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Home My WebLink AboutThe Exeter Times, 1920-12-23, Page 2By Nina Wilcox Putnam Out of the Swirl of Snow and Blackness of Night Her "Prince Charming" Came, and on Christmas Eve, Too, With Jingling Bells to Find the Princess Waiting for Him "And so at last the prince came in his state carriage of gold, and the ogre, seeing his strength, did not dare to keep the princess. * *" Libby - Ann read it slowly, savoring each, las- mantle sentence. Toenight there was eta ene to laugh at her 'for taking pleasure in so childish a beak; and that fact was the one comfort of the situation. For the solitude was dread- ful, and the snow had even erept in under the doorsill; Libby -Ann could see it from her crouched position on the hearth. It had filtered through the chinks of the east window, too, cuttin.g the blackness of the night be- yond into fresh silhouettes at every new drive of the jeering gale. The house was full of strange, untoward noises; of cracklings and creakings as of ghostly footsteps, or—worse yet— of trespassing human feet. “Did not dare to keep the prin- cess. * * *" A shutter banged distantly, and Libby -Ann started frorn her seat trembling. Then she pulled herself. together. "Of course it's nothing!" she said aloud. "I know it's nothing. None of the noises are anything but noises! Still * *" She glanced apprehensively over her shoulder as the lonely little build- ing trembled from attic to cellar. It seemed the very heart of a maelstrom, whose malignity was centred upon herself. Libby -Ann defied it with a laugh that had a sob of sheer loneli- ness and terror perilously close be- hind it. Then, crossing to where the supper lay spread upon the red -and - white checked cloth, she turned the dull flame of the swinging- lamp above it a trifle higher, giancee at the clock, whose solemn face told that the hour was well past 10, and then gazed mournfully at the untouched food. "He won't be haine to -night!" she said. " 'Tisn't poasible now. Some- thing must have happened! Oh, isn't it just awful to have such a Christ - Inas Eve!" .A log fell in the grate, and Libby - Ann jumped. Eat? Impossible! As well put the things away and be done with the pretense! Picking up the butter -dish and the cake, she started boldly for the kitchen. It seemed a mile away, a mile terrifyingly full of treacherous shadows. But she kept bravely on until, just as she reached the door sill, there came a lull in the wind; and over vague distances of snow -muffled, silent lands a faint sound. Doubtful of her overstrun.g imagination, shentood still, rigid with listening. Silence. Then it came again, between the low meanings of the gale; a faint tinkle of little bells, distant as yet, and hardly perceptible except to anxiously straining ears, but of blessedly human significance. Libby -Ann set back the cake and the butter hurriedly, and took down the lamp. "Father!" she exclaimed in a tone of relief that was a confession of all the agony of nervousness which, for hours past, she had been denying to herself. "Father! He's managed to get back after all!" And then she shuddered involuntar- ily, the grim atmosphere of her diffi- cult parent seeming to move into the - house ahead of him at the mere men- tion Of his approach. Yet it was bet- ter, far better, than'this being alone with the terrifying nothings width women find in a house at night. She placed the lamp at the unshaded east window, tapping away seine of the snow that he might see the light the better, and then went about straightening the things on the table, listening—but vainly, now. "He must have been in the hollow - when I heard him," she murmured. "I'll just put the coffee back on the hob * *" As she did so, the book of fairy- tales lying open on the hearth -rug caught her eye. With a swift gesture she gathered it up, listening again and holding on to the book as to a friendly hand that soon must be re- linguished. Again the bells! Nearer now. They were coming up lie hill - road, they hvere turning in at the lower gate. In another instant he would be there! "Where was I?". Libby -Ann breath» ed anxiousitr. "Oh, yes! 'And se at last the prince came in his state car- riage of gold * * *" That was it!" She slipped a marker between the pages, and closing the volume with a snap, hid it under the cupboard by the hearth. A faint "Hullo!" came from without, almost inaudible through the storm, which had increas- ed again. The call was utterly un- expected. What could it mean? Father never called. He would simply stable Bess and come stumping in, silent and morose and hungry. Again , came the call: sourghing about "What ho! the castle!" At least that eves what it sounded like. Libby -Ann looked at the clock. Close to eleven! What on earth could the call forebode? „Never before in all her nineteen years had a stranger visited the lonely mountain farm at such an hour. Something must have happened to her father! In an agony of fear she crossed to the side door, undoing the bolts with trembling fing- ers. As she opened, a tierce blast of Icy ale entered joyously scattering the ashes on the hearth and playing havoc with the lamp-fiame, whieh promptly danced to its piping. And with the wind came the words, un- mistakable this time: "What ho! The castle!" Libby -Ann looked cautiously around , the edge of the door, her heart beat- ing furiously with a terrible (yet love- ' ly) sense of something tremendous about to happen. And there in the , stable -yard was an incredible sight. 1 The prince had arrived in his golden I carriage of state! ' At any rate, it was a golden car- riage. Of that there -could be no ves- tige of doubt. It was about the size of a small house, and Square, and its sides, even under their heavy burden , 1 ohite horses, caparisoned in of snow, glittered with gold. A pair f huge w !crimson and little silver bells, drew Iwere guided passing through an aper - the coach, the reins by which they 1 tare in the front to the warmly light - led interior, in which sat a wonderful i young mane He smiled at her, show- ing a gleam of very white teeth. It I was a splendid smile, and it set her !heart beating anew, in a strange, ex- pectant sort of way. . Behind him, and around him in the interior of the car, or whatever it was, were innumerable objects, forming a sort of decorative background; little shelves, boxee, glass cases, on which i the light of the lantern that swung from the ceiling shone glitteringly. Indeed, the whole thing glittered and swain before her eves, as she stood rooted to the spot, unmindful of the cold and the snow that eddied in about her feet. "Snow princess, is the barn -door open?" shouted the young man. lesLs.ibbyeAnn could only nod, speech - "All right, then!" the young man cried, gathering up the reins with a beautiful, sure gesture. "I'll put 'em up, and be right in. Come on now, Pegasus; come on, Phoenix! Oh, my brave steeds—one more pull, and then a feast, and blessed sleep!" The horses, who had stood like statuary figures of fatigue, pricked up their ears at the command of his silver voice, and the -whole gorgeous affear lunged forward throughsthe en- cumbering snow. As it vanished around the corner of the house, Libby - Ann caught a fleeting glimpse of an illuminated sign which said something about popcorn; but it was meaning- less to her dazed eyes. Then through eons of magical time she waited, dumb and motionless, once the door was mechanically closed, ' Finally the sound of his approach, stamping on the porch, electrified her into action, and, flying to the mirror above the mantel, she snatched one fleeting, despairing glance at her white little face and smooth hair, so tightly brushed ba.elc. It was dreadful -- dreadful! The prince had come at last—and caught her in calico! If only she were not so plain, so un - ornamental, so hopelessly unattrac- tive! Of course no one ever noticed her—but perhaps, if .only she had thought to rush upstairs and put on her Mae silk with the sprigged pat- tern * * * 'Well, it was too late for that now! He flung the door wide, brushing off the snow from sleeve and breast, shaking his woollen cap, and baring his yellow head, on which the curls ad I MEM El And DYSPEPSIA. CAN EAT ANYTHING' NOW The misery which store:eel/ troublqt cause, the sufferer knows only too well and anyone who suffers knows wha ley it would give to be able to eat three (square meals a day, and not be punished for it after. Before you can eat heartily, and not pick and choose your food, you naust put your stoteach right so that it win produce its own digestive ferments. For forty-two years Burdock Mood Bitters has I -seen /miring weak stomachs Krone., and permanently relieving severe cases of indigestion and dyspepeia that very often other reetiodies were powerless to reach. Mrs. Mice Beoknorth, Fesserton, Ont., writes e --"I have been a great sufferer from indigestion and dyspepsia foe eoveral years, and teen' not eat all ing without almost dying frona the pain the pit of my et:nurse's. Seeing Burdoek Blood Bitters highlyt)recomt mended I tried a bottle, and can gladly nay it relieved /rte. I can eat anything now, and sin in perfectly' good health." 3.313, is menuractured only by Ile T. infilbern Co, Limited, 'Toronto, Ont. grew rough and vigorous. Then he answered. "1 wasn't hungry before, came in and:closed the wild night out, because the house is so—SO alone, shooting the bolts with eateSeine- with' father not getting back, and all, how the sight of it sent thrills of de- but now * * 0" lightful terror up and down her spine. know!" he nodded "House all Then he made hera grave bow of creaks and egoans, and your heart salutation, his twinkling blue eyes jumping up and down!" He arranged taking her into. his confidence and a chair for her. "Now you bit here, challenging her imagination, her sense and let me do the waiting." of play, her capacity foe finding. life "put that's the woman's work!" a great, wonderful, joyous gameshe protested, though feebly. He had "Dear princess of this lonely strong- such a queer yet charming way of hold," said he, "is the lord el the sweeping matters alung, and making castle at home?" (he oddest things seem all eight. "He—he is not!" she stammered, "Not in my world, it isn't!" he smiling and blushing. The storm— said firmly. "In my world the prince he must have stayed in Middletown serves his lady, always, and the mean - for the night." est task is an honor when it is per - The stranger gave a low whistle. formed for her!" "Middletown!" said he. "That's where "How lovely!" sighed Libby -Ane I was bound for When I lost Inv way "But—but * 0 *" in the snow—and, incidentally, the But what?" he asned. "Go on trade I might have had et the shop- Say it! You have got to get the ping -centre to -night, along with it." habit of saying things, That's half "It's twelve miles over the mount- the fun of thinking them Go m— ain," said Libby -Ann. But what?" "But are you real ?" Libby -Ann "Then it's plain can't get there to -night!" he axe:tainted, making a burst out, "Am I real?" he retorted gaily. wry face. "Great Scott! And to- "- 112=W is Christmas! I promised my - Just watch me get after this wonder - mother, too, that I'd be hoine for sare.Piel" But the horses aee dead beat, and so "Is it really weederful pie?" she am I: 'the Ark pretty heevy * * asked s.olenuily. ea—nobody ever is Lovely princess, is aour royal mother visible?" Libby -Ann shook her head. "My rnother is dead," she said siMply. "There is no one here but me." Instantly his manner changed. ficent pie!" he declated. "And I'm a "Forgive me!" he said, gravely and sweetly, "Here I come' rushing good judge, too, for me mother is some in cook. But What malice you ask if I It's only Unit there are fewer of each with my fooling and nonsense, never tun real? was it sort of people in the .small platessuddenly?. aing so dreaming that you evere alone Mesta, ppeasAnd people like you and Me are in forgive me—I only talk that way to She nodded. 'Partly," she said. the minerine' t everywhere; there . are keep the world as beautiful and a e ea: as I'd like to have it Inn not craz"And what was the rest of the res- only a few of us, and never enough, y, really. I—I apologize!" son?" he wondered, very frankly, with even in the big cities, to make us feel "Oh, don't!" aid Libby-Annand simple curiosity. -- "Please telI me!" the strength of a majority. We're denly, breathlessly. "Go on that s, She could den h' nothing If he always the odd lot, and, in a way, please! I understand!" way . mei asked _air the sun, she would we,'re bound to feel it. But that have gone after it. Slowly e got doesn't matter. Believe me when "You do?" he exclaimed, coming a sh step nearerYou dont say! Good! upand went to the eu.pboard, from tell you this: it isn't the place you . "' beneath which she clrew the red -bound live in that makes for happiness— anything nine -about roy eooking be- fore." • • t "They didn't!" He seemed eaten- ished. Then be took a swallow of of seriousnes over his fine eyes. "Just coffee, set down the cup, and regavded the saine, it's probably very little dif- ME SLES LEFT BAD C UGH. "7" -- The after effecte of measles may be fac, reaching, as the irritation a the re. sph•atoryepassagee is one of the char- acteristics of this disease, and very often those who have been robust, become delicate and lieble to lung troubles, helm meaales should never be regarded ivith indifference. Meaeles are generally followed by an acute attack on the mucous membranes. The sneezing is accompanied with a watery disci:large, sometimes bleeding from the nose, a cough of a short, fre- quent and noisy character, with little or no expectoration, hoarseness of the voice, ete. IOnce the cough 'starts you should procure a bottle of Dr. Wood's Norway Pine Syrup, take a few doses a day and thus prevenebronchitis, pneumonia, or perhaps constunption getting a foot- hold on your system. Mrs. Oliver Kelly, Bellisle Station, . N.B., writes:—"Two years ago I had t e measles, and they left me with a bad cough. I kept getting worse until it last I could not sleep. ,,fy neighbor bold me of Dr. Wood's Norway Pine ;Syrup, so I sent and got a bottle, and before I had. used it my cough. Was all eetter. I find it a great family xnedieine fee olds and eoughse and I now s keep it in the house all the time." Dr. Wood's Norway Pine Syrup. is 35e., a large bottle 60c., at all druggists and dealers. Put. up only by The T. idilburn Co,, Limited, Toronto, Qat. her almost seriously. eteg =gni_ ferent from the rest of the towns!" he declared. "Foe the peeple in them are much the sante the 'world over. But. now about my staying '' * '1'.• maybe the horses can go on 4 * * why, I never thought of there being only a lone girl * * *" "Of course yeu'll stay," ehe replied, her marker, she placed it before him . n your mei e life n ould still be her hands twisting nervously under your real life! What folks really on the table.: . her apron in fear lest he vanish into on mean when they say they want to " And so at • last the prince. came . the night as myeteriously as he had plate where they couldn't sues in his state eartiage of gold,' " :he I lea" come. . read aloud; 'and the ogre, seeing his! ceed . in living happily is that they The stranger '.et .d ta hesitate. strength, did not dere to keep the 1 want to run away from themselves. princess.' * 0 '"' ' t . They want to leave themselves nd be - With a sudden bluish shh e enatehed I --- ----' and it can't be donei" "I expect that's true," Said Libby - the hook back, holding it tightly to i Ann. She looked across at -him. as her beeast, as the crimson mounted L her burning cheeks. i thomeh in a dream, and -Somehow in that instant her fear of her father, "Hello!" said be. as though all at! ' fairy book. Somehow she eould. not s the way you live! The town doesn t matter. Think! Why, if you. help doing it. She did not exactly ' were to move away from. here to - want to, and yet she felt so sure that 111.0Tr ow, you'd take yourself along. he would understandi Opening it at . . . advancing doubtfully from the door toward which be had instinctively taken a few steps. "Wen, if you really den% mind," he began, smiling again. "A Wilton never turned away a wide„ Some myetic and tender spirit had erept into the room, ineleeing the two of them es thotiedi in ix neje! Her heart beat so. that it almost pained, ana yet she would not have had it otherwise! Presently he spoke again; - "I'd like you in know my mother," he said drecterily. And the words eeereed to increase inimeasurably their intimacy. "She is so dear, so wonderful and patient. She is like one of the wise women of the Bible— 'She opeueth her meal,. With wis- dom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness,' Often I cee her in my iinagination, when I'M driving my shop over the quiet roads, and there is no eaund but the birds, and the rustle of hidden creatures in the weeds, and the tinkle onny horses' little silver bells as they pull me along in my 's'tate 'carriage of gold.' And there she is, waiting for My return, always so glad to greet nee with her quiet 'well, son!' * * Pd like you to know her!" Libby -Arm said nothing, butleaned a little closer to the fire, a queer, tight feeling in her throat. A strand of her hair came u.nfastened and, fall- ing over her shoulder, curled along the curve of her flushed cheek. With a. quick gesture she tried to replace it; but instantly his hand Was on hers. "Don't!" he begged, in a husky voice. "It is beautiful like that, You are beautiful!" "No,. no!" said LibbytAnn., Then the rest of her hair followed the first strand, so that her face :was en- veloped in a surprising' cascade of lit- tle curls. And Libby -Ann, looking into his eyes, saw that she was a wo- man. That strange; intoxicating mist was enwrapping them closer new. He bent near, taking both her hands in his, his face very grave, his eilver Voice low and vibrant. "Oh, lovely little imprisoned prin- cess!" said he. "How strange that I ehould have traveled 80 many roads, and never found true happiness be- fore! I thought that I was looking for success, fort peace, for a thousand different things, while all the time I was really searching fer—you!" She felt herself being drawn to- ward. him, vexy slowly, nearer and nearer, into those great, strong arms. And then, sudden and ternibly beau- tiful as a lightning bolt, their lips had met. For an incalculable periodtheworld spun under her, and the raging storm without seemed a puny thing to the storm within her. At last he put her away, almost roughly, and arose. Trembling, she watched him, feeling transformed, glorified. With a heavy movement he .passed a hand over his eyes. "No!" he muttered, placing the table between them, as if he feared to touch her. Then he spake to her. The room was almost in darkness now, the red coals' on the hearth serving more to shadow than to re- veal his face. "It is nate," said he, eharply. "You must go to bed." She was stunned, jolted heavily guest yet!" she assured him, proud- ly, innocently. "Of course you ,can With the color in her face she was as! once he beheld her through new eyes.! roues' of housework, melted into noel - of ler lonely life, of that dreary' back to earth. But bravely, though wonderingly, she faced this sudden haese the best eh:Amber. And—and chan et "But our room -1 must make •up the bed * "" she began. I , nearly Pretty as her tightly bound hair ingness, and a new, brave feeling et I a • • • supper, And coffee all hot," she added permitted. He laughed his silver laugh that was like Christmas bells for gladness "Yeu are a royal princess, -for sure!" he cried, slipping out of his great eoat. "I knew it at first sight—in- deed, as soon as I saw yaur castle on the hill, with the light beckoning in the window' Coffee? With 1 • t your highness!" He drew up the chair which she in- dicated; making a delightful grimace over the food like a pleased boy, as she uncovered it. He seemed perfect- ly at home and at hie ease once more, the slight shadow of his hesitation wholly vanguished. "I'm fiercely hungry " he confessed "but not eo hungry that I'm going to turn cannibal and begin on you, so you needn't, look so scared, child! Cheer up, and smile at a goer wand- erer. Honest, Pm a perfectly desir- able citizen; a good, respeetable mer- chant, though not exactly what you might call steady, seeing that I move about a- good bit, shop and all. But otherwise in good standing, I can tell you truly. So don't he afraid, prin- cess—simile a little!" She brought him the coffee from tbe hob, holding the hot handle with her apron, her gray eyes wide, her timidity -melting. For he was irre- eistible as the west, wind in summer, so fall Of roma-nee and gentle sport. "Feast well, 0 prince!" she said shyly, half -shamefacedly, scarce know- ing herself. "Fectet well.; the ogre will not be home to -night!" Ile 'dropped his fel*in surprise and his lauglr rang out again, full of delight and cueotteagenterit. "Weil! I'M blessed if you don't really ander- stand!" be cried, springing up to help her. "Here! let me pour that! Aren't you going to. eat, your high- ness?" guess maybe I will," she "I was reading it when you called," she stammered. "I see!" he nodded; that new con- , sedateness still burning in his eyes. She was perfectly well aware that he was really seeing her for the first time, and vaguely wondered why. He held out his hand for the book. "Let's have it back," he begged. "It looks like a pretty story: I'd -like to know how it ends. "Oh, no!" cried Libby -Ann, hastily. "That is, the end is no matter. I was , just, trying to show you how I .canie to wonder if you could be real, and! how it was that I could understand— the 'game'!" gii'.'iBve,cauee you live just in -fairy- talesie he said. :softly. "Poor little! "You have to live that way up' here' on the farm, she murmured. "Yes; I suppose so," said he. "But thengyou have to anywhere. Life is a• little dull, you know, unless you make it interesting!" "Dull" .-fiedLibby-Ann, dropping, the last vestige of her ,selftcolascious- ne-Sa. "Not your lifer—wandering about from place to place. Why, it must be wonderful, seeing the gay towns and the happy people, •and the theatres, and everything! Pin sure it must be different from anything here!". "Pm not eo certain," said he, slaw- ly. "I've seen a lot of places, that's a factaand 1 haven't seen your near- est village. But Pd like to bee that it's no different from the rest." "Oh, but it is!" she assured him, "Middletown Corners, five miles on— that's the nearest, place—is awful! The people. are to ---so prim and dis- approving, and never have a good time. It's an awfully mean tittle town. Nobody could be really happy with only Middletown Corners!" He. pushed back bis chair from the earl:shed supper -table, a light shadow flooded her veins like wine. too, used to have the Idea that raving would help," he went on after a little pause; "that if I went away things would be better with me. I had a good start in life; the oppor- tunity for a college education. And I made a bad mistake. I 'didn't make good, as I should have done after all the sacrifices mother made to give me my 'chance. I was always dreaming, leafing, and I couldn't study. Some- how the idea of the university and a profession didn't interest me. And when the time ame, I couldn't pass the examinations, and there was no more money -for tutoring * 0 and later, when I saw how disappointed mother was in me, and how the friends and neighbors talked., I :thought I'd get away, that the tetern was no place for me, and that. I'd have to go to some better place to make a decently happy life for myself,. Well, I've suc- ceeded pretty fairly. I made a good living, too, and can take care of mother now. BO it wasn't because I took my body away front home that I s.ucceeden. It was because I learned to live inside my budy, And by do- ing that the very- best I could—I got He 2finislied off with a sigh and, ris- ing from the table, went closer to the hearth, piling OD new logs. Spell- betind, Libby -Ann followed. And when he found -a seat close to the blaze, she took a glace apposite him on a cushion. The lamp had fljekered and burned out, leaving the room with only the firelight, hut neither of them noted the•fact. The corners filled with shadowe, crouching and mysterious, and across the low telling other shadowe of a gayer sort danced in company with the flamers. The air was sweet with the warm odor of the crackling pine and the smooth stneke of dry applewood. The glove of the fire was reflected on Libby -Ann's cheeks,, arid her gray eyes were very • "Never Mind me—I will sleep hare!" he replied briefly, "But please, will you go now, at mice—I—please!" "Very well," said Libby -Ann, deep- ly wounded and terribly confused. She lit a candle, and went to the door with leaden steps. He followed, opening the door for her. Then he stopped her with a gesture, and by the -candle's light she saw that though Ms lips were set, his eyes were mir- aculouely tender "Little prin- cess!" said he. "What is your name?" "Libby -Ann," she told him; the homely enund of it seemed to typify all her drab existence. - "Elizabeth -Ann!" said he, smiling now. "Two of England's queens!" "And what is your . name?" she asked. "My name' is Freedom Day," said he. Then he kissed her hand, just in the manner of the courtly prince he looked, and shut the door behind her softly. 4' * * The Christmas dawn was clear a.nd. cold as Libby -Ann, her culls 'caught up beguilingly in a snood .of blue rib- bon, crept quietly down the stairs. Far off in the East the crimson sun 'was sending advance rays over the glietening fielda Of snow, tinting the heavy -laden branehes of the trees with rose hues, gleaming on icieled eaves and frosted hedgerows. The world was intensely still, intensely glad, as though the whole universe laughed for holy joy. Very softly Libby -Ann entered the kitchen, bending swiftly and silently over the Aeon cheerily cracking Stove and the preparations for breakfast. Then, when all was ready, she tap- ped uport the door of the living -room, smiling to herself the while. There was no response. With apprehension creeping over her like an icy -cloud, she waited a breathless moment, and knocked again, louder. Stall the in. 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I heertily recommend them to all my friends. Milburani Heart and Neevn _Pills one a bog at all dealers, , or mailed direct byThe Limited, Toronto, Ont. • g tense quiet, broken only by the snap. ping of the kitchen fire. Then, with ; a desperate movement, she opened the • door. v . ' the living -room was 'empty! Despair . swept over her like a .storm. Gone! Ile was gone! Im- possible! After last night, after ethe beginning of life for her! With stumbling feet.she managed to reach the east window, and looked out. There on the eraooth new snow lay the evidence, damning, irrefutable— a heavy wagon -track, and the mark of horses' hoofs, breaking the spark- ling surface, leading away—away 1 over the brow of the hill, clean-cut and clear, into the distance, into the shinieg, unknown world. With a heavy sob she buried her face in her arms, and kneeling there by the frosts ed glass, the cold light shining full upon her, she wept as though her heart would break. Time passed. un - reckoned, hideous. She &mid not live, she could not! But at length she gathered her iniserable little body from the floor and turned to the mir- ror above the cold hearth. From it her tear -stained face stared back at her out of a tangled mass of curls. "No use for them now!" she mur- Anured, gathering them up and un- mercifully twisting them into their accustomed sleekness. IResolutely she turned away itiat choking back a sob, set about eleerne- in,g the disordered table. The cireare monotony of her life had begun ,again. There was the butter and the cake. There was the plate of eold meet, there was * * ! Amazed, she picked it up: a huge round box with a pattern of hollyhguen it and tied with a great crimsoVatin ribbon which held in place a Piie little gilt tongs. Candy! A box ot candy of a size and beauty beyond belief. And, better still, a little note. With shaking fingers she opened it and read. Dear! 1 have gone oft eariy so as surely not to disappoint xny mother, Merry Christmas, and Iny best box of candy to you, I will .be back on New Year's Day, to face the ogre and to finish the fairy -story. I love you. FREEDOM. After a moment the world began going around again. Suddenly the sun came over the hill, and laughed in at the window. Marveling; Libby - Ann lifted the gorgeous box to her 'breast, crushing, the lovely crimson ribbon all unheeding. And there be- neath it lay the book of fairy-tales, open at her story, the end of which had been lightly underscored 'with pe‘An,einled so at last the prince came in his, state carriage of gold," she read, "and the ogre, seeing his strength, did not dare to keep the princess," (Over eitek—s1 to the next page—oh, quickly!) "And. so they were married and lived hap- pily ever after!" "Ohl" said Libby -Ann. And all at once she set down the box of candy and the note, and began fluffing out her hair! Birds are good friends of the farmer and the gardener, When the glory of the Christmas tree is past encour- age the children to set it up in the yard and fix it up as a feedaig station far the birds. nettecnnenewevemsevemmenzonrnoper 111 ims F HEMORRHOIDS 541"arl ARZ 6ACJSED COLT PATO There aro few complain ts more common than hemorrhoids, commonly called pilesa and scarcelyan' which cative more trouble and misery. Piles are divided into three classes 1.e,, itching, protruding and bleeding, and coesist in a tininess of blood and languid - circulatiort in the portioti of the lower bowel or rectum. The chief causes of piles are noll. stipation, Wattling at stool, and the tiemg of drastic purgetevee. This latter wewould very strolig,ly advise ageinet as these strong purgatives, espeeially those containing calomel ead other etillure41pCielr'neogn8'sbaroeveteQ12, si"ng or 11 ye ° A mild laxative will do more to cermet this trouble thea enethine else, and this you will find in Itlileura';; Ineta,-Liver Pille, a pill that is _purely vegeteblei gernripeolharri6adkeetasbyt to take, end deee not Milbutn's Leese -Liver Pills are 25c. e glei at all dealers{ 'Dry mailed direct emaipt of priec by The T. Milburn ' Limited, 1.'ororito.. Oat, a n'et