As long as coal remains as cheap as it is now the briquette
industry will probably be a minor industry in this country.
However the fact that the calm heaps contain much
good coal is wellestablished, and now that a suitable means
of preparing this coal for use as ordinary fuel has been de
vised, the great banks of culm, seen, about every anthracite
mine must some day become of great value.
IT had snowed during the night. The ground was
covered with snow, piled in drifts and heaps by the
mighty forces of nature. But the battle and siege
were now over, and the earth lay subdued and tranquil.
Soon the blue sky again bent over all, and the wide expanse
of snow glistened in the morning sun like a diamond field.
Barry Saxe, unconscious of the change, was sleeping
peacefully. He was the only child of a widowed father.
Upon his mother's death, his father, in sorrow ,and disap
pointment, had gone West, leaving him with his grand
mother, with sufficient money to carry him through college.
So on this Christmas vacation, he was ensconced in one of the
snuggest little homes on Mill street of the town of X.
His grandmother was very fond of him.
this morning,'" she 'said, ''l will not awaken him.
will do him . good."
Old Bub, the hired man, was cleaning off the walks
The old shovel, scraping on the bricks gave , out a sweet,
metallic ring in the cold, frosty air.
Barry, awakening at this time, wondered what had
happened, all was so still and quiet. But turning to the
windows, which were , covered with frost, the question was
COUSIN TOM.
"It is so cold
The rest