Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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(Copyright.) H! but you couldn't real ly,? Molly cried, incred? ulouely. "Yes, I can," Mrs. Pbelpe lnaitted. 8he bad a fancy to see how this pretty creature would take the men of her set. "I can lend you a ?own and a hat and wrap, and you can take Vert Pattereon'e plsce. She has just telephoned thst her cold la worse and that she can't be with us for Christmas dinner." "I'd lore It" Molly's eyes were like stars. "But?" There are no huts.'" Mrs. Phelps aald calmly. "If I choose to add an? other guest to my Chrietmar dinner no one can possibly criticise." Tve never dined In any of the big hotels." Molly confessed. "Terry want ad to make me once, but I couldn't? not In my old clothes." "I don'l see why you don't hare some nice gowns," Mrs. Phelps said. She ha< taken a fancy to her little seamstress; the girl's youth and beau? ty made her different from the usual wSt-and dr.ed spinsters who work by the day. -You cculd go around a lot If you had the ttlngs to wear." Molly shook her head. "There are mother and fsther and Billy and Babe." sho sstd. "1 have to help out with the family expenses, and I muBtn't spend everything on myself." "80 you Just sit at home and star nate," Mrt. Phelps complained. Molly la jghed. "Ob. Terry takes toe oof now and then." ?Who Is Terry?" 'Well, t e's a very nice boy who Ukits me." Molly confessed. 'And I suppose you'll marry him and be poor the rest of your life," was Mrs. Phelps' comment. "You're very atlly. Molly - Molly began to wonder If she wasn't silly Here wae an opportuilty star? ing her In the face. Opportunity to it rich men. opportunity to wear Pitiful clothes. "Do you really went me to go to your dinner?" she asked, half timidly. "Of course." Mrs. Phelps sad; "and 1 want you to try on the gown now." It was a wonderful gown of white chiffon with the hem heavy with sil? ver. There wss a twist of wfclte tulle which banded Molly's red geld hair, with s sliver rose at the sice. The I eUnpers were silver, and a Utile loose on Molly's tiny feet. i "They can be tied on with ribbons," Phelps decided, "and they won't und* - that long skirt." la front of the long mirror Molly tm a wonderful vision. | Mra. Phelps brought from 1 box s wrap of lace and ermine and 1 j?c essorsd velvet. "I wss strald that color wou'dn't go your t air.*' she said, "but It gives as distinction, sfter all." On her * ay home, again clotbed In sr shabby suit. Molly told Terry it It. "She Is going to give a Christmas dinner at '.he Belvldere," shn said, one cf her guests has dlsap ited her. 8Le wants me to take plsce. and I'm going to do It, Terry Terry's face fell. "Then you won't have dlnnet with us," he said. "We'll you, Molly." "Oh. but It's my opportunity," her was g owing. "Think of the people I'll meet."' He did think of the people she ild meet, as he tramped home io In tho celd twilight. Terry knew eosnethlng of the world, something of tho men who would be at that dinner. Babe and Hilly protested strongly when they learned that Molly, the tight of the he ;neh')ld, was to spend her Christmas evening AWft] from them. "It will spoil sll our fun." they said. "T< I be here," Moll/ told thesa. "Mother has planned a Into dinner, because he hae to work part of th?- day." Bho felt s little conscienco-strlcken. however, as she left them, und not un? til she had donned the beautiful gown at Mrs. Phelps' could she put the thought of heir tearful faces out of her mind It wae a wonderful experience to ride tbroiikb the streets In the limou? sine, wrapjed In the rose-colored cloak, with a grest bunch of vallev nib-.. In her hsnd She felt like a princeee. She had the air of a prln r*ne, ?oo. at she swept through the wide <<> r der of the hotel, following Mrs. i'helps. Her pleasure was ended, however, when she met the other guests and ?st down at the big round table There was a confusing display of knives "^d forks SI 1 UtTtTThl. but b#f native wit prevented any a skwurd news. It wss the men 01. geswever, wfco *l naver been at ' With the coming of spring the fish a gay retort until now. Bnt the people around her Uveo In a world of theli own. They talked of operas, of sports, of places of which Molly knew noth? ing. She didn't know that her pretty, blushing shyness charmed the multi? millionaire at her left and piqued the curiosity of the ambassador on her right. She was uncomfortable nnd self-conscious as she tried to fit her stammering little phrases to this new environment. Gradually, as she gained poise, she confessed to herself that she was hav? ing a very stupid time, it wasn't a bit like Christrr.aa; although the color scheme of the table was green and red, there was no holly, no mistletoe, Just gorgeous American beauties and wide satin ribbons. She hrd a vision of the table s >t in the shabby dining room at home In the center would be a great bunch of hol'.y, and above It would hang a little wax angel. At one end she saw her father, his knife I cutting through the crackling brown I of the turkey's breast. The delicate fare of the hotel paled in comparison : to her mother's cooking. At home there would be large helpings of ! mashed potatoes and turnips and gravy. The cranberry sauce would be served in bU dishes. As they drove home together, Mrs. Phelps said: "You were a success, my | dear. If you will let rne, I'll bring you out. Perhaps you will make a grand marriage. It would be a great thing for a girl like you." Molly's response was not enthusias? tic. She did not like to appear un? grateful, but she had had a most un? happy time. She had been a stranger in a strange- land. When she had changed her dress Mrs. Phelps sent her home in her car. Terry met her at the door. Pack of him was the red light of the din-' ing room lamp. Babe and Billy fell on her neck and welcomed her, and fa-1 ther and mother smiled In the back- J ground. Molly had gifts for all of them. The lilies went on the center of the table, and she had tied up candles and al? monds in the corner of her handker- j chief. "I had an awful time biding them." she confessed, "but I knew how you'd Mm ihem." J She had a red rose for Terry. "The mult! millionaire gave it to me," she said. .Mrs. Phelps wants me to marry him." Terry lookrd ht her with his heart in his eyes, but he didn't say a word. ?The Multimillionaire Wanta to Meet You Again." Waa Molly going to be swallowed up In that strange world, where men had millions and didn't have to work? But Molly was demanding some of her mother's turkey. ? "I hardly ate a thing at dinner," iht aald. "It was awful sitting up there and having people stare at me." They brought It to her with delight, and she had to taste a little bit of ev? erything and praise it. When it was time for Terry to go she went with him to the front door, and they stood for a moment Under the stars. "Will you be going hack to them?" Terry asked. Jealously. "Why should I?" Molly asked. "You couldn't go with me, could you,: Terry?" The next morning, when Molly went j hack to her sewing. Mrs. Phelps said, "The multi-midionuire wants to meet you again, mich mi iTI "we plan fo Molly?" ? "Never." Bgjjd Molly calmly, "I an going to marry Tony, and then I won't have any ti*.., foi multldnilllon aired, will I" Why We Rejoice. In the manger at HcMiiehom Wgl .?nulled the hope of the world. That' Is why Christmas It the universal fes treat Thai 1?; why the world re* I Job ?-s Hut the manger must be '" lerpreted largely in the babe Ii the 1 rrotnlse of the man and the Savior. it is nut the birth alone thai mak< the Bat pal; it is ihm tl a Ufa, the , 1 ? slon. the death, tie- resurrection, the aaoeaaion Chrlatmaa carrlei all ?bis in its happy content There is tho Qood shepherd who gave Hla life for tho sheep, who leadeth nock to groan pastures and beeide still watt ri and whose honor and good name are pledged lO Mis leading us in wa>s Ol righteousness and paths of peace, and there in tho promise of Jesus that lie will be with us "all the days" SVOI unto the end of the world. It is be? cause of these aspects of the Chriit llf? and because of these assurances M I tbe WOfld rejoices and will re are beginning to blto and tho mem Miss Leonard 's Heathen ttv Kate Cleaves tCepyrifht, 1911. by Associated Literary Press.) M;\y Leonard's brother Robert met her at Manila whsn tl.e long ocean Voyage Wta ended and took her at once co a hotel. "After you've had one good night's rest ashore you will feel more like tackling this cross-country ride 10 Pambuan." said Robert as they ate their dinner "It sounds fascinating." said May. her bright eyes drinking In the strange sights about her. "Is the country unprotected? Is there any danger now?" "Not a particle." assured her broth er. "The route we are going is a main road, well traveled, and picket? ed along its length. It will only take us five hours to ride down to my place, but I knew you would