o
RATIONAL CAPITAL UTES.
A board consisting of Assistant Com
tnUsioncr Stockfdnger, Cliict Clerk Wnlker
nnd Lnw Clerk L. 13. Barnes, designed by
Land Commissioner Sparks to exaininotho
suspended entries, liavo reported an in
stallment of cases examined by tlicm upon
exparte proofs of claimants with the fol
lowing results: In 210 final homestoad
entries in Dakota nnd Nebraska showing
residcnci! for five yearn the board hns rec
ommended 120 for npproval for patent,
C3 held for future evidence, two for ejection
nnd .'13 for investigation by special ngents.
In the .'to pre-emption cases examined in
the Patrick Aberdeen district, Dakota, one
was recommended for patent, eight for re
jection and 20 for special investigation.
The cabinet meeting decided that, in ad
dition to closing thcdepnrtnientsonChrist
mas and New Year's day, they would only
bo closed at noon on ench of the days im
mediately preceding theo holidays, and
that, contrary to long-cstablislicd custom,
they would bo open for business in the in
terior. This course was adopted in view of
the representations that business in spvernl
of the. departments, notably the treasury,
is somewhat in arrears and might accumu
late to hoi-ions proportions if thohourswero
shortened as usual.
The president hns signed the bill recently
pnsscd by congress to pay Mrs. Julia Dent
(irant, wife of the lato ex-president, nn
annual-pension of $.",000. Notification of
this fact was forwarded by mail to Mrs.
Grant, by direction of the president, who
expressed a desire to have Mrs. Grant re
ceive this tribute from congress to the
worth and public services of her husband
on Christmas day.
Representative Funston, of Kansas, has
introduced the following bill in the house:
Section 1. That tho secretary of the inter
ior bo and is hereby authorized and directed
to place on tho pension roll, subject to the
proviwions of the pension laws, tho names
of all honorably discharged persons who
served in tho revolutionary army or navy
of tlio United States for three months dur
ing tho late rebellion, and to pay to each of
them from and after the passage of this act
such pensions for whatever disability ho
may have, as is allowed a private soldior
under existing laws for a liko disability in
curred in line of duty. Section 2. Nothing
in UiIh act shall bo construed to pension
twice for tho same disability.
A Washington special says: Col. Morrow,
the chief clerk ot tho senate, snid this nftcr
noon that at least 1,000 men, nine-tenths
of whom were senators orcongressmen, hnd
cnlled at tho secretary's office to inquiro if
Mr. Sparks had been confirmed as commis
sioner of the general laud olllee, nearly all
of whom remarked that thoy had received
numerous requests to oppose his confirma
tion when it would como up. Col. Morrow
is a Missouri democrat and a personal
friend of Mr. Sparks, and remarked that it
had become a Htandingjokoabouttho ofllco
to inauiro "if Soarks hnd been confirmed.
A question hns arisen as to tho validity
of Mr. Coon's acts as acting secretary of
tho treasury for nino days after tho death
of Secretary I-'olger under a former designa
tion of the president to act during the ab
Hence of the secretary. It is stated at tho
first comptroller's ofiice that such action
might affect Mr. Coon individually were a
salary iuvolvod, yet the notion to third
parties could not lo valid and therefore his
official acts cannot bo questioned. This
decision is held under nuact of thosupreme
court and former attorneys general.
The first comptroller of tho treasury has
approved the accounts of tho United States
fish commission for the last fiscal year,
without alteration or modification. Tlieso
accounts were stopped by tho first auditor
for examination and have been allowed
only after the most careful scrutiny of tho
manner and auuionty ny wnicn l'roi.
Itaird expended money appropriated for
the work of winch he has charge.
Thu second MHsistant post master-general
is receiving bids for carrying tho mails on
steamboat and star routes in western
states and territories. The time, for re
ceivingbids expires on the 2d of .January,
At tho same time bids for tho miscellaneous
routes in all states and territories, with
tho exception of Delaware, Pennsylvania
and tho Now Kngland states, are being re
volved.
THE POPE'S OPINION.
Advocating nml lincoiirnulns tlio Itc-
IICiouN Koucatlon of Youth.
A copy of a letter sent by tho pope to the
Roman Catholic hierarchy of Kngland has
just been received in Baltimore by Anh
bishop Gibbons, the primato of the church
in America, and which will bo published in
full. It Buys: Jn theso days, nnd in tho
present condition of tlio world, when tlio
ago of childhood is tempted on every sido
with various dangers, hardly anything can
bo imagined more luting than tho union
with literary instruction of sound teaching
in faith ami morals. For this reason wo
have more than once said wo strongly ap
proved ot tho voluntary schools, which b.y
tho woilc and liberality of private indi
viduals have been established in America
nnd elsewhere. We desire their number in
creased as much as posMblo. We ourselves,
heeing tlio condition of things in this city,
continue with tho greatest effort and at
great cost to provide an abuudauco of
Mich hcIioo'h for the children of Home; for
it is by theso schools that tho Catholic
faith o'tr greatest and best mheritnnco-ia
preserved whole and entire. In theso
schools tho liberty of parents is" respected,
and what is most needed, especially in tho
prevailing license of opinion and of action,
it is by these schools that good citizens arc
brought up for tho state, for titers is no
better citizen than tho man who hns be
lioved and practiced tho christian faith in
his childhood. Tho future condition of the
state deponds upon tho early training of
the children. Tho wisdom of our fore
fathers and tho very foundations of the
stilt arc mined by tho destructive error of
thoso would have children brought up with
out religious education. You see, there
lore, venerable brethren, with what earnest
forethought parents nuiBt bowaro of trust
ing their children to schools in which they
cannot receive religious teaching.
A Feast fur Poor Children.
Fourteen hundred poor children, says a
Washington dispatch, to-day enjoyed the
.hospitality of that charming charity or
ganization known ns tho Children's Christ
tuns club, of which Miss Mollio Vilas,
daughter of tho postmaster-general, is
president nnd Miss Nollio Arthur, daughter
of the cx-presldcnt, is ono of the vice-presidents,
and which every year furnishes a
CliristmHH dinner and gifts to children of
the poor of this city. F.nch of tho 1,100
children was given an excellent dinner, a
box of cnudy nnd n Christmas card. The
tables were wnitod upon by daughters of
the most prominent citizens, anil Miss Mol
lio Vilas nnd Miss Nellie Arthur personally
'ieriutended tho giving out of presents.
Tho oreskient and Miss Cleveland und
many others well known in society attend
ed the entortninment.
Visible Supply of Wheat and Corn.
The following is the visible supply of
grain as' complied by the Now York Pro
duce eschange: Wheat, 53,701.953 bushels;
corn, 7.338.2C0 bushels.
CIlltfSTMAS L A DUG-OUT.
A Story of n Vitern IlllzrnrttO
I well remember when my old friend
Archer Motcnlf. who was then
married, started from tho East
inst
J
"
his pretty wife to fake up his homo
in Dakota. Archer was possessed of
both the physical and mental quali
ties to make the most of Mr. Greeley's
advice, "Go West, young man, go
West!" a species cf counsel intended
for neither indolence nor timidity.
Ho was a stout young blacksmith
nnd wheelright, and I recollect that
about Christinas, in a very few weeks
after his departure, he wrote to mo
saying, that he already had a houso
nnd shop, and had shod his first West
ern horse.
How ninny Christninsses have
wheeled about since then! but all the
while my friend has stuck nobly to his
forge, and continued to hammer pros
perity out of the solid iron.
Archer, upon emigrating, hnd left
tits parents in their home in the east,
which, of course, they were then loath
to leave, but he had always cherished
the desire to have them with him, and
this desire increased as ho felt that
they were growing more feeble.
About a year ago, he succeeded in
prevailing upon them, together with
his two unmarried sisters, to make the
journey and take up their abode with
his family. He had four children, but
his houso was commodious enough
for tho expected addition to its occu
pants. It was a "dug-out," a kind of houso
very common in Dakota and the oth
er territories, so called froni.the fact
of its being excavated in a bank of
earth. Tho front and roof wero of
logs, and it was made to face tho south
with a view to tho necessities of win
ter. With tho same object also, the
roof had received a covering of some
two feet of turf, upon which, m early
summer a crop of prairio flowers
sprang thickly up.
"Flowers, flowers beautiful flowers.
Smile of tho sunbeams and laugh ot tho
showers.'
And that, too, upon the very house
top! hat a picturesque sight they
were!
The earth and sandstone into which
tho houso was dug formed the back
and sides, and there were four com
fortablo rooms. Such is tiio habita
tion ot many a pioneer
in regions
where the prairies are
almost bare of
timber.
Near tho house, and constructed
tho sumo wav, was tho smithy.
in
It was now December, and ns the
anxiously expected parents and sis
ters would probably arrive on Christ
mas Eve, it was resolved bv tho little
household to make tho event the oe
cassion of a joyful celebration of tho
season. The noto of preparation was
sounded, and all was bustle under tho
humble roof.
Cookery was in the ascendant, nnd
tempting odors filled all the rooms
Tlio very dog. tho mere minnv that
romped with tho children, might have
snia with tlio Liesar ot JJtirns:
"From morn to night there's nothing but
tolling,
At baking, roasting, frying, boiling.
Tho canty nuld folk cracking crouso,
The young tines matin' through the house;
Jly heart has been sac fain to see them
That I for joy hao barkit wi' thoin."
Green was in all tho windows, and
over all tho doors, and beautiful
Scripture mottoes and gems of poetry,
told that even there in tho Western
wilds, tho soul had found its means of
culture.
J no neighbors wero invited, and m
such a country the word "neighbor'
has a meaning which it seldom nc
quires in tho bast lor it means
everybody within a dozen miles
Mrs. Motcnlf was extremely busy,
with Annie, tho oldest girl, as her
chief assistant, while the son, George,
now twelve years of age, made him
self as useful as possible. In eonipa
ny with Joe, a young Crow Indian, ho
had supplied tho larder with such
a stock of wild game that his mother
felt almost overwhelmed by it.
At last ho ilew out to tho smithy
upon some business of his own which
was to bo held a secret from tho
common gaze, only Joe, the 1 ndian, be -
unpermitted to assist. A terrible din
they set up, and Mrs. Motcnlf smiled
as it reached her ears, wondering what
whim of the season had got into her
boy's wild head.
It was a mystery, ho told her; but
bIio would find it out in time only ho
must not bo disturbed.
Meantime Mr. Motcnlf had started
early to meet thostagoand bringhomo
tho new-comers. Ho feared, however,
that a storm was near, as tho sky had
a threatening look. This would bo
unfortunate, and ho felt tho necessity
of haste.
Very shortly after his arrival with
his two-horse sled at tho placo of
rendezvous, ho was gladdened by tho
sight of tho old stage coming up in fine
stylo the driver clad m Ruftnlo skins
and scarlet outer-stockings.
Tlio tired stago horses wero led away,
nnd Archer Motcnlf welcomed his
parents and sisters, amid tho con
gratulations of a number of village
friends.
Pressing offers of refreshments were
accepted by tlio little party; but there
was not much time to bo lost, ns the
weather was still thickening, nnd mily
of prairie must bo passed to reach tho
Metculf home.
Parents and sisters wero soon pack
ed nwny among anabuiidanceof robes
and shawls, and tho sleigh started
rapidly out. It was not, however,
alone.for dose after it the postmaster
with his wife and son, together with
tho minister of the village, followed in
another sleigh, to tho merry music of
tho bells.
For a timoall went well, tho glorious
Western horses sweeping bravely to
ward their destination, nnd tho occu
pants of tho headmost sleigh exchang
ed with each other a hundred dear
Questions and answers.
thicker grows
"Till dark above nnd white below,
Decided drives tho Ilnkygnow."
and tho travellers feel that tho awfu
oporil of a nrairio storm is all about
i :i d . .. i.i. i: m .1 i
f..i i .. :.. i i...
nil mime hi u wimer iimiiiii- vi in mu
Western wilds.
Night had set in, nnd the sheeted
snow, hurled furiously along by the
wind, increased the darkness. And
such a blast! How piercingly cold it
was! How tho drifts tied before it like
the sands of Sahara!
Harder and harder it blew; faster
and faster camo tho snow; till the at
mosphore, ns far as concerned any
possibility of vision, became an im
penetrable wall.
Mv good friend Archer felt his face
in danger of freezing, but, luckily, ho
had taken with him a butlalo skin
hood and mask, which he now put on
while he honed that tlio warm wrap
pmgs of the others would bo sulliciont
to protect them
Hill and hollow wero alike wholly
blotted out, and if any human dwell
ing stood by tho way, the very light
from its windows could no more have
been seen than through a solid plank
According to Motcnlf s calculation
thev had come two-thirds of tho way
but it was impossible to decide with
certainty in tlio absence of all land
marks.
At length tho postmaster closed up
to consult. 'Jo their tlismav, thev
were forced to agree, from tho changed
nature of tho track, that the horses
must have swerved from the proper
course. Still, it was accessary to keep
going, for if a wrong direction meant
death, so also did a standstill. Tho
mere chance of striking the right road
was worth something.
They decided to proceed against tho
wind, as their knowledge of tho point
from which it blew assisted them in
judging of tho route. This greatly in
creased the trial of the horses, so that
in lloundering through a drift in a do
pression of the prairie, tho postnins
tor's horse stalled, and Motcnlf had to
lend assistance
Returning to his own sleigh, ho
stood for a few moments beating his
benumbed hands, then managed to
ask, as well as tho storm would per
mit, how tho occupants wero getting
on. What was his dismay upon find
ing that neither ot the old people an
swered him! It was evident that the
terrible cold was already mastering
their faculties.
With tho nssistanco of the others
ho proceeded to rub and chafo tho al
most insensible couple, till they par
tially recovered from the lethargy
that was so last overcoming them
Under the leo of a blanket held over
the back of the sleigh, an attempt was
made to kindle some ot tlio straw,but
thecliort- proved a mockery
Again they start ed.plaeingoneof the
old "people in each sleigh for bettor
protection; but even tho strongest of
the party were confused, and this time
it was concluded to leave it to the
instinct of the horses to find tho way
This, too, was in vain; and after pain
fully toiling for half an hour, they
came to a decided stand.
Tho position of things was now al
most utterly hopeless. Well the party
knew how common it is for people to
be lost in these fearful blizzards, and
sink in death a few rods of their own
doors.
"His paths, his landmarks all unknown,
Close to tho hut no more his own,
Close to tho aim lie sought in vain,
Tho morn may find tho stiffened swnin.'
Jn an agony of apprehension for
those he held so dear, Mr. Met calf re
proached himself for thus still'oring
them to bravo tho storm; and he
thought, too, ol those other dear ones
at home, who, though perhaps at that
very moment not far away, ho might
never see again
Another consultation was now held,
and it was determined, if a firo could
by any possibility be kindled, that
the smaller sleigh should b3 burned, in
thchoo that life might besustained n
little longer.
The awful moment of their expert
enco had now come. Reyond this
should the attempt fail, all must be
blackness and death.
While tho horses wero being unhitch
ed, tho minister fell upon his knees
there in tho wild fierce snow, and of
lered up to J leaven a tervent prayer,
whilo the others bowed their heads,
with their hair streaming straight out
in tho wind.
In tho midst of this strange and sol
cnin scene, thoro fell upon tho ears ot
all a bound that seemed an an
swer to their supplications. What
could it bo that so mingled with the
noise of tho storm? Louder and loud
er it rose, resembling n wild jinglinp
ot hells
Rut bells thero nnd then! Could
such a thing bo possible? For miles
nnd miles around, a church bell was a
thing unknown in that new nnd rug'
ged country; and thustho listeners
stood awe-stricken, as if in tho pres
ence of some supernatural sound.
Archer Melcnlf felt a sudden hope.
"Get in agnin," ho said, "and if the
horses can once more bo stnrted, we
will rido for it whilo it continues. At
least it tells of something human."
Luckily the horses sot oft' with no
baulking, though with great difficulty,
and wero lashed into as fast a pace as
possible. Even they, like their driv
ers, seemed now inspired with hope,
as if feeling hat shelter was at hand.
Meantime there had been much anx
iety at tho dugout; sevoral parties
hnd nrrived, nnd nil felt grent alarm
for tho absent. Mrs. Motcnlf looked
again and again out into tho storm.
She knew tho meaning of n Western
blizzard a mcaninz terrible beyond
description to ono who had friends
abroad in it.
Tho men and boys wero no less help
less than the women for what could
they have done even by venturing out?
What but to lose themselves in the
dnrkness nnd uproar.
At length a thought suddenly oc
curred to George like an inspiration
tie had been in nnd out iiko a wild
blizzard itself, at one moment in teari
and tho next brightening with hope,
but now all at onco uttering a wild
whoop, he rushed headlong towardi
the shop.
A moment more, ana there rout
lint thicker, thicker,
theskv,
over tho storm so piodiglo.isn clangor
that all started in surprise. Its-coined
r if all tho bells ot St. Giles and St.
Paul had broken forth at once only,
perhaps a little out of tune: Rut at
all events it was a chiming that could
have been heard for miles.
Every one followed the sound
There was George, like one of Poo's
"People, nh, the people.
Those that live up in the steeple,'
armed with a hammer, and banging
away alternately at no lo:s that six
"belU," composed of as nuuiv heavy
wagon tires, suspended to a frame in
such an artistic manner as to get the
groatot possible noise. And sure
enough, a most satisfactory ono was
i no consequence: It was a chime as
primitive ns could be conceived, and
far from musical; but its e licet was
tremendous.
The mysterious preparations wero
explained. '1 he wagon tire- were to
do duty for tho season to welcome
not, only Christmas but tho New
Year
"King out IheOld, ling in the New"
and at a les anxious moment their
performance would have seemed
laughable indeed.
He declared ho would keep it up till
the lolks arrived.
Soon a shout was heard but this
wasnnly from a neighbor and his wife,
who had been lo.-t in the storm on
their way to tho Christmas reception.
J Ins success encouraged t he bov,
and ho plied the iron tonguo of his
chime with redoubled energy.
"Oh, George!" cried his mother, "if
they will only hear!" Rut her white
face showed how little hope she had.
"Hello! Hello!" came from without
"Hollo! Hello!" close to the door of
the house.
"Thev have come! Thoy have como! "
exclaimed tho excited lad. "Oh,
mother, mother! that is father's
voice!"
"I bono so. oh, I hope so!" cried
Mrs. Motcnlf, springing to the door,
though ueorgo was thoro as soon as
hot-self.
"Father, father!" ho shouted, "is it
you?"
"Yes, my bov: yes." was the reply.
"Hurry and help to got tho peoplo
out, and tho horses under cover.
How the bravo bov How to the work!
His own hands could do tho work of a
dozen benumbed ones; but the nioii
from tho house assisted him.
In a few minutes the lately-imperill
ed travelers wero clustered around a
rousing Christmas fire, while tho noblo
horses wore having their Christinas in
a warm stable.
George was the hero of tbo occasion,
and when the story of his rude chimes
had been told, all united in pronounc
ing tho deliverance as wonderful as its
manner was odd and whimsical. His
mother hugged and kissed him in tho
excess of her emotion, and thero wero
tears in tho eyes of all the others.
Tlio bright youth had tried to con
trol himself, yet he, too, was visibly
a licet ed.
Meantime, his grandparents were
fast recovering from their terrible ex
posure; and tho room, hung with
creeping jenny and the boughs of juni
per, and thronged with thankful faces,
presented a truly Christmas aspect.
The minister gave thanks for the
mercy of their preservation, tho oth
ors bowing roverently witKoverllowing
hearts. And then a hymn was sung.a
beautiful Christmas carol. It was a
touching scene.
"All praised with uncontrolled delight,
Anil general joy, tho happy night,
That to the cottage as the crown,
Drought tidings of savation down."
The following day. when Christmas
had indeed come.Archie had tho satis
faction of peeing his nnrents fully re
covered and full of a quiet joy at tho
scene of love and comfort about them.
Rut they wero no happier than
George, who onco or twice that day
rang out his Christmas Chimes for tho
benefit of all his listeners.
Some .Tokesntthe Kxpensn of tho
Newspaper Fraternity.
Secretary to manager "Hero is a
letter from the person who writes over
tho signature of 'Pearl,' asking when
we are going to pay for her contribu
tion." "When we publish it, of course."
"Rut wo have published it." "Ah!
Well, take tho usual course. Wait
three montlis before answering tho in
quiry and three montlis before send
ing a check."
"I go into society n good deal," said
n visitor to an editor, "and I want to
get the reputation of being a literary
man, sometlimghke l loury .lames and
those fellows. Now how shall I go to
work?" "Talk Ralzac to them," sen-
tentiously replied the editor. "Rut 1
never read Ralzac," was tho response.
"Neither haveoocioty people; so you're
on perfectly safe ground. You just
eomparo everything with Poro Goriot,
and you'll bo invited to read a paper bo-
forea fortnight. Good-by." Thoeditor
turned sadly to his writing, reflecting
that ho had probably nindo another
rejnitation without receiving any
commission. Citizen to country editor
"A pleasant littlo affair occtiredlast
night ntiny houso, which terminated m
the marriage of my daughter. Would
you liko the particulars?" Country ed
itor "Well-er, I might make a snort
mention of tho matter, but we are bad
lycraniped for space" A littlo later:
Another citizen "My wife ran away
last night with another man. Do you
want tho particulars?" Country edi
tor, eagerly "Yes, yes; give mo the
wholo business."
Ralph Emerson, who died in San
Xrancisco recently, was a kinsman of
Ralph Waldo Emerson, and in his
youth, a sort of a yoke-fellow of the
philosopher. Tho two Ralphs lived for
a time in tho saiuo houso, put their
headB together to squeezo the juice of
meaning from dry Greek roots, nnd
otherwise sipped from the same loving
cup of knowledgo. They pnrfed at
Harvard, and hu who is just dean
went thenco to livo for twenty yeaix
in Paris. To him Lafayette many a
time told the tips and down of Lis
Amurican life.
CHRISTMAS ON TUB COAST.
"You must cntrv this basket of
rlothes to Mrs. Thorndyke this after
noon, Hetty, and you had best start
early for it looks likely to be squally
toward nignt."
Hetty Rrnndon laid away her knit
ting, and camo and stood beside her
mother, looking from thocottagedoor
down over tho rocks to tho sea, toss
ing dull and gray as tho clouded De
cember sky above. Hetty had always
lived by the sea; sho know it in nil its
moods; nnd onco sho hnd thought sho
loved it. but those who know it best
nro too often taught, alas! to fear its
cruelty.
"To-morrow will bo Christmas Hay.
Hetty. Ah, if your father and .Ininie
wero but here, what a glad day it
would be!"
"It seems as if wo had but little left
to be thankful for now, mother."
Thero was a sob in the girl's voice.
"I know, dear; but we must not say
that. Tho Lord knows best what to
give and what to take, and He'll care
for us still, though wo mayn't bo able
to see His hand in our trouble You
must call at Mrs. Cameron's, Rettv,
and ask her if she'll not spend tho
day with us to-morrow. It will bo a
lonely day to her without her Will.
Ouis'is not tho only lonely houso in
Fairhaven since tho 'Reatrico' sailed.
"I'll go now, mother, and bo back
in time for tea," and with a bravo ef
fort at cheerfulness, Hetty sought hat
and shawl, kissed her mother good
bye, and set out on her walk along tho
beach to tho village.
"If your father and .Taniio was but
here." That echoed through her heart.
Yes, tho sea was cruel. It, had taken
them away, nnd it, would nover bring
them back so peoplo said. Rut Het
ty almost thought it would. It look
ed so kind sometimes. Sho would
nover givo up hoping.
It wasa dreary day liko this, sho re
membered, whoii thoy had sailed four
years ago. Tho "Reatrico Rrnndon"
was named for her. Captain Rrnndon
was both master and owner.nnd ho had
taken his vessel on her first voyage.
His only son was with him, and thu
crow wero all Fairhaven men. 'Thoy
meant a two years' voyage. It had
been "hoping against hope" tho fisher
men said to dream that tlio "Roatiico"
would over bo hoard from. They
shook their heads sadly when sho was
mentioned; for thoy iiad their own
Borrows. Mrs. Rrnndon had truly
said that hers was not tho only deso
late household in Fairhaven.
Tho neighbors had their own trou
bles indeed, but thoy wero very kind to
Mrs. Rrnndon and Hetty. Only a
littlo cottago and a striu of land re
mained to mother and daughter.
Mrs. Hrandon took washingand sow
ing for a few fumilies in tho village, nnd
for summer visitors, by such menus
gaining scanty support.
When Hetty rang tho bell at Squiro
Thorndyko's handsome houso, the ser
vant told her that Mrs. Thorndyke
nnd her daughter wore out, but that
thoy had left word for her to wait.
It was already quite lato when they
returned. Miss Reatrico Thorndyko's
littlo namesake was a favorite with
her, and many wero the favors which
reached the Rrnndon cottago from tho
"houso on tho hill."
"I'm sorry to hnvokept you waiting
child," said Miss Reatrico, coming in.
"Hut I wished to pnj your mother
nnd to put a few things in your basket
to help out your dinner to-morrow.
I'll keep you no longer, for I fear it
will be growing dark now before you
yet home."
Tho day wns fast changing into
darker twilight when Hetty sot out for
homo. Her basket was heavy, for
Miss Heat rice's lavish hand had
loaded it with all kinds of good things.
Tho walk before her was long and
lonely, but sho would have known each
step of tho way as well by starlight as
by sunlight, and she felt no fear.
About half way from tho village to
tho Point sho had to pass tho light
houso on thoshoi'o. When she reached
tho placo it was already quite dark,
and ns sho drew near sho saw with
Hiirpriso that the lamp was not light
ed. Donaldson, tho keeper, lived
alone in his littlo tower. Ho was al
ways faithful in tho dischargo of his
duty, and though ho often rowed over
to Hraut Harbor of an afternoon, ho
was sure to bo back in timo to attend
to his light. Hetty thought ho must
bo ill, and sho tried tho door. It was
locked, and the lower room was dark.
She know ho must bo away from homo.
And now, for tho lirt time, sho no
ticted that a storm wns rising. Tho
great waves beat against tho rocks
with a wild roar, and almost sudden
ly it grow so dark that sho could
hardly seo the path. Lightning began
to flash in tho west; whilo tho thunder
mingled its heavy reverborntions with
tho roar of the sea,
Tho lain) was not lighted! And
thoro was thu cruel rocks over op
posite. Ono vessel had been wrecked
on them since Hetty could remember
a schooner which was dashed to
pieces a scoro of souls going down to
death within sight of shore Sho could
have lighted the lainphernelf had thero
been any entrance to tho tower.
Many an hour had sho spent with tho
old keeper, and often she helped him
trim and light the lamp.
Hark! What was that sound? Het
ty listened with a boating heart. It
camo again, again; and sho know it
was tho signal gun of u vessel in die
tress. A crash of thunder niado her
start, and by tho luuiil flame which
followed sho saw plainly for an instant
tho form of a vessel not far from shore,
and apparently driven toward tho
rocks. Hetty's only thought now was
of what sho could do for its aid, It
flashed upon her that -sho had seen n
pile of driftwood and light stuil on
the shore, near tho tower. Sho would
make a bonfire! If tho captain know
tho const, tho light might bo a guide
At least, it would bo a sign that his
uigiuil was heard.
As quickly us sho could, working in
tho darkness, she heaped somo of tho
.d moiu! tho rocks. Fortunately
sho had a bunch of matches in her
basket that she had bought in town.
Hrtt her firo would not start. She
caught oft her straw bonnet for kin-1
tiling. It smouldered, smoked at last
a blare! Frantically sho piled on tho
dry stud till thoshoro was lighted up by
tho flame. The ship's gun'kept boom
ing on, but Hetty fancied it had a new
sound, a tone of recognitioA and
hope, sho must leave her beacon now,
to do its work of lovo ns best it might
alone, while sho sought new nid. Sho
t brew on n lust armful, and set on t on a
run towards home, llowdnrkit was!
She could senrcely keep the path; cer
tainly sho would have lost it- had sho
not known it so well, and helped too
by tho lightning which incessantly
burned in the sky. Tho thunder was
terrible, but it was hardly louder than
tho breaking of tho grent waves. And
now tho rain fell in torrents. Poor
littlo, trembling Hetty hastened on her
way, making all tho speed she could.
Tho gusts of wind threatened to tako
her from her feet, and sho was often
obliged to sink down on tho sand to
recover breath and strength to run
on again. Tho booming of tho signal
gun grow fainter in tho distance, but
sho still heard it, and it nerved her to
struggle on.
At home, Mrs. Hrandon was waiting
with a troubled heart tho coining of
her daughter, who should have been
at homo hours ago. What could have
befallen her! Tho mother's anxiety
had reached a height almost unendur
able, when tho door burst open, and
Hetty, pale, drenched, and shivering,
her strength fairly exhausted, almost;
tell into her mother's nrnis. It wns
somo moments before sho could gasp
out her story. Rut sho had already,
on her way, alarmed tho inun in the
neighboring cottages, and they wero
making hasty preparations to set out
for tho lighthouse inlot, whilo their
wives came crowding into Mrs. Bran
don's littlo kitchen, eager to hear for
themselves all Hetty had to tell. They
gathered around tho fire, discussing
the probability of a wreck, until a lit
tlo boy, who had gone oft with his
father, camo back with tho report
that tho ship was aground upon the
rocks, but that thoy hoped to got ot!
all on board, and had sent him
to toll tho women to make ready food
and beds for tho rescued. When
tho men folk wero discovered return
ing, mothers and maidens, moved by
one impul.su of blended curiosity and
kindness, rushed out to greet tho res
cuers and tho rescued. Rut littlo Het
ty wns the first to seo whom sho hnd
helped to save, and to tall, with a joy
ful cry into her father's arms. And
not Hotty alone but many found
their loves in tho group. Fathers'
wero restored to their children, hus
bands to wives, and sons to mothers.
Tho "Reatrico Hrandon" was break
ing up on the rocks; but tho freight of
living souls was safe in tho shelter of
tho huinblo homes of Faiihavoii.
.loyfully rang out tho bell of tho
fisherman's chapel on tho holiday
morning, KUinnioning tho people to
tho Christmas service of solemn joy.,
What happy gatherings after, in all
the households of Fairhnvenl In tho
Rrnndon cottago father, niothor, sis
tor and brother sat together with
hearts so full ot sweet satisfaction
and gratitudo that thoy hardly cared
to talk. "It was Hetty who saved
us," t'ho father said; and ho says itnl-1
ways when ho recalls that wild De
cember night. "Tho light ol her bea
con firo was our first ray of hope, and
hor bravo hastening littlofect brought
us rescue"
Hotty can never forget that night,
and she is grateful to God whenever
sho remembers its terror and its sur
prise that sho was able to do tho
right thing at tho right time Her un
selfish service of thoso who wero in
peril not only niado a bright Christ
inas Day in all tho cottages of Fair
haven, but made nil tho days of tho
year Christmas days in tho filial de
votion of her loving heart.
An Anecdote of Hannibal Irani-'
Correspondence of tho Cleveland Leader, j
This matter of public men speculat
ing in information which thoy acquire
through their positions was not con
sidered proper by our Puritan fathers.
It recalls a story 1 hnvo heard of Han
nibal Hamlin, then a senator. Somo
legislation was being considered in tho
halls of Congress in regard to one of
tho railroads. Tlio billcnmoup in tho
senate, nnd it needed but a voto or
two to pass it. At this moniont a
brother Senator camo to Hamlin's
desk and said: "Senator Hamlin, if
this bill passes tho Hlank Rlauk Rail
road's bonds will bo worth a hundred
cents on tho dollar. I can tako you
or let you send to a placo whoro you
can got any amount of theso bonds at
this moment for 0 cents on the dollar.
What say you to thechanco?" "I say
damn your chance and damn your
bonds, sir!" was Hamlin's emphatic
reply; and with that ho turned his
bnek squnro upon his brother senator,'
and tho story is that ho never treated
him decently afterward. Hamlin die.
not beliovo that it was right for him
to uso information gotten ns a publio
ninu to advance his own fortune, and
hoacted upon this rule during his pub
lio life.
. i
Tlio selection of Christmas gifts is n
matter so delicate, so complex, bo
modified by invisible circumstances
that it is a subject impossible to out
line and yet thoro is an over uppli
cablo rule, which is, after all, only a
modification of tho Golden Itufo,
that it shall in every sense gratify both
receiver and giver, and that it BhaH
not wound tho most delicate feelings.
Tho only real reasons for offering a
Christmas gift is tho spirit that
prompts it. Unless you havo given
your friend words and loving regards,
you havo no right to ofler him a
Christmas gift, This day is especially
tho festival of tho family, tho homo
and tho church, and this manifold
character may bo observed in gifts.
When you rejoice over your Christ
inns gifts, bo Buro to remember the
best gift that wns over made to tho
world, nnd to each ono of you, tho
gift of a Saviour.