"l>.ltl|.~i'§.... r A "l @" l'i8lm fl$ -"-.§By Helen Ross - - R. MERCER had been un- ‘ usually silsnt through. _ out dinner and wheniat last the butler withdrew and the two were alone, he reached over and took his daugh- 1.!l"s hands. ». “Peulafl hessid quietly, "I'm afraid you won't like my Christmas present this year. I—" .‘ - "Never mind, father," interrupted the smiling girl, "if it has one dia- mond less than you wished, I'll sun. vive the shock." ."If it were only that! Paula, l 111i" Biwllys respected your common 591F199 10° 11181117 to deceive you about business matters, so I will not con- ceal from you that the Gaston deal went against me, and i am penniless. E"?! newspaper in town will have the details within a few day's. I am an old manand do not care, but nafur- . I117 my keenest ‘ regret is for you, "lmlkh nobody can say that your old daddy didn't give-up every cent he Possessed for what he knew to be rightl-and just." Paula covered her eyes with her hands,- while the father watched her aiigiously. - 'f'Don't‘_take it hard, dearie," he begged. “We'll not starve, though it wiligbe a-struggle for a. while." ."Father," she said calmly, " I am . , t‘r Pets " he coiled ‘to the. p9 °‘ ' "w, $1.... diately perrbigtoq in a few milllites-thfjeywei-e at the lttioken home. -A»"tired, resigned ao- "lln Opened the door, and after the dQQtors tsctfulex lanatlou, sheiuule- 11' accepteti this .‘l_, ‘st blow whichl ‘un- kind fate had seen lit o administer. While Doctor-Grant a ii the mother were working over; the; boy, Panes lllllek eyes took m, every ‘deta'l of tho bare-home. ‘Christmas for the many “"19 Browns-promised to be scanty. 5.1"“ neighbor had taken the other children to her home, so Paula's pres- ence was unnecessary. '_ She-slipped out of the house, gave the chauffeur a few instructions and as.be drove off Ylfiidlynshe sought s neaby ttleph ‘ne booth and after ten" very satlifactory minutes,» was backst the hou e. I-Ier Phillie calls were to certain toy deal- ers and caterers, and long before‘ th: doctor was ready to go.‘the chaufftui‘ 111d shyly dfflflEedbaskets and bun- dles of all sizes and shapes-into, tie wee kitchen. ‘ n: . f At last-Dr. Grant was ready {to leave. i . - ". , ‘ ‘ "May I ask fora -lif_t, Paula?" lie asked wearliy.‘ "I have had a hard dill‘. I told Mrs.‘ Brown that you would be around to see-her to-morrow and also to watch" 'I‘im eat his Christ- mas dinner. In a week he will have forgotten what happened." As they turned into the briillant‘y lighttd ave- nue", he happened to glance at her evening cloak. "Oh, bow stupidwf me!——to let you go so far out o; your way when you are going to the Bar- bams." - "N0. I'm going home. I've bad enough for one night," A answerel Paula with averted face. . Now that she remembered her own trouble, she felt a strange shyness with this man who was in the secret of their financial wreck. “The silence became awkward-somehow there seemed nothing to say. “Paula," began iheNIoctor abruptly. "I have heard of your misfortune, and now I feel free to ask ‘you tn be my. not taking it hard; I was only won-‘ . 1 dverlng how much we could scrape to- lother to continue-fighting. Men like Caster; have no right on this earth. I'm {ashamed to admiiriL-but as far as I-iam concerned, I'm glad, truly glad. ‘It's ‘a ‘blow for- you, but don't abeutlme. You know I always desired- tomake my own way, but it's neatFto impossible for a_,rich man's daughtersif Then when I‘ had to take i that's place, my hands were too V, ll‘. _All I;c_ar_e_about is ‘that we get enough. to go after Casten. There's h. Chiliatmlis party at Barham’s to- n, ht, but I'd rather stay here and ta things over with. you." g “Polli ‘_\rl,‘ you have no idea how you _ha euiightened my worry," said Mr. jhiercerchuskily. "l know you'd rgitberg._no_t._- but. byaali .means,. go, to your psrtyO it's most‘ important‘ that tile, trugistate, of affairs is not sus- pocted until absolutely necessary. l'll s no thje_‘evening across the street ith "dodge; Sinufis. ..When , your molh- w‘, was Ive, the judge and his wife and she and Inever failed to cele- bintp Christmas . eve together, a‘nd they'd be hurt-"if Istayed away." ',_Pi‘uila kissed him absently and ran i ‘ upstairs to ‘dress. She was far from kin erestimating the disaster. and the u ‘enness of it startled ,her.; ‘-,"It‘s one Jlhing to talk about tarn- ing yourilvlng and another thing to do‘.it," she told herself. "You are a success so for because you are your father“ daughter. It'll mean‘ hard work‘g till, work "bvercomes heart- ‘other ..id teaches one to forget!" _ "'1, forgot to tell you, Paula, ihat I ‘found ‘it necessary to put Dr. Grant in‘. osessiou of the facts." ‘ ‘ _aula turned away‘. at" mention of thej young physl" clam-and started i0- wards the door; . " :" ~ , "Gpodmlght. dearie--ha"e a jolly time!'f, called‘ her father.‘ _ .- [Paula swept into the waiting auto- ombiiefland settling down for the long drive in the suburbs, rapidly evolved numerous plans, gneanwblle noting the Christmas gayety on all sides. ‘The air rang with the excited chatter of children returning‘ from belated shop- ping or sight-seeing tours,. and min- gled withthelr merry voices were the subdued conversations‘ of their ‘elders. The sparkling snow; ‘sielgpbells, bright lights and holiday decorations struck a sympathetic note in _heari.OT-he huge. motorpur. ed softly. and as Paula reached up to arrange the rich red ribbons which held liol y- wreaths against the glass doors and ‘windows, her. conscience smote her ‘zliecause of her real gladness. . ,.."l‘m forgetting who‘. it means io poor father." sho soiiioqulzed. "it's no fun for a man of his age to start all tovcr again." . ' jkqulck ‘stopthrewher on" the floor, ~ and by the time she had rugillned her 4,381 Jppd 4umped out ~to lmestlgate ‘the chauffeur was‘ lifting h prostrate [Qiiy fromwvnéath. the wheels. An ‘awtd- lp-qwd gathered. rwirily. .'_I‘be _ ‘l ‘Quit rr. nusmitonerstrd irom b ill-ifs. w}. ‘Ir ‘e3 use“ Jivlusesnltle M18 if‘ P1831... l! t ‘emvto driveawliy.‘ may. Will -a"ss‘.=l»t¢‘;sn~to.iha- ' l.‘ .1 "Z1""."-"C9F!"1"I""1"A'FY . qsx-fiii-Aova ssa-rrfq cllozlsn l .-,t --.~.-r. - . 1 "-. -_’i ‘. "AKING "the Ciiristillll‘ ; uomecomln‘ {nuts _e-njn,y‘s.bl"_ _,to {sill . members? pf-the flop -liy,‘young‘_‘nd.old, is always gaymrbblem. Grandmotherf is par-L tlculariy anzjiourib please the li_ le folks‘ . andjn doi_ng"so_ahe will also please ‘the n ller ones‘. But the‘ children are best en- tertained when their pleasures ‘are par- iicipsteddn by par- cnis and zmuults’ and . , . uncles. all l r complishthsdbairetl endhotiilng is more appropriate than Elmer/q‘. - . irllla: ones‘. described-Y below IIYG. m D10. lfldfflflillly arranged for‘- ln_.any hflme. There is an ‘added ‘interest gin them‘ ' when‘ inexpensive prises‘ i-are awarded the winners; juutrtbbss tprizbs‘ will be tsspoolsnywatti-sotya if they lje ‘made by ‘grandmother's. own hands. “_‘ . ' ~. A; program of games may be out- lined as follows; ~_ (I) ‘Blind man's buff played with wcodenspoons. . ‘ =. ' . . 2 Blowing out the.‘ candle; bind-q. Throwing cards intone-bat. Ii i Pattern matching competition. Silhouettefcutting ormpstltion. blind ‘man's bun, w.'th wscdeh" spoons, a; small chair, a nkusiilorl, ‘a large handkerchief forbiindfoiding purposes, and acouple‘ oi vyoodan spoons will be required. .‘ ‘" ‘ , To begin the game, a “blind. man" is ‘chosen ‘to alt bllndfoldtd on the chair, a wooden spoonin each hand. Thai-rest of the companyjre-‘thsn nlarshaied up to kneel before kimono by" one.,‘when the" '.'bliIld/II‘I‘li1"‘~l§ll- deavorstb discover their idsntitylby feeling ‘themwwlth ? the wcodaa-‘spcons. The "blind man" is dniy.aliowed“=bpe guises." smthat a good number‘ cf ‘qihe company have, as u rule, to go through the ordeal‘ before oneof them is guessed "arlght. and has to take the "blind man's" place, when‘ tbejgame ‘ ‘ Eves. on ..as "before. . '. i I " Blowlngput the candle. blindfold‘ is a farmers difficult feat thin-it would appear. ‘at. first sight‘ and. the» frnititss etfortsofthe ratepayorsvi perform this fapparently simple ‘t lit aiidrd much tnerrlment "to the‘ criloflterg fIFo-beglngihe prime. place" ivllglited candle ens small but stefsdynsbio or. petleiatili__‘at‘oiio. énd oilihomooin, willie-the piiiyersiat the, other,‘ =T0 start. the , game." the -_c’>rnp‘etlto is ‘ are blindfolded antliuraeii" round war-c timesrbsilofsifitroping"their tray tothe spotiaytwhich they. imugino thox-aralo tobe ‘situated, up il endear ‘ in‘ town’? it,out_._-,. .j_ " .. ," " j .,.-;Ih.r.<>s:llls.qarda llito shat" makes; a very ‘amusing competition? lh‘. which Iliiilflliflikiibdlifly lge-\ea‘illiii'_bdi ‘_ ‘. - AT-top not, s ‘ooii piooi pack‘: of . raids (with different _» backs ‘-,~aiitl~- m. place ofwvhliegtape to markwuva- ‘arrierin a ‘from bélilllli. wiiiclrjtliepia-yefis must “Tim'- Tim.Brcwri-.-_-Ha‘.Lives m on. . _ Alley." v wife. I realize-please don't interrupt until I‘ have flnishcdé-i- realize tliat you .wiil take steps to'suppo.t your- self at once, but i need you loo much to allow that.-',' ‘ ' - Paula's heart leaped violcnfy. but the elation was brief. The sweetness speedily turned to bitterest misery. ‘“Wby does this occur to you "to- night of all nights? It- would seem as if you were doing this cut of charity," commentcdfaula to'dly. ' ‘ "No, Paula, out of esteem. l am poor, but l have enough for t to. You certainly tinder-stand wily l bare n‘ t spoken boioi'e;--a Paula life cer ccu'd hardly be expected ltfi-lhiiffl a young physician's precarious incorre " ~- iie appropriated hevjrel ictant hind. "And so youhilowed yum-pride to conic between us! ‘ No. i‘tl'ank you for the honor, Dr. Grant, but I have some pride, too.” ‘ s "Paula," pleaded the young man miserably, "if you only knew the bat- tles iiiere have be-eu boiwetn my wretched pride and my lore. I ncei you so much. Paula." _‘ "lf l were you I'd engage a cvm- petent iiousokerpcr." Paula remirked snrcastically. But her heart ached as she said it. . - . “Don't, don't. dear." entreated ihe doctor. "Those things hurt loo much from you! _ Can't you love me, Paula? Please see how infinitely .l worship you.“ - "Why didn't you say that before," Paula‘ whispitred vnstendiLv. “You said esteem. and wha ‘girl in her rlgtr senses desires gotta m‘ rwinn‘ tiles yearning for lovéifl" " _ . -‘ v "jAnd i'm yearning fora kiss; w‘ j soon ‘he at your" home:.but=i.'tan't‘ Milt untilthen!" excl Agnetitbe dcct r ‘hp Wykfl. l. .' jpguvvb ._\ vmt in front- oflthe ‘auto to- .‘ 1 out; min slip and uni on iha sunny street. - “Tbpfa Tim Brown—he lives in Rose alley-Just over there. ma‘am," volunteered another white-faced new- sy, siooping to pick up the scattered apers. "I'll take him home," announced Paula bravely. . . _ The sea of hard, strange faces un- nerved her, and shs fsit sick and nsussatsd. but she quietly held out her arms for the poor child who lav groaning in the ‘chaufleurs gentle ITIIP- - - mu g man stepped briskly tiiztiowu, and made his way "a fiftiet- GrantF-Pm so glad youfra hsrsl" exclaimed Paula impul- .' terrified than’ injured." an. the doctor after a burr rd ex- Viluflblc Clfi "Talking about Christos: bores," remarked a commercial traveler, "t e one I got iawt ycar wou d bu hard to beat. Our guvnor nevcr gate is a Christmas box, so you ran ‘iyagine how surprised vie were when he ‘t: d us all to go into his oiIlre. uhere he sat with a _plie of entclopta ill his hand. ' "'0entlemen,’ laid he. ‘I in'o"il in give each of you aChrialinat pre= nt this year. The-e envelopes ton a n something valuable. which l hop» you will make good Tilt} oi,‘ - "Of course we thanked him aid marched out. thinking tint he raw a good sort. alter all. And what do 3o ‘hiak was in the onvolopssf" ‘y ighappon from a distance up thl . "a check?" “nation. ‘rhea turning toPaula »"| 10th“ and ixhogalaed your oar." No; it was n confound'd pro kneeitoicompoto. hrefiali th‘ accesl sories.r;‘tquirrd.. I _; " To begin =th‘e game. the iiso-pmys l throw in tum- tom. ‘0hrd..B.i.!,kl_-_l us‘ and whlchevorlsucfceeds lngewl g-tl-e highest number of cards into .114; hat wins the game; l "- ' ‘in a large parlyihis would be p"ay- ed in heats, on the principlefiofn tour- nament, and to expedite maltrs sev- eral‘ hats and ‘packs of cards might be-provlded.‘ _ _’l‘he pattern matching rompethion is most exciting. and is brat played competitors may have, a . long run “homey _ A large number of pieces of stuff from a rag-bag must be planedii ser- eral baskets. and fromsinong liié "ags in eachbasktet a sirail patlelirmurt be taken‘ and‘ placed in an onvelope. b begin the game. iho-ctuupctlior are sorted into pairs, a man and a _glrl_ in graph, the g'rls slanting ‘at one cud of the corridor, each one. with a: envelope, and the men at the other, each one just behlnrl the‘ speciaflbae- ket in which hlspartnafls rat ctirmay - be matched. -‘ > _ At a signal themen run down the corridor to the spot where the girls _ are standing, and ‘each oneieceivse {he envelope held by his, partner. opens it, takes out the pattern before dashing back to ills basket lo ifatoii ltiroin the pile of. ollitinae Jrolll "fancy dress materials" vtlthin. f. The competitor who first succeeds in - matching his pattern. win: the ' - game," which, ii’ more convenient, mav be played in heats. timed ..by stop- ‘ watch. ,. . . '. - v ‘ ‘ The silhouette‘ cutting carnretLion, so a- rule, provoiiesthe grsa bst Imer- rimentm‘ _‘ -". w r ; , _ ~. ‘ Aqshéet is. huh ,up‘rag‘alnst‘a wail and drawuifioi,‘ ~- he Mm-P¢£'T0'.l.‘=8'6 . go1d".intojc0ubles}__and_ lrtake _th¢ir -~ _ . -, Airy/gig , . ‘ _‘ ‘-of._ Olijristmas .. , The ‘(him-log on ‘the broil-es mated. ‘ 71'1"! llhoie hall was agiow. I _ Swat‘ hounds lay before therblaqc. ‘P"".,'."1nt”of' at}! and iaoar. .0111: of-"ihe prettiest "aighta- oi ms oid-‘tlmcvflbrfatmas must have’ been‘ that ‘ofi-the- Yule log being drawn lwmevferd. ‘surrounded. with floyous 1W81i1ng children, shouting merry I . , _ 111g to each wiyfarer -as he doffed ls hat in reverence to_ the log so full ofgood ptpmises whose flames bad tbepbwcr to burn out oidwrongs andheartbumings. Onthe arrival of the log at.the "baronial hall" it was fiillifllllll’! l0 greet it-in fitting ‘manner either ln‘"ver‘se;er~soug‘.“ . _ , .111 some part1 of, Franco therq was also. the custom of, theLGht-istmss‘ log, 1111173181! fibbffi-hss bee‘ a_ different °'..l'*1!°#11‘¢=~ ~ Thereillhe- fl- wa- vendoiirom-reaoitops ti: _ p; Qkpl and ‘ _‘ its ‘for the ohitdrap, the lwvte- . 'i‘h¢¥e‘ wet-onus gifts~..‘Patit Msiiiet for] Christmas. child wjg‘ gait‘ IQQIQVG brought, , . , M‘ . ~Q the wirountain, districts of Gel“ llllillyithe Christmas ~_log wvasaupppssd ‘WEI-NB yhersowor of wardlngotf dan- Eflrsfrbnfiightning. and ‘was kept/ba- ll“!!! 1158 116d of“ the ‘mister of the house fromone Christmas’ till the nextg when it was ‘used to light the new los- On Christmas eve all lights 1.116 filter-were extinguished m" the house-end . a, plcoo. ‘tiLtheflast- " ‘yzufg wood was ‘taken to the “neighboring cburclUwhere it was lighted ai the lilijneisol ibe sanctuary light, signify- lllithe now lightthht had conic into thajworlo-oo this night. .-" ‘ ‘» "=1? ‘ ' I Christmas ball a novelty Will ‘Rrove- Bomethlng New arydIEn- < > tot-taming‘ toi- Children t - t ‘ t‘ @011 .,‘ 4~‘-. This‘ ls.a novel fnoceptaole holding iwenty_‘or more small gifts ‘for the en- tertainment of children on Christmas morning. When the children are seat- gd-op-‘the, ‘floor. Ulla ball-Lia ‘set in B15910" by a grown-up; ithe. child to whoml-itds rolled takes out ‘a gift, aniijaiends. the "bali'_spinni‘xig';to an- olheifiwand so on uhtii the giftysfitre ‘ex- hausted.- _'i‘he framework i_s'¢ made-mas l911°W I "Bin" , two Jpairs-of ten-inch vwbd¢s~~ embroidery-hoops, one. pit them’ inside‘ each‘ "other" (until you have the! ‘skeleton ~‘oi_ s. bglobflukliiil slabs-curved, u s.‘ - '- Wliere. the" ‘ oops, intersect. top and‘ bottom,‘ fasttsnsecurely withrai- lil,» '1' he circles "fare. now-vertical, anti across‘ circle lejnosdptl matey them; this is tome" made of coarse" jrsitsn .. 49f. re.e.t_ll.~.and .mus£,he isotopes Yto -l.,iie‘_ bulging part or eaclrribr dti ‘not i°l9'i‘1»\9‘i=lt=‘ll ‘elldlll loseilwlw; e1 an opfiirnghmnst b? _ei't~ bettvteen‘ im- of the, ribs... to.‘a1ioo-I..-ilio pt-hiiuigoii v-l-io relltvir ini for thopifts." iftynu “Elton-id ciit:_ih_t=l;_rlnd obstrorangfe pin eight sections, from; bbdgehll to stem" and, You wouiddiavr ‘the-shape of. the-sec- tlons iifor. "t-hé firinorqcoywrlng oi; the ‘ ma" ivwork} ctt-Iirom titiout" cotton ovfthcee piecealfhi owing 7almply for. seams. sow ' four-platens together. liififjfltfiivl. halt the framework.‘ letting liqiimefcnme‘ bntiveen- ribs.‘ ‘ not on tillbpf Know sew the." nun piece to the ‘joined fourfisew, the sixth plere tothe Joined the, and so onuniti the framework is covered." Do. not en- tirely close tlro last -seam, sewing it oniy"_oné'-ihirti way‘ up 1mm. 59mm, and ‘0Il‘G-1Il1f‘\\‘fl?‘ downfrom my,‘ lqpv- WVPYUIK ti?" tame way, usihiwhite Ciirisima- I-‘oth hsvlngwtamped on it figures of Santa Claus. holly. betis or just ‘plain red cloilirwornanfs ‘Home Companion. -‘ "‘ . ‘ l‘ ~ ‘ ti" cu l-fihisiiir ‘John Grceggaf lllliittier" 1 i. Sound over all waters, reach out from all lands. _ 'i‘iie chorus of voices, the clasplng of . hands; .- . ‘ ‘Sing symns that were sung by »th_c stars of ihofmorn. ‘ ‘ . ‘ Sing soitgs of ‘the angels when Jesus was born! ‘ . . With glad jubllations . ' _. Bring hope to the nations! ' jfhe,.dark"_night is ending and dawn . has-begun? ' _ ' Rise. hope ofthe ages; ‘ sun. k , _- . . , qalljspegch flow to musitg-elbhefirts ygbeat-ns pntilu -,‘ < . Blow. bugihs "or lmtiio.‘ the marches of an‘... like the lactaf-blifiéafii‘; it‘ sehtfd cn‘a “rowr pf ‘Eh theft-so, Each‘ oluvsrils next ortllfisi-sid _ ~, wittfv-ial sheet , _bi ck-bticjltgtl lpaDer '1 . ‘and; ‘ .§ ..‘_'—-.-,u0..l)¢.il‘¢]115.-."¢~ ‘move fllitir-ibui»armed-elitist" tpry - ‘casino out out tliejiiflhoubtte‘ not-ism; " _ of his or her next-door neighbor. After a ten minutes‘ tlrneiimlt has rxpired. the hostess must c llect the silhouettes, and.’ turning them back side outwards, she puts them rp on to the sheet. Voting papers are next rard l"‘liIi1 to ihe entire company, and. a flr . prise awarded for the makers. of tin best and worst portraits dppiaytd. Shrink to on..