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Tie Josh Sentinel Office in the Jestrp House, fronting on Cherry street, two doors from Broad St. PUBLISHED EVERY WEDNESDAY, ... BY ... T. P. LITTLEFIELD. Subscription. Rates. (Postage Prepaid.) One yeai* $2 00 Six months 1 00 Three months 50 Advertising Rates. Ter square, first insertion $1 00 Per square, each subsequent insertion. 75 .TPit'Speeial rates to yearly and large ad vertisers. TOWN DIRECTORY. TOWN OFFICERS. Mayor—W. 11. Whaley. Councilmen—T. P. Littlefield, H. W. Whaley, Bryant George, O. F. Littlefield, Anderson Williams, Clerk and Treasurer—O. F. Littlefield, Marshal—G. W. Williams. COUNTY OFFCERS. Ordinary—Richard B. Hopps. Sheriff—John N, Goodbread. Clerk Superior Court—Benj. O. Middleton Tax Receiver—J. C. Hatcher. Tax Collector—W. R. Causey,. County Surveyor—Noah Bennett. County Treasurer —John Massey. Coroner—D. McDitha. County Commissioners—J. F. King, G. W. Haines, James Knox, J. G. Rich, Isham Reddish. Regular meetings of the Board, 3d Wednesday in January, April, July and October. Jas. F. King, Cnairman. COURTS. Superiot Court, Wayne County—Jno. L. Harris, Judge ; Simon W. Hitch, Solicitor- General, Sessions held on second Monday in March and September. BMstear, Fierce County Georp. TOWH DIRECTORY. TOWN OFFICERS. Mayor—R. G. Riggins. Councilmen—l). P. Patterson ; J. M. Downs, J. M. Lee, B. D. Brantly. Clerk of Council—J. M. Purdom. Town Treasurer —B. I). Brantly. Marshal—E. Z. Byrd. COUNTY OFFICERS. Ordinary—A. J. Strickland. Clerk Superior Court—Andrew M. Moore. Sheriff—E. Z. Byrd. County Treasurer—D. P. Pattersou. County Serveyor—J. M. Johnson. Tax Receiver and Collector—J. M. Pur dom. Chairman of Road Commissioners—llßl District, G. M., Lewis C. Wylly; 12 0 Dis trict, U. M., George T. Moody ; 584 District, G. M., Charles S. Youmanns; 500 District, G. M.. D. B. McKinnon. Notary Publics and Justices of the Peace, etc. —Black.shear Precinct, 584 district,G.M., Notary Public, J. G. S. Patterson ; Justice of the Peace, ft. R. James; Ex-ofticio Con stable E. Z. Byrd. Dickson?* Mill Precinct, 1250 District, G M , Notary Public,Mathew Sweat; Justice of the Peace, Geo. T. Moody; Constable, W. F. Dickson. Patterson Precinct, 1181 District, G. M., Notary Public, Lewis C. Wylly; Justice of the Peace, Lewis Thomas; Constables, 11. Prescott and A. L. Griner. Schlatterville Precinct, 590 District, G. M Notary Public, D. B. McKinnon; Justice o the Peace, It. T. James; Constable, John W Booth, Courts —Superior court, Pierce county John L. Harris, judge; Simon W. Hitch Solicitor General. Sessions held first Mon dry in March and September. Corporation court, Blackshear, Ga., session hedd second Saturday in each Month. Police court sessions every Monday Morning at 9 o’clock. JESUP HOUSE, Corner Broad and Cherrv Streets, (Near the Depot,) T. P- LITTLEFIELD, Proprietor. Newly renovated and refurnished. Satis faetion guaranteed. Polite waiters will take your baggage to and from the house. BOARD $2.00 per day. Single Meals, 50 cts CURRENT PARAGRAPHS. Southern Sows. The extra session of the Tennessee legislature can draw pay for only twenty days, but can remain in session as long as it pleases. Smalls, the convicted South Carolina colored congressman, is said to he “ in a state of deep humiliation.” The kind ness of Smalls to the family of his for mer owner, the McKee family, of Beau fort, seems to have made a profound im pression in his favor. Atlanta Constitution : Gen. Matthew C. Butler, South Carolina’s new senator, is the son of ex-congressman William Butler, and a nephew of Gen. Pierce M. Butler, who fell at Cherubusco. He is also a nephew of ex-Senator A. P. But ler. On his mother’s side he is a nephew of Commodore C. H. Perry. He was elected to the legislature in 1860—the only civil office he had held up to his admission to a seat in the United States, senate. He rose during the war from the captaincy of a cavalry company to the rank of major general. His ability as a lawyer and his eloquence as a speaker are sure to win for ifim a high rank in the national councils. From Wa*tiin:£toii. The president will not make any of his appointments of cadets at large to the military academy until next spring. The president will hereafter decline to consider applications for appointment of civilians to places in the army, leaving that matter entirely to the secretary ol war. In the meantime Adjutant Gen eral Townsend is endeavoring to have a stop put to the practice of appointing civilians to the army. Advices have been received at the war department which lead to the belief that some of the Indians now committing dep redations around the Black Hills were of the Dumber recently in Washington with .Spotted Tail and Red Cloud. About S,OOO are scattered along the route this, side of the new agency, where the winter provisions-are stored. They refuse to go on to the agency and no money is appropriated to bring the provisions to them. At the war department it is thought a general Sioux war will be waftd during the winter, and that it will require a very large military force to meet the Indians. The taxes paid by national banks vary greatly in different cities. The controller of the currency’s report states that the segregate national and state taxes on bank capital is3 per cent, in Boston, and 5.4 per eent. in New Y0rk,6.6 per cent, in Albany, 2.8 per cent, in Philadelphia, 1.9 per cent, in Pittsburg, 1.8 per cent. VOL. 11. in New Orleans, 1.9 per cent, in Leuia ville, 4.6 per cent, in Cincinnati, 6.2 per cent, in Chicago and 8.9 per cent, in St. Louis. It will surprise many to find that the lowest rate of tax is in New Or leans The difference between the rates there and at Albany is 4.8 per cent. Nolo* of Ocoerul lotcmit. The country population of California is only equal to the population ot San Francisco. The population of France on the last day of last year was 36,966,840; Paris, 2,410,849. There are now 2,266 letter carriers em ployed in the free delivery service of the United States. Tae Canadian journals are exceedingly well satisfied with the award of the fish eries commisson. The famous Madame Bonaparte, of Baltimore, is now over ninety years of age, and in very feeble health. Europe has purchased $2,600,000 worth of our American fruit within the past twelve months, principally dried fruit. “Two hundred and forty button kid gloves” are the latest novelty on hand, tire wearer has to get into them feet first. Twenty-nine women were advertised in a recent issue of a Chicago paper as about to preach and conduct religious services on the following Sunday. The official canvass shows that the vote of Colorado on the woman-suffrage question was: For, 6,612; against, 14,055; majority against, 7,441. The Mexican Minister Zamacona, was a member of the Mexican claims com mission and also a centennial commis sioner. He is reported to be a man of sense and more than ordinary tact. The Red Cross society has been dis solved, but the rival orgauizatiou is m u flourishing condition and has sent a pretty good sum for the relief of the Russian and Turkish wounded. Five Jew’s were elected professors in the recently opened university at Am sterdam. They are men of great learn ing and ability and will doubtless add much to the reputation of the university. The Anti-Horse-thief Association has 361 lodges and 8,000 members in Missou ri, lowa and Illinois. It does not en courage lynching, although that course is permitted iff pieces where the officers of the law cannot be relied on to prose cute thieves. In San Francisco a paper was found posted on a house intimating that those employing Chinese would be shot down without lurther warniug. The author said he w’as a good shot, and meant busi ness, and concluded the note as iollows : “ I have had no food for two days nor mv family. This is the last notice—look sharp.” Few people are aware of the damage done by wild geese on the wheat fields in California. They come in myriads, and pull up the young wheat by the roots, and eat it, roots and all. It is stated in the San Francisco Bulletin that, on one ranche alone, 6,000 geese have been killed this season, and in the county of Colusa aloue, last season, the damage done by the web-footed fowls was esti mated at $200,000. A whole family was lately poisoned by eating geese which had been eating corn soaked in strych nine. The California varieties of geese are the Canada, enow and laughing geese. Quails, also, have become so plentiful, in many places on the Pacific coast, that they are poisoned by thou sands, as they destroy the grape crop. But a greater nuisance are the ground squirrels, which are nearly as bad as the grasshoppers this side of “ The Divide.” Great country this —for plaguey nui sances. How to Cook Christmas Turkey. Young housekeepers may find the fol lowing hints useful in preparing for the Christmas roast: The turkey should be well singed and freed from “pin-feathers,” and thor oughly drawn by opening one side just below the breast-bone. Be sure to take everything out that is inside, not forget ting the parts lying between the ribs and the “ soul.” Wipe dry, after washing well in cold water. Then dip the tur key two seconds into boiling water, and immediately two seconds into ice-water. This will give it a very plump appear ance. Cut the neck off close to the body, leave the skin longer, draw it over the neck, and tie; also tie the legs close to the side, having cut off the first joint. Fasten the wings to the sides with fine skewers, having cut off the pinions. Put the gizzard, liver, heart and neck to boil in a quart of water; allow two and a quarter hours to roast a turkey weigh ing ten pounds. If the specimen happen to be one of many summers, boii it one hour or so before roasting. Baste with salt and water once, then cover with lumps of butter, and afterward baste with the drippings. The Dressing.— Take three pints of bread-crumbs for a medium-sized turkey; chop finely, with one-quarter pound of salt pork, a good lump of butter, salt, pepper-sauce and savory or majorum, and break in two or three eggs to make it of the right consistency. Fill both ihe breast and body, ar.d sew up. Riched mashed potatoes also make a good stuffing. Oyster Dressing. —Use oysters with out their liquor, and just bread-crumbs enough to make them of proper consis tency ; a blade of mace, a little pepper and salt. The Gravy. —Having boiled the gib lets in a quart of water till tender, strain the broth thus obtained into a dripping pan, having removed the turkey. Take the liver and mash it very fine with the back of a spoon and return to the gravy. Then chop very fine the heart and giz zard, and add to the gravy, and thicken with browned flour; stir and season well; boil five minutes. JESUP, GEORGIA, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 1877; SANTA CLAUS'S VISIT. ErtFASXY WARMKS BICXNBLL. Ou snow-ohul hills, as atill midnight, Tha moonshine lies In beauty bright, The world la hushed In slumber now, For balmy Bleep from every brow Hath smoothed away the lines of caro. And stamped renose—night’s blessing—there. Day'a busy, bustling crowd la still, Kept ieved awhile from cares tost till All hearts wherein the poise ot life Exceeds the throbs of infant strife; The mingled vetoes of the crowd No longer heard—each head is bow’d In mansion rich and poor abode, Forgetful of the heavy load Poor human nature has to bear, In homespun clad or silken wear— The sweeter sleep to toll Is given Than to the idle, bleseed of heaven, W ith every luxury wealth can bring. While laborers toil and blithely sing, The rich oft yawn in diacohtent. And mourn at eve the dav misspent. But midnight brings to all surcease From daylight’s cares—to alt sweet peace; Thus reetlug in tho close embrace 01 Sleep-nlgM kcejrcrcf our race— The world awaits the coming dawn That ushers in glad Christmas morn. Tire spirit ef the season by idea's swiftly, while each youthful eyo Close sealed rein tins by Nature’s laws, As o’er each house goes Santa Claus. A pack of gifts hia back bestrides. As dowu the chimney qnickly giidea The fur-clad-elf, with pipe and whip; Hia twinkingevea and smiling lip A promise give of something nice, As through the room like creeping mice Ills footsteps glide; he views the feet Of stockings which, at mom, will greet The eyoe ot children in the bed Where hang the stockings overhead, With uodß, and winks, andiunny shrugs, His well-filled pack around he lugs, Until a chair lie finds to mount, Ho that thair number he may count, “One. two, throe, four—’twaa Kivft last year, (Hestops to wipe away a tear,) I’ll look again—the smallest feet Are miaeiug ; they have a gone to meet The Babe of Bethlehem, at whose birth 'The sbepheid sang, • Good Will on Earth.'” He glanced around ; on bed ot straw T he little errand boy he saw, “ Ah, there lies one I did not see, ’Tia likely he, too, dreams of me; To him warm clothes I’ll give instead This toy I brought the child thni’s dead.” Then stooping down and putting back The silver trumpet, from hia pack The other gifts he quickly drew, And stuffed the stockings number two, And three, and four: the smallest He fillod the last. When all was done lie chuckled low. and made a pause, Then vauished -dear old Hausa Claus. John Holland’s Merry Christmas. Tho day before Christmas every store window was wreathed in green, every rare and beautiful thing exposed to tempt the passer-by was labeled “ Christ mas gift.” Even the corner groceries and baker shops had green boughs and a generous display of ginger bread horses and white-sugar hearts enriched with gilt beading, and impossible pink fowls, popuiarly supposed to be doves. There were myriads of dolls and hundreds ot sleds, with names taking in the whole animal kingdom. The streets were crowd ed with fur clad, smiling women, who were making the last selections of pretty things with which to swell out the fair proportions of many little stockings. John Holland, leaving ids office earlier than usual, made his way slowly through these waves of happy womanhood, carry ing his aching head a little forward, watching with sullen eyes the joy about him, until the tido of the bitterness in his heart rose high, and forced from hia lips a curse on the morrow that would bring so much happiness to others and so much misery to him. A lonely man was John Holland, over whose dead past stood no monumental marble with name and date thereon—a weary man by his drooping shoulders and uncer tain gait—an unhappy man by the wistful look that crept now and then into his sullen eyes. And so in weary, lonely fashion he walked on, leaving the city far behind, and com ing at last upon a country road that wound its rough, snow-powdered jlength through shrubby hollows and up the hills between leafless gray-barked tress. Now and then a thin sheet of ice cracked beneath his feet—he did not hear it above his head, close to the soft, gray clouds, fat, inky crows sailed round and round, cawing companionably—he did not heed them; while here and there the bare, brown fingers of some shrub or tree held out to him a hunch of scarlet berries, which he did not see. All the grays ana browns, touched here and there with green and scarlet, appealed to him in vain. To-morrow was Christmas day. He stood alone—he made no one’s happi ness ; therefore to him the world could not be fair. He remembered how, not many years before, he and his wife stoic tip-toe through the house, to cram with candies and many wondrous toys the little woolen stockings hanging near the fire. He remembered how the Christ mas sunlight, striking through the frosted window pane, turned into burnished gold the ruddy locks of their sturdy baby boy; and now he stumbled up the hill side, blind with rage and pain. Now two mounds of chill, cold earth held all that made life a dear and precious thing to him. At the top of the hill he paused involuntarily to regain his breath. Up there the wind blew keenly, the ghastly gleam of ice could be seen in the river winding far below. The wood was darkened by many slender pines and stunted hemlock trees—a wintry scene— and Holland thrust his hands deep in his pockets and turned to retrace his steps, when a sound broke the silence all about him —a sound that set his heart a throbbing, a Bound that drew his feet from the beaten load and sent them striding tnrough the brown dead leaves until they brought him to the spot where little Ruth sat sobbing. A strange place to find a child, yet there she sat, flat on the ground, her well-worn, copper-toed shoes stretched out before her, one little hand doubled under her arm, as a bird draws its foot under its wiDg, the other hand grasping with all its childish might a branch of one of the many small hemlock trees growing about her. So mottled with cold were her face, her hands, and her little bare knees, she might have passed foi a figure carved in good old caitiff soap, .John Holland’s sudden appearance did not startlo her in the least. She seemed to accept him as one accepts things in dreams, without surprise or fear. “ What is the matter ?” lie asked. “ I’m cold.” How strange tho childish voice sounded up there in that chill, bleak place! “ What are you doing here?” “ I’m waiting.” “Poor baby!” thought John Hol land, “ you are learning the great les son early. I shonld like to know the brute who left you sitting here while he or she drinks or gossips in the town below.” “ Who are you waiting for, child ?” The chill, tear-stained little face broke into smiles as she whispered : “ I’m waiting for Santa Claus.” The answer smote him with astoai ishment. Asa boy lie hail heard much of the genial old man for whom little Ruth was waiting, but he had never heard of his paying a v isit or transacting aiiy business in the day-time. So lie told her; but she, looking sorrowfully wise, answered: “ Yes, I know he goes down the chim neys at night, but to-morrow is Christ mas, Aunty says bo, and Santa Claus must come here to-day to get his trees.” “ Why, yes; his trees like this, you know," and after a slow, numb sort of search for something in the depths of her pocket, her cold little hand drew out a leaf of a child’s story-book, torn and soiled, hut bearing on one side a highly colored picture of the good Santa Claus. “ There,” she continued, eagerly, “see the tree he has on his arm—they don’t grow in the city; Fee, lie must come up heie to get them.” “ I understand ; but why ivait hero in the cold for him, when to-night ho will come down your chimney with all sorts of pretty toys ?” “ But he won’t come; he docs not know the house is here; he thinks all the boys and girls live dawn there in the city; so when he comes to get his tree I ni going to ray, “ Please, Santa Claus, I live here on the hill. Aunty says I’m pretty good. Can’t 1 havo a doll-baby and a picture book?” John Holland’s voico was very tender when he spoke again t :sk her name, and then he lifted her to her fee** rrd said: “I’ll tell you what wo will do, Ruth. You go home before Aunty misses you and thinks you are lost, and I’ll stay here and watch for Santa Claus.” She shook her head. “ You’ll get tired and go away.” “ No, I won’t; I’ll wait until I see him.” “ Truly?” “Truly.” Little Ruth raised her face and Hol land kissed her baby mouth. “ Where do you live, child ?” “ Only a little ways back in the woods; there is the path.” Aml -running across the dead leaves she struck into a faint narrow path, and following it disappeared behind the trees. Holland watched her out of sight, then tying his handkerchief to the top branch of that tree which Ruth had selected as the very one Santa Claus most wanted, turned his face city ward and strode down the hill. Low down in the west he noticed a long golden rift in the dull gray sky, and it widened and broadened until the golden glory hurst its bonds and flooded all the scenes with wintry sun light. Even so had the childish faith of little Ruth forced its way through clouds of loneliness and grief to fill his heart with sunlight. More than one woman smiled that night at John Holland as lie stood in a crowded store, examining with supernatural gravity dolls dressed and undressed. A light wagon carried him and his books and toys out from the city and up the woody hill to Ruth’s poor home. After peering into the window like an amiable burglar he summoned Ruth’s aunt. A few words outside the door, a gentle little laugh, a tear or two, a great rustiiDg of paper, and then the door was closed, and Holland, whistling softly to himself, made his way to the tree from which waved a white handkerchief, and, after much backing, pulling and digging, succeeded in removing it. I Giving home under the starry sky great tears filled his eyes as he thought of “ the wife and baby boy gone before there was no curse on his lips, only a tremulous smile, as he thought of the joyous awakening for tittle Ruth to-morrow. Next day John Holland gave a dinner; there were four at the table—Holland himself, Ruth, Ruth’s aunt, and Ruth's doll Itosey, who ate nothing, hut looked lovely and smiled indefatigably. It would he hard to tell how many times Ruth laid her doll on Hol land’s knee, wbereuj>on her waxy eyelids instantly would close and she fell into a most profound sleep. ’Twould he harder still to tell how eagerly she questioned him as to the exact appearance of Santa Claus when he came for that tree—the very tree she sat beside when she was waiting. And John Holland telling stories to the little Ruth, hugging her precious Rosey, had indeed a Merry Christmas, for on making the happiness of another he hsd found his own. —Clara Mom*, in y. Y-Graphic. Christmas Chimes. This great (estival of the church, ob served in all Christian countries, is un like Easter, for the shadow of the Cross does not rest upon it, and no strains of sorrow mingle with the carols which commemorate the birth of the child Jesus of Bethlehem. Merry gatherings and unbounded fun in our homes, ringing hallelujahs in garland-entwined churches, join together ou this one day in a double devotion of joy. Around Christmas tide are clustered many superstitious fancies, but all of them are beautiful. One of the oldest is that of all powers of evil are prostrate from Christmas Eve to Christmas night. Shakspearo says, in “Hamlet:” Some say, that ever ’gainst that season oomeu Wherein our Saviour’s birth is celebrated, The bird of dawning singefh all night long ; And then, they say, no spirit can walk abroad; The nights are wholesome, then no planets strike, No fairy takes, nor witch hath power to charm, So hallow'd and so gracious is the time. Christmas does pot meet with the same recognition here, nor is there so much observance of it as in European countries, but the fact that each year there is a growing tendency to more heartily celebrate the time is another proof that history repeats itself, and that the efforts of the Puritans to oblit erate it from tho calendar, has been futile, for although they denounced the observance of all such days, excepting Sunday, as superstitious and unscrip tural, and yet it had its effect for genera tions, yet these old days which bring before the memory tho three great events in the life of tho “ Man of Nazareth,” especially the first, are re suming their influence over the people, and a few years hence Merrie Christmas may be celebrated as heartily among ourselves as it was in “ England of ye olden time,” when Ail liaile I with uncontrolled delight Ami general voice, the happy night, That to tiie cottage, as the crown, Brought tidings of salvation down; ’Twaa (’hrismas broached the mightiest ale, ’Twas t'brismas told the merriest tale; A Ohrismas Gambol oft could cheer The poor mans heart through half Ihe year. Many seldom or never recall the fact that it is the anniversary of the Saviour of men—the Divine Philanthropist; but His character has unalteiaby shaped tha character of observances of His anniver sary. Being tho Prince of Peace and good will, the day that commemorates His entrance into tho world has become the day, more than all others, of love and fraternity. It is the day when, if ever, one yields to the spiriL of human sympathy, because it is in honor of one whose sympathies were as wide as hu manity, It is the day when there is a universal impulse toward good tleeds, because He from whom the tlay is called went about doing good. Thus whatever one may think of Christ,jhis recognition of Christ mas is, in some measure, a recognition of the nobility and power of a great life. Greatness and goodness conspicuously illustrated set in motion thoughts and influences that go on multiplying for ever. Reason may deny them or their origin, but they live nevertheless. They are manifestations of immortality among men—the form in which man may surely live through all the generations. Germany and England are the two countries which pay the greatest atten tion to Christmas, and as it is from the loins of these two nations that America sprung, it is not surprising that the cele bration of this festival should lie grow ing in favor among her people. It is a curious fact that in the two countries mentioned there is a great diversity in its mode of observance. Santa Claus and the Krisskringle are entirely unknown to English children. They get their presents in a mere matter-of-fact way, and exi:ct all of their friends to bring them a “Chiistmas box,” anti until the last few years the glories of the Christ mas tree hail not been revealed to them. But it is in the homes of Germany and England that the brightest side of Christ mas enjoyment can be seen. In the morniDg, all go to church. Even those who go at no other time will not fail to visit church on Christmas morn ; hut all strict religious observance of the day ceases at the close of the service, and alter dinner, a very ininortant part of the pro ceedings, which has to lie provided with certain dishes —roast beef, plum pudding and mince pies being indispensable, and in the wealthier families a huge boar’s head is provided, and all who sat under the hospitable mahogany of an English gentleman on that day, will have a very got id idea of what a substantial square meal is like. In their Christmas parties there is a notable relaxation ot those rules of etiquette which are on other occasions ho strictly adhered to, for one day iu the year old and middle aged people become children again ; all join ir; Hr Rogers de Coverly, blind-man’s buff, snap dragon, and other games of a like character. The mistletoe hangs in the centre of the room. A ml many a maiden's cheek is red, Tty lips and laughter thither led And fluttering besoms come and go Under the drifd mistletoe. These Christmas merry-makings are jolly gatherings, and there is one feature about them very pleasant to look upon. The care that is taken of the poor and needy —even criminals are not forgotten, and are provided with some amusements and a good dinner. Once In the cycle of the year a universal brotherhood and charity prevails among all. “ A Merry Christmas to you I” is the salutation that rings out from cheery lips on every hand, and the happiest are those that have the most bounty to spare. Then leave your door upon the latch For whosoever conies; The poorer they, more welcome give, And scatter out your crumbs; Soon winter fall upon your life, The day of reckoning comes: Against your sins, by high decree Are weighed those scattered crumbs. A Budget of Hoiuo-Mjulc Clirint 111ns Ciiftj-t. Who is it that every year invents the thousand-ami one new and pretty things which hangs on Christmas-trees, and stall the toes of Christmas stockings ? Who is is it who has so wise and watchful an eye for tho capacities of little people, and the tastes of bigger ones, providing for each, planning for tiny purses with almost noth ing in them, as well as for fat wallets suilFed with bank-bills and suggesting something which can bo made, accepted ami enjoyed by everybody, large and small, all tlie wide world over ? Who can it be that possesses this iuexliastible fertility of invention and kindness of heart? No ordinary human being, you may he sure. Not Father Hanta Claus I He has enough to do with distributing the presents alter they are made; besides, fancy-work is. not in a mail’s line,—not even a saint’s I But what so likely as that lie should have a mate, and that it is to her we are indebted lor ail this? What an immense Work basket Mother tSaiita Claus’s* must be! What a glancing thimble and swift needle and thread I Can’t you imagine her throwing aside her scissors and spool bag to help tlie dear saint “tackle up” and load the sledge? And who knows but she Hits liehind as he drives over tho rools of tho universe on tlie blessed eve, and holds tho reitiH while Santa Claus dis- penses t favored chimneys the innumer able pretty things which ho and she have chuckled over together months before the rest of us knew anything about them ? This is not a fact. It can be proved in any way, for none of ns knows anything about tlie Santa Clauses or their abode. There is no telegraphing, or writing to the selectmen ot their own town to in quire about them; thoy haven’t even a postoffice address. Hut admitting it to be a fiction, fo Htirely a pleasant one ; so, as the children say, “ Let’s play that it is true,” and proceed to see what Mother Santa Claus lias in her basket for us this year. We will first pull out some easy things for the benefit of little beginners who are not yet up to all the tricks of the needle ; then some u little harder for the more advanced class, and, at the bottom of all, big girls not afraid to dive will find plenty of elaborate designs suited to their taste and powers. A WAM, I.FTTKH-IIOI.nKIt. This is something which quite a little boy could make, Cut out three pieces of thin wood, a foot long by six inches wide ;. smooth and sand-paper tw of them, bore a hole in each corner and in the middle of one side, and fasten them together with fine wire, cord, ribbon, or the small brass pins which are used for holding manuscript!!. The pieces should bo held a little apart. Cut one end ol the third piece into some ornamental shape, glue it firmly to the back of one of the others, arid suspend it from the wall by a hole bored in the top. It will be found a useful thing to hold letters or pamphlets. A clever boy could make this much handsomer by cutting a pat tern over the front, or an initial, ornmn ogram, or name in the middle. This wood should lie oiled or shellacked. HilOß-CABEH. These cases are meant to lake the place of paper when shoes are to lie wrapped up to go in a trunk. They are made of brown crash, bound with red worsted braid. One end is pointed so as to turn over and button down, or the top has strings over the braid to lie the mouth up. There should he three or four made at a time, as each holds hut one j air of shoes; and you will find that mamma or your unmarried aunts will like them very much. A NEW KINO OK CHKJHTMAB PIE, Nothing can be droller than to hang up one’s stockings, and nothing prettier or more full of meaning than a Christmas tree. But for some of you who may like to make a novelty in these time-honored ways, we will just mention that it is good fun to make a “ Christ mas-pie ” in an enormous tin dish-pan, with a inake believe crust of yellow cartridge paper, ornamented with twirls and flourishes of same, held down with pins, and have it served on Christmas Kve, full of pretty things and sugar-plums, jokes and jolly little rhymes fastened hi the parcels. The cutting should l>e done beforehand, anil hidden by the twirlsof paper; but the carver can pretend to use knife and fork, and spooning out the packages will insure a merry time for all at the ts.lde. i And one more suggestion. I-.ittieaitides, ! wrapped in white paper, can tie put inside oak's, baked ami iced, and thus furnish amusing surprise for the “ pie ” or | the Christmas-tree. — St. NirholfU f<rr November. WAIFS AND WHIMS. Wticii Santa (Sjiiia Conim. BY AUNT KUME. A pood Hint*in coining, I wish it wore hero! l h<* very t*et tlnm in the whole of the yrer, I in counting each day on my fingers and thumbs, lho weeks tnat must pasabefoie ttaota Clauscomes. Goo -by for a while, then, to lessons ami school Ye can laugh, talk and sing:, without breaking the i ule ; No troublesome speller, nor witting nor turns. There's nothing but play- itrno when Santa Claus' comet. I suppose I snail have a now dolly, of course— My laatono was killed hr a fall from her horse; Ami for Harry and Jack; there’ll he trim)pats and drums, To deafen us all with, when Hanta Clans comes. 1 11 bang up my stocking to hold what he brings ; j hope h* will till it with lots of nice things; lie uiunt know how dearly 1 love sugar-plums; <l like a big hex lull when Hanta Clauj cornea. Ami now that, tho snow-flakes begin to come down, Ami the wind whistles sharp and tho branches are brown, 1 don’t luirnl the oold,though my lingers it numbs, ror tt brings the time nearer when Santa Clairs CX) lIIM, .. Artemus Ward said of the Mormon itw: “Their religion is singular, but their wives are plural.” ..Brown says lie’s been to often de ceived by the chicken at his boarding house that he now calls it the mocking bird. NO. 17. ..The gradual disappearance of the tall shirt collar makes it jioasible to tell tlie color of a young man’s hair without using a step ladder. ...The widow iltfl by (ho vacant. chair, A eninbing the at rands ol yellow hair, While her foul t.y a thought Is vexed, Not. ol tho until who an* there Inst, Not. of the joTßof tho buried post, hut of .who would ait there next. .. In reading a hymn to be sumr, one Sunday afternoon, a New York minister recently said, “You may omit the fourth verse ; I don’t believe its true.” .. He was bound to be accurate, and he thus described the woman’s costume: “ She wore a suit of something or other cut bias and trimmed endwise.” .. The decrease of tlie number of buffa loes on the plain threatens the trade f the Hudson Bay company, whoso voy agers feed on buffalo pemmicau. ..“ Silk stockings, with lace medallions covering the instep, are S3O a pair,” says a fashion note. And yet people wonder why so many editors remain single. . .A Minnesota widower went to church to marry a second wife, but forgot to tako from his hat the mourning-band that lie was wearing for his first wife. I have,"said Hr. Guthrie, “ four good reasons for being an abstainer; my head is clearer, my health is bed tor, my heart is lighter, and my purse is heavier.” . .Seven years ago Methodism was first introduced into the dominions of Brig ham Young. Now th-re are six Meth odist churches and fifteen Sunday schools in Utah. . .The liquor dealers in Virginia have *cnt out twenty thousand circulars as a preliminary step to an organization for the purpose of doing away with tho Moffett bell-punch. .. A washing-machine peddler of three years’ standing, who makes his head quarters in Burlington, wears with pride u watoli-guard made of various sized shot, which from time to time have been all picked out of liis hack and legs. A HOC I WOMIIN. Anew and stylish color is tend green. The Breton costume is now worn only by young girls. Home of the handsomest imported dressos are made with the round waist, which is worn with a belt. The long blouse reaching down to the knees, with a yoke and worn with a belt, is one of the repulsive fashions. Unions the coming woman is horn with a longer arm than those now in use, she can’t wear any more buttons on her kid gloves than the present fashion permits. The new material for morning dresses very much resembles the old “ Dolly Varden ” cloth, as it is covered with largo designs, such t.s birds, flowersand insects. Handkerchiefs can no more be stowed away in pockets, but must he carried in the hand or attached to the waist, and therefore none hut nice ones can he used. The fashionable style of wearing the hair is low in the neck. The rows of puffs worn outside the front of the bon net, and'resembling false teeth in thestill regularity, are no longer in vogue. A lillle girl who had often heard her mother speak of her father, who was somewhat bald, as being a sell-made man, asked her one day why, if he was a 11 self made” man, he didn't put more hair oil his head. Holland has a town where visitors aro required to leave their shoes at the door before entering a dwelling. But, even alter complying, a Ht. 1/mis belle would find it impossible to get in—at least so says a Chicago paper. Hentimcntal tea-sets are in fashion. A lady publishes her intention of getting up one, and forthwith her friends—par ticularly her male friends—consider themselves laid under contribution for a cup and saucer apiece, of such size, shop.- and costliness as each one’s purse and taste may dictate. When the “senti mental set” i full, the lady gives the donors a tea-party. There is an expression in the face of a good married man, who has a geod wife, that a bachelor’s can not have, ft is in describable. He isa little nearer the angels than the prettiest young fellow living y ou can see that his broad breast is a pillow for somebody’s head, and little fingers pull his whiskers. No one ever mistakes the good married man. Ho can protect all the unprotected females, make himself agreeable to the ladies, and yet think all the world of his wile. Queen Victoria regulates and disci plines her children as if they were still }*,ye and girls. Prince Lco[sdd is twenty f , ur years old, but the slightest move ment or plans are telegraphed to Windsor or Balmoral by one ot his suite. On a recent Sunday, when in Elgin, Scotland he accepted an invitation to attend the Episcopal church, but received, a tew minutes tiefore the hour of service, pos itive orders to go to the Presbyterian church, which he did,