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orâ€" OUNG- FOLKS. Billy's Uhristmas Dinner. " The blamed thing ! Billy stood rucfully regarding the two sections of a mangy fur cap, which lay in his hand. In giving it an additional yank over the red cars which stood out like the sails of auautilus, the dilapidated capole had one to pieces like a ship in a storm. “ ot’s to be done 2” mused Billy. “ Christmas an’t the funniest time o’ the year togo bareheaded in. Guess I’ll catch a cold in or hair this way." Then he laughed, for Billy was nothing if not good-natured, and the idea of cold in connection with his fiery red hair struck him as very funny. “ Hello, Roddy l Are you tryin’ to warm all outdoors?" clled Scotty the Terror, as be rushed b ', blowing on his cold fingers. “ Yep. 'm a-lightin’ things up a bit disre ardin’ personal inconwenyunce,” re- plied illy, grandiosely, but with a merry twinkle in his blue eyes. “ Th'stuff’s good ’nnff, furas it goes, but yer’ve got a big contract, ole Bricktop,” yelled Scotty, as he disappeared around the corner which led to Dan Peterson’s lunch- room. Billy looked after him hungrily. “ Ef I end only find some of dem things wot the papers advertise : “ Diamond ringâ€"Find- er will be rewarded,” or somethin’ like dat, wouldn’t I hev ablowcut ! Or some money. Let’s see. Half a dollar wud buy a new cap an' some corn-beef hash and hot coffee. Yum ! I guess I’m a gittin’â€"wot wuz it Mr. Dan’ls sed folks was who got to disbe- licve things wot they uster b’live? Sker- sker-cap-tickleâ€"that’c it. \Vell, durued if I b’l’evc red hair is any hotter than other colors, for my head is cold as if my hair was white. Great snakes how de win’ blows l” The poor little red head' bent wesrily down, peering through every crevice and crack of the sidewalk, every dingy nook of the street where some one might have drop- cd a treasure trove. The wind from the she swept round the corners with a bitter cry and an icy touch that made the little tramp figure shiver in its sparse clothing. The swift winter darkness was descend- ing over the land. Billy straightened his tired little back. “ It ain’t no use a-looa- ing. Nobody an’t lost nuthin’ terday, I reckon. Guess I’ll go and fin’ some place to shelter in, an’ p’r’aps I’ll hev a sleep. Hey ! Who’s dat?” he crooked hoarsely as he came in contact with a living body crouched in the deep recess of a. back-doorway. “Who’s yerself ‘3 ” was the sullen rejoin- der, " wot do yer want, young feller ?” “ Nothin’ much ! Only y‘er skeered me, They sat down to dinner. ' How Billy's mouth watered while Father Mason carved the bird and Mother Mason put a heaping spoonfuu of mashed potatoes alongside the dressing, poured gravy over it, and posed to him. What a grand turkey ! So brown on the outside a d white in and juicy every bit. How luscious the gravy, with little bits of iver,and heart, and giuard floating about in its rich brownneas. ‘ Mother Mason was not a bit stingy either. The saucer of cranberries glowed like plump strawberries. The celery little Molly pass- ed with an adorable smile was so crisp and sweet. The butter he was encouraged to spread “thick, thick” on his bread was real country butter, tastin gof cowslipsand cream. There were oysters floating about with slices of lemon, and a potato salad adorned with little bits of beet-like budding roses. How good the coffee was ! Jennie put in four lum s of sugar and a lot of sweet cream. he mince pie showed its luscious- ness between flaky crusts and the pudding was so good that Billy couldn’t refrain fromv the second helping, while Molly poured the wine-sauce over it carefully. After dinner Father Mason told Billy they would have a Christmas tree. Billy knew what that was because he had Seen them through the windows on the boulevards, but would as soon have dreamed of flying to the moon as having anything to do with one himself. This was a beauty, sparkling all over with tapers, red, blue, green, and yel- low. Best of all, everybody got a present from it. To Billy’s great surprise an elegant fur cap was handed oil‘ the topmost bough, and it bore his name. \Vhat a change from the moth-eaten thing he had worn in the morning. Looking back he wondered with a shudder how he ever could have prowled in doorways with strange men with flaming eyes and unwashed faces. The idea ! It seemed as though every bough held some- thing for Billy. Now it was a box of crack- ers, which he pul:ed with pretty Jennie; now a parcel of nuts he sat in a corner and cracked with Molly; now a pair of silver- plated skates, upon which young Tom offered to teach him to skim over the ice ; nowa box of fi 5 or a bag of candy he shared with Fat er and Mother Mason. \Vhat a wonderful time, to be sure, and 1 around the streets bareheaded, and snuggled ‘ HOUSEHOLD. Christmas Docking. Rossr Tunssv men Samsonâ€"After having trussed, drawn the sins are, and clean- ed the turkey, fill the breast with forcerneat, and if a trussing-needle is used, sew the neck over to the back. Run a skewer through the pinion and thigh through the body to the pinion and thigh on the other side, and then fasten a sheet of battered paper on to the breast of the bird, put it down to a bright fire, at a littledistapce at first (after- wards draw it nearer), and keep it well bast- ed all the time it is cooking. Abouta quar- ter of an hour before serving, remove the paper, dredge the turkey lightly with flour, and put a iece of butter into the basting- L'ldle; as t e butter melts haste the bird with it. When of a nice brown, and well- lrothed, serve with a tureen of good gravy and one of bread sauce. Fried sausages are placed round the dish. About a quarter of an hour to the pound is the time needed for roasting. ROAST Goose. â€"â€"P1uck, sings, draw, and carefully wash and wipe the goose; cut off the neck close to the back, leaving just sufficient skin to turn over; cut off the feet at the first joint, and separate the pinions at the first joint; beat the breastbone flat with a rolling-pin, put a skewer through the underpart of each wing, and, having drawn up the legs closely, put a skewer into the middle of each, and pass it quite through the body. Insert another skewer into the small of the leg, bring it close down to the side bone, run it through, and do the same on the other side ; cut off the end of the vent, and make a hole in the skin sufficiently large to pass the'ru mp through. Make a sage-and- onion stuffing as follows : Peel four large onions, put them into boiling water, simmer for five minutes or rather longer, and just before they are taken out put in ten sage- lcaves to take off their rawness; chop both these very finely, add 1 lb breadcrumbs, seasoning to taste, and 1a, oz butter; work the whole together with the yolk of an egg, put it into the body of the goose, and secure it firmly at both epéls by passing the rump through the hole made in the skin, and the other end by trying the skin of the neck to the back ; put it down to a brisk fire, keep it i all that money and diamonds in the pockets ‘ well busted, and TOG-St from one and 8- half of his natty suit, ready to begin the world with, to-morrow. I‘he poor man in the door- wayâ€"he wished had not so completely over- looked him when he found his fortune. He l l to two hours, accordin skewers, and serve wit and one of apple-sauce. ROAST Bennâ€"Choose about6 lb top of to size ; remove the a tureen of gravy would like to see those blazing eyes light! the rump, trim it neatly, and place it up over a good, square Christmas dinner. Still, they were such burning eyesâ€"so deepâ€"so queer. right before hisâ€"â€" ‘ ‘ Why do you wave your hands about so?” in front of a brisk, clear fire; place the joint near the fire for the first half-hour then Yes, there they were now, remove 1t farther away ; haste frequently. H’Vhen nearly cooked sufficiently, sprinkle ' the joint over with a little salt ; put alittle cause I couldn’t see yer at first . Say ! i said Billy, and suddenly his voice sounded water in the dripping-pan, and drain off the ' \Vill yer take company in yer corner there? Two’s warmer than one.” “ Come in,” said the man, “ Isn’t no mortgage on this yer doorstep. Sides I’m ’spensing Christmas charity, 1 am, so I give you lodging here rent free, no cockiu’ al~ lowed. Please don’t fee the servants.” “ Oh ! I’m a model roomcr, never break dc printed rules.” said Billy as he squeezed himself in beside the ragged and emaciated man. “I jest want to stay here till I kin hire out as a fog-horn to some of de boats. Been a-going barcheaded today in order to get my voice inter proper condition. Wery hard lines, but me and Patti don’t grudge nothin’ to perfect our voices. Sce l” The ghost of a smile flitted across the man’s wan features. ‘ “ Had any dinner ‘2” he asked. “ Yes. Leather belt.” “ W'ot, you cats leather 1‘” “ That an’t no trick. I know lots of folk in swell boardin’-houses who try it on every mornin. ‘ I didn’t eat mine tho,’ but leath- er belt is fine when yer hungry. Just draw it tighter, an’ then again tight-er, and yer canmostb’ leve ye’vo bin eatin,, yer feels so good an’ full-” “ I’ll give yer somethin’ better than a leilsfther belt,” muttered the man, half to him- se . . ’ “ Bully for you. Take some yerself.” “ No I can’t take it myself, butâ€"sec here â€"-'est look at rueâ€"straight. ” lllly looked up. The strange man started making rapid passes before the boy’s face and his eyesâ€"â€" “ Wot queer eyes yer’ve got mister; they’s like fire’;bulls in the middle of the night, an’â€"-- - ‘i’hat was that his foot struck against ? That toe was always stabbing itself on some- ‘hing or other he told himself. He would \‘irow this last obstacle out of the way. ts his fingers touched the supposed stone something jingled. Christopher Columbus! ’5’. was a purse full of money ! There was. an electric-light at a store window a little further on. in a second Billy was standin by it examining his treasure. Three gol piecesâ€"one tenner and two fives. A heap of silver his trembling fingers could not Emit. A roll of greenbacks in an inner yorket, analâ€"good graciousâ€"a ring set all round with a double row of gems that shim- mcred in the light like drops of water. The {gay diamond ring he had been wanting to ( l in the midst of his joy a delicious odor 3-9ij down and sci-med to clasp him in its uubracc. l‘octs say thata scent has more ower over the soul than any otherinllucnce. lilly knew nothing of. poetry. but as that smell of roast turkey. boiled chestnuts, and minus pic gushed forth he felt a delightful quiver ofanticipation thrill his frame. Half way down the block was the restaurant whence the vivifymg odor came. “ I want the finest Christmas dinner you’ve gotwturkeyâ€"-cranberry-sauce-every- thing," said Billy majestically, ashc seated himself at one of the little white tables. He was surprised to see the restaurant- .eopcr burst into tears. “ You remind me so much of my little boy who diedâ€"my little “’illie,” the white-sproned old man sobbing- ly ex lained. “ Sly name’s Billy, too,” said the boy ,nym thetically. ” \r'ouldn't you like to -dins with the family! I can't a-bear to see thoi of my Willie anttin’ an’ eatin’ his Christmas dinner all alone." “ Thank yer, but I an’t got no clothes fit. Got money and to buy ’cm, but the stores is all clued to day." laincd that Willie‘s The old man clothes would just t him, and tan few minutes Billy was in a comfortable suit of gray, with patent-leather shoes, a blue neck- tie. and lovely solt underwear. Then he was led into the dining-room. There was the restaurant-hoe r‘s wife, a motherly old ladywwho kissed hp and call- cd him her "dear,” two pretty little girls in l harsh and cranky again “Ah l” said the queer man, “ did you . have a good time, a good dinner, eh ?” “ Splenâ€"--” began the boy, then stopped sudden-1y as his hand went instinctively to 1 his pocket; Where was his natty suit?â€" Where his new cap? He wore the rags of l Christmas morning, this the same doorstep, ' and over the chimey-pots was creeping a red * flush, which showed that Christmas was i indeed over and another day begun. “Ah?” laughed the old man, “ I told yer : I could give yer somethin’ I couldn’t take i myself. You’ve been mesmerized. Glad : yer enjoyed it, poor little devil.” ' Before Billy could answer the door'be- , hind them was hastily opened and a half- i dressed man stumbled against them. “ \Vot’s yer hurry, ole lightening ex- ress ‘2” said Billy, grasping the man by the eg. » _ “ Lemme goâ€"quick, young Master Harry ' is took awful sickâ€"eat too much Christmas 1 dinner. They’s ’fraid he’ll die. I’m a- : rushin’ for the doctor.” Billy relinquished his hold and drew his leather belt a notch closer over his thin little body. “ Seems to me my Christmas dinner wuz the best after all,” he said. , ' .. - 'W Mongrel and Bull-Doe. A good-natured farmer sto ped in front of a Penn avenue saloon one ay this week with a load of hay. A big, shaggy, good- natured yellow mongrel dog stood under the wagon. In front of the saloon there were a number of tough young sports and a white bull-dog with red eyes. One of the toughs grabbed the bull-dog and got ready to set him on the harmless mongrel. The farmer saw what~he was up to and said: “ ’FI was you I wouldn’t set that dog on mine. My dog’ll kill him if you do.” “ Kill him eh ? Bet ye 810 this bull-dog kin lick yous-n in a minute and a half.” “ I ain’t no bettin’ man,” said the'farmer “ but it you want your dog to live after to- day dor.’t set him on mine. My dog‘ll kill him, I trill ye.” The toughs all poked fun at the farmer, who smillcd on them from the top of his load. Then the fellow who held the bulls dog said: . , ‘ " Well, if yo won’t bet, I’ll let this dog lick your yallcr cur just for fun.” , l “ Ziee here, my friend,” said the fitrmer, " I told ye once that your dog was no match for mine. but mebby ye didn’t understand me. He, can lick two like yours and cbaw ’cm all up I don’t want to see your dog hurt, and so I say ag’in,don’t set him on to mine.” "Well, here goes, said the tough, and he released the bull-dog. Like a flash the bull-dog sprang under the wagon, and the fanner‘s dog ran to the middle of the street, where the bull-dog caught him by one of his hind legs. \Vithout a whine or a murmur or an attempt to give battle to the bull-dog. the farmer's dog squatted down on his haunches and looked up at his master. “ Take care of yourself, Watch l" said the smiling farmer, and in a twinklin the yellow cur swung his head around an set his teeth in the bull-dog’s neck. The bones cracked, the hull-dog opened his jaws at once, and the farmer’s dog let 0 his hold and trotted under the wagon. he bull-dog ve one kick and was as dead as a rock. e farmer's dog had broken his neck. ” I told you how it would be,” said the farmer, good naturedly, “but you would have your own In ,” and the toughs all con- gregated around e lifelcs bulldog and ex- claimed: q “ Well, that beats â€"â€" l"â€"â€"[Ncw York s an. . An anti-monopolist is one who would lik to put himself in a millionaire’s place. Melons were first called muteloupes from being cultivated at Cantcluppi, a village gravy, freeing it as much as possible from the fat, and pour over the meat. A quarter of an hour should be allowed for roasting - each pound of meat, and half an hour for _ browning it. 3 YORKSHIRE PUDDING.â€"-:1; lb best dry flour 5 and one teaspoonful of salt ; mix the flour to a smooth paste with a little milk; beat three eggs. and add to them a pinch of ground ginger and a pint of milk ; beat all i the ingredients together, well grease a dish ,or tin,pour in the batter, and bake in a . brisk- oven for three-quarters of an hour. Cnmsrns’s Panamaâ€"Soak 4 oz bread- . crumbs in atcacupful of milk fora fewhours ' 1 lb finely-chopped beef east, 1 1h stoned raisins, 1 lb currents washed and picked, :1; lb mixed peel, i: lb sugar, 3. pinch of salt, a .tcaspocnfulof mixed spice, 9. little ginger, j four eggs well beaten ; mix the above ingre- ‘dients thoroughly together, beat well for '2 twenty minutes ; butter 3. pudding-basin or ‘mould, put in the mixture, cover with a cloth, and boil from five to six hours. . CHRISTMAS CAKE. -â€"-Wa.sh in water 2!, lb. ’ fresh butter, and then do the same with it in rose-water, beat it to a cream, beat the yolks of twenty eggs for half an hour, and the whites separately for the same time. Have ready 2% lb. flour dried and kept hot, also 1!, lb. white powdered sugar, 1 oz pow- dered mixed spice, 3 lb currants thoroughly washed and dried, l lb blanched almonds, and 5} lb candied peel and fruit cut neither too small nor too thin, mix the dry ingredi- ents, add the egg ; pour half a pint of sweet wine and a glass l of brandy, mix them thoroughly,and add by l degrees, while mixing, the dry ingredients: 'mix these thoroughly, add in l} lb stoned best raisins chopped moderately fine, and finish with half a teacupful of orangeflower water, beat well for an hour, place inacake- I tin well lined with six thicknesses of paper, and bake in a. quick oven for five hours. The icing: To 1 1b. Jordan almonds, 3 lb. white powdered sugar, the juice of a lemon, the white of an egg; blanch the almonds, soak them in water for twelve hours, chop them small, then pound them in n. mortar, mix them gradually with the white of one egg, the sugar, and the lemon, spread it over the cake, and let it stand for three days before putting on the sugar-icing, which is made as follows : To the whites of four eggs add the juice of two lemons, and 3 lb sifted sugar, work together with a wooden spoon, spread it over the cake, and let'it dry in a warm place. Do not put it in the oven. ~9â€" That’s the Difference. Cabbageâ€"\Vhat’s the difference between a dilatory man and the president of a female college ‘3 Rubbageâ€"I’ll give it up. Cabbageâ€"One misses the train and the other trains the misses. ._.._._._. Try hard ciderâ€"a wine-glass tull three times a dayâ€"for ague and rheumatism. Dry. Humor. After Tommy had devoured about seven- teen cakes he applied for more. “ Momma, gimme anothemcake 1” “ No, my child, you have had enough.” “ But I can’t drink my tea dry, can I?” Didn't Want that kind. ”Nice carpets. Can’t be beat, salesman. "I know it,” said the customer, sadly. "I bought some of them last year. and when I tried to beat them last week the fell to pieces. I want somethin that ‘ stand a triennial thrashing. ”â€"[ arper's Baur. saidh Little Girl (at the opera for the first time) â€"Maxnma, what are those women doing with their feet? Motherâ€"Don’t ask so many questions. "Mamms, are they trying to catch flies pink drones and yellow curls. and a boy a near Rome, where they had been introduced with their feet 2" wax or two younger thou Bill. from Armenia by missionaries. “No; dudes.”â€"[Tex. Siftingl s to the butter, to this‘ The Nest Will Soon he finpty. Before my chamber window, In glossy lender drest, A giant hem ock swung his arms And bored his brawm' breast, While soft within the shadows, Slow swaying all the day, Within his mfihty lingers. A fragile b' ’s-nest ay, With cheery chlrps and twittors, The glomy twigs among, Upon the nest a birdie sat And brooded o’cr her young. Through all the merry springtime, And summer's mellow ray: But now the nest is empty, The birdies fled away. I watched the little mother. \Vhen. with a coaxing cry. She taught her tiny young ing brood To flap their wings and fly: And when. atlast. they fluttered Into the dying day, I watched the lonely parent birds And heard their plaintive lay. But now the snows of winter Are settling o‘er the nest, And coverln with ermine soft, The giant‘s rawny breast, .And ne'er a birdio's twitter 15 board the livolong day, For. oh ! the nest is cmpty', The birdlings fled a way. Ah me ! my little nestlings. In mother's circling arms ! I brood with loving, jealous eyes, 0 or all your growing charms, For soon, too soon! my sunset “’1" show its reddencd ray. And out into a wind-tossed world, ‘ My wee ones flit away. But mother-love is tender, And mother's arms are tight. She'll teach her little nestlings now, To know and do the right. She'll teach them to be gentle And prayerful. while she may; , Then " ’Neath the shelter of His Wings,” They all must fly away. But, oh! 'tis for the parent birds My heart Ito-day is sore. And, oh! ’tis tor the empty nest. That was so full before! And. oh! ’tis for the solitude And sadness of the day. When from the shelter of the home, The birdlings fly away. Ban Evsnvx anm. Ohnstmas _1n India. Dim dawn behind the tamarlsksâ€"the sky is saffron yellowâ€" As the women in the village grind the corn And theparrots seek the river-side. each calling to its fellow That the day. the staring eastern day. is born, 0b, the wmtedust on the highway! 011, the . stenchcs in the byâ€"way! 0b, the clammy fog that hovers over earth! And at home they're making merry ’neath the white and scarlet berryâ€" _ What part have India's exiles in their mirth! Full day behind the tamarisks-thc sky is blue and staring-â€" .As the cattle crawl afleld beneath the yoke. And they hear one o'er the field path, who is - past all hope on caring, To the gihat below the curling wreaths of smo c, ' Call on Rama' going slowly, as ye hear a bro- ther low â€" Call on R'ama; he may hear, perhaps your voxcc. _ With our hymn-books and our psalters we. appeal to other altars. _ And tsp-day we bid “good Christian men rejoice!” High upon behind the tamarisksâ€"the sun is bet a ovc usâ€" As at. home the Christmas day is breaking wan, They will drink our healths at dinnerâ€"those who tell us how they love us, And forget us till another year be one! Oh, the toil that knows no breaking Oh, the Hemiwch, ceaseless. aching! Oh, the b‘uck dividing sea and alien plain! Youth was cheapâ€"wvheretore we sold it. Gold was goodâ€"we hoped to hold it. _ And today we know the fullness of our gain. Gray dusk behind the tamarisks-thc parrots fly togetherâ€" As the sun is sinking slowly over home; And his last'ray seems to mock us, shackled in a life-long tether That drags us back howe’cr so far we roam. Hard her service, poor _hcr paymentâ€"she in ancient tattered raimcntâ€" India, she the grim stopmothcnof our kind. If a year of life be lent her, if her temple's shrine we enter, The door is shutâ€"we may not look behind. Black night behind the tamarisksâ€"the owls begin their chorusâ€" As title couches from the temple scream and ray, , With tbufruitlcss yearsbchind us and the hope- less years before us, _ Let us honor. 0 my brothers, Christmas day Call a truce, then, to our labors; let us teas with friends and neighbors. And be merry as the custom of our costs: For if “faint and forced the laughter," and it sadness follow after, We arc; richer by one mocking Christmas pas ---Rudyard Kipling. My Darling's Shoes. God bless the little feet that never go astray. For the little shoes are empty in my closet laid away. Sometimes I take one in my hand, forgetting, till I see Itisaflittlo halt-worn shoe, not large enough or me. And all at once I fecla sense of bitter loss and pain, , As sharp as when. two years ago, it cut my heart in twain, 0! little feet that wearied not, I wait for them no more._ . ForI am drifting on the tide, while they have reached the shore; And while the blinding tear drops wot these little shoes so old, ' " I try to think my darhng‘s feet are treading streets of gold, And so I lay them down again, but always turn tosayâ€" . . God bless the little feet that now so surely can- not stray! And while I thus am standing Ialmcst seem Two l‘lEtElorms beside me, just as they used Two lciltétllqtfigs lifted with their sweetand ten~ Ah, me! might have known that look was born of Paradise. I reach my arms out fondly. but they clasp the empty airl _ There is nothing of my darlings but the shoes they used to wear. l O! the bitterness of parting cannotbo done away TillImeet my darlings walking where their .fect cannsvcr stray : “’11quan more am drifting upon the surging l c, But wigh tbcm safely landed upon the river at 0: Be mtlent. heart. while waiting to see their shining way For the llttle test in the golden street can never go astray. He Was '7. Snoop. -A Sunday-school teacher endeavored to make his pupils understand that parable about the oral sh: derd. He said : “Now, it cc i ren, sup you were all little sheep, what would I be?” He expected them to say that he would be the good shepherd, but much to his dis- gust one of them re lied : “ If we were lit e sheep you would be a, big sheep," whereupon the teacher looked; very sheepisb, indeed. â€"{Tex. Siftings. { CHRISTMAS GIVING. Every time that the great festival of Christmas dawns upon the earth it brings with it certain reflections, or rather emu. tions, that seem to be as much a part of its atmosphere as the frosty sky and been snow scents which in Northern latitudes belong to it, and which we most frequentl associate with our thou ht of Christmas, in spite of the fact that e day comesâ€"and is kept. too, with all due stateâ€"in the tropical and semi- tropical latitudes, where frosty weather is unknown. . The chief of these motions proper to the Christmas season is the consciousness of a great and warm good-will to man rich as that of which the storied angels sang; a good-will which makes us desire every one’s happiness, and inclines us to do all in our power to achieve it, so that for the time be mg we feel almost reconciled to our dearest foe, if we have one; a good-will which sharp- ens our needles, empties our larders, opens our purses, and. brings cordial words and kind wishes to our lips ; a goodwill which goes out even to those in the white and si' lent cities of the dead, and lays fresh wreaths of Christmas green above the snow upon their graves. This good-will manifests itself especially in relation to children, for whom at this time, if never before, it seems to us necessa' ry to make the earth team with happiness. And not only do they go on journeys to old homes, and receive with all ceremony of web come those who come journeying to them, but they are admitted to all the tem ting stir of the kitchen in the preparation 0 sub- stantial cheer, they are initiated, to the dc- light of their small hearts, into the secret manufacture of gifts. It is surely a pity that the pure joyous- ness of such a day should be marred by any- thing partaking of the nature of covetous- nose, or the sense of acquisition; but as that would seem to be counterbalanced by the delight of giving, on the general avera c, it is only just to leave it out of sight. that is absolutely to be regretted about the man- ner of celebrating the day is that this habit of giving to the children has become such a prodigal one that it has increased the qual- ity and cost of gifts to those who are n at children, till the custom is likely to become a burden, if it has not already become one, and possibly to cease altogether by mere reason of its excess. If the very wealthy limited themselves, by the general acceptance of an unwritten law, to the giving of Christmas gifts involv‘ ing only a very moderate expenditure, thou the less wealthy and those to whom the givin here means the going without there, woul be able to give and not be inched in the purse for a period of woe s and months afterward. It is true that the Christmas time affords opportunity and ex- cuse to the very wealthy to make gifts that it seems to them they cannot make uite with delicacy at other times. But to t ose who truly wish to do generous things, other times and seasons can be made propitious with alittle care and ingenuity. For one absolutely needs the Christmas~tide in order to make acce table the gift of those who can hardly a 0rd to give at all; but the very wealthy, of sufficiently friendly foot- ing to give gifts at Christmas or any other time, are so indisputably superior in the point of ability to give, that rivalry on that point is not to be thought of; the giving may really take place at any time Without reference to a general custom or any especial season of the year, and acceptance becomes as graceful as bestowing, it using taken for granted that the receiver, in accepting in such cases, renders as great a favor to the giver as the giver readers to the receiverâ€" renders it in affording the other the chance to enjoy the pleasure of bestowal, and ‘ tho gratification belonging to the doing of good deeds. When it. shall be made a general custom to give only inex ensivc gifts at Christmas time, a great an needed reform will have been wrought, and one that will brin more comfort to many eople than a wil crness of gifts can ever 0. A book that costs a dollar ands. quarter is as full of the spirit of the day as a check many times its worth, a diamond, a trinket, or a possession of any sort; a photograph, a drawing, a bunch of flowers, a bit of handiwork, says all that any rodigality can say. It would be well, then, fbr a large number of people of only average meansâ€"ithc majority of givers, indeedâ€"if by general consent gifts 0 any great money value should be reserved for their own oc- casions, and it should come to be considered something outside of the limits of good taste to give any gifts at all on Christmas Da whose 'urchase, were the giving reverse , would be able to occasion the least incon- venience to a narrow purse. Very Polite. “ Is this Ned Phillpot ‘2” the justice ask- ed, addressing a little nappy-headed negro. “ Yes, sab, thankee, ef you please." “ Been drunk again?” “ Yes, sah, thankee.” “ Been here some ten times within the last year, haven’t you '3" “ Yes, eah, thankee, ’blceged tcr you.” “ When are you going to quit ‘5" “ Doan' know, thankce, sah.” “ I believe I’ll send you tothe workhouse for twenty'five days. ” ” Thankec, ssh.” “ Look here, what makes you so olite l" “ Kain’t help it, thankec, ssh ; m in me, I reckons. ’ “ \Vell, I think I’ll let you off this time. Politeness ought to be rewarded." ” Bleeged ter yer, ssh, thankec." When the little old negro was gone the justice said : “ There can t help but be some little good in so lite a man. He may be a drunkard, butm utâ€"" " What are you looking for, Judge 1" some one asked. “ Why, that red silk handkerchief. It- was lying on this desk a moment a o.” The little old negro walked a ong the street. “Dis yere hankerchuck is good fur two drinks,” said he.-â€"-[Arkansaw Traveler. ”â€"â€" Oenter of the Land Hernia photo The city of Inndcn is put down b gw graphersastbe center 0 the land emiav phere. In other words, a radius of about 6,000 miles on the curved surface of the earth, with London as as a center, would describe a circumference inclesing more land than any 6,000-rnile circle that could be drawn from any other city in the world. era is a new element, a mineral discov- ci id in the Boise mines. It it composedol ct hie crystals of a fine blue color, and ll. n christened “ boleitgz.” . ‘ «,4 / erkiilfii‘ i 5 l , i l. l l l. I l’ ash...” ,. '.x". m , M...“ ....»â€"u« -M....~...