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r . . . . c , >i 'w ' , .- " -• «:; "* *" jit*,*:**-:' . *•.„ '$• • • °4^ '"..r iscB® • < ty v.£<*/"V« ^« -VVOLUME 53 McHENRY, ILLINOIS, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 8, 1927 No. 27 f;W¥* stir. Frances Grirustead - OSEPH BEAGAN had just opened his little florist shop on a morning a few days before Christmas. In his single window were ba$- l®t* of poinsettia, pots in which Clirist- ®M cherries grew, fragrant narcissus "Chat reminded yon spring would be here *ome day, add in the center of the display was a great basket of pink roses. Joseph's daughter, Katie, helping In i&e shop during the vacation from Ugh school, fitted about in short- Skirted flannel arranging growing plants, baskets and glowing red and green decorations Just for the pleasure of It, for the shop was already as trim and fresh as any customer could wish. •: it, Joseph, his eyes bright with the light of the Christmas spirit that y&tiaes to ns at this time, stood, contentedly, palms flat on a counter, and looked out at the street. He saw a boy who might have been sixteen or seventeen, though small for those years. His suit proclaimed Its own threadbareness, as well as the boy's thinness, by the way It dung to him. He tried to pull his ragged cap down over ears that were flaming with cold, and Joseph thought he shrank from putting the worn soles of his shoes against the freezing-cold pavement. But as the boy came opposite the florist's window he sheered Inward on the sidewalk to look at the display of those wares that only people who have satisfied their needs in food and clothes can afford to buy. Joseph noted with pity the pinched -features, the look of grim control In Ifte face Qf ong so jpung. It was the great basket of pink roses that held his attention. Joseph expected to. see him turn away with the look of resignation many more prosperous seeming people have when they must pass the temptation of flowers. To his surprise the lad, seeming to settle the worn coat a little more closely on his shoulders, entered the shop briskly. Just inside the door he shivered with Relight in the warmth. Joseph saw he 4»ad sandy hair and eyes of Irish blue. "It's freezing he is, the poor boy," Joseph murmured to Katie, "and sure the shop looked friendly. "And would you like to look at the Bowers, young sir?1' he bowed to the unpromising customer. "You're welcome to enjoy them all. But maybe you'd, like first to wain yourself be* side the radiator, it being a frosty morning." "Thank you, I will." the boy stretched- numb fingers over the steamy heat after he had taken off his cap in deference to Katie, who watched him sympathetically while she pretended to retle the satin ribbon around a pot of poinsettia. "But I want to buy some roses. Like those in the window." "A1i, the Killaraeysl H smiled Joseph. "They are bonny flowers, the Killarneys." He stepped lightly to tlie refrigerator at the back of the shop and, taking out a bouquet of the roses, brought them forward for the young man's inspection. The lad t rust a hand into his pocket. Joseph and Katie saw him put back a nickel and two pennies. The rest he spilled onto the counter, because his hand trembled with cold. "There's only a dollar and a half," he'said. "How many will that buy?" The florist shook his head. "Not so many of these, sou. But let me show you. We have some here we call 'seconds.'" He retraced his steps and drew forth another bouquet. "Oh, those are finer yet!" cried the boy. "They look so," said Joseph fairly, "but they will not last quite so long. Tliey bloomed too soon, for there were not enough people wanting roses yesterday, when they should have been sold." "I will take those," said the boy of the sandy hair, the glow in his blue eyes seeming to warm his whole body, "but they are to go to a little town east of here. Could yon mail them for me to Mrs. R. E. Arnoifl, at Laddonla?" Joseph, scribbling slowly on the pad he drew toward him, could only think of the miserable nickel and two pennies he had seen the boy put back In his pocket. And he thought, "Sure, now, why wouldn't he be sending them to some boany lass like my Katie Instead of a 'Mrs.' This is only some woman who has charmed the lad for pastime, or more like it's some fine lady, his teacher perhaps, would dislike to know he's Bpent- his last money for these." He overcame a natural hesitation-- It was none of his business how the young boys spend their money--and leaned across the counter toward the boy. "Sure, an* wouldn't it be better now If yon took the money across the street there and got yourself a good breakfast at my friend Timmy O'Mara's? Are you sure you want to send the lady these flowers, and you with only seven sents left to you?" "Oh, yes," Insisted the boy, who with thawing out by the radiator had lost much of his shrunken appearance, "yon see, they're for my mother." "Tour mother!" exclaimed Joseph, consulting the memorandum he had made, "Mrs. Arnoifi. Son, I made sure your name would be Irish." "And the first of it is. It's Terrence," beamed the sandy-haired lad, "and my mother is Irish. Sure, Killar» ney means all the romance of the world to her. And how she loves the roses! She says they seem to her like they bad souls or the little people was in them. I must send her the roses for Christmas so she will think, do you see, that I am doing well, for I haven't enough money to take me all the way home, like I wanted to go." "Sure, Terry, you're talking the blarney now yourself," the florist smiled through misty eyes. At the kindness In that voice the boy's head suddenly went down on the counter and he was sobbing with heartbreak. - "Katie, if he's more than fifteen after all!" was Joseph's whispered exclamation before he rounded the counter, to put an arm across the boy's shoulders. •There now, Terry. Tell me all about it, lad," he urged, and Terry did, snuffling after the deluge of tears. "So you ran away because the mother wanted you to stay in school. And yoa're homesick for the little cottage, with the flowerpots inside in winter and in summer the rosebushes green and blooming. Well. I think we can fix that up. I'll take you over to Timmy O'Mara's restaurant right Aow. Then we'll see about getting you a ticket home," The blue eyes of Terrence were bright and he choked on his thanks, "But how'd I pay you again for that? Mother doesn't make much at the sewing and who at home would hire a boy that bad run off and left his mother?" "I don't know who at home would, but I would. For afternoons when school hours are over. It's hard to find boys who love the flowers, isnt It, Katie?" Katie, suddenly appealed to for conversation, uttered a breathless "yes," but there was an expansive smile of approval with it Tour mother might as well sew in the city." the florist went 00, "and there's a fine high school where , they have classes to teach you about growing flowers." As Joseph Reagan took his hat from a peg and opened the door, Terry nodded dumbly and the glow in his eyes, though it may have been produced by anticipation of breakfast, was not lessened by the thought of school. "Shall I mall these roses to Mrs. Arnoifi, father?" asked Katie. "No! No! What are you thinking of! Those "seconds' will be a day older when they reach her. Send the finest Klllarneys we have. Didn't you hear him say his mother is an Irish lady? And besides, Terrence is practically a member of the firm now." (©. 1*17, Western New*paper Union.) Vulnerable Spot solar plexus is a network of nerves tn the abdomen behind the stomach. Just how "solar" became associated with such an affair Is a mystery to the word sharks. Possibly It had an astrological origin. Astrologers may have once supposed this particular plexus was peculiarly susceptible to the sun's Influence. It is more probabfe, however, that particular plexus was thought to resemble the sun. The Guyed Grid* The guide was guiding a guy. At the guide guided the guy, the guide guyed the guy until the guy would no longer be guyed by the guide whom he had hired not a guy but to guide. So the guyed guy guyed the guide No wonder everyone guyed the guyed gntde guiding • guyed guy.--Boston Transcript Profe--ional Hornb lower* Rlpon England, has had an official bornhlowerfor more than m thousand years. Taking up hit position In the market square Just before nine o'clock each night, he must send out a long, mournful blast on his horn before the sound of the last cathedral chtme dies away. If an Inhabitant can outblow the hornblower to a contest he gets the Job. Christmas Everywhere Christmas Is celebrated In almost every country in tlie world, possibly in every land, since our missionaries and travelers have found their way Into almost every heathen land, carrying the Christian customs with them. --Farm and Ranch. Cmlearning Advice Advice is the easiest medicine to give and the hardest to take. If, however, it were a little harder to give. It might be easier to take than it now is. There's a happy mean in all things.--Grit. Power From Volcano Volcanic heat emitted In tbe geysers of Sonoma county, Calif., Is being used in a small way for power and lights In turn the power Is being used to drill oil wells and large development* are planned. World's Longest Street The Lincoln highway is the longest street in the world and in the United States. It extend*) from Times square. Forty-second street and Broadway. New York city, to Lincoln park. San Francisco. Navigable Riven The courts say that those rivers must be regarded as public navigable rivers In law which are navigable In fact and they are navigable In fact when they are used or are suaceptble of being used In their ordinary conditions as highways for commerce Canal Zon«. Including land anil water, the of the I'ansma Canal zone Is SA8* square miles. A Wreath and a Candle Spoke From the Window upLEASE, lady, wont you buy sons » tulips 7" Ann Dawson, belle of her set, stepping briskly out of a department store, her arms filled with Christmas packages, looked down into the searching eyes of two poorly clad little girls. "Tulips?" she repeated, smiling. "Why, tulips are not due yet You should have red roses, polnsettiaa, end holly at Christmas time," » "Yes'm, I know," said the one car- Ting the basket of wax flowers, "bnt we don't know bow to make anything but tulips. They are all red, though, and Just a quarter for three." "I see," said Anne. "Making some, extra money, aren't you, to buy something pretty for mamma?" "No, ma'm," answered the sister. **I wish we could buy something pretty for mother, but we are trying to get us some school shoes before time to go back after Christmas." Anne's eyes sought, the children's feet and her throat filled with a-chok- ' Ing lump. "Why--why--yes. ril buy a dollar's worth. Will that help much?" "Oh, yes'm," from both simultaneously. Their eyes sought each other's In happy anticipation, while Anne, I struggling with her packages, clumsily extracted the bill from her purse. "Now tell me where you live, little tulip makers. I might want some more of them sometime," taking tl.c bunch held out to her. The address wt a carefully noted, and thoughtfully Anne stood watching the children as they became lost in the street crowd. For tbe first time, hgj eyes had been opcneTTo a ITTw life. ~ Next day a rap on the door of a cottage In a poor section of the city brought an answer from one of the flower girls. No one was In sight, but as the door opened a big car was seen moving away and on the porch was a large well-filled basket ornamented with holly and one big red candle. When the basket was taken inside and examined many useful gifts for mother and the girls were disclosed as well as a generous supply of fruit nuts and candy. The card read: "I shall drive by on Christmas night If you are happy let the wreath and lighted candle speak from your windows." Was the candle burning? And did the wreath adorn the other front window? Well, yes; and the bright faces within the well-lighted room brought to Anne Dawson far greater joy than the handsome gifts that were hers on Christmas morning.--Lily Rutherford Christmas Dolls TpHE modern Christmas A so dear to the hearts of little maids of ail nations, had Its origin in the days of long, long ago. Dolls were once regarded as sacred objects, and the word "doll" is believed to be a corruption of the word "idol." The dolls or idols of early days were carved out of wood or bone, and the dolls of later days were probably reproductions of the idols, used In worship. Dolls are comparatively modern playthings in this country, j ] and the oldest museum speci- , ' mens only go back to Queen J . Anne's days, before which time (| there are no records of their use by British children. They were introduced from Flanders, and were called "Flanders babies," or "children's babies."-- Montreal Star, sviywiwanimi t» i. * - • •i*»VT\SEi vifi' Russian Christmas Table ^ * \ • In the center of his Christmas table - the Russian peasant places a bundle. of straw, symbolic of^tbe manger, and, before the meal, each gueet draws from tbe bundle a blade of 'U4 straw, the one who draws the longest. • 4 being destined to live the longest • St. Nicholas^ St. Nicholas, as the patron saint eC: Christmas, seems to have been adopt*: ed by America; Father Christmas ie indigenous to Britain. Santa Claus te Germany, and Kriss Kringle to Ho|;v land, but they all seem to be variant! of the first-named.--Montreal Star. Candles Are Dangerous Matches should always be kept oqft-;' of the reach of children and parents ; should be especially cautious around tbe holiday season when there is se much extra inflammable materials in . the house, suggests the national safe- is ty council. Plaindealers at Boljrem *. A '•W£- . - ... /I iness Lies in Giving---To Give, You Must Have--Our Christmas Club Insures an Easy and Sure Way to Have Money for Christmas and - Other Purposes 3^ It is possible'for everyone to have ample funlsfor Christmas or other purposes, without any real effort or self denial. All that is necessary is to join our Christmas Club and enroll in one or more Classes. The amount you select may be small or large, according to your own choice and arranged so that you can easily afford t6*make the specified payments. This plan of saving a certain amount each week, from the start to finish of the Club, in 50 weeks, makes the payments so easy that you will never miss the money. The main thing is to regularly, save the amount you require for your ChristmarS~^penses and to systematically dej>osit same. After tlie close of the club, in 50 weeks, and in advance of Christmas, members will receive our check for full amount due, which payment will reach them at the periocl when ready money is most needed. Is it possible to think of an easier or surer way to save money for Christmas presents, Taxes, Insurance premiums, Vacation or other purposes? People in all walks of life find it a practicable method of saving. Many parents, employers and others give membership in club as Christmas presents. No gift is more appro]lh'ate. Select the Class in the Club which you consider thosal you enroll can afford to regularly pay. Make first pay mem for a week, month or longer period and then present the Christ- ~ mas Club account, opened in the name of those favored, suggesting that such members make all later payments. This will have the good educational effect of teaching thrift and may prove the foundation of the futur^ financial sucenrolled by yon. , . ..1^' " '*> , McHENRY STATE "The Bank that Service Built" W-' > '.a- " * 2' mMzrn. • ~ 7" ' I 12.50 Join Our Club Now--Your First Pay* ment Makes You a Member--No Fees or Fines--Suggest to Members of Your Family and Also Your Friends to Join the Club Yon may join one or more of the following Classes Class 25. Members paying 25c each week for 50 weeks, reecive • ' x " ,•»! __ Class 50. Members paying 50c each week for 50 weeks, receive 1. ,^J|25.00 * A Class 100. Membersi paying $1.00 eachr week for 50 weeks, receive ^z?.kL. $ 50.00 Class 200. Members paying $2.00 each week weeks, receive : / ' •' - / Class 500. Members paying $5.00 each week for 50 weeks, receive ...... ^ ^ $250.00 Three per eent interest added, if all payments are made regularly or in advanor We Shall Welcome You as One of Our Depositors