The Bumble-Bees’ Nest, A colony of bumble-bees Onoe built their nest within a meadow fair, Beneath the brilliant yellow buttercups And silver daisies there. They gathered honey from the flowers With busy ham, until one summer day With clattering soythes the sturdy mowers came To sweep their home away. Between the mowers and the bees A fierce and earnest battle soon began ; The mowers ran. Oh learn this lesson from the bees: The humblest creatures that the world con tains May win a battle if they fight. —Kugene J. Hall, nn nn NOOO 50 A Pathetic Poem, Mare Cook (Van Dyke Brown"), the young poet who died in Utica, N. Y,, recently, of consumption, left one or two poems touching his sickness and the prospect of his early death, which are very pathetic. Here is one with a sigh in every line: AWAITING THE END Never again to know Health's warming, radiant glow ; Never again to feel the pulse's quickened beat, The sinews pliant as steel, temperad in aotion’s heat, The sweat of honest toil, bringing its respite sweet But day and night, night and day, To mark the body's slow decay, And know that Death scores one in the game {In sunshine and shadow all the same), Every day, every day ! Never again to dream Of all that may be, or seem, In the sunlit future hid from the eager eye of youth; Never to raise the lid of the precious casket of truth; Never to hope to delve in the fleld of thought, forsooth : But day and night, night and day, To watch the hours waste away, Still in the world and still not of it—— Still learning more and more to love it Every day, every day! Never again to stand In the In the God-led batile } 2 ate! AAT | thick of the hattle grand fo, the goodiiest of all, Where noble it were in the strife, manfully BS edt iw ow iy fighting to fal Never in actions eall— Bat day and ni To passively sit and 1ks to answer the bugle ight and day, {ch the fray, With a skeleton specter always nigh Oh, worse than a thousand times to die Every day, every day! THEIR COMMON BOND. ted ) } the las DL Several explosive sneezes interruj Loye ! touches of ¢ iringe of cur! on her { energetic and caused untary cour brows ghtful little frown which was peculiar to her, and looking medi she Travis added 1g disorder to onze hair which kk As a particular ™ rent t an » by he air perform ; straigh thi i pj ¥ 11% iil Lat LAIUG met mirror ed that her blue-gray eves were inflamed, and that her pretty nose, with its suspicion of tip-tilted- ne his occasion, more than # Suspicion oi iin ess, “1 can't have taken a cold,” L meditated. * It must be; ves, it is t fifteenth of August!” she exclaimed, as she glanced at the calendar which hung on the wall of her room. “It has come!” she announced, solemnly, as walked the room where he family were led at 1} 30 3 tatively into the ODSeT Vv had Ss, had, on tn ie irl Hg * it she into assem! reak- "hat? The Day of ' 1 Lalued Judgment, or Kate, fli “What dogged my footsteps since teens, lying in wait for me, : ng upon Cision eve August ? I ask you, holds 1 clute from that date onward, making me sneeze, and gasp, and cough at its own sweet will—{ not mine, I assure you!) until frost releases me from captivity? Of all sad words of t« p The saddest are, * Hay d pol me with mathematical r 1 year on the fifteer 3. 3 ne hes in its in Aid 3 “again” p ” she continued, with mock despair and real vexation. “But,” brightening, and speaking with sudden resolution : vis well for us all that a region lies Where the infasoris never rise,’ and I'm going there this summer | Mrs. Travis, Kate and Johnny stared in amazement. Had Loye developed latent lunacy? Only last evening they had all assembled in solemn con- clave to discuss ways and means pay the butcher's bill, and here was Loye coolly announcing that she was about to take a pleasure trip ! “How?” inquired Kate. Khe'tl $a) m i She'll tal 1" oO knapsack on her back, And travel on the railway track,”’ sang Johnny, in an irritating falsetto, “ You know I'd be glad to have you go to Michigan, or to some of those Northern States, dear, but”— began Mrs Travis. i “Yes,” interrupted Loye, “I know the family exchequer is not filled to overflowing. jut I have a plan, and if Kate and Johnny will stop glaring at me as if I were a two-headed lady, I'll tell you about.” 3 She accordingly unfolded her plan, and, after many feeble jokes and much scofing on the part of Kate and Johnny, great perplexity on the part of Mrs, Travis, and much triumphant proving of points at issue on the part of Loye, she won her mother's con- sent to what she to do, and cheerfully dispensed with the approval of jeering Kate and Johnny, * * * * * * One afternoon, late in August, Don- ald Trafton stood by the river at a Wisconsin summer resort skippin stones. As he was sauntering along the wooded banks of the Lae la Belle, its smooth expanse shggested a re- newal, at thirty, of one of his sports at ten. Acting upon the s gestion, he had collected a small mou tain of thin, smooth stones, and for the past ten minutes or more had been laboriously trying to make them ski; properly. But instead of giving the graceful little leaps which Trafton had expected them to do as a matter of oh nd wished boi sh (Te 4 surface of the river and then plunged at once beneath. They made a pretty show of sparkles and dancing rings on the water, it is true, but they were not by any means fulfilling the duty of skipping stones. Donald paused and ruefuily admitted that his success was not brilliant. So evidently thought an unseen spectator, for, to Trafton’s an apparition in an ivory flannel dress, with a dark green sailor hat atilt on a bronze confusion of curl and wave, and a pair of * Eves of a deep, soft, lucent hue, Eyes too expressive to be blue, Too lovely to be gray,” met his with the direct gaze of a child, while a sweet voice pleaded : “ Oh, please let me show you!” spread his face, and he met the gaze of the pretty stranger with a look of re- cognition and pleasure which was in- stantly suppressed. Shedid not notice this look, however, for her fingers were tingling for the skipping-stones as an artist’s may tingle for pencil and brush when he sees them used by unskillful hands. Trafton making no reply to her request, she again pleaded; «Oh, do let me show you!” He yielded his place at once to the incognita in ivory-and-green, and, after VOLUME XV. Kditor TERMS: 82.00 a 26, a 1882, Year, in Advance. EE a it. gah nesta of AI NUMBER 43. | f rat! | ¢ il u the h 3 a ly . . thlessly demolishing Hy-bui ¥ I'rafton’s milt mountain, she gleaned scattered mes a few with her approval, and “show ™ him. How pretty as she stooped poised on t ing careful aim! th her | hair blown by the winds less curly tendrils, her heavily on her cheek on peach and resolute ll dimples deepening at her mouth, Trafton thought never seen anvthing more satis to look upon. : In another hat std that pro tia } \ sie he hank, < ike a ANN yhiy ATTY blossoms, L 3pinn ent it 8) its surface separate tin quick, satisiic accomplishynent of ited ‘There axciiag couldn t hd i iv, 4 a ¥ ¥) unknown g POSSession upon Us OS) . 3 Gals €vesS as Nae . } p hersedd “Your said the I alle » . 3 JUV were ically, nor 1 teacher Travis!” The tabl pletely ated, 1 Ye Raynor! a4 Miss herself I. Tied 1 3 DIOL as ' : explain ling these y Fou ex ty Of rth of Galatea, m Donald Traf- I'rafton & Det- } ha I dave to meet you “ We have « for two mont we mother’ oe : . Have Deel been alin to church and added, wi “ Someti ito absolutel have a dime t« to some choeol only chosen to stoves and n have been avoided. DBut you earned what a temper I stale cho raftnirng 4 i returning 1 “ls " + Udrkegreen afternoon a He hun wish that t nd sped AWAY, after her to express a hey might meet often, She i, but jeu 4] merely tossed ' i pondered, shrugging his in “ For what 1. - . $3 VOrK {or fancy idieness ) she Trafton shoulders fancy v thrown me over, 1 like the rest of fallen under the sunflowers i carrying her devotions even for their wsthetic . chews the society of her kind.” Trafton felt «. a8 well as net- tled, by Loye's cavalier his requ st. He was by vain ; still, he could not scious that he had a well figure and a remarka face; and he knew young ladies who would not prefer his annoyance, womat and cat-t Alaze 5 dismissal of no but nit, means be athletic bly handsome Con there were fow society to seclusion, even when | hit- ened by the yellow charms of the mo gorgeous sunflower hat ever | Kansas prairie or bloomed chair-back. He reflected, | { that Miss Travis’ apparent check upon his advances might be ish thorn, intended to st ulate him into seeking the rose, her- self, And then he fell to wondering if he would see her at the lawn social that evening. He had told her that he lad seen her sometimes at church, but he had not informed her that, after his first sight | of her there, he had affended its ser- | vices regularly for the sole purpose of | looking at her. | He had strolled into the Episcopal { church at Fort Raynor, and his atten- {tion had been attracted by a very | pretty girl who looked, as she listened to the sermon, like a child listening to an absorbing fairy story. Her eyes were wide and attentive, her thrown a little back and her slightly parted. Loye never posed for effect, but she had a way of doing heartily whatever she did, which habit included even listening to a rather poor sermon. ir Tor Id dit t FIOM upon however Mite i jor ing and stim- only a ci combination of earnestness quancy, his prayer-book, sermon and song. Ie had never been able to ob- tain an introduction to its owner, for the tim hav-lever coming ax to this a find that afternoon "hen ¢ for lad, north Miss ft away from it I more been i Was mu aiid ¥ fit fldve espect at last restored,” “ Wy Fised ei have mutually h other a with a sibility of in store, materials ove, her i the quick ne pre 18 mys “1 am-—sto a a} she Pp added, ling smile, as | him where | away with a Mr wandered eagerl Wis 1 sud irnea st nguirea nl i his eves rested u been sea THY PIR young pel exeln r celestial visi pail an, as vor 1d t+} or have appeared a giddy thi nt he had 1 . n, and she repeated ing in reply, waiting \ In his amazeme 10t swered h it. t 1er questi He stammers ie flitted {i SGIne h away. A her he other occu- what tl he glanced at see ld its wings car g i hould drop down in a fo ully so the but- its ‘robe mystic, wonderful,’ wait on the table, they as a matter of course.” soon returned with the soup, it before Trafton, said, wasured whisper, “Are : r lips suddenly 3 laugh ran over ee a host of dimples over in her blue-gray later her face was un- sure, and she darted y somebody with water, wished that the merry bud He ¢ feathers out o aver 1 i ii i ghter could have blossomed. it i A 1il have Red th 021 had , rung at his ough it Kel { Ken odd th ¢ upon him, He ¢ clew to Love's Remembering her pregnant in answer to his remark v might as well ery quits, he oncluded that had planned this surprise on the spot in order to turn the scale once more in her favor, and she had taken the boarders into confidence and bound them to si- And he would not question any The little » would not br it he he il she mar it by any As the surprised to see ake her remain at her post and t no share in the wrivate theatrical her events, freaki istent., At NESS was to Loye what freakedness grace, ton, felt { fill her other pleasant and-so-forths of sum- mer idling > ia he Russian redingote $l i ff ir Faas tie zenith of 11s ia Royal cardinal for children's dresses, The Glengarry wool is Jasques of terra rn over bl ded worn cotta casd Kirt BRITS, ack velvet cloth jackets Ww itl h plush much w Plain or iersevs wil Ural 1 In { sKiris. and and » i8 a tendency to increase the ize of the sleeve above the « how and in the armhole. Ihe ped materials have lengthwise or new cloaking surfaces, either ross the cloth, Two and of small but. tons fastening the front adorn many fall jackets and corsages, three rows ii i Stripes are as 11 classes of fashional as ever i material, and, used i combination with plain fabrics, are ver) effective, Raised fl in grounds of Ottoman or y n OWers velvet, repped most costly and elegant bro- ted. Bonnets and round hats are exhibi ted in a great variety of novel shapes, from the graceful and elegant to the exaggerated and grotesque styles, which are wilder than ever this upon silk, are the cades now impor S04 Hussar-blue cloth dresses are made with a plain skirt bordered with vel vet, above which is military braid, and a plain redingote with braided wheels the front, and plaited fullness behind, Rich brocades, or corded silk with plush or velvet spots of large size, will not lose favor this winter. They will be used for the skirt or the overdress, in n with a plain material, but not for sn entire New less clinging to the figure than they have been for years, Skirts are cut to give a fuller appear ance, and the puffed drapery is very large, as it is mounted on a cushion of hair sewn to the skirt lining, down combinat dress, dresses are Velvets, satin rhadames, corded silk, Irish poplin and cashmere are in high vogue for fall and winter wear, The first named fabrics, for evening dress, are shown in all the delicate tints of pale pink, Persian mauve, ciel blue, cream color and sea green, Jackets and basques of every de- of a contrasting material, The shapes are varied and are in styles suitable to every age, They are severally known as the Austrian, the Hungarian, the Directoire and the Jersey. invariably close-fitting, are cut with a narrow collar and button straight down the front. The added basque, so long a feature of modern dressmaking, is losing its popularity. The most fashionable jacket bodies are cut in one, Many of these open over waistcoats of cone trasting materials; otherwise the gilet may be of velvet, silk or satin to cor- respond with the dress itself, The basque is often eut excessively short, with battlements that square tabs——cut up to the waist line, repre senting the part of the bodies which is so stylish. When deeper, the basque is sometimes simply Vandyked, the points being exceedingly sharp and not cut up to the waist as in the above case. This style looks best when mixed materials are used in combina- tion, is, _— a] aw for the first time a locomotive re- rified that she could not move, was barely saved from certain death I the track, THE PRINCESS ELMINEN. | The Wicked Career of the Wealthiest { Woman in Egypt, The New York Zimes prints the fol- lowing history of the Princess Elmi- neh, of Egypt, who encouraged Arabi | Pasha with money and sympathy in rebelling against the khedive and in continuing the struggle until com- pletely annibilated by the British: The Princess Elmineh, sister of the late khedive, is the richest and most | noted woman in the East, has great influence with the fellah population, and hers is one of the prettiest, and is certainly the richest, of the palaces of She is the largest land owner | in Egypt, and having received a Eu- | ropean education makes good use of | her She is not what the French call “passes,” being a little | over forty years old, and the hot Egyp- tian sun, combined with a life of dis- | sipation and unrestrained enjoyment, | have played havoe with one who, ten years ago, was called “the Star of the East." Egyptians, like Turkish women, are | married by their parents without their wishes ever being consulted, so thal, as a rule, there is no pretense of love or even sympathy between them. Thus was the Princess Elmineh, at the age sixteen, given way to a Turkish pasha, noted only for his wealth and dishonesty, being old, ugly and igno- The wedding took place in Con- stantinople, where the dowry of the princess was estimated at $80,000,000, The princess received a liberal edu- cation; she speaks three European lan- | guages, plays the piano, sings well and | is in most respects an accomplished lady, and in thirty days she had seen enough of her husband to despise him and to treat him with contempt. No Turk dare enter his wife's private apartment if reverses her over- shi which every Turkish woman wears, and leaves them outside her door, and the Princess Elmineh availed herself of this privilege during the two months she remained in Con- stantinople. At the expiration of that time the doctors advised her to pass the winter at Cairo, whither she went, accompanied by her husband, and where she has remained ever since, Immediately on arriving in Egypt she laid herself at the feet of the khedive, telling him that she preferred death to living with her husband, who was in every respect her inferior, and begged him to protect her. As she was a favorite of his, he appointed her hus- band to the generalship of Souakin, on the Red sea, and as he never arrived there it presumed that he was poisoned by the way, this being the ordinary method by which the khedives have from time to time silenced their i } CAlro, income, Of rant, she HOUS, i or » is The princess, having thus freed which for nance, cruelty, profligacy, adven- » and dissipation has not otten been The old Shoubra palace, from the Shoubra road to was pulled down and the nt magnificent structure erected in its stead, containing eighty rooms, all of whi wre decorated and far nished in the most extravagant fashion, after the princess had taken possession of this seraglio many curi- ous and incredible rumors were afloat in Cairo, which at the time were only whispered, but which subsequent events proved to be trae, {here was in the service of the Khe dive a handsome young Swiss officer named Goll, had been in the I’ ope’s Swiss guard, and the princess, happening to see him one day on duty at the palace, became enamored of him, and next day asked the khedive to transfer him to her service, which The main gate to her palace was then pulled down and over a large archway a beautiful Swiss chaplet was built, Lieutenant Goll took possession of it as the princess’ master of cere- From that time they seemed inseparable; wherever the princess went young Goll accompanied her, and those who called to pay their homage to the great Elmineh were introduced by him. He had the management of all her estates, became enormously wealthy and in a short time developed into a public character. He went to Switzerland one summer and returned accompanied by his sister, who became the princess’ companion, a unique po- sition for a Christian to cupy. About four years this it was rumored that Goll had formed an attachment for a French actress named Ernestine La- due, and those of his friends whoknew the Egyptians well advised him to be cautions, as their vengeance was terri- ble. He, however, paid little or no at- tention to the warning. Goll suddenly disappeared, leaving no traces behind him, and at the same time Ernestine Ledue was found strangled in her apartment. Inquiries were made about him in Cairo, and the princess offered £5,000 for information that might lead to his recovery, although she caused the rumor to be spread that he had murdered Ernestine and fled. Ten days later the brake ot the Nile overflowed, and the mutilated body of young Goll was deposited by its waters in a field adjoining the palace, hands and feet were tied together, the eves had been torn from their sockets and the heart had been pierced through and through. The Swiss consul self. commenced a life nding * Nile, ch shortly who he did, MOones, O0- after was wholly a formality. was never again seen in Egypt, though she subsequently appeared in Berne, her native town, where she lives, but when asked about wont to say that the subject is too painful for conversation, Fulton and the Steamboat, Robert Fulton, the inventor of steamboats, was born on a farm in Pennsylvania, Robert was a delicate, handsome boy, with a fine and brilliant eves, Almost as a child he became a mechanic, inventing machines and lingering around work- shops, and made slow progress in the usual studies, But he was always inventing, One day, when Robert was about nine years old, he came late to school, and when his teacher reproved him, produced a new lead-pencil which he had been making while playing truant, The boys were all anxious to have one of Fulton's pencils—they were better than any they had seen. In his school midst of the war, set them off in his native town. About this time he wheels, drawing, He had a strong taste for 11is mother, who was now Fulton was only seventeen, but he went up to Philadelphia, made money, | and when he was twenty-one came back to hig mother with his earnings and bought her a farm, Here she lived happily for some years, watching and enjoying the rising prosperity of her son, The deed by which Fulton at twenty-one gave the farm to his mother is still preserved, There are persons living who might have seen the first steamboat that sailed on the Hudson, Many remem ber when the famous De Witt Clinton and North America were thought the wonders of navigation; when they sailed over the tranquil river at the rate of sixteen miles an hour, and left behind them thick clouds of black smoke that hung over the landscape for miles, The North America was long the pride of the river naviga- tion, the swiftest vessel in the world The Hudson has always been the favorite scene of steam navigation and steamboat Here, in 1807, Robert Fulton, on board of the Clermont, his first vessel, sailed in a day and a half from New York to Albany. He stopped for four mcre finished his voyage, It was the signal for an entire change in the whole art of navigation, From that time the steamboat has been slowly advancing, its size has been increased to immense proportions, its engines have become animated giants, and Ful- ton's little vessel of one hundred and sixty tons is converted into the Fur nessia, the Alaska, and the Great Eastern, Fulton, a fair, delicate, thoughtful young man, had gone to England, to France, had become acquainted with many eminent inventors, and had al- ready planned a steamboat. He was the first to make one successful. He came back to New York, and, aided by his friend Livingston, in 1806 began to build his boat. It was only asmall vessel, rudely built; in it he placed an engine made by James Watt, the Eng- planned himself and the imperfect machinery. It secs now a very easy thing to build a steamboat, but it was then thought impossible, Men called the boat Fulton's Folly, Hardly any one supposed that a new era in navi- gation was about to begin, and that Fulton's machine would at last cover the world with its discoveries. Al last the boat was finished. The fires were lighted, the boilers hissed, the erank turned, the wheels began to move, and the Clermont made its way, at about five miles an hour, from Charles Brown's dock-yard on the East river to Jersey City. Once she stopped, and men cried, “ There, it has failed!” But it was only because Fulton was anxious to alter some part of his machine. * The great voyage was successful. The steamer reached Jersey City and Fulton's victory was wan, the Hudson began to abound with Fulton's steamboats, the wonder of the world.— Harper's Young People. SOON Properties of Nilro Glycerine, It has a sweet, aromatic, pungent taste, and possesses the very peculiar property of causing an extremely vio- lent headache when placed in a small quantity upon the tongue, or any other portion of the skin, particularly upon the wrist. It has long been employed by homeopathic practitioners as a rem- edy in certain kinds of headaches. In those who work much with it the ten. dency to headache is generally over come, though not always. It freezes at about forty degrees Fahrenheit, be coming a white, half-crystallized mass, which must be melted by the appli- cation of water at a temper ature of about 100 degrees Fahrenheit, If perfectly pure-—that is, if the w ash- ing has been so complete as to remove all traces of the acid—it can be kept for an indefinite period of time; and, while many cases of spontaneous de composition have occurred in impure specimens, there has never been known such an instance where the proper care has heen given to all the details of the manufacture. When pure nitroglycerine is not very sensitive to friction, or even to moderate percussion, if a small quan- tity be placed on an anvil and struck with a hammer, that portion which is touched explodes sharply, but so quick- ly as to drive away the other particles; if, however, it were even slightly con- fined so that none could escape, it would all explode or detonate. It must be fired by a fuse containing fulminate of mercury (thecompound used in per- cussion caps), not being either readily or certainly fired by gunpowder, the shock of the latter not being suflicient~ ly quick or sharp to detonate the nitro- glycerine. 1f flame be applied to nitro-glycerine it will not explode, but burn with com- parative sluggishness. When frozen it is difficult and uncertain of firing. If the material be perfectly pure it forms upon detonation a volume of gases | nearly 1,300 times as great as that of the original liquid; these gases are | also further expanded by the heat de- veloped to a theoretical {though not | practical) volume 10,000 times as great as that of the charge. Practically speaking, the forces exerted by gun- | powder and nitro-glycerine are in the proportion of one to eight-——LPopular Science Monthly. i ————— How the Emperor of Brazil Rides. | A correspondent writes to the Nor- | ristown Herald: Hark! Do you hear | that racket? Clear the track! Get | out of the way there! Here comes a | calvacade that won't stop for any- | thing. Don’t stop to look until you | have dodged into the shelter of adoor- | way, but when you are safe you will | spo—first, a half dozen horse guards | with drawn sabers flashing in the sun; | then a couple of mounted chamber- { Jains: then an old black coach drawn by six brass-mounted mules (harness prass mounted), ridden by postillions, [two gaudy footmen standing at the back of the “trap;” inside the carriage white-haired, white-bearded, | handsome man in military costume, | his kindly face beaming on the | startled people who had so hastily | taken shelter. When the coach and | the company of cavalry following it | have passed with all the speed that | mules, and yellow mules at that, are sits a | have seen this turnout almost every | day since 1 have been in Rio, Lut you will probably have to be informed that it was his majesty Dom Pedro Ils “constitutional emperor and perpetual of Brazil,” who has just assed. Although Dom Pedro is tains an affected display of pomp and power which he does not really possess. Misery loves company, and so does a marriageable young lady. WISE WORDS, If you wish to remove avarice you must remove its mother, luxury, child when it has learned to know and Jove. Conversation enriches the under standing, but solitude is the school of genius, He who lives to benefit himself confers on the world a benefit when he dies. Brain is the impelling force of the world, and thought is the symbol of progress, Genius at first is little more than a great capacity for receiving discipline, There are more fools than sages ; and among the sages there is more folly than wisdom. Education is the only interest worthy the deep, controlling authority of the i thoughtful man, A woman's dress is like the envelopa of a letter ; the cover is frequently an index to the contents. The trouble and worry and wear and | tear that comes from hating people makes hating unprofitable, To the generous mind the heaviest debt is that of gratitude when it is | not in our power to repay it. He that wrestles with us strengthens our nerves and sharpens our skill Our antagonist is our helper. The best portion of a good man's life is his little nameless, unremem- bered acts of kindness and of love. Every real and searching effort at self-improvement is of itself a lesson of profound humility. For we cannot move a step without learning and feel- ing the waywardness, the weakness. the