NEW YEAR'S ADVICE.
There is a foe that watches
Your comfort to destroy,
Assuming sha:es of evil
To interrupt your joy;
To keep him at a distance
Should be your purpose true,
80 "never trouble trouble
Till trouble troubles you!"
Each day he n)uy remind you
Of sorrow that's In More;
Each day with hints and shadows
Perplex you more and more;
But go not forth to meet him
As many people do.
And "never trouble trouble
Till trouble troubles you!"
'TIs time enough to worry
When misery appears;
'TIs time enough for weeping
When there's excuse for tears;
So ever at the fountain
Of prayer your faith rene w,
And "never trouble trouble
Till trouble troubles you!"
For they who borrow trouble
Are never out of debt.
O'er every fancied evil
They worry, fume, and fret;
And if you would be happy
Another course pursue.
And "never trouble trouble
Till trouble troubles you!"
Anticipating pleasure
May give relief from pain;
Anticipating sorrow
Is never any gain;
And if you would be cheerful
In mind and body, too,
Then "never trouble trouble
Till trouble troubles you!"
Estelle, Maude and May Robbins
stood in the window wtth tbeir beads
close together.
"I am so sorry," whispered Estelle.
"I do so want to make-mamma and
papa a New Year's present and I have
spent all my money every cent."
"So have I," said Rosy, "and I have
not kept even a piece of ribbon or an
ounce of worsted."
"It is too dreadful," Maude whisper
ed. "If that horrid Miss Croker had
not insisted upon our buying those lit
tle books at the fair we would all
have had plenty of money. I wonder
how long she Is going to stay. She is
so fussy," said Maude. "Nothing suits
her. Sometimes she says: 'This egg
is too soft, Lizzie; take it away and
bring me another." Then Lisszie makes
up a face and I have to laugh."
! "Well, but Maude," said Estelle, who
wag the eldest, "that is wrong. The
girl who is hired to wait on the table
should never make faces, no matter
what happens; and you must never
laugh at her again. I am sure Miss
Croker saw you this morning."
"But she is fussy," said Ray, "and I
wish she would go home."
"Mamma likes her," replied Estelle.
"You know she was mamma's teacher
once and some one left her a big for
tune and so she stopped teaching."
"And mamma says, too, that she is
very charitable and gives heaps and
heaps to the poor people," put is ft".
"Then I wish she had bought those
books herself instead of making us
spend all our money," grumbled
Maude.
"If we had been honest and said
right out, 'I want all my money for
myself,' perhaps she would," said Es
telle. "Tomorrow is New Year's day. It
is too late to get anything now," sigh
ed Ray.
"If we only bad some of that lovely
wool Mis Croker has been winding
for the laat three days, we could knit
mamma some beautiful mats for her
dressing case. I could knit one be
, fore dark," said Estelle, mournfully.
"Could you, my dear?" said a voice
close behind them.
The three children turned and saw
Mis Croker sitting in a rocking chair
fuat behind them. They did "not
know how long she had been there or
how much she bad heard, but she had
three large ball of brilliant colored
wool la her lap.
"An you rare, Estelle, that you
mmU make a mat before darkr amid
Kiss Croker. looklag orer her spee
taetea at the three blushing face be
fore bar. Maude aad Ray aaswered
"Tea," vary ahjrlr.
The," aaid the lady, "ait tows
Can a the eora aad I will give 70a
ttl ct a ttaw haCa of wooL"
"You are very kind," said Estelle.
"Thank you. Miss Croker." said
Maude. But Ray, remembering that
Miss Croker must have heard her say
she wished she would go home, want
ed to hide herself. However, she
csroe out from behind the curtain and
seated herself close to Estelle. Miss
Croker then gave them each a crochet
needle. "This blue ball is for you,"
she said, placing the wool in Estelie's
lap. "The mauve for you," and she
dropped another ball in Maude's
hands, "and the pink for little Rosy
Ray."
The children laughed merrily, bui
at the lady's last words their faces
grew very long. "Now, girls," "I
want three mats for my dressing case
at home and I know you will be de
lighted to make me a present before I
go, which will be very soon now." She
looked at Ray while she spoke and
then left the room.
"Horrid thing!" said Ray, as the
door closed. "I won't knit a mat for
her. I thought se meant to give ur,
the wool." '
"It just serves us right for talking
about mair.ma's friend as we did," re
plied Estelle. "We will have to knit
them. Come, Ray, I'll begin yours,
and Maude, don't you remember?
Make a chain of three stitches and
the next row plain."
They were all three fond of this kind
of work and presently forgot their
disappointment
The sun was just setting when Es
telle said: "There, that's the last of
the wool and my mat's done. But just
see what a big wad of paper Miss Cro
ker rolled her wool upon." She tossed
the paper under the grate and fasten
ed off her knitting neatly.
"And mine's finished," said Maude,
and here is another great roll of pa
per, and there is something hard in
it Maude opened it slowly, laughing
as sat did so. A bright Eve dollar
gold piece.
"Oh( look! Just look! I wonder If
Miss Croker meant to put It there!"
"I am sure I don't know," answer
ed Estelle, but wait until Ray has
finished her mat then we will' go
and ask her."
"It is done," said Ray, "and here is
another five dollar gold piece. Es
telle, you'd better get a poker and pul!
out that paper you threw under the
grate."
Estelle soon had the paper in her
hand, and sure enough, there was a
third gold piece hidden away In it
"She must really intend them for
us," said Ray. "I feel so ashamed
because she heard me say, 'I wish
she would go home.' "
While the three girls with the money
in their hands and the mats In their
laps were wondering what they ought
to do. Miss Croker walked in.
"80 I see my mats are finished," she
said. "They are very pretty and I
will keep them always in remembrance
of my three little friends."
Estelle held up the shining coin. "I
found this in my ball," she said.
"I put it there as a little surprise
for you," replied Miss Croker, "and
now I hope you can buy some small
gift for your mamma and papa. Then
she added, "Come, children, hurry on
"AND THE PINK FOR LITTLE
RO8Y RAY."
your wraps and I will take you down
town to choose your present!."
Never did three little girls dress In
such short time.
Miss Croker took them to such won
derful stores aad was so pleasant and
kind that the three little girls never
forgot that New Year's Bve.
The gifts that they carried home to
thsir parents, which were selected
ander Miss Crokar's advice, ware real
ty very pratta.
HER HAPPY HOME.
I hear the cold rain beutlng
On sodden roof and lawn;
Hut the hearth is swept and garnished.
The curtains all undrawn;
The merry yule tire flickers.
The mellow lamp-light falls .
On softly tinted carpets. . "-''
And gayly festooned walls.
Without, the nlgbt Is black and shrill,
- The homeless winds complain;
But the cheerful lleht of the fireside
Streams far thro' the falling rain;
Down the garden, across the lawn,
To the dull, deserted street.
We have laid a shining pathway
For the homeward wandering feet!
For Ood hnth blessed us richly
With health and goodly cheer;
And this is ih happy Christmas night
And tho' there are vacant chairs, ah me!
At hearth and board to-niiht.
Their cups are tilled and garlanded
Their places warm and bright!
And I sit among the children.
(Too tired to romp or tease)
And over the pretty golden ring
Of heads about my knees
While the nlht and the rain grow wild,
er
I watch and listen and wait.
For a step on the shining pathway
A hand at the gan'.en gate!
For now is the holy, happy time
Whpn (--trite and rancor cease.
And the Messenger Ang(l brlngtth
To all "Good Will arid Peace!"
And. oh! If his loving hand should bind
Of ths silver threads of rain
Some strong, bright clew to lead the lost
And wandering home again!
Welcome its responsibilities. Heavy
though they may be, they but
strengthen mind and muscle for the
coming fray. They are the skirmishes
la the battles, the campaigns that
make soldiers of us, and teach us how
to buckle on our armor and gird our
selves for the fight.
Welcome ha trials. For out of
them we come purified and refined, as
the gold that is freed from the dross
and impurities that belong to its crude
and natural condition and cling to it
until they are purged away.
Welcome its crosses and losses. For
they but emphasize and punctuate the
story of regeneration and the heroic
careers of those who kept straight on in
th path of duty, never hesitating,
never turning aside, never holding
back their hands from doing that
"next thing" that the faithful look
upon as the point gained In the dally
warfare of life.
Welcome Its sorrows and bereave
ments. They teach us to look upon
this world as not our permanent abid
ing place, but that we have a house
not made with hands eternal in the
Heavens, whither our loved ones have
gone before, and from the windows oi
which they are beckoning to us to
come up higher. Rev. John Hall.
, UNHAPPY NEW YEAR'S DAY.
Mrs. F. (petulantly) "You nevei
kiss me now."
Mr. F. "The idea of a woman ol
your age wanting to be kissed. Ont
wonld think you were a girl of 18."
Mrs. V. (suspiciously) "What dc
you know about girls of 18?"
Mr. F. "Why, my dear, weren't you
18 once yourself?"
Forget Misfortunes.
Welcome the New Year's spirit. It
comes with the hope-day, the day upon
which we all like to put behind us
all of our past misdeeds and misfor
tunes; to turn the traditional new
leaf; to start all over again, and see
it out of our many times unhappy and
unfortunate environment, we cannot
build something more creditable to
ourselves, more satisfactory to our
Maker and more worthy to be record
ed In the great ledgers wherein debit
and credit are kept by unprejudiced
hands H. S. C.
BwUnr llannsaees.
In the year just dawning Uka note of
the good things as well aa the III. I
have heard It told of a bright old lady
that all her life she kept a book aha
railed bar "pleasare book," and that
ho always found, on looking over It
at each year's and that no day had
passed wlthoat carryiag in Its train
some little mite of bapptneaa. C4
Lovla SopnMle. ,
HE KNEW HER.
Woman That rocking chair you
Second-hand Dealer How's dot.
"The rockers are not even, and, as
all over the rodm."
"Melu gracious! I have made a me
rocker, varranted not to vear out de
costs von dollar more."
"Huh! Well, it's your mistake, and
send It back so there!" .
Sign In Japan.
The people of Japan have a mania
for English signs and they flood the
rooms at hotels with English cards.
They have no Insplratlve mood, and
they generally express an idea nega
tively which we express positively.
One day a traveler said to a waiter:
"Kishi, the rolls are cold." "Yes," he
aaid, "a good deal of not cooling the
cakes is good." A conspicuous notice
at a leading hotel reads:
"On the dining time nobody shall
be enter the dining aud drawing loom
without the guests allow." One of the
articles in the municipal laws of Kioto
reads: "Any dealer shall be honestly
by bis trade. Of course, the sold one
shall prepare to make up the safe
package." A Toklo dentist's circular
reads: "Our tooth Is an Important
organ for human life and countenance,
as you know; therefore, when it is at
tacked by Injury artificial tooth is use
ful. I am engaged in the dentistry,
and I will make for your purpose." .
The Champion Glntton.
"Quite a gourmet, isn't he?"
"Gourmet? Why, he's a regular glut
ton." "You're rather harsh, aren't you?"
' "Well, he's one of those fellows who
will eat a hearty breakfast and then
discuss with his wife what to order
for dinner.
ONLY SLIGHTLY MISTAKEN.
"
fit r I
Hungry Harry I'm down on dls t
Wandering Watson Why, wot's de
Hungry Harry I thought de lady
when her husband go troo wid me I
Wanted Help.
A stalwart Life Guardsman in Lon
don strolled leisurely down the street,
ind, approaching an expectant boot
black, pompously placed one enormous
foot on the polishing block. For a
moment or two the lad gawd In won
derment at tho expanse of leather
spread before his eyes, and then be
hailed a colleague on the other elde of
the street.
"Hi, Bill." he shouted, "lend us some
polish. .Hi ve got a Harmy contract."
A Tribute t tke Departed.
"Yes, she's a great talker."
"Talked ber husband bald, hasn't
she?"
"No, tbe baldness was the work of
bla first wife. 8be didn't talk much,
but ahe left some ample proofs of tba
excellence of ber methods."
The QwriL
ghe You're Just hateful.
He You're more eo.
ghe You're a regular stick.
Ha You're as cross aa two.
Pictorial tnitnor
ijBsKxzjeasmwswBW
sold me is a fraud.
you rock, it keepa moving sideways
estake and sent you von new patent
carpet all in von place. Dot kind
I won't pay the dollar, and I won't
THE OBJECT.
MiX WIS
"That's a beautiful stained glass window." -.
"Yes; it was given by Mrs. de Rich e, whose pew is Just below. She
wanted something to suit her complexion."
ravelin' business, an' dat's right.
matter wld yer?
said somethln' 'bout porter-house, but
fotin' tlut she meant slaughter-house.
A Women's Idea.
"Are we all out of debt at last?" she
asked.
"Thank heaven we are," be an
swered. "Then, let's give a swell dinner and
dance," she suggested.
"Unt that will put us in debt again,"
he protested.
"Of course It will," she returned,
"but what's the good of making our
credit so good if we don't use It?"
Chicago Post.
IfaMt Is Stress
"That man," ald the modern Hher
lock Holmes, "came from a town
wbere they have strict blue laws."
"How do you know?" asked the ob
server. "Because you will notice that
he can't even enter a drug store with
out hunting the aide door."
Whan Ike tea.
She "Do yon remember the time we
wars married, dear?"
He "No, what 'a the uae of worrying
over something wa can't help."
(rating an F.lopemept.
"Yes. I have had my little romance,"
sighed the drummer as the talk turnet
on love. "If things had gone right
with me I should have married tilt
nicest girl in the world years bko."
"But they went wrong?" an que
ried. "Yes, they did. I loved an Ohio
Tarfflci b daughter, he father was op
posed to tha match and forbade pie the
house."
"But why didn't you plan an elope
ment?" "We did. Yes, sir. the girl loved me
and we agreed to elope. I was to be on
hand on a certain night with a horse
and buggy and bear her off."
Did the scheme work out all
right?"
"Xo. it didn't. I arrived on time to
the minute, but I couldn't find tho
house. The old man bad got onto us.
and what do you think ho'd done?
True as I . live, sir, he'd gone and
moved his rouse three miles down the
road, and I couldn't find It, and the
elopement couldn't come off, and that's
why I'm a lonely old bachelor to-day."
1'areiital Pride.
"They tell me that your boy Josh Is
getting very handsome," said the
neighbor.
"Yes," answered Farmer Corntossel.
"Josh is getting' right busy. He puts
in three or four hours a day now tcfl
In' me how I'd orter run the farm. I've
got an idea that Josh is one o' these
$20,000 a year men that the steel trust
is lookln' fur an' can't find."
Why He nuecumned.
Not long ago, In Perthshire, a wo
man was driving her husband down a
narrow lane, when, on turning a sharp
corner, they encountered a brewer's
cart. Neither had room to pass, and
in most disagreeable tones the woman
said: "He must go back, for I shall
not. He ought to have seen us before
entering the lane." , "Hut, my dear,"
replied her husband, "how could he,
with this sudden turn in the road?"
"I don't care," said the woman
haughtily, "I shall stay here all night
before I give way to him." The driv
er of the cart overheard all the con
versation and said, resignedly: "A',
richt, sir; I'll gang back" adding,
sympathetically, "I've got Just sich ,
anlther one at home." Glasgow (Scot
land) Mail.
Making- Preparations.
"I want to get a turkey and a bottle
of paregoric, and some mincemeat, and
some pepsin pills, and Borne cranber
ries, and some furniture polish, and a
quart of oysters, and a package of
COurt-p!astr, and mn sweet potatoes
and a fire Insurance policy."
Here the market man smiled mer
rily and Inquired:
"Going to eat all that?"
"No," responded tbe customer, "but
the family Christmas dinner occurs at
my house this year." Baltimore Amer
ican. Kll Whitney and the ottoa (Jin.
"1 Bee they are going to put up a
tablet to the memory of Ell Whitney
down south somewheree." ' - .
"What did he ever do?"
"Think he Invented a gin."
"That's funny. They'll be puttln' up
monuments to tbe Inventors of cock
tails next."
The Ollrerear.
"What Is the nature of this new
fangled malady which they call the
'golfing spine'?"
"That," responded Cynicus, "is easy.
'Golfing spine' la what the old man
need to have after a hard day s plow
ing, but he called It the fcaekache."
Aad He Was Ceiferlea.
"But tell me," he persisted, "la there
nothing I may hope for?"
"Oh, yes," ahe replied, gracious.
Tomer."
