W, M. CHENEY, Publisher.
VOL. Y 111.
Tho Narrow Way.
Tell me, ye saints
And kings of old,
Where shall we find
The land of gold ?
The heavenly land,
With joys untol l ?
Hear what the Spirit
Hath to say:
"It lies beyond
The gates of day—
Just at the end
Of the narrow way.
"They who shall clioosa
To walk therein,
Must bear the cross,
And cast out sin;
And life eternal
They then shall win."
There are sharpest thorns
In this narrow way;
There are blackest clouds
To hide the day;
But hear what the Spirit
Hath to say:
"Cheer up! cheer up!
Oh, heart of gloom!
For every thorn
Shall roses bloom
In the garden of God,
Where there is room.
"A crown for him
"Who day by day,
With patient feet
That never stray,
Bearet.il his cross
In the narrow way."
—Mrs, 31, A. Kidder in the Ledger.
TEE STRANGER.
It was years ago, Bessie, when I was
but eighteen, aud just engaged to Frank
Fenton. If you want to hear about it,
sit down on the stool at my feet, and
prepare to be bored.
Wc had been sweethearts for a long
time. Went to church and singing
school together; rode, walked, danced,
and took long rows on the river which
ran past my father's house. In fact,
this had been going on for so long a
time that we finally decided that we
might as well be always together, and
so the preliminary arrangements wore
begun, and our wedding-day drew
near. m
Wo lived on the banks of a river—
one of the loveliest streams in Lousiana
—a quiet spot some distance from any
plantation; but as soon as our marriage
took place wo young folks were to re
movo to a neighboring parish, and
thither Frank went, shortly before the
wedding, to prepare our new home.
Ho loft me busy as a bee with the
trousseau and arrangements for the affair,
which was to be a grand one for the
country, as my father was a well-to-do
planter and I the only child.
lie had been absent about a fortnight,
and I wa3 expecting him back daily,
when one day father came, with a
troubled lace, into the room where I
was sitting, surrounded by lace and
muslin and dainty necessaries of toilet,
which were just as much the fashion
then as they are now, Bessie, popular
cant to the contrary, notwithstanding.
"Lettie," said ho, hurriedly, "I've
got togo over to Squire Bunt's to see
about some titles. I camo near forget
ting the appointment, and I'll have to
hurry right fast to get there on time.
Can you do without me?'* I laughed
and nodded; then suddenly an uneasy
feeling took possession of me. I re
membered the money—quite a large sum
—with which Frank and I wero to "be
gin the world," and which lay securely
hidden away in the house, tho nest egg
of our future fortune.
I knew that I was destined to a lonely
night of it, for father could not pos
sibly return within twenty-four hours;
the servants had all gone to a "break
down." on a neighboring plantation,
except an aged crone, Aunt Dinah by
name; my mother was an invalid, weak
and nervous; 1 felt that, alone as I was,
tho outlook was not very enlivening.
Father observed my troubled expres
sion.
"I don't fee how I can help it,
daughter,'' he said gravely. "This is
a very important matter, and admits of
no delay. It is the fault of my treach
erous memory; had I only remembered
tho engagement with the squiro I would
have kept some of the servants at home
as protection for you."
But I was no coward, and so I kissel
him and laughed away his anxiety, and
saw him depart with assumed cheerful
ness; but as he rode down tho avenue
which led to the outer gates, I saw him
turn in the saddle and gaza after mo
anxiously once more.
I returned to my household duties
and my pleasant i.iak amid tho billows
of lace and muslin, and so sang and
worked tho long, bright day away.
It was nearly sunset.
SULLIVAN REPUBLICAN.
I had persuaded mother to lie up:>n a
couch, which I had pushed out upon
the vine-covered gallery, and seating
myself beside her, I began to road
aloud some wild old tale of super
natural horrors, upon which I had
stumbled. Before 1 had half finished
I had worked myself into a stato of
nervousness, and as I noticed the paling
face of my mother, I tossed the book
upon tlio table, with a contemptuous
expression, and nroso to make her tea.
At that morL nt the gate latch
clicked, and as I ti. icd in its direction
I could not repress a cry of alarm.
My eyes fell upon a strange sight.
The figure of a woman—a very dwarf
in siza and stature—clad in a faded
black dress, with a battered bonnet
upon her head, and a torn shawl about
her tiny, stooping shoulders.
Slowly and hesitatingly the creature
moved up the walk, until she had
reached the gallery.
Hero she paused to gaze curiously
upon us, with a pair of round, bead
like black eyes.
Then she spoke, in a voice clear and
well-modulated:
"I have lost my way, ladies," she
said, beseechingly, "may 1 cravo a
Dight's shelter?"
I glanced at my mother. She was
pale and trembled violently.
I had conceived an unaccountable
aversion to the small stranger; but who
could have the heart to turn a woman
away into the pathless forest, with night
coming down, dark and threatening,
for the sky was overcast, and there
were signs of an approaching thunder
storm, and the wind inoaue I drearily in
the boughs of the pine tree?.
So I told her that she might remain;
but I resolved to know no slumber that
night, but to watch tho long hours
through.
My mother must not be alarmed; so
sending the stranger to the kitchen with
Aunt Dinah to get some refreshments,
I coaxed mother to tako her tea, and
carried her oil to bed iu triumph.
It was 10 o'clock before I left hor
sound asleep and stole oil to tho kitchen
to tako an observation. On the thresh
old 1 paused, my heart beat wildly, my
brain seemed on fire; 1 trembled so that
1 could scarcely stand; I pushed the
door ajar and glanced in. What a
sight met my astonished eyesl The
dwarf was standing erect, and young,
and lithe; the woman's garments had
been discarded, and I saw before mo a
man, small, but muscular, and with a
diabolical face. lie was stooping over
tho form of Aunt Dinah, in one hand a
vial, which he held to her nostrils. I
comprehended the situation at a glance.
Aunt Dinah was drugged; even the frail
protection of her presence was gone
and the next step would be robbery,
perhaps murder.
The villain replaced the vial in his
pocket, with a grin on his ugly face.
"There!" he ejaculated, "that will
work. With the old woman out of the
way, the rest is easy. Lucky that I
know where to look for the money; it's
in the old woman's room, 1 saw the gal
put it there. Let me see, right hand
corner, top drawer in dressing table."
It flashed over mo then, my own
carelessness, when father had given the
pockctbook into my keeping; the open
window near us, and some gay words
that I had uttered, all carno back to me.
I was so frightened, it seemed as if
I should die. Then calmer thoughts
succeeded; and I resolved to fi »ht for
that money to the death. Softly I stole
away, and re-entered my mother's
apartment. Taking the pocketbook
from the drawer, I hid it in my bosom;
and then, pausing, to assure myself
that she still slept, I turned to the hall
where our small provision of fire-arms
wore stored. Oh, heavens! They were
gone! A low, horrible chuckle fell
upon my cars. Tha robber stood at
my side, a look of triumph on his hate
ful face.
"Well,' he sneered boldly, "where
is it?"
"What do you mean?" I gasped.
"The money, of course. I've just
been to the old woman's room, but I
find you'vo boon too many for me.
Now, girl '' ho stepped closer to
mo and raised one hand threatoningly;
his awful eyes glared into mine; his
lips, as they opened, resembled those of
some huge wild animal. "I know you
have the money; hand it out!"
With a low cry of fear I turned and
fled. 15 ick to the large, old kitchen,
my heart surging and beanac; madly. 1
flew line the wind. Old Dinah still
lay upon the floor in blest unconscious-
LAPORTE, PA.., FRIDAY, JANUARY 10. 1890.
ness. I shook her and called aloud
and shrieked for help, but no other
sound broko the stillness' save tha low,
dreadful laugh of the robber, who had
followed me.
"Stop that noise?' he growled.
"You're wasting breath, you know.
She's drugged, and won't wake till I'm
safe out o' this. I want that money.
Give it to mo and I promise to leave
you in peace; refuse, aud "
I thought of Frank and our future.
"I never will!" I cried, as bravely as
1 could. Again, that horrible, mock
ing laugh. He sprang forward and
seized my arm; one hand passed around
my waist and held mo tightly, the
other prepared to close about my throat.
Just at that moment my eyes fell upon
the huge brick oven; something un
known in these days, Bessie; an im
mense structure occupying ono side of
tho kitchen. I noticed that tho wide
door had been left open, and a sudden
thought—an inspiration—darted into
my mind. It was worth risking at all
events.
The villian's hand was pressing closer
about ray slender throat; I felt a dread
ful, choking sensation. I was suro that
I should die. Now—or never—l
thrust ono hand, quickly, into tho
bosom of my dress, and snatching tho
pocket-book therefrom with a quick,
sudden movement, I threw it into the
oven—away in—l could hear it fall
upon the bottom, with a heavy thul,
for most of tho mouey wa? in gold.
With a horrible imprecation tho wretch
released his hold, and, darting forward,
sprang into tho oven. I darted toward
the huge door. I seized it in both
hands; with superhuman efforts I
pushed it shut and slid the heavy bolt
into its place. I was saved! Then I
sank upon tho floor iu blissful insensi
bility.
I was aroused by the pressure of lips
upon my own; and felt my head
pillowed in somebody'sarins. I opened
my eyes. Frank was holding nn close
to his heart, his face pale and anxiou..
Ho had returned unexpectedly; and see
ing a light burning in tho house—an
unusual occurrence at so late an hour,
for it was midnight—and fearing that I
was ill—ho had ventured to stop, j ,
told him the whole story; and, old as I
am, I have never forgotten tho look on
his face as he clasped 1110 to his heart.
It did not tako him long to ride to tho
nearest town aud summon the sheriff
with a posse of men. Tiio oven was
opened and the wretch within, insen
sible and half dead, was dragged forth
and away to justice. Ho was proven to
be an old offender, and soon received a
long sentence.
I was quite tho heroino of the country
around, for a long time afterward; but
heroics were not in my line, and I never
wished for a repetition of that night's
experience.
Why Wo are Itight-lfnndcd.
Primitive man, being by nature a
fighting animal, fought for the most
part at first with his canine teeth, his
nails and h;s fis.o, till, in process of
time, he added to those early and j
natural weapons the further persuasions
of a club or shilla'ah. lie also fought,
as Darwin has conclusively shown, in !
the main for the possession of the ladies j
of his kind against other members of
his own sex and species. And if you
fight, you soon learn to protect the 1
most exposed and vulnerable portion of
your body. Or, if you don't, natural
selection manages it for you by killing
you off as an immediate consequence.
To the boxer, wrestler, hand-to-hand !
combatant, the most vulnerable portion
is undoubtedly the heart. A hard i
blow, well delivered on the left breast,
will easily kill, or at any rate stun,
even a strong man. Hence Irom an
early period men have used the right
hand to fight with, and have emp.oyed ;
the left arm chiefly to cover the heart and
to parry a blow aimed at that specially
vulnerable region. Aud when weapons !
of offense and defense supersede mere j
fists and teeth, it is the light hand that !
grasps the spear or sword, while the
left holds over the heart, for defense,
the shield or buckler.
From this simple origin, then, tho
whole vast difference of right and left
iu civilized lifo takes its beginning. At
first, no doubt, the superiority of the
right hand was only felt in the manner
of lighting. But that alono gave it a
distinct pull, and paved the wn/ at last
for the supremacy elsewhere. Journal
of Health.
A hen is conscientious. Her chief
object in life is to fill the bill.
LADIES' DEPARTMENT.
A BALEFUL FASHION.
Amoug the numberles-i elegant little
j .'rifles dangling about a fashionable
| belle nowadays, tho scent-bottle of
t gold, a tiny all'lir, incrusted with
jewels, is not the least expensive. It
; bangs from a button of her dress by a
slender gold chain. A later invention.
! however, than tho bottle, is a tiny box,
I :he bottom of which is perforated and
spens on liingos; within this is placed
* bit of cotton or sponge dampened
with the wearer'a favorite perfume, and
the whole is thrust into the bosom or
into the pocket of tho dress. Vinaig
rettes of cut-glass or silver of huge
i proportions arc just as popular as ever
with fashionable dames, but it is claimed
by many physicians that their use is
I very injurious, and that much catarrhal
I trouble of the throat and head can be
1 traced to the constant handling of these
almost useless things by women. The
i strong, pungent odor of the powerful
i salts contained in them irritates the
mucous membrane, and produces results
that in many cases have been quite
serious.— Ncu> York World.
DAINTY BUTTON BAOB.
It has been discovered that tho pretty
girl is busying herself just now with all
manner of dainty inutilities in the way
of bags. For her dearest girl friend she
makes button bags, six tiny ones all 011
a string. Each is made out of a- scrap
| of bright -hued silk and every scrap is
sof a different color. A rain bow-tinted
collection is produced, very kaleido
: fcopic and cheerful.
The object of the button bag multi
plication is to separate more effectually
buttons of different ranks and degrees.
; For her best young man—alas, in his
| inmost soul he may call it "jinks" and
I smile upon it derisively—she makes a
card bag. This is of silk, satin or
i plu>h, an 1 just large enough for a pack
iof cards. Ou the outside is appliqued
in colors an exact similitude of the
i queen of hearts. This is couched down
with embroidery threads and elaborate
: ly wrought with silken stitches.— Mail
and Express.
MOORISH BEAUTY.
The Moors have extraordinary ideas
concerning female beauty. They fancy
an oily skin, teeth projecting beyond
tho lips, pointed nails an inch long and
a figure so corpulent that two persons
putting their arms around the waist
could scarcely make their lingers touch.
A woman of moderate pretensions to
beauty needs a siave under each arm to
support her as she walks, and a perfect
lielle carries weight enough to load a
camel. Mothers are so anxious to have
their daughters attain this unwicldly
size that they mako them oat a great
quantity of millot pudding and drink
several bowls of camel's milk a day.
Mungo Park says he has seen a poor
girl sit crying for moro than an hour
with tho bowl at her lips, while her
mother stood over her with a stick and
beat her whenever she perceived that
she was not swallowing.
The Moors marry at a very early age
and wives are always purchased. The
father of tho girl cannot rcfuso an oiler
unless thcro is some stain on tho young
man's character. If a wife does not be
come the mother of a sou sho may be
divorced by tho husband. The mother
of many sons is held in tho highest re
spect and is never suffered to perform
any menial oflice.
ROYAL DINNERS IN ENGLAND.
The royal dinner parties of England
are the most formal and studied in the
world. To beginners they become a
frightful ordeal, and they rarely at the
end can tell what tlie meal consisted of;
to old stagers they arj a frightful bore.
The novices are expected to arrive early
so as to be posted by Sir Henry Pon
sonby in court etiquette. Tho queen
usually receives her guests for afternoon
ea in her own sitting room, and re
mains a short time with theiu chatting
ting on light subjects; then they are
permitted to wander over the c>st!e or
stay in their roomi till dinner time,
which is at 9. Site says a few words
to each guest as she enters the dining
room, and then leads the way to the
table. It always seems so discourteous
or no one to step up and offer the old
lady his arm, lut it would require an
equal in rank to do so, and she eulei s
and leaves the room alone. There is
very little conversation at. the table.
Each guest is asked one qu stion by
the queen, and , can make one reply.
The pauses between are dreadful, and
Terms—sl.2s in Advance; $1.50 after Three Months.
the mechanical parceling out of quea.
tions and answers makes it seem as ii
the queen wero putting a Bible class
through iis catechism. Ech ono waits
for his turn to come next, and in the
embarrassment the "answers" are often
of tho most stupid kind.
HOW TO GET RICH.
A wealthy lady who had once been a
poor girl obliged to woik for a living
went into a largo dry goods establish
ment not long ago to make a small pur
chase.
She was quietly dressed and attracted
no particular attention as she sat pa
tiently waiting while the careless sales
girl chewed her gum, related her last
evening's adventure with "him" to an
other gum-chewing companion, and at
the s.'imo time pulled down boxes and
slammed them before the customer
without paying proper atteation to her
wishes and requests.
Finally, after a tedious half hour of
wasted time aud irritated patience, the
girl threw the lady a largj parcel aud a
roll of money.
"This is not my parcel or change,"
said the lady.
"Oh, yos, it is," replied the girl,
looking over her shoulder and continu
ing her story about "how he laughed,
and I says to him"
"But I tell you it is not," interrupted
the indignant lady. "I purchased a
small piece of lace and I had only $1.50
in change coming to me, and you have
given me nearly four dollar;."
"Why, 1 must liavo given that there
lady going down the aisle your parcel,
and you have hers. Cash, C-a-s-li, run
after that there lady in tho wine-colored
cloak and tell her to come back. I
wonder how I made such a mistake."
"You had better run after her your
self," suggested the lady. "She is al
most out of the door now."
After another half hour's delay tho
exchange was effected aud each custo -
mer was putin possession of her mouey
and her purchase.
"1 don't see how I mado such a mis
take, " said tho girl, as her customer
was about to leave.
"I will tell you then," responded
the lady, as she turned to go. "You
mado the mistake which has cost threo
of us half an hour's valuable time by not
paying attention to the business you are
paid to do. You will always bo poor
and oblige 1 to work for others in con
sequence. I was once a poor girl, but
1 never waited on customers as badly as
you have dono. 1 attended to my busi
ness promptly, and was proud to do my
work well, and so I rose out of my
poverty to higlior places and bettor pay.
If I had been as careless, indifferent
and slow as you are I would still bo a
poor workingwoman, instead of tho
wealthy lady I am."
Upon her next visit to this establish
ment the lady received the most
courteous and prompt attention from
tho salesgirl, who had seemingly
profited by the sharp rebuko.
FASHION NOTES.
All shades of brown, gray and violet
aro in high favor.
French milliners now uso strings of
ribbon and lace even on large hats.
A Modici collar of fur is a feature of
many of the newest "four-in-hand"
capes.
The popularity of braiding as a garni
ture now extends to chocked cheviots
and tartans.
A new feature in muffs are fiat ones,
bordered at either end with a different
kind of fur.
Silver clocks recently designod show
Renaissance styles and aro likely to
prove acceptable as an artistic novelty.
Sleeves aro made either snug-fitting
or plain, or else puffed in tho various
ways, according to the taste and style
of the wearer.
Shopping bags are being made of
black stuff heavily beaded with jet or
applique! with fleurs-de-lis cut of black
and bronze leather.
Plain sleeves are su'tab'c anl becom
ing to tlioso who have well- formed
arms, and the puffed sleeves look well
on those who have slender figures.
Bands of black astrachan, used tc
trim cloth gowns, are often headed
with a single row of inch-wido gold
braid, or with many rows of gold
soutache braid.
Lai d (lot lis and serges in black, tho
new shades of green, red, blue and
brown, and in the purple tints, ranging
from licliotrop • to a royal purple, are
chosen for tailor costumes.
NO. 13.
CHILDREN'S COLUMN.
THE TKRROR.
Little shoestrings all untied.
That makes the tiny shoes go "flop,"
A hat with half the rim torn off,
A hole that shows the curls on top.
But then beneath it such a face!
All roguishness and baby glee,
And dimples that play hide aud seek
Around the crimson mouth so wee.
And lingers—but why try to tell
Of all the mischief they contrive?
The doggie "could a tale unfold,"
And kittie, if it were alive.
And is he wicked when he swims
Small chickens in the place of ducks',
Or when he sees the buds unfold,
Hefore the flower comes, and plucks;
Or when lie takes his sister's dolls
And pulls the "criers'' in them out;
Or runs a pin in papa's watch
To see what little tick's about?
O. mother hearts, you'll take him in,
This naughty "terror" household joy;
Because in him you will but see
The picture of your own small boy.
—Christian Nation.
WHY CHARLEY LOST 1118 PLACE.
Charley was whistling a merry tune
as lie came down the road, with hi?
hands in his pockets, his cap pushed
back on his head, and a general air of
good fellowship with the world.
lie was on his way to apply for a po
sition iu a stationer's store that ho was
Very anxious to obtain, and in his pock
fct were the bast of reference! concern
ing his character for willingness and
nonesty. He felt sure that there would
hot be much doubt of his obtaining the
the place when he presented these cre
dentials.
A few drops of rain fell, ai the bright
sky was overc ut with clouds, and ho
began to wish that ho had brought an
umbrella. Prom a house just a little
way before him two little children were
starting out for school, an 1 th'j mother
stood iu the door smiling approval as
the boy raised the umbrella aud took
the little sister under its shelter in quito
a manly fashion.
Charley was a great tease, aud like
most boys who indulge in teasing or
rough practical jokes, he always took
care to select for his victim some one
weaker or younger than himself.
"I'll have some fun with the chil
dren," he said to himself; and before
they had gone very far down the road
he crept up behind them, and snatched
the umbrella out of the boy's hand.
In vain the little fellow pleaded with
him to return it. Charley took a mali
cious delight in pretending that ho was
going to break it over the fence; and as
the rain had stopped he amused him
self in this way for some distance,
making the children run after him and
plead with him tearfully for their um
brella.
Tired of this sport at last, he relin
quished (he umbrella as a carriage ap
proached, and, leaving tho children to
dry their tears, went on towards tho
store.
Mr. Mercer was not in, so Charley sat
down on tho steps to wait for him. An
old gray cat was basking in the sun, and
9h alley amused himself by pinching tho
poor animal's tail till she mewed piti
lully and struggled to escape.
"While he was enjoying his sport, Mr.
Mercer drove up in his carriage, aud
parsed Charley on his way into the
store. The boy released the cat, and,
following the gentleman in, respectfully
presented his references.
"Those do very well," Mr. Mercer
said, returning tho papers to Chnrley.
"If I had not scon somo of your other
references I might have engaged you."
"Other references? What do you
mean, sir!" asked Charley, in astonish
ment.
"I drove past you this morning when
you were on your way here, and saw
you diverting yourself by teasing two
little children. A little later a dog
passed you, and you cut him with a
switch you had in your hand. You
shied a stone at a bird, and just now
you were delighting yourself in tor
menting another defenceless animal.
These are the references that have de
cided me to have nothing to do with
you. I don't want a cruel boy about
me."
As Charley turned away, crestfallen
over his disappointment, he determined
that wanton ciuelty; even though it
seemed to him to be only "fun,"
should not cost him another good pi ace.
A Balem County (N. J.) farmer, John
Ribeson, caught a s 1 range bird re
cently. It is said to ha¥.; a f.icc like a
monkey, is about the size of a grown
fow. and hai plumage of woudrously
varied line.