Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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. V . YORKVILLE ENQUIRER. I8SUZS TWIOE-A-WBBK?WEDNB83DAT AND SATURDAY. t. m. geist ft sob's, PniUsheri. } % jfamilggwspager: jfgr Iromotion o)[th^lolitiqal,^al, ^jgriiiultmia! and d[ontmei[naI Interests of th$ ?outh. {TERMs^olk0cop^AiNcE^NCB' i VOLUME 43. YORKVILLE, 8. C., 8ATUEDAY, DECEMBER 25, 1897. ISTUMBER 1Q3.~ A TREASURE TROVE. A CHRISTMAS STORY BT 8. BARING-GOULD. The forest of Dartmoor Is surrounded on every side fay wide stretches of moorland that belong to the several contiguous parishes, and every householder in each of these parishes claims rights on the comtnon of his parish, over which, moreover. the manorial lord asserts paramount authority and enforces It when he can. The duchy of Cornwall, however, to which the forest belongs, professes a sort of sovereignty over all these commons. Now, there lived in the parish of South Tawton, In the curious old village of Zeal. ^ where every house is an archaeological curiosity and every householder Is independent, a poor young man of the name of Jo dah Day. oommonly known as young Bainyday. This nickname was acquired by him through his excessive caution ? Jos was not a lazy man, vet his exaggerated prudence led to much the same results as lnertnesa He was working on the common, cutting uj> granite blocks, wherewith to construct a "new take" wall. While thus engaged Jos oame on a pile of small stones / He cleared away these as too small to serve his purpose and discovered beneath them a granite slab. This he levered "*** without much difficulty, and to his HE PEKBET) CAUTIOUSLY ABOUT HIM. surprise discovered a stone cist or coffin constructed of rude blocks He crept In and wafe 'still further surprised when he found within a pot containing charred bones and ashes, and near it a cup of yellow metal and some rings and hoops, some welghingS. others 10 and 15 ounces apiece He hastily scrambled forth, and as the Betting sun gleamed out he examined his find by its light He rubbed the cup and the rings on his sleeve and "By ginger!' said he. "I'm darned if it ain't all solid gold. Come. I'm in luck's way This shall stand oyer against a rainy day " 8och was his diet thought; the second was this "If it be known that I have found a treasure, then 1 shall have the duchy putting its fist down on it. the lord of the manor demanding it the crown exacting it, the parson holding out his hand for a tenth and overy householder In the parish, as this is coi unon land, clamoring for his share, and ' aero be 143 have rights There'll be naught left for me but the disappointment of having found and lost treasure." Joslab stood turning over the gold cup and rings Then he peered cautiously about him to make sure that he was unob served. Then the young man replaced the covering block, then heaped the small stones and earth over it and disguised the fact that the place had been disturbed Ke returned home very satisfied with himself and with his prospects Now he could look forward without blinking to the Inevitable rainy day At present ho had health, strength und youth, and with these he could earn his livelihood " But, " 28 Jos put it, "I can't reckon on these lasting 1 knows several young chaps as has had colds settled on their chestesses anu have died of a decline And Tom Rndicott, be dislocated his hip and now can't U?.Ukl? ??* mAA? oftor rrwon 1 fx* nn UUUU1C uy VU UAIW IUW1 (MW* XV more, and as to old age and decrepitude? there's no denying it, every day and hour and minute brings me nigher to it." Accordingly Jos went on breaking up stone and inclosing, and instinctively he extended his "new take" wall in the direction of the cairn and stone chest that contained his treasure It must not be supposed that Jos was not tempted to realize, but fear of discovery and the consequent confiscation of the gold, above all. his prevailing dominant passion of caution against a future unprovided for, prevented his doing so On the verge of the moor lived a girl named Mary Aggett with her bedridden mother She made a livelihood out of some poultry she kept, out of flint arrowheads, which by searching she found on the moor and which she disposed of to an archaeologist She also did some needlework Jos passed the cottage twice daily on his way out and on his way home, and very frequently he saw Mary at her door, and they never met without exchange of salutations On one occasion when overtaken by a hailstorm he had been invited into the cottage and had been given a cup of tea that warmed his heart as if it had been peppermint and got into his head as if it Lad been whisky. On leaving the cottage he said to him elf: "I might go farther and fare worse The old mother is well cared for, the house ripjit tha maid is nrettv and brierht and pleasant But"?he 6hook his head?"it don't do to marry early; that means a family coming fast and nothing drags a man's head under water like a lot of bauies clawing hold of it. If Polly Aggett had money, that would be another matter altogether. Then it might be worth con sideration. * One day when they met on the moor the northeast blast was 60 cutting that they retired together under shelter of a rock to eat their lunch Considering how cold the weather was Jos put his arm round Polly, and, having an overcoat, he threw one arm of it over her shoulder The ensuing night was one of sore temptation to Jos. He tossed on his bed He couid not 6leep Ho sallied very early from his house and went to the moor, resolved to raise his treasure, dispose of it. dare fortune and marry As he passed the cottage of Mary Aggett he did not see her He was glad of this, lest she should have asked him why he went to his work two hours earlier than usual He proceeded to the c&lrn, removed the ttones, heaved the ooverlng slab aside, got Into the cheat and brought out the gold 'rings and oup. He furbished them up. and they sparkled in the morning sun. When all were ranged before him, be hook his head. "It would be madness to risk it,"said he. "If I married Polly, women be them corkscrews, she'd have the whole story out of me, and they be that chatterboxes they can't help talking, and she'd blab about it to everyone in the place. Then I'd have the crown, and the aucny, ana tne loru 01 mu mauur, auu mo parson, and the 148 commoners down on me demanding their shares. Bo hanged if I'll risk it I Women is terrible dangerous animals with their tongues, never to be trusted." Then in went all the treasure again into the coffin that had contained and preserved it for 4,000 years. "I know what I'll do," said Jos "I'll build my new take wall right over this old grave and then no one can get at the treasure without pulling down th^ wall.' Little did Job suspect that he .as being watched, and that his every we'd was overheard by Polly herself, who was behind the rock hard by, where she had picked up flint chips and flakes Slowly, painfully, Jos Day worked at his wall. He succeeded in carrying it over the cairn, and thus be secured biB treasure from being disturbed, and thus was It made fast against the rainy day In the oourse of the next three months he had oompleted the inclosure and had taken from the common a tract of good land of five and twenty acres in extent "How. then," said Jos to himself, "my way is to be as still as a mouse The duchy won't know nothing about it The lord of the manor lives far away, and bis agent is a sleepy chap If he squalls, then I'll claim rights under' the duchy or as a commoner, and If the duchy squeaks I'll claim under the lord of the manor." About this time Mary Aggett's mother died Jos pitied her greatly, the cottage was so lonely for the girl His heart grew soft when he saw her in black "Bless me!" he said "If I lived in that cottage, it would save me half my journey every day. But I wop't risk It." Shortly after this a great surprise came on him. One morning he found in his "new take" a flock of sheep all branded "M. A." "Gracious bless us!" exolaimed Jos "However came the sheep there? I'll run ask Polly She may know She must have seen some one drive 'em this way " He went to the cottage and 6poke in heat: "Mary some owdacious radiculs have been turning sheep into my new take during the night They are ail marked 'M. A "They are mine, Joe " "Yours. Polly?' "Yes It was very kind and considerate of you, Joa to inclose so many acres for me I thank you with all my heart' ."Inclose for you! It is my new take!' "There is some misunderstanding," answered the girl. "The new take is certainly mina I have beenjtp the lord of the manor and have bought lt^?25 acres at so much gold per acre I have the papers all drawn out." " Yours! Where did you get the money?' That was a question Mary did not answer. After much consideration Jos said falteringly: "This is a pretty got Bow am I to be paid for the walling?'" "I'm sure I can't think. Jos.' "But it has engaged me off and on for 18 months Fifty pounds wouldn't repay my labor I can't afford"? "I really am 6orry for you.' "By gingerl" exclaimed Jos. "There is only one way out of it that I can see, and that is by changing the brand on the sheep from A to D and by lumping together my wall and your land " "Well I'm not particular," answered Mary, and so the matter was settled They were married, and Jos found that he hud secured not only u very capital bit of land, but with it a thrifty, witty and wise wife At the olose of the first twelvemonth there were three in the house in the place of two At the end of the sreoud year the number had mounted to five, for the second addition to the family consisted in twins But the conscience of Jos was uneasy Something stood between him and Polly He had a 6ecret from her, and that is ever a barrier to connubial unity Christmas was approaching. Jos 1 -solved to make a clean breast of it and toll Mary every thing. Christmas arrived, and Jos put off his Sunday coat and flowered "weskit," took his lever and went forth "Polly." said he, "come along I've a surprise for you " He deliberately threw down a portion of his new take wall, discovered the lid of the stone chest, levered it aside and then jumped into the box. Next moment he rose out of it blank with despair, trembling with disappointment His treasure was gone. By the side of the cairn and overthrown wall stood his wife watching him with a smile on her cherry lips and a twinkle in her bright eyes A toddling child clung eho KnlH nnfi of t.ho t.willR IV UU1 OIVI1 IO UUU OUW uv?M vuv W In each ann. "PollI" ho gasped "By gum, I'm a ruined man! I've lost everything I've been robbed." Then she laughed, and when she laughed the child holding her skirts laughed also and the babes In her arms chuckled and crowed. "No, Jos Rainyday," 6he 6aid, 'you have lost nothing, you have gained much "YOURSl WHERE DID TOE GET THE MONET?" I found your treasure and I disposed of it to the antiquarian gentleman who buys the arrowheads With the money I bought the land., the sheep, the cows?and you." . 6 ' 1? 3 0 J 1 O I r 0 * 1 ,1 &' 0 J 0" 0 n a i , 3 ? " cL ' 0 1 0 /c|. 9 0 n" his Lirh Then .Tos scrambled out of the grave and c fell a-laoghing and tie laughed till the j tears ran down his cheeks ] "By ginger I" said he "Woman's wit j outweighs man's wisdom My true tress ' i ure trove is here"?he clapped his wife i 4) the shoulder?"and it's one neither j crown, nor duchy, nor lord of the manor j nor parson, nor the 148 commoners have, one particle of right over no more nor d i pin's head, but is all?all and undivided i my own And by gum I"?he kissed Mary,; I then the child in each arm, then the child { 1 at her knee?"this treasure of mine is oapi i bearing annual interest-" ' "And, Jos?an Interest that will grow ' and make loving provision for you as for i me, when oomea the rainy day." A PRECARIOUS PUSH. ; THE HONEYMOON AND A CHRISTMAS 1 ADVENTURE. \ A New Method of Hooting the Grizzly. Wintering In the Tosemite Valley?The . Neglected Christmas Dinner?A Narra- i tlve of Fact. < BY F. A. OBER. ' All our friends said wo were foolish, and i really 1 suppose we were?foolish in the first place to fall In love; foolish to get married, and. lastly, foolish to spend out honeymoon in the Yoscmite. Yes, they declared that to be the crown ing act of all our foolish deeds, and they washed their hands and cleared then skirts of "Us entirely But, bless them, wo didn't care Alicia and 1 had fallen ir. love with each other just because wo couldn't help it, and we didn't want t<< either?that is. wo didn't want to "help it.' And we cared not a straw what our friends thought or did so long as they leo us entirely alone. And at the end of the week, when the others started for the return trip, wc proved the Integrity of our intentions by remaining behind It was then late in September, and soon, the guardian of the valley told us. the first snowflakes would fly and not long after the Yosemite would bo closed entirely to the outside world "Yes. indeedy," he said, "there won't be nobody in here except now and then a logging team and whoever's left over. So I'd ad vise you two to get out mighty soon." "But we don't want to get out," I exclaimed, and my wife nodded her head affirmatively "We want to stay here all winter, all alone." "Yes. and don't you know of some nice little cabin we can hire?" asked Alicia "Any kind of a hut will do, so long as it can be made warm and comfortablo. Wo want to stay all by ourselves." "Sho! You don't say! Yes, I do know of one. It's that log cabin over the river. But it'll bo awful lonesome, let me tell you There won't be nobody but me ? within a milo and p'rhaps half a dozen s fam'lies scattered over the wholo seven t milo stretch of the valley." "What1 Do you mean that darling little log hut among the applo trees, with the tiny tiower garden in front and the river flowing by?" "That's the one. The man who built it has goneeast; staid hero one winter, and it was too lonely for him If you reely want it, I can put you in possession at once." "If we want i6l" I exclaimed, ready to hug tho old man on tho spot. And I was almost afraid Alicia would hug him then and there, but she didn't, only her eyes shone, and she clapped her hands for joy. "Why, we don't want anything else in this wide, wide world!" sho exclaimed "It will bo perfect, just too heavenly for anything!" "Well, guess you'll want a little something else," rejoined tho dear old man, "some pervisions, for instance, fuel, and the like." At this sudden descent to sublunary and substantial things our countenances fell Wo hadn't thought but that we could live on air perhaps or on ambrosial nectar We looked at each other doubtfully. The old man noted our disappointment ' /\; THE LORD WILL PROVIDE. .E LIST. ! I ind hastened to add: "Well, now, don't * feel bad about it. I'll arrange for all that. Fact is, the cabin's supplied with pooty much everything except fresh meat?flour, meal, bedding, blankets, cooking things? ind if you haven't got the money with r ton we'll trust you till spring opens for all rou want." "Oh, we've got money enough," I re- jj marked. "I'll pay you any price you ask ind feel lorever Indebted to you into tho aargain." And I wrung the old man's tiand so warmly that he turned aside with % suspicious moisture in his eyes and re- , narked under hia breath and with a sigh: 'Dear me! 1 was young myself once It's nice to be young." The hotel closed the very next day, but J none too soon for us, as we were wild to . jet installed in our new quarters. The aid guardian showed us where the provi- . dons were stored, instructed us how to . make a Are in the great firnplaco and how ^ ? cook over the open hearth with the ^ primitive utensils of our ancestors. There j were two rooms in the hut, each about 14 . feet square, one being for a bedroom and ihe other for kitchen, dining room and parlor. The great oak logs were well shinked with clay, the stout floor timbers . neatly covered with pine boards, and a litJe square window in each room looked ^ nut over the broad and winding river rhe frost had not yet touched the flowers t ,n the garden, and soon tho best of them , were potted and indoors, where, with the J .'eras and the few pictures we had brought , with us, they bore witness how a woman's c lainty touch can evoke from bare walls a luggestlon of home . Finally winter closed In earnest All , ;he trails were filled with snow, the wa J orfalls converted into sheets of crystal md mounds of silver, the guunt cliffs and jreat trees hung with fleecy draperies ^ then we staid within doors almost entire- e y, except that I sallied out every day to ;ut wood for the insatiate fireplace until a e )ile was heaped against the cabin almost ^ is big as the hut itself The time passed ^ luickly enough, and Christmas day at last t ivertook us, finding us busy and happy ? )ut with a larder sorely depleted Alicia and 1 were out in the snow gath ^ iring holly and mistletoe for the decorat ng of the cabin when our friend, the old fuardian. came along, a rifle in the hollow ^ >f his arm and a cur dog at his heels ^ 'Bet a dollar you folks haven't n pound of B resh meat in the house." was his first renark after greetings were over, "and I've ailed to see if Mr. Alfred won't go with ne on a little hunt." ltv? ^^ ?? " onlH mr hrnro I\fit. 1 (* x cs, uuai, uu gu, om?v* juj vife, but her eyes wero tear gathering, I jj loticed. as she took down the rifle from . ibove the fireplace and placed it In my . lands. "I'm not afraid to 6tay alone dur- . ng the daytime, and then, you know, I've hat pudding to make, which will keep ne busy while you're gone." So I kissed her and left her, and yet t ny heart misgave me as I turned around in hour later while climbing the trail up ^ he cliffs and saw her still standing in the J loorway, watching us wl3tfully. It is t t; tiff climb up to Glacier point, and by the ^ imo we had arrived at the forest covered j ilnteau the exercise in the cool crisp air a lad started my blood coursing rapidly, and n ! was in fine spirits. My friend direcrcd a ne to take the trail to the left, while he v iwung around to the right, promising to oin me within three hours' time. gj "Shoot whatever you see," was his final vord at parting. "It won't be much any low, but remember we're out for meat!" That was unfortunate advice, for not noru than an hour later, coming suddenly i lpon a strange track in the forest and ihortly after looking ahead and seeing a ineer but immense pray creature sham- ti iling through the snow and being at a loss h vhat to call it, I thought a well directed if lullct might disclose its identity and so cl ;hrew up my rifle and let drive. n My friends would have felt perfectly a ustificd in culling mo a fool could they ri lave seen me make that foolish shot and C lave seen the big gray monster turn o iround and disclose to my astonished gnzo a ;he unmistakable head and hideous fangs w .t - T hnd novnr sppn ona ll ? ? ? >ofore, except in a cage, but there was no p ioubt whatever about this one. And he li eft me not long in doubt ns to his inten- ei iops either when he wheeled about With a THE GK1ZZLV ON TAHLE KOCE gl i snarl and a growl and took the trail in g ny direction. 1 The blood was oozing from a wound in ti lis flank, bat that was nothing more than h t flea bite to his bearsmp, cnougn goou . excuse enough for revenge I looked about w ne and saw to my horror that I was be- g ween him and the edge of the cliff, which c it this point descends sheer 8,000 feet. 1 Projecting over the edge of tho precipice t vas an immense rock like the bowsprit of L i ship and some 15 or 20 feet in length. 1. t may look like an insane move that I r nade tracks for this perilous position, 8,000 x eet above the valley floor, vbut there ^ eemed nothing else to do unless I went traight toward the bear. I remember r hat I felt then that my time had oome c md wondered confusedly what Alicia f vould say and do when, perhaps days or c veeks later, she should view my mangled d emains at the foot of the great cliff, llow- c iver, I ran for all I was worth, and, as 1 1 an on, mechanically ejected the empty v hell from my rifle and slipped In another b lartridge. It was a six shooter, and 1 re- a olved if only for Alicia's sake not to dio intll 1 had given grizzly the full bencflt t >f every shot. Ho was shuffling along t ilumsily, but relentlessly, and was close i lpon me as I slipped over the bank. If I 1 lad carried out my hastily conceived plan ( if going out on the protruding rook, I v ihould not have lived to tell this story, but t ust as I reached its base 1 slid down into t i crevice behind and a little to one side of b t e That unintentional move saved my life, 1 or, seeing me go over, my pursuer rushed o lercely after and could not restrain his I mpetus until well out on the rock. It r vas extremely slippery- incased as it wus o n ice, with a sheet of snow atop, and he v tad hard work to keep his footing, and t lb he stood there, growling terribly and ij hifting his position uneasily, yet looking * town and all around for me, a germ of t lope came into my mind I saw that it e vould not take much to send him crash- h ngdown upon the rocks at the foot of tho e liff, and I trembled lest he should get off o he rock before 1 had given him a little L olt. I could seo him quite clearly, as ho t vasn't more than 20 feet away, and that p nstant also he saw me. wedged into the r revice back of him o - - - - ? ? l< He tried to scramble about ana reverse ? lis position, but us be turned 1 drew a bead a ust behind his shoulder and sped a bullet ' here His situation was precarious enough ,t the first, but now In his frantic strug- d ;les to turn about?and perhaps made gid- n iy by the two wounds?he swayed consid- C rably Into the Ice sheet and the snow he t ent his crooked claws, making desperate r fforts to regain his balance, but another I all crashed into his ear and that settled 1 dm Over he went, clawing and fighting 1 he empty air. whirling down, down, i hrough space, until he was dashed with a e errible shock upon the rocks 8,000 feet 1 ielow t I dared not look over for fear 1 might hare his fate, but after a prayer of thank- h ulness at my escape 1 slowly crawled to | t he brow of the precipice The old'man a ot me soon after and had to support me 1< ver a portion of the downward trail, I n vas so unnerved. f< After a detour of several miles we finally e eached the base of the cliff over which f< Tlzzly had fallen, and there wo found e lm, a very much used up bear. His skin, ti owever, was not so badly torn but it a ater served as a rug for our cabin floor, d hough it was long before Alicia could look ti ipon it with composure. td The bear meat, the old guardian said, el ras tender and toothsome?probably from a he pounding it got?but Alicia and I tl ould not bring ourselves to taste it. In ti act, though our hearts sang with joy and n re were thankful for our blessings, with d he true Christmas spirit, yet we could not si o justice to that Christmas dinner." Even he pudding, which the old man declared ei conspicuous success, was neglected, for n iy little wife did nothing but shudder, b nd, throwing her arms around my neck, ol rhisper, with her lips closo to my ear, 1< Dearest, I shall never let you out of my a [ght again I" i* b A CHRISTMAS HOMILY. U u he Social and Secular Significance of S the Day. f( The establishment of the Christmas fcs- n [val, now the most joyous of the yearly tc olidays throughout the civilized world, ti i the most recent in date of the great hurch days Its social and secular siglflcance, of o:ursc, followed its religious doption Yet, curiously enough, it delved its rites of merry making not from m Ihristianity so much as from the customs bi f the heathen world. The rulers of the la arly church, from Constantino down, re re shrewd politicians. They knew how ^ nportant it was to include as many as (1( ossible of the old pagan usages and be- m efs to which the people of the Roman mpire had been attached In the observ nccs of the qew faith , pi Just why Dec U5 was selected as toe atal day of the Saviour of the world uo- fl Ddy has ever been able to tell Certainly lere Is no historic reason nor the slightest athentic clew, and it is well known that lecember is the rainy season in Judaea, hen neither shepherds nor flocks brave ie open sky It is more than probable 1 tat the celebration of Christ's birth, I hlch np to the fifth century had not been 1 teerved at alL got them to be recognized s not less worthy of holiday consecration lan Raster and Whitsunday It was a appy thought to make this as nearly lentlcal as might be with the old Roman iturnalla. which still survived in some of s forms, and with the annual feast of hor, observed among all the Teutonlo ><v>" omn fknoa urhlnVi hnrf nnvntMi thft hite Christ It was the more apposite >0, as the Roman festival and the Tenmlo alike had symbolio reference to the reat natural fact that the son at or about lat date rises ont of the decadence of his ower to augmenting heat and splendor Ills was easily applicable to the first apearance of the Son of God and the Sun of le World among men. So we see Imported Into the observance f the Christian holiday from the first on a social side the time honored heathen sages and ceremonies The universal resent giving of the saturnalia, especially > children, and the democratic equality rhlcb abolished distinction of rank at tiat period were at once followed by the hrlstian merrymakers From the old Torse usages the dav borrowed the cus3ms of the huge bonfires, the Yule log of oly ash or oak to be burned Indoors, the pmbolism of the holly and mistletoe oughs, alike sacred to the deities, the reat boar's head served as the piece de ro [stance of the Christmas feast and the eneral bacchanalian Ism of the occasion v lie latter, however, was also typical of be old Roman festival. Santa Claus (St. Tlcholas) came by and by Into the rich embolism of the Christmas show as the accessor of Odin, the all father and all lver The Scandinavian god on the 00aslon of the festivities of his eldest son, ?hor, distributed universal gifts, the/ faher of each family being his special agent n the matter As Odin, or Woden, became n later myths the mighty huntsman who anged the forests, we see how the Christnas tree and evergreens found their places. m - - 0 --4 A/1U vny, Dowever. tuu iuuuwuub ui uum houid have specially been finally transferee! to St. Nicholas ontof all the Christian anon roll, unless from the fact that this Lne old saint was the special patron of hildren and schoolboys, it is not easy'to ilvlne These things go to show what a nriouely tangled composite our Christmas s and how lustily it has grown out of dl* erse elements till it has become the most lgnlflcant and hallowed of holiday seaons. marking really an epoch of the year. >. Among the causes which haveenshrlned his day so deeply in the heart of the world he fact that it is peculiarly children's day s probably the most fetching in its magic. Che young people everywhere among Christian peoples constitute the factor ' vhich dominates tha social observance of he season Rich wassail "at the dinner ward. seraphic mosic and pomp of chnroh ervice. even the giving of rich gifts tmong the eiders, were these all, would eave Christmas but little different from ither holidays, notably 60 in the case of Easter, when present giving among the ich has become so common The Bambino, >r infant Christ, as the idol of the occasion, vould then have but little significance, lut when the juvenile world declares that b rules the jubilee the keynote is struck vhich sends its thrilling music ringing hroughout humanity How Charles Dickns, the prose poet of Y uletide in fiction, las spun this pregnant fact into exquisite pisodes Is probably the highest measure f his success in-imaginative Work The mages he has created will live forever in he Christmas procession far more than Koai*tii nf nnnnflncd eaders And it Is not among Che children f the rich that Christmas most diffuses ts felicity in real life any more than mong the offspring of the great Christmas oman wait is among the poor and the lower mid* Je classes that Christmus joy reigns with aost potency The trifle spent to secure a 'hrlstmas tree with Its burden of cheap oys and sweets in the tenement bouse tepesents vastly more than the corrospocdng splendid show among the affluent ?he story of the little cripple, "Tiny .Tm, ' sets its canticlo to more resoundng strains of harp and cymbal than can ver attend the festival music of a palace ?he true "Chrissom child' was found in he bumble manger The feeling that Christmas day ispecuiirly consecrated to the poor as well as to he children has always been quite charcteristic of the usages of the day The swest classes in mediaeval times were ' aado to share fully with their superiors in easting and merrymaking At the presnt period we see an ever increasing beneactlon in Che way of helping the poor to njoy Christmas more generously?the urkey or goose for the home table, toys nd clothing for the youngsters, and publio inners, often supplemented by substanlal presents for tho homeless waifs On his special occasion such philanthropy hows its most sweeping and liberal form, nd the human heart is softened to the bought that In spite of earthly distincions all men are equal before him whose , atal day as man is thus observed The emocratic influence of Christmas thus bands out a great social factor When classes are driven by so many othr influences to become hostile, it is a pregant thought thut more and more should e done to intensify the spirit and tendenies of the Christmas season as an object tsson in kindly sympathy between rich nd poor What wealth does for poverty i sometimes turned ffom blessing to bane y a haughty and patronizing air in the iver The Christmas spirit Is that of the irtunate man. who cordially helps his nlucky brother, the spirit of the good ainaritao The habitual exercise of this jeling on one day when all tradition and sligious sentiment turn toward it helps > extend it to other days, and that is the ue function of Christ's natal festivity GKOKGK T FKHRIS The Date of Christmas.?Cbristas gets its name from the mass cele ated in the early days of the Cbrisiin church in honor of the birth of hrist, its first solemnization being or^red by Pope Telesphorus. This ust have been sometime prior to the jar 138, for in that year Pope Telesaorus died.?Philadelphia Times.