THE
l!L*o£
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Jl c \ZJ P und home-loving
nnd home happiness are the bright
features of the Christ day through
out the metes und bounds of
Christendom. Callous is the heart,
and dead to all impressions of light and
gladness, which is not quickened to
gentleness and unselfishness upon the
natal day of Ilini who taught the broad
est humanity and the most disinterest
ed love. Had Dickens written only of
Christmas, he should occupy a com
manding place in the affection of hu
manity because of the cheer)' scenes
he pictured nnd the cheery halos he cast
about this day of all days in the year.
The ve-y pathos, which at times setmed
o part of himself, when he wrote, quick
ened and brightened under the light of
that day until it was nearly divested of
all its sndness.
The tragedy of Calvary was years
after the birth scene at Bethlehem.
The God-child had need to grow up 1o
man's estate nnd wrap about liim tlie
mantle of infinite deity before He be
came a man of sorrows acquainted with
grief. The Christ-day tells of the vir
gin mother and her glad smile of joy
as she looked u|on the face of her new
ly-born child. It recalls the cherubic
song of the angels that startled the
shepherds of Salem and 'the effulgent
star that guided the wise men to the
manger in which He lay. It brings out
of the past the happy circumstances of
those who were led into the Divine
presenee, bringing with them gifts of
gold and frankincense and myrrh. So.
too. clearer than when first uttered, be
cause now better understood, is heard
after the lapse of 2,000 years the llea\-
enly promise of peace, good will to met'.. !
Conies also the teaching of mercy, for
giveness nnd charity as substitute for
the older law of eye for eye and tooth
for tooth. When lie came the dark
night of cruelty and wrong and oppres
sion rolled away, ushering in the gray
dawn of an endless day of love for ene
mies and prayers for those that use
their neighbors despitefully.
The example of the sages who cnftie as
gift-hearer is universally followed, and
meet is it that it should he so.
because the heart that gives in
love has a sure promise of a bless
ing from the Lord. The inspiring
motive of donatives is the love that
thinks no evil against the recipient of
the favor, and love is the dominant
ruler of the heart that is good. The
Christ taught nothing if lie did not
teach the infinite beauty of home life
that is builded upon love. The heart
that loves and is cheerful gives freely,
thus communicating pleasure to others
in the reflection that they are not for
gotten. and happiness to the donor in
that he perceives he has communicated
happiness. Love is contagious, as hap
piness is contagious, and blessed and
thrice blessed is that household which
welcomes Christians with ringing of
hells and singing of glad songs, with
laughter nnd merry voices, and that
makes memorable the day by tokens of
affection, whose value rests in the mo
tive which prompted the giving of them.
Did He sorrow? Not for His sins or
follies did He grieve. Did lie sweat
great drops of blood in His agony?
Then was it that men might he freed
from sin nnd he capnble of appreciat
ing and commemorating and imitating
the infinite good of Ilis nature. The
face that was marred is now lit with the
jineffnble joy that comes of man's re
demption, nn(L from His great throne
He regards all earth's children in love
and smiles responsive to the gladness
of those homes which make merry and
bright the Christ-day, Christmas.
WILLIAM ROSSER COBDE.
r CHRISTMAS EVE WARNING.
Clara (in bed) —Come Into bed, quick,
Sally 1 Santy Claus ain't 110 fool. If
he sees you a-walkin' aroun' with fhem
legs, he'll know that stockin' don't be
long to you I—Truth.
llad a Limit.
He could lift three hundred pounds,
Box for ten or twenty rounds;
He could snrlnt a wondrous distance with
out stopping;
But his triumphs found a check;
He came out a total wreck
When he finished up a tour of Christmas
shopping.
—Washington Star.
The Mao for the Hour.
"The loveliest fellow is going to visit
me this Christmas, lie's absolutely
color blind."
"Is that why he is so lovely?"
"To he sure. Just think of it, he
cannot tell the difference between'bollv
aud mistletoe berries and—and the
house is full of holly."—Truth.
The Best lie Could Promise.
"Papa," suid Benny Bloohumper, "1 '
wan'tn I>ig hassdrum for Christmas."
"I'm a-fraid you can't have dhat," re
turned Mr. Bloohumper, "hut you may
have a big turkey drumstick."—Detroit I
jfc'ree Press. l
M" We have always shown an un 8 I ~ | I ,/XVN, /• J"
L SpecialtiesfoniieHolidays!
in Fancy Work and ( |M!!!! jX" v'
MAPI Willi Sterling Silver Jewelry. \fm ROCHESTER LAMES' FINE SHOES V'
NllbjJUlAi Mrs. J. MATHERS. || |UJ =sy .. ~
>rvWJfi Hoine-Made Grain and Kangaroo Calf Slices.
©T WI Fine Slippers, largest and most corn- vV
wf UilfcdJnUlS plete stock of Rubbers ever ! .\Y
//t- . !>.• .-...1 1. r I .w. ~xK Yv by' brought to Freeland. K
// * Mart in" Freeland "loi( More M{ "' B A "° BOV4 ' FHTS AKB BVJBS Bf AU B * UTV A " B fa MrfVV # <s>'
ff Than Ten Years. I I HWUV MAIN STREET, %^/fSX
i(t Toys In Abundance! "
1 j MERKT'S ™ ™1 ! [* wm. I,.~kbiMkT k l]
\ |LfLj| ..... lie. 1 ii * rp rv f I —M- _JL A. m M. Centre Street, Above Main. i ill I ao/4!/v i i • ! I• ?
1 i ™ we are displaying tins year, iwo £5 IP Pvorvti.i,,r!.!. ,i <• .. . r. , ! H Leading Jeweler (Established im.) hi 13
\\ SB iLw... .+'..11 ,A : • i.i " i i. i " #> .. ( ' r ytl fng imaginable for the children's stockings, and a great manv ! n, i :}
\ V 110018 11111, containing the latest and /jT clangs which will interest the older people. For the little ones we have | Jj Centre Street .... Above Main
\\ handsomest products of the Toy- GO // Toys and. Tree Ornaments ra „ . , . n . . R I
\\ maker s art. JJ P f ' niit.l—all of tlicm haiidsoniu and pleasing, manv of tliciu useful and y HG(I(lQll3.lt61 S 101 DldlllOliOS, If lilfjiiGS. CIOCKS t'J !'I
\\ T . . ._ „ , _ , j // lasting. Priues to suit the times. For young men wo hare pd ' til !
// Pi Pes. Cigar Holders, Smoking Sets j " AXDJEU ■KI.UYOV.IU. Kixi w.
#| a g-A aa a i who spread the dinner table,^wo can furuish all the delicacies of the seaioti. [ ■' *—r }" '
The largest and finest line of { 1 jj li
j Watches, Clocks, * Jewelry kMI i 6ILLEJPIE& CURRY f|
I fjf
i at Reasonable Prices I jm 'V ';■>)! The choicest eatable for a ,
*rp ltf'TTl?l> w i/ti/V* Sa \ - JvmJiM I the holidays and all II
Al , U I VF in \ lC K S m, ¥m\ I Other days. Every-
<LomC ro t Front and Centre Streets. | | I thing new. Lowest | |
utbi nmrnrnff H jTS sou I I CENTRE ST„ BELOW SOUTH. |
WM. BIhkBECK a Jmt
Hardware Noveltie ß suit- j •• '
A Great Stock ol Skates. jl A .sua.-k-ir.TM;; TO THE'TBIBUHE. j
BICYCLES AND ALL WHEEL GOODS. P \ =^
STOVES, HLATERS, m i^p liirMMnn o nARin i I
ranges, etc. S. WENNER & SORb, 11!
Steam Fitting, Tin Rooting M M !
and Spouting. IT ySgw I
tU - J tie-. I lull- ftiiiltl lit! tnrr.i'il i,,t„ n m r|. r int- l,..lll;.y I t
PLUMBING A SPECIALTY. i 1 f Y J . '. 4 I Bin -
lUp™maepKJ/5 f I PRICES ALWAVS REASONABLE ' | I
if J. j. SWEENEY, 1 SJhrnrniiimmmm |
oenf •- " i
| NECKWEAR, Mj ,w\/ <T VN ¥/?' X
™2SS%a?' f ROCKERS ~ COUCHES l-4i Fl | lw , wt A
HATS, CAPS, | h In the Grand Rash of Gift-Giving jj 'WM wJJIS'JfeII JR \v ■>
(a LOIRS, Ltc. 0 Do not forget the old folks or your married friends. Santa Claus will 1 f if \\\
Kiegnnt siik-gßantikerciiiefti—Many varie- j.* take good care of the children, while the duty devolves upon you to Ift General Store. V \
tie.—suitable fur Holiday fre.enis. ji remember your parents and aged relatives. Make this a Happy New ' 11 u \
f Numerous Bargains for the Holidays 11
f, tj Jm4iWj I pleased and-Will bless you. We are carrying an extra large stock this i| 11
w —'•"•■■■ jd I season and will guarantee every purchaser a bargain. \ ft i_ rd/v4-Uinrf j n 'i
|X WM F. H. ILBEET. n In Clothing and Furniture. hi
\ —T_\\ FRESH GROCERIES OF ALL KINDS, j/
4/ WILUAMJOrfS® \ ■"mmmSSrVSk //
Lj offers to holiday buyers aj\ hatteii<.i.iuu...r Birkbeck Street, /v /
(IM choice selection of useful' tW| co3a.fsction.er3r IS ,%'vV s „„ n , n L . bL .,. tim
I 'lf articles in Hardware. All IW| B , . , arLdL Fni its !!• X/X)
J sorts of presents for trades- .1} IjUllbllcll 8 „...
f men. A big stock of Fancy H E>pea,iiiy m the | V • '-■* "
| I Lamps, any one of which j}| i H _ J
l||i will be sure to please your t ,i/||j Igftaa I - L— ■ ■ % . . —r-k
\l\ married friends. Skates, ||| 8 OVS 3§t \ Closing out entire stock j
W V Pocket Knives, for the boys. /||| - ||f | TWTT r I I XT of Clothing, Gents' Fu- I
Vt \ FULL LINE OF STOVES, HEATERS AND JiiJlM j . P"l kvHf IftV H' 3 .^, B Goocis - Boots
\\ GENERAL HftRDWAFiE. M J U | ( | f j ?" d I
Vt .ys. it, 1. , / '/yfjLrrr-A Cm 1 nig out ot business. A
rnk Washington and Front f -v-M s reat opportunity to buy gifts In Hankerchiefs, Gloves.
streets. >
1 V JUKI} . Ijj Auction Sale Every Saturday Night.