fl It
HENRY A. PARSONS, Jr., Editor and Publisher.
NIL DESPERANDUM.
Two Dollars per Annum.
VOL. IV.
RIDGrAVAY, ELK COUNTY, PA., THURSDAY, DECEMBER 24, 1874.
NO. 44.
Tlio Letter.
I read it by the sea, love,
As tho stntoly ships wont by j
When the birds, with snowy bosoms,
Flew merrily o'er the sky j
And the spirit you touched glowed wanner
To tho shijis on tho sunny sea j
And caroled the wild birds sweeter
From tho thoughts you had sant to me.
I read it in tho dale, love,
In the midst of a summer dream j
When your voice seemed strangely mingled
With the sweet, melodious stream ;
Awl tho far-n(T children's laughter,
And the sound of tho maidens' glee,
Kd seem to my heart the puror
From the thoughts you had sent to me.
I read it in the eve, love,
When the meadows and woods were still ;
When the murmuring sea broke softer,
And the mist slept calm on the hill ;
When the nightingale sang 'mid the tassels
Of ho bright laburnum-tree,
.AwJ his song to my heart was dearer
From the thoughts you bad sent to me.
I've kept it in my heart, love,
As a jewel within a slirnie ;
And it tills mv life with beauty
Of a love that is half divine :
And oft. in the midst of itB presence.
I dare not think what would bo
Were my eoiO to be sundered forever
From the thoughts you have Bent unto mo.
THE (JALLAXT TRAPPER.
Ebon Gardner was n Minnesota trap
per r.nd hunter u mighty man in his
field and vocation. His cabin was fur
away out in the woods, and stood by
itself, occupied by himself and his little
family.
That his wife did not like to lead this
desolate life was certain. " It's what I
nver expected," she said, " when I mar
ried, to be dragged out here, like goods
and chattels, among rattlesnakes and
wild Injuns. I can't sleep in my bed at
night for thinking the red-skins are
crawling through the bush."
Red-skins ! pooh !" exclaimed Eben,
polishing away tit his gun-barrel with the
sleeve of his hunting-shirt. " There
hasn't been an Injun raid in these parts
for more than five years, and ain't likely
t i be, with a fort only twenty miles oil'
full of government troops to protect the
settlers. You may sleep like the dead
for nil the red-skins will do to you."
They had been talking that day about
a young hunter mimed Eph, of whom
Eben spoke highly, .but whom the good
wife thought too much like a savage.
While they were speaking tho sharp
report of a rifle rang through the woods,
and at the same moment the graceful,
lithe form of the young trapper leaped
like a cat out of the woods. He held his
O'icked piece in his hand. His hunting
shirt of buckskin, Vitk gayly dyed frin
ges, was open at tho throat ; his head I
was bare, his eyes glittered, and his I
bronzed face was strangely pale. i
Eben sprung to his feet. " Eph ! j
what's the matter c" j
" The red-skins !" The young man, j
throwing back the dense clusters of cuny
almost !
brown hair from his forehead
hissed the words through his blanched
lips. i
"Oh, the 'red-skins!" shrieked Mrs. I
Gardner, as she caught the words in the i
interior of the cabin.
" Be still !" said Eben, stertdy ; and i
he stood up and clutched his rifle.
" I heard at Brashear," Eph added, ;
bringing his words out with wonderful i
coolness and precision, " that the red- ,
skins were out on the war-path after !
plunder and sculps. I turned in my ,
tracks. I covered every step of the way. i
I crept through the woods. Five miles j
below the Bend, at Tuttle's, they have I
murdered all the pale-faces and set fire '
to the settlement. " j
" And Tuttle's babies, the twins j
them pretty flaxen-haired poppets he '.
wa i so proud of " asked Eben, in a kind j
of gasp. j
" Brained 'em," returned Eph, laconi
cally, " and the girl fifteen years old."
Bessie uttered a fearful shriek. The
worn "Mi were clinging together in a
frightened group, and the old man's be- i
wildered, hulf-vaeaut face made a pa- ;
thetic background. A terribly grim look i
came into Eben's face. ' i
There was further talk and prepara
tion, for all felt that the Indians would
hoon be upon them mid there was need
lor work now
Eph had hastily driven the cattle and I
norses into the sheds. Everything was
put iu a state of siege. The heavy plank
window-shutters were barred, and it was
through tho small openings of these,
which made a dim twilight in the inte
rior of tho cabin, that the two frontiers
men proposed to repulse their assailants.
Eph's mouth was drawn into a grim
hard line, but there was a kind of glow
about liia fine dark eyes. He felt a wild
joy he could but half conceal, for his op
portunity had come to defend the girl he
loved with the whole force of his im
petuous, half-tamed nature. At least he
could die with her, Rnd to a being like
Eph that alternative was far better than
living without her,
Hanny had been busy on her own line
of defense. She was supple and spry as
a cat. Flushed with excitement, the I
child's dark face was almost handsome, j
What do you aoout, nanny i asked :
Eben
" Getting my gun ready," said Hanny,
coolly. Sho had rummaged out an old
fowling-piece from some corner of the
cabiu. "You know you said yourself,
father, I could make a first-rate shot.
You have always been wishing for a boy.
I'll be your boy, father, and stand close
beside you, and we'll show the redskins
some tall shooting."
" You're a trump, Hanny, a regular
little brick," choked Eben, feeling a
lump in his throat ; and he passed his
hand softly over the girl's thick hair.
"But that old gun is no good. You
shall be my other hand, and help me
load. Only, child, when the firing be
gins, you must get behind my bock."
" Hist !" said Eph, listening with his
head bent low. "I hear them coming
through the woods."
Bessie, in the obscurity of the cabin,
flung herself down at Eph's feet.
Oh, Eph," she moaned, " you told
me the other night you loved me, that
you ' had never loved a woman before.
If you love me still, promise that you
will kill ma before I fall into the hands
of those savage before they do to me
what they did to poor Mary Tuttlo. Oh,
don't lot them scalp me, Eph I Put vonr
j rifle to my hond and blow my broins out.
I x irai a cowuru, or i couiu lo it myself,
! for thoro is a sharp kuifo hiddou here in
j the bosom of my dress. Promise me,
1 Eph, mid I'll reward you if God spares
us."
Eph'fl face was portentously pale. He
gave her an indescribable look, and
! said, curtly, " I promise."
A dark living stream came flowing out
j of the bushes and undergrowth. All
I that could bo seen were waving plumes,
and tho glow of wur-paiut, and gleaming
! murderous eyes, and the shining gun
j barrels held beforo them ready for n
I deadly spring.
" llie bloody cusses have drove along
all the cows and horses they could gob
ble," muttered Ebon, "and hoppled
tliem ou the edge of the woods. They
expect to find only women and children
and the old man at home. They don't
drenm of the warm welcome we've got
ready for them, Eph. There, now they
begin to smell mischief ; the shanty looks
too quiet. Who's that big brawny fellow
crawling ahead i"
"Big Pine-Tree," whispered Eph,
with his eye to the opening. " He and
his braves killed every settler in Sloeuni
alley last year. Don't fire yet ; lay low.
iiet em
our men
There
creep up closer. We must pick
every tune."
was a blaze, a sharp report, a
cloud of smoke ; then a yell went up
from the savages, as they sprang to their
feet, that shook the tas'seled com like a
great wind.
"How many bit the dust that time,
Eph ?"
Eph held up two fingers.
"Let me loud for you," wliispered
Hanny. " I'm your other arm. Take
the old gun ; it won't kick this time."
Eben looked over his shoulder, and
was Bessie crouching on tho floor behind
him.
" Go comfort your grandfather," said
lie, sternly.
The old man sat gazing with pale
vacant face and bewildered eyes at the
scene before him. A low monotonous
moan, like the cryof some animal in rain.
issued from his lips. Bessie dracrsred
, herself to him, put her arms round lus
neck, and drew his head down on her !
bosom. Mrs. Gardner had hung a great
kettle of water over the fire ; it was all
she could do. She crept to the bed ou
her knees, with her apron over her head,
and began rocking back and forth in the
intensity of silent prayer.
The yells and hoots'and howls of the
savages were like the beating of storm
waves on the shore. Every shot from
inside of the little fortress told fatally
upon the enemy. There were wild wait
ings and death-songs from a band chosen
to carry off the dead and wounded.
"Only two rounds left," whispered
Eph, wiping away the powder and smoke
from his eyes.
The decisive moment of the assau
had come. There was a scrambling of
feet up the side of the cabin, and the
sound of dull, heavy blows ou the roof,
which, fortunately, was made of timber
of great thickness, just squared by the
ax. Eben mounted the ladder to ward
ou t'ie afwau!t m tllnt quarter as best he
uuuiu viiu ma one arm, wmie, resolute
and rigid as a man of iron, Eph, with
hatchet in hand, took up his station at
tho door, where the trunk of a large hemlock-tree
had been brought to act as a
battering-ram. Tho red-skins, frenzied
by their losses, had attempted to kindle
a lire under one corner of the cabin, but
the ground and f uel being damp from re-
cent showers, it failed to ignite.
There was a dense cracking and snap- j
ping and bursting asunder of the planks j
of the door from the terrible coucussiou :
of the missile directed against it. The .
blows of the assailants upon the roof !
miugieii witii ino.se Delow. It was an
orgy of demoniac noi3C3. There muy
have been shrieks and wails from within,
but they were drowned in the tempest
that raged without.
At last they had succeeded in kindling
a slow fire under the angle of the house
where the wind drove the flames against
the wall. A suffocating smell of smoke
began to creep in between the logs.
Hauuy had dropped her gun, and was
now passing boiling water up the ladder
to Ebon, who, judging from the un
earthly yells of the half-intoxicated
savages, was using it to good effect.
