C
HENRY A. PARSONS, Jr., Editor and Pububuer.
KLK COUNTY THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.
Two Dollars per Annum.
VOL. II.
RIDGWAY, PA,. THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 1872.
NO. 3.
POET II r.
NEXT YEAR.
BT LOl'ISK CHANDLER HOCLTuX,
The lurk 1 Quiring jrayly lu the meadow,
Tri funis ilKinjr o'er the distant hills.
Hut he Is guup, the music of whoe tulklnjr
Was sweater than the tones of summer till.
Sometime I see the blue-twits bloouiluK Id the fiiiftt.
And think of bur blue eyes;
Somettmos I seem to hear the ruMte of hnr gar
ments Tis but the wind's low afidi.
I seeth sunbeams trail along the orchard.
And fall, in thought, to tangling np her hair ;
And. soniotlnns, round the sinless Up of childhood.
Breaks forth a smile such as sho ned to wear,
but nevor any pleasant thing around, above us,
Seems to me like tier love
Moro lofty than the skies that bend and brtghtou
o'er us.
More com tun t that, the dove.
She walks no more bolide mc in the morning,
She meets me not on any summer eve ;
Utit once, at night, I heard a low voice calling,
Oil, faithful friend, thou hast not long to grieve 1"
.Nixt year, whon laiksfire singing gayly lu the meadow,
I shall not hear their tone,
But sho, In tho dim, far-off couu try of the stranger.
Will walk no more alone.
Til E S TO It 1 - TEL L Eli.
THE XEIGHBOtt-IX-LAW.
Who blew other in h! dally deeds.
Will find the heallnir tbut his wpli It needs :
For every flower in o'.hor' pathway trewli,
Confer, lu fnRraut beauty on our own.
' Ka you arc going to live in tho same
building with Hotty Turnpenny," Raid
Mm. Lnno to Mrs. Fairweather. " You
will find nobody to envy you. If hor
temper does not provo too much even
tor your good nature it will surprise all
who know her. We lived there u
year, and that is as long as anybody ever
tried it."
"Poor Hetty!" replied Mrs. Fair
weather, " sho has had much to harden
her. Her mother died too early for her
to remember; hor father was very severe
with her ; and the only lover she ever
had, borrowed the savings of her years
of toil, and spent them in dissipation.
But Hotty, notwithstanding her sharp
.features and sharper words, certainly
has a kind heart. In the midst of her
greatest poverty many were the stock
ings sho knit, and tho warm waistcoats
she made, for the poor drunken lover
whom she had too much sense to marry.
Thon you know how sho feeds and
clothes' her brother's orphan child."
" If you call it feeding and clothing,"
replied Mrs. Lane. "The poor child
looks cold and pinched, and frightenod
all the time as if sho wvrq chased by the
.east wind. . I used to tell Miss Turn
penny sho ought to bo ashamed of her-
Iself, to keep the poor littlo thing at work
:all the time, without ono niinuto to
I play. If she does but look at the cat as
it runs by the window, Aunt Hetty gives
Iher a raw over tho knuckles. I used
to tell hor sho would make the girl just
such another sour old crab as herself.
" That must have beon very improv
ing to her disposition," replied Mrs.
Pairwonther. with a good-humored
tstnilo. "But in justice to poor Aunt
Hetty, you should rometnber that she
had just such a cheerless cmimmou iter
'self. Flowers grow whero there is gun
shine." " I know yon think everybody ought
to live in the sunshine," replied Mrs.
Lano ; " and it must be confessed that
vou carrv it with you wherever yon go,
If Miss Turnpenny has a heart, I dare
say you will find it out, though I never
could, and I never heard of any one else
that could. All the families within hear
ing of her tongue culled her tha neigh-
bor-in-law.
Certainly tho prospect was not very
encouraging; for the house Mrs. Fair-
weather proposed to occupy was not
only under the same root with Miss
Turnpenny, but the buildings had one
comm m yard in front. The very first
day she took possession of her new hab
itation she called on tno neignDor-in
law. Aunt Hetty had taken tha precau
tion to extinguish tho fire, lest tho new
neighbor should want hot water, before
lier own coal and wood arrived. Hor
first salutation was, "If you want
any cold water, there's a pump across
the street. I don't liko to havo my
house sloooed all over.
" I am glad you are so tidy, neighbor
Turnpenny, replied Mrs. H airweatner,
' It is extremely pleasant to have neat
ftinghborR. I will try to keep every-
tkjs: as bright as a now five cent piece,
fur i son that will please you. I came
merely to say good morning, and to ask
you if jou could spare littlo Peggy to
run up ana a own stairs ior me, wuuu
am getting my furniture in order.
- will oav her sixpence an hour."
