IF I WERE FAIR. If t were fnir I tf Iliad little hmiclsnnd alrndr fcvts If to my rbopk tho oolnr rich and twr ct fa mo at a word and faded at a frown; If I had diluting curls of burniftlied brown; If I bad dreamy eyoa aglow with amllm. And itroceftil limbs, and pretty Rlrllnh wiles -If I were fair, love would not turn aside. Life's path, to narrow, would be broad and wld If I were fair! If I were fnir, Pcrhapa like other maidens 1 mlitht hold A true heart's store of tried and tested gold. Lore waits on beauty, though sweet love .ilone. It seems to me, for aught might well atone. Hut beauty's rbnrm Is strong, nnd lore obeys The mystic witchery of hereby ways. If I were fair my years would seem so fowj Life would unfold sweet pictures to uiy view If I were fairt If I were fair! Perhaps the baby, with a scream of Joy, To clasp uiy neck; would throw away a toy. And bide Its dimples In my shining hair, Bowlldered by the timzp ot glnry there! But nnw-Oli, shadow of a young girl's fare, I'ncnlored lips that Pain's dull lingers traco. You will not blame the child whose wee hands close, Not on the blighted bud, but. on the rose tk rich and fair. If I were fair. Oh. just a little fnir, with some soft touch About my face to glorify It inucul If no one shunned my presence or my kiss. My heart would almost break beneath Its bliss. Tls said each pilgrim shall attain his goal. And perfect light shall flood each blinded soul. When day's flush merges Into sunset bars, And night Is here. And then beyond the stars I shall be fair! -Edith Bnlter. THE COUNTRY COUSIN. " So you are to hare a country cousin for a visitor, Seraphina ?" Yes ; don't you pity me ?" la aha so very countrified ?" " Oh, I presume so. She oomos from the northern part of New Hampshire, and is the daughter of a farmer. I have never seen her, for this is her first visit to Boston, but I hove no doubt she is a complete rustic." "Toor Seraphim, how I pity you! Will she be at your party ?" "I am afraid so, nnloss she gets home sick and goes home before. But I've no doubt she will enjoy hor visit to the city too well, and it's only a week to my party, you know. " "Why were you obliged to invite) her ?" Oh, we couldn't get rid of it Ta insisted on it, though ma and I did all we could do to prevent it. Well, I got out here. Ooodby, dear." "Ooodby, Soraphina." Miss Seraphiun Flower signalled to tho conductor to stop the car and got out The conversation between the two girls had been listened to with great in terest by a young girl in a travelling dress, sitting near by. She may be ex cused for feeling somewhat interested, for she was tho country cousin whose intended visit excited so much alarm. She would not have recognized either of the speakers but for tho name Sora phina, and tho circumstances that pointed so clearly to hor own visit. "I will ride on," she snid to herself. "I don't want Seraphiua to know that I have heard her speak of me. I will ride a mile or two further, and tako a car back. I will take care not to disap point her expectations, but appear us countrified as she expects." Edith Grunt was tho daughter of .a well-to-do fanner, and though alio had always lived in tho country, had en joyed advantages of education, not only in the solid, but iu the ornamental branches, quite equal to her cousin, while she had been a diligont student, and made much better use of them. An elderly French profo.ssor, who had set tled in a country town for tho sake of his health, had imparted to her an ex cellent knowledge of his language, while she excelled, not only as a musi cal performer, but as a singer. Of this, however, her city cousin knew nothing. Half an hour or more after Miss Sera phina arrived at home, the bell was rung by her country cousin. "Is B&js Fowler or Soraphinv to hum ?" asked Edith, with a broad Yan kee accent. "I'll see," answered the astonished servant "Who shall I say wishes to see her ?" "Her cousin, Edith Grant, to be sure, just arrived from New Hampshire." With a suppressed smile, the servant showed Edith into the parlor. Presently Miss Seraphiua sailod into the room and held out her hand in lan guid curiosity. But she was almost paralyzed when Edith mado a rush for her, enveloped her in a boisterous em. brace, exclaiming: "Why, Cousin Soraphiny, how dew you dew, and how's your ma ? I'm proper glad to see you ?" "Just as I expected." said Seraphina to herself, with an inward groan. "She's fearfully rustic. I'm very well, thunk you," she answered, coldly ; "and so is my mother. How did you come?" "I came by the horse-curs. I'vo got a check for my trunk, I guoss I cau get an expressman to get it." "I presume so." "What a stylish gown you've got on, Cousin Soraphiny 1 I wish I had one like it. "I may find one or two of my old dresses for you to wear," said Seraphiua, condescendingly. "I suppose you mako your own dresses in tho country V" "Wo get 'em cut by a droKmnukor Sophy Sykes ; she goes out by tho day 75 couts a day she charges. It's high, but she mukes 'em fashionable." "No doubt," suid Serupliiuu. with ft sneer. "Would you like to go iu vour room ?" "Yes, Kertiphiny, if you please, I'm awful dusty. Perhaps I'd belter go into the kitchon, aud if you've got such a tliiug ub a wash-basin I'll slick tip u little." "Heavens and earth 1 nhe's mirw than I expected. How eau I have her at mv party ?" thought Soraphina. "You will find a wash-basin iu your room," she said, with a ourl of the lip. lThat'g haudy." returned Edith. . The servant was oallod who UHheted i Edit h into tho chamber provided for her. Edith, Mt alone iu her room, took down her hair and arranged it iu an un becoming style, so as to completely cover hor cars, retained her travelling dress and came down stairs when the bell rang for supper. She was received coldly by Mrs. Fow ler and Seraphina, who regarded hor with evident dilnin. Hor nnelo looked at her in astoninlimont. Even ho was surprised at her evident want of taste and countrified ways, yet ho was kind. Tho next day Edith had a privnto in terview with her uncle and let him into tho secret, asking permission for tho present to continue the masquerade. Ho laughed heartily, for ho etijoyo I a practical joke. " It will be a good lesson to Seraphina and her aunt," l.o suid. "I'm really glad, though, to liud you're not quit such a rustic an you lookod." "Confess, unele, yon wero a little ashnmod of me," she snid archly. "Well, I certainly thought that if.yoi were a diumond, it was a rough onts," said tho nucle. " If I could only keen her away from my party," thought Seraphiua" a few days later. " She will disgrace us all." " Edith," said Seraphina, more gra cious than usual, ' I am going to have a party next Wednesday evoning." " Oh, won't that be nice ! Will you have ico croara and cake ?" "I have been thinking,"-said Sera phina rather awkwardly, "that you wouldn't enjoy it much. You wouldn't know anybody. "You'll introduce mo, won't you, Seraphiny ?" " I could, I suppose ; but tho fact is, Edith, you will feel out of place. Of course, you shall have all the ice cream and cake you want. I will send it up to your room early in the evening." "But I want to see the fun, Sora phiny. I never was to a city party." " That's the vory reason you wouldn't enjoy it, Edith." "Oh, yos I shall 1 I know I shall 1 I wouldn't miss it for 25 ceuts." To Seraphiua's great disgust, Edith was obstinately bent on getting to the party. She called in her mother's as sistance, but in vain. " Well, if you are determined to go, I will give you one of my last season's dresses to appear in. We are about the same height." ; "All right, Seraphiny. You're roal kind." " Kind I I'd like to choke her !" said Seraphina to herself. "What in the world made pa invite such a rustic here at this time. To be sure, she's not bad looking, if she wouldn't woar her hair so frightfully. I shall die of mortifi cation." When the evening of the party came Edith refusod all assistance and made her own toilet. She purposoly came down late. As she entered tho room her uncle, with a smile, camo forward and led her in, presenting licr with a bouquet. When Soraphina caught sight of her she started iu amazement. The grub had become a butterlly. Sho had ar ranged hor hair in the stylo of the day, had on a tasteful dress of hor own, in stead of appearing iu her cousin's lin cry, and wore au air of complete relf- possesMon, as if sho folt quite at homo. "Why, sho actually looks rospecta ble," ejaculated Seraphina to her mother. "Who could huvo dressed her ? But her speech will betray her. Gracious t there is father introducing her to tho Count le Oraumont" (a titled Frenchman, tho liou of tho evening). "What will ho think ?" "Oh, pa !" remonstrated Seraphina, in grfnit distress, "how could you intro duce that country gawk to tho Count ? It will disgrace us in his eyes." "Suppose you draw near and IMoa to their conversation," Baid her father, quietly. Seraphina did so, and was struck dumb with amazement to hear the sup posed rustic conversing easily with the Count in his own language. "Why, she knows French 1" she ejac ulated, after a pause. "I believe she does," said Mr. Fow ler. There was auother surprise. Later in the evening Edith was lod to the piano by the Count, and her bril liunt execution excited enthusiasm. "Mais, mademoiselle, but you must sing," said the Count, after rapturously applauding her. Edith bowed, and ia a moment hor pure, sweet voice filled the parlor a she Bang an Italian song. " Who is that charming singer, Miss Seraphina ?" asked a gcntlomau. "It is my cousin," answered Sera phiua, ia her bewilderment hardly knowing whether she was awake or asleep. "Not the cousin you said was so countrified, surely ?" "Oh, that was a joko," said Sora phina, confusod. "What does it all moan, Edith V" askod Seraphiua, when tho company had departed. Edith smiled. "When you were lamenting ia thn horse car that you wero to have a i-tit from a rustic cousin," sho explained, "I sat near you and heard all. J Jiit.l morely assumed the character you se lected for mo. " "And finely you've taken us nil iu," said her uuclo. "All but you, uncle," said Edith, smiling. " Well, I was taken in at first, I ad mit." lieforo Edith's visit wus over sho le came engaged to a rich voting city mer chant, and she is no longer tho '-on. i i r y cousin. Caroline F. Preston, iu Nor York Weekly. Tommy' Itmy Itutlix lnatloii. Tommy "Do hens ever pray ?" Mamma "How absurd I Why do vou ask ?" Tommy "Well. I wus just think ing that they might say 'Now I lay me.' "Yale Rocord. Furs and Winter Stylos. With the advent of the winter season which has begun during Yuletkle, the subject of "Furs" be comes, as 0 matter of fact, of perman ent importance to Modistes and their customers. Furs arc in great vogue this year and fur trimmings are more used than they have ever been. They are seen in a very great variety of combinations; and since they ornament outside garments as well ns as walking costumes, evening and ball dresses, and moreover adorn hats and bonnets of every form, one has need of a sure guide to understand what are really the correct combination of the season. J he McDowell rank ioh Journal are of invaluaWescry in this respect, giving with unerring g(V! taste, and h profusion of practi cal illustrations and all ihe necessary information. "Lx Modj de Paris' and "Paris Album of Fashions" whic h only :ost $3.50 per year, or 35 cents per copy, cadi, have the finest Parisian styles, and "La Couturiere," $3 00 a year, or 30 cents per ropy, gives the most practical French Fashions. Yearly subscribers to cither of these Journals are entitled to 1 Premium Hook on "Dressmaking Simplified," valued at $5.00. ' La Mode," $1.50 per annum, or 15 cents a copy, is the best Family Journal of Iasluon in this country. If not procurable at your newsdealer send direct to the publishers, A. Mc Doirell & Co. 4 Wtst 14th Street, JVeio J ork City. Ask for BuU's-Head Horse and Cattle Powder, prepared by A. C. Meyer & Co., Baltimore, Md. Ac cept no substitute. All dealers keep it. Price 35 cents per package of one pound, lull weight. Long-winded Lawless, HOW THE JUDGE BROUGHT HIS SPEECH TO AM END. Henry Wattcrson tells this story of Hon. B. Lawless, a former member of the Louisville bar, and wno cam e from Glasgow, Ky. He was a "long, winded" talker, and when he arose to make an argument he did not know when to stop. Un one occasion he was making a speech before Judge Ballard, in the United States Court. He had spoken several hours, and the Judge and everybody else were help less. At last Judge Bal!;rd beckoned his brother, Jack Ballard, to him and im plored him to stop Lawless if he could "Oh, that's easy enough," rcplieJ.thc brother; "I'll stop him inside of three minutes." There was a great deal of curiosity to see how this could be accomplished, as the orator seem ed to be nowhere near the end of his speech. Jack Ballard took a pencil and a sheet of paper and wrote: "My Dear Colonel: As soon as you finish your magnificent argument I would like vou to ioin iiiein the clerk's office in a bumper of fine old Bourbon." The note was hr.nded to the orator, who paused at the end of a .soaring perioi"!, drew his glahses from his pocket and read the not. He put it in his pocket and said: "And now, if i( please your Honor, and you. gentle men of the jury, I leav.- the case with you." He picked up his hat and was in the clerk's oli'icj in about a minute. The ScMiit.ific American, or Town To) ncs for the coming year can be obtained cheap at this office. tf. I have had catarrh for twenty years, and used all kinds of remedies with out relief.. Mr. Smith, druggist, of Little Falls, recommended Ely's Cream Balm. The effect of the first application was magical, it allayed the inflammation, and toe next morning my head was as clear as a bell. I am convinced its use will effect a permanent cure. It is sooth ing and pleasant, and I strongly urge its use by all sufferers. Geo. Teiry, Little Fal's, N. Y. A Healthy Woman Never has the blues. Nor that "don't-care" or want-to-be-left-alone" feeling. She is always happy. No painful female com plaints crush out her life. No ovarian troubles, inflammation or ulceration, no spinal weak ness, no fainting, no bloating. She is never melancholy, irri table, excitable, nervous, dizzy, or troubled with sleeplessness and fainting spells. Have you any of the symp toms named ? Beware of the beginning of evil. LydidE. Piukhanis Vegetable Compound is the sure cure ol the cause. It may be the uterus or womb; what- yzTs .1.,. ' ..-.v W ever uiu cause is tf Compound ex- j pel;j the disease . V: r:- and stops pain. t?F$h ah ar,1Ki.u ,ii it. jM;$$&&L AiUlnss in iniitii cm, 'l5L'Wr' -J. J I.vuiA 10. 1'ink.iam Mud. "'L 7 Co., I.vnn. Mass. Z'WC. nj Livur Pills, 'J ouuta. Great Reduction in Winter Goods. A hm mrt hi nrir.m rvFWlritrvr (lion) its IWl-1 must ibo deareiil out to malto way for lb o convinced that yon can ibny a Win, tor DYEiRCOAT or S UIT tor less mon ey limn m&r Ibetbre. For the next 80 clays we mil show you genuine B .A. IR, C3- Z IsT S. Our Line is smaller than it was, although there is still a large Stock to select from. Don't miss the opportunity to secure a BARGAIN from the old OLD RELIABLE CLOTHING HOUSE of D. LOWENBERG. THE "MAN WHO SMILES." "There is a man in our town" He's not so wondrous wise, But in selecting goods for sale, The BEST he always buys. He has a line of IMPLEMENTS With which no fault is found, But through the Country far and wide. Their praises still resound. Farm wagons of the "Kkystone" make; The finest grade on Earth One glar.ee at which will serve to show Their undisputed worth. Binders, Mowers, Drills and Rakes ; Farm tools of every sort, A list of which would be too long, So we must cut it short. The Farmer's GRAIN he buys for CASH, For CASH, his Buckwheat Flour; And the highest Market Price he pays That lies within his power Are you acquainted with this man ? His trade extends for miles, He always tries to please his friend? ; He is THE MAN WHO SMILES." GRAIN, BARK. SEEDS, FLOUR FEED. BALED HAY, Etc. AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENTS AND REPAIRS. BLOOMSBURG, PA. imm (WHIG AI MT MSI Comes to the front with the LARGEST ASSORTOiEOT AND MAKING AND FITTING .-.OF THE.-. Best, tlie newest and Most Stylish, Lowest in Price; iwul to prove satisfaction is onr I3n3cavor The best value for Money is to buy your Clothing, Hats, Shirts, Neckwear, Trunks and Valises of Corner ot Main and Centre Streets, BLOOMSBURG, PA. WNEXGE&ZiBB MABE TO &EBEE. Largest Clothing and Hat House in Columbia and Montour Counties
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