?dfccn l?virvj thing the straight-^^?'?.^'
mil? sing ' ?3$Dp?:j
. ? high, exulting strain .. 'fi'
?Ti ic coacher reel o'er ii?c s>l.:n- Jj
: ??i~ sive!
WSWCUUIIHVT across tilt- plain.
gTtinuigh night, through jdaX?
' wc leap away
VCitii rt.tths anil eras!? and
'roar,
?Kati oar pukes leap as we home-;
ward sweep. fi
And Christina
. tr:nre.
s carnes once?
ArMi
-flt ? ABEL GIFFORD was out
j\ /J of sorts. There was an un
I \/ J happy expression closely
g~ approaching a scowl upon
her iresli, young face ns she gazed
moodily from tho kitchen window upon
a scone bright with the glitter of sun
light upon fresh-fallen snow. Au open
letter hiy upon her lap. Her mother
glanced at her anxiously from time to
time on her short journeys to and fro
irani kitchen to pantry, and at last
?aid gently:
"I am sorry about your disappoint
ment, dear, but 1 suppose lt could not
toe helped."
"It is all Helen's scUBhnoss," burst
out Mabel, hotly. "She promised last
cummer to spend Christinas with me,
and now because she has bad au In
Titation that suits her heller she ac
cepts it, no matter how 1 feel."
Mabel thought of the rows of mince
and pumpkin pies on the pantry
?helves, the plump turkey walling to
he stuffed, the numerous other dainties
prepared for the Christmas holidays,
and of the zest and energy with which
she had swept aud dusted, putting the
bouse in perfect order from cellar lo
atti?*, oveu to decorating the pictures,
and every available spot with ever
greens, hoping to make the old farm
house attractive to her fastidious
?guest. Everything was done, even to
the atoning of (he raisins for the plum
pudding. She was nroused from her
reverie by her mother's voice, saying:
"Well, I d?chire, if there isn't Maria
Church plowing through the snow,
with a market basket: on lier arm. I
.know lt must be heavy the Why she
ci??-ies IL Rob," to her .von, iv?o had
. JX?? ewn? Vcr,'**if fat tea?ii ls .v?i?lT?eie
^?xu? the load off, go after ?liun - Church
and. drive her home. It's enough to
kill her to get her skirts KO drabbled.''
"All right. Muz," said the good-na
tured . Rob. "Come along, sis, and
don't sit mooning there any longer."
They soon overtook tho solitary spin
ster, who ejaculated with gratifying
emphasis:
"For the land sakes! Is that you.
Rob Gifford? I guess I'm in luck this
time," and depositing her trembling
form upon the board with a sigh of
supreme satisfaction.
After driving a couple of miles they
stopped before a small frame house
of forlorn and dismal aspect, doubtless
awing in part to its aloofness from
neighbors.
"Wait herc until I come back," said ?
Rob. "I'm going to drive over to sec;
Toni Wilson. I won't be gone long," i
DiiCOftATIXO THE HO?SE.
ii ia) Mabel followed Miss, Church hilo
thc house.
Il was very scantily furnished. The
floors were have, but white ns soap and
water could make them. The table
?las spotless ia its purity. Not a
TJie smoke flung back on'th?
. shilling track.
Like a baener floats anil furl;;.
With ix leap and boomi. Jilin aa
unleashed hound.'"
The engine forward hurts.
Beside us Hy the Held r.nd sky
And the woods witt? echoed
>?W roar.
JAnd our hearts beat fa3t as the
milos sweep past.
For Christmas comes, or.co
more '
DOROTHY Dr.ANE.
? ri _ vvOODr\?PF?
speck of dust could bc soon anywhere.
Hugs and mats of all sizes, shapes and
colors were spread herc and there,
seemingly for udorutucnt rather than
usc.
"They're hem." whispered Mabel's
companion, noticing thc girl's . eyes
fixed upon them. Hy "her" Mabel un
derstood Miss Church to moan thc sis
ter who had lived with her and had
died a year before.
"Martha had a wonderful gift that
way," she continued. "It's surprisin'
what she could do right out of her
head. They're all her make. I never
had no taste for it."
Mabel murmured something Inaudl
BRINGING HOME TH
(Drawn by Sarah S. Slilwc
bl?! as she contemplated thc works of
art before ber. Scroll work of extra
ordinary design, bouquets of wonder
ful flowers of enormous size und pain
ful colors, and animals aud birds of
astonishing proportions.
"It must be very, very lonely *for
you," said Mabel with ready sym
pathy.
"Yes, 'tis," replied Miss Church. "I
don't know* how to stand it sometimes.
When I found Christmas was com in*
it pretty nigh made me sick to think
ot' it. When folks git old and uuinter
esllu' people don't hanker after bavin'
'em round much, and I'd'no as I blame
'cm any. But when 3*011 git used to
yet own you miss _'em when they're
gone."
"Yes, Indeed," said Mabel, fervently,
swallowing the lump lu her throat with
ditfiqulty. "I'm so sorry you have to
live herc nil alone, Miss Church."
"There's them as bas ast me to live
will? them," she said, "but I somehow
can't leave my home, where I've lived
all my life, and I'd'no as I could git
along with 'em if I did. There's, yer
brother come back;."
"Did you notice that rooster, Mim?"
he asked with ft snort when they hud
started homeward. "Wasn't he a cau
tion?" but Mabel v/as in a brown
study nnd did not respond satisfactori
ly. lier abstraction continued until
after supper, making Rob unensy nt
such unusual conduct, and giving ber
uiotber real concern. Then came the
unburdening, followed by consultation,
with tba result that Rob was dis
patched in the morning with the cut
ter wita a note lo Miss Church, which
read thus:
"Dear Friend: I, too. am lonely this
Christmas Day, and disappointed, for
the friend I expected ha:* not come,
ami I hope that you Krill do me the
kindness to come in her stead. Please
do not disappoint me. Your sincere
friend, MABEL OIPFOUD."
Miss Church was Blltuig at the win
dow, with her steel-rimmed .specta
cles astride her nose ami her Bible in
her lap, when Bob drove up. Curiosi
ty quickly brought lief to the door.
Utter amazement was depicted* upon
her countenance when she had read
Ute note.
"Mercy me!" she said,; "I don't see
what tilt* child wants of? me. But if?
it's n-goiir* lo be any disappointment
my not goiu,' why I'm agoln' to go,"
and she put on lier wrapt without an
other word.
.Mabel devoted horr*D?Tr?io. her guest,
who enjoyed the day immensely. She
was interested in everydjilng4-Mabel'a.
fancy work, Mrs. Glfforl's recipe for
ginger cake. Bob's accdOnt of how he
caught lite mink that nad/ueen robbing
his henroost, and Mr.' Gifford's politi
cal views. It was intelligent; interest,
too, with a touch of quaint humor that
made her company very 'Agreeable.
"I had no Idea that Marla Church
was so well informed," mid Mrs. Gif
ford to her husband, discussing her
afterward.
"She's just like her father, old John
Cb arch-shrewd, honest i and plain
spoken," said Mr. Gifford!
The dinner was pronounced a great
success by Miss Church,) whose opin
ion was of value from the fact that
she was a judge of good cookery, and
was never known to pay undeserved
compliments. Thc crowjdug part of
the day's pleasure was tl:2 Christmas
tree entertainment In the church in lite
evening. She beamed on the minister
when he made the customary remarks,
E CHRISTMAS TREE
ll for Harper's Bazar.)
and rejoiced audibly when little Tolly
Pratt, a yellow-haired tot, screamed
with delight over the huge doll pre
sented to her. She was nearly worn
out with excitement and pleasure
when Ute evening was over, and said
to Mabel when putting on lier wraps
while Bob was getting the horse ready
to take her home:
"I'm real glad I didn't disappoint
/ou. I never had a belter time in my
life," and Mabel answered earnestly:
"I am so glad you didn't. Miss
Church. 1 never had a nicer Christ
mas either, and I'm coming to see you
often if you will let me."
"Come along, my (Tear," said Miss
Church, heartily. "The oftener the
"rOLIi? SCREAMED WITH DECilOHT OVEB
THE JJIO "DOLIi."
better. I don't seem to feel nigh so
lonesome as I did. I will let you take
I off the pattern of them mats when
j you come. I'd just as lief you would
I as not. A girl as smart, as you ne had
j ought to copy 'cm in uo time? Is that
you, Rob? Whatever la trio matter
with the boy. I guess lie's got the
high-strikes. Good-night."-Chb-ugo
Record-Herald.
Kt. Nick l>r Automobile
Good old Saint Nick comes to one of
the up-to wu stores this holiday season
la a sadly li it poet lc vehicle. There will
be no clatter of light hoofs or .Ungle
of sielghhe?s to marl: his pansage over i
rooftops in that, vicinity on Un? night
before Christmas. No wicked chil
dren, who lie awake to catch him, will
hear that jolly old voice urging on
Dasher and Prancer, Donner and Itlit
BCU, and all the rest of the famous old
four-tlmes-four-in-linnd team. In other
words, reindeer as a motive power are
out of date, ?mri the metropolitan San
la Claus comes this year In an auto
mobile. Nor is this all of the new rev
elation. The store's' decorators have
pictured Krlss as coming, strange to
say, front a southerly direction and
not out of the frozen north, as he used
to appear to the watchful parental
eyes of generations gone by. lils new
fangled vehicle seems m follow a route
that lies over the hills of Staten Island
and just touches a corner of South
Brooklyn before lt leads up toward
Liberty's little Island and thc sky
scrapers of Manhattan. To the youth
ful "higher etil les"' of the Christmas
saint, these disclosures ought to fur
nish new material for roUcetion.-New
York Sun.
lu Suntu'/? Doll Factory.
Ile pr?payes lo make glad the hearts
of good little girls.
BRINGING THE CH?ISTMAS TRF.E"
Al) Alike.
? Husband-"Do you think we can af
ford to give away so many Christmas
presents, dear?"
Wife - "That's no argument. The
people who give r.s presents can't af
ford lt, either."-Puck.
Tell the Truth or Nothing.
Nothing is morn disgusting aii'l ag
gravating than the practico ot carole*?
.jr m lach le voua misrepreacntutioti of
what we Kee and hear. Those meddler*
nui busybodies with evil tongues who
trot around from house to lions.'! to
smell and bas news ami rumors arc
dangerous machines in society am! are
capable of doing a vast amount i?r mis
chief. In repeating what they atv or
hear they eitiier ignorantly or i
lessJy misrepresent or misinterpret
facts which ofttimes If correctly told
would be productive of no evil results,
long years of warm friendship an.I tho
peace, prosperity ot homes, eh arches
and neighborhoods have been broken
up by that class of ga title rs who uavo
no regard for truth and honesty. "An
Idle brain," says some one. "is the
devil's Workshop, and a dos that will
Miring a hone will carry one." When
decent and intelligtmt people stop giv
ing an audience and encouragement lo
liars and scandal mongers who enjoy
a demoniacal pleasure in stabbing tho
characters, reputations and views of
the inoncent and upright, they will
cease their wicked and damaging
tongue work, lt is the duty of all neo
ple to speak nothing but the truth or
keep silent, for a strict regard for HIP
truth is the foundation upon which
character ls built. A liar is universally
despised and shunned.
A Pessimistic View.
The National Pilot takes a very
gloomy view of the religious outlook in
the following:
"There is a tidal wave of Irrcllgious
ness, we. might call it idolatry, sweep
ing over thc land from Negro hearts
and hearth stones and, if it is not
speedily checked, in the three decades
our people will cease to build churches
and condemn everything that is sa
cred.
"To prophesy our down fall In Hie
face of ?Geming prosperity will appear
to be mere folly to some of our people
as did thc daring threatenings of our
Lord against the Jewish nation when
they became so indignant until they
Invited him out of the temple to be
hold thc magnificence and beauty of
their great building. Hut it was none
the lefc-,3 true; for the day came when
there was not left one stone on top ot
thc other and the Jews are now scat
tered over thu entire world. "What
was true with regard to the Jewish na
tion moro likely to bc true with regard
to the colored people; for the Jew*! had
the first promise of eternal life. Thc
people that serve God may hope to dc
well; but woo unto every one whe
chooses to leave the path of rectitude
and walks the broad and beaten road
of sin."
-^ *^Alrn- s ' cricsnlsms. '*mm*'wf
It is very necessary that the Negri
give special attention to all qucstionl
which concern himself. The Tuske
gee Negro Conference, which will con
vene at Tuskegee next February, seeks
to keep the public informed of the sub
stantial progress that is being made hy
the race, n.s well as bringing to light
the obstacles which confront lt.
Stop fighting each other In the mat
ter of getting teachers for pui.?t "
schools. Put aside personal preforene?
and come together on this important
matter; for while you are fighting each
other, the children are suffering foi
education.
Mr. Frank Gilmore, at Crests, is 3
progressive and succeraful farmer. His
success is simply another proof of wha!
a man can do who is determined ta
forge ahead..
In practicing economy, all members
of the household must contribute their
mite toward the general result, livery
one must cut down on expenses.
Down in Jacksonville, Fla., the col
ored people have inaugurated a stock
company, and will organize a stage
coach service throughout the city ex- '
elusively for persons of the race. This
has been done on account of a recent
ordinance separating me races on
street cars.
We hear so much these days of what
the South has spent in education for
the Negro. All this is true, and for it
we are grateful. Hut all thc beneficence
he has received ls yet equal to tho
just dues of a darker past still remain
ing, and that must ever remain unoaid.
Thanksgiving Is really a part of true
happiness.
Confidence in our own racial Integ
rity will prove one of our greatest
bulwarks of protection.
It ls not always the truly heroic
Christian who gets the most honor
among men.
He who ls so modest rb stay down In
he valley always will never get on the
top of thc mountain.
We must organize and co-operatt>
against all thc forces that may come
against us as a race.
Whatever position In life we occupy
we are unworthy of it if we do no: dis
charge its duties with conscienl?oufi
fidelity.
No chain can support a weight
greater than that which its weckest
link can sustain, nor can any milan
rise, higher in thc scale of Intelligence
:han the humblest people of that na
tion.
The Negro's property os far ts i*
'goes, ir, taxed equally with tho white
?ian's for public, education an.l the ?
ennintananee of Oe State. This being
the case, he should share every 'cone,
.action of thc State.
Two wrongs may not make one righi
but it makes them both write, if they
.occur between two editors or corrca
; popOiti'.s.