THE HONEYSUCKLE. The elovnr," said the humming-bird, "Wns fashioned for the bee t But ne'er a flownr, ns 1 hnve heard, Was evor ninds (or nje." A passing snphyr paused, nnd stirred Homo iiHionllt drops of dew Tonarthi nuil (or tint humming-bird The honeysuckle grew. Harper's Weekly. JIMMIES AMBITION. BY LESTER L. LOCKWOOO. "Hello, Jim! Wlinfn tip now?" "Chicken coop Hint is, it will bo when I muling! to get it few more nails in." Sum Himmins vnultoil tlie low fonco, u1, standing with his lunula in Ilia pockets, watched Jim a fow inoinoiita. Then lie pave nil ninitsed whistle, "I any, Jim, thcre'B nothing like having conveniences to woik with. Now, if I were to build n ehickon coop I should be silly I'liough to use new wire oightpminies nnd a steol-tippod hnminor; Imt I dnresny I'm quite be hind the tinics.nnd that assorted sizes of lieut nnd rusty units nnd a slippery atone to drive thorn in with nre the Intent Improved implements n sort of renaissance in carpentry, ch?" "Not exactly, " replied Jim, laugh ing, "hut it givos you a clinuce to nir that French pronunciation that you bad to stny for after school fur lnat night. Ho there's Nome good comes from my impoverished reaoureea; nfter all, that was the pliraae I struck on yeBtovday." "Don't Miss Lntnb put tin through the definitions aud pronunciations for all they are worth, though? Father says if this thing keeps up he'll have .o buy n new dictionary before the year is out audi wear on it.you know. But, to 'runtime the origiuul theme,' what are you going to put iu your coop when it ia done?" '.'That in hIro Miss Lamb's doing. You aee, alio knows all about my poultry craze knows I'm saving up to go into the chicken hnaiuean, I mean and yesterday alio allowed me a chance to begin. The folks where she boards are regulur chicken cranks, you know Hue Btock, incubntors, and all that. Well, yeaterday she heard Mrs. Jauson says that sho had a hen so determined to set that she couldn't break her up, and that sho'd sell iter very cheap (o get rid of her. Ho Miss Lamb told hor about me, and sho offered to soli me the hen and a set ting of fifteen eggs all good stock, too, mind, you for $1. Don't you call that a lay-out now?" ""lis, for a fact. And you happen ed to have the dollar?" "Yes; I've saved up $1.15, nnd if I can get the coop doue I'm going after school tonight for the hen." "And I suppose you will buy a bicycle with the proceeds? But that doesn't explain why you ,are lining runty nails and a stone hammev." "Why, you see.oui' hammer is lost, ns usual. Home of the' children are always getting away with it, and I cau't nfford to upend my extra 10 cents on nails. That has to go for chicken feed, and I don't know when I'll have a chauce to earn nny more. Bo I'm drawing these nails out of the boxes on the kindling pile. Tuey are really nine, you know. I worked for them at Mr. Lake's grocery lnat vacation." "doing into business on a strictly ensn basis, eh? "Yes, sir-eel That's my ticket, every time." "Been reading the life of Rockefel ler ana all those penuiless-boy mil lionuires, I suppose?" Jim flushed. , "Well, that's the way to begin, any how," he said, sturdily, wrenching at a stubborn nail with the cold chisel; "but I do wish they wouldn't always lose the hammer, " VWhy don't you wait till it turns XL - "Too much risk. You must 'make hay while the sun slimes,' you know in other words, set heua while they're in the notion." , "Going into the poultry business with one hen is too slow for me. I'm going to Klondike as soon at school is out.auu when I strike it rich in mines you'll be puttering away with au old cluckinghen and a halt-dozen scrawny chiokeus." "All right," . respouded Jim, cheerily. "It may be slow, but 'a bird in the hand is worth two iu the bush." ' "Which, being translated, menus "a ben in the coop is worth two mines in the ground,' I uppose?" "That's about the size of it. But I say, Ham, before you start for Klon dike won't you please baud me that stone lying at your feet the smooth one that looks like a petrified potato? This loose granite chips off so." "It does look like a potato the white elephant variety," said Bam, tossing the stone to Jim. - VTbank you. This will make a fine hammer so hard and smooth." . "Hat Hal Hal I should say sol" for at the first stroke ou the runty unil head the stone broke in two, one-half falling to the ground and the unil head grazing Jim's hand. As he turned bis hand over to examine the scratch the broken surface of the stone caught his eye. He gave a lou.l wbiutle. "Look here, Sain. Stop your laugh ing and see what is inside your white elephant potuto." With that keen interest iu "speci mens" which is the natural birthright of every Rocky Mountain boy. Bum stepped eagerly forward. "(ieode?" "Not much I Nothing so common as that. , I never saw anything like it," "What do you reokou it is?" Jim shook his head, turning the stone from side to side and letting the sunlight play over its surface nnd re veal its delicate bennty, for in the heart of the common brown stone lay a circular ribbed hollow lined with mother-of-pearl nnd in one side of this polished neat was a cluster of crystals. "It liutnt be T lie Impression ol a fossil shell," said Hani, eying it intent why, yes or course. And Jim stooped to pick tip the oilier half of the stone. "Yob, here it Is. Did you ever see anything so perfect? Home spiral thing that senilis to go wny down into the stone. Just look nt tho coloring, will yon? llninbow tintn, every onel And see? here Is the hide where thnt little bunch of crystals was broken out, nnd the inaido of the shell, or nnimnla whichever it is is lined with crystals as fur down ns you can see. "Jim, you're In luck. You can sell it nt the museum, and for a go nl price, too." "No, 1 shall givo it to Mins Lnmb for her cabinet. 1 owe her something for her starting tne in business." "I do belie' e Jim, you'd give awny your hend if it wns not well fastened on your shoulders. Hut coino, thore's the' first bell and wo must hurry." Minn Lnmb's admirntiou of the fossil wns nil that he could have desired. "I cannot tell you what it ia," she said, "but I niu sure it is something too rare for you to give away. It ought to have a considerable money value. I cannot accept it from you until I have ascertained its worth." "All right, then," said Jim, wink ing at Ham. "Yon can sell it if you wish, aud all above $0 thnt it brings you may give to me for my chicken house." "It's a bargain," said Mins Lamb, laughing, "nnd the 8"i shall go to the Children's Fresh-Air fund." The following Saturday Miss Lamb took the specimen to Professor Black, nn eminent geologist. "A tnrrilitet" he exclaimed, ex citedly. "Whore did you find it?"- MisB Lamb told him the story. "Well, well, welll Now, I might go on breaking open stones with my geologist's hammer till the end of time and get nothing for my pains, white this unlottored boy, by a chunce blow why, this is really the finest npocl m n of its kind that I ever sawl Hitch a perfect frnctnro the whole thing bo complete! Hee how perfectly the two pieces tit together not a fragment gone! "There you are. Just a common stone agniu. You can scarcely see the crack. Why, Miss Lamb, if I had thnt iu my cabinet I would not tuke $100 for it." "Will you give that for it?" "Do you mean to say it is for sale?" "Yet, the finder is a poor boy and would make excellent nse of the money. He is going into the chicken business, and that sum would give him a good start buildings and all. I tell you, professor, Jim Jones has real pluck and principle." "I judge so from the novel way iu which he was lining this rare stone," giving it affectionate, professional little tups. "Yes.I will give you $100 for it and thnnk you very much besides." The professor wrote his check, gave it to Miss Lnmb and locked the tur ritite iu his choicest cabinet. Of course Jim could hardly believe his good luck, but you may be sure he was quite reconciled to it. By the time his modest chicken house was finished and a dozen glossy black Langshans strutted proudly in their grassy run the old Brahma was off with ten healthy chicks and was given the most comfortable quarters and the choicest food that the yard afforded. Miss Lnmb and Sum Simmlus were invited on a special Saturday to in spect tba new buildincrs and stock. They both smiled when they saw a neat arch over the gateway upon wnicu was painted: TURKIWTB CHICKEN RANCH, JAMES CONN, Proprietor. "Did yon drive theso nails with stones?" queried Sam, "No, indeed," laughed Jim, ehak ing a new steel-faced hammer peril ously near Sam's nose, "but I shall never be sorry lhat I drove the first ones so." "Providence helps those who help themselves, you see, Sam," said Mins Lamb. "Yes," sighed Sain, "Jim struck it rich before I even got started for Klondike, and if I don't get some sort of a move on me he will beat me get ting a' bicycle yet." "Struck it rich that's pretty god, Sam. Y'es, it was literally a rich strike, thnt of the turriiuu ca the rusty nail." Chicago Be cord. A raraonal Equation. In nn Ediuburgh school an inspeotor w inning to test the knowledge of class iu fractious, asked a boy whether he would rather tuke one-sixth or one seventh of an orange it he got his choice. The boy promptly replied thut he would take one-seventh. At this the inspector explained nt length to the cluss that he who would choose the smaller part, as this boy has done, because it looked the biggest (motion was vory loolish; but the laugh wus on the other side when the chirping voice ol another little urchin broke iu, "Please, sir, but thnt chap disna like oranges." Buu lraucisco Wave. Wlmra Hanson Tnttart, Husband Whutl Another hundred' dollar gowu? Didn't I' tell you that you must Keep wiuuu your allow auce.' Wife (triumphantly) Yon said un less ) case, of absolute uecossityl I'UCK. ' FARM AND GARDEN Cleaning Onl Old Appla Triors. When a tree dies in an orchnrd, or becomes so old that it is not worth while to keep it longer, it is better to dig it out than to cut it down, leaving a stump that will bn in the wuy for years. Dig each side of the tree so ns to uncover as many roots four or flvo feet from its trunli ns possible. Then go to the top of the tree nnd hitch n chain to one of the stoutest limbs, and have a horse at the other end of the chain to pull. After cutting off ns ninny roots as yon can get nt.stnrt the horse, nnd tlio troe will come over. If iu pulling some lower roots will lie found thut hold the tree it is easy to cut thorn off with nn old, dull axe. The roots of trees nre genornlly more ensy to cut thnn tlio parts exposed to light and nir above ground. Besides, the tree ns n lover strains tlio roots so that It is more ensy to cut them. Many a man lias plowed, cultivated nnd mowed around stumps, when, if he had taken out tlio tree whole, ho would have a good pioce of ground where the stump was, nnd it would have cost him comparatively little more labor. Proper Grinding of I'aod. Most duirymeii and fanners who feed cnttlo in nuy qunntity agree thnt round food is a decided saving in the cost of rations besides lining o gront benefit to cows iu showing nn increaao of milk. Whou grains, nnd oHpocinlly corn, nre to bo ground euro should bo akeu thut the work is done by a ma chine thut will crush the food thor oughly not cut, but musli it. Iu this way it in easily digested, whilo if silli ly cut the particles are nhnrp, iri itu- ing to the digestive organs and apt to cause scours. Whether tlio food be ground fine or coarse is a matter of pinion, although of course the niiiimil will iiiiinticute it more or loss, nnd if fine and bolted by the animal it will do no particular harm. An corn In so argoly used for food, particularly whou ground food is used, much dis cussion has boon ruined as to whether the cob should bn ground and fed with the grain. Whilo it in admitted thut the cob hns no nutritive vnluo, it may De lined when ornn is not to lie had to lighten the heavier grain. The main point in to have all grain fooi mnshod rather thnn cut in the grind ng and liuvo it of tlio best grade. A Mislnke Tlmt Is Mmlp. Most beginners can ennily trace thoir mistnkos with poultry ton desire to breed and rtiiso exhibition fowls, which they can send to the show room. Poultry brooders of years of experience, w ho have spout both tiino and money, find it difficult indeed to get even a small per font, of show birds from a large flock. Still the novice, who does not even know when he bus a good fowl, will hazard his time trying to do what otuors with a knowledge of the subject find so dilll cult to accomplish. Exhibition birds are truly the life of our pure bred fowls, but if the average beginner will only content himself to try aud pro duce what is termed good brooding ttook nnd leave the show birds to those with more experiouce, the cry of failure will uot be so often hear if. The exhibitors of show birds, though, are much to blamo for the beginner's failure, because they encourage the belief that what they have doue others can easily do. Huch is not the ense. and the soouer we learn to be content with good, vigorous breeding stock. the better it will be for everyone in terested iu the busbies, of poultry seeping. s arm auiiuoine. Polatoaa for Seed. For years there has been an annual controversy over the question of the superiority of northern grown seed potatoes for planting. The several experiment stations have reported re suits of tests favorable to both aides of the question. The hard-headed potato specialist makes good his ar gument iu favor of northern grown potatoes for seed in this manner; Un doubtedly the climate of the north is more favorablo to the growth of the Irish or white potato than tunt of the south, aud it naturally follows that the tubers intended for seed will not sprout as quickly iu the north as in the warmer climate of the south.hence lose none of the vitality necessary to make good top growth. This seems plausible and the same object, retard ing the sprouts, may doubtless be no cotupiisuea Dy Keeping the tubors m cold storage. This rotarding of sprout ing is the fonudution for the claim that the secoud crop of potatoes uest lor seed purposes, for ripening later in the season they naturally sprout later than the earlier matured tubers under similar conditions of temperature. In the south obtaiuiug the seaoud crop for seed is au easy matter aud is well worthy the utten tion ol southern potato growers, In the middle states the second plant ing is done about the middle of July, the seed being selected from the first crop harvested early in the month aud spread out ou the bam floor in the sun for ten days or two weeks to be "sun-sprouted." The tubers from this secoud orop are as good for th following seasou'a plantiug sb see' tubers from the far north. Atlanta Journul, Kxperlance In Applying Manurrs, During (he full of 1880 I moved quite a lot of manure just as it was taken from the etubles. Not caring to pile it so lute I put it into the spreader and applied it to the outside of a field began and encircled the eutir field. . I had enough to cover a strip eight rods wide around the field. Wo had an opeu winter with uiiioh ruiu, Before spring It was apparent that the manure was having a very benefit. Inl effect. By the time I could get on the ground to put the field in a spring op quite a growth of weeds and grass hnd sprung np. It wns my in- ention to finish manuring the Held in the spring, but a press of fnrra work and late nprlng prevontoil. 1 here was ft most marked showing f the fall mnnuring. The second Benson I plnntod n later crop nnd in Mnv finished the Held. I applied a coating of manure consisting of two onds of wnll-rotted to one of the resh, A dry summer followed nnd I wns disappointed in the result, of the early niiminnr dressing, but the effect f the full dressing wns very marked, and the crops were much bettor on lint part inaiiiired 18 months before. hose nro cold fncts. ' My experience qulto ngrees with thnt of A. A. Hoiithwick in n recent isHiie. I have purchased nnd spread thousands of hinds. I plead experience i jtistiflcntion in differing from Mr. Bend. If the commonly neemdnd hoory nbout manure nnd manuring be true our waste and refuse mntter would pollute the noil. The now light Inning or the scientific farmer is proving to be the truth, mid answers W hut is immure?" "Wlinlishuiiius?" 'How does humus perforin a part sec ond only to tlio soil itself in convort- ii g manures and fertilizing matter into nvailublo plant food?" Tlio new philosophy proves thnt the soil in only a medium, that the countless num bers of bnctorin nttnek tnuniirinl mut ter Iu the warmer senson iu the field ud in the manure heap nt nil seasons, digest it nnd reconvert it into plant food. It tolls how to build up the soils sons to innko more plants. More plnnts mean moro minimis, moro am- main mean more gold for the farmer. nnd moro manure to inako the soil still richer. Hubert C. Morris in New England Homestead. Appetizing- Itiitloim for f'lrnn. A variety in the ration makes the foods more palatable, inducing theoow to cut a greator quantity nnd yield more milk. Whatever innkosthe food taste better or inakos it more enjoy able- to the cow incrensos its value for milk product ion. Knrly cut liny is best for the dairy cow, uot only bo cause it contains more proteiu thnii thnt cut Into, hut bocnuse its aroma and flavor miike it moro palatable to tlio cow. Tlio appetizing effect from tlio early cutting nnd rnreful eurinir of all forno crops increases their food vuluo for milk production. freshly harvested and freshly ground grain are the most palatable to the dairy cow and will give best results. Dniry men who grind food should grind often, ns grain that hns lost its froshnesq is not the best relished by the cow. Often the duiryinan hns a large quantity of coarse, rather uupaliitalile, oiigh fodders, such as corn fodder and ovorripe or slightly dninagod hay, which he must feed, aud has otijy limitod quantity of choico roughness to feod with it. In this cane, best re suits can be secured by giving the more pnlutnhM roiighiioss in the moruingor with the grain night and morning and feeding the poorer roughagn as the lust feed at night, to bo euten at the cow's pleasure during the night, or else put in racks in the yard for in id day meals. Palatable feed in the morn ing gives a contented cow Uirough the day, and this coutentincut brings more milk. When several kinds of food me given it is usual to throw them together into the manger and let the cow eat nt will, This method does not secure the high est milk yiold. Bulletin 81, Kansas experiment station. You do not want your soup and pie served together on the same plate, nnd neither does the cow like this method of serving ber food. If all the feedstuff's for a meal are thrown together, the most pala table are eaten first. In separating and eating these, the others are "mussed" over sud when the oow oomes to eat them, they do not taste good aud she will not eat enough to produce the greatest milk yield. We like to feed our most Palatable rough ness and give this just before the milkers go to their meal. When the milkers come back from eating, the cows have finished their first feed aud the less palatable roughness can then be given them. It will not then have been slobbered on, and it will be bet ter relished and more of it eaten. Tin method of feeding requires time and care, but it pays. If the cows are given their rough feeds in racks out of doors, it will pay to put feed in these racks often, so that the feed will be clean aud appe tizing. Mangers, feed troughs and racks should be kept clean aud fresh from old, soiled feed, both as a matter of health and because the food in a clean manger smells and tastes better. The dairyman s rule should be to bar vest feod iu its most palatable form and give it to the cows in the most ap petizing manner. American Agricul turist. Cmninndora Sartorl aad I)ewy. The late Commodore Sartori, says the Philadelphia Becord, was a warm frieud of Admiral Dewey. Before the great battle of Manila Admiral Dewey wrote a letter to the aged commodore, giving in detail bis impression of the task that would be expected ot him if war was declared. When the news of the battle was reoeived the commo dore, despite his age, romped about the house like a schoolboy, aud callod upon everybody near to bear witness that he hud piediuted the total defeat of tho Bpauisu fleet as soou as Uewey made a start. After the buttle the the victorious admiral wrote another letter to his old frieud, telling how it wns done. . This letter was i her- iahed by the old commodore as hit most precious possession, aud he uever tired of reading it aloud to those who expressed a desire to hear it. f nuiinDCUfO nniiiiiii If I ii uniLunui i) uuLuruin. 11 1 Whan Culm's Slrl;, When (inpa'sslclt. my jrnolmn snkesl Huch nwlul, nwtul dines Itmakosi iln speaks In, oh! sueh lonesome tones, And gives sunh ghaittly kliuls ot Kronen, And rolls his eyes nnd'liolds his bend, Ann manes nut m-ip mm up to 'l, While His and HrlilKnt run to h"nt Hot water bans to warm his fwt And I must get the dontor quick nave to jump wnnn papa nick. Wlmn pnpn's sink Din tins to stand lIlKht kIiIm thnhnd mid liolil bin Imnif. While His shn lias to fan an' fnc. For ha says bo's "ndyln' man," Anil wnnls tlio children round blm to Jle thorn wlmn "sulTerlii' ps (f its through)" Ho snys hn wants to say goodbye And kiss ns nil nnd then tie'll die: Then inonns nnd snvs bis "brnatliln's thick." It's awful sad whun papa's sick. When pnpn'n sick hs nets Hint way 1'ritll bo bourn the doctor say: 'You've only got n nold. you knoWj You'll bo nil rlgbt'n n day or soi" And then well, sny! yoii ought tosoo He's ilHTnrciit ns bo can be, And growls and swaars (mm noon to nhht Just V'suso Ills dlniinrnlu't cooked right, Ann nu no noes is inns anil Kiek We re nil iimd up when pnpn's sick. I.. A. IV. llullotln. To ftpaak Wall.ltri-atlia Wall. It is as important to speak dis tinctly and forcefully as to wulk erect, or to keep one's garments iu good ordor. Many persons who would resent being accused of slovenliness or cnreless deportment pay no atten tion to their voices. Yet this form of nogligqnce is as disngreenble as the others in mnny respects. Proper speaking depends upon good brenthing. Brenthe deeply and have plenty of nlr in your lungs when you spenk. Enunciate distinctly and do not hurry in your spenking.and never force the breath out whilo talking. By an unconscious procons the lungs will supply enough air to give the desired kind nnd volume of sound. Whon you breathe nnd make a sound nt the sumo time a harsh tone will be tho result, giving you a gruff voice. A little practice and experimental talking after inking a deep breath will convince you that musical pleasing voiofl tonos inny be ensily produced and they are worth while. fittlillionil of Spanish Fr! nci.nan, Tho "Three Little Spanish Prin cesses o( several centuries ngo, o( whom Isabel M. McDougall writes In the St. Nicholas, scorn to have had n rathor tironome time of it, even if the great Velasquez did pnint their portraits. There wore almost no fairy-tales or story-books. Spanish princesses did not rend much in tlion days. There were no such things as jolly games, or even informal walks, or spending the day nt other girls' houses. Maria Theresa's princiial exercise wns in those very dances and reverential beudings. Her principal entertainment wns in the uncouth an tins of court fools nnd dwarfs. Fools, or jesters, used to be kept at every court to make jokes, and the Spnnisb court kept more of thera than nny other perhnps becntine it was the gravest. Dwarfs, idiots and deformed persons were also brought theie in large numbers. Mnny of them, no cording to their portraits, wore hide ous, and mnny looked ill-tempered nnd unhappy, which is hardly to be wondered at in human beings treated like pet monkeys. " It seems to ns nowadays a strange tnsto thnt sur rounded children of high rank with such unfortunate creatures. Tba Rtory of Tna, Thnt amiability is a matter of con ditions rather than dispositiou has been illustrated in a busy office in New York. A most interesting story of an inoffensive little calf has trans formed an erstwhile amiable young nan into a morbid, sulky, and some times absolutely disagreeable com panion. The story came ont when the yonng men of the office at noon one day wore swapping stories about the early days bf Brooklyn early days so far as they were concerned. To date one of the incidents mentioned one of the young men turned to the hero of this story nnd remarked, "Thnt wss about the time you thought you hnd killed Tna." "Tua" is pronounced iu two syllables, the oo sound being given to the u. "Tua!" exclaimed another of the Toung men, "who wus Tua? Toll ns about him." So the story of Tua fol lowed. "Tna, it seems, wns a calf still flcrnratively tied to the npron striug of his cow mamma, and the hero of the story was a very small boy, but old enough to take the cow and cn! out to pasture somewhere on the out Skirts of Brooklyn, not fur from his borne. On the day in which the inci dent took place the calf was frisking ai'"Uud as calves will, and, being in a more frivolous inood than usual, it did uot look to see where it was go ing.aud in attending to its own affairs aud at tho same time endeavoring to follow the cow niamuia it fell over an embankment, and the little cowboy was certaiu it must have been killed, He knew that meant that he wonl be punished at home for carelessness. but that did not trouble him half so much as the thought thut the dear little culf, of which he was very fond was dead. Big tears cume into his eves, aud he rubbed thorn away wit his grimy fUts, sobbing out in the meantime: "I don't tare for mysef, but, oh, my poor 'itty Tua, Tun, lua," Now, this is a very uice little story, and it wus most iuterestiug to the young men in the office, aud uothiu f.irther would have come of it if som on a had uot noticed the color risiu in the cheeks of the young man who bad diiven the cows, as this hiutory of his early exploits was told. Thai ennt thnt there was more fun in the story than had yet come out. I don Vtnre for mvsci, " began tne observer of the hero's embarrassment, mischievously, to try the effect of the ords as a stimulant. They were effective. Tun's one-time friend was mad clear through, and now all that necessnry in thnt office to creat excitement is to begin in baby tones, 1 don't tnro for mysef," or "Oh, my poor 'itty Tua, Tun, Tua." Hew York Times. Soma Qnaar Habits, The curious little hedgehog of Eng land has a habit, shared by several , other animals, of curling up into s bnll hen attacked and presenting its spines to the enemy, the head nnd ulnernble portions being perfectly rotected. Many animals assume a mil-like shape for .various purposes. Honrs bnve boon seen to roll np and roll down hill, nnd squirrels and many others form themselves into balls when going to sleep. A naturalist bsnrvod one Bill ing a bnll