i Abundance Brent was returning home at the close of a hard day's wi She bad been helping Mrs. lard with her fall housecleaning Stoddard was the kind of wom- an who never sparés herself, much less her handmaiden. Abundance was a little woman, with brown hair and old, sad, weary eyes. She - was about 36, but she looked much younger, for she had the light conscience and the munocent heart of a little girl. However, a light conscience and an innocent heart cannot make one happy when fate and the world combine to make one wretched: Abundance _ had given up her girlhood and ber young womanhood to caring for her help- less father, whose long and increas- ing illness had cost him all that he 0 save this little gray house on a back street. Even that was mortgaged, but because it was the only home she had ever known Ab- undance was trying to meet the de- mands of the mortgage and save it . from foreclosure. She had never been traiced in any except housework and #0 she was going about wherever she could get a day's hire. From spring until fall she was busy, but winter was a time she dreaded, be- cause then she was idle and alone, Winter was coming on now. Her eyes were downcast and so "she was close to her own doorstep before she noticed that company wait ed for her thereon. A great black cat with a white bib and a nose pink as "@ rose leaf sat quietly purring a wel- come. Abundance stopped in aston- ishment. She had no cat. Her neigh- bors had no cats, Whose, then, was this beautiful, glossy coated crea- ture? She took him in her arms. Ile snuggled against her, bunting her ehepk and working his claws ecstat- ically. "Are you hungry?" Abundance asked. The cat mewed. And now Abundance noted that under his splendid coat his backbone was pro- minent and his sides woefully sunk- Abundance lit a fire and set on her teakettle, The cat watched all her motions, intelligently, purring loud- ly. Abundance gave him the milk she had saved for her tea. While he was lapping the milk she set her little table very daintly with her sup- per of bread, butter, and apple sauce By the time she was ready to eat, the cat had finished the milk. He came and sat down close beside her, still watching her.and purring. They had a jolly tisae together. Afterward the cat when to bed on the couch in the best room. The next morning he hreakfasted with Abundance. When she went to . 'work she put him out of doors, but left a saucer of milk on the steps. She thought that he would wander home some time during the day. But when she returned at night he was agtin waiting for her on the door- atep. : It was pleasant having even a cat to come home to. Abundance could not afford to keep.a cat, but she ar- gued with herself that if he wished to stay she would share with him. By eating a little less herself he could have more. Abundance called the cat" Bob. She had' always liked that name. It had a good, honest, masculine sound. In a few days the cat seemed to know his name as well as she knew hers. One evening she sat on the doorstep with Bob In her arms, rest- ing and thinking, She was wrapped in a shawl which covered Bob, too, all save his pink nose. A man came, down the still, narrow street and turned in toward the house. He look- ed at her inquiringly and lifted his hat. He was a tired looking 'mun, neat but shabby, of about Abundance own age. As she raised her eyes she perceived that she had never seen him before. "I'm looking for my cat,'" he said "a big black and white cat. I was told up the street that you had had a cat come to you and I thought per- haps He stopped. Bob had heard his voice and popped out of the shaw! "That's he! That's Dandy!" eried the man. He whistled sharply and away went the cat swarming up "i legs to the very shoulders. "V Dandy, what did you run away fo: He looked at Abundance with his face alight. "I tell you I'm glad to find him. I've looked over a week for him. You see, I live on Caper street, and he's the only companion I've got. 1 haven't been here long. I guess he missed my sister consider ably. I'm not much of a cook," "He's a dear," Abundance said. 'I---~I kind of hoped he'd stay. 'I'm alone, too, and he's real company." *"'He is company," said the man. "I suppose it seems foolish for a man that's living alone to keep a cat, but it means a lot to me when I come home from the factory tired out nights to find Dandy waiting. I don't know how to thank you enough for taking such good care of him." After the man had taken Dandy away Abundance felt very lonely. It ' had meant something to her to come home to find Dandy walting. The next night she dragged home to Iind him again purring upon her doorstep. It was like seeing a long- lost friend. Abundance hugged him and eried over him. The next day was Sunday. Abun- dance went to church and left Dandy agleep on the couch. After service, as she was stepping out of the pew, she came face to face with Dandy's mas- ter, He looked very nice in his Sun-' day clothes. And he recognized her instantly. Abundamcé whispered: "he's back again." "I suspected it," said the man, afternoon' as Abundance again sat on the doorstep the man came. "I don't know what to do with Dandy," he said. "I can't bear to shut GASTORIA Tho Kid You ta Abas Bought 7, [gramme was t ROUMANY / hd v t hid THE The Turks have will occupy the place. The Goeben © czar is rej D are at Erzerum also fighting the Suez Canal, him up. He seems to have taken a great fancy to you." He stayed a little while and took ithe cat away. Two or three days passed before Dandy returned. Thed man came after him again, patiently This time he sat and talked with Abundance a long while. - He fold her all about himself and she told him all about herself. Dandy lay on thé floor between them and snoozed contentedly. This went on for several weeks. The weather was getting cold and Abundance had less and léss work to do. She stayed at home nearly ali the time now. And Dandy was with ler a great deal. Under her care he was growing fat. "He likes your cooking, I guess," the man said to her one Saturday afternoon when he had come to take the cat home. He lingered wistfully, "He likes you,.too. Dandy's smart." He sighed and turned to go. At that instant the cat made a leap, eluded his master and ran back to Abundance. Mewing, he looked up into her face. "He wants you to g0, too," the man said. "Couldn't you?" He falter- ed. "I wish you'd marry me. I have n't got much of a home, but if I had you and you had Dandy and we both bad each other--" Abundance stooped and took Dan- dy in her arms. A big tear splash- ed down on his shining coat. "If--if {I had Dandy--and you," she said, "I wouldn't want anything else on this earth." And he took her in his arms and held her protectingly and lovingly, while Dandy sung as if his heart would burst for joy. ee esate DEMANDED AS REPRISAL. Breslau Newspaper Wants Principal. ity of Sagan Confiscated. Breslau, via Berlin, to London, Dec. 16.--The Breslauer Zeitung de- mands the confiscation of the Prin- cipality of Prince Howard of Sagan, son of Duke Helie and the Duchess of Talleyrand. The duchess was Anna Gould, of New York The confiscation is demanded.as a repris- al against the alleged confiscation of German property in France. The principality . of Sagan em- braces the handsome castle of Sagan and twenty-four estates, aggregating 60,000 acres. Duke Helie renounced his title of Prince Sagan' in favor of his son at the time of his father's death in 1910, Patriotic Concert At Charleston, Charleston, Dec. patriotic concert, ' which was put on at the hall, Oak Leaf, on Frida. evening, brought out a full house. I). Johnson occupied the" chair and wol. comed the visitors. Each number was loudly applauded. The tableau, "Can- ada's. Gift to Her Country," was well presented Mr. and Mrs. M. J. Kka- vanagh rendered some chofce musical selections. Mrs. Kavanagh was the accompaniest for the evening The most interesting "part of the pro a spelling contest be Charleston on .one side and Oak Leaf and Soperton, jointly, on the other. The contest ended in a victory for the former, amid loud cheers from the Charleston boys. Tho mas H. Follick, M.A., principal Athens high school, pronounced words. 14. ~The repeated tween of the I'he singing of the national anthem brought the entertainment to a close. The proceeds will go to the Belgian relief fund. { War Oddities. Amsterdam---A remarkable gun, built on the principle of the old Ro- man catapult, is being used by the Austrians in operations against the Servians The machine throws bar- rels filled {vith rocks and explosives. Paris--A heavy London motor bus dashed into the British lines bearing on the top seats 12 German soldiers with rifles. The guard prepared for an attack when the driver shouted that the Germans had surrendered. They were nearly starved to death. London--The Very Rev. Arthur Purey-Cust, dean of York, defends the use of the term "Tommy Atkins," applied to the British soldier. It is an honorable name," he declared. Some had held the name disrespect- ul. Going Him One Better, The head of a manufacturing con- cern who built up his business from nothing but his own dogged and per- sistent toll, and who has never felt that he could spare time for a vaca- tion, not long ago, however; decided that he was getting along in years, and that he was entitled to a rest. Calling his son into the Mbrary, he said: "Tom; I've worked pretty hard for quite a while now, and have done very well so I have decided to retire and turn the business over to you What do you say?" The young man pondered the situation gravely. Then a bright idea seemed to strike him, "1 say, dad," he suggested, "how would it be for you fo work a few rears longer and then the two of us LEM Turks British are-forty miles north of Bazra ARABIA fs MILITARY CAMPAIGN IN ASIA. evacuated Beirut, and jt is expected an allied force bombarded Batum on the Black Sea. the Caucasian army. © His troops west of Tabriz in Persia. The holding back the Turks east of the, & tae Ber Arran rsa Snr FATHER NEVER FAIS, It is done. The last parcels in tissue And ribbon and holly seal; Decided is each Christmas issue, Concluded is each Christmas deal There are hooks, there are soldiers and dollies. And booties hoods; There are gifts for our Jennies and Mollies. For father delivers the goods. ' and neckwear and There are tokens of linen and cot- ton, And satin and velvet and lace; And none that we love is forgotten, There's something for Mabel and Grace There are bits of thé jeweler's fancy, The products of mines and woods, And though father may. rear up and prance, he At Christmas delivers the goods Has he told us he couldn't afford it, Has he grumbled about the ex- pense. Mentioned money, and threatened to hoard it? He has, I'll say in defence It is only his manner of jesting, Just one of his Christmassy moods And the gifts we have bought are attesting That father delivers the goods It is done. The last parcel is tissue And ribbon and holly:and seal; Decided in each Christmas issue. Concluded is each Christmas deal, To-day they will send him with bun dles To tramp through the gay neigh- borhoods, And to prove, as gift-bearing he trun- dles, That father delivers the goods. LITTLE POLLY'S POEM. By T. A. Daly. All Christians who correctly live Know it is better far to give Than to receive. And that should be the greatest joy To every Christmas girl and boy On Christmas Eve, I've bought some gifts to make folks glad, And so much joy I have not had Since I was born; And I'll rejoice to watch their eyes And see their pleasure and surprise On Christmas morn. Of course I've told some folks I've got » Some thing. for them, but not just what, And I declare If they in turn should fall to bring Or send to me a single thing I would not care. Ma knows I've bought a gift for her, And when she asked what I prefer I tell her suth And such and such--or if I got Just one would please me for I'nr not Expecting much, It's what I'm going to give, I said, Will make me happy going to bed On Christmas Eve Besides, you know the Bible text, "Blessed are they that don't expect; They shall Receive." SING HO! THE MISTLETOE, Sing hey! Sing ho! The mistletoe! ; When it hangs above them, Ye maidens may Not say us nay If we truly love them In a parlor chair sat Molly, In another Master Joe, From the chandelier hung holly And--a spray of mistletoe. Master Joe bethought him: "Surely, That was fastened there for me, Mistress Molly sat demurely, Feigning that she did not seg, By and by, toward her leaning, "Sure," he whispered, know There's a wealth 'of blissful meaning In that pendant mistletoe." Molly tossed her silken, yellow Tresses and assumed a frown, "Really, you're the boldest fellow Most impertinent in town." Master Joe, therat affrighted, Sat a moment, stricken mute; Then, by deép remorse incited, Called himself 'a brute." Rising, he advanced to show that He was penitent--and there Saw a sprig of mistletoe that Bhe had fastened in her hair! Sing hey! Sing ho! The hen uptgeis. When it hangs above them. Ye maidens may Not say us nay If we truly love them. -------- Happiness depends quite as much on what we don't do as upon what we do do. Some people are quick to take of- et |retice together," . fense and others are satisfied to bor- row trouble, : : the 'you must, thoughtle | To Him who sen But Sou have mercy on his soul ee HOLDERS. OF THE CROSS| AWARDS SINCE WAR BEGAN I TWENTY-ONE. Heroes Of "L" Baftery--First Indian Recipient Is Survivor of 15 Whe Slew 60 Germans. «d The granting of ten Victoria Cros- ses within the last few weeks brings the total number of these awards during the present war up to twen- ty-one. The Cross is the highest reward given to the British army *'for some signal act of valor or devotion per- formed in the presencg.of the enemy. The decoration is ac®mpanied by a pension of fifty dollars a year. Offi- cial lists of surviving holders of the honor at the beginning of the pres- ent war contained about 150 names. The ten latest V.C., awards are as follows: Private Siduey Godley, Roy- al Fusiliers for coolness and galian- try in firing his machine gun under a hot fire for two hours after he had been wounded at Mons on August 23. > - Driver Job Drain and Driver Frederick Luke, Royal Field Artill- ery; at Le Cateau on August 25th, as volunteers, helping to save guns under fire from hostile infantry 100 yards away. Major Charles Yate, deceased King's Own Light Infantry; com- manded one of two companies that remained to end in trenches at Lé Cateau on August 26 when all othe: officers killed or wounded, led his ninteen survivors in gallant charge. Wounded; died in hands of oppon- ents, Lance-Corporal Frederick Holmes, King's Own Light Infantry; at Le Cateau on August 26 carried wound- ed man from trenches under heavy fire; later assisted to drive a gun out of action by taking place of a wound- ed driver. Captain Edward Bradbury, deceas- «@l, Royal Horse Artillery; organiz- ed defence of battery against heavy odds at Nery on September 1. Captain William Henry Johngion, Royal Engineers; at Missy on pt- ember 14, under héavy fire, worked two rafts bringing back wounded and returning with ammunition. Drummer Spence John Bent Ask' Lancasnire Regiment; for taking command and succeeding in holding a position after his officer had been struck down and other deeds of bravery. Bombardier Ernest. Harlock, now sergeant, Royal Fiéld Artillery, for congpicuous gallantry on September 15 near Vendresse; although twice wounded, persisted in returning to lay his gun each time after wounds dressed Lance Corporal Dobson, Cold- stream Guards: for bringing wound- ed men into cover on two occasions while under heavy fire. The most conspicuous ten heroes is Captain Bradbury, whose battery, "L" made a determin- ed stand near Compiegne on the last day of the retreat towards Paris Battery "L" which covered the re- treat, was attacked by a strong -Ger- man force with ten field guns ana two Maxims. Three British guns were brought into action, but two of them were quickly silenced. Brad- bury and his men served the remain- ing gun £0 well, however, that all but one of the German guns were silenc- ed, and when Battery "L"" was re- lieved this gun was captured. An account of the action says:. "Captain Bradbury was the real hero. He got the gun into action and gave the orders. Mundy knelt on one side as ranging officer; Brad- bury, Campbell and Giffard, with the battery sergeant-major, gunner and driver, served the gun. Bradbury had one leg taken off, but still went Gi; Campeell aud Mundy were Kkili- ¢d. Bradbury had his other leg tak- en off and Giffard was badly wound- ed, but still they kept the gun going; and when Battery "I" came up they found the Germans had bolted. Only the major-and Giffard, who received five bullets, survived." Three V.C.'s have now been award- ed in connection with this fight: Ser- geant-Major Dorell and Sergeant Nelson having already received the decoration In addition, Lieut. Gif- fard, Gunner Darbyshire and Driver Osborne were awarded French de- corations. ! The first Indian to be recommend- ed for the V.C. is Havildar (Ser- geant) Gagna Singh, of the 57th Wilde Rifles. The havildar, with fifteen men, was dawn by an over- whelming German force. In the brief hand-to-hand struggle which ensued, sixty Germans were killed. Gagna Singh, sole survivor of his little com- pany, was left for dead in the trench with five bullet wounds. When pick- ed up he still held tightly the sword of a German officer whom he had dispatched. This is the first war in which it has been possible for an Indian to win the Victoria Cross. Eligibility to the distinction was one of the boons granted by King George at the Dur- bar in 1912, of these , THE WAR WIND. The morth wind sweeps the country- side, And brings the blinding snow; The way wind sweeps the country- side : With fierce advancing foe; And man may hide from the north wind, But from the war wind--no! The rainstorm beats the earth, And frees the foaming flood; The war storm breaks the men like oats, And. the rivers flow with blood; And man may brave the rainstorm, But the war storm heeds no hood. crops to After the north wind comes the spring, Hi After the storm the sun; But the war wind leaves no living thing °° After its race is run; And the war storm needs to blow but once---- Its work is fully done. nds the north 'wind Unending praises be; NY ins Saint We Once Believed In ANA NNN AANA AAP Breathes there a maw among us with soul so dead that he does not often, when the Yuletide season comes round, recall with boyish de- tight the good old days when. he firm- ly "believed in a real Santa Claus, and, best of all, in the reindeer and sledge, piled high with the bulging pack? Modern realism, and the cut The and age, has done few more questionable things than attempt to rob the world of that ancient myth; dearest of all to the Leart of childhood, eur Santa Claus. What pictures of childhood more delighted us than those of the fat, rosy-cheeked old gentleman, muffled and fur-coated, benevolence radiat- ing from every portion of his ana- tomy? But even more interesting than_ the man, if possible, was the wonderful reindeer, with. his branch- ing fantastic antlers his long warm- looking coat, that could well with- stand the bitter cold of that polar country which was supposed to be the home of the dear old Saint, How sleek and dainty was' the reindeer's nose, and how bright and spirited his eyes! But most suggestive-of all the many wonderful things about this wondeful animal was the cloud of stream that jetted from his nos- ther. : How much to the childish mind depended upon the reindeer! Would he be able to haul the heavy sleigh with its bulging packs Wirough the deep drifts? Was there any possibil- ity that they might become stalled in a bad storm, and thus the won- derful day be lost? / These and a dozen other childish impressions come back to the writer a8 he is sure that his own childhood would have been robbed of a lot of its indescribable . charm, iis fancy and its = wonder pictures, had he been told that there was no Santa Claug and no reindeer. Christmas without Santa Claus for the young people, the real mythi- cal Santa Claus, with reindeer and sledge, is a very commonplace and tame affair. BURIED TREASURE. Which Natives of Handed Down. There has always been fascinations «or man in lost or sunken treasure, ind this again has been brought home to us by the mahy attempts which have been made lately to re- cover from the ocean bed bullion which had laid there for centuries, and in some cares a few weeks oily, #The sinkiny of the Empr of Ire- and in the St. Lawrence River had added to the number of ships which have taken to their grave beneath the icy waters valuables which are essential to the works of man. Divers are WwW endeavoring to re- cover the bullion abroad the Canad- ian liner for there are men still will- ng to risk their lives in the recovery of treasury from wrecks, as in the old days men were ever ready to go into unexplored lands in search of riches reported to be buried there. The treasure of the Incas of Peru is among many that have defied the efforts of expeditions to locate, and even to this day no definite clue has oeen found of the many million dol- lars worth of gold buried on the ap- proach of the Spaniards into the in- terior of the present republic. One of the stories of these lost treasures relates to a Curzco white man of Spanish decent whom the Lord blessed with numerous child- ren. It is the custom here that a sod-father shall look after and pro- vide for his godchild, and 80, as this man was poor, he tried to add to his resources by getting a corps of good godfathers. story Peru Have So as the infants came one after another he named each in honor of one of the distinguished citizens of the town and the man grew poorer and poorer, At last he had nine bab- les, each of whom had been given a rich godfather, but there was ho help (ortheoming. The father swore that he would leave the rich and chose as the patron of his next child the first man he met on the street after its birth. In due time the stock came again, and the man, rushing out, saw a poor indian driving a caravaan of lla mas into the town. He stopped him and told him he wanted him to be godfather to his child. The Indian objected, saying that he was poor and not fit to be godfa ther to a white child. The man then told of his vow and finally persuadea the Indian to avoid the position, In due time the baby was baptiz ed ana the Indian appeared at the ceremony as its godfather. He kiss- ed his godson as he left the church and the next day came back into Cu- zco with a score of llamas, loaded with wood. He took this wood to the father of his godchild, saying that he had brought what he could and that he must accept the wood as a gift, The man was thanked and the wood was duly stored away in the court of thé house. Some time af- ter that the bundles of sticks and roots were opened, and inside of each was found a great bag of gold in nuggets and dust. In the mean- time the Indian had disappeared and could not be found. The man took the gold and built two large houses on the street called Triumph. if you do not believe this story come to Cuzco, and the people show you the street and polit out the house, a---------------- You can always tell a goed friend from the fact that he generally keeps his opinions to himself. The man who isn't true to himself isn't trues to anybody. human - It's to want other ho séts the war wind free, --Percival U, Birdseye, iu N:Y. Sui dried spirit that has fallen upon thel| trils, suggesting the very cold Wea} ASK FOR 'Cubana' 10¢ CIGARS In Holid O75 Packages of 10, and 50 S. OBERNDORFFER MAKER, KINGSTON WHILE SHOPPING Enjoy Afternoon Tea at MARBLE HALL 238 Princess Street. Dainty Refreshments and Pure foe Cream. George Masoud, Prop. K. F. Sam mrrr-- Hand Laundry Special attention to students, 0 acids used, no torn clothes. All work. guaranteed. Cor. Montreal and Queen Sts. "Phone 960. AUTOMOBILES DO YOU WISH TO BUY, TO SELL OR EXCHANGE? We styre, list and advertise cars for sale, perienced chauffeur for demonstrating. at any hour. and will supply ex. Cars for sale may be seen Garage well heated, ceritral and fireproof. PORRITT GARAGE CO., Limited Phone 454. 210-214 Wellington Street. AAA ® - *® Militia Men Notice the fine line of pocket flash-lights in our win- dow. We have them all prices. Call and see them. Halliday's Electric Shop Phone 94 345 King 85. IS MILD, PURE, APPETIZING Just the Beverage for the busy man:-- rests the nerves and ensures sound sleep. If not sold in your ncighborhood, write JOHN LABATT, LIMITED LONDON -. - CANADA BEF Special arrangements for direct shipment to privat consumers, Wh James McParland, Agent, 339-341 King St. East, -- i Felt Slippers Always make a most acceptable gift to any member of the family. WOMEN'S FELT SLIPPERS : 75¢ up to $1.50 MEN'S FELT SLIPPERS _ $1.00 up to $2.50 GIRLS' AND BOYS' FELT SLIPPERS 65c up to $1.25 CHILDREN'S FELT SLIPPERS 50c to THe -- SHOP EARLY --- - H.SUTHERLAND &BRO. The Home of Good Shoes. n 5