BED CLOUD, NEBRASKA, CHIE X LMe C&t Mldrentt fafcfttutt ijtor berflta e&let$ IT WAS Christmas ovc In Durgnn's department Btorc, and to tho hap py children who accompanied their pnrents to sco the glittering lights and tho gorgeous Christmas toys tho big store was a palaco of splendor. But It wim not one to poor llttlo Ednu Gray, the tired little cashglrl. This Christmas evo Edna was very sad. She hud planned to give her mother u nice Christmas present, and to crown It all she wus going to hldo tho present In one of a pair of new stockings to hang on the chnlr beside her widowed and sick mother's bed. A well dressed man and women smiled as the little girl took a pack age of gloves to the bundle counter. "She looks like Beatrice," whispered tho woman softly, and the man nod ded, with a Binll- lng recollection of tho little daugh ter tucked be tween the sheets nt home dream ing of Santa Claus. "Poor child," he murmured. And when Edna returned with their package he slipped some thing crisp nnd green Into her little hand. "Merry Christ mas I" he laughed as they disap peared in the crowd. "Oh, you 1" thank breathed Edna as she peeked at the bill In her thin hand. "Now I can get Slipped Something mother's dressing Into Her Hand. sack and stock ings and tea and other nice things 1" Pull of happiness, sho tucked tho money away in her pocket and grasped a package handed over the counter by an Impatient clerk. "Cash" took the package, and It dropped from her tired fingers to tho floor. She stooped to pick it ip, nnd as she did so her fingers came In con tact with a small square leather pocketbook such as men carry. Sho found a corner of the stnlrway quite vacant of shop pers, and out thcro she peeked Into tho pocket book. It was crammed with neatly folded bills. Inside was a name stamped In gold letters, "George B. Law ton," with an ad dress below It Edna's heart sank as she went back to her work. Of course she must return the pocketb&ok to Its owners, and sho suspected It m)ght have been the man who had given the money and wished her a Merry Christ mas the lovely lady with him had called htm Peeked Into The Pocketbook. "George" and yet If she went to that address sho would not huvo tlmo to buy tho things for her mother. When she was outsldo tho store at the closing hour sho found herself In a mist of flying Bnowflakes. A friendly policeman told her how to reach tho address sho wanted. A pretty housemaid opened tho door and cried out In alarm when n very cold and bewil dered little girl fell in a hcup at her feet. "Why, It's tho little cashglrl l" exclaimed Mrs. Lnwton, who had followed her hus band Into tho hall. Edna's hand struggled Into her pocket, and sho brought out the pock ctbook. "I guess It is yours. What tlmo Is It, pleaso? Will I have tlmo to get mother's pres ents?" M r. Lnnfnn wnea Her into a piciCd her up In Beautiful Room. Ws 8trong nrni8 nnd carried her Into u beautiful living room, and tho maid vanished to fetch u cup of hot broth. A half hour' later tho Lnwtons'took Edna homo In a great warm motor car. This Clirlstmas Edna will not bo u .cashglrl In a store. Sho Is In school now, and her future looks bright, 'thanks to her friends tho Lawtons. lrll v.r - f'fli 'T Bob Stillwell's Christmas By ANNE CAREW OB STILLWELl snt down on hit sled with hi! chin In his nilt tened hands nnd tried to plan what he could glvo folks for Christmas, for It was only three days away. "I can't glvo a thing I" ho mut tered at lnt, for he did not have a penny of his own, nnd he knew that money was very scarce on the farm thnt year. The Stlllwell children would be lucky If they nil had mittens nnd warm shoes ami stock ings. Yet Bob knew that his sister Nan was dreaming of a doll house, llttlo Peter wanted a puppy all his own, and he didn't dare think of his big sis ter Amy and big brother Elmer and his father and mother. i'Why not mnko 'cm something?" was the thought that came to him. Bob jumped up and went home whis tling through the woods. Under the pine trees he stopped and brushed away the snow. When he got through his pockets were full of dried pine cones, large and small, and some pieces of birch bark. Tho day before Christmas Bob un locked the woodshed door and looked ut the result of his labors. There wns n doll house for little Nan made out of on egg crate, with real He 8aw the Grandest New 8led. wall paper on tho walls of tho two rooms, bits of carpet on tho floors nnd some cardboard furniture that Bob had made. Ho had even tacked little scraps of lace at the windows for curtains. For Amy there was tho lovely pic? turo from tho Sunday newspaper which sho had admired. Bob had remember ed and had made a frame for It out of strips of wood, and on the wood he had glued tiny pine cones, pieces of birch bark and dried moss, and as the picture was a woodland scene you can Imagine how pretty it was. Bob had found a chair rung, which he scraped and polished with some oil and turpen tine. He put some screweyes in tho ends, and Amy gave him a piece of narrow red ribbon to make loops nnd, behold, there was a necktie holder for Elmer I For his mother he whittled a reel for her clothes lines, and It was a wonderfully handy thing, nnd for his father he bought n pipe. It happened this way : Ho did some errands for the man who kept tho tobacco store In the village, nnd when tho man would hnvo pnld him some money Bob said he'd rather havo n pipe. So now they were all provided for except llttlo Peter. How was Bob going to get hold of a reul live puppy? "You go over to ray brother's place at tho foot of Long hill, und you tell him I sent you," said the tobacco man. "Maybe he will let you hnvo a puppy and work It out for him on Saturdays. Ho lias a paper route." "I'll do It if ho Willi" cried Bob eagerly. Half an hour Inter he hurried into the woodshed with a wriggling llttlo puppy under his coat. Of course he had to tell his mother about thnt. And how Bob did enjoy tho secret, run ning to and fro with milk aud scraps of meat for tho puppy 1 When Christmas morning dawned I think Bob Stlllwell was the most sur prised boy In Llttlo Itlver. Ho was so interested In watching tho pleasure of his brothers and sister wltli the gifts ho had mado with his own hands that ho stood smiling, forgetting to look at tho tree for his own presents. "Look, Bobby ; look I" screamed llttlo Peter. Bob looked and turned palo with sur prise. Tho grandest new sled,' painted a bright red, runnprs and all. His fa ther und Elmer had made It together. And thcro was n red woolen muffler that Amy had knitted for him and oth er 'things that Santa Cluua brought Win. A Present for Santa Glaus By ELINOR MARSH DWINA'S mother was busy putting inlnco pics Into tho oven, so sho did not notice tho llttlo girl when sho passed through tho room, Edwlna wore her warm winter coat and tam-o'-shanter, nnd her fat fingers were snug glcd up In red mittens. "I've got Christ inns crrnnds to do. mother." snld Edwlna when she reached tho door. "Tomorrow's Christmas, and I'm go ing to buy a present for Snntn Clnus." "Well, I declare " Mrs. Kay sank Into a chnlr und began to laugh. "A present for Snntn Clnus himself?" "A real present. I've got 12 cents. I earned this money my own self, and nnd I want to buy something for Sntitn with my own money." "Very well, dear. I nm sure Snntn Claus will be pleased enough to be remembered. You had better go to Smith's store." "All right," called Edwlna as she went out. It was snowing n little Just little, light, lloatlng flakes like tiny feathers. Inside the kitchen It had been warm und cozy, with u delicious smell ol mince meat, fresh cookies and apples. Outside It wus cold, and the stinging snowflnkes made her cheeks tingle. "What can 1 do for you, Edwlna?" asked Mr. Smith. "I want u pair of slippers for a man," said Edwlna, primly. "What size?" asked tho storekeeper. "Very big ones," suld Edwlnn In a grownup's manner. "Hum I" smiled Mr. Smith In n mys terious way. "Well, you can chango them after Christmas If they don't fit." Edwlna wondered If Santa Clnus :ould come all the way back from the M8anta Has Taken the Book and Can dyl" She Cried. north pole just to chnnge a pair of slippers, but sho said nothing until Mr. Smith showed her a very largo pair of flowered slippers. How good old Santa would enjoy those comfortable slippers 1 "Wlll12 cents be enough?" asked Edwlna anxiously. "Ho, ho, hol'Moughcd Mr. Smith. "Twelvo cents? No, Edwlna. Tho price of these slippers Is $2." "I guess I won't take them," fal tered Edwlnn no sho left the store. Edwlna hurried away from Smith's store and went to a llttlo 10 ccnt'store. Here were nil sorts of things she could buy with her money, but It was hard to choose something Snntn Claus might like. There wcro books such nlco btorlcs, too. Ono in particular, called "Patty nnd Her Pitcher," was so de lightful that Edwlna was sure Santn Claus would like It. So sho paid 10 cents for that, nnd with tho remaining 2 cents sho bought two sticks of red and whlto striped candy. When she showed these things to her father and mother they did not even smile, but they said they wero sure Santn Claus would bo pleased. "I shall hung n stocking for 'Santa and put these things In It," snld Ed wlna, nnd on tho stocking sho pinned a note saying: "From a llttlo girl who loves you." She went happily to bed, and tho next thing Edwlna knew It wns Christ mas morning. She hopped out of bed and run into the wnrm living room to sec If Santa had been there. What n wonderful arruy of toys dolls and doll houso nnd furniture, books nnd games and toy dishes, a lit tle fur muff und n rocking chair and so many other things I Edwlna clapped her hands nnd jumped for joy. "Santa has tnk.. tho book nnd candy!" Bho cried, and then sho found n llttlo note signed "Santa Claus." "Thank you, dear llttlo Ed wlna, and a Merry Christmas to you," It read. 5? INIlWJIONAL smsrsaiooL Lesson (Dy B. O. 8ELLEIIS, Acting Director ot tho Sunday School Courro of tho Moody Blblo Institute, Chicago.) (Copyrtuht. 117, Vcilrrn Newipapcr Union.) LESSON FOR DECEMBER 23 THE 8TORY OF THE FIR8T CHRISTMA8. LESSON TEXT-Matthew M-1Z OOI.DEN TEXT-Thore Is born to you this day In (he city ot David, n. Savior, who Is Christ tho Lord. Luke 2:11. i Tho story of the birth of Jesus la recorded In three of tho four Gospels, Matthew, Luke and John, each of which contributes some fenturo essen tial to complete the picture. No ono should teach this lesson who does not hnvo n guod "harmony of tho Gospels." Every yenr for tho 45 yours of tho International Sundny School Lessons, we have had the Christmas lesson taken from these three Gospels one at n time. This yenr In closing tho present series, wo unite nil three Gospels In one complete story, "Tho Story of the First Christmas." Tho order of events should clearly be kept In mind as follows: "Tho angelic announcement to Zacharlas, tho priest, whllo In tho exercise of his ministerial olllce. Tho angelic an nouncement to Mnry, tho mother of Jesus, and to Joseph, her espoused huslmnd. Mary's visit to her cousin, Elizabeth, nnd tho birth of John the Baptist. The birth of Jesus nnd his circumcision on the eighth day (Luke 2:21). Ills redemption some 31 days later, introducing Simon tho priest (Luko 2:22), and tho purification of the mother. The coming of Jesus wns ut tho roost opportune time In nil the history of the world, for Palestine was the cen tral region of the Itoman empire. The whole civilized world was subject to Itoman domination, no wns born whllo the entire world was at peace, for once In Its history. Travel was at Its best, for tho Itoman military roads all centered In Bomo and ex tended throughout tho empire. Tho Greek lnnguago was Bpokcn every where, along with natlvo languages, so that the Gospel could readily bo heard In nil parts of tho empire. The Old Testament, was translated Into Greek. Tho Jews wero scattered throughout all lands, carrying this Old Testament with them, and had estab lished their synagogues In nearly ev ery city and town. There was also a wide-spread Intellectual nnd moral awakening, and there was wide-spread religious unrest and a hungering for something better. I. The Search. Notice that ho who was born on this first Christmas, was tho "only begotten of God." This dlv Ino being became flesh, a strango nnd seemingly Impossible union, but only such a union of the, human and dlvlno could draw man to God. If Jesus bad not been Identified with the dlvlno nature of God, all the love, honor and devotion which wo glvo to him, would lead us Into Idolatry. (1) Wisdom seeking (vv. 1, 2). See also Acts 13 :0. Who these men were, wo do not'know. They wero evidently students of tha stars, and perhaps came from Persia whither Bnluam went ' (Numbers 23:7; Numbers 24:17-10.) They may have known ot Daniel's prophecy. They came because they had seen a star. A little light, only a small star, and we may have the sun. (John 8 :12.) The highest wisdom Is to know God. (Prov. 0:10.) Wo do not havo to seek far to find him. Tho highest wisdom Is also teachable: "Where Is he that Is born?" These wloo men were not tho first ones to seek him, for the humblo shepherds who had heard tho angelic host (Luko 2:15, 10), Immediately went to Jerusalem to make sure that tho good news' was true. Tradition only gives us tho names of these men. They typify tho world, tho first Gentiles who camo to seek Jesus. (2) Wickedness Seeking (v. 8-8). It Is Interesting to noto tho alarm of Herod, his suspi cion and jealousy. Why? Noto tho carefulness of Herod's search. First tho chief priests, who wero the ologians; then the scribes nnd lawyers, who wero tho historians; then tho .common pcoplo who wcro famlllnr .with tho traditions; nnd, finnlly, tho wlso men (v. 7). II. Wisdom Rewarded (vv. 0-11). Persistent obedient searching after God always brings wisdom. Notlco tho steps of tho wlso men. They sought, they found, they rejoiced, they worshiped and they gnvo gifts. Tho stable of Christ's birth Is evidently an exchango for a houso (v. 11 and Luko 2:7). Tho gifts they presented havo a threefold slgnlflcunco: Gold, for roynlty, Indicating divine glory; Frank incenso for deity, tho aroma of his life; Myrrh, signifying death, his death and Its value to mankind. Notlco that they did not worship Mary. III. Wickedness Foiled (vv. 12-10). God Intervened (v. 12). Notlco tho Impotent rngo of tho enemy (v. 10). Christ wns delivered. Herod was dis mayed, nnd tho pcoplo wero desolate. Suggestions: Tho cry "whero" of tho humen heart Is here answered. God answers nil honest searching. God himself gnve his best gift (John 3:10). God also desires our best gift. Wo must worship Jesus as king. Religion Is not for the Magi alone, nor for tho common people ; It Is for all. Wo havo not far to go to seek tho Christ Ho Is even more thnn near, "For behold l X stand at tho door and knock." II ISRED GHOSSWEEK GOVERNOR NEVILLE URGES MAK ING IT A SUCCESS. ARE AIMING AT A MONARCHY Program of Bolshevlkl as Seen by Lon don Newspaper Liberty Dond Interest Coupons Now Due. Lincoln, Nob. Govornor Novlllo has Isauod a proclamation doHlgnattng this wook as Rod Cross wook. Ills procla mation nays: "Tho wur council of tho Amorlcan Rod Cross has Inaugurated a cam paign for mombors which will com monco on Monday, Docombor 17, and contluuo throughout tho week. It Is confidently oxpocted thnt 15,000,000 memberships will bo obtained through out tho nntlon In thnt period, nnd tho ultlmato goal Is to mnko membership In tho Rod Cross as universal as cltl zonshlp. "Tho nation is plodgod to n vigorous prosecution of tho war until victory shall bring poaco. Mon nro dally mak ing tho great sacrlflco for their coun try nnd many who havo been wounded In battlo nro being nursed bnck to hoalth through tho agoncy ot tho Red Cross. "It enn not bo tho prlvllcgo of all to hoar arms in tho grent crisis, but It is tho prlvllcgo of nil to securo member ship in tho Rod Cross jind to tho ond that Nebraska may bo tho first stnto In tho nation to roach tho coveted goal, with membership as unlvorsal as citizenship. "I, Kolth Novlllo, govornor ot Ne braska, deslgnato tho week commenc ing Occombor 17 as Rod Cross Wook, and urge tho pooplo ot Nebraska to bond their ovory effort In making It a succobs. Interest Coupons Now Due Washington. Interost coupons on tho first liborty bonds, roprosentlng tho Initial semi-annual Interost pay mont of tho liborty loan, aro coming in upon todernl rosorvo bn-''s by tho buBhol. If all bondholders wero to, proscnt their coupons $35,000,000 or 1- per cent on tho $2,000,000,000 total ot tho first loan would bo paid out, and nearly nine million coupons would bo exchanged for monoy. Many purchasers, howovor, probably will not oxorclso their option ot receiving any Interest payment at this time, nnd will hold tholr coupons to bo cashed In later. Coupons may bo cashed nt banks or postofuces anywhoro In tho country. Holders ot registered bonds will receive their Interest pnymonts by checks to bo mailed from the treas ury. ARE AIMING AT A MONARCHY Program of Bolshevlkl According to London Correspondent London. Tho real aim of the bol shevlkl Is a monarchy at loast, and possibly a despotism, In tho opinion ot tho Potrograd corrospondont of tho Post. Ho wlroB that for more than a month tho bolshevlkl havo boon open ly preparing public opinion for ac coptanco ot what, ho says, after all, is the only fit form of government for Russia. It Is this design of tho bolshe vlkl, the correspondent asserts, which Is tho secret of their antagonism to the social revolutionists, social demo crats and constitutional democrats, all of whom wero formidable enemies' ot tho old regime. Active propaganda long has boon carrlod on undor cover, on behalf of the Romanoff family, he says, and this propaganda Incidentally turned tho Russians against England, which Is reported to havo doslred the overthrow ot tho autocracy. German Domba Kill Americana With tho Amorlcan Army, in France A number of Amorlcan railway en gineers havo been killed by German aerial bombs In a town somewhere behind tho British front. A Gorman bomb foil In a street in a town thru which American troops wero passing.. PIocos of tho bomb shattered tho windows ot a houso in which there wero ottlcors, showering them wtlh glaBB, but hurting no ono. Two Am orlcan soldiers havo died in hos pitals from gunshot wounds. Submarine Chaser Sunk Washington. Tho navy department has confirmed unofficial reports that a small submarine chaser had boon rammed and sunk off tho Atlantic coast. Tho crow was savod. Tho de partment also announced that Gunnor Arthur B. Toorpo and Soaman Thomas J. Roso woro drowned when a naval patrol vossol was sunk by a steamer at an Atlantic port. Unofficial stories had told of tho drowning of Roso and ono other man and tho roscue of tho remaining seven ot tho crew ot tho patrol boat Including ono officer. Will Not Attempt Its Recapture AmalA.iInmAn (nilfnfi Inn Mint , OtUUlUtUU.t.. ... ...vu,U.,v... ....... tho Turns win not auompt 10 ro capturo Jorusalem Is tho answor givon by Oenoral Stobger-Stolnor, Austro-IIungarlan war minister, in replying to a question raised in tho army commlttoo of tho Austrian dele gation, as quoted In a dispatch ro colvod horo from Vlonna. Tho gen eral said Jerusalem was occupied without fighting and Bufforod no dam ago. Jerusalem will now remain Indefinitely outsldo tho fighting zono, tho general said. 6REATER EFFICIENCY I Grow Grain in Western Canada, Make Profits, and Show Greater Patriotism. The nation-wide cry of "More Effi ciency" has now reached even tho most remote agricultural sections nnd thcro Is n general Interest amongst the farm ers to Increase their products and to reduce their expenses. The need of foodstuffs Is greater thnn Iho world has ever before known, nnd every ef fort Is being used to meet the world's food requirements, becoming moro nppnrent every day. Whllo It Is truo thnt this desire Is attested by n gen eral patriotism, there Is nn under lying factor In this extension work to secure some of the benefits thnt nro being offered by n rendy market nt maximum prices. Wide-spread atten tion has been given to the opportunity In this respect In Western Canada, whero fortunes nro being made In a few crops out of grain nt present prices. It hns been found thnt the open, level prairie enn bo