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‘-‘ Wake me to-night, my mother, dear, That I may hear The Christmas bells. so soft and clear, To hi h and low filed tidings tell, How 0d the Fat or loved us well, How God the Eternal Son Came to undo what we had done; How God the Paraclete, Who in thet chaste womb formed the Babe so swee , In power an? glory came the birth to aid and gree . " Wake me, that I the twelvemonth long May bear the song About with me in the world‘s throng; That treasured ‘oys of Christmas-tide May with mine our of gloom abide. The Christmas Carol ring Deep in my heart, when I would sing. Each of the twelve good days Its earnest yield of duteous love and praise, Insuring happy months and hallowing common ways. *' Wake me again. my mother, dear, That I may hear The peel of the departing year. Oh, well I love the step of time Should move to that familiar chime; Fair fall the tones that steep The Old Year in the claws of sleep, The New guide softl in, With hopes to sweet, sa memories akin! Long may that soothing cadence, ear, heart, con- THE CHOICE 0E TEEEE : The row was this. Among the Boers! assembled for the “nachtmaal” festivalf was a well-known giant named Van Zyl. This man’s strength was a matter of public notoriety all over the country, and many were the feats which were told of him. Among others it was said that he could bear the weight of the after part of an African buck-waggon on his shoulders, with aload of three thousand pounds of corn upon it, while the wheels were greased. He stood about six foot seven high, weighed eighteen stone and a half, and had a double row of teeth. On the evening in question this remarkable specimen of humanity was sitting on his Waggon-box with a pipe, of which the size was proportionate to his own, clinched firmly between his double row of teeth. About ten paces from him stooda young Englishman, also of large size, though he looked quite small beside the giant who was contemplating the phenomenon on the waggon-box, and wondering how much he measured round the chest. Thatgyoung Englishman__had just got ofi a newly-arrived waggon, and his name was Jeremy Jones. '7” Al u... u..- .... v -_V, H To thzseu advance a, cringing Hottentot boy of small size. The Hottentot is evi- dently the servant or slave of the_gia.nt, 9nd a. man standing by Jeremy. who under- stands Dutch, informs him that he is tell- ing his master that an ox he? strayed. Slowly the giant rouses himself, and descending from the waggon-box seizes the trembling Tottie with one hand, and, takâ€" ing a. rim of buffalo-hide, lashes himself to the Waggon-Wheel. ‘ v : ,,A,A:_L "Wm, ..,, “ Now,” remarked Jeremy’s acqumnt- ance, “ you will see how a. Boer deals w1th a. nigger.” n ,. A_A.L._ “ Yafi'don’t mean to say that great brute is going to beat that poor little devil ‘2” u“; 'L .0. b ......... L , Just then a small fat woman put her head out of a. tent pitched by the waggon, and inquired What the matter was. She was the giant’s Wife. On being informed of the straying of the ox, her wrath knew no bounds. “ Slaat em l slant de swartsel l” (Thrash him ! thrash the black creature), she cried out in a. shrill voiceY running to the Waggon, and with her own fair hands drawing out a huge “ sjambock,” that is, a. strip of prepared hippopotamus-hide, used 'teflrive the after-oxen with, and giving it to her spouse, “ Cut the liver out of the black devil 1” she went on, “ but mind you don’t hit his head, or he won’t be ahle to go “VA; y nu, u-.. -._..__, to work afterwara. fl VNever mind abofit making the blood come ; I have got lots of salt to rub in.” â€"- ... .n Her harangue, and the sight of the Hottentot tied to the Wheel, had by this time attracted quite a. crowd of Boers and Englishmen who were idling about the market-square. pm 1‘ 7:11 LL..-..L “Softly, Vrouw, softly, I will thrash enough to satisfy even you, and we all know that must be very hard where a. black creature is in question.” -n A ,1, ,,__._1- u; uwuun. n. u. a" ,,,,,,, A roar of laughter from the Dutch people round greeted this sally of wit, and the giant, taking the sjambock with a. good- humored smile, for he was, like most giants, easyâ€"tempered by nature, lifted it, whirled his great arm, as thick as the leg of 1A,:I __.J u nun“. u-.. b- v..- "___ an average man, round his head, and brought it down on the back of the miser- able Hottentot. The poor wretch yelled with pain, and no wonder,for the greasy old shirt he wore was divided clean in two, together with the skin beneath it, and the blood was pouring from the gash. 1: ,1___. _L- -Ln “7: hit is eel; licker shaat” (Almighty ! that was a nice one), said the old woman, at which the crowd laughed again. .. ,,, _1A- 3:; “AL “bun... But there was one man who did not laugh, and that man was Jeremy. 0n the contrary, his clear eyes flashed, and his brown cheek burned with indignation. Nor did he stop at that. Stepping forward he placed himself between the giant and the howling Hottentot, and said to the former in the most nervous English, “ You are a coward 1” The Boer stared at him and smiled, and then asked. what the “English fellow” was saying. Somebody translated Jeremy’s remark, whereupon the Boer, who was not a. bad-natured fellow, smiled again, and remarked that Jeremy must be madder than the majority of “accursed English- men." Then he turned to continue thrash- ing the Hottentot, but 10! the mad Englishman was still there. This put him out? Uulr. “ Footsack, curl ; ik is Van Zyl I” (Get out, fellow, I am Van Zyl!) This was interggetgq 1:,0 Jeremy by the bystanders. ,L ~r _._A Tkuy. may 1611 hfm thatyl am Jones, a name he may have heard before,” was the r_egly_. .. .. . 1 - ,3A1_ :-11...__ answer. This remark was received with a shout of laughter from the crowd which had now collected, in which the giant joined very heartily when it was interpreted to him. Giving Jeremy a shove to one side, he again lifted the great sjambock, for the purpose of bringing it down on the Hotten- tot. Another second and Jeremy had snatched the whip from his hand, and sent it flying fifty yards away. Then realizing that his antagonist was really in earnest, the great Dutchman solemnly set himself to crush him. Doubling a fist which was the size of a Welsh leg of mutton, he struck with all his strength straight at the Englishman’s head. Had the blow caught Jeremy, it would in all probability have killed him ; but he was a practised boxer, and without moving his body, he swung his head to one side. The Boar’s fist passed him harmlessly, and striking the panel of the Waggon, went clean through it. Next instant several of the giant’s double row of teeth were rolling loose in his mouth. Jeremy had returned the stroke by a right- hander, into which he put all his power, and which would have knocked any other man backward. “Willa: does this brain-sick fellow want 7” shouted the giant. Jeremy explained that he wanted him to stop his brutality. “And what will the little man do if I refuse ‘2" A great shout from the assembled Englishmen followed this blow, and a. counter-shout from the crowd of Dutch- men, who pointed triumphantly to the hole in the stout yellow-Wood panel made by their champion’s fist, and asked who the séiehce win! Church Bells at Christmas. shall try to make you,” was the A NOVEL. of the J v I - , l “ Hold them I” answered the young , fellow, who was a. good sort ; “ ay, that I twill, and Iwould give half I have to see 5 you lick him. Dodge him ; don’t let him i strike you or he will kill you. I saw him ‘ Itun an ox once with a. blow of his fist.” l J eromy smiled. “ Stop,” he said. “ Ask that coward if I i best him, if he will let off that miserable l beggar '2” and he pointed to the tremblin: l Hottentot. madman was who dated to stand against “Ll-11. The Boer turned and spat out some of his superfluous teeth, and at the same instant a. young Englishman came and caught hold of Jeremy by the arm. :I A- .. 13-11.... LA kuéuu “v... v- “ For heaven’s sake, my dear fellow, be careful I That man will kill you ; he is the strongest man in the Transvaal. You are a. fellow to be proud of, thong ." 1 , _,.__:_..'I‘l-. u: AUAIUVV uv y r-v~“. _, V_.,, “ He may Ery,” said Jerezi‘i’y, laconically, stripping ofi his coat and waistcoat. “ Will you hold these for me?” -- . ‘ nu , __ -.._.-.MJ Han wanna The question was put and the great man answered “ Yah, yah l” ironically, and then expressed his intention of knocking Jeremy into small pieces in the course of the next two minutes. Then they faced one another. The giant was a trifle over six foot seven high ; Jeremy was a trifle under six foot two and a half, and looked short beside him. But one or two critical observers, looking at the latter now that he was stripped for the encounter, shrewdly guessed that the Dutchman would have his work cut out. Jeremy did not, it is true, scale more than fourteen stone six, but his proportions were perfect. The great deep chest, the brawny arms, not very large, but a mass of muscle, the short strong neck, the quick eyevand massive leg, all bespoke the strength of a young Hercules. It was evident too that though he was so young, and not yet come to his full power, he was in the most perfect training. The Boer, on the other hand, was enormous, but his flesh was somewhat soft. Still, knowing his feats, the Englishmen present sighed for their champion, feeling that he had no chance. For a. moment they stood facing each other, then Jeremy made a. feint, and, get- ting in, planted a. heavy blow with his left hand on his adversary’s chest. But he was to pay for it, for next second the Dutchman got in his right hand, and Jeremy was lifted clean ofi his feet, and sent flying backward among the crowd. 1.. - A .11 7:. Tthoers Erhééred, the giant smiled and the Englishmen looked sad. They knew how it would be. But Jeremy picked himself up little the worse. The stroke had struck the muscles of his chest, and had not hurt himgreatly. As he advanced the graduallyâ€"increasing crowd of Englishmen cheered him warmly, and he swore in his heart that he would justify those cheers or die for it I 11,," A_L ___ J Pig-vii” 93:. thisrjuncture that Ernest and Mr' Alston came up. “ Good heavens I” exclaimed the former, “ it is Jeremy.” Mr. Alston took in the situation at a. glance. “ Don’t let him gore you, you will put him ofi," he said. “ Get behind me.” V.” _ _ Ernest'egesred, everwhelmed. Mr. Alston shook his head. He recognized that Jeremy had a poor chance, but he did not say so to Ernest. _ Meanwhile Jeremy came up and faced the Dutchmen. Encouraged by his late success, presently his advers ry struck a tremendous blow at him. Jeremy dodged, and next instant succeeded in land- ing such a fearful right and left full on the giant’s face that the latter went reeling backward. “ Not fair 1 no holding 1" shouted the Englishmen, but the Boer held on. Indeed, he did more. Putting all his vast strength into the effort, be strained and tugged, meaning to lift Jeremy up and dash him A on the ground. But 10 ! amid frantic ‘ shouts from the crowd, Jeremy stood firm, moving not an inch. -Whereupon the’ Boers called out, saying thathe was not a mortal, . but aman possessed with a. devil. Again the Dutchman gripped him, and this time A yell of frantic excitement arose from the English portion of the crowd. This was indeed a. David. The Dutchman soon recovered, and in his turn, rendered more cautious, kept out of Jeremy’s reach, trying to strike him down from a. distance. For a round or two no important blow was struck, till at last a brilliant idea. took possession of the young fellow who had charge of Jeremy’s coat. “ Hit him about the wlgspered >; “‘he’s soft}: ,,:I body,” ,, A‘L _. fflqK J nu... on“. -__ w Jeremy took the advice, and next round succeeded in getting in two or three blows straight from the shoulder, and every one of them bruised the huge body sadly, and made it rather short of wind}. Next round he repeated the same tactics, receiving himself a. stroke on the shoulder that for a. moment rendered his left arm helpless. Before another second was over however, he had his revenge, and the blood was pouring from his adversary’s lips. -..‘ .. ____LA___-_ -__ "‘F“ 1" r) ” ' v _ And now did the popular excitement on both sides grow intense, for to the interest attaching to the encounter was added that of national feeling, which was then at a. high state of tension. Englishmen, Dutch- men, and a. mob of Kafirs yelled and shouted, and each of the former two felt that the honor of his people was on the issue. And yet it was an unequal fight. -n 1,. A “ I believe that your friend will be a. match for Van Zyl,” said Mr. Alston, coolly, but the flash of his eye belied his coolness; “and I tell you what, he’s a devilish fine fellow too.” At that moment, however, an untoward thing happened. The giant struck out his strongest, and Jeremy could not succeed in entirely warding off the blow, though he broke its force. Crashing through his guard, it struck him on the forehead, and fora moment he dropped senseless. His second rushed up and dashed some water over him, and in another instant he was on his legs again; but for the rest of that round he contented himself with dodging his adversary’s attack, at which the Dutch- men cheered, thinking that his iron strength was broken. a , 11,, _:__u_ AL..- D But presently, when for the sixth time Jeremy came up with the same quiet look of determination in his eyes, and, except that the gaping of the nostrils and the twitching of the lip showed a. certain measure of distress, looking but little the worse, they turned with anxiety to examine the condition of the giant. It was not very promising. He was perspiring profusely, and his enormous chest was rising and falling irregularly. Wherever Jeremy’s strokes had fallen, too, a great blue bruise had risen. It was evident that his condition was the worst of the two, but still the Boers had little doubt of the issue. It could not be that the man who had once for a, bet queued'the struggles of a Wild ox, holding it for the space of five minutes by the horn, could be worsted by an English lad. So they called on him to stop playing with the boy and crush him. $3.4. A”..- A“ "'“r I.""./ "â€"0 ~ Thus encouraged, the giant came on, striking out with fearful force but wildly, for he could not box. For thirty seconds or more Jeremy contented himself with avoiding the blows ; then, seeing an oppor- tunity, he planted a heavy one on his adversary’s chest. This staggered him and threw him off his guard, and, taking the offensive, Jeremy dodged in right under the huge fists, and hit upward with all his power. “ Thud, thud l” The sound of the blows could be heard fifty yards 03. Nor were they without their effect. The giant staggered, and, amidst fearful shouts and groans, fell like an oxe struck with a pole- axe. But it was not over yet. In another moment he was on his legs again, and, spit. ting out blood and teeth, came reeling straight at Jeremy, a fearful and alarming spectacle. As he came, Jeremy again hit him in the face, but it did not stop him, and in another second the huge arms had closed round him and held him like a vice. I the ground. V 4 “ By George, he will throw him next ! time,” said Mr. Alston to Ernest, who was fishaking like a leaf with the excitement; ' “ look! he is turning white; the grip is choking_hi_m.” . - ,, , 5.- -_.:1 .00”. (n... su qeeded i_n lifting him a. few inches from Mvmns an... And, indeed, Jeremy was in evil case, for his senses were fast being crushed out of him in that fearful embrace, and he was thinking with bitter sorrow that he must fail after all, for an Englishman does not like to be beat even when he has fought his best. Just then it was, when things were beginning to swim around him, that a voice he loved, and which he had been listening for this many months, rang in his ears ; whether it was fancy or whether he really heard it he knew not. , u TA..-_,A_. h“; Aw“, “Wu. -v m m" .V “ Remember ‘ Marsh Joe,’ Jeremy and lift him. Don’t be beat. For God’s sake, lift him 1” Now there was a. trick, which I will not tell you, my reader, but which a famous Eastern counties wrestler, known as Marsh J oe, had taught to Jeremy. 80 well had he taught him, indeed, that at the age of 17, Jeremy had hoisted his teacher with his own trick. - -. 1 Just at the moment that Jeremy heard the voice, the giant shifted his hold a little, preparatory to making a fresh effort, and thus enabled his antagonist to fill his lungs with air. Ernest saw the broad white chest heave with relief (for by this time most of the upper clothing of the combatants had been wrenched away), and the darkening eye grow bright again, and he knew that Jeremy had heard him, and that he would conquer or die Where he was. 1 1 ,1 ,1: l 7....1. .... LLA WW1...” v- r... u..-“ m And then, 10 and behold! Just as the Boer, leisurely enoughâ€"feeling that he was master of the situationâ€"prepared himself for the final struggle,suddenly the English- man advanced his right leg a few inches, and with the rapidity of lightning entirely shifted his grip; and then he gathered himself for the efiort. What mighty reserve of strength he drew on, who can say? but Ernest’s voice had excited it, and it came at his call ; and he did a thing that few living men could have done, and the fame whereof will go down in South Africa from generation to generation. For the lithe arms tightened and gripped till they sunk in almost level with the flesh of his mighty foe, and then slowly he began to gather purchase swaying backward and forward. Lu; vv «4.». “ Make an end of him! Make an end of him l” shouted the Boers ; but behold! their champion’s eyes are starting from his blackened face ; he cannot stir. -. .1 M‘w‘duvuv“ -..V.. , _- H, To and fro sways Jeremy, and now the giant’s feet are lifted from the ground. And then one mighty efiortâ€"O gallant Jeremy ! up, still up above the gasping of the wonder-stricken crowd, up to his shoulderâ€"by Heaven, over it! . . u . ,,,,:.!I ____--_ “MERLE! "fiai'iyi’iéu, to be carried away by six strong men, a. cripple for life. ERNEST, S LOVE-LETTER . Cheer after cheer arose from the English- men around, and angry curses from the Dutchmen, as Jeremy turned to look at the senseless carcass of the giant. But, even as he turned, exhausted Nature gave out, and he fell fainting into Ernest’s arms. ,p 11.. Then did Selected individuals of his fellow-countrymen come forward and bear him reverently to a restaurant called they “European,” where the proprietorâ€"him- self an old Eton fellowâ€"met him, and‘ washed and elothed and restored him, and vowed with tears in his eyes that he, Jeremy, should live at his expense for as long as he likedâ€"ay, even if he chose to drink nothing meaner than champagne all daylong; for thus it is that Englishmen greet’one who ministers to that deepest rooted of all their feelings-national pride. And then, when at length he had been breughtto, and refreshed with a tumbler- full of dry Monopole, and wonderingly shaken Ernest by the hand the enthusiasm of the crowd outside burst V s bounds, and poured into the restaurant, and, seizing Jeremy and the chair whereon he sat, they bore him in triumph round the market- square to the tune of “ God Save the Queen,” a proceeding that would have ended in provoking a riot had not an aide- de-camp from His Excellency the Special Commissioner, who sent a message begging ‘that