" ,! " 1 1 ' . ! ' "' "'l ' 1 . .'i- ..-. . . i-: ... : r: i ..." i ! . I. i I i 44 tK2 ft U.j'aUIl 1 ni 1 , ruciAr skit H3Tnr Winning .YA.Ivrt.I3 bar. L'9 asJufil i sl-'I i. r v ail -I . 1 1 . . . :..... 1 . 1 i . ; 1 .. . I ..1 . I . 7 f .ax .1 M r .. . .r.i atAU s:y 1 1 11 J I'M! :'it 1 1 , I . 1 J ' . 1 I t 1 1.. ... 1. 1 n ,..- j ,;. i 1 .-i . , 1 , ., . 1 t 11 . (;. I c' : 1 1 i-ttr r 15, V- - Mu'J ,A !' l0- . . "r , . . - 1 irr ca -' k ... ., .....i ., j. . . . 1 ' ; '1 : '. 1 ' RiDGWAY, elk county, pa:., THUKSDAY, MAY' 2i), 1879. ; 1 '.i: ior:: yol; ir; r4 .. ,r .. .... ..... .. YA ill. w . I i 1 i r u 1 ls 1 iii I till v y . ... . BJ. Si 1 . 1 ii 1, ... .- .cwHlI (JcotO f.'.V...-.5) w - ' . ' " " , 'At the Gate. And where were yon (list now, Mabel t . Where hare you been so long T " ' ilie moon is up, nnd nil the birds ' Hare sung their erening song; 1 saw you loitering down the path, So lonely and so late, Beyond the well and lilno trash, And hanging by the gate. I love to hear the birds, mother, . . , , ' And see the rising moon ; '. And, oh ! the summer air is sweet Beneath the sky of June. My cow is milked, my hens are cooped, And waahod are eup and plate, And so I wandered out a while, To hang Upon the gate. t The gate is by the road, Mabel, 4-i And idle folks go by, . ., ' Nor should a maiden brook the glance . Of every stranger' eye. ' ' . Besides, I thought I saw a cap I'm sure you had a mate; t So tell me who was with you, child, Just hanging at the gate. Now you know just as well, mother, , 'Twas only Uarry Gray. He spoke such words to me to-night, I knew not what to say ; ' And, mother, oh ! lor your dear sake, . I only bade him wait : And mayn't X run and tell him now ? He's hanging at the gate. Harper't Magazine. A PRELUDE IN BROWN. " But, my dear boy, who Is going to Bay anything of the sort?- What mis construction can be put on your going to the seaside for a month, meeting n young lady there, and in a natural way ' making her acquaintance? Nothing may result from it beyond acquaintance, and no one is called upon to remark ' what, after all, is mere coincidence." "Uncle Joshua, I wonder you can look me in the face! 'Mere coinci- rience!' when' you know perfectly well that tin's is a cul-iind-drieci arrangement, and that I am led like a lamb to bo sae rilieed on the shrine of your heiress. Coincidence, forsooth! I am aston ished at your cheek, sir, if you will par don the expression. " "Upon my wul, you young fellows take pretty "airs on yourselves nowa days, retorted Uncle Joshua, angrily. " Maud Lovell wan heiress and I don't deny a very considerable heiress; but none the les. is she a remarkably pretty girl, accomplished too, and amiable, and all that; just the girl vhom you would be sure to fall in love with if it wasn't worth your while to do so. You area f ol, Ned, let me tell you, a very pro nounced fool, if you let such a chance :is this slip on account of a farrago of non sensical notions about love and disinter estedness; all twaddle. Such ideas don't wash, sir, let me tell you. I've tested 'em; they don't wash," bringing his Hand down with a bang on the table by way of period. Uncle Joshua was a natty, debonair old gentleman of suave and circumspect manners, and a habit of tiptoeing ginger ly over the surfaces of ideas and things with due avoidance of all dangerous or debatable spots, This ebullition-there-fore took his nephew quite by surprisn. Never had he. seen his relative so ex - cited about anything before. His care fully preserved old face was red and hot; he jumped about in his tight boots'; his voice and manner were fully of unwont ed vigor. Ned Banks had been used to think of his uncle as a kindly, formal fop, to be gently chaffed and practically ignored when convenient. lie nan dly knew what to make of him under this new aspect. Uncle Joshua, for all his little absurd ities, had been a good friend and a help ful one to his nephew. To him Ned owed his college education and his start in life obligations which he had ac- cepted easily at the time, as the young are wont to accept all favors done them, but of which lie felt the weight when thus reminded. His opposition to his uncle's scheme had not sprung from any deep-lying principle. The idea of mar rying an heiress was no more distasteful - to him than to any other man of his age ; but he had experienced an instinctive repugnance to entering into a precon certed, cold-blooded arrangement for the purpose.- Now, however, seeing his uncle's real annoyance nnd displeasure, he said to himself, "After all, why not? ' I don't commit myself by simply going to the place." And after a shoi-t silence he added: "All right, sir; it's settled, then. I'll be at the Cove at tMb time you name, and do my best to be civil to the young lady. First of July, is it?" and lie took out a note-book and made an entry of the date. ; " My dear Ned," cried the older Mr. Banks, deeply gratified. " now you are - behaving just as I should wish. I hope very confidently hope that this trip . of yours may eventuate for your welfare in many ways. Nothing could be farther from mv wish than to force vour inclina- tions; but there is no harm in forming a pleasant acquaintance. jNed; there can be no harm no possible harm." The South Cove was looking its pret tiest when Ned Banks, true to his word. alighted on the 1st of July t the door of its hotel. All the little cottnees and de pendencies of the large establishment r . . .... i 'it; . C C 1 Slione in me unuiaiiio oi ircsii piuiu. The grass was newly cut; the plaster vases and red-tinted -firkins were filled ' with gay geraniums and bright-leaved plants, i Beyond lay the sea, vast and blue, no whit less solemn or less inscru- tahln for this little frince of ornament on its border's hem. A boat, wit If a ' scarlet-shawled lady sitting in the stern was rowing across from the green island oDnosita. l'eonle ihronirea the Diazza. From a distrtnee came the intermittent thunder of the bowling-alley, - The sea son was tairly under wav: that was evi J . XT ,1 1 . V. .. . I . veranda with the natural hope of seeing sumo ndiumuuiiivio. iicuini-uvemi none; but presently, from the lips of a lady near mm, ne ueara a laminar name. "Mr. Allibone Crosby told me so." . "Where is Mr. Crosby this after noon?"" , .r. ""Driving with those-Baltimore people,-I believe." . . - ,"i t " uuuo! wnat brings him here.?" solil oquized Ned,, as he slowly strolled to ward the onice. - For , Allibone Crosby was a reputed uitor of Miss Lovell's Uncle - .ward. - It -wag a . singular . coinci- dence, etctainjy, gfothing mor,that w he should turn up at the South live jut then; and so Ned reflected ns he went ta bed. with the moon for a candle; and the boom and lurjje of tUe waves coming la through the onen window. The idea of a porsible rival stimulated his interest in Miss Jjovell amazingly, ana ne mnae jus toilet next morning with the athletic de termination to "go in ajid win" at all hazards. - Uncle Joshua and his party were not due until the 3d, so he had a day in which to l6ok about him and elaborate a plan of campaign. - Entering the breakfast room, the first object his eyes encountered was" Allibone Crosby himself, coffee-cup in hand. He greeted Ned cordially enough, but without affecting surprise at seeing him. " !. -.- y,"o, . . ; "When did you get in? I heard you wore expected about this time." " Last night. How Hong have you been here?" "About a week. Where have they seated you? I say, Julia" to the wait ress "put Mr. Banks herer will you? Mrs. Reeves won't be back for another fortnight; he might as well have her seat till she comes." " I'll take it for to-day with pleasure, but to-morrow I expect somo friends," said Ned. "Oh!" replied Crosby, with a sort of rapid glint in his eye. " Well, sit down now, at all events, old fellow." The " here " Indicated was a seat next bui one to Crosby's own, round an angle of Je table. The chair between, as well as that on the other side of Crosby, was tilted forward to indicate pre-engage-nient. Ned ordered his breakfast, but before it appeared, two ladies entered, and advanced at once to the reserved seats. They were so much alike as to be evi dently sisters; but while one 'iad the air and bearing of a youthful matron, the other was as unmistakably a young girl. This latter took the chair next to Ned, and A"ibone Crosby, after a moment's low-voiced conversation with the older sister, leaned forward and introduced them. " Miss Darbelle, may I introduce my friend Mr. Banks, of New York?" Then to Ned, "After breakfast t shall have the pleasure of presenting you to Mrs. Peters, Miss Darbelle's sister; just now you seem at an unapproachable distance." Both ladies bowed, Mrs. Peters lean ing past Mr. Crosby, and smiling bright ly as she did so; Miss Darbelle with a shy, upward look out of a pair of brown eyes. She was a brown little .thing alto gether, was Ned's first reflection, for her hair, evidently all her own, and bound in a great knot at the back of her small head, was bright hazel in color, the long lashes which shaded her eyes had a bronzelike glitteV, and her skin wns the richest brunette, with a lovely pink in the cheeks, like the hue ot a sun-ripened Ceach. Even the delicate hands were rown, and the slender arched- throat whWi rose above the dainty ruffle; nnd as if to enhance the effect, the dress was brown also a pale cream, relieved with knots of chestnut-coloied ribbon. The extreme finish and delicacy of every line and tint in both dress and wearer gave a piquant and striking effect to the whole, which amounted to absolute beauty, as Ned presently decided; and the im- Cression deepened as conversation rought out a saucy glitter in the coffee colored eyes, and smiles revealed the flash of pearl-white teeth. Miss Dar belle's voice, sweet and low, had that musical semi-Southern intonation which is so charming to the unaccustomed ear. She was very easy and natural, and alto gether Ned wund himself so well enter tained as to prolong his breakfast to an unconscionable extent. It was not till Mrs. Peters had inquired, more than once, in a tone of slight impatience, "Haven't you finished, Essie?' that at last Miss Darbelle. with a demure little salutation, rose and pushed back her chair. Ned followed, of course. "What else was there to do in that stupid place?" he asked himself. The ladies were going to walk with Mr. Crosby, and he went too. What between the rocks and the beaches, hours sped r.apidly away. There was a row in the atternoon, a game at tenpins -later, a chat on the moon-lighted piazza. We all know how such things go at a watering-place, where the business of life is simply to live and enjoy the passing moment. It was but for a day. To-morrow Uncle Joshua and his heiress would arrive to claim Ned's time apd devoirs. Mean time Miss Darbelle was very pretty, and there was no harm in getting what fun he could out of this extraday. The graver business of life would he along soon enough. Alas for the mutability of human plans! Next morning brought the fol lowing telegram : " Delayed a few days. Stay where you are. Will write. J. Banks." 'What can have turned ud?" asked Ned of himself, but he submitted to the delay philosophically. The hotel proved very comfortable; the weather was de licious; there might easily be found a worse place to wait in than South Cove even without Miss Lovell to add to its attractions. He telegraphed an answer: "All right; will wait," and resigned himself with happy ease to the situation. A letter from Uncle Joshua came next day. Mrs. Lovell, it seemed, had been taken ill; nothing serious, but it might detain them two or three days perhaps till Thursday. "Till Thursday ," then, Ned felt .himself to be off duty, and he utilized his reprieve in the manner most agreeable to himself by seeing as much as possible of the Baltimore ladies. " It's a kind of prelude to the real thing," he told himself, "keeping my hand in, so to speak, ana wm be an the better when the other girl comes to the fore." Ned had Drobablv heard the adaire about edged tools and the dangers of playing iiieicwiiu, uut ib um itut recur lu Jim mind just then. Mr. Banks' flirtation with the pretty Miss Darbelle became the mild excite ment of the season at the South Cove. Morning after morning the cream-brown costume was to be seen on the rocks in close proximity to Ned's suit of gray tweed or spotless duck, the afternoons saw the two together on the water, the evenings in close conversation in the dimmest and most remote corner of the long piazza. Mrs. Peters looked on without interference, tolerant, like all Southern women, of the progress and evolution of love-making in its incipient stages. " Essie always was run after wherever she went. She knows well enough how to take care of herself, and Mr. Banks seems a very nice gentleman," she told a scandalized matron who felt it more than her duty to utter a word of warn- ing rr: ... ....... . mi j . ' 1 1. another-letter to sav that Mrs.. LovelUJor the rest of that seasop-at Uwbouth was belter: buf that her daughter was iow aJittlV Juinc They elioSld M b able to travel before Monday at eoonest. Ten days pawed-a fortnight. The prelude" was protracted to an unex pected .length. Allibone Crosby dis appeared. For a day or two only, he nopeu. ins room was kept lor mm ; but his absence prolonged itself to a week. This left the field free for Ned, and his intimacy with the Southern ladies grew apace. Before the final telegram arrived to announce Uncle Joshua and his be lated party, three weeks from the time originally set, all was over, so far as Ned Hanks was concerned. He was hope lessly in love so hopelessly and so ut terly as to make any other idea impossi ble to his mind. And with the resolute determination to clinch fate, and defy the' world, the flesh and his uncle, he proposed the very day of their expected arrival, won a lovely, blushing "yes" from Essie, and awaited the appearance of his relative with a sense of joy and ex ultation at heart which made facing lions an -easy- matter enough, and how much more so confronting one old gen tleman of placable manners and a coun tenance habituated to the expression of the milder emotions f ' Miss Lovell was pretty wonder fully so for an heiress, Ned was forced to confess. Uncle Joshua seemed singu larly depressed. He introduced them with an air so deprecatingly miserable that his nephew did not know what to make of it. Behind the trio appeared a fourth passenger Allibone Crosby. " Glad to see yoU back." said Ned. who felt in good humor with all tho world just then. His secret burned within him. lie followed the party as they went up stairs, Crosby carrying the ladies' wraps, and assisting Mrs. Lovell with an air of profound devotion. He turned to meet Uncle Joshua's eyes fixed on him with a look of mournful emotion. . " Come with me to my room," said the old gentleman ; " I want a chance to speak with you in pnvate." " And I want a chance to speak with you in private,'' retorted Ned, gayly. "It is not your fault, my boy," began Uncle Joshua, in a melancholy tone, as he 'ocked the door and motioned Ned to ta', e a chair. " That is a comfort for me to 'link of." Ned stared. What was not his fault? Had Uncle Joshua heard ? "There was no fault about it," he began, flushing a little. "Such a word is out ot the question in speaking of the matter. Wait till you know her, sir." . "You're right. I didn't know her." continued his uncle. " I don't like to say that I was deceived ; but I am a man of the world, and tolerably acute, as I flatter myself; and without a good deal of pains having been taken to blind me, I am certain my eyes would have been opened long before." "But, uncle, you were not here. If you had arrived at the time you fixed, you would have seen the whole thing coming on weeks ago." "Months, you mean. It seems there was an understanding, if not an engage ment, in the spring." " Spring! why, 1 never set eyes on her till I came here." "On whom? I am not speaking of you, of course, I refer to this fellow Crosby." "Crosby! why, what has he to do with her?" " Do with her? why, they are engaged, Ned. It is a great blow, after all my hopes, and will be so to you." " Engaged ! Crosby ! But what has he to do with Miss Darbelle?" t- "Miss Darbelle! Who is that? I never heard of "her in my life before. Of course I mean Maud Lovell." Ned stared for a moment; then the full absurdity of the situation flashed be fore him, and he burst into a laugh so long and loud that Uncle Joshua, sus pecting sudden frenzy, cried : " My boy, control yourself! What an extraordinary way of relieving your feel ings! Do stop. What is there to laugh at?" His perplexity changed to dismay when at last the true state of the case was explained, and he found that his cherished nephew had engaged himself to an unknown somebody From Mary laud. " You positively know nothing about her about her family, her means of support?" he gasped. "Oh, Nod! Ned! I never heard of anything so insane in all my life." " I know that she is a gentlewoman." retorted Ned. ." No one could doubt that who talked with her for five minutes. And 1 know that she is the sweetest, most charming, most rehned girl 1 ever saw in my life, and almost the prettiest. That is enough for me, Uncle Joshua, and I think it ought to be enough for you as well." It wasn't, however. Uncle Joshua's afternoon was completely spoiled. He went about dejectedly, his hands clasped behind his back, head bent, drooping whiskers the very picture ot a misera ble old gentleman. The very tails of his coat looked wretched, as if in sym pathy with their owner. Gone were all his airy graces and conversational sal lies, lie had not a word to throw to a dog, and went to bed while still the sun ... n u l-.ii. li nloarlinrv 1. . .1 i 1 wl amA u v . cusing himself on that pretence from the introduction which Ned was eager to effect between him and his new niece elect. To-morrow would be time enough for that, remarked Uncle Joshua, with a low groan. It was astonishing how he revived next morning, after a before-breakfast talk on the piazza with A llibone Crosby fw Aaa ri.ct. Jflfl " hfk nriaH i-awinr his nephew aside, " I have iust heard something which has gratified me very much very much indeed 1 Why didn't you explain that Miss Darbelle was the adopted daughter of my old friend Sena tor RossP I knew him well in Wash ington in, let me see, '49 it must have been a highly elegant man, and a most princely fortune. Your fiance and her sister are his reputed heiresses, I under stand. I should have met your an nouncement yesterday quite differently had I known this. My old friend's daughter! well! well! In some re spects the connection pleass me better than the other of which we have spoken. You are going to do remarkably well by yourself remarkably well, you lucky fellow!" " I knew that beforewithout waiting to learn your further particulars," re torted Ned. " Uncle Joshua, I pardon you because you have not seen Essie yet. After you have seen her, if you don't ask my pardon, I shall cut you off without "He! he!" tittered Uncle Joshua; re stored now- to U hi pristine coiupla.. enoy--. ',J t ii All went merry as a marriage bell after this. The two heiresses and their two lovers weie the great i,"V" .Cove.. Essie ibewitj'hed unc w"u" 'ence, and in hjflfm 1 Among other secret which ihe wormed out of him was that of tho original pur pose for which Ned had come to the sea shore. -., , "Oh. vou poor fellow!" she cried, be- tween her peals of laughter; "you poor victim I Oomg out to shear, and coming back shorn. Such a fine plot, so beau tifully organized, and all to go awry I Oh. Ned! Ned 1" , . . Oh. Ned! Ned!" Ned s color deepened perceptibly, but he met her laughing eyes bole idly. ," Well, yes, it was something like that in the beginning," he confessed. " You see, Uncle Joshua had got this idea into his head, and I felt bound to gratify him if it proved possible. - I think I tell in love with you that first morning; but I wouldn't own it, and went on stupidly trying to prove to myself that you were only a a" . - " A ' Symphony in Black and White,' perhaps," broke in Hasie, saucily, read ing uie woros iromf lap, "or 'ANocturn Was it. Ned?"' hnOWflnahcp tit tin. Iff Yellow.' Which " Neither," cried fted, catching up the paper. " A Prelude in Brown? That was it, Essie. Prelude P That's the thing they play before they begin the real theme, isn't it? Well, all I ask is that you will keep on playing so long as I live, darling. I want no other music, nor ever shall, than just my 'Prelude in Brown.' " Harper's Bazar. Enterprising Correspondents. The Washington correspondent of the Louisville Courier-Journal says : Mem bers of Congress are constantly puzzled as to how correspondents get liold of their secret proceedings in caucus. After the last caucus there was a pretty cor rect report given in one paper of the sub jects reported from one of the committees nnd presented for discussion. It was afterward learned that the chairman of the committee had made some notes in regard to the subjects presented to the caucus. When they adjourned he tore the paper to pieces and threw them in the waste-paper basket. When all had departed an enterprising reporter entered the hall and began a search for items. He saw the bits of paper and- carefully collected all of them, then he retired and skillfully fitted the particles together. Next he visited a committee-room and aed the clerk if that was the hand writing of the chairman. He went from one to the other, until he fixed upon the member whose writing he held. Next morning his paper had a pretty correct report of the proceedings, in secret cau cus. Many think it would be better if the caucus would give correct news to the papers, and thereby avoid the many imaginary reports which correspondents send out as neWs. i A prominent paper published a sensational report which. 1 am told, had not a shadow of truth for a foundation. When the correspondent was taken to task about it, he said, " I was obliged to send something to my paper, and, if you will not give me news, there is nothing to do but invent. I would prefer the truth, but you leave me no alternative." Sharper than a Lawyer. A wag of a lawyer, says the Iowa Slate Register, was Bitting in his office the other day deeply engaged in unraveling some knotty question, when a gentle men entered and inquired: "Is this Mr. Z.?" The student of Blackstone, raising his eyes from the lega book be fore, replied.: " If jou owe me any tiling, or have any business in my line, then Z. is my name ; if you have a clainuto present I am not the man. If you have called simply for a social chat, you can call me any name." " I propose to present vou with anme business in your line. I have a note of twenty-live dollars I want you to col lect," apd handing the lawyer a note, de parted to call the next dav. As soon as he was gone the lawyer ascertained that it was one oi his own promises to pay. The next day his client appeared and inquired: " Well, what success?" "All right; I have collected the money. Here it is, less the fees," hand ing mm niceen dollars. "Good!" said the client. "I have made two dollars and a half by this ujjiuawu... "How so?" said the lawyer. "Well," replied the client "I tried all over the city to sell vour note for twelve dollars and a half, but couldn't do it." Words of Wisdom. Learning without thought is labor lrcf . , l.ii. pi. I- ,.r!.l.ni. 1. ! 11 ous. Friends are as companions on a jour ney, who ougnt to am each other to per severe in the road to a happier life. When the millions applaud you, seri ously ask what harm you have done: when they censure'you. what eood. Life is made up, not of great sacrifices nr rliitinja lint liffl ,n:r : smiles and kindness and small obligations given iiaouuauy, are what win and pre serve the heart and secure comfort. Misfortune is but another word for the ionics, blunders and vices which, with greater blindness, we attribute to the baud goddess, to the fates, to the stars tn nnvt.liino- in 1 1 . ..i-f I.. . ,n .. 1 .. Our own head and heart are the hpuven and earth which we accuse and make responsible for all our calamities. There is this difference between those temporal blessings, health and money; lllnnev ifl tho mnul onviail V.... t-U l....' . j - . u.uot, . ' . . uub tun 1. .13 1 enjoyed ; health is the most enioved. but the least envied; and this superiority of the latter is still more obvious, when we reflect. Hint (l.o n..ni-.cf non ... ------ j,wv.. v w in iu. nuuiu Ji L part with health for money, but that the ril'llADr rn..l.l 1 .1 1 .. 1 11.1 . . nuuiu Ei.vuiv pan wiui an meir money for health. . What " Boom" Means. The current word to express a peculiar and frequent phenomenon in our politics is uouiu. ii is uerivea irom the Western idiom describing the freshets in rivers and prepVa In t that are far from the stable equilibrium. oi iiutti waters, mere are very great lne qualities of volume. Some of them vai ; irom six inches of dust in a dry time I sixtv feet of water dnrinir a. imw. I rains, and all have their timM mhen the usually thin and shallow streams ! comes pouring down in a yellow flood, i bearing fence rails and com stacks and I other signs oi the invasion of the riparian farms, and laden with the dog cone exnlmives of thn ipttlui-a onA CJ , " ui vexations of the travelers delayed at the fords. The stream is powerful while it lasts, but that is only for a day or two, . and while it is at its height of tpmtwnm . greatness it is called a " boom.': , " Lxst necK or me ury jjoi-k is a booming," is : the way in which the natives describe Froviknce Journal. FARM, GARDEN AND HOUSEHOLD. Rome Illnts n Priming. While the scientific eardeners and orchardists are usually doing more or less piUUUIK III. nil Bvusu.ia, iiiiu nig stantlv clinnina off a shoot here nnd a 1 larger branch there, Or breaking the bud j out of some twig to prevent it going astray, tho novice in such matters seems to be fearful of losing something of value if he cuts a tree or shrub in any part, j Then we have men aspiring to be teach- j ers in the horticultural art, who inveigh ; against any kind of pruning, and tell us . that it is not a natural operation, and ' the less done of it the better, as though there was no such thine as improving upon natural methods of raising trens and shrubs, or ot rearing animals to meet the wants or fancies of men. But culti- j vated plants are placed under unnatural , conditions, and to bring them to our i ideas of perfection requires the applica- j tion of unnatural processes, among which ; pruning is one of the most important and , useful. ! Puuning to Invigokate. It may seem a rather singular operation to cut away onethird or one-half of a tree, in order to increase its size and i stimulate it to make vigorous growth; but long experience has taught the gar dener and orchardist that severe pruning is one of the most certain and effective invigorators to apply to old, stunted trees ' and shrubs. Old Iruit trees, or even young ones that have become stunted by over bearing or neglect, may ofton be started into a vigorous and healthy growth by merely shortening all the branches to one-half of their original length, 1 or when there are so many branches that thev crowd each other, a portion should be removed entire, and the remainder shortened to a proper leneth. Of course, cultivation nnd manuring should not be neglected, but in many instances these will not produce the desired effect unless they are accom panied by severe pruning. Vigorous growth in fruit trees will result iii large and handsome fruit; for while a stunted tree mav put on a promising show for fruit in its abundance of bloom in spring, it may fall short long before the harvest ; 1 ami even if it should carry agoodlynum ber of blossoms through to the ripening season, the fruit will be invariably small and inferior. Bettor a little and perfect fruit, than an abundance that is small and worthless. To lay down any specific rules for pruning is impossible, as each individ ual tree or shrub may require a different treatment, oome may need trimming up, others heading back; instances will also occur where one tree needs thinning out of branches, and the very next one a shortening in, for the purpose of in creasing the number, or thickening up of the head. These operations may be em ployed not only to invigorate, but also to cive the required form to tho tree, and they are as important as good food, shel ter and care to the domesticated animal. Pruning Ornamental Plants. Amona ornamental plants there is as much need of pruning as among the more useful. If the pines, spruces, and other large growing evergreens are permitted to grow unpruned, they will usualK shoot up too tall nnd slender, nnd their leading shoots should, therefore, lie cut out every few years while young, in order to give them a wide spread of lower branches, and the latter .should also bo shortened to make them more compact, if the tree is inclined to be of a loose and open habit. Old-time garden ers and nurserymen were very chary of breaking or cutting oil the leading shoots of evergreens, especially those of the pines and spruces, fearing that tho loss of the " leader " would permanently in- )ure the lorm and symmetry oi tho tree; but our best cultivators of such plants in these days purposely cut out the lead ers of all the rapid-growing sorts to im prove the form and enchance their value for ornamental purposes. If the trees are to be raised for timber, a straight tall stem would be of more value than nny number or handsome branches, anil beauty might lie well sacrificed to use fulness. In raising deciduous trees, a man can readily change the form to suit his taste, and produce almost any style ho fancies; and if the pruning is done at the proper season, there 's no reason for believing, as some persons assert, that it induces early decay, or shortens the life of trees or other plants. There are -many ornamental shrubs which are much Improved by severe pruning, especially by thinning out the stems of those that grow in large thick clumps, and shortening those which pro duce their flowers on the young growth of the season. Roses of the class called monthly, and also the hardy perpetuals. should have all their main shoots cut back at least one-half earlv in snrinar. ns the nowers are produced on the new growth ot the season, and the stronger and more vigorous the shoots, the larger and more perfect the blooms. There is too much dependence upon what is called nature in the management of both plants and animals, which is but a handy excuse for a far too wide and general neglect ot both. Aicui low sun. Rot and Mildew ot the Urane. The origin of rot and mildew of the grape, says the New York World, has given rise to numerous and widely-di verging conjectures, and tho various causes that have been attributed do not appear to be very reliable. Both dis eases come and go with the seasons, one vear beinz noticeab.e on one variety and the next upon some other kind, giying evidence that it is miasmatic or sporadic, and developed according to the atmos phere and condition of the vines, as re gards health and vigor. The precautionary measures largely adopted by leading fruit-growers . con sist in a free use ot sulphur, applied by dusting the vines occasionally, irom the time the seed is formed until the color ing is at least half completed. Vineyards with southern exposure are genera llv considered more nearlv exenmt from rot than any others, especially if the soil Is naturally a well-drained one and so situated that no stagnant moist ure can exist upon it. A correspondent writing on the treatment of grapes to avoid rot, in the Farmers' Advocate, urges the use of the spade instead of the plow in the preparation of the land for plant ing. He says : " When one knows how to use a spade it is a very simple method, mucli more rapid and less costly than would be thought. An acre dug to the depth of SO to 4 inches costs littlo relatively.- The vines find ample sup port in a soil thus worked, and the grapes will not rot."-: It is further suggested that the soil about the: vines be thor oughly worw d in the spring with spade, followed by fcui' .or nve-. luiipg or not, to order to keep ilw ground, cvn stantly stirred. ,-.All,uultivtiou should be done in fine weather and when the soil is dry. Keep tho ground worked as deep as may be with the hoe. It will then remain cool, the vines will thrive and the quality of the fruit or wine bd Improved thereby. ' ,r " i In garden culture, for a single row. the border should be eight to ten feet long and about four feet wide. An ap proved mode of preparation is to dig out the- natural soil to the required depth nnd the length and width necessary. If the soil be stiff rr damp, small stones, brush and rubbish may bo laid at tli bottom as a sort of drainage; on top of this deposit, the compost for tho border. This may consist of two parts of good, fresh friable loam, one of old, well-rotted manure, arid one of ashes, shells nnd broken bones, all mixed together. The top of the border, when finished, ought to be at least a foot higher than the sur face of the ground, so that it may still renlain higher after settling. When a southe'n exposure which gives the vines the benefit of the sun's rays all day can not lie gained, an eastern exposure will often be found successful, especially with the early-ripening varieties. A northern exposure ought to be avoided if possible, and, if used, the hardy, early-ripening varieties only should be planted. Carving Meat. , . An exchange gives this hint: We have often been annoyed, in cutting up a roast of beef on the dinner table, by the difficulty of holding it in a fixed position on the smooth, oval plate, while attempt ing to slice the meat down in a hand some manner. Sometimes we have thought that corrugated dishes would hold the meat better and prevent its sliding about. But more recently we have found a much better remedy, by the use of two carving forks set some dis tance apart in the roast, but with the handles, brought together and held in one hnnd. The ease with which the carving s now effected is really surprising. Freshly cooked and flexible beef is sliced down with entire control and accuracy, nnd us thin as pasteboard if he desire it. Nothing is easier than to try this method, and ono trial will satisfy any one. It is not patented. A Big Meteorite Found. i coresnondent of the Chicago Tri bune writes from Estherville, la., as fol lows: Something, of a sensation was caused here on the 10th, at or near five o'clock, bv the falling of a meteor.- The sun was shining, and only occasionally a llcccy cloud visible, when nil nt once, far up in mid-air, there wasa loud report resembling the discharge of a cannon. only louder, followed soon by another resembling a heavy blast, which wns followed bv one or two more reports that might have been the echo from tho first; then, for a minute or so, there wns a rumbling sound, seemingly passing from northeast to southwest, as near as 1 could judge from the location I was in. About two miles north Mr. Uharies Ega was at work planting corn when tho explosion came. Looking in the di rection of tho report, ho could not see anything on account of the sun, but, following with his eye tho direction of tho roaring sound that followed, he saw dirt thrown up to some height in the edge of a ravine a hundred rods or so to the north-northeast of where he was at work. Mr. John Barber also reports a similitir appearance a hundred rods or so further in the same direction. Further observations were made by" S. W. Brown, who lives three-fourths of a mile north of here. Ho was in the edgo of the timber, looking iu a northwesterly direction into the tops of some oaks, to see if there were going to be nny acorns. tho direction being quartering to the sun; he saw a red streak, and was look ing attentively nt it when the explosion ennie. lie claims that it was passing from west to east, nnd that when it burst there was a cloud of smoke at the head of tho red streak, which rushed forth like l.ie smoke from a cannon s mouth and then spread in every direction. Upon examining the edgo ot the ravine a hole was found twelve feet in diame ter anu about six feet deep, which was full of water. Parties have since, bv un tiring labor and search, found numerous pieces varying in sizo from one to eight ounces,, also . lour pieces uixmt lour pounds, and one weighing thirtv-.two pounds and two ounces ; but the largest was found bedded eight feet in blue clay nnd fu"y fourteen feet from the surface. its weight was 4J1 pounds, nnd 1 should judge it was two feet long by one nnd one-hair wide, ana one loot or so thick, with ragged, uneven surlace. it is com posed, apparently, of nearlv pure metal of some kind, a piece of which has been made into a ring by flattening out a small pieoe. A hole was then drilled in it. It was then drawn over a round iron. and makes a very pretty ring, resembling silver somewhat, but a trine darker in color. Housekeeping Made Easy. A couple mav now set un for them selves with very few utensils, scarcely any provisions, ana next to no know icuge oi cuoKcry. a gas or . on stove takes the place of a costly and cumbrous cooking range. Coffee is bought not only parched but ground. Spices and pepper come all prepared for use. Every kind of bread, cake, and pastry can be purchased at a slight advance on the cost of the materials they contain. If one wishes the sport of making them, self-raising flour may be had in any grocery. Fruit of all kinds, all ready for tho table, can be purchased about as clie-tply as that which must be pre pared. Not only lobsters and other shell-fish, but salmon may be bought cooked and ready to be served at a price but littlo above what the crude articles cost, and cooked corned beef, tongue, and pigs' feet and ham have long been on the market. There are also conned soups, that only need to bo diluted; mjnee meat all ready to put between pie crusts, and roast meats and fowls of all descriptions. Some grocers keep mush prepared for frying. Boston baked beans, put up in cans, have had a great run during the past few years. English plum puddings are also on the market. Last summer witnessed the -event of filed potatoes ns an article of commerce. And now comes the report that a char tered company has been engaged in the manufacture of fish balls for the market. It is no longer necessary to be a cook in order to keep house.' 1 It requires scarcely any'cooking utensils to provide a warm meal, i A oun opener; a frying pan anu a couee pot are me principal re qaisitosji! Even the last is not absolutely aeceeasry, inee - mixture of prepared! aa.the hibellon every can tells how treat the contents. Chicago Timts, wew,-iigttr wi ea rasy 'Wiry no; Trprftae gtryt L 'Upiliapulclmake, Lpb)irtPd.rH -to finitHbiimi,itm W -O LcyTsj;e!ThereiiA ajKrdTJan, the novfea to Oioen wtih cokjM rMdirtes1brArPafnt(n't"hniUftfdTrti Accepted and Will Appear." ' Ono evening while reclining " In my easy choir, repining ' . O O'er the lack ot true religion, and the dearth ot ' "' common sense, ' r - i ".' A solemn-vtoaged lady, Who was surely on the shady . . . Side of thirty, entered proudly and to crush 1 me did oommence: ' ' ' ' ' I sent a poem here, sir," Suid the lady, growing fiercer, ' " And the subject which I'd chosod, you re- member, sir, was Spring.' But, although I've scanned your paper, Sir, by sunlight, gas and taper, I've discovered of that poem not a solitary tiling." , ' - She was muscular and why " A nd her temper Sure was fiery, ; And I knew to paoily her I would have to 1 lib like inn. So I told her ere her verses, Which were great, had come to bless us, We'd received just sixty-one on " Spring " ot which "We'd printed one. And I added, we decided ' That they'd better be divided Among the' years that follow one to each sua ceeding spring. So your work, I'm pleased to mention, Will receive our best attention In the year of nineteen-forty, when the birds '. 'begin to sing. - Free Prttt. ITEMS OF INTEREST. A chest-protoctor a lock. Crows fly nearly twenty-five miles an hour. It is estimated that there are 600,000, 000 sheep in the world. Forty different species of tobacco are described by botanists. ,-; . . . Tho best sheep sell - at sixteen to twenty cents per pound in London. If a man is known by the company he keeps, how do we recognize a hermit. " There must be lawn order," said the judge yesterday, pushing his little mower vigorously. " You are beneath my notice," ns the balloonist said to the receding crowd of gaping citizens. SVhnt men want is not talent, it is purpose; in other words, not the power to achieve but the will to labor. Exporters of live stock from the United States pay three per cent, insurance on cattle, nnd five per cent on sheep. The paint mine at Reno. Nev.. com prises a ledge fortv-two feet wide nnd ot unknown depth. The material is said to mix well with oil. Three hundred workmen are employed in building the Second avenue branch of the Elevated railroad in New York, and the daily pay-roll amounts to $4,000. A vonnir Indv at a ball in New York recognized in her comb-ly partner the young man who had dressed her head for the evening. Her hair stood on end. If John P. Brady gave mo a black- walnut box of quite a size." Nothing remarkable about it, however, except that the sentence contains all the letters of the alphabet. N. Y. 'Tribune. The bov that walks lame around tho streets now and looks pale and dejected, is the same gav and blithesome child of joy who but yesterday got caught slip ping under the canvas at the circus. The greatest number of vessels of war at any time in the service of the Colo nies, during the revolutionary war, was twenty-five. The littlo American navy captured over 800 veesels during 1776-'.77. Mr. G. T. C. Bartley writes: "An ounce of bread wasted daily in each household in England nnd Wales is equal to 25,000,000 quartern loaves, the produce of 30,000 acres of wheat, and enough to feast annually 100,000 people. An ounce of meat wasted is equal to 300,000 sheep." - - "John, did you go round and ask how old Mrs. Jones is this morning, as I told you' to do last night?" "Yes, sir." " Well, what's the result? " " She said that seeing as how you'd had the impu dence to send to ask how old she was, she'd no objections to telling you that she's twenty-four. Tho principal thing we have to rejoice over on the fourth of July is the en couraging fact that the day doesn't come oftener than once a year. We always cherish the memory of our forefathers with a deeper affection when we think of this. W e entertained an entirely dif ferent opinion when we were boys. Nor ristown Herald. liEDKIDUEH. Formed long ago, yet made to-day, I'm most in use when others sleep; What few would like to give away, And none would ever like to keep bed, Eugene Field, And in the stillness ot the night, ' - When si'.ence is most awful thick, ' And you have just turned down the light, You think you hear that same bed tick. , Claude lie Haven. A Young Man who was Funned. . Last evening between eight and nine o'clock a "nice" young man was stand ing on the corner of Fifth and Vine streets, smoking a cigar and twirling his little rattan cane, endeavoring to attract the attention of young ., ladies who chanced to pass by. A lady crossed over froiu the opposite corner and walked down Fifth, and the young man follpwed her uutil about the middle of the square between Vine and Race, when he stepped up beside her and remarked : - ; . : " Beautiful evening, isn't it?" , The lady looked at him but made no reply. - - May I have the pleasure of a prom enade with you?" i u i7 The lady stopped and said : " Sir, I think you have made a mistake," and re sumed walking. But the young man thought he hadn't, so he spoke. up again . , . . . " Not at all, I assure you; come, take my arm, and we'll go and get some ice cream.''' ' i .' ' From what followed it would seem that the young lady didn't like ice-cream, or the young man, either. She made a grab at him, caught hiin by the collar, and commenced thumping him ton ihe head and in the .face with her fan. After -receiving five or, six wliacks. lie made a dash for liberty, leaving his nicely-laun-tlried collar and flaring red - reektie in- ine iauy.s passion vaett he walkeooff :fPafrrtevt"rirttri tolae - i7 - Tniag.ifKwnfflf 1- jwvrer,
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