J HENRY A. PARSONS, Jr., Editor and Publisher. Nil-. DESPERANDUM. Two Dollars per Annum. VOL. XII. HIDGtWAY, ELK COUNTY, PA., THUHSDAY. APKIL- 6. 1882 NO. 7. Twilight, i. I've boon roaming In tho gloaming Of a mellow autumn ovc; Twilight lingers, While its fingers, Countless, boundless beauties weave. II. Day is dying, Beautifying In his dotfhtho land and lea: Clouds in splendor Shod their tender Soul-subduing light on mo. in. Night's descending, S rftly blending Twilight glories with its own; Till tho shadows In the meadows To their lulleat length havo grown. IV. And this token, Tho' unspoken, Tells us that tho day is dead; Stars are peeping, As if keoping Silent watches round its bed. v. Thus tho glimmer, Vim and dimmer, From cnrlives mutt pass away: Till tho morning, Iu its dawning, Ushers in nnothor day, VI. May that morning, When its dawuiug Beams at last upon our eyes, Be tho waking, Bo tho breaking Of a dav that nover dios. E, D. Snow. BEHIND MINERVA'S SHIELD. Homer Ashton one autumn evening listened to stories of witches and ghosts told around him, nnd joined in them, until ho felt au occasional shiver creep ing down his back. Not that he be lieved in the supernatural, but the fire light into which he sat looking grew pleasan'cr to him than thecorners of the great room, for lamps had been banished to accord with the subject under dis cussion, and it seemed that the shadows flickering behind the young people grouped abou, the grate of blazing coal were massive and weird, and that when one glanced at them sideways suddenly, there was something about them like ghostly visitors. When ho faced them, to be sure, they were only ordinary shadow. Homer was ashamed of him self, he was afraid his nerves were un steady, snd resolved to tost them. He knew a way to do it. Near tha place at which he was stay ing, nn English country house, were the ruins of the older part of a castle said to have been built in the time of tho Crusades. The whole castle was at present uninhabited, but the part which bail been allowed to fall into hopeless decay was the width of tb courtyard away from the rest of th house. Probably it had once been con nected with it by buildings which hud formed three Bides of a hollow square, but if sq it had been left out in the changes made at different times, and now it was roofless, the walls wore crumbled, and the underground portion was all that mads uny pretense to a habitation, and offered a suitable home to the unearthly beiugs who were suid to roam in it, ir a dampness covered oil tho stones and the air had a deadly chill. But these facts seemed con clusions froru tho nature of tilings rather than the re.su! Is of observation, for Homer could not lind anybody who had explored it. Ghosts ought really to he forgiven a good many faults, because they are in general so unselthh about selecting homes nobody else wants. That evening, as Ashton connected the reports of the place itself with sto ries of sights and sounds around it, he found himself yielding bo much to the influence of gossip that he determined to shake off the weakness and to try what stuff he was made of. He would stand in those haunted halls and sum mon the ghosts and see what would happen. He knew well enough that it would be nothing. But he did not tell his plan to the others; Le said merely that he was go ing for a walk to blow u way this ghostly atmosphere by a little fresh air. No body volunteered to accompany him. night had never seemed more distaste ful to them oil. They only looked at each other significantly as he left them, and said: "Another Americanism." There is an unreasoning element in human nature which assumes every in dividuality of a foreigner to be a na tional characteristic. Dr. Ashton, whom the son of the house had become acquainted with in London and brought home with him for a visit, was to his entertainers an epitome of America, and it must be confessed that at the end of a week they had come to have a good opinion of that country. As Homer walked on rapidly he saw an occasional star in the sky, but it seemed as if he never could get out of the shadow of the trees, there were so many A them. He soon came to the ruin, a mile away, opened the heavy gate and began to descend the long flight of steps lead ing into the corridors and rooms under ground. What conld the old place have been used for 'I Did monks come here for prayers and penances, or were these dungeons where captives taken in the petty warfare of those times felt the personal vengeance of their captors? Ho thought of the one described in "Ivanhoe," into which Isaao the Jew was thrown, damp, dark, hung with chains and shackles, and where in the ring of one set of fetters were two mold- ering human bones. It was no wonder ghosts were said to haunt a plaoe like that. In the midst of these thoughts the gate he had lelt open swung to with a clang, shutting out earthly things be hind him. Step by step he went down the stone stairs into blackness to which the night outside was twilight. Some times he seemed to hear a sound, but when he stopped to listen it was the beating of bis heart. When he reached the foot of the. stairs he still went on; every now and then his outstretched hands struck against a wall or pillar, for he was passing through an arched hall that ended in a narrow passage. He next entered what he thought must be a large room, for the air had an in definable difference and the blackness seemed that of space instead of sub stance. As he stood there uncertain which way to move and the very echo of his footsteps ceased, the horror of darkness and silence which had been growing upon him reached its height. He tried to utter his challenge, but his dry lips would give forth no sound, an abyss of night seemed to swallow him up. Suddenly he fancied he heard a move ment, he thought that something like palpable blackness flitted abont him. He turned to fly and took a few hurried steps in the direction of the entrance. Then he stopped. It wus no ghostly presence that arrested him, but the iron hand of his resolution ; he had como here to do a certain thing and was not to be cowed by a feeling which ho would be ashamed to own tohimseli in the daylight. He faced about and went forward quickly a few steps. "If there is any ghost let him now appear," ho called loudly. The dreary walls answered his cry with a dull reverberation. With arms folded he stood a moment the hardest thing of all to do -awaiting results. If there had not been a roar in his cars, if the beating of his heart had not made even his vision un steady, he would have said that he heard subdued laughter, or moaning, it was impossible to tell which as the sound rolled toward him from tho hol low sides, and that he saw something like a whiteness in the distanee, while a sense of presence made him cold with honor. He had done all he had resolved to do and was free now to get out of tLis dreadful place. He hurried toward the entrance, urged on by the unreason ing sense of pursuit that comes over one when ho turns his back upon danger. All at once he lost his footing and iny at full length on the slippery Moor; the shock, however, only jarred and be wildered him. As he put out his hands to rise he touched something from which he drew back instantly with a stifled exclamation; he thought it oiust be one of the reptiles likely to be crawling in this den. But he recol ected that it was small and hard, per haps it was a curious stone which would Strove his night's excursion if the strangers he was with should be tempt d to doubt it. After a little groping 10 found it again; it felt like a stone jovered with slimy moisture, and put ,ing it into his pocket he made his way ut of the rains as best he eou'd. When he returned to the house Lis friend was alone waiting for him, and -leepy, as Homer could see, consc piently a trifle annoyed at being kept ip so late. The guest said nothing hat night of where he had been. In his room he took out the stone, t was not a pebble or a piece of the pavement, as he had supposed, but an jval of grayish lava that had once been i brooch or part of a bracelet, As he ijle'ined it with his penknife and pockct Uundkerchief he saw that the work upon it was beautiful; it was a figure ol Ylinerva, the very fclds iu her tunic carefully cut, and, as he saw by hi tragnifying-glass, with a light tracery of carving on her hemlet and shield On the opposite side, just under the shield, was the word " Violet." It was evidently the owner's name, but who was she ? Where did she live, and when ? The pin, if it were a pin, had not lain in its last hiding-place long, he thought, it was not enough stained by the dampness, yet he was not sure about that. " Violet" might belong to a former generation or might have been sleeping the sleep of the just for a century. But suppose not, sup pose she were a young lady beautiful as her name, wealthy and high born? Well, what then ? Homer put out his light and went to bed, but not immediately to sleep. Tho affuir seemed to promise an adventure ; as such it would havo been interesting to any young person. But Ashton, ip addition to being barely twenty-five, had been obliged to make his way for the last ten years ; for though he was of good family, Dame Fortune had started him in life with no more than one of her pennies, which, however, evory time a man turns it, as in the legend, leaves a gold-piece in his hand. The next morning but one a tall young man with dark hair and eyes and an expression amused, yet resolute, handed in his card at Grantham hall and asked to see its owner, Sir Gresham Laud. "Dr. Homer Ashton," ciied Sir Gresham, looking up from his letters displeased at the interruption. "Who's he? 1 don't know any such person. Beryl," to the servant, "what does he look like?" " As well, Sir Gresham, only spryer." " Oh. ' spryer.' is he ? In his head or his heels, I wonder ? Well, I suppose I must see what the fellow wants; one of those genteel sponges come to sack up as many pounds as I'll give to their deuced charities," he muttered. By which speech it is fair to conclude that Sir Gresham had been sponged in this way more than once. But when Homer, who was admiring the view from tho drawing-room win dow, turned and bowed as the bare net approached, Sir Gresham perceived nothing of the suppliant about him and began to doubt whether this elegant stranger did mean to make him a few pounds the poorer by his visit. He came forward and requested his visitor to be seated. Ashton spoke of the beauty of the country and Sir Gresham answered him, but at tne moment can osity was evidently his ruling passion "You are wondering why I came,' said Homer. " Certainly it was not to tell you, what everybody knows, that this is the finest situation about here. But I have in mv possession part of an ornament which, I believe, belongs to Miss Land." "Yon I What is it?" Ashton bowed and smiled also, as he handed the other his discovery of the night but one before. " Does it be long to your daughter?" he said. But Sir Gresham was too bewildered to answer him. That ? ' he cried. " Good heavens 1 that ? Where did you find it ? It's a clew." " A clew to what?" cried Homer, eagerly. He felt on the brink of dis covering how a lady's ornament could come in so strange a place. But Sir Gresham was too excited by some suggestion awakened by the sight of the stone to have an idea of trying to satisfy any curiosity but his own. "Where did you find it?" he re peated. "Is it our daughter's ?" .returned Homer. " Yes, it must be hers," and remem bering at lust to thank the young man for returning it, he stood with the stone in his bond waiting impatiently for a full account of its recovery. "Does Sir Gresham Laud suppose that I came here for the-purpose of telling a midnight adventure to hiu?" thought Homer, as a look of amusement flitted across his face. "If you will be so kind," he answered, suavely, " as to ask Miss Laud if she will do me the favor to identify her ornament. I shall be most happy to tell you, and her if Bhe cares to know, how I came by it." Sir Gresham hesitated only an in stant. " Assuredly," ho said, and sent for his daughter. The young man's heart beat faster at the sound of light steps behind him. Suppose Violet were plain and heavy looking, yet suppose he turned hast ily, but not too soon for the beautiful face that was coming toward him. " She was named for her eyes,'' thought Homer; and there was something else he thought, too, that could no more than this bo spoken at the moment. She greeted him with a simplicity that charmed him; but when she saw the medallion in her father's baud she cried: "Oh, papa, my bracelet-clasp; where did you get it? Have they found out the robbers V" Homer's eyes opened wide at her words. "Robbers?'' he repeated. "That's it, then? Perhaps I really did hear and see something after all." And after a moment in which three people stood facing each other with looks of inquiry he began an account of his expedition to the ruin. He was truthful in every detail, yet the story sounded remark ably well as he told, it, watching Vio let's face and seeing a ..diver and grow pale in imagining the blackness of the old cellars. If she would but "love him for the dangers ho had passed ;" he knew nothing of wars to be sure, except of personal struggles with misfortune, out of place to be told here, yet having left their maik upon him in a consciousness of power to dare and conquer adverse circumstances. " I've no doubt they carried their booty there," exclaimed Sir Gresham, Lis thoughts still in the ruins an infinite distance behind the youug man's winged fancy und supplementing the narrative which Ashton had just finished. While Violet was listening to her father's ac count of a daring burglary committed the winter before while the family were in the house, Ashton had an opportun ity to study her face moro ciitically, or, rather, more admiringly. It was possi ble he did not drop all the admiration out of his expression as from time to time she turned to him to explain more fully something that her father was saying. " 1 vo no doubt the villains brinsr their booty miles to hide it in the ruin." said Sir Gresham. "This medallion was the clasp of a heavy gold bracelet It was given to my daughter by a friend and she is much obliged to you, I am sure, for finding it." " Indeed I am," said Violet, coloring a little as she spoke " it is 1 who am under obligation to fate," answered Homer; " I havo found something that Miss Laud values." "lherestof the bracelet has been melted down long ago," pursued Sir Gresham. " That place ought to bo searched." " Yes," said Homer; " when will vou do iti" Tho baronet looked somewhat taken aback at this energetic suggestion. " JSo doubt," he answered, " and perhaps, Dr. Ashton, you would like to be one ot the party if I go with some of my neighbors? I suppose it ouirht to be done as soon as possible within a day or two," he went cn, as the other assented, " lest they should take alarm st your intrusion upon them. When should you advise going?" " 'ihis moment," cried Homer. "It s a wonder that we Americans have any grass in our country," he added, smil ing, " we are so averse to letting it grow unuer our leet. ne met Violet's eyes as he finished. and read in them an admiration and interest. In another moment she had turned away on some trifling pretext, but, undoubtedly, she was blushing. How was Homer to know that she had once declared she would marry the man who brought her back her bracelet clasp ? That, however, was when she was quite sure it would never be found. " Not until aftor luncheon, papa, will vou?" she said. "You'd better not take Dr. Ashton until after that." Several years later, when the medal lion had led to more than the finding of stores of plunder in the old ruins which a gang ot thieves had taken care to make appear haunted, Homer Ash ton, a physician of high standing, was living in a lare American city, A schoolmate whom he had not met for years said to him one day at dinner as ney were talking ot marriages and dea'hs among their comrades: " By the way, Ashton, you never told me where you first met your wife. I only know that it was in England." Homer laughed. "I first met her." he said, "behind Minerva's shield. Did I not, Violet?" uur Continent. Mousquetaire gloves rema'n popular, but buttoned or laced gloves are more becoming to both hands and arms and are now preferred by ladies ol taste. TIIL FARM AX1) HOUSEHOLD. The Farmer. Let the wealthy and great Roll In splendor and state, I envy them not, I declare it I eat my own lamb, My chickens and ham, I shear my own flaece, and I woar it; I have lawns, I have bowers, I have fruits, I have flowers, Tho lark is my morning alarmcr: So, Jolly boys, now Here's God speed the plow. Long life and success to the farmer! lioontion of a Poultry Farm. Poultry breeding has advanced so rapidly from the condition of an ex periment, carried on in places few and far between and in the quietest manner, to a business known tho length and breadth of the country, and affordiog employment as well as pleasure to thousands of people, that the question of how it is to be systematized is one of the greatest importance. The foremost consideration ii natu rally the location of tho farm. It is an impression as widely spread as it is groundless that the best plaoe for ope rations ol this nature is some barren spot too poor to be used for any other purposes. This is a mistake of the very worst kind, and of itself is cause enough for the failure of the whole un dertaking. The soil of tho poultry farm is one of the most importantsubjects, and should be the first considered. It is not enough that the land should be well drained and havo a suitable exposure to the sun, while it is sheltered from the attacks of chilly storms it must also be arable. To utilize the manure from the large number of hens which will naturally be kept on such a place, it must have a certain amount of cultivation. Were it possible to dispose of this fertilizing material at its value without conveying it a distance to a market at considerable expense, it would be by far the best plan to not attempt to mix the labors of a farmer with those of a poultryman. But it is rarely the case that railroad or other facilities for selling are to be found conveniently near a fairly low priced piece of arable land. We must, then, make arrangements for utilizine this product upon the farm itself, in a way to supply the wants of our stock as nearly as possi ble. Naturally we shall seek for those grains and vegetables which are at once most easily grown and bost adapted to our wants. Corn, which plays such an important part in the list of provisions, will occupy a leading place, and all the roots which ko to make up the green food so necessary to every flock must be cultivated liberally. , Soil which must be made to turn out the crops we havo mentioned cannot be of the wretcnea cuaracter generally thought coed enough for the purpose. Land may bo waste in tho sense that it is unbroken, and is simply used for pasturage, and y.et bo suitable, but an incorrigible sand or poverty-strioKen gravel can never be the best field for poultry farming, because the manure of the poultry cannot be economically ap plied to such a soil. World. Farm nnd Cinrdcn Kotrs. Ordinary stable manure contains up ward of seventy per cent, of watsr. Blood and refuse meat rubbod upon the trunks of trees will keep away mice and rabbits. Hoof and horn shavings contain moro than twenty-five times a much nitro gen as is contained in average stable manure. The milking nuarrUai cf swine art as transmissible by carafnl breeding as in the case of cows, and probably will receive more attention hereafter. Anybody can have grapevines by cutting them " properly. Trim off a portion of the old vine and leave a bud at each end. Stick one end in the ground and it will take root. Blue grass is somewhat delicate when very young, but after it gets a good hold it usurps the soil, cleaning out all other grasses. It should not bo pas tured the first season. ProfeFsor Rilev thinks that immunity from the ravages of the Hessian fly may bo expected for several years, as the heat and drought of last summor killed large numbers of them. The dead bark from the trunks and larger limbs of trees is best removed during a thaw. A wash of whale oil or soft soap applied with a brush gives a smooth, healthy appearance. One cow well fed and comfortably cared for will produce quite as much milk and butter as two that are allowed to run at large, lie on the wet ground and be subject to the exposure of the weather. An application of 100 pounds of nitrate of soda to an acre of wheat, where the crop looks weak, will show its bene tit in a few days, not only im proving it in growth but largely incroas ing the yield. It is commonly stated that super phosphates, potash saics and otner sim liar materials are more effective when used together than when applied sepa rately. Certainly complete fertilizer are more efficient man partial lertii- izera. The sow should be fed but little corn during the last two months of her pregnancy. Her diet should avoid that which is so heating and fattening. Oats, bran, middlings and beets are great deal better than the evorlasting corn diet of the West. If you begin pruning fruit and orna mental trees and shrubbery while young, and follow it up eaoh year, you can form iust such a top as you want. If your tree needs spreading out, out the young shoots off just above a bud on the outside of a shoot; and if you want to train upward, leave a bud on the upper side of the limb where you out it oil. Beclpes. Applb Float. Pare nd core twelve large green apples, boil or bake in as little water as possible and press through a fine hair sieve when cold; sweeten to taste, add the whites of two eggs wel beaten, and then beat the whole to gether until stiff. Grate nutmeg over To bo eaten with cream. Cocking Tuknips. A lady writes : My favorite method of cooking rutaba gas is to boil them, previously diced quite thin, and when done drain off tho water and chop nno with a unite, sea soning with salt, popper, butter and vinogar. A friend chops hers before boiling, but I prefer my own method, it being so much more quickly done. Lemck Cheese Cakes. Take two ounces of butter, two eggs, throe table spoonfuls of moist sugar, the grated rinds and n ice of two lemons, and two stale Savoy biscuits (or hard crackers of any kind), also finely grated. Mix all together and then simmer over the fire for a few minutes in a saucepan. Have ready some patty pans, lined with puff paste. Pat a very small quan tity of the mixture into each, and bake for fifteen or twenty minutes in rather a quick oven. This quantity will make about one dozen and a half cheese cakes. ;HoDNChold Hints. Hot irons should never be used for embroidery. In boating butter always take the back of your spoon. A thin coat of varnish applied to straw matting will mase it much more durable and keep the matting fresh and new. Filling a lamp when it is lightedlis something that ought never to be done. It can be avoided by filling it in the morning. After Four Years. The Philadelphia Press tells of the affecting way in whioh Mrs. Melville, wife of Engineer Melville, ot the lost Jeannette, received the first letter from her husband after a silence of four years Says the Press : Mrs. Melville, the wife of Lieutenant G. W. Melville, who went out as chief engineer of the Jeannette exploring party, yesterday at her home at Sharon mil, noar Philadelphia, re ceived a letter from her husband. For four years the anxious mother and three little girls have been awaiting a letter from him. Yesterday morning Maud, who ia about fifteen years of age, went, as she has thousands of times in over three years, to the postoffice to see if thore was a letter. Mrs. Melville was seated at home sewing, and the other two girls were playing with their dolls. Suddenly one of the little ones said: " Why, mamma, something s the matter with Maud, I actually believe there's a letter from papa." Maud's feet did not appear to touch the ground. She broke through the gate use one pur sued by some terrible phantom. With tears of joy streaming down her face and choking with sobs she threw her self at her mother's feet, dropping the letter and crying out: " Oh, mamma, at last I at last I it is from papal Oh, it is from papa!" Tho mother tore it open and read it at a glance, and then reread it several times over. All tho afternoon and up to going to bed last night the children were doing nothing else but reading over papas letter. With the intelligence that it contained of the fate of others and the knowledge that iust now ho himself with the search party is facing similar dancers, thero was nothing in the letter to give hope of the return of the husband and father. Written on a single sheet of tough, heavy note paper, the letter read as loiiows: IitKoiTTSK, Russian Siberia, January 1, 1882, Deab Heitik After many trials and many tribulations 1 arrived bore yesterdav. We can muster but thirteen people, all told, out of our original thirty-throe persons. I am pretty well and will be at homo this Bummer or next win- tor, according as I may be instructed by tho navv department. 1 nave telegraplieu asking to remain and search for De Long; and others who perished at tho mouth of the Lena river. jlovo to cuuuieu. lours laitntuny, George W. Melvil le, WISE WOltDS. The height of meanness is to exult ia its success. Une vico worn out makes us wiser than fifty tutors. J either worth nor wisdom comes without an effort. Grief has been compared to a hydra for every ona that dies two are born. Tho scientific study cf man is the most difficult of all branches of knowl edge. Conceit is to nature what paint is to beauty; it is not only needless, but impairs what it would improve. There is pleasure in contemplating good; but the greatest pleasure of all is doing good, which comprehends the rest. Poverty is tho only burden which grows heavier in proportion to the num berof dear ones who have to telp to bear it. Sanctified thoughts, made conscious of, and called in, and kept m awe, and given fuel that burns not, are a water for Satan's coal. Duty is the voice of God, and a man is neither worthy of a good home here or in heaven that is not willing to ba in peril for a good cause. Work is a necessity in one way or an other to all ol us. overworn is ol our own making, and, like all self-imposed burdens, is beyond our strMgtn. Origin of "Excelsior." One of the best known of all of Long fellow's shorter poems is " Excelsior ' That one word happened to catch his eye one autumn eve in 1811 on a torn piece of newspaper, and straightway his imigination took fire at it. Taking up a pieoe of paper, which happened to be the back of a letter reoeived that day from Charles Sumner, he crowded it with verses. As first written down "Excelsior" differs from the perfected and published version, but it shows rush and glow worthy of its author, The story of "Evangeline" was first uggested to Hawthorne by a friend who wished him to found a romance on it. Hawthorne did not quite coincide with the idea and ho handed it over to Longfellow, who saw in it all the ele ments of a deep and tender idyl. jamei I . Jfwai. AX OLD MAN'S SILVER. He Kccovrm It From llio Vntted Htntei Trrnanrr VniilmThe Picture of Ills Father Other rainlly Etvlte. When General Sherman and his men were marching through South Carolina, the people in his path, snatching up what valuables they could find in their haste, fled in every direction. When ever a body of soldiers are raiding a country more or less pillaging and plundering take place, no matter now strict the orders or how well disciplined the tvoops. In such circumstances a soldier seems to think he hat a right to what he cau get and keep. General Sherman's boys proved no exoeption to this rule. While on the watch one dny the attention of an officer was attracted by a group of soldiers disputing. Stopping to listen a mo ment, he discovered that they were quarreling over the division of a large box of captured property. A glance told him that the contents wore valu able and ought at once to bo placed in the earo of the government, "tlcre, men, this won't do 1 This box must be sent to Washington at once." Orders were given to that effect, and it was sent t Washington and stored away in the division of captured and abandonod property in the war department. It re mained thore until 1808, when, with other valuables, it was placed as a special deposit in tho vaults of tho treasury de partment. ome of tho thiDgs deposited there had no mark about them by which they could be identified, while others were plainly marked. Congress authorized that the former be sold, but those that might by any'possibili ty be claimed by the owners were cire- fully preserved. It is a long time since that box of household valuables was ruthlessly snatched by rough soldiers from the fleeing South (JaroJinian, and he is now an old man. He had for gotten all that the box contained, but remembered that his family plate was there, and that it was ail marked, and that it must have been placed in the government's care. If he could only get the necessary authority to have his goods returned to him, he kuew he could identify them. After a good deal of hard work and worry cn his part, a privato bill authorizing the return of such pieces of silver as could be clearly identified as his proporty should be returned"to him, was at last passed by Congress. It was a happy morning for him, only a few days ago, when he made his way to the treasury department armed with the necessary authority, and carrying a large, old fashioned carpet-bag in which he in tended to bring away tho long-lost fam ily relics. Ho was escorted to the vaults by the officers of the department, and the articles placed before him for identifica tion. Yes I there they were, all plainly marked with the family name, large old- fashioned silver goblets, heavy ladles. spoons, forks and various othor articles of silver. His eye brightened and his hand trembled as he picked them up and carefully examined them. Turn ing to those who s-ood near : "Ah ! I tell you, these were bought when money was more plentiful than it is now," he said. One by one he dropped them into the old bag of goodly pro portions ; but large as it was the sides soon began to bulge. Several hun dred dollars worth by weight was clearly identified as his property. But what is this ? It bears tho cams family mark, but had been entirelv forgotten. He touched the spring nnd opened the case. "Whv, that is the por trait of my father, dressed in tho uni form of a major in tho British army uow many years since 1 looked upon his face I'' " Stop, old man, that must not go with the rest ; it bears vour name, I know, but Congress authorized the return of articles of silver only. His eyes filled with tears as ho reluct antly laid tho portrait down. A further search brought to light numerous pieces of family jewelry, some very handsome, and all bearin the same mark, but they had to be laid abide as they did not come within the provisions of tho act The vaults were again locked, and thu old carpet-bao; closod. " I wouldn't mind the jewelry so much if I could only take away that portrait," were the last words of the old man as he took his departure. Washington Star. A Kemaikablo Surgical Operation. The success of a surgical operation performed some time ago by Dr. William S. Forbes, professor of anatomy at the Jefferson Medical college, doxonstrates a way in which musicians may overcome tne necessity of years of constant prao tioe to destroy tho rigidity whioh naiurany cxusis in mo tnui or tint finger. This normal infirmity has always been the great drawback to students. To obtain a thorough knowledge of the theory of inusio, flexibility and ease in tne movement oi tne third nnger is absolutely required. The subject was brought to the attention of Dr. Forbes by Professor Zeckwer, a musio teacher, The physician gave the assurance that if a subject were procured ho would demonstrate that, with a not very pain ful surgical operation, the finger could be brought under control. A young colored man in the employ of Profes sor Zeckwer, vho had some musical ability, consented to subject himself to the surgeon's scalpel. In the case of the third finger, unlike its neighbors tho upper or extensor finger is joined with the tendons of the fiugeis on each side ol it by two smaller or accessory tenaons. inis acts liKe a mar ungate, one noids tne nngers down bo completely that nothing but constant strain will loosen the pressure. Dr Forbes, when tho subject was brought to mm, simply madetwo small openings in the back of the left hand on each side of the extensor tendon, and divided the troublesome accessories. Tho finger was at once released, and, imme diately after the operation, the young man was able to raise the finger and describe an aro of a circle an inch and a naif greater than he could before. Since the operation the finger ha i been rapidly gaining strength; and now, at exuruuie, n uoe-j yeoman servioe as oompaied with its twin of the other hand. " I Have SIiiucil nnd I Have .Suffered." Hie first line in the Mlowiiijristbe refrain of an unwritten poem rcoitod to a friond by John Howard 1'ayno. author of "Home, Sweet Homo," jnst before his deal h in Algiers: 1 have sinn"d and 1 hnve sull'trod, Yet the world will never know How I tried to do my dutv . In the long, tho long ag I have siunod an.l I have suffered Human nature is so weak Tot my tongue cai.aot ho tempted To disclose, betray or speak. I have si ed and I havo suffered, Who haB not, through blood and bone ? If there be a mortal living Lot him bravely cast the Btone. I havo sinned