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And there were in the same coun- try shepherds abfding in the eld, keeping watch over their ocks by night. a n '- .VI. N ._ WHOLE No - SAMU?:L \`Vl4.'SI.E':. Proprietor. 3384 cl n Christmas is a "time when sorrow and sadness should` be left severely alone, and it would be next to inex- cusablc to trail that` dismal visitor into the bright present further than to reflect but for a. little on these past troubles and .bereay'ements that we may gather from them such memories i as are * pleasant, and I. such lessons as will be protable for our instruction. The break in the previously unbroken family circle; and the (Iacant _ chair will be noticed, `but He who doeth all things well must not be criticised, Nearly-every person will have .a parcel to carry home this week and will look as cheerful as if ithad been a present to himself instead of being a present to someone else. Christ- mas Day will, we hope, nd every-p lbody possessed with the sentiment that should reign supreme at Christ- mas time- Peace on earth, good will toward men. , - THE INTERSTS OFVBARRIEI. `i'liE COUNTY or smcot mm was common or CANADA ova cnmzmon. - ` 7 , . ` . BARRIE. COUNTYEOF SIMCOE, ONTARIO, DECEMBER 23, 1397. The Nativity of Christ. .Ma3:, you, dear reader, `be found 1 exemplifyingthe life of Him whose birth you gommemorate, by. going around` doing good-; and then you yv~illL be deserving of a; Merry Christ-" 8iid!HaPPY.wNe\ir T i It is pleasant to contemplate that a.bountiful harvest with high prices and increased trade has resulted in better times. More moneyis in cir- culation andthis should reduce, and no doubt has already reduced, general suffering from deprivation of the real necessaries of life. Charity will be larger and more widely diffused; ' and altogether Christmas Day, 1897, should witness more contentment ' and enjoyment than `for `several pres 'vious' years. . | Many persons who are blessed with `an abundance of this world s goods have perhaps never enquired as to_ the needs of their poor and less fortunate neighbors; but they surely can not let this Christmas season pass without following the example of Scroogeof old. in enquiring into the circumstances of the poor, and perhaps doing as he did, viz-.: send around as big turkey, or such substi- tute as will enable the struggling parents and hungry children to have a -Merry Christmas, for festivity is a.. striking characteristic_ of the day. Surely `none will be-allowed to go hungry on Christmas, and what_-a f happy time the children" will have if Santa Claus visits every stocking and leaves some little treasure there. "Done 1t!he gudped. "I was coming 3 to wake you. . l`hey,-,--they any that ov- \ my man is capable of; one stroke of gen- iu Liston to.thi_a-but the seems `-`.-Why. I--V-I"-9 ` \ nn_- ....__.___'.x_. 1.11 at- '_'.--1n_`-;' `twp ----gv-- The manuso1'_-'i;t did rlbmething and sprang forward. He had and than toppleddawn. . ` an: vuuu uni ysum LAO BUDIULI LIIUIUIHI` lonely. appearing to weigh the chances. -Bah! That was to have thrilled crea- tion long ago. I will can once again next week. and t_hen- He went out without nishing it. 1 , i Inaeort of at upor~M_arioneatdown` and waited-T-wa_ited hour after hour. [Then at la.st.Gi1bert came groping out, one hand.preaeed_to his head. his face bntecstatio Notweneher white `and ehopeiene faoe stxfnok hiest-` In` ` - `-4 ___ .___- -I; uv n . , ` "Yon--you will not!" She ran and } caught his "1 did not know it. 1 ` Iimply say-it you but knew how he has slaved and tried! Let me tell you something. Wait-and his play will be accepted." Yes! Tonight he has found hie plot--the great idea he has missed to_i' months There!" ' ' He found his pen and started. Awed, apprehensive, `too. she hung there as though hesitating whether to obey or match his precious manuscript away. Finally she stole out and stood guard at his door. ' And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. -nonr I-vvno "My husband cannot see you to- night. " Oh. very good. madam!` Half this house was furnished with the 100 he ooolly borrowed through me-before I knew. of course Sympathy means for- bearance. As'you don`t want it. I'll sell % him up now!" , ' ` o u\).._ _-._ __..:11 _-4n: an , ,, c 1 -v--- .-m..-.- ...y o \4\- Irv vvvsun. `IV IUy5J- "Gilbert, dealt". don't start." was whispered fearfully He is here again -that Mr. Mainwaring What shall"- TITI... I... ....... ..... ......:LLI: _ _ _ _ , __ - -_..-..... ................., .. ..... 5.-.... - Why, he was not scribbling away fe- ` verishly. His head had fallen forward l --a.sleep? .When she touched him, he slowly mused to stare past her with j eyes so dilated that she almost shrank. 1 uI1:'n...._. .1-..-4 nu nn-_ -,--_ l T` v- -v ._---ow`. -..-uv u-av uqaanavuv 531455.111` Gilbert, don`t!" She was uncon- sciously on her knees now. Oh; give it up. if it's killing you! I'll work, hut ` band!" ..-can _ -_ - - - `.`Eh? There! I. was dreaming-my plot was just coming to me. and you- yon disturb me so!" he said, `putting her arms away. If I lose grip of it this time. it-it--may mean madness! Mar- ion, it was sublime! Only 30 away- dol" ` "EH? THERE! and tapped at the doorof that inner room in which her husband spent more hours than she liked to total. No reply. .`aknu6 Anon `Ann `L A51...` 3' 1-- No answer. It had come back that morning for the fourth time-declined She pretended to sew until the posi- tion grew unbearable and then rose --v- v-V .`--rt-vvvnau--IVOJ Lnaaaulnnallou . Geod evening, he said, bowing ptudiously. Tall. broad and perfectly dressed, he possessed a. face only spoil- ed by its expression. Is he accessible? Ah, yes, I see his light in there. Afraid ' I must disturb his-inspiration, then." u1'...A.....:l') Cl . :. _....._ 1...... n ..1._ _-.__ ' Ti;a;;a'~;13;;; ;;;;`:;;;;:`-'~ ;`;.;;m.. ply said. COIXC -.........- 1! 71 . __A .1__.___ ll. '..J -4--... "Of course. He sat down. "Er- may I ask how the great play progress- nn9 ` ` And (the angel said unto them, Fear not, for, behold, I bring youl tidings of great` joy, which shall be to all people. ` . sauna u-av avuvv unvsccavu Ill-IIIII \l\JU\JllUL night, Marion Hartley. wife of the un- successful anthor-playwright, was tor- turing her wits afresh for a way to se- cretly induce some theatrical manager to recognize her husband`s genius. Her ush faded as she heard admitted as man with a slow voice and a deliberate step Both were .-unpleasantly familiar. Hl`I.....I ....----._._ H L- ._-_-.1 |_____-_,_, ON CHRISTMAS EVE; up JOIVII-I VOID! dull Found his pI:>:?".'. He stared inoredn usual-p ....-.......'_.. 1.- .._-:_.I. AL. .|_ _-_ , '. ,, When the gae that Octobe :...1.. 11....:.... Lr_...n.._ .__.'_ _A LL. Wu BY 3. I. YOUNG. 7 FE nna1"'_": as ham The audi- `GIIOOI. little dreaming of that Iide drama, f1`hen-then 3 crazy, `Inn:-ukabwoharing eon who '--J u They followed him round winding corridors and up to the door of 3 box. Two gentlemen were just emerging langhingly when the white faced man and whiter faced `women barred their V UI$UIIvQ- `III UIJIIJD Ill-Alli! '."7or' Hartley, looking like one just risen from the grave. put out two _workix;g bonds. Come here! Look mo in the" face. [wrote .it--almostu it` I .-_ha,vo stolon it. '35: Itanda. Itmynmnuaoriptiagone. you c Ilunc nnauonouwavn our onvv - -v nan unava- ed. Your manage.r!"I1e repeated; as a well of applause drowned the man s `VIZ - Not yet! .I demand."`said Gilbert, pointing. "the identity of the manwho himself the author of that play. uII1'|.._'n_....:.1 ....- --..n_. out |_..._... For unto you is born this day in the city of David, a Saviour, which h is Christ the Lord. ` ' And this shall be a sign unto you ;` Yc shall nd the babe wrapped ii` swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. - -...a- .....`,-v- - `V-".'E-vy. tryaand keep`-`calm dear! It : nearly over. " II`l_ ._`I-A. __._. _1-._I!I L- _-.!J nlT1'-__ tat . Then, -`indeed. she stared and tried to realize the play, but he was struggling past There would be 3 scene. So. hold- ing his hand still. she followed him out into the corridor Before she could pre- vent it he had gripped an attendant s shoulder. "Jabs manager? In that box over there. What name shall I say? - ur1:n_-_. r`t-....1-._ AL- -_;.1.-_ -1 ;.I..:_ "7?6a1b;}}iJrIiZ;."J{ ;u"&{c;r of this play!" A mt.-- 1-11-..-) |.:_. ..-_...1 _:...u.._ `VJ Vina: xanaa nu-AA: It s most st;3nge, said the doctor one day. I've been thin1n'ng-what mild excitement would be lik 1y to rouse him?" - vv vuvsn Q-n\a\a.nvU.nl\JICAQJ . Then take him. Here. There s a. matinee advertised for tomorrow at the J ol1ity-some new and wonderful drama to be tried.` The very thing! (1411-`A-6 ...n...._ .....A....._... L- ____J-_ The play commenced, but Marion her- self had not come to be thrilled. Hold- ing her husband s hand tightly, she sat stealthily watching for a sign -of dawn- ing comprehension. In vain. During the rst and second acts his expression re- mained all but lifeless. Suddenly, how- ever, Marion almost cried out. His thin ngers had been quivering. N ow, half way through the last act. they closed upon her own crushingly. The lights were low, but she could see his eyes di- lating. Only too thankful that every one appeared engrossed by the play, she whisperingly implored: ll"I'L.._. L.._.-..j I_--_ --1.._ J--_I fA.!.. --wwu--J vv V-- "My plot--my play! he said. Yon -yon have let them steal my brains! For the moment she was stupeed Then. Nonsense, dear. she whispered It is ante "_ "My very words." he gasped. not heading. Let me go. I've been rob- bed. robbed! I'll about it allover the city!" - T us- --no vs onauoaabu JLA.l\L VVLIUJJ I-I0 U1-UIIU down stairs again it wfs only to sit staring vacantly through the hours. And Christmas was close at hand-dear, joyous Christmas! llTA.)_ .____L -4__-__, vs ,,,,--n .1 c And lthlereowas with1h'e` angel a multitude of` th_eVheav4e_xA1ly host praising God, and saying, i " .7`-bh, the thea.ter-khe play, she an- Iwared mechanically. llV'D1...\.. 4...]-.. I..:... I1--- n'II____a- - vv uuv now`-o -naav VVDJ UIACLL Gi11;ert, never seeming to wonder where the money came from, assented, and accordingly that next day, Christ- mas eve, found them both seated in the Jollity. If this failed- fl... ..'I-... -_...__A __.--J L__L Il--.-`--~ L --- "'-7'v7h}',7'{m' 333 '.?5i1. -'7i""f;2an to be the author. Anything amiss? |C`7.\-ml ? l'.I....A.1..... l--I...-.._ I:I-- -..- The rst gleam of sunshine came at the end of three awful weeks. Hartley. physically safe, could cross his bedroom. Only it terried her to realize that he was but a living automaton. Six weeks. and the mysterious stupor showed no signs of lifting. And when he crept ntnn Q`-4;In3 noun:-. :5 ...I.. .._'l_ 1.- ..:A. _-_-. - _..._, .....--- - ..,., ,.,... .....,.......\.. Marion managed to get Then yo must stay" past the lump in her throat. Then she ran back and locked the bedroom door. - They've gone, ma a.m," came through the keyhole at last. They mumbled away for a. time, and then they were suddenly quiet. I think they were frightened. They almost crept an-IO w-v. Marion, sitting back from Gilbert : wild stare, found temporary relief in a stream of tears. ` "There 1" Mainwa.ring |oteeth snap- ped. "What did I say? A planned af- fair! My friend here wants his money-- or some equivalent. There is the agree- ment. ] stay until I see your husband." l.l....:A.. ...............,1 5.. ..-L urn|___ _-_ v .-- wanna..- Twelve hours later found him in the heat of unmistakable delirium. And the -playli It was `lying neglected upon his study desk. Weeks would pass, the blu old doctor said, before his sanity could return. It meant that the home must vanish bit by bit*-but what of that? Night and day she hovered over him. He had tried and failed. Only to save his reason! Then she would try herself. In the first excitement she quite for- get Mainwaring. and his last veiled threat, until. precisely seven days after his previous visit, the girl informed her that that gentleman and a "friend were waiting in the sitting room. Both frightened and desperate, she went down as far as the doorway. 145 an ill -`I ..I.... .....:.a I.-- J.-- _ ..L_.1_ --w u-n -III! -sun own no-V uvvn He is ill, she said, 1'13; -face a. study in supplication He knows nothing- . perhaps never will again. |IYI`L.._..lD' Il_:--_.._.__..._!_ A--LL -r-r - . (fa ""3 '7 hit, and Glory to Gd In the: etoward, on earth peace, 00 \ . - men. --vuncu-no. . "" Your manager-a.t once !'`'I 3 Al17-.__ ._--_.-.___ny |__ __-_-_- ' he breath- -vI'.`n'0}'16:`vr:'S`i)g(-3-1Z8Vi:Z.vl.{`(`3.I'); much as the American Christmas. --British Consul in Chicago Tribune. And Mainwaring? Well. they simply allowed him to slip into oblivion. A long way up the ladder of literary fame, and climbing still. Gilbert Hartley can easily aiford to be merciful to the man who tried to topple him o the first I fancy an English Christmas is too well known to need much description. English novels have described it fully, and the English illustrated papers at Christmas time give a good idea of the festivities Every one who has a coun- try place goes there for Christmas. There is generally a large house party, and dancing and skating help to pass the time. The houses and churches are decorated with holly and greens, and mistletoe hangs on the castle wall. The tree is almost as universal an insti- tution in England as in Germany, and the evening is given over to amusing the children, who play blind man s bn , snap dragon and hide and seek. The proverbial English Christmas din- ner always includes roast bee!` and plum pudding. Every self respecting English- man goes to church on Christmas mom- ing, and in some country parishes the waits still sing their carols from house to house on Christmas eve. I wnorz rr." tain waved. Two men stood bowing in the footlight glow, and the foremost was Gilbert Hartley. Neither ventured a speech, and not a few people were puzzled afresh when next day a Joint authorship was publicly announced. but the play itself was unanimously voted a thrilling success, and that was enough. `PU-|l\unru`v\ -A.-I I ..a.._ L|__L J-.. ._L-__ -.o`-\I\v\II-0.0 1-.-us us.-u vvvvu vaavubaaa Enough--yes! Later that day. when the bells were pealing, Marion crept up behind her husband and placed a twistr ed sprig of holly upon his tired head. lI`I ..._....1...J III ,_|_- ._|.:_._.-.__.I u I IIAA`- van -gr--5 V- -van-J scrum: nan-I vaovu I-I Laureled 1" she Whispered. " Aurihttlo alliteration. dear-my king. `my king. crowned on Christmas eve!" ---u-.- -.a VJV-an Madam, I can't." Swallowingu lump, he gripped Hartley's hand. Sir, my reputation is at stake. 1 must ap- pear with you as joint author. but I promise you two-thirds of all royalties. '.' The audience was upon its feet, star- ing about in wonderment when the enr- gvyvyv . . . _ . V And it came to pass as the angels 1 .e Christmas-tidfi nds PCOPIC 1iVig`- were gone away from them into almost Wh0.u} #1 'th Pfesent heaven, the shepherds said one to perhaps it is this apparent forgetftl- another, Let us now go efrn unto Of`-t.;h`?; f`.{tfe; " =Pe".haP5- Bethlehem, and see this thing?5whi i:1i 1e'5 f`S55" ' 3.` the 1335.` V is Come to pass which the Lord. bathe prompts the hand ` `'Y,?nd`?;`!.`n made known unto us. _ H , Q So And they came with haste and than ,3` 3:Yf9th_' time: f found Mary.- and Iosebhfatid g 5 " ;??eem"e baby lying in a-manger; *Q _. 4. .. 4 4. % _ 5 A "No fraud at all! I bought that man-' uscript in a. crude state from a man who claimed to have produced it. There in nothing discreditable-- His name? I-I cannot give it. He was here just now. Prove that he stole it. and I am willing to divide all"- HTI... .....'..... A-.. In A __;.L __,n| _,__,,, , --: ----...-9 u an v nuv 14.5; The cries }or ``Author ' were growing deafening, when Marion gave that little scream of realization and said: [(77, -.-v--.-.. V- -vvuonuuquavun I-aa.n\.n Golan... He was here-Gilbert, look-Main- Waring! He came for his money that day! He stole the papers for spite, thinking you might never know! Deny that; name if you ca.n!".nhe nished breathlessly, staring into the other man's eyes. III...1_... 1' _-_.v; n n 11 Sin {:6 more shall close hevun I pm-his Open far and wide they swing. - For Messiah unto mortals Pull torglvoneas now doth bring. ` Glory is the . 114-. An 1-ll Then before them. wondering, listening, Come the beauteone angel train. Game in garment: brightly glistening. Singing o'er and o'er again: Glory in the highest! Peace on earth!" fell to all below the story Of the wondrous Saviour : Mr. Tell othow he came from glory Him kg nu-nu1`uAaI OI-an when A` on-&, In the darkness of the morning Shepherds on the eastern plain Saw a glorious brightness dawning. _ Beard a joyful. sweet retrain: Glory in the highest! Peace on earth!" LUIJ UL JIUW IIU UCLILU LIIUT SIUXJ _'1.`obocrovrhodthoKinofoarh. . $y,u the mgnanr ; no an AADIh' `$x.oo PER ANNUM `IN ADVANCE cwunvn (`Anion any: 4-nun-n Christmas In England. anon` QQAVAVVAVI IL` IIIJVI1 SINGLE COPIES FIVI CENTS came to pass into efzn Bethlehem, see this" thing=4vvhi`(:h* '8 the L0 d. hath : made untous." H s .. .5; ' IX UIIU Illa. IOB$l.'_I1 ___..__.______..--.-@-----~-- VOL. XLVI. No. 5: Smunm, W