The Merry Spring. 1 need must sing, my heart is light; If thine be dull and aching, Look up, look up, the sky is bright, And stormy clouds are breaking. What ho, what ha, the merry Spring ! See, Winter vexed and vanishing; Who robbed the tyrant of his sting ? Who but the merry, merry Spring. To life and love awaking. Away with tears; there be but fow That do not speak of sorrow; Unless, like sunshine on the dew, A beam of hope they borrow, Lo, on the lawn, so newly cropped, The diamonds that Spring has drooped, What time the morning star o’er-topped The eastern hills, and lingering stooped To bid the day good-morrow, A —— The Dead Child and the Mocking. Bird. {The following poem is in RO sense A Mon fancy. On the contrary, the strange, incident it memoratos actually not long ago in the neighborhood of Jackson ville, Florida.) nathotie pw oom ON Onee, in a land of balm and flowers, Of rich § ne bowers Where the wild Trail oer Floridian s« wreak AN, We marked our Jeann Athwart the twin She scomed a Hebe d A Dryad in the shade And all day long her winsome song, Her trebles and soft iridls Wonld wave-like tk Die down the whisper [ils ng 3 i One morn midmost the & A dark gray pinks And hark ! along the © diage dim What strange voice blends with It blends with hers, which soon is 1s » ¥ we hind ¥ ta Braver the mock-hind's note Than all the strains that ever fille ian throat | n ninety Font Phas we The queaniiost han loved As Jeannie heard, Aud sought thenceforth to share With her new favorite, dawn by ¢ Har daintiost morning hi his Buatah! a From so ae eras wild, 3 va iol # x fav | i ¥ i] Brought that dark Shadow feared of me Across the fated ehil l It chilled her dx It dimmed he And. like an aw! All pulsaless, pale, The sole The a3 adi SWHee GG) fluttering bax Ol a8 Chasiened Whose rhythmi Above our darling’ y The fancy passad When, stolen fix 1 found ourn The five of His } And, merge Maiden and bird ! Their weddex While the lo WITH THE BEST INTENTIONS. There's no doubt abont it that Robin- son was a good fellow at heart, and meant well; but it's astonishing what an amount of trouble a man may bring upon himself by undertaking too much for Lis fellow-creatures. 1 don't sup pose there was another man in our store that took the interest Robinson did in the different wardrobes of his fellow clerks. If a man got a new hat Robin- son noticed it right away; wanted to kuow where it was bought, when and why, and generally concluded by say- ing that if the purchaser had consulted him he might have made a better bar- gain. And I've no doubt he would. Robinson would have made it a point to favor him with his influence and expe- rience, both of which were considerable. The same way with coats, or pants, or boots, or anything! Bat, notwithstand- ing all this, very few of our boys con- sulted Robinson in these matters: they generally bought their articles with a reckless indiscrimination that was pain- ful to a man constituted as Robinson was. It seemed hard, when a man took the interest in his fellow-creatures that Robinson did, that his motives should be misconstrued and unappreciated. I remember when I bought that new ul- ster of mine, 1 disliked, for some reason or other, to see Robinson. I had a ridiculous aversion to telling him just where I got it, and when, and how much it cost, and what I did with the other one. It was a kindly sympathy on Robinson’s part, there's no doubt about that; but it was wasted, so far as our boys were concerned. * Why don’t the fellow mind his own business ?” they said. ““ What does he want to manage other people's concerns for?" SoIwasglad when hetold me, confiden- tially, that he was about to be married. 1 felt then that his interest would be so absorbed in the one object that it would be impossible to diffuse it all over the universe, Robinson seemed to have found a treasure. Of course eversbody thinks 80; but I knew that Robinson would know more, and see more, and be less likely to be deceived, than other men, aud he had, as I supposed, gained the confidence of the family into which he proposed to marry. I was afrdid his projected mother-in-law might objeet to some of Robinson's ways, but he told me he got on with her splendidly. I thonght she was a remarkable woman, not altogether because she got on so well with Robinson, but from Robin- son’s conversation I imagined she must be very clever. “The fact is,” gaid Robinson, ¢ we are mutually interested in the same topics. We sit and talk about domestic matters for hours together, while Annie thums over her new piece on the piano, and Mrs. Page has told me, time and again, if there's one thing more than another she admires in my character it’s | the interest I take in little domestic details that most men despise or hold in | riage is a sacred obligation.” “Undoubtedly, Robinson.” “And requires study, Smith. I wouldn't have been a successful buyer if I hadn’t inquired into all the little intricacies of our line of business.” “ You certainly can judge of a good article, Robinson.” “ Ab, Smith, the one I've secured now is beyond price. kind of goods a man wants to rest his eyes upon when he's tired of shams and shoddies. Annie isn’t brought up to dazzle and deceive. Her mother has faken great pains to inculcate in her daughter qualifications of mind and character that will make her a good wife and mother. Mrs, Page is an excellent woman, Smith,” 3 . And I suppose her daughter is like er “Well, no, Smith. She can’t con- verse and reason as her mother can, nor has she her mother’s appreciative quali- ties. Annie's mind is less astute.” “ Well, she’s young yet.” “She's as simple and pliable as a lit- tle child. I'm a happy man, Smith.” I was delighted to hear him say so, and told him so, and at the wedding I expressed it as my opinion that his hap- riness would last. I was charmed with bis wife. She seemed such a nice, jolly - FRED K VOLUME XI1V. loditor and C HALL, 00. PA., TH 26 URSDAY, MAY XX r 'ERMS: 82.00 a 1881, in NUMBER 20. little creature, so unaffected and simple in her manner, and had a wonderful MAGNE h She was as plump und as a little partridge, with big black melting eves and a pretty little mouth, 1 can't say 1 was so much drawn to her mother a fine woman, with a deep voice, and thing very firm about the contour her Jaw. Mrs. Page had shey call character in her face than her danghter would ever have: but 1 haven't the admiration for a face with ch that some men have. Robinsor aid | 1d of this « BIN carta i Robinson ; stism about her, 1 i Ag and She was woking SOO of more of what racior y alwavs Na spent } hour talking with 1 was chatting with away convinced that a very pleasant thi like Robin ors be ‘ wife and my bachelor gua: \ : Ing gy 3 wd + must Littl with ¢ io son's, looked excoad forlorn I took linary interest in Robinson's it was, but was sorry to see a cloud S1X and matrimonial horizon before months were over, “We've gone to housekeeping, you know,” said Robinson, “1 afraid y world want + Was al her, but Mrs. Page agreed was better t ild a little y took the kindest nd wanted to go A : : ith Annie an Le ham dome L: } + I ef mos hn it ie 1% nest of our own. terest in evervthi hunting w nek out the furn already hot 2 sedured a the furniture of frien i 2d mine in business, who would favor me in prices. As to bed-linen, carpets and things of I got ¢ in the In h name, ds of y A here store eaven's is own rniture ne “unless it may be privilege.’ ith. Annie said tle woman in my arm Ps and felt my heart ligh that she was g took and tened somehow had i the dear litt 3 kisse d her of a very heavy load rested th my last interview with her But Mrs. Page's manner 1s very unpleasant, Smith—very. I don't want to say that she accuses me {f robbing Annie of » hap- mt she conveys some such im- on to my and it feel like a malefactor. I'm fond of my wife that the thought of depriving her of the smallest joy is mistry to me.” “Well, these little trifles will all come Robinson. It n-law lived with 10's only round the corne I thought when I house, that it would be so comfo for Annie t ive near her old and have the attention and advice of } mother. Asheavenismy j ¥: ere since mother, . mina, 3 makes me 80 Isnt as if vour you." : ol that ol 1 I have i¢ d 0 take every bur my wi I've opened accounts the neighboring grocer, butcher, bake and hired an excellent servant. I leave for sundries, which I at the first of every e with the other ac- in again with a elear n certainly ought 10 De happy to do but enjoy h I've even persuaded her to put all ber little expenses down ia my book, so th knows where every penny of her money goes; and, as I said before, I take care of the house- bold expenses myself. The servant comes to me every morning for orders before I go t so that Annie r knows what she's going to have r ne Could a man do more than $ ‘ fe. be MI 1 ne has not g erseil. Al 8hie ™ o business, { 3 ghtdo less, Robinson, I'm only a miserable bachelor myself, and know nothing about women ; but 1¢ question is, if you're not erring on 1e@ generous side—if you're not taking oo much upon yourself.” “A man can't do too for the woman he adores.” Just then a customer came was glad to get away. dently had the best intentions world. He loved his wife. He even esteemed his mother-in-law. I never saw a man work so hard in what he con- sidered his line of duty, and so utterly fail to recommend it to others, as poor Robinson. Bat he began to be brighter and apparently happier. The anniver- sary of his wedding was close at hand, and he was interested in a gift to his wife. “I was puzzled what to get,” said Robinson. *“ Yon see she's got almost everything, Smith; her wedding pres- é embraced many little adorn- ments and knickknacks. At last I hit upon a black silk dress—a woman can't too many, and I can get a bargain down in the store just now. Sle said she'd rather have the money and buy it outside; but I persuaded would be foolish. So she's to chocse the trimmings thi and if she comes while I take care of her, won't you?” “ With pleasure,” aid. happened Robinson away, and seemed bring all sunshine with her. I told her that her husband had left her in my care, and begged her to use me in any way that suggested itself to her; that it would be my happiness to serve her. I suppose there was an honest fervor about this dgclaration that impressed Mrs. Robinson. It had so happened that I was able to show her some little “ Perhaps he mi ng v } i wroh Smith nuen, Smita, ms in, and I R ybinson evi- in the + Nis 80 i y 3 have that she was the for the many that her husband had done for me. I bad told her I was under obli- gations to Robinson. Of course I didn’t explain that it was in his desir ing to help me select my hat and coats and boots; it wasn't necessary to enter into these little deta; mt she under stood *hat a natural gratitude on my part led me to send her in return a few little trifles, like bouquets, or new books, or music, or opera tickets, once ls, l of mine that day at the store, that I would be happy to serve her, came straight from my heart. “You are so good and kind,” she | said. Then all at once an eager wist- | fulness leaped into her eyes. I could | Mr. | said. “Do,” I replied. your generosity.” { “Oh! I wonder if it will be right ?” | she said, clasping her little gloved hands, and looking up in my face with | a charming air of indecision. “I won- | der if I ought to do such a thing ?” | ** The fact that you desire to do it is | a proof that it is blameless,” I replied. dare ask you to do me a favor, Smith—a very great favor,” she i“ I | said; ““and it is perfectly blameless. { I've set my heart on giving my husband | a present upon our marriage anniver- ys 1? BAT) w- ‘Is that all, Mrs. Robinson.” i | with her parasol, with an air of vexation. | Bhe was looking upon the floor now, | and a warm color burned in her cheek. | “It's so hard to explain to you,” she said. “TI don’t like to borrow money of | mamma, because she don’t understand my husband, and makes so many un- | pleasant remarks, and it’s quite a large | sum I want for the present. I'm afraid {it will cost ten dollars.” 1 hesitated, and her color grew more and more vivid, “Ten dollars isn't a very larg 1 said i had den tide d wanted to ask me to lend her the but didn't know he y about | 1 was at loss how to help h two onisp fi bills pocket, but how to get them | was a problen In th me was flying and Robins now that s Ww to g Yt dolla han ti back, “You understand my husband, Mi Smith, ] i 3 You know how kind And good 0 mae, He has told me hi confides in you wm must i & O he is w he Know he 1s th earest, best “Of course 1 do y brother . fer hate Ar. Smit War but 1 want to s I wouldn't care to it wasn't a surprise “Of course you wouldn't, Mrs son. Any | way would dram an place. jast how you feel about 1.” “And houghtfu 13 80 anxious to relieve me of that he knows just Gunny goes | and, oh dear, it's Big tears gathered in her beautiful eyes; it was too much for me “1 understand it all, Mrs, Robinson,” “Don't fret over su e as this,” and I thrust the two Har bills in her hand. was on her feet in an in White now to her lips, and an awful ex it il vol even to moment, h tell hin i prise i 1 aller Hn anything if \ iy il gi i QLher d common: my husband is so t he A care, where every 4 RL p too bad i stant. pression in her eves of reproach, rage, regret, heaven knows whatand all, five-dollar bills had droppe i on al “ Good-morning, sir,” she have been mistaken in husband I could n Was i seamed about ten ont of our depar SOI YOu, "ry @ foreign oases screened us from observation. some time before I conld pick up bills, I felt stunned, bewilde: exceedingly humiliated and n I had made an of i and innocently outraged th s of this excellent little woman I was most desirous to serv When Robinson came back h it 0 strange that his wife hadn't for him. He wanted to know when si ne, how 1 he staid rw hether she down or stood up, or said she'd come in again, and if so, when. At last I wa desperate, and went out into the Before I knew what I was I was uptown, and ringing the bell of brown-stown house that Robinson hi: The sorvant he had sel door, and showed me had furnished. His down to me, and the mo: the parlor I saw that and kind heart had gained again. “* Not another word, Mr. Smith,’ said, when I began pouring out gies and explanations. ‘1 was to blame {i I wanted sell something of mine for money h t oil aNs Way, in ong 8 n a MK oF Al Al their own wr it all. elp me to There, now, t If 1 had only tol the at cost. f it. ead of at way | ge ha pit 15% 5 ir beating about tl But I've given up that idea, because he'd be sure to know if 1 part ed with anyt ; he'd know if a silver thimble was gone, But I've hit upon another plan, and I'll tell you all about it, if hear." “ Of course I'd like to claimed. “ You are an a woman to forgive that stup mine, 1 was misers offended youn; and your hus added, for I thought I noticed a gro ing rigidi in her manner from the word * ble,” ““ we are like broth ers, Mrs. i : ' hing, he's so interested ul you’ ty RO r ad ty TR You kn YW - s + 3 ' Drotaers | “ Well, I'll tell yon to do, Mr. Sm st bh mith. av amar Ri Vy conn lone it : wonldn' ] have ny dressmaker, Lu twenty dol make it ourselves, and take That will be really my own money, because I shall earn it my very own. Isn't it a capital idea?” “Splendid I" I said; and shortly after I took my leave, thinking all the way down to the store what an amount of trouble Robinson innocently gave that dear little wife of his. > We settled upon a dressing-case for Robinson before I left that day, and Mrs. Robinson and I had to go together ¢ at the different varietic and I dadn’t want ing in a hurry, and then afterward; and present, ner ng y of these to choose be sorry altogether it was aston absorbed 1 that dressing-case, of nothing else. became in the mrehase of 1 s thio t zh Che anniversary of Robinson’ ling came upon a Baturday and the next morning I was walking in the park, thinking it all how happy Robinson must have been when she surprised him with the dressing. case, and what a eonfoundedly lucky fellow he was anyway. I fell into quite a sen timental mood. 1 suppose the scene around me had somethmg to do with it. It was one of those delightful mornings in May, when happy ripple: ran throngh the grass, and young shrubs burst suddenly into bloom and verdure. Birds sang gayly in the hedges and the air was full of a vague perfume. Some white-winged butterflies flitted by. 1 took off my hat. Though a little bald, I enjoyed the soft radiance of the sun shine. 1 began to understand how at certain seasons a man might slip into rhyme, or matrimony. All at once this celestial silence broken by an advancing figure. It was Robinson—and alone. His head was bowed, his hat jammed over his eves ; the only part of his face that was at { first visible was of an ashen hue. His whole aspect was one of unntterable misery and despair. “ Good heavens, wed { evening, over was {obinson,” I eried, rushing up to him and seizing his arm, ‘has anything happened to your wife?” “Tomy wife? Yes,” he said ; and 1 sank into one of the iron benches, 1 thought she was dead, and was relieved | to hear the next sentence. Relieved, | though startled, { “My wife has left me, Smith. | gone home to her mother.” | “Left yon? Gone home to her | mother? Why, wasn't last night your | anniversary ?" | “Yes; that was how it came about; { that was the way I found her out, { Smith. She's deceived me-—-shamefully | and persistently deceived me, and yef, | miserable wretch that I am,” added { Robinson, sinking into the seat beside { me, and covering his face with his | hands, ““I love her still.” | “Yon have deceived yourself in some | way,” I cried, naturally indignant and { incrednlous, “It is some miserable | mistake of your own. Iknow that your | wife is the soul of integrity and honor.” { “God bless yon, Smith!” he eried, grasping my hand fervently. * Would to heaven I could believe what you say! Up She's I was the happiest man in i went home « arly, oppod at Mrs ra 8 dressmaker, to see if | and His black Y Way sb Jones’, y 3 Wile 1 silk was done,” “ What “* Her black vobiinson “the ¢ about that it I guve pay for In On MY Way be no disap } DALUral, she said Yas At Mrs y gost twenty dol hiad ii 1 was it 1 ut why was 1 so ertad, , just stopped You » a violent She into tally shamefully. g is painful 4 “lic ti : § woman waiting ere Lhe AE The First, on lows now Spapers i si newspaper 1600, st p litical paper 1733. First religious paper the, Ohio, 1814. First agricultural paper “armer, Baltimore, IKI, First commercial paper ent, Now Orleans, 1822. First penny j New York, 15833. First Ney y Mornin aper independent Herald, York, 1830. illustrated paper paper Years, Boston daily Vitness, Now illustrated religious paper ly, New York, 1871, "Si paper wast of the Mississippi Republican, St, Louis, 1808, First illustrated daily in {s aphic, Now York, 1873. First Woman's Rights Seneca Falls, N. Y., 15847. The Lily was started by Mrs. Amelia Bloomer, now an honored res it ol Council Bluffs, The Lily flourished sis yeurs, [own is the fifth State in the Union in the total namber of publications : New York leading with 1,289 ; Pennsyl vania, 830 ; Illinois, 832: Ohio, 603; and Towa, 510. In the matter of sub. scriptions, about 200 Iowa papers charge £2.00 per annum ; 200, §1.60 ; and the ys A $1.20 and the world Lily. paper he rest divide up between $1.00, R170 The total number of publications in the United States is placed at 9,723, representing polities, religion, science, commerce, the trades, finance, £43, Amuse. ments in short, avery interest, OCCU tion and profession has its organ. The oldest paper now extant in the United Stat is the Mercury, of Newport, BR. I., which was established in 1758. The number of newspapers in the world is over twenty-three thousand. 55150 Beaconsfield, Many anecdotes of the late Earl of Bea- consfield are told around the firesides of High Wycombe by his peasant neigh- bors, “How is the old man to-day?" said a laborer to the earl's coachman, not knowing that his lordship was in- side the carriage. “I'm quite well, thank youn,” said he, with a merry twinkle in his eye as he popped his head through the carriage window. Overtaken in his own grounds by two intrusive women who did not him, and who asked whether this was “ Dizzie's place,” swered their inquiry and directed them to a place from which they might get a The women were considerably non plussed to learn afterward that they had been addressing the earl himself. An exchange chronicles the fact that la New York policeman has been pro- | moted for eatching a cold. THE FARM AND HOUSEHOLD, —— Making Trees Frulttiul, often don't question is asked thrifty-l and a de he ooking trees bear fruit, had from them, Oftentimes there much hurry for fruit in such cases have known owners of trees discon Our opinion, there had A tree hn ured in its ented, when, is been no time lost bearing 1s growth thereby, proceed so rapidly fruit-bearing is gon But lesimble to have fruit nse of growth as growth does not when g on, y OF & red soil as to keep up a wo long, and in such withheld from the When no other Way $ Open, root pruning sometimes resorted to supply of food is ned in that shonld be d that no should bx the stability of way, soo in he shorts WAY, Care GX areis large roots Pattening Fowls, What a different taste a fine, nicely and q vckly fatted fowl has when serve a the table, compared with one which i forced to for all its and then consigned to the spit in anything but a fit conditic food! the of 4 Of ig hias been scratch living, bi it Farmers realize fattening importanee when feedi § beeves for the | ier, yot many do no. seem to realize the fact that what holds good with that kind of meat is equally hen applied to fowls, Tender iness are results of fattening Ary flavor and from letting sg fatten s absolutely food as will aces , and to this end liz kl § 183K ) § f nere ordin result intl wanted for ne 10 fowls neces. HL» st recommend plenty fr thick. with a eracts the other and { d H ¢ i Wi in n any state from fresh to be fed in one count Ha darks i pha t n muk, with gran {« u will i connection for Figs wy 240 Wil tha 8 $1 i : YU BONO 14 fF vis sift Tv th harrow he rows ; t (he start yy 1 3 ap All mnd for gr the 3 1 good dre asing I wired it will be before wr we field aft olaloes are nu § B YOY ¢ariy oro necessary to spro ' planting. Wiatoos into 8 pieces piace In a taloes nd r to six weeks 1 Lie open : room from i for plantu & Lime rd VIROrous, they will sen rapidly than e ordinary way. An ince the sets v fn wore they are wanted, 11 ‘ § n fr ily a tO } at as in ots will 80 thal as { ont those treat r method bed and then hh eat will cause 1 If the Colorado j its appearance t 1a t3 with shi roots in th othe in Bot {Wo nut « 8 irse 3 Hy §1 11k hat th m "0 whos he nated mixed with about eighty parts of plas wl is better, mix paris in water, two tablespoonfuls to a apply with a small brush or Take care to mix mixture » paris green will settle Two or three applica vill usually su y boeotles, tato beetle 1 i viles must be d Aris green al the green I¢ pail, and 1 ysl iy i broom. ae Hg the se 1 » 11 O clear off all Farm and Garden Notes, and pond 4 Keep goslings AWAY from the fledg od. Wheat chaff, and bran and a little salt makes for sheep. * White clover is better for sheep than the re d, as it is shorter ter grazing. young ducks until they are mixed with 0 good fe { d wot, and makes bet- A wash of carbolic soapsuds occa sionally will prevent insects to cattle, he annovance of The value of agricultural salt asa fertilizer, it would appear, is becoming widely recognized, judging from the steadily increasing demand, Guinea fowls will keep all bugs and insects of every description off garden vines, They will not scratch like other fowls or harm the most delicate plants, A nes lected, poorly fi dd, stinted lamb however well fed after. ward, so as to make as good and as large wep as it would had it had proper care early. Feed the ewes so that they can supply the lambs th plenty of th milk. ROVEr recovers, i sl @ wi The best place for turnips is a spot on which brush has recently been burn. ed. The soil is fresh, and moist and the ashes aid not as a ferti] izers for the very Jdements that turnips require, but it Keeps he fle, D i onnl only wwav i LOL sow nn dry tia, : Clover a nitrogeneons and al«o a potas] lL , lovey containing lanents than the t althou:h the former will not sell for pear as winch as the 1dter, consequently elover hay should be sold ofl the Rancid tter mav be recovered sweetened by washing well first in new n and afterward in cold spring water, butyric acid, on which the ranecidity depends, being freely soluble in new milk. The above recipe has been found to answer perfectly, Strawberry plants cannot be multi plied from the seed, a= there is nothing cortain about it. Acres might be sowed with the seed, and not a berry be obtained worth cultivating, bat in good rich soil a plant will put out run. ners so that fifty good thrifty plants may be obtained the first season after inv tore of these + Ios Fingli