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yol; ir;
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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,