of snakes oiling down a slight declivity a most uncanny and Unagreeable spec tacle. An investigator wishing to force an nt family from its nest, diverted a lnrge stream of water in that direc tion, at which the nuts rushed as npidly as possible to a common centre- and clung to each other with so mnch vigor that a bull almost as lnrge ns a baseball wns soon formed, and it floated nwny down the little stream, living crnft which undoubtedly saved many of the ants. A naturalist traveling in Van Die- man's Land some years ago saw one tight ns he cmne home what he sup posed to be a wasp's nest hanging to the branch of a tree. Wishing to secure it he marked the spot, and the next day returned for the supposed nest, when, to his amazement be found that it had disappeared. He related his experience to a friend, a native, who expressed the belief that the sup posed wasps' nest wns a ball of birds, and this proved the correct solution. That evening the two men visited-' tho locality mentioned and eoncenled themselves in the bush near the marked treo. Soon numbers of wood swallows were observed flying about the limb, some alighting and clinging to it like lizards, crawling abont in a enrions way. Finally they began to collect in a certain spot, and then to cling to each other with bends down, newcomers coustnntly appearing nntil finally a ball was formed of living birds, who clung to each other in this way to sloep. A gun fired near the ball caused it to separate at once, ap parently dropping into the air as the birds released their hold and flew awsy. The wood swallow is a delicate little creature about six inches in length, with long vigorons wings and a forked tail. Its color is a sooty gray, other parts beinir blue-black and white. Among the animals of the sea living bnlls nre often found, especially among starfishes, balls of them,, closely en twined, having been seen several feet iu diameter and weighing fifty or more pounds. The oystermen in some lo calities have a theory that the star fishes join in bulls to accelerate their march upon the oyster beds, aud that the ground swell sends them in nntil they reach the bods, when the ball separates, each starfish seizing an oyster. Be this as it may, balls com posed of scores of starfishes have beer fonnd ou the oyster banks. In excavating in a pond near Boston some years ago, the workmen fonnd a ball as large as a football, nnd made np of frogs, clinging closely together, in this way passing tho winter in state of hibernation. Chicago Becord.. . Darnratad by tha Qnaan, Army pets whose sterling worth i appreciated by their masters and their masters' cronies are nnmborless, but dogs who rise to the position of "regi mental pets," who become part and parcel of the regiment at home and in action, and who receive official recog nition, are comparatively few. Bob" was the regimental pet of the Second battalion, Royal Berk shires, nnd a soldier dog to the back bone. He accompanied his regiment to Afghanistan and went through in the buttle of Maiwaud one of the most terrific day's fighting that has been known during the past feneration. Man nfter man was cut down, but Bob would not be denied his share at the frny. He kept on rnnuing to the front, barking fiercely at the enemy, until at length a bullet laid him low. The wound was serious enongh as it tore nearly all the. skin off' his back, but he recovered and once again ac companied his old corps into action. When the regiment returned to England the next year Eob received great honor at the bauds of the qneen, her majesty not only decorating him with the roedul for the campaign, bub tying it ronud his neck with her own liu nl-i when the regiment paraded be fore her at Osborne House. Like many another warrior, Bob did not live long to enjoy the blessings of peace. Iu a little more than a year h was run over and killed iu the Isle of Wight. Not What Ha Wantad. To their credit be it said the Manx peopla are so courteous thut, uo mat ter at what time of the day or uight a. strnuger might arrive, he is welcomed with opeu arms. ' A tale is tuld that early one morn ing a dunce was iu progress on th pier at l'o:iglasa wheu a shipwrecked sailor, who had been drifting about ou n spur, aud hud very fortunately "lauded" ou ths gi.den below, crawled up the steps. ' A ".mister of the ceremotiiei" came forward, smiled, bowed and raid: "Exeejdiuglyi)lc'a--ed to see yon, sir. Can I Bud you a par tajr. Lon don Answers.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers