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Rather defiantly she went to her trunk and chose the very daintiest lin- gerie she could find, beautiful filmy party things that had been fashioned so carefully by Mother’s clever fingers. They seemed singularly out of place with her cheap little office suit but, by "w..- w. my ______,7,, “Cheer up,” she admonished herself again, “put on your best clothes and go and dress your Sunday School class for their “Goodnight_dri11.” But the mere mention of the loved names brought a fresh flood of tears for she knew what a disappointing Christmas this was going to be for Mother and poor lame Lena, for their great money-making scheme had not materiaIiZed and she could not even go home for__the holidayz ‘ 1 1 ,A__,1.t The youngest Sunday School teacher was dressing for the Christmas con- certâ€"and she was crying. Suddenly she dried her eyes and began to scold her reflection in the boarding house mirror. “You are a fine looking sight to go to a concert with those red eyes and that swollen nose. For pity’s sake cheer up. what would mother and Lena think of you for howling like that?” DAVID HILL & C0. “Shirley was so surprised to hear my voice ! ” thank their customers for the patronage of the . past year and ex- tend to allâ€"- If you want to give your friends a Christmas Gift. which will be appreciated all through the year, give them a year’s subscription toâ€" “You know, I have read a good deal about Long Distance ser- vice, so this afternoon I “called my mauled daughter.” “Do you mean Shirley who ‘moved up to Morganville, last Spring?” The Christmas Nightgown Constant improvement in tele- phone equipment and service has virtually abonished dis- tanée. Every day friends in cities hundreds 0f miles apart, are reâ€"united by the modern magicâ€"-Long Distance. 'Yes, and do you know I could hear her voxce as dlstinctly as I hear yours. Shirley was so surprised and deligfited that she wants me to call her every week.” Have you ever visited a dis- tant friend by telephone? If not, why not give someone a pleasant surprise. Call her by Long Distance. New Year’s Christmas Greetings Heartiest AN IDEAL GIFT A Short Story Complete in This Issue. “The Home Paper of This District” $1.50 Per Year and THE LIBERAL 140 ( When the little rehearsal was over .she opened the newspaper parcel and 'gasped with horror as the contents fell out on the table. Daisy’s night- {gown was bright pink stripped flan- nelette with high neck and long sleev- 'es! A nice warm serviceable night- gown but not one to wear in a Sunday ISchool drill. The next day the Youngest Teacher wrote a letter which filled the lonely Mother and Sister with joy, for it told them that their business had suc- ceeded after all and that their own dear sales agent would be home on Christmas morning. “Do tell me where you got it, my dear, I would love to get some hand- made things like that for my daught- er. ’ One of the largest, if not the larg- est hogs ever butchered in Renfrew County was killed on Monday on the farm of Mr. H. Stressman, at Locks- lew. The animal was fifteen months 1 old and made 515 pounds of pork. ‘The two hams alone weighed 90 pounds. It was a Berkshire bred hog. â€"â€"Renfrew Mercury “Why. I have a whole trunkful of them at my boarding house, my moth- er and my lame sister make them and I am supposed to sell them. I haven’t been able to find any customers and we are_ all so disappqinted." “Well, you have found a customer now, just tell me where that buarding house is and I will be there tomorrow to buy the whole trunkful if the other things are anythingAlike this._” After the drill was over many will- ing hands were helping to take off the little girl’s costumes, for Santa Claus was coming and the children lmust hurry and get in the front seats ‘Which had been reserved for them. -A certain very wealthy lady, wh05e daughter was to be married shortly happened to be helping Daisy and as the child dashed off to join the others she was left standing with the. chem- ise in her hand. “Please Teacher, Daisy will be soon,” volunteered one little girl, mother is sick and she is coming her big AsisterLDora.” “0h, here they are now,” said the teacher with a sigh of relief; “come Daisy, and let me see if you know your verse. Thank you Dora, just leave the parcel on the table and I’ll get Daisys nightgown out of it as soon as we are finished. Your drill cornes before ours so you must hur- ry. ’ When she reached the hall she found the usual excitement behind the scenâ€" esâ€"â€"â€" mothers adjustings hair-ribbon and sashes on their small squirming daughters, a nervous boy trying in vain to learn the last verse of his recitation, distracted teachers trying to collect the right children for the dif- ferent drills for last minute rehears- als and to explain to them just Where they came in the program. The Youngest Teacher marshnlled nine of her ten pupils in one corner to see if they all had the required nightgowns and candlesticks for the drill. Such dainty nightgowns they were, trim- med with lace and tucks and ribbons, most of them having been made by loving hands especially for the oc- casion. ' “Whatever wilI I do,” the Young Teacher almost sobbed, “the poor child simply cannot go on the platform in that thin when all the other kiddies have suc pretty onesâ€"and I can’t hurt her feelings by telling her it is not good enough for her to wear I’ll hide it, that’s what I’ll do, and per- haps I may be able to think of some sol_ution of th_e problem.” Presently Daisy came running to her with a very woebegone face, “Please, teacher,” she wailed, “we can’t find my nightgown Dora says she left it right there on the table but it’s gone and we’ve looked and looked for it and I can’t be in the drill.” as she told herself bitterly, they were no use anyway. The Young Teacher had a sudden in- spirgtion. ‘ The filmy chemise which was slip- ped over DaiSy’s head a few moments later was a thing of the most exquisite workmanship. Daisy couldn’t ap- preciate the fine hemstitching, the tiny handrun tucks, the dainty tatting and the fairyâ€"like sprays of embroid- ery but said she sposed it would do seeing that her nightgown was lost. “There isn’t time to look for it any longer now, dear, but it will turn up afterwards. And certainly you will be in the drill I have something you can wear. Just wait till I hide behind this screen to take it ofi.” \Veighty Porker here “her with In regard to general farm plowing for the year 1926, I can see much im~ provement in the various counties. The excessive and unprecedented wet Weather that prevailed duriny‘r’ the late summer and fall left a large acreage unplowed and in consequence much Spring plowing will have to be done for next year’s crop. \While of course unavoidable, this is to be re- gretted as spring plowing is unsuited to some soils especially if drought en- sues after the planting season. An examination of the plowed areas showed clearly the influence of the work of the association. The absence of high crowns, crooked furrows, and wide crooked finishes was very not- iceable and in travelling by train and motor from end to end of our prov- ince, I heard frequent comments on the well- plowed fields and on the in- creasing attractiveness of our home- steads in every particular. I have alâ€" lso remarked the more general use of Skimmers, especially in Eastern On- tario. These are indispensable for ’the proper covering of grass, stuba ,ble and weeds. More interest is be- ling‘ shown in the jointer plow, which ‘ twith its skimmer attachment for cut- ‘ting and covering weeds makes it one 1 10f the best for general work. ‘ It is gratifying to note that the plow manufacturers of today are studying and experimenting as never before on types of bottoms with skimmer attachment for hand or tracâ€" tor work. By their wholeâ€"hearted co-operation they are winning the sympathy and gratitude of the farm~ ers and are promoting the work of the farm, which can only prosper as far- mer and manufacturer work hand in hand. Our Provincial Plowing Match was a real success this year. Stubble and sod plowing were never so satisfac- tory and though the wet weather in- terfered with the success of the trac- tors, some exceptional work was done in this line #150. Some new devices and inventions will show to better advantage in a drier season. which are interesting and valuable. Mr. McLean is a past president of the organization and one of the fore- most advocates and authc'u'ities on good plowing in the Province of Ontario. The Ontario Plowmen’s Associa- tion is one of the youngest of the agricultural societies of Ofitario but it can make the proud boast that in the few years since it came into ex- istence, it has actually realized' its original aim and in every County and district in the Province has organized its annual plowing matches and com- petitions. In some cases we have gone beyond our expectations, as there are several counties where two and even three competitions are held. This year saw many new Field Days and arrangements are under way for a further increase in 1927. The chief reason for this remarkable expansion is the whole-hearted sup- port accorded the movement by the farmers and business men of the dif- ferent communities and by our Ag- ricultural societies, the Seed Growers Association, the Canadian National Exhibition and our Great Royal Win- ter Fair. These organizations lend a hand because they recognize that the plowmen’s Association is promot- ing the real prosperity of our Prov- ince not only by teaching our farm- ers how to till the soil but also by promoting neatness and attractive- ness around our farm houses, a know- lege of the best varieties of grain and seeds and an increased interest' in securing better live stock. Our min- ister of agricultureâ€"the Hon. John S. Martiniâ€"(and no province ever had a better), expresses his pride in the fact that our Association is the larg- lest of its kind in the world by donat- ying‘ a handsome silver cup for the best plowed land at the big Provinâ€" ‘cial match. The following report relative to the work carried on during the past year by the Ontario Plowmen’s Ass- ociation has been submitted by Jamâ€" es McLean of Richmond Hill and giv- es a concise resume of the years acâ€" tivities as well as several observations and inventions will show to better advantage in a drier season. The weather also interfered very‘ seriously with the competitions of l the Junior Farmers’ Organization, many of which could no be carried out at all. Bruce County still keeps up its fine reputation with some splen- did plots. Ontario County also had some boys’ plots that it would be‘ hard to beat. and will have some real l plowmen ready for our Provinciall next year. And many of the other} counties might also be mentioned. PLOWMEN’S ASSO€. ATTAINS OBJECTIVE Parry Sound could not be judged on account of snow. Splendid work was done in preparation for this event by Mr. Tipper, Agricultural representa- tive. He and his groups have our hearty sympathy and we are sure they will have better luck another year. I am sure we all regret that the work of the boys in Muskoka and |e trac- 15 done devices better ’ Our Christmas packets of Chocolates, Tobaccos, Cigarettes and Paper lends the final Yule Tide touch to the iarge and varied stock we have assembled for your approval. Buying your gifts at this store has an added pleasure; for here, the Spirit of Christmas prevails. It grows as the time draws nearer. Service that helps you solve your problems is foremost. Never were there better opportunities to fill yourgift buying list than this store presents to you right now. Real gifts at money saving prlces should make this a busy store right up to the closing hour of Christmas Eve. The Gift Problem Solved at Wray’s Drug Store ‘Blanc Bee Trails,” a new out-of-doors feature which will take the visitor out into the forests of North- ern Ontario and Quebec under the guidance of experiâ€" enced woodsmen and trappers, will be operated this winter by several outfitters in the northern sections of these two provinces, it is announced by the Tourist Department of the Canadian National Railways. Tllgse have mean arranged ,to, meet the demand for facilmes Richmond Hi“, SNOWSHOE TRAILS IN NORTHERN iWOODS H. E. WRAY, Druggist for spending :1 winter outing in the woods and the men who will operate them are outfitters who have had Wide exper’ence in caring for hunting and fishing parties. '- Travr‘a will be over trap lines, on well-beaten trails, by dog team and snowshoes and the visitor will be able to make woods trips of from 50 to 200 '16, under conditions which will provide for the com- rt and convenience of the inexperienced woodsman. The fore-ts in winter time present a attractive appearance. Photographs show: Upper left, typical winter scene after mow- !lfl; lower. one of the inullizcnt husky dogs of the Northland: Upper right, lunch time in the bush; ljwer, do: team on the traiL Ontario, Phone 33