A BAG OF RAGS The keen autumn air blew sharply into the room, r.s pretty Agatha For syth* threw up the mush and leanisl out. A deep voice below coming from a form almost hidden by the syringa bushes, said, softly: "Is that you, 'Gatha?" "\ es," .was the reply, given aoti'ly. "Can't you come down?" said Rick I "Hevnohls, rather impatiently, looking up at the smiling face. "In a little while, Hick, just as soon as Grannie is asleep. She has just gone to her room. Yu must ho pa tient, Dick, dear," and the window closed. "Dick, dear," was not very patient, however, and paced the walk for fif teen minutes before Agatha's blue dress appeared at thedoor.with Agatha in it. After a very ardent greeting, Dick said: "I declare it's too bad I can't come and seo you likeother fellows come to see their sweethearts. 1 wonder what makes your grandmother dislike me so. I've never done her any harm,only I want her one grandchild. lam not a bad character, have a good position, and why she will not let you marry me, and yet is willing to give you to that Dalford follow. is a mystery. "O, Grannie is getting old, you know, Dick, and she fancies you are exactly like your grandfather was, who was her lover, and who almost broke her out. "And she's afraid I'll break yours, darling? Well, we'll see," and then a long and very interesting conversation frllowed. At last Agatha declared she must go in. "Don't fail, me 'Gatha," I tick said, as he gave her his farewell ki>s. "Never fear," said 'Gatha. blushing in the darkness, and sho quickly dis appeared in the house. The next day Grannie seemed to ho particularly provoking, and tried Agatha's patience sorely. "What makes you look so happy," she asked sternly, as 'Gatha sang, and blushed end smiled to herself as she went about the big drawing-room, dusting ami arranging the many kniek knacks. "Nothing." said Agatha. "I know better," replied her grand mother sharply. "It's that Dirk Rey nolds. Have you been writing to him ?" "No." 1 "Has he written to you?" "So." "Well,you've sjen each other then?" 'Gatha blushed guiltily, and then iost her temper, which was such an unusual thing for her to do, that her grandmother was quite startled. "I should think. Grannie, you'd he ashamed of yourself. I love Dick Reynolds, and I always shall. If you could give me just reason why I should not marry him. I would never disobey you. Rut you cannot. You say he will surely prove treachomus like his grandfather. Am I like you because I aiu your granddaughter? No, Therefore I intend, as soon as opportunity offers, to run off with Dick, since there is no other way. I tell you, frankly, I ain sorry to lie rude. Rut Ido not see why I should -allow you to break my heart, and Dirk's too!" 'Gatha stopped. Two red spots burned on her cheeks, her clear grav eyes blazed with anger and love. Grannie recovered herself. "So this is the respect I get, after r twenty years < of toil for you. Go to your room instantly. You shall never marry Dick Reynolds. I)o you hear, never!" This did not not strike terror to the -girl's heart, for she possessed much of the obstinate will of her grandmother, and, as Ik-tsy often said, "When her -• Jnind was sot, it were sot, and 'twere no use to ag'in her."| So when she was ordered to her room she went qiaetly, and already her pretty, etirly head wan scheming for escape. Agatha was not a bad or a willful girl. She possessed good, common sense. As she said, if there were Just cause why she would never have dis obeyed her grandmother. She had met Dirk at one of the few parties given in the neighlioring town. Their acquaintance had ripened into love, and Dick, after obtaining Agatha's consent asked her grandmother for her in manly words. He received n derided and cold "No," and was told never to I show himself at the farm again. Dick did, however, manage to occasionally see Agatha, whoojienly reMlled at such i treatment. And both hail devised a plan, which had cost weeks in concoc ting, their interviews Ming held gen erally In the manner dcscrilied alove. I A week passed after their last Inter view. 'Gatha was kept under strict surveillance by her grandmother. It wits twelve o'clock at night. who slept with her grand mother now, the better to be watched, rose softly front her bed, very softly, for fear of waking the old lady, who y was a very light sleeper. A stone had " been thrown at the window. With • ! noiseless hand she let a white note, 1 taken from about her neck, down into 1 the garden beneath. "What are you up for, 'Gatha," said her grandmother suddenly, sitting up in bed. 'Gatha stared. v j "O, nothing," she said, pooling out 1 j a glass of water, and, after drinking j it, going back to bed. Dick, below in the garden, caught ' I the note, opened it and read: T \ "Rah i.ino Dick— "Grandma has made me sleep with her. Our plan, of course, fulls through, ' but 1 have thought of another. To ■ morrow morning, at six o'clock, Mr. !■ Tidle is coining for the large bag of sewed rags Grannie has made for a rag carpet, ltetsy will substitute me for the rolls of rags, and lean be carried out into the wagon, placed on my back and driven to town, and Grannie be none the xviscr.t'or 1 am t ?ito spend all morning until noon shucking corn in the barn. The only thing for you to do is to let Mr. Tulle into the se cret arid get his assistance. Don't fail, or my heart will break. "Yours in haste, " 'Gatii Dick pasted down to Mr. Tidle's weaving shop, roused the old gentle man, and unfolded his plans. "Rather pesky business Dick, rather pesky; and the old lady's power! ul sharp but I'll do my best for you lad," he j said, when Dick concluded. And so they arranged for the next morning! Dick was to la* at the turnstile with a fast team, and 'Gatha to he un bagged and given into his care at that point. ♦ * * * 4 V Six o'clock came. 'Gatha had been up for two hours, and had breakfasted, . and la-taken herself prcsnmablo to the barn, bit was in reality in the upper , hall, attired in a neat, gray traveling 1 ilrc-s, with a most bewitching lion not, jon the side of which drooped tw" • dainty pink roses. I "There comes Mr. Tidle lletsy," said . the old lady, from the kitrhen window. , You go to let him in, and he sure he ,- takes the right weight of them ha s. and don't break the balustrade bring ing the hag down. I'll stand at the . window and see it safe in tin* wagon. . There's no telling where th< c men , folk will bring up t0..." "All right "um," said Ib-tsy," her ' heart in her mouth.for bar the did lady j Would take it into her head t• • come up j stairs. Coning (low *.', not an hour ago, • she had pound's! and felt <\.-ry 1 all in , the bag, and 'Gatha thanked fortune , she xx ;is not in it. R.-tsy went up stairs, and ht Mr, Tidle in. The bag xv.is quickly emptied. , The balls were thrown helter-skelter into Betsy's room, and 'Gatha, suiil i ing. trembling and Mushing, xv.is sent I swiftly and deftly in to take their place. r gray dress, pink roses, and all." "La sakes!" exclaimed Betsy, "she don't no way fill tin* thing up. Hold the top, Mr. Tidle, while I gt a ball or two to give it a lumpy look." Three or four balls w ere placed atmiit 'Gatha. j "That's rnuf," said lletsy, the bun- net'll look like another," and soon . 'Gatha, shaking xvith suppressed langh- I ter, xvas lorn down stairs bv the f.iith (l "ctsv and Mr. Tulle. On the way , out to the wagon. Grandma's voice from the raised kit< hen xxiudow called out: "Mr. Tidle!" r "Well, lua'm?" , "Wait a nvrnent. I want to tell r you about the weaving." "All right, 'um, "soon's I get thi's jiesky bag inter the waggin." , ' 'Gatha's heart Mat again, as she felt f herself lifted from Mr. Tidle's shoul der and laid safely on her back in the r Mittom of the wagon. Mr. Tidle , took his penknife and cut a small , breathing place and then hurries! back. His conversation lasted ten ( minutes, and then he was off at a steady trot down the road, his pre- I eious burden safe. i "lletsy," said old Mrs. Forsythe, re t turning to the kitchen, "sure'a you live .. I heard rats jumping nhont overhead I while you were up stsirs. Don't for get to let the eat in to night." "No, 'um," answered lletsy "Rats is a great trouble, an' the rat 'll soon ' clear them out." Late that night Betsy gathered up the poor offending balls, whose rolling alsiut as they were quickly thrown into the room that morning, had caused the old lady to think them rats, and putting them into a sheet, placed them into the hand of Mr. 'J'idle who was . i waiting at the turnstile for them. . | "I*esky business that, pesky business, ' I Miss Betsy," he said. "But, la j sakes! didn't they get off nice. She ( - came out o' that Mg as spink an' span t as she went in, and "would you Mlieve it, the pink roses in her bunnet weren't j . crushed at all. I guess they're mcr • ried by this time. I wonder," softly ' "if we'd have suolia time, Miss Betsy, if we jined hands? And what do you think—l saw a bun net like Miss I 'Hatha'* down to .lake ]'rail's, an' I'll git it for you if you'll agree," Betsy agreed, got the "hunnet," and was happy ever after. Old Mrs. Forsyth never could find out how 'Hatha got away. Intiinesho partly forgave lor, but for years slio would not design to notice lu-r. 'Hatha was very happy, and never had, 'cause to rue the day she substituted herself for a bag of rags. CKII'I'INHS FOB THF. CIHIOFH. A scientific writer asserts the long current belief that the concentric rings of a tree arc a record of its age, each ring representing a year's grow th, is a mistakt A series ol experiments have shown its falsity. In the Fniti-d States there arc only three venomous snakes, the rattle, the copper-head and the moccasin. The Fast Indies are full of venomous snakes, and in British India nearly twenty thousand persons are killed every year by snake bites. The Parthenon Athens' famous tem ple is so built that there is not a rec tangular fewii in the whole building. The sides and the front curve very slightly, the columns do not stand quite upright, and all the horizontals curve upward slightly. An opera house on wheels Is the latest ilramat ic no\ city, and a company with headquarters at Kansas Fity has been organized to build and manage it. II is to consist of eight railway < rs, which can be expand"! by ingenious iiuvhr.iiisin into a• aj-a- ions structure, with y.udit-'riuin and stage complete, and is designed for the bem-tit of coni lllllllit ie.s which do not pos- 1 ss fa<-Uit i*s for the prisltetion of plays. It will run c. iin) place to place on the railroads . and carry a portable t r.e k. upon w hi' h it can be sw itched off and Iran iforiued into a th'ntre. Slrensrth nntl llealtk It is quae a common idea that health keeps pa'-o with strength. I know in telligent per ns whon i''t- think that vi.u may determine the comparativi health of a c- mpany of rmn b\ ne iv tiring the r arm that he whose arm measures twelve inches is twice as healthy as he wle • arms ni'-a . but six. This strange and thought !• • mis apprehension ii " given rise to nearly all the mi-i ik) s thus far ma le in the physical-culture tie icment. I have a friend xvho ran lift I' M pounds, and vet ;s an habitual sufferer from torpid liver, rhi-iimatism. and low spirits. There are many similar ■ a-i-s. The cartrni n of our .ties, who are our strongest men. are far from tin health iest class, as physicians will ti-stify. On the contrary 1 have many fro-nds who would stagger under Ik*) jnunds that are in capital trim. But I mss! not elaborate a matter so familiar with physicians ami other observing peip!e. No re-t of health w. old prove more faulty than a tape-line <>r a lift at the scaie-lieam. Hiippos)* t wo brothers—bank clerks-- in bad health. They nre rnetisurol round the arm. Ea< h marks exactly ten inch'-s. They try the scale-heatn. The bar rises at exa>tly Ikkt jsiunils with each. Both seek health, .lohn g'M-s to the gymnasium, I''Fs heavy duui! -bells and kegs )>f nails until he can put up IJ"> ]Mittads, and lift and his arm rea'-hes fiftcn inch)-*. Thomas goes to the mountains, tishes hunts, *|tends delightful hours with the young ladies ami plays cricket. l*|Min measuring his arm we find it scarcely larger than w hen he left town, while he can't put up sixty pounds nor lift -V. But who doubts Thoinas w ill return to the counter the lietter man of thetwo? John should he the better man, if strength is the principal or intst essential condition of health.— Health. Togive an iik-t of the ilairy industry in France, M. liorve Mangon recently stated at an agri. ultural gathering that the milk produced in the country would if collected, form a stream .'1 feet 4 inches in width and 1 fieit 1 inch in depth, flowing night anil day all the year with a mean velocity of 3 feet 4 inches per second. Young animals drink a part of this enormous volume of milk, man takes a good part of it, i ami the rest is transformed into cheese ami butter. "Have you seen the new style of sleeping cars?" inquired a drummer of the conductor. "No, I think not," he replied; "what are they like?" "Well, , they differ from any I have yet seen, 1 and I don't they will lw> very popular." "What are they called ?" "I'rohibi- | tion cars." "That's a somew hat singu lar name," thoughtfully mused the ticket-taker. "Why are they so-called?" "Because," said the cute commercial traveler they won't have any porter i aboard." I LAIHK.V IIKPA K I MKM *. I'nulilon Main. Dancing dresses are short all arounb" 'Towmsl tap bourn f are among the headdrc-ses of the se.ison for girls l twecn the ages of two and tell; ami the It'sl Itidingh'Hsl < loak of red flannel, br.iiihsl with black, and made with a -aj.e. or gathered at the in )., and J.ti isfusi with gatlertsl slceMs ami vadi, n ■ ■ -inpaiiies them. A sup.-rh ening dr--s worn at a reccp! ii m N. w Y- k was of ).r pink t ■ •in-iTi -Ik in.id- M.th a it skirt with two narr-'W 1: fc jdait.: around the edc • f tie --k.rt. ami a jd.llll .ler- y basque of thi -.lk. I ii'- overskirt was of pink Chinaerajw, tin graceful dr.ijicn lin : held i y small lords of bright plillliagc. I'rctty hoiie dr-ss. for young girls are made of cle t ric blue < .ohim n-.w it h short draped apron of burning red. ar..l rod collar and cuffs, over which are wi>rn others of hemstitched white muslin, which leaves only the rod edge visible. The blue basque is cut up on ♦he (slge, and forms what is known a the polka basque. In London felt hats are generally adopted. Home are small, trimmed with gossamer, caught together with a bird's plumage, sometimes tying un derneath the chin; or else large,turned up one side, with an ostrich feather curling gracefully over the brim at the back and showing at one side. Folded bands of plush or velvet, fastened with u handsome buckle, trim the hat on tin other side. L:eli< s who cannot afford many hats wear black felt, ami alter the color of the folded band of plush or velvet to match that of tlie dress to be worn. Aprons mmle of brown linen of the proper width so that the salvage neisls no hemming at the sides may be made very pretty by • ingiag out the bottom to the depth of two in hes; overcast the edge where the ravelling ceases, then about two inches above that draw out threads for an inch and ahalf.and then run a blue or sonrlet rihlton through tie throadr that are left, making blocks of ribbon and thread alternately. Alove and below this a row of feather stitching is added, and a row on the ! band and sides also; the pocket trimmed to match is put on the right side. WITM mf Ike llrrianln*. The lledouin, like the Persian, says an English magazine, dyes his lteanl n-d, an operation which is performed by the wives in turn, ami one which they consider a great honor to engage in. Bedouins, in speaking of aw ife who is not on good terms with her husband, say, "She cannot dve his beard." It must not lie supposed from the above that the women are too deli cate to be of any service. On the con trary, In war they always fight by the sides of their husbands, and headlong charges are repeatedly led |y some courageous maiden of high blood, who, mounted on n pure Nejd steed, dashes among the enemy, singing songs in- 11 suiting them for their cowardice and I, encouraging her own followers. The j Bedouin Amazons have alwnys leen noted fur their courage, and ore often ' i mentioned in history. It is generally admitted that ban it not ls-en for the bravery of the young and beautiful Ayesha, Moliammed would have lost the battle of the Camel. Her people j were already retreating before the : enemy, when hlic halted them by shout ing, "Scum of the desert sand, fleeing like chickens from falcons; rein your horses, If'tis but to see a women de fend Islam," and, rushing on the enemy, so encouraged the deserter!' that they followed her and won tin day. A f'rrtirlt FrmliJnr I'kilnnhrnplir. Much Interest is expressed in Paris with regard to the bestowal of the < ro-s of the Legion of Honor upon Mine. I less, who has acquired stupen dous wealth as vendor of the hair wa Ii which bears her name, Fan de IL-ss. By the sale of the wash she has become one of the greatest capitalists of the city, and tln* manner in which she disp-. c.s of the wealth thus in quired forms the subject of universal admiration. When asked by tie- muni cipality "for a little as-u-itaiice" for the po<-r, she sends \ ast -am*, even to tin amount of one ltumlrisl thou*anc team-*. she pro\id m tie- middle of thf loom now lied with the most costly artistic furniture, ami -m rounded with the flneat collection of pictures by th£ "I'l masters at; resentxisting in Paris M.-..C. Hen possesses the must cms "p. nary instinct of arti-fe- 1 -auty and has formed the m • t wondrou-- gallery of p*tnr- i and bmnz* i d'art ever In-held, s-i gr- it wa- the natural ami . T ON • f M lf-:inpr"\ i-nn-nt c\ .need by lor, that aith- ..-.'i I j a-t youtl when thin gr- a* y • I fortune j.-ll ujmr her. arid die had n<-\rr h-arm-d nuil< read arid write, sic- innu d-.ati ly set al it a'- piiring In ■' r:- *.■ -ri in litera ture .md art, an-l . n w regard'd as a high authority in 1- th. And while this she ind .ig- - her t.l-te for the l-ca itiful, rlie i - gh f- not the chari table dm ii- II pi >d ij-'ii ln-r I y lur |>o-ition, and d.--tribute- large sain da .y t-i the ill -r\ mg ]•. r. ( urcil of lntvßi|w-ranre. Min arc cured of intenij"-ranre at an institution in N< w York, kn >n as the < hristian lloinc for Intemperate Men, by a pc uliar inethoil. It seems that cures are effected by treating drunkenness as a sin. no intcmp< rate man U-ing received unhss he expresses a desire to ltecomc a Christian. Nonr is rccivisl for b-ss than four weeks, and some stay as long as three months No liquor is ever allowed for "tajx-r --ing-ofT," a* it is called, and yet, con trary to the generally-received opinion, no cases of delcriuin tremens, arising frmn a sudden deprivation of the accustoimsl stimulant, are rejMirtrsl. Warm milk w ith a little salt HI it. heef tut. and, in exceptionally bad (ases. bromide of pot.iv Him. arc ad minister"!. Victims of the opium habit have Itcr-n also cured, sotne <,f whom had taken as much as 'JOO grains ]>cr day. Tobacco is excluded as rigorously as liquor. The patients have the use of a library and reading room, are expected to attend upon the large numlter of religious excrcuwt which take place daily, and to sign a promise pledging themselves upon their honor not to use xvhile in tlx house, or have in their jxissewsion liquor, opium or tolwjcro. Amuse mcnts are not encouraged; inmate* arc oxjiectcd to rcail, w rite, imslitatr and pray. There is no physician, the i dea leing that if a man desires to be saved he can l>e. There is a good deal ■in this Wlief, as nil reformed men ! know. The institution has had '.fif inmates in five years, of which numhei it claims to have reclaimed sixty ICI cent. Italning Cats and Dmrs. Among the many queer sayings which one often hears none is more peculiar than "It's raining rats and dogs." Some say that the expression came from the French word raUutoupe a waterfall; but there is a more pleating explanation of how the phrase came into use. In some parts of England the blossoms of the willow tree arc called "cats and dogs." These blos soms increase in sizo very quickly after a few warm showers in April, and it was Iwlieved once that the rain brought them, llenoe the saying, "It's raining eats and dogs." The capitalists of the world have sunk |2U2,000,000 In ocean cables. Dear llandt. Ilia touchi* of tier hand* are like the fell j Of velvet IWJ'JW flukon; like tliii touch of down Tlie peach just brushes 'gainst tho garden wall; The flossy fondling* of tin- thitl wip ''u((ht in the crinkle of o loaf of brown | The blighting front lie* turned from green to crUp. , Koft e* the fulling dnk nt flight, j I lie toucher nt Iter hand*, find tlie delight— 'l lie toi.i'lnn of her hand! I lie touches of her linnd* ere like the dew I hut full* MI MoftJy down no one e'er knew I he touch thereon Hftve lover* like to one Atray in lights where ranged Kndymion. Oh, rarely *oft, the touches of her Hand*, An drowny zephyrs in enchanted land*; Or pulse of j>er liji. The use of iron cannot increase the running quuliti-s of a dog, hut tin < an. Men who have money to loan take th<* greatest jmssihlc inter. ,t in their ho in.---, A Michigan horo ate ten jmunds of star.h without feeling \.ry much s' in k up. I* rei khst are not so hail. It is said that one girt does not object to wnlna them on another giri'- fa- e. A marine divider: "Vest," said the captain of the ocean st. am*hip, "wo had a very expensive trip this time. Yer;> litt!< e. t .j,}. i, p i -tigers ato frightfully."' Women are such'juei r cri .' ire- that no man eati under land them. Indeed, it has t"* !i generally comedi-d that the only way to liml a woman .. t 1- to call w hen she i* not in. The papers very kindly tell the poor man how make an r.!, ng .soup out of ,i small ) . <• of meat. If they Would only tell him how to get tlllj ni'.it hn wife would l. much more obliged. A Vermont law yer has j■ rint c-