2
ljc mcs, Nctu Sloomftcli),
A QUESTION.
As Annie was currying tho baby one day,
Tossing nloft tlio lump of inanity,
Dear to its father and mother no doubt
To the rest of tho world a incro lump of hu
manity Sam came along, and was thinking then maybe,
Kuil as much of Annie as she of tho baby.
".Just look at tho baby'" cried Ann In a flutter,
(Mvlug its locks 'round her lingers a twirl;
"If I was a man I know that I couldn't
lie keeping my hands off a dear iittlo girl."
And Sam gave a wink, as if to say "Maybe,
Of tlic girls I'd rather hug you than the baby."
"Now, kiss It." she cried, still hugging It closer,
"Its mouth's like the roses the honey-beo sips!"
Sam stooped to obey, as the heads came together,
There chanced to arise a confusion of lips!
And It occurred, it might have been, maybe,
That each got a kiss, Sam, Ann, and tho baby.
It's hard to tell what Just then was the matter.
For the baby was the only one innocent there ;
And Annie Hushed up like a full-blown peony,
And Samuel turned red to the roots of his hair;
So the question is this you can answer it, maybe
Did Annie kiss Sam, or did both kiss the baby?
AN INTENDED ROBBERY.
OT to go over on i'uot!" cxclaim
SX cd the contractor. N
"Mot a chance of anything else," re
plied the agent. " But, then, it's only
five miles and you'll have better quarters
than here, in this vilo shanty. The mon
ey will be safer, too let ulone that the
nieti won't go to work again, unless they
are paid in the morning."
" Is the road safe ? I don't like the
idea of lugging so much money. I could
defend myself, or run ; but fifteen thou
sand dollars in small bills is a, big pack
ago to run with."
" Scud your valise over in advance."
" By whom ?"
" My man."
" Is he trustworthy ?"
" Honest as the day ; and he need not
know there's anything in it but dirty
linen, lie can start now; and you will
wait till after supper, if you will."
And so saying, the agent of the rail
road company stepped to tho door of the
shanty and shouted for Patrick; and
shortly that individual came as bright,
lively, honest-looking a son of the Green
Isle as ever helped build a western rail
road. "Patrick!"
" Yis, yer honor."
" Take this gentleman's valise over to
tho village, and leave it with the super
intendent. Tell him the owner will be
after it some time this evening."
" An' is that all, yer honor ?" '
" That's ull only bo quick about it,
and you'll earn au extra dollar."
" I'm jist the b'y for that, anyhow.
Sure, it's a small bit of a yalise."
And, so saying, Patrick picked up tho
object of his contempt, and trudged off,
with an utter absence of curiosity as to
the nature of what ho was carrying.
The temporary station at which tho
"construction train" had lauded the con
tractor a gentleman named Perkins
was at tho end of the new air lino rail
road to ; and as the laborers there
on had not boen paid over promptly, they
had now for somo days been on a strike,
abandoning the works and congregating
at a hamlet, a few miles distant, thereby
compelling their delinquent employers to
come to terms. Mr. Perkins had brought
a good share of the " terms" with him,
for immediate distribution ; and, after a
plain and hearty supper with the agent,
he was about to start on his tramp, when
it was discovered that a good-sized west
ern thunderstorm was just about to burst,
and the walk was postponed until the sky
ahould clear. In a few minutes more the
rain was coming down in torrents and
kept up for an hour or so, at the end of
which time the contractor paddled away
over the road, congratulating himself
that the valise in Patrick's care was water-proof.
" He's had aaroughcr time than I will,
anyhow; and, now, if I ain't robbed and
murdered before I get there, I shall do
well enough, in spite of tho mud." And
so muttering to himself, the worthy agout
splashed forward.
Our present business, however, is not
with his employer, but with Patrick him
self. The parting injunction to make haste
had not seemed to make a very deep im-
ression on the careless son of Erin, and
e trudged easily along, with an occasion
al shrewd glance at the somewhat threat
ening sky, growling to himself:
" Faith an' I'll be there before he will
an' it don't rain, an' uiebbe I will it if it
does. Oeh, but it's n wake one to bo giv
en a dollar for carryin' tho loike of this."
A Iittlo more than half way across tho
open prairio that lay between the railroad
terminus and the village was a tolerably
dense grove, and it was after sunset when
Patrick plunged under the shadows.
Nor had ho gone far before the gloom
rapidly deepened, the premonitory flash
es of lightning, find the deep, smothered
roars of the thunder gave token that the
storm was upon him.
"Now, an' I cud only git to the ould
log house, it 'ud kape me dhry. Ilowly
Moses, what a big flash that was !"
Aud, so saying, Patrick broke into a
very respectable trot, which quickly
brought him out into a Iittlo weed-grown
clearing. In the centre of this there was
a small log house, the deserted homestead
of some discontented squatter who had
moved farther westward. It consisted of
but two rooms, front and hack, and all
vestiges of doors and window shutters
had long since disappeared ; but it prom
ised some sort of imperfect shelter from
the rain.
Patrick was just in time, for hardly
had ho stumbled over the grassy thresh
hold before the first big drops began to
patter, and these were quickly followed
by such penetrating torrents as compelled
him to select his standing-place under as
good a shelter as he could possibly find.
" Bless me sowl, but this is wet rain,
anyhow ! I'd not like to be fouud drown
ed with another man's portmanty about
my clothes. Whist, now, Patrick, nie
jewel what's that?"
And, as he spoke, Patrick once more
advanced towards the doorway. It was
now all but pitch dark, and he could
hear the half-muffled voice of a man
whose profane utterances seemed to try
and direct another toward the shelter.
" Here it is. Bob; I wonder if there's
anybody in it ?"
' Not to-night, there won't be. Go
right in ; we're comiii'."
Patrick was no fool, and he had heard
something iu the tones rather than in the
words though these were mingled with
horrid profanity which conveyed to his
mind the impression that tho new com
ers were men with whom he did not care
to scrape an acquaintance ; neither did
he like to go out into tho storm and so
he quietly glided back into the little
" lean-to" that formed the other part of
tho house, and curled himself up against
the logs.
In a moment more ho perceived that
three men had taken possession of his
late quarters, and ho lay as still as a
mouse, while they continued a discussion
which had evideutly been interrupted by
the storm.
" Ho won't try to get over to-night, 1
reckon."
" Yes, he will, he's got to."
"But the storm?"
" He'll wait till that's over."
' " Maybe he's started."
"If he has, he'll turn back. We
are safe enough to bag him, au' it's a lit
tle tho best lay we ever had such a chance
at."
" Pretty good pot, that's a fact. Do
you know how he's got it?"
"In a valiso, Jim says."
" Well, we can take it as well in that
as in anything else, as tho man said about
the whisky."
" But what'll we do with him 1"
" Dead men will tell no tales."
" That's tho safest, I guess ; and they
will lay it to the strikers."
" Most likely. Have you got the dark
lantern ready ?"
" Not much oil in it.'
" Let's fill it then. I went to get some,
aud got into the boss's private office, and
I just found one Iittlo can hid away in
the desk. Not another thing was worth
bringing away. Here it is ; let's fill up,
and take a look 'round here."
Thus fur, Patrick had listened with
breathless interest, while his mind teem
ed with horrid visions of . robberry and
murder. As we have said, he was by no
means lacking in sharpness, and the ref
erence to the valise had not been by any
means re-assuring.
" Howly mither 1 how did they iver
know I was comin' over wid tho port
manty t I'd like to know that. Begorra,
I'd better have turned baok before I iver
come ! An' what's a dollar to pay for
being murdered !"
Patrick's thoughts were troubling the
very soul within him, when he heard
what was said about the lantern, and it
needed no one to tell him that his only
safety from discovery was in retreat.
There was some , little noise and loud
talking in the other room, not to speak
of the rain on the roof, and Patrick had
no difficulty in escaping, unheard. Once
clear of the house, he made a clear run
of it for a couple of hundred yards,
stumbling over logs, tearing through bri
ars, but sticking faithfully "to tho valise.
Meantime, tho three robbers had. prob
ably been filling tho lamp of their dark
lantern ; and as Patrick reached the edge
of the wvods, in tho cover of whose
darkness he knew he would be safe, ho
turned and strained his eyes to the log
house. As ho did so, a faint glimmer of
light came out through the chinks.
"Strikiu' a match," muttered Patrick;
" bad luck to tho same for sindin' me out
into the wet ! Ilowly mithcr ! What's
that?"
While Patrick had been speaking, the
light had gained somewhat in strength,
as if the match was blazing higher; but
as he uttered his concluding exclamation,
there came a Euddeu blinding flash, equal
to many lightnings, and then a dull and
sudden sound, as of some mighty explo
sion, followed by the crushing sound of
heavy falling bodies among the tree-tops
near him, breaking their way through
the branches.
Patrick waited no more, but found the
road as quickly as possible, and made
double quick time for tho village, regard
less of the rain. When, less than half
an hour afterwards, the breathless Irish
man, with his precious burden, dripping
with water, opened the door of the su
perintendent's office, in the village ho
heard that gentleman remark :
"What did you say, Jordan ?"
" Why,'' replied the boss, in an anx
ious tone, " some fool litis broken my
desk open and stolon a can of nitro gly
cerine, and I'm afraid harm will come of
it."
" Divil a fear," interrupted Patrick ;
" sorra a mischief was done by that same.
Only we'll have to search tho woods for
days to foind enough o' thim for a decent
wake, or I'm mistaken."
The explanation which followed, left
little room for doubt, and subsequent
investigation left less; but as Patrick had
surmised there was little for a " wake."
The contractor got in all right, tho
men were paid, the road was built, and
three first class rascals were disposed of.
t
Position in Sleeping.
IT is better to go to sleep on the right
side, for then tho stomach is very
much in tho position of a bottle turned
upside down, and the contents of it aro
aided in passing out by gravitation. If
one goes to sleep ou tho left side, tho op
eration of emptying the stomach of it
contents is more like drawing water from
a well. After going to sleep, let the body
take its own position.
If you sleep on your back, especially
soon after a hearty meal, tho weight of
tho digestive orgaus and that of tho food
resting on the great vein of the body,
near the back bone, compresses it, and
arrests tho flow of the blood more or less.
If the arrest is partial, the sleep is dis
turbed, and there are unpleasaut dreams.
If the meal has been recent and hearty,
tho arrest is more decided ; and the vari
ous sensations, such as falling over a
precipice, or the pursuit of u wild beast,
or other impending dangers, and the des
perate effort to get rid of it, arouses us,
and sends on the stagnating blood; and
we wake in a fright, or trembling, or in
a perspiration, or feeling exhausted, ac
cording to tho degree of stagnation, and
the length and strength of the efforts
made to escape the danger.
But when we aro unable to escape the
danger when we do fall over the preci
pice, when the trembling building crush
es us what theu f That is death ! That
is the death of those of whom it is said,
when found lifeless in' tho morning,
" That they were as well us ever they
were the day before ;" and often it is ad
ded, "and ate heartier than common 1"
This last, is a frequent cause of death to
to those who have gone to bed to wake
no more, we give merely us u private
opinion. The possibility of its truth is
enough to deter any rational man from a
late and hearty meal. This we do know
with certainty, that waking up in the
night with painful diarrhea, or cholera,
or billions cholic, ending in death in a
very Bhort time, is probably traceable to
a late large meal.
The truly wiso will take the safe side.
For persons to eat three times a day, it is
amply sufficient to make tho lust mcnl of
cold bread aud butter, and a cup of some
warm drink. No ouo cau starve on it ;
while a perseverance iu the habit soon
begets a vigorous appetite for breakfast,
so promising a day of comfort. HuU't
Journal of Iltallh.
t&" When is coffee real estate J When
it's ground.
