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i\ 33 "Beeg Meister," another the "old Meisâ€" ter," and the "Meister at the Reever," the other the "stere Meister." You had to be quick when you met him on the trail to be first with the salutation. The boy had a way of coming on you when you thought you were alone and you never knew where you would hear his laughing "g‘day, Meister." The first time I met him was a day when I was tramping through the counâ€" try on my way to a valley fifty miles north of the Galicians. I had heard so much of the Galicians that 1 thought fiity miles would be few cnough to have between their settliement and my homeâ€" ol & o on CC We iess m e m d try on my way to a valley fifty miles I met an Englishman soon after wwho north of the Galicians. I had heard so | persuaded me that nothing would _ be much of the Galicians that 1 thought | gained farther north and I _ ghose a fiity miles would be few cnough to have | homestead near by. I must confess that between their settliement and my homeâ€" | Mike enrtered my thoughts when the stead. matter was under considec«tion. 1 sveat It was a day in early srping, one of | the summer on my homestead and then those days in May, that seemed to have | went south to make some money on the 8}: out of place and found itself by misâ€" ‘ harvest fields e in the end of the first week 'm‘ w 32 tBnad t ) ueA cauete : e 20 t > 0. + April. The snow was gone except a | * dirvy drift caught in the bluffs here and | a6 . Pake wats ho ol son ovny me there. . The Knolls on: which she sul | Sioii uts t PE Uls Th. Tieke o mest shone were dry and were starred over } :’n:“ x was ane :0 o Tur® mes with anemones, the little purple ‘heralds | clooj o Afaistor vou cum back*‘ he His name was Mixe. That is, we a" called him Mike, though I believe that, as a matter of fact, he was baptized Miche!, but we, the few Englishâ€"speakâ€" ing homesteaders who had settled on the edge of the large Galician colony, called him Mike. After a time, he was Mike to his father, who held to Michel for many weeks, and then he was Mike to all, The Galicians were not popular with some of the "white" settlers, as they called themselves, mainly 1 thought for the reason that the Galicians were in first and had some of the best homeâ€" steads in the district, but Mike was popâ€" ular with all He was a cheery chap, «lways smiling and often laughing. . 1f ru met him on the trail, when you were own on your luck or sick of your job, his laughing "Good . day, *Meister,‘" would give you a new view of life. We were all "Meister" to him. He never tried to learn our names. One was the #Baae Molster" another the "old Meisâ€" of summer, and whereâ€"the bluffs kept off the northeast winds, the grass was sprouting. The air was heavy with the smell of thawing soil. I had already walked sixty miles and | did not start the third day of the jourâ€" ! ney with a particularly light heart. I | was only well started when I heard a | ahot from behind a bluff I was approachâ€" ing and then the hearty laugh of n‘ larging under the grnri:ll warmth of the boy‘s smile. _ Then 1 saw he was not alone. Another boy was coming from the bluff with a gun on his shoulder and a rabbit dangling from his hand. He staggered under the womt of it, as if it were too much for Wim, which surâ€" prised me, for a boy does not let a stranâ€" ger see him stagger under a gun. "That me brudder," explained the boy. "He shoot very good," he added, unnecesâ€" sarily loudly, as 1 thought, until I saw a faint flnsl of pleasure come into the ymmqar one‘s face at the hoarty praise. "Rabbits iblind in spring," he added for mry benefit. _ . healthy boy. »+ "O‘day, Meister," hercalled to me "Gooj day," I replied, my hearth larging under the genial warmth of bov‘s smile. Then 1 saw the was emile left his face so quickly that it was ilnn that to Mike this was a calamity "Me nameâ€"Mike," he confided to me was born "before Christ‘"‘? Simply beâ€" eause our calendar is incorrect. _ For some centuries after Christ‘s time there was no calendar in general use, but each nation dated from some event in its hisâ€" tory. Finally, in the sixth century, a learned monk, Dionysius Exiguus, was agolnhd to ascertain _ the time _ of ist‘s birth, and it was ordered that history should be dated from that time. But Dionysius, who first published his ealculations in A. D. 526, put the birth of Jesus about four years too late. In Bethichemâ€""House of bread." "A name properly applied to a place where the true Bread was manifested for the life Commentary.â€"â€"I. The coming of the wise men (vs. 12.) 