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^v w r \cm^ro M. It was Christmas Eve. The snow IMfe*. srhlrh haH K??? ?- " -? - - ? w?vu laiiiu^ ah oay uoi . turned to rain. The dreary drizzl MH tent a chill to the air. Mrs. Malllory stood at her drawtn feMt room window, held back the dark vel rat curtains and looked out on th IteMfc client avenue. There were few pedet Brians in sight. Now and theu a cai ?rpg,, rlage came under the electric light tnd the watcher at the window m-jm$ raught glimpses of the dainty ra! ment of the occupants as they whlrle up r.ayly Past on their way to som Christmas festivity. "Christmas festivity!" she repeate aloud, and her voice was low an Jims tense and expressed her pent up scor and weariness of the whole Christma MM* seasons She stood thus for a few moment! MMp ttarlng out into ttao night. Th damask portiere was pushed asid " m with a quick, light motion, and a slirr ?eatly attired maid appeared in th <loorway. Her ey?s fairly dance< gj' with delight, and though she si>ok jjQk} with a demure dignity it was eviden \ that something highly p'.eacing to he tancy was afoot, y "Does It please you that I come 1 Qi oow, madam?" she asked, with quaint little accent that would at one gnark her Parisienne?hed her trlr appearance not already done so. Mrs faillory turned slowly from the win Sli, "Vo. * a?, -uucur, juu uh.v onng in? tny Christmas gifts." There was trace of irony in the last two words t>ut her manner was entirely haught # and indifferent. She crossed the root and sat in a large armchai?' of rar Italian hand-carved wood. The pal violet lamp screen on the table besid ,Jt?j -her shed a soft light, and the ros light from the great open fire caugh i gleam now and then from the jewel M .. an her fingers. It was a curiou light, the combination of the ros and violet, but it was almost wierdl; lovely. Mrs. Maillory was a beauti *ui woman?a stern, classic beauty The folds of her black velvet gowi ' lell about her in simple stately grace fcer bare neck and shoulders r.?.amei white against the dark chair. He -hair was gray about the temples, am her deep dark eyes were at times in ?ipresslbly sad. She was lonely, bu she was proud, and none knew of he -tad Christmas Eve. She had refuse* U scores of invitations, and was lreepin] her Christmas Eve as was her custom having her gifts brought to her then In the dimly-lighted drawing-room. Her husband was keeping hi Christmas Eve, as was hlr. custom, ii P the great dense forest. Mr. Maillor. K-was what the world calls an r.prigh man?honored on the street, of i flint-like Integrity in hia business Tils word was as good as a bond. IT surrounded his wife with everv nnc sible luxury, excepting the one price less luxury for which a woman wouli few** -sacrifice nil others?friendship am comradeship. These he reserved to *** a few old friends, men who had beei through financial battles with him -who had shared his college frolics am ?tud!es. That afternoon he had hurried In gathered up his hunting traps nm * -started off. He had given his wife i check?a princely sum?and said: "Just buy yourself a little trinket Victoria, my dear, and have a nio time at the Van Arden's tonight." "If he had only bought me a littli liPPfc'- something himself." she thought, sad 1y. -"If It were only a few flowers!" Janette came In, followed by a foot man in gorgeous livery carrying i large number of little packages o , all shapes and sixes. He came sev ?eral times and arranged the pack ages as Janette directed. The mai< Mm* sras all little flutterings and happi tiess and flitted from this box to tha In a perfect whirlwind jf jor- Thli **" a rare treat, opening Madame': Christmas flfts. "Oh, they are so many!" she cried ST "I do not know which one,to opei Gift after gift was held oat to Mrs Maillory, but she looked at each in fT ' differently and sometimes impatient ly. They were all given from a sens* if of duty, she knew that. Climbers 01 the social ladder wished to be hei friends, that they might through he: influence open the closed doors o ' society. Those in her own set Uke< i , her ss well ss women who live foi fashion and society are capable o liking one another. Charity organ! cations courted hor favor, for she wai f always ready to respond to their calls Unlike many of the women of her ac ,* sualntance, she went personally t< mfm ths poorer quarters, and aided thi ?retched poverty there. - r ' r v ~scsm/ssf[ 2$ Amio/?y\ ', The maid placed the trinkets uu tbe v table for ber mi3tress* inspection of e her Jewels that should have the power to give Joy to any woman, but Mrs. g Malllory looked at them indifferently. I- and toyed with them with her slender e white fingers. v- She frowned with displeasure as - the maid laid before her a wrap of t, costly fur. v "My nephew should not have sent I- me this," she said sharply. "He cand not afTord it. It was only because I e gave them their wedding silver." The maid did not hear this, for she d was lost in raptures over a firmly d mntlnee of real lace and hand-painted n chiffon. s "Oh, the exquisite 'mouse.* " she cried, with more enthusiasm than j, knowledge of correct English, e Mrs. Malllory smiled little at the e maid's quaint happiness in the gifts, i. She was rather fond of Janette and e wns often amused at the girl's extravd agant expressions. Janette was a e happy, care-free soul and always it ready to cater to ter every mood, r She ran to hbr mistress with a veritable little squeal of pleasure as 6he n untied one box. It was a fine gold a necklace with a butterfly pendant, e frail, Jewelled, delicate as a breeze, a Mrs. Maillory read the card and her 5. face turned pale, i- "Cat!" she whimpered. The Rift was from a woman whom - Mrs Matllory thoroughly disliked, a and she had not tried to hide her feel?, Ings. The woman, through ambiy tlons of her own, had persistently n clur.g to Mrs. Malllory, and had used e her name as the entree into many e fashionable gatherings. As she e looked at the jewel. Mrs. Malllory r could have crushed its delicate beaut ty in her hand. s **?? ** e MADONNA IN C( \ f The eiutely footman came into the : - room, the picture <.f shocked dignity. - Janette was about to take the brown ! 1 paper parcel which the irate man held \ - out stiffly before him, then started j t back with a little scream. "The impertinence:" she cried. "What does thi:: mean?" asked Mrs. Maillory, haughtily. "A very ragged little girl left this awful package, madam. She insisted on its being given to you." "Bring it to me." The footman gave the crumpled bund<e to his mistress. "Misses Malry," was written in a round, childish scrawl. A strange feeling came over the woman. "You may go," she said to Janette and the man, and the maid withdrew reluctantly. When the hard knots of the string were finally taken off, Mrs. Maillory exclaimed in surprise. A little note, written In the same childish hand, was pinned to the curious pink cambric square. The note ran: "Dear Misses Malry: You don't j . know me but you ctm to our house a I s wile ago and brot things when Jonnle B the baby had mesles. You wuz good to us. and we like you. We wish you a mery Chrlsmus. Th? thlrfg I made j you Is for your hnnkerchuf. "MAMIE O'DONNELL." "What does the child mean?" 1 thought Mrs. MatUory In great sur. prise. j The she remembered. The O'Doni nells were on her charity list. She r looked at the gift. It was a pink camr brie Bquare, the four corners turned J back and tied with a ribbon. The 1 stitches were large and uneven, the r cambric was soiled and the ribbon f old. She looked closely at the ribbon. - It had been used, evidently as a hair i ribbon. Suddenly a thought came to ? the woman?she remembered the day - perfectly when she had brought ease ) and comfort to little Johnnie. The I mother was away at work, and the little sister kept house and cured for the baby brother. Tbe child ha< showed this pink ribbon proudly t< the visitor; her '^Sunday ribbon," shi told her. The great lady fingered the soiled gaudy piece of pink cambric and rib bon gently, almost reverently, anc there were tears in her voice ag six said softly: "Her one treasure, her bit of a rib bon?she gave It to me?she gave 1 to me because it is Christmas." With a sob that was half joy, hal sorrow, she laid her head over on tlx queer, shabby little offering and wep away all the grief and lonely heart ache, for In the gift of a little chili she had found her real Chrismas.? Boston Globe. A TOY TRAGEDY 1 [She conje to [>leo;e ^onjc Girlie, ^ From jar acrojj fjjc jca"0 Her locks <A?rc dork and curly; A l^relto doll <^05 jl)e Her hjair C Vd} like Hjo ravVtjj v?in? Will) topdn!/ [jrorje to curl or)d cltr)^ They pul her in a stocking,' Ar)d coldly IcJI- tyor there BehAren-oh. it" vtos shocking?1 A t"if>?r or)d o b?r.' ^ j0/ coury.^c ^pcrjt o dreadful r)i?jtf Apd (1\n/tn)<y njonj her j)oir v4/ v?|jibc ? - Louyvilfe Councr-Jourwl., )NT?MPLATION~ DBB^^ 'IWiw the night belore tJfiridlui?n>, when aJ through the house Not a creature was stirring?not even i mouse; The stockings were hung by the chimtie; with care. In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would bi there. f Dinner; \ ^p^Hristmasl .CttRISThAS MENU OI?v<e> Celery _ Oyster ^oup Cracker; . Tvoafr TurP^y Cranberry J*lly flashed Fotatoej Baked Aacareni and Cheese "Tomato and Lcttuce^olad' NuJj, ^ Ctftce rChrbrrna!r Cve~(avitorcn> f C&oforr CT>r/jfrm*f 77w J . iChicken Broth with ftice.\ 'Bread Stichj.T fcrcad-and-Butter Sondvichg; or Bread-and-OrarvqeV jAormalcde.V Jelly 3andwichc/. U-^FlWCf. Shnngcrti?. locCnfon* QkW t'hristmns 'Way I>oun South. f You hear dat fiddle's music -de clappin' of P de ban's! . Dey beats de jubilatioa of de halleluia | ban's! - You hear dat flo' a-creakin'? En don' you i hear de call: "Balance ter yo' partners, en swing yo' ladies all!" Chria'mus times, good people! Heel en toe you lif! Yander come de white folks? Ketch' em "Chria'mus G?f'!" Who dat 'way off yander, rackin' down ds road? De ole-timc. gray-head deacon, wid a congregation load! IA- - ? ? - .... mjv mcvun -nouse is empty?can't miss de Chris'tnu;. chance--Dey muster hevrd <le music, en dey comin' ter dc dance! Come in dar. you people. En swing aroun' de hnit! Heel en toe, en roun' you go. En "Cbris'ntus Git' " ter all! De very backlog's dancin', en up de red sparks m>. En pelt de ha nts wid lire, whar dey moanin' in de snow! Dey better take de road home, en hunt de holler tree, Fer dis here time is Chris'iuus, en d? I tiddlc's llyin' free! Watch out fer dat mistletoe! Ketch you, 1 be boun'! Kiss her fer dat " Chris* mus Gif' Swing yo* sweetheart roun'! Come in?de whole plantation?en jinc de dancin' feet. En glimpse dat peaceful 'possum?dat turkey. brown en sweet! De table piled wid plenty!?come in, en j ^ fake yo' place. En see dc deacon smack his mouf en say Z amnzin' grace! V Aain't dis halleluia Ter de soul or you? 'Pears like Heaven come down ter airth En tell you, "Howdy do!" S Chris'mus times, good people! Dt i let de music roll! De snow v.one hide de medders. but de summer's in you' soul! Ilan's- roun'?de ole Ferginny Reel! en let a 1 IJ uc Biinimtm creep Like ghosts acrost tie snowfiel's?but we'll jT dance de stars ter sleep! |l Chris'mus times, good people? P lies' time senee de fall! 6 Glory hnlleluia, Kn "C'hris'nius Gif' " ter all! ?Frank I.. btanton, in the Satuiday Even- tl ing Post tl De LIT Tin Horn. d Sho' ez you l>o'n. _ di Dey gwine ter be fun wid de li'l' tin lio'n! f( En some folLs'll growl, in de ol'-fashion' ?, way, . Kase it rouse 'etn fuin res' at do breakin' or day! oi Eut de li'lN folks say dat dey never shill r( ' .eer? "(!ri>:'iiius des come once a year!" nl Sho' cr. you lio'n, jjj Dar's de life cr de worl* in dat li'l' tin ' ' lio'n! al Kn de lines' er sights?en de purtiest. too, st Is deni rosy-red regiments uiurchm' ter ft' you! et Some folks, dey may growl, but de chillun pi don't hear? cc "Cris'mus des come once a year!" til Christmas Eve. C< For fear one waif, this winter night, of Should lack a garment's fold, _ n( Ering forth fair vesture, warm and bright, rJ Lest the dear Christ-child go cold! w. Nor let one hungry from your door Fare sorrowing unfrd. The whitest loaf bring from your store, oil Lest the Christ-clulu faint for bread! ca to Ilush mirth, to hark, this blessed eve, The wanderer's weakest cry? ex The homeless at your henrtn receive, ' Lest the Christ-i-hild pass you by! * ?Edith Hope Kinney, in Youth's Com- stl panion. In / I u Plum Pudding. In This Is a good recipe: Crumble a tniall loaf of millt-bread and pour over It one pint of milk. Soak until soft, then add three well-beaten eggs, ti< one cupful of dark brown sugar, one Je a i ?..< -? -> - I cuiuui 01 cnoppen and creamed suet 3' Y . with all the stringy substance re] moved, one pound of seeded and J,fl e chopped raisins, one pound of currants, one-fourth of a pound of finely j,r chopped citron, one-fourth of a tea- (0 spoonful each of cloves, allspice and th grated nutmeg, and one-half tea- wl spoonful each of cinnamon and gin- %r ger and one-fourth of a teaspoonful of salt. Boil four hours in a wellbuttered moid. This recipe may be jic made in double the quantity, as it to will keep for a long time. When ne ready to use, steam well until heated foi through. Decorate with holly sprigs, j Serve with hard Fauce, made by creaming one-third of a cupful of butter with one cupful of light brown sugar, and adding drop by drop, nil creaming It in, one teaspoonful of Th vanilla. Pile on a dish In a pyramid, of and dot with candled cherries and thi blanched almonds. d? 7 sll The Christmas Plant. thi The poinsettia, or Christmas plant, foi as It is better known, is one of the mf most useful for Christmas deco?k- ?n tions, the bright red of the flowers al'j and green of the foliage giving the tw true Christmas colors. Thf? ?# ?? ? the plants appear lower than former- in ly, and consequently are better suited trc to table ornamentation. As a rule, pri from six to twelve of the plants come In one low, wide pot. which Is often Incased In a red basket. ~ } Some people expect so much mors en than others. , - ??. wl PRICE TO LIVE-EVER' ?Cartoon by GOVERNlYlErvn^TO IN THE INCREASED eiidior Crawford Calls on Secret! Statement of the Facts Regarc Necessities?If Data Fail, 1 Legislation Wi Washington, D. C.?The alarming T1 tcroase in the cos. of living. due to wc ic rapid and constant advance in the th rice of necessities, is to be invest!- pe ated by the Government. Oj Senator Crawford, of South Dnota. has asked Secretary Nagei, of v.( le Department of Commerce and. ,'j, alior. for a conservative statement of le facts. Should the Secretary, from jj(, ata in his possession, fail to give the l)f oslred information. Senator Crawn*d will press a resolution in tho enate. directing the Commissioner ? investigate and report to Congress raj lrl.v, that there may be prompt g'j .-medial legislation. ^r; Senator Crawford purposes to get gj ! the bottom facts as to ihe advance i prices. There is suspicion in lii3 co, irt of the country that combination gj id community of interest; have ,-n( micthing to do with conditions that co, e alarming and fast growing intol- 1 . able. Senator Crawford is an op- jn ment of all monopolistic trusts and ro, trners in farm and dairy products. sjt'| Preliminary investigations show nn, lero have been no reports from the -pj. ommissioner of Labor on the costs s;,j living, the advance in price of ;cessities and the value of labor Cos nee 1907. At that time a report ' as made that labor was not able to gr<irchase as much as in previous by *ars. The report was severely criti- by sod by Republican statesmen, he- por use a political camnaign was about mo open. An amended report soon frai ipeared, and its comparisons, more l haustive than in the first report, kiu plained some of the most damaging ties atements previously made. to creased Cost :17 I'er Cent. '):'r Since 1907 there has been a sharp ,t!V' crease in the cost of living, and a . " 1 adual increase for a dozen years. a special dispatch to The American Vl1' am Trenton, N. J., it was stat**d by ro" e State Board of Labor and Statists that the cost of living in New j,p rsev has increased in thirteen years w .13 per cent. ,,on These facts have been brought *vo' ime to a number of Senators by ,! f eir constituents. The people want 'ai know whether combinations and ice arrangements have raised eosl l ' 'I1 consumers: what the farmer and j e middle man get,, to determine ce!) tether the margins of profit are too | eat. Senator Crawford will have ! ,ot; tie difficulty in getting his resoiu-| >ns of Inquiry passed. Senator Bristow. of Kansas, he- ',aJJ ives combinations have something do with the advance of the co^t of nnr cessities, but thinks that the desire 'a r luxuries has more. "The people have grown accus- as ( med to luxuries," he said. "For ars they got the best of everything prices lower than now. When En? ices were advanced because of de- Ldv ind, they had to take the next best. Pre ie result has been a general advance Fr" all grades of necessities. 1 believe Hid e combinations have had much to Tex with it, but not all. Met "When the wholesaler advances Coa glitly, the retailer advances, and 9'ls a two or more advances made be- I re the article reaches the consumer Bui ikes the general advance a burden Che the wage-earner. I would like to Misi ow the relationship that exists in cases or in large communities be- T cen wholesaler and the retailer. T lave heard, but do not know, that tinu some Instances the wholesaler con- ent Is the retailers and fixes the retail he t ice. fore "I do not think the tariff can be will Id responsible for these advances, mod ilnhoma Inspector Determined $12 to Have Orders Obeyed. McAlester. Okla.?Eleven collieries \ four different companies were hor jsed at Coalgate, Okla., by Mine the spector Hanraty, because they had 3>ii nored his formal notice that they ove list cease maintaining mule stable3 res] the mines. | .. -1 Inspector Hnnraty's order for all for lerations to cease until Ms rule is ert; rnplled with immediately threw an 100 raintrs there temporarily out of ma iployment. Electrical appliances , of : 111 be Installed to do the work. | Mr. tSfe. / frtoailii&iffrr a'i 1111 liiil' ^ /THING GOING OP. . Gregg. in the New York American. VESTIGAT E ? COST OF LIVING iry Nagcl For a Conservative ling Advance in Price v.; Inquiry and Remedial 11 Follow. ioro can lie 110 defense of the mien schedules, no justification for e sugar tariffs except to insure pertuity to the Sugar Trust. poses Investigation. "I cannot see what pond results >nld flow from an investigation of pse conditions at this time." Senator Perkins, of California, beves the advance is due to the law simply and demand, that produc>n has not. kept pace with the Dwth of popnlation. ".Many years ago. I was a cattle iscr," he said. ""We pot SI 2 to f> for a steer. To-day that steer inps $1.1 to S.'.O. I sold sheep at .50 a head. They now bring $S> mutton. Wheat has sold at fifty its a bushel; it is now more tha In Chicago. The i~*tle raiser ar * wheat grower 4*^:1 large pei it age of this increase "Formerly the cities could bo f. large part by the product of su inding territory. Now the necc les are demanded in such hull: th st he transported great distance is increases the cost of the nece OS. " it lo Cii> Still Higher. Hint the oost of living soon will I) .iter than over before, is indicate' the December report, just issuei tho Uradstreet Company. The r< t shows that tho prices of rc dities to-day are within a s* rtion of tho record. "p to date tho highest price iwn in this country for commodi s was March 1. 1907. Accordin Bradstroot's tablo of index nurn s. on December 1. this year, th 1 stood at $9.1 2C2. On March 7, tho level was $9.1293. Th I he price of commodities to-day hin a small fraction of one i t. of tho highest record. Iradstreet's report shows tl oreticnlly, c. man going to' ilesal? market place to purchase ind of each of ninety-six artic' tld have had to pay on Decern! >f this year about $9.12 Rs. rch 1 last like goods might h; n purchased for nearly ninoty-c ts loss, while on December is, they were cheaper by ts. Iradstreet's index number tls of the prices per pound . six articles, quarterly or nv.^ Ich is utred as a standard o c ison. , 'he groups that makp up the ' nbers are set out in the foile le, which shows the strikin ase in the cost of living this compared to last: Dec. 1, D 190S. If adstuffs $0.0979 $0. cstock 3275 ivisions 2.060.3 Its 1C07 es and leather 1 ice-. tiles 2.365.1 als 5881 1 and coke 006.1 i 3637 al stores 0G83 Idlng material . .0804 micals. drugs.. .6370 cellaneous 2744 otal $S.2132 $ he report shows that prici ? to move upward. If th rate of increase continues i matter of only a short t the highest priced ever be recorded for oil kinds ities. - ' 10 a Year From Govemna You're C5 and Don't Ma VasMngton. 1"). C.?"An ne guard bill" was lntrr Horse by Mr. Wilson, /ania. It provides that cf r sixty-five "ears of ago! Ided in the United Statefi Ive years r.nd have bell fifteen years not pouftt y exceeding S1500 in VjWi income in exesaa of y be enrolled to recelvW |120 a year, to be pal-fj , Wilson Is a labor man^