VOL XXVII
'William Xland.. *
wSML
■ > m- 30 s main st.
s >
HENRY BIEHL
14 NORTH MAIN .STRKKT,
ETJ TI.ER T 3 "BJSI 3ST' A
DEALER IN
Hardware and House Furnishing Goods.
(2500 Stitches Per Minute.)
" ■
Agricultural Implements,
Kramer Wagons,
Buggies, Carls, Wlioel Barrows, Brammer Washing Machines,
New Sunshine and Howard Ranges, Stoves, Table
and pocket Cutler}', Hanging Lamps. Man
ufacturer ol Tinware, Tin
Roofing and Spouting A Specialty.
WHERE A CHILD CAN BUY AS CHEAP AS A MAN.
There is no Doubt
As to where 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, Ilenrcttas, Broadcloths, Flannels, English Suitings in
plain and novelty plaids.
UND K R W E A R
For Ladies, Gents, Misses 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.
CARPET
OIL CLOTHS,
AND LAOS CURTAINS
In all the new fall patterns and designs.
We are showing the grandest lino of Ladies, Misses and
Childrens
C=3L.=Q—A —KzzN
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.
TTi) UT MAN'S".
• Leading 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.
Sole Agents for Butler, Mercer and Clar
jjjl * on counties for Bohr Bros. Magnificent Pi-
Newby & Evans' Fianos, Smith
|P«TjigMy American and Carpenter Organs, Importers
the Celebrated Steinmeyer Pianos, and
Dealers in Violins, Bruno Guitars, and
All Kinds of Musical Instruments.
SHEET MUSIC A SPECIALTY
Pianos and Organs sold on installments. Old Instruments
taken in exchange. dome and see us, as we
can save you money.
Tuning and Repairing of nil kinds of Musical Instruments
Promptly attended to.
185(>
E. GRIEB,
THE JEWELER,
No. 19, North Main St.,. BUTLER, PA.,
DEALER IN
Diamonds,
Watches,
Clocks,
Jewelry,
Spectacles, &c., &c.
Society Emblems of all Descriptions.
Repairing in all branches skillfully done and warranted.
1850 ESTABLISHED 1850
THE BUTLER CITIZEN.
PROFESSIONAL CARDS.
J. W. MILLER,
Architect.
omce on s. W. Corner of Diamond
Plans and specifications for cheap and expen
sive building's made on snort notice.
A. A. KELTY, M. D.
offlce 3 doom south of the Vogeley Mouse.
Main St., Sutler. I'a., ou second floor ol Ket
te.-er's building. Kesidence on W. JeHersou St.
G. M. ZIMMERMAN.
rUYSICIAN ASli SUUOBOM,
Office at No. 45. S. MaJn street, over Frank A
Co s Uiug Store. Butler, Pa,
SAMUEL M. BIf'PUS.
Physician and Surgeon.
No. 10 \Veet ruQninghkui St.,
BUTLER. 3PE3TT3Sr'A.
W. R. TITZEL.
PHYSICIAN ANl ' SURGEON.
H. W. Corner Main and North Sts.
E'UTLER PEW ZtST'-A.
DR. S. A. JOHNSTON.
DENTIST, - - BUTLER, PA.
All work pertainini; to the profession execut
ed in the neatest manner.
S|*-eialties :—liold Killings, and Painless hx
tractiou of Teeth. Vitalized Air administered.
Office on JefTrnioa Street, one door Eut of Low rj
Hoaae, t'p Main.
(lUlce open daily, except Wednesdays and
Thursdays. Communications by mail receive
proin pt attention,
N. B. -The only Dentist In Bntler using the
befit makes of teelh.
J. W. HUTCHISON,
ATTORNEY AT la w.
Olllce on second lloor of the Uuselton block.
Diamond, Butler. Pa.. Kooin No. 1.
A. T. SCOTT. J. H. WILSON.
SCOTT & WILSON,
ATTORNEYS-AT- LAW.
Collections a bpei laity, OfHcc at No. «, .South
Uiaraond. Butler, pa.
JAMES N. MOORE,
ATTORNEY- AT- Law ANI> Notary PTBI.IC.
< J (11 cc In Itootn No. l. second floor of Iluselton
Block. entrance on Diamond.
P. W. LOWRY,
ATTORNEY AT LAW.
Koom No. 3. Anderson Building, butler, Pa.
A. E. RUSSELL,
ATTORNEY AT LAW.
omce on second floor of New Anderson Block
Main St.,—near Diamond.
IRA McJUNKIN.
Attorney at I.aw, Office at No. 17, East Jeffer
son St., Butler. Pa.
W. C. FINDLEY,
Attorney at Law and Heal Estate Agent. Of
lice rear of L. Z. Mitchell's office on north side
of Diamond. Butler, Pa.
H. H. GOUCHER.
Attorney-at-law. Office on second floor of
Anderson building, near Court llousc, Butler,
Pa.
J. K. BRITTAIN.
Att'y at. Law-Office at 3. ti. Cor. Main St, and
Diamond, Butler, Pa.
NEWTON BLACK.
Att'y at Jjtw -Office ou South side of Diamond
Butler, Pa.
JOHN M. RUSSELL,
Attorney-at-Law. Office on South aide of Dia
mond, Butler, I'a.
C. F. L. MeQUISTION,
ENGINEER AND SURVEYOR,
OFFICE MKAH DIAMOND, BOTLBH, I'A.
L. 8. McJUNKIN,
lusuranre and Krai Estate Ag't
17 EAST JEFFERSON ST.
BUTLER, - PA.
E. £. ABRAMS & CO
Fire and Life
INSURANCE
Insurant: * C'o. of North America, incor
porated 17y», capital $3,000,000 and other
Htrong companies represented. New York
Life Insurance Co., assets $1)0,000,000. Office
New Iluselton building near Court House.
BUTLER COUNTY
Mutual Fire Insurance Co.
Office Cor. Main & Cunningham Sts.
vl. C. KOESSING, PIIKHIDKNT.
WM. CAMPBELL TREASUKKR
11. C. IIKINEMAN, HKORKTARY.
DIRECTORS:
J. L Purvis, Samuel Anderson,
William Campbell J. W. Burkhart.
A. Troutman, Henderson Oliver,
U. C. Koesslui;, Jamea Stephenson,
l>r. W. Irvin, llenry Wiiltuiiie.
J. K. Taylor. 11. C. Ileliiemiui,
LOYAL M'JUNKIN, Gen, Ae'i.
BUTLER,
Millinery.
New Felt Hats and Bonnets. New Tips,
Plumes, Birds and Wings. New velvets in all
colors. New satins, ribbons, velvet ribbons,
brocade ribbon* and striped ribbons. New
tinsel cord, iwisted cord, bead coid.
Ladles' and children's furnishing
Ladles' and children's underwear. Ladles' and
children's hosiery. Ladles'and children's cor
sets and corset waists. I-allies' and children's
hose supporters. Kid gloves, cashmere gloves,
silk mittens and wool mittens.
Latest novelties In neckwear.
M. F. cfc M. Marks.
CALES MEN
n WANTED
'<• canvas for the sale of Nursery Stock! Steady
employment guaranteed. Satiny und expenses
puld to successful men. Apply ut once stating
age. Mention this paper.
CIiAHG BROI HERS COMPANY.
finch ester. N. V
W.JENKS' EXPRESS.
BY THOMAS A. JAHVIKR.
When llill}* Jenks' father failed, and
j Billy hail to leave school, all in a whifl,
most of us were mighty sorry In have him
I go. lie «'i.i a queer little chap, liut he
was pood all the way through. Somehow,
he always was coming out in a square i-ort
of vruv from the tight places where other
lioys went crooked. Most of the fellows
thought very highly of him. T know I did.
My father told me all about Slr. .leaks'
failure, for he knew that 1 would he in.
terested in it on Billy's account. Mr.
Jenks had indorsed notes for somebody,
and this other man had failed and had
carried Mr. Jenks down with him 1
couldn't quite understand the whole thing,
but it seemed that, if he hail tried to, Mr.
Jenks might have got out of paying any
thing at all; but he didn't try to He was
"behaving nobly," my lather said; making
ready to turn over everything to his credi
tors and to go and live in a little house that
belonged to hi.- wife, over in the shabby
end of the town —a house that his wife bad
bought lor her old nurse to live in,and I bat
happened to be empty because the old
nurse had just died.
My father and all the rest of the credi
tors—except old Mr. Skimmington—hoped
to arrange matters so that M r. Jenks would
go on. He was in an excellent business,
my father said, and if he hail an oppor
tunity he would be alt straight again in no
time. Mr. Skiminington was a queer old
fellow; just as cranky and cross g rained as
he could possibly be. He was very rich
but he kept on working as hard as ever;
and that was very hard indeed. Whenever
anybody asked why he dill not retire l'rom
business and enjoy himself —and people
that did not know him very well used to
ask him this, now and then —he- would
draw himself up and Say, "Enjey mysell ?
I am enjoying myself, sir! I began to
work when I was nine years old, sir; and I
have been workinfffever since. For more
than sixty years I have been a useful citi
zen; and to be useful is my idea of enjoy
ment. I hate a drone—and either you are
a drone or would be one if you could.
Good-day, .sir!" And then the old fellow
would stalk away as stiff as a poker. I
never met anybody who liked him much.
| it was Mr. Skiminington who
held most of Mr. Jenks' notes; and Mr.
Skimmington refused point-blank to join
the other creditors in giving Mr. Jenks
more time.
"No sir," he said; "it shall not be done.
Jenks has been fool enough to put his name
to paper, and he must take the con
sequences! It will teach biiu a valuable
lesson, sir, —a lesson that will do hiui good
as long as he lives. It did me good, and T
know what I'm talking about. I put my
name, to paper in T>7, —and down I went!
Did anybody give me a;i extension? Not a
bit of it! I had to fight my way up again;
anil that fight made a man or me, sir.
Jenks is a young feljow still, and this will
be a very useful experience for him. Lot
him tight his way up, just as I did. I re
peat, sir, it will do him good. Not another
word! My mind is made up; into bank
ruptcy he goes, just as sore as my name is
Jeremiah Skimmington."
liut Mr. Jenks did uot go into bankrupt
cy—and what kept him out of it was Hilly.
Hilly told me that when he got Lome
from school, and found out what a mess
thmgs were in. he felt us if he'd like to sit
down and cry. Hut it struck him that cry
ing would do no good; so ho set himself to
thinking about what he could do to help
his father and mother in their trouble. He
thought away as bard as ever he could
thiuk for about two days, without hittiug
anything—for he Was only ten years old,
ami little for his age, so that it was not
easy to find a way in which he conlil be
really useful. They were still living in
their handsome house, anil Billy still had
bis donkey and donkey-cart; and to help
his thit'king—for the donkey-cart, had no
springs and he believed that joggling might
shake up his ideas —he drove about most of
the time.
Oil the third day after he got homo, lie
huppened to be driving along by the New
Row. Ho was very low iu his mind, aud
was not paying attention to anything in
particular, and it gave hitu a start when ho
found that somebody was calling. He
pulled Jenny up short, and looked around;
anil there on the high sidewalk —for the
road had been cut down along the New
Row—lie saw a nice-looking old laily who
wore spectacles, anil carried a big travel
iug-bag by her side, aud a little bag in her
hand, and a bundle under her arm. She
looked hot and tired and llustered.
"Oh, little boy," the old lady said, "I
have called to you several times. I hayc
such a load to carry that 1 know 1 never
can get to the station iu time for the
train. Will you please carry my bag down
ill your donkey-cart? 111 go down by the
short cut and meet you; and I'll gladly
give you a quarter."
Of course Billy said tliat he would be
very glad indeed to oblige her; and ho put
the big bag and the little one, too, in the
cart, aud chirped up Jenny, aud whisked
off to the station in no time.
Presently the old lady came; and then
he hitched Jenny aud helped the old lady
to check the big bag and triud to make
things generally comfortable for bur. Of
course he wouldn't take the quarter that
who offered him; and when she found that
he was really in earnest, she thanked him
very gratefully and put the money away.
"I'm very much obliged to you, indeed,
my dear," she said, "for if you hadn't help
ed me so kindly, I certainly should have
missed my train." Aud then she added
"How stupid it is that in a town of this
size there should not be any express; it
would pay an enterprisiug man well to
start one, I'm sure. And now, here comes
my train. Good-bye, —I shall not soon for
get my little expressman, 1 can tell you!
You certainly are a very well behaved boy,
—for a boy. Good-bye, again." Then the
old laily got into the car and the train
started.
It was while Billy was driving home that
he suddenly woke up to the fact that the
nice old lady had shown liiui a way in
which ho could help his father. lie would
bo an expressman,—that is to say, express
boy,—in dead earnest! lie had often heard
othor people complain about the difficulty
of getting luggage to and from the station,
and bo was sure that the old lady was
right in saying that an express service
would pay. What pleased him most of all
was the thought that here he was, all
ready to go into business —for the donkey
cart would make a very good express
wagon to begin with; and both the donkey
cart and the donkey were bis own.
But when he went home, he found him
self brought up with a round turn, llis
father told liirn to come into the library.
Mr. Jenks seemed very solemn about it;
and when Hilly went in ho f.ninil his
mother there, ulid she looked as if she bad
boon crying; but she seemed to be as cheer
fnl as a cricket. Then Mr. Jenks told
Billy that he was very sorry, but, that in a
few days nearly everything about the hou e
was to be sold, and that Jenny and the
donkry cart would have to he sold with
the rest!
Billy told nie afterward that when his
father said that, be felt just as it somebody
-BUTLER I'A., FRIDAY. FEBRUARY 7. !B'.io
j had tripped his heels from under him anil
l let him down with a bang It only up et
him still more, when his mother put her
arms around him and ki ed him, and told
hiin not to mind the loss of Jenny, but to
lie her brave boy and take a share in the
family trouble- without complaining.
lie aj not prepaied I" say, just then,
that what wa> bothering biiu wiia not the
loss of Jenny, but the lo .« of his expi'es..
business—lor he felt iu his boues, some
liow, that his father and mother would not
like to have him to go to work for theui,
and he hoped that it only get the business
started without their knowing about it, so
that he could prove to them what a good
business it was, ami how well he could
manage it, they would gladly let hint go
ou with it.
So. instead of telling all about his plan,
he took another tack aud asked it Jenny
and the donkey-cart were not his own;
and, it they w ere, how they could lie sold
away from him. When it was explained
to hiui that until he was twenty one years
old everything that was . ailed his, really
iu law, belonged to bis lather, and so luu»t
be sold to pay his lather's debts, he tuade
his father and mother just miserable—as
he found out afterward—by saying that he
would go and talk matters over with Mr.
Wilkinson; for it was uot like Billy to be
thinking of himself when other people, and
they were afraid that the family III i for
tunes were making him selfish.
Mr. Wilkinson was Mr. Jeuks' lawyer,
and he aud Billy were great friends. He
was a kink old gentleman; and when Billy
sent in a card with "W. Jenks, On Import
ant Business," written ou it. he invited
Hilly in. Billy knew that the lawyer's time
was valuable, aud he went straight to the
point. - l!au or can not in}' donkey and don
key cart be sold to pay iny lather's debts?"
he asked. And Mr. Wilkinson came straight
to the point, too, by answering, "'Of course
they can." Hilly bit his lip hard, aud tri
ed to keep his self-control; but lie could
not help giving just one sob; and lie had so
set his heart upon helping his father; and
here was his plan for helping hint all
knocked into a cocked hat!
Mr. Wilkinson was very sorry for Billy
and tried to com fort hi 111. But, when he found
that Hilly wouldn't be comforted, he spoke
a little sharply and .said that he bad ex
pected belter things ol Billy, and told him
he was too big a boy to be selfish about a
miserable donkey; but just then he forget to
stand up for. In a very fragmentary way
—for it was all he could do to keep from
crying—iie told Mr. Wilkinson all about his
plan for helping his fatli«-r, and how the
loss of Jenny and the ilonkey-cart must, of
course, upset it completely. Mr. Wilkin
son listened to Billy very attentively with
out speaking a word and was silent for a
little after he had finished.
"Billy, you are a Very en able boy," he
said at last: "sensible enough, I'm sure to
see the difference between a business trans
action and a personal obligation. What I
have to propose to you is a business trans
action. When Jenny and the cart are
sold, as they must be, I'll buy them my
sell; and then, for a fixed annual payment,
I'll let you have them to run your express
business with. Money is pretty low just
now, aud I 'll be quite satisfied to get live
per cent, out of my investment. I reckon
that the lot will- cost rue about a hundred
dollars, so you will have to pay me five
dollars a year. No, don't interrupt ine,"
Billy was trying to say that he could
not think think of letting Mr. Wilkinson
do this act of great kindness for hiui, —"for
interrupting me won't do any good at all.
We're talkiug business now, and nothing
else. lam to get a reasonable return for
my money, and you will have a good mar
gin for your own profit My offer is just
what 1 told you it was a moment ago -
a straight out business proposition, and
yon needn't hesitate a moment about ac
cepting it, if you think well of it."
Well, the long aud short of it was that
Billy did accept the offer; and as he was
going away, after shaking hands with Mr.
Wilkinson aud saying how very much
obliged he was to hiin, Mr. Wilkinson said:
"You can begin business whenever you
please, Hilly. l T ntil the sale take place,
the donkey and cart will lie yours, and af
ter it takes place, they will be mine.
Therefore, as the property is, and will con
tinue to be, vested in the firm,"—Mr.
Wilkinson wa.wd his hand as if he were
speaking to a judge ou the bench, —"there
is no reason why operations should not be
gin right away. My relation to this firm,"
Mr. Wilkinson added, us Billy hud his
hand on the door knob, "is that of a spec
ial portlier. 1 put a fixed sum into the
concern, uiul I am responsible for the
firm's debt only so far as that sum goes.
If you plunge madly into baggage smash
ing, William Jenks, and smash more than
one hundred dollars' worth of trunks, don't
look to me to meet your liabilities, lor I
won't!"
And then Mr. Wilkin son grinned at Bil
ly, aud Billy tried hard to smile at Mr.
Wilkinson —but be was so grateful for
what Mr. Wilkinson had done that it was
all that he could do to keep from crying.
However, he got away without breaking
down, having steadied himself by the re
(lectiou that he was now a man of business,
aud us such must hold the lender emotions
iii check.
What pleased him must of all was the
advice that his partner hud given him, —to
begin work right away,—anil the confi
dence he now felt that, with Mr. Wilkin
son for a partner, his father aud mother
would lie sure to let him go ahead. lie
was so pleased with it all that he started
for home ou a dead run.
Hut all the wind was taken out of his
sails when he reached home, on findiu g
that his mother had been called away iu
a hurry by a telegram bringing word that
his Uncle John was sick, anil that his
father had gone with her, and that they
would not be back until the evening. Bil
ly was sorry to hear that his Uncle John
was sick, —at least, he was as sorry as he
reasonably could be about the sickness of an
uncle whom he had seen only two or three
times in the course of his life, and whom
he might have met anywhere in the treet
without, recognition. For his mother,
though, he was very sorry indeed; for he
knew she was very fond of her brother
John, —and it did seem hard that this fresh
trouble should come to her with all the
others. Then, being reminded of the fain
ily troubles, lie presently forgot all about
his I'nele John's sickness and thought on
ly of his project for making these troubles
less by running an express wagon.
It was evident, .ince his father and
mother had goue away, that he could not
talk over his plan with them until lln-y
came back, und that meant, certaiuly,Un
less of at least a whole day. What he
wished was to begin ut once; and the more
he thought about it, and especially, the
more that lilt reflected upon the
assured position In- had gained by going
into partnership with Mr. Wilkinson, the
more did he feel that, waiting was unnec
essary. Besides, it occurred to him, how
delightful it would be to have some money
his first day's earnings— to give bis fath
ei an welcome home! This last thought
settled the matter, lie went down to the
carriage house, and, with sonic black
paint that waa there, began to put a sign
on the spatter board aloug each side of the
| donkey-cart, —to the great delight <«f the
j small boy who was taking care of llie ta
j hies, now that the coachman aud regular
; helpers hail heen discharged. Hilly was
; not nineh of a hand at sign paint iufT. but,
< a sign, his sign \ra,< a -uccess; tor the
big, . prawly letter-could lie read a long
1 ditanee away, aud the qucerue.- of the
! work ccrtaiulv would attract attention
i wherever it wa-ecu. What he printed
j was thin:
: W. JENKS' EXPRESS. J
Billy was so pleased with hi handiwork
I that he could have stood and looked at. it
| all the rest of the afternoon; hut ho again
tenieinhered, after a while, that hi* was a
man of business and that, a< he had heard
las father say, to a man of business time
was money;—though just how time could
be money, he did not very clearly under
stand. What he did understand, though,
waa that, if he meant hi* express t«. have
a {.'Odd start, he ought to go down t«i the
station and tell the station tua-ter, Mr.
Knggles, that he was prepared to carry
baggage to and frout the trains; and it.
also occurred to him that, it it didn't cost
too much, he ought to advertise his bust
uess in the Gazette.
ilr. Rogglos topped telephoning some
thing and seemed to be a.-tonished, Hilly
thought when he told how he was going
to tart an express ami asked if orders for
it might be left at the station, liut Mr.
Kuggles kept his a toui dnuent in ide of
himself and answered, in his solemn way,
"Ifanybody leaves orders here for this
express of j ourn, Hill}", whether the same
eomes by word of mouth, or by mail, or
through this here instrument, all I can
gay is: you shall get 'em sure," —and then
he began to telephone again. So that was
all right.
The Gazette was not the very best sort
of newspaper. Its editor put into it many
unpleasant things which were only half
true, or were not true at all, and every
now and then somebody would sue it for
libel, only a short time before, as it hap
pened, the editor hail been nude to pay
very heavy damages for something that
he had published that was all wrong; and
the lawyer who had won the case against
the paper was Mr. Wilkinson. Hilly, of
course, did not know anything of this.
He knew that the UazetU was the only
paper in the town and that he must put
his advertisement in that paper, or else
not advertise at all.
In a general way, lie knew that adver
tising cost very heavily, and so he made
his announcement short and to the point.
He thought very hard over it, and finally
wrote one that, he decided, would do.
liut after lie had it all in shape, he sud
denly began to wonder if it would not be.
dishonest to call the express his, when, in
reality, it was a joint undertaking in
which all tho capital belonged to his spec
ial partner. Hilly was just as sound as a
little dollar about honesty. So he chang
ed the advertisement to make it fit in
with what was right, or what, he thought
was right, and then took it to the news
paper office.