Washington's First, Interview wiih
his Wife.
UY O. W. CUSTIS.
ON' bright Sunday morning, in the
year 1758, an officer, attired in
the military undress, and attended by a
body servant, tall and militairo as his
chief, crossed the ferry called Williams',
over the Pamonkcy, a branch of the
York river. On the boat touching the
southern or New Kent side, the soldier's
progress was arrested by ono of those
personages who give tho bau vhttl of
the Virginia gentlemen of the old regime,
the very soul of kindliness and hospitali
ty. It was in vain that the soldier urged
his business at Williamsburg, important
communications to the governor, kc. Mr.
Chambcrlayne, on whoso domain the mil
itairo had just landed, would hear of no
excuse. Colonel Washington was a name
and character so dear to all the Virgini
ans, that his passing by one of the old
castles of Virginia without calling and
partaking of the hospitalities of the
host, was entirely out of the question.
The colouel, however, did not surrender
at discretion, but stoutly maintained his
ground, till Chambcrlayne, bringing up
his reserve in tho intimation that he
would introduce bis friend to a young
and charming widow then beneath his
roof, the soldier capitulated on condition
that he should dine and then, by press
ing his charger and borrowing of the
night he would reach Williamsburg be
fore His Excellency could shako oft his
morning slumbers. Orders were accord
ingly issued to Bishop, tho colonel's body
servant and faithful follower, who, to
gether with a fine English charger, had
been bequeathed by the dying Braddock
to Major Washington, on the famed and
fatal field of the Mouongahela. Bishop,
bred in the school of European disipline,
raised his hand to his cap, its much as to
say, "Your honor's orders shall bo obey
ed." The colonel now proceeded to the
mansion, and was introduced to various
guests, (for when was a Virginian domi
cil of tho olden time without guests?)
and above all, to the charming widow.
Tradition relates that they were mutually
pleased ou their first interview ; nor was
it remarkable. They were of an age
when impressions are strongest. Tho la
dy was fair to behold, of fascinating man
ners, and splendidly endowed with world
ly benefits; the hero, fresh from his early
fields, redolent of fame and with a form
on which " every god did seem to set his
seal to give the world assurance of a
man."
Tho morning passed pleasantly; evening
came with Bishop true to his orders, aud
firm to his post, holding his favorite
charger with tho ono hand, while the
other was waiting, to offer tho ready stir
rup. The sun sank in the horizon, and
yet the colonel appeared not ; and then
the old soldier marvelled at his chief's
delay. " 'Twas strange, 'twas passing
strange ;" surely ho was not wont to be a
single moment benind his appointments,
for he was the most punctual of all punc
tual men. Meantime, the host enjoyed
the sceno of the veteran on duty at the
gate, while the colonel was so agreeably
employed in the parlor ; and proclaiming
that uo guest ever left his house after
sunset, his military visitor was without
much difficulty persuaded to order Bishop
to put up the horses for the night.
Tho sun rode high in the heavens the
next day, when the enamoured soldier
pressed with his spur his charger's side
and speeded on his way to the seat of
government, where, having dispatched
his publio business ho retraced his steps,
and at the White House the engagement
took place with preparations for the mar
riage. And much had the biographer hoard
of that marriage from gray-huired domes
tics, who waited at tho board where love
made the feast and Washington was the
guest. And rare and high was tho rev
elry at that balmy period of Virginia's
festal age, for many were gathered to
that marriage of tho good, the great, tho
gifted and the gay, while Virginia with
joyful acclamation, hailed in her youthful
hero a prosperous and happy bridegroom.
14 And so you remember when Colonel
Washington cume a-courting of your mis
tress '" said the biographer to old Cully,
in his hundredth year.
"Ay, master, that I do," replied this
ancient family servant, who had lived to
see five generations; "great times, sir,
great times; shall never see tho like
again.
" And Washington looked something
like a man, a proper man hey, Cully.
" Never seed the like, sir; never the
likes of him, though I have seen many
in my day: so tall so straight and
then he sat a horse and rode with such
an air I Ah, sir, ho was like no one else.
Many of the grandest gentlemen in their
gold laee were at tho wedding, but none
looked like the man himself."
Strong indeed must have been tho
impressions which the person and man
ner of Washington made upon the rude
" untutored mind" of this poor negro,
since the lapse of three quarters of a cen
tury had not sufficed to efface them.
The precise date of the marriage the
biographer has been unable to discover
having in vain searched among the rec
ords of the vestry of St. Peter's church
New Kent, of which the reverend Mr.
Mossem. a Cambridge scholar, was tho
rector, and performed tho ceremony, it is
believed, about 17f0. A short time af
ter their marriage, Colonel and Lady
Washington removed to Mount Vernon
on the Potomac, and permanently settled
there.
Grindstones.
A LETTER to an exchange paper
gives some interesting facts about
the locality where grindstones are pro
cured, and tho method of the manufac
ture. The English grindstones are quar
ried at Neweastle-on-Tyne, and near Shef
field. These quarries aro worked by
hand, and all the grindstones are made
with the mallet and chisel. Nova Scotia
and New Brunswick stones come from
sandstone fi, filiations overlying the coal
districts on the Bay of Fundy and cross
ing the Province of the Gulf of St. Law
rence. These immense deposits contain a,
great variety of grits, known as the No
va Scotia grindstones. These quairies
arc generally worked by the. Frcnoh peo
ple known as " Acadiaus," from the name
they gave this country. " Acadia," and
are tho descendants of tho ' Ilugunnots,"
who were driven out of France by relig
ious persecution. They are a very in
dustrious and simple-minded people, and
the females retain to this day the style
of dress brought over from France by
their ancestors.
The tides of the Bay of Fundy rise
aud fall from GO to 70 feet every twelve
hours, and these people avail themselves
of this power to work the quarries, which
extend from a high bluff on the main
land down to low water mark in tho bay.
At low water a huge mass of stone is
loosened from its bed, and a heavy chain
is passed under it aud over a larsjo boat,
which is placed alougside. As the tide
rises, tho stone attached to the bottom of
the boat is floated into a sand cove at
high water, and made into grindstones
after tho tide recedes. This work is
done with mallet aud chisel, tho rough
parts being first chopped off with a heavy
axe. Machinery has been recently in
troduced, and the small grindstones are
now turned in a lathe by steam-power.
The sandstone deposits of this coun
try which arc made into grindstones, are
found along the shores of Lake Erie, and
extending for a considerable distance east
and west of Cleveland, and inland as far
as Marietta, on the Ohio. They are also
found on the shores of Lake Huron,
above Detroit.
These deposits are of a different char
octer from the foreign stone, and do not
seem to be the overlying strata of coal
formations, but appear to be a later for
motion, as the quaries look as though this
part of Ohio has once been the bottom
of tho lake, the sand of which had be
come solid and been heaved up by some
couvulsion of nature. Nearly all the
Ohio grindstones arc made by machinery,,
driven by steam power. The blocks of
stone being loosened from the quarry
bed, are roughly hewed out, with a squaro
hole in the centre. This is placed on a
squaro iron shaft furnished with a nine
inch collar against which the stone is se
curely fastened by means of onother col
lar keyed against tho side of the stone.
The shaft and stone being driven by
steam-power, two men on opposite sides
of the stone turn it off perfectly true by
means of soft iron bars about 6 feet long
and 2 by 1 inch thick, which is curved
upward. This was formerly a very un
healthy occupation, owing to the shaft
dust being inhaled by the workmen, but
this difficulty is now obviated by means
of blowers which drive it away.
ttijy Send a postage stamp to It.
Pierce, M. D., Buffalo. N. V., and
V.
Pierce, M. D., Buffalo. N. ., and get
Dr. Sage's pamphlet on Catarrh, or send
sixty cents and get Dr. Sago's Catarrh,
ltemedy. $500 reward is offered by the
proprietor for a case of Catarrh which he
cannot cure. Sold by druggists.