be too weary to start this afternoon. Now, tell me all about the folks at home." May proceeded to do so at such length Fhat It was very ate when they separated for the night and It seemed that her head had scarcely touched its pillow before Robert was calling her to get up and start on their ride before the heat of the day The dewy freshness of the morning awakened her to new life and the gai lop along the fine road brought the color to her cheeks. Behind them at some remote distance there lagged n bullock cart containing May's trunks and boxes. Robert Leonard looked at his sis? ter's shining gray eyes and the wisps of brown hair blowing against her pink cheeks and he felt a thrill of pride In her. Walt until his partner. Arthur Scovllle, saw her! The only trouble was that Scovllle might fall In love with May and, marrying, might lose all Interest In the dye-woods In? dustry and go back to the states Bcovllli was interested In other ven? tures, and of course May wouldn't want to live out here. By the time Robert had his Rister married to Arthur Scovllle, May had marveled at his long and gloomy si-1 lence. "What's the matter, Hobby?" she asked cheerily. He brightened up at once, chiding himself for spoiling a glorious ride by unwarranted fears "How is the par? son getting along?" he asked. May Leonard blushed under bis scrutiny The "parson" was the pas? tor of the church In which May was Are You a Christian?" an earnest worker and the young divine had devoted himself ardently to winning the heart of his fair par ishloner. so that everybody expected wedding bells to chime when May re? turned from this year's visit to her br< ther. | "How's the parson?" he repeated teasing" v, Instantly forgetting all about Arthur Bcovllls. "Very well," said May seriously "Oh. Robert, he came to see me the night before I sailed and he im? pressed It upon inc that In coming out here to this unenlightened country I was given an unusual opportunity tc; do Qod'l WOrh, He said he could see Qod'l hand in it." "How?" asked Robert shortly. j "Oh -he said I must lost no oppor tunlty to forward the great cause ol ChriStisnlty and 1 believe I prom lied him but I am afraid!" "Promised him ?not to marry bim?" roared Roheit "l?e.t: ne. no!" Clied May. "I had to tell him tnat long ago. We are Simply friends and ho is my pastor, you know." Robert nodded grimly. "What did he ask you to promise?" "That I would lose no opportunity to push forwsrd the good work. That I would address every man. woman and child that came my way and ask tl I in If they were Christians and all that but BOHH how I don't think he really knew pist how embarrassing it might i>e, for some of the natlvcH here look so Intelligent, and it's aw? fully hard to tell thegjl apart from the foreigners " "There are mi ? loni here," observed Roh. ! I "I know it Mr Nash said I could lia\ fj i nch Iii - opportunity B going down Into ? new country, away from the mi 1 aid I could he a sort ol ax ' v'h n I had found a bufilch i ? 1 of heathern here hers of the "Never Sweat" club are ; could notify the mission and ttwy ;vc? lei lend Rouio workers down '" "He must have .1.ought you were con Sog out to work Instead ol play,** gro\\!?": Robert. ' I suppose he thought I wanted to help all I could?he is very good. Robert, but I'm afraid I must be very wicked, ior I don't really want to ad? dress strangers on such a personal topic." In the distance Robert Leonard saw his l ouses against the dark back ground Of the forest, from which his laborers were bringing out a fortune In dye-woods. Close at hand was a patch of sugar cane growing along? side the road and standing anionn the green canes was a man witn a curved knife in his hand, cutting down succulent stalks. A white straw hat was pushed hack on his handsome head, revealini a mop of thick dark hair: he had a brown skin, flashing black eyes and a strong brown throat where his white shirt was open at the collar May puHed her horse to a stand? still and looked back at her brother, who was lagging behind. "Bobby I believe I'll begin with him!" she saJd. pointing toward the man, who, appar? ently unconscious of their approach, was swinging away at the sugar cane, whistling as he worl ed. "Fire ahead." said Bobby, stifling a laugh. "I'll wait in the shade of this tree. Hut why not confine your self to converting the women and children and let the men alone?" i She rode close beside him and ex? plained. "I told Mr. Nash how repug* ! nant it would be for me and he said ! that was all the more reason I should do It; I must sacrifice my feelivgs to the principle of the thing." "Well, go on," said Hobby resign? edly, although a wicked light shone ' In his eyes. He did not like Mr. Nash and he did love his pretty sister. The man in the cane field did not look up until May's white linen gown flashed in the sunlight. Then lie gazed at her, startled, and whipped off his hat; surprise seemed to seal his lips, for she was a bonny sight on that wonderful morning and he look? ed at her from the crown of her white hat to the tip of her tan riding boot, and drew a long breath. May leaned from the saddle and took courage. "My good man," she began softly, "are you a Christian?" A startled look leaped to the man's eyes and then he said ever so gentlv and courteously, "I hope so, madam " "1 am bo glad," ciied May with re? lief. "I hope you will pardon my ask? ing you?only I promised my pastor out home that I would do all I could to convert the?the?er?er?" she paused in confusion. "Heathen?" he smiled up at her. "Well, if one is going to sift the wheat from the chaff it must all be winnowed. Pray don't distress your self, madam, I have often been ad? dressed by missionaries." "That's such a relief." sighed May. "Good-by." "Good-by," he said, and when she turned her horse once more Into the road he bent over his work and re? lieved her of any embarrassment she might have felt afterward. "It wasn't so awfully hard, Hobby." she ac^ured her brother as they rode on. "If all of them were as courteous as that man?. Why, dear, Is this your l lace?" as he got down and open* d a wide gate. "This Is Woodland?welcome to my home, honey." smiled Robert as they cantered up to the wide veranda of the bungalow. "Where is Mr. Scovllle, your part? ner?" went on May, as she stood In the sunlight. "Here he comes now," said Robert in a stifled tone. "Where?" "Through the same gate that we entered?he's been taking his morn? ing exercise in the canefleld." Then Bobby Leonard did not dare look at his sister. "You knew who he was all the lime. Hob Leonard?" she demanded with rose-red cheeks and flashing eyes. "Yes, dear?you had to have your lesson. May, and It better be with a gentlemen like Scovllle than some im? pertinent stranger who can talk back at you in some language you do not understand." apologized and explained Robert. Arthur Scovllle came up to tho veranda and \sas presented to May Leonard. Not once by look or sign did he give evidence that he had seen her before, and his tact in passing over this embarrassing period was the beginning ot May Leonard's tail? ing in love with him. They did tall In love with each Other, those two, and it was only their promise to stand by Robert and the dye wood industry until Its sue ee:-s!'n' termination that prevented that clever young American from weeping audibly. Tortoise Shell. The finest of tortoise shell is said to be that which comes from tho In? dian archipelago, although much of that obtained on the Florida coast Is of the very best quality, sa\s the Sri. ntlflc American. There are three rows of plates on the back of the ani? mal sailed "blade. " by the fishermen. In the central row are five plates, and in each of the others four plates, the latter containing the best material, besides these, there are twenty-five n ail plates around the edges of the ?bei', known as "feet" or "noses " The i.-?>? >? turtle does not furnish riore ? ? ? n ji hi ?! of shell Kor ?hell was discarded I ? w it is much ? . acy of coloring, of tortoise shell of COW* just beginning to "gi t ri^Ht" so that LIKES THE OLD SONGS MIDDLE-AGED MAN ALLOWS HIM? SELF TO WONDER. Will the Dittlee of the Present Day Arouse Such Pleasant Recollec? tions as Do Those of the Long-D?tant ? ? ~~~~~ "Do you know what I wonder some? times?" said the middle-aged man. "I wonder if any of the songs of the pres? ent day will lire In the minds of the young people who sing them now to arouse pleasant recollections in them 50 years from now. "Do you see what I mean! I know, I guess, 40 songs?20 anyway?that we used to sing when I was a youth that we all thought were lovely. Some of these had come down to us from old? er timcg and they are still living, and I suppose will keep on living. But there were other songs, written m that day, that appeal to us elder peo? ple now as strongly as they did then, and perhaps more so, though in a somewhat different way now because they bring back fond recollections. "I have no greater pleasure than hearing my children play and sing those old songs that were sung when I was young, and I wonder?I do won? der?if any of these songs written say around in the last ten years, will sur? vive, to be sung by my children 50 years hence, with an interest like mino now in the songs of my youth. "I am inclined to doubt it Lots of the songs of tho present time are fool? ish, aren't they? And with words poor or worse than poor. And still when I sit down with a book of my old songs and go over it in cold blood, reading Instead of singing, I have to smile over some of them, for some of them were pretty thin and meager stuff when you came to read them. Still youth likes high flown romantic things and it doesn't apply the acid test. We don't do that till we are older, and among the songs written In the present day there may bo some that will survive, fooli; li though they may seem to be to people of mature? years. "And bow do I know but that tho old folks in my ye mger days thought the songs we sang then were foolish? Maybe they did; but we loved them then and as older people we love them now; they make youth spring up In us again. And it may he, it may be, that some of these present day songs that wo older people now think of no account will still live, either by somo charm of their own or by the charm of all things associated with youth, to be sung 50 years from now by our children then grown old, just as we aow sing over the songs of our youth, ir.d with Just the same Joy. It may be. But I think they will then bo singing too somo of the songs that pleased us, the songs that go down ^.r^ugh generation after generation." Pots of Glass. A process has recently been invent? ed in Prance to produce glass flower pots at very low cost. The pots aro like ordinary flower pots, both in sizo and shape. They are said to he more substantial and have proved to resist the pressure of ice or frozen earth better. Being handsome in appear? ance, they are fine for potted sale coverings that soon get soiled. When sunk into the earth they remain clean, as neither dirt nor moss adheres. Tho inside walls being smooth, plants can easily be slipped out, and they are, therefore, excellent for potting plants with many roots. The thickness of the glass, with the consequent lack of porosity, Is also said to be an advan? tage, for the air remains sweet longer in a glass pot than in an ordinary pot, and there is less danger of drying out. While the initial cost of glass pots Is bomewhat higher, they are really cheaper in the end, because more durable. The Largest Sassafras Tree. Atlanta leads the south in many re? spects, the nation in several ways, but until recently the fact that Atlanta leads the world in at least one thing has been unknown. A sassafras treo is the principal in Atlanta's new bid for fame. The largest sassafras tree In the world, says the department of agriculture. To most people the name sassafras is associated In their minds with the picture of a low, stunted bush luxur? iantly follaged from the ro^ts of which their grandmothers made tea to "euro spring fever" and other ills of that nature. A sassafras tree big been a thing unknown. In tho year of the First Methodist Church of Atlanta the sassafras tree stands, passed by thousands each day, none of whom has realised that in that yard was growing tho biggest tree of its kind in the world. Few of the members of the church were cognizant ol Us existence, though It has shaded little chlldrer in their play for many years and will proba? bly perform the same loving task for years to come. The treo. according to the experts of the agricultural department, is more than 100 years old It is seven and a half feet in circumference, flity feet high and has a spread of rr.r.-e than forty feet, overshadowing all the trees in its neighborhood. Atlanta Constitution. Heard in a Newspaper Office. "Honesty is the best policy." "1 wish I could believe it, but I have in mind the woman who sent in an advertisement reading like this: 'Wanted A husband with money; ob? ject alimony.' Did she gel an an? swer to her advertisement? Net ODA." they tan li:i\r a good start on the WHEN HUBBY 'HELPED BEAUTIFUL MIXUP IN THE,' KITCHEN, OF COURSE. And Wifey'a Period of Rest Was Rude? ly Interrupted ar. She Went to the Rescue of Her Liege Lord. "My dear Olivia," said Pumperton, firmly, as dinner ended. "I am going to wash the dishes tonight. You are to sit down in front of the dining room fire and rest. While we are without a maid it is only fair for me to assume my share of the work." Mrs. Puniperton smiled. "Very well, John. But as the hot water is not coming very well, you'll find it better to set the dishpan, he If full, on the stove to heat up. Put some soap pow? der in it. The package is on the shelf." And with a sigh of relief she went into the living room and sat down to lest. Pumperton cleared off the table without any serious accidents, then set the dishpan over an open stove hole to heat up. He took off his coat, relied up his sleeves and tied on a large gingham apron. Then it oc? curred to him that Olivia had told him to put in somo soap powder, so he took a yellow paper box from the pantry shelf and poured in a generous supply. The water by now was almost belling, but the soap powder obstinate? ly refused to dissolve; so Pumperton took a kitchen spoon and began to stir in vigorously. Instead of becom? ing fine foamy soap?uds, the water be? gan to thicken and thicken?and the more it thickened the harder Pumper ton stirred. At last Mrs. Pumperton, quietly rocking and reading before the cozy open fireplace, was startled by an ag? onized appeal from the kitchen. "Olivia!" came her husband's call. "1 want you! Quick!" She jumped to her feet and hurried to the kitchen, to see her husband perspiringly, hut with determined action, siirring a dishpan full of white mixture, in which knives, forks and china came spasmodically to the surface as he stirred?all coated alike with something like strained flour paste. She looked at the dishpan with a gasp. "What on earth is the matter?" she asked. "What are you doing there?" "I. don't know." came the discour? aged response. ''What's the matter^ with that soap powder of yours? Look what it's doing! How can any man? or woman, for that matter?be expect? ed to wash dishes in that?" She took one look at the white por? ridge, then snatchfd up the package standing open on the table. "John Pumperton," she faid, calmly, "I told you to put a little .map powder in that water. Instead you poured In a good half package of cornstarch, and made pudding out of it!" Highest Point of Interest. A man who was a passenger on an excursion steamer which returned a few'days ago from Panama and Costa Rica, told a New York Tribune report? er that all the tourists were deeply interested in what they saw in Pana? ma and along the line of the canal in the four days which they spent there. "The monster dredges, the great walls of concrete, the locks and other wonders of the canal construc? tion," he said, "naturally came first in order for our attention; then the cheapness of the duck suits which we had to buy, the independence of the merchants who would not send them to you and the hospitality of the American club will be remem? bered, but the most wonderful thing we saw was the real Panama, souvenir in the form of a deck of playing card? bearing Panama scenes, and the cardt are made in Ohio." The "Chestnut" Story. The origin of the word "chestnut" as applied to an oft-told joke may, according to Joseph Jefferson, the aetor. be traced to tho stage. In a melodrama entitled "The Broken Sw ord," written by William Dil'on, two of the principal characters wert Count Xavier and his servant Fablo. In a dialogue between them is to be found the origin of the word "chest? nut" as applied to a story that has lost its first bloom of novelty. ITert it is: "Once." said the count, "I entered the forests of Calloway. when sadden ly, from the boughs of a cork tree?" "Chestnut. count." Interrupted Pablo ?Cork tree." said the count. "A chestnut." reiterated Pablo "I should know as well as you. for 1 Save beard yotl tell the story twenty sevt n tmes." The count was a veritable M;:n chaueen. for the frequent relation of his exploits, and consequently liable to get a little mixed in his details. sr> It is that from a cork tree we get the ehest nut Fersia Bans Jules Verne. Tho censor of literature in Persia has banned a Persian translation of Jules Verne's "Voyage to the Moon" on the ground that it is irreligious, and from his point of view he is right. It will be remembered that a party of Bcientleta was shut up in a shell which was tired at the moon from a great gun Now the moon is Mahomet's cof? fin, and to shoot at the moon is a Clime in Persia. It is true that tho shell didn't hit the moon, hut the in? tention constituted the crime In Per sla. season.