Omaha Daily Bee Newspaper, December 23, 1894, Page 19

Christmas n Song THE OMAHA DAILY BEE: DECEMBER o and Sory, The accounts that have come down to us of the feasts and revels of the olden days— glving time a tongue—are full of suggestions for our modern merry-makings, and at this season when the holiday spirit Is ripest and every hostess 1s wishing for some new way to give It expression, why may we not bor- row customs that are o old as to be new Good cheer is inseparable from the thought of Christmas, so that a dinner is perhaps the fittest form for hospitality to take, followed by a cozy gathering about a “‘roaring wood fire"—the nearest approach to the Yule log avallable, perhaps—where stories, songs, an- ecdotes and ‘legend tales that make the flesh creep with delicious horror in turn divert the vivid tmaginings of Yuletide gatherings. The custom {s growing every year for peo- ple who have country houses to open them for a few days at Christmas and take pos- session with a merry party of friends. Tho Christmas spirit, however, may find entrance anywhere, and a modern city din- ing room may be transformed into a bower with boughs of evergreen, box, laurel and holly, and the help of a few small “Xmas treos” In the windows and corners, that will give one quite a sense of remoteness from our prosaic nineteenth century. “The world is very young for its age like the children, we like to “‘make belleve things.” The table should be lighted with candles only, without shades, and wreathed about with greenery, as in ancient times. These, with the wood fire, will give just the soft radiance that pleases both the eye and the imagination. In the center of the table, with a generous mass of holly forming a mound at its base, a tiny Christmas tree may stand, all alight, with many small tapers of various colors, and hung with little gifts to be distributed as souvenirs at the close of the feast. Various small articles in silver may be had at trifling cost, and being marked Wwith the Initials of the guests, will show a personal thought for each that never fails to give pleasure. The effect of the little tree is really pretty, but It preferred, a large round basket heaped with holly and tied about with a wide scar- let satin ribbon matching the bright berries, may be substituted. The dishes of bon bons, cakes, fruit and salted almonds should " also be surrounded with wreaths of holly and the decanters stand on mats of green leaves. In the “color scheme" scarlet should be introduced as much as possible, as the gay- est contrast withi the foliage. Sugar almonds ars made with bright red covering and may, for the sake of their color, form the top Iayer on a dish of more toothsome confec- tions! Scarfet feing on cake is apt to be * regarded with suspicion, but candied cherries on_the white sugar will give a bright touch of eolor. Nothing more cholce than highly- polished Tod apples may be accepted if we would be true to the ancient pattern, and their vivid skins add much-to the decorative effect of the table. A branch of mistletoe with many pearly white berries tied with a scarlet ribbon to the evergreen-wreathed chandelier, should have Its place at a Chrlstmas feast, though the traditional privileges it confers are not ensily attainable, placed In such a position. The menu written on a square of parchment upon which a sprig of holly or mistletoe, boar's head on a salver, or something sug- gestive of Christmas, should be painted— might read as follows: Green_Turtle Soup. Sammon, A Venison Pasty. Boar's head—*“crowned with bays." Goose—rosted. A Neat's Tongue, with Sallets, Plum Pudding, Mince Ple Kickshaw: Cheese. Apples. Nuts. The spelling is with intention, The soup Is a concesslon to modern preju- dices, the selection—according to modern English precedent. *‘Sammon’ was plentiful in the time of Queen Bess, and was called “the king of fish,” and a venison pasty scems to be their nearest approach to an entree, The boar's head was the principal “‘plece de resistance” among many, for sixteen courses of meat were not unusual, for, as a sixteenth century writer says: ‘Dishes that are of substance and not empty and for show,” were preferved. It was served with a great flourish, gar- ished with leaves and with a lemon in its mouth. It is not always perhaps easy to procure a hoar's head, though they may be had, and it may be fittingly replaced by a young roast vig, which has also the merit of novelty, be- ing rarely seen on the dinner tables of {oday. A turkey may be substituted for the goose; perhaps with an advantage on the side of picturesqueness, for at the house of a friend “our natlonal bird” was very successfully cooked with all its feathers on, and at a Christmas dinner might be almost as effect- ive as the peacock and much more palatable, The plum pudding should be of generous proportions, round in shape, and crowned with a sprig of holly. A holly wreath should also encircle the edge of the platter. A bot- tle of brandy should be poured over it and set on fire before it {s brought to the dining room. The mince pies should be oblong in shape, according to the ancient pattern, in allusion to the manger. A recipe for making the dellcate compound, contained in an old English book *“for hoisewives, written in the sixteenth century, reads A 1b, of suet chopped fine. A 1b. of raisins chopped, stoned. A Ib. of currants cleaned, dry. A Ib. of apples, chopped fine. Two or three oggs; allspice; beat very fine, and sugar to your taste. A bit of eitron, a little salt, and as much brandy and wine as you like, ‘The bon bons, cakes, etc., would be called by the Norman English ‘‘quelque choses,” later corruptod into ‘“kickshaws,” and o called by Shakespeare. WIth the room lighted only with the mel- low, fitful glow of the fire, the conditions are favorable to ventures out of self-conscious- ness, while the thought may lie warm at the heart that at no time in all the year is the Id 50 full of bappy people. ‘Heap on more wood, the wind is chill, ut lot It whistle as it will, ¢'ll keep gur Christmas And all the world be jolly MRS. BURTON KINGSLAND, thiel N By the Yate Philllps Brooks. little town of Bethlehem, w still we see thee lie! AbLove thy deep and dreamless sleep The silent stars go by. ¥Yet in thy dark stre:t shineth The cverlusting light; The hopes and fears of ull the yeurs Are met in thee tonight. morning stars, together oy lm‘ the holy birth! es sing {0 God the King, men on earth p ain, L athered all above, ry still, CHRISTMAS GIFTS, The Joy of Giving and the Pleasure of Recelving. Fifty cents spent in tissue paper and | “baby” ribbon will enable you to add 100 | per cent to the gracious effect of all your | Christmas presents. A dlamond necklace sent from the shop does not give such an | impression of love from the giver as a set of doylies perfumed with sachet powder, done | up with dainty wrappings, tied with a rib- | bon to match and set off as a final touch with | a spray of holly or mistletoe slipped under | the love knot. The whole Christmas 1ook of things and the pleasure they give s largely the result of | such little signs of task and care in the way of presentation. Many variations on such methods can be made. Japanese nap- kins make pretty wrappings for small pack- ages, and they can be selccted in varlous colors with ribbons to match, or a ball of gold or silver cord can become a source of pretty magnificence at a trivial cost. Pretty baskets and boxes, Japanese lacquered boxes for Instance, are charming, too, for holding half a dozen handkerchiefs or pairs of gloves And don’t neglect to have all delicately perfumed—there Is an effect of luxury in that that mere expensiveness Is powerless to convey, Silk and velvet boxes are apt to be tawdry, and if not so at first, they soon become so, but if you want to line your baskets or make silk mats for the bottoms of your lacquered boxes, all the better, and your mats and linings make the best re- ceptacles for holding your sachet powder. Again. on the other hand, if you give a vase, or a bit of china or glass of any kind, put a few flowers in the vase, or some candy in the dish; never mind i flowers or sweets are cheap—that s not the point; the atten- tion 1s what adds so much to the present. It is that that takes away the look of a “duty present,” and a duty present is surely the most ungracious and un-Christmas-like form of social exchange. Another thing— don’t give your presents a week before or a week after Christmas. Take pains to see that they arrive where they should on Christmas eve or Christmas morn- ing. Nothing coming any other time ever glves the real child-like Jjoy that it should. And don't tell people what you are_going to give them. Christmas is the chiliren’s festival, and the prettiness of it lies in keeping its childish character. Pre- serve its mystery and you help to sustain one of its most charming traditions. A CHRISTMAS CAROL, By Lewls Morris. Dark are the days, the nights are long; Blithe summer's joys are done. Yet in our hearts we keep the sun song. Bare is th , or deep in Yet are our souls aglow; What s is this, what still, snow, mysterious vice, at calls “Refolce! Rejoice!” It is, that on the weary earth, Vith every passing year, A great hope dawns, a glorious birth Returns our souls to cheel Again, ngain, the Eternal Chiid, The Virgin Mother mild, Ring, joy bells, ring, clear through frosty air; Ring gladness everywhere, the Sound, graclous as that heavenly word Of 'old, in Bethlehem, By night ‘of wondering shepherds heard, When anggls spake with them: g “Peace, pence on earth, to faithful men, This be our straln as the Today, today, let all rejoice indeed, Whate'er ‘their form’ of creed. Peace be and joy! Ay, though it seem To world-worn eyes and ears Across dark gulfs of strife and tears y a heavenly dream. Divine, divine our souls shali hold Those preclous words of old: Good_will and peace to men—the halt, the blind, The poor, nay, all mankind. Therefore, we raise our cheerful song, A strain of solemn mirth; Our hope is clear, our faith Is strong, In a regenerate earth No doubt shall come our eyes to dim, Or check our faithful voice; To peace on earth; we raise our Christmas hymn, : ‘Whese burden 1s, “Rejoice!” MILLIONAIRES' GIFTS. Someo Splendid Eijoux to Be Exchanged by Rich Folks Christmas Morning. When the tide of Christmas shopping in New York sets in the millionaires on voyages of discovery for elegant novelties steer their barks freighted with shekels into the havens of the dealers in precious stones. Each dealer of prominence prides himself most upon bis own exclusive designs, and many of these ara of extreme beauty. In a Fifth avenue establishment, for in- stance, where diamonds are a specialty and other stones.come in for their share of mag- nificent attention, I saw a glittering tiara that is to adorn, after Christmas, the head of a Madison avenue railroad magnate's wife at the opera and the Patriarchs’ balls, and 80 on, the modest price upen which is $2,200. By a clever mode of setting the tiara, with a few turns cf the wrist, can be transformed into a diamond necklace, Another necklace which might grace a fairy is of pearls beautifully matched and set In five strands; at intervals there are TIARA AND five tiny bow knots set solidly in pearls hold- ing the strands in place, and from each bow knot there are five pearls pendant; price, merely $650, A bit of bric-a-brac five or six inches high is shaped llke a castle and covered with a bit of fine old tapestry: the door opens to disclose a tiny castle within made entirely of the natural secretion of some oriental shell, and with wondrous workmanship. The shell castle is set as a breastpin or may be kept in its case for exhibition in a cabinet of treasures, One of fhe ngwest fancies is the revival of old Indlah’ models of cunning manipula- tions with gold and precious stones; pr.ces, from $175 to $500. The newest ring is known as the banquet; it is a sort of glorified marquise setting sbout many small fine gems, a beauty in diamonds, selling Tor the pretty penny of $700. Tiny animals, as elephants, tigers, lizards, . fishes, elc., in finely wrought w.th gems are a_craze in ele- costing from $125 upward The popular sword for long lace and scarf pins et al is dead to fasbion. The newest thing in its place is a Neptune fork; ome, for example, that weuld make a charming halr ornament or confine the front of & nogligee robe all lace and flowing silk, being a combination of diamonds and olivenes, with four large pearls; price, $1,600, Oivenes, the Siborian green garnets, that are lighter and softer than emeralds, are getting scarce, and the price has adyvanced for them from $10 to $4U a carat, so if you Lvum.mnnmn. _4 now oraament s & spray of dia- PIN. gant brooches monds resembling closely a feather. One four or five inches long, that is very hand- some, sells for $665. Pearis are most in de- mand for scarf pins among the fashionable either in single fine stones or in clusters. In baby pins pearls, rubles and diamonds prevail. Small high combs for the finely wrought, in solid gold, sell for $25 and as low as $12 for less elaborate designs If they are set with diamonds the price amounts to $60 to $500, Diamond studded shell lorgnettes may be had for $165. Tiny side combs in gold and amonds are selling for gifts for debutantes Link cuff buttons are the only style worn by the men of fashion, and an old India beaten ®old set enclosing emeralds sells for $85. In shirt studs pearls first, and then enamel finds favor. And over and through all the special orders for jewelry designed to order ® FASHIONABLE OLIVINES. —fashion’s pet device in making gifts—runs an increasing demand for the use of stones representing certain months and sentiments; the list followed by the leading jewelers is appended: For Christmas month, turquoise for success, The others are: nary March Happiness August Good Septomber . fendship SARAH GRAY. CHEAP CHRISTMAS TREES, Trimming a Young Pine Sapling for Two Dollars, at Short Notice. Christmas trees need no longer be objected to on the score of expense. With $2 to spare, and a moderate allowance of wit and pa- tience as well, a really wonderful one can be turned out; and if this should be doubted here are a few facts, mere Kris Kringle market prices, as it were, to prove the truth of the statement. To begin, 15 cents will buy the tree itself. One of the fragrant young pines that come to us from Berkshire county or Maine is best for the purpose. For the price given, it may measute all the way from four to four and one-half feet, and be fat or slim as fancy likes, though the plumper article might be suggested, s tending toward more gratifying results. The wooden rest that supports it will be 10 cents extra. Next comes the business of trimming, and here the maternal breast will swell with pride and joy. For the vast numbéer of dainty trifles $1.75 can buy for this use—elegant Parisian little triffes—is something to produce sensations of positive wealth, even opulence. A box of one dozen sclected ornaments, comprising champagne bottles, rolling pins, wash tubs, coal scuttles and flower pots, sells for 12 cents. Each.-tiny object Is a bon boniere, heavily frosted with gilt or siiver somewhere, and showing sides or tops of isinglass, through which gleam the tinted candies. In the same bag are made splendid gold and sllver mal- lets and hammers, seven inches long, that sell for 5 cents aplece. Colored cornucopias of thick glace paper, ornamented with heads or figures, can be found at 1 cent each. Larger and more decorate ones are § cents; and the effect of these Is much Improved b mixing with them candy bags of tarleton cut in boot, star, crescent, and heart shapes, and worked round with tinsel thread or bright wool. Three cents will b a Chinese lan- tern, crinkled like a grown up one, and gay with color. Candles are 8 cents for a box of two dozen, which are quite enough for a tree of the size given. The little tin candle stands are 6 cents a dozen, Colored glass balls in strings of twelve come from b to 15 cents, and a single great one squared off in diamond points or gleaming round like a frosty moon will be only 10 _cents. Last, but not least, along with glit stars and crescents and silver spangles, comes the many colored tinsel, the jeweled mass that glves such a fairy-like look of splendor to the Christmas tree. It 1s sold in 5-cent packages, three of which are sufficlent for a tree four feet in height. A pretty Iidea for a Christmas eve festival ts a enowball tree, banked with glistening snowdrifts. Add to this the happy surprise of a big, fur-coated Santa Claus, with a monstrous pack on his back, arriving in hot haste, his sleigh loaded to Its very top with boxes and bundles of gifts for the children. Then to have this wonderful sleigh drawn by a team of prancing, stamping, bell- Jingling reindeer is an illusion that not only delights young children, but glves almost equal pleasure to those who have long since “put away childish things."” A handsome, symmetrical tree s chosen, and get after the conventlonal Christmas tree fashion. Then Instead of the usual decorations—festoons of popped corn and cranberries, gold, silver and tinsel orna- ments—let the tree be filled with sparkling snowballs, if possible so real in shape and size as to make it seem that Jack Frost d his sprites have been having a genuine snowball frolic. The snowballs are really bonbon boxes, covered with cotton wool, and are fashioned thus: Cube-shaped paper boxes two and a half inches square are filled with small candies, such as are used in bonbonnieres. Wrap about them white cotton wool which has been picked loose until it s as light as newly fallen snow. Make the balls round and tle them rather snugly with fine white cotton thread, With a darning or crochet needle pull the cotton lightly from underneath the string to hide it from sight, also to give a flufly appearance to the ball, then roll it lightly upon a clean cardboard over which frost Aust (powdered isinglass) has been sprinkled. Sometimes a hole is cut in the top of the bonbon box, and in covering and wind- ing the cotton {s left loose above it, so that the children may “put in a thumb and pull out a plum” without @isturbing the shape of the pretty snowball. When the tree is ready. the snowballs are scattered from topmost to lowest branche white thread loop holding them in place. Small gifts and pretty, bright-colored scarfs may also be hung upon the boughs. Snow banks at least four feet high may be constructed at the rear of the tree thus Place a line of settees or chairs to fill the entire width of the platform, _Throw over them enough clean, white cottan eloth to cover them well, then wrinkle and fashion it into the shape of snowbanks. Pin lightly plenty of fluffy white cotton wool upon the cloth, then sprinkle the whole liberally with powdered isinglass. This will give the perfect appearance of & snowbank, which 15 to serve the double purpose of form'ng a pretty winter back ground for the tree and to hidé the legs of the boys who are to serve as reindeer, and to cover the wheels upon which Santa's sledge is to run across the platform, In large towns and cities reindeer wmasks may be hired, but as a rule it is necessary to make them. Bend common bomnet wire loto the shape of & reiudeer head, nlklngu. hair | large enough to slip over the head of a boy 10 years old. Cover it with fawn-colored flannel, making eyes, nestrils and mouth sufficiently large for the boy to see and breathe. Now mark the feature lines with ink and cover the antlers, which may be shaped with wire, with darker cambric, Fashlon six or e!ght hoods that will cover a boy to the shouldbrs; then make a pretty bridle of red flannel bahds and black r settes, and sow upon the houlder of the boys' ccats rings through wh'éh'the driving reine must pass. Six or eight boys harnessed with sleigh bells make b reindeer team very realistic both to sight and sound Santa Claus's slefgh, which may be a large office chair with a ckin robe c-vering the | seat and back, Is sét upon wheels or a truck A carpet should be' épread sound of the rollers. Only the heads And ‘shoulders of the rein- deer boys ought o appear. The sle'gh is loaded with boxes wid bundles which are brought in by boys and girls dressed grotesquely in furs, and heavy woolen gar- ments, with moccasins and busk ns for foot- wear, “ostensbly the children c! the Claus family helping their papa in his vork. From these packages and boxes danta Claus takes out presents for all. After the distribu- ton of the gifts the snowballs ara given to the children. This kind of a treo is very pretty for a bonbon party at any seas:n of the year. NEDDI to deaden the 8 LETTER T0 PAPA. “Dear Santa Claus With a face devoid of gulle, His countenance illumined By u sweet, seraphic smile, “I thought I'd write and tell you What T'd like to you bring, And, please, sir, will you try and not Forget a single thing? wrote Neddie, “T want a pony, firs The kind with 'shags: And then I'm very To have a watc I also need a safety, And a goat and cart and sled, And lots_and lots of candy, please, Yours very truly—Ned, of all, mane, fous, sir, “P. 8. My skates arc out of style, The kind with straps, you know. I want a pair like Tcmiy Brown's, That grib your heel and toe. And, Santa,"if_you wouldn't mind, I'd like a’cam'ra, too, So I can take some photographs, The same as Aunty Sue.’” Then_he folded up his letter And the envelope addressed, Not to Santa-but papa— ““Cause,” said he, “I think it's best.” FUN AT CHRISTMAS, The Sport Uncle Hurry Made at tho Dinner Tuble. Uncle Harry {s mamma’s brother and he is a lieutenant in the navy, so he isn’t always home for Christmas, but when he is we chil- dren have the most fun of any Christmas, He can do just anything with his fingers and last year when he was home we had a beautiful t'ime. It was his idea to ask little Billy Mahoney—the furnace man's boy—in to dinner on Christmas day, and then, of course, we couldn't leave out the cripplo’ who sells th= morning papers at the next corner, and Alice wanted to have the washerwoman's little girl, and that little girl—I can’t think what her name was, but it doesn’t matter— she wanted her cousin_who lives in the orphan asylum asked, and papa sent for the boy who comes in and polishes his boots down town in the afternoon. So, with us four, that made nine, and Uncle Harry was ten, and mamma_gave us dinner at 1 o'clock, with holly and mistletoe on the table, and a turkey and plum pudding all burning with blue fire, and a big iced cake. You should have seen how the orphan admired that cake with “‘Christmas, 1893, on it In pink lcing, She almst cried when Uncle Harry started to cut it, but he broke off all the icing with writing on it in one big piece and gave it to her, and she liked that so much she wouldn’t eat it; she saved it to show o the other orphans. All through dinner Uncle Harry kept mak- ing the funniest things—pigs and rabbits and rats and turtles - and men _fighting, and children—cut of the things that were on the table; it was so interesting that he almost forgot to eat, and the cripple said he'd never had so much fun in his life, and when Uncle Harry made the Jast things—a group of acrobats. out of corks—the orphan laughed s0 much we thcught she'd choke. ~ The first thing.he made was the men fighting, and this,was how he did.it: He took a flat crust of bread and laid it on the table, and in each end he stuck a sprig of celery to look like two green trees, and then he broke off two claws cf the lobster and stuck the points down in the bread so that they looked just like men when they put their feet way out to fence. He drew little faces on them with his pencil, and made them each a,pair of arms out of the small side claws of lobster, and took the two long, red whiskers lobsters have to represent the two swords. It was awfully funny when it was done. Mary, the waltress, got 8o in- terested while it was being made she stood with a plate in her hand and forgot to pass the potatoes. The Loy who blacks father's boots—he secems to be a pretty smart boy— said it looked like the two robbers fighting about The Babes in the Wood. And Uncle Harry said: “Hello, you guessed it first time,” and the boy was so pleased. Mary brought him a lemon after we'd finished pudding, and he made the dearest pig. The ears were made out of two pleces of the lemon peel that Uncle Harry cut from the under side of the stomach of the pig, and he cut little slits just back of the head and tucked these in so that they hung right over the pig's eyes, exactly like a livo one. Then he stuck In two ends of matches for the fore feet, and two more, that were bent outward a little, for the hind feet, and finally he got a bit of yellow ribbon that was around one of the popping crackers and pinned it in for a beautiful tail. It was such a real look- Ing pig that you could almost hear him grunt, and after dinner, when Billy Ma- honey went home, he asked for the pig, and Uncle Harry let him have it. Billy sald his father often told him about the lovely pig that used to live in the same house with him in Ireland, and he was sure he would enjoy seeing such a nice one as the lemon pig. After that whenever he wanted Uncle Harry to make one he always asked for a '‘Ma- honey pig.” The last thing but one was the raisin tur- tle, and that one Alice kept herself, and it stood on her bureau for ever so long, until one night a mouse found it and ate it up, We were cating nuts and raisins then, and Uncle Harry took a ralsin and stuck one seed at the end for the head and four more underneath for the legs, and there, all in a minute, was the dearest, cunningest turtle, holding up its head in the most innocent in- quiring way. It was just as sweet as any- thing, and since Uncle Harry went back to sea, I have learned to do them myself. The very last thing, and the best of all, was made out of corks. Mary brought Uncle Harry a whole box of matches, and the box that she keeps old corks in from the pantry, By that time everything was cleared away but the popping crackers. ‘Uncie Harry got out the penkife with a silver handle that Alice and 1 had glven him that very morning for a Christmas present, and Mabel ran up stalrs for some pins. Then he began. He took a big flat cork that had come out of a jam jar first and laid that on the table. He bent two matches in the mid- dle just a very little and styck them into the cork. On top of these he put another cork that had come out of a claret bottle, and in the middle stuck a short bit of a match, and on top of this again a ball of cork that he had cut out round and had drawn a funny face on with his pedell. Then he stuck two more matches at thie sides for arms, and took some silver paper off one of the popping crackers and mado ‘the cork man a belt He stuck two more matches like legs into this man's shoulders and bullt up another man on top of him. Then he made two little acrobats out of smaller corks and dressed them in the colorgd paper and ribbon of the popping crackers and stuck them onto the first man's arms, just as it he were holding them out in the aff, ' Then he made flags out of the colored paper fastened to the pins and stuck the pins into the ends of the matches that served for arms, and It looked like a splendid group of aerobats waving flags at the eud of their adt.!| We gave that group to the cripple to take home with Lim, and he has it yet, I asked Uncle Harry how he knew how to do all these beautiful things, and he sald he learned them from a Freuch gentleman who oalls himself Tom-Tit, and writes lovely books showing how to make things to amuse children. GLADYS. Ola Christmas, Nicholas, round the ound the ye rost and the fl mile and tear n the pine-topped hill, It's a long way A long way I found the 1 found th The wind blew And cut me keen on the moor; The heart of the stream was frozen still, As T tapped at the miller's door T tossed them holly in hall and cot And bade them right good cheer, But s 1 me not in any spot, For I'd traveled around the year To bring the Christmas joy, my dears, To your eycs g0 bonny ‘and true; And a mistietoe bough for you, my dears, A mistletoe h for you! HOW 1 SASER GREW BIG. fHow Jimmy O'Nelll Was Taught to Mind His Munners on Christmas Eve, The little girls were much excited over the unpacking of the magic lantern their two uncles had brought home with th:m Christmas eve. The uncles and the lantern had ar rived that morning and the little girls were hardly able to wait unt1 night, when the two uncles were to give a private exhibition in the patlor. The lantern was ready at last, and the little girls were about to take their seats before the sereen when the sound of a grand caterwauling floated in the window from the garden “Oh, there's . eambeaser,” cried all three little girls at once. “Who Is Beambeaser? asked the elder of the two uncles, who were quite young uncles, in_thelr freshman year in college, in fact. “He s our cat,” replied the largest little &irl, “Why do you call him Beambeaser?” asked tho young uncle. “Why, it's his name,” eaid the smallest little gIrl. “Did you think we would call him Beambeaser if it wasn't his name?” “He'll get hurt,” moaned the second girl, “How's that?" ‘asked the younger uncle, “You see, that horrid J¥amy O'Nelll live opposite and he catches Beambeaser and whip: him and pulls his tail. Beambeaser is so tame that he goes up to everybody. Those bad cats are fighting and Beambeaser is out there watching them, for he never fights himself, he's £0 good. Jimmy O'Neill will come sneaking over and the other cats will run and he will catch Beambeaser and hurt him. T just wish Beambeaser would grow big when Jimmy gets there. “Grow big? What do you mean that?" ““You see Cousin Bd says Beambeaser Isn’t nico at all. He says he is just a little tiger and that if he should grow big like a tiger he would be flerce and eat us all up. Bd says he purrs and is affectionate just be- cause he is little and can't hurt us and wants his dinner, but if he should get big he wouldn't be affectionate at all, but would eat us, “Cousin Jack doesn’t believe that at all,” remarked tho smallest girl. “He says we would eat Beambeaser if he were good to eat like a chicken." “I just wish he would get big and eat that horrid Jimmy O'Neill,” said the largest girl. “I wonder If we can’t see him,” said the younger uncle, and he pointed the lantern out of the window and sent its rays this way and that until presently the great circle of l'ght rested upon a large sheet hanging down from a clothes line in the next yard, the bottom part of it lying upon the top of the garden wall. Sitting upon the wall and the sheet was a small tiger cat. ‘There he is,” sald the three liitl2 girls. “Do you think Jimmy O'Neill will come over after Beambeaser on Christmas eve?” asked the elder uncle. “He always does,” girl “Then we i big. Bob, I w hind the wall, * the yard I ar, my dears, ne, my dears, SAM B by said the three Iittle ill have Beambeaser grow h you would get over bs- Wihen that boy comes into want you to whistle. I will flash” the light and show Beambeaser and then turn it off. Jerk Beambeaser from the wall as soon as I turn off the light. Then we will have Beambeaser grow big and scare that boy, though I can't promise that he will eat the boy."” To the little girls at the window, it seemed a_very long time before the garden gate creaked and their uncle whistled. The light flashed out and there was Beambeaser sitting on the wall against the sheet, and a small red-headed boy in front of him. The light shone out again, and there was a terrible tiger sitting where Beambeaser had been, against the sheet, rolling his eyes, opening his mouth, and lashing his tail. The small boy stood motionless, de- prived by fear of the power o move. Sud- denly terrible growls and screamd broke forth and the small boy found the use of his legs and ran precipitately, mingling his own terrified shricks with the growls and screams of the tiger. The light and the ftigen vanished and pretty soon the younger uncle came in laughing, with Beam- beaser in his arms. “He is small again, cat to the small sald he, passing the “How did you like my growling and screaming? That was the only touch needed to make the tiger real- istic. Tt was a genuine Christmas eve miracle.” 1t was hard for the girls to believe that the tiger on the wall had been nothing more than a picture thrown upon the sheet by the magic lantern. The tiger with rolling eyes and lashing tail was not the only animated picture in the uncle's collection. There was an alligator that swallowed a pickaninny, a cat that ate a rat and a donkey that threw its rider. Five times dur- ing the evening did the little girls call for the tiger and were satisfied with only once be- holding the capitol at Washington and Niag- ara Falls by moonlight, which the uncles considered the finest pictures i thelr pos- sesslon. " Under the Mistlotoe. Somerville Journal, She stood beneath the mistictoe, So exquisitely fair That all my courage oozed away! How could 1 ever dare To claim the privilege that it gave, And Kkiss her rosy lips? The very notion sent a thrill Clear to my finger-tips! And so T hesitated. Fool! “To fear in such a case! And she? Well she read all my thoughts With one glance at my face; r, looking up, with roguish eyes— When! how my heart did jump! She softly_whispered, with a blus} “Come, Ned, don’t be a chump! = A Cok's Imperial. World's fair “highest award, excellent champagne; good efferves- cence, agreeable bouquet, delicious flavor.” One mill of the Niedringhaus tin plate works in St. Louls has just been started independently of the Amalgamated Assoca- tion of Iron and Steel Workers, and at a re- duction of 25 per cent, IMPERIAL HAIR REGENERATOR, Perfoctly restores a rich, 1nstrons color, makes the halr Lealthy, and is clean. Steaming, #alt or Turkish Hatlis do not affect it. It is a8 nat- {101 1 posait tions a specialty, bandsomest privaie iy room# i the ity COLORS. LACK NO.'2. DARK BROWN, MEDIUM BROWN. No. 4, UT, No. 5, LIGHT CH NUT. No. 6. GULD HBLOND, No. ASH BLOND. Price #1.60 and §3.00. A tre¢ samplo bottle Of the finest ronge, “Impe- 1al Venus Tint,” will be sent on receipt of 2-cent stawp. IMPERIAL CHEMICAL MFG. CO,, 292 Fifth Avenue,N.Y. IN OMAHA SHERMAN & McCONNELL, 1513 Dodge Street. NO.1,B) No. 3 The Mercer Hotel Cor. 12th and Howard Streets, Under ne manggcu ot will {winish BT TER MEATS Ji i | bt ud BETTEKR ROOMS (al] stowm hoated und electrlc I htod) taan w0y hotel lu Omaha for the rate of $2,00 per diy. Roows with bath §2.60 and $3.00. ’ Try the Mercer next time you vigit the city. Take the Hurney street car ut Unioh Dopot 1o 12uh street. From Wobster street Depot take car o Howard street. B, SILLOWAY, Manager. PRATTLE OF 1HE YOUNGSTERS. Mrs. Briggs (after the Christmas dinner)a: Well, Bobble, have you had all you want? Bobbie—I've had all T could eat. Mamma—You must bs very careful doctor says your system is all upset. Little Dot—I guess it {s. My foot's asleep. Footses must be awfully upset w'en they goes to s'eep at the wrong end. The Two little children looking at the moon ons evening, the younger asked: “Is the moon God's wife?" " Older Child (patronizingly) o, you silly child; God 18 a bachelo Sunday School Teacher—When you return good for evil, my dear boy, you heap coals of fira on your enemy's head Johnny wouldn't hurt him any if he had an ast wig, would it? His Mother—Johnny, you must not fight with your