I
I
THE APOLOUY
By Philip Ver'ril fllghels.
r- y HE rnln descending on to
I ' the snow hnd nindtf Itob
I thoroiiRliIy wot Rtnndlns
J sldo the mouth of his tui
HE rnln descending on top of
Ilobcrts
g In-
tunnel.
tiS lighted a candle, nnd then gazed
tut on the dreary scene presented by
Hie grny hills.
"It's au elegant Chrlstmns." ho
grumbled, "and nothing for a Christ-ams-tree
this Bide of Sugar Lotif
Gulch." There was nothing green,
certainly, Have a single scrub-brush
of mountain-ten. "I suppose I've got
to go," he added; "the kid don't ask
(or much, and I reckon he's lonely,
poor little man."
Ho started Into the mine. On either
tide upright timbers supported the
roof of the tunucl. Close to these, one
after another, the miner held his can
dle, sweeping It slowly down the
length of cuch. Every one was bent
Inward, a few were splitting, and
ominous crocks sounded iilong the line,
ss the posts shouldered up the weight
of the saturated hill above. Roberta
understood the situation. Had the day
not been so far advanced he would
have gone to work nt once to reinforce
the mine against the impending cal
amity. As it was, he cursed his luck
and walked rapidly in, to seeuro an
axe with which to cut a. tree for Ills
small boy's Christmas. Having se
cured the Implement, he leaned upon
It lu contemplation of the end of the
tunnel, with its meagre vein of quart;.
"If it wasn't for that color of gold,"
he mused, "I'd let you go to the devil."
The crack of the timbers further out
made him start. He shouldered the
axe, and returned toward the day
light. A chorus of cracking and crunching
sounds greeted his approach; he felt
a chill go down his spine. A moment
Inter a loud splitting behind him re
verberated down the tunnel, followed
by a thundering sound and a rush of
air. Ills light went out.
Crashing of timbers, gritting of
rocks, and a groaning of wood made
a terrifying din. The miner ran for
bis life. The tumbling posts, the down
pouring earth, and the splinters of
splitting wood pursued him.
The tunnel's mouth a warping
square was now In sight. Axe In
hand the racing man tore along the
thundering hall of the fast-tilling
tomb. Another leap, and he would
clear the plnce! The sill of the door
tripped and threw him on the rock
floor. He scrambled away on huuds
and knees. A single hunk of rock
crushed nt the heel of his foot.
Hurt aiul limping, he urose, stepped
further Along, nnd faced about. A
twisted scar In the hill mnrked the
place where he had labored so long.
Hven In the ruin a cloud of dust was
slowly floating away. The aie was
burled.
"Didn't git me!" said the man, In a
peculiar spirit of triumph. "But sure
enough, you've gone to the devil!" He
fouud himself surprised that the fur
row above the cave was so narrow
aud shallow. It' seemed utterly In
adequate to the work he had expend
ed in delving. "No Christmas-tree now
for the kid," ho remarked. "I guess
this mounlalu-ten will have to do the
business."
He hacked off the stem of the brush
with his knife, nnd swinging it on his
back, limped away.
The brush, with Its candles, Its bits
of ribbon which the mnu had cher
ished, aud its odd array of "presents,"
pleased the seveu-yenr-old child In
Itoberts' cabin Immensely. The little
chap was more thun commonly lone
some, having been Inordinately fond
of the mother, who had made blm her
constant companion. Sluco her donth
It had been her personal trinkets that
gave hlin the greatest pleasure. This
was the reason why the present on
the tree which delighted him most
was a gourd which his mother hud
employed In darning stockings.
"Can I take It with me to aunty's?"
ho Inquired wistfully, holding It tight
la his hands.
"Why, of course you can, If you
want; but you know you ain't coming
home for a week, nnd I wouldn't like
for you to lose it, little man."
On Christmas morning Roberts car
ried the boy as far as the caved-in
wiue, and started blm off on his visit
to the ennip over the bill.
"Don't forget to come back to Dad
on New Year's .JSve," he Instructed.
"Start by four In the evening, sure.
You better not come If It happens to
snow-savvyV" And ho kissed the lit
tle fellow good-by.
CHAPTER II. .
Lalo on the last day or the year n
miner walked across the dump of Hob
ens' mluo to another tunnel, which
bad been locked up and deserted for
Wore than a year. He produced a key
which turned the rusted lock, after
'hleh ho lighted a caudlo aud went
"lowly iu, recalling a score of inci
dents of days gone by, nnd so came nt
'6t to the end of the drift Here be
threw down his roll of blankets and
stood luuctivo for some time, In medi
tation. At length he took up a pick
irom a stack of tools, left as If but
the day before, uud began to strike at
w rock.
Stroke after stroko he rained on the
'co of the wall, stopping now and
sain to tuko tho.t-undlo and throw Its
raaiauco Iu and about the hole he was
rormlng, the clearer to seu the trend
or a lead of crumbling quartz.
ur nu nour uo worked unceasingly,
ireseutly the steel of the Implement
c ashed through tho shell of a softer
ubstatice nU)1 ai, ,)(U u,gnnpeamli Ufl
Jittered a uoto of surprise, and throw
ing his weight ou the handle of the
tuol, pried as with a lever
Suddenly a chunk of porphyry
bilged forth, tho pick burst and
m rr! ?,CUSCa,lu of ol1 Cflue Pour
iur from tho orlllee.
''vha ,uo er la unre
im! " d0,!?ht- " on his
(!!e.8,!,Ua'led u xh
'OU , ... V,0tV. w usued baud..
I!
"OU,
tloii ? a . t It worth u new locu-
J'iS
Ub KUdKk i S
Ing up lils pl;k ngnln, lie slashed mid
tore at the pocket of precious metal iu
a frenzy.
"Oh, sny!", he went on. stopping
ngnln to gather up tho golden store,
"won't we roll 'cm now? Hey! who's
there!"
He stood tip and peered outward,
vainly. In the blackness of the mine.
A patter of feet broke tho stillness.
Drawing a pistol nnd feeling his way,
the miner gave pursuit. The sounds
diminished and were gone. He went
on out and looked from the tunnel's
mouth.
The darkness of night bad descend
ed. Clouds were massed up hugely;
a keen blast was blowing. Here and
thefe a flake of snow shot downward
to the earth.
"Heh, heh, heh wow-ow-ow," sound
ed weirdly from the brush.
"Coyote," snld tho miner. Satisfied
as to the nnture of his visitor, he re
placed his pistol lu his belt and re
turned to his- treasure.
Creeping awny from the spot where
tho coyote-howl hnd been sounded, n
supple figure arose nnd glided down
the slope.
Koberts, in his cabin, was cooking
bis dinner when this figure kuocked nt
his door.
"Come In," he called.
With n grin, the man outside entered
nnd closed the door. The light revolted
un Indian face and head, on au In
dian body; yet the fellow's skin was
nearly ns fair as that of the white
man.
"Hullo, Slink," said the miner. "The
kid won't come to-night, 1 reckon. I
told him to wait If the snow came ou
" , Then he grumbled. "That's
nothing to you, though," and added
sullenly: "what do you want?"
"Nuthin'," said the Indian, eyeing
the food hungrily.
"You lie, half-breed," said the other.
"Take a bite If you want"
The creature Jerked a sizzling chop
from the skillet tossed It about to
cool, and soon was gulping It down.
Then he licked his lingers, with n look
of greed in his eyes.
"Well," said Itoberts, knowing his
man, "what have you got to say?"
"Heap gold," said the Indian abrupt
ly. ."'Sold? Where?" ;.:"
"Sturgls mine. Heap gold."
"Injun, you're a llnr. You're up to
doing some dirt to Sturgls again, I'll
bet There nlu't been a man In Hint
tunnel for over a year not since Stur
gls left the dlggln's, cuss him!"
"Sturgls, he's heap there," replied
the half-breed. "Slink,- he's heap see
'um gold."
"Did you, sure? He's back then,
Is he? I reckon ho came to locate the
claim over. To-morrow's New Year,
and that's his game. I knowed he
hadn't done his assessment work any
man could have Jumped that claim to
morrow. You said he has struck
gold?"
"Heap gold; Slink, ho sees 'um
heap," repeated the creature, eyeing
l.'oberts narrowly.
"Gold! Iu that old tunnel, and mine
hnd to cave! I've got as good a right
as him to Jump her to-night and lo
cate the whole works. He ain't done
assessment work by two hundred dol
lars!" "Plenty gold," remarked the savage
inslduously.
"Gold, gold, gold! Well hang me,
I'll Jump that claim to-night! He
ain't got no rights; he ulu't Btayed
here nnd worked like me; and he done
me tip before. I'll Jump her, sure.
Here Injun, take the meat. Now you
git!"
With the meat In bis fingers the In
dian glided out, his eyes nllre with
gleams of cunning. He had an old
score against Sturgls himself.
In his tunnel Sturgls worked dili
gently, breaking out tho metal aud
beuplng it up with carcssful hands.
His caudle burued down to a lump of
grease and gave up the ghost. The
man groped bis wuy to the outside
eutrauce, where he found half a doz
en tallow dips. The -bill by this time
wus covered with snow, which was
coming down in a blinding swirl.
"Nasty night," be muttered, looking
forth ou the bleakness of the scene,
nnd was turning back when a feeble
cry came clearly on the wind. "Hul
lo!" said he. "What's up?"
"Fa pa!" came the slirlll accents.
"Oh, pa pa, pa pa!"
"Well, I ain't your papa," said the
miner, putting up his collar at the
back of his neck, "but I reckon I've got
to hunt you up."
He closed the door of the claim and
plunged away. Utter darkness was
prevented by tho whiteness of tho hill,
yet ho could scarcely seu a good twen
ty feet ahead.' He stumbled north
ward, and was thrown eeveral times
by covered roots. The cold cut through
bis clothing keenly.
"Hullo!" he shouted; but tho sound
seemed beaten to t!o earth. Not even
an echo made reply. He stumped his
feet to drive out tho cold that crept
Insensibly up.
"Yellow-saud Ravine," ho muttered
at length; "It must have been on the
Pluto trail." Hunting till be found
a narrow suggestion of a path through
the brush, he truveled for a time
westward, up "tho hill.
"Hullo!" he cried again. "Iley, there,
hullo!"
This tlmo a smothered moan was
borne on the wind.
"Across the gulch," he breathed,
and desceuded to tho bottom of tho
wrinkle In tho mountain, aud up on
tho further acclivity, forward and
buck bo plodded, calling repeatedly.
At length, nearly ready to give the
search over, he stood In the storm to
listen. Suddeuly, less than three
feet away, a hump of snow stirred
slightly.
Sturgls stooped toward It Instantly,
pushed off the blanket of lco, and lift
ed up a stiffening little form, cold nnd
helpless.
"Uy gracious!" said he, "but this Is
too bad. The tunnel's the nearest
place to go, aud maybe I cun light a
tire."
"Diverting himself of his eout. !in
wrapped If. about the child, held blm
close, nnd strode nway In the pnth of
tho storm. Floundering here, slipping
there, blocked under t'oot, confused
by the flight of now, he wandered
for nn hour, up hill nnd down. By
sheer good fortune be found himself
nt last by the side of the turnip of his
clnlm.
Ills hands were numb nnd ns stiff
as wood; he felt that hardly a spot of
warmth was left In his body. As be
labored up the side of the dump to
the top, he ' was confronted by a
hunching figure a man, who, like
hlmoelf, hnd Just achieved the sealing
of the pile.
Instantly the man stopped aud drew
a pistol. It was Huberts. "Cuss tho
cold!" he growled. Ills hands were
so stiff he could not cock the revolver,
lie threw It down In the snow. "Stur
giH!" be growled, advancing; "git nway
from here. Your clnlm Is Jumped.
You haven't done assessment. The
mine belong to me savvy? unless
you're better than me nt a light!"
Sturgls staggered a trille backward,
nnd placed his burden quickly In the
snow.
"You Is It, Itoberts?" he chattered.
"Stand away!" He tried to draw his
pistol, but failed.
Crouching, the men circled about,
their great numb fists awkwardly
swinging, like frozen clods. Hushing
heavily lu, Koberts dealt the younger
man a blow In the face, nnd they
clinched llko bears, to struggle ou the
rocky dump, sen IUU) g the snow with
their frozen boots.
They broke fiwny nnd circled again,
Sturgls silent, Koberts savagely growl
ing: "Blame you, I'll learn you now!
Mary would have made a good moth
er to my kid, If It hadn't been for you.
She liked me first."
"You lie," answered Sturgis.
Koberts's bauds were not so stiff ns
those of his foe; he pawed In the
snow a second for the burled revolv
er. Sturgls leaped to strike with his
leaden list. Weakened . and chilled,
however, bis muscles all but refused
to net Koberts met him, grasped at
his throat, nnd pulled out the pistol
dangling from tho other's belt.
"Look out for that!" breathed Stur
gls, as they surged about, nnd lurching
Koberts backward, be made him nvold
trampling on tbo child.
This action gave Roberts nn opening.
Down came the butt of the pistol, and
without a found the miner sank In tho
snow.
"I told you I'd do you up. If over
you came to Alder Creek," puuted
Roberta, "and there you nre."
Pocketing the pistol, he moved to
ward the tunnel, and stumbled over a
small heap lu the snow.
"Huh," said he. "Blankets, hey? I
reckon I can use them myself." Ho
raised the bundle. It stirred; tho coat
fell away from the white little face,
while a tiny hand dropped limply
down, clutching a smooth round gourd.
"Lord! It's my little kid!" cried
Roberts. "Hey, littlo boy it's Dad.
God, you're cold!" he added, crooning
ly, "terrible cold," and bo held the
child wildly aud fondly to his breast
"Sturgls!" he cried abruptly, "he
fetched you! fetched my boy and
where was I? Ho done It, sure my
Lord, but you're cold!"
He stumbled toward the mine.
"He done It," he went on moaning.
"I'll go uud npologlze I will. I'll go
nnd fetch him In. I didn't know I
couldn't have knowed."
Hastening forth, after placing tho
child ou the warmer tloor of the tun
nel, he shambled forward. Out on tho
dump the figure of Sturgls wus weak
ly attempting to rise. Crouching near.
Btealthily advouclng, u kulfe held
ready for a deadly stab, was Slink, the
half-breed. Hearing the wounded min
er for a stroke.
"Hoy!" roared Roberts.
Jumping ahead like a maddened bull,
ho threw himself on the savage. The
knife was butted endways, but tho
Indian tripped up tho white man's
feet, nnd together they rolled over
the snow-plated rocks, locked In a
deadly embrace.
The savage it was now whose bony
lingers searched about tiio miner's
belt and whipped out tho pistol. He
roso on one knee and swung the weap
on backward. Roberts, hot with rage,
butted him a thumping blow with his
head, bowling him partially over.
The two struggled to their feet to
wrestlo and tight for the weapon. The
Indian, wrlthiug like a snake, eluded
the grasp of his foo. bent tbo miner
backward with a thrust-out hand, aud
struck with the heavy revolver.
Koberts Instantly dropped to a knee,
nnd clutching the leg of the trencher
ous Slink, Jerked It outward wlt!i a
vengeful huu!.
The half-breed's blow fulling to
laud, aud swinging him about, helped
to fetch him down. Ho struck on the
back of his bead in tho rocks, with u
shiver, olowly straightened out dead.
Bleeding and punting, t'ae miner
stood for a moment, prepared for
further struggle. Then he made his
way to Sturgla, who was sitting In tho
snow, weakly.
"Sturgla," blurted Roberts, "I nrolo
glze I do. I didn't kuow you bad
saved tlio little kid. I'd like to
shake your paw uud npologlze which
I never ?oue to any man befjre.
Here, I'll help. Ycu've got to git In
side. The claim's yours all right
entugh. I reckon you've done your
wholo assessment" New Illustrated.
1 Diving ou Bicycles.
T.ic embankment of the Tiber, Just
outside the Porta del Popolo, Is the
vantage ground from which tho most
expert members of the famous swim
ming club, "Rara Nantes," careering
along in midair on bicycles, gracefully
pi mi go Into the river and swim to
shore. Many of tho fcuU performed
by tbo divers In turning somersaults
while plunging from tho bridges or
the embankment are really surprising,
and always draw admiring crowds.
Traveler.
The PIhku of Novels.
Tlio pressure thut Is brought to bear
on uu author who has written a suc
cessful novel, nnd has It in him to
write tbreu or four more, to produce
ten times that number lu ns muuy
years. Is exceedingly difficult to with
stand. Yet there are bouorublo ln
stuueeo of authors who do resist thut
temptiiU;u, Thh Spectator.
EflVut on Vroperty Vnlnes.
Do State ronds Increase the vnluo
of abutting property? Is n question
often asked of the Massachusetts com
mission. As a partial naswer, It can
be said t lint Information has been re
ceived from dlstaut pnrts of the State
netting forth the fact that certnln
farm lands which were ou the market
for some years, without a customer,
were sold shortly nfter the completion
of the Stnte road, and nt prices above
what they hnd been offered for. As
there are neither oteam nor electric
rallwnys within several miles of some
of the pieces of property referred to,
it is fair to assume that the Judgment
of the local Informants, who attribute
the sale and the rise In prlco to the
State road, Is correct.
Although it Is dllllcult to obtain di
rect evidence ns to a rise In the value
of property, there Is no lack of testi
mony ns to tho vnlue of the ronds to
tho users of them. From all parts of
the State reports have been received
which clearly show a material reduc
tion in time between given points, a
decrease lu the number of horses on
certain Btage, mall and rnlllc routes,
nnd large Increase in loads with tlx
same number of horses. These re
sults surely mean that the social con
ditions are Improved, tho cost of main
taining regular lines of transportation
by highway Is reduced, nnd the pro
duet of farms nnd Isolated manufac
tories is moved lu xi manner to In
crease tho margin of profit.
Real property Is subject to tho same
laws, whether It bo urban, suburban
or rural. Its market value Is regulat
ed by Its earning capacity. Its nenr
ness to beautiful or picturesquo scen
ery, and still further by Its religious,
educational and social opportunities.
A rise in value may follow nn Im
provement of any one of these con
ditions, but it must follow a better
ment of all. The commission Is con
fident that the case Is not misstated
when it enys that wherever a State
road has been begun, a betterment
along the lines suggested will folio
its completion.
The Fanner unit the Automobile.
Ordinarily the chnuffeur on pleasure
bent takes only scant luterest In that
branch of nutomoblllsm which Is con
cerned with transportation of freight.
Nevertheless, there is au Intimate and
necessary connection between the pro
gress of heavy motor wagon traffic
nndthe pleasures of thoso who never
expect to operate an automobile for
utility purposes. These pleasures de
pend very largely upon the mileage of
good roads that are at one's disposal,
nnd tho goods roads problem depends
for its solution almost exclusively upon
the advancement of automobile freight
traffic and nutomobllism for agricul
tural Implements and the general hus
bandry of the fanner. So long as
the farmer is compelled to employ
horses nnyway, for plowing bis fields
und hauling produce nnd provisions
to and from town, bo long will he be
dlsineliued to purchase automobiles
for any purpose, but tho moment bo
can dlspeuso with nil horses, save
perhaps one team, and can begin to
see a saving lu doing so, U'j will also
be willing to listeu to the financial
argument In favor of good roads, aud,
this argument being Immensely
strengthened when ho can measure
the traction effort ou a poor road in
tlio dollars nnd cents expended for
gasolene (or perhaps alcohol), ho will
soon bo willing to pay his share for
road Improvement It might be a pay
iug Investment If all automobile manu
facturers would endow a special insti
tution for advancing the application
of mcchuulcal power to all kinds of
work Incidental to agriculture. i It
would at ull events bo a novel and
meritorious departure, nnd might be
made successful uuder competent
leadership, ultbough most other forms
of co-operation which look so tempt
ing to the theorist prove so futile In
pra ctice. A u to m o hi 1 e Top Ics.
Farmers Konris.
A dispatch from Wabash, Ind., to
the State Journul snys that farmers In
the northern part of Wabash County
are building gravel ronds, Independent
of the county commissioners, at a rate
which will soon leave few of the old
mud highways In existence, under a
system which makes construction easy
and cheap. One turuplko of ten miles,
extendlug from North Manchester to
Dlsko, Is now being completed, and
the burden, under tho self-assessment
system evolved, has scarcely been felt
among the bind owners. These farm
ers entered luto au agreement to build
tho road, every owner of property
abutting joining lu tho pact to pay
$1.50 per acre in work or cash, within
threo years. Laud assessed extends
buck a half mile ou either side of the
rond. The work is done in dull sea
sons, aud tho 4oss of time Is not felt
by the farmers, while the coustructlou
of the road Is pushed rapidly. At the
end of the three years tho county com
missioners are notified of tbo comple
tion of the work, tbo county surveyor
Inspects tlio road, and If it complies
with all requirements, It Is accepted,
nnd the commissioners, under the
gravel-road repair act, uudertako to
keep It in good condition.
A Clvllliiiig Influence.
Good roads nre of first Importance
aa civilizing Influences, and a section
which lacks them Is retarded lu every
thing which contributes to progress.
Speeches and resolutious are well
enough, but demonstrations of what
a good road Is aud bow It Is made are
worth vastly more, especially when
they leave bebiud them somethlug
which every clllieu can uuderstaud
owl aujireclate. ,
Meed ot Good Holds.
Tuero Is uo more important improve
ment needed Iu our country than good
toads. Good roads meuu better peo
ple. Good roods menu more business
for the inerchnnts. Gocd roads meuu
Improvement In value of our real
estate. New Orleans Tluies-Deuio-era'
.
THE SABBATH SCHOOL
International Lesson Comments For
October 20.
Subtcl: Joseph Exalted, Ocn. xlL, J8-49
Golden Text, L Sam. II., 39 Memory
Verses, 39-41 Commentary
on (be Day's Lesson.
33. "Unto his servants." The kings of
nncicnt Eirvpt were assisted in the man
nicment of state affair by the advice of
the most riitin(rui"hcd members of tlie
priently order; and, accordingly, before
n.lmittinir Joseph to the new and extraor
dinary office that was to be created, those
milliliters were conuItrd as to the expe
diency and propriety of the appointment.
"Su .h a one as this." Doubtless the hi
torv if Joaeph had been told Pharaoh
nnd his servants, and they saw that, his
long experience with Potinhar as well as
his prscnt wisdom would especially fit
him for the m-oposed work. "The spirit
of Ood is." Here is an acknowledgement
of the existence and power of the true
God. .Toxeph had expressly told Pharaoh
fv. 16) that the interpretation of the
dreams was not in him, but that Ood
would give the answer: and now tlie king
attributes Joseph's wisdom to the spirt
of Ood in him. Such an one would have
wisdom, could be trusted and would be
attended with the bleaain of Ood.
39. "Discreet." Intelligent, havinff a
clear insight into matters. "Wise." This
denotes a capacity to devise and employ
proper measures to gain the ends desired.
4ft. "Thou." This was very unexpected
to Joseph and also to Pharaoh's servants.
When Joseph was counseling the king to
appoint a man to gather grain, he could
not have had the remoteat idea that he
would be the man: and the servants who
were so very willing that Jnnepli'a plan
should be carried out (v. 37) are silent
pow, when Joseph's name is proposed.
"Unto thy' word." Joseph honored God
before Pharaoh nnd God honored Joseph
in the sight of Pharaoh. A little time uro
he was traduced ns one of the vilest of
men; now the king honors him as a man
of incomparable worth. Wo may learn
from this not to be greatly dejected by
reproach, nor pnlTed nn by praise. The
best of men have passed through good re
port and evil report.
41. "Over all the land." Behold one
hour l.ath changed his fetters into a chain
of gold, his rags into fine linen, his stocks
into a chariot, his iail into a pnlace.
42. "Took off his ring." This was a
token of the highest dignity and also an
instrument of power, for it undoubtedly
"ve validity to tho documents to which
it was affixed. Thus ,Ioserfl was given
chief authority in Egypt. People in the
East do not sign their names. Thcv have
seals in which their names and titles are
engraven, and with which thcv make an
Oppression with thii-V ink. on all occasions
for which we use the signature. "Finn
I nnen. a costiy tanric, worn ny persons
i rank as n marn ot nonor. it was ex
ceedingly soft and of dazzling whiteness,
nnd has been sold for twice its weight in
gold. "A gold chain." This was a badao
of high office; an emblem of civil authority.
43. "The second chariot." The second
state chariot in the public procession.
Herodotus tells us that Egypt was noted
for chariots, both for peaceful and war
like purposes. "They cried before him."
That is, the king's heralds, whose duty it
was to go before and announce the coining
of the roval procession. "Bow the knee."
The heralds cried. "Abreck!" This is
supposed to be an Egyptian word, and its
meaning is not definitely known. It may
mean "rejoice." or "we are at thy serv
ice." Others think it means. "Cast your
selves down do homage." "Set him over
nil the land" (R. V.)) This high position
to which Joseph was exalted was a full
recompense for his years of patient suffer
ing. It was also a proof of the equity and
goodness of God, nnd it should be an en
couragement to all good people to trust
Ood. ,
44. "I am Pharaoh." This was the
same as though he had said I am Ving.
for "Pharaoh" was the common title of
the sovereigns of Egypt. "Without, thee."
Joseph's authority was to be absolute and
universal. Thus did God put honor upon
this youth. Joseph had been tested and
had stood the test. His integrity, cour
age, patience, faithfulness and faith in
uoci nan neen thoroughly tried.
45. "Zaphnath-paaneah." This name
has had various interpretations, some of
which are as follows: "Preserver of life,"
"The revealer of secrets." "The treasury
of glorious comfort." "Governor of the
Living One." "Bread of life," "Saviour of
the world." Clarke thinks it. was merely
"an Egyptian epithet, designating the
office to which he was now raised." "Ase
nath." Ifis naturalization was completed
by this alliance with a family of high dis
tinction. On being founded by an Arab
colony Poti-nhera, like Jethro, fiest of
Midian, mivht be a worshiper of the true
God: and thus Joseph, a pious man, will
be freed from the chargo of marrying an
idolatress for worldly ends. "On." Or
Itclionolis, meaning "sun" or "light."
Called Aven (Ezck. 30: 17), and also Hcth
shemesh. Jer. 43: 13. "Over all tho land."
No doubt for the building of granaries
and appointing proper officers to receive
the corn in every place.
40. ''Thirty years old." This was tho
ago which was appointed for entering the
priesthood, and wo will remember that
this was the ape when the New Testament
Joseph entered upon his ministry of love
and mercy. "Stood before Pharaoh."
This means that he was admitted into
the immediate presence of the king, and
had his unlimited confidence. Among the
Asiatic princes the privilege of coming to
their seat and standing in their presence
was granted only to the highest favorites.
Joseph though bo suddenly and remarka
bly raised is not puffec with pride.
47. "Uy handfuls." A singular expres
sion, alluding not only to the luxuriance
of the crop, but the practice of the reap
ers grasping the grain in their hands.
This probably refers principally to rice, as
it grows in tufts, a great number of stalks
proceeding from the same seed. There
was not a place in the then known world
so well adapted to the production of grain
as Egypt..
48. "Gathered up." This was accord
ing to the advice given Phsraoh fv. 34),
that a fifth part be gathered up. This was
the Government tax, or was bought up at
low prices such as would then prevail.
Doubtless the people also stored up grain
for themselves, but according to their
faith, which was much less than Joseph's.
40. "Joseph gathered." The king and
his subjects owed their lives to Joseph.
Through the blessing of God he was able
to supply not only the Egyptians, but
other nations with corn when the famine
came. ....
Asu Euten Instead of ricklea.
Ants are now regarded as a great
delicacy, and the only trouble Is that
there Is not enough of them. Men who
do hard manual work In cold climates
acquire a strong craving for something
sour, and tbey have found out long ago
that ants are a palatable substitute for
pickles. They use only a peculiar va
riety, large and red in color, and found
In Immense quantities under the bark
of dead trees. It Is not very hard to
collect a quart pall full, and, after kill
ing them by scalding, they are sproad
on a board and dried In the sun. When
ready to eat they look like coarae,
brown powder, and have a very agreo
able, aromatic smell. With a view to
making this new delicacy more gener
ally known a syndicate Is at work col
lecting and canning ants, preparatory
to placing them on the market gener-
uiiy.
flie Most nnpld f crowing Amines, city.
The American city which Is showing
the most rapid gain In population Is
Loe Angeles. Cal. This early California-town,
settled by the Spaniards fn
17S0, and a populous place before the
dlocovery of gold, gulned 3!0 per cent
In population, between 18S0 and 18S0,
and 100 per cent between 1NU0 and
1900.
CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR TOPICS.
October 20 Dally Bible Rei4ln
111. 1-17.
2 Tim.
Scripture Verses. Hob. sll. 10, 17:
Rom. vlli. 14. 17; John III. 16; nev.
ixli. 1-5; Matt. xvl. ; Mark vill. 30,
J7; Luke xli. 13-21 : Matt xxll. 4, 6.
Leonoii Thoughts.
Those who soli their spiritual birth
right, of chnracter, constrlence, heay
n. are certain to lose with ' it the
blessings of happiness, peace and this
world.
The value we place upon anything
determine the amount we will ex
:'hunge it for; If we value properly our
Christian heritage, uo earthly price
cun buy It.
When we despise our birthright, we
despise our Father through whom It
comes.
Selections.
Wo barter life for pottage; sell true
bliss
7or wealth or power, for pleasure
or renown;
Thus, Es.ni-llke, our Father's blessing
miss
Then wash with fruitless tears our
faded crown.
There was an advertisement In one
of the dally papers, to this effect:
"Wnnte-d, a nice cottage and grounds
in exenange ror a lot of choice
liquors." Multitudes of drinking men
have made such an exchange. Not
only property, but happiness, home,
tno welfare or friends, character.
prospects, everything, have they ex
changed for Intoxicating liquor. So
men sell their diameters and clear
conscience for money, for honors, for
pleasures. They sell their souls for
the world, nnd find that thev have
sold themselves for naught.
i lie worldlings life Is like that of a
child sporting In a meadow, chasing
now a butertly which loses its cluirni
by being caught; now a wreath of
mist which falls damn upon the hand
with disappointment; now n feather
of thistledown which Is crushed lu
the grasp.
Iravelers visiting Nineara nre
shown a place where a young lad.v
lost her life. She was ambitious lo
pluck a (lower from a cliff where no
human band hnd reached. She leaned
too far over the edire. and tho turf
yielded to tho pressure of her feet.
Her life was sacrificed for a flower.
Many a one grasping at the fatal
(lower of sin sncritlees his soul.
Suggested Hymns.
I do not ask for earthly store.
Turn thee, O lost one. care-worn
and wenry.
O happy day that fixed my choice.
Nothing but leaves.
Fade, fade, each earthly Joy.
In the cross of Christ I glory.
EPW0RTH LEAGUE MEETING TOPICS.
October 20 A Bad Bargain Gen. xxv. 29-34.
The characters cnanzed In this bar
ter are twin brothers with widely di
verse pursuits, principles, and Weals.
One of them was a cunning hunter, a
man oi tlio Held. Jacob was a plum
man. dwelling lu tents, beloved of his
mother, whose influence was domi
nant iu his life. Their personal char
acters were unalike. Esau was a
wild man iu disposition, carnal In
miud, essentially worldly. He was
1)llud to the honors, rights, and priv
ileges ot bis earthly heritage lu the
birthright. The supplanter was gen-
tie. attHdicd to his tents, irreligious,
impatleut, aud unbrotnerly. tusau
euters the tents of his brother, de
claring thnt the birthright which he
cannot enjoy until bis father's demise
has no value to him. Jacob contract
ed with Esuu for his birthright, de
manding an oath for his faithful per
formance of the 'bargain. The price
was "broad and pottage of leutlK
thus Esau despised his birthright."
For such an offense and tho guilt
thereof Scripture brands him a "pro
fane person."
Among the Hebrews tho firstborn
had special rights and advantages.
These were not clearly aud definitely
settled In the patriarchal age, but in
later times were gradually defined to
Include the chief and peculiar rights:
1. A "double portion" of the father's
Inheritance, allotted under the Mosa
ic law (L)eut. xxl, 1.1-17). No whim,
caprice, or oath of the father could
deprive the tirstborn of his share of
the paternal property. 2. The first
boru succeeded to tho otllclul author
ity of the father. If the father was
a king his tirstborn was regarded as
his legitimate successor. In the pa
triarchal times tho father somotimes
exercised his power to transfer tho
right from the oldest to another child.
3. Provided no blemish or defect at
tached to him, the oldest sou lu vir
tue of priority of descent became the
priest iu tho family. This was the
custom that soon had the force of law.
Ueuben was the tirstborn of the
twelve patriarchs, and to his tribe
belonged the high honor of the priest
hood. However, it was transferred
by God to the tribe ot Levi (Num. ill,
12, 13; vlll, 18.)
Men aud women there are, who are
equipped with peculiar powers. Borne
have the royalty of great and good
names. Others have deeds to vast es
tates and countless .wealtki. Others
hold lertters patent In tho brllllnucy
of tbelr Intellects, nobility of tholr
hearts, aud splendor of their charac
ters to name, fame and usefulness.
Too many of these throw awuy with
wanton disdain all tho possibility
of power, achievement, and blessing
for "One morsel of meat."
- A moment's gratification, then the
brand of tho reprobate. Appetite ap
pealed, but birthright bartered never
to bo redeemed. Hunger satisfied,
but sonship sold and slavery Imposed.
Like Cain, God marked biui and sent
him away to bis own place (Mark vlll.
au).
RAMS' HORN BLASTS
HE miracles Mia
men demand would
almost always be
cai&atropnes.
The church does
not keep men
wholesome by the
refrigerator nioth
od. No man knows
the reality of life
till be recognizes
the unreality of
the world.
s a v
...... i hnt never roes
down to serve will soon go down for
ever In shiune.
The denominations may Illustrate
the breadth of ChrUitlaaity rather than
tholr own bigotry.
Our IntoaesU determine our Influ
ence.
Pinvor will not flow where malice U
allowed to grow.
It is alwuv9 easier to ridicule a truth
than to realize It
L I TV'
COMMERCIAL REVIEW.
General Trade Conditions.
R. G. Dun & Co.'s "Weekly Review
of Trade" says: "Trade channels are
remarkably free from obstruction, al
though the movement of goods at some
points is checked by insutlicicnt trans
porting facilities. This is a tribute to
the unusually heavy shipments, which
are shown more definitely by railway
earnings in September, these being 9.2
per cent, larger than last year and is
16.7 per cent, above those of 1890. Con
tracts for an enormous quantity of steet
rails, deliverable next year at current
quotations, indicate the general confi
dence in the stability of prices and the
expansion of railway facilities required
to meet the growing needs of the coun
try. Steadiness is still the feature in
textile markets. New orders for wool
ens are slow, but buyers complain of
late delivery on old contracts. Com
exports have increased, but are still
small; for the week only 84.1,374 bush
els going out from "Atlantic - ports
against 3,144.610 bushels last year and
?.993.232 in 1H0O. Wheat was also eas
ier, partially because of conflicting es
timates of foreign crops and needs,
while exports from the United States
were smaller than in the preceding
week, especially as to flour shipments.
There is still a good showing in com
parison with earlier years, 4.523,440
buahcls going out, against 4,183,603 in
1900 and 4,366,645 two years ago. The
great size of the domestic wheat crop
this year is indicated by interior re
ceipts of 8,411.775 bushels, against 6,
139 584 last year and 6,644.113 in 1809.
"Cotton was easier until the official
report appeared, when the low condi
tion caused a sharp advance.
' Failures this week number 205 in
the United States, against 208 last year,
and 37 in Canada against 23 last year.'
LATEST QUOTATIONS.
Flour Best Patent, $4.45; High
Grade Extra, $3.95; Minnesota bakers,
$2.8533 05.
Wheat New York, Xo. 2 red, 74a.
75c; Philadelphia, No. 2 red, 7ia7tJc;'
Baltimore, 7ofc. .
Corn New York, No. 3, 62Jc; Pliil-t
adelphia, No. 2, 6ia62c; Baltimore,
No. 2, 62a63c.
Oats New York, No. 2, sH'Ac; Phil
adelphia, No. 3 white, 42a4Jc; Bal
timore, No. 2 white, 39!c.
Hay No. J timothy. $16.50; No. a
timothy, $i5.ooai5.5o; No 3 timothy,
$!3.ooai4.oo.
Green Fruits and Vegetables Apples
Eastern Shore, Maryland and Vir
ginia, brl, fancy. $2.ooa2.25; do, fair to
good, $r.6oai.75. Beets Native per
loo bunches $1.2531.50. Cabhage Na
tive, per 100 5j.00a2.50; do, New York
State, per ton $io.ooai3.oo. Carrots
Native, per bunch l54a2C. Cauliflower
Long Island, per crate or brl, $2. 50a
3.00. Celery New York State, per doz-'
en stalks 25340c. Corn Sugar, per
dozen, native 4.17c. Cranberries Cape
Cod, per brl S6.00a6.50. Damsons
New York, per 10-lb .toa.isc. Egg
plants Native, per -basket 25330c.
Grapes New York, per 5-lb basket.
Concords 7aSc; Niagaras Iiat2; Del
awares I2ai3. Lettuce Native, per
bushel box 20325. Lima besns Na
tive, per bushel box 65370. Onions
Maryland and Pennsylvania, yellow, per
bu 90395; do, Ohio, yellow, per basket
90ag5. String beans Native, per bu,
green 40345. Peaches Mountain, per
20-lb basket 50380c. Pears Eastern
Shore, Duchess, per basket 20330; New
York Bartletts, per brl $3.5034.50.
Quinces New York, per brl, No. I
$3.0083.50. Tomatoes Eastern Shore
Msrytand, per bssket 35a37Vi. Turnips
Native, per bushel box 35340.
Potatoes White Native, per bushel
box 7oa75c: do, Maryland and Penn
sylvania, per bu, No. 1 65370; do, sec
onds 40350; do, New York, per bu,
prime 70375. Sweets Eastern Shore,
Virginia, per brl, yellows $i.ooai.io;
do, culls 50375; do, Anne Arundel, per
brl, No. I $1.1531.25. Yams Virginia,
per brl, No. I 75ca$i.oo.
Dairy Products Butter Elgin 23a
24c; separator, extras 22a23; do, firsts,
20321; do, gathered cream 2oa2t; do,
imitation 17319; ladle, extra I5ai7; la
dles, first Mats; choice Western rolls
I5ai6; fair to good I3at4; half-pound
creamery, Maryland, Virginia and
Pennsylvania 2iaJ3; do, rolls, 2-lb, do
IOC.
Eggs Western Maryland and Penn
sylvania. per dozen iAaiac; Eastern
Shore, Maryland and Virginia, per doz
en i84ai9; Virginia, per dozen l8'ja
19; West Virginia ai8; Western lS'ia.
19; Southern I7j4ai8; guinea a ;
icehouse, closely candled I7ai7j4c Job
bing prices 'A to ic higher.
Cheese New cheese, large, 60 lbs
ioMi to io!4c; do, flats, 37 lbs, loJi to
iolA; picnics, 23 lbs, io-l4 to 11.
Live Poultry Chickens Hens 11a
c; do, old roosters, each 25330; do,
spring, large ai2; do, do, small ai2;
Ducks Spring, 3 lbs and over, an;
do, do, poor and small, ag; do. fancy,
large, old ioaioJS; do, do, small ag;
do, muscovy and mongrels 9310. Geese
Western. each 5oa6o. Guinea fowl, each
I5a20. Pigeons Old, strong flyers, per
pair 20a2.se; do, young, do 20a .
Hides Heavy steers, association and
saltcrs, late kill, 60 lbs and up, close
selection, toj'iaiic; cows and light
steers, &i9'j.
Live Stock.
Chicago Cattle Good to prime
steers $o.isa6.6o; poor to medium $3.75
35.90; canners $i.2sa2.25; bulls $i.75a
4.65; calves $2.5034.60. Hogs Mixed
and butchers' $6.3536.65; good to choice
heavy $6.6036.85. Sheep Good to
choice wethers $3.3033 75; lair to choice
mixed $3.0033.30; Western sheep $j.5oa
3.60; native lambs $2.5034.75; Western "
lambs $3.4034.40.
East Liberty Cattle steady; choice
$5-75a6.oo; prime $5.5035.70. Hogs
slow; prime heavy $6.9037.00; best me
diums $6.8536.875; heavy Yorkers $6.75
a6 8o. Sheep dull; best wethers $.t.8oa
3.90; culls and common $1.2532.25;
yearlings $2.5034.00; veal calves $6,504
7.00.
LABOR AND INDUSTRY
Mexico reports an oil boom.
Manitoba wants 40.000 farm hands.
Alaska imports California oranges.
Paris has automobile fire engines.
Coal costs Sweden $15,000,000 a year.
France has the deepest well 3,609
feet.
. Great Britain railways stretch 2,200
miles.
France is importing American macht.
inery.
The highest mine in the world is a
tin mine at Oruro, Bolivia, 14,000 feet
above the sea.
Southern California has 3,500 acre
in beets.
New South Wales has an agricultural
college. i ,
Bolivia lias the world s second great
est silver mine.
The world's coffee production thi
year is 2 1. 000,000 bags.
Sioux Kalis had the "farmers' national
congress last week.
Kansas City's tirst glass plant started
its fires the other day.
A Kedditch, England, factory makes
70.000,000 needles VKtkly.
l ast ynr Minnesota mills turucd out
26,63;.soo barrels of Hour und cnurued
uvec Co.oc 0,000 pounds oi butter.