Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 35, Number 31, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 December 1902 — Page 2

THERE SHONE A STAR.

Drear is the home where God sends them not; But once, Just once, through the gates ajar, God’s own Child came, and there shone a Star. Over desert places Its golden light Blamed like a torch the livelong night| Bowing low to the wonderful East. In stately procession, king and priest, AM a marvelous, moving caravan Bought* for the gift that had guerdoned pun, When, banners of glory waving far. Once, for hie people, God kindled a Star. The Emperor sat In his purple robe, Bolding the scepter that swayed the globe; Bent the slave to the laboring oar— Uttle to him was a groan the more; Wreathed with laurel the conqueror strode, Trampling hearts on bls haughty road; The cry of the anguished quivered far, ▲M 10l in the darkness there shone a Star. Out from a cave tn the riven rock ▲ candle flickered; who will may mock; That thread of flame was the answer sent From Earth to the Star In the firmament. Oa the silence trembled a Babe's first breath, ~ 7 —-- Child to be Lord of Life and Death; Safe as a bird In the tiny nest, In the mother's arms, on the mother’s breast; . . While the lowing klne stood wondering near, AM the angels sang on the midnight clear, AM the midnight waned, and the dawn’s great car Swept In where brightly there shone a Star. —Margaret E. Sangster, In Woman's Home Companion.

WON HIS CHILDREN'S LOVE

BY THOMAS HALL.

WRINKLES of care furrowed the forehead of John Howard, wholesale leather merchant of New York, as he sat in the library of his home, and his hair was tossed into disorder by the combing of his nervous fingers. His dull eyes gazed into the red depths of a great fire, but read no crimson pictures there. This was the man the world had called “complacent John Howard.” Eight years before, when he married, people expected a change in his habits, but they disappointed. He had merely added another part to his machinery. He had carefully chosen the kind of woman who would helplessly become a part of a machine. When children came they, too, were compelled to become parts of the orderly, silent machine by John Howard. Meek little mites they were. No one suspected that they were children. There were three of them: Mary, a girl of seven; Anna, a girl of five, and John, a boy of four. By direction of John Howard, good, plain names were given to them, names that would wear. Meek Mrs. Howard would have chosen differently, but she was not consulted. When the children came, John Howard laid down the rules for their conduct and keeping; and never afterward bothered himself about them. If he saw them once a day it was accident. One of his rules, conditions, was that he was never to hear them, save when he wished. As a result John Howard was a father without children —and the children had a living father, but were fatherless. All this would have continued but. for one, inevitable little incident in life called “death” —for death, after all, is a part es life, and dying very often the main part of living. The entrance of Mrs. Howard into the life of her husband had made no perceptible change in it. Her death had thrown every part of it out of gear. There were three waifs in his noose who came at his bidding and looked at him in a frightened sort of way. “How was he to win the love of his children?” How John Howard longed to enter that play room! But he never dared. He was afraid his entrance would drive them forth, and he realised that this room was their own little world. Sometimes, in agony, he listened at the door, and learned how different they were from other children. Hew he longed for them to ask him for something! What joy he would take tn granting them any wish! But they had been brought up to ask for nothing, to expect nothing, save on one day in the year. That day was Christmas. On that day they could expect wonderful new presents, they knew, from a mysterious person called Santa Claus. The late Mrs. Howard had cultivated this one dear delusion in them, and so perfectly that they never dreamed that either she er their father had anything to do with the annual midnight visit of the good little fat man. Of him they talked months before he came and months after he left. And with the presents he left they played from one Christmas until the next, patiently waiting for the new ones and carefully guarding the old. Discouraged at his failure to win even the confidence of his children, John Howard hired that hopeless substitute for a mother, a nurse, to take care of them. With business acumen and lack of ordinary common sense he secured a grim New England school teacher for this delicate position; and in less than a week she succeeded, by perseverance and industry, in casting more of a shadow over the lives of the three waifs than ever John Howard had. But the waifs bad boea -taught not to complain, and John Howard know nothing about it. Ono lingering hope remained in his breast. Could he make the coming Christmas so happy Tor his children that be could win their love? Ho resolved that he would take charge of the holiday himself, and the preparations ho made for It were extravagant The presents purchased for all the priredklg ChristMs celebrations at Ml house were as nothing compared to the array that stood before him on the floor, on tables and on •hairs, this Christmas eve when he sat so broken in heart before his grata fire. Something had happened. A mistake had bsea made. The New England school