and I have.sufiorod Just the samo as other men, 7)ut my hoart cannot bo couquored, Nor tho soul that burns within. I have sinned and I have suffered, Mournful memories como to me, Vot beyond tho clouds of sorrow ; Itifts of sunshine I can see. I have sinned and I have suffered, He can sink mid he cau save All tho human hearts that wander To tho cold and silent grave. Wa$7iingtcn Republican. HUMOR OF THE DAY. "I cannot account for it 1" exclaimed the defaulting bank cashier. Wooden shoes, especially those made of oak, are said to produce acDrn. Bimmelbammelbummsl is one of tho convenient words sometimes worked into verse by Gorman rhymers. Inquirer: " What is the most scarce American coin?'' Don't know, sir, dollars are quite scarce enough. Bos ton J osc. " Why does a donkey eat thistles ?" asked a teacher of one of the largest boys in the class! " Because he is a donkey, I reckon," as the prompt reply- Oscar Wilde does not admire tho American onion. It to closely re sembles a bulb of hw dear lily that it brings tears to his eyes. New Haven Re.q'stcr. In youth my ma'd m aim Was to change my mr.ii'es nar..6 And so I mad s on aim At him, and won mv Kame, And changed and mado a name. Tlie Judge. A bald-headed professor.reproving a youth for tho oxercise of his fists, said : We light with our heads at this col- lego." The youth reflected a moment and then replied : " Ab, I see, and you have butted all your hair off." Glass balls and clay counterfeits have been successfully substituted for live pigoons aS shooting matches. Wow why cannot somebody bring forward equally merciful and efficacious proxies for the puguists and ba33ball players? Wo congratulate the pigeons, but why should not this immunity be extended also to uen? Boston Transcr1"'. J. ..P. "Would you like to publish in Siftings, a composition written by a boy on a mule ? Wo do not wish fo encDurage boys to write on mules, and thereforo cannot use the manuscript. Boys should write at home on a slate, and when on a mule should give all their attention to steering the quadru ped. JSow, H you have anjtuing writ ten by a mule oa a boy there would doubtless be something original in that, and we would gladly publish it. Texax birtlHQ. A Bear Festival. On anivin-j at the scene of the cero niouy the visitor lound about thirl! persons, chiefly residents of tho plncj assembled and dressed in their gala costumes, which consisted chiefly of t Id Japanese brocaded garments. From the commencement to tho end Bake played almost as prominent a part as the bear himsi If. The guests Bat around the fireplace in tho cc-nter of the host's but, and an offering was firot made to the en.i oi lire. Ihii was done m this wise: Tho Ainos, who wero all seated, raised their left hands, holding a drinking vessel to their foreheads, while tha palm of the right was also elevated slightly, A small btiok lying across the cup was then dipped in the sake and the contents sprinkled on the floor to the lire god, tho stick being then waved three or four times over the cup. A formula was uttered by each person present and the sake drank in long draughts, the stick being meanwhile employed in holding up the mubtache. A similar ceromotiv then took place in front of the bears cage. This was followed by a dance around tho cage by the women and girls. Offerings of drink wero then made as before to other gods, and final ly the bear was taken out of his cage by three young men specially selected for the purpose. The animal was killed by pressing tho throat firmly against a largo blocs oi wood. The body was then cleaned and placed neatly on a mat, food and drink being laid before it, and ornaments of various kinds being placed on its ears, mouth, etc. Mats were spread around the bears, tho guests took their seats on them, and the drinking commenced. This continued for some time, until the Ainos sank in a state of helpless intoxi cation on their mats. The women ia another part of the village mean time, amused themselves with various danpes,, which Dr. Suheube describes at length. The following day, as a rule, the de bauuh is continued. The body of tha bear is then out up in such a manner that the hide remains attached to thu head. The blood was collected in vessel and drank by the men. The liver was out out and eaten raw. The rest of the flesh was distributed among the partakers ot tho feast. The writer states that, al though hardened in a certain sense to -the sight of blood, he could not look without horror on the sight of tha drunken crowd, with their faces and bodies smeared with blood. The Bkull of the bear, stuffed with chirms, l-i placed in a sacred place on the east sid of the bouse, and the mouth iu fillet with bamboo leaves. It is then alwayi preserved and venerated as a saored ob jeot. Nature.
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