ite ill ftigglg Jiwle.
V
HENRY A. PARSONS, Jr., Editor and Publisher.
NIL. DESPEBANDUM,
Two Dollars per Annum.
VOL. III.
ItlDGWAY, ELK COUNTY, PA., THURSDAY, DECEMBER 23, 1873.
NO. 43.
A
4 "'
Tiio MIUs Havf, Closed To-Day.
Annie, is the baby better ?
Worse ! Tbe Lord befriend us all !
Cannot live ? Ob, God In Heaven !
Hear thy suffering servant's call !
Nearer, dearest, lest the children
Hear the words I have to say j
Put your loving arms about me
For the mills have closed to-day 1
And our little child is dying !
No! no! no! Not dying yet!
Have you prayed with long beseeching
For the helpless little pot ?
Heaven must have mercy sometimes;
Others thrive who do not pray ;
Oh, that troubles might come singly ;
But the mills have closed to-day !
Other bands have saved up money,
And can give their children bread ;
Must our darlings cry for hunger,
When the little one is dead ?
Dead ! It cannot be she's dying!
Has the doctor gone away ?
And I cannot pay him, either,
For the mills have closed to-day !
Why was I laid up last winter ?
Reasons why are hard to loarn j
It was only this last Sunday
That tho head of our concern
Gave away some trifling thousands
To the church a debt to pay ;
He could spare it from his millions
But tho mills have closed to-day !
Laughing ? Yes, because I'm Jolly !
It's a Joke we dreamed it all !
What's the need to look bo ghastly ?
Nightmare dreams are troubles small
AU ! tho moaning in tho cradle!
Mercy ! Mercy ! Pray, love, pray '.
Death is clutching at our darling,
And tho mills have closed to-day !
THE DOCTOR'S LAST SHOT,
Mrs. Smith and Mrs. Brown were
having a very comfortable afternoon
together. Mrs. Smith, who was nn in
valid, or thought herself one, which is
just as bad, was reclining in an easy
chair, and Mrs. Brown, who had run in
with her knitting work just to see how
she was, had been persuaded to spend
the rest of the day with her friend.
"Yes, Mrs. Brown, I consider it
providential. That poor niece of mine
was left an orphan' on the cold charities
of the world, and as I was the only
friend she had, she came right here, of
course. Well, here I am in such deli
cate health, needing constant attention,
and I couldn't pxnnnt. Til V ntrn nrivla
poor dears, to be fussing .around their
men mooter an tue time. I want them
to enjoy themselves while they can.
Ihis poor thing needed a home, and I
gave id to ner ut once. 1 said of course,
child, come ricrht hero and live with
us. You can make yourself useful, no
uouot, ana id 11 be ail right." tthe s
been here six months now, and has
been a wonderful help to me. I keep
her busy from daylight until dark to
keep her mind off her troubles, you
know, and nights when I can't sleep it's
dreadful handy to have her where she
can rub my back, soak my feet, bathe
my neaa, and reau me to sleep.
" Do you pay her wages ?"
"Bless me, no 1 She said something
Boiut u one day as if she expected to
be paid for her work, but I told here we
couldn't think of hiring our own blood
relations to work for us. I told her to
just be easy about that, whenever she
needed anything we d see about it.
one gave me a kind of a queer smile
that 1 duln t quite understand or like
but, on the whole, she is -wonderful
quiet and gentle like, and I consider it
a real rrovidence.
i. " Where is she ?"
tt T . A V i ii
--xseuwier aown to the back pas
ture to get some blackberries for mv
Til. li -w ... ..
en. x mougiiD may un ia relish tliem
ii tney were fresh."
uowu in tue oacK pasture she was.
the poor neice, Meta Laugdon, but not
picking blackberries. She was sitting
uu u mousy log among tne bushes, cry
ing as if her heart would break. It did
her good : it cooled the fierce fever in
her heart, and she finally grew quiet
nuu ouppe.i souiy uown upon liei knees
uud prayed long and earnestly for pa
tience and wisdom and help 'from her
heavenly Father. Then she caught up
her pail and rose to commence her task.
But it so happened that Doctor Ches
ter, wuo was spending a few weeks in
mat delightful country place, was out
minting that day. A fine, plump par
tridge flew up from the bushes just at
that moment, and the doctor fired. To
his astonishment the bird escaped, but
a Bhrill scream and heavy fall beyond
the bushes made him throw dowu his
gnu and bag and rush furiously
through the sharp briars, never heed
ing the rents they made in his fine
Hunting suit or the cruel scratches up
on his face and hands.
There lay the game he had brought
down, in the shaps of a young girl who
was in a dead faint or killed for aught
he knew. lie cuickly loosened her
dress and dashed water in her face from
the full canteen which he happened to
have, and finally forced a few drops of
brandy between her lips. At length
she opened her eyes, to his great relief,
and tried to rise, but a sharp cry of
pain showed there was something more
serious than a mere fright.
" What is it, where are you hurt ?'
" My arm," she exclaimed.
He tore the faded calico sleeve open
to the shoulder, and sure enough the
Boft, white arm was covered with blood
and seemed to be riddled with shot.
" Dear, dear, what have I done 1" he
exclaimed, hastily tying his own and
her handkerchief tightly around it.
"There's no time for apologies or ex
planations. I thought I was shooting
a partridge, and in some unaccountable
way I have shot you. Now tell me
where you live so I can get you home
as soon as possible. I am a physician,
and we'll soon have the poor arm all
right again."
"My home is just over the hill ; I
can walk if you will help me a little."
With a set, resolute face, and lips tightly
closed to keep back the moans of pain,
Meta walked hastily towards home
leaning upon his arm. But just as they
reaohed the gate she fainted acain. and
taking her in his arms he bore her
rapidly to the house, and without any
ceiemony pushed open the parlor door
and laid her upon a sofa.
Mrs. Smith screamed murder at the
top of her voice, and went into violent
hysterics. The doctor frowned scorn
fully at her, and said to Mrs. Brown
" There, a no time for nonsense ; bring
me some cold water and Uandages at
once, and send somebody to the hotel
for Dr. Chester's small case of surgical
instruments.
Mrs. Smith, left to herself, soon re
covered, and insisted upon an ex plan a
uon oi me anair.
" It's nothing serious. I hove.
have accidentally sent a charge of shot
into tins young lady s arm. Are you
her mother ?"
" No, indeed, she is a poor dependent
creature mat we ve taken in for chan
ty's soke ; a nieco of mine, and what I'm
to do with her now 1 can t see. can t
take care of her, and indeed, sir, it's
mighty inconvenient to have her laid
up inst at tins time. She is very neces
sary to my comfort. I need a sight of
care and wmtia' on. nieht and dav."
"Well, madam, she'll 'need a sight of
care and waitin' on herself now for
awhile, and must have it."
By this time the young girl revived
again under the vigorous treatment she
received, and the instruments were
brought to him.
" Now, madam, will you tell whereto
take this young lady, for she must be
put to bed at once.'
" Well, she sleeps in a little closet off
my room
"That will never do. Show mo the
largest, best room you have in the
house." Taking Meta gently in his
arms, the doctor followed Mrs. Smith
up stairs to a large, pleasant chamber.
She groaned in spirit as she turned
down the white counterpane, and as
sisted the doctor in getting Meta un
dressed and into bed ; but he was not
to bo trifled with at such a time. "Now,
madam, I will excuse you, but let Mrs,
Brown bring me plenty of warm uater
and soft, old linen, and remain to assist
me. And I want a servant close at hand
to get whatever else I may require while
dressing tho arm.
It was a terrible hour to Meta while
he probed each wound and removed the
shot that were deeply imbedded in the
tender flesh. Fortunately no bone was
broken, and nt last it was neatly
bandaged with solt linen and wet with
a healing lotion, and she fell asleep,
Mrs. Brown proved an efficient helper
and as they passed quietly out of the
room the doctor said:
" My patient mu3t have the best of
care and attention. Could you stay and
nurse ner lor awhile r
" Yes, I might."
"Very well; I will pay you well if
you will do it, for everything will de-
pend upon keeping her quiet now.
He met Mrs. Smith in the hall.
" Madam, this woman has consented
to stay and take caro of your niece, and
I -will oco that ftlie la well paid foi it.
But mind what I say : you must not
see her, nor must any one else see her
but Mrs. Brown and myself for a week
at least, for she will have a serious time
of it at the best. I regret it exceeding
ly, more than I can tell you, that I have
oeen me cause oi uu mis Bunering, ana
will do my best to have her about again
as soon as possible. So sajing, the
doctor wished them good -day, and soon
disappeared from their view.
" Well, now, if that isn't cool ! And
what am to do all this time ? " groan
ed Mrs. Smith, rocking herself vigor
ously in her great arm-chair. "And
ray best spare room, too ! Say, did he
muss everything up dressing that arm i
" Oh no ! he was very careful about
that."
" Well, that's a comfort any way. To
think I should have such trouble with
that girl just when I needed her most !
I think it is a very mysterious dispen
sation of I'rovidence.
The next morning the doctor found
Meta in a high fever, moaning with
pain and delirious. The arm was bad
ly swollen and inflamed, and altogether
her case had assumed a very alarming
aspect, tie did not go hunting or hsh
ing that day, but stayed by her bedside
administering mediciue with Ins own
hand, and doing everything in his pow
er for her relief. He was greatly dis
tressed over the accident, and inwardly
vowed he would never tire off another
gun as long as he lived.
JJut what a revelation of toil, hard
ship, and cruel wrong the unconscious
Meta made in her delirium She fan
cied the doctor, as he bathed her hot
head and hands and soothed her as he
would a child, was her mother, and she
drew his head close to her lips and
whispered :
(J mother I I m so glad you have
come for me I I'm tired to death.
Auntie has no mercy or feeling for me !
She has kept me at work over her night
and day, and I've gone huncrrv manv
and many a time, because I couldn't
bear to eat the food so grudgingly
gvien. V, I am so glad you have
come 1"
Now Meta was not a beautiful girl.
though she had a sweet, pure, womanly
face, and great, wistful eyes, aud an
abundance of dark, silky hair. But her
small hands were brown and hardened
with toil ; she was poor, dependent
alone in the world except for this sel
fish, unnatural aunt, and the cousins
wha scarcely deigned to notice her.
Doctor Chester was a rich, old bach
elor, not so very old either, only thirty
six. Why he had never married no one
could tell, but true it is he had remain
ed heart whole these years in spite of
the many beautiful women who had
smiled gracefully upon him. But some
how this poor suffering orphan won his
heart completely during that week of
unconsciousness. He was charmed with
her sweet prattle about her childhood ;
and her innocence and helplessness, to
gether with the suffering he had so un
wittingly caused appealed, strongly to
his sympathy, and he fully resolved to
win her love and make her his wife if
possible. Never had a patient a more
assiduous doctor than did poor Meta.
Mrs. Smith fumed and fretted over all
the fuss that they made about " that
girl," until the doctor frightened her
into silence by telling her that he knew
how she had treated the poor child,
and that if she didn't keep quiet and
have everything done that was needful
for her oomfort he would have her
arrested and tried for inhuman cruelty.
Under his watchful care the danger
was soon over, and Meta was pro
nounced convalescent. The doctor
took her out to ride as soon as she was
able, in the easiest of all carriages,
Hare delicacies were sent every doy
from the hotel to tempt her returning
appetite. The sweetest and most fra
grant flowers that could be found adorn
ed her room. Meta remonstrated with
him for all this lavish kindness, but he
would silence her by saying he was the
cause of all her suffering and she must
allow him to atone for it in every way
he eould. How eagerly he watched the
faint color that crept into her cheeks at
his approach I How tenderly and deli
cately he ministered to her comfort and
pleasure day after day, until at last he
ventured to tell her of his love and his
great desire to have her for his own,
He had become very dear to her during
all those weeks of suffering, and she ac
knowledged it and promised to be his
wife. He hastened to inform Mrs.
Smith of their betrothal, and asked her
forbearance for another week when, he
assured her, he would relieve lier from
all further care and responsibility of
her niece. Imagine if you can her as
tonishment 1 She was completely
" dumbfounded .'" and had not a word
to say ; though doubtless in her heart
she thought it another most " mysteri
ous dispensation."
The next day a notable dressmaker
from the city arrived with various won
derful and costly fabrics, which she had
orders to make up for Miss Langdon in
the latest style. Such a time as there
wa3 then of cutting and basting, of
trying on and trimming I Two other
seamstresses kept their sewing-machines
running at the highest rate of speed,
until at the close of the week there was
enough of a wedding trousseau to fill a
huge Saratoga trunk. The doctor made
daily pilgrimages between that chamber
and the city, until at last he could not
devise another thing which his darling
eouia possibly need for dress or orna
ment during the trip to Europe which
he had planned. Never was there a
happier bride and groom than those
who were made one in Mrs. Smith's
parlor that bright September morning,
They went immediately to his home on
the Hudson, where his mother received
the new daughter with open arms, and
soon after went to Europe, where they
spent a year. Meta made good use of
the time by putting herself under the
care of the beet private teachers, and
when on their return tho happy doctor
presented hi3 wife to his friends, there
was not among them one more highly
accomplished or more elegant and re
fined. The doctor was very proud of
ner, and never tired of telling his inti
mate friends how he found his wife, or
tne result of his last shot.
The Island of Cuba.
All eyes have been turned toward
Cubu a Duuiii lolo, Uio litiKenl Of tile
West India group, some C50 miles long,
nud its greatest width 107 miles. Lying
just within the tropics, its climate is
perpetual summer, tempered by cooling
sea-breezes. There is one record of
snow having fallen in a central town oi
Cuba in 1850, and hail is not nnfre
quent ; but while the heat is rarely op
pressive, the thermometer seldom falls
below CO degrees, except occasionally
in the interior. Havana is a special
resort for invalids. This important
commercial city has outgrown its rigi
nal walls ; but for its defense, and that
of its harbor, there are half a dozen
forts and a citadel. The long and nar
row channel which leads to the city is
defended on the east side by the great
castle El Morro, and on the west by the
powerful fortress La Punta. La Ca
bana is said to be the largest and
strongest of all the defensive works of
Havana, requiring in time of war a
garrison of 2,000 men. In 17G2 Ha
vana, after a siege of forty-four days,
fell into the hands of the English : but
the next year it was restored to Spain
in accordance with certain arrange
ments made by treaty. Havana is regu
larly laid out, and though its streets are
narrow, many of them are well paved
with granite. It is well lighted with
gas, and supplied with water by an
aqueduct. The city also has its public
promenades, its fountains, its universi
ties, libraries, and museums, and there
are numerous daily, weekly, and month
ly publications. Havana, to a greater
degree than any other Spanish city, has
adopted the mechanical appliances of
industry ana the various improvements
which have been brought to it through
its commercial relations with other na
tions. Wear Whte Uuilerclotliu:,'.
The Herald of Health recommends
white underclothing as not only more
healthful, but on account of its not ra
diating the heat of the body as some
other colors do. Another strong incen
tive is the avoidance of possible poison
ing, resulting from deleterious dyes.
The Journal of Chemistry gives an in
stance of the poisonous effects of am
ine colors upon the skin in the expe
rience of a gentleman of Bayfield. He
had a tew days previous purchased some
new undershirt of cotton, colored with
various tints, among which aniline red
predominated. In a short time after
putting on the garment a peculiar erup
tion of an irritating nature appeared on
the body covered by the cluth. The
effects were not merely local, but to a
considerable extent constitutional, pain
and uneasiness being experienced in
the back and lower extremities. In
proof that the eruption was caused by
the dye colors, it may be stated that a
portion oi the garment about the upper
part of the chest was lined with linen
on the under side, and wherever this
came in contact with the skin no erup
tion or redness occurred. It is proba
ble, tho Journal remarks, that the num
ber of persons is large who possess such
idiosyncrasies of constitution as to be
easily poisoned by dye colors, but that
there are some does not admit of a
doubt.
A school girl was overheard trying
to convince a school fellow that she
liked him better than she did some
other urchin, of whom he seemed jeal
ous. " Of oourse, I like you better
than I do Bill," she said, " for don't I
mips words in my spelling lesson on
purpose, se as to be down at the foot oi
the class where you are ?"
CHRISTMAS SXIPE HUNT.
" I am eo glad to see you, Henry, and
so surprised, too j for you know you
expected to remain in St. Louis till
after Christmas. It has been awfully
stupid here at Helena since you have
been gone. There has not been a sin
gle party of any kind that I have heard
of. I don't know what I should have
done but for that conceited coxcomb,
Raymond, who has been trying his very
best to do the agreeable, and I must
say amused me exceedingly. "
" What, you don't mean that foppish
New York drummer? Why, he is
greener than encumbers ; if he were
turned loose out in the meadows the
cows would follow him. He comes
down here to Arkansas selling Yankee
notions and gimcracks, and struts about
in his new Btore clothes as though he
were a heap better than any follow in
the State. And so, Kate, he has been
shining around you, has he?"
"Yes, but I only laugh at him; a
lady must have company of some kind,
you know, Henry. If none come along
whom she can laugh with, she some
times is content with one she can laugh
at. This fine New York gentleman
Mr. Augustus K. Raymond he calls
himself has invited me to the grand
party to be given by Mrs. Gordon on
Christmas night."
"But you surely did not accept,
Kate ; why, I heard of this party, and
hurried home from St. Louis before my
business was half over, on purposo to
ask you to go with me."
" I am extremely sorry, Mr. Morgan,
that you should be so disappointed ;
but what was a poor girl to do? f
wouldn't have missed going for the
world, and how could I know that you
would put yourself to so much incon
venience for my sake f
" Now, Kate, this is cruel in you.
Why do you call me Mr. Morgan.'and
adopt this lofty tone toward me ? We
are old sceoolmates and old friends,
and and I had flattered myself that
we were very good friends. I had even
ventured to hope that some day we
might be still better friends. In f act
but I am making myself as great a fool
as that fop of a notion peddler. My
dear Kate, 1 scarcely know what I am
saying. I only know that I love you
devotedly, and that if you will give'me
the least assurance that you love me in
return, I shall be the happiest fellow in
Arkansas. Can you give me just one
word of encouragement?"
" Yes," replied the roguish girl with
provoking brevity, but a serious look
immediately stole over her counte
nance, and after a few minutes of
silence, while the young man ardently
pressed her hand, she added, as her
downcast eyes were raised again to
meet his: "You knew all the while
that you were the only one nf mv o
tlemen friends for whom i really cared
anything."
" I was bold enough to think you
preferred me, dear Kate, or I should
never have been brave enough to de
clare myself. But what's to be done
now about this Christmas partv ? That
simpleton, Riymoudshall not go with
you if I have to run him out of town."
JNever fear. Henry. I will tret rid of
him in some way. He bored me terribly
before. He would be insufferable
now."
" I know how we can pet rid of him
Kate. We VOlinO' fflllnnm tyi nn n
sniping party for Christmas eve. and
i . i i . i !
uiuno mm uoiu uie uag.
" Oh ! that will ln Mnitnl oni.l
Kate, gayly. " That's just the thing ;
but there s the bell now, and no doubt
it is he himself. Just, wnit nnJ ooa 1mm
nicely I shall dispose of him. You are
to be my cousin, mind."
r a card bearing the name of Augustus
K. Raymond was handed in, followed
a moment later bv an over-.l
young gentleman with waxed mous
tache, hair parted in the middle, and
the air erenerallv of one whn Ima tmt
himself up to make a stunning im
pression. " Good evening, Mr. Raymond. Per
mit me to introduce you to my cousin.
Mr. Morgan. "
" Deliehted to have tho nlensurn nf
your acquaintance, sir. You reside in
Helena, I suppose."
"I live here," replied Morgan,
curtly.
"Ah. then, nerhnns mm ara in flia
mercantile business, t have the honor
t represent one of the leadinc nntinn
houses"
"No. I am not in tha trmln inter
rupted Morgan, dryly.
"My cousin, explained the lady, is
in the game business ; and, apropos of
came, hfl linn ilist liexn tnllincr ma fliaf.
J ' --
he is going with a party of our young
ijBuuBiueu on a grana snipe nunc to
morrow evening Christmas eve."
" Yes." added Morcan. and wa si inn 1,1
like to have you join us."
uo go with them, Mr. Raymond.
I do so want a snioe feather in wpnr in
my hair at the party. They are all the
rage witu tne girls now. Such beauti
ful feathers thev urn inn I T
drooping, with the richest red and yel-
liuimo, xou must go witn tnem
and get me a snipe feather, for I can't
think of craincf fa tliAnnrivltlmiit sna
and Cousin Henry here, even when he
guco, ia uever ninurD enougu io secure
me a good feather. Somebody else al
ways gets the privilege of holding the
bag, and so secures the finest of the
feathers."
" Certainly I'll go, with great plea
sure. Miss Andrews, that is, if the gen
tlemen really desire that I should honor
them with my company."
' Of course we'll feel greatly honored,
Mr. Raymond," said Morgau, " if you
will condescend to join us in one of our
simple Western sports. I can even
promise you the post of honor on the
occasion."
" Really, you quite overwhelm me. I
shall not fail to be with the party, if I
can be of servioe! I am not familiar at
all with with what did you call the
game ? snipe ; but if they possess such
beautiful feathers as Miss Andrews de
scribes, they must form a conspicuous
mark, and no doubt I shall be able to
bring at least one down at every shot.
Theyoall me a good marksman at the
shooting galleries in New York. You
may rely upon me, Mr. Morgan."
So saying, Mr. Raymond bowed him
self out in an impressive manner, and
had ecaroely closed the hall door be
hind him when both the" others broke
out in a paroxysm of laughter.
" That joke of yours, Kate, about the
red and yellow leathers, was exceutnt,
It couldn't have been better managed,
I'll get the boys together to arrange for
the hoax. By 10 o'clock to-morrow
night your gallant greeny will be stand
ing up to his knees in the mud and
water, out in one of the creeks, holding
the bag, and expecting that the rest of
us win drive the snipe into it. uutne
will be as likely to see Santa Clans him
self out there as any snipe. When he
gets tired of waiting for tle game, and
for us to return, he can sneak off home
alone. It will spoil those striped panta
loons of his, though, and ruflle his
temper, so that this climate will not be
apt. to agree with him any longer."
The just-accepted lover, however, did
not seem in a hurry about going, and it
was considerably later in the evening
when ho finally bade his betrothed
"good-night." 'The latter, we should
have explained, was the belle of Helena,
Arkansas.
She was a high-spirited, dashing
young lady, as might bo inferred from
the foregoing, and, withal, unusually
handsome. She had numerous adimr
ers, and, as may be imagined, her talk
about a lack of company was only a
little mischievous fibbing, craftily in
tended to elicit a declaration from him
who had long been her favored suitor.
The only reason why she had accepted
the invitation of Raymond for the party
was that 3he and her friends might
make themselves merry at his expense.
He was disposed to be spoony, and was
so little acquainted with the bluff,
hearty manner aud disregard of ultra
ettiquette which characterize the peo
ple of the West, that he was constantly
making himself lidiculous in their eyes,
and therefore was vastly entertaining
to the lively young ladies upon whom
he lavished his attentions, though in a
wholly different way from what he sup
posed. It may not be fully understood that
snipe hunts were formerly a favorite
means of humiliating gentlemen from
the East who went West with too dis
paraging ideas about the people resi
dent there and too lofty ideus of them
selves. How these affairs were managed
will fully appear in tho remainder of
our story.
A dozen or two choice spirits were
assembled by Morgan the next evening,
and Raymond, having been notified of
the time and place, was punctually in
attendance, wearing his best clothes
and an air of importance which seemed
to say, " I am bestowing a great favor
in consenting to join you;" and so he
was, for his was the principal and an
indispensable part in the farce about to
be enacted.
The party proceeded several miles
uui or tuu uy wugons, to a small
stream of water in a wild, lonely place.
The wagons were left some distance
away from the proposed scene of opera
tions, which was in a low, swampy
bottom.
Of course, everything had been well
arranged beforehand, but to disarm
suspicion, it was proposed by one of
the fellows that they pull straws to see
who should have the privilege of hold
ing the bag. All pretended to agree to
this, except Morgan, who insisted that
tho drawing be dispensed with, saying:
" I promised the post of honor to our
distinguished friend here.Mr. Augustus
Raymond, of New York, and I intend to
see that he has it.
"Thank you, Mr. Morgan, for cham
pioning my cause," said Raymond, con
descendingly. " Yon may rely upon
me, gentlemen, in whatever post you
assign me. I flatter myself that I shall
bag as much game as anv of vou.
But it has just occurred to me
that we have no guns. How are we to
shoot the snipe without guns?'
" W e will soon show vou. said one
of the party, Bob Norton. "We are
to form a line and drive the snipe down
the creek, while the best man is to
stand in this narrow place holdincr a
large bag with the open end up stream.
nr- 1 a' ... -
we nave someumescaugnt hundreds of
snipe alive in that way at a single haul.
Did you ever have anv experience in
holding bags?"
" JNo ; but I know I can do it. Only
show me where I am to stand." .
" You will get your feet wet." sug
gested another of the party, adding
consolingly, " but they will soon dry
again. Do you think you can keep per-
nerfectly still and wait patiently till the
o.,; v
" No difficulty about that," replied
Raymond, who remembered that he
had promised Kate the first pick of the
feathers.
" Then you're our man," said Bob,
and turning to Morgan, " Youvouch for
the reliability of your friend, I sup
pose ?"
"No fear about him," said Morgan;
" he represents one of the leading no
tion houses of New York ; he is true
grit, and I warrant he would stand firm
in his place till midnight if it took us
so long to get the snipe down to him."
Raymond was then furnished with a
large bag, the end of which was kept
open by a hoop, and suffered himself to
be stationed where the water and soft
mud were unpleasantly deep, his legs
from the knees down being completely
submerged. He by no means relished
the position, but remembering that he
had promised some of the finest red
and yellow feathers to Kate, and that
Kato's cousin had vouched for him so
emphatically, determined to stick it
out.
" The water is very cold," he rather
meekly suggested as the practical jokers
were leaving him. " Do you think it
will take very long ?"
"We can't tell," replied Morgan.
" We may scare up a flock in a few
minutes, and it may take half an hour
or so. Then, sometimes, they don't
drive well, and that causes delay. But
don't leave or stir till you have bagged
them, for if you should give up and go
away you might just miss a splendid
flock. We will go to the American Ho
tel after the bunt is over, and have a
Christmas eve supper. That will make
amends for all our trouble."
We need scarcely add that they went
straight home, taking their wagons with
them, and leaving Raymond sinking
deeper and deeper into the mud and
water. Returning to Morgan's own
residence they had a jolly time, and I
cracked many a joke at the expense'of
their poor victim.
" Santa Claus may take pity on him,"
said Bob Norton, "and fill up his bag
with Christmas presents, if he waits
there long enough. That would console
him, perhaps."
" He wouldn't appreciate them,"
chimed in another, " unles Santa Claus
certified that the toys and things came
from that leading notion house which
he represents."
"I don't think he would have con
sented so willingly to hold the bag if I
had not worked upon his cursed vanity
so well," said Morgan; " and then Kate
Andrews made him believe that snipe
had long, beautiful red and yellow
feathers, and that she wanted him to
bring her one to wear to the party to
morrow night."
" I'm thinking his own fine feathers,
which he has been strutting about in
ever since he came here, will be much
the worse for to-night's work," ob
served another.
And so passed the time with them till
long after Christmas had been ushered
in. Meanwhile Raymond was standing
patiently in the water. No sound dis
turbed the stillness of the night except
the occasional splash of a big fish in
a deeper part of the stream just above
him.
" This is a delightful manner of
spending Christmas eve," he thought to
himself. " What would my New York
friends think if they could see mo in
this position ?"
His feet and legs were as wet as they
possibly could be, and he shivered with
cold. Several times he was on the
point of giving up, when the thought of
Kate, the party, and the promised
feathers came to him. Nor could he
bear the idea of provoking the ridicule,
and perhaps the wrath, too, of the
young follows, by deserting his post.
Nearly an hour thus passed and he
was not only drenched with water but
nearly benumbed with the cold, when
suddenly a suspicion dawned upon him
that he had been outrageously duped.
" They have made a fool of' me," he
muttered, with an added imprecation,
as his teeth chattered involuntarily,
and throwing away the bag he hurried
off in search of the wagons.
Fear was added to his rnge and mor
tification when he found they were
gone, and that he was left entirely
alone in the wild solitary place. Fortu
nately it was a straight road back to
town, and he had no difficulty in follow
ing it. He ran most of the way, yet
did not reach his hotel till some time
after midnight, and it may bo readily
surmised took the first train next morn
ing for home.
Henry Morgan accompanied Kate
Andrews to the Christmas party, and it
was remarked by all their friends that
sue never loo&eu so wen nor seemed in
such lively spirits, and that he appear
ed to be unusually happy.
Neither was ever again troubled by
the attentions of New York drummers,
and just one year later there was a
grand wedding in Helena!
The happy pair included New
York in their tour, and in a Broadway
store met their old acquaintance, Ray
uiund. He greeted them pleasantly,
and, after some explanations on both
sides, inquired :
" So Mr. Morgan was not your cousin,
after all?"
" No more than you were yourself."
"And I suppose he escorted you to
the party. I see through it all now.
Well, though it was a most unhandsome
trick you pluyed upon me, it has turned
out for the best. By hurrying home
then I got here in time to be of great
service to our house at a critical j tinc
ture, and as a reward, have since been
taken into the firm. (Besides, I have
found another lady-love, the accom
plished daughtea of our senior partner;
and if you can wait till next Thursday,
you shall be present at our wedding."
The Long Bow In Colorado.
A letter from Gold Spring, Col., to a
Chicago gentleman, says: I have just
arrived from the headquarters of our
company, which is located at Gurney's
Mill, and I have a most horrible story
to communicate to you. Your agent,
J. N. Watson, has been foully robbed
and murdered. The following are the
particulars, as near as I can write them:
After corresponding with him for
some time, hecame here dayibeforejyes
terday. To illustrate the usefulness of
the well auger he bored down ninety
feet, and our company being pleased
with the working of the machine pur
chased the rights of this and four ad
joining counties. We paid him in cash
$1,000, and gave him three notes on us
amounting to $1,800.
It got noised around that he had this
amount of money in his possession, and
late in the evening three men, without
doubt, the murderers, went to where he
was stopping, pretended that they
wished to purchase some territory.
They made remarks to the effect that
they doubted the truth of the report that
he had bored ninety feet in one day.
They induced him to accompany them
to the place where the hole was, one of
the men carrying a lantern and cord for
the purpose, they said, of measuring
the depth themselves. That was the
last ever seen of poor Watson alive.
We had not, however, heard that he
had been missing, and early this morn
ing we rigged up the auger for the pur
pose oi going still further down in our
prospecting. Imagine our horror when
the first auger full was brought to the
Burfaoe; it contained the head and part
of the torn remains of your agent. The
face was easily identified by those pres
ent. Whether he was dead when the
auger reached him or not we cannot tell,
though some of the men fancied that
the body was yet warm. He was doubt
less robbed and thrown into the hole he
bored hiniBelf the day before.
Of oourse we did not attempt to go
any further, but, after satisfying our
selves that the remains were those of
Watson, we placed the mangled parts
back into the well and filled it up. It
has caused great excitement in our
camp, and I think we have some clue to
the fiends who perpertrated the cold
blooded and horrible murder. I feol
certain that the robbers secured the
$1,000 which was paid your agent, as
as he told me that he would not remit
it until he got to aa express office,
Fncts and Fnnc?s.
A Milwaukee company has imported
180,000 btiBhels of barley and 300 bales
of hops from Italy.
A big ear of corn, surrounded by
thirteen little ones, lately entered an
editor's sanctum in Iowa.
Peter ShamUoo, the first licensed
navigator of Lake Superior, still lives
and is ninet-eight years old.
Men were farmers long before they
could read ; and they never could hav
read had they not first been farmers.
A police justice in Chicago was some
what astonished when a vagrant tried
before him counted out $28,000 in green
backs. If the united power of all agricultural
colleges would teach us how to grow
good crops of potatoes, we would be
thankful.
Many farmers complain that their oc
cupation does not pay. What is the use
of saying so ? Nine merchants in ten
fail, but they never brag about it.
If hard work bends the body, swells
the joints, and blisters the hands, it
yet gives expertness and power to the
muscles, such as gentility may seek in
vain to exhibit.
When plows, reapers, and other im
plements are left in the field over win
ter, the greatest loss is not in their de
cay but in the evil habits established
in the farmer's mind.
If every planter would grow 50 bush
els of corn for each bale of cotton, ho
would get more money than now. There
would be less cotton, but it would bring
more, and the corn would be clear gain.
Western farmers have discovered that
it is cheaper to haul grain 50 miles with
their teams, if they have a load back,
than to ship by rail, and they are doing
it. Railroads are getting behind the
times.
The weight of the new fractional
silver coin is metrical, that of the half
dollars being just twelve and one-half
grammes, the quarter dollar six and one
quarter grammes and the dime two and
one-half grammes.
An Irish nobleman, attended by
twenty-six dogs, passed through In
dianapolis, lately, on his way to Florida
on a hunting expedition. He had a
car attached to a freight train devoted
to himself and attendants.
When you go into a new country
don't be too smart. Listen and watch
and find out how things are done, and
be careful not to insist on your own
way. The farmers of every section
have, as a general .thing, good reasons
for their practices.
The sailors of the Tornado were com
pelled to shoot Captain Fry and his
SreW. btltjlreil rvitih mrortod ViAnda
loting frightful tortures- on the con
demned. The bodies were carried off
to the cemetery and thrown into the '
graves, six persons in each, clothes and
all.
An old, rough clergyman once took
for his text that passage of the Psalms,
" I said in my haste all men are liars."
Looking up apparently as if he saw the
Psalmist standing before him he said :
" You said it in your haste, David, did
you ? Well, if you had been here, you
might have said it after mature delibera
tion." Perhaps one of the oddest elections
cn record occurred at the last general
election for members of the General
Assembly in Germany. A certain dis
trict had only one legal voter, who
walked proudly up to the polls and
voted for himself, tho only eligible
member in the district. But when his
name was announced as tho elected
member, he pompously arose, and said, '
" Messrs. Commissioners, I do iiot ac
cept the election 1" and walked gravely
off.
Over llie Kdge of the Wason.
Emigrants must not stand upon cere
mony. Many a wedding on wheels
has signalized the passage of Western
trains through the last " cities " on the
great frontier. The Warrenburg (Mo.)
Standard says:
Last Friday afternoon, as one of our
popular justices from Ashbury was in
meditation deep among the papers per
taining to his law oases, a swift and
heavy step was heard on the stairway
and along the hallway leading to his of
fice. The door was opened without
any ceremony, and in rushed a man
in a state of high excitement not usual;
ly seen in our quiet city.
" Are you the 'Squire ?" he asked, as
he wiped the perspiration from his
heated brow.
" I am," replied the Justice.
" Well, I want to get married, and
want the thing done right away."
" All right," said the Justice ; " bring
onyour woman."
The excited individual then informed
'Squire A. that the fair and expeotant
one was in town, and that he wanted
the 'Squire to go to her with him and
perform the ceremony.
And after a few preliminary arrange
ments, which included the fee and the
marriage certificate, the Justice follow
ed the gentleman, and finally brought
up with him at the side ef a covered
wagon on the street near the publio
square.
"Here, Mary," said the man, "I
have brought the 'Squire," and, raising
the side of the wagon cover, tho form
and features of the handsome young
woman were revealed to the astonished
Justice.
" Mary, do you wish to marry this
man ?" inquired the Justice, solemnly.
I do," faltered the blushing bride.
" Shall shall she get out on the
street, sir ?" stammered the soon-to-be
husband.
" No," said the Justice.
" Sh shall I get in the wagon, then V
continued the man, who had some faint
idea of the impropriety of the thing.
" No," said the Justice, " stand by
the Bide of the wagon, and take Mary
by the hand."
This being done, the two were
solemnly made one under cover of the
white-sheeted wagon and the blue
canopy of heaven. A number of ladies
and gentlemen passed by the parties,
but knew nothing of the interesting
ceremony that was taking place. The
golden bonds were bound around the
already united souls of William Mize
and Mary Catharine Palmer,