THE swrrcirfENDER.
A little white hnusp sfemed nsloop
nmong tlio M'wsominjt apple trees. It was
early morning, and all wiw light and
freshness. The diKir opened : a man np
poaml at tho threshold, a smile, oa his
face and an expectant lxk in hia eyes.
There was a niovetnent behind tli9 trunk
of an apple tree. The man's smile grew
broader, ami from the tree, like a dryad,
rushed a charming little flaxen haired
Kirl, who threw herself with a burnt of
laiiRhter into his arms.
"May I takefthe little one, CelirWsnid
tho fathor.
"Attain!'' she said, w ith a shade of an
noyance. "Oh, we share her very fairly," said
the man, with the kindest and most pa
ternal smile. "If you knew," ho re
sumed, "how quirkly the hours pass
when she is down ther with me. "
"Don't you think I know, when I find
them so long in her alwenoo?"
It was embnrrassinif. Aimee herself
began to be troubled by thisconveraation,
and feeling that she could not please both
these beings that she loved so much, she
was ready to cry. Celine saw it at once
and yielded.
"Take her, Laurence; I would rather
liave her go than feel badly about it. "
"N'o," saiil he in his turn, "keep her
you deserve it ; you love her best. "
The discussion began again, but it was
this time a struggle of generosity. At
last the husband took his darling in his
arms, and a smile reappeared on the
child's lips.
One morning, without saying anything
to Celine, Laurence took the little girl's
hand to lead her away, whon her mother
suddenly apjieared.
"What!" she said. "You would tako
her withqut telling me?"
"Don't think that." said Laurence, In
some confusion. "We were in fun wa
were going to hide behind the trees and
eee you look for us. "
"Listen, Laurence," she continued.
" Almee grows more restless and trouble
some every day. It is dangerous to let
her go with you. "
. "What do you mean?" said the man,
turning pale.
"I mean that I am afraid of your rail
road, with its trains and locomotives."
"You are very foolish. "
" Leave her here. I can hardly breathe
Trhile my little girl is down there. It is
frightful to think of it, but she might gut
away and be killed. "
'. Don't talk so, Celine. "
"She might run away while you are at
the switch, and if you left it to look after
her, you would fail in your duty, and
might be the cause of a dreadful disaster. "
The young woman did not insist. The
ewitchtender gradually recovered him
self. Celine smiled, and the conversation
ended as usual with these words from
Laurence :
"You will come for her at noon."
Little by little their terrors faded away.
Laurence reasoned with himself,
i "The child," he said, "is familiar with
the passage of trains, it is true, but she is
old enough to comprehend the danger. "
And his apprehension vanished.
One evening, however, when he went
home he found he lutd been preceded by
the rumor of an accident which had oc
curred at a neighboring station. A brake
man had been crushed by an express
train. Celine questioned her husband
while they were at supper.
"Is it true that Simon is killed?" she
asked.
"No," replied Laurence, "he was in
great danger, but he escaped, thanks to
his wonderful coolness. "
"Then he is not dead?" said Celine.
"No; and yet the whole train went
over him. When Simon saw it was too
late to save himself, he laid flat down in
the middle of the track, and when the
train passed by he got up again safe and
. sound. J saw him. I asked him how it
made him tCe At rirst. he said, when
the engine weu over mm ne wa Te,7
warm j after that ne time saemed long.
That wat alL You iow Simon is not
easily frightened. He U' ready to go to
work again," added Laov'-nce Uan
quilly. v
Some time after that the hours Ot.KerJ'
ice were changed and Laurence took tu 0
night section. He could no longer think
.Of ta.lfinr Atmaa ;fU tvl
O " 1 Li 1 14.111 ,
I One evening, however, a poor woman
in the village was taken very ill. The
doctor who dame wrote a prescription and
said to the neighbors he found there:
"These medicines can only be had in
the town and you must not wait for
them. Let one of you go to the railway
station, where there is a portable
pharmacy, and ask the station master on
my account for a little laudanum. That
will quiet the pains till you can have the
prescription. Which of you will go ?"
"Celine! Celine!" said several voices.
It was certain that the station master
would not hesitate to give her the medi
cine. The young woman thought of leaving
Airnee, but, as she had been particularly
restless all day, Celine concluded to take
her. They hud to pass Laurence's post
to go to the station. He saw them com
ing, and as soon as they were within
hearing, began to question them.
"Old Gertrude is very ill, and I am go
ing to the station for medicine. "
" That's right. But lot me have Aimeo ;
I will keep her till you come back. "
Celine lifted the little girl over the
fence to her father, who took the precious
burden in his arms and returned with
her to his box. before which a lamp was
burning. Darkness coverei the tracks,
which crossed in every direction.
It would not take Celine more than SO
minutes to get to the station and back.
The child was in one of her most frolic
some moods ; and Bhe ran suddenly into
the garden ; Laurence ran laughing af tor
her.
' "You can't catch me," said she.
" "Yes, lean."
But the little witch evaded Laurence's
pursuit, leaving laughter behind her. ,
"Here, here!" she said, and rushing to
the track becran to cross it.
"Don't co there. " darling," said her
fnthef.
It was very dark the switchtender
could hardly see his daughter.
"You can't catch me," repeated the
child.
"Come, come here," said her father.
"Look for me," answprud tho child.
"Aimee, Aimee, don't play any moro.
I shall le angry. Come here. "
"Oh, you say that because you can't
catch me!"
"Yes, I don't want you to stay there.
Th express train is coming. "
"Oh! I shan't let you catch me. Tho
train has gone by."
"There is another."
Instead of replying the child said;
Hun after me, papa, run."
iAtireiice saw there was nothing to bo
done but to run after her, and take her
out of danger. He rushed toward the
place where he heard her voice. It was
dark, and Aimee escaped him still. His
alarm increased. At any instant the
whistle of the oncoming train might be
heard, and Laurence redoubled his ap
peals. His voice was hoarse with fright ;
the fatal moment approached, and still
the child laughed ami repeated :
" You can't catch me. "
Now the whistle sounded. The lugu
brious call paralyzed the poor man, and
he lost hjs head completely. The train
would have two victims if he did not re
gain his composure. Two victims 1 It
would be a catastrophe with incalculable
conseqtiences ; for a train was stopping ut
the station a little way ahead, and if the
express was not switched off there must
inevitably le a collision. Laurence shook
off his torpor,
"Aimee 1" he cried in thundering
tones.
" Here, papa. " And the child continued
to give sharp little calls, which mingled
in the roar of the approaching engine.
The instinct of duty ratlu-r than will
urged Laurence toward the switch. lie
seized the instrument which ought to turn
the train.
"No," he exclaimed, "I must save her.
Aimee, Aimee I where are you?" and his
eyes sought to pierce the darkness.
The switchtender, with hair on end,
thought of throwing himself before tho
iron monster. Hut one chance remained
that Aimee was not on the track over
which the train must jwss. He looked
again. He saw her he saw her. Sho
was there, standing on the very track
the train must take if he altered the
switch. If the iron tempest did not take
its true course the ehild was saved. The
train would go on to crash against tho
one at tho station. What matter? Aimee
would be alive! All this went through his
mind like lightning. They would bo
killed and wounded twenty families
in despair, but Aimee would be safe and
sound. There would be an inquest ; he
would be condemned to prison, dis
honored, ruinedl But his daughter, his
little Aimee, would live and be happy.
Ah! how quickly one can think in such
terrible moments!
The train came thundering on, but it
could not be seen on account of a sharp
curve in the road. There was still time
to save Aimee, but the child would not
stir. It seemed to her father that she
waited for the train with an air of defi
ance. "Aimee," he repeated, In a voice stran
gled by fear, "Aimee, come here!"
Suddenly the advancing ligjits of the
engine appeared. The train was upon
him; it was here. The man felt his
whole being shake. He was bewildered
could see nothing; thought did not
stop, however, but traveled faster than
the train. He recalled in a second his
honorable soldier's life, when he had sac
rificed everything to duty. He saw in
the station the frightful accident he would
have caused, and heard the cries of the
wounded, the last gasps of the dying.
The problem was before him his daugh
ter or others ? There was no alternative
without a miracle.
With astonishing promptitude the sen
timent of duty became most powerful,
and he seized mechanically the handle of
the iron bar. The stoical soldier at this
moment was uppermost, and effaced the
father. He pushed, hardly knowing
what he did, and the express train crossed
the switch.
On, on it went, and he could see it
passing before the station, going by as if
it were happy to escape a danger, and
disappearing in the darkness. Duty had
been strongest. Stupefied, staggered,
speechless, Laurence was rooted to tho
k-xt, holding still the cursed handlo
whw 1,11(1 helped him to kill his child.
"NonTi" le aid, "it is my turn to die."
The oth?r train was about to pass. Ho
6tiped forward, crossed his arms, and
awaited it. The whistle sounded, the
heaving engine pulfed.
Bewildered, thinking of nothing, there
he stood.
But that instant a burst of laughter
sounded behind him. He turned, wild
with hope.
"Oh, nanghty papa! he won't play
with Aimee," said the most beloved of
voices.
The child was clinging to him. Lau
rence did not seek to know how the child
came there alive. He seized her and find
with his treasure into his little cabin,
Then he put her on the ground before the
lamp and looked at her. He could not
bear so much Joy, ana leu rainung De
Bide his daughter, who, in her turn,
screamed with terror.
At this moment Celine arrived. Sho
heard her child's voice, and hastened her
steps. Then, becoming impatient, sho
culled :
"Aimee!"
The child ran to meet her, crying j
"Mamma, mamma, I am frightonedl"
"What is the matter?"
" Papa has fallen down. "
Celine rushed toward the sentry box
nnd found her husband completely in
sensible, stretched on the ground. She
sent for help, and the doctor, who had
not left the village, came and restored
the poor man to consciousness. The
next duy when Laurence rose his wife
looked at him with terror. Instead of
his former brigllt color he exhibited a
corpse like pallor, which never left him
to the end of his days. Laurence was
forced to tell his wife all When he had
finished, the poor father turned to Aimee,
and said ;
"But. darling, why weren't you killed?'
"Why," said the child, "I did what
Simon did. "
TO PENSION OLD AGE.
JOSEPH CHAMBERLAIN'S PLAN POP
ULAR IN ENGLAND.
A Mnnmtsl t. Ilcncflt Iht Great
Working Cla Chmiibrrlnlu th.
Coming Ulna In rUillral Polillct-Th.
Lrailrr nf th IV fw Drmoerarjr,
The most bitterl reviled man in Brit
ish politics is Joseph Chamberlain, writ' s
a correspondent. Denounced as a rene
gade from his party by the official Lib
erals, as a traitor to his principles by the
Radicals, who bad looked to him to lead
the new democracy, he is pursued in plat
form and press with reproaches of scorrl
and acrimony, and his CO or more Lil-eral-Unionist
followers In parliament are
made to feel an animosity such as even
the most blatant Tories seldom arouse.
Mr. Chaiv.brlain's programme, or,
more exactly, the programme of the Liberal-Unionist
party, which he practically
formulates, seems, aside from land pur
chase and allotments, to indicate an effort
to meet the democratic spirit. The two
chief features are, first, the extension of
local government by the creation through
out the kingdom of district and parish
counsels, and secondly, tho enactment of
some plan for State assistance through
old age pensions and life insurance. It
is needless to say that the Radicals are
at ones and emphatically opposed to any
plan of government land purchase or
allotment, but the idea of the extension
of municipal powers is very popular with
them. There is a general feeling in favor
of the idea of old age pensions, but none
of the plans which have been brought
forward olicit any general support.
Mr. Chamberlain's plan concerning the
latter is that any man or woman shall be
able to go to the postolllce. and open an
account either by a small payment or by
a large payment. This may be added to
as convenient, and remaining at five per
cent compound interest double tho
amount which the Government now
allows on ordinary savings bank deposits
shall, when the contributor reaches the
age of 65, and then only, be with
drawn, in the shape of a fixed annuity
for the rest of life.
Btit Joseph Chamberlain does not
move without an army behind him.
I witnessed one of his methods at
getting at popular feeling. He had
a friend very quietly cull together
a number of representative men who
might be supposed to take interest
in the question of old age pensions, and,
while carefully refraining from setting
forth his own views, he asked for theirs.
It was a curious picture the careful, Im
passive politician sitting in the center a
clean shaven, sharp featured man of 95,
with a spare, erect figure, faultlessly
clothed in gray, and wearing a gold
rimmed monocle in his right eye and
before him, in a semi circle, types of
blunt and outspoken men from the
rough and tumble of life,
Mr. Chamberlain sard the necessity for
doing something was pressing; that none
of the present means, whether those of
fered by the government postal savings or
those offered by friendly societies, were
for some reason or other able to do any
thing worth talking about. The first to
respond were seveml representatives or
benevolent organizations having in
surance features, such as the Odd Fel
lows, the Manchester Union, the Heart of
Oak, which in general conversation are
grouped under the head of "Friendly
Societies." These representatives mani
fested a strong antagonism to the pro
posed competition of the government and
what they conceived to be an interference
with their vested interests, going so far
as to say that is subsidies were to come
out of of common taxation for the sup
port a government insurance bureau
the Friendly Societies should have the
right to demand the same subsidies, too.
Mr. Chamberlain showed that he was
prepared for such opposition, but he was
evidently not prepared for the views ex
pressed by the purely trade union repre
sentativesviews which are significant
of the education which is going on be
neath the surface. First, Ban Tillett,
secretary of the London Dock Laborers'
Union, arose and said: "1 don t see what
interest there is in any such proposal for
men who liave a hard struggle to get the
barest subsistence; men who can not
possibly save anything. And yet this is
the almost universal condition or tho un
skilled laborers of this country, men
more than any others subject to the pau
per's lot and the pauper's grave. The
difficulty I see is to get these people to
live until they are 65, or even 60."
Frank Smith, of the Omnibus Union :
"I am in favor of an 'old age pension by
the State, and I believe it should be gen
eral and compulsory. But I believe it
ill be impossible to do anything effective
without first giving all men a chance to
make a comfortable living. This can be
done only by first opening the land of
England to the workers ; by taxing the
dogs in the manger who are holding it
idle and speculating in it. liy this means
the revenue will at the same time be
raised out of which to give every man
and woman in the realm a pension after
they come of a certain age ; not a charity
fee, which, under whatever name, can be
little better than is afforded by the present
poor law, or pauper law, but a pension
that shall go to every man and woman.
rich or poor, without distinction, after
tliev have nassed a certain acre. "
Mr. Chamberlain in response said sub
j ...
stantially! "None better than I can
appreciate the extent of want and misery.
I liave found from unquestionable orn-
cial reports that a seventh of the popula
tion reaching the age of 65 are re
ceiving poor law assistance, and when
the independent upper and middle
classes are deducted the percentage of
poor people who must come to ask for
public assistance must be very large.
Indeed, I know of whole districts, whole
counties Dorsetshire, for instance-
where a very large majority of the farm
laborers, industrious, sober, thrifty men
and women, have nothing to look for
ward to but the 'workhouse in their old
age. But I am here as a politician and
a practical man. I hold that it is impos
sible to change conditions in a day, and
In carrying forward a measure .which
may only deal with the fringe of the
great army of labor we do a great deal.
PIANOS, OHGAXS SEWING MACIIINliS.
J. SALTZER'S
u mimwM ft mum mmm
With many years experience in buying anil selling musical instruments
and sewing machines I can guarantee
Pianos and Organs purchased of me,
out of order, it can easily be corrected,
nstructions given to all purchasers of
uccessfully.
The STKCK PIANO is the best
by none, lou make no
We ha'e also the
ESTEY and the STA11K
PIANOS,
And The
ESTEY, MILLER and
UNITED STATES
ORGANS.
We sell Pianos from $250 to
$6oo, and Organs from $75 to $175.
In Sewing Machines we can
MKfMW R IfcJ I MSB
We sell the best Sewing Mach
ine made for $19.50.
Jr. &aMzr, BIooMasbwrg, Pa
CLOSING OUT GOLD PENS AND PEN
CILS AT COST, at
J". C3-. WELLS.'
Bring Your Watch,
work to J.
FREE OF CHARGE
COLUMBIAN BUILDING.
