Tommy
1 O’Dowd's
Christmas,
H K HliadnwH of
Christmas eve were
falling over the
city as George
Thomas, a New
York city mechanic,
stepped down on
the sidewalk In
Park place on his
way homeward. His
earning capacity
_ was $18 per week,
Iwt because of the prevailing hard
times his Income had been re
Spuccd to $12. This sum, with
Hlttpio little change, comprised his
1mh capital. As be buttoned his coat
•trout his neck lie reflected ruefully
that this was a very small sum with
Which to meet his expenses and to buy
Christmas presents. The wind blew
(pjrtakly down Park place as be walked
trd Broadway, thinking of the corn
rent day, the empty coal bln, and
new dress he had promised his
le. His thoughts were saddened as
remembered that his little boy
aid have been nearly five years old
be lived until Christmas. There
a sense of constriction In his
it as he thought of last year's
Isttuas tree, bright with spangles,
Hated with light and whitened with
jrn balls. Then against the walls
leroory stood out clear and distinct
figure of his little l>oy standing In
white nightgown In the gay dawn
|Cbrlstmas day, with flushed cheeks
eyes dancing with delight, looking
Jthe marvelous Christmas tree.
rOn Park row, near the corner of
Cambers street, there was a toy store
| most wonderful variety. As Thom
came down the street, his mind ln
on his own misery, his gaze fell
#n one of the most pathetic figures
had ever seeu. Before the window
the toy store stood a little boy,
lose nose was flattened against the
ae. His body shivered with the cold,
his soul was aflame with desire,
Jch was expressed In his hungry
Thomas estimated his age at 6
He wore an old coat, which had
lently been made for a boy twice
age. Pins usurped the place of
Itons on thp garment. His feet were
Into a pair of yellow gaiters, as
ms wear affording excellent- but
ventilation. Hla trousers, held
pieces of string, were frayed and
|Wcd in a manner suggestive of
ct that the boy had been daudled
MlH'l tUt. UK1 MK n*."
poverty » attna i noinm mutt id
*•* detail* aa hr atopped he* Ida
boy anil walthed him The la*
tad ftpratloa In l.Sa little fara,
pint-had goatrtta, the blur r Ire la*
f Iba ayaa. and tha wold.h luoh
• wan iMtvrw fatal away n tha
|Mmad iu Thornaa aad aald
y natalar. Itr m« up ao I kla aaa
y «M*a»•lira1'
• I triad Iba boy la bta at mag
a» I bat bta rang* of iblua la*
all iba Taaialua delight* of tba
a* aiuddar waa gola* I’ bar*
tta Iraa, but aba aaya aba ran l
dlt yaar, 'rattan aha ala I
|. iha arrulta In d* llarw
gw* ft a vaah day. dal t
a lot o’ money, ain't It? Hully gee!
Look at de dinky little tin eojer! Ain’t
he a corker! Mister, Is your little boy
goln’ to hav’ a Krlsmus tree?”
“I’m afraid not this year sonny,"
Thomas replied. “My little boy Is In
Heaven.”
“Where's dat? Across de river?”
“Yes, It Is across the river,” replied
Thomas, gravely, putting the little fel
low down upon the sidewalk. “What
is your name?” he continued.
“Tommy O'Dowd,” replied the boy,
“and I live in Middle alley."
“Well, Tommy,” said Thomas, "you
go with me to the telegraph office and
then I’ll go home with you.”
And so, hand in hand, the strangely
assorted pair went to the telegraph of
fice and Thomas sent this dispatch to
his wife In Harlem:
“Dear Mollie: Detained down town
by important business. Will be homo
at 11 o’clock."
“Do you know the way home?” asked
Thomas as they came out of the tele
graph office on Dark Bow again.
“Yes," said Tommy, scornfully. “I
know all de streets. Ye goes down
New Chambers street till ye comes to
Roosevelt, den ye goes down Roose
“THE LITTLE FELLOW SAT UP
RIGHT.”
velt till ye gets to Cherry en den y'
are In Middle alley."
They followed this Itinerary, Tommy
running ahead to point out the way.
They entered the alley between two
enormous brick tenements, through a
big Iron gate, and after a wearisome
climb up crooked stairways arrived at
the O’Dowd residence. Tommy went
Into the room, and as Thomas lingered
on the threshold he heard a strident
voice say:
"So that’s you, you little scut! Sure
you had the heart o’ me ar bruk I was
that freckeued! Ah. good evenin’ to
ye, sir," as Thomas stepped Inside.
"Come In, sir. It’s little we have, but
ye’re welklm as if ’twace a palace, sir.
Tommy, ye amodhoun, you, get the
glntleman a chair."
“I hope you will excuse me, Mrs.
O’Dowd." said Thomas, "but 1 saw your
little boy looking In a toy store win
dow and thinking he might be lost I
came home with him."
"Now. ain’t that kind o’ you, sir."
exclaimed Mrs. O'Dowd. "Sure It's not
many would do the same, no there."
"Uut ye needn't be freckened about
that little tdaggnrd. Faith, he'd And
hla way from Harlem to the itatthery.
so he would."
In euch senial convene the time
passed, while Tommy and hla mother
supped on mackerel and potatuee. And
wbeu Tummy had been tucked away
fur the nlsht In hla mother'a bed uuder
the main-I. on which stood a plaster
cast of the Virgin, with hands out
spread In b*n*dt» lion, I homes had a
whispered talk with Mrs O’ltowd, la
tri rupted at frequent Intervals by euch
en Umutlous as. “Oh. dear, may your
shadow never grow lean!" "May your
wife never attend your funeral," ate.
At I o'clock Thomaa waa walking up
Noueevetl street with eager footsteps
lie stopped at a grocery store and made
a purchase, then hurried up Into Park
Itow again, The lay store man waa
putting up hla shutters, hut Thomas
prevailed on him le go I aside, and at
It a'cloeh he was hash la Middle alley
again Tsars af delight IIM Mrs
IVJared * eyes as she met him at the
vatraaw to the alley and led him Up !
the labyrinthine staircase There waa j
more myaterlous whispering. Then
Mrs. O'Dowd flew downstairs again to
get a bundle of kindling wood. It wa«
well that Tommy was a sound sleeper,
as the fleeting forms of shadowy fig
ures and the rustle of papers would
have disturbed him.
It was 11:30 when Thomas arrived
at home and greeted hie anxious wife.
When they retired Thomas said:
"Molly, set the alarm for 4 o’clock
tomorrow, and get your wraps ready,
for I Intend to take you along to help
play a Joke on Tommy O’Dowd."
She piled him with questions, he
gave her evasive replies. At 6 o’clock
Thomas and his wife arrived at Middle
alley.
"Is he awake?’’ he asked anxiously
of Mrs. O’Dowd, who met thorn at the
door.
"No; the saints be praised, he's Bleep
in’ like the dend. Como here at the
dure and watch.”
The door had been thrown wide
open, but Mrs. O’Dowd bad hung her
Sunday shawl over the opening. Be
hind the folds of this garment the
three persons watched and waited. The
blinds had been carefully closed, ho
that not a ray of sunlight came into
the room. Three kerosene lamps were
blazing with light to their utmost ca
pacity. It wag painfully still In tho
room, and by listening Intently Thom
as thought ho could hear the gentle
breathing of tho little boy. As the
minutes ticked slowly away the sus
pense was almost unbearable. A move
ment In the bed caught the ears Of the
listeners. Then the boil clothes were
thrown aside and the little fellow sat
upright, apparently paralyzed with
amazement. Upon a little table be
tween the windows stood a Christmas
tree two feet tall stuck Into the middle
of a bundle of wood. The light was
reflected from a hundred pieces of red
paper tied to the scrawny boughs, a
dozen red and white popcorn balls
bung like apples on the limbs. Little
candles twinkled through the scant fol
iage, while barber-pole candy, a tin
soldier and a Jumping Jack were prom
inently displayed. It was an Aladdin
like scene. And before this radiant
vision, like a saint before a shrine,
with hands clasped In adoring admira
tion, stood little Tommy, while his
mother was weeping tears of Joy with
her face hidden in the shawl.
ThomaB and bis wife stole quietly
out and left them.
"George, stop,” said Mrs. Thomas
when they reached the corner of
Roosevelt and Cherry streets. Uplift
ing her face, which was convulsively
working with tender emotion, she said:
"What did it cost to play (hat little
Joke on Tommy?"
"Just 71 cents, sweetheart,” he re
plied.
They walked on for another block.
But Mrs. Thomas was bubbling over
with excitement, and she stopped her
husband again and exclaimed;
"But you haven’t any Christmas
present yourself.”
“Nonsense, Molly, haven’t-"
He was interrupted by two soft arms
around his neck and a kiss. Then
Molly began to «ry. But George quick
ly soothed her, and as they sat In the
elevated car flying toward Herlem he
said:
"Molly, I thought I was a very much
abused man last night, but I’ve chang
ed my mind. I think I could walk
from the Battery to Harlem on soap
bubbles and never burst a bubble to*
day."
HU Personal Appearance.
We are left entirely to conjecture as
to the personal appearance of Jesus
the boy, and we have no means of
knowing how He looked as He wan
dered over plain and by seashore, ov
erturning the world by His words.
There is, however, a story descriptive
of Him as a man which comes from
the fourteenth century. He was ex
ceedingly fair to behold. H1b stature
was full seven spans. Ills hair was
light and not very thick, slightly tend
ing to curl. His eyebrows were dark
and arched. His eyes were bright,with
a dash of yellow. His beard was blond
and not long. He wore Hts hair down
his shoulders, for it had never been
cut. He stooped slightly, very slight
ly, at the shouldere, us- )> walking
wholly erect. His complexion was of
the color of ripe wheat, golden hue,and
His face was not round uor yet loug,
but oval like His mother's, ami it had
Just a tinge of ruddiness. As one look
ed at him he was strangely Impressed
by the intelligence, the gentleness, the
freedom from all passions therein ex
pressed.
*
IHilu l Umt ll
| w*at a wai«|i k»r t'kriat
tufewigaar Yaw arw ral**r rwi|
u> kata a waltfc
frmMlw I'm u aid aa ika llitla M
nail m<I ka «m lak* kla wwtak
all l»
In Bermuda the no!) often produces
four crops of vegetables In a year.
Consul Greene notes the case of one
farmer there who last year planted an
acre of tomatoes, and derived there
from a revenue of $1,600; while another
acre, devoted to tho culture of lilies,
yielded $1,800.
General Andrew T. McReynolds, who
died recently at Grand Rapids, Mich.,
was the oldeBt Knight Templar in the
world, and assisted In suppressing the
nullification rebellion In South Caro
lina in 1832, afterward serving through
both the Mexican and civil wars.
THE HOPE OF THE CONTINENT,
Weatarn ('amtila the "llraail llaaket of
I ho Empire."
The attention directed to the wheat
fields ot western Canada during the
past year has caused thousands of set- 1
tiers from different parts of the Unit
ed Htates to make their homes there
during the past few months. They re
port that their experience corroborates
what had been told them of that won- |
derful country, and they are sending
hack to their friends most favorable '
reports. During the past summer a
number of Wisconsin, Michigan and
Minnesota editors visited western Can-1
ada, and the following extracts are
from a very flattering letter written
for the Germania of Milwaukee by its
able contributor, I'rof, Sheridan:
“The numerous elevators along the
line, towering so far above the sur
rounding country that they may be
seen for many miles distant, sufficient
ly indicate that the chief Industry Is
the growing of wheat. At the village
of Indian Head more than a million
bushels of wheat were marketed last i
year. This was but a fraction of the
amount of the same product marketed
at the larger cities of ilrandon and Re
gina. At Indian Hoad the representa
tive of the Germania was told by a
farmer that he was about to harvest
his third crop of wheat from the farm
upon one ploughing given H the fall
of 1886, the crops of the current year
and of last year having been sown
upon the ettibble of the preceding crop.
This farmer expected a yield of not
less than forty bushels to the acre. The
farms are very large. The abseuce of
hills and rocks contributes to making
farming on a large scale an easy mat
ter. There was an abundance of evi
dence that the country surrounding the
cities named above is an extensive re
gion of fertile lands, furnishing as
great an opportunity for cattle-raising
and dairying as for the growlug of
wheat."
"We were surprised to find here a
rich growth of nearly every species of
cultivable plant known in Wisconsin.
Various species of trees were growing,
showing that Its soli and Its climate
are favorable to the growth of forests.
The writer bad never seen a more
promising growth of wheat, oats, and
garden vegetables than was observed
here. The experimental farm of Wis
consin, located at Madison, produces
noth lag better.”
“The people along the line of the
railroad, however, assured us that we
were still far distant from the north
ern limit of the wheat-growing belt,
and that five hundred miles farther
north wheat and other agricultural
producte were cultivated with success.
The inhabitants do not depend solely
upon the growing of wheat, hut utilize
vast acres in raising cattle. The grow- j
lng grain and vegetables showed that
a plentiful supply of rain had fallen
during the current year."
“From this city (Calgary) our party
was taken north 200 miles to Edmon- 1
ton, a town of 5,000 people situated
on the north Saskatchewan river. The
country at this point is beautiful, pre-1
senting very much the appearance of
many sections In central and southern
Wisconsin. The people are engaged In
mining for gold, and In raising wheat,
potatoes and cattle; dairying is also
followed. This valley seems to be fa-j
vored with sufficient rainfall to pro
duce a luxuriant growth of grain and
vegetables. The soil is very fertile
and timber is abundant. Fields of j
wheat were observed that promise a
yield of forty bushels per acre. The
many good farmhouses seen from the
railway are evidence of the prosperity
of the settlers. Edmonton Is the ter
minus of the road and the place where
the overland expeditions start from
for the Yukon, It being about 800 mile*
from Dawson City.”
“The members of the association j
made the acquaintance of the Cana
dians of the Northwest and learned
something of the vast extent of their (
territory and of its great resources, |
which are destined to make it our most;
formidable commercial competitor In t
the world's markets for the sale of ag
rienltural products. We learned that I
the Northwest Territory of Cnnndn, In- :
stead of being a barren waste, as
taught, by nnr geographies of n quarter
of a century ago. Is capable of sustain- i
lng an empre of flfty millions ot peo
ple.**
For further Information apply to
Canadian Government Agent, Depart
ment Interior, Ottawa, Canada, or
to W. V. Bennett. HOI New York Life
Uuildlug, Omaha, Neb.
•Joyfully dear U the homeward track.
If we are but uure of a welcome back '*
Cura tor Conatuaiitlon baa been a
family iiMalioiat »i«U u* <1«m Ivk. —J h.
:orj 4,1 Ava , Chicago, Ul.
Why tan't the doctor who U alwaya
taking at.ni. ImhI) off a funny fellow?
A eataloffue of 30a prlxet, amiable to
atrery laatti and roudltlun. milkd on
inquiry l*rl«e< tlyen for aavlnv Dio
ir.ond "C"' ttci.io wropp-ra Addrcaa
On natty Hoap Work*. Mouth Omaha.
.\’«h
ii uy lan'l tha delirium t return* a
tight III* _____
i« (imp a toih if own n«i
ru« i,ot i« o«>♦», • vo - ' AU
ante i‘ i tOtkil th* auii< I II It I* 1 > t« mi*
A Vita «n u»« k*i I, H 4 «* tal law**
yum—T%« ytaHura of hdlw nt
i ra«> l or an a»*iai»t«. m tha pullet
; fnm. ,|
The New York correspondent of the
Philadelphia f^edger saya that a few
days ago ex-Senator Hill dined with
a friend In a public restaurant In Al
bany. During the meal seven demo
crats from different parte of the state
entered, and, seeing the ex-senator,
walked up to him and shook hands. In
each instance HM1 asked ‘."What was
the matter with the democratic vote
in your county?" and each time the
reply came: “Too much Crokerlaru."
Mrs- Frederick Douglas*, widow of
the colored orator, Is to be on the lec
ture platform to deal with the history
of hla race In this country.
Tarring and feathering was once a
legal punishment for theft. It 1* said
to be found In the statutes of both
The World's Hiippljr of Wheel.
An English expert claims that the
wheat producing soli of the world Is
unequal to the strain that will be put
upon It. Even now when the food sup
ply i« ample, thousands die because
their disordered stomachs fall to digest,
the food they take. Hostetter's Stom
ach liltters strengthen and tone up the
stomach and digestive organs.
The yearly output of cigars from
the Philippines Is about 440,000,000.
VERY LOW RATES.
Vie (he Mlxnourl, Keiues end Texes
Hallway.
Semi-monthly excursions to the
Southwest. The gi'eatent opportunity
to visit Texas, the empire state of the
union, unparalleled a* to resources and
products and with an area exceeding
all the Eastern and Middle stales. The
statistical reports of products as com
piled by the commissioners of Texas
Indicate this section as having the
greatest possible advantages In Its
mild and equable climate and In the
variety and productiveness of Its soil.
For further Information, descriptive
pamphlet and dates of excursions, ap
ply to tieo. K. McNutt, D. P. A., Kan
sas City, Mo.
If a pessimist has nothing to worry
him be worries about that.
9IS.OO PER WEEK.
We will pay a salary of $16 per week
for man with rig to introduce Perfec
tion Poultry Mixture In the oountry,
the greatest egg producer on earth.
Address with stamp. Perfection Mfg.
Co., Parsons, Kansas.
If you want a wedding cake dream,
eat it before retiring.
Diamond "C" Soap does not shrink
flannels and it leaves all fabrics la
the most desirable condition.
If sin Is ugly, It at least understands
the art of beauty culture.
I>r. Belli Arnold'* Cough Killer
I* *a •icelJcnl reined? fur children. Mn. Win. 11.
Krogue, Uuluuihua, Kmi. 33c. * Is III*.
If men were not such fools girls
wouldn’t be such flirts.
RiUbllihcd 1780.
w "t
Baker’s
Chocolate,
celebrated for more
than a century as a
delicious, nutritious,
|and flesh-forming
beverage, has our
well-known
Yellow Label
on the front of every
package, and our
trade-mark, “La Belle
Chocolatiere,"on the
back.
NONE OTHER (JENUINB.
MADE ONLY BY
WALTER BAKER & CO. Ltd.,
Dorchester, Mass.
Matthew Arnold has recently been
quoted aa say ini; that Tranklm's "tri
umphant common sense” (ailed him
when ho proposed to rewrite the Bible
in a atyle bettor suited to modern
taeloa than the English of the Kim;
Jarnss version. Dut this waa only one
of the philosopher1* pleasantries
Franklin the humorist stands out very
plainly In the December installment
of Mr. Paul L. Ford's Century papers
on his "many-sidedness”—not least In
the drinking song reproduced in fa©
simile of his handwriting.
Why isn’t a woman who makes bal
loon ascensions an air-ess?
HBoes vour
ead Ache ?
Aro your nerve* weak?
Can’t you aleep well? Pain
In your back? Lack energy?
Appetite poor? Digestion
bad? Bolla or pimplca?
Theae are aure algna of
poisoning.
From what polaona?
From poisona that are al
ways found in constipated
bowels.
If the contents of the
bowels arc not removed from
the body each day, as nature
intended, these poisonous
substances are aure to bo
absorbed into the blood, al
ways causing suffering and
frequently causing aevere
disease.
There Is a common sense
cure.
AYER’S
They dally Insure an easy
and natural movement of
the bowels. ?
You will flndthatthe use of
q Ayer’s
darsaparina
with the pills will hasten
recovery. It cleanses the
blood from all Impurities and
la a great tonic to the nerves.
WrUm thm Oootor.
Our M••Heat Department ba* ona
of the moat eminent pbyaletsa* In
the Waited KtaUa. Till th» doctor
Juit how you are eulTertn*. Too
will reeelye the beat mediae! advlen
withoutcewt. ^T.
Low*.!, Hut.
W. N.U. OMAHA. No. 52-1808
When Answering Advertisement* Wad!)
Mention This Taper.
Diploma
and
Gold Medal
«»«<>« IWeata Raala Da. tor krai
•Irak .»<• Ha, Muir. >1 Oaak. Kim.
altlnn. OMalal KaalnlMt Paflllaa,
karM’i fair, 1'blrago, IkUl ktaalra
M kit. »i. rl r. ana. Iraaa far Htaak
Barba. Baalaa far all parpaaaa. Rail
Qaaill,. Laaaal I’rlraa. Ralraalaf.
Alsasl WhuiNalt rrtcaal Rawing Ms* I, Isas, H*r#a, Rlryrlss,
RlarksMltha' Touts, Pasd Mill*,4«rm Akallsrs,Ksgloss,Hollars,
Pl«wa, ftrrs pars, If Ira »>■««, Klavas, ftaddlss, Harass#, Bust I**,
Hlslgbs sad basdrads afassfal arUolos. I'slsJag frsa. Address
tifUAHO M ALM tO., KIM Jasbsaa Maslatsrd, Cblaaga, UL
Dr. Kay’t Renovator,
Hla oonNtipat Ion. liver and kidney <ltHea»e*.bIi
liousuess, neaiittcbe, etc. At drugglkta 2fw A tl.
FAIRBANKS SCALES^
Dr. Kay's Lung Balm rur/aiS
“A FAIR FACE MAY PROVE A FOUL BAR
GAIN.” MARRY A PLAIN GIRL IF SHE USES
SAPOLIO
CATARRH CURED
AS IF BY MAGIC.
EVERY MAN ANO WOMAN
• MOULD READ.
Live* Of .uff.fln* itud un»< r» from tbl. rcpnl.lv* <IIwm* lurnotl Into hcnllh .ml b.ppl.
iitwa through tli* UH of
Richard's Catarrh Expellant.
RICHARD’S CATARRH EXPELLANT
•Ul Ml* |U« ).<l t< Wl« .1 •••*! tlll.IM.I'llIkIM Wlll.il. Ilf hir Hw
.»!**<« Il» p*pOf MO ><»•*** iltxMW »IM' I Hkl. A«*4
THE
C. H. RICHARDS CO..
t^lAMA^N^^
jy wtvs PWQjccmes cz+Z.
NEURALGIA.
a. *«» ST. JACOBS OIL. i
I'nta •<*#*•«•»•*• MllHiMtti, (Mil ••ui »«t>l«*«•<!.