Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-12-23

further con ition, the taking of the tenn
rerance pledge by the offender. and CHRIST
mas eve directed his release. When the
young man was brought before him the
judge gave MIN some wholesome advice
I and expressed his desire to hear from him
that he was faithful. 1t is needless to say
| that one of the happieSt homes that day
was that Of the widowed mother of the
! stationary tramp
True to the promise given. on the follow
| ing day the young man left for the west
and the incident was wel-nigh forgotten
by the next Christmas. Then came a let
ter. in which the writer conveyed his best
wishes for the judge, and related how he
had found employment and had completely
changed his course of life.
1t Is unnecessary to say that this was
one of the most priced tokens of the Christ
mas times in the judges family. and as
such letters We're received from the same
source annually, they served to keep warm
the heart of man whose surroundings
were such to incline him to steel his
heart"
Oid-FashiOned Variety.
The old-fashioned eggnog," says an old
timer, was different from the modern de-
coction to ingredients and strength, for,
as l remember it. it was more palatable,
and two cups OF glasses We're sufficient to
throw the ordinary man. In one section of
the city the custom was to make it ir a
bread pan and use whisky, brandy gin and
other liquors. with plenty of milk and eggs
Though the latter ran up from 10 cents to
80 cents per dozen in the two previous
weeks and spices, serving it hot There Is
one thing can say, though, it was strong
er han the modern drink; there Were fewer
fights following its use, for the fighting
quality was wanting.
Modern Day Christmas Gift.
During Mr.. Cleveland's last administra-
ton he bestowed on widow and family a
Christmas gift appreciated more than all
such they had received in their lives A
son, the youngest and the idol of his moth
er, through bad company had found his
way to the penitert iary at Auburn. N. Y,
for serious offense and had a long term to
serve. brother interested himself In the
attempt to get pardon, and finally Sc
cured an interview with the President and
left the case with him after urging the
action more in behalf of the mother than
of the boy The day before Christmas the
brother was sent for and Mr.. Cleveland
handed him the pardon, eXacting a promise
that he should take 1t TO the prison and
present 1t early Christmas psorning. That
morning the young ssi!i.sit-received his free
dom, and, with his brother, was soon on
his way TO his home here, arriving in the
evening to find the mother, brothers and
sisters ready to partake Of the Christmas
dinner. The next morning, attired in the
suit furnished by the prison authorities,
he went to the Presidents house to return
his thanks, and, sending his name roughly
written on a scrap of paper, he was sent
for at once. The President greeted him cor
daily, ana when the young man thanked
him for the pardon the President seated
him. and rising, gave him words of en-
enlargement toward winning a name, and
only asked that he should show by his con-
duct that no mistake had been made. The
young man is now in the west. the last ac-
counts being that he is doing well.