pis “which Reggie will dine,” he said to LL of Eleanor Merton's friends declared that she was like to go mad with grief. She had had an unusually bit- ter experience. The beautiful, willful orphan girl had married a handsome youth who developed into a cruel and dissipated man. For three years Eleanor bore her trials in silence with a splendid pride; then her husband's sudden death set her free, and she abandoned herself happily to her ab- sorbing love for her child, his young mother’s delight. Her friends had laughed, and said that Eleanor Merton could talk of nothing but “Reggie,” and they were pick and tired of hearing of the little prodigy! So they came to visit her with less and less frequency, and truth to tell—she never missed their coming. One friend, at least, was faithful, and that was Godfrey Waring. He was a distant connection of Eleanor’s, her friend from childhood and little Reggie's godpapa. Now he was also her chief counsellor in all important matters. : The happiest time of the year for Eleanor was the holiday season, and she thoroughly enjoyed the fun of Reg- gie's tiny stocking and his little Christ- mas tree. The Christmas preparations when Reggie was approaching the mature age of four proved happier than any ever before. The boy was quite old enough to appreciate all sorts of won- derful things, and every evening for almost a week, after he was safely in bed, Eleanor, with Godfrey for an es- cort, visited the toy shops ard bought the prettiest things she saw, and then pn Christmas Eve Eleanor and Godfrey dressed the tree. It was nearly 11 o'clock before they had finished, and Godfrey was rewarded for his share of the work by an invitation to “come and take dinner with Reggie” the fol- lowing day. When Godfrey reached his rooms perhaps an hour after he left her he found a note from Eleanor awaiting him. “She forgot to tell me the hour at himself with a smile as he tore open the envelope. But the words he read were these: “Reggie is ill. Come at once.” He hurried back to find doctors com- ing and going and Eleanor half dis- tracted, and when he caught the words “malignant diphtheria” he did not won- der at her alarm. That night no one thought of sleep. Day dawned and slowly dragged through all its awful length, and though all things were done which hu- man wisdom could suggest when night came little Reginald was dead. : Eleanor’s grief was frantie, passion- ate, pitiful. No wonder her friends feared for her reason. Godfrey alone ‘was of any comfort to her, and that only because she could talk to him in- cessantly of her dead child. Until Twelfth Night Reggie's Christ- mas tree stood just as they had dressed it, and Eleanor would not per- mit it to be removed. * Time went on, and though Eleanor’s grief was no less absorbing it gradu- ally became more quiet in its form. Godfrey keenly dreaded for her the approach of Christmas time, and he felt greatly disturbed when important business kept him away from the city until late on Christmas Eve. It was too late to see Eleanor em his return, but he went to her early en Christmas smn a The little useless tree, with its bur- den of pretty toys, was kept in its place until Twelfth Night was over, as be- fore. And then it vanished, Godfrey hoped, forever! Another year went by and Eleanor, still a recluse and wunreconciled, mourned for her boy. As Christmas again drew near Elean- or said to Godfrey, “I shall dress Reg- inald’s tree as usual on Christmas Eve. Will you help me—or must I do it alone, as I did last year?” “Eleanor!” he protested. “I shall do it!” she said firmly, and he saw that there was no appeal. “I thought you were Reggie's friend —and mine,” she said hoarsely. “How much I was mistaken. Our bitterest enemy could have devised nothing half so cruel.” With these words she left the room, and Godfrey turned back to complete the ruin he had wrought. : : Full an hour passed before he heard her step descending the stair. She thought that he had gone, and she started when she entered the room and saw him there. Her quick eyes noted the absence of the tree. “How dared you do it?’ she cried at last—“how dared you give away the toys I had bought for my own dead child?” “They have made three living chil- dren happy, Eleanor—" “Dirty: beggars from the street. It was an insult to me and to Reginald’s memory even to bring them into my home——" Godfrey flushed. “Is it their fault that they were born in the gutter, that they are dirty, ignorant and half clad? Re p7. In the eyes of God, Eleanor, I believe 5 —. those children are as dear as your “WHAT DID HE BRING?” spotless Reginald.” Christinas i= Holland. She looked at him aghast. “I shall In ‘Holland, on Christmas Eve, the never forgive you,” she said. “How dared you do it?” she cried again. “I dared because I thought—I hoped —it might save you from this useless brooding, this awful misery—" “What do you know of misery?’ she children, games, keep casting anxious glances at the door, as if expecting a visitor. length their piay is while indulging in various At hushed by a loud knock at the door and St. Nicholas clad in his episcopal robes, enters. He “Then I will help you,” he promised, and together in tragic silence they per- formed the awful task. “For the last time!” Godfrey told himself as he helped her cold and trembling fingers tie on the toys which had been bought for little Reginald so long before. It.seemed monstrous that these playthings, made for a child's delight, could be thus perverted from their purpose and used again and again as instruments of torture for a wom- an’s heart. It was late when their task was finished and he bade her good-night. Her face haunted him all night, and in the morning he went to her again. Before the house he saw three tat- tered. wistful little vagrants loitering, and as he passed them he heard one say, “Gee! wisht I cud git in dere wanst—jist ter see dem tings clus to!” He glanced up, and where the dra- peries had been pushed aside he caught a glimpse of Reginald’s Christmas tree. “Mrs. Merton is out!” he said in sur- prise, repeating the maid's words. “Gone to church, you say! Yes, I'll come in and wait.” He was glad. He glanced at his watch; it was a full hour until the ser- vice would be over. He went to the window and pushed the curtains aside to look out, and a shrill cry of delight came from the urchins outside—whom be had forgotten—as they caught a bet- ter view of the gayly decorated tree. In an instant his resolution was formed, and beckoning to the children he ran and opened the front door. “I’m not Santa Claus,” he said, “but I'm a friend of his—and you haven't had any presents from him yet, have you?” ' They grinned, abashed, ously shook their heads. “Did he bring you any toys last Christmas?” They shook their heads again. and vigor- ‘GODFREY SAW HER SWAY AND SHE SEEMED ABOUT TO FALL,” morning and found her, to his horror, gazing with glassy eyes upon a Christ- mas tree, the counterpart of the one which they two had decorated the Christmas Eve before. “Eleanor!” he said, “you will drive yourself mad!” “What then!” she answered, dully. “At least I should be less miserable than I am now.” So during that awful anniversary day she lived over again her agony of grief, and Godfrey was powerless to tutn, even for a moment, the current of her thioughts. . - “I thought not. Well, come in; he’s left a double supply for you here.” In stupefied amazement they entered, a tattered, dirty crew, whose jargon frey could hardly understand. the toys divided among credibly short time. He was just pulling tinsel garland amid their shrieks of rapture when he looked up and saw Eleanor—a tall black figure — in the doorway. Her veil was thrown back and her face was white and shadowy. Godfrey saw her sway and she seemed about to fall. ward to support her, but she shrank away from kim. Svhen ‘their tongues were loosened God- Quickly and thoroughly he did his work and the tree was stripped and them in an in- down the last ——— He sprang for- said in scorn. “You, who have never loved and buried a child.” “I know only the misery of a hope- less and lifelong love,” he said, after a moment’s pause. “Eleanor, I would have given my life to give you back your child—whom I loved, too—or to help you in any way, and I thought you knew that. And I thought that what I have done might make it easier for you in the future, that was all. In- stead, it has proved a blunder, and in place of your indifference I have earned your hate.” She had seated herself with her arms resting upon the table before her and her face turned from him. “Tven now I am not sorry it is done,” he said slowly, “and I hope in time you may come to believe I did it in all kind- ness to you. And now, at least, you will not refuse to say good-bye.” With her face still hidden she blind- ly stretched out her hand and he took it, misunderstanding her. “Good-bye—forever,” he said. The small white fingers grasped his own, and still he did not understand. Now she was weeping silently and he was filled with pity for her. “Poor child,” he said, “if only some one could comfort you—where I so la- mentably have failed.” : The small white clinging fingers sud- denly carried his hand to her hidden lips. “Eleanor!” he cried. “Godfrey,” she murmured, still cling- ing to his hand. % * *® * * * The new year was still young when Eleanor Merton became Godfrey wWar- ing’s wife. / But when the next Christmastide drew uear Eleanor said to her husband vith a tremulous smile, ‘Godfrey, I want to ask your indulgence. Will you take me out to-nigh¢ and again help me to select some toys and a little tree? I have found some poor, neglect- ed children—some of ‘God's little ones’ —who will have no merry Christmas otherwise. And I want—I want you to help me dress the tree, and to let me have them all here and make them happy, on Christmas Day—for Regin- ald’s sake—" And Godfrey did not say no.—The Household. For a man who has learned to d something well, and do it better tha the run of men, there is mand in the world of afi Washington Irving's Seventeenth street, New York, in whic the author lived for years, has bee sold by a relative, Henry Morris. 0 home on East evinces a wonderful knowledge of the failings and virtues of each child, scolding and praising each according to the merits of their family behavior. Finally, however, he bestows his bless- ings on them all, and promising to give each a present on the next morning he disappears. Before retiring to rest that night each member of the family places one of his or her shoes on the table in the parlor. The door is then locked, but the next morning proves the truth of Santa Claus’ promises, for in each shoe is found a present for its “THE HOLY NIGHT.” H. GRASS. Oddities For Christmas. er 3 — A 2) % ) | i TwEROLEDUM anp TwEEDLEDER Here is a group of Christmas novel ties. Tweedle-dum and Tweedle-dee are dolls and Humpty Dumpty is a pin cushion. A very pretty present for a baby is a silver spoon, with a loop han- dle, and which has in the chased bowl a representation of a nursery rhyme. These loop handles make the spoons very safe and comfortable for little fingers. As for the tiny balloon, that is an ornamental pin cushion. Quslers; radishes; celery. Clear soup; crofilons- Boiled salmon, sauce mayonnaise, dressed cucumbers. Game (or chicken) pie Roast lurkey, creamed chesliuls; sweel-poq faloes; pease in cases; cranberries - Grape fruil salad; cheese- straws. Frozen plum pudding; cakes. Coffee; nuls and. raisins. Had a Fine Time. owner. Christmas Doughnuts, A necessity of the Colonial Christmas table was a generous plate of raised doughnuts. A formula for these, which is contributed by a famous New Eng- land housekeeper, is as follows: One cupful of lard or butter, two cupfuls of milk, one cupful of yeast, three cup- fuls of sugar, four or five eggs, nutmeg and a pinch of salt. Warm together the milk and lard, then add the yeast; stir in flour enough to make a batter, and let it stand over night; then add the other ingredients. , Knead soft. and let it rise again; then roll, cut out, and let rise before frying. Sprinkle with sugar and spread, not pile, on a plat- ter, over which a napkin has first been laid.—Harper’s Bazar. Papa—*“Well, Bobby, did you have a cood time seeing Christmas down town?” Bobby — “Yes, drums an’ broke music boxes.” sir; I busted three some tin horns an’ n | h n | A pretly doll ina slock- ing, hung, While near her a soldier doll bravely swung, When. lo! the limepiece struck bwelve o'clock, And gavé the muslleloe ule a shock. Then the slarlled doll ... heard the soldier say Al ght, little neighbor! W's Christmas Day.” Aller The gilfs are all given, After lie feasling is done, In front of the Chrislivas fire Is time for the Christmas fun, D PENSIONS GRANTCD. Epidemic of Diphtheria—Mysterious Death—Vote on increase of Debt. Judge Appointed. The pension list was increased during the past week by the addition of the folowing names: Thomas D.; Wilson, Hoytdale, $6; Jchn F. Morris, Phillipsburg, $10; Walter C. Cravin, Wilkinsburz, $6; John H. Hofier, Clay-Licx, $12; William H. Cornman, Carlisle, $10; Daniel Switzer, Rcuser- ville, $12; Daniel Seibert, Summer- hiil, $12; Augustus A. Sturl, Potis- ville, $i2; William McGinnis, Mec- Kees Reclos, $8; William P. Barr, Sterling Run, $12; Henry Sanborn, Russell, $10; Lyman Weeks, Girard, $8: John S. McCoy, Indiana, $12; Wil- liam M. Gift, Snooks, $12; George Mc- Cray, Lemont Furnace, $10; James C. Farley, Gaines, $10; John F. Hosters man, Shippensville, $8; Martha M. Thompson, Mahoning, $8; Sarah Clark, Mansfield, $20; Louisa Dobson, Fairmount City, $8. The voters of DuBois will be asked to vote upon a proposition to increase the indebtedness of the borough $30,-@ 000 in addition to the $35,000 recently, authorized, and for which the bonds have not heen issued. This will bring the indebtedness almost up tc the limitations of the law. The increase igs for the purpose of coinpleting the water supply system from Anderson creck. The assessed valuation of the borough is $2,980,913, and the present debt is $109,113.54. Beginning with January 10 the wages of the Lehigh® Valley railroad brakemen on the Packerton freight and coal runs of the Hazleton and Mahoning division will be increased from $1.75 to $1.85 and of flagmen, $1.85 tio $1.95 per day. Brakemen on mine runs and yard engines will be advanced from $1.90 to $2.00, and all the other brakemen, with the excep- tion of those on passenger runs, from $1.80 to $1.89. The board of education at Philadel- phia notifiel the Philadelphia and Reading Coal Company, which has the contract for furnishing coal to the schools of that city, that the Central High schools have but three tons of: coal on hand, and that unless a sup- ply is obtained the school will be forced to close. Ome school was closed on account cof the coal short- age. Richard Byers, a lumberman, whose relatives are in Clearfield county, was found dead in bed at a lumber camp near Dunlo. At the un- dertakers in Johnstown, a knife wound was found in his heart. Later a pocket knife was found in the béd he occupied. There is a question as to whether it was murder or suicide. The burglar shot by Rev. D. B. Shellenbenzer, thie postmaster, at Bannerville, died in his cell .at’ the county jail. The burglar died without revealing his name. The burglar was shot while robbing the postoffice. The Bedford County Teachers’ In- stitute closed after one of the most successful sessions in its history. County Superintendent J. Anson Wright was presented with a gold watch by the teachers. Meyersdale Lodge No. 299, A. O. U. W., was installed. R. L. Frazier, deputy grand organizer, of Wheeling, W. Va. was assisted in organizing the lodge by Deputy Grand Master Ward M. Sackett. At the closing exercises of the fall tenm of Juniata college at Hunting- don, Acting President I. Harvey Brumbaugh announced to the stu- dents that $2,500 had been contribut- cd to the endowment fund of the col- lege during the term. Miss Pansy A. Newton, of Perry township, won the title of champion speller of Lawrence county in the contest which took place in New Cas- tle. Each school district in the coun- ty furnished its champion to com- pete in the event. Through the efforts of Mayor Gib- son 20 carloads of hard coal were secured for York from the Philadel- phia & Reading Railroad Company. HH. B. Mitchell & Co., of Harrisburg, shipped 11 carloads’ to York for use in the public schools. . By order gf the court at Greens- burg Joseph Roche, who was a pris- oner in the county jail as a suspect in the murder of Louis Ernette at North Jeannette, but who was not held for the crime by the coroner's jury, was released. | Frank Fager, of Johnstown, at McKeesport, suffering from partial asphyxiation. Hager turned the gas down low $n his room and it is sup- posed to have flickered out. He was found uncemscious. He will recover. Governc®* W. A. Stone announced that ¥Fredarick M. Trexler will be ap- pointed judge of Lehigh county to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Judge Edwin Albright. Judge Gray at Scranton, temporar- ily stopped evidence before the strike commission of exorbitant freight rates by saying tbat employers who cannot pay fair wages ought to get out of business. The public schools of Conemaugh were c:osed owing to an epidemic of diphtheria. Fire damaged the pottery of Mayer Bros., Peaver Falls, to the extent of $3.000. Paul Forest. an Italian miner em- ploved at the Moorewild mills, Mt. Pleasant, dropped dead while at work, being due to heart trouble. Hyndman is without light and water owing to a difference between the town council and the light and water companies over contracts. The Reading Railroad Company has over 50 locomotives in service hauling coal trains to Philadelphia and other Eastern cities. Governor-clect Pennypacker has announced the appointment as his t private secretary of Henry S. Dot- terer, of Philadelphia. 4 -— =» possik Iti the Xk you, ongir in th God scious revere ne er we co The holy priest; ASSUIC new £80 thi that ¢ lowed, derful are bi yond ail the in gol ut as not awaits of Go us ju theref the h new a crated to say restful rest t accept Redee “Come EO]
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers