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"CALLS" ETEHI MAN Conquer the Cananites Youu Meet 111 Around You. And tlic Canaanitc was then in the land.â€" Gen. xii. 6. This te\x is taken from the story of tha 'call" of Abraham. God "called" him from his humble abode to journey toward a great land of promise, the Land of Canaan. But alas ! when ho arrived at the border of this land of promise he found it already occupied : "The Canaanita was then in the land." Who were they? Well, they were a formidabio part of that ancient peo^a called Hittites, a great war- KIm bami quick to resent invasion. Thej were already there and had to be reckoned with, in spite of the fact that God had called Abraham aad promificd him the land with blessing, opportunity and privi- lege. I wander if you have ever thought of it. Erery better desire of your heart, ercry pur«?r thought of your mind, every deeper yearning of your soul after something greater and naore promising is £[od's call to you. Every promotion before you, every opportunity confronting yoxt, every ohance to better your- self is A CALL OF ^OD TO YOU. But alas! when yon make the ef- fort you find instead ef the glowing pictures you have fTam«d, instead of the ease and traaquility you imagined, there are serious draw- backs, obstacles, hindrances, bur- dens, carea and limitations. Your land of brilliant promise is already occupied, for the Canaanites are there. Tha boy starts for boarding school fondly believing ho )\a.s for- ever escaped parental control, his father's wearying precepts, his mother's canstant oversight, but when ho arrives he finds rigid dis- these men, however, must have bad something of religious devo- tion in it, in view of the fact that before them was God's guarantee of the fulfillment of his work. Offered unto him gifts â€" In the East the custom still is not to ap- LONDON'S MARVKLLOt'8 MAP. Indicates Every H.tuse, and Piece of Property in the Metropolis. The Valuation Map of London, ° which is being compiled by the cipline and penalties for ir.fractions â€"Canaanites ! The youth looks out to manhood as the goal of freedom and self-government. Oh, the pro- mises and blessings which hover over the words, "of age!" But, alas ! whoa they arrive ! Respon- eibility, care, earning a living, the world's exactions, governing a character, making a reputation â€" Canaanites everywhere and right difficult to overcome ! Every new position or advance from laborer to foreman, from clerk to owner, it is the same â€" the land of premise has its Canaanites. Culture is acquired by hours of patient Christian study in a com- bat with ignorance ; character is wen by bravely doing one's humble best for what is true and right anfl" fighting what is F.VLSE .\m) WRONG. I do not know you or what you are trying to make of yourself, but if you believe that character is the greatest success in this world and work hard for it you will not be a failure. There may be an unlovely disposicion in your home or at the office, there may be some vicious desire in your own heart, some harmful trait in your nature, some overgrown habit in your behavior, and yet y»u feel at times the long- ing and the impulse of the best and highest. Take a serious view of life and believe God is calling you to bet- ter things, to make the most of yourself, ta take by conquest the promise and blessing which are yours when you earn them. Yes, earn them by a strong, bravo fight with your hindering, annoying Canaanites, whatever they may be. Go on ; God calls you and that is enough. REV. KARL REILAND. preach a monarch without ,M'^^''^!'" ''^ !,^* J:,T ?^ \ I gift. It is fitting that Christ should Council, is undoubtedly the largest have the rarest gifts. The ancient interpreters saw in these particu- lar presents, symbolsâ€" the gold, of royalty ; frankincense, of Deity ; myrrh, of his Passion (John 19. o&). 12. In a dreamâ€" The Magi were versed in the understanding of dreams. Should not return to Herodâ€" Who, thereupon, sought to carry out his brutal schemes regardless. THE S. S. LESSON llfTlilBN4TI0>'AL LESSON, DEC. 26. lesson Xm. The Birth of Christ. Matt. 2. 1-12. Golden Text, Matt. 1. 21. Verse 1. Bethlehem of Judaea â€" The home of Da-;-id, five miles south of Jerusalem, .fvlso called Ephra- thah (Mic. 5. 2). "Now a small white town on a spur running out east from the watershed." The supposed site of the nativity is marked by what is probably the oldeat church in the world, the pil- lars being those of the ancient Bas- ilica erected by the mother of Con- stantine tlie Great, about A. D. 330. Beneath is the Cave of the Nativity. This is hewn in the rocks and measures 38 by 11/eet. An in- scription reads: "Here was bora Jesus Christ of the Virgin Mary." Rock-cut caves for cattle are com- mon in the Hebron hills. Herod tho king â€" Tlie He rods were Idnoaeans, but the father of tnis Herod (the Great) had embraced the Jewish religion, and by Julius Caesar had been made procurator of Judaea in B. C. 47. Hence Herod tho Great was brought up a Jew. He was made king of Judaea at the instigation of Antony in B. C. 40. He began his rule with great rigor and cruelty, and to the end was vengeful and implacable. His thirst for blood led to the mur- der of his wife and two sons. His chief distioctian was tho building of the temple. He died in B. C. 4 Wise-men â€" Same word found in Acts 13. 6, 8. Byt here used in a good sense for a sacerdotal class among the Persian, Babylonian, and other Oriental nations, who "read men's destines on the face of the skies," and were in great favor "in an age when religion was dead and superstition had usurped its place." These astrolo- gers had largo influence, not only with the common people, but with statesmen and kings (Dan. 2. 4S). Tradition says there were three ot these wizanls, and their names were, Caspar, Melchior, and Bal- thasar. But this is unfounded. Came to Jerusalemâ€" Naturally, as it was the capital. 2. Born King of the Jews â€" The appearance of the strange star would betoken a royal birth, and tboy must hove known of the widely cherished Jewish expectation, and would learn from tho praphecies that the hope of a Messiah center- ed iu Judaea. To worship him â€" 8eo note on verse 11. 3. Herod . . . was troubled â€" He was now an old man in his dotage. He had gained his throne by craft, tbrouKh the favor of Rome, and had kept it by b1oo4ir cruelty. Prom been pursued by a dread of being deposed, and only shorfly before this a plot for his overtnrow grew out of a prediction that the Mes- siah was to drive him from the throne. Herod had put down this revolt with blood. All Jerusalem with him â€" The people knew what was likely to happen when Herod was seized with a fit of jealousy. Already he had shed blood in his own homo on ac- count of his suspicions, and he had begun his reign by killing off the entire Sanhodrin, whose members were hostile to him. His malig- nancy would know no bounds when he heard of a new king of the Jews being born. 4. Gathering . . . chief priests and scribes â€" Herod had reconsti- tuted this august body, but in • a way pleasing to himself. But they were the chief 'theologians of the nation, and the recognized author- ity on such questions as to where the Christ should bo born. The Christ â€" The word has a two- fold meaning. First, Jesus is King, sitting on the throne as God's anointed. Secondly, Ho is the Person through whom God's king- dom comes, and God's promises are fulfilled (Denney, in Jesus and the Gospel). 5. The prophet â€" Micah. 6. Bethlehem was the birthplace of David and his home iu the shep- herd days ; and as such was dear to the peasant heart, for it linked the coming Messiah with the life of the lowly. Their governor was to be a shepherd, not such a one as the tyrant nobles who oppressed them at Jerusalem. The quotation is not an accurate translation of either the Hebrew or Greek, but a free paraphrase put iu popular form. 7. Exactly what time the star ap- pearedâ€"In order that he might know how old the child was. 'The wise men tf()peared in Jerusalem about two years after sotting out. .8. Exactly â€" Not the repetition, indicating tho old king's solicitude lest any oversight should rob him of his prey. That I also may come and wor- ship himâ€" A thinly disguised pre- text, which shows that Herod's passion had dulled tho far- seeing wisdom displayed by him in the ear- lier part of his reign. 9. The star . . . went bofoi;- them â€"A poetical way ot saying that the wise men wer^ guided in their course by tho position ot the star. 11. They came into the houseâ€" It must be ramcrabcred that Jesus had been taken up to Jerusalem when sLx weeks of age, for tho puri- fication (Luke 8. 93) was over and a sacrifice must be offered. Then the family returned to Bethlehem, and, the crowds of tho enrollment (Luke 2. 1-7) having departed, it would bo easy to got accommoda- tion. They seem to have intended to settle there permanently. Tho enforced flight into Egj'pt prevent- ed. Fell down and worshipped himâ€" The usual methcnl of paying horn- in the world. It was commenced fifteen years ago, and embraces the whole of the area of the Metro- j polis, from Stamford Hill on the I north to Lower Streatham on the I south, and from Piumstead on the east to Putney on the west. This vast area is exactly il5 square miles in extent, and tho map is to indicate every house, shop, and piece of property within ttie boundaries mentioned. The owner of nearly every bit of land has been ascertained, and up to the present over 34,000 separate estates have been discovered. It is expected that another thr'^ or four thousand will be added before the work is complete. The gigantic ntap is made in sec- Hints for Busy Housekeepers. Kecipes and Other Valuable Informatica ot I'ariicuiar tnterett to Women Folka. BREAKFAST DISHES. New Breakfast Food. â€" Cook any finely grained breakfast food, ad- ding a huif cupful of finely chop- ped pecan or walnut meats. When done turn into square dish and WBISKET BAD FOR VOICE. Carnso Hays S», bat Docs Not Can- dcmn I'se of Light Wines. "I wonder how naany times dur- mg the last few years I hav3 been _ asked whether I consider intoxi- j tions of"25-inch ordinance sheets, cants injurious to a singer's well i the whole work requiring 110 sec- being," writes Caruso, the great tions. When it is finished and laid singer, in the Strand Magazme. ; out, with its sections in order, the "Certainly hundreds and probably j map will be more than 30 feet wide thousands. land 20 feet from top to bottom. "In Italy we habitually dnnkthe! The whole of tho work was esti- Isght wines of the country with ourjmated to cost about »67,a00, --- meals and surely are never the before it is finished its cost will worse for it, though it is impossible ; have increased to at least »83,i50. to give advice generally, for so : xhe map has alreadv saved the THE BEDROOM. Quilts. â€" When making quilts di- vide them in three parts, leave tho cloth one inch on each side of the middle piece, sew cotton together . with a zig-zag stitch. Then take cool. Cut in slices, dip in egg and | the middle piece, sew on to the other cracker, and fry a delicate brown. | pieces, and when they get soiled Serve hot with syrup if desired. iyou can easily rip and wash them Buttermilk Muffins.â€" One quarti f^jthout any trouble and you will of fresh buttermilk, one teaspoon {^Iwavs have clean quilts, of soda, a pinch of salt, and enough r Pillow Covers.â€" Cover pillows flour to make a stiff batter. Then | ^jth white mushn which has been add two or three tablespoonfuls of j starched. This keeps the ticking sour cream. Dissolve the soda in I dean, and the muslin, being starch- a little of the buttermilk. Then'ed, makes the pillow cases go on add the other ingredients, bake in 1 gasv and look better. hot gem pans in hot oven Eggless Pancakes. â€" One cupful of sour milk or buttermilk, a little Decorations. â€" Have the walls painted light blue, the ceiling and woodwork in white enamel. A salt, half teaspoonful of melted lard j ^hite enamel iron bed, two white and enough flour to make a softLhairs, and a dresser of same will batter. Thia gives a rich and flaky furnish the room sufficient! v. Rag much depends upon the individu al "I am inclined to condemn the Council a sum equal to about three times its cost. Some curious and little-known use of spirits, whiskey in particu- 1 f^cts about London's landlords have lar, for it m sure to inflame the deh- ; been brought to light. Although cate httle riboons of tissue which the 400 acres owned by the Duke of taste to the cakes Egg Breadâ€" Takfl-a slice of bread, j pretty and urable. dip both sides, lightly in milk or I ^-indows with white water, and fry in hot grease or but- ter. When one side is brown turn and have ready an egg beaten. Use a little of this for the top of one ^ide and sprinkle with a little su rugs of white and blue are both Curtain the dotted Swiss and likewise of the same material make a dresser cover and a bed- spread with a ruffle both over slips of blue cheesecloth. It will add to the '"homv" look to have two or Westminster, with its rent-roll of $15,000,000 a year, is the wealthi- prodnce the singing tone. "With regard to a single diet I incline toward the simpler and ^jf^^t;;;" ;„ L^^jon, it is by no inore nounsiiing kinds of food.ljng^ns the largest. One esUte in though my tastes are broad m the g^^fj^ London actually covers an matter. Stul, on the nights when ^^ea of nearly four square miles, : losing, except perhaps for a sand-^„j ^.