B. P. SOHWEIER, THE O0I8T1TUT10J TEE TJUOI-AID TIE EITOXOE1CEIT OP TEE LAVS. Editor and Proprietor. VOL. XL. MIFFLINTOWN, JUNIATA COUNTY, PENNA.. WEDNESDAY. APRIL 7, 1SS6. NO. 15. In Darkness. Beneath the woodbine In the ultry eve I sit alone, and watch the setting moon, I While a sad flute, in a regretful tone, For her departure sweetly seems to grleveT Hie shadows deepen ; night moths flatter by; A firefly flashes in the odorous dark ; A falling meteor's shining track I mark ; Prey to unrest and loneliness am I. 0 revelation, like a firefly's flame Yon show us but the shadows with your spark. To a pale poet sounding fa the dark, Ont of the silence once a question came. Never an answer ! All in rain we reach E'en to the utmost verge of human thought ; What anxious, w&iting soul has ever caught . One faint reply in heaven's immortal speech? If heaven in pity would a message 8ncl, And you should come, and, kneeling at my side, Should say, "Love, I hare been your con stant guide 1 promise still to lead till life Is done :" If I should touch your hand, and see your face. Should hear the pet name that was mine of old ; If your firm finger should my own en. fold. And I could nestle in my olden place With one cares'", love I would let you go, Kor crave your presence in the years to come; Knowing so well that in your restful home This vexing life of mine jou still would know. It would not pain you I On death's hinder ing bar All human passions break and drift from sight ; Only love purified tLey know to-night, In happy islands where the sinless are. I wouM not keep you if I could, my friend; For I should know that though you were my guest. Once having tasted heaven's pure joy and rest. Your love for me would fail ere life should end. And though I C3uld not Lear your tender tone, I etill should feel your power to love and bless Should know your old unvarying tender ness And nevermore should live my life alone. A STRANGE CLIENT. It was a bleak December day. A biting, snow-laden nor'-easter was sweeping over the wide expanse of Murley Heights, and apparently exult ing in its untrammelled freedom Op position to its wild will upon these dow ns there wa3 nene. The enly defianca to the keen viking's blast was found m the person of the solitary pedestrian who was daring enough tj have dehed the threatened suow storm in his eager ness to journey from EttisJale to Mur ky Coombe. lie was a little man, and bent and shriveled with cares and toil if not with age. But his head and neck were of the true English bulldog type, and upon his race there was stamped an expression of .indomitable resolution and unwavering persever ance, lie was dressed In a rusty and threadbare suit of black, which to the average observer would doubtless have marked him out as belonging to the large and saddened army of the shabby genteel. But in the easy a?surance-of his carriage, in the flish of his gray eyes on occasion almost gleeful in the conscious jower lurking in the rigid lires about his niouth. there was nothing of the despondency, the neiv ous diffidence, the f utilo resentment at fortune's thrusts, which are the moral inheritance of the class. "This is a bitter day, this is, and no mistake," the traveler muttered, paus ing to gather hi3 thin eoat more tightly about him. "Xo wonder Iteckitt, yon der, was afraid I'd get a 'chill,' as he calls it. Little the landlord of the Bell guessed as he'd seen me before! llah! Hah! But I'm not the man to be stop ped by either storm or sunshine I've seen a bit of both in my time. I vowed I'd be at Hurley berore nightfall, and 1 11 keep my word." And on he plodded. But although the spirit might bs contemptuous of difficulties, the flesh was at the mercy of failure, induced largely by past illness and fatigue. When some two-thirds of the weary eight miles between the villages had been accomplished an omiuous numb ness seized upon the wayfarer's limbs, his gait became underlain and a strange darkness seemed to close ia upon ths horizon of his vir-ion. "If there were a cottage anywhere nigh as I could get awarmin " he soliloquized. "I'm nign perished with cold; but there's no house nearer than Donaldson's farm. However, 1 shad soon be there, and" He reeled, gave a helpless little cry, lurched heavily forward and lay a senseless, spider like object on the damp turf. If he had not indeed re ceived a "chill," he was fci imminent danger of takiug one. Fortunately succor was at baud. A gentleman's gig wa3 rattling over the curve of the hillside at apace which told either of confident horsemanship or of an errand which brooked iio need less delay. "Fitch, what is the meaning of this?" asked the stalwart young driver of his The groom bestowed a single per functory glance upon the prostrate form, and answered. "Drunk, sir." "Quite as like ovtrrosie by cold and fatigue. The poor fellow loofrs Ul clad and thin, anyhow," and Frank Archer followed hi3 arrest of the horse by a transfer of the reins to his atten dant. In another second he was try icg to arouse the s'eeiwr; he shook him be shouted in h'u car without effect. The man is ia a s'aipcr of some kind. It will not be safe to leave him thus," said Frank In dismay. "There's no house nigh, sir." "We'll just have to drive back to Murley with him. You and I can lift him into the trap. I fancy, I shall be late for civ appointment, but when life is at stake'busuiess must wait " The groom, whatever his p:ivate op'niouof his master's quixotic con duct, obeyed orders, like the model satellite he was, with no word of to mur.aud being acliampion in rural feats of strengtb.found his alloted task light. In a very brief space the gig was cliinb Ui the hill it had so lately descended. Either the disturbance of removal or the motion and the renewed breeze, or both combined, gradually revived the sufferer. He first grained, tuea soifted Us bead uneasily off Fitc'i's a) porting shoulder, then unclosed his hU-vacant eves, and murmured inarticulate words which sounded like "sorry-trouble couldat help-cold," Hi friend in need tooled his horse straight into the' yard of the chief Murley hotel. lae explanation was soon riven. the stranger assisted within doors and a surgeon summoned. "I'll be responsible for damasks, but I cant stay for Clark's report said Frank Archer, and again he set out on his journey. The man of medicine gave it as his opinion that the patient had suffered no serious harm, and would quickly re cover, adding: "But another half -hour in the open, where Mr. Archer found him, might easily have produced much greater mis chief; in his weak state fatal conse quences even might have ensued. He was rescued in the very nick of time, and should be grateful accordingly." Perhaps the wayfarer was grateful, as he rested in the warm and well-li iht ed inn parlor immediately in the rear of the bar; as the dusk crept on in the street without he grew more and more himself, and began to listen to such scraps of gossiping conversation as reached him through the half open door A tiny group of Murley Idlers was in the passage beyond, and their words were full of interest to the unsuspect ed listener. '-Murrell carries his head as high as ever, though his mill is to be sold, and all the countryside knows as he's ruin ed;" said one, in cynical touea, abso lutely devoid of sympathy. "I'm sorry for his daughter," an swered another; "'tis no fault of Misi Carrie's, and it'll C03t her her sweet heart. Old Archer won't give his per mission for that match now if I know him, and young Master Frank must choose between his fortune and his fancy. 1 hate to see young people cross ed, but fact is fact." "Hush! Here Is Miss Murrell!" cried a third. A sweet, girlish voice was inquiring for the invalid. Before the occupant of the parlor was aware, he was con fronted with the vision of a fair, blush ing maiden a vision whereat he star ted, turned ashy pale, trembled from head to foot. To his eye it was as jhouga the grave had given up Its dead. "I thought you might like some fruit and to I have ventured to bring these," the girl said bravely and simply, plac ing on the table a basket of exceeding ly line oranges and apples. "I am so glad you are better; I heard in the vil lage of your accident, or illness.' "And if MIS3 Murrell can do a kind act to anybody she will," said the inn keeper's wife effusively. The recipient or this graceful and generous attension stammered a reply that was neither coherent nor expres sive of much gratitude. When his vis itors were all gone he buried his face in his feverish hands. "Ag-es, you were mine! Mine!" he muttered fiercely. Frank Archer sat alone in the Inner sanctum of his father's office. The chief Murley solicitor was at present away in the north of England on an important confidential mission. His son was both legally and mentally qual ified to control the business during the parental alsence. Frank was reading and re-reading, with clouded brow and a 'ook of ugly determination in his e - i, a letter irons his father, he had j:; t received. Tiie paragraph which o ' ;asioned his annoyance and perplex i; y ran as follows: "Xow that the crash has come, as I always prophesied it would, there is an ead of all nonesense concerning Mur rell's daughter and you. I hope you understand this. I'm a man of my word, and I'll consent to no folly, I've told her this by the same post. But if she is a girl or sense she'll hardly need the telling that it is her bounden duty to recognize facts as such, and at once to e ve you up. There is, indeed, no al ternative." I rathpr fhiuk tli.it Is a mistake." the young man growled. "Resign Car- rlel everi mere snail oe an alterna tive. I will make one at whatever cost." There came a ring at the bell, and alter a minute's parley in the ante room there wasadmitted into the apart ment a figure Frank recognized with very nearly a gesture of impatience. "Wants to thank me for picking him up yesterday afternoon. Bother! But it'll soon be over," he soliloquized. It was as h9 suspected. The wizen ed little stranger, whoee attire, scarce ly refreshed by the arduous brushing of the inn "boots," looked more dingy and thread bare than ever in the morn ing light, began to apologize for the trouble he had given and to express in stiff, u:icourt!y phrase his sense of ob ligation, " You'are very welcome to any ser vice I have beeu able to render," Frank said concisely, in accent of a polite dismissal. 'Then, sir, we may pass to the sec ond purpose of my call." "I beg your pardon " "I'm minded to be your client as well as your debtor though with you LurreH the first word generally in cludes the latter," said the visitor, with a sardonic chuckle. In spite both of his gloom and of his mvstijcation, Frank smiled. He was plainly in the presence of a 'character' and he had a fondness for studying out-or-the-way types of humanity. 'You are satirical at our expense. But I am at your command," he an swered, and he took from a pile of pa rr a small note-book. "I must ask you for your name, please." "John ureen.-- A peculiar expression upon the speak er's face caused the suspicion that this was an alias, but the young solicitor entered it without audible comment. "Well, Mr. Green?" "There is a large steam flour mill at Raybeck. nigh here, to be sold, I un derstand?" . v-.,n!r tnhr bewilderment deep ened. Of what conceivable importance could this ui-omenea iacs ue iu stranger? , . .. "Yes; the advertisement Is In the newspapers.'' , . "It is from them l oDiameu mj in formation. .The present proprietor Thomas Murrell, is a bankrupt?" It was a harsh word, which, for rea sons of his own, grated on the lawyer's ears. He frowned, and slightly inclin ed his head. , 'You are agent for the sale of this property?" "Mv father is." "I propose to buy it What are th9 figures?" . . . The iucredulty upon Frank's face wa3 too patent to b3 disguised. "You think me mad, or an impostor, and I can't exactly blame you," the visitor continued, with a humorous twinkle in his gray eyes. "I don t nla.l. fha man whn COUla CO about the country buying up mllla but I I've a cure for your doubts handy, as it happens." From an inner vest pocket, cunning ly hidden behind folds of lining, be ab stracted a greasy leather case. Unfold ing this be displayed to Frank's gaze a sheaf of bank notes. "Exaukie them," he chuckled; "They're genuine, every one. They're all hundreds, and I've more where they came from. You musn't always judge by appearance, young man. Now what is the pnee Murrell's creditor's expect to get for this mill? For sale by 'auction or private conteract,' the ad vertisement said: "The terms for the latter, exclusive of everything, are 6,000 gulueas, Mr. Green." The client reflected a moment. "Say JB0.O0O, and I'll close." "Done," and the light of triumph over a clever bargain shone upon Franks countenance. "You'll have the contract note ready this evening. I'll make the vendor secure on my side." "There shall be no necessary delay, Mr Green. "There's a mystery here," murmur ed Frank, as he returned to his seat from accompanying his visitor tt the door. And then such is the potency of love his thoughts went back to Carrie Murrell, and the ordeal of renuncia tion or contumely and suffering with which he was confronted. "Xo, Frank; you may plead as you please it Is a sweet torture, she whis pered aside but I will not consent that for my sake you should sacrifice your prosects and incur your father's resentment. He is a hard man, but doubtless he w right, after all, accord ing to his light i," and Carrie Murrell shivered a litlls as she glanced round mechanically at the whitened fields, and then turned as if to re-enter the mill precincts alone, and thus end what to both lovers bad proved a very haras sing discussion. But Frank Archer barred her path. "I will not give you up at any one's behest!" he cned, hoarsely; "and as for poverty Carrie, why, we will meet it together and be better man and wo manfor the conflict." Wearily the girl heard him to the end of his impassioned outburst, and then "It 13 impossible," she said; "as I see my duty, it is impossible, And there is my father also; I havo htm to care for. He has but me, and, now that he will soon be homeless" Carrie's words were interrupted by a short, sharp sob "I cannot forsake him." There was a rustling among the dry leaves at the adjacent corner. Cleatly the lovers were not alone beneath these winter heavens. Their colloqny might have already been overheard. The mai den flushed scarlet at the thought, and with a few hasty syllables of more con ventional farewell she disappeared down the mill lane. Depressed, at odds both with himself and fate, feeling the very peace of snow-clad nature an in sult in his present mood of stormy dis content, the young lawyer strode off In the contrary direction. "Andaew Mur ahem John Green playing the ecftesdropperl I am dis gusted with you," soliloquized the new proprietor of Raybeck Mill, whimsical ly addressing the wavering reflection of his own personality which confront ed him on the sluggish current of the mill-stream. "And yet," he added oracularly, "they mayn't be sorry either by-and-by, if they ever come to guess. A noble pair they seem. They deserve better fortune. For once ahem! John Green you will change your plans. I opine." And when Fiank was fairly out of sight he too retraced his steps slowly, like ODe in deep thought to the village scattered on the heights above. The negotiations for the definite transfer of the mill proparty had been suspended until the return of the senior solicitor, and meanwhile the guest of the Royal George furnished a topic for many conjectures and much perplexed remark to the bucolic mind. His ad vent from nobody knew where, his real position, hiJ plans, were all unsolved enigma). By the middle or the following week the Christmas week Mr. Archer the elder had returned, and Frank lost no time in introducing to his presence the protege who had so unexpectedly devel oped into the client. "Mr. Green my father," he said. The two men bowed and shook hands. "Mr. Archer, I'd like to have a word with you alone, if this young gentle man wilt pardon my rudeness," said the toi-disant John Green. Marveling not a little, Frank with drew. The stranger's opening question was at least an equal surprise to Frank's parent. "Your son is engaged to Miss Mur rell; and it is said that you object to the match. Is this true?" The elderly lawyer's face grew slow ly purple, half with confusion, half with rage. "I cannot see, Mr. Green; that my ramilv affairs " he began. "Concern me. That's as the event may determine,"' the other answered, with a jarring blitheness. "I believe I've stated facts, and the ground of your objection is the recent failure of Miss Murrell's father, and the girl's consequent poverty. Now, Mr. Archer, I've a story to tell, and I'll be brief about it, as you lawyers like. Five-and-twenty years ago I lived at Murley at Raybeck Mill with my father and my brother. That brother stole from me my sweetheart, and 1 hated bim as perhaps only brother can hate brother. I went abroad, grew rich, came borne to England, saw the mill advertised for sale, owing to my brother's bankruptcy came here intending to buy it, turn Thomas out and live there myself I was still scheming revenge. On my way here I was saved by your son from a tsrrible danger. 1 And he loves ahem! my niece; I like your son, and his Carrie. On the day they marry I am prepared to settle upon the bride the whole or this property, and to make her my heiress also. I have no other ties. I am an eccentric old fellow, but I can prove every statement I make. And on these conditions, Mr. Archer, 1 hope von'll waive your objections to what, even to my old eyes, is so clearly a love-match. My real name is An drew MurrelL It was the necessity of using this upon the documents that made me insUt upon the delay until you returned. 'Now; if you agree, we can proceed.'- Graduallythe listener was recover ing from the shock of this revelation and appeal. He had already found Frank inflexible, and, despite his valor ous word?, dreaded a conflict. Here was a wav of escape for his pride. "I'll thirtk It over, andprobably shall come to an agreement, Mr. Mur rell," the checkmatted solicitor re plied. Frank's battle was won in an hour when he least hoped it. That same evening there were In the old-fashioned parlor of Raybeck Mill two pathetic.happy meetings. "And now, Carrie, you will not in sist upon spoiling my Christmas-tide, upon taking all the sunshine out of my life," the young man pleaded. "For my own sake, no," the maiden answered. "And, Thomas, if love divided us, love of others shall also reunite us. I have been hard " "And I was treacherous." "But let thedead past bury its dead." "Amen! And in your magnanimity you are revenged, Andrew, my brother once more." "Hark!" "Ah! the Christmai chimes are pre paring." And with that happy peal a peace, as of God's benediction, fell upon these long alienated hearts. A GRAND SIGHT. The Intricate Kvolnttons Performed by Wild Steeds. I had encamped near the forks of the I'latte. and was aroused just at daylight by footsteps around me. After listen ing for a moment I felt sure that thej were the footsteps of horses. They seemed to be circling around nie not at a canter not at a trot, but at a moder ate walk. It was well that I had se cured my horse in a thorough manner, for I never saw him so excited. He tugged and pulled at his lariat, stood uj on his liind legs, neighed and snortec and pawed and pranced, and it was hi.' actions that gave me a clew to the iden tity of my visitors. They were wild horses ! Had they been Indian ponies my trained horse would have remained a! dumb and silent as ;t iost. Indeed, In dians would not have approached me ii that manner. I remained very quiet, hoping tin horses would remain in sight until day light should give me a g'od view ol them. I had to wait a full hour, but when the light grew strong the spectarl was one to make a man's blood tingle. The circle had been enlarged until il was half a mile across, and my littk camp was the center. Every horse, and there were one hundred and twenty-nitu of them, stood with his head to this cen ter, and soldiers could not have takes positions on the skirmish line in mon precise order. I pitied my own animal. He stood with the lariat drawn taut and tremblec in every limb, and he was as wet wit I sweat as if I had galloied him twentj miles. I realized how he must long U break away and join the wild rovers and forever end his drudgery. I dared not rise to my feet for fear ol alarming the drove, but, nevertheless, had a clear view of each horse. Most of them were magnificent animals. Manes down on their shoulders and tail.' on" the grass. They were of various colors, and they ranged in age from tin yearling colt up to the veterans probr.blj twenty years old. The bays predom inated, but every color was preseut. We had been observing each othei about ten minutes when a jet-black stal lion, who was the leader of the herd, gave a snort, threw up his heel3 into th air and broke off at a gallop, followed by the drove in single file. They ran ir. a'true circle, and they made the circuit five times before stopping. Then, at another signal from the leader, the chch broke and the horses wheeled into t long, single line, or "comiwny front.' Troop horses could not have done better. I thought at first the line meant to charge me, but at a signal it made f left wheel and galloped straight oil oi the plain for a mile. Then it broke, asv sumed the s1tai of a trianglo and re turned. When the leader was withir pistol-shot he wheeled out and the horse: formed in a rquare, with the four year lings in the center. They galloiwl on for a mile or so, broke again and re turned m two ranks. I had an almost irresistible !e-iire t( kill the leader with a bullet. Indeed, 1 reached for my ritl-; with thr.t intent, but then came the ref.ection that it would bt little short of murder. Such amrthei perfect horse I had never seen. IIu black coat shone like silk, his limbs anc body were perfection, and he had tin speed and bottom of a race-horse. Not ahaltwas made for a full hour, anc then it was only pr. juratory to taking f swift departure. The last maneuvei was a circle at a slow trot, and eacl horse whinnied in a coaxing manner t my own steed. I'oor Selim 1 Ho strug gled in the most frantic manner to brea loose, and when finding all his efforts ot no avail he threw himself down on tin grass and actually groaned his disap point inent. I rose up then and waved my blanket Instead of rushing off in affright, as 1 expected, the leader of the band deiib erately approached mo a few rods anc stood and snorted and pawed as if send ing forth a challenge. Then I set upi shouting, waved the blanket some more and he took his place at the head, foruiec the band at "company front," and they went off at a gallop and maintained it at long as I could see the waving line. Boropean Population, Rnnnoh ia already known of the r salts of the German census, taken oc December 1 last, to enaoia uerman statisticians and publicists to institute comparisons and draw inferences as tc the relative growth of population la the variom oountrios of Europe. During the last five years tbo jopnlation ol Prussia has increased by 3.79 per cent This is not as high a rate as during the preceding quinquennial penoda. Dar ing the eighteen years from 1867 tc 1835 the pepulation of Prussia had in creased by 17,87 per cent, which Rivet an annual average increase of 0.918 pel cent. The annual rate cf increase ir Anstria-Hnngary during the elovei years from 1869 to 1880 (uo later figurei are available) was only 0.49. Ia Italy tbe annual increase for the decade 1871 1881 was 0.60 per oent In France (omitting Algiers and the colonies), the nnnal rata nf lnareaae for the fifteen years from 1866 to 1881 was 0.15 pei v . . r . . a T I n .1 oent in ureal enmn uj for the decade from 1871 to 1381, the amual increase was 1.01 per cent. Ii European Rassia, incluaing Finland and the Don Cossacks, In the tlurtoei years from 1867 to 188) the average an nual increase was 134 per eent Labor. Statistics. Colonel Fizzte top said to his son Johnny, who is very trifling: "Why dont you go to work?.'. "I am doing all the work I want to, n "What work are von dome. standing there and lookin onl of lh , windows" "I am watching npif ttit days are gradually getting hingsr. A Marrow escape. When I went to Iowa territory lnl818, I made my home with an old acquaint ance by the name of Green, who went from Western Pennsylvaaia, where he had led a pretty eventful life, bis house having -been burned twice over his bead by Indians, during the early set tlement of that State. He had lost two of his children by the same means, so that be had cause enough to em igrate. He settled on Manson's River, or rather Creek, which flowed just by his door, and which a mile or two be low descended fully a hundred feet by a series of rapids which were sore death for any man to attempt to shoot who was not a perfect master in guid ing a canoe. Green could never summon courage to attempt it in bis birch canoe until he had seen me do it; but be gained courage after awhile, and learned to do it with an ease and confidence equal to my own. When we engaged in fishing we fre quently performed the feat, until it be came a matter of amusement with both of us. Green had a wife, and one child of about six years, who was as interest ing a little girl as I ever saw. I wad much attached to her, as I never had a family of my own, and she appeared to regard me with an affection second only to that which she entertained for her parents. Shortly after I took up my quarters with them, in the autumn of 1318, I was seized with the chills and fever, and did not entirely recover until spring. I was nursed and treated so well by the entire family, that, when I became well again, I agreed to remain through the season, and to assist him in clearing his land, and getting his scanty seed under ground. At that time there were Indians all around us, and some of them were of the very worst kind. They hated a white man like poison, and 1 was sure we should have trouble with them. It was that, more than anything else, that made meanxionsto remain with them until the country became more settled. The season was pretty well advanced, when a man called at our house one day, and told us that a party of Indians had at tacked tbe settlers farther up tbe creek, and after massacrelng several families, were descending the creek in a large canoe, for the purpose of serving us in the same manner. This was alarming news indeed, and we decided to change our quarters at once, while there was a prospect of escape. Green proposed that we should start through the woods for the settlement; but as that was twenty miles distant, and I knew they would follow our trail with the spaed and certainty ot the bloodhound, he took my advice, which was to embark in the canoe, leaving everything behind us. ly this means we could effectually cover our trail; and as the shores were both lined with a luxuriant, overhanging undergrowth, wo cculd glide under cover, and re main concealed until the danger had psssed. This was a good plan, and would have succeeded admirably hail it heen adopted an hour sooner. The hunter who had given us the intelli gence started at once clown the stream, in the hopes that he might be able to warn tome of the other settlers in time. The light canoe comfortably seated us four, including the little girl, and within fifteen minutes after the alarm reached us, we shoved out from the bank. Green took the padd.e and we started on our perilous descent of the creek, which, however, was large enough to deserve the name of river. We had scarcely shoved out from the shore when a whoop reached our ears, and looking back, we saw to our di mav that the Indian canoe was in sight. The redskins had discovered us and naturally enough, determined that we should not elude them in this easy manner. I glanced at the miscreants, as they came dashing down the stream, almost with the speed of wind, and saw that the canoe was occupied by five of them. "Xow, Grcea," said I, "use the pad dle, for all depends on that-" I never saw him use the oar with such skill. He had seen enough of In dians to understand that it was now a case of life and death, and with his wire and only chi'd depending upon his exertions, it need not be said that every particle of strength and skill that he possessed were needed and put Into use. Every moment or two the Indians uttered one or their frightful yells so frightful indeed that the lit tle girl began crying through terror. However, 1 persuaded her to lie down in the boat, and her mother soon soothed her fears, although she still shivered every time the fearful sound reached her ears. My great fear was that the Indians would fire at us, which would be pretty certain to result fatal ly, as we were within easy gun shot dis tance. But they evidently considered thia un necessary, as it looked as though we must inevitably fail into their hands. Despite the utmost exertions of Green, the savages gained steadily upon us a fact which was as apparent to them as to us, and which their repeated yells were intended to signalize. When we embarked in our canoe I don't think either cf us thought of tho rapids below. We started in such haste that we had little time to think of anything except as to how we could ge( away as speed ily as possible. liut when the roar began to rise in our ears, my friend looked inquiringly at me. I nodded my head. "The best thing that ccuIJ be for us." I oftercd to take the padd.e several limes, but he was not willing. Tbe changing of places would involve a moment or two of delay, and there was no time for that. However, as we approached the rapids, I could see that he was a little nneasy, and he made no objection to my taking the paddle in band. Our hopes now centered upon the inability ot our nemles ta cide their craft through these rapids. There was no question but that the Indians oonld manage their canoe with a skill equal, if not superior, to that with which we controlled ours: but m going through this dangerous ylace . V. wnwi aruiri1a whti r-.t.Tli ancllv shipwreck tbj niost skilful of their number, many of them were hidden. Before I attempted to shoct these rapids, I had spent several hours in surveying them from the shore, a pro ceeding which, I am well satisfied, proved my salvation !jn I'm exploit after waid performed. I steered straight for the rapids. As we neared them, the roar became deafening, the mist filled the air, and the sight of the plugging, lasbimr waters vas so appalling that Mrs. preen coveed her face to shut out' he dreadfp sight, and the father was compelled to grasp his shrieking little girl, who was fairly wild at the signs, me canoe danced and spun around lute an egg-shell, ana the blind' ing mist so covered ns, that more than once I feared it was all over with us; but I guided the canoe with all tbe coolness I could summon, and, thanks to Providence, we shortly reached the calmer water below. 'Dare they follow us?" inquired Green. "Yes; it's too late to retreat." The Indian canoe was at this time close on to the rapids, and anxiously watching their movements, I saw the occupants stop using their paddles, while one of their number took his position in the stern. "That looks as though be understood it," l remarked, as 1 ceased paddling. So it proved. The savage soon de monstrated that he had been through this channel before. He followed pre cisely the course I had taken, and which was the only one that offered tbe least chance of safety. "There is only one who can bring them through." I added, "and he won't be there long. l neia my ntie until sure of my aim, and then fired. The Indian who held the guiding oar uttered a shriek that sounded far above the roar of the rapids, and, springing several feet in the air, disappeared in the foaming abyss or waters. The canoe, left without a controlling power, was seen to spin around as if in the maelstrom, and then striking a pro jecting rock, was shattered to frag ments, the Indians struggling franti cally for life. I reloaded my gun as quickly as possible, and ureen and managed to send a bullet through a couple of shaven crowns, which were tossed hither and thither like cork? The others needed no such treatment They were so mangled by the furious waters that when they floated out of their gracp, not a larticle of life remained. We made our way down the creek to the nearest neighbors, where we re mained several days, when we returned to our home, and found that it had not been disturbed In the least during our ahtence. The Supply ofRorax. The price or commercial borax lias greatly decreased during the past three years," said a dealer to a reporter re cently. "It can be bought now for half what it cost in 1SS2. Then the market rate was eleven cents a pound, while at the present time it is but five and a half cents a pound. The falling off in price has continued notwith standing the Imposition of a tariff which virtually prohibits tbe importation of borax and boracic acid. It has been due, therefore, to consumption not keeping up with the supply. The pro dcct!on of borax on the Western coast, which Is the only part of the country where it is found, has been steadily on the increase. Last j ear 4 .500 tons were extracted by the various borax mining companies in California and Nevada. "To what uses Is borax applied?" 'It's lisp has not grown more limited, but it has not kept pace with the pro duction. If Is employed In weldicg, glazing, pottery and cleansing. The iron trade consumes tie largest quan tity, and with the increase of that industry the business ot borax mining will be be se tit ted. Xew uses are con stantly being found for this mineral. At Gist it was only used by black smiths. Its detersive qualities were revealed afterward. The manufacture of glazed iron and earthenware was begun after other vlrtuea had been dis covered in borax, and now it ia used in packing meats in Chicago. Notwith standing the supply from Italy, largo quantities of borax are exported to Europe from the Taclfic Coast Re cently 87o,000 pounds were shipped to Liverpool. Some f the London illus trated papers contain flaming adver tisements, in true American style, lauding the virtues of soap mado from California borax. Boracic soaps and borax in the shape it comes from the mines are admirable cleansers. A piece of borax dropped into the water renders it pleasant to wash in." Is the supply in this country large?" "Practically inexhaustible, as when crude borax is removed from the fields where ;t is found a renewal of it comes. Most of the mineral deposits of this region carry borax in a crude form, and consequently there are many sources from which pure borax is obtained. The crude borax of California Is of the highest quality, The largest supply comes from Teel Marsh, in the Cande laria district. Nevada. This Geld has been worked the longest and has given I the greatest yield of any on tta fcoast. There is a big marsU twelve miles long ia San Eeva-rillno, and several in Mono Lake uu-1 other counties." The Wheat Crop. A Western paper on the 13th printed several columns of reports on the condi tion of the winter wheat crop covering the entire belt from Ohio to the Pacilic Slope. These reports are summarized as follows; One-third of the crop was sown late, owing to the fear of Hessian fly Thia proportion of the crop has suffered more or less from winter killing during the last thiity daya. The acreage of 13S3 is from 8 o JO per cent, below tb? acreage oi 1365. This leductiua was iiaused by the scarcity and high pride of good seed wheat at seeding time, and also the generally discouraging outlook for the wheat growers. The Sta.Ua of Illinois, Kan sasand Missouri, show largest decreases; the acreage of Indiana, Ohio and Mich igan is practically the same as the acreage ot the preceding year; the acreage in Kentuoky and Tennessee shows a reduction of about 9 per cent. The wheat which has been protected during the whole winter by sqcw is confined only to limited arb&s. in differ ent States, and at ro. time since the winter whs&t &rop was sown In 1SS5 ha$ thd winter wheat belt as a whole been protected for a period of time over twenty days. On the whole, the weather for February was trying upon tbe wheat crop, and the month of March, to this date,' has shown little If any Improvement. North of the Ohio Hiver the winter wheat has made scarcely any growth as yet, and the crop U backward. As a class, farmers are inclined to bold the reserves of wheat only where crop prosper are cot eucouraginp. The iSSo crop has been pre'.ty well cleaned up, but there seems still to be considerable of the 13S4 wheat on hand. Tne conclu&icms airiv. d at are sub stantially these: "The prospect are fair for an average crop, with favorable weather during the next thirty days, but no indications of a full or excessive crop. The most encouraging outlook for wheat comes from the Pacific Slope. COTTON -SEED MEA1 'Hie Best and. Most Economical Fer tilizer fur Southern Farmer. Cotton-seed meal is coming into gen eral use among tbe farmers of the South, for fertilizing purposes, as they learn it is a more effective manure than the whole seed. It used to be the custom to apply it alone to such crops as corn and cotton; but of late years It has become generally known that its effects are obtained most advantageous ly when it Is mixed with kainit; and acid phosphate. The meal contains nearly 9 per cent, of ammonia, but only 2 j of phosphoric a;Id and 2r of potash, and therefore when acid phosphate, which contains 13$ per cent, of phosphoric acid, and kainit with 13 per cent, of potash are added, it will be seen that a very pow erful compound Is formed. The usual proportions are 1,000 pounds of the meal, S00 pounds of the acid phosphate and 500 pounds of kainit; and when mixed together the total cost of the mixture will be about S-2 per ton. It must be borne in mind that the three chemical ingredients named are those that are especially valuable to crops, and must be contained in all manures that pretend to contain the requirements of plants. And the ex perience of cotton farmers Las demon strated that none of the guanos that are sold for even much higher prices can approach this compound in effect ive value. The addit'on of a ton of stable manure forms, with the other three lngredl-i.ts, the very best compost known in thi South. This compost, which i3 practi cally what is known elsewhere as "Pur man's formula," has lieen in use in South Carolina since 1S77, but has been known in Georgia ar.d the other States during the past five years only. It is simply in accordance with common sense to mix together, in due propor tions, the materials that contai:i the elements needed by crops and it is what any farm?r can do for himself, The meal is more valuable for man ure than the whole seed, because it is more immediately available to tho plants, and contains a larger percent age of fertihxing matter in propor tion to the bulk. When the whole seed is used, a considerable portion of It does not rot, but dries and shrivels, or rots so slowly that the growing crop fails to benefit by IL And in all cases the oil in the seed retards the rotticz greatly; while this oil has in itself no manurial value whatever, but only rep resents so much val ie wasted when the whole seed is used. In a ton or seed alwut C4 bushels there are about 33 gallons ot oil. worth 35 cents per gallon; and therefore where whole seed Is used about 12.23 actual value la thrown awav: besides which, one ton of the whole seed 13 really not as effective as the SOO Dounds of meal that could be obtained lrom it. Accurately one ton of whole seed has a:i effective mauurial va!u9 to the soil of 518.50, while the 300 pounds cf meal that it contains has an effective value of 23. Many of the oil mills, and the ar 13(5 of them in the South, offer to ex change with faimers one ton of meal lor two tons of whole cotton seed, and to pay the transportation both ways. herever this can be done it is a verv advantageous arrangement for the far mers. Hut it Is a suicidal nolicv for them to sell their seed outright to the mills, for very few of them will ever buy back the meal, and their lands will be permanently Impoverished. If they will persist in selling their need, thev should at least realiza that even in its whole state it l.as an effective value to the soil cf fmly thirty cents per bu3hel. and when they are induced to part with u. ior a less pneo. tr.ey are imposed upon. A Bulgarian Heroine. The following is an accouat of a young Bulgarian cirl who took an act ive part in the late war against Servia: distinguished herself at Slivnitza and at Pirot, and received two crosses for bravery. Previous to the outbreak ol the hostilities she joined a company ot militia such companies were then forming in various parts of Bulgaria and accompanied it to the southern frontier in the hope of there meetiuj with the enemy. During some time she managed to conceal lur sex, for her comrades took her to be a youth with an effeminate face, of which there were uany such to be met vith among the militia. Only the com niander of her company knew her se cret; she was olliged to disclose it to him when the company set out uptm Its march, and he appt-ars to have lay ally kept it to himself. In ail exer cises, parades and reviews she took part jointly with her male comrade?. At last, when Son h declared war against Bulgaria, the heroine took part in thi: forced march into Servia, fought jit the battle of Slivniiza, and joicii in the attack upon Pirot. Duiiag the n!;t she did a'i she could to encourage he comrades, and tbey iu return unan imously voted to her the company's medal for bravery. Whpn, In cons? 0.uen of the war cominj to an end, the militia was dispersed she went to Sofia and was thwe presented to Prince Alexander, who awarded her asecjii J cecoTtUioa for bravery. She then re turned to Widdin, her place of dom icile before the war, where she acts a servant to sn old lady. She sayi that should the Servians begin another war she w ill again light against them, bnt in ner woman's attire, for K ia not I worth while to chanfia one's dress foi such an enemy. Coal Boils of New South Wales. The coal-beds of 2sew South Wales are of enormous extent. The mineral has been traced for hundreds of miles along the coast, aud bas been worked at various levels from 450 feet below to 1500 feet above the sea. Up to the present time coal has b -en ascertained to exist over an area of 25,000 square . mues or country; ana it is almost everywhere within easy reach of water or railway communication. When it is remembered that tbe coal-Belda of Great Britain cover only one-twentieth part oC the area of the country, or. about 4000 miles, and that neverthe-; less the output of this mineral ia the j mother country is upwards ot 12,000.-; 000 tons per annua, it would be dif ficult to overestimate the magnitude of the proportions to which the ct&j trade of New South Wales may be ex pected to grow hereafter. Envy makes us see what will serve to accuse others and not perceive what may Justify. . ' NEWS IN BRIE?. We ate 1,223,000 tons of sugar la America last year. Butterflies are said to be disappear ing from England. Six new Persian war vessels have just been launched. The King and Queen of Sweden have become teetotalers. During twenty years the popula tion of 2"ew York city increased fifty per cent., while the expenses of govern ment increased 400 per cent. A balloon that will carry 100 sol diers is a new invention. A mica mine has been opened in Orang county, Xew Jersey. Connecticut has been visited with frost erery month this year. It is thought that this year will sea 4,000 miles of new railroad built. A terrible drouth bas depopulated a number of districts in Mexico. The blind staggers Is decimating the hogs in Sullivan county, Jf. Y. In Seanport, Maine, are 131 sea captains oue to every three voters. The Pueblo, ;Ca!., nail works will use kegs made of compressed paper. Miscreants are slaughtering fish In Pike county with dynamite cartridges. The national debt of the United states amounts to 130 for each inhabit ant. A colored woman in Ellington, Conn., latefv celphratari hor inict Kirth. - - .vw, vubU day. The hoD rrnn In tha noirrTih-, of Syracuse, N. Y., is very large and tine. The crop of apples m North Caro- ua mis year promises to be larger than ever. Ilerr Valisch is the Erst Protestant biirzomaster league has had for 200 years. About four thousand roses are re quired to make one pound of attar of ro.-es. Fourteen kinds of dogs can be dis tinguished in the Greek and Roman letoids. Queen Victoria has ordered that Kuckingham Palace be lighted with electricity. Sweet potatoes are being shipped in Farge quantities from Eastern Shore. irginia. TTlie t,earI fisheries of the Persian t'Uf afford support to about 83,000 families. The crocodile is said to swallow stoues sometimes, like birds, to aid the gastric mill. The human skull contains fewer oones than the skull or most animals excepting birds. - A woman sir. Anmiai.i ni ordered a set of false teeth for her ayeu pes pony. Medical science has progressed until it ii now abl tn nviV-o tn-in o new nosa by grafting Ten and fifteen year old girls in Italy earn 12 cents for 17 hours' work and save half ot it. Forty thousand dollars' worth of chewing gum is gathered annually ia the State of Maine. Wisconsin tobacco growers find their sheds too small to accommodate their immense crops. The people of thw country paid list year more than 59,000,000 forim lrted precious stones. There is a two week3' old baby In tanajoharie, X. Y., which only weighs Uvo pounds ten ounces. List year 1,308 wolve3 were killed in ranee, mamlv on the border lands of Germany and Belgium. The number or persona killed on railwayj in England is proportionally twice as great as in France. ,Jt JOt Five thousand German physlcb have petitioned the Imperial govet.. ment in favor of cremation. Wooden pavements have been given up in London, and the old Mc Adamized system returned to. William Ayres, of Sharon, was killed recently while breaking cp fur nace slack with dynamite. A Kansas farmer cut the horns off I'.'Om fiftV Of 111 -4 P.lttlA liof naotr In order to save building room. The Sultan employs two German iioolhecaries and mn thnm uxh ti fuui : J Twyji v,w a yuar with free board and lodging. iio'ent London fog3 are said to havo b-.-en pinkish, but from what utus j or probable cause is not stated. The area of Paris within the fortl-Gc-'.tlons. nrettv well mnml buddings, is twenty-eight square miles. The malaria flats on the Potomac exist no longer. After years of ex-i-ensiye labor they have been reclaimed. The milk of the elephant contains Vss water and more fatty matter and Miar than the milk of anv other ani- The area of closely-built stores and residences of London, including the iiuist populous suburbs is 120 square Diiles. . .tt(T thft Infprpf An tha nnnni debt it rennires ahntit 31 Tm nm a n. to lay the municipal expenses of Balti more. It is reoortpd that itefwrivo hoar. mr ta rtn tha inprpdA in thia jnnfw and that it is largely owing to defective leem. Prlncioal Dawson, nt ITia 'Mriol University, of Montreal- has rpeaimri the honor of knighthood from her Aiajesiy. Mile. Emma Nevada, the new singer, is of Irish origin, and was born in Nevada City, Cal. Her right name is Wixom. The large, prominent eyes of the brilliant dragon-fly or devil's darning needle are each furnished with 23.000 polished lenses. The latest device of a Paris news paper Is the engagement of two eminent physicians to attend gratuitously upon its subscribers. Yale college founded In 1701, now has ninety instructors, between 1,100 and 1,200 students and property valued at over J5,000,0oa A stripling who is attending school in Cooper township, Webstar county, Iowa, is reported to be six feet six inches in his stockings. Druid park, of Baltimore, contains CC0 acres. It was purchased for the city for about $300,000. The city has also twelve public squares. One of the most remarkable tele graphic feats on record was tbe recent delivery of a message from Melbourne, Australia, to London in twenty-three minutes, by land and sea over 13,308 miles of wire I 4 J V 1
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers