'III II I '
B.F. SCHWEIER,
THE OCI3TITTJTI0I-TSS IJXXC3-p TEB CTTOXOIKEIT OP TIE LAYS.
Editor and Proprietor.
VOL. XLI.
MIFFLINTOWN. JUNIATA COUNTY, PKNNA.. WEDNESDAY. JANUARY 19, 18S7.
NO. 4
Weary.
I'm
tirf.!-"--''1'
i :
-i i m and '
inii a 1 ts: . ..
Abu ... i.-ean?
There's UK'.
Williin my
'fart I'HIJ,
"r ' , " ... ,i. ..,.1 l it
rm tirrJ-v erj .
i.. ,..r,T.v siru::.' r u.ty 1
3 - - - -
I'Eta---B; 0
i n toia -""- ' .-'
, u eariu
;.l pray I
; pall
1 or.' I '7 iJ "-
,v 1 !
-
li'.nk in 111
a win
wur.ii vi .
i i. iv, bia'uuss.
Or a wfco!riw m L
ii, ut aim.
,.jT a name.
i nnUtness,
7 arm i t .!. iisiituoss,
! bi, .,t.-,at.-J!..uuiumer;
ALJmVM-ri;. I.uiaiuiiruiur,
? , jjjb -c.;i y-f.rv u'ir? i
110lii-IN THE MAJOR.
Ui e couM hve in li-teiily; there were
...jjt. (f cliuiiiintMe Europeans
v'wl "M civ.l servants rolling in
j0i nioliws aJ with marriageable
i !uvs j:iJV' Planters, lavish.y
fn-Tw.iii li.vu chain pagoe, and game
in .uihdce. So ihe feelings of tuy
seii and t-r-!l trothceis, a society-loving
lo' ail, cur be imbued when our reiri
jd at k;::v -1 mkM ' orders to proceed
fr' a Li.!-" X '-' lVtuur, the p.ague
k t of l-J-a. There was something
spuoaelacg mutiny aino: us, but we
It! lo tr,iii;y it. and, what made it
p o! 1 -ii..; r , I'lia '"Corper-
i "v-i.iS.v .eeaie," the mar
ir. t aDd it. - r 'lie regiment, was
.i )Di:a; y.i ; .:a. 'We had thought he
t ( aLut r:'f.:i-'i, but cur )U luck
, ild Ji.sve it otherwise. Hardly a
J.- pssiJ ill"- ' e did nut set one or
o" jof uss uiijiEg fioui the colonel,
!.', twrtr, as an easy-going,
ti i2y-iuivscl nan, unl t-ueral:y
ff-.jaj,ed to It", us know aittnvaraa
;L..tit wtnt kalust tiraiu to jmuish
us. A'e sut.ii. sel tijatliewsa little
aftid of ti-e ui :j r. 'o to mm
toui be uioie u js.uiilar m evrv way.
Tae culoael was gtueiusity itself; tlie
;; a.i st'.iiil nesS iJtrsomned, aiH
I). 4)ve ria l-.'st letwrea the two. The
ttijael's gtLMl a.a:iueraad oeE-haud-eduess
cast a Li-ice w:;e l ght on the
oiler's gruuipiu'.-rs aa l m mtaniitsj.
i! jor S v..u the l:!c noire of t ie
rrJueiit; n-U'iie likeJ h;aj; even te
piivate soljieis "eoiJjer-uoscd'' biui
be li.d his luck, mil ti;e native serr
uiis, wlio generally iiuiLiage to conceal
UrfiT dislikes, botfi le.tiel and hated
L;u. And he k cw i.U tins, and, what
B icon;, he ha l earned it. lie
5 n ,V ! a.-: a reii prnnly Tmc of
vfi exj-uuie j leiicct continent oi
fj.-e-sarn.ou"'. J a capacious, barrel
sL.,ped body, the wii.ie supported by to
ifcijk.stuu jy le.-s; tl .it was the ui.-.j n:
Ii: features tn.e wi u'.d consider him
p.-!liVtii tgl. , -in J hs oVciKe.-niuj
tasitywjs ii: portion u his urines
Ee was !-: ;. ovis'y particular to ii s
fin-s, a rej-lar p, and beiieVcd that,
U) tie fci CI t::e la r eex, he was ptl -ftc.ly
irres. ti: le. -N'oiv, when I iuo.i.
bck asl ta't-e uu !n partial, conscien
tious Mr oi tl.e n.an's ct.aracttr, 1 do
act feeaaiLle imau.e trait in it. A
BaniLrtaha a n.:st-r, l.ttle wonder l.e
wisdisl.kt J ;u ;Le l.o-p tai and aristo-
CItiC ii;.
After a 1;'.: we settled down
in tie dull rcud of s'.aiiun duty its
early luurLin,; ilr.h.n a:.d laie a.ie noon
iiiriles, var.r J io y toj often by a
vexatious "CclJ da;. '" across the swamp
ecaLtry. Le'.we.u' The winter drills
ociasiuiiai reprimands from the colonel
far some i:ttra:i.ii) reported b the
ttaJor.aLd ir-v ir;.i Jraig robberies by
adveaturosii A;.!.a:i i.rnuy from the
neighboring v.c v.eie kept pietty
tuiy. TLe Afghans are the moat dar
hig ui afro.: luieve-. in existence, and
would pit to shame the cleverest
cnu-ksmen w;tb:a uiid of Bow Bei.s.
We baj ttou-ht the pinnacie of auda
Cily was rtacht-d wi.i u ih-v anoioDiia-
ted tie coiouti's 1;,
sitalm,! it out
ot tie staLa
but this lea
svi-fcitiii tiie syce slept,
Wllii tt'lIMTI !-:V if'IItlSJ
aea mey Skj.e ti.e r.u-.-s from a tent
occupied bytciiie haif-dozen soldiers,
10 make liiatier worse, were
"erj cue in the lent at the lime
Ve !
"i evaipitli:-d wit':, the coiouel ex
apt the niaj jr h.r the loss of his fa
T'lnte "GoiJ Dj.-t," the best steeple
ehdr in the .:e.- i :e;icy. Like rno-t
't!th peop.e, Coppeinu.se to-k a keen
':eut ia the diM.-otuti.ure of others.
rtlaughhr1 tliS 'y wilh !oud RuUw
"I'd hke io set the man who could
do mel'- fee i. "i-aet is, the niscab
itjnctiv:y kn-.w the duffers ihey ma
I'lancer v,hi ia,punuv. "Catch 'cm
"j'"g a on rue i,:"
"Xo fear; t;.ey -instinctively' know i
ijurnas isn't i -.....! -. a
j,. ? ? V.5120 petting positively
."ftuiarked CharlCarter.
. . a.'Utai.t, solo voii-p. -IIj flit. ,
tJ -eel as muel, l nrt ,.i....t I
robberies injptnl the character of j
res iat. ,Vt. are FUre lo hMr
Ut them from head.piarters WiBh i
veT " Uke a twe,v !
y;-,Si ai.:gn. otherwise "Silver- :
jwi, n:i3 t;.e ;. (iau r, , f ., Un i
le nm:..r t-v: " ,.. . .
damageable
.j nun . DAiiiii aS. 1 1 1 1
a:;v tiinp diirim t!i m-r
years.
"S:v...i.,-;- ..n. r
so. Lack ' were the rathrr unuatterm
unuT , weJ 03 ll,?r i'rivM bv th,
iriwft muv- wl' iMolutely
SLb.-. .. . -''u ' ber charms.
- a uii.
. accomplish-d aud volu-
o-e convi
verti:
Perpeti
'u.i.ist, her tairi a ouick.
.napl:i
Iveiy uothins
:il"o-ri.'M t.l! !?
Chaiile Cailfr irronri-asilito
Charlie.
lii-,,.,.., . . ' "r"-
tablet ,: u,al Le "leserved a
Abfe wlt' :"r,,er' estniinst r
eo'J. fJr, ""'ill d off this mortal
Domen cSnl3 h lo lUe P'Uc co?'
PlnLtllL..1 l-'S'i(l, triste.
obsHrvahi.; ";, Ly-u;e expression ofieo
of lad-a. e l:me-liic:led features
i o-J maidhood. She
r- f:auou;
"rally baunuJ -
court to the maior
Ji:u;
hut for all that
hun up to the
matrimony, and
tiiat he would
: take an iudefi-
u VUUliI r.i.f
"uo Veto's v
VWi
"ij "s:1v1-'m
nite wri.i! f
falfl led. arc T,'as Kui Ji:-e'y to be
open letter from General Tyne In his
hand. The following was the pith of
its contents quite enough to account
for the cloud:
"Your explanation if explanation it
can be called of the recent robberies
from y ur regiment is so very unsatis
factory that 1 consider it nesessary to
Investigate the matter on the spot. The
idea or natives stealing rifles from a
tent occupied at the time by British
soldiers set-ms preposterous. There ap
pears to be gross negligence some
where." This threw a temporary cloom over
us. The co'o-el had no excuse worth
a button to offer; the rifles were stolen
from under tue very noses of the sol
diersand ti atwas an end of It. To
urge the skill and gen us of the thieves
as a palliation wouul tlaiuly bs child ish.
so the colonel wisely left things as they
weie.
Ever New Year's day ths regiment
h Id a grand LamasUa, consisting of
horse raclug, tent pegging, etc, and
winding up with a ball, to which all
the elite of the neighborhood were invi
ted. New Year's day was approaching,
and we were making elabora.e prepara
tions to do thinga on a scale of surpass
ing m.iguiaceuce on t!:is occasion. e
had nil contributed mure than oor
meuns fairly allowed towards dtfiaying
expenses, and it was generally believed
that even SUngy Steeuie would, for the
cieJ.t of the coips, fork out hand
somely. Tue colonel headed the list
witn 200 rupees.
"We are going on swimmingly," said
C irter, as ue handed us the subscrip
tion lift, containing 2,000 rupees.
"Tuat'a not to hesne;zed at. Now,
as I hive so f r borne ths burden anl
i. eat of the day, I expect borne of you
fellows to relieve me. Who'll try
Mingy? You all know I am not in his
goo.t graces, and he would be sure to
refuse me."
And me and me," added several,
"1 11 try him; give me the list." ri
said. "If he gies me nothing he won't
eat me."
Carter had previously written out
tho names of all the officers of the regi
ment, beginning with the colonel, so
that a subscriber had simply to fill in
the amouut of his subscription after his
nuK. Li t in band, and, 1 must
a unit, wi ll a good deal of timidity, I
pproacue i the major's ouagalow. He
vas seated in the verandah, in undress,
poring over the Pioneer. He greeted
me with an interrogative "Web?'
"The sports committee have deputed
me, bir, to present their subscription
I st to you, the colonel leading off With
2jO rupees."
UiHiiph hand it here."
I hanued his ogreshlp the list, upon
which, after a hurried glance, ha pen
ciled something, toided the paper and
returned it to me.
"Mauy thanks very many thanks,
Mnjor."
"i'ou seem to have precious little to
lo,"-he quieily remarked. "1'araie
your compmy lor my inspection in
their new c'.oihinr in an hour's time!"
T.iat was enough to inane a sain
swear.
1 turned away with my Uood at bail
ing pO'.Ut.
CarteropenedtLelUt, Major S 0,
and the naught was the size of a six
i ence.
W:iat a vo'.!;-y of imprecatiouHajainst
;ll Coppeinode greeted the announce
uitu '
lie's a disgrace to the corpa," sai 1
Spires the junior lieutenant. "I'd
:adiy risk ail chances of promotion
ay, even tay commission to pay him
oil. Bat tiieU tfkuliy is how to do it."
Car.er v. as in a brown study, no
doubt incu!ia:in a solution of the said
a H'uu.ty. We wa:ttd expectantly.
Ge ..tletneu," he said, somewhat
seuteiittously, 'I have an idea, and, as
we are ail in the swim, 1 depend on ycu
to stand by me in case anything serious
should arise when said idea bears fru.t j
in action."
"Go on, Charlie; we'll stand by you, j
never fear," we ausweieJ.
lie proceeled. Well, you see, old
Co peruose has escaped the bill thieves
so far more's the pity. It is no tecret
that he keeps a loaded revolver and a
drawn f-abre on the table at h-s bedside;
btsi ies, his bearer (body servant) sleeps
at his Ledfoot, also armed, so that,
without eullstinj the latter as an ac
complice, it would be imposslule to rob
uim. which I mteud to do."
j -'Don't say too,' Cuarlie 'convey,'
the wise it call," Shake3oeriaa Spires
I .nteriKi.ated.
-Hola your tongue. Now, as Lit
be.irer is about my s.ze ana uunu, x
I purpose blacking my lace, arraying my
: as.f iu the tellotv's copra and turoan,
i aud doing "seutry go" to-night over
the major. 1 can easily win the fellow
: over with a substantial bribe. When
old ;teeu is sound asleep I'll first se
, cu.e the arms, and theu remove every
i Llessed thing 1 can lay hands on even
ihe sheet he sleeps on; see if 1 don't'
! "Bravo, Charllel" we all exclaimed.
; "Bet you a gold m hur you shy out
! of it.' said younit Sp.res.
Doner' And tney shoos nanus on
the bet.
ehupklinir r.nl rubbinz of
hands ensued.
"Be quiev, will you; I've not done
yet," spoke Carter. "You know to
' morrow is the first of the mouth; con
. -,i ipntlv muster rtarale to day. and if
auuij. which lam resolved to do.
old Coppemose won't have a single rag
lo j)Ut ou ijiui, consequently, will lose
month's pay qwjd tral demonslran-
iL of the month's pay will be the
uukiudest cut oi all," remarked Spires,
and the idea of the comical figure the
mW wna.d cut in the mora-
in? set us ail laugfi,ng.
-
i I need hardly say that the programme
! sketcne 1 out by Carter was received
! niih hearty approval, and we separated,
j bound ta strict secrecy, and with a re
! solve to meet at dawn next day in the
; uiess anteroom to learn the upsaot of
' the night's adventure.
! Wa ha 1 all ass -inbied before 6 o'clock
In the a ite-'ooai. waiting CharuVs re
port W hat wai delaying uimr ouicij
he had not deceived us and allowed the
scheme, a triumph of invective genius,
to fail through.
"Guess he funked at the last mo
ment, as 1 fear I should have done,"
said Spires, "so I'll be a gold mohur
the richer."
Heie the bare-legged mess waiter,
who for some Mtle time had been hov
ering about, strode Ht.li tie utmost im
pudence into the circle, and salaaming
to the ground, addressed Spires:
' Sahib, you me ek goP mohur g:ve,
then executing a Highland fling, he
burst out iuto a hybrid medley common
in the bazaars-
"Khush penvanni, good times comln',
Kale Britannia, rule the waves;
Jolly good fellow come home in the
morning,
Britoai never shall be"
"By all that's wonderful. UCbarlu
hlmseir, bare-legged, slippered and tur
banedl" 1 exclaimed. .
He danced around us in the mos',
frantic manner for a rninute or so,
cracking his fingers above his head and
making the most comical facial coutcr
t'.ous, finally winding i:p with a bnrjt
of uproarious laughter. -
"O, Lor', die! some of you get
me a urandy-pai.i before 1 expire with
exuberance of inei i inatnt."
'Did you do it, C'.arlie?" wecajerly
inquired.
'1j itr yes,- made a grand sweep;
took even the ehirt off his back, and
he can't get another in a hurry, for I've
the keys of his drawer in n y pocket.
Oh my I It was delicious"
Tell us all about it'and we pressed
round hirr, opeu-mouthei.
Having swallowed the brandy and
soda, he began:
'I relieved Kam Bujc about 11
o'clock, and, as there was nj light in
the room, old Steenle could not distin
guish my feature, About 11 3J he
called for a cup of coSm, wuich 1
brought him, having Grit dissolved hi
it a poleut sleeping powder. (Gail I 1
think he must have been drunk, for his
vo ce sounded somewhat strange and
hoarse.) By George! I trembled in my
slippeis as I handed him the coffee.
But he drank it in one draught, never
looking up, and In a few minutes wa
in a sound, delightful Hnore. 'Now is
my time,' 1 thought. I stealthily ap
pioached the table to seiza the. arou,
but, to my surprise, there was neither
sword nor pistol on it. Tula discovery
discomposed me somewhat. 'What it
ho should have them with him in the
bed?' I thought. But hd slept soundly,
snoring in a Cr melodious basji
p icked up every .-.ug come-at-able, and
paced them in a buudie outside the
uoor. 'Now for the sheet,' I thougat.
I had some little maneuvering before I
could get it fruta under his capacious
trunk."
"What! did you
sheet?" we asked.
really take the
"That 1 did. I tolled It up length
wlip, just as 1 roll up this paper (here
he illustrated) until it rested in a long
i oil beanie him; then I got a feather,
which I had taken care to bring, aud
gently tickled his nose, as though it
were a mosquito paying court to him.
He rolled over with a grunt, and 1
gently slipped the sheet away. I cut
his shirt clean off, and 1 firmiy believe
I could have skinned the old porpoise
w.thou: waking him. Uh. it was rich!"
nre Charlie again exploded, and wew
added a ready chorus. t
"1 hear the general arrived In the
statiou hut night, and is expected on
parade to-day, somebody remarked
when the laughter had somewhat sub
sided. "Well," said Carter, "whether the
general is on parade or not 1 know old
Coppernose won't vualess he presents
himself like Father Adam before the
fall. But," "he added thoughtfully,
"the fact of the general's being here
makes things look serious. D ye think
; the major will report the aft.-u?"
"No lear of that," 1 added; "self
conceit will act as a preventive. You
remember his oft-repealed boait, 'He'd
like to see the man who could rob
htm?"
We all scattered to our bungalow,
to get ready lor muster parade. When
staif call sounded we leisurely strolled
o.it in ones and twos to the square, our
minds filled with the last night's ex
ploit. Did our eyes deceive us? Why
did we look as if an apparition started
up and confronted us? Theie, as.U of
his old nag, was the major himself, re
splendent in the brightest o' umtorui a.
' Caiter has taken a pretty rise ovtt
of us, knew he'd iunk at the last mo
ment," said Spires.
"But what was his little game in
masquerading as the major's bearer
thu morning?'' asked an nher.
We all felt high y indignant, and
were resolved to give Carter, who was
now approach!, g, a good btowing-up.
But he, too, was thun leistruck.
' Weil, what do you th.nk of yourself
and your night's work now?" we asked
angrily.
"Upon my honor, gentlemen, every
word 1 told you this morning was true.
How be got the uniform 1 can't make
out."
The colonel now rode up, and after
exchanging the usual salutations asked
the major when the general arrived.
"1 met him about 10 o'clock last
night; he had come up from Umbaila,
and as he was wearied with the jour
ney, aud the flak bungalow out of re
pair, 1 assigned my bed to him aud
made shift elsewhere myself."
We weie astonished astounded.
Had the ground opened beneath his
feet and given up the dead, Charlie
Caiter could not have been more fright
ened. "The general oh, holy Moses, 1'li
be caibiered!" said poor Charlie in a
lerrined under tone. He had turned as
while as a ghost. The whi'per ww.
rouud, "Mum is the word." 1 do not
know how the parade went off; it
seemed an eternity that short bour.
Then would come the terrible denoue
ment. The parade came to end at last,
an 1 we all hurriel to the mess to con
sult on the situation. Berore the colo
nel left the ground he received a pen
ciled note from the general, requesting
ills presence at the major s bunzalow,
while we awaited the result of the in
terview in fear and trembling.
"You cannot return the stolen pro
perty, Charlie; what will you do with
it-'
"Keep the bundle till dusk and bury
it. 1 feel luce Eugene Aram after the
murder,' he whispered.
About an hour had elapsed when the
colonel sauntered into the uiesi with a
comical smile rippling all.over his hand
some countenance. We held onr breata.
"It seems," said he, addressing no
one in particular, "that those hiil ras
cils have been at their work again.
Thev despoiled the general last night
of everything even his shirtl"
We laughed a frighten.d sort of
lauju wondering what was coming
licit
' "It can't be possible, Colonel!" ex
claimed Carter In well-simulated aston
ishment. "His shirt even! oh! tlu
rascals!''
' Not so fast, please; they have un
knowingly done us a right good turn.
Tue General came down in the worst
of iil-humors to give the regiment a
thorough overhauling and you al.
know how badiy we are prepe! just
now for an inspection. Well, he has
civen unthe idea, and departs to day
in an outfit 1 have Iert him believing
that 'tue idea of natives stealing r.Ues
rom a tent occupied by Bdtisa soldiers
is not so preposterous as be thought
when he penned his last epistle to me,
and the colonel laughed till the tears
glistened in his eyes. ....
The truth ot the affair did not ooe
out for a long time; the major aever'
knew of it for some few mouths after, '
to tue surprise of Lhs whole station, be
married tiilverbil and retired Mom th".
regiment and th wrvlce.
The Pastor's Itrldo.
"Why, Maggie, you don't reallv in
tend to? What will everybody sayrv
"And why should 1 care what thc-y
sny, Lucy? Mary is ill, probably dan
gerously so, and I can't see how
wonV! bs wrong to go and see her."
"7ell. I wouldn't go. If you do
her family will xut you. They're Ulr
first people here, you know. Beside
even the minister says It is wroni t
encourage such a disobedienco ai Mar
allowed. What will lu say?" -. -a
"I can't help what he say.i, Lucy.!
think it Is right. Mary did wrong 1
know, in marryi' against her parent;?:
consent: but that U no reason why Siitoaozte? muttered. '.
should now 1 left to psrlsh." i , I say."
Well, do as , voa please, but 2i
wouldn't be me that would go;"- an
L'lcy Morrison turned away from to
little gate In front of the Widow WiK
b ihn's cotUge without giving ths good
uight kiss that w.is usually bestowed on
her early friend. j
Maggie gave one smothered sigh, ss
sho caught the last glimpse of the re
treating tiguie, and a tear-drop dimme
her blue eyes- as she thought of Mat?
Walton's pale face and droopine form.
' God did ati inculcate the principle
that we should crush the erriug," she
murmured, 'and surely poor Mary'
snffenngi have
partly atoned ftfr her
disobedience."
- The morrow found
Mazgie at tli
bedi de of the deserted, perhaps dyiiir
wife. ....
"Here, let me arrange this pillow for
you. Mary," she whispered, smooth in?
back the brown locks from a foreliea l
that bad once been handsome. "There,
is not that more comfortable?"
"Oh! yes, thank you. But Maggie
Miss Wiibohn," added she, looking up
through the mist of tears that a kind
word had called forth, how much ea.i.6
it is to die, knowing there Is some on
who can shed a sympathizing tear ovo.
ur iuurmattes."
Maggie ilbohn clasped the band of
the poor penitent in both her own dim
pled palms and said: "Can I do any
thing more for you, Mary?"
o, thank you; not for ma." she
answered. . "But when I am gone, wili
you ije bis friend?" And she pointed to
her baby, that lay, poor innocent, sleep-
ing beside her. "1 know my parents
will never forgive mefather, when he
ouce has made np his nimJ, never
changes it but, oh! they may softer.
to it" and bbe broke down In tears.
"I whi I will!'' cried Mas-gie. so
brag. A "But let me go to your father,
Perhaps be will relent.
But the ear she addressed was alrealy
dulled. Ia that moment of agony Mar
Wilton's spirit had passed to its eternal
habitation.
WiUard liar wood read the funeral
service a', the Utile church yard, wcire
few frienus were asserchied. Tith th- L
now reientaut parents, to counne the
ttoJy to its narrow hou-e. The voice o'
the young minister was eloqueut with
feeling a he soke of the apostle
w r is. "Faith, hope and charity; bu'.
the greatest of these is charity."
He had heard of Maggie scour.ige.oin
v s,t, and lie looked toward her as h-
sa.d that lhere was reason to believe th
erring daughter hail died p-u!tent. AnJ
he ad led iu the words of Sjripture:
ile that converteth the sinner from
the error of his way shall save asom
from death and s;;all hide a multitude
of sins."
In a few weeks the village gossipers
began to wh;sier tha'i Mr. Hirwool
mended giving up his present boardmz
place aud occupying the little parson vzf
nir his future residence. Numerous
were the surmises in regurd to so stran ic
a procedure, but Ma rgie s uemure lit
tle countenance revealed no susu.cions
at who was the intended mistress of
the minister's coveted home.
At last, however, the secret could
no longer be kept, and it was known
that Maggie was to be the minister's
bride. Nor was it concealed t-iat Mr.
Uarwood, for he told the fact himself.
had first been attracted toward her by
her conduct in reference to oor Mary.
The father's wealth and social position,
which had frightened others from in
terfering had not deterred Maggie.
'Brave girl!" the minister was re
ported to have said when he heard o;
her Wilt; "she has taught us all a les
son." So the parsonaze was relltted. the
bells rang out a merry peal, and M is-
gid Harwood left the little browu cot
t.ige as the envied bride of the talented
young pastor, while Lucie, who had
stifled the natnral pity of her heart
because she feared to offend Mary's
family or lose position in Mr. liar
wood's eyes, missed the prize wnicu
she had secretly coveted all along.
The legend of the Willow.
A golden-Laired ciiul. who lived
where no trees or flowers grew, was
razing one day wistfully throuzh the
open gate of a beautiful park, when the
gardener chancel to throw out an arm-
fu! of dry cuttinis. Among them the
litt!e girl discovered one with a tiny
bud just start ;ng.
"rerhaiis it will grow," she wins
percd to herself, and, dreaming of wide.
cool boughs and fluttering leaves, she
carried it carefully home, aud platted
it in the darksome area.
Day after day she watched and ten
led it, and when by-and-by. another
bud started, she knew that the slip had
taken root. Years xS3ed and the
Ijwly home gave place to a p'easaui
mansion, and the narrow area widened
iuto a spacious garden, where many a
green tree threw its snauow. uut loi
the golden-haired child, now grown
into a lovely mallen, the fa rest and
dearest of tht-m all was the one b1m h.v!
so tenderly nouilshed. No other Ire.
she thought, cast such a cool, soil
shade; in no other boughs did the bir.N
s;ng so sweetly.
But while trie tree lived and flonr
islied the young girl roopwl and faded
Sweeter and sadder grew the light in
tier blue eyes, till by-aud-by God's an
g"l touched them with a dream'es-
sletp. Loving hands crowned the white
brow with myrtle, and under the
branches she had loved laid her tender
ly to rest.
But from that hour, as if in scrrov:
for the one that tended it. ihe RtrJelv
tree bega to droop. Lower and lo wr
bent the sad branches, uuli! I'iry ca
ressed the daisied mound tint cove, ru
her fo:m.
"See!'" and her young companion
the tree weeps for her who loved it,'
And they called lc th- weIug willow
A bear lately killed at Bal Axe
Mich., was 8 feet 2 inches ia lsnjta.
MErnOIt AXD COSIET."
Tlie Brilliant D-oplar Which Two
IVctles Made Hovr "Mrtwr"
Broajrht a Diamond to Light.
A Cuban friend called on us one
evening holdiug in his hand a brown
paper bag perforated with small holes.
These "breathing holes" suggesting to
our pet-loving children "something
a'ive," the gentleman and paper-bag
were immediately surrounded. The
girls retreated noon being told that the
bag contained "flying fire-works" that
might "go off." bai the boys boldly
demanded a Big it of the new fire
works. A peep into the bag caused
every boy to draw back with disgusted
face.- ... - ...
U?hl only two dead beetles." one
A mean joke.
Here there was a scream from all the
children: "The b ig's a-Qrel"
Truly the brown -paper bag looked
as if ready to fall on the flor a heap
of flaming paper. But our Cuban
friend, as he rescued it from being
trampled on, coolly remarked:
"The beeHes are just opening their
t xk of Ore-works. Now put out the
gas and we shall have a Que display."
The gas was turned down, and by
the intense beautiful light that
streamed from the paper bag our faces
t gleamed with a weird, greeuish tinge.
1 ad we could read the letters on the
newspaper in papa's hand. Those two
ugly beeil-s were the managers ot this
trotechnio exhibition, lor -each car.
j ricd on his shoulders two brilliant
! stars, from which shone a light almost
I tupernatural in its intensity and the
! beetles, constantly raising their wing-i,
J as if to fly. showed their soft bodies
1 glowing like masses of living fire,
j It seemed impossible to realize th it
J ao heat accompanied this radiant light.
j and the children were so afraid the
i bag would take fire that, by advice of
our friend, a warm bath was provided
for our te pets, already named Me -tcor
and Comet. So they were gently
placed upon a mimic pond In an oyster i
bowl, with a mimic rock island m the
centre. Ik wa a lovely sight, the
water becoming a sei of liquid fire; and
as, the wonderful phosphoresceut light
struck against the rock (a quartz speci
men, each diamond-cut crystal flashed
iti i spaiklel with lovely prismatic
j colors,
When Meteor and Comet were tired
jof their bath they leisurely climbed
juion the rock and went to sleep,
j fheii' lauips went out, and again they
Ojcame uiy brown beetles, wita only
?io flattened vellow beads on their
j shoulders to show where the licbt came
iiroin. inese spots iooKeu iue glass,
' and the luminous bod v. when the
j ocetle is awake, seems to sl-ine through
- '.hem like a flame through a glass win
i ilow.
That night Meteor and Comet slept
-a a ventilated ice-cream box, and a
"cii or banana and brown suar was
ipic vmeu ror them, in case tney snouia
feel faint during the night. The C iban
gentleman told us that these beetles
were tlaiers, commonly called skip
jacks, click-beetles, suap-beetles. etc.
names given them because of a pe
culiar way they have of unjomting
their spines with a c.k-klng noise.
The legs of an elater beetle are so
shoit that when turned on Us back he
ia as helpless as a cap-ized turtle: but
nature has provided for the poor buz a
sprin-;in2-machihe. The "spine" fits
into a socket, and by bending the head
and thorax backward a position
somewhat s milar to st at.. I ing on its
head the beetle can withdraw the
spine from the socket, a sudden jerk
causing it to slip lack with a sharp
c ick, j.nd with t?ucli force that the
skip-jtck is mad; to turn a complete
som-rsault ia the air, the beetle like
the ''springing man" at the ciicus, ex
pecting to fall on his teet. The w men
in South America plae several elaieis
in a box with glass tides, and go about
their work by ihe -light of th.s living
lamp, aud Cuban beauties promena Ie
in the eveamg with flaming beetles
fastened in their glossy braids.
Meteor anl Comet dearly love to
sleep in the daytime, and always when
we take out our ice-cream box to dis
play the Qre-bus, we find our pets ap
parently dead. Alter several frights
we have learned to place the rogues
on their backs; and then it is funny to
see them wake up, one leg at a time,
tint 1 all the les aud antenna are wav
ing desperately ab ut, a fiery glow
coming from the exposed bmiy aiul
bright shoulder lamps of each strug
gling victim, Then the skipjackes
will try to stand on their heads, and
the children are always delighted to see
our lady visitors jump as Meteor anil
Comet with a sharp click turn a somer
sault in the air, sometimes repeating
this perfoimance over and over again,
until they come dowii right side up.
One evening we were all disconsolate
at the loss or Meteor, who. having
feigned death until we left him, had
flown away. Fearing to miss a gleam
from our pet's lights, we had turned
out the gas, and the whole family were
down on their knees looking under
chairs, tables and couches. A shout
from a child ou an expedition unuer
the plauo brought us all to the spot,
and there under the piano leg, snugly
hidden against the castor, safe from
broom or duster, glistened a "some
thing" that not omy dazzled our eyes,
but gladdened our hearts. This some
thing was a long-lost diamond that had
fallen from a ring, causing a pretty
maiden many Litter tears. The light
shining on the diamond came, as you
may have guessed, from the tiny fire
works on Meteor's shoulders, the run
away being hidden by its side.
That fire-bug more narrowly es
caped a kissing than ever beetle did
te.'ore, and he seemed to rather enjoy
Che situation, for he lighted up with
such marvelous brilliancy that one
little one with a strong imagination
declared he blistered her fingers.
And so our flying fireworks have
brought good luck with them, and to
the children are a delight, never "fiz
zling" or going out. Itain makes them
brighter, and repairs are never needed.
The only expense for their maintenance
is a tiny bit of banana and a drop of
sweetened water
Hats.
Hats were first maue by a Swiss in
Paris in 1401. The first manufactory
in England was started in lolO. High
crowned hats were first worn in Eng
land in 1550. They went out of fash
ion, and were again introduced in 17S3.
Silk haU were substituted for beaver
la 132a
Art pront rrom a ca ry cow comes
from the food over and above that
which u necessary to sustain the mere
I unoiioai ot life.
HOW Btt.VTE MEX DIE.
Will Auk Yon. Gentlemen, not to
mi aie in tue Face, but Here."
Early in the morning, as the mists
were just rising rrom the dense vegeta
tion about the town, and the sua rose
above the treetops. a small body of
soldiers marched through the wet grass
to the dull tapping of a drum. A few
people followed at a respectful dis
tance. They turned out in the direc
tion of the old church. La Carided,
the An gel us from which bells had
sounded.
Marching past its portals a halt was
made in one of Its angles, where the
late addition joined the ancient portion.
A little apart from the soldiers stood
four officers, the victims of this beau
tiful moinlng. Four coffins " were
placed near the wail, and the four con
demned men led to them. They took
their funeral seats as gracefully as if
they were in the boxes ot an opera.
Not a face wai blanched, not a nnrve
quivered. As they sat there, Ganeral
Delgado noticed that his nearest com
panion moved a little restlessly on his
v ff'n lid. "Are you afraid, com
padre?" said ha
The young officer smiled at the ques
tion and ana were! with a prompt
"No."
"This," said the General, "is some
thing we all have to go through. Soma
so. hi, some late, but it coms to all."
And be gave a smile of enc urage
ment to his fellow condemned ones.
The soldiers were loading their rides
and the sunlight glistened! on the pol
ished barrels. The General called in a
low vo cs to ths officer in charge of the
men, and asked if be would permit
the firing squad to advance five paces
nearer. This would bring them to
within twelve feet, and there would be
no missing, lie asked also not to be
blindfolded and to have the privilege
of giving the word. The officer as
sented and the men came slowly for
ward. The condemned men were then
asked If they had anything to say.
General Delgado, with wonderful
coolness and great dignity and grace.
made a brief spsech, but it could not
be heard by the spectators beyond the
soldiers. The air was filled with the
perfumes of the flowers just opened by
the morning sun. A whistle of a paro
quet and the "caw" ot some brilliantly
plumaged bird were the only bendic
tions then beard. The General then
addressed the swarthy firing squad:
"I witl ask you, gentlemen, not to
hit me in the face, but here," and his
right hand pointed with a quick ges
ture to a spot over bis heart. Then in
clear tones he spoke the word, "Are
yon rcaJy?"
Ths rides were pointed directly at
the four men. Each could look into
the muzzles ot the instruments of
death. No eye was bandaged, no arm
tied. Over each barrel the black eye
of a Honduranian soldier looked along
its shining surface Into the eyes of the
cool aud calm odicers seatel by the
wall. When they beard the qneetkm a
murmur announced that they were
ready. Then came fiom the firm lips
of Delgado, "Fire."
Tl ere was no rattle, uo scattering
reports, but oue sharp, stinging report,
au l the four men, for a half second
remaining, in an uptight position, as if
still unhurt, roiled over hrap and
bloody dead.
The men hid bean true to their
promises, for three balls had penetrated
Delgado's heart.
The Seven sleepers.
Holding our lighted caudles between
the palings of the wooden screen which
debars nearer approach to the sleeper,
we were shown soma cloths on tho
floor, apparently a rough common sheet
with a dark-colored fringed cloth a!ove
it. which was said to cover the sleepers.
We asked if it was allowed to look un
der the cloth, but that, tUey said, was
ini;osSible. Even they themselves,
they said, knew not what was there.
One man had once tried to look and he
was immediately struck blind; but that
if we doubted, "there (pointing in the
direction) was the dog and the deer and
hawk." Ho'ding the caudles to the
right we could then see indistinctly
something looking like dried bodies of
some animals propped against the wall.
They were very small. The first, said
to be the dog, was about a foot In
height, and the deer a few inches high
er, but it was impossible to say in such
1-ght what animals they were. The bones
of the les were visible-in fact, the dog's
legs had fallen oir, which rather told
against its being asleep, but the body
s euied to be covered with dry skin; and
yet, on the strength of these relics, some
twenty families of Sayeds are kept in
comfort and live here on the contribu
tions of pilgrims with, in addition, as
much land as ihey require five of any
rent and taxes.
Luck.
A King ouce said to his minister.
"Do you believe in luck?"
"I do," said the minister.
"Can you prove it," said the King.
"Yes, I can."
So one night he tied np to the ceiling
cf a room a bag containing peas mixed
with diamonds, and let in two men, one
of whom believed in luck and the other
in human effort alone. The one who
believed in luck quietly laid himself
down on the ground; the other, after a
iine, found the bag, and, feeling in the
dark the peas and stones, ate the peas
and threw the diamonds to his compan
ion, saying: "There are the stones for
your idleness."
The man below received them in his
blanket.
In the morning the King and minis
ter came and told each man to keep
what he had found. The man who
believed in trying, got the peas which
he had eaten, the other got the dia
monds. The minister then said, "Sire, there
may be luck, but it is as rare as pea
mixed with diamonds; so let none hope
to l.ve by luck."
A Princess' Dainty Appetite.
Apropos of tha Princess of Wales'
appetite few persons have any idea how
poor an eater her royal highness is.
Only the most delicate dishes tickle
her palate, and even these she t ikes
scarcely enough to feed a canary. San
guinary meat is her special abhorrence.
She is also very particular what she
drinks, a very small quantity satisfy
ing her. It may interest ladies to know
that her royal highnes3 is a devout
lover of a cup of tea. but it must b j
carefully made, "drawn" to a second
creamed to a nicety and see'ened
with one moderate slz;d lump rf spark
ling white sugar. If it is not all this
the princess will not drink it.
CAT SKIN'S.
llow They Are ITaed- Prtoee Paid for
Them.
For the past two months valued house
cats have been missing from all parts
of Indianapolis. In some neighbor
hoods the wnole cat population has dis
appeared, one by one, and the house
wives who have put their heads
t gether could erolve no explanation
for the mysterious disappearance of
their favorite pats. Many were of the
opinion that there was an emigration
of cats going on. However, the house
wives were wrong, and it remained for
Mr. George B?count to unravel the
mystery. A couple of weeks since his
fine maltese cat disappeared, and, be
ing aware ot the fact that cat pelts
were marketable, he suspected that his
pet had fallen a martyr to the fashion
in fine gloves, anl he at once instituted
a search among the firms in the city
who handled pelts. Among several
hundred cat pelts at a place on West
Pearl street he round one which he
recognized as belonging to his own
"Tom." Upon Investigation he found
that the pelt had been bought by the
firm from some colored boys who were
strangers to them, and it was further
developed that the same gang of col
ored young men have, within the past
two months, been Silling cat pelts to
all the pelt traders in the city. As
there is no cat ranehe about the city,
the story of the many disappearances
and the selling ot the hides Indicates
that the young men have been killing
the animals for the money there is in
the business.
A reporter who called at one of the
pelt establishments learned that the
pelt of a maltose cat was worth 2o
cents, of a spotted cat 15 cents, and of
! a common every day cat but 0 cents.
' a - ... .. r ,. .. . , ,
ui mo uau tuai, uue uiaup-
peared are maltese, the younz rascals
have evidently been doing a lucrative
business. The different firms were
reticent about how many cat hides they
had handled this year, but were free to
admit that the number was not small.
They did n t know where the pelts
came from, and never made any in
quiry. There was a sinad profit in the
j hides to them, and they bought them
without asking any questions.
"What do you do with the pelts?"
asked the reporter.
"We dress them and shiptheni East
to the manufacturers."
"For what are they used?"
"Most ot them go into gloves, es
pecially those from maltese cats. They
make among the fnest gloves in the
market, and we have quite a demand
for such pelts. A great many pelts un
doubtedly come back here made up,
and it is Lot surprising if some ot our
citizens are wearing gloves made out of
their house cat that disappeared a few
weeks since. The pelts of the common
cats are not of much use for gloves,
and where the fur is of ordinary quali
ty they are tanned with It on, aud the
pe t3 are used for trimming on cloak?,
teusy overcoats and oiIkt like pur
poses." "How long has this dt maud for cat
pelts existed?"
'On y a few years, and it is iucreas
ing all the time, for the reason, that I
the pelts of the wild animals are hard
to get. Coon, mink aud skunk pelt?,
in fact, Ihe pelts of all small wild an -mals
are becoming very scarce, and the
manufacturers have been compelled to
look to the domestic animals for the
material with which to supply their
trade."
"Are dog pelts valuable?".
"Only of certain species. The psit
of tLe Spitz, the Newfoundland, aud a
few other kinds are very desirable, but
they are hard to get, and we handle
but few."
Tlironin;! the Shoe.
The custom of throwing the slipper
after a newly married couple is well
known. A writer, Mr. G. Lansing, of
Alexandria, Erypt, whose explanation
ot this custom we copy below, attributes
the origin of it to the far East. It may
very well be so, and on the other hand
it may have bad a far less symbolical
ong n. At all events the theory Is
an interesting one.
Tne custom of throwing a slipper at
another, or striking him with it, is still
practiced in the East as a sign of re
nunciation. A fa her for instance, who
would renounce his son after he has
been convicted ot being a wicked son,
will, before witnesses, take off his shoe,
and if near enough strike him with it,
or. if more distant, throw it at him.
Ueceutly we h.-ve had three cases of
Moslem converts to Christianity, whose
relatives and co-religionists have, in
this manuer, signified their re n unci i
tion aud cutting off ot all relations
with the preverts from their faith.
The Oriental shoe, being usually a
soft slipper, is not thrown as a missile,
or weapon, for the purpose of causing
bodily pain.
This explains the throwing ot the
slipper as the bride leaves her father's
house. It is saying to her In a playful
way:
"Be off with you! We renounce you
and will have nothing more to do with
you."
Mr Lansing explains in the same
way the taking of the snoe frcm the
foot in the case of the kinsman who
reuounc1 his claim to the inheritance
of Eilmelech (Kuth 4:9), the loosing of
the shoe being merely a legal formula
of renunciation which drew its mean
ing from popular lore.
The modern Arabs, instead of throw
ing the shoe, sometimes exclaim:
"My shoe at you!"
This is regarded as a tokeii of con
temptuous renunciation.
Trick.- of the Chinese Thlct
It is said that of late bed clothing
has been taken to Chinatown iu large
quantities. Armed with a bamboo
stick about four feet long, which may
be readily lengthened to fifteen or
twenty feet by a telescopic slide, the
Mougol'an hoodlum makes his way
about dusk to a back or side window,
whi :h has been left open at tho too fcr
ventilation. The pole Is stuck through
the window, being stretched out as it ii
inserted, and by means ot a small hook
at the end bedspreads, blankets, sheets,
and pillows are pulled through lie
opening. It has sometimes occurred
that bed clothinj Las thus teen re
moved while the- bed contained an oc
cupant, who was sleeping soundly. In
the case of an alarm the pole is
dropped, and, being on the outside of
the building, the hoodlum easily makes
his escape.
-a-At Atlanta. Ga , has teen foi toed
an association of young ladies who are
sworn to do everything in their po-avr
to abolish the "parlor-beau" jashi.u
NEWS IX BRIEF.
Ladles' bowling-clubs are springing
up in Brooklyn, by medical ad j Ice.
MuskraU are building nnusuaLy
solid huts in the Connecticut cores
Orange, X. J., belles are preparing
to toboggan down Orange mountain.
A new post office In Mahonlnr
county, O., Is merely named "Snodes."
Many Indians on the Cattarangus,
N. Y., reservation are sick and needy.
A wild duck has been canght on a
fish-hook by a Duchess, N. Y.. angler.
A superstitious West Chester lady
picks us every pin she sees on the street.
A steamer en route to New London
picked up a tea turtle on her paddle
waeeL
Western New York saltmakers are
pooling to advance salt, now GO cents a
barrel.
A St. Louis man estimates that a
rullman skeper nets the companv $7520
a year
Hudson, N. Y., is building a model
school house, to be ventilated in cold
weather.
Johu J. Thurlow. of Thurlow, who
is 02 years of age, never used a pair of
spectacles.
The Central Hudson river shoo is
building a locomotive boiler 52 Inches
In diameter.
-Youngstown coal men nredict a
fuel famine In the West, as the lake
trade was small.
As much as fifteen cents each is
paid for jack rabbit scalps by county
authorities on the Pacific coast.
The greatest strawberry-shipping
point on the c ntinent is Norfolk, Va.
A faim of 440 acres near that city is the
largest one in the world.
Harvard has the largest senior and
freshman classes ever known in her his
tory. The latter numbers 270 now, and
four or five more will yet enter.
The Lenox property, on the east
side of what Is now Central Park, New
York, is worth over 13,000,000. 1 1 was
bought at foreclosure sale ia 1S17 for
J20.
There is a ru3h of gold seekers to
the country on the Straits of Magellan.
Up to the end of August, 2071 claims
had been registered in the offices estab
lished for the purpose.
The largest bicycle ever made In
America, diameter sixty-four inches,
has been on exhibition in Hartford,
Conn. It was made to order for a rider
standing G feet, 7$ inches high.
A deposit of pure asphaltum, from
fifteen to twenty feet thick, has been
discovered near Thistle Station, in
Utah. It is worth $4 J a ton, and the
expense of mining is only forty cents.
Ex-Senator McDonald's law prac
tice pays him $50,000 per year, and he
is not losing any sleep over the senator
ial problem. There is another $50,00C
situation that Uncle Joe Las an eye on.
In ltS0 there were C25 lediaus In
Maine, of whom .112 were males and 312
females. Every able bodied Indian in
;the State has a dog, and every Indian
who is not able-bodied has two. says
ilhe Iwtston Journal.
i D wight Hall, the new Young Men 'e
Christian Association building at Yale
College, which has just been dedicated,
cost JC0.00O, and is the most beautifully
furnished and handsomely constructed
building on the campus.
A little gitl ia Burlington. Vt-, bas
inherited so good a memory of an uncle
whose funeral had been attended by her
mother not long before this little girl's
biuh that she could give a full descrip
tion of him and knew his picture at
once the first Umo she saw it.
An unusual law question came uo
at WatenrJie, Me., recently. A man
owed a small sum cf money and an at
tachment was put on bis watch a legal
attachment. Tne man was shrewd and
said the time piece could not be taken,
as it was his t oi whereby he earned his
livelihood. He was a watchman.
A colored Alabama child two years
old, was found in the ard the other day
playing with a big rattlesnako. which
seemed greatly pleased to make the new
acquaintance. The mother regards it
as an omen that the boy will somo day
become Governor of the State. His
father thinks that he will turn out a
salix.n keeper.
For 100 years the Salem Gazette has
been issued without a break or the loss
of an edition. In that time it has had
but two editors, with the exception of
two and a quarter years, Thomas Gush
ing aud Caleb Foote. The latter is still
senior editor, hale .-snd active after
sixty one years ot service and sixty-nine
years' continuous connection with the .
office.
As returned by the census of 13SJ,
our population in that year was 50,155,
7So. According to the oflloial estimate
now published, the population on the
3 Jib. of last June, was 5S, 420,000, an
Increase m six years of over eight mil
lions aud a quarter, or about 17 per
cent. This is an annual average of
about 3 per cent., which is just about
the rate of Increase during the decade
previous to 1SS0, and a little more than
the rate between I-u and 1870, whea
the war of the rebellion naturally check
ed increase.
?.ri.ss rs'Ea- latcr.c-irr, or ixuitvij.'e,
a few weel s ago nj;;rrJ a young Fiench
lawyer, whcni sl.e s!i'p:3ed lo have omy
his profession a a maintenance and n-o
expectations. O.i her wedding day he
Ci l ised to l cr the awfi.1 fact that he
was the fou ui tl l.eir ot a vicomte, with
a lotg and unpronounceable nasie, au1
belorgicg to a distinguished French
family. He has since taken his bride
to the Islands of Mauritius, where lie is
to practice law inste id of living in Taris
and wasting his substance in ils gay
society. Miss Batcheler had gone to
FarLs to perfect herself in at, und there
Pie two had met.
India has been thrown into tumult
because of the adulterations of better.
Ghee, or the native clariSed butter,
enters into the composition of eveiy
kind of cooked food iued h7 all classes
of natives, so that its adulteration with
beef or pork fat means loss of cast'. to
Hindus, and defilement to Mohamme
dan.. So great his been the panic, that
the wealthier natives are importing
ghee from Persia and the pooler nave
b en abstaining from cooked food. The
Bengal council has pass-ed a bill to pre
vent the a-'ulteralion of food, aud the
supreme government Is d acussins tt.e
advisability of passing a similar e-t.
iVtsoii iy is putt:cs on Irs coat of
scarlet. 1 is esiy distiuguls'raole
from woodbine, as its leave? grow iu
cluil" or three, while the harmless
woodbine grows in clusters of five
leaves.
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