HENRY A. PARSONS, Jr., Editor and Publisher
NIL DESPERANDUM.
Two Dollars per Annum.
VOL. V.
EIDGWAY, ELK COUNTY, PA., THURSDAY, MARCH 11, 1875.
NO. 3.
Over (lio Way.
Over tho way, over the way,
I've seen a hoad that's fair and gray;
I've neon kind eyes not new to tears,
A form of grace, though full of yean.
II jr fifty glimmers have loft no flaw
And I, a youth of twenty-three,
Ho Ijvo this lady, fair to see,
I want Lor for my mother-in-law !
Over the way, over the way,
I'vo Boen her with the children play.
I've Been her with a royal grace
Before the mirror adjust her lace;
A kinder woman nono ever saw j
Gol Moss and clioor her onward psth,
And hlosa all treasures that she hath,
And let hor bo my mother-in-law 1
0 .-er the way, over the way,
1 think I'll venture, dear, eome day
(If you will loud a helping hand,
And sanctify tho schomel've planned),
I'll kneel in loving, reverent awe,
Down at the lady's feet, and say:
" I'vo loved your daughter many a day
I'loano, won't you be my mother-in-law?"
Scribtux't Monthly.
THE BABES IX THE CLOL'DS.
Years ago thoro suddenly burst upon
tho western world a magnificent Btranger
from f oivigii parts, ' ' with all his traveling
glories on." It was the great comet of
1858, on tho grand tour of tho universe.
Wo remember that comet summer, not
so much for its grout astronomical event
as for two singular incidents that more
nearly touched our human sympathies,
which will grovel in poor earthly affairs,
even within sight of the most august
celestial phenomena.
One pleasant Saturday afternoon dur
ing tho comet's nppeorauce, au aeronaut,
after a prosperous voyage, descended
upon a farm in tho neighborhood of a
largo market town in one of tho Western
States. He was soon surrounded by a
curious group of tho farmer's family und
laborers, all asking eager questions about
tho voyage and tho management of the
balloon. That secured by au anchor and
a ropo in the hand of the aeronaut, its
car being a foot or two above tho ground,
was swaying leisurely backward and for
ward in tho evening air. It was n good
deal out of wind, and wa3 u sleepy and
innocent monster in tho eyes of tho
farmer, who, with tho owner's permis
sion, led it up to his house, where, as he
said, ho could hitch it to his fence. But
before ho had thus secured it, his three
children, nged respectively ten, eight
find three, begged him to lilt them "into
that big basket," that they might "sit
on those pretty red cushions."
While the attention of the aeronaut
was diverted by more curious question
ers from a neighboring farm, this rash
father lifted his darlings one by one into
tho car.. Chubby little Johnny proved the
' ouuca too much " for tho ueriul camel,
and brought him to the ground; and
then, unluckily, liot th baby, but the
eldest hope of the family, was lifted out.
The relief was too great for the monster.
The volatile creature's spirit rose at once,
he jerked his halter out of tho father's
hand, and, with a wild bound, mounted
into the air ! Vain was tho aeronaut's
nuchor. It caught for a moment in a
fence, but it tore away, and was off,
dangling uselessly after the runaway
balloon, which so swiftly and steadily
rose that in a few minutes those two
little white faces, peering over tho edge
of tho car, grew indistinct, and those
piteous cries of "Papa!" and "Mamma!"
grew faint and fainter, up in the air.
When distance and twilight mists l.ad
swallowed up voices and faces, and
nothing could bo seen but the dark crnol
shape, sailing triumphantly away, with
its precious booty, liko au aerial priva
teer, tho poor father sank down helpless
and speechless; but tho mother, frantic
with grief, still stretched her yearning
arms towards the inexorable heavens,
and called wildly into the ununswering
void.
The aeronaut strove to console the
wretched parents with assurances that
the balloon would descend within thirty
miles of the town, nnd that all might be
well with tho children, provided that it
did not come down in water or iu deep
woods. In the event of its descending
in a favorable spot, ho thought that the
older child might step out leaving the
younger iu tho balloon. . Then it might
ngaiu uriso and continue its voyage.
" Ah, no," replied tho mother, " Jen
nie would never stir from tho car with
out Johnny in her arms."
Tho balloon passed directly over tho
market town, and tho cliildrcn seeing
many people in the streets, stretched out
their hands and called loudly for help.
But the villagers, though they saw the
bright little heads, heard no calls.
Amazed at the strange apparition, they
might have thought the translated little
creatures small angel navigators, on
some voyago of discovery, some little
cherubic venture of their own, as, head
ing towards the rosy cloudlands and pur
ple islands of sunset splendor, they sailed
deeper and deeper into tho west, and
failed away.
When the sunlight all went away, and
the great comet came blazing out, little
Johnny was apprehensive that the comet
might eome too near the a'ry craft, and
set it on tire with a whisk of its dreadful
tail. But when his sister assured him
that tho fiery dragon was "as much as
twenty miles away," and that God
wouldn't let him hurt them, ho was
tranquilized, but soon afterward said,
"I wish he would come n little nearer,
bo I could warm myself, I'm so cold !"
Then Jennie took off hor apron, and
wrapped it about the child, saying ten
derly, " This is all sister has to make you
warm, darling, but she'll hug you close
in her arms, aud we will say our prayers
and yu shall go to sleep."
" Why, how can I say my prayers be
fore I have my supper? asked little
Johnny.
" Sister hasn't any supper for you or
for herself, but we must pray all the
harder, solemnly responded Jennie.
So the two baby wanderers, alone in
the wide heavens, unawed by darkness,
immensity aud silence, by the presence
of the great comet and the millions of
tuipitying stars, lifted their little clasped
hands, and sobbed out their sorrowful
" Our father," and then that quaint little
supplementary prayer;
Now I lay me down to sleep,'
I pray the Lord my soul to keep ;
If I should die before I wake,
I pray the Lord aiy oul to take.
"There I God heard that, easy; for
wo nre close to Him up here," said inno
cent littlo Johnny.
Doubtless Divmo love stooped to tho
little ones nnd folded them in perfect
peace for soon tho younger, seated on
tho bottom of the car, with his head
leaning ogainst his sister's knee, slept as
soundly as though ho were lying in his
own little bed at home, while the elder
watched through the long, long hours,
and the car floated gently ou in tho still
night air, till it begun to sway and rock
on the fresh morning wind.
Who cau divine that simple little
child's thoughts, speculations, and wild
imaginings, while watching through
those hours ? Sho may have feared com
ing in collision with a meteor for many
were abroad that night, scouts and her
alds of the great comet or, perhaps
being cast away on some desolate star
island, or more dreary still, floating and
floating on, night nnd day, till they
should both die of cold and hunger.
Poor babes in the clouds 1
At length, a happy chauce, or Provi
dence we will say Providence guided
the littlo girl's wandering hand to a cord
connected with tho valve ; something
told her to pull it. At onco the balloon
began to sink, slowly and gently, as
though some celestial pilot guided it
through the wild currents of air, not let
ting it drop into lake, or river, lofty
wood, or impenetrable swamp, where
this strange, unehild-liko experience
might have been closed by a death of un
speakable horror ; but causing it to de
scend as softly ns a bird alights, on a
spot where human care and pity awaited
it.
The sun had not yet risen, but tho
morning twilight had come, when tho
little girl, looking over tho edge of the
car, saw tho dear old earth coming
nearer " rising towards them," she
said. But wheu the car stopped, to her
great disappointment it was not on the
ground, but caught fast in the topmost
branches of a tree. Yet sho saw they
wero near a house whence help might
soon come, so she awakened her brother
and told him the good news, nnd together
they watched and waited for deliverance,
hugging each other for joy and warmth,
for they were cold.
Farmer Burton, who lived in a lonely
house, ou tho edge of his own private
prairie, was a famous sleeper in general,
but on this portieular morning he awoke
before the dawn, and though he turned
and turned again, he could sleep no
more. So, at last, ho said to his good
wife, whom ho had kindly awakened to
inform her of his unaccountable wakeful
ness, " It's no use, I'll just get up and
dress, and have a look at tho comet."
Tho next that worthy woman heard
from her wakeful spouse was a hasty
summons to tho outer door. It seems
that no sooner did he step forth from liis
house than his eyes fell on a strange por
tentous shape, hanging on a large" pear
tree, about twenty yards distant. He
could see no likeness in it to nuything
earthly, and he half fancied that it might
bo the comet, who, having put out his
light, had come down there to perch.
In his fright and perplexity he did what
every wise man would do in a liko ex
tremity; he called upon his valiant wife.
Reinforced by her he drew near the tree,
cautiously recouuoitering. Surely pear
tree never boro such fruit.
Suddenly there descended from tho
thing a plaintive, trembling little voice:
"Pleaso tuke us down. We are very
cold."
Then a second littlo voice said: "And
hungry, too. Please take us down."
" Why, who are you f And where
aro you t"
The first little voice said: "It's us,
and we runned away with a balloon.
Please take us down."
Dimly comprehending tho situation,
the farmer, getting hold of a dangling
rope, succeeded iu pulling down the
balloon.
Tho first lifted out little Johnny, who
ran rapidly a few yards toward the house,
then turned round and stood for a few
moments curiously surveying the bal
loon. The faithful little sister was so
chilled and exhausted that she had to
be carried iato the house, where, treni
bling, sho told tho wonderful story.
liefore sunriso a mounted messenger
was dispatched to the Harwood homo,
with glad tidings of greut joy. He reach
ed it iu the afternoon, aud a few hours
later the children themselves arrived in
state, with banners and music, and cou
voved in a covered hav-wagon and four.
Joy-bells were rung in the neighboring
ftowu, and in the farmer s brown nouse
the happiest family ou tho continent
thanked God that night.
It would seem that this comet had
same occult maddening influence on the
balloons, for during its appearance there
occurred in another Western State an in
voluntary ascension, similar to the one I
havo related, but more tragical in its
termination.
An aeronaut, while, if I remember
rightly, repairing tho net-work of his
balloon, was seated on a slight woodon
cross-piece, suspended under it ; the car
having been removed a few feet above
the ground by merely a rope in tho
hand of an assistant. From a too care
less grasp this rope escaped, and in an
instant the gigantic bubble shot upward,
carrying tho aeronaut on his frail support.
The balloon rose rapidly, but unstead
ly, swaying aud pitching in the evening
wind. As long as it remained in sight
the form of the aeronaut could be dis
tinguished, swinging beneath it. And
as he was known to be a man of uncom
mon nerve and presence of mind, it was
hoped that even from his dizzy perch he
might manage to operate on the valve,
or at least to puncture a small hole in
the balloon, and thus effect ft descent.
But such efforts, if he made any, were
vain, as for many days and nights thoro
was anxious inquiry and patient search
over a wide extent of country, with no
result. We gavo him up. Only wifely
love hoped on, and looked and waited.
At last in a wild spot, the wreck of the
balloon was found, and that was all.
Still, wifely love hoped on, until, a
mouth or two later, some children nut ting
in a wood, many miles away from where
the balloon was found, discovered half
buried in the ground, a strange dark
mass that looked like a heap of old
clothes, but that there was a something,
shapeless and fearless, holding it to
gether. It was thought the aeronaut parted
company with his balloon by loosening
Li hold on the cords above him, in des
perate effort to open the valve; but he
may, nfter whirling in swift vortexes, or
plunging nnd mounting, through cloudy
abysses of air, have become unuervod
by the awful silence of tho upper night,
by the comet's fearful companionship,
by whelming immensity and infinity, and
wearily let go his hold, to drop earth
ward. Children and Dogs.
" Dogs is healthy for children," says
the old wives, and not without founda
tion in fact. Tho influence of these
lively and affectionate playmates of child
hood is very happy ; so much so that we
havo sometimes thought that a boy who
has never had a pet dog has been cheat
ed out of half tho enjoyment and no
small part of the moral culture of in
fancy. But dogs have bad tricks, aud
unless properly trained, are apt to bo
anything but "healthy" for children.
They express their affection iu a very
bad way. We know that it is a common
opinion that there is something wonder
fully wholesome about a dog's tongue,
and that his natural habit of lickiug tho
objects of his affection is rather to bo en
couraged than repressed. Nevertheless
ouo of tho first requirements iu n dog
for a child's pet i3 that he be trained to
emulate prudent humanity and lestrnin
his tongue. It is not " healthy," what
ever the old wives may say. This, set
ting aside the question of rabies alto
gether. A much more common affection
of dogs is a tape worm, for whoso de
velopment both men and dogs havo to
contribute. Its immature or cysticercal
stage is spent in the human body, ofteu
causing great mischief ; then it migrates
to tho dog, completes its development,
and makes provision for a new crop to
infest humanity, forming cysts or hollow
tumors in various parts of the body, The
full grown worm is tho smallest tfenia
known, only about one-qunrter of an
inch in length. The embryo is often as
small as ono two-hundredth of an inch;
yet, according to Cobbold, deoth has
been caused by a single individual lodged
in the brain. At a lute meeting of the
Australian Microscopical Society, Mr.
Sidney Gibbons exhibited specimens re
cently taken from a human subject, aud
said there could bo no doubt that they
were frequently implanted in children as
a consequence of allowing dogs to lick
their hands nnd faces. It is a nasty
practice nt best, and a pot dog's first
lesson should be to keep his tongue to
himself. &'c icn tific A mcrican.
At the Diamond Mines.
When a new placer is discovered at
the South African diamond mines, each
miner chooses, or rather takes at a ven
ture, a piece of land tliirty-oue feet
square, at tho four corners of which ho
places garden-pickets to establish his
possession, as well as his boundary lines.
This is the sole title of ownership, and
he has sometimes to defend it with
blows. Indeed, the last comers often
seek to obtain possession of a claim by
stratagem or force; they await the mo
ment when the owner, going to break
fast, takes away his tools, and leaves
the ground unoccupied, to establish
themselves in his place, and declare that
they have placed there tho boundary
lines. A trial follows, which is decided
ou the spot by a boxing match, and the
claim belongs to tho strongest. As soon
as tiro existence of dinmouds is really
established, the miners meet together
nnd nominate a committee to administer
justice, aud to decide legal questions
without further appeal. The first care
of the committee is to determine when a
claim may Vie considered as abandoned.
It is decided that any claim that is not
worked for three entire days is sup
posed to bo given up, and may bo
taken by the first comer. Au excep
tion is made in case of illness or any
other cause independent of the will of
the miner.
The owner, once established, is ne
more at the mercy of brutal force, and
any one desirous of procuring a por
tion of laud must purchase it of the
holder. At New-Rush the original pro
prietors parceled out their claims in
quarters, fifths, etc., and these portions
always commanded a high price. One
of my neighbors, owning a half claim,
already worked to the depth of over sixty
feet, at tho time of my departure was
bargaining to sell it for twenty thousand
dollars. This is tho reason why so few
fortunes are inado at the mines.
The Salaries of Professional Men.
Talking of salaries in the learned pro
fessions, says an exchange, it is estimated
that the receipts of great actors in our
day will about equal those of great law
yers. Edwin Booth has made as high
as $12,000 a month. Jefferson has made
even more. This year, in a season ef
forty weeks, Clara Morris will net alxmt
870,000; Charlotte Thompson about
half as much. Boucicault, combining
his royalty as dramatist aud his percen
tage as star actor, is making $2,000 a
week at Wallack's Theater, in New
York. Great physicians, but only a few
even of these, muke incomes comparable
to 'those made by great lawyers and great
actors. Mott, Parker, and Clarke have
made as high as $100,000 each in the
course of one year. Iu comparison with
those professions tho divines and edi
tors mako but paltry compensation. Ten
thousand dollars a year is a salary paid
but to about four employed editors in
the country, while Messrs. Beecher nnd
Chapin are the only divines whose in
come reaches beyond $20,000. Of lec
turers John B. Gough makes the largest
income. His average price is $250 a
lecture. Of these he will in a year de
liver about 100, netting about $25,000 a
year. The great lawyer, the great phy
sician and the great actor aro said to be
the host paid brain-workers in America.
Cruelty.
A recent writer notices the striking
similarity of the monkey's fondness for
cruelty to that of man, and says that
every one does not know how much
trouble au average monkey will put him
self to in order that he may enjoy tha
sufferings of other creatures. The mon
keys of India feign sleep for hours when
they want to catch and torture a crow,
and exhibit intense delight in plucking
it olive. The tiger in man is, perhaps,
more money than tiger. Our cruel mnn
is simply a monkey in human shape, and
not a Mble beast at alL
Useful Recipes for All.
A stroiicr solution of hyposulphite of
soda is said to bo excellent for cleaning
silver.
A teaspoonful of powdered borax dis
solved in a quart of tepid water is good
for cleaning old black dresses of silk,
Cashmere or alpaca.
Butter will remove tar spots. Soap
and water will afterward take out the
grease stain.
Black shoes may be bronzed by a
strong solution of anilin rod in alcohol.
Four parts borax and three parts
Epsom salts, mixed with tlu-eo or four
tiarts warm wator to one part of the com
plied substances, is said to form an ex
cellont fireproof wash for clothes. It
should be used immediately niter pre
paration. Flnx seed nnd tallow are used in Ger
many as n stuffing for cushions. One
part of tallow to ten parts of flax seed
are employed, tho mobility of tho
greased seed rendering the cushion very
soft and pliable.
Gold bronze for furniture is a mix
ture of copal varnish mixed with gold
colored bronze powder. The last is
bisulphate of tin.
To prevent moths in carpets, wash the
floor before laying them with spirits of
turpentine or benzine.
Straw matting should be washed with
a cloth dampened in salt water. Indiau
meal sprinkled over it and thoroughly
swept out will also cleanse it finely.
In washing windows, a nnrrow-bladed
wooden knife, sharply pointed, will take
out the dust that hardens in the corners
of tho sash. Dry whiting will polish
the glass, which should first be washed
with weak black tea mixed with a
little alcohol. Save the tea leaves for
the purpose.
Gray marble hearths enn be rubbed
with linseed oil, aud no spots will show.
Sprigs of wiutergreen or ground ivy
will drive away red ants; branches of
wood will serve the same purpose for
black ants.
Papering nnd planting are best done
in cold weather, especially the latter, for
the wood absorbs the oil of paint much
more than in warm weather, while in
cold weather the oil hardens on tho out
side, making a coat which will protect
the wood instead of soaking into it.
Never paper a wall over old paper
and paste. Always scrape down thor
oughly. Old paper cau be got off by
dampening with saleratus and water.
Then go over nil the cracks of the wall
with plaster of paris, and finally put on
a wash of a weak solution of carbolic
acid. The best paste is made out of rye
flour, with two ounces of glue dissolved
iu each quort of paste; half au ounce of
powdered borax improves the mixture.
Au oaken color can bo given to new
pino floors and tables by washing them
in a solution of copperos dissolved in
strong lye, a pound of the" former to a
gallon of tho latter. When dry this
should bo oiled, and it will look well for
a year or two; then renew tho oiling,
Kerosene and powdered lime, whiting,
or wood ashes will scour tins with the
least labor.
Spots can bo taken out of marblo with
finely powdered pumice stono mixed
with verjuice. Cover the spots and al
low the stuff to remain for twelve hours,
then rub clean, dry, aud rinse.
Soapstone hearths nre fir t washed in
pure water nnd then rubbed with pow
dered marblo or noapstoue, put on with
a piece of tho same stone.
Retrenchment Extraordinary.
Tho following story is told of a pretty
well-known gentleman, formerly con
nected with the Pittsburgh press: This
person was in tho habit of taking a "wee
drap " too much at times, and when in
tho resultant condition of exhilaration
ho was, as mnny are, inclined to a lib
erality and extravagance of expenditure
to which his sober self was ah utter
stranger. While ou one of his periodical
benders, the fancy of our hero was
struck with the beauty of a certain pair
of vases of rare workmanship and ex
quisite finish. With tho sentiment,
" darn the expense," in his heart aud ou
his lips, he bought thene vuses, at an
immense price, and boro them home,
and triumphantly called in his wife to
admire them. "Why, John," said she,
tho moment she sot her eyes on them,
" what induced you to buy such costly
ornaments as these? We can't afford to
spend money this way. You will ruin
us, you know you will;" and the poor
lady raised her apron to her eyes and
begau to cry. The sight was too much
for our printer.
" You are right, Mary," he said, "you
are right, aud I am wrong. We can't
afford these vuses; it was extravagant iu
me to buy them. But don't cry; I'll fix
it all right." So saying he let drive his
fist through the two beuutiful vases, aud
ns their fragments rattled about tho
floor, he tnrued to his astonished and
dismayed wife nnd said, " Now, Mary,
we've got rid of those; I'll go and buy a
couple of cheap ones, my darling."
Nearly Got Out.
Young Murray, a former clerk at
Tiffany's, who stole something like 812,
000 worth of diamonds from his employ
ers, was sentenced to seven years. A
few days ago, says a Sing Siug corre
spondent, the time of another convict
by tho name of Murray expired. Mur
ray, Tiffany's clerk, became aware of it,
presented himself at the office and stated
that his timo was out aud he would like
his discharge. While the preliminaries
were being arranged and the popers for
Murray's discharge being made out, a
keeper presented himself at the office
and asked why his man Murray had not
been sent for. He said Lis time was out,
and thought it strange he had not been
sent for. Then the first Murray was
walked back to his cell nnd the right
Murray discharged. The diumond thief
is still in prison and will remain there
for about six and a lialf years.
Nothing More. An old farmer pur
chased some sweet oil in a drug store,
and being asked if there was "nothing
else," he laid several packages on the
counter, held up a hand with several
string's tied on the fingers, and snid:
"Let's see ! That red string is for the
bar-soap ; that rag iu'for a broom ; that
blue cord is for a calico dress j that braid
means four pounds of sugar, and this
other string is for sweet oil. No noth
ing more,"
llovf to Keep House on a Small Salary.
A clerk's wife sends to Scribner's
magazine tho following-bit of experience,
which may havo for many of our renders
an interest both timely and practical:
After many years of mnrried life passed
in comparative affluence reverses came,
and my husband was obliged to accept a
situation in a large city, with a Binall
salary of eight hundred dollars per year.
I felt that this could suffice for our
maintenance only by tho exerciso of the
strictest economy. A littlo over fifteen
dollars a week 1 How many times I di
vided that eight hundred dollars by fifty
two and tried to make it como out a littlo
more. Still I determined to solve the
problem of the day namely, whether
ouo could keep home on a small salary,
or whether boarding-house life was a
necessity, ns so many clerks' wives as
sert. We had neither of us been ac
customed to economizing, end I felt it
was but just, if my husbnnd worked
hard for his salary, that I should per
form the labor of making it go as far ns
possible.
Thirty replies wero received to om1 ad
vertisement for two unfurnished rooms,
without board. Looking them over
carefully, I selected half-a-dozeu which
canio within our means, and started on
an exploring expedition. In a pleasant
house and neighborhood I found a lady
willing to rent two adjoining rooms,
with closets and water conveniences, for
tho modest sum of twelve dollars per
month. In one room there were two
deep south windows, where I coidd keep
a few plants in the whiter. I consulted
my husband, aud with his approval en
gaged the rooms.
We had one hundred and seventy-five
dollars, ready money. With this we
bought bright, but inexpensive carpets,
a parlor cook stove,an oiled black waluut
set of furniture, a table, a student lamp,
a few dishes, aud some coal. With the
few pictures, a rack of books, aud some
ornaments in our possession, we docked
tho rooms tastefully, and commenced
tho serious business of keeping house
ou eight hundred dollars per. year. We
determined from the first that wo should
not havo any accounts, but would pay
cash for everything, and when we could
not afford au article, do without it.
After paying rent aud washerwoman we
had fifty dollars per month for other
expenses. Twenty dollars of this fur
nished us a plentiful supply of food and
paid car fare. I learned to lovo my
work. Strength came with each day's
labor, aud renewed health repaid euch
effort put forth to make my little homo
pleasant and restful to my husband.
And how we did enjoy that little home !
When the stormy nights came, we
drew our curtains, shutting out the
world, with a bright fire, and tho soft
glow of our reailiug-lamp upon the
crimson cloth, reading a magazine or
evening paper (in which wo were able
to indulge), with a "God pity the poor
this dreudful night," forgetting in our
cozy and comfortable home how many
there were in the great city who would
call us poor. We always kept within my
husband's salary, wealing plain but good
und respectable clothing, aud eating
simple but substantial food. And now,
as circumstances have been improving
with us, and we are living in a house nil
our own, with servants, and thousands
instead of hundreds a year, we look back
to the year spent iu our simple, frugal
littlo home, and know that it will always
be the happiest portion of our lives.
Improvement of the Mississippi.
Tho passage of the bill for tho im
provement of the mouth of tho Missis
sippi river, by the application of the jetty
system to tho southwest pass, was ac
complished in the United States House,
in substtuitiidly the same shape in which
it was reported by tho committee on
commerce. The bill authorizes Captain
James B. Eads, of St. Louis, to con
struct jetties at the southwest pass, pro
vided there is no means employed which
shall hinder navigation. Tho basis of
the agreement is that Eads agrees to ob
tain a depth of twenty feet of water
throughout this pass within thirty
months from the date of the approvol of
the act, and an additional two feet dur
ing each succeeding year until a depth
of thirty feet shall havo been secured,
for which tho government will agree to
pay Mr. Eads 88,000,000, and the annual
sum of 150,000 thereafter for tho main
tenance of the channel at a depth of
thu-ty feet. The first $500,0U0 is to bo
paid when a channel of twenty-two feet
1.. 11 1. 1 .1 1 A ' - ' 111
in uepin auu iwo nunureu ieei iu wiuui
is obtained, and 8500,000 moro when
this depth is maintained for a year. A
million of dollars each year is to be paid
for tho addition of two feet permanent
depth to the channel, and when the
depth of thirty feet is finally obtained
the remaining $2,000,000 are to be re
tained by the government, one-half for
ten years and tho other half for twenty
years, as a guarantee of tho permanence
of the work. The bill is strongly gmrd
ed. The first $500,000, necessary to bo-
gin tho work, is appropriated by tho bill,
and it is provided tliat Eads shall take
five per cent, bonds if tho government
elect to pay him iu that way.
They AVere Poor Then.
Twenty-five years ago society in
AYashington was not what it is to-day,
Senators and Representatives and olli
cers were poor. A correspondent, in
writing of that time, says : But the
order was shabbiuess and poverty, and,
I think, it conduced to general socia
bilitv and enjoyment. Tho officers of
the army and navy (always our aristoc
racy), and those who served the govern
ment in other capacities, were profes
sionally poor, of course. Therefore it
became, hi a measure, fashionable to be
poor, and it was wittingly said by a
Washington lady, when the wife of an
officer in tho army happened to have a
rich father, who bought her a house,
that sho rather lost ensto in the best so
ciety of Washington thereby, nnd was
looked upon a3 a nouvcatt riche.
Limbs of Cattle. A writer in the
Agricultural. Gazette cites his observa
tion iu reference to the healing of broken
bones of cattle. An ox fractured his leg
ubove the knee, a heifer broko her thigh
a compound fracture, another suffered
a simple fracture, but in spito of differing
doctors these animals were turned out to
take their chances, and each and all ac
tually made a good recovery iu the course
of a few weks,
DETERMINED TO BE A PIRATE.
Itemilt of Pittrrnnl linrltlinn on a Detroit
;nr-Anry tIioiikIk In n. Wonilxliecl A
Fond Farewell ull Around.
CHAPTER I. THJ5 nor.
He was one of that kind of boys who
need a good whipping about twice per
week, but who think they ought not to
bo whipped moro than onco in two years.
His amusement was sliding down hill on
nothing, bluffing some boys, and pre
paring Cayenne pepper lozenges for un
suspecting cats. Ho was often heard to
remark:
"Things hnd got to git up 'n howl
when Leonidas is around."
CHAPTEU II. AT TWrUHHT.
Time, sundown scene, tho interior of
a well-preserved woodshed. The sound
of blows and cries rent the solemn still
ness of twilight's mystic- hour, and the
old mnn was heard saying:
"There, I guess that'll last you for a
day or two I I've put up with your snss
as long as I can !"
No reply nothing but deep-drawn
sol 13 and quavering sighs.
Tho old man threw away tho strap
and walked into .the house, and Leonidas
eat on tho corner of nn old table to medi
tate. CHAPTER 111. A BLOODY. liESOf-VE.
"That's the last licking I'll ever take
from any mortal mnn !" whispered the
lad, shaking his fist at tho kitchen door.
"And I'll make tho old man sorry that
he ever laid a strap over his only son I"
He resolved to run nwny and become a
pirate ! Ho would sail the raging main,
revel in murder, acquire ducats, and
then come home and take revenge on his , "
father. With Leonidas to resolve was
to execute. He entered the house, pass
ed up stairs, and was soon engaged in :
making up a bundle, consisting of one I
pair of patched pauts, ono photograph of j
his girl, one jack-knife, one cotton sock,
aud a few walnuts. Tho buudlo was
thrown out of the window, and then
CHAPTER IV. LEONIDAS LOOKS AROUND
the room for tho last time. Tho bedstead
looked familiar, the old blue chest iu tho
corner had a thousand tender memories
connected with it, and tho broken-down
chair seemed to hold out its arms and
plead for him to stay.
1 would it tuo out man nadn t lick
ed me," answered Leonidas; "but I'll
show him what kiud of a coffee mill I
am!"
He passed down stairs, and halted to
embrace tho baby. Ho wasn't dowu on
his mother, and ho gave her a sweet
smile. He crawled in behind the stove,
and whispered to tho dog :
' Good-bye, old Samson. I d liko to
stay here, but I'm too old to be licked !"
Aud he passed out of doors, nnd
the grent wide world was before him.
CHAPTER V. SOL15MN THOUGHTS.
Securing his bundle, Leonidas crept
into tho back yard to seo if it was reidly
best for him to beeomo a pirate. The
polar wave chewed at his ears and red
dened his nose, aud he wondered if the
pirate business wasn't pretty sold busi
ness, tie Uidn t Know whether it was
best to make for Toledo or Chicago in
order to become a buccaneer, but ho
finally passed through tho gate. He
walked nround the nouse several times
to catch a glimpse of his mother. It
was hard to tear himself away. He
knew how she would take on next day,
aud the papers would call it another
Charlie Ross case, and ho decided to go
into tho yard and think it over again.
C'UAPTEB VI. A KAY Ol" LIGHT.
After a littlo time spent in thought,
Leonidas decided that if his father
would agree never to lick him again, aud
would give him $2 per week to buy
candy, lie would not run away and be-
come a pirate. He would go in ami
make the proposition to the old man,
and if it should be rejected farewell to
home welcome a career of blood.
Ho went in. No ono had noticed his
absence, aud every face looked as nat
ural as if he hadn't been gone twenty
eight minutes. Ho felt somo littlo
delicacy about broaching tho proposi
tion, and, as a "feeler," he nsked tho
old mnn to lend him his knife. It was
handed to him nnd returned nfter n
while, and Leonidas decided to put oft'
making the proposition until morning.
He got into his little bed feeling that it
was positively his last night, but the
next forenoon he was heard splitting
wood in the back yard and saying to
Jack Sparling :
"I've concluded to wait until he licks
mo just onco moro, and then nothing
can stop mo nothing on earth." De
troit Free I'itm.
A California Husband's Wrongs.
Her mother had told her not to marry
until she was nblo to support a hus
band; but she heeded not her gentle
mother's warning; she went and got
civil-contracted to a man who was a fine,
ong-winded talker, and who could sit
around and keep a stove warm better
than any one she ever saw in her life.
Aud then how proficient he was in lying
in bed and snoring, on a December
morning, while she got up and split the
wood, made tho fire, fed the horses,
swept tho floor, boiled the coffee, blacked
his boots, mended that hole in his coat,
sewed ou that shirt button, aud laid a
a pipeful of tobacco and the matches
alongside his pillow. And how loving
she must have felt toward him, when
he got up last at about ten o'clock,
cursing her for making a noise, and
wanted to know why there was no beef
steuk and eggs on the table, aud why
she hadn't pawned her watch it was a
dying mother's gift in order to give
him whisky money. And when, after
three years of this, she left him, and
went to work as a sewing girl, people
spoke of the depravity of the woman who
left her husband.
Gambling.
Speaking of poker playing, a corre
spondent says: I have known a party of
distinguished citizens play poker two
days and two nights, eating and drink
ing from trays held by servants. One of
them was at one timo winner of $75,000,
but at the close of the game the loss and
gain wns not great. I have often come
down from the couch of innocence to a
nine o'clock Washington breakfast, and
found the same party of men playing
away just as I bad left them the night
before,
Little Faniiny.
When we see a precious bloesoni
That we tended with Buch caro,
Eudoly taken from Oiir bosom,
Though our aching hearts despair,
Hound bin little grave we linger,
Till the setting sun is low,
Feeling all our hopes hav perished
With the Dower we cherished so.
Items of Interest.
A mnn with large feet should nover
stand upon trifles.
No other living thing can go so slow
on an errand as a boy.
The American eagles of Texas county,
Mo., have been stealing sheep.
Teoplo who are always wanting some
thing new should try neuralgia.
Poor men and hens are obliged to
scratch to get nlong in this world.
The saying, "excuse haste nnd a bad
pen," has been ottributed to a pig who
ran away from home.
A soft nuswer turneth away wrnth, but
we loao our patience with people who are
continually asking soft questions.
If you want to get an idea how tho
Brooklyn court room looks during tho
Beecher trial, look nt a box of sardines.
The mnn who makes a will these days
is only paving the way for tho court to
pronounce him a fool or a lunatic after
his death.
Tho other day a Buffalo man named
Farthing married a young girl whoso
mother, although quite wealthy, wouldn't
give her assent.
Au Illinois farmer, who has fourteen
children and a healthy wife, says thnt
the bottom of the potato bin seems mado
of India rubber.
"The great need of Cairo," said a
capitalist after being taken over the town,
" is a fine-tooth comb factory, with a re
tail store in connection."
Agesilaus, when one told him there wns
one did excellently counterfeit a night
ingale, and wonld have had him hear
him, said: "Why, I have heard the
nightingale herself."
A young lady iu a neighboring town is
engaged to bo married to a gentleman
named Homer Place; and you can judgo
for yourself whether sho thinks "there's
no Place like Homer" not.
A gentleman, who was formerly nn
officer in the Coldstrenm guards, wns
brought up nt tho Southwick (London)
police court recently on tho chnrgo of
having stolen nn umbrella, nnd was
committed for trial.
A matter-of-fact doctor's wife attempt
ed to move him by her tears. " Ah !"
said he, "tears nre useless. I have ana
lyzed them. They contain a littlo
phosphate of lime, some chlornto of
sodium and water."
Neennh wants some ono to discover a
lead mine iu that vicinity, to bring down
tho price of tho metal. A policeman
there has been shooting at a mad dog
for three weeks and tho city has to
furnish the material.
A New York editor, says au exchange,
is engaged to marry a foreign princess.
Sho will not lose casto by tho match, for
tho young editor is of noble blood him
self. Ho is a count, one of the old
original line of Noah Counts.
A very flexible temperance pledge is
this, which is circulated among Boston
fashionable ladies: 1 promiso that no in
toxicating liquor shall be used in this
house for cooking purposes, and in sick
ness, that it shall bo given conscien
tiously. It rarely happens that a death occurs
nt a funeral. Mr. Symonds, of Saugus,
Mass., was seized with apoplexy while
j (lttendiut: tho funernl of a friend, and
died instantly. lie had celebrated tne
fortieth anniversary of his wedding the
night previous.
London street thieves steal tho fur
trimming from ladies' sacks. Going be
hind a lady with a sharp knife they cut
tho fur down just at tho center of tho
back, and thou, giving a quick tug with
each hand, tear off' ns much fur as will
como off at one pull.
A gentleman passing ncross tho play
ground of a public school was nffrouted
by the boys, and was ndvised to com
plain to tho principal, which he did:
" I have been abused by some rascals
of the place, and I canio to acquaint
you of it, as I understand you aro tho
principal."
A MilforJ (N. II.) boy was charged
with stealing a gold pen, pleaded guilty,
and was sent to the reform school. A
young girl has since been detected steal
ing from tho same storo, and the identi
cal pen which the boy was said to have
stolen was found in her possession. The
boy is to be pardoned.
Economy in business matters is now
the rule. The head of a firm observing
cu3 of his men loitering about lately
said : "John, times are so dull we shall
havo to lay you off awhile. Stay around
nud wo will give you job work at the
usual rate, forty cents an hour." John
stayed ; ho got about eight hours a day
job work, right along, and ho thanks his
employer for doing what he did to him ;
for his wages before were only $1.75 per
day. Moral : liet well enougn nione.
Kot so Funny for Charles.
Charles Williams, of Westchester, Pa.,
was found guilty of libeling the pastor
and officers of the First Presbyterian
church. The article charged tho pastor
with gross immorality, and that he M as be
ing tried before a commit toe of the
church, und that although the testimony
elicited wns bo damaging as to create
fears that the reverend gentleman would
be lynched, there was no doubt but that
he M'ould be acquitted. Williams took
the stand after the testimony had been
elicited for tho prosecution, and ad
mitted thnt he had written the article,
and sent it to a New York paper, iu
which paper it was published. He also
stated that he knew there was not a werd
of truth in his statement, but that ho
had written it for fun, and to creute a
sensation.
Cube for Frosted Feet. Dissolve a
quarter of a pound of washing soda in a
gallon of hot water, and soak the feet
thoroughly, afterward rub with vinegar,
and the cure is certain.