It gave Hilly a regular cold shiver when
the young man behind the desk took it,
made dabs at it with a pen lor a minute
or two, and then said, "In display type
this will cost you fonr dollars for the first
insertion, aud two dollars anil seventy
five cents for each subsequent insertion,"
and added, "Special rate ; of it goes in by
the month, you know."
All that Hilly could ay was ••oh!" and
he felt a lump coining up Jn his throat.
The idea of paying so much money for
mere advertising quite took his-breath
away.
A man standing behind the counter had
been looking on in a queer sort of way,
and now he said. "What is it, George?"
and reached out his hand fur the adver
tisement. When he read it, bis eyes gave
a queer sort of twinkle, aud lie stepped
right up to Hilly, and said.
''We won't charge you anything for
this; —not at first, unywu\. And il it doe
not pay, you will have saved this much
capital at the start."
"I don't want yon to print this for noth
iug, sir," Hilly began. "I can't pay fonr
dollars just now; but I've got a dollar,
aud—
Hut the man cut him short: "Don't yon
say another word. I'm tho editor of this
paper, and if I choose to print, an ad. for
nothing, it's nobody'.! loss but my own "
Hilly did not wish to accept a favor like
this from an entire stranger; but the editor
was so pleasant about it that Billy finally
gave in, —with the understanding that if
by the end of the week the business had
made a good start he might coiue back and
they would make a regular bargain for
printing the advertisement by the year.
As lie left the office he heard the editor
say tn the young inan behind the desk,
"There's not a speck of libel in it, and it
will make old Wilkinson just fairly howl
on the house-tops!" and then they both
burst into roars of laughter.
Hilly could not help wondering what it
could be that would make so very dignified
aud quiet a man as Mr. Wilkinson do so
absurd a thing as to climb on top of the
houses and howl; and why anything like
that should be the joke of tho season he
could not see. He concluded that it all
was some joke that he did not understand.
But Mr. Wilkinson saw where the joke
was—though it did not, strike him as being
"the best joke of the season" exactly, when
The Ca-cttf came out the next morning
with this advertisement in it:
EX I* It ESS !
• HJCUAGE A XI) I'A Jt<'l'.l.S ( AUK •
PULL Y CAIIJUKD /; 1 •
: w. JEN'KS. :
; I>. WKBSTKE WILKINSON, ES<;., ;
: SI'KIIAI. IWUTNKK. ;
TERMS MODERATE.
; Please leave directions with Mr. :
; Kuggles at the Railway Station.
! c. d. t. o. H. a. '
Well, at first Mr Wilkin on was angry
about it —almost as angry as the editor of
The (Uuvttu expected, in fact; but he bad
the good sense to laugh when people poked
fun at. liiiii about, his new bu. iue . and to
a few ot hi intimate friend - lie tuld the
whole story, -and nobody thought any the
v. or eoi hiin when, to show that. Hilly had
not made fun of hi in, and in sell defense,
lie had to tell how kind-hearted In- had
beeu.
While the advcili. i-mciit, in one way,
was all wrong, simply as an advertisement
it was a tremendous success. What with
the wish to make fun of Mr Wilkin on, the
good reason for praising him, and the kind
ly feeling for Hilly,—all of which the ad
vertisement created when it came to he
understood, —the whole town, before n<*»n
was ringing with it; so that "W. Jenk
Expre- >" was better adverti ed in hull a
day than luo.-t new business ventures are
in half a year.
Mike, tho stable boy,— who bad a most
unnatural faculty of waking up carh,
called Hilly the next morning, just at the
edge of daylight: and in the cool, gray
j dawn. Billy it through the yard
gates and down to the station to meet the
:f> ,V. train. There wa - not a ■■•nl on the
streets, and lie was glad of it. for now that
he was actually tarteil an ,r\pre man.
he felt a little shy and queer about it. The !
. tih people around the tation w ere a man j
. with a Wooden leg, and Mr I'ngglet. who j
|hid a green tlag iu hi hand aud looked
very deepv. I'n. ,-iitlv the train came
I 1 •
along and stopped; but nobody got off j
The man with a wooden leg got on, anil j
then the train went puffing away down the
line
"Better luck next time, Billy," said Mr. |
Buggies, as he rolled up his flag, yawned. |
and went into the station. Billy felt very
Hat, somehow. But the next train was
not due until 7:20. and he was glad enough
to go home and get his breakfast.
When lie drove down town, after break
last, llie streets vere quite full of people; I
and they' all stared when they saw the
little donkey-cart with "W. Jenks' Ki
press" on it. and W. Jenks him. elf fitting
in front driving, and looking a.< sober as a
little judge. It struck Billy as very odd
that nearly everybody lie met should l.e
laughing. There must be a greai many
jokes going about that niorning.be thought.
The 7;".'0 wa - a through train from tin
wet Only two people got out of it, but j
■me i.f the e —as Billy observed with much
satisfaction—was an old gentlemen who
was carrying what seemed to be a very !
heavy bag. Somehow, he could not bring !
himself to go up to the old gentleman and j
ay. in a business-like way, "Baggage
carried, sir'"—which was what he fully
had made up his uiiud to do—aud all that
he did, to show auybody that there was an
express around, was to cry -Whoa!" very
loudly to Jenny. As Jenny was standing
stock still, she was very much startled
when Hilly said "Whoa!" to her in that
unprovoked sort of a way.
Luckily for Billy, Mr. Kuggle.s was wide
awake now, and saw how things were go
ing; so up he stepped to the old gentleinau
aud asked hiui with a grin if he wouldn't
like the bag to In- sent, by expre •* Con
siilering what a small matter had to he ile
cided, tlie.y seemed to talk about, it a long
while; and Hilly was sure that he heard his
father's name mentioned. And the end of
the talk was that the bag was put in the
donkey cart, and the old gentleman—after
giving Hilly tin- number of his house and
agreeing to pay a quarter for the express
age—went by the short eut;and Billy drove
away with lii.stir t load of express-matter
asjproud as a little king.
When he reached the liou. e, there was
the old gentleman waiting for him; ami he
told Billy to hitch the donkey and bring
the bag inside. The bag was very heavy,
just as much as Hilly could stagger under
—and he suddenly thought, what, iu the
world In- would do if somebody asked him
to carry a trunk? He had not thought
about trunks when lie started his express,
and now that he did think ol them they
made him fairly shiver!
When lie deposited the hag inside the
hall, the old gentleman asked how much
• there was to pay—for he seemed to
have forgotten that he hail been very par
ticular to get all that settled at the station;
and when Billy said "A quarter," he look
ed thoughtful and said that a quarter was
too much. It. made Billy very uneomfort
able to have to ask tor money at all, and
when the old gentleman poke in that way,
lie grew quite red in the face aud felt
more uncomfortable still. "Very well,
sir," he aid, "you can pay anything you
please. Or —you needn't pay anything at
all,'' and lie began to move toward the
door.
"Stop!" said the old gentleman. "That
isn't business."
"No, it isn't," said Hilly ; "and it isn't
business to make a bargain aud then not
stick to it I told you, down at the sta
tion, what you would have to pay for hav
ing your bag brought up; anil if you didn't
want to pay for it, you ought to have said
so then. I—l1 —I beg your pardon, sir, 1 don't
mean to he rude," —for it suddenly struck
Hilly that this was a pretty up-and-down
sort of a way for a little boy lo talk to an
old gentleman,—"but, you see, I'm not
running this express for fun; aud if every
body did as you're doing, it wouldn't pay
to run it at all."
"You're not running it forliin, eh' Then
what are you running it lor?" asked the
old gentleman, aud there was a pleasant
tone iu bis voice that quite took Billy by
surprise. In the same friendly way he
went ou aud asked more questions, aud
. the long aud short of it was that Billy told
him the whole story; How his father was
in trouble, and he wanted to help him; and
how they were going to live in the little
house, and his father was going to .start a
little store over by the New Row, and his
mother was going to give lessons upon the
piano—iu fact, all about things generally.
01 course Hilly did not mean to tell every
thing, in this way; hut it was not until he
he had finished, that lie had realized he had
been telling his father's plans to an entire
stranger. Then he felt quite flustered,and
said that it was time for hiin to go. The
old gentleman had become very much ex
cited while Hilly was talking to liiui. lie
seemed lo have forgotten all about the
quarter. He walked up and down the liall
and swung his arms around ut a great
rate; so that when Billy said "Good-morn
ing" to him, aud came away, he did not
even look tip. But lie came runuing down
the steps, just as Billy was getting into the
donkey-cart, and said: "Here's your
quarter, l'.illy Jenks. You are it good hoy.
You're going to work just the way I did.
And, what's more, your father must bo a
good man." Then lie went on, lm! appar
ently speaking to himself rather than to
Hilly, "Why, he's starting again just as 1
started iu '."i7. That's the sort on man 1
like. He's got honesty und pluck in hiin."
Suddenly lie gave the hitching pu t a kick
and hurst out: "Yes, I'll do it! I'll do it,
as sure as my name is
But Hilly did not hear what his name
was, for when the post was kicked Jenny
started off with a jerk that made the cart
rattle over the Clones at a great rate, and
completely drowned the old gentleman's
voice. 11. :>t riu-k him that this certainly
was the queerest old gentleman lie had
ever conn-aero. s. He concluded that Hie
old fellow mil' I he a little bit wrong ill his
head.
The next train was due at 11:10. and
Hilly was on hand at the station to meet
it. I 'ut only two or three people got oil,
and none of the. e had any baggage to lic
carried. There was a big Irishman with a
big satchel to lie sure; hut he swung the
satchel up to hi boulder, and a he pa
ed Hilly and the cart, lo- gave a comical
look anil aid:
"An' it's W. Jenks' Express, is itf He
dad, W. Jenks, oi'll lie ufthcr puttin'you ,
an' tl»* express, an' th* donkey, an' all. mi
on tother boulder an' carryin'yoii all away
to wunst, ii you don't mind where you're J
lookin'!" i
Billy thought tin was very rude of -
him. I
Just at lie was driving away, feeling '
very much di appointed Mr Kiigglc came I I
running along the platform and i ailed '
out: I
"Hold on. Billy Here lots of work for i
yot to do—about all the town wants you i
to come and move it!" i
I Silly thought that Mr. Haggles must be
poking fuu at him.—though that wasn't iu
Mr. Kul' He's line exactly,—but he palled
.leuny up. and then went back with Mr.
Kiigglc- to the station. Mr Haggles ga\••
! him a sheet of paper with more than twen
ly ordei on it and while lie was looking
.11 till! li I iud Wondering if it Could be real
the telephone belt rang and till another
j order was added!
"They've been c uluilig in like that tor
the last hour. 1 guess your special part
ner must be drumming up work for you,"
tid Mr Rngfflcs with a dry chuckle. He
went on. 'You've got your hands full for
tin afternoon, Billy: and as some of the
tbiiH' lo be moved is too heavy for von to
tackle, you'd better hire Black Jake, here,
to help you. lie will work all the afternoon
for titty cent . Get up there out of the
-iin. you !:i:'V critter. Go help Itillv Jenks
and earn some money, for once, outside <»i
ibiokenstealin*."
So Black .take got up. grinning; and Bil
ly all iu ani:i. .'. hired him for fifty cents
and went otf to attend to the first of his
long list of order.-- lie could not under
stand it at all.
Hut if he had known how all the town
had been talking about him. aud his Ex
press, and his Special Partner, that morn
ing. he would not have been so mnch snr
pri eil by the udden start his bnsiness hart
taken. Many of bis orders were sent by
! people who expected to joke with Mr Wilk
; in on about having patronised hi: express;
i many more by people wlio were pleaded
with Billy's pluck and wished to help him;
! and till other came frotu people who really
j wanted to : end things about tlie town, and
| were glad of this way to do it. Jenny—
she had to eat her dinner iu half an hour;
Billy was so excited that he bolted his in
ten minutes—began to think in her don
key uiind that the dismal days of her
youth, when she had drawn a hn;kster's
cart and lived mainly on beatings were
come again.
By a little alter six o'clock, Billy got his
last load on board—a part of a broken bed
tead and three broken chairs, to be taken
to the cabinet maker's—and the old lady
who sent the load kept him waiting so long
and gave him so many directions, that he
found he would not have time to get to
station to meet the G::>0 train. lie was
sorry to miss that train, for more people
come in on it than on all others put togeth
er. and it was by that train that his father
was coming—and he did very mnch wish
his father to nee him right iu the thick of
his work. But there was no use iu worry
ing over what couldn't be helped: so he
drove along .slowly, with Black Jake
walking beside the cart, ready to lend a
hand in unloading, aud reached the head
of Prince . treet just as all the people were
coming up from the station, iu a crowd.
Among the very first, he saw his father,
and his mother, too; for, as il turned out,
there was nothing serious the matter with
her In-other John, after all, and so his
mother had not stayed to look after him.as
she had expected to do when she went
away.
Billy was very glad to see his father and
mother, and his first thought was to jump
oil the cart and go and ki them. But
hi. second thought was that he ought to
show them that he really was a business
man now. and that hi business must come
first and his pleasure afterward, —in other
words, that he couldn't go kissing mem
bers of his family while he had a load to
deliver. So he chirped Jenny into a fast
trot, and only gave his father and mother
a nod and a laugh as he whisked past
them. They saw the cart and the queer
sign on it, they caught a glimpse of the
queer load, and on the train Mr. Jenks
had bought a copy of the Gazette, and
had read Billy's advertisement with amaze
ment.
Had Billy gone crazy while they were
away, or what had happened?
They were so puzzled that they just
stood still and looked at each other, —
while W. Jetiks' Express went flying
down the . Ircct, with Black Jack on a full
run to keep beside il, and with the old
lady's liil of a bedstead and three broken
chairs dancing around the cart in a way
that, had she seen it, would have made
every hair in her false-front, stand up on
end and every one of her false teeth chat
tel! Mr. Jenks gave a long whistle—he
had a way of giving whistles when any
thing surprised him very much —and then
he and Mrs. Jenks went home. They were
about the mo. t astonished people iu that
town.
Billy reached home nearly as soon as his
father aud mother, aud ran iuto the bouse
to give them the kisses which he had wish
ed to give them down town.
"Now, William Jenks," said his father,
when the l.ls ing was over, "what does all
this mean?"
II gave Billy something of a start to be
called William Jeuks iu that way; for his
father never dreamed of calling hint any
thing but Billy, unless there was a storui
brewing. But. as Billy was sure that there
was nothing to raise a storm about iuwhat
he had been doing since his father went
away, lie did not mind very much; and with
what he felt to be a very justifiable pride
he weut ahead and told all about his start
ing iu the express business and what a c.ip
ital siart lie had made ol it.
"Then that was why you did not wish
Jenny to be sold?" his mother asked,
when he told about his consultation with
Mr. Wilkinson in regard to the donkey's
ownership.
"Why, of course it was,"Billy answered;
as though his desire to use Jennie as au
expre-s-donkey could be the only possble
reason why lie should be unwilling to part
with her lor good and all—and he never
quite understood what it was that made
his mother get up just then, give liiin a
great hug and kiss, and say to his father in
a triumphant sort of way, "I told you so!"
Nor did he understand why it was that his
father and mother laughed so, when he
told them about the special partnership he
bail formed with Mr. Wilkinson; nor what
made his father look so oddly when he
told about his liiug talk with the queer old
gentleman who come on the train.
However, there was no mistaking the
way in which they both hugged him when
he come to the end of his story and gave
hi < father the six dollars and seventy live
cents he had earned thatday—and explain
ed that there would have been half a dol
lar more, if only he had been a little
tronger and o hail not been compelled to
hire Black Jack to help him. Hut Billy
could not help thinking, considering what
a good day he had made of it, that it was
rather unreasonable in bis mother to cry
ti 11 the time thii lie wa hugging him;and
In- wondered ill in.lcr i could have got into
lu father's cyi . ou the train, —lie winked
so and they looked so red and watery.
.Iu t as lie was full of delight that his plan
bad worked .-o well, his father brought
him up all lauding alter mo t ol the
hugging v.a over —by telling him that the
expre i husinc - could not go on! It
Wouldn't do, hi father aid. for such a lit
tie chap as lie was to y<> at such hard
work even if they all were starving; and
they were nowhere in ir tarviug as yet.
There wa just the slimmest oil of chance,
It lather went on. that at the final meet
ing of hi - creditors the next day, things
might lie arranged so that be could go on.
aud even if he wa, forced iuto bankruptcy,
he said, he am! Mrs. Jenks could earn
enough money to keep the little house go
: ing. without making Billy lielp them, for a
few years.
lly the time that his father vu through
: with all that he had to nay, Billy bad to
own up that the right thing for him to do
wa to work hard at the public school, and
I " !'•*' ready to take care of bis mother and
I lie baby, in case his father should get sick,
or did, or do auything ol' that sort. Bat il
certainly was hard on him he thought, to
have to irive up the express business just
a. he had made such a splendid start in
it
The next day Mr Jeuks' creditors held
their last meeting before making a bank
ruptofhiin. Alter everybody bad settled
luto their chairs, Mr. Wilkinson eaid that
| they had a very unpleasant piece of work
tii do, and that the sooner they were
! through with it the better. All the credi
i tors but one. as he said this he looked
very hard at old MY. Skimmington, and so
did ever} body else; and while nobody
spoke a word, a sort, of growl went around
the rimni—all the creditors but one had
consented to an extension; but bince this
one could not be brought to take a liberal
aud sensible view of the case, there was
nothing for bis client to do but to go iuto
bankruptcy. Then there was a dead si
lence, and everybody looked at old Mr.
Skiminington. * And then, in an instant,
Mr Skimmington said, in a sharp way:
I've changed tuy mind. I'll give him
an extension, too!"
All the other gentlemen were ou their
feet around Mr. Skimmington, and shak
ing baud:- with him, iu 110 time; and alt of
them were talking at once, as hard as ever
they could talk. Mr. Jenks was the only
mail in the who remained seated. lie
scarcely had dared to hope, even, thai he
would get an extension; and when Mr.
Skimmington came round in this sudden
sort of a way it quite upset hitn. But he
did not htay upset long; and when he was
steady again he went up to Mr. Skimming
ton aud shook hands with him and said
that he was very much obliged to him in
deed for his liberality.
"Don't you thank me, Mr. Jeuks," said
Skimmington. "Thank yourself a little,
and thank your boy Billy much more. Yes
terday. sir, your boy brought my nag up
from the station in his donky cart express
wagon—l recognized the name ou the
wagon, and Buggies told tne it was your
son—aud I made him come in and talk to
inc. It was not the thing for me to do,
sir, 1 admit; but I made him tell me all
about himself, and a good deal about you.
And the upshot of that talk is, as I said
just now,that I've changed my mind. I am
in harmony with the othercreditors, and am
ready to join them in giving you an exten
sion—for the man who is ready to step
down to the foot of the Jaddor and tako a
fresh start, as you were going to do, sir,
deserves to have hu friends keep him at
the top!
"I am not much given to making jokes,
gentlemen," Mr. Skimmington went ou,
"but I will make one now." There was a
sort of awed silence in the room as ho
said this, lor the bare thought of Mr.
Skiinmington's making a joke was so, un
natural that there was something rather
dreadful about it. "Yes I will make one
now: What has carried our friend here
safely out his difficulties is 'W. Jenk's Ex
press!' "
Well, it was not very much of a joke af
ter all. but Ly this time everybody was iu
such good humor that tbey all began to
laugh over this as if it bad been the best
joke ever made. When they were done
laughing, at last, they settled down to
business and had Mr Jenk's extension ar
ranged in no time.
Billy told ine the whole story all over
again, the other day, while we were taking
a drive in the donkey cart.
Mr Jenks is all right now, aud my fath
er says that he is doing better than ever,
since he and Mr. Skimmington have been
such good triend9, for Mr Skimmington
gives him such good advice; and Billy
said the only thing that bothered him was
that his lather had not let him go ahead
and be an express man. It was pretty
hard work, be said, but he liked it.— St.
Xirholas.
On Determining Acoustic Qual
tles.
Why is it that our nieu of science, with
all their marvelous achievments iu various
fields, says the Ileal Kstuie llecord and
(lutdi , have never yet discovered the se
cret of deturmiuing iu advance whether
the acoustic properties of any bnilding in
tended to bold large audiences will or will
not be good? A recent writer, referring
to this matter, says that "we liavo never
discovered the principles to the propor
tious of a great hall by which the voice is
spread and conveyed evenly and in the
most perfect luauuer to all parts. After
the building is completed it is confessedly
and notoriously, a matter of accident, and
a question to be solved by experiment,
whether it is 'good for sound.' Further
more, when the acoustic quality is not
satisfactory, it is often not easy to explain
why or to devise means to correct it. Here
is a tield for discovery that has not yet
been worked out, nor do wo see aee any
rational attempts to solve the problem.
Can it be that it is insoluble? Or is it that
the properties of souud are still only im
perfectly understood?"
—lt is blind confidence to suppose your
self incapable of mistake. It is indeed a
serious blunder to take Or. Bull's Cough
Surup when you even suspect yon have
taken cold. Price 25 conts.
What a grand, great country this is
with its vast territory, its big rivers, its
pretty women, and its Vini Yidi Vici cure
—Salvation Oil.
—The ambition of youth looks forward
to the triumphs of age, while sated age
turns back a wistful eye along the rosy
path of youth.
Too much reading aud too little think
ing, bus the same efTect ou a man's mind
j that too much eating and too little exercise
lias ou his body.
A New Kind of Insurance.
liai been put iii oper&tiou by the manufac
turers of I)r. i'iorce's medicines, llis
"Golden Medical Discovery" aud "Frvor
ite Prescription" arc sold by druggists
under the mairofaeturerers' jwitive guar
antic. Either benefit or a complete cure
is thus attained, or money paid for these
medicines is returned. The certificate of
guarantee given iu connection with sale
of these medociues is au equivalent to a
policy of iusurance. The "Golden Medi
cal I>isoo\ ery" cures all humors and blood
taints, from whatever cause arising, skin
and scald diseases, scrofulous sores and
swellings The "Favorite Prescription"
cur. all those derangements and weak
nesses peculiar to women.
Don t hawk, hawk, and blow, blow,
disgusting everybody, but use Dr. Sage's
Catarrh Remedy.
Man) who »ii and wail over the ashes
ol a "blasted life' might improve their di
gestion aud condition by walking fit® miles
day.
NO 14