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I- '• V • T WAS a bare, desolate room in a tenement house in a southern city. On a rickety table in one cor ncr stood a broken vase, which still showed rem nants of its pristine beauty as the light of a stray sunbeam shone through its ruby depths. A long stemmed. withered rose which it held was doubtless a reminder of some happier hour. The occupants of the room were a mother and her three children, a puny babe, a little girl, perhaps three years of age, and a boy about seven years her senior. There was nothing about the room to suggest that the family had ever been comfortably placed us regards this world's goods, save the broken Venetian vase, but the face of the mother as she bent over her wailing liabe, trying to soothe and still its cries, bore the traces of what had once been the most relined type of beauty. Only a short year ago, Mary Der went and her little family had been living in comparative comfort, but suddenly her husband lost bis posi tion as head clerk in a large estab lishment, which, owing to the pres **>.1X).8R>QWwJ| Meanwhile Hugh Derwent Had Dragged Hie Weary Way Homeward. 4 ■ure of the times, had failed. I'nfor tunately, he fell seriously ill of a fever, which completely prostrated him. By degrees their small savings were expended, then the best of the furniture was sold, for they were too proud to ask help, and so they went from bad to worse, until they only had the poor bed. the stove, the table and two chairs, which now furnished in scant measure the little room in the tenement they called home. Hugh had been out since early morning hunting for work, and his wife was growing momentarily more anxious about his prolonged absence. Wliat could ke“p him? It began to grow ilark. Pressing her pale face against the panes, she peered out in to the street. “Mamma, I'm so hungry," pleaded a weak little voice from tlie bed. "Can’t 1 have something?” “Oh. Harry, what shall we do? Sis ter wants something to eat?” cried Mrs. Derwent, putting tier arms around her little boy’s neck. “Mamma, don’t cry. I'll go out again; perhaps I’ll get something this time, and pr'aps I'll meet papa. 1 won't come back without some thing this time,” cried Harry. “Now, see, mamma, if 1 do. Please don't cry!” "Oh, where will you go, my poor little darling, where will you go? Your clothes are too thin to go out in this wind. 1 cannot, cannot let you go!” Hut Harry was off; he had no time to lose. He had no time to lose, in deed, if he meant to reach the great publishing house in Iiroud street. It was fully five o’clock, and he must be there before six, and it was such a long, weary walk for a little fellow. Meanwhile Hugh Derwent had dragged his weary way homeward, lie had inet the usual rebuffs, some tudely uttered, some gently worded, for there were men who were touched by his pallid face and the hopeless expression of his coun tenance. Mary listened for his foot steps, for it was now too dark to see the passers-by on the street, caught a faint, uncertain sound as of some cne tottering on the stairs. Opening the door she discerned the figure of her husband coming wearily tip, step by step, but ob, so slowly. Soon she had him clasped in her arms. No need for him to repeat the sad story of fuiiure again; she knew it when lie touched her cheek with his cold lips. “Where is Harry?” were the first words he spoke ufter regaining his breath, for lie was quite exhausted by the exertion of mounting the steep staircase “lie’s gone out, dearest; I couldn't stop him. Mary cried for something to eat. and the little fellow rushed out, determined to do something. Don't lie frightened, Hugh, God will take care of him, and of us, too. We must not hide our trouble from your aunt any longer; it isn’t justice to our children.” Where, meantime, was little Harry, • nd what was his object in visiting the great publishing house of Ford «k Company? Looking at the huge, seven-story building, with all its win dows ablaze with light, you would wonder what purpose the child had in n. i n<l Nenrly n year before, Mary Per went, when the beginning of their troubles had come, had mailed a story to the Manhattan Magazine, en tering the competition for a prize of $.’