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 m ^ffsfm^ sse^ The Little Boy on the Stain. B.I. ULUOU f(c man I Il«t the edio of Ui ciiMMi tmaSag Vo'inoiel kM« the patter of Us feet iqxm the ttain Ko nune I hear hii laughter and Ua Toioe of sweet delight, Forthedoorg are dosed op eoftly and the home is â- tiU to-night. Where is the little boj idio used to greet ne witti surpriseâ€" With a dierry " hello nnkj," and a twinkle in his eyes? Jhere's a quietness eiqpreasiT'e in the riiadowofthe gloom That has settled in each corner of my quiet Uttle room. I came to him a stranger and he welcomed me to -^le little boy who lies to-ni^t beneath the gaali(^t dim And he never stopped to question whether I was good or no. Bis heart bo full of pureness deemed that strangers' were also. Kever asked me if my living was to ciicuaupect in- clined Kever asked me if I nurtured aught of evil io my mind. And the little boy who used to greet me on the hall- way stairs, " Dood ev'nin' unky," as he went to say his childish prayers â€" Be has gone away and left us and 111 never see him more With his bonnie eyes and roguish cheeks behind the hallway door. ONE GHBISTIAS ETE. BY ARCUIS MACK. " Hark the herald angels sing. Glory to the new-bom King Grandly the music rolled from under the fingers of the practised organist of one of our city churches, and the voices of the choir swelled with exaltation, as the inspir- ing words again reverberated through the stately edifice and cleaving their way, sought and found a more extended sphere â€" -the calm night air of the great outside. It was Christmas Eve, and the practise was for the morrow. Youth, health, and good spirits were depicted on every face, and even the sanctity of the place and words could not wholly control the bound- ing, mirthful spirits of the more thoughtless of the singers. Once more the words rang out, jubilantly, exultingly, and the tones, carried on the still night air, pierced the slight protection of a small dwelling not far from the church, and caused one of its occupants, a feeble old woman, to move uneasily on her miserable pallet, and inquire, " What is it, James? Singing, or am I dreaming " The old man addressed as "James," bent tenderly over the emaciated form of her he called wife, and answered soothingly, "It is from St. John's church. They are prac- tising for to-morrow, Mary." " Why for to-morrow " she queried ab- sently. " It will be Christmas Day, deeur." " Christmas Day Ah, yes, now I know the very words they are singing, James. But how cold it is, and â€" have you had sup- per?" as if a sudden thought had struck her. The old man moved nneasily, and hastily going to the grate stirred the little pieces of wood, that were supposed to warm the room. " Put more wood on," she said faintly. He turned his back to her and the tears rose unbidden in his eyes, and when she re- peated the command, he said sadly, " I have not got any, Mary. " She lay silent for a moment or so, then asked again, "Had you supper, James?" Unwillingly he confessed he had not, nor had he anything to make supper off. " Old, sick, hungry, and cold," she said bitterly, " no relief except in death " "Hush, dear. He knows best, and will send us help in His own good time. " A short silence ensued. " Give me your hand, James," she said feebly. He drew a rickety stool to the bedside, and sitting down, gently drew her hand towards him. A smile lighted up the wan, old face as she said, "You make me think of our courting days, James. Those days, how fair and bright they were, and â€" we loved each other " " And do yet, Mary, though nearing the end of our journey. God willing, we will love each other to the end." " Amen " fell reverently from the tremb- ling lips, and then silence settled tiown on the old couple, and he gently carressed the hand that lay in his, and listened to the bursts of melody that ever and enon floated out from the House of God in his vicinity. "James," and the aged face was turned to him, do you remember when we used to practise for Christmas? Christmas Eve comes to me always as a reminder of the time you first told me of your love, and ask- me to share your life, for weal or woe. You remember, don't you, the little old church and the practises Jennie Hayes was organ- ist and leader as well. And that one Christ- mas Eve, when coming home, you spoke words that made me the happiest of girls. Oh. James, how I loved you " The old man stooped and kissed the face so iiear him, and her voice went on, "Y'es, I loved you. And just a year from that night we were married," and a smile lit up the pallid face at the recollec- tion. "I remember it all so well. I was iressed in white, and we were married in the old farm-house sitting-room. Mother was crjing, all the girls laughing, and I was 80 happy, so happy, James, for never- more were we to be parted, till, as the min- ister said, ' death shall ye part,' and some- way I think it is going to do it soon," she added dreamily. The old man shivered and drew a little • closer to hb wife's side stroking her hand gently. After a short silence, she resumed "And our little house, you remember, it James, all- covered with roses and honeysuckle, small but cosy, and we were so happy in it and x:are seemed a thing never to be thought of. How w-e enjoyed life And then onr little ones came to us, like angels lent from Heaven." The weak voice stopped, and a tear or two welled slowly from the dim, aged eyes and rolled over the furrowed cheeks. The old man's head had sunk lower and lower as she proceeded, but now he raised it, and in a husky voice, said, " Don't distress yourself, dear, it was all for the best, Grod knows it was for the best," and the carres- aing touch of the haad once more stilled the -wife's sorrow. Again she resumed " I see them all so plainly. Jennie, and WiUie, and Helen, Bob, Harry, and babvMay, and thmr were aadi dear dnldren Then J^aMte SMhened uiddied. We s tr e w e d the coffin with iHiite daisies, onr oiriie's pet flowers, and when I heard the cuda fall m the co£Bn lid, I tiioaght idl tiie fari^tness and snnshJnw was gone from my life. Oli, how dark it seem- ed " The qnivering voice died away in silence, tbe old man mobed his eyes wiu his hand to brush away the tears that rose at memory of the loes of their firstborn, bat presentiy she resnmed, " Then bonnie Rob was carri- ed home a crushed aad crippled little lad, from that dreadful horse race, carried home to linger, suffer, and die. Oh, my God, what agony I suffered, as I saw, day by day, the Iwnnie, childish face grow pinched with snffering, and listened night after night to the moans of pain there was no easing At last death eas«l our darling, and a second time we trod the wine-press of sorrow, hand in hand a second time we listened to the dull fall of the earth as it was heaped above a loved one, little dreaming that the day would come when we would bless God for having taken home the wee ones to himself. " The pathos in the trembling voice was heart breaking, and the poor old man broke down completely, and cried like a child. Their tears were mingled in utter desolation and heartsickness, he clasping her hand, she with the other resting on his lowered head. At last he spoke "Don't, Mary," he said huskily, "I cannot bear to think of it, don't review the past any more. " " I can't help it, dear," she answered wistfully. "I »wtM speak but what I feel to-night, my whole life is passing in review before me." "Well dear," he answered soothingly, " if it does you good, I will listen," and he bent and kissed the withered cheek. " Dear James," and she was silent awhile, but not for long, again she took up the thread of her narrative. "After that we had a few years of peace, and happiness Came back to us once more. Willie, Helen, Har- ry, and May, grew up like fair flowers in our home, and if we did not lay by money-, at least we had every want supplied. Those were blessed, restful days after the fierce struggle we had gone through. Then again the storm burst over us. Our lovely Helen I see her now as she went out from us that night, her brown eyes bright with expecta- tion, her auburn hair clustering in countless, wayward curls over the proud little head â€" Oh, Heaven, why, why didn't she die as. she stood there in her girlish innocence " wail- ed the poor woman with a rain of tears. Controlling herself she again went on " It was years ere we saiv her again, but often heard of what her career was prov- ing. We then learned that Death was a welcome visitor compared to disgrace, and gladly would we have carried our erring one to her grave, could it but restore her the in- nocence she had flung away. After long years she crept back, like a hunted crea- ture, to the old home to die. A pitiable wreck was all that was left of our bright, wilful girl, but even that was accepted with thanksgiving by us, and we did our best to cheer the few months she was spared to us. When she was carried to the little church- yard, bowed and broken we followed, and some were cruel enough to wonder why we wept over her. As if the love we gave her could be withdrawn, because she hewi stray- ed from the right path " Another sUence followed, more pathetic in its stillness than the wildest weeping. With an eSbrt she went on once more " When Helen left us, it seemed as if the disgrace drove Willie to madness. He plunged into all kinds of dissipation, and when we tried to reason with him, left home in his wayward passion. Once and a while we would hear of him, but always the same, always the same, drinking and bad com pany. At last the end came. In one of his wild excesses he used the money entrusted to him by his employer, and when reason came back, he wakened to find himself a fe'on to the law of his country. Home came our wayward boy, and remorse coupl- ed with his debauch laid him on his death- bed. • When the oificers of justice arrived to take him prisoner, they only found the lifeless body of him they sought. With generous kindness they left us alone with our dead, and the public never knew of that dark shadow on Willie's career. " Once more the weak voice faltered, and stopped. The old man kept on gently chaf- fing the withered hand that lay in his, but his attitude b-jtokened the deepest woe. The fire had almost burned out, the room was getting bitterly cold, but still he sat there. Again the weak voice resumed, but this time it was evident that exhaustion was fskst overcoming the great sufferer. " None were left but Harry and baby May â€" Harry left the neighborhood and went sailing. He would come to see us occasionally, and how brave and handsome he looked Our little snowflake. May, was courted and won by Fred Horace of the city, and went to his home a happy bride, carrying with her her parents' blessing. One day a letter came to us in a strange handwriting, and on open- ing it, it seemed as if the very sun was blot- ted from the heavens, so dark, so utterly dark was the clond it threw over our lives. Our Harry was dead ' But he died as a brave man dies in trying to rescue another from drowning, but even that thought did not make the blow less bitter. The man he gave his life for was saved, but our boy was gone Little comfort was there for us in the fact that the country rang with praises of his heroism, our sun had set, never to rise again. When May came to us and beg- ged us to come and live near her, we com- plied. We sold the few things we had the great bulk of our property had gone to repay ' Willie's ' employer, for, James, yon scorned to keep one cent till he was paid in full, â€" and moved in here. At that time it was a nice cosy little building, and May helped deck it for her parents. But in a few months we were doomed to stand beside her dying bed, and to carry to the grave the lifeless body of our last child, with her little babe dead on her bosom " A great sob bi.rst from the old man, but the mother lay still with her eyes fixed as it were, on some object in the distance, but her face was drawn with the agony called forth by the recit-al. After a time both be- came more composed, and in a voice scarce above a ^â- hisper, s-he went ou. " Old, poor, antl childless, we returnetl to our home. It went from bad to worse. My health broke down, often you could not find work, but we managed to live. Little by little our comforts were taken from ns, and years have glided away and find us to-night without a bite to eat in the house, or a stick to keep ns warm. James, it ia more tian I can boAr " she panted hoarsely. " Maiy, dear," said the old man gently. " to-morrow is Christmas Day, who knows whatitwinbrina?" "RirgiveiB^Jaaw" ifc«g««P«^ «»• He^o^aad kissed her, a tear fallimgpa heroheekashedidao. ., â- , " Try and sleep, Mary," he said, and every word was a caress. .^ j " I thinkâ€" I will," she said feebly. "God blessâ€" youâ€" Jamea " and the poor old face turned toward the waU, but stiU the faiA- ful husband sat holding the hand of hu wife, and gently fondling it. Time passed slowly. The old man wtw chilled to the bone, and so cold himsdf, that he did not notice how cold the hand he was holding was growing. He was rowed by the grand rolling mnsic of, " Praise God from whom all bleasiiu;8 flow," as the choir 1 _•_ ^v -: .T... j^n£[ nt the same after was closing their practise, and at -tbe time the city clocks chimed the half city eleven. A cold chill struck "to his heart, as he gazed at the hand he held, and felt how cold and stiff it had grown. " Mary " he whispered huskily, but no tmswer came from the still figure. " Mary " This time a heart's agony was in the cry, but still no answer, no move to show it was heard. He rose unsteadily, and leaned over the bed so he could see the face of his wife. Cold, white as marble it gleamed, but a look of peace was on the aged face, a look it had been a stranger to, for many a long weary year. "Oh, God " he gasped, falling back upon the rickety stool, and then his head sank down ou his chest, and he sat there, silent, still holding that cold hand, but no longer tenderly chafing it. Hours passed and he sat there still, in the same attitude. Day- light struggled in through the miserable window, but he never moved midday was rung from the city clocks, but he sat there still. In the afternoon, some kind. Samaritan, found his way to the house, intent on help- ing the aged inmates to a few comforts, h e knocked at the door, no answer. He knocked again, still no answer, so he open- ed it and stepped inside. What a sight met his gaze The old man still sat on the stool, holding his wife's band, but both were dead, and had been for hours. For them all cold, and hunger, and sorrow had passed away for- ever. Their last Christmas Eve had ushered them into the most glorious joys, they had entered the company of saints and angels. Let us reverently drop the curtain and pass out, but, let us also never forget,- that, " the poor anu needy, ye have always with you. " THE LIME-KILir OLUB. W^hen the janitor of the Lime-Kiln Club opened the doors of Paradise Hall on Satur- day evening to make ready for the regular weekly meeting he found evidences of an- other attempt on the part of unknown scoun- drels to wreck and destroy the headquarters of the club. This is tihe thirteenth attempt in six years to wipe out' Paradise Hall, and in no case has any clue been found to lead to the guilty wretches. In the present instance it appeared that they effected entrance by one of the alley windows in the library. With a spite born of a lifetime of degrad- ation, the fiends tore up and destroyed 285 almanacs of the date of 1880, and twenty- two annual reports of as many State prisons. They then knocked a plaster bust of Wash- ington into the middle of last week, broke the sacred sword of Bunker Hill in two, and spilled a pint of milk over some manuscripts relating to the Glacial Epoch. They then entered the main hall, poured kerosene over Brother Gardner's desk, and would doubtless have started a conflagration had not some alarm driven them off. The janitor had both bear traps and two spring-guns set, but the fellows seemed to know where danger lurked and avoided it. The only thing which may furnish a clue is the fact that two white men were seen in the alley the evening previous, and one of them was noticed to have a limp in his gait. The club will pay $50 for the arrest of every white man in the country who limps, and ?100 if he is convicted of this dastardly destruction. POOR CRITTEKS. " When you come to size mankind up in all de details, de result am sumthin' to make you feel miserable," said Brother Gardner, as the meeting was called to order. " In my time I has known a poet whose varses brought tears to my eyes an' made de heart bulge out, an' yet dat poet left the snow on his sidewalk fur de public to wade frew, an' he sot cross-legged on de street kyar an' spit terbacker all ober the floo' "I has know a philanthropist to send off his check to an orfan asylum, an' send coal an' flour to desarvin' but destitoot fam'lies, an' on dat same day he would giv his hired man twelve cents fur a shillin' an' charge de hired gal fur breakin' a tea-cup. " I has known a statesman whose influence could make or unmake a party â€" ^whose speeches war' read an' re-read â€" ^whose dig- nity in public was dat of an iceberg â€" I has known sich a man to climb up on de alley fence an' wrangle wid an ash peddler who had taken two bushels and a half of ashes and wanted to pay fur only two bushels. " I hev read the writin's of a author who seemed to feel a sympathy fur de hull world, an' yit I seen dat same purson threaten de aiTest of a seben-y'ar ole boy on de street who axed him for alms. " I hev read de writin's of a man who claimed to sit on de high pedestal of com- placency an' look down upon de turmoils of the world widout a shade of aimoyance. I hev met dat same pusson in de alleys at night wid a lighted candle in hand to look fur a nickel which his child lost, an' de way he took on about dat trifle was 'nuff to bust de biler of a twenty hoss-power engine. " We am all hypocrites. We am all two- sided. We hav got one face fur de public an' anoder fur private life. To sum us all up an' bile ns dowi», we am all poo' critters an a mighty long ways off from any thin' like perfeckshun. Let us now purceed to our reglar purceedin's." AGBICCLTTTRAL. The Committee on Agriculture, to whom was submitted the inquiry from the Secre tarv of State of lUinois "Has the tttmip b3en properly encouraged in this country »" reported through its Chairmun as follows •" " Dis committee didn't jump on dat query wi 1 boaf feet all to once. We went llow \Ve looked into two ci^y directories an' tiiree histmee, an' we talked wid sebaral farmers who knew^ de turnip from his in- fancy up to oteaige. Itamooroooohiahan baaed unon pashient isTesftigation, ditt de tunup baa liad afar BbawTmZ United States. He has, indeed, bin Towed to crowd de poioa in*?^d« h^«M«W"»*"Si»^^ tohoatle acpiaA AA in de bveli^ manner. Fur a we«etable which oontoins wiMtEV«rw|nt.-wnter auNpi Itsr oent. of a^m^mtUi^^ got^jPoi* Hr better da» oottd tw lipaeted bgff 4e Ban who MStei tk taeaahe toa bot^t ill' made !Aie Coinmittee on Juifidarv reported in favor of a new section to the law r^;arding burglary the aectimi to read aa foUowa "In case a teidited hafs9L60i»Mi pock- et on gwine to bed at fright, «n' he wakes up in de mawnin' to find all but ten centa gone, while de house shows no evidence of a forcible entry, an' de ole woman b^;ins to talk about buyin' a welwet sacque, thepre- sumpahun shall be dat de wife got up in de night an' took de money, an' if she doan' hand it ober de sentence shall be ninety days in decoder." The Rev. Penstock objected to the re- port being accepted, asserting that it was a slur on the honesty of the feinale sex. " If de female sex doan' want to be slur- red dey mus' let our pockets alone," said Brother Gardner. "I has bin a frequent wictim to sich mysterious transactions, an' I believe de time has arrove when a pa'r o' pantaloons hung across a bedroom cha'r at night should be held as sacred as de knobs on a church doafa. De report will be ac- cepted an' de amendment' forwarded to de nex' Legislachur to be atced upon." A VIGILANCB COMMITTEE. Giveadam Jones then brought up the matter of the hall having been broken into, and suggested that 1,000 pounds of dynam- ite be purchased and spread about in such a manner that it must go off and hurt some- one if another attempt was made. Other suggestions were made, and discussed, but the matter was finally decided by the ap- pointment of a vigilance committee, which will watch the hall for the next month and open fire from the hofse-pistol on every- thing moving in the alley after. 7 o'clock p. m. The meeting then adjourned. HOUSEHOLD. ' Ohristmas Din'ng. I have still a savory remembrance of the Christmas dinners, which were also family reunions, at. the "old homestead," when I was a child. For days previous the prepar- ations had been going on. Oysters were pickled, mince,fpun p in,j tpple pies and tarts were made tongues ana hams boiled crul- lers, doughnuts and fruit-cake were fried and baked, and a barrel of cider made.ready to be broached. Being a favorite grandchild, I often spent this week in the dear old house, and a week of unmitigated delight it was. Early on the morning of the eventful day, the smell of savory c-o'iing filled the house. The dinner itself was a banquet â€" turkeys, chicken pies, a huge roast of beef, a roast pig, with crisp, tawny crackling, and vegetables and sweets innumerable. The plum pudding, envel- oped in its blue flame, always seemed to me like an apparition from a fairy tale, and I half expected to hear grandma murmuring words of incantation over it. Dining, however, has changed with the times, and the old-fashioned Christmas din- ner is almost a thing of the past. A de- scription of a dinner given in Cooper's "Pio- neers," shows us the art of dining^ it was understood nearly two hundred years ago, and despite its rude lavishness, has no unap- petizing sound. To-day we unite French skill and refinement with Canadian wealth of resources, and produce a gastronomic whole not to be equaled in any other coun- try. Raw oysters,^r tiny little clams are a plessant beginning to a feast of this kind, but may be dispensed with. If they are served, let them be on the shell, and very cold, with quarters of lemon and wafers, or very tiny squares of buttered brown-bread (Boston brown-bread). A very pretty fancy, where it can be carried out, is to serve them in a block of ice. Take a ten-pound piece and melt with a hot flat-iron a cavity in the top to hold the oysters, season them, place them in the ice, and let thein remain ia a cold place until wanted. The ice should be so shaped at the base that it will stand on a large platter, on which should be placed a folded napkin. Decorated with smilai, and a row of quarters of lemon at the base, it has a very charming effect at night. If soup is served at all, let it be a rery little bouillon, consomme, or amber soup. As amber soup is served at so many com- pany dinners, I will give the recipe. Take an old chicken, or the carcass of one or more roasted ones, break it in pieces, add a ten cent soup bone, and three quarts of water. Cook slowly for four hours, then add an onion fried in a little hot fat, with six cloves stuck into it, half a small carrot, parsley, and three stalks of celery, and cook another hour. The stock should have been reduced by boiling to two quarts. Strain into a large cake bowl, and the next day re- move the cake of fat take out the jellied, stock, avoiding the settlings, which will do for some sauce or gravy let it heat, and mix into it the beaten white and shell of an egg; skim off carefully, and strain through a fine strainer. It may then be heated when wanted, and a tablespoonful of caramel add- ed for a richer coloring. A game pie is a very nice thing to have on hand at Christmas and, unless it is a very large one, is not likely to stay on hand long. It may be made from pheasants, partridges, grouse, or quail, but is better if made of two or more kinds of game. Clean the birds cut the largest ones in four pieces, and the quails in two. Trim off all the in- ferior portions, necks, and lower ribs, and put them, with the giblets, into a saucepan, with a pint and a half of water stew for an hour meantime make a good paste and line the bottom and sides of a large, deep pud- dmg-dish with it. Lay the pieces of birds m, and cover with tiny ^ces of salt pork season each layer well, and make a force- meat with a little finely-nunced salt pork, the livCTs of the birdsâ€" which will be tender by this time,â€" sweet marjoram, thyme, minced parsley, and a half cup of bread- crumbs, the whole slightly moistened with warm milk. Spread a layer of this force- meat over each layer of pieces of birds, and when the dish is nearly full, strain the gravy, season witji salt, pei^r, and a glass of wme, and pour into the pie. Put on the upper crust, aii;k a holeln the middle, «id bake slowly at least three hours. Cover wiUi a piece of white pajwr if it ttireitens to brown too fast. Ornament the t^ of the ^e with Heaves cut from the pas^, baked separately, and laid on aftpr* .!««»• from time to time, to S? Et- iiot get too dry and if aec«Sv*^' **» of the gravy. ^~*yi Md njoj^ «»u^«.,.,sis^;srA'S i iii'tn ' oLbCiMd i^nunbled fine! BBTen«» jf«ilifal eMi of elove.,'cbS2*L,' ** m^ grated; two pounds of Wf " ^__„^^ nut- piece of butter «ie sue ofWorsS^^ **?â-  two pounds of flour. Mir it rif^.'.,"*it or w»t^ and boa four hours in a C S? quantity makes two larjre nnAAT^' " may be kept a month. sS«S .k ""' "^^ waited, aiTd eat with a iuJT*^ '"^*" Gliristmas Eeceipts. DouomnTTs.â€" One pint of Hn„„i, tablespoonfuls oftnelted buSer t| ' " two-thirds of a cup of sugar, one Wf'P' spoon of Kda, nutmeg to flavor ^â-  Fruit Cak« [by request]. -One pound of sugar, one pound of flour, one Sd J butter, nmeeggs, three pounds of cmJnte two pounds ot raiBins, ten ounces of cihv»' one ounce of mace, one ounce of nutmegr^Jl and a half ounces of cinnamon, one teas^" ful of clove8,_one teaspoonful of ^ingerV^ae and a half wme-glasses of brandy. Apple Flapjacks.â€" Two cups of sweet mdk, two cups of flour, thrSeggs tablespoon of melted butter, one teaiZ of bakmg powder, one-half teaspoon of salt two or three tart apples. Peel aUce the apples very thin. Make the batter in the usual manner and stir the sliced apples in it Fry in hot Urd and butter the full gizeof the spider. Pile on. a plate as fried, spread mg butter and sugar flavored with nutmee between them and on top. Serve hot cut as pie. "i. A Holiday Pudding. -One pound of the best butter, one pound of suet, carefuUv freed from strings or skins, chopped fine one pound of sugar, two and one-half pounds of flour, two pounds of raisins, seeded chopped and well dredged with sifted flour' two pounds of currants, well washed, one- fourth pound of citron cut fine, twelve eggs whites and yolks beaten separately, one pint of milk, one cupful of brandy, half an ounce of cloves, half an ounce of mace two grated nutmegs. Beat the butter and sugar to a cream, beat in the well- whipped volkg next stir in the flour alternately with the beaten whites, then spice, and the brandy and milk. Dredge the fruit well with flour and mix it all thoroughly. Boil five hours. â-  â-  â€" Christmas Ballad. The storm is up on the lonely moor, The wind is wailinf; and low My father hastened to fasten the door, To keep out the blinding Bnow. He fasten sit well with bolt and lock, He shuts it with might and main As if there were never to be a knock To-night at the door again. My mother sits knitting with earnest real So swiftly her fingers go, The stocking has almost reached the heel But my heart is weary and low. I know in the village below just now, They are ringing the Christmas chime That the youths bring in the misletoe bough, And the maidens are singing the rhyme. I care not for all their music and mirth, I care not for all their glee ' There is one who tits by the lonely hearth, And all for the lore of me. The flames flash up in their airy play. Sunning the cottage wall But my heart is over the moor away, With none to answer ita call. My father aits in his own arm chair, His handkerchief over his head. Hy mother looks up ai the spiteful clock, It is almost time for bed. mother, blest with such loring years, father â€" placid in sleep Little ye knew of the blinding tears. That my full heart cannot keup. Well may I sit in the shadow and grieve. For I passed him in scorn and pride When he asked me to be on this Christmas CTe, His plighted and chosen bride. The storm hurried on more fierce and high. The snow fills the topmost pane Hy latest hopejs just passing by- Will he never oome back again But listen I hear the gate's quick swingâ€" A step on the snowy track The bounding feet sml the hurried spnng My throbbing heart, go back. 1 see his face in the ruddy Igiht, 1 hear his welcome cheer ' O maidens wish me a Christmas, bright â€" A new and happy .year I The Pirst Watch. At first the watch was about the size of dessert plate. It had weights, and was used as a "pocket clock." The earliest known use of the modern nameoccura m tne record of 1552, which mentions that i-a- ward VL had "one larm or watch ot iron, the case being likewise o^ ,^0° " JS two plummets of lead." The ^rst wa^cli may readily be supposed to be of rude exec tion. The first great imP^^-f ^^"' substitution of springs for ^^e'g'i"73„d 1560. The earliest springs were not cone but only straight pieces of steel, t^n watches' had only one hand, »^J. J",°! wound twice a day, they could act W ^^ pected to keep the time nearer .tlian m- or twenty minutes in tvcelve ho"^;^^^tad dials were of silver and brass the case» no crystals, but opened at ^^J^'l' ji- fi-ont, and were four or five inches '" ameter. The plain watch "f^f^^^o make after one was ordered it took a year to A tramp got on the Air J""' ^jf'S track near Simcoe, ^.""^.^'^jZud hy stopped an express tram. » j -^-^e the^nductor why b^ T^^'^^^t for tne concucior nuj " „ it tor train he replied that t^ had done joke. He was arrested, trieu,^^ ^^ .^^ three months to work out of 'the'joke to its legitimate conclusion. ^uption oi It is said that whenever an r ^^^ the Bromo volcano in Java w r^^^^ j^ natives kindle theur ^^°^;^^^tdn, and lava as it flows down ^f "' rs. Should keep the fare thus obtained fo^ ^jj^nt, they it g^ out, through 'les"/;^ matches but never kindle it ane^v Y.Tearestneyhhor, they get a light from theu^»«J^l from the whosf fire^s orgina»yj^„7^ the late out- yolcano. The fires m n^ JP j^es,. wej bursts, iiithe native c»k^/eruption of aU obtained from tue d 1832. • An " And such is hai It fflimmers like Tet is the tale, br And full, methi JiB any that the w Stretdied in th A* any ' '^^^' '" ' To minstrel har] It was Christn I remember well with a mantle of which had set in «ndedina heavj of the evergreen Elliott mansion of the fleecy covi laden, while the in icicles on the winter had strip; so the great dro and the weeping hung with crysta in the morning si â-  the prismatic col tiful is the only will express the f artistic had Jac window panes an the home of 'the with f antastic,sha bery with crystal like some fairy. I The little snow their hiding place the air in whirlii its reality had c( Shakespeare says " Icicles hang 1 And Dick, the sh And Tom bring And milk conies Old James, the in cheerful mood, his broad snow-sh snow-fall of the st lar nor'easter and vious night had i badly, but the bi^ jor, evidently the the drifts and ro them glorious fun amusement and a of his friend old Ji mas morning. It was easy to s •city were heavilj vendors â- with th along on their way but cheerily singi merry tinkle of tl: Brightly the ch distance, whilst t ward from a thou a great city just s the gladdest day It was indeed a that the observer The mansion q: the most pretenti private residence Avenue, one of tl the beautiful city for then the pala knight and magui Pacific Railway built. The stranger v up his mind that and refinement characteristic Avenue, and trade and commi and to whose sta no stranger, for said by any dist stranger and y Such is the i none more char But let the re; a summer visit great docks and with ocean ves flying the penar Let him calcu of several conve; its crowded busi its trade and est value its miles streets, its maj through the slopes, dotted c residences of it: walk through it tories, visit its ' tions, and estim they represent, describes the gn the Dominion The night bef ha^y Christma The family con whose long i whitened by winters, whos« spent in mer industry, intelli and stock farm and established we now find it the estate and training was a an extensive adjacent city, sonification of thrifty housew the home, and enjoyed the lov household. Thi children Perc ten summers, calling " Dewd him that his litt Hair," a sweet descended fron Mid had been morning half h garden. OnthisChis "ess in the tow â- *«* for papa torn home to| ««iiii8ual thi eienstomers tl «g thrir holid •nwBgodthat ••homa for "*«»« while n ol th; b kj «f ^Um, Gx ^tfiiemin