Entered at the Post Office at ifillheim, Pa., as second-class mail matter. The Millheim Journal, PUBLISHED EVERY THURSDAY BY i\. A. Office in the New Journal Building, Penn St..nearHartman's foundry. •1.00 PER ANNUM, IN ADVANCE, OR $1.86 IF NOT PAID IN ADVAK'CI. AcceptaUe Correspondence Solicited Address letters to MILLHXIM Joi .INAL The Week Hcforc Christmas. 'Tis the week before Christmas. And ah in the house Are plotting and planning As sly us a mouse. Strance bundles are smuggled Inside. unaware. And hidden away with The greatest of care. The children with secrets Tin y're Burn Int. to tell, And In an excitement That nothing can quell. Are hourly asking llow many more days Before it is Chris'mas, With cheeks all ablate. The old folks, as eager. Tlte fever have caught. And crowd in the places Where prescuts are bought. To them Merry "Christmas Is sweeter we know. Than when their own stockings Were filled long ago. 'Way up from the kitchen Spiced odors arise Of genuine, home-made, Delicious utiuce-ples. Just stuffed full of raisins As big and as round As little Jack Horner so happily found. The long winter nights All much longer appear. For who can sleep soundly With Christmas so near. And now, for the stockings! No tot's ttnv hose Can hold half of the treasures Krivs Kruigle bestows; So mamma's great big ones Are got with delight. All ready to hang up On Santa ciaus' night. Now, Christmas is near! aud St. Nick In his sleigh. Behind hisswitt reindeers. Is flying this way. lie's now on the snow-clouds. He'll be at your gate; Prepare for his coming— There's no time to wait. TED'S CHRISTMAS. A Good Story For Some Parents to Head. fIT-HEY'RE going to have a Christmas tree, an' nuts candy,aud ice cream'.' little Nan's eyes stuck out with the delights of imagination. "My ! Won't that be jolly ?" Ted was the next speaker, and in the excitement of the moment he forgot himself so far as to emit a small, faint whistle. "Stop that noise over there," said a stern voice, the owner of which looked out front behind the folds of the evening paper with a frown. Joseph Rex ford was homely e nough, taken at his best, but with an ugly frown added, be was terrific, though prob ably uot aware of it, for people seldom get before a glass to make up ugly faces. "They were only talking a little about Christmas," said Mrs. Rexford, timidly ; the wives of such men are invariably timid, or else, in very bravado of despair, intoler able scolds, and Mrs. Rexford could never be that. She would have been tbe sunniest and sweetest of little women, had she not been clapped under a bushel by Joseph Rexforu at a very early stage in their married life, and, as might be supposed she was pretty nearly extinguished by this time. "Christmas !" be growled contemptuous ly. "All nonseusc and folly, they'd better be teudin' to their rethmetic or a sbellin' them seeds. I had to work evenin's when I was their age, an' had'ut no time to be hatchin' up foolery." "All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy,"gently remonstrated the wife. "They're not too old to enjoy a little recreation, Joseph, and I wish we could give them a little Christmas treat." She wondered at her own boldness, for she did not often venture within reach cf the lion's claws, or, in oth er words, her husband's displeasure. He looked at her in astonishment ; he sup posed he had her subdued, and the idea that she would propose anything that he had just put his foot onus "foolery," shocked bim. "Mrs. Rexford," and his voice was a bit of condensed harshness, "I thought you knew my mind on secb tritlin' years ago, and I want you to understand once and for all, I won't have it," and the big foot came down on the uncarpeted floor with a snap. "And you yonng ones, stop your snivelin' over there, or I'll give you something tn snivel about," and the migbtv potentate glared over in tbe corner where little Nan was struggling with a sob of mingled terror and disapi>ointment, for at her mother's kind words it seemed so easy to hive just a little bit of Christmas, at least. "Darn him" whispered Ted, clinching his fists, and shaking tliein at the household monarch, who had again wrapped himself in his newspaper. "I'll run away, see if I don't, an' I'll have a Christmas tree every day when I get big." His jacket would have needed no further dusting for months to come, if the parent could have seen the belligerent action, but, fortunately, the paper was not transparent, and Mr. Rexford was deep in an article on the Irish question. He looked up presently ; he had the com placent feelings of the bulldog, who comes up uppermost in the fight, ami could look upon bis vanquished subjects with amiable condescension. "I guess those Britishers 'll find they can't always] abuse thein poor Irishers," he said. "They'll find out sooner or later, that it don't pay to aller play tin tyrant." Mrs. Rexford received the information with a proper degree of humility, and ouly a subdued "bm-m-iu," escaped her lips, but she thought to herself that it would not be necessary to cross the ocean to find a tyrant, if cine were urgently needed and wondered