a. AkMl.
jP Jit A s 1 i sciifi
J H
B. F. SCHWEIER,
THE COtfSTITUTIOI THE TJBTOlf AID THE ETTOEOEMEET OP THE LAWS.
Editor and Proprietor.
VOL. XXXIV.
MIFFLINTOWX, JUNIATA COUNTY, FENNA.. WEDNESDAY. SEPTEMBER 8, 1SS0.
NO. 37.
Oh jolly old place is grandpa's bam.
Where th doir stand open throaghont
tbe day.
iui tbe cooing doves fly in and out,
Ai;d the air is sseetwith the fragrant hay;
Wlitra grain lies over the slippery floor.
And tbe heoe arc bosliy loosing around,
And tbs sunbeams flicker, now hers, now
thtfs.
And tbs breeze blocs through with a
merry sound
.
The swallows rn'tter and chirp all day.
With fluttering wing, in the old brown
cares.
And tlis robins sing in the trees which It an
To brush the roof wiih their rustling leaves.
U f.c tbe clad vacation time,
tVLtn grandpa s barn will echo tbe shout
Of marry children, who roam an 1 play
n the new-born freedom of school let out,
Bnrh scaring of doves from their coey nests.
Such hunting for eggs in the lofts so
bgh.
Till ths frightened hens, with a cackle
shrill,
Frjm their hidden lreaa.iree ars fain to
Oh. the dear old barn, so owl. so wide !
lis deors wi 1 open aain ere lung
To the Summer sunshins, ths new-mown
And the merrv ring of vacation sobj.
For grandpa's bun ia tLs J oiliest place
Fr frohc snd fan on a Summer's day ;
And e'en eld Time, at the years slip by.
Its memory never oa ateal away.
Margaret's Money.
"She lias five thousand pounds," said the
eld man, "and she' a good girl. She'll be
a catch for somebody."
Then I thought he looked at me.
"Why should he look at me?" I thought
'I'm not a husband worth angling for, as
l.e knows very well, this man who pays
r.ie my email salary every week with his
own hands.
Still he did look at me, and I answered
with a word or two; 1 forget what now.
"Yes," he said talking with a meaning,
too, looking at me evidently, to see how
I took the news, "yes; and what do you
suppose she does with it? Has it locked
cp in my fire-proof safe in my fire-proof
vault, don't use it in any way, don't get
merest on it: locks it up as she does her
rings and pins and lets it lie never
tonrhed.
"1 wonder you doat give her better ad
rice," I said.
"Give a woman advice!" be said. "Try
it. However, I approve of this. Better
keep her dowry locked up safe, than risk
and lose it. My fire-proof safe and fire
proof vault will hold her money the
money her husband is to have the day he
marries her fast and safe."
Then the old man trotted away to his
own desk, and looked over it at me,
'I'm her guardian," be said. "Her
father and I bad quarrelled, you know.
But when he died, be left her and her
money in my care. A nice thing far an
old lacbelor to have, a young niece quar
tered on him for life! I'll marry her off
as soon as I can. I say, Fisher, come
up and take tea with me to-night"
He did mean it' He offered his niece
and her five thousand pounds to me! He
bad never liked me either.
"Shall I go?" I asked myself. "Why
not? I might as well see the heiress. I
was not a man to be bought by money, it
she were a coarse, vulgar creature, like her
uncle; bui otherwise, why not see what she
was made of! At least it could do no
harm to take tea with old Simon Giddings.
I went home with him that evening. I
noticed some little changes in the parlor,
as though a lady's hands had been busy
there; and in a moment Hiore I saw, sit
ting in the shadow of tbe curtains, a girl
dressed in deep mourning.
"Margaret, Mr. Fisher, my niece, Miss
Giddings, Tom," said the old man; and as
I bowed, I saw a little velvet-headed
cratch leaning against the girl's chair.
She was lame, then. Old Giddings
thought this was an obstacle to her making
a good match. So he offered her to Tom
Fisher.
"It won't do, old man." I thought "I
shouldn't mind a plain face to much, but a
lame wife will never do for me."
Then something whispered faintly in my
ear, "Five thousand pounds!"
For the rest, Miss Giddings was fair and
sweet-looking, and pleasant in her man
ner. She was a lady, too, which seemed
odd for old Simon's niece, for he was as
vulgar as be was rich; and she sang to us
after tea very sweetly.
I liked a girl with dash and color, but
still her blue eyes and sweet smile haunted
me a little after I went home. "She!
never quarrel with one," I thought; "and
a women worth five thousand pounds
would be a catch, certainly; but that
crutch: "I'll stay away from Old Simon's
house for the future.
But he would not let me stay away; he
kept on urging me to go borne with him.
There was Marion More. Perhaps she
liked me a little, I admired her intensely,
but she had no money, and I should take
her away from her snug home to some
poor sort of place if I married her. I
should find it hard work to feed and clothe
her decently.
This fair, sweet Margaret was rich; and
a time passed on, I began to see her
liking for me. And I sat in the office one
day, three months from the time of my
first visit, wondering whether I could be
quite sure that I should be good enougn w
the little thing I meant to marry for her
money, to keep her from knowing that there
was no actual tove for her in my heart
And as I poncered, the voice of old
Simgs reached my ears: "Tom
Fisher np in the moon again, eh! Well,
well, when a fellow is in love we excuse
laziness in him. There's my niece Mar
garet pouring the tea in the slop basin and
oversetting the milk at breakfast "Mog
gie," says 1, "you're thinking of some
one, an't yet She blushed to her ears.
You've managed to get into good graces in
tiat quarter, Tom?"
"Do you think sof" I said.
"1 kw so said the oM -
oughtn't to aay so, you know, but Tm
aaiisV.
I listened to him, then two voices whis
pering to me:
'You dont love her," said one. -You
don't hate her," aaid the other. "You
don t want a lame wife," said the first
ou do want live thousand pounds,"
said the other. It would make a man of
you. You CDu'd go into business on your
own account Tou'd cease to be a slave
in this dingy office."
Five thousand pounds! " I said to
myself. Then I started to my feet
"Mr. Giddings," 1 said, "would you be
willing to give your niece to me as my
wife?" '
His answer was frank.
