frail
1 It r HIM
WW
F- 8QHWEIEB,
THE OONtfriT U TION-THE UNION AND THE ENFORCEMENT OF THE LAWS.
VOL. J,.
MIFFLINTOW1S, JUNIATA COUNTY. PENNA.. WEDNESDAY. MAY 27. 1896
NO. 24
if
-,. 1
CHAPTER TIL
By noon the next day, nearly every
inmate of Avondale Castle became aware
of the fact that on the preceding night
terrible scene had been enacted be
tween Sirs. Meason and her granddaugh
ter, and that, as a consequence of this,
Lady Constance was seriously ill.
: It was from no very ardent wish to stay
at Avondale that Mrs. Meason remainedi
he had simply a desire to arrance mat
ters for Lady Constance in other words,
to compass her engagement to the Duke
d'Azzeglio.
i Her ardent wish to make the duke her
grandson led her to do a questionable
deed; she determined to call upon him,
and, if possible, put matters right between
hint and Constance. She found him at
borne, and was ushered immediately into
his presence: he received ber courteous
ly, and when she spoke of Lady Constance
his face grew grave.
"Ton will pardon me, madam," said he,
"but this is a subject which I must decline
to discuss, even with you. The lady hai
given me her answer. I suppose, as
gentleman, I should accept it, and say ne
more."
"Lady Constance," pursued Mrs. Mea
son, "Is fully sensible of the honor which
yon conferred upon her when you offered,
Iter your hand; Bhe refused that honor,
not from any feeling of aversion toward
yourself, but because she believed that she
was not at liberty to accept it"
' The duke started.
"Not at liberty? he said. "Are, then,
her affections engaged? And, if so, why
have yon kept the matter secret?"
- "My dear duke," said Mrs. Meason,
"there has been no concealment becausei
there has been nothing to conceal. Lady
Constance is not engaged, but she is the
soul of honor, and until a short time ago
she believed that she was bound by a
foolish promise, given half jestingly in
childhood. At one time she was thrown!
much into the society of her cousin, who
. has now gone to the war. She gave him
" Mnr"'r'':nise' which she now regrets,
1dice it can never be fulfilled."
: Having once aroused the duke's curi
osity and gained his ear, Mrs. Meason
continued to talk to him confidentially.
When she left she had extracted from
him a promise to call personally at Avon
dale Cnstle and Inquire for Lady Con
stance. The duke accompanied her to tho
carriage, and, with a sinister expression
upon his faqc, watched it roll away.
"She hates these llowarths," he said,,
"and although she does not love me, she
wishes to have me for her grandson. It
will answer my purpose to f ali' In with
her wishes in this case. Let me see;
there was a story about Mrs. Meason and
the llowarths. What was it? I must
know."
He returned to his room, touched a
mall hand bell which stood upon his!
table, and his Spanish servant answered.
The duke spoke rapidly in Spanish. In
less than a week from that day he was
fully aware of the true story of the life
and death of the young Countess of liar-
'he'old lady is dangerous." he said
to himself when he was fully acquainted
with the true facts of the case: "but she
cannot be dangerous to me. I know ber
-that is enough." ...
After her interview with the duke, airs.
Meason was In a more contented frame
ef mind. She went without warning of
any kind to her granddaughters room.
Lady Constance was alone sitting In aa
easy chair with her lap full of her coo
sin's letters.
"Child, child, why are you grieving like
this?" said Mrs. Meason, softly; are,
these people to blight your life as they
KteTihe lire of my child? Can you
not forget this man?" ..
"No, I cannot," cried the poor girl; J
hall never forget him." ,
"Then if you cannot forget him, marry
sSlm "
The girt threw op her hDd8 iD teIr"
"I cannot," she said; "not now. When
ever I think of it I see my mother gaxing
t me with sad, reproachful eyes, and I
?' lf i married Frank she would al
' -.t. raze at me so; I should never get
t oTa never. I wish. oh. how I
you had never spoken! It would
been better. I am sure; then I might
&T6 had some happiness. I shall never
MydarHng. It Is of yon I am things
TV, not shrink from me; it Is crnel. AU I
SVi done I have done for your sake; re-
"wn sheVsd gone Constance sat mo
tt fully half an hour. Then
iie went to her wriUng table, and sat
Tkn3ownnow." she wrote "that I can
e7er become your wif. Try to forge
It would have been better for us both
S 'bid I never met. Do not think that
I am writing hasty decision. I have re
J "7LT.ii 1 1 pray that we may never
Tn CONSTANCE."
H.vig written this, she placed I It to w
ilrl. .nd addressed It to Captain Ho
rtn she sat down, kissed the
Whricii.h.h.dinher..ndp.a,
i them one by one in the fire.
ciiafter vrn.
The summer months had .completely
JErf wtv; autumn was wel advanced
f!?Vne family still lingered at Avondale
The duke wa, again .
,uh "
in so kind. t once di4
?ss
Gad to me." . sh, was At
sMSSbS-SSSK
If I could make vou kunm" ha uhL
"I shonld be content."
"Make me happy?" repeated the girl.
do not think there is any happiness io
this world."
"Lady Constance," said the duke, grave
fy, "pray pardon me if I mention a sub
ject which may be a painful one to you.
I have heard that you are attached to your
Cousin."
She did not answer him, but, with a
shudder, aha covered her eyes with he
and.
"May I ask," pursued the duke, quietly,
"if your cousin is a poor man?"
"He is not rich," said Constance.
"Yon are doubtless aware," said tba
Juke, watching her quietly from between
the half-closed lids of his eyes, "that I
m rich beyond the desire of any man, and
Could easily spare half of my wealth, and
I will, if by so doing I can secure your
happiness."
"I do not understand."
"I mean I will make your cousin a rich
(nan, and then I suppose you would be
come his wife."
"Become his wife? no, never. You do
not understand, sir, when yon talk like
that. I and my cousin can never be more
than cousins we can never be man and
Wife."
"You do not wish to marry him?"
"No, I do not wish It."
The duke was about to reply when the
j floor opened and a servant entered with
a letter for Lady Constance. One glance
at it and the blood flowed back to her
heart. It was from Frank Ilowarth.
"Will you excuse me?" she said, faintly.
The duke bowed, and led her from the
room. Constance hurried to her boudoir,
tore open the letter and read:
"My Darling Constance Your letter
has driven me mad. In heaven's name,
what does it all mean? Not that you do
not love me. I will never believe tliat,
but that some evil influence has come be
tween us, and you have listened. I am
here helpless, and in danger of losing you.
I should ask my father to come to you,
but I know he would be turned from the
door of Avondalo Castle. It' I am to lose
rou, perhaps heaven will be merciful and
let the next bullet lay me low; if 1 escape
be sure that I shall come to you, and ask
for the fulfillment of your promise. For
pity's sake, my Constance, write to me
and tell me I have had a horrible dream.
"FRANK."
AH that night she scarcely closed her
eyes; the next day she went out to walk
In Avondale Park. Sne had not procct'd
rd far when she was startled by a sudden
rustling of the boughs. She looked about
her; the sound of footsteps fell upon her
ear; a figure approached her; it was the
Duke d'Azzeglio.
"I was on my way to the CaHtle," said
the duke, taking ber hand, "when I saw
you coming toward the park, and fol
lowed. I have something to say to you,
Lady Constance; shall I say it now, or
defer it till some future time?"
"As yon please."
"Then I will say it now. Last night,
after yon had retired, I spoke for a while
with Mrs. Meason. I told her yon were
pale and sad, and needed change. Sho
agreed with me; a change to Spain might
be beneficial; therefore, I place my bonne
entirely at your disposal. Only say yes,
and I will bid my servants prepare as if
for the reception of a queen."
He spoke eagerly and quickly, and fixed
his dark eyes upon her with a strange
piercing glnnce. The girl shook ber head.
"You are good," she said, "but I would
rather remain at Avondale."
"For why to be tortured daily, hourly,
by sights and memories which wring
your heart and make your young life pur
gatory? You were not born to waste your
life in solitude: you were made to rule as
surely as a star in heaven is made to
shine."
"Pray do not speak so if we are to re
siain friends."
"My child," he said, "what yon offer
aie is not friendship. The office of a friend
Is a sacred one, and means much. A
friend should console and help; you refuse
to let me do either."
"Because I cannot. There are certain
things which even a friend cannot under
stand, and sorrows which cannot be shar
ed. Yon offer to be my friend. I will
accept your offer, lf you will not demand
a confidence I cannot give."
"I accept the condition," replied the
duke. "And now, I-ady Constance, may I
walk with you back to the Castle?"
She bowed, and they passed on, keeping
to the avenue of beech trees.
Scarcely had they gone a hundred yards
when a man emerged from the shadow of
the trees and stood fixing his eyes upon
the retreating figure of the duke.
The stranger was a middle-aged ninn.
evidently a gentleman, though bis clothes
were ragged and travel-stained; and wheu
he moved he limped, as if his feet were
blistered with the wornout shoes he wore.
"So," he said, "I have found my gentle
man at last! May imprudence dance at
tendance on revenge, and to aid my pur
pose! I have waited patiently for years.
I have crossed the world in pursuit of
him; I have followed him from land to
land, and now we are to meet! Keep
calm. FeveraU keep calm. Let me see.
rhat am IT An artist, and for the pre
rot. at least, I must follow mx vocation.
To begin with. I think I will sketch the
Hanger's Lodge-make a few inquiries,
then wait for a chance to send me the
Duke d'Azzeglio."
CHAPTER IX.
Mr. Feveral. as he styled himself, eon
gnued to walk in a desultory limping
fashion toward the Ranger's Lodge, a
bretty little building set on the borders
f Avondale r-ark. He paused before it;
then he felt in his coat pocket, produced
. pencil and drawing book, and began
to sketch the lodge. As he had antui
sated an out-at-elbows artist soon at
tracted attention, the door of the lodge
pened and the ranger appeared.
'ni. . wim an old man, very short
' and very wizened, but with a ;.n eye
and plenty of shrewd sense. Seeing a
stranger, at hit door, he came out to ad-
I.ess him. The stranger puzziea mm.
He wore the dress of a beggar, yet his
sccupation was that of a gentleman.
"Uood morning, my friend," said Fev
eral, lightly. "I am in want of some in
formation which I hope yon may be able
tnd willing to give me."
"Oh, you are, are yon? Well, if yon
want information, yon'd best seek it in the
village. I ain't a spy or in informer."
"Precisely; I never suspected you of
being either. I did, however, suspect yon
f being possessed of good manners, since
rou have the honor of being in the service
f so very charming a lady aa Lady Con
stance." "Lady Constance! what may yon know
kbont her?"
"Very little, I must confess. I have
merely sees her once, when she was walk
ing in the park with a friend of mine
the Duke d'Azzeglio."
The old man started, and stared stupid
ly at his companion.
"The Spanish duke a friend o thine?"
"Certainly," replied Feveral, "though
I must confess we have not met for years.
Now tell me, my friend, is the duke a
resident here?"
"No, he be only a visitor."
"His grace is a friend of Lady Con
stance?" "Ay, something of that sort," replied
Jacob, with a peculiar smile. "They do
say he be going to marry her."
"An:-.
The stranger's face, hitherto so pleas
ant and smiling, grew suddenly grave.
The sketch of the lodge being finished.
Feveral handed it to the ranger, m ho was
highly pleased.
"If you will grant me permission to
walk in the park now and again and
make a few sketches from nature, I shall
be obliged," and, with a pleasant "ood
day," he limped off to gather fresh infor
mation in the village.
I -ate that same night Lady Constance
nd her grandmother were alone iu the
dining room at Avondale Castle.
'Constance, said the old lady, "why
are you so stubborn in this matter? The
duke is a man of high family, and of
enormous wealth. Were you his wife I
could die in peace."
"Ah! do not talk of dying," cried the
girl; "you are the only one left me now.
What is wealth to me? would it bring
me happiness?"
"If you have any love for your mother's
memory avenge her. Marry the duke, and
take yonr place in society by his side."
1 he girl shuddered and covered her
face.
'Yon ask too much," she said. "Ah!
grandma!" she cried suddenly, "what is
that? I saw a man. lie was standing
near the window, looking at us. I will
search; he must be there still."
She rushed out and looked about her.
She could see no one, and all was still
as death. Trembling very much, she
re-entered the room, closed the window
tnd drew the curtains.
On reaching her room a slight sound
attracted her attention; she turned quick
ly and saw a small white packet on the
Boor. Wondering very much, she lifted
It. It was a letter with a stone attached
to it, and had evidently been thrown in at
the window. She opened the letter and
read these words, which had been hur
riedly scrawled in pencil:
'If you are what yon seem, do not
marry the Duke d'Azzeglio."
(To be continued.)
News in Brief.
Germany has a steel llvwheel.
There is only one euilika death
among women to eighty among
men.
Dr. F. Shue says there are forty
varieties of edible turtles in the United
States.
Harvard College has discovered
fourteen new variable Kars of long
period.
Ilong Kong ranks fourth among
the world's great jiorts. The annual
value of the trade is estimated at $-00,-
OlM).
Mexico is a good market for us.
Our exorts to that country last year
were flSO.OOO.OOU in excess ol ttiose ol
lS'JL
A hill has been introduced into
Congress lor the construction of cruisers
in which electricity will be used as a
power.
Australia has furnished more
crimes and disasters this year than in
any previous year for over a quarter of
a century.
Fashion, although it makes abject
slaves of most of its votaries, has done
as much to civilize the world as the cate
chism has.
The planet Mars resembles the
earth more closely than any other of
the 8' lar systems that we know any
thing about.
A doctor has discovered that
the heavy hats worn by women are re
sponsible for soma recent vagaries of
the feminine mind.
Dr. refers, the Alncan eiplorer, is
about to undertake a now exploration
of Somaliland under the auspices of a
number of wealthy Americans.
The Pennsylvania has introduced
an economical innovation on its South
west system by having the fires on
all its locomotives started with crude
oil.
According to Sir Benjamin Rich
ardson, the normal period of humau
life is about 110 years, and seven out of
ten average people ought to attain that
age.
In a recent magazine article John
Morley says: "There are probably not
six Knglinhmeu over fifty whose lives
need to be written or shoul 1 4 writ
ten." Young man don't forget that tue
world is watching you, and most of us
are more ready to charge your account
with something bad than something
good.
Roughness is a needles cause of
discontent. Severity breedeth fear, but
roughness breedeth hate. Even reproof
from authority ought to be g ave, and
not taunting.
The projiosed railway up the Jung
frau, Switzerland, will be 12.3 kilo
meters long, and will cost 8.000,000
francs. To pay, it would have to carry
17,000 passengers a year.
The total amount of the fortune
of the Rothschild family is now pat at
$2,000,000,000.
Liquid air is now an article of com-
( not only for refrigeration, but as a
source of oxygen. Nitrogen is elimina-
' ted until the product contains 70 per
cent oxygen.
fkAW fl
Potld Petroleum.
It Is reported In Science that Mon
sieur De Humy, a French naval offi
cer, has Invented a process by which
petroleum can be converted Into solid
blocks, aa hard aa anthracite coal.
L'oniuion petroleum oil. It la asserted,
has been thus solidified, and the blocks.
In burning, give off Intense heat and
are slowly consumed. One-ton of solid
petroleum used as fuel la said to bo
equivalent to thirty tons of coal. The
comparative cost of the two forms of
fuel Is not given.
Giant Plants en Mountains.
Recent explorers of the Caucasus
Mountains have reported the existence
there of a pecullar race of gigantic
herbaceous plants growing at a height
of nearly 6,000 feet above sea-level.
Plants belonging to tba aanio botanic
families, but growing at the bottom
of the valleys below, do not attain an
extraordinary size. For Instance, a
species of campanula our ordinary
harebell Is a campanula grows only
two feet high in the valleys, hut on
J he mountains It reaches a height of
feix feet, and its stem becomes thick
land rigid, like that of a small tree.
Armies on Ice.
Army engineers In various countries
have calculated the thickness of Ice
necessary to sustain certain weights.
Ice two inches thick is deemed strong
enough to bear a man's weight, ac
cording to a summary of the army
rules on this subject published In "En
gineering; Mechanics," and on such Ice
Infantry may march If the distance be
tween each man Is properly spaced.
Cavalry and light field guns can cross
Ice four inches thick. Six-Inch Ice
will sustain heavy field guns; eight
Inch ice artillery battcrlps with horses;
and ten-Inch Ice "an army or an Innu
merable multitude." On fifteen-lncb
Ice railroads have been laid and oper
ated fur mouths at a time.
The Flaoroncnpe.
Mr. Thomas A. Edison has invented
p:i apparatus, called the fluoroscope,
by the aid of which a surgeon. In
stead, of photographing with the X
rays the bones or other hard substances
concealed under the skin and flesh of
a patient, may actually see them.
The machine depends for Its action
tixn the fact that the X rays possess
the property of rendering luminous
certain substances, which chemists call
fluorescent. Mr. Edison first deter
mined, by experiment, that the best
fluorescent substance for this purpose
was calcium tungstate. The tungstate
is spread in a smooth layer upon a
piece of pasteboard which forms the
bottom of a small box, having boles
for the eyes at the upper end. A
Crookes tube, enclosed In another box.
Is excited by a current of electricity,
and if the hand, far Instance, Is to be
eramlned. It is placed upon the box
containing the tube. The observer then
looks Into the viewing box, whose
tuiijrstate-covered bottom Is placed di
rectly above the hand, and sees, with
startling distinctness, the bones and
J .ints, showing as dark and delicately
graduated shadows, while the flesh is
only faintly visible. The reason the
bones appear Is because they Inter
cept the X rays, and thus prevent the
tungstate surface from becoming fluor
escent where their shadows fall.
The Banner of the Pnn.
The expedition which will go from
the Lick Observatory to observe the
eclipse of the sun in Japan next Au
gust will carry a novel photographic
machine to picture the great coronal
streamers that are seen around the
sun when Its globe Is hidden behind the
moon. The sun's corona has been pho
tographed during previous eclipses,
but as Its light Is much stronger near
the sun than at a greater distance, the
photographs have Invariably been over
exposed for the brighter part of the
phenomenon when so timed as to catch
the image of the fainter parts; and,
conversely, the outer portions of the
streamers have been lost In the photo
graphs when the exposure has been
made short enough to give a good iin
nge of the bright Inner portion. Mr.
Uurckhalter, of the Chabot Observa
tory, Oakland, who will accompany
he expedition referred to, thinks he
has contrived a machine that will
equalize the exposure for all parts of
the corona, and thus enable him to
get a perfect photograph of the won
derful display around the sun during
the eclipse. The principal feature of
his invention is a rotating diaphragm,
driven by clockwork and provided with
'a peculiarly shaped hole for the pas
sage of the light, whereby the faint
outer part of the corona will get a
much longer exposure than the brill
iant inner part.
Astonishing Statements.
A certain woman novelist writes In
so amusing a fashion that the many
blunders which mar her work are not
discovered by the critical. In one of
her novels will be found a horse win
ning tl.e Derby three years In succes
sion; guardsmen sitting np all night
drinking hard, smoking perfumed cig
arettes, gambling for fabulous sums.
and starting forth In the morning after
breakfast of ortolans and green Char
treuse, fresh as daisies and prepared
to do deeds of prowess In the hunting
field or at the covert side; and that
great feat, too, performed by a man
with a "tawny mustache and flanks
like a. greyhound," who, while snlpo
hooting, espies an eagle, " a dim speck
tn the ethereal vault." What cares bo
that bis cartridges only contain tiny
snipe shot? He bangs away with un
erring aim, and "slowly tho king of
birds, with his glorious pinions out
stretched, sinks at his feet a corpse."
Xa saetbar of bee book a zenUum&n
performs a similar feat, bnt this tlmej
for the sake of variety, with a rifle bull
lot. An English novelist. In describing
river aide people says, "They go to
church bnt three times in their lives-
when they are baptised, when they are
married, and when they are buried." It
is only people In novels who go to bo
burled during their lives. Mr. Ride?
Haggard, In bis "King Solomons
Mines," made an eclipse of the moon
take place at the new moon Instead of
at the full, when the earth U between
the sun and the moon.
A rablto Reservoir.
I saw an Interesting sight while la
Venice. Entering a little square shut
In by high houses, and, like most Vene-i
tian squares, dominated by the nnfln-j
lshed facade of a tlnie-stalned church,
I noticed a singular activity among
the people. They were scurrying lnj
from every alley, and hastening from!
every house door, with odd-shaped;
copper buckets on hook-ended wooden
bows, and with little colls of rope.
Old men and women, boys, and girls,
all gathered closely about a covered
well curb in the middle of the square;
and still they hurried on, until they
stood a dozen deep around It. . Pres
ently the clock In the church tower
slowly struck 8, and a little man forced!
his way through the crowd, passed,
his ponderous Iron key through the
lid, and unlocked the well.
There Immediately ensued a scene of
great activity. The kettles went Jan
gling into It, and came slopping out
again at an amazing rate, and the
people trudged off home, eacb with
a pair of them swung from each shoul-t
der. The wells are deep cisterns, which!
are filled during the night, and it Is
out of amiable consideration for those
who love their morning nap that they
are given as good a chance as their
neighbors of getting an unsolled sup
ply. It is the first Instance that has
come to my notice of a commendable
nniulclpal restraint upon the reprc-i
henslble practice of early rising, ij
found, on closer Investigation, that the'
water was of excellent quality.
Training the Hnmaa l!ody.
By those who wfll exercise the re
quisite patience, the body and Its vari
ous functions may be brought under
perfect command. Even the vital func
tions of the body may be affected.
There have been not a few exhibitors
who could actually control the heart
beat, making their pulses noticeably
slower or faster according to their
pleasure. The seemingly miraculous
feats of acrobats are simply the results
of continually placing particular sets
of muscles under complete control of
the will. We should do well to try to
appreciate how Important, to our phys
ical being at least, the gaining of a
complete control over bodies may be.
The student who has before him a dif
ficult passage or problem must, if he
would succeed, exercise sufficient will
force to place everything else in his
mind second to the task before him. It
is much the same In our daily life. Mul
titudes of petty things tend to make
us forget our purpose In living, and if
we are to rise above them, we must
remember to unburden our minds of
the "worries" that we may have room
for the "realities." We must shun ex
citement of every kind. We must live
an even, temperate life; and we can
do this easily enough lf we have gained
perfect control over ourselves.
Not Quite Correct.
In telling a joke, It Is well to under
stand it thoroughly. A party of men
were wont to amuse themselves at
table by relating anecdotes, conun
drums, ete. Mr. Archer was always
greatly delighted at these jokes, but
he never related anything himself, and
being rallied on the matter, he deter
mined that the next time he was called
upon he would say something amusing.
Accordingly, meeting one of the wait
ers soon afterward, he asked him lf he
knew any good jokes or conundrums.
The waiter Immediately related the
following: "It Is my father's child,
and my mother's child, yet It is not my
sister or brother," telling him at the
same time that it was himself. Mr.
Archer bore this in mind, and at the
next meeting of his friends propound
ed It. "It is my father's child, and my
mother's child,-yet It is not my sister
or brother," throwing a triumphant
glance around the table. 'Then it must
be yourself," said one of the company.
"I've got you now," said he; "you
are wrong this time; It Is the waiter."
A shout of laughter interrupted Archer,
rho perceiving the mess he had got
Into, acknowledged his error, and told
'be company that he would pay for the
vine. It was his last effort
Where the Snake Boards.
The prairie marmot and the bur
rowing owl come Into neignboilr
contact with the rattlesnake, but
the acquaintance does not qu to
amount to friendship. The prairio
luatniot takes a lot of trouble and
builds a nice burrow, and then tho J
owl, who is only a slovenly sort of
architect himself, comes alontf and
takes apartments. It has never been
yuite settled ' whether or not the
loJger and the landlord agree
pleasantly together, but in the ab
sence of any positive evidence they
may be given credit for perfe.t amia
bility, because nobody has found
traces of owl in a dead marmot's in
terior, nor of marmot in an owl's.
But the rattlesnake is another th nir.
He waits till the residence has leu
made perfectly comfortable, and then
he , comes in himself, not in the
fi iefldly capacity of a lodger, but as a
sort of unholly writter a scaly man ;
in possession. He eats the marmot s
family and perhaps the marmot hi ni
sei I. curling himself up comfoitabiy
in the be-t part of the drawing-room.
The owl and his belongings he
leaves severely alone, but whether
from a doubt as to the legality of dis
training upon the goods of a lodger,
or from a certainty as to the lodger's
goods including claws and a beak,
naturalists do not say. Personally I
Incline very much to the claw and
beak theory, having seen an owl Kill
a snake in a very neat and workman
like manner, and indeed the rattle
snake sometimes catches a Tartar
5eu In the marmot.
VI. DUflLPL
me tminenr mvine s Minaavi
Sermon.
Subject: "Bad Company."
Tsxt: "Walk not thou In tha way with
them." Proverbs L, 15.
Hardly any youne man goes to a place ol
dissipation alone. Eanh one is accompanied.
No man goes to rnln alone. He always take
some one else with htm. "May it please th
court." said a cooviotod criminal when asked
if he had anything to say before sentence a
death was passed upon him "may It pleas
the oourt. bad company has been my ruin,
received the blaming of good parents and la
return promised to avoid all evil associa
tions. Bad I kept my promise I should have
i-en saveo mm una me ana been tree from
the load of guilt that bangs aronnd me Hkt 1
a vultare; threatening to drag me to justios j
"i vimiTO jr-L uurovwitpi. i wno once
moveit In the first circles of social y and have
bcn the guest of distinguished public men
am lost, and all through bad company."
This is but one of the thousand proofs
that evil associations blast and destroy. It
Is the invariable rule. There is a well man
in the wanls of a hospital where there are a
hundred people sick with ship fever, and he
will not be so apt to take the disease as a
good man would be apt to be smitten with
moral distemper If shut up with iniquitous
companions. In olden times prisoners were
herded together In the same eel!, but each
one learned the vices of all the culprits, so
that Instead of being reformed Dy incarcera
tion th ,iBy 0f liberation turned them out
upon society beasts, not men.
We may. In our places of business, be cora-
relled to talk to and mingle with bad men,
ut he who deliberately ahooses to associate
hlmse'f with vicious people is engaged in
carrying on a eonrtship with a Delilah
whose shean will clip off all the looks of his
strength, and he will be tripped Into perdi
tion. Sin Is catohing. Is infections, is epi
demic. I will let you look over the millions
of people now inhabiting the earth, and I
challenge you to show mn a good man who
after one year has ma ie choice and consorted
with the wicked. A thousand dollars re
ward for one snoh Instance. I care not how
strong your character may be. Go with
the oorrupt and you will become corrupt
Clan with burglars, and you will be
come a burglar. Go among the unclean,
and you will become andean. Many a
young man hns been destroyed by not
appreciating this. He wakes up soma
morning In the great city and knows no
one except the persons into whose employ
he has tutored. As he goes into the store all
the clerks mark him, measure him ami dis
cuss him. The upright young men of tha
store wish him well, but perhaps wait for a
formal introduction, and even then have
some delicacy about inviting him Into theit
associations. But the bad youngmen of tha
store at tho first opportunity approach and
offer their services. They patronize him.
Tbev profess to know all about the town.
They will take him anywhere be wishes to
go if he will pay the expenses. For If a good
young man and a bad young man go to
some place where they ought not, the good
young man has Invariably to pay the
charges. At the moment the tlcxet Is paid
for. or the champagne settled for, the bad
younir man feels around in his peckets and
sr.ys, "I have forgotten my pocketbook."
In forty-eluht hours after the young man
has entered the store the bad fellows of tha
establishment elan him on the shoulder fa
miliarly, and, at his stupidity in taking oer
tain allusions, say, "My young frieu.l, you
will have to be broken in," and they Imme
diately proceed to break him In. Youn'i man,
tn the name of Ood I warn you to beware
how you let a bad man talk familiarly with
you. If such a one slap you on the sliouldei
familiarly, turn round and give him a with
ering look umll the wretch crouches in yout
presence. There is no monstrosity of wick
edness that can stand unabashed under tha
glance of purity and honor. God keeps tha
lightnings of heaven in His own scabbard,
and no human arm oan wield them, but God
gives to every young man a lightning that h
may use, and that is the lightning of an hon
est eye. Those who have been close observ
ers of city life will not wonder why I giv
warning to young men and say, "Beware ol
evil companions."
I warn you to shun the skeptic the young
man who puts his fingers in his vest and
laughs at vour old fashioned religion, and
turns over to some mystery of the Bible, and
says, "Explain that, my pious friend, ex
plain that." And who says: "Nobody
shall scare me: I am not afraid of tha
future. I used to believe in suah things,'
and so aid my ratner and motuer, but 1 bav
got over it." Yes, be has got over it, and II
you sit In his company a little longer you will
get over it too. Without presenting on
argument airaiust the Christian religion,
nob men will, by their jeers and scoffs and
caricatures, destroy your respect for that re
ligion which was the strength of your fathei
In his declining years and tne pillow of youi
old mother when she lay a-dying.
Alas, a time will come when this bluster
ing young infidel will have to die, and then
his diamond ring will flash nospendor in the
eyes of Death as he stands over the couch
waiting for his soul! Those beautiful locks
will be uncombed upon the pillow, and the
dying man will say, "I cannot die; I cannot
die." Death, standing ready beside the
couch, says: "You must die. You have
onlv half a minute to live. Let me have It
right away jour sonl!" "No," says the
young infidel, "here are my gold rings and
these pictures. Take them all." "No,"
Fays Death. "What do I care for plot a res.
Your soul!" "Stand back!" says the dying
infidel. "I will not stand back," says
Death, "for you have only ten seconds now
to live. I want yoursouL The dying man
says: "Don't breathe that cold air Into my
face. You crowd me too bard. It is getting
dark in the room. O, God?" "Hush," says
Death. "Yon said there was no God."
"Pray for me," exclaims theexpiringinfldel.
"Too late to pray," says Death. "But three
more seconds to live, and I will count them
off one, two, three!" He has gonel Where?
Where? Carry him out and bury him beside
his father and mother, who died while bold
tan fast the Christian religion. They died
singing, but the young Infidel only said:
''Don't breathe that eold air into my lace.
Yon crowd me too bard. It is getting dark
In the room."
Again, I urge you to shun the companion
ship of idlers. There are men hanging
around every store and office and shop who
have nothing to do. or act as if they had not.
They are apt to come in when the firm are
way and wish to engage you in conversa
tion while you are engaged in your regular
smployment. Politely suggest to such Der
mis that you have no time to give them
iuring business hours. Nothing would
please them so well as to have you renounce
four occupation and associate with them.
Much of the time they lounge around the
doors of engine houses, or after the dining
lour stand npon the steps of a fashionable
lotel or an elegant restaurant, wishing to
rive you the Idea that that is the place where
hey dine. But they do not dine there.
They are sinking down lower and lower day
yday. Neither by day nor by night have
my thing to do with Idlers.
Before you admit a man Into yonr ae
auaintanceask him politely, "What do you
Jo for a living?" If he says, "Nothing; I am
t gentleman," look out for him. He may
lave a very soft hand and very faultless ap
parel, and have a high sounding family
lame, bnt his touch la death. Before you
enow it you will in his presence be ashamed
f your work dress. Business will become
o you drudgery, and after awhile you will
one your place, and afterward your respect
tbility, aud last of all your soul. Idleness
next door to villainy. Thieves, gamblers,
rarglars, shoplifters and assassins are made
torn the class who have nothing to do.
When the police go to hunt np and arrest a
julprit, they seldom goto look in at the busy
carriage factory or behind the counter where
diligent clerks are employed, but they go
annir the trmnnt of idlero. The nlav la arm
mg on at the theatre, When suddenly thew
is muffle In the top gallery, wnatisro
A Dollceman hv come in. and leaning ovej
has tapped on the shoulder ot a young man.
saying, "I want you, sir." He has not
has raked together a shilling or two to gel
Into the top gallery. He is an Idler. The
man on his right hand la an Idler, and the
man p hu len nana u an laisr.
During the past few years mere Has been
great deal of dullness in business. Yonna
men have comp'ained that they have little I
to do. If they have nothing else to do they
cm raw ana improve ineir minas ana
hearts. These times are not always to con
tinue. Business Is waking up, and the su
perior knowledge that in this Interregnum
of work you may obtain will be worth t50
000 ot capital. The large fortunes of the
next twenty years are having their founda
tions laid now by the young men who are
giving themselves to self Improvement. 1
went Into a store in New York and saw five
men, all Christians, sitting round, saying
that they bad nothing to do. It is an out
rage for a Christian m an to have nothing to
do. Let him go out and visit the poor, ot
distribute tracts, or go and read the Bible to
the sick, or take out his New Testament and
be making his eternal fortune. Let him ga
Into the back office and pray I
bnrink back from idleness In yourself and
In others if you would maintain a right posi
tion. Good olii Ashbel Green at more than
eighty years of age was found busy writing,
and some young man said to him: "Why do
you keep busy? It Is time for you to rest."
He answered, "I keep busy to keep out ol
mischief." No man is strong enougQ to be
Idle.'
Are vou fond of pictures? If so, I will
show you one of the works of an old master.
Here It is: "I weut by the field of the sloth
ful and by the vineyard of the man void ol
understanding, and lo! it was all grown ovei
with thorns, and nettles had covered the face
thereof, and the stone wall was broken down.
Then I saw and considered well. I looked
upon It and received instruction. Yet a lit
tle sleep, a little slumber, a little folding ol
the hands to sleep. So shall thy poverty
come as one that traveleth and thy want at
an armed man." I don't know of another
sentence in the Bible more explosive than
that. It first kisses softly, like the fuse of
cannon, and at last bursts like a flfty-fooi
pounder. The old proverb was right, "The
devil tempts most men, but idlers tempt the
devil."
A yonng man came to a man of nlnerj
years of age and said to him, "How have
you'made out to live so long and be so well?"
The old mau took the youngster to an or
chard, and pointing to some largo trees full
of apples, said, "I planted these trees when
I w:is a boy, and do you wonder that now
am permitted to gather the fruit of them?'
We gather in old ae what we plant in oui
youth. Sow to the wlud, and wa reap the
whirlwind, l'l.int in early life the rig'it
kind of a Christian character, and yon will
eat luscious fruit in old age and gather these
harvest apples in eternity.
I nro you to avoid the perpetual pleasure
seeker. I bjlleve in reere.itiou an i amuse
ment. God would not have made us with
the capacity to lauirh if Ho had not intended
us sometimes to indulge it. God hath hung
in skv mi 1 set in wave and printed on era
many a roundelay, but he who chooses pleas
ure seeking for his life work does not un
derstand for what God rando him. Oui
amusements are intended to help us in some
earnest mission. The thundercloud hath an
e.geexpiisitelv purpled,"but with voice
that jars tin enrth it de-claros, "I go to water
the green fields." The wild flowers undei
the fence are gay, but they say, "We stand
here to make room for tho wlieatfiuld and tc
refresh the husbandmen in tlioir nooning."
The stream sparkles and foams and frollot
and says: "1 go to baptize the moss. I lave
the spots on the trout. I slake the thirst ol
the bird. I turn the wheel of the mill. '
rook in my crystal cradle mnckshaw and
wnler lilv." And so, while the world plavs,
it works. Look out for the marx who ulwayi
plavs and never works.
You will do well to avoid those whose
regular business it Is to piny ball, skaie oi
i?o n-boating. All these sports aro grand Is
their places. I never derived so much ad
vantage from any ministerial association ai
from a ministerial clun that went out to plaj
ball every Hal unlay afternoon In the out
skirts of Phiiadelohia. These recmntlon.
are grand to give us muscle and spirits foil
our regular toiL 1 believe in muscnlai I
Christianity. A man Is often not so near God
with a w it stomach as when he has '
strong digestion. But shun those whe
make it their life occupation to sport. There
an young men whose Industry and useful
ness liuve fallen overboard from the yacht
There are men who.e business fell througt
the ice of the skating pond and has nevei
since been heard of. There is a beauty ! io
the gliding ot a boat, in the song of skates.
In the soaring ot a well struck ball, and!
never see one fly but I Involuntarily "throw
up my hands to catch It, and so far from lay
ing an injunction upon bail playing or any
other innocent sport, I claim them ail aa
belonging of right to those of cs who toll in
the grand industries of Church and State.
' But the life business of pleasuro seeking
always makes in the ond a criminal or a sot.
George Ilrunimel was smiled upon by all
England, and his life was given to pleasure.
He danced with tbe peeresses and swuna
a round of mirth and wealth and applause
until, exhausted of purse and worn out of
body, and bankrupt of reputation, and
ruined or soul, he beirged a biscuit from a
frrocer and declared that he thought a dog's
ife was better than a man's.
Such men will come into yonr office, ot
crowd around your anvil, or seek to de
coy ya off. They will want you to break
out In the midst of your busy day to take a
ride with them, rney will tell yon of some
people you must see, ot some excursion that
vou must rate, or some HaoDatn day tnat
vou ought to dishonor. They will tell vou
of exquisite wines that you must taste, ol
oosti v operas mat you must near, oi wonder
ful dancers that you must see, but before
you accept their convoy or their companion
ship remember that while at the end of a
useful life you may be able to look back to
kindnesses done, to honorable work accom
plished, to poverty helped, to a good name
earned, to Christian Influence exerted, to a
Saviour's cause advanced these pleasure
seekers on their deathbed have nothing bet
ter to review than a torn piayoiu, a ticket
for the races, an empty tankard, and the cast
out rinds of a carousal, and, as in the de
liilum of their awful death they clutch the
goblet and press it to their lips, the dregs ol
the cup falling upon their tongue will begin
to hiss and, uncoil with the adders of an
eternal poison.
Again, avoid as you would avoid the death
of your body, mind and soul any one who
has tn him tbe gambling spirit. Men who
want to gamble will find plaoes just suited
to their capacity, not only in the under
ground oyster cellar or at the table back
of the curtain eovered with greasy cards, or
In tbe steamboat smoking cabin, where the
bloated wretch with rings In his ears deals
jut his pack and winks at the unsuspecting
traveler providing free drinks all around
out in guaeo parlors ana amid gorgeous
lurrounilings.
This sin works ruin, first, by unhealthiul
rtimulants. Kxcltement is pleasurable,
Jnder every sky and in every age men have
lougtit It. The Chinaman gets it by smok
ing his opium, tne reman by onewtng nas-
luesh, the trapper in a buffalo hunt, tbe
tailor in a squall, the inebriate In the bottle
and the avaricious at tbe gaming table. V a
must at times have excitement. A thousand
voices in our nature demand it. It is right.
It Is healthful. It is inspiring. It is a de
lire God given. But anything that first
gratifies this appetite and hurls it back In a
terrific reaction is deplorable and wicked.
Look out for the agitation that like a rough
nusician In bringing out the tune plays so
aard he- breaks down the instrument. God
never made man strong enougn to en
lure the wear and tear of gambling ex
citement. No wonder if, after having fulled
in tbe game, men have beun to sweep off
imaginary gold from the side of the table.
l ne man was sharp enough wneu ue started
it the game, but a maniac at the close. At
every gaming table sit on one side eeMasy,
enthusiasm, romance the freuzy of joy, on
the other aide, llerooness. raiie. t umult. The
professional gamester schools himself Inte
apparent quietness. The keepers of gamb
ling rooms are generally fat, rollicking and
obese, but thoroui;u an.i proiessionai gam
blers, in nine cases out of len, are pale, thin,
wheezy, tremulous and exhausted.
A young man, having suddenly Inherited
a large property, sits at the hazard tables
and takes up in a dice box the estate won by
father's lifetime sweat and shakes it and
tosses it away. Intemperance soon stigma
tizes its victim, kicking him out. a slavering
fool. Into the ditch, or sending him, with the
drunkard's hiccoughs, staggering np tha
etreet where his family lives. But gambling
does not in tbat way expose its victims. The
gambler may be eaten up by the gambler's
Easston, yet you only disoover by the greed
i his eyes, the hardness ot his features, the
nervous restlessness, the threadbare coat and
bis embarrassed business. Yet he is on the
road to hell, and no preacher's volee or
MarUlM waraUu ox wUe'a an treaty oa
oxke film stay for a moment his headlong
Mreer. The infernal spell is on him, a giant
Is aroused within, and though you bind him
with cables they would part like tnread, and
though you fasten him seven times round
with chains they would snap like rusted
wire, and thongh you piled up in bis path
leaven high Bibles, tracts and sermons, and -)n
the top should set the cross of the Son ot
Hod, over them all the gambler would leap,
ike a roe over the rocks, on his way to per
ill ion.
A man used to re aping scores of hundreds
f dollars from the gaming table will not be
sonteut with slow work. He will say,
"What Is the use of my trying to make these
150 In my store when I can get live times
that in half an hour down at Billy's?" You
sever knew a confirmed gambler who was
Industrious. The men given to this vice
ipexd their time not actively engaged in tua
gAmo in Idleness, or intoxication, or sleep, .
or in corrupting new victims. This sin has
lulled the eapenter's saw and cut the band
at tha factory wheel, sunk the cargo, broken
the teeth ot tbe farmer's harrow and sent a
Itrange lightning to shatter the battery of
the philosopher. The very tlrst Idea in
taming is at war with all tbe Industries
at society. Any trade or occupation that
is ot use is ennobling. The street sweeper
advances tbe Interests of society by the
cleanliness effected. The cut pays fur the
fragments it eats by cleaning the house of
vermin. The fly tuat takes the sweetness
from the dregs ot tbe cup compensates by
purifying the air ami keeping back the
pestilence. But the gambler gives not any
thing for tbat which he takes. I recall that
seutence. he does make a return, but it Is
disgrace to the man he fleeces, despair to his
heart, ruin to his business, anguish to his
wife, shame to his children and eternal wast
ing away to his souL He pays in tears, and
blood, and agony, and darkness, and woe.
What dull work is plowing to the farmer
when in the village saloon in one night
he makes and los.-s the value of a sum
mer harvest! Who will want to sell
tape, aud measure nankeen, and cut gar
ments, and weigh sugars, wheu iu a night's
game he makes and loses, and makes again
and loses again, profits of a season? John
Jloraok was sent as mercantile agent from
Bremen to England and this country. After
two years his employers mistrusted that all
was not right. He was a defaulter for iil,
000. It was found that hi had lost iu Lom
bard street, London, $20,000; in Fulton
street. New York, tlO.UOO. aud In Now Or
leans 30 0. He was imprisoned, but after
ward escaped and weut luto the gambling
profession. Ho died in a lunatic asylum.
This crime is getting its lever under many a
mercantile house in our cities and before
ion: down will come the great establish
ment, crushing reputation, home comfort
and immortal sou's.
The whole world Is robbed. What Is most
pa l, there are no oonsolntlons for the loss
and suffering entailed by gaming. It men
fail iu lawful business, tlol pities and
Bo. Moiy commiserates, but where iu the Bible
or sicie-ty is there any consolation for the
gambler? From what tree ot the forest oozes
t In-ro a balm that can soothe the gamester'i
heart? In that bottle where God keeps the
tears of His children are there auy tears ol
te gambler? Do the winds that come to kise
the tnded cheek of sickness and to cool the
tieated brow of tbe laborer whisper hope an I
cheer to the emaciated victim of the game
ef hazard? Wheu an honest man is in
trouble, he has sympathy. "Toor fellow!"
they say. But do gamblers come to weep at
the agonies of the gambler? In Northum
berland was oue of the fluost estates in Eng
lan'l. 'Mr. Porter owued it anil gambled it
n I away. Having lost the last aero of the
estate, lie came ilowu from the saloon and
got iuto his carriage, w.mt back, put up hie
horses au-1 carriage and town bouse and
ptaved. Ho threw and lost. He started for
homo and ou a side alley mot a ti'ieml, from
whom he borrowed ten guineas. He wenl
bacic to the saloon, and before a great while
ha t won fl i.iiuu. lie aie.i nt last a neggat
in St. Giles. How many gamblers felt sorry
for Mr. Porter? Wh i console, I liim on the
loss of his estate? What gambler subscribed
to put a stone over the poor man's gravel
No one. Furthermore, this sin Is th
source of uncounted dishonesty. The
;'ame of hazard itself is often a cheat. How
many tricks and deceptions in the dealing ol
the cards! Tfie opponent's han I is ofttbnes
lound out by fraud. Car is are marked so
tint thev may be designated from tho back.
Expert gamesters have their accomplices
aiud one wink may decide the game. The
dice have been found loaded with platina.
So that doublets come up every time. These
dix are introduce I by the gamblers unob
served by the honest men who have come
into the (day, and this accounts for the fact
that niueiy-uine out ot a hundred who gam
ble, however wealthy wbeu thoy began, at
the end are foun ito be poor, miserable, hag
gard wretches, that would uot now be al
lowed to sit ou the doorstep ot the house
that they once owned.
In a gaming bouse In San Francisco I
young man huving just come from the minee
deosited a large sum upon the ace and won
022,000 But the tide turns. Intense
anxiety comes upon the countenances of all.
Slowly the cards went forth. Every eye li
fixed. Not a sound Is beard until the aoe li
Vevealed, favorable to the bank. There are
shouts of "Foul I Four but the keepers ol
the table produce their pistols, and the up
roar Is silenced, and the bituk has won t9o,
000. Do you call this a game of chancel
There is no chance about it. But these
dishonesties in the carrying on of the
game are nothing when compared
with the frauils that are oommltted
in order to get money to go on with the ne
farious work. Gambling, with Its need?
bund, has snatched away the widow's mite
and the portion of the orphans; has sold tha
daughter's virtue to get the menus to con
tinue tbe game, has written the counterfeit's
signature, emptied the banker's money vault
and wielded the assassin's dagger. There It
no depth of meanness to which it will not
stoop. There is no cruelty ut willed it Is ap
palled. There is no warning of wd that II
will not dare. Merciless, unappeasable,
fiercer and wilder, it blinds. It hardens, It
rends, it blasts, It crushes. It damns. Have
nothiugto do with gamblers, whether they
gamble on large scale or small scale.
Cast out these men from your oompany
Do not be Intimate with them. Always be
polite. There is uo demand that you ever
each Hoe politeness. A young man accosted
a Christian Quaker with, "Old chap, how did
you make all your money?" The Quaker
replied, "By dealing In an article that thou
mayst deal In lf thou wilt civility." Al
ways be courteous, but at the same time
firm. Say no as It you meant it. Have it
understood in store and shop and street that
you will not stand in the companionship of
the skeptic, the idler, the pleasure seekor,
tbe gambler.
Rather than enter the companionship of
inch accept tbe invitation to a better feast.
Tbe promises of God are the fruits. Tbe
harps ot heaven are the music. Clusters
from the vineyards of God have lieen pressed
Into tankards. The sons and daughters of
the Lord Almighty are the guests. While
standing at the bauijuet to fill tho cups, and
divide the clusters, and command the harps,
and welcome tho guests, is a daughter of
God on whose brow are the blossoms of pnra
dise aud iu whose cheek is the flush of celes
tial summer. Her name is Ituligion.
In home way tho nraayou linto al
ways manages to Income pnpinittcd
with the girl you liko best.
There it room to question the p-t-niiionui-s
of tiiat charity which expends
$10 in order to give $1 to tho poor.
Uo sometimes pray tor luuro grace,
when what we need n more grit.
Do right yourself, and you will help
sciue other man to behave hansel'.
True happiness ne'er ertoreduu eye;
true happiness resides in things un
seen.
There are but three classes of men
the retrograde, tho stationary aud
tho progressive.
It is not kind to say disagreeable
things when to do so b unnecessary.
It's a grohs-praiued wifti that will
scold tn a new bonnet.
f-unsliino is a llower maker, smiles
make the blossoms ot the i-ou'.
Wanting to do right will amount to
little, unless we decide to do It.
Uur trials do uot weaken us. They
J only show us that we are weak.
4
if. ! i nil.
.'r'
.-'' 1
urn in-1 m t '-