) ;
r
i 1 I
mm
Kt ! '
-
HENRY A. PARSONS, Jr., Editor and Publisher NIL DESPERANDTJM. Two Dollars per Annum.'
VOL. Ill, RIDGrWAY, ELK COUNTY, PA., THUESDAY, FEBRUAEY 26, 1874. NO. 52.
- t 1 " . . . . . -,. '
If
Chanticleer.
I wake 1 I feel the day is near
I hear the rod cock orowlng I
He cries " Tie dawn !" Ho- sweet and clear
His cheering call comes to my ear,
While light is slowly growing.
The white snow gathers, flake on flake ;
I hear the red cock crowing 1
Is anybody else awake
To see the winter morning break,
While thick and fast 'tis snowing t
I think the world is all asleep j
I hoar the red cock crowing 1
Out of the frosty pane I peep j
The drifts are piled so wide and deep,
And wild the wind is blowing 1
Nothing I see has shape or form :
I heard the red cock crowing !
But that dear voice comes through the Btorm
To greet me in my nest so warm,
As if the sky were glowing 1
A happy little child, I lie
And hear the red cock crowing.
The day is dark. I wonder why
His voice rings out so brave and high,
With gladness overflowing.
From SI. Nicholas.
DEBBT'S WEDDING.
' Roktby 1 Rokthy 1 Wake up and
thee how the thuow fallth, can t thee I
No need for little Tommy to call so
vigorously from his truckle-bed in the
room next the one occupied by his two
sisters, Deborah and Roxana. Boxy
bod been roused some minutes by
ueDD s pleasant plashing or water be
hind the screen. Now she leaned upon
her elbow in bed, gazing dolefully out
. upon the snow, which had been falling
lor the past two hours.
" O Debby 1" she cried, without an
swering Tommy's summons. "What
will thee do if it keens on snowina" ?"
"O, I guess it will be clear before
ten, and then the folks will have a mer
ry time going to meeting in sleighs.
" But if it snows all day, thy new
bonnet ana cloak will be ruined,
Debby."
"Then Caleb will have to buy me a
new suit when we get to the city, if I
spoil one jnhis service, replied the
elder sister laughing.
Roxy removed her upholding arm
from beneath her round cheek, and sank
back against the pillows. Those few
words, "When we get to the city,"
had brought as in a flash to her mind
the reflection that she was about to be
parted from this dear, kind elder sister.
The pact few weeks had been so filled
with the bustle of preparation for the
great event of this day, that little time
had been given to thinking of the com
ing separation.
A hard knot rose in Roxv's throat.
" and a thick film blinded her eyes, as
,ihe vision came toherof what the farm
house would be without "our Debby"
rutting round like a sweet gentle J airy,
restoring order with a touoh and good
temper with a pleasant word.
Roxy almost hated Caleb Dawson, as
she reflected that he was to gain all that
they must miss.
" Come, Roxy dear," said Debby,
appearing from behind the screen, rub-
ing her pink cheeks into a brilliant
scarlet. " lis almost breakfast time.
and thee shonld be nearly dressed by
this time. But what ails thee, dear
child ? Thee's not crying for the snow,
I hope. Tut, tut I never mind."
Roxy tried to sob out an answer, but
it was not until Debby had laid her
soft hand caressingly on her wrinkled
brow, that she managed to gasp, " It is
nt that, Debby, but but tbee's go
ing to leave the valley and ho ome
and a all, and thee'U forget all about
us, and only care for Caleb Dawson. 1
wish he had never come to the valley,
so I do. Tommy and I used to think
it futr to watch him fidget about till
thee came down stairs, and we used to
laugh to see you look bo fond of each
other, and sidle so close together ; but
now I only seem to think of thy going
away, and how bad we'll feel without
thee, O Debby 1" and Roxy seized her
sister's hand convulsively, " can't thee
stay with us ? Just change thy mind
for once." t '
A cloud faintly shadowed Debby's
sunny face for a moment, but was suc
ceeded by a smile, as she replied, gent
ly and firmly, "thee knows it is too
late for that now, Roxv, even if I
wanted to change. Bat" Caleb and I
could not be happy unless we were to
gether. We do not mean ever to forget
the valley, nor any of the dear folks.
We shall ofterrrun down to visit the
farm, and when we get nicely settled in
the city, thee shall come up to pay us a
good long visit, Roxy dear. The love
we bear to each other would be poor in
deed, if it did not deepen the love we
have for others instead of lessening it.'"
Debby bent and kissed her little
sister's warm hand, gratified with the
affection, yet pained that Roxy should
think her capable of forgetting home
amidst her new ties.
"It ith all nonthenth, Rokthy," called
little Tommy from the next room, "thy
wanting Debby to back down at thitn
time of day. Why, she'th pathed lneot
iDg, don't thee know? Let me thee,
what wath it she thaid ? O yeth, my
own inclination, new thituation, inten
tionCaleb Dawthon."
Even crying Roxy had to laugh at
this version of her sister's 'passing
meeting.' What her sister really had
said on the preceding First Day in the
Friends' meeting-house at Exton was
With Divine permission and Friends'
approbation, it is my intention to marry
Caleb Dawson." Caleb had previously
repeated the same formulary, except
that of course he said, ' Deborah Pan
coast,' where she said ' Caleb Dawson.'
Roxy's laugh at Tommy's mistake so
far restored her composure that she
jumped out of bed and hastily com
menced her dressing operation. .
Some time before the hoar to start
for meeting oame, an idea entered
Roxy's little head, which, instead of
being dutifully expelled, was allowed
to remain until it had grown so Lrge
that it was impossible to rid herself of
it. Why eould she not go up to the
city in the same train with her sister,
not discovering herself to the newly
married pair -until the end of the jour
ney, when it would be too late to send
her back I She had a whole dollar of
her own,wioh would surely be enough
to pay her fare all the way, and twice
over too.
Roxy almost jumped for joy at the
happy thought, little knowing, foolish
child I what terror and misery this wild
idea was to bring upon herself and
friends.
At ten o'clock precisely, all the
sleighs belonging to the Pancoast
family drove up to the meeting-house,
and a great stir they made to be sure.
In the first sat Friend Pancoast, his
wife, Roxy, and Tommy. Next drove
up Caleb and Debby in a very small
cutter, while a large sledge bore all the
workmen and maids belonging to the
farm.
Very pretty Debby looked as she
alighted, but very pale and trembling
when she took her seat in the gallery,
with all tha old Friends looking at her
through their spectacles, and the
younger ones peeping slyly at her from
under their close bonnets.
I doubt much whether any of the
bridal party heard a word of the two
long sermons which preceded the mar
riage ceremony one from the text,
"The Lord gave and the Lord hath
taken away, blessed be the name of the
Lord ;" the other, " My Beloved is
gone down into his garden, to the bed
of spices, to feed in the gardens and to
gather lilies." At length the long pre
liminary pause is over, and every eye
in the meeting-house is turned on the
young couple who stand so solemnly
together ; he, strong, self-reliant, com
posed ; she, trembling, yet confident in
the affection and power of him to whom
she promises in the presence of her
friends, with divine assistance, to be a
loving and obedient wife. Another
pause, and then a great bustle and con
fusion ; friends who are not to be of
the oompany at the farm, pressing for
ward to offer their hearty congratula
tions, while Debby's mother nervously
wonders whether Thomas and Caleb
meant to stay all the morning in the
meeting-house, and so lose the wedding-breakfast,
or miss the train.
Fi jally all are stowed away in the
sleighs, the bells twinkling merrily as
the impatient horses paw and scrape on
the freshly fallen snow, the last tuck
is given to the buffalo robes, and off
they start for the farm.
Merry was that ride, and merry the
breakfast at the end of it. Never had
Tommy laughed so muoh, nor devoured
so many oakes and sweetmeats. Friend
i'ancoast was almost uproarious with
mirth, while many a quiet friend for
got decorum to join in the merry mak
ing. But Roxy, poor, conscience-stricken
Roxy, could not enjoy the fun at all,
contemplating as she did suoh an en
terprise at leaving home unknown to
all.
Many noticed her dejection, and. at
tributing it to sorrow at the coming
separation from her sister, kindly
pressed her to return home with them
for a day or two after the bridal pair
had started on their wedding trip.
Roxy's mother answered to all invita
tions, that the child must do as she
thought best about leaving home. It
would be dull for her, no doubt, with
out Debby, but she must get used to it
some time or other.
Roxy held her head proudly up to
keep down the rising tears, and clasped
more tightly in the hand she held in her
pocket the gold dollar which seemed
such a fortune to her.
The time seemed very long until
three o'clock, when the whole company
were to escort the bridal pair to the
town to see them safely in the cars, and
afterward to disperse to their several
homes.
Roxv rode in the neighbor's sleigh,
so that when the tearful adieus were all
over, and her mother on looking round
the depot did not see her, she made no
inquiry about her.
Roxy was supposed to have accepted
one of tho many pressing invitations,
while the friends who brought her to
the depot were equally satisfied that
she had returned with her mother.
A crouching form sat in a corner of
the railway carriage, trembling if the
couple far ahead of her did but move to
raise or lower the sash. Fortunately,
or unfortunately for Roxy, Caleb and
JJebby, like moBt nappy couples on
their wedding tours, were entirely un
oonscions of every object save the one
beside them.
The eonduotor glanced curiously at
Roxy, but made no comment as he
handed back ten cent pieces in ex
change for her dollar. Children daily
went up to the city alone, and it was no
affair of his if the little girl only paid
her fare through.
That was a tedious ride to the little
country girl, unused to travel in the
cars, especially when the roads were
blocked up with snow; and she lelt still
and tired, when, at length, after many
stoppings at way-stations, the train
steamed into a long, cold, dark depot,
unquestionably belonging to the city.
Roxy kept a sharp lookout for her
sister, and when the train stopped, ran
towards the part of the oar where Deb
by sat, intending to discover herself.
Half way down the car she missed her
muff, and turned back to recover it It
lay snugly on the seat where she had
been sitting, but when Roxy turned to
look for her sister and new brother,
both had left the car.
In vain Roxy quickened her steps.
and jumped hurriedly from the car.
Caleb's black hat and Debby's new vel
vet bonnet were not to be discovered
among the mass of heads thronging the
depot.
Roxy threaded her way in and out
among the crowd, looking around in
vain for the objects of her search. A
quarter of an hour passed before she
found her way into the street. There
she saw a long line of carriages, which
the drivers were urging passengers to
take.
Ona at last was encaged, and Roxv's
heart throbbed quickly as she saw two
trunks, one marked C. D., the other D.
f ., strapped tightly on behind. The
driver had taken his seat and was flour
ishing his whip for a start, so Roxy
sprang forward to arrest his progress.
In her haste, nnnsed to city pavements,
she slipped and fell.
On rising, she found that the hack
had turned the corner: still undismayed.
though with some sinking of the heart,
she ran after it. She saw it about half
a square distant, bat rapidly iaoreatiag
the distance between her and her sister.
In vain she ran and called,
" Caleb I Debby I O, Debby, do not
leave me 1"
Faster and faster rolled the carriage
away, turning corner after corner, till
at length Roxy could Bee it no longer,
nor did she even know the way back to
the depot.
Cold, tired, and fairly frightened, she
sat down upon a doorstep and burst
into tears. It was now nearly dark.
Men were lighting the street lamps,
and people were closing their parlor
shutters, as is the hospitable custom of
the City of Brotherly Love. Roxy did
not know what in the world Bhe should
do.
Presently the door of the house
opened, and a woman with a basket
came out, saying in a whining voice :
"Blessings on you for you kindness
to a poor woman as has a siok man at
home and six poor little ohilder. It's
nicely warmed I've gat at yer kitchen
fire, and these nice pieces to boot.
Bless you forever, I say."
The door closed, when the woman,
changing her tone, exclaimed angrily,
throwing away some pieoes of bread as
Bhe spoke :
" Drat the stingy miser. Does she
give me dry bread, when it's money I
want ?"
Here she perceived Roxy sitting on
the step, and instantly resuming her
whine, said :
"Ah, pretty miss, have you not a
penny to give a poor woman ?"
" I will give thee ten cents," replied
Roxy, quickly, "if thee will take me
to where my sister is staying to-night?"
"And where is that?" asked the
woman, scarcely repressing a smile.
How can I take you where your sister
is, when you don t know the name of
the hotel where she has wut up at ?"
" I don't know. Some hotel or other,
I think. She is going away to New
York early in the morning. I live away
far off in the country, and don't know
my way about town yet."
" Well," said the woman, "just come
with me. I know all about all the ho
tels as well as any one, and I guess I
can find your sister."
Se took Roxy's hand and led her
away, up one street and down another,
until they reached one of the most for
lorn districts of the city.
Roxy was utterly fatigued with her
unwonted travels, and was very glad
when the woman told her tay were
nearly " there."
" Is that it ?" asked Roxy, doubtfully,
as the woman led her up a narrow court
to a low, dirty house, standing quite
alone.
" Yes, this is my hotel, Sissy, and I
think you -rill soon find your Sister."
Roxy sighed, thinking the woman was
mistaken, but, too tired to resist, pre
ceded the woman, who closed and
locked the door, after they entered. In
a room off the entry they found half a
dozen or more ragged children sitting
crouched over a low fire, each with a
basket before her.
"What have you brought to-night,
Sukey?" asked the woman of the eldest.
" Ah 1 that is nice, chicken and pie.
We'll be rich if we go on. And money ?
Humph ! twentypennies ain't a fortune,
either."
And thus she went the rounds, until
Roxy found to her horror that she had
been brought into a nest of professional
beggars, a class of whom she had heard
whispers, but had never before formed
any idea of. Timidly she approached
her conductor aud begged to be taken
to her sister.
" You must be a little gumpus 1"
exclaimed the woman,laughing heartily.
" How can I tell?"
" Then why did thee bring me here ?"
asked Roxy, crying.
" To rest you, poorohild, to be sure,"
said the woman, ooaxingly. " Just bide
with us till morn, and I'll try to find your
folks, or at least return you to the step
I found you on. Eat some of this cake,
dearie, and then I'll show you the way
to bed."
Roxy could not eat the cake for terror
and fatigue. How grieved and fright
ened would her parents be ! Oh, why
had she ever been so naughty I Seeing
that it was better to remain here for
the night than to return to the street,
she made no resistance when the woman
conducted her to her bed, which was
not so dirty as might have been ex
pected, though bearing no comparison
to the whiteness of her own couch.
Here poor Roxy sobbed out a penitent
prayer for protection, with promises
never to be so naughty again if only
she might be brought safely home.
Then jumping into bed, having laid her
clothes across the foot, she soon cried
herself to sleep.
It was late in the morning before she
was roused by the warm sun shining on
her face. It was so much like a home
awaking, that she was quite bewildered
not to find herself in her own bed. A
moment's thought, however, reoalled
yesterday's events to her mind, and
springing out of bed, she determined
to dress immediately, and make her
way to the depot at which she had ar
rived yesterday, for she was sure of
meeting some one there who knew her
and could take her home.
Her clothes, however, were not to be
found, but in their stead were laid a
dirty torn dress and an old plaid shawl,
with a ragged hood beside them. The
nice merino dress, quilted cloak, and
bonnet, tippet and muff, had all disap
peared, and poor Roxy was left with
not a single decent article of wearing
apparel, but the little chemise in which
she slept, and flannel petticoat which
she had wrapped round her shoulders.
Kven her shoes and stockings were re
placed with a worn pair of heavy boots
and a thin pair of stockings.
The room was entirely bare, so thej
eould not be secreted in it. Poor Roxy
was fain to don the disgusting habili
ments of a beggar in order to be able to
search for her own clothes. ' What was
her amazement to find, on leaving her
room, that the house was evidently de
serted, not a single one of the four
rooms containing a solitary inmate.
The rooms were empty of everything
but two beds, a table, and a few chairs,
every artiole of value being probably
locked up in the closets, of whioh there
were three.
Roxy saw she probably had been left
for the day, and wisely concluded her
best plan would be to quit this boose ;
she let herself out of the front door,
which she found was only latched, and
wandered, hungry, cold, frightened,
and not a little ashamed of her strange
dress, into the street.
She had not walked very far when
she reached a crowded thoroughfare,
and, determined to ask the first nice
looking lady she met for advice, she
moved slowly along. Suddenly a hand
was laid roughly on her Bhoulder, and,
looking up, behind her she saw her
conductress of yesterday. Fear lent her
strength, and tearing herself away, she
rushed across the street, but not in
time to escape being thrown down on
the stones by a pair of horses, whose
driver had not notioed the little girl,
in his hurry to get his carriage ahead
of another driver's.
Poor Roxy was taken up for dead,
but Borne signs of life being riianovered,
oho was taken to the hospital, whore
she lay unconscious of everything, save
the keenest agony, for many a weary
week.
At just about the time when Roxy
was run over in the street, Roxy's moth
er began to be uneasy about her, for
neighbor Lloyd had stopped, in pass
ing, to inquire how all felt after the
wedding, and on being inquired of con
cerning Roxy, said he had left her the
day before in the depot Roxy's parents
having all the while supposed she had
gone home with him.
Still there was hope that she had gone
home with friend Jones, or Thomas, or
some other neighbor. But when noon
came, all had been questioned, and
none had seen Roxy after parting with
Caleb and Debby.
"Perhaps, mother, Rokthy hath gone
to the thity with Debby," suggested
Tommy, after every possible supposi
tion of her whereabouts had been
broached. " She was taking on awful
hard in the morning, becauthe of Deb
by'th going away."
" Impossible I" replied his mother.
" Debby would not have allowed it."
However, the conductor was sought
out, and did remember something of
having taken fare from aplainly dressed
little girl, who went up alone. But she
was not with Caleb and Debby, for he
himself had seen them drive off together
from the depot, and he was positive
there was no child of any description
with them.
This slight clew was seized at once,
policemen set upon the traok, and every
measure taken which could possibly
bring success; but in vain.
Debby's wedding trip was cut short
by receiving a telegram to return im
mediately. The whole household, and
indeed the whole valley, was involved
in the deepest sorrow, and the week be
gun in so much merriment, was ended
in grief and consternation.
Several weeks passed, and soaroely a
hope of recovering the little wanderer
was left. Debby had tearfully taken
possession nf her pretty new ham. in
the city, feeling as if all enjoyment in
her so lately anticipated pleasures was
gone forever.
She was sitting in her cozy parlor one
warm, bright morning in April, or
" fourth month," as she called it, sadly
musing over her little sister's disap
pearance, when a loud ring startled her
from her reverie, and presently her
maid ushered in a benevolent old
Friend, dressed, as Debby afterward
said, "quite plainly enough to Bit in
the preacher's gallery."
" Thee's Deborah Dawson, is thee
not ?" asked the old lady, benignly.
" Yes," replied Deborah, simply.
" And I am Charity Pennock," re-,
turned the Friend. " So we know each
other, only I rather have the advantage
of thee. I make certain of my welcome
for thee sees I have good news for thee,
my child."
" Roxy ?" gasped Debby, seizing the
old lady s hand and drawing her to a
seat beside her on the sofa.
" Yes, Roxy, safe if not quite well,
thanks to our merciful Father." '
"Where?" asked Debby, almost
choking.
In the hospital where I have been in
the habit of visiting for years. She has
been entirely unconscious until to-day,
when she addressed me in the plain
language, and begged to be taken to
her sister. On asking thy name, I im
mediately knew she must be the child
whose mysterious disappearance I have
heard of ; so, looking np thy husband's
place of business, I got him to send a
carriage for the little girl, and but
here he is now."
Need we tell how joyous was that
meeting, how tenderly Debby nursed
her sister into recovery,-how the whole
Pancoast family came down to see her,
and how she cried and sobbed and
promised never to be naughty again ?
Roxy is now a large girl, and has
been many times since to the city ; but
she never forgets that first memorable
visit on the day of her sister Debby's
wedding.
A Tain Secret.
A writer in the Washington Star re
lates the following aneodote of the
White House : "During the civil war
a letter was received by the State De
partment, following a telegraph dis
patch from Boston, relating in terms of
such conviction and certainty a plot to
undermine and blow up the Executive
Mansion, with Mr. Lincoln and all his
Ministers, on some Cabinet or recep
tion day, that Caleb Smith, Secretary
of the Interior, was confidentially
charged to investivate it. He sent for
a native District and Union man, known
to every citizen, and asked him if it
oould be arranged to have some expert
mechanic examino the White House
cellar and approaches, without exciting
suspicion among the workmen. He
said he knew such a man, and called on
Tom Lewis, a reliable master mason.
Lewis took a gang of men, picks,
shovels, &o., and informed them that
he wanted to excavate for a drain or
spring which mtde the cellar damp,
had floors taken upt countermines and
trenches dug, and informed Mr. Lin
coln, who was not particle soared,
that he oould see nothing like the wor
of Ony Fawkes. Caleb Smith was
much exercised, however, and tele
graphed to his informant in Boston to
write more explicitly. The man did so,
and assured the Secretary that 4 there
could be no mistake about his informa
tion, for he had derived it personally
by oomuoatioa with, spirits.' "
Dog lMnsioss.
There are fashions in dogs as in every
thing else. Just at present fashion,
with better teste than we had a right to
expeot, has decreed that the Skye ter
rier is the dog which everybody that is
anybody ought to possess. This is a
wise deoree, for there is no more intel
ligent and upright dog than your Skye
terrier. In fact he overflows with
sweetness and light. At the same time
a lamentable confusion prevades the
public mind as to what constitutes a
true Skye terrier, and a brief discussion
of the matter may not prove uninterest
ing. Thero are three principal closely
allied varieties of the rough-haired
terrier the Skye, the Sootoh and the
Dandy Dinmont dogs. Of subordinate
varieties it is not necessary to speak,
and of the Dandy Dinmont breed, the
main feature of which is the pepper-and-salt
color of the coat, it need only
be said that it has now become very
rare a true Dandy Dinmont being
worth from fifty to seventy five guineas.
The Scotch-terrier is a short-legged dog,
with long silver-gray hair. The Skye
terrier is still shorter in point of legs
and wilder in luxuriance of hair, which
is of a Bteel-blue tint. The Skye's coat
ought nearly to touch the ground, and
it should be a matter of difficulty to
distinguish the end on which tha head
is placed from the other extremity.
Now a genuine Skye terrier is worth
from $100 to $150 in this country, and
seldom are Been here.
What are called Skye terriers by de
signing dog-fanciers, and accepted as
such by easily persuaded purchasers,
are simply Scotchterriers with just
enough of Skye blood to give them a
slight bluish tint along the upper part
of their coats. Not only are Scotch
terriers thus wrongfully permitted to as
sume the rank and station of the Bkye,
but pure Scotch terriers are about as
rare here as pure Skyes. The smooth
coated black-and-tnn has been so fre
quently crossed with the Scotch that
he has given to the latter his long legs,
and has materially reduced the length
and roughness of his hair. The con
sequence is that the analysis of most
so-called Skye terriers sold here would
show one-half Scotch, one-quarter
black-and-tan, and one-quarter Skye as
their constituent elements. A long
legged Scotch or Saye cannot be a fine
bred dog, whatever the dog-fanoiers
may tell you. The long legs point in
exorably to a black-and-tan or some
times to a poodle anoestry. The prices
of these compound animals vary, of
course, according to the degree to which
they they approach purity. A Skye
with enough Skye to color his back
nicely is worth about fifty dollars. A
Scotch-terrier with moderately short
legs which is the best that a man can
reasonably hope for brings about forty
dollars. Probably in the preeant cor
rupt state of the dog market the best
plan for an admirer of rough terriers to
pursue is to procure nsgood a specimen
of a female Scotch terrier as he can
find.. From her, by careful selection,
he can breed dogs of excellent quality.
As for pure Skyes they are nearly hope
less, and every one who sets his hopes
upon them will be purs to be bitterly
disappointed.
Burning Her Own House.
Dorcas, Acres'of Turner, Me., a tailor
ess . by trade, had, by long and patient
labor, accumulated money enough to
purchase a small house and lot, when
she took to herself a husband Lazarus
Lucas " to rule over her." The home
was purchased after her marriage with
the money Dorcas had earned with her
needle. The husband was in feeble
health and could earn nothing for their
support so Dorcas worked on at her
trade, and supported herself and her
husband also. She nursed him when
sick, paid his bills, and buried him re
spectably when he died, asked no help
from his relatives. He left no children
and made no will, and Dorcas, being
ignorant of law as it aflects married
women and widows, supposed that the
home was hers because she bad paid for
it with her own earnings. So she kept
right on making coats and garments
like Dorcas of old ; happy, no doubt, in
the good work and "alms-deeds" which
she did. But this state of things could
not last long. The two brothers of her
dead husband soon began to exercise
their control over her, as in duty bound.
The woman must be protected (?) if not
by her husband then by her nearest
male relative. So Dorcas received no
tice that she could only have her "right
of dower" in the little home. " The use
of one-third " " the widow's encum
brance !" Now Dorcas was only an ig
norant woman and could not under
stand the justice of law whioh could
take two-thirds of her earnings from
her and give them to relatives of her
husband. So she refused to take any
legal advice in the matter, but as time
passed on, the brothers made it so un
comfortable for her that she dared not
live in the house. But still disdaining
to recognize the law which men had
made to suit themselves, she set fire to
her home and burned it down. She
said, " If I cannot have it, they shall
not" For which crime she was sen
tenced to the State prison, and served
out the time of her sentence, whioh I
believe was two years.
About Monuments.
Henry Keep's widow has recently
married Judge Shelley, of Georgia.
Henry Keep will be remembered as the
nabob of the New York Central Rail
road. Mr. Keep died some four years
ago. Mis. K. ordered a $100,000 monu
ment from Italy for her husband's grave
in the Watertown, N. Y., cemetery. A
remarkable feature of the monument is
thus described: " At its base is a room
several feet square, enclosed in glass.
and within the room, bending over the
tomb, are the life-size figures of Mrs.
Keep and daughter, carved in the mar
ble, each being an exact likeness of the
original. Mrs. Keep was the daughter
of the late Norris M. Woodruff, of
Watertown. Mr. W., from the small
beginning of tin ware peddler, oame to
be a very rich man. He designed his
own monument, and it stands in the
same rural cemetery with his son-in-law
Keep's. Mr. Woodruff's monument is
a very expensive one, and is surmounted
wiw a luu jecgia statue oi wansc
Carious English Games.
" Post " is an old active game entail
ing plenty of healthful exeroise. All
the players save one are seated, and
take the name of an English or foreign
post town, say Paris, Liverpiol, Lon
don. The oniy player who is standing
calls out, " The post is going between
Liverpoel and London," or any other
two places, when the two players so
named exchange seats, the postman try
ing to reach one before the journey is
effected; if he does this, the nnseated
player becomes postman. And when
the general post is declared to be going
out, everybody changes seats.
" Petit Paquet " is another old favor
ite that is always amusing. The play
ers stand in a double circle one before
the other, with the exception of one,
who, with a handkerchief in hand,
makes a tour of the circle, dropping the
handkerchief where he pleases; and
whoever he touches with it must leave
his place, and do his best not to be
caught, by running in and out of the
other players, and making good his es
cape as best he can. If, however, he is
caught, he must take the handkerchief
and repeat as before.
"Their Siamese Majesties" isanother
good trick. Place two chairs in a row,
sufficiently far apart for another to be
between them, and cover all over with a
rug and shawl. Seat two people on the
chairs, dressed up as the King and
Queen of Siam, bring the children in
one by one to be introduced to their
majesties, and politely request each to
take the seat between them; whereupon
the king and queen rise Buddenly, and
the guest falls between the two chairs
to the ground.
The " Babes in the Tower" is another
trick. Let two children lie on a sofa or
table, the legs of which can be bo hid
den by drapery that some one can lie
beneath it, and, being supplied with a
large pin, apply it unawares to the legs
of the visitors who are brought up to
see the poor babes.
" The Recumbent Prince " is another
very amusing game. The performer
lies on the ground, and the hair i
drawn away from the head so as to give
the appearance of a beard. A cap or
hat is placed on the chin, and a body
formed of shawls, etc, is attached to
the chin, the real figure hidden in the
same way, so that the face is shown up
side down, and a very curious ellect is
produced.
" Neighbor, neighbor, I come to tor
ment you," is an amusing game played
as follows: The players sit in a circle,
and one begins by saying " Neighbor,
neighbor, I come to torment you."
" What with ? is the question of the
next player. " To do as I do," where
upon one hand is moved. This is passed
round the circle until all the players are
moving their one hand. Then the same
formula is repeated, save that the an
swer is " To do with two as I do," when
both hands are moved: and the thine
continues until the hands, legs, head,
and body of each player are in motion,
which presents a comical ellect.
"Jingles" is also amusintr. One of
the players leaves the room, and the
reBt determine on a word. When he re
enters he is told a noun that rhymes
with the one chosen, which he must find
out by their dumb movements. Say
bat is the word selected, he is told
that it rbymes with "rat," and the
players either try to imitate flying or
hitting a ball with a bat.
We have known much fun caused by
keeping fonr or five children in the
room while the others are sent out, and
placing them behind the drawn window
curtains; then let one just show the eye
through the opening, and when the rest
are admitted they have to decide to
whom it belongs by no means as easy
a task as it seems.
" Judge and Jury " is played by one.
the judge, asking any question he
pleases of the others, who are the jury:
and they in their replies must not make
use of the words " black, " white,
"yes," or "no;" whoever does so at
once becomes judge.
In " Schoolmaster and Pupil " the
former asks the name of a river, or
place, or mountain, cr whatever he may
choose, beginning with any letter he
may fix upon, and if the person ad
dressed does not reply correctly before
ten is counted, they change places.
Exchange.
A New Theory of Dreams.
A novel and interesting theory as to
the nature of dreams was lately pro
pounded before the Royal Medical In
stitution by Professor Humphrey, of
Cambridge, England, defining dreams
as not a normal accompaniment of
sleep, but rather a result of the abnor
mal or imperfect condition of the organ
of mental action. In the natural state,
he says, we should pass from wakeful
ness to complete unconsciousness, and
vice versa, almost instantaneously, and
this is the case with many persons.
More frequently, however, the trans
ition is protracted, and stages are ob
served in which the sleep is but partial.
In this case, according to Piofeesor
Humphrey, the cerebral organ being
in an imperfect state, its action is im
perfect, and the first effect of the
lessening of its vital visor is the loss of
the highest form of mental power the
control over the mental operations :
and in this oondition the thoughts
ramble unchecked, chase one another
confusedly over the mental field, and
give rise to all sorts of incongruities of
the imagination.
Roosters.
Roosters, says Josh Billings, are the
pugilists among birds, and having no
suitable shoulders tew strike from,
they strike from the heel. When a
rooster gets whipped, the hens all march
oph with the other rooster, if he ain't
half so big or handsum. It is pluck
that wins a hen. Roosters az a class
wont do enny household work ; you
Kant get a rooster to pay any attenshun
to a young one. They spend most of
their time in crowing and strutting
about, and wunce in a while they find
a worm ; which they make suoh a great
fuss over, calling their wives up from
a distance, apparently to treat them.
but as the hens git thare, this elegant
cuss bends over and gobbles up the
worm. Jist like a man for all the
world I
Items of Interest.
Suet is the lawyer's favorite dish.
Gas bills are often burning shames.
Parafllne is recommended as useful
in rendering boots waterproof.
The greatest depth of the Pacific
Ooean between California and China is
2 miles.
The amount expended on the Penn
sylvania Constitutional Convention was
$410,723.
You may always know an old bachelor
by the feet that he always speaks of a
baby as "it."
St. Louis wants a branch mint if Chi
cago is to have one otherwise she can
get along without it.
Over a qnarter of the State of Minne
sota, or 13,209,000 acres of land, have
been given to the railroads.
The doll of the period is elaborately
dressed, wears jewelry, and is alto
gether too nice to play with.
Muscatine, Iowa, is reported to be
"stuck up" in view of the fact that a
starch factory is to be located there.
A great drawback to this country, in
the view of an English journal, is the
adulteration of its liquors and its lan
guage. A navil officer who has been in China
testified in behalf of the excellence of
rat stews. We have not the slightest
objection.
Among the petitions presented to
Congress lately was a claim for $16,000,
made by a chirapodist for operating on
the feet of soldiers.
The steam boiler of Baird k Roper's
shingle mill at Deep Creek, Virginia,
exploded, killing four persons and badly
scalding four others.
Gen. Thomas A. Rosser is out with
an argument for towing canal boats with
locomotives, a narrow gauge track to be
built on the towpath.
San Francisco editors are firing real
bullets at each other, and it is the poor
est method that could be invented to
furnish leading articles.
A well-trained family dog reoently
officiated at a Des Moines wedding by
carefully holding a portion of the bride's
dress during the ceremony.
Humility is a grace that adorns
and beautifies every other grace ; with
it, the most splendid natural and ac
quired acquisitions lose their charm.
Joseph Davis was hanged at West
minster, Md., for the murder of Abra
ham L. Lynn, and William H. McCotter
was hanged at Cambridge, Md., for the
murder ef his father-in-law, Robert
Insley.
"Take a wing 1" gushed a pompous
up-start, extending his arm to a sensi
ble lady, at the close of a prayer meet
ing. " Not of a gander 1" Bho quietly
replied, and walked home with her
mother.
The Wilmington (N. 0.)Star received
a proposition from the proprietor to ad
vertise to the amount of $8 and take it
out in hotel aocommadations, to which
the editor replied that he advertises for
cash, not hash.
A nronosed amendment to the New
Jersey constitution is that property of
no kind shall be exempt irom taxation,
except that of the State, counties, and
municipalities, and burying grounds
not held by stock companies.
The Illinois Legislature has passed a
law providing that whoever adulterates
milk with water, chalk or other buo
stance, or sells such milk, shall be con
fined in the county jail not exceeding
one year, or fined not exceeding $500.
A London correspondent, in speak
ing of the Tichborne trial, says: " No
case has ever, I believe, produced as
many liars and perjurers in any country
as this one. A regular bargain and sale
of witnesses has been the rule on both
sides."
A philosopher remarks that there is
something peculiarly instructive in
standing upon a street corner in a largo
oity and watching the men all rushing
around trying to make money, and cue
women ail floating around trying to
spend it.
The series of fourteen "extras
issued by the New York Tribune are
undoubtedly the cheapest and best
popular scientific publication in the
world. The Tribune will send free to
any applicant a circular giving the full
contents and details of this remarkable
Library for One Dollar."
The number of girl students of Ober-
lin college who fail to complete their
course, compared with the number , of
male students equally unfortunate, is
as two to one. We have this on the
authority of the president of the college,
and we should like him to tell us what
he expects of a class just escaping
slavery.
A Nebraska journal invitingly says :
Who says farmers cannot gee rioh in
this State ? Fifteen yeare ago a young
man came to the State, without a dollar
in the world. Last week he went out of
the State, carrying with him the sum
of one dollar and thirty-eight cents, the
savings of fifteen years of frugal lite.
Come West, young man, come West 1"
As soon as the Congressional chap
lain closes his appeal to the Throne of
Graoe there is a clapping of hands all
over the floor. It is the way members
have of calling pages to their side.
Every Congrescman begins his day's
labor by giving an order to a messen
ger; hence the clapping is universal and
uproarious. "Well, that beats me,"
said an elderly man in the gallery, with
mud on his boots, which looked as
though it had been brought from the
other side of the Potomao ; I don't see .
anything in that prayer worth cheer
ing." The philosophers of India once pos
sessed a book so large that it required
a thousand camels to carry it. A king
desired to have it abridged, and certain
scholars reduced it bo that it could be
carried by a hundred camels. Other
kings came,' who demanded that it
should be diminished still more ; until
at length the volume was reduced to
four maxims. The first of these max
ims bade kings to.be just ; the second
prescribed obedience to the people ; the
third recommended mankind not to eat
except when they were hungry ; the
fourth advised womea to be modest.