The Newtown bee., January 01, 1897, Image 8

About The Newtown bee. (Newtown, Conn.) 1877-current

Image provided by: Connecticut State Library, Hartford, CT

                
leaped around. "I know wbat I did
with it I do now lu
v "Did with what, Caleb?" asked
As wellas our own, for they are identical.and that is just why
we recently purchased the hisr line of clothing of WHITTEN,
BURDETT & GO.t one of the largest Bostdn Clothing Houses that
was obliged to close its doors. We got this stock at a bargain.
We are going to sell it at a bigger bargain, and so make for our-,
selves a host of new friends. If you want
SUITS, OVERCOATS, ULSTERS or
GENTS' FURNISHINGS
You can't find better goods at so small figures as we are making
by this big purchase of ours.
The garments are of the best make, stylish cut, 'and their
wearing qualities we vouch for. Let us clothe you just once, if we
don't already, for we want you to see how satisfactorialJy we can
do it, both as to the clothing you get and the prices you pay We
want to quote you a few prices:
Foster.
THE NEWTOWN BEE.
NEWTOWN, FBIDAYt JAN. 1.
CIRCULATION:
JAIOA 1, 18SS.
LAST WIXS.
U0
8100
The Home Circle.
The Courting Stick.
FROM THE CONGREGATION A LIST.
"Kalub, Kalub Short, do stop shellin'
corn, Jtut for a little, and let me talk
with you."
The falling of kernals of corn Into a
large basket ceased, and Caleb Short
looked towards his wife, who was sit
ting by a stand on which was a candle,
at one side of the fireplace.
"Well, what now, AsanattiT"
Caleb sat with a half shelled ear of
corn In one hand and a ob In the other
caieo was a rarunr. uis larm lay near
the Oxbow In the Intervales of Hadley
It was on the Bay Path, the historic
road that ran fiorn the
wide, green meadows that
make the principal street if old Hadley,
to Boston town.
'Kalub," said Mrs Short, lowering
her bead, and turning It aside, ''I've been
your yokefellow now go in' on thirty
year, and I have got all my faculties
left yet. Now I want to tell you what
I think Is goln' to happen. I can see it
by my spiritual eyes."
"Well, what is that Is goln' to happen,
Asenath?"
"Myron Smith Is goln' to cast sheep's
eyes ob our Amady 1 Tbere t"
Caleb dropped the ear of corn and the
cob.
"Show, now. Well, I always hoped
that that would co ue to pass, seein
the Smith farm lines onr'n "
"Kalub, now look here; we've got
near . upon everything so far at this
world's goods go splnnln' wheels and
hatchels, and looms and a mahogany
table, and even a board to be used to
lay us out on when the final time shall
come. The last thing that you bought
was a dinner born, and then I put away
the conch shell from the Indies along
with the cradle and the baby chair,
'But, Kalub, there's one thing more that
we twill have ito have. The families
down at Longmeadow have all got
them ; they save fire and fuel, and they
enable the young folks and their elders
all to talk together at the same time,
respectfully In the same room, and when
the young folks have a word to say to
each other in private It enoourages
them. Now I'm kind o sociable like
myself, and I like to encourage young
people; that's why I wanted you to buy
a Bolnet for Mandy. . I don't like to see
young folks go apart, by themselves,
especially In winter ; there Is no need of
extra lights or fires, if one only has one
of them things."
"One et them 'things? Massy cakes
Jive, what Is it, Asinathr"
"Why, havn't you never seen one,
Kalub? It la a courtln' stick. ? They
didn't used to have such things when we
were young. A courtln' .stick Is like
Aaron's rod that budded."
"A courtln' .jstick ! Conquiddlest Do
1 - mv ears? There dont need to- be
any machinery tot oourtin' la this world
so mors than t tbere does to make the
srssa bloom, or the oorn cookies to come
O ta tt corn. What Is i oourtin'
. Acasvthf
7r;V EJh courtlo stick Is a
-, : Zm wooiw ufce, wid a fan.
c ei J - fannel ta cevtr the
;ricee tiat r?t":s, ai one
V u iciri cu V.: V. :3ns.
f. V ? j il i r '"J !
young people can talk in the same room,
and not disturb the old people or set
the work folks aDd the boys to titter! q
as they used to do when we were young.
It was discovered here in the Con
necticut Valley, which has always been
a place of providences. Just as I said,
It is a savin' of fire and lights In the
winter time, and it suggests the right re
lations among famlKes of property, It
is a sort of guidepost to life. The
elder" she added, "approves of courtln'
sticks, when the family oflhr them to
their acceptable visitors, and I do."
Mrs Short straightened up at the pro
noun "I," giving a bob to her high cap
border. She folded her hands on her
lap and looked directly at Caleb.
The later picked up an ear of corn and
drummed on one side of the basket.
"Well, Asenath, may be you do, but I
do not know whether I do or not."
"Kalub, don't you want that I should
show you one?"
"Where did you get It, Asenath?"
"Asahel m-tda It for me. I told him
how to mike it, but when I came to ex
plain to him what it was for his face
fell, and he turned red and he said,
'hyppogriffj.' I wonder where he g--t
that word 'hyppogrjff,!' It bis a
pagan sound; Asahel, he mistrusted."
"Mistrusted what, Atena'h?"
"Well, I haven't told you quite all,
When the head of a f tmily knows that a
certain young man Is comin' to visit him
at a certain time and hangs up a courtln'
stick over the mantel-tree shalf, or the
dresser, it is a sign to the visitor he is
welcome."
"But there is no need of a sign like
that, Asenath."
Asenath rose, went Into the spare bed
room, a place of the mahogany bureau,
the mourning piece, valences and e-cou
ces, and brought out a remarkable look
Ing tube, which seemed to have leather
ears at each end, and which was some
dozen feet long.
"Moses!" said Caleb, "and all the
patriarchs!" he added. "Let's you and
me try It. There, you put it up to your
ear and let me speak. Is the result
satisfy in'?"
Asenath assured him that the experi
ment was quite satisfactory.
"Well, well," said Caleb. "Now I
will go on sbellin' corn and think mat
ters over ; It may be all right if the elder
says it Is."
For a few minutes there was a rain of
corn into the basket, when Caleb started
up and said, "Cracky !" He put bis
hand ,into one pocket after another,
then went up to the peg board and took
down his fur overcoat and felt of the
pockets in it. He came back to the place
of the corn shelling doubtfully, and be
gan to trot, as it were, around the bas
ket, still putting his band into one pocket
after another.
"Lost anything,' Kalub?" asked
Asenath.
' "Yes, the stage driver gave me a
pareel directed to Asahel, in the care of
Amanda, and I don't know what I did
with It. I meant to have told yeu about
it, but you set n all Into confusion over
that there oourtin' stick."
: We know not how many old New Eng
land homesteads may have a courting
stick among their heirlooms, but imag
ine that they are few. Such a stick
used to be shown to the curious in the
Longmeadow neighborhood of Spring
field, Mass., and we think It may be seen
there still. It was especially associated
with the manners and customs of the
Connecticut .Valley towns, and it left
behind It some pleasing legends in such
pastorl villages as Northampton,
Hadley and Hatfield. It was a promis
ing object lesson In the domestic life of
the worldly wise, and oould have been
hardly unwelcome to marmlet maidens
and rustic beaux.
Caleb Short continued his shelling
corn for a time, but be worked slowly.
Ee at last turned around and looked at
hi wife, who was sewing rags for a to
be-bralded mat.
"Well, what is It now, Kalub?"
asked the latter.
"Asahel."
"Yes I know I've been t&lnkia
ci:i : zt I ..ti cl late. Cs cars ta as
WE ARE ALWAYS LOOKING OUT
as a bound boy after his folks were
dead, and we've done well by him, now
haven't we, Kalub? I've set store by
bim, but I might as well speak it out,
he's too sociable with our Mandy now
that th3y have grown up. It stands to
reason that he can never marry Mandy."
"Why not, Asenath?"
"Why not? How would you like to
have people say that our Amanda had
married her father's hired man? How
would It look on our family tree?"
Asenath glanced up to a fruitful picture
on the wall.
"Aaahel is a true-hearted boy," said
Celeb. "Since our own son has taken
to evil ways, who will we have to de
pend upon in our old age but Asahel,
unless Mandy should marry ?"
"O Kalub, think what a wife I've been
to you and listen to me. Mandy is going
o marry. I am going to , invite Myron
Smith here on Thanksgiving, and to
hang np the courtin' stick over the
dresser, so that he will see it plain.
That stick is goin' to jine the two farms.
It is a yard s tick there, now, there !
I always was great on calculation;
Abraham wa, and so was Jacob;
Scriptural. 'nu would have never pro
posed to me if I hadn't encouraged you,
and only think what a wife I've been to
you! Juat like two wives."
"But Aabel Bow is a thi ifty boy. He
is sensible and savin', and he is feelin'."
"Kalub, Kalub Short, now that will
di. Who was hi father? Who but old
Stth Bow? Everybody knows what he
was, and blood will tell. Just think of
what that man did !"
"What, Asenath?"
"Why, you know that he undertook
to preach, and he thought that if he
opened his mouth the Lord would fill it
And he opened his mouth, and stood
with It open for nearly ten minutes, and
h couldn't speak a word. He was a
laughing stock, and he never went to
meetin' much after that, only to evemn'
meetln's in the schoolbouse candle
light meetln's."
"Yes, Asenath, that Is all true. But
Seth Bow was an honest man. Just
hear how he used to talk to me. He
used to say to me I often think of it
he used to say : 'Caleb Short, I've lost
my standln' among the people, but I
haven't lost my faith in God, and
there is a law that makes up for
things, I couldn't preach, but Asahel is
goln' to preach. He's inherited the germ
of intention from me, and one day that
will be something to be thankful for
come Thanksgiving Days. I will preach
through Asahel yet. I telj you, Caleb,
there is a law that makes up for things.
No good Intention was ever lost. One
must do right, and then believe that all
that happens to him Is for his good.
That is the way the book of Job reads,
and I have faith, faith faith 1 You may
all laugh at me, but Atahel will one day
be glad that hi old father want3d to
preach, and tried, even if be did fail.
The right intentions of the father is ful
filled in the son, and I tell yon there's a
law that makes np for things, and so I
can sing Taanksgiving Psalms with the
rest of um, if I don't dare to open my
mouth in doia' it.? Asenath, I look upon
Asahel as a boy that is blessed, In the in
tention of bis father. ' The right inten
tions of a boy live in the man, and the
srov'nin' purpose of the man lives In his
boys or those whom he influences, and I
tell you, Asenath, there's nothing better
to be considered on Thanksgiving Days
than the good intentions of the folks of
the past that live in u. There are no
harvests In the world ekul to those
You wait and see." :
The weather door slowly opened, and
the tall form of a young man appeared.
"Asahel," said Asenath, "we were
jut speakln' of you and your folk", and
now I wtnts to talk with you. Take off
your frock, and. don't be standing there
like a swamp crane, but sit down on the
unipod here close by me, as you used to
do when you was a cmull boy. I set
store by you, and you just think what a
mother I've been to you since your own
mother was laid away in the juniper lot I
But I am a proper plain speatn' woman,
as your own motier ri,'8 t"t a-
FOE
fj'S'GC'QSSs!
Men's All Wool Brown Suits at $5.50 worth $10.
Men's All Wool Blue Suits, $5 50 worth $10.
Men's Overcoats, $5 worth $7 50.
Men's All Wool Overcoats, $8.50 worth $12.
Men's All wool Overcoats, $10 worth $15.
Boys' Reefers from 3 years up, $2, $2.50. $3.50 and $4.
Boys' Suits, $1 98, $2.50, $3, $3 50, $4.50 and $5.
Boys' All Wool Sweaters, all colors, 98c.
Boys' All Wool Turtle Neck Sweaters 148.
Men's Sweaters 98c, $150, $2, $2 50 and $3.50.
Men's Knit Jackets 98c, $1.50, $2, $2.50 and $3.
Closed job of White Shirts,Colored Bosoms at 48c worth 75c.
White Shirts 48c, 75c and 98c.
Oil Tan Enit top Gloves at 25c and 48c.
Nice dress Dog Skin Gloves 48c to $1 25.
Best makes Collars 2 for 25c. Cuffs 13c pair, 2 for 25c.
Great value in Quilted Burlap Stable Blankets at 75c.
Street Blankets $1 25, $2, $2 50, $3 50, $3.98 and $4 98.
317 MAIN ST., BRIDGEPORT,
OPERATORS OF- 27 STORES.
swered the minister back in meetin' time
when the good old elder said that your
father was a hypocrit."
Asahel sat down on the unipod, which
sometimes did service as a milking stool.
The weather door opened again, and a
handsom3 girl appeared, all smiles and
roses.
