'lib. fJa&Li--'
V
HENRY A. PARSONS, Jr., Editor and Publisher! , NIL DESPEBANDTJM. Two Dollars per Annum.
VOL. VIII. MDQWAY, ELK COUNTY, PAVy . THURSDAY, FEI3EUAEY 13, 1879. NO. 52.
j
That's My Boy I
big h'ue eyes with roguish twinkle;
iMniples ever running riot;
Busy tongue that's never quiet;
Forehead fair, with ne'er a wrinkle;
Clnst'rlng hair of sonny hue;
None a little snub, 'til true
That's my boy 1
)Fon and mischief never stopping;
Teasing now for " panti and boots,
And a trnly gun that shoots;"
Kisses on my cheek fast dropping
Tbea away with shout and hop
Till I ory; "Oh merry, stop !'"
Thai's my boy 1
?evor ending, still beginning;
Pockets full of dirt and orumbs;
Crazy over horns and drums;
Noia in all things ever winning;
Bragging he of "Jim" ii master,
Whi'e I run fur white court-plaster
That's my boy 1
Do yon hear a fearful noiBe ?
Do you scent a burning smell ?
. Do you hear a curdling yell
Loud enough for twenty boys ?
Do you bear while at your prajers,
Borne one tumbling down the stairs ?
That's my boy !
Bo it goes -some pain, some pleasure.
Wonder 1, 'twixt tear and smile,
Will it be thus all the while
Joyjand grief in equal measure?
Shall I cry, in bitter sorrow,
la some dread, far-off to-morrow,
That's my boy?
Ah, no, not Mothers' eyes look far ahead,
And mine see, with tender pride,
By a gray-haired woman's side
One whom, now that years have sped,
Brave, yet gentle, is her stay;
One of whom she'll proudly say,
That's my boy !
Cora E. Campbell Biberry.
TEN DAYS IN LOVE.
It was a cold eight in January. Peo
ple were hurrying along through thi
blindiDg snow-storm, battling with the
wiua mat nowiea ana moaned out by
turns its story of woe.
Huge Remington and his friend Wil
liams, glad to be out of the storm, hao
nettled themselves in gown and slippen
for a quiet evening at home. The shut
ters were closed and the curtains drawn,
and on either side of the hearth wat,
placed thfi favorite chair of each. These
friends had lived together in their
bachelor quarters for more than two
years. Everything in the apartment
showed refined taste and wealth. Some
said that it all belonged to Hugh, and
that he made it a home (or his friend. No
one, however, knew this to be true.
Hugh was quiet and reserved, seldom
spoke of his affairs to any one, nevei
laid any special claim to anything, but
allowed it to appear that all things were
equally shared. After the eveuing paper
had been read and discussed, the two
sat talking of days gone by, of little
episodes in their lives. Hugh was in a
talking mood, and had told soveral good
stories of his past life; stopping sud
denly, he exclaimed:
' Did I ever tell you of my love for
the widow ?"
"No," replied Williams. "Let's
have it."
" Well," said Hugh, taking another
cigar and looking very serious as he
leaned back in his great easy-chair, I
met her in Paris."
"Met who?"
' OU, never mind who. Be content
that I am telling you the story, and
don't ask for names. I thought of her
as ' the widow.' II is a sufficient title."
"Well, I won't interrupt. Goon."
So Hugh continued :
"I was calling upon my old friend
Mrs. Lee, and while waiting for the
servant to take her my card, an odd
piece of brio a-brao standing in the
corner of the room attraoted my atten
tion. 1 got np aud went over to ex
amine it. Wnile thus engaged, the
door opened. I turned, thinking Ihit
it was Mrs. Lee, when, oh I what a
beauty met my sight! so small that
fche looked like a child, large deep blue
eycB that came out from under a mats
of light golden curls, a small nose, and
a rosebud of a mouth. She was dressed
in deep mourning, and I thought, sb I
looked at Ler, that I had never seen a
more beautiful picture. She didn't see
me until I made a slight movement,
which startled her. Coming forward, I
said:
" I frightened you, did I not?"
"Yes; I was not aware that there
was any one in the room. You are wait
ing for Mrs. Lee ?" And she gave me
the sweetest of smiles, showing a most
perfeot row of teeth.
" Before I could answer, Mrs. Lee
appeared, and introduced us. Mrs.
was making Mrs. Lee a short visit prior
to her departure for America. I was
glad of that, as I should then have the
pleasure of seeing her again.
" The evening passed only too quick
ly, and I arose with an apology for stay,
ing so late. Mrs. Lee invited me to
dine with them informally the next day.
She said her friend preferred being
quiet, so they should be quite alone.
Yon may be sure that I accepted the in
vitation, and was there promptly at the
hour. The widow was more charming
than on the previous evening. I longed
to stop the hours from rolling on. Hav
ing been in the habit of dropping in at
Mrs. Lee's at all hours, my frequent
almost daily visits were not notioed as
anything strange or unusual. Mrs. Lee
, thanked me for coming to them in their
neliness, and the widow wruld give
me one of her sweet smiles, and I was
thankful in my inmost heart that they
were lonely, and that it fell to my lot to
cheer them. So the weeks passed, until
the time eame for the departure of Mrs.
Lee's friend.
" Now I had intended passing a month
or two in England before coming home,
bat when I found that the widow was to
return in ten days,I began to think that
my duty called me back to my business.
The more I thought of it, the more im
portant it seemed to me to go.
" Do you know of any one going on
the 15th r the widow asked me one
, evening, in her dove-like way,
No one but myself,' f answered,
1 Business has called me sooner than I
expected.'
" How delightful I' from the widow ;
while Mrs. Lee exolaimed, 'Ob, Mr.
Remington, I am so glad I I couldn't
bear the idea of my friend going entirely
alone, and you of all others will know
best how to take care of her.'
"We then began to make our plans,
Mrs. intended miking a visit of a
few days to some friends in London, I
was going direct to Liverpool. Mrs.
Lee and I drove down to see our friend
off, and I looked forward to the pleasure
of meeting her on board the steamer.
My last day m fans were spent in say
ing good-bye ' to old friends, and buy
ing presents for sister Nell and the chil
dren. I got every nouvcaute tha I
could find, and felt well pleased with
my selection. At last i was on the
steamer, and stood looking at the ship
move away. By my side was the widow,
and I thought that I had never seen her
look so lovely. I exulted in the knowl
edge that she knew no one board. I
was her only friend, eonsequently I
should have her all to myself ; this was
(so I said to myself) what I had for
weeks been longing for. Was t in love ?
That question had not occurred to me.
.1 felt supremely happy, and thought
the situation delightful. I was ready to
do anything for this fair creature. She
had only to command ; I was all eager
ness to obey. I soon had opportunities
of showing my devotion.
, " The following morning I came out
on deck very early, and was surprised
to find my little lady already there. She
looked very miserable and very pretty.
The morning salutations over, I asked
her how she had slept.
" 'I haven't slept at all," she said, in
a fretful, childish way, whioh I thought
charming. 'Such a noiBe all night,'
she continued, 'I could not get to sleep;
and the smells-are simply dreadful. I
must have ar other room. I'd rather
sit up here a 'I night than sleep in that
horrid pluce again. Don't you think,
Mr. Remington, if you asked, the cap
tain or somebody, he would give me
another stateroom ?' and her big eyes
looked inquijingly into mine.
"'Certainly,' I said. 'I will goat
once and see about it, and if there is no
other, you shall change with me. Take
my room, which is a good one, and as I
don't mind either noise or smells, your
room will suit me well enough.' "
Here Hugh leaned over his chair to
knock the ashes off his cigar, and said to
his friend: "I must have had it prettj
bad eh, Williams? to hove said that,
for you know that I can't endure either
a bad odor or a loud noise. But I forgot
everything when under the influence of
those eyes, and when she exclaimed,
Oh, no; I couldn't let you do that, 1
felt that my fate was sealed, and that I
shnuld'take the noise and the smells.
" The next thing that I discovered wat
that my lady had no sea chair. There
was only one left, and that had been
spoken for; but I paid double the amount
and the chair was mine.
" You are so kind. 'lfr. Remington",'
she said. ' I don't know what I should
have done without you. I am not fit to
travel alone,' she added, in childish tones.
" I longed to press her to my heart
and tell of my love; and if she would
but let me, it would be the iov of nv
life to care for her. I looked all this; I
am sure I did. But there were toe
many people around for me to speak.
She sat with her hands folded in her lap,
and looked divinely unconscious.
" The third day out the -weather be
came bitterly cold.
" I am almost frozen,' said Mrs.
. -What shall I do? I have noth
ing to wrap around me, and shall have
to stay below, and, oh dear I it is so un
comfortable there 1' The face tamed
up to mine was that of a spoiled child.
" .Now 1 had a fine English rug. which
I had used at night, for you know every
thing at sea is so horribly damp. It had
been a great comfort to me, and I knew
that I should miss it. But what of that ?
I couldn't see the woman I loved suffer.
So I got it, and tucked her all up in it.
Her delicious smue repaid me for the
sacrifice.
"Oh, how nioo! she said, as she
put her hands under the warm rug. It
seems to me, Mr. Remington, that vou
have everything to make one comfort
able. I never heard of such a man. I
am so glad that I came under your
care.
I was so love-stricken that I did not
reflect upon her apparent unconscious
ness of the fact that I had deprived my
self of these comforts in order th it she
should be made comfortable. She
seemed to take it for granted that I was
a sort of traveling missionary, with
extra wraps, staterooms, chairs, and
anything else that one might need ; and
I was snch a slave to her fascinations
that, bad she asked me to do the im
possible, I should have attempted it.
".Every day 1 naa it upon my lips to
tell her of my love. Each day oourage
forsook me. we walked the deck day
after day. She would put her little
soft hand on my arm in the most con
fiding way, look np from under her
curls, laugh her low, sweet laugh, and
ask the most childish, innocent ques
tions. " We were walking this way on the
sixth day out. I had carefully rehearsed
my part, and was about to tell my story.
Her conversation seemed to lead to it,
for she said :
" 'You will come to see me when you
are in New York, won't you, Mr. Rem
ington ?'
" Nothing,' I said, would give me
greater pleasure.'
" ' You will come often ? Promise to
dine at our house once a week. Yon
won't forget me?' and the blue eyes
sought mine.
I looked into them, and my look
told what my tongue had refused to say.
I pressed the little hand close to my
heart, and after a pause said, below my
breath, 'Forget you 1' and I was about
to pur forth my love when she gave a
little scream, and cried, Oh, my vail 1'
There, sure enough, was the confounded
blue thing sailing before the wind, and
all the passengers, it eemed to me
after it. Of course I had to go too, and
make believe to capture it. I never
hated anything so much as I did that
yard of blue gauze. I couldn't go back
and continue my story from where it
was broken off, and indeed.Jthe widow
seemed quite shy cf me. - ' ,
" The iuoident bad given the passen- I
rrtkvm on nnnntfnnifv f avtAnlr ts Va and
pv" "I'l'",lu"J " a.v an lis uoj-i nus
when I joined her (without the vail, for
it had, I hope, struck bottom) she was
surrounded by a group of people. I
had no chance that day, nor the next, to
get her to myself. I tried to think of
something that I could do or show her that
would amuse and detain her. It seemed
as though I had exhausted all my re
sources, when at last a brilliant idea
occurred to me; I would show hor
the presents I had brought for sister
Mell. They were all in my little sea
trunk, and I knew that she couldn't re
sist their attractions. She came np on
deck bright and beautiful as ever.
'"Isn't it delightful,' she said, 'to
think that to-morrow we shall be at
home ? I can hardly wait for the time
to oome; and yet' and her voice dropped
into the dearly-loved soft tone ' the
voyage has been a most charming one,
owing to yonr kindness,' she added,
brightly.
" I longed to launch forth my tale of
love, but thinking it more prudent to
wait until I had secured her wholly to
myself, I asked her, in the most ordi
nary manner, if she wouldn't enjoy look
ing at some little trinkets that I hod
picked up in Paris. Her eyes sparkled.
" 'Yes, iadeed,' she said. 'Nothing
could be more delightful than to get a
glimpse of Paris while at sea.'
- "I went below and got all my pretty
nouveautet, and brought them np to her.
Plaoing a chair . in a quiet corner, and
well hid from the other people, then
drawing mine np beside her, I began
showing, one by one, my collection of
odd things.
" ' Where did you get them, Mr. Rem
ington? I hunted all over Paris, and
found nothing half so pretty. What ex
quisite porle bonheursf and she slipped
one after another of my carefully-chosen
bracelets on to her little plump wrists,
and turned them first on one side and
then on the other.
"I knew Nell's taste, and had
searched for something uncommon, and
was well pleased with what I had
bought. But Nell and everything were
forgotten with this bewitching creature
by my side, and when she made a move
to take them off, I said, laughingly, of
course, Oh, don't disturb them; they
look so well where they are, and it is so
pleasant, you know, to get a glimpse of
Paris while at sea.'
" She kept them on, and I opened
the other boxes. There were rings,
crosses, medallions, chatelaines and
many other ornaments of curious de
sign. The widow decked herself, and
was in high glee. A child could not
have enjoyed it more. I watched her
with loving eyes, told her where each
one came from, and helped fasten them
on.
"I feel like an Indian princess,' she
said, ' and ought to have a throne and a
crowd of kneeling courtier", and the
picture would be complete.'
"Can't you imagine a throne? I
spi.l, ' aqd take me for kneeling courtiers
WnpL1u.'. my lovo snrnp&aatJot the
admiring crowd?'
"She looked up quickly, and was
about to answer, when one of those eter
nal old bores that, no matter when yon
cross, are always to be found on ship
hoard, came up, and began telling of
h:8 early reminiscences; what the sea
was twenty years ago as though the
s a had ever changed and kow, when
ho had first crossed, his friends never
expected to see him again. He had
made his will, and they parted as
though he were to be forever lost to
them. I assure you that I silently
wished in my heart that he had never
turned up again. Without saying a
word, I got up, took my boxes, and left
my Indian princess. I was thoroughly
angry with the old fellow for interrupt
ing our tete-a-tete, and seriously annoy
ed with Mrs. for listening to and
answering him. I made up my mind
that that game had been played long
enough. I would ask her the simple
question the first chance I got, and
know my fate at onoe. But the chance
did not come as soon as I expected it
would.
"She went to her room with a sick-
headache, so she said, and I paced the
deok alone. We were a long way up the
harbor when she made her appearance
the following day. She said that she had
hurried with her packing, thinking that
we were nearer than we really were to
the city.
1 Oh, Mr. Remington, I had no op
portunity of returning your jewelry,
and so I paeked them with my things.
But you are coming, you know, to dine
with me on Saturday, and I will then
give them to you.'
"'Certainly,' I said. 'There is no
time for ns to change them now. Wear
them until I see you again.'
" I had fully made up my mind that
as I had been baffled so often, Iwonld
now wait until I had seen her in her own
home before I opened my heart to her,
or rather before I asked her my fate.
She already knew my heart. There was
no time to talk ; all was excitement ; we
were rapidly approaching ; handker
chiefs were waving from the docks. The
widow was straining her eyes, and sud
denly leaving me and going further
forward, I saw her throw a kiss. How I
longed to catch it I I looked with jealous
eyes to see who would take it up and
answer it. Foremost among the crowd
was a great big man six feet, and broad
in proportion. It was he who was re
turning her kisses. Could it be her
brother, or was it a friend, and this
merely a pleasant greeting from a
distance ?
" I watched him oome on board, and
what did the big idiot do but catch her
up in his arms my sweet one, whom,
though loving, I had never dared to
touch and kiss her over and over again 1
I eonld have knocked him down.
" On drawing near to them, 1 saw
that neither of them noticed me. She
had forgotten my existence. With a
heart-sick feeling I turned away. Was
this to be the end? Why had I eome
home? I could hear them talking,
though too miserable to listen. They
came nearer, and the same soft voice
that I loved so deany said: 'jar. rem
ington, I have been talking about you,
telling how good and kind you have been
and bow utterly forlorn I should have
been had you not always looked out for
ray comfort. I have come to thank you,
and my husband wants to thank you
too.'
' Her husband I Gt heavens
And I thought she was a widow, and
made love to her I I listened as though
in a dream, and a deuced unpleasant
one it was, too. I believe he thanked
me, and she praised, and he thanked
again, and then they urged me to oome
to see them, and she said: ' Don't for
get Saturday.'
" Whether I said anytbing.or whether
I remained mute, is more than I can tell.
I was like a man asleep, and had to give
myself a good shake to oome out of the
nightmare that I was in. When I looked
around, she- -they were gone."
Here Hugh stopped as though he had
finished; but his friend Williams, whose
curiosity was aroused, asked.
" Did you dine with her on Satur
day?" "No; I sent a regret."
" Have you ever seen her since ?"
"No; never."
" What became of your nouveautet de
Pari t"
"Nell went without them, as 1 went
without my English robe."
"You don't mean that she never sent
them to you V
"I never gave her my address, and
she was not supposed to know where I
was."
Williams didn't like to ask any more
questions, and Hugh remained quiet for
a time. Then rousing himself and get
ting out of his chair, he said t
"I have never made love sinoe, and "
with a bitter laugh" I always avoid
women in deep mourning. Ana now as
the fire has gone out with my story, I
thick we had better go to bed."
Harper's Weekly,
"The Highland Beauty."
In an artiole on " Coasting," by C. A.
Stephens, in Youth's Companion, a de
scription is given of the different kinds
of sleds used in this winter sport. The
writer describes one sled in particular,
thus:
Probably the finest double-runner
ever seen in this country, or any country,
was made by Dr. Fowler, of Boston
Highlands, and is now the property of
Mr. Francis Alger, of South Boston.
The construction of this really beautiful
pleasure carriage (for it seems hardly
proper to call it a sled) has occupied its
maker's leisure time for three and a
half years. It was placed on exhibition
at the reoent mechanic's fair in Boston,
where it attraoted much attention.
It is over thirteen feet in leneth. will
seat ten persons, and weighs three hun
dred and fifty pounds. Yet it moves so
easily that two or three boya can readily
draw it np hill.
1 he materials of which it is made are
white oak. white walnut, steel, gun-
metal and bronze. Though highly orna
mented, it is built in the very strongest
manner, and will no doubt stand years
of hard service. Two seemingly small,
yet wonderfully strong, steel-shod and
steel-braced sleds support the elegant
"seat-board," which, with its foot-rail
on auk side nd polished hand-rods, is
i , i - . .
strongly trussed up, ana cusuioued iu
green velvet over elastic inbber tubing.
At the forward end of the seat-board
are the steering-wheel, the lanterns and
the foot-broak. The steering-wheel,
which resembles the plated brake of a
drawing-room oar. turns the forward
sled upon a rocker, provided with what
is termed a "universal joint," while by
means of a foot-brake and chain, two
ctrcng steel points, working inside the
runners of the hind sled, are plunged
into the road-bed, thus arresting the
speed at will.
At the rear end of the cushioned seat
there is a low "knee-board" for a
footman, whose business it may be to
start off the vehicle when the silvery
stroke of a gong shall give the signal to
8- .
Taken altogether, this double-runner
is a remarkable piece of work, not only
for costliness and strength, but for sym
metry and elegance. It has evidently
been made by a man who has devoted
himself to the task con amove. It does
the eye good to look at it, and it has
been very happily christened "The
Highland Beauty." The cost is said to
have been about a thousand dollars.
His First and Last Case,
I studied law once in the Washington
law school. In fact, I was admitted to
the bar. I shall never forget my Ant
case. Neither will my client. I was
called upon to defend a young man for
passing counterfeit money. I knew the
young man was innocent, because I gave
him the money to pass. Well, there was
a hard feeling against the young man in
the county, and I pleaded for a change
of venue. I made a great plea for it. I
can remember, even now, how fine it
was. It was filled with choice rhetoric
and passionate oratory. I quoted Kent,
and Blackstone, and Littleton, and oited
precedent after precedent from the
digest of State reports. I wound up
with a tremendous argument, amid the
applause of all the younger members of
the bar. Then, sanguine of success, I
stood and awaited the judge's decision.
It soon came. The judge looked me
full in the face and said:
"Your argument is good, Mr. Per
kins, very good, and I've been deeplv
interested in it; and when a case comes
np that your argument fits, I shall give
your remarks all the consideration that
they merit. Sit down I"
This is why I gave up the law and re
sorted to writing for the newspapers.
Eli Perkins.
A Strange Bequest.
Mr. John R. Reed is the gas man and
captain of the supernumeraries at the
Walnut street theater in Philadelphia,
where he has served for fifty-four years
without being absent from one perform
ance. He has made a will in whioh is
this provision : My head shall be
severed from my body, and my body
shall be placed in a vault, but the head
shall be brought to the Walnut street
theater, there to be used as the ekull in
Hamlet,' and I do bequeath my head
to the said Walnut street theater for that
purpose." When asked his reason for
making such a bequest, he said : ' Well,
I love the theater, and when the bad
Hamlets oome 'round I'll prompt 'hem
on the grave scene. But, seriously, I
want my head to stay on this stage,
where it has, with my hands, done eer
yice for oyer half a century,"
TIMELY TOPICS.
The Journal of Chemistry says that
no European nation is so advanced as
Italy in its methods of tenoning agri
culture. Matrimony and love-making through
the oolumns of the newspapers are on
the rise in Germany and Austria. Vi
enna and Berlin newspapers have agen
cies for such purposes, and the busi
ness, reported to be profitable, is car
ried out on a oash basis.
Mrs. Mary Holbrook, who died in
Massachusetts a few days ago, aged
ninety-three years, was a remarkable
woman. When seventy-five years old
she t-egan the manufacture of tidies,
whioh found ready sale in Boston, and
were so mnoh sought for that she was
obliged to employ several old ladies to
do the coarser work, while she filled in
the finer parts with her own hands. In
this way, up to her ninetieth year, she
netted $6,000 from her sales.
The City of Mexico is a lazy place, ac
cording to a Chicago Times correspond
ent, who aocompanied the visiting
committee from the United States,
"The hotels are languid," he says; "so
are the restaurants, the theaters, the
public offioes and the barber shops.
The business houses have an air of per
petual waiting upon Providence. The
clerks act like weary anglers looking
patiently for a 'rise.' A generation of
American enterprise might revolution
ize all this and rouse the metropolis
from her trance."
Chief Joseph, of the Nez Perces In
dians, when in Washington, was asked
what, of all the works of civilization
seen in his first trip to the East, had
impressed him the most It was ex-
Eected that he would name the capitol,
ut he replied, without a moment's hes
itation, that the most wonderful thing
he had ever seen or dreamed of was the
bridge over the Mississippi river at St.
Louis. He could build a mountain of
stone like the capitol, he said, but he
could not build a spider's web that
would stand alone in the air. He was
afraid to cross it; but he saw that the
Eale faces were not afraid, so he wrapped
is blanket around him and trembled as
the train went over.
This story is told in a Rome letter to
a French journal : One morning Leo
XIII. was about to eat some raw eggs,
as is his wont every morning, and re
quested Commander Sterbini, the gen
tleman serving him, to bring some Bait
to take with them. Sterbini, present
ing the salt cellar on a solid silver tray,
accidentally let it slip from his
hands, and the salt fell but only on the
table. The pope rose immediately,
carefully looking to see whether any of
the grains had reached the ground.
" Only see," he said, " the salt is upset,
and had it fallen on the ground I be
lieve I should not have got over to-ir"
He then took out a pocketbook .and
noted the fact, observing at the same
time that "we shall see whether we
shall not have the loss of some beloved
cardinal to deplore before long." Nine
days after, the eai news of Cardinal
Asquini's death reached the Vatican,
and the pope, handing to Sterbini his
pocketbook, requested him to read
aloud to those around the note he had
made nine days before. Then breaking
the silence, he said, "Had the salt
been scattered on the floor instead of
upon the table, as was the case, verily
I believe I should be standing now be
fore the judgment seat 1"
A Dog Thawed Back to Lire.
A family residing in the southern part
of the city had a pet dog, and said dog
was provided with all the comforts his
canine nature required. But one day
during the late cold visitation he had
got ont of doors without its being dis
covered for some time, and then he was
found on his back and frozen stiff in
death, as was naturally supposed. The
lady of the house, on ascertaining the
pet s condition, and satisfied of his
death, cir acted her little eon to throw
the body over the fence, when the boy
suggested that they should place it by
the fire anl try to thaw it back to life ;
and, placing the apparently defunct
dog on a rug, the little son commenced
chafing the paws and nose. The mother,
forcing open the dog's mouth sufficient
ly, poured down his throat some hot
whisky, and signs of returning anima
tion began to be manifested, and in due
time the little animal was on his legs
again, and is now, it is' claimed, as suc
cessful a live dog as can be found any
where. This may seem rather a tough
story, but the head of this family, a gen
tleman well known on 'change and of
undoubted veracity, says it is a fact.
St, Louis Republican,
An Eagle Carries Off a Pig.
For several days past the resident
farmers in the northwestern portion of
this county have marked the presence
of an eagle skimming the heights in
their neighborhood, and a Mr. Stringer,
a Tarrant county knight of the gun, anx
ious to capture this king of birds, shoul
dered his fowling-piece yesterday morn
ing and laid for the bird on the open
prairie, at a point about two miles north
west of the town, where a small herd of
young pigs were innocently grazing on
the green sward. The bird came soar
ing along, and when a point had been
reaohed nearly perpendicular to the head
of the swine, as it were, the old Na
tional " swooped down and around the
surface of an inverted imaginary pyra
mid, and. sinking its talons deep into
the interior composition of a thirty,
pound pig, started heavenward. The
ascension was tedious and slow, and
gave ample time for Stringer to draw a
bead, and when a height of thirty or
forty feet had been reached he banged
away and bored a hole clean through
our American monstrosity. The pig and
eagle tumbled tolerably well together to
the surface both dead. Fort Worth
Texas) Democrat. -
A lawyer, badgering a witness, said
sternly: " I believe, sir, yon have served
a sentence in the Btate prison f " " Yes,"
was the unconcerned reply, " I was in
the State prison, and I had the misfor
tune to oooupy the cell your brother had
had,".
California's Latest Marvel.
The Tuolumne (Cal.) Independent
says: "A. Gardner has discovered a
mammoth cave in the dividing ridge
between the south branch and main
Stanislaus rivers, two miles above the
junotion and one mile northerly from
Pina Log, at an elevation of about 1,800
feet above the river. The discovery was
made under the following very peculiar
oiroumstanoes, in which an insignificant
squirrel figures very conspicuously: On
the 1st of December, 1878, Gardner says
he was engaged in working his placer
claim, which is distant 300 feet from the
entrance of the eave. A squirrel perched
itself upon a tree near by, and com
menced to chatter and spit acorn shucks
at him. This he considered a challenge
to fight it out on that line. So be re
paired to his cabin, armed himself with
a double-barreled shotgun, marched out
and faced his diminutive antagonist.
The fight opened with a spirited skir
mish of both parties, and ended after
Gardner had fired seven rounds at his
sqnirrelship the seventh just as his
little tormentor was disappearing in the
dark recesses of a crevice in the ledge
above his claim. He pursued it to its
retreat, and then Commenced searching
in the crevice to disoover, if possible,
the hiding-place of his vanquished foe,
but failed. The search, however, re
sulted in the discovery of the greatest
natural wonder in the county, and per
haps in the State, as future develops
ments in that direction may prove, in its
class. So closes the history of its dis
covery. It is adorned with decorations
of dazzling beauty, unsurpassed in char
acter on the Paoiflo slope. The entrano
to the cave is situated at the base of a
bluff, and eighty feet above the gulch,
and access is had through a crevica in
the ledge, three feet in width by six feet
in length. Descending by ladder ten
feet, you reach the floor of an inclined
archway, dipping at an angle of thirty
five degrees, from twenty to thirty feet
iu height by thirty feet in width. De
scending the incline, which is 100 feet
in length, we reach the floor of the
grand archway, from forty to sixty feet
in height, varying in width from twenty
to thirty feet, from which radiate scores
of similar archways, leading to spacious
chambers, with their lofty ceilings
draped with brilliant stalactites, that
glitter and sparkle in the light of a lamp
like gems of ocean waves of which we
read. The floors and walls of this sub
terraneous hall are entirely coated with
stalagmites, pure crjstalization. We
can best describe this crystal formation
in this wist : For instance, it resembles
in makeup and appears to the vision
like a sheet of snow lying loosely in
large flakes on a pane of glass. We
visited, under guidance of the discov
erer, many large chambers, of which the
grandeur and brilliancy baffle descrip
tion. Our rambles through the subter
raneous archways continued for four
hours."
Theories Regarding a Fire." .
The other day when a bouse on Fifth
street took fire and was saved by the
firemen in a damaged condition, they set
about trying to discover the canse of the
accident, and in bo doing questioned
various inmates of the family. The head
of the house had his theory all ready.
" It is my opinion," he began, " that
some f nemy of mine climbed to the roof
and emptied coals on the shingles."
The idea was laughed at and the wife
said:
" Well, there was a lamp up stairs, but
it was not lighted. Now if the rats got
hold of matches and tried to light that
lamp they would just as quick throw a
lighted match on the bed as to blow it
out. I don't say tbey set the house a-fire
on purpose, bnt you know how careless
rats are."
That theory didn't hold with the fire
men and the oldest daughter was called
upon.
" I expect it was spontaneous com
bustion," she began. " You see in my
room up stairs, whore the fire broke out,
there was a hole in the chimney. I didn't
like the smoke coming in my room and
so I stuffed the hole full of straw. It
may be that the straw and the mortar
and the bricks caused spontaneous com
bustion." The firemen were about to accept her
theory when the small boy of the family
came up and said :
"I know all about it. Ye see, Bill
Smith he was on the Bhed a-heavin'
snowballs at dogs. Tom, the feller with
one arm, was in the barn playin' with
my goat. That Tamer gal she was on
the fence out there call in' us names, and
her mother had the clothes line and was
try in' to lasso a stick of wood off a wagon
in the alley. I went down cellar to see
if my mud-turtle tad got away, and I was
jest tryin' to set the cat on him when I
heard father fall down stairs and mother
give a yell, aud that's how the house got
a-fire, and now I won't have to go to
oohool fornix weeks." Detroit Free
Press.
A Temperance Movement in New York
The immense extent of intemperance
among our business ranks, says a New
York correspondent, has startled think
ing men with deep alarm. The habit
has reaohed such an extreme as to
threaten general destruction, and hence
the present deep consciousness of the
need of reform. To place a young man,
indeed, in the New York business com
munity, is to subject him to fearful
temptation, since the motto of the day
seems to be "everybody drinks." The
new temperance movement is intended
to meet this appalling danger. Henoe
the pledge is not to drink during busi
ness hours, and also neither to give nor
accept "treats." It is also proposed
thrt some drinks be provided whioh are
not of an intoxicating nature. This
recalls the fact that there was a time
when the word "coffee-house" was
a reality. At present, however, it is
synonymous with barroom. Perhaps
New York business men, like the mer
chants and wits of London in old times,
may eventually limit themselves to cof
fee and tea, but before this can be done
the fierce exoitement which marks their
operations must be abated.
A Nevada woman scolded her Chinese
servant for not properly cleaning a fish.
and going into the kitchen soon after
found him energetically washing it wittj
bjown goap.
ITEMS OF INTEREST.
Twins are the parapets of house.
Home stretch Over a mother's knee.
Dress reform Turning a Bilk dress.
A fare proposition " Ticket, please.'
Boston's population is given at 373,
810. It is saferto bear a hug than to hug a
bear.
Capt. Exum Saint is a member of the
legislature of Indiana.
Dr. Carver, the marksman, and his
wife, have gone to England.
In Japan the landlord reoeives one
sixth the produce of the land.
More men worry and fret themselves
crazy over taxes than over love.
Some wasps sting twenty-four hours
after they have been cut in two.
Science enumerates 658 species of or
ganic forms in the air we breathe.
Laborers' wages during the thirteenth
century were fifty cents per week.
Opticians are well-behaved men and
never make speotaoles of themselves.
The gradual mode of seasoning is the
most favorable to the strength and dura
bility of timber.
" Postponed on aooottnt of the wether,'
as the boy said when the ram ohased him
out of the orchard.
The Arkansas wild grapevine is gath
ered and shipped to France to be used
for grafting stock.
Felicity is not acquired with facility.
Neither is a foothold on the outside of a
slippery pavement.
What is the difference between a crim
inal and windfall fruit ? One is a felon
and the other fell off.
It is well to remember that repeated
shocks of electricity will revive a person
dying from an overdose of chloroform.
Whit is the difference between a suc
cessful lover and his rival. The one
kisses his miss, and the other misses
his kiss.
The most stupendous canal in the
world is in China, which is over 2,000
miles long, and passes through forty
two cities.
The leg of a " Granther Gray beard "
(whioh is a species of spider) retains its
vitality one or two days after being sev
ered from the body.
The Atlanta Constitution estimates
that during the past two seasons the
farmers of Georgia have paid out
$3,000,000 for mules.
There was a yonng man of Palmyra,
Bat down alongside of his Myra ;
They had Joist doused the glim
When the parent came in,
And the yonng man achieved his hegira.
Burlington Haiekeye.
During the year 1878 the business
transacted at the Oil City (Pa.) oil ex
change aggregated 76,450,000 barrels.
The average price was $1. 17J per barrel,
which would make the value of the total
transactions $89,450,000.
TIlO Butcher Iloy and tha Raker's Oirl
It was down in the yeast part of the
city. He was a burly butcher boy she
was the pie-ous daughter of a German
baker next door, with eyes like currants
and her yellow hair twisted on the back
of her head like a huge cruller. They
leaned toward each other over the back
bone of the separating railing. He was
casting sheep's eyas at her, while hers
turned to him with a provocating roll.
" Meat me to-night beef-fore quarter
to ten," he said.
"Oh, doughnut ask it," said she.
"I make no bones about it," said he.
' You're not well-bread," said she.
Only sweet bread," said he.
" Don't egg me on," said she.
" I never sausage a girl. Don't keep
me on tender-hooks I" said he, quite
chopf alien.
" Why don't you wear the dear flour
I gave you ? asked she.
"Pork-quoi?" asked he.
" Oh, knead I say ?" asked she.
"That don't suet me," said he.
"You're crusty. I only wanted to
cracker joke," said she.
" You gave me a cut the cold
shoulder," said he.
" Ah, you don't loaf me 1" sighed she.
"Veal see. I cleave to you and no
mis-steak if you have money," said he.
" I can make a-bun-danoe, said she.
" Then no more lamb-entations," said
he. You shall be my rib 1"
" Well done 1" said she.
And their arms embraced like a
pretzel. So his cake was not all dough;
she likes a man of his kidney; and be
ing good livers, they will no doubt live
on the fat of the laud. This world is a
queer jumble, but love seems "bread
in the bone. "
The Labor of Cutting Leaves.
One of the minor miseries of human
life is the necessity that is laid upon the
readers of magazines, and of divers
weekly, monthly and other journals, of
cutting the leaves thereof. The amount
of time consumed in this search after
hidden treasure, and of force expended
therein, is no mean consideration in
these utilitarian days. The literature
of the world in all the classes which we
have mentioned, redncing quarterlies,
bi-monthlies and weeklies to monthlies,
cannot be less than 2,000,000 copies a
month. Not less than ten leaves to a
copy may be deemed a fair average.
The cutting of each of these 2,000,000
publications requires at least five min
utes. This, as a simple calculation will
show, is something like twenty years for
eaoh month, or 240 years in each year.
In cutting the leaves of the ordinary
magazine, the hand travels at least
twenty feet. For 2,000,000 magazines
this is 40,000.000 feet, nearly 8,000
miles a month, and 96,000 miles a year
four times around the globe a die
tanoe greater than the railroad mileage
of the United States. Prof. Ralfe (ays
that " the ordinary external mechanical
work" done by an adult weighing 150
pounds amounts to 300 foot tons 300 tons
lifted one foot) daily. In pile-driving a
man lifts the equivalent of 312 foot tons
in eight hours; in turning a wrench, 871
toot tons. But this magazine-cutting
necessitates an expenditure of 240 years,
or 87,600 days, whioh at 800 foot tons a
day, makes 26,280,000 a sum total that
makes the tonnage of the Erie canal and
the trunk lines sink into insignificance,
-Brooklyn Union-Argus.
i