fbrty Years Ago. Three gay little iada on a winter 1 * night Hat cracking their nute by the pine-top#' light— Hat cracking their nuts, and laughing with glee At tho wondorful things thay would go and aee. That waa forty years ago, Round tho cot and pino-wood fen. Now a noble city atanda There with many toiling hands, And tho little lads are men. Said Harry; "I really don't know wliloh is best, To shoulder my riflo and go to the West, Or to harpoon tho whales in tho Arctic seaa ; But 1 aha!) bo auro to do ono of thoaig" That waa forty years ago— And the hunter nover went, lie's a man of stocks and shares, Great among tho "bulla" and "bear*," And a railroad president. Little Willy said slowly : " I hato the noiao And crowd of cltios ; and I shall go, boys. To some far Weitern prairio and pitch my tont, And live like Ilobinaou Crusoe, coatent." That was forty years ago. Willy is a merchant bold ; Willy' name's in evory land ; Kvory market feels his hand, And his word is good as gold. Now Jack hid been reading a wonderful tale, And be said: "I shall go, if my plans do not fail. To be Captain Al' Haba, and find mo a cavo. With forty good robbers, all clever and bravo.' That was forty years ago. Jack's a judge of aterneat sort ; No one slauds like him for law ; Thieves and gamblers stand in awe Of bis unrelenting court. Mary .4. liarr, in Harper's tt'eifcly. A COOL SCOUNDREL. My profession isn't a popnlar one. There is considerable prejudice against it. I don't myself think it's mnch worse than a good many others. How ever, that's nothing to do with my story. Some years ago me and the gen tleman who was at that time connected with me in business—he's met with re verses since then, and at present isn't ! able to got ont—was looking around for j a job, being at that time rather hnrd up, as you might say. Wo struck a small country town—l ain't agoin' to give it away by telling where it was or \ what tho name of it was. Thero was one bank there; the president was a rich old duller ; owned tho mills ; owned I tho bank; owned most of the town Thero wan't no other oflieer but the j cashier, and they had a boy who used ! to sweep out anil run on errands. Tho bank was on tho main street, pretty well np one end of it—nice, snug place, on the corner of a cross street, with nothing very near it. Wo took j our observations, and found there wasu't no troublo at all about it. There was an old watchman that walked np and down tho street nights, when he didn't fall asleep and forget it. Tho vault hail two doors; tho outside one was chilled iron and had a three wheel combination lock; the inner door wasn't no door at all; yon could kick it open. It didn't protend to be noth ing but Qro proof, and it wasn't even that. The first thing we done, of course, was to fit a key to the outside door. As the lock on tho outside door was an old fashioned Bacon lock, any gentleman of my profession who chances to read this article will know jast how easy that job was and how we done it. I may say here that tho gen tlemen in my lino of business having at times a great deal of iei.snre on their hands, do considerable reading, and are fond of a neat bit of writing. In fact, in the way of litera ture, I have found among them—how ever, this being digression, I drop it, and go on with the main job again. This was onr plan : After the key was fitted I was to go into the bank, and Jim —that wasn't his name, of coarse, but let it pass—was to keep watch on the ontaide. When any one passed he was to tip me a whistle, and then 1 doused the glim and lay low; after they got by, I goes on again. Simple and easy, yon see. Well, the night as we selected, the president hap pened to be out of town; gone down to the city, as he often did. I got inside all right, with a slide lantern, a breast drill, a small steel jimmy, s bunch of skeleton keys and a green baise bag to stow the swag. 1 filed my light and rigged my breast drill, and got to work on the door right over the lock. Probably a great many of yonr read ers is not to well posted as me abont bank locks, and I may say for them that a three-wheel combination look has three wheels in it and a slot in each wheel. In order to unlock the door sou have got to get the three slots opposite to eech other, at the top of the lock. Of oonrse, if y o j know the num ber the look is sat on, you can do this ; but if you don't, yon have to depend on your ingenuity. There is in each of these wheels a small hole, through which yon pot a wire through the baok of the lock, when you obange the combina tion. Now, if you can bore a bole through the door, and pick np those wheels by runnings wire through those holes, why you oan open the door. ! hope I make myself clear. 1 boring that bole. The door was chilled iron; abont the neatest stuff I eve* worked on. I went on steady eaongh ; [ only • topped when Jim—which, m I said, wasn't his real name—whiatlod ontaide, and the watchman toddled by. By and-bye, when I'd got pretty noar through I heard Jim—so to speak— whiatlo again. I stopped, and pretty soon heard footsteps outside, and I'm blowed if they didn't come right np tho bank steps, and I heard a key in tho lock. I wus so dumbfounded when I heard that, that you could have slipped tho bracelets right on me. I picked np my lantern, and I*ll bo hanged if I didn't let the lid slip down and throw tho light right on to tho door, and there was tho president. Instead of c tiling for help, as I thought ho would, ho took a step inside the door, and shaded his eyes with his hands and looked at mo. I knowed I ought to knock him down and cnt out, but I'm biost if I could, I was that surprised. ''Who are yon?" says he. "Who are you?" says I, thinking that was an innocent remark as ho com menced it, and a trying all the timo to collect myself. ' I'm tho president of the bank," says he, kinder short; "something's the matter with the lock?'' By Georgo! the idea camo to mo then. "Yes, sir," says I touching my cap; "Mr. Jennings, ho telegraphed this morning as tho lock was ont of order and ho conldn't get in, and I'm come on to open it for him."' "I told Jennings a week ago," says he, "that ho ought to got that lock fixed. Where is ho? ' "He's been a writing letters, and he's gone np to tho bouse to <ret another let ter ho wanted to answer." "Well, why don't yon go right on?" says he. "I'vo got almost through," says I; "and I didn't want to finish up and open tho vault till there was somebody here." "That's very creditable to you,'' says he; "a very proper sentiment, my man. Yon cin't," he goe9 on,coming round by tho door, "be too particular abont avoiding tho very suspicion of evil." "No, sir," savs I, kinder modest like, "What do you suppose is the matter with tho lock?" says he. "I don't rightly know yet," says I; "but I rather tbink it's a little wore on account of not being oiled enough. These 'ere locks ought to be oiled about once a year." "Well," says he, "yon might as well go right on, now I'm here; I will stay till Jennings comes Can't I help yon? hold yonr lantern, or something of that sort ?" The thonght rame to me like a (lash, and I turned around and says : "How do I know you're the president? I ain't ever seen yon before, and yon may bo a trying to crack this bank, for all I know?*' "That's a very proper inquiry, my man," said he, "and shows a most ie markablo degree of discretion, f con fess that 1 should not have thonght of tho position in which I was placing yon. However, 1 can easily convince yon that it's all right. Do yon know what tho president's name is ?" "No, I don't," says f, sorter snrlv. "Well, you'll find it on that bill," raid he, taking a bilf ont of his pocket, "and yon we tho same name on these letters," and ho took aomo Utters from his coat. I suppose I might to have gone right on then, bnt I ru beginning to fee' interested in making him prove who be was, so I Rays : " Yon might have got them letters to pnt np a job on me." " You're a very honest mn," says he; "one among a thousand. Don't think I'm at all offended at yonr jieniistence. No, my good fellow, I like it, I like it," and he laid his hand on my shoul der. "Now hero," lays he, taking a bundle out of his pocket, "is a package often thousand dollars in bonds. A burglar wouldn't be apt to carry those around with him, would he ? 1 bought them in the city yesterday, and I stopped here to night on my way homo to place them in the vault, and, I may add, that your simple and manly hon esty has so touehed me, that I would willingly leave them in your bands for safe-keeping. You needn't blush at my praise." I suppose I did turn sorter red when I see them bonds. " Are you satisfied now f says ho. I told him I was, thoroughly, and so 1 was. 80 I picked up my drill again, and gave him my lantern to hold, so that I could see the door. I heard Jim, as I call him, outside once or twice, and 1 like to have burst out laughing, think ing how be must be wondering what was going on inside. I worked sway and kept explaining to him what I was a trying to do. He was very much in terested in mechanics, he said, and be knowed as I was a man as was up ia my business by the way I went to work. He asked me about what wages I got, and bow I liked my business, and said ibe took quite a fancy to me. I turned around once in a while and looked at him a setting up there as solemn M a biled owl, with my dark lantern ia his blessed hand, and I'm blamed if I didn't think I should hsvo to hollar right ont. I got throngh the look pretty soon, and pat in my wire and opened it. Then ho took hold ot the door and oponod the vanlt "I'll pnt my bonds io,"said he, "and go home. Yoa can lock np and wait till Mr. Jennings comes, I don't sup pose you will try to fix the lock to night." I told him I shouldn't do anything more with it now, as we could get in before morning. "Well, I'll bid you good night, my man," said lie, and I swnng the door to again. Just then I heard Jim, in name, whistle, and I guessed the watchman was a-coming up the street. "Ah," says I, " you might speak to the watchman, if you see him, and tell him to keep an extra look out to night." " I will," says he, and we both wont to the front doer. "There comes the watchman np the stroet," says he. " Watchman, this man lias boon fixing tho bank-lock, and I want you to keep a sharp lookout to night. He will stay hero until Mr. Jen nings returns." "Good-night, again," says he, and we shook hands, and ho went up tho street. I saw Jim, so-called, in tho shadow on the other side of tho street, as I stood on tho steps with tho watch man. " Well," says I toth" walchm in, " I'll go and pick up my tools and get ready to go." I went back into tho bank, and it didn't tako long to throw tho door open and staff thorn bonds into tho big, Thoro was some boxes lying aronnd, and a safe as I should rather have liked to have tackled, but it seemed liko tempting I'rovidence after the luck we'd had. I looked at my watcn and see it was just a quarter past twelve. There was an express w<-nt through at half past twelve. I tucked my tools in the bagon top of tho bonds, and walked ont to tho front door. The watchman Was on the steps. "I don't believe I'll wait for Mr. Jennings." says !. " I nnppoao it will be all right if I give yon his key." "That's all right," says tho watch man. " I wouldn't go away far from the bank." says I. " No, I won't," says ho ; " I'll stay right about here all night" "Good night." says I, and I shook hands with him, and m and Jim which wasn't his right name, yon un derstand, took the 12:30 express, and tho best part of that job was we never iiard nothing of it It never got into tho papers." Lincoln's Itrnuins. A Hpringfiold (Ohio) loiter says : The attempt to steal tbo remains of Mr. Lincoln bont throe years sinco is re membered by almost every one. Ever since then tho public, in fact every body save a half doz>n persons inti mately* connected with tho Lincoln Monnment association, supposed Mr. Lincoln's remains wore inclosed in tho marblo sarcophagus which stands in the veetibnlo leading to tho crypts, whore other members of tho family are entombed. This is not so, as yonr cor respondent learned to-day for the first time. All that remains of Mr. Lin coln have been bnried in the gronnd, nnder some portion of the immense granite pile forming his monnment, over since the attempted robbery, and are now in a complete state of petrifaction. This startling statement is from one who knows, and will bo news to all bnt a very few per sons, as it was understood at tho time that the eml>almers' work at Washing ton, immediately after the death of Mr, Lincoln, was not a snccess, bnt a ban gle. Boon after the remains were en tombed at this city in 1865-6, it was said they were in a bad state of decom position, and that the embalming was not working. This seems to hsvo been an error, M there ie no donbt bnt that the statement that bis remains hsve turned to stone is trne. A Tree of Iron. A Columbia (8. C.) letter to the Syra cuse Standard ssys: The iron palmetto is the greatest work of art in the State house yard. This is a casting wholly of iron, oommern orating the death of many of Carolina's slain, whose nsmes are fonnd in raised letters on two brass tablets at the base. The success of the casting consists in its perfect imitation of the living palmetto—the favorite tree of South Carolina. We had heard of this statue in other places, bnt had nevor been able to believe the stories of the flexible leaves bending in the breeze, supposing this phenomenon an optical delusion, bnt such is really the caee. The long, thin leaves of iron, life-like even to the hair-like fibers of the twiga and branches, ware tremu lously in every zephyr, and the whole tree, painted artistically, has so close a resemblanoe to the reel tree as to de ceive the aeoteet observer at the dis tance of five rods. MORAL AMI ItRIiHJIOUS. Baallfal Answers. A Persian pupil of Hioord gave the following extraordinary answers: "What ia gratitude?" "Gratitude ia the memory of the heart." "What ia hope ?" " llopo ia the blossom of happi neaa." " What is tho difference between hope and deaire T" " Deairo is a tree in leaf; hope is a tree in flower ; and enjoyment ia a tred in frnit" " What ia eternity ?" " A day without yesterday or to-mor row; a line that has no end." " What is time 7' " A lino that has two ends; a path which begins in tho cradle and ends in the tomb." • What ia God ?" "The necessary being, the son of otornity, the merchant of nature, the eye of justice, the watebmakor of the universe, the soul of the world." " Does God reaaon ?" " Man reasons because he doubts; he deliberates, ho decides. God is omnis cient; Ho never doubts, He therefore never reasons. ' Itrtiuloua New* ull d Netre. Tho negotiation/) for the anion of the Associate Boformod and United Preeb/- terian churches have failed. The Unitarians of Great Hritain have just held a national conference at Liv erpool, which is apokcn of aa "a grand success." There has bean a revival in Jaffna college, Ceylon, ami fifty of tho seven ty three students havo renounced pagan ism for Christianity. Tho receipts of the American Home Missionary society for the past year were 8110,069, an increase of 831,011 over any previous year in the history of the society. Tho Presbyterian church in New Sonth Wales is in need of fifty moro minister* for the supply of the churched there, and money has been forwarded to Mr. Morton, the agent in London, with which to send oat any who may wish to '.abor at the antipodes. The latest statistics {of the Southern Methodist chnr<h state that there are 1,011 traveling and 5,965 local preach er*, 911,307 white, 01/3 colored, and 5,151 Indian members, the total of min isters and members liemg 800,697, an increase of 12,9 m the past year. Bishop Fallows, of the Iteformed Episcopal church, says that tho Chris tian army in Chicago, of which he la the head, is now reaching at least two thousand different persons a week, and that daring tho few months since its organization not less than two hundred and fifty persons have been hopefully converted. The ninety eighth annual convention of the Episcopal diocese of Pennsyl vania was held recently. Bishop Stevens, in his addreis, sts'ed that daring tho year he had confirmed 1,119 persons, preached 129 sermons, delivered 121 addresses, received twenty five candi dates for holy orders, ordained seven deacons and fonr priests, and conae crated sii cbnrehca. The number of clergy in the diocese is 23.3. The bishop represented the diocese aa being in a flourishing condition. A Mexican Mining Legend. One of the roost commonly believed Mexican tales is that one of tbo " Htep Devil." The men tell you in some ol the oldest mines there is s dwarf. A peculiarity sbonthim is that he has im mense long arms—arms so long that br can take off his sandals withont stoop ing. This dwarf, when there is any danger in the mine, such as a cave goea np the lidJers, lifting himself by his srms, with bis legs hanging free As he passes each rnng he stamps 01 kicksjit out of the side pieces, so thai the men, when they attempt to fly, find all means of climbing ont of the minear* destroyed. In tho very old mines, which were worked by the Indiana, there were no ladders, bnt in theii place trunks of tteaa in which notchei had been cnt, and the Indians elimbed by inserting the big toe in the notches. When the Indisns tell yon of the " Step Devil " they asy he has on each big tos an enormons na.l, and that as he climb! the tree trunk he nses this to gouge the notches ont by splitting off the part on which the toe rests. The story is evi dentlyan Indian one, although altered by the Mexicans to suit the chsnge in the mesne of going up and down the shafts. The niggcst Sheep. An Austin Sunday-school teaohet wanted to make bis pnplla comprehend the parable ol the good shepherd, so he said: "Now, dear children, suppose yon were all little abeep, and I had charge of yoo and led yoa about, what would I boT " A big sheep,'' was the unanimous response."— T< x t Si/fing*. Carrier-pigeons are being trained for nae In the Oeraan army. The Sunflower Rage. "Have yon, abem, any, ah, any sun flower seeds?" aaked a young lady, timidly, of a New York dealer in garden seeds the other day. "Yes, madame, plenty," answered the young man in such a business like way aa to relieve the young lady's mind of any idea that it was a matter for ridicule. " Whieh do yon want, the small or the large?" ho asked with a pleasant smile, as he placed before her several small square envelopes filled with the aeod. The lady took two packages, for whfch she paid thirty cents and departed. "Do yon tell much of that seed7" asked a reporter. "Do wo sell much of it ? Well, now I gneas. I never saw such a demand for one particular kind of flower seed since I've been in t'ce business as there is this spring for snnflowers. There won't bo a back yard in Now York from Mott street to narlem that won't have Its clnmp ot growing sunflowers this summer, jmlging from the.demand there is for seod." "And this is dne to the cesthetie movement 7' " Why, cer—. Yes, of course; if it hadn't been for 00-ir sunflower seeds would be as tboy bave been for years, a drug in the market. People may talk as they like, but he has been the means of causing money to flow throngh a good many channels, end the seeds men's turn to thank the a Jvent has ar rived." "Is the flower a difficult one to raise 7* " Why, bless you no. It is the easi est of any. It requires no care, and will grow rapidly anywhere where there is plenty of sun." " What have the seeds been nod for heretofore?" the reporter asked. "Oscar Wilde says in bis lecture that fhe impreroon that the sunflower is used as an a- <tbetic diet is erroneous —beia mu'uken. In Portugal meal is made from the seed", from which bread is made; and w hen roasted they make an excellent substitute for coffee. The seed in its natural state is eagerly i-ongbt for by birds, and in the country innflowers aro raised for the see.ls, which aro used in largo quantities for chicken food. It is very fatten ing, so if you are solved with lea rbickcns at your loirdiog house tlrs lummer you may tbauk Mr. Wilde and the more important demand ho ha> rrested for the seel as a feast for lh<- eyes. Tho seed cxnta'ns a great quan tity of oil, which is fit for burning in lamps an ! which is in some European countries mad • into a good aulxtitnte for olive oil. Thre won't be a garden br door yard in Newport, Saratoga or any of the principal watering-places that won't have its Qelianthu* annnns lubcrosus or multiflurn* this summer," taid the young man ss he was called sway to weigh ont half a pound of cab bage seed. A Mighty Power for Good. Will the pi>era of thirty years hence I how as great an improvement as hsve Ihe papers of the last thirty years? \ They will nndonbtcdly improve. They re a rapidly growing power. Their influence was never greater than it is [ to-day. They mold pnblie opinion. They make and unmake onr rnlcrs to a large extent. They shape and enforce our laws. They are the terror of evil, doers, and tho gnardians of the pnblie in* teresta. Their watchfulness excels offi cial seal. They give tone to the com munities in which they are published, each according to the measure of its ability and standard In tfiis free land power is greater than that of the riing in bis dominions, and more stable. They reach every nook and corner of Itho land, cheering the lonely, uphold ing the weak, advising the strong, helping all. A tremendous power in deed. How they smite the wrong and bphold the right I The press of the oonntry is incorruptible. It is honest, independent and nnpnrchaaable. Of fice-holders may fail in the discharge of duty, and congresses and legisla tures may go astray, bnt the independ ent press remains, a faithful protector lot the people's interests, a purifier of politics, s defender of the country,a teacher of sonnd morals, a mighty power for good. May it ever continue inch.—yoHhfimptnn Mosquitoes and Elephants. Thick as is an elephant's skin, no living creature suffers more from dies, mosquitoes, leeches and other vermin than he. The porse are very large, and gadflies and mosquitoes, leeches, etc., worm themselves into the hollow and snck to repletion. Tbns the whole day j long they are constantly throwing np dirt, sqnirting saliva or water to get rid of the pests, to the great annoyance of their riders. They snore a good deal when asleep, and I have often seen them resting their beada on an outstretched foot when lying down. They are very human like in many of their waya. They cratch themselves with the tip of their ptoboscis, and if they cannot reach tha place with that they take up a branch and nae thai. Natives say they ping np bullet holea with elay, bnt I never | knew an instance of it myael t-Lowdo* M THE FAMILY IIOIIOK, Ckkkhk. —The card from which chris— if made is highly nutriti'ius and awry of digestion, hat the caring: process—s in in all cases—mark the difference be* twwu dried apples and the green-im pair* the digestibility. Old cheese, oftener than otherwise, it unfit for the weak stomach, it not for all. Thai which haa become tainted—rotten or putrescent— or haa become infected with vermin, or ia moldy, ia no more fit for the stomach that, putrid meat, or any food which haa undergone the procean of decompoaition. Hnch mold ia an ab solute poison and should never be eaten. Coiinh. —The simplest and moat nat ural euro of those troublesome thing* is prevention. Thia consists in wearing a well fitting hoot. They are caaaed by the chafing of the aurfaoe, the thicken ing of the cuticle, as one means of pro tecting the sensitive ncrvea beneath. If the boot ia tight it ia manifest that the evil is increased by this thickening of the skin, since the tightness is thus in creased. It ia proper to aay that a bad fit, resulting iu this chafing, produces the same result, that of thickening (be cuticle. The remedy, therefore, con sists in wearing well-fitting boots, avoiding the cause. But, if this ia nol done, the oorn, being albuminous, may be dissolved by the application of almost any 'alkali, as soda, ammonia or potash. Muriatic acid will do the ume, though it may cause more soreness. Of course several applications may be required. The same applications will also cure warts. Powokiko.—lf the poison swallowed ia known to be a caustic or oorrosive substance give sweet oil, melted butter or lard. If the nature of the poiaon ia not known, try to cause vomiting by giving a teaapoonfnl each of salt and mustard in a glass of warm water, and afterward give the whitea of eggs and strong ooffee. lodide of starch Is also a useful remedy formtny cases of poi soning.—Dr. FooVe'i Health Monthly. I* Crime Hereditary ! The question of whether crime waa hereditary came up in a New York po lice court, and Janice Patterson re called two instances as follows: " 1 knew a gentleman who was well to-do in business. lie was a church moml>er, and stood high in the com munity. He had a most exoellent wife, ur.d one son and a daughter. After the birth of the daughter the father took to drink, left the church and be came an inveterate drunkard. He bad six children after this— throe sons snd throe daughters. All six turned out bed. The three sons were sent to State prison, and two of the daughters' husbands were also sent to State prison, and they were bad themselves. The first son and daugh ter were models of rectitude, snd the son did all he could for bis unfortunate brothers. " The other day I had 'Red Fogarty* end his wife beforo me at an examina tion in Jefferson Market court, sbout a silk dress which bad been stolen from s bouse snd sold by Mrs. Fogsrty to the woman who was arrested in the street with tho dress on. Well, Mrs. Fogarty carried a bouncing boy with ber, s child of about two years —a noisy fellow. Ha did not cry, but roared, as if angry, and chattered. I was passing through the examination room; Mrs. Fogarty was standing with the boy iu her arms. As I passed my diamond stud glistened s little, and the little fellow made a grab at my shirt front. I caught his band and put it away, when he grew perfectly ill-na tured and mad bocanse I did so. The badness was born in him. n Honest; the Best Policy. " Mister," began a small boy, aa be entered a Woodward avenue grocery yesterday, "ma bought some mackerel here laat night" " Yea." "And in making change yon gave her—'• "No, I didn't I I haven't had e quarter with a hole in it for a month P* " Bat ma aaya yon gave her a—" ** Don't believe it—don't believe it I I remember now I gave her a half-dol lar. a quarter and a nickel." "Ma aaya yon gave her a gold pieoe for a penny, and here it in." " Good gracious alive t bnt so I did —no I did I I remember now that I gave her a dollar-bill and a lot of small change. Bub, what's yonr name, and do yon think yon can eat three stioks of lemon oendy f Ah t it does me good to And honesty end reward it !" —/>• /'-re*. The Worst Tel. Austin oas boast of the cheekiest bore in Texas. He came into S'fnngt office and was nosing about among the exchanges. "Do I disturb you?" be naked. "Jm, lam very busy; too bogy to pay any attention to yon." "Well, then, perheps yon had better take e little walk while I look over the pepera end write e few letters el jome desk."— Ttx-u S'fH itgs.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers