Jji the First Christmaetide.
With thnbrH and with labor, with viol
■and with lute.
Bend out of heaven, dear Spirits, across
your frosty hight.
For the crown of every labor, and of
every flower tl>e fruit.
The happy earth inherits. Love being
bsiru to-ulght!
3ver the vast abysses of nothingness and
gloom.
Where the old gods go reeling at the
cry of tlve new name.
Lean ywur untold blisses. arid make the
midnight iiloom
With your throbbing gladness stealing
in a thousand points of flame.
O Angel (if all Innocents, your viol make
more sweet,
O Angel of all Lovers, touch tenderly
your iute.
O Angel of ail Heroes, your rapturous
tabor beat.
O A igel of all Triumph, sound your tim
bicl's swift pursuit;
For you hear the Voice above you. like
tli ■ breath of some strong flute:
“To-night, to-night. Great Love is born,
and joy is absolute!"
Forget, O Voice untiring, Getlisemane's
dark cup,
Foietell not the hoart-breuking despair
ol Calvary's hight.
For with boundless sweep and gyring all
the universe moves up.
Tli ■ depth the dark forsaking with this
primal Christmas night!
While sinking at the warning of the clear
and mighty cry.
t>! all the evil that is hoary, with the
dooming that was meet.
In the void of night and morning like a
in 1st dissolve and die,
At el death grow into glory now Ixive
makes Life complete!
—Harriet Prescott Spoffotu, in McClure's
Magazine.
jpiw
' There, he is gone, and I won’t see
him for a whole week," and the
brown-eyed, slender young girl on the
station platform dabbed a gathering
tear from each eyelid with a small
wad of handkerchief. Meanwhile the
train gathering momentum, sped
around a curve carrying out of sight a
youth frantically waving his hat at
he r from the rear platform.
George and Myra had always been
inseparable companions; had grown
up almost side by side, and gone
through school together, and finished
off at the academy. "Can’t have too
much book lamin’,” was the comment
of the parents of both, ami when their
■.school days were over. Myra taught
school and George went behind the
counter in old man Plumb’s grocery
(store. It was on the cards that they
should marry, everybody was willing,
and tlie two loved each other devot
edly.
But why should George leave his
sweetheart? The truth is. there was
a condition attached to their betrothal
which George insisted upon: "We
must wait, darling, until I can pro
vide a home for you. I must work and
save enough mnney for a small nest
for my bride. Will you wait for me,
darling?"
“Forever, George,” replied the maid
en, looking up into his face with a
loving smile and snuggling up closer.
"But it will not take that long. You
know l have saved a little money out
of my school teaching, and you have
quite a large sum iu Mr. Plumb’s
hands."
“Ye-e-s.” said George with hesita
tion and witli a gloomy look, “but it
does not increase fast enough to suit
me.”
The truth is the money was all
gone, ail their savings had been swept
away. There had been trouble in
Myra's family about which she know
little. Her uncle John had been
drawn into a scheme, a shady trans
action bordering upon a criminal of
< lease. The parties to it disappeared,
leaving Uncle John to bear the bur
den, and to keep him out of prison.
Myra’s father mortgaged his farm,
used up ali of Myra's savings and
gratefully accepted George’s hoard
when that young man came forward
end offered his all without reserve or
c .ndition.
Myra was ignorant of all this, for
k it had been kept a secret, and as
' Uncle John had departed for some un
known section of the great West, nev
er letting anyone know his location,
George considered his money lost, and
that he would have to begin all over
again, which meant a postponement of
“There, he le gone.
his marriage to the girl he so dearly
loved.
There was his job In Plumb’s gro
cery, and Myra’s salary, but his wages
were small, without prospect of in
crease, and Myra's salary as school
teacher would cease on her marriage.
He was to be gone one week only.