C. B. BOBBINS,
DEALER IN
Foreign and Domestic
WINES AND LIQUORS.
Bloomsburcr, Pa.
every WATERPROOF COLLAR on CUFF
THAT CAN BB RELIED OX
JJOt to split 1
BE UP
TO
THE MARK
HETDS NO lAVNDfRMO. OAR IBS WIFID OLIAN M A MOMENT
THE ONLY LINEN-LINED WATERPROOF
COLLAR IN THE MARKET.
to my customers the best in the markets
can be relied upon. If anything get.
and a great deal of annoyance saved.
sewing Machines, how to operate them
made. Its tone is surpassed
mistake it you buy a bteck.
give you the Celebrated
!
it
lii
" WHITE "
The best Machine in the world.
The
H NEW DOMESTIC,
The ROYAL ST. JOHN,
The STANDARD
ROTARY
And the NEW HOME.
Clock, and Jewelry
B. WELLS. "
EYES FITTED FOR GLASSES
AT
J. G. WELLS,
grot to pijgooioi?!
BEARS THIS MARK.
mark-
Spring days are at hand and
premonitions of Mrarm weather
bring with them a desire lor
cooling dishes. Wc shall keep
Ice Cream of many ilavors
from now on, and will serve it
in our parlors day or night.
Families and parties sop
plied. Get our prices.
The Cafe is open, and the
kitchen is in charge of an ex
perienced cook. Catering for
parties, lodges, weddings, etc.,
a specialty.
Fresh bread and cakes daily
in the baker)'.
M. M PHILLIPS & SON.
Proprietors of
"PHILLIPS' CAFE."
Bloomsburg, Pa.
KESTY & HOFFMAN.
We repair Engines, Boilers, Saw Mills,
Threshers, Harvesters. Mowers and
all kinds of machinery.
WE HANDI.K
STEAM PIPE FITTINGS,
VALVES, STEAM GAUGES.
And all kinds of Repairs.
PIPE CUT TO OHDER.
AGENTS FOR
Gariiold Injector Co., Garfield
Double Jet Injector, Automatic
and Locomotive Injector.
All work done by us is guaranteed
to give satisfaction, and all work in
our line will be promptly attended to
SHOPS 6th ud CENTRE STREETS-
OLLEGE
Bl'SIXESS MAKES THE LIVING.
Vrantleul tmslnpH tmlnlnir U tho most vital
pan nf education. The limine of knowledg
inuv hp Ht'nlllrt'fl bt convenience. Tliiimliwu
training, attractively given. Hthe strong point
01 una m.'iiooi. i ompcieni mciiuy; umpio mcu
ltles. llest syatviu of
Book-keeping, Shorthand, bad-
limn Pcuntanithlpaait Tipe
writing. For both nexes. Kutcr t any time. Writ
for pun lculurs.
May lyr. A. W. Moss, 1 epa
M'Killip Bro's.
Photographers.
Only the best
work done. Fin
est effects in
light, and shade;
negatives re
touched and
modeled for sup
erior finish.
Copying, view
ing and life size
crayons.
Over H.J. Clark &
Son's store.
BLOOMSBURG.
T11III MAH."-
"'Hiruool. It
contemplate at-
g C'OUllUHI'ClUl
t will nay you
to vlKlt the HOr ilKHTKK M'NINKMt I NI VEKS.
IT Y betom dwlulntf when', though you may live
a tliouMiuid miles tiway. It Hiiimla at luu ueuil
of lUu IIhI or ciiiiimeri'lnl Holnjul lu lis churuet
crux mi eueiitlnnul force, iih a mixlliiin for
Kiipplvlnff thfl l)UHtiienH men of the country with
trtilnml and oapalile uxltiiinn, us a lueuna of
pliicluv amoliloiiH young men and women
ou the lilifh Mud to KiieeertH. and In the extent,
eleyunee and eml of II h equipment. Thorough
' COMMKKCIAL, HIIOHTIIANlt AND I'ttAtJTI
1 i'AI. K.NUI.IMI ('(H KHKM The Twenty-Seventh
Anuuul Catalogue will be mulled to any audiftu.
Willia22s.& Rogers,
KoniKSTEIf,
N. X'
Practical Machinists.