FROM BETHLEHEM TO NAZARETH.
Till: WISH MEN Or THE EAST.
From out Um golden doors of dawn
The wise men came, of wondrous thought.
Who know iii" man From far upon
The shorcltM cant they kneeling brought
Their ooatly gift or Inwrought Kama ami gold.
While, cloiulllkn. incense from Uielr preaeBOt
MM
Their iweeu of flower flelda, their iweet
Distlllment of moat sacred leaves,
Tbejr laid, low bending at hla feet.
As reara-ra licnd above tbelr shearee
Am strong armed rcaimrs bending, clamorous,
To glra their gathered full sheaves kn.wllug thus.
And, kneeling BO. itn-y spake of when
Ood walked his BMMw fragrant aod.
Vor yet hail lild lib, race from men.
Nor yet had man furgolUm Oml.
They spake Hut M.iry kept her thought apart
Aod, silent, "pondered all thing in her heart"
They spake. In wblspers long, they laid
Their shagy heads together, drew
Some Rtaiii'il scrolla breathleas forth, then made
Kuch bini'i as only win men knew
Thuir high red camel on the huge hill set
Outstanding llkeaome ulgbt-bewn silhouette.
MORN AT NAZARETH.
I think I Ma linn now at morn
Before the burnt of auddeu day.
Above the ullver llelds of corn
Where Hi. ban MM apart to pray;
I think 1 ace Him looking thoughtful down
Beyond the corn, beyoud the waking town.
Beyond the sllver'd mlsta that rise
From all night tolling In the corn.
The mtsla have dullea up the skiee,
The skien have duties down the morn.
While nil I lie world la full of earnest cure
To make the fair world still more wondrous f.ilr-
More lordly fair: the stately morn
Muvea doa n her walks of golden wheat.
Her guard-, of honor gild the corn
Jn golden iatbway for Ood's feat;
Her purpliil lulls she crowns In crowna of gold
And majesty before the herd la rolled.
-Joaouln Miller In Independent,
always, he could himself keep out of the
TWO CHRISTMAS EVES.
At the corner of tho market square in
the ancient town of St. Ives, Cornwall,
thero HtaiiiU it picturesquo olil hostelry
called the "(iolden Lion." Until quite
lately it bad for its near nei M...r an inn
equally picturesque, and perhaps even
older the "Oeorgeand Dragon. Both
these ancient houses of entertainment
must have witnessed many strange
event-., In . i.les being tho scene of many
n jovial drinking bout after tho gather
ing in of the 'harvest of the Hea," or at
tb Um lawful landing of a contraband
cargo, or at I he end of a successful pri
vateering expedition. For all theso
things your Cornlshmau hath an excel
lent rlih. On the sM)t was the palla
dium f III" Hliertics of St. Ives, for here
hi. ii 1. 1 the whipping 1 1. ..I, the cago and
tho stocks.
The George and Dragon must have been
the fashionable hotel, for after the Corn
ish pilgrimage of grace the king's com
missioner. Sir Anthony Kingston, lodged
here, and entertained at dinner the port
reeve of St. hes, whom he afterward!
politely banged in the market square for
his treasonable practices. Hero, also,
tho Duke of Bolton, hen ho visited the
town in Willi, "was treated with six Un
ties of sack." The two bouses stood so
close together" being divided only by the
narrow street lending into iho market
square that the occupants could wish
each other guild morning from the win
dows. In the days of Qeorge il Peter Hexel
was landlord of the George and Dragon,
and John lOnnwdcn ruled (be (iolden
Liojt Thoy wero not only neighbors,
hut fnM ii ieiids. Thero was. perhaps,
sometliin ; In the similarity of the cir
cumstances of these two men that
strengthened Iheir friendship. They
were both widowers, and each had an
only cbilil. Richard HuXOj was a hand
some, snapping I'ehow of thrcc-and-twenly
Mary Item iu den was nineteen,
and tho pride of her father's bean. As
OhOdrOU tliet bad played together; hut
there came a time when they only looked
mid smiled and uoililed to each olher
from the opposite windows. Then Rich
ard would watch for Mary when she
went oiit, and would follow her into the
Holds or on the seashore; ami so it came
to Iw at length another version of tho
old, old story, which surprised nobody
least of all, the landlords of tho (joorgo
and Dragon and the (Iolden Lion, who
looked forward to the lime when tho
interests of Isith those ancient establish
ments should become one and indivisi
ble. Hut them was one person who watobed
the grow nig affection of the lovers with
a hitter and jealous heart. This would
not lie a true love story, according to
the ancient ami regular pattern, had
there boon nothing to interrupt its
smooth and even course. A certain
Thomaii Champed the son of a mine
master in the neighboring parish of Zcu-
nor, nail long looked witn longing eyes
on Man Renowden, His visits wero
d i so o 1 1 r u , o d by the host of the (Iolden
I .ion, and Mary herself made it very
plain that she disliked his attentions.
Nothing could exceed the bitterness of
his feelings when ('hamper found that
ho was rejected In favor of one who had
Imh'ii his successful rival from Isivhood.
lticlmrd I level had "taken him down" at
school -in the wrestling Units at "Feast
oiitidc" bud thrown him in tho "Cornish
hug," and had constantly snatched tho
victory Ir.nn him in tho game of "hurl
Ing." All these defeats be bad endured
With comparative indifference, but to las
Is ateii in tho game of love was not so
eeej to bear, Be watched the lovers in
th. ir walks, till ho felt ho could do any
thing short of murder to get his rival out
of the way. Ho thought if Hexel were
once reni n, si from tho scene bo might
ot succeed with Mary, trusting to time
and the chapter of accidents. Alnjut
this time the government divlansl war
against Spain, and it was certain that
tuen would Ik- wanted for the navy.
If the k ng's -hips could not ho manned
by other menus, tho press gangs would
Ik1 out, and tlu v would tirsl of all trv
their luck at the seaports. What if they
should visit St. Ives! It was not unlikely
and tbev would bo glad of s hint where
good men went to ho found. Thomas
Champ, i tuinisl this matter over in his
mind till he muadisl himself that he
weald bo doing rd service to the state,
and furl h Ming disown interests at the
some time, if ho could lend a helping
hand in manning the navy, provided.
wav. for he had no desire to serve his
country on board a man-of-war. Ho was
full of such thoughts when he made one
of his periodical journeys to Falmouth
on mining business, and sought out a
certain "crimp" or agent for entrapping
seamen for the press-gang. What he did
there, or what arguments he used to ad
vance his plans, we need not inquire, but
the "crimp" was richer by some ikiuiuIb
at the termination of tho interview.
It was hristtnas eve. and the good
people of St. I'M were preparing to keep
the festival with due honor. The usual
excitement of tho season had been in
creased in the course of the afternoon by
the ;ipM-arai:ce of a sloop-of-war, which
anchored in tl,, bay, nnd it was expected
that some of thu officers and crew would
come ashore to join in the general mer
rymaking. After durk a band of mum
mers entered the market square, and.
stopping in front of the (ieorge ami
Dragon, commenced the performance of
the Christmas drama of "St. (ieorge."
Soon a large crowd was collected, and
the noise brought to the doors and win
dows of the houses most of the persons
who were within, including the frequent
ers of a Ml tie club which met ut the
George and Dragon and the (iolden Lion
alternately.
In the midst of a tcrrilic combat be
tween St. (ieorge and theTurkish knight
there was a commotion among the
crowd, and a party of armed sailors ae
poured, headed by a tall fellow, who,
flourishing a nuked cutlass, cried, "In
the king's name!" The crowd at once
broke away amid the screams of women
and cries of "The press! the press!" The
sailors made a dash at some of the
younger men in the crowd, and among
those they secured was Richard Hexel,
who was standing at his father's door.
The party then retreated with their cap
tives, closely followed by tho crowd,
crying, "Down with tho press gang!
Down with them!" More than once the
sailors weie so hard pressed that those
in the i ear bad to turn und make a stand
in the narrow streets, and a serious con
flict was threatened. But they reached
their boats with the men they had cap
tured, and at daylight next morning the
sloop of war in the bay hud disupHared
That night thero was much wailing
among the women of St. Ives, and a
fruitful subject of talk was afforded to
the club at the Oeoi;o and Dragon
Among the members of this club were
Copt. Trenwith, a retired officer of the
navy, who had sailed with Admiral Hen
how, and had lost a leg in tho service of
his country; Mr. Matthews, ropemakei
and mayor of St. Ives; old Will Nance,
who had once been a smuggler, and who
wore a patch over his left eye, which
hail he: 'ii knocked out in some encounter
with revenue officers ! and, lastly, John
Tackabird, the town barber, who, al
though occupying a lower social position,
was allowed to associate after business
hours with the men whose wigs he
dressed in I he morning. Hut the barbel
was in advance of his time, and held
opinions which Capt. Trenwith and the
major thought little less than treason
able. John Tackabird was, in fact, a
Democrat and on the present occasion
he was loud in his denunciation of the
press gang, which be said was contrary
to Magna ( Iharta and the hill of rights
a tyrannical and unconstitutional viola
lion of the liberty of the subject, nod
showed the English to lo a nation of
downtrodden lavea, writhing under the
iron heel oi' despotism,
"Where," said he, waving a newspa
per in bis hand, "where are our boasted
lils'ities, when the hirelings of a corrupt
government can thrust themselves into
our bouses and carry off our sons and
brothers, and force them to Oght in the
unholy quarrels of kings and their tin
Scrupulous ministers? How long are we
to be chained to tho chariot wheels of a
bloodthirsty ohligurchy? How long"
"Tut, tut!" iuterHscd Capt. Trenwith
with warmth. "Stop thy palaver, John
Tackabird. The king must have men
for his shis."
"Men for his ships, Capt. Trenwithr
retorted the barbeti "let the king get
thein by lair and honest means, and then
he will perchance have meu who will
stick to their colors, nnd not run away as
one of Admiral Benbow'l shipsdid iu the
West Indies!"
This was a sore subject with Capt.
Trenwith, who could endure no slur on
the British navy, and who had himself
boon an officer on Uiurd Admiral Hen
bow's ship at the time referred to. The
barber felt be had gone too far, but the
mischief was done.
'The captain rose from his seat, his face
purple with rage. "Thou d d chin
scraping ra.-a.-ull how durst thou rake
that matter up in my presence? I'll
drive my stall down thy throat for
prating of matters beyond thy barber's
brain!"
"Nay, nay, cap'n," cried Will Nance;
"let John Tackabird be. Mayhap In
hath Spoken unwisely, but 'tis well
known Cap'n Wade and Cap'n Kirby
weiv shot at Plymouth for deserting the
admiral."
"Yes," said Capt. Trenwith, resuming
his seat, his anger having passed away
as suddenly as it came "yes, and shoot
ing was loo giHl for them. They ought
to have Invn hanged at the ynrdarm
an I so should some others that 1 wot of!'
hero he looked bard at the ci-devant
smuggler.
"Well, but" resumed tho barber,
whose tonguo must needs wag in spite
of his fear of tho captain "touching
this matter of the press gang"
"I'll hear no more on 't," cried Capt.
Trenwith; "'tis in every fool's mouth
thai one volunteer is worth ten pressed
men; but I have soon pressed men tight
as bravely as the liost and M for Ad
miral licnUiw, ho fought his ship like a
hero, and died tho death of a gallaut old
sea dog as he was. if some of bis men
left him in the lurch, enough remained
to save the honor of Kngland. Rut hark
ye, John Tackabird. let me warn thee
that thero he some matters had better be
forgotten."
At that moment, a steaming bowl of
punch behsg brought in, all farther uu
pleasantness .lisi,s ared under its sooth
mg influence. The party, which now
included IVist MimJ mi Job kssnow
i den, drew in their chairs, and the for
mer proceeded to fill the glasses of his
guests with a silver punch ladle that had
a guinea let into the bottom of it. As it
was not yet kryiwn that young Hexel
was one of tho pressed men, there was
nothing to cloud their enjoyment. A
visit from the press gang was too com
mon an occurrence in seaport towns in
those days to excite much remark, save
among those who were the immediate
sufferers. Capt. Trenwith said he would
take upon himself to proxse a toast,
which he hoped no one present would
refuse to drink.
The king of Kngland had declared war
against Spain, and. as the Spaniards had
seized all the Rritish ships in their har
bors, he thought the sooner they closed
with the enemy the better. He begged
p propose the health of King Qeorge
and success to the British arms. If they
lived to see another Christmas eve he
doubted not they would be sble to say
the honor of Kngland hud been well main
tained. As the punch was exceeding
good, and had put much heat into every
man of the company, the toast was drunk
with great enthusiasm. Even John Tacka
bird smacked his lips with satisfaction.
"It hath been reported," said Will
Nance, "that Admiral Vernon is gono as
commander-in-chief to the West Indies,
and that he swears to tako Portohello on
tho Spanish main, even if ho hath no
more than six ships wherewith to do it.
"I know not how that may be," said
the incorrigible burlier. "If ho has only
pressed men to back him, 1 doubt it."
With nn ominous look at the last shak
er, Capt. Trenwith cut tho matter short.
"Wo shall see," said he. "When 'tisdone
we shall doubtless hear on it hut what
noise is that outside? What now, Tom
ChauiH'r? What's amiss?"
"There's much amiss, Capt. Trenwith,"
said young Champer, who now entered
tho room. "Dick Hexel is among the
pressed men. Ho was seen in tho last
boat when they put olf from the shore."
"What! my son taken by tho press
gang!" cried l'cter Hexel, starting to his
feet. "Zounds! I'll not believe it there
must be some mistake."
"I fear there is no mistake," said
Champer; and there was a gleam of sat
isfaction on his face, which he tried to
conceal with a pretended look of con
cern. "There be those outside who saw
him carried off, and the officer swore he
would sink tho first boat that dared to go
nigh the ship."
Old Hexel hurried out, followed by
John Renowden.
"If tho lad is really pressed," said
Capt. Trenwith, "I hope ho will remain
in tho service. Sure I am ho won't dis
grace it. No lad of spirit should refuse
to servo his country when old England's
enemies uro afloat. Rut conic, sit down,
Tom Champer, and help us to finish the
punch."
Will Nance, who was already "three
sheets in tho wind," as ho would himself
have expressed it, boisterously inquired
of Champer how it was that im himself
had escaped capture by the press-gang,
"Thou tirt a likely Ind enough," said
he, "and would swab a deck as well as
another."
I was not in tho town," answered
Champer. "I have but now walked
over from Zcnnor."
Ah!" cried Nance, with a drunken
wink at the rest of the com pan v, "trust
a Zcnnor man in take care of himself.
They're a wise folk in their gen-er-en-
oration. Ihey know why tho cow ato
the bell roH'."
"Just as St. Ives folk know why they
whipped tho hake," retorted Champer,
angrily.
Tho captain interposed. "Come,
come," said he; "no more cross words
on Christ tuas eve. Tis near midnight.
You and 1, Mr. Mayor, must set a good
example by appearing in church to-morrow
morning, so let us jog homewards."
The mayor crossed the room with a
devious gait. "Y'our aberrant, Cap'n
Tren'th. Shervant, sir, happy to 't'nd
you," und the mayor of St. Ives solemn
ly staggered after Capt. Trenwith, who
stumped away on his wooden leg, es
corted by his black servant currying a
lantern. The rest of tho company also
departed, and tho Georgo and Dragon
was left in solitude und darkness. Out
lights were burning In the Golden Lion
long after midnight. Three anxious
heart s wero there holding communion,
and vainly trying to find a way out of
fie trouble that had come upon them.
After tho lirst shock of grief for the
loss of her lover was over, Murv Renow
den dried her tears and reviewed the sit
uation with a strength of mind and a
coolness of judgment that astonished her
father and Peter Bezel.
"Dick will return after s uue," she
said; "I am sure ho wilL Ho is strong
and brave, and has always been lucky.
Pwthaps he will do something that will
make his name famous, and then we
shall all be proud of him."
Cheered by this hopeful spirit of hers,
the two old men plucked up their hearts,
and all three appeared in their usual
places at church on Christmas day. Af
ter son ice, as they stood in the church
yard gazing rather wistfully over the
sea, they were joined by Thomas Cham
per, who wished them u "Merry Christ
mas!" and uttered some clumsy expres
sions of condoleuco about Richard Hex
el. He had heard, ho said, that tho
sloop had gono to Falmouth, und if it
would beany satisfaction ho would writo
to a friend there, or would even go over
himself and make any arrangements
they pleased for helping Dick; but he
feared there was little hope of his release
now that war had broken out.
These friendly overtures rather soft
ened the hearts of the two fathers, but
Mary felt sure that Champer was insin
cere. His hypocrisy was not proof
against her woman's instinct. She
turned coldly away, and be left them,
racking his brain for some means of pre
senting his suit in a favorable light.
Day after day Thomas Champer come
to the Golden Lion and sought every
possible opiwrtunity of addressing Mary,
but his perseverance was ustdess. She
would not listen to him. He saw that
his suit was hopeless, and that he had
Sained nothing by the absence of Richard
UexeL Yet be continued to haunt the
neighborhood of the Golden Lion, until
one night he encountered the press gang,
which hod mode another descent on St
Ives, and he was caught in the same trap
be had set for his rival.
In the mean time, letters had come
from Richard HexeL He wrote that he
was well, and only unhappy because he
was patted from Mary. He had joined
the West Indian squadron under Ad
miral Vernon, aud expected he would
soon be able to tell them something
about the war. So time passed on and
the spring came.
The club hud assembled one Saturday
evening in the parlor of the Golden Lioa
The customary bowl of punch was on
the table, but Capt. Trenwith had not
arrived, and the serious business of the
evening could not begin without him.
To pass the time Will Nance stirred the
fire and, lighting a pipe, remarked that
the evenings were something chilly,
though the spring had come, in spite of
the men of Towednack.
"What have the men of Towednack to
do with the spring?" said the mayor of
St. Ives.
"Why, know you not," replied Nance,
"that tho men of Towednack built a
hedge round the cuckoo to keep the
spring ha k Rut what's this news from
the fleet? 'Tis rumored Portobello u
taken."
" 'Tis true," said John Renowden,
"my daughter hath a letter from Richard
Hexel, who was on board tho Hampton
Court and engaged in the fight."
"What? Dick Hexel hath smelt gun
powder, then, in a real battle? Hurrah
for old Kngland and beloved St. Ives!"
"Amen!" cried Capt. Trenwith, who
camo stumping into the room. "Yes,
friends, 'tis all true. Here is a copy of
The Daily Post, dated March L'O. wherein
is an account of the buttle, writ by a gen
tleman on Isiard the Rurford, the ad
miral's own ship. Fill the glasses, and
John Tackabird shall read out the nar
rative." Under the combined attractions of the
punch and the newspaper, all eagerly
drew round thu table, and tho barber,
clearing his throat, commenced:
"Gn the nfternoon of the 21st, about
2 o'clock, we came up with Portobellc
harbor, w hero the Spaniards had hoisted
upon the Iron castle the flag of defiance.
They welcomed us with a terrible volley,
which, being at so short a distance, took
place with almost every shot. Gnu struck
away tho stern of our barge; another
broke a large gun upon our upper deck;
a third went through our foretopmast,
and the fourth, passing through I ho arm
ing within two inches of our mainmast,
broke down tho barricade of our quar
ter deck very near the admiral, and
killed three men in a moment, wound
ing flvo others who stood by them. This
looked as if we should have bloody
work, but was far from discouraging
our bravo fellows"
The barber continued to read how the
Spaniards were driven from their guns
and the English landed: "One man set
himself close under an embrasure whilst
another climbed upon bis shoulders und
entered tinder tho mouth of a great gun.
This bo dismayed tho Spaniards that they
threw down their arms and fled for their
lives"
"I would give a guinea to know 'twas
a Cornish man who did that," cried Capt.
Trenwith; 'twas a bravo action."
"Set your heart at rest, then, captain,"
said Peter Bezel; "'twas Richard Hexel
who did it. I have a letter from my son
wherein he recounts this very suuie ad
venture. 1
"Then your son is a credit to Cornwall,
and we'll drink his health, my friend,''
and the captain got up and heartily
shook Peter Bexel by tho hand. "Com
pound us another bowl of punch, John
Renowden, and see that it bo worthy oi
the occasion."
That night the rafters of tho Golden
Lion rang with the cheers which greeted
tho toasts of "Tho British Navy" and
"The Hero of St. Ives" as Capt. Tren
with was pleased to call Richard Hexel.
It was doubtless the darkness that
made it so difficult for tho mayor and
tho captain to find their way home that
night, though they were escorted, ac
usual, by the black servant with a lighted
lantern, The mayor accounted to hie
wife for a headache which oppressed
him next morning by the extreme exer
tion he had been obliged to use in sup
porting Capt. Trenwith, who, poor man!
having only one leg, could not be ex
pected to walk its firmly as other people.
You may lie sure the heart of Mary
Renowden was gladdened by tho news
that had come about her lover; but
months passed away, and nothing more
was heard of him. At length there came
a letter, stilling that iie had been severely
wounded In an action with a Spanish
ship in the West Indies, had been dis
charged, and was then lying in hospital
at Falmouth. Old Hexel at onco started
for that place, and found poor Dick pale
and thin from wounds and fever, but in
good spirits and anxious to return home.
The diajtors, however, would not hear ol
it, and ordered tho patient to lav ui a
week or two longer, and then, perhaps,
he might Is? allowed to go. His father
was, therefore, coniiolled to leave him
aud return to St. Ives, where he WOI
eagerly expected by John Renowden and
his daughter. hen two weeks had
passed, they all three went over to Fal
mouth, when the finishing touch WM
put to Dick's recovery by the embraces
of his happy sweetheart.
"Time, though ol I. is strong in flight,"
says the old song: and ho has brought us
onco more to Christmas eve. The club
is assembled at tho George and Dragon;
there is a brimming punch bowl on the
boards, and the silver ladle with the
golden guinea is in active operation.
The talk is of the war, aud John Tack
abird has been reading aloud an account
of a battle in the Ray of Uiscuy, where a
large Spanish ship had been taken, and
where tho name of Tom Champer figured
among the killed.
The mummers, having finished their
Christmas play, have departed on their
rounds; but suddenly they are heard re
turning, with cheers and shouts. The
clatter of horses' hoofs is heard on the
paved streets.
" Tis Dick Bexel come back," cries
the barber, looking out of the window.
"Let us give him welcome," said Copt.
Trenwith. "He is a bra . e lad, aud bath
fought and bled for the British flag!"
"Hurrah!" cried tho crowd outside.
"Hurrah! hurrah!" shouted the cap
tain aud his companions as they hurried
to the door, and there, sure enough, was
Dick Hexel, on horseback, with Mary
Renowden seated onapillion behind him,
while Peter Bexel and John Renowden
had 1 1 road J dismounted, and were under
going a vigorous handshaking among the
crowd. The club sat late in session that
night, and Capt. Trenwith would fain
bare had Dick In io tell how ho had
Haled the ramparts of Portobello; but
Dick excused himself on the plea of
fatigue, und he spent the evening much
more to his liking in tho company of
Mary Renowden. "I do suppose," said
Will Nance, "Dick Hexel will have a
considerable sum in the way of prize
money coming to him?"
"If he lives to lie an old man it may,
perhaps, como to him," said John Tacka
bird: "but the tyrannical abuse of power
under an oligarchy"
"D n your hard words!" cried Capt
Trenwith: "they would break any man's
jaw but yours. I tell ye, a true man
will do bis duty whether he is paid for it
or no; and may 1 never live to see the
day when a Rritish tar will think more
of profit than of honor."
This sentiment of the good old captain
ought, according to thu usual custom of
the stage, to bring down the curtain on
our little drama; but, tosatisfy tho reader,
we beg to state that in tho early spring
Richard Hexel espoused Mary Renow
den in the parish church of St. Ives, and
Capt. Trenwith proposed the health of
the young couple in the parlor of the
(iolden Lion, which ancient hostelry is
still standing in evidence of the entire
truth of this narrative. M. J. in Illus
trated Loudon News.
Would
Cauh
If lie Cod 14 Only Kill II.
Little Mary is a good little girl nearly
5 years old, but possessed of a poetical
genius which runs rather too strongly
toward paraphrasing. She has done n
good deal of composing during her brief
existence, but mainly in tho way of
words substituted for others, which left
her oKn to tho charge of plagiarism
She is also possessed of a fund of humor
which would not be expected in one so
young. Uary's father the other day, by
way of breaking the child of her fault as
a Ket and testing her capacity at original
composition, offered her as a Christinas
present tho largest and best picture book
that could be found in Chicago if she
would make up a piece of poetry which
would not resemble any other that she
had ever heard. Sbo was given two
days to complete the task, and yesterday
morning sang tho following as her origi
nal composition:
Han.- up papa's stocking,
M sure you don't forget:
If Santa C'laus can till It,
We'll ull Iw wealthy jet
It is needless to say that Mary lost the
prixe, her father pronouncing the pome
let a parody, and one which showed
reckless disregard for tho truth on the
p;rt of the child. Chicago Herald.
Christmas Sonnet.
Deep shadows fold the dark earth In.
A holy silence everywhere
Tells of llnit night when, thro' earth's sin.
The cry of nngels cleft the nlr
"Glory to Ood. to men good w ill."'
(tear it thou, who do -aceful rest
With pale hands folded; may it thrill
Thy beard Umi friend; I love tlieu heat:
Peace and ginl w ill to all I love.
Yen, friend or foe Tho' there may be
No stars. His light shines clear above.
Who diet for us on Calvary;
A star, which, risen In that far eaat.
Now crowns w ith love our Chrisrmns feast
-By Tricotriu.
A Talao Pretense.
my son," asked Jimmv Tuff
'uro you satisfied with
"Well
boy's mother, '
your Christmas?
"ies, ma am. replied Jimmy, "only
the skates ain't nickel plated, and dail
said he'd buy mo a double ripper, an
didn't see it."
"Hut I am sure you have been happy
an day, James
"I wasn't going to let tho fellers know
how bad I felt. Exchange.
Too Near the First of the Month.
"One thing I've got against Christmas. "
" hat s that?
"It comes too late in the month."
"How does that affect it?"
" by, when a man's wife gives him a
splendid present the bill is sent to him in
about a week. It would be better if he
hud alwut three weeks to get ready for
it. t.nristmas.
An Old English Custom.
.Among cnsioms now uisuseil, a cere
mony existed at the court of England as
late as me reign of Charles II of bring
ing a branch of the Glastonbury thorn,
winch usually blossoms on Christinas
eve, in procession, and presenting it
with great pomp, to the king and queen
on L.nristuia-s morning. New York Post
lleeeiveil Some tllmself.
"Have a cigar, Charley?"
"Don't care if 1 do."
"Some that my wife gave me for a
Christmas present."
"Er, como to think of it, Tom, I guess
I don't feel like smoking today." Ex
change. Not Entirely Without Remembrance.
First Sohlier Get any Christmas?
Second Soldier Y'ep; present.
First Soldier No?
Second Soldier Y'ou bet.
First Soldier What?
Second Soldier Present arms! Ex
change. What the Shop Keepers Dread.
"It is time for Santa Claus," said the
young wife.
"Yes," said the spouse, who kept a re
tail store, "Santa Claus is welcome, but
1 do not want to see the rain dear."
Exchange.
A Child's Answer.
Bis father stroked him on the bead
Aod aaked him who St. Nick could be,
"I don't know Santa Claus," be said,
"But Santa Claus knows roe."
-New Tort 8ua.
T- r M
Customer th. restaurant,.,
tns for myCUristriiasj, hl
:utof turkev. to i- ,r"r',.s
nlnoenlo, ,uuu bj.J
" aner- v esSr
slso, sirf Jo bat, .
I,,.. ,-
A CHRISTMASjrDE(W8i
L
IL
I
IIL
mzn
Christmas Trees.
It may seem surprising, but its
less true, that the cutting oi
Christmas trees is doing wriots
the i'or.-ls in some venous.
This'
r , .e.i ii.i.. vnnnr tniaJ
ueaii if, iii', wi .,,," j . ,m
btm naiiifiillv iiiitwrent in thegnw-J
nnr. nf woodland ill some of til W
. ..,,nJ ,,f the Cat-kill '
1 .... 1 - nwiiititfiilie .'Mill in&DT
streams nro drTins UP. Ev
l,.ln o urn as reservoirs t
Ami ,U tf,u tlie erotllld is iP
spongy, thereby retaining f!!
from rninfiilK ami Inter on aw-'-j
... . tnenv-
eai... 1 . muiiio'."
and small. .
K ... lil Willie. D" 1
1 1 .,1111 . II-
j u- h,i vr u
. BtMS knrl
Little mine IWS '
it neat . . , - t
Tramp-Then r-erhar n ' 1
can eet som- of tne eai; . ass
Little Willie tfeehng 0 " ,
There ain't snsBS! to he aW""1
tii. r ,.., Mover, .
Tingle agin afore next Tra'
No, d-nr
"Umbn.
Sun, ua .. ' nen
Kentucky State JournaJ.
Mehhy h mtrw jfl
we J u
I