1. When Jesus was born â€"While the exact date of Christ‘s birth is uncertain there is no reason why it may not have been on December 25th, B. C. 5. But why do we say that Jesus was born "before Christ‘‘! Simply beâ€" ness and cruelty. _ He reigned thirtyâ€" seven years in Judea and died a few months after the birth of Christ. At this time "the scepter was departing from Judah, a sign that the Messiah was now at hand." Wise menâ€"Or magi. "Origâ€" Inally a class of priests among the Perâ€" sinns and Medes, who formed the king‘s my counsel."" They were men _ of ning and wealth. Augustine and Chrysostom say there were twelye magi, but the common belief is that there were but three. RBut why were thes> magi secking the Christ? "We know that the Persian magi believed in a Messiah or future Saviour, who should in the latter day appear and renew the world in lkhteoumes-.”wwhdon. From the east â€"Porhaps from Media, ort Persia, or mfl'bly. from Arabia. To Jerusalemâ€" y seemed to suppose that when they geached the capital of the Jewish nation they would have no trouble in finding the object of their search. 2. Where is heâ€"This inquiry in Joruâ€" salem brought Jesus into popular notice d-lhdatunioltotbeMM the Messiah was to be born in Bethichem. Born King of the Jewsâ€"This was a title wnknown to the earlier history of Israel «uc f‘ to no one except the Mes €iah. It reappears in the inscription over dlva Notice that Jesus was "Me brudder seeck," said Mike, and the We watched Christmas Lesson.â€"Matt. 2: 1â€"12 LESSON XILâ€"DEC. 22, 1g07 @&V S% LESssON the boy struggle toward wieked thirty Jewish | memberea {hat the open season was past. There was a pathetic appeal in his voice that made his words go deep. "Jack very seeck, Meister. Mebbe I shoot partridge?" he asked again. ‘Jack ifike partridge," he added, by way of exâ€" | planation. |\ _"You shoot your partridge, old man," I seid. ’ "Mebbe I go to jail?" he said. "Jail be hanged," I said, "there‘s your EC PRECITCY Mike lifted the gun from his brother‘s shoulder and put out his hand to take the rabbit, but the hunter would not yield his spoils. "Jaek shoot him," laughed Mike. "He want to take him home. He get tired pretty soon, then I take him." "You‘re a pretty decent sort of a kid, aren‘t you*" I said. I wanted to tell the boy what 1 thought of him, but did not know just how to do it. "Jack seeck, Meister," he replied. "He wet very tired. He like to shoot. I help "Jack see get very tir him shoot 1 him shoot rabbit.‘ ‘ "Well, goodâ€"bye, sir," I said. He came ‘ forward and held out his hand. "(i‘bye, Moister," he said and instructâ€" ed his brother to do the same,* I turned after a few mimites to bave another look at the boy. _ The gun was over Mike‘s shoulder and the rabbit was dangling frowm the barrel of it and Jack was clinging to Mike‘s arm. Somehow the sun was shining brightâ€" er when I turned, the little anemones looked prettier and I thought the thawâ€" ing soil smelled sweeter. By that time Jack was at our side. When 1 looked immto his face 1 saw it was more than the weight of the gun that made him stagger. I thought that when I came back in the fall Mike would be alone. der ca‘l him "(G‘day, Meister, you cum back?" he called to me. I thought I discovered a new note in his voice and when I came nearer, there was something in his eye I had not seen before. It was late in the fall when I returnâ€" ed. _ Mike, with the old gun over bis shoulder, was one of the first to meet I was afraid to ask for Jack. I had had no communication with the settleâ€" ment during my absence. _ The converâ€" sation ran in hte ordinaary lines for a while. _ Then be suddenly turred to me. bird I watched him disappesring like a deer through the bluffs, with this partridge under his coat, and then went on my way to my own home. The winter came early that year. | ey Weeks before Christmas the ground was | s covered with snow and the thermemeâ€" | ed ter had made a recerd descent before we "born" a king. His starâ€"Many interâ€" pretors, especially those who seek _ to climinate the supernatural, explain the "star," or "sidereal appearence," by & conjumction of Jupiter _ and _ Saturn, which _ occurred in May, B. C. 7, and again in December with Mars added. It is, however, much more in harmony with all the facts to believe that the star II. Light from the Scriptures (vs. 3â€"6). | %. Had heard â€"The magi had created no | small stit by their inquiries, which imâ€" mediately atttracted the attention of | the king. Troubledâ€"Herod, now sunk . into the jealous decrepitude of his savâ€" | age old age, was residing in his new palâ€" ace on Zion, when, hali maddened as he was already by the crimes of his past ‘ career, he was thrown into a fresh parâ€" . oxysm of alarm and anxiety by the visit . of these magi, bearing the strange inâ€". telligenee that they had come to worship a newâ€"born king.â€"Farrar. Herod feared a rival. All Jerusalem with himâ€"Fearâ€" ing that he would make this an occasion of renewing his acts of bloodshed. >4. Had gatheredâ€"He assembled the Sanâ€" hoedrin.â€"Lightfoot. Chief priestsâ€"This expression probably comprehends . the wcting high priest and his deputy, those who had been high pricstsâ€"for at this time the office was often transferred by the Roman authoritiesâ€"and "the heads of the twentyâ€"four sacerdotal famâ€" ilies," which David had distributed in so many courses." Ceribesâ€"The learned inâ€" terpreters of the Mosaic law, and the collectors of the traditions of the elders. Many of them were Phariseesâ€"Demandâ€" ed of themâ€"Because they would be most likely to know. Where the Christ (R. V.)â€"Or the Messiah, the official title of tho promised deliverer. "The wise men had said nothing about the Christ, or tre Messiah, but only about the King of the Jews. But Herod saw that this king must be the expected Messiah." 5. By the prophetâ€"Micah 5, 2. Matâ€" thew does not quote the exact words found in Micah, but the sense is given. It was an accepted truth that the Mesâ€" sish must come from Bethlchem. 6. Art in no wise least (R. V.)â€"Micah Says, "Though thou be little among the thouâ€" sands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel." This made Bethichem "in no wise least." Although Bethlchem vulit.tlc,yotitmcnlhdobondl the other cities of Israel. Thg.henâ€" "The thousands" (Micah 5, 2). tribe had been subdivided into thousands, and over each subdivision there was a chiefâ€" tain or prince.â€"Morison. A governorâ€" To control and rule. Who shall be shepâ€" herd (R. V.)â€"To feed and care fs= =~* a shephord his flock. Christ is both Shepâ€" which attracted the attention _ of the magi was provided for the occasion. To worship himâ€"To do him homage. They i. & .3 1. 1 s s 1c wel Mebbe I shoot bold to confess the object of their J t partridge?" he asked. r a moment when I reâ€" he open season was past. hetic appeal in his voice vords go deep. eck, Meister. _ Mebbe I " he asked again. ‘Jack he added, by way of exâ€" I met the boy on on of the worst days and even 1 could see he was not properâ€" ly clothed. At the Christmas tree whicn the missionary got up for the children of hte settlement, I took it upon myself to give Mike a special invitation â€" and Mike saw that Santa Claus was in & position to give bhim a suit of warm clothes, _ An idea crept into his head that night and before he reached home it had taken possession of him. | _ The snow was packed in a eirels about | him, for the wolves were hunaery that | winter, but they had been afraid to touch him. _ We carried him into the sleigh and the tears which fell from our eves froze into 1e on his farce. _ Their own Christmas came ten dt-ws later and the Galicians were making preparations for it. _ Two days before their celebration comâ€" menced, Mike appeared at the door of my shack. _ e Â¥ *Meister," he s: come to station?" "The Station" was the name of the little town at the railway, to which we were tributary and it was twentyâ€"five miles distant. I had beard that a doc« tor had settled there in the fall and inâ€" timated the same to Mike. "Jack very sseck," he said. "Mebbe I go to Station for doctor." ...“.[.._g;; _doctor for Jack for Chreest mus," he added. . 5 ces _ The Qliy was threatening that morn ing. l us ho Cke (erwa _ It was the first time I had4 seen tears in his eyes. 3 N P ive thas Wa l i death ETs EVCY By noon that day it was blowing and the air was thickening with snow. As usual, I dined alone, and my thoughts turned on the boy. The doctor‘s service was to be bis Christmas gift to Jack. It seemed to me that it was a gift that might cost too much. _ As the wind rose I got anxious. 1 lefs the dishes on the table and hassoned to Mike‘s home. â€" The boy was n>s there. Then I went to the store. _ M2 was not there. Then I heard he had gone for the doeâ€" i:!.(:"pointed to the warm clostes he wore,. and before I could say a word he was gone. 1 L s valic ud n 1 told a neighbor what I feared. He agreed with me that, Mike was in great danger, and volunteered to go after him, The wind was behind us and we made good time. We came upon no traces of the boy on the way and in the town no one had seen him. The wind fell that night, and in the morning the mereury stood at forty beâ€" low. â€" The sky was perfectly clear and the sun set the white, flashing world aflame. _ We started bok with lighter hearts. We had a trip in vain, but the fact that the boy was safe satisfied us. Presently we came to a _ spot near which were many woif tracks. My comâ€" panion was anxious about it and insistâ€" ed on secing the cause. Something was projecting from a drift. A terrible fear took possession of me and I began to tremble. tor III. The intrigue of Herag (vs. 7, 8). 7. Privily calledâ€"Herod desired to keep the time of Christ‘s birth as secret as possible lest the Jews who hated Him should take occasion to rebel, Enquired of them diligentlyâ€""Learned of them exactly." â€"R. V. He inquired of them the exact time and received positive inâ€" formation as to the time the star apâ€" peared. Assuming that the star appeared when the child was born he would thus have some idea of the age of the child. herd and King. My pebple Israelâ€"Israel was (od‘s people in a peculiar sense. They were His own peculiar treasure. 8. lHe sent themâ€"He assumed control; l but they followed the directions of the Lord. Search diligently â€"Herod _ was honest in making this charge to them; he greatly desired to receive definite] word concerning the new King. _ And worship _ Him also â€" What hypocrisy! He ony wished to find the child in orâ€" der to murder him (vs. 13, 16); he was crafty and subtle, saying one thing and | meaning another. But God did not per | mit him to carry out his purpose. | IV, Guided by the star (vs. 9, 10). 9. | The star.. went before themâ€"The same star which they had seen in their own | country now again appears. The star | had disappeared for a time and this‘ led them to inquire in Jerusalem, for | the young King whom they sought, Supâ€" | ermatural helps should not be expected ‘ where ordinary means are to be had | Stood overâ€"The star pointed out the | very house.â€"Benso, 10. They rejoiced | â€"The Greek is very emphatic. _ They | rejoiced exceedingly because they saw | they were about to find the child and 1 because they had such _ unmista«able | proof of being in divine order. _ That | alone is enmough to cause rejoicing. V. The child Jesus found (vs. 11, 12). 11. Fell downâ€"They prostrated themâ€" selves before Him according to the eastâ€" ern custom. "In this act the person kneels and puts his head between his knees, his forehead at the same time touching the ground. It was used to exâ€" prese both civil and religious reverence." â€"â€"COlarke. Giftsâ€"The people of the East idid not approach into the presence of kings without bringing them !)ruenu. The custom still _(Q’mih n many laces. Gold, etc. old would always go useful, while frankincense and nyrrh were prized for their delicious Img-i rance. el\oe were the very presents Isaiah mentioned: “Allm from Sheâ€" ba shall come; they bring gold and incense" (Iea. 60. 6) "Incense, or frankincense, is a resinous gum, flowâ€" ingfronatnc,m for the purâ€" , growing in is and Lebanon. g:rl is also a gum obtained from a tree in Arabia." Whedon. 12. Warned of God in a dreamâ€" God communicated his purpose to them in a manner that they understood and the impression or conviction was so clear that they at onee Cbeycd. ...m ue W y "Oh, I My companion made no reply How You His life for his friends." I mutter will you go?" I enquired. walk, Meister, I good for in‘t, Mike, you‘ll freeze to said, "Mebbe a doctor ONTARI m“m".::“u easily go east from Bethâ€" T orthke thus Jeave Jerusalem on the ; RBACTICAL APPLICATIONS J es 'P“' of salvation. "Now when Jesus was born" (y, 1.) "Thou shalt call from the power of ,sin as well as its penâ€" alty (Rom. 6; 2, 14); able to keep USs from all unrighteousness (1 John 1; 7), and able to "keep" us clean (Jude 24)â€" II. A place of obscurity. "In Beshleâ€" hem" (v. 1.) *&n insignificant village, not mentioned among the many toOWns at the time of the division of the land. "In a manger" (Luke 2; 7.) Not in & palace, not in a house of luxury, not in a cottage surrounded by brightness, but in a limestone cave, did the Christâ€"child open its Infant eyes to earth. Was this to teach how little God cares for exterâ€" nals? That the Christly beart will not covet gaudy surroundings! That Jesus has a tender sympathy for the poorest?! That they who follow him will choose the lowliest places? A III. A place of cruelty, "In the days of Herod the king" (v. 1.) Jesus came a stranger to this world; there was no room for him in the inn (Luke 2; 7.) Herod hunted him (v, 7.) His own parâ€" ents "understood not" his youthful asâ€" pirations (Luke 2; 49); his own townsâ€" men rejected him (Luke 4; 29); he had not where to lay his head (Matt, 8; 20; John 7, 53; 8, 1); his own people stoned him (JO‘hfl 10, 31); one of his own disciâ€" ples betrayed him (Hatt, 26; 14, 15); Jews and Gentiles conspired to crucify him (Luke 22, 66; 23, 1, 12). All the way from the cradle to the cross he met with cruelty. IV. A place of royalty. "Born King of the Jews" (v. 2). The gospel ‘of Matâ€" thew is the story of Jesus as King. Its keyâ€"word "kingdom," is found Aiftyâ€"six times. Its key phrase, "kingdom of heaven," is found thirtyâ€"two times and nowhere else in the New Testament. Matthew gives his legal geneology, his royal pedigree, from David, source of Jewish rule; and Abraham, s wurce of Jewish blessing (Matt. 1:1). Jesus was born king, but he waitedâ€"he is waiting still for the kingdom (Luke 19:25; Matt. 20:20). The prayer, "Thy kingdom come, thy will be done in earth" (Matt. 6:10), has never been literally fulfilled. It will be some day. Christ rules the hearts of hisown toâ€"day as a Shepherd (v. 6, R. V.). The characteristic of his spiritual kingdom is patience (Rev. 1:9). Christ will rule over men one day with a rod of iron (Psa. 2:9). TORONTO V. A place of prophecy. "It is written by the prophets" (v. 5). A study of prophecy gives a miniature life of Jesus. Isa. 7.14; Micah, 5:2; Isa. 9:1, 2; Gen. 49:10; Hosea 1l1:1; Zech. 11:12, 13; Lech, 13:7; Isa. 53:12; Psa. 22:18; Psa. 22:1; 69:21; Zech. 12:10; John 1:45; Acts 13:27; 1 Cor. 2:8. A special blessâ€" ing is promised to those who read and hear and keep the last great prophecy of his second coming (Rev. 1:3; 22:18, came and stood over where the y child was" (v. 9}. Heralded by a Jesus ushered in the day of grace at beginning of this dispensation. The which illuminates our pathway and before us to guide us to Jesus is Holy Spirit, of whom Jesus says: shall testify of me" (John 15:26). VII. A place of rejoicing (v. 10). The wise men, rejoicing at the cradle of the infant King, carry our thought forward to another day when a multitude of reâ€" deemed men and angels shall ery with a loud voice (Rev. 5:12). VIII. A place of worship (v. 11). They gave themselves; then their gifts (2 Cor. 8:4, 5). They saw, they ~{oll down," thus presenting their "bodi»s & living sacrifice" (Rom. 12:1); they ~worsl‘p ed,"" pouring out their souls‘ adorauien; then "they offered unto him gifts" (XK v.. IX. A place of presents. "They p)¢â€" sented unto him gifts; golil, ain1 frankâ€" incense, and myrrh" (v. 1!). As a Savior Jesus is God‘s great gift to u» (John 3:16) ; as saves ones we are cod‘s gift to him (John 17:6). Cold, vreserted in token of his royalty, iyplue: ‘\lu\‘t we are; frankincense, referrinc to his deity, refers to what we do; myrth, 20 ticipating his death; ref>s to what we suffer. 204\ X. C M 19) VI A place of guidance. "The star. ... and stood over where the young was" (v. 9). Heralded by a star ushered in the day of grace at the star the He The finger nointed from the grave to him, and back again. "No, Spirit! Ph, no, no!" The finger was still there. "Spirit!" he cried, tight clutehing at its robes, "hear me! I am not the man I was. I will not be the man I must have been but for this intercourse. Why show me this, if I am past all hope!" "Men‘s courses will foreshadow certain ends, to which, if persevered in, they must lead," said Scrooge. "But, if the sourses be departed from, the ends will change. Say it is thus with what you show me!" The Spirit was immovable as ever. Serooge crept towards it, trembling as he went; and, following the finger, read upon the stone of the neglected grave his own name, Ebenezer Schooge. $ Siill the Ghost pointed downward to the grave by which it stood. â€""Am I that man who lay upon the bed?" he cried, upon his knees. u â€" For the first time the hand appeared to shake. "Good Spirit," he pursued, as down upon the ground he fell before it. "Your nature intercedes for me, and pities me. _ Assure me that I yet may change these shadows you have shown me, by an altered life!" The kind hand trembled. "I will honor Dbristmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year. I will live in the Past, the Present and the Future. The spirits of all three shall strive within me. I will not shut out the lessors that they teach. _ Oh, tell me I may sponge away the writing on this stone!" In his agouy, he sought the spectral hand. _ It ql)ught to free itself, but he was strong in his entreaty, and deâ€" tained it. /l‘he Spirit, stronger yet, reâ€" pulsed hi. Holding up his hands in a last prayer to bave his fate reversed, he saw an alteration in the phantom‘s hood and dress. It shrunk, collapsed, and dwinâ€" diled down into a bedpost. Yes! and the bedpost was his own. The bed was his own, the room was his own. Best aml happiest of all, the time before him was his own to make amends in! f f He dressed himself "all in his best," and at last got out into the streets. The people were by this time pouring forth, as he had seen them with uh* Ghost of Christmas Present: and. walkâ€" He went to church, and walked atout the street, and watched the pesp» Inirâ€" ryinge to and fro, and patted chi~iren on the head, and questioned bergars, and looked down into the kitehans cf houses, and up to the windows, and found that everything could yietd him pleasure. Me had never dreamed that any â€" walkâ€"that â€" anythingâ€"could give him so much happiness. In the afterâ€" noon he turned his steps toward1 his nephew‘s house. ing with his hands behind him, Serooge regarded every one with a delighted smile. He looked so irresistinly vleasâ€" ant, in a, word, that three or tour guod~lnmuޢ-d fellows said, "Goodâ€"mornâ€" ing, sir!l _ A merry Christmas to you!" And Scrooge said often afterfards, that of all the blithe sounds he had over heard, those were the blithest in his ears. _ But he was early at the office next | morning. Oh, he ‘was early there. If | he could only be there first, and catch | Bob Cratchit coming late! _ That was 'ithe thing he had set his heart upon. He passed the door a dozen times,abeâ€" fore he had the courase to go up and knock. But he made a dash, and did it! "Is your master at home, my dear?" said Scrooge to the girl. _ Nice girl! Very! + "Yes, sir." "Where is he, my love?" said Scrooge. "He‘s in the diningâ€"room, sir, along with mistress. I‘ll show you upstairs, if you please.." "Thank‘ee, he knows _ me," said Scrooge, with his hand already on the diningâ€"room lock. "I‘ll goâ€"in here, my dear." He turned it gently, and sidled his face in round the door. They were looking at the table, which was spread out im great array; for these young housekeepers are always nervous on such points, and like to see that everyâ€" thing is right. "Fred," said Scerooge. Dear heart alive, how this niece by marriage started. _ Scrooge had, forâ€" gotten for the moment, about her sitâ€" ting in the corner with a footstool, or he would not have done it, on any acâ€" | customed voice, as near as he c | feign it. "What do you mean by c ‘-ingheuo,tthilfimeofflmdny?" { "I am very sorry, sir," said Bo Let him in. _ It is a merey he didn‘t shake his arm off. He was at home in Ave ngnutes. Nothing could be heartier. _ His niece looked just the same. So did Topper when he came. So did the plump sister when she came. No did every onme when they camep Wonderful party _ wonderful _ games, wonderful unanimity, wonâ€"derâ€"ful happiâ€" ness ? "Why. bless my soul!" _ cried Fred, who‘s that ?" "It‘s 1, your Uncle Serooge. _ I have come to dinner. _ Will you let me in, Fred * heartier. _ His nicce looked just the| The Scramble for Whristmas Presents, same. So did Topper w}l\‘on hhe cameâ€"| "The girl who works for her living So did the plump sister when she came.| 5 & No did every one when thely camep | dioe-; have 4 .l:."d‘ tnlne gn;her;’ng MP 'l_-" Wonderful party wonderful games, | Christmas gifts. unless she has a fire wonderful unanimity, wonâ€"derâ€"ful happiâ€" | head for organization and nows ulere ness ? | to shop," says Anns# Steese Ricbardâ€" But he was early at the office next som in the Woman‘s Home Companianm morning. Oh, he was early there. If| for December. " The first thing to re he could only be there first, and catch : member is that the _Christmu bavraim Bob Cratchit coming late! _ That was counter is the dumping ground of the the thing he had set his heart upon. | shrewd merchant. He tosses here all the Ah, he did it; yet, he did it! The | leftâ€"overs from last year‘s usalable clock struck 9. No Bob. _A quarter | stock. For this counter, he buys up old past. No Bob. He was fuil eighteen wholesale stocks, auction â€" lots and minutes . and nhlulf behind his time.iftehr,; ;leul;.. Nobody knows the z;lt Serooge sat with his door wide open, ings of t in counter shopper that fie might see him come into p‘t:: | ter than does ;fl- shrewd merchant. And T;?k‘h | he makes fifty instead of ?.ve per e::I is hat was off, before he opened the | on every sale. Everything is mussy door; his comferter, too. _ He was on | eolors are ‘Srnllh. Moths have eaten ins his stool in a jiffy; driving away with | to this dust has settled on that his pen, as if he were trying to overâ€"| But the woman _ who tries to shop take 9 o‘clock. _ _ + | against time does not motice these deâ€" Smo.fi sat with his door wide open, that he might see him come int» his Tank. am behind mj thiae,.""" :: =°°~~ 76. "You are? repeated Scrooge. "Yes, I think you are. Step this way, sir, if you pleue. _ "It‘s only omes a year, sir" pleaded . is only once a year, sir," pleaded Bob, appéaring from the Tank. . "It shall not be repeated. 1 was making rather merry ymi"‘m’ ‘Now, IH tell you what, my frierd," said Borooge, "I am not to atand this sort of thing any * tewadk therefore." he continued leammize &u... therefere," he continued, leapiag frem i and givi such a 4 i)!lx“ ::ol' nhteq:tm nh‘.-'f ir as he could mean by comâ€" ( the dayt" r," said Bob. 1 Scrooge. "Yes, this way, sir, if l â€" perfi FOs"" ®>/Bsa o e “ m you will reap the rew ' . . “ new iron manufact ll“.m ‘ "A ~Merry ChrisuM®® â€" """"" ~ovat Scrooge, with an earnestness that could not be mistaken, as he m him on the back. . "A merrier stâ€" mas, Bob, my good fellow, than I have given you for many a year! I‘ll raise your salary, and endeavor to assist vour struggling family, and we will discuss your affairs . this very afterâ€" noon, aver a smoking bow! of bishop, Bob! â€" Make up the fires, and buy an: other scuttle before you dot another i Bob Cratchit." Serooge was better than his word. He did it all, infinitely more, and to Tiny Trim, who did not die, he was & second father. He became a8 good a .friend,.o-good.mutfl,-ndugood a man, as the good old city knew, or any other good old city, town or borâ€" ough, in the good old world. Some people laughed to e0¢ the alteration in him, but he let them laugh, and little heeded them; for he was wise enough to know that nothing ever happened on the globe, for go:fi. at which some people did not have their fill of l.,m- ter in the outset ;and knowing t such as these would be blind anyway, he thought it quite as well that they should wrinkle up their eyes in grins, as have the malady in less attractive forms. His own heart Jaughed; and that was good enough for him. fore, I am about to ralse YO 1. °" _ Bob trembled and got a little n uo h foies Mc nds amertart TL ng wia . WC holding him, m to Ahs I I tw sulk € L NV EC << back There was once a family who kad A guest staying with them, and . when they found out that he was to have a birthday during his visit they were all delighted with the idea of celebratâ€" ing it. Days beforeâ€"almost weeks beâ€" foreâ€"they began to prepate for the selebration. â€" They cooked and stored a large quantity of good things to eat, and laid in a stock of good things to be cooked and prepared on the happy day, _ They planned and arranged the most beautiful decorations, They even thought over and made, or selected, litâ€" tle gifts for one another; â€" and the whole house was in hurry and confusiom for weeks before the birthday came, Everything else that was to be done was vostponed until after the birthday, and indeed many important things were nogâ€" of _knocking MBRA CCE holding him, m to the peo>i¢ in the court for belp and a straight waistcoat. "A Merry Christmas, Bob!" . said Serooge, with an earnestness . that could not be mistaken, a8 he d.s:';‘ him on the back. "A merrier Christ mas. Bob, my good fellow, th;'x:“I h:v! T"aes vaiae lected, vimully the birthday came, the rooms were all decorated, the table set, all the little gifts arranged, and the guests from outside of the house had all arâ€" rived. â€" Just after the festivities had begun a little child said to its mother: "Mamma, where i@ the man whose birthday it is ?" "Hush! hush!" the mother said. "Don‘t ask questions." But the child persisted, until finally the mother saidw: "Well, I am sure, I do not know, my dear, but I will ask." _ Then the mother got interested and curious berself. _ She asked her noighbor, and the neighbor looked surprised, and a little pussled, â€" $ .. a _ $ _"Why," she said, "it is a cclobration. We are colebntjxhhin birthday, and he is a guest in the house." . "But where is the guest?! _ Where is the man whose birthday it is?" _ And this time she asked one of the family. He looked startied at first, and then inâ€" quired of the rest of the family. "Where is the guest whose birthday it is?" _ Alas! nobody knew. _ There they were, all excited and trying to enâ€" joy themselves by celebrating his birth day, and heâ€"some of them did not even know who he was. _ He wus leff out and forgotten. When they had wondered for a litble while they immediately forgoi again and went on with their celebrationsâ€"all exâ€" cept the little child,. . He slipped out of the room, and made \T his mind to find the man whose birthday it was, and finally, after a hard search, he found hiinl: upstairs in the attic, lonely and sick. He had been asked to leave the guestâ€" room, which he had occupied, so as to be out of the way of the preparations for his birthday. _ Here he had fallem il!, and no one had had time to think of him, excepting one of the humbler servants and this little child. _ ‘They had all been so busy preparing for Ms birthday festival that they had forgotâ€" ten him entirely, This is the way it is with most of us at Christmas time.â€"Leslie‘s Monthly, "The later you shop the more imâ€" portant it is that you go to a good store. Girls who work down gown should leave home half an hour earlier, go to a firstâ€"class shop, tell the clerk frankly just how much they can xfl and unless my méasure of the clerk in the firstâ€"class store is wrong, they will be waited on promptly and satisfretorâ€" ily. But if krow you have only $1.â€" 50 to -,J':n & nouveau art pin for your chum‘s belt, do not waste the your chi;:;l mt, do not _ waste QT& clerk‘s t ,nurl,lookh{.g ?Lfi{t‘.ndonnp!m.no- lnu‘-. - shopping as you are mkrmnu of your office dutiss you will reap the reward of goed and the blessings of the unhanny élarka ty * APROPU _ S laaa *A ;.feth an _ earnestness _ that Y“"‘&"""""" se mistaken, as he to the conclusion the would make i e back. *A merrier m ‘W mâ€"-& w?&m:,t:lnld{l‘“ my good fellow, than I have |9°'“bbYr irregular pines that were t) s for many a year! I‘ll raise |i" 98 He hired some men and ll Cc6 y, and endeavor to assist | and loaded the deck of the vucln“'m‘ gling family, and we Will about 500 trees, and took them Bos. ur affairs . this very after. | ton as a speculation. When '«hm (g a smoking bow! of bishop, | Of trees Were taken up in front of Taw :l.; up the fires, and buy AD: | euil Hall the marketmen fell m..{‘;- * .before you dot another i :unother in their greed to get ll:l‘ s . te K | trees. They sold out the entare lot : ie a8 tter than his word. enormous profit and elamor n oF ail infinitely more, and to | | The MOXt year about N200 Aroce wore ilwho did not die, he was a | taken to Boston from the OM o o:r. He became as good @ | Hancock county, chiefly [rn: hh("”lh (e, s good a master, and as good | Orland and Pite Hill. The third »ongag ‘ or | trees were sent to ._\'flh_‘ Y‘«‘»rk and a FORGOTTEN GUEST. »â€" said | rampant growth. dexed TE w that i yacht looked at them carefully iess B2 |\,, the conclusion they would » & on P 4 244 s i; "and ttere your <alary!" . little nearer mentary ide8 own 'l‘,'l “’ to the peo>le roburnimg smm M TDR C C . 00 .. ) l caribou hunt in Newfoundland, ealled at w‘e-tvflk, on the eastern shore of Penobscot Bay, and vook a _ ride in land to visit some abandoned copper and lead mines in Blue Hill, AMaine. | ihe leaves had fallen from deciduous troes, causing the dark evergreens to stand ou; in bold relief against the neutral back ground of browns and greys. Stretching back from the roadside and sweeping over hill and valley were tene of thou " C 4s af semume Â¥ire in the full vigor of over . sands tured the hearts of the dweliors in ica‘s metropolis. At the end o years the average shipment of ) Tirs was 700,000 trees a year. . La son more than 1,200,000 were sent This season‘s shipments will pr reach 1,500,000. Though the cutting, trimming, bund. ling and shipment of Unristmas trees is a laborious task, the Maine farmers make the occasion an autummnal holiday, taking their families to the forest fringe and mw}g thoir midday meal around a bia, ing fire, that roars and sparkles in the midst of their Jabors. Une man culs the sizable trees close to the ground. A boy or strong girl cuts away with a sharp hatchet the few dead limbs at the base; a woman and a boy or two women the trees into bundles of twelve an« them firmly together with strong .« and a large boy or a man drives team of horse harnessed to a hay: which hauls the load to the whar raulroad station, Meantime the smaller children o; family roam through the woods, p=â€" the trailing creepers of ground pine i among the fallen leaves, picking z bunches of glossy wintergreen from shadows of overhanging pines and ; ering in the shining red fruit of the raisin shrub, all of which will be pl carefully in boxes and sent away to | wreaths and streamers for church ration and for the adornment of =(a city homes where Christmas is ols with pomp and splendor, From the point of view of the aire, who makes and loses thous doliars on margins every day,. i enue which the Maine farmers < from Christmas trees seems insignii but the sum total means a great d. those who are not overburdened money. _ Allowing seven and on conts for the average price on Chriâ€" trees delivered at the station, and ing the number at 1,500,000, the re from trees alone will be $112,500. . to this is, say, $10,000 for berric trailing evergreens to be made wreaths. ‘ This means 20,000 barr« flour, or 10,000 cloaks for the wom as many evercoats for the men. means 40,833 pairs of shoes, or | pairs of storm overshoos, or it 1 an annual income of $4,800, if pâ€" interest in any of the Maine s banks. Christ eame to bring peace ! earth. Me would make peace be man and man. The influence of H is softening all life,. The world very slowly to the gentle influe: love; but it is yielding nevert! Christian civilization, with its i1 tions of philanthropy and charits. refinement of feeling and all its humanities. is the fruit of Christ Twelve years 2g0 a teaching and redemption, Peace is one of the great key w the Bible, <It has many shades 0 ing. There is peace with God. eomes to all who receive forg There is the place with God. and a holy uplift of life toward tfMM® that are more excellent.â€"J. R. MS*® D. D. J of '\vouu 1i1‘s The Cynic‘s Christmas. SmA‘ otld Christmas 0 * Same oki nuisance, Bame old bore, Bn..'::l bum Santa, e exchange, Christmas giving‘s _ Very strange. Same‘ old cheer, Bame old presents â€" As last year. Same old greetings Same olmk. Bame old sameness Even bills. vey Peake in the ON EARTH PEACE of + w# GROWS FAST ) a aprty of Inimters, steam yzcut from a December of Mai of the d came e idea! MX strau ne# rom pols, H His led tw In Â¥ \| *The With dilated eyes and lips breatl ly mpart, and paling cheeks, the y girl heard, and @rose to her feet, T700¢ one moment, uncertain, Am bewildered, and then reeling, held her arms to her father. But at the 1 moment Falconer «prang forward, saught her to his bosom, closing xud her fragile form, in a « crushing, cruel grip. lh-'nllluurcdnnend‘nu:o-him demanded his daughter, _ _ _ "No. You #hall not have her. I mothing about her being your Bhe is mineâ€"my brideâ€"my wite. has pledged her marringe vows to this altar. She is mine, even you her fatber you from me!" exduin«!dl-‘- maiden slightly «truggled to herself, but the ure was in c:nhlly, while C glared defia {ather. "Do not struggle, Mand, my chil quiet, be cool, remember the sacred we stand under. If he designs to a disgraceful scene here in this ¢ he deceives himself that is all. We be patient with him, and when tired of that tragic acting, he will n tired of that tragic acting, be will T you. and you will come to me." said ic\ Hunter, colly taking a «eat.s _ But, to the surprise of all, Fa! OTeary lifted up the maiden i arms, and bore her down the aisle out of the church. Daniel Hunter caln after them. Mr. Toy gentlemen from the eoner bore his bride wagon. But Daniel H elapped his «trong h der. wheeled him aro Daniel Hunter insia him, and having both overmastered him, an his hand the pistol»> H &o« at a distance, @ inting daughter in his officer, reaching the #7 coner ‘Leary. "Never, She is m «ay, or do you tak exclaimed the mad: ing Maud in a tigh arm, he put his r'fl and drew a pistol. forfe you utmost « #1t Mr the meantime, my curiosity is me the explan: of family hist "My dear 1« human tor, bling often quite the life hist fl;"%\u( | vel ' col But ve sb“()h. Faleoner! fainted away imey, 11 ®" the morning "D(‘ not tr we car easily evening, and "By no m carriage in t at dinner." it hore of this a "Shall I call the « "I thank youâ€"if Mr. Lovel went on r. leading his fee! ng child, followed. to the door, and life history of the commonplac t us, how very much t %’ commonplace they might t Bore of this another time." Shall I call the carriage for y« 1 thank youâ€"if you please." Ar. Love] went out, and Daniel .. Atew thin Haable male and wh life my daughter u to do it, 3 consequences r. She is my in tim« alone over 200 And most of be living now if warning cough. t1 and is Invi® rv of th ovel, Dr. Channing I aid, ‘the true grea‘ ilmost always out of e yeal romance of 1 You know Emulsion « cough or cold. TÂ¥ Statistics sho ta Don‘t neglect ther s wl dre shricked Ma bi bl e, paie and The carriage Mr. Munter 3 s you endeavor to intil you can this stranwe uon. Mr. 1 threw the rn we it t« must *, Just # irrested If nfl\ Fal thi