rel>elliously if it was always go lug to pay him to assume the character he so deprecated to his British neighbors. Bedtime came, and Ted and Nan, with little Jane, crept off toward their beds. No cheerful, "good-night 1 papa," with the kiss which sweetens slumber, and ushers the children into a happy dreamland. Mr. Rexford's soul would have recoiled at such sentimental doings, children being in his eyes neccessary evils, froiu which to extract the greatest, amount of work with the least amount of love and money. The mother rose, I imp in hand, and fol lowed thein softly ; she helped them tin dress with soft, gentle touches, and then drew thein to lier side for their evening prayer. Little Nan, ten years of age, was just at the point of tears, and when she came to the phrase in her simple prayer : "God bless papa and mama," her voice broke into a muffled sob. It was so hard to pray for the father, who apparautly loved them s J little. R. A. BUMILLER, Editor. VOL. 01. "Hush, darling," raid Mrs. llexfbrd, al most In tears herself, as she drew the quiv ering little form to her heart ; js-rhaps mania will find away yet." Ted was thirteen, and in his rebellious feelings oinmitted the customary phrase from his prayer entirely. "The mean old thing," he muttered angrily. "I'd like to liek iiliu." "Hush, dears," she said, gently, "father doesn't mean to lu> unkind.' "What does he do it for, then ?" de manded the Ik\v, and the mother's lips were shut, for sh> had no adequate reply for sueh a pertinent question. All this was done in whispers, and a fa miliar voice broke in upon the conversation at this juncture : "Going to stay in there all night Jane?" And hastily tucking them into their lx-ds, with loving kisses on the Utile giie\isl lips, she left thein hnrrhsl ly to the gentle! comforter, sleep, wldeh sel dom refuses to come to healthy childhood. This was two weeks la-fore Christinas and a week went by, and Mrs. Rexford saw no (Kxssible way to fulfill the lIO|H> she had cherished of making it a pleasant day tor the children. She could get up a good din ner. Mr. llexfor.l was fond of a good din ners himself, hut with bis stern face at Ro table, the children would is* obliged to sit like dummies, and eat inselpulebral silence for the father was a firm la-Hover in the doctrine that /children should IK- seen, not heard," and allowed no frivolous chatter ing at meal-time. Slit- had la-en putting away surreptitious balls of butter and dozens of eggs, in the hope of la-ing able to smuggle a few little trifles quietly into their stockings, but ln-r heart was lieavy with a sense of In r inabi.ity to make the holiday sncli a one as she would like. "Jane," said Mr. Rexford,coming in from the village with an envelop e in bis liaud, "1 don't know what ever you'll do, but I'll have to leave ye for a while. "What is if, Mr. llexfor.l ?" she asked in surprise ; it was very sefttom either duty or pleasure took him from home. "Why John's dead, an' tliey telegranbed me to come and 'tend the funeral, an' 1 s'pose it's my dooty to go." "Of course it is, Joseph," replied tin wife, "and I'll p-t along all right. Billy Grant will come over and do the chores." John was Mr. Rexford's brother, another branch of the Rexford family tree, which, though not as gnarled aud knotty as Joseph himself, still bore enough resemblance to prove tlieir relationship beyond a doubt. There has been as much of a repressed and undemonstrative affection between them as could be expected, and this com bined with a sense of duty procured his ab sence from home at this opportune moment for the children. Sucli an event had only occurred once or twice in their life time before : oases in the dreary desert of their experience, which were looked bark wlih OHtgM. "How long shall you be gone, Mr. Rex ford ?" asked the wife. She could not mourn for the brother-in-law whom she had never seen but once, and whose attitude then hail not been such as to inspire a flec tion, and a faint hope was springing up in her heart that for once the children could have a holiday worthy of the name. "Ten days anyhow,inebbe two weeks," lie answered. "Tlie widder'llexpect me to set tle up bis affairs more or less." Ted looked at Nan with a grimanceof un utterable delight ; if the father had seen it. It is doubtful whether duty even could have urged biiu from home, certainly not with out administering a spanking all around. "Get my tilings ready as soon as you can," he resumed, "for I want to catch the three o'clock train, sure, and you, Ted, get the hoss harnessed so'st to take me to the de pet." "Yess'r," replied Ted ; no danger but that Ted would do his share, and bo on time too. Nan was on band, like a Jack-in-the-lox, to spring at every call, and bring the soap and tbe towel, the blacking-brush ami whisk broom, for Joseph Rexford loved to be w..ited on, and his toilet for a journey long or short, was the signal for a series of gym nastics participated in by tlie whole family. Halt-past two came, and Doll was at the door, and Ted, with a very unbecoming shade of happiness on his couutenaucb, held tbe reins "You'll want some money, 