they would desist, succeeded in per- suading them to return to the restaurant. And here they all dined, and forced Jeremy to drinka great deal more dry Monopole than was good for him, with the result that for the first and last time in his life he was persuaded into making an after-dinner speech. As far as it was reported it ran something like this} \ 1 11,, -1:-L___,__n o em, “ Dear friends (cheers) and Englishmen” (renewed cheers) pauseâ€"“ all making great fuss about nothing (cheers, and shouts of ‘No, no 1’). Fight the Dutchman again to~morrowâ€"very big, but soft as puttyâ€"~ anybody fight him (frantic cheering). Glad I Wasn’t thrashed, as you all seem so pleased. Don’t know Why you are pleased ; ’spose you didn’t like the Dutchman. ’Fraid he hurt himself over my shoulder. Wonder What he did it for ‘2 Sit down, now. Dear friends, dear old Ernest, been looking for you for long while,” and he turned his glassy eye on to Ernest, who cheered frantically, under the impression that Jeremy had just said something very much to the point. ” Sit down, now (‘ No, no ; go on’). Can‘t go on, quite pumpedâ€"very thirsty, too (‘ Give him some more cham- pagne ; open a fresh case’). WishEva and Doll were here, don’t you, (loud cheers)? Gemman (cheers), no, not gemman, friends (louder‘ cheers) no, not gemman, friends ,, IA._L 1A..;J....,.1,.nmm\ T \ V ~~-~/ w: u . â€"English brothers (yet loudercheers), I give you a toast. Eva and Doll, you all know ’em and love ’em, or if you don’t you would, you see; if you did, you know.” Frantic outburst of cheering, during which Jeremy tries to resume his seat, but grace- fully drops on to the floor, and begins sing~ ingj‘Auld Lang Syne” under the table, whereupon the Whole company rises, andY with the exception of Ernest and a jovial member of the Special Commissioner’s stafl, who get upon the table to lead the chorus, join hands and sing that beautiful 'old song With all the solemnity of intoxicaâ€" tion, after which they drink more cham- pagne and jointly and severally swear eternal friendship, especially Ernest and the member of His Excellency’s staff, Who shake hands and bless each other, till the warmth of their emotions proves too much for them, and they weep in chorus there upon the table. I T3,“...eL 1...: "AMA {Vanna For awhile Ernest could make nothing of all this. Why was Jeremy there ? Where were they ‘2 Everything turned round and seemed phentasmegorial ; the only real, substantial thing was that awful pain in the head. But presently things began to some back to him, and the eight of J erem ’s bruised face recalled the fight, and the ght recalled the dinner, and the dinner brought back a. vague recollection of Jeremy’s speech and of something he had said about Eva. What could it have been? Ah, Eva. 1 Perhaps Jeremy knew something about her; perhaps he had brought the letter that had been so long in coming. Oh, how his heart went out toward her ! But how came Jeremy there in bed before him; how crime he to be in south éfriea. at all I? u v“ n... ._...._V For the rest, Ernest had some vague recollections of helping to drive his newly- found friend home in a. wheelbarrow that would persist in upsetting in every sluice or ditch, especially if it had running water 1 ,,,A, An 1.- 3:: in it; a: remember. A vuAvuA uy- In the morning he woke up, or rather first became conscious of pain in his head, in a. little double-bedded room attached to the hotel. On the pillow of the bed opposite to him lay J eremy’s batte‘rgd face. ,7, , LA .- »LL1»~ At that moment , his reflections wax-é interrupted by the entry of Mazooku, beam. ing the coffee which ‘ it is the natiofial habit in South Africa. to drink earfiy in this mo_rn’ing. ‘ ' u ‘ . c , I1,_I__ __L- "A-....-J . Luiu . he Rama-looking Zulu, who seemed Sfifiwfifl “was about allvhe did CHAPTER XXV. anxme out of plane cnrrying cups of. coffee, seeing that his master was awake, saluted him with the customary " K005,” lifting one of the cups of coffee to give emphasis to the word, and nearly upsetting it in the effort. ' TMEOEfii,” said Ernest, severely, “how did__we ge_t here '2” _ N "LRA The soubstance of the retainer’s explana- tion was as follows : When the moon was getting low, vanishing, indeed, behind the ” horned house” yonder (the Dutch Church with pinnacles on it), it occurred to him, waiting on the verandah, that his master must be weary ; and as most had departed from the “ dance” .in the “ tin house” (restaurant), evidently made happy by the “ twala” (drink), he entered into the tin house to look for him, and found him over- come by sleep under the table, lying next to the “ Lion - who - threw â€" oxen-over-his- shoulder” (Le. Jeremy), so overcome by sleep, indeed, that it was quite impossible to conduct him to the waggon. This being so, he (Mazooku) considered what was his duty under the circumstances, and came to the accurate conclusion that the best thing to do was to put them into the white man’s bed, since he knew that his master did not love the floor to lie on. Accordingly, having discovered that this was a room of beds, he and another Zulu entered, but were per- plexed to find the beds already occupied by two white men, who had lain down to rest with their clothes on. But, under all these circumstances, he and the other Zulu, con- sidering that their first thought should be toward their own master, had taken the liberty of lifting up the two white men, who were slumbering profoundly after the “ dance,” by the head and by the heels, and putting them out in the sweet cool air of the night. Having thus “ made a place,” they then conveyed first Ernest, and having removed'his clothes, put him into one bed, and next, in consideration of his undoubted greatness, they ventured to take the “ Lion-who, etc.,” himself and put him in the other. He was a very great man, the “ Lion,” and his art of throwing greater men over his shoulder could onlybe attributed to witchcraft. He, himself (Mazooku), had tried it on that morning with a Basutu, with whom he had a slight difference of opinion, but the result had not been all that could be desired, inasmuch as the Basutu had kicked him in the stomach, and forced him to drop him. Ernest laughed as heartily as his head- ache would allow at this story, and in doing so woke up Jeremy, who at once clasped his hands to his head and looked round, whereupon Mazooku, having saluted the awakened “Lion” with much fervor, and spilled a considerable quantity of hot coflee over him in doing so, took his departure abashed, and at length the two friends were left alone. Thereupon, rising from their respective’pallets, they took a step in all the glory of their undress uniform into the middle of the little room, and, after the manner of Englishmen shook hands and called each other “old fellow.” They then went back to bed and began to converse. “ I say, old fellow, when; on earth brought you out here ‘2” “ Well, you see, I came out to look you up. You did not write any letters, and they began to get anxious about you at home, so I packed up my duds and started. Your uncle stands unlimited tin, so I am travelling like a prince in awaggon of my own. I heard of you down in Maritzburg, and guessed that I had best make for Pretofia, and here I am and there you are, and I am terribly glad to see you again, old chap. By Jovg, what a. head I have I But, “"1 i153, wfiy did'n’t you write? Doll half broke her heart about it, and so did your uncle,_9r_11y he wogld not; say so.” N" “Idid write. I Wrote from Sikukini’s country, but I 311 pose the letter did not fetch,” answere Ernest, feeling very guilty. “ The iuet‘is, old fellow, I had not the heart to write much, I have bee so confoundedly down on my luck ever nee that duel busifiess.” ' Little Paragraphs About the Holiday Seaâ€" son~-Poetry and Pastel-y. The Christmas feast beyond all question Would test an ostrich’s digestion. Buy wooden toys for your children. When they are broken next week they won’t be entirely useless. They can at least be used as firewood. It is stated that the Russian reserves have been called out. Marked movement's Of fo_xjoops ’haye been inpt‘iced in Bessambip] Christmas comes but once a. year, and it is very lucky for the man with a. large family that he has fifty-two weeks to catch up before the next one arrives. 1.: ‘Young men who have pawned their over- coats to make a. raise for Christmas will take notice that the new Eastern weather prophet declares that ” it will be very cold in January.” Now Christmas comes with much good cheer : With some ’twill be a day of beer ; Next day, with beads both dull and sore, They‘ll swear that Christmas was a bore. Girls, if you want to discover your future husband, place the Wish bone of the turkey above the door. If you have no turkey an old buckle will do just as well. Grab the first man who enters and jump heavily on his toes. If he swears, you haven’t hold of the right man. The sweetest; day in all the year Is Christmas day, so jolly, When loved ones come from far and near To dance beneath the holly. Are you mad at your neighbor? Well, don’t kill his chickens nor stone his cat, because that’s silly and childish. Just make his boy a. Christmas present of an accordeon and you have heaped coals of fire on his head which will soothe and singe his devoted scalp till the last inhsrmonious dis- cord has been yanked out of the old machine. The laziest boy on record is one who Wouldn’t hang up his stocking on Christ- mas. His mother had to hang it up for him and make the present also. She will always have that boy to support. The French press has beefi Warned n91: to publish any military news that would big of use abroad. The Little Boy’s Gift. I have a true story which is well worth the telling. Last Sunday a young clergyâ€" man from a young congregation preached, by exchange, to a congregation which is one of the serene, old-fashioned, undisturbed sort, where the rising generation’s undoubted human nature is allowed for in a quiet and sensible way. The visiting clergyman remained to the Sunday School, and after the exercises were abouthalf finished he rose to make a little speech. “ I know that you are an enterprising Sunday School,” he said, “ because I see you have so many new books. I know that you are a happy Sunday School, because I see so many smiling faces around me. And I know that you are a generous Sunday School, because that little boy over there by the long. pew door offered mea pea- nut as I came in.” The attention of the assembly was instantly directed to the little boy, who began to snicker uncon- trolably to himself. “ Well, what’s the matter, my little man ‘3” asked the clergy- man. ” You’re not sorry you offered me the peanut are you ?" “ Did you th-think that was a peanut I gave you ?” asked the little boy, still snickering violently. “ Why, yes ; wasn’t it ?” “ No-o-o ! ’twas only a shell l”â€"Boston Post. A Pure Woman’s “’ortb. Dr. Elizabeth H. Bradley, of London, a. leader in the social movement, who lately addressed a Chicago audience under the auspices of the W. C. T. U., says to mothers: “ Don’t let your daughter marry a. man to save him.” This is not Christian sentiâ€" mentality, it is betterâ€"it is Christian expedi- ency. A pure woman is worth a. legion of corrupted men.”â€"-C’hicago Inter Oqean. ' CHRISTMAS RON-BONS. (To be continued.) Reminiscences of the mime in 1813. To the Editor of the Tums: ' ‘ ‘ Sm,â€"-If you will favor meyith the use of your valuablepaper for a. ie'wlreminiscencee of one of the veterans of theiwar of 1812and 1813, who took an active part} in the battle of Stoney Creek, I will be grateful to you. I have read with interest this war stories in your paper of your: correepqradent Hans B. B. E. He has told you End' your ‘many readers how the British got possession of the American countersign on the eve of the battle of Stoney Creek, the 5th of June, 1813 ; how Isaac Corman got it from one of the American oflicers while he was a prisoner in charge of the Americans ; how on his way home after his release from imprisonment he met the gallant young scout, William Green, to whom Mr. Corman communicated the American countersign. Let us now follow this gallant young hero, who had not yet reached his 18th year of age, as he dashes away with the fleetness iot' an Indian through the woods to his home at Stoney Creek, where he procures a horse, mounts it, and rides with all possible haste to General Vincent’s head- quarters at Burlington Heights. General Vincent’s position on Burlington Heights was a most critical one. York on one side and Fort George on the other had both fallen; his ammunition, which he was obliged to abandon or destroy before evacuating Fort George, was now reduced to ninety rounds of ball cartridge for each man, and were he forced to continue his retreat, unless the British fleet, under Sir James Yeo, could reach the anchorage near the Brant "House, four miles from his position and carry off his small force, he would have to continue it by way of York (Toronto), thence to Kings- ton over 200 miles of hard country roads â€"not such roads as we have at the present day. The reader will remember that York was then at the mercy of the American fleet. Vincent’s position, as we said before, was a most critical one, having a compara. tively powerful army in full pursuit, seven miles distant (at Stoney Creek), following closely on his tracks, he had to choose be- tween making a most desperate stand there or to abandon his post with all its stores, etc., and continue his retreat to Kingston. Such of our readers as have travelled over the line of Vincent’s retreat : from Fort George to Burlington Heights will remember and call to mind that nar- row neck of land between the Barton Heights and the head waters of Burlington Bay, on which the British force stood that, Saturday night, the 5th of June, 1813. There were many young Canadians serving in that little British forceâ€"plucky boys, whose names will ever live, cherished as “household words” in manya Canadian home. Some of them afterwards rose high at the Bar, on the Bench, in the legislative halls, or as colonels of the Upper Canada militia. We may here note that at a “ Queenston Heights Annual Dinner,” over thirty years ago, Sir Allan lilacNab gave as _. . z rvvd __ -_. ..._. H.Au.»»4uAerdOu-dm wuâ€"nrâ€"iwwwâ€"w- fin. A van-Ho) a toast, “The Fighting Judges of Upper Canada.” There were at that time five of those judges still living who had served through the whole war. The young Canadian reader may thus form his estimate of the men who stood in the ranks of our Niagara frontier army in 1812-13, doing battle for their king and country. We will now return to that ever- memorable day, Saturday, the 5th of June, 1813. The advance guard, or rather rear guard, of the British that afternoon was stationed two miles in rear of the en- trenched camp, near the present Court House and square in the city of Hamilton. Hamilton was then nowhereâ€"not even a village. On that spot, half an hour before midnight, the attacking party of 704 men was formed and took up its line of march on Stoney Creek, under Colonel Harvey. During the dayâ€"Saturday, the 5th of June, ISISâ€"Colonel Harvey (afterwards Sir John Harvey, Governor of New Druum,’ Luau abuuwxnwu‘ Lunpm “M1 the American position. Som say that he had visited their camp at Stoney Creek during the day disguised as a farmer on his way to his work. Be this as it may, Harvey made himself thoroughly acquainted with the American position, and, having got possession of the American counter- sign from the heroic young William Green, he proposed a night attack, which General Vincent approved of. Let us now follow this brave little army, with their 704 un- loaded muskets and flintless locks, on their mission into the jaws of death. Before starting, command was given for every flint to be taken out of their muskets and not to even whisper, so as to prevent the possibility of an accidental alarm. Every man, however, had his well filled cartouche box, containing sixty rounds of ball cartridge, and his trusty bayonet by his side. The fate of Upper Canada depended upon the success or failure of this night surprise. Silently they moved, not a whisper was heard ; there was silence deep as death in the ranks during that midnight march of seven miles. On and on they tread through that dense forest in the solemn hours of the night. So silently did they move that not a sound was heard, not a sound to quell the dreadful silence that prevailed, save now and then the cracking of a stray dry branch under foot, an occa- sional splash of some unfortunate fellow who makes a misstep into some mud hole, the howl of the wolf or the hoot of the night owl, or a whispered word of com- mand. Have you ever, reader, walked at night along a country road of Upper Canada in the old time, the road often times only a narrow trail and so dark that you could not see your hand before you, with great towering trees of oak, elm, walnut, pine, etc., over- hanging, adding to the darkness? If you have you can picture the road over which this forlorn hope had to travel. Thence, emerging from the thick darkness of their midnight tramp, they had to face an enemy’s camp having six to one to greet their early, unexpected Sunday morning visit. “Hus ,” said Harvey to a young man, the late Judge Jarvis, “ Hush, we are on them 1 ” In an instant the bayonets of two of the leading men pierced the first sentryâ€"the second shared a like fate. One of them was standing leaning against a large oak tree, quietly sleeping with his arms folded around his musket. William Green, the scout, who was in the advance close by Harvey in the beginning of the battle, related to me that with his sword he silenced one sentry at Lewis’ Lane, who was in the act of bayoneting him. The fourth escaped, discharging his gun and alarming the camp. “ Bayonets to the front ” were the words passed quietly and quickly through the ranks, and our leading files were soon in front of the camp fires, bayoneting many of the sleeping enemy. A detachment of the small army, under Harvey, who was guided to the chapel door, or as it is better known as |“the old Methodist meeting house,” bythe young scout William Green. I have already stated that the fourth sentry, who was standing near the door of the church, raised the alarm by discharging his musket, but the poor fellow had to pay the penalty for that act by having a bayonet thrust through his body, who, as the scout related, had only time to say, “ O, Lord God 1” and threw up his hands and fell backwards dead. The coast being clear they surrounded the church, and captured thirty Americans, who were bivouacked in the church fast asleep. The main body at “ the double ” pressed on into the valley under a cloud of fire burst. ing from an unseen enemy. The men then prepared to adjust their flints. It was first, “ handle cartridge, prime, load, draw ramrods, ram down cartridge, return ramrods (all this had to be done with the old musket), then readyâ€"fire!” Volley after volley foll wed, but with little execu- tion, as they fire into'the darkness, not seeâ€" DAUAL an: IILAVJ Jllvu ALA-1v vuv u I ing ‘the enemy. During this operatic}? a. heavy volley from the enemy cut‘down a. number of our men, but fortunately they STONE! CREEK. m were on low ground 9.1141 the level fire of the enemy passed over them. Hervey ordered two companies of the gallant 49th Regiment to the right to attack, or rather to throw into confusion, the left and cen- tre of the enemy. Those flank movements of the 49th threw the enemy into terrible confusion. Three of their guns posted in the centre on the main road were captured; scarcely a gunner escaped. The late Col. Fraser, of Perth, 0nt., then serving as a. sergeant in the 49th, having twelve men with him, was one of the first among the guns, bayoneting seven of the gunners with his own hands. He was present at the capture of the two American Generals, Chandler and Winder, near the guns. The young Canadian militia. being so familiar with the Indians that they could imitate their warwhoop to perfection, they knew that the Americans dreaded the Indians more than the whites. There was fearful confusion in the American camp. Being ignorant of the strength of the attacking ‘ party, they fell back in great disorder. Hundreds of them scrambled to the heights on their left. Colonel Burns, on whom the command of the Americans now devolved, was among the first to mount his horse and start eastward with his 250 brave cavalry, reaching the Forty-mile Creek in a few hours, on their way to Fort George. It is not our intention to par- ticularize or chronicle the many daring feats and hand-to-hand encounters during the darkness of that ever-memorable b‘un- day morning, the 6th of June, 1813. Suf- fice it to say that Harvey’s surprise was most successful and complete, causing the breaking up of the American camp and their subsequent retreat. Sunday morning before break of day the now scattered par- ties of this forlorn hope fell back, to return by the road over which they had advanced. They had suf- fered fearfully. They were not now the “ seven hundred and four ” of the previous night! Over one hundred and fifty of them, between killed, wounded and missing, did not answer the roll call that morning. Let us take a peep at the shattered rem- nant of this forlorn hope as they muster and reform for their return march to Bur- lington Heighis. They are gathering and coming in from all parts of the field, some in small squads, some in twos, some in threes, others singly, some bearing and carrying eff wounded comrades. Over one hundred and fifty of them are missing; but they have swelling their ranks two Ameri- can Generals, Chandler and Winder; seven officers and one hundred and sixteen men, prisoners, with their guns as trophies of warâ€"gracing their blood-stained bayonets, thus rendering Stoney Creek the most gal- lant affair for the British arms during the war of 1812. There was only one mistake made that nightâ€"a fatal oneâ€"that of our men placing themselves in front of the camp fires as living targets for the bullets of the unerring American rifle. crâ€" FOHHm-‘uu. . .n n And now as nearly all of those gallant men who fought and bled to maintain our rights and liberties as well as theirs have passed away, the best thing we of the pres- ent can do to commemorate that victory, will be to? erect a suitable monument on that old battle-field near Stoney Creek. “ Thisindfslfilketch of the battle of Stqney Greek. . u n .1 u l A Lonely Christmas. (Detroit Free Press.) There was a. pair of stockings to hang up at our house last Christmas, a. pair of stockings with a hole worn in one little foot and the heel worn thin in the other. This year there are none to hang up. Last year we haunted toy stores and con- fectioners for the newest and nicest things for our boy. This year we passed the gay windows With bowed heads and aching hearts. I see tears in my wife’s eyes as We pass some happy mother with a blue or white mittened little hand held tightly in her own, while the_merry little lad by her “ fiecauég,” was the reply, “ I notice that whenever I cross Broadway the policemen never take my arm as they used to ('10.’V’T Judge. myfieégnfind, you vlet? me in. I’ll do the talking.”-â€"Puck. ' ' ‘ L ” Wham up in her face. 7 , I cannot keep my own lips from trem- bling, or my tear-dimmed eyes from gazing wistfully at that dear little fellow with the blue eyes and golden curls, perched high on his father’s shoulder so that he can look over the heads of the crowd standing in front of the gay toy store. I held my own boy so last year. He walked these same guy streets with his little hand held in his mother’s. “ Oh, I feel I’m beginning to look quite aid,” was the mournful reply. ' ' " Nonsense ! Whatever put such an iJea into your head I" ‘ ‘ H1â€" .- u 1 Eqpal to the Emergency. An irate female seeks admittance to the editor’s sanctum. ‘ ‘ " ‘ w“1311ny71‘7079:171777y\ou, madam,” protests the attendant; “ that the editdr is too ill to tallykitio any Qne‘ to-day.‘ ‘ ' 1-.“ 1 .1 5‘ Why, my dear, what’s the matter?” kindly aglgedfilady ofihey friend. 1 u He rode home on my lap in the horse cars that day before Christmas. He climbed up and put his arms around my neck to whisper to me a wonderful ” seekit.” This secret whisper always was : “ I lub you, papa.” And after we had coaxed him into his night clothes that night, and after we had heard his little prayers with the final “ God bless papa. and mamma,” we put him to bed and filled the two little blue stock- ings so full and piled high the chair on which they hung. We could hardly sleep for thinking of what he would do and say when the Christmas morning came. key hoine with'you, 1’11 tfy." This year we rode home alone in the car. We sat silently in our little parlor. My wife tried to read a. new copy of her favorite magazine, but I could see that her eyes were closed behind its pages. I said I would go out- 031 the porch and smoke. But my cigar was not lighted in the whole hour I remained without. Mrs. Winksâ€" I haven’t time now. What doesfiijs gay? “Well, it says, for one thing, that it is the duty of a wife to cultivate assimilation, and, so far as possible, have the same tastes as her husband.” “ I never thought of that.” “ I suppose not.” “ No, but you’ll hi:ng aubottle of whis: My Wife carries {his little verse in her pocket-book : We shall roam on the banks of the River of Peace, And dwell on its crystal tide, And one of the jo s of our Heaven will be The little boy 2 at died. Mr. Winksâ€"I wish, Mrs. Winks, you would read this article on the duties of wives. They were having a. Christmas tree for my neighbor’s little boy in the house across the street. I could see the tree with the pretty boy dancing around it. l I knew and felt that he was safe in the arms of One who carries the young lambs in His bosom, that greater love than mine Was around him, a love that could forever shield him from all trials and sorrows ; but I could not help crying out : “ My baby, my boy, I want you myself.” The curtain of our parlor was up a few inches, and I could see my Wife on her knees, and what did she have in her hands, kissing them again and again, with sobs and tears ? The little stockings we hung up last Christmas eve. LPerhaps we will, as the neighbors say, “ outgrow it” by and bye, or “get used to it ;” but this is the first Christmas we have had to live through since the baby died. JOHN W. GREEN, Stofxey Creek. A Key to His Habits. A Sure Sign of Age, Dreadful Story Told by Mr. J mnes IIeekin, They tell 'a good stOry on James H. Heekin. A friend met; him one day at the Little Miami Railroad, just as he was returning from his suburban home in Linwood. “ Where’ve you been ‘2” was threr natural inquiry. ‘7 Béen out home drowning four of my children.” “ What 1â€"” in a. half shriek. “ Been out home drowning four of my children.” “ For heaven’s sake explain what you mean." “ Well, it is just this. Yesterday I sent up to Levi Goodale at Bradstreet’s to get the commercial standing of a New York merchant. This morning I got the report. It said that the man was honest, his busi- ness was flourishing, and that his credit was A1. However, it wound up with the suggestive remark, ‘ But he has a. large family, of children.’ I thought that over, and saw that the inference was that the large family of children was draining his pocket-book, and that it might be held up against him. Now, Ihave about ten children myself, and as I didn’t want my business standing questioned I at once went home and drowned four of them. Mr. Heekin, it may be remarked, is still at large.â€"Cincimmti Times-Stan A New Train Game. A drummer fresh from a southern trip sat in a Boston liquor dispensary the other day and said : “ Boys, I’ve struck a new game since I saw you last, and it is gonig to be popular Sure enough. Cards are all right in a smoking car with the boys, and what a fellow wants is something that will keep his mind off from the fatigue of travelling, and at the same time give him some amusement. Well, when we left Atlanta I ran up against another drummer who knew all about this new game, and we ‘ hadn’t been at it more than an hour before ‘ the Whole train, men, women and children, were playing at it. Now, the 7710(I'us operandi was something like this: The game is to count 1,000 points. My friend sat on one side of the car and I on the other. A boy, dog, cow, sheep or horse counted 10 eachra man 15, a woman 20, a girl 25 and neat 30. A red headed girl counted 100. We watched the car window until we reached Alexandria, Va. His score was 875, and I saw that in ten minutes he was likely to make the 1,000. I had 730 and I felt pretty certain that I would have to pay for that box of cigars. Well, the train drew into Alexandria and there were three red-headed girls standing on the platform, and I ran the game out on him there.” “ I used to think that men had an awfully easy time,” said Mrs. Franks, “ but I’ve changed my mind, and hereafter I’m going to take all the care elf Charles I possibly can. You see the other morn- ing I told Charles we wanted some wood, and to be sure and order some. Well, I waited all day, and that wood didn’t come, and I was slmoét angry, for, said I, ‘ he has forgotten it, as usual.’ Charles didn’t come home until late, long after I had retired. He had to go to his club, and it seems he was detained until after mid- night. He was awfully restless, and kept talking in his sleep, saying every once in a while, ‘ Give me another dollar’s worth of chips.’ So you see I knew that his mind was troubled about that wood. How much it must have worried him, to thus disturb his rest! Hereafter I’m going to attend to all house matters myself. Poor man! he has enough to bother him without doing home errand.”â€"â€"â€"Bost0n Transcript. For all kinds of pain? Polson’s NERVILINE is the most efficient and prompt remedy in existence for neuralgia, lumbago and head- ache. For internal use it has no equal. Relief in five minutes may be obtained from Nerviline in any of the following com- plaints, yviz.: Cramps in the stomach, chills, flatulent pains. Buy a. 10 cent sample bottle of Nerviline at any drug store aqd test the great remedy. Large bottles-25 cents. wg ING POWDE THE COOK’S BEST FRHEND The Ideal Boot for \Vomen. The Christmas shopping is fairly under way, and scores of shoppers are plodding through the deep slush and snow of the streets with what patience they can muster. Women can’t legislate on the cleaning of the streets, indignation is of little use, and only one thing can be done in the way of self-defence, and that is to Wear rubber boots. “ But rubber boots are such ungainly things,” urges the prejudiced person. Granted; rubber boots are ugly, and all of womankind are waiting eagerly for the promised beautiful boot which is to fit the foot, to lace up over a rubber, and be gen- erally good to look at, as well as good to keep the feet dry and warm. The ideal boot has not yet appeared in the market, but when it does come, if it is to come, if it be not a chimera, it will be welcomed Warmlyâ€"Boston Record. Wherever you live you should write to Hallett & 00., Portland, Maine, and learn about work that you can do While living at your own home at a. profit of at least from $5 to $25 end upwards daily. Some have made over $50 in n day. All is new. Either sex. All ages Halleit & Co. will start you. Capital not needed. All yurticulars free. Sand along your address at once and all of the above will be proved to you‘. Nothing like it ever known to workingmen. â€"â€"â€"Despite the pride of museum “ freaks ” in their own peculiarities, the living skele- ton looks enviously upon the fat women when it comes to a matter of hanging up the Christmas stockings. D30me . HIS CHILDREN. Brancn’omc'e, 3'7‘Ybfiié'3'tJTé-rnnto. mm;qu nun n w m 'rctmu mum. [hhw m » dud cure. I hue nmh: m am New F:'i‘.\ Emmy: ) '1 MM,- ING SICKNEESA “in-lung study. I wnn'un! n-lesuly Io cure the worst cases. Barnum: nnu a I: vr I; :1 In :29 reasun {or not nnw rece1ving a cuve. Sam! at u m, an a treatise and a Free Battle 01 my mmle x-en qy. Give Express and Pastomce. It costs you nothlrw mr a hint, Lnd I will on an. Address DR. H. G. ROOT, mm; uznl cure. I km [NS SIOKA ES“ Perhaps There are Chips andâ€"Chips. 1%" fine Price Will You Try Nerviline How to Save IVIoney DCNL.1.87. .yg