HENRY A. PARSONS, Jr., Editor and Publisher. NIL DESPERANDUM. Two Dollars per Annum.
VOL. XII. RIDGWAY, ELK COUNTY, PA., THU11SDAY, AUGUST 10. 1882 NO. 25.
Forty.
With many a c&reless, joyous bound, t
With many a weary, treadmill round, .
O'er smooth-spread turf or dangerous ground
By many a limpid stream, and mild,
By many a mountain torrent wild,
I, from a simplo, trusting child,
Have waudcred on to forty.
From feet that skipped to sobor troad
From mind with foolish fancies fed,
To Bounder judgment, wiser head;
The change to work from thoughtloss play,
The change from graver thoughts to gay
Which came to mo along the way
I Btrodo while reaching lorty.
Through visions which had real seemed
Through vi-ions wilder than I dreamed;
Through shadows whoro the Bilvor gleamed,
Through sunny places hajf o' rcaat
By eerie shapes which flitted fast
For brightness cannot always lant,
And youth must merge in forty.
Now lot mo count my treasuros o'er;
Wliat have I won or lost ? Far more
Ilave lost than gained. Such boundless store
Of faith and hopo I boasted, when
I wandered from a lad of ten
To whero my vision broadened. Then
My faith exceeded forty.
Pomewhat havo learned, and much unlearnod
Borne good receivi d, much moro have cpnrned
And much that might havo been discorned
I loft unheeded wandering by
With carolesa or averted eye;
Forgetting that the moments fly
So fast from youth to lorty.
I'vo reached the summit of the race,
And would move on with flower paco;
But furty has no breathing place;
So shift and turn me as I will
Theyems will croud and josilo still,
And I may hasten down the hill
To score another forty.
I view the path I'vo wandered on,
Whore forty years havo come and gono,
Aurt much of J n i tit and hope lies strewn,
And pray they may prove finest gold,
Tho remnant of the fallh I hold,
And shred of hopo I still infold,
Ai.d lust another lorty.
Springfitld IUptih'.ican.
The Pathetic Young Man.
Walking tbe sands with her father
lliet. Grannis felt that she had lived U
to all the possibilities vt eighteen years;
that she ei joyed the ocean view more
for being perfectly dressed, and gazing
on it from under a fleece of dark curliu.
bair, which crept fashionably low 01
her forehead, without over having beei
hairdresser's metchandme. She et joyeo
even the duubtfnl support her Freud
heel pave the arch cf her foot. At an?
. tin.e it would have hurt Miss Granm
to be lens than a picture against tb.
landscape. She had delicate features
large bi.z-1 eyes, and cheeks inclined 1
flush, and she knew it was a face to se
with a background of immense hat, ant
abeve Mother Hubbard shirringson tb
shoulders below it. Yet she was an ii
nocent creature, with tbe dregs of chikl
hood lingering on her lips.
Her father was an innocent creatur.
also ; short and thick, with a face clean
shaven except a thorn of beard on tht
end of his chin. His methodical move
ments and placid air indicated the basi
nees man retired on the profits of u
successful career. He carried a heavy
gold-beaded cane, and gave his left arm
to his daughter, who indulgently let hei
fingers lie therein. Tbe gentleman's
ttoIK wus a swinging cue, wbilo she
carried herself with elastic elegance,
catching the step when they jarred. Mr.
Grannis uttered a growl when her white
parasol interfered with his hat, but
npon her begging pardon, assured he
it was nothing at all. His manner
toward his daughter was ceremonious
She had spent so much of her life in
boarding-schools, while he grubbed for
money, that he felt unacquainted with
her. Besides, she was a woman, and
therefore entitled to deference. It wa
Mr. Grannis' habit to lift his hat to the
chambermaid:! in his hutei, t.nd ad
dress his washer-woman as madame.
They reached the wooden promenade,
and clicked slowly along it. Mr. Gran
nis adding nn occasional thud of hit
cane to the uneven cadences of theii
steps.
There's tho pathetio young man
again," observed Misa Graunis, casting
a sidelong glance across the beach.
"What pahotio young manV" in
quired her father, giving his cano head
the revolution cn his palm necessary tu
produce a flourish.
"Tbere ; standing alone, with a soft
slouching hat on ; black eyes and a
largo muHtaohe. Don't look new, he's
noticing us."
Miss Grannis twitched her parasol
in a pret'y but self conscious manner
"What's pathetio about him 1" in
qnired her father. "He looks fat and
hearty. He needs to go to the barber
and get a double handful of his hair
clipped off Must be hot this weather."
The gentleman ended in an abmpt
chuckle which usually startled strangers
it did not accord with his solidity.
" Oh, I just call him he pathetio
young man. He stands gazing across
the water so much, and his eyes are so
sad when he looks at yon at table."
"Maybe he's a salesman out of a
position," volunteered Mr. Grannis ;
"or a professional man who can't get
into practice "
' D jn't you think he looks nice, do?"
" No. Too pretty. Never saw a pretty
fellow that could do anything. Their
- making's in their flesh and bones, and it
stops there.'
"But don't vou like his air?"
" Stuff, stuff." eaid Mr. Grannis, with,
out a punctuation mark or tingle of dis
approval. It was the methodical but
not severe plug which he thought best
to apply to ins daughter's enthusiasms.
His own enthusiasms, being once roused,
were irrepressible.
Perhaps he is stuff stuff, pa. There
ain't many men, young or old, as nice
ana rename as you are."
What do you know about that.
child ?" inquired the old merchant, with
a smirK pleasant to see, lor it proved
him one of those lovable male beings
open 10 nailery.
"Ob, I know a great deal, I have
studied men." Miss Grannis exhaled
a sigh through parted lips. A girl in a
large 'hat, 'with a face as delicate as a
flower, who can sigh so prettily and
gaze at the horizon through smiling
eyes, is very pood company even for her
father. So Mr. Grannis thumped along
with much satisfaction. Tbe win'd grew
fresher as they walked, and the pathetio
young man faded away behind their
backs.
After following the beach half a mile
they left it and turned into a path which
wound among rooks. Beyond the
rocks and a sandy intervening belt was
a piece of woodland that Miss Grannis
and her father had explored before and
found to their liking. Not to wander
in woods, however, do maids adorn
thrmsolve.s in Gainsborough hats and
high-heeled boots. This was tho walk
all the hotel world took when not in
clined to go on wheels. There were
benches under the trees. A cream
tinted parasol was apparently resting
itself on one of theso seats, while a
pair of trousered sums ana a sweep ot
filk oppearod below it.
But Mis Grannis scarcely let hor
eyes rett nn this or any other enchanted
couple dotting the vista. She indi
cated to her father an artist's umbrella,
and a plump, blonde girl sketching un
der it.
"There she is, pa. She doesn't
seem to notice who cornea or goes, or
0 earn if they look ather."
" Her mind's fixed on her business,"
said Mr. Grannis, with appreciative em-pbai-is.
The shetcher greeted them, however,
.lid spoke as if pleased to see them
1 hoy hud picked up acquaintance with
ier during their week's stay. She did
not come from tbe hotels, but boarded
,t a farmer's. Her thick light bair
inng in two braids below her waist.
She was very pietty, veiy dimpled
aiiout tbe wrists and fit gcr roots, and
ressed in Quaker colors with almost
Quaker plainness.
she had a small camp-stool beside
kt, to which she smilingly motioned
Mis-Grannis. Mr. Giannis sat down
n a bench near by, made a nnmb"r of
mlite observations, placed his hand. on
he top of his cane, and began to nod.
" You're going to sleep, pa," eau
oned his daughter.
" I am enjoying the view, Fanny,"
aid the old merobant, decidedly. " I
Uays like to meditate while I am cn
j .vmg tbe view."
Mies Grannis smiled at tho near land
capo of rtclts piltd np before the sea
ut ont of th 8, threading the familiar
ut-h, came the pathetio young man. Ho
ad a right to ba walking there. But
e fact of his following so closely her
;wn arrival made her start.
l tie iirti.st liutid d this, and looked at
iio yonnu man coolly and with an nn
icved aspect. He passed near them,
:ansiug their way, and went on among
liotiees.
"Did yon notice that gentleman's ex-resi-icn?"
inquired Miss Grannis of her
mpanion."
" Do you ?" said the artist V
" Yes. Hi stops at our bote''. I
hii-k he has the saddest face as if his
lo were blighted, or something."
" Maybe he has blighted somebody
Iso's Hie," said the artist
" I worder how?' mused Miss Gran-
ais.
"You seem interested in him."
"Not a bit," exclaimed the young
tdy. " He has never been introduced.
don't even know his nume."
"I can tell yon what it is," said the
irtist, changing her pencil. "It's the
ame as mine. He is my husband."
"Mrs. Granger 1" The yenng lady
?ave such a start that she was near up
etting the umbreUa, but saved herself
bis awkwardness, which would have
yuiutd her more than anything per-
aicmg to tne pathetio young man. " I
bought you were a widow."
" I am a divorced widow. It is not
aeee'sary to blazon the fact."
"And why "hinted Miss Grannis.
3he felt unwarranted to make inquiries
and glanced back at her father, whose
urow was sunk to his cane. But this
shattered romance fascinated her.
"Didn't you love him?"
'I he blonde face put on a cvnioal
sneer which lifted the nostrils an in
stant; but this died away, as if it found
the wholesome, sweet muscles unapt for
its use. Mrs. Granger smiled, sketching
with a steady hand.
" (Jb, yes, 1 loved him. But I couldn't
eat love. It. was very light diet. I have
some solid Dutch blood."
"Didn't he give you enough to eat?"
questioned Mies Grannis.. with widening
eyes.
" ion have evidently been foraged
for all your life," said the artist. " And
yon can't see the danger which lurks in
Btich beings as 5 our pathetic young man.
But let me tell you, if a man ever comes
courting you in a minor key, don't yon
have him. If he calls himself a black
sheep, value him accordingly ; he onght
to know what he is. And if he tells
you he looks into the future and sees
nothing but darkness, keep out of his
darkness ; let him enjoy it himself.
He'll have a good enough time. There
is a worthlessness in some men worse
than positive bad habits. They lack
all the points which goto make success.
All they can do in the race of life is to
-nap at the heels of people who do win.
Their companionship wears the soul
threadbare. They have no faiths, no
hopes, and if any energy, it is of that
shabby kind that is without the nerve
to vault over difficulties. The exhilara
tion of life is Lever enjoyed near such a
person. He crushes you this pathetio
young man.
"Oh, my 1" said Miss Grannis, mean
ing to indioate that such views of mas
culine nature were distressing to her,
and that her experience was far from
preparing Lex for them. "But I
thought when two people were very
much devoted to each other, they did
not mind anything else.'
" Love," said the artist, coolly, "never
flourishes in the society of the pathetio
young man."
"Was he ever cruel to you?"
" Yes, he was ; " a dart of pain ap
peared for the first time in tbe artist's
voice. " I think he has killed out much
of my womanhood."
Thought the young lady, with secrot
wisdom, "She lores him yet."
They sat a long time silent The
artist kept steadily at work, and the
schoolgirl reconstructed a palace from
the ruins in hand. She sifted her read
ing on the subject of matrimony, to
find means with which to work on tho
minds of this separated pair. - It should
be her mission to bring them together
again. At the end of a glory-lighted
vista she saw them kneeling at her foet
while she bestowed a benediction.
The pathetio young man came out of
the woods, loitered past them again,
and returned to the beach.
Then Miss Grannis remembered how
late it was growing. She rose up and
wakod her father, who eaid ho had not
been so pleased with a view since he
came to the seaside. He took off his
hat to bow when they parted with tho
artist. But his daughter, full of delicate
and benevolent plans, decided not to
ask this lady to the hotol immediately ;
and taking her father's elbow, walked
him to the sands.
"Pa," she exclaimed, "I want you
to introduce tho pathetio young man to
ma"
"But I don't know him myself," ob
jected Mr Grannis.
" You can know him. And, pa, if he
really is out of a position, or sulTurin.?
for money, you can start him in tho
right direction, cant you?"
Mr. Grannis made a cantious pause,
shaking bis head.
" Id isn't just tho thing," he prosed,
" for a young girl to show so much
interest in a young man."
Yet when thay emerged from the
rocks, and almost ran against the young
man in question, this cautions father
was so precipitate in yielding to her
demand that sho colored with vexation.
Ho touched his hat, half in ap dogy
for running so nearly against Liin, and
the pathetio young man touched his
bat and they exchanged remarks about
tbe roar of the surf. Tho young gen
tleman asked Mr. Grannis' opinion as
to whether a ceitain vessel coining in
was a ship or a schooner, speaking tbe
elder gentleman's name in a nicely
modulated voice. He was either anxious
to continue with them, or tookit for
granted tbat they wixhed him to do so,
and introduced himself, npon which the
amiable old merchant presented his
daughter, notioing afterward tbat she
seemed to take in ill part the very
thing she had Dogged him to do.
As for Mips Grannis she walked erect
with tingling checks. The pathetic
young man walked next to her, and her
father had tbe water sido. She meant
to work a chaste in the life of this
voung gentleman, and felt chagrined to
have the least irregularity in their in
troduction. But of course poor pa, al
ways tied up. to business, couid not
know tho nico requirements of society.
As they walked, however, her chagrin
was soothed. Mr. Grauger knew several
friends of her father's. His behavior
toward herself was perfect He glanced
at her deferentially, and absorbed her
society wit h quiet pleasure, returning at
intervals to his end abstraction. Mirk
Grannis would have hated him had he
ceased to be pathetic.
When they had neatly reached the
hotel she vouchsafed him a few remarks
"I have jast been with a friend of
yours," she said.
Mr. Granger turned his gaza toward
her for explanation.
" The lady wh j is sketching. She is
a very particular friend of yours, I bo
lieve," "I never saw her before in my life."
said Mr. Granger.
" Yon surely are mistaken," impetu
ously exclaimed Miss Grannis.
Not at all, bugging: your pardon,"
said Mr. Granger.
" But she said she knew you very
well indeed." A look of ntter mystifi
cation came over the gentleman's face.
"A case of mistaken identity," he
suggested.
"And your names are the same
Granger."
He looked searchingly at Miss Gran
nis. "Singular coincidence. I certainly
cannot remember having ever met her
before. But I did not look with par
ticular attention at her."
There was a hint of emphasis on
"her "pleasing, because it was slight,
like the suggestion of a perfume. Mr
Grannis now took np tho conversation,
and his daughter left them in the hote,
veranda and went to her own room.
She told herself tbat either the pa
thetio young man or tbe girl-widow in
whom she had taken such an interest
had made false statements. If he were
not a recreant husband, how could the
pair be reconciled? Mrs. Granger
claimed him with such assurance, and
be had passed quite near enough to be
rt cognized On tbe other band, he de
nied acquaintance even with Mrs. Gran
ger's face, with an air of candid uncon
cern. It puzzled Miss Grannis so
much she could think of nothing but
the pathetio young man. She had read
of twins and of doubles who had to
bear the sius of those whom they dupli
cated. What gave him tbat sad look if
there was nothing gnawing at his heart
strings ?
" I wonder if she really was his wife,"
thought Miss Grannis. " I don't want
to see her anvmoro while we stay here.
It's a horrible business to be so puzzled
about. It they really are strangers how
unjust I am to him I
There was a dance ending with a
german at tbetr hotel that evening.
Miss Grannis had no ebaperon ; her
life had been an independent one, and
her father knew little about a young
girls requirements. But she had op
portunities to danoe, and olo of her
opportunities was Mr. Granger He
waltzed elegantly, and in this exhilara
ting motion appeared to forget the
recent sorrow which made him pathetio.
Miss Grannis noticed his mother, a wiry
old lady with white curls, watching them
with attentive eye.
"She can't help seeing we are well
matched," thought the yonng lady.
It occurred to her now for tne first
time that she might learn the cause of
Mr. Granger's melancholy from his
mother. The youtg girl was exclusive
in her own fashion. She picked oat
people in whom to feel an iuterest, and
ignored the rest of the world. Darinor
her week's stay she had not lingered
amidst we gossip 01 the parlors, and
had therefore obtained no information
about the people in the hotel except
what her eyes gave her. Bat she was
pertain this youngish old lady was Mr.
Granger's mother, beoause he always
brought hor to the table, and exhibited
the most dutiful behavior toward her.
After the waits Miss Grannis walked
on the veranda with the pathetio
young man. It was a light night, the
moon seeming to walk the ocean with
a thousand glittering footprints, and
time and scene had their effect on the
two young people. Other couples were
also promenading. S'ill, Miss Grannis
felt an aloneness with the pathetio
young man and decided now to sift nd
olaRHifyhim. She said he seemed pensive.
lie turned ins luminous eves toward
hor and assured her he was always a
little pensive wbon extremely satisfied.
This was a nice though ambiguous
beginning. But it gave her opportu
nity to ask if he was always satisfied,,
for his usual expression was sad, she
thought.
"Yos." Ibo pathetio young man re
plied; " he bad as good reason as any
body to congratulate himself. Nobody
was quito huppy."
This was rank heresy to Miss Grannis
Sho said it was too dreudful to believe.
If poor ile could not be very happy, life
would be unendurable.
Mr. Granger said li'e was pretty prosy
at times. Folks could jog through it,
though, if they weren't in a cramp for
money. Ho considered being in a
cramp for money the wori-t thing
Mit-s tirannis secretly decided tbat he
bad not mnch soul, or was fearfully
cynical. She- felt a certain hollownnes
in her pathetio yonng man, or unsatis
factory flatness, like the taste of squash
to her palate. Still, he might be veil
ing his inmost nature.
He sighed a little, and admired her
fan. Within doors wore scores of women
sitting ah ng tne wall, and no pathetic
yonng man leaned over them pouring
the mystio sadness of his eyes into their
sympathetic countenances. M'ss Gran
nis was enjoying herself, when the wiry
old lady with light curls appeared in
tbe open window, quite near enough to
put her hand on Mr. Granger's arm.
"Kemember your dyspepbia, Harry,
my love," she remarked, in what Miss
Grannis considered a detestable voice.
and how cooling off suddenly after
exercise affects you."
The pathetic young man was suddenly
less expansive in his manner toward
Miss Graunis, and replied to tho mater
nal admonition that he would take care.
fhen ho introduced the younger ladv to
Mrs. Granger. Mrs. Granger was rather
acid. She roused a belligerent feeling
in the girl's bosom.
" I don't think it was very nioe.''
ruminated Miss Grannis, " to speak
about drspepsia, reminding people of
their stomachs. She must be no end of
fussy, and not at all like what I should
picture his mother. I have a great mind
to flirt with him; it will torment her."
Revolving this unnlial plan she re
entered the room with Mr. Granger,
and instantly plunged among the
couples who were executing one cf
those new round dances composed ol
hippity-hops and slides, and during this
nndignified pastime she saw Mrs
Granger's eyes still following them
around the room.
At the end of that dince her father
found her, and uttered his usual admo
nition about early hours.
"Just one more, pa,' decided Miss
Grannis. "After the next I'll have
plenty of time to get my beauty-sleep."
"Which you certainly never need.
said the pathetio yonng man, giving
hor a look that seemed to melt warmly
over her.
They were moving to take their places
for this last dance, when he halted with
a start, and said, despairingly; "That's
my wife again."
So he admitted the tact at last. He
was Mrs. Granger's ex-husband, and she
must be in the room. Miss Grannis
swept her eye along the wall, and Baw
the "blonde artiit chatting with a gen
tleman, but watching her.
" You appeared to ignore your wife
this morning," the yonng lady said,
eeverely, to the pathetio young man.
lou told me she was a complete
stranger to you."
" Mr. Granger never ignores his wife,"
said a voice in front of her. Miss Gran
nis felt startled as she brought her gaze
back to the elderly Mrs. Gi anger, again
bent on interrupting them.
"I'm eure 1 haven't done any thin 7 to
her," thought the girl. "Wbat makes
her so disagreeable i l d be pathetic too
it 1 bad such a spy 01 a mother."
" What did you mean, Harry," pur
sued the elderly Mrs. Granger, in an
astringent tone, "by saying your wife
was a complete stranger to you ?'
" 1 uon t know, replied the pathetio
young n-an, collapsing visibly.
"I know about the separation," said
Miss Grannis, determined not to be put
down b this warlike old woman, and
looking her de fiintly in the eye "Why
should you want to conceal it ?"
The elder lady s mouth drew inward
with a convulsive twitch. She grew
sallower under her cosmetics. But
putting her hand within the pathetic
young man's free arm, she spoke with
low and guarded emphasis :
" We are not separated yet, and I
don't think we shall be by the most
brazen of flirts while my husband
knows his own advantage. If you will
excuse my husband now, we shall have
the pleasure of wishiogyou good-night,
The elderly Mrs. Granger then moved
away with her pathetio young man.
mirs uraunis soon alter felt yonng
Mrs. uranner tase her arm and walk
her toward the veranda. Bat the girl
paused in the ball.
"I know just what has happened,
sail the artist, suppressing laughter.
" They say she is as jealous as can be,
and makes constant scenes. It's what
he deserves for marrying her money."
" I thought she was his mother,'' said
Miss Grannis, oat ot her stupefaction.
" How many wives has be, pray 7"
" One only," replied the artist; but
as she is twice his age, and equal in
watchfulness to twenty, he is most
thoroughly wived."
- Yon said he was your husband."
" I told you a fib," said the blonde
art'st, with obarming candor. "I never
saw the man before this morning. But
yon were bent on a romanco for him,
so I helped you to one. It might have
been so, you know. You are indued
to build too much on appearances."
" I think I am," said Miss Grannis,
holding her head higher.
" Don't resent my little fiction seri
ously. I did it on the spur of tho
moment, and came this evening almost
purposely to confess it, and to look
after that pathetio yonng man of yours."
"And you called yourself Mrs.
Granger all the time 1" denounced Miss
Grannis, laying her hand on the
balustrade, while she bent fulcon looks
npon her acquaintance.
" That's my name by the merest co
incidence. If it had been anything else
yon would have thought I had re
turned to my maiden name. But you
could see tor yourself, my dear, what a
cozy little widow I am. Nothing pa
thetio about me. I married a man to
whom I am indebted for various lessons
in human nature He died several
years ago. I am to be married again
next month, and sorrow is not preying
upon me at all."
Mis Grannis' bead was at this time
reared bo high, and hor eyelids drooped
t o low, that she paid languid attention
to anything else young Mrs. Granger
had to say. But after reaching the top
of tbe stairs, her progress ulong the
O'irridor became a flight.
She knocked 'it her father's door, and
foil tunanltuously on the bosom of his
dressing-gown.
" What's the matter?" exclaimed tbe
old merchant, feeding companotion at
having left her downstairs while he
sought a nap between dances,
" We must go right away in the
'rain that leaves to-nigbt," said Miss
Grannis, with half a sob, crnshin her
pretty tullo dress upon his knees as sho
made him sit down at a window. "Oh,
pa. don't keep me here another hour I
I am all mixed up and everybody is
deceptive and horrid 1"
"But I thought you were having the
best of times, dancing so late. And
tbere was that fat young man who
looked so melancholy."
"Pa," (xclaimed Miss Grannis, hold
in? him off with a savage shake, "if I
ever see anybody again with tbat far
away sad look in the eyes I shall be
lieve it is dyspepsia. I shall avoid tbat
pen-on as a miserable human shell.
Now, I'm going to pack. It's so com
fortable," she conoluded, leaning ber
head on his shoulder, " to feel sncb
confidence in a dear old pa to-night.
But ntiver speak to me about any
pitbetic young man again." Harper's
Bazar.
A FeaiTul Swim for Life.
A correspondent, writing from El
Dorado Canon, Nev., says: Another of
our old-timers has been swallowed up
by the treacherous Colorado, Barney
Coleman and Benjamin Goooh, accom
panied by two Indians, started np tbe
river one morning recently in a skiff for
the purpose of ca'chiDg drift-wcod
After reaching a point between twelve
and fifteen miles up the river the boat,
becoming unmanageable, was drawn
into an eddy and disappeared ia an in
stant. Tbe skiff at the time was near a
steep cliff of rocks, whose walls were
two hundred feet in height, and the
Indians, observing that the eddy was
about swallowing the boat and crew,
jumped out and clung to the rocks and
Goch endeavored to do the same thing
after them. He secured a slight hold
to the perpendicular sides of the cliff
clung to it only for a moment, then fell
into the water and was seen no more.
(Jolt-man sprang from the stern of tbe
skiff out into the river and got beyond
the eddy, where he watched for the ap
pearance of the boat He had not long
to wait, bat it seemed to him ages,
when he caught sight of it, bottom up
ward, a few yards down the river, when
he swam after it, overtaking and cling
ing to it.
In this condition, for three miles, he
went shooting past recks, plowing
through breakers and whirling about in
eddies, when ho came face to face with
one of thoso roaring rapids and treach
erous eddies so numerous and so dread
ful in the Colorado. There was no time
to lose. Another chance between life
and death, and that chance perhaps was
the only one in a thousand. The resolu
tion was formed one moment and ex
ecuted the next. The skiff was in the
midst of the rapids, standing on end ;
another breaker and over it went.
This was an indescribable moment
to Coleman, whose sole reliance
had deserted him, as he felt a
prisoner in the hands of death, and
thiugh he had scarcely known his
strength before here was a desperate
opportunity tor its test, and he says that
he felt that he was a mere straw at the
mercy of a wave one second and an eddy
the next.
Here was waged a fierce and pro
tracted struggle for life between a
powerful man and skillful swimmer,
weighing Tio pounds, and first a whirl
pool and then a rapid, whose force and
size and danger can never be realiz d
except by tbe man whose life was
tremblin-r in the balance, but courage
and human strength at last prevailed,
and the brave man swam on
over rapida and through whirl
pools for the distance ot
three of as perilous miles as was prob
ably ever won by man. Who can imag
ine his feelings as he reaohed in safety
and crawled upon the river bank.
where he lav for some time completely
exhausted ? As soon as he bad regained
sufficient strength, Oolemau set out for
the canon, and, shoeless and naked,
after a tramp of six miles over the bar.
ren, rocky mountains and through deep
canons of burning sand in the heat of
a broiling sun, he arrived, his feet
bleeding aud fearfully lacerated by the
tnarp rocks.
At a family party the company was so
large that two bovs bad to wait at sap.
per. When the meal had long been over
and the folks sat still at tbe table the
elder of the boys it was his seventh
birthday was seen crouching on the
doorstep outside the supper room, and
was asked: "Where is Faulr" With
deep drawn sigh the lad responded:
dont know; I s'pose he's somewhere
prayla' the Uoialoi bis supper V
Chinese Babies.
Let us suppose that the solemn bath
appointed for the third day is ovor,
which would seem to be almost a Chi
nese baptism, and the mother to be
convalescent If the offspring be a girl
tbere will probably be no rejoioing, bat
if a boy the mother will go in state to
the temple frequented by her family
and offer thanks to Tien How, the queen
of heaven. The only time it was our
fortune while in China to see a riative
lady of any standing was on such an oc
casion. A wife of Howqua, the son of
the celebrated Hong merchant, had gono
to the temple of Hon am to return thanks
for tho birth of a son. The shrine in tbe
temple which she was visiting had been
founded by the elder Howqua in honor
of his ancestors ; it is a lofty hall, with
roof open to the beams, closed in tho
rear and at the sides, but in front open
ing with richly carved doors on a rained
terrace surrounded by a stone balustrade
and overlooking a square tnrfed inolo
sure containing two or three fine speci
mens of the Chinese banyan, or Ficui
rclirioti, and a pond of water covered
with the broad green leaves and roBe
tioped flowors of the lotus, the eaorei
plant of Buddha, who is often repre
sented as seated on its open flower.
Crossing this pond end skirting it
were a bridge and gallery of massive
stone carving corresponding with the
balustrades, and communicating with
the terrace. On the opposite side of
the gallery wan seen the rear of another
shrine, colored of a drep vermilion
like the one in front, with its high
arched roof sweeping down like the
enrved outline of a Tartar tent (from
which the Chinese style of architecture
is supposed to be borrowed), and
adorned With dragons, birds and dol
).bit s in glazed pottery of the brigh est
colors. Down either side stretched a
line of gloomy cloisters communicating
with the rest of the building. At.
one end of the terrace were two or three
small tables arranged with viand plaeo I
npon them, and surrounded by a cvn
siderable party of Chinese, am -in whom
we notire 1 several femvles standing, ev
idently in a' tendance npon some lady,
as in China the servants are almost in
variably of the other sex. Kuowinu
the scruples of the Chinese against ad
mitting foreigners into the presence of
the female members of their families,
we turned back, and were on the
point of leaving that part of the
temple, no little disappointed at
being unable to see the whole of the
building, when two members of the
group, one of whom was a son of How
qua, came forward and reqnested us, if
we wished, to continue our examination.
We did so. The shrine at which tho
ceremnny was going on had been decked
with flowers, whilst on the long counter
like altar in front of tbe figure of the
goddess, between the jars of porcelain
and bronze half filled with sandalwood
ashes ia which sticks of incense were
bn-nin?, and upon two square pedestals
in front of the altar, were piled up pyr
amids 01 iruit and sweetmeats.
0h either side of the-:e pedestals were
two of smaller siz9, on each of which
was placed a book apparently of re
ligious service, and by its side a small
wand and a hollow, red, kidney-shaped
gourd, which when struck gave a hollow
and not unmusical sound, each blow
upon it marking the repetition of a
prayer. These, as it were, formed the
lecterns of the officiating priests, and
between them, facing the central vase
on the high altar, was placed a
cushion and a mat ou which the
fair devotee might kneel and perform
the kotou, or ceremony of kneeling and
touching the ground with the head at
certain periods during the service. At
either side of the central door of the
shrine stood a large brotiz9 vase heaped
with silvered paper formed into boxes
about the siza and shape of steel-pen
boxes, and emblematical of bars of
Sycee silver, wbich is burned at tbe
conclusion of the ceremony as an offei
ing to the Queen of Heaven.
On passing outht of e shrine, still ac
companied by the two Chinese who had
joined us, we passed near the banquter
ing party, when the lady rose, supports p
by two of her servants, and, crossing he
hands, saluted us in the Chinese fashion.
Of her beauty lean say nothing ; neither
my 00m pan ion nor myself could remem
ber anything save a face painted a la
Chinoitc, and hair tied up in the usual
tea pot form, dressed with magnificent
pearls, jade ornaments, aud natural
flowers. Tbe golden lilies, as the in
habitants of the flowery kingdom call
the crippled feet of the higher classes
of their women, and the splendidly em
broidered robes, attracted our attention
far more than the eyts and features,
which doubtless ought to have been our
only consideration
It is after this festival not always,
of course, celebrated with th magma-
cenoe we have described - that the rela
tives of the child present it either with
plate or bangles ol suv, r or gold, ou
which are inscribed tbe (haracters sig
nifing lung life, honor and felicity. Jt
is also at this period that it receives its
'milk name, ' or the pet name by which
it Is known tn its family, the name by
which it is known to others be'ng only
given to it at the completion of its
iourth year, when its euuoUon is sup
posed to commence.
Shvf Work.
As an illustration of the slowness
with wbich public business before Con
crens sometimes goes forward the
Washington correspondent of the Bal
timore Sun t.dls the following : Some
time since Philip Beich, of Frederick,
Md., came to this oitv on a visit, tie
is eighty two years of age, though well
preserved. In talking with Upresent
ative Urnerbesaid he thought that Con-
cress was about as slow now as at any
time ia the past Paid he: "When I
was in Washington before, in 1814, the
claim of R. K. Meade, the father of
General Meade, who commanded at
Gettvsborg. was under consideration
It was a Spanish claim of some kind
f or damagt and looses he sustains I in
Boatn. After being away lor sixty.
eight years I returned, and what case do
yon think was under consideration when
I got into tbe capitol T The same claim
01 Xi. JUeade."
Oh Mellow Moonlight."
Ob, mellow moonlight warm,
Weave round my love a charm;
Oh, countless starry eyes,
Watch from the holy skies;
Oh, evor-solomn night,
Shield her within thy might;
Watch her, my littlo one t
Bhlold hor, my darling t
How my heart shrinks with fear
Nightly to leave thee, dear;
Lonely and pure within
Vast glooms of woe and sin;
Our wealth of love snd bliss
Too hoavenly-perfoct is;
Oood-night, my little one !
Ood keep thee, darling I
Jamet Thornton.
HUMOR OF THE DAY.
A striking subject The hammer.
"I have a fresh cold," said a gentle
man to his acquaintance "Why do yon
have a fresh one? Why don't yon have
it cured '"
A merchant may manage to grab
along without advertising, and so may
a man empty a hogshead of water with
a teaspoon, but both are decidedly
tedious undertakings.
A young lady gave her fellow the
mitten for somn reason, whereupon he
threatened to publish her letters in re
venge. "Very we1 1," she said, ' I am
rshamed of nothing in them bat their
address."
The weary hn-b ind as he proceeds to
take down tbe olotbe.'-Iine, uncon
sciously trips over a croquet aroh, and
from the bottom of bis ltt wishes he
was whre the wickets cease from
troubling.
"Is that an mal a success ?'' in qnired
a neighbor o' a farnvr who hud lecently
purchased a wa ch d g. " Weil, 1 ess
so ; be caught right on the firtt day,"
replied the owner, proudly pointing to
a monthful of pantaloons debris near
the dog's kenne.l.
If you want to be very fashionable in
your correspondence you must use fanoy
colored sealiog wax and a hw seal to
clone your envelope.". And don't forget
the extra postane stamp therefor, or the
receiver of the letter won't appreciate
your elegant stylf. Z?oson Post.
The tremul ius boughs of the waving
trees were raining down shadows that
fell cool and fair upon Lurline Perkins
b autiful face as sho stood silett snl
alone near the woodshed. The ii ur
mnrous sighing of the summer brteze
was borne to hor by tbe tranced air, and
ever and anon there camo up from the
meadows the sound of the farmer's ax
as he felled the sturdy asparagus that
was soon to delight the palates of the
rich people in the city who could pay
for it. Away to the eastward, mirroring
back the azure dome of the sky, lay the
lake, and the swell of its silver foam bat
served to make the silence deeper. The
girl stood for several minutes as if en
tranced by the scene. Then, turning
sadly away, she exclaimed in low, bitter
tones : " 1 suppose 1 shall have to mute
that dratted cow, and tho sooner I get
at it the better." Chicngo Tribune.
Arab! Bey.
Edward L. WHson, an artist of Phila
delphia, recently returned from Egypt
where he frequently met Arab! fasha,
thus describes the rebellions Egyptian :
"l'tcture a tall, heavy faced -man,
sullen, swarthy, with only a pretty clear
eye to soften the general harshness of
expression and a black mustache to
hide a not particularly finely-carved
month. His legs are as unattractive as
his face. The underpinning looks too
frail for the rest of tbe body. He is a
bnlkv man. not pussy or Falstaffian in
girth, but a broad, thick-chested fellow,
built on the lobster pattern.
His dress was slovenly on this oc
casion, and his manners were brusque
and anything but attractive. "Take
him all in all," said Mr. Wilson, sum
ming np his impression in eight words,
you would never notice him in a crowd.
In fact," said the speaker, " he has the
air of a person who regards himself as a
very big Indian, an opinion a stranger
would not be likely to concur in by any
means at the first blush,"
In speaking of the wonderful in
fluence Arabi exerts over his troops, Mr.
Wilson related a little story in which he
explained the pobitive effects of the
power certain of tbe priests have over
tbe fanatic il and superstitious people. In
Cairo is located tbe famous Mahamme
dan college, where young men are edu
cated for the priesthood. While many
graduate, not all by any means assume
holy orders. But the fact of having been
prepared for the calling invests them
for ail time with a power over tbe pop
ulace that foreigners cannot under-
tand. Arabi Pasba was brought np in
Mas college and is a firm brliever in tho
Koran. In bis journey in gs along the
NneMr. Wilson was ace. m pan led by
Mabommed Aebm-d Effendi Hadaijao,
a nlk merchant of Cano, who was edu
cated in the sacr.d ootlege with Arabi.
It frequently ooouried, continued
the artist "that 00 r dragomen would
'ail into disputes over trivial matters,
ai.d would aot as if their rage wan un
fa innded. 11 made no difference
however great the turmoil or
heated the belligerents, Effendi Ha
daijth could qell the trouble
and scatter the participants by simply
raising bis band and speaking a few
words mildly. 11 w manner was always
of the kindliest, his eye tender and his
face benevolent, but his piesence
among the lowly wan sufficient to in
sure the profonndest respeet. I knew
he was not a priest, and in a friendly
way would endeavor to obtain from him
the underlying reason of this manifest
power, but he turned my inquiries away
with a smile and a wave 01 tbe band, as
it it were not to be talked about. So
it is with Arabi. He was prepared for
the priesthood, and his followers invest
bim, la their religions seal, with. Invin
cible power and probably sa red in
spiration." Philadelphia Timet.
A workman in a mill in Pbceuixville.
Pennsylvania, rolled a round three
quarter-inch bar. of iron, 163 feet in
length. This is claimed to be . the
longest bar of Iron of that size yi
rolled, -