V«!k XXVII'
•TSMMSjMQ, * *,
HENRY BIEHL
14 NORTH MAIN STREET,
BUTLEB - 3ST'A
DEALER IN
Hardware and House Furnishing Goods.
Agricultural Implements,
Kramer Wagons,
Knpgies, Carte, Wheel Barrows, Brammer Washing Machine. o ,
New Sunshine and Howard Ranges, Stoves, Table
—and pocket Cutler}', Hanging Lamps. Man
ufacturer of Tinware, Tin
Keeling and Spouting A Specialty.
WHERE A CHILD CAN BUY AS CHEAP AS A MAN.
There is no Doubt
As to wbere you should buy your new dress, if economy is the
object you have in view, and you will agree with us, after you
have examined our line and prices in Silks, Satins, Cashmeres,
Serges, Henrettas, Broadcloths, Flannels, English Suitings in
plain and novelty plaids.
UNO E R W E A. R
For Ladies, Gents, Mifseß and Children which we know
can not be equaled anywhere for value and price.
Blankets, Flannels, Yarns, Plushes, Velvets, Ribbon, Hos
iery and Notions of all kinds.
C ARPET,
OIL CLOTHS,
AND LACK CURTAINS
In all the new fall patterns and designs.
We are showing the grandest line of Ladies, Misses and
Childrens
C=L=O Az=K—^
Ever brought to Butler, to convince you that the place to do
your trading is with us.all we ask is that you call and examine
prices and be convinced.
TROUT MAN'S.
—Leailing Dry Goods and Carpet House, Butler, Pa-
J. R. GRIEB. PROF. R. J. LAMB.
GRIEB & LAMB'S MUSIC STORE.
NO-16 SOUTH MAIN ST., BUTLER, PA.
BSole Agents for Butler, Mercer and Clar
ion counties for Belir Bros. Magnificent Pi
ano*, Newby & Evans' Pianos, Smith-
American and Carpenter Organs, Importers
of the Celebrated Steinmeyer Pianos, and
Dealers in Violins, Bruno Guitars, and
All Kinds of Musical Instilments.
SHEET MUSIC A SPECIALTY
Pianos and Organs sold on installments. Old Instruments
taken in exchange. Come and see us, as we
can save you money.
Tuning and Repairing of all kinds of Musical Instruments
Promptly attended to.
1850 Established 1850
E. GRIEB,
THE JEWELER,
No. 19, North Main St., BUTLER, t»A.,
DEALER IN
Diamonds,
Watches,
Clocks,
Jewelry,
Silveiware,
Spectacles, &c., &c.
Society Emblems of all Descriptions.
Repairing in all branches skillfully done and warranted.
1880 ESTABLISHED 1860
THE BUTLER CITIZEN.
PROFESSIONAL CARDS.
A. A. KELTY, M. D.
Oltlce 3 doors suu'li of the House.
Main St., Butler. I*H.. on second noor of K« t
terer's Ki-bMlence on W. .h'fferaoii St.
• G. Tv:. ZIMMERMAN.
CUVSICIAN A Nil PITHOEON,
Office at No. 4ft. S. Main street, over Frank ■«
Co's 1)1 ui; Store. Butler, Pa.
SAMUEL M. BIPPUS.
Physician and Surgeon.
No. 10 VVeat Cnuninghtm Ht.,
BUTLER, ZPZEJSTTNPA
W. R. TITZEL.
PHYSICIAN ANI ' SURGEON.
H. W.f'orner Main and North Sta.
BUTLER PEJN 2ST' A.
DR. S. A. JOHNSTON.
DENTIST, - - BUTLER, PA.
All work pertaining to the profession execut
ed in llie neatest manner. ..
Specialties Oold Killings, and Painless Ex
traction of Teeth, Vitalized Air adminlstere<l.
Office oa Jrfenoi Street, oar door Cut of I.owrj
Hoaae, I p Stair*.
Office open dally, except Wednesdays and
Thursdays. Communications by mall receive
prompt attention.
N. U.—The only Dentist In Butler using the
liesl makes of teeth.
J. W. HUTCHISON,
ATTORNEY ATI.AW.
Ofllce on second floor oI the liuselton block.
Diamond. Butler, Pa., Room No. I.
A. T. SCOIT. J. R WILSON.
SCOTT & WILSON,
ATTORNEYS-AT-LAW.
Collections a specialty. Office at No. 8. South
Diamond, Duller. Fa.
JAMES N. MOORE,
ATTORNEV-AT-I.AW AND NOTAHV ROBT.IO.
Office In Room No. I. second floor of Huselton
llluck, entrance on Diamond.
P. W. LOWRY,
ATTORNEY AT LAW.
Room No. 3. Anderson Building. Butler. Pa.
A. E. RUSSELL,
ATTORNEY AT LAW.
Office on second floor of New Anderson Block
Main St..—near Diamond.
IRA McJUNKIN.
Attorney at I-aw. Office at No. IT, East JeHir
son St.. Boiler, I'a.
W. C. FINDLEY,
Attorney at Law and Real Estate Ancut. Of
flee rear of L. Z. Mitchell's office on north side
of Diamond, Butler, I'a.
H. H. GOUCHER.
Attorney-at-lavr. Office on second ttoor of
Anderson building, near Court House, Butler,
I'a.
J. K. BRITTAIN.
Att'y at Low—Office at S. K. Cor. Main St, and
Diamond, Butler. I'a.
NEWTON BLACK.
Att'y at Law—Offlce on South side of Diamond
llutler, Pa.
JOHN M. RUSSELL,
Attoruey-at-Law. Office on South shle of Dia
mond, Butler. I'a.
C. F. L. MeQUISTION,
F:M.IM:I:R AND sritVEYoit,
OFFICE NF.AR DIAMOND. BITIJCK, PA.
L 8. McJUNKIN,
Insurance aud Real Estate As!l
17 EAST JEFFERSON ST.
BUTLER, - PA.
£ E. ABRAMS &CO
Fire and Lite
INSU R A N C B
luKUraucu Co, or North America, incor
porated capital $.'1,01)0,1(00 and other
htronK companies represented. New York
Life Insurance Co., assets $;>0,000,000. Office
New Huselton building near Court House.
BUTLER COUNTY
Mutual Fire Insurance Co.
Office Cor. Main & Cunningham Sts.
<3t. C. ROESSING, PRESIDENT.
WM, CAMPBELL TREABUKRR
[I. C. 11EINEMAN, SKORETARY.
DIRECTORS:
J. I. Purvis, Samkel Anderson,
William Campbell .1. W. Bnrkhart,
A. Troutman, Henderson Oliver,
IS. C. Itot-Hslni;, .lames Stephenson,
l>r. W. lrvln, Henry Wluliulrc.
J. I'. Taylor U. C. Heinemsui,
LOYAL M'JUNKIN, Gen. Ae't-
FA.
Millinery.
New Felt Hats and Bonnets. New Tips,
Plumes, Birds and Wings. New velvets In all
colors. New satins, ribbons, velvet ribbons,
brocade ribbons and striped ribbons. New
tinsel cord, twisted cord, bead coid.
Ladles' and children's furnishing goods.
Ladles' and children's underwear. Ladles' aud
children's hosiery. Ladles' and children's cor
sets and corset waists. Ladles' and children's
hose supporters. Eld gloves, cashmere gloves,
silk mittens and wool mittens.
Latest novelties In neckwear.
M. F. <fc M. Marks.
WHEN YOU
VISIT PITTSBURG
CALL Otf
JOHN R. & A. MURDOCH,
508 Smithfield St., for Trees, Seed.;, Lilies,
(■rape Vines, Hardy Roses, Canary F.irda,
Gol.l Fish, etc.
Descriptive Fall Cntalouge mailed free.
MEMORY
Min«l w*nd<viii(f rwftt. Kmikn l.arned
in on»» romiintf. 'tVHiiinnmaH from nil
l»*rt* oi th» ».;.»!,»». Prnnpccluil'UßT
****•» »«i.t i.n Aj»nii.Mti<»n to Prof.
A. Lcuctto, J4J7 Firth ivc. Now York.
'THAT WAUON OF OI T RS."
'(,j ii. UYLELLASD IN" OJLLCTS I WEEKLY.)
I had been in the place about Iwo years
when it happened. It was a pood place—
with ('art wright Jt Co., dealers in wagons
and agricultural implements. My employ
ers were straightforward men. and treated
their clerks with consideration, but. from
the .start. 1 made up my mind that I
wouldn't permanently stick to the business.
The fact is, my father and grandfather had
both been doctors, and the love of healing
was in the blood, so a doctor I was deter
mined to be ju*l as soon us I could save
money enongli for college expenses. There
was nobody dependent on me. and when it
fellow has bis eye set singly on one goal
he is capable of a good many personal
sacrifices to speed the running. At the
time I -peak of I had five hundred dollars
in bank, and was beginning to think—to
use a bit of slang—that 1 would '"get
there" after a while.
fine day. just about dinner time, a
mighty ab-rt and masterful fellow, with a
red inn tache and eyes like a hawk, came
into our place, and wauted to l.xik at a
wagon. W r e showed what we had in stock,
and he poked and tapped and a ; k«'d que
tions about hubs and axles as knowing a-* a
tanner. Next day he ciime again, and lie
and Mr. Cartwright worked to terms for a
good two horse wagon, about the best we
had in stock. The fellow was as smart as
a steel-trap—which farmers arc nsnally
not—and I couldn't help enjoying the
neatness with which lie fetched our "boss
down to the lowest possible notch. It was
funny, for Cartwright was accounted a
shrewd hand at a bargain.
The wagon was to go to a young woman
in tnc country, at all events, to a single
woman, for the address the fellow gave me
started with • Miss." The rest of it got
mixed, through my carelessness, they said
afterward, and came out differently from
what was intended I certainly net down
the address as it sounded to me, and the
afternoon of the day on which it was
bought I started the wagon on its travels.
When a week had passed, in bounced
the red-mustachcd fellow again, in i ter
rible temper, wanting to know "why in
thunder that wagon had never been
shipped."
Mr. Cartwright called me up, as I gener
ally attended to the .shipment of goods,
and for a minute or two we had it back
wardand forward pretty lively. The
wagon had not put in an apperance at
the place where it was due, and the lady,
after wailing and hoping for a season, bad
written to inquire the cause of the delay.
The fellow with the red mustache at first
was mad enough to lay for gore, but he
cooled down after a bit, and we proceeded
to locate the blunder. In about two
minutes we found it. Ifehad told me send
that wagon of ours to ''Miss M. N. <•
Vernon, Tarleton," and f had misunder
stood him clear through, and shipped the
thing to "Miss Mensie Vane, Tatters."
When 1 read this precious address out,
Cartwright, who is u jovial man, laughed
right out, and so did the other fellow, in
spite of being aggravated.
"Where the devil is 'Tatters,' Mr.
Jonest" my employer demanded.
•'God knows!" I piously responded, ft*j l
ing pretty sure that the matter was beyond
human ken.
'•You'd better praj for a revelation
double quick, then," Mr. Cartwright brisk
ly announced. "Thnt wagon of ours cost
sixty-five dollars, ami if you don't track it
up and reship it inside of a fortnight, you'll
have it to pay for. I can't have my goods,
or my credit either, go to 'Tatters' through
another man's blundering."
The pun was execrable, but it enabled
Cartwright to end his sentence in a picas
antcr tone than he commenced it. There
is something genial in a pun, and the
worse it is 1 lju better humor it puts the
man in who makes it.
For the next lew days I had about a.-
much wagon on baud as if 1 were conduct
ing an emigrant train in the good old days
of wagou supremacy. 1 breakfasted,dined,
and supped with my mind bitched to that
infernal vehicle,dragging it,or rather being
dragged by it, from mountains to seaboard
and back agaiu. It was my daily thought,
my nightly dream. 1 gridiroued the State
with telegrams. I haunted the depots and
cross-examined tin* train-men until they
could have guashed their teeth with im
patience at my persecution of them. At
last I got hold of the conductor of the
freight train which hail carried the
abominable thing away. From him 1
learned that the wagon had gone from one
end of his route to the other, and found no
stopping place, and that he, supposing
that "Tatters" must be on some other line,
had left iL iu the Central Depot to be'tran
ferred. lie regarded me steadfastly as he
made this statement, and remarked at its
close that he had never heard of any place
called "Tatters" in his born days. Was 1
positive that there was any such place in
Virginia?
Of course 1 was not positive, and I told
him so. Indeed, doubts as to whether
there were such a place iu America, or in
the world, constantly obtruded themselves.
For nearly teu days this "Tatters" bad de
tied uiy best efforts at discovery, and it
might, ami in all probability would, re
main a terra incognita to the end of time.
"That's a bad show for your wagon,"
the conductor observed.
And I agreed with him.
That fellow with the red mustache was
nearly the death of me. If 1 heard the
word icat/oii repeated onto 1 heard it. on
an average, fifty times a day, until I long
ed fiercely to expunge it from all spoken
languages. Should the thing ever be re
covered, I felt that the first use to which
it might legitimately be put would lie that
of hauliug me to an asylum. I was sorry
for that young woman in the country, too,
wailing for her wagon, like the chorus in
the old song. I knew, of course, that if
that vehicle should not, turu up, I would
have to pay lor it. The blunder had been
of my making and must be of my mending,
liut I couldn't be satisfied to let the matter
rest that way. Sixty-five dollars is a good
lump of money to be docked.froin a clerk's
salary; and besides, it looked ridiculous
that as big a thing as a two horse wagon
could not be traced.
Matters were in this fix when au old
chum of mine, a man I had not seen for
months, came to town, lie had been for
years a drummer for a big dry goods house,
but h;id recently been taken into partner
ship and detailed to establish a branch
house in a neighboring city, lie was ac
counted the most thoroughly well-posted
man on all matters of locality iu his pro
Cession, and, indeed, was wont to boast
that there was not a village an the State,
comprisiug more than a chicken coop and
au empty tomato-can, iu which lie bad not
traded. From this friend 1 learned that
there was a place called "Tatters," awa>
in the mountain ■, almost on the borders of
West Virginia.
There had beeu a sort of boom in West
\ irgiuia iron ore, and the I>. and W. Kail
way had run a branch line across the
mountains to tap the mining region. The
new line had penetrated the heart of a
wilderness, neglected since stage coaching
days, when an old turnpiku hail crossed
into the Uansinoutaue by a gap, in which
BUTLER. I'A., FRIDAY. JANUARY 24.1890-
i rood the village of Tatters Tin- settle
| iiinit had dwindled I<> a <"•■=•> loads store,
| a blacksmith' shop, ami hall a d< <ze u
I boose:), had not beeu deemed l.y the
t railway people of sulßci-nt important e to
jnstily a station and .1 regular agent 'lbf'
trains Would Stop it they were flagged, or
if they had good:-, or passengers to deliver,
which di.l not often happen. Such local
business as the company might acquire
was intruded to the village
who also took charge of the infrequent
freight.
Thi> man, Saui Tatter., by name, the
drummer described as being a very square
fellow; rather unsophi -ticated, as was
natural, but shrewd in trade, and very
honest and accommodating Whether or
not be bad dealings with the "moon
shiners" who infested the mountain , there
away iiiy frieud could not say,hut he admit
ted that the bar was good for so sequestered
1 a spot, and the liquor inuoceiit of adultera
j tlon.
That the name which Sam shared with
his village should have originated - Tat
ters" seemed nulikel.v ; but cognomens arc
pla.-lic thing . and, in rustic months, capa
ble of variation and even of reconstruction.
The more 1 thought about it, the more
probable it seemed that to this place that
wagon of ours had wandered. 1 hi* drum
mer to whom I related the misadventure
was of IUV opinion, and the more because
this mountain branch of the l> and
was part of the same ystem as the trunk
line on which the wagon had started.
Telegraphic communication with Tatters
wa ■ impossible, an«l my friend suspected
that the storekeeper was no scribe, since
"high larniu" was not a prerequisite to
cross roads store-keeping. The speediest
way to reclaim our property, therefore,
seemed to be to go after it.
In this view of the situation my employ
er concurred, and we arranged that he
should give me the necessary time off for
the management id' the atlair, and that I
should pay mr own and the wagon's e\
peuses. This was satisfactory enough, and
I departed on my mission iu good spirits.
To a man who has been cooped up in
town for more months than he can reckon
on bis lingers, a breath of the open air is a
pleasant thing, even though it come to him
through a car window. The lift ot the
country mountainward, the variation and
ever increasing beauty ni the outlook, the
blue of the sky, ribboned, toward evenijg,
with clouds shaded from eoftest. gray to
delicate pink, like ther of pearl; even
the fields of broom-sedge anil scrub pine,
the brier patches and tangles ol sumach
and sassafras bushes, bonud together with
ropes ol Virginia creeper and wild grape
vine, took on the beauty and allurement of
the unaccustomed I watched it. pass iu
ever-varying panorama in a beatified state
of enjoyment, which prevented even that
tarnation wagon from rolling in on my
memory and spoiling everything.
The journey occupied a good many
lio.irs, and it was somewhat over the edge
of dark when we reached the village of
Tatters. The train slowed up, deposited
ine on what looked to be the side of a
ditch, and swept away with a wild loot
toot of exultation. Tlicje was no moon,
ivnd coming from the lighted car into
the dimness of starlight blinded
inn, so that I stood and peered
about, blinking like an owl abroad in day -
time, but from a different cause. The
ditch might be dry enough for passage, or
it might not; the chance was eyeu either
\vay; and as my eyes grew accustomed to
the dusk 1 fancied 1 could distinguish
phantom-like poles and switches, which I
took to be cat-tails and willow scrub.
With the vision of a bog before my eyes I
shunned unprecedented methods, and pok
ed about for an authorized plank or cross
ing log. While thus engaged a voice from
tile other side of the ditch shouted out,
••Hor ret!" with a volume aud suddenness
that caused me to jump aside and well
uigb tumble into the danger 1 was seeking
to avoid.
This Southern style of halloo, with its
long-drawn cadence, was familiar lo me;
so f answered iu kind, and proceeded iu
the direction of the voice. Presently a
moving substance, distinguished from the
general dusk by its density, appeared on
the village side of the ditch, and held par
ley.
•Hid the train put off anybody-"
"Tea."
"What sort?"
"A man."
There was a chuckling laugh, and then
the voice went on;
"That war a fool question, waru't it'
Arter I'd heard you holler, too. Your
notes war keen as a kildee's, but tliar war
a man ring to 'etu. What are you arter,
anyhow, stranger, cumin' iu this time o'
night f"
This 1 eiplained was the fault of the
corporation, not of the individual. I fur
ther intimated that my lirst desire was to
cross the ditch dry shod, anil after that to
procure lodging for the night.
The explanation appeared satisfactory,
and my interlocutor passed from inquiry
to direction. There was only a thread of
water at the bottom of the ditch, be said,
but there was a plank across it further
along. 1 might journey toward that, or
expediate the transit by a "squar jump"
from where I stood. The latter mode
commended itself, and 1 crossed my Kubi
cou at once. The mountaineer, who had
moved aside to give me lauding room,
chuckled again.
'Vou jump as keen as a catamount,
stranger," he commented. "I e eu-er-iuost
dodged double whenst your wind struck
me. liook like ther darkness had bunched
together an' flung forred."
At his invitation 1 followed him along a
narrow path, which, after a few yards,
merged into a country road. lie had a
store close by, lie informed me, and would
accomodate nie for the night, since "tliar
waru't no boidin' houses nor yet no hotels
iu ther gap."
"You are Mr. Tatters —ilr. Sam Tatters,
1 suppose." The observation savored of
assertion, and was intended to help the ac
quaintance on to a sound basis.
"I reckon so." Then, with more assur
ance, -'Yes, thct's me. How came you to
ketch on to my name, seein' yon be strange
to these parts?"
I hastened to mention my own name
and that of my frieud the drummer, and
by the time we had reached the store we
had grown quite sociable and chummy.
The building was a log strnctnre, weather
boarded, and divided into a long room
with shelves and counters containing the
usual assortment of miscellaneous mer
chandise, aud a smaller room at the back,
in which were the proprietor's bed and a
little railed in space which served as a bar.
There was a table in the middle ol' the
room, already laid for supper, and iu the
great fireplace burned a noble lire of oak
aud hickory. As we entered, a negro wo
in an cauie iu also, through an outer iloor,
with a dish of broiled bird < and pot of
smoking'cotl'ee. In compliance with my
host's request, I took off my oyercoat and
made myself comfortable iu the ingle nook.
It was October still, but the nights were
chill, and, in the mountains, cold enough
for frost. After supper we drew to the
(ire. ami the negro woman cleared off the
table, lighted a dingy kern: cue lamp, aud
departed. Aly Lost was a bachelor, lo ex
plained. Mill reduced to hire i'euiale afteii
dance, lie preferred his old corn cob pipe i
to the tijfar I offered him, ami, for a time, [
we smoked in the ruminant . ilence whit h ,
accompanies runtie consumption of tobacco j
after a full meal To ears habituated to
noise, the silence outside appeared almost
unnatural, there was no wind astir, so that
even tin sound of its murmur among the i
trees was ab.ent. Iff hearing, luvolan
'arilv strained for the relief of sound, grew |
s Ns Ally m ute, and alter a htile 1 ;
could dTsnriguish the barking of dog • at a ;
great distance The expression of my '
face niu. t have indicated intensity, for
Tatter i noticed it, and inclined his own
ear, inquiring if f heard anything.
"Only dogs barling, away in the mount
ains somewhere," I made answer.
A slow smile wrinkled the cornels of my
companion's eves and softened the eurvo
of his lips. His face gained by the change
of expression It was a rugged face at
best, with 'lie aspect of having been
roughed out and never finishe]; but the
eye were kindly, and there was about it
something which inspired confidence. To
drop into the vernacular, lie looked like a
man to tie to.
■•Them's Ted Holly's dogs," ho
observed. lie mostly travels with two
or three to heel, an' that thar big
spotted hound o' his'n have got a ring
to his voice nbar's onmistahle. Ted's
comin' over ther mountain to see his
weetheart She don't live more'n a mile
from here. Thar weddin's sot for Thu's.l'y
week. Ui-nsie have give in to marry him
*eucc that thar wagon come an' helped'em
out'n ther inire some."
M v attention was nt ouce arrested, and
the subject which had dominated my
thoughts for days, held in abeyance for the
nonce by physical comfort, trundled brisk
ly to the front again. The name "Mensie"
in connection with a wagon suggested dis
covery, and also complications. I hadn't
conceived of the possibility of a woman
being ticketed with a name o senseless
until the initials given me by the man with
the red mustache had jumbled into it.
Here was a coincidence worth investigat
ing. Before bursting into questions, how
ever. I proceeded to put the matter in
shape by briefly stating my business at
home, and recapitulating the blunder
which had necessitated my visit to this
region. The attention with which my
statement was received and the interest
aroused by it might have been flattering
could 1 have believed either evoked by
anything personal. But my audience had
no thought of me in the matter. His mind
was filled with other images, and his ex
pression was perplexed and decidedly re
gretful.
■'What sort o' wagon did you say 'iwas,'"
lie queried when my .tale was done.
I re-described it. He nodded twice or
thrice, and beat with his pipe against his
knee, as though making an inward com
parison and cheeking oil' items.
'•l»id it come here?"
The question really appeared superfluous.
1 was convinced that it had
Tatters avoided a directed reply at first,
and went over my description.
•'Two hors' wagon, mighty strong and
serviceable, ironed heavy for rough travel
lin'; painted preen, with red wheels, an' a
red lino around ther sides o' ther body.
Had a patent brake too, an' things
formable. Au' a kyard tacked on ther
rump end o' ther tongue, marked to 'Miss
Mensie Vane, Tatters.' That's so! Yes,
siree! tliar ain't no erawlin' round them
facts. It's a pity too! Blamed if it ain't!"
I couldn't see it in that light. To me
it. was a matter of jubilation. My soul
had been vexed within me because of that
wagon, and my joy in its recovery was
proportionately great. As delicately as
1 could 1 intimated that, to nie, outside
regret seemed superfluous. Then I de
manded information us to the whereabouts
of the property.
Tatters met my glance with a medita
tive sort of smile.
"Hide easy," he said. "'Toiu't far off
an' you can't do nothiu' with it to night.
It's safe enough, an' 'tain't dirtied none to
hurt, I reckon. It come here week afore
last; but. sorter late —long about Friday or
Sitdday. Thar's been nio' mistakes about
that wagon en what you made. Yours
led off an' t'others followed suit. That's
how come I'm so tarnation bothered."
A vision of our nice new veeicle mud
splattered and dingy arose before my
mind's eye. There had been heavy rains
the previous week, an.l for badness the
mountain roads are proverbial. From the
store keeper's words 1 inferred that our
wagon had been given opportunity to be
come acquainted with them. The itnpu
dence of some fellow's coolly hit ching up
Olid pranking about the couutry with our
property, injuring and befouling it, made
made me hot all over. In a lew forcible
words 1 gave Mr. Tatters to understand
that, as freight agent for the [dace. I in
tended to hold him responsible for dam
ages, lli- had no business to lei the pro
perty out of his keeping.
••I dun'uo how come I hadn't," Tatters
retorted, nettled in his turn. ••Ther
blamed thing war 'reettd to Miss Mensie
Vane,' plain as an ase helve, warn't it?
An 'Miss Mensie Vane' lives jilst around
ther shoulder o' the mountain, an' I sout.
her, word ther wagon was here for her, an'
she come over an' paid charges an' toted
it off. If that warn't a straightforred
transaction, f dun'uo' one when 1 see it."
The way he put it certainly gave it that
appearance. Here were complications
with a vengeance, and a promising pros
pec-t lor more delay and annoyance. It
was bootless showing temper to Tatters,
however, siucc he was, apparently, in no
wiso in fault. The better part of wisdom
would be to possess myself of particulars,
so that I might thereby regulate my fu
ture movements.
The story elicited was thi :
About a mile distant, through the gap,
there lived a family by the name of Vane,
indigenous to the soil, and tracing occu
pancy of a sterile little hill side farm back
to the days of pioneering. By natural dis
integration, brought about by thriftless
ness in sotne of the race and enterprise in
others, the family in these parts had
dwindled down to an oldish man, maimed
during the war, and gradually reduced to
sightlessness by cataract on both eyes, a
single daughter of*eighteen, his youngest
and sole remaining child, and a brood of
grandchildren of tender years, the proge
ny of a son and daughter-iu law, both de
ceased This John A'anc appeared the
very Murail of ill fortune. He was a
weakly man in constitution, and never
avid of exertion, and he had married a
woman of mournful temperament. John
was oiio of twins, and the rural su
perstition runs that should one of a pair
of twins prove exceptionally .successful,
the average will be maintained by the
other one's being unlucky. Jim Vane,
the fortunate twin, had remained in lower
Virginia after the declaration of peace,
anil settled in the tide water region, where
he had done very well for himself.
In his old home, this was known by
hearsay, for, as years went by, the broth
ers had drifted more and more apart.
They werh both averse to what they de
nominated "rainhliu," and being unedu j
eated men, were debarred from intercourse j
by letter. They "sont word" to ono
i mother from tune to time, ami once Jim
I hud come home on a\ i -it l!ut that had
| been before his marriage, and John had
, io \t-r returned the civility, being lied at
home by mauy cares and little stamina to
I to grapple with them.
His daughter Mensie sceun d i i-t in
1 in a different mould; doubtless one of
I those reappearauces of the lie -t in » race
i which usually presages a turn of the
! tide. From Tatter's account -he was a
j hand j ome, high-spirited girl, with plenty
|ot sense, plenty of pluck, and a loving
heart of her own, to all of which the
neighbors wen- willing to testify. After
the death of her "sloektwisled" mother,
a couple of years before, she had taken
the laiuily iu charge and upheld them to
the best of her ability.
'thai Mi-nsie bad a lover goe- aldTost
nithont telling, for. if a woman be tender
hearted anil loyal to her own, some man
is sure to find it out and seek to appro
priati'Mhe treasure. Ted Holly, the "like
liest fellow" in the district, according to
Sain Tatters, had watched the at her
gallant task and conceived the notion
that it would be a pleasant thing to help
her.
But. Ted was as poor as a broom--sedge
field, such patrimony as might have ac
cruel to him, having been converted into
liquor and poured down the throat of a
vagabond father long ere lie attained to
manhood. He owned a horse, however,
ami a stalwart pair of arms, all of which
he placed at his sweetheart's disposal.
Mensie engaged herself right willingly,
for she loved him well; but for that very
reason she steadily refused to accede to
his proposal to marry him straight out of
hand. The man who should wed with
her must assume the burden of her turn
ilv, she said, and there were so many of
them. She could not bring her mind to
it all at once. After a while the children
would be larger and could help themselve
a little. They had better wait awhile.
Among their scanty possessions the
Vanes owned a colt, now throe years old
and being broken by Ted to harness, li
dam had died soon alter its birth, slid
Mensie had reared it on a bottle like a
fonndliug infant. It was a sturdy, well
grown brute, and with Ted's sorrel formed
as good a team as a man need want to
shake his lines over. If only they could
get a wagon now, Ted said, ami Meu ie
wonld coils jut to marry him, their for
tune.. would begin to meml.
For with the opening of the ore banks
across in West Virginia there had comea
fine opportunity for making money. With
a wagon and his good team, Ted figured
out, be could made enough in a week, to
support the family for a mouth. There
would be no necessity to wait until natuie
should lift the children into self support.
Ted could take care of them all as ea y as
rolling off a log.
He hesitated about going in debt for the
coveted vehicle; first, because he knew no
man who would trnst him for the purchase
money, and then because he had observed
that debts were prone to grow and devour
a man's substance. His sweetheart dread
eil debt, moreover, and held it a sorry
foundation whereon to establish wedded
happiness.
Then, just as their longing reached high
water mark, and the business opportunity
seemed fairly to thrust itself upon them,
this wagon of ours had come blundering
along, marked with Mensie's name,and ap
parently intended for no other human be
ing. Sam Tatters, who of course knew all
about, their plans and longings, being fond
of them both, and moreover the repository
for local gossip, was overjoyed nt Mensie'-
luck. He sped a messenger in haste to
summon the girl to behold this wonder, for
he had no mind to deliver the wagon to
uuy one else, and ::o lose the sight of her
face when she should read the label. But
Mensie hod no grain of faith in a happen
ing so unprecedented. It was one of Sam
Tatters's foolish jokes, she said, for Sam
was proverbial for jesting. She stuck to
her spinning, therefore, and sent Ted Holly,
who chanced to he on a visit to her, down
to tell Sam that she was too wary a bird
to be trapped with chaff. Holly, iu no
very credulous fi'ame of mind himself,step
ped along to the village with the message,
and there to his wonderment beheld in
.Sam's store-yard a strong new wagon, as
handsome as clean iron and paint could
make it. He spelled out his sweetheart's
name on the card fastened to the tongue,
ami then, with scarcely a word to Sam,
leaped over the fern *at the corner near
est the road and sped hack through the
Gap to fetch Mensie and the horses.
■•lie jumped up tlier hill side lilre a hop
pergrass," Sam narrated, "au" I don't
b'leeve lie tetehed ground more'n every
six foot, or such a matter. It's a teep
liill-side, too, an' rough as the devil. Ted
didn't koer. though. Lord bless yon! he
never knowed whether 'twas gravels or
velvet under his boots, he was in uch a
swivet. In a little while he came back
agin, an' Mensie with him. Sin* was
trimhlin' all over like a wind shook sapliu'
for joy. An' whenst alio seed that thar
wagon staiuliii' thar us natn'l as picaehiii',
au' read her name on ther tongue, an'
Towed for certain 'twas hern, tin- tears
come right up in her pretty eyes, an' she
laid her head down on the Highest hind
wheel au' cried like a baby, an' maybe said
her prav'rs over it, too, like women will
when anything goes all over 'em. An'
right then an' thar she told Ted he mont
git the license as quick as lie had a mind
to, bekase this here wagon was agwine to
haul the whole biliu' o' 'ein out the ditch."
Tatters paused iu his story, and gazed
into the fire. I followed his example, and
there was silence for a moment.
"They'd fetched the chil'iui along, too;
all seven o' 'em, stuck on the horses from
neck to tail. Them leetle ereeters dodged
about like pa'tridges, so pleased to have a
frolic an' ride home in the new wagon. 1
lent Ted some harness to help out with
his'n, an' helped him hitch up. Most all
ther folks had come out to see 'em start
off, an' to pass jedgineut on the wagon, an'
rcj'iie with Mensie over her luck. She's
mightily thought of by the liuvbors,Mensie
is. Whenst the}' started off, Ted lioldin'
ther lines as proud as a candidate whar
have poled a majority, ail' Mensie setlin'
up beside him so pretty au' satisfied, an'
that eoopful o' chil'uu stored in behind, 1
'lowed 'twas e'eu-er-bout the happiest wag
onload I'd seed for a month o' Sundays."
He sighed as he ended. It seemed
dreadful that this joy must be turned to
mourning. I felt like a brute, but tried to
harden my heart. After all, it was not «/</
wagou.
"Did none of you suspect that there
might be some mist akef 1 questioned.
•Whom did you suppose had sent the
wagou? '
"Well, you i■eflliur wu Mensie'. I'llde
Jim down the country. He is well oil', an'
we all kiiow'd it. Ted an' I sorter figured
out that the wagon come from Jim. I
reckon 'twas his being John's twin made
us pitch on him so straight. It looked
nalu'l for tuhis to help one another, an'
seem like they ought to fit! the right way
to uo it. Then, too, one of the neighbor
hood fellows had gone down to the low
country a mouth befo' to -ee gome kinfolk
of his own, an' wo 'lowed he mont have
| run across Jim an' told him about. Ted an'
Mensie. Everybody know'd what thar de
-ire Mn 11 bnke 1 >nsible to tiouk Jim
sent it."
"Bid his niece think so?"
"V\ I dun ut*' whtkl
tiiought at f*n-f. I d»»n't b'leeve she
thought notion'. She was so broke all to
pieces by the thing comiu' to her so sud
den, just in (her nick o' time, you may say,
that she couldn't do lunch but rej'iee all"
cry an' ,iy her pray'rs over it. I axed her
if she didn't reckon her Uncle Jim sont if,
an' she jitst looked at me out'n theui pret
ty eyes »' her'n an' made answer, right
easy, like a person peaks in church. 'May
be so; but 1 hadn't thought o' that. If
looked to me like 't war liol A'mighty sont
it."'"
My eyes sought the tire again, aud 1 am
not. ashamed to confess that they saw
double. The more 1 contemplated the job
I had iu hand Ihe less I liked it. and the
mote inclined I felt to dodge it altogether.
II -eemed downright cruelty to take the
girl's wagon from her. In my heart I re
gretted that Tatters was not still the terra
ineoynitit it hail once appeared.
The fire had burned down to a bed of
coals. Sain rose and laid fresh wood 011
it. and then passed into the outer room. I
could hear him open and close a drawer,
and shuffle about among the goods as
though he were looking for something.
Prcsentli lie eanie back and reseated him
-ell' In-side the fireplace.
"It do look a pity to disapp'int her, now
don't it?" be queried—"specially artcr the
thing liatl her name on it so plniuh. I
ilun'llo' how you come ti> run up agin thet
name nohow. 'Taiu't a common one, I
reckon."
Certainly I had never heard it uutil I
made that blunder in the address.
Sam pondered: "She 'lowed God
A'mighty had took notice "special," he
mused. "Ef things turn ont ilifent 'twill
feel 'most like He'd trone back on her, an'
a notion like that would hurt a woman.
They git a sight o' comfort out'n the idea
that Providence have got a contract to
look ont fur 'em nu' stands to fill it reg'-
lar." Do lap<ed into silence; then, with an
abrupt change of voice and expression,
turned to me with the question, "How
much is the blamed thing wuth anyhow?"
'•Sixty-live dollars was what it had sold
for," I told him.
He reached down into his coat pocket
and produced a small shot-bag, which he
emptied on the table iu front of him. It
contained the month's accumulation of his
ca -h drawer, iu small notes and fractional
currency. He counted it. replaced it iu
the bag, and pushed it over toward me.
"Thai's thirty," he announced, "and I'll
send you the balance inside o' six mouths.
The stock in t'other room will kiver it ten
times over. I'll give yon a lien 011 it to
morrow, seein' you don't know much about
me. Is it. a bargain?"
1 stared at him. This summary disposal
of the business flustered inc. 1 explained
that the wagon was not my properly, nor
even that of the firm I represented; that it
belonged to a young woman down the
country, who hail paid her money anil been
kept out of her goods for a matter of six
weeks.
"The firm won't keer," urged Tatters;
"they'll he makiu' by the trade. I'll take
this stray wagon an' pay for it. an' they
kill send t'other young woman another one.
Yon all have got plenty, I reckon, as good
a.-, this, an' better. The young woman
ain't never seed this one nohow. A wagon
is all she's artcr, an' so she gits a good
one, and her money's wuth. she'll be satis
tied. The firm will be rej'iceil—seliin' two
wagons 'still <>' one. Why, I honldn't won
iler if 1 hey put you 011 the road reg'lur artcr
this to drum for 'em." lie laughed de
lightedly, and thrust the money over near
er to me.
Then hi * expression changed again.
•• Tlier thought o* that pore gal's satir
ise ton gittin' sp'iled gripes me," lie affirm
ed; "it's hard luck to ketch holt «' happi
ness an'then have to turn 100-e. It'swus
ser'n if yon hadu't never got iu sight o' it.
I'll fix up 'IOIH' o' Ted bout my money if
von'll humor me. You kin look tome for
your'n."
Sentiment is contagions, so of course he
had his way. Iu truth I had no wish to
arrange the matter otherwise. I knew I
could make it ull right with the firm by
planking up the sixty-five dollars, aud I
did not mind making up the deficit and
waiting on Sam Tasters. I knew I could
trust him. As lor the young lady, there
were as excellent wagons iu stock as
Ibis one, \\ hich could be hipped to her as
soon as I got back.
My confidence in Sam was not misplac
ed, for before the expiration of the six
months agreed upon Ihe balance of the
purchase money was paid over. It came
down by express iu another shot bag, and
was accompanied by a note Iroiu Tatters
stating that Ted and Men iehiul been mar
lied the week following my visit,and were
well and happy, with good prospects of
success iu the hauling business. He and
Ted had fixed up matters sati ;factorily be
tween I hem, tmt had agreed to keep the
practical part of the matter a secret from
Men ie. It pleased her -;o to call the wag
on "a gilt o' God."
And after all. perhaps, il had been.
Bill Nyo's Love Song.
first I tr.sc.
0 my darling, O my darling,
Wilt you ever think jf me?
For my darling, for my darling.
I will ofltiuies think of thee.
And my darling, oh my darling,
When I ofttimes think of thee
It will be indeed a pleasure
If you erstwhile think of me.
Thus my darling, oh my darling,
Should yon erstwhile think of me.
Whilst my darling, 011 my darling,
I shall ofltimcs think of theo,
We will think about each other
Till the bright eternity.
St COIKI I (RAC.
It is fun to write a poem
While I pause to think of thee.
For I know you'll not forget me
While you pause to think of 111 c.
Thus ad own life's sunburnt pathway
Loiter I to think of thee,
For 1 hope aud trust that also
You may sometimes think of me.
Thiol Vtrst.
It is not so very wearing
(>ll the thinker, 1 can see,
Just to think of you, my darling,
As you doubtless think of inc.
So, my darling, as I stated.
If your thoughts are true to me,
1 will do some heavy thinking,
Oh my darling, just for thee;
And we'll think about each other
Till the bright eternity.
Yours truly,
BILL NVI;.
\ one armed bi>) in Align, la saved
four persons from drowning; but Dr. Bulls
Cough Syrup ha.- : aved ils thousands fruin
consumption
The use of higlih 1 a-oiied animal looil
and alcoholic drinks are the predisposing
can eof gout. When aware of it pres
ence lose no time in procuring Salvation
Oil It kills pain. 'JS cent ■
-It 1 not good form to dien the
weather.butjii.it now 11 is legitimate tj
jir-L'USS it.
The Old-Stylo School Readers.
Aiiv i.ii,- »liob«s ln-ant the Bill Xye-
W hiuouib Biley lecture will not soon for
get hi- irrc.-i-tible take off of the old style
of School Rctulers Nothing could more
<liiaiut anil inimitably droll tliau hid man
iu-r <>l rceiting ihe following, with his
-brill, piping "Oh, Mir," anil like exrlaraa
tiona from the impoMbly proper lad:
Sometimes a sad. homesick feeling comes
over me when I couipatq the prevailing
-' vie of anecdote and school literature with
the old MeOnfley brand, so known 30
years afro. To-day our juvenile literature,
it seems to me. is so transparent, BO easy
to understand, that I am not surprised to
learn that the rising generation show njfiis
of lawlessness. \
Hoys to day lo not use the respectful
language and largo luxuriant words that
they did when llr. MeGufFey used to stand
around and report their conversation for
bis justly celebrated school reader. It ij
disagreeable to think of, bnt it is none t!ie
less true, and for one 1 think wi> should
face the fact.
I ask the careful student of school liter
ature to compare the following selection,
which I have written mysell with great
care,and arranged with special refereuce to
the matter of choice and difficult words,
with the llippant and common place terms
used in the average school book of to day:
One day as George Pillgarlic was going
to hi 1 tasks, and while passing thro' the
wood, he -pied a tall man approaching in
an opposite direction along tin* highway.
"Ah!" thought George, in a low mellow
tone 111 voice, "whom have we here?"
-Hood morning, my tine fellow," .ex
claimed ihe .stranger, pleasantly, "do yon
reside iu this locality?"
"Indeed I do," retorted George, cheer
fully, doffing his cap. "I u yonder cottage,
near the glen, my widowoil mother and her
IJ children dwell with me."
" And is your father dead?" exclaimed
ihe man, with a rising inflection.
"Extremely 30," murmured the lad,
"and oh, sir, that is why my poor mother
is a widow."
"And how did your papa diet" asked
the man, as he thoughtfully stood on the
other foot a while.
"Alas, sir," said George, as a large, hot
tear stole down his pale cheek and fell
with a loud report on the warty surface of
his bare foot, '-lie was lost at sea in a hit
ter gale. The good ship foundered two
years ago last Christmas, and father was
fonndered at the same tilue. No one knew
of the loss of the ship and that the crew
was drowned until the next spring, and
t then it was too late."
"And what is your age. my tine fellow?"
quoth the stranger.
'"lf I live till next October," said the
boy in a ileclaniatoiy tone of voice suitable
for a Second Reader, "I will be nine years
of age."
"And who provides foryonr mother and
her large family of children?" queried the
man.
"Indeed I do, sir," replied George in a
shrill tone; "I toil, oh, so hard, sir, for we
are very, very poor, and since my elder
sister, Ann. was married and brought her
hnsband home to live with ns, I have to
toil more assidulou'dj than heretofore."
"And by what means do you obtain a
livelihood?" exclaimed the man, iu slowly
measured and grammatical words.
"By digging wells, kind sir," replied
George, picking up a tired ant as ho spoke
and trokingit on the hack; "I have a good
education, and so I am able to dig wells as
well as any man. Ido this day-times and
take in washing at night. In this way I
am enabled barely to maintain onr family
in a precarious manner; but, oh sir, should
my other sisters marry, I fear that some
of my brothers in law will have to suffer."
" And do you not fear the deadly fire
damp?" n ked the stranger in an earnest
tone.
•'Not In a damp sight," answered
George, with a low, gurgling laugh, for he
was a great wag.
"Ton are indeed a brave lad,'' exclaimed
the stranger, as he repressed a smile.
"And do yon not nt times become very
weary and wish for other ways of passing
your time?"
"Indeed I do, sir," said the lad. "I
would fain run and romp and be gay like
other boys, bnt 1 must engage in constant
manual exercise or we will have no bread
to eat. and 1 have not seen a pie since
papa perished in the moist and moaning
sea."
"And what if I were to tell you that
your papa did not perish at sea, but was
saved from a humid grave?" asked the
stranger in pleasing tones.
"Ah, sir." exclaimed George, in a gen
tcel manner, again doffing his cap. "I am
too polite to tell you what I would say,
and, besides, sir. you are much larger than
1 am."
• "But, my brave lad," said the man, iu
low, musical tones, "do you not hnow 111 c,
Georgie? Oh, George!"
"1 must say," replied (ieorge, "that you
have the advantage of me. Whilst I may
have met you before, I cannot at this
moment place you, sir."
••My sou! oh, my son!" murmured the
man, at the tamo time taking a largo
strawberry mark out of his valise and
showing it to the lad. "Do you not recog
nize your parent on your father's side?
When our good ship went to the bottom
all perished savo nie. I .swam several
miles through the billows, and, at last,
utterly exhausted, gave up all hope ol life.
Suddenly 1 stepped on something hard. It
was the United States."
sj*onge Trade of Cuba.
Sponges are found both 011 the northern
and southern coast of (.'aba, but the chief
ports to which they are brought for sale
arc Batabano 011 the sonth coast and Cali
liarien 011 the north.
Consul Little, of Havana, says that the
classes included are sheep, wool, velvet,
hard head, yellow, grass, aud glova. Very
little reef, if any, is found iu Cuba. On
the south coast, sheep wool and velvet are
nioro abundant than on the uorth coast.
Cuban sponges find a market chiefly in
England, France, and the United States.
The island itself consumes about
one tenth of all the sponges brought
in. and tlieso are used especially
for the damping of tobacco aud for
cleaning centrifugal machines 011 sugar
estates.
The sponge fisheries employ about 1,000
hands, chosen exclusively from among the
imilro-nlatlos, or seamen who have served
on Spanish men of-war, and are r;till bound
to serve when called upon.
On the south coast are employed vessels
ranging from about live to t\scuty tons,
earn ing from lour to eight men, aud each
\e el i-provided with from three to 6ix
mall boats. On the north coast, open
boats with one or two men are used. The
annual \ahie of the sponges brought in by
these ve .-li is between .-CIOO.OOO and
£IBO,OOO.
What's the use iu worrying,
Of hurrying
And scurrying.
Everybody flurrying
And breaking up their rest!
Aud every one is teaching us,
Preaching and beseeching us
To settle down aud eud the fuss;
For quiet ways are best.
NO 12