Bolax, Imp or Angel-Which?

Little Christma

of the pleasures in store for them on the morrow. Mrs. Allen and her s

t, silvery chimes as the robe w

w lay in feathery drifts on the silent village like a pure white veil, tracing graceful patterns

"Surely not our bell at midnight? Let us

uestions, for the poor creature was speechless with cold. Lucy took the baby, it opened its eyes and smiled, seeming very comfortable. Hetty gave the woman a hot drink, and Mrs. Allen took off her w

s. Allen. "He has given us the privilege of harboring the harborless." "Mrs. Allen," remarked Hetty, "dis is just like dat verse you done teached Miss Amy: 'To shelter de Holy

to get up in the morning to take the children to Mass. It is absolutely n

ady if the folks were going to early Mass. "Turn your back and shut you' eyes," ca

Hetty took the sleeping babe and laid it in the old man's arms, then told him to look. Pat stared in utter surprise, his eyes and mo

s us," said Pat, "but it's a quare thing entirely yees are telling me.

s she had a surprise for them. Hetty carried the babe into the library and laid it o

hought only of the Infant Jesus, then examining closer, she saw it was a real live baby. "Of course," said she, "I might have known the Infant

about the wonderful baby." On the way to church, Aunty explained how it came that the poor mot

ly I ever met. None of yees will ever be in want of a roof to cover you, for

shed and said she was able to get up. "Don't you stir, honey," said Hetty, "unless you is real able, if you is, Mrs. Al

questioned as to the reason for select

woman, "my name is Mary Ryan. My husband was killed a month ago; he fell off a scaffolding while painting a house. I stayed with his people after his death, but they soon let me see I wasn't welcome, so I went to an intelligence of

t know where to go, so I remained in the station as it was snowing hard. The watchman was so kind. He gave me a sandwich and asked me if I had nowhere to stop for the ni

taking me to; when he came to your gate he just put

send our man for it as soon as the sleigh comes back." "Oh, God bless you ma'am!" "Don't say any more, dear; your name is Mary; you and your child were i

just a place that will suit you, and in a few days when

after Mass all were eager to see what old Santa had brought them. Amy received several gifts she had b

the family, had been placed on the tree behind the ornaments. Mr. Allen entered into the spirit of the evening, saying he would act the w

ge bundle, down it came on Mr. Allen's head. It proved to be a beautiful smokin

n made by her sister in New York; Aunt Lucy, a blue silk waist, embroidered in white roses. Uncle Dick, a smoking cap, made by Mrs. Allen; Bolax, a pair of silk and woolen mitts, knit by Aunt Lucy. Bo gave Hetty a work

embled a Chinese Mandarin in his gorgeous robe. Now let us end the day with some of your spirited Yule-tide airs: "Strike th

ir pillows, all felt that they had pa

ary

your boots, child." Hetty happened to be on hand with the broom. "Dat's easy cleaned up," said she. "Bo don't think sometimes, but his heart is

well." "Oh, but you're going to have your chums," observed Amy. "Yes, our jolly seven will be here, and Hetty says that enormous cake must be eaten at one sitting." "You have made a mistake, brother, that very large cake is for the crippled children in St

story of the first time a cake was cut on King's Day?"

Dick's

fore appeared, and a heavenly messenger told them to follow this star, that it would lead them to a new-born king, who was to be greater than all the rulers of the eart

m to seek shelter for the night. Their followers took refuge in a cave and refused to go a step further; so the kings were compelled to continue their journey alone. After walking for a long time almost famished with cold and wet

guished travelers begged a shelter from the storm and some food. The woodcutter was startled when he saw such grand people, and h

red, Sirs," answered Japhet. "I have but one bed, and as for supper, we have nothing to offer bu

fy their thirst with water. Japhet then made a big fire and the kings having dried their

the most generous, said: "My good people I want to give you something in return for your hospitality." "Oh, never mind," said Japhet. "T

of infinitely more value." Saying this, he searched in his pocket, drew out a little flu

e, it will be immediately granted. Take the flute; do not abuse its gif

looking people could have given us something better than a toy, nevertheless I will try its power; shou

e time wishing for a venison steak and some white bread. Great was the astonishment

at necessities, as you may well believe, he asked for all sorts

to have it, he became the richest man in the country. He fluted for a magnificent palace, which took the place of his poo

ch people of the neighborhood. Every invitation was accepted, for no one

cut glass reflected the light from hundreds of perfumed lamps. A band of m

had never been seen in the whole Kingdom. Lord Flutandget was in the h

n her stiff silk, and scarcely able to move her han

to keep all intruders off the place. Besides this, my Lord Flutandget ha

All were loud in their praises of My Lord and his Lady, complimenting them on the

ry, after having paid homage to the Infant Christ. When they came near the village

old friend has not made bad use of your little flute. I wonder if he

ade them "begone," but as they insisted on being allowed to enter, the servants made such a clamor, that Lord Flutandget put his head out of the window

aught by the shins. "I'll fix him," said the giant, Melch

cut an enormous cake, each guest was to have had a slice to take home. Just then the noise of carriage wheels was heard; my Lord Flutandget looked towards the win

d in purple and precious stones. Flutandget recognized his guests of the

he poor and sets the dogs on them." "I compliment you on the way you keep your

ttle flute, just like the one that had been given to Japhet, he blew a terrible blast which caused all the glasses on the table to split. Again he put the flute to his lips, all the lights went out and the guests rushed from

l we do?" said

." But search as he would, the talisman could not

ng's Day," January 6. It is filled with small silver coins and a slic

said Amy, "although i

ight have happened as likely as those we read of in 'Ben Hur.' Stories of this kind can do no possible harm, and afte

yer in Chicago, and what happened to him f

conversation one day, declared he believed the time had come when la

ry worthy tho

," went on the lawyer, "but I believe a good knowledge of the

tually," I

trial, and the bailiff hauled in half a dozen of those professional hoboes, that are always h

ued that this exact agreement of my witnesses at every point made their testimony unreliable. He said no two men could possibly give the same account of wha

come into the

e other by St. Mark. St. Matthew's account was that Jonah made the entire voyage inside the whale, while S

voyage of Jonah sounds strange to me. I suppose you can gi

I. "There is no account in the Bible that

other of us contemptuously, and th

le Court, nor to the learned gentleman on the opposite side of this case, whose lamentable

have compared notes with extreme care, and the discrepancies shown in the statements of two great inspired writers, I am directin

lawyer insulted the Court and me. The upshot of the whole business was that I lost

riend was telling the story, but at this point

ou so much?" s

tthew nor St. Mark ever wrote that story. It was written thousands of years

my friend. "My only consolation," continued he, "

had a mother like mine when he was a boy, he never wo

alled Aunt Lucy, "i

le. Good-night G