THE M1DDLEBHRGH POST. GEO. W, WAGENSELLER, Editor and Proprietor MiDDLKEcnan, Pa., Jilt 15, 1897. The United Brethren conference In Indiana has refused the request of many women to strike out the word 'obey" in the marriage service. A. J. Balfour, the first lord of the British treasury, has achieved the all but impossible. lie has produced a bill dealing with Irish I'm a noes, which is approved by Irish conservatives, English liberals, Parnellites and anti Parnellites. A new Russian law forbids the carrying on of trade by sea in foreign vessels, and under any but the . Russian flag, between all Russian ports on the Bultio nnd Black seas and on the Pacific coast. The law is to go into effect in 1900. Rudyard Kipling is probably the first poet to have one of his works form an item in a government's cable bill. His "Our Lady of the Snows" was cabled ut twenty-five cents a word from London to Ottawa at government expense. Even with this the Canucks were not satisfied. In Austria a law has just been passed making it a punishable ofl'ence for parents to take young children into bed with them. This arbitrary interference with the "liberty of the subject" has been rendered necessary by the large number of deaths of in fants by being overlaid. '' The houseboat plan has been turned to good account in the Fen country in England. According to the latest English papers a boat has been fitted up as a church in thepnrish of Holme, iu the diocese of Ely, and is moved along tliH canals nnd thus spiritual consolation is brought within the reach of those who could only with great difficulty get to the parish church. A writer in the New York Herald, signing himself "Lawyer," comment ing upon the overcrowded condition of the legal profession, Rays that hun dreds of lawyers in this country are actually starving to death for the want of practice, and that something should be done nt once to check the, constantly increasing stream of talent that is pouring into the ranks of the profession. Is there anything new nuder the nun? Yang Ya, lute Chinese ininistor at Washington, says that bicycles were in common use in the Flowery Kingdom 2000 years ago, but as wo men rode them to the neglect of theii families the Emperor stopped the manufacture. The bloomers, how ever, survived, and now that bicycles have come back even in China, there would serin to be nothing in the way of the almond-eyed damsels resuming their interrupted pastime. The British population was by the last census over thirty-nine millions, and must at the present time be fully forty millions. The population of Frauee was by the last census under thirty-nine millions. The white people in the French colonies have not ap preciably grown in numbers, but the white people iu the British colonies now number from twelve to thirteen millions. Thus, the white population under the British Queen at borne and abroad is not less than fifty-two mil lions. The Han Francisco Chronicle de clares that New York is so fur in the lead in the matter of foreign com merce that no other American city at tempts to dispute her position, but occasionally some one is rash enough to maintain that Philadelphia is the greatest manufacturing centre in the United States. There was a time when this was true, but the New York papers are now pointing out that the census of 18'J0 exhibited the fuel that the value of the manufactured pro ducts of New York city was $777,221, 721, while in the same year the manufactories of Philadelphia only turned out products worth $377,234, HG. The statistics of the census, when examined closely by would-be rivals, afford very little hope that the metropolis will ever be overtaken in the race for precedence. New York baa first place, and is likely to hold it permanently. From present indica tions there is as little prospect of rival American city surpassing New York as there is of some provincial Eritish city overtaking London. A Calais (Me.) correspondent. In writ ing of a recent sluitirlnR- match pulled off in that city av the ring was pitch ed in a "secluded spot, near the center of the city." LITTLE KINDNESSES. If von were toiling nn a weary hill. iSeariujt a load beyond your strength to Har. Straining eneh nerve untiringly, and still btuml.liug and losing foothold here and there. And each one passing by would do so much As give onn upward lift and go their way. Would not slight reiterated touch Of help and kindness lighten all the day? There is no little and there is no much. We weigh and measure and define In vain; A look, a word, a light, responsive touch Cnu be th ministerof Joy to pain. A man run die of hunger, walled iu gold, A crumb may quicken hope to stronger breutli. And everv day we give or we. withhold Some little thing that tulls for life or death. 5000OOO000OO030O0OOOO0OOC A WILLFUL BEAUTY. BT JENNY nr.s. $003093009009000000000000' O, no.Miss Emily, dear, don t! I urgently pleaded 41. ...;nc,i llkS! yuB beauty who had so im petuously been relieving her mind of certain mutters resting somewhat heavily thereon. I was only housekeeper at the Hall, but from long Hid fhithful service, nnd the fact that the girl who had just thrown herself in such cureless grace at my feet had lost her mother when almost too young to remember her, I felt more privileged than perhaps my position otherwise would explain. Not a child of my very own could bo nearer my heart than was the spoiled, lovely little mis tress of Carlton Grange. The Squire was too busy with his chase, his hounds and horses to spare, much time to the treasure which in reality lay nearest his heart. To give her her own way, to see her always beautifully dressed ot the head of his table, to view with proud eye the slight, grace ful figure perched fearlessly upon some favorite horse, to allow no one to cross her from her infancy here he considered the duties of n father end ed, and certainly, so far ns begetting a most ardent love between the two, it worked admirably, though, as to the real good of my lady, I urn by no uieuus sure. "And why not?" sho questioned, in answer to my protest. "I don't love him. I Ihntehim." She was speaking of her cousin Ar thur, hut ns she hnibhed, tho pretty head, which hud borne itself so defi antly, went down on my lap, nnd the burst of tears which followed dis proved tho truth of her assertion. No one could have seen the two to gether and not acknowledged their tit uess for each other. Although but cousins a second time removed, a faint likeness was perceptible, but Arthur's mouth indicated greater firmness, and the will which was so necessary in tho encounters between the two. He was the only one who did not give up to Miss Emily, who sometimes thwarted her, but always so gently, so tenderly, yet, withal, so firmly, that I think herein lay the very secret of his charm. There was no regular engagement be tween them, but it was an understand ing for all that, although half the young gentlemen in the county were con testants for the prize, but, save a lit tle barnilcs coquetry, she gave them no encouragement. I could but smile as I stroked her pretty golden-brown hair, while yet her head lay in my lap, at the very April shower winch was all of grief my darling had ever known, for, ere I hud quite finished my few words of com fort, applied I scarcely knew to what, she had once more sprung to her feet, and in a few moments I could hear her sweet voice carolling through tho halls, Then under my window I heard the imperative order to the groom: "Saddle Bess, Tom, and bring her round nt once." "She's hardly fit to ride, Miss, this afternoon," the man respectfully an swered. "She's skittish at the best of times, and she's been so long unused I'm most afraid she'd prove too much for you." "All the better," was the reckless answer. "Bring her round nt once." Glancing from my window ns the voices reached my ear, I saw Mr. Ar thur sauntering up tho walk. He quickened his step a little, ns he over heard the discussion, saying, very quietly, as he approached: "Surely, Emily, you will not be so rash as to mount Bess to-day? Y'ou must not think of nch a thing." The girl turned haughtily toward bim, surveying him a moment in si lence; then, ns though remark were unnecessary, turned again to the groom : "Do as you are bid, Toin. I will now dress " "Emily, for my sake!" I beard him say iu a low tone, but the contest of the morning in which her will had been forced to bend made her determined now. "You are detaining me, Mr. Traf ford," she answered. "I shall have barely time for my ride." "You must not, Emily; indeed yon must not. My uucle would not wish it, and in his absence I must pre vent it." The color flamed like a crimson rose into the girl's cheek. "How dare you!" she exclaimed, stamping her Jittle foot. "How dare you speak so to me? If you have ever considered yours the right, it is can celled from this moment. Heaven belp the woman you would make your wife I She would be your slave. Give ber my warmest sympathies, Mr. Trsflord; I cannot offer my congratu lations." The young man's face flushed botly, and he shrank from the words as from mmm a blow, but be bad no time to answer, for Miss Emily bad already flown past bim into the house, and I saw bim turn and walk slowly to the stables. In a few seconds more the groom brought the pranking animal, holding firmly to the bit while Miss Emily sprang lightly into the saddle. She seemed such a very feather to manage the spirited horse, yet I could not help the thrill of pride as I watched the tiny hands bring her into such quick subjection, and the straight, lithe young figure sitting her seat to such perfection. The groom stood watching her anx iously down the avenue, but I was not surprised when she had once disap peared from view, although greatly re lieved to see Mr. Arthur leap into the saddle nnd follow her. I knew, him self unseen, he had determined to keep her in sight, and I somehow felt safer to know she was in his charge. Cruel as had been her words, be loved her too well to heed them at such a time. The afternoon slowly passed away. What was it that caused such a shadow of dread to creep over my heart? Somehow, I could not shake it off. From time to time I would steal away from my other duties into my darling's room, where everything so reminded me of her, picking up the articles she had thrown round in her careless haste, and when all was in order, look ing for something else to do to detain me in the spot. Yet I would not ac knowledge the real extent nnd reason of my uneasiness, even to myself, un til the sound of horses' hoofs rapidly nearing the house suddenly lifted the load I had unconsciously been carry ing and brought me within almost a cry of thanksgiving to the window. Yes, there was my darling's blue habit fluttering in the breeze. She had returned unhurt, but the excite ment must have been too great for hor strength, for, even from where I stood, I could but note the deathly pallor of her fuce, nnd hastened down to meet her. Ere I reached her side I saw two of the men, iu obedience to some hastily issued commands, spring into their saddles nnd ride rapidly down the avenue. Then in another moment Miss Emily lay almost fainting in my arms. "Oh, Xanno," she 'exclaimed. "I have killed bim, and he will never, never know how dearly I loved him." I ill most carried tho poor child to my room and laid her on the sofa, noting, as I did so with a shudder, tho two or three bright, red stains upon her habit. What did they portend? From tinio to time low moans es caped her half-parted lips, and I could but contrast her with the bright, will ful girl who had ridden ofl' a few brief hours before so full of hope' and happi ness. And then, in broken words, sho told the story. How nt a sudden turn in the road, she had caught sight of Mr. Arthur following her and in very perverseness of spirit touched lightly with her whip the animal which need ed restraint rather than urging, then turned her head in the direction of the pits, a road at any time dangerous, but now, maddened by the touch of the whip, the mnre had taken the bit be tween her teeth, and the little bauds clenching the reins were powerless. Mr. Arthur saw her peril, and, putting spurs to his horse in reckless defiance of harm to himself, had put him to the leap, endeavoring, by leaving the road, to head her off and seize her rein. It was a race for life. A heap of stones lav upon the road. On one side there was barely room for a single horse to pass. Could he reach that first, he might save her. There wns no time to question. By au effort almost super human he directed his horse to tho pass, and seized the bridle which now lay powerless in her grasp. The mare swerved back, his own horse plunged, and, in some wny, how, Rhe could not tell, he lay beneath the maddened ani mal's feet, his head striking ou the cruel stones. The shock had brought the mare to reason, and it now stood still and trenibliug. But Arthur had saved her life by giving his. I could but comfort the child as best I might, when outsido came the trend of feet, and I knew they wero bringing their sad burden home. Pressing a kiss on her forehead, I weut forward to meet it, but as through my tears I bent to look over the dear face, I, too, almost fainted, though this time for joy, for the great brown eyes were wide open, and I could almost fancy smiling into mine. The physicians gave us little hopo at first, however, and it was pitiful to watch Miss Emily steal in and out of the room where ho lay so white and still and suffering. All her old will fulness had gone now, and I could sae how her heart was centered in him, but at last we knew the best and the worst. "Life would be spared, bnt Mr. Arthur would be a cripple for life." "Through me, Nanna all through me!" she moaned forth when she heard it. "How be must hate even to look at me!" But I bad watched his gaze follow her too often not to know differ ently. I was busy one day in bis room j think they scarcely knew I was there) when Arthur called her to Lis side. "I want to say someting to you, Emily," he began; "something which hat been a long time on my mind. You must not reproach yourself for this. You must not let it interfere some day with your giving your love to a man more worthy of it, and you must re member no one will rejoice more than I iu your happiness." For a moment she stood still, her cheek flushing ami paling: then she threw herself at his feet. "Oh Arthur," she exclaimed, "wul you not take me? Have you learned so to hate me that all the old love has gone?" "Gone!" be answ ered, stroking the bright hair; "Emily, can a mau part with thai which has becomupart of bis soul? But, my darling, I cannot can sent to your trying your young, joyous life to mine." "Arthurl Husband !"sbe whispered softly; then I stole from the room, knowing my presence would not be missed, and sure my darling would win her cause. Nor do I think, in the many happy years which Eince then have rolled along, leaving me an old woman now, either bas ever regretted that for once and the last time Miss Emily had ber willful way. New York Ledger. Sheep-Shearing la Tennessee Mountain. The , season for sheep-shearing in the Tennessee mountains is a time of great festivity and rejoicing. A multi tude of shearers, washers and other attendants are employed. The shear ing begins on the 1st of May, if the weather is fair. For if the wool be not quite dry, the fleeces, which are closely piled on top of each other, would ferment and rot. For this reason the business is performed in great shelter-houses, built in the form of a parallelogram, four hundred feet long and one hundred feet wide. A certain number of sheep are led into the shelter-house, where they remain during tho day. As many as it is judged cau be handled by tho Bhearers nest day are driven into a long, narrow passage, called "thesweatbox," where they remain all night, crowded as closely as possible, in order that they may sweat profusely, in order to soften the wool for the shears, and, as, tho shepherds say, "to oil their edges." By degrees the next morning, the Bheep aro led into the spacious shearing-room, which adjoins the sweating place. As fust as they are sheared the shepherd carries them off to be marked with tar. A man can shear twelve ewes in a day, or eight rams. The fleeces of three rums often weigh, in the dirt or yolk, tw enty-five pounds, which is equivalent to four wethers or five ewes. The reason of the dif ference in the number of sheep sheared in a day is not only because the rams have larger bodies, are stronger and have more wool, but the shearmen dure not tie their feet as they do those of the unresisting ewes. Ex perience has taught them that a bold, rebellious ram would struggle cveu to suffocation thus confined. Conse quently they gently lay him down, stroke him kindly, ami actually be guile him out of his ileece. The sheep when sheared are then allowed to go back to their pastures. New York Post. Uarllc li Milk. "Garlic, is much in evidence now in milk ami butter," remarked a dealer to a Star reporter, "and will be for soveral weeks yet. The taste .of garlia is pleasant to some persons but the great mujority abhor it. There is hardly any remedy for it, though some of the dairy people have a method of disguising the tuste with a preparation of lime. The users of the milk or but ter may not know it, .but it is a good sign for milk to taste garlicky. It shows the cows are fed on grass. To save tho milk at this season from get ting garlicky, many dairymen stall feed their cows, that is, .keep them tied up in the stalls all day and feed them bran and other mill feed and chopped-up hay. Iu albumen this milk is by no means as nourishing as that which comes from cows that are allowed to eat the first spring crops of grass, and the deficiency shows very markedly in the case of children who have milk as an importaut factor in their food. Tho garlic crop generally plays out on its own account by tho middle of June. It is much better that children should have good milk, even if it does taste of garlic, than to give up milk on that account. The best way that I know to conceal the taste of garlic is the homeopathic idea that like cures like, or the samo idea expressed in other words that the hair of the dog cures the bite. . This cau be npplied very easily now thnt gi een onions are in the markets. Let the child or grown person rub an onion ou the lips, even if they do not eat it. The onion taste being similar to that of garlic, though probably more pro nounced, kills the after taste of garlic effectually. This is much better and far more healthy than to try to kill the garlio taste with chemicals, which, while they may not he dangerous or very unhealthy, are never as safe as simpler methods." Washington Star. A Difference of Name. Tho English do not call things by the same name as we know them. Be low are named a few articles in both the American and English styles: American. English. Bowl. llssiu. Donkey. . Moke. Hhoes. Boots. Hoots. Muellers. Druggist. Chemist. Ale. Hitter hear. Htroet ear. Tram. Elevator. Lift. Cuffs. Wrists. Conductor. , Guard. Vhat. Corn. Corn. Mulze. Pigs feet. Trotters. Candy. Bweets, Sweet-mcat. Lolly. Undershirt. Vest. Hash. Mince. It would be well for those contem plating a trip to England to keep these few common terms in mind. There are hundreds of others. Pittsburg Dispatch. Mt Forts Be Roofed ? Captain Sir B. Baden-Powell, a dis tinguished military authority, warns the governments of all nations that they had better put bomb-proof roofs on their forts, if they want to stand any chance whatever of winning the next war in which they engage. Cap tain Powell says that an aerial war Bhip is an absolute certainty, and that what the military genius of the future will have to look out for will be bombs overhead, instead of. in front or be hind. In othor words, Captain Powell states that the fort without a roof will be about as useful a the fifth wheel of wagon. Mil --aw.:.. Well-Kept Borden. The beauty and value of a flower bed or a farm depends not a little upon a well-chosen and well-kept border. We have never met a person who admired a farm bordered with dilapidated fences overrun with briars and weeds, or a fine crop surrounded with tall weeds. Cut 'em down in the beauty (?) and vigor of youth, and re move the old run-down fences. The Epitomist. The Clf Drinking- Tall. Calves during the first summer are frequently pastured in an orchard or tethered by a rope near the barn. In either case water must be carried to them and their pail is very likely to be tipped over. American Agriculturist. ' Curing liny for Home I'te. In hiiy making, two points are to be considered, writes J. S. Woodward, of New lork. First, how to get the largest weight of such hay as is most in demand m the market and will bring the highest price, nnd second, how to get the largest amount of di gestible stock food to tho acre. The first is from the standpoint of the hay seller, rue other from that of the hay feeder. Fortunately for the farmer, the hay buying public bus not yet "got onto" the fact that for all animals for all pur poses for a driving horse even, there is no hay quite equal to early cut, well cured clover, so the market calls for timothy liny aud such will sell for sev eral dollars per ton more than any other, and it must be male from grass fully grown aud ripened to a point just short of the shattering of the seed. There is a prejudice in the market ngainst hay that is too greeu in color, and although hay cut early and of n deep green color is fur better to feed, it will not bring as much as that which is lighter in color, in fact, almost white, providing this color comes from fuller maturity and not from bleaching by the weather. While no other of tho true grasses has nearly so high a feeding value ns the northern bluegrass, "Poa com pressa," and nothing increases the feeding value of timothy hay more than a mixture of this grass, such a mix ture injures its market value in pro portion to the quantity of bluegrass contained. So then, for market, clean timothy is wanted, aud it should bo cut just before its seeds will shell and at this stage can be cut iu the morn ing of a good hay day, and drawn and boused in afternoon, especially if it be gone over with a tedder soon after dinner. But ns to the best time to cut the various kinds of grasses, best methods of curing, handling and stor ing to get best results in feeding farm stock. We do not care for bulk but for amount of digestible food. sA well established fact in vegetable growth is, that during the early season much of the growth of hay plants is at the ex pense of nutriment stored up the pre vious season, and that up to a certain point of maturity tho plant is largely fiber and water, and that beyond this time the plant is taking in ca-bon from the air and uniting that with the water and forming tho carbohydrates first sugar, thou starch and lastly fiber; that the further this change goes the woody fiber increases and the digesti ble matter decreases. A rapid change also takes place in the constituents of grasses in the cur ing or drying process. While the green grass may contain much sugar, when the same has been cured but little can found, it having passed on to the starch form largely, and doubtless more or less bas gone on into the woody state. These facts true, grasses of all kinds should be cut when they have the great est quantity of sugar and starch per acre, as these are both almost com pletely digestible. If allowed to go beyond this the hay may increase nvttch iu weight and still lose much of its di gestible value. With all the grasses, clover included, this point will be found just at the period of full bloom. I know many have a notion that the polleu on the grasses makes the hay dusty, but if that be the only dust on the hay, no animal will ever be injured by its use. There is one objection to this early cutting of grass for hay it is much more work to cure it, but the far greater value will more than compen sate for the extra labor. I have tried almost every way of hay making but, all things considered, I prefer to do most of the curing in cock. I like to start the mower about four o'clock in the afternoon and keep it running until 10 o'clock the next day, oxoept for a couple of hours in the early morning. If the grass is heavy, it should be shaken out with a tedder before noon and by three in the after noon it will be ready to rake and go into cocks. , Few men know just how to make a good bay cook. Almost anyone can make a bunch, but it takes an artist to put up a hay cock so it will abed rain aud not be blown over by every little breeze. It should be small on the ground, rather tall and so built np that the outside coat shall shed rttin like the thatch on a stack. This is easily dona by one who knows how, I T-. . . V but difficult to describe so that anovica can make one just right. Hav pnt intn kui-bb axwsr ueuig mil J Wilted Will in good weather, sweat and cure 'out. ready to go into the barn, in two to five days, according to the weather When' cured enough on a bright morning after dew is off, the cocks shonld be deftly opened into just good sized forkfuls, and in an hour and a half or two hours it is ready to draw and put into barns. Of course here one bas not storage under cover he will be compelled to stack the hay, bnt 1 believe this is a wasteful practice and that even with the best system of stack ing, enough will be wasted in fe" years to pay for a building in which to store it. The old notion was, that the barn for storing bay should be open aud that the doors should all he left open to air the hay, but now peon, have learned that the tighter the barn and the closer it is kopt shut, the greener the hay can be stored' with safety and the better it will keep, jj, buying a lot of clover hay in England to feed a flock of sheep which I was to bring over, while on ship I was strnek by its dark color but delicious fra. grance and the fact that the sheep ate every portion, even to the coarse stalk and from then till now I have been trying to cure clover like it, and hava succeeded pretty well by curing it in large cocks and putting into mows quite damp. New England Home stead. Kxcellrnt Cheap Chicken Coop,. It is well to utilize the leisure ol winter in preparing for tho rush ol work that always comes when spring opens. One such preparation is the preparing of the needed chicken coops for the broods to be hatched out dtir iug the spring months. A simple ar. rangement is shown in the cut. Empty grocery boxes are procured and turned upon their sides, the cover being re placed by slats, the cover being re served for closincr the coon nt nicrlit Upon the top now nail threo strips that will project fifteen inches in front, making the middle strip higher than the other two. Tack upon these strips, as shown in the cut, a piece of tarred paper, and a waterproof roof will not only be secured, but a protection from SIMPLE HEX COOP, the sun in front of the coop. This will bo very grateful to the chicks iu hot weather, and to the mother-hen, which often suffers iu the ordinary coop in the heat of summer. These coops will answer their pur pose admirably, can be made with but a few moments' work, and need not cost over fifteen or twenty cents apiece, New York Tribune. Farm and Garden Xotrt. Mother earth wants her back scratched after showers. The successful farmer not only knows how to do his work well, but does it as well as he knows how. Dig out aud haul off, or burr, the rock that dulls your plow or sickle, or yon may have a break to repair ueit time. Our rule has been to begin turning the horses on pastures nights a soon as the crops are in and the pasture good. We consider it a good plan. Tomatoes, sweet potatoes, turnips, etc., may well follow extra eu'ly pota toes, sweet corn, lettuce and radiwi, thus securing two crops from the same rich ground. Many a behind-hand farmer aught succeed in raising a profit by lowering the cost, through a more intelligent w iudustrious use of better teams, tools And mMhrwlfl The journals xf grass and gr cutting machinery must be kept oiled, the knives sharp and the pita" of such length that the sections will exactly centre in the guards. On farms where much feed is grounJ for stock a good feed mill will often J fnn ml ti niiv! the snviuff in toll WW soon amount to the price of one m then the crain will not hava to W hauled over bad roads. In harrowing sod ground first un over it is best to go snme w7 plow went, for the harrow will then W inclined to push the imperfecta turned soda over to their ple w' stead of tearing them up. Mnnh Amnrinan hntter 00e ibnA tint whether consumed at home or ahrnnd. nnmrttttitinn is sharp quality must be just right or down nn Onoatinni tl nnmnntitioD UUV Bu. -..v.w , itii-n nnnn tlia matfAl nf nllalltji r. 1 lwutl m jLairyuieu wen uuw u" - mamrnlds are excellent for Ci'i " inir nn thn avstem and iuiTi'.WS UK flnur nf milk- and now an CXPerli eoo Nebraska man claims the feeili"?J sugar beets to bogs is s' motfC tain preventive of cholera. A smile should now pla.r 0f) corners of the improved tock B"y or s moutn at least tue u" - stocked up with good itiuI- "r. stock industries hare been m down bill long noligh, od n" , upgrade leemi to b A been oB