THE BROff JI5QV CHRISTMAS.
Quo week before Christmas, Join
frowning and his wife sat by the waning
e in the grate after all tboir dildren
d gone to bed." Tier enjoyed its
urmtb and their own relaxation from
il, and were talking over their affairs
general. Mr. Browning was a good
ocbanic, and in reasonable good times
ays made a comfortable living for his
fe and Cvo sturdy children; bnt the
iignation of business and frequent ces'
tion of work during the past five years
J cramped them greatly in money af
lrs. me children grew so lust, and
ted new clothes so often, and needed
many books, and bad such healthy
jletiU's mat tneir straggle to supply
tern bad, lor a long time, been a hard
o. Mrs. Browning had done all her
fcrk and taken in sewing besides. Mr
i-owning had worn his old clothes and
, lots until they were scarcely respect-
&lo, and left no stone unturned to get
prk, and yet withal, tbe grocer and
ptcher were pressing him, and things
1 inked discouraging generally. As a re-
t lit of a general survey of the situation
Irs. Browning said:
, J" Well, it is evident we can't have
i nich Christmas, yet I do think we
4 ight to make the children as happy as
t can. tl does no Rood to nave them
fiel the weight of care, or realize the
i iirdens and difficulties of life as we do;
i jd so, if you can collect enough money
4 1 the small bills due you, I think we
t ight to get them each some small pres
et, and that we bad better get a turkey
ifyte possibly can."
With this conclusion her husband
f reed, and they began to count np
iat money they might probably depend
i on. Mr. Browning took out his ao-
aint book and pencil and commenced
I f figure:
I'Col. Randall owes me $3 20 balance
fixing Lis porch. He is able to pay
i id 1 think I oun depend on that. Mr.
i nith owes 50 cents for a fire board;
I rs. Jones, the milliner, owes me $1
( t i screen for ber window; the new
g oeer around the corner owes me $1 25
( I making him a seat for his wagon,
a id perhaps some other piece of work
may be found between this and Christ
mas. But even if I get no work we can
depend on $5 with a good deal of cer
tainty." All good is comparative. Having
tl ns concluded to have a happy Christ
t as as possible, and also that they had
i to be happy on, John Browning and
1 wife went to sleep with a feeling of
i mtentment and happiness which many
riou family planning for costly expen
iures might envy them.
iThe next morninir the around was cov
fed with deep snow, and while they sat
1 1 their frugal breakfast a loud knock
4is heard at the door. On opening it
(r. urowning was met by a portly and
odsome man with a great overcoat and
tly fur collar and gloves, who asked
im ii ue was J oun crowning, me car
nter. "That is my name and trade, sir," said
r. Browniog.
" Well, I want to get you to make a
imper' for me right away. We don't
ten have such a snow as this in the west;
iy wife and children want to enjoy it.
n you come over to my house right
ay after breakfast and see how I want
made Then l want a small stable
Axil fc this week. Could you go on and
mild it immediately."
John Browning a eves glistened and
!i fuce fairly glowed with pleasure at
is unexpected good fortune. He agreed
come at onoo, and when he sat down
finish his breakfast he could not for
ar saying to his wife and children: "I
iess we are going to have a jolly good
uristmas. Mr. rotter is a rich man,
e people say, and will pay wejl and
romptly for the work done. I can earn
tO this week if he gives me the work he
teaks of.
The effect of the good news of work
itaineil was felt hv the whole family.
ho children were exultant and good
inipered as they went off to school. Mrs.
rowning went around with a light step
id cheerful heart, singing at her work,
t is wonderful how hope lightens toil.
ii she sang and worked she thought what
mfort and pleasure the coming $20
ould bring. They could nearly square
II with the grocer and the butcher and
)uequently enjoy Christmas muoh bet
r. She thought of her husband work
g away so cheerfully in the cold,
is heart full of what his wages would
ring to his family, and her heart blessed
im us a good kind husband, and life
emed very bright and sweet to her.
I Air. drowning came borne at noon
veu more full of good cheer and hope
ban when be went away in the morning,
jlr. Potter seemed to be a man to whom
honey was of small consequence. He
fas having a wonderful moo "jtmper"
bade for fhe children, and had given or
ers for Mr. Browning to go right ahead
ud build the stable. The children all
kjoiced again over the good news of
rork, and exulted in the thought of
onerous gifts and a turkey for Chnst
iias. ! Dunns: the week both the grocer and
nitcher called around to see about their
ills, and were both assured by Mrs.
frowning that they would receive some
aonoy on Saturday night, inasmuch as
Jr. Browning had been so fortunate as
o have steady work all week.
Christmas day came on Sunday, and it
rould be necessary to get all the good
hings for the Christmas dinner on Sat
irday. The day was very cold, and John
frowning found it was going to push
lim very hard to get the little stable
lone by evening. As he wished to have
little time in which to enjoy spending
lis hard earned money, paying what he
iwed, and in the happy employment of
;oing with his wife to buy Christmas
;ifts for his children, he Employed a fel
ow workman to assit him on Saturday.
Lt noon he made out his bill to Mr.
'otter, and carefully placed it in his
ocket, feeling that it was as good as so
such money. Abont 5 o'clock the last
mil was driven, his tools were gathered
ip, and Mr. Browning went around to
be front part of Mr. Potter's house to
all for his employer and get his pay.
ust as he raised his hand to ring the
ell, Mr. Potter came out, followed by
fife and children, all heavily wrapped
ip, and evidently just starting on a
ng journey. A carriage stood at the
root gate loaded with trunks and raises.
"I have finished the stable," eaid Mr.
Browning, "and I called to ask you to
see it, and to present you my bill."
"All right, all right, Mr. Browning
but we are just starting to the city to
spend tue holidays, and I cannot pay
your bin tin i return, which will be in
two or three weeks."
"But my family are needing and de
pending on this money, "said Mr. Brown
tag, vim a sinxing neart, "ana it wonia
be very inoonvenient to wait. I really
must insist."
"No use at all in insisting, my dear
follow," said Mr. Potter, in a tone half
gay, half insulting. "I need all the
money I have, and more too, now that I
am taking my wife and children to spend
tiie holidays in the city.
Anger and disappointment flushed
John Browning's face crimson as a said
"Mr. Potter,! depended on your prompt
payment of this bill or I would not
hove"
"I have no time to narlev ." said Mr.
Potter "here, wife and children, jump
in, or we shall be too late for the train.
I tell yon I can t pay you now." With
this he sprang into the carriage himself.
and giving an impatient ordor to the
driver, the carriage rapidly carried them
out of sight to catch the train already
whistling in the distanoe.
How suddenly was the bright sky of
of the Browning family darkened by this
Sieoe oi thoughtless, cruel injustioe.
r. Browning stood for few moments
irresolute, while feelings of anger, hu
miliation and disappointment struggled
in bis heart. The fellow workman whom
he had employed also waited for bis
small pittance, and when Mr. Browning
informed him of the state of affairs, with
an expression of profanity be threw down
the tools he held in his hands and walk
ed away. But to break the news to his
family was the hardest of all. How could
he blast their hopes and chill their hearts
and on Christmas eve, too ? But it was
growing nearly dark, and something
must be done. The butcher and the
grocer would both be looking for him.
and altogether it was too hard to ondnre-
Mrs. Browning saw her husband com
ing up tue walk, and she knew by the
expression of his face that something
was wrong. She opened the door to
meet him, exclaiming anxiously: "What
i it?"
"Mr. Potter has gone off to the city to
spend the boliuays and did not pay me.
and he will not be back for three weeks,"
said Mr. crowning.
"Well, if that isn t outrageous 1" said
Mrs. Browning, with a sudden flush of
anger. "Wiry did von let him off? If
I was a man I tell you people couldn't
trine with me that way. When I earned
my money I'd collect it."
There was danger that in addition to
the loss of the expected money, there
would be the loss of that more precious
thing in the family, affectionate har
mony and sympathy; for Mrs. Browning
was human, and had that human instinct
which leads us to try to find some one
on whom to blame misfortunes and dis
appointments. Her husband, with an
equally natural instinot, was inclined to
resent this for he only knew how hard it
was to collect money even after it was
earned.
"If you think you can collect better
than I can," was his reply, "just try it,
iou can taae tnat bin lor the balance
Col. Bandall owes me, and see if you
can get it. We have nothing to fall back
on except those little bills we counted
over last week, anvwav."
The children bad gathered around and
listened iu silence and dismay to the
conversation. "Can't we havo any
Christmas now?" was their tearful querv;
and when their mother sharply told
them "No!" re-echoing in her voice and
manner the anger of her spirit, it was
but a few minutes till they, too, were in
spired by fie same discordant feelings,
and quarreling and angry words were
heard where but an hour bofore all was
good temper and pleasurable excitement.
John Browning moodily waited while
his wife placed the supper of oatmeal
and milk on the table. She herself was
almost faint for a more substantial meal,
and Mr. Browning in the earlier part of
the day had Baid to her: "We will have
a good steak for supper this evening;
working in the cold makes a follow fear
fully hungry." He was so full of cha
grin now that lie soarcely noticed what
he ate, and a gloomy silence fell upon
all as they sat around the table. When
the meal was through he said, as he put
on his hat:
"I wish, Mary, you would take that
bill over to Col. Randall's: it is but a
step, and I have got to go clear to the
other side of the village to see if I can
get those other small bills. Perhaps he
will pay it to you even quicker than he
will to me. Then I must call and see
the grocer and butcher. Dear me, I'd
rather be lashed than meet them now."
With this he handed her the account
against Col. Bandall and went out. The
original account had been $32 30, and
there was only the balance of $2 30 due.
Mrs. Browning washed np the tea things,
hor mind filled with bitter and complain
ing thoughts. She disliked to go to Col.
Bandall with a call for so small a bal
ance; she f erred he would think them
mean to ask for it. Then she fell back
to her mood of trying to blame some
body. John was a kind husband, but
he was too easy with people. It seemed
to her if she were a man that in some
way or other she would managfe money
matters better. They would never get
ahead at this rate of doing things.
The early moon was shining brightly
when she was ready to go to Col. Ran
dall's with the bill. Giving the elder
children directions to put the younger
ones to bed, she muffled up warmly for
it was bitter cold, and passed along the
short distanoe that lay between their lit
tle home and Col. Randall's fine resi-
dence. Ringing
ushered into tbe
waiting while the
gentleman out.
"Good evening;
the bell, she was
hall, and their left
servant called the
what can I do for
you?" said that severe looking gentle
man, not recognizing her as a near
neighbor as he came into the hall.
"Mr. Browning, my husband, wishes
to know if it would be convenient for
you to pay the small balance on this bill
this evening?"
CoL Randall took the bill hesitatingly,
turned it over, and hemmed and cleared
his throat, and then said:
"I've paid 830 on this bill, and I
should think Mr. Browning need not
trouble me for the balanaa on Christmas
eve."
'But he has been, disappointed in.
f getting pay for work, and need the
money."
"So do I need
money. People seem
to think I've made of money. I resllr
can't spare this trifle this evening. Be
sides, I told Mr. Browning the last time
he asked me for the balance and he has
bothered me about it a great deal that
when I got ready and could spare the
money I would j.ay him. Good-evening,
ma'am." And with this the Colonel
turned on his heel, and while Mrs.
Browning waited for the servant to let
her ont, ahe heard him say to his wife in
the sitting room:
"It is one of the annoyances of having
work done bv starveling workingiun
that they are always dunning one for the
pay. I am sure Joliu Browning has
bothered me more for that little balance
than the whole bill is worth."
And so that is what poor John has to
sland when he trios to collect his bills,
said Mrs. Browning to herself as she
hurried home. "Starveling working
men, indeed! And then to think I am
ready to blame him in the bargain."
Over and above all her feelings of dis
appointment now rose the feeling of love
and sympathy for her husbund. Uow
she did regret her sharp words at the
news of his failure to get the money
from Mr. Potter. Whon she cot home
she found only the two cider children
Btill awake, and them she consoled
cheerfully, telling them she thought
they could not have much for Christ
mas, yet must they be kind and cheerful
and not add to dear papa's troubles by
fretting. Her own spirit was reflooted
in theirs; kind and affectionate feelings
were inspired bv her uheerful words anil
talk; and although before they went to
bed they hung up their stockings by the
nre, in cose any good luck should come,
yet their little hearts wero bravely pre
pared for disappoint Jieut
It was nearly au hour before Mrs,
Browning heard her husband's footsteps
on tue walk, bhe burned to the clpor,
and as he entered she looked lovingly
and sympathizing!- in his face. His
ieeiing also had evidently been moved
by reflections of a gentle and tender
kind, for as soon as he closed tho door
and noticed the kind look ou his wife's
face he held out his arms towards her,
She threw her amis loviugly around his
neck aud pressed her cheek to his.
"Never mind if we do have hard times
and bad luck, John," she said, "we have
each other and the children, and we will
be Happy ih spite of nil. "
"My dear, good wife," said John, hold'
ing her olose to his heart, "If I could
only give you what you deserve, you
should have every comfort and pleasure
in life."
And then in a few moments they sat
aown ana oompared notes. Mary told
her ill-success with Col. Randall. John
had got no money except the $1.00 from
Mrs. Jones, the little milliner, but the
new grocer wanted to pay for the making
of the seat for his wagon in trade, and
they could get two chickens and a few
groceries there. The $1.00 would get a
small Christmas gift apiece for the ohil
dren, and so they would make the best
of it.
"Well, let us go out and buy the
things for Christmas," said Mrs. Brown
ing, and, a few moments later, closely
bundled up from the oold, John Brown
ing and his wife walked cheerfully and
lovingly down the little village street.
They got two plump chickens and enough
material to make a substantial dinnor, at
the grocer's. Then they, went to a store
where there was a good five-cent counter
and had muoh amusement and pleasure
in selecting a lot of little articles suita
ble for putting in the children a stock
ings, not forgetting a pound of stick
candy. Coming h6ne, they busied
themselves for awhile in wrapping each
article in a separate piece of paper, and
deciding which should go into the differ
ent little stockings, not forgetting to put
in two or three sticks of candy, all wrap
ped in separate papers.
Very early Christmas morning, Mr.
Browning got up and put on a good fire
so that tho room might be warm when
the little folks should discover the stock
ings, which they did early in the dawn.
It was a joyful surprise to the children.
who were just as happy as though the
gifts had been costly. As for Mr.
Browning and his wife, the blessed al
chemy of love had transformed thoir dis
appointment into affectionate sympathy
for each other's trials and disappoint
ments, and they listened with happy
hearts to the gay ohatter of their chil
dren, saying to themselves and to each
other, "We are having a good Christmas
after all." What was lacking in mate
rial good was made up in kindness and
love, and earnest effort to mako the best
of things, and to cause their children to
have a happy day. And when at dinnor
they sat down to partake of the two nice
ly browned, stuffed chickens, instead of
the expected Christmas turkey, their
happiness and enjoyment might well
have been envied by the two inconsider
ate employers, whose injustice and dis
regard for the honest claims of those
whose labor they bad enjoyed, came so
near spoiling the Browning's Christmas.
Tbousaud-Dollar Shawls.
Few of the real Indian shawls are
called for. One of the larger houses
sells not more than a dozen such shawls
iu a year, and these are tbe cheaper ones;
that is, the shawls the prices of which are
under a thousand dollars. One good
reason is that the wearer of a real Indian
shawl does not get the credit of it. So
few are worn, and so many imitate so
well, the real Indian is not recognized.
It is said that in the manufacture of In
dian shawls not the slightest improve
ment bos been mode since Napoleon in
troduced them into Europe by sending
one to Josephine. The wool of the shawl
is obtained from the inner hair of the
Thibet goat. It is cleansed in rice water
to add strength, and spun by women.
Each loom produces about five sliawls in
a year. Victoria rings tribute from these
poverty-stricken weavira in a certain
number of shawls yearly.
It is said that native Indian shawls
have been imported to repair shawls and
change centers to suit the wearers. The
shawls are ma-'e in pieces and put to
gether so deftly that the seams cannot be
found, exoept by an expert. In the ag
gregate a great many Indian shawls are
imported, but are sold chiefly in the large
cities, where they are kept in stock, and
the purchaser in a smaller city will go
there to buy them in order to select from
number. Generally tbe demand baa
been active this year and a great many
hav been sold.
Intel-Iran net-Ma England.
There have been uuny curious inui
dents connected with the retail sale of
American bef in Loudon. The greater
number of the dealers noil the article as
English beef, while some of the poor
kinds of tbe home-fed are bought as
imKrtod American, 'flio only place
where American beef u sold as such
at the Metropolitan Market, but lately
the consignees of the Amer.can Hillock
have tried to secure stall, for their sale
at New Leadenhall Market.
Another curious fact which has long
been without explanation is the price
for which American beef in sold in the
British Metropolis. It suems strango
that the meat of American fed cattle can
be sold iu London, after the expense
of transatlantic shipment, for 10 and 17
cents a ponnd, while in this city the
housekeeper bus to pay from 30 to 50
cents for tho same amouut of native
meat.
Mr. M. n. Gillette, of M. H. Gillette
& Co., of Jorsey city, who ship large
quantities of beef to the other side, said
in reference to the above facts: "When
I was in England a short time ago, I saw
a butcher sell a piece of American beef
as English beef. I asked him why he
did not tell his customer that it was from
America, and be told me that the cus
tomer would not have bought it. "Our
customers want 'good Uenglish beof,' "
he said to me, "and I have to sell it to
them as such. That man just gone out
wanted a pieoe like that which he had
last week. If I had told him the piece
he had last week was American beef he
would not have believed me. I know
that meat hung in a cool place for ten or
twelve days is better than that
which was slaughtered yesterday, for
sale to-morrow, as our English beef is,
but you could not make my customer be
lieve that. There is no English beef as
good as the American article that comes
to us, but I dare not say so or I would
lose my customers; so when they cull
for the cheap American I civa them
poor British beef, and they do not know
the difference. "
"Was there ever any efforts modo to
prevent such ideas spreading among the
people: said the reporter.
les. Tbe creator part of the meat
shipped goes to the Metropolitan Msrket.
it was advertised as American beef and a
good trade has been aeoured, but what is
one market in a city like London. This
beef was bought by retail butchers and
muob of it la resold 'good, bold lleug
lish beof,' you know."
"lor what prloe is American beef sold
in XiOndon?
"For from 15 to 17 cents a pound, or a
cent or a cent and a half less than the
English beef. This is quite suflloiont to
control the retail trado.
"What is the reason the meat is sold
so much cheaper than in this oity? What
causes the diuorence in price?
Ihe diuorence is more apparent than
real. In this country meat is cut np
nndor the rules of the Butchers' Arsocia
tion. The result is that if you want a
piece from the sirloin, or the round, or
tbe shoulder, yon ask for and get it. But
in England meat is cut up in the most
curious way you ever saw. A side of
beef is cut into nieces of five. ten. fifteen
or twenty pounds weight. Neither bone
nor fat is removed except the fat about
the kidneys. People when they bey
meat do not ask for a piece of the round or
the sirloin, as we do; they ask for so
many pounds of beef, it does not seem
to make any difference what part of the
animal the meat comes from. Beef's
beef in their opinion. I have seen a line
of people standing outside of a butcher
shop waiting thoir turn. Inside' woro
four men cutting meat up into pieces of
given weights and outting without
any reference to the part the
piece came from. There were
two men selling and taking tho
money. All tbe beef, bone and fat, was
sold at the same prioe. You must re
number that thore is not very much fine
meat in a bullock take one weighing
800 pounds and from it you will not get
much more than 125 pounds of fins meat.
Now, while the butchers in this country
charge 30 to 50 rents for fine beef, they
are obliged to take out part of the bone
and a part of the fat, and they sell the
course meat for muoh less than it is sold
iu England. You can buy first-class
corned beef from 8 to 12 cents or a shin
bone for soup for 5 or 0. In England
you would have to pay from 14 to 16 for
these. Of course, if a man knows how
to chooBe meat he can get good beef
cheaper in England than he can bere.be
cause if he sees a good piece
hanging np he can tako it
for tbe same price he would pay
for a poor pioce. But suppose a lady
here wero to send to her butcher for, a
nice roasting pieoe and ahe were to re
ceive a cut from the shoulder, she would
say that the man had treated ber shame
fully. Now, an English lady in such a
cose would not think anything about it.
x on can easily see that if you can sell the
whole bullock for 15 cents a pound you
will make . as much as you
will when you sell a small portion for
three times as much and the rest for one
half or one-third."
"What is the extent of the boef trade
now?"
"Five years ago, when the businoss be
gan, they could not sell twenty quarters
week in Liverpool. Now Liverpool takes
between three and four thousand quar
ters a week. The whole trade amounts
to from ten to twelve thousand quur
tors a week, which at 200 pounds to the
quarter wonld make say 2,200,000
pounds of American beef sold each
week in Great Britain, or 114,400,000
pounds a year. This trade has grown np
from nothing in the past five years, and
from present indications will grow a
great deal larger as tbe years roll on."
"Are many cattle shipped alive?
"Abont five thousand a week in sum
mer. They cannot ship them in winter.
The rough weather knocks them about
too much. The trade has affected the
price ot American cattle somewhat, but
not enough yet to do much more than
give a slightly upward tendency to the
market.-New York World."
. t
At breakfast a remarkable light omelet
souffle is served at a moment when every
one is engaged in a deeply interesting
conversation. The omelet is neglected,
and begins to settle down from iu appe
tizing airiness, to the enormous disgust
of the little daughter of tbe bouse, who
exclaims: "Ob,, ma, do hurry t The
omelet is eating itself I"
How tbe Buttings were Filled.
Pussy got into the house somehow,
just as the least little streak of rooming
light was beginning to peep through tbe
window curtains, and stolo up stairs
She jumped upon the bed and rubbed
her cold nose against Lill's face and
awakened her.
Lilt sprang np in bed, for it came to
her like a nosh, "It s Christum day."
"Bessie, wake ui! Merry Christmas!
sho cried, and in half a minute four little
baro feet wore pattering down stairs to
the sitting room ufter tho Christmas
stockings.
They hadn't a doubt of finding them
full. Santa Claus had nover forgotten
them yet.
Yon can imagine then, thoir dismay
when each little girl clasped a limp and
empty storking, with not ao much aa
sugar plum to till out the too.
luey ran to mamma s bedroom to pour
ont their complaints.
"Santa Claus forgot ns! cried Lill
with starting tears.
"Ue tlulu t bring us anything! said
Beanie, throwing herself across ber
mother's feet in an agony of grief.
"l think it s too bod," said LU1.
"He's real mean! I'll never like him
again! said Bessie,
"Oh, go back to bed. said mamma
"You've got up too early. How do you
expect Santa Claus oan always get round
before daylight? There are such num
bers of little boys and girls, tho wonder
is that he gots round at all. He'd never
forgot you, I'm sure. Go back and curl
down in bed till it'a really light. Then
got np and dress yourself nicely, bofore
you come down, and you 11 see what
you 11 see.
lUthor disconsolate, the little girls
went back to bed.
"You needn't fool ao bad, Bessie Brad
ley. Haven't you found out more'n i
hundred tlmes,that mamma knowa about
things hotter n we do? said Lill.
"I ain t feeling bad, any more n you
are I and Santa Claus is comin' in about
niue or eight minutes," said Bessie.
While waiting for daylight tbey talked
of the presents tbey Hoped to havo. aud
as soon as tho sun peeped above the
eastern horizon they were up, and put
ting on thoir clothes as quickly as i
sible. went down stairs.
There was nobody in tho sitting-room.
A fire was burning in the grate, and the
stockings hung against the mantle, but
thev still looked limn.
They were not near enough to be sure
they were empty, when a loud "Toot!
toot! toot!" sounded from somewhere
with a jingling of bolls and a tramping
of feet.
"He's coming! O Lill Bradloy, old
Santa's coming!" said Bessie, clinging
to ber sisters skirts. Lill held her
breath And said nothing.
The door new open, and in bounced
Santa Claus, sure enough, lie wore a
very furry ooat, and a red cap, high and
no.nted at the top, and bound witn fur.
His eyes were hidden behind great ail-
ver-rimmod spectacles, and His uair
and beard were long and white as snow.
Mamma eamo out of the bedroom lust
then, and Bessie and Lill sidod np to
her, and caught each one oi ber bands,
feeling half afraid of the queer, "jolly
old elf," aud then stood, silent and
watching.
The great pack upon Santa a back
didn't soom to be empty yet, and there
were packages peeping out of every
pocket, ont of the breast of bis ooat, and
evon out of his sleeves. He seemed in a
tearing hurry.
"Whew! whew!" said he, "this is the
first obanoe I've had to take breath since
started out last night. So many
oungsters to visit this year! I thought
never should got round. Whew! how
hot it is here! Well, let's see!"
He whirled the pack from bis back,
down on the rug, and began rummaging
vigorously among the packages witbiu
it. "Only two stockings to fill here.and
little ones at that. I've lots of presents
loft over."
He drew out a paokago, held his head
on one Bide with a funny little grimace as
he peeped into it, and then thrust it into
Lill's red stocking.
'That's a doll, I know," said 111,
squeezing her mother's hand.
A similar package went into uossio s
blue one. Then othor, smaller pack
ages, till tue stockings would Hold no
more.
All tbe time he worked he kept jerking
out funny little speeches about the chil
dren and their wants, as if ho know all
about them.
Lill and Bess wore in a state of joyful
excitement. Lill thought thore was
somothing familiar abont the voice, or
the motions, or something; she couldn't
tell what.
"I believe I've seen him before. Else
dreamod I did. Else he's some like
father," she whispered.
Her mother laughed aloud at this. It
made old Santa Clans look np from his
work, and he seemed to espy the little
group in the corner for the first time.
'Bless my stars! he ejaculated, bo-
ginning to gather np hastily from the
rug the parcels that hod fallen out of his
pack.
'Bless my stars and stripes! Persons
musn't see me abont this business."
lie throw his pack over his back, anu
putting bis hands deep in his side
ockets.drew them out mn.and a shower
of sugar-plums pelted the little girls, as
he hurried out of the room.
Just as he was going out be threw a
big package at their mother saying:
That s for the old lady, there. (Jams
pretty near forgetting her."
Lill knew the voice in which mis was
said, and cried out:
"It'a father, it's father I"
They sprang after him and led him
back into the room in laughing triumph.
They took off the pointed cap and tbe
blue sectacles. They brnshed the flour
from his eytbrows, and rubbed the red
from his cheeks. They robbed him of
the pillow that made him look so
chubby and plump," and the gray hair
and beard which made him look so ven
erable.
And when they came to examine the
oon tents of their stockings they were
more than ever delighted to have for a
Santa Claus their own dear father.
The Boston School Committee has
made an order providing that the course
of study in the high schools shall be
three years, with an advanced course of
one year, optional to those who Lava
completed the tbrew-years' course.
Abont A Bey,
There has always been more or less ill
feeling shown against the modern boy be
cause he can't be sent after anything
without dallying along by the waysldo,
and doing some kind of damage either to
the article lie went after or to something
clue ho wasn't sent after.
lis ttory goes to show that whon a boy
is sent after a hatchet he always uses it
along the road to peel shade trees or chop
down picket fences. If yon send him for
a hammer, be generally batters up some-,
thing with it so that when the balance
has bovn struck, you find that it would
have brvn cheaper to buy several new
hatchets and a coflln in tho first place.
Last wiutor, however, thore was an in
cident occurred in Colorado which
cliacgod tbe opinion of several people rel
ative to the juvenile with one suspender,
and a tin box of caterpillars in his pocket.
An old miner askod bis little worthless
son to go np to the gulch and get a pick
that had been left sear the trail and
bring it to where the old man was work
ing on a prospect hole. The old man
was a little agitated over the fact that he
could not And the lead, and swore at the
boy in an impulsive kind of way that was
calculated to make the youth fly around
and got back during the summer. But
he was one of those perverse kids who are
not appalled muoh by profanity and
hen he got tbe pick be began to whack
it into the ground and tear np the virgin
soil, partly for f nn and partly to kill time.
By and by be dug out the corner of a
clinuk of rock that aroused his cariosity,
and, after spitting on it and wiping it
carefully on bis pants, he looked at it
with one eye closed, like an expert who
is paid $5,000 to guess at the value of a
niiue.
He took the rock back to the old man
and when thi cruel parent was about to
attack him with an iron drill, the boy
showed bim tbe specimen.
The old man lookod at and ohanged his
misd about knocking the boy gaily west.
as lib first intended to do. He went np the
gulch and opened np a mine that ho sold
lately for 8150,000.
Ihe boy is red-headed and has freoklos
on bis nose aa big as a moss agate, and
bis eyelashes are white and hiB tooth are
ut in crooked, but be is the idol of a
appy borne. When he puts a split stick
on the tail of tbe family dog. or fills tho
cream pitcher full of young frogs, or
makes an aquarium of the soup turoon,
the parents simply pass it by as aneoocn-
tricity of genius, and be does almost as
he likes. The parental heart is warmed
toward him, and his life is now one broad
avenue of golden sunlight, and down its
vista he softly steals, and tbe bright and
beauteous universe holds not in all its
mighty grip a boy whose warty and
freckled be-spattered fuce is lighted with
joy more peculiarly potent than his own.
Laramie Boomerang.
A Harrow Escape.
It was Saturday night, and Mr. and
Mrs. Jones were shutting up house pre-
Jiaratory to retiring, when thore oame a
oud ring at tha front door that startled
them both, as it was too late for either
business or callers. Who could it bo?
Mrs. Jones declarod she wonld not open
the door for the world, and begged Mr.
to arm himself with the umbrella-
stand or the hat-rack, for it might be.
masked robbers, or something of that
sort. At which Mr. Jones pooh-poohed
rather faintly and nervously, and marched
valliantly to the door, threw it wide open
and next fell back over Mrs. Jonos, who
bad kept cautiously in the background.
Tlion tbe two reconnoitered tbe situa
tion. There was no human being in
sight, but on tho doorstep, there waa
some kind of a mysterious looking ob
ject. Mrs. Jones looked at it for a mo
niont, and then burst into tears.
"HV AAvaia linalrnf. Oht.TTAnAa
yon wretch, how could you? and I-I-f
trusted you so7
"Mercy on me, Marie, what are you
crying about? I don't know what it isl
Maybe it a an infernal machine, to blow
us up," gasped Jones.
"Olijon know what it is well enough.
Mr. Jones I Don't add falsehood to your
other baseness. Oh, Jones, Jonos, how
how o-could you deceive me so," and
she wiped away another flood of tears.
"1 U throw the thing into tho middle
of next week," shoutod Jones in a fury,
III "
"Stop, atop, wretched man!" cried his
wife, grasping bis coat-tails. "Don't
add murder to your other accomplish
ments; and to think I have tr tr-trust-
ed "
'Maria." said Mr. Jones, with the
calmness of desperation, "unhand me!
I will find out what this means. That's
our old market basket," he exclaimed
suddenly, and, and the next moment he
bad dragged it.into the hall. "Why, it's
our diuner for to-morrow. I forgot all
about it, and left it at the butchers, and
he has sent it home then! I hope you re
tinned."
"I never saw such a careless man in my
life," said his wife, in a relieved voice.
'We might have had to go without our
dinnor for all of you."
Jones says it waa the narrowest escape
ever he had.
Goon ExEitnsE. We clip the follow
ing from the New York Tribune, which
may be of interest as well as prove valu
able to some of our dyspeptio readers:
"Some years since, tbe wife of a Ten-
noses banker, after trying a variety of
remedies for dyspepsia and other ail
ments, consulted a physician noted for
plain, common sense and small doses of
physio. He told ber if she would split
the wood for tho fumily it would oure
her. WoodhousoM are unknown in Ten
nesee, or were at that time, and of course
tho wood-splitting must be done in the
open air. The lady procured an ax suited
to ber hand, and applied herself to th
task, beginning with a few sticks each
day, and increasing the number as sho
grew ttrongor. Gradually her ailments
all disappeared, and her health became
exbuberant. When we knew her twenty-
five years ago, with a house full of ser
vants, snd practically unlimited wealth
at command, she did all the wood-splitting
for the family, and bid fair to make
double the half century in age she had
already attained. Donbtless, taking her
exercise in the open air bad quite aa
much to do with ber recovery aa the mere
muscular labor had."
The electric light has been success
fully introduced in the Mathilda colliery
in Upper Silesia. The work waa done,
by Siemens k Halske of Berlin,
e