Splinters from the door flew about in
all directions. It groaned in a kind of
agony. Slowly the tough plank yielded
untu tu?re was an npwtnre large enough
to admit a head a head with a pair of
snaky, glittering, evil eyes. Eph, stand
ing a little in the shadow, brought down
his ax. It clove the skull of Big Pine
Tree tlirough bone and bruin. Then
followed the sharp report of a rifle. It was
the lust Eph knew. His arm dropped
lax and nerveless at his side. His head
fell forward a little ; he sank to his
knees, and finally fell prone.
Bessie uttered a heartrending cry.
" Hark !" said Mrs. Gardner, holding
her back, for she would have rushed to
Eph at the risk of her life. " There's
something coming through the woods.
It's either the judgment-day or an earth
quake,
It was a crashing and rushing and !
rending through brush and undergrowth
with the steady, even, measured beat of
horses' hoofs pressed to their utmost
speed.
The loss of Big Pine-Tree had dis
organized tho attack below for a moment,
and the breach tlirough the door was not
yet large enough to admit a man's body.
Eben was engaged still in a close hand-to-hand
fight upon the roof, dashing the
boiliug water upon the foe, and using it
at the same time to put out the fire. In
a moment's breathing space he happened
to look toward the wood, where the
openings in the trees rendered visible
any moving object behind them. Then
he raised his voice in a mighty shout :
"The soldiers I the soldiers 1" he cried.
Deliverance was close at hand.
When Eph feebly came to conscious
ness, his eyes seemed half full of blood ;
there was a strange whirring in his head.
His limbs were of as little use to him as
if they had belonged to anther body.
Some one was fumbling and feeling
about his side with a gentle hand, and
then he heard Eben's voice.
" There may be two or three ribs
broken ; I can t tell yet until we get him
on to the bed ; but I know the wound
ain't mortal He's young, and tough as
a pine knot. Come, Celindy, hurry
along ; bring me some bandages out of
tho chest ; tear up a Blurt if there isn't
anvtliing else handy."
It was a minute or two beforo Eph
could concentrato his strength on the
act of opening his eyes. Then all was
mist a mist of pain ; for he was con
scious of a terrible ache somewhere. But
presently he saw a patch, of the cabin
floor with sunlight lying on it, and
knew, though he did not see them, that
a group of men were gathered about the
door. Hanny was by the fire-place feed
ing her grandfather something out of a
bowl. Where was he ? Who was sup
porting him? With this thought Eph
feebly directed his gaze upward until it
rested on Bessie's face. She was holding
his head in her lap, and he saw that a
little pearly tear was stealing down her
cheek. In an electric flash all the past
came back to him.
" What has happened to me ?" He
motioned out the words rather than
spoke, for his tongue and lips seemed
made of east iron.
" You got hurt, Eph," and the tears
dropped down ou his face ; " but I hope
not much. You won't die, Eph, you're
so young and strong. Father says it
isn't a mortal wound, and he is a kind of
natural bone setter."
There were other question's in Eph's
eyes, to which he could not give voice.
" The soldiers came from the fort,"
Bessie went on, " just as the fire got un
der way and was about to smother us all.
They drove off the red-skins and are now
chasing them through the woods, only
a few that staid to help father put out
the flames. But you saved us, Eph,
when you held them back from breaking
down the door. Not any of us are hurt.
Father didn't get a scratch. Oh, what a
miserable) coward I was ! I could do
nothing to help ; but you, Eph you
would have given your life to save us. "
Bessie's face quivered, and she covered
it with her trembling hands. Eph never
removed from her his eyes. His gaze
was profound, searching, inscrutable,
going down into the very depths of her
being. With all his impetuosity, there
was in him soinetliiug of the deep reti
cence of the savage.
" Do you want mo to live ?" he said,
at last. And then he added, slowly, " I
don't want to live any longer after what
you told me the other day. You couldn't !
i like nn ignorant fellow brought up
like
' a bear s cub in the Imsu.
A painful crimson tide swept over ;
.Bessie's neck and cheek. "Eph," said i
she, "I-was a foolish, silly girl, not
i worthy of you. This day has taught me
! the value of a brave, true man." Then I
she bent her head lower, and added, in a
' whisper, " You are dearer to mts than
! life, and I must have been loving you all
! the time." j
Eph's face was trausfigured. He ;
i stretched out his hand. Besftie under- j
I stood the motion, and clasped it in hers. ,
, Then, with a great sense of weakness
1 coming over him, he fell asleep. j
Elien was examining the old man for
i the third or fourth time to see that he j
1 was uninjured. " Hearty, ain't you, I
: father ; only a little shook up ?" j
The old face smiled vaguely. "I
i know you'd take care of me, Eben. You i
: alwavs held to your word."
" Well, Celindv," to Mrs. Gardner. ,
' who had been waiting on tho soldiers,
giving them such supplies of food as she
! had at hand, "you was right about the
red-skins, after all. I shall stick by the
shanty, though. Jle anil the old man, !
i we'll stay, and Hanny too, I guess. That
' girl, she's worth her weight in wild-cats. ,
, But if you feel scary about staying, you
! might go and stop a while with your sis- J
; ter Dorcas until we get cleared up a lit-1
: tie more. I can't breathe in a thicker-
settled place than this. I must have lots
of fresh air ; anil now I've fit the Indians ;
and overcome, I've drove down the stake I
j for a good long spell." j
" The Lord has given us a great de-1
liverance," said Mrs. Gardner. " It was j
, in direct answer to my prayer, and you
; won't hear mo complaining any more
i after to-dav. There's nothing like look
ing death in the face to bring folks to
gether, and make them of one heart and
one mind. We'll stay and civilize to- i
gether, Eben, and the wilderness shall !
blossom as the rose.
A Beautiful Swiss Custom.
There has come to be something
stirring and sweet in tho very name of
"Alpine Horn," its associations are all
so musical and fidl of the breath of the
hills. What must it be to actually henr
it und hear it, too, on occasions such
as is described below, when the voice of
the instrument takes its finest meaning.
Among the lofty mountains and elevated
valleys of Switzerland the Alpine horn
has another use besides that of sounding
the far-famed " Banz des Vaches," or
"Cow Song," and this is of a very solemn
and impressive nature. When the sun
has set in the valley, and only the snowy
summits of the mountains gleam with
golden light, the herdsman who dwells
upon the highest habituble spot takes
his horn and pronounces audibly and
loudly through it as tlirough a speaking
trumpet, " Praise tho Lord God '"
As soon as the sound is heard by the
neighboring huntsmen, they issue from
their th"t3' A4'iue,horn8 d
1.1 J'l-ltV 111V.' I l 111V IT VS .. -U. A A. i T
lasts a quarter of an hour, and the name
of the Creator resounds from all the
mountains and rocky cliffs around.
Silence at
length settles over the scene,
All the huntsmen kneel and pray with
uncovered heads. In the meantime it
has become quite dark.
"Good-night 1" calls the highest
herdsman again through his horn.
" Good-night !" again resounds from all
the mountains, the horns of the hunts
men, and the rocky cliffs. The moun
taineers then retire to their dwellings
and to rest.
A Puzzle.
An exchange offers to any of its sub
scribers who will solve the following
puzzle an order for S3 worth of goods,
or to any one not a subscriber a year's
subscription :
PRSVRYPRFCTMN.
VRKPTHSPRCPTSTN.
The above letters were written over the
ten commandments in a Welsh church,
and remained there a whole century be
fore they were interpreted. Now, al
most every child's puzzle book in the
land contains the puzzle, and its answer
the use of the vowel "E" between
each letter.
THE OIL QUESTION.
Its Imnortniire to the 1'iiltrd Htn(p In.
K-rcitlnK Htnllsllcs.
Among tho important developments of
the natural resources of the United
States, tho discovery of petroleum must
be regarded as one of considerable value ;
the domestic trade in the orticle is very
large, and it is a most valuable addition
to our imports. Petroleum was known
to the Seneca Indians in the last century,
having bpeu found by them upon On
creek, a branch of the Alleghany ; but
its existence in any vast amount was not
known until 1845, when a spring was
"struck" while boring for salt near
Tarentum, on the Alleghany river, sev
eral miles above Pittsburgh. Little,
however, was done towards its utilization
until 1857, when experiments were made
which proved that the constituents of
petroleum were the same as the artificial
carbon oil, and its purification was at
tempted by the same process as was ap
plied to it.
The success which attended the bor
ing for oil in Pennsylvania, says an ex
change, was remarkable, and before the
close of the year 1800 the number of
wells and borings were estimated at
about 2,000. In 1859 a fountain was
reached on Oil creek at a depth of 71
feet, which gave a daily product of 400
gallons. Of the large wells, 74 were
yielding iu 1800, by the aid of pumps,
over 1,100 barrels daily of crude oil.
Subsequently wells were simk to the
depth of COO or 600 feet, and so profuse
was tho flow that some of the single
wells would produce 3,000 gallons daily,
and the less productive from fifteen to
twenty barrels. In 1859, 325 barrels of
petroleum were sent from the Pennsyl
vania oil regions, ' and in 1801 the num
ber was increased to 134,927 barrels,
brought to market by the Suubury and
Erie railway alone ; and the quantity
shipped by all routes was about 500,000
barrels. 'From 1859 to 1873 inclusive,
the product of petroleum in Western
Pennsylvania was 53,512,295 barrels.
There are refineries iu Philadelphia,
Pittsburgh, the oil regions, Cleveland,
Ohio, the city of New York, Buffalo, and
other places in New York State. The
estimated capacity of those in Pennsyl
vania, Cleveland, and in New York city
was, on January 1st, 1874, 40,000 barrels
per day.
The foreign imports from Philadelphia
of refined, crude, naphtha and benzine
were, in 1871, 55,901,590 gallons ; in
1872, 50,350,068 gallons, and in 1873,
80,643,013 gallons. The exports from
New York were in 1871, 94,910,584 gal
lons ; 1872, 93,306,213, and in 1873,
140,801,172 gidlons, and from Boston
and Baltimore in 1873, about two mil
lions and a half gallons each.
The vast importance of this addition
to the commerce of the country in ex
ports alone iu a financial point of view,
may be judged by the fact that tho value
of "the articles in 1871 was 830,454,482 ;
in 1872, .$33,701,687 ; and iu 1873, $45,
930,307. The aggregate value of the ex
ports for tliree years being $116,237,536.
Structure of a Cow's Horn.
I find that over the brain of the cow,
says Buckland, a strong roof of bone is
thrown, in the shape of an arch, so as to
form a substantial foundation for the
horns. This roof is not solid, but is
again strengthened below by a series of
bony arches, that are so distributed as to
form a series of hollow chambers, thus
forming a structure uniting strength
with lightness. The problem now is,
how to fasten tho horn on each side on to
this buttress. The horn itself must be
formed of horn proper, i. c, hardened
hair. In the rhinoceros we find a horn
composed entirely of a solid mass of what
is really a bunch of hair agglutinated to
gether ; but this kind of horn would
have been much too heavy for the cow's
convenient use. What is to be done ?
Why, hollow out the center of the horn,
of course ; but stay this will not do, be
cause how is the horn to be supplied
with blood-vessels ? in fact, how is it to
grow ? Let us see how it is done by the
Great Designer. Cut the horn right
across with a saw, and you will find in
side another horn, only made of bone.
If the section is made about one-third of
tho way down the length of the horn,
you will bo able to pick out a piece of
bono in tho shape of a cone, ou which,
or rather round which, the horn proper
has shaped itself. This bone fits the
cavity with the greatest accuracy ; it is
as light os the thinnest paper, and yet as
strong us a cone of tin. It is every
where perforated with holes, which m
life contained the nerves, the veins, and
arteries, and we know a cow has all these
in her horns ; nerves, proved by tho
fact that cows do not like their horns
touched, and that they can scratch a fly
off their hides with the tip of the horn ;
arteries and veins, proved by the fact
that a horn, when broken, will bleed,
and tliat the horn of a living cow feels
quite warm when held in the hand, be
sides which the nerves and arteries form
a union between the internid core of
bom and the external covering of horn
paper.
If we now cut the rest of the horn into
sections, we shall find that the inside of
the bony part is really hollow, but that
very strong buttresses of bone are thrown
(about every inch or so) across the cavity
of the horn in such a maimer as to give
it the greatest possible support and
strength. I have cut a cow's horu and
skull into several sections to show these
buttresses of bone, and now that the
preparation is finished, I have another
specimen to show that there is design
and beauty in all created objects.
Union op the Chubch.. The Chris
tian Wi7ie88 is very exultant over tho
organization of tho Christian Union
Church, which was effected at the recent
Cincinnati Convention. It says that
when the " basis of uniou was put to
vote, and imanimously adopted by a
rising vote, a song of praise and thanks
giving burst from the hearts and lips of
all present, aud the convention, devoutly
kneeling, was led in solemn prayer that
God would own, bless, and establish the
work of our hands."
The new church will comprise Chris
tians of both Northern and Southern
States;
" How much did he leave ?" inquired
a gentleman of a wag, on learning of the
death of a wealthy citizen. "Every,
thing I" responded the wag ; " he didn't
take a dollar with him."
Whiter Approaches.
We reproduce the following timely re
marks from tho Prairie Farmer t As
wo write, the first sngw-flakes of the sea
son come eddying past the window. Tho
wind bears down from tho north and
whips the gold ami crimson leaves from
the trees. Tho tender plants have with
ered in the frost. Though the sun may
shine brightly ou tho morrow, all nature
bears the impress of a dying season
that winter is at hand, and that the field
of labor of the year is over. Before the
whiter closes in upon us, however, there
are various chores about the house, the
barn, and the farm that should be at
tended to if one wants the reputation of
being a thrifty, tidy farmer. Out in the
field, perhaps, lies a new reaper, a rake,
a plow, or some of the smaller tools of
the farm. These need shelter as much
as tho stock you feed, in an economicid
sense. See to it that all implements are
properly oiled and housed. It will save
you twenty per cent, iu durability, Over
yonder the fence is down, a stake is
broken, or a board is off. The rails or
boards, if upon the ground, will lose
more in the course of the winter than iu
years in their proper places. There are
drains whose outlets should be seen to,
or they will add tenfold to the labor of
getting them in order in the spring ;
besides, at that time there is so much to
do that you will hardly find the time to
look after them at all. Perhaps there is a
drain to be maile; now is a most excellent
time. A new fence is to be built ; now
is a most excellent time to build it. The
roads are iu excellent condition for the
fall rains have not yet set iu. It is true
that the ground is rather too dry for
digging post-holes or driving stakes, but
the ease with which hauling can be done,
and the comfort of working in the beau
tiful Indian summer days more than
compensates for the trouble with the
hard ground. Of corn-gathering it is
not necessary to speak. That is a mat
ter that ail farmers attend to ; we are
now merely mentioning some of the oft
neglected matters of the farm. About
the fields, the garden, the house-yard
and the barns are bits and pieces of
boards and timbers that may be saved by
carefully collecting and piling iu a well
protected place. There are weeds that
have gone to seed in tho garden, the
yard, and along tho roadside iu front of
the house. It would have been far bet
ter to have attended to them two weeks
ago, but much good may be done now
by collecting and burning them. The
grape vines shoidd be laid down and
generally covered with a slight protec
tion of nay or straw. The vegetables
should be gathered and carefidly pitted
or stored in the celkir. And that same
cellar is it clean and wholesome ? If
not, before packing away tho winter's
fruit and vegetables, have it us cleanly as
the parlor above. The cellar drain must
also be looked after. How about tho
supply of fuel ? Ciui you find a better
time in all the year to get iu an
ample supply I Get it into the wood
shed or house, if you have one, and if
not construct a cheap one. The wife and
daughters deserve this at your hands,
and that it not only be got in, but that
it be prepared for use ; that there be
plenty of kindlings, and no grumbling
about fiu-nisluug them. The walks about
the yards and to the barns and to tho
out-houses should be prepared for the
wet, sloppy weather of winter and spring.
