"You go," they said, "and buy these, and come back. We'll have a good claim staked out for you. Then you've got to paddle for yourself." Thus genuine and unconventional was the hospitality of the mining-camp. CHARLES HOWARD SHINN, in __Mining Camps._ DECEMBER 9. Down in the gulch bottoms were the old placer diggings. Elaborate little ditches for the deflection of water, long cradles for the separation of gold, decayed rockers, and shining in the sun the tons and tons of pay dirt which had been turned over pound by pound in the concentrating of its treasure. Some of the old cabins still stood. It was all deserted now, save for the few who kept trail for the freighters, or who tilled the restricted bottom lands of the flats. Road-runners racked away down the paths; squirrels scurried over worn-out placers, jays screamed and chattered in and out of the abandoned cabins. And the warm California sun embalmed it all in a peaceful forgetfulness. STEWART EDWARD WHITE, in _The Mountains._ DECEMBER 10. GOD IS EVERYWHERE. Under the grass, the flowers, and the sod Go deep enough and you will find God. The royal red-gold of the sunset glow A veil for His unseen face doth show. And all the star-cool vastnesses of night Still hide Him not from the Spirit's sight. I will see Him in all, I will trust Him in all, I will love but the God, to the God will I call. Till God, full and perfect, every soul shall reveal, And God's glorious purpose each life shall fulfill; Till the earth showeth whole, without break, without seam, Till God's truth and God's beauty stand clear and supreme. MARY RUSSELL MILLS, in _Fellowship Magazine._ DECEMBER 11. THE KILLING OF THE DEVIL, AS TOLD IN THE LANGUEDOC FOLK-TALE OF THE THREE STRONG MEN. Oh! that was a desperate struggle--terrific and horrible to see! The devil shrieked and howled; he scratched and bit; while Crowbar, dumb and purple in the face, gave telling blows with his fists. He could not strike the devil's head, because of the horns, and he could not grab his body, because it was so sleek and slimy. At length the devil's strength gave out. Crowbar siezed him by the throat, threw him on his back, put a knee upon his breast, and, with the cane in his right hand, gave him a blow between the horns that split his head in two. But he died hard. His head was split open, yet he was struggling, whipping the ground with his tail, and foaming at the mouth. At last he was still. SAMUEL JACQUES BRUN, in _Tales of Languedoc._ DECEMBER 12. FROM "AFTER HEARING PARSIFAL."