(
r
HENRY A. PARSONS, Jr., Editoh ajtd TcBtisnER.
ELK COUNTY TUP, REPUBLICAN PARTY.
Two Dollars ra Axhum.
voir it.
UIDGWAY, PA,. THURSDAY, JUNE 20, 1872.
NO. 16 .
l'OETJl Y.
TIIR CIT.IM)I.KSS MOTHER.
BIT MinV CI.EMMCR A.MH3.
I l'iy my tn."kp ilown one by our,
I fit in the fikiico in twillpht'r jri-nce;
Out of Its shallow, (oft ami dun.
Steals like a star my baby's face.
Miwkinir cold are the world's poor joys
How jmor to mo nil its pomp and pi ldn s
In my lap lie the baby's idle toys
In tbis very room tlie baby died.
I will shut thepe broken toy any
Under the lid where thny nintulv bide ;
I will smile in the face of the noisy day,
J n?t as if baby had never died.
I will take up my work once more.
As if I had never laid it down i
Who will dream that I ever wore
Motherhood's line and hoiy crown r
Who will deem my life ever boro
Fruit the sweeter in prief and pain t
Tho flitting smile that the baby wore
Outraycd the llirht of the loftiest brain.
I'll meet them In the world's rude dill
Who hath outlived his inotltor's kiss,
Who hath forsaken her love for sin
I will be F-parcd her panir In this.
Man's way is hard and sore beset ;
Many must fall, but few can win.
Thanks, dear Shepherd I My lamb Is fafe.
Safe from sorrow and safe from sin.
Nevertheless, tho way is lonsr.
And tears leap tip in the lijrlit of the euii ;
I'd irive my world for a cradle sonir,
And a kiss from baby only olio.
THE STOll Y- TEL'LEli.
ZALE I5IRKEMIEAD.
jjuki'iiuuhu was a miser, ana no one
n:. .i i .i . -
attempted to deny it but Billings, tho
housekeeper, Sho would not hear
word ot it.
" Dear Mr. Birkenhead is ono of tho
ot nt'TMwil " ,.l... U 1.
best ot providers," said she. " Such oceans
ot garden-truck I
Birkenhead was rich as well as miser
ly. lliat is, ho owned houses and land:
had, no one knew how much, railroad
stock, had quite a respectable bank ae-
-. A 1 .11 Jl - .
uiiuni, aim uiu a tnnving business in
tho note-shaving way.
..Moreover, ho held largo properties in
trust lor non-residents, irom which ho
derived honestly, ot course a consid
erable income. Taken all in all, ho was
comrortapjy situated.
And ho had a daughter a verv charm
ing daughter, Marzalia by name Zalo
tor brevity and therein lay Ins weak
rr i i , - .
uuas. tja.us or ins gold, ana .alo was
tho winner.
People wondered, Zalo wondered,
even Birkenhead himself wondered,
and swore he never would bo fooled
again, not by a dozen Zales. And Zalo
laughed, showed her pretty teeth, and
naa nor way.
" No I say no !" thundered Mr. Birk
enhead, his great lowering brows knit
mis togetner, ana nis littlo gray eyes
snapping ferociously. " You can't go
away to school, so let this be the end of
it I"
D:ll- . v -ii. , -.
jjimiigs overneara nis words and pi
tied Alio, it was pity thrown away,
for, the very next week, Zalo went, just
as sho had been determined all tho
whilo to do ; and Birkenhead swallowed
lus wrath, and tooted tho bill.
Zalo staid away until Christmas.
j.iiKenuea.-t saia suo naa made won
derful progress. Had ho not paid mon
ey enough to make any ono progress ?
But Zalo learned ono thing which was
not tiught in tho regular course a
study that occupied all her l'eisuro mo-
incuts, and, wo feur, somo that should
have been given to her other lessons.
But she learned it well.
Birkenhead never guessed it until one
day tho postman brought, with tho
other letters, ono for Zalo. lie did not
need tho glasses to read the bold, mas
culiue chirography, nor a soothsayer to
tell him what tho letter contained. It
were better not to repeat thelongand un
wieldy words used on this occasion. No.
body but Birkenhead could have handled
them.
iortunattly for Zalo she was not
thero during tho heat of tho opening
wrath-burst; but sho heard tho mut
tering, and saw an occasional Hash, as
vivid und startling as any that had
passed.
As usual, Birkenhead was very firm,
and declared, up and down, that no man
by the name of Poor should ever marrv
Zale. And Zalo was also verv. very de-
termined, and declared, as often as her
father objected, that if she ever married B0" navo decided to drop the strange
any one, his name would bo Poor, and cognomen at no distant day. It is re
Alec Poor, too. pulsive in the extreme, and why any
n . . . j nr ii l i
l' or onco the issue anneared doubtful.
1?.., 1:ll.- 1 1 l l I
jjvuii jjiumgs uecame aiarmea, ana beg
ged of Zale not to exasperato dear Mr.
Birkenhead, for there was no tollin
what ho might do.
Zalo luughed sho always did when
killings attempted to correct her
and, going straiirht to her father.
pleaded Alec Poor's causo as eloquently
us ever.
Zale wrote to Alec, advising him how
matters stood up at Birkenhead's, and
ho very obligingly offered to come up
and right them immediately ; but as his
letters never went turther than the
open grate in Birkenhead s private
room, ho was obliged to forego that
pleasure.
Zale was out of patience at last ; fer
that was not a very desirable correspon
dence, with scores of letters to Alec, and
not one" to Zalo. Hhe never doubted
that Aloe wroto. Sho even went so far
as to believe that her father got the
benefit of tho epistles ; and, to relieve
any little petty doubts sho might have.
she waylaid the postman, and got a let
ter.
Poor Zule ! it was an unlucky move,
and away up in tho attio of Birken
head's house .she had ample time to re
pent of it. Not that she wanted to re
pent. We do not think she did ; but,
after all, it was the next thing to a de
feat a repulse which well might dis
hearten a veteran intriguer. Birken-
lead knew it. and took all the credit
jo to him. He wag in ecstacies. IIo
very confident that Zale could not
ldOTUt long against such fearful odds,
ud lmdTkuready decided that nothing
tort of uucoixditional surrender could
a thought of. v
" It is nil very nice, and verv proper."
said Hillings; "but if that girl isn't
plotting mischief, then my namo ist
Nancy Billings, which has been with
the Birkenhoads nigh twenty year."
lsirkonhoad madu light ot her tears.
" Let her riot !" exclaimed he. ' And
precious little good it will do" her. I'll
keep her there until nho is gray, before
I'll let her marrv that raseallv l'oor."
non alter lalos incarceration in her
attio prison, there enmo to her father a
letter literally covered with postmarks.
It had ix portentous look, and Birken
head broko tho seal with trembling
hands. At the first glitnee at the eon-
tents, his face lighted up with pleasure.
As he read on, a puzzled and somewhat
anxious look stole into his face, and ere
he finished tho letter, ho was evidently
quite uneasy in his mind.
' Hillings, said he, putting tho letter
aside, " did you ever hear anything of
Wallrudden's marringe ?"
" Wallrudden's? Never in mv life.
Mr. Birkenhead."
'Nor I, Billings. But he has been
married somo time, for ho writes me
that his son is coming to spend the sum
mer with us."
" Mercy ? All summer ? "
" Well, you have it as I had it. It
will increase expenses somewhat : but I
cannot refuse, for tho caro of Wallrud
den's property is worth having,. Bil
lings. I suppose tho young man" will
look after it while ho is here, but I'vo
got tho rents pretty well in. I wonder
what sort of a chap ho is? Do you
know ?"
" I'm sure I never could guess. Mr.
Birkenhead. But when does he come ?"
" There's the trouble. Billinars. No
body can tell whether tho letter came
from Egypt or tho moon, nor when it
was written. Wallrudden always was
a bungler with his pen, but ho has beat
1.J U' At,... A.' T J. T 1 1 .
himself this time. But, Billings, wo
must bo ready for him."
" 1 should thiuk so. But it will be
nice thing for Zale."
' I don't quite soo it, Billings."
' It's a wonder ! I've been thiukin
of it ever since you told mo he was com.
ing.
y en, out wiin it, can t you, snap.
pea liiriteniiead, who detested mystery
" And rather bud tor JUr. l'oor, con.
tinned Billings, following up tho train
of thought which tho letter had set in
motion.
" Come, come ! what is it ?"
" yy ny, iux. isirkenhcad, don t you
seb that Zale would make him a good
wne
" Make that rascal. Poor, a good
wile . exclaimed Uirkenhcad, white
with rage.
" No, no, not that one," Billings has
tened to say : " but V allrudden.
"O h ! eiaculated Birkenhead. lump
ing out ot his seat, and ordering a unit
ton-chop for dinner.
liillmgs had said enough, so sho left
Birkenhead to his meditations, and went
up to tell Zale of her new destiny.
. Ml. i." 7..l ; : .
i iisivcu sjLiit', in surprise.
" Young Mr. Wullruddem"
" AY allrudden ! Such a namo !"
And Zale burst into such a hearty
laugh, that Billings was more than half
inclined to bo angry.
i ou 11 not loel so merry when ho is
your husband," said she.
" V allrudden tor a husband, exclaim
ed Zale, not in the least frightened.
"Why, Billings, just tho namo would be
sulheient grounds lor divorce.
Ihon iollowed another peal of laugh
ter, mora boisterous, if possible, than
the first, and Billings left tho room in
high dudgeon, muttering vengeanco on
jalo, and that young man by tho namo
ol l'oor.
Poor Alec or Aloe Poor ! tho chance
for a hand into the coffers looked decid
edly slim, to say the least.
iho day following tho receipt of the
letter, jsu-Keniiead and isillings were
startled by the opening of the front
door, and the appearanco of a stranger
in tho room.
"That's ho," whispered Billings
" that's Wallrudden. Just like his fath
er, for all the world."
Birkenhead was also verv sure that
he saw a resemblance, and he advanced,
with outstretched hands, to meet the
new-comer.
" Mr. Wallrudden, I presumo It"
" Circumstances compel mo to answer
to "lat name for the present," was the
unexpected reply ; " but father and my.
"a wtts uvur "ameu yy auruuuen is one
&f Vl tltraf nmaa fli.i- n.mn A fl...
f the mysteries that even old Time
cannot solve. You got tho letter, Mr.
Birkenhead '("
" Yes, sir," replied Birkenhead, glad
so escape tho ordeal ot replying to tho
first part of young Wallrudden's speech,
" It camo to hand yesterday."
" (July yesterday flow strange !
but tho mails are so uncertain. Don't
you think so, madame '("
1 his to iiuiings; and the good soul
blushed to tho very roots of her auburn
nair BIltt wished to tho land that she
young ugam,
" Extremely uncertain," she stammer
ed ; and then rather awkwardly made
her way out of the room.
It Zalo don t take to that man, she s
awful hard to suit," muttered the good
housekeeper. " I'll havo her right down
here, for there's nothing like taking
Time by tho forelock."
Zalo was thinking of Aleo when Bil
lings burst into the room, and sho was
not particularly well pleased al tho in
trusion.
" He's come, Zale."
"IIe'f Who is he'f"
" I should think vou would ask !" ex
claimed the discomfit tod Billings. " Why,
Mr. Wallrudden, to be sure !"
"Oh I Wallrudden, eh? Well, what
sort of a chap is he, Billings ?"
" .aie liirkenhead
"There. Billings. I'll take it back.
You know what I mean. Is he hand-
gome '("
" The finest-looking man I've seen this
many a day."
" 1 in glad of it. poor man." said Zale.
" With such a horrid name, he deserves
some recompense.
" Wallrudden is not so bad. IIo is
rich, too."
" Better yet, Billings."
" Well, you may say it, Zalo. But,
come ; ho is waiting."
" No, thank you, Billings."
Billings stared. Sho did more, sho
grew red in the face, and that was a
bad omen.
"Yon won't si-e him; then?"
" Thank you all the same, Billings,
but I guess I don't care about it."
" Well, you will seo him, Zale Birken
head, if I have to bring him hero."
Zalo laughed provokingly.
" I hardly think ho will caro to como
here, Billings. If ho should, you know
thero is a lock on tho inswln as well as
outside."
" You wouldn't dare, Zale you would
n't dare 1"
" Do not disappoint youFself, Billings,"
cautioned Zale, taking a key from lier
drawer.
Then, Zalo Birkenhead, we will
break down tho door, for I am dotei-
mined that you shall seo Mr. Wallrud
den." " ' And the prison-doors shall open ' '
sang Zale, whilo Billings sailed out of the
room, locking tho door with a sharper
click than usual.
The above conversation was reported
terlxttim to Birkenhead, causing that
worthy gentleman to make a host of
threats, somo wise, but more of thorn
foolish. Wallrudden chanced to over
hear it, and, after Birkenhead subsided,
proposed a plan ot his own.
" 1 am going away in tho morning.
said he, " Billings will inform Miss Birk-
enhead, and her door must be accident
ally left ajar. Of course, Miss Birken
head will take advantage of so good an
opportunity to communicate with that
that Air. l'oor ; but I will take the
responsibility of preventing any letter
reaching that gentleman, for I shall not
bo lar away.
Capital!" exclaimed Birkenhead.
and Billings echoed tho praise.
The plan worked capitally, too. Zalo
was drawn into the snare. So soon as
she saw that Billings had forgotten to
lock the door, she hastened to make use
of tho time. Penning a Bhort note to
Alec, sho donned her hat and shawl,
and slipped noiselessly out of the room,
down the staics, and out of tho houso by
an unfrequented door.
Sho had not taken a dozen steps,
when young Wallrudden appeared in
tho path beforo her. Zalo screamed,
and turned to flee ; but ho audaciously
put his arm around her; and when she
lifted up her blushing and indignant
face, seeking an explanation, ho stooped
and kissed her.
Zalo screamed louder than ever, and
struggled desperately, while behind tho
blinds of a window just above her were
two persons acting more like crazy peo
plo than the sedate Billings and tho
miserly Birkenhead. They laughed,
and shouted, and danced, and declared
it " capital ;" and when they saw Wall
rudden bringing Zalo back to the house
they repeated their strango. antics, and
snapped their fingers at an imaginary
Alec Poor, waiting and hoping.
yy allrudden s audacity seemed tor a
timet 3 bo productive of no crood. for
Zale positively refused to leave her
room ugain while Wallrudden was in
tho house. She did not adhere to her
determination, however, for tho very
next time that Billings neglected to lock
tho door Billings had grown very for-
gettul she ventured out again. W all
rudden was on hand to welcome her,
anu ignoring tno existence ot such a
personage as Mr. Alec Poor, he made
love to hor in a way that was start
ling.
Tho same scene was enacted almost
daily after this, for Zalo rather enjoyed
mis love-making, it was so charming.
ly original to be taken by storm. Not
that sho had forgotten poor Alec, but,
you know, ho couldn't expect mo. to
forego all pleasures.
" It will be a match," siid Billings.
" And he hasn't said a word about tho
rents, said Birkenhead.
" Nor Zale about that Poor."
" Sho d bettor not. I knew I could
cure her.
" Poor man ! sighed Billings, for
there was a soft spot in her heart. She
hadn't forgotten another man who came
so very near changing her name to
well, it wasn 1 1 oor.
Birkenhead paid no attention to her
sympathetic mood.tor he was reckoning,
tor the hundredth time, tho expense of
v allrudden s visit, and tho loss, should
that gentleman fail to unite his destiny
with the Birkenheads. Tho sum total
was fearful absolutely appalling, and
tho old gentleman trembled at the dread
uncertainty.
IJut he was . borrowing troublo : for.
that sanio evening, Wallrudden made a
formal demand lor Zalo.
Birkenhead was so elated, that he
showed tho predominant trait of his
character, selfishness, by consenting at
once, without go much as a thought of
tho injustice ho was doing to Zale's first
love, poor Alec Poor.
" W hat does the girl say ?" he asked.
with an attempt at indifference.
" Zalo is here," said Y allrudden. " Sho
shall speak for herself."
" ell, out with it " commanded
Birkenhead, without looking up.
Zale, thus adjured, replied, quito de
murely :
" It you aro willing. I guess 1 11 not
object.
" 1 hen you have forgotten that
Poor ?"
" Oh, no, father ; but I'll not wait."
" Sensible at last," muttered the old
man. " You might have waited until
doomsday, and then lost him."
Uirkeuhead wag no laggard. Any
thing in hand he always pushed to the
utmost, and this wodding he was de
termined should not be delayed. And
tho young people offered no objections :
so tho wedding was set for the first dav
of the following month.
lime passed swittly. For once Birk
enhead opened his purse strings. lie
could afford it such a rich son-in-law,
you know. Guests crowded the old
house, servants trotting here and there
to wait upon them. Zale was attired
magnificently. Even Mr. Birkenhead1
ventured a now coat for the occasion
and Billings brought to light an old
white satin, which sho hnd kept hid
away ever since that timo when she
came so very near being Mrs. Somebody
that was not Billings.
"Capital! capital 1" exclaimed Birk
enhead. "Capital I capital 1 Wallrud
den, I congratulate you on the happy
termination of ot
" I beg your pardon, Mr. Birkenhead,'
interrupted the happy bridegroom, " but
you aro laboring under a great mistako,
My namo is not Wallrudden."
" Not Wallrudden 1 What thedickens
is it, then ?"
" Aleo l'oor."
" Eighty-one moals,twenty-six nights'
lodging, and not a cent to jour name,"
sighed Birkenhead, " to say nothing of
the wedding expenses. allrudden be
cursed, and "
"A blessing for Alec," whispered
.ale.
He never got it, but ho did get his
hands into tho Birkenhead coffers.
Milk as Food.
In an article on milk as a diet, in
lato number of tho Oqod Health maga
zine, tho writer says that as an article
of diet it would appear that tho nutri
tfvo value of milk, os compared with
otner articles ot animal food, is not gen
orally appreciated. Dr. Wiggin, of
Providence, says thero is less difference
between tho economical value ot milk
beefsteak, eggs or fish, than is common
ly supposed. The quantity of water in
good milk is eighty-six to eighty-seven
per centum, in j-ound steak seventy.
five per centum, in fatter beef Bixty per
centum, in eggs about rixty-eight per
centum, r roiu several analyses recent
ly made, ho estimated sirloin steak
(reckoning loss from bone) at thirty-
nvo cents a pound, as dear as milk at
twenty-four cents a quart ; round steak
at twenty cents a pound, as dear as
milk nt fourteen cents a quart ; eggs at
thirty cents a dozen, as dear as milk at
twenty cents a quart ; corned beef at
lourtoen cents, as dear as milk at fifteen
cents. Tho result from these deductions
seems to bo that milk even at fifteen
cents a quart is tho cheapest animal
food that can be used. The writer also
says that in order to render milk moro
digestible, its particles should bo divided,
which can bo effected by bread, or somo
other farinaceous article. When cooked
with rice and eggs frice puddinsrl. it
lorms tne type ot a proper lood ; con
taining nitrogen, phosphates and starch.
Milk, when used as a drink, should be
boiled, then diluted with water.
About Quicksilver.
Ono of tho most curious properties of
MU.VR3U,C1 ID 1L3 UUIJUUlllLV Ul UlSStlVlI! C
jl luimiug amalgams wim otner metals.
A sheet of gold-foil dropped into Quick
silver disappears almost as quickly as a
snow-ilako when it falls into water. It
has the power of separating or of readily
dissolving those refractory metals which
aro not acted upon by our most power
ful acids. The gold and silver miners
pour it into their machines holding tho
powdered gold-bearing quartz, and al
though no human oyo can detect a trace
ot tho precious substances, so fino aro
the particles, yet tho liquid metal will
hunt it out and incorporate it into its
mass. By subsequent distillation it
yields it into tho hands of tho miners in
a state of virgin purity. Several years
ago, wniio lecturing boloro a class of
ladies upon chemistry, we had occasion
to purify some quicksilver by forcing it
through chamois leather. The scrap re
mained linon tho table after thn lnnt nro
and an old lady, thinking it would bo
very nico to wrap her gold spectacles in,
accordingly appropriated it to this pur
pose. Tho next nioming sho camo to lis
in great alarm, stating that tho gold
had mysteriously disappeared, and
nothing was left in tho parcel but the
glasses. Sure, enough, tho metal re
maining in the pores of tho leather had
amalgamated with the gold, and entire
ly destroyed tho spectacles ! It was a
mystery, however, which wo could never
explain to her satisfaction. Dr. Nichoh's
Eiresule Science.
Lady Journalists In Washington.
Washington is becoming a great centre
for lady writers and journalists. In the
latter arena they are entering for all the
prizes. Mrs. Harriet Prescott Spofford,
Gail Hamilton, Mrs. Clemmer Ames,
Mrs. Anna F. Stephens, Mrs. Mary A.
Dennison, and Mrs. Southworth. are all
domesticated in Washington, the last
two altogether and tho others coming
every Congressional season. Among the
resident correspondents and professional
journalists are Mrs. Helen M. Barnard,
whose sketches of House proceedings for
tho New York Herald have been recog
nized as evincing high capacity for a
difficult branch of professional labor.
Mrs. Briggs (Olivia), of the Philadelphia
Press; Mrs. Haven, literary editor of
tho Chronicle ; Miss Austine Snead (Miss
Grundy) of the World : Mrs. Scribner.
of the Indianapolis Journal, and Miss
iconena A. 'lay lor, daughter of the able
microscopist, of the Agricultural De
partment, whoso remarkable investiga
tions into the fungoid disease of the
vino, efc., are attracting tho attention
of pomclogists everywhere Miss Tay
lor is a trequent contributor to the loal
press, and writes easily and well on
many topics. Mrs. Dorsev. Marv A.
Nealey, Mrs. Ingersoll, and others, not
r ; i. I.. . . ,
pruiessiouai journalists, dui wnose pens
help to freshen the columns of the ash
ington press, reside there. Miss Celia
IjO:
jogan is still editorially attached to the
'apital. Miss Vinnie Ream will soon
C
publish a little book t travel, sketches
and poems.
There seems to be an unusual anxiety
nowadays to save the lives of murderers.
The minions of the law will neither
compass their death nor allow them the
privilege of doing it themselves. A
wretch in Peoria, Illinois, who had slain
one wife and obtained another in Ken
tucky, tried to poison himself a few days
ago, but was prevented. His wife had
kindly furnished him with a dose of
corrosive sublimate, but was disappoint
ed by the meddling officers.
Poisonous Nature of Tobacco.
Tobacco in its ordinary Btato tho
" phig " which you have in your pockets
here to-night is a powerful poison. It
will do what few other nnisons will do.
I do not now speak of the oil of tobacco.
I do not speak of nicotine, a single
drop of which put upon the tongue of a
cat will kill her in two minutes : three
drops of which put upon the tongue of
a bun dog will kill him so quick he will
hardly get out of your arms in his strug
gles, and ten drops of which will kill a
cow inside of ten minutes. I am not
talking of these things at all, although
nicy are an m tobacco : but to-night
am talking of tobacco in tho form of
the original " plug."
Now, gentlemen, let me suppose an
experiment. I call from this audience a
boy ten years old, ono who has never
used tobacco. " Charles, will you help
us make an experiment here to-night?"
" les, sir.
"I will give you fifty dollars if you
win go tiirough it like a plucky man."
i win, sir.
" The experiment is this. There is a
largo pioe of tobacco as largo as a nea.
Put that in your mouth ; chow it ; don't
let one drop go down your throat; spit
uvci-jr urop imo mat; spittoon ; Dut keep
on chewing : don't stop, just chew
steadily."
lieiore ho is done with that piece of
ioducco, as large as a pea, simply
squeezing the juice out of it without
swallowing a drop, ho lies here upon
tne piattorni in a cold, death-like pers
piration : he vomits the contents of his
stomach ; put your fingers upon his
wrist, there is no pulse : and so he seems
for two or three hours as though he wero
dying, or, perchance, dead.
bteep a small pieco of tobacco in a
quart ot water, and bathe the neck or
back of a calf that may be troubled with
vermin. You will kill the vermin, but
if you aro not careful you will kill
tho calf too.
Now, gentlemen, go to your dru
stores, begin with tho upper shelves and
taKo down every bottle, and then open
every drawer, and you cannot find
:le poison (except somo very rare
ones winch vou never heard ot) wlunh.
taiten into tne moutn ot that ten year
.. , . . '
oia ooy ana not swallowed, will pro
duco thosfr1 effects. Tobacco, then, I re
peat, in its ordinary state is an extreme
ly powerful poison. Dr. Dio Lack.
Live Jewels.
All Nature is mado to contribute to
women's love of self-adornment. Tho
demands vary according to tho grado of
cunuro or tue caprice ot tho reigning
fashion. Tho savago is content with
the bones, teeth, and heads of animals.
tho feathers of birds, and the shells of
snails and hshes to adorn the head, ears,
nose, neck, arms, and girdle. With tho
women ot the cultured world nothing,
perhaps, is mado to contributo so lare-o
ly to gratify tho vanity as tho richTv-
colored birds. Whole birds of paradise
and other species, and tho feathers of
the ostrich, peacock, marabout, and
many other birds, aro mado to serve as
ornaments for tho head. But it is' not
generally known that tho Mexican vvo
men of tho wealthier classes uso as orna
ments, on extraordinary occasions, livo
fireflies, which, in tho dark, emit a bright,
phosphorescent light. They bolonsr to
tho family of leaping or springing
beetles, and are called by tho Spanish
cncu0. in order to catch theso bugs,
tho Indians fasten a livo coal to a stick,
and move it to and fro in tho dark. The
cucujo thinks this bright point a rival,
and, in his anger, darts toward it, and
finds tho gravo of his liberty in the hand
of the Indian. Tho Indians find a ready
salo for thtim in tho larger cities, where
they are bought by tho wealthy ladies
at about two reals (twehty-fivo cents) a
dozen. They aro kept in elegant little
cages, and fed on slices of sugar-cane,
and bathed twice a day, either by tho
ladies themselves or by their maids. In
the evening they are put into little
sacks, shaped like roses, and attached
to tho ladies' dresses. Tho light theso
little bugs emit surpasses in brilliancy
tho reflection of tho purest diamonds.
The daily bath they receive is absolute
ly necessary, as without it they would
emit no light, which is sometimes strong
enough, it is said, to read by.
A Word About Water.
It is now a point pretty well estab
lished that dysentery, typhoid fever, and
other fatal diseases, possibly cholera
among them, aro caused by animal and
vegetable substances disEolved in the
water. Therefore, all supplies of water
for drinking and culinarv or bathinc
purposes should be carefully inspected.
All wells should be well covered. No
sewer should be near a well, aud the
wash of all accumulations of tilth should
be carefully prevented from being car
ried into any water supply for tho houso.
It is well to remember that wo may get
accustomed to drinking impure water
and not know it, unless other senses than
taste are consulted. A proper attention
to this subject, and a determination to
use only wholesome water, would not
nlv prevent manv diseases, lint nffpn
save the lifo of some belovedjmember of
the family. These sensible things are
said by Dr. A. L. Wood, editor of the
Herald or' Health, and ho tells in the
lubioinod summary " How Water Gets
Foul":
1. The water which falls from the
clouds becomes foul by fulling through
the smoky, dirty air, and by the matter
from the roofs of houses on which it
falls.
Spring and river water becomes
foul by freshets.
o. Well water is contaminated by sur
face impurities, sewerage, cesspools, and
by the soil through which tho source of
supply is accumulated.
4. Kiver water is spoiled tor domestic
uses by the refuse of slaughter-houses,
gas-works, and the various manufactures
that pour their refuse into it.
3. Cistern water gets filthy by the
settling of such impurities as are washed
from the roof, by leaks in the pipe, and
by not being well covered.
Dependence is a poor trade.
Fidelity.
To sucoocd in any undertaking wo
must enter into it in earnest, giving it
our interest and deepest thoughts. The
young man starting in life shows in tho
outset what his course will bo. If ho
shows fidelity to his -choice of occupa
tion, ne makes it a pioasant ana profita
ble employment j but by restless wan
dering, to the neglect of imperative du
ties, ho finds tho road marked out f
weary, toiling journey. Look at the
many who havo risen by their industry
mm iiuunuy m occupy tne position oi
our wealthiest men. Their success was
the reward of truo fidelity. They start
ed witn tne determination to succeed,
and were not to be stopped by any dif-
ncuities in tneir way by remaining
nrm in tno discharge ot every duty,
they overcame obstacles which would
have quelled loss ardent spirits.
Another typo of fidelity is that truo
bond of friendship existing between
two of congenial thoughts and feelings
that love which exists even after ad
versity comes and fato seems to have
forsaken them, and the dark clouds of
8oitow hang heavy and close around.
How refreshing it is sometimes, when
looking around on tho deception prac
tised, ot wnicn we see so much, to meet
one of the kind described. We have ro
much of professod friendship and so lit-
uo real mat wo are led to wonder at tho
familiar and old quotation, "A friend in
need is a friend indeed." as at our Great
est need we often find our friends out or
otherwise engaged.
. So goes the regular routine of life.
Rare as they are, yet we moot sometimes
men, noble in their actions, lifting from
tho depths into which he hos fallen, one
whose only claim is a friendshiii formed
long ago, which years of probably en
. : ... -i i . . ...
ui a separation iaiieu to quencn. H e
grieve that tnis is so rare an instance.
that we are often left to deplore tho loss
of a lriendship wo prizo lost through
mo cuanges or a cnangeablo world.
But wo will not dwell on tho dark
sido of life's bright pictures. We rather
liko to float pleusautly down tho stream,
closing our eyes to tho rocks lying
urouuu us, wnno we revel in the Bweet
communion with friunds who have
proved their true fidelity to friend
ship.
We aro taught many beautiful les.
sous from tho fidelity of tho animal.
Notice tho peculiar attachment of a
dog to its master. They frequently
cast reflections, by their dumb intellect.
on us of bright intelligence, by their
nnenty ana acts ot kindness, which wo
so often tail to perform for each other.
How anxious we should bo to culti
vate a truo and upright mind one
abovo tho meanness of betraying trust
reposod. Try to benefit our fellow-be
ings, practicing in all our actions the
golden rulo : " Do ye unto others as ye
would they should do unto vou." and
having, by an approving conscience, tho
reward ot truo fidelity.
Japanese Manners ami Customs.
Tho Japancso never smoko opium.
They havo small pipes that will hold
threo good whiffs, and of tho mildest
Turkish tobacco. They havo a club
house in Yokohama, of which tho high
officials aro members. They have none
at Yeddo, tho capital. They havo tho
games of chess, cards, and dominoes.
Their cards are different from ours, but
the essential principles of tho game are
tho samo. Latterly they havo become
largo importers of billiard-tables, and
tho game is fast assuming there high
rank. They aro great wrestlers, and
every year tho champion wrestler wins
tho embroidered apron, which ho is al
lowed to wear one year. No Japanese
is allowed to cut down a tree unless he
plants another. Under the law, tho
mother is hold responsible for tho e-ood
conduct of her children. If a troublo
occurs in tho street, tho parties living
opposite are held responsible for it. Of
course, they try to mako tho parties
"move on" and stop tho row. Tho
idea is, that every citizen must be a
policeman. All married women havo
their eyebrows shaved. Married men
havo no distinctive mark. The Japan
ese are a jolly party. They have their
illustrated Punch ; besides that, sixteen
newspapers, with threo English the
Herald, the Mail, and the Nem publish
ed in -Yokohama. The present emperor
is the one hundred and twenty-fourth
in regular line. In these generations
there have been eight females. The
present emperor, Moutsouhito, is six
foot high, twenty-two years old, and a
fino specimen of a man.
Instinct or Reason.
A naturalist travelling in the West of
Scotland observed a singular mode of
obtaining food adopted by tho tho Arctic
tern, of the island of Benbecula. He
says : On coining within sight of tho
first ford, I observed between twenty
and thirty terns quietly sitting on the
banks of tho salt-water stream ; but the
moment they saw us approaching they
rose On wing to meet us, and then hov
ered gracefully above our heads as the
pony stepped into the water. As soon
as the wheels of the conveyance were
fairly into the stream, the terns poised
their wingj for a moment, then precipi
tated themselves with a splash exactly
aVovo the wheel tracks, and at once
rose, each with a wriggling sand-eel in
its bill. At the next ford a similar scone
was ropeated by another group of Arctic
terns, which wo found there awaiting
the arrival of some friendly travellers.
In both these cases the bird showed no
fear, but dexterously caught their prey,
though repeatedly struck at with the
whip. Twico over, by stretching out
my arm, I nearly caught ono of them as
it poised itself for a plunge. On making
particular inquiry, I was told by many
of tho inhabitants of both islands that
this habit of tho tern is a constant en
tertainment to those who cross tho fords
in wheeled conveyances.
Five of the Indian tribes in Alabama
are civilized, temperate, intelligent, and
pious. They havo a population of titty
five thousand souls, of whom ten per
cent, are converted Christians.
Facta and Figures, .
You must be a friend to yourself, and
others will bo.
A Detroit colored doctor refuses to
attend white patients.
There are 40,000,000 bottles of Catawba
wine in Cincinnati cellars.
A Chicago lady 72 years old is tho
mother of a baby aged 10 days.
Shrewd Illinois farmers have taken to
raising wolves for tho purpose of getting
the bounty on their scalps.
Go not for every grief to the physi
cian, for every quarrel to the lawyer,
nor for every thirst to the alo-pot.
Tho negroes have commenced bui'd
ing a new town between Birmingham
and Elyton, Alabama, which is known
as Boconsidcs.
A foolish woman in Des Moines got
up in her sleep, tho other night, and
walked into a well thirty foot deep.
Tho locust eggs are poisoning mul
berries in Tennessee by being deposited
in them, and tho mulberries aro poison
ing children by the same process.
Some jocose fellows in Newborn, Ind.,
robbed a friend in tho night for a joke,
and paid a heavy fine tho next day in
earnest. Tho friend had no Bense of
humor.
An Iowa paper says tho grasshoppers
and potato bugs mot in joint conven
tion at Council Bluffs the other day.
Thoy decidod to reject tho ono term
principle.
A Boston woman claims to have road
last year fifty metaphysical and scientific
works, as many more of history and
belles-lettres, besides 500 novels, plays,
and poems.
A man in Kansas lately rode twelve
miles after being bitten by a rattlesnake
before ho could get medical assistance.
He did it in less than an hour and his
life was saved.
If you would live to purpose, and live
long, livo industriously, temperately,
regularly, all tho whilo maintaining a
conscience void of oflonoo toward God
aud toward man.
The Marianna (Flu.1 CovrW gnvs that
tho county jail of Calhoun county has
not had an inmate in over four yoors,
and tho county Commissioners havo de
cided to let it bo used for a better pur
posea corn crib. It haa accordingly
been converted" into that useful adjunct
to a farm.
A few days since tho surveyor of high
ways in Danvillo, N. H., notified a wo
man having a tax of four cents to ap
pear near the Union Church on a cer
tain day, at an appointed hour, then
and thero to work out her tax. Accord
ingly at tho appointed timo and place
sno appeared, armcu with a hoo, and
toiled until her tax was cancelled, about
fifteen minutes.
There is a camp of gypsies at Sprinr-
fiold, 111., who have annually visited
that pluco for many years. They aro
said to bo quiet, inoffensive, honest, and
industrious. They havo employed the
rector of St. Paul Episcopal Church to
marry three couples, and to baptizo
seven children. They incline, therefore,
to tho doctrines of the Protestant Epis
copalians. The Kentucky Legislature, in order
to check tho practice of opium eating in
that State, has passed a bill that, on
suitable affidavit, any person who,
through excessive uso of opium, arsenic,
hasheesh, or any drug, has become in
competent to manage himself or his es
tate, may bo conhned in an asylum and
placed under guardianship, as in the
case of drunkards or lunatics.
It is bad business attempting to set
matters ri-ht with a revolver, especially
if one is unpractised with that dangerous
implement. A young man in Saginaw,
Mich., endeavored, tho other day, to
clear his sister's reputation by shooting
her traducer, who chanced at tho mo
ment to be one of a group of three.
The excited young man shot both the
others, and the traducer escaped shot-
free.
We have a little story for boys with a
nice moral to it. Littlo Johnny Moore,
away out in Monroe, Mich., went to a
picnic last week, and like a foolish littlo
boy that ho was, tried to smoke a cigar.
It made him sick, of course, aud he threw
himself on tho wet grass and lay there a
long time. The result was ho had con
gestive chills and died. It is a sad story,
and the moral is that you can go to
piccics if your parents are willing, but
you had better not try to smoko cigars,
and by all means don't lie on the wot
grass.
We trust that the business of finding
petrified giants has received a salutary
check this timo. The man that tried it
lately in New Hampshire has como to
grief. Somo miserable employees of a
railroad, who assisted at dead of night
in planting tho graven imago beneath
tho honest farmer s apple, turned traitor
and exposed the littlo game. The hon
est farmer was thoroupon arrested, and
has been mulcted in the sum of 400 for
trying to obtain money under falso pre
tences in his attempt to sell the giant.
we trust that this will bo a warning
and that no daring mortal wilt any
longer abuse our patience with tho dis
covery of Curditt giants.
There is a good deal of dry hiynor in
the American prots. The following ex
tract from the Louisville Courier is a
gem in its way : " Tho New York A'mw,
which is seldom satisfied with things,
objects to the proportions of a rattle
snake recently seen in Carter County, in
this State, and described as reaching
from ono side of the road to the other,
while its body was as big as an ordinary
churn. The Sun says ' that was a very
badly-proportionod snake,' and that ' it
should have been a good deal longer or
else a good deal thinner.' SVe should
like to know who is running the snakes
of this State, herself or the editor of the
New York Bun. W7hen things come to
such a pass that New York arrogates to
herself the right to dictate to Kontucky "
the size and shape of her serpents, it is
high time for the trumpet to sound to
arms and for the sword to leap from its
scabbard,"