Tbe English language is spoken by
120,000,000 person. But numbers
do not nccesnrily count, for Chinese
It spoken by 400,000,000. It's intol
Hgcnco tbnt talks rutlicr than num
bers. C!ompriiHdtiou cini now be obtained
in France ly tha victims of judicial
errors, TLo Versailles magistrates
have recently givun a man, wrongly
sent to prison for fourteen dnys,nn in
demnity of $00.
An eighteen-year-old cigarctto vie
tim, a sixtoau-yenr-old drnnku'rd, and
tiro ten-year-old robbers make a start
ling record of jnvenilo depravity for
one day. Degeneration is playing a
very strong game in this part of the
world.
The great iinttruuoe companies are
considering the establishment of an
enormous sanitarium for the care of
consumptives who develop the disease
after insuring. The Argonaut speaks
of it as a cold buxinuKS proposition to
cure or prolong'the life of the policy
holder, by which means money will
bo saved to tbo compauics.
Ardmore, Iudian Territory, has A
unique- fire alarm. The inhabitants
are great believers in the minting qual
ities of a Colt's 43 six-shooter, and on
the first intimation of a fire, every
man pulls bis gun. Of course, it
sounds like a pitched battle for a
while, but it is said to have the de
sired effect of getting out the boys,
which no end of church bell-ringing
has hitherto beeu able to do.
The recent movement in Paris,
France, to plaster the city with punt
eis of an elevating character seems to
have spread to Muskegon, Mich. In
this latter city bill boards ara to be
used for dissominiiting scriptural
teachings, and a society for the prone
catiou of tlio work has been recently
formed. Tbo society will also dis
tributo hand curds bearing Iiiblicul
texts and illustrations. It was organ
ized by a Chicago drummer.
In addition to the Hud Cross and
White Cross, there has just been es
tablished in Vienna a new order, to
be known as the Green Cross. Its
object is to give succor to Alpine
climbers nnd excursionists in tuoun
tain regions. It originated in the
Austrian Alpine Club. Tha intention
is to establish huts on high mountains
and to keep supplies and relief stores
or boxes containing articles likely to
be required in emergenoies at con
viently located points.
Concerning the jurrah tree of Ans'
tralio, which is largely wed for street'
paving in Loudon and other European
eities, Sir. John Forest of Australia
speaks thus: "The demand for onr
jarrah and karri timber in London
and other large cities for paving shows
that probably in a short time this will
be one of our greatest items of X'
Port. All along the Southwestern
railwsy, the railwny to Donnybrook
the railway to the Collie coalfields,
and tbo railway to Bridgetown, spleu'
did jurrah country exists."
i -
Br order of tbo City Council of
Toronto, Canada, a ballot was taken
among the street railway employes to
ascertain their sentiment on the qnes
tion of runuiug the street cars on
Sunday. Two hundred and fifty men
voted. Of these 220 were against
Sunday work, while thirty of the men
wished "to bo permitted to work on
Bandar, if they desired to do so." So
as publio suutiment in Toronto is with
the majority of the men, the city
probably retain its nniqne position as
the only Urge oily in North Amerioa
whose street cars are not available on
Sunday.
There is soon to be a now country
to visit and a new way of going
round tbe world, auuonuces Harper
Weekly. It seem only the other day
that Jales Verne's man went srouo
in eighty days, and thought it a con
iderable feat Tbe record for cir
oumnsvigation is now sixty-six days,
or thereabouts. Baron Hilkoff, the
combination of Americun mechanic
and Russian prince who was in this
eoantry recently, said that wheu th,e
railroad across Siberia is finished,
which, be thinks, will be in four or
five years, tbe time of getting aronnd
will be cut in two, and from thirty to
thirty-three days will suffice for it.
He allows ten daya to cross Siberia
. from St. Peteraburg, ten daya front
Vladivostok to San Franoisoo, and
thirteen dys from there to St Peters- I
bnrg again. Early in the next cen
tury, then, tbe tired Amerioen may
tnrn bis faoe eastward when bs starts
. on bis mouth's vacation, and keep it
tamed that way outil bs gets boms,
just sbout in tints to resnms bis
work, i
CHHISTMA3,
feathery (Islets are dancing, dancing1,
In the gray mom s frostly gleam-
Heralds they of reindeer prancing
From the gardens of onr itrenm-
From the bright land of the Elf-King,
Where the boo bons Rally grow
Just like streets of summer gardens,
Where the tulips smile In row.
Feathery flakes are falling, falling,
From the skies In softest wnyi
And between onr voire calllngt
"3oon It will be ChrlMmsfl Day!
rnn't you know how In the springtime,
Wintry snows are Mattered wide
Ere the lovely purple b!o-nm
Care to poop from where they hide?
Feaihorvllnkeg are sifting, sifting,
Through the ehlll Dneembor nlr- '
Here, nnd there, and yonder drifting,
Making everything more fair),
Lnjlng whiter fuMethnn linen
On tha hou-es nnd the trees
Batter than the richest drfmn.k
Bprosd onr dnlnty guests to please.
Boon the bonbons will he fnlllnc'
As the flakes have fall'n to-day
And thnnhltdren will be enlllng
To their patron saint so gayi .
"Ah! wo knew when earns the snowftaker
Too wonld corns, denrflanta Claus
For we always(yon remember)
Know the wind's wsy by tb straws.
Boon the trees as fair as any
That elves havs wreathed with mo,
Will be planted 01 so many!
In onr better homes. And lo'
Bomothlng better far than tnowflnkes
flhnll bo hungabour their green
Cnndl-, toys snd fairy taper
Lighting up tbe merry scene
And the children dancing, dancing.
Ttil all tired their little feet.
Bh-.ll, with half-shut eyes up-glancing.
Wonderi "Why Is life so sweet?"
And some tender voice shall whisper-
Flnke-llke falling from nbovei
"Christmas Is so sweet, my darling,
Just because its king is Lore!"
THE JOY OF MARGEKETTA
A CHRISTMAS STORY.
LEARLY de flood
shadows were fall
ing across the aisle
of the old church
on the bill, the
grny, lonely tuild
ing that had stood
there 10 long, amid
sunshine and sha
dow, watching, at
it were, the peace
fnl village in the valley below.
Above it tbe pine trees, green even
in winter, waved their long branches
restlessly in the wind and flung their
weird reflections over the snow, the
white, soft snow, that covered all the
hillside as with a mantle of palest vel
vet
And the day was beginning to close
in, to spread its gray wings over the
dim sky and the snow bound world,
lightened only by the warm gleam
that came from many a window in the
village. The Afternoons were short
now, said the bnstling fraoen to eaeb
other, as they went about their work
bat. After all, was it not the eve of the
Christmas feast, and what could one
expect? So tbe cottages were warm
and cozy, And the pino loga in the
rail family OAnrcniNa.
tiled stoves crackled and bnrned away
merrily, and few were tbe footsteps
that passed over the snow ontaide.
As the clock in the tower chimed
fonr, old Johann Maria entered the
dimness of the church upon the bill,
where soft red lights shone like far
sway stars before the altar. There were
a few other dsrk figures already there.
kneeling to whisper a prayer at an-old
oaken prie-dieu. But they looked up
as the old man earns forward, and
gatherod together mors closely. He
wonld say the evening litany, prhaps,
and they would join in ths solemnly
sweet responses, breathing in eaoh
heart the names of their dearly loved
ones,and committing them to heaven's
safe keeping for tha night.
And old Johann Maria, as they bad
expeoted, kneeling in ths, soft halo
that ths lights made, began tho old,
old words that they knew so well, and
that they followed so earnestly, wbils
the wind wailed ontaide over ths snow
on the steep white road. And Amalie an
Dorohen and Aida, girls with fair
tresses and eyes bins as ths skies ol
ths Fatherland in the sweet summer
time, listened snd prayed in all tha
fervor of youth and hopefulness and
joy. Was not to-morrow the feast of the
Christ-child, And hid not ths uorUtaa
already brought lunntifnl wreaths of
berried holly and white-veined ivy
leaves to twine round tho carved pnl-
it and tho choir-stalls? Yes, it was a
time of joy nnd gladness, this Christ
mas season, nnd they were very, very
happy. Why not so? Everyone was
gay and glad at Christmas time, when
there v. here knehrn in the cottages,
and little fir trees laden with presents,
and auger angels to be bought nt the
shops or the market In the town yon
der, to remind them of tho great
Christmas long ago, when tho angels
sang over tho star-lit fields at Bethle
hem.
Atid by and by, that same evening,
there would be n great service, wh' n
the priest would prav and preach, and
they would all listen, oh I so intently.
But now there was only the quiet
ness of tho little church, with its scent
of tbe freehly-cut boughs, and the
quavering, monotonous voice of
Johann Maria repeating the old
litany, as he bad repeated it so many
times before iu the same plaoe and in
tbe same accents.
There was another girl in the
corner, kneeling at her prie-dieu, And
whispering the words of tbe sweet old
petitione with white lips and an aohing
heart. Christmas brought only sor
row for ber, ahe said to herself. There
wss no gladness for her to expeat, no
loving voiee to give her the Christmas
greeting, no tender lips to press her
owu in that love aweeter than others,
even at the eeason of universal love.
No, all was dark and dreary dreary
is ttie shadows that feu upon tue
white snow ; and while the others re
joiced and looked forward to keeping
tho festival her heart wss heavy and
ber thoughts roomed buck, pitilessly,
painfully, to A bygone day a day
that waa marked with tbe shadow of
death.
It was Chrtstmas time again, and
the priest had preached and prayed,
snd given the old beautiful benedio
tion, that floated ont like a ineesHge
from Heaven over tbe kneeling people
over her lover and herself.
Ah I her lover I
He had been kneeling by her aide
then, with tbe lights flashing on his
soldier's cost end his brave, handsome
face, and she bad heard bis voioe
throughout all tho service, in ringing,
clear tones that she know and loved so
well, so trulv sad passionately. And
ihe had been so hsppy, so very very
happy, although tbe thought of the
morrow's parting bad come even now
snd then to her heart, witr the throb
bing pain of tome sorrowful droam.
But be had begged her to forget to
torget all tbe pain of parting for that
3ne day. "Let us be hsppy together,
iweetbeart," he had said, looking into
her eyes with bis own, ah I filled with
so mueh lovo and tenderness.
And she had obeyed him, as she
always would obey the voioe that was
mote to her than life itself, and they
bad been happy perfectly, passion
ately happy in their great, nnfath
omable love.
"What is love?" he said to her, as
they walked horns in ths evening,
watching the star gleams, like points
of diamonds, flaeh on ths dark waters
of ths Neekar: "What is love?" he
hod asked, and she had looked up to
Ins beantifal, grave faoe before she
asswered !
"Love is the most perfeot and the
holiest of friendships, my beloved. It
means tbe merging of one's self into
another's being, and tbe living for an'
other. It is based on sympathy,
deepest and truest, And its keynote is
unselfishness. - Is is something that
ftanuot die, for it belongs to Qod, and
is given by Him to us as tbe best gilt
from His Heaven. It is holy, eternal.
ever-abiding, and it is ours, yonrsand
mine tbe most perfeot union of
hearts, my dearest one, in ths ton
do rest, truost sympathy."
So tdio bad spoken, as thev went
down tho river-bordered road together,
band in band, with tho evening wind
moaning among the pines, and the
Christmas chimes ringing out from the
tower iu the distauco. And bo bad
stooped nnd kissed her, kissed ber
over nnd over again with burning
kiseos that lingered on her lips all
through tbe long long aferwards,
when thoy were parted by a darker
tide than even the swiftly flowing
Necfcnr.
That was her dream of Christmas
the tryst under the wings of the un
seeing night; tho words that he had
said to her over and over again, "I
love yon I I love you I I love yon I"
words that she never, never tired of
bearing, end that he never tired of
saying; and afterwards the mirth and
musio of the family gathering in the
warm homestead, where Johann Maria
told wonderful stories snd Amalie
and Dorohen sang tender love-lieder
or wild ballads of tho mountains.
And in the faint grayness of the
morning, one scene more. The sol
dier in his travel-stained great ooat,
with tears in his bine eyes, and pas
sionate pain drawing deep lines on his
pale face, and his love biding a last
good-by, while the stars paled and
the tardy daylight struggled into the
ooltnge. And, with quivering lips,
she had whispered of hope, of their
next meeting, of tho brave deods that
be was to do, of the patient waiting
that would bring them such joy at
last. And be knew that she was right,
that his own heart told him the same
story, while he kissed his dear, dear
lovo over and over again, murmuring
the "Auf wiedersehen" that he knew
wonld bring her comfort. "My
heart's beloved. Qod keep you," she
said, brokenly, with her sweet arms,
for the last time, clinging about his
THH LAST GOOD BY.
ueok, and her head pillowed on his
strong shoulder.
And then she had raised her lips to
bis for the last, long kiss, and it was
over with her heart's story, told in
that on "Auf wiedersehen."
Ab I the peasant's litany was over,
and tho women had gone ont softly,
while ths ripple of the girls' voioes
sounded already some distanos down
the hill.
Johann Marie had followed them,
and the saoristan bad brought in
great bunoh of red holly-berries to
decorate tbe altar.
And ahe most go, too, passing ont
into ths night onoe more." They had
left her to her own thoughts, these
happy girls, and ahe waa glad of it.
She knew their sympathy and loved
them lot it, and they would bs very
tender with hor all through ths feast,
she felt.
Even now, perhaps, Amalie was say
ing, "Aohl the poor Margarettal Is
it not two Christmas festivals slnoe
her lover died In the war?" And the
others wonld look grave for a moment
And sigh a soft "Yes." Ah, it was
true. Two long, dim years had passed
away since tho skirmishes on tbe
frontier land, whore, amid the dry
heather and the dead braokon, they
had told ber that her lover had died,
Bnt that was nil. They knew not
where his body bad been rented ; thoy
knew not whother he bad sufTored
sgony or had purtod with bis brave
son! in tho boat of the battle. All was
vague, uncertain ; only her lover was
gono from hor gono, gone, sho know
not whore.
As she went down the hill road on
that Christmas Eve alone some one
was waiting under the shadow of the
bending pine trees. Some one came
forward to meet her with a quick, glad
cry of joy and hoart's delight. Was
it a dreatn as the thoughts In the
ohuroh yonder had been a dream of
Christmas, and of her love, ber own,
ber life's love, but lost to her lost?
Nay, for a voice spoke to hor, And
dreams have no voices, they are silent
and sad J and this was a living, throb
bing voioe, full of passion and ten
derness. "Heart's beloved I Sweet one I" he
was calling her all tho old dear names
that she remembered so well ; and his
kisses were burning once again on ber
Hps and brow, and his eyes were tell
ing her all tbe love his loyal heart
bore for ber. He had oome baok to
ber, to bis Margnretta, baok to his
life's love, from the very gate of
death I
And, clasped to his breast, in the
hush of the evening, with hor tired
head resting on hia heart, they heard
the bells ring out for the eve of the
festival tbe festival of Perfect Love,
By-and-by be told her the story of
his wanderings, of his supposed death,
of his captivity and escape, and ahe
listened, with her hands still looked
in his and with her glad eyea fastened
on his face.
And at the service time they returned
thanks in the brightly lighted ohuroh
on the hill, gay with holly and ever
green and tbe morrow'a high holy day,
And when tbe musio ceased and the
others went softly away, together they
still knelt on, while each loving heart
breathed its tender petition and wbis
pered its thanks for tbe others' happl
ness. For the "Auf wiedersehen
had been spoken in troth, and they
shall keep Christmas together. The
Lady.
Clirltmas of Childhood Days.
"My first thought of Christmas,
says Lillis Devereux Blake, "is of the
great playroom at my grandmother s,
where we children gathered for our
evening froliss; of the fan we had in
tbe warmth and light, while eleet
struck its ioy fingers aoross the win
dows or the hoar frost covered the
glass with fantostio lines of beauty; of
ths faoos of those gathered there, so
young then, that are growing old now
or have faded from this world forever.
Then there eomen a wider vision of th
Christmas of the world, of the joy
bells ringing in many lands for tho
feast of love and good will, of the
hearts made happy by tbe gifts, tbe
kindliness, the good cheer that brings
light to the humblest home, so that
there is hardly any being so forlorn
that aoms ray of brightness does not
reach him. Then yet again, and
deeper, is ths reflection of what the
festival mean. It is the eelebration
of tha eternal mirsole of maternity,
ths wonder of birth into the activities
of this world, that has been in all ages
and by all peoples observed st toms
period as an oooaaion for gladness ; the
welcome those already hers give tbe
new born soul to the brief, passionate
years of human happiness snd human
despair that ws eall life."
Bother Gets tier Instructions,
if you're waking, call me early.
Call me early, mother dear,
For long before 'tis daylight
la my stocking I would peer.
If you're waking, eall me early,
Bouse ma up at four o'slookt
For I want to see wbat Hants Claus
.. Has pot late my sock. -
THB BKTUHN.
DKCOlUTirrU TUB TtttE.
Row to Make a Pretty Effect In tho
Glowing Light.
Ths first step in tbe work of trim
ming the Christmas tree is to tack s
square of crash to tho floor under tho
tree This saves the carpet from tho
drippings of numerous candles and
the general debris which the disman
tling of the tree invariably oconsions.'
The green tab, in which the tree
should stand, supported by three
cross pieces of pine nailed to the edgo
to bold it securely in place, is almost
sure to be in the housewife's posses
sion. Conceal this by a covering of
white cotton batting, dusted thickly
with coarsely powdered mien to re
sombte snow, says the Philadelphia
Press. Or cover it with imitation
green moss, which can be obtained at
the shops at a trifling cost. The latter
is really the better plan. It is sim
pler, cleaner and more effective.
The newest onnccits tort roe deoora
tions are artificial fruits and vegeta
bles, which are cunningly devised.
Tied to the tree with bright ribbons,
they form a pleasing contrast to tho
green foliage. Fairies, dressed in
wonderful gowns of bright colored
paper, looped with narrow bebe rib
bon are bought at a low figure. Santa
Claus, who should, without fail, crown,
the top, is not an expensive) addition.
In lighting the tree, modern solenoa
comes strongly to the fore. If there
are electrio light in the house, an at
tachment is easily made, whereby the
tree can be lighted with tiny incande
scent bulbs of different colors. In
case tbe house i without eleotrio
lights, a storage battery may be ob
tained at moderate coat From this
the same results are secured. This
it-odern style of illumination removes
the old-time danger of the tree oatoh-
og fire from it lights, but it is also
open to the objection of dispelling the
romantio glow whioh came from in
numerable candles. So the groat ma-
ority of people still prefer tha can
dles, which seem to be a part of the
Yult-tide.
For convenience in distributing the
gifts, it is a good plan to place on
each gift a number, while the mistress '
of the ceremonies keeps a written list
of each member of the household.
with their corresponding check. Tho
distribution is usually made by the
child or children for whose enjoyment
the tree is arranged.
The Jots of Christmas.
One of the most blessed things about
Christmas is that it makos so many
people feel young, writes Edward W.
Bok, ir. Ladies' Home Journal. It is
tbe one season of the year when every
body fee's that they oan dismiss ab
struse thoughts, put dignity aside,
forget the worries of the world, and
for a time return to their youth. It
always seoms a pity that men try to
conceal this feeling so often at Christ
mas. Only a few men are capable of
being gracefully caught in the act of
making a miniature train of oars go
over the carpet. Catch them at it a
night or two bofore Christmas, and
nine out of every ten will instantly
get op from the csrpet, brush tho
dust from tbe knees of their trousers
for dust will get on the oarpeta of
the best regulated homes and imme
diately begin to apologize. I have
often wondered why men rssent being
caught in this way. But a woman
feels differently, and it is a blessed
thing that she does.
Superstitions ot Christinas.
Tbe superstitions ot Christmas aro
more nnmerons even Caan the observe .
ances which owe their origin to heath
enish rites. Among certain European
peasants tbe belief still, prevails that
on Christmas morning oxen always
spend a portion of the time on their
knees. This they do, according lo tho
peasants, in imitation of tho ox and
the ass whiob, a legend states, were
present at the manger and knelt when
Christ was torn.
In certain counties of England ths
idea prevaila that sheep walk in pro
cession on Christmas Eve, in com
memoration of tbe glad tidings first
announoed to shepherds. Bees are al- -so
said to sing in their hives on tho
night before Christmas, and bread
baked at that time never becomes
mouldy at least so onoe thought
many English housewives.
The Epicure's Bird. 0"
The eagle has ths langb on tho tar
key at Christmas time. Philadelphia,
Resold.
"Sometimes," said Unels Eben, "do
houses dat has ds biggea' fam'lieo an",
do littles' tabkey seems tor hah d
moa' Christmas in "em." Washington,- -
Star. t
The Goose "What's tho differs neo
between the Easter gift and ths Christ
mas turkey?" Ths Turkey "I don
no." Ths Goose "Wby.one is dresse,
to kill and ths other is killed to dress."
Truth, ' -"'--'