VOL. XXXIII Silver Ware Free! Handsorrt triple plated hand engraved Teapots, Caktstands, hruit stands. Butters, creams, Spoon holders, molasses, sugars, cantors. Porcelain :uiJ alarm clocks and other articles both ornamental and useful. Call in and inspect the ware. GET A CARD. Purchase you overcoat for Men, Boys and Children. Suits, Pants, Hats, Capes, Underwear, Shirts, Collars, Cufts, Ties, Suspenders,-, Gloves, Mits, Overalls, Jackets, Sweaters, Umbrellas, Trunks. Valises, Telescopes, Watches. Chains, Charms, Kings, Pins, Brushes, Pocket ana Bill-books,Purses,etc. and when your purchase amounts to sls - OO you get your choice of any of the above articles. Our Stock is complete, And Styles correct. Quality the best, And prices the lowest. D. A. HECK, No 131. N.Main St, BL'TLKK, I}A.1 } A. FELT BOOT SALE. We bought a very large quantity of Felt Boots and Oveis AT A GREAT BARGAIN and we have determined to allow our customers and the people, generally, have the benefit of our good fortune. It is a First Quality Felt Boot with four leather stays and over shoes complete. Mens' win go at 1, Boys' as low aS 1.25 While we have a quantity that would last most dealers two winters, don't delay, at these prices they will £o fast. Remember the place. AL. RUFF A SON. The place to buy GAS COOKING STOVES AND BURNERS. GAS LAMPS FIXTURES, HOSE, WATER FILTERS. BATH TUB ENAMEL £etc, is at^ W. H .O'Brien & Son's 107 East Jefterson Htreet. Harness Shop! Harness of all Kinds Made to Order. Repairing a Specialty, AND PROMPTLY ATTENDED TO. BLANKETS AND ROBES. CASH PAID FOR HIDES. No. 111 East Cunningham St., - - BUTLER, A (The old Times Office.) FRANK KEHPER, Agt. Glove Sale! Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Dec. 16, 17» 18* We will have a Special Kid Glove Sale—including our well known "Perfection" and "Boston" Gloves—at 89 cents. Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Dec. 19* 20» 21- Special 19 cent Sale. 45c mittens at 19c. 25, 35, and 40c handkerchiefs at 19c. 25, 50c and SI.OO Windsor ties at 19c. 25 and 50c four-in-hand ties at 19c. 25 and 35c birds at 19c. 50 and 75c wings at 19c Ladies 25c vests at 19c. Childrens 25 and 30c underwear at 19c Sweeping reductions ir. Millinery. M. F. & M. MARKS, 113 to 117 S. Main St. Butler Pa. ■-■ ll 1 - - Y%T A IUV n HTTI C t KIN <4B. KAU KINtiK. uiamuni u a \ wjaukifinh.lSTUDS. 4KF It TT XT* CT I OKNTS' (iOL.I), LAMBS' GOLI.M VV £L X WXIJCaX* 1 »«.!rg (or covering t.ijjuc.ty, wearing ijualii.trs, gt-iieral appearance, and - -r I'.uney'j v.-<.r:h, yuu must buy THE SANSIW/N-WIUJAMS PAINT. tf" Mut - LuL "' *««:. •'tun (roaomtcul, full Httuur*. O :r jir.-rs are for "best good:;" first, last and all the time. We are in the business to stay aud HtisMts. & t stays *ji.h us. COkCRS i '1 C> HOUS« A .H Wifl." JhiS, J. C. REDICK, 109 N. Plain S*. THE BIT Lit R CITIZEN. 'i*> Tired Women Nervous, weak and all worn out —will fliid iu jjuriritil blood, made rich and healthy by Hood's Sarsaparilla, permanent rel ; ef aud strength. Get Hood's because Hoc ' Is the Only True Blood Purifier Prominently iu the public eye today. It is sold by all druggists, fl; six for fo. Hn/ut'c Pillc "" ' liOuu S I 11125 avo. All druifilsti. ■-FASHIONS, 1 ASCINATING X ALL ABRICS. OUR stock tables are fil'ed with every new style and every becoming design in the materials of Clochs dom, that good form demands, and good taste can suggest. IT is not our goods alone that are attractive. Our low prices add to the combination. That is why Economical People are our best customers. WE don't iry how cheap ive can make clothes (that is easy) but how good we can make them to give you the best value poss ible at jthe least possible price. ALAND, Tailor. It's All In Th Making. nteff lip whether clothes fit well or net. That is where we excel. Whether we succeed or not you can judge by the tact that the best dressed men in Butler almost with out exception patronize us. Poorly Made Clothes always look cheap while those well made have ail elegant ap[>earf< uce. The clothes we make are put together thoroughly. No slop shop work is tolerated. Try us, anil see if we do not answer this description. Cutting Your Cloth to suit the size and shape is a good thing to push along, also the cutting of our prices to suit the de mands of the public. You'll be astonish ed at the low prices at which we are mak ing up our large and elegant stock of Foreign and Domestic Woolens. Call and examine our large stock. COOPER it 00 Cor. Diamond, Butler, Pa c7\TD. oizaimmiimmio !LWer° 1 |Wcar | 1 Points | So ejg Hv irrit&tioir? f>- (VJ I?Y (Sj rsj M : i ; gjg fitting rsj eS Mo4eai'- urics? 6n> CSj . An CSj o wmmam/msM All grade of enderwear at very low prices. Largest stock of hats and furnishings for gentleman in the country. An inspection will prove this to any ones satisfacture. Colbert & Dale. 242 S. Main St., Butler, l'enn'a. BURTONS NEW STORE Is still the talk of the town, noth ing but the most favorable comments on our method of doing business. Our Customers DELIGIITLD. We Aim to Please. We sell goods only foy cash. One price to all. It will do you good to see our line of $7, $8,59,510,$ O 2,$ O 0&$2O Overcoats i°o S. MAIN ST., BUTLER, PA. ; I 'TLKH. PA.,THURSDAY. .1 A N UAR V 2, 1 89<>. TH£ DYING YEAH. X'/'ioer toi.it' lit la 4okt& of a p*rticg mjj ,v*l?.">|r.tot!.« Bine, writi, - n -ivUaM. -i si 3" h>. n.ciy r.. =t llesmdji tfitron.,w. I couldn't leave the light if it was ever so"— "No, nothing is the matter," said Muriel. "I have brought you a note from my mother. Something about the pattern of a bedquilt, I believe. And some chickens and apples and a bag of fresh hickory nuts." Aunt Dora read the note once, twice, three times over. Then she regarded Muriel in a sinister fashion from under her thick, black brows, while tho girl played unconsciously with tho cat, "Humph!" said she. "Yes, I'll go and get the pattern !" She was gone some time—half an hour, ut least, as it seemed to Muriel, and when she came back, tho girl start ed up. "It is nearly dark," she said. "I must make haste home." "Well you needn't be in such a flur ry" said Aunt Dora, with a grim chuckle. "I'vesent the pattern by Tom my Jenkins. He's half way to shore by this time." Muriel utterod a little shriek. "And how am I to get home?" she cried. "You ain't to get home at all," said Aunt Dora. "You're to stay and spend the New Year with me. That's what your mother said in her note." "But I shall not!" exclaimed Muriel, stamping her foot vehemently. "I must go home! I expect company tomorrow." "Sit down and be easy—do!" said Aunt Dora. "Must is for the king. I'd like to know how on earth you're to get home, with only one boat at the steps, and that padlocked tight, with the key snug at the bottom of my pocket!" And Aunt Dora laughed a hard, dis sonant laugh that was like the croak of a raven. For a moment Muriel gazed wildly around like a newly caged bird, then she burst into tears and sobs. "It is all a stratagem of mother's!" she cried, wringiug her hands. "I might have known it! I might have known it!" And that night at the White Reefs lighthouse, with the melancholy sea lapping the foot of the tower and the wind wliistlii: g around the steady glow of the beacon, was the dreariest that Muriel ever spent in her life. "You ain't good company tonight," said Aunt Dora, glancing at her niece over and anon between the stitches of her darning. "Because you have deceived me!" cried Muriel. "You and mother!" "Huxuph!" said Aunt Dora. "It's all for your own good. You'll thank us one of these days. Girls oughtn't to have their own way." But Muriel only wept on and refused to be comforted. She went down to tho foot of thp tower, the next day, and sat there, her cloak wrapped about her shoulders, list lessly gazing out on the sparkling floor of tho deep. "Is that a boat coming?" sho asked herself. "With one man in it? Is it toming here, I wonder?" Nearer and nearer came the boat, rocking lightly on the surface of the waves, and presently Muriel started up, with a cry of joy. For it was Paul Clifton waving his hand to her, as ho came ever nearer and nearer. "A happy New Year, sweet Muriel!" he called out, as the boat touched tho stone steps. "lam the enchanted knight come to rescue you from the prison tow er!" "How did you know I was here?" said Muriel, with sparkling eyes aud velvety cheeks dyed with crimson. "Your mother was entirely noncom mittal," said Clifton gaylv. "I could learn nothing whatsoever from her ex cept that you were well and were not receiving company. But I was fortunate enough to meet Tommy Jenkins, who, for the consideration of a silver quarter, iguominiously turned state's evidence. And here I am, my sweetheart I vVill you come with me?" "Of course I will," said Muriel, springing lightly into the boat. "But where?'' "To be married," said Mr. Paul Clif ton. "It is high time that this system of tyranny was broken up. My little Muriel must be mine and mine alone henceforward. Do you not agree with mo?" And Muriel answered: "Yes. ■' Aunt Dora got to tho window just in time to shriek an ineffectual summons to the pair in the fast receding boat. "It's no use," said»*iuut Dora, draw ing a long breath. "When a girl is in love, she is neither to hold nor to bind. I've done the host I could. Mehitable can't blamo me!" Two hours later Muriel walked into tho old brown roofed house on tho shore, leaning on Paul Clifton's arm. "Mother," said sho to the amazed Mrs. Vano, who fully believed that she was "dreeing her weird" in the solitary lighthouse tower, "I am married! And this is my husband. Will you forgive us, please? For I am so very, very hap py tfxlay that 1 do not want a living soul to be at variance with me!" And so Muriel signed her declaration of independence, and became Paul Clif ton's wife upon this glorious sunshiny New Year's day. And Mrs. Vane and Aunt Dora were compelled to confess themselves outwitted and to accept their defeat with as good grace as pos sible. "Fate is fate," said Aunt Dora grim ly- "And I wash my hands of the whole concern," said Mrs. Vane. But Paul and Muriel were serenely happy. And what mattered aught else? —New York Ledger. Christinas Bells Itinc .Joyful Tilings to All the Earth. There is no holiday in all tho long calendar of the montlib that is so uni versally and so enthusiastically cele brated as Christmas. All men every where take heart of grace and smile a cheerier smile as the music of the Christmas bells falls upon their ears. Whoever will look back to his young days cannot help remembering what a strange, mystio time Christmas was. There was something a'm Ist awe inspir ing in the music of the Christmas carols tmng at midnight in tho open, frosty air. Aud these Christmas "waits" who sung, who were they? Unseen and unknown, wo almost deemed them beings of a fairer world sent down to make Christ mas delightful. If we had known in theso days that these men who broke tho silence of the star-y night to tell us what "the herald angels" sang wcjty mortals given to the smoking of tobacco and tho drinking of porter, all our ro mantic dreams would have ended there and then. As we grow older we .v --wiser, and therefore a little sadder. Wo know, of course, that there is no real UiUita c laua; but, oh, how wo wish thvro wurai WATCHINC THE OLD YEAR OUT. The CuKtoui Onco foiiiuiou In Nonderous toiiKU*' that swings In tho tower of time. The cathedral dim Is the universe, and the bell's hug" rim Is the other blue as it rings and rings. Tho chimes aro tho passions that sway men's souls — That tempt and inspire them. Tho thought, tho deed, On this New Year's eve from th*. earth droM freed, In 0110 mighty vibration upward rolls, And hushed are tho voice# around th\» thron«s A » tho tin at Croator receives his own. —Detroit Free Press. How the Greek Celebrates Christmas. It is more than likely that many of our Christmas customs were born iu Greece, more particularly tho decora tions, lights and games. Here ghosts and hobgoblins are rampant between Christmas day and Epiphany, and chil dren aro often frightened into unwilling obedience by the tales. As the pious Greek fusts for a month before Christ mas the feast of that day is very wel come to him, though it consists princi pally of macaroni and strong cheese. On the island of Chios there is iu use a strange sort of Christmas tree, which is sometimes simply a polo adorned with fruits and flowers, carried by a tenant farmer to his landlord as a pres ent that typifies tho good will and wishes for an abundant harvest.—Ex- Change. Kissing Under the Mistletoe. Tho mystic mistletoe bough then as uow granted a kissing charter to the swains, and the maids were willing suf ferers. The sacred mistletoe was regard ed with religious veneration by tho Druids,and its berries of pearl as «ya»boia of purity and associated with the rites of marrtag.. From this the transition was but slight to the kiss beneath the cabalistic bough. This traditional »u --credness, the genesis of which is un known, has endured through tlie ages, ;,nd today f< >r man and maid to meet be neath tho mistletoe gives the right to a sacred kiss.—New York Herald. SIAMESE NEW YEAR. trii Spirits Supposed to ic:«».t the l>»- p&rting Year—A Night of l. .r. .. The Siamese "Choolatj:il:.»rat. .r re ligions New Year, generally f.»i. on the day nfter the first full moon in tho month of March. The Brahiniij .. rolo gcr, whose sole duty it 1.- to point-out the aspect of the sun, mo 11 and stars, heralds the approaching mil moon by setting in motion all the multitudinous gongs aud temple bells 111 the city far ai:'. ~ Tho people, who are always ready, v. ' r this signal, have generally year. Debts have beei , nnts closed, merchandise disposed ui .... . ...I traff.o of buying and selling suspended three days previous to tho expected event. The announcement made by the many tongued instruments is received by the vast population that inhabits the valley watered by the beautiful Menam river with fear and trembling, for they thin ly believe that this is the witcbiug hour when the very atmosphere 1 f the world is alivo with gods, demous, genii and hobgoblins, and forthwith tho anx! us, superstitious people hasten to fri. irate their evil designs. They bind r.ii.-; nu cotton thread, consecrated by the pritst round their doors and wind ws, iu; the sacred thread is supposed to prove an effectual barrier in keeping out the nia licious spirits. This done tin y place by the doors of their house- and hats a platter containing a pig's head and a bottle of arrack, as a conciliatory repast for the wandering ghosts that may de sire to regale themselves during the night, after which the whole city, like tho snail, draws in its horns and no con sideration will tempt a mortal soul to venture out of it until sunrise the next morning. At sunset every family offers to it.- cwn household genii an oblation of can dies, perfumed tapers and roasted rice. As for the royal palace, 7,000 balls of uuspun cotton, of seven fibers, conse crated by 27 priests, are reeled round and round the walls, and from sunset until dawn a terrific and continuous cannonading is heard from all the forts of the city to rout tho evil spirits that infest the departing year. But once this dreadful iiightis passed, tho terror sticken inhabitants, with a long drawn sigh of relief, prepare to welcome the new year. Dressed in many colored silks, tbey repair first to the temples to offer praise and thanksgiving for their deliverance and to make hand some gifts to the priests, and not until they have propitiated Buddha and Bud dha's earthly representatives do they think of their own merrymaking. —Ex change. New Year's Wnssail Howl. No English holiday was of much ac count that was not observed with flow ing bowl. Oil New Year's eve the was sail bowl wai filled with spiced ale and dnink iu families, and poorer folk tied a bowl with ribbons and begged for money for nle to fill and refill the bowl, singing: Wassail, wassail nil over the town; Our toast it is white; our alo it is brown; Our bowl it ts made of a maplin tree; We be good fellows all; I drink to thee. In some parts of England the old year is "swept out" by men and boys with blackened faces, dressed to represent sweeps; in others it is "burned out" with bonfires. Sometimes it is rung out with muffled bells that are unmuffled and rung clear after la o'clock.—lnde pendent. What Happy New Year Means. A happy Now Year! What does it mean? Aro not these words often thrown out as a greeting without thought or depth of meaning? Is it a year in which to ourselves come wealth and health, prosperity and friendship; one spent in the pursuit of fleeting pleasure and filled with self centered interest? No! Rather let the wish be to each aud all, as the- u«w year dawns with all its op portunities, that the days of 1896 may be well spent—filled with thought and sympathy for those around; that in self forgetting and kindly deeds the happi ness of others may bo ever sought, and then most truly will each act rebound again in joy and blessing to the heart from which it springs.—Maud Booth. New Year Means l*rogre«s. A new year, not simply another year. Many people may be said to live the same old year over and over again. Each succeeding year is the same unit added once more to tho sum of life. There is tho same task performed in the same sjjirit with the same motive; the same imperfections of character, the same failures of conduct. The times may change and progress hasten, but if we stand still, we live only the old year once again. A new year never comes to the contented ox; he simply grows old. It is not the lapse of time or the prog ress of civilization, but our progress, which makes possible to us a new year. —Josiah Strong. For the Ensuing Year. May tho new year, just opening to us, be signaled in public and in private life by the growth of noble ideas—of ideas that shall make men freer, truer, better; that shall more and more reflect tho incomparable teachings of the Holy Child whose nativity we have just cele brated, and whose spirit, imitated and obeyed, can redeem the time and crown mankind with blessedness.—Christian Work. liirth of the Year. How liko a human birth the waking hour Of tho child year! Tin* weak and querulous gale? Mid t«*ars of rain doth lift u kindred wail. Blankly tho nun's eye starts; tho air doth lower Dense as a listless oar. Beneath a shower Of snow fresh fallon those branches, white and frail As newborn Llinbs, lie prone, with only power Given to endure what wind soe'er prevail. The baby lips that pout th« ir hung* rlritf Do not more wistfully UHJ nurse invite Than evorv spiral leaf bud yearns for spring. And as tho young blue eyes wax deep and bright Wlillo tho soul grentens, so the glowing light Widens bv mom and eve its azure ring. —Philadelphia Times. DISTRIBUTING GIFTS. Tht» Spider Tarty Will Furnish Much Amusement For Christmas. A "spider party" is a novel method of giving preseuta at Christmas to chil dren and may bo thus arranged: Tho guests, on arrival, are greeted by an enormous spider in the center of a huge web spuu across the entire room, aud from all possible nails and projections should be a maze of white cotton threads, each attached at one end to a large, brightly colored spider, at the end of which must be hung a little wooden winder. Each guest, in turn, chooses one of the spiders, and, wind ing up the thread, following all its in tricacies, reaches at last a special insect, insido of which has been placed the small present. Great amusement is produced by these unexpected finds, which may be varied according to tho wishes of tho hostess from bonbons and knickknacks or small toys to little articles of jewelry, neck ties, etc. Of course, if wished, the name of each guest may bo written on the littlo winders, so as to insure the right gift going to a right child or grown up person. Any one ;un make the large color.-' 1 , .piders at home, or procure them from any large toyshop, and when sending out her invitations they should be so worded as to invite her friends to a "spider at home" party, which will cause v.iuch wonder and interest to b© taken m the approach injr party by her intended little visitors. lUggiiiff llr.ad tuni C tie*,.,. t»ec.tch children of tin- poorer ciuss ix* small town etill beg on New Yearns v*j u. h a.';. Hogaiuanay, Troll lay. Give us oi your white bread And none of your gray! They also beg for cheese, which they call "nog-money," and Brand's "Popu lar Antiquities" gives this bogging rhyme used by Scotch children : Get up, gudc wife, and binnosweir; Deal cakes and cheese while ye are here, For the time will come when ye'U be dead And neither need your cheese nor bread. As the children on these forays are swathed in great sheets formed into a deep bag or pouch to carry the oatcake they form quite a mumming and fan tastio appearance on the by streets and lanes.—lndependent. New Year's In 1790. New Y*ear's day, 1700, was one of special interest to those who delight in tracing facts concerning this method of celebration. President Washington,Jthen in the first year of his first term, lived at the Franklin House, in Cherry street, New Y'ork. The city was then a little Dutch town oi cobblestones and gardens, containing about 1,400 houses and 20,000 people, most of whom wete tradesmen and me chanics of very limited means. The president had lived among them several months, but most them had held aloof through the awe inspired by his great character and his high office. But en this New Y'ear's day a great num ber of them put on their best cocked hats, their Sunday wigs and all their best clothes and called upon the president.— Philadelphia Times. Some Good anil Rad Omen*, To meet a red haired person on first getting up indicates a dull day in busi ness, and if such a one cross your door on New Y'ear's day you will have an unlucky year. While making a trade, if a cross eyed person looks at you, it in dicates that the bargain will be unprofit able. To hear a cricket chirp is good luck, and it is always a welcome sound uuder the hearthstone of the farmer's house. —Exchange. A New Epoch. A» tho sun completes his annual rev olution through the heavens by touching the southern solstice, and then com mences his return to northern latitudes, man is compelled to recognize a new epoch in his own career and is reminded to pause a moment for earnest reflection in order to gather wisdom from vanish ed months and to forecast the signs of the future.—Christian Work. Japan's Common Birthday. The first of the year is really a sort of double festival in Japan, for the Japa nese, like the Chinese, -eokon their age from that date. A child born 24 hours before New Year's day is called 1 year old on that day, so that it is the birth day of all the Japanese people.—New York Advertiser. Love and Charity. If you can make love and charity in your heart choJd with the last song the ihoir sings New Y'ear's day, you can make up your mind that you are a prett. good man after all.—Kearney Journal A Song of the Season. I love no rost but a nut brownc teste And a crab layde in the fyre; A little bread shall do me stead- Much breade 1 not desj're. No froste nor snow, no winde, I trowe, - Can hurt ineo if I wolde. I am so wrapt and throwly lapt Of jolly good ale and olde. Baek and sydo go ban-, go bare; Both foot© and hand, go eolde; But belly God send thee good ale lnoughe, Whether it be new or olde. With sober cheerfulness the grandam eyes Her offspring round her, all in health and peace, And, thankful that she's spared to see this day Return once more, breathes low a sacred prayer That God wouli shed a blessing on their heads. - Selected. Not So Generally lied as Holly—Vener ated by the Druids. Tho connection of mistletoe with Christ - mas is a very curious one, says Hubert Blight in tho Philadelphia Press, and far from being a general ono. Literature is perhaps mainly nisponsible for It, in that allusions to a custom. In a great degree purely local, have made a large number of persons Interested In tho plant. It, more over, seems to me that the custom of using it in Christmas decorations depends on two considerations—first, Its evergreen habit, and, secondly, the veneration In which It was held by the Druids. In the orchards of Herefordshire and Worcester shire, in England, and in those of Nor mandy, apple trees may bo seen covered with mistletoe to such an extent that In winter time, when divested of their natural leaves, they present a mass of green in the leaves of their parasite. The reasons mentioned have no doubt done much to secure for the mistletoe tho place which In recent times it has held In Christmas festivities, but It Is not so uni versally honored at Yuletldo as the holly. In fact, Its popularity Is purely local, and its use as an ornament, In places whore It does not grow. Is due rather to an ant I quarian sentiment than to uny feeling that Its presence at tho rejoicings of e season Is necessary. You may have a \ rj ujorry Christmas without any mistletoe at all, but to the majority of tho people a Christinas without a spri-; c.r two of holly would scarcely seem i bo Christmas at all. Even that rare old plant, the Ivy green, cannot compete with tli holly as a neces sary part of domestic adornment for the Christmas merry gatherings. Still mistletoe has a certain amount of sentiment attached to it, and then-torn the mistletoe bough finds a place In the farm houses, mansions ami castles of the dis tricts of England where It grows and in the dwellings of the wealthy when* it can Imi purchased, while here a spray Is bought just for tho sako of old memories. The Christmas Message. Cold must be the heart that has no re spouse to this great Christmas sentiment, barruii Indeed the home Into which no recognition of the Christ child enters, no thought of that inestimable gift that has made alj mankind brethren. To the poorest and humblest of us this Christmas message speaks. The wise men required tho guiding of a star, but to tho watching shepherds the angel spoke face to face, and there Is a Christmas sentiment In all these gay streets and Jostling crowds that tho wise men of our own day are not always the first to understand. In a few days more the evergreens will have faded, and we shall Ist going al>out our business with all the stern realities of the new year Itefore us. But we shall carry something over from this great holi day that will not fade if we care to keep it green, a new Impulse of faith and lovo that will keep the world still growing brighter and better Ix-enuse of Christmas day.—Philadelphia Times. Hanging the Holly, The English holly Is finer In quality than that grown on American shonss, says the St. Louis Republic. The leaves an< a better green and the l>errlos larger, and before the holiday season sets in great hampers of It are shipped from the English ports to delight American eyes and hearts. An attractive manner of using It Is to tie big bunches with long satin ribbon loops and ends, matching 111 shade the hue of the berries, and place them over pictures or mantelshelf, or fasten against the wall, esjH-elally in some plctun-sque nook or cor ner. Underneath the mantel, when there Is no fireplace, the space may be banked with m;L~M-dof the spiny leaves and bright berries, jars or vases may be filled with them, while holly wreaths and ropes arc another form of decoration, very effective both In large and small apartments. i 7N T o. 1 NEW YEA It I'OIi.TEN'TS ANCIENI SUPERSTITIONS RcGAROING THE WEATHER. The Twelve SoocMdlng ChriitiQM Suppo*e«l to lie In«lice« For ihe Kni>utug Tear -Cnrlou* Custom* and of Many - The 12 days from Dec. 2mc. A like belief exists to this day in Lan cashire and Northamptonshire, Eng land, and a very old writer (lottO) re cords the current notion in his day that the 12 days served as nti index o* the coming year's weather. It was f ■ i one English port that if the \\ - tic .< \v hard on the fifth night (Dt.\ ), at sea would be in great \ i;i .lie ui ing year. The inhabitants of the l. an tains restrict this prophesying pern i to that of our holidays, from Christmas to New Year's, and are willing only to say that these six days indicate the character of the weather for the succeed ing sis months. In one part of our own country it is said that "the first three days of Janu ary rule the coming three months," while in another place the 12 days are said to bo the "keys of the year." Of New Year's day itself we have the authority of a very old weather prophet—the author of the "Shepherd's Kalendar"—for the generally ominous portents to be drawn from the weather on that day, "If New Y'ear's day in the morning open with dusky red clouds, it denotes strife and debates among the great ones and many robberies that year. " More recently it is said of this. day, "If the morning-rrr—tCew ?ear's day is red, it portends foul weather and great need. " While of the second day of the year it is said, "As the weather is this day, so it will be in September." In the "Book of Presidents" (prece dents), 1614, Jan. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 are set down as unlucky days. Another chronicle says: "January.—Of this first month, the opening day, and seventh, like a sword will slay." The first day of the year is often re garded as the proper time to make cer tain divinations with reference to many events affecting the future. In North amptonshire the master of the family then tempts fate by opening the Bible with his eyes shut and obtaining from the passage first touched with his finger some indication of the events of the coming year. Among the Wends young maidens hasten the advent of the chosen husband by going to the henhouse on New Year's eve, striking the perch right among the hens, while repeating to themselves the following doggerel: If cackle* the hen, You will have a man, If cackles the hen. Who known when? Certain observances are supposed to obtain luck for the year following. In ono part of modern Greeco all in the house go out early New Year's morn ing, then return to the dwelling bearing each a branch on which the leaves are well dried. These aro cast on the open fire, each wishing at the same time good luck to the family. The drier the leaves, the greater the flame and the better the augury. In the north of England new clothes aro put on for luck the first day of the year. An odd ceremony is recorded of one locality in England. Bands of straw were put under the feet on New Year's day whilo at table. When the meal was finished, one person got under the table and another ono sat on his back and drew out tho bands of straw. These wero taken to the orchard and bound round trees, which were thereby insured to bear a full crop of fruit the next year. In parts of Frauce it is regarded as unlucky to lend anything on New Year's day. Tho fire must be watched with great care on tho first day of the year. In Lan cashire, England, it is said that if it do not burn through the night of New Y'ear's eve, bad luck will visit the household that year; nor must any one be given a live coal, or even a lighted candle at this time, for tho bad luck will then visit the recipient of the gift. At Auspnch the shadow thrown on the wall by the candles on tho Christ mas tree, on New Year's evening will, if any one is to die soon, represent his shadow headless. In Roumania the New Y'ear begins with a ceremony of blessing the waters, the prie.-.t performing a naass and sprinkling the streams with koly water while blessing them.—St. Louis Re public. Uneer Welsh Beliefs. In many parts of Wales to see one's shadow in the moonlight upon New Year's eve is believed to be an infallible sign that the person seeing it will die before the expiration of the coming New Year, and there is also a popular super stition that if an unmarried woman should see her face reflected in wator on New Year's eve it is an infallible sign that she is destined to live and die in a state of single blessedness.—New York World. So Many dlfU. Three hundred ami sixty flvo spick, span, new, Beautiful presents for mo and for yott[ Till them with klndaeas and sunshine, my honey, Ami you'll these gifts Utter than play thing or money. —Youth's Companion. Laurel and Ground I'lne. Next to the mistletoe und holly tho lau rel and ground plno an' most favored, tho former's glossy leaves and green berries suggestive of good cheer and always form ing an effective background when gay ber ries or mosses are used in mldltlon. Tho ground plno colls easily and gracefully into wreaths and Is Invaluable for twining about staircases or pillars or for using In decoration on a large scale when boughs of spruce, hemlock and cellar are also much In vogue.—St. Louis Hepubllc. Paris Christinas Confection*. Parisian confectioners and florists dooo mte their shops with some effort at symbol- Ism on the fete days of tho year. Last Christinas bonbonnlcres of donkeys, with panels of Infant dolls, were displayed. Tho favorite cake of this holiday is almond, thinly made and covered with figures. Plum cake if seen in the north of France during tho holidays. Another cake, "l'enfant J»>sus," cut out in the form of a child, is very popular with tho children. — Exchange. Christmas Song. Why do l»-lls for Christmas ring? Why do little children sing'r Once u lovely shining star tv-en by shepherds from afar Gently moved until Its light Made u manger's cradle bright. There a darling baby lay Pillowed soft upon the hay, And 1U mother sang and smiled, •'This is Christ, the holy child." Therefore V Us for Christmas ring; Then-fore little children sing. —Eugene Ficl4 in Chicago Herald.