Example.
Wo scatter Roods with careless hand,
And droani we ne'or shall see them more;
Hat for a thousand years '
Their lruit appears,
la weeds that mar the land,
Or healthlul store.
The deeds we do, the words wo say—
Into still air they seem to fleet,
Wo count them e-er past;
But they shall last—
In tho dreaif judgment they
And we shall meet!
1 charge thee by the years gone by
For the love's sake ot brethren dear,
Keep thon the one true way,
In work and play,
Lest in that world their cry
Oi woe thou hear. — John k'rblr.
The Stolen Love-Letters.
In the uncertain flickering firelight
pretty Maggie Leslie sat pulling a rose
to pieces. Her sister Kate watched her
a few moments impatiently, and then
said: "What are you doing, Maggie P
Tired of your new lover, eh P"
"What nonsense! lam not tired of
my new lover, but I am angry at my
old one."
"Very likely. When a girl lias dis
carded a country clergyman with £3OO
a year for a baronet with £30,000, it is
likely she will be angry at the poor
lover troubling her memory."
" I should dismiss the country clergy
man very soon from iny memory, if he
fermitted me. I never thought Archie
leming could have been so mean;"
and Maggie threw the poor tattered
remnant of a rose passionafly away
from her.
" I do not believe Cousin Archie
Fleming could do a mean thing, Mag
gie. lou must be mistaken."
"I wish I was. Come closer, Kate,
and I will tell you all about it;" and
the two young girls seated themselves
on a low ottoman in a confidential atti
tude.
" Now Maggie, when and what ?"
"The 'when was two evenings ago.
Sir John nd I were coming across the
moor, just as happy as—as anything,
and I thought Archie was in London,
when we met him suddenly as we
turned into the Hawthorn path. And
wiiat do you think ? They rushed into
each other's arms like—like two French
men. I do believe they kissed each
other. It was 'John'and 'Archie,'and
hand-shaking, and 'How are you old
fellow ?' and that Kind of thing, until
I was quite disgusted. Men going on
in that way are so ridiculous!
"By-and-bye Sir John remembered me,
and 'supposed Archie knew his lair
parishioner Miss Leslie,' and Archie
bowed in the most distant manner, and
said he had the honor of being my poor
cousin. Men never keep anything, and
before we had walked a quarter of a
mile Sir John had contrived to let
Archie know how matters stood be
tween us."
"That was not very pleasant, but of
course you were off with the old love
before you were on with the new."
" Not exactly. I had stopped writing
to Archie, and if he had an ounce ot
sense he might have guessed the rea
son."
Kate shook her head ami looked
grave.
"Now, Kate, don't be aggravating
The case is just this. Sir John and
Archie, it seems, are old echool friends,
and Archie has all sorts of romantic no
tions about fid> lity to his friend, and
threatens to tell Sir John how badly I
have treated him."
"Then you have seen Archie?"
"Yes; I sent Davie Baird to tell
him to meet me in the conservatory last
night."
"How imprudent!"
" I had to do it. I wanted to coax
Archie to let me off easily, and give me
back all my letters. I must have the
letters, Kitty. I really must."
"Well?"
"Well he said some very disagreeable
things—truths lie called them—and I
cried, and looked just as pretty as I
could. He insisted I was in love with
Sir John's title and money, and not with
himself; and when I said that was not
true, and that I loved Sir John very
dearly, he got quite in a temper. It is
my belief that ne would re titer I mar
ried for money than love if I don't marry
him. That's the selfishness of men,
Kitty. I wouldn't he as nvean for any
thing. And oh, Kitty, he would not
Eive me back my letters, and I must
Ave them."
" I should not worry about a few
iOVO-l<'tters."
" Kitty, you don't know all, or you
would not say that."
"Tell me all, then."
" I have sent Sir John just-the—same
—letters, word for word. You know I
never was good nt composition, and
when Clara Joyce was here, I got her
to write me some beautiiul love-letters.
She liked doing it, and I thought I
might need them. I copied them for
Archie, and they were so clever I copied
them also for Sir John. Now, Kitty, il
Archie should show those letters, as he
said he would, how both of them would
laugh at me! I could not hear it."
Kate looked very much troubled.
"Indeed. Maggie, you are right," she
answered. "You must have your let
ters; and if Archie will not give you
them, they must be stolen from htm;
that is all about it. It would never do
to let him hold such & power over your
poor little head, and it would be worse
after you were married than before it.
You are sure that he will not give them
up?"
" He said he never would give them
to me."
"Perhaps he has burned them."
"Oh. no, he could never bear to do
that. Why, he idolizes them, Kitty.
Just before he went away ho told
me that they were laid in rose leaves in
the drawers of his Indian cabinet."
"Very good. Grandfather sent that
cabinet to the parsonage. I dare say it
is exactly like tl 0 one in his room. If
so, it is like y grandfather's key will
open the minister's."
"Ob, Kate, you durst not do such a
thing I"
" 1 dare, under the circumstances. Ot
two evils one should choose the least.
Anything, almost, is better than giving
a rejected lover such a power over you.
It would be different if it was me. I
would defy him, and take the telling in
my own hands."
" I could not do that. Archie might
tease mc to death first."
"I know, you dear, foolish little
woman. But you shall have your let
ters, Maggie, so go to bed, and sleep
soundly on my promise."
" When?"
" Perhaps to-morrow. Archie dines
with the bishop to-morrow. I shall
find no better opportunity, I think."
The next morning proved to bo one
of those drenching days quite character
istic of en English November. Still,
about three o'clock, Miss Leslie insisted
on riding to the village. Her grand
father made some opposition, but soon
gave in to " Kate's set ways," and her
decided declaration " that she would be
ill without her gallop."
Arrived at the village she stopped at
the parson:ige door, and nodding pleas
antly to tlie housekeeper who opened
it, she said she was very wet, and
would like to see her cousin, and dry
her habit.
The parson was gone to the bishop's,
but if Miss Leslie would come in there
was a fire in his parlor, and she could
warm her feet and have a warm cup oi
tea; and Miss Leslie, after a little
affected hesitation, and a little more
pressing, consented to do so.
She permitted Martha to remove lie
hat and bring her some tea. " I shall
rest half an hour, Martha, and if
Cousin Archie is not back by that time,
I must go, or else I shall not reach
home before dark "
As soon as the door was shut she
glanced round the room. It was a cozy
place, full of bachelor comforts, and
pleasantly littered with hooks and
papers. The Indian cabinet stood in
a little recess between the two windows.
She quietly selected her grandfather's
key, and tried the lock. It opened at
once, and with an ease that showed it
was in constant use, and the first thing
that greeted her was the faint scent of
rose leaves.
But the letters were not in the
drawers, and she was on the point of
closing the cabinet in despair, when she
remembered that her grandfather's had
a secret door that slipped away, and
hid a closet between the drawers. It
was likely Archie's had the same.
She sought the spring, and it responded
at once to her touch, and there lav the
letters, all tied together in one little
bundle. There was not more than half
a dozen, and Kate, with a smile of re
lief and satisfaction, put them in her
pocket, and reloeked the cabinet
She had scarcely done so when she
heard some one open the front door
with a pass key, and come straight up
the stairs. In a moment she had d cided
that it was not Archie's footstep, and
that it must be one of his intimate
friends. In a moment, also, she had
decided that if she did not know him.
he should not know her. Whoever it
was. he did not at once come to the par
lor; lie went into an adjoining room,
removed his wet coat and hoots, and
came lounging in, with slippers on his
eta nd a cigar in iiis mouth
Kate had just finished arranging her
hat and gloves, and was going nuietly
out of one door when he entered by the
other. For a moment they stood and
looked blankly at each other; the next,
Kate advanced a few steps, and said : " I
am waiting to sec the clergyman. I)o
you know how soon he will return,
sir?"
" I think he will be here immediately,"
answered the new-comer, whose first
instinct was to say the thing most likely
to detain so beautiful a girl. " I am
sorry to have intruded, but f will retire
at once, il you desire it."
"By no means, sir. I shall not re
main longer. I expected my brother
with Mr. Fleming, but as my groom is
with me, there is no need to wait, espe
cially as it is likely to be dark very
early."
" I left Mr. Fleming at the bishop's,
witli three other clergymen. Your
brother—"
"Oh, my brotherit clergyman;"
and then suddenly remembering a friend
of Archie's who lived at least ten miles
away, she said : "lam Miss Crowthcr,
of Mill Top—perhaps you know Mr.
Henry Crowthcr?"
The young gentleman looked at Kate
in utter amazement. In fact, he was
Mr. Henry Crowthcr himself, and he
was not aware that he had ever had any
sister. Who was this beautiful girl
claiming so pleasant a kinship with
him?
But almost with the announcement
Kate disappeared. He watched her
horse brought round, nnd saw her
mount and ride away, and then sat
down to smoke in a whirl of curiosity
nnd excitement. " W hat a bright face!
What frank,charming manners! What
a figure! I wish to everything I had a
sister—or something nice—like that girl.
I do wonder who she is!" The next
moment lie had rung the bell, and pulled
the bell-rope down.
" 1-nwks, Mr. Henry, I knew that
was vou a-ringing, which Mr. Archie
never rings that outrageous way. W hat
be you wanting, sir?"
"I want to know, Martha, who that
youne lady is that left the house twenty
minutes ago."
"Well may you ask, sir, which to do
shows your good sense. That is Miss
Kate sir—Mr. Archie's cousin—
a very beautiful young lady, "lr. and a
good one. and proud her grandfather
is of her."
"That is all, Martha."
" Very well, sir."
When Archie returned he found
Harry Crowther pacing the room in
the greatest impatience. " How long
you have been!" lie exclaimed; "and
here lias been the most beautiful girl
waiting for you; and, by everything!
she Bays she is my sister; and, still
funnier, she did not know that I was
her brother."
" What do you mean, Harry?"
" Just what I say."
"Ob, this is too had! I must ask
Martha about it. She ought not to
permit strangers to come into my
rooms."
"Btop, Archie: 1 have asked Martha.
Her name WAS Miss Kate Leslie."
"My oousin Kate. Now wiiat could
have brought her here this wet davf"
He thought immediately of his inter
view witli Maggie, and of her anxiety
about her letters. " Poor little girl,"
he said, mentally, " 1 must not punish
tier any longer. I will take her her
letters to-morrow "
80 the next afternoon he put on his
hat and coat, and went to the cabinet
for them. Of course they were not
there. For one moment ne wis con
founded; the next, his mind had in
stinctively divined the hand that had
robbed him. He was very angry with
his cousin Kate. He knew at once it
was altogether her doing. If Maggie
itad ever dared to try, she would have
screamed in the attempt, and betrayed
herself.
It was with a very stern face that he
entered the parlor where Kate was sit
ting. and he would not see the hand
she held out to him. When they were
alone, she asked at once: "Why won't
you shake hands, Archie?"
" How can you expect me, Kate, to
take the bud-"
'"That robbed me.' Say it if you
wish."
" I was going to say it. Why did you
do it?"
" Because you were torturing little
Maggie, and I will not have her worried
about a few letters. They were hers,
not yours."
" I think they were mine."
" That shows a man's honesty in iove
matters. Tho letters were sent to you
under a supposition that you were to
fill a certain relationship to Maggie.
You were found Incompetent for that
position, and the favors relating to it
ought to have been returned. A dis
missed ambassador might just as well
keep tin' insigia of his office."
" Sit down, Kate, and don't put your
elf in a passion. Have I over done an
unkind thing to either Maggie or you
since we were children together?"
" No, Archie, you have not."
"Do you really think Iwouid?"
" You said you would tell Sir John
tilings about Maggie, nnd that would
he unkind. Maggie loves Sir John
very much."
" I would ncyer hurt Maggie. As
your pastor, and as your cousin, let me
say I think you have behuved in a very
improper manner."
"Archie!"
" Very improper indeed. You ought
to have come to me. I would have
given you the poor dear little letters;
and as for telling Sir John anything t
open his eyes, I like him far too well.
The only way to be happy in love is to
be blind."
"You think that is very satirical, I
dare say."
"No, Ido not. lam waiting for
your apology, Kate. You know you
ought to make me one."
Kate Bat, with burning cheeks, tap
ping the floor with her fool, and Archie
stood calmly watching her. At last
she said, "You are right, Archie."
Then, putting lior hand in her
pocket: "Hero are the letters. Dc
what you likewith them. I trust you."
He took them tenderly, and throwing
them into the fire, mournfully watched
them turn to gray ashes. Kate's eyes
were full of painful tears.
" Archie," she said, "forgive me. I
acted very impulsively and very im
prudently. I am ashamed of myself.
There is something else I must tell you
about this miserable affair. 1 saw a
gentleman in your parlor, and I gave
myself n false name to him."
" Oh, Kate, see how one fault leads to
another. If you had been doing right,
you would not have been ashamed to
confess that you were Kate Leslie. Do
you know the lady whose name you
borrowed ?"
" No, I know nothing about such a
person."
"Then I will go with you. and you
mus! make an apology to the family."
' .Just I do this?"
" Vou must. It is the least you can
do."
" Very well, Archie, I will do it."
B' l this part of her punishment was
Ion,; delayed. Ths next morning Kate
was very ill, and a severe attack of
rheumatic fever confined her for weeks
to her room. Then the fatigue and
excitement consequent on Maggie's
marriage threw her buck into the inertia
of invalidism, and the adventure was
almost forgotten in its painful results.
As the warm weather came on she
improved, and began to go into society
again. One day there sras to be a lawn
party at the bishop's, and she promised
to meet Archie there. She was sitting
resting under a great oak, when she
saw him coming toward her. A gentle
man was with nim. whom she recog
nized at a glance: she had introduced
herself once to him as Miss Crowther.
What was Archie going to do to her?
She felt almost like crying; hut she stood
bravely up as they advanced, and in
her white muslin (truss, with roses at
her waist and throat, she made a very
lovely picture.
" Good-afternoon, Cousin Kate."
"Cousin Archie, good-afternoon."
" Kate, this is my friend, Mr. Henry
Crowther."
She blushed violently, but she did not
lose her self-possession. "I have met
Mr. Crowther before, once, when I was
on a little private masquerade, and as
sumed the character ot his sister. I
hope I am forgiven."
" If I had a sister, she would have been
honored by the assumption. Since ttie
momentary favor I have never ceased to
regret my want."
They sat long under the pleasant
shade, and in the evening rode slowly
home together under the July moon
Before they parted both had acknowl
edged to their hearts an interest that
might he a dearer tic than even that of
brother and sister.
For a few weeks Harry Crowther was
constantly coming with Archie to call
on the Leslies, either for one pretext or
another. Than he began to come hy
himself, and to come without any pre
text at all. It iiad been long evident to
Archie that Harry and Kate loved each
other very dearly, and at last even the
dim eyes of her grandfather began to
perceive how matters stood.
" Kitty," he said, one night, after
waiting patiently through a "good
night' that lasted an hour and a half—
" Kitty, why docs Harry Crowther come
here so often ?"
"Because we do not believe in writ
ing, grandfather. Love-letters once
nearly cost me my life;" and leaning
fondly on her grandfather's neck, Kitty
told him the fault of which she had
been guilt v. and the pain and shame it
had caused her.
"Never pays, Kitty, to do evil that
good may come; the price is too high."
" You forgive me, grandfather?"
"Yes. Kitty, with all my heart."
"Harry has forgiven me too. You
see. after taking his name in iest, it is
right I make the amend honorable by
taking it in earnest. So, grandfather,
if you' Will let me, I am going to be
Mrs. Crowther instead of Miss Crow
ther. May Harry ask you to-morrow F"
" Yes, he mav ask me. He has asked
you. I suppose r"
"Oh, yes,"
"Ana we are to have a wedding, and
no love-letters. I never heard of such
a thing."
"A wedding, and no love-letters,
grandfather. Love-letters are slow and
old-fashioned, and very dangerous. We
have adopted visits and telegraphs in
their place."
The Michigan Ctuixtwi Advocate sug
gests that church letters be made to
rend: The hearer, A. 8., is an ac
ceptable member ot the Methodist Epis
copal church in R., and is hereby re
commended to tho church in M-,
and when we shall have received notice
of his affiliation there, his membership
in this church shall cease.
When tea was first introduced into
England it sold for fifty dollar* a
pound*
"THE PASSION PLAY."
A Unique Performance Which Took
Place at Ober-Ammeaaan lkJßavarla.
The New York Ilerald has the follow
Ing interesting account of the " Passion
Play," a relic of medisoval times, which
was Derformed this year for the first
time lu ten years in a Bavarian village
before assembled thousands, many of
them strangers from all parts of the
world: To-day, in a remote village of
the Bavarian Highlands, within a rude
theater, the most part of which is open
to the sky. there is seated all day long,
from eight in the morning till five in
the afternoon, with an interval of an
hour at noon for refreshments, some
live or Bix thousand people, peasants
from the neighboring villages, sight
seers from the near-lying Bavarian
towns, and tourists from far and near,
from England and America. They are
gathered together, some for devotion,
others out of curiosity, to witness the
first representation of u unique and in
teresting drama, the only surviving
medimval relic in Germany of the kind
which has come down with unbroken
tradition. The scene of the drama is
the village of Ober-Atnniergnu, and the
play, to give it its full title. "The Great
Flxpiatory Sacrifice of Golgotha, or the
Narrative of the Passion and Death of
Jesus, According to the Four Evange
lists, with Tableaux Vivants Taken
From the Old Testament." The actors
are humble villagers, under the guid
ance and direction of their village pas
tor. None other lias ever acted in the
plav, and yet it can trace its existence
back.for centuries; indeed, its origin is
lost in the remote past. For long years
its fame wna confined to its own imme
diate neighborhood, but in these days
of the railway, the telegraph, the press
and tourist agencies, it was impossible
to keep its fame from spreading far and
wide and thus it came to pass that,
from being a spectacle for humble
villagers and the goal of a decennial
pilgrimage for the devout, it has become
center of attraction to the pious and
curious of two continents.
The last performance of the " Passion
Play'' was given in 1871, as a crowning
religious act oi the general enthusiasm
wihch prevailed in Germany after the
vi tories of the German troops in
France and the returning peace. The
performance ol 1870, the proper year for
the exhibition, was interrupted by the
breaking out of the war, in consequence
of which the theater had to be closed
long before the appointed time, and the
visitors were scattered to the four
winds. Forty of the men and youth of
Ammengau, among tlieni several who
hail taken nart in the play, were called
to the ranks of the Bavarian army.
Josepii Maier, tho delineator of the
character of Christ (as in the present
year), was among those who had to per
form military dutY, although it fortu
nately happened that the reigning kinp
ot Bavaria, Ludwig 11., who had ever
manifested a deep interest in the " Pas
sion Play," interfered in his favor, and
allowed him to do garrison duty in
Munich and retain his long, flowing
hair. Of the forty who left the village
in 1870 for the war, six never returned
—two fell in battle and four died in the
hospital. When the news of the peace
concluded between Germany and
France arrived in the Bavarian High
lands, fires of joy were lighted on every
mountnln top, from the Odenwald
to the Tyrol, and the villagers of Ober-
Ammergau met together and deter
mined to give a representation of their
" PasoKMi Play" in honor of the event.
"This," they said, "shali lie our method
of thanking God, who has bestowed on
us the blessings c f victory and peace."
Since then nine years have passes!,during
which time the villagers have prepared
themselves for the representation which
liegins to-day. When we look at the
names of the players we can hardly
realize that nine years have elapsed
since the last performances. With the
exception of Anatnsia Kracli, who
takes the place of Marie Fiungcr in the
role of tbe Virgin, there is not a single
change of importance. Truly, time
does not seem to age the simple dwell
ers of the Ammerthal.
The " Passion Play" is composed of no
loss than eighteen acts, representing the
life ot Christ from the entry into Jeru
salem to tin resurrection and ascension.
Each of the eighteen acts is prefaced
with one or more tableaux vivants. the
subject of which is taken from the Old
Testament. They stand in the closest
eonnnection with the dramatic psrt ot
the performance, being so many sym
bols and prophecies of the scenes from
the life of Christ, which they are in
tended to illustrate The small text
hook published bv the community of
Ober-Ammergau fms very appropriate
remarks upon this subject by the Geist
licher Ratli Daisenberger: " Our main
object," he says, "is to represent the
story of Christ's Passion, not by a mere
statement of the facts, hut in its con
nection with the types nnd figures and
prophecies of the Old Testament. By
this manner of treatment an additional
strong light will be cast upn the strong
niUTntire. and the thoughtful spectator
will he able to realize the grand truth
that Jesus Christ, the son of God, made
man for our salvation, is the central
figure of the inspired volumes. As in
the history of the Christian church,
the life of the Savior and all his sacred
actions are continually repeated
and reproduced, to the extent that,
according to Scriptural commen
tators, he lives over again, suffers
and triumphs again in his saints, so it
hnppened before His appearance in the
flesh, and the holy patriarchs and other
saints of the Old Testament for
shsdowed His coming by the events of
their history and By their virtuous
lives; for He is the eternal sun of the
spiritual world; the sun of justice, send
ing forth His divine ravs to illuminate
in all directions both II is predecessors
and His successors, no less than His
contemporaries. Many of the incidents
in the lives of the ancient fathers bear
a striking and obvious resemblance to
various parts in the life of the Re
deemer, and set forth the sufferings and
death and resurrection so minutely that
the evangelists continually mention
some prophecy which was fulfilled.
Thus the heroes of the Scriptures-
Adam, the obedient, Abraham, Isaac,
Joseph, Job, David, Mlcalah Jonas,
Daniel, and so many others who labored
and suffered in His spirit —represent in
part, though imperfectly. His life, and
through what they accomplished and
suffered they became the prophets of
that which in him. the Urbild. the
primitive type, should take place. In
this fundamental thought is the repre
sentation oi the Passion arranged and
Krformed on the basis of the entire
riptnres."
To-day we shall give only ahtaffk
scene from the " Passion Play, ss re
corded by the anthor ol the "Album of
the Passion Play The drama has a
doable prelude, one of prayer and one
of nature. Precisely ateighto'clock the
booming of cannon, planted on a sllgh
elevation beneath the peak of the Korel,
announces that the play in about to be
gin. The whole available space within
the theater ig crowded. Every eye is
directed toward the broad proscenium,
which is bathed in the glory of morn
ing sunlight. If the curtain of the cen
tral stage was removed, while the mu
sical overture is being performed, and
there was revealed at once what is only
to be gradually unfolded the hearts of
many indifferent spectators would be
filled with surprise, if not with deep-r
emotions. In the principal scene of tie
future labors of the players are asseiu
bled all the members of the community
who are to take an active part in the
performances—upward of live hundred
in number—together with their pastor
or the aged priest-father of the village,
the Geistlicher Rath Daisenbcrger, and
there, unobserved by human eye, but
feeling conscious of the Divine Presence,
have fallen upon their knees and are en
gaged in a silent prayer. The spiritual
leader of the villagers kneels down in
their midst. We know that tbe purport
of their prayer, although very suppli
cate in silence, is that the dramatic la
bors in which they are about to engage
may prove spiritually beneficial to
themselves and to tbe thousands who
have come from distant parts to wit
ness them. This is the unseen prelude
to the" Passion Play."
There is also the prelude of nature,
which contributes to a calm and joyous
feeling in tbe breast of the spectator.
The eye, wandering far beyond the
limits of the stage, dwells upon the
freen, sunlit landscape of the valley,
'o the right and left tbe gaze rests on
mountains fringed with firs, and more
prominent than all on the high peaked
Kofel, with its high cross gilded by tbe
morning's rays. Tiie fresh morning
breeze is laden with the perfume cf
myriads of wild flowers that carpet the
meadows of the valley. The ear is cap
tivated by Boft, thrilling melodies as the
lark soars from his nest among the
meadow grass and pours out a matin
hymn to the Creator. Even within the
confines of the theater itself tiny feath
ered visitors dart across the sea of hu
man heads, hop about on the broad
proscenium or rest demurely on the
projecting corners of the stage, while
butterflies of every hue sail about at the
caprice of the breeze, enlivening and
diversifying the scene. From the dis
tant hills the tinkling of cow bells is
borne faintly to the ear. giving evidence
of the charm and simple beauty of pas
toral life. Nature and art here unite in
preparing the mind for the grand scene
of Christ's triumphal entry into Jernsu- j
lera. Every feature of landscape and
surrounding contributes toward the
realization of the first scene of the
drama—Christ's triumphal entry into
Jerusalem—in such a manner as almost
to produce complete illusion.
An Kasj Death.
Dr. Sam Johnson was a dear lover of
tea. and drank it freely. On a certain
occasion he chanced to be taking tea in
company where was present a woman
who not only held the fragant herb in
holy horror. K ut who believed it to he
poison. She sat near the doctor, and
beheld him receive his sixth cup. She
had borne it thus far in silence, hut
when she saw the good man about to
empty another cup, after having drank
five of them, she felt it her duty to
sneak, which she did, feelingly and em
phatically :
•• My dear Dr. Johnson, do you know
what you are doing ? Do you know that
you are drinking poison? If you arc
given to that habit, you may be sure it
is killing you."
Ths burly doctor looked at her, first
in amaze and then quizzically, witli the
waiting cup suspended. \V ith a rev
erent nod he replied:
" Madam, I thank you for your con
cern in my welfare, but on my account
you need not be alarmed. I have been
many, many years at this work, and if,
as you say. it is killing me, it must be
an easy death to die. Let me hope that
your exit may be as vigorously health
ful and as cafmly placid!"
And lie raised his cup to his lips.
A physician who had been called to
attend rontenelle found the great au
thor sipping coffee.
" My dear sir, do you expect medicine
can cure you wli lc you persist in arink
tng the inrtision of that pernicious ber
ry ? Coffee, s'r, is a slow poison!"
" I should Bay slow." replied Fonte
nelle, sipping away at his beverage. "I
have, within my own remembrance,
been drinking It. daily and freely, for
over sixty years."
lie lived to be 100 years old.
Turkish fUbbers.
Three robbers, armed to the teeth, re
cently broke into a Prussian's house in
Constantinople. He gave up bis watch
and fan in Turkish money, hut they
wanted more. They bound him hand
and foot, and compelled him to tell
them where they would find the key of
his business safe. This safe happened
to be in a room on the third floor, at
the top of the house, and thither the
three robhers hastened, leaving the
owner bound, and threatened to return
and shoot him if he called for assist
ance. But as they went upstair* iiis
wife, who had been watching what was
taking place from another room, slipped
quietly in and cut the bonds of tier hus
band. Arming themselves with revol
vers, the pair crept quietly up the stairs
came upon the robbers, and without a
word shot down two of them. The
third threw down his weapons and
begged for mercy. The Prussian bound
his late assailant fast, and leaving his
wife to watch over him with a loaded
revolver in her hand, hastened to the
nearest station house. There he found
tbe officer in charge absent, and on in
quiring for a sub-officer was told that
both of the latter were also away.
Thereupon the Prussian asked four of
tbe men to accompany him to his house
and take tbe hound burglar into cus
tody. Arrived in the room where the
two men had been shut, the saptieths
look on at the two oorpees and tbe
apprised and recognised in the former
the two sub-officers, and in the latter
the officer of their own guard.
A centenarian ex-soldier, who recently
died in a Russian village, continued his
business of tailor till death, though lie
had been blind for forty years. His
sense of touch was so acute that he
could distinguish different banknotes.
He used to thread his needle by means
of his tongue.
The editor of the Albany Arout has a
dog which catehss fish by submerging
her head and taking them with her
mouth. She does this purely for sport,
and does not sat or even hurt the fish.
KELIUIOUB BEWH AITD NOTES.
_®P u 'f* 01, ' > Pastors' college hu euu
oatcd 47 J preachers.
The national council of theCongre
§t LouL W meet year **
It is about 140 yearn since the begin
ning of foreign mission*. and convert*
from beatbenUm now number about a
million and a half.
The Methodist ecumenical council la
appointed at London in August of next
year. It will have four hundred mem*
bent, one-half of them from the United
Bta •<.
Tl/'' .f-o.aneee edition of the book at
oomi ... . rayer i* said to be nearly oom
pleb u. It ie being prepared under the
sur vision of a mixed committee of
Er dish and American missionary o
ci ies.
The repreeentativeß of twelve theo
lo ical BcminaricH who recently held a
or iference in New York city adopted a
p .n f<"- in int/T-acminary mieeionary
organise. and appointed a mission
arj convention at New Brunswick in
October.
in October the First Congregational
church of Boot on will celebrate its 250 th
am iversary, anrl preparations are al
ready being made for the event. Among
the !>,ur signers of the first covenant in
church were Governors Winthrop
at. 1 Dudley. The first book of records
an<' a silver goblet which Governor
WI itbrop gave to tlie church arc still in
the society's possession.
The iiome mission committee of the
Canada Presbyterian church has re
ceived f400,000 during the last six
months, and it has arranged to send
seven additional missionaries to Mani
oba, where they are greatly needed.
The need of increased efforts on the
part of the Presbyterian denomination
among the German element in this
country is beginning to attract atten
tion, and steps are about to be taken to
push work in that direction more vig
orously.
The Woman's Baptist Missionary so
ciety. which was organized nine years
ago, has received in all $281,100. Last
year the society received some $46,178,
the largest amount ever received in one
year.
The income of the Presbyterian hoard
of foreign missions for last year shows
a very iargc increase. The receipts ag
gregate $5*6,844, * gam over the pre
vious year of more than $150,000. The
ieg;u ies have been unusually large, and
tlie Woman's societies have collected
$200,000. The last assembly asked the
church to bring its contributions up to
$500,000, which the church has done,
and much more.
The desire for spiritual instruction is
sueli in some parts of Spain that West
leyan ministers report it not an unusual
thing to receive a written requisition
from villages, signed by forty or fifty in
habitants, asking tbem to come and
preach the gospel to them.
The quadrennial report of the agent
of the New York Methodist Book Con
cern shows that its net capital is $1,080,-
56H. The net profits of the four years
have been $901,978. Tlie sale* for the
same period were $3,415,016. The re
port also shows that the support of the
bishops, which was thrown on the
churches three years ago, lias drawn
upon the funds of the concern. Three
years ago the fund owed the concern
$118,436; it owes now $190,311. The
agents recommend that this amount be
charged to profit and loss, as they
do not believe it will be made good by
the church.
The Presbyterian board has very en
couraging reports from their mission
work in Mexico. More than 500 con
verts recently sat down together at the
communion table in the city of 45ita
cuaro, situated southeast of the capital,
:ind the two native preachers say they
have nearly 3.000 converts in the State
of Michoacan.
There are in Great Britain thirty-four
Catholic peers, twenty-six holding
seats in the house of lords, and filty
one Catholic members of the bouse of
commons. There are five members of
the que< n's pri vy council who are Catho
lics. There are in Great Britain eighteen
arc hbishops or bishops. 2,140 priests,
and 1,348 Catholic places of worship.
The Episcopal convention of North
ern New Jersey hns appointed a com
mittee to ascertain the nature and
nmounts of all incumbrances upon
church property in the diocese, with a
view to devise some practical means by
which all such incumbrances may be
removed prior to the centennial dio
>wan anniversary, which will occur in
1883.
Home-Hade (Ma Water.
The artificial seltzer water, made with
a carbonic acid generator, is already,
says the ScutUifa Amena.n, an imita
tion far from perfect of the natural
water. A recipe to make it on the small
scale for family use, as It were, can only
give a product differing still more from
that of the spring. Yet the following
would fairly imitate the taste and prop
erties of the natural water:
Fused chloride of oalcium 4 grains.
Chloride of magnesium '$ grains.
Chloride of sodium 15 grains.
Citrate of iron | grain.
Tartaric acid 9 drachnu
Bicarbonate of soda 9| drachms.
Water sufficient.
Dissolve all the salts, excepting the
tartaric acid and the bicarbonate, in
about one pint of water, and introduce
Hie solution into n champagne bottle.
Then having completed the requisite
quantity of liquid so as to leave an
t mptv space of about two fluid ounoee
add the tartaric acid, and immediately
after the bicarbonate of soda. Cork the
bottle lightly, secure the cork with
stout cord, and set the bottle aside tor
about six hours before it is opened,
is then ready lor use.
WI stem fer Keys.
Do you wish to make your mark in
tlie w. rid P Do you wish to bemenP
Then observe the following rule*:
Hold integrity sacred.
Observe good manners.
Endure trials patiently.
Be prompt in all things.
Make few acquaintances.
Yield not to discouragements.
Dare to do right; fear to do wrong.
Watch carefully over your passions
JJight life's battle manl
Consider well, then decide (posi
tively.
Sacrifice money rather *>■ prin
ciple.
Use all your leisure time for improve
ment.
Attend carefully to the details of your
iroftinesft.