CHRISTMAS SUPPLEMENT. CHRISTMAS. AS OLD-FASUIONED DITTY. In days of yore the Baron bom 'A' as wont at CbriAtinas-l'.de to hold !o cart:e hall a solemn f-at. Where ail were welome, snirht or priest. Or t-q ure or c:own; the opn door Adm.red iLl or ma or pjor. Kmlf en:y cround the groaning board, Aii lorej-l, nei.i, or stream aiTtrd. The ceJ-rer broacli'd bis mightiest ale. The niii.8 rel lo.d his memcai tale; J .j refined o'er al: a tmistrous glee, A ni'le, uuirlisiiM revelry, tnoli as mlijhi move perchance to soorn "! he ua: ure of the later-born : lijt totalling nud it wi.dest mirth Tea.c aim jo.d wU to all on earth!" Tlivx dij-s are pit, n.r neeJ we g riere lor liirir ik-iiarture if the leave CAj sure they hare) the ktnuUy feeUttg or waiits and woea bejouU our bealing: The sootuinj ivoru, the helping band. The timely tilt uiat we:! niJy stand Instead of the oil teckles g:Ting 1 bat wasted much in 11 riotuu.3 lirlng." "The (rood remains; t:te bounty still Is seen to flow in many a ri!L Bat, guided by Judicious hand. It feeds, not inunJa:es the land. Nor snouid we pass witboat due praise The i hristina? gifi of niolern days The books, wnoae gut and splenlid eorer Bespeak, at least, Ue weailuy lover; Tne hauit:er but well-chosen tome (The trtasure of a future home), Wbie oualorn'd but precious pagoa Enshrine tbe thoughts of former ages. Waal Shakespeare, Spenser, Milton writ, Or what in modern days is fit To name with those immortal bards. And fi'.aie the laurel fame awards 'io them (though in a lent dtfree) liyron's wild strain, Scott's minstrelsy, w ordgwonh'a and Cowper's moral store. Or Tennyson's Arthurian lore. Such Gifts may Christmas stiU bestow. Hay Age and Want tbe boons relieve. And Youth and Love the pleasure know Al once to give and to receive. Kay still tne iru-uug heart be blest, Hay still its loudest hopes prove true; May still the aed and di-tre.-t y.nd help as they were wonl to do. A CHK1STMA.S SToET. OHAitllT OKBKN'e OUT. "Double fold, and only five cents a yard. It was the cheapest piece o'plaid worsted 1 ever laid my eyes on 1" eic laimed to her self Miss Charity Green, the old maid tail oress of Allantown, and she unfolded the three-dollar bank-note which she had re ceived the day before for a week and a hairs sewing at the Squire's, and smooth ed the rsxged corners, and looked at it affectionate;)-. "ix yards'U make me a full dress, and I must have it to wear at cousin fiathan's, as they've sent me their usual invitation to Christmas dinner. I guess I'll step over and get the stuff at once and run up the breadths this evenin', as I've got all them button-noles on JnMnh Rlukp's npwnMt ti make to-morrow, and I've no time to let ' grass grow under my feet." j Miss Ch&ritv Green wu a rr twit woman who lived by her needle, and rent ed tbe "middle-room" in widow Blake's small one-story house. She had a thin, faded face, with nothing attractive about it, except when she smiled, and then little children would be sure to forget all about the wrinkles and the homeliness, and tan gle her spools of thread and play with her OBfOrf?, which always bung around her neck, fastened with black ribbon, and never dream of stopping or being in tbe least alarmed br her frennpnt Th there, children 1 lear me 1 I do believe uiue nanus are me Dusien in the world I Who evtr did see 1" Poor Miss Chanty Green! She was that very sad spectacle, a lonely, almost friendless woman, without father or moth er, brother or sister, husband or chddren in the world. Her life was turning its face toward half a century of years ; her neaitn, never vigorous, was gradually fail uur ben and a cold, lonelv nl.i tr - sometimes and appalled her with its chill and gloom. She had to work early and late, for the roof that sheared snd the bread that nourished her. Poor Miss Charity Green I But as she tied ou her straw bonnet that evening, there was a quick knocs at the uoor, anu me next moment a little brown curly head, with a pair of eaer, bright, dancing eyes was thrust inside. "Come in, Johnnie what do you wantt" said Miss Charity Green. And if. you bad beard her voict just thtn you would have understood something of the secret of her being so general a favotue with children. ".Mother wants to know, Miss Green, if you'll lend her a diawin' o'tea. She'll pay you to morrow. O she needn't be in the least bit oliur ry about that ere," aubwered Mu-s Green, as she took the linle blue cup from the boy's band, "Dj sit Cown, Johnnie, and warm your?.!f ty the fire." And the boy tat down in the great arm chair, while the woman measured the tea in the cover of her tin canister. "Mother and sisters pretty well to-day, Johnnie! " "Yes, ina'ani, only mother said she felt a little o'rheumatiz in her right shoulder this ni'lain'." "Dear u.e, buz ! It won't do for her to let the rheunmtiz get hold on her this time o'year. I'll just step out into the snea ana get ner a Jitue boneset. I al'ays lay up some every fall, for there's nothin' like it for rheunmtiz, as my grandfather used to say." And as the woman tied up the dried herbs in a piece of brown paper, it struck her that her little neighbor was unusually grave and silent; so half with the purpose of drawing out any concealed trouble which might possess him. Miss Green con tinue" 1 the conversation. "Well, Johnnie, are you goin to have merry Christmas at your house! " "1 don't know," said the boy in a dis consolate tone of voice, twisting his brown fingers in and out of each other. "What! you and sisters not going to hang up your stockings?" -o, Uia'anu; mother said she ct uM not afford to give us any presents this year. biien and Jane cned all tbe afternoon about it" "Wall, now, I declare I This is too bad," answered the sympathizing roice of Miss Green, and she M'ently tied the paper and snapped the thread with her scissors, and as she placed it in the boy's bands she said to him, "Never mind, Johnnie, dear. Pluck up good heart. May be soniethin' will turn up about them Christmas pre sent after alL" "If I was only a little better off now," murmured Miss Cbarity Green as she rock ed herself back and firth in her creat arm chair, them are children shouldn't go without haocin' up their stockings. I'd wdingly sell my dinner to buy 'em some presents, for I know jest how much store children set by 'em. I shan't take a min utes comfort tainkin' o the children's dis appointment, and yet I don't see how in the world I can prevent it. If I didn't need that plaid dress now" here the woman unclasped her bead purse and drew out the banknote and looked at it wistful- "Them children must ban? up their stockings, but if they do I must go with -out my dress, for it's just come to that. One thing's sartin, I couldn't take a niln ute comfort there in a new one thinkitie on Mia Russell's children; no, not if it was the finest satin that ever stood alone," and here Miss Charity Green brought down her fool with solemn emphasis. "I must wear my shabby old silk, and those thai don't like tbe looks must tun their heads t'other way; for as long as I hold three dollars in mv hands thorn eMMron -v.-'-. vuiutbu sua ub go without a merry Christmas., "Oh! that's vou! Do mme In f;. Green," and the little. Dale, sorrowful. face.1, care worn Mrs. Russell lifted bar head from the child's mvb; .ho darning as ber neighbor entered the room. "Little folks all abed?" whispered Miss Green in a low, mysterious tone of voice, as she came into the room with something carefully concealed under her shawL "Yes, I sent 'em off an hour ago poor things!" and deep sigh heaved the heart of widow Russell a su-h that was born of wearying cares, and baffljd hones and fainting spirits. "V all, you see, MU KusselL" still nre. erring her low, mysterious tones, and slowly uncovering ber red merino shawL revealing several packages in brown paper. "I thought as it was about Christmas time when little folks would want inma flrinm you know children ain't lib a tTmwn fit lb a anyhow, so 1 kinder thougnt I'd slip some thin' into their stockings, fcr I s'pose you'd ways enougn ior every penny," "Oh, Miss Green, you are too good now!" What a light it was that broce over tbe pale, worn (ace of the mother as her eyes fell on the bundles! S'pose you jest take squint at e in,' said the old maid, breaking tha small and tearing away the wrappers. Fust there was a blue drum with red stripes for Johnnie, which his mother knew would fairly throw him into ecstacies; then in a round pink box was a white china tea set for Eilen. with the moot diminution cups and Bracers, and the daintiest sugar bowl, and cream mug and water pitcher and lor little Jane there was a wax doll with black eyes, and nby bps, and small. dainty pnes of rea' brown bur, and a rid bird in a cage picking seed out of a yel low trough; and added to all these was a purple b im-of plenty tied with golden rib bons, and filled with sugar plums for each of tbe children. Mrs. Mussel's faded eyes gleamed with new light as she gazed at the gifts. She ZHZed at the gifts. She tried to speak but the wwds choked themselves back in her throat, and she broke down in a sob of tears. 'Wall, I do say now,. Mist Russell," said her neighbor, attempting in awkward hut sincere fashion to comfort her. "Dn't eive up so. .It ain't much, I know, but then we all had to be children once." "Yes, Miss Green, and it's j."t the thought o' thit and the god tunes we ued to have when I was a wild, ctre'ess khI at lather's that's e'en a-ra ist broke my lie irt ever stucj. I told the children they mustn't expect to hang up their stockings tin- Cons' mas. You never did see chtl l rtn so put down in your life; tbey ain't h irdiy suiiled since, and it's seemed as though we'd had a funeral in the h use when I put 'em to bed to-nlht "Well, s'pose now you jest get their stockings and we'il slip them in, and you can pin 'em up to the bed post, you know." Mrs. Russell went to her chest of cherry drawers and brought forth three small, blue and white woollen stockings, aud the hearts of the two women were full of a tune of g adness, as tney crowded the playthings itisiie. . "Tbe house won't hold 'em to-morrow THE CHILD'S DREAM OF CHRIST -MAS. mornin'. exclaimed Mrs. Russel, Theyl be as proud as kings and queens. " "Bless their hearts!" said Miss Green. "There ain't no use o trying to get this drum inside.'' "Fo, I'll just set it on the mantle. Dear me! I expect 1 shan't know whether my head's off or on to-morrow mornin' about 7 o'clock.'' And so Mrs. Russell's mother heart dwelt on the delight of ber children, and Miss Green drank in her words greedily, with frequent ejaculations of wonder and symtatby. 'Uirn! how the wind does blow!" said the old maid as she gathered her shawl closer about her head and hastened down the road to ber borne, while a raw blast struck ber in tbe face. Tbe night was full of tbe moan of winds and the antrer of black, wintry clouds; but Chanty Green did not mind this, for her heart was full of the last words of Mrs. Russell: "I don't know how to thank you. Miss Green, but you have remembered the wid ow and the lathcrlqss, and be sure God will remember it of you." Shells that are covered with a thick skin may be cleaned by steeping in warm water and then rubbing with a stiff brush. Or. if this fails mink the shell in water, adding a little nitric acid. roiisu the new surface with leather, aided by tripoli. An extremely shabby young man called at tt.'a house. "What is your btMinma?" aajd CI T Via va fo my New Year's present." "But who are vou ?" "Assistant to the baliff who arrested you the other day." la Love United. Wilfred Landonand Alice Vane stood side by side In what had been Jonathan Sjmerton's library at Somerton IlalL Had been, for he was dead,' and his re mains were even now on ther way to bu rial. Whose library it would henceforth be remained to be seen. Wilfred had but this moment arrived, too late for attendance at his old friend's funeral; and yet be and this pale, sweet girt. Alice Vane, were the only two beings for whom, for a number of years past, the strange, cynical old man had shown any interest or affection. "He was my ni.Hhcr's suitor a whole life time ago." Alice was softly saying, "and the disappuntmeHt of hia aJectim soured him. Yet he was kind of heart, else how should I, her orphaned child, have found in him so true a friend' Poor dear Mr. SomertODl" "My father was a frtond of his in his youth," Wilfred said in answer, 'and. from all I can learn, they quarreled with each other incessantly. There must have a warm regard between them, all ihesauie, or wheuce his interest in me?" It is, thanks to him, I have been able to devote myself to art, as every instinct of my na ture prompted. If 1 attain to the height of my hopes some day. an f hfonn a fa mous urtwt, it wiK be old Jonathau S :n erton I shall have to than' for it and also, Alice you." lie took her hand as he spoke an 1 drew her lowar'l him. Shecuue baf yieldioe, half resisting, tiie color coming and going fitfully upon hf r cheeks. It needed but a g'ance to have told tbe most casual observer that she loved him. "Ue taught us both to expect nothing from his death," Wilfred said, earnestly, "lie gave us both the means of earning bread I as an artist, you as a governess. A dreary, lonely, toilsome life, dear Alice. I can not bear to think of it for you. We are poor, it is true, but so much the more can we be all in all tr each" other. I love you so that I believe I could be content to stand aside, for your sake, and let a wealthier love win you to a life of case, but I cannot bear to let you toil, exposed to slight and insult, and when did a gov erness, young and beautiful, escape these! You love me, Alice." tie drew her to his embrace. "You have given me cause to think so, my beloved. Be- my wife, then, let us be happy. You do love me." The young girl had not shrunk from his embrace. She laid her face lightly" against his breast, weepicg softly. "Ah, yes" sbe sighed, "I love yon, Wilfred; why should I not confess it! Far, too well and truly, dear, to marry you." "Too well!' he said, starting back She drew herself from his arms, and stood locking at him with a high and pure expression of self-sacrificing love upon her fair face. "Too welL she repeated, softly and yet firmly. 'Too well to become a burden upon you at the very outset of your career. Oh, I am not selfish enough for thatl It is not," she went on, more timidly, notic ing the sudden cloud that lowered upon his brow, "that I do not love; that 1 should not find a very heaven of happi ness in the union of which you speak, but we are both so poor." Her voice ceised, ber head dropped aud denly before his glance of scorn; she felt that be this man whom she loved was misunderstanding her. 'You think the speculation would be a losing one," he said, with undisguised contempt. "You might take your youth and beauty to a richer market, and drive a better ba-gain for' them. No doubt you are right. Certainly no one can question your worldly wisdom. I have nothing to offer you but love and a life's devotion. I'ardon my presumption I have been mistaken in you, that is all! " He was turning coldly and haughtily away, when she caught his arm and de tained lii.n less by that, however, than by c little, almost unconscious, but heart felt cry of love and pain and grief; be paused, in spite of himself, and his heart thrilled at hearing it. "It was not of myself I thought," she said, with soft reproaches, "but of you! Can I let you add the burden of my poverty to your own? Ciin 1 see your abilities hampered by the expenses of a family! Listen, WilfordJ You know I am an artist's daughter the child of a man whom the cares of a family dragged down to death. My father's talents, his hopes, his possible career, were all blighted by marriage and poverty. U it 'or me having witnessed what be suf fered to condemn the man who loves me to tbe same? Oh, never, never! My very love for you the love you doubt gives me strength and courage to refuse you But, oh! you wrong me when vou loubt my love. Kor your sake I swear to remain single until you claim me. and it you never claim me, dear, then I will go single to the grave." The warmth, the ardor, the gentle passion of her words and tone, disoelled all his proud and jealous thoughts and fears. He caught her in his arms once more, and strained her to his breast. ''My noble, generous love, he cried, 'my own true girl, forgive me! How could I doubt your heart! I accept your offer, dearest, Wait for me, Alice; we both are young, and I shall claim you yet Meantime " The sudden opening of the door caused them to start apart and stand somewhat embarrassed and guilty looking. It was only a servant, however, who had been sent to inform them that the funeral party had returned, and to summon them to tbe drawing room to hear the reading of Mr. Somerton's will. Quietly and reverently they entered, nand in hand, and bowing to the assem bled company, took the seats tbe lawyer had assigned to them. Life is full of surprises, and the greatest of its wonders came to Wilfred and Alice that day. Old Jonathan Somerton had left his for tune Jointly between these two "on condi tion that each one accepted the life partner whom he bad assigned to them, which tbey must signify their readiness to do without learning who that party might be a secret which he had intrusted to his lawyer In a letter which was to serve as a codicil to his will and to be read to thom only after they had consented. -it is tne lacy s privilege to speak first, said the lawyer, politely. '-What do you sav. Miss Vane! Are you willing to here efflince yourself to the husband tha de ceased hai choten vouraelf ranee of his name? Pray speak." She answered very quietly. 'I am neither willing nor at liberty to do as you require," sbe said. "I am be trothed already, and my hand can only go where my heart is given, irrespective of lortune, sir. You see my compliance if impossible." 'As is also mine," said Wilfred, rising fiom his chair and approaching his prom ised bride. "Here is my chosen and be trothed wife, and I will have no other. Darling," he whispered, bending to kiss her hand, 'once again forgive me. How could 1 ver doubt a heart like yours! ' Sbe looked at turn wistfully, and an swered low: "I stand in the way of your fortune just the same, though. But for me yu ruirht lake this wealth and tin; choen bride Ah! it is I who should say not alone 'forgive, but, if you choose, 'be free.'" He looked at ber reproachfully. 'To my mind money cannot weigh againit love," be said. The lawyer interrupted them. "Vou two agree to marry, then, I un derstand," faid he, "and thus fulfil the conditions of the wilL I congratulate you." There was a universal exclammation of surprise. 'Oh, it is so," he went on. "Here is my letter. Jonathan Somerton gave his two dear children to each other and his fortune to both on condition thit they marry before tbe year is over. You will not quarrel with that proviso. I suppose, you two lovers, he added dryly. European Railroad Travel. They have the same idiotic little car riages in England, comprising from four to six compartment, each holding eight people in the first and second, and ten per sons in the third class compartments, la Bavaria thre are fourth class cars or car riages. These are principally used in timt. of war for the transportation of troops, and are plainly marked, "To con tain ten horses or thirty-tax men." Save io France the service, such as it is. is every where equal, if not superior, to that in England. One has to personally see his baggage in tbe luggage-van and not .only give "trink-gek" to have it labelled, but also to have it put aboard. The guard il tbe monarch ot the train, and runs it ap parently solely in the interest of himself. While he cannot take money for a fare, whether or no, with unblushing coolness be will take a bribe from anybody for any thing; and even an c Ulcer of the road thinks it quite the proper thing to pay tribute to the guard should he wish to oc cupy an entire compartment So far does this guard-bribing go that, so I was told by an English gent'eman of standing, a train of thirteen fiirst and second-c.ass carriages moved out of Cologne last week containing sixty-seven people, when there were accommodations for over 450 people, and over 100 persons were left at the sta tion who desired to take this particular train. Tbe guards bad sold the exclusive ness of nearly every compartment on this train to individual passengers. In con nection with this univened nuisance I have heard it seriously stated that the real reaso why the introduction of the American sleeping cars upon continental rail way lines could scarcely be effected was the opposition ot these very guards, wort would thus lose a great portion of their revenue. If you have to travel ail night, by slipping a five-mark piece (about $1.25), or very much leas, into the hand of th guard, you will secure an entire compart ment, or, at least, one side of one, when you can stretch out at full length, what ever may be the discomforts ot other pas sengers, too poor or too ignorant to em ploy tbe same system. A berth in lit duty little sleeping cars that have crept into the service, and which contain about four compartments ot four berths each, costs three times as much, and is not hail as comfortable, as these sleepers have nu accommodations whatever the conductor. usually a vile fellow, who continually in sists upon your purchasing bis bad wines, refusing to blacken your boots, brush you or do np your berth in tbe morning, al though he is conductor and potter in one. Waanttn. The occupant ot an offlje on Congress street west fixed matters one day, in suck a shape that any caller had to run the gauntlet of a boy jn the ante-room, and at he retired into his den teyond be said to the youth : "Mow, young man, look me in the eye." "Yes; sir." "And remember what I say." "Yes, sir." "It anv nerson calls and asks if I im is you must say you don't know. You will then ask their business. If they say it a financial matter you must come in here, stop a minute, and return and say that I am out of town to take baths for v-1 rheumatism." "Yea, sir." It was hardly at. hour before a Strang came up, and when asked his ousiuesa br replied: ' elL I called on a little errand in volving some money." that was the cue for the btr. Ue treated to tbe back room, to thetd to m employer, and returned wink ante-roofl and reported : "lie has lust left for the country on vacation." "Then I'll leave a note." said the mA and he sat down and wrote a few hne and his departure. When he had bees gone ten minutes the employer came out to read it. it read: "Called to pty you that $90, but T were out Am off for Tennessee. oe you when I return in January. Trala!" it was the w rk of only ten seconds fling on his hat and reach the street; Ut It was too late. An hnnr'a hard work, in cluding a walk to one of the depots, fail to turn up tbe man who bad money " leave instead of a hill tocoliecL The b over there was looking very much catf down. One would nave said that sea body had been swearing at hi n.
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