f
h-
n
X
slSai WAS tho night be
I fore Christmas."
and Oh, yes, I
know
That's scarcely orig
inal, still It'll CO.
It's Juat what I wanted to say, you'll admit,
And It's easier far than to write one to fit.
Twas the night before Christmas and Dlclc
was In bed,
When he heard a light step on the roof
overhead,
And a rattle of boots In the chimney, and
knew
It was Santa, so down the front stairway
he Hew
And peeped In the parlor and there, sure
enough,
Wna that little old gentleman, ruddy and
bluff,
With his thick bushy whiskers and Jolly red
nose,
And tho pack that he carries wherever he
goes.
But his dress, well, what student of story
book lore
Saw Santa Claus dressed In a sweater be
fore? Or In trousers of plaid, while the stockings
he sported
Were the kind Anglomanlacs lately 've
imported,
Called "golfers." In short, his attire was
so queer,
Dick's gasp of surprise reached the old
fellow's ear.
"Come In," said he, kindly, "I roally would
like
To have some one to talk to. Say, how do
I strike
Your critical eye? Aren't these golf stock
ings nice?
I fancy that they cut considerable Ice.
What! Surprised at my slang? I don't
know why you should be,
It's strange how the people have misunder
stood me.
I'm not the old fossil the story books state:
I'll have you to know that I'm right up-to-date.
My reindeer? you ask. My dear boy. they're
too slow
For this wide-awake age, they've been sold
to a show.
I'm riding a wheel and I fancy myself
I could put a few racers away on the shelf
If I ever started to beat 'em. Let's see,
My cyclometer tells me I've ridden Just
three
Hundred thousand and twenty-five miles
Blnce I started,
And My! that reminds me, It's time I de
parted. So long See you later." He stepped to the
flue
And giving a Jump quickly vanished from
view.
And Dick reached tho window In season to
spy
The flash of his lamp as his cycle whizzed
by.
A glimpse In the road where tho bright
moonlight shone,
A speck In the distance, and Santa was
gone.
And said Dick, as he slowly went back to
tho fire:
"Say, what would he do If he punctured a
tire?"
Joe Lincoln, in L. A. W. Bulletin.
?Q2LS
T HAD been a dull,
gray day, sunless,
rainless, cheerless,
and it was Christ
mas eve. A sob
bing breeze thnt
was not even cold
sighed among the
pines and the leaf
less elms thnt lined the street of the
little southern town.
"If the sun would come out, or even
If it would rain! One likes to see some
thing going on, even if the something
is unpleasant. Things seem to have
come to a sort of standstill. I wish we
were at home with Minnie nnd the kids.
She's the sort of person to keep you
from missing the sunshine, and that."
Jack Allen laughed. "You are in
love with your wife, Tom, that's all."
"1 shouldn't be surprised. You'll un
derstand why, when you see her. I
wrote her that you were coming. Why,
hello, here's a bright spot at last!
Look at those Christmas rosesl How
white they are! My mother used to
love them so, and Minnie does. Come
in, Jack, and I'll get a pot for Minnie.
Whose place is it?" glancing up at the
name aoove me nower-lllled window.
"Hose Ellison. Why, let's see. We
used to know her, Jack. Don't you
recollect? She was one of the school
girls graduated with Minnie pretty
girl, too. Come in."
"Thank you, I'll wait here. Want a
cigar. Flowers nnd old friends are not
in my line," .Jack said.
Tom glanced at his friend, who began
to fumble with a cigar case, his back
to the beautiful window. "Surly old
bachelor, eh ? More's the pity," he said
as he opened the door and went in.
A trim little lady stood behind the
counter. Her cheeks were u good deal
Hushed, and a curious, wistful light
shone in her pretty blue eyes. She
vas trying to compose herself.
tfc
J
iMSfe
7A
"Why, Miss Hose, I'm glad to stumblo
upon an old friend. How do you do?
Mlunle'll be glad to hear from you. I
stopped to get n pot of your pretty
Christmas roses for her." Tom talked
on, and all the time his bright eyea
were taking in the details of the little
shop. Presently a sort of pain began
to grow in his big, kind heart. Pretty
Hose had come to this to the wearing
of faded, mended gowns and the selling
of needles and pins nnd flowers. "They
are the prettiest roses I ever saw," he
went on, "and I want the very biggest
and sweetest for Minnie's Christmas
gift."
"I love them, every one," Hose said,
setting down n line plant. "How is
this one?"
"It's n beauty. Will you take this
for it?" He threw a $10 bill on the
counter.
"That? Oh, not even hnlf so much."
"Shaicks! You ought to deal with
a city florist. I'd be lucky to get off
at $25! My conscience will trouble
me, Miss Hose, if I pny less than $10.
Habit is strong. You won't spoil my
Christinas and my pleasure in giving
this to the little woman at home, will
you?"
"But I, too, have a.conscience," Hose
laughed.
"Hut mine is so tender, Miss Hose,
nnd, honor bright, it's n sure thing
they charge awful; so that's all right.
Maybe it would be better if you'd throw
in a 'button hole.' "
ifaUztmZ f I II. i n
I YOU DON'T CABE
"Yes, let me. You've been too gen
erous, 1 feel that I cannot "
"I'll take violets and a sprig of nut
meg." "And your friend. Won't you take
one for him?" She Hushed again.
"To Jack?" glancing outside. "Yes,
but he's a surly old fellow, and I doubt
if he'll wear it. It's Jack Allen, you
know. Hemember he went west five
years ngo. 1 stumbled upon him at the
hotel just got back."
Tom noticed how the girl's white
hands fluttered as she tied up his vio
lets, and then how she hesitated, and
at last broke oil' a white rose bud and a
scented leaf for his friend. lie pinned
on his flowers, and waited while she
deftly wrapped up the pot that held
the Christmas rose.
"You hardly miss it from your pretty
window," lie said.
"I'd hoped to sell all these," she re
plied, a little break in her voice, "but
it's getting late now. To-morrow is
Christmas tiny."
"So it is. Hose, come spend it with
us. Minnie is always so glnd to see old
friends. It's only a two-hour run.
Can't you come?"
"Why, I'd like to. Christmas is so
sad, nowadays; so sad and dull."
"Yes. Well, you see, Minnie has the
kids, and she's at home nearly always.
I'm on the roud, you know. It would
help her, nnd she'd be glad I thought
of it. Let's see." He took a slim black
book from his pocket. "I've just the
number of miles here on this ticket.
It won't be any good next year," tearing
out a bit of paper. "You just use it,
and I'll go and send a telegram to Min
nie." And before Hose could collect
her wits he had snatched up the flowers
and was gone, and there on the counter
lay the crisp $10 bill and a railroad
ticket!
"It's like n fairy visit," Hose laughed,
peering between the roses at the men as
they walked off. "And he wouldn't
come in! I wonder why? He oh, he
has the rose in his coat! My little
Christmas rose. I wonder if he remem
bers?" The men were out of sight, and Hose
turned from her flowery window, nnd,
snatching up the money nnd ticket hur
rned into the little room at the bnck of
the store.
"I've found thnt recipe, Hosy. The
cheap fruit cake, you know," squeaked
a little voice,
"Oh, aunty, you can't do it. You
needn't to. Three eggs nnd not n shred
of citron! Burn the recipe. You nrc
going to epend Christinns with Cousin
Sereun, after alll"
"Hose Ellison!"
"Yes, I've been bo lucky. I'm going
to the city, and Hut your train leaves
in an hour. Let's hurry aunty, else
you'll have to wait until to-morrow
afternoon!"
"Hosy, dear, I don't understand!"
Hose caught the quaint little figure in
her arms, nnd kissed the puzzled face.
"You needn't. Just get ready. You are
going in nn hour. In the morning I'm
going to see Minnie Hrown. I've had nn
invitation. Site's married, you know, to
Tom Wilkins such a there's the bell.
Do gel yourself together, aunty."
Presently aunty entered the store
with n big green veil over her queer bon
net nnd a bandbox on ench arm, while
in one hand she carried a blue silk bag
and the other grasped an immense um
brella. Into the bag Hose dropped n
handful of coin, nnd kissing nunty's
Hushed, withered old face hurried her
on. "It'll be n fine treat to me nnd
Scrcny, Hosy. Hut whnt'll you do to
night?" .
