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A Plucky School Girl. During the past summer The Golden Age offered a free scholarship to any young person who would procure for the paper a given number of subscrib ers, and while several hundred students entered the field only a few successfully secured the re quired number. Chief among them must be mentioned Miss Eva Gordon Goss who is, at this time, taking a course of study at Monroe College as the result of her canvass for The Golden Age. Miss Goss is a young woman of much personal charm as well as of a high order of mentality. Be fore entering Monroe College she was a student at Gibson-Mercer Academy, where she won several prizes for school work. She has been most espe cially interested in music and oratory and she de clares that the most valued scholastic honor she ever won was the gold medal for oratory offered by Mr. Wm. D. Upshaw, Editor of The Golden Age. Being a very young girl and living in a very quiet neighborhood, the difficulties which must have surrounded the work of Miss Goss were greater than those usually encountered, and believing that her experiences would bie helpful to other workers in the future, the Editor requested Miss Goss to give an account of her work for the benefit of oth er icontestants. The following interesting story is the result of 'this request and it will be read with interest by all, for it is a beautiful record of a trusting Christian spirit as well as of earnest and conscientious work for a worthy end. My Work for The Golden Age. One night last summer as I sat by the bedside of my sick mamma, brother handed me a letter from Mr. Will D. Upshaw. In this Mr. Upshaw told of his plan to help girls who want to go to school. He sent me also a scholarship to Monroe College with blanks to be filled by the names of one hundred subscribers to The Golden Age. 1 realized that it meant work, but my desire to have a college education seemed great enough, then, to break down any barrier that might confront me in my work. Without hesitating, I began to plan for my work, and so soon as I could be spared at home, I began my canvassing. My first work was done at a Sunday school con vention near home. There was a large crowd, ami in it there wiere many who have known me all my life, people whom I had numbered among my best friends. Yet, in all that crowd, I secured the promise of only one subscription. Notwithstand ing the fact thiat I received words of encourage ment, I was sadly disappointed. Nevertheless, when I went home I prayed earnestly for help and, if it was God’s will, for strength to win the schol arship. Day after day I worked around home sometimes securing only one subscriber after a walk of three or four miles. T would not let my self become discouraged but prayed more earnestly that I might be guided in every word and act. Finally, I secured six subscribers around home. Through the kindness of my uncle, I was carried to Athens, where I worked several days. Although several had worked there before me, I had splen did success. The people were so kind and atten tive when I asked for subscriptions. They are people who appreciate the value of a thorough edu cation, and who are ready to encourage and help. It is good to work among such people. From Ath ens I went to Comer, then to Carlton. At both these places I had very good success. The people, as a general thing, were kind. We do not hope to escape all contact with those who are interested in self rather than humanity. However, but for a steady downpour of rain, my work would have been pleasant. Elberton, too, impressed me as a place w’hiere a few were ready to give help and en couragement. When I reached home, I was tired, so tired, but I was elated over my success. After a few days. I began my work on the line from Elberton to Toccoa and from there to Atlanta. Many places deserve mention for their kindness and ' hospitality. Hartwell, especially, is full of noble people. Sometimes I met with disappoint ment, but usually I was greatly encouraged. In all my work, I tried to be as thoughtful as possible about interrupting business men, First, I The Golden Age for December 20, 1906. became thoroughly in love with my work, and then tried to bring the best points in the paper before anyone to whom I applied for a subscription. Nev er before had such an opportunity for studying human nature been mine. I met the indifferent, the interested; the selfish, the liberal; the ordinary, .'the unusual; the poor, the wealthy; the half-heart ed, the whole-hearted—and, indeed, men of every kind in life. In every case I felt that their inter est would be measured by my interest. I found that patience is required here as in all other work, but my aim was to win all. Often I came to homes where there were many children who knew noth ing of reading good papers. At such places, if I happened to linger a few minutes to rest, I talked to them of things in which I knew they were inter ested. Tn that way I won their confidence and drew them toward that in which I was interested. Whether I secured a subscription or not, if, by reading them some good story or telling them the life-story of our noble Editor, I caused them to show an interest in better things, I felt repaid. Many a time when failure seems sure you can turn it into success by appealing to the mother’s love and responsibility for her children. Often people have said, “I have no one to take it for.” F "’’’'■'."C “7" " - - —' I,MI 1- ' 1 J ... ■ u j ■. • ■ .Jt ■ U w- AriS jam • St A tri MISS EVA GORDON GOSS. Then I persuaded them to give me a. subscription for the first poor deserving family and in this way sent it where it can do good every day in the year to eager and thirsting hearts and minds. I have written these few words hoping that my experience may help another and that God may strengthen and help that one as he has helped me. The Savior’s Birth. The jeweled scroll of Night lay wide unrolled Above the land that knew the Savior’s birth As into deeper shadow wheeled the earth, How closer still did Mary’s arms enfold The Child, whose future life should nations mold; Whose hands should cast Hope’s flowers o’er bar ren dearth, Whose smile, prophetic of best human worth, Shed sacred glory down a path of gold. Oh, magic splendor of that hallow’d night I Oh, radiant Star, whose glowing points, a-flame, Led journeying Wise Men with your mystic light Across Judean hills! Oh, joys that come With Christ the Child, that thro’ the centuries’ flight Still God’s great gift to erring man proclaim! Pruella Janet Sherman. Frank Harben’s Christmas Day. (Continued from page 8.) “I -want to be a true Christian gentleman like my dear father was, Uncle Frank. Ever since he used to read the Bible to mother and me and bow at the family altar and pray for me so earnestly, I have often felt that I was a sinner before God, and at times I have tried to pray that I might bo saved. And last year during the meeting at the church here, when so many were converted and bap tized, this feeling of my being a lost sinner was greatly deepened. I tried to do right, pray and be saved, but it seemed to do no good. Oh, that I could be the true Christian gentleman that father was, and die 'the happy death that he died!” “Then, my dear boy, you can only be the truest gentleman by being a true Christian; and you must trust the same Savior that your father trust ed and loved. Being merely a moral boy cannot save you; the priest cannot save you; the churcn cannot save you; nothing can save you but being made as the Bible says, ‘a new creature in Christ Jesus.’ You are weak, all human nature is weak. Ask God to give you a new heart.” “I know I am weak,” said Frank, “and I mean to ask God to make me a Christian some day.” “0, my boy, now, NOW is the day!” “Uncle Frank, I do feel that I am such a sin ner. Please pray for me right now.” And witn these words Frank dropped on his knees by his uncle’s bedside, and the dear old heart fervently prayed that his loved nephew might be enabled to give up every earthly trust, and yield himself into the open arms of Christ, and thus be happy and safe for this life, happy in the hour of death, and happy in the world to come. When Frank rose from his knees, his uncle said; “My dear boy, ask God to help you believe.” Frank looked at his uncle, raised his tearful eyes to Heaven, moving his lips in silent prayer, a.id in a few moments said; “With God’s help I can, I will, I do believe an! trust Jesus as my Savior.” And throwing his arms about his happy uncle’s neck, exclaimed: “0, Uncle Frank! I feel in my heart like a new boy! I am so happy!” and falling on his breast, he wept with a joy that only the redeemed can understand. 'When, at last, Uncle Frank could speak through his rapturous tears, he said: “Thank God! How beautiful and glorious that this blessed Christmas day, the anniversary of the birth of the Son of God, is the day on which my Frank, the only son I have ever known, has been born anew! ’ ’ And there was great joy in all that household, and Joy, too, among the angels in Heaven, on that bright, sweet Christmas day. Tn India the manufacture of cotton dates back to an almost prehistoric period, for it is mentioned in old Sanskrit records nearly three thousand years ago. The exquisite Indian muslins—tissues of un imaginable fineness—are all woven by hand as there has not yet been a machine invented delicate enough to produce these fabrics. A MODEL MAIL ORDER HOUSE. The attention of readers of this paper is called to the advertisement of Albaugh Bros., Dover & Co., which appears in this issue. This is the third largest mail order house in America. It sells at prices considerably lower on the average than the retail prices charged by your local dealer and at the same time gives advertising coupons amounting to nearly ten per cent of the value of the order, which coupons can be used in full payment for any selections from a large premium list. Every purchase is guaranteed to satisfy the purchaser or may be returned and the company will refund the money. Albaugh. Bros. Dover & Co., is a co-oper ative house, carrying the principles of Christian morals ami scientific co-operation between dealer and customer into all their transactions. A per sonal knowledge of the methods of this house, and personal acquaintance with all the heads of the firm, enable us io unqualifiedly endorse and guar antee them. Send for their free catalog. 13