"Torn Fisher, I'd give her to any decent
young man. A girl bothers me; I'm tired
ef the charge. Every one dont want a
same wife. If you like her, take her,
and on your wedding day, I'll hand the
five thousand pound to you, and be rid of
the charge. She'll aay 'Yea,' don't fear.
I'll tell her that you asked me to-night,
and hurry on the wedding.
I thought I heard the thump of a crutch
in the church aisle as he spoke. I thought
jof the graceful step of Marion More. I
turned faint, and sat down to my desk;
but I went to old Sim n's house that
night, and saw Margaret She looked as
fair and happy as a child. I sat down by
her and took her hand. -
"Are you going to say Xo,' Maggie?" I
said, and she lifted her innocent lips to
mine, and kissed me. "I'll be good to
her,i sai1 to myself. I'll be very, very
good to her."
But there was no lover's warmth in my
heart; only a kind of gentle pity for the
girl who was to bring me five thousand
pounds.
We were, engaged. Old Simon joked
us coarsely, and seemea to exult over the
affair. I might even have doubted of the
existence of the five thousand pounds, but
j that Maggie told me of them herself.
"Uncle was keeping them for me to live
on, when I was an old maid," she said.
"But you shall do what you choose with
the money when I belong to you. We II
buy a pretty house, shan't we dear, first of
all, and live there all our lives; somewhere
where we can have a garden?"
So, after that, I never doubted, but
clung to the idea as I could not If 1 had
loved the girl.
We were marrie-l in a fortnight Uncle
Simon and his old house-keeper alone were
present It had touched me a good deal
when Margaret had whispered that she
had rather not have a wedding party.
"Fancy the bride "limping up the aisle
upon a crutch!' she said. ''Let me be
married with none to stare at me. You
love me so I don't care alut being lame
any more, but I'd rather not be stared at"
1 took her in my arms and kissed her
then.
I'll be rood to her." I said, as the
clergvinan uttered his prayer, "very, very
good;'' and I wa saying it agftin when I
at with my wife ih old Simon s parlor in
he twilight and he coming in, lit the gas,
and stool twinkling bis eyes at us malic
iously. So it's over," he said, with his fiendish
chuckle. "She's yours nowf.tr her five
thousand pounds. I'm going to hand il
over to bight I shall sleep better."
I bluslied with shame. "Xi yet" I
said; "don't talk of money yet!"
"Xoi" said Simon. "But I will though.
I've got it hiTC." And he unlocked a side
board which stood in the room, aad brought
out a small roll done up oddly enough in
brown paper. There it is," said he,
"there it is! Look at it count it Five
thousand plump count it."
He fairly grinned as he spoke. She
smiled.
I saw something in his IaUj,h that made
me shudder. Without a word more I
walked to the table, opened the parcel and
spread out the notes. There were five
thousand pounds worth of them, reading the
value on their faces, but tiicy were the
nous of the Diddleton and Bilkcui Bank,
which had failed years ago!
1 had been deceived. The girl I had
married was penniless!
"Impostor!" 1 yelled. Old Simon an
swered with a roar of laughter.
"Good joke," he said. "I've done what
I promised. You've g. t the five thousand;
I didn't tell you what it was in. Of course
such money is of no use to yn, but 1 can't
I help that. Ha! ha!"
I thick 1 snouia nave tj"c" - 1
but just then I heard Margaret scream. I
looked at her. I saw. as I had known
before, that she bad no band in the decep
tion. I saw an awful look in her eyes, a
doubt of mv love trembling on her lip. I
saw hJr rise and falter on her poor feet,
and iretch her hands towards me. I
heard her cry, "Thomas. I did not know;
and then-oh, thank God for it-the love
I had never felt before rushed into my
heart-a great, all-conquering love.
Iran to her. I took her in my arms. I
eave her the first kiss of Parnate
new-born love, and I said, "Margaret, try
to bear poverty with me, for I love you
TdZgS. money-the money
that had faded before me like fair, ' gol d
could never have gircn me half the joy
that the wealth of love, given to and re
ceived from her, gave me upon our bndal
. .u- drri alnlTOlinff
day-
rare me in ail u -
redded life, and will pre me,
rears OI our w cr
- T r,ltheend:
prince of Germany.
The Crowi
"nHs as
Cordially by the
friend, and shoo wndering as
hard; then, llDoud to. said, "1 to
.embly, in J;!! yoo; tbto man
trodnce my Vthi. flattering
educated me." The object ol The
SSJ Unversed
prince turned again to mm an U
with himforr'ettne man,
be had a son. "Yea, ?V sodded
nntiieBodyGua Thenco
and dd AW
'a. a Compaq already.
Woodcock.
Bogardus, in his work on "Field, Cover
and Trap Shooting," aays that to make a
good bag of woodcock is a feat the sports
man may well be proud or. To meet with
success in woodcock shooting, one must
be an excellent snap shot and possess a
tireless nerve and muscular organization.
Besides, he must be familiar with the hab
its of the bird. To an experienced eye,
woodcock ground is easily recognized.
This dainty little bird is an epicurean in
its habits, and a voracious feeder. The
fat, angle and other worms which inhabit
the rich, soft and wet ground, are consul
em! by the woodcock as the most dainty
morsels, and form its sole diet Among
the lowland and marshy places where the
ground is soft ami loamy, the woodcock
loves to dwelL It is nocturnal in its hab
its, spending its nights in feasting, and
then at the break of dawn retires to a
favorite retreat among the willows or tan
gled underbrush, and gently dreams the
daylight hours away. It is a hard bird to
find, and a sportsman without a staunch
dog with a good nose, mayaluioet tramp aon
bird before it takes to its wings, and it is
seldom seen until it flies. Occasionally the
sharp eye of an experienced sportsman
catches sight of a bird in its day retreat
Tbe woodcock obtains its food by means
of its long-pointed bill with which nature has
furnished it, and on account of its resem
blance to the snipe it is often mistaken for
this bird by farmers who occasionally flush
it while making tours through the marshy
portions of their esta'i. The bird while
searching fcr food, probes his bill deep
into tne mucky spots where worms are
plenty, and his sensitive prober soon de
tects the presence ef the wood
cock tempting morsel. For hunting
woodcock a dog is almost absolutely neces
sary. Man does not like to penetrate the
marshy places and spots overgrown with
onars ana tail weeuj, where tne bird is
found, to raise him from his hiding place,
and no; having the necessary olfactory re
quisites to detect the presence of tbe bird
by scent may walk within a step of bis in
tended victim without flushing him. On
account of its tender feet and hide, it is al
most wicked to use a pointer in woodcock
shooting among the marshes though in
hunting the bird late in the season among
tbe corn fields, a staunch pointer is used to
good advantage. For general woinioock
shooting the setter is much used. His coat
of long hair and feathered feet protect him
from the cutting swan p grass and poison
ous briars, but the thoroughbred Sussex and
St. Charles cockers are fast growing in pop
ularity for cover sliootmg. They aie meny
and active workers, and when properly
broken and handled afford tbe shooter ex
cellent sport
Generally speaking tbe woodcock is a
hard bird to hit. Josh Killings, in an ar
ticle on birds, says of the woodcock that
the first that is seen of the bird is a "whiz,
and the last we see is a whirr." In shoot
ing among the saplings the shooter must
follow the dog and take his chances with
snap shots. In low underbrush and later
in the season among tbe corn fields, some
open shots are obtained. The uncertain
flight of the woodcock as he rises in hU
rig lag night tends to distract the aim ol
the shooter, and the success of the novice
is very uncertain.
A Naval tiorror.
The Chilian transport Loa, purchased nt
the commencement of the present war, was
blown up in Callao bay on the 3d of July.
The affair caused great excitement in Lima
and much gratification among the Peru
vians. The plan was a diabolical one.
From the time the Chilian fleet had been
ou the coast of Peru it has been noticed
that the officers and men were particularly
partial to flirts and vegetables, not being
always csreful to distinguish between the
market boat of a neutral merchant vessel
and the coasting boat of a Peruvian. This
fact impressed itself on a Peruvian officer,
and at last he hit on a plan to turn it to
some practical account He took an ordi
nary fruit boat, put a torpedo iu the bot
tom and over this be placed a false bottom
resting on springs, kept down by the weight
of the cargo, lie then loided it with a
very choice assortment of camatcs, yucas,
chirimoyas, gmnulillas, iowlsaud turkeys,
green vegetates, etc., etc., and towing it
out towards tiic blockading squadron be
fore daytight set it aunft. All day long
that launch floated aliout, but the Chilians
could not see it, until about five o'clock in
tbe evening, fearing it wouid fall into neu
tral hands, a boat was sent out to bring it
back. The Loa was doing duty, and see
ing the bout from the shore leaking to
wards the neutral vessel can -lit sigtit of
the launch n -t-cs turned towards it.
Seeing th s ii - Ikia: :i r,i.-L h laiahasty
retreat The Loa lowtitd lo boats to
bring in the prize, and it was brought
alongside and the discharge at once com
menced. As tbe weight in the launch was
diminished the machinery in connection
with the torpedoes was set fiee and in a
moment three hundred pounds of dynamite
were exploded and the Loa was alinott
lifted out of the water. The effect, as
described by those who were watching the
operation with breathless interest from the
shore, was awful in the extreme. Every
house in Callao was shaken to its founda
tion and every ship in the bay shivered as
though a feaiful earthquake had speut its
fury beneath them. The fated ship ap
peared as enveloped in one mass oi name,
which lesolved itself into dense clouds of
black smoke. When this cleared aw-iy she
seemed not to have suffered; but suddenly
she. was observed to sink at the stern, while
her bows went high in the air, and the Loa
disappeared forever.
Perils of tbe London M roc la.
It lia Wn calculated that the vcarlv
average of persons killed by accidents in
iKa rinvtt nf fondon is irreater than tbe
annual total of persons lusssacred on all
the railways ol the L mtea lvingoom. mu
rine the last decade oi tne victims oi me
thoroughfares the metropolis have
reached an aggregate of Ziao, while in zs,
071 cases more or less injuries have been
;nfliiut These statistics arc start line.
and they signify in reality more than at
first appears. Only tne tiowi injuries
are enumerated under the puoushed cate
gories. There is a considerable percentage
c .... i J . 41 I I,
of casual! ties wnicn uurs uw m j
into print and when it is said last year tbe
killed and wounded in the London streets
amounted to 234 and 3Bia respectively, it
must be remembered that the eslimato is
i.,ww4 tn a minimum. The allowance of
unascertained accidents may be calculated
upon as that of undetected murders. Aiarm
u these fiirures seem, there is nothing
surprising in them when one recollects
what are tne iacis auu um tuc
perils of tbe case. A population of 4,000,
trarprsed hv DerDctual streams
WV, "
and blocked by constant congestions of
traffic -tbe numrjer oi veniciea oi uiuerem
.:,). -,;.), riailv nass un and down Ox-
aiuuo .-- j i i
ford streets is computed at 11,891; tho
rtoJrhfares often absurdly inadequate fee
the exigencies oi tne proem uj; iuui
passengers in swarms, frequently indiffer
ent to all considerations of personal safety;
drivers of every variety of caution and
ckleas-iasa-these are the chief features ef
the situallen.
A Maine Fanner aad Plaaenaan-
It was the islander who was both fanner
and fisherman, as a person uniting in him
self the two moat ancient and honorable
professions, that aroused in Middleton the
principal interest Such a one could not
lake the trips of two to three weeks with
the seiners of the coast fleet; still less could
he go tbe long voyages of the bankers, to the
bays of L Escaul and Chaleurs. to Green
land and even as sometimes happens, to
tbe coast ol Iceland, for fresh balibut
where they join the fleets of Northern
France, the Netherlands, and the Scandi
navians. He must attend the lobster-traps;
set weirs for herring, menhaden, alewives,
and mackerel; keep dragnets and trawls;
pernaps, u lavotaoiy located, make a
a specialty of aupplyiug bait to the fleet
wuicn, now mat it must be Kept iced, it
often in great straits for it Between times
he runs to she for a day or two in his
cat-boat, his "Hampton boat" or his
jigger. The cat boat it appeared, was
the better sailor, since the more canvas in
a single sail, the closet into the wind; but
the Hampton boat a modified pink stern,
with shoulder-vi-mutton sails on its small
masts was the "abler," that is to say,
better qualified to stand the exigencies of
al isorts of weather. The jigger, however,
a small schooner of perhaps torty feet long
by ten feet beam, with a considerable hold.
and a cabin with four bunks, a table, and
a rusty sheet-iron stove tor-
ward, seemed the most available for general
pui poses, whether for taking a haul of fish,
smacking ' a loaat of lobsters, wood, or
ice, or hanking a load of apples at retail
from port to port, where they were a
rarity.
A professional "dragger" carried nearly
a mile of nets. They were straight and
not very deep. The fish was meshed in
them by the gills. Thus by the regulation
of tbe size of mesh only picked fish need
be taken, while tbe great purse seines of
the fleet take e Venning, destroy at every
haul a value nearly equal to what is saved,
and tend toward rapid extinction of the
fish, as Middleton was told, besides having
already reduced the averaite size.
The trswl was another engine of formid
able bavnc, against which there was equal
complaint It is the method in use among
the backers, exeirt on George's, wher'
tbe tide ruus too swift f.ir anything but ly
ing to an anchor, and hand-lining over tbe
side. Tbe purse seine and the trawl are
ibe twonietbods of taking fish par excel
Unve, the f truer for liie mackere'. the
alter lor ad iheo.h rsof giea: sizeer. Whin
Middleton saw a trawl, he found that it
was a long Coi d with hundreds of baited
Looks fixed at intervals alonir it It was
sunk so as to rest on the bottom, buoyed
at both ends, and left there. A trawler
kept great numbers of these lines neatly
coi.ed in tubs, and set them one alter
another. After a sutticicut lapse of time,
he went back to the first, and 'underrau"
it that is drew up one end, passed it over
his boat, taking off the fish, and bailing
the hooks anew, and paid it out at one
side as he took it in at the othtr. The
method pursued by the bankers was to
carry twelve or fourteen dories, which
were put out when the fishing ground was
arrived at with two mea iu cach,providcd
with tubs of trawls at discretion.
It was the sun cu ed salt-fish that was
tbe lavorite article of diet in the islanders'
households, while very Utile account was
made of the fresh. The young people had
some merry customs of their own with it
They represented that if a certain particu
larly salt strip in the centre cal ed the
dream "line," were eaten before going to
lied, the girl or the young man oue was to
marry trould be indicated by appearing in
a visioa and handing htm or her a glass of
water.
llrraklnx A Chain.
"You will have to open tbe shop this
morning, Lucia, and take care of it the
best you can," called my father from the
next room, "for my head is aching so that
I shall be unable to leave my bed to-day."
1 was quite a httle girl then, uot more
than eleven years old, but as father and I
were alone and there was nocne else to per
form the task, I arose cheerfully, shivered
in'o my clothes for it was bitter cold and
quite early-ami hastened down stairs.
Broom in hand for the purpose of sweep
ing off the side sidewalk first, I proceeded
to throw open the front door, but only, to
draw back, with a faint cry of terror and
surprise.
Crouching behind the friendly shadow
of a large packing-box, standing at one
side of the doorway, was a lad, apparently
about twelve or fourteen, a pooi, ragged
creature, with hollow checks and a haunted
look in bis dark-blue eyes that lived in my
memory for many a day afterward.
rlease, plcae, don t cry out or call any
one:" be entreated in a low, pleading voice.
"They'll surely take me again, and I don't
waat to go back."
"Don t want to go back where?" I asked,
growing courageous and taking a step
nearer him.
For answer he pointed to a heavy ball
and chain attached to one of his ankles.
In those days for the time of which I
write was long ago it was customary to
attach a weight of some kind to the legs of
convicts in order to prevent them from
going very far in case they should attempt
to escape; so I at once understood that he
had broken away from the town jail.
"I was arrested for stealing a meat-pie
and thev treated me so bad at the jail."
he said with a dry sob that went straight
to my heart, "that that "
"i on ran awav, poor boy! Come in, and
I'll hide you safely awav."
Together, and with much difflcu'ty in pre
venting tbe chain from rattling which
would betray his presence to my father,
we succeeded in creeping down to the back
cellar. There I left him, well satisfied
with my morning's work.
A little while after, I carried him a lxiwl
of steaming coffee, and a slice of bread,
which he swallowed to my great satisfac
tion, with a decided relish.
"I say, sis, he whispered, as I turned
to leave, "if I had bad a good strong file,
could get this ere chain off, and then I d
be all right"
"I will bring you not only a file, but a
good suit of clothes that belonged to my
brother that's dead, and an old re 1 wig from
the garret, t disguise you with, ' I an
swered 'on one condition only.
"What is it?" he asked, eying me curious
ly. "Only this, that you give me your
solemn promise never to steal again, no
matter bow poor or hungry you may be,
and to try and become a good and respect
able boy."
A fLish of brightness, visible even ia the
dim light that struggled through the narrow
cellar-window, passed over his wan fea
tures, and kneeling down before me, he
caught one of my bands, and bending over
it, slowly breathed the required pledge.
For three days, during which time,
fortunately for my project, my father kept
his room, the poor fugitive remained in his
diner retreat inen when night came on,
and I well knew tbe one constable our town
boasted was snoring comfortably between
his blankets, I soltly opened the back door,
and let John Ray as he eallad himself, out
into the aarknesa.
Freed from his fetters, and arrayed in I
.1 : : i . : : i i i I
iuc nice auu i unu given uiiu, iiu nja.eu
so respectable, even handsome, that 1 felt
he never would be recognized, and, that
he might not want for ready caah to assist
bim on his way I pressed a long treasured
gold piece of my own in his hand, as we
parted in sober silence in the shadowy
doorway.
Twelve years came and. went Misfor
tune meanwhile had visited us in several
ways.
