Hiram Crossley. BY WILBERT P. CREAMER. “Lazy” Hiram our hero was called. He had earned his name. When but a child he would “play sick” if his father wished him to work. All through his boyhood to get cut of work. and to build air castles. The children at school made sport of his awkwardness and dreamy habits. His father was rough with him and tinually reminded him of his shiftless, lazy ways, telling him that he would come to no good end and that he wasn't worth the salt that he ate and never would be. Such treatment and lectures hardened him, and, to make things worse, his brother “lorded it” over him and was encouraged to do so by his father, for the reason that “them that does the work oughter do the bossin’.” His tried to offset the evil she knew w me of this treatment by giving indness and love in abundance ‘he mother helped matters a httle just Hiram would [ would do something mother wuld him as wrath of his brother what 3 his former The ed all his will upon Hiram. endurable to him out to a farmer to He fell into bad c¢ many bad habits. He worse until he could respect from any one. loved him. When he War broke father Hiram had to self his they father becan enient Lif 1iC mmand was out, yet a youl The farmers t poor and Hiram could sly fine place to work for his board and lodgin His brother's labor hardly Crossleys. Hard as it was to get a yet harder blow ] brother was drafted and the mother wept brave. They thought support would be taken av The son tried t f could do nothing, as and grief were as Just them Hiram’s door, and he sa that you have come to gO as mother, you needs know that you your boy called and you have told God's praise and time to me, ‘Well faithful servant, Now I am going to people in some good of La “I know you ram,” said his mother, was no such an occasion it, my son.” She wept. “When were you to ¢ inquired. “I st range pretty “In an hour.” ‘Good-bye SCATCH stipnorted ente this world 1DD & "wh SOON happy “1 i Davy, iil gomg to war wa the «« Me as he is v . “Give my as cause mine, and and “Hinam.” The mother wept softly and looked solemn. Even the father glad to receive news from his on Many months passed before they re ceived another letter, and they all began to despair lest they had heard the last of their soldier boy. At last a letter did come, and Mrs. Crossley tore it with trembling fingers and read : “Dear sMother :—Since | wrote you last we have had an awful battle in the Wilderness,” as it is called. and pany of us had a skirmish on the outer lines. Poor Davy was killed and I open of my musket, some one shot me. “1 must have lain unconscious Yor quite o 1 ! a while. When I came to | dressed my my wound and loss of blood me. | ran but soon fell gled up and again 1 fell, this time unconscious an angel was bending over me. has nursed me these many days, has golden hair and such tender blue Southern army. They were drafted Oh, the horror of war! Yet, sometimes, pleasant my lot is, to be cared for by such an one. “I hope this letter will reach you, My guardian says: “*Tell your mother that you are get- ting well and will soon be able to march again, In time you will join your family and tell them that a stranger's heart can be kind. Do not let your mother worry about your being captured or killed, [f any part of our army comes here | can hide you in a secret chamber, If my father or brother comes | can appease them. Tell your mother that I will purse you carefully until you get well, and send you home well and strong. Give my love to her. “1 have heard nothing of the war, as 1 have been here out of the world for months, “There has been a great deal of worry in my mind as to how I can send this letter, but my guardian tells me that it will reach you all right. { “I will now close, hoping and praying | that this letter may reach you and find | you well, | “Remember me to my friends and give | my love to Dick and father. Your son, i “Hiram.” | News of the seige of Richmond, of the battle of Five Forks, and finally of Lee's surrender, and the disbanding of the | Confederate army reached the Crossley’s, { but no news from Hiram, What become of her boy? The mother could but guess. Ah, what weary davs of un | certainty for her! i ! | something either prevented him from { her. {| her boy and how noble he day from her dear, brave, wounded This story of hers, with its pathetically hopeful ending, was told so often people came to regard her as “shghtly out of her mind,” and to shake their when speaking about it heads wisely to one another “1 did not take d he die said aid and, at las p had bec and that Mr. Crossley in her to a lunatic asylum. People avoided her Mrs Danfor 10 had not ended $ ners be the first rmediately backed walked rapid danger at and seeing he not so great, con- astire that the letter will give your her. I hope to give her greater joy by sending you to her soon.’ “Then | tried to tell her that it would give you twice the pleasure if I could only take her with me as my wife. Then | Otherwise | did not know what would become of me “She simply said, ‘Wait until I have considered it well, and see what time will bring.’ “1 asked her about the war, but she cast a sorrowful glance upon me and would not speak of it, “At last we heard that the war was came and brought her a letter. rade, he shook hands and said: and turasing to her he contmued, ‘Miss, I am sorry for you. away. “The letter was full of a rough sol- dier's sympathy. It told of the father mond, how they were carefully taker care of by their comrades, and at last of their burial in a little churchyard. “After reading this letter she sat with a white, quivering face for a few min- utes and then broke out into the most heart rending cries that 1 ever heard. I tried to corfort her but my efforts seemed all in vain. At last she put her head into her hands and merely sobbed. The next day she looked so sorrowful that 1 thought my heart would break. “A whole month passed before a smile came on that lovely face so worn by grief. It was a deautiful summer evening after % rain. A bird was in a tree nearby, singing with all its might A smile spread over her face. It and the evening harmonized so beamtifully that I was en. tranced. 1 gained courage, however, to step to her and implore her to be my wife. She put her arms about my neck and kissed me. What a beautiful an- swer! “Last night we went from our hidden house, forth from the woods, to this little town, ten miles away. “To-night we were married. Alice and I are happy. She sits by me now and tells me to send her most obedient to ‘our mother.’ And mother, I am sure that you will love her dearly. ‘We will settle up some of her father's affairs and then go North. We hope t¢ be with you before two months after the date of this letter, “1 will close now, hoping that this let ter will find you well, Your son, “Hiram In about a month a handsome man, who limped a little, and a tall, graceful galden haired woman were added to the Crossley home, and everybody was happy In an hour's time Alice had gotten the full confidence of Mr. Crossley. After a while he said to her, "Who'd have ever thought Hiram would have turned out so well” She smiled and did not take it ill When Mr, Hiram Crossley grew to be the leading citizen of the place, with a income an@ family, the said, “Who'd ever have rossiey would have love "” respectable neighbors also thought Hiram 1 ed out so well, PRESIDENTS ARE GOOD RISKS. The Majority of Our Chief Executives Have Been Long Lived. ldn't like to be the ruler of a id the timid little woman 1 ec rd-Herald Manna Found in India. A remarkable incident is officially reported from the central provinces of India In connection with the famine The bamboos in various districts were “manna’ of a kind and quality hitherto unknown to the natives, who have been finding It a valuable help to them in their fam- ished condition. Samples have been the government reporter economic products with an unex- Mr. Hooper finds it to be composed of sacharoge almost iden- on being-—-sugar, 95.63; water, 2.66; ash. 96, and glucose, 75. Neither expert officials nor natives ever before heard boo, and it Is not surprising that this is re garded, under the circumstances, as an act of Providence.—London Chronicle. Circular Saw Made of Diamonds. A diamond circular saw for cutting stone is described in London Engineer- blocks at the rate of five feet per minute The saw has dovetailed recessses in which are fitted steel blocks, each cone taming a diamond. A hole is drilled into the block, but stopped before running through. A diamond is dropped into the hole, and a steel wire peg driven in be- hind it The block is then put in an electric welding machine, and when it is soft. ened, pressure is applied until the dia- mond 1s firmly gripped and the steel peg is welded into place. The front of the block is then filed away until the diamond is exposed, and the sides are milled to fit the dovetailed recesses in the saw, The positions of the diamonds in the block vary, so as to enable the saw to clear it- self in making the cut, ————————— A ————— Ancient "Smooth Bores.” Two of the old cannon which the Eng. lish took from the French in 17435 and threw into the harbor of Louisbourg have now been bronght to Toronto, They are astong a number recently fished out of Lowishourg harbor and have been pur. chased by the government. The cannon have been iying at the bottom of the sea for 150 years. Each cannon is about ning feet lonw and weighs over 1.000 \ mde an —— WATER AND MALARIA, A Physician Relates ths Results of His Observations in Florida. So much has been written of late rela. tive to the cause of malaria—there being stich a widespread interest among scien- tific and professional nen concerning the same—and, as it is a subject bearing upon the life, health, and prosperity of a vast number of people, 1 feel called upon to offer for publication my during the past twelve year observations mihitary at the navy, Surgeons on duty time, Dr. John W and Dr. WW. in the Ross, (Gorgas, of th of pump (driven-well) water by the inhabi- tants. People drinking water obtained from their driv drinking the ferns in pital only wa matter the grows I'he Ie healthiul year Oo preva purposes from brick cis- ie navy yard and from the ing, which spring furnishes free frog bl vegetal ] VOgela ng for Cold in Australia ailuvial has een wel the fort i apd second "pan the iner's feet vy ¢ mir * itands so as to face placing COArse gold of the at right angles the wind | the on a plece catch over the ¢ lower “pan” | canvas, so as any fine blown to one side ig ART “pan.” The next stage Is to toss the dirt up i and down In the pan, holding the pan { in a slanting position, away from the operator, and jerking it back. so as to throw the dirt from the back of dish, thus winnowing ft still further. Then once more shaking the pan, with a vanning movement, he the front to the them off When thus reduced to a small quantity of “fines.” the aurifer- ous residue is still further shaken down, like the contents of a dish, when panning it in water, and with the pan tilted forward, the miner raises it to his mouth and completes the process by blowing sand. After this process of concen- tration is finished the gold Is seen fringing the edge of the iron-sand; any nuggets or pleces coarse enough to “spec” are picked out, and the "fine gold” is either washed out with water in the usual way or collected with the moistened end of the miner's thumb. The Engineering Magazine. Wane of Horsetail Docking. Many a humane man will rejoice to hear that the docking of horses’ tails is on the wane, and the day is not far off when the worst of stigmas—‘‘out of fashion'—marks the unfortunate nag | who carries that cruel sign of a degener- ate age. It may be a winle yet before the good news reaches the horse fancier ; but, when it is understood that docking is “bad form,” very probably some other absurdity will be invented to give “style” to the action of domestic animals, Every. thing is for show, first; then for the blood and breed. But let those who love them be thankful public opinion is work. ing round to mercifulness in this matter of inflicting physical injury on the dumb horse. Boston Herald, London Bobbies. The London policeman arrests on an average of seven persons per year; the Parisian twenty-nine, When in gratitude barbs the dart of injury, the wound has double danger s In aL PENNSYLVANIA NEWS. | The Latest All Over the State. Bodies of Two Victims Recovered in the Bot- | tom of a Heading in 8 Collizry Near Shamo- | kin--Season of Success for the Pittsburg | Orchestra--Delaware Conference fo Raise | $100,080-- Young Soldier's Death. After fifteen hours of the hardest work, every ! of whic h wa full Oh peri, the party Mine Inspector Edward Brennan Inside | Michael Readdy ceeded in driving the deadly gas out of No. 13 breast in the Lykens valley at the luke Fid t o'clock a. m the of Anthony sscuers, headed by oreman ' slope three Shur; “rt i ethod their sessi0f1 Twentieth to raise $1ox * ows: Fifty lars for the present hu ooo for industrial schools, and $10.000 t be used by the publication departmem thousand dol rches, $0 indebtedness of «¢ The recent purchase of the Lake Su perior ore mines by the United States Steel Corporation has brought unex pected wealth to many Sharon people among whom is Hon. Alexander Mq Dowell. clerk of the lower Congress. Mr. McDowell $200,000 in the deal A special train from Bethlehem struck a handcar containing the section gang between Souderton and Hatfield, killing Harry Detveiler, a laborer. Two others named Morfet and Ziegler were slight ly injured. There is a sharp curve where the train struck the car which prevented the section men from seeing the approaching train, Ira A. Danner. who, although but 2¢ vears old, has served two enlistments in the United States Army, died at the home of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Geo W. Danner, of Allentown. His death was due to injuries sustained in the ser- vice. Rev. S. Nicholas, pastor of the primi- tive Methodist Church of Girardville, has resigned to accept a call from the Primitive Methodist Church at Phila delphia. He will be succeeded by Rev 8. Cooper, of Mount Carmel A wing will be erected to the Allen town Hospital. It will cost $35.000 and the expense will be borne by a citizen oi Allentown whose name 18 withheld, The new addition will be devoted to surgical cases, By the will of the : Grove. of Philadelphia, $3000 is be queathed to the Church of God, at May. town. Dr. Grove was a native of May. town, While at work on the Coleman saw mill near Summerville, George Beck was caught in the machinery aud squeezed to death. house of | cleared up late Dr. Johu COMMERCIAL REVIEW, Genera! Trade Conditions. New York -R. G. Dun & y's weekiy re { trade says: ‘Busine brisk for the drawbacks marked (Special) View eaion cause however, show that, PEs has been heavy, there nust have been a well sustained volume for the gains are Du Ness J iegitimate New York, and 1030 per and B40 over 1899 at earnin make ng outside 10905 ent, ove 4 g% * Mui ent has ap- st eed h unfavorable ¢ regarding to $28 Yet the ping with f pig iron and After advance in change is only in rece INCreases in prices d period of waitiog mar- a pri Pp new ne cereal suddenly awoke to unusual activ i -ased trading and resulted mn single LATEST QUOTATIONS. Baltimore. ve B taltym HB Pe xtra 1.1041 .2.00a2.70 2.60a2.70 : steamer 72aBoYscC. meyl ”~ 797K MHEG wd IY Dan- new Flor- Charles- r. Flor- per abbage, Maryland per bushel, primes, per bushel, Ohio, per Bermuda, per o, do, No. 2 Florida, per bbl, 2, $4.00a%.00. : kiln weil nd and Irginia, de 3 7 Poultry Hens, 10Vec;: old each, 20a3oc: young chickens, winter do, 2 Ibs and under, 17a spring. 1 to 13g Ibs, 24a32¢c. Ducks Geese. apiece, S0absc. Dressed Poultry. — Capons, 14a18¢ Butter —The market 13 steady. We Creamery separator, 22a22V¢: Gathered Cream, 1B8aioc: Creamery Imitation, ryaiSc. Eggs. —Fresh laid eggs, 13Vic Dressed Hogs —Choice Western Maryland and Peonsylvania light weights, per Ib, 7ay%4c; Southern Mary- land and Virginia, per Ib, 634c. per Ib, Calves. Strictly nice veal, and Sheep Spring lambs gaglsc Lambs choice, 8age per 1b; poor, small stock, 5¢ per 1b. Live 22¢ choice Philadelphia. Philadelphia, Pa —Wheat 3c higher: contract grade, April, 703a804c. Corn steady; No. 2 mixed, April, goisasoc. Oats firm; No. 2 white clipped, 3335c. Butter firm, good demand; fancy West- ern creamery, 210; do prints, 22¢; do nearby prints, 23c. Eggs steady; fresh nearby, 13Vic: do Western, 14¢: do Southwestern, 13V:c; do Southern, 13¢. Cheese quiet; New York ull creams, fancy small. 113ga12c¢, Live Stock. Chicago, IL—Cattle-