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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Brussels Post, 1901-12-19, Page 644 os�oo44..04ostao osQ1041,. , o+oa' •♦o 4y ilary's adventure. A STORY 01' OffEIST 'IAS EVE. 44446..osos**oeosososeo®o.000®o.0000004.4,4o+ Lady blury's Adventure, i With the eomiiig of the night it had, It was a little after midday on the faired up, the eters twinkled sharply tweO'v-fourth of trecember in the in the blue -black heaven, the air was year i7813 teat, Lady Mary Child- clear, cold and frosty; on all sides Ielgh eta out tippet mut was to be ,stretched *the wide, pale moor, and for her a monentoua naive, la that ' the road wound ahead into the dis- year lits Majesty ft torso II• was tanto a dusky lino traced on idle :Clog of Lu>;tend, rho great Walpole wllilonass, The cold sent -the blood was his ntialster and the land (lowed lnto her cheeks, and Lady MOST be with fat and plenty, it was a merry tante more and more oonsclous of a land where the gentry looked most distinct exhilaration in thus riding to the enjoyment of loo, It was 1t1x, through the night, Stri n:met or all, too, In Its morals; the Icing was a sho felt no trace of fear, but to.her optic and a high -liver, and this Wes own mind was anistress o the situa- but a Meek of a general carelessness, Lion. That thought and another for things lay at louse ends all over nude her smile to hersellf, the kingdom,thhe hrg'hways tore in- � "You wi11 miss Lord Craven," she Tested with fentleu.en of fortune; said suddenly, exon some of geed birth had taken • to the road es a ptaeu which moults- "I shall be of service to a lady," od adventure and as easy living. "Ono who is so careful of; his con - Things being in this state, even in duet toward ladies might well give the roost Settled parts, it Was a a thought to his dealinss with mon, hardy thing for a woman to start 1 could lird a bettor use for my pis - upon .a luuruey alone. tins than poking them into people's Lady Mary had been upon a visit faces." to her aunt at lyarWica, and the let -i piaster Richard smiled, "It is ex - ter was to have ridden with her to citing,°' hesaid. join in the Christmas festivities at "There are the Wars." Chudleigh Manor, but the day before 'Poor you go and poor you come a matter hits come up requiring the back; and emu must ,nave guineas if aunt's presence la London, so it fell ow would live." out that Lady Mary started alone, ' "There are ways of gettfug them The Manor lay about twenty 'taloa honestly. By your voice you are a north of Warwick. Ilor vehicle was -gentleman," a lured chaise driven by a post -boy, "You will find more than one such and in spite of Liao loneliness of the upon the road. After all, what call - road Lady Mary had never a thought ing is honorable wenn the very nish- of danger, ops buy their bishoprics of the Lung's There had been a light snowfall in women?" the morning, and the gray clouds "To go to Lite bad with a bishop were scuduing in the Heavens driven for company would be no great corn - by a luasteriul wino, mho horses, fort," she retorted, though no better than they should "1t was dull at Home," said Mas - hare teen, made fair headway, told ter Richard, driven to repeat hint - by imby. four of the clock, had covered Lbe 8011, groator part of the distance and were "It would be duller in a coil at. within the miles of the luamur, But Newgate," said Lady Mary and with already at that hour and in that sea- that they both fell silent. son dark had begun to fail. As the mare was obliged to carry --- double she Horde way out suwiy, Lady Mary leaning pack among her and it was an hour beforQ they came rugs and furs looked eagerly out of in sight of the lights of the Manor this window for familiar Landmarks, and rode up the long avenue ,under The land thereabout is rustled up in- the bare beech -trees. to ridges quite bare of trees and • When they were within ear -shot of moor-hke, and rho lung road skirting the house Lady Mary motioned Mas - as it does these 00101hts is in some for Bullock to stop. "I will get pieces uncommon dreary. Whatever cL Wn helm" she said; and she added, Lady Mary's thoughts were, they with a touch. of mischief to ncr voice, were interrupted very suddenly by a "I am obliged to you for bringing sharp crack, as or the extra loud me." snapping of a whip. The chaise Master Richard gave hor a hand stopped with a jerk. As the occu- down. "I wish you a Morrie t;nrist- pant put out ker head to inquire the nuts," he said, soberly. cause a man upon norscback rode up "True enough," said Lady Mary;" to the aide of the carria a and she what with the adventure of riding. round a pair of pistols thrust into with a real highwayman i nae well - her face. nigh forgot that it was Christmas Now, although Lady Mary was a eve. But where will you spend It?" fearless person, she was a woman, ; "In a barn or at a cross-roads and the sudden apparition caused her inn," he answered, to scream. At this tho rider him- ._. self appeared no less startled than 'Ile could see her shako her head in his vietin, for he moo Pack et pace • the darkness. "It is an Ill way to and lowered the pistols. ';'men. peer- spend this night In such a fashion." Mg into the chaise and ser3ng that And as she spoke, for the second its only occupant was a womaa, he floe that night she had au impulse oiled with his wide bat and swept to do a dariag thing. "You shall her a bow. come in with me," sno averred. "Madam," says he."I have redo, roaster' Richard laughed. "And risk a blunder. I mistook your carriage meeting some ono who will recognize for that of Lord Craven, of Coven- Hie on the shot?" try, who should bo riding this Way." I ."Phe danger trr out little, and, af- By this time Lady Mary had some- Ler all, it is da what regained her composure, and in l sperend that you court,i Come, you shall spend your Christ - the Mira light she looked at her cap- may like a ChristIrta." tor, }ie was a youngish man with As they talked they were welkin little trace of his calling in hisg face. Mayhap it was something she toward the house and beluc'e mayor saw there that made her say. "Sipco Richard could think "Yea or Nay" you cannot rob Lord Craven you can the door swung open to them, and rob me, for I have a purse and ,jaw- ° oar of laughter, the smell of Ms.". baked meats. and tn0 ewer or the The highwayman bowed again. "I warm house rushed to greet their have not senses. Master ttrcnara Builoeklift t yetgotso far asrobbing women," he said oil his nosu•iis as he smelt supper, As he spoke there was a clatter of and ho had no more thought of go hoofs on the opposite side of the car- lug back. Ills horse Went to a ear nage. The frightened pustboy had vast; a minute more and.he was taken the opportunity of the parley disking hands wttn a bluff, round to escape on one of the horses. The man who was the Lord of tho Manor other had been shot dead. and Lady Mary was explaining that ;the chaise had been set upon by high - As Lady Mary realized the octane high- waymen, but that this gentleman tion she stamped her foot. "not", had 'rescued hor and brought her a pretty mess indeed! As wet! bo Homo. This of course mase much robbed as left upon a lonely road at talk for the company, who looked this time of night, and five miles upon Master Richard as a hero; but tram hornet" to him it was all one i1' they said "I am sorry—" Degan the man. one thing or another. For the lust "Fine Words," she interrupted, "do time ho saw Lady Mary [ally, and not put butter upon bread! And if from tho instant he clapped his oyes MO on her he never took them o(1. She you are sorry, that dues not get home in time for the Christmas sup -stood there, a slight Little figure, the p0r1" front of her jacket thrown back her 1 am tho Lady Chudietgh, of dark gray oyes flashing black in the Chudleigh Manor," she sato, prou firelight, her fluffy, snuu-corored hair "And might I ask your destine- loot with frost and tossed about her Mon.?" face in a fine disorder. As he looked his heart gave a great bound, a flush rose to his oyes and he thanked hes- von teat it had sent nam into the presen'n of this laxly. And, though he hell his head high and carried himsell with a suggestion of brava - cheeks; .but she was a girl who acted • do, a shame for his trade had taken hard upon impulse and she gave hold cf him. voice to it. I A servant led him to a room whore "Will the mare carry double?" ire mode what hasty toilet he could;. The man hesitated, as if ho had' but . all the while it was the vision not heard aright, of Lady Mary that 110 saw in the "If she will ant," said Lady Mary, mirror,'arid it was tho tinkle of her "you, will have to Walk and lead the voice that seemed everywhere about mart while I ride, for I am going to him us ho made his Way to supper. be at, home in two hours," The house Was as fall of guests as On this Master Richard Bullock a great house is in the Christmas laid hack his head. and laughed, and season, and Master 'Richard locked his voice was so round and merrysharply about , him for a familiar that Lady Mary fell ihte his humor face. But he saw none, so ho made and laughed too, a rippling, bub' hist mind easy, accepted very gra- bling, provoking laugh, of a sort to piously the compliments of the ladies, sot ti man's' heart thumping and his and by the side or Lady Idary made Need dancing. a, most valiant meal, for lie had cat-.; "Isou shall. ride, Itl'y Lady," an- en nothing sinoe morning. Eie, even swored Master Richard, With a Jerk responded in some sort to a toast, 01 the rein he brought tho mare to and when tho eempany finally ads the choke's side;' then lie slipped hack jouniod to the hall ho Would have to the crupper and gave Latly Marycalled himself itappy'but for a ltorrl- a hand to the saddle, where he stead- bre doubt which, had:•ct'ept into his led her with his arm, mind that be was not afit'poroon ti In this fashion their 1 y took the road to Louth tho hand of wady Ma ry again, ;saving the chaise and the Tho hall with a long room With a dead 1lorse until the postbag should great fisc -place at one anti itt which 0.0n° for thein, As for Lady Marys the Yule -log glowed and spat, feelings, they were rt i2lectu1'p o? Around upott the walls were the per- doubt and daring, traits of the great mon and the Imola "I am master Richard Bullock, sometime of Yorkshire, now a rover, but very much at your service." Sho cast a look et the mare he head which sent the blooel''t.o her rode, and a thought popped into her 'i` c;gji� tit YULE -TIDE. It was hard on the tide ofule • And the wind bit shrewd and sharp Churning the rive;' pool, turning the deep -wood boughs, That were wont to droop and drowse, • To tate moaning' strings of a harp, A snow -threat gloomed the sky, And with iterant, raucous caw A bevy of, rooks went by, Each seeming a thing Of evil, ominous ruing Flapping adown the flaw: �yrf fieri Then night 'fell over the fen, And he mused, still stumbling on, "Out of the world of men Into the shades I go 1" And he grimly laughed, when lo, A light on his pathway shone t "Mine enemy's tower I"'he•said, As the Leucon beckoned him. "Well, Succor were likely as bread To be had from a shard or stone, Or moat from a wolf -gnawed bone, Or hope in the heart of hell)", Yet he steered him sheer on the flare With a "Here or there, 'tis. one! A corpse in the morning air, Proton as rigid as steel, Or a form on gibbet or wheel— What matters it how 'tis done 1" • Xie clanged a summons ether, heepitg his grip on hate And he waroered not to hear A word from a tongue abhorred— '1 hen back'swung the outer ward, And his enemy stood in the gate. Eyes upon burning oyes Hung as when war -fires rule ITncier the angry skies ; Then, ere the wrath -flame died, "Welcome 1" his enemy cried, "For this is the eve of Yule." Into the banquet -hall He wan bid as a chosen guest „st-:„.tes l N And there before them ail' Did his enemy give him moat,. And bread of tho finest wheat, and golden wino of the best. Then he was brought to a room Where rugs were soft on the floor, And a fire made fair the gloom ; And warned with astern behest Of the sacred rights of a guest, A guard was set at the ' door. Through the black night -watches long Did he wait on sleep, but when Came ilio peal of. the matin song No slumber had kissed his brow; So he girded himself, for now The sunlight lay, on the fen. Tben once more did his foo Proffer him drink and food: Forth to trio court below Did his enemy lead the way, Where as oto for a fray, Chafing, a charger stood, "Hate -it is burned into shame Scorn—of ray j1 is the scorn ; Blanml—I confess the blame; Vengeance is thine !" he saki, And with averted head' He rode out into the morn. tiful women of the house; below 'these wore trophies of the chase—boars' heads, and the antlers of stags, winch served as racks for guns and fishing rods. Here ,was a gay com- pany• lksides tho family, the ser- vants had all come in, and an old tidoler seated on a little raised plat- toriu, which was spread with holly and .evergreens, was making music for the dance, Lady Mary led off with the keep- er's son, and (taster Richard danced with a sour -faced old lady who was aunt to the family. But if his hand touched hers now and again in the reel his eyes were all for the niece; and at the end or the dance ho left the emit with some aoruptneee and, got to the Lady- Mary's side. s t 0 s c "I hope you enjoy your evening," aid that lady, as sho•smiled into ,Laster Richard's face, "Ywere enough` to maze one an honest man," he answered, as he drew her a little to the side to where he window bayed, put back the cur- tain and looked out into the night; and then, though his -heart was full 1' speech, he could not bring one word to his tongue. At lest I did not deserve such good treatment," aid he. "Why did you ask me to oma?" "In the Christmas time alt the world aro friends," "I would 1 might -have you for my friend always;•'+ he answered., Even as he spoke there was atur- rnur of the guests near rho door, and ho word passed from mouth to mouth that the post-ooy eau arrived with the sheriff and the bellies. "Our friend who ran away has re- turned," said Lady Mary. "But he will not recognize you." "But the sheriff knows my face as ho knows his brother's, for I once ave him cause. 71 110 lays hands on me up to London I go, and' that is he ond." Lady Mary Went white and her oioo trembled, " Iie will not touch you, You are a Christmas guest." "That he will not, but it is be- cause I will not give him the chance," said Master Richard, quiet- ly; and his voice did not tremble, for o bacl put his hand down and touch - d hers. "You can go by title door and tho' tchotl." "And how will you explain?" "I shall tell the truth; but by theft you must have ridden out of clatt- er." They slipped out a rear door and nto a, big kitchen, It was deserted, or the. servants were in the great all; there Were no candles, but the og made a dim flicker of light, All bout lay 'remnant's of the servants' east; on the table were mugs with Lie dregs of itorneshrosved; on the mantel was a jar of spiced wine, Master Richard poured out two cups. "hho health of Lady Mary Chud- elgh," said he, "and may rho Christ. Mos spirit always be alight in her Witty" "I give you succuss in an 11°0,4 ailing." she answered, ' "Is it bold to ask ono tiling more? X�et inc keep this glove," mud he ouched ono which film held. t g v h ki "Tire man who carries .it must serve his King and country and not his own pleasure.' 'And 11," said Master Richard, boldly, "if I do this, and one day come back, may I ask for the hand that this has covered?" "Good-bye," said Lady Mary, with lbwered eyes. But on a sudden, as -he kissed her fingers, she gave Trim a rare smile. Then he went oub into the night. ( I Now, for those .readers who hold that a story is worth little without a conclusion, I set down parts of three documents, which bear dates in the forties. Tho first is a•grant of knighthood conferred by His Most, Gracious•Majeety•Iiing George II, on ono Richard Bulioce,.steam, for gal- lant conduct on the field Of Betting - en on that day when the little Eng- lish king so severely defeated the French 'Army; the second is a deed of a house and lands in Warwickshire from one Ashley' Clinton to Sir Rich- ard, 'Bullock, dated January of the year 1778:, and the third is an entry under Juno 17 of•>tno eamo.year, in the parish register of Hampton -in - Arden . of tho nitirrfago of Lady Mary. Chudleigh to Sir Richard Bullock; All of which plainly shows 'that good often grows out of evil, and that to exercise the Christmas' spirit even to one's enemies.. is like to bring irappi nese all round. MORPHINE HABIT IN FRANCE. Its Frequency' Due to Use of Na -' cotic.e in Hospitals. The growing feequency'of the mor- phine habit in Franco, Which is largely duo to the unrestricted use of the narcotic in hospitals, is be- ginning to cause uneasiness among those who study the signs of the three. A. fashionable chemist in the B,uo de la Patz, Paris, says that the "amount of morphine taken in pro- fessional and' society circles is very considerable, and added that women were This best customers. Dr. Paul Itodet, head of the well- known hydrotherapeutio estabiLsh- Mont in the Rao Boileau, instances as deeply addicted to the drug women of fashion, army men and ooloniels, Journalists and politicians, and med- ical;merf. ' Dr. Jacquet adds to tiffs list Paris Working gine, mi111nors and dress - Makers, to Whom chemists sell mor phino too freely, and both medical mon aro agreed that stricter ince sures should be enforced with a view to staying the terrible ravages of this dangerous habit, OVITTI TUE DANGER LINE. "Weary," said Sidney Patches, its the two were resting as usual, "this is my birthday and l: draw a deep breath of relief, for .1' aur out of clangor,,, • "What are you talking about?" asked Weary. "1 ant thirty-flvo years old, and for acme time 1 have known that be - Meow Liao ages of twenty and thirty- five men do their greatest work, " It has kept me Worried, but note I fool safe," Tho accessories may be coffee, pop- corn, lady apples, poppermints.and Qorman peppdrnuts: The menu may bo as follows: Clear Brown Consomme with Snots': - balls in 1racli Dish. Small Turkey Stuffed with Chestnuts or Sweet Potatoes, Cranberry Molds. Celery in Cream Sauce, Nice -balls Popped. Salad of Peas and Nuts in Lemon- cups, An Oblong Mince Pie Covered with Granule.ted Sugar. White Prozon Pitmr.Pudding, Banana Sauce. Everybody, of course, ' mows how to make brown consomme, but this especial consomme is good enough to copy. 'Take a renuckle of veal and a shin of beef, extract the marrow frons the bones, and brown a few small Nieces of beef in it; odd these pieces to the bones in -a Bottle of cold water, and brown in the remaining ufarrow half a carrot, an onion and a turnip, all cut in thin slices. Pour this, marrow and all, into the soup, add a -fere sticks of celery, a sprig oath of parsley and sweet marjoram— the fresh loaves if possible—and sim- mer iour hours; then add ono table- spoonful of salt, six peppercorns and six cloves, simmer another hour, and pout' through a colander and cheese cloth into a jar. In the morning re- move the fat, clear the jetty with egg-white and shell, and When ready to serve heat, fill the plates and put one spoonful of whipped cream 'nixed with beaten egg-whites and salt on each one, piling it up so as to look likea snowball. ` The turkey may nave a plain broad or sweetpotatostuffing if the chests nut flavor is not liked; if plain it Should be delicately seasoned with herbs, leaving sage out altogether. Thechestnuts for the garnish are boiled` untld tender, but not sof t, then dipped in some of the consomme jelly melted with a sTspicion or gela- tin. They aro a pretty addition to the turkey, and are just a little more refined than a sausage garnish. Tho cranberry jolly may bo -moulded in, tiny round -bottomed cups .or glasses. The stewed celery is surrounaed by a very white cream sauce flavored with a few, drops of lemon: juice. Tho rice -balls aro silly, but they look ra- ther pretty, so wo must have them. Blake a savory Croquette mlXcur° of boiled rice, mould into round balls, fry in deep, hot fat, and when cold enough to ,handle 1111 tnem with lit- tle , sticks of White gelatin and plunge again into the hot fat until rho gelatin sticks have all popped. Of course, no one will eat the trita rings, although they aro not bad, but the balls, should be all right. But whatever is left out, the salad should not bo "it" for the salad,' it an appropriate one, is fife "it" in a successful dinner Everything under the sun is now pressed into service to do duty as a salad, and I believe it is the test of the entire dinner. Tho hostess should contrive to give: a persbnaiity by artistic touches jn- diyidual to herself throughout, but she; may .take; chances with her salad that •would be extremely hazardous n any other course. Therefore, let the salad -be u,novelty, but not an" absurd one. The contents thereof may never b0 guessed,' but thero should' bo congruity at least. A de- licious novelty is a mixture of can- ned green peas boiled in their Own 'Mee, drained and cooled, then mixed with cut (not chopped) walnut - meats. These should -r rest in a mar- inade of French dressing for one hour, then be put into halves of lemons which have been scooped out and their outsides denuded of every. particle -of yellow cuticle. Place these lemon ()ups on leaves of very whitelettuc0 and put a spoonful of white dressing on the top oftho salad, Now we have reached the end of savories and t110 beginning of sweets, and although 1t 1s -entirely unnoces- sary and almost bad Lorin to eery() two sweets- we will break over in honor of the day and at the same time fltVbr twentieth century taste. A mince pia We must have for tradi- tion's carte, for centuries ago le was the most serious adjunct to the Christmas feast,. It was then called a shred pie and wan made oblong to represent the manger, We will there- fore bake ours in a long, equate tin, cover It with glistening granulat e- sugar and partake of it not only re- verently, but daintily; and whoa 1t has been sacredly carried away we will become secular again and enjoy ,.the frozen white plum pudding, which ' is made of ono cupful of sugar and ooe cupful of water cooked until it thread's, than poured slowly over tho Whites of three eggs and beaten un- til stiff; when this is thoroughly beaten and cold there is added ono pint of whipped cream, one teaspoon- ful of vanilla- and ono half cupful each of seeded raisins, currants. Lug- lish walnuts and almonds and can- died cherries. The uurrants and rais- ins `should be`plumped into boiling water. Pour this mixture at once into a 'mold, cover with paraffin pa- per, put on the cover, seal with lard around the edge to prevent salt- water from creeping in, pack in ice *and rock -salt, and leave it three or' four hours to ripen; then remove from the mold, place it • on a glass round dish and garnish with holly. If a round bomb -mold is used it wi11 look quite like a snowball, especially if the fruit is kept well toward the centro. Servo with a sauce made of bananas. Boil one cupful of granu- lated sugar with two of water until it threads, pour this into tho well - beaten yolks of two eggs. add the mashed pulp of six ripe bananas, and enough lemon juice co .give flavor; just a' suspicion of salt is an fm- provement: This 500ee may be used hot and passed after the plum-pud- ding:has been' cut and served or it may bo served cold, but some think it is better hot. Tiny balls of deli- cate white cake covered with icing, then rolled in cocoanut, is an addi- tion tocthe esthetic aspect' of our, feast, but not to the material, for our eaters will have had so much by this time that .it willbe a miracle if thew care for more The accessories—thepopped corn, 'lady apples, poppormcnt wafers and bonbons and'little German cakes cal- led popper•nuts—will bo really mum - cosset,/ adjuncts, for they will hardly bo eaten. Titis, menu, if carefully carried out may not be perfection, but it is hoped it will surely "skirt it" at least. When we think we have reached perfection it Limo to stop talking and writing ane reading about food, for perfection is the ond of all mundane things. Ono of tile old philosophers sofa many eetitllrie8 ago that 'he had discovered' that- men lived to oat and it was too.latothen fOr'him to rentonstrate.with so time- worn a custom. Now wo have dis- covered that there aro many In this hygienic century Who eat to live, so this menu should be so perfect in de- tail and yet so simple in effort that the disciples of both,. thew -crevrls shall be appeased and satisfied, ' COOKING TXRTDER WATER.' A waghr was made by a resident of .London that ho could cook a plum pudding tea feet beneath the surface of the River Thames. He won the bet by placing the pudding in a tin case and putting tho whole in a sack of lime, Tho heat of the Limo, slacking when 1t came hi con- tact with the water, was' sufficient to coolc the pudding In two hours. 1111utaliiig III r E. ;Y• v ,A T'CA()If,Xit1G SANTA CLA178 -10-4-41 (ISTJJAS TRE; AD1D TRIMMINGS. 000 (>-4-9 The 'maiority.: of families : think that a Cluristmas tree is .' luxury, a'vaet undertaking entailing great 'expense,' and involving not only la- bor but that the outlay does not re• pay in pleasure for 1110 money and Limo given;" so ono of the most Iove, ly remembrances of the Yule -tido is each year laid aside. There is, how- ever, no custom so thoroughly en- joyabio or that leaves in its train Much, a flood of tender memories, We grow into the sere and yellow leaf of t110 threescore years and ten, but the remembrance of our first Christmas trees ronta"ina ever green and omnipresent in the turned -down pages in Time's old scrap -booms' A dear friend said she hate net%r real- ized what she had missed in her childhood until' it chewed, ill' and alone, she spent' a. Christmas in a hospital. Awakening on the morn of this wonderful holiday, she found that her nursds had placed in the window beside her bed a bough from a Large Christmas tree, a ,spray of holly, strings of pop -corn, a candle or two, with a bit of fruit and fling gift. It Was her first Christmas , tree. The tears came—but they were Joyful tears—silo was a child again, and there and then she resolved that not matter what trouble, what incon- voniilhce or expense, her children should always have a Christmas tree, It is a mistaken idea to spend the month before Ohristmas in lonely preparation, shutting out the mild - ren from the tiviug rooms, hustling them oft to .bpd at unseeinly hours, and forbidding them to .10011 at or touch anything for fear they may get a glimpse of rho wonderful surprise. It causes thorn many a heartbreak and many a silent tear. Why leave the children out and make them wish Christmas "never was," as a wee tot, expressed herself? Talce thorn in- to your confidence and have them help you with the triinnlings for the true Santa is to bring. Two dollars property expended will trim a tree splendidly, and give a tundred dol- lars' worth of pleasure for several" wooks. Purchase two balls of twine --one pink and the other blue— and a quire of best .mixed - colorq-d tissue - paper. Cut the paper into ribbons two inches wide and tour inches long. The string should be two or three yards long. Tie the papers on these strings about three inches apart, al- ternating tho colors. have on hand several pasteboard 'boxes to place thorn in when finished, being careful to arrange newspapers very lightly between, to keep them from tangling and crushing. Severalears of pop- corn nicely popped and strung will furnish amusement for several even- ings. A practical and 'useful idea is the study of paper, how it is colored, arid all about pop -corn, whore it i$ grown, how it is cultivated, etc. It M really wonderful how happily and usefully the evenings can be spent, One of the very prettiest decor. - tions is cranberries; these, however, should bo loft until the last thing, thea strong and placed on the tree between the strings of popcorn, the bright red .of the cranberries con- trasting very prettily with the soft green of the pine. A dozoa or more penny Japanese lanterns and opened parasols give a fine and unique touch of Oriental color, while'a dozen mir- ror -balls and a few tiny flags with a bunch of silver and gold sprays are all that. is necessary to make a tree exceedingly• beautiful to the young- sters. Add to this about two dozen candles with fixtures and the tree will bo complete. If, however, a little novelty is desired, :take .sero Eng- lish walnuts, spilt so the shell. : will bo intact, remove the moats, gold or silver the empty' shells, place a tiny doll, candy or motto inside 'and tie With bright -colored baby ribbon. Small stockings and rabbits made of different -colored tarlatans overcast with bright worsteds, ailed with can- dies, nuts, raisins and pop -corn, and arranged so that each little visitor shall receive ono of these simple gifts, will give more joy than some elaborate gift. A Christmas tree should be stout, strong and sturdy, with branches that do not too much lois or bow. A pine box, sufilciontiy large to hold the tree secUr•ely, should' no propped with small brackets made of strips of ping. Take an old shoot to cover the carpet, and fasten et each corner with small tacks. Place the tree in the centre, and cover the box with green or red choose -cloth. The trim- ming of the tree, of course, is tort to tho good judgment of Santis" Claus. itemove dainty brie -a -brae ands cover t. costly furniture, tirtte giving'perfeot freedom of station. QUI7'tu D77r'L',pjltJ113 , • "We hoard you Whilping your boy ' Last night, said this spokesman' of' the patty. Yes," replied tire indignant par- ent, . "the youngster played' truant trona school, ate 'up two jars of Ilia mother's jam, tumbled his little sis" ter out of hor high elude, nod tried to build a bonfire in the Icitchen," "110 matter," retutllOd the spokes - Dian, "it is govornfnent Without tho consent of the governed, and w(0 cans not permit it." "Besides that," Wont on the Im dignant parent, 'ire broke three win- dows Ln your basement," "What 7" cried the spokesman, "is ho the boy who did that ? Why, iso ought to bo thrhshed Within ori inch of h e life tltk t have i iI'd o o Lav the handling of bin1 tar a tray oe so and I'd teach him to believe himself," "But government, Without con, "Is n, thoory, nothing but a theory —a`tneasly little, hoha1iiL'ttheoryi'r