VOL. XXI.
A. TROUT MA N,
dealer in
DIIY GOODS, NOTIONS. TRIMMINGS.
Carpels, Oil Cloths, Rugs, Mats, Druggets, Stair Rods, Etc,
FOR FALL- FOR FALL.
New Black Silks.
New Colored Silk.*.
New Colored Cashmeres.
New Black Cashmeres.
New Black Silk Velvets.
New Colored Silk \ elvets.
New Colored Silk Pluches.
>ew Black Silk Plushes
New Shades Ladies' Cloths.
New Dress Goods.
WEW KIBHOSS, FISCHVM, TIES, HAND SATC'IIEES,
Gloves Handkerchiefs, Towels, Corsets, Velvet Ribbons, Knitting Silks,
Kmbroidery Silk on spools, all colors.
New Fall Hosiery, j
Underwear for men, ladies aDd chil
dren. Largest assortment, lowest
prices.
CARPETS AND OIL CLOTHS
C&rpot Room Enlarged* Stock En
largedj Prices the Lowest.
NEW FALL STYLES.— We are now prepared acd showing our entire I-all
Stock of Carpets and Oil Cloths, in all the Newest Designs.
OIL CLOTHS, 1 to 2 YARDS WIDE, IX.ALL <|IJALITIES.
Please call and examine stock and prices.
A. TROUTMAN.
• BITLEIt, PA.
11EN It V BIEHL ig CO,
Dealers in
AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENTS.
Eemington Clipper Plow.
IMPROVED KELLER GRAIN, SEED AND FER
TILIZING! DRILL,
TOLEDO I. X. L WOOD PUMPS.
The Celebrated American
Fruit Dryer, or
PNEUMATIC EVAPORATOR,
It U portable, durable. abnolutolv fire-proof, economical and will cure frnit and vegetables in
ICFH time and with IOBH fuel than any Dryer in the market. It will pay for iteelf in IC«H than
thirty darn if properly attended. Its products are unau 11 aittd as to (jualily and color, and aro
in great demand at high price*. Full instructions how to dry, bleach, pack and market the pro-
accompany each machine.
WILL EVAPORATE 8 BUSHELS OF ANY FRUIT PER DAY.
ROOFING DKALKRN JIV
Arv,> lIOUME FIB\-
SPOUTING \ I IIING IIARO
DONE TO ORDER vS&WKKf" I WARE.
Iliitlei*, Penn'a.
WHERE TO BUY MENS' AND BOYS' CLOTHING,
At the Store of the undersigned, the acknowledged lea<ler in
CARPETS, CLOTHING
AND
GENTS' FURNISHING GOODS
We wish to nay to the trade this full that we have a larger and more varied stock of Carpet*,
Clothing,
HATS AND CAPS,
and Gents' Furnishing Goods than ever before.
REMEMBE WE HAVE THE LARGEST STOCK
The LATEST STYLES, tn<; LOWEST PRICES. We have all grades and all prices, from
the Cheapest to the Beat maie.
D- A^.HECK,
The Leading One Price Clothier and Gents' Outfitter,
2nd DOOR, DUFFY'S BLOCK, BUTLER, PA.
Gr. B. BARRETT <£ CO,,
238 and 240 LIBERTY STREET, Pittsburgh, Penn'a.
Watches, Diamonds, Jewelry, Clocks, Bronzes. Silver and Plated Ware, Watch
Material, Etc. Wholesale Only,
a«ptr>,l6t
FOR FALL. FOR FALL.
New Flannels, White Blankets, Bed
Blankets, Blue Blankets, Bed Comforts,
I White Quilts.
Canton Flannels.
Yarns of all kinds. Germantown Yarns,
Midnight Yarns, German Worsted
Yarns"Cashmere Yarns, Saxony Yarns,
Country Factory Yarns, Zephyrs.
The above Yarns in all colors.
Ladies' Sacque3
In new Fall Shades, Ladies' Jersey
Jackets, Lace Curtains, Lace Lambre
; quins. Large stock, prices low.
OS§iEO
The only known specific for Kj>ll . j<tic Kit-»."u ■
tj-K\ eo for Spa-ui» anil l-'aliing Si« knead.-* a
Nervous Weak HONS quictlv relieved slid cnreil
KquJed by u«>..-- In delirium ol
tta Neutralizes g- rms of disease awl sickness.
Cures ugly blotoli. M r.m 1 etubbom blood
Cleanses blood, quickens sluggish circulation.
Klinilnat<-s Bolls, Carbuncle* mid .Scalds." «•
ayPermau< ntly and promptly euros paralysis.
Yes, It is a charming and healthful Aperient.
Kills Scrofula and Kings Evil, tivia brothers.
Changes bad breath to good, removing cause.
fSF~Kout!< biliousness and clears complexion.
Charming ropolve.it and match lee i laxative."®*
It drives Sick Headache like the wind.' u 3
no rirasUe cathartic or opiate-'
Promptly cures UlnumaiUin by routing it. *.>tt
Restores life-giving properties to the bloud.*,. a
Is guaranteed to cure all nervou- disorders.
Reliable w hen all opiut.-s fall.' .j t
Refreshes the mind and invigorntes the body.
Cures dyspepsia or money refunded, a
l_-yf Endorsed in writing by over llfty thousand
Leading physicians in V. S. and Europc.'aa
| Le&ding clergymen in U. S and
i Diseases of the hi -oil own it a couoiteror.' b-»
For sale by all leading druggisti. Jl.'-'J.'iA
I - The Dr. U. A. rtichmoud Medical Co., Props ,
St. Joseph, Mo. (2)
Chas. X. Crittenton, A "rent, New York City.
TUTT'S
PILLS
TORPiD BOWELS,
DISORDERED LEVER,
and MALARIA.
From those .sources arise three-fourths of
the <li.sease.-j of tho tinman nice. These
symptoms indicate their existence: £.o«« at
Appetite, ItowelK costive, Sick lieuil
ache, fulliiesM after cnting, aversion t»
exertion of hitily or iiilmt, J:t uetulloii
of food, Irt-ltnbillty of Icmper, Low
spirits, A feeling of liaviiift in-Klirti-il
some duty, l»iszines«, Klutlc rltif{ »» • lie
Heart, Itnti l»etor«- I he ryes. lustily col
bred I'riite, < OA'.tTHMTIOi*, linii de
mand the use of u remedy tifnt acta (I I recti,'
on the Liver. AsaLlver medicine TUTT'S
I*l f. I.N have no e-juiil. Their action on the
Kidneys nnd Skin isnlso prompt; removing
all impurities through these three " scav
enger* of tlie system," producing nppe
tite, sound digestion, regular Moots, a clear
akin and a vigorous body. TI'TT'S pif.i.w
cause no nausea or griping nor intcrlece
with daily work and are u perfect
ANTIDOTE TO MALARIA.
HE FEEU LIKE A Sl '.V HAS.
"I have had Dyspepsia, with Constipa
tion, two years,and have tried ten dilfeient
kinds of pills, and TITT'S nre the first
that have done me any good. They have
cleaned mo out nicely. My appetite is
splendid, food digests readily, and I now
have nutural passages. I feel like a new
man." \V. I>. EDWARDS, Palmyra, O.
Sold everywhere, 2sc. Oilier,} I M urray St.,N. Y.
TUTT'S HAMTDYF
likait Hair on WinsitKHs changed in
stantly to a GI.OKB v lluck l>y a single ap.
plication of lids Dvi: Sold by Druggists,
or senL by expre-s on receipt of 91.
Office, 41 Murray Slreet. New York.
TUTT'S MANUAL OF USEFUL RECEIPTS FREE.
EXPOS! T I O IsT
Visitors should not fail to call anil examine
the largest and lincst stock of Imported and
Domestic Liquors in the St?te, at
n»\ Klein, 82 Federal Streel,
Allegheny City, J'iV. Opposite Fort Wayne
Passenger Depot.
PEI9AVE9T ST A ■ riHti
FOR KENSINGTON, ARRASENE
AND OUTLINE WORK DONE,
Also Icfsotif. in same given ly ANNIE M.
LOWMAN, North ft reel, Butler, Pn.
jnerJO-ly
FARM FOR SALE.
The •mdersigned olfers for sale his line farm
situate in l-'rankliu town-hip, thiller eoinilv. Pa.,
about Iwo miles east of the borough ol Prospect,
and eonlanilng
BKI l iTV-l IVi: ACIt I'S,
more or le-s, of good lillahlo groui'd, luiving
erected tin leoii two frame dwellings, and all
neeessai ". out buildings; two springs of never
falling \( iler. two orchards, farm in good repair,
etc. Ci'i, .enient to schools, chur "lie.. nostollice,
etc. \V I 1.1.1 AM Mi (iItKW.
novT-11. ProsjM'Ct, ItutlerCo., Pa.
found that
0, i. CLEELAND, JEWELER,
Is again - o t-r prepared than everjbeforp to
furnMi i.is customers with Holiday (ioods
iu h.s I,i.e. Silverplated ware of the
very best niaki^and
Watcher Clocks, Jewelry,
AND
-8 I ' EOTAOLEH
of all liinil.- and prices. Everything warranted
just a« it-presented. Please call and ex
amine goods and price which will be
as a< goods of the same qual
ity can be sold.
Flue Unli'li Iti-puiriiig « Spee-
IHlij.
Don't forgel the place, one square South of
Court I 1011-e, 111 TbKR, PA.
Butler's New Departure
Fur Piano , Organs, Violins and oilier Musi
cal lustrum- nts, call at the
NEW MUSIC STORE.
OF
•Kkbfr Bros. & StaufFer,
.Main Street, fiutler, Pa.
Sheet Mn-'e and Music Books alw <ys on hand,
or furnished to order. Orders for Piano and
Organ lunir g and repairing prom;>tljr attended
to by in I!. Kvtli of Pittsburgh, I'a.
Nov. 1 I, 'S i, .'tin.
Hard Wood Furniture
lor saV at i xtrcmcly low A great
variety ol lied* Tallies, Chairs, Chlldrcns'
Chair , I a■ li. s' Itockers, Extra Heavy Arm
Rocker-, M.n ldeand Wood Top Parlor Tables,
Bureaus, Slands, Double and Single Lounges,
Spring Maiiresses, 9tc , Ar., at
WM. F. MILLER'S,
Xoi 111 .Tlaiu Nf reel,
B 11 TLi B li. A...
FAcroay ON WASHINGTON stukkt.
dl2'B'! if.
Ailvertiso iu the CITIZEN.
BUTLKM I'A., \\ EDNESDAY, DECEMBER 19. 1883
| RING OUT, WILD BELLS.
Ring < ut, wild bells to the wil-J sky,
The living eln .iU, the fr, -ry light:
The year ia dying In the night;
Rin» out, n'ild bells, and let him -lie.
King out the o!tl, ring in the new,
King, hap|>y belie, aeross the snow
The year is going, let him go;
Ring out the fa'-;e, ring in the true.
King out the grief that sips the niin>l,
For those that here we see no more;
King out the feu I of rieh au<l poor,
Hing in redress to all mankind,
Ring out a slowly dying eause
And ancient forms of party strife,
Ring in the nobler modes of life
With sweater mar.uers, purer law-.
Ring out tho want, the eiro, the sin,
The faithless coldness of the times;
Ring oat, ring out, my u.ouriifttl rhymes,
But ring the fuller minstrel in.
Ring out false pride in place anl blood,
Tho civic slander and the spite;
Ring in the love of truth and right,
lling iu the common love of good.
Ring out old siiaj es of foul disease.
Ring oul the narrowing lust of gold;
King out the thousand war* of old,
Ring in the thousand years of peace.
liing in the valiant man and free,
The larger heart, the kinder hand;
Ring out the darkness of the laud,
Ring iu the t'hrist that is to be.
Tennyson
MAJOR JONES'S COURTSHIP.
The Christmas Present that Was
to be Kept for a Lifetime.
Crismus is over, and the thing is
done did ! You know I told you I was
gwine to bring Miss Mary up to the
chalk on Crismue. Well, I done it,
slick as a whistle, though it come
mighty nigh bein a serious bisness.
But I'll tell yqy all about the whole
circumstance.
Crismus Eve 1 put on my new suit,
and shaved my face as slick as a
smoothin iron, and after tea went over
to old Miss Stallinses. As soon as I
went into the parler whar thev was all
settin rouutl the; fire, Miss Carline and
Miss K'esiah both laughed rip lit out.
'There! there!' scs they, 'I told you
so! I know'd it would be Joseph.'
'What's I done, Miss Carline?' ses I.
'You come under little sister's chicU
pn boae, and 1 do believe she know'd
you was comin when she put it over
the dore '
'No I didn't—l didn't no such thing,
now,' scs Miss Mary, and her face
blushed red all over.
'Oh. yoti needn't deny it,' ses Miss
Kcsiaii, 'you belong to Joseph now,
jest as sure as ther's any charm in
chicken bones.'
I know'd that was a first rate chance
to say something, but the dear little
creeter looked so soiry ami kep bliisl)in
so, I couldn't say nothin /.actly to the
pint! so I tuck a chair and reached up
and tuck down the bone and put it in
my pocket.
'What are you gwine to do with that
old chicken bone now, Mujer?' ses Miss
Mary.
'i'm gwine to keep it as long as I
live,' ses I, 'as a Crismus present from
the handsomest gall in Georgia.'
When I sed that, she blushed worse
and worse.
'Aint you shamed, Majer?' ses she.
'Now you ought to give her a Cris
mus gift, Joseph, to keep all her life,'
sed Miss Carline.
'Ah,' ses old Miss Stallins, 'when I
was a gall we used to hang up our
stoekins '
'Why, mother!' scs all of 'em, 'to say
stoekins rigl it before '
Then I felt a little streaked too, cause
they was all hlushin as hard as they
could.
'llighty-tity!' ses the old lady—
'what monstrous 'finement to be shore!
I'd like to know what harm there is in
stocking. People now-a-days is gittin
so mealy-mouthed they can't call nothin
by its right nanje, and I don't see as
they's any better than the old time peo
ple was. When I was a gull like you,
child, 1 use to hang up my stoekins and
git 'em full of presents.'
The galls kep laughio andblushin.
'Never mind,' ses Miss Mary,
'Major's got to give me a Crismus gift
—won't you, Majer ?'
'Oh, yes,' ses I, 'you kuow I promis
ed you one.'
'But I didn't mean that,' ses she.
'l've got one for you, what I want
you to keep all your life, b',;t it would
take a two-bushel bag to hold it,'ses I.
'Oh, that's the kind,' ses she.
'But will you promise to k*ep it as
long as you live?' ses I.
'Certainly I will Majer."
"Monstrous 'finement now-a-davs—
old people dou't hnow nothin about
pcrliteness,' said old Miss Stallins, jest
gwine to sleep with her nittin in her
lap.
'Now you hear that, Misa Carline,'
ses I. 'She ses she'll keep it all her
life.'
'Yes, I will," ses Miss Mary—'but
what is it?'
'Never mind,' ses I, 'you hang up a
bag big enough to hold it and you'll
lind out what it is, when you see it in
the mornin.'
Miss Carline winked at Miss Kesiah,
and then whispered to her—then they
both laughed ami looked at me as mis
chievous as they could They 'spieiou
ed something.
"You'll be shore to give it to me
now, if I hang up a bag,' ses Miss
Mary.
'And promise to keep it,' ses I.
'Well, I will, cause I know that you
wouldn't give me nothin that wasn't
worth keepiu.'
They all agreed they would hang up
a bag for me to put Miss Mary's Cris
mus present in, on the back porch, and
about ten o'clock I told 'em good
evenin and went home.
I sot up till mid-night, and when
they was all gone to bed I wont softly
into the back gate, and went up to the
porch, anil thar, thore enough was a
' on>at h'p nieal-baaf hangintr to the jice.
it was uionstioiis uahandy to git to it,
l»ut I was terniincd not to back So I
it sniue chairs on top of a bench and
got bold of the rope and let myself
d jvvu iiito the bag, but jest as I was
gittia in, it swung agin the chairs, and
down they went with a terrible racket;
but nobody didn't wake up but Miss
Stallinses old cur dog, and here he
come rippia and tearin through the
yard like rath, aud round and round he
went tryin to tiud what was the mat-
I ter. 1 scrooched down in the bag and
1 iiidn't breath louder nor a kitten, for
| fear he'd find me out, and after a while
j he quit barkin.
The wind began to blow bominable
| cold, and the old bag began turning
round and swingin so it made me sea
' sick as the mischief. I was afraid to
I move for fear the rope would break and
j let me fall, and thar I sot with my j
teeth rattlin like I had the ager. It :
! seemed like it would never come day- j
light, and I do believe if I didn't love <
M iss Mary so powerful I would froie !
jio death, for my heart was the only j
j spot that felt warm, and it didn't beat !
more'n two lick 3 a niinit, only when I
thought how she would be surprised in j
the morniii, and then it went into a
canter. Bimeby the old doijcome up on
the porch and begun to smell about the
bag, and then he barked like he thought
he'd treed something. Bow! wow ! j
wow!' scs he. Then he'd smell agin,
and try to get up to the bag. 'Git j
out!' ses I, very low, for fear the gals j
mougbt hear me. 'Bow ! wow !' ses
be. "Be gone, you bominable fool,' ses
I, and I felt all over in spots, for I i
apected every minit he'd nip rae ( and !
what made it worse, I didn't know I
whar abouts he'd take hold. 'Bow!
wow ! wow !' Then I tried coaxin— !
'Come bore, good fellow,' ses I, r..id !
whistled a little to him, but it wasn't j
no use. Thar he stood and kept up his j
everlastin whinin and barkin, all night, j
I couldu't tell when daylight was I
breakin, only by the chickens crowin,
and I was monstrous glad to hear 'em,
for if I had to stay there one hour more, j
I don't believe I'd ever got out of that j
bag alive.
Old Miss fttallins come out fust, and !
as soon as she seed the bag, ses she:
"What upon yearth has Joseph went j
and put in that bag for Mary? I'll lay
it's a yearlin or some live animal, or
Bruin wouldn't bark at it so.'
She went in to call the gals, and I j
sot thar, shivering all over so I j
hardly if I tried to—but I didn't
say nothin. Bimeby they all came
running out on the porch.
'My goodness ! what is it?' ses Miss
Mary.
'Oh, its alive!' ses Miss Kesiah, 'I
seed it moyp.'
'Call Cato, and make him cut tho
rope,' ses Miss Carline, 'and let's see
what it is. Come here, Cato, and git
this bag down.'
'Don't hurl it for the world,' ses
Miss Mary.
Qato untied the rope that was round
the jice, and let the bag down easy on
the lloor, and I tumbled out all covered
with corn meal, from head to foot.
'Goodness gracious !' ses M'ss Mary,
'if it ain't the Majer himself!'
'Yes,' ees I, 'and you know you
promised to keep my Crismus present
as long as you lived.'
The gals laughed themselves almost
to death, and went to brusbin off the
meal as fast as they could, sayin they
was gwine to hang that bag up every
Crismus till thev got husbands, too.
M iss Mary—bless her bright eyes— |
slip blushed as beautiful as a moruin
glory, and sed she'd stick to her word.
She was right out of bed, and her hair
wasn't komed, and her dress wasn't
fixed at all, but the way she looked
pretty was real distraotln. I do be
lieve if I was froze stiff, one look at
her sweet face, a3 she stood thar look
in down to the floor with her roguish
eyes, and her bright curls fallin all over
her snowy neck, would have fotched
me too. I tell you what, it was worth
hanging in a meal bag from one Cris- |
IUUH to another to feel as happy as I
have ever sinpe.
I went home after we had the laugh |
out, and sot by the fire till I got thaw
ed. In the forenoon all the Stallinses i
come over to our house and wo had \
one of the greatest C'hrismus dinners I
that ever was seed iu Georgia, aud I
don't believe a happier company ever |
sot down to the same table. Old Miss ,
Stallins and mother settled the match, J
and talked over everything that evur ,
happened in their families, and laugh- |
cd at me and Mary, and cried about
tht ir dead husbands, cause they wasn't
alive to see their ohildren married.
It's all nettled now, 'cept we baint
sot the weddin day. I'd liku to have
it all over at once, but young galls al
ways like to bo engaged a while, you
know, so I spose I must wait a month
or so. Marv (she says I mustn't call
her Miss Mary now) has been a good
deal of trouble aud botherat iun to me j
but if you could see her you wouldn't
think I ought to grudge a little suffer! 11
to git sich a sweet little wife.
Your friend, till death,
JOS J (IN us.
San la Clans.
Santa Claus was one of the oldest
ideas of the Celtic west in Pagan
times, as ho was of the Pagan east be
fore. In Christian times ho was still
regarded with religious reverence, sit
ting, as he had sat for ages in Egypt
and elsewhere, in the annuof his moth
er. tjanta Claus was, in fact, the child
Jesua in the middle ages; and through
out that period the festive creed of
Germany and all Celtic Europe was
that he visited all family dwellings of
gootl Christians on the eve of his anni
versary, and brought with him gifts
and blessings for the children. This
beautiful tradition is still to be found
lingering in Germany, though Santa
Claus dops not seem to be specially
connected with it by name. Tho truth
of this orig ual bollef is plainly enough
indicated by tho word ' claus," which,
in the gothic or ancient German, means
"child" and "sou." Santa Claus form
| erly njeant th* Holy Child.
Christmas Presents.
'Who would think of it !' said Mrs.
Breezy, taking up a piece of fancy
woik and sitting comfortably in her
rocking chair. 'lt is ouly g few weeks
to Christmas.'
'ls that all?' asked Mr. Breezy, deep
iu an editorial on the recent action of
the young Republicans.
'Yes, only a few weeks,' said Mrs.
Breezy. 'The time will lly away be
fore we know it, acd I have hardly
thought of presents. I have so many
to make, too. Now you are elected I
suppose you won't grumble, as you
usually do at this season of the year.
There isn't any excuse for your saying
that you can't afford to give me a few
dollars for presents this year. It's
high time I had a little money to com
mence with, too. Suppose you let me
have a check for a hundred in tho morn
ing, and—'
'A check for what ?' asked Mr.
Breezy, looking up suddenly from his
paper.
'Only a hundred to start with,' said
Mrs. Breezy, putting her thread a lit
tle nervously through her work.
'A hundred dollars to start with !'
ejaculated Mr. Breezy. 'Start what?'
'That's all the attention you ever
pay to anything I say,' said Mrs.
Breezy. 'I suppose you haven't beard
a word I've been saying Do put that
everlasting newspaper down and pay a
little attention to your wife for once in
your life. I say you may give me a
check for a hundred—a hundred and
fifty dollars in the morning for Christ
mas—'
'You just said a hundred,' said Mr.
Breezy.
'I knew you'd notice that, said Mrs.
Breezy. 'I know I said a hundred a
moment ago, but I've changed my
mind. The fact is, I should really
have two hundred dollars—'
'My dear if you keep raising the
limit ut this rate I shall have to draw
out of this game.'
'I don't understand your horrid gam
bling terms, and I wish you would
confine yourself to respectable lan
guage,' said Mrs. Breezy, fumbling
around in her work basket for a partic
ular shade of silk. 'Two hundred and
fifty dollars wouldn't be any too much
for—'
'I call,'cried Mr. Breezy.'
'There you go again,' said Mrs,
Breezy. 'For heaveu's sake drop on
stop that siang. You know you can
well afford to give me a few hundred
dollars for Christmas presents, and the
man who has met with the luck you
have this year in politics should not
kick—object to giving wife a little
Christmas money. You wouldn't
think anything of spending three or
four bundled dollars on vile liquors and
cigars for your—your constituents, as
you call them, but when your wife
asks you for half that sum—'
'Suppose we return to the original
estimates and call it an even hundred?'
said Mr. Breezy, pulling out his check
book.
'Do you suppose I can get along
with a miserable hundred dollars?' said
Mrs. Breezy. 'Why your present
alone will cost nearly that. Yes, I ex
pected to give you a real handsome
present this year, but if you are going
to be stingy, of course you will have to
take what I can afford to give you.
Then think of the children, aud of dear
mother, and of grand-mamma and of
my deur sister-in-law, to say nothing
of brother Jack and cousin Harry and
your own ipother. You dou't want
me to forget your own mother—'
'You hold over me,' said Mr. Breezy,
and he threw down a blank check. 'Fill
her out to suit yourself.'
'l)o you really mean it?' asked Mrs.
Breezy.
'Yes.'
'Well, you shall have just the nicest
sweetest present in the world,' and
Mrs. Breezy gaze her husband a tre
mendous kiss square upon the lips
and flitted out of tho room with the
cbeck
'The first time this year,' gasped
Mr. Breeay, as he slowly recovered
from his astonishment.
And She Rose Up.
It was coolly planned and deliberate
ly executed in cold blood. They sat by
the fire, and as he perused his paper
she was busy with thoughts of Christ
mas. By and by ho waked up and
ask«'d ;
'Did any parcels for me come up to
day ?'
'No, dear,' she replied, as her face
grew white as snow "Have you been
buying anything ?'
'No. nothing much. I happened in
at Blank's this afternoon, and, as he
was selling out his slippers at cost, I
bought me three pairs. Guess I'll be
fixed for the next ten years to come.'
'You—bought—slippers?' she gasp
ed a- she pressed her hands upon her
heart.
'Yes, and Dash came to the door as
I was going past, and ask'id me in to
look at his stuck of dressing gowns.'
'And—and—'
'And I bought me a couple. Rather
handy garments, you know and these
are something extra nice.'
•Do you mean to tell me that you
went and—'
'Why, dear, how you tremble,' ho
interrupted. "Yes, I bought two of
'em, and when Dash happened to men
tion that I ought to Lave a smoking
cap, twelve new shirts and a smoking
set and a cane, I told him to go ahead
and send 'em up. I'll order anew silk
hat, wristlets, gloves, sleeve-buttons
and six neckties to-morrow, and then I
guess I'll be provided for. Come and
kiss your old hubby."
But she didn't. She rose up and
gasped and rushed out of tho room with
tearful eyes aud clenched teeth.
—"The poor will many a care forget,
The debtor think not of hU debts,
But as they each enjoy their cheer,
Wish it were Christinas all the year."
Thomas Milli.ii.
—lt is absurd to give your wife a
rocking-chair for a Christmas present,
thinking she will thus keep still.
They Would Celebrate.
The difficulty of repressing the joy
\ ous frolic of Christinas I>ay, ov«»n nt the
J farthest winter outpost of extreme
i Puritanism, is shown by Gov. Itrn«l-
I ford's record of Christmas time in the
Massachusetts colony. In November,
IG2I, about a year after tho arrival of
the Mayflower, came the little ship
Fortune, of fifty-tive tons, bringing a
welcome addition to tho settlement of
thirty-five persons. Bradford senten
tiously remarks, ' Most of them were
very lusty young men, and many of
them wild enough,'' and then proceeds:
"And herewith I shall end this year,
only I shall remember one passage
more, rather of mirth than of waight.
On ye day called Christmas-day, yo
Gov'r called them out to worke (as
was used), but ye most of this new
company excused themselves and said i
it went against their consciences to
worke on ye day. So ye Gov'r tould
them that if they made it matter of con
science, he would spare them till they
were better informed. So he led-away
ye rest, auu left them; but when they
came home at noone from their worke,
he found them in ye streete at play,
openly; some pitching ye barr, and
some at stoole-ball and shuch like
sports. So he went to them and tooke
away their implements, and tould them
that was against his conscience that
they should play and others worke If
they made ye keeping of it matter of
devotion, let them kepe their houses,
but ther should be no gameing or revel
ing in ye streets. Since which time
nothing hath been attempted that way,
at least openly."
The Most Kindly of Seasons.
When Irving was reproached for de
scribing an English Christmas which
he had never seen, Geo. Wm. Curtis
tells us, he replied that, although every
thing that he had descrilied might not
be seen at any single house, yet all of it
could be seen somewhere in England
at Christmas, lie might have answer
ed, also, that the spirit of what he had
described was visible everywhere in
Christendom on Christmas Day.
"Some say that ever 'gainst that season comes
Whereiu our Savior's birth is celebrated,
The bird of dawning sin/teth all night long,
Ami then, they say, no spirit dares stir abroad ;
The nights are wholesome, then no planets
strike,
No fairy takes, nor witch hath power to charm,
So hallow'd and so gracious is the time."
This is the Christmas sentiment of
to-day, as it was of Shakespeare's time.
It is the most human and kindly of sea
sons, as fully penetrated and irradiated
with the feeling of human brotherhood,
which is the essential spirit of Chris
tianity, as the month of Juue with sun
shine and the balmy breath of roses.
Santa Clans coming down theehimney
loaded with gifts is but the symbol of
the gracious influence which at this
time descends from heaven into every
heart. The day dawns with a benedic
tion; it passes in holiday happiness;
and ends in soft and pensive regret.
—Will it be a white or green Christ
mas this year?
—ln Florida a child was recently
born with eight teeth.
—Of course, a person who receives
no Christmas presents does not enjoy
the presence of Christmas.
—A Mormon bishop in New York
says llenry Ward Beecher is right on
the Mormon question. Beecher never
received a mare damaging compliment.
—lt is understood that the girls have
adopted the following as their motto
for leap year: "If you see what you
want ask for it."
—The immortal (J Washington
once placidly said: "To persevere in
one's duty and to lie silent is the first
answer to calumny."
—A friend of ours has liecn such a
Jour, good husband for the past year
that his wife has decided not to make
him pay for a Christmas present for
himself. Virtue briugs its reward.
—lt is not true that Santa Claus
will not put anything into u stocking
.in which there is a hole. Last Christ
mas a society belle found a darning
needle und a ball of yarn in hers.
—That great lover of the Christmas
season, Charles Dickens, wrote: Christ
nios is the ouly holiday of the year
that brings the whole human family
into common commuuion.
Digging out tarantulas has become
an industry in Sauta Barbara, Cal.
The insects are suffocated with gas,
and then stuffed and dried aud fastened
to u card. They sell at AO cents each.
—ln sending a postal note, take the
precaution to write across the face the
name of the party to whom you send it,
and the note will then be practically
made safe.
A young man named Darling lives
in Eurgo, and when uny one calls to
him one the street every young lady
within three blocks blushes and looks
around, gently saying: "flh, sh."
Pug dogs as pets have had their
tlay among the extremely fashionable,
but colds never go out of fashion, so
that it is always necessary to know
that l>r. Bull's Cough Syrup is a sure
cure for ull coughs und colds.
—A Chicago young nmn, in a rash
moment, told his girl that if she would
hung up her stocking on Christmas Eve
he would fill it to the brim with some
thing nice. Ho has since seen her
stocking, und is undecided whether to
get into it himself or buy her a sewing
machine.
"Are you going to present your hus
band with a Christmas dressing gown?"
asks the Detroit tree I'resx of the
ladies. Perhaps it is not pertinent,
but there are a great many wives who
will present their husbands with a
Christmas dressing down if they don't
get what they want.
—"With gentle deeds and kindly thoughts
Anil loving words, withal,
Welcome the merry Christinas in.
And hear a brother'* call."
F. I AWKFVfK.
A VISIT FROM ST. NICHOLAS.
t r«« the night befor.* Ohtislmn' wh»-ri >ll
tlirou.'li tin- honse
I Not a creature was stirring, not even a imu »«;
j The stocking were hunt'by the chimney «ih
care,
In the hope •< that St. Nichol.v: <OOll won I I I**
there;
1 he children were nestled |tll MIII" in their
Ix-ds,
\\ hile visions of danced in their
Iliads;
| And mamma in her'kerchiefand 1 in may cap,
Had just settled our brains for a loug winter**
nap-
When out on the lawn there arose • ue'i .1 clut
ter,
I sprang from my bed to see wliat was iLe
matter.
Away to the window I tlew like a Hash,
Tore o]ien the shutters and threw up the wuh
The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow"
Gave a lustre of Midday to objects below;
When, what to my wondering eve should
appear,
Hut a miniature sleigh and eight tiny reindctr,
\\ ith a little old driver, so lively and quick,
I knew iu a moment it must be St. Nick.
More rapid tliau eagles his courser* they caiue,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called tlicm
by limine:
"Now, Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Pramer
and Vixen!
Ou ! Comet; 011 ! Cupid ; 011! Ponder and
IMitzen—
To the top of the |>oreh, to the top of the wall;
New, dash away, dash away, dash away all.''
As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly
\\ hen they meet with an obstacle, mount to the
sky.
So up to the house top the coursers they Hew.
With the sleigh full of toys—and St. Nicholas,
too.
And then in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
As I drew in my head, and was turning around
Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a
bound.
He was dressed all in fur from his head to his
foot.
And his clothes were all tarnished with ashen
and soot;
A bundle of toys he had (lung on his Hack,
And he looked like a peddler just opening
his pack.
His eyes, how they twinkled' lii< dimples how
merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a
cherry;
11 is droll little mouth was drawn up like a
bow.
And the beard on his chin was as white as the
snow.
The stump of a pipe he held light ill his
teeth,
And the smoke, it encircled l.i< head like a
wreath.
He had a broad face an.l a little round belly
That shook when he laughed, like a Itowl
full of jelly.
He was i-huhby and plump a fight jolly
old elf;
And I laughed when I saw liiin, in spite of
myself.
A wink ol' lus eye, a twist of his head,
Soon gave me to know 1 hail nothing to
dread.
He spoke not a won!, but went sliaight to
his work,
And filled all the stockings: then turned with
a jerk,
And, laying his finger aside of his none,
And giving a nod, up the cliimni-y lie ro.se.
He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a
whistle.
And away they all flew like the down of a
thistle,
But I heard him exclaim, ere he drovejmt
of sight:
"Happy Christmas to all, and to all, a good
night!"
A Bridge Five Miles Long.
Among the notable bridges of tho
world is the one at Langang, China.
It crosses an arm of the China sea.
This structure is some five miles long,
aud has not less than three hundred
arches. Over the pillar of each arch
reclines a lion made out of a single
block of marble and yet twenty-ono
feet long. The roadway of this bridge
is seventy feet wide.
Remember tho poor on Christmas
Day.
—Mr. Barnum has at last secured a
white elephant. It is not the one
which Governor Pattison got rid of.
—Beauty ie only skin deep, and
sometimes it is only as deep as the
powner and paint.
—The hardest apprenticeship in the
world is to learn how to get along
without work.
—A fashion paper says bustles are
coming to the front. "So?" warbles a
prairie editor.
--No need to go to scienco or astro
nomy for an explanation of those Gcry
sunsets. The candidates for Speaker
were simply painting things rod.
—Allen Pinkerton, tho great detec
tive, wuß robbed recently while asleep
on a Western train. It has been said
that a detective never sleeps.
—Mr. Charles E. Duden, Ilellam,
Pa., says: "Brown's Iron Bitters has a
happy effect on the digestive organs
und a debilitated constitution."
—"The lime draws near the birth of Christ:
The moon is hid; the night is chill;
The Christmas Im-lls from hill to hill,
Answer each oilier in I lie mist."
TKSNYSON. .
—"Yes," said the young man, "I
know I need some new hnnkerchiefs,
but I shall not purchase any just yet.
Christmas is only a few days off, and
I never get anything but hand kerchiefs
for Christmas presents."
—The festival of the birth of Christ
was celebrated by different communi
ties of the early Christians at various
periods of the year, and it was not un
til tho fourth century that, the present
season was definitely fixed upon. This
is said to have been tho act of .liilius
I , Pope of Rome, A. D. 337-3. r >2.
There can be no doubt that the end of
December does not represent the true
anniversary, and there is reason to be
lieve that the celebration was transfer
red from the last month of the Jewish
year, when the birth WHS known to
have taken place, to the last month of
the Christian year.
NO. 6