"Mandy," said Asenath, "you've got
back early. Well, you put off your
calash and things and come here and sit
down on the tripod beside Asahel. I
want to talk to you both for your good.
I have been hesitatin' about the matter
for a long time, but the time has come
for me to do my duty and when I have
a duty to do I do it. And Caleb, you
shell corn; think what a good wife I've
been to you as good as three common
women."
Amanda sat down on the tripod, which
was not a souvenir of any classic art, but
another milking stool that the handy
Asahel had made, and that be kept in
the kitchen on the woodbox to have
ready for ue on winter mornings
Asenath rose up from her arm chair, let
fall the rags that she had been sewing
and seized the courting stick.
Caleb looked around with open mouth.
He saw that a storm was coming without
any rainbow, and In any struggle in life
his heart always turned toward the weak
er opponent. He thought of what a wife
she bad been to him. "As good as four,"
he said to himself, multiplying.
He turned the side of his face guarded
ly towards the queer group Amanda on
the trlpop and Asahel en the unipod, and
his resolitte wife, who stood liRe a kind of
prophetess holding over them the court
ing stick.
"My bowels yearn with compassion
for ye all, ye poor critters," said he, with
an avast sort of motion of his rugged
hand. He moved bis corn basket into
the shadows of the room, turned his back
on the scene, and began to shell corn
again with an electrical resolution, try
ing to review "what a good wife Asenath
had been to him as good as five or
more "
"Now listen, both of ye," said Asenath,
"for I am talking to ye for your good. I
haven't got anything against you, Asahel.
Think what a mother I've been to you,
and what a wife I have been to Kalub
there shellia' corn. But you are our
hired man just that 'and nothln' more.
What more be ye, now? You are almost
old enough to put on a pea jacket and to
go courtln'; and Amanda,: come next
Monday week, which is Thanksgivin'
week, will be old enough to receive calls
from some of the young property people.
Now no one In one's senses would ever
think of our Amanda's receiving any par
ticular attention from our hired man.
Asahel, that is plain- talk, hut don't you
see it so?
"You two have been cowslippln' to
gether, and sassaf rasln' together, and a
huntin' turkeys' "nests and wild honey,
and pickin' Indian pipe and all. Now
that was all : right when you were
children. But, Asahel, you and Amanda
have come to the pastur' bars of life, and
you must part, and you, Asahel, milst be
contented to becom just one of our hired
men and sit at the table with the other
hired men, on Tha'nksgivin' days the
same as on all other days, and not stand
in the way of any one. And, Atnandy
Short, do you see that?" x
Asenath held up the courting stick.
"Do you know what that Is?"
"If Is Just a hollow stick. I've seen
sticks before. What does all th Is mean 7"
"You've seen sticks before, bays you,
Amanda? And you have experienced
'em, too, for'I have been a faithful moth,
er to you as good as two. -But this Is
the stick that must unite some farm to
ours, and I am goin' to hang it np over
the dresser, and when the .right young
man comes, Amanda, I want you to take
It down and put it up to your ear, so,
and it may be that you will bear some
thin' nteful, something UT your advan
tage and ourn. I hope that I made my
self clearly understood."
She did. The two young people had
not been left in any darkness at all In re
gard to her solution cf " 1 i -
Vm. AsaSal eieri' 1 ' 1 1 i : !
the kitchen floor. His face was as fixed
as an image, and the veins were mapped
on his forehead.
He bent his eyes on Asenath for a mo
ment and then his soul flowed out to the
tone of the accompaniment of honor.
- "Mrs Short, you were good to me as a
boy and I will never do a thing against
your will m your family affairs. My
father prayed that I might have the
ability to fulfill what he was unable to
do in life. To inherite such a purpose
from such a father is something to be
greatful for, ana now that I am disap
pointed in my expectation of Amanda I
shall devote a.l that I am to my father's
purpose in me. I am going to be a
minister."
"ou be, hey? But where is the
money comin' from?"
"Mrs Short, it is to come out of these
two fl-)t8."
"Well, Asahel, I do like your grit.
The good intentions of the father are
strengthened in their children some
times. Maybe it will be so with you.'
"Mrs Short . we have Thanksgivings
for the harvest of the year, but the bar
vest seeds of right endeavors in those
who have gone before us are more than
any harvests that the band of man ever
sowed, and wherever my place at the
Tnanksgiving table may be, I shall
never be wanting for something to be
grateful for."
Poor tender-hearted Caleb, he shelled
corn as never before during this painful
scene. Suddenly he looked up and
about fer relief. His eyes fell upon the
courting stick.
"Here," said he to Amanda, who was
crying, "just let us try this new comical
m achine, and see bow it works. Mandy
let's you ana 1 have a little talk to
getber. I'll put the thing up to my
month so, and you just listen at the
other end of it. There I'm going to
say something. Ready now, Mandy
Did you bear that?"
"Yes, father, I heard it just as plain as
though you spoke it into my ear."
"You didn't hear anything in par
ticulor, did you, Asenath?"
"No, only a sound far away and
mysterious like."
"Curls, ain't It, how that thing will
convey sound in thai way? I should
think that some invention might come
out of It some day. Now, Amanda, you
just put your ear up to the funnel and
listen again. Mandy," he continued
through the tube, "If your .heart is set
on Asahel,' do you stand by him, and
wait; time makes changes pleasantly."
He put aside the tube. "There now, do
you hear?"
"You didn't hear, soother, did you?"
said Caleb to Asenatb, glancing aside. ;
"No, Kalub."
"This is a great Invention. ' It works
well. Now let me just have a word with
Asahel." -
Amanda conveyed one end of the tube
to Asahel's ear.
' "Asahel." He took his mouth from
the tube. "Did you hear?"
"You didn't hear anything, did you !"
he said looking towards Asenatb.
"No, Kalub."
"Now, Asahel, you listen again,"
said Caleb, putting bis mouth to the
tube. "If your heart is. sot on Mandy,
you just hang on, and wait. . Time will
be friend to you, and I will. . There
' now, did you hear, Asahel?"
"You didn't bear anything, did your'
asked Caleb of Asenath again with a
shake.
"I don't know," said '. Asenath, "It
seems to me as though the hands are
the bands of Esan, but that the voice Is
the voice of Jacob."
"Show! Well now, Amanda, you and
Asabel talk now with each other.
Here's the tube." -
"Asabel Bow," said Amanda, through
the tube. "I believe in you through
and through."
"Amen I" said Asabel, speaking
outside of the tube, "Amen whenever
y- r mother shall say Amen and never
fcfiwl tien. Tbere , is no need of any
our.:- j f -sr me." -'
S t ; - Ll tl tzrzZj tlztorj Caleb
Asenath... .-".."..'-
"That letter for Asabel it is right
under my bandanna in my hat !"
Caleb went to bis bat and handed the
lost letter to Asabel.
The latter looked at It and said, "Eng
land." He read it with staring eyes and
whitening face, and handed it to M:s
Short, who elevated her spectacles again.
''That old case in chancery is decid
ed," said he, "and I am to get my fath
er's share of the confiscated property. I
may have yet to wait for it though. My
great-grandfather was Bow of Bow. He
was accused of resisting the Act of Uni
formity, and bis property was with
held.";.' Asenath lifted.her brows.
"Bow of Bow, she repeated. "He was
a brave man, I suppose. Resisted the
Act of Uniformity. How much did he
leave?"
"An estate estimated at 20 000."
"Heavens be praised," said the tud
denly surprised Asenatb. She added : "J
always knew that you had good blood
in you and was an honest man, Asahel,
just like your father ; nobody could ever
turn him from the right, no more than
you could the side of a house ; no Act of
Uniformity could ever shape the course
of old Seen Bow. And you are a capa
ble man, Asabel ; your poor father bad
limitations and circumstances to contend
with, but you are capable -of doing all
that he meant to do. I always did think
a deal of your father and I think consid
erable of your grandfather now. I al
ways was just like a mother to you, now
wasn't I, Asahel, good as two or more
ordinary step-mothers and the like?"
" 'Bow of Bow,' 'Bow of Bow' " con
tinued Asenath. "Well, I have prayed
that Amanda might marry well, and
your part of 20,000 would be just about
20 times the value of the Smith farm, as
I see it. That farm isn't anything but a
bush pastur' anyhow."
"'Bow of Bow,' and what sort of a
grand sound that has. 'Bow of Bow.'
t once bad an uncle that was stevedorr,
an English stevedore, or a caveleer, or
something of the kind, but he didn't
leave any estate like Bow of Bow, I think
he uniformed in the time of the Unifor
mity."
