The sentinel-journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1906-1909, December 17, 1908, Image 4
o Bethlehem~.aslumber amidst t
IThose fair Judaean pastures, wi
The prayer of Priest and Prophe
Dost hear, in dreams ecstatic, th(
Dost see in wondrous vision, the
IThe star-led Magi, speeding, their
Dost see the Mother bending w
'O'er-that incarnate. Saviour- the
ZOheart~dost-hear the story:
.So weary with the vigil that hur
Dost know that thou dost shell
.The Son of God incarnate. and
'And as the star illumined The V
Thy life may guide all wanderer
O Bethlehem, awaken I 0 Hear
jhis is the_Advent Glohous..the
Aft- TH E
rRY BOKK
ADED was %the book
keeper, for it had been
a wearisome day in
the oTlIce. An almost
constant hum, hum of
voices, and footsteps
going in and out, and accustomed as
he was to it, nolse grated on the
bookkeeper's nerves, for It was near
the close of the month's business,
when the trial balaice would be on,
and the balance of the year expected.
He was tired, brain tired, nerve
tired and soul tired, and the long
rows of figures seemed instinct with
life, little dancing imps trying to
dodge and hide from his memory, lur
ing hIm on to errors which would
afterwards cause endless search and
trouble to discover.
The manager had gone home, and
the other employes, having finished
their work, were at liberty to go also.
"Going home, Mr. Smith?" asked
the clerk, a fresh checked young man,
whose voice fell pleasantly on the
bookkeeper's ear. Hle had been
young, care free and sanguine him
self once, and he had a tender feeling
for young men.
"Not just now, Charlie. About an
hour's work here yet." [He looked
after the jaunty', elastic figure, with
a slight sIgh for his own lost youth.
He was old: he felt it in every nerve,
joint and brain cell, and he wonder'ed
how many years of rest it .would take
to obliterate the impress of life's toil.
There must be figur'es imprinted on
hIs brain, lie thought, and figures
danced befor'e his eyes at night when
he would sleep, in never ending pro
cession.
it's going to be cold to-night, Mr.
Smith," said the janitor, when at last
the safe was locked and the book
keeper struggled into his overcoat far
too thin for the weather, old and
worn in the battle of life, like hitn
self.
"Yes. LIght the fIres a little early,
Johnson, please, for I shall be on
hand before the others."
"All right, sIr." The janitor looked
after him wvith a pitying smIle. "Poor
-Oild duffer'. I expect he 'knows he's
got to put in his best licks if he holds
his job. It's a hard world, that's
what it is."
It was a small cotta'ge home where
the we'ary footsteps at last haltet),
and there was a female figure on the
little porch in front.
Is that youi, papa?"
"Yes, Mattie. How is my dear to
night.?"
"How is my dear? Your dear is
all right," she answered, with brisk
l)leasantry, as she locked her arm In
his, and swung the door wide open,
"I know you are tired, 1 can feel
your muscles quiver.."
"Yes, Mattie. How warm and say
1.ory you smell in here," he said, inhal
1t( nlg the pleasant odor and warmth
Sgratefully, It was such a cheerful'
lit.tle sitting 'room, with pictures
S. tastefully hung, draped window., and
restful easy chairs invitingly piced.
In one corner stood art organ and in
the warmest corner atwouch, where the
'ather coul4 stretch hih weary limbg
at night and listen 'to the old songs,
which, better than tb*Atest operA#
n usic, rested his fi ~d train and~
ited him out of lit re t int g
A&pyter past 4t1 intd' le itt cog
LSMessage
iy -torilit hilmsk
ose ancient lore 'dlfils,
t, the hope of Heaven and Eartwi
anthem of Love's birth ?
aureole-crowned fgng,.
precious gifts to bring ?
th yearning heart and eyes,
Lord of earth, and skies3?,
0 A
or art thou too."AsIeep)
nan hearts must keep
er, like Bethlehem of old%
gifts of-grace untold?
Fay, that holy night.
s. with. Love's eternal ii9h
t, arise and sing'
Birthday, of_thy King I
'Eli,abeth! Rug e
OLD
CMRI TMAJ
TMAb
opened, and credit given to a poor,
weary, old bbokkeeper who has done
his best.
Just beyond, the little tea table
with its snowy cloth and glimmer of
modest silver and glassware, beck
oned temptingly, but Mattie shook
her finger in warning. "You are not
even to look toward the dining room
until I call you, papa," she said,
laughingly. "I should have had sup
per all on it you were not such an
unpunctual party. Sit down now and
get warm while I am gone."
lie sank into the red covered rockei
with the slippers standing suggestive
ly before it, with a smile. It is a(
good to be at home, and Mattie wai
such a cheery little homekeeper thai
his mantle of care slipped off for th(
moment, and his weary eyes drooped
dreamily In the warm firelight.
"I do believe you have been nap
ping, papa," Mattie said, as she came
in ten minutes later. She did not tell
him that she had dropped a tear, and
a kiss as light and soft as a down)
snowflake on his tired eyes to awaken
him, as she stood beside him, her
heart swelling with a great pity and
love.
"Come, dear, waffles and tea will
rest you, I know, and Aunt Dean has
sent in a platter of fried chicken and
some of her fine, white-clover honey."
"Quite a feast, my child," said the
father, smilingly, as he took his seat
before the p)late of steaming waffles.
"Aren't you afraid I shall develop
gout if we live so high?"
It was their little joke, and each
laughed merrily as Mattie pou-red the
tea. "How is it to-day, papa?" she
asked, wistfully, as the meal 'pro
gressed. She dreaded, too, to bring
in any of the day's worry or griev
an.ce, but she had been so anxious.
"Not much better, daughter. Mr.
Rollins was coolly civil, that was all,
and the manager fretted over a mis
take which was more his fault than
mine.' it is of no use to disguise the
truth, dear. I can feel It in the air
that there will soon be a younger
bookkeeper at the desk, and the old
man will have to take what he can
get. I can s they put thcir .heads
together and speak low, and are
careful to, close doors when I am
about. They mean to let me down
easy, I suppose, aid not hurt my feel
ings; as if anything would hurt worse
than to know one has outlived hi?
usefulness." And all the pain and
trouble of the weeks past seemed con
centrated in the trembling bitterness
of his tone. ,"There, love, I have
made you cry-forgive me, dear. It
will be all right, Mattie. The Lord
will never leave nor forsake me-we
have His promise," an d his 'fingers
threaded her brown hair gently,' and
with a smile of trust, though the tears
*were starting, as she clunig around
his neck, patting; his withered cheek
and telling him 'how she loved him,
and how too dear and good he was
to be the slave of heartless men who
only cared for business and -money,
and could not appreciate the honest,
conscientious service he had gitren
them.
It was her' foolish, woman's away
of Jooking o01 the one fidp'whefi her
1# e .throbbo so *rqooly ti her
(seeto ~ rtig and - king
wih ta we .'44 Wtt edin
ato'y r e maletrin of 11!
mnat0i'i limol:sh .- I d t iih.c' l
silting ro.m.
The world was t - c:b f,
and surely .th, must be ample room
somewhere 'f ol tired father whose
lifelong record of faithfuln'ss and
integrity had,4 ,en his capital. She
sang for-hit% tender, quaint songs
which cheere,danc soothed him, and
pl9i-.d soft, rebtful melodies which
binoothed theQ knotted, care worn
brow into traiuillity, and filled her
heart with serene peace.
After ll, what did it matter? Only
a few sl3ort years, and then rest-the
rest which rema[ni, and whose deep
mysteries none come back to tell.
What would it 'matter there whether
he finished hi1 life work with One
or the other, so that it was finished
honestly and faithfully.
He went to bed early and stretched
his tired limbs with deep thr.nkful
ness for home and the home love
which so took the sting out of life's
contest. , Mattie was so like her moth
er, dear girl. God had been very good
to give him the d9yotioU of two such
loving, faithful souls-and thinking
so of her, he fell asleep.
It was the day before Christmas,
and struggle aginst it as he would,
the bookkeePer's heart was still
heavy. The first of the year would
doubtless see the new incumbent,
whoever it might be, installed in his
place, and he watched every sus
picious arrival with a feverish anx
iety.
There was more than ever the air
of mystery in the office to-day, and
the manager Mhisaered to the clerk,
and the clerk directed off-hand in
quiry, which might mean everything
or nothipg to the cashier, and so it
went until his. heart was like lead,
and his hands trembled so with ner
vous chill that he could scarcely make
his figures.
"The manager would like to see
you, sir, in his private office." said
Tom, the office boy, In his ear, and he
arose, trembling.
"Well, Mr. Smith," said the man
ager, in his easy, prosperous tones;
CHRIST AND 'I
BY OTIL
hehdhstosnd netd-e
side hi postio, an ha no'nee
heclo.I had tome,. inthe, ndeh
mto worry ovrthe price tof catl or
coe:Jauary,"Yo h aveaged fostrm
mer aout. ten yea no,ed beive.
face he which there wseno tracoo
flor. withadiln fce, tn ahe was
mto casrryl te nae wo sati hir
mhistry v..Ys ir enja
com Javeutry,ie manaed sir."j
ment,oM. SIth, butad lokedr btoin
thaim he only just, seen thwe ceoo
btoo tisrableday caiwon swhit
"Atltn all thes arciaton. Tom,
youve begar f eait lonly.rwt
thavacae."idto i.
The itfiseonly came, sirnnng weithe
b rat buhishldyceasin ithea
manager's arms. "We have noticed,
sir, that you ar4 growing old, as well
as the rest of us, and that your step
is not as elastic as When you first
eas he eut'th #
- a handsome ftr b
oior of' which 809 X
.rm,1th,."and that .
over the Ure a little morietoq
quontly, than when your young -b
kept you warm, and as we wish ,tQ',
keep you with us for anothef 'ten
years, it yOa' desire it, we thought our
most appr6priate gift would be some-,
thing like ou* regard and esteem*for,
you, something warm and lasting
hangl it,- Smith, I told thq boys I
couldn't make a speech-stand up
here and try on this coat, for the
tailor is waiting to exchange it if it
doesn't fit."
The dazed bookkeeper stepped for
ward like one in a dream, and held
out his arms mechanically, and the
manager patted and 'smoothed the
luxurious garment across the thin
shoulders, which had lost their up
right, sturdy carriage by long stoop
ing Q.ver the books.
"Such a time, sir, as' we have had
getting your measure," remarked the
cashier, with a genlal smile. "You
were sure to look around if we had a
word to say to each other."
"If the rest are through with the
floot, perhaps I can get in a word,"
added Mr. Rollins. "I am authorized,
sir, to give' you an Assistant after
Jaduary, and with that help your
hours will be shorter, and the work
less conflning."
"I don't mind the work, indeed 1'
don't," cried the bookkeeper, laugh
ing like a boy, though the-great tears
were rolling down his cheeks un
heeded.
"I've never been afraid of work,
sir, but I -have felt that I no longer
gave you satisfaction. I cannot tell
you all this means to me," holding
out his trembling hands to Mr. Rollins
and the manager. "I think it is tlhe
happiest day of my life, sirs."
"What we meant it should be, a
merry Christmas, and may there be
many happy returns of the day to
you, sir," replied the manager cor
dially.
Mattie war listening with the anx
lous heart which she always carried
HE CHILDREN.
ROA DERSTEIN.
Fromn "The Christ Fce in Art.":
of late when her father stayed later
than usual-, for the first sound of his
famihl1ar step. The kettle was singing
a merry invitation to tea in the
kitchen, arnd a pair of fine, new slip
pers stoo,d waiting before the fire for
a pair of weary feet, Mattie's Christ
mas gift to her father.
She threw the door open wide -as
he came quickly up the snowy steps, -
and she hardly knew him when he
stepped in, so wrapped in warmth
andl loaded wvith bundles that ho
looked like a veritable Santa Claus.
his face radiant with joy.'
"Is it merry Christmas, papa?" she
asked, looking, up in his face with
surprise and.hope. t
"A merry Christmas, dear," he (
answered, lifting heri expectant face t
for a kiss. "It was all a mistake, my
darling, and I will tell you all about3
it as we take tea. "-Mrs. F. M. How- '
ard, in The Bookkeeper.
Two French army dos.have drawn
light ambulances, the invention of a
lieutenant, with a loadl of 160 poundsd
each, for some 375 miles, without a
breakdown, showing how they can be
used in war.
- r
- 1* d
"tS SbpTwed:J00.O
PRILE CARRIED, DUTcH FLAG
rhe Gelderan4 Steams Into the Uar
b 1 of Wiaatd Towing the
a Coaatguard Ship Alex
IyUg'the Dut(* plag and Sprt
lng a Dutch Grew.
Willeamstad,. Island of Curacao,
3peefal-:-Tle -Dute ur-o
pecfam. to. h cruiser Gelder
a4d. Cae into. this . port Sunday
giorning towing the Venezeula coast
Ship Aix .with the Duteli 'ag
lying and a Dutch ri o boad.
rhe Gelderland captured the Ali
)ff Pierto Cabello on' Satui.iay. At
hat time the Alix was-lying 'loseI
ihore and notwithstanding the threat
which. the Venezulean government
ad made. to- fire- upon any of the.
Dutch warships,.committing A hostile
act, the GelderlUnd' steamed at full
;peed towards'th gnard ship and sent
an officer and guard in a launch to
seize her. No shoti came from the
rorts on land. -
The crew of the Alii was put
ishore and the Dutch officer and mar
ines remained on board, the Glder
land finally taking the Alix in tow
and steaming. away with her prize.
The seizure of the Alix was in ac
cordance with the plans of the Hol
land government when- instructions
were issued to the three Dutch war
ships. now' in these waters to make a
demonstration off the coast of Ven
ezula and to capture any Venezulean
ships. of war of. guard vessels that
they might find.
The people of Curacao are greatly
rejoiced. The Governor of Curacao
said:
"The capture of our warships of
coast *guards ,and war - vessls is not
to be considered an unfriendly act
against the Venezuleans. It .is mere
ly a reprisal against Castro's govern
ment which refuses to give satisfac
tion for his unfriendly acts toward
Holland.
It is learned from the offlicers of
the Gelderland that the battleship
Jacob Van Hemskerk and the cruiser
Friesland are now off La Guyra and
that further captures may be expect
ed at any time.
Taft's .View of McKinley.
New York, Special. - President
elect William H. Taft, speaking Sun
day night at the dedication of a Mc
Kinley memorial organ in Metropoli
tan Temple, told to. the audience the
story of his official association with
the late Prseident, and declared with
reference to the Philippine Islands
that the policy laid down by Mr. Mc
Kinley in 1900 had been the policy
of the present as it will he the policy
f his own) administyation in the
White House. Mr. Taft will remain
bere until Thursday, when he leavea
for Augusta, Ga., to spend the five
wveeks precedling his pronosed1 depart
are to the Panama canal.
nAmerican Railway Company Asks
ror a Charter.
Hawkinsville, Ga., Special.-Chiar
~er was applied for by a -local attor
iey on behalf of interested parties
~or a chlarter for ''The American
Railway Company,'' which .proposes
muildhing a line from Abbeville, Ga.,
o Winchester, in Macon county, Ga.,
ria Hawvkinsville and Grovania. The
>roposed road will traverse one of
he richest farming sections of the
ftate. It will tap the Seaboard at
~bheville and the Gulf line at Hlaw
:insville. Work will begin at once,,
t is stated.
1908 Cotton Crop.
Washington, Speciad.-Thme crop:
'eporting board of the bureau of sta
istics of the Departent of 'Agrical
ure fias estimated from reports of
orrespondence agents of the, bureau.
lhnt 'the total production of cotton
'a the United States for the year
908.9 would amount to tl,182,970,000
ounds.
ngland Rushi More Troops te
London, By Cable.-Aiiother heavy
raft on Enuglish home regiments for
mrvice' in Tndia was ordered by the
ar offiee. 'The troops will be ready
ethaa,k for India'as soon as pos.
ble as the threatened Iy'aq~ up
sing is believed to be imnmii t. Fri.
my's drift with ' the heavy rein
reem.en}s that started for India last
ednesday, has reduced many, of the,
)neJ battalions .to mare skele u,s
'dAly adi 1 for recruit.
iooia be