vaeillation of our movements, or without desiring to be set on the rock that is higher than ourselves, Ime M— 5 An Effectual Fire Alarm, Much disturbed by fires occurring in the neighborhood Mr. Tompson de | cided to organize a fire company in his family, realizing that a little precau- tion might save him considerable in time of danger. He accordingly drilled the different members in their respective doties and waited, but as no opportunity for action offered, he selected a morning to give a false alarm and test their efficiency. Lean- ing from the back parlor window he shouted “fire” at the top of his lungs. The echo of his voice had not died away when a sofa and two chairs grazed his ear on their way downward, four oil paintings swept down the leader, a washstand and two trunks slid past him, two bed slats and a mat- tress struck him on the head, and inan ipward glance, seeing the legs of the library table appear at the second story window, he withdrew and started up- stairs. Half way up he met the round marble slab from the center-table which glided between his feet without a word, and struck the servant girl behind him, who was carrying the china upstairs for safety, and she and her burden landed in the hall Gaining the second floor he was in time to see his eldest daughter care- fully remove the bureau drawers one by one, and drop them from the win dow. Before he could speak he met a stream of water from a fire engine, which took him in the face, and heard the front door being opened by the fire department axes, while the parlor windows stepped out to admit the lad- ders. Turning to fly he met his wife with a gridiron and an almanac in one hand, while the other was occupied with a baby and a glass of wooden toothpicks, and at the same instant there was a deafening crash whick proved to be two mirrors and the par lor stove tied together, reaching the ground, while a fireman, ax in hand, inquired: “ Where is the fire?” ——— Few Comets, Astronomers tell us that comets have their orbits and reappear at regular intervals. Halley's comet (discovered in 1682) has reappeared five times, the last being 1836. I was a boy then, writes “ Hermit,” of the Troy (N.Y.) Times, but well remember the strange spectacle, for it was the first comet I had ever seen. It was, however, a very inferior thing compared with the comet which appeared seven year afterward, and which was grand to & degree that almost seemed fearful. It was forty-five degrees long and the tai) spread like a fan until it was at least ten degrees in breadth. For six weeks this strange spectacle was visible in the northern sky and frequently its color was 80 red as to awaken terror. It was, indeed, supposed by some Mil lerites to be a messenger to destroy the earth. Considering the enormous size of this comet what must have been its head? This question deeply interested astronomers, but it was never solved. | The head was far beneath the horizon, and hence was never seen by mortal eve, but as a matter of proportion it must have been immense. The comet of 1858 was very large and attracted universal attention, and next came the « war comet,” as it was called, because | it appeared during the beginning of | the rebellion. It was certainly a beautiful spectacle, A Great Piscovery of Oysters, A Mir. Olsen has published a papér in England from which it appears that vast oyster beds have been discovered in the North Sea fisheries, Two hun- dred miles of oyster beds, thirty to seventy miles wide—that is to say, 10,000 acres of splendid oysters within easy distance of the British coast—is a discovery to which all of those of Stanley and Livingstone sink into in- significance. One curious feature about it is that the oysters lie at a depth of twenty-one fathoms, thus disposing summarily of the prevalent idea that oysters can only be raised successfully in shallow water. The man who invents a new dish, aceord- ing to some, the man who plants a tree according to the Mahommedans, de serves well of mankind; but what is the reward of a man who discovers 10,000 acres of oysters? The oysters | thus opened up to commerce are said to surpass in flavor all that are so far known to epicures. We shall soon be able to keep our oysters at home. We sent no less than $400,000 worth last year to England alone. They ought soon to become cheaper here.— Boston | Times. i A German emperor made a visit to { one of lis towns and was received at | | the gate by a long row of deputies, | Just as they were about to address him | a neighboring donkey set up a terrible | bray. “Gentlemen,” said the emperor, | “if you wish me te understand you | you must speak one at a time.” |