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J3pl '-"flfiSMhH? Lanyorv ..y "r> EING alone over Christ fmas isn't so Dad, Dut a whole week after that, too! I'm lonely now; what will It be for ten days, for Mary won't be home until New Year's For the first time during twenty years of married life Robert Adams' helpmeet had taken a vacation, or rather had gone on a visit to an Invalid sister, and her husband had begun to miss her woefully. So smoothly had life gone, so many burdens had Mary lifted from his shoulders in htr patient, plodding way, that he missed her guiding, helpful presence dreadfully. She had left everything In trim order. The house was neat as a pin, everything provided for comfort to his hand, but the irkeomeness of the intense solitude was beginning to get on his nerves. "I reckon I never knew her value till Just now," he muttered. "She shames me with the contrast between the inside neatness and the outside disorder, and as he glanced from the window he had to confess that he was a careless, slovenly man. The front fence had two out of every five pickets broken or. missing. The barn was an antiquated ruin. The porch wobbled and the clapboards of the house were bent and storm-blistered for the lack of paint. He glanced into a mirror as he passed it, his neglected beard tousled and awry. He looked down at the grimed and threadbare suit he wore and flushed. He had just come from the sleeping room upstairs, and, rummaging a bureau for some papers, had happened across a stored-away memento cherished by Mary, a photograph of himself in his early courting days. It showed a neatly dressed, arrow-straight young man, scarcely comparing with the careless, shabby. looking Individual he presented now. The front gate gave out a rasping sound. It did not click, for ode shattered hinge alone supported it. The cracK-toneu nouse oeu issuea a noxiow, growling sound, and Robert weut to the door to greet his brother-in-law, local real estate agent, who held the bell knob In his hand, as it had come loose, trailing half a foot of rusted wire with it. "I nearly broke my neck stumbling over that sidewalk of yours," he observed. "Not much like Mary's domain here, eh?" and he bestowed an approv His Face Softened. ing look around the neat, clean little 6itting room. "I say, Robert, I had a bid today on some of your property here." "That's good," responded Robert, pricking up his ears, ever keen for business. "The town's growing and getting crowded, and a client Is thinking of buying some street frontage and building a half dozen bungalows as a speculation. 1 wondered if your vacant corner beyond here mightn't suit him. What are you asking for It nn acre?" "An acre!" fairly shouted Robert. "Humph! that's cool! Why, the land is fully a quarter of a mile nevrer town than the new subdivision ot ,?2m Lane. He charges lot prices, uud so shall I." The brother-in-law hunched his shoulders and looked dubious. "See here, Robert," he said. "I'm going to be plain with you. I've brought half a dozen customers here who want to build, and lost all of them. The location isn't so bad; It's a direct street and the widest In town, but the minute they see those rickety sheds facing the 1 street, and the house here, lopsided, paint all flaked off and the lot littered up with old wagon wheels and other rubbish, they shake their heads. You're behind the times?worse than that, you delight In playing the 'don't-care old hayseed,' who doesn't appeal to an upto-date neighbor. I should think, with Mary, the thrifty Mary, always neat as a pin and living in this old wreck when she could grace a palace, you would turn over a new leaf. By the way, the good time to start it will soon be here?January 1. Think It over. It means happiness for Mary, who deserves It, and profit for you, who have let the golden chances slip by unheeded all these years." Robert Adams did not resent the straightforward talk of his visitor. He was just in a frame of mind where the suggestions Implanted might take root He nodded a thoughtful adieu to his relative and sat down alone to cogitate. The postman appeared with a j letter from Mary and a small bundle. < The former expressed the delight her long-anticipated visit had brought to her people. The package, opened, revealed Mary's Christmas gift to him? | half a dozen handkerchiefs and two neckties. All of them bore initials ^ or some ornamental needlework, and y his face softened as he realized how \ many plodding hours his wife had de- / voted to the task to give him pleasure. J Then he smiled grimly. As he fixed I his eyes on a framed portrait of his / helpmeet his eyes grew tender. Then j they took to their depths a dreamy ^ tinge. Before his mental vision passed \ a series of pictures born of the vivid / suggestions of the day. 1 "Why, not?" he cried abruptly, comIng briskly to his feet. "January first p Is a good time to begin!" p . v PKMWflRHHni I 7 " ^ * ^tT'" ^*s"*" w Stared Fixedly at a Feminine Form. Robert Adams visited a carpenter shop, the town paint store and other places early the next morning. He r( went to the hardware store and ex- b UllULIfU U1C laitoi ILL 11UUSC LA lUlUiiUgO, He spent two hours going over wall- tl paper stock. He asked each artisan he ^ consulted one uniform question: "Can you get the work all finished by New SJ Year's eve?" He amazed the village tailor by or- ^ derlng his first suit in five years. He e) was a profitable customer for the bar- r( her, who not only worked in a shave p and a hair trim, but a shampoo and y half a dozen special unguents. d, Hie renovated husband of Mary Ad- y ams dallied long at the mirror ere he g( went out and took Dobbin out of the jj, stable. The train was due at ten 5, o'clock, but it was New Year's eve, j travel was heavy and all trains de- a layed, and It was well on toward mid- tl night when he craned his neck from y the sleigh and eagerly watched the passengers alight. . # An utterance of disappointment escaped his lips as passenger after passenger left the platform. Then he stared fixedly at a feminine form arrayed in a neat velvet hat and a pretty plush coat. She had turned her face lr toward the station light. "Mary!" he cried, but unbelievingly, n as he viewed her strange attire. "Ah Pnhfirt !" cho ronlloH nnH hnc. tened eagerly toward him, but halt- t( ed with a quick shock. Old Dobbin looked ten years younger than when she had last seen him. The sleigh glls- h tened like a newly burnished chariot. And Robert!?she feasted her eyes on this apparent subject of the fountain . of youth. . "I?I didn't know you," she stam- ^ mered. "Nor I you," said Robert?"all dolled ? up In new togs." "Oh, Uncle Ephrnim made sister and * me a famous Christmas present and insisted on seeing it spent on our own selves," explained Mary. "I've invested a trifle in the same line myself," vaunted Robert, with a spice of pride. "Get in, Mary. Yes, new robes. Don't think me reckless? I did it all for you." Again?"Oh, Robert!" In rapt tones, as they came in sight of home, loom- * ing up like a mansion in a new robe of white trimmed with dark green. ^ "Walt till you see the rooms?new pa- ^ pered from top to bottom," and Mary was In a daze as she was ushered Into the house. Then she put her arms around his neck and kissed him. k "What does this wonderful magic / mean?" she fluttered. ^ Tt means?hark! there go the bells, ^ chiming out the old year. It means Happy New Tear!" and he placed bis \ arm about her waist?"the newest New Year of our lives, for we are going to begin to enjoy the best the world can give all over again 1" "he midnight hour, sol tmn and drearrhe bells ring out ow good old year listen to the plaintive sound ribrating o'er the country 'round. Has! my friend has I o depart, dy good, old year, it pains my heart Ie was with me 'mid sunny rays, ind clung to me in c'oudy days, 1 friend in joy, a frit nd w woe, res, such was he, but he must got to more he shall return to me, Vith all his charms ar^d gifts, so fret Ind Ah! it grieves me too, the thought "hat I've not used him, as I oughtI ind when I think about this yeart orever now to disappear, tow also of the years of yon, lung out since long, to ie no more: Vith childhood's sport, when dreams J dreamed, Vhen fancy's rays upon me beamed, Vith dear old home, and all its charms \nd smiling eyes and loving arms, Vith beckoning hopes of rainbow hue Vith hearts sincere, that stronger grew "he bells say sadly: "Gone for aye, Time sweeps your pleasures al away!" \h! cease to ring thou mournful bell, do not like thy funeral knell, 'urtain mine eyes, thou blessed sleep Ind let me joy in dreamland reap! ****** 'he notes fire hushed?the year is dead, Ind what he was and gave has fled, 'ut no?once more I hear it ring, low moving with a steadier swing, 'ounding, sweet notes, conveying cheer he bells ring in the bright New Year lew life, new hope, new peace, neu cheer. :arewel! the old, welcome New Year I 'es, church bells, ring from lofty spirt hat heavenward poirk, with hope tt inspire! he happy song ts tri your clang, Vhich one sweet night God's angel sang: I Glory to God and peace on earth 'ood will to man," at J birth. Rev. S. F. Rederus. CHIPS FROM THE RIME BLOCK. Well, Angel of the Record Book, turn ver one more leaf, and Jot down mj ^solutions. I shall try to make them rlef. But, come to think about it, hat will all the angels say when ley see ray resolutions, same as every ew Year's day? I suspect they'll ly: "That duffer has dragged out the lme old set, and he'll smash 'em all y Monday, or by Tuesday night, I'll et 1 I wish we angels had a harp for ich and every time he has made that esolutlon to quit writing silly rhyme.' oor Angel of the Record Book I ou've got a man-sized Job, writing own the resolutions for the New ear's morning mob! , I would sugest you save your strength and ov^i> ead expense, by making up some ruber stamps for tec or twenty pence, ust save the stamps this evening, nd file them all away. You'll need lem In a year from now, another New ear's day! TAKE TIME TO LIVE RIGHT. ?? 1 The season for good resolutions Is pproachlng. Thousands are resolvlg to begin the New Year by comlenclng some effort at self-Improve" lent. Most people suffer frdm poor health ecause they say "they haven't time ) take care of themselves-" The business man kijows he needs lerclse, but denies hlfcnself because e hasn't time. 1 Most people run their1 lives In such slipshod fashion that1 they haven't me to eat properly, to think proper r, and to rest properly, And the result Is that they die ahead f time because they haven't had time ) live properly. | ^ i i i 1 : Bp?? H ' Bib? * 1 iR ?&!? Y ' Bflill Wtoa ' ; pJ i |m ik0' ! fc* rv pf?| But ai W\AA/VSAA/WSAA>W\aaa^M/V\AAA/ ' fremembered i --J i \ anj : I FORGOTTEN ' \ By LAURA JEAN LIBBEY ' i I "The heart Is hard In nature and unf ) For human fellowship, as being void I Of sympathy and therefore dead allh I To love and friendship both, that Is n< i i pleased ; With sight of others enjoying life Nor feels their happiness augment h own." I At the beginning of the New Yee ( one should brush the dust off his Hi I of friends, looking up tnose wno na\ i dropped quietly out of one's everyda * | life without a very good reason fc it. Making new acquaintances Is usi ally' an easy matter. But to nurtui j those acquaintances until they bio , som Into friends, cemented by loyalt and constancy, Is a different probler A man or woman may count a> qualntances by the score?people wli Invite them to their homes to dine, 1 theater party, or merrymaking?y< they are still acquaintances onl; Friendship means much more thn this, while few actually understand 1 Many a one has counted up a hundrr ! so-culled friends today. But If adve sity assails one tomorrow there ran not be one heart among the many or could turn to for solace and cheer. Not one pair of hands would be e: tended to draw one In from the col the storm and darkness, If one is su denly bereft of shelter. Past benefl are not remembered. Acquaintance find It easy to forget. Only friends r member the past and Its hallowc memories. A w?B*n will remember every dets ??E? ''/^'t',.' .*'?* .* :?.*vV/V',V:V'"/!!"V^ViVvS*'^"V,X\\;V*""SSl" ". :'.':J*I"!* !! ; wmmmmmmmmm dlo P-?opI 1AME is Nineteen Nineteen? ou see 1'irwjust .brand-new; big joyous/shout, Daddy Time Ie 'o brinaj|ew hope to you. -that youVe got my number, erjiaps^you rather doubt /havecbme here to scatter goo md all the]glooms to flout 's^pjheyworld's gone crazy ind-things are all dead wrong tew little-boy brings a promis c^greet me with a song! , B of her courtship?where she first met 0 her lover, their Introduction, the im- j! 0 presslon she formed of him at first ]} 0 sight She even remembers what her * reveries were and her wonderment as ;; | r 0 to whether or not he thought of her. An *t She remembers each call he made; all !; Ar $ that was said or done; how she had !; Ar J detected, his growing love for her even 0 before he guessed it himself! She re- 31 ^ \ members the hour of their bethrothal j! ^ B and the conversation that brought it lt quite unexpectedly about. As for the man she married, not one ;! 50 e man in a hundred can remember what ; j * Jt emotion swept across his heart at his |j VV first meeting with her whom he was J; 01 Is to love evermore till death did them I ? Ar part. Ninety-nine men out of a hun- z if dred will confess to their wives. "I'm fSSSJ st blest if I Just know Just how I hape pened to propose to you." When a 7 man can forget that most thrilling of * >r all moments In his life he can forget i- anything. Such men find it very easy e to forget their wife's or children's s- birthdays, realizing that remembrance A i 7 would call for presents. sendl Many wives are glad to have the chll- lnclw c* dren not forgotten. But they are Just lng t1 to as well satisfied that he has forgotten ?'js :o how swiftly time Is runplng away with try o their good looks and aging them, notin y. Last, and by no means least, no man eva i o or womnn, no matter how happily mar* t* rled, should allow the old folks at home Te^ fd to Imagine themselves forgotten by ^n(j' r* them. It doesn't take much time to . 'y write a few lines once in a fortnight. ? lOW t ie We should always remember not to for. /___ a bway get tnose wno nave ueeu ucu* uo. x. increu Only Keep Green Ones. d' Don't carry over any old bills lnt> that ts the New Year?barring, of cour?e, f.r.ea ' P8 green bills. th,?p e- On id A Good Resolve. Tolst Resolve to be better natured daring a caK dl the coming year. day/ / I I o\ 11: : w P|jp t me out llltlf d cheer, ??||j e of joy, m&m M I. NEW YEAR'S DAY ood on a tower In de wet id New Year and Od Year met id winds were roaing and blowing; J ?d 1 said "O year that meet in teara j .ve ye aught that i worth the knowing 1 ]> ence enough arv exploring, j | f 1?? irvl fffiinr J UKICIUX VWIIIW ? ?r j uter enough f deploring, | t aught that i worth the knowing?" j! u at my feewo* flowing 'avej on th ?hingie pouring, d Year roin? *"d blowing, d {sJeyy Yar blowing and roaring < ?Alfred Lord Tennyaoa J 500' new year advice. e ol famllla.* wish rings true, laj-y New Tear, friends, to you." na who teeps up the custom of n New Y;ar cards to his friends t?d this yar a second card bearese worts: tead of returning evil for evil, returj evil with good; to say g ill if others; to act kindly ,vlth timb animals. 'e ths one day, two days, of andpompare the state of your wlttlts state In former days, ke ie attempt and you will see he ark, evil moods have passed an how the soul's happiness has .86 ikthe attempt, and you will see t' gospel of love brings the > and most desirable of all i ese cards is written, "This Is s advice. It Is good to ptn~on lar where it will be seen every