cultivated for wheat nnd other small grains nt a min imum price, nnd during tho past few yenrs the yields havo been moro than satisfactory. Wheat crops of forty bushel to the ncro hnvo been common In Western Cannda In the Inst three or four years, ond with n present avail able price of over $2.00 per bushel this means n return on Investment nnd Inbor that cannot be duplicated else where. This Is mnde possible by the low priced lands that can be secured for grain growing. Tho range In price runs from $1R to $2:5 per acre, accord ing to location nnd other local condi tions. In this period of "moro agricul tural efficiency" It Is apparent nt a glance thnt the farmer on low priced but high grade lands, growing his grain nt a minimum cost, Is reaping a golden harvest with the highest per centage of profit. Tho cultivator of high priced farm, lands has n big handicap to overcome In computing his profits on a $200 an aero farm as compared with the agri culturist reaping as great, If not greater return from $25 an acre land.; It therefore becomes a question for, the farmer himself to answer, whether ho Is doing himself nnd his country the best service, by devoting nil his ener gies to working high priced land that yields no better return thnn 'land that can be secured at one-eighth the price. It Is a enso of getting either, minimum or maximum quantity. Many havo already decided on the alterna tive, nnd with their spare money In vested In and now working Western; Canada lands, they nrc allowed to speak for themselves. Apparently they aro satisfied, for wo learn of cases where on n $4,000 Investment, In one year they havo had their money back, with a profit of from B0 to 100. Such Is ono of tho steps In progressive ness now being demonstrated In the effort to create greater efficiency. The Canadian Government Is using every effort to bring theso conditions to the attention of tho agricultural world, In order to secure the necessary Increased grain production so greatly needed. The farmer In Western Canada 1b ex empt from all personal taxes.- His buildings, stock and Implements are not assessed; and every encourage ment is given to farmers to Improve and Increase their farm output. Re duced railway rates are being offered to new settlers to look over tho coun try and to size up an unprecedented opportunity in farm'-niT. Advertise ment A Hot Excuse. French matches mny have Improved In recent years, but not so very long ago they were quite unsatisfactory. A Frenchman was once nrrested for hav ing a lot of smuggled matches In his possession. Tho judge said to htm: "What havo you to say for yourself, prisoner?" , "Pleaso, your honor," stnramcred the culprit, "It is truo I use foreign matches, but only to light our own gov ernment ones with." GREEN'S AUGUST FLOWER Ens been used for all aliments that aro caused by n disordered stomach and inactive liver, such ns sick head ache, constipation, sour stomach, nervous Indigestion, fermentation of food, palpitation of tho heart caused by gases In the stomach. August Flower Is a gentle laxative, regulates dlgcstlou both In stomach nnd Intestines, cleans and sweetens tho stomach and alimen tary canal, stimulates the liver to se crcto the bllo and Impurities from tho blood. Sold In all civilized countries. B0 and 00 cent bottles.Adv. Domestic Economy. Not Infrequently u man Is such a good domestic mathematician that he can save the price of a new suit by pcrsundlng his wife to havo her last year's street dress mado over. Syra cuse Post-Standard. Keeping tha Quality Up TiAXATIVH I1UOMOQ01N1NB. the Worid-Famoiil Ouru for Cold and Urlp, U now B0o per bos. Op acconntof tho advance In the price of the lis dlt- ierent Modlolnal.ConoentrntedTSitracta land .Oh!?! cal contained In LAXAT1V1I JIllUHUUUINIMB, l was nrccitirr to Increase the prlco to the Orua aiiw It baa iuod the tit for a Quarter of a Can taJrjr, ItUuiedbreTorrOlTlUiedNaUoa. Alas! BJoncs (In restaurant) What's good hero tonight, waiter? Walter Cash only, utr. The best sleeping powder Is a dean conscience. REDUCED J t Ihr' . r&