H, stars by the mll- , lion-fold abovel In the wide blue spaces ws watch i and love; [Stars like graine of sand by the sea. Th rough wheeling dusters of worlds they be; But once through the gates of heaven ajar, When a Child was born, there shone a Star. Children they come to the palace hall; Children they eome to the cabin small; TO the tent, to the ship, to the poor man's cot—

teacher, in the interests of white-winged truth, had told his children there was no Santa Claus. Thia he had learned while listening at the door of their playroom that afternoon. And he, who had so carefully rehearsed the part of Santa Claus for the performance that night, felt that it would be a hollow mockery, now that they knew, as we all do some day, too much. With a promptness and decision that had characterised him always in business, John Howard peremptorily dismissed the New England school teacher, giving her a month’s salary and no explanation for his strange conduct The children should have the hollow mockery of Christmas at any rate. But the essence of it was gone. He had heard his children declare, between sobs, that they would never hang up their stockings again, and after all It is the stocking and not the tree that is the essence of Christmas —and the mystery of mysteries thereof is the wonderful fact that Santa Claus can spend so much time and take so much pains in filling the stockings. But John Howard was human. He himself had looked forward to this Christmas with greater expectations than had any of his children. He rose from bed and put on his dressing gown and slippers. Then, with a little night lamp in his hand turned very low, he went stealthily into the bedroom where his children slept. Their clothes were laid neatly on three chairs, and from each chair he took a stocking and pinned it where the sleeping children had been accustomed to pin them in previous years. After this he made frequent trips to the library and brought up load after load of toys, candies and trinkets. And then he began to fill the stockings. It was alow work. He had seen his wife do it once. He had watched her then in a mechanical sort of way. It waa on the preceding Christmas eve. She was ill and nervous and afraid to go about the house alone. In a grumbling, protesting way he had accompanied her.

How glad he was now that he had! He dropped a moderately heavy object into the toe of each stocking to hold it down —then an orange to make it capacious. After thia he slipped in a present for the sake of a surprise, and on top of the present he put a layer of candy. He wondered that the “tick—tick —tick" of the candles as they dropped did not awaken the sleeping children. Ho was alow at the work. It was early down when he finished. He blew out the little night lamp and sank into a chair, burying his face in his hands, and his heart in memories. Suddenly he looked up and saw his three children standing about him in the arc of a circle. “It’s papa,” cried his eldest girl, rushing into hla arms. “Papa is Santa Claus. It is papa who haa been so good to us and we haven’t loved him.” “It’s papa,” echoed the younger daughter. “Papa—Santy Close," said the boy. And they, too, sidled up to him and clung to him, their little eyes beaming with love. And then John Howard knew that Lis stocking had been filled, also—with the love of his children.—Criterion.

The New Year.

List, the New Year bells are ringlag To and fro, Messages of eomfort bringing Clear and low. Over sad plain and valley. Where the forest giants rally. Up through park and street and alley Paeans flow. List, the Now Tear bells are calling . Far and near.

SANTA CLAUS’ BIG JOB.

-■uamuiiwa a Said Santa Clajts on Christmas eve, in jolly, good, fat glee, “To judge by all these stockings here, they’ve turned the hose on me.”

Like some prayer triumphant falling On the ear, Lo, the past Is past forever. In this hour Its bonds we sever, ▲nd its clouds shall darken never pur New Year. Het, the New Year bells are swaying High and low. Pulsing, pleading, praising, praying, - ▲a they go. Now may every sin be shriven, ▲nd our hearts from sorrow riven, ▲ll forgiving and forgiven Here below. , —Minneapolis Housekeeper.

Making Preparations.

“I want to get a turkey, and a bottle of paregoric, and some mince meat, and some pepsin pills, and some cranberries, and some furniture polish, and a quart of oysters, and a package of court plaster, and some sweet potatoes, and a fire insurance policy.” Here the market man smiled merrily and inquired: “Going to eat all that?” “No,” responded the customer, "but the family Christmas dinner occurs at my house this year.”—Baltimore American.

The Annual Greeting.

“A Happy New Year to you!” This Is the greeting which is heard on every side as we cross the threshold of the new year. It has become a custom to repeat it. In many cases it has little meaning, and is nothing more than an empty compliment or an idle wish. How much do you mean

by it? It is very easy to repeat the formula. It Is a very simple matter to buy a New Year’s card and enclose it in an envelope. But when you send this greeting, or speak it, do you regard it as a pledge or promise that you will do nothing to make the recipient of it unhappy, and that will do all in your power to relieve his anxieties and bring gladness to his heart?—Baptist Union.

Trimming the Tree.

A Real Saiat.

Old Banty to no ph* Mow The cheer he brings cures many Illa; Thro’ dreamland’s door we follow him, And lone the thought of New Tear's Mila.

CHANGING THE SCORE.

Christmas Feasting.

During the middle ages ths whole Christmas season was given up to revels and-jjollity, in which eating and drinking bed a prominent part. The Saxon instinct of our English ancestors led them to make of every holiday an occasion for feasting. Plenty to eat and to drink was their idea of a festival, no matter how sacred might be its associations. On Christmas they not only lined their stomachs with good capon, aa did Shakspeare’s justice, but stuffed themselves with all sorts of rich, qourishing food and strongly compounded puddings and pies.

Origin of Mince Pie.

English plum pudding and mince pies both owe their origin, or are supposed to, to an occurrence attendant upon the birth of Christ The highly seasoned ingredients refer to the offering of apices, frankincense and myrrh by the wise men of the East to the Christ Child.—New York World.

Giving Him a Chance.

“Harriet you ought to give me my choice of a Christmas present once in awhile.” “Well, Harry, I’m willing; do you want a lamp shade, a sofa pillow, or new lace curtains?”

Shattered Her Ideals.

Mina Aaklt—Why is Miss Wunder so pessimistic about Christmas? Miss Tellit—She hung up a |l2 pair of silk hose last year, and some one stole them. What you would not wish done to yourself do not unto others.—Chinese.

INDIANA INCIDENTS.

RECORD OF EVENTS OF THE PAST WEEK - To Honor Memory of Wesley Reynolds —lndiana as Gold-Producing State— Youths on a Rampage-Two Suicides in Hotel in Cne Night. - Wesley Reynolds, the 16-year-old boy hero who gave up his life while defending treasure intrusted to his care, is likely to be honored with an enduring memorial. A movement started in Laporte to erect a monument In his honoj at Westville has received cordial indorsement from banks in various parts of the ; country. The detectives at work on the case believe the murderers are hiding in Chicago. A movement has been started at WestvHle to raise a testimonial fund for his father, mother and sister. The father is incapable of caring for himself and the family. The Westville bank, in defense of whose cash the boy lost his life, will probably be made the place of deposit for the subscriptions. Indiana on a Golden Bed. R. L. Royce, a well-known gold prospector, states that the streets of Indianapolis stood on a bed of gold-bearing sand, and to prove his contention panned out gold from gravel thrown up by workmen who are digging a sewer. While the results have not been officially tested, Mr. Royce stated that he found the finest gold the world in his pan, which ran 909% pure and would sell at sl9 an ounce, while Alaska gold runs from sl4 to $lB. Mr. Royce further prophesied that Indiana would prove to be the greatest gold-bearing State in the Union, not in the amount of gold produced to the cubic foot, but in the extent of its deposits and in its proximity to a market. Spread T. rror with Guns. Five young men under the influence of liquor terrorized the farming community half a mile north of Lafayette. Ray Waples, Allen Grayen, Homer Armstrong and William Sheehan, ranging in age from 20 to 27 years, and a companion started out with shotguns, shooting at horses and cattle. When ordered to desist they turned the weapons on the farmers. Henry Allen was slightly injured. A score of farmers organized quickly and captured the youths. The captors informed the police and the boys are in jail. Two Suicides in Indianapolis Hotel. Robert Killian, a musician who recently came from St. Louis, and Thomas Sharp, a young man, committed suicide at Little’s Hotel in Indianapolis. Killian took morphine and Sharp took poison. The latter was found in agony and taken to the city hospital, where he died. At about the same hour Gillian was found dead in his room at the hotel. He had lain down with his clothes bn. Both bad rented rooms at about the same hour on a recent night. They were strangers to each other. Bares Mania to Burn Houses. The mystery surrounding - numerous barn and residence fires in the vicinity of Evansville-for months past was cleared by a confession made by William Olmstead, 18 years old. He was arrested on suspicion and confessed to burning two residences and four large barns. A mania prompted his acts. He is well connected. Gets SII,BOO Damages from Railway, Thomas Collins was awarded a verdict of SII,BOO against the Pan Handle Railroad Company in the Cass Circuit Court. Collins lost his right arm in an accident in Cass County nearly two years ago. Another amputation may be necessary.

State Items of Interest.

Mrs. David J. Holmes was killed by a street car at Indianapolis. Greenfield Methodists raised $20,000 to pay off the debt on their new church. A. J. Burdett, a farmer, near Frankton, is in a precarious condition from a kick by a horse. Charges made against the soldiers’ home at Marion will be investigated by a Grand Army committee. Muncie park commissioners decided to begin an extensive development of the park system next spring. Miners of the Indiana block coal district met at Brazil and may demand a 10-cent increase in wages. The buildings of the Crystal Ice and Cold Storage Company at Anderson burned, causing a loss of $50,000. Arthur and George Lynet, aged S and 9 years, tried to start a fire in a stove with gasoline at Elkhart and were burned so badly that both died. Jonathan Roberts of Richmond is 91 years old and has lived all his life on the ground where stood the house in which he was born. Within 100 feet of his home is a log cabin built iu 1812 for a school bouse, the first in that region. The plant of the Brookville Manufacturing Company was destroyed by lire. The loss is SIOO,OOO, with insurance of $52,000. Three car loads of candy, two car loads of canned goods and $40,000 wor'h of glucose and sugar were destroyed. The proposed excursion of Terre Haute teachers to Chicago for a two days’ visit to the schools and nrt galleries has aroused hostile discussion because Terre Haute merchants object to public servants promoting an excursion which would take many persons to Chicago to do their Christmas shopping. Kittie Thompson, aged 18 years, who has been mysteriously missing front home in VrawfordsviUe since Thanksgiving, has been located iu Lafayette. It now develops that she went away to marry Tom Black, formerly a waiter in her father’s hotel. Thompson knew the young couple were in love and discharged Black. The organisation of a company to deal in Indiana coal lands and the purchase for $45,000 oF the coal under 400 acres of land near Terre Haute, by President McDoel and Director Dickasou of the Monon Railroad Company, is taken to indicate that the road, which has been getting some of the Indiana coal traffic by way of Greencastle, will enter the field direct. Muncie public school teachers are planning a visit to Washington in the spring. Clinton people keep their chickens in the house nights because of chicken thieves. .

benevolentassociations

Of America Use Pe-ru-na For All Catarrhal Diseases.

! MRS. HENRIETTA A. S. MARSH. >

Woman's Benevolent Association of Chicago. t Mrs. Henrietta A. S. Marsh, President Woman’s Benevolent Association, of 827 Jackson Park Terrace, Woodlawn, Chicago, 111., says: “I suffered with la grippe for seven weeks and nothing helped me until I tried Peruna. I felt at once that I had at last secured the right medicine and kept steadily improving. Within three weeks I was fully restored.”—Henrietta A. S. Marsh. Independent Order of Good Templars, of Washington. Mrs. T. W. Collins, Treasurer I. O. G. T., Everett, Wash., has used this great catarrhal tonic, Peruna, for an aggravated case of dyspepsia. She writes: “After having a severe attack of la*’ grippe, I also suffered with dyspepsia. After taking Peruna I could eat my regular meals with relish, my system was built up, my health returned, and I have remained in excellent strength and vigor now for over a year.”—Mrs. T. W. Collins. If you do not derive prompt and satisfactory results from the use of Peruna, write at once to Dr. Hartman, giving a full statement of your case, and he will be pleased to give you his valuable advice gratis. Address Dr. Hartman, President of The Hartman Sanitarium, Columbus, O.

Plenty of Time.

A story is told in an English village of a man who visited the school room when his nephew was Jiard at work at his lessons. “Well, Jack,” said the uncle, “good boy this morning, I hope.” Jack looked at the clock, which stood at 11:30, and then doubtfully at his teacher. “I dunno yet, uncle,” he said, “there’s half an hour more.” Through Pullman service from Chicago, Detroit, Toledo, Cleveland, Pittsburg and Louisville to Florida, via Queen and Crescent Route, Southern Railway, and connecting lines. Leave Chicago at 1 p. m., Cleveland at 12:35 p. m. via Big Four Route, daily except Sunday. From Detroit at 12:35 p. m., Toledo at 2:22 p. m., Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, via Michigan Central and 0., H. & D. Ry. From Pittsburg at 8 a. m. daily except Sunday. All connecting at Cincinnati with the Chicago and Florida Special leaving via Queen and Crescent Route at 9:15 p. m. Through sleeping cars daily from Chicago via Monon and C., H. & D. Ry., leaving at 9 p. m., connecting with Florida Limited at Cincinnati, at 8:30 a. m. Also through sleeping car daily via Pennsylvania lines via Louisville, leaviug Chicago at 8:40 p. m., connecting with Florida Limited at Lexington, direct to St. Augustine. Write for rates to W. A. Beckler, N. P. A., 113 Adams street, Chicago.

His First Shave,

Barber —Bay rum, sir? Boy—N-no, thank you. I’ll take an Ice cream soda, please.—Bhiladelphia Inquirer.

ST. JACOBS OIL POSITIVELY CURES Rheumatism Neuralgia BackacheHeadache Feetache . All Bodily Aches AND CONQUERS PAIN.

BEpTiHE PLEASANT THE NEXT MORNING I FEEL BRIGHT AND NEW AND MY COMPLETION 1$ BETTER. My dss*w says H sets gently oa the stomach. Hew and kidneys and is a pleasant lax alien. Thia drink is LANE’S FAMILY MEDICINE All droggistaee by mail Meta sad Mota. Beyttte Dadway’s It Pills itraet, NBW YOKK. Bead fm "Fey tame TaUac.-’tfiw