Bemidji Daily Pioneer Newspaper, December 17, 1915, Page 9

A 1DJ1I DAILY PI » SECTION -TWO A Christmas ; Miracle By LANNIE HAYNES MARTIN. & 3 + B e B B B B e S [Copyright, 1915, by American Press Asso- ciation.] OHN SPENCER always knew he was not good enough for Ann Preston. but John Spencer did resent being told so often and officiously by Ann's people that he was not good enough for her. They only augmented: his determination to get Ann. And so John just picked up his bride and his lawbooks and ecarried them off to the west. The travel across from Virginia, the opening of a law office, the establish- ing of a new home, even though a very simple one, made money evaporate very rapidly. And. although no legal business had as yet found its way to John’s office. he was always busy get- ting read up or straightened out or set- tled down. Ann was extremely lonely and homesick. .She cried a good part of the time when John wasn't there. John was making such a fight! But just now they were having house parties back at home, and peaches ‘were ripe. And here the land was as hot and dry as a desert. The dust got in her throat and, worse still, in her eyes. TFirst there came horrible, dis- fguring smoked glasses, then a green eye shade, then a darkened room and pain, constant pain, and then there came a specialist. He pronounced it a very serious case of eye trouble and said she might lose her sight entirely. Her eyes were kept bandaged all the time. For three months she had been in a darkened room. John Spencer read to her, dressed her, fed her and cared for her as if she were a baby. In those three months his hair had turned gray. Never had she spoken to him of the ones back home. But as Christmas time grew nearer and nearer she would ask every day with such a pathetic quaver in her voice. “Any letters. John?”" It was like a sword stab in his heart. He knew she was looking for a Christ- mas box, and he knew none would come. He knew them all. especially her uncle James. who had intended making her his heiress before she had disgraced the family by “marrying poor white trash.” and her two proud, cold, mercenary sisters. Her parents had died when she was very young. One day when Ann had asked her little quavering question John Spencer ground his teeth and said to himself, “‘She’s got to have that box.” The next day he wasg later than usual getting in from town, and the next day after, al- though it was more than two weeks be- fore Christmas, an expressman brought a box and set it on the porch. Ann had heard him drive up and set something down and, was ali excitement when John arrived. “Why. here’s ‘an express pnekage" he shouted out as he stepped. upon. the porch. Then he biought the box into ‘her room and began prying off ‘the“lid. “Mrs. Ann, Preston Spencer.,” he said as the boards creaked off. *“‘And it says from Virginia.” he continued. “Oh, oh!" she rried in_ delight. First he took out an envelope and read, “To Ann with iove, from Uncle James. Inside is $25.” + “Just what he always gave :me at «Christmas!” cried Ann. “And wasn’t 4t dear of\:him?”:() He was unfolding a flimsy. gaudy irose colored ‘silk neglizee trimmed in seoarse, machine " stitelred-1ace. - 48 a pink silk evening dress,” he gaid, #and the card says 'From Cousin Har-j rlet. ” # “Oh;:how perfectly- lovely. of her! exclaimed.Ann. *“Do let me feel it.” : And then there were alleged:hand- made and embroidered things marked ifrom Cousin Lucy and Aunt Jullet and gome really lovely table linen which ‘had her;two: sistershesvdsiomdts < 1. Ann was like a different person, and when the specialist came next time he said there really was some hope for ‘her eyes now. {'vided< the gift is made’in the open air John did not_ reply. | “Here | ‘A neighbor woman, Mrs. Green, took care of her while John was away in town, and when she came in the next morning after the box arrived Ann had her get out all the things. The cards were all pinned on them. Somehow the handwriting looked strangely familiar to Mrs. Green. John Spencer had written a contract for her when she had sold some land. She turned one of the cards over. On the other gide, in big black type, was “John Spencer, Attorney at Law.” It didn't; take the confidences that Mrs. Spencer was now pouring out to make Mrs. Green understand it all. Then Mrs. Green went home and had & good cry and sent a special delivery letter to Virginia, such a letter as had probably never found its way into that state before. She tried to pic- ture John Spencer as his friends and neighbors saw him, as they had learn- ed to know him—his strength and cour- age and tenderness—day by day as he cared for his. helpless, stricken wife. She was tactful enough not to mention ment. He had just done this thought-: ful, delicate thing because his wife had | sighed for something from home, and he tried to satisfy her every wish and whim. When they heard about it they would be only too glad to make that give her. And it was two weeks yet till Christ- mas, and a letter would go to Virginia in five days and if they acted real} quickly, which Virginians sometlmes did, maybe— John Spencer had always been a very materialistic minded man. That was one thing the Virginia Pres- tons had against him. But when a sure enough box did come from Vir-; ginia by special express on Christmas | day, and when that box did contain a | pink silk evening dress, quite the love- liest thing he had ever seen, and a real+ embroidered forgetmenot collar and a rosebud cap such as he had tried to de- scribe to Ann, he just carted off all | the first lot of things to a secondhand !shop and began reading works on telep-:ff athy and mental suggestion and be- R lieves to this day that Ann’s desire, plus his projected thought. brought | that box. 1 In a few weeks Ann’s sight was fully | restored, and she was feasting her eyes on the beauties of her gifts. Let- ters began to go back and forth. and now Christmas boxes gn both ways each year across the continent. The i one going east has dozens and dozens of luscious western oranges, grown on Spencer’s own hundred acre ranch. | And now the proud Prestons of Vi speaking of “our cousins, Judge and Mrs. Spencer.” CHRISTMAS ROSEBUDS. Charming Belief of Roumanian Peas-’| ants In Coming of :the Christ Child. I'f\'ery year. on' Christmas eve, they, say, the Christ Child. on his way to nian: hills to :gather rosebuds and tof kiss into the hearts of those he cannot carry a love charm which has power to awaken a lasting. love.in -the -heart. of any one to whom it i presented, pro- in solitude before the -hour, of.10 and. ere a word of greeting has been spo-; ken.-On-the night before’ Chiristthas; therefore. . the..gypsy. swains:igo' roge:d bud hunting, and ¢p. Christmas day th, chosen * maidens who accept lovers' suits wear the buds. < What. voses ‘Are ito holiday Roumanis grapes are to gypsy France. Lovers divide a perfect. bunch..of.them;.beg-.} gars offer grapes to _Dassersby, expect-_ ing 'in return a coin for each one tak- en: Simitarly in Hungary lovers share a dumpling pie. In Italy a Christmas fagotyif it Le the;lastiin the bunchy ig a token of affection and is saved to light.the. wedding fire .when.given..by. a maiden to her lover. In Spain the re colored lights and firesvorks whichy 'lovers watch together. ‘And-in Somer: setshire, England, where the Christmas thorn grows, it was long the custom «{:or:youngpeople to:gather underneath thorn tree to hear the buds burst into bloom. Pioneer want ads are read. any knowledge of a family estrange- l e ginia are never prouder than When Germany, comes through the Rouma-}] BEMIDJI, MINNESOTA, FRIDAY EVENING, DECEMBER, 17, 1915. Christmas Is Prophetic By Rev. Dr. R. S. MAC ARTHUR ool HE Christmas observance, for- tunately, is becoming more general each year. Many per- sons who have no religious in- | terest in the season observe it for its delightful social features. This is it- self a genuine gain for all the inter- ests of our common humanity. More and more are the religious denomina- tions of all creeds making a part of Christmas a time of religious worship. This also is a change in a wholesome direction. our Lord we hold up before the world the central thought in its history. Christ’s incarnation is the event around ‘ which all other events revolve in.small- | er or larger circles, This festival is the most joyous' cele- | bration of Christendom. It makes the joy of childhood more joyous, and it lightens the burdens of age and sor- { row with its tender memories and its frinmphant pronhecies In celebrating the birth festival of |’ It is prophetic of the golden age when Christ shall come again, when evil shall be overthrown and when the song of a redeemed Lumenity shall sweep over the universe as the song of celesttal choirs echoed over the plains of Bethlehem. By the gifts which characterize this season We commemorate God’s great gift—the unspeakable gift of his Son to a world lost in sin and wandering in. darkness. No one can rightly esti- mate the blessings which flow every year to all classes and conditions of ,men from the tender memories and gentle charities called forth by the re- membrance of thé hely ¢hild Jesus. Read the Pioneer want ads PAGES 9 TO 16 Didn’t Like the “New” Christmas. The story is told of Thackeray that be was invited to a party at = country house where the host determined to make the experiment of keeping Christ- mas in “new style.” Toward the con- clusion of the feast, in which nothing common to a Christmas dinner figured, it was found that Thackeray had dis- appeared. He was discovered in a cor- ner of the mansion regaling himself on beef and plum pudding, which he had bribed one of the servants to bring him from the kitchen table. Christmas Bells From Hill to Hill. The time draws near the birth of Christ; The moon is hid; the night is still; The Christmas bells from hill to hill Answer each other in the mist. em Sture wish come true, and, of course, they must never let Mr. Spencer know that r's mas 'l she had written. He would never for-, ’ Herkimer Co. N. Y. cheese, full cream, per Ib.........25¢c Mince Meat, Log Cabin Brand, none better......3 for 25¢ Mince Meat, bulk per Ib..........c......cooccoooevviiei 15¢ Christmas Brand Currants, per pkg... 15¢ Cleaned currants, bulk, per Ib............cc.ccooooovne 15¢ Monarch Brand Seeded Raisins, Del Monte Brand Seeded Raisins, per Sun-Kissed Oatmeal, Reg. value 25c, lg. pkg.. per pkg.. 12 1-2¢ pkg...........10c 23c Storage eggs per doz..............c.cooovverrenercenreerrerrissinennn O0C Pure Comb Honey, per comb 20c Cresent Brand Lemon Peel, per Ib................................20¢ Crescent Brand Orange Peel, per Ib.............................20c Shelled Walnuts, perlb.................... .50c Shelled Almonds, per pound6OC Pure Apple Cider, per gal. 7 cans Danish Prize Milk 6 oz. size................... 25c Fancy canned peas, sweet and tender, per doz. cans95¢c Standard corn, per doz.cans.................. ccccocou..... eepenn9DC 1000 Ibs. of candy for Christmas trade, spccnal prices 1in quantity. 1915 crop walnuts per Ib................. 35¢ Mixed nuts, per T - Peanuts, per 'Ib................... Beef from..... Pork chops, ‘Pork LoinyperIb..... Ludefisk, Turkeys, MEAT SPECIALS 8¢ to 14c . 10c per lb- PEE IDercieeeeeeeeeereers e 15C "Séfect | Opysters, “per’ quart55c Ber 1b. i 90 cks, Geese and Chickens.