Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1904-12-23
took out bis watch and noted the hour
II was Ave minutea IN ~

uOesn snow up Wnen the CLOCK stIiAes
II the party OF the second part shall
consider herself released from signing
the contract and will make the same
arrangement with the party OF thu
third part-that In lieu OF the sum OF
half a million dollars at per cent I'm
terest"-
1.-THE bonusr' She was losing hei
business equanimity. tapping her foot
on the lion skin beneath II. There re
manned only n few minutes 10 II, and
the party OF the first part might walk
In at any moment.
"The bonus shall be optional"
with whomf'
1.-THE party OF the second part"
"But the party of the third partr'
"Will only accept IT entire. The heart
must go with the hand"
Its n bargain" she said. extending
her hand, which he grasped. At the
same moment the clock ut the other
end Of the hall began TO strike the
hour. II was an old fashioned time
keeper with enormous weights and
wheczed out its arithmetic strokes with
provoking slowncss. The pair sat mo
tionless. their clasped hands concealed
under fold OF the lady's dress. their
eyes turned upon the front door Each
stroke brought them nearer 10 con.
summation Of their bargain. At the
fourth there was a tinkle OF the cleo
trio doorbell. At the eighth servan,
passed the couple on his way TO open
I. a 81 10
and the man went sprawling on the
floor. At the eleventh stroke the scrv-
ant was on his feet and rubbing his
shins At the twelfth he proceeded on
his way. There was pressure be
tween the two concealed hands. In an
other moment the door opened and Mr.
Trotter entered.
But what entered with him? Christ
mas morning Twenty such mornings
had come I'm the lifetime OF Edith Mar
tin. but none that brought her such re
lief and at the same time such happi
ness as this one. Instead OF being
Obliged 10 sacrifice herself 10 save he;
father she had accepted a man whom
the first moment she saw him she
knew 10 bc the man she could love.
Ralph Arnold was indeed n promoter
and had made a fortune in organizing
gold mines The day after Christmas
he telcgraphed his acceptance OF an Of
fer he had had for his principal mine
and loaned the proceeds 10 Mr. Martin
who I'm six months regained all he had
| lost Mrs Ralph Arnold on last Christ
mas eve, 81 ting before n blazing fire
beside her eldest daughter, now six
teen, told her the story OF her Christ
mas deal
Christmas Service In stable.
At Santa Cruz, Cal. there Is an old
Spanish church in which the people
ternally IL looks like stable and has
no chandelier. The floor and walls are
OF stone, and on the eastern side there
Is manger, looking through the bars
OF which one sees the scenes OF the Ma
tivity, with the towers OF castles and
palaces in the distance. In the fore
ground the Virgin sits by the manger
holding the infant Saviour, with st
Joseph leaning over her and the wise
men Offering sheep. oxen and various
precious gifts Outside this exterior
stable there are figures OF men carry.
ing sheep and calves on their shoul.
ders, fastening 10 the sacred scene. In
this chapel worshipers remain all nigh,
on their knees. This manger side OF
the church is against the east wall
high upon which is the only window IN
the edifice, 80 that the first rays OF the
morning sun irradiate the scenes OF
the Nativity. The rays lend a roseate
glow, and as soon as this reaches the
worshipers they leave the church. light
cigarettes and begin their festivities.
Christmas Cards.
The Christmas card as we know II
has an origin easily traceable. and II Is
doubtless at least sixty years since
the first was designed. The artist who
claimed TO be It's originator and who
was, at any rate, the first TO see its
possibilities was W. c. T. Dobson.
r A, who, when quite q young man,
in 1871, was prompted at Christmas to
make a little sketch symbolic OF the
seasons joys and festivities and to
send II TO a friend. 1t seemed 10 give
great pleasure. and the next year Mr..
Dobson determined TO follow up the
idea on n larger scale. and by having
his card photographed was enabled TO
send copies TO twenty-five or thirty
friends. The delight with which they
were received was so great that Mr..
Dobson was quick TO perceive that he
had found out u new pleasure for
Christmas.-New York Mail and Ex-
press.
A Prayer For the Poor.
Col win a-tryin'
Ter break down de do
Lawd sen de Chrisn mus
OF peace ter de pol
Lean wolf a-howlin'
Out dar in de snow
Lawd sen' do Christmas