J THE MINISTER'S YOUNQ WIFE. $ "Well, now, for my part, Miss Post, rs I was telling them two ladies, I always liked your husband's preach ing." Mrs. Dale measured out two yards of lace and counted three dozen pearl buttons, large and small, before she looked up into the sweet face of the pastor's young wife. The rosy cheeks were pale now and the pretty mouth was slightly drawn. It seemed is if It would not take much to cause Mrs. Poet's blue eyes to fill with tears. Mrs. Dale shrewdly guessed as much, but she said nothing, except to wish her customer a pleasant good morning as she went away. Delia Poet know well enough what to surmise from the remarks made by the portly widow. Somebody must have been critlcislug Homer's ser mons, or Mrs. Dale would not have defended them. Into the door of tho pretty gabled cottage which the good people of West End had provided for their pastor the young wife went and straight into the tiny study where her husband sat at his desk. "Has something troubled you, De lia. dear?" he asked kindly, laying down his pen. "Nothing much;" but as if to con tradict her words she sat down in an easy chair and commenced to cry. "What can it be?" thought the min ister, as he vainly tried to soothe his wife. In a few moments the story came out; for Dolia Post was very young Indeed —only just 19 —and she had not learned to keep her troubles shut up within her own heart, rather than add another burden to the one who was so dear to her. Mr. Post's face cleared. "is that all, child? I certainly thought you had bad news from home. Of course, everybody does not like my preaching. How could that be possi ble? I do my best, and, with the Lord's help, I trust that some word may comfort or cheer a longing lonely soul." "You are so good," replied Dolia, "and Homer, I do not help you at all. I was never cut out for a preacher's wife. Do you remember how I laughed that day at Sistez Hatliaway's, when she was telling about her son's misdeeds? Wasn't it awful? And how she glared at me." Mrs. Post's tears had quite disap peared now, and her husband looked down lovingly at the sunny face. "Oh, dear, I entirely forgot those biscuits. They'll be all burned up." With a gay laugh she sprang down the Btairs singing, and the minister turned again to his work. "She little knows how much she helps me with her sweetness and cheer iness," he murmured. "But I must be more particular about my sermon next Sunday. I noticed that Brother Mc- Pherson spoke coldly to me last week and I fear that I do need Sister Dale's kindly words. Mr. Post had married Delia Harold about a year before. She was the daughter of a wealthy merchant and entirely without the experience need ful for a preacher's wife, although she was a happy Christian and loved her husband dearly. "Mr. Post is not a brilliant preach er," said Brother McPherson that even ing at an informal meeting held at uis own house."He is sincere and good. I beliove we could get along with him If he were alone, but his wife—" There was an expressive pause, and then Brother White took up the tale. "Yes, Brother McPherson, it's the wife that is the trouble. Not that I see much amiss in the little girl, myself. She's Just the age of my Mary, and I doubt If I should dare to recommend her to any one of our young preachers— but all the women are against her." At Mr. White's remark, Mrs. Mc- Pherson sniffed audibly. "I don't know as it's more the wom en than the men; but I do think that the way she wears her hair in that port of pug on top, and them curls around her face, is a shame and dis grace for a preacher's wife, or at least for our preacher's wife." There was a general chorus of dis sent from the women but Mr. Mc- Pherson added, with a sly look at his wife: "It's very becoming to her, Mar garet" To this frivolous statement his wife vouchsafed no reply. As the conversation became general bits of criticism might be heard. "She has four silk dresses." "And a hat to match each one." "And a sealskin cloak." This last item of attire seemed to be particularly objectionable and the talk was waxing warm when Mrs. Har per, a little palefaced woman who bad hitherto kept silence, said quietly. "Mrs. Post was very good to my Davie when he was sick. It was she who was with him when he —" The poor mother could not say more and the meeting was most effectually broken up. However, it was settled between tho men, nearly all of whom were leading members of the church, that a change would be desirable. To this end a committee was ap pointed to wait on the pastor a week later determined to—as gently as pos sible —acquaint him with their decis ion. These five gentlemen Mrs. Post ush ered with great graciousness into tho tiny parlor. Excusing herself to call her husband, she gave the visitors time to look around the room and find stil! more cause for complaint against the Banister's wife. When Mrs. Post came to West End she had found a square parlor with four low windows, a brilliant scarlet carpet and several stiff chairs. With good taste and the judicious use of a little money she had transformed it A pretty rug, in subaued colors hid the objectionable carpet Soft inex pensive curtains wore at the windows, and a few good engravings and choice photographs gave character to the white walls. After a moment's delay the minister entered, and to the annoyance of all, after him tripped his wife, who draw ing a low chair nearer to the light, commenced some embroidery, listen ing, meanwhile, with deep attention to the conversation. It was a discomfited committee which issued from the low porch an hour later. "Why didn't you say something?" asked Brother McPherson, impatiently, of Brother White. "How could 1, with the minister's wife sitting there so smiling and cheerful?" returned Mr. White, justly indignant at the question. "So good of them to call, wasn't it, Homer?" said Delia, enthusiastical ly, as she put away the precious Vene tian glasses in which she had passed lemonade to the guests. "It shows how fond they are of you. Mr. Post was leaning on the mantel and did not seem to hear the remark. He knew very well that those five men had not come into make a friendly call. There had been something at the bottom of it. But if there was some thing wrong, why had they not men tioned it? As the months passed by Mrs. Post went on her way with a calm and un disturbed spirit. It never occured to her that people did not approve of her. Everybody had loved her at home. There was one place where Mrs. Post's actions were above reproach, and even strict old Brother McPherson acknowledged that. This was in the Sunday school, where the minister's wife was very successful There were four girls in her class. One was Mary White, another was a young woman from Mrs. Dale's store, the third was a girl about 13 and the fourth, the one person whom fastidi ous Mrs. Post disliked, although she tried hard to combat the feeling, was Katie Mason, tho maid-of-all-work at the hotel in the town, the place where men went insane and sober and from which they emerged fiends. It was r.ot because Katio was a working-girl that Mrs. Post did not like her —not at all. Delia would have loved any one, without stopping to think whether they washed dishes for a living or spent their time In elegant leisure, if they were only clean. This unfortunate girl was not only untidy In her person, but she was repulsive in her appearance. Try as she would, Mrs. Post could not bring herself to touch her. But she soon leared that the one joy of Katie's life was to come to Sunday school and be near the beautiful lady. The gentle voice, the well bred manner, the per fect toilette, were new to her, and seemed to lift the minister's wife into the sphere of an angel. Each Sunday Mrs. Post prayed that she might be able to say something to help this poor girl, whose eyes had first seen the light in a workhouse, and whose miserable life had been passed in hard labor and the lowest surroundings. Ryan's hotel stood on a corner of the main street of the village, and its flickering lights burnod all night long, while from within came the sound of shuffling cards and clinking glasses. Katie often worked till midnight, and was up again at dawn doing the heavi est drudgery. One day Mrs. Post came in with her arms full of the spring blossoms and turned the parlor into a bower of beau ty. "Isn't it lovely?" she exclaimed, hearing her husband's footstep behind her. "Very," he replied absently. "Delia, there's a man here who wants you very much to come down to Ryan's hotel. There has been an accident, and Katie, the girl in your Sunday school class, has been hurt—badly, I judge." "She's a-going fast," responded the man, touching his hat awkwardly. He was the barman at Ryan's. "But," as he said to a crowd of friends later, "I knows a lady when I sees her, and that there preacher's wife's one, you bet. She turned as pale as a rag, and the minister, he says, 'Now, darling, you don't need to go. I'll go." 'Of course I'll go,' she says, and I says kind of quiet like, 'She's a calling for you, mem.' But you better believe I didn't tell her how she was hurt, nor how she looked. I just couldn't." So it was that Delia Post went into the presence of the dying girl without knowing that she had tripped on the qellar stairs with a lighted lamp in her hand and that sh« was burned be yond recognition. It was an awful sight that the inex perienced girl saw when she entered the garret where the drudge was per mitted to sleep. There were good rooms in the house; but although the innkeeper's wife had no wish to be unkind to the injured girl, it had not occurred to her to have her carried in to one of them. "Oh, Homer," exclaimed the minis ter's wife, clinging in desperation to the man's strong arm. Then there came a moaning cry from the shapeless figure upon the bed: "Bring Mrs. Post. Oh, bring my teacher. I love her so." Without another moment's hesita tion Delia went forward and gather ©a the poor disfigured head In her hands. She had shrunk from touching Katie's hand before; now she stooped and kissed the bit of forehead which was not covered with bandages. "I am here, Katie, and I am going to stay with you," she said. In spite of her husband's protest, Delia remained in that dimly lighted room all night. The pain which poor Katie suffered was indescribable, and her moans were so piteous that Mrs. Ryan retired to tho kitchen, where she could not hear them, leaving the minister's wife alone. Mr. Post waited down stairs, and his brave wife sat by the sick girl's bedside, holding one bandaged hand in hers, while she murmured comfort ing words or sang in a low, sweet voice. Her husband heard it in the middle of the night and thanked God He had given him such a wife. It was not until the next evening that Katie's weary feet slipped over the brink of time into eternity. As her sufferings grew worse, she clung more tightly to the soft white hand and listened to the loving words which the minister's wife spoke. Mr. Post hardly recognized Delia in this wom an whose tender ministries helped the wounded, stricken, homely girl to dlo in peace. Mrs. McPherson and some other la dies of the church came in during tho next day, and they were amazed at tho bearing of the woman whom they had criticized for having four silk dresses and a sealskin cloak. These things seemed so insignificant in this cham ber of death —and such a horrible death.—Waverley. QUAINT AND CURIOUS. The use of the "E Pluribus Unum" on coin was never authorized by law. j Its first known use was on a New Jersey cent struck off in 177G. In a village of Germany a blind old woman was led to church every Sun day by a gander, who used to take hold of her gown with his bill. It has been calculated that some thing like 1,250,000 pints of tea aro imbibed yearly by Londoners, and that the teapot necessary to contain this amount, if properly shaped, would comfortably take in the whole of St. Paul's cathedral. The greatest number of men ever employed on one structure was on the Gizeh pyramid, where 7,000,000 men were in forced labor. This pyra mid is 450 feet high, and covers an area of 13 acres, twice the dimensions of any other building in the world, in one instance taking 2000 men three years in bringing a single stone from the quarry. A curious wedding procession was that of Eleanor I.inler, an American bride, who, in 1897, married her sixth husband, the other five having been divorced. But they evidently did not consider that she had trifled with their affections, for each followed her in a separate cab to the church, and one went so far as to present her with a substantial wedding gift. A singular fire occurred recently at a 'dwelling house in Philadelphia Un derneath the parlor window was a dresser upon which was a glass globe, which, it is supposed, became so heat ed by the sun's rays that it ignited the window curtains, the flames extending to the dresser, which with its contents and the curtains, were destroyed be fore the fire was extinguished. There was no fire in the parlor grate, nor was any person in the room where the fire originated. Brittany has a strange burial custom. Bodies are buried as in this country, but when the flosh has disappeared the skeleton is exhumed and the skull detached and placed in a tiny coffin. These skull coffins are little boxes painted black or green, shaped like a dog kennel, with sloping roofs. They are about two feet long, one foot deep and one foot broad and have an oval or heart shaped opening at one end, surmounted by a cross. The opening is fitted with glass so that a portion of the skull is visible and appears to scowl at the curious spectator. The boxes are arranged on ledges and cor* nices of the churchyard walls. It is a great and costly privilege to have these coffins find so sacred a resting place. Failed at Baby** Stunt. W. S. King, a blacksmith, living ai Merville, was playing baby and dislo cated his hip, says a Bowling Green, Ohio, special in the Cincinnati Com mercial Tribune. He was watching his little child put its great toe in its mouth, and the ease with which the youngster did the trick astonished the father, who became so interested that he put away his tools, and, sitting down on the floor of his shop, took off his shoes and tried the stunt. Ha found his joints rather stiff for such fun, but at length, with a tremendous effort, he triumphantly seized his big toe with his teeth, and Just then his hip slipped out of joint. The doctor was called and matters adjusted, but pa will miss a few week's work. While the limb was be ing put back to its place the baby con tinued placidly to suck its toe. A Heart-to-Heart Talk. "It must be nice 10 be sarcastic anrt clever," said the young woman admir ingly. "Not at all," answered Miss Cayenne. "It is an accomplishment that causes you to get rid of all your friends ex cepting those who are too dense to see the point of your remarks."—Wash in ct on Star. AN® ifl' j | j j |J|^ New York City.—Nothing servos the purpose of an all-round useful wrap more perfectly than the golf cape. It Is worn for traveling, driving, wallc- GOLP CAPE. Ing, bad wenther, almost every occa sion except the game from which it takos Its name. On the way to and from the links it may, and often does, oerve as well as when the walk or drive have no such end, but for actual play it is Impossible and never seen. The smart May Manton example shown Is cut after the latest English model, and is absolutely up-to-date In every detail. The original is made of tan colored cloth with plaid under side, but plain cloths and cheviots are quite as often seen, while light colored broadcloth makes an admirable even- Lug wrap. The cape is circular and fitted by means of shoulder darts. The hood is graceful and carefully shaped, open ing slightly at the centre back to give a pointed effect. The storm collar is cut in sections and fits snugly at the throat while it flares freely as it curves upward toward the head. Shoulder straps are arranged on the Inner side which support the weight and obviate all strain. To cut this cape for a woman of mo- ''' YOKE^ I cllum size two and three-eighth yards of material fifty-six inches wide will bo required. Toko Blonae Closing at Back. Fancy blouses that close at the back are aud will be much worn both as part of entire costumes for Indoor wear and the odd bodices that find such an Important place in every com plete wardrobe. The dainty and at tractive May Manton deslgn'illustrated la the large drawing Includes sever'! novel features aud is adapted to many materials. The original is made of Nile green louisine silk, the yoke and sleeves being enriched by applied dises of paune in a deeper shade and edged with a narrow fancy braid, while the undersleeves are of cream chiffon, but nil soft silk aud wool fabrics nre ap propriate. The applied dises are en tirely new this season, but do not in volve any excessive labor while their effect is smart in the extreme. The lining fits smoothly and snugly, but closes with the outside at the cen tre back. The yoke is applied over the foundation, on Indicated lines and is met by the smooth backs and full fronts. The sleeves are cut after the latest model and Include full soft un- Jer puffs, with slightly bell-slmped over portions, the edges of which are curved to match the yoke. The 6tock collar Is plain and ls« attached to the neck, closing with the blouse at the centre back. To cut this blouse for a woman of medium size three and a half yards of material twenty-one inches wide, three nnu a quarter yards twenty-seven Inches wide, two aud three-quarter yards thirty-two inches wide or one and three-quarter yards forty-four inches wide will be required, with five-eighth yards twenty inches wido for undersleeves. Broclio Mouasellne. Fairy fingers surely developed the airy fabric known as broche mousse line. Let no one Imagine becauue it Is a muslin that it will be low-priced. You can have it by paying s7.!>o for one yard! to bo sure, it is double width, a good 40 Inches across from selvedge to selvedge. It displays a double set of patterns. First the sur face of the mousseline is flaked over with single flowers or wreaths or sprays of white blossoms, raised up as if embroidered. Over this here and there and on either side are the clus ters of field flowers, pink, blue, yellow, lilac, red and the green foliage of wild flowers and garden plants. The colors are exquisite. No wonder it Is a costly fabric. Sea Groen Headed Fringe. An old fashion revived is seen In the fringe of double loops of beading, small sea-green glass beads, which hangs five inches below the rim of an electrolier shade. A Pretty New Material, White net dotted all over with tiny Jet spots and with a border of black lace npplied on the white ground and heavily encrusted with jet Is among the most exquisite of the new robe materials. Silver TUauo Much Used. Silver tissue is being much used aB a background for the flue laces and embroideries of the season. Woman's Tailored Shirt Waist. Simple severe tailored waists are much worn and suit many materials far better than any other sort. The May Manton model shown is made o£ Saxony flannel, woven in Itoman strips of pastel tones, one of the newest and most fashionable walstlug materials, and is eminently smart, but is equally desirable for embroidered stripes, the heavier flannels, corduroy, velveteen and all the materials which call for simplicity. The original is made over a fitting lining that renders it peculiar ly snug and becoming, but the waist can be made unllned whenever pre ferred. The foundation is fitted with single darts, shoulder and uuder-arm seams and closes at the centre front, out sep arately from the outside. The back ot the waist is plain and smooth across the shoulders, but drawn under in gathers at the waist line. The fronts are laid In Ave narrow tucks each that extend from the shoulders and neck to yoke depth, and provide be coming fulness below. The sleeves are In regulation shirt style with nar row square-cornered cuffs. The neck Is finished with a stock of plain silk edged with turn-over portions, and closes invisibly at the centre back. To cut this waist for a woman of medium size three and a half yards of material twenty inches wide, three TAILORED SHIRT WAIST. and three-eighth yards twenty-seven Incnes wide, three yards thirty-two inches wide, two yards forty-fouf Inches wide will be required. -.Art i ling facts THE VICE OF INTEMPERANO Foemi Lost mid Found, by C. 11. BoH« ford Legal View of Murder Com* mltted Under the Influence a* K*"n * Drunkenness No Excuse. James was her onlv son, A bright and noble boy, 'A widow's trust and pride, A doting mother's joy. Ho was at home and school Both dutiful and kind, Of honest, open heart, Of bright, inquiring mind. The mother's wealth of love Sho lavished on her boy; To whom she fondly cluDg, Her only earthly joy. Without hl3 father's hand, Its guidance and restraint, Sad change in time she saw, And heard her son's complaint. That home was not as bright Aa scenes upon the street, Where folly's songs were sung, Hard by the scorner's seat. Corrupt companionship. With evil leaven fraught, In body, spirit, soul, Its subtle poison wrought. The voice within at first Condemns the lighter drinl;3; Yet reason as he may, He through indulgence sinks. The mother patient bore The folly of her child; Her heart, its agony Suppressed to accents mild. Sho summoned all the strength Of self-denying love. That home, with added charms, Its sacred worth might prove. But Satan, subtle fiend, By sin's delusion charmed, His victim blindly led. His captive's feur disarmed. Until debased, he trod Of hell the very brink! And in his ravings cursed And fought the demon drink I The mother's tortured heart In agony now broke; And to his double crime The son ia horror woke. But mercy spread her wings And brooded o'er the loss: 'And now, redeemed, he clings A contrite to the cross. The mother's tears and prayers. Preserved a pledge on high. Now fall in dews of grace From out the answering sky. —Temperance Advocate. The Rum Crazed Murderer. The Taooma (Wash.) Ledger apropos gome events in the criminal courts of that State, declares in strong language its con viction regarding intoxication as a factor In defensive evidence of a confessed inur ierer. It says: "When a man commits murder there ia JO excuse involved in the statement that tie was drunk or crazy at the time. The 3ian killed by a drunkard or a lunatic is ia dead as though he had been killed by my other means. The rights of a doai* man are not considerable. Everv case is lo be considered from the standpoint o •he man who is still alive. For this rejiso ihe homicidal drunkard and lunatic is i sntitled to excuse for his acts. "Not long ago there was a murder in this county. It was the fourth murder :ommitted within as many weeks. An ef fort has been made to show that the as lassin was intoxicated or that, from other •auses, he was mentaly irresponsible. The >flort should be in vain. The factis clear that a murder was committed. No other fact is necessary. Murder is the crime the public rebels against. It has become tired of the habit of bloodshed. The men yuilty of yielding to the habit arc daneer ona men. It makes no difference that ( they can plead the circumstance of having taken a drink or two. "Whether or not the prisoner was drunls b a matter of rot the slightest conse quence. The courts have to pass upon this Seed. For this deed there is a prescribed penalty. All the public asks is that the penalty be meted out." When the Supreme Court of the United States in October, 18S7, declared that the general use of intoxicating drinks "may" sndansrer the public safety and that the prohibition of their sale for that reason ia perfectly in accord with American princi ples, the question as to "whether or not the prisoner was drunk" was thus de ilared a "matter" of exceeding conse quence to the public and society in gen eral. The paper supporting a party that legalizes and protects this menace to the public safety, is to that extent both le gally and morally responsible for every murder committed by some poor victim of that damnable traffic. The "rights" of t weak live man are just as sacred as t*hoso 5f any other and the fundamental princi ples of the civilized state recognize that his protection and preservation are two of Its most inviolable trusts. The New Voice. Alcohol In Krlatlon to Women In the latest number of the Quarterly Journal of Inebriety there appeared an ar ticle on Alcohol in Relation to Women," by Heywood Smith. In it he gives statis tics tending to show that intemperance ia far more prevalent among women than among men. These statistics are taken mostly from the records of private re treats and reformatories, and while they Would seem conclusive evidence that thero ore moro drunkards among women than among men we can hardly agree with hiin In this statement. When a woman be comes a habitual drunkard she is usually placed in a sanitarium at onco by her fam ily, if she has one, and if not, is given over to the protection of the State. The habit ual male drunkard, on the contrary, ia more his own master, objects strenuously to confinement, and hence as a rule remains at home, protected and cared for by hia family, and in nine-tenths of all such cases living with them until he dies. Thus hia case does not goon record. Hia crime la not so heinous nor BO offensive to the curious mode of modern ethics, which pre scribes one set of moral laws for the wom an and another for the man. We think that if all such cases were reported the gum total of inebriate men would far sur- Sass that of inebriate women. —American (pdicine. tord Robert" ittrace* Abstinence. Under the 1 .iirection of Lord Rob" erts the Government is making special efforts to increase the moral ana physical tone of the army by reducing in temperance. The War Office requested railway companies to co-operate to pre vent returning soldiers being treated to Intoxicating liquors. The Great Eastern and the Lancashire and Yorkshire Rail" way companies issued six-penny tickets, which may be purchased for giving to sol diers, who can with the same obtain non intoxicating beverages or food at a cheap rate. \
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers