The Spirit of Democracy, 1886-12-28

. CHRISTMAS POETRT. . ' Even -wnlle wc sing, lie smiles Ills last, i Ami leaves our sphere behind. ' The good old year Is with the past, "- - Oh, lie the now as kind. Jinimil. A cheer for old crtrtsinius: tin nun to uirimj ; 'I trust 'twill a merry one be. tt..u rl.i-luliniiulil vrpcflllirs illumine thy way,- ' . To make it a brluht one to thee. A. merry ns the robin's sons :' On some sweet morn of May, " . " -In Joy asrieh, In love usslronsj. Bo this pltnl Christmas day. Keep the fenst with ghulness! Tuke we the tablets of the past To wipe recorded woes away; Now, merry hells Hug out at hist, " . For us and the Christmas day. 'Ota, thine should be the sweetest flowers. If I knew where they nw, -t .1 ili ..........1 Ka tl., l.ti... iljtut limits: ": Could wishing niake them so.- , ' It jniikcth spring in winter, - ' " "' Our merry Chrisl mas day ; ' May it chase frost and sorrow . . UK U I 1411 t. ,J ttllli fiiRoiUiid unmoiniflo. iir nwiciiT r.Ai.mviN. .;'; One winter's afternoon a group of liovs. ransinsr in as-o from six to six teen years, were enrigeil in a mimic battle on n public street in a retired portion oi a great, umwug n was the day before Christmas, and iscbooj was out, and the friendly af affray,' - fray,' affray,' partaking of entire good feel- U UAL iivuiuuvou, " c. i s-oression of -heer for the holiday vacation... Robust health and high spirits sjrcke in the tingling faces, . and-, pleasant anticipations tilled ..every boyish heart as they bandied words ..ot detiancc or cliaiienge, ana '.the pnowy spheres navigated the clear, crispy air in a white, scatter scattering - ing scattering shower. ' " "Hurrah, drive them back to the fence!" shouted the leader of one of the contending factions, and so hot 1 ' 1 4.1. ....,!- V.n4. . jna JunOUS uvcaiuu me nssuuiL mill the belenguered party retreated in dismay and contusion, leaving only iL - 4.'1 rl .'.h ' A I ...1 ii I.. .'1 ennw nn1 Via; uuuutu, uiouiuvivu j' " . t 1.1. - 1 ,1 -1 one pro6trare poy on iue anaiuaufu field of battle. - Tho latter raised .himself, with a . hearty laugh at being downed in the 1. D-o, f.l o- noriinir nrl it'll to llis I'aiLiv n , ,v j . 1 . . . ........ - friends,' and shaking the snow from his garments started homeward at a brisk rate of speed. .'Ho naused as he h append to glance toward the high stone fence which surrounded a building near by. What he had not noticed be before - fore before was visible now. Seated on a coping, gazing around him in a daz dazed: - ed: dazed: confused sort of way, was an old man, closelv muffled. His hat was on " the ground, an old, worn grip gripsack - sack gripsack lay trodden under feet near by. and the ruddy face and gray head Showed where a dozen stray balls hud loft their mark. He shook his fist half-angiily after the shouting l..n-r 4-liot li nrl lioen his discomfit- . nrt. ond then Btrtio,rled to his feet. 1 1 i.'u " -...- - "Th the " young ragamuffins! the conscienceless rascals!" he ejac ejac-,nlated. - ,nlated. ejac-,nlated. "Ha! . boy, are you one of - There was a: half-amused, half half-penitential - penitential half-penitential expression on Eric Win- on lace as no insiencu to inc side of the old man and took up his hat ' and hande-i it to him with a bow. ' ' '" , . 'Tin afraid I am, sir," he replied; i,i .... t-... ...... e..:,.Aa ,:;,ln't ;n Ulll X III auiv; Illl iiii.ui.id niuu t in in-t.kJ - t.kJ in-t.kJ 4 1-. i.ii n 4-A.vif M1lim-'in IVilil Ml JIIUIVC ) Ull l tflltl, I'M jv too good-natured for that, and you tonly happened in the way." ' 'And got assailed for wandering Into the cnemj-'s camp, eh?" laughed the man, his good humor completely restored, as Eric brushed the 6now from his satchel and politely Landed 5t trw him 4Wfll well, bovs will be boys, and you're a good one for try ing to help me m my custress; and .inrtinor Krin on tlifi shoiilder. ho . '"n i gobbled from the spot. "Dtfar me, how lite!" ejaculated Erie, ft 8 a distant boll chimed four several strokes; "this won't do. I've . loitered - too long already, and good mother Ursula will be boxing my ears for playing so much on the way," and . with a bound the lad made the snow fly and never relax relaxed - ed relaxed hU speed until he reached a one one-story, - story, one-story, antiquated house that stood far back from the sreet, on one of '. the most modest thorough farts of the vicinity. -He did not enter the house at once, but casting a sly look at the windows made Ins way to a shed at Ithe rear, and seizing au ax he plied Ut rigr.1 inditstnousiy,irying to maKe op , ft r lost time, and had soon split the ft.el tor the night, i lien ne en en-' - ' en-' tered the warm, cosy kitchen with the air of a conscious culprit. 'He, had expected a severe scold- fviv (iw ' hia rlnlmniitmei: lint. no. tin floftly piled an armful of wood be- ,tn1 tlio utnvt- h.r n-.na nni!!7fd to so the . object of his fears good Iiame Ursula regarding him with tears in her eyes. and sad one. When - he was two : yettrs old nis moiner unit uieu ami A 1 1 1 1 t his father was away at sea. The : lonely child was cared for by a hired nurse until the money lvooert v in ston had left before going on his last voyage was cxhiuisted,and then his fate' quivered in the balance, X'filflirtt. Tr1,r.,.t VIotAll T, , Ilia cllll. XiCltllLl liuuilt If tiinLi;ii iiwi li i a diup 'Iknrl AfAH KfkOVI lllOl'M 1 I'Ain On1 if .,11.114 VltJt ,i;i.i4 UVUlkl llimi, tllivt IV nrna tmnnnscrl 1 1 1 ;i t. Iio lind norisiipd Un gome severe ocean storm. This months sped by and there was no word from the missing sailor. It was ' decided to send the child to the or phan asylum, when Ursula Chester and her husband, who had been be befriended - friended befriended by the Winstons in times past, adopted him, and with them he. li&n lived ever since.

I think my informant said that the bones were finally ransomed. Judge Hilton persistently refused to eon eon-sent - sent eon-sent to it and at last, when ?urs. Stewart declared herself unable any longer to carry the burden of the ghastly thought that the remains of her husband were being carted around the country by a gang of thieves, she defied her lawyer's scru scruples - ples scruples and concluded negotiations. "Mrs. Stewart gave $20,000 in instead - stead instead of the $50,000 at first deman demanded. - ded. demanded. The bargain was made through a lawyer who seemed to have no other briefs, and who probably got I,,, i good fra fiti of the swag.' 1 he ot;!s insisted that the monev liould be delivered to them on a lonely hill in Westchester County at dead of night. Thither, in accor accordance - dance accordance with their directions, a rela relative - tive relative of Mis. St t-wart journeyed alone in a wagon, which he drove himself. At a snot in the country road which ! had not been designated or describ- ed, the driver was suddenly halted by a masked horseman. This mys mysterious - terious mysterious messenger led him through a by -lane to the hill top, where, af after - ter after certain precautions to insure their safety, they received the $25, $25,-000. - 000. $25,-000. examined it, and then dragged a bag of bones from another buggy near by and surrendered it to the keeiiinu- of the .solitary traveler. fore they disappeared down the side of the hill they commanded mm. '!i tin peril of his life, to turn r.bo;:t a:i "The 11 i:t night the brines were to the vault under the f0,Jninc,(-i great cathedral at Garden City, which had already been connected l.v a secret wire with s chime d' bells sure to ring and alarm the town if it was disturbed.' So now the mortal remains of the great mer-! chant-millionaire and those of his patient, enduring, frugal and affec affectionate - tionate affectionate w ife of CO years lie side by side."' -o- Thought it lVns n Chestnut (gii:t. A Celtic resident of Twenty-second street yesterday afternoon called at a real estate office on Oris wold street and asked for the proprietor. "He's not in." said a clerk who was rattling away at a type-writer. "I want to make a complaint about my house," said the irate rrishman; "there's more holes in it than would ventilate a Saginaw saw sawmill." - mill." sawmill." "You will find pen, ink and paper on the desk. "Write out your coin plaint," said the'clerk. "An' me with my hands frozen off intircly? Take it down yourself with that machine." The clerk, having just finished a J page, had a clean sheet lietore mm and said: "Drive on with your com complaint; - plaint; complaint; 'what's the trouble?" ' First." said Mulcahy, "there's a hole under the door." Click, o-l"i lib click, click went the rali- le cat goes iu and out through it" The a line clerk had reached the end of and the bell sounded with a sharp clang. 3Iuicahy sprang to his feet, threw his hat on the floor, spit on his hands and shouted: "I didn't cvine here to take no gull" from the likes o" ye, a misera miserable - ble miserable fi-vfi by wan little rooster. Now, yon take down what I say, an' if ye ring that chistnuf bell on me again, I'll break ye in two first, an' have vou sacked afterward." Oniameiitinjr the Christmas Tree. Last year in many citiesand towns there appeared in certain churches and halls Christinas-trees of mar marvelous - velous marvelous beauty. The tips of the green boughs were glittering with crystals, and reflected the light in many beau beautiful - tiful beautiful colors. Some of these trees, in addition to the crystals, seemed la laden - den laden with golden fruit, like an orange t ree iu a a untimely frost or snow snowstorm. - storm. snowstorm. Other trees were ornament ornamented - ed ornamented with hand-painted flags, of all nations. The method of covering green twigs with crystals is a very simple and inexpensive one. Put into a bucket a pound or more of alum. and pour a gallon or more of boiling wa water - ter water upon it. Place the tree in such a position that the tips of the bough may remain in' the solution for some hours, perhaps over night. P.ep.cat the process until as many boughs are tipped with crystals as will make the tree very beautiful; or cut the twigs, crystalie lliem, and fix them again on the b inghs. The golden fruit is simply made by gilding English walnuts. Ham Hammer - mer Hammer a long tack into the end of the walnut by which to suspend it alter gilding. Wash the nut with the white of an egg with a feather. Then roll it in gold leaf, or powder, until it is well gilded. Or cover it with tin foil or imitation of gold leaf, as the real gold leaf is some somewhat - what somewhat expensive. Acted charades are popular as di diversions, - versions, diversions, after the distribution of the Christmas presents. The popu popular - lar popular word in England of late for an elaborate acted charade is "Counter "Counter-charm" - charm" "Counter-charm" (count) (err) (charm ),the whole ending with an Oriental scene of a charm and counter-eharni. SHILOH'S t'L'KK will inimedi ately relieve ( 'rouj), Whooping Cough and Bronchitis. For sale by li. V. Pope. A NASAL IXJK(T0E free with eac h bottle of Shiloh's Catarrh Kem Kem-cdv. - cdv. Kem-cdv. Price 50 cents. For sale bv R."YV. Pope. ARK YOU JlAHK miserable by Indigestion. Constipation, Dizziness, Loss of Appetite, Yellow Skin? Shi loh's Vitalizer is a positive cure. For I sale by li. W. Pope.

j A young assistant of chemistry and when lie asked the cause, was told that it was copper that escaped from the smelting and stamping mills of the Calumet and Hecla mints. The young teacher put his thinking-cap on and then requested the company to allow him to exper experiment - iment experiment with a view to saving this copper. Tin? company was only too glad to offer facilities. So the young man gave up his summer vacation and set to work and was able to de devise - vise devise a method by which four per cent of the copper mined was saved, and almost pure copper, too. The young professor no longer earns a tri trifling - fling trifling salary, but has acquired a conr conr-fortnbTe - fortnbTe conr-fortnbTe Income by" this-- jfummer's labors.- Some years ago a mechanic near New Haven was riding in a railway train and was jolted and jarred as in the early days of railway travel passengers were apt to be. He didn't fret and fume as the other passen passengers - gers passengers did. but began to study and experiment with a view to making a spring that would reduce the jolting to a minimum. He at last succeed succeeded - ed succeeded and his spring was adopted by every railroad in the country. He is no longer a poor young mechanic. His name is Carlos French and he has just been elected to Congress from the New Haven District. There diet! a few days ago in Wa Wa-tcibury - tcibury Wa-tcibury a man who began life in the narrow-cat circumstances. He learnj ed the trade of a machinist, and he gave his whole soul to his trade. 'y -and-by he startled w ire manu manufacturers - facturers manufacturers by producing a cold-reducing machine by which wire was drawn coid. Seeing, one day, a wo woman - man woman fretting because she had prick pricked - ed pricked her finger with a pin. he was set j to thinking devised the !ir! in a week he had aluable safety pin. His name was E. J. Manville. He died a rich man. Xnr York- Situ. - - !!ch. Prtt're Mitti;ic., nnl Scrti (ch (chess - ess (chess of every kind cared in 30 Minutes by Wwl ford's Su Hilary Lotion. Use no other. This never fails. Sold bv R. Vv Pope Druggist, Woodsfield Ohio. 1:5-3. The Passenger Was Left. ;ipt Selah Dustin, who has com- I ( maniled lake craft without number, been skipper of a woodyard, and en encountered - countered encountered a good deal of rough le legal - gal legal weather during his stormy ca career, - reer, career, ut one time ran a boat between Detroit and Port Huron. The Cap Captain - tain Captain prided himself on the punctu punctuality - ality punctuality with which the lines were east off and his boat left for its destina destination. - tion. destination. One day while waiting for freight preparatory to plowing the waves in the direction of Port Hu ron, a stranger walked -..n board and accosted the Captain as follows: "What time does this boat go?" "At .) o'clock sharp." "Does she go on time?" ' She docs right on time." The prospective passenger here pulled out his watch, and exclaim exclaimed: - ed: exclaimed: Why, it's a qua'rtcr after '.) now." Without the slightest perturba perturbation - tion perturbation and in a tone of drawling pla placidity, - cidity, placidity, the Captain responded: "Well, then, this boat has been gone exactly fifteen minutes." Then he resumed his supervision of the loading of freight. "A lady had the flesh eaten off her arm by scrofula. Could see the sinews working. '-Dr. Lindsev's Wood Searcher1 cured her." J. Ral Ralston, - ston, Ralston, Eiderton, Vv. a (slithering AIes iu Mickigaiu The larger part of the apples to be consumed in Omaha this year have been brought from Southern Jlicliigi'U. The Western States have added some to the supply, but Mich Mich-i.u::n - i.u::n Mich-i.u::n has taken the lead, but even the Michigan apples will be scarcer than usual. A heavy wind storm some time iigo destroyed fully one one-third - third one-third of the crop there, and many barrels of those which were saved are being sent to tlie East and also abroad. The plan followed in "ret "retting - ting "retting the fruit into the market here is thus outlined by a packer: A man goes into tin orchard and buys by the barrel all the choice fruit. The farmer is to pick it by hand and deliver it to the barrelers. The buyer hires professional pack packers, - ers, packers, rnd, if he is a very careful man, he oversees the packing himself. It is only by such care as this thai the apples is re got to this market in good keeping condition. Haldwins, Northern Spy's and Greenings are the kind mostly brought in. This year the fruit is not going to keep its well as it did last." The Raid Raid-win - win Raid-win is taking the lead in quality, for keeping powers and for quantity-It is estimated that 200 cars, av averaging - eraging averaging 150 barrels to the car. have already been received here from Michigan, and the States around here. It is feared that, owing to the way the fruit is decaying, the price will be much higher than $2 )0 per barrel by the first of Janu January. - ary. January. Out ttli a World. . s He Jlust Wait. A colored man was leaning against the C.mtral butchers' market yes terday, having on Ins head a straw straw-hat - hat straw-hat which exhibited signs of age, when a pedestrian asked: "Isn't your head cold with that hat on?"" 'Powerful cold, sah!" was the prom lit reply, "but I can't afford to line it wid seal-skin afore nex' sum mer." Keep your family well supplied with "Seller's Cough Syrup." Use it in time; you will avert bronchila and pulmonary affections. 25 cents.

IrcKlet! to Cclcr the subact. I lien rol Morrison proposes to ask the n0H!MJ to ,m.d to the toi-sidera-i tion of revenue bills, and the friends i of the J r. riti legislation think his motion will prevail. A story was priuted to the effect that the President had promised to aid Mr. Morrison by securing four votes for him from the New York delegation. Or course everybody knew that the President would not do anything of the kind. The story had its foundation in the fact that several New York Democratic mem members - bers members who voted against considera consideration - tion consideration of any tariif measure at tnelast session, have since changed their views, an. I will vote with Mr. Mor Morrison. - rison. Morrison. If the issue cannot be evaded it is understood that the present plan of the Republicans in the House is to strike off the tobacco tax 000,000; lo strike off 20 per cent, of it. . iMi mo iwiii. i i.. me sugar ihu.omv.ovjo; l() maiv" j alcohol used in the arts and manu manufactures - factures manufactures tax free, which would strike off $10,000,000 more. This wouid red in e the revenue $4 8,000,000 in all. When the Senate was talkingTar talkingTar-iii', - iii', talkingTar-iii', a disappointing speech was made by Senator Dswcs of Mass. His as associates - sociates associates knew that he was trying to be re-elected to the -Senate this win winter, - ter, winter, and as some of his constituents have views en Tariff subjects, inter interest - est interest was felt in the drift of his re remarks, - marks, remarks, and rather belter attention was given him than the Senate usu usually - ally usually accords to speeches. The Sena Senator - tor Senator began with platitudes which no one cared to dispute, dwelt at length upon the past policy of the IJcpub IJcpub-liean - liean IJcpub-liean parts- which, he said, had been to reduce customs, duties, and in internal - ternal internal taxes to the point nearest the needs of the Government; criticised Secretary Manning's report, and fin finally - ally finally wound up with some sneering comments upon the President's mes message. - sage. message. Senator lleck'3 bill to prevent Sen Senators - ators Senators from acting as attorneys of railroads whose interests are. liable to come before the Senate was mutil mutilated - ated mutilated and twisted out of shape in Committee by such experts as sena tors Evarts and Hoar. The way in wlsioh the- evaded, postponed dodg dodged - ed dodged and finally modified this measure, which was so warmly supported by public opinion, may be called cred creditable - itable creditable to their ingenuity, but not to their reputations for honesty. And w hat is worse still, Senator Edmunds stood beside these manoeuvrers, as assisted - sisted assisted by Senator "Mitchell of Ore Oregon. - gon. Oregon. The railroad Senators who think it is all right to legislate upon rail railroad - road railroad matters while taking big fees as attorneys for railroad corpora corporations, - tions, corporations, could not stave off considera consideration - tion consideration of the Beck bill altogether, how however, - ever, however, and on Wednesday it came up for debate. The Woman Suffragists are com coming - ing coming to Washington as usual to hold their annual convention and they have asked for the use of the hall of the House of Pepresehtatives on the evenings of Jan. 25th, 26th, and 27th. The women want a chance to be heard literally within the walls ( I of Congress, and it is probable they will have :t. the ( ommittee on Rules is to decide the matter. Rep Representative - resentative Representative Townseud of Illinois in introduced - troduced introduced the bill, making the request for the Hall, "Rut," "said he. this does not mean that I am a convert to woman suffrage." The President incde his first ap appearance - pearance appearance in public sinpc his illness at the theatre whvre he saw Law Lawrence - rence Lawrence Rarrett in "Pienzi." The au audience - dience audience ineinded . many others dis distinguished - tinguished distinguished in public and social life. Among these in the boxes were no noticed - ticed noticed Speaker Carlisle, Gena. Sher Sherman - man Sherman and Sheiidan, Chief Justice Waite and family, Hon. S. S. Cox and several Senators and Judges. Col. and Mrs. Lamont sat in the box with the President and "Mrs. Cleve Cleveland, - land, Cleveland, and obstructed a view of the President greatly to the annoyance of hundreds of curious eyes. Some lingering rheumatism was apparent ;p the president's deliberate move movements - ments movements and slight limp, but other otherwise - wise otherwise he looked well. On one occa occasion - sion occasion President Arthur attended the theatre here iu ultra English stylo, bringing in his footman to stand at his box during the performance. On another occasion, however, he came without a reserved seat, and as j there was only standing room left, took a positien in the crowd until some friend saw and sent for him. Only Five. "Any lost children down there?" asked a woman's voice through the telephone of police headquarters the other da-. "Yes, five of them." was the re re-ply. - ply. re-ply. "Only live! I've lost seven, and I wonder where the other two can be?" Hood's Siirsnparilla lias cured thousands of cases of rheumatism. This is abundant reason for belief that it will cure you. Try it.

thoughts of the liesl writers, in both prose and verse, take their inspira- tioirfrom tins season, irving, in his Sketch I'ook. writes thus grace gracefully: - fully: gracefully: "One of the least pleasing effects of modem refinement is the havoc it has made among the hearty old hol holiday - iday holiday customs. It lias completely taken off the sharp touch ings and spirited reliefs of these embellish embellishments - ments embellishments of life, and has worn down society into a more smooth and pol polished, - ished, polished, but certainly a less charac characteristic - teristic characteristic surface. "Many of the games and ceremonials, of Christmas have entirely disappeared, and, like the sherris-saek of old Falstaff, are be become - come become matters of speculation and dis dispute - pute dispute among commentators. They flourished in times full of spirit and liistihood. when men enjoyed life roughly, but heartily and vigorously times wild and picturesque, which have furnished poetry with its rich richest - est richest materials, and the dr.iina with its most attractive variety of cliar- icters and manners.- The world has become more worldly, more of dissipation and jovmcnt. Pleasure lias into a bro.uler but a stream, and has forsaken There is iess of cn cn-expanded - expanded cn-expanded shallower many of those deep and quiet ch.mnels where it flowed sweetly through the calm bosom of domestic life. Society has acquired a morr enlightened and elegant tone; but it has 1 st many of its strong local peculiarities, its homebred feelings, its honest fire fireside - side fireside delights. The traditionary cus customs - toms customs of golden-hearted antiquity, its feudal hospitalities, and lordly wassailings, have passed away with the baronial castle nn.l stately manor-houses in which they were cele celebrated. - brated. celebrated. They comported with the shadowy hall, the great oaken gal gallery, - lery, gallery, and the tapestried parlor, but are unfitted to the light, shadowy salmons, and gay drawing-rooms of the modem villa." -E-- --- Jlerry Christmas. "Christmas," wrote Dickens, "is the only holiday of the year that brings the whole human family into common communion.'' We are scat scattered - tered scattered in many lands, yet the bond of union that has long held us to together - gether together seems to strengthen with years. .Many Christmas anniversa anniversaries - ries anniversaries have come and gone since we first assembled, in spirit if not in presence, to hang the holly and Lnlge our faith and friendship; and each recurring Christmas time has found us more closely united. Let us o)c and believe that when even the toddlers of our family shall have seen their heads grow gray the spir spirit - it spirit of Christinas shall still make young their hearts. The star that shines iii Jletlileheia Shines still paid shall notecase, And we listen sliil to the tidliurs Of glory and of peace. Rtftcr Than !onr l?ells. A pair of lead knuckles weighing serer or eight ounces were taken from a prisoner who was being earthed at headquarters the other day. and the sergeant picked them up and asked: "What do you use these lor "lo knock on tiie door find rouse np my wife when I get home late," was the reply. "Then they answer for a door-bell, eh?" "That's it, sir, only they are ten times :s reliable. You can't hit your wife with a doorbell if she comes down stairs jawing, but you tan with these. I'm a poor man, str, and have to study all sorts of economy." I'Hliiig a Theater. ' "Where are your tickets, gents?" asked the doorkeeper of a St. Louis theater to a line of men who con confronted - fronted confronted him iu "Indian liic" "It's all right," shouted a man at the tail end of the line. "I've got the tickets. The e's twelve of -us with me. "Count 'em as they go in." "In you go, gents," said the door doorkeeper, - keeper, doorkeeper, and he tallied off eleven who immediately mixed with the crowd wil bin. The Cerberus turned to look for the holder of the tickets, but ho had disappeared, and eleven men saw the performance safe from identification in the tremendous throng ot people. Ar. U. Wurhl 11. W. POPE is the uthorized agent of the sale of Dr. J. II. Mc Lean's Family Medicines for Woods field. Too Conversational. 'What have yii for dessert?" ask asked - ed asked the tired boarder of the new girl with spit-curls and an avenging smile. "3Iincepieapplepieraspberryro!lan dcocoa n u t p u d d i ngonly t h ecocoan u t p uddin'saTloutanthatswhatyougetforc ominlate," auswved the sweet thing. FOR DYSPEPSIA end Liver Complaint, you have a printed guar guarantee - antee guarantee on every bottle of Shiloh's Yi Yi-talizer. - talizer. Yi-talizer. It never fails lo cure. For sale by K. W. Pope.

much of worry and destitution at j the humble cottage, and the absence of usual preparation for tho Cnnst- j mas festivities was noted l-y l'.rtc with some little disappointment manifest in his handsome boyish fea tures. "What lias happened, good moth er?" he asked softly. "The worst, my poor boy, replied the old woman pathetically. A debt is due a debtor has run away. We are destitute. To-day I told iVdolph. He must sell the violin we must have bread, I told him. lie smiled sadly. 'I have given my years to music,' he said. 'To-day I rive my life, my violin, my jewel of harmony and sweetness, but not to sell instead, to beneiit the world.to bequeath to others theglory and rap rapture - ture rapture of the past, when true musi cians starved to give beauty and light to the world.' These were lna strange words. Tie must be daft, Erie, to cave us to starve, and a fortune in the house. Since then he has shut himself in his lonely room, but the violin is mule. What is ttiat? Erie, my boy, ;un, run! There was a crash m his room. lie may nave done himself some harm." In a flash Eric Winston was at the door of the old musician's apart apartment. - ment. apartment. He burst open the door, his mind filled with a thousand direful apprehensions. One glance showed him that Adolph Chester was sate, but the violin It lay a mass of ruins upon the table, and its destroyer bent over it, a hammar in his hand. 1 lie cher ished companion of his lonely years lay in fragments before him. What monstrous delusion could have in induced - duced induced him to this act, which wreck wrecked - ed wrecked a 'fortune and made his life void of delight? Before Eric could speak to him the musician gathered up the pieces of the broken violin and walked from the room and the house,- a strange, wild light in his eyes, his ailid lips muttering: "The temptation haa passed. What are my deprivations to the welfare of millions?" Evening dawned. A deep gloom had settled over the cottage. What did the strange actions of the mad musician mean? what would be the result? Tortured with distressing anxiety, Dame Ursula sat by the cheerless hearth, Erie, sad and si silent, - lent, silent, by her side. One hour later the dour opened. Adolph Chester entered the room. He placed some gold coins in his wife's hands She looked at him in a startled way. "The violin?" she quavered. "Yes. the money it is there." "You sold the violin for that!" "No, I sold it not; I gave it to posterity. Too long have I selfishly kept iny secret. I discovered long since that the exquisite tone of the Stradivarius lies not in the maker's art, nor the strings, nor the age, but in the wood. "In the wood?" "Yes, the peculiar wr.od employed in making it. I broke it . to learn the name of that wood. I took the igineiits to a scientist. I told him my story, lie examined it and found that the wood is now obsolete in Europe, but exists in vast forests in various portions of America. He gave me money, because the se cret was valuable. It is a secret no more. To posterity I transmit it. Soon aspiring genius shall not be forced to seek to learn the beauty of melody from poor, cheap instru ments, but all the world shall have a Stradivarius like my own, and not only the antiquarian and man of wealth. My life's purpose is wrought. I am content." A calm dignity came into the mu musician's - sician's musician's face, a placid joy haunted his eyes. Right or wrong, his was a noble, unselfish soul.- There was a quick knock at the door. Dame Ursula, sadly mistrust mistrusting - ing mistrusting the future, opened it. "Does Adolph Chester live here?" "Yes; enter." ""No, not till I know. There was a sailor years agone Robert Win Winston. - ston. Winston. He went to sea. His wife died, and his child " "Is here." "Thank heaven!" Eric Winston looked startled. The visitor was the old man whom he had met at the snow ball battle field.