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^^^mB^w,BWMW>MMWM,w^,>^wwww,ww<MWW<MW,w>r_y _ 11 Ilium III" I I I I I 111 M will i ?.tfla ?*? iHTffMTH -firm ?iT 1111 IU i I I III nliifiiininliiin |\himihmim irtmr MjjjKg ? The Abbe1ille Press and BannW H^3Y HUGH' WILSON. ABBEVILLE. S. 0., WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 30, 1896. ESTABLISI^^HH Bpir NINETiySJX, V Tilings nnd Pfopli/ * Viewed Froui Hf the He<Khl?i.^f ^ B >'lnety-Six. S. C.. Dec. 28, ]$<J6 SMS Santa Clans putipi h's appearance Dec. 24th (ft Hf at nine o'clock p. r",* V M The "Old MaM* *f> sfeT Tea" given Christ- , B mas evening cof,,P,1'JeDt?ry to the youne fl men of the to'*n r roved quite a success C W Some of the bov " caugbt with their own fl V bait but sabmltted very gracefully. t f Onr town b-as ,ls us"al number or visitors ' Mr. 1*1. who Is teaching at Lewi* dule S C I*. Utmie iwi iLununu.jn. UUWKIUB Kg* lrom 'r.BCbioit agrees with him. An i&$ MIrbp^ weriers.of Prosperity, are on a visit 1? toThei^nt; Mrs. A. S. Osborne. W Trmpkln*,?recent graduatefrom Wb r Clerotor4' u'0,? lu the "MyBtery Tea" Friday Dlaht w. ' ' Ku'jy Anderson came borne from Greee?w"'f; *asl Wedn?*day, ana Staking in wh t^g r.estlvities. She will return to ber college wnJk tbe latter p?rt of the week. vlr. I>. T. Kimird Is home from Wofford for " BJfe?rfiays ai<d bis many friends are glad to "fjtfl?? Etta Blake and Miss Rente Piowden. A*o fiiar mint >uun< ladles lrom Greenwood, It A. ytreln town last week. Miss Mat Moore and Mr. Will Moore are at ^^ tbelr aunt's, Mrs. E. M Lipscomb. These two -ph ^^^Bfaouug people are favorites with our young Bur ' tvu UVUJfjl V The oyster supper Monday evening was a "n Brand success. We hud stewed oysters, fried KH9HHI#' oysters and raw oysters with the usual accom- Wh panlm?*ni of crackers, pickles, sauces and cotKHB f<-e. Tbe bouse was crowded atid each one An BgjHH.' present, forgetful of self, did wbat be could to HiB ' add to i be pleasure of others. w. The Rev. J. C. Stoil, the preacher in charge . .of the Nluety-six circuit, left last Wednesday ftaHM lor Brancbvllle, his new field of labor. For Wil the Dast three years be has earnestly and KJ . faithfully endeavored to point out the Way of Wh Life to bis people. Our best, wishes accompaH uy hlni to his new homo. The Rev. Mr. Betts, >n bis successor, has arrived and taken charge of fg the work. The citizens of Ninety-Six exteud 5? lo hlna a hearty welcome. wn W We were sorry to hear of the dAnth of Mr W R. W. Major who was a near neighbor of ours Wh for several yearn. We know him 10 have been upright and honeKt In all Ills business >rj^ transactions aud faithful in the discbarge ol his duties to bts church and his Clod. _ Cambridge. 111 THE DISPENSARY. Th * An The Political Preacher* ami the Sa <uiri Mi>n of (he State. "Tv The Leelslature will meet in about two weeke. Watch and nee If the saloon element Thi and tbe political preachers do not make tin An effort in bebalf of prohibition tbe success of which effort would be to open the floodgute* Tu to liquor oh every hand The saloon uieu a up the political preachers seein to work In harmoDy, being perhaps the An lirst time that the*>e geutiemen ever were in touch of tbe elbow, it seems to this newspa- Th per that wheu preachers and Baloon men work togetuer tbat something new under the "pj son has been discovered. But these gentlemen might Just as well bold tbelr peace. The days of the barroom An In South Caiollna have been numbered. Tbe peace and quiet of tbe last Christmas Ez should be evidence of the beneficent effects ol the law. If Tillman and his followers bad done notb Th . , ing more than to fasten tbe dispensary on - thl&KiatP, they would deserve tbe heartfelt ftk thxofes of all men who are really friendly to |L?. temperance. Tbe dispensary law will Immortalize th* Hit Tillman faction, and. as lone as it remains, it will be a blessing to our people. He 4'\ . ? ? ?? His SALE OF SCHOOL BONDS, hu . * Thi They Command a Premium of Fifteen Per Cent?Confidence In Their In. Lo< lecrlly?A Sagacious Man's Good ? * ,|f\ V ? . . , b&l , ' Investment. , Mr. John A. Devlin is a steadfast friend of ciL tbe factory. He payR up promptly without marmar or hesitation. He bus good juds- v? met t, too. In the matter 01 boDds of ihe town 16 or ADOevllie. nuou inc wugui uuuus ?nc offeree} about thiee years auo. while others Hu hesitated, be iuveuted. Last week be tboiutbt the time to sell bad come, and ho he sold five of th* bonds at a premium of fifteen per cent. For 8500 be received S575. Although the bondB , bore only seven der cent., yet Mr. Devlin realized over twelve percent. Fifteen percent, premium is pretty good on a seven per cent, bonds. Tbls sale of bonds at so blsb a figure Is largely due to confidence In tbe Integrity of \ tbe bond*, which confidence Is fouuded In the belief tbut tbe legal adviser and financial counsellor of tbe School Board, Mr. J. C. ' ^ Klngb, bad them issued In strict conformity to law.after bavlng considered all ibe technl " call ties and lOrmalitles antecedent to their - utterance. , THE QEIP AND DOCTORS. ^ i , 3j?;. The Diseaae C'omoa lu Mtre.v to I'n, fm and iwi h Benefactor to the Due- PJ K - . - tor*T I Thk grip Jr an epldemloln Abbeville. For jil along time the Doctors hereabout bad but lit . tie to do, batout of consideration to our skill- " fal and successful Doctors, the grip come ? fllong, not out of snlte-To any of us, but in orA der to make tbe Doctors stir nronnd and do EF about. In proof of this statement, tbe erlp up R has made no very vicious attack on anybody, ft It Just makes its subject* sick enough to die. of Kk ana Ben a lor a uncwr. uur nieuictii iriruun nr] B3 seem to have made terms with the disease so ^ W that It may be under their control. he B If you take the grip. Jnst send for n Doctor. ia, H You needn't scare yourself to death. The I grip la only going around out of mercy to the ta< B Doctors and doing good to the men who al- aD yj ways do t he! r level best to core us of any and I *11 the Ills of life. No community has Doc- set B tors who can manage grip bettei than our Doctors. |J | ... IN HOLY BONDS. L- One of Abbeville's Honored Sons and ' go I One of Florences Accomplitthed ! is I . Dnnchlerti (o Wed. I ue A . Invitation** are out to the mnrnago of Hod. j he E Prank Boyd Gary. of Abbeville, and Miss ,, n Marin Le? Evans, of Florence, which tnkes E!5.eeon Wednesday afternoon. January 6 h, H IJB97, at Ave o'clock, in St.. John'* rburcb. j Bt Mr Gary as Spexker of the House ol Rep-i ar Rj reseiitatives in the General Assembly made a i dr M : moat excellent presiding officer, and now he 1 A will become president of a household which tn Kft , "Will be graced by aR fair a queen as ever hon- ge ored a boHband or made borne the sweeteBl B and best place on earth. After the first of u MSB Marcb the newly married couple will be at HSSw home in Abbeville. u m^r W ON HIS NATIVE HEATH, n a . ? ^ . Li?nl. f. L. Parker Visit* Home Folk 1 IS Lieut. F Le J. Parker, of the United Slates a* H Army?Fifth Cavalry in Texas?van at borne 01 |H ^ J?Ht we*k on a hurried visit to bis father, the I n 3f Hon. W. H. Parker, of this city. Lieut. Parker Is a worthy bod of'honored and be- fC ' loVed parents. This community is always Hf glad to weicome her sons back to Abbeville, fig and pone are more welcome or more kindly V > remembered than Lieut. Purker. J> |^^IIMP0RTANT NOTICE. V | ' V The Wm. E. Bell Caah Company are V Going1 Away. ft We will move tot)ue West on January 1st, C< 1687, and it will cost too much to pay freii<ht le I ,on goods twice, and we will offer our stock at ( cost and iess tbau oost, In order to close out > " I - onratoak. . p-rtiea owlrfg us will please come forward and settle, not only with the Wm. E. Cash u Co,, but with the old firm of Wm. E.Bellas a we will pnt the accounts in the hands of h m * Svra. N. Graydon, for collection, after Janu- u I ory 181,1807. Wm. E. Bell Cash Co. [J I ; i o. Bj&r".' f A CHRISTMAS BALL. ? 'Way out in western TexaR, . ,iUo? where the Clear Forks waters flow: Where the cattle are a-browsin sm tljo sPani8^ ponies Where tlio northers come awhistlin from beyond fche j PAu the prairie dogs aro sneezln | r z if they had the grip; Where the coyotes come ahovlin round the ranches after dark, the mocking birds are singin tu the lively medder lark; ere the possum, an the badger, an rattlesnakes abound, the monstrous stars aro winkin o'er a wilderness profound; ere lonesome, tawny prairies melt into airy streams, ile the Double mountains slumber with heavenly kind in dreams; ere the antelope is ^razin an the lonely plovers calfwas there that I attended the Cowboys' Christmas ball. e town wuz Anson City, ole Jones' county sftnt. t ere they raise Polangus cattle an wavin, whiskered wheat; ere the air is soft an bammy, an dry un full uv health, tho prairies is explodin with agricultural wealth: ere they print The Texas Western, that Aloe McCann supplies .lh news an yarns an stories uv most amaziu size; ere Frank Smith pulls the badger on know, in tenderfoot, Democracy's triumphant an powerful hard to beat; ere lives that good old hunter, John Milsap, from Lamar, o "used tor be tho sheriff back oast in Paris', sah"? ras there, 1 say, at Anson, with the lively Wiuder Wall, an i went 10 vnut reucpeiiujj, iuo v>*-?*> uu;o Christmas ball. 3 boys had left the ranches an cum to town in piles; e ladies, kinder scatterin, hed getbered in for miles, yet the place wuz crowded, cz I remember well? niz grot fur the occashun at the Morning Star hotel. a music wuz a fiddle an a lively tambourine, a viol "cum imported," by the stage from Abilene. a room wuz togged out gorgeous with mistletoe an shawls,. caudles flickered frescoes around the airy e 'wimr.1 in folks locked lovely. The boys looked kinder treed 11 the leader commenced yellin: "Whoa, fellers! Let's stampede!" the music started, sighin an a-Wailin through tho hall, kind uv introduction to the Cowboys' Christmas ball. is leader wuz a feller thet cum from Swenson's ranch? ey called him Windy Billy, from Little Dead Man's Brunch. i rig wuz kinder keerlesa?big spurs an high heeled boots. bed the reputation thet comes when follers shoots. i voice wuz like a buglo upon tho monn cam s neignt. I feet were animated an a mighty movin sight. bi* ho commenced to holler: "Neow, fellow, stako yer pen! :k horns tu all them heifers an russle 'cm like men! nte yer luvly critters! Neow swing an let 'em go! mb tho grapevine round 'em?all hands doeedol mavericks jine the round up?jest skip her waterfall!' h, hit wuz gettin active?tho Cowboys' Christmas ball. ?Larry Chittenden, Poet-Ranchman. MKS. CHRISTMAS. TRANSLATED BY JOSEPH S0I1M. [Copy right, 1896.] ! k It was in the afternoon. High up in the mountains on tho line of the Black Forest railway, in one of SfeKM, those small cabins which at regular intervals line the side of all European railroads, housing those iPwriwlIu P?orly Pa^ nieu whose K duty it is to inspect from j||i|pK;||iu timo to time the roadbed Sx. .'Inj i *or a certa^n distance and llltfr. jl J warn passing trains or eventual danger, a door c'J ul) opened and a woman's ad appeared, breaking the monotony the snowy landscape. The head wa* lickly withdrawn. Inside in the overrated room her husband, the flagman, ? on his bed in a fever. It had at3ked him suddenly, he knew not how, d now he wanted neither to hear nor 3 anything; only to sleep. His wife had brewed a hot tea for m and made him drink it. Sho was hopes to rouse him by it, for little kob, their only son, had been at her 1 day, saying: "Mother, dear, won't u go down to the village aud get me mething for Christmas? See, the tree already stuck in the pot, and all I fid are antiles and nuts and a bie. bic rzlebkuchen" [a large frosted cake in e shape of a heart]. Bat whenever she pat a warm wrap ound herself and allowed the boy to ag her to the door, a 6udden fear for e loudly breathing husband -would ize her, and she would return to his idside. Little Jakob finally broke out into tter crying, that ou this holy eve he as to have nothing but a bare tree, hich seemed to him the greatest sor>w that this world could hold. The other, with a sudden impulse, said to Br husband: "In two hours I am back ?ain. It is Christmas eve, and no child lght to be allowed to go empty handed, on't you think I could got something ir our little boy?" "Yes, yes," he nodded in assent. "I oa feeling a little dumpish yet. When ve had a sleep, I shall feel better." "Listen, Jakob." The mother then! uned to the boy. "Watch closely, j 7hen the haud of the clock shows 5 linutes of 5, you must wake up your ither, get bis flag for him, and not ;op until he is out there when the train jmes. Do you hear me? You must not st up until he does it. 1 charge you pith it" Jakob promised. "I will not rest, lother, but don't forget I need apples iid nuts a-plenty, and a great big erzlebkuchen." The woman was already battling outide with wind and snow, when the hild's clear voice rang out after her: "** "^**J j JSZ 'There must be almonds in it. Goodby, mother, and give my best regards to the Christ Kindl, if you meet him on the way!" Then Jakob went to his tree, gazedon it rapturously, and from time to time clapped bis hands, for in anticipation he already saw all the branches and twigs hung with apples and nuts. Though the mother could not retnru before 6 o'clock, and the clock was now striking only 4, Jacob nevertheless every little while went out doors to see whether OFF FOR THE VILLAGE. Bhe was not coming, returning every time with his head full of snowflakeB. Then he would plant himself with great conscientiousness in front of tho old clock, watching tho swinging of the pendulum. At last. There was no mistake, the hands pointed to where the mother had shown him. Jakob went to the bedside of his sleeping father, shook him by tho shoulders and cried into his ears, ' 'Father, the train!" The man lay in a deep sleep. After drinking the tea a sweat had broken out, and a heavy dream seemed to oppress him, for when the child bent over him he struck at him. But Jakob could not be deterred. He knew what was at stake if his father missed his duty, he got the flag and put it in his father's hand. He dragged the heavy overcoat to the bedside. He yelled, he tugged and of. clonnino man?hnf in |JU?XV>U l? W www u?vv^/<u0 ?? vain. The train signal could now be heard outside. "Quick!" the boy cried. "The train, father! Get up! Listeu, dear father! Do listen to me!" "tits, yes," the man murmurpd. "I am there already." And he turned to the wall again. "There is nothing left but for me to go out," the boy said to himself, "for somebody must be out there." With quick decision he slipped into his father's heavy overcoat, drew the cape over his head and seized tho flag. He arrived just in the nick of time at his post, for a few moments later the train thundered past the grotesque little fnrm Tho cmnw hatl ^nvprerl him frntn head to foot. With great seriousness he presented the flag, and the rosy child face beamed most sweetly from under the snow covered cape?a storm wafted Santa Clans on a solitary night. As such he may have appeared Jo the youthful lady who stood in the open window of a compartment car, gazing ont into the silent Christ night, for suddenly Ehe beckoned with her hand, and the next instant a heavy object came flying from the passing train right before Jakob's feet. Me picnea it up ana nnrnea into uie house with it. There, after dropping his father's heavy overcoat, he hastened to the window to examine his present in the bright moonlight. It was a small, fine purse. He opened it and found it almost filled with bright new silver coin. Jakob fairly screamed with de TBE LITTLE FLAGMAN. , light. He never thought of a giver, for wasn't it Christmas? No wonder that presents fell from heaven, j He commenced to cover the twigs of : his little Christmas tree with the coins, which was no small trouble, for they would continually drop off again, so that finally Jakob, quite exhausted, ! placed his head on his arms and felj asleep under his Bilver spangled tree. He did not hear when his mother returned, covered with snow and panting from exertion as she'entered the room. She first set down her basket and then A hurried to her husband's bedsida He wa{i breathing evenly, and on the floor was his overcoat. He had been able to fulfill his dutj. "God be praised," the woman murmured and turned to the window where the tree was and her lit- Co tie boy was sitting motioules3. Softly, < on tiptoes, witia the basket full of ap' 1 pies and nuts, the hcrzlcbkuohep :in her ^ hand, she (stepped behind the child's chair. But wfcat was that? W;is the moon shining w ith extraordinary bright- ^ ness tonight lhat a suvery snrnmer c seemed to proceed from the tree as well as from the curly hair of sleeping Jakobr The woman brushed with her outstretched hand over the head of the tei child and with a silvery tinkle little ob- thi jecta fell righl and left to the floor, set "Great heavens!" sbe ejiclaimed, cans- br< ing Jakob suddenly to start up. First co] he looked arouiid somewhat scared, but otl then, hopping irom ono leg to the other Sc in exuberant jop, he exclaimed: "Yes, pe yes; everything /belongs to me. Look, fr( just look, mothsr!" da The woman lirsfc of all made a light, sh Her husband new woke up, too, leaping th< from his bed with both feet at once, gr "My God," ho said, "the train has an passed! Ofcoui.-se you have been out 24 there, wife?" an His wife turned dealhly palo. "I soi have just returned," Bhe gasped. en "But I was out there," chimed in dif Jakob. "When father didn't want to m< wake up at all, I just took the flag and ini the overcoat tnd did everything all ,wl right. Nobody knew me, but the Santa eai Clans threw a heap of money from mi heaven down to me?all now mon'?y." CI Feeling quite miserable yet from the set spell of fear he had just passed through, of the flagman, with trembling knees, al- trc ho | mi ASLEEP BY THE TREE. tb i lowed himself to drop into the nearest kii | chair. "Have yon really been ont | lie ; there?" be inquired. th "Of course. You can depend on it," j go Jakob assured him. ' mi j The flagman's wife examined the pr j purse and found in it a card, with the de | inscription, "A Merry Christmas." It he j took a long time until they succeeded W I iu spelling out the words. Finally she ca [said: "Oh, I know! It means Frau j as : Marey [provincial German for Mary] j m Christmas. God bless her I She mu.3t be j til a very kind hearted lady!" j th "Very likely she is Santa Clans, , up mother," ventured Jakob as he &idied j th | into his apples and nuts. . an Nearly Nineteen Hundred Christina ?es. w( #Yet a few years, ancl the th world will havo seen :1900 dc Cbristmases?1900 anni- ce versaries of the birth of he him whose personal influ- 1 th enos is generally admitted, pa even by those who do-not believe in him bi as a divinity, to have been for the good ar ! of mankind, for the betterment of the T1 ! world. In those 1900 years a most re-1 be : markable change has taken place among '5h ; the sons of men. Their ideals have been re i rhnnwri rndieall v?have been raised i ch | from the low level of selfishness to the CJ high level of generosity, of good will to al I all and of helpfulness. Year by year the pi | circle of Christian influence has widen- es I ed, and today it i3 felt in some degree to : in every part of the world, siive in some 1 de ! few remoto regions, bke the densely ; be i darkened interior of China, or some ri* hj j yet unvi8ited corners in Africa. : m Even among many of those peool^s yc who have not as yet accepted the -?*u- j m i gion founded on the first Christmas day ar Jesus is held in high esteem. He is can- , dc ouized as a saint by the Mohammedans. j co ! He is known to the Buddhists as a great : so ; and good mau, and wheu Japan made ; sn ! war upon China, althoagh the mass of j be j the Japanese are as yet non-Christian, j th their soldiers were cautioned not to con- in I duct themselves with the cruelty of pa- sti gan times, but to remember that the de eyes of Christendom were upon them is! and must not be scandalized by wanton be , slaughterings of the helpless and the sp ! innocent. It is true that these warnings as were forgotten at Port Arthur, but the | cfc j blood that was ruthlessly 6hed there ; th i i was abjectly apologized for by the mi- ba | kado, and in the main the war was con- fr , ducted without the old time barbar* as , Jsms. hi It is also true lhat there was a war; ti< that there are still occasional wars be- th ; tween Christian nations, and that all se : wars are violations of the teachings of TJ Christ, but the fnct remains that the ar ' world is now praotioally at peace. he NIMALS CHRISTMAS ^ IE PART THEY PLAY IN EUROPEAN* CELEBRATIONS. . ' rious Customs bat Little Known In This { loiptry?Superstitions About Beast* and Jirds?Blessing the Flocks?A Booster lass In Spain. . Among the most pleasing features of the universal good will that prevails at Christmastide in the old Tjvorld is the kindly disposition shown to exid the enjoyment of the festivity to , 3 dumb animals, which just at this ison of the year may be said to be Dught into more friendly und intimate atact with their masters than at any ler time of the year.. Throughout andiuavia, Germany and Austria the asants are accustomed to erect in )nt of their cottages on Christmas y a pole to which is fastened a large eaf of oats or corn for the benefit of a little birds, while in many districts ain is spread outside on the doorstep d window sills on the evening of Dec. . The Albanians, the Montenegrins d in fact nearly all the races of the Qtheast of Europe, irrespective of ;ed or nationality, make a point of jtributing their first large Christmas sal cake among the cattle, after havg broken it on the horn of an ox, rile during the siege of Pf,ris, when ch soldier of the beleaguering Geran army managed to have his little iristmas tree, however scant or poor, i up on Christmas eve in remembrance the loved onea at home, nearly every >oper made a point of leading up his rse to see his tree and to receive bis wnfinn h*?nar3 in YtntlAV O# fhfl casion. Only in certain districts of southern ily and in the isle of Men are excepts to be found to this rale. Thns in ilabria it is customary among the as an try at Christmas time to place ke upon a table and to drive the oxen ound it, those who attempt to taste efood being slaughtered on the spot the isle of Man the cruel pastime lown as "hunting the wren," and aich dates back to pagan times, is 11 practioed every Christmas morning, L the villagers turning' out; every o armed with two sticks?one for ating the bushes and the other for rowing at the birds. The origin of the stom is to be found in the legend acrding to wbioh "there formerly lived the isle of Man a very beautiful fairy bo exercised great influence over the ale population by means of her voice, t.hom infcn tho Bfia. where thev jre drowned. So long did this continue at fears were entertained that the isad would be depopulated. Eventually, wever, a knight errant of King Arur's Round Table appeared upon the ?ne, and he, having discovered a Bans of overcoming the fairy's charm, essed her so hard with a plot for her istraction that she could only save rself by taking the form of a wren, hile she was in this form a spell was Bt upon her which compelled her to sume the bird's form on each Christas day. and decreed that she should ulnately "die by human hands;" hence e cruel hunting of the wren is kept i, and after the birds have been killed e children place them on ivy bushes id carry them around in procession. Bnt it is in France, especially in the * astern and southern portions thereof, at the peasants made a point of intro ' onimnlo fVlA ICJIJ{? IUUII UUXlioai/iu auJLuuia iuw wuv lebration of Christmas not only at line, bat also at church, on the gronnd at the poor creatures having partioited iu the joy of mankind at the rth of Christ should participate in the tnual commemoration of the event jus in Brittany cattle and sheep may i said to form part of tbe congregation at attends the quaint yet thoroughly verent mass performed in most of the urches of the seacoast. villages on aristmas eve. On the right side of the tar a bower is constructed of fragrant ! ne and fir branches, with great bunchof crimson berried hollies and mistlee glistening among the verdure. Unr this canopy tbere sits the most autiful maiden of tbe village, her lir falling on her looe^T^^rhite garents, while in her arms there reposes a mng infant Beside her stands a young an wearing a gold embroidered robe td leaning on a staff, while an ox, a tukey and four sheep quietly munch rn from a couple of mangers. As on as tbe gospel has been read a aall chorister concealed in the cardiard figure of a rooster begins to chant e verses, "For to us a child is born," utating cleverly at the close of each ropbe the crow of a chanticleer. The iep bass voice of another grown up chorfcer hidden somewhere in the fir branch iwer above described "lows" tbe reonseof "Ubi?" (where), which sounds if it prooeeds from the ox. A tenor lorister concealed near the sheep baas ,e word "Bethlehem," and then a iritone voice, apparently proceeding om the donkey, brays "Eamus" (let i go thither). Thereupon the rector, s acolytes and the entire congregaDn form a procession and march from I e altar to the bower where the reprentation of the nativity is arranged, ae priest, having sprinkled the mother id child as well as the animals with >ly water, thereupon makes his way^p himwj i the chief eitfrance to the churob, the doors of which are wide open, looking usually out on to the sea All the oattle ~ei and the flookaof theyiljage have'mean- J? while been driven into the churchyard ^ and stand crowded together in the ailvery light, of the moon around the por- ^ tal. Taking up his position on the top- f'1 most step of the porch, the rector-ex- dr olaims: "God in his mercy, my dear ?? children, has sent me on this radiant . i?. night of the nativity to bless your oattie and your flocks, becanse it is only c? right that the animals which constitute your greatest help and source of pros- ** perity should participate in the joy which Alls all our hearts. Now lead M your flocks past me." bt The shepherd and cattle herders then ki begin to drive the animals past, while th the priest, dipping the sprinkler into so the silver ewer of holy water, showers ei< the latter upon the horses, the asses, the oxen, the cows and the .sheep. The bl clang of the bells around their necks, a their lofribg, their baaing, their bray- 16 ing and neighing, as well as the cries TJ and words of command of their drivers, ot create a tremendous din, above which fii ever and anon rise the solemn words of m the pjiest, "fienedicat vos omnipotens w Dens, Pater et Filins et Spiritus Sane- ki tns!" the choristers bringing the bless- hi ings to a close with a resounding v? "Amen!" P1 Every one who has wintered in Spain le will recall to mind the "Missa del 01 Gallo," or "cock's mass," celebrated in ^ all the churches on Christmas eve, or T rather Christmas morning. The ohanii- 8? cleer being the bird that is first to her- ~ aid in the advent of the morning light, V the Spaniards, by a happy and quaint .'.li. in? i. : d( CODCClt, j1ko bU JlllJafJiiie tunt jjo jo ouaions on this night of nights to call upon them even at midnight to be awake and to salute the happy morning. In the principal churches of Madrid and Seville ^ this midnight mass in honor of the "Dios Nino" is rendered with exquisite 81 pastoral musi,c, castanets and tamNrat* m ines playing an important part in the orchestral while now and again, by ? means of a special instrument, pathetic and birdlike notes swall up with pecul- 01 iar beauty, as if some midnight bird had lent its voice to mingle with the 11 angelio psalms to herald in the mystic ooming of the babe of Bethlehem. In the cburohes of the small provincial ^ towns and villages the instrumental c hiwl nnfoa ronlnppfl hv t.hnRn nf an' ordinary rooster, which by some device known to the peasants is made to crow n at the appointed period dnring the cele- . bration. c Not only on the continent of Europe, but also in the southwestern counties of England a superstition prevails to* the effect that animals possess the power of speech at 12 o'clock on Christmas eve. 1 Inasmuch,, however, as only those persons who are entirely free from mortal sin are supposed to possess the privilege i of understanding their utterances, there ' < is no authentic record extant as to the character of their remarks on these occaaiona Ex-Attache. c1 w Tohnnv's Christmas. t( Jgvi ^ Johnny Blank is under 81 very high pressure in an cJ t effort to be, good, if bis y" own statement is to be ac- " cepted. He met a friend ^ yesterday and made hia 11 companion's eyes bulge Bt with his story. 'c "I hain't had no fun 81 lately, Jim," he said, glancing around ^ to see that none of his relatives was in " sight, "but I'm in it this time. Pop's 81 promised me a new pair of skates if I M get 85 on my December report, whioh'll 8 be made out next week, you see. If I " don't miss Sunday school and kin tell 151 wh'at the text is, Mam she sez she'll D' get me an air gun. Whoopee!" ?' And here John's exuberance was given vent in a series of whoops with ^ gymnastic accompaniment ^ "But that's not half of 'em, Jim," " he continued. "Yon know, when Bis's m bean comes I hang around and work ^ him for candy and sich, but she has 8promised me a dollar ef I keep off her territory on beau nights. Then my ^ uncle and my aunt, seein I'm tryin to ' be good, are goin to chip in, and as I'm goin to two Sunday schools I'm strictly in it, and don't you fergit it" After the Christmas Eve Ball. Up the broad steps they i tripped into her home. aThe gas burned low. Her slender fingers hung to his a moment. She stood direct^ UU(^er 8as 3et? i under which some one, in * anticipation of the mor- ? row, bad hung a sprig of mistletoe. ? He could not help it?he kissed her. M She looked so pretty, so innocent, under iji that sprig of mistletoe. iji Yes, it was .... ungentlemanlv and H unmanly thing to do. Her frightened, Gc startled look pained him. He stammered! H out a miserable excuse. Her great eyes, ? filled with tears, and she gave a little) a choking sob when he apologized. "Deur little innocent," he thought, j 'I would not have hurt her for thei world," j a' And she?after he was gone?shoi ^ dropped into a great chair and sobbed. 11 "Like him? I love him. And to think!' that he should kiss me at last and then Dl to say he didn't moan anything by it!' What does be think I put the mistletoe ' there for?" v v il. THE skatjngwHBHHH tw Thornley Fulfilled mas ProinLic.^HHKEK^^^H il She was a Hand Tharnley Ipiest man alooH I son becaoH I paying his siste^^^^H^H I two -weeks' vigfl was a stretch of I below the booed, a9 iTfaornley jokingly I her what he shoolf^BHBH irned, and the ambition of glide over the smooth rarface of'feo B Men river." , jSx gag "I shall be delighted' to instruct iss Lakeside," Thornley said eagerly^^H ad he meant what he said. He littleVH earned then that she weighed unds?little oared, perhaps, <f3r IdW VR reckless and unreasoning. Thorniey 1 mself, when equipped with an over- J| at, a pair of robbers and his everyday B 3th ing, tipped the scales at about 120 , "Do yon think you can support me," fl r. Thornley?" she asked coyly. u ' 'Support you?" repented the gallant J it rash Thornley as he, rose from his 1 lees and grasped her hands to begin 1 e lesson. "Snnportyoft? Why, I oould;^M pport you for?for life, Mifis Lakeae." ' y< " "Ob, Mr. Thornley!" she cried, tubing like a rose. Her eyes fell, and j moment later she and .Thornley folwed tbem. Grasping her by the arms, ^ J bornley tugged until the veins stood 1 it like whipoords on his brow and ; lally raised her to her feet again. She j ade four desperate strokes with her abbling skates, quite unintentionally; j eked Thornley's fteet out from under . m, abd then sat down agak? with a ihcmenoe that oalled forth a crackling otest from the astonished ice. , Thorn y picked her up onoe more. Theystruok ' it a second time. History'repeated it*,--! If, and the habit soon tiedame chronic, hornley's brow was beaded with per- ^ liration. It began to. dawn upon him lat she must weigh at least 186 pounds. rhen he picked her up for the seventh me and attempted to guide her wan>rintr And irpemnnflihlft feet, he chanadd A ib mind. "If she weighs an oance, she weigfcsSfl >01" ha thought,.witjf a gasp fori^B reath. 4 'Thia is positively dangerous. bodice Is only about six inches thiok, 1 id there isn't a life preserver within a 1 lile of nsl" He paused for a moment tojH|^^M ght arm that had been holdi:^^^^^^H >r half an hour,and to get them^HBj^f is painfol kinks oat of his back. "YoO are tired, J?r. Thornley?'' Bh^^B inrmured. J "That's?that's right," he panted- . _ j "Are?are yon still sun) yon couldBH lpport me for life?" she asked misM lievonsly. "Support yon for lifeS'Vhe gasped.M Of course I could if I only had a der? ok!" .1 And that night 180 pounds of oflfendddT^J iveliness started for home. ... ?| Earle H. Eaton. ; 3 Charles Dickens on ChrlctrruM. 1 I _ Christmas time! That 1 X maD must Le a ZQisan* 1 lb rope indeed in whose. - ;1 bicafit something like a I jovial feeling is not rotw- | ed, in whose mind some " | pleasant associations are; not awakened, by the re- ^ j irrence of Christmas. There are peo^fllB t-- ?:n i.^n iL.i XiU Will MJH JUU IlIlBb VJLUlOblUaO WUjHa ) them what it used to be; that^E^^H| loceeding Christmas has found berished hope or happy prospect or^H[B jar before dimmed or passed away; th^^H le present only serves to remind the^B^H t reduced circumstances and fltraiten^HH icomes, of the feasts they once owed on hollow friends, and of the cold. ioks that meet them now in adversity fl ad misfortune. Never heed snch dis- fl ial reminiscences. Look on the merry Q ices of your children, if you have any, fl 3 they sit round the fire. One little H jat may be empty. One slight form that V laddened the father's heart and roused J ie mother's pride to look upon may not 3 there. Dwell not upon the past. Think I ot that one short year ago the fair fl iild now resolving into dust sat-before H >u with the bloom of health upon aeek and thegayety of infancy in its lyous eye. Reflect upon your presen lessinge, o! which every man has^H iany?not on your past misfortunes, of 'hich all men have some. Fill your'^H asa again, with a merry face andconT^B nted heart Our life on it, bat your ? hristmas shall be merry and your new ^ !ar a happy one. J Touch on the Turkey. ^ j I ^i* .. Landlady?Are jlJ^HH^HBB9| You do uot seem )ur Christmas^m^e^^^gHH^^HH so