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BY THE NOIiTH BOLE. (By Curtis May.) Jjgff T was only a month before Christmas, and Santa Claus was sitting outside his door whittling the corners off from the handle of a small wooden toy— for Mrs. Santa Claus would not allow him to whit¬ tle inside the cave. Being in a mighty good humor, once in a while he would stop and rub his hands together, thus giving vent to his happy feelings and also helping to keep him warm. This was rendered the more necessary by the situation of the cave, which had been hollowed out ages before by some igneous agency, exactly at the foot of the north pole. Santa Claus had utiliz¬ ed this fact when he had taken pos¬ session of the cave; for, to rid it of smjke from his fire, he had to run out a long length of stovepipe, anu hind it by bands of sheet-iron to the pole itself. Although it was not quite noontime, it was as dark as night, and the sky was full of bright stars, cfce of which, the Polar star, stood directly over the north pole; so that if the pole had reached further up it must certainly have punched a hole in the star. Hov/- ever, tne pole had been cut off quite a distance down. There were beauti¬ ful gleams of aurora borealis in the say, but they did not give Santa Claus light enough for his work, so he had fixed an iron .cup in the icy ledge of the cavern and in the cup he had stuck a tall torch made of the body of a salmon frozen hard, with a flaming bail of pitch where the head ought to he. “I believe I shall have to sandpaper this corner,” he said, thoughtfully. "It doesn’t come smooth, although I’ve whittled on it ever so long. I can’t spare much more time for it, with all the other things there are to make, and the reindfeer yet- to be sharp-shod mr the journey. And the sleigh needs a fresh coat of paint, too. Bless that old sleigh, how it does last! Seems as if it never would wear out! Beats anything I ever heard of!” “Santa, come in to dinner," called Mrs. Claus, in a fresh voice. * Santa Claus turned at the welcome summons; but just then he saw a guest come puffing along the snowy path, and he waited to greet him. The new- ccjnor was thin and pale, with piercing, half-insane eyes, and a mouth that twitched constantly. Men shuddered always to meet his glances, and he was invited guest in no house. The Eski¬ mos who inhabit those dreary plains and hills nevdr let him crawl through the Icag, tunnel-like entrances of their snow-built homes, and draw their heavy fur hoods closely around their faces so'as not to reedgnize him when they meet. But Santa Claus loved the North Wind like a brother, and sang out, “Hall, friend, and well met! The good wife has drawn the ale; come in and see w’hat is smoking on the table.” “I come," answered the North Wind, hoarsely, “over fields of snow and long precipices of ice, at whose foot the glacier hangs and never a drop drips out. I have rustled the tops of the firs far to the south, and my breath has clung to the spars of the ship m the frozen sea.” But your welcome has ever remained here,” answered Santa Claus, cordial- ly. ‘Tea fi when sometimes the HiXvith K\in strange noises ^^^^\the its long chain, other, “It is Wind that is sglhey Wk together. approached The ■with wall? and ^»erlai(l Hpe on the anti snow; BBrai. by nature anti tlio<c Hyfripppfl |||.i l>ig lamp into a ■ l. As for the ^■pegs |»ed all and over shelves, with He upon which any- Hfor laid or support- Brsweetmeats, ^^^hese receptacles al- of Shells strings or serviceable gar- ^BHHf ^Kaus her visitor. held out “Now her hand sit at you ^Rsewife;' mK/'- said she, for she Is a notable “here is ale with the froth ^fthat HPady for the lip. here is the venison three days ago was afoot, and f here is the platter of smoking cakes with the sap that dripped from a Ver¬ mont maple last spring. Such a load of things as Santa always brings back after tbe holiday journey! Eh, but the old sleigh conies home as full as *t gees, I tell him!” So chattering, she gave the North W'ind the place of honor at her right hand and poured him a wide-mouthed beaker of ale; while old Santa Claus stood (for be is but a short map) to 1 carve the saddle of venison, and»\ap the choicest morsels on the plate guest. As they feasted he tte latter, “What have you your way hither?” \ 1 “Oh,” answered puffing the North he wB| with his cheeks out as agm like those of one used to blow pet, “I have seen a ship frozet-^B gon^fl sea of ice. The fire has her furnaces, and the men Hi in their hammocks. Onh^. or •ImmI as in a dream, and he Tf but / hoy. I blew my loudest spirit notei^H mfl the of I&on his month, Y.H *\.-nnw B not why 1 eflj arry no food TSk* * * M > :>m cheeks^ “Will he not awaken when the dream'is over?” “Perchance when It is over; but it is a long dream.” “And what else did you see pn your way hither?” asked Mrs. Claus, as she poured syrup on the wheaten cakes. “I saw in Norway a young girl stand at the door of her father’s house. She had been spinning, and her cheeks were red with the glow of work—or why should she look so rosy as the young man whispered in her ear? Then he turned away, and she sat again at her wheel, but her bands did not seem quite in tune with its whir.” “That was pleasant, too,” said the hostess, and smiled to herself. “In the pine woods where they fringe the broad white mantle of the pole,” said the North Wind, “I played as upon a harp of a thousand strings. That Is music—ah! that is the great orchestra where nature can wholly comprehend those sounds. Even I feel a tide within my being, and rise to a height that dwarfs my everyday moods.” Here they rose from the table and Santa Claus threw the bones of the deer to a great white bear that rose sleepily from a corner, and shook him¬ self like a snow ball that has been set in motion. Then they prepared for work, rhe host began to place rock¬ ing-horses on their wooden rockers and train jumping-jacks for their peril¬ ous feats. Mrs. Claus set to dressing dolls, of which great numbers lay about, and the North Wind, having discontentedly tried his hand at a few of the many drums and* horns scatter¬ ed around, sat in a corner grumbling to himself, or fitfully telling tales of "lue lands that lie in bis domain. Just then there came a gentle tap at the door, like a few drops of water thrown against it, and Mrs. Claus eagerly hastened to open it. There stood a slendqr maiden, with blue eyes that sometimes grew as black "s an unlighted midnight. Her filmy gown fluttered out behind her and ner voice was as soft as the trickle of a woodland brook. “Good-morning,” said she. “And . here is my brother, the North Wind.” “Her voice is low,” murmured the brother, “but it is melodious. I have heard those sounds in the symphony of the pine forest.” “And what have you seen on your way northward?” asked Mrs. Claus; “for long has been your way hither.” “My path has always led through pleasantness,” answered the South Wind. ‘ “I saw ship sailing in the a free sea far to the south. There were many passengers on her deck and all were looking skyward. I, too, looked; • / 3 33 m ft » ®1J if % Ml S M1 bLJi 3 ) c 3-. >< ——>3337 '^3 “HAIL, FRIEND, WELL MET.” and there was a little bird there, worn with long flying and able .merely to keep from falling into the sea. ‘He shall not die, the brave little land- bird!’ cried the ladies, and the sailors hastily put a boat into the ocean, and rowed out from the ship. And when the little brown thing fell into the boat a rough old sailor shed tears—yes, tears of joy, that he was saved. This I saw on my way here.” queried" “Did you see augnt else?” S-'-nta Claus, as he sent a procession -f wooden animals helter-skelter into a gayly painted Noah’s ark. “I rested one moment where a gla¬ cier stood during countless ages. The ground had been pulverized and then hardened, dragged as if with a harrow and scratched in long parallel lines; and at its foot a great mass of debris had been dropped, gleaned from the mountains above. But frost and rain, heat and cold, had broken up the sur¬ face of the ground, and a great bed of scarlet poppies had risen there. How they shook their bright heads as I passed! Oh, a merry game I played* with them, in and out, seeking and sought, until at last, with a gentle ris¬ ing, like a wave at sea, I left them h o laugh down the former desolation with living beauty.” “Ho, there!” cried a. thin, small voice, and. looking suddenly around, they beheld the Frost Fairy. She had transparent wings of purest white, and her gossamer gown was of opaque white full o. le twinklings of light. A coixAm a fgrn- of a border of crinkled marigold leaves, set with golden buds. See! These are li-tle suns, but they do not revolve. How beautiful it will be when you and your mischievous twin. Jack Frost, paint this model on the window- panes! How lovely when this pattern glistens along the brookside or by the garden walk!” “What would I not do if I had more colors upon my palette!” mourned the FrofSt Fairy. “Alas! I have only one.” “That is the beauty of your work. For it is so delicate and do fantastic, it copies so exactly its models without having the heaviness of color, it is so the soul of nature, uncovered • for a moment as in reverence, that there is no change but must vulgarize it. And you work so hard and patiently, my kind little Fairy, adorning attic win- dows for starving children, just as richly as nursery windows in wealthy hones, that I do not know what the world would be like if you had been forgotten at the outset.” The Frost Fairy dropped her eyes; she could not blush, but she seemed lighted from within. Then she said, “When you next come from the strange south, which I have never seen, bj-ing me a spray of apple blossoms. Would that I might live in the realm of fra¬ grance!” Then she raised her wings and disappeared, no one could tell how. “There goes one of the brightest lit- tie beings ever created,” said the South Wind. “Dame Claus, I must be on my way. But I am charged with a message for you. The Sun winked at me as !• started northward, and said, “Tell Santa Claus and his good dame that I have not forgotten them, and within four months I shall peep at them oter the horizon.” So saying, the South Wind followed the Frost Fairy away. “Don’t you think the reindeer ought to be exercised a little?” suggested Mrs. Claus to her husband. She brought him his fur cap and his great fur coat, and he went out and harnessed the reindeer into the sleigh. “I’ll go with you said the North Wind, hastily. And the hostess smiled to herself; for a woman must have time, to wash the dinner dishes and prepare for the next meal. After this labor was performed she sat dawn again to dress more dolls and sew leather covers on soft balls; for she is a very busy woman. But she smiled at her work; and it is the happiness of the jolly old couple in the cave by the great north pole that seems to spiritualize their gifts, so that the day on which they are given is the mer¬ riest and dearest day in the whole year. . Patronizing n Pot Grocer, One day Mistress MacPhairson was trotting home from her grocer’s with some spiritual comfort tucked under her apron, when she ran up against her friend, Mistress Macleod, and felt called™ upon to explain. “I waur just beyont at Muster MacTavish’s store,’ He keeps th’ very best ham in a’ th’ land. Our John loves a bit o’ guid ham, ye ken, and is ay yammerin’, aboot th’ ham at ither shops bein’ ower fat and -saut.” “Oor Tam th’ same.” said Mistress Macleod, “and so I’ll gang and gie MacTavish a trial now." Five?' minutes after that Mrs. Macleod went to the obliging grocer and asked for “a pund of ham.” “What kind o’ ham?” inquired Muster Mae- Tabish. “Oh, gie me the same kind that Mistress MacPhairson always gets here.” “A richt,” returned the grocer, with a cunning leer. And then, bend- ing over tlm counter, he said in a high¬ ly significant whisper. “Whaur’s yer bottle?”—Weekly Telegraph. ills Only Alternative. Little Dot was very fond of Bible stories, and one day after her mother had read the story of Lot’s wife she asked: “Mamma, what did Mr. Lot do when his wife was turned into a pillar of salt?” “What do you think he did?” asked mamma. “Why,” re¬ plied the practical little miss. “I s’pose he went out and hunted up a fresh one.”—Chicago News. PEOPLE TALKED ABOUT. Queen Victoria’s favorite scag is said to be “And ye shall walk in ailk at¬ tire.” The late Mme. Carnot was fond of busying horself with the garden and a greenhouse built by her late husband. The duke of York is the only mem¬ ber of the British royal family who can dance a genuine sailor’s hornpipe. He learned the steps when he was a young cadet. There lives in Sedalia,\ Mo., an old gentleman who was tutor to the late King Alfonso XII. of Spain. His name is Col. Van B. Wisker, an American, born of English parents. Pierre LotiA to India with Sarah ictress intends ti Bints and the Htinteresting Hy make a lossesses »ps the B Bsoo.ooo King- Eke 0 r icre- ap- [g his i A WOMAN SI 1 'STRANGE C treatment of thel Geographical* K»t| as the Husband St noss In the Susport Dr. William 0’Ne/| inffi several Lincoln following account oV j rience to the Lone ,1 '1 j scribes a case of tht' monplace complai '. j “spirit of jealousy,” ; the scriptures, when scribed and treated, he states, I was re j a( jy w h 0; jt was was very ill, and i attention. On ent( was shown into t room> in which the sons, all of whom see health. There, were lady (owner of the 1 daughter, who had aig| m previously from to spend two or tnlj cM : mother, and the I whose visit was oil! i or of two. man in Jai H age, small : complexion and WtO . Jr .rhe wife was a stri her husband. She was rather tall, reihark- ably fair and handsome and was a few years younger than her good man. I , asked which of them was the patient, i but no answer having been given to j my inquiry, I asked again. hesitation, Then the younger lady, with some said: “I am the patient, and my complaint is j ea i ousy i am jealous of my hus- . j k anc j an( j jf y 0U jo no t give me some- t]llng t0 rel j eve me I shall go out of my mind.” This accusation against the little man seemed to me to he most I ridiculous; indeed, I could not help i thinking that if the accuser had been j 1 accused it would have been more in the nature of things. I assured the lady I was extremely sorry for her, the more so that I was quite incompetent to treat such a case. The husband pro¬ tested his innocence and declared there was no cause whateva for her accusa¬ tions. The wife persisted in reiterat¬ ing them, and so the wrangle went on till suddenly she fell from her chair on the floor in a fit, the spasmodic move¬ ments of which were strange and varied. At one moment the patient was extended at full length, with her body arched forward, in a state of opisthotonos. The next minute she was in a sitting position with the legs drawn up, maki'A, while her hands Then' clutched s'Jm her wtfffAi th-'jjt, «.y>w a guttural herself on noise. her 1 back and thrust hdr arms and legs about, to the no sm4.ll danger of those around her. Then, becoming compara¬ tively quiet and j supine, she would quiver all over, wh^le her eyelids trem¬ bled with great rapidity. This state, perhaps, would be followed by general convulsive movements, in which she would put hersell. in the most gro¬ tesque postures and make the most un¬ lovely grimaces. \ At last the fit ended and, exhausted and in tears, she was put to bed. The patient was a lithe, muscular woman, and to restrain her movements during ttfte attack with the assistance at hand was a matter of impossibility; so that all that could be done was to prevent her injuring herself and to sprinkle her freely with cold water. The after- treatment was more geographical than medical. The husband ceased doing business in a certain town where the object of his wife’s suspicions lived. He was enabled to do so by the kind¬ ness of a friend, who exchanged part of hits district with him. The fit wan not the disease, but it was the symp¬ toms or manifestation of a mind dis¬ eased or deranged, the state of the mind being the result of a woman’s broodings over her real or imaginary wrongs. IRISH POLITICAL PRISONERS. They Complain of Warder's Sneers at Their Religious Views. John Henry O'Connor, better known under his alias of Henry Dalton, has been released from prison, says the Irish Independent. On July 30, 1883, he was sentenced at Liverpool to Im¬ prisonment for life, his ofTense being treason-felony. As life sentences are, according to the home secretary, to he treated as sentences for twenty years, a prisoner at the end of the fifteen years becomes entitled to a ticket- of leave. His release under conditions may, however, be delayed by taking into account any falling off in the marks expected to be earned by him in each year, and for this reason Mr. d’Connor, instead of being freed at the end of last July, might have been de¬ tained until the 27th inst. The fact that he was liberated some days be¬ fore his time came as a surprise to him. The liberated Irishman is a sun¬ burned, finely featured man, below the medium height. He is apparently of strong physique, and his fine develop¬ ment evidently results from his old trade of smith. He is some years over 50, hut does not look it. An affection of the heart troubles him at times and he fears this may interfere with h is, ^»rning v^BMLit.ers his livelihood. AftercM^H --yrT" 11 '- ,!' war held’tnH 1 n dfm^B erto of well known,^B kno'^^H ever the largest bal.H^HH sents the with the JaHBfl itfgl China to ICs 9d. TheH rowed, throuBB Shanghai banQMH 000 to pay thj was transferee, /atES land, from the accH ambassador to theH ernment of Japan;, H indorsement of thH to England, LofenlJM manager of the BaH it is also signed by ffl Hong Kong and Sll corporation. This rB is at present in thel H. Harris. Another! presented at a £5,280!<] well-li years ago for sum paid by the De company for the pun very large diamond n in question was sign< tors. After it had hi graphs of the checkH sold for a small sum.H up rapidly. Another ■ that drawn on the Lo® bank a few years baB Indian Peninsular UaB and short,time.JbefJ thel was paid through for over £3,000,000, drl Glyn & Co., which wl Bank of England.—Tit Real Bloodthi /Greens—Good morning Where Tqm today? Tom is out in the kitche roaches, He was goin hut his gun didn’t come had ordered. He had set a day of' sport, but rat wholly disappointed, he killing cockroaches. Win in the humor for sport he something, you know.—B cript. A 'Haunted Hoyise. y/6u'shoul “I don’t kikow why that empty old house/ is haul a| “Why, don’t '.you see/ those window curtains?” ( “Yes, o! w “Well, aren’t they ' the shades departed?” WHAT TH^ LAW DECIDERS Game killed on^ an Indian reservaH by a tribal Indian and transported!/, wagon to the neiarest railway statn off the reservation and there deliveBi to a carrier to be shipped out StevtBl of B| state is held, in Selkirk vs. (Minn.), 40 L. R. A. 759, to he subj* to the game laws of the state. On a second trial in an ejectmeiB suit taken by the defeated party as ■ I matter of right undfer the terms Slaul of statute allowing it, it is held in coml son vs. Goodrich Transportation rul-j pany (Wis.), 40 L. R. A., 825, that ings upon the admissibility of evidencel made on the former trial have no bind¬ ing force. With this case are collect¬ ed the authorities op the effect of a prior decision on statutory new trial in a real action. A promoter who transfers to a cor¬ poration land purchased by him before the corporation was formed is held, in Milwaukee Cold Storage company ys. Dexter (Wis.), 40 L. R. A. 837, to be not subject to any liability to the cor¬ poration for the amount received by him in excess of what hT he majle no misrepresentatk ,lse statements about the ma all the subscribers had opport as- certain th,e conditions sic of the land and know the pi led, although he did not discl<- em the amount which he paid. The doctrine knownhWjdB that tho TdJ trie wires a place tied to be ip Electric 1 ied In Pejj !99, 'hei n