A....I TT.ittv. linnnn rn nurfln lin hw
mouth for a refusal ; but tho promise of
sixpence an hour relaxed her features at
once. Little Peggy sat knitting a
stocking very diligently, with a rod ly
ing on the table beside her. Mio looked
up with timid wilfulness, as if tho pros
pect of any change was like a release
from prison. When sho heard consent
given, a bright color ilushod hor cheeks,
She was evidently of an impressiblo
temperament, (rood or evil. " Now mind
and behave yourself," said Aunt Hetty ;
and see that you koep at work the
whole time ; if I hear one word of com
plaint you know what you'll get when
vou come homo." The roso color sub-
aidod from Peggy's pale face, and sho
answered, " x es, ma am, very meekly.
In tho neighbor's house all went quite
'Otherwise. No switch lay on the table,
and instead of, "Mind how xpu do that ;
if you don't I'll punish you," she heard
tho gentle words, " There, dear, see how
sarufullv vou can carry that up Btairs.
Whv, what a nice, handy little girl you
lire !"
Under these enlivening influences
Peinrv worked like a bee. Aunt Hetty
was always in the habit of saying," Stop
vour nniae. and mind vour work." But
the now friend nattod her on the head
and said, " What a pleasant voice the
littlo girl has. It is like tho birds in tho
fields. By and by you shall hear my
luiisio box."
This openod wide tho windows of the
little shut uj heart, so that the sunshine
could stream in, and tho birds fly in and
out, carroling. Tho happy child, tuned
up like a lark, as sue tripped lightly up
and down stairs, on various household
errands. But though she took heed to
observe all the directions given her, hor
head was all the time filled with conjec
tures what sort of thing a music box
might be. She was a little afraid the
kind ladv would forgot to show it to
:ier. Site kept to work, however, and
asked no quustions; she only looked
very curiously at everything that resem
bled a box.
At last Mrs. Fairweather said, " I
think your little feet must bo tired by
this time. Wo will rest awhile, and eat
some gingerbread." The child took the
offered cake, with a bumble littlo cour
tesy, and carefully held out her apron to
prevent any crumbs from falling on tho
noon 13ut suddenly tho apron dropped,
and tho crumbs were all strewed about.
Is that a little bird," she exclaimed
eagerly. " Where is he 'f Is he in this
room f I he new mend smiled, and
told her that was tho music box ; and
after a while sho opened it and explain
ed what mado tho sounds. Then she
took out a pile of books from ono of the
baskets of goods, and told Peggy she
might look at tho pictures, till she called
her.
The little girl stepped forward eagerly
to take them, and then drew back, as if
afraid. " What is the matter ':" asked
Mrs. Fairweather ; " I am very willing
to trust you with tho books. I koep
them on purpose to amuso children."
Peggy looked down with her finger on
her lip, and answered in a constrained
voico, " Aunt Turnxenny won't liko it if
I play." " Don't trouble yourself about
that. I will make it all right with Aunt
Hetty," replied the friendly one. Thus
assured, Bhe gavo herself up to the full
enjoyment of the picture books ; and
when she was summoned to her work,
she obeyed with a cheerful alacrity that
would have astonished her stern rela
tive. When tho labors of tho day were
concluded, Mrs. Fairweather accompan
ied her home, paid for all tho hours she
had been absent, and warmly praised
her docility and diligence.
" It is lucky tor her that she behaved
so well," replied Aunt Hetty. ' If I had
heard any complaint I should have given
her a "whipping, and sent her to bed
without her supper."
Poor little Peggy went to sleep that
night with a lighter heart than she had
ever felt since she had been an orphan.
Her first thought in the morning was
whether the new neighbor should want
her service during the day. Her desire
that it should be so soon bocauie obvious
to Aunt Hetty, and excited undefined
jealous' and disliko of a person who so
fi 1- i ii 1 i.
easily maue ncrseu ueioveu. n iiuuui,
exactly acknowledging what were hor
motives, she ordered Peggy to gather all
tho sweepings of tho kitchen and court
into a small pile, and leavo it on the
frontier of her neighbors promises.
Peggy ventured to ask timidly whether
the wind would not blow it about, and
she received a bsx on tho ear for her
impertinence.
It chanced that Mrs. Fairweather,
quite unintentionally, heard the words
and the blow. She gavo Aunt Hetty s
anger time enough to cool, then, step
ping into the court after arranging di
vers little matters, she called aloud to
her domestic, Sally, " How came you to
leave that pilo of dirt here ? Didn't I
tell you Miss Turnpenny was very neat f
Pray mako haste and sweep it up ; I
wouldn't have her see it on any account.
I told her I would try to keep every
thing nice about tho premises. Sho is
so particular herself, and it is a comfort
to have tidy neighbors."
Tho girl who had been previously in
structed, smiled as she came out with
brush and dustpan, and swept quietly
away the pilo, that was intended as a
declaration of frontier war.
But another source of annoyance pre
sented itself, which could not be quite
so easilv disposed of. Aunt Hetty had
a cat, a lean, scraggy animal, that look
ed as if she were often kicked and sel
dom fed ; Mrs. Fairweather also had a
fat frisky littlo dog, always ready for a
caper. He took a distaste to poverty-
stricken lab the first time he saw her,
and no coaxing could induce him to al
ter his opinion. His name was Pink,
but he was anything but a pink of beha
vior in his neighborly relations, roor lab
could never set foot out of tho door
without being saluted with a growl, and
a sharp bark thit frightened her out of
her senses, and made hor run in tho
house, with hor fur all on end. If she
even ventured to dose a little on her
own doorstep, tho enemy was on the
watch, and the moment her eyes closed
ho would wake hor with a bark and a
box on the ear, and on he would run
Aunt Hotty vowed she would scald
him. It was a burning shame, she said,
for folks to keep dogs to worry their
neighbors cats. Mrs. Jfairwoather in
vited Tabby to dine, and mado much of
her, and patiently endeavored to teach
her dog to eat from the same plate. But
Pink steadily resolved that he would
bo scalded first ; that ho would. Ho
could not have been more firm in his
opposition if ho and Tab had bolongod
to different sects in Christianity. While
his mistress was petting Tab on the
head and reasoning the point with him,
ho would at times uiaiuiusir a uugiuu ui
indifference, amounting to toleration
but the moment he was left to his own
free will he would give the invited guest
a hearty cuff with his paw, and send her
home spitting like a small steam engine,
Aunt Hetty considered it her own pe
culiar privilege to cuff the poor animal,
and it was too much for her patience to
see Pink undertake to assist in waking
Tab unhappy. On one of these occa
sions she rushed into her neighbor's
apartmonts, and faced Mrs. Fairweather,
with one hand resting on hor hip and
tho forefinger of the other making very
wrathful gesticulations.
" I toll you what, madam, I won't put
up with such treatment much longer,"
said she ; " I'll poison that dog, you'll
soe if I don't, . and 1 shan't wait long
either, I can tell vou. What you keep
such an impudent little beast for, I don't
know, without you do it on purpose to
i 1 1
piague your neiguDors.
" I am really sorry ho behaves so," re
plied Mrs. Fairweather, mildly. " Poor
Tab !"
" What do you moan by calling hor
poor Do you mean to fling it up to
me that my cat don't' have enough to
eat '("
" I did not think of such a thing," re
plied Mrs. Fairweather. " I said poor
Tab, because Pink plagues her so that
sho has no peace of her life. I agree
with you, neighbor' Turnpenny ; it is
not right to keep a dog that disturbs the
neighborhood. I am attached to poor
Pink because ho belongs to my son, who
has 'gone to sea. I was in hopes ho
would soon leavo off quarroling with
tho cat ; but if ho won't bo neighborly,
I will send him out into tho country to
board. Sally, will you bring mo one of
tho pies wo baked this morning V I
should like to have Miss Turnpenny
taste of them."
Tho crabbed neighbor was helped
abundantly, and whilo she was eating
the pie, tho friendly matron edged in
many a kind word concerning little Peg
gy, whom she praisod as a remarkable
capable, industrious child.
I ain glad you hnd her so, said
Aunt Hetty ; " I Bhould get precious
little work out of her if I did not keep
tho switch in sight."
" I manage children pretty much as
the man did the donkey," replied Airs.
Fairweather. " Not an inch would the
poor beast stir, for all his master's boat
ing and thumping. Jiut a neighbor tied
somo fresh turnips to a stick, and fasten
ed them so that they swung before tho
donkey's nose, and ho sot off on a brisk
trot in hopos ot overtaking them.
Aunt Hetty, without observing how
very closely the comparison applied to
her own management of Teggy, said,
" That will do very well for folks that
have plenty ot turnips to spare.
" J; or tho matter ot that, auswored
Mrs. fail-weather, whips cost something,
as well as turnips ; and since one makes
tho donkey stand still, and tho other
makes him trot, it is very easy to decido
which is the most economical. But
neighbor Turnpenny, since you liko my
pies so well, pray tako ono homo with
you. I am afraid they will mold before
wo can eat them up.
Aunt Hetty had conio for a quarrel,
and she was astonished to find herself
going out with a pie. " Well, Mrs.
k airweather, said she, " you are a neigh
bor. I thank you a thousand times."
When she reached her own door, she hes
itated for an instant, then turned back,
pie in hand, to say, " Neighbor Fair-
weather, you needn t trouble yourself
about sending rink away. It s natural
you should like the little creature, see
ing ho belongs to your son. I'll try to
keep lab indoors, and perhaps after
awhile they will agree bettor."
1 hope thev will, replied the friend
ly matron. " We will try them a while
longer, and if they persist in quarroling
1 will sond tho dog into tho country.
Pink, who was sleeping in a chair,
stretched himself and gaped. "Ah, you
foolish little beast," said she, " what is
tho use of plaguing poor Tab ':"
" V ell, 1 do say, observed Sally, smil
ing, " you ore a master woman for stop
ping a quarrel."
" 1 learned a good lesson when 1 was
a little girl," rejoined Mrs. Fairweather.
" Ono frosty morning I was looking out
of the window into my father's barn
yard, where stood many cows, oxen and
horses, waiting to drink. It was one of
thoso cold snapping mornings when a
slight thing irritates both man and
beast. The cattlo all stood vory still
and meok till one of the cows attempt
ed to turn around. In making the at
tempt, sho happenod to hit the next
neighbor ; whereupon tho neighbor
kicked and hit another. In five min
utes tho whole herd were kicking and
hooking each other, with all fury. My
mother laughed and said, "See what
comes of kicking whon you're hit." Just
89 1 ve seen one cross word set a whole
family by the ears some frosty morning.
Afterward if my brothers or myself were
a little irritable, she would say, " Take
care, childron. Remember how tho
fight in tho barn-yard began. Never
give a kick for a hit and you will save
yourself and others a deal of trouble."
That samo afternoon the sunshiny
damo stepped into Aunt Hetty's rooms,
whero sho found Peggy sewing as usual,
with the eternal switch on the table bo
sido hor. " I am obliged to go to Har
lem on business," said sho. " I feel rather
lonely without company and I always
like to havo a child with mo. If you
will oblige me by letting Peggy go, I
will pay her fare in the omnibus."
" She has her spelling lesson to got
before night," replied Aunt Hetty. " I
don't approve of young folks going a
pleasuring, and neglecting their educa
tion." " Neither do I," rejoined her neighbor;
" but I think there is a great deal of
education that is not found in books.
Tho fresh air will make Peggy grow
stout and active. I prophesy she will do
great crodit to your bringing up."
The sugared words,' and tho remem
brance of the sugared pie touched the
soft place in Miss Turnpenny's heart.
and sho told the astonished Peggy that
sho might go and put on her best gown
and bonnet. The poor child began to
think that the new neighbor was cer
tainly one of tho good fairies she had
read about in the picture books. Tllh
excursion was enjoyed only as a child
can enjoy the country. Tho world seems
such a pleasant place, when the fetters
are off, and nature folds the young heart
lovingly to her bosom. A flock of real
birds and two living butterflies put the
little orphan in a perfect ecstacy. She
pointed to the field covered with dande
lions, and said, " Soe how pretty I It
looks as if the (stars had come down to
lie on tho grass. Ah, our littlo stinted
Peggy has pootry in her, though Aunt
Hetty never found it out. Every human
soul has the germ of some flowers within.
and they would open if they could only
find sunshine and tree air to expand
thorn.
Mrs. Fairweather was a practical
philosopher in her small way. She ob
served that Miss Turnpenny really liked
a pleasant time ; and when winter came
she tried to persuade her that singing
would be excellent for Peggy's lungs,
and porhaps keep her from going into
the consumption.
" My nephew, James Fairweather,
keeps a singing school," said she, and he
says he will teach her gratis. You need
not feel tinder great obligation ; for hor
voice will lead the whole school, and her
oar is so quick it will bo no trouble at all
to teach hor. remaps you would go
with us sometimes, neighbor Turnpenny?
It is very pleasant to hear tho children's
voices."
Tho cordage of Aunt Hetty's mouth
relaxed into a smile. She accepted tho
invitation, and was so much pleasod
that sho went every Sunday evening.
The 8implo tunos, and tho sweet young
voices, fell liko the dew on her dned-up
heart, and greatly aided tho gonial in
fluence of her neighbor's example Tho
rod silently disappeared from the tablo.
If Peggy was disposed to be idlo, it was
only necossary to say, " Whon you havo
finishod your work, you may go and ask
whether Mrs. Fairweather wants any
errands dono," bless me, how tho fingers
flew ! Aunt Hetty had loarnod to uso
turnips instead of the cudgel.
When spring came Mrs. Fairweather
busiod herself with planting roses and
vines. Miss Turnpenny readily consented
that Peggy should help her, and even
refused to tako any pay from such a good
neighbor. But she maintained hor own
opinion that it was a mere waste of time
to cultivate flowers. Tho cheerful
philosopher never disputed the paint,
but sho would sometimes say, " I have
no room to plant this roso bush, Neigh
bor Turnpenny, would you be willing to
let mo set it on your side of tho yard ?
It will tako very littlo room and will
nood no care." At another time Bhe
would say, " Well really, my ground is
too full. Here is a root of lady's dolight.
How bright and pert it looks. It seems
a pity to throw it away. If you aro
willing, I will let Peggy plant it in what
sho calls her gardon. It will grow of
itself, without any care, and scatter seods
that will come up and blossom in all tho
chinks of the bricks. I lovo it. It is
such a brigh t, good natured littlo thing."
Thus, by degreeB, the crabbed maiden
found herself surrounded with flowers ;
and sho even declared of her own accord
that they did look pretty.
One day, when Mrs. Lane called upon
Mrs. Fairweather, she found tho old
weed grown yard bright and blooming.
Tab, quite fat and sleek, was asleep in
the sunshine, with hor paw upon Pink's
neck, and littlo Peggy was singing at
her work as blithe as a bird.
" How cheerful you look here," said
Mrs. Lane; " And so you have really
taken tho house for another year. Pray
how do you manage to get on with the
noighbor-in-law ? "
" I find her a very kind, obliging
neighbor," repliod Mrs. Fairweather.
" Woll that is a miraclo ! " exclaimed
Mrs. Lane. " Nobody but you would
havo undertaken to thaw out Aunt Het
ty's heart."
" That is probably the reason why it
was never thawed, rejoined her friend,
I always told you that not having enough
of sunshine was what ailed the world.
Make people happy and there will not
be half the quarreling or a tenth part of
the wntkedncsss there is.
From this gospel of joy preached and
practiced, nobody derived s much
benotit as littlo Peggy. Her nature,
which was fast growing crooked and
knotty, under the malign influence of
constraint and tear, straightened up,
budded and blossomed in the genial
atmosphere of cheerful kindness. Her
affections and faculties wore kept in such
pleasant exercise, that constant lightness
ot heart made her almost handsome,
The young music teacher thought her
more than almost handsome, for her
affectionate soul shone more beamingly
on him than on others and love makes
all things beautiful.
hon the orphan moved to her
pleasant little cottage on her wedding
day, she threw her arms round tho bios
scd missionary of sunshine, and said -
" Ah, thou doar, good aunt, it is thou
who hast made my life Fairweather.
Mrs. L. M. Ch ild.
Force of Imagination.
An esteemed friend of ours heard
much of tho medical properties of the
waters of a certain spring somo distance
from where sho resided. She had read
pamphlet that enumerated many
diseases, from which she recognized at
least half a dozon with which sho was
afflicted. To hor great joy sho was told
that her son had to call at tho very
town whero tho spring was located, and
a five-gallon keg and a strict injunction
were luid upon him to bring back some
ot tho water.
The keg was put in tho wagon, and
slipping under tho seat was quite over
looked. Tho business was urgent, and
took somo time to perform it, and the
water was quite forgotten. He had got
near home in tho evening, when feeling
down under the seat for something, his
hand struck the keg. To go back was
not to be thought of, and to admit his
stupidity was impossible. He therefore
drew up his horse by the side of a wall,
near which was the old sweep well from
winch tho family had drank tor a cen
tury, and tilling tho keg went home,
1 ho first question was :
" Did you get that water i"
" i es, said ne ; dui darned it I soe
any difference in it from any other
water." And he brought in the keg.
A cup was handod the invalid, who
drank with infinite relish, and said she
was surprised at her son s not seeing
difference. There was undoubtedly
medical taste about it, and it dried up
as other water did, which she had always
heard of mineral water. Her son hoped
it would do her good, and by the time
the keg was exhausted she was ready to
give a certincate oi tno value ot the
water, it having relieved her of all her
ails.
The Japanese Ambassadors exhibited
a specimen of heathen charity by giving
5,000 while in Chicago for the benotit
of sufferers from the fire. This kind ot
charity appears to be substantially the
same as tue vnnsuan article.
In a Deserted Mine.
The Nevada Entervrite relates the
thrilling experience of a man who went
alone to explore an old and abandoned
mine. The following is a graphic pas
sage :
A ghastly place lie found the level.
Tho timbers were hung with great fes
toons of a peculiar fungus, resembling
tho moss of the live oak, but white as
snow. Upon those festoons rested glo-
blues of moisture whiph were trans
parent as distilled water, and which
sparkled like myriads of diamonds. All
these growths, however, were not of the
form described. Somo resembled ex
aggerated mushrooms ; had stems a yard
long that twisted about like rams' horns,
and wore crowns of tho size of a broad
hat rim. They mingled with the mossy
formation, grew pendant from the roof
of tho drifts, hung out from tho ' lag
ging' and sprouted up from the base of
tho sido supports in short, in places so
filled the old drifts that it was necessary
to crush through them. For an hour
or more our adventurer wandered through
the mazes of tho lovol, more intricate
than tho labyrinths of Crete, or at least
than that of Woodstock, in which, as
the story goes, fair Rosamond was im
prisoned, but no storo of precious ore
cauld he find. At length, in crowding
his way through some fallen timbers in
a tumble-down chamber, the whole came
down bohind him, followed by a tremen
dous cave of earth, which blew out his
candle and blocked the way behind him,
completely cutting off his retreat
W W T
Ho now started to find the mouth of
the incline, and was congratulating
himself that he had recovered from his
former childish fears of goblins, when
upon elevating his candle above his
head to peer as far as possible into tho
narrow passage in advance, thero sud
denly roso bofore him a most frightful
apparition. Uttering a helpless, smotn
cred shriek, which seemed to bo answer
ed by still more despairing shrieks from
every cavern in the mine ho dropped
his candle. Standing squarely beforo
him in the middlo of tho passage, ho
had seen a tall 'man of most venerable
appearance. His hair and beard were
of snowy whiteness, and tho latter
reached far below his waist; his flowing
robe was also white, but his face was
black as ink. In the involuntary act of
covering his eyes to shut from his Bight
tho tearful thing, his candle was drop
ped, and it was some moments beforo he
could gain courago to remove his hands
and again look before him. hen he
did so ho was more frightened than bo
fore at what he beheld. Tho apparition
was still there, but ten times more ter
rible than before. It appeared a living.
glowing flame, except the face, which
was, if possible, blacker than before.
More dead than alive, he stopped and
groped about till ho found his candlo ;
then with trembling hands he lighted
it, never onco looking toward the awful
object till his light was fairly burning,
when, with a forced resolution which
he felt to be little short of impudent, he
boldly faced about and held up his
candle. His ghost was gone, bat in its
place Btood a timber which had pitched
trom above, and which was completely
clothed in the white fungus he had seen
so much ot in other parts ot the mine,
Ho examined it minutely and was as
tonished that it should have given him
such a fright ; but then it stood alone
and in a placo where he did not look for
a timber in, any garb. By shading his
candlo he soon discovered that the tierce
appearanco it had worn in the dark was
owing to a plphorescont light given
out by the reeking fungus.
Tilings to be Remembered.
Edward Everett became overheated
in testifying in a court room, went to
Faneuil Hall, which was cold, sat in a
draught of air until his turn came to
speak. " But my hands and feet were
ice, my lungs on fire. In this condition
I had to spend three hours in tho court
room. He died in less than a week
from thus checking the perspiration. It
was enough to kill any man.
rrotessor Mitchell, while in a state ot
perspiration in yellow fever, tho certain
sign of recovery, left his bod, went into
another room, became chilled in a mo
ment, and died the same night.
If, whilo perspiring or wanner than
usual from exercise, or in a hoated room,
there is a sudden exposure to chill air
or raw, damp atmosphere, or a draught,
whether at window or door, or street
corner, tho inevitablo result is a violent
and instantaneous closing of tho pores
of the skin, by which the waste and
impure matter, which was milking its
way out of the system, is compelled to
seek an exit through some weaker part.
To illustrate : A lady was about getting
into a small boat to cross the Delaware,
but wishing first to get her an orange,
she ran to tho bank of the river, and on
return to tho boat found herself much
heated, for it was summer ; but there
was a littlo wind on the water and her
clothes soon felt cold, which produced a
cold which settled on her lungs, and
within tho year she died of consump
tion. A Boston ship owner, while on the
deck of ono of nis vessels, thought he
would lend a hand in somo emergency,
and pulled off his coat, worked with a
will until he perspired freely, whon he
sat dowh to rest a while, enjoying the
delicious brcezo from the sea. On at
tempting to rise he found himself una
ble, and was so stiff in his joints that he
had to be carried home and put to bed,
which he did not leave until the end of
two months, when he was barely able
to hobble down to the wharf on crutches.
Mulititudes of wemen lose health
every year, in one or more ways by
busying themselves in a warm kitchen
until weary, and then throwing them
selves on a bed or sofa without covering,
and perhaps changing the dress tor a
common one, as soon as they enter the
house after shopping. The rule should
be invariably to go at once into a warm
room, and keep on all the clothing for
at least ten minntes, until the forehead
is perfectly dry. In all weather, if you
nave to walk or ride on an occasion, do
the riding first. Dr. Hall.
American Homesteads.
There is a peculiar charm about old
houses, which is seldom folt in America.
In Europe, one finds everywhere quaint
old buildings, in which generation after
generation have been born and reared,
and have married and died. Every nook
and corner of the building is clustered
over with memories and associations.
The change of such a mansion from tho
possession of one family into that of an
other is regarded as a humiliation, and
mourned as a disaster. This feeling is not
without a salutary moral effect. It cul
tivates a family pride, a feeling ot honor
in the family name, which, handed down
from father to son, is sought to be main
tained through successive generations.
it begets a sentiment ot unity, among
those who bear the same name and are
connected by ties of blood, which
strengthens these ties, and tends more or
less to mako each regardful ot the inter
ests of all. '
liut here in America there are, as a
rule, no old houses. Tho son tears down
what the father built, or passes it into
other hands with littlo or no regret or
compunction. He builds again that
which his sons shall raze or sell, regard
ing merely his own convenience, and
careless ot who Bhall dwoll in the spot
ho inhabits after ho has quitted it for
ever. Almost all our building is for tho
present. e erect with a view to tear
ing down, not for permanence, and hence
it is tnat our arcnitecture nas an unsat
isfactory air of instability, of cheapness,
and temporary expediency, which of
fends cultivated taste, and goes far to
justify the assertion that American ar
chitecture as an art is scarcely to be met
with in our homes.
It is truo thero are some fine and cost
ly residences scattered about through
the country and grouped in our largo
cities, but throughout tho land, choap
trame buildings, with scarcely an ap
pearanco of design, offend the eye by un
couth forms, shapeless sculpture, and
glaring white or dingy mud colored ex
teriors. Though we do not dwoll in
tents, like some of the Tartar tribes, wo
are essentially nomadio in our habits
and tastes. Boys escape as soon as pos
sible trom unattractive homes, to chance
their luck in cities, or hew out fortunes
on frontiers. Young men clear off farms
in the tar est, sell them at the hrst ap
parently good oiler, and try it over
again. Land, with us, is not a thing to
bo kept if possible, but to be speculated
in. Cultivation of soil is too often only
the temporary improvement preparatory
to sale.
Thus increases and flourishes that
restless wandering spirit which charac
terizes the truo Yankee born American
Considerations of love for the spot on
which ono has been born and bred aro
feeblo whon placed against hopes of
profit. All this may, perhaps, find somo
compensation in the enterprising spirit
it engenders ; but it does not make our
rural homes picturesque piles halt hid
den by honeysuckle, ivy, and woodbine.
liko the garden embowered farm houses
and cottages ot England.
Much has been written with a view
to improve our architectural taste as a
nation, but wo are yet too young to pro
gress rapidly in this respect. The great
er portion of our land is too cheap. Wo
have too much elbow room, and wo are
too fond of change. Wo do not wish to
spend much money on what we may, in
a tew years at furthest, cease to occupy,
So wo go on the cheap principle in
building, and content ourselves with
more bodily comfort, sacrificing oesthet
ic considerations to utility. It is vain
therefore, to expect any great general
improvement in architecture until wo
shall have advanced beyond adolescence
as a nation. hen the groat W est shall
havo absorbed all it will hold of tho
world's population, and people look to
die where they are born, homesteads
will be beautified, and a sense of what is
meant by the word home will be so im
pressed upon tho minds and hearts of
youths, that to adorn the place of nativi
ty will seem almost a duty. bcienttjic
American.
Pacific Coast Pearl Fisheries.
A writer in the Ocerlaml Monthly says :
" Pearl-fishing is still carried on in tho
(iulf ot California, with varying success.
I -was informed by a German 'merchant
of this place, who is engaged in purchas
ing the pearls for tho European market,
that tho value ot the yield tor the year
1808 amounted to f 10,000, lo procure
the oyster, the primitive modo of diving
by tho native Mexican Indians is still
used. Doubtless a greater success would
attend the use of tho diving or dredging
apparatus, cither of which might be
used in deeper water than could be
reached by the ordinary method of div
ing, lbe shell which produces the rich
purple dye that was bo much sought
after by tho ancient Mexicans tor color
ing their fabrics is found clinging to the
rocks in many localities on this coas t
and I also found it in the island of So
corro, which is situated about 260 miles
west of Cape Corrientes. I have seen
the Indians collecting this dye in the
Bay of Bandoras, below San Bias, from
tho shells as they clung to the rocks.
After the shell is detached from the
rock, the substance is ejected by the ani
mal and caught in- small cups by the
collector. This beautiful purple dye is
held in high estimation by the Zapotaco
Indians ot lchuantepec, tor coloring cot
ton cloth of thero own manufacture,
Six yards of their cotton fabric which
is woven on a small native hand loom,
and is just enough for a single skirt for a
woman sells, when tinted with this
peculiar dye, for from ten to thirty dol
lars.
A farmer who went to Texas to buy
a farm was greatly prejudiced against
the country he thought to settle in, from
the fact that a doctor whom he called
to attend him, when he was soized with
a fever, began trying om his clothes im
mediately alter writing a prescription,
Tho fact that while the doctor was try
ing on his coat, the chambermaid was
examining his handkerchiefs, and the
porter was struggling with his boots,
lent wings to his imagination, and
doubtless had an influence in regard to
his speedy exit trom the State.
Facts and Figures.
Japanese auctions are conducted on a
novel plan, but one which gives rise to
none of the noise and confusion which
attend such sales in America. Each bid
der writes his namo and bid upon a slip
of paper, which he plaoes in a box.
When the bidding is over the box is
oponod by the auctioneer, and the goods
declared the property of the highest
bidder.
A man in Arkansas who went to a
horso race at which he caroused so much
that in riding home he ran against a
fence stake and was killed, is spoken of
as " an exemplary young man." Stan
dards differ in different places. He may
be looked up to as an exemplar by the
youth ot Arkansas, but we should hardly
think they would yearn very much to
meet with the same fate.
Another of those most stupid and awk
ward of homicides which are caused by
apothecaries' clerks, who put poison into
prescriptions instead of harmless drugs,
has occurred in Philadelphia. A deputy
druggist mado tho trifling mistake of
attempting to take rhubarb from a jar
of opium, and a poor woman died as the
result. Something must be done to
theso cureless fellows.
Tho latest Gospol dispensation in En
gland is preached by a " seven deviled"
woman in London. The lady is not pos
sessed with so many evil spirits at pro-
sent, but has boen recently relieved ot
them, according to her own statement,
and is now anxious to aid in helping
others to got rid of whatever quota of
similar monsters may have laiien to tnoir
lot. She belongs to the order of con
vulsionists, a very uncomfortable and
objectionable religious sect.
Boston's farewell bouquet to Nilsson
was a ship four feet long, resting on an
ocean ot red pinks with tho word
" Adieu" on one sido and " Cuba" on the
other in white pinks. It sailed down
tho middlo aislo of tho theatre in the
middlo of a fino passago in " Martha,"
and was launched upon tho stago after
considerable exertion, where it rested
quietly until the curtain fell, and was
then steered by tho prima donna herself
to some unknown haven behind the
scenes.
A man in Brunswick County, N. C,
emigrated to tho West some years ago
and left his wifo blooming alono. Later
hp returned to find her blooming with
another man, and rearing a tender blos
som which he know not of before his de
parture. Ho claimed her for his own,
and as he had accumulated some $G0,000
during his long absence, his claim was
speedily allowed, and tho second hus
band was sent about his business. Here
is the material for much romance and
nonsense, but we think the whole thing
a very stupid and prosy performance.
That is rather a novel suit against the
St. Louis, Vandalia and Terre Haute
Railroad, brought by ono John L. Nor
man in St. Louis, who claims 25,000 for
injuries received from handling timber
for the company which had been sat
urated with arsenic and other posions
to preserve it from decay. The man
claims to have been ruined for life and
it is said that fivo men had died from
tho effects of tho poison. Of course it
is of very littlo consequence to the rail
road cdmpany how many workmen die
provided their timber is preserved, but
that 125,000, if they have to pay it, will
reach their sympathies.
Ono of tho latest curiosities in natural
history is a calt said to bo owne in
Oakland, Oregon, which sports a pair
of wings just behind his shoulders. They
are as yet rather ornamental than useful,
but what may become of them hereafter
is matter tor philosophio conjecture. If
that calf wants to bo an angel we would
like to suggest to him that Prof. Haw
kins says that it is useless for man to
hope to navigate with wings, and we
certainly ought to havo tho first chance.
It is of no use for him to have such as
pirations, and he might as well give up
the idea now as to prepare lor a great
disappointment hereafter.
A charitable society in the West has
a novel and most agreeable method of
raising money for various beneficent
objects. Any man sufficiently blessed
with courage and ready cash, takes his
seat in the middle of the room and pays
ten cents into tho treasury for every
lady that will come up and kiss him.
Of course the devotion of the ladies to
tho good cause is measured by the num
ber of smacks that the man gets, and the
" cause" must take all the credit and all
the blame for the kissing, a very nice
arrangement for shifting the responsi
bility. A handsome and agreeable man
now, we imagine, must needs be well
furnished with dimes at these fairs.
Duluth, which loves to exalt iUelf
under the name of the " Zenith City of
tho Unsalted Seas," has no cemetery,
and the Tribune thinks it is a " burning
shame" that it should be so bereft A
metropolis without a graveyard is cer
tainly a Bad spectacle, but the misfor
tune of Duluth is that it is bo young
and situated so far from -the outskirts
of civilization and withal in a climate so
healthy that death has not found it out,
and it can have little occasion for a
burial place sot soon. If, however, it
deems that its dignity would be increas
ed by the possession of a cemetery it
certainly ought to have one, and its au
thorities should take up the grave sub
ject at once.
Experts in hand-writing, as well as
experts in everything else, are far from
infallible. A case was before a court iu
Taunton, Mass., lately, which shows the
danger of trusting too implicitly in the
testimony of such persons. Four, envel
opes were shown to a witness, an expert
in hand-writing, and he testified very
positively that the superscription of all
of them was in the hand-writing of tho
prisoner, who was accused of forgery.
The counsel immediately took the stand
and stated under oath that one of the
envelopes was directed by the clerk of
the Boston Water Power Company, an
other by a friend of his own in New
York, the third by himself, and tha other
by the prisoner.