" Our First Gray llalr." As the flint big (isttcring ilmps Ihst fkll With splash on our latltoo pane. Hakes us shiver and start they warn us all Of a storm, or of coining rain, Ho it is with life, when we are growing old, And age steals unaware. We shiver and start, if the truth wore told,* Al the sight of our llrst gray hair. We mark not the light of our noonday hours. Like the tlrst streaks of dawn doth liring; We hail not the birth of the summer flowers As we do the snow-drops of spring; On the bleak winter wind we look not with grief, Though it howl through the branches Ivan-, But wf sigh whin we witnww the brown autumn leaf And 1 eliold nature's tlrst gray hair. Gray hairs may conte when the beaming eye Has none of its lirightnras lost. When with buoyant heart we would deny Youth's Bnbieon has Issin ensued; But the ivy- clad free hsiks young and green. Though a sapless trunk may le there; And naught of decay on our checks may l seen When we witness our tlrst gray hair. (Vuv early, come late, like a knock at the gate fs that first soft silvery thread; And it joins with its silonec the years that await With the years forever fll; It silently tells us we're journeying on ft silently questions us Where? Oh ! a faithful milestone, were the truth but known. Is sen in our first gray hair. Mr*. ('Tuirlr s 7". I'hiikhati*. DR. JEX'S PREDICAMENT. It was the funniest thing that I ever saw in my life. Cruikshank would have gloried in it. I wish I had him hare to illustrate that scene with the spirited vigor that only his dancing jtcncil gives. It was in Kentucky that it liap|>ened that pleasant land of hluc-grusH and to bacco, and tine stock, with fine-teethed girls. Mabel, my sister, had married Dick Hneklestone, and they had begun life in great contentment and a little Urns l -roomed house scareoly big enough to hold the bridal presents. But they . were happy, hearty, healthy. They had two cows, ice-cream every day, a charm ing baby, and Unele Brimmer. Who shall say that their cup was not full? Indeed, they thought it full before Unele Brimmer added himself thereto a very ponderous rote-leaf. He was one of our old family servants, who fondly Itelieved that Miss Mid vol ami her young lmsl>and would never be able to get on without . him. He walked all the way from Mis sissippi to Kentucky, with his things tied np in a meal sack, anil presented himself before Mabel, announcing af fablv that he hail come to "stay on." " But I haven't any place for yon r Unele Brimmer," said Mattel, divided 1 >etween hospitality and embarrassment. " Lor', honey, you kin jes' tnek me arourf anywhar. I don't take np no r oom." Malvel looked thoughtfully upon the big. brown, grav-whiskered old negro, whose proportions were those of n Hur rules, and shook her head. " You are , not a Tom Tlnvmh, Uncle Brimmer." " No, ma'am," said he, submissively, " but I've got his spirit. Couldn't I sleep in de kitchen, honey?" he went on, with insinuating sweetm-ss. '• No, indeed," eriod our young house keeper; " I (>nt my foot down on any body sleeping in the kitchen." Aunt Patsey, the rook, stood by, bal aneing a (tan of flour on her hand. I suspected her of a personal interest in ihe matter, and indeed she afterward acknowledged that she thonght Uncle Brimmer's coming would prove a "bless in' to her feet." Those feet of hers liad boon saved many steps through the ser vice of her ten-year-old daughter Nancy Palmira Kate—called Nanky Pal, for short. But of late Nanky's services had been called into requisition as a nurse, ami Aunt Patsey, who was fat and sean, of breath, thought she had too much to do; and so - lie viewed with evident de light the stalwart proportion* of otir good-natured giant from the South." " Dar's de !of, Miss Mabel," site sig grated. " It's too small, and is cluttered up with things alreody." "Oh, sho, chile, dar ain't nothin' in flat lof 'eep' do 'tatera, an' do |op|>orn, an' do dried apples, an' some strings o' terUu-ker, an' do broken (ilowr, an' some odils an' ends o' de ehillen's an* Lnrv Crittenden's (viijis. Lor\ ilar ain't noth in' ter speak of in do lof." " He can't get in at the window," said Mai do, shifting her ground. " Lemma try," said Uncle Brimmer. The kitchen was a small log cabin some distance from the house "in good bollerin' nwh," to quoto Aunt I'ataey. Above it was a low room, or kft, crowdeil with the miscellaneous articles enumer ated. The only way of getting into it ■was from the outside. A ladder against the side of the eabm admitted one, \ through a little window, no largor, I atn sure, than that of a railway coach, into this storehouse of treasures. Nanky Pal, who was as slim as a snake, was ■lly selected to fetch and carry igh the small aperture. But Cm • krerl sho I kin do it," he said, squinting 1> one eye, as 1"' took off his coat anil prepared to try. We Ktoml in the doorway as he can tiontdy went up the ladder; and after an exciting moment lie pushed himself through the window, and turning, smiled triumphantly. This settled the matter. A cot Ikml was procured for Uncle Ilrimmer, and lie soon became the mainstay of the family. Cheerfully avoiding all the work posailde; indifferently as an ostrich eating all he could Hud in cupboards or highways grinilv playing hobgoblin for baby; gaylv twanging his banjo on moonlight nights—memory recalls tins? with a smile, Uncle Urimiuerl I can close my eves and recall hill) big, shapeless, in distinct in the semi-darkness, as lie sat under the rnullmrry tree singing. After a time Uncle Brimmer fell ill, and we sent for a doctor. 1 >r. Trattles.Tex was the medical man of our county, lie lived at Middlebum, seven miles away, and lie came trotting over on a great lmy horse, with a pair of saddle-bags hanging like Gilpin's bot tles, one on either side, lie looked its diminutive as a monkey jtorched on the tall horse's back, and indeed he was "a wee bit pawky body," as was said of Tommy Moore. But, bless me! he was as pompous ami self-important as though lie had found the place to stand on, and could move the world with his little lever. A red handkerchief carefully pinned across his chest showed that he had lungs and a mother. His (toots wore liolished to the last degree. His pink and beardless face betrayed his youth ; and his voice -ah! his voice! Wliut a treasure it would have been could lie have let it Ollt to UUls pieraders ! Whether it was just changing from that of youth to that of man, or, whether like reading and writing, it "come by nature," I can't tell. One instant it was deep and bass, the next, squeaking and soprano. No even tenor about that voice! He held out his hand with, "Good morning, Mrs. Itucklestone. I ho|iethc baby has not had an attack?" # I (topped into the dining-room to gig. gle, but little Well-bred Mabel did not even smile. "Oh, no," she cried; "it is Uncle Brimmer." The doctor offered to see liini at once. Mabel got up to lead the way. Up to this moment I warrant it had not struck her as anything out of the way that she must invito I r. Jex to climb a ladder and crawl through a window to get at his patient. But, as she looked at him sjieckless, spotless, gloved, scented, curled, then at the ladder leaning against the wall in a disreputable, rickety nor of way, a scene of incongruity seemed Ivornc in on her soul. To add to her dis tress and my hilarity we saw that Uncle Brimmer had hung out on the window some mysterious under-rigging that lie wore. I-ong, rod and ragged, it " flaunted in the breeze" as picturesque ly as the American ling on a Fourth of July. " I am afraid, doctor, it w ill W a little awkward," faltered Mattel, " Uncle Brimmer is up there;" and she waved her lily hand. "An' you'll have to clime de ladder," put in Nanky Pal, with a disrespectful chuckle. I thought the little doctor gus|s>d; ■ hut he recovered himself gallantly, and "aid: "A- a lov I have climlasl tree., and think I ean ascend a ladder as a man;' and he smiled heroically. We Watched him. He was incum bered bv the saddlc-hugs, but he man aged very well, and had nearly reaehed the t>p when suddenly Uncle Brimmer's h> ad and shoulders protruded, giving liiin the hsik of a snail half out of its shell. " Here's niv pnlv; doctor," he cried, blandly,extending his I tared arm. "Tain'j no place for you up here. An' here's my tongue." Then out went his tongue for Dr. Jet's insjs-ction. The doctor settled himself on a rung of the ladder, quite willing to be mot half way. Professional inquiries begun, when , " A <" •wi.nnl struck like s rising knell." "Good grneions!" exclaimed Mabel; " what is that ?" Nanky Pal sprang tip, with distended eyes, almost letting the Isi by fall. Again, "Nearer, clearer, deadlier than befiiro.", "Sake* alive! Miss Maltcl," cried Nanky, "010 Mr. Hiinnton's bull's done broke loose 1" Hbe was right. A moment more and in rushed the splendid angry Insist, ltel lowing, (tawing the ground, shaking his evil lowered load as ifHatan were contra dieting him. I>r. Jex turned a feared face. My lord bull caught sight of the fluttering rod rags, and charged. The next in stant the ladder was knocked from nndrr the doctor's feet and he was clinging frantically round the neek of Uncle Brimmer. Fearful moment " Pull him in, Uncle Brimmer- pull him in," shrieked Mabel, dancing ahont. " I can't honey—l can't," grasped the choking giant; "I'm stnek." " Hold me np," cried the doctor. " Bend for help." Uncle Brimmer seined him by the armpit*. The saddle-hogs went clattering down and altout the head of Master Bull, a cloud of quinine, calomel, Dover's and divers other powder and pills broke in blinding confusion. "Aunt Putney, go for Mr. Hueklcstono at once," called Mabel. Aunt I'ntsey looked cautiously out from the kitchen door. " Y'er don't ketch me in de yard wid ole Simmons' bull," she said, with charming independence. "Then I shall send Nutikv Pal." "If Nunkv l'nl goes outeii dut house I'll break every IHUIC in her body." Then Mat ml begun to beg: "Aunt Put Hey, let her go, please. I'll give you a whole bagful of quilt-pieces, and my ruby rep {Mrlonaisc that you begged mo for yesterday." Aunt Putney's head eurne out a little further. "An' what cine?" "And a ruffled pillow-sham," said Ma bel, almost in tears, "and some white sugar, and I'll make you a hut and that's all. Now!" " I ris'kou ilat's about as much as the chile is wuth," said the philosophic mother. " Let her go." "Fly! fly!" eriisl Muls-1. "I ain't skis-red," said Kanky. "I ain't dut sort. Mummy ain't nuthcr. She was jes' wait in' ter sis- how much you'd give." Nunkv's bare legs scudded quickly across the yard. The bull took no no tice of her. He was still stamping and bellowing under that window. Uncle P.riiniii'T and the doctor clung together, and only u kick now and then testified to the little man's agony. " Suppose Uncle Brimmi r should let go?" I stiggc,tisl, in a hollow wbisjier. "Oh, hush,"l'riisl Mabel. "Thedoe tor's IIIIMMI would IM* on our heads." " Or the bull's horns." It was not far to the tobacco field, and in an incredibly short time brother John euine riding in, followed by half a dozen stout negroea. WitL some delightful plav that gave one quite an idea of a S|ianish bull tight, his lorilship was cap tureil, and our little doctor was a isted to the house. Gone was the glory of Dr. Tra'.tle* Jex. His coat was torn, hi* knee* grimy, his hand" scratched, and he looks| yes as if he had been crying. " C'an yon ever forgive us?" said Mnlsd, pitconslv. She hovered almnt him like u mother. She mended hi* coat; she asked him if he would not like to kiss the baby. And tinullyu wan smile shone in the countenance of Ir. Jex. For me, I felt my face purpling, and leaving him to Malic! I tied with brother John to the amoke-liomie, where we roared. Uncle Brimmer got well and went in to see the doctor. He returned with a new cravat, a cane, and aex'erol smart articles of attire, from which we in fernsl tlust in those trying moments when lie snp]>ortsl the sns|>endecting a terrible evil which is now Wsetting the country in which he lives and to suggest a remedy. The wood* altoiit tlttv English miles from ibingo are the haunts of a great number of wolves, which of late have lawn ao auda cious a* not to lie contented with tear ing cows and sheep but are now con stantly attacking even human lieings. In less than two months eleven chil dren have IKTO carried away and eaten hv the beasts. Very recently a little Iwiy aged nino years was overtaken on tho high road by a single wolf and dragged Into a neighboring field. The lad esca|>ed with his life only by the approach of a stalwart peasant. An other ease of very late occurrence was that of a man who, while driving a sledge, was attacked by a wolf, which sprang np from the ground and tore his arm. The animals are es|iecially nu merous in the southern and most {>opu lonm parts of tho country, where tliey come down to the very thresholds of the houses; anl in some instances children have lawn carried off under the very eyes of their parents. Kcldom more than one wolf isoeeti at a time; and the belief is that, like the man eating tigers of India, these beasts ate either emliold encd by hunger or have lieen rendered daring by impunity and the acquired zest for human blood. A price on the head of iwoli wolf killed or captured alive has been fixed by the Finnish gov ernment; hut the |>easantry appear to lie incapable of coping with the in vadeta. Hunters are now being ap pointed and sent into the woody district* frequented by wolves; but hitherto with small snccesa. Our corres|>ondent la of the opinion that Engliah gentle men fond of aport and adventure would, if accompanied by a numlmr of bull dogs and shepherds' dogs, and p. •■perly equipped for a winter campaign, do wonders at wolf atalking for tho Fin landers. — lsnuion Dip the tip of nails in grease and they will easily drive into hard wood. THE FAMILY IKNTOIt. FF.UIN.—A certain cure for U felon IN 1 said fo IKI to wind u olotli loosely about the Anger, leaving UII> end Pour in common guiqiowdcr till tin- afflicted part is entirely covered. Keep the whole wet with strong spirits of camphor. CATAKHII A health pnldleution says one of the most prominent cause* of eaturrh is the ■ veeasive use of salt mid heaters, sueh as sweets, fats, condiniciits mid starch. This excess of carbonaceous food excites and inflame* the mucous inetubranes of the throat, nasal passages, bronchial tubes, etc. It is ulso caused by indigestion and constipation. Head aches and neuralgia proceed from the same causes, SAMTAHV KIIIIORH. 1. To lielieve that the more hours children are at their studies the fastc* they learn. 2. To !•- lieve that the more a JSTSOII •■at* the stronger and fatter In- will 1 .'I. To believe that if exercise is giMsl for one it should Is' taken at all hours and seasons, the more violent the better the result. T To imagine that the smallest room ii: the house is large enough to sleep in. •". To eat without appetite. 0. To eat a hearty upper the last thing at night. Ct'HK Foil lliccofoll. A medical jour mil gives the following safe and simple means of relieving this troublesome dis order: " Inflate the lungs as fully as pos nilde, and thus press firmly on the agitat ed diaphragm. In a f< w -econds the S)>|l tinMlic action of the lull c|e will cense." This may lie true of ordinary hiccough, but ibis Hl niptoiu occurring HI advanced CMC* of disease, n. . ouipnllicd witli gre.il'pri.stiation, is allic t invaria bly ail indication that death is very near. L.low TO THKAT I (VIUI. Win n you chilly all MR and mv.iv into your IKIIICH, and begin to snitlb- and almost struggle for your breath, just begin in time and your tribulation need not last very long. Cot some jmwd'nsl borax and siiufT tin- dry |owder up your nos trils. Get your camphor bottle and smell it frequently ; ]*>ur tim- on your band kerchief, and wijic your rio-e with it whenever nosbsl. Your in e will not get sore, mid yon will soon wonder what litis become of your cold. Jh-gin this treatment in the forenoon and keep on at intervals until you go tolx-d, and you will sleep as w< 11 as you ever did. CollS SlI.Ks AH \ It I'M I'liX Who would have thonckt tlint the silk on nil <-ur of green I'orn was n powerful and efficient remedy for dropsy, for bladder troubles and for the diseases of the kidneys ? lii the Louisville MntHal .Yem we find an account of the nnxliml properties of eorn-silk and the cures that have been effected by it* use. The way to use it is to take two double -handful* of fresh eorn-silk and Isnl in two gallons of water until but a gallon remains. Add sugar to make a syrup. Drink a tumbler ful of this thrice daily, and it will relieve dropsy by increasing the flow of the urine most enormously. Other diseases of the bladder ami kidneys are lwnfit pije after dinner, and if they lived as General and Mrs. .lackson did; and also at Alnwick castle, the ancient j I wince of the Percys, ho found a pic tnre of the general. It is a strange circumstance, not qleaking mnrli for j the reading ar intelligence of certain j English ladies, that they luxve an blank ; an ignorance now, almost, of what America really is; and that ao late as 1800, an English lady asked, her ! American guest if New York did not, i burn down constantly, as it wits all I built of wood! Iho calm, elegant manners of the , unpretending but scholarly I'reseott, j Motlev and Isi well; the simple, sol- J dicrly Iteming of our hist soldier-pres- I ident mid his wife who ihs-s not smoke a pi|M-! have impressed those j who have wen them; and yet the wife of a prominent clergyman in England asked Mr. I#ov.eil if |„. really did not belong to a small minority of bis countrymen. "You are not like the General Jackson class, for instance," j said she. And yet it took men of "the General Jackson class" to make us a nation. The Mail YVho Boasts. 'I In- man who boosts is twin born to u , liar, for neither of them can tell the truth, except by accident, ami vet it must 1 be very comfortable to feel that what | you do is always the very best thing that. ! rati IM* done by any one, and that you j know just a little more than uny living man. We are acquainted with u tender : hearted gentleman whose ex|*erienees 1 were always exceptional, and who has J seen thou-mids of tilings which no mor i tul eye save his own ever looked upon When lie went up the Higi it was the clearest day that hod Is-en seen for :i full ( century, and when lie travehsl over the j St. Got hard he went through a storm of hailstones, the least of which was biggi r tliiin a lien's i '/g. and the guide, who •wa threescore years and ten, and hud 1M en over the ]N , more than 2.n*in the middle with a real wick4r gate and a real latch. The *hcc|-fnld dore not prcteniTto be a real division of the mom* *o a* to liar the progress of intruders, for it is o low that it can easily lie stepped over, hut ia intended to signify that the pniqioara of the divided s|*rtnicnts are different, ono division lieing for work and atndy, the other for visitor* and trifling con versation.—ljomhm letter. The ingenuity show n by rat* in open ing doom ia something admirable They also ahow much ingenuity in opening ooocert*.—Rfpnh. j liomm TOPIC'S OF Till: IAY. America exported 5,885 H.'{| barrel* of How iti 187'J, while in 18*0 it footed up 0,545,020 barrel*. Thin encouraging gain strengthen* the oft-re|wated opin ion that thelTnitod Ktatea is destined to become the world'* feeder. The possi bilities of the wheat crop are almost ' indeterminable. Did von Hucoood in aolving the fifteen puzzle? The inquiry may seein a little I tardy, lmt if yon did not aolvc it I'ro fe*Hor I'roctor way* you nee ie.ot' dto tillage. Joseph l'.urgcr, member of the Min | 10*0 ta legislature, is a curiosity. He j enlisted in the Second Minnesota regi mcnt of volurit.-ers when onlv four teen yeim old. He was shot seven ; times, losing his left arm and most of bis right hand, and is one of the seven teen men in the United States who hold a gold medal for brave ry, and was discharged as a captain at the age of eight.en years. When twenty-two year* of age he r.aa elected to the Mis : sonri legislature, and srvisl fire years in the house and senate of that State, beside one term as sergeant alarms of the Missouri bouse. He was jKistmas tcr at Ilnrgcr, Mo., a town named after him, and now at the ag of thirty-two is sent, after a ripe exjwrience, to the Minnesota house. He was l>ro in Aus tria and diaws a js-nsion of #'iOo a year. The fifteenth annual report of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals makes a very credit ; aide showing of the humane work per formed during 18S0. The society lias now fourteen branches and 207 agencies in the State of New York. During the past y-ar Arkansas, Mississippi and JjoniMana have joined the hnmarie eon | federacy, and steps arc I wing taken to ( place the work on a legal footing in Alabama, Kansas, Nevada, South t'aro -1 lina and Texas. The parent society in . 1880 prosecuted 701 case* of cruelty to animals in the courts, destroyed 1,519 animals rendered unfit for further use, and answered 192 calls for its ambu lances to remove disabled horses from the streets to the veterinary hospitals and elsewhere. The income from all sources, including a small balance from the previous year, amounted to 816,- 742.15, and the ei]wnditure to $15,- 500.82/ During Mr. Gladstone's recent illness, resulting from accident, traffic was stopped in Downing street, in which hi* official residence i* situated, in order that he might not be injured or dis turlw.l by the noise. Mr. Gladstone is premier of England, but what was done for liim is done for almost anybody whose illness is of a nature to demand it, wh.n application is duly made to the police. In case one is suffering from some brain disease, in which every sound produces fresh agony, and in volves new danger to the patient's life, the authorities will bed the street deep with tanlwk, or, if necessary, as in the ease of Mr. Gladstone, shut vehicles away from the snfferer*s block altogether temporarily. Commenting on this cir cumstance the New York ft'r.r/Wb'e re marks that the custom is so sensible and humane that some practicable mod ification of it ought to bo adopted in every large city or town—the noises and racket of. which are so terrible and fatal to persons ill from nervous disease. Marriage in Kaia. It is said that in ltnssia matrimony is under the rigid surveillance of the jwlico. * No man is jwnuitted to marry out of his class, and even within his class his choice s very limited, indeed. A priest, for nHtanee, mnst marry a priest's widow or daughter; a deacon mnst marry into a brother deacon'a family ; a sexton into a j brot her sexton's, etc. Hut the chance of choice is narrow, for each marriageable man must marry the lde*t eligible orphan in the district of his class; so * man of twenty frequently finds himself " elected" for a spinster of fifty. I , J