I

In the afternoon at the nour set, I started out with baby. I had never had courage enough to even get up in testimony meeting at home, and whatever would I do now! had not been able to think of a thing to say-my mind had been scared to emptiness. Joe met me and helped me to the hillside where Bill was to be laid to rest. The The miners were gathered round and looked at me so strange that I felt that I must run away. Then Joe said, "Here's Mrs. Allison, as will say a few words." He pushed me forward beside the rough box coffin, and tried to take baby from my trembling arms, but I held her tight -she seemed all the strength I had. I looked at the men hopelessly, for I could think of nothing to say. Then baby held out her chubby arms. to those rude miners and smiled. It was my inspiration. I began,

the old, old story of the ChristChild who had come into the world to teach us to love one another; how he held out His arms to gather us into His fold, and how every kind word and act endeared us to Him, though we belonged to no church or creed. Then I spoke of Bill and the love he had had for all men, and that I knew that the Lord would reward him for his good deeds unto others. Before I finished I saw that all were interested. Then I sang a hymn and offered a short prayer. The miners did the

rest.

That was all, but it was a very exciting time for me, and I was glad to see your grandpa walk in that night. After that we often had a large attendance at our Sunday singing.

Now, that's all of the story and its time little children were abed.

Decorations for the Xmas Table.

The Xmas table to be beautiful need not necessarily be elaborate or expensive. The simplest appropriate decoration suggests the good spirit and the good cheer of the yule tide.

The Xmas reds and greens lend themselves to a variety of pleasing combinations as fruits, using the bright red apples with green apples, pears, or grapes; or the red apples arranged in a glass bowl lined with green leaves.

Any pretty arrangement of seasonable fruits may be used.

If flowers are not obtainable any small plant placed in a jardiniere, or with the pot wrapped in red or green or white tissue or crepe paper and tied with green or red ribbons, placed in the center of the table on a white centerpiece with an occasional spray of green scattered carelessly over the spotless and carefully adjusted cloth makes a very pretty attractive table.

A wreath or branch of holly tied with gay red ribbon to the chandelier above the table lends a festive air. Sprays of holly may also be used effectively on the table. Any cut flowers arranged well and with colors nicely blended are always beautiful. A few flowers of one color or of harmonious shades tastefully arranged are more effective and more pleasing than many kinds crowded together. However, no decorations will be beautiful unless they have as a setting a nicely laundered, spotless cloth, and a carefully and neatly set table.

A few general rules for a properly set table are: The edge of a knife must be turned towards the plate; bowls of spoons and tines of forks turned up. Knives and spoons must be placed at the right of a plate; forks at the left. Place knives and forks in the order in which they are to be used; the first one used, on the outside. All glasses must be placed at the right. Napkins (simply folded, not in fanciful shapes) and bread and butter plates or patties must be placed at the left.

The dishes should be carefully placed giving the table, as a whole, a well proportioned, pieasing appear

ance.

Only the food belonging to one course should be on the table at one time

and everything relating to that course must be removed before serving another course.

The observance of a few simple rules will add greatly to the enjoyment of the meal and will well repay one for the little extra time spent in observing them.

White Fondant. 2 cups sugar.

CANDY.

1 cup boiling water.

teaspoon cream of tartar.

Put ingredients into a smooth granite stew-pan. Stir, place on range, and heat gradually to boiling point. Boil without stirring until when tried in cold water, a soft ball may be formed that will just keep in shape. After a few minutes' boiling, sugar will adhere to the sides of the kettle; this should be washed off with the hand first dipped in cold water, or with a sponge or small piece of clean cloth. When done, pour slowly on a slightly oiled marble or on a buttered platter. Let stand a few minutes to cool or until pressing it with the finger it leaves a dent on the surface and yet has formed no crust. If stirred while too warm it will grain. If by chance a crust forms, every particle of it must be taken off or else the boiling must be done again, as it shows it has cooked a little too long. When it will dent, scrape fondant with chopping knife to one end of marble or platter, and work with a wooden spatula or spoon until white and creamy. It will quickly change from this consistency and begin to lump, when it should be kneaded with the hands until perfectly smooth. Put into a bowl, cover to exclude air and let stand twenty-four hours.

If the results are not right, and the mass becomes grained, the sugar must not be wasted, but can be put again in the saucepan with a spoon full of water and boiled again.

This "fondant" is the foundation for all cream candies, and may also be used for icing cakes; especially good for fruit cakes.

Bonbons.

The centers of bonbons are made of fondant shaped in small balls. If white

To Dip Bonbons.

Put fondant in saucepan and melt over hot water; color and flavor as desired. In coloring fondant, dip a small wooden skewer in coloring paste, take up a small quantity and dip skewer in fondant. If care is not taken, the color is apt to be too intense. During dipping keep fondant over hot water. For dipping use a two tined fork or confectioner's bonbon dipper. Drop centers in fondant one at a time, stir until covered, put on oiled or waxed paper, and bring end of dipper over the top of bonbon. Stir fondant between dippings to prevent a crust from forming.

Cream Mints.

Melt fondant over hot water and flavor with a few drops of oil of peppermint, winter green, cloves, cinnamon, or orange, and color if desired. Drop from tip of spoon on waxed paper, or drop through funnel, placing round stick in funnel to cut

off each portion. When formed, turn drops over, first running a knife under each one.

Divinity.

3 cups sugar.

1 cup corn syrup.
1 cup boiling water.
Boil together.

Whites of 3 eggs.

Test in cold water for a brittle mass, then pour syrup very slowly onto the stiffly beaten egg whites. Beat well until stiff, then shape in a loaf or drop by spoonfuls on waxed or buttered paper.

Fudge.

2 cups sugar. 1 cup milk.

1 oz. chocolate.

2 tablespoons butter. Vanilla.

Boil all together; test for soft ball in water. When done, let cool, then beat until stiff. It may then be shaped or kneaded in the hands until very smooth and creamy. Shape and cut as desired.

Pinoche.

1 cups white sugar. 1 cups brown sugar. 1 cups milk.

Boil together and test for soft ball; then add butter size of walnut, flavoring, and as many nuts as one desires. Beat well and drop by spoonfuls on buttered paper.

O, Thou Glorious holy One,
Thou who unto earth did'st come,
Bringing from the courts above
Deace to men, good will and love.
Ob! metbinks I bear those strains
Wbich upon Judea's plains
Shepherds, keeping watch by night,
beard, when shown tby glory bright,
And the angel's voice did say:
"Christ the Lord is born today,

Christ, tby Savior, Lord!"

Love incarnate, God and man,
Autbor of the wondrous plan
Which doth set Thy children free,
If they do but follow Thee;

Victor over death and tomb,
Ligbt which banisbetb all gloom,
king of kings and Lord of Lords,
Mighty framer of the worlds,
Tho' no precious gifts I bring,
Unto Thee yet I may sing
Songs of gratitude and praise,
And my supplication raise,
That those sweet angelic strains,
Echoes from Judea's ylains,
May witbin my beart abide,
Love my watcbword be, and guide,
So life's melody sball ring,
True to Thee, my Lord and king,

To Thee, my Savior, Lord.

SELECTIONS FROM HOME AUTHORS.

The leaflets containing the selections by home authors are now on sale at the Journal office, on 3rd floor of Bishop's Building, opposite Salt Lake Temple; price 5c each; 6 for 25c. It is now thought best for both classes to take up the home authors on the same night; accordingly the outline of Literary studies as published last June is to be changed. It should now be as follows:

February-Seniors: "Pride and Prejudice"-Austin. Juniors: "The Widow O'Callaghan's Boys"-Zollinger.

March-Seniors: "Rhoecus"-Lowell. Juniors: "The Great Stone Face"-Hawthorne.

April-Seniors: An Evening with Eliza R. Snow. Suggested poems"Evening Thoughts" and "The Ship." Juniors: "Oh, My Father"-Eliza R. Snow; "Providence Is Over All"Emily H. Woodmansee; "At Last"Emmeline B. Wells.

EXERCISES

ABOUT REPORTS.

Local secretaries and treasurers should put their books in proper shape at once, if they have not already done so, preparatory to making out their annual report. It should be made out immediately after January 1st, and sent to the stake secretary not later than January 15th. Presidents will please see that this is done.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR WARD SECRETARIES.

If the secretary has kept up the summary in the back of the roll book, she will have little difficulty in making out her report; if not she should at once go over her minutes and fill the data into the Summary.

The summary is ruled like the roll book. The dates should be filled in to correspond with the roll. The exercises should then be written in to suit this year's study, and the lesson taken in each class should be entered on each particular evening. It would then read something like the following:

The above is, of course, only a suppositious case, but it probably explains itself. The totals of the different exercises should be filled into the report blank under the proper headings.

When ready to make report take your report blank and begin at the heading, filling in the ward, stake and year.

Remember that our girls are "regular members" in wards where they have their standing and "transient members" where they may be residing temporarily. The "stake" and "General" officers mentioned refers, of course, to Y. L. M. I. A. officers.

Now it will be necessary to refer to the Summary. We have there entered the "Number of members" at each meeting, and have included all persons present on regular, supplementary, transient or any other roll. Find the "Average Attendance" by adding together the number of members present at each meeting (in above case making a total of 260) and dividing by the number of meetings held (in this instance 10, which gives an average attendance of 26).

The "No. of Regular Members Temporarily Residing Elsewhere" means the girls who are absent from home only temporarily, not having taken their recommends. (In many cases this explains the reason for a low average attendance.)

The number of "Officers' Meetings" and "Conjoint Officers' Meetings" must be obtained from a roll kept for that purpose. It would be well to

keep it in the roll book.

The Summary will show the number of regular and conjoint (marked "C" in addition to the date) meetings.

A page of the roll book may be taken in which to keep account of the monthly officers' meetings, M. I. A. conferences and conventions and the attendance there.

Some difficulty is usually experienced in reporting"Visits of Officers," but there need be none if the Summary is followed. For instance, the report blank calls for "No. of times visited by Stake officers;" in the above case the answer would be 3, and the "No. of Stake officers visiting" would be 7; the "No. of times visited by General Board" would be 2, while the "No. of General Board visiting" would be 3.

The "Library" report is self-explanatory.

In the report of "Exercises" please write whether they are Junior or Senior or both.

The "Talks on Human Culture" was designed specially to cover the talks along that line planned for the Preliminary Programs of the season 1908-9, but it may be made to include anything of that kind given at any time. during the year 1909.

Under "Summer Work" make a brief statement as to whether you held regular monthly conjoint meetings, also what other meetings you had and what you studied.

There will be no difficulty in reporting "Home Readings" if account of them has been kept as directed in the March Journal. Remember the report is of the "chapters" read.

The secretary should look at last year's report and see that the "Balance on Hand" at that time is equal to the "Cash on hand at last report" as given in the new report received from the treasurer. If they are not the same, call the matter to the treasurer's attention, asking her to check over her accounts, find her mistake and correct it.

And be sure to keep a copy of report you send to the Stake secretary. There is a place to record it in back of roll book. It will be necessary to erase and re-write some of the headings, but that is easy to do.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR WARD TREASURERS.

In making out your annual report, take the one for last year, find the "Balance on Hand" and enter it in your new report as "Cash on hand at last report" It is then a very simple matter to write under this the amount received during this year, and to add them together. This total should agree with the total of the "Amounts Disbursed" plus the "Balance now on Hand."

Always keep a copy of the report. If you haven't one of last year's go to the secretary, and secure it, and always keep it.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR STAKE SECRETARIES.

The stake secretary will save herself trou in she will call all ward