1 s'pose ?" said Mr. Rexford,-graciously, for biiu, as he drew on his overcoat. "There's five dollars," and he passed the precious morsel out from a roll of greenbacks, gingerly : he was not a poor man by any means, and could have given her twenty-five just as easily. "Yes, Joseph," she replied meekly, as she tucked away tlie bill ; she did not intend he should ever see it again, or an exhaustive rejKirt of the uses made of it, either. "Wall, good-bye, Jane," (he drew on his gloves) "don't let the young ones run over you while I'm gone." "No, Joseph," she replied demurely, with an inward smile. He went out ; there was no silly demon stration of affection at parting. A kiss from those stern lips would have been an aston ishment that the family would not have re covered from in a week, and, getting into the waiting sleigh, Old Doll moved away. Nan turned a somersault ; she was a fine, loving child, and would have been as happy as a lark, under favorable circumstances "Oh, goody, goody, goody !" she ex claimed, in a glad soliloquy. "Hush, Nannie," said the mother re provingly, though in her secret heart she could not blame the child for the ebullition. Ted returned in due time, and the de parture was an assured tiling, and the boy already held up his head with an eccession of self-respect, as he took his place as man of tli - house. One week was only a short time to plan in, but judicious effort can ac complish much in even a week's time, and Mrs. Rexford's plans werejehiefly in the line of a merry-making, such a one as they had never been allowed to have. Her first move was a letter to a sister liv ing twenty miles away, with an invitation to spend Christmas at her home. A visit, from Aunt Nan was a rare treat to the children at any time, one which they rarely enjoyed, however, for Aunt Nan and Joseph Rexford were not congenial spirits, she not being able to bottle tip her indignant wrath when he exercised his peculiar gift of government in her presence ; lie not rel ishing ber "tneddlin'," as lie designated her rather free use of lier tongue on occasions, and so she wisely concluded that it was best to see as little of the domestic economy as possible, and kept away, to Mrs. Rexford's mingled grief and relief. T*ltly*H in tliiunoiiiitline, wnsflllod with a great longing ; ho wanted t> inak> the |atieiit little mother, whom lm love.l with a tender, chivalrous devotion, a Christ uias present. In the thirteen years of his life he had no remembrance of her receiving at Itristnias gilt, and he was in nhrown study the great er part of his time, planning and contriving some way to surprise her with a present, lint as yet no way had opened. "Harness Poll, Teddy,and we'll no to the \ illage to-day," said the mother one morn ing. Teddy sniihsl knowingly as lie hurried away to ohey her request, and in a sleut time they were on their way. "Now you mustn't follow me around," she said with a smile, as they nenred the village; fed an swered her with a knowing, yet longing look, lie wanted to ask her f< r a hit of "(tending money tor himself, yet tearing -B<- would sus|tect, and knowing (that she had little w it li w liieh to carry out her >\v u plans, he wisely forehode. ••1 am going to the station to meet the ten o'ehtek train, Tislily," sho saiil, as he was hitching Doll "and you may n.oet me there with the sleigh." "Father isn't coming homo, isho ' said Tsl, in consternation. "No, dear," replied the mother, laughing at his alarm, "but ! think there will be somebody there, and she darted into a di\- goods store, without explaining the mys tery. Ted went into another store to gel warm and then amused himself wandering tip ami down the street, looking into the shop \\ in dows which were gay with t hristtnas goods, and think what he would buy it lie haV saw another oßjeet fly out also and lodge in the dirty snow of the gut ter, while thegentleuinii walked quickly on, quite unaware of his loss. Ted's first thought was that it was only a piece of paper, and it did not occur to him to investigate the matter, hut a second thought scut him flying to the spot, where, after some little search, he found a small package wrappe*! in whin- pajer and deco rated with an express lals-1 ; there was evi dently a small Ihix within, ami Ted ran as fast as his legs would carry him to restore it to the owner. That jaunty gentleman was geuio* into a handsome sleigh as Ted turned the corner, and away he wont. "Mister, mister," screamed Ted at the top of his voice, which the iiells drowned, and then Began a race—Ted running for dear life, the horses trotting along with no idea that they were pursued. The Iniy's legs did him good service, how ever, and at last he succeeded in attracting the attention of the driver. "What's this my lad ?" he ssid kindly. "Want a ride "N-n-no," panted Teddy, all out of Breath "but you lost this sir, aud I picked it up." ami he held up the package. "Well, well, did I ever," said the gentle man, hastily feeling in his pocket. "What a careless trick. And so you've pretty near run your legs oft" to catch me, eh !" "I guess they're all whole yet, sir," re plied Ted, with a stnilc,|aiid yet pulling with the race. He handed over the Box, while the stran ger took out a fat |K>cket Book. "Christmas is coming, my Imv, and may lie you'll like an extra bit of surprise money," he said, good-naturedly, as he handed out a live dol lar bill to tlie astonished child. "Oh, sir,that's ton much," aiul Ted offered it Back, quite overwhelmed By such munifi cence. "Well, I don't know almiit that," said the gentleman, "that IKJX contains a watch worth two hundred dollars, By the time I had advertised it and paid a reward, it would have cost me double the amount Be sides the chances of my finding it again: so on the whole, I think I am rewarding yon very moderately," and he Buttoned his o vereoat over Box and pocket-liook resolute ly, and prepared to drive on. A whole arena of Christmas presents danced through Ted's happy Brain, as he thanked the generous gestleman for his gift, and they parted with mutual good feel ings. "If I had such a father as that," solilo quized tlie child, "what a good hoy I'd be." "If I had an honest, bright-faced lmy like that," said the gentleman, "what a happy father I'd be." T<*d had never Before kept a secret from his mother, and it was the hardest work to keep from telling his adventure, But se crets were flying in the air apparently and he held on tobis with true Christmas tena city. He hal suspected By t.liis time who was coming on the train, and he was on time at the station with Doll he also wisely con cluded to wait a Bit for her advice and as sistance Before spending his wealth. Aunt Nan stepped off the train when it came in, looking rosier and jollier than ever, Ted thought, as she hugged him up close to her warm furs, and she had the fat test satchel and the heaviest basket he had ever lifteu. There was a perfect jubilee of welcome when the party reached home, and Aunt Nan took her namesake and little .Jane into her warm embrace, to their complete sur prise, for they hail never dreamed of such a happy arrival. "The little dears," said Aunt Nan, as she and Mrs. llcxford made several mysterious trips to the Barn return ing with contraband bundles under their u prous, "they shall have one Christmas, if they never do another." Such a mi rry-making the Rexford house had never witnessed Before. Billy Grant hail good-naturedly consented to go to the woods and cut a small evergreen, which was conveyed to the parlor secretly, and if it was not as brilliantly lighted aud trimmed as it might have been, it. was a wonderful tre i, neve-t heh ss hung with popcorn,apph s and oranges and gifts, until the children were nearly wild with delight .when they saw it. MII.UIEIM, I>A.,THURSDAY, I>K(!EMIVEH22.. IHK7. >.'• j Wm SMrf M fill • i * A long pail, full of some mysterious coin pound, had Ix-eii sitting in a tub in tbe woodshed carelessly covens! over with a piece of carpet, and this was found to con tain ic' i ream, and after all the other things had Been distributed. It came iu, piled up in delicious in ss<*B of froxt'ii on Mrs. Rexford's lx-st eliina saucers, together with the angels' fol which Aunt Nan had Baked tliat day. Mr*. Rexford actually tried with sur prised delight when Ted gave her a lovely plush wrrlr BoT. tin' tin* girt to* txi **v*r lweii able to make Ber, and told his story of tin- kind gentleman and hi* gold watch. Poor tiling ! She had enjoyed little of mer riment or gift-making since her marriage, and she enjoyed this, as only a kindly, cheerful heart, cramp'sl into space tar too small for it, can enjoy liberty and love free ly expressed. "Mother," saiil Ted, when at a late hour, Mrs. Rexford gathered her little lloek l<- gethei for their evening prayers, "it al ways seemed when 1 said 'oor child." said Aunt Nan, and her kindly Bright eyes were full ol tears, "whatever comes dear Boy, don't forget that whatever your earthly father may lx your Heavenly Father is all tenderness and love toward you." Before Mr. Rexford's return, all traces of the festivities were removed ; lie seemed quite softened By the scenes through which he had passed, and if he noticed any super fluous articles about the house and stis jiectisl their seouree, lie saiil nothing, and the children never forgot their one "Merry Christmas." Mhs, F. M. Howahu. Itill Nye's Useful Suggestions. I take tlie liberty once more of reply ing to a few queries through your val uable columns, says Rill Nye. in the New York Eventny World. Literateur, Yt. —No; skimniygillions is not a proper word to use at tbe table. 1 do not know what it means, but it will be better to use some other word in the place of it. Many other words are equally resonant and opaque with out giving offense. Veritas.—Rub the gummy side of postage stamps on your hair a few limes and it will prevent their slicking together in your pocket or purse. There is just oil enough in tbe Itair to coat over the adhesive propel ties of tlie stamps aud prevent their adhesion. A friend of mine who lias hair tells me that Ibis is tlie case. Simmons, Philadelphia.