little sister when you know shoe is not strong enough to fight back. Johnn That's Just It If she can't fight, how's thore going to be any fightin’ at all unless 1 do it? His Mother—What did Jones for? Johnny—So's to get even with him for hitting me. His Mother—But he didn't hit you. Johnny—Yes, but some time he will, Johnny—Mamma, was_Moses a_football player when he was a boy? Mother—Of course not. Why? Johnny—Well, the teacher told us today how they found him in the bull- rushes, Clara—Was your with the smoking birthday gift? Little Brother—Yes, heard him tell Mr. Shortly that pawned it for $5. Little Boy—What's the difference between an advanced woman and any other woman? Little Girl—Why, don’t you know? An ordi- nary woman doesn’t let her husband know that she {s bossin’ him, but an advanced woman does, Teacher—Tommy, you hit Tommy brother really set 1 sent him pleased for his siree. 1 he had when was money orig- inated? Tommy—I guess it come in with the churches, “With the churche “Yes'm How could they have church if there wasn't any money to take up collections with? “There, that will teach vou what's what" puffed the teacher, as she ba the whipped boy back fnto his seat. *“I—I--T al ready knowed what's what,” sobbed the bey “it’s a pronoun! A littlo girl was overheard talking to her doll, whose arm had come off, exposing the sawdust stufing. *‘You dear, good, obedient dolly, T knew I had told you to chew your food fine, but I did'nt think you would chew it 50 fino as that.” “I don't sec why I loses so many place: sald Jimmy, the ex-office boy. ‘*Dey ain't a smarter kid on de block dan me. Dey ain’t a single one of ‘em kin smoke a cigarette and whistlo at de same time, like I kin."” Oregon mines contribute about $1,000,000 to the world’s annual gold output. pe on the dollar. That | (11 77 9 —FOR— GRIP WHEN GRIP PREVAILS, EVERY MALADY I5 GRIP. That Grip do doubt the now prevail there can be no. study symy ot fliness, pain of in the Hoad, Cough, sometimes b or sorences over Hack or Limbs; Sore obstinate hoarses snivelling, ftehing and the sore« in others, the soro throat; or, catarth or flowing from the more prominent. The appes and the nervous system une and run down, nd pain I th from innin, » nose, In some cases, part the ness at som cough and particular hoarseness or again, yes and tite v profuse 1 impateed strung, depressed ST 18 the Specific and cure epldemic condition and s the o manifestations. Taken carly it cuts it short Taken during its provalence, it pros m and prevents its invaston, suffering from 1t, a relief Is speedily N fe continued to an entire cure. Specific and Cure, It meets the ’, INFLUENZ CATARRH, VIS8 HEAD and GENERAL nd in curlng the Diphtheria, and often It mects the re for all its oft Consimption will “hreak up'’ on.'* bottle a Stubborn Cold that Anis A small vest pocket celpt of Enlarged and re of pl 0 by conts, s ised edition of DR BIVInE 0 Spe HUMPHRE nt pellets—fits your. drugklsts, or sent on re HUMPH- te New York. fine Gold 7. 1F yut pell or cause the s o will give you one * Write today 4 FG. CO., bR LK G S, St WHAT DO I W-ANT FOR CHRISTMAS? A MACKINTOSH. We have $20,000 Goods and Mackintoshes for sale at 50c worth of Rubber FOR TEN DAYS ONLY. §=7"We are going out of the Retail Rubber Trade OMAHA TENT & AWNING GO., 1311 FARNAM ST. LADIES' DESKS, PLATES, DRESSING TABLES- PARLOR CHAIRS, SILVERWARE, TEA TABLES, PICTURES, SILK PILLOWS, LADIES' WHITE ENAM- EL DRESSING CASES, WHITE ENAMEL PARLOR CHAIRS, FINE RATTAN ROCKERS, FINE CHINA CLOSBETS, PARLOR LAMPS, DECORATED CHINA CABINETS, CLOOKS, TEA SETS, WARE, GENTLEMEN'S SMOKING TABLES, BLACKING CASES, SILVER MATCH BOXES, BILVER AND CcUT GLASS INK STANDS, FRAMED WATER COLOR PICTURES, FRAMED ETCHINGS, HAND EMBROIDERED SILK PHOTOGRAPH FRAMES, TURKISH RUGS, SILVER MATCH HOLDERS, OFFICE CASES, HOLDERS, MARKERS, Rockers, High Chairs, Cribs, we are noted, MUSIC RACKS, ONYX TABLES, JEWEL CASES, STERLING SILVER- SILVER MOUNTED TOILET ARTICLAS, FINE CARVING SETS, LACE CURTAINS, ONYX CABINETS, FLORENTINE FRAMES PRESENTS FOR GENTLEMEN. OFFICE DESKS, CHAIRS, BOOK CASES, REVOLVING BOOK SBILVER CIGAR CASES, SHAVING STANDS, BASY CHAIRS, TURKISH ROCKERS, LEATHER COUCHES, FINE DICTIONARY TABLES FOR GENTLE- MEN'S ROOMS, SILVER BOOK | Chiristmas Giving Made Easy Our easy system of credit enables everyone to make suitable Gifts to Relatives and Friends. PRESENTS FOR LADIES, ELEGANT SIDEBOARDS ORNATE EXTENSION TABLES, LEATHER SEAT DINING CHAIRS, FINE CHINAWARE, JAPANESE SCREENS, EASELS, PARLOR SUITS, TABLE COVERS, WALL CABINETS, CHINA FISH SETS, BRASS BEDS, SMYRNA RUGS, HALL TREES, SILK BED COVERS, MU](I.HS EASY CHAIRS, PICTURES FOR GEN- TLEMEN'S ROOMS, FRENCH CLOCKS, FOR GENTLEMEN'S ROOMS, CHIFFONIERS, DRESSING CASES FOR GENTLEMEN'S ROOMS, BRASS BEDS FOR GENTLEMEN'S ROOMS, STERLING SILVER NOVELTIES FOR GENTLEMEN, PRESENTS FOR CHIDREN, reepers, Baby Jumpers, Fancy Bedss Decorated Cups and Saucers, and thousands of other suitable presents 100 numerous to mention, all offered at the same uniform low prices for which Open Every Evening Until Christmas,