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About Corvallis gazette. (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 25, 1903)
ACROSS THE STREET. - Across the street the bright lights flashed and gleamed, ' ' And "fortune's favored ones" were gathered there, V The merry music of the dance outstreamed r Upon the air. Across the street it seemed so far away. That joyous world, from my unhappy sphere, Made up ot weary toil, day after day, And year by year. f- I turned me from my window, with a sigh. "Thou mak'st life's differences, O God, so wide. I could not conquer that ungrateful cry, Tho' hard I tried. Across the street, next night, across the street. Death's grim insignia from the door was hang. I heard the passers-by, low-voiced, repeat, "So fair, so young." Across the "street ah, surely 'twas not so. That they were mourning who last night were gay .". That yonder mansion was a house of woe, , Where death held sway) Across the street, beside a single light, A cheerless company a sad watch kept, And she, the homaged one of yesternight, , , . Forever slept. , -Bosto'n Journal. '; '. egeegegeWeeM eMeeeeeeeHJe f JOHN ALDEN'S INSURANCE f OSIAH BEYNOLDS was a ; r (M staid, respectable man, whose -J life had been uneventful and ! monotonous; he was what one might call an average man. He had obtained, when fourteen years of age, a position A Vwvo- In a retail drv ZOOdS store. From this store no . ambition had ever temoted him: there he had re mained, and In his methodical way had J . ,7 Vir Mrnoi ann II 1 17 1 1 - . 4 n- ha Vmri Vvar(M-n hpfld salesman ; at a saiary oi iuiwu uuwio a Josiah, at the age of twenty-five, i, i 11 Uo lnxrorl Vila wlf a In his own way: . and then, as : he always said, "It is so much cheaper to live!" Poor Josiah discovered his mistake by the time he was the father of eight cnuaren: ami mien iu uis ucajjuuucm moods longed for the time when he, a , hapy bachelor, had lived. In an attic and dined how and when he pleased. T.. 4- Ta.I.1i n n V rosin cfVl 1 IT Vtrtnoaf man, and aftertthese retrospective and despondent musings redoubled his ex ertions to solve the problem how to pay Tent, clothe his f amilyv and settle the thousand and one little bills con : tinually intruding themselves all on fifteen dollars a week. But, to his V. t i. J .a lit.. nvm41-r tit n a wtwv- CTCUll U0 XL BCL1U, XIAO . nao rt.r- vided for well; the children were warmly If cheaply clad; the wife al ways looked neat, nor did they suffer for food; true, . they had few amuse ments or luxuries, and poor Josiah coat, for he would rather go shab by himself than be. ashamed of Ms iWife and children. In this manner Josiah lived until his forty-fifth year; then he received a great surprise. His employer had each year' grown more-feeble, and left more and -more the charge of the store to Josiah. Many men under such cir '. cumstances would have demanded . more pay, but not so Josiah; It seemed only natural to him that he should give his best endeavors to his em ployer, who, however, made no com ment upon his assistant's faithful . : work; but Josiah was content with the thought of duty properly per formed. ; . ; On the morning of the first of March, Josiah' s birthday, he came to the store, at hts usual hour, but his seedy coat . bore upon its lapel a little bunch of hothouse flowers, his natal gift, from : his wife and children. He went to ; his work light-heartedly on this par ticular morning. 'It was his nature to. i be , happy, and , only an occasional . gloomy spell over some unusual ex '('Pense broke his generally unruffled serenity. This morning, however, he i was particularly happy. When he had r seated himself for his breakfast of por . -ridge and molasses be had found at - Lis plate a bunch of flowers, which his i wife, amidst the joyful wishes of her children, had pinned upon ! his , coat. : Strange as it may seem, this matter-of-, fact man had a passionate fondness for flowers rarely gratified; but to-day, as he started to his work, the remem f "brance of his-happy home and the odor fof the flowers stimulated ..him' to' a ' sense of unusual joy. H ; When his employer , arrived' Josiah ' greeted him with a pleasant smile, but' noticed regretfully how weak he ; ' seemed. t j "AhT'-he thought, ."what a sorrow-! i ful life" for poor Mr. Alden, all alone ' at this age! -1 would not change places with him, I am sure. What is money without happiness?" . ' r' r "Josiah," said Mr. Alden, "I have ; something to say ty you." . , ,., .3 "Tes, sir," answered' Josiah, ' sur ; ' prised at ..the impressive tone of : bis ; , master's voice. ' " " '' ' ! , : "Josiah," said Mr. iAlden.1 "you have been with me ever since you were a boy; I have watched the, unfolding of . your character, and I know you tobe a truly honorable, and reliable man.. - I have not been unmindfuiof your faith ful services, nor am I indisposed to ; reward them. I am getting old; I am now eighty-four years of age, and, in - the ordinary course of events I ' cannot live, much longer. Since my . dear son died I have ' been entirely alone in the 'world. ' What I want to u say is this: : I 'wIsIl: to give you full ' charge of the store; I will take you Into partnership, and jteu can have one-half of the 'profits. All I ask is that you take me into your family, for I am weary of living alone. When I die I shall leave you all I possess, in cluding an insurance on my life of twenty thousand dollars. Does that suit you?" .- - .--.. ...... - Mr. Alden, who knew his clerk well, was not, surprised that he did not speak; It was, indeed, and he knew it, a most alluring prospect. Josiah was so stunned that he could not . speak coherently. ' xnrougn nis mina rusnea a picture of his past life; how he had always pinched and calculated to make - both ends meet; 'the continual whirl about money, which had become so much of a second nature that be scarcely noticed it, but which, in bis retrospective glance, under the bright illumination of this magnificent offer, weighed on his spirits like a pall. What I . He an equal partner in the firm! He an equal sharer In the profits! He the heir of Mr. Alden! It seemed incredible. "Well, Josiah, what say you?" He roused himself and said: "I don't know what to say, the of fer is so unexpected and undeserved. I have never done more than my duty, and why you should be so generous I do not know; really I do not know what to say or do." "There Is nothing you need say,' Jo siah, and but ( one thing to do allow me to have my own way. My decision Is not a thing of the moment; I have thought of It long and often. The store does not pay very much about four thousand dollars a year still it has enabled me to lay up a snug fortune, and to place upon my life an insur ance of twenty thousand dollars." Josiah listened to the old man's talk only with external application; he un derstood what was said, but each word conjured up a picture. At first his mind did not wander beyond the year ly income of two thousand dollars; this sum, in contrast with his beggarly fifteen dollars a week, seemed inex haustible. He thought of the many things he could do now. Maria, his wife, should have a silk dress, and should rest from the labor which had been wearing her out Martha, his oldest daughter, should have the wish of her life granted, and should study music. Alfred should go to college; the other children should have their dresses when they grew up and he oh, he would get a new coat! With such roseate pictures did the two thousand dollars fill his thoughts; but when he allowed his mind to con template the time when he should pos sess Mr. Alden's entire fortune, it af fected him as a flash of lightning does the eye. "Well, Josiah," said Mr. Alden, "let us go and have the partnership papers drawn up; ' then, as it is your birth day,' you can take a holiday, some thing you have not had in many years." . : '. .. . "Just as you say, sir," said Josiah, meekly.- Soon the business was transacted, Josiah signing all the papers in a dazed manner, : unconscious of their contents. . Then he hastened home, for he was anxious to confide to some one the joy' that filled his heart; and to whom more properly than to her who had shared his privations and sorrows? When he reached his abode, a dingy house In an obscure back street, he found his wife working upan a pile of shirts; this she had done for many years to eke out their meager exist ence. Josiah was not unused to the sight, since he had witnessed It day after day, but now he felt within bis soul an impulse of indignation that his wife should be doing such work; so. while his wife gazed in astonishment at her liege lord, who never before in all their married life had returned so early from the store, he stalked gran diloquently to the pile of shirts, gath ered them up and cast them out of the door. '"Josiah Reynolds I" exclaimed the amazement-stricken wife, "are you crazy?" "No, Maria, I am not, but I do feel rather strange here," said Josiah, tap ping bis forehead, "but crazy or not; you shall make no more shirts . for Wringer & Starchem.". . "But, my dear,!. what shall we do? I made three dollars a - week but . of them; we can't get along-without the money," v vi : "Mrs. Reynolds." answered . Josiah, with an air of dignity, "the wife of the junior member of the firm of Alden & Reynolds does not need to make shirts at three dollars a week." 1 Maria was ready to burst into tears. Never before had her dear Josiah called her Mrs. Reynolds; moreover, he frightened her with his strange actions and incoherent talk, and, with a wom an's reasoning, she concluded he was insane. - So the tears that had been gathering burst forth like a torrent, ac companied by a storm of sobs. - "My dear Maria, what is the mat ter?" exclaimed the now awakened husband; "have I" said or done any thing to offend you?" "No," sobbed Maria, "only go-gone and go-got crazy!" . "Why, Maria, I am not crazy; what do you mean by saying so?" . "What do yon mean by talking about the . firm of .'Alden & Reynolds' when you are only a clerk getting fif teen dollars a week?" - -. - . - This was more than Josiah could stand. .What! : He, a partner ,in the firm, accused of being a clerk at fifteen dollars a week? If was an insult! In a voice of indignation he said: "Madam, I wish you to understand that I am neither fool nor crazy. This morning Mr. Alden took me Into part nership; I hasten to tell you the good news, and you accuse me of being in sane; nice encouragement, is it not?" "Oh, Josiah, I am so glad!" said "Is it really and truly true?" "Yes, it is true; and, moreover. Mr. -Alden is coming to live with us, and when he dies he will leave all his wealth to me. Maria, we are rich! No more pinching and contriving; we can live like human beings, and the chil dren can have a chance to be some-, body." "Oh, Jo.siah, I am so glad!" said Maria, and again the floodgate of tears was opened; but this time the tears were those of Joy, and were soon dried up under her sun of happiness. "Now, Maria, as soon as the chil dren come we will have a little ex cursion and celebrate the birthday of the junior member of the firm of Alden & Reynolds." In the bosom of his family, Josiah, kind and benignant, celebrated the day which opened to him and his such delightful- prospects. Next morning : Josiah went to - his work at the usual hour. The rest of the help congratulated him some hon estly, some enviously but all sub serviently. He informed Mr. Allen that he could not receive him till a week had passed, for he was about to move into a new house. "You know, Mr. Alden," he said, "it would not do for the firm to live in such a neighborhood as that in which I formerly lived." "No, certainly not," assented Mr. Al den. In a week everything was arranged. Mr. Alden was installed with his new partner in a fine bouse, nicely fur nished. It was true Josiah was obliged to run in debt for the furnishings, but then the firm was good for it. Mar tha had her music teacher; Alfred was sent to college; Maria was not allowed to do much of any work, except to oversee the girl; the children were finely dressed,-and everything went as naturally as if the family had never economized on fifteen dollars a week. Mr. Alden made his will, leaving his entire wealth to Josiah: but despite the kind care of Maria, he dally grew weaker. He never went to the store, but Josiah, now always neatly dressed and with a bud on his coat, kept the business up to its usual standard, though he had ceased to work as he was wont to do when a clerk. Business was very satisfactory; the. life just suited Josiah; he felt himself expand and broaden; it pleased him to be called Mr. Reynolds by those who formerly called him Josiah or even plain Reynolds. It gratified him to say to a good customer: "My partner, Mr. Alden, is not well; he is staying at my bouse;" or to say to a customer from out of town: "We dine at six; will you honor us?" For three months all was rose-colored then the bills began to come in the quarter's rent, bills from the house furnisher's, Alfred's college ex penses, tailors', grocers', butchers' and" a thousand and one other bills poured in like an avalanche, till the poor man was nearly distracted, and found it even harder to. make both ends meet than when working for fifteen dollars a week. Pride would not allow him to recede from his position, and by hook and by crook - he managed to make things come out nearly right; but was obliged to borrow a few hun dreds' from a friendly broker, who knew the circumstances of Alden's' will, and who readily took Josiah's note. ; Months went on thus, outwardly pleasant to all, but Josiah found him self steadily getting Into debt to the friendly broker on whom he had to call to keep up his credit and appearance. "It is only for a short time," he ar gued. "Mr. Alden cannot live much longer, then I will have the whole store and all his money." Thus Josiah went on, calculating on the death of his benefactor, till from calculating he grew to thinking. . "What is the good of his living? He is of no use to himself .or others, and only stands In the way of my advance ment. Well, he cannot last much longer, for he grows weaker day by day." V - This was indeed true; Mr. Alden was unable to leave his room; he had no particular aliment, seeming to succumb- merely to old age. A year had passed and Josiah owed the broker about one thousand dollars. When he borrowed his last installment his friend said: "How long do you think old Alden will last?" "I do not know. He Is now eighty five years of age, and certainly should not last very much longer." "I do not know about that," said the broker. "I was talking with a life insurance agent a few days ago, and he said that according to the mortality tables of the Insurance company a man of . eighty-five years could expect to live for five years." "What!" groaned Josiah, "do you think Mr. Alden will live to be nine ty?" . "According to the table he can," said the broker, producing a series of tables compiled by one P. E. Chase. Josiah looked eagerly at the book. Yes, there It was: "Expectancy of Life eighty-five years 5.18 years." "So Mr. Alden will live to be nine ty," he said, looking blankly at the, broker. "So it seems," said his friend, calm ly lighting a cigar. ! "And what am I to do, run into debt all this" time. Will you wait and still furjiish me with; money?" and Josiah wetted his lips anxiously. " -. "I will wait" said the broker, "but you will have to pay me a larger rate of interest", - "Anything at all," eagerly responded Josiah. "I cannot go back now, but, oh, I wish this suspense were over! Why will he not die and leave bis money where it will do 'some good?" Josiah went home gloomy and' thoughtful; he did not notice the many respectful salutations he received; his mind was filled with but one idea; one .thought intruded itself and rang in his ears with monotonous insistence nine ty years, ninety years. When he reached his hqme- he savagely repulsed the children who came to him with a recently learned timidity; snarled at : his wife, and hastened to his room. I This manner had become habitual i with him and bad caused Maria many tears, as her mind reverted to the time when they were happy and con tented on fifteen dollars a week. In the privacy of his own room Josiah gazed once more at the insurance ta ble. The figures stared at him: "Expectancy of. Life eighty-five years 5.18 years." "Yes, he will live to be over ninety," he said, bitterly. Glancing down the column, his eye fell upon the figure ninety with a cry of anguish; he read: "Expectancy of Life ninety years 4.16 years." "Great heavens !" he . exclaimed, "then he will not die till he is ninety four." As If directed by an external power, his eye followed down the col umn of figures till he reached ninety four. There he read: "Expectancy of Life ninety-four years 3.49 years." He groaned aloud. Feverishly he once more scanned the column. "He will be ninety-seven,," be moaned. Once more the figures seared them selves upon his brain. "Expectancy of Life ninety-seven years three years." Josiah dropped the book, his face blanched to the color of its leaves. "I see it all now," he exclaimed, in a hollow voice, "this man can never die; I might continue, this column on indefinitely, but there would always be something left He shall always live to mock me with the anticipation of wealth I shall never obtain!" Next morning the old man was found dead in bed: strangled to death, the coroner said. Josiah was arrested, and in one of lucid intervals, for he was undoubtedly insane, confessed the crime. - He was confined in an Insane asy lum, and the property left by Mr. Al den was managed by Maria with the same care she had displayed in the management of fifteen dollars a week. Waverley. EFFECT OF PROSPERITY Traveling Shows Could Not Fecnre Euoash Helpers to Handle Tents. "A circus handicapped by prosperity sounds like pipe talk, but that was the experience Ihad last summer," said George Bowles, who until two months ago was press agent for the Barnum & Bailey circus and was In town on Wednesday doing some advance work for a new star. . "All circus routes are based upon the prosperity of the different sections of the country. A section in which crops are good and the banks are flourishing, gets the circus, but a section where there has been a failure of crops or of big manufacturing enterprises is passed up by the advance agent who maps the route. This is a good policy and is followed by every circus of any size, but last summer for the first time in all . my theatrical experience we were burdened by a surplus of pros perity. - "When the circus was in Washing ton reports stated that our canvassmen and laborers had gone on strike. These reports were Inaccurate, but they fol lowed us wherever we went. The truth of the matter was, our men de serted upon tHeir lndivldual-jjiitiatlves and not because of any concerted movements to secure more money or a reduction in their working hours. . "Times were so prosperous that any man with a good pair of biceps could not only get a Job, but would have people bidding for his services and many employers who wanted good, husky boys overbid the circus, where upon the canvassman, figuratively speaking, folded his Individual tent and silently stole away. These deser tions were so frequent that the circus for about six weeks was constantly in more or less trouble. We 6ent every where for men. From the waterfront in New York and other cities we got sailors because they knew how to han dle ropes, but they were with us only a short while, until some enterprising citizen with his own labor troubles would offer them fancy wages, then they would . skip out and we would have to hunt again. "The trouble was solved only .when. for the first time in the history of the circus, Mr. Bailey imported a large force of Virginia negroes, who were greatly pleased with the excitement andnovelty of circus life. He tried hard to avoid this move, but there was too much doing, for white men, to leave any other recourse." Washing ton Times. ' How to Read." Edward Everett Hale, in his excel lent little book, "How to Do It" dis cusses the matter of reading. The sub stance of what he says may be given in the form of the following ten rules: 1. Don't try to read everything. 2. Read two books on the same sub ject, one solid, one for pleasure. 8. Don't read a book for the 'sake of saying, . I have read it 4. Review what you read 5. Read with a pencil in hand. 6. Use a blank book. - . 7. Condense whatever you copy. 8. Read less and remember it 9. One hour for light reading should have one hour , of solid reading. 10. Whatever reading you do, do it regularly. ', ' When Xiolt Was Taken Seriously. On September 9, 1637, Francis Broune, son to John Broune, wabster In Banff, was convicted by the borrow or justice court of the burgh of break ing into the bulthe of Patrick Shand and stealing therefrom "sume golff ballis," and the Judges "ordainlt the said Francis to " be presentlie tacken and carelt to the gallowhIU of this burghe, and hangit on the gallows thereof to the death, whereof William Wat dempster of the said, assyls, galve doome." St James' Gazette. ... Her Status. . "Why do you still call her a 'fin de slecle girl'?" "What's the matter with that?" "Why, since that means literally the end of the century girl,' it was only used in speaking of girls toward the close of the last century " "Well, that's when she was a girl." Philadelphia Ledger. Patriotism always stands in with the government - No man is in business for himself If he la marked, THE PASSING YEAR. Across the shadows of the night There come to my expectant ear The twelve deep notes that tell the flight Of yet another passing year. Its limits reached. Its work Is done. Its record sealed and sent on high. Unknown to all and seen by none Except God's own all-seeing eye. h, me! those years, those vanished years, In memory, but beyond recall. How filled with foolish doubts snd fears, How stained with sin and blotted aUl What can we ask of thee but grace To make these failures ot the past The beacon lights by which to trace . Our way to thee, O Christ, at last! Farewell, Old Tear! There have been days Of grief and ill so, too, of good; And -for them both we give God praise, Though at the time misunderstood. His wisdom measures all our needs; He knows the weakuess of our frame; His lore our highest thought exceeds; He calls jus by his own dear name. Bo pass the years In solemn state Beyond our ken; we count the sun; They come and go, we watch and wait Until our own set time shall come. God of the years, from out whose hand. With all our precious gifts, they come. Give us the grace to understand. And make them helps to lead ns home! Christian Work. & AN OLD MAN'S FIRST CHRISTMAS BY HOPE DARING. YES, I will do it. It's the only way I can be sure of making a fair profit next year. My workmen must under stand that I run the mill to put money in my own pocket," There was an ugly frown on Gilbert Bentley's brow as he sat in' his shabby little study, communing with himself. He was a small, stooping man of 65, with searching blue eyes, and a cold, forbid ding expression. "I'll do it at once. One week from to-morrow I'll announce a cut of ten per cent on all wages. One week that will be the twenty-fifth. Why, that will be Christmas, and the men must have a holiday, Christmas! As if that old super stition made any difference with the world to-day!" . ' The frown on his brow deepened. He leaned back, staring from a window. He could see the long, low buildings of the Bentley Lumber Company. In the back ground was the leafless forest. The sun was setting and the sky, above the tree tops, was tinged with a rosy glow. ' Gilbert Bentley had spent ten years in that lumbering village. In that time he had doubled his capital. Now, owing to a general depression, his profits were smalL To continue his business through the winter would mean very little profit but doubtless, the spring would bring a change. . Well, he would not wait for spring. Money had always been Gilbert Bent ley's god. He had begun life a poor boy and had worked his way upward, un aided. His life had been too busy for sentiment. To be sure he had married. His wife lived only a few years. There was a child. Harold had grown up, high spirited and proud. In early manhood he married against his father's wishes. Estrangement had followed. Harold and his wife died within a few months of each other, leaving a little daughter. Pride prompted Mr. Bentley to pay . the girl's bills at a good school, but he never saw her. The door bell rang and there was the sound of footsteps and voices in the halt The door of the study was thrown open, and a sweet voice cried: "Grandpa, are you here?" . f Before Mr. Bentley could "Bpeak, Simp son, his old English housekeeper, enter ed. In one hand she held aloft a lighted lamp, thus showing Gilbert Bentley his unexpected visitor. She was a slender girl of sixteen, a dimpled, blonde face lighted by sunny blue eyes. "Why, don't you know me? I am Florence, and I am glad so glad to see you!" ( ' v She was at his side, both arms round his neck, and her lips uplifted for his kiss. As in a dream he listened as she '-" " " ' g&s III JR mMlmtM i - -t htm hmf 'xElmilnfflywW LminmiiiiJiirii mriiiiiiiff u mAiis-aiif told how she had grown tired of spending- her vacations at the school. "You know, grandpa, that it is dread ful to have no one of your very own to be glad with, and I've come to spend Christmas with you." The girl was so sure that her grand father was glad to see her that he could not tell her she was unwelcome. An hour later they sat at dinner. The old man looked across to where the girl's golden head gleamed in the lamp. She chatted gayly. When they rose from the table she went with him to the study. Sitting on a stool, she told him of her school life. "I am happy there, grandpa, but Twill be glad when school is finished. Then I can keep house for you. It has been so kind in you to do without me so I could be educated." ' . He made no response. - They parted without the words being said that would send Florence back to school. Mr. Bent ley resolved to say them at breakfast the next morning;. There he found himself confronted by that smiling face, and was obliged to hold his peace. Florence stayed. Simpson, the maid, and the man all delighted to serve her. A few simple changes were made in the dreary old house. Mr. Bentley chose some new furniture. He ordered that good fires should be kept np and bade Simpson see that the table was well spread. Gilbert Bentley was powerless. Flor ence would think the best of him. She would think that he. loved her and was glad to have her there. She would be lieve that he shared her own love for hu manity and her reverent trust in God. She went with him to the mill and through the village. There her mistaken idea of his character showed in a strong light. Many of his workmen were living in poverty. She knew he was doing all he could for them, but was there not some way she could help ? - Whajt was he going to do for the men and for the churches of the town for Christmas? WAITING FOR SANTA CLAUS. Then they must remember the little chil dren. '' Christmas Eve came. Mr. Bentley had shamefacedly ordered Simpson to provide a "regular Christmas dinner." He had never made a Christmas gift in his life, but now well,- Florence would persist in talking as if Christmas meant as much to him as it did to ner. He was thinking of this as he walked home that evening. : It was suowing, and the wind buffeted him as he mounted the slope. The next day the mill must stand idle, but on the following morning the men should be notified of the reduction in their wages. How angry they would be! Gilbert Bentley's lips closed in a firm,' cruel line. He had looked, out for himself; others must do the same. He reached the house. As he passed through the hall the dining room door stood open. ; He noted the vase of scar let carnations,' ordered from the city, iu the center of the table. Upon a quaint old sideboard " was a basket of oranges and pale green grapes and a plate of the nuts over which Florence loved to linger while he drank his coffee. The old man's face softened. He sat down before the fire. . He was so en grossed in thought that he did not hear Florence enter. ' "You precious grandpa!". Again her arms were round his neck. "I found your gift and I thank you a thousand times. But grandpa, I want to ask you for something more. It is a part in your work I want you to give me.. And I want to give you my help myself. It is a wonderful position you hold so much wealth and so many people whom you can help. On this best of all nights . the birth night of our dear Savior, kt ns give ourselves anew to the work you have been doing alone." ; Little girl, you don't understand. I have not been what you think I have, and " Her dimpled hand closed his lips. "You are not to malign my dear grandfather. We will work together, will we not?" "Yes, dear." , In those two words the old man re nounced his greed and selfishness. On the morrow bis workmen should receive, not a reduction of their wages, but ait assurance of his good will and Interest, in them For this child's sake he would learn to know and do his duty. "It will be our first Christmas to gether," Florence said dreamily, her cheek pressed against his. "Yes, little girl. It will really be my first my very first Christmas." Homo-Monthly. THE CHILD'8 FESTIVAL. There is a Special Significance in Christmas for the Little Ones. HRISTMAS is the true Children's day. The Lord of the feast was a child in Bethlehem, and He till loves little chil ddren as He did when, in the strength of His manhood, He took them in His anns end blessed them. If . there were no children in our world to receive and enjoy, ' the advent time would lose much of its beauty and delight. The child's imagination, which transforms commonplace things, the child's receptivity, - which does not r-top to question, but enjoys these, reflect themselves upon our minds and bring os for the moment Into the childlike mood or happiness. Nor is the child's thought of happiness simply one of getting. Neither the gifk nor the surprise of the gift dear as these are to the child's heart, brings as much pleasure as the planning and the giving. The best of Christmas is en joyed before ever Christmas comes. We older ones need to be reminded every year that love is more than elaboration at the Christmas time, and that the value of the gift is measured by the affection of the giver; but unspoiled children know it and act upon it as if there could be no doubt of it at all, and we would all be happier at Christmas if we were to learn of them. Then - would the Christmas burden, of which so many are complaining, turn to pure delight. Congregationalism ' Tbe Porto Rlcan Christmas. Christmas in Porto Kico is a church festival of much importance and the cele bration of it is made up chiefly of re ligious ceremonies intended to commem orate the principal events in the life of the Savior. Beginning with the cele bration of His birth at Christmas time, the feast days follow one ' another In rapid succession. Indeed, it may justly be said that they do not really come to an fend until Easter. Sudden and Surprising. "What do you most desire for Christ mas, Miss Mabel?" "Oh, George, this Is so sudden!" "Wh what do you mean?" "Why, of course, I want you!" ; Foolish Resolutions. The New Tear's vows that Perkins made To keep will prove a strain. He vowed to share himself this year And use not words profane. Very Easy. Pat Whoy is th' owld year loike s whet towel, Nora, darlint! Nora Whoy? Pat Because they always ting it ou