>00, which had been offered. Mary ! Derwent, in her happier days, had written verse which had been accept ed and published. The prospect of coining trouble bad stimulated her. | as it lias many another, to literary ' effort, in the hope of giving her fam : ily the helping hand. Poverty had I knit this little family into a closer | and more intimate union than ordi I narilv exists in families, and they had talked things over together, but long since Mary bad ceased to won der about her story, giving it up for 1< st. Tlie thought of it came as an in spiration to small Harry, and lie meant to beg money for the story; that was his errand. “Surely,’’ thought the child, “the good editor will buy it if he knows how hungry we all are.” Harry’s tired little feet at Inst reached the large building where the Manhattan Magazine was published, and through his earnest solicitation he was admitted to the editorial rooms, where he told his errand. After some questioning, he was in formed that Mary Derwent's story had won the first prize, and as she bad Fent no address except “City,” they bad forwarded the cheek to the general delivery office. It was so far to the post office, but that letter would buy bread, so Harry trudged bravely on. At last lie was there. There were two letters, one for his father. lie clutched them tightly in his thin, small hand and started for home. How far it was! i If he could just hold out to get : there! A pain came in his head and everything turned dark around him, despite tile electric lights. There was an elegant gentleman | sauntering leisurely along, looking almost bored liy the mere fact of ex istence. Harry stopped a moment. ! passing his hand over his eyes ns if to clear away the mist, before at tempting the muddy crossing. What made everything turn around so? Suddenly there was an outcry as a little form went down in tlie j mud and slush, right in front of a j carriage dashing furiously onward. J A moment more and the cruel hoofs of the madly driven horses will ; trample the brave little life out. IIiit no, a strong arm clutches j them, and with almost superhuman ! strength forces them back on their haunches as the little child struggles to his feet. It was the listless gen tleman, a Mr. Mayo. "Oh. thank you, sir,” gasped Harry. "Ah. don’t mention it, sonny; let me help you across,” and he grasped ; the muddy, ragged sleeve in his daintily gloved hand, and nearly lift ing the slight form, swung him over. Hie child reeled and would have fall en, but be caught and held him. “I can’t go on. and they are so hun gry at home. Please take this letter to mother -I—I can’t see.” The gentleman signaled a hack and lifted Harry iu. taking a seat beside him. "Xow, where do you live?” he in i quired. Harry roused sufficiently to give di rections, Vint immediately sank back almost fainting. Mr. Mayo suddenly exclaimed, as if I a thought had struck him which was j very surprising: letter i i There Were Two Letter*, One tor Hi* Father. “I believe the boy is starving,” and he stopped the hactc in front of a res taurant and ordered a glass of milk, a glass of sherry and some brandy and water, the only things he could think of just then. The hack man said, dryly: “That ain't no fitten stuff fur folks whut's starvin'! The milk'll do, but bread and meat's whut he needs.” “Well, bring them," and a generous supply was brought forth. A slow smile dawned on the face of the gentleman as the child ate. “Ah what a remarkable appetite! I feel surfeited myself just watching you.” Harry’s appetite appeased, they proceeded. Mr. Mayo scanned the addresses on the letters which he had taken. “Mary Derwent—sounds familiar, somehow.” They arrived ut the mean tenement, and Harry asked Mr. Mayo upstairs. "For mother will want to thank i you,” he said. "I don’t care for thank*, but I would like to see the owner of that name--must be someone I have known.” “Mother!” called Harry, “oh, mother, I bring good news. Here's money; your story won first prize, and here's a kind gentleman who saved me from being run over. Now Mary and all can have something to eat.” Mr. and Mrs. Derwent could not realize the sudden transition from despair to hope. They sat as if dazed. Mr. Derwent came forward at last, and in a broken voice tried to speak his thanks. "Why. haven't you a light?” in quired Mr. Mayo. “Oh, sir." said Harry, who had re \ived wonderfully since eating, “we had no money to buy anything.” Mr. Mayo stared. He had never come in contact with poverty before. “Here, take my purse and get light and, ah something t<> cat.” Mr. Derwent was again thanking him, while Mrs. Derwent was weep ing tears of joy and thankfulness. “(iod sent you to save my children from starvation. This evening 1 begged for bread, begged it, and tiie 1 alter refused me. lint what wouldn’t a woman do for her chil dren?" Harry soon came back with a light utid a basket of food and handed the purse hack to Mr. Mayo. “1 only took enough for to-night, for mother has money, now.” Mr. Mayo emptied the purse on the bed, where Mrs. Derwent was already feeding little Mary, who ate raven ously. The mother had less to eat than any, but, mother-like, thought of self last. Mr. Mayo bowed himself out, prom ising to call on tiie morrow, silentfy wondering that he, of all otlj^rs, should be tiie one to play Providence to a poor family. The second letter which Harry brought proved to lie an urgent invi tation from Mr. Derwent’s aunt in the country for Inin and bis family to spend New Year’s with her, the second day from iliis. How gladly they left the close, comfortless room for the spacious old farmhouse ■nnong the lulls! The day was glorious, the air balmy as if Indian summer had come again. When they reached the home sta tion and crowded into tiie large fam ily carriage, she threw wide the win dows to let in tiie golden sunlight and health-giving breeze from tiie pine lands. Was ever a day more royal than this? Mr. Mayo, having called to see the Derwents the day previous, Mrs. Derwent took tiie liberty, in her great happiness, to invite him out. too, presented himself, to his own and her astonishment, as they were going out to dinner in tiie large, handsome old dining-room. There was just enough frost in the air to make the wood fire acceptable, yet tlit* musk roses looked saucily in at tiie wide windows and nodded a welcome, while large vases full of flowers breathed out their hearts in f rngrnnce. i ne crowning event ot the day came when Mr. Derwent was giving a second helping to turkey. The dear old aunt announced that, as he would be her heir, it was his duty to remain there and keep up his property; she was tired of living without children in the house. “And what is morn. I’m not going to any longer,” she de clared with emphasis. “Ah. Mrs. Derwent,” said Mr. Mayo, after dinner, as he swung lazily in a hammock under a large oak tree, “I found out why your name sounded so - ah, familiar; there was a little mis take. My cousin wrote a story for that competition, and took a fancy to sign her name ‘Mary Derwent,’ | having heard it somewhere, perhaps. She told me about it and—” “Then it was her story instead of mine which won the prize?” "Her story was called ‘Evelyn,’ I think.” “That accounts for it; the letter that contained the cheek said ‘Evelyn, by Mary Derwent.’ Mine was ‘Evan geline,’ but 1 thought they had made a mistake.” “Ah, quite a coincidence,” said Mr Mayo, “but you shan't lose liy it." “1 can’t, lose now. Had Harry not ! gone to the post otlice, he would not have met you, and had you not suc j cored us at that critical time we I would have died, and but for the cheek we could not have come out here.” "So you stole your New Venr’s, Mary,” said her aunt, as she shook her fat sides in laughter, “but the heir to ‘I’inelands,’ your farmer hus band (as lie is to lie), can easily re place it.” Would you believe that that gay young fellow driving the cows from tiie pasture with Harry, helping little : Mary make mud pies, swinging the ! l.aby in the hammock, peeling pota toes with a checked apron on, was the dandy who stood at the street crossing with liis cane in his mouth, almost refuting the statement that “Hod made man in His own image?” Well, he is the identical young swell, who lias been out at l’indands several weeks, and says he intends staying there several more. “In faet, Mr. Derwent,” he said, “I am in love with l’inelands, and 1 in tend you shall adopt me as a brother. Let me put my money in improve ments on the plantation, and instead of making 'ducks and drakes’ of my capital, I'll buy ducks and drakes and quit making a goose of myself.” Soou he gave the world “assurance oi a tnuu.”—Ladies’ World, New York. Treatment Vnttrd Him. TTenpekt—That new doctor you intro duced me to, Bowler, is a great symptom otologist- gnat student of numan uaiurc. Bowler—Suit* you, does he? “Thorougnlv. Had hm. last night to treat iny wife for a cold, and be said she didn't need any medicine, but tnat she must be particular, above all things, to keep her mouth shut apd breatao through her nose.”- Stray Stories. Tacre are plenty of people who nave De come depn «sed and discouraged, because that dry, hacking conga hangs to them con tinually. Tney nave taken much medicine, mostly of toe advertised quack soit, noth ing like Dr. August Koenig s Hamburg Breast Tea, the discovery o! a noted Der man physician. We do not say that this will cuie a case wiiere the lungs aie badly diseased, for it, will not, and up to tiiis date, there is notning that will cuie under these conditions; but on the other hand, if the lungs are not hard hit, the patient should take Dr. August Koenig's Ham burg Breast Tea, a cup full every night on going to l»ed, have it hot, drink slowly, then every oilier night, rub the throat and top portion of tiie lungs with Ft. JacobsOil, cover with oil siik, let it remain an hour, then remove. Fat good; plain, nourishing food, live in the‘op air as much as pos sible. By all means sleep as near out of doors as possible, that is, windows wide open, except in the very severe weather. Take a cold sponge hath every morning; then immediately rub tho body vigorously with a coarae towel. Take Dr. August Koenig's Ham burg Drops every other day according to directions. One can buy the three remedies for $1.25 of any reliable druggi't. Begin the treatment at once, and see how much better you will be almost within a week’s lime. "0! she’s so sweet, so angelic and fair," sighed Lovett Fursyte. "Hut 1 know 1 shall never succeed in winning her love." "Nonsense!” exclaimed May Sharpe. "Lots of otuer men have succeeded. \\ hy shouldn’t you?"—Philadelphia Press. Piso’s Cure cannot be too highly sfioken of as a cough cure.—J. W. O’Brien, 522 Third Ave., N., Minneapolis, Minn., Jan. 0,1900. No one finds it so hard to foigive mis takes as the person who most frtqututlj makes them.—Indianapolis News. It is not wise to believe all you hear; but it is well to use discretion iu your declara tiops of incredulity.—Puck. -• The big sword does not make the brave soldier, ltam’s Horn. --• -— Usually the Way. "What is the mean ing of ‘a straight tip?’’ "A straight tip, | tnv son, is a sign that you lose." < hicago Post. Wigwag ‘ It makes me hustle to pat ! my rent.” Harcluppe "The questlun of j rent keeps me moving, too.' Philadelphia Record. -•——— Wig "Would you rather be born lucky or rich?” Wag—"I’d rather be burn rien. Then you don't have to be lucky." Pinla delphia Record. -• He (musingly)—“Sometimes I think I am a fool.” She (sweetly)—"And at other times you think you're exactly right.”—Columbia Jester. - • The man who is always boasting that he is not afraid of anything shows more courage than acumet. in regard to other people's opinions.—Indianapolis News. Wanted Working Out.—Bucknell— "Mike, can I know what 1 c! n't know?” Jamieson—"No.” Bucknell—"Well, there is something I don't know and l know it. Then don't 1 know what 1 don't know?” Jamieson—“1 don’t know.”—Cassell’s Journal. Naggsby—"It’s funny how women will change their minds. When I first met the girl who eventually became Mrs. N , ?he was one of those who declared sue wouldn’t marry t. e best man in the world. Within a year she married hip." Waggs by—“But what makes you think she uus changed her mind?”—Baltimore Amer ican. Tens—‘‘Mr. Bru-k is nice looking, 1 ad mit, but he's not much of a talker; never seems able to say the right tiling in tiie right place.” Jese—‘‘Oh, I don't know. He said the right thing last evening, al though you may not think it was i t e right place.” Tess “Where was that?” Jess (displaying her ring)—"In our par lor.”-Philadelphia Press. f SRNURRY BUYING 9 ^9^9 There I. no ti:*ie like January for 9 aatialactory buying. The holiday 9 rn.h i« over anil Ihe early hprie-g ■ trade haa not yet begun. In January im al ■ way. get flr«t piVk • f all the earlii t Spring !H and there is ample time t'» nil anu ifl ship your orders with greater promptness. « .Send IS cents TODAY for our large General ga Catalogue No. 71. It gives pictures, descrp 9 lions and prices on almost everything y -a 9 *jat, wes.r or use. Save *4 to on tv erything 9 you purchase by sending your orders to § MONTGOMERY WARD ft CO. j S CHICAGO ■ ' .'be House that Telia the Truth." FREE TO WORA£N To prove the healing and cleansing power of I'avliue Tot.el %iillseplie »e will mail a large trial package with book of Instructions ii bsolnle.y t ree. Tliis is in t a tiny sample but a large package, enough to convince anyone of its value. Women ull over the country are praising Pax tine for what it has done in local Iren - iiieni <*r female til*, cur ing all inflammation and discharges, wonderful as a cleansing vaginal douche, for sore throat, nasal catarrh, as a mouth wash, and to remove tartar and whiten the teeth. Send to-day; a postal card will do. Sold hy ilriijutilinrarnt |,,»xt |,ul«l by ua. .VI cent*. lurgr box. fentlxl'uctlou Kuaruutred. I III. ii. IM\ ION « «»., HOI < olombux.lv., lloxtou, Max*. SCROFULA |fg KINO OP SCROFULA CO.. KOKOMO Ml NO MONEY TILL CURED. 25 vurs estan.,5?? DJI ■ ■ L W We send FRIF and posmaid a 200 pare treatise on Piles. Fistula and D.seje,, Hvll W* Rectum; also 100 page illus. treatise on Diseases of Women. Of the thonu.i ** ■ Q by onr mild method, none paid a cent tillcnred-wcfnrnish their names nn.».u‘tl!rH 3 ■ W W PRS. THORNTON A MINOR. 1031 Pah ht.Tanu.^fr We Make Medals SOLID GOLD, with namo and lettor InR, at. Others from $1.50 to $25.00 — (MENTION TII1R PAPEKI The Worm Turned al l.mst. “A wife has a right to expect much of cr husband,” n m ilked the philosophical ly nelined person, musingly. "Ye>, I suppose sue im»," replied the meek appealing man with wilted looking w i»ker»; "1 suppose siie has; but when she expects him to live up steadily and with out swerving to the motto on her first Husband's tombstone, 1 somehow think she is expecting more chan she really ought to expect from a common, every day, earthly man.”—Stray Stories. Waitress (at quick-lunch stand ) ‘'Do you want to eat this sandwich here or tak" it w ith you?” Gentleman—“Doth."—Harvard Lampoon. TTow My TIiro.it Hurts'—Why don’t you use Hale's Honey of H irchound and Tat ' Pike's Toothache Drops Cure in one minute lonr.st "\\ ion does tiie next tram •tut lor folk, porter?” Irish Porter— ".<.ie's just gone, sou l" Puncn. To C'nrs s Colt! In One liny Take J-axa!,ve Promo Quinine Tablets. >11 druggists refund money it it fails to cure. 2.'c It dot*>n t take much g->!d lout 11_> cover t c pupil of the e> c K i:u\ Horn Qurvitloneil Too llonely. Toss \ ou and M.-s Sere don’t seem u> be nood t'nends. What's the matter? ■ W >, ae ifinal Led that s..e wu 24 years old, an 1 — "And >ou doubted it?” t at all. 1 merely -a;! ‘Oi course, but when’.’’” -Philadelphia 1’iess. if you really think you are a guardian of the future, don’t be unnet e.v-arilv of fensive m t e exercise uf }'.ur high c#din|. Indianapolis News. Christman Holiday Kinirtlon liiln. Til Southern Kalluay. Southern Railway will seli ticketsbetween all points on Its linos end i oiinivtions Hast of the M ssissippi and .South ot the Ohio and i’ntomae Rivers (except between points in Floridai to the etseral public December '.Sird, J-lth. 'itth, until and iilst, and Jan uary 1st, l'.xio, with final limit January 3rd, UtoU. at rate of one undone third tare forth# round trip. For further information, call ou auv ticket agent of the Southern Railway. A Suipret. She Y >u didn't -tay long in London. Hi No, I couldn't Maud i . Over there evnybody knew me tor an American rigut a wav. Here, in New York, uo one ever su-l'ici;. it. Smart Set. THE CHILDREN ENJOY Life out of doors and out of the games which they play and the enjoy ment which they receive and the effort-, which they make, comes the greater part of that healthful development which is so essential to their happiness when grown. When a laxative is needed the remedy which is given to them to cleanse and sweeten and strengthen the internal organs on which it acts, should be such as physicians would sanction, because its component parts are known to be wholesome and the remedy itself free from every objectionable quality. The one remedy which physicians a*d parents, well-informed, approve and recommend and which the little ones enjoy, because of its pleasant flavor, its gentle action and its beneficial effects, is— Syrup of Figs-and for the same reason it is the only laxative which should be used by fathers and mothers. • Syrup of Figs is the only remedy which acts gently, pleasantly and naturally without griping, irritating, or nauseating and which cleanses the system effectually, without producing that constipated habit which results rum the use of the old-time cathartics and modern imitations, and against which the children should be so carefully guarded. If you would have them grow to manhood and womanhood, strong, healthy and happy, do not give them medicines, when medicines are not needed, and when nature needs assistance in the way of a laxative, give them only the simple, pleasant and gentle—Syrup of Figs. K * Its quality is due not only to the excellence of tile combination of the laxative principles of plants with pleasant aromatic syrups and juices, but also to our original method of manufacture and as you value the health of the little ones, do not accept any of the substitutes which unscrupulous deal ers sometimes offer to increase their profits. The genuine article may be bought anywhere of all reliable druggists at fifty cents per bottle. Please to remember, the full name of the Company — ..^ •VV/1 CALIFORNIA FIG SYR.UP CO. - is printed on \ '■ the front of every pack \ age. In order to get its rC" dTV r.,fi i. (v bcneficial *ffects ^ i* al- , X \Vi : V ' H wa>'8 necessary to buy r ■■ 'Vfc, ,£ SfeT