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Show jer THE LIONS WHELP "T" .v Then he should say so, bold and outr.-'.- " He saiJ last night he was coming to see my fa. -- r and you, and though A Story of Cromwell's Time he spoke the wo.ds as if they were mere courtesy, I read in his face the purpose of his visit M.'her, we shall BY AMELIA E. BARR. need your good word with my father." .Author of The Bow of Orong. RibbonI. Thou .nd th. Othor On." "I can't go against your father, Jane. The Mold of Moldon Lone, Etc. I would as soou lake hot coals in my t Copyright. 19)1, by Dodd, Meod & Compony. All riehtt reserved naked hands. You will have to do as your father says, Jane; so make up your mind to that. Father may have The Star of Bethlehem is a theme CHAPTER VI. (Continued.) Cluny blushed a little, and held out a a purpose already of marrying you to of wondrous power. It has fascinated 1 when look back to Bmall roll which he carried But, mother, in his someone else. sages of the East and philosophers of last August " hand. It contained th-I will not marry anyone else." fair West It has been discussed these the copies If you want to look happily for- of bis own hymn, and Mary delightedYour sister said the same thing, nineteen hundred years by men of ward never look backward. I have ly hurried Jane and Frank away with but she married Philip Armingford; varying minds with a freshness that always found that one good hour her to the musician. He turned as and now there is no man In the world never fails. It excites a glow of ferbrings on another." And Jane took they entered and bowed gravely, and but vid love in the breast of the saint. It Philip. the counsel into her heart and anon the girls fell at once under the charm I will marry Cluny Neville or re- kindles the dying embers of hope In to when soon a sing, loud. Joy- of his music. began he main a spinster. Glory to God! the soul of the sinner. It is the ray ful voice joined her, and its owner sang, and the room rang with the You will in the end do as your of Heavens own light to the afflicted.. came into the room singing them. lofty notes and seemed full of Presfather and brothers say. There, now! It beckons the prodigal back to the Oh, Doctor Verity!" Jane cried, ence, and of flame-liksublime faces, Fathers home. It gives strength to how glad I am to see you. and tender, while the air vibrated to say no more about your marriage. It the living. It brings peace to the dyis beforehand and that kind 'of talk, I had been here an hour ago, but the final triumphant crescendo, "Glory discussion amounts to nothing. It is ing. I had to wait on the Lady Mary Crom- to God! Glory to God! Glory to God But though a mystery of awe to mostly to go over again. I have been well. She has sent you a letter, and In the Highest! And in his beautiit Is a Symbol of love Divine a coach Is at your order, and you are ful face there was seen for a few mo- making inquiries about the Jeverys; angelB, to men. As such it cannot fail to proAnd you will be ments that face of the soul wherein they are what your father calls Trimbid to Whitehall. inmers neither one thing nor another." foundly Interest every intelligent very welcome there." God shineth. after truth. That we may the quirer In the morning Jane an hour before better understand the Then Jane ran to her mother, and Then there was a short pause of subject and her box of fineries was quickly spiritual sensitiveness which was noon was on her way to Jevery House. more thoroughly appreciate the ways packed, and the girl came down for broken by the opening of a door, and It stood close by Drury Lane a man- of God with man, I propose to treat her visit glowing with hope and hap- all eyes turning towards it beheld sion nobly placed upon a stone the subject under the following heads: terrace, and surrounded by a X. Cromwell standing on the threshold. The star was a real, true, bona piness. fine old In this the garden. garden fide star not a mere temporary As they drew near to Whitehall, Frances ran to him with a cry of dewas was oftenest he found; creation for the specific purJanes spirits fell a little. She had light. Mary looked at him with ador- knight not caught a glimpse of her lover, and ing pride, and then put into Mr. Mi- there when Janes carriage stopped at pose. It Is allowed by all authorities she felt a sudden anxiety about her ltons hand the roll of manuscript Lord the iron gates. She had been delayed and almost upset in Drury Lane by that the Magi, or Wise Men, were position. Sometimes prosperity Is as Neville had given her. Jane left her the fatal to friendship as adversity, and companions and timidiy advanced to was deep mud, asso that the noon hour learned. They would, therefore, make Sir Thomas Jevery use of words and terms with discrimstriking the girl tried In silence to prepare meet the Lord General. met and courteously walked with her ination. But not only were they herself for any change in affection he said tenderly, Jane to Jane, the entrance hall. Here there were learned, astronomers. they were that change of fortune might have Swaffham, I got your message, and it a number and of chief their servants, Hence, when they used an astronomcaused. But her fears were very did me good; it did indeed. And if a into ushered stately cedar salon, ical term, hey would use the appropritransient; Mary and Frances Crom- ever I can uelp you or yours, Jane, the wallsher of which were painted with ate word r phrase descriptive of the well, full of the joy and pride of their come to me; 1 will be as good as my the of the Giants' war. Soon object referred to. They use the word great position, soon carried Jane all word doubt not. Let us see what Dellahistory came hurriedly into the room aster, which means an ordinary and their splendid apartments, John Milton is going to play for us. through an exclamation of delight. Oh, permanent star, not an extraordinary and afterwards sat down together in Ill warrant tis my young soldiers with Miss Swaffham! Oh, Miss Jane! she and temporary one. Marys room to talk over old times hymn, and in my judgment, a good cried. My lady is impatient to see Now, in the Bible star is used only and the friends and occupations that hymn. She led Jane up a magnificent In a twofold signification literally or you. had made them happy and memorable. They were advancing towards the figurative sense it Their first inquiry was for Lady Ma- organ as Cromwell spoke, and they stairway lined with portraits, and they figuratively. In soon reached Matildas apartment As when de and antilda Jane Wick, joined the group around the Inspired the door opened she rose and stretched swered, Her father is dead, and I player. His trampling notes gave the out her arms. know not exactly what has befallen sensation of charging men and horses, 'Baggage'! she cried with a weak, her since his death, the girls were and of the ministration of angelic You dear little baghysterical laugh. all silent a few minutes. After the hosts. You best, truest heart! How gage! pause, Mary Cromwell said: The exultant song ceased, but their glad I am to see you! I remember her so well on her fine hearts were yet full of thanksgiving, And Jane took her in her arms, and Barbary mare. How handsome she and Cromwell walked about the room both girls cried a little before they with Frances and Jane at his was! How proud! I wonder where the majestic melody, or could speak. Matilda was so weak, she is. It w&s said she would live with breaking out into some line of audible and Jane so shocked to see the change in her friend's appearance, that for a few moments tears were the only possible speech. At length Jane said: You have been ill, and you never sent for me. I would have stayed by you night and day. I would have been mother and sister both. Oh, indeed, my mother Would have come to you, without doubt! Why did you not let us know? (To be continued.) ee e balus-trade- d By Rev. F. P. Duffy, M. D., Secretary of the American Church Bible Institute. held that the Magi were resident or junction of Mars and Jupiter on the located in the east at the time the night of Dec. 25 in the year of Rome star appeared to them. Yet according 747. Next year Saturn joined Mars to the plain terms of the statement, and Jupiter, and according to Dean Althey must have been located in the ford, the eminent commentator, the west. Anatole means (1) the rising light of the three planets blended and of the heavenly bodies from the horiz- appeared to the beholder as one light on; (2) the dawn or davspring; (3) What a beautiful illustration of Trinthe east er Orient Whichever meanity in Unity the lights of three planing you adopt the beholder must have ets blended into one light! Ideler conbeen west of the star. The star must firmed Kepler's calculation as to the have pointed to or been at Jerusalem conjunction of the planets. Wieseler, when first observed by the Wise Men. who followed, makes the conjunction Therefore the Wise Men must have in A. U. C. 750, the year of the Nabeen west of Jerusalem. tivity now agreed upon by the learned. 