One wintry night our little shop and all
it contained, together with cur household
goods, was consumed by fire. Later my
father's eyesight failed him, and hoping to
better our condition, we moved to .New
York.
But we sooa found out that the great
city was already over -crowded with work
ers, and in a little while we became
poorer than we had ever been before.
Hearing one day that a wealthy gentle
man, who was about to make a long jour
ney, wanting a respectable person te care
for his house during his absence, I hastened
to apply for the situation.
I found him at his office a handsome,
kindly-featured man, seeming but a few
years older than myself.
"Have you references? he asked, on
my statins my business.
1 produced a written paper, which our
good minister had given me before I left
the home of my childhood.
A flush of pleasure overspread his hand
some features as he read it
" ou do not recognize me, I see, he
remarked,.
I certainly did not, and said so.
"And you must remember John Rav?
I shook my head. Ic the many troubles
that had come uma us, the memory of the
convict boy I once assisted passed entirely
awav.
"If you have forgotten me, Lucia Sum
mers," be returned, taking a small shining
cold-piece from his watch chain, "perhaps
you may remember this, the coin you gave
rrre one dark night twelve years ago. I
bad no orca-ion to spend it then," he went
on, "for I found work almost immediately,
and, since, I have kept it as a talisman
against temptation and a reminder of the
promise I made you."
"And why did you never let me hear
from you?" I asked.
I wrote to you once, but received ao re
ply, and two months ago, when I found
myself the junior member of the firm whom
I had served so long, I went to your town
to look for you but you had gone no
one knew ;v hither.
John K ty, prosperous and happy, went
on bis intended journey, but not alone;
for we were married soon after, and I ac
compauied him, and my father also, for
the purpose of having his eye attended to
by a celebrated French doctor.
When his sight was fully restored, we
came buck to reside in the beautiful home
wbii'h hr.dcome to us all through my timely
aid i:i "Breaking a t'iiiiu."
Scene in a Nevada Court-Room.
Billy Brown, a lad ot ten, was put on the
stand and questioned.
Tbe court "Did vou ever take an
oath?"
Boy (positively) "Xo, sir; I never took
anything in my hie."
Mr. II lues (facetiously) "What ! nev
er J"
The spectators tittered, and the court,
as mad as a hornet, called them to order,
remarking: "I want mighty little of this
'Pinafore' business in my court" Just
then the daughter of the court, on tbe floor
above, was heard to disturb a piano and
sing. "I'm called little Buttercup, dear' it
tie Buttercup." Another laugh followe
this incident, and the court sent a constable
up stairs to make the merry maiden stop
her vocal ana instrumental excrcases.
"Shut that girl off at once," was the
parting injunction from the bench.
The youthful witness was finally allow,
ed to testify without being sworn.
"You see," he began, "I heard a racket
and went out. The woman was chuckin'
bricks and cussin' like thunder, and the
boys was runnin' about the yard. The
night before I went down town."
District Attorney "ever mind about
that."
Witness "Well I did go down town.
(I can prove it by Patsey over there." To
Palscy) "Didu't we go down town Pat
sey.
Here the room was called to order again.
and the boy put off the stand.
Tne Woodaa Hat.
Somewhere about the year 1780, a trav
eling miU-wright, footsore, and with the
broadest northern Doric accent stopped at
Sobo, at the engine factory of Boulton A
att, and asked for work, ills aspect was
a little better than one of bogirary and poor
looks, and Boulton had bidden him God
speed to some other shop, when, as he
was turning away sorrowfully, uoulton
suddenly called bim back.
"What kind of a hat's yon, ye have on
your head me mon?"
"It a just timmer, sir." .
"Timmer, me mon; let's look at it
Where did ye get it?"
'I just made it, sir, myainseL"
"How did you make it?"
"I just turned it in the lathie."
"But it's oval, mon, and the lathie tums
things round."
"A wee!! I just gar'd the lathie gang
anither gait, to please me, and I thocht to
have a hat to keep out water, and I hadna'
muckle siller to sj are and I made me
anc."
By his inborn mechanism the roan had
invented an oval lathe, and made his hat,
and the hat made his fortune. Boulton
was not the man to lose so valuable a help,
thus the after famous William Mur Jock
the originator of locomotives and lighting
by gas took suit and service under Boul
ton & Watt and in 174 made the first
vehicle impelled by steam in England, and
with the very hands and brain-cunning that
had produced the "timmer bat"
Fair flay.
Or.ce, when I was returning from Ireland
(says Rowland Hill), 1 found myself an
noyed by the reprobate conduct of the
captain and mate, who were both sadly
given to tbe scandalous habit of swearing.
First, the captain swore at the mate; then
tbe mate swore at the captain; then they
swore at tbe wind, when I called out to
them for fair play.
"Stop! stop!" said L, "if you please gen
tlemen, it is my turn now."
"Ah, what is your turn, pray?" said the
captain.
"At sweanne," I replied.
Well, they waited and waited, until their
patience was exhausted, and then wanted
me to make baste and take my turn. I
told them, however, that I had a right to
take my own time, and swear at my own
convenience.
To this, the captain replied with a laugh,
"Perhaps you don't mean to take your
turn?"
"Pardon me captain," I answered, "but
I do, as aeon as I can find tbe good of
doing to."
I did not hear another oath on the voy-
A Dissertation on Thnmba.
The female -thumb is said to be an lm
portant index of the female character,
Women with large thumbs are held by
phrenologists, physiognomists 4c., to be
more than ordinary intelligent what are
called sensible women while women with
small thumbs are retarded as romantic-
According to certain authors, who profess
to have been observers, a woman's hand is
more indicative of her character than her
face, as the latter ia to a certain extent un
der the'control of temporary emotions or of
tbe will, whereas 'he former is a fact which
exists for anyone wbo understands it to
profit by. Consequently a few hints about
the proper reading ot a woman's hand may
be very useful to aome of our readers.
especially aiarned men, and men contemp
lating matrimony. Women with square
hands and small thumbs are said to make
good housewifea, and gentle wives. These
sort of women will make any man happy
who is fortunate enough to win one of them.
They are not at all romantic but they are
what is better thoroughly domestic,
women with very large thumbs have a tem
per of then own, and generally a long
tongue. There is a hint in this to a lover.
Let bun, the first time be seizes hold ot his
mistress hand, examine, under some pre
text or another, her thumb ; and if it be
large let him make up his mind that as soon
as he becomes a married man he will have
to be a good boy, or else there will be the
very deuce to pay. Again if a young man
finds that his lady-love has a large
palm, with cone-shaped fingers and a sniaii
thumb, let him thank his stars for in that
case she is susceptible to tenderness, readily
nattered, easily talked into or out of any
thing, andean be a readily managed partner.
But if she is a woman with a square hand,
well proportioned and a tolerahlv developed
thumb, why, then, she is either one of two
distinct classes of woman she is either a
practical female wbo will stand no non
sense, or she is a designing female ; she is
one who cannot be duped, or a woman who
will dupe him.
A Sad Bathluc-Place.
Hall, in Austria, is a bathing-place fam
ous for its iodine bath which is strongly re
commended to those affected with sarofu-
lous diseases. The fearful ravages of these
diseases meet one at every turn here a
livid wretch, wrapped up and being drawn
about in a wheeled chair ; there some one
painfully supporting himself ou a crutch ;
sadly sitting under this tree a woman, her
head and face wrapped up, a mass of scrofula,
and many equally toathfome sights. Numer
ous are the suicides which here take place,
for people put off coming till hope is gone,
and when they find il too late go to some
quiet corner and send a bullet through their
hcads. But the saddest of sad sights is the
children, of whom there are many suffering
in silence or crying with pain. o romp
ing here, no shouts of pleasure, no games
in the fields, no rosy cheeks and sunburnt
legs, but crooked limbs and suppurating
wounds, a heritage from their parents.
1 he little patients sit sad and downcast or
walk quietly by their nurses. Many of
tbem suffer from eye disease, and are led
about blindfolded. Hall is unite a modern
'Bad," for although the spnngs have flowed
for ages as records show they were, un
til forty years ago, onlv used by peasants
in the neighborhood. The waters are very
powerful, and many a cattic despcratun
has found a new lease of life through their
agency; but tbey are limned in quantity,
for their flow, although regular, is incon
siderable- Hall can thus never become a
large "Bail," and could not supply the
wants of more than 2,000 invalids. About
half the number are they now. I ascer
tained on inquiry that one Englishman was
taking the waters they are btithed in and
drank and this gentleman and an Anier.
can are the only two "Anglo-Saxons"' who
have been there for the last four years.
Strange to say, the most numerous com
munity of foreigners is that of the Russians,
of w hom there are many first-rate families.
Of the good Austrians and Uunsarlausone
meets In Hall some of the ereme. Could
the stones of this quiet place but speak they
could tell some startling family tales !
Uouaehold Cnatoms tn Jauan.
When a woman reaches her house, she
takes off her sandals, pushes aside the slid
ing doors of paper, and enters in her stock
ing feet The rooms are softly malted, but
contain no furniture. The houses are built
of wood, and among the poorer classes
have but twoj or three rooms. In the kitch
en is a large stone box with ashes and burn
ing coals in it. Thisis called the hibachi,
and over it tbe rice is cooked. There is
co chimney in the kitchen, but smoke goes
out either through an opening in the roof,
or imperceptibly through the broad open
doors. After tiie rice is cooked, it is put
into a small unpainted wooden tub. At
dinnertime, the mother brings out a little
table, two feet square and one foot high,
with dishes and food upon it The family
sit upon the mats, the tub of rice is in the
centre, aud each one dips out into a liowl,
from this central dish, rice sufficient for
himself. They often pour tea over the
rice, and always eat with chopsticks. Fish,
sweet potatoes, and a pickle made from a
vegetable called daikon, are sometimes
served with the dinner. Japanese houses
often have but one sleeping room, which is
occupied by the entire family. When
guests come, they share it with them. The
bed consist of heavy comforters. TheT
are spread out on the mats at eight, and
put awav in the ciosets during the day.
Each person lays his bead, in sleeping, on
a litt'e wooded pillow, constructed with a
hollow place in which the head may re;t
In some room, in the house is a closet con
taining a shelf for tbe goods; and upon this
shelf stand all the household idols, which
have come down as heirlooms of the fam
ily from generation to generation. One of
the best tests of the sincerity of the Chris
tian converts is their willingness to put
away these idois; for it proclaims at once
to their friends and the priests that they
have renounced the religion of their
fathers.
Clveerlne.
The inexhaustible usefulness of glycer
ine has received another illustration by the
erection at the Kew Observatory of
glycerine barometer. Tbe advantages it
possesses over mercury is that its indica
tions of minute atmospheric variations are
more easily observable, and it is thought
that for meteorological stations, cojienes.
and " some other such institutions, this
facility would be of advantage. Glycerine
varies an inch where mercury only varies
one tenth of an inch; but the mean height
of iu column against the air pressure is
twenty-seven feet A difficulty in the use
of glycerine occurred in the fact that tbe
exposed surface freely absorbed moisture,
but this has been overcome by covering
the surface exposed in the cistern of the
barometer with a layer of heavy petroleum
oil prepared especially for the purpose.
The barometer fixed at Eew has its cistern
in a room below that where toe observa
tions are taken so as to obtain the neces
sary length of column. About three
fourth of gallon of glycerine, colored
red bf aniline, were required to 111 it
Out of Repair But Tnere.
Our cow was bought from sixty miles
away and appropriately enough she took
steer-age passage ia a steamer to get to
Detroit. The wharf is about a quarter of
a mile from the house and I stood there
with two or thsee of my neighbors who
had kindly offered to help mo home with
the cow. As the steamer rounded too.
noticed that the cow had the whole lower
deck to herself and that there were guy
ropes from every tie-able portion of ber to
stationary articles on board. Tbe passen
gers on tbe upper deck had a pleased ex
pectant look on their faces as if there was
something enjoyable ahead. When the
gangway plank was run out, the deck-
bands seemed reluctant to interfere with
ihe cow. Tbe captain came down the
for'ard stair -i and shouted:
"Let go her head line, slack up aft"
"Aye, aye, sir," cried the sailors and the
command was obeyed.
"Get a line out in fiont"
One of the sailors took the original farm
rope that was around her horns, and got on
the dock. All the other lines were re
moved, and as the cow began to look
steadily at the fellow out on the wharf,
pulling on the shore he began to tremble,
"Port hera little, and send her for 'an',"
said the captain.
"Port it is, nr." answered ope of the
hands, as he approached tbe animal with
a club to induce her to port Our cow
bad stood like a statue all the while,
glaring at the man on the wharf. Now she
made one wild wave of her boins in the
direction Jf the club person. He rapidly
tumbled over two barrels, and sprang on a
dry goods box while the cow stood tri
umphant over theVlHb. A murmer of ap
probation came from tbe passengers, who
were perched up on accessible articles of
freight
"Can I b; any service?" I mildly asked
the captain.
"v ell, yes," said be. "If you could go
and get a good serviceable coroner, you
would do us a favor, I think we'll need
one."
Meanwhile the passengers were showing
bow the cow could easily lie got out, hut
none of them came down to put their theo
ries into practice.
"Make fa-t ymir head line, called the
captain to the man on the wharf. He
gave the rope a couple of rapid turns
around a projecting tiiulnir.
".uw all bauds aft, was the next com
mand and the boys gathered around in the
rear of the cow.
"All toL'jther now," was the crv, and a
dozen men gently shoved Ihe reluctant cow
shorcwards, while the wharf man shortened
the rope an eind Ihe timber. Our cow re
solutely planted her four hoofs down and
hung back, bui the combined force of the ,
crew was too mu.-h for her, and she slid
along amid the cheers of tne passengers.
uddenly she changed her mind, and made
a spring to the end of her rape. The wild
grappliug of the pushers as they went
down with the most astonishing unanimi
ty brought forth the heartfelt applause of
tbe discriminating audience. By this
time the captain was on the upper deck
ringing the boat ahead, and I could see the
passengers around bun coax id.; him to
stay and let them watch the cow sacrifice
those of us that were left on the dock.
One of iny near neighbor., a big, power
ful young man, said that he would take
home the cow for me, that steamboat men
did not understand how to treat cattle any
how, and he proceeded to unwind the rope
from the timber. The wharf, however,
seemed to suit the cow exactly, and she
refused lo budge. We tried to shove her
along as the steamboat men had done, but
it was too big a contiact At last one of
the men brought a pitchfork, and while the
rope man got ready for a tornaj , he
touched up the cow. It was a brilliant
suei-ess; Man and cow disappeared up tbe
rood in a whirlwind of dust Everybody
along tbe route thought was a runaway; the
women shrieked and the men climbed
fences. We never expected to see either
cow or man a?ain. lie, however, unuer-
ood his business. He let tbe infuiiated
animal drag him along until he reached the
open gate, and then, with one wild bound,
he sprang ahead and gave the rope a turn
around the starboard gate prt The way
that cow came around was amazing. She
described a semi-circle very much quicker
than Euchd could have done it She lay
there in a heap, panting and evidently
wondering how it all came about
"There a your cow, said my friend.
covered wit h dust and triumph, as he closed
the gate, flung the rope over her prostrate
form, "she may lie somewhat out of repair
but she's there."
feasant Lire In BeugaU
The dailv life of the family is a series of
pictures of Aicadian simplicity. At day
break, when the crows begin to caw, the
whole household is astir. Ihe two older
brothers are off to the fields, while Gayaa-
rani is seeing after the cows. The women
are busy in tbe huts and court-yards. Some
times the men come to thtir midday meal,
and sometimes it is carried to them in the
fields. At sunset the labors of the day are
brought toclose. A mat is spread in the court
yard, and the men sit down ernes-legged
and smoke their bubble-bubbles, and at
such times it is the jop of Badan's life to
listen to the ch'ldkh prattle of his little
daughter Maliti. Occasionally the brothers
pay visits to their neighbors, or neighbors
drop in and join in the smoking. Tbe con
versation is nearly aways the same the
weather, the bullocks, the crops, and the
cows; the plowing, harvesting, sowing, or
irrigating. But money is ever the burden
of the taik;rupees,anoa,anJ piece; the zetr
mdar s ren: ; Ihe interest paid to the money
lender; the cost loss or profit of every
transaction connected with farm or house
hold. The whole family is religious;
indeed all Hindus are religious. They
may be everything that is good or bad, but
they are never wanting in tear of the gods.
Tbey are constantly uttering the sacred
names, and they offer a portion of every
meal to tbe gods of the earth, water and
sky. They see everything that exhts, and
omens of good or evil in everything that
moves.
If thev meet a cow or a wedding l
... . .. i
ness, or journey, or transaction of any sort
or kind, without a prayer to the goddess
Lakshimi or an invocation to the elephant
headed Ganeaha. Every family or group
of familiis has its own Purohita, or domes
tic Brahman, whs performs endless cere
monies cf propitiation, consecration, or
purification at births, deaths, marriages.
fasts, festivals, religious celebrations, and
iamuy i lueuus oi every aiuu. in return, j
the Purohita receives a l the offerings of
rice, fruits and vegetables that are made to
the gods, with occasional presents of a like
character. Every year the Guri, or relig
ious teacher of tbe sect or distrct, makes
his appearance to receive a shilling fee
from every household, and to confirm
younger neophytes by whispering into
their respective ears the name of the god
that each one is to worship as his own in
dividual deity. This name ia known as
the "seed prayer," and is to be uttered by
tbe worshipper 108 times every day until
tbs end of bis earthey
they rejoice over their good lortune; h tney
seeawidoworafuneral,theyarelown-hcaji-,tonbesC!ofT
ed at their ill-luck. They engage in no busi-
' Beallatle Opera.
The king of Bavaria is a poet and has a
poet's eccentricities with the advantage
over all other poets of being able to gratify
tham, no matter what form they may take.
He is fond of the opera, but not fond of
sitting in the presence of an audience;
therefore, it has sometimes ocenred, in
Munich, that when an opera has been con
cluded aid the players were getting off
their paint and finery, a command has
came for them to get their "paint and finery
on again. Presently the king wouid arrive,
solitary and alone, and the players would
begin nt tbe beginning and do tbe entire
opera over again, with only that one indi
vidual in the vast Solemn theatre for au
dience. Ouce he took an odd freak into
his head. High up and out of a sight
over the prodigious stage of the court thea
tre is a maze of interlacing water pipes, so
pierced that in case of fire innumerable
little thread-like streams can be caused to
descend, and in case of need this discharge
can be augmented to a pouring flood.
American managers might make a note of
that The king was sole audience. The
opera proceeded ; it was a piece with a
storm in it ; tbe mimic thunder began to
mutter, "the wind btgan to wail and laugh
and the mimic rain to patter. The king's
interest rose higher and higher; it duvelop-
into enthusiasm. He cried out :
"It is good, very eood indeed. But I
will have real rain. Turn on the wat?r !"
The manager pleaded for a reversal of
the command ; said it would ruin the Costly
scenery and spiended costumes, but the
king cried :
o matter, no matter. I will have real
rain ! 1 urn on the water "
So the real rain was turned on and began
to descend in gossamer laces to the mimic
flower beds and gravel walks of the stage.
The nchly dressed actresses and actors trip
ped aboat singing ibravely and pretending
not to mind it The king was delighted
bis enthusiasm grew higher. He cried out:
"Bravo, bravo! Mure thunder! More
lightning ! Turn on more rain !"
The thunder boomed, theliglitningglared,
the storm-winds raged, the deluge poured
down. The mimic royalty on tbe stage,
with their soaked satins clinging to their
bodies, flopped around mikie deep in wa
ter, warbling their sweetest and best ; the
fiddlers under the eaves of the stage sawed
away lx dear life, with the cold overflow
spouting down the backs of their necks, and
the dry and happy king sat in his lofty box,
and wore his g ocs to ribbons applauding.
"More yet !" cried the king; "more yet,
let loose all the thunder: turn on all the
water! I will bang the man who raises an
umbrella!"
When this most tremendous and effective
storm that had ever been produced in any
theatre was at last over, the king's appro- .
nation was measureless. He cried :
"Magnificent, magnificent 1 Encore! Do
it again!"
But the manager succeeded in persuad
ing him to recal the encore, and said ths
compijiy would feel sufficiently rewarded
and co.nplimen'ed in the mere fact that
the encore wis desired by his majesty,
without fatiguing him with a rejietitioa to
gratify their own vanity.
During the remainder of the act the
lucky performeis were those whose parts
required changes of dress; the others were
a soaked, bedraggled and uncomfortable
lot, but in the last degree picturesque. The
stage scenery was ruineil the Imp-doors
were so swollen that they wouldn't work
for a week afterwards, tbe fine cwtuims
were spoiled, and no eud to Miinor damage
were done by that remarkable storm.
It was a royal idea that storm and
royally carried out But observe the mod
eration of the king ; he did not insist upon
his encore. If he had been a gladsome,
unreflecting American opera audience, he
probably w uld have had his storm repeat
ed and repeated until he drowned all these
people.
The Grape.
We have atout seven hundred vines on
trellis, and aliout fifteen hundred on stakes,
and have had for the - past ten years, and
we prefer the trellis, although we admit
that the trellis culture is a failure oftencr
than the t-Uke, for tie reason that si many
persons do not study the nature, habits and
wants of the vine. On the stake, necessity
forces them to keep the fruiting wood near
the soun of supply i the ro t, iwhile on the
trellis they may let tbem grow ten, twenty,
or even forty feet from the root, and theu
they are like an army drawing its supplies
a long distance through an enemy's country.
The grape only fruits on the last year's
growih of woop, and, if a leader be con
tinued from year to year on tne end of the
vine, it grows a great way fro:n the n
and all side laterals (lisapear from near the
base, and il ouly sets fruit near the ex
treme end. But the leadi r or end of the
vine should be cut off as soon as the vine
has acquired sufficient length, say four to
six feet; that will throw out side laterals,
which will form fruiting spurs o:ie year by
cutting thepi back two buds, and in turn
those two buds will produce the fruit and
form wood for two fruiting spurs tbe fol
lowing season. There snould never be
more than two or thiejc .nes from one root
and that should lie replaced by a new cane,
either from the ground or as near the
ground as a good oue cm be haL Our
vineyard has been in bearing eleven years,
and there are very few, if any vines more
than four years-old or more th'in eighteen
inches above ground.
Solid Hints to Piraicere.
The best place to set a table is on the
side hilt The efforts of those on the lower
lii'e to keep their place restrais those on
the upper side from leaving theirs and go
ing over the table. The table itself should
be cf sufficient size to accomodate one
half of those sitting at it Everlxxly is
then held in his or her place. One knife
will do for every four persons, and the
plate, the beans and vinegar are taken
from, is just the thing for your custard.
It gives it body. Hot tea, is grxxL It
should be seal, inghot, though, aid always
pass over the heads of the party when
there ia no nnrkrtnnil tn kIiova ii iimlir
:,, a.m t ,,t.i i. .i
, hy the nan(1 from ,he foxL , ive ones
are lwo tluncs
to , -i(.nic canot u ,TpMwL ,,.
--- .... uij. Attu uno suuui'i v; 1 Ui: ' Hi
should be borne with stoicism. These are
the unexpected shower and the equally
unexpected hornet They can be utilized
to some extent by letting the hornet put in
his work first. Showers cool such places,
and by having the places ready when the
showers comes, an advantage is gained.
Vyelna: Ejea.
A learned German doctor has discovered
a means of dyeing the eyes of animals in
general, and of men in particular, any
color he pleases.- He is accompanied on
his travels of propagation by a dog with a
rose-colored eye, a cat with an orange-red
eye, and a monkey with a chrome-yellow
eye. But the most curious specimens cf
his art are a negro with one black eye and
the other blue, nd a negress with one eye
gold-colored and the other silrer-white.
The doctor says the process of ocu ar trans
formation, far from injuring the fight,
strengthens and improves it
!! i
ft
t'it