ljc'ime0, TSim Bloomficto, Ja. 2 THE THREE MASKED MEN. XTONDER'8 the village, Barin," naysmy 1 tl river, pointing to a lew spots of light that twinkled along the darkening skv-lino; and we'll ha there in another quarter of an hour, if it pleaso heaven. Lucky for us that it's not winter time, or wo'd have the 'gray coats' (wolves) at our heels before wo got in. " Aro thcro many of them' about hero in winter?" asked I. "Many of them? A g'eat deal too many. Why, it was only last winter," he goes on, with a genuinely Russian love of frighteuini: himself and other pooplo, la "that a sledge came into thovillago, which had been attacked by wolves close to where we aro now, on a dark windy evening just like this one: and they gobbled up tho driver and horses, and everything but tho sledge itself and that was a good deal scratched." " Rut if they ato up the horses, how did the sledge get to the village ?" "Ah, Rarin !" answers tho old rogue with a chuckle," "that's not my affair." Our day's work has been a long and hard one,-as may bo seen by tho smoking Hanks and quivering nostrils of our horses, and the country through which we have pass ed is not such as one loves to linger over. It is, therefore, not without a fooling of natural relief that I turn my back upon tho great waste that darkens slowly around us, and watch the lights of tho village com ing nearer and nearer, till ut length wo scurry into tho single btreet which it pos sesses, (almost deserted at this hour, through fear of tho " Domovoi,") and halt in front of a long, low, substantial-look ing cottage tho abode of the "starosta," or head man of tho villago, with whom wo propose to take up our quarters for the night. Thero is no lack of hospitality about tho Russian peasant; and almost bo- fore my driver can explain who wo aro, I liud myself seized by both bauds and drag ged into tho house, iny dusty coat and boots pulled off, and myself seated in tho place of honor beside tho imiuouso stove, with a brimming tumbler of tea in front of ino; while the driver, a littlu further olf, lights his pipe with a complacent air, as if ho took to himself somo credit for my being there at all, AVhilo sipping my tea and munching tho black bread wherowith my host's wife, a stout, fresh-looking woman of five and thirty, supplies mo ad libitum, I glance around the room, which is merely an en largcd and ornamented copy of what I have seen in every hamlet on my road. Tho heavy cross beams of tho roof, tho rough hewn chairs and tables, the lingo tea-urn, tho gilt edged picture of a saint in tho far corner with a small lamp burning beforo it tho enormous stove, on tho broad Hat top of which my entertainers all want to sleep in winter the broad clumsy bed with its patch-woik coverlet, are all there. And thcro, too, on the opposite side of the room, is tho huge painted chest, barred and banded with iron, which is tho Russian peasant's prido and glory in which ho keeps his Sunday clothcs.and whatever valuable s ho may possess, and upon tho painting and decorating of which ho often expends a sum which it must liavo cost him many a hard day's work, and many a supperlcss night to raise. But even in their first hasty survey of the surroundings, my eyes havo time to re mark one object, which is the very last that one would expect to find under tho roof of a Russian peasant, whoso solo weapon is usually tho short ax with which ho chops his firewood, puts together his furniture, builds his log but, and occasionally splits the head of his wife or father. Just opposite where I sit,hanging upon a nail in tho wall, is a largo pistol, evidently unused for a considerable time, to judgo by tho rust which covers it. Our friend tho starostra, following the direction of my glance, gives a significant chuckle, "There's something to look at, Barin," ays be, nodding in tho direction of the weapon. " You don't often see thoso toys in our shops, do you ?" "Well, indeed, brother, it's hardly tho sort of thing ono would expect to see so far from tho town. Do you keep it to shoot the 'takarans' (cockroaches) with?" My host gives a hoarse bellowing laugh, at this not very brilliant joke, echoed by tho shriller treble of his wife; and crossing the room takes down tho pistol from its perch and lays it on the tablo. Somo letters branded into the stock catch my eye, and holding it up to tho light, I read, "April 14, 1800." I look inquiringly at my enter tainer for the answer to this enigma. . "I wrote that," says ho, with? tho air of Coriolanus. " Alone I did it. I can writo, and read, too, or I shouldn't be starostra now. Ah 1 the first time I wrote my own name, I felt as grand as Ilia Huromolz ! The worthy starosta'i enthusiasm some- what tries my gravity,thougll I had already tor, with a broader grim than ever; " they een the same thing once and again during were gone almost before 1 could turn my travels In the Interior.', The Russian round. Well, when J , found myself safe peasant'! reverence for the power of '.' talk- again,' and the field clear, I felt bo dazed big by making marks in a book," ib almost that I almost thought I should have faint superstitious j and recollect being' consider- ed; but I knew that thero was more to be ably amused at overbearing a rough-hewn fellow, with whom, I lodged w one of the remoter villages, after reciting, to an atten. tive circle, my feats In walklrfg, running, climbing and leaping, wind up with: 'And lie knows how to write ! " That was the day I got this pistol," pcrsuos my Amphitryon; "and good service lm did me that day. If It hadn't been for jl!m j 8i10uld have lost a good handful of money, and mayhap my life into the bar gain 1" " Ah ! how did that happen ?" asked I. "This is just the time for a good story; suppose you tell me all about it beforo I turn in." Nothing loth, my host knocks the sides out of his pipe, re-charges it, and clearing his throat vigorously, bogins as follows: " You must know, then, Rutin, that I had cousin, Vasilli Musloff by name, who in- stead of sticking to the villago, as I did, was all for getting away to one of the great towns, thinking to push his way there, and pick up money as you would gather mush rooms in the wood. And, sure enough one day he went oil to Moscow; and, after a timo, I got word that ho managed to find work in one of tho big German shops on tho Konznetski Most, (lie was a famous hand at wood-carving and such like,) and that ho was getting on pretty well; for as our proverb says, "Heaven helps tho hopo- ful man." and Vasilli was always ono to stand on his own feet. And after that I had no news of him for along time, and was beginning to forget all about him, when all of a sudden, there coin us to mo ono day a big packago of bank notes, and a letter with them, saying that Vasilli was dead, (may he gain the kingdom of Heaven!) and had left mo all tho money he had saved some two thousand roubles or so, (about 200,) which was a great windfall to a poor fellow liko me." You should just havo seen him that day, Barin," chimes in, laughing, tho lady of tho house, who has just finished hcrprepar ations for my further accommodation. "When ho opened the packet, and saw tho notes, ho stared about him like a dog that's lost his master; and all tho rest of the day ho went about as if ho didn't know where ho was." Well, you needn't laugh at me, Vasil- issa," retorts her husband, with a broad grin; "you kept on counting tno notes yourself for an hour or more, and never counted 'em right uftor all !" And the two laugh in lusty chorous. " You may be sure Barin," ho continues turning to me, that I wasn't long in inviting my friends to como iiud rejoice with mo over the good luck that Ood had scut; and by seven in the evening I had all ready for 'eni tho tea-urn boiling, tho black broad and bacon laid out, a dish of salted cucumbers, and a half-gallon of vodka' (corn-brandy) into the bargain. Just as I d finished laying out tho table, (my wife bad gone out to buy some sausage) there como a knock at the door. Thinks I: There are my guests como already;' and I went to let 'em in. But when I opened tho door, ( heaven preservo us !) what thould I see but three men in black masks, and tho foremost of 'em with a pistol in his band this very same pistol that's lying on the ta ble now." "Oho 1 that pistol's a trophy taken from the enemy, then," remarked I. " This bo gins to get interesting. Go on, pray." "I'm not going to say I wasn't frighten ed," pursues the starosta. "I was fright ened, and very badly frightened, too, I can tell you. But beforo I could say a word, tho foremost blackguard claps his hand on my shoulder and says to me, in a voice that sounded as if it came down from a chimney, 'Hand over that money you got this morn ing; quick, or I will send you where you won't come back again;' and I heard tho pistol click as he cocked it. Well, as you know, ' Whon needs must, there's no timo, for brewing beer,' so I went to tho big chest yonder, and out with tho bank notes; but in handing them out I managed to tuck two ,or three of them into my slcovo. Tho roguo counted them twice over, and shook his head. "This won't do," says lie, catching mo by tho collar, 'Wo know exactly how much you got this morning, and wo mean to have it all; so, out with what you've hidden, or it'll bo the worse for you." " Then all at once a thought camo into my head, just as if somebody had whisper ed it to me'; and I shook tho bank notes out of my sleeve on to tho floor, so that they all ilew this way and that way. Tho rogue, fearing, no doubt, that some of them might get lost, pounced upon thorn to pick 'em up, putting down his pistol, just as though ho would. But the minute he loosed hold of it I snatched it up and shot him dead on the spot." My driver gives a hoarse, chuklhig laugh of intenso enjoyment; while the star osta paused for a moment, in order, to heighten the effect of his last sentence, handles the captured pistol with a belliger ent air. "Well done," put in I; "you tricked him very nicely. But what did the other two fellows do? Kan away, I suppose?" " You may say that," replios tho narra- done yet, so I dipped my hand In a pan of water, to clear it ablt, locked up the house put the key in my pocket, and away as bard as 1 could goto the "kvartulni," (dls- trict police inspector.) But when I got there, ho was not at home. They said he had gone out more than au hour bofore, and hadn,t come back yet, so thcro was nothing for it but to go on to the next sta tion, across thn river yonder, and tell the kvartalni there. The minute he hoard what had happened, he claps on his coat, calls three or four of his men, and away we all went back to my hut where we found the dead fellow lying on tho floor just as I had left him. The kvartalni's men pulled off his mask; and who Bhould this be but the police inspector I had boon looking for! And tho other two robbers, as I found out afterward, were the village postmaster and the priost. And now, Barin here's your placo ready for you; and may heaven send you a good night's rest !" A Masonic Story. " Was Undo Paul a Mason ?" Iko asked of Mrs. Partington, as ho stood looking at the rigid profile of the ancient corporal of the Bloody Eleventh that hung on tho wall. "No ho was a veteran sergant naturally, though he took in gardening afterward, and raised tho most wondeful squashes. They always took tho primer at tho horti cultural fair." "I mean, was ho a Freemason?" con tinned Ike. "Oh dear ! no," replied she, " and I am glad of it; for they aro a great deal too free in thrown' their plastorin' around, which is very mortifying, and tukos tho color out of tilings so; and when they whitowash tho kitchen, didn't they mako free with tho bolmy bud rum, which they mistook for a cordial? and I wish to gracious it had been a 'mctee, to havo taught 'em a lesson to bi alittlo less free next time." " Brit Freemasons," said Iko a little pet ulantly, " ain't masons; I mean the fellows that built the temple." "Oh!" sho exclaimed, "thorn? Well dear, I huvo heard of a good many things they did, and then I havo heard of a good many things they didn't; and so between 'em both, I don't believo neither. It is a great mystery !" sho whispored, and if they did kill Morgan, they ought to havo done it, if they agreed to, though 'twas a bad thing for him. But I never believed tho story told of a crowbar, which is preposter ous; and as for tho gridiron thereby hangs v talc; and the Lord knows what they do in their secret cemctaries when they get on ono another's clothes by mistake, and cut up all sorts of capers to say nothing of tho ridiculous aprons which makes them look so queer." -t 'Tho intorest of Iko had ceased, mid ho turned his attention to annointing tho eat with an application of soft sop. A Strange Story. About five years agrf a youth, apparently fifteen or sixteen years of age, called at tho publishing house of John E, Potter, & Co., in Philadelphia, and offered a manuscript story for publication. Mr. Totter tho bead of tho firm, who happened to bo in at tho time, smiled at tho idea of ono so youthful aspiring to appear in literature as the au thor of a book, but Anally, at tho urgent request of tho boy, consented to keep tho manuscript a fow days and look it over. When ho dono so ho was convinced that tho story while evincing a lack of polish ed education on tho part ot tho boyish au thor, possessed considerable merit as tin excelling novel, somo of the scones being described with wonderful power, and, after consulting with the other members of tho bouse, decided to publish it. When the youth called a fow days afterward ho told him of bis conclusion, and it was agreed that tho author should receive a royalty of ten cents a copy on all sold. Tho story was duly published in book form under thoti, tlo of " White Bocks," aud since that timo one hundred anil soventy thousand copies havo been sold. But what is singular about it is that tho youthful author has nev erbcen seen or heard of since, and there is now duo him tho sum of If 17,000 as copy right on his story. Ration Timet, 2Hlh, Somo Discount. Ono pleasant morning somo two or three years ago, says the Hartford Times, a party of gcntlemou wero standing on the steps of tho Tretnont House, iu Boston, enjoying their cigars, when they noticed a country looking chap riding a slim, mangy horse up and down the street in front of tho hotel, apparently trying to attract the attention of thogioup. One of them says: "I'll bet that fellow has a homo for sale, We'll see." Presently along ho camo.sbowing his boast, and was accosted with " I say, is that ani mal for sale. ., " Well y-a-a-is I might bo induced to part with him; but be is a mighty , likely critter." " Is be sound ?" "Soundasabul lot." "Can lie trot?" "Trot I Well be can. , Ua can just mock a trotter." " How fust can ho oro?" "How fust? Well, he can go lu four minutes; and ho would go fasterif heoould. He'd love-tor I" . " What is your price for him ?" " Five hundred. "Well, I dou't want a horse, but ' givo five dollars for him." "Stranger he yourii. ' But that's a blaziu' discount.'-' i , , - .- - , tSf" The latest name for red hair is Can ndaigua color; Cauandaigua being, as every New York traveler knows, a little beyond Auburn. , liSIOHA 1IEPAHTMENT. A roetlcal Riddle. The following Is generally conceded to be the best riddle in tho English language t 'Twas whispered in Ilenven, 'twas muttered In hell, And Echo caught faintly the sound as It fell i On the confines of earth 'twas permitted to rest, And the depth of the ocean its presence con fessed t 'Twill be found In the sphcro when it Is riven asunder, Bo teen In the lightning and heard In the thun der ; 'Twas allotted to man with his earliest brcnth, Attends at his birth, and ft waits III in in death It presides o'er his happiness, honor and health. Is the prop of his 'house and the end of Ills wealth i Without It tho sailor, the seaman, may roam, Rut woe Is tho wretch whoexpols It from homcj In the whispers of conscience its voice will bo Inund, Nor e'en iu tho whirlwind of passion be drown ed ; 'Twill not soften the heart, and though deaf to tno ear, 'Twill mnke It acutely and Instantly hear ; But in shade let It rest, like a delicate Mower, Or breathe on it softly it dies lu on hour. 'k A (ieogrnphlcal Enigma. To two-ninths of Baltimore, add one- sixth of St. Petersburg, two-fifths of Xenla, three-tenths of Washington and three-tenths of Gloucester, and you havo a town In this State, What town will that make t Z-tiT Answer to Problem lu Inst week's Times: Let A. carry one shoe a mile, then give it to B. who may carry it through. LetC carry one, two miles and then give it to A. who may carry It through. Each will then have carried his shoe two miles. I f Answer to cross-word enigma In last week's Times : " Frank Mortimer and Co." Tho llrst correct answer rccclvod to the cross-word enigma was from Charles 0. Self- fort, of Shcrmansdalc. Ho also thinks that Willow trees should be planted ou the uulside I the church, and wo think he Is right. An error occurred In the ubove enigma; in the eleventh lino it reads "wain" bill should :ad "maim." Those Feet. t:: ucky, who died recently at an sidvun ccd age, was ono of tho most eccentric wits South of tho Ohio river, and n truo gentleman. IIo was familiarly' known throughout Kentucky and tho West by tho sobriquet ef " Raccoon Smith." While still in tho Baptist ministry, and attending ono of tho annual meetings of tho body, a tall lank, green specimen ot humanity pre scnted himself before tho Association as n .indidato for tho ministry. Ho was not re garded as being entirely of sound mind, i ml labored under tho hallucination that ho was especially "called to preach," and kept constantly importuning the association to grant him tho ncccssai-y license, lu od- ditiou to bis partially unbalanced mind young Weeks was the possessor of asbugo and ungainly a pair of feet as ever trod shoo leather. Tired of his importunities. and not being disposed to grant tho license tho Association handed him over to Smith with instructions to mako an .end of the case, and between them took placo the fol lowing conversation:' Smith " So, Brother Weeks, you thin you havo n special call to preach?" Weeks "Yes, tho Lord has called me to tho work, but tho Association refuses tho license." Smith "How do you kuow that you aro called?" Weeks "Know it? I feel it in my hear! of hearts. I want my license." Smith " Do you believo the bible,Brotli- er Weeks?" Woeks " Certainly I do, every word of it." Smith " Well, if I can prove by tl biblo that you aro not called to preach, will you bo satisfied to drop tho matter no further importune the Association for license?" Brother Weeks assented to this, and ' Racoon Smith" deliberately opened th Now Testament at Romans, x, in, and in grave tone read: "How beautiful nro the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace," etc; then glancing at Weeks' largo feet, remarked: " You seo. Brother WccRs, that tho feet of tho preacher are beautiful; you, sir, have tho most pionstrous ugly fectof any man tho State of Kentucky; therefore, by th Bible, it is clear that you havo not becu especially culled." As Smith finished his romurks, the cu- tiro Associat ion went off in a paroxysm of laughter, oud Weeks, really concluding that he had not been "called," bolted from the meeting house, and never afterward annoyed the Association for license." tW A gentleman whose custom it was to entertain very often a circle of friends, ob served that one of them was eating some thing before grace was asked and determin ed to cure him. Upon the repetition of the offence, be said: "For what we are about to receive, and for what James Taylor has already received, the Lord make us truly thankful." ... i . 'i. ; -...i i' . t jT A half orphan, whose mother is given to chastising biin, altogether dissents from tho idea that benevolence is typiflod ; by the widow's smite. , Bloomfiold Academy I in English and Classical School FOR LADIES AND GENTLEMEN Young Men Prepared For College. Normal School avtl a School of Art. SPRING TERM COMMENCES On Monday, the 8th of April, 1872. AB the above school has recently been re-organized, students can enter any time. Prof. WM. II. 1)11,1,. a uruduate of Kuteor's Col- lege. N. J., Principal. MIssEMILIK E. STEVENS, of New York, will teach Music. Drawing and Painting during the coming term. Every facility for the training of the vouth of both sexes In all that constitutes a liberal and thorough education. Tho Collegiate Department embraces all the higher branches, including the 1, still and (ireek Languages, Engineering, Practi cal Surveying, Literature, Natural Science and ad vanced Mathematics. vaoat cms: Ju v and August, and one week at Christinas. loins: For Hoard ntr. Furnished Room. Wash ing, Tuition in Latin, (ireek, English Branches and Mathematics, for the scholastic year, $180, lu vacations. a,OU. The HoarUlnu Department is at the Inst tut on. tinder the supervision ot Willain Grier, Esq., by whom good and substantial board will be fur nished ; and the pupils will be under the strict care of the Principal. Address W. K. DILL. A. M. Principal. or 1 WILLIAM (IKIKIt. 