"Asahel, you just put that tbere court
in' stick up to your ear once more, and
let me say a word now that I have new
light and understand things better."
Asahel ' obeyed. There came a re
sponse tbat could be heaid outside of the
hollow tube: "Amen." A murmurous
sound followed which was understood
only by Asahel. "You will overlook my
imperfection, now, won't you,
Asahel? Pride Is a deceit
ful thing, and it got the better of me. I
only meant well for Amandy, same as
you do. I'm sorry what I said, Asabel.
Marry Mandy, and I'll be a mother to
you as I always have been. As good as
two common motheis, or more, same as
I've always been to Kalub." -
Thanksgiving, the Bay Path, Hadley
Meadows. Th old folks sit by the west
window now, in which the sun goes
down. Tbere is a coach in the Path,
and on it Rev Dr Bow of provincial fme
and his family, who are coming home.
The ingleside, the oak table.
"Dr Bow Asahel 1 shall always
call you that will you say grace?"
said Caleb, bent and old. Asenatb need
not bow. She is bowed with the weight
of years.
"O thou whose love brought the breath
in the springtime, and to ihe autumn the
crowns acd harvest, we thank thee for
this reunion and for all. We thank tbee
that tbere is no event in life that we may
not glorify, that thy law compensates
for all uk qualities. We thank tbee as a
nation for wbat our fathers were; that
the good purposes of the fathers are
fulfiiW in the sons, and that no right
effort is ever lost."
"I will say amen, Asahel," said Ase
nath. And Asenath said "Amen."
Cheery Jack's Lucky Hit.
BIS CHRISTMAS EVE ADVENTURE WHEN
BE CAUGHT THE ROBBERS ELLA S
PARTRIDGE IN THE SPRINGFIELD RE
PUBLICAN.
Jack wondered if God knew. He was
such a little bit of a boy and so shabby
that perhaps God did not , care; "Mebbe
he does, though, only its Christmas time
and he's so busy with other folks tbat
he's clean forgotten mother and me 'this
trip."
Jack bugged his bundle of papers clos
er under bis threadbare jacket and turn
ed away from the beautiful things In the
store window, which bad roused iq hit
mind the question of God's knowledge
of them, he and his mother, or of their
poverty. His shrill, boyish voice wat
almost lost in the din of the busy
thorouhbfare, but be piped bravely and
cheerily in spite of the biting wind and
bitter cold: v V '
"Here's your morning paper. Full ac
count of the big. bank robbery.",
-Many a hurried business man stopped
to speak a kindly word to the bright
faced boy as he dropped the pennies into
the cold, grimy band. Now, Jack'
bands were, well, . not exactly dirty,
but you know how it is in winter when a
fellow hasn't any gloves and his bands
get aU chapped, then the dirt seems to
stick in the wrinkles at the knuckles and
somehow they always ' look smudgy.
Every fellow bates to bold out a dirt
hand to a lady when she buys a paper,
but then, most women know bow it U
with boys.,: Some of them don't, though,
aud it makes you mad when they won't
quite touch your fingers when you hand
back change. And if tbey just wouldn't
look down at your feet and make you
hurry to shuffle them behind you in or
der to hide their patches, for the shoes
have been cobbled so often by old Baker
tbat he says he don't know as there is
anything left of the original pair.
' But in spite of bis . poverty Jack was
a neat looking boy with an attractive,
rosy face, and bis hair was always nice
ly brushed, notwithstanding its' provok
ing curliness. His bright laugh and
obliging ways won for bim the sobriquet
of "Cheery Jack" among bis friends, the
newsboys, who in spite of their peculiar
code of etiquet never "rushed" nor "un
derstood" him.
However, on this particular morning,
the one following Christmas Jack did not
feel quite as cheerful as usual. Their
joint earnings, his and his mother's, had
to be put away toward paying the rent
of trcSr L" borne, conseqwmtly Cera
All Things
Come
to him who waits, they
been waiting for sharp
fore buying that overcoat it's here
now at ess than you expected to pay.
A lucky purchase the other day brought
us lots of splendid overcoats. We
can sell them for less than they were
made to sell at the maker pockets
can pocket the saving.
High class garments, these, but low down prices.
Listen. A kersey overcoat at $7.50. A Beaver,
Frieze or Chinchilla for $10. A Royal Kersey for
$15. Most all sizes.
More bargains. Odd sizes in our lines make odd
prices. The $18 Overcoats are $15, as are- a few
$20 coats, A few blue and black Kerseys that
were $25 and $28 are $20. If you're extra small
or extra large, you have the best of it here.
Before New Years buyers keep coming -women
pers buying gifts for men at a man's store,
sible, isn't it?
Open every evening until '97 extra clerks.
i We Sell
Lined dotes,
Wool Gloves,
X Full Dress Gloves,
Driving Gloves,
Street Gloves,
Denf s or Tannert's.
CAAaaaaAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
had been no Christmas presents for
either of them. His mother had laughed
brightly when be had spoken of it, say
they had seen many jolly Christmas days,
and she gussed it was time somebody
else bad them now. Then came the
question why they bad to be so poor
when other people bad so much money
and so many lovely things.
"Because," his mother answered, "God
is teaching us to go without. Don't be
unhappy to-day of all days, my son, for
I have you, and you have me, and there
are many folks who haven't us, you
know. Perhaps we may be remembered
next year. maybe sooner."
Jack sold bis papers very quickly, both
morning and evening editions, for there
was great excitement over a large rob
bery that bad been committed Christmas
night at the Western national bank, and
the thieves had very cleverly escaped.
It had begun to rain about 9 o'clock,
when tired and hungry, with bis pockets
full of pennies and nickels, Jack hurried
through a narrow back street which
formed a short cut to his home. A large
drop of rain splashed heavily on bis face
causing him to look up involuntarily to
see if more were coming, and it was then
chat his quick eyes saw a sight which as
tonished bim. Jost in front of bim stood
a large old house, in the last stages of
dilapidation. It was unoccupied, having
been condemned by the authorities, and
like all abandoned houses It bad the rep
utation of being haunted.
Jack bad listened breathlessly to the
stories told by his associates of strarge
lights, sights and sounds in the empty
house and every new tale added greater
my stery and interest to it. What be saw
now made him stop open-mouthed and
tare with eyes as big as saucers, though
it was only a faint light glimmering in a
window way up under the mansard roof.
The light moved about in a very peculiar
way, and Jack wished at least one of the
many boys who bad boasted of their fear
lessness of ghosts would happen along
this very minute. He watched the win
dow very eagerly and saw the light grow
fainter, but it did not entirely disappear.
Not daring to venture into the house
alone, he finally, but very reluctantly
and with many backward glances, walk
ed away, leaving the light to burn unmo
lested. He had not gone far when be beard
rapid steps behind bim, and turning
around with bis heart almost In his
throat, it was a great relief to see, as the
figure became visible under the gas lamp,
that it was one of the young men from
the Telegram office whom be bad often
met on hi way home.
Jack wondered if Mr Burns would
laugh at bis ghost story, but thought be
would venture to tell bim, as be bad not
been grown up so many years, and prob
ably believed in such things once. So be
told bis friend ot the strange light in the
ld, haunted bouse, and to his delight,Mr
Burns insisted upon being taken back to
the ivery spot. They quickly retraced
'heir steps, and sure enough, the weird
Ight was still burning.
"Whew," whistled Mr Burns softly.
Then catching Jack suddenly by the arm,
he pulled him into the shadow of the
house.'
V
"What is it?" whispered Jack, begin
ning to be a tiny bit afraid.
"I saw a face, a man's face, looking
out of tbat window in the corner. He is
no ghost at any rate. I can remember
vears ago wben this place was used by a
gang of thieves, but now it is so unsafe
that a man's life is in danger even to en
ter It." -
"Oh," whispered Jack excitedly, "do
you suppose those bank robbers are hid
ing there?" ; ; - V
"Ah," f ejaculated Mr Burn, "I never
should have thought of that."
Pale with excitement, Jack said, "Shall
I run around and ask Sergeant Drum
wbat to dof' ;:- V !::.";
"NoI will go, and you curl up on that
porch over there, and watch. They
would not be apt to be suspicious of
such a little boy , if tbey should see you."
Jaok never moved his eyes from that
fascinating window in which the light
faintly glimmered, until after a very few
minutes, which seemed an eternity to
him, he heard the rapid, regular steps of
a rquad ot policemen, echoing down the
street. ' -
Tbey quiekly surrounded the bouse
and then for the first time, Jack realised
that he had been instrumental la bring- ! kindness, be sail tnter f i-jy "Hod
Ipj; about aa adventure v.lc!i wodd farjer, IfuewCjil-labc it" -rt" i
'a til vtti1
say. You're
weather be
oss, you
shop-Sen-
flfetqssCos i
BRIDGEPORT. CONN.
beard. Four of his men entered the
house, each with his revolver in band,
and slowly and softly mounted the lorg.
rickety flight of stairs leading to the up
per story, where many strange scenes
had been enacted, but perhaps this last
was the strangest ot all.
Jack curiously looked in after the men,
but he was pushed bsck out of danger,
and seating hiin-elf on the porch again,
where trembling in every limb with ex
citement and cold, he watched the light
in the window. Suddenly it flared up,
and as suddenly disappeared, leaving
everything in Egyptian darkness.
No sooner was the light extinguished
than several pistol shots rang out sharp
ly In the still night air, and the men on
guard drew closer to the house. Almost
immediately a shrill whistle sounded
from the upper room, and one of the men
hurriedly left his post and ran to the
nearest call-box to send a message to
headquarters. After a few minutes si
lence, the light suddenly reappeared and
was followed by another report ot a pis
tol. Then, dashing along the quiet
tercet, witu ita ueu uiaHgiug, caujc a pa
trol wagon in which were half a drzen
more policemen. Driving up in front of
the bouse, the men leaped to the ground
aDd entered the house, disappearing up
the f-tairs.
The pistol shots bad attracted a crt wd
that vainly questioned the policemtu,
standing in front of the house, with every
muscle tense, and every faculty alert.
As soon as they commenced to pu-h
back the inquisitive people. Jack press
ed closer to the edge ot the wagon and
was in time to see the officers come down
the steps carrying one of their number,
whom they gently placed on the bottom
of the cart. After them came three men
tightly handcuffed, and guarded by their
captors with pistols cocked, ready for
any attempt to escape. These men were
also placed in the patrol wagon, which
with its burdens drove slowly away,
guarded by the men who walked along
each side. -
When the ex itement had finally sub
sided, tbere was nothing left for Jack to
do but to trudge home and tell his anx
ious mother his wonderful adventure.
The next morning at the Telegram of
fice, when the line of newsboys began to
file into the delivery-room, to receive
their papers, Mr Burns called to Jack to
go upstairs, as the city editor wanted to
see bim. Jack timidly entered the dingy
little rooms filled with piles of papers
and books, from behind a heap ot wbiA
came a pleasant-looking man who shook
hands with bim and said very kindly :
"I am glad to see you, Jack Do yes
know you have done an invaluable ser
vice to the Telegram by helping it to get
hold of an important piece of news be
fore the other papers ? Tbere is an ac
count of the way you spied the light In
tbat high window in the paper this morn
ing," handing one to Jack, "and we have
decided tbat your place bad better be in
the office hereafter, where we will have
the benefit of your bright eyes ad
clever little brain. - We, all of us, began
our newspaper work by telling papers,
so you see you will be right in the line
of promotion."
Jack was so bappy be could scarcely
read the report of the affair, which he
afterward cut out of the paper and gaye
to me :
"an ixcrms CAPTCRK."
THE PERPETRATORS OF THE WESTERN
BANK ROBBF.ET CAPTCRED IN THIS CI TT
LAST EVENING.
The arrest, Hst evening, of the boldest
robbers in this section of the country
was accomplished through the intelli
gence and quickwitledness of one ot the
carriers of the Telegram, a small boy
known to the community a Cheery Jack.
He noticed a strange light n an old, de
serted house In Miiton street, the B rgen
mansion, and confided bis suspicions to
one of the reporters -ot the Telegram,
who proceeded to work op the idea.
Through bis r (forts a r quad of police
men surrounded the p;emies shortly
after 0 o'clock, surprised acd captured
three men after a lively scrimmage,
during which Sergeant McGraw was
badly wounded by a pistol shot. A large
portion of the money and all of the bonds
were recovered, altb ugh the men fought
desperately tor their liberty and plunder.
The thieves are now reposing secuTlv
in the Newton-street jit awaiting their
trial. It Is believed the detective are un
tbe track of the accomplice. The bank
people are Jfoing to do the handsome
thing bv tne little newvbov, who la m
bright lad and worthy In every war ot
the good fortune which Is coming to bios.
After Jack went home to his mother
full of his good news anl Oe editor
da'- t ! V
PI
the