THE OL" HOME, BY EMILY G. WETHERBER, Ir stands upon the hill-side, with tall elms ng o bendi er it The homestead, with the lilacs by the door, And the quaint, old-fashioned garden, gently sloping down before it, I see It just as in the days of yore, I remember how the sunshine fell across the golden meadows ¥ Beyond the wooden doorstep, old and worn; And how the Summer eclondlets cast their Julekly fleeting shadows On.distant fields of rustling, ripening corn wm the pleasant rosmy kitchen I sée my father sitting, With loather-covered Rible open wide; While my sweet-faced mother listens, as she lays away her knitting, And rocks the old red cradle by her side. Thre brown-eyed little children, with tangled golden tresses, ‘ When evening prayer in simple words is sald, Come clinging round her neck with loving, soft caresses, Then merrily go tripping off to bed. O happy years ot childhoo |, with thoughts so true and loving, An sweet and gulle!ess days so full of rest! Qur old hearts love to linger, after all our years of roving, And clasps found mem'ry's pictures to our breast. 28hall we ever in that country, the bright and __ glorious heaven, Win back the s ple innocenee and bliss We knew when, in our childhood, in the dear ol « home at even, We receive our angel mother's good-night kiss? Selected, TRUSTY JOHN. Once upon a time there was an old "king who was so ill that he thought to himself, “Iam most kely on my death- “bed.” Then he said, “Send Trusty John to me.” Now Trusty John was his favorite servant, and was so called because all his life he had served him so faithfully. When he approached the ‘bed the King spake to him. ‘Most trusty John, f feel my end is drawing near, and I could face 1t without a care were it not for my son. He is still too young to decide everything for himself, and unless you promise me to instruct him in all he should know, and to be to him as a father, I shall not close my eyes in peace.” Then Trusty John answered: *‘I will never desert him.and will serve him faithfully, even though it should cost me my life.” Then the old King said: “Now I die comforted and in peace;” and then he went on: “After my death you must show him the whole cas®lc, all the rooms and apartments and vanits, and all the treas- ures that lie in them; but youn must not show him the last room in the long passage, where the picture of the Prin- cess of the Golden roof is hidden. When he beholds that picture he will fall violently in love with it and go off into a dead faint, and for her sake he will encounter many dangers; you must ard him from this.” And when ‘rusty John had again given the King his hand upon it, the old man became silent, laid his head on the pillow, and died. When the old King had been carried to his grave, Trusty John told the young King what he had promised his father on his death-bed, and added: “And 1 shall assuredly keep my word, and shall be faithful to you as I have been to him, eventhough it cost me my life.” Now when the time of mourning was - over, Trusty John said to him: *Itis time you shonld see your inheritance. I will show you your ancestral castle’ So he took him “over everything, and let him see all the riches and splendid had should be self as a merchant, and the Kin to do tne same, 80 that the quite unrdcognizab e, nd so the crossed ti%; sen and journeyed till they reached the town where the Prin- cess of the Golden Roof dwelt, Trusty John made the King remain behind on the ship and await his re- turn. “Perhaps,” he said, “I may bring the Princess bh wck with me, so seo that everything is in order; iot the gold ornaments be arranged and the whole ship decorated.” Then he took a few of the gold things in his apron, went ashore, and proceeded straight to the palace. Wh n he came to the oourt- yard he found a bea tiful maiden stand- ing at the well, drawing water with two golden pails. And as she was about to carry away the glittering water shé turned round and saw the stranger, and asked him who he was. Then he re- lied: “I am a merchant;"” and opening is apron, he let her peep mm. “Oh! my," she cried, “what beautiful gold wares!” She set down her pails, and examined ‘one thing afler the other. Then she said: **The Princess must see this,she has such a fancy for gold things that she will buy up al! youn Pe got.” She took him by the hand and led him into the palace, for she was the lady's maid. When the princess had seen the wares she was qnite enchanted, and said: “They are all so bLeantifally made that I shall bay everything you have.” But Trusty John said: *I am only the servant of a rich merchant; what I have here is nothing Sow puted to what my master has on his ship; his merchan- dise is more artistic and costly than anything that has ever been made in gold before.” She desired to have everything bronght up to her, but he said: “There is such a quantity of things that it would take many days to bring them up, and they would take up 80 many rooms that you would have no space for them in your house.” Thus her desire and curiosity were excited to such an extent that at last she said: “Take me to your ship; I shall go there myself and view your master's trea- sures.” Then Trusty John was quite de- lighted, and brought her to the ship; and the King, when he beheld her, saw that she was even more beautiful than her pic‘ure, and thought every moment that his heart would burst, She step- ped on to the ship, and the King led rer inside. But Trusty John remained bounded tav=zed, “Capitall” ¢' '.v King, ‘this animal shall ms ! my palace,” and was about to wo... but Trusty John was too sharp for him, and, springing np quickly, seized the isto! out of the hoster, nnd shot the horse dend. Then the other servants of the King, who at no time looked favorab y on Trusty John, cried ont: “*Wimnt o sin to kill the beautiful beast that was to bear the King to his pal- sce!” But the King spake: “Silence! let him alone; he is ever my most trasty John, Who knows for what good end he may have done this thing?” Bo they went on their way and entered the palace, and there in the hall stood a cupboard in which lay the ready-made bridal skirt, looking for all the world as though it were made of gold and sil- ver, e young King went toward it, and was about to take hold of it, but Trusty John, pushing him aside, seized it with his gloved hands, threw it has- tily into the fire, and let it burn. The other servants commenced grumbling again, and said: ‘‘See, he's actually burning the King's bridal shirt.” But the young King spake: for what good purpose he does it? Let him alone; he is my most trusty John.” dance begun, and the bride joined in, nance carefully. deathly white, and fell to the ground as if she were dead. He at once sprung hastily toward her, lifted her up, and side, and spat them out. breathed again and came to herself; but the or ceeding, and not knowing why Trusty John had acted as he did, he flew into prison.” On the following morning sentence was passed on Trusty John, and he was condemned to be hanged. “Every one doomed to death has the | right to speak once before he dies; am I to have this privilege?” “Yea,” said | the King, *‘it shall be granted to you.” | So Trusty John spake: “I am unjustly | condemned, for have always been | faithful to you;” and he proceeded to relate how he had heard the ravens’ conversation on the sea, and how he had to do all he did in erder to save his | master. Then the King eried: “Oh! behind with the steersman, and order- ed theship to push off, “Spread all sail, | that we may fly on the ocean like a | bird in the air.” Meanwhile the King | showed the Princess inside all his gold | wares, every single bit of it—dishes, | goblets, bowls, the birds and game, | and all the wonderful beasts. Many | hours passed thus, and she was so hap- | py that sbe did not motice that the ship | was sailing away, After she had seen | the last thing, she thanked the merch- | ant and prepared to go home; but when | she came to the ship's side she raw that | they were on the Figh seas, far from | land, and that the ship was speeding | on its way under full canvas, “Oh!” she cried, in terror, “I am deceived, | arried away and betrayed into the power of a merchant; I would rather have died!” But the King seized her | hand and spake: “I am no merchant, | but a king of as high birth as yourself; | it was my great love for yoti that made ’ me carry you off by stratagem. The | first time 1 saw your likeness I fell to | the ground in a swoen.” When the | Princess of the Golden Roof heard this | apartments, only the one room where the picture was he did not open. But | the picture was placed so that if the door | - opened you gazed straizht upon it, and | it was so beautifully painted that you | imagined it lived and moved, and that it was the most lovable and beantiful | thing in tie whole world. But the young King noticed that Trusty John always | missed over one door, and said : “Why | «do you never open this one for me?” | “There is something inside that would | appall you,” he answered. But the | King replied: *‘1 have seen the whole castle, and shall find out what isin there;” and with these words he ap- | proached the door and wanted to force | it open, But Trusty John held Lim | back and said: *‘1 promised vour father | before his death that you shouldn't see what that room contains. It bring both you and me to great grief.” | “Ah! no," answered the yonng King; | *4f 1 don’t get in, it will be my certain | destruction; I should have no peace | night or day till I had seen what was in | the room with my own eyes. Now l| don’t budge from the #pot till you have opened the door.” Then Trusty John saw there was no way out of it, so with a heavy heart and auany sighs he took the key from the big bunch. When he had opened the | «door he stepped in first, and thought | to cover the likeness so thst the King | might not perceive it; but it was hope- | less; the King stood on tiptoe and | looked over his shoulder. And when | he saw the picture of the maid, #0 beauti- | ful and glistening with goldand precious | stones, he fell swooning to the ground. Trusty John lifted him up, earried him to bed, and thought sorrowful'y: “The «curse hss come upon us; acious Heaven! what will be the end of it all?” Then he ponred wine down his throat till he eame to himself again. The first words he spoke were: “Oh! who is the original of the beantiful picture?” “She is the Princess of the lden Roof,” answered Trusty John. Then the King continued: “My love for her is so great that if all the leaves on the trees had tongues they could not express it; my very life depends on my winning her. You are my most trusty John; you must stand by me.” The faithful servant pondered long how they were to set about the matter, for it was said to bedifficult even to get into the presence of the Princess. At length he hit upon a plan, and spoke to the King, “All the she has about her—tables, chairs, dishes, gob- lets, bowls, and all her household fur- niture—are made of gold. You have in your treasure five tons of gold; let the goldsmiths of your manufac. ture them into all manner of vases and vessels, into all sorts of birds and and wonderful beasts; that will might | " | most magnificent things were complet. she was comforted, and her heart went | oat to him, so that she willingly con- sented to become his wife. Now it happend one day, while they were sailing on the high seas, that] Trusty John, sitting om the fore part of the wil fiddling away to himself, | observed three ravens in the air flying | toward him. He ceased playing and! listened to what they were saying, for | he understood their language. Toe one croaked: “Ah, ha! so he's bring- ing the Princess of the Golden Roof home.” “Yes,” amswered the second, “but he's not got ber yet." ‘Yes, he has," spake the third, *‘for she's sitting | leside him on the ship.” Then num- ber one began again and cried: “That'll! not help him! When they reach the | land a chestnut horse will dash forward | to greet them; the King will wish to | mount it, and if he does it will gallop | away with him, and disappear into the | sir, and he will never see his bride | again.” “Is there no escape for him?” asked number two, “Oh, yes, if some one else mounts quickly and shoots the ing in the holster, then the young King | is saved. Bat who's to know that? and | Then spake number two: | his knees." “I know more than that; even if the | horse 1s slain, the young King will still | not keep his bride; when they enter the | pa'ace together they will find a ready- | made wedding shirt in a cupboard, which looks as though it were woven of gold and silver, but is really made of nothing but sulphur and tar; when the King puts it on it will burn him to his | marrow and bones.” Number three | naked: “Is there no way of escape, | then?” “Oh, yes!” answered number two; *“if some one seizes the shirt with loved hands and throws it into the o, and lets it burn, then the young King is saved. But what's the good? any one knowing this and telling it will have half his body tarned into stone, from his knees to his heart.” Then number three spake: “I know yet more; though the bridal shirt too be burned, the King hasn't then secured his bride; when the dance is held after the wedding, and the young Queen is dancing, she will Suiidonly grow death ly white, and drop down like one dead and unless some one lifts her up and draws three drops of blood from her ight side, and spits them out again, she will die. Bat if any one who kaows this betrays it, he will be turned into stone from the crown of his head to the soles of his feet.” When the ravens had thus conversed they fled onward, but Trust, John had taken it all in, and was and de from that time forward; for if he were silent to his master con- cerning what he had heard, he would involve him in misfortune; hui if he took him into his confidence, then he hhmselt would forfeit his life. At last he sad: “I will stand by ay master, though it should be my ruin!” Now when they drew near the land it my most trusty John, pardon! pardon! Take him down.” But as he un$tered the last word Trusty John had fallen lifeless to the ground, and was a stone. The King and Queen were in despair, and the King spake: “Ah! how ill have I rewarded soch great fidelity!” and made them lift np the stone image and | place it in his bedroom near his bed. | As often as he looked at 3% he wept and said: “Oh!if I could only re; store you to life, my mest Trusty John!" After a time the Queen gave | birth to twins, two small sons, who throve her, when the Queen was af o two childrens sat and played with their father, he gazed again full of grief on the stone statue, wailed: “Oh! if I oounld only restore you to life, my trusty John!" Suddenly the stone began to speak, and said: ‘Yes, you can restore me to life again if you are prepared to sacrifice what you most old dear.” And the King cried out: “All Ihave in the world will I give up for your sake.” The stone continued: “If you cut off with your own band the heads of your two children, and smear me with their The King was agalist when he heard that he | had himself to put his children to death; | but when he thought of Trusty Joha's | fidelity, aad how he bad even died for | him, he drew his sword, and with his own hand cat the beads off his ehil- dren. And when he smeared the stone with their blood, life came back, and Trusty Joho stood omee more safe and sound before him. He spake to the | King: “Your loyalty shall be re! One gay she children, he placed them on their | bodies, smeared the wounds with their biood, and 10 a minute they were all right again and jumping about as if | nothing had happened. Then the King was full of joy, and when he saw | the Queen coming, he hid Trusty John | and the two children in a big cupboard. | As she entered she said to her: “Did | you pray in church?” “Yes,” she an- swered; ‘* but my thoughts dwelt con- stantly on Trusty John, of and what suffered for us.” Then he spake: “Dear wife, we oan restore him to life, but the price asked is our two sunk, but she replied: “We owe it to him on account of his t fidelity.” Then he rejoiced that a was of the same mind as he had been, and goin forward he opened the cupboard, oe fetched the two children and Trusty John out, saying: ‘God be praised!” Trusty John is free once more, and we have our two sons again.” Then he re- lated to her all that had , and they lived together happily ever after. ward, * *Grimm, LA MR — Carleton College Observatory bas is. sued a star catalogue giving the exact places of 644* companion stars,’ as de. termined by original Observations, It represents two snd a half years work, and is a valuable contribution to astro- nomical sclence, THE NIGHTINGALE'S CHILDREN. Hark, a voles that cries and calls, Jada summer twilight falls; with longing, keen with pain Sobbing hong the sa summer rain. “Wake, wake, wake, Ere my heavy heart doth break!” Tis the bird of sil ton pe In the ving, tea h lk : Ererfiland ie . o the nightingale Jarh “ , wake, wak Wi ones ake! doth break I Bnet fr i Taitiful Tout dag sed him # came to piss Int as the ravens had pre- Sop nik LITTLE WORDS, i cares little words of wondrous power Changed the world in a single hour! Three hittle words, of letiers elght, All in a moment fixed her fate! Clear as the tones of a sliver bell Into her ear the message fell, Filling her heart with a strange content, And echoing every where she went, Oh, "twas no wonder her eyes shone bright! Oh, "twas no wonder her heart was light, And her joy so great! for those words so few, Those three little words were-1 Love You! ———_—— SY], CT] Some Whims of Decoration. As we do not build our houses for the sake of providing resting places for ornaments, but rather employ these for the sake of the beauty which they may confer upon our dwellings, it should be a rule of first importance to allow in our rooms nothing (whatever its intrinsic value or charm) that does not add to the harmonious beauty of the room in which it is placed. One might fancy that such a rule was too evidently a canon of good taste to be mentioned, but who ean not recall houses in which it has been so forgotten that they more nearly resem. ! ble bric-a-brac shops than tasteful dwellings, so crowded are they with from the barbarous camp kettle of col- | ored gluss, hucg over a sham fire, to | the wilderness of scarves of more or less cost and ugliness which impart an | air of artificial untidiness to the neat- | est of rooms? The colored glass camp kettle never ity, may be both useful and beautiful, upon a widely copied paragraph telling > a French lady had added point and warmth to ale blue furnishings of her boad- oir by allowing a soft, bright crimson shawl to trail carelessly over the back of her sofa. It seemed a marvelously simple thing to do, this draping of a bit of bright color! And in the course of a few months the *‘carelessly trail- ing shawl,” transformed into glaringly artificial arrangements of scarves, long sprawling sbout in all sorts of parlors, An easy char upholstered in crimson, of are others having a single knot tied pesitions of affected ecare- lessness by a legion of concenled pins. and oat of place article of furnitare for and still picture other scarves, twisted around hung with others are piano, book case y where space can be found for them. laced around tiny rail along ite edge, J a dining room within a fk display of china articles too precious den away in closets. them was placed every sort of curio and may pass under the general name of two of careful dusting every day from ually covered with layers of dust ready to fall on the head of any lnokless wight who may be passing beneath when an unusual pull of air may dis- lodge it. the wane—is that of hanging on the parlor walls all sorts of platters and plates. We think it would be within the limits of truth to say that not one piece in five hundred of those so hung is worthy of so conspicuous a position. Few are beautiful, and still fewer are interesting either from unique design or from historic association. For the few that po s interest or walue the roper place is not upon parlor walls, t in a cabinet. And to what place but the garret shall we relegate the spinning wheels and warming pans of a century ago? Are they any more in keeping with our modern parlor furnishings than would be the foot stoves or the looms of a similar date? Draperies, soft in fabrie and harmo- nious in coloring are beautiful in their proper places, but they are great dust- collectors ana we fear that even these are becoming too abundant in our houses. We know an asthmatic who declares that portieres are an invention of the Evil One to heighten her suffer. ings; so much is she affected by the dust which collects upon them and is disturbed every time that they are moved. But, however unheelthful they ma be, well chosen draperies are beautiful, while the Japanese combinations of beads and bamboo which for a time took the place of curtains in our inter- ior door ways, could not claim to be either pretty or useful. Hung between two well lighted rooms they do not serve as sorcens, for ever is Rlatuly visible through them; and the rafts that set them to rattling like castanets have free range. The only place where we have seen them of any real service was in a city house, where for economy of space the stairs are placed 1n a wide hall between the front and near rooms. In Srdat 20 utilize TI i g £ ii3t Sd BEZR GOLDEN CASTLE. The Story of a Bonnet, MATTIE M. BOTELER, Once, upon a time, a poor story- spinner builded for herself a shining, golden castle, ‘‘As if story-spinners were not al- ways building castles!” Ah, but this one was different. It had a tangible being out side the brain of its author, Don’t imagine that I am posing as a rival to Jules Verne or Rider Haggard. While I do not deny that it is to the trafic in fiction that I lock for m read and butter (which, alas, is itself too often fletion) I will vouch for the truth of what I am about to relate, in the first place, I must blushingly confess myself to be the heroine of this “o'er true tale.” It came about in this way, I think. I had availed myself of the privilege acceded even the dollar- less woman of doing the openings, With the admiring erowds, I stood gazing at the coquettish hats and loves of bounets, posed to win the golden opinions and also shekels of my frail scx. Suddenly there burst upon my vision such a dreamt of beauty that, mind even By m- was gone from me, ean not, iow deseribe it—a bewildoring phony in erimson and gold. ““Here,” 1 soliloquized, *‘is the bon- net designed by fate for my peculiar style of beanty.” I was seized with an irresistible de- sire to tryiton. I might have asked the privilege, but the haughty mien of Her-salesladyship deterred me. And I went home to wrestle with the problem of a bonnet of gold sans a pocket of silver. I arose, next morning with a look of determination and, of far off vietory in my eye. I too would have for myself a golden top sheaf. rrom the luxury side of my purse, I drew the solitary piece it contained In size, it might have been ten dollars; declared it to be worth five cents. Vul- gar people called it a nickel. it held possibilities. But 1 had from its hiding-place, its cogtents upon the floor. “It contained?” Well, “things.” From out of this heterogen- eons mass, I quickly made my selec: tion. from the rim of a departed sun hat; there, a yard of cotton bobinet, stiff, emptying and velvet, shick and rich, and & yard of rim- to find, slas, that 1 had nothing under the sun with which to wear it last, it's hour of destiny had arrived. After earefol measurement, I con- a with cheese eloth, that it might tell no To this, 1 fastened tacking together, where high in front and sloping to the back. a piece Andlo, I had a frame not less chic than that for which the haughty milliner had demanded seven- But the end was not here. Cutting real bullion, capital in a ball of tinsel, I powdered the net with tiny rings of the tinsel sewed firmly to it, outlining also the bolder patterns of the lace 1n this way. The net was soft enough to puff grace- to retain its crown. Ower the brim, the crimson velvet the front. In an ecstasy of delight, I held it at arms le and teriali dream. With trembling haste, 1 fluffed my bangs and, donning my best gown, ad- justed my golden castle and sallied forth. As] followed the gentlemanly usher to my chair in the dress circle, a patronizing, Duchess of Marlbor- ough smile illumed my face. True, that haughty artist, Mademoiselle Bon- net strings, was scowling at me from soross the amle; while, behind me, Mrs. De Moneybags was turning green writer of rejected manuscripts could afford jmpotted bonnets. And yet, when the lecture was over, the smile was still there; so also was the bonnet. It was tormenting the tormenter. was becoming, and it had cost a nickel. QUIET WAYS ARE BEST. What's the use of worrying, or Surrying, B An ju ng, verybody flurryin And Proaking up Their rest? When every one is teaching us, Jreaching and beseeching us, To settle down and end the fuss, For ’ gust WAYS are best, The rain that trickles down in showers, A blessing brings to thirsty Sowers; Sweet fragrance from each brimming cup The gentle zephyrs gather up. ’s ruin in the tempest’s 3 There's ruin in a voloe of alah And oat dominat their violence abate, their serene estate, ¥8 are best. fi Pot wore. flurrying EE And wonted exercise held Has N doave we Bvangelist, FOOD FOR THOUGHT. Every man mines his own brims'o 6, If you want to be happy, be thankfu , Osientation is the signal flag ot hypo- crisy, It is not the crown that makes the king, A good presence 1s a letter of recom- nendation, Look not at adversity with a spirit of mockery. Grumbl rs and growlers have no lift- Ing power, There are hypocrites in vice as well 48 in virtue, Where religion is a trade, morality is merchandise, Success 135 coquet and a “ashiful lover never wins her. It is of no use running; to set out be times is the main point, The height of fashion and the height of folly are so much alike, It is as hard to make a weak man up- right as it is an empty bag. He who sues for success don’t get it 30 often as he who demands it. Conversation should be with wit, not con vused of it, us to enl.vened It is hard work fo who has no fault If the vanity slionld ‘eave this world, Lalf the virtue would go with i. He tha' wants money, means an” con- tent, 1s without three good friends. Theie are but very few men whose wisdom lasts them thelr lives out. Reform! Raform!" This is too often the watchword of mere charlatans, It isa good horse that never stumbles, and a good wife that never grumbles, The true way to un’ erstand the judg- ments of heaven 1s to submit to them. Fewer people would be wicked if they would only stop to think how bad it looks, | The serene, silent beauty of a holy life | is the most powerful influence in the world. We are never in more Canger of being laughed at than when we are laughing { ut others, love a man The easie-t way to bear your own | troubles is to try to lighten those of other people, Business has come to be a buying what { one does not want, and selling what one | 1ia8 not got, Flattery is just like anything else we | deal in—the supply is always regulated | by the demand, Mankind are all stamped equal at thelr { birth, Virtuealone the difference makes i oli earth. Very few girls marry “the best man.” | They generally take “the bridegroom for better or worse,” Listeners are not after the good they will bear of themselves, but the bad they bear of others, { If none of your neighbors seem to hive | much religion, it is a sure sign that you ueed more your self. ! Sunday is like a stile between the | fields of toll, where we can kneel and | pray, or sit and meditate, i | None without hope eer loved the | brightest fair, but Jove can hope where | reason would despair, Although the world is full of liars, { there are but few men who don’t prefer to listen to the truth. Fiee living leads to free thinking, free thinking leads to free 'oving, and | free loving leads to the devil Ambition is like a tread-wheel-—it knows no limits; you no sooner get to | the end of it than you begin again, The art of becoming of importance in | the eyes of others is not to overrate our- self, but to cause them to do it. It is dreadful easy to mistake what we think for what we know. This is the | way that most of the lies are born, | We bave never seen anybody that didn’t | make mistakes, except babies, and they always died early. | The worst education which teaches | self denial is better than the best which | teaches everything else and pot that. | No man ever got his bread by preach. | ing wisdom. Phiiosophy isa good thing to preach, but a poor thing to live on. The higher and more consecrated the individual life, the clearer will be its rec. oguition of God’s help and guidance, Good breeding seems 15 be the art of being superior to most people, and equal to all, without letting them know it. Fuocourage such innocent amusements | as may disembitter the minds of men | and make them mutually rejoice in the same agreeable satisfactions. When a man iskind to a woman she forgets he was ever cross, and when a woman is cross to a man he forgets she was ever kind. No matter how poor a man may be, he may still have the comforting thought that his skeleton 18 worth $20 to any medical college in the land, Money to man is like water to a plant, only useful as long as it promotes and facilitates growth-.like water in the fountain or water in the tank, keep it flowing, and it blesses, keep it stagnant, and it injures,
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers