Christmas, <B9B. USS®. Aunt Jane,” Jane, in of vexation. it’s for Christmas, tone “I “But can't the children HOLIDAY JESTS AND GEMS. of out a as soon as were Prudence. “It's keep track ’em. I ventured to-morrow o’ sent ’em out to the hearing. “It does pitiful to seem so —The small boy hasn't be got out to well much night, know.” hour they ain’t ’n’ have ’em a-doin’ this way.” as an you ago, Wafi'i'A of Christmas bed with switch on a “No, I back don't know,” rejoined her yet.” “I ain’t got nothin’ agin their havin’ come morning. “I wish “and if tendin’ school is goin' ye’d let show where aunt; Christmas, to ef choose ter for me ye a you pay W —The almanacs the shortest day put fill heads they be. Jane.” full I'll it,” o' answered Miss Jane, her voice softer ofeßw your nonsense. of the Christmas, but just before take year mighty quick. I don't An odd tremulousness in her brother's than usual. “I ain't you away as mean it financially is the day after. next believe voice struck Miss Jane, in Christmas. There ain't and she turned folks 'd like make to out. no as some —You of cannot Christmas out cut of sharply around. in givin' whole The only pack presents I didn't give RUYYQU^ . 'em Christmas 11 sense reason a the calendar of the of the heart “What out d'ye Reuben? Nothin's right and left. Now. xvi. under the long before this it because I nor mean, was Iffy world. —T. W. Handford. happened 'em. I hope?” didn't think Prudence? had eryin' about, to to out canopy you money are you pay “No. nothin' ain't happened —“Pm I didn't I of to 'em. for such foolishness.” ask Santa Claus declare, if other the <X ' z /'/ you sorry wfwMw one or ni ■£. v% nW_g J \\. 11 * But for they're in the old henhouse. “I ain't few things while ain't alwers errin' somethin '.” out rich, I l^ about everybody dgy a more h noways ‘vfnJ as was i' ■II ' >XU j° b he bat * V mm a Jane, ’u‘—” it,” said knows, 'thout bein’ about the miser.—Judge. told,” rejoined “She's thinking what the girls will young - I I -^^^W *^WS ‘-’^ ; ' /Z® drivin’ the ll “' |l ’ on ni i fj/ KW* “The old henhouse!" interrupted Miss Reuben, “but I 1 ain't I —Job his certificate for patience didn't got when tell 'em guess get so poor we we anything.” line. say Jane. “What Tjl j) | under the be they can't spend bit for the before he obliged Sr and buy explained Rebecca, for canopy to out took Prudence An’ he’s a once a year I to was go inll«\ so I < (11 ‘ t'.,. f/Ki&X? a-doin' there?” in’ little I’ll down adver- creeturs. the to Christmas for all his presents relatives. carry a Zy speak. “They're poor couldn't go ' to sure HuM WW fll ' sign: 7 tisin “They're—they're havin' Christmas soon's store supper's ’n’ what —Baltimore American. think it funny.” 'n' ask. know, a over, see you II ii I l||i J Ml / he’s a-mak- All ’at tree.” answered her brother, I I do.” “'n want c'n —Charley Was Slow.—Amy “Are Jane, "Let 'em ask. then!" said Aunt X ’ S —rCj * n now JB AKE lightlyjl.j some - Jane. The little to 'em. Prude and Rebecca wondered what you see poor going give Charley anything day, if to at cents like know folks sharply. “I'd z< to a you falling snowflakes, / / W| things! They've little hemlock, made their got uncle and silent Walkin’ during an’ f aunt a Christmas?” Mabel up so —“I'm thinking well of don't think I'm doin’ by z " stars, r some some i you as / , givin’ down, an’ a-settin' in wash-tub ashes, 'n' it's y o' and why Aunt Jane's voice z '. wintry weather a supper, giving him —Epoch. V hint.” ’ 'tain't enough feed like "tis? Seems to a ’ •' little bills away. z (Meanwhile the bells, for miles around, covered all with candle ends, much kinder start 'n’ than usual, but over was so school. Ye —Tommy wish clothe ’n' send to —“1 Christmas had 'n’ ye, ye ringing altogether) there's gourd a-hangin' it, 'n' for did they not moment suspect that Daddy he tells it won't be long ’at a on a a mammy besides! Johnny—“ whole o' and What raft presents gone.” for?” want a come with With shouts of merriest laughter, and afore 'n' the parlor duster, ’n' that tidy there had been witnesses stone, that to pretended 'em. what Tommy—“ Because then Well, won't could quit sounds of merriest singing, get matter no ye we He fin’s anudder job sumpin’ ’at 'll him at pay Priscilla Neweome knit, the chaney 'n‘ Christmas in the old henhouse. (Be whate’er do, keep the joyful to being good.”—Golden Days. sure, you folks willin' hoss, but I I'm say. a more; mother,.'n' —it's When bells a-ringing) that belonged Reuben back village from the to got cup An’ Bess me’s a-hopin’ he git it be rid death by nobody. Now. an' ’at ’ll won't to Be all, all. soon, be merry merry And Christmas enough till to forest, trees a jest pitiful Jane.” to ’em. at nine o'clock, and, after putting see festive With holly dress aud a-cause hall, that eryin' ’n’ Prudence, stop you go decked with berries. It's time nearly 'bout the look fur putty to Miss Jane didn't She his horse in the feast, stable, into Prepare the the the the ball, answer. was song, came upstairs ’n’ patchwork: 'n' white red get and Some summer's your you creamy some as as Santy K’aws. Christmas. To welcome stirring the But merry busy well-lighted potatoes. kitchen, where warm, very ripest Cherries, after o' apples. Rebecca. suller down go a pan —W. R. Spencer. the the Jane she pushed presently to sewing by the And stockings of all sizes and all hues set center-table, pan was I’m ’mos’ eight Bess is littler old, an’ peeled better'n years And I 'em want is —“The holiday spirit all-pervading an swinging gently back of and taking her shawl his the full of an’ stove, bundles. There me, arms were those yesterday, too." peeled you father he mind, don't let one,” remarked chimney shelves. (And, From a-promisin’ could a as An’ mammy’s been 'at we the little hood down from bedstead, china and dolls, two peg on a was a a of But whipping together calico ringing.) the gladsome bells stop squares his little fifteen-cent tin have bought boy tree a a muffled voice, kitchen door, said in tea-set, small kitchen, doll's a a a carriage, turkeys, And mince pies, plum puddings, of peeling did and apples not Big Chrisa what the Dolans had las' cause as year on horse; “but it —Puck. costs money." tied strings of the hood under bag of candy, and half she the dozen chickens, and a yes, any as a either of the little girls forget their mus, to —Mother and daughter examining for Good things find take plenty, big chin: He looked little anxious you cannot her you An’ there's little Dolans, an’ there’s oranges. a seven disappointment. They were very young Christmas Daughter—“ have presents. Are too many. on’y of us! two Jane might well ’n' unwrapped thing after “I s'pose I out the go as as one their when they live with to aunt his reindeer Santa Claus hold of when Then get came both of these boxes of candy different?” Why other, for he half expected for myself what they're be called to. to up is But the see worried ’bout rent springing mammy now acomin’ steeds and and uncle in the lonely farmhouse, are Mother —“No; neither is alike.” their for have in the to such wild couldn't tree account extravagance: they (cling clang! cling-clang! on. From roof to roof had kept closely they been, there so —Wife hope pleased don’t drink —“l with An’ coffee, an’ the bag a-ringing). we no more bells still have the you are had their ideas of Christmas been that o’ flour gone; s and for those And help yourself slippers, darling?” Husband— to sweets toys some until this fall, and shadowy An’ the coal ’at’s in the closet’s gittin’ down a little dweller. very vague poor (hesitatingly)—“Yes, I’m dear, glad I so fast so the Some thin-faced boy girl—in garret when they had begun at pretty, term or a learned walk snowshoes when to I on We cinders sifs the twict make to try an’ over in cellar— or learned all district school. They had boy.”—Washington Post. it last. cheek will was pale the sight of them a To whose for the about Christmas then, and past bringing flush of joy be —The church bells of innumerable So it goin' don’t much look if tree's be to as a a fortnight had talk of little there been festive and let the bells, (Louder faster the all chime bells ringing sects to-day, had. are Prudence ringing). else. It hard enough bells, be to was a-askin' An’ we’ve stopped ’cause it in accordance throughout sweet mammy many greetings untold Then gather lots of and warm they would and Rebecca know that to on'y makes her mad, lands, and awaking in joy the great of kisses. stores a joys, but a-plaguin’ be left of all Christmas An’ both have made it to stop out we up smiles—in And friendly wishes, happy fact, all heart of humanity. our common daddy, too. of having the mortification to confess kinds of blisses. Chapin. Fur buy candy with, jus’ like centses to we this the following Monday their With “hip hurrah!” for Prince New Year his to used do. to —Johnny—“Say, is Christmas.” to-day pa, toward winging would they thought, harder way us be, mates Mr. Squeers—“That's boy! their (And fastest the wild, wild must note ry But keep a-hopin' oursel’s it won’t be r so. my to we still. bells ringing), be Well, alius I'll let without spanking so, you go a she could bear it Rebecca felt that And th? last mix well with rhymes, at and prayin’ a-prayin’, don’t let An’ an' though a we No child of mine shall to-day. ever if Prudence didn't take it better to you’ll have—don’t I ’em? know so know. mammy something Christmas lack remember to I should, for thousand I’ve reg’lar nothing of the heroine there job daddy 'll git it read heart: but If there's ’at a -a to a spare, was by.” Christmas right poem. away— little Prue, and she about , poor in Eytinge, Detroit bring him —Margaret Free Press. Sumpin’ ’at ’ll ’an tifty cents during the is well for more —lt a everyone corneal the made attempt to tears no day I filled with the Christmas holidays be to down her cheeks and that rolled slowly —Malcolm Douglas, in St. Nicholas. should regard this spirit, but they not of fell, by the patchwork one. on squares one permission for unlimited and unrestricted as UNDER THE MISTLETOE. lap. in her in Christmas indulgence punch. sight painful Rebecca, finding the too —Somerville Journal. chair she last, turned her that at so —lf hear protesting loudly you man a sister, could her and went not over see week against the promiscuous during the possessions, all her small in her mind slaughter of seals depend you may trying think if she owned anything to grudgingly bought it that he upon very fancy for Christmas that Prue would a Christ for his wife sealskin sacque a that queerly-shaped gift. There was mas.—Philadelphia Call. hired had Binns, the gourd Tim man, rtjMgCflgj front 1 on a stories believe the —Willie—“l don't the glittering given and her, pretty 7- before gate, an Do Fred?” Claus. about Santa picked in the she had pasture you, stone up ashioned 1 d-f o -- - either; but—'sh! —“No, Fred I don't, had these But Prue day. seen one a * ,onse rooIUV talk loud. He might hear let don't and. would times, of hundred s so 1 f oPIN course, quiet 1 on a give wouldn't and then he Fil I x , didn't No. there for them. us anything.”—Harper's not us, seem care l 1 1 1 F 1 rOilt lit- l> two Young People. L | of Christmas. have sort chance to any a any tie girls with F ‘ —Christmas. °ber fa — *'Tl ees s T" head and furtively turned her to-day! She Lord, is Christ, the born 1 " Ki swinging were the house with holly Hang — The falling gay, glanced Prue. tears at i'lf j' were December one Ring tuneful bell! the stifled occasional sob still. and f®' an afternoon. dim. and churches, In the vast pl' j crossly from Jane look made Aunt ' ~ ; “’.if up of Him, Solely the love a|. They for were skinning. Rebecca the ham she Te swell! The Deum was their for odd-looking little creatures, with hands; Meet the would take If only Prue open sighed. not poor below dark woolen dresses down came Christ's Divine commands Ask that beginning She it heart! to to was so their heads ankles, their and dwell! were Sweetly in thee on herself little despondent when feel a Housekeeping. W. Haight, in Good each —Grace thick worsted hoods, while was her; idea suddenly idea to an came an shawl, tied shuttle has wrapped in big blanket at —Fifty-two times the a she for moment brilliant that a was so weaving week back. flight the flown, in each a excitement. Her with fairly dizzy cold, and they Three the Sabbath. They used border of to with golden were a and her lighted absorption whole face up, and just times the clock the least, sixty-five didn't mind it in hundred and now she forgot that great was so their absorbing and for the all about it in struck twelve forgot has they noon, until sharp: the all about potatoes, a they twelve for the night. subject time interest in only less were some one air starin' under the “What at, ye sun marriage time, that how discussing. In AN EMBARRASSING SITUATION. garlands many realization brought her to Rebecca?" a flower and is But fairer sweeter The flowers of Summer fair 'shamed to twisted, how one wee been “We'll awful to have be see, are we say many neglect. of her is falling. That blooms when the nodding A-bloom 'midst the the snow suffered, said Rebecca." grasses, dug, how didn't anything, SEASONABLE SCRAPS. get sorrows many graves hour Jane; Nick the yule-tide starin', Aunt I good Saint ain't the honey bee And at “I And their cells to sweet was ask are fortunes how they'll be how girl, “and elder to a sure many won, many is calling. it Xmas, pa?’* On his little friends —“And why do they spell dear something,” she That and sips it thinkin' about just passes; pauses as rejoined. how mortals saved! souls lost, of questions.” lot many — F. B. W. it has “Because, tender signals of joy make trying to many my son. so stand it— have Talmage. we'll just to “Well, Weekly. recollections."—Munsey's Prue shook relief Prue. But and to little Rebecca, rejoined all,” that's havin' word house ef they set one! for wonder, Jane spoke but, signals —Christmas is the only holiday of the The CLAUS’ MISTAKE. head. too SANTA her was so on no were mysterious a don't fault sturdily. ’Tain't “ we our They'll take their death o' cold out'n criticism. of blame understand, and her family that brings the whole human for her to or year Christmas.” have any draughty L-room that place." They together into the flow intervals went into communion.—Charles continued at to tears until spoke common if “But don't we suppose, you and asleep, Reulien followed her out. where the little girls Jane called Aunt Dickens. household duties two a moment were she'd Jane, —" Aunt to side side threshold they stood by the later at but scarcely pocketbook after Christmas —A upstairs. man's over were “It Rebecca. interrupted “No,” the door of the hen-house. The stopped short, for, by the when they The of cloud. the does resemble potatoes Then down went presents not pan a She'd good. mite o' do wouldn't say a taken from mantel, the the had all been light of small lamp knife followed after, tree, cloud has silver lining, know.— crash, the with on a you You a Christmas. a in believe she didn't talking eagerly. Rebecca sight which moved them and they and her sister Yonkers Statesman. flew and Rebecca to was saw a would, Prue.” she know splendid plan “Now. what both deeply. Under the mantel hung rapturously around both threw see a —lt is worth remembering that the you arms ask her, mind good ’’l've to anyway. a glad happened packed Prue. I'm 1 hand-knit stockings it two so of Christmas isn't her. was, gray value determined present Monday school next a to I don't want to go Now. Monday of it. think full. to can ashamed Monday. on we by what it but by what be next costs, ‘•We won't the first didn't have tell ’em ’n’ we had Christmas 'n' did look Miss Jane tree, not venture at to you can typifies.—New Bedford Journal. “The girls we a it joyously. say she cried, Prue!” ’n’ Jane think Aunt They’d thing. tidy, ’n' book, 'n' beautiful forward her brother she and got went a a Jane wouldn't you a know Aunt say as need —“Many the Christmas table?” We've at awful to Uncle Reuben never mean us. for that stockings. From Prue's to emptied stone the thought of you mean use a anything; for I've Father, mother and the give “Eight of ain't and five lived here us us. never years, we will all I weight; and 1 tell knife, antiquated got. she took old sinking voice paper an ease an Prue,” her something, to “That's only seven.” children.” five Christmas yet.” had any Prue—that's the cushion, it'll all be pin almanac, An’ true. bead “We make an a whisper. —Phila- turkey ate." tense “Yes, but the can a reply, but a was about to Rebecca was in it. An' nobody'll know china dog—which belonged the best of to ever ourselves, and for Christmas delphia Times. tree we be said wilt have she would what never only pretended world that this wide mantle—a lamp and mat we We stockings, spare room a too. hang Present.—“ That's fine —A Nice tall, our up that moment can for known, at a a Christmas.” toilet bottle. From Rebecca's, matchsafe, Christmas. a have just pretend to My have. Henry.” “Yes. and wallet face, with thin can angular you woman, a sister cheerful little sighed her photograph Prue shell box. frame, talk about as a a and it'll be the Prue, to for Christmas.” “Indeed! from same wife it tightly back to hair drawn iron-gray me gave talking. Older by stopped broken ink bottle, and hair brush, a year thing.” a a a the real “Yes; the bill Anything in it?” side of around the as temples, her came half than Rebecca, she, neverthe- aud silver relic of battered that understand." cup was a “Pretend it! I don't a the wallet.” for house. the Miss Jane's babyhood. slowly. said Prue, tell time little girl I Christmas times have got to —About “How a many is this what Santa in days!” Johnnie —Say, “Well! I all born pa. never my —there tell “I can't there naughty, and that told that “she swing comes girls now you not to was on was you brought she ejaculated under her breath. Claus you? don't Jane. But Aunt voice. might bring her thin, rasping Claus cried, in cry any more. Santa not gate?” she a present.” a boy. What Mr. Scantlox —Yes, “Reuben, look here!” my Rebecca rushed And It'll all right!” \on be need “Well,” said she, oft’ the hinges “you not it .yet. “You’ll have emotion think of it? finding his do But Reuben, not you chair and picked the thing back her chimney."—Youth’s the attention to it up pan pretend to don't to so near a pay say Santa —Well, I think that Johnnie controlled by occasional smothered to be an Miss Jane's hand just of potatoes Companion. I say.” as always mistake, part the made cough, had back to as you gone a of the door. knob seared turned the with and Rebecca, Prudence hair with towel. Miss Jane found him there kitchen. ten vour a SLIDE. there light in that HOW HE WOULD wonder what and “I the jumped down from gate, faces, the with sitting by minutes later stove old muttered means?” the old henhouse box- quickly the walked narrow, up He looked his face. his hands Munificence. 1 Unexpecfe up over himself he Paine Reuben to came as softened Skinnphlint, “Jane. said Mr. she entered. - ’ a as from the barnyard path the on up them “Ef hed I get presents to think shining in his “1 light over eyes. full pail of milk with Christinas eve, a said, slowly, “I wouldn't ag'in,” he rest I anything for given have you a never “Those hand. in each young ones are hull The bought the till I'd store out. I?” Christinas have present, something. I'll engage.” to up creeturs!' little Mrs. Skinnphlint. answered “No, William.” poor walked down, and milk the lie set enough, dear knows!" “Ye got have." “You rejoined never through henhouse, the softly to over search Miss Jane, pretending to said Mr. Jane." “This Christinas, ancient which crack of structure, every cupboard for something in the voice trembling from Skinnphlint, in corner a flood to ruin and decay, given long a up “They'll which could be found. be not different “shall unwonted feeling, be a streaming. To tell the light of was the mornin’ pleased in two What had. from have as as any we ever one hqd Reuben Uncle truth, very warm a crickets.” of would present to some useful you say a little girls for the his heart in two place astonishment and delight of the The house?’’ for the article left niece had gentle his pretty, as a when they waked in the little girls two much. William." like it “I would very would have shown him. and he legacy to found their giftscan better morning and instance, that would for “Something, Jane the fear th “WE for often but it SAY WE A CHRISTMAS CAN HAD it very described; and there imagined than be and ornamental? Something useful be both TREE.” for it. And task him take to would in old the happier children select yourself? no could were that you crack in looked in at he one a as now’, the following Monday district schoolhouse would that do?” How lead in all less, let the latter take the moisture sudden henhouse, the of side a pretended than the whose two all things." would please above “It things. me and when he his to eyes, sprang wonderful Christmas had become Skinnphlint, said Mr. a “Then, Jane,” better'n nothin', I s'pose.” she “It's again he stood himself straightened up Christian reality.—B. Hollowell, in retain his with effort to drearily, I the girls composure, said, “an an him for full before guess straight staring a Union. bootjack. Here is need “we ask bring new won't to presents to a our us minute. it with. If it twenty-five buy cents to But we'd better in school. JANE.” ‘•it’s now, saw’the beat!” he go I FOR AUNT declare! CHRISTMAS, “I —“Well, Bobbie,” said his father, the never Which son) her Mrs. Smitem (to in broken he added, less, Jane,” costs time, ’Becca. It be a must most supper turned he muttered, Christmas, other day after "aren't away. stood waiting bordered Their as path. aunt you for Christmas, have would rather the change.”—Chicago keep voice, “you you will wondering Jane be where Aunt can 'n' pailsagain and went the picked He Christinas only within up for them, and they when once a sorry comes sled? were skates pair of Robbie, Tribune. or a a are.” his sister, big where we kitchen, the know! If Squills into year?’’ “Oh, Id' Dr. a into the before her reach pushed them both? Robbie—Can't I have his sister quickly drew Reuben to alpaca shielding her black gingham the day after Christmas has got to apron kitchen. come think Sajita don't Smitem—No. I of comfort for Mrs. gleam is —There of a just the door the henhouse a side for as frying one potatoes dress, rather glad of it.” supper. time, I'm round jest was idle “There's need to every that. no consent to Christmas would when the Claus present opened and the little girls even man two Days. Golden week,” keepin' this ain't because school the skates. give Then his wife does Robbie in full blast; is not me season out. children, Jane?’’ he the came be “Where do, dear plenty “There’s to she said. sled, and I Slimson’s Tommy Easter now.—Philadelphia got bonnet can what want a —We always like best the other 'em an “Can’t—can’t give sort some we asked. havin’ foolishness knows! It's all a him.—N. Y. Mail and Express. lick Times. Jane?" asked, boy got. Christmas, he timidly. o’ answered Miss knows!” only “Dear it.” believe in I don’t vacation.