- "ifein fadrr." asked Jacobjohios- ‘ivy. 11th.. of the second-hand, cloths! r-tnpoi-lum. "a sheath-man as der shop rotate to know if dat a ‘-\fooi non- ‘ "Wli-tiiife shirt vill shrink. lines ll iii him?" asiud jildr", “\'n; iti ‘a inn big." , ‘ "n. I..i‘tn. nuiu ten, Zti vlu l. r Sn‘ ' _ “grcar joy-that. the ‘ be ‘ “Cgifnnii 19f good" mu Ilark. joining in chorus ‘ The heavens bend o'er vs! {the dark night is ending and dawn ,bss begun; l Rise, hope of the; ages, arise like the sun. _ I All speech bow to music. all hearts beat as onel Christmas Song Now‘ is the time when hoilwaprays Light all the barren. brooding‘ ways, And every bell. it soundrnoel, Irplman in ths Master's praise. Now is the time when ivlss m ‘Like’ beryl lathe morals sam. ‘ Add every bell, it sou shoal, And-makes the Master's praise its ~tiieme. New is the time of lngle mirth, Tbs blessed day of Ohrfst-Jlia birth. And every bell, ‘it sounds noel,‘ To ring His praise throughout the sarth. . Clinton Scoilard in Alnaieds. k-I: .‘. "Bil" l)‘,‘1i1ilSilii ‘ LDE PLAIN is in the '. »- . I Middle‘ West. It was - so jnamed ‘because it i . is sop. it is w'rlo. The . _ tovrifdoea ‘not c)\'cr ihecntlro plain. Far-be itflom 1219 to convey such nh imprrssznn. ines- muthas the plnin~_ext_qnc‘s ta t. W88‘. north and" south. oetensiliy as far a1 there la anything; . v o ‘doubt sometvherelin "hsfii-‘lw c; there is Qtrees. ' and hills. sornoin :- ihlzigzio a stepvt-he‘ plain 1min ‘spread- ing any" furthelm Andfiomei day 1‘- ls the inténtiotr of the Greater “Pd.- Flia-in association. to have Hui "t MB flowing» in their, thriving litllo city. But just rt prwent ihcy are so bu’? gettingiliie town established tun. the trees must wait. . . JGcorgeFrPeuaan vus one of tilt- most energetic rorng men in Wd’ Plain. lie vans the of tflc pln-“lr l‘! He was almrsttive ‘Oldest ivvhabiina‘. although hi-ywa: but twenty-fits Y"??? of- age.‘ You see. George lotavd in Wide Plain when it was pra tic-ah" nothing but will h in d_ plain Ho :0“o saw a future loathe town and be tame its lasting cooler n lg" uxl ula- implements and groceries and h" d- warc and so on. filo became the l ad lug driller. btitntlse ‘he was the only one.‘ - ' " - in a few mouths‘. Wide Plain bud u population of 215(1), "and i0 ‘roll i c brooms amfeaturq. of exist r- e-tev-r ‘Social life rotjplroeiu o ‘actors 0n of,‘ them is women. ‘The otb r Ts r cn l You mayihavo thought ‘ihat one fea- ture" would be sociability and ‘the other would ‘be life, but that would be drawing it s, bit fine. Lucy Cleveland has‘ the bile of WldePlaln. Sh}? “he not the beie because‘ rile urns‘ thtfonly youn! W0- man ‘there, for ‘iheffi wele‘ others. Others-young andl‘ beautiful." but while some efihe others were as voung hone of ‘thcno ‘were as beauti- fuihs’ Isucv.“ ‘-‘ ‘ = . TConeeqeuntiy‘ Lucy had suitors B." plentra- In facimshe bad eight rultals that-being the" available unmarried portion of iiik-jpopu'atlo'i that she would »co‘naidar. ‘And the managed to gi\'e,tboxliisht theJmpressIon lhlt shoafwas‘ . not , considering 123cm very lunch.‘ "‘ V. = ..ceor,se.-rrttmoq siidritrorsdio I'l- iluoexltt-i; to consider, mu». Georg ‘e policylitijliie, was to" get wiiht lie wanted by ‘one? or two. ‘methods, One was- "o ‘gowylferti it- was and t4:- ; ‘ __n.'tlio ‘other was to ask fer ‘ . mssmorlves- Lu:.yfu azure: it‘ lullli- ing‘ sltonorgiij quarter section. be could ; not. claim .,_ii‘er ‘lily-K ‘right ~_oi d13- oqvery; "i8 _ha izad, asked her. And ebe ihad.‘ assured him ‘ tliat,fvvri'_t-. ‘she esteéiiiotigiiilfl-iiigiii‘ who-oil not are nelmtvufy ‘to loo‘ his: uoorie ind not askedjher l“ "there was‘ someone 01.9 ta-tvuem ‘she had pledged-her lrff-ctl n‘ or. pllghtteti ‘her, trout. lie an no: care. rile wgfiit-ph selling agricul ural implements-and. striped overalls and brooms. and nails and ‘pu-ity and can- ned goodshnd ‘other grL-ctrie", nhist- ling little - melodies tohlmself and wondering how Lucy would Wani their house painted wllrn‘ lhvy got married. - , - . , Every now and .then he would pro- pose again-to-Lucy. By everv n w and then I mean that he vgould rro- pose, say,,on‘ce a week. ‘ Forioewrekl hé- proposed twice. He raw that ii pleased‘ Lucy"io be proposed to rd George was n ‘gentleman 4th‘) b:- ileved in making himself agreeable to ‘agyoung lady when h_e was fsnd of her.‘ _, So‘ lt~ came along‘ toward Christmas. "We must have a Christmas tree o" thelcliildren." Lucy ‘uutl. , , l Lucy was teacher in the il-‘ide PlainSunday School. Her pupils idolized her, George‘ and the o:-li r sevenauitors bad fried to join h=r class. but she had ‘insisted that 1h y must atienri the Bible txiass for older, students, which was presided over bv Mrs. Henry Giilup, n most capable married lsdv. who had bTGilIlh. on“. husband an six children to help up- build Wide Plain. . The fact- that Lucy had demanded a Christmas‘ tree a occasioned h-n y smiles, espscfaiy from Georges "i a s. "Afihrlstmns tree!" laughed Wil- liam Skfdmore. "There isu't'a tree for a hundred miles in any direction." “Let's got one shlpptd in ty frclgli‘, than." suggested -Luke- Morton. ~. “No time now." ‘wt-nay Perkins pointed 2011i‘; - "IVs-only two days to Christmas," f _" . _ ‘ The‘, seveiritirals were‘ not so par- ilculalmabiiniv the tree. -F.‘acb of thorn knew that floor-would be_‘ti‘iiappointed ~a__blf,-bu-i stall ‘f hem mt that-the ‘sift ho hafiliciectbd ‘former ‘would help Jo; overcome ».ils_‘r.‘.disappolnttnsi1t.‘ i-‘or, litany: ‘event. there wbmio bis-n Christ- mas Eva portrait the church." " On the evening of Iiccember f-‘l George nsilrd on Lucy. She wav still llIiiilPiW because the dear children could not. have a tree. "New, l.uc&"." i~e said, "I've wronged ii all for you. ’l'hsre‘il be a Christmas tree." "Oh. have you got it? Where is it? I didn't know you could get one." "lt isn't here yet, b t there ll he one Christmas eve. a w. don't a-k questions. Mrs. Giilup and l will fix ii up all right." "But l must trim it up." “Ne. lira. fllllup and I have ar- ranged for it all. Your are not to wor- ry yourself about anything. Just you gather your class together and be at the church ai 8 o'clock that evening, and the tree will be there." 8o Lucy, inventing mystery, and too diplomatic to ask anything more. was compelled to content herself with that much information. Q Towards dusk of the day nefore Christmas George was seen marrying severaibuikybundiea into the church. Mrs. -Qlllpp- had-spent time conference with him that-tar.‘ seven riva had attempted‘ ‘tox- her.‘ burshe would not gratify-ti: ii’ curiosity; further than‘ "tofls _ ‘ there ‘ would, ns. ‘a ftree. asked‘ her—-sepa‘rately—‘_-ii_ ‘ ‘l! hang ,th_ef presents for ‘buoy on’ tree. an agreedjto dose . . Jwll; . w ti: curtain poles ‘and atria profusion of green paper, ‘ nothing ‘of several bundlerof artificial!" palms and the like. which George had unearthed among his stockg. ‘ ’, ‘ ‘When she audience was assembled for the Christmas eve eaercilesllrs. Giilup slowlydrew back a curt in“ which concealed one comerpf room. and there, with candles glow- ing and green paper and green paid;- branches rustling, stood a‘ Christmas tree. it was not. an evergreen tree- ./‘ ' "3 "WW III - l1- “We Must Have a Giiristmaa from". it was not a genuine 'ir or cedar, bujt- it looked like a tree. And the canllius and the strings of popcorn and gilt-l tering ornaments hid many ‘of its faults. , ‘ - To the surprise of Lury, George visa not in sight. .Sbe lonlmrl all about-f r him. in her delight. trialling to fhspi " him for his ingenious way oi proud» ing this make-believe tree for "he lt- tle ones.‘ " - ‘ ‘ - Q‘- 1- Mrs. Giilup u"t-ut_blitbl'ly‘oi. uniting presents. from theftree and tiiitaibiii." ins” thorn. .Afber passing cu the gift‘; for the children sire picked ‘oil ma; ages and bundles for tho-oldest _ ‘ it vl-as noted that the iroe sort o’: shook; every time she tqpk oiftne‘ of tile-gifts which had been provided‘ by iheseveh rivals for Lilo-ya, But-at I at‘ theiinabpackage had beérrdispo ' ofwhlrs. sump drew Abe out-leis" in" front ‘of the tree again and‘ thhjudil once iiltid out, iaughingandciiattipg over the success of the entevtaifimeoy. Lucy tild not hurry away with ‘tile rest, She stepped tak of ihc~curiau ilvlthliirs. Giilup. ' . ,~ ."lt_ -wu.s just lovely, Mrs. Gillu‘ l." she exclaimed‘. "But why vrasnit- if,» Preenfan here-i’ After his hard work and clevnrness in lmiplbg you, ‘l should have ‘htought ho would have wanted to ace how the tree looked." ' "i expect he was pretty busy." "‘ "And—of course, I haven't any right to expect such a thing-hut he was such a good friend of mine, Mrs. Gii- lup——i really thought it a little odd that he didn't make me some kind/oi’ a present-Just a remembrance, cry!’ "l didn't forget you, Lucy," said th tree. “You can have me.” " And Mrs. Giilup says that‘ Lucy knew all about it. all the time, because slle had sharp eyes, and no tree that wore boots could fool her. ‘_ All About the MISIIBIOG- ---~— s Popular Christmas Plant In Olden Times Was Considered Sacred i Although in the majority of Cana- dian and English homes mistletoe is displayed at Christmas time. it is re- msrkable how little is known of this curious plant. Mistletoe is a parasitic growth, appearing most frequently on apple trees, although it is also found on evergreens and on poplar. haw- thorn, pear and oak trees. but very rarelybn the last named. it is ‘a.n evergreen bush, about four feet in length; thickly crowded with branches and leaves. Unlike all other plants, its" leavesoxtend down as well as up. The plant-flowers every yearJbut-vdpss nntbear the little whiteberries tin-til it-is four years old. QThe mistletoe proper is a-nathre of Europe. ‘in olden times it was r sidereda sacred. plant. bfenause jiislbe rlés grow 1h clusters ‘of_ three-flembiematic .oi the frrillity. rhosooient colts used; to hangmpsig of mistletoe around their necksfialil safeguard from witches. The maid that was not caught and kissed under the mistletoe at Christmas would not be married within the year. so the ira- dltion goes. According to the old rules the ceremony was not properly per- formed unless a berry was pulled o! after each kiss and presented to the maiden. When all the berries were gone the privilege ceased. ‘ Mistletoe and the Druids The custom of decorating strategic points in the household with sprigs of mistletoe at Christmas dates far ack to the time of the Dru?“ who held the little plant in great vsnsration. At the approach of their winter fes- tival, twigs of it were placed above the doors of their houses to serve as taliamans and signs to the sylvan deities that shelter and comfort await- ed them within. Present-day customs relating to mis- tletoe repbsasnt the evolution of the Druidicai legend. ~ .-‘~..<.~ “ma. s5. .» t; . ,,‘,_.,,.‘,_.;,_ ...1'f.1ll'.9.i1."...'“°.1.°?4 "8' 1"" 5°’ ‘,'."'..°.“.'?'p"‘".‘."".‘-f“‘ “Y”.