drus Is to
find out of the color which are m.t
becoming, anil uever wan 1 r away
from these, no matter what the fashion
is.
The fashionable silks this se isoa h;tTe
moire effects, and m ire with silver or
gold threads matting through it i very
effective. Tinseled fabrics of all sort
abound in the shops, but they require
very careful blending with other mate
rials to m ike them becoming.
Mutf chains of gold, with diamn.U
set at Intervals, so that they are o;en
on bith sides, are one of the novel: i-e
in jewelry. Rubies, sapphire emer
ald and amethysts are also distribato-l
in the su-u-e manner.
Mahogmy-eolored hair is tiie ltet
fad, aud the transition period Itetweeti
dark brow a anJ this coveted shade of
red i very interesting to the keen ob
server. New York Sua.
For the Hausevrif?.
To make window fairly shine nib
them with whiting wet with alcohol
and then polish with a chamois ski: .
Clean japanned trays with a
sponge wrung out of tepid w ater, rub
dry with a cloth and polish w ith !! nr.
If the tray are very dirty a bttle
soap may be used, but nu no account
apply boiling water, for it will ccrt.in
ly cause the varnish to crick aud peel
otr iuamut ua ig'itly way .
To improve the color cf board in
tables or floors scrub them with slack
ed lime and white sand, in th propor
tion of one part of lime and three of
sand. This will make the boards beau
tifully white.
Clean black marble with paste made
with the following ingredients : Half
an ounce of finely-powdered and sifted
pumice stone, au equal quautity of
powdered and sifted lime, one ouueeof
carbonate of soda ; mix with wcter
and apply to the marble with an okl
rag. Afterward wash it off w ith soap
and water, and polish with a dry, soft
duster or leather.
Saved.
Wilkin Mis Old fry te sat directly
beneath the mistletoe mi the chande
lier, but Providence saved me.
Bilkin Providence?
Wilklu Ye; Prutidttn Urppa4
the ehaadelier.
1
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