6. It was a fixed star not erratic It is remarkable too that the conjuncin its movements. The term star" tion of the planets took place in the was used by the Wise Men. But they sign plsces, the Sign of Judea. This were skilled astronomers and knew theory Is also free from the objections the difference between a star, a plan- above referred to. But beautiful as is the theory, Bibliet, a comet or a meteor, for all of which there were distinct names. cal conditions compel us to reject it. Hence planet comet, meteor are ruled Christ's birth took place, according to out by the word aster (star). And St Paul, in the fulness of time." hence we conclude that the Star In This fulness of time is an astronomithe East was a fixed star. cal expression meaning the comple7. It was a star in the sign Pisces tion of a cycle, or the revolution of a of the zodiac the Sign of Judea. Tills sphere in its orbit. That cycle, or is an Important factor. Among the revolution, of occupied thousands ancients there was a part of the heav- years in its completion. As we have ens called the zodiac. It was a belt seen, the Star of Bethlehem had a encircling the heavens on each side of periodic time, which must necessarily the ecliptic, or apparent path of the have corresponded with the fullness sun among the stars, within which the of time. But the periodic times of larger planets always remain. It ex- Mars, Jupiter, Saturn are all known tended to eight degrees on either side and are of short duration. Even If of the ecliptic. It was divided into we apply the periodic time to the contwelve parts called the Signs of the junctions of the planets the objection Zodiac. The different countries of still holds' good. The times of the the earth were divided among the conjunctions are known and are comtwelve signs. Judea belonged to the paratively short. So that attractive sign pieces, the twelfth. The Magi, as Is the theory of Kepler, we must like all other astrologers or astrondimlss it, and look elsewhere. omers. believed In that division. There is one star which fulfils all the Gaelic priests or Druids that the star of Bethlehem appeared, let us ga back to primitive times, when Mas ism was incorporated with Zoraster ism. Besides Ahura-Mazdthere were , or the Immorthe tal Holy Ones. There was a third class lower than the Amesha-SpentaAmong this class were Mithra and Mithra was the spirit of Tistrya. light, or the sun. Tistrya was th spirit of the brightest star in th firmament, or Sirius. Ultimately Mithra became associated with Ahura-Mazd- a and placed almost on an equality with him. So we may exclude Mithra from our calculations. next to the Divinity, became th object of the Magi's reverence. Sirius was his star, and thus became to th Magi the star. , Chief Magian, Balaam, the or Arch Druid of his time, was a prophet like Iarbonel of the Gaels. In his prophecy, which still lives, he uttered, under the inspiration of Jeho, vah, The star shall come out of Jacob." Sirius was the star to all th Magians. The stars symbolized kings or rulers. He whom Sirius symbolized, therefore, would be greatest of all kings. If we could connect Sirius in any way with Jacob at the time of th Nativity there could be no question as to the star of Bethlehem. And w cad do it. The twelfth sign of the Zodiac was Pisces. And Pisces waa the Sign of Palestine, or Jacob, or land of Judea. That part of the. heavens known as Pisces presented a most remarkable spectacle at the time of the Nativity There the splendor Amesha-Spentas- Tla-try- a, Rab-Mag- side-hum- ming ARMY AN TO MEET GUNBOATS Used by Gov. Oglesby. Queer ArgiSnent All eyes, turning, beheld Cromwell. her aunt. Lady Jevery; if so, she must he In London. We have seen Lady Heneage often, said Mary Cromwell, and tis said there is a purpose of marriage between Alice Heneage and a favorite of my fathers Lord Cluny Neville. said I have seen Lord Neville, Jane. He brought me your letters and the blue and gold ribbon you sent me. His visits were flying one; he came and he went" Like the knight in the story he loved and he rode away. He is coming here this afternoon, is he not, Frank? He said so. He was to make some copies of the hymn he wrote, for Mr. Milton has set it to music, and we are to practice the singing together. Father thinks , very highly of the words. Dear me! ejaculated Jane, is he also a poet? I thought he wrote only with his sword. I fear that he has too many perfections. Has he not one fault to balance them? Yes; but never mind them now, said Mary; there is the bell for dinner, and we must answer it at once or we shall grieve mother. They rose at these words and went Mrs. quickly to the dining-rooCromwell, leaning upon the arm of her daughter, Mrs. Ireton, was Just entering it, and Jane wondered silently at the state these simple country gentry had so easily assumed. The General dines with the Speaker, said Mrs. Cromwell; and she was herself about to say grace when Doctor Verity entered. He was greeted with a chorus of welcomes, and readily took his seat at the foot of the table and spoke the few words of grateand ful prayer which sweetened blessed the meal. Then he said: As I came through Jermyn street I saw Lady Matilda de Wick. She looked daggers and pistols at me. God knows, I pity her. She was shrouded in black. Has anything been heard of Stephen de Wick? asked Jane. "It is thought he reached The Hague in safety. His companion, Sir Hugh Belvard, Joined Prince Ruperts pirate fleet there. At this moment Lord Cluny Neville entered the room. He saw Jane on the instant, and his eyes gave her swift welcome, while in the decided exhilaration following his entrance Love found his opportunities. But among them was none that gave him free speech with Jane; they were not a moment alone. Cluny had a fund of pleasant talk and soon there was heard from a distant apartment the sound of music, low and sweet, and full of heavenly melody. That is Mr. Milton playing, said Mary Cromwell. "I would know his And then touch among a thousand. song, until, addressing John Milton, he said: We have sundry letters to write, and the plain truth is, I could wish they were more heavenly. Here is a man to answer who is playing fast and loose with us and I will not have it. He is laying too much weight on my patience; let him take care that he break It not Speaking thus, he walked towards the door, and Jane marveled at the man. His countenance was changed; all its wistful tenderness and exaltation had given place to a stern, steadfast severity; his voice was sharp, his words struck like caustic, and the homelike, country gentleman was suddenly clothed with a great and majestic deportment. Neville left soon after the Lord General, and the girls had a game of battledore and shuttlecock in the long gallery; then sewing, reading aloud, the evening meal and the evening exercise closed the day. The days that followed were little different. On the whole, Jane was not very sorry when her visit was over and Bhe was free to return home. In spite of the frankest kindness, she felt out of her element. The Cromwells had outgrown their old friends, and not all their familiarities could dispel the atmosphere, of superiority which surrounded them; it was unavoidable and unequivocal, though they were not themselves conscious of It. Then there came to Janes mind in very sweet fashion the memory of Matilda de Wick. They bad quarreled almost constantly for years, and Matildas exacting temper and sharp tongue had wounded her often; but for all that she knew Matilda loved her. With her mind full of kindly thoughts towards Matilda, Jane returned to her home, and she was delighted to find a letter from her friend waning for her. It came this very morning, said Mrs; Swaffham, and I told the man who brought it you would be here today, and no doubt would answer It forthwith." Jane laid aside her bonnet and opened her letter. "She Is at Lady Jeverys house, mother, and she longs to see me, and indeed I am In the same mind. We shall be sure to quarrel, but then You can both play at that game, and you hold your own very well. 1 would go to Jevery House In the mornCocking. Whom did you see at the the Late .Senator Depew he was only Chauncey then once told a story about the late Senator Oglesby dear old Uncle Dick. Once, when Oglesby was governor of Illinois he was one of a delegation of Westerners who went to Washington in the hope of Influencing certain legislation, which, though inimical to Great Britain, was believed by many people in the West to be of decided advantage to their part of this country. The governor had a few Eastern in the corner, and was oratI senators ing to them in that florid style which became his whenever he warmed to a subject His face was red with earnestness and words came pouring from him like balls from a Gatling gun. But they fell against armor plate, on which they made no Impression. Why, Governor, said one of the seaboard senators, within thirty days after we had passed such a measure Great Britain would have a fleet of gunboats over here shelling New York." Let them come, sir! Let them The governor flung out his come! chest and shook his fist in the air. Illinois alone would send a hundred thousand men, sir, to meet and sink them as fast as they hove in sight. Just how Uncle Dick expected to send his glorious army out to the British ships has never transpired. In those days there were no automobiles, even. Brooklyn Eagle. simple-hearte- . d New Table Glass. Never was an ambitious hostess who did not succumb to the charms who of dainty glassware, let those will try to harden their hearts against fluted specimens of the beautiful crystal that stand erect on the dining tables of the leading Parisiennes. With some sets of wine glasses the top edge of each cup opens out into no less than eight little flutes; but fat more beautiful are the cups that are fashioned with only four, so that the impress of the top of one on paper would be something like a shamrock. The glasses are, of course, of the finest crystal, and take for ornament raised bands of rich gold, which give wonderful dignity. Touches of the exquisite French enamels come on some of the glasses as the blossom of a delicate spray of flowers traced in gold, or, on the more ornate cups oi crystal, among the intricacies oi monograms. four-leave- Rested on the Suns Day. In A. D. 313 the Emperor Constantine of Rome granted toleration to the Christians and in 321 he gave imperial sanction to the observance of the first day of the week. The edict which Introduced a new era in Sunday observance runs: "On the venerable day of the sun let the magistrate and people residing in cities rest and let all workshops be closed. In the country, however, persons engaged in pit? ' may freely "I saw Lord Neville several times, the work of cultivation but had no private speech with him; and lawfully continue their pursuits, and I heard Mary Cromwell say there because it often happens that another was a purpose of marriage between day is not so suitable for grain sowing or for vine planting, lest by neghim and Alice Heneage. lecting the proper moment for such " Tis very like. I do not think so, I am sure he operations the bounty of heaven should be lost loves me. Aeans a king or other civil ruler, an ecclesiastical teacher, and perhaps an angel. It is not used in its metaphorical sense here. Therefore it means a real star. 2. It was a star in motion it changed its position in the heavens. Motion is characteristic of all the heavenly bodies;' and the words of the sacred narrative are, "The star went before them till it came. When first they saw the star it occupied a particular spot in the sky. Now, however, it has a different position, not relatively because of the change in the field of observation, but absolutely by change of location in the heavens. No doubt the motion was a movement in its orbit. This will appear more plainly from our next proposition. 3. It was a star that bad an asters- tlce it stood at h particular point in the sky above them. The statement is It came and stood very distinct: over where the young child was. 4. It was a star that moved in an orbit it had a periodic time. This is a most remarkable statement. We are told that Herod privately learned of the Magi what time the star apThe margin of the Revised peared. Version gives us a better, because a more correct translation of the phrase; it is, The time of the star that appeared." But the literal rendering is the time of the appearing star. 5. It was a star that had a relative position in the sky it was in the east. Assuming that the correct rendering of anatole is in the east, then it has reference to that particular part of the heavens to the east of The observers, therethe observer. fore, must have been west of Jerusalem. This is a point to be borne In mind, as we shall have to refer to it more particularly later on. The conclusion here arrived at is contrary to the generally received opinion. As far as I am aware, it is universally Bo far we have traced some of the necessary conditions of the star.. Let us now try and discover the star that fulfils these conditions. In doing so we shall briefly discuss the different theories put forth and held by different people, some of them men of great eminence in their own particular sphere. We shall also show the untenableness of the different hypothesis. I The star was not an angel. No less a father of the church than held this view. He believed it was an angelic apparition. No doubt angels were sent on messages from Heaven to men, and the Angel Gabriel was used in the Annunciation. But the angelic vision would disappear with the accomplishment of the object. Not so the star; it remained. II The star was not a meteor. This view has been largely held. It Is asserted that some kind of meteoric phenomenon would best meet the necessities of the case. But any meteor drawn to the earth would either be consumed by the atmospheric friction or else would fall to the ground and become extlngutsued. Its appearance would be almost momentary. III The star was not a comet One of the greatest fathers of the church, Oregen, held this view. But not all the weight of Oregens great scholarship could obtain credence for such a belief. Just recently this theory of a comet has been revived, unconsciously, however, that Oregen was the father of It. Prof.Davld Forbes in England and Prof. Serviss in America both claimed to have identified the Star of Bethlehem with Halleys comet. At the time I refuted the theory in an article that appeared in the Chicago Evening Post, April 11, 1903. IV The star was not a conjunction of planets. This Is the most feasible as well as fascinating theory. It is that of the great astronomer, Kepler. He calculated that there was a con- - the conditions, (a) It was in an especial sense the Magls star, (b) It has a periodic time, (c) Its revolution is of Indefinite length, (d) It was In the sign Pisces at the birth of our Lord, (e) I believe we can find a peculiarity by which it could be called His Star. That star was Sirius, the brightest in the firmament of heaven. Before we can arrive at our final conclusion it Is necessary to learn something about the Wise Men, or Magi. Who were the Magi? Where did they come from? The etymology of the word Magi is Involved In much doubt It is generally supposed to be primarily a Persian word, but the Persian is only a form of the original. Our word Magus, of which Magi Is the plural, is but the Latin rendering of the Greek Magos, the Persian of which is probably Maz. Maz is cognate to Maj In Major, Mag in Magnus and Meg In Megas It is an intensitive and means much or all." In Persian name for God, it means the all wise or all powerful. The Irish word Druid means wisdom or Magian. It is worthy of record that the Irish Scriptures render there came wise men from the east by there came Druids from the east. The Irish words are: Draioch o naird shoir go Hierusalem, which shows the Irish belief that the Druids were Magians. It is a matter of history that part of the Gaels or Irish in the westward movement of the race returned by the valley of the Danube and settled In Asia Minor. They prefixed their own name to Asia, and called their abode or Galatia, as it came to be spelled. Whether the Druids or Magi to whom the Star of Bethlehem appeared were residents of Ireland, Scythia, or Galatia Is Immaterial, for they were all the same Gaelic race. Having, as I hope, made it clear that it was to (Raw-linson- ). Ahura-Maz-d- Gael-Asi- bl the heavens appeared to culminate The sun seemed to shine with A deeper effulgence. Meteors, precursors of some mighty event, flashed athwart the sky. Comets shot from out the darkness of s(ace and illuminated the sign with their fiery flow. Mars and Jupiter and Saturn halted in their orbits to focus their lights Into one mighty blaze in Pisces. And wondrous sight! The star the Magians Star his star Sirius! enters Pisces, and is now in Jacob! This wondrous event occurred In B. C. E. The heliacal rising of Sirius took place on the same day in four successive years, the fifth, fourth, third and second B. C. There is something most remarkable about this heliacal rising It Is on the same day. But sameness is unity., It thus symbolizes the Unity of the Deity. Then, assuming that B. C. 4 is the correct year of the Nativity, which scholars assert, there was one year before the birth and three after it In the symbolism of numbers one is Unity and three Trinity. But the one year before birth signified the past revelation of God, or unity of the Deity. Th three years after the birth symbolized the new revelation, the Trinity of Persons. Lastly unity and trinity tone year three years) equal th complete and perfect number four, th years that Sirius may be said to hav remained in Pisces. This symbolism occurs with the rising of Sirius, which signified the rising of the Light of th World. It was as if, whilst heavens arches rang with the angels loud acclaim, Sirius flashed through space, Arise! Shine! For thy light la come! Ravenswood, Chicago, Feast of th Nativity, 1903. Copyright, by F. P. Duffy. This la th season of tie year when the world shakes hands. The Spirit of Christmas permeates everything, ennobling the meanest among us, throwing its powerful rays Into th dark corners of the heart and dragging down for a few days their high estate greed and commercialism and all nncharitableness. It touches ail the earth, and what it touches it transforms. What a pity it is that the spirit of Christmas does not last th whole year through. A Christmas Thought Oh, Christmas is coming again, you say And you long for the things it in bringing; wit the costliest gift may not gladden the day. Nor halp on the merry belia ringing Borne getting ia losing, you understand, Borne hoarding la far from saving; What you hold in your hand may slip from your hand There is something better tnan having; We are richer for what we give. And only by giving we live. Tour last year's presents are scattered and gone; You have almost forgotten who gave them; But the loving thoughts you bestow live on As long as you choose to have them. Love, love ia your riches, though ever so poor No money can buy that treasure; Tours always, from robber and rust aecur Tour own. without stint or measure; It ia only love that can give, It is only by loving we live. la It smiles through the Christmas mom. who For The Light of the whole creation? A dear little child, in a stable born. Whoso love la the worid s salvation. . He was poor on earth, but He gives us atyj That can make our life worth toe living; And happv the Christmas Dav we call That is spent, for His sake, in giving. He shows us the wsy to live. Like Him, lot us love and give! Lucy Larcom. ISOS, There is a hush of music on the air, The white-winge- d fairies faltering everywhere, And here and there, Made by a sudden mingling as they fall ' There comes a softer lullaby than ail. Swept In upon the universal prayer. ' Scrooge is still alive, but nobody pays any attention to him nqwadays except to laugh in a way i'j at what he says and wish him hap-The few of his kind .pier thoughts. that are left are apt to refer to th mystical time between the 20th of December and the 2d of January demoralization. They dont know, what they are missing. good-nature- y , a, ' i |