A Good Catoh, Mr. Aiosliy Arbuthnot was the name benutifully engraved vn the elc- gant visit ny cud which a servant prese tet to Kvalyn Ogden, as she stood before n \u!l pier glass, admir- ing the sweep of her white salin train, aod the waive of her glossy black hair, You are ready, I suppose, Sybil? she asked, with » disdainful glance at her shy litiie ~yusin, whose modest thilette of wine colored cashmere hardly suited Miss Evelyn's elaborate taste. Oh, yes! Sy bil answered, promptly. I buve been rea ly for some time. Why dou’ yoo put some wite lace your neck? Evelyn asked» erineally. Yon look so—oh so plain. She was gong to say couotryfied, but repented of (hat and amended her around sp ech. I huven'. any lace, Sybil said, frankly. I'll lend you my fichu, said Evelyn, Jee in a spirit of generosity than in a wish to have Sybil look semi respect- ahle. Tharks was the gentle reply, but I would rather not borrow any fine feathers, Evelyn, dear. Don’t mind me. I coulun’t look anything but plsin if I tricd, and it will suit me better to creep into a quiet corner where no one will see me. I can en~ joy your triumphs, cousin, for I am sure you will have them. You look beautiful to night. Do you think #0, said Evelyn, with a conscious glance toward the mirror. I am glad this dress is so becoming. Mr. Arbuthnot adores white. I almost wish I hadn't said I would go, observed Sybil, 10king down at her own plain dress. I am afraid I shall disgrace you, Evelyn. I don’t even know how to behave, for I never heard of a progressive-angling party before. Oh, its simple enough, said Evelyn, buttoning her long gloves. There will be a lot of tubs, or punch-bowls, probably, and we will all have gilt fishing rods and lines, with hooks on thew. The fish are hollow and have prizes inside. We all fish for them, and nobody knows what he is going to get till the fish are opened. There is to be a gold ring in one to-night they say. It will be like weddiog eake. But you didn't worry, Sybil; I'll tell you what to do. Sybil was not worrying. She was perfectly quiet—in fact, so much so, that Evelyn fancied her brilliant es- cort would not be at all pleased with this unexpected addition to their party. Sybil had come to the city to try sod get a position as a teacher, and Evelyn did not fancy taking her on! in society; but Mr. Offden had a ten- der feeling for his sister's child, and commanded his daoghter to show her all the honors due to a distinguished My cousin, Miss Weir, Mr. Arbuth- not, said Evelyn, presenting Sybil to the gentleman who awhited them in the parlor. Ainsley Arbuthoot's keen eyes had swept in an instant over the white sat. in gown, with the mental observa tion, Overdressed ! They rested now apon the slender, little figure in the soft, rich-colored | cashmere, and they lighted «ith gen- vine admiration, Iam pleased to make your se- quaintance, Miss Weir, he said, with that quiet yet impressive manner which i# such a valuable gift, Sybil murmured something, bat her eyelids fells before that magnetic glance. How handsome he was, and how perfectly sell-possessed ! It was no wonder that Evelyn was always talk. ing about Aiosley Arbuthnet, He wes rich, too, they said, though Sybil thought very little about wealth, save as some fur-away thing which she would probably never possess in all her lifetime, The progressive-angling went on at Mrs. Bayard's house, where Sybil felt as though she were in fairyland, among flywers and fragrance, and parti-colored light, that shone on a erowd of elegan:ly-lressed men and women, who moved about in 5 scene of rare beauty and «plendor. Mast I fish ton ? Sybil asked, ovusly, os she looked shyly at the superb cut glass bowls, in which ari. ficial goldfish were Swiuwlog in per- fumed water. I would rather not. Don't be afraid, said Arbuthnot, kindly, They all wake botches of it. Aren't you going to fish, Arbuth- aot? called out an exquisite youth, who wore a primrose and an eye- glass. It's no end of a lark, pon hon- or! It's such fun to see those stupid little tin things wriggle | Is it really? said Arbuthnot, with imperturbable gravity, while the speaker began to dangle his absurd little line in the water, Do you know what that makes me think of ? he continued, in a low tone, which only Sybil heard. It reminds of a definition which I once heard given for a lfishing-rod—a stick with a worm at ove end and a fool at the other. Sybil broke out into a merry laugh, which made Evelyn turn around to see what the fun was, Won t you try now ? Mr. Arbuth- not. There are not very many peo. ple at the table. Yes, saidEvelyn, sweetly ; let us try now by all means. Do you xnow, Mr. Arbuthnot, there is to be a german after the fishing, and we ladies have to fish our partoers out of yonder bowl ? How momentious ! Arbuthnot ex- claimed. I hope heaven may be kind to me. Evelyn smiled at him, and Sybil, having a sense of being in the way table, Come, lady ! cried the youth with the eyeglass. There are as good fish moved toward the in the sea as ever was caught. Allow me! said Dick Travers, a brother of the hostess, to whom Sybil had been presented, and she found herself in possession of one of the gilded willow rods, which were gaily adorned with bows of ribbon. She castiin her line, and almost im- mediately the others were cast along- side. I am fishing for you, Miss Weir, said Dick boldly. I want a good partuer, and you look as though you danced divinely. I am very fond of it, Sybil said, modestly ; but I don’t koow much about the german. I think I would be most afraid to try. Evelyn frowned and bit her lips. What a fool the girl was! Why Sybil ! she said pettishly. You are fishing on my side. I waat that little fat fish, I'm sure he's got some- thing nice in him. You are welcome to him I'm sure, said Sybil, abandoning her game very pleasantly: I'd rather have that slim little fellow. Perhaps he hasn't any- thing in him, and then I shall be al- lowed to look on. Aba! cried Dick, whose skilled band had hooked up the first fish. What have we got there? No. 17: Amy, what is No. 17—gentlemen’s prize? You dance with Miss Irwin, said Mrs. Bayard, putting a box into her brother's hand. Dick groaned. Never mind, said Arbuthnot, laugh. We are going to have six fig- ures. Let us gee what you have got. Dick produced a very pretty pocket book, which they were all admiring, when Miss Evelyn's cry of triumph riveted attention on herself. ing. I've got him ! she exclaimed, lifting |} the fish out of the water. jut great was her chagrin when she found no prizeat all, and the name of somebody whom she did not like. I'm afraid I shall not catch any, body, said Sybil, who found it quite difficult, You don't go at it right, said Dick. Drop your hook down deep, and then bring itup slowly—this way, Try the little fellow over there. That's right. Gently now. There—aba. What did I tell you? That was well dove, wasn't it. Ainsley? Excellent, said Ainsley. Open bim, do. Iam consumed with curiosity, Sybil obeyed, laughingly, expect: ing nothirz. By ! Jove Dick cried, She's hook- ed the gold ring, Bure enough, inside of the slim lit- tle fish lay the shining band which every one coveted, It is like the Arabian knights she ner- | gaid in astonishweut. How pretty it is and see this French motto inside Mariau femme 1'snne portrait. That means that you will be marri- ed ina year, said Arbuthnot, sailing into her shy, little, flushed face. I don't think that’s likely, Sybil replied. Bat I never dreamed of get- ting the ring. I wonder how I ever hay pened to. There is no great mystery as I can see said Evelyn, with a disagreeable laugh. A brother of Mr, Bayard’s ought to be able to prompt one effect. ively. Miss Ogden, said Dick, quickly, I hope you do not thidk that I knew where the ring was ? Oh, of course not, was the sarcastic rejoiner, Ah, Captain Clyde, is this you? The music is playing. Isap pose we may as well go into the ball- room. Dick Clyde smothered an cxclama- tion as he turned to Ainsley with a curious look. You have not finished yet, he said. There is plenty of time, Arbuthnot There is Miss Irwin, Dick, She looks appealiog, You always have your own way, Ainsley, Dick said, resentfully, and went off to find his partner, Sybil and Mr. Arbuthnot were left alone by the table. Aren't you going to fish ? ed. No. I am to lead the german, and it is my peculiar privilege to choose a partner. Will you dance with me Miss Wier ? Ob, Mr. Arbuthnot, grace you. answered, she ask- I shall dis ing his arm, which she took shyly. How pretty that ring looks on your hand! Do you know I havea strong | desire to put it on with a wish ? Well, I haven't said Sybil, blushing faintly. Bo Ainsley took her hand, and put the ring on it. any objections, small white if it Now, It will come true in a year, comes true at all, he said. come! The german begins at ten, and [ must tell you what figures I have chosen. that quiet little thing was who danced | with Ainsley Arbuthnot; the | next day Dick Travers brought a friend to call. He found Evelyn Ogden alone in ber glory. Miss Wier has gone out to hunt a place, she said viciously. to teach school, I believe. Ah, you don't say ? said and Dica’s | the primrose: Do you think would take me for a pupil? lows say [ am the very deuce at geog- raphy. A mouth sliped by, and Sybil went | home disappointed. It was the | wrong time of year, they said. might get a place in the fall, there was none vacant now. but Aunt Hannah, she said, despondently | as she sat by the little old study lamp | thinking it all over. I might as well | have stayed at home, and not spent | the money going to town. Indeed, | been a great deal better. It was an odd answer to her obser. that which | vation, that there came just at | moment a ring at the bell, | brought her face to face in the door | way with Ainsley Arbuthuot. I have followed you, he said, hold. ing the hand which she gave him. I found that I could not be happy away from you, and I came to ask, Sybil, whether I might not stay with you | always ? Come in, she said, leading him into the parlor, where only the firelight shone. Excuse me, she added, hasti- ly, I will get a lamp. This will do, he said, detaining her. I like this best, Sybil, you know what I came for. I love you, Will you marry me ? She was a natural girl, without any art of coquetry, and she answered Sim, out of her heart : Yeo Then my wish will come true, he said, lifting ber hand and kissing it where the gol 1 ring spanned her pret. ty finger. Do you know what I wish- ed, darling ? The ring said that the year would bring you a husband, and I wished it might be me. It is needless to say that Sybil did aoy fu hh be ld when she heard of I will run the risk, he said, offer- | Everybody wanted to know who | She wants | companion who wae the youth with | she | I am | vot much on most things, bet the fel- | She I'm afraid I'm not of much account, | she added, with a sigh, it would have | W.0T. U COLUM, HOW MUCH IS YOUR BOY WORTH ? A Tarn Kaosan said: ‘Pat me down for 820; I have six boys, and if necessary will make my subscription more; to save them, a $100 bill would be a small amount.’ He was a bard. working farmer; but he loved hisboys and as a consequence hated the liquor. traffic. A New York merchant said: “To my astonishment I found out that my eldest boy had taken a drink of beer.” That was enough; every energy of that business man is brought into active service to protect his son from the liquor trade, How much is your boy worth? First: He is worth asking to the total abstinence pledge. sign be sent to a Band of Hope, or a Tem- perance School, to be instructed as to the effects of alcohol upon the human system, and the sin of intemperance, Third: He is of sufficient import- ance for you to know where he spends his evenings and who bis associates are. Fourth: He is of more value than many household pets, and is entitled to more of your time and attention: Fifth: To say nothing of the value of your boy's good character, he has cost you for food, raiment, and edu- cation more than what the average | saloon-keeper pays for his license. Sixth: “As the twig is bent the tree It will be of great im- is inclined.” | valuable citizen or a curse to you and | the neighborhood in which you reside If he turns out good he will be worth | his weight in gold; if otherwise, better | he had never been born. | Seventh Being immortal, he is worth | 8 life's work to prepare him for a haps | py hereafter. { No license was ever made bigh | enough to cover the lowest estimate | that you can put on your boy if there's a spark of Christianity or humanity | in your Licart, | | Nebraska virtually says its city | boys are worth low, her boys at $75; less than the price of | a city railroad horse. An | every mother! | What is your boy worth? Tell me the value of bis soul, and | | I'll name the price of the privilege to | | sell intoxicants, - THE "EMPTY ARMS We were thinking to-night of the | tired mothers all over our land, who { some of them, sometimes, grow irrita- | ted and fretful to the little ones God | | has given them to train for Him. We remember sitting one evening | holding a restless infant, with whom { we would have to be up during the | night, while another child was ill in| | the next room. A neighbor came in— | years older than myself—who said to | “Now is the happiest season of | you can | me : | your motherhood, while gather Oh, if 1 could only do so with | mine 1” We knew that her | son was growing reckless, and : arins, eldest her daugiter bad married badly, yet said . “We shall be | ren are grown.’ ls glad when our child. Yet, grow, one de. i other, just as she had developed into : ' RIAs | | parted ere be was an the something very lovely, spread ! | soul-wings and went to that land | ual. | no means always the 1 “whose inhabitaats never say they are | sick.” To-night, sitting with empty arms, ours to give—for the soft tattoo of dimpled fingers upon our cheeks, for the pressure of a head with tangled curls against our breast, a tired sleepy little one to nurse within these arms, Yet are we comforted with one thought they have passed beyond temptation, while thousands of other mothers are watching tonight with lacerated hearts, the return of their sons from the saloon. God pity ssch mothers! Your sorrow is greater far than ours, and we will strive to overcome our own sorrow by working to gain the restor~ ation of these other mothers’ sons to the true nobility of manhood. Near by us we know of one boy who, drinking glass after glass of | bard cher, staggers into the tohool. Second: He is of sufficient value to! . | Wear, | portance to vou whether your boy isa | 1,000; altogather too New York City puts the price of | insult to] : | the same spirit, | clothing passed upon. r your little ones all within your | : iy. | dupheate that | her | | pany them wo would give all the world——were it] hundreds of our boys, yes, thousands, who are learning to become drunkards upon cider, We look out upon the extensive apple orchard of Ohio, with a grown apprehension that they May prove onr greatest curse. Ap- ples are plenty, market overstocked; “We will make them into cide the thrifty farmers, r,’ say the cider mills moltiply with the years, and every cellar is well stocked. Talk to the larger share of she inhabitants about the danger of cider drinking and they will laugh you to scorn, BO A A——— THE EVILS OF GIFT 61v ING, Bham and snow, perplexity, annoy - ance and extravagance into the customs giviog. | Taough one msy make a gift out of | the heart, and do it becomingly have of gift and | unassuminogly, yet it seems as if a doz en influences were bearing on him to force him into greater expeuse than he | can afford, or to give where he is re luctant to do so, or where he must | make a show of the article Quiet, giving shines brightly, when we find | given. unosientatious, it amid the dreary heartlessness the | gaudy show and the heartburnpings that often accompany the formal giv- | ing that is a part of social life. The reader may cll to mind some wedding or birthday sopiversary that she is invited to help celebrate. The out what shall | present shall I enough problem of all problems even ranking then It is the common, is, what send. not {0 go and | participate in the social duties and to g be cordial in well wishing and con fl gratulation, for nove of this will par- don the or oversight gift. There be where is Mrs. Jackson's present, and neglect Ol the will the question then the unpleasant comment if she has made nene, So Mrs. Jackson's set« out to find some compromise between pride and purse, perhaps poverty, than something thet costs no more absolutely un were worth a great deal more some- compulsory snd yet looks as thing that the other guests will not look at slightiogly if not speax of contemptuously or at least thiok of in And then the guests compare these | | proxies of themselves and put them- | selves on exhibition, after a fashion, | | bat in the same way that they stand | up befores committee of critics and | have the style and elegance of their The show is at {least over, but the jealousies and the fear that | respectability has been endangered by | heartburnings remain, | the insignificance of the gift or the | | overtoppiag consciousness | that they each made the best of one | of a few | of the best presents of the lot. Afterwards, as is more | custom in some parts of the couatry, | the names of the donors and a brief | description of their gifts, some newspaper there to undergo fur | thur comparison and criticism and all | Fioal- if the present was valuable enough | the train of accompaniments. it may find it way to a shop where presents are bought and sold, ie did the receiver the of such little use is it to the recipient so lit care about the personality ot giver, or among several other presents of the same Kind, jon and ¢ i uisors Gift exion gift making are little lesa than sinful, if Gifts are by frie combined with they are short of that Ken of ond the ship and whea | abuses that are often made Wo necom= they are demoralizing, they are unpleasant features of what | taxe the form of duties, and they are dark spots in social life. Something is wrong when a pres- ent is made a test of social standing or when it is the prerequisite of per- forming a social sot. There is au op- portunity for reform, when what is | apparently a friendly deed, is con- fessedly empty of honest intent when it is burdeusome, aonoying compul- sory, fulse hearted, or made for show, or evidence of wealth or werely for social conformity, The only excuse that one can maxe for these abuses of gift making is that their compulsory features have the effvet of putting people into the haoit of maxiog presents st a time when their friendly feelings haveaot becom - strong %» prompt the set unaided. With the growth of these feelings he | eis custom gradually gets a Detter | Training Sow and surer foondation and stands re | more plainly in hormony with civili- | ho crept | %: | | spontaneous | or less the appear in | zation, A gift should be an embodi- ment of sentiment from which cost should be totally divorced as an ele. ment of weight, and with which no social compulsion should ove linked, except the compulsion of 8 spontave, ous expression of feelings. The world is not good enough for this yet, but some atiempt, if only a feeble one, if general enough, would A green oasis in the social desert.— Good Howseleeping. be HUMOROUS — High strong—Telegraph wires, A poor relation—A blood-and- thunder story, A railing woman is like a swordfish _ | Bhe carries a weapon in her mouth, An enthusiastic meeting—iwo girls who haven't seen each other for an | hour. Husband {attempting to sing) “ay voice is rather h-hus- husky to-night.” | | Wife—"No wonder it's husky! | are full of You corn.” Inde (Newman | pendent, | “Now is the accepted time, "re. | marked the poor young man solemnly when his girl wld bim she would have { him, | A firm who advertised for a boy “to | do heavy work” received but one ap- plicant and he came in charge of his father. # FAITHFUL TO THE LAST A touching instance of fidelity on the part of & dog has just occurred in the east of Paris. Some gendarmes going their rounds a day or two since, Men- ng =a His suicide was a most de- found on a waste land pear the ilmontant gate a man hang shrub, termined one, for his legs were ex- tended along the ground his 80 low was he , and hands touched the s ni, suspended. Between his legs a dog The poor animal when arroused by the footsteps of the gend- armes, tried { lay sleeping 0 make them understand in dum show what had his master, happened to The body was cut down and carried away to the Morgue, in spite of the frantic protests of the four footed friend, and the latter was locked ap. There being nothing on the body to show its idenity, the Police Com- wissary made use of the dog to ascer- tain the abode of the suicide. The an- imal was released and made straight for a house in the Rue des Haries The police on arriving there, found | that a working carpenter was missing. ‘and the dog was recognised by the | conclerge as belonging to him. The | animal has been adopted by some of the inmates of the | mani s Mess enger house — Galig- — — A DOG'S STRATEGY. A family removed to San Francico | a few weeks ago and let the furnished | house it vacated to an old lady. Among | the assets was a large New Found. | land dog, says the Virginia City (Nev.) Chronicle. In the drawing- room of the residence is a large cush- ioned chair, in which the aged ten- The dog lady to va. mfortable seat, and so the sot is fond of reclining. watched wistfully for the cate this © soon as she did he leaped into chair and refused to vacate it. he lsdy being afraid to the strategy. and looking The dog left the through intruding eject resorted to sy wind ts I” Ww ut called chair instantly the widow in searc felines vorite chair, | entered the ro and leaped h of the ; the lady sat down in ker fa- The vext day the d 7d ym while the mistress of the Suddenly the animal rushed g fue | riously, The old lady ran to the window to ascertein the cause of the dog's excitement, when the animal | leaped oto the chairshe bad vacated i | the house was seated in covered chair, i to the window and began barking { {and refused 10 leave it, oe k 8 Bi ping ~We are now | ared to do all kinds of book binding { reasonable rates and wil guarantee J a i ret tae Dapeng Gontral State Normal SCHOOL, IOCK EAVEI, Pa. Cy Location heatihtuy EE rein Lock Havin, Pa vu and Wie oh en gon JAMES sn
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers