University of South Carolina Libraries
<: - ; v1. * .*" V ' . k *%., ' piLE- C <piLE on the logs and knotted pine, Let's have a roaring fire to-day? its cheerful light shall put to flight The worries which beset our wayj Pile on the logs and see them gleam?. And gather 'rcrund the Christmas bl iAnd drown in so gs oL feuds and wron Shake hands again around its rays. ffrfe GR?EH ELjVl va<^ HE little Green Elf sat in front of his doorway. He! O rP O had a very nice house. A X A long time ago a rabbit had lived in that hole among the tools of the tree, but the little lreen Elf had lived there for years, ever since the cow ate the olu Kobold, his father. The cow never meant to eat Kobold, but she thought he was a leaf. She couldn't help it after she had swallowed him. The animals all love the little woodfolk too well to hurt them. It was the same cow who found a home : for the little Green Elf. The house was quite tidy inside, j There was moss for a carpet. In the i corner was the pantry with clean acorn cups and saucers. An empty nest was the bed, with oak 'eaf p'llows :,v and spreads. Usually the little Green Elf was merry, but this night he was sorrowful. He sat in a bunch with his hands clasped on his knees. There were holes % in his green coat and the wind blew in. . "Pretty sort of weather," he said in ? a gruff voice, because his throat was sore. "Not much to eat, and no thistledown to pay the Pixies for a new overcoat Never knew such a winterbrooks empty, milkweed crop a failure, no pumpkin seeds to be had at any price, and the nuts all covered up with snow! Whew! But it's cold! And Christmas Eve, as sure as I live!" "Chee, chee, tee, tee, chee." The little Green Elf stopped shivering and listened. "Chee, chee, tee. Fine night, isn't it? How do you do down there?" "It's the Lame Squirrel," said the little Green Elf. "I thought he must be frozen this bitter weather, or starved. Not a nut has he been able to get since he caught his leg in the trap. Hello, up there! How are you?" "All right," chirped a small voice. "Beautiful weather, isn't it?" "I'm not so sure of that," said the Elf. "Got anything to eat?" n psmp the nininsr voice. ''There's good bark on this tree, and I'm chew'ng an icicle. I'm watching '?/\ jj 1 the Christmas trees going into town. Fine sight! You ought to be up here." The little Green Elf unclasped his hands. He began to whistle softly to himself. Then he took his pine needle broom and swept the snow out of his house. Next, he scampered off over^ )N THE % v ' By Charles S. Hurt. J Pile on the logs and crackling chips? The bells ring out with festal chimed Let lad and lass the glad hours pass In mirth and music to their rhyme.J 'as? gs/ j the snow. He, was not gone long. When noise doing it that one of the sleeping crickets woke up. "What are you doing?" she asked, peering in at the door. "Sh," said the little Green Elf. "It's he came back, he was dragging a hemlock branch. He stood it up in the middle of the floor. He made so much a Christmas tree for the Lame Squirrel. Don't you tell him." "Got any fixings for it?" inquired the Cricket. "Oh, a few," said the little Green Elf. "I'm going to hang on a bog of chestnuts I was saving for dinner to-morrow." "Hold on!" said the Cricket. "I'll just waken a few fireflies to be lights on the tree." A Snowbird fluttered by. "What is going on?" she said, looking in at the door. "Sh," said the little Green Elf. "A Christmas tree for the Lame Squirrel." "Wait a minute," said the Snowbird. Til bring a bunch of wheat for the lop." One of the Frost Fairies put his head in the door. "You seem to be very busy?what are you doing?" he called out "Sh," said the little Green Elf. "A Christmas tree for the Lame Squirrel." "Oh, let me help," said the Frost Fairy. "I know where to find a whole pile of hickory nuts, and I'll put some frost crystals on every branch. It was a beautiful Christmas tree. The moon came out on purpose to look at it. There is stood In the middle of the little Green Elf's parlor. From the top to the bottom It was shining with the fireflies for lights and the frost crystals. The bunch of wheat was w ] - ' ' Li O G C Pile on the logs till red flames rise And leap high up the chimney flue; Above the snow the North winds blow And fan the ruddy blase-anew., Pile on the logs. PUe on the logs; We'll have a roaring fire to-day. No gloom should bide on Christmas tide; But every^ heart be^ glad and gay. hung. On every twig there were nuts. There were chains of pine needles. After it was all finished, the little Green Elf and a friendly Pixie went up the tree to fetch the Lame Squirrel. They were a long time bringing him down. You see he was so very lame and so hungry that he was weak, while.they were gone, something happened. Nobody every found out who did it Perhaps Santa Claus passed by; but wonderful things were left in i the little Green Elfs parlor. When he reached the door with the Lame' Squirrel, he stood still. He rubbed his eyes to see if he were asleep. The same Christmas tree stood there, but it was ten times more beautiful. There were^glow worms and fallen stars to make it brighter. There were hundreds of nuts, hazelnuts, butternuts, walnuts, chestnuts. There were bags of pumpkin seed, and cans mitl'-n-and Roct t\f oil TFOS fl PTPPT1 VI UlllU II VVU* A/VUI. V*. MM ? MV M O- X ~ ? ulster for the good little Green Elf. All night long the Lame Squirrel sat up and ate nuts. All night long the little Green Elf danced around the Christmas tree in her new green ulster; and the rest of the woodfolk? the Pixies, the Kobolds, the Gnomes, the Trolls, all came out and danced, too, they were so glad. When morning came, the little Green Elf looked out of his door. He was warm. The sun was shining. "Beautiful weather," he said. "Best Christmas I ever spent!" "That's so!" said the Lame Squirrel through a mouthful ' of nuts.?Our Young Folks. A Christmas Greeting. What shall I say to you whom I love best? j Sweetheart, what "secret is there yet untold After these dozen years?the happiest That life can hold? Secret there may not be; but this one thought Comes to my heart upon the Christmas morn; What joy unto the lonely world He brought j When He was born! A joy like that within my soul I knew When, like a white star in the sky above, Suddenly into my lonely life came you To shine with love. A white star still, you cheer me in the way, Lighting with love and laughter all my life; Let this my greeting be on Christmas Hay, Sweetheart and wife. TViTwrkofop in tlia Wnm. i. iaim X/ClUUOI/\.l I^UVIIUUU) iu WMW r< WU4 an's Home Companion. Christmas in Acoraville. Mr. Squirrel?"Do you expect to make a success out of your Christmas party? Mrs. Bunny?"Yes, indeed. Mr. Porcupine has kindly consented to act as the Christmas tree. Will start to decorate him to-morrow." f*^ZsA lf\\ th)~ "T\. I /A UNCONTENTED > J &C2U!/ DOLL5 i "Faith, an' it's awful to be a boy's Coll. How* I wish I belonged to a ; girl!" It was Terence who started the dolls | talk with this remark the next night, j Terence was a little Irish coachman, in a green suit, who had come riding I around to the Baby in his cab the j Christmas Eve before. His voice was I verv loud and comDiaiuing. The Baby had twisted one of his ankles that day, and left it turned around in the opposite direction from the other foot. "Oh, I don't know, Terence," said Lady Geraldine, in her soft, silvery voice. "Boys do let you alone once in a while, and go off and play with something else. They don't keep at you every single minute, dressing and undressing you. I do get so tired of Maud changing my dress. How many times do you suppose I was dressed to-day? Sixteen times, on my word." "Sixteen times? And in a different dress each time?" exclaimed Jenny. Jenny was an old doll, who had come two Christmases before. She was rather neglected now, and she grieved of it very much. "Oh. certainly," said Lady Geraldine, politely. "And how manny trunks of clothes 'ave ye got. Lady Geraldine, dear?" inquired Terence, respectfully. "Only ten," replied Lady Geraldine, languidly. "Ten," said Jenny, ^tadly, "qnd I've only one dress left, and that's getting ragged. Ah, I can remember the time when I was queen of the nursery." " "Yes, indeed, Jenny," said Aunt Patience, sympathetically, "you were a beautiful doll when you first came." "Ami Mnn7 hnvp fpri nnrties and I never ask me to the table." said Jenj uy. bursting into tears. All the dolls looked uncomfortable. They were sorry for Jenny, but she did cry a great deal. Suddenly a hand slipped into hers in the dark. "Never mind, Jenny," said a whisper. "I like yon, and if I get a chance I'll scalp some of these palefaces who are so bad to you." This was whispered very fiercely. Jenny felt a delicious little thrill of (?lad ipidin^s By Prockl terror rim over lier, which dried up her tears. "Oh, Eagle Eye, you mustn't talk like that," she said; "you frighten me. You must remember you are in New York now, and we don't scalp people in New York." -At the same time she felt comforted, and stopped crying. Eagle Eye was an Indian doll. His clothes were all of leather, fringed down the legs, a 1 ? ^ A. ana ne wore a great 1 earner ueauuicsa. His face was painted red and black, and he carried a tomahowk in his belt He looked so fierce that all the rest of the dolls were rather afraid of him. He had come all the way from Santa Fe, and sometimes he looked quite sad and lonesome. He said that he missed the sunshine, and that it made him sick to live inside a house all the time. But when the dolls had j their good times at night, he would I always steal up softly in his moccaj sins, in the dark, and sit down beside Jenny. This comforted Jenny very | much, for although she could not help being a little afraid of an Indian, she liked to feel that there was one who liked her best of all. He would even let her take hit picture with a kodak, / ...v." which he woulcl not let any one else do. lie called her Weeping Cloud, hecause she cri.cd so much. Terence and Jacky and Sir Lancelot were very suspicious of Eagle Eye. although they pretended they were not afraid of him at. all. l?ut Bertie, who was a funny little hoy doll in a Norfolk jacket, loved Eagle Eye very ! much. lie would lie down at his feet i for hours, listening to Eagle Eye's stories about the days when he lived in a topee and went hunting bears and jack rabbits.?New York Tribune. How Dob!*., Would IJlcp to He Built \?i* Bobby would like to be built with legs this size just now. Fancy Santa Claus having to fill those long stock-, ings up with presents! A. Christinas Tale. A pretty Christinas tale is told of Hermann Joseph, a little clockmaker of Germany. He was a very poor lad, who loved to go to church better than anything in the world. One Christmas eve he entered the Cathedral with a little gift for the ChristChild. It was all he had?a rosy apple which some one had given him. He went up to the image of Mary arid the Child and held out the apple of the little one, placing it at last in the chubby hand. instanuy me nine marble figure closed upon the apple, and the Child and held out the apple to the poor boy's gift i of (qfeat ^Joy. lorst, 1825. A Wish. EDITH E0EEBTS. . A hope is born this day, And o'er the drifted snow Speeds on its loving way To someone dear I know,. That peace and gladness may Twine with the mistletoe." I Lrltu iT^k Mother Up \>ythe corner , . \v^nt<t4 f\ufco,?noy?\e. .Nod. d^y \t? a4^*UC.U^towktit,, <3acV;-. Oh h*W IfcS^?. f ~v % . ; ' ' , " I ' m v i'l 111 * 1111111*>? I t I Cream of News.* If Brief Summary of Most Important Events of Each Bay. ?Tho completed apportionment of the Georgia state school fund for 1904 shows a iund amounting to nearly $1,! 600,000. ?Thomas J. Blake, alias TId. HaTl, charged with murder and deserting from the navy, was captured in Norfolk, Va., Sunday, after a chase across the continent, during which he was twice captured, but both times man| aged to effect his escape. ?The ending of the year iyu3 wui see the closing of all bars in Raleigh, . f y as the North State capital is to have a dispensary beginning January 1. The saloon men are to give the poor children of the city a big Christmas tree. -j'A ?To save, a negro from lynching, * i Justice Morris, of Driver, Va., gavet ! Charles Bynum, charged with firing a I barn, his preliminahy trial by the light . J ! made by the burning barn at 3 a. m. | ?The celebration at New Orleans in j commemoration of the transfer of ! Louisiana from France to the United . I States a hundred years ago came i a close in New Orleans Sunday. >, * ! ?Two more bodies were taken from ' }|j| J the ruins of Walden University, a col' ored institution at Nashville, Tennv i Sunday, running the list of dead up ' to,nine. Two more students are miss?Roscoe W. Derby, a machinist of .5?j| j Cleveland, Ohio, kills his wiie and i mree cxinuren txuu iiiuu uuuluho out- { cide. Believed crime to have been due to. despondency over the impoverished ^Hj condition of the family purse and the \ .y|| near approach of Christmas. ?Senate committee on military af- yyfM j fairs unanimously report favorably on V I'Ssj Senator Foraker's bill to care for "||| I graves of confederates who died in ->|ga I federal prisons. | ?Letter of Secretary Root fo Sena* j tor Proctor, acting chairman on milfry JS ; tary affairs, sustains the president Jn 1 his promotion of General Wood. I ' ?The Ohio river is frozen over and> ;j|ji , ihany steamers are ice bound. A rise. ^ ! in the river causes great apprehension. \ ' J ?Frederick R. Coudert, prominent i New York lawyer, died of heart dis- v?| ; ease Sunday at Washington. I ?Glue works at Peabody, Mass., -||| burn, causing a loss of $100,000..' ?General Reyes, on being advised ' - i|| by President Ma/roquin that any negotiations which do not tend to the reestablishment of the integrity of Co- Jjj Jombia would be acceptable, inform? ' Marroquin that any aggression against Jglg Panama would prove- disastrous to Colombia. ?Turkey has agreed to the demands . >^|| of the United States government and. ^5 has ordered the governor of Alex&ndretta to make apology to Consul Davies for th$ insults to which be was - ;-0 I subjected by the police of AlexanI dretta. j ?Britons are angry with Emperor ; William on account of remarks about ^ 1 German soldiers preventing the anal! hilation of the British at Waterloo. I ?Prospects of war between Japan j and Russia increases. Last note of i Russia wil be rejected by Japan. The | outlook for peace is a gloomy one. " ..M j ?Lee Crlbb, the Coftee county, Ga., ' ! murderer, who killed the town mar- || sh&l and a boy in cold blood at Nieh- ' ^ oils, was hanged at Eougias Friday. :*M i ?Two white men and a negro, easa ' under six years' sentence for highway ! robbery, broke from the Cedartown, Ga., jail Friday night and escaped. ?The exercises celebrating the r ' ' - - ? 1 J7&! transier 01 juumsioua num ntuiw w the United States began at New Or- <-; leans Friday with a naval review >e- . "X-j fore the city. ?The grand jury of Hillsboro con*- % ty, Florida, declared the county com- : ''M naissioners wholly incompetent to pdt- X^| form their duties. :/% ?The Alabama miners in session | at Birmingham, voted a tax of Sf cents per month to maintain strikes. >. ''I ?General Henry Kyd Douglas, 'X-|| I "Stonewall" Jackson's chief of staff }'<&& during the civil war, is dead at Hagerstown, Md, at the age of 63. ?The house, by resolution, has* authorized the committee on expend 'M tures in the postoffice department io request the postmaster general to ' H furnish that committee the papers in vj connection with the recent postofflce X ^ investigation. ||h ! ?At Washington, John A. Benson, at the head of wr.at is styled as th? ' California Land Syn?!eate, was arrest- | ed on a charge of bribing an interior department employee, Woodford Har- a li.TL He was held in $5,000 bail. ! ?The senate executive session rati- ;X| fied the treaty "for the extension of the . .^1 4 ha V^ldl 1 CiAllUiid u^cn cuii m^v ^ ->'* ' United States and China and then pe- ' .' ?! moved the injunction of secrecy. ?The Lowell cotton mills will I per- ; ^ ate as long as possible " without catting wages or curtailing production. 1 ?The sum of $9,000,000 confided by the late Pope Leo to cardinal Goitf , . * was turned over by the latter to Pope . , Pius Friday. | ?The Far East situation is very . y. ; grave. Russia is sending another nav| al squadron to tne Orient. ?A successful trial trip of a flying ' machine has been made in North Carolina by the Wright brothers, of Ohio, ."M