This also is due to the women of the
household, to whom you look for com
fort and happiness iu yoiu" home. There
are u hundred and one more little chores
about the homestead that will suggest
themselves to the members of the farm
er's family. Heed them well for the sake
of comfort and for economy's sake. "
Brigandage in Italy.
In the south of Italy a rich landed
proprietor, named Laracca, was captured
by the brigands. A day or two after La
raeca's capture, 20 ducats and some
articles of food were sent by his wifo as
his ransom ; but the chief being irritated
by the smalluess of the sum, ordered his
ear to be cut oft', and, supplying him
with pen, ink and paper, told him to
write from his dictation. The letter,
stained with Luracca's blood, set forth
that the unfortunate man was dying by
inches at the hands of tho brigands, and
unlass three thousand, five hundred
ducats were sent he would be killed.
This letter awakened all the fears and
zeal of the family, and 6,000 lire were
collected and dispatched, but as the
sum was fur below that demanded, they
murdered the unfortunate man and fled,
as tho troops were upon them. On the
next day two other persons were cap
tured, and the father of one came und
tried to reduce the ransom. His wife
also presented herself and begged per
mission to accompany her husband, when
the savage Aliauo, the brigand, cut oft
his ear and threw it into her bosom.
Not, however, to multiply such facts, it
is asserted on evidence that in one week
Aliano and his companions committed
two barburous murders and one violent
rape, sequestrated five persons, extorted
15.00C lire, and cut off three ears and one
head.
Arrival of Immigrant.
The Secretary of the Castle Garden
Immigrants' landing iu an official state
ment puts the total number of arrivals
since January 1, 1874, to December 1 at
145,362, which is 121,456 less than for
tho whole of the previous year. The
number from Ireland who arrived in the
last eleven mouths is 40,314 ; from Ger
many, 39,992 ; England, 19,156 ; Russia,
.7,320; Scotland, 5,287; Sweden, 4,005;
Norway, 3,568 ; Denmark, 3,238 ; Bo
hemia, 3,189.
To show the westward flow of popula
tion from the Old World to the New for
a series of years, also to afford a com
parison, we give the following : 1865,
196,352; 1866, 233,418; 1867, 242,731;
1868, 213,695; 1869,258,989 ; 1870, 212,
170 ; 1871, 229,639 ; 1872, 294,581 : 1873,
266,818 ; 1874, 145,302.
For eleven mouths.
A New Cement. An excellent subsi
tute for gum arabio may b prepared as
follows : Milk is first curled with aoetio
acid and the precipitated casein washed
with clean water. It is then dissolved
in a saturated solution of borax. A clear
liquid is obtained of considerable con
sistency, very adhesive, and with a tine
luster.
HOWLS IN THE RING.
Terrific (nmbnt Br I wren a Male nnd Fnninle
Ithlnoccros The Fright of the I.loua nnd
Tiftcra nnd Leopards nnd Ilcnrs.
Among the animals iu a New York
circus are a male and female rhinoceros.
Tho female is about two-thirds tho size
of the male, and was put into the circus
about a month ago. The male, a
monster of strength and ugliness, is kept
iu a pen, surrounded by iron bars, iu the
east end of the menagerie, nnd next to
the four elephants. The female was con
fined until recently in the cago in which
she has traveled for a number of years.
About a week ago the proprietor in
structed the corpenters to enlarge the
pen of the male animal to double its
original size so that the female might be
admitted. The work of transferring the
animals was begun. The elephants were
driven into one of the large dressing
rooms, and the male rhinoceros was
driven into the elephmit pen. Tho cago
containing the female was drawn up, and
she was Bufely landed in the largo pen.
Then tho male was driven back to his
old home. He waddled in, passed the
door, and then suddenly stopped. He
had just caught sight of the female as
she calmly eyed him from tho other side
of the pen.
The monster paused only a moment.
Then with a roar of rage he started for
tho intruder. She was in no mood to
play tho coward. She firmly braced her
soll against tho solid planks of tho pen,
and awaited the collision. Tho hard,
horny noses of the two animals clashed.
The male drew back again, and eyed his
unwelcome visitor. Then, his mouth
foaming, with a loud roar, he rushed
forward agaiu. He struck the femide
with his horn on the left side, cutting a
deep gash, lifted her about six feet from
the ground, and nearly threw her over
the wall of the pen.
The fight was getting desperate, and
the attendants hastened to rescue tho
female. Pitchforks, wagon bars, and
every weapon that was attainable was
used upon the infuriated monster. He
was held at bay for a time, and large
planks were shoved tlirough tho bars to
form a fence between the beasts.
The male made one furious dash, car
ried the barricade away iu an instant,
and again the poor female was raised
upon his horny nose, aud thrown into
the air. The bellowings of the com
batants were echoed bv the roar of the
lions, nnd the fearful laugh of the
hyenas. The wild beasts scented blood,
and every cage in tho great menagerie
was a scene of wild excitement. The
lions and the tigers, the leopards and tho
bears, jumped und howled and roared,
aud above all arose the dismol wail of the
frightened elephants.
For over an hour the combat lasted,
and the male rhinoceros, being the larger
of the two, was rapidly using up the
weaker female. At one time tho two
huge beasts came together with a crash
against tho iron bars of the pen, bend
ing them like so many wires, aud the
heavy planking of the framework cracked
and broke like reeds. Tho beasts were
frothing at the mouth, aud the cow was
bleeding. At length, just as the male
was preparing for another attack, one of
the employees thrust a pitchfork into
his mouth, the only vulnerable point
that could be reached from the outside,
and with a roar of mingled pain and
rage, the brute drew buck, and for a
few moments stood in his corner, eyeing
his antagonist. Advantage was taken of
this lull in the fight, aud tho two were
separuted by a fence of planks and wagon
bars, which were thrust across the pen
from tho outside, and securely hushed to
tho bars. Over this was thrown a piece
of cauvas, and the beasts were thus
shut from each other's view.
It required two hours more of coaxing
to get the cow back to her old cage. Not
withstanding the thickness of her hide,
which is like iron, tho horn of her antago
nist had gored her frightfully. On the
left side were two deep gashes, from
which the blood was flowing freely. The
male was uninjured, having only a slight
wound back of the left ear. He ran as
nimbly as a rhinoceros can run around
his pen, and seemed to glory in his
victory. As soon as the cow was re
moved he became as gentle to his keepers
as ever.
A Wolf in Sheep's Clothing.
Au intense excitement was created at a
Philadelphia boarding school at tho dis
covery that one of the favorite pupils was
a man a wolf in sheep's clothing. Not
long ago an elderly gentleman drove up
to the door, disembarked his trunks nnd
introduced his " daughter " to tho mat
ron. The daughter was tall and hand
some, tastefully dressed, and promised to
be quite a popular pupil. Iu fact, just
such a one as the preceptress could take
a pride sending forth to the world fin
ished for society. So when the father
wanted t j put her ut the school she was
gladly accepted both for theue reasons
and for pecuniary considerations. Then
the father said good-bye, and after leav
ing special instructions iu regard to the
cure over the young girl, drove uway.
Next a room was selected for her iu com
pany, of course, with tho usual number
of room mates. Soveral days passed by ;
the new-comer was growing very popular
with the other girls as well as with the
teachers. Her warilrolie was extensive,
her manners attractive, and there seemed
to be a certain charm about her that all
recognized, but none could explain. She
herself seemed happy, her disposition
was pleasant and she laughed a great
deal. Sometimes the'girls couldn't un
derstand why she laughed ; but a slight
explanation satisfied. Well, a month
passed away ; the young lady was a great
favorite, hardly less so with idl the girls
than with her room-mates, and she was
becoming quite accomplished. But one
day she sent a trunk off for some reason
and pretty soon she left quietly herself.
Most of the household were astonished,
and immediately the alarming story
spread that she wasn't a girl at all. The
teachers tried to hush it up, but it
wouldn't be hushed. The room-mates
of the decamped young lady were be-
biieged for information. Then the story
got out oi tne school, it nas Doen verinea,
and the result has been a perceptible
commotion in society circles.
A party of eight or ten men, some of
them experienced gold miners, are about
to start from Holyoke, Mass., to seek
their fortune iu the South African dia
mond fields.
Items of Interest.
Boston claims to have more students of
music than any other city in America.
A brass band in Virgina City, Nevada,
has been earnestly requested to practice
exclusively in the isolated passage of a
mine 600 feet under ground.
An insect inspector for every town in
Massachusetts is proposed. His duty
Would be to examine orchards, and order
the destruction of infested trees.
A Chinese servant in San Francisco,
by way of revenge upon his mistress,
broke with a pair of pincers n piece out
of every dish in a valuable dinner set.
The saying, " He is as good n mau as
ever lived, but he can't keep a hotel,"
was original with Mat Peel, o negro
minstrel, who died in Buffalo in 1859.
The highest prize in a Chinese lottery
is twenty-nine cents, and the mau who
draws it has his mime in the papers, and
is looked upon as a heap of a fellow.
Men in New York State who get diunk
in a saloon, and then break nil the glass
ware in tho place, cannot be made to pay
the damage. The seller of the liquor is,
under the present law, liable for all tho
injury done by the drinker.
A suicide iu New York left tho follow
ing note : " This net of self-destruction is
entirely voluntary. I am brought to it
by incurable disease, want of employ
ment, utter pecuniary destitution, semi
sturvation, no fuel, nor means to pay any
rent."
The British Goverment is engaged in
malting such improvements to Cork har
bor that, when finished, it will bo ono
of the best harbors of refuge in tho
world. Tho entrance will bo protected
by forts armed with guns of the heaviest
calibre.
A young lady and gentleman, aged
respectively twelve nnd thirteen yenrs,
were married at Gouldtown, Mich., re
cently. When last seen they were quar
reling over a pound of mixed candies,
and throwing out vague intimations
about divorce.
"When music, heavenly maid, was
young," she would have been startled,
says the London Echo, if not absolutely
frightened from the world, could sho
have foreseen the terrible prices her
votaries would have to pay to hear tho
warbling of her delicious strains.
Poor young thing ! She fainted away
at the washtub, and her pretty nose, -went
kerslop into tho soapsuds. Some said it
was overwork ; others, however, whis
pered that her beau had peeped over tho
back feuce und called out : " Hullo,
there, Bridget, is Miss Alice at homo t"
The trick that the boys played on Dr.
Wheeler, at Holden, Mass., wns to not
fire to a load of hay upon which ho was
riiling. It burned beautifully, the horse
ran away, and, to cap the climax of fun,
the doctor fell off and broke his leg.
That was a memorable day for tho boys.
A tailor in Harrisburg, Penn., adver
tises that when people " with sallow, ir
regulur, and homely faces " are clad hi
garments of his making, they are looked
upon with love aud veneration, their
couutenanoes being regarded as the
index of pure and compassionate spirits
According to the statistics of 1874
there are in America 30,178 German
Methodist members ; local preachers,
378 ; churches, 552 ; Sunday-schools,
647 ; scholars, 32,011. Tho Northern
Methodist Church lias had newly 100,
000 accessions to its membership this
past year.
Diphtheria has been very provident in
Australia, aud one of the most successful
remedies is said to have been a few drops
of sulphuric, acid iu a tumblerful of
water. The result of this mixture is said
to be a cougulation of the diphtheritic
membrance and its ready removal by
coughing.
A big brother in Pottsville has been
brought to shame. His sister had a
beau who was obnoxious to him. One
dark night on the steps sho seemed to
be affectionately kissing tlus beau good
night. The brother crept up softly and
kicked hard, aud down fell au elaborate
scarecrow.
Mrs. Flanagan, of Philadelphia, who
is a daughter of Judge Strong, of tho
United States Supremo Court, is said to
have received the most valuable wedding
presents of nil the brides this season.
Among her gifts were a $10,000 Het of
silver and gold, a $5,000 pair of diamond
earrings, a $5,000 set of pearls, and four
India shawls.
While workmen were sinking a well
in Kay Aounty, Mo., receutly, they came
to what appeared to be the bed of a
lake about twenty feet beueath the sur
face, which showed petrified stalks of
water lilies, embedded iu sandstoue, and
a fish about four feet long, with a very
large head and prominent eyer,
Mrs. Wrisley's watch has had nn event
ful history iu Haydenville, Mass. It
was stolen and recovered, the thief going
to State prison. It was again stolen, and
returned upon the payment of a reward.
Then the Mill river flood came along and
swept it away. Recently it was found
hanging under the floor of a house that
had been overturned bo the water.
A country deacon went home ono
evening and complained to liis wifo that
he had been abused down at the store
shamefully. One of the neighbors, ho
said, called him a liar. Her eyes flashed
with indignation. ' Why didn't you
tell him to prove it?" she exclaimed.
"That's the very thing that's the
trouble," replied the husband ; " I told
liim to prove it, and he did prove it."
A clergyman was one day much an
noyed by those who dropped iu after the
services had commenced, invariably
closing the door after them. He bore
the vexation with Job-like patience ; but,
at length, being fairly exhausted from
that, he vociferated to an offender :
" Friend, do for goodness sake let the
door be open. I believe if I wero
preaching in a bottle you would put the
com in r
The social function of Albert Wagner,
of Berne, Albany county, N. Y., is to act
as arbitrator in nearly all of the disputes
that arise in that town. Sometimes quite
important matters, such as disputed laud
questions, or disagreements in families,
are submitted to him. His decision is
usually final, and his informal court js
free, because he charges no fees. Ue is
au old man, and for more than twenty
years has arbitrated for his neighbors acceptably.