—Yes if you are the sternographer of a prominent man, and act as lbs private secretary, you are perfectly correct iu signing your employer's name, "per Simmons." It is not only etiquette,but it is euphon ious. Lalla Rookh, Tampa, Fla., writes to know what be "should do to become a fluent writer and correspondent V" To become a fluent writer there is no letter method, perhaps, than to hold the nen lightly Between the thumb and forefinger, allowing it to rest on the first joint of the middle or large finger. Let the arm rest easily on the fleshy portion of the forearm, with the pen holder pointing about due west Sii erect, think a few thoughts, I lien clot tie tlieui in such language as you feel that in your circumstances jou can afford. In clothing a thought, do not put so much expense upon one particular gar ment that the idea will have to go Be fore the public in its shirtsleeves. In ot lier words, make your clothing busi ness hat tnoniotis and consistent. 'WITN KSM,' said a lawyer, iu the police court the other day, 'you speak of Mr. being well oft*. Is he worth S">,000 ?' 'No, sab. 'Two thousand "No s.di : hain't worf §25.' 'Then how is he wll oft'?' "Got a wife who s'ports de hull fain'ly sail.' A PAPER FOR THE LLOMH C HICLE MILK-STONES. Events Thut Mark the Beginning of in the World's History-Christ" Orlglnund Associations. Old Father Time has got his mile stones. The firs tone of which we have any account is the seveotlnlay— the Sabliath.and that came down to us from Mount Sinai. The Jews finrt nrtrThcr one—ihr srvnuli *mr, n year of least for the land, in which they were forbidden to plow or to hoe, to reap or to sow. And there was an other, called the year of jubilee—tbe fifteenth year in which tl e slaves were set free and the lands were restored to those who had sold them. We hear now of leases tor ninety nine years.but with the Jews all sides or leases ex pired the forty-n ineth,or year of jubilee There was great rejoicing when the timecaiue for the children or tlie grand children to get back the old homestead of their ancestors. But the most popular nud import ant of all mile- stones is the anniver svv of the birth of Christ. It is very common every where to celebrate birth d.ivs. Americans make a big fuss over Wu shington's birthday because bo is called the Father of His Country. Most every family makes a little fuss over the birthduvof the parents or children. They don't toot horns or pop firecrack ers, but they have an extra good din ner and fix up some little present as a pleasant surprise The 4th of July was the birth of a nation audsothe na tion always celt barted that day. But Christmas belongs to all civilizedcoun tries.lt is ablessed heritage and belongs to all alike—the rich and the poor,the boo and the free, the King and Lis subject. Christians began to observe Christ mas about fifteen hundred years ago. In course of time the young people rather lost sight of the sacredness of the dav and made it a day of feasting and frolic. They sang songs because it was that the shepherds saug songs at Bethlehem. They made presents to one another because the wise men from the Fast brought presents to the young child and its mother. The Roman Catholic church has observed this celebration for centuries and tbe church of England took thein aud so did the Protestants of Germany and other countries. In a great print ing of the Nativity, by Raphael,there is seen a Shepherd at the door playing a bagpipe. The Tyrolesc who live on the mountain slopes of Italy come down to the valleys on Christmas eve. They come caroling sweet songs and playing on musical instruments. There used to be ninny curious superstitions a bout Christmas. It is beleived that an ox and an ass that were near when tiie Saviour wns born bent their knee in devotion, nnd so the people believed that all the domestic animals went to prayer on Christmas night. They Be lieved that when the rooster crowed for midnight all the wizzurds and Witches and hobgoblins and evil spirits fled away from tb habitation of man and hid in hollow trees and caves aud deserted houses for twelve days. Mr. Carlyle said that every nation should have a hero aud should I worship bim—not BH a God or in place , of the truo God, but the uext thing to it. He says it cements tbe people to gether and ma ken them proud of their country and couteut with their gov criueul. This hero may be real cr imaginary, but the people must be lieve that he f ought for them or died lor thein or was the founder of their institutions or tluir religion. The an cient Norsemen had Odin and Thor for their heroes. The I'ersiaus had their genii and their fairies; the Hin doos their rukshar; the Greeks and Romans their wonderful gods and goddesses such as Jupiter und I.una and Hercules nnd Vulcan nnd Neptune. The mere enlightened a people he. oomes, the more sublime are their superstitions. The uncivilized In dians are mystified, nnd can only "see God in clouds aud hear liitn in the winds." The native Africans have cro codilcs and serpents und owls for their gods. Some of them ofa higher grade set their faith iu foxec and rab bits and jaybirds. Down South tbe good negroes used to tell tbe white children stories at night about the tar Imby,and tbe bear und the bee tree, and foxes aud wolves, but the bad ne groes told us about witches and ghosts und Jack o'latteons und raw head and bloody bones, and wo would listeu until we didu T dure to look round, and we wouldn't have gone from ihcir cabins to the "big house" alone for a world full of gold. Napoleon said that nil tnen were cowards by night, but it was those old negroes that made us so aud our generation has never recovered from it. Christmas was a great season for negroes in slavery times. It was a feast and a frolic for a whole week— and their children werifjust s good ti the white children then and all frolick ed together. Rut at this joyous season there should t>c nothing but love und kind ness and good will. For twelve days, il not more, let envv nnd hate malice and selfishness all lie banished to cav es and the wilderness. Then H rich and merry Christmas to the rich. At. 1 a brig 11 and happy Christmas to the poer. So thi ir hearts are joyous it doesn't matter which Has the flue velvet carnet on the floor. I For riches bring a trouble wbeu they come. And money leaves a pain when it goes; Hut everybody now should have a lit tie sum To brighten up the year at its close. BILL ART. Hint JlNI) MISERABLE. Death of an Eccentric it nil Mysterious New Jersey Hermit. • The death recently of Thomas Foster of Sbamong township. Burlington County. N.J. furnishes tbe people of Mount Holly and i:eigbltoring villages something further to wonder at and discuss, says the New York World. Foster was seventy years old, and was km wn to his neighbors as "The Her mit of the Fines." For fifty years he had lived alone in the primitive little log house in which be died, aud for a great part of tbe time was known to In* a miser. Hence little surprise was manifested by those who found in an old rhest In bis cabin bills and gold and silver coins to a large amount. When Foster, then a prepossessing youth of twenty, appeared in Sbamong township half a century ago and took up bis abode in the little cabin with bis dogs and books, the people wondered. He possessed an excellent scholastic education aud polished manners, and soon bad many friends among his rural ticighltors. Whv tie bad fled from cities and bin ied himself in that out-of-the way place he never told, but little by little a story was woven for him, in time-worn motive of disappointed love was made lit to bis case, and be ceased to le tin object of interest. Then it came to le noised about that Foster was a miser. The country people fell away from him,and lie secluded himself more and more until be was almost for gotten. Surrounded by bis dogs., bis mind buried iu bis bonks, with which tbe cabin was plentifully supplied,days would sometimes pass without his stir ring abroad. The howling of a dog attracted some farmers to tbe little log but, and there they found the hermit dangerously ill. Accordingly the ovtrseer of the poor of Med ford visited tbe cabin lor the pur pose of removing tbe old man to the almshouse. •Take me to the almshouse?' be al most shouted. 'Never! 1 have monev to pay for taking care of me here, and here ate the keva to that cheat. Open it and you will find what 1 say is true.' When tbe chest was opened, sure enough, tbeie was tbe money as lie bad said. The gold was neatly packed a way in little bags. Tlie notes were crisp and clean, tliougb'of the issue of old State concerns long since become national banks. Foster obstiniately re fused to have a nurse, saying: "The nurse would eat so much." Just before the end came he raised himself on his elbow, motioned convulsively toward the old chest and fell back dead. The cabin and the miser's effects were taken in charge by tbe authorities. It is \ bought that there may lie more money secreted about the old structure An effort will lie made to find his rel atives in.Philadelphia, from which city it is said be came to tbe pines. Terms, SI.OO per Year, in Advance. LOVKK9 IN LOVER'S WALK. Charming Picture of a Virginia Courtship by the New Vork Tillies' Artist, If. J. W.V. There are two kinds of proposals common to the Liver's Walk at Sul phur Springs. They are the proposal serious and J.V proposal jocular. Tie latter is also s i ions, hut. in a diplomat is npproac!) to the subject, intended to serve ag away of retreat if the oveiture Ic not well received. According to the ncccunt of one young lady, whose invitations to promenade have created destruction in her stock of shoe leather and whose invitations to trot in har ness have th*en in pro|Hirtion, the pro posal jocular Is as follows : Having discussed the weather, the gertnan of the night before, the german th tls to tie, and any other subjtcts s.ilir ntlv of service, and having, as they sav in Kentucky, grown "nodger and nodger," tlie young man begins, in an off-hand way ; 'Looks hyere. Miss Mamie, has enny feller lieen a proposiu' t' you this sea son V' 'Why Why, I reckon somebody'd orter give you a chance,' I reckon somebody will if 1 want in in to.' 'Oil, then there Is a somebody.' 'Wouldn't you like to know ?' *1 "would that. Thar ain't, now, is there ? You're jest a funnin'.' She looks coyly away, with an amus ing smile. •lie aiu't no better lookin' than I am, is he V' She thoughtfully and critically an swers that there ain't no choice. 'Cos I reckon I might do some talkju' myself ef tliar was any chance.' He docs or does not as she pulls the string*. The Southern voung man is not slow, but lie is no match for his keen companion. The proposal serious is then suit of perhaps a week of tender companion ship. The young man, whose feelings have gradually liecouie too much for him. eats his morning hominy in a very ai-stracied way, with fiequeiit turnings to see if she has arrived at her place at the table. After breakfast lie walks the piazza in a somewhat uneasy state, his mental concentration interfering somewhat with Ids digestion. About this period in his entanglement she is very likely to be occupied with some other gentleman, having detected the signs of imminent explosion on his ll*i rutins boldly in, however, and she, after going over a multitude of engagements, finally lielieves that she can walk just a hllle while with him that afternoon. They walk. No sooner have they tinned tlie corner by the cottage than he says : 'l've been want in' to see you very much. Miss Margie, all th' afternoon. I-I've'something very particular I'd like to say to you, Miss Margie. 'li.de- d!' she says. She is very much surprised. She is the most surprised girl, apparency, in the whole state of West Virginia. 'When 1 come down hyere,' lie lo gins. Then he halts. 'l—a—l've known a good many young ladies. Miss Mar gie. and a—the a—the matter I was go in' to sj>eak to you about .' He is quite confused. 1 here is a small thick silence for a moment as they stroll idly along, while a small green frog jumps nimbly out of the way, confident that in the preoccu pation of the pair lie is likely to be stepjed on. 'What I was goin' to say,' he re sumes, clearing bis throat, 'is —ah — that I've been Ihitikiu' that every, that is, that all young people ought to mar ry young. Hid—ah —did yon ever feel that-away, Miss Margie ?' Miss Margie aosen't Know. She has suddenly grown miles away from him in her silence, lie makes a plunge. 'D'you think you could like a feller like me. Miss Margie—well enough to marry him, I mean ?' 'Oil ' says Miss Margie,greatly taken aback. 'Maw says I'm too young to marry. She wouldn't bear to it. Don't you—don't you think that suiphur wa ter's horrid stuff ?' Her ideas concerning sulphur water are a little vague just then,but be man ages to agree and to make inquiries concerning her intentions regarding the ball that evening. The conversation then grows halting and awkward, and tliey shortly return. She breathes a sigh of relief as she smiles good-by, and he wildly goes in search of some small and secretive darkey, whom he hires to kick him thoroughly, not being able to perform that office tor mimself, and naturally desiring something of the kind to relieve bis overwrought feel ings. Explosion of a Bird. Newton Tabor was digging a well at Pilot Point, Tex. To blast out the rock he used dynamite enclosed in snial' metalic capsules. In the course of his operations he deposited an open box cf these dangerous capsules at the foot of a tree near where he was work ing. A ladder leaning against the tree reached up to a mockingbird's uest con taining a voung brood. Ilis ten-vear old son, Dick, with a couple of the cap sules in his hand, ascended the ladder, and, discovering the young birds with distended mouths, boy-like dropped the capsules, one at a time, in one bird's mouth. They forthwith disappeared in the bird's craw. This rendered the bird uncomfortable, and in a struggle for relief it fell from the nest. Upon striking the ground an explosion oc ocurred which tore up the earth, dump ed a quantity of the loose dirt and the fragments of rock piled around into the well, and came near killing Mr. Tabor,, who was working down lieiow. The boy fell from the ladder and was badly hurt, suffering the fracture of some bones. This shows what a boy will do when he gets a chance. NO. 50. N'KWBPAPEK LAWS If ftub*crlb<>rs order the discontinuation of newspaper*. the t>uMl*her* may continue to semi rlicin until all arrearages are mM. If siil-mtMh rs n fn-ic or neglect to take their newspaper* from the office to which they are sen* they are held responsible until they havcaettlM the hills aiid ordered the in discontinued. If subscribers move toother places without In forming ihe publisher, and the newspapers are sent to theformeydace^he^a^wyi^ ADVERTISING BATH. lwk. i mo. 1 3 moa. 10 nioe. 1 year 1 square I 2 Its ladder of stars there climbs The musical peal of the new year's chimes. Bringing hope to onr hearts ag&ir. The Old and the New. One year more Is quickly numbered W Ith the ages of the past. And we scarcely heed the moments As they pass us by so fast. 'Elulifyseven, so old bat honored, Shares his predecessors' fate: Yields his throne to youth and beauty. Welcome to thee, 'Klgbtyelght f A Famous Confederate Genet al. Gen. Longstreet is writing a book on the war, says a letter from Gainsville, Ga. As he finishes a chapter he sends the manuscript to Washincton to have nit dates and figures verified from the official records. 'I expect both sides to pitch into me,' he says, 'and I am tak ing time to be certain of my state ments.' There is little doubt both sides 'will pitch iuto him' if he writes as he talks. Frankness is one of the General's strong characteristics. But no element of recklessness enters intothe operation of his mind, lie is outspoken but de literute. Ilis life since the war has been such as to relieve him of prejudice in favor of the side be fought on. He is 'out of politics entirely,' to quote his own language, and out of affiliation with his old army associates. But at the same time there is no trace of dis appointment, of malice, of bitterness in his manner. Under such conditions lie si's down to write his narrative of the war. And it will lie history. 11-* fig ltd the life of a soldier from the tune he entered West Point up to the. lime the states seceded, Longstreet stepped into almost the highest position at the very outset of the civil war, and he saw hard and continuous service to the end. It was Longstreet's corps which, on the second of the three day's fighting on and about Chickamauga, jumped from the cars on which tbey had come all the way from Virginia, 15,000 strong, and rushed into battle from Ringgold, enabling Bragg to drive Kosecrans pack on k Chattanooga. It was I/Oiigstreet's corjws that cov end the retreat of Lee at Gettysburg. It was Longstreet everywhere iu Vir ginia, from Bull Ruu to the end, and then at Appomattox Longstreet was 11>e one selected by Lee as tbe ranking tfi . i to go and arrange the prelim inaries of surrender. The moist atmosphere of New Or leans gave Geu. Longstreet the rheum atism, which was aggravated a good deal probably by a bad wound received in the storming of Cbapultepec. Since he came to Gainsville his health bas improved. He is a busy man at 66. A short distance out of 'tire metropolis of northeast Georgia,' as tbe city is called, the genera) has a farm of one hundred acres, with a large old-fashioned man sion. The house stands on an eleva tion in the midst of trees and shrub bery. From tbe upper gallery there is a grand view of mountain scenery, Ketmesaw and a dozen other wooded (teaks being in view. Tbe general's farming is confiued mainly to the care of a vineyard of scuppernongs, and other varieties of grapes, to which he gives a good deal of personal attention. Gainsville is a popular summer resort tor the gulf states. The altitude in sures a right temperature which often sends the new-comer prowling around at 2 o'clock in tbe morning for more bed-clothes. There are iron and sulphur springs scattered through the mountains. Peo ple who have ills, and people who im agine they have, summer here for the waters. Some years ago a Minnesota man came down here and built a large hotel, the General furnishing some of the capital. Tbe property fell into the general's hands in the course of time, lie has usualiy rented it. This year be opened it, and has had a great colony of summer boarders from the low coun try to lock after. A son attends to the details, but the general comes in from his vineyard every day to see that his guests are comfortable. At the battle of tbe Wilderness a ball tore through his right shoulder,and the wound left the arm partially para lyzed. For a long time after the war lie could only wiite by moving his whole arm for each stroke of the pen, and even then had to assist the stiff- ' ened member with bis left hand. Con cluding that this would never do, he set to work to learn to write with his left band, and now does all bis extensive correspondence and literary woik in that way. lie looks his improved health. His face is ruddv. His eyes are bright and he walks firmly. The long, heavy whiskers are as white as snow. His publishers have put him uuder injunc tions not to talk about the contents of the book. One Cent. It is almost impossible to attach any importance to one cent, but at the same time it is a very important coiu at times, says au exchange. It will take a circular toCalifornia and it will make you madder than a hatter and a March bare combined when you go to pay your fare on a horse-car and find that you have but four cents and a ten dol lar bill. One cent is very small, but when it is added to tbe rate of interest you receive on a stock, it possesses a stern, magnificent grandeur that car ries you away like a strain of music. The penuy, it seems, was made to put on church plates ; and, although a may say it amounts to nothing, he strike matches and lift mats and crawl about in the straw of a horse-car to find the one he drops. It is so small a coin that you have to take off your glove to take hold of it in your pocket, and yet it is so large that when the baby swal lows it, the chances of tbe baby's living are sometimes not worth a cent. Al though one cut is less than ten cents, yet one cent is a great dea' larger than a dime. Many a man bas gone thirsty all day with four cents in his pocket. For the want of that one cent tbe four were as useless as tbe eleven men on a jury who are held out against by one.