piSHSW :'t H ' ' 111 ff ' ip ill ' if 'C tl
B. F. SCHWEIER,
THE CeSSTITCTIOS THE UNION ASD THE ENFORCEMENT OF THE LAWS.
Editor and Proprietor.
VOL. XXVIII.
MIFFLINTWN, JUNIATA COUNTY, PENNA., DECEMBER 9, 1S74.
NO. 49.
I'oetrv.
A FOR 1ST FAX!.
H irebolls and ferns from a forest nook !
Oh : have tliem with me and let me dream!
I nee them growing beside a brook.
And bear the wimpliug trill of the stream.
I watrh from a round, red knob nprise,
("rosier-beaded, tbe feathery fronds.
Till graceful pinnies, under summer skies.
Wave as rejoicing o'er broken bonds;
And close by a green umbrageous fern
Which arches o"er a fairy bower,
A pendulous blue inverted urn,
W here goblins shelter from sun and shower;
The harebell, on its delicate stem
So daintily poised, so lightly swung,
Whence mmnc audible mito them
FloaUt on the air as by zephyrs rung.
The fiery sun goes down to his bath.
Moonlight lances are shot through the trees.
Wee elves come trooping by many a path.
As harebell chimes swell out on the breeze.
The cricket answers wit h Mhrill delight
The harebeil summons still jiealiug out.
The glow-worm lamps are lit for the night,
And echo trills with a fairy shout.
For, guarded by fays with spears of grass.
To mossy dais and acorn throne.
The eilin queen and her courtiers pass.
To the palace of fern she calls her own.
In feast and frolic tbey wile the time.
With fears too deft for a form of clay.
Dancing to pensive harebell chime
Dawn breaks the fairies are fled away !
With daylight comes a fair young maid
Her touch I as light as an elf s might be)
Eeguiles the harebell and fern from the glade
And brings the forest and fays to me.
I I i x c e 1 1 a n y.
Itoarding-IIoase Lite.
Let me briefly sketch tbe boarding
house life of a "gentleman and wife."
They occupy one room, which contains
a bed, bureau, a few chairs, perhaps a
lounge, a shabby carpet and a few
cheap pictures. At about eight o'clock
they come down to breakfast and join
eighteen or twenty others who are
squeezed so close at table that tbey can
hardly move their elbows. After break
fast tbe husband goes down to busi
ness, and tbe wife sets about killing
time. She begins with tbe morning pa
er, which is soon thrown aside if it
does not contain a column or two about
some scandal or the fashions. She.
then goes into some other woman's
room, or the other woman goes into
hers, and the two sit there and talk
about everybody till the bell rings for
lunch. It is now the beginning of tbe
afternoon. If the weather is fine, she
dresses and goes out, erhaps to a mat
inee, perhaps to visit a triend in some
other boarding-house, but more prob
bly to saunter along the principal
streets of the city, and examine
the latest fashions, see who among
her acquaintances are out and what
tbey wear, and make tbe clerks dance
around and show everything that she
doesn't want. If tbe weather is not fine
she stays in the house, gossips, and
reads novels. Supposing her to have
leea out, she has a fund of chat about
dry-goods and knick-knacks wherewith
to regale her neighbors at the dinner
table. By this time tbe husband is
home from business pretty well worn
out. After dinner, card playing comes
in, or maybe another novel, or possibly
a visit to the theatre or opera, or an in
vitation to some vapid party. From
tbe time she rises at seven or eight till
she goes to bed at eleven or twelve,
not a thing has she done but amuse
herself and kill time. If it happens
that she has any children to look after
of course there is somthing to be done
besides gadding, but children are very
scarce in boarding houses, so scarce,
indeed, that two children to three cou
ples may be called the average. The
husband works as hard as any man who
has a home to cheer him when tbe days
business is over. The wife is rrerely
an idle woman whose board he pays.
This is tbe rule ; of conrse there are ex
ceptions to it ; but by far the greater
part of married life in boarding-houses
is substantially what I have hastily de
scribed. Some Ciood Ideas on Wedding
Prrarnls.
The New York Sun sayg: The tinted and
perfumed note laid upon your hall table is
something more than a bidding to the feast.
It is a forced loan, a demand for a contri
bution to shine in a plate or Bash in jewelry
in the property room of the bride, put on
exhibition like ibe samples of a baiiar, and
duly inventoried and authenticated in the
enterprising daily paper as well as in the
special court journal
Graceful enough among intimate friends
and relatives, it has now become an impo
sition and an abuse. In the consideration
of society it is as imperative in demand as
the execution and Sheriff's levy. Fail to
respond by presence or gift, and you pass
under objurgation with bride and brides
maids as a stingy hunk or a "mean screw."
The tax gatherer we know and provide for;
the visits of the Internal Revenue are peri
odic ; but the summons to the wedding
mulct has no note of warning. Even a
christening carries damages with. The
only strictly social entertainment which
men of small means can afford is a funeral.
You can flourish your bordered pockethand
kerchief and snuffle at obsequies with
uiicuity of purse and an overdrawn bank
account. The respectable corpse is put
upon his travels without any eleemosynary
demands opon survivors beyond heartless
attendance and hollow sympathy.
Gentlemen in wealth or easy condition do
not ask alms for their families, and would
resent as insults gratuities to their daught
ers ; and yet there is not a wedding in which
the display room does not glitter with goods
solicited as absolutely as the offering in the
plate of the sexton or the hat of the beggar.
Sit down at the breakfast table in the home
of the new bride ; she draws coffee from an
urn of contribution, pours milk from a
pitcher, sugar from a bowl, whose donation,
if forgotten, can be read on the indicating
card. The epg-spoon, toast rack, condiment
stand and salt spoon, nay more, the table
linen, napkins, and the vases of flowers are
of obi ition. The newly married pair are
like beneficiaries on soup societies ami wards
of public charity, and are not sensible of
the humiliation, only because it has con
formity to social eooe and obedience to a
law which pervades the entire community,
What becomes of the self-reliance and
manhood which only enjoys what it acquires
by its own brain ? Where are the retiring
niodety and sensitive delicacy of the woman
who launches herself upon the duties of the
household and the higher life of the matron
with a capital stock made np of invited
ingatherings from a circle of visiting ac
quaintances as ephemeral of the roseate
hues of the honeymoon T If the custom
can borrow force or precedent from the
illustration, let it have further currency in
practice. But give us the dinner of herbs
with a wooden treacher and pewter spoon
rather than the gift exhibitions of the dole
drawn out by the dainty note and the mono
gram envelope of the hymeneal festival.
