HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Exeter Advocate, 1917-12-20, Page 2A CAVALRY CHARGE
ShO‘ brig That SOMetialeS Wishes Are tiOrSes
By F. Roney Weir.
F IT had not been for little lame leaving the fifty -cent
Denny Grogan who lived next dor, graS$ In plain sight,
joy in her trembling. It was like an! "Oh, that's all right,"
exciting mystery story with herself "(food night, and w
AS. the heroine. She pictured it ail a mas and, a full,StOCkinV, to you '
hundred times; the evening of the "Same to you'
twenty-fourth would be dank ana "Oh, yes, sere to hiee full
stormy; it would be blowy weather; stocking." And then to the maple -
the bare boughs of the little maple- tree after the, boys had gone ---"Those
lee oa
- tree by the alley would whine in the old brogans that Me. Pratt alwaye
brings me will fill 'em up all right." 1
Zandra might have considered her Zandra skipped down and picked it bitter wind. She, washing dishes by
lot a hard one, heillg, as she herself upreonce, the 1,..itchen sink, would hear Mr. andsolving' that Denny, for
eXplainecl, a perfect orphan with not So should lievethe Christmas gift to IM'olOsm. ;PorratI4Ligeu:/1:ideliMngrsin Dy
Thae
diiIng
much as a great-great-grandmotlier which all children are entitled—he
would
left alive in the world. Denny had a should, for once, have something love- eenle over, ,perhaPs, to quarrel
wth
tArtIlliC.en father, a siek Stepmother, a Y bought with his own father's money them. Then, suddenlY, a dark figure
half-brother—about a foot and six and passed off as a gift from sant a draggingreachedg8GMein
itplgbellAenlkvyhuaeckwhere,
iriehets long ---two steP-grandrnothers, Olaus, as other children have. Not tiealley'and s
n.the
and oh, step, step, and step -cousins toi. '1 1- -e wouiu sxie uavt aVtL
till you eouldn't count "errt; and yet money for herself, that would have
Zundra was. as sorry jeg... Denny as she been dishonest—but if Mr. Grogan
be. was selfish enough to "drink the
could
She was so savvy for him that she clothes off the family's back," and
was in the habit of telling him long "reless enough to ow money on the
street, Zandra decided to ase her own
stories all about writing to Santa
judgment in the matter. It was as
Claus for what you wanted for Christ -1
. dear as mud thatProvidence had en -
Inas and being sure of getting it. She
tangled that half -dollar in Grogan's
would tell him how little boys, who '
. dirty handkerchief and then seen to it
had been good all the year used to ei
get pencil and paper .and tdold. Santa that it th'opped noiselessly on the Denny with t
he card in hand, slow -
just Whet they wanted, then their big
grass,. in place of clattering on the 1 ly Spelling out "From Santa Claus- to
sisters would help them address the cement walk with a ringing Warning 'Denny Groganfor being a .goed boy,
envelope and find a stamp. Last
to Grogan of„his loss, and minding baby, Merry Christmas"
, 6 '
ail, big Sieter would take little bre'. 1 The great question now was what ----and his pop -eyes fairly hanging' out in' 0 nn" when the Pratts' got beck froni
ther out to the. Mail -box, lift l '
um up teo buy f,or Denny. She wished heart -len his cheeks' like black apples; and .ti'"', --.F .t t • - . , .
and let him drop the precious letter ni Y .'le she ' never in, so that it would surely reach that write. to Santa Claus; then he .would.
mysterious home where Santa lived, , have been satisfied, eVen • delighted,
'with the handkerchiefs, the Mug, or
moment later a smaller darker -figure
(that was herself) dragging the same
something along the alley and up over
Grogan's back yard to the door. A.nd
the Grogan dog bow -wowing in the
basement, and she gliding mysterious-
ly back and plunging into the dieh-
washing again without tbe Pratts or
the Days being a thought the wiser,
It was glorious!
And then Christi -As morning—and
It was a shabby overworked little
old horse which the boys left. Blind as
a bat, with no tail to. speak of, and One
iOne Oar pricking toward hedven alert-
ly for further service. It certainly
was an object for the tender ministra7
tions of the Society fon the Prevention
of Cruelty to AnimalS.
But of all the steeds which champ-
ed their bits under the maple -tree that
night (there were twelve of them)
Zandra regarded this one with the
'Most favor. The gift had so smuch
meaning. The boys had not merely
told the driver of their car to "take
that old' hobby -horse- to so-and-so,"
Theyohad been obliged to tug it them-
selves, talking as they did so of the
"little lame feller." '
The horses were all safely snorting
in a rOw at Grogans' back door and
Zandra was innocently sitting "wgZit-
e movies. She listened m a sort of
happy daze while Mrs.' Pratt describ-
ed the different murders she had seen
at the 'shOw, but her -thoughtsewere
all on Grogans' and the next morn-,
.. d Dennyt he so completely dumfounded that he
couldn't Utter a word --and she Saying,
"Ah ha! What did I, tell you?" ..
When Zandra got to this part elf the
Once Denny had, asked her. just the air -gun, dr any one of a hundred ' picture, if it was after - she had gone
where Santa Claus dived, and for a other things which fifty cents would to bed at night, she would sit up ..and
minute Zandra was frustrated, but buy. But "a .harse," as Denny called hug her knees and have hard work to
finally- she told him he lived up in a 1 h .? rflV coSt as much as keep from squealing .right out ' with
snoiv-cloud that looke. just like the •
excitement. It was pure Christmas
happiness undisturbed by any thought
of what Santa Claus might Vring to
ing, -
She was sorry not to be able to get
to Grogans' in time to see the stag-
gering sprprise of Denny when he first
fifteen dollars apiece! ,
suds inhis -mother's wash -tub. Always sighted .the clroVe; but breakfast. Was.
after that, 'yvhen Mrs. Grogan was 1 Zandra thought about' it all through
late at .the Prattsi it being a holiday;
washing, Denny used to make-believe Ischool hours, and after sch'oot as she and she lost that pleasure. What She
that he was visiting Santa Claus in flew about doing the work of a thirty -
She knew what she would get—a
pair of coarse shoes, ready-made skirt,
and -blouse. The Pratts always gave
her her year's outfit of clothing on
Christmas, thus killing' the-- clothing
bird and the Christmas bird with one
motion of the arm.
But, of courge, things -didn't work
out exactly as Zandra imagined they
did see was Mrs. Grogan, with the
dollars -a -month -maid. Indeed, one
baby'in her arms and an unbelieving
his snow -suds home.
day she went so far as to stop, m stare on ,herface -just turning , from
These tales chirked 'Denny up won- Smith's department store and inquire the window. -
derfully. He talked them over a great the price of horses both great, and
small. She found that one big enough
them in ;Daly so that Denny might
deal. And although Zandra had told
"Mother of St. Patrick,,lo,ok at the
back ,yard!" she eja.erflated in a sort
even for Denny's scrawny little legs
have tine to forget them before of awed whisper. ,.
would be at least ten dollars. It looked . .
Christmas, he had not done so on the "Harses!" breathed Denny. "I wrote
quite hopeless, for, all she had was the
nineteenth of December, which caused for thimeand then I prayed for thim!"
fifty -cent piece. "You prayed too hard!" said Mrs.
Zandra some uneasiness.
"Will fie,, railly and truly give me On maY. Grogan.
She was in • e hangingup would. , They neer do.
' the basem nt
the week's wash when the great idea think, and think, of every possible con: Mr. Grogan, who had celebrated
what I writed him fur?" drawled Den-
s
the weight of the baby to ease his She stood stock-still for as much as unforeseen happens."'
came to her. tingency, and yet something' wholly Christmas Eye downtown somewhere
ny m that slow way of his, shifting
came yawning and 'buttoning, onehis
game knee from the sharp corner of two minutes—letting the wet sleeve The evening of the tWenty'-fourth clothes. He tOok one look ont of the
the wooden bench where he sat. g of Mr. Pratt's pyjamas dangle in the was dark, all right, and stormy enough kitchen windoWn, then :made a' Wild
dust on the basement floor. to suit the most romantic .plotter. The dash for his hat. .
"Aw, quit talking such nonsense!" A rocking -horse was a thing to be"; wind did whip the boughs of the alley' "Where arede
gyou going?" -manded
snapped the step -mother, slapping thd ' '
outgrown. For instance, say, a fam-' maple, and Mr. and Mrs. Day not only h' if
. "To Father Cassidy to take the'
pledge! I'm bad again! Pm worse
than I've iver been! • I'm seein' juni-
corns!"
shirt she was washing down upon the , ily has a little boy; buys him a rock -1 came (bless their hearts) but carried
board so hard that a gout of white ing-horse; Thttle boy uses it three 1 Mr. and Mrs. Pratt off with them' to
suds 'flew out and came down spat on 'years; little boy's legs grew so long, the movies, leaving Zandra, 'tag -they
the bald crown of the baby. ;that he has to kink them when he supPosed, .alone and wistful 'e to keep
Denny slowly wopsed it off with 1.1. -ides; say, his little sister rides it house until their return.
his sleeve, the baby wobbling and a year; it gets a little rough, but: In reality it was an excited and ex -
blinking at the performance. rocking -horses are a sturdy breed—pectant Zandra whom they lft he -
"Will he?" persisted Denny, pinning say, the boy's little, sistergides it for hind; a Zandra who, had they invited
., e
his neighbor with yearning eyes. la year; horse gets thin in the matter her to go- with them to the show.
"Yes," hesitated Zandra, "if you of mane and tail; younger sister rides (something- not likely to happen even
ask for the right thing." lit a year or so; get e so big is ashamed on Christmas Eye) would, because of
"I want a harse," declared Denny 1 to be seen on it; say, even, that farn- other and more engaging affairs, have
sullenly. - lily gives it to a. young cousin; cousin gently but firmly declined.
"He wouldn't get the head of a pin . outgrows it and still, as -tele from hay- 1 It was barely eighigo'clo'ck whenthe
if he'd' be asking for it—not this ' ing lost its mane, tail, and one eye,. two flaring eyes of a motor came to• a
Christmas!" declared Mrs. Grogan. 1, it is a nice, strong, fierce -looking • standstill down opposite the alley.
"Wicl the rint three months behind, 1 steed yet, with enough beauty and use- Zandra's heart almost jumped out of
and the doctor bill not paid, and his 'fulness to drive poor lame little Den- her throat. She was 'peering from the
father dhrinkin' the clothes aff our ny Grogan, who never had any kind pantry window, the presentation card
backs!" of a horse, wild with delight. clasped in her trembling fingerS ready
"If I were you I'd ask Santa Claus Somewhere in this, great city, stow- 1 for use. Presently the eyes shot for -
for something—something. cau-'!'
tioned Zandra, "How would two new
handkerchiefs do?" broken sewing -machine, there must be gone. '
Denny drew his sleeve across his such a horse, if onty one knew where! , Down she flew to the alley, the back
turned -up nose. "I don't nade thim," If only one had time enough to go door key in one hand and the card in
he drawled, "I want a harse." He around and knock at doors until one the ether. There it. was, standing stiff
shifted the baby back up on the. bad found the right house, and then go in and warlike and snorting upright un -
leg again to rest the good one. and tell the family all about how poor der the maple -tree. The corner street -
"Wouldn't it be fine to have a love- lame Denny Grogan had vrritten Santa light did net 'disclose the slightest
ly mug to drink your milk out of?" Claus for "a harse"—and because of damage. It must have .been brand-:
coaxed Zandra. "You could -get-1 the stories told him away back on the iteiv—right out of -the' Store.
First of July by a wicked girl who •• Zandra attached ,her card, grasped
thought he would forget before Christ- 1 the bar which connected' the 'nickel's
mas—because of them, really expect- in f5,ent, and skidded Denny's "harse"'
ing to get "a harse" in his Stocking—. 'through the alley and up to the Gro -
And then it was that the inspiratien gans' back door With the strength and
struck Zandra. Market -day to-rifore dexterity' of any Santa Claus on earth.
row!. She, would take a chance and The Grogans' dog barked like mad'. as
.,Zandra went jumping and skipping
down the length of the yard to :the al-
ley. Sounds like that were unusual
in the back yard of Grogans' home,
and the dog knew that it was not the
uncertain steps of old- man Grogan
reeling home. Visitors were few and
far between, but Zandra 'quieted him
with a pat on the back, and he crawl-
ed back into his. shed. . •
ket afternoons, While she was rest- • Seventeenth Street, on read: of lot, It was wonderful!: The charitable
ing, she patched and darned stockings after dark, December '24. family had seen her appeal, .had. owned,
in the Winter and kept the lawn mow- , ' the horse, had brought it, and it was
ed Summer. She was fourteen and This production took Zandra such a safe at Denny's door, all tagged and
it was right and proper that se long time to perfect that she overslept everything! Wh—what was that?
should do something' toward earning in the morning, and, was ',soundly There under the maple' stood the horse
her keeP, scolded by the irate Min Pratt. .just as if she had not just deposited it
Zandra had a secret. She was the "What makes you so late?" he de- safe at the Grogans' back door! t •
possessor of a sum of money. No mended angrily, gulping down the 'hot Then she realized that there had
matter how she came by well— cone. ,. been two charitable families .in the
perhaps it had better '•be explained "I didn't sleep well first part of 'city, each 'owning an outgrown rock-
. • • • -
here and now; she had. seen Grogan the night," apologized Zandra hombly, ing-horse. Well, well! Denny sheuld
, rake it 'out of his pocket one morning- "1 guess 1 had -the nightmare:" have a span. '
together with his jack -•knife, Car tick- "You eat too much!" snarled Mr. She seized the horse and started for
ets, dirty bandanna handkerchief, and Pratt, as he heaved into his, overcoat Grogans' as a pair of glaring' eyes
pipe, as he stook talking' 'veith 'Father and dashed for the car. He was,,,floor- Paused at the alley entrance. 'Some -
Cassidy on. the walk in front ot'. Pratt's' if -Walker' in a' ten -cent store and. had , body grunted and exclaimed under his
steps. He "was telling, Father Cassidy :sdine excuse. for .his unpleasant dis- „breath as he lifted out a hillky object.
how seitde he had hem]: How he had ;position. Jan.& earried it to the maple -tree.- Then
been "seein' things." Zandra had} The advertisement was too late for he drove away and ,inandra hurried
heard these stories so many times that .; the Sunday leette and Zandra `declided „It; was just a rearing one—pure
she did not need to listen to there., but . it was. just as well, Tor although the white flowing mane'and Hp'
Father Cassidy hoped to some-, char tab e owners of the desited horse Pine Avenuc she heard boys voices
thing With Grogan. nOt be as liable to run across it 1 clacking along and; an aroused. ::inpui-
t • ,
"Vint 11 was fleas; then bumble- !why neither would the Pratts; and' tion told her that they were bearing.. a
bees; thenit was little catd," Grogan s Zandra had- 8. viholes"ne fear .o.f. the ',rocking -horses • - Over Bethlehem a glorVi
explained, drawing hard On his pipe. ;Pratts discovering her philanthropic; She ..got the white stec lialf ',the' over B.eradehem a c.r..ow.p!,
"You see," admonishe lathe), Gas- '..cherne, 1 length of th6 alley -,,vheie
aidy, "the things kept getting larger 1 They would dernand to know where and 'went:back to the , entrance. The
—more dangerous. If you keep on !she got the. money for the advertise- boys were earefinlIY, de -positing' their
seeing things larger and larger, your ,inent. If she" refused toe tell, they ',little offering.
da s are numbered!" mi lit think she had talTen it "Good cgening "' she reeted "this
"I gilit aff fOr six months," Owned the Saturday manket money. if she- is awful p;ood ,of you—to give your
Grogan, "that was when I was mar- told them of seeing Mr. Grogan lose horee..,aWaY., ..PenhapS--perhapg
, .
ed.away in a dusty garret, taking up ward, glared an'instant into her own
-
room needed for the trunks and the as they passed the house, and were
mean you could write fpr one with the
picture of a horse painted on it "
Denny shook his head. "Or an air -
"A harse wicl rockers to it," per-
sisted Denny, and, Zandra went away
home much disturbed.
Zandra had been christened Alexan-
dria, but that name was found to be
a misfit for a little kitchen girl who
worked for cheap families. The
Pratts boarded and clothed her after night:
a .fashion and—because the law corn -
Poor little lathe boy wants second -
use
her to school. In return
use the fifty cents in advertising
the Sunday paper for a horse!
She wrote the notice up in her
room before she went to bed that
for this she made beds, swept cham-
bers, did the plain cooking, washed on
Saturday forenoons, and went to mar -
„hand rocking -horse. If you have
one to give him, please leave it at
1420, corner of Pine Avenue and
still'
'The Shepherds.
The shepherds watched their flocks by
night,
And peace was over them,
And over all the little. world
That bordered Bethlehem.
And one among them was a lad
Who did his -father's part.
A little lad with shilling eyes
That spoke his eager heart.
The hush of midnight held, the plain
Where flocks arid shepherds were;
The little lad with shining” eyes
Beheld no thing astir. '
When lo! about them and above
There- gloWed a yvondrous light;
.A. glory flowed across the plain,
And swept away the night.
The shepherds all were sore afraid.
"What can it mean?" they cried.
And as the .wonder filled their hearts,
A.--"Yoice that thrilled replied:
-"Behold, 'tis ,not a time for fear! '
The tidings that we bring
Shall fill the hearts--ef- men with joy.
List! Hear the angels sing!"
And then from out the flaming sky,
As from a mighty throng,
There rolled the song the angels sang,
A glad, triumphant song;
A song of praise unto the King
Who .ruleth land and sea;
A song of peace that shall preva:il
Wherever man shall be.
Again, again the chorus swelled,
And then it dinurfed and died;
While back across the plain once more
The midnightrolled its tiede.
Yet was the midnight not the same;
For in the East afar
There shone a light unseen before
A bright and wondrous ,star,
•
Christmas at Bethlehem.
Veiling vapors rent asunder;'
Clear the vast blue vault, afar;
Over Bethlehem a wonder,
Over Bethlehem a star!
Silence in the desert places
Where the purple shadows throng,
Birt clown the night's ethereal spaces;
Over Bethlehem a song!
Still as in those ages hoary,
-When the shining hosts lool(ed down,
37' g outo , ; g
:eying rny Second wife—the, one have ithe money they would -think she should you hate to give it up." ,
now ---and I haven't had symptoms have returned it to Grogan and eot "Naw!",. answered the bigger boy
since." ,,, 'ihavc kept and spent it on such ,N•fool.-1"Wie don't 'want it no more. 'We're
"DUI if YOri do ---if You grown We're glad give it • to
Warned Rah or Cassidy—and they 1 She fairly- 1 v onib led at ibe risk iic inc littic 1 rd n e
walked away together toward the car, wns, takiton, and ,701 there was a vivid "Well, thank you over ,o much!"
December Song.
December brings holly
"All gleaming ,and glowing;
December ,is jolly ,
With sleigh bells and snowing!
The whole world rejoices
Around the red ember,
And so with glad voices
Sing "Hail to I)ccerriber!"
• •117- •••
Hark! the merry chimes are warning
us that this. is Christmas morn.
• ing,
And it's time that we were rising,
',though the, hour isn't date,
Stpl; the will be flgelting, each
Ai\ " to everhaul his stocking, •
Y And there's scads of.'thiogs we've
got toglo that. reallY 'cannot wait.
Yet, before we kick the clothes off (quite determined not to doze off);
Let's indulge in dreanay musing on this joyous Christmastide;
Let us, while the bells are Pealing, get up some real, Cliristehas feeling,
. Pill ourselves with, sweet emotiOns that are ,not quite cut arid dried:
True, the minutes fast are gliding, but, consent 'em, let 'em glide, '
Think of these long -weeks of waiting, all the glad anticipating
Of the gay and fegliye season that at last, at -last is here;
Never resting,'never stopping in our mad career of shopping,
Searching civer the ideal, not too cheap and not too dear;
Crushed and ,elbowed in the reeking crowds, that like ourselves are seeking .
Just the very thing' of all things that their lov,ed ones most desired,
Limp and-Araggled then emerging from the pushing, struggling. surging
Mob,. withPacela oveidaderi, reaching home at leaf, dog tired,
5.'hose experiences may/be best described as "most all -fired."
Yet no antiquated 8t01C sli-O-wed endur-
. ,
ance more heroic' ;
Than wehvemanifested through ,the
. .
weary ordeal .of that time..
We have Stood the stress of barter with
the courage 0! a ma.rtYr;
Now we find sweet • compensation ,
list'ning to the Christinas chime,
Whose clear cadence, soft" and mellow, seems to whii-per to a fellow
That the worst is nearly 'over, that we soon may breathe 'a,gain,
Soon may find surcease of sorrow, and that, maybe by. toniorrow
Or the next day, may be lifted something 'of this mental strain,
That a blessed sense of rest may soothe the tissues of our brain. --
We have done iVith haste and firirry, no occasion now to worry,
Lest i301110 sensitive relation.'inay have been quite overlooked.
All the lists of names are checked and all the walls.with green are decked, andi
Now within a few short hours the Christinas dinner will be cooked -
Hail to Christmas! happy season! There is some substantial ;reason
- To be gleeful at thy advent—the beginning of the end. '
As thou comest wreathed With holly, we Can certainly be jolly,
Welcome thee with feast and wassail, and in•general unbend,
For we'inow that we have -spent for thee the last cent we can spend!
Now the door bell will cease ringing to
the people who were,bringing
An endless string of packages fro,14
morn to dewy eve;
We no loitger :will be running to 0011-
cep.1 those things with cunning,
And we'll lose our wonted air of
, •
having something -up our sleeve
.1, ...'
, There will .be a deuced li(ter, wheij
the gewgaws gleam and glitter, '
Of waste paper, string and cotten, from the kitchen to the hall;
Elut, with consciences elastic, we will grow enthusiastic
• And "wonder how they guessed," as on the donors' necks we fall,
Looking blissful Over dewdads that we didn't want at all: -
Ah, this blessed thing of giving! It is half the joy of -giving
To watch the looks of gratitude and pleasure and surprise
That,at least to outward seeming, -are upon loved faces beaming-.
As the loVed sine opens his parcel and digs out his gaudy ties.
And the gentle wife and mother her einotion tries to smother
When conducted by her husband; to some secret corner, -where,
As a proof' of fond affection, he has hid from her detection,
His gift to her, a cozy, costly, well -upholstered chair,
(Of whose 'comforts, in the fnture, you may bet get his share).
Now this •Chrtstmas spiritanoves us to
sense that it behoves us
To keep Poverty's bare platter and
ll Destitution's cup.
Bring turk aud pie and. gladhess to
the homes of empty sadness:. ,
To help Out sweet Christmas char -
:nem
7;1.4
ity who would not loosen up?
.I3ut it's highly aggravating' not to say exasparating,
When we've given most nobly and without thought of stint,
TO find out, as we 'expected, that the modest are neglected
AnCl• our PrincelY benefaction hasn't found its way to print.
(Dertr, / we didn't' ask itgbut a man might take a hint).
But away with sad reflectionl This is no time for dejection.
Merry Christmas, happy Christmas, as we said, has come at last!
All the many tribulations, all the trials and vexations
That have crowded thick upon as for the last., six weeks,. are past,
Not a, protest shall be uttered, though the house with toys is cluttered
And the kids are all parading to the sound of horn and drum,
Lusty; lung and larynx voicing the extent of their rejoicing.
We will have to stand the racket now that Christmas' clay is come.
(Later tone our nervous system at some sanitarium).
Thank the Giver if we're able to sit
'round a well -spread table,
Where the plump white -bosomed;
turkey sheds its savor through
the room,- ' --
And pudding comes .on. smoking, ansl
there's no end to the joking,
And no lteart that harbors inalica
.and 110 mind o'ercast with gloom,
Let us be profoundly grateful that we have at least a plateful,
'Grateful for the pepsin tablets that correct our Christmas cheer'
. „ ,
.1-101d it, as among our mercies if- there's coin left in our purees,
Be thankful for those dear to tis.and,those who hold -us dear.
(And in,ost simremely thankful Christmas comes but once a year).
THE CHRISTMAS BOX.
Who first thought of the Christmas -
box? Nobody knows.' No doubt, tha
g l
notoriinoa ib emaclybethose he ahuon edl dk
he d lii
brilliant, money -far -nothing scheme,
and then when he saw how frightfully
unpopular it was, and how many peo-
ple were looking for him with mur-
derous intent, he kept it dark, and
tried to look as though he hadn't, done
And why Christmas "box"?
It's tantalizing when the newsboy
says, "Give a Christmas -box,
/ please, sir!" not to be able to take hiin
1 at his 'Word and give him one --on the
j ears. Ami it isn't as though there
ever ixas an actual box; for the re„-
ceptAkele dubbed "Christmas -box" wa's,
-7-
in reality, a jar—a grotesquely-Tashi--
ioned darthenware jar, which, to pre -
Vent the loss or "borrowing' of gifts
placed, therein, had no other' aperture
than the slit through.- which n coin
could be passed,
These jars were carried as tar back
as the fifteenth century by'the appren-
tices of London, who -Were invariablY
as poor as chrch mice, and who were
allowed in conseqUenceegt to collect
money from anybody ainl everybody
who could be induced to give. At an
appointeq time these 'Clhristinas-boxes
were °raped and the spoil equally
divided among the apprentices.
If theN,War contiinies c regularly
listed farnt army Will beconie an ab-
solute necessity. It may be bettor
formed now than later,