^^^^ ^^^ g^^^^^j estates ex- i wich and a glass of my native Chi-^^^gji^jg j,.^ square miles. | anti I take nothing until after the, q^Jj^^ ^ig landowners in London performance, when I have a modest i„p,^,j^ Lord Howard de Walden supper of anything which I happen ^j^h 292 acres, and an annual rent to fancy and which I have proved ^^,ji ^f 114,500,000. The 250 acres has no ill eSecU on me. Lxperi i „f ^^^ L)uko of Bedford's estate ence has taught me that it is by no hhng him in a yearly income of means easy to lay down any hard ^jH,250,(K)l Lord Northampton and tast rule . \bwns 2G0 acres worth $3,000,000 a •As far as smoking is concern- : y^^^ ^he Duke of Norfolk is re- ed, although m moderation I hni .pj^.^^g $7,500,000 for hi.s Strand that the practice is not injuiiou3 estate. Lord Portman's 270 acres to me, yet all young singers I would ^^j^j^^ ^„ income of «9.O00.0O0. warn against it. Still many great ^^^l Cado«an's 200-acre estate is smgers have been most mveterate^.j^th $7,500,000, while the Eccle- smokors Mario, for instance, was siastical Commissioners receive $2.-' an inordinate smoker and appar- 1 500.OOO in ground rents from their ently it did him no harm, for ho smoked from twenty-fivo to thirty ordinary sized cigars a day, and jn Italy, where real Havana cigars are rarely obtainable he frequently smoked as many at> a hundred Ca- vours a day." THE OBIGIN OF ASPB.VLT. First Pareaieit Was Laid iu Paris in 18*4. Liquid asphalt occurs in Nature estate in the most fashionable part of Kensington in the form of vast lakes of a sticky, 1 1^^ the bad SENTENCE SERMONS. Joy grows as it is giycn. Looking down never lifts up. Every act is iMme kind of a pray- "â- ; I Small talk often makes big trou- ble. I Habit serves the good as readily! gar. Turn again for a second and three pillows of white swiss over remove from pan. Serve warm. ' Whole Wheat Cakes.â€" One cup- ful of whole wheat flour, one cup- ful of thick sour milk, one-fourth teaspoonful of salt, one tsaspoon- ful of soda dissolved in two tea- spoonfuls of boiling water, one egg well beaten ; at last grease griddle with bacon grease or suet and cook. Southern Waffles. â€" Two eggs, whites beaten separately ; one tablespooaful of com meal, one tabieapooaful of melted butter and lard (half of each), one te^upocn- ful of syrup, two teaspoonfuls of baking powder, one cupful of milk, one cupful of f!our, pinch of salt. Have the irons good and hot, cook to a golden brown. Cakes Without Milk or Eggs. â€" TTiis recipe is sufficient for a family of six. Mix one teacup of corn- in al into a batter with cold water and add to a quart of boiling FRUIT C.\.KE RECIPES. water ; cook into a thick mush, stir- ^ ^ „ . ,, , /^_ . ir ring constantly to keep it smooth. Every Day Fruit Cake.-One-ha f Turn the mush into the mixing pan cupfu of butter, two eggs, one-half or bowl and cool and thin the mush ".pful of milk, three-fourth-, cup with cold water, adding about a " of sugar, less than one-ha t cup- pint. To this add two teacups oi;f"'- of moUiscs, stv.r one-halt te^a- sifted flour, with a teaspoonful of I spoonful baking powder into the salt and half a teaspoon of soda, "?olas3es, one teaspoonful cloves, stirring tho flour in gradually and cinnamon. blue. Portieres.- Get out your old silk umbrellas and ask your friends for theirs. Any color will do. Cut the silk from tho rods into one-half inch strips. Sew as for carpet rags. Have them woven into a cur- tain. Pretty couch covers, baby afghans, etc., can be made in the same way A pretty pair of por- tieres can be made of red and black ones which cost little. Rug Help.â€" When rugs curl "n the edges, they can be made to lay flat by making a thin glue of thrte tublespoonsful pulverized glue and (.ue pint of water ; boil until th.^r- cughly dissolved ; then t.'vke an old paint brush and paint the rug on the wrong side anjund the edges. and do not disturb until dry. beating thoroughly. Cook the bat- ter quite brown on a well greased griddle. L'nderdone cakes of auy Pork Fruit Cake. â€" One pound of dry solid fat salt pork chopped fine. Pour over one pint of boiling brownish fluid, bubbling amid streams of water and snaky ejec- tions of gas. 'Kie largest deposit iu the world is at Pitch Lake, in the island of Trinidad, whioh supplies niuety per cent, of the 140,000 t.ms 1 annually u.sed in the United States Most ijeople slip up on their own smoothness. Tho greatest sorrows are the ones we never reach. Uany a man would be iJte Job it It did not cost so tuuch. Bi^ plans for to-iuorrow are the kind are not fit to eat, but these water. Add two teaspooufuis of saieratus, two cuptuls of sugar, one cupful of molasses, one pound of seeded raisins, one pound of cur- ,».^ a^.^Lâ- .^ ^^^ ^^^.^ V1..V- .„„„„ rants, one-half pound of citron withhold milk "anr*adding"an"egg I chopped hne one cupful of chopped cakes are especially nice when cooked dark brown. This is a good recipe for use when eggs and milk are scarce, but cooling the mush or two to the batter, of course, im- proves the cakes. alone. The world's annuafproduc- s'"^ '*»»* "'""^ fattens on. tiou is 796,000 tons. The luinoral is 1 i*"***^ ™«'» ^^^ ^ '" ^^"'-^ '^Slit believed to hava been discovered 1 s'^"^* *^'-'° '^«>" S«t a new car. commercially bv a Swiss* engineer | ^'^^y * preacher smothers tha in 1W9. The first asphalt oavc- j '"^"^^ *" ^^ attempts to protect it. | ment, however, was onlv hi-id in' ^"^ would all hvc in a fool'si Paris in 1S54. Asphalt is "also found j r»';:*Ji?'? but for life'^s bitter blows. 1 in Switzerland, Cuba, America, and ' " tJw beginning of his reign he hadagc to a ruler. The worship of in a less degree, by the shores of the Dead Sea, in Palestine. After being excavated, the liquid asphalt is packed into 1,000 pound tubs, and then dumped direct into the holds of vessels. During tho voyage it solidifies into one hard, concrete mass, and has to be broken up with picks before it finds its way into the refining factory, which it only leaves to be laid dtfvni on the streets. -_*- OYSTERS. Trying Oysters.â€" Pat in the usu- al way, laying heart to heart and rolling in cracker crumbs. Set aside in a cool place for several hours, if possible. Now for the secret. Just before frving dip the patted oysters in their own liquor, roll again in cracker dust, and fry im- mediately. Tho oyster is increased in size, does not separate, and the use of an egg is rendered unnec- essary. When a frying basket is not used the ftystera i?hould be taken from the hot lard with a per- forated skimmer. Oyster Catsup. â€" Beard tho oys- ters, boil them up in their liquor, strain and pound them in a mortar : boil the beards in spring water and strain it to the first oyster liquor ; boil the pounded oysters in the mix- ed liquor with beaten mace and pepper ; a little vinegar can be used if lied. This oyster catsup will keep perfectly good longer than oysters are ever out of season. Good advice is se Idoni taken save as it is given in practical doses. No man gets any higher in char- acter than he wishes all others to be. The religion we most like to re- count may be that which does not count at all. Jhe piety that can pump itself dry in one day ha;? no refreshing for a thirsty world. The devil always enjoys fighting the church where every one wants to be the commanding officer. Some think they arc saints be- cause their neighbors would be re- lieved to h.ive them go to glory. The people who are most anxious t'j root up taro.s have had nothing i to do with sowing the wheat. When a man has the habit of making folks happy he has neither time aor need to worry over hea- ven. A fire is soon caused by the over- ti-rning of a coal oil lamp, which water has no power to extinguish. In every house where coal oil is burnt a bucket of sand should be kept in a place accessible to all the inmate.'^, for it will instantly ex- tinguish burning oil. WHO WOULD BE KING? .Vn ambitious politician who has ac various times been a candidate for public office has a son, a lad of eight, who, meditating upon the uncertainties of kingly existence, at last asked his mother : â€" "If the King of England should die, who would be King!" "The Prince of Wales." "And if ho should die, who would be Kingf" His mother turned the question off in some way, when the boy. with a deep breath, said : â€" "Well, anyway, I hope pa won't try for it." HIS APOLOGY. "I'd like to take you home to dinner, old chap," said Mr. Young- husband, "but this is one of the days my wife and th« hired girl go t> cooking schooL" nuts, one-half glassful of brandy, one teaspoonful of cloves, one tea- spoonful of ginger, two tea.^poon- fuls of cinnamon, one grated nut- meg, four even cupfuls of sifted flour. Tixis cake is indeed fin>', and iu winter, when butter and eggs are high aud fresh eggs hard to get, is cheap. It cannot be distiagu- ished from fruit cake made by mora elaborate recipes. .Vfter thorough- ly mixing, have a larg-.- dripping pan lined with buttered paper and bake two hours in a moieratc oven. Will keep iadefiaitcly. FISH HINTS. Freshen salt fish in sour milk. If you cook fish often, keep a grater, or new curry comb, especi- ally to scale with. Before scaling, let the fish lie for half an hour in told water, then .'itill holding it under water to pre- vent scales flying, use the grater, and .scaling becomes a simple mat- ter. If you wish to skin the fish, dip iu !>i;alding water, then in cold, and the skin will come off easily. Dry tho fish by pressing carefully between layers of paper. Wrap it in a cloth wrung out of vinegar if to be kept over night. The vinegar is a preservative, and also prevents the taint of the fish permeating the 'refrigerator. A tablespoon ful of vinegar added to the water will make boiled fish firm and white. .\ few pieces of salt pork laid in the baking pan before the fish is placed in it will keep it from stick- ing, and add a pleasant flavor, but if this is not liked, butter the pan and cover the bottom with a piece of wa.xed paper. When the fish is done, lift paper and all. This not only keeps it from sticking, but helps to pro.^erv c the shape. â-  To keep fish from sticking to tho frying pan. wa.'^h the skillet with vinegar before putting in the but- ter. The fish are more easily hand- led if fried on a pancake griddle. Mustard, vinegar, or ammonia water will remove odors from h.ands aud utensils. Bake Fii^h in Paper.â€" Clean aud wash the fish thoroughly, and pep- per and flour it inside and out spar- ingly. Roll in inanilla paper at least three times. Pinch the end.s of the paper together, then fcid back and pin securely to prevent the juice from escaping. Bake in a moderate oven, allowing fifteen minutes more than if baking uncov- ered. When ready to serve remove the pa[)er, to which the skin will adhere, and place the delicious, juicy fi.'fh upon a platter. Garnish with parsley or any desired gar- nish. Fish cooked in this manner does away with fl-^hy dishes and dis-' leave the o\rn door op'-n till all ia' agreeable odors. drv. WORTH KNOWING. When boiling dried haricot beanis do not put in the salt till the be;iu3 are nicely cooked, otherwise they are apt to crack. Do not salt stock till you have done skimming it, as the salt pre- vents the scum from rising. Add » very little at a time. When cooking onions set a tin cup of vinegar on the stove, aitd let it boil, and no di.sagreeable odor will bo noticed in the room. Orasigo peel should be saved as it makes a d'>licious flavoring for rakes and puddings. Dry it, and then pouml and bottle it for use. To make a beefsteak tender smear a o<juple of teaspoonful:; of salad oil over A., place it between two plates, and leave for a few hoursf This works wonders in coft- ening the fibres. Boiled Salt Fish.â€" Soak the fi^h overnight in skimmed milk. When required, wipe it dry and put. i'- on a well-grea.sed gridiron. Whcii browned on one side, turn carcful- Iv ,>ii> as to blacken. Serve witii fried potatoes. SoUvt lamp wick.s ih.it are ssiit and loosely v.oveu ; .soak these in vinegar before usin):, and dry in a very cool ovdi. This is tho surest way t'l obtttin a good light v.ith- 1 ut smoke. To Clean a ♦oiwsy Oven.â€" Tuko ,â- Â» bucket of strong soda water, a li>ng brush, such as it used for cle.iniug; carriage wheels; soap this anri rub[ thoroughly the roof, side.i, door, and f!oor of the oven, ringing it thoroughly with s<.da water Tnkn lilt the oven she' '.â- >•â- !' r.nd wash j tbeni, rinsc! each lhv»roughl> .Mid.