COIHIIKLIE! B. F. ROHWEIER, THE OON8TITDTION-THE UNION AND THE ENFORCEMENT OF THE LAWS. Editor d Proprietor. VOL. XLV1I. MIFFLINTOWN. JUNIATA COUKTY. TENISA.. WEDNESDAY. DECEMBER 21. NU. 1 nnto StiSiiid jyilliis, mil JTV eneath tba blue Judeati sky ; ' 1 lire? rriwned kings ift- '. J) liar a with his gaze fast fixed . " ' U' on A .... .:i j ; r'.glitlf flowed, i i . .re ed o'er the chilly plain. i: c.r t- ei were weary wire; 'I si.- .cv ,t ii K'.ni lone, long foretold. .A- i - !;.- u'fta tuny bare. :..-:.t ;e.ie'.s rich and rare. A- .i c:- tci.ats subtle tweet i. c :irr ed in t eir hands to lay - ut His loal feet 1 t ic irl with awe such music pour A-: e'er reached mortal e.r i a s-e clunting strcnif and deep y,ju-:e cal.tiw upon p ere. L-. .'-j 1 lower sung the star 'i , n the uzure air. 'i : : . -r -.i no I klrut trembled at the slsht. j i o v. ; d . n i : t 1 v- w r e re 1: Vi' i iii'ive a sta' le shed. v. :. e : 'lUent, ml d. V rj. housed with lowing herds, they i u a i .;-.hfr Liid the Child. i. .: -owned klngi fell upou their knees . r;v e y reveient prace; a Elm by thuiing-lit brow. t i.'itv i n His fce. ' e iiave f ouud H:m whom we sought: h.i i Him by tne sign. i:riiiie-'t tiiis lo.Iy pla-e! v ru le and coarse a siiriue! sjri al xi.e r costly treasures there r seet Martr's knee, ti . re the Chtlst tuns first was said Him the one In thiea. 1 l.o' . 'A' b .; A " A-l ImI Au : v en ascti :h?.t Christmas eve. Li;r.2 centuries azo, tte ice I i i :n Khom the three kings sought, W- hare not fir to go. l r here the p Kr and needy are. The " ettry ot es andveuk, We tinri Him whom the seers foretold. The Kini whorn nations seek. And who -o doth His ( bri-tmas feist A lib the cold and hungry share. 1. '. he nil! find the Christmas King Part a kin z wli h them there. - Inter (jreatL TO SPEND C11K1STMAS. NVITED me to spend Christmas with 'em, eh?" said old Mr. Knott, pausing in his task ot solder ing a new tin bot tom iDto a super annuated wash boiler. "Well, It's the first . one of our lelations as has ever took so mu h trouble as that for us, eh, old woman?" 3.ffr"2--. Mrs. Knott. who might have formed no bad model far the 'Witch of Ln-ior, as she bent over the Arc of sticks, in her old red hood, from which esMped gray elf locks innumerable, uttered a sinifl cant snort which might have been cen t' ued into almost any meaning. "What d'ye s'i oe they expect to get out of us now?" demanded the old man. "lie's your own sister's son, Heze Itlab," said the woman. Asters' sdos ain't different from other folks, as I knows on, said Ilez- ekiah Knott succinctly, And this ere's a selfish world." "Ain't many people selfisher than you and I be," observed lYiacIMa, his wife. "But It beats me what they should waste a two-cent postage stamp on askin' you and me to come and eat a Christmas dinner with "em fori" said the old mao. "Me, as Is in the rag business, and you as Is only my wife:" "It's just possible they wanted to see us," suggested Mrs. Knott, who by this time had blown the fire into a full, uncompromising blaze, and now leaned back against the door-way, satisfied with the result of her efforts. "Tell that to the marines," was the comment of her incredulous hus tand. There wa3 no denying that the dif ferent branches of the Knott family had been sorely scandalized when Hezekiah boldly bought a horse and cart and went into the rag-and-bottle business, instead ot pieaching the gospel, like his elder brother, or ac cepting a clerkship In a Tillage store, like the younger one. "I hadn't brains like Bill, nor capi tal like John," S3id this black sheep the Knotts. ".And I allays liked beln' in the open air. And, arter all, there ain't so much difference be twixt sell in' wares out of a wapgin', and handin' 'em across the counter, is there?" The Baptist minister looked stead fastly the other way when the sound ing of divers and sundry bells an nounced the coming of the tin-peddler's wagon; the budding merchant desired his wife to have nothing whatever to do with Bezekiah's help mate, in a sodal point ot view; but the shrewd 2ew-Englander only smiled and shrugged his shoulders. "I'm gettin' my llvin', anyway," said he. "The best on 'em can't do more than that." Mrs. Knott, who was a silent, phi losophical sort of a woman, toiled away in her kitchen, scouring up the rusty pots and kettles which Heze kiah brought home, cleaned the shab by suits that were given in exchange i' jr freh tinware and crockery, aDd presided over the sort of second-hand ef re. which, after awhile, Hezekiah t-t up by way of disposing of bis sur-l-ius wares. ud in time people got into the way of going- to "Knott's " for cheap goods, second-hand aiti'.ies. and all manner of odds and cr.-.ls. Frices were always reasonable tbiic the articles were varied and un T,ue r.ni there is no one who likr- better to save money than. your avera-e country farmer. Tm Bapti jalaUiter tad tux- :-r Rsjr- 1892. rounded himself with the "I-am-holier-than-thou" atmosphere, the storekeeper had undoubtedly the ad vantage of gentility, but It is ques tionable whether, after all, old Ileze klah was not the happier of the three. Day after day he was on the road. He knew the orchard where the reddest apples Brew, the copses where bubbled out the clearest springs, the shadowy thicket3 where' the brown-coated chestnuts rattled down at the touch of the earliest frosts. In his Quaint way he studied Na ture, and rejoiced "in her mysteries, and cared little that he was outlawed by his kith and kiu. And those were not altogether wrong who declared that he shouted "Ra-a-gs old ra-a-gs bottles and tin a-a-ware!" all the louder when he came past the stiff lilac bushes of the parsonage garden, and trudged beneath the shadow of the country store where his brother practiced the great principles of "ex change and barter." But Jonathan, the only son of the old man's only sister, had always sur reptitiously delighted In the myste rious contents of the basement where these second-hand goods were packed away, fie had helped bis uncle tinker up the old clocks, mend the battered tea-kettle3 and saucepans, and sort out from the rag-heap all that prom ised to t e capable of some rejuvena tion. 'When he married the district school teacher, however, Hezekiah shook his head doubtfully. "U"e've seen the last of Jonathan now, says he. "Mary Mix ll be a deal too genteel to let him associate 'Ions of us any mure." , But hereon the top of all this came the invitation to the first Christmas dinner in the young couple's new home. It had not, however, been sent without some discussion. "What:" Mary had exclaimed. "In-, vlte the old ra-i-and-bottle man?" "He's the Jolliest old chap you ever knew, Mate," pleaded the bridegroom. "And Aunt Vincy's a regular brick. I wish you cou d see the big ginger cookies she used to bake for me," "But if they come, Uncle William and Uncle John will keep away," argued Mary. "Let 'em," was the curt reply. "Uncle Kiah's the best of the lot, ao cordln' to my way of thinkin'." So Mary acquiesced in her hus band's wishf s, and the Invitation was duly written and dispatched. "It's rayther a Joke, you an' me bein' invited out, old woman," said Hezekiah. "We'll go, sha'n't us? Hev' we anything fit to wear?" "I guess we can make out," said Mrs. Knott. "And I'll tell ye what," said Heze kiah, "we won't be beat in manners, not by nobody. We'll send a Christ mas present to the bride. There's that old cast-iron wood-stove that I bought at Hound's Hollow, with the bunches of grapes on the door. She shall have that." "La, Hezekiah!" said Mrs. Knott, "what do you suppose she cares for an old second-hand rattle-trap like that? It's mor'n likely she's got all the stoves that she wants." "A stove's a stove, anyhow," said Hezekiah. "And I mean to send it to her, so you may just stop your clack, old woman." Mrs. Knott only smiled. She was used to the pertinacity of her spouse, and she gave way with a good grace. "Oh. what a pretty little stove!" said Mrs. Jonathan, when it was car ried into the neat best parlor on Christmas morning. "And how brightly it is blacked!" "Just like Uncle Kiah!" said Jona than, who was polishing red apples, sorting out the fattest and largest nuts, and sharpening the carving knife for the coming feast. "Might ha' known he'd 6end something dif ferent from anybody el3e. But, since it's here, I guess I'll put it up at once. It's prettier to look at than that air-tight thing; and we can start a fire right off." "But he sent word," interrupted Mary, "that we weren't to light the fire till he came. He wanted to show us the valves and dampers and things." "Docs he think nobody know9 how to start a Are but him?" said Jona than, lauahing. "So, no; on a cold morning like this we can't afford to wait." And so. when Uncle Hezekiah and Aunt Malvina arrived in a cumbrous little bnpgy drawn by the business pony, the pnr'or glowed with tropical heat, and the little stove presented its most hospitable aspect. Wish ye merry Christmas. Jona thanand vou, too, Jonathan's wife," was Uncle Hezekiah's greeting, as he trudged up the steps. A cd many happy returns," court- A MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW esied Aunt Malvlna, who carried an old china sugar bowl in one hand and its corresponding cream pitcher in a basket in the other. "Will you please to accept sone pretty old china as we've took in trade?" Mary came forward with a beaming smile and both hands held out. "We are so glad to welcome you here," said she. "A merry, merry Christmas, aunt and uncle." "Hal-loo!" said Knott, looking around him. "So you started the Are, did ye?" "Yes, Uncle Kiah," said Jonathan, "I started it Do you suppose I wanted to give my relatives a cold welcome, eh?" Uncle Kiah clicked his tongue against the roof of his mouth. "Dunno nothin' about that," said be. "All I know is that you've burned up your Christmas present, disobey ing orders thi9 sort o'way." "Eh?" said Jonathan. "Uncle, what do you mean?" cried Mary. Uncle Kiah stamped around the room and tore his hair in an ecstasy of rage.- "The fools ain't all dead yet!" 6ald he; "that's plain enough. I'd laid out to give you and your wife here a hundred-dollar bond for a Christmas gift and -I packed it into the old stove-pipe, with a lot of waste-paper, to make sure there shouldn't be n mistake about your gettin' on it, and so it's gone up chimbly, with the rest of the spark9 and smone!" Jonathan grew lividly pale. Mary uttered a little shriek of dismay. For a moment the Christmas glow seemed to have faded out of all their hearts. For a moment only, however. Aunt Viney came promptly to the rescue. "You're right there, Hezekiah Knott," said she. "The fools ain't all dead, bd long's you're left alive; for nobody but a fool would ha' thought of tuckln' hundred-dollar bonds up. into the elber of an old stOTe-pipe. And it's lucky for you and these young folks here that I happened to want a little waste pa per to wrap round this 'ere old china la my basket, and took the stuff n' outen the stove-pipe ain't it now?" She extended the basket to M iry Knott. Old Hezekiah pouncd upon it like a starved cat on a mouse, and dragged the paper wrapping forth. "Here it is now the very hundred dollar bond!" he shrieked, waving it triumphantly above his head. "A merry Christmas! Hooray, Jonathan! a merry Christmas! Old woman," to his wife, "you're the sensibiest of the lot!" And so they all sat down to the first Christmas dinner that Mary Knott had ever cooked with bright faces and Joyful hearts. "Uncle," said Jonathan, "how shall Mary and I ever thank you for your generous present?" "Don't say notiiin' more about it," said Uncle Kiah. "You're the only one of our relations as ever invited us to spend Christmas and I guess we can afford to make you a present; eh, old woman?" And Aunt Viney smiled a broad as sent. Youof Ladies' Bazar. A Pretty Present for Chxistnaas. A pretty trinket box is always an acceptable Crzristmas gift. An ex ceptionally dainty one has a founda tion of wlilte wood or stout card board, well padded inside with quilt ed satin and covered outside with Marie Antoinette silk. Over the lid is stretched plain plush, covered with lour tabs of Ottoman ribbon with a butterfly bow in the middle. Round the base and over the lid is gold lace. The Van Dyke points in the valance are each tipped with silk tassel. JUIott for Christmas. Though money makes the mare go, it makes Santa Claus come. Rub the price mark off the present unless it is au expensive one. Don't ask your child what he wants unless you intend giving it to him. If you wish to surprise your girl never ask her what she would like for Christmas. Dont buy vour best girl a pre.-tnt on the installment plan, as she might jilt you before you had made all 'the payments. . 1- r.- '' '' yf " 7 ' " ' ' ' ' ' ' MISS MAXWELL'S PENNY THE CI RL REPORTER'S CHRIST- j MAS ASSIGNMENT. Her rurcbase of a Bare Coin and Her Dis covery of the Mat to It-To Ouettsat a Cheap Restaurant Who Formed a Racher Interesting Acquaintance. Brother 31rt Brother. iHEspellofChrlst- nfas seemed over ail at the Beacon office that morn ing, though roost of the "boys" were eating their din ners in hotels, boarding-houses, and down-t'jwn cafes, and those who had homes of their own could not take a day off to spend in them. Even the dusty old bronze statue -of Justice at the head of the 6tairs had blossomed out into holiday a-pect. J.ue so- f7c!ety reporter had filled her s-rales with bunches of holly until the severe goddess looked like a jolly eower-glrl out on a lark. The elevator man was radiant over a small box fixed up in the corner or the machine, a djx in whose slot in numerable quaiters were ueina dropped, but from which nothing visible came out, at least nothin? visible to the "boys" a3 they straggled into the "local"-ro m, and began to rummage for mail In the wire basket or peep warily into the assignment book for the day. By and by the girl of the office came in, and, leaning her elbows con templatively on the railing which hedged the divinity of the city editor from the hoi polloi, looked down at that imposing individual dubiously. She was among the latest of them all that morning, for somehow, after she had started from the boarding-house she called "home," the thought of that other home down by the wide Ottawa and the carols they were singing there came upon her, and she had slipped back into her little hall bedroom again to have out the "good cry" that would come. But this, she thought truly, was no excuse to offer to the city editor. When men take the local chair they abandon hearts. Patient, generous, kind men have been known to actept the position, and they were changed wmmm ' '7 v.'-?Tv ''Vi ft v as in the twinkling of an eye. It is not written that a city editor or a ballet-master needs be heartless perhaps it does not require to be put in so many words. Still, 6he couldn't help hoping against hope that he would remem ber the day and send her home again. She was very tired after all the society events she had reported the previous evening, and it was so hard to work on Christmas. The city editor called a message to the Press Bureau over the phone, signed an expense bill for tha relig ious editor, ordered the sporting ed itor to look after that game of ind)or baseball at the X Club, and be sharp about it, and to take in that sale of fast horses on his way back, sent the "pretty boy" of the office on a social assignment, then, running his finger down the columns of the assignment book until he came to the initial "B, M.,v said, briSkly: "There's a nice little assignment for you, Mls3 Max well. Take a whirl around among the cheaper restaurants of the city perfectly safe by daylight and watch the kind of dinners some folk have to eat at Christmas. Splendid chance for fine descriptive writing. Make about a column and a half if it's worth it, and have your copy in early as possible, for we're going to be loaded to the guards to-night. Mind, the cheaper the restaurants the bet ter material for you to work up." The girl's heart sank. She was a little bit of a body, wit h a brave soul, but now things really seemed to be getting too hard to endure. She was even a trifle afraid to go to thse places, besides the actual unpleasant ness of it all, but well,, were not Ralph and little Paul even now coast ing their new sleds down the hill of Monte Bello, right on to the frozen white breast of the Ottawa, and was not little Gertrude radiant in a new shawl, and her (Blanche's) pocket Just so much the lighter? Of a truth, there could be no carping; if there were to be more shawls and toys there must be more work. So the girl slipped a bunch of copy-taper and a couple of pencils into her shopping bag, and started on her round. mi i -i u i rs m! A l 111 1 i V WWW fsU - Ji- V It was the. same story, new to Blanche Maxwell, perhaps, but old to those who know city streets and city ways. A dreary thronging of the "men about town." Christmas! One of the hollCay.; pleasant 'tis true; Put what Is the man about town to do? All the clubs are deserted; tt.e ceu who hare ties Are at uome to-day, looking in someboly's eyes. What was It to Moses, world-weary nd tired. To see and sie only the land he desired? It was not such a hard assignment after all, and after three or four shabby restaurants she had become quite used to it, and entered the shabbiest of them yet with almost a happy air. It was, Indeed, a cheap place, even lower down in the scale than probibly the city editor bad dreamed of sending her, a place where there was a 1-cent line in the menu, thus- "Bread, 1 cent; milk, 1 cent," etc. Th-; girl took a set at a vacant ta ble, anJ ordered tea and rolls she never expected to consume, while she ensconced herself behind that morn ing's Beacon, and proceeded to size up the heterogeneous collection of patrons that filled the dingy place. But first she took a long look at a man who had come in and quietly seated himself opposite her. Then her eyes came back to him again, and there they stayed, and filled with all pitifulness. He was a man of about 35 years, pale with the pallor of exhaustion and hunger, and threadbare in the extreme. Yet he was unmistakably of finer stuff than those about him, even as china excels earthenware, though it ba soiled and cracked. The greasy waiter, with slippers flapping loosely from his heels, pushed the bill of fare toward the pale man, who took It anxiously, then said in quiet tones, at the tame time laying a battered penny on the coarse linon cloth: "Bring me bread, please." The gre.isy waiter stared impu dently. Then seeing there was no earthly prospect for a tip he went off, remarking audibly that there "was a salde feller a-blowing hisself on his Christmas dinner. 'o doubt he'd be wantin' finger-bowls an' solid silver service." The girl's heart grew hot within her as she heard, then she leaned for ward impetuously, anl said: "Pray do excuse me. but I am making a col lection of coins, and I would so like to buy that curious penny from you. I will give you 50 cents for it; may I have it, please?" And before he could answer she had confiscated the penny and laid a bright half dollar ia its place. A faint red dyed the man's blood loss brow. "I think I unierstani," hi said quietly, "and I thank you. younj lady, for I am hungry, I con fess, and that is my last penny. But pardon me, this time you can't be overburdened with money yourself, or you wouldn't dine here Christmas day." "Oh, please don't mind me; I've 1 ts," bli.n it red Blanche, "and if you do:i't care I'll lend you the money Just " The man looked grateful and as tonished the greasy waiter into civil ity by ordering a beefsteak. Then he explained. It, too, was an old, old story of wild oats, wickedness, illness, poverty and repentance, friends lost, and utter loneliness. The penny was the ouly novel feature in the whole tale, only this was a silly, unworldly girl, aiul she wept behind her paper long before that was spoken of. You see, people from the country are so easily moved, and well, the man's face was a tragedy in itself. The penny oh, yes it wasn't an or Jinary penny at all, but one of two queer coins which had been given by an eccentric uncle to twin boys aud ki t afterward as talismans by them both. Somehow he never had been able to get over the idea that ttat penny would bring him luck. Perhaps it was only a remnant of the super stition that clung, thick as the odor of tobacco, to the wings of the wretched little theater where for a time he picked the banjo and sang topical songs. And he hated to let it go this morning horribly, but hunger is stronger than superstition or that queer thing called reverence and so Well, would the young lady kindly keep the penny until he could re deem it? He would surely get work soon "Work:" exclaimed Blanche. "Do you mean anything?" "Anything at all." "Then come to the Seventh Church, corner of Mary Jane and Worthing ton streets. Do you know where It Is? I WGtT.Pl.tKET ) BCr THAT CCRIOC5 FSST " I've an assignment to 'do' their Christmas-tree gathering to-night at eight o'clock, and maybe I can hear ot something before then and let you inow." A more unworldly person than Blanche Maxwell would scarcely have expected her penniless acquaintance to keep his appointment; a less in- W$rr .VIP genuous thin she would never have made It, for innocence is the most daring thing in the world. But he was there, pacing up and down in the bleak air, which penetrated his worn garments like a steel knife. She almost felt a sense of proprietorship as she pre ted him and hurried him off into the pastor's private study, where she had often held converse with the keen-witted, eloquent pas tor of the church. Leaving her rag ged friend seated on the crimson hor ror of a couch presented by the Ladies' Aid So?iety, she went in search of the minister. "Mr. Miller," she began breathless ly, "I've such an object for you to work off some of your charity on. I'm sure he's worthy, though I was introJuced to him through no more responsible source than this penny." The minister's benign face conj tracted suddenly. Lifting the penny JtSI kH EN R V OHOTHla!" from her hind he. beckoned her to lead the way. She brought him to the study, and then stood aghast at what she had not thought of before. The same height, hair, eyes, every thing save the marks of dissipation and what contrasted with health, happine-s and plenty. "They're enough alike to be twins, she thought, and then -Henry brother:" "llobert, forgive:" Blanche stole outside and crouched on the doorstep, while within the chorus rose: Peace on earth, and mercy mild, G id and s'.nueri reconciled. "God and sinners reconciled," the pale man, lifting his hat saio rev- ently. And Blanche, the youn heathen, as she turned in the last page ot hei copy that night, murmured: "So there was luck in the c-'w kel i er.ny afte all." Ch cago Ti nes. TREE DECORATIONS. Some Frctty Things to Delight CbUdreL and How to Make Them. ULL days of earl darkness in Decern ber are Illumined by the distant glimmer of the HffhK th.it. will Si?. i 'Vi'i'.j blaze on the Christ- Grown reo- ually think there is noth prettier foi decoration thau countless tiny can dies of different colors shining amonc the dark-vreen foliage, but chlldrer are delighted with novelties, anc every year brings some fresh device. Little people are never happier that when cutting, pasting, and gilding, and if the tree in their own homes is prepared by the elders they ofter render efficient help in dressing tht one which is to stind in the Sunday sctiool. There is no end to the vari ous devices each year brings som fresh noveltv. " Little hands can cut chains of gold or silver paper, stars, crosses, or circles, or string poppec corn, festoons of which form a prett contrast with tbe dark foliage of tht tree. A very beautiful effect Is produceo by following King Winter's mode ol decoration. For this purpose bits ol cotton wool, representing sncwrtakes, are gummed on the branches. Th foliage is then smeared here and there with mucilage, over which granulated sugar Is strewn, so thai the tree looks as if It were covered with 60ow and hoar frost. Many children are delighted with the sight of birds' nests among the branches These are made with h.ilf an ega shell covered o:i the outside witb moss, horse-hair and bits of graj wool. Smooth, susar-coated almond or gilt or silvered hazelnuts can bf used for eggs. From Germany, where gilt and sil vered nuts of all kinds are largclj used for the ornamentation of Christ mas trees, come- the following direc tions for tho process: Cover the nut with a thin coating of some glutinou substance, such a white of egg mixed with water, or diluted gum arable. Drive a sharpened match into one end of the nut to hold it by in or.lei to avoid too much handling. Aftet being coated with the glue put gold leaf on them, pressing it lightly down with a soft linen rag. Fir apples and pine cones can be gilded in the sam way. Washington Star. - The bachelor who puts his thumt into tbe boarding-house Christmas pie Is apt to pull out a collar button. Judge. There is a blessedness as well as a grace, in rightly receiving. m WS-V X&?yl. mas tree, neaas -etjjJ. are planning and JlrSSi fl ngers bu- ily work- in for its adorn- W-i? ment" .XVwJ P'e US d;S-r'! that 'US- lng a tnrutuat loasc. Here's a round to thee. Pan Chaa.-er At the fest:il Christmas time. Plxdge me. poet to the master Of our gentle art of rhymu. To the eldest of our brothers, To the bon r ot his name. Tj the "weetuess of bis s;iirlt, 1 o tbe glory of his lame; To that voice whose music echoes All the centur es alonz. Prophesying uti triumphant In etetnlty of sou.-. Century. THE GlIOST CHIMES. IVE minutes to 12 less t h a n a quarter of an hour more, and the Christmas rja, ttrrxjj. KIIUSL CUIUJCS will 'frZjf'M befrin to ring!" lna Beverly stood watching the clock in the cozy sitting-room V&xy--t rf wth an eager, ex ? pectant face as mother anxiously added : "Dear boys! I am sorry I conseuied to their going. The storm is rising; it is a dark, dreary walk, and after the trouble about Oscar, I am nervous for them." Oscar, her nephew, was the one spot of gloom haunting an otherwise bright and glowing Christmas eve. He had been staying at the Beverly home for some, wt eks, and he and her boys, Sorraan and Bob, had got on together like tried brothers. Three nights previous, however, a youthful escapade among the apple bins in Farmer Drew's barn had led to the capture of Oscar. The irate farmer had administered a flogging. The hot-tempered Oscar had rejoined his cousins smarting from the lahes, sullen, resentful, uncommunicative, except to burst out that he would "get s-- .j'i! - - ri r.r . ' ''.',:.-xi.e-s V) mm. It, i'Vl 3 '' ', ViM -J"".'..i.'.V i' ' I'. FIVE MINUTES ev.n with that old curmudgeon if It took him ten years!" The next morning. Oscar was found missing, nis bed had cot been slept in; an open window showed how he bad left the hou-e. His niyj-terious disappearance could be explained in only one way; he shrank fruiu the humiliation of his puni-hment, and had left for his home surreptitiously. Oscar had missed a great treat In leaving so abruptly, Norman and Bob had told their mother that afternoon. They and half a dozen boon com panions were going up to Hemlock Hill that night to ring the ghost chimes. What an inspiring jaunt poor Oscar had lost through his folly! The "ghost chimes" were quite an Inftitution with Fairfield boys. Years before a weulthy gentleman had built a church at Hemlock Hill. For a time it was the general place of wor ship of tho district. Then Fairfield became the populated center, new churches nearer home attracted the people, the Hill temple fell into dis use, and then decay, and now, win dowless. doorless. a mournful ruin, it was given over to bats and owls. One Chri-jtma3 eve, four years agone, the villagers had been startled from midnight sleep by tbe chimes of the old tower pealing out sweetly the dawn of another Christmas morn. The mysterlousringers were never traced. Boyish gossip discerned a ghostly hand in the occurrence, and since then, at every recurring Christ mas eve, it was considered an act of royal daring to visit the distant tuin, On this venture, Norman, Bob and six doughty-companions had de parted an hour since, and, with a fond mother's anxiety, Mrs. Beverly and Nina were counting the minutes ti' ked slowly awav by the clock. Midnight! Strange! The chimes were not YEAR. mm V wi ' ffi ? r. --l .'I ,v i . ! hi mhmm ..A 1V r II 'A k Sir 1 wm or.ncommg, tne Doys were not on time. The little group of adventurer-, had reached the vicinity of Hemlock Hill without accident, in the mean time. "This Is the wildest night w ever came here. Boh," remarked Gor man. "Whew: that blast cuts like a kui 'e. In with ywi, boys, to shelter!" "Who's got the time?" sang out Bob, as he clambered up the ladder. "orrnan answered from below bv Caring a match and examining hi: tlmc'i lece. "One minute of midnight, Bob." hu sang out. "Up with you. boys! Bare ly on time, we'll ring out a tune to night that will wake up the sleepers ." All gained the second floor. An ejaculation of concern rang from Bob's lips as be groped about blindly. "Boys!" he gasped, "it's no use!" "Eh?" echoed Norman. "What now?" "The rope! It ain't here. W can't ring, because it's gone!" Ding-dong: "Mercyl" There was a scramble for the laa der, and exclamations of affright. "We've struck it at last!" groaned a hoilow voice. "Struck what?" demanded Bob. "The ghosts! They're here the've stolen the rope they're ringing the chimes themselves hear them! Oh, my!" panted the affrighted youth. Whiz bang: Something went hurt ling past Bob's head, and he ducked unceremoniously. From above, too, at that moment, sounded a deep, sepulchral voice. "A vaunt! get out! get out!" "Throwing things talking Shak peare:" muttered Bob, suspiciously, as his companions basely deserted him for the floor below. "Real ghosts don't do it. I'm coming up after you." Dauntless Bob grasped the ladder running up in the belfry. Those be low held their breath. There was a lapse of excruciating silence, then f w - ,-. a - v Yv-V W&t' TO TWELVE." half-audible tones In apparent con versation, and then a scrambling down Norman had lighted a bit or can. lie be had found in his pocket. As its rays illumined the aperture near the ladder, he saw two forms clamber into view. "I've found the ghost:" announced Bvb Beveily in excited triumph. "Oscar'." gasped Norman, staring vaguely at his brother's companion. "Yes. Oscar, it is. sure and true," responded Bob, energetically. "What docs it mean?" murmured the boys, crowding about the pile and shrinking Oscar. "It means that O-war has been laboring under a mistake," spoke up Bob. "He was mad at old farmer Drew for horsewhipping him, and left our house to tip over his f- e.l troughs and set his cider butts run ning, out of revenge. . Bad work. I'll confe-s. Just as he got to Drew's barn that night he lit a match and it fell among a heap of straw. He couldn't put It out. got scared, and ran. He could see the glare and supposed he had burned Drew out, bouse and baggase. He's been h'diog in the old church here ever since, and he tried to scare us away to-night." "And all the fire did was to burn over an old t tnbble field:" exclairucl Not man. "Exac tly. Come, Oscar, cheer un You say you've suffered like a peni tent during your two days of starv ing and freezing, and I guess that atones for the hot-headei mischief you never Intended to do." "It's taught me a lesson, all the same," murmured Oscar humbly. Christmas chimes did not ring that night from the old church tower, but Christmas Joy was not lacking in motherly Mrs. Beverly's heart as she welcomed home the penitent prodigaL Victob RAJJCXirr. 1893. I v hil 1 fp in m 1 f f
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