"Me? Oh, I'll stay with the minister's
wife and help her fill the wee bit stock
ings. Get n real good time, nunty, dear."
"I will, child, but I feel nil a-flutter,
with the sadness of it. Kinter olT my
feet, you know." Then she trotted on
down the street with the great band-
FOB THEM, JACK."
j boxes bouncing like life preservers, un
der ner nrxns. She was just in time for
the train. A little out of breath and a
good deal excited, she settled her be
longings in the end of her seat, and be
gan to take eomijrt.
Two gentlemen in the sent before her
glanced back nt the quaint little figure,
and one of them smiled. "Look here,
Jack," one said, "don't let me forget nt
the next station to wire .Minnie. That
poor little girl is going down to-morrow
to spend a day or so. It's a great
nuisance, our having to go to Hrightville
instead of straight on home. She'll get
there first, in the morning. We'll get in
at 12."
"What girl is it?" Jack pulled his cap
down ovei his curly hair.
"Why, Hose Ellison, of course, I wns
so sorry for her, Jack, I asked her."
"The dickens you did!" Jack's brown
eyes flashed.
"Why, Jack, are you a regular woman
hater? The poor little woman is worked
to death, and I warrant she never has a
good time. If I'd thought a moment
but I was sorry for her. It's such a
poor little place. She's urettv and thn
roses are, but there's it's a stuffy little
store. I'm nfraid Minnie's forgotten her
it's been so long since they were girls,
and I enn't recollect hen ring Minnie
speak of her, but I'll send her word.
That little woman shall have a good
time. Why, Jack, old fellow?"
Jack's hand was on his friend's shoul
der. "Don't Tom. It's going to be
pretty tough for me, old boy. Cnn't
you let me oft?"
"Let you off, with Minnie expecting
you? Not if I know it," and Tom looked
very grave nnd earnest. "You are not a
coward, are you, Jack? What's the
matter?"
"I'm nfraid I am, Tom. but if I must
go, help me nil you enn."
"To keep out of the poor little cren
ture's way? She looks harmless enough.
I'd be more nfraid of Minnie's town
friends."
"You don't understand, Tom."
"Then suppose you enlighten me?"
"I I used to know her in the old
dnys. She was everything to me. I
reckon I wns a fool, but I couldn't tell
her so."
"That you were a fool? Don't blnme
you."
"No; thnt I that she that we"
"Exactly," Tom nodded.
"So I bent her a bunch of Christmas
roses like these." He touched one of
the nodding white flowers tenderly.
"Like that in your buttonhole?"
"Yes. I sent them on Christinns evo
five yenrs ngo to-night. And there
v as a foolish note with them asking her
if she loved me to wear them to the
Dwlght's party."
"And she didn't wear them ?"
"She didn't even go, nnd I, fool that I
was, went to sec why. Her aunt wns to
go with her 1 had ordered a carriage.
There were lights all about the house.
A dim one was in the parlor. I used
often to go to the French window that
opened on the veranda and save wait
ing at the hall door. That night the lace
curtains were drawn ncross the win
dow, but the blinds were open. I was
about to push the window open when
I Bnw Hose seated on n sofa across the
room. She wore a bright loose-looking
dress, nnd her face was pale and earnest.
Beside her" He stopped n moment
nnd loosened his collar. Then he went
on: "Beside her on the sofa sat Hex
Hill you recollect a young doctor who
used to be with old Dr. Bellamy?"
Tom nodded. He had forgotten Hex
Hill, but that didn't matter.
"Well, he sat there talking to her and
holding her hand, nnd presently she
burst out crying and and my eyes
burned so I couldn't see very well, but
her hend went down on his breast, nnd
I reckon I was wild, mad. Tho next
I knew I wns on n train that was speed
ing westward, and the Christinns sun
wns rising."
Tom blew his nose; Jack covered his
face with his hands. There was a little
stir among the bandboxes behind them,
and a hand in a gray cotton glove wns
Inid on Jack's shoulder.
"Oh, sir." squeaked n small, mouse
like voice, "thnt was the night her father
died. Dr. Bellamy was sick and he sent
for the young man. I was there, spend
ing Christmas. It was a stroke so sud
den nnd unexpected. Hosy couldn't be
lieveshe couldn't sense it. I saw her
dressed for the party in her pretty white
frock with the Christinns roses in her
linir nnd on her breast, and I saw her
when the news came. She was almost
crazy. She tore off the party finery,
but she put the roses in water, and nftcr
wards she set 'em out nnd they grew
them's the snme roses. I put the red
wrapper on her, and the young doctor
undertook to tell her that her fnther'd
have to die, for I couldn't (though I'm
not one to shirk my duty), nnd I've
stood by her ever since. Hosy never
meant no harm she never was bold.
There's not many like Hosy."
The car door opened nnd the porter
yelled "Centcrvillc." There wns a stir
among the bandboxes, n flourish of the
umbrella, and the quaint little figure
fluttered out before either of the men
could speak or move. And after she
was gone they were quite still until
presently Tom got out his cigars nnd
went into another cnr.
The sun shone bright enough Christ
mas morning when Tom nnd his guest
left the car for the carriage that would
take them home.
"You see, Pll have to see Minnie nil to
myself, just nt first, that's why she
won't be in the hall. I'll iust tumble
you into the pnrlor for a moment until
I gather my senses. Compensations,
you see. It isn't so bad being a travel
ing mnn there nre so many home-comings!"
Tom snid, holding the enrringe
ooor open while they were sneedintron.
Thnt wns how it came about that Jack -I
walked into the bright warm parlor to
find a little blue-eyed woman with '
Christinns roses in her hair sittinc alone
in the ruddy glow of the yule-tide fire.
His eyes grew bright nnd s6ft ns the
little woman rose, flushing nnd con
fused. "Are you wearing the Christinas roses
for me, dear?" he asked, humbly.
"I you don't care for them, Jack."
"Indeed I do. I wnnt the sweetest of
all the roses for my own, little girl.
May I have it, now?"
A mischievous sparkle brightened the
blue eyes. "How enn T tell which is
sweetest?" she asked.
"May I take my choice?"
Then Tom nnd Minnie enme nnd after
them the "kids," and altogether it was a
ery happy Christinns.
"The rosiest sort of n rosy time," Tom
snid, pinching Hose Ellison's pink
cheek. Ellen Frizell Wycoff, in Minne
apolis Housekeeper.
SIkiin of Chi'lNtnifiN.
She moets me nt the door
Each evening with a smllo that's sweet
and mellow;
"Your supper's waiting; como right In, you
poor,
Dear, tired fellow!"
(But I know Just what this means,
For wo'vo struck the Christmas scenes;
A new red hat,
And the likes o that
That's Just what the dear one means.)
She marks my frowning brow
CTls sweot to have a woman to adore
you!)
And says- "I know your head must ache,
and now
I'm going to rub it for you!"
(But I know Just what that means,
For we've struck the Christmas scenes;
A dress, a hat,
And tho likes o' that
That's Just what tho dear one moans!)
Atlanta Constitution.
A MlNtiiko,
"Hit nra er mistake," said Uncle Ebon, '
ter hah yon merry Christinns in sech i '
way cint yon cant linb er linnpy Now Yenr,
case oh le worry 'bout do bilW ' Washim:
ton Star.
To the IIoj-h.
Honor thy father nnd mother around
Chrihtmns if you expect to get anything
N. Y. Truth.
SCHOOL AND CHURCH.
Bishop Jojee writes In a most en
thusiastic way concerning Methodist
missionary work in Coren.
The church in which Henry Ward
Beecher preached his first sermon is be
ing torn down at Clnirmont, near Batti
via, O. It has been used as a livery;
stable for 30 years.
At the thirty-eighth session of the
Dcs Moines conference a resolution was
pnssed calling attention to the runiorn
of the existence of destructive criticism,
in our theological schools and dcinund-i
ing an inquiry into the snme.
Two hundred LuOicrlne pnstorsi
of the Baltic provinces who had been,
charged with administering Lutherlne1
baptism to the children of Lutherlne
fathers and mothers who hnd married
members of the Greek church, hnvc been
granted n full pardon by the czar.
Miss Mary Hnyiinond, a member of
tho Epiphnny Baptist church, New.
York, In 1S1M deposited $20.55 in a bank,
intending the money to be used for th
education of heathen children. It wo,
only withdrawn this year find pnid into,
the treasury of the Missionary union,
It has grown to $1,117.
A medical service was recently hcldi
at St. Paul's cathedral, London. Th'
archbishop of York preached the fier-
mon. The service, which wns held in th
evening, was largely attended by tho
medical men of London, all wearing
academical costume and ncoompnnled,
by the ladies of their families. . '
IT CURED HIM.
One I ii Hi n nor Where Ghllilri'u'N l'oo-,
try Si'rvtMl ii I'lirpoNt.
The foreman on a Texas paper Is ad
dieted to sprees. He is a valuable man,
nnd, although the editor invnrlably dis
charges him whenever he hns one of his
"lapses," he always hires him again the
next day.
A few weeks ago the foreman came
in nfter a five-days "whizz," with a
wild look-in his eyes, shaking hands,
and a propensity to let his sight travel
round the room, following things that
were not there. The editor, as usual, de
livered his lecture and told him to go
to work again. The foremnn took a
handful of copy from the file on the
editor' b desk and went into the composing-room.
Presently he returned with
n frightened look, holding n Bheet of
paper in his hnnd.
"Would you mind looking nt this,
sir?" he said. "I'm not feeling very
well, nnd I'd like to hnvc you rend a few
lines of it out loud, if you will."
The editor took the paper and glanced
over it. It wns one of those "non
sense" verses for children that have be
come populnr of late with the publish
ers of children's literature, and wns a
particularly idiotic specimen of its kind.
The first verse rnn this way:
"Tho Wlnktum-Woojnm In the land of Skeo
And tho Boojum of Crlpplty Cranglo Crco
Met the TumptytumTumpty of Boodledura
Boo,
And they danced to the tuno of Dl-dumpty-dl-doo."
The editor conceived nn iden.
"Why, this is plain enough," he said..
"The handwriting is very good. It
goes:
" 'The summer sun hns sunk to rest,
The boo haH ceased to 11 y,
Tho little blrdH are on tholr nests,
The stars are In the sky.'
"I don't see anything the matter with
it, Dan. Are your eyes failing?"
The foreman took the copy nnd read
it again earnestly, with u bead or two of
perspiration standing on his fore
head. "Are you sure," he said, anxiously,
"that you read that right?"
"Of course," said the editor. "It's a
clean n piece of poetry as I ever laid my
eyes on. Don't you read It the same
way as I do?" ,
"Y-e-s," said the foreman, "I make it
about the same; but I never expect to
take another drink of whisky ns long as
I live."
The editor challenges the world to
cite another instance of a writer of this
kind of verse accomplishing nnything
that will serve as an excuse for his ex
istence. Detroit Free Press.
I'liotoffrniiliM of AiiliiutlM.
Among the scientific applications of
photography, the vnluc of which link
recently been pointed out, is the study
of the nntural attitudes of birdB and
other onimnls, through instnntaneiAis
photographs of them. It is averred that
very erroneous impressions nre of I en
conveyed, even in scientific treatises,
through the incorrect nnd sometime
impossible nttitudes in which niiiinali
are represented. Not only could RUch.
errors be avoided, but important char
acteristics of animals might be made
evident by npplying photography to the
study. The case is analogous to that of
the galloping horses, formerly so incor
rectly represented by artists. Youth's
Companion.
An Kudu; Context.
Hicks I 'understand there wns a
queer contest nt your house last even
ing. Wicks Yes; there wns a fellow there
who has the reputation of being a rapid
eater, and he made a bet witli Phacer
thnt he could swallow more biscuit in a.
given time than Phncer could. The eijajt
was a terror, but Phacer beat him all t
nothing.
"That muM have astonished you."
"It did, and it stnrtled the cham
pion eater, too. You see Phacer had t
very generous mouth, and while the
other fellow had to eat tandem, Phocer
took them in two abreast." Boston
Transcript.