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HENRY A. PARSONS,
VOL. Vir. " KIBGAVAY, ELK COUNTY, PA., THURSDAY, MARCH 8, 1877. - Na 3' -
The Old Widower.
Alone, arc, masters, I live alone in this one
email room that you nee,
For now my old woman is laid to rest I've no
one to think of me i
We were wedded a long, long while ago, full
fifty year or more,
And folks find changes hard to bear when nigh
upon four score.
Ah, she was a handsome and winsome lass In
the days of the far back past,
And a beauty lingcr'd on lu-r old face for me to
the very la&t
True, Mie sometimes hud a bit of a tuiigue, but
maybe I hud one too,
Aud I find out now she's dead and gone what
worries a wife, goes through.
Aye, the petty troubles of woman's life a man
can only learn
When he has to light his fire himself, aud finds
green wood won't burn ;
When he has to wash out liU bits of things,
and cook his food kinnelf,
And keep his crockwore free from dust, and
ranged on a nice clean Buelf.
And then the needle that seemed to fly with
magic speed through her work,
Sticks tightly in mine, as if rusted in, and I pull
: it out with a jerk j
And ray cotton ties in a thousand knots, aud
as for worsted yarn,
I know I could dig up an acre of ground while
I'm doing a little darn.
The old gray cat that my dead wife loved comes
rubbing against my hand,
And I often tiud myself talking to her as if bhe
could understand ;
Hut 'tis comfort to speak when my heart is full,
for it Boftens my grief away,
And I don't waut to hear other people preach,
for there is nothing new they can say.
Of coarse I know she is better oft, but a man at
the close of life
Seems beginning his working days over again
when he loses his long time wife ;
I shall go to her, aye, I'm thinking of that, and
I'll patiently here abide,
Till under the shado of the church we both
loved, I am laid by my old wife's side.
"TRAMP, TRAMP."
A lonely country road, with the night
closing upon it; tlio nun set and the sky
black, nnil white streaks where ho had
been; the color gone from all the earth,
even from the many tinted maple and
sumacs that nu hour before had flamed
in their October brilliancy; the air frosty
and fresh just the night to go bowling
swiftly home in a light wagon over a
well graded road, with tho prospect stf a
bright lire and hot supper at the eno of
the journey.
Mrs. Cuthbert wished that her hus
band would come " bowling home," as
she lighted the lamp and placed it in the
center of the pretty tea table, so daintily
set forth with her wedding glass and sil
ver; the supper would not be fit to eat if
he were lr.ueh later, and Mrs. Cuthbert
was too conscientious a housewife not to
feel alarmed at tho idea of her good
things being spoiled, but, like the even
tempered little woman she was, she only
put an extra stick on the wood fire crack
ling on the hearth, and settled down in
her favorite arm-chair, with her sewing
to keep her hands busy, while her cars
were on tho alert for her husband's step,
or a cry from the baby up ptairs.
She was quito alone, it being one of
those periods that so often befall Ameri
can housekeepers, when the " help "
has taken it into her head to depart with
out waiting for a successor to be ap
pointed. The fire snapped and blazed, the clock
ticked on, and nil was quiet. But if
Mrs. Cuthbert had chanced to look up,
.riio might have seen a face pressed close
against tho window pane au ugly face
with a rough beard and tangled hair, a
broken nose that looked most unprepos
sessing flattened on the glass, and eyes
that gleamed greedily at the silver on
the table but the did not, and all was
quit.
The clock struck seveu, and Mrs.
Cuthbert started, surprised aud distress
ed. She forgot about the supper friz
zling away t nothing in the oven, and
began to worry about her husband it
was such a 1 mcly walk, if it was only
two miles, aud she did .wish lie would
come. -. "
Footsteps on the front porch sent her
fears to the winds, and a spirit of mis
chief took possession of her in their
fctead; the door was locked, aud she
would make him wait a few minutes to
pay him out for making her wait bo
long.
She bent her head and pretended not
to notice, even wh?n she heard the steps
descend from the porch and tramp over
the grass to the window.
Tho sash was violently thrown up,
and the ugly face that had beenT-egard-ing
her a short time before was thrust
into the room, and a fierce voice de
manded: " Why don't yer come Vra open the
door for me ?"
Mrs. Cuthbert nodded her pretty
head, and without turning rojiud an
swered, saucily:
"No, sir, I don't mean to let you in
to-night." ., ,
Tho ugly face looked thunderstruck,
then frightened, and finally two grimy
paws clutched tho window, shutting it
it with, a crash that made the glasses
quiver, and the ugly face was gone.
" Oh, dear ! now he's angry I always
do cany my fun too far," cried Mrs.
Cuthbert, springing from her chair and
rushing into the hall.
" George ! George !"
S'je turned the lock.
' George !"
ylie porch was empty, but she caught
sight of a dark figure hurrying up the
paHi to the barn.
" fW' you're not goiug to hide from
me ' that way, sir !" she called out,
running down the steps and on toward
the barn.
The dark figure was swallowed up in
the great black doorway before she
reacneu it.
Oh, you great goose !" she said.
ling on the threshold, "don't you
e I can find you ? You had better
irsen up at once."
le waited. The dark fierure
till closer behind the old. car-
ere was no answer.
Jr., Editor and Publisher.
corner," she gave warning ; then, with I
arms stretched out before her, com
menced the search. Iu and out among
the barrels nn l boxes she went in the
utter blackness, calling out merrily now
r ml then that she would find him and
punish him for giving her so much
tr: uble. Once she almost touched the
shrinking figure ; but it held its breath,
and she passed on.
It was a weird game of hide-and-seek J
the dark figure with the ugly face cower
ing among the wheels, listening with a
strange kind of savage fear to the light
footsteps that sounded now here, now
there ; he heard them climb the ladder
and patter about in the loft overhead,
then come down again, and the voice
not so merry now repeat her assurance
of finding the truant, and a sudden de
Bire entered his brain to spring upon her
and choke her. It would not be the 6 rut
time he had done such a deed, but her
perfect audacity seemed to paralyze him,
and agnin she passed him all uucouscious.
He saw her puuso in the doorway, dimly
outlined against the sky, and then dis
appear down the path.
"Ef she ain't the pluckiest un 1" he
growled, as he crept from behind the
carriage. " Hanged ef she ain't a ghost
or suthiu." Aud with this peculiar com
ment on Mrs. Cuthbert's bravery, he
shook himself and mnde his way out of
the barn with a sidelong gait, a's if lie
was used to slinking iu and out of places.
Mrs. Cuthbert meanwhile sped on to
the house, her steps hastened by the
idea that her husband might bo there
perhaps he had slipped oiit of the barn
while she was up in the loft, or perhaps
he had not gone into the barn at all.
Alas for her hopes 1 The sitting-room
was empty, and just as she had left it.
Not despairing yet, she snatched up
the lamp, and determined to search the
house. From room to room she went,
calling upon George, and looking into
every closet and behind aud under every
article of furniture, but not a glimpse of
her husband gladdened her eyes, and nt
Inst she sat down by the baby's cradle
I and burst into tears,
i "Oh, how can he be so cruel!" she
i sobbed, "and for such a little thing. He
! might have known I was only in fuu ;
1 but maybe he's only in fuu himself, and
; will come in soon."
Cheered by this last reflection, she
trotted briskly down stairs, stirred the
fire into a blaze, and . stood witching it,
too fidgety to settle to her sewing oguin.
The wood flamed noisily, then glow ed a
silent red, then crumbled and fell, an un
tidy, dreary mass of whitened ashes aud
dying embers, and still her husband did
not come.
The clock struck nine, and Mrs. Cutb
beiit looked at it reproachfully, as if it
was the time-piece's fault that it was so
late. Where was her husband? Per
haps he was wandering about in the dark,
unable to find the house. Why hadn't
she thought of that beforo ? She would
put a lamp in every room.
And in a few minutes lights were
twinkling from 1 11 the windows, giving
the little cottage (.-.ito a gay and festive
air. Who could have guessed that a
lonely woman aud a sleeping child were
its solo occupants ? Not t':e dark figure
with the ugly face, doubled up under
tho lilac bushes that bordered the gravel
path.
As the hours wore on, nnothtr dark
figure joined tho one of the ugly face,
and was greeted with an oath upon his
i laziness, mid tho information thnt
; "something was up, that the hrst
j chance was "spiled," and they would
j have t.i " lay to awhile ;" and then both
' tho dark figures, with manv a curee and
shiver, crouched together, bidding their
time.
I Poor Mrs. Cuthbert, as the night crept
j on, wandered from window to window,
! with the vague feeling that if tho could
' not see her husband from one, bhe might
i from another. Sometimes the stood at
j the door, listening intently, and conjur-
ing every breath of wind into the longed
! for footsteps, her heart dying within her
' at each fieidi disappointment. She
i must have walked miles in that small
j house; tho baby waxed restlesp, and she
; was up irony times to replaco the cover
j ings that the sturdy little legs had thrown
! oil' in climbing the invisible mountain
j that a child is always ascending iu his
j bleep.
i The clock struck one. How like the
! voice cf fate it sounded I It was not at
all the cheerful ting that, when tho sun
was shining, had announced tho dinner
hour that day.
A distant dog barked, aud Mrs. Cuth
bert rushed to the door; she had resum
ed her sewing to keep herself from going
distracted, and she still clasped it in her
hand. What a black, black night ! aud
how cold the wind was ! Hark ! the was
certain she heard voices by tho gate.
Yes; she did. Just then the baby began
to cry, and only stopping to callback:
"In a moment, darling," she plunged
down the walk.
All was silent; there was no one there.
She stood with her hand upon tho gate a
few seconds, looking eagerly up the road,
and then walked slowly back to the
house.
As the front door' closed, the lilac bush
by the gato quivered, and two dark fig
ures crawled from under it.
When Mrs. Cuthbert laid the baby in
his cradle, after singing him back to the
invisible mountains, the clock struck
two, r.nd Mrs. Cuthbert looked hopeless
ness in the face.
Georgo was never coming home, she
decided. It was no use watching; he
was never corning home any more. Then,
as the next gust of wind sent a twig rat
tling on tho gravel, she was at tho win
dow, straining her eyes as she had been
doing all the evening.
How strange every familiar object in
the house seemed ! the light burned so
whitely, and the sitting-room looked so
uncanny, with the tea table spread, and
tho hands of the clock marking the small
hours. An unseasonable moth went
banging about the ceiling with what
sounded a tremendous noise in that dead
silence, end the fire refused point blank
to be cheerful, despite the armfuls of
wood piled on it.
How tho hours dragged ! She seemed
to have lived yeors since she heard those
footsteps on the porch. Why had she
been sucU a fool ?
It was five o'clock now, and the roos
ters far aud near began to herald the ap
proach of dawn. The sky turned from
black to gray, and a whitish smudge in
the caiit announced the rising of the glor
pu iuu,
Mrs. Cuthbert put out the lights and
went to the front door. A drizzling rnin
had Bot in, and the damp raw air made
her shudder. She went back to the sitting-room,
and, in a dreary, mechanical
kind of way, lit the fire there and in the
little kitchen ; then brought baby down
stairs, washed and dressed him as UBUnl,
and put him on the floor to play while
she prepared his bread and milk.
But baby was not destined to get his
breakfast just yet, for at that moment a
light step was 'heard in the entry, and a
tall young man walked into the room.
The'brend and milk were dropped any
where, and Mrs. Cuthbert flung herself
into his arms, sobbing, crying and beg
ging his pardon all in a breath.
" I'll never do it again. Won't you
forgive me, George ?"
"Forgive what? I haven't anything
to forgive," said the astonished George.
" Oh, yes, you have. I know it was
dreadfully wicked of nie ; but I'll never
do it again. "
"What on earth is the matter?"
"Won't you forgive me?" was 'all
Mrs. Cuthbert's answer.
"Eleanor, what is the matter?" de
manded the distracted young man, all
kinds of awful visions flying through
his brain. " What have you done ?"
"Why, I didn't let you in when you
came homo last night. I only meant to
keep you waiting a little while. "
" When I came home last night ?
Why, I haven't been within fifteen miles
of the house since seven o'clock yester
day morning. I've just come down on
the 4:30 train.
" Didn't you come home lost night ?"
gasped Mrs. Cuthbert.
" Come home ? No, of course I didn't;
I've been working at the office half the
night. Didn't you receive my telegram
saying that I should be detained in the
city all night ?"
"No; I haven't received any. What
does it all mean ?"
And then she told him all about it
in rather au incoherent style to be sure;
but she made him understand, aud he
was greatly puzzled as to who it could
have been.
Mrs, Cuthbert, now that her mind j
was relieved, began to remember that
she had eaten nothing since dinner the
day before, and was soon flying about
broiling ham and poaching eggs, stop
ping to have a hearty laugh over the
charred remains of her 1 usband's sup
per, which Bho took from the even.
Then they sat down to the tea table,
babv and all, and ato their breakfast.
That afternoon the village youth who
did their "chores" was unusually late
in coming, but when he did arrive it was
with such a budget of news that lu's tar
diness was forgiven.
Ho hail been au eye-witness to tho
capture of two burglars at Squire Jones';
they had been discovered in the very act
of carrying olf tire silver.
"Laws, how they fit!" Biiid tho boy.
"They smashed Bill Williams' head in
with the plato basket, an came 'most
near hittin' me, an' when we had 'em
caught tight, how they did talk ! They
cussed nu' swore, on' one on 'em a feller
with a powerful ugly face said as how
they wouldu't hev been nabbed if they
hedn't been fooliu' round another house
all the evenin'; an' he ses: ' There's one
of tho pluckiest women there,' ses he;
'why, when I hollered into tho winder at
her, she didn't miud it no more than
nothin',' sts ho, 'au' hanged if she
i man i ioiier mo out to tno Darn, an go
pokiu' round after me iu the dark !' "
! Mrs. Cuthbert clung to her husbuud,
and shuddered at this part of the narra
tive. "An' he ses," the boy went on "ho
ses, ' I s'poso I should hev knocked her
on the head if sho hed been n man, but
the blamed pluck of sich a little thing
jist completely flabbergasted me'
that's jest his words; an' he ses that she
come out after him again, when he an'
his pal was hidin' under some bushes,
an' they was afraid to tech her, 'cause
they seen suthiu shiuiu in her hand,
an' didn't know but it might be a eix-
! shooter."
" My scissors, I suppose," faintly
murmured Mrs. Cuthbert; her husband
only heard her.
" Wu'al, they're safe enough now au'
I guess I'll fetch tho coal," naid tho boy,
w ith the stolidity of a true sou of the
soil, seizing the coal scuttle, but drop
ping it again to rummage in the inner
pocket of his jacket. " Hero's a letter
for you, sir tho man raid I might as
well bring it 'long, as his boy couldn't
get up this way 'fore to-morrer mornin',
an' you might bo in a hurry."
"My telegram," said Mr. Cuthbert,
handing it to his wife. " What a con
venience theso modern scientific discov
eries are !'' JIurper's liazar.
How Rubber Boots are Matte,
The giim used is imported directly
from Africa, South America aud Central
America, that from Central America
being the best, while the African gum is
the poorest. Tho raw gum, which is
nearly white, is ground several times
betweeu immense flutod iron rollers,
after which it passes through the com
position room, which process is secret,
but when it conies out the gum has the
black appearance of common rubber.
The next process is that of passing the
rubber between chilled iron cylinders,
of many tons weight, which are kept very
hot aud very smooth. A part of the
rubber intended for "uppers," is here
spread upon and fastened-to long sheets
of cloth. The heels and taps are stamped
out of shoots of gum of the required
thickness. The rubber cloth is now car
ri.'d to' tho cutter's room, where it is cut
out and sent to tho boot makers. The
boots are made by men, the shoes or or
dinary rubbers by girls, while tho over
shoes ure mado by either. One man will
make twelve or fourteen pairs of boots a
day, and receive twenty cento a pair.
An active girl will make from twenty
five to thirty pairs of rubbers. After
the bootmoker is through they are placed
in an oven, where for twelve hours they
are subiectad to a temperature f 300
degrees. They are then ready for box
ing and shipping. In one fuctory about
four thousand pairs oi boots, rubbers,
and overshoes are turned out daily.
Europe wants for 1877 at least 5,772,-
500 bales of cotton, and, upon the basis
of 4,350,000 bales for America and lib
eral estimates elsewhere, it is calculated
there will be deficiency of 515,000
bales,
NIL DESPEKANDTJM.
ARCTIC KXI'LOUATIOX. Romantic Relic.
FnTornblc Itcporl or the Committee un
Navo.1 Afl'ulro on the BUI lo Kqnip an
peilltlou for Pulur Itcacorch.
Mr. Willis, of New York, from the
House committee on naval affairs, sub
mitted a report on the House bill to au
thorize and equip an expedition to tho
Arctic seas. The committee say the ob
ject of the bill is so interesting and im
portant in its character that they have,
while not neglecting to gravely consider
it with reference to its results to science
and commerce, availed themselves of all
information accessible, and callod into
requisition the testimony of experience
and learning. They discuss the inquiry
whether, under the Constitution or
otherwise, to fit out an expedition such
as contemplated would be an appropiate
and legitimate function of the govern
ment for the exercise of which taxes
could be properly levied upon the peo
ple, and, if so, whether the nation would
get value received for the expenditure in
curred and the perils to which its citizens
would be exposed. They review the re
sults attained from tho various exploring
expeditious which, from time to time,
have been organized and dispatched to
the Arctic regions, and express grave
doubts as to the chances of future suc
cess in the enterprise if continued upon
the plans heretofore followed.
They think that to render success as
sured the men and the vessels must be
near the channel by which the north
west passage is to be reached at the for
tunate hour aud prepared to take prompt
advantage thereof. Polar colonization is
represented to be the plan Baited to the
exigency. 1 his plan rcqmres a coloniza
tion mvrtv of nt least forty hnrdv. reso.
lute men, enlisted iu the United States
for such service, provided with
supplies for at least three years';
a strong, substantial building, trans
ported on shipbourd, and the prin
cipal depot to be iu Lady Franklin bay,
or if possible as high as Cape Union, be
tween latitude eighty-two and eighty
three degrees; the United States vessels
to be only used for transporting men and
supplies to the location of the colony and
to make aunual visits thereto with fresh
supplies and keep the colony in commu
nication with the outside world; niilitiuy
discipline to bo enforced by officers "se
lected for their fitness for the duty, etc.
An astronomer aud two or more natural
ists to be selected by the National
Academy of Sciences, and one or more
members competent to make meteoro
logical observations. The region pro
posed for the colony abouuda iu coal and
iu fish and game, and never before, the
committee say, has an opportunity offer
ed so promising in its results as now pre
sents itself.
The committee review what has been
and is being done by various foreign na
tions to attain the desirable ends sought
by the exploration- in- questj.wn, with a
view to progress in scientific dfscoveries.
The committee say that there is scarcely
a natural science but would bo enlarged
aud utilized by proper observations in
the Polar seas. Natural forces there are
subject to extreme conditions and conse
quently produce phenomena not seen
elsewhere, aud which serve to reveal the
character f tho forces theuiHclves. Won
derful alrendy are the discoveries made
in each field oi inquiry noted, but wo are
yet in the vestibule the region of the
unknowable is just beyond. We are in
ited thither. We know enough to real
ize the weulth which awaits us.
But the committee are of tho opinion
that to reach the ends desired a complete
change of operations must be had, and
this change is effected iu the bill before
the House and meets tho exact need. If
we make any pretence as friends of
science we must pursue the only methods
whereby development cau be achieved1
Boards of trade and chambers of com
merce avo now, through memorials, in
voking the national legislature to renew
the honorable work. The cost is slight;
the ends arrived at will provoko no in
telligent opposition. The methods pro
posed are not experimental, but the pro
duet of experience. They have the sanc
tion and t ven tho warmest commenda
tion c.f nil scientific men of all nations.
Tln sup"rvibion of the National Academy
of Science will insure wise provisions
and safeguards against accident, disease
or failure. Dr. Hayes, tho eminent and
successful Arctic explorer, coincides fully
with tho views expressed by the com
mittee, aH ako do others familiar by
actual experience. Their letters are bo
conclusive that tho committee make them
a part of their report. The committee
conclude by saving: "The honor of
the American name is involved. Will
Congress suppress this jealous spirit of
inquiry and adventure or give it scope
by the jiassago of this bill and a meagre
approjiriation of SOOO ? To us it ap
pears there rhould bo but one auswer,
and therefore wo report back the bil
with the recommeu elation that it pass.
Desiderata Iu Smoking.
According to Dr. Berthand, in the
Tribune Medicate, whatever be the
mode of smoking, direct contact of the
tobacco with the "mucus buccalis"
mucous lining of the cheeks and the
tooth must be avoided; cigars should be
smoked in an amber, ivory, or enameled
porcelain mouthpiece; to smoke, by re
lighting them, portions of cigars that
have been extinguished, together with the
system of blackened and juicy pipes,
must be avoided, os it is the surest way
of being affected by nicotiue; every
smoker would do well, if practicable, to
rinse his mouth after smoking, and it
would bo well to subject pipes and bowls
iu which tobacco has been burned to
frequent washings either with ether or
with water mixed with alcohol or with
vinegar. Hie cigarette is preferable, by
reason of its slight quantitative import
ance; and the paper which interferes with
the contact of its content with the buc
cal mucous membrane; but to realize all
the desiderata in this case it would bo
necessary to have the " papelito " made
of flax thread, and to abstain from the
practice wliich has become bo universal
of retaining the aspiration at the back
of the month, so as to pour it out of the
nostrils afterward.
: Plensonton recommends the setting of
blue glass in church windows for the
cure of feeble sermons. There he is
wrcng. The raise of the contribution
box will do more for a feeble preacher
tliaa the ray- pf the emi, ou Sunday,
I once had pointed out to me, at
Peide's old museum, iu Philadelphia, a
bow anil quiver which had a history.
Wliof Wmna nf fliA articles wheu the
: It.: i 1 ., t war-a .1 .1'l.Ui.l
U III iUm lit. O VI bllUb Ulliautriu '
I do not know.
An African pnnco, captured m battle,
begged so hard that liis bow and quiver,
which had been his father's might bo
left in his possession, that the request
was granted. Captivity, of course,
meant slttvcry. For a beggarly sum he
was sold by his black captor to a slaver,
and iu time found his way to South Car
olina, where he became the property of
Colonel Motte. He brought his bow and
quiver with him, and in his new home,
with arrows fashioned by his own hand,
he brought down many a choice bit of
game for his master's table. The slave
was strong and remarkably intelligent,
as well as willing, and as the master was
kind and humaue, the life of the dusky
princo was far from unhappy or irksome.
The whole family prized him, and he, in
turn, became strongly attached to them.
At length the slave died, and after ha
hoiLgone, his bow and quiver, the story
of 4hich he had often told in eloquent
language, were preserved as relics of the
faithful servitor in the colonel's family,
for the family could not but gratefully
remember the services, the fortitude and
the unswerving fidelity of the strong and
gentle Iambo.
During the Revolution, Colonel Motto
fell while fighting for liberty. In the
campaign of 1781 his widow was driven
from her house on the Congaree liver,
and the place was turned into a British
garrison and strongly fortified. In time
this garrison was beseiged by a detaeh
mont it tu Anipricnn mmv. but its de
fenses were bo strong that tlie force was
not sufficient to take it by assault. The
American commander, who was a South
Carolinian, and an old time friend of the
Motte family, went to the widow, now
living in a poor hut within sight of her
stately 'mansion, aud told her thatdhe
preservation of her house and property
was the only impediment to the capture
of the British.
"What would you do?" asked Mrs.
Motte.
' Set the mansion on fire and burn
them out," was the officer's reply.
" And how will you Bet it on fire ?"
" I have not yet 'thought, madam. I
had regard for your wishes in the mat
ter, and wished first to consult you."
The widow reflected awhile and then
asked :
"When would be a favorable moment
for applying the torch ?"
" This very night, after the sentinels
are posted, and the rest of the garrison
asleei)."
" Make your arrangements," said the
patriotic woman, "aud at your signal I
will set the house on fire for you."
"You?"
"Yes. I will do it."
The officer saw that she was in earnest,
aud he went his way to make prepara
tions. Aud then tho widow went at her work.
One of tho children had brought away
with them from the house Iambo's bow
aud oniver of arrows. The arrows were
long and finely made, with steel heads
and delicately feathered shafts. With a
lot of loose tow she mado torches of the
arrows, the prepared heads of which she
set in a pail filled with spirits of turpen
tine. At eleven o'clock at night the Ameri
can commander came and told Mrs. Motte
that all was ready. Taking the pail,
with the soaking arrows, in her hand,
she called upon her stout servant to at
tend her. He was a powerful fellow,
and used to tho bow. Arrived at a fa
vorable locality, she opened her lantern,
and lighted a pitchwood splinter. Then
the servaut fixed au arrow torch to the
bow string, aud tho widow net tho in
flammable tow on fire. In another in
stant the fiery messenger was sped on its
way, aud it alighted upon tho roof of the
mansion, far from the immediate reach
of tho garrison.
Bv the time five of these ignited
torches had been surely landed upon dif
ferent ports of the roof, tho mansion was
in flumes beyond tho power of the
aroused inmates to subdue them.
And yet the brave, noble woman did
not loso much of her property. Tho
British, fearing a horriblo death by
lire, laid down their arms and surren
dered, and joined with their captors in
extinguishing the flames, which was ac
complished beforo tho fire had extended
below the garrets.
Transplanting Lobsters.
Living lobsters for some years have
be;n brought to England from Scan
dinavia, aud form a profitable branch
of trrde to a few vessels. One of the
Allan steamers sailing from Portlaud a
few days ao;o had ou board a huge tank
full of living lobsters. The tank was
constantly supplied with water by a
donkey engine, while tho sluices car
ried away the overflow. The only dan
ger to tlio living cargo anticipated wns
the warm wider of tho G :lf stream,
whose . effect was not known. The
Scandinavian traders have a different
cause of fear. After a thunderstorm, it
is said, the lobsters are clawless, ninny
of them lifeless, and all very considei
ably damaged in different ways, wheth
er from fright or ct'-ier causes is not
known. If this Portlaud venture turns
out to be successful there will be a new
field opened for a trade from Nova
Scotia, or more particularly Newfound
land whuse coasts are literally a'ive
with lobsUrs.
Fleeing from Bliss,
Burlington JTatvkcye tells this
About two weeks ago a young
The
story:
lady broke through the ice of a deep
Blurting pond near Toronto, aud a young
man rescued her at the risk of his own
life. As the half drowned girl was re
covering consciousness her agonized
father arrived on the spot. Taking ote
of her cold, white hands in one of his
own, he reached ont the other for tie
haud of her rescuer, but the young man,
realizing his danger, with one frightened
glance broke for the woods, and was soon
lost to view. He has not been heard of
since, and it is supposed that he is trav
eling in the United States under the fa'se
and hollow name of Smith.
The newest bonnets are capotes, or
Normandiei. - . - - -
The Mormon and Hfc Who.
"Among the gentiles," asked a re
porter of a Mormon in Salt Lake City,
"even one wife is often regarded as nn
expensive luxury. How is it that among
the Mormons a poor man ia able to sup
port several wives ?"
"Oh, that is easy to explain. A man
who joins tho Mormons generally makes
money by it. Let ns suppose a cobo.
Say a' European peasant comes over here
with his wife, having been induced to
join the Mormons iu Utah. He imme
diately takes possession of 1G0 acreH
of good land under the law of Con
gress. Now, this is a greot thing for a
man who has probably never owned a
foot ofgrouud before. The land out
there, you must remember, is very good.
