.fyif ..... n
I 5"' Ni .'"! . '' y-"i'i -
Oturvrt
rhr' going lo Ik I railroad up In Iee
laud.
In Ireland.
A o.l what funny r.il!rosd It will b !
I wuulj never think of k-alaud a a nlc
land,
A nlc la ml.
Fir week en, Is at a cottage ny th ees.
fur tli tralna will very likely K on run
ners Ilka a alelgh.
And they'll harneaa up tha angina la a
Jlngl bells array.
At least, 1 cant' liuaglu It tn any other
r.
Ia Iceland,
Toi won't oeei your thermometers In Ic
land. In Ireland,
And jrou won t liars any fretful Tla a via I
or up there In that snythlug but plc
la no.
Hut aplr land,
Tha rara ire always n.lil aa they can ur.
Oh, tury'll have to (Hk tha aleepare out a
ili.ien tlinea a ilay,
Or peril a pa they'll tunnel through tha great
lilir Icelierg In tha bay.
And that will l lint bully till tea Ice
berg nmva away,
In Iceland,
A Journey will he jolly up In Iceland,
In Iceland,
Tha scen.-rv's so w-undi-rful to e I
It will aeein Ilka nothing abort of para
dise laml.
1'nra.llaa land.
Aa (he nun ri nhiilliil n'er th lea.
they won't have any arnedul ao there'll
never le delay,
Tba rate will he ao low that almoat any
one can uav.
far Id (hat rurl.nn climate It la CbrUtmaa
very day.
In Iceland.
Little Baiy Beth g
Dy Caroline H.
I
T was New Vear'a eve. Downstairs
In the parlor was Iiaby Itetb's
C'lirialinna tree, Just ai It had been
arranged 4 week ago hiaqu doll.
tori, glittering balls, marvelou ingnr
dog and bear and "elphunts," candy
applet and heart, popcorn, colored tapera
Just ready to be lighted and upataira
J ! by Itelh wa dying. All week long,
with the fierceness of a tlgreaa fighting
for her young. Margaret Thorn had
fought for her child' life. From the mo
ment that the first hoarse cough amote
upon her ear and Hot a had aaid, "Mara,
ma. It hurt a me here when I toff," ihe
had loat no time. All that dortora,
tiuraea, servants, friend mother love
could do had lieen done, and now in her
darkened chamber the mother eat with
her baby on her kneea and waited. To
ward night a change bad come. The
liarsh cough ceased, the panting breath
came mure quietly.
"Didn't she teem eaaler?" she had Bak
ed, and the doctor had answered briefly,
"Yea." Then, after an interval of wait
ing, "Wasn't her breathing lea labored?"
The doctor made no reply.
"Doctor," piteoualy. "don't you think
lie la better?"
Dr. I.emoyne turned away. lie had
practiced many year, and wltneaaed
many a acene like this, but to hi kind
keart each one waa new.
"My child." he aaid, "she will never be
ny better she la dying."
Margaret Tliornn made no outcry, shed
no tear alio would have "to-morrow and
all after life for tears," to-dny ahe had
her baby. She bent over the child and
half airetched out her anna with the Im
pulse to take her and go somewhere
anywhere away from everybody. It waa
the Instinct of the wounded animal. Then
ahe fell into the tnonntonnua twinging mo
tion of the kneea, familiar to mothers,
flatting her little one softly the while aa
if ahe were putting her to sleep,
It waa heart-breaking. The women to
whom the child waa only a dear little
baby who "would be better off In heaven,"
A the phrase goes, crept about the room
weeping softly with aching hearts. Af
ter a time Margaret looked up.
"lHictor," ahe asked, "how long?"
'l can hardly tell," he answered, "but
only a few hot.r. at beat, 1 think."
.She turned to the women.
"Send for her father," ahe said briefly.
Taupe waa a alight atir of aurprlse. Sig
nificant glance passed from one to an--other
behind her bowed head. Then they
went out to do her hi. Ming.
The message waa quickly sent and as
siuickly answered. The caae brooked no
delay. Margaret Thorn heard the' fa
miliar atep in the hall, then In the room
'below. A moment later he came in. The
women apoke to him in the sympathetic
key of the eick room and the doctor si
lently wrung hi hand. Margaret looked
up with a alight movement of the head,
but did not offer him her hand.
"Margaret," he aaid. "it was very good
of you to aend for me."
"It waa only right," ahe aaid. her voice
hardening In her efforts to steady It ; "ahe
a your mini, 100.
lie made no effort at conversation, and
o they at, the silence of death npon
them. It grew oppressive. The women,
on by one, stole out of the room, and
the doctor finally muttered something
anour going into me nnrary to lie down
telling them to call him If there ahould
be any change. The two were left alone
witn the dying child.
It id a atrange scene. Each held a
hahy hand ; each with a burden of grief
unutterable bent over the little form and
watched the flickering life go out: and
each ah nt up and double-locked and bolt
ed the heart that the other should not
know what waa therein. They were but
hand'a breadth apart, but between them
was a great gulf fixed.
John Thome had not eeen hi child
since that never-to-he-forgotten day when
lie gave her and his home Into Margaret's
hands and went forth alone. How be had
longed for a eight of the baby face, for
a touch of the baby hands, none but him
self would ever know. Hut he had been
t.i proud to nik to see her, anil Mar
garet had aaid in bitter scorn. "It ia the
way of the sex. A woman would never
have forgotten her own child." And she
bad clasped Ileth passionately to her
heart and cried out, "I will he father and
mother both to you, my baby, my poor,
.rsnk"n baby."
A he bent over her now, all his heart
In his exes, a strange finding of doubt le
gan tugging at her heart. Il.i.l he really
loved the chill l.ke this? t'ncomfortnhle
regrets t.ik possession of her. fVuild she
have misjudged him? She might have sent
I'.ettl to see him occasionally. It si-emed
to her now, when slie ha.l her all the
lime. He hud been more generous than
he.
She glanced furtively at him. lie rest
ed his head on his right hand, his left
clasping ISeth's. His eyes were fixed on
the child a if he would In these few mo
ments left feast his famished heart non
that which had !een o long withheld.
think of on other night when they had
at like this and watched Heth throngn
the croup, and how they had felt that if
l.l ..! snare her tlleT could
hsv m.thitiff In life to trouble them again
How gentle aud tender John had been
that night !
And then there waa the time that Ileta
waa burued and John had walked with
her the whole night long and would not
even let th mother rest him. because ah
... u...b .n.l ha waa strong." he had
said. How the memories csme thronging
utHin her! Oh. if she could only wake
and find that this year had been a dream
a horrible dream and ther bad been
no quarrel !
The clock ticked on, the fir sputtered
fitfully, but the silence of th vigil was
unbroken. Jonn Thorn raised bla bead
and looked at Margaret aa ahe lay wltn
cloned eyes. Her white, suffering face
touched bis heart. How much older sne
looked. It waa only four years since she
had stood a bride of nineteen and given
heraelf to him. Why. could It b only
four reara? It seemed Ilk an eternity
Th breath comes slowly. The little
hands ar verr still, and yet, O baby
rs through the solemn watches of
this night, thou'rt gathering up the tan
sled, broken threads of these two lives,
and with a touch no other hand might
uae. art weaving them together, deftly,
surelv. with heaven-sent skill!
There wa a slight stir. The mother
and father felt a quiver pass through the
little form. With startled faces they bent
over her. There was a gasp, a sudden
throwing up of the little hands then all
was still.
In an Instant hi arms wer around her,
her head on bis breaat.
"Margaret, my wife!"
"O John. John !" she said.
The clock struck twelve. A New Tear
had dawned.
In th twilight of a summer day a man
and woman stand beside little grave.
There Is an air of subdued sadness about
them that tells to whom the little mound
belongs, and yet when they apeak It is
hopefully and cheerfully. It is a tiny
grave "only a baby, a stranger would
say but we who have stood beside such
know that love and grief are not measured
by feet and Inches.
The glory of the setting sun fills the
place. It lights up the faces of father
TP
ri
S-.Kw
LET'S KEEP SANTA CLAU3.
froleet . .Mck.
II K memory of
happy day long
ago should ever
protect Santa
C'lau. When your
boy look you
ouarely in the
eye and ays
"I'apa, Clareni-e
Mctiuffy said
there isn't any
Santa Clan and
I punched blin,
for I know there
T I. what are VOU
JCy going to do? For
iv th blow and
cling to a happy myth or deatroy your
boy's faith in Santa l laus, ami, luciucm
ally in a good many other things h be
lieve tn, but doesn t understand r
"Why discuss the matter at all?" I
natural Question. Ilecana it Is ques
tion that always arlsea at Christmas time.
An Eastern preacher is discussing It from
the pulpit and hold thfit deceit la sin and
that the truth and only the truth is the
beat steady diet for both young and old.
The man or woman who would tag
from a child his sublime faith in a Mys
terious Heing, who rewards all th good
children and skips the bad one on hi
annual tour of countless chimney, ha
shriveled heart. W want more happi
ness; not less. W need more good Indu
ences In the lives of our children, not
fewer. Nothing but good ever came from
the Santa C'lau Myth. He is a glorlou
ehost. a delicious Impossibility, Is thl
friend of the children. He teaches kind
ness, charity, goodness. II Inspires and
. a t 1 . . . It
encourage. lie origntens me lives 01
millions of little ones with the Joy of an
ticipation and the gladnea of receiving.
He is a companion of brownies and elves
and fairies, and flowers that speak.
When w abolish Merry Old St. Nick
lets burn all th story books, tha fairy
tales, and all the make-believes that wield
an Influence for good in the live of chil
dren. Hut Santa Claut I In no danger,
for If th children love him, ao do the
parents. Memory of happy days 01 long
ago protects him. A century hence he
ill be making bis rounds and laughing,
wlneglassfuis 0 irand. one-iuarTf
pou.-i of itr,.n. cut on. Mi ail th
th night btfi.r,, la th morning be
fore putting it 1,', rloth stir two ts-
blespoouful 0f w(lWt tlour, beat th
cloth aud sprinkle with f"1"- Ti tight
ly and boil four hUre. I'ut P'' ,urn
d ou th tinder t..rt In th pot Under
th pudding, ,jj ciunauiou And uutuieg
if liked.
Most of u i,m-, .hat th Christmas
tree come to u. direct from tjeriuany.
And w know of the tre worship of the
Prulds which obtain"! ln England and
France, and which probably had oin In
fluence on the later. us of th tre in th
1 nriatian festival. I'"1 w no( '
know that a similar festival with th tre
as a crowning feature I observed among
many heathen nation. "d that it comes
from sun worship, which is older than His
tory.
A '."' II
THE IRON PIRATE
A riain Tale of Strange
Happenings on the Sea
By MAX PEMBERTON
-co-
CHAITEIt II. (Continued.)
"That, Mister Hlack," he said, putting
a miniature of exouisite finish aratnat
The revival of th sun after the I the whit fur on the, floor. "I a Dortrait
winter solstice has ever been the subject of the Emperor Napoleon, sometime In
of rejoicing and of celebration by cere-1 the possession of the Empress Joaephin j
monies which represent th new light I that is a gold chain he was eighteen
carat one th property of Don Carlo;
her is the pen with which Francis Hrak
wrote his last letter to th (Jueen Elisa
beth beautiful goods aa ever was, and
cost nioowh money !"
"To the dead with your much money,"
said the Captain with an angry gesture, yacht he ha only hired her, and sh I
aa he anatched the trinketa from him, and railed La Prance Kera of th. vaeht
English yule log is a faint survival of this fyed them to my vast surprise with th I will be news of me. and I shall be clad
festival. Hut it is beyond these that I I of prncths-d connoisseur; "let's han- to think that someone Is at mv back in
wish to draw your attention, back further the stuff, and don't gibber. How much this big risk. If you should not henr of
ven than the Iiruid mysteries 01 tn ual- mis: tie held up the immature, and m. wait a month : hut If von et rlefinltn
It is to China, iliac uouie or ura.rauun betrayed Itself In u. eyes.
lie wan painted by Sir William IUs,
and I sell him for two hundred pounds,
my Captain. Not a peny less, or I'm a
ruined man!"
"The Jew a ruined man! Hark at
him! Four-Eies" this tn a sreat lankv
brought back to the world. Our tree.
with its small candles, its gilded knlck-
nai ks and tovs for the children, Is a di
rect descendant nt this old festival In
honor of the sun.
Traces of It exist In Iceland, where the
"service tree" I found adorned with burn
ing lights durine Christmas night. The I
on lock sig feet of rop for that man."
It waa light with th roseate, warm
Ifght of a lata summer's dawn a w retch
ed th hotel. I'arls ahpt. 1 was hungry
for aleep, and too tired to think mor of
th strange dream-lik acen I had wit
nessed; but Hall followed m to my bed
room and7 had yet a word to say.
"Before we part I want to ask you
to di m yet on mor service. Your yacht
Is at Calais. Will you go aboard this
morning and take her round to Plymouth?
Ther ask for news of the American's
lie forests.
all wonder and of " history. It has
been shown that aa long ago as 2(7 li. C.
a tree with a hundred lamps and flowers
was placed on the steps of the audience
hall. This appear again in the records
of i'rlncesa Vang, who lived tl.i-Tovi A.
proof of my death; break the seal of the
papers you hold and read."
So saying, he left me with a hearty
handshake. Poor fellow, I did not know
then that I should break th seal of his
papers within three dnys.
I)., and who caused a bundred-lauip tree I fellow who lay asleep In the comer "the
eighty feet high to b erected on a tnoun- ' Jew can't sell 'em under two bun
CHAPTER III.
IT,. ... mu. .ail r . 1 1.
tain. It waa lighted during New Year's "'d, I reckon; oh. certainly not: why. ., . . , ,,i
m iTurae,
night, and the illumination was seen for
hundreds of miles, eclipsing th light of
the moon. This caadl tre is no longer
lighted in China, being replaced by an
unusual number of lanterns, which are
hung everywhere. A suggestion of the
tree, however, still survives in Japan. At
11 ere you. milliners, dot mm ii ,.. . .i..i...i . t.
ror 1 1 thick-skinned, thieving shark, and wkh me waa waiting outside. I said,
h k ju'",Jre41 for the others." -0 tht man hpre antJ prwnt, h
me boy Splinters, who was a black lad. entered, when to my Intense surprise I
eemingly about 12 year old. cam up found him to be no other than on. of th.
at the word, and took a great canvas bag
from a hook on the wall. He counted
Jfrst anrfjfcsl'tf Citrons $tories
the New Year two evergreen trees are! three hundred gold piece on the floor
placed without, on either side of the door, pieces of all coinages in Europe and
Their tops are tied together with th America, as they appeared to b by tlLaTkr
laces, and Hall picked thero up.
Mister Captain," he aaid. "I shall bar
0r.J t(z Wert if? tte ietouoTry jljcf )trM AbiJipg Is ftelj, keepirg
. wafcboxccr tteir flock" by pigrr;
CJnd, lOe i?5el of tfje Lord crr;e opootfvQ.&ndfa jjloryof Lord sljooe
JAjrjd ff) 9l Aii at)fo tf";en?,reAr Dot, for.bebold I brip yoo ood tidily
j-. of iresfoy, Wljiclj 59l fce"rb aII people.
0r ooTo yoo 1 borr; ityyUy 117 rlje cif Of Pivid aSavIooo i Chrijf
Tc Lord. ,
SijAirbeA-slrjayoaesb'1 fiw-fpc ba.be. wrApped 19
sWAddliQjf clo-rf)e5.lyi93 tr mr)$er. , , ,
Idlod sadierfly tt)ere w&, will) toe AOel A roolrnade ot ffje teer;ly
r v, bojt-prAi!ptf' God, Af?d jAviip, .
lyjlory to Ood 19 tf?e ?i$be Q 00 CArt fece, good will 8wArd n?cp.
1
T.J
WW
and mother as they lay, with loving
hands, forget-me-nots upon the green tnrf,
and then, hand In hand, go forth. A stray
sunbeam falls across the white atone. We
stoop to read the inscription. It is a very
simple on ;
n.ny petii.
Afirn TURKIC.
"And a little child shall lead them."
The Housewife.
Sodir"e&rr;eto a. teA-iel, wtre 309c awav frorpfljer? itpfo
f;eveo,e ibp,rd W o?e atjfo A90tJer, let ay qow o eve?
f j Leel?r?'t7d e vb'cb icorr;e 13 tAi,wIcb t?e
r Lord bAir) n)Ade k90W9 Qtb dj,- ' r '
rJ 1?)ey cme w.tl; bte.Ad' foood MAry,At7d Jojepr;,Aod ffe Ube
lAJrwben tfjey ,'f- tey rrjAde kr,ow0 AbroAj tfje 5Ayini a
"7 frs V2- yArd irWooderedAttrJo5etTjirjJwbicbverw fold
Mof ry Vtpt All tr;i95Ar,d po0dert3 tfpea? .9 t)er beArf.
VT) trm tfATe IjAd rpeAr3 Ai?d eea7dif wAfcU a9r0 tlkm.
"easassssss. m rt . , , l.
'-ssaaasaBassisiBSSBSSBBSSifcBSBSSSaSaSBsmBSaaSaSSa - aw I, IT.ii I II I M M r a
rufllans the on called "Four-Eyea," I
had met on the previous evening. lie
walked Into th room with a seaman's
lurch. His first words wer somewhat
unegected :
"Ol was priest' boy In Tlpperary,"
said he, and then h looked round as If
m U. . i-iymoum to-morrow a that information should put him n good
relle of the great JiJin Hawkins, which, termt wtn u
as nn alive, you shouldn't miss. I have W11I you ,'It down penwr wsg m;
ui Vr'u th8t J J' th v"7 word request as he stood fingering his hat.
with which he cut the Spaniards' beard. "Thanking yer honor. It', meself that
Mnce you have told me that you sail to- ,in'f rii v..
morrow, I have thought. If you put me on Ltlln(in sure, an' gettin to the wrltln'
h I . l"'ouln' 1 coum which Is fur yer honor's ear alon aa m
"""" '"u l" ami you snnu nave Mnstruckthshuns goes,
1 .em cneappoauurul goods, ir I los py I rIe eav, m9 , ,et, ..,
rj; iiiii'i 1. 0 ; i uiin..ii.i..
ST I IIKP TT -D " ' '
eSS$3
them."
Now, Instead of answering this appeal
as he had done the others, with his great
guffaw and banter, Captain Illack turned
uiM.n Hall, and his face lit uu with pas
sion. I saw that his eyes gave one fiery
look, while be clenched his fist as though
to strike the man as he sat, but then he
restrained himself.
"You want to come aboard my boat, do
you? drawled the Captain, aa he soft
ened hi voice to a fine tone of sarcasm.
'The denier wants a cheap passnge; so
li o, what do you say, Four-Eyes; shall we
take the man aboard?"
Fou-Eye sat up deliberately, and
struck himself on the chest several times
as thoug-ti to knock the sleep out of him.
Ho seemed to be a brawny, thick-set Irish
man, gigantic In limb, with a more hon
est countenance than his fellows. I
thought him a man of some deliberation,
for he stared at the Captain and at Hall
before he answered the question put to
him. When he did give reply, It waa in
a rich,, rolling voice, which would have
given ornament to the veriest commonplace.
"Oi'd take hlra aboard," he shouted,
leaning back as though he had sMken wis
dom, and then he nodded to the Captain,
and the Captain noilil.il to him.
'W anil at midnight, tide serving,"
said the Captain, as be picked up the
miniature and the other things; "you can
come aboard when you like here, boy,
lock then In tha chest."
Th boy put out bis band to take the
things, but in his fear or his clumsiness,
he dropped th miniature, and it cracked
upon th floor. Aa th lad stood quiver
ing and terror-struck, Hlack turned npon
him, almost foaming at the Hp.
"You clumsy young cub, what d'ye
mean ny tnatr ne asgen: and then, as
th boy fell on his knee to beg for mercy,
casting on pitiful look towards me he
kicked him with his foot, crying:
"Here, give him a doaen with your
trap, one of you."
He had but to say th words, when a
cotossal brut seized the hoy In his grip,
and held his bend downward to the table
good paper. I writ It here:
"Captain Rlack presents his compli
ments to Mr. Mark Strong, and" hopes
that It will be hi privilege to receive
hltn on his yacht La France, now lying
ove rn gainst the American vessel Port
land. In Dieppe harbor, at 11 to-night."
Now, that was a curious thing. Indeed.
Not only did It appear that my pretense
of being Hall s partner In trade was com
pletely unmasked by this man, but he bad
my name. Whether such knowledge was
good for me I could not then say ; but I
made up my mind to act with cunning
and to abield Hall ln so far a was possi
ble.
"Did your master tell you to wait for
any answer? I asked suddenly.
"Is It for the likes of me to be advlsln'
yer honor? '.Sure,' says be, 'If the gen
tleman has tiie molnd to wrolte he'll
wroite, if he has the moind to come
aboard, he'll come aboard.'"
"Tell your master, with my compli
ment," I' said, "that I will come another
time I have business in Paris to-day."
He looked at me earnestly, and when
he spoke again his voice had a fatherly
ring. "If I make bold, It'a yer honor's
forgiveness I ask but, if It waa me that
was In Paris I'd stay there."
When he was gone, the others, who
had not spoken, turned to me, their eyes
asking for an eiplanatlon.
"One of Hall's friend." I said, trying
to look unconcerned, "the nmte on the
yacht li France th vessel' he Joins
to-day."
Roderick tapped the table with his fin
gers; Mary was very white, X thought
"He knows a queer company," I added,
with a grim attempt rt Jocularity
"they're almost as rough as. he Is."
"Do you still mean to sail to-night?1
asked Roderick.
"I must; I have made- a promise to
reach Plymouth without a moment's de-
lay."
"Then I sail with yoov aaid h. being
very wide-awake.
tin, nut you rani wave i'arls; yoa
promised Mary !
Yes, and- 1 release him at once," frr-
Tb morning passed, a long mnmtng,
with a sea like a mirror, and th sun a
a great circle of red fir in the bale.
Hour after hour w walked from the fore
hatch to th tiller, from th tiller to th
fore-hatch, varying the eierclse with a
full Inspection of every craft that showed
above the horin.n. At u U'lla some dark
and dirty clouds rose up from the south,
and twenty hands pointed to them. Half
an hour later there was a shrill whistling
in the shrouds, and the rain began to pat
ter on the dick, while the bo oina fretted,
and w relieved her In part of her prea
of sail. When the wpiall struck us at
last, th Channel was foaming with long
lines of choppy seas; and the sky south
ward was dark as ink.
During one hour, when we must ha
made eleven knots, the wind blew strong,
and was fresh again after that. Nor did
the breeae fall, but stiffened towards
night, ao that in the first belt, when we
came up from dinner, the Celsis waa
straining and foaming aa ahe bent under
ber press of canvas, and it needed a sail
or' foot to tread her deck. W had
hardly cmne abov when we heard Den
bailing ;
"Yacht on the port bow."
"What name?" came from twenty
throat.
"La France," said Dan, and the word
bad scarce left his lip wheu the skipper
roared the order :
"Stand by to go about !"
For some minute the word " "bout
ship" were not sjKiken. The schooner
held her course, and rapidly drew up with
the yacht we had act out to seek. From
the first there was no doubt alniut her
name, which she displayed in great letters
of gold above her figurehead. When sh
had made som few hundred yards to
ward the const, she Jibbed round of a
sudden, with an appalling wrench at tha
horse; and there being, a it apjieared, no
hand either at the peak halyards or th
throat halyards, the mainsail presently
showed a great rent near the luff, while
the foresail had torn free from the bolt
ropes of the stay, and was presenting a
sorry spectacle as the yacht went about,
and away towards France again.
The obvious fact that the yacht we bad
sought and run down was without living
men upon her decks had taken the lilt
from th seamen's merry tongues, and a
gloom settled on u all. Perhaps It waa
more than a mere surmise, for an uncan
ny feeling of something dreadful to com
took hold of me.
"Skipper," aaid I. "order a boat; Tm
going aboard her."
"When the wind falls, perhaps; but
now !" and he shrugged his shoulders
A the dark began to fall and the night
breeae to blow fresh, while the yacht
ahead of us swung here and there, almoat
making circles about us, we hove to- for
the tim and watched her. I begged
Mary to go below, but she received, th
suggestion with merriment.
"(Jo below, when the men say there's
fun coming! Why should I go below?"
"Heeause it may be serious fun."
The skipper called presently for a blu
flare, which cast a glowing light for many
hundred yards, and still left us uncertain.
"Flash again," said the skipper, and a
th blue light flashed we saw right ahead
of us the wanderer we sought ; but ulf
was bearing down upon us.
(To b continued.)
CREDIT WITH PETER.
How a
ol
CH-ISTMAS IN DIXIE.
A Qoalst Custom the Survival
Slavery Hays.
In nnit parts of th South, notably
Alabama, the olwervanc of Christmas is
kept up after the manner of slavery day.
Two week before the festival brawny
colored men in the employ of the planta
tion owner search out a timber tract, fell
the tree of greatest alie, cut off the trunk
where the circumference is greatest, big
enough to admit of it filling the apace of
the open hearth, fasten heavy chains to it
by driving in spike, haul It to the near
est river or pond, sink It and anchor It
well below the surface. On Christmas eve
It ia drawn up. taken to the owner's man
sion and in the presence of his family,
relatives and friends the dripping log li
placed on a roaring fire In the hearth. To
reduce the water-soaked wood to ashes
Is a alow process and sometimes a week
elapse before this is accomplished. ln
the meantime the plantation darkies do
not work while the incineration is In pro
gress. On Christmas eve the hostes
serve the company with eggnog and ahe
supplies them with eatable while the log
iics in tne nre place. The banjo and
gunar are Proliant into play and the old
melodic are sung and Ji;s and other
dances sre gone through with lest. The
white tola taae a hand In the fun mak
nig. ioo, ami wita s.mg and story make
the colored folk happy. At some of these
gatherings .wp person take part, the old
cspaciou mansion giving ample room for
all.
with the children, at those who would de
stroy him. Cincinnati Post.
Tha Weu li-r..-
'Tl the week heron. I'hri.... ..
through th. piac.
r.acn woman goes shopping, with worn,
weary face ;
I'l'.'t 10 hl,n', U long '"rm"
Of name, that could almply by no mean.
8o .hopplnK.o,, .hopping, and shopping
iiumped. shoved, pushed,
squad and tn row.
and tangled In
Th" 'la' .Yd"1 Ma" Chr,",m. f.l
Though mother and slaters are alt of thero
Poor father reflect, on ,na m of hU
And brhon eipsrue that tell on ht
nU nm..ni!ah;.r-r " tht -'"a Chr't
Th. rest of th.' ,r-. for ftthr fo
'TIS
the week betora rhri...
the coy girl --" una now
0cut.h",rf1,,l, . he,
And "?.'," th' "T', lth baa
To ,e".h!:!L ?rVanw b"
And he he forgive her.
low
A you .no,h "k Chris,..,.
'TIS tha
Th. gs Is turned
week tiefora rk.i..
u through th. horn ,n"
Ann win
len thev
or rhet
They are told they
the behest :
Ana u. th
..,,-Rant. ,, eom, Chrl(
That t ost ly Seaaou.
"What makes your father look so blu.
to-night?"
"S - sh! Somebody thoughtless!
mentioned the fact that Cbrisuua Is com.
tkiuieth.ng In his position made Maraaret lug." Chicago Poet.
approach any wardr.,1
miiat itop,nj oli
sweet ehli.tu. -
are ther ' "O faith
.AM '
n.a
'T1V h.; r.:,7hk ,7;drhr"'' ...
rhtme 7 uase.i on l
That a.imeiMiilv Jtnaled m,f
Hut wher. I. ,V T on . flm
alng pmpnet who wishe. to
That IV taw Ik. a.
-w' "' "t. HUcae, Trlhn.
riuaa l-addlu..
Dn ponnd of er.f...i .
quarter pound, of ..,". '. ""d
Chrlatma,
round
Ugar.
of raisin.
twclv
grat,
!l Pound
net.
of
on.
w.U be.a; uj
board, while another stripped his shirt off ferrupted fary. th ewlor coming and go-
and struck him blow after blow with the Ing in her- pretty cheeks. "I shall sail
great buckle, so that the flesh was torn, I from Caleb to-night, with you- and Hod
while the blood trickled upon the floor. I erlck."
When the lad fainted they gave him "We mean to come." added Roderick.
few kicks with their heavy boot, and he I "Oo and pack your things. Mary; I have
sarred h.nj f straw, and various objects, lay like log on the Door, nntil the nrf- something to say to Mark."
- . I a t. rt i T V. II , . I m- , V , m t . .
dried lobsters and orange are fastened t. I nan nurnra """ """u p.cseq mm v were a .one. ne sou g, nur trier waa
their branch.. Woman' Home Com-1 up and threw him irrto the neit room. T?ie between ns the flntt shadow that had come
pan Ion I Incident was forgxatten at otioe, and Clip- upon tmr friendship.
tain inacg neewnte quite merry.
Food was put npon the table. It was
rich food, stews, with a profuse display
Curloa (lorn of Oifordahlr.
" aoine niai . in...., . , v t n
nd. It was the right of every mah! aer- "r "'V cnl7' , "a', ro" "! Pn"
vant to ask the hired man for a bit of
lTJ to trim the house. If he turned a
deaf ear to her Importunities or forgot
her requeat ahe would steal a pair of his
breeches md nail them to the gate in th
yard or on the highway. This was sup
posed to debar hlra from all privilegea of
the mistletoe,
F.mT n Happy.
Mra. Negdoor Aren't you always
worried half to death when It come to
huying Christmas present for your
n,iban1?
Mrs. Sunshine Mr, no! I buy my
husband something I want for myself,
nd he buy me something h want for
himself, and then we trade.
Tommy Oot Oaa.
Tommy (on Chrlstma morning)
Where does Santa Clau get all hia atuff,
niamm?
Mamma Oh. he buy It.
Tommy Well, he mut be a jay to let
"n.vni palm off a tin watch on him !
Town Topics.
ftfetyl
uwii, j II
rtlnw th trumpet, best th drum.
Glad am I that SinU'i oan I
be away from a place whose armoaphere
poisoned me. I whispered thl thought to
Hall and h said. "Yes," and roe to go,
but the Cnptain pulled him back, crying:
"What, little Jew, you wouldn't eat
at other people cost I Iwn with It.
Well." said he. "how much am I t
know? I distrust Hall, who seems to me a
perfect madman. Hell drag yon Into
some mess. If you'll let him. I suppose
there's no danger yet or you wouldn't let
Mary comer
"There enn be no risk now we are go
ing for a three days ctuIm In the Chan
nel, that Is all
I went at one to th offic of the no
tice, and laid a much of th case before
man, down with it; fit! your pockets, stuff on of th head aa I thought needful to
'em to th top. Lat see you laugh, old my purpose. He laughed at m; th ywcht
wlen-fare, a great sixty per cent croak
coming from your very hoot here, you,
John, giv th man who hasn't got any
money some food."
Th men wer becoming furiously of
fensive. One of them held Hall while th
others forced food down his throat, and
the man "Roaring John" attempted to
pay m a similar compliment, but I struck
his hand, and he drew a knife, turning on
me. Th action was foolish, for In a mo
ment a tumult ensued. I heard fierce
cries, the smash of overturned board
and lights, and remembered no more than
om terrific blows delivered with my left,
a sharp pain in my right shoulder as a
knife went home, the voice of Hall cry
ing, "Make for the door the door," and
the great yell of Captain Itlack almve the
others. His word, no doubt, saved na
from greater harm ; for when I had
thougth that my fmlhanlinesa had un
done n. and that we should never leave
the place alive. I found myself in the
areot with Hall at mv side, he torn and
bleeding as I was, but from a slight
wound only.
"That was near ending badly." he said,
looking at the ekin-Ieep cut on my shoul
der. "Hall, what die It mean?" I asked.
"Who sre these men, and what business
carries you amongst them?'
La France was known to him as the
property of an eccentric American mill
ionaire, and he could not conceive that
anyone might b In danger aboard her,
A ther was no hop from him, I drov
to th embassy, where one of the clerks
heard my whole story; and while Inward
ly laughing at my fears, aa I could see,
promised to telegraph to a friend In Ca
lais, and get a message delivered that
might rail Hall back to Paris.
I had done all In my power, and I
returned to the hotel, but the others had
left for the station. Thither I followed
them. Instructing a servant to come to me
If any telegram should be sent; and so
reached the train. It was not, however,
until the very moment of our departure
that a messenger raced fo our carriage,
and thrust a paper at me; and then I
knew that my warning had come too Inte.
The paper said :
"Ia France ha sailed, and your friend
with her."
CHAPTER IV.
It was on the morning of the second
day; the wind playing fickle from east by
south, and the sea agold with the light
of an August sun. The yacht lay with
out life in her sail, th flow of the swell
beating laiily upon her, and the great
mainsail rocking on the boom. We had
"That you'll learn when you open the been out twenty-four hour, and had not
paper. Did you hear him aa me ro sail made a couple or Hundred mile. The de-
with him from Dieppe to morrow?" lay angered every man aboard the Celaia,
"I did, and I believe you'r fool enough since every man aboard knew that It was
to go." matter of concern to m to overtake
"I must risk that and more, as I hav th American yacht. La France, and that
risked it many a time. One aboard his a lif might go with long continued fall
yacht I ahall kav th key which will art.
Church-Goer pat TS rents In
Contribution Hm.
Ilclng nn occaxlonnl church-goer, ho
was euiipoHcd to b able to lihuv proi
erly and preserve Ills tMiinnJinity
through any ordinary service. Ills
fninlly was therefore aomew lii t curious)
when he returned from church one Sun
day nfwn with a most dlscotiHoluta- air,
says the Provlilimcu Journal.
"Didn't like the sermon?" asked bit
wife.
"Oh, the sermon wns all right, X
guess,' said tie, glumly.
"Well, what's the matter?" sh per
stated.
"Nothing's the matter," he retorted
sharply. "Cun't a iiinn look solemn
when he gets back from a solemn rellg
lous service without causing a riot In
his own home?'
His wife said nothing for a time, and
then, with a happy turiplrattuti, asked
casually :
"How rmwh did yoa put In the contri
bution Ikix to-dny?"
There was a pronounced pause, and
then tha reply enrne? wtth serious delib
eration "Seventy-five cents."
"Wasn't thnt rather liberal?" she) In
quired, knowing that he usually played
a quarter limit.
"Rather." he answered. "Rather lib
eral it struck me. Kather too 111!."
Then he chuck led and went on with
out further urging.
"Yon ste, It was this way: Was sit
ting alone In a hack sent on th other
aisle. Vhen the deacon started down
for the contribution I felt for some
change and found I had Just two pieces,
a quarter and a half. Somehow. I felt
pretty good-natured and was thinking
of putting In the half Instead of tht
quarter, as usual. While I was deliber
ating I'm blessed If the half didn't slip
out of my fingers and roll out Into tho
aWe. close to the second Iew In front,
I illdn't want to scramble for It then
and fifTured I could pet It at the close of
th service. So I sat hack and waited
for the Ix.x to come along, dropping In
the quarter.
"Just as he got to nie, the deacon no
ticed that he was half a lap ahead of
the deacon on the other side, and
stopped there to wait And naturally,
while) he was waiting, his eye lit on
the hnlf-dollar lying In the aisle In front
of 111 in.
And what 1ld that old sinner do hnt
grab for It, look around curiously a
minute and then drop It Into the box.
And 1 didn't have the nerve to hreathn
word. Just sat like a dummy and
watched the half go with the quarter.
Seventy five cents gone to the angel
and me without another cent In my
clothes, having to walk home Instead
of taking a trolley. Wouldn't that maka
you mad?'
Then he added, chuckling again:
Wh.it I'm wondering now Is whether
I get credit from St. Peter for glvln
the whole 7." cents or Just a qunrter."
Inti won t get credit for any of It
.il.se.-ved his wife. "St Peter'll rheck
ofT the credit for the quarter to cover
your wicked feeling when yoa snw the
half-dollar go, too."
Thafd tie a mean trick." he resta.n.l.
ed, as he reached for his Sunday paper.
laherlled Heroism.
Did he get all those medals for as..
Ing people?"
No; he got them by Inheritance III-
father did the aavlnir "4 'in. i
I'ltOa Deal