7w i y i la ' r r i 11 i i bu ir. -v -o' k.i j mw & sm l. EVERY YEAR. I FEEL 'tis growing colder Every year. And my heart, alas! grows older Every year. I can win no new affection; I have only recollection. Deeper sorrow and dejection Every year. Of the loves aid sorrows blended ... . Every year. Of the Joys of friendship ended Every year. Of the ties Mint still might bind me Until Time and Death resigned me My infirmities remind me Every year. Ah! how sad to look before us Every year. When the clouds grow darker o'er us, Every year. When we see the blossoms faded. That to bloom we nilsht have aided. And Immortal garlands braided, Every year. To the past go more dead faces , , , . Every year. As the loved leave vacant places Every year. Everywhere the sad eyes meet us. In the evening's dusk they greet us, And to come to them entreat us Every year. Yes, the shores of life are shifting , . . Every year. And we are seaward drifting Every year. Old pleasures, clinging, fret us, The living more forget us. There are fewer to resrret us Every year. But the truer life draws nlgher Every year. And Its morning star climbs higher Every year. Earth's hold on rs grows slighter, And the heavy burden lighter Aud the dawn Immortal brighter Every year. THE mCIIWAYMAN'S N ft SCflRlSTMAS F&ESEiyr fortable bed in the rear of tlie express nfflee. Rut be hnil other thinii to think of, and after kissing the sleeping baby hurried about his work of getting ready for his trip. In the morning he was up bright and early, had little Helen tucked away snug ly inside the coach, and was off for his station, twenty-five miles distant, near the Francisco range of mountains. . "Good luck to you, Willard," was shouted after him by the ranchmen who had gathered about to bid him success in his search for the daring highwaymen. Nothing out of the usual happened dur ing the greater part of his journey, and he was fast beginning to think that his trip would be made without incident when he neared the lonely spot at which almost all of the robberies had taken place. Standing his Winchester by his side and placing his revolvers in his lap, he slowed .up and peered cautiously on either side. Suddenly, as he turned a bend in the narrow pass, a figure loom ed up in thei center of the road and shout ed: "Hands up!" In an instant the agent had caught up his revolvers, but before lie could pull the trigger the highwayman fired, and the plucky agent rolled from his seat a desperately wounded man. Before ad vancing a step the robber hred again, killing one of the lead horses. He then quickly strode to the coach, picked up the wounded man, threw him under the seat, and began rifling the old vehicle. A small box, containing the money destined for the IMttman Valley office, was all that was secured. As the robber backed out of the coach his eye caught sight of the little bundle of blankets on the seat. Stooping down he pulled aside the cover- 1 J W . Jl ' - . m- m y -r- ft. 'Vr4 B, ft ft A K O a rr a nF1- 3 w 55 k mm mi Bitter Is the story, told On the shining Christmas day, How the saint beloved of old Now hath censed his merry swayi Joey spoke without dismay: " 'Aln t no Santa ClausI' he Bald. Vain the struggle to gainsay. l'oor old Santa Clans Is dead! Since disasters manifold, l;rtng the reindeer and the sleigh! Stretch the good saint's body cold Neatly In Its fur array 1 Smooth his locks so long and gray Bound his venerable head; Change for dirge your roundelay l'oor old Santa Cuius Is deadl Do not all your tears wlthold. Once you loved him In your ploy, Yearned to see his pack unfold, Ardently desired his stay. Speed him now upon his way To that last and lowly bed. Where the reindeer thus convey l'oor old Santa Cluus Is deadl ENVOY. Faint, for thy repose we pray, Though thy relgu be vanished. Skeptic youths we mourn, and say: "l'oor old Santa Claus Is dead!" -Chicago Tlmes-Uerald. 1 -Ja.--i:f-r.j.'iJt-rs 7V7 4 others," advises Frances B. Laiiigan in th 1 .miles Homo .loiirnnl. lief, your presents to them be of a substantial char acter a tou of coal, some warm clothing, some money, a box of groceries, or a basket of Christmas marketing, topped with a bunch of holly.. And to the little children in whose homes Christmas Is lit tle more than a name, bend some of the many bright, new tin toys which are so inexpensive; some candy, some fruit, brifoit red woollen mittens and Tain o' Shi.nters, and, if yoj c:iu afford it, some good stout nhoes and warm stockings. A piece of bright coloicil plaid will make a pretty gift for the little girl who has never, perhaps, had a new dress in her life. Aecompauy your Christmas pres ents with some cheery Christinas greet ings and some Christmas greens. Be very sure that this thoughtfu'.ness will bring its own reward, aud that In the yean to come the memory of the Christmas vhen you gave the most and received the least will be the happiest of all memories to you." NEW YEAR'S IN WASHINGTON When Every One Keeps Open Home with Lavish Hospitality. Mary Nimmo Balentine, writing of "New Year's Day in the White House" in the- Woman's Home Companion, thus describes the public receptions: "An nouncements arei published in the news papers proclaiming the levee at the White House and the exact minute at which the different officials of the Government ser vice will be received, but it is usually near one o'clock before the sovereign peo ple are admitted to the grounds. "The state levee at the White House Is but the beginning of the calling that con HIS LETTER TO SANTA CLAUS. vlf tj i pnpa s AA Ts 8lni J Another And pan says Y pnpa says at Sann Claus lng to bring to me muniuiu, ennstmas time. nan rhvh nt Hh Is beautiful and good anil kind Anil suyb she hopes at I Will like he:1 awful much and learn To U e her by uud b. My papa'R often neon her, and lie says her eyes re blue, Tli stiiiig as iiilae la, and her cheeks Ha3 ilTniples lu vhem, too, Ami Khe ulq'l more nji, half as o'.d'g My otlicr nihmriia was, And i'.iti-;i i-aya I cr.;:ht to think Deur, kind old Santa Claus But I nfn't glad and ! don'v want No other mamma hero; I'd rather have him bHng ine nucx My own sweet mamma dear My nice, good mummu that 1 g:us So far so fur nway I'll write to Santa Cluui to bring Her back to mo to May. TIIS LETTER. Dear Er.nla Claus: My papa says You're going' to bring to me Another mamniR. Christmas time, At's as sweet as phc can be; But I don't want no other oie. Don't put her In your pack--But please, good Santa, won't you bring My own dear mn mma back? She said, before "he went away, At Rhe wouM talco my hand And lead mo out of here some ilr.y Into a happier land, So don't bring no new mamma here At's younger than she was To take the place we've );ept for her, Dour, kind old Santa Claus. If you can bring new mammas rouhil Why can't you find some way To hrlnv n boy's own lnnmnia horns And give her to him, sny? I don't, want no now inn mum here, At's lift sweet ns she can lie But bring my old one, Santa, dear, To pnpa nnd to me. Cleveland Leader. NEW YEAR'S DAY LONG AGO, Hilarious Jiejoicinjr In Slerrle En gland; Scotland and France. - Mil w ji ITH customs pT- mmm 'KYla? taming to ivew &Zjkai& oomp-mte.! with r'.-o