M.IKIXG LOTE IS. THE DARK.
"Won't some one mark my lines for
me, please. My quilting looks very
much like Mrs. Partington's turpentine
wans, ana Juary rsoms raised a
pretty, laughing face to the assembled
company, which consisted of the elite
of Brownsville, with some of the lower
strata. 'Ibe little village boasted not
of its numbers as it did of the nrettv
girls and Mrs. Goodwin was resolved to
have her quilt finished by fair means or
by foul, and, being desperate, had
scraped Brownsville for her quilting
uee. x ne usual gossip was at its height
when it was interrupted by tbe appeal
of Mary Norris to Mrs. Goodwin, whose
interest it was to have every line per
fect, and to keep the social machine in
running order. So she bustled about
and soon got Mary to work again.
"I wonder," said Jennie Hawkins, "if
Mary Frazier is coming to-day ?"
"Goodness knows! She is terribly
fashionable and aristocratic," returned
one of the lower set.
"Oh, she is coming," interrupted the
hostess ; "she promised me not to fail,
she is such a quiet, undemonstrative
little thing that she will accomplish a
good deal even if she does come late."
"She wouldn't be fashionable and
like city people if she came as early as
the rest, put in another of the lower
strata. "For my part, I wish she
would stay away entirely. We can live
without such stuck up"
The sentence remained unfinished,
for at that moment the lovely face of
Miss Frazier looked in upon them with
a pleasant smile. In her quiet manner
she had glided in at a side door, re
moved her hat and gloves without dis
turbing the hostess, and then surprised
them. Mrs. Goodwin greeted her
warmly, and, as usual, with much fuss
and bustle, she was seated at the quilt,
where her slight, deft fingers, as Mrs.
Goodwin had predicted, soon began to
trace line after line in her exquisite and
neat fashion, and to outdo many who
had come earlier.
All the people who could be picked
into pieces were, and Brownsville had to
pass through the social feminine mangle
customary upon such occasions, and
yet, strange to say, survived. After
tea the gathering of the rustic swains
began. Among them came handsome
Dr. Collins and his old bachelor friend.
Dr. Peters. Of conrse the entire un
married portion of the other sex were
setting their caps for the handsome
young physician, and were doing all
tbey could to increase his vanity and
spoil him generally. Upon the present
occasion he joined right merrily into
the country games, romped with Mary
Norris, and paid more than forfeit upon
her red pouting lips. Indeed, he
seemed to revel in sweets, for the most
of the girls, though making a show of
resentment when be kissed them, evi
dently sought or challenged such liber
ties all but quiet, little Mary Frazier.
She stole into out-of-the-way corners,
and more than once slipped out of tbe
hands of those who sought to drag
her into their plays. It was whispered
again that she was too aristocratic to
mingle with the common herd, though
in truth, from having been reared in
a city, she was unprepared to permit
such liberties. Uer extremely delicate
nature shrunk from becoming public
property. Her lips were reserved for
him who should win her love, and were
not to be desecrated. But that she had
also cast longing eyes upon the hand
some young physician was not to be
denied. Yet, even the most careful
observer had not been able to detect
the fact a higher color or sudden
bounding of the heart at the sound of
his voice, when he addressed her in
tones always deferential and polite, as
if he was just a little frozen or awed by
her manner.
Mirtn reigned fast and furious as the
evening waned. Chairs were overturned
in the boisterous game of blind man's
bluff, while dresses and sashes suffered
sadly. Tbe doctor, seeing Mary Norris
dash out of tbe front door, followed
her, resolving (upon the spur of the
moment) to seize the time to disclose
his love. Such an event had been one
of the things of the future, if at alL
Until now be had not given much
thought to it, but her saucy black eyes,
and sweet, warm kisses had completed
his enthralment. Out nnder tbe vine
covered porch of the Goodwin cottage,
where he could distinctly trace the soft
outlines of his love in her fleecy-white
dress, he followed, and gaining her
side, whispered :
"Mary, I must leave now. I have
patient to visit yet to-night, but I can
not tear myself away without telling
yon how much I love yon."
One little hand was clinging to the
trellis as he spoke, and dimly tracing
the coveted member, he forcibly pos
sessed himself of it, while his other arm
stole around her slender waist. With
an air of timid surprise, all unlike the
usual spontaneous demonstrativeness
of Mary Norris, the young girl dropped
her bead and murmured :
"I I did not think"
"You did not think I loved yon I Is
that it, my sweet girl? Well, I do,
most sincerely. But, Mary, I am no
adept at love-making, and I presume I
am very brusque. Yet, will you be my
wife?"
Snrelv vou cannot mean it. You
have never shown me tbe slightest
preference," was whispered back as her
head dropped still lower.
"Never shown the slightest prefer
ence I Is it possible that nnder my
careless and light exterior yon did not
detect a more serious meaning ? But I
am awaiting my answer," and he bent
down to catch the timid "Yea."
The night was moonless and dark so
much so that the doctor could not see,
as he longed to do, the blushing face of
his Mary. He kissed at random, and
being determined to leave the seal of
betrothal on her bps, kissed first her
ear and then her cheek, and after
meandering all about at last settled
upon her sweet lips, which were turned
temptingly upward.
"God bless yon!" he whispered.
To-morrow evening I may come and
see you, I suppose, and then we can
adjust our happy future ?"
Just then the shouts of some lasses
who had been chased out of the back
door and around the graveled walks, by
their rnstic admirers, startled the
lovers. Dr. Collins kissed his affianced
again, and dashed away before he was
discovered. Of course he "walked
upon air," and it is quite likely his
prescription for the invalid was a little
mixed. But after he had gained the
quiet of his own room he lay awake for
a long time reflecting upon the stu
pendous step he had taken. Somehow
he half regretted that he had been so
hasty, as he communed with himself.
"I am afraid," he thought, "that my
mother and sisters will think her a
bit hoydenish. But it cannot be
denied that she is beautiful and shrewd,
and if transplanted into a more refined
soil will improve. How ahe seemed to
melt when she foand I loved her. and
how changed were her manners. I
confess I expected her to accept my
wooing with her old time, half-dehant
and saucy flash. But lo I she became
sweetly womanly, tender and gentle. I
could feel her pliant form tremble and
thrill in my arms, and her. timid yes'
was given almost with a sob. By Jove !
I had no idea the child loved me so
much, and I shall always be good to
the sweet girL She shall be the very
apple of my eye."
With this resolve Doctor Collins
floated into dreamland, to rehearse
over again the little love passage in the
rustic porch of Mrs. Goodwin and be
neath the twining morning glory vines.
Tbe following day passed for him with
leaden feet. He longed to see Mary
Norris in her new character of his
affianced bride. That she would be
gentle and sweet with him, now that
they were engaged, he did not doubt,
and he felt he should like her better
when a trifle toned down. So the early
shadows of evening found him at the
door of the Norris mansion, Mary was
at the piano. He could distinguish her
voice in some peculiar strain. No doubt
this was only a rnse to cover her na
tural confusion. A servant showed him
in and he instantly discovered that
Mary was not alone. A masculine
friend from a neighboring village was
devotedly leaning over her and turning
the music, ihe closing of the door
announced him. Mary started up from
instrument, and without tbe slightest
deepening of the roses npon her cheeks
and as simply and naturally as ever,
came forward, greeted him and intro
duced ''her friend, Mr. Cummings."
The hot blood surged into the cheeks
of tbe doctor, and he attempted to ex
press his disappointment and ardor
with one eloquent glance ; but it fell
entirely short of its mark. No answer
ing expression came back to him. As
if unconscious of their new and dear
relation to each other, Mary Norris ran
on in merry jest and railery, until he
became thoroughly out of humor, and
espoused the contrary side of every
question, and at an early hour took his
departure. When in tbe hall, where
tbe girl accompanied him, he turned
upon her with words of reproach.
"How could you admit that fellow
to-night when you expected me ?"
I beg your pardon. Dr. Collins,"
she replied, with her sancy black eyes
dancing. "You are very much mis
taken. I did not expect yon to-night,
and tbat fellow' is one of my dearest
mends.
"Mary, you are trifling with me.
Have you forgotten what transpired in
tbe veranda only last night V"
"What veranda ?"
"That of Mrs. Goodwin, to be sure."
"You must be insane, doctor, or are
laboring under some hallucination. I
was not in Mrs. Goodwin's veranda
with you for a single moment last
night ; and if yon made any engage
ments with any yonng latly at that time
and place, it was not with your humble
servant ?"
"Not with you !" he gasped, pale to
the lips, "Who tbe deuce was it, then, '
I should like to know ?"
"I can't say. You should not be so '
careless, doctor. No doubt some fair j
Brownsville girl is this moment looking j
her eyes out while yon are wasting time j
with me. But I must po back or ,
Charley will be jealous. Yet stay. 1 1
have one trilling bit of conscience for
vou. We are engaged."
"Certainly. Don't I know it." be
exclaimed, seizing her hand, with a
radiant face.
"Knew it. and had the audacity to
call my Charley 'a fellow !' and to be
angry because I did not deny myself to
mm on account 01 your sinpiuity in
thinking that under Mrs. Goodwin's
porch you had informed me of your
intended visit. Oh ! goodness what a
coquette you must believe me to be."
bis hands fell away from her's sud
denly, and his voice was husky, as he
answered :
"I congratulate yon. Good night,
Out in tbe silent and dull village
street he ground his teeth, and used
some very intricate and harsh words
against himself; tbe worst of which
perhags was that he might be consid
ered "an ass." He went directly to
his office, and Dr. Peters noticed tbe
change in his manner, and kindly in
quired what was the matter.
"Any bad pews, my boy," he asked
jocosely. "Yon look as though you
had been having a case of double con
niptions, and did not know what to do
with them."
"I am an unmitigated fool, that's all.
I've gone and engaged myself."
"To be married ? Not that, hev ?"
"Yes, just that, old fellow," and he
sank into the chair with a most dis
gusted air.
Dr. Peters looked at him for a mo
ment, and then burst into an uncon
trollable fit of laughter.
"Why, the deuce take it," he said,
as soon as he could get his breath,
"one would think you were doomed to
be hung. I give you my word that if I
had gone as far as you say you have I
should try and look more cheerful."
"Good heavens, how can I ? Listen
for a few moments. As I said before, I
am engaged to be married, but I swear
to yon I don't know to whom !"
Tbe old physician sat np, his face
suddenly elongated and he stared at his
partner in pills with open eyed aston
ishment. Presently he said, as to him
self :
"Tbe boy is mad as a March hare."
"No I am not wish to thunder I
was." He related minutely everything
that had occurred nnder the porch and
screening vines at Mrs, Goodwin's, and
continued : "Whoever I mistook for
Mary Norris evidently believes in and
loves me. She solemnly yielded herself
to my caresses as my betrothed wife,
thinking that I worshipped her and her
only." Dr. Collins groaned and ran
his fingers through his hair until each
particular fibre stood on end. His
partner vainly attempted to control his
risible. One glance at the disconso
late visage of his friend was too much,
and (to use an Hiberianism) he let off a
roar that shook the very foundations of
Brownsville, and it was a good half
hour before he could sufficiently con
trol himself to give his friend the com
fort and advice he needed.
"No doubt," was the reply, "it is a
laughable matter, and its ridiculous
side exceedingly funny. And now, as
a gentleman and a man of honor what
am I to do?"
Doctor Peters wiped his eyes, settled
himself to considering for a time before
replying, and then said :
"if I were in your place, I should
first find out to whom 1 was engaged,
and if she proved agreeable or desirable
I should marry her, nnless my heart
was firmly set on Mary Norris.
"Fortunately that spell is broken. I
see that I was merely infatuated. Be
sides, I find that she is already en
gaged. Bnt that does not matter now.
Suppose I find the young lady the very
reverse of my expectations and hopes,
what shall I do then?"
"Make yourself so devilish disairree-
able and exacting that yon drive her to
tbe extremity of Jilting you.
"that advice is very sound, no
doubt, but how in tbe name of common
sense am I to find the girl ?
"You would make a poor detective.
Evidently her name is Mary. If I
understand you correctly, you called
her that alone, with a few pet epithets
tnrown in.
"I had no doubt of that."
"Well, think over all tbe girls in
Brownsville by tbe name of Mary, and
tbe one most likely to be she. Then
visit her at once. There is Mary Car
ter." "It wasn't she," interrupted Doctor
Uollins, with a gesture of disgust.
"How do you know? Remember,
you were in the dark.
"Don't you think I should know if I
was hugging a saw-log ? Didn't I tell
yon her form was slight and delicately
moulded r
"Ob, if yon bad ocular demonstration
of the fact, I yield. Might it not have
been Alary iiewis?
"No. She is too tall."
"Then clearly, it is as I had sus
pected Mary Frazier and I congratu
late yon, my dear boy, for having co
stumbled upon a happy fate in the
dark. She is, without doubt, tbe dear
est little woman in the world, and a
perfect lady withal." Tbe handsome
face of tbe yonng physician cleared,
and he reddened visibly as he an
swered :
"I had not thought of her other than
to admire her gentle and sweet manner
and radiant, intellectual face. Somehow
she is always so reticent and retiring
that I have found it rather hard to get
on with her."
"If you had been better read in the
ways of women, this alone would have
convinced yon that she was more in
terested in you than she was willing to
acknowledge, even to herself."
"A thousand thanks, Doo. I confess
that you have helped me wonderfully,
and if it is indeed the lovely Mary
Frazier to whom I am affianced, and by
whom I believe myself greatly beloved,
I will try not to be wholly miserable."
The next evening, according to the
advice he had received. Dr. Collins
called npon Mary Frazier. Ah she
arose to greet him, a sudden uplifting
of a pait of soft brown eyes, aud up
surging of the tell tale blood convinced
him that he wan upon the right track.
'Of conrse." lie said, taking her
band, and looking down iuto lier timid
ami blushing face, you expected me
last night ?"
"Certainly ; and I presume I ought
to give you a lecture for not coming,"
she replied, smiling sweetly through
tbe roses.
"I most surely deserve it. But you
are aware one is never certain of a phy
sician. His time is rot always at his
own command, and you must be confi
dent pressing eng:ureinenta keep me
from this dearer one." He blushed as
he said tbe words, thongh be found it
no bard task to again seek tbe lips of
the lovely girL Dr. Peters, Mary
Norris and "her Charley" danced not
many months afterward at the wedding
of Mary Frazier and Dr. Collins, and
who could not help drawing compari
sons between tbe two, and most favor
able to his own sweet, gentle wife.
And as the years go by he never
ceases to thank fate for tbe rare gift
bestowed upon him in the dark.
The Rone.
Is there any portion of mankind that
has not inhaled tbe sweet perfume of
this lovely flower ? From Borneo to
the ruins of the Parthenon ; from Kam
chatka to Bengal ; from tbe neighbor
hood of Hudson's Bay to the mountains
of Mexico ; from Cairo to the Cape of
Good Hope, it graces the palace and the
chamber, lavishes itself full-leaved on
the processions of Corpns Cbristi, and
serves as a pretty plaything to the child
who cracks tbe swollen petals on his
innocent forehead. 'Of it the Hebrews
made their crowns, and in their solem
nities the high priest wreathed it around
his bead. When tbe Queen of Sbeba
visited Solomon, it is said she tried
every means to assure herself not only
of his superior wisdom, but also of tbe
quickness of his perception. Sue
placed before him two roses, one arti
ficial, but so well made that she defied
tbe king to distinguish the false one
from tbe real. He sent for a bee, which
naturally alighted on the true one, and
thus, without approaching either, he
was able to give his decision. Among
the Hebrews the bridegroom as well as
the bride, wore a crown of roses, of
myrtle or of olive.
The opening hour of day sowed roses
in Aurora's path, who at sight of her
father the snn wept tears of joy over
her favorite flowers. So the poets of
antiquity explain the drops of dew that
tremble and scintilate on tbe roses in
the morning light. The rose designates
tbe dawn ; and bathed with dew, it is
the emblem of filial piety. Peace is
represented holding a rod of thorns
with roses and olive branches ; and the
muse Erato, when presiding over lyric
poetry, was always crowned with myrtle
and the rose.
The appearance of Christianity gave
to the rose another origin, and we cite
the legend. Oace a holy virgin of
Bethlehem, falsely acensed and calum
niated, was condemned to perish by
fire. She prayed to our Lord beseech
ing Him to come to her aid, because
He knew she was not guilty of what
they reproached her with. The fire
went out immediately; the burning
fagots were transformed into red rose
bushes covered with flowers, all those
that were not lit into whiteones. These
roses were the first ever seen, and be
came from that time the flower of tbe
martyrs.
A Departed Glory.
The Richmond Dispatch laments the decay
of "the Virginia ham,'' one of the most pop
ular feat-jres of the good living of old Vir
ginia before the war. It was formerly cured
by the accomplished housekeepers of that
day, and was often preferred to the famous
Westphalia bam. The IHtpalrk states that
an order has been lately received in Rich
mond for a large nnmber of "old Virginia
hams'' for the most famous restaurant in
New Tork. Tbe markets of Richmond,
Petersburg and Norfolk were searched in
vain for them. They were not to be had.
Men who formerly cured a great deal of
bacon have now not a pound to spare. Sheep
and bogs in that State are reported as hold
ing their lives by a most uncertain tenure,
and farmers dread the risk of raising them.
The Jardin d'Acclimation has just re
ceived two running oxen frm the
Island of Ceylon. They are of dimin
utive size, not larger than a very small
donkey, but they are of great utility in
that country. The mail service is per
formed by them. They are active, and
bear great fatigue, and can travel a very
considerable distance at regular pace.
A Xiee Girl.
Though that class is by no means ex
tinet, stilt tiiey are not so numerous as
might be wished. There is nothing
hall so sweet in life, half so beautiful
or delightful or so loveable as a nice
girL Not a pretty or a dashing girl,
but a nice girL One of those lovely,
lively, good natured, sweet-faced amia
ble, neat, natty, domestic creatures
met within the sphere of "home," dif
fusing around the influence of her
goodness, like the essence of sweet
flowers.
A nice girl is not the languishing
beauty, dawdling on a sofa, and dis
cussing the last novel or opera, or the
giraffe-like creature sweeping majesti
cally through the drawing-room. The
nice girl may not even play or dance
well, and knows nothing about nsing
her eyes or coquetting with a fan. She
never languishes, sue is too active.
She is not given to sensation novels,
she is too busy. In public she is not
in front showing her shoulders ; she
sits quiet and unobtrusive at tbe back
of the crowd most likely. In fact it is
not often we discover her. Home is
her place.
ho rises betimes and superintends
tbe morning meal? Who makes the
toast and the tea, and buttons tbe boys
shirts, and feeds the chickens, and
brightens np the parlor and sitting
room. Is it the languisher or the gi
raffe, or tbe "elegante," not a bit of it ;
it's the nice girL
Iter maiden toilet is made in tbe
shortest possible time, yet how char
mingly it is done : and how elegant and
neat her dress and collar ! Not pre
senting her cheek or brow like a "fine
girl but an audible smack which says
plainly "I love you ever so much." If
you covet anything it's one of the nice
girl's kisses.
ISreakfast over, down in the kitchen
to see about dinner, and all day long
she is np and down, always cheerful
and light hearted. She never ceases to
lie active and useful until day is gone,
when she will polka with the boys or
read, sing old songs and play old tunes
to her father or mother for hours to
gether she is a perfect treasure is the
nice girL When sickness comes it is
she who attends with nnwearying
patience in tbe sick chamber. There
is no rii-k, no fatigue that she will not
undergo; no sacrifice that she will not
make. She is all love, all devotion. I
have often thought it would lie happi
ness to be ill to be watched by snch
loving eyes, aud tended by such a fair
hand.
One of the most strongly marked
characteristics of a "nice girl" is tidi
ness and simplicity of dress. Site is in
variably associated io my mind with a
high frock, plain collar, and tbe neat
est of nice ribbons.bonnd with the most
modest little brooch in the world. I
never knew a "nice cirl" who displayed
a profusson of rings and bracelets, or
who wore low-dresses or a splendid I
bonnet.
1 say again, there is nothing in the
world half so beautiful half so intrinsi
cally good as a ''nice girL" She is tbe
sweetest flower in tbe path of life.
There are others far more stately, far
more gorgeous, but these we merely
admire as we go by. It is where the
daisy grows that we like to rest.
A "Sau" .Machine.
Mr. G. A. Bergh, in Fogur.ndorjft's
Annalen. writes on the application of
solar heat as a motor force, and con
tends that from the present standpoint
of science it is possible to construct a
constantly-workiDg snn-machine. He
says : "That the heat of the snn may
be transformed into mechanical force
no one can doubt ; for we see daily
what masses of water solar heat raises
into the air, to be again precipitated to
the earth, and we know what an enor
mous mechanical force is here repre
sented. Further, we know that solar
heat is the cause of motions of the
atmosphere ; that plants under its in
fluence form out of tbe carbonic acid of
tbe air an organic substance richer in
carbon ; that plants which grew in
earlier times, under the influence of
sun heat, were transformed into coal
and peat, whose combustion now yields
heat to drive our engines, which is
simply the solar heat returned. It is
known that the arrangement of ma
chines, which serve for tbe transforma
tion of heat into mechanical work, rests
on tbe principle that a liquid or gaseous
substance, acted on by the heat, under
goes a molecular change, through
which a certain mechanical force is de
veloped. Hence, if we had a liquid
which, at ordinary temperature, be
haved like water at high temperature,
this liquid would be a suitable means
of motion for a snn machine. There
are several snch liquids, e. g., sulphur
ous acid, met hylic chloride, methjlic
ether, etc Of all these, sulphurous
acid best deserves attention, as it has
several useful properties for the end in
view. Conceive a vessel, filled with
sulphurous acid, exposed to tbe sun's
rays ; tbe tension of the sulphurous
acid vapor, if the temperature of this
vessel exceeds that of the surrounding
air by at least llF to 2(P, must be from
one to three atmospheres higher than
that of .the sulphurous acid vapor in
another vessel similarly filled with sul
phurous acid but which has only the
temperature of the surrounding air.
We can thus arrange an engine which
agrees in principle with the steam
engine with merely this difference, that
tbe water is replaceed by sulphurous
acid, and tbe fuel by tbe solar heat ;
while the vessel exposed to the sun's
rays represent the boiler.
The Power of Language.
It is remarkable how some writers
run adorn the most commonplace sub
ject with the flowers of poesy, and
make it a joy forever. e read in a
coteniporary that a highly-esteemed
citizen of Franklin, "who has dwelt
npou this sublunary sphere for the term
of seventy winters, and in that time
had the mingled grief anil pleasure to
lay three wives where the flowers of
spring could grow over them, and the
tlews of stinimer sparkle like a rolie of
diamond about them, recently took to
himself a fourth partner of bis joys and
sorrows in the person of a charming
widow, who has deposited two matri
monial ventures in a place of perpetual
security, and gazed on tbe blushing
roses of seventy-five summers."
A Beautiful Idea.
In bridging a stream engineers often
carry over a single thread. With that
they stretch a wire across. Then stands
are added until a foundation is laid for
planks ; then tbe bold engineer finds
safe footing walks from side to side.
So God takes from ns some golden
threaded pleasure, and stretches it
hence into heaven. ow be takes a
child, then a friend. Thus be bridges; Women s rights are not entirely lg
deatb, and teaches tbe thongbts of the nored in Italy. Virginia Scarpellini is
most timid to find their way hither and directress of the meteorological station
thither between tbe two spheres. at the capital (Rome), founded by her
ia aunt Caterina, who died last year, and
A duck j oiid is naturally filled with i the stations at Lugo and Montecchio
fowl water. I are also directed by ladies.
rbeoxe Wisely Thy Wife.
Said an eastern sage to his son: "Go
forth, my son, to the world; tie wise in
the accumulation of riches; lie wise in
the choice of friends; yet little will all
this avail thee, if thou chose not wisely
the wite of thy bosom.
When the rulers of the people echo
thy sayings, and the trumpet of fame
sounds thy name abroad and among
the nations, more beautiful will the
sun of thy glory set if one bright rlond
reflects its brightness ; and sullied for
ever will be the splendor of its rays, if
like a dark spot she crosses the surface.
Consider this then, my son, and look
well to her ways whom thou wonld'st
hive ; for little will all else avail thee if
thou choose not wisely the companion
of thy bosom. See yonder th maidens
of Tinge; they devk themselves with
the ireius of tioli iinda and the roses of
Kashmir, themselves more brilliant and
beautiful; but ah! take not them to
thy bosom ; for the ireins will trrow
dim, and the roses wither, and naught
remain to thee of all thou didst woo
and win.
Neither turn thvaclf to tbe proud one
who vaunts herself of having scanned
the paircs of Ycdas, and fathomed of
the mysteries of the holy temple.
Woman was not born to wield the
sceptre or direct the rounrel ; to rival
the mandates of llrahma. or expound
the sacred verses of .Menu, nut her let
her support thee in thy grief and sooth
thee in sickness; to rejoice in thy pros-
Iierity and cling to thee in adversity,
icrlcct, then, my son, ere thou choose,
and look well to her ways whom thou
wouldst make the wife of thy bosom.
A wife! what a sacred name, what a
responsible office! she must lie the
unspotted sanctuary to which wearied
men flee from the crimes of the world,
anil feel that no sin dare enter then.
A wife! she must be as pure as spirits
around the everlasting throne, that
men may kneel to her in admiration
and bi l no abasement. A wife! she
must lie the guardian angel of his
footsteps on earth, and guide them to
Heaven ; so firm in virtue, that should
he for a moment waver, she ran yield
him support, ami replace him nixm its
foundation; so happy in conscious
innocence that when from the )ht
lilexities of the world, he turns to his
home, he may never find a frown where
he sought a smile. Such, my son, thou
seckest in a wife; reflect well ere thou
choose.
Open not thy Imsotn to the triflei,
repose not thy head on the breast which
11 ui-sc! h envy, and folly, aud vanity;
hoie not for obedience where the pas
sionsare untamed ; and expect no honor
from her who liouoreth not the (jod
who made her.
Though thy place lie next to the
throne of prim es, and the countenance
of royalty lieam upon thee though thy
riches lie as the pearls of Omar, and
thy name be honored from the east to
the west, very little will it avail thee, if
darkness and disappointments and
strife lie in thine own habitation.
There must lie passed thine hours of
solitude and sickness; ami there must
thou die. Hetlect then, my son, ere
thou choose, and look well to her ways
whom thou wouldst love; for though
thou be wise in other things, little will
it avail thee, if thou ehoose not wisely
the wile of thy bosom." Kxchaaitt.
The Vagabond Sage.
An old man of very active physiog
nomy, answering to tbe name of Jacob
Wilmot, was brought to the police
court. His clothes looked as if tbey
might have been bought second hand
in his youthful prime, for they had
suffered more from the rubs of the
world than the proprietor himself.
"What business ?"
"None; I'm a traveler."
"A vagabond, perhaps ?"
"You are not far wrong. Travelers
and vagabonds are about tbe same
thing. Tbe difference is that the latter
travels without money and the former
without brains."
"Where have von traveled ?"
"All over the Continent"
"For what purpose ?"
"Observation."
"What have you observed ?"
"A little to commend, mnch to cen
sure, and a great deal to laugh at,"
"Humph ! what do yon commend ?"
"A handsome woman who will stay at
home, an eloquent preacher who will
preach short sermons, a good writer
who will not write too much, and a fool
who has sense enough to hold his
tongue."
"What do yon censure ?"
"A man that marries a girl for her
fine clothing, a youth who studies med
icine while he has the use of his hands,
and the people who will elect a drunk
ard to office."
"What do you langh at ?"
"I langh at a man who expects his
position to command that respect which
his personal qualifications and qualities
do not merit,"
He was dismissed.
Centers Of The I'alverse.
The faculty that some people have
of making themselves, to all intents
and purposes, the center of the uni
verse is a thing which I covet every
day of my life. Of course a great many
people really believe that they are these
centers, or that center but it is the
select few who really compel every one
else to believe it, whom I envy. It
must be a glorious consciousness.
Such a sense of largeness ; snch Popish
pride, without the slightest tinge of
any of the Pope's personal humility.
To think of bringing the whole realm
of literature, art, religion to the test of
one's self. To think of going to heai a
new oratorio, not for tbe mere vulgar
purpose of enjoying it ; but in order to
"see how you will like it."
To be sure, passing from one snch
center to another among yonr friends
is apt to create an element of confusion,
something like that supposed by War
ner to be produced in the minds of
those who dwell by a certain river in
tne provinces, which first runs one way
and then another, and then vanishes al
together. Scribner'i Monthly.
Met His fate.
A New Orleans Judge, riding in the
cars recently, from a single glance at
the countenance of a lady by his side,
imagined he knew her, and ventired to
remark that the day was pleasant. She
onlv answered :
"Yea."
"Why do yon wear a veil ?"
"Lest I attract attention."
"It is a province of gentlemen to ad
mire," replied tbe gallant man of law.
"Not when they are married."
"But I am not.1
"Indeed !"
"Oh no ; Fm a bachelor."
The lady quietly removed her veil,
disclosing to the astonished magistrate
the face of his mother-in-law.
He has been a raving maniac ever
since, v
Vomiix Column.
Keep.
Kap to tha right as la lam dtiwcta.
Koep from tha world lay frlsad'a dfcta.
Kmf alt thy thoaihta ua piml iab.
Kwp froa ihia py tk, mAtm aa4 beam.
K.p tra tar dees. Thv sar brifhL
K-wp liai thy fallh ia Uo4 aad ritfht.
kp fra from vr aa4 Maia.
kp fmm ta war that civ uW pata.
KNp fm lb, toairiM from word of UL
Kop rlcbt thy aim aad gooi iby w.U.
Kevp all thy acta from paaakia fro.
Rp MrtfBtf ia bopo, ao oavy m.
Kvp watchfal can ovar bana aad kaad.
Ksp Irm thy faoi, by J oMieo aa4.
Kp Irao thy word, a mct4 ihtBff.
Kovp trom the- aare. tha tampur, briaf .
Kop faith with arh yoa call a frlead
Kotp fall la l WW Iho ioal aad.
Keep from all hate aat malic frta.
Kf p from all frail of Ih avil tro.
Kp Arm thy coaraic bold aad Croag.
Kp ap tha nhs aad d-wa tha wroorf.
K"p wll tao word, of wtftdom', school,
kc.-p warm by a:ghc aad by day keep aL
Carkless Katts. Careless Katie is
well known in our village. 'Katie,"
says mamma, "I hope you will be care
ful of those nice new shoes ; for shoes
are very expensive, and yonr fftiier
says he finds it hard to earn money."
Off goes Katie into the fields, where
tbe dew is heavy : and seeing some bovs
climbing up the rocks by the side of the
wood, she thinks she must climb too ;
and tbe nice new shoes are badly
scratched, after having been badly weC
"Katie, you must be careful not to
soil that nice white frock," says mamma.
utl goes Katie, and soon forgets the
cantion. Finding herself in a roueh
place near the grove, where the (trass
grows rank, and the wild flowers bloom
Katie throws herself down to rest with
ber elbows on the damp soil, aud her
cheeks resting on her hands.
Katie found herself very ill after that
day's frolic. "She has been lying down
at full length on the damp grass," said
mamma to the docter. "It is no won
der she is feverish," said the doctor :
"I have known many children to take
bad colds in that way. In our climate,
we ought never to sit without some
protection between our bodies and the
ground,"
Careless Katie was ill for three weeks
and during that time she had leisure to
think over her many faults of heedless
ness and neglect. She made np her
mind that she would do better when
she got welL I am glad to say she did
not break her good resolve. Careless
Kf tie has improved so mnch, that her
mother tells her she now deserves to be
called Cart ful Katie. The Xarm ry.
Tell Torn Mothrk. I wonder how
many girls tell their mother everything.
Not those "young ladies" who going to
and from school, smile, bow, and ex
change notes and pictures with young
men who make fuu of them and their
pictures, speaking in a way that would
make their cheeks burn with shame if
they heard it. AH this, most credulous
and romantic vonng ladies they will
do, although they will gaze at yonr-j
iresn yonng face admiringly, and send
or give you charming verses or bon
qnets. No matter what "other girls
do," don't you do it. School girl flir
tatious may end disastrously, as many
a foolish, wretched young girl could
tell yon. Your yearning for some one
to love is a great need of every woman's
heart. But there is a time for every
thing. Don't let the bloom and fresh
ness of yonr heart lie brushed off in
silly flirtations. Bender yourself truly
intelligent. And above all, tell your
mother everything. Never be ashamed
to tell her, who should be yonr best
f 1 1 I 1 L t 1 1 , 1
ricuu uiu couuueui, au you luiua idu
feel. It is strange that many young
girls will tell every person before
"mother" that which is most important
that she should know.
Thk WmsTLrso Trek. Did ever yon
hear of such a tree ? I have, for the
birds tell me everything.
The whistling-tree is found in Africa.
It is a strange looking object, with
branches white as chalk. It has long !
thorns, the inside of which is the favor
ite home of some tiny insect. When
this creature crawls out to see the
world, he of course leaves tbe door open
behind him that is to say, a small
hole, through which he crawled. Now,
the wind blowing through the tree when
the leaves are off, makes a musical
noise in these hollow thorns, so that it
sometimes sounds like thousands of
flutes playing at orce. The natives
call it the whistling-tree.
We've a whistling-tree in onr meadow,
but it isn't of tbe African kind. It
bears boys, with cheeks as red as
peaches. I've heard half-a-dozen of
them whistling in it at a time. And
tbey come down out of it with their
hats full of wild cherries. St. Sicho
Ian. Little Jenny. A California paper
tells about this most unhappy little
girL She finds something to cry about
twenty times a day. Yesterday I saw
her sitting on a box in the back-yard, a
small monument of despair. The tears
were running slowly down her cheeks,
and old Carlo, tbe Newfoundland dog,
all decked in rags and strings, stood
wagging his tail, and watching her
sympathetically. I took her np in my
arms and asked what she was crying
about,
"Oh, many sings," she said.
"What things, darling?"
"Oh, everysings is wrong, everysings
in dis world. I wish I hadn't borned."
"Tell mamma what is wrong now."
"Well, den, old Tarlo's tail d rowed
out behind, when I wanted it to drow
ont 'tween his shoulders, toe why for a
pumrrel, so's I tonld ride on his back
and have somesing to hold on to."
St. Francis loved animals to snch a
degree that his habitual tenderness
towards them attached them to him,
and gave rise to numerous miraculous
legends pictured in many of the Catho
lic churches. He believed that all
created things had derived from God a
portion of the same divine principle by
which he himself existed, and, acting
upon this belief, he was in the habit of
calling everything brother and sister.
When walking, he was careful not to
tread npon any insect in his path, and
would even pick them up and remove
them to a place of safety, lest others
should crnsh them. It is recorded of
him that birds built their nests in his
cell, and fearlessly picked np crumbs
from his table ; that when he walked in
the fields sheep and lambs flocked after
him, and hares and rabbits jumped
npon him and nestled in his bosom.
Vert often it is an absolute crime to
be poor. It is dishonesty of the mean
est kind. A yonng man, for instance.
spends every dollar of bis income ; he j
is taken sick ; what is the consequence ? j
Why, his companion must take ont of ;
his hard earninin. money saved at the ,
rate of twenty-five cents per week, to
buy him the necessaries of life, medi
cine, etc, and perhaps furnish him
money with which to go home to his
friends.
To become peace-makers Play
football in a crockery shop.
at
arieties.
Can you spell consent in three letters ?
Yes,
A tea never indulged in by gossips
charity.
Firm language Conversation be
tween partners.
Why does water run down hill ? Be
cause it can't walk.
The line of a lady's love is suppose!
to be the mason-hue.
Children born with auburn locks ara
generally iedheaditary.
The Pope has not stepped outside of
the Vatican grounds for four years.
A mild answer tnrneth away wrath ;
so doth an invitation to lager.
When a pretty girl steps on a man's
toes, he receives tbe stamp of beauty.
The proposal to convert the tomb of
Augustus at Rome into a modern the
atre is said to be likely carried out.
It was a bright boy who told his
teacher that there were three sects,
the male sex, tbe female sex and the
insects.
Sorrow comes soon enonch without
despondency. It does no man good to
carry around a lighting rod to attract
trouble.
It is one of tbe beautiful compensa
tions of this life, that no man can sin
cerely try to help another without help
ing uimsen.
Not in Shakespeare, but historicaL
When Biruan Wood was reported as
coming to Dunsinane, Macbeth inquired
sarcastically, if "tvery tree was bring
ing its own trunk."
That aged father who, in digging a
well, was first startled at tbe depth of a
rod with a two-hundred feet jet of water
shooting into the air, and next by in
flammable gas escaping in suffocating
volume and ready to blaze at touch of
fire, must have concluded, however
unwillingly, that his ancestral acres
were located a little nearer Pandemo
nium than the average.
At a late meeting of the Maryland
Academy of Science, several of the
members spoke in reference to a worm
which had been discovered moving and
living inside of solid masses of ice.
Tbe ice was taken from a pond near
Baltimore, tbe water of which was con
sidered pure. The worm is aliont one
to one and a half inches long. What
it is, or wl at its origin, has not yet
been ascertained.
A curious specimen of nature's handi
work is exhibiting about the country,
in the shape of a calf, born in Moravia,
Caynga county, in this state, and now
more than three months old, which has
a perfect liody, but two distinct though
exactly similar heads. It breathes
through all four of its nostrils, and
takes its food from both of its months,
holding its head squarely to the front,
and giving no preference to either.
It is said that St. Vincent Ie Paul,
passing along the streets of Paris, saw
a beggar distorting the limbs of a child
for the purpose of inspiring pity. The
good man rushed forward, and seizing
the child, took it to his niece, by whom
it was cared for. This was the nnclens of
his hospital for foundlings, a charity
which he watched faithfully throngh
the fever and chill of popular enthusi
asm and neglect, until it was strong
enough to care for itself. The institu
tion now occupies a handsome site, in
the midst of conrts and gardens, near
the Pantheon.
Sheffield, England, has, through its
industry, developed a sma'! volcano,
which has, however, failed to prove at
tractive to residents in the neighlior
hood. Waste furnace slag, while yet
warm has been thrown on a piece of
land until heaps fourteen feet in depth
and covering altogether about an acre
of ground have been formed. Fires
broke out in these masses of slag re
cently, and created consternation in
the neighborhood When water was
poured on the burning slag it exploded
and liberated noxious vapor, which
caused sickness among the residents
of adjacent dwellings,
Tbey say of the grasshoppers in Kan
sas that at Topeka they "eat peaches
from the trees and then throw the
stones at the people as they pass." In
Wisconsin they say "tbey stopped a
train, one morning, seized the daily
papers, and there learning that sec
tion had been missed by them, tnrned
back and finished the job." Stopping
the train is no joke. They have fre
quently piled themselves so as to cause
the driving-wheels to stick on their
broken bodies. The ladies have an
aversion to them, as tbey cannot walk
ont without capturing from M to 2ini
and bringing them home. In church
vou can safely assume that every lady
has a few score hidden in tbe folds of
her robes. A sudden twitching of tbe
features, a clutching of the fingers, or
a faint scream, will indicate that one of
these captives has "struck for liberty."
One of the most elaborate works of
the monnd-bnilders is a labyrinthian
earthwork, containing some 15 miles of
embankment located at Newark. Ohio.
It consists of a series of enclosures,
one of which is described as a circle of
more than a mile in circumference,
with a single opening or gateway, UK)
feet wide. On each side of this open
ing the wall flares outward a little, and
rises to a height of 2- feet, the general
height of the embankment being abont
13. From this gateway parallel walls
a few rods apart connect with another
enolosure of about 20 acres a half mile
distant, and this with the remaining
enclosures. Some of tne walls are of
stone and earth, built np irregularly to
the height of 25 feet, while others are
bnilt entirely of earth. Over some of
the latter trees grow as large as on the
surrounding leveL The object of those
works still remains a mvstery. They
have served, however, to keep alive the
memory of a race that has been extinct
for perhaps many thousands of years.
The New Zealand flax is now culti
vated in St Helena, and there seems to
be no reason why tbe same thing should
not be done in other countries. Hith
erto no very great attention has been
paid to the cultivation of this plant,
bnt the natural supplies obtained in
New Zealand are insufficient for tbe de
mands of commerce. It is a mistake
to snpppose that an illimitable supply
can always be obtained because no cul
tivation has been necessary in the first
crops of the wild produce. This is not
to be regretted, for careful cultivation
cannot fail to greatly improve the fibre,
and the best kinds alone will be worth
the trouble of proper rearing. Steps
are taken, however, to cultivate tbe
plant in New Zealand and in other
countries which have been fortunate
enough to acclimatize it. In the Azores,
at St Helena, in Algiers, and the south
of France, it thrives well, and has been
easily naturalized. The fibre is princi
ci pally used for making ropes and pa
per, for the cankUng of vessels, for
stuffing mattresses, and for coarse tex
tile fabrics. The seeds yield valua
ble ail when crushed.
I
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