A Merry Christmas,
they cry for it.
mlxivrn, they sigh tor it,
Gobbler*, they die for it,
Aad good oo<>k.s *lwsy* make op extra large
batehee ol well-aeatoned mi ace pioe for
it.
Stockings are hung lor it,
Pwan* are sung for it,
Chime* oil are rang for it,
Ami oraaty oki bachelors open their wallet#
and think they are young for it.
Babies they squall for it.
Met chant* all call for it.
Auctioneer* bawl for it,
Aad tweet, toying mammas Jnat empty their
purees and squander their all for it.
The New Tear's Log-Boiling.
When it became known in Verdant
valley that a Yankee hud settled on
the vacant quarter over by the lagoon.
Uncle Billy Barker expressed the sen
timent of the community in bis terse
disclaimer that, so far its he was con
cerned, be "didn't have tise for no
Yankees. You put a Yankoe into any
range, and thar'il tie bad blood right
away. They hain't content to leave
things he as they found 'etn, hut wunt
t to cram their free-school notion*
down everybody's gullet"
During the six years that Verdant
valley had been settled there had never
been a dissenting vote cast at the
polls. It was the l>oast of the district
that this was the banner township of
California But now the laurels were
about to lie wrested from them. How-
Aver, there the intruder was, with his
wife and daughter, and there he evi
dently intended to stay. A comforta
ble house and a substantial barn bore
witness to that. This particular of-
fender had a sturdy way of minding
ibis own business which, with his uni
form affability of greeting, soon liegan
to tell in his favor, so that, notwith-
standing his denunciation, I'ncle Billy
was the first to visit the stranger and
proffer his good services. For what
ever of prejudice and narrowness
Blight mark their minds, the class to
which he belonged had none of those
qualities in their hearts.
Now this diplomatic call of the older
jßarkcr had an important result. Win
jthrop (the stranger) wanted to em ploy
,Bonie one to help hiin clear away the
itimtier, and a bargain was soon
trenched, by which the pioneer's son,
Jim Barker, a fine stalwart fellow xvitli
a hit of schooling and a handsome face
• —just the stock, withal, by which the
world is replenished—was engaged for
this work. Jim xvas not the least
averse to this arrangement, for—well,
he had reason 1 of his own.
Those who saw the land adjacent to
the I ago, in before civilization hail
apoiled it will remember that it was
heavily wooded. Great oak trees lifted
their brawny arms and sought with a
hundred leafy lingers to clutch the
delicious, impalpable air. Fir trees
scattered here and there in stately
pride. The madrono, aristocrat of the
forest, showed it saffron hark and its j
olive leaves. The undergrowth was
thick. The poison-ivy was gorgeous
with a fatal beauty. The man/anita
tossed its ripened berries to the gre
garious quail. There was no small
work ahead in subduing the forces of
nature. The field must he cleared and
ready for ploughing by the first rains-
Luckily the rains held off. There were
a few inconsequential showers in Nov.
etnbee, and then for weeks the heavens
were almost skyless, one could see so
far into them.
By Christmas the undergrowth was
cleared away, and almut half the trees
felled. Jim, who seemed tohave some
plan of his own, suggested that these
be left where they had fallen; to lie
trimmed and chopped afterward; so
that as fast as one tree went down,
another was attacked. But the pro- ,
grcss was slow. Christmas day Jim
went home, and called his father into
couat-il. After hearing his refwrt, the
Old man replied:
"We got to give him a log-rollio'
The Lord has held the rains off about
all he's goin' to. He hain't goin' to
spoil the crops for the sake of no
Yankee. He's done enough already,
■ad we got to do the rest. We'll have
it on New Year'a And, by-tbe-way,
Jim" —after a pause—"you take care
that logs Is the only things that gets
'emaelves cut up over to the Yankee's."
Jim's only Answer- was a blush-
But, to lie sure, that was enough.
New Year's morn, about half-past
flve, there was a prodigious dog-flght
lat the pre-emptor's front door. Now
I the New Englander had but one dog;
land it stands to reason that one dog
Han't going to get up a fight all by him-
Eelf; that Is, unleas he is uncommonly
r pugnacious, which this one was not.
A glance through the window revealed
not only three dogs, but two wagons
the horses already half unhitched from
the traces. The occupants had alighted
upon the ground. I'p the road several
teams of oxen were advancing. The
house was evidently being put Into a
state of siege. And in a moment the
voice of the senior Barker called out:
"You'uns had better git up. You're
goin' to have some company."
By the time the family were dressed
and a hasty breakfast snatched, the
army of attack had taken possession
of everything. Every moment brought
new arrivals. There was a kaleidoscope
of men, women, children, horses, dogs
and oxen. The great festivals of West
ern life are camp-meetings, barbecues
and log-rollings. Those who believe
that the American blood is running
out, should strike an average on the
children present at one of these occa
sions. I'olly Winkle assumed command
of the women and children, by no
other right, that I know of, than that
she most nearly reali/.cd Napoleon's
dellnition of the greatest of her sex.
It was soon evident that the house was
too small to accommodate so many,
and tho Winkle contingent were led to
the commodious loft in the barn. Here
from each wagon was brought such an
array of dainties and sweetmeats as
would have doubled tip a less hardy
race for the rest of the year. A table
was improvised, the stove was re
moved to the loft, and by noon asiuok"
ing dinner was on the board.
Meantime more than fifty men were
at work in the field. The Novemlier
rain had carpeted the ground with
wild flowers, but those were unheeded-
The lupine bloomed in vain. The
gaudy eschschnlt/ia flaunted its colors
unheeded. The tiinid nemophila crept
closer to the sod, and hid its maidenly
beauties from profanation. But all
were alike unsought Thero was men's
work to he done. Great trees lay strip
ped and deformed, like torsos of
mighty giants. One-half the force
were chopping at the trees yet stand
ing. Every few moment some mon-
arch would tremble, try to steady hiin
*elf for a second and then fall with a
resounding crash to the earth. A score
of woea were upon him at once. His
hundred anus xvere lopped from his
tiody. His life-blood sank into the
thirsty earth. The place that knew
him in his pride knew him no more.
As fust as the logs xvere ready, chains
were passed around them, the oxen
were harnessed to them and they
were drawn to designated spots, and
arranged in orderly piles. When Alice
Winthrop came down to the field with
a dozen girls about her own age, and
looked out of her great brown eyes
upon the strange scene, what splendid
feats of strength were done! With
what magnificent grace these men
moved now who were so awkward in
the housc>! and how Jitn Barker hated
young Winklee for shouldering an im
mense log with such apparent ease!
Once in a while a couple of young
sters got into a xvrest'.ing match.
Then a rest xx A* declare I for five
minutes to watch the throw. During
tho nooning there were several of
these, and Jim Barker had a set-to
with young Winkle, which was more
than half in earnest It had leaked
out somehow that the former was very
much interested in the new family, or
in part of it at least, and Winkle had
jokingly offered to "cut hiin oat."
Now - Jiin was in that miserable state
of uncertainty when the mere sug
gestion of surh a possibility made him
wofully unhappy. And it may be
doubted whether Winkle ever got surh
a toss in his life as Jim gave him that
day—all in sport, though, of course.
When night fell, tho circuit preacher,
Methodist South, dcclarid that the
field was ready for the Lord's vine.
yard. Nothing but a few stumps re
tnained to impede the course of the
ploughman. The underbrush was
hnrning from a dozen Area In a
single day, in a hearty western fashion
work hail l>en done which one person
must have labored at for months. In
the house the gossips had had a session
of rare comfort. When all came to*
gether at supper It was a season of
great merriment. But after a while
thyoung people began to get restless.
There was a good ileal of whispering,
and some half-suppressed secret seem
ed on the wing. When the preacher
rose to go th*re was a general expres
sion ot regn-t. The w hole assemblage
esc rtcd him and his family to their
wagon. But he had not driven three
hundred yards before there was an un
mistaknble sound of dance music in
the air. The good man wavered n
moment, and then drove straight home
anil never heard it
The wind hail changed to the south
early in the day. and the rain now
liegan to fall. But in the loft Sandy
Ballon was mounted on a nail keg, anil
was !ldi'!'.ng as if his life depended on
his zeal. What pigeoti-wlnga were
cut! What pressure of hands xvas ex
changed when Handy authorized "ahr
mande left"! What maddening whirls
when he called, "swing partners"! The
rain came down in torrents. It seemed
na if the reservoirs of the heavens had
given way. About twelve o'clock a
wagon-load who hail started for home
came back and reported portions of the 1
road caved in by the creek. The dark
ness was almost palpable. It was un
safe to venture out. There was noth
ing to lie done but to make a night of
It. Sandy Ballon started in afresh to
Ihldle till daylight A new relay of
candles was lighted. Some of the older
folks went to the house, and took turns
at getting a little sleep. But the
younger heels knew no rest. Antique |
country dances that had not been seen
for generations were resuscitated.
Sandy was king, and his brain seemed
a store-bouse of forgotten figures.
During the afternoon Jim Barket
had picked a bunch of delicate nemo
phi his, and handed them to Alice
Winthrop, saying, "My fate goes with
these flowers."
The senior Barker had observed this
action, and was not slow in drawing
his conclusions when, later in the
evening, the fair I'uritau appeared
with the dainty offering on her bosom,
aud Jitn hail an awkward expression
of uncontainable happiness. A little
after four o'clock horses were har
nessed, and as Jim helped his father
into the wagon, the latter said, inter,
rogatively, "Well?"
But Jim kept his eyes resolutely
toward the east, and answered, "The
dawn Is just breaking."
Whereupon I'ncle Billy whipped up
his horses, and responded, quizzically,
"Yes. Jim, 1 s'pose it is."— Harper'i
J taijiUiH*.
SCIENTIFIC HCRAPtt.
A Norwegian geologist has meas
ured the glaciers of Iceland, and found
them to be the largest ice-rivers in the
world, thoee of Norway, tho Alps and
the Pyrenees seeming quite small by
comparison.
Instead of establishing his theory to
the contrary, the results of Baron
Nordenskjuld's expedition to Green
land confirm the general belief that
the interior of that country is entire
ly covered with a the k sheet of JHT
petual Ice.
A corespondent of Nature believes
that such vast quantities of gas as
must have been free 1 by the Java
catastrophe have necessarily affected
the earth's atmosphere, ard thinks
that tho line weather of Septemler
prevalent over a large part of the
earth, may have l>oen a ri-oilt of the
great eruption.
Dr. <'. C. Abbot, of Trenton. N. J.,
has destroyed another old l>eliof in j
weather lore. For twenty years he
has kept a re onl of the building of
their winter houses by muskrats, the
storing of nuts by squirrels, and other
habits of the animals which are com
monly regarded as indicating the
character of the coming Winter. Hi#
conclusion is that the habits referred
to have no connection with the rigor
or mildness of the approaching season
Mr. Meyer, of Paris claims have in
vented a paper indestructible by lire.
Specimens have been exhibited which
had previously been placed for font
hours in a pottery furna-e. Mr. Meyer
has also invented incombustible colors
ami ink. The invention is likely to Iw
of great value, and the incombustible
paper will he in demand for wilLs,
deeds, account book*. Ac.
Fifty thousand francs is the prize
which France offers for the discovery
which shall enable electricity to tie
applied economically in one of the
following directions: As a source of
heat, of tight, of chemical action, of
mechanical power, as a means of the
transmission of intelligence, or of the
treatment of disease; the prize ts-ing
open to all nationalities, and to lie
awarded in December, 1887.
How to Grease a IVuron Wheel.
The Coach Maker'n Matrix tut indor
ses the statement that few people are
aware that they do wagons and car
riages more Injury by greasing too
plentifully than in any other way. A
well made w heei will endure constant
wear from ten to twenty-live years if
care is taken to use the right kind and
proper amount of grease; but if this
matter is not attended to, it will l>e
used up in live or six years. Lard
should never lie used on a wagon, for
I it will penetrate the huh and work its
way out around the tenons of the
spokes, thus spoiling the wheel. Tal
i low is the best lubricator for wooden
axletrees. anil castor oil lor Iron hut*,
hut many of the patent axle greases
1 are also excellent, ami have the merit
of lieing cheajaw and more conven
ient to handle. Just grease enough
' should lie applied to the spindle of a
xvagon to give it a slight coating. This
is lietter than more, for the surplus put
on will work out at the ends and tie
forced by the shoulder bands and nut
washer into the hub around the outside
of the boxes. To oil an iron axletree.
first wipe the spindle clean, wet with
spirits of turpentine, and then apply a
few drops of castor oil near the shoul
dor and end. One is suf
ficient for the whole. .. * 15
, V-
TUB COLOR OF AKIIALH.
war r*lM SMri Arm wait* and f-ar
rota Uraaa Haaaa t'urlau* Informa
tion
Any one attending a zoological gar
den or noticing uny large collection of
animals is at once struck by the varie
ty of colors, both of the plumage and
hide or skin, suys the Cincinnati Kn~
qnirtr. Some animals are highly col
ored, others huve hues somber and
dark. What is the reason of this?
Why are some animals adored? What
is the use of any coloring? These
questions can only l>e answered by a
consideration of the habits of the
animals, the means provided for their
procuring food, and the weajions they
have for defense. The adoring of an
imals is to a large extent protective.
It enables animals to hide from
their enemies, who would other
wise extinguish their species, and in
other Instances, where they have means
of defense that warn other animals
to keep away, they are highly colored,
so that other animals are warned to I
give them a wide berth. For instance
rats, mice, hats and moles, which seek
for food at night, are dark, of dusky
hues, while in the light of day they
conceal themselves in their holes. Vet
the skunk, which is a nocturnal ani
mal, has much white about it, and a
large white tail which it carries erect ;
hut the horrible odor it carries makes
It universally dreaded, and its conspic- i
uous white tail is a signal-flag to all
carnivorous animals not to attack it, j
which they seldom do.
All the liearsin the world aro either
brown or black, except the polar bear,
which is while. So are most of the an
imals of the polar region white, that
Is, of the same color as the snow anil
ice they Inhabit, which similarity of
color is a means of proteeton from
their enemies, inasmuch as they are
not so readily seen. Perhaps the
rriusk ox, or musk *hfep. which is of
a dark brow n color, would seem an
exception, hut the habits of the ani
mal explain this. They are grega
rious, live in (locks, and this is their
means of protection, hence, if one
strays away from the flock it is neces
sary that they l>e of a dark color, so
that it can see its comrades at a dis
tance. The raven is another instance;
it is black, yet it inhabits the regions
of snow and ice; but it feed* on car
rion, and has no enemies that think its
I*>dy fit for food. Armed insects are
highly colored, such as wasp* and
bees. Their very high coloring shows
to other animals what they are, and
their poison protects them. Nunc in
sect s have so hard a covering that they
a-o practicably uneatable These arc
frequently highly colored, others can
fly rapidly, and tins is a protection, so
they are given a gaudy coloring, like
the swift-living rose-chafer. Butter
flies are gaily colored, but they are un
fit for eating; even when given to
young turkeys they spit them out. In
sectsare often found on trees and
leaves which an- the exact color of the
food that they seek. This is a protec
tion. The voice of the tree toad is
heard before the rain, yet so exactly is
it the color of the limb on which it li-s
that it is hard to find it. Gran cater
pillars feed on the green leaves, and
their very food serves to hide them
from their enemies. Pertain insects
called loopers ean stick themselves out
rigidly like sticks, which they so much
resemble as to 1h taken for them.
Cireen and brown caterpillars are
greedily eaten by birds, and even by
frogs, li/anls and spiders, hence they
generally feed at night, and during
the day remain motionless upon the
leaves or txvig* of the same color as
themselves. Bright colored caterpil
lars, however, are discarded by hints
and always refusal by frogs, li/ard*
and spiders, as if they tasted bad to
them. Parrots that live In the dense
foliage of green trees are invariably
green, and the hlnls of high-colored
plumage are tropical where the colors
of the flowers and shrubs are brilliant
Birds that almond in the region of dc
j ciduoiis trees are never green, but
brown or olive is the prevailing color.
This lint is least perceptible among
the leafless tree* and hn*hes which
prevail for the greater portion of the
year, when protection is so much need
ed. There Is a butterfly called the or
ange-tip|>cd; when on the wing it is
most conspicuous, hut when in the
evening it rests on the wood parsley it
can scarcely lie seen, so lieautlfully do
its colore blend with those of the
flower-head of the plant. 8o that on
the whole, the gorgams colors of the
sornlier shades with which various *n
imals are adorned, while beautiful
have a use to the animal that Is not
mere display, but protection as well.
The Foolish (loose.
A g*wee having t>een placed in a pen
and fed until she amid scarcely
breathe, happened to catch sight of a
lean old hen on the fence, ami called
out; ,
"You can now see which of us states
highest In the estimation of our mat
ter. Here I atn provided with u warm
pen and fed until my crop is bursting,
while you have to roost any where, and
have not an ounce of fat under your
feathers."
"That's all right, my friend." re
plied the hen, "but while your goose
will be cooked for Christmas, I shall
live to see many months yet."
Benefits ef Advertising.
The subject of advertising has lieen
more carefully and thoroughly studied
dur.„g the past few years than in all
the preceding years, and conclusions
have been reached which are demon
strative. Koine of them are these :
1. The judicious advertising of a
good, legitimate business always pays,
sometimes enormously.
2. The best advertising medium is
the live newspaper, bringing us it d<x-s
larger returns in proportion to the
money invested than any other.
3. The best advertising medium for
a local business is the most widely cir
culated local newspapers.
4. An okl, established business needs
advertising as well as a new one, lx>-
catise of competition, changes of pop
ulation and the habitual forgetfulnesv
of mankind.
5. To derive the greatest possible
benefit from business advertising it
should be systematically kept up and
the advertisements frequently changed.
There is one reason for advertising
which business men rarely consider—
its general effect on the prosperity of
their place. The newspaper gfws out
into the world from day today or week
to week, as the representative of its
city, and men judge of the city
more by the newspaper than any
thing else. If this is newsy and able
and many focal firms are represented in
its advertising columns, they assume
at once, and generally correctly, that it
comes from a live place a gtl place
to trade in and live in— and thus they
are drawn thither. The effe< tis not
slight, ami the suggestion is one which
deserves the consideration of every
tradesman.
The above statements have come to
!*• almost axioms with the successful
class of business men. and they are act
ing upon them more and more every
year The largest business houses of
the great cities have long employed
men at large salaries to look after their
advertising. A gentleman who was
connected with the dry goods house of
A. T. Stewart stated a few years ago
that the great merchant paid his adver
tising man a salary of ♦ll '.OOO a year*
It is well known that lie was an exten
sive, persistent and careful ail vert iser.
and was in the habit of often announc
ing sjwrial lines of gissls and reduced
prices. His advertising was one of
the secrets of his wonderful success.
The Hoy and the ttslunt Tree.
A grandson of the Governor of Vir
ginia. a child of some four or five
summers, was on a visit to his mater •
nal grandfather, who is a wealthy land
holder in < fhio. < ne day after making
his first x isit to >unday school, with
the religious instruction of which h
seemed duly impressed, he accompa
nied his grandfather to gather the
fruit of a large walnut tree. On the
way the little fellow said :
"Grandpa, whom do all these woods
and fields belong to'? "
"Why." said the matter of fact gen
tleman. "to me."
"\"o, sir." emphatically responded
the chiltl." they lielongto God."
The grandfather said nothing till
they reached the richly laden tree, when
he asked :
"Well, my boy, whom does this tree
belong to ? "
This was a j*er, and for a moment
the hoy hesitated ; but casting a long
ing look ii|sin the nuts he replied :
"Well, grandfather, the tree lielongs
to Hod. but the walnuts are ours."
railed hat not Fonndrred.
"Yes, George, dear, I accept your
prolTcrod love: and will be your wife;"
and a pair of strong arms clasped her
tightly, lovingly.
"You have heanl. of course," she
said, from under the lapel of his coat,
"that father has failed?"
"So, I hadn't heard that," said
George, weakening his grip a little.
" Yes, she continued, nestling more
closely to him ; he failed last week
■ and"—
"That puts a different phase upon
; matters entirely," said Ceorge, strng
i gling to break loose. Hut the girl held
: hi in fast and continued :
"And settled with his creditors at
twocents on a dollar; and"—
"Nay, dearest," interrupted (leorge,
passionately, "do not s|eak of such
sordid matters. Let us think only of
love and the happiness which tho
bright futurt has in store"—
Bat gentle reader, let us leave them
in their ydung love and perfect trust.
■
(LIJPISUS FOK THE CURIOUS.
According to an English statistician,
who ha* boon at pain* to collect data
on the subject, early riser* live the
longest.
The system of paying workrneri's
wage* in good* instead of money was
prohibited by the English Parliament
in IS3I.
The "art" of chiropodist first attrac
ted attention In 1H4.1, when a German
practiced on the corns of the Queen of
Kngland.
Boards were not worn in Kngland un
til after the ('onquest, and at the I'astor
ation the practice of wearing them fell'
into desuetude.
The (argent oyster shell in the world
is in the Church of St. Hulpioe, in
Paris. It weigh* over 500 pounds and
is used a* a Baptismal font.
There are two cats at the Crystal
Palace Exhibition of London priced at
$50,000 ca'h. Five hundred dollar* is
a common price fixed on the exhibit*.
•
Friday is Iwggar*" day in Havana,
ami then the halt and the blind in
every phase of filth and misery take
possession of the streets. Strange to
say, the beggars in Culm are mostly
Chinamen; while in the Western States
of America the almond-eyed Olestial
is a pattern of industry and frugality.
Among the Goths, Iberian* and
Moors, the licking of the thumb was
regarded as a solemn pledge or prom
ise. Another custom of even greater
grace and elegam-e was common in
Scotland, where among the lower
classes bargains were concluded by
"lieking and joining of thumbs."
Total al>stinence, even for IKIVH. was
a thing unknown in Engl; n i early in
the century. When Charles Matthews,
the younger, wrote to his mother de
scribing the visit of the Isjys at Mer
ehant Taylor* to the Mansion House
he *aid: "We went to breakfast. There
were very good things. I eat (sic),
viz.. a bit of fowl, a |>ear, an apple,
half a jelly, a role, five glasses of ne
gus, half a tumbler of ale, three cups
of coffee and a glass of water "
The South Carolina Kailway is the
first railway built in the South, if not
in the United Mate*; its mileage has
never lxs-n added to or reduced since
its completion; it has never pawed out
of the hands or management of its
stockholders, and has always leen suc
cessful and profitable. It runs from
Charleston. S. to Augusta Ga. and
from Charleston to Columbia.
Oplnm Smuggling.
Opium is surreptitiously supplied by
San Francisco Chinamen to their coun
trymen in the Sandwich Islands, where
it is forbidden. The drug brings sso
to #'.* a pound, and the smuggling of
a few hundred ]*ninds makes a China
man rich. In numberless ways they
try to introduce it. A large safe was
consigned to a prosjierous merchant.
An officer demanded that it l>e opened.
The Chinaman declared that he had
forgotten the combination. That
night the safe, weighing four tons,
was taken out of the isinded ware
house, carted away several mile*,
emptied, and left in a sugar cane field,
where the officers found it the next
day, with evidence that it had been
crammed with opium. A man had a
contract for w ashing the linen of the
Pacific Mail steamers. Hundreds of
bundles, each containing a can of
opium, were pitched from the steam
er's deck to the wharf and carted to his
laundry. lie happened to be sick on
one occasion, and his assistant, who
was ignorant of the contraband trade.
1 handled the linen in aurh away that a
can of opium fell out. A great num
ber of sewing-machines were sent to
Honolulu, and by accident it was dis
covered that the legs were hollow and
packed with opium. Opium has been
delivered in theiwlandsin fruit cans,the
can being divided into three compart
ments. the two outside ones fillet! with
fruit and the larger one with opium.
Large quantities have also been
shipped to the island in atnve wood,
each piece of the wood Iwing Ixired.
Masses of coal have done service in the
same way. _______
Wandering.
Talking of dinner parties, a gentle
man not long since was dining with a
friend, and was asked to take down a
certain lady. Now there were two la
dies present, one a widow, whose hns
band had not died in the odor of
sanctity; the other a married woman,
whose husband had gone to Ceylon.
The unfortunate thought he had the
married lady on his arm, but it was
the widow, and turning to her with
his most fascinating smile, he said:
"Nice day this has been."
"Do you think It has been so
awfully hot r
"Do you call this hotr said he,
archly. "Why, It is nothing compar
ed to the place your husband has gone
to."