4t (New Bloomtleld, Perry county, Pa. ooooooooooooooooooooo o oooo ooooooooooooo ooooooooooooo ooo oooo ooo Anotner Arrival o o oooo oooo ooooo oooooooooeooooooooooo oooo oo oooooooooooooooooooo ooooooo ooooooo ooo ooo of ooo 000 ooooooo ooooooo oooooooooooooooooooo o ooooo 0000000 0 900000000000000 o oo 0 o o o oooo ooo JNJliVV liUUDS oo oooo ooo 00000000000 o oo o ooooooo 0 0 0 ooooooo ooooooo 0 0 0 0 0 0 ooooo O o o 0 o o. , AT ooooo 0 0 0 0 0 0 O O O 0 O o o o oooo o o o 0 o o ooooooo OOO 00 oooo ooooooooooooo oooo oooo ooo p. MORTIMER'S, ooo oooo oooo 0 0 0 o 9 0 O 0 O 0 O 0 O O O O 0 O O 0 o o OOOOOOOOOOOOO O OOOOOOO It C AIILIS li: CAllKIAtiE factory. A. 11. $11 Eli K has a large lot of second-hand work on r&cysLi hand, which he will sell cheap 111 mlerClrtsg-iy--to make room for new work, FOR THE SPUING TRADE, lie has. also, the best lot of NEW WORK ON HAND. You call always see different styles. The materia I is nor. in iuestiou any more, ior it is me nest nseu. If von want satisfaction In stylo, nihility and price, go to tills shop beforo purchasing elsewhere. There is no II rm that has a better Trade, or sells more in Cumberland ami Perry counties. REPAIRING AND PAINTING promptly attended to. and Pitt Streets, Factory Coi ner of South Carlisle, pa. 3 dp TAILORING. Having opened a Cent's furnish, lug goods and Merchant Tailoring Establish ment, in the Utile Htoro next door to Potters Law Olllen, I would respectfully ask nil In "eedof any thing in my lino to call and examine before pur chasing elsewhere. l?II:Ol!3 GOODS from which to select Garments always on hand which will be made up to suit Customers and IX T II K LATEST STYLE , on short notice. 1on't fall to visit tho I.irri.B Stoiik in the Corner. P. S. Goods bought elsewhere u ill bo made up in the best manner. S. II. BECK, New Bloomllcld, Pa. A. II. FIIANCISCUS & CO., fd: MARKET STREET, lMilMlolliu, Xu. Wa have oisMied for the SPUING TRADE, the largest and lt assoited Stock ot lMULAOELlMIIA CAIU'ETS T AH LIC, STAIR AND FLOOR OIL CLOTHS, WINDOW SHADES and I'APElt, CAItl'KT CHAIN, COTTON. YARN, HATTING, WADDING. TWINES, WICKS, LOOK ' ING GLASSES, CLOCKS, FANCY BASKETS. BROOMS, HAS- I K F.'l S, BUCKETS. HKl'SII- ES, CLOTHES WRING KRfl, WOODEN AND WILLOW WARE IN THK UNITED STATES. Our large Increase In business enables us to sell at low prices, and furnish the best quality oi Goods. SOLE AGENTS FOR THE . Celobnitcd American AVasher, prick wr.n. OVER l.t.Ooi) SOLD IN SIX 5IONTHS. - Terms: Carpets, (iOdavs. All other goods, :io duys, Net. CW.&Co. 6 8 3m. AGENTS WANTED FOR THE NEW WORK, How to Make aud Keep them Healthy.. By Augustus K. Gardner, M. I., ; ,- ; Lute Professor in New York Medical College. It treats ot Amusements. Education, Physical Development, Diseases, Accidents, Marriages, Kc, Imparting a vast amount of valuable Information conducive to the Health, Jlapplncss, and Welfare of the Young. Written iu a pleasing style, It Is exceedingly Interesting, ss well as Instructive. Every Family should have It, and no Parent can afford to be without IU Send for Circulars ulvlnit full particulars. iUFFIELI) AS AM HAD, Pul.t!ahr, 711 Bansoiu street, Philadelphia. , "'.TO HOOK AGENTS.' ' MARK TWAIN'S HEW HOOK,' , "HOUCJIIJIVO IT," Is ready for Canvassers. No hook Is looked for more Impudently tlitta this, m:d agents will do well to get territory for It as esrly as possible. Apply fur Circulars and terms to . , . DUFFIELD ASHMEAI), Publisher, .' 711 Baiiaom Btreet, Philadelphia.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers