.ilU oHOouU) ilflii by Which the Ranch Queen Recalled m Wanderer. My O MINHV t«>. li| lha Mri'lnra «iß|*"t I Hald* W i**l« reai h"d f»t the ItniHe lint got It W lunever Ha lily *em for layihlna be u*uaily Hut thl* la not Itaidy'a atory lie |»oiired out a third (rink that waa larger by a ttngei than the Arat and aecnlMl Haldy waa In •M*«ltatlon. and the nMHIIH I* worthy of hla hire "I'd lie king If I waa yntt," aald flaWly. ae |io*ltHely that III* hnlaler rreaked and hi* apur* rattled "If a man ninrrle* a queen It oughtn't to make tilm a two •(Wt," dei flared Webb, epltouiltlng III* grief ancea Mure not," anld Haldy. aynipnthetlc. i (till thlr*ty and genuinely aullcltou* concerning the relative value of the card* "Hy right* you're n king. If I wa* you I'd call for ii new denl. The eatd* have been atackiit on you. I'll tell you what you an-, Webb \eager." "What?" a*ked Webb, with a hope ful look In his pale blue eyea. "You're a prince consort." "<io rn*y." wild Webb. "I never blackguarded you none." "If* n title." explained Haldy. "up among the picture i-iirds, but It don i take no trlcka. I'll tell you. Webb. It'* a brand they've got for certain mil tnala In Kuro|>e. Say that you «r me or one of them I Hitch dukes marries in a royal family. Well, by and l\v our wife gels to be queen. Al'e we 1 king? Not In a million years. At the coronation ceremonies we march he twecn little casino and the nluth grand custodian of the royal hull bedcham ber. The only use we are Is to appear in photographs and accept the respon sibility for the lielr apparent. That ain't any square deal. \ es. sir. Webb, you're n prince consort, and If 1 was you I'd start a interregnum or a lia bens corpus or aomethln', and I'd be king If I had to turn from the bottom j of the deck." Haldy emptied Ills glass to the ratifl eatkm of his Warwick pose. "Haldy," said Webb solemnly, "nie and you punched cows In the same out fit for years. We been ruuuln' on the anme range and rldln' the same trails since we was boys. 1 wouldn't talk > about my family adairs to tioi, idy but you. Y'ou was line rider on the No imllto ranch when I married Santa Me- i A Ulster. I was foreman then. But what am 1 now? 1 don't amount to a knot In a stake rope." "When old McAllister was the cattle king of west Texas," continued Baldy. with satanlc sweetness, "you was •otue tallow. You had as much to say on the ranch as he did." "I did." admitted Webb, "up to the time he found out I was tryiu' to get my rope over Santa's head. Then lie : kept me out on the ran«e as fnr from "ARK fOU tIOIKU TO I.IiAVE ME, WiABII/ the ranch house as he could. When the old man died they commenced to call Santa the 'cattle queen.' I'm boss of the cattle—that's all. She tends to all the business. She handle.-, all the money. I can't sell even a beef steer to a party of campers myself. Santa's the 'queen,' and I'm Mr Nobody." "I'd be king if I was you." repeated Baldy Woods, the royalist. The smooth brown face of Yeager lengthened to a mask of wounded niel aucholy. "I'm ridin' back to the ranch to day," he satd half hearted I.v. "I've got to start a bunch of beeves for Sun Antone in the uiorniu'." "I'm your company as far as Dry lake." announced Baldy. "I've got a roundup camp ou the San Mari os cut tin' out two-year-olds." The two companeros mounted their pouies and trotted away from the little railroad settlement where they had foregathered in the thtrstv morning. At Dry lake, where tUelr routes di verged. they relued up for a part lug cigarette. Webb offered an addendum to the conversation that hiui ten miles away. "You remember y.iurseif. Baldy. that there was a time when Santa wasn't quite so indepeudeut. Tou re member thu daya when old McAllister Was keepln' us apart and how she used to send me the sign tt -♦ ahe wanted to see me? Old m&n M premised to make me look like a colai. v if I ever coma in gunshot of the ranch. You remember the sign she used to send, Baldy—the heart with a cross inside." "Me?" cried Baldy, with Intoxicated archness. "You old sugar stealln' coyote! Don't 1 remember! Why, you dadblamed old long horned turtledove, the boys In camp was all cognosclous about them hlroglyphs. The 'gizzard niia i rosSTioncs* WeTised to "call IT. used to see 'em on truck that was sent out from the raucli. They was mark fd In charcoal on the sacks of Hour and In lead pencil on the newspapers." "Sn-ita's f.i'JiT." explained W'elih *r Itfta, «... .. wrtti'doi wHta «« ie or we ant w«rd That timti and • m*« »»«*» wa« lirt t h»Ww »lt« In w* me In purtMiiar *he manain-d »«• |Htl Hint nmrk on imWHtilK at Ho mm h that ahe few** I'll m* "The laat Hw Wntila aent me the •lan "mM WfMi. waa ntH* *hi « aire waa atck I noticed It a* aim* «« I lilt camp.and I galloped I'lnM forty tulle thai night I went l» the bullae old Mi A Ulster met mr at Itot* ibmr 'I Mil )'nM ctime here In get killed?* anya lir 'l'll rilanbllgf you fur hi**. I )u*i atarted a Metlcati to bring >on Hntitn waiila ynn tin In thai room ami aw her ami hen come mil and *ee me' "Haul wna Ij In' In tied pretty a|ek lint ahe give* nut a kind of a aitille ami her haml ami mine lock horn*, ami I aria dnwn by ilip l«'d mud nml apura nnd • hnp* anil all '!'»• heard you rltlln' ncmaa the graa* for hour* Webb.' ahe *a.va, 'I »h« ant* you'd Come. You aaw Hip alien Y alia will* |MI 'The minute I lill camp.' *n>* I, ' *Tw na marked on Ihi* bug of |m»|h toe* ■«lid onion*? "They're nlwiiya to pether,' any* *he, *oft llke 'alway* to gether In life.' They «» well tngeth er.' I anya. inn alow." "I innnn heart* nml cm**e*.' any* Santa. 'Our algu to Invr anil to Buffer thnt'a whnt they mean There wn* old IN*' M"isgrove n iiiiimlii* himself with whisky and » palm Ipnf fun And liy nml by Santa Kor* to sleep. nml Doc feel* her fore head, and he says to me: 'You're not such ii bad febrifuge, but you'd better slide out liow. for the diagnosis dmi't cull for you In regular doses. The little lady'll be all right when she wakes up.' "1 seen old McAllister oliM le 'She's nsleep.' says I. 'ami now you can stall In with your colander work. Tnke your time, for I left my gun on my saddle horn' "Oh! Mac laughs, and lie says to me Tuniplu' lend I tit • > I lie best ran li Ims ill west Texas don't seetn to me gm'd business policy I don't know where I could get as good a one. It's the son-lti-liiw Idea. Webb, that makes nn admire for to use you as a target. You ain't my Idea for a member of the family. Hut I can use you on the Nopallto if you'll keep outside of :: radius with the ranch house In the middle of it " Haldy Woods pulled down his hat and uncurled 'lis leg from Ids saddle horn. Webb shortened his rein, and his pony danced, anxious to be off The two men shook hands with west ern ceremony "Adios, Haldy," said Webb. "I'm glad I seen you and had this talk." At 8 o'clock on the following morn ing Hud Turner rolled from his saddle in front of the Nopallto ranch house anil stumbled with whizzing rowels to ward the gallery Hud was In charge of the bunch of beef cattle that was to strike the trail that morning for Sun Antonio. Mrs. Y'eager was on the gal lery watering a cluster of hyacinths growing In a red en rt hen ware jar "King" McAllister had bequeathed to his daughter many of his strong char acterlstlcs his resolution, his guy courage, his contumacious self roll ance, his pride as a reigning monarch of hoofs anil horns. Allegro and foriis simo had been McAllister's tempo and tone. In Santa they survived, trans I posed to the feminine key. Webb stood ou one edge of the gal | lory giving orders to two or three sub | bosses of various camps and outfits | win had ridden in for instructions. "Xlornln'." said Hud briefly. "Where i do you want them beeves togo Iti town—to Barber's, as usual V" Now. to answer that had been the I prerogative of tile queen. All the reins of business buying, selling and I banking—had been held by her capa- I bio lingers. The handling of the cuttla had been Intrusted fully to her hus band. In the days of "King" McAllis ! ter Santa had been Ills secretary and helper, and she had continued her work * with wisdom and profit. Hut before she could reply the prince consort ! spake up with calm decision; "You drive that bunch to Zlmnier man and Neshit's pens. I spoke to j Zimmerman about It some time ago." Hml turned on his high boot heels "Wait!" called Santa quickly. She | looked at her husband with surprise in her steady gray eyes. "Why, what do you mean. WebbV" i she asked, with a small wrinkle gatli | erlng between her brows. "1 never | deal with Zimmerman and Nesbit. I Barber has handled every head cf | stock from this ranch in that market J for live years. I'm not going to take I the business out of Ills hands." Shi' | faced Bud Turner. "Deliver those cat I tie to Barber." she concluded posi tively. Hud gazed at the water Jar hanging oti the gallery, stood on his other leg and chewed a mesquitc leaf. "1 want this bunch of beeves togo ; to Zimmerman and Nesbit." said I Webb, with a frosty light in Ills eyes. "Nonsense!" said Santa Impatiently "You'd better start on. Bud, so as to I noon at the Little Kim water hole ' Tell Barber we'll have another lot ol culls ready lu about a month." Hud allowed a hesitating eye tn steal upward and meet Webb's. Webb saw apology in his look and fancied he saw commiseration. "Y'ou deliver them cattle." lie said grimly, "to"— "Barber," finished Santa sharply. "Let that settle It. Is there anything else you are waiting for. Bud?" "No, ra'm." said Bud. But before going he lingered while a cow's tall could have switched thrice. "Y'ou hear your boss!" cried Webb sardonically. He took off his hat and bowed until It touched the floor before his wife. "Webb," said Santa rehukliigly, "you're actln* mighty foolish today." "Court fool, your majesty," said Webb In his slow tones, which had changed their quality. "What else can you expect? Let me tell you. I was a man before 1 married a cattle queen. What am I now? The luughin'stock of the camps. I'll be a man again." Santa looked at htm closely. "Don't be unreasonable, Webb," she said calmly. "You haven't been slight ed In any way. Do 1 ever Interfere lu your management of the cattle? I know the business side of the ranch much better than you do. I learned it from dad. Be sensible." "Kingdoms, nml nneendnms " ooM »«M •» the,«•* n*i • ptinn I *ll la. ami jthm wear the eftiwg. AM riprln I'd rathet tie hit* lo»*l chancetloi of a ro* rniii|i than ttt»« eight *|«it Mi a ipieen high tlit«h It a »our ranch. ntwl llitrlicr (f»'ta il»' bee ♦Hi.™ W I'lih naniiii it|i Into the *nildlr III* eertoita. smooth fio e waa «Ii limit in |itv««|nti eirepl tor a atnlilNirti tluhl thai atimhlered in hi* ryiw "Ihw'a a herd of ma* ami calvea.' aalil lit*, "near the Hondo water hole on ll* l I rlo thai ottitht to lie moved away friilti tlmlier I.olhi* hmc mi If I three of tin* raivi-a I forgot to learr order*. I>ll Hltntn* to attend to It " Hanta liihl a hum! on the hor*e'a lirl die and li*<keil Iter hu*l>aml 111 Ilia eye "Are yon going I* leate me. IVelilj?" alia naked i|itlelly. "I am goln' to Ik* a man again." he anawered "I wlah you aureeaa In a pralaewor thy attempt." ahe anld. with a andileii oohliien* Hhe I limit I nml wnlked ill nv tl.v Into the hou*e. Wehh Yeuger n*le to the anutheaat na Htrnlcht n« the topography of weal Texn* permltteil. nml «lien he reached the horizon he might lime rlililen on Into Mite *pni'e n* fnr iin knowleilge of liltii on the Noimllto went tine day a lieltiK nil mill lliirtholo liiew, il Kherptiiiin. nml therefore of 111 tie ili'coutit, from the lower Itlo tirnnde country rmle In sight of the Nopnlllo ruui'll llouxe nml lelt hunger nxMiitl hi 111. K.v eonaUettldltle he wna aooti Kotited lit the uildilny dining table of that hiiKpltiible kingdom. Talk like water kumlicil from him. "Missis Veager." lie babbled, "I see u man the other day on the Itnurho Seen, down In Hidalgo county, by your name—Webb Veager was Ills lle'il Just been encaged as manager. lie was a tall, haired mall, not say ing intii li. Maybe lie was some kin of yours, do you thinkV" "A husband." *alil Santn cordially "The Scro has done well. Mr. N eager Is one of the best stockmen In the west." The dropping out of a prince consort rarely dlsoreiini/.es a monarchy. Queen Santa had appointed as mayordomoof the ranch a irusiy subject named Ham say. who had been one of her father's faithful vassals. And there was scarce ly a ripple on the Xopulito ranch save when the gulf breeze created undula tions In the grass of its wide acres. For several years the Nopullto had been making experiments with an Kngllsh breed of cattle that looked down with aristocratic contempt upon the Texas longhorns. The experi ments were found satisfactory, and a pasture had been set apart for the blue bloods. The fame of them had kouo forth Into the chaparral As a consequence one day a sun burned. capable, silk kerchiefed, non chalant youth, garnished with revolv ers and attended by three Mexican vaqueros. alighted at the Nopallto ranch and presented the following businesslike epistle to the queen there of: Mrs, Veaßi-r, the Nopallto Hnnoh" iJenr Madam—l nni Instructed by the owners of the Raricho St'co to purchase 100 head of two anil three year old cows of the Sussex breed owned by you. If you can till the order please deliver the cattle to the bearer, and a check will be for warded to you at once. Respectfully. WEBSTER VKAC.KR. Manager the ftancho Seco Business Is business, even very "I.OOK AT THE KINO. Wl'llH acantlly did it escape being written "especially"—ln a kingdom. That night the hundred head of cat tle were driven up from the pasture and penned in a corral near the ranch house for delivery in the morning. Wiion J ni«lit closed down and the liousßjPvas still did Hanta Y eager throm herself down, clasping that formal note to her bosom, weeping and calling out a name that pride (either in one or the other) hail kept from her lips tunny a day. or did she file the letter In her business way, re taining her royal balance and strength? Wonder, if you will, but royalty Is sacred, and there is a veil. liul this much you shall learn: At midnight Santa slipped softly out of the ranch house, clothed in some thing dark and plain. She paused for a moment uuder the live oak trees Santa turned her face to the south east and threw three kisses thither ward, for there was none to see. Then she sped silently to the black smith shop, fifty yards away, nnd what she did there can only be surmised. But the forge glowed red, and there was a faint hammering such ns Cupid might make when he sharpens his ar row points. Later she camo forth with a queer shaped handled thing In one hund and a portable furnace such as are seen in branding camps In the other. To the corral where the Sussex cattle were penned she sped with these things swiftly in the moonlight. She opened the gate and slipped in side the corral. The Sussex cattle were mostly a dark red. but among this bunch was one that was milky white—notable among the others. And now Santa shook from her shoul der something that we had not seen before—a rope lasso. She freed the loop of it. coilfng the length in her-left band, nnd oluutred Inn the thick of thp •trw Th» «»»«• w*« h»f "Mm Kh« •»nmi t*» t#*N», wMrh mnirht nn> horn unit -dtppHi off Aiwtn mtwfe t»i# r*«t. white IS« ■ roiiwil <nf»li milled nr-'imd the *otn «M« «112 tfw ' nrrnl In a plitn*lne m«« Thl* Ihmw ws* fulr the white row •nme in i-drih !»L'«lii mid ItfMV II ri.nld rt«e Hunts hurt made the Im«« fs«t nnmnit n f*>«t of thr >orr«i »tti n *wlft nml «lmptr knot mid hud lent' rd upon the <•"** ni'Sln with thr raw hide hoMtlr* In one minute the frrt of the snlms were tied *he inn swiftly to her fur mrr Ml the gste and brought thr branding Ifli, white hoi. The hallow of the nutrsred whlt» row n* thr Iron wan applied *hotil<l hnvr stirred lhi> slutnlierliiß nurl. nln I nerve* and conscience* of Ihe nearby subjects of Ihr Nopntlln. Iml || did AM, Ami II wan amid Ihe deepest tiortnrtinl sllcnre Ihnt Santa rnn like a lapwing bark to the ranch house and there fel Upon n rot and soldied sobbed n though queen* had hesrts a* almplf ranchmen's wives liavr and a* thotigl *li>- would Kindly make kings of prlncr consort* alimild they ride back agalr from over tin- lillla und fur away. In the morning Ihr capable, rcvolv •ml youth nnd hi* *aquero«i ant fnrtl driving the bunch of Sussex cattlf across tln> prairies to the lliiik'io Seco Thr beasts arrived at Kaitcho Sec< one evening nt dusk and wort* . x-elved and roulllcd by thr foreman. The next morning nt H o'clock a horseman loped out of Ihr brush to Ihr N'opulllo nun li house He dismounted sillily und strode with whizzing spurs to the house Ilia horse pivo u great sl>;l> nnd swayed foam strenkrd. with down drooping bend and closed eyes. I'.ut waste not your pity upon ltd Nhazzar. the lira bitten sorrrl. Today in Nopalito horse pasture he survives, pampered, beloved, uurldden, cherish ed record holder of hum distance rides Thr horseman stumbled into the house. Two arms fell around Ids neck, and some one cried out In the voice of woman nnd queen alike, "Webb—oh. Webb!" "I was n skunk." said Webb Y eager "Hush!' said Santa. "Did you see It'.'" "I saw It." said Webb. What they meant God knows, and you shall know If you rightly read the primer of events. "Be the cattle queen," said Webb, "and overlook It If you can. 1 was a munjry. sheep stealin' coyote." "Hush!" said Santa again, laying her fingers upon bis mouth. "There's no quern here. Do you know who 1 am? I nm Santa Veager, first lady of the bedchamber. Come here." She dragged him from the gallery Into the room to the right. There stood a cradle with nil Infant in It—a red. ribald, unintelligible, babbling, beauti ful Infant, sputtering at life In an un seemly manner. "There's no queen on this ranch," said Santa again. "Look at the king lie's got your eyes. Webb. Down on your knees and look at his highness." Hut jingling rowels sounded on the gallery, and Hud Turner stumbled there again with the same query that lie had brought a year ago. "Morniu'. Them beeves is just turned out on the trail. Shall I drive 'em to Barber's or"— He saw Webb and stopped "Ba-ba-ba-ba-ba-ba!" shrieked (In king In his cradle, beating the air. "You hear your boss. Bud," said Webb Y eager. with a broad grin, Just as he had said n year ago And that Is all. except that when Old Man Quinn. owner of the I'ancho Seco. went out to look over the herd of Sussex cattle that he had bought from the Nopalito ranch he asked tils new manager: "What's the Nopalito much brand. Wilson?" "X bar Y." said Wilson. "I thought so," said Quinn. "But look nt that white heifer there; she's got another brand—it heart with a cross in side of It. What brand is that?" LIBERTY EELL. Its Connection With the Declaration of Independence. The famous T.lberty bell was cast In London In 1752. brought to America and subsequently recast In Philadel phia. It bears the Inscription, "Pro claim Liberty Throughout the World and to All the Inhabitants Thereof." It was cracked while being tolled after the death of Chief Justice John Marshall in IS.'!.". It Is kept on exhibition In In dependence hall. Philadelphia. It has had a fictitious Importance owing to the popuiaK,bellef that Its ringing pro claimed the adoption of the Declara tion of Independence on July 4. 177ti. Concerning iliis belief, how r. Fried enwalil in his "DeclarifMlVof Inde pendence" (100-1) says: "There is no shadow of authority even for associating the ringing of the boll with t' ' announcement of the agreement upon Independence. The mythical legend of the blue eyed boy waiting outside the door to give the signal to the man in the bell tower is (li.- product of the imagination of one of Philadelphia's early ro mancers, fieo: u'e Lippard. who first gave currency to it in his appropriate ly called "Legends of the Revolution.' This book was published in 1847. New York American. His Experience. "Jasper," said Mrs. Urigson. who was looking over the morning paper, "here's a story of a woman who was robbed ou a street car in broad day light. and yet the thief got away un suspected." Mr. (jrigsou said that he had seen the item, but that it was either a typo graphical error or else the story was pure Invention. "Why do you say that?" asked his wife. "Look at the item again. It says her purse contained SIOO In currency, does it not?" "Yes." "It says there was also a receipted bill for a five dollar hat. does it not?" "Yes." "Well, no woman with SIOO in cash In her possession would buy a five dol lar hat,"—Youth's Companion. Her Long Dream. Estelle— Ah! His proposal was Jns like a dream! Agnes-Well, you ought to know dear. You've been dreaming of that proposal for years. Noel-—A Ballade For Christmas Th» h*H« chime ih# IIIn Hi Tlic tiittlti ilml crown* 1b» iimm' <!*- , lit* t«ir- Ao'l mkM iftr morning. *li» ll* dawn Inn unlit. I'riN'iiiliii* ilml I'brimniM ita; *i in*i l« tier* The children hl«h ntoft lh« bo,ir* head briny. Ami n* thejr march their merry '-■rni« ■lnn. While t'hrlnetidoni Joins In their tune fui lay. Kor Hi I til* urn v»n nil sr* Rlsil and *»> And IIH'II and women, with i heir heart* aglow. Shout out with on* accord on Christ ma* dny. "Hull to iln* Tula log and the mistle toe!" Emblem* «>f many nn old time honored lite. Of Imiatcrmis mirth and homely. hon est cheer; The Yule In*. flaming high nnd blazing bright; The mistletoe. to youths and maiden* dear. See for snapdragon how they forni n ring Or Inn contrndance their partuers awing? Lord of misrule makes good his no briquet. And nil Ilia mandates eagerly obey, lie wields the scepter and with loud hallo Cries lustily, with none to say him nny. "Ilall to the Yule log nnd the mistle toe!" All climes nnd classes own the season's might. It rules alike the peasant aud the peer; The humblest home presents a happy sight; The sternest Judge forgets to look se vere. ! The very birds fly by on lighter wing; j The blustering north wind seems to lose Its sting; The old ntid young, the golden haired and gray. Devote the hours to merriment anu play. Anu far across the crispy, crackling snow We hear a chorus from a flying a"' b. "Hail to the Yule log and them e toe!" "H VI L TO Till; VI LE t-Ofl AND THE VISIT.E -TOE! ' i The chosen theme of many a fancy's flight. ! A ballad monger or a sonneteer | Yearly his Christmas poem will indite | Of a coy maiden aud tier cavalier Shakespeare full often had his merry fling. Aud Milton tuned his harp 10 noble string; Irving the scenes of Christmas cou:d betray. And Dickens its true spirit could coll vej. To song and story a rich debt we owe. Aud with triumphant cheer this tnimte pay. "Hail to the Yule log and the mistle toe!" And as the sacred season circles near All evil thoughts and themes are banished quite; Our lives become more gentle and sin cere; Our hearts can find uo room for dole or spite Paeans of praise from tharful hearts upspring To celebrate the birthday of the King All humbly lor our brother's weal we pray And ask a blessing on our future way. Our generous gifts on others we be stow; "l'ence upon earth, good will to men" we say. "Hail to the Yule log aud the mistle toe!" ENVOY. Spirit; it Christmas, we accept thee t'a. Illg. . willingly we bow beneath thy 8 way! We Join otir songs to those of long ago With this refrain, for ever and for aye. "Hall to the Yule log and the mistle toe!" —Carolyn Wells in New York Mall. His Critic. "The greatest compliment that I ever received." says Ople Head, "was u crit icism. Several years ago I went to Arkansas anil visited the scene where one of my stories is laid. The landlord of the little hotel said to me: " 'Here comes a little old fellow to whom 1 loaned a copy of your book, lie can't read, but his wife reads to htm. I.et's see w hat he says about the book. "'"Hello, Jasou. did your wife read that book to you?" " • "Mnwnin*, snh. Yes, she done read it to me." " • "Well, what do you think of It?" "'"Huh? That ain't no book at all. I done lived hear fo' fo'ty yeuhs an' I done beam folks talk that a-way all th" time." ' "—Cincinnati Inquirer. Christmas live In Rural England tt **■ i brilliant m-xmllKht niirlit htll cold < Hit r hnlw « hitnil mpldl.l out tin- ffoWn gfonnd I In .1111(1 FCISL III* « T|T|l iHitNomill) and ■ |>nfi <>f the time in. lhir«'« »«t, Oti n |tnllo|t. "lie kiion. «lien* tie )• MM l.l it; mui|wnloti. IHIIKIHHK "bihl In mint lo »rrl»f In lime tor loin, of tbr merriment nn>t ko il rNwr of the nertfint*' ball Mjr fiitlier is ■ devote* of the obi *< liool mill pride* himself on keeping up minnililnu of old Kn«llsb bo»|ilt«Ht) He «** nl WBJT* neftiptlloua In e*ai'tlliK Mlt boll d«y« nod tin ting ua nrniitid blm oti fx mil; fentlvnt. It wna tbe |m.ll< y of the good old gentleman to make bta children f<>el that home wna tbe Imp pleat place In the world, and I value this delicious home feeling as one of the choicest gifts a parent inn bestow " The sr|ulre ushered us nt once to the company, which was assembled In a lnrge. old fashioned hall It was com posed of different branches of a nutiier otia family connection They were t variously occupied, and a profusion of i wooden horses, penny trumix'tx and tattered dolls about tbe floor showed ! traces of a little troop of fairy beings that had frolicked Itiroiigh n happy day. While the mutual greetings were go lug on between Itracebridge and Ida relatives I had time to acan the apart ment. The grate had been removed THE DANCE WAS A MERRY ONE. fr. >m the wide, overhanging fireplace to make way for a lire of wood, iu tbe midst of which was an enormous log. glowing and blazing and sending forth a vast volume of light and heat. This. I understood, was the Yule log. which the squire was particular in having brought lu aud Illumined on Christmas , eve. according to ancient custom. It was really delightful to see the old squire seated in his hereditary elbow chair by the hospitable fireside of his ' ancestors and looking around bim like • the sun of a system, beaming warmth j and gladness to every heart. Even the very dog that lay stretched at his feet, as he lazily shifted his position aud yawned, would look fondly up in ids master's face, wag his tail .Inst the floor aud stretch hlmsel again to ; sleep, sure of kindness and protection Supper was announced shortly after our arrival. It was served up in a spacious oaken chamber, the panels of which shone with was and around ; which were several family portraits, decorated with holly and Ivy. Besides tile accustomed lights, two great wax tapers, called Christmas candles, wreathed with greens, were placed on a highly polished buffet among the ! family plate. The table was übtin dautly spread with substantial fare but the squire made his supper of frumenty, a dish made of wheat cakes boiled In milk, with rich spices, being a standing dish In old times for Christ mns eve. I was happy to find my old friend, mitued pic. In the retinue of the feast The supper had disposed every one to gayety, and an old harper was sum moned from the servants'hall. * * * The dance, like most dances after sup per. was a merry one. Some oft In older folk joined in it.and the squire himself figured down several couples with a partner with whom lie affirmed he had danced at every Christmas for nearly half a century. The party broke up for the nirfht with the kind hearted old custom of shaking hands. As I passed through the hall on the way to my chamber I the dying embers of the Yule log still sent fort li a dusky glow, and had it not been the season when "no spirit dares stir abroad" 1 should have been half tempted to steal frotu my room at midnight and peep whether the fai ries might not be at their revels about the hearth I had scarcely got into bed when a strain of music seemed to break forth in the air just below the window. I listened and found it proceeded from a band which I concluded to be the waits from some neighboring village 1 drew aside the carta Ins to hear them more distinctly The moonbeams fell through the upper part of the case ment, partially lighting up the antl quated apartment. The sounds as they receded became more soft aud aerial and seemed to accord with quiet and moonlight. I listened and | listened. They became more and more tender and remote, they grud uallj died away uiy h sank upon the pillow, and I fell V <»ep Wash lngton Irving A "Primitiva" Painter. Ilcnrl Housseau, n man who used to i hold a minor government position In Prance, was for a (juarter of a cen tury the Joke of artists and art students In Paris. For years In the independ | ent salon he showed daubs which had not the most distant kinship with art. Some of his "famous" pictures were a "Lady on a Sofa In a Jungle," a "Tiger In a Jungle," a "Nigger In a Jungle." He affected Jungles, which consisted of innumerable parallel green lines to represent grass; the tiger was a painted wooden toy; the lady looked as if she had come out of a Noah's ark. The unfortunate Itousseau went on exhibiting the same sort of work every year, and the painful thing was that he gradually became a celebrity. Sinister humorists told him he had genius, and he took himself quite se riously. "I am a real primitive," he would say. Some practical jokers even went the length of buying his pictures. A Christmas Doll Wedding W* ar« in mm • •Mltflt. <Kjf rtinth#r» It nil Tnu *tr In M ft»* Mtttft »tf* AM I fWf »l mil I tot# >n«' p'Hi) of hrnwn— M> »tfi ffirM Mft<| l>lu» Hut ft* ib#> re Mf.lv ri.ixd rn» rt**f, Th>)'H h'i lnyllff in >ou Mr tip* »f> to mm All tltlll t'fiM Mity Hut l Hi -1 mam to# iir»« lone w»«M lintll OUI HCtM «K «1»l> fin #• will |inM. fl«M>l mal4 And tti«'t. . || neter i.nr* I iwriir |fi v# yofi nil »ny ||f« With m> true wooden heart * our uwn RIQiNALD. i. mo fMi' h flip lovo letter written bj Vice|mi til <»rntintn of New York, n i»emi tiful doll i v♦•ntj ItirhcM I«ii, Hirlif hHlr. blue eyr with lone iliirk laHhen. t«* bin ladytove, Mlm Alli-e Win*'hunter, ft brown I-yefl doll Immmil) of |l«mtoii Tbo fii' t I* tluit H rmarrtiiK** !»;»•! Im*n • rraiiKi (i Ihpl weeti tli<**<> two riolll*** l>jr their little nifimtnnii mid neveral grown up iiunfifH. 10 f»ike |ilar« lit Christina* Ulne at tlit* hotne of tin* iloll brlflt* Hut making tin* clotlx**! (iramlinaa. roualn.H anil utilities *|n*nt tiny* iHinff their iilmlile linger* to fashion tli•• tiny manly garment*, n* no little eirl eoui<| poHsibiy (if* the (Jlllh ult M(Mvine I It was d«» iclf'il that n blink liroitil | doth suit must he made, hut «•* a full | dress evening rout could In* <1 tony for formal o'fjisioti* a tuxcl'* or <l.li ner eont was finally agreed upon as I»• liik «>f more son i •• Ail the time we have been toiling about the brid. groom dear little Ail e has been so busy having a lone whit* Rutin wedding dress made, a real lac* veil and the daintiest kind of Ineo ti tu rned utiderwenr A trnveline powti of eloth. nn au tomobile coat of cliampugne eolor. n white hat with feathers and flowers, all have been prepared for the • 4 away" costume. A procession of twenty little e'rls With their dollies follows Kceinuld and Alice, who march Into the draw lne room to the music of a weddire march played on the piano; then into the dining room, where the dollies sit at a table that has been arranged for them, with a tiny wedding cake Jeco ratine the center. Then comes the wedding tour around the garden, and then the newly married pair goto housekeeping Inn big closet that has been furnished for them with all the latest conveniences. It was really the most brilliant mar riage that was ever made In Toy* land and is the true story of a dear little brown eyed girl's Christ mas present. A great many dollie guests were in vited from "Mother Goose" Land, and among those most noticed were: Jack Ise Nimble. Jack He Quick. He was the first one there; Then came little Uoldle L,ockf». Who ran away from the bear. Bright Miss Nancy Etticoat, Used to standing long. Shone beside Tom Tucker, Who sang the supper song. Mistress Mary, Quite Contrary. Brought from her garden fair Beveral maidens all in a row. With pretty curling hair Bobby 'to. from o'er the sea. Was i 4 happy mood: 1 saw til. . gazing bashfully At dear Red Hiding Hood Uttle Miss Muffet had left her tuffet And surprised us all. oh. my! By going to a corner with little Jack Horner And sharing his Christmas pie Bhy Bopeep without her sheep Many sweet glances won. And there without tils little pig Was Tom, the Piper's Son. Marjorie Daw and i'um Stout Attracted much attention And many more whose names, alas. I haven t room to mention. It was u wedding ho very grand. All in tne month of December, With the very Four Hundred of Tof land there. As many will iot, 0 remember. ~ Julian Jerome. BALLOON TO CROSS AMERiCQ. Offar of SIO,OOO and SI,OOO Trophy Made For Flight. Charles .7. »Hidden, president of the Association of Aeronauts al Pilots, hut received $10,00" from I'. Chester Thompson of New York to cover t h<v cost of n balloon to attempt a tri;i from the Pacific to the Atlantic. In addition Mr Thompson has prom lsed Pilot Clayton a trophy valued at ' fl.oon If he succeeds In starting from the Pacific co;"" and landing within fifty miles of the v tlantle Mr. Ulidden says he has already asked for bids on the balloon. It Is to be made of rubber silk aflfot to have a rapacity of £oo,o<io ' u!»le feet. Spic!"f Long on Web. A slnjrle voider li is been known to | yield more t!:.iu two and a quartc} j miles of web flleineni. inn in i A. RellaTblo TO SHOP tor all kind of Tin Roofing. Spoutlnar ind Caneral Jolt Work. Stoves, Heater RtnvM, Furnaces, /to. PRICES TUB LOW! QUILITT TLrf BEST 1 JOHN HIXSOJ* NO. 1W E. FEOKT jrr.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers