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CHRISTMAS WISHES.I
CHRISTMAS WISHES. I AY Christmas joys be yours, Foil-filling all the hours Of all the days; A deep still peace divine Flood all the soul of thine, And all thy ways All hearts forget all pain When Christmas comes again, So breaking not in vain, It break in praise. May Christmas wisbes blend The ones who take and send, Who give or get; May all good things come true All men may wish for you, And none forget; So may you nothing lack When Christmas-tide comes baotft And all are met I May Christmas love abide For ever at your side, About and near; Love that no clouds can mar, Clear as yon Christmas star, And kind as clear Deathless and warm and strong Through all the Christmas long, And all the year. May Christmas gladness rest On hearts by sorrow pressed.- Lone hearts and sore t May weary souls now find The clouds all silver-lined, The sunshine o'er; .May Christ be born again In peace, as once in pain, In every heart to reign For evermore! —MATTHEW HUNT.
THt LIGHTS OF HOME.
THt LIGHTS OF HOME. In many a village window burn The evening lamps They shine amid the dews and damps, Those lights of home Afar the wanderer sees them glow Now night is near They gild his path with radianoe clear, Sweet lights of home. Ye lodes tones that for ever draw The weary heart, In stranger lands or crowded mart, O lights ot bonne. When my brief day of life is o'er, Then may I see Shine from the heavenly house for me, Dear lights of home. S —H. J. KINO.
0, FOR THE HOLLY.
0, FOR THE HOLLY. 0 for the holly, with berries of red, 0 for the holly's dark green 0 for the holly, with frost olerspread, And O for its glittering sheen. tor I love the green holly, the frost and the snow, I love to feel young once again, When the blood rushes orrward, the heart's in P- glow, And life's lost its cares and its pain. then hurrah for the holly, the evergreen holly, Hurrah for the holly, with berries of red Hurrah for the mistletoe, ever so jolly, And the sweet stolen kiss when it dangles 0 er- head. 0 for the mistletoe, mystical one, Parasite e'en though thou art; bail thee with pleasure, for oft thou hast won All oare from my brooding heart. «Or the glow and the gladness of Christmas I With the warmth of an earlier day, And I shout with the boys when Jack Frost gins to move, And join in their light-hearted play. —E. PATTERSON.
HURRAH FOR FATHER CHRISTMAS.1
HURRAH FOR FATHER CHRISTMAS.1 On all accounts-for the pleasure and joy of the children, heaven bless them!-for the good gifts to and the happiness and relaxation of all those hard-worked employees whose time is our leisure And whose employment is our service—for the take of old associations and the re-knitting of dropped stitches in the ravelled sleeve of love and family life—Hurrah for Father Christmas, and ttay the sneers of the cynical be confounded and the reluctance of the selfish turned against them- selves Let us have some honest bit of enthusiasm still left alive in our prosaio Jives That, too, is good; and Christmas-tide is an epoch that we can if we will Utilise for all manner of gifts and graces. We can make it the season of reconciliation for one thing-the season when we heal over old ftare-abolish unkind thoughtrtone down ittitation-and meet in family union, forgetting those acrid disputes which have torn the silken Vreb asunder and stripped the olive-branch of its leaves. We can forgive our enemies and cease Ourselves to hate those whom we have injured and offended. For true is it that the injured can forgive, where the injurer holds out in sullenness %nd wrath. It is so hard to coufess that one has done wrong and he who has struck the blow has the heaviest burden to bear. For to be just We must always remember that he who has injured another has bad ever some reason, good enough for himself at all events and to forgive his victim is to offer a double sacrifice of self to virtue—the first meaning forgiveness of that initial wrong, fancied or not, which set the cauldron of his wrath a-boiling, and the next the confession of sin—which no man makes willingly or with a light heart. Still, we can do it if we will; and Christmas is the fittest time for such repara- tion. Hurrah, then, for Old Father Christmas, and all that be brings All hail to Santa Olaus and that miraculous stocking which the littleones hang up overnight, empty and pendant, to una *tuffed full as a golden sausage in the morning I All hail to the spirit presiding over tips and boxes 11 which are of so much good to the Receiver and need not be of serious inconvenience to the giver! They are as golden nails fasten- ing fair legends to the wall, and among them shines out m rich blazonry of g°'" n_ Crimson the words wo too often tor- get, "It i8 more blessrd to P^ethanto AH hail to the (English) of the pudden race "-to the sonsy plum pudding that is far and aWay better than the haggis cele- brated bj one of the best and sweetest singers in u Acd do not let anyone persuade the timid that this great chieftain is an unwholesome guest for the Interior, if properly mixed, properly boiled, and not made sickly with sticky white sauce in lieu of its OWn natural adherent-burnt brandy. Mince pies may, perhaps, be looked at askance by digestions which revolt at pastry, but our chieftain in moderation does no harm. All bad to the season of social jollity and class relaxation to the time of family reunion and peace among, Perhaps, estranged friends-to the dispensing of fat margins and the making so many the riober and the happier by the overflow-to this break, of sunlight, in the dreariness of the dark winter and the renewal of old customs and tradi- tions Let the cynic say what he will. A fig for his growls and sneers We who dare to be loving natural, spontaneous and blithe-hearted, turn Our shoulders on him with disdain, and, flinging np our caps, cry with the children, "Hurrah, «ather Christmas Hurrah and three times three for the dear old fellow, snow-clad, holly- crowned, and laden with good things as he is— peace-maker, Amphitryon, and conservator of old traditions and fine old customs A.nd may M God bless us all," as Tiny Tim once said and A Merry Christmas, my masters, to you and to |p*s^iM"—Mrs Lynn Linton in The Queen.
CHRISTMAS TRICKS AND ENTERTAINMENT
CHRISTMAS TRICKS AND ENTERTAINMENT FOR BOYS AND GIRLS. By Professor Hoffmann, Author of Modern Magic," &c. With the advent of Christmas, the juvenile wizard naturally comes to the front. During the rest of the year he may languish (comparatively 'oUkins) in the cold shade of neglect, but with the approach of the festive season greatness is thrust upon him, and he is entreated to amuse his sisters, his cousins, and his aunts, or (which is still more flattering) some other fellow s sisters, cousins, and aunts, with some of his clever tricks" To assist him m freshening up his r6pertoirc we propose to describe a few simple but effective feats, having the double advantage of requiring little or no expenditure in apparatus, and minimum of skill for their execution. We will commence with one or two fat. of divination. The Coin Last Touched. Taking a handful of mixed coins, gold, silver, and copper, the more miscellaneous the better, the performr arranges them on the table m the form of a capital Q, the circular portion com- prismg some two dozen coins (the exact nuoiberis immaterial), and the tail," say, from three to seven. He requests that during his absence from the room someone will touch certain of the coins in succession, after the following manner He is to begin at the bottom of the tail, counting the first coin as one, the second as two, ;d P^ ceedine regularly onwards up the tail and the left tkc circle, H. m»y Btop wb», h. nln isps • then, counting the coin at which ne st.iDned'as one, he is to count back to the same number as before, but tlus time he is not to go down the tail, but to continue up the right hand ■, f ,.u„ eircie The performer, on returning to the room wHl at once specify the nature of the Sin (sovereign, shilling, or as the case may be), which last W Tne 7"t mnVbe0 epJated at pleasure, the coins being each time shuffled together, and the « f°Thed Secret'lies iu the fact that the experi- menter whAtever may be the number to which he counts, must necessarily stop a such counter on the right hand side of the circle as corresponds, SS'oT.h.T,i. ThC «.pw «'» be constituted as under There being in the counting process wdl A been four the coin marked a. tj,e oom 6. counters in the tail, it would end at If five, at the coin c, and so on. number The performer, therefore, g nUinb«r in the tail, and secrecy counting hand from the point of Junc"" Jjance which coin side of the JhJ5110 more was laat touched. It tbe actual coin, mysterious not to profess to fc £ je(j calcula- but after a certain amount of pretenaea tion, merely to state '*>3 value. discovered The coin last touched may^atooiex. after another manner. thus ormer offers hibited the trick »«*b0T«'„rIl;Ls form. Pick- to repeat it in a still mor ^lar_er coins—half- ing up half-a-dozen or so tosses them into a crowns, florins, or penni mouth with a hand- borrowed hat, and covers the mouth w re. kerchief. He then again abse„ce, questing that during q{ the coins> mark it, someone will take out °° ti>afc they may do hand it to two other Pe"on. the hat On his likewise, and replaoe ^ortner inserts his return to the room, the rtonn^ gcarCeiy hand under the handk ^u(j the marked coin. a moment's hesitation, p vere(j though it is The ■IJ'SJSrSwTor th. very simple. The co)ns> tj,e others marking process w« therefore an easy matter remaining ?°' to distinguish it. The Changing Card. This is. to all appearance, an ordinary nine of hearts. It is first shown in the right hand. The performer transfers it to the left, when behold 1 it is a nine no longer, but has become th hearts. Again it is taken into the right hand, bat it is now no longer the five of hearts, or, indeed, a heart at all, but the three of duos. Onoe more it is transferred to the left hand, but it has again changed, this time to the ace of clubs. •ii v.* understood from an inapec- The secret will be una therein a repre- tion of the diagram (^'g- '^her> of the card, sents the one side, and the right hand) as When first shown it is beia i tfee fiDgers now c, then in the left hand of the sup- covering the two interna opposite edge, posed nine, and exposing hand) shows the representing the five; e I IS position, the first third, and/(left hand) the hn»lPOSe exposing, the second covering, Ouestion and Answsr# yuesuon tw0 persons «s For this feat the conoarren t0 a3k the necessary, one, whom we wn» them B leaves questions, the other, x>, to 3° g>3 absence the the room, A remaining. VarwK ^gct, we will company agree reoalled, and A P«- suppose cheese. B is word thought of. ceeds to question him as to „ „ Was it Rider "Was it the moonf «.Wjl3 jt the Haggard's last „ Was it a horse f' Prince of Wales ? No. |( „ ,> No." Was it cheese? WOrd is The secret lies in the fact tha thing having named by the querist next ,9 given by four legs. In the above case tne baving, the question Was it a horse^^ „ Yea» to the four lege, B knows that he is to say nexb question. u- an animal— «*• condibions. pofsibility that Of course there is a reMOtO tile secret of someone present may know or 8ue d after In tbi. Vm ofSe ««f another fashion, m whic ouestion need be tion is immaterial, indeed £ the article to Ss-S?! Mjeaking, touches snndry articles i without speaKing, Nq each) unMl the righparticle is touched, when he promptly replies "Yes. i;ft_ |n the fact that A at the s mm round along one not watohing foTit, but b £ SSSS» "-iis enabled t0 answw The greatest certainty. A Vanishing Penny. The paration Foremos^^Mjaog the pro. coins. Every reader b wecl half-crown fessjonal wizard from hand to or i>eriny pass (;PPar^ear „t pleasure, hand, disappear and re-aPP« of ^ha(. is Ti'ia, ,done „ b.y si^ht acquired by long called palming —» the aid of a few and patient practice. But y^. effect8 may be simple appliances, an» manipulative produced with coins without p skill. The vanishing penny is » °°iynin a and disappears in the han ^gd through penny with two minute Through fts centre, about A of an aTde one of these is ^raaded, say fleah<!0i0Ured silk of ooin, ft bit of j fchcouflfh thread. The thread is then together the second hole, and the ^ft^ner as toform on the opposite side, in such a manner finger of the right hand is ^noealfd th« IOOD. the com hanging aowu W iSA BorroW J WtX the crease formed by the root of. the fore- i? invisible The borrowed com mean- hnger, »s invisio lower joints of the whl'Vand third fingers of the left hand, in which SeC<:Hon even the smallest contraction of the wers will hold it securely, and the hand can be freely aboOt, apparently empty. coin in the right hand, announces that he will now make it disappear. Pass," he exclaims, at the same time jerking the coin over the finger to the back of the hand, where it hangs invisible. Return "-with a jerk in the opposite direc- tion—and the coin is again seen in the hand. I will now make the coin pass back into the left hand (which he holds closed in front of the audience). Pass." Again the suspended coin ia jerked 110 the back of the hand, and the original coin, which remained in the lefb hand, shown, and returned to its owner. The Perfsrated Coin. Another and very comical effect may be pro- duced by (apparently) thrustmg the forefinger through the centre of, the coin, as you would through a piece of paper. For this purpose a second prepared coin is used—a penny from the centre of which a circular piece the size of a six- pence has been removed. This is held in the left hand, 8gainst the second joints of the fore and middle fingers. The performer shows the bor- rowed coin in the right hand, and says, there is something funny about this penny, sir; it seems to me quite soft. He makes believe, in a careless way, to transfer it to the left hand (reallv retaining it in the right), and forthwith thrusts the forefinger of that hand through the prepared coin in the left, and immediately shows it transfixed on the extended forefinger. The other fingers, remaining naturally bent, conceal- the borrowed coin. The Cone, Vanishing from the Hand. There is a well-known trick in which a boxwood cone is made to appear and disappear from be. neath a paper cover, the secret lying in the fact that there is an intermediate shell just fitting over the solid cone, and lifted off with the paper. When the paper cover is again lifted (without pressure) the hollow shell is left on the table, and to the eye of the spectator represents the solid cone. The trick is a good one, but in the above shape is too well known to be of much present interest. What we are about to describe is the saine thing 1 in another form, with the important difference that the cone is made to vanish from the hands of I the performer, without being covered in any way. I FIG. III. FIG. IV. The cone in this case is 2% inches in beigtic oy lVa across the base, and is shaped as shown in Fig. 3. The upper part of it is turned with a shoulder. the apex forming a sort of nipple, a. Upon a fits a little wooden cap, b, and both this and the cone are painted flesh-colour, so that the cone looks much the same, whether 6 is or is not in position. When it is desired to show the trick, the p"rformer secretly slips the little cap b on to the tip of the little finger of the right hand, in which position it attracts no notice, and with the same hand offers the cone for examination. When it is handed back to him he slips 6 over a, and then takes it in the left hand, as shown in Fig. 4. Grasping the cap b between the finger and thumb, he relaxes his hold on the cone, which naturally drops into the other hand (held close underneath), and is thence privately dropped into a pocket. The spectators meanwhile, still seeinc the cap, naturally brieve that the cone is still in the left hand. Again bringing forward the now empty right band, the performer says. "I shall clasp both hands round the cone and squeeze it a little smaller. So saving he brings the hands together, the right thumb over the top of the cap, and the little finger below it. The pressure of the thumb forces the cap on to the tip of the little finger, and, after pretending to squeeze for a moment or two he exclaims, Dear me. I am afraid I have aqueexed a little too hard, for I have squeezed it away altogether. Tc The hands are opened and seeu empty. It thevarekopt in gentle motion, no one can pos- Jiblv detect the presence of fc upon the little finger, and as soon as the hand is again closed, it is concealed altogether.
--------HOW TO LAY A GHOST
HOW TO LAY A GHOST By EDWARD RODGERS, Authorof "Charles Piece-meal," "The Devil's Torchbsarer, &c. (CopiRTGUT.) Believe in ghosts f «• Not T." ,.m{. friend who faced me It was an old travelling i with this ques io» we j)ad known in years *b°ut £ yOPforawe had met by accident in the gone by, separation. When last Strand afterTj Arkwright he was blithe as a 1 ha1 Ste Sri SUS ». •« Noi. he wore privateer b of tjie humorists over- th>TS ^og. Something unpleasant must have we'gl'tea irog effect this change, so I f0"0^ b San "<> the «r0Und ^tthafc at °ni;„ J In the early days of our acquaintance, something. exhjbited symptoms of an un- u l7hv weakness on the score of supernatural healthy wea f j put his hang-dog look pbr°the que^ion about goblins together and calculated that I had pretty well surveyed the ^^Gh^ts^I continued, "would be » valuable _.«nHitv if you could only arrange a batch and ™?them on the market, but you can t. I don t telling you, Jim, that I have been casting "bout several week for something to boom upon the gullible crowd, and a nice assortment of niediaval or even Present-century ghouls would K good a line ka a fellow could wrsh to run But, as I said before, there are no goblins, and vou can't do business without a show the must see something for its money. » Don't try to be funny, Dick I want your advice and, if possible, assistance m a matter which is causing ne a lot of annoyance and it s utterly impossible to explain things if you <will approach every blessed topic in a strain I^promised to observe a due measure of decorum, and to listen well and patiently. As yon are already aware, said Arkwnght, my people belong to an old Derbyshire family, and Ripley Hall, our plaee under Crioh Stand, on theborclers of the Peak, was built some centuries „-0 X am now head of the house, and m accord- ance with the custom of generations I am expected to occupy the Hall. This I have done since my father died, but the place is killing me. The house is haunted Don't smil. I have seen the spectre and, try as I will, I cannot avoid it. The servants won't stay with me, for they have as great a horror of the apparition as I have myself. It roams all over the bouse, but seems to have a ^reference for the large banqueting-room and the adjoining corridor. Only three nights ago I ran upstairs to my room to fetch a small portrait, and as I emerged into the mam passage there was the horrid thing stalking along in the full ight of the moon. I was powerless to move, and after it had disappeared into the banquetmg-hall a chill, like unto death came upon me. I never slept a wink that night. Now, you are sceptical about these things, so I want you to do me a favour. Ee down to Derbyshire for the Christmas vacation and provide me with agreeable com- nanionship as a set-off to the unpleasant fellow who haunts the place. Just see things for your- self and if you oannot unravel the mystery you may find soXbing in the e* oerience to compensate you for yonr trouble. Nnkhinrr could have pleased me more than Ark- wright's inv,it#Aion. liere was a fine opportunity formttking the acquaintance of a veritable gbosu, S 25&5&yKV3*" 'JfJS?. bouod hsSSSL X lSS°ind ».« .t Amber- t'uL ZiriZd, W« drove togrther through fhe snow-cLd and wild-looking country to Ripley Halt and on the way Jim told me that the ghost ^d been a greater nuisance than ever^since ta return All the servants had left, with oeption oftbe cook, the butler, and a couple.of m&ids who had only just entered upon their ladled Jim'not to wonry »bont the ghost, whom we would do our besttolay, aa i |a to the domestio I assnred- hun that we would get along swimmingly even if we were left the sole occupants of the hall—saving the presence of the goblin. Arkwright tried an acquiescent smile,but with- out success. He, however, seemed to find some satisfaction in the thought that now I was on the spot I should have the nonsense knocked out of me and be reduced' to the same level of physical wretchedness as himself. Nothing further was said about the apparition until the h-gur approached for retiring to rest. Then I asked Jim if the coast was clear for a full view of the visionary presence from the position of my room. Without a doubt," Jim replied. But if you don't mind, Dick, you might share my room to-night, and then you are almost certain to see the fearsome thing." To this arrangement I readily assented, and we at once proseeded to his room. There we sat chatting in the dark, the gong of the old case clock in the hall recording the hours as they sped. Without, a gale was blowing in unrestrained freedom over the bleak moors, and piling the heavily falling snow in drifts against the old house, blocking the windows, and ultimately deadening all sounds of the storm, except the soughing of the wind in the chimney stack. Though watching for a ghost in the dark with a timorous companion is perhaps not the most enjoyoble method of spending a night—and this happened to be Christmas Eve-still I was glad to be where I was when my thoughts reverted to the cheerless state of things outside. Midaight had long since past, and a feeling of disappointment had overcome me at the failure of our vigil. I think we had better turn in," I said to Jim, 11 for your ghost is evidently too bashful to face strangers." Hush, there it is, whispered Arkwright. Stepping quietly to the open door I looked along the corridor, and there saw the spectre as it had been described to me. On it came with a well-measured stride, and, ignoring my presence at the chamber door, passed between me and the mullioned window to the far end of thc, passage. With Jim at my heels I followed the spectre, and watched its entry into the banqueting-hall. Then it was lost to sight. I returned with Jim to his room. He was very nervous, but a glass of cognac and my presence combined to reassure him. Where are your doubts now," he asked. I have no doubts," I replied. The mystery is no mystery at all. Here you have an unhealthy looking spectre, whose tailor may have dunned his creditors at the Court of Charles the Prodigal. That he is quite at home on these premises one can see at a glance, and equally apparent is it that he is the subject of adverse circumstances. Somebody, whether belonging to your family or not I would not say off-hand, has done him an ill turn, and it is now within your power to make some amends for long years of patient suffering. You will agree with me that our ghostly friend is far from being well nourished. I could plainly see the latticed windows through his ghostly ribs, and his eyes must have shrunk into the recesses of their orbits, for I failed to catch his glance. He appears to be quite harmless, and to have but one object in view on vour own showing he stalks this corridor and Invariably directs his course to the banqueting- room. Why should his quest be alwaysinoue direction, and that the spot on which your fore- bears were wont to hold high revel ? The answer is plain and simple. He is hungry." "Rubbish said Arkwright. Why will you not take a serious view of the matter, and advise me as to my best course to get rid of this abomi- nation f ti i- I am taking a rational view of the situation, my dear fellow, and if you will only keep your nerves together and follow my advice everything will come right." Next day I explained to Arkwnght that he must have supper laid in the banqueting hall,* and after some demur he con- sented to give the necessary instructions. As a precaution against any possible mis- take I personally superintended matters, and saw that the table was amply provided. The butler was sent in search of the oldest vintages the cellars contained, and a cheerful glow was cast over the table and decorations by a crimson shaded lamp. „ "This is the greatest folly I have ever known you to be capable of," said Arkwright, whose nervousness had given place to an peculiarly strange to him. "If you think I am going to sup with you in this room you are mis- taken I shall do nothing of the kind. Your mind may rest content on that score," I replied. "This supper is for neither it is to be a little surprise for your family friend with the fleshless ribs. If it doesn't open his eyes and make him long for a stomacn, I will admit mysett beaten. But) I have no fear of the, result flesh and blood could not resist such temptation, and if old barebones has a spark of respeot left for his former state, he will sup handsomely and toast y°Jim was^too indignant to reply, but he docilely fell in with all my wishes. Towards midnight we went to the banqueting^ hall by an approach other than the corridor, and placed ourselves in a corner farthest^from the supper-table, the lamp upon which diffused bnt little light in the remote parts of the spacious chamber. We remained in silence all the time. As I fully expected, the main door eventually opened, and through it came the apparition. When it had got well into the room it started, as if with surprise at being brought into the presence of artificial light. But hesitation quickly gave place to an expression of pleased surprise, as the indrawing of the lower jaw indicated, and with it rush the spectre made for the table. One glanoe at the loaded board was sufficient, and then the visionary plumed hat went flying by a dexterous movement of the bony hwids. We did not bear it fall, although it dropped within a foot of the place we occupied. Off, too, came the gauze-like cloak, and then the ghoulish thing dropped into the chair I had oon- at the various dishes he made acquaintance with the contents of the table, and then, without more ado, helped himself freely, Never have I seen anything with teeth eat with the gusto and rapidity of that family ghost of Arkwright's. It was just as I told my frIend-the goblin was hungry, and the only way to lay him was to satisfy his appetite. The spectre still ate on, and well he might, for had not his hunger been growing throngh ages ? Then he got thirsty -ind helped himself to wine. The vintage pleaseo him, and there was an audible smacking of lips which made Arkwright start and elbow me with unpleasant force. We both looked for the lips, but our united gaze was only confronted by the fleshless jaws of our delighted guest. For two solid hours this gastronomical display went on, after which the ghoul swept the evidences of his repast from his near presence, and, reaching over to the end of the table, helped himself to a favourite brand of Arkwright's cigars. Turning partly in his seat, the spectre crossed his legs and smoked and dia-,ik with the air of one to the manner borti. And thus we left him. "What the dickens does it all mean?" asked Jim when we had reached his room. That we have made friends with him in the first place," I answered that we have taken the proper steps to lay him 111 the second and, finally, that my theory is, in the main, right." Arkwright was up early next morning. He awoke me to accompany him to the banqueting hall, for he was more than ever puzzled and alarmed. Slip on your things as fast as you can and come with me," he said. "I am sure there is something wrong. As I came along; the corridor I distinctly heard snoring in the direction of the banqueting-room, and I cannot imagine what it can be, unless the butler has got in there and imbibed too freely." To the scene of the ghostly feast we proceeded, and there, with his curly head pillowed on the ice- bucket, his chair overturned, we found the som- nolent figure of a cavalier lying at full length. In one hand was grasped a champagne bottle, the other held a goblet. Jim was completely nonplussed, and could only ejaculate once more What does it all mean ?" That we have laid the ghost, and here he is,' I replied. We missed the process of metamor- phosis, which in such a case as that of our ghost was found to ensue upon an ample meal, with liberal potations, but the result is satisfactory all the same." I don't know that it is," exclaimed Ark- w :?ht. What are we to do with him ? If we site v him to wake up from a drunken sleep he may want to kick me off the premises on the .gth of priority of title, and even assuming that he has no pretensions in that direction the presence of such a fellow about the place will be as big a bugbear as the ghost was a terror." There is only one thing for it, then," I said, realising the reasonableness of Jim's fears; "we must fix him up in orthodox attire before he gets sober, take him to the station and pack him off to London with a third-class ticket in his pocket. When he is awakened at St. Pancras he will not recognise the surroundings, and the chances are ten to one that he will settle down to a solid and sober I ife in London." This was the only feasible plan we could think of, and we accordingly put it in execution. Ripley Hall is now rid of its ghost, but Cheap- side has found one more gutter merchant. As I passed under the shade of Eoy^Qhurch come 18 months after the events 'd^geiyhed I recognised the re-animated features of Arkwright's ghoul, hawking, by a curious irony of fate, wire and guttapercha skeletons on the kerb, while a printed label on his chest solicited the patronage of passers-by on the score of his departed gentility. [THE END.]
CHRISTMAS MORNING.
CHRISTMAS MORNING. K.m blew the wind across the naked wold, Glimmered the snow fields white; Aweary with longing, doubt, and pain, I watched the silent night. Ah, me Joy comes and goes, but grief remains; My days shall comfort bring; But hark Upon the frosty winter air The Christmas chimings ring. And, like a guilty ghost at breath of dawn, My ooward moanin^s fly Echoes again th' adoring song that woke Beneath Judea's sky. And sweeter, dearer, louder, chime on chime, Ring out, 0 happy bells For every peal with jubilant retrain, The wondrous tidings tells. LoUISE BOTH-HENDBIKSON.
THEN THE FUN BEGAN.
THEN THE FUN BEGAN. BUSBANW; can't imagine why you should ker-D that bird. VlFz Oh, leave the poor thing alone it's the only lively thing there is in the whole house. HUSBAND Yes, no doubt you're right.
YULE-TIME.
YULE-TIME. They come to us but once in life, The holidays of Yule; When, wild as captives from the cap. We bounded home from school. Unshackled by the dreary task- All lessons put away fhe world a bright revolving mask Of pantomime and play. What welcome shall we ever have Till this long journey ends, Like that wbioh marked the merry time From sisters and from friends? 'When preBen given and rpoeived, Brought heart to heart in view. And every day was golden-leaved With wonders rich and new I The Christmas sights, the Christmas lights, The Christmas nights, how grand To us who walked the glittering lanee Of Boyhood's fairyland t Remote among its spangled bowers Old memories parade, And watch the gorgeous budding houri, All rise and burst and fade. We will not sigh to see them pass- To know them was enough Nay, Father, let us joy that we Were made of sterner stuff. Who then enjoyed the Yule Log's blaw, In retrospect enjoys So welcome to your holidays, My merry girls and boys I Be blissful in the time of blise, Unloosed from toil and sohool They come to us but once in life, These holidavs of Yule. For us, among "the world's dark ways, Our eyes are on one star, Beyond which shine our holidays. Though dim, and distant far. «
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"I hope you appreciate the faot, sir, that in narrying my daughter you marry a large-hearted, enerous girl ?" "I do, sir," with emotion, and [ hope she inherits those qualities from her iather." That young fellow thought his plain speaking would earn the old man's esteem, bat it parsed nim bis boot instead. He baa. not been leettintheneigbbourhood ainw.
A CHRISTMAS ADVENTURE.
A CHRISTMAS ADVENTURE. By JUSTIN H, McCARTHY, Author of Doomed," One Christmas Dinner," &c. [COPY HIGHT, ) The wind was ripping down Prince's-street, squealing and shrieking as wind can squeal and shriek in Edinburgh when it tries. It puffed before it a light uncertain snow, that teased tho faces of wayfarers, and that sought unsuccessfully to establish itself in any kind of abiding accumu- lation upon road or pavement. Unsuccessfully, tor if the wind had lulled for long enough to allow some poor few snowflakes to flutter together it soon shrieked and squealed at them with a renewed ferocity, and dispersed them, a frozen dust, in all directions. It was a peculiarly uncomfortable nighb to be abroad upon, but, because it was within a very few days of Christmas Day, a great many people were abroad, and Prince's-street was patrolled by its army of would-be buyers. But if it was uncomfortable to be abroad, it waa, arider some conditions, exceedingly comfortable to be within doors, especially when those doors happened to be the doors of the Oriental Club. The Oriental Club is the newest and among the most remarkable of the many stately buildings that help to make Pri nee's-street one of the most beautiful streets in the world. With nothing in ;1\1 architecture that conspicuously suggests any derivation from Saracenic art, it does at least, in the vivid warmth of its red brick, in the bizarre audacity of its ornamentation, appeal to a sense of colour, to a sense of line, that is not ostenta- tiously conspicuous in the architecture of the Scottish capital. It is in many ways an amazing building, this OrinntAl Club, and the marvel of its city, a building of which a volume might be written if the time and place were here and now -which they are not. Amber Paha and Philo Ames sat together at a small dining table in the dining-room, a table in one of the windows that looked down on Prince's- street from the observatory of a first floor. The diners had kopt the blinds up, to pique, it may be, their appetites with the contrast between the com- fort of the meats and wines and warmth within, and the discomforts of the winds and snows and chilliness without. The dinner was practically over. Both the men were drinking coffee, both were smoking cigarettes, those cigarettes for the possession of which Amber Pasha. was famous. Each of the men looked at the other across the narrow division of the little table with a certain restrained curiosity. They had met by chance, but the day before, in Prince's-street. each of them apparently travelling from the far ends of the earth to accomplish the meeting. Amber Pasha had but newly come toedinburgi), on a mission that was half political, half personal, and wholly troublesome, which he was more than anxious to get done with as soon as possible. As for Philo Ames, he had drifted to Edinburgh on one of the numerous idle, fantastic errands that occupied, if they did not content, his vagrant life. The two men had much in common both were, in a splendid way, adventurers; they were delighted to meet, delighted to dine together. And now that dinner was over they sat together, idlo and yet alert, and swapped experiences. This is what we call lcaif, we Turks," said Amber Pasha, as he leant back and watched the < grey smoke curl from a tobacco that only the i Sultan and those whe stood well with the Sultan ever smoked. "Perhaps in the end it is better than the best of all adventures." No," said Philo Ames, shortly,, not entirely out of a spirit of contradiction. No in the end adventure, which is but another word for animation, a periphrase for vitaiity, is the bravest business. Can our lives he said to be burning with a hard gem-like flame at this moment, surrendered as we are to the spell of this excellent tobacco, of this excellent green euraçoa ?" Every man has a weakness; perhaps green curagoa was that of Philo Ames. "ii;xti said Amber Paslia, lazily. We have had lots of adventures, you and I. We can afford to unseal the Horatian Ccecuban and all the rest of it." Who knows ?" answered Ames doggedly. "Perhaps the pick of all adventures is at this moment waiting for us oui there, in that windy, < snowy street." And he jerked his hand in the direction of the troubled thoroughfare, visible through the unblinded window. A gleam came into the Pasha's eyes as Philo < Ames spoke. He leant forward and looked straight at his companion. Fetliape there is," said who knows ? Shall we go and see? His voice had a kind of < challenge in it. At least it seemed as if it had to Philo Ames. He quietly finished his coffee and dropped the end of his cigarette into the cup. By all means," he answered. Vamos." With no further comment the two men rose and < left the room, descended into the hall, and put on ) the fur coats which experience had taught them both to be as essential to a winter in the English islands as to a winter in any other pait of the world. They both ]it cigarettes again, and passed out from the warmth and languor of the club into the ferocity of the Christmas weather. Possibly each of the men regretted, the moment his feet crossed the threshold, his share in the enterprise. Ib would have been so much com- fortable to remain in the warm, the vyell-lit room, aud to talk of old adventures. Besides, there was not the least certainty that chance was about to present them with a new adventure. Philo Ames suggested as much, ironically, to Amber. The Pasha shrugged his shoulders. "It is as Heaven wills," he said, sententiously, and then, after a moment's pause, he added: "Remember, adventures are to the adven- turous." It was now Philo Ames's turn to shrug his shoulders, and the two men made their way in silence, iu the teeth of the wind, moviiagasquickly as they could through the seasonable crowd. The Oriental Club stands at the west in Prince's-str(jet, looking out upon thegreat butt-end of the Castie and at the church where the memories of so many of the martyrs of the Covenant are recorded. The Pasha and his companion slowly fought their way to the east. There was plenty to occupy their attention; the crowd was a red-sheekd, bustling, good humoured imbroglio the lights in the Old Town starred picturesquely the darkness on the other side of the valley.; in spite of the raw wind the scene was attractive but there was no sign of anything that promised the least adventure. Suddenly, as the pair had got more than half- way along the length of Prince's-street, Amber Pasha softly laid his hand on his friend's arm. "Look," he said, quickly. Ames saw in an instant what had attracted his companions'a attention. The full blaze of one of the most brilliant of all the brilliant shops of jewellers in a street that is splendid with the pompons parade of jewels served to surround with a fantastio illumination a fantastic figure. It was the figure of a young man, handsome in an eccentric way, slender of body, lean of flesh, with a peaked, eager, haggard face, whose pallor was accentuated by the blackness of the hair that trailed, too long, beneath his battered felt cap, by the black- ness of the eyes that peered with a kind of pas- sionate intensity at the Aladdin's treasure before him. The youth was poorly clad his garments' were evidently long familiar with his lank body yet there was an air, if not of grace, at least of something individual, something original, about their age which allured the observer. Theirs was not themonotonousjdmginessofjtbe mechanic, the disreputable squaler of the loafer, the pinched neatness, the threadbare gentility of the clerk. As he stood and stared in at the flam- I f — ———————————————————————————— boyanb show his personality contrasted so whim- sically with the opulence he reprded that it must needs captivate the attention of any carious student in the book of the streets. There," said Amber, there. surely, is the potentiality of our desired adventure." The two men had come to a stand, and stood on the kerb to be out of the way of the crowd while they watched the queer absorbed figure in the lighted spRoe. -1 "At least I discern an allegory," Ames answered with a smile. Let us call 10 the fable of the Scarecrow and the Roc's Egg. I am sure the one prize is as far from yonder poor devil's pocket as any of those coloured toys he seems to watch so keenly." Why does he wateh them so keenly ?" Amber asked, more of himself than of his friend. A man with that face should not hold precious sfcpnea «p precious." He can't be a burglar contemplating a plant," Ames] commented or he would not give him- self away by his curiosity and his got-up." Let us get nearer to him," said Amber, and the two triends threaded their way through the passers-by, and paused in front of the jeweller's window by the side of its devotee. Other pedestrians also paused, tempted by the brilliant display, and everyone who paused stared at the strange youth. But the strange youth seemed not merely indifferent to, but unaware of the interet he was creating. He took no noticø whatever of Amber Pasha and of Ames, who were now ranged alongside of him, and were curiously scanning him and the trinkets which appeared to absorb his interest. The particular compartment of the displayed stones which appeared to command the gaze of the young man was devoted to diamonds. Art- fully arranged upon a ground of white velvet, they blazed in a glory of pale flame. In all manner of forms, rings, brooches,, tiaras, brace- lets, lockets, necklaces, ill all manner of shapes and devices, the splendid stones appealed to the admIratIOn and the avarice of the wayfarer. But to both Amber and Ames, students of life and of men, the face whose gaze was rivetted on the jewels was mfinitflly more IIlteresting tb:1.11 the jewels. The peaked, eager face. the bright dark eyes, the tightly compressed lips, were animated with pleasure and a pleased resolve. "How can he find such delight in those things1" Amber said in Turkish, and Ames for answer translated sardonically into the same tongue The desire of the moth for the star." Both men spoke softly, but the sound of their voices, perhaps because of the sound of the un- familiar speech, seemed to rouse the young man from his contemplation. He glanced up for a moment at his neighbours, then he moved quickly away. Let us follow him," said Amber to Ames, but the words were scarceiy out of his mouth when he added Bisnullah, we haven't far to follow him. at all events." For even with the word the fantastic creature who guided them ha.d placed his hand upon the glass door of the shop, had pushed it open, and had dived inside. Immediately Amber followed him. and Ames followed Amber. The shop was not quite empty when the youth entered it seemed fairly full when Ames closed the door behind him. A red-headed assistant was showing some trinkets with deferenca to a pro- bable buyer. As for Amber's he was standing in the centre of the shop facing its proprietor, who had emerged from an inner room to greet his customer. The greeting, when he perceived the habit and bearing of his customer, was not affable. Amber and Ames, standing near the door, watched the scene with curiosity. The jeweller was a tall, sour, bilious-looking man, with an air of bourgeois insolence, which he evidently imagined to assert superiority. He glanced with an obvious contempt at the attire of his visitor, and slightly opened his mouth. It was plainly as much as he could do to simulate any interest in the ill- dressed, moneyless stranger. But the stranger seemed to be whimsically indifferent to the implied reproach of the tradesman. "I want," he said, in a voice the sound of which pleased both Amber and Ames by its clear sweetness, "I want to look at some of those diamond rings you have in the window." The yellow eyes of the jeweller seemed to grow yellower, his mean mouth to grow meaner in an uly smile. They are rather beyond your means, I fancy," he said, offensively. "You can see them well enough from the window, I should think." The scarecrow asserted itself instantly and angrily. It pushed back the battered felt from its forehead, displaying its black locks more generously than before, and stared sternly into the yellow eyes of the shopkeeper. You have no right to make impertinent assumptions," he said, coolly. Your business is to sell rings if it is mine to buy them. So show your goods at once. please." The yellow faco grew yellower with anger, but the yellowness grew to lividity when Amber, stepping torward, said': The young man is quite right, Mellisen your business is to show your wares and co hold your tougue." The anger in the jeweller's face faded as he saw his interlocutor. I beg pardon, your Excel- lency," he said deferentially. If the young gentleman is a friend of yours He seems desirous to become a customer of yours," said Amber? which appears to me to be of more immediate importance." The young man flashed gratitude at Amber out 3f his dark eyes, and lifted Ins faded felt with anair of antique courtesy. Amber raised his hat in re- turn, and then he and Ames occupied themselves with apparently examining the contents of the afferent show cases, while the jeweller withdrew From the window the tray of diamond rings and placed them within airof grudging civility before the stranger. The young man studied them attentively for 0me moments with the pleased look of the ohi'd or the savage at bright objects then he chose out two handsome rings, with very lustrious stones, hat were setin thefashion LImt is called Marquise. How much is this ? he asked, handing one af them to Mr Mellisen, who glanced at the minute inscription on the label and answered, "Thtrty-eight pounds." And this," asked the young man," handing iiim the other ring. The jeweller's face wore a sneer as he took it. This is more expensive," he said. "This is fifty pounds." I will take it." said the young man, simply. The jeweller stared at him. You will take this ring ? he asked, with a surprise that he sould not control. Probably the young man caught the note of Burpnse in the voice, noted the look of incredulity on the jeweller's face, for his pale cheeks reddened a little as he added, quietly, that he would take it with him. As he spoke he put his hand into the breast pocket of his shabby coat and drew out a roll of notes and immediately after a handful of gold. He counted the notes; they were five- pound notes, and there Were eight of them altogether. He laid them on the counter, added to tliem ten sovereigns from the gold, and pushed the money towards the jeweller, who accepted it with a dubious face, while his queer customer shpped back into his pocket the very few coins tl1l\t the transaction seemed to have left to him. The l ing was put into a neat leather case, the case was carefully wrapped in white paper, and the lean fingers of the young man closed eagerly over the little package as it was handed to him. Then, raising his hat once more in salutation to the Pasha, he slipped quickly out of the shop. That's a very extraordinary thing," said Mr Mellisen to Amber. I never jaw a poor student —for that's what he must be—who could afford to pass half a century for a ring before." I hope you will be more civil to the next poor student who enters your shop, Mellisen," Amber answered. "Come, Ames, we must follow up this quarry." It was snowing a little harder as they got cut of the shop, and the street was somewhat emptier. Ames's quick glance descried their quarry speed- ing along due east, a few yards ahead. "There he is," said Ames. "Do we follow?" and Ambes answered, Of course," and at a rapid pace the pair started in pursuit. The chase walked briskly, but Ames and Amber, who were habitually rapid walkers, soon gained upon him, and caught up with him at the end of Prince's- street, where he paused for a moment, with the evident intention of crossing the road. Amber immediately addressed him. Will you allow me a word with you?" he asked, courteously. Amber's was a winning voice when it caressed, if it was a stern voice when it commanded, and now it was very gracious. But for the moment it startled the young man, and he stepped back a pace and looked with suspicion and alarm at his inter- locutor. Then he recognised the face, and seemed reassured. What is it?" he asked. They were standing under a gas-lamp, aDd Amber observed again the attraction of the man's face, the shabbiness of the man's attire. You must pardon my presumption in address- ing you," Amber said, gravely. Allow me at least to introduce myself and my friend. I am John Amber, better known as Amber Pasha. This is my friend, Mr Philo Ames, a man of the world, and one who, like me, has seen much of the world. I have the honour to serve his Majesty the Sultan, and I am a student of life Mr Ames is a traveller and a student of life. Will you forgive us if we say that you have interested as very much this evening?"; My name," the young man answered, falling with readiness into the manner of Amber's address, "is Lancelot Greek. I have been an indifferent poet and a student of books. I may be an indifferent poet to the end of my days, but enceforward I am a student of life." "A very wise resolve," said Ames. Bnt. hare we stand somewhat in the press of men. Can I not beckon you to a more removed ground ?" And he pointed towards the dark tranquility of R-gister-street. Lancelot Greek shook his bead. "I regret," be said, polibely, that my business is urgent, Mid must be delayed no longer." Will you not, at least," Amber Pasha asked, "tolerate so far a stranger's curiosity as to tell me why you, who, if I may say so without offence, appear to be a poor man, bought that costly ring, and bought it with so much evident pleasure ? But if you consider my question an iiripertence, jay so, and I shall accept the rebuff." Your Excellency," said Lancelot Greek, II compliments me by an interest in my affairs. That interest has led you to follow me for some distance. If you please to follow a little further you may read the riddle." He raised bis cap again with the same whim- sical air of old-fashioned courtesy which became him, and crossed the road in the direction of the bridge, at a quick pace, indeed, but with no sug- t'estion of avoidance. Are we snubbed 1" Ames asked drily of his companion. And the Pasha answered Cer- tainly not. Encouraged. Hark forward," and crossed the road in his turn. Ames followed a little less enthusiastically. The lean figure of Lancelot Greek preceded them across the bridge, and up Bridge-street and across theHigh-street. Suddenly be came to a pause before a building whose open doors were bright with light, above whose portico great gas letters advertised to all the world the TJjgre ww owrow street running off at the side, and into this narrow street Greek plunged, and was, as it wure, swal- lowed up. "Ah!" said Ames, ''this is conventional." Amber only shook his head, and dragging Ames after him, he. too, plunged into the narrow street. It ran along the side of the Temple of Varieties, and half way down its length the stage door of that Shrine of Art gave on to it. The pair could see that Lancelot Greek leant against fche wall bv the side of the stage door. A few other people hung about the kind of people who in- variably hang about all stage doors. Amber and Allies pansed on the opposite side of the street and waited. If Mr,Greek noticed their presencehe gave no sign of notice. His whole attention was as much absorbed now by the faint light that came from the stage door as it bad been a few minutes earlier by the strong light of the jewel- ler's window. A few minutes passed by, during which Ames yawned and Amber lit a freh cigarette. Then Mr Greek's figure straightened and he moved forward. A figure came out of the door, the figure of a girl. She turned with an action of eager welcome to the young man, and as she did so the light from the lamp showed Ames and Amber a very young and very beautiful face. What they remembered when they talked ot it afterwards was a. vivid impression of gold hair, of eyes that Amps-who always would quote Shakespeare—called grey and bright and quick in turning, of a mouth that was rather large, with lips of aSliving red, and a pale face that was very lovely indeed. In another moment the girl and the man were walking away together. Do we still follow ? Ames asked, doubtfully, but Amber answered, "Yes, to the sweet end." And so they followed the two into the wider street. The snow had stopped now, and the wind bad lulled a little, but it seemed to Amber that the weather would have had no effect upon the girl and the man, who seemed to be entirely absorbed with each other. They went slowly through street after street, speaking eagerly together, until they paused in a small row of modest houses in the further end of the new part of the Old Town. The watchers paused also. From the distance where they stood they saw Greek take something out of his pocket and hand it to the girl. They saw the girl open the package they almost heard her give a little cry of pleasure they certainly saw her shake her head. Greek seemed to be pleading with her eagerly then she quickly held out her hand, and the watchers thought they saw him make an action as if he slipped a ring on one of the fingers. Immediately after he stooped down and kissed the hand he held- Then the girl quite suddenly flung her arms round the niau's neck and kissed him, and in another moment she had opened her door and had vanished, and the silence of the street was stirred by the faint sound of the door being shut. The young man remained for a few minutes standing quite still. Then he turned and walked at a brisk pace to where Amber and Ames were waiting. Gentlemen," he said, "is your curi- osity contenb ? She is my sweetheart; she is to be my wife in God's good time. Tho ring you saw me buy to-night was our engagement ring, and my Christmas gift to her as well." "Why do you say in God's good time?" asked Amber, gently. I am poor," Greek answered. She is poor also, but not so poor as 1. When I can earn as much as she our two poverties will even make a match of it." "It seems to me," said Ames, that the fifty poti-ds you paid away to-night might have been better' Greek flamed an interruption at bim. No, no," he cried. "It is well to he youngsome- times, and foolish with the folly of youth. I have never been young till now. I am over thirty years of age. I have crippled my body and wasted my youth among books. But I am free of their curse now. I have banished those dusty enchanters their dulness is transmitted to the glow of those jewels upon the hand of the girl I love, of the best and dearest girl in the world. I may never be ab!e to give her another decent gift again, but for once I will do her houour to the top c f my bent, for she has made my life a delight, and I can say with Dxtite Incipit vita. Nova.' My young friend, said Amber Pasha, you are a happy man and a sensible man. May I have the privilege of calling upon you to. morrow ? Greek lived in lodgings on the way to Leitb, and there the Pasha promised to seek him. Then they wished each other good night. As they parted Ames said, Mr Greek, you have all n.y wishes for your happiness, but I fear you will never cast off the bookish liabit. That quo- tation from Dante. Ah Lancelot laughed and disappeared into the darkness. Well," said Amber to Ames as tbey walked slowly back, we did find an adventare." Not much of an adventure," growled Ames. A fetilhei-jiuaded poet and a girl from a gaff." My dear fellow," said Amber," when a man and woman are really in love it is the best of all ad ven lures." How do you know they are really in love ? Ames asked, captiously. Because 1 know," Amber replied. The sound of his voice-tlie look in her face. Quite enough for me. And she must be a good girl for that kind of man to do that kind of thing for her. They shall be married within a month if I am still of any use in the wor!d." "You love to play Haroun Ev-Rasheed," said Ames, approvingly. I like to make people happy when I can," Amber said, and to help those who are un- happy." He was thinkiug as he spok- of Gabriel Oldaore, and he sighed. He then thought of Lancelot Greek and the ring, an he smiled. "Yes." he said, "it was a delightful adven- ture. Ames nodded his head. In his heart he thought so too. [THE END.]
CHRISTMAS.
CHRISTMAS. Christmas merriest season of the year Thou com'sfc again to gladden all our hearts; Dull care, at thy approach seems filled with fear, And quickly on a lonesome journey starts. Thy garments—holly, and the evergreen Thy crown—the kiss-allowjng mistletoe Thy glad'ning smiles are in abundance seen Where young and old toss pleasures to and fro. Welcome, delightful season to each home Bring blessings with thee for my fatherland Bid those assembled think of those who roam Bid plenty fill want's supplicating band. If every heart is comforted by thee, Thou wilt, indeed, a happy season be. Hull. JOSEPH THACKERAY.
CONSOLATION.
CONSOLATION. Miss foiLLitiiuij x imnK it's avnui mean. That horrid Jones girl has been saying that I paint. Miss MEAKNESSE Never mind, dear. I expect if she had your complexion she'd paint, too.
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..c:w- & v-V-- _m. Lady of the House (to male cousin): Henry, whatever do you men by putting your coffee on a chair ?-Cousill You see, my dear Amelia, your coffee is so weak I thought I would offer it a seat.-Master of the House You are doing my wife an injustice, Henry the coffee is strong enough; it has been standing since this morning.
GOSSIPS' CORNER.
GOSSIPS' CORNER. The London people are computed to spend Ri.200,000 daily. Two thousand oil wells are in operation it West Virginia. Lord and Lady Bute are expected at Mount Stuart next week. The Princess of Wales is not, after all, oominf home for Christmas. The earliest snow ever known in Great Britain was on October 7th, 1820. Forty-seven millions of money were last yeM transmitted by money and postal orders. The Salters' Company have this year voMer nearly £ 5.000 for donations and subscriptions. How Christmas Day is spent at Hawardeu Castle is pictured in the Christmas number of the New Age. When terrified the ostrich is said to travel at the rate of 25 miles an hour, and clear 12ft. to 14ft. at a stride. There is nothing purer in the world than the average English maiden, unless it be the matron who trained her.-Spectator. The ex-Empress Eugenie is the only Royal personage who has made a balloon ascent besides Queen Christina of Sweden. Siberian peasants clean, stretch, and dry the skin of the turbot for feather bag- and as a sub- stitute for glass window panes. A fashionable dress designer in the West-end of London is supposed to make on an average between L5, 009 and £6,000 a year. The recognised setter of Parisian fashions is for the moment Mdlle. llejane, the actress. Mahogany hair is the rage in Paris because she has it. When very full the biggest ocean liner in the world is said to be able to carry thirty thousand pounds' worth of passengers on a single journey. According to a Scottish contemporary, the timbers of the redoubtable yacht Valkyrie arc now part of a switchback at Gallowgate, Glasgow. The Church has, according to the Bishop of Wakefield, in the Church Army all the fervour, earnestness, zest, and devotion of the Salvation Army. There were two total eclipses of the sun in the year 1712 and two in 1889. This rare phenomenon will not happen again until the year 2057. Experiments in pigeon flying recently made on the Italian torpedo boat Aquilla. show that the average rate of flight was almost exactly a mile a minute. An evening dress no longer looks like an umbrella or a bell, but like a tent, a minaret, or the roof of a pagoda. So writes a fashion oor. respondent. The largest and oldest chain br:dge in the world is said to be that at Kmgtung, in China, where it forms a perfect road from the top of one mountain to that of another. According to one of the New York papers, the Pullman cars on the American railways are all named by one of Mr Pullman's daughters. She gets J3250 a year for this service. The Duke of York will ere long receive an important invitation from the Canadian Govern- ment to take the earliest opportunity of visiting the Dominion, and, if possible, other colonies. Archdeacon Denison, of Taunton, who has been a clergyman for 62 years, has received many congratulations on attaining his 90th year. He has held the vicarage of East Brent nearly 40 years. There was a large muster at the Thirteen Club supper at the Holborn Restaurant. Mr Harry Fur DISS had illustrated the menu with owls, hobgoblins, witches, &c,, and the usual oeremoniM were observed. Mrs Gladstone has a house in the grounds where for 30 years she has provided a home and training for orphan boys. No Christmas Day passes but some of the old boys who have made headway in the world are attracted back to the old home. The American Patent Office recently received It valuable acquisiton to its museum in a fat- simile copy of the first patentofaninventionissued in America. It wasgrantedbythe General Court in Boston, March 6th, 1646. Joseph Jenks waa the patentee, and his invention a water wheel. The competition at the Royal Academy of Music for the Rutsou Memorial prize (sopranc vocalists) took place before Madame Annie Marriott (in the chair), Madame Isabel Fassett, and Mr F. Barrington Foote. The winner wa* Gertrude Hughes, and Alice Crawley was highly commended. A story is told of a tripper who, after seeing Mr Gladstone cut down a tree, secured a chip, declaring that it would go into his coffin with him. Then his wife cried, Sam, lad, if thou'd worship God as thou worships Gladstone tbou'd stand a better chance of going where thy chip wadna' burn." To the Islington Guardians the clerk reported that the auditor had stated that under no circum- atauces in future wou!d he permit the officers who received beer money to have beer, wine, or spirit! at Christmas out of the rates. All he would allow to those officers who did not have beer money was beer. This is the advice of a North Wales paper to Professor Hughes, of Cardiff, the Tory Candidate for Arvon :—" We advise him to return to Cardiff as soon as he can and devote himself to the task of teaching the young doctors of Wales how to cure diseases of the body. It is evident that he knows nothing at all about the social and politioal disorders of Wales." With reference to a note on the slang of crimi. nals the other day, an old lady writes from Ohat. ham to say A stir is a short time of imprison. ment, a moon is one month, a drag is three months, a sixer is six months, a stretch is one year; after these come the laggins—three, fivet seven, 10, and 15 years 20 years is termed life, but with good character a man can get off with about 16 years." It was discovered at the roll-call of inmates of a Union neai-Liverpool on Wednesday that one woman had pawned a cork leg for 4s. As the board had paid some CS for the limb they were wroth, but the lady guardians sent out and tedeemed the missing member for 45 4d. It was agreed to stamp the Union mark on cork legs in future, and to warn pawnbrokers that they will receive such strange pledges at their peril. As for the dressing of the hair, writes a Paris gossip, Hyacinthe and Pierre, the fashionable coiffeurs of the Madeleine, have introduced the Rachel bandeau, which is short and flat, and if the last word of fashion. Or else they wave all the hair, which is brought straight back, very lightly dressed in the Louis Philippe style, with little falling curls. Plenty of flowers are used for ornament, and should match those worn in the dress. This is a change from the style of the laat two or three years, during which flowers were absolutely banished.
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A SATURDAY SERMON. I know there are many who think tht atmosphere of misery, which wraps the lowec orders of Europe more closely every day. is aa natural a phenomenon as a hot summer. But God forbid There are ills which flesh is heix to, and troubles to which man is born; but the troubles which he is born to are as sparkc that fly upwards, not as flames burning to the nethermost hell. The poor we must have with us always, and sorrow is inseparable from any hour of life but we may make theil poverty such as shall inherit the earth, an(I the sorrow such as shall be hallowed by the hand of the Comforter with everlasting comfort. I We can, ir we will but shake off this lethargy and dreaming that is upon us, and take the paint I to think and act like men—we can, I say, make kingdoms to bs like well-governed households, in which, indeed, while no caie or kindness can prevent occasional heart-burnings, nor any form sight or piety anticipate all the vicissitudes of fortune, or avert every stroke of calamity, yet tin, unity of their affection and fellowship remain* unoroken, and their distress is neither em*: bittered by division, prolonged by iinprudeaw I nor darkened by dishonour. Bv