That was the understanding, and dur
ing that week he was to accomplish
wonders and lay the foundations for
a modest fortune. He had carefully
read the newspapers, the columns of
which glittered with opportunities to
i
make enormoms fortunes out cf a
small investment. He knew just
where to go. aiul exactly what to <k>.
Everything that glittered was pure
gold to him.
The week flew away and no George.
Instead, Myra received p letter, her
first love letter, one full of protesta
tions of everlasting love, and con
taining the information that he would
be obliged to remain in Ghicago au
olher week, as he had somethin;: in
view which would be lost if he went
away from it.
Another week, and still no George.
The letter which came in his j.'aee
was very vague, though as full of love
as the first. This did not reassure tie
girl, r.nd she began to think some
thing besides business was keeping
him. Why did he write such incom
prehensible things? What did he
mean by telling her to have a little
patience and he would bring back ten
times the money they had worked
three years to save? What did lie
mean by talking alioiit diamond rings,
"ilk dresses, velvet carpets and oilier
extravagant luxuries she had never
dreamed of possessing, and did not
care about. What in the world was
an “automobile” that he talked about
paying fifteen thousand dollars for
and that would make a mile a minute?
She was uneasy and consulted her
father.
"Don't you worry, Myra,” said the
old man after reading the letter. "To
be sure, he does write kind of wild
like, but he ain't going to do any of
the a things he mentions. The rush
and shine of the city has gone to his
brain. He's seen the automobiles and
the skyscrapers, perhaps he has
bought an interest in the Masonic
Temple, they all do it. I've done it my
self,” and the old man chuckled at the
recollection of his green, salad (lays
when he swallowed gold bricks as a
turkey does corn. "He didn't have
more than fifty dollars with him,
and when that's gone he'll have to
come home.”
This was all the comfort Myra got
from her father, and she tried to be
satisfied with his assurances that
everything would come out all right.
But another week followed the others,
and this time there was neither
George nor a letter. She said little,
but thought much, and she made up
her mind that she would not permit
“Don't you worry, Myra.”
her life’s happiness to slip through
her hands without making an effort
to prevent it.
Leaving the station where she had
waited for the train that did not bring
George, she walked into Mr. Plumb's
store resolutely and cross-examined
him.
"Why George end me have settled
up our business. He drawed out all
the money left in my hands and bor
rowed all I could spare. I guess he
ain't coming home no more unless he
brings a carload of money with him.
From what he writes I guess he’s tak
ing in all the sights and ain't leaving
any of 'em out.”
Returning home, Myra solemnly
walked into the kitchen, where the
family were at supper, having given
her up, and calmly announced:
"I am going to Chicago to morrow
morning, father, and I'd like to have
some money.”
“For the land’s sake, Myra!” ex
claimed her mother anxiously, "What
is it? Have you heard bad news from
George?”
"No, mother, I haven't heard any
thing at all from him, that’s why I’m
going. It's no use making any objec
tions.” she continued hurriedly, as her
father was about to speak, "I ve made
up my mind. I know something is
wrong or George would write me. You
know what happened to Uncle John?”
and she broke into a flood of tears
which she had been restraining all
day.
"George!” exclaimed a handsome
young lady in a surprised, glad voice,
grasping the arm of a dejected-looking
young man on a street corner, one of
many who stood there waiting.
"Myra!” stammered the youth turn
ing suddenly with flushed face and
looking into the brimming eyes of the
girl he loved. "What arc you doing
here?”
“1 came for you, George. I left
everything to come and find you.
Come, let us go home. We can take a
train in an hour.” and she genfly
pulled at his coat sleeve, but he held
back stubbornly.
"No, I won't go back home,” said
he doggedly. "I've been a fool. It’s
just as well to tell you. though, then
you can say good-bye. Come into the
restaurant yonder. We cannot talk in
this crowd. They are already gaping
at us suspiciously. We can order a
cup of cofTee and stay as long as we
like.”
“I expect I’m done for, Myra, and
the best thing you can do is to go
back home and forget me.”
"Never,” declared the girl positive
ly. "1 came for you and I am goln(
to *-emain with you."
“Wait until you hear how stupid
have been: you tnay change your pur
pose." But Myra shook her head witl
decision.
"There’s nothing to tell, except tha
I have come for you. and you must gi
back home with me or I shall staj
here with you. If you still love me
George," she hesitated and sh<
blushed rosy red, “we don't have t<
wait until we have the money for s
cottage, we can-” She glancet
“George!”
timidly into his face without flnishlnt
the sentence.
“Myra, darling, would you marry m(
just as I am. without money or pros
pects?" and George pressed her ham:
tenderly.
“Of course 1 would, and I will mar
ry you this moment if you say so. 1
have left everything to tell you that
I cannot let you leave me again.”
So the two young hearts were unit
eil and they worked when they hac;
work to do, which was not often, bill
they encouraged each other, and hopec
on without repining. Their greatesl
worry was their landlady, who treatei
them like criminals when the renl
fell behind a few dollars.
Early that morning they had re
ceived notice that on the day aftei
Christmas they would have to vacate
the landlady explaining that she did
not have the heart to turn anybody
out of the house on that holy day. 11
was small comfort to them, for it mat
tered little whether it was Christmas
or the day after, they would not be
any better off.
Eater in the afternoon the two
young people sat talking about their
future prospects, not forgetting the
far-off cottage Myra placed on the
table a loaf of bread, some bntterine
and a pot of weak tea. “This is our
Christmas eve banquet," said she with
a merry laugh. “And our last scuttle
uf coal,” declared George, with equal
levity. "To-morrow we will find a
warm corner in some church and stay
in it until we are thrown out, then next
day-” “Oh, George, the next day
will be the landlady," wailed Myra
“What shall we do?"
At that moment heavy footstep?
were heard in the hall, and a thunder
knock sounded on the door.
“Heavens!" exclaimed Myra, “thf
landlady. She has changed her mind
and will put us out to-night.”
The door was flung open, and in
stumbled two men laden rath basket?
and bundles, with Mrs. Dwight?
motherly form in the rear. With a
cry Myra was in her father's arms,
and George was wringing his father's
hand.
“Now you two women set the table,"
said he, breaking away from his son
and taking charge. “We've como for
you. George, and we're all going back
home to-night. Them’s the orders of
both mothers, and they must be
obeyed. Uncle John has come back
with a mint of money—he’s going to
marry the widow Mullins—everything
has been paid off—he's bought out old
Plumb for you, and deposited money
for a big, new stock of goods—we're
Fhe majority of the school board and
are going to put Myra back at a big
ger salary—I've bought some Gallo
ways and Jerseys and want you to
help on the farm—we re going to run
you for sheriff—and—Thunderation!
Ain’t them women most through set
ting that table? I'm as hungry as a
bear,” and the old man paused for
breath.
Our Christmas eve banquet.
A happy party at that humble table
an that Christmas eve, and a happier
party the next day around th» Christ
mas board. Mrs. Dwight was carried
along in spite of her protests that she
had no clothes, for it was she who
had kept track of the young couple,
whose parents waited to give them
this particular surprise. Even the
landlady was In the plot, and wept
when her roomers left never to return
sxcept in the shape of a good dona
tion every Christmas eve.
Before the next spring had passed,
the “cottage'' had become a reality. .
ADMIRAL SCHLEY
j ENDORSES PE“RU=NA.
Pe=ru=na Drug Co., Columbus, Ohio:
Gentlemen: “l can cheerfully say that Mrs. Schley
has taken Pe-ru-na and I believe with good effect
W. S. SCHLEY. — Washington, D. C.
CDMIRAL-SCf II -'EY, one of the foremost
notable heroes of the Nineteenth Century.
A name that starts terror in the heart of every
Spaniard. A man of steady nerve, clear head,
undaunted courage and prompt decision.
Approached by a friend recently, his opinion
was asked as to the efficacy of Peruna, the
national catarrh remedy. Without the slight
est hesitation he gave this remedy his en
dorsement. It appeared on later conversa
tion that Peruna has been used in his family,
where it is a favorite remedy.
Such endorsements serve to indicate the
wonderful hold that Peruna has upon the
minds of the American people. It is out of
the question that so great and famous a man
as Admiral Schley could have any other
reason forgiving his endorsement to Peiuna
than his positive conviction that the remedy
is all that he says it is.
The fact is that Peruna has overcome all
opposition and has won its way to the hearts
of the people. The natural timidity which
so many people have felt about giving en
dorsements to any remedy is giving way.
Gratitude and a desire to help others has
inspired thousands of people to give public
testimonials for Peruna who heretofore would
not have consented to such publicity.
Never before in the annals of medicine has
it happened that so many men of national
and international reputation have been will
ing to give unqualified and public endorse
ments to a proprietary remedy. No amount
of advertising could have accomplished such
a result. Peruna has won on its own merits.
Peruna cures catarrh of whatever phase or
location in the human body. That is why it
receives so many notable and unique en
dorsements.
Address The Peruna Drug M’f’gCo., Co
lumbus, Ohio, for free literature on catarrh.
Ask Your Druggist for free Pe=ru=na Almanac for 1904.
A young man lately attended a par
ty, and on his return home complained
to his father that a girl sat on his
lap.
The well earned reputation and increas
ing popularity of the Ix*wis’ •'Single
Binder, straight 5c cigar, is due to the
maintained high quality and appreciation
of the smoker. Lewis’ Factory, Peoria, 111
The toasts at a banquet often make
it a case of "stuff and nonsense.”
A full dress suit is especially full
on a tipsy fat man.
Hundreds of dealers say the extra
quantity and superior quality of De
fiance Start'll is fast taking place o'
all other brands* Otheis say they
cannot sell any other starch.
Too many high Dal 1b will lead you
to the "three halls."
Debt is tlie hangman s noose around
prosperity.
Beauty is skin deep, and few have
thick skins.
To Cure a Cold In One day.
Take Laxative Bromo Quinine Tablets. All
druggists refund money if itfailstocure. 26c.
Making Glass.
The art of making glass wa3 Intro
duced into Japan about one hundred
and fifty years ago by a Hollander,
who settled at Osaka. For several
generations the knowledge of the pro
cess was confined to a single family,
and it was not until about 187!) that
the general employment of coal, in
stead of charcoal, and the construc
tion of brick chimneys enabled the
manufacturers to introduce improve
ments which placed the industry on
a substantial basis. Osaka has contin
ued to be the center of the industry,
and now manufactures for export, be
sides supplying the home demand.
An Electric Printing Apparatus.
Berlin will soon have an electric
distance printing apparatus as an ad
junct to the telephone. Through the
contract with the post office depart
ment, of which the telegraph and tele
phone system is a part, the Ferndruck
er oompany is uble to establish a
special service for subscribers in Ber
lin and its suburbs, who can exchange
communications in printed type by
way of the main telegraph office. The
apparatus is similar to a typewriting
machine. After connection is made,
communication can be had by simply
manipulating the machine like a type
writer; even if the addressee be ab
sent, the printing is done as if some
one weer at the instrument.
Well Remembered.
Valley City. N. Dak., Dec. 14.—Two
years ago Mrs. Matilda M. Boucher of
this place suffered a great deal with a
dir.ziness in her head. She was cured
of this by a remedy called Dodd's Kid
ney Pills, and has not been troubled
since.
Shortly afterwards she had a bad
bilious attack, and for this she used
Diamond Dinner Pills and was com
pletely cured in a short time.
In January, 1903, she had an attack
of Sciatica, of which she says:
‘‘I was almost helpless with the Sci
atica, but remembering what Dodd's
Kidney Pills and Diamond Dinner Pills
had done for me before, I commenced
9 treatment of these medicines and in
Three weeks 1 was completely restored
to health. 1 have great faith In these
medicines, for they have been of so
much benefit to me."
Dodd’s Kidney Pills are very popular
in Barnes County, having made a
great many splendid cures of Sciatica,
Rheumatism and Kidney Troubles.
Many families use no other medicine.
There are so many ways of becom
ing unpopular that it is a wonder the
average man has any friends at all.
""World's" fair!”
A St. Louis World’s Fair Informa
tion Bureau has been established at
1601 Farnam St., Omaha, Neb., in
charge of Harry E. Moores, where all
Information will be cheerfully fur
nished free of charge.
Piecework—the pie man's.
rafotfSwii Loaded Black Powder Shells pSpr
shoot stronger and reload better te'
than any other black powder
shells on the market, because H”ljj|f|p^
nrfj they are loaded more carefully
l| 1 1/53 £ and made more scientifically. ||
uLy, /|j| Try them. They are p
HUNTER'S fAVOBIKIply
Telling a girl she has a heart of
stone is not equivalent to calling her
a "peach.”
Onlt Coughing.
Why cough, when for 23c and this
notice you get 25 dimes of an abso
lutely guaranteed cough cine In tablet
form, postpaid. DR. SKI IIVIN (’O.,
LA CROSSE, W1S. (W. N. U.)
When Loubet Retires.
M. Abel Combarien, secretary gen
eral to President Loubet of France, is
quoted as saying in a recent inter
view: "At the expiration of the pe
riod of seven years, for which he was
elected, the president will step hack
into the ranks. He is a plain citizen,
whom the people have raised to office
for a given time, hut he would con
sider it contrary to the spirit cf the
constitution for him to take advan
tage of his present position in order
to secure re-election.”
Don’t you know that Defiance
Starch, besides being absolutely supe
rior to any other, is put up 16 ounces
in package and sells at same price
as 12-ounce packages of other kinds?
When you are cheering for your
country, as you suppose, you are prob
ably cheering for some big grafter.
You can’t see an ideal oftencr than
once a week without scratching his
veneering.
Ridicule has torn down more than
it. has ever built.
GOOD HOUSEKEEPERS
Ur.® the tiest. That'p why they buy Red
Cross Ball Blue. At leading grocers, 5 cents.
You cannot carry a crooked rule
along the straight road.
He became the Man of Sorrows for
the sorrows of men.
Storekeepers report that the extra
quantity, together with the superior
quality of Defiance Starch, makes it
next to impossible to sell any other
brand.
The serpentine dancer doesn't care
to “see snakes.”
“Don't feel flattered that I laugh af
your jokes,” said an Atchison man to
a joker. “I laugh because I am goo*
natured.”
■-—..
Feet Comfortable Ever Since.
”1 suffered for years with my fnet. A friend
recommended ALLEN’S FOOT-EASE. I
list'd t wo boxes of the powder, and my feel <
have been entirely comfortable ever since.
ALLEN’S FOOT-EASE is certainly a god
send to mo. Wm. L. Swnrmstedt.\Viishiug- ;
ton, D. C.” Sold by all Druggists, 25c.
The letter carrier is not expected I
to die at his post.
A man may use his pen poorly and
his inkwell.
To dog a man’s footsteps is enough
to make him feel hounded.
THRIFTY FARMERS
are Invited to Kettle In the atateef Mary laml. where
they will find a delightful and healthy climate, rt rd
elaa* marketa for their nroduct* and plenty of laud
•t reasonable price*. Map and ue*crlptlve pamph
let® will be Kent free on application to
H. BADENHOOP,
Soc’iStata Board ol Immigration. BALTIMORE. MO.
BEGGS’ CHERRY COUGH
SYRUP cures coughs and colds.
{Thompson's Eye Wetof
ttfAMSH
WpihgSbrow,
Ahin'stering
ANGELTHOU:
Sold Everywhere.
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