The soil is rich and deep, aud the rain
fall has iucreascd, I suppose, about one
hundred per cent, in the last fifteen
years. Still, the land has to be irrigated
to some exteut. Well, the man goes to
work aud puts up a little hut made of
Blabs or logs aud mud; then he gets a
cow, raises crops, and pulls through the
first year. He may have brought over
a peasant girl to work for him at, say Sf'2
or $3 a week. He sees that he can just
as well marry the girl and save the wages
he would otherwise have to pay her. Ho
gets a baby os soon as he can, and the
next year he puts this new wue oi ins
with lier baby, upon onother 100 ocres
of land. Perhaps ho has been smart
enough to build his hut just on the
boundary of tho farms, bo that by put
ting uu an extension the new family '
can live iu tho same house and get on
another farm. Then as ho extends his
domain, he will marry more wives, and
each of his additional children ho puts
unon another 100 acres. Now, you know,
niter the settler has occupied a farm for
five years, built upon and worked it, lie
gets a full title to the property from the
Federal government. Each of his wives,
after ho has lived on another 160 acres
for the same time, cau swear out a clear
title as 'head of a family.' This has
always been done, and is done still.
Aud thus the head of the concern, who
came into tke country a poor peasant,
often becomes a regular patroon, living
in ease in the center of his domain, while
his wives and their children go on in
creasing their numbers and lus wealth,
Now you know just how it is done."
The Treasury Girls.
Mary Clemmer, writing of United
States senators and treasury girls, says
A very few years ago I happened to be
in a house where a senator of the United
States a widower paid the mogt mark
ed attention to a lady in it, who earned
her livmtr in a department oflice. Neitu
er her intelligence nor her culture was
large, but she was comely to behold, and
had an affectionate disposition. Tho man
who sought her society to the exclusion
of all other inalo aspirants, who drove
away her young man to threatened sui
cide, had many gilts to charm weak wo
men denied the power of penetration ond
the heaven-sent protection of insight. In
the woman's heart with love's young
dream played visions of dawning splcn
dor, of tho coming pomp and glory of life
soon to no ad hers as a senator s wile,
She told her friends of the approaching
marriage, and the senator s public, abso
lute and undivided devotion certainly
seemed outward proof of her happy as
sertion' Her monthly' stipend was iu
sufficient to procure a sufficient outfit for
the grand dame of the future. She bor
rowed money from more than oue friend
and putting it with her own savings in
Aew lork, bought a costly trousseau
fit for a senator's wife. She came bat
to Washington with it. She mado ready
for her nuptials. The marriage day was
set. It came but not the senator
Where was ho ? Gone to his daughter.
Ho shnrcd her fond arms with her lap
dog. Hero the smiling and witty "vie
tun shut Ins handsome ey(s m pious
peace, thanking God thnt at- lufit ho was
beyond tiie designs of " that woman."
To hear the daughter tell the story was
something wonderful. " Poor father !"
"Almost caught in biich a pitfull !"' "Such
a designing piece !" "Sha courted him
certainly she did !"
Yet everybody who knew the two knew
perfectly well that ho was n sinner full of
guile, whoso practice on woman's affec
tions was a fine art, and that she was a
woman, unsuspecting and high minded
to a singular degree.
Had she been less sensitive and more
worldly, she would have sued him for
breach of proniis?. A3 it was, she hid
her marriage garments out of sight, and
went back t- her drsk; there she sits to
day. We all know that a woman of sen
sibility would never sue a man for breach
of promise of marriage, no matter what
her wrongs might be. But it is fortu
nate for justice that some women aro not
troubled with sensibility, and do their
best to make such masculine sinners suf
fer at least a part of what they deserve.
Fashion Notes.
Morning jackets for dressing or for
breakfast are of twilled wools aud of
flannels of pale or of dark shades of
blue, rose or cardinal, and are embroid
ered lightly with white floss. They are
made with a deep sailor color, and are
slightly sloped in with the figure. Opera
fl:iunels are also used for this purpose,
and are trimmed with pinked bands or
with bias bands piped or corded with
white. These are imported unmade with
tho embroidery all complete. Ladies
who have learned point Kusse and can do
buttonhole scalloping neatly, embroider
their own jackets. The fancy this year
is to trim all colors with white work.
For those who do not use needle work,
the linen Smyrna lace is commended.
The fringes just imported are as ele
gant as lace, and quite as expensive, some
of them being as high as $8 a yard. The
netted heading is as broad as the droop
ing fringe, ana mere are nies " or
double tassels of crimped silk caught in
the netting. Others represent three or
four rows of tassels, and these are espe
cially liked in rich silk for trimming silk
wraps. For the woolen Dobuaus that
will be worn in the spring in gray and
brown shades are woolen fringes to
match, in prices beginning as low us sixty
cents a yard, and extending up tofcl.'lo.
These will be considered more appropri
ate thai the more expensive sillv fringes
Two Dollars per Annum.
Items of Interest.
Poverty makes people Fatirical, sober
ly, sadly, bitterly satirical.
If a man has an idea, no can sou
command language enough to give i
shape.
It is easy to rectify wniBKy, ouv
difficult to rectify the errors m
whisky causes.
A man can never know now mun
swifter are his feet than his bony umu
he puts on roller skates.
It is asserted in Son Francisco that ft
new census of that city will show that it
has a population of 300,000. .
All tho State militia of Vermont wm
participate in a reproduction of the bat
tle oi iienuuigton iu Auguei. ucai.
When proposing to a widow, the ques
tion whether her nret husuauu is ueau or
divorced should be put os aeiieareiy
possible.
An English tourist asKea tne oromer
of Canova, the sculptor, after the latter's
ileiitli if lie "intended to carry ou mo
business."
The great Frederick once cried out to
his retreating troops: "Why uo you
run, you blnckguards ? Do you hope to
live forever?" '
VnnrW 100.000 Gcnnaiis are settled
in some "forty counties of Texas, particu
larly Comai and Guadoloup, and they
are highly successim as ngrauuuiuw.
The Chinese in San Francisco have
bought land for a permanent burial
ground, which indicates that they intend
to give up returning mcir ueuu iu
During the last four years it is stated
that about ninety-eight cases of failuie
of bridges or trestles under moving
trains have o ;cnrred in tho United
States.
My first (syllable) is company; my
second shuns company; my third colls
company; and my whole entertains com
pany. Give it up ? Wliy co-nun-drum,
of course.
There are ten printers in the United
States Senate. This alarming Btato oi
things should have a tendency to keep
boys from learning the printing trade,
but we fear they will not need the warn
ing. Everybody has an inherent love for
the beautiful, but while some are satis
tied with a fifteen cent chromo of the Yo-
semite valley, others want an lukstand
that can be turned bottom side up with
out leaking.
An exchance savs that the Welsh lan
guage contains only eighteen thousand
words, but after you have tried to pro
nounce four or five of the easiest and
shortest you will wonder how a 'Welsh
man ever keeps his feet while talking.
"Amelia," he said, "what delicious
weather this is. How the fervent billows
of sunshine beat down through the blue
abysses of yonder sky." "Aud, ohl it
feels -to good, Eugene; just as if some
body was pouring warm oil down your
back."
Eice powder, which is much used by
loilies upon their faces, is said to often
contain lead, which renders it very inju
rious. If a little iodide of potash is
dropped upon the powder the presence
of lead will be revealed by its turning
yellow.
A company has been formed in Switz
erland for unearthing the village of Plurs
in Gratibunden, which was overwhelmed
by a fall of a rock in 1810, nearly 1,000
persons perishing. A rich booty is hoped
for from tho shops, factories and
churches.
While we aro erecting tombstones
over dead martyrs and placing laurel
wreaths on tho brows of living heroes
don't let us forget to drop a tear on the
grave of the niau who conceived the idea
of putting a potato on the epout of u
kerosene can.
Duluth, at tho head of Lake Superior,
is becoming a deserted village, the mis
fortunes of the Northern Pacific railroad
having given W its death blow. Corner
lots sell for what they will bring. A
house that cost $3,500 in better days ha
just been sold for 8700.
A Philadelphia lady, directress of o
swp house in that city, says that instead
of a j ass book to record tho number of
quorls of soup served out daily to an
applicant, a bank book was handed her
tho other day, which showed several
hundred dollars ou tho credit side.
During cholera time a Glasgow joiner
was asked by a lady, who w as employing
him at some household work, whether
ho would have a glass now or wait till
he had finished tho job. " I'll be takin
the glass noo, mem," said the artisan.
for there's been a power o' sudden
deaths lately."
" The court pvmpathizes with you,"
said au Illinois judge to a suitor for jus
tice, " and will issue the requisite order,
for I am proud to Bay that I do not thiuk
there is a magistrate of adequate au
thority in, this State who would refuse to
divorce a man from a Chicago woman
who-spoke Welsh."
Now, my boy," said the examiner
" if I had a mince pie and should trive
two-twelfths of it to John, two-twelfths
to Isaoc, two-twelfths to Harry, and
should take half the pie myself, what
would there be loft ? Speak out loud, so
that all can hear." "The plate 1"
shouted the boy.
Two Voung ladies from Cincinnati are
visiting two different families not far
from Boston Hill, Boston. A Boston girl .
speaking of one to the other, said: "She's
the most disagreeable girl I ever saw."
Yes," returned the damsel from Cin
cinnati, ' and the proudest, though her
lather packed only a hundred hogs last
year."
At the poles the twilight is two months
long, and the managers of gas companies,
dining the day, looK as cheerful as a
country graveyard in January. But
when the night come a night of three
months' duration they feel as rich as
Vanderbilt's principal heir, and refuse to
speak to any person balow a govenor or
an editor of a newspaper.
A Virginia hunter says that he saw
about seven hundred thousand ducks
settle on a pond. They were wedged
closely together. He fired both barrels
of his gun into them. They flew away,
leaving no dead ones in the water; but,
as soon as the flock spread out a little,
dead ducks loosened .and fell until he
picked up enough if fill twenty-nine