'Ill I
I I I
"CUTTING DOWN"
By E. T. TAGGARD.
I III it I I l
I I I I I I I i
AOK. OIIN FURLONG sat at Ills
-w- desk, in tbo otllco of Lord
g I O & Co. Close application to
t - the duties of his position
)(0P through a loug series of
years had driven the color
from Ills face, until it resemble In lino
the leaves of tho open ledger before
him. From bonding over his desk his
once broad shoulders had become
rounded, and what was once a splendid
physique had become emaciated, until
scarcely sufficient flesh remained to
hold his bony frame together.
One by one had the clerks who had
fceen his assistants and companions
keen discharged, and their duties
added to his, until, overtaxed, over
weighted and overworked, his brain
threatened to succumb to the unceas
ing strain which was slowly but surely
sapping away hla very life. Yet no
word of complaint or expostulation
did he utter, but struggled on with, an
Unwavering will to complete the new
tasks which, together, made up the
lira) of his everyday life.
"We must economize," said Lord &
Co. "Labor is a drug in tbo market,
everybody is reducing expenses, and
we must cut down cut down cut
flown," and as he threw hlniRelf com
posedly into his luxurious office chair,
the small coins in his capacious pockets
seemed to jingle out an echo "Cut
flown cut down cut down!"
Wages had been cut down until the
employes received scarcely enough
compensation for their services to pur
chase a bare existence, and tho work
ing force of Lord & Co. had been re
duced until one person was compelled
to perform the labor of three. Busi
ness was brisk, but day after day
Would an employe be summoned to the
private office of tho firm, and his pale
face, despairing look, and quivering
lip, when he emerged therefrom,
plainly indicated that he was another
rlctim to the cutting-down process. A
summons from the firm to an employe
to visit their office was an inevitable
death warrant to the victim.
One day John Furlong sat poring
over his ledger. Ills face, if possible,
was more haggard than ever, and his
shoulders seemed rounder than usual.
Ilis eyes were deeply sunken, and the
expression of pain that occasionally
flashed across his marble features de
noted that his iron will was endeavor
ing to keep in subjection the terrible
nervous suffering under which he was
laboring.
"Mr. Furlong." said the office boy,
"Mr. Lord would be pleased to see you
In his office."
John Furlong instinctively started.
Be dropped his pen mechanically, and
after a moment's hesitation, during
Which the blood that flowed through
bis veins seemed to rush back to his
heart, -walked deliberately but sadly
toward tho office in which the senior
member of the firm sat composedly.
"Ah, Mr. Furlong! Take a seat, Mr,
Furlong take a seat, sir. Glad to sec
you! Ah, Mr. Furlong, we find we
must cut down we must reduce. Our
expenses are altogether disproportion
ate to our receipts. Economy is our
only safeguard, sir I might say our
only salvation. Boy, order me a car
riage at 4, sure. We have concluded to
dispense with your services, Mr. Fur
long, and we will not need you after
to-night."
"But, Mr. Lord, after ten years' ser
(rlce in your house, you will not dis
miss me in so summary a manner."
"Can't be helped, Mr. Furlong; we
must cut down. Everybody is cutting,
and we must cut. Can get men to
work for less, sir."
"But I nm willing to work for less,
Mr. Lord."
"Too late, sir too late. . Got a man
fcngaged."
. "But, Mr. Lord "
' "Don't detain me, Mr. Furlong. The
carriage is waiting, and the club will
have a champagne supper at 5. We
must cut down, sir."
The senior member of Lord & Co.
Carefully adjusted his high hat on his
bald head, entered the carriage in wait
ing, and was driven rapidly away.
"Poor Emllj! what will she do now,"
exclaimed John Furlong, as he stood
like one paralyzed in the private office
of Lord & Co. He heard the office
floor closed, heard the rattle of the
Wheels made by the' departing carriage,
and yet he stood alone in the centre of
the office, an impersonation of the
statue of despair.
"Poor Eally !" It was all he said; the
tears coursed down his pallid cheeks
and fell upon the richly carpeted floor.
JWlth an effort he aroused himself,
walked to his desk, closed his books,
carefully placed them in the safe, and
slowly but sadly walked into the street.
His fellow clerks saw him depart
He was a favorite with them all, and
with a saddened feeling they watched
him until he was lost to eight.
Instinctively he turned toward his
home. The people passing through the
crowded thoroughfare jostled him as
they passed, but he felt them not;
the vehicles rattled through the badly
paved streets, but he heard not a sound.
Like wheat before the scythe, he had
been cut down. His thoughts were not
of himself, and when from between his
quivering lips a sound escaped, only
two words could be heard, "Poor
Emily!"
Stooping In front of a four-story ten
anient in the central portion of the
I I I I I I I
I I I I I I I
1 , 1 , 1 , 1 I I I I l
I l I i I I I I i
vestibule, put his nlghtkoy into the
lock, opened the door, and commenced
his weary ascent up four flights of
stairs. When he reached the upper
landing, he was exhausted, and almost
breathless, yet with the aid of the
banisters he reached the door of his
apartments, opened It by an effort, mid
staggered into the room,
"John!"
"Emily I"
Ho had fainted. Exhausted nature
could no longer bear the terrible strain.
Emily Washburn bent over him. With
a woman's instinct she at once per
ceived the necessity of immediate ac
tion, and proceeded to take measures
to resuscitate him. She bathed his
temples and chafed his hands, and
her diligence and perseverance were
soon rewarded hv siVna Af fatm-ntr..
consciousness. "My poor brother," said
umny. -i iearea tms. lou have been
sadly overworked; your brain has been
tasked beyond endurance. You need
rest sadly, and you must have it."
i snaa nave an the rest I need now,
my dear sister."
"Oh! how kind of Lord & Co.," said
Emily.
"Yes, very kind," said John, sarcas
tically. "V.'hy, John, what do
Have they reduced your salary again?"
neaueea my salary again? Oh! if
that were all I would not complain.
But worse, far worse than that"
"You do not mean to say that you
are "
"Discharged! Yes, Emily, discharged.
Turned out by those whom I have
faithfully served for years. I do not
care for myself, Emily; I can bear the
whips and scorns of life without a
murmur, but yon, my dear sister what
will become of vou and roup mtlo
children?"
"Never mind us, John. Cheer up! I
eau battle with the world. T hlnme
myself for beins a oharen and. rare
upon you, for what would we have
done when my husband died but for
your kindness? You hnva n
home; you have not only been a brother
but a benefactor and snvlnr t no-
you gave up your little home nnd came
to us; your hard earnings have been
bestowed upon us; you denied us noth
ing, and now, when the dark day of
adversity comes, you are without
means yourself. Oh! why did I ever
permit you to share your hard earned
bounty with us?"
John Furlong was now reclining
upon the sofa. When ho i
his almost penniless condition and his
oroKen health, his courage seemed to
forsake him. Ho looked around him.
The children were playing around in
happy Ignorance of the fate which
seemed hovering over their little
heads. Were thev tn n
too, in the bright days of their Infancy?
The end of the month was approaching,
unu xne rent nau not been entirely
accumulated yet. He knew his land
lord well. He was inexorable, unfeel
ing and exacting; and if payment was
not promptly made, he would be dis
possessed and turned into the streets.
The very thought seemed to drive him
almost to distraction.
Emily Washburn stood by the win
dow, gazing abstractedly, but almost
distracted, into the street below. Her
eyes were suffused with tears, 'and her
heaving bosom denoted the terrible
struggle that was raging within, and
which she was endeavoring with al
most superhuman exertions to sup
press. It was not the discharge of her
brother from the house of Lord & Co.,
or any fear for her future welfare, or
that of her children, that affected her,
for with a woman's time heroism she
had already determined to work for
them but the condition of her brother,
his emaciated frame, and the knowl
edge that his heroic struggles for her
and her little family had caused It all.
The wheels of an approaching car
riage were heard. As it ncarcd the
house the horses' heads were turned
in toward the curb, and it stopped in
front of John Furlong's house.
"John! John!" cried Emily; "a car
riage has stopped in front of our door."
"Perhaps' Mr. Lord has relented and
sent for me," said John, a faint ray of
hope illumining his pale face.
"There Is a lady descending from it!"
exclaimed Emily.
"A lady!" echoed John, in a toue of
disappointment.
"She is approaching our door, and
there, John, she has rung our doorbell,"
as the tingle of the bell was heard in
the hall.
"What shall we do?" said John, vain
ly eudevoring to sit upright on the sofa,
but sadly failing in the effort.
"What shall we do?" replied Emily.
"Why, there's only one thing to do
I shall go down and admit her."
"But surely, she must have made a
mistake. Our aenuaintn
In the habit of calling upon us in their
carriages, ' said John, smiling sadly.
"Well, John," said Emily, "if she has
maue a mistake it will be very easy to
correct It," saying which she descended
to the door to meet the caller whose
advent had caused such a stir. In a
few minutes she returned.
"There Is no mistake nhnnt it TM,n
The lady has called at the right place,"
saia umuy.
"And who does she wish to see?'
asked John.
"Mr. John Furlong."
"Me! me! Why, sister, who can It
"Here Is her card, brother. She 11
waiting below."
John Furlong almost convulsively
seized the card and read aloud:
"Miss Florence Faekard."
"Miss Florence Packard! I cannot
see her, Emily I cannot see her. Tell
her I am Indisposed. Offer any excuse
yon think proper, for I cannot dare
not see her to-day."
"I explained your feeble condition to
her, John, but Instead of withdrawing
she seemed to be more onxious to see
you than before," said Emily.
"Tell her I will be better to-morrow,
and will c all upon her. Tell her "
The door opened gently, and a light
footstep glided noiselessly across the
carpeted floor toward the sofa on which
John Furlong lay. He saw her, ana
tried to raise himself to a sitting pos
ture. "Florence
"John!"
The effort had exhausted what little
strength, remained, and he fell back
unconscious.
When lie revived, Florence Packard
sat by his side. Her laee shawl was
thrown over the back of a chair, and
her dainty little hat occupied another.
She kept her little fan busily employed
upon his face, and the lifeblood was
fast returning into its regular chan
nels. In a spirit of gratitude he ex
tended his hand. She grasped it, and
held it in hers. For a few minutes not
a word was spoken on either side.
"John Furlong," said Florence, "I am
not a stranger to the nature of your
affection for me. I have known it for
years. You love me. You have
struggled on and on in the hope of pros
pering in business and bettering your
condition before you made your affec
tions known to me. I have watched
you, John Furlong. I am rich, and
you are poor. Day after day, with a
salary that an unprincipled- firm was
cutting down, you saw your hopes
crushed. Still you labored on with an
unfaltering zeal. To-day you were discharged-
I heard it all. Mr. Lord
went to tho club, and there boasted of
his conduct toward you. In the midst
of his hilarity he was seen to reel in
his chair and fall. A doctor was Bum
moned, but life had fled. He who had
'cut down' others was in turn 'cut
down" by the hand of God. When I
heard of your misfortune I hastened
here. Surrounded ns I am by a host of
giddy admirers, I saw at once, and
read their hearts. They loved me for
my money. There is one brave man
wiio loves me for myself alone, and
that man Is John Furlong."
"Florence! Florence! you have read
my heart aright."
"I know it, .lohn. I also know that
your love is returned. I have endeav
ored to disguise tho fact from myself;
but It is useless. You would not, from
n senso of honor, ask me to become
your wife John Furlong; I ask you
to become my husband. You ore 111
I cannot leave you. Give me the right
to remain and care for you make me
your wife."
"Oh, what Joy it would be to me!"
Pftia John, in the ecstasy of the mo
ment. "Florence Tackard the wife of
poor John Furlong! Never! never!"
"Not never, John, but forever," said
Florence. "I do not care for what the
world says. You are all to me the
world is nothing. You will consent?"
She pressed her claims eloquently
and fervently, but still he resisted. He
pleaded for delay.
"I will not leave this house save as
the wife of John Furlong," said Flor
ence. He could resist no longer. When he
breathed tho happy consent, Florence
wound her delicate arms around- him,
and kissed the tears from his cheeks.
A clergyman was sent for, nnd before
nn hour had passed Miss Florence
Packard had become Mrs. John Fur
long. When his health permitted, they
removed from the apartments on the
fourth floor to a granite mansion on
West End avenue.
The house of Lord & Co. is no longer
In existence. Tho share of tho senior
member was purchased for our fiieud.
and it Is now known as John Furlong
& Co.; and when the clerks are sum
moned to the private office they always
emerge with smiling faces. Their sal
aries have been increased to the old
standard, and "cutting down" Is .un
known in the firm of John Furlong 4r
Co. New York Weekly.
Her Eye to the Fntnre.
"The best time to buy Christmas
gifts," said the economical girl, "is
after Christmas. Last year I met a
Brooklyn friend on Sixth avenue bus
ily shopping, the day after New Year's,
and she told me she was buying Christ
mas presents. I stared at her in sur
prise. "Why, we had Christmas in New
York last week," I said. "I always
knew Brooklyn was slow, but "
" 'I mean for next Christmas,' she
explained, ignoring my fling at her na
tive city. 'Just look here,' and she
opened one of those string bags out-of-towners
always carry when' they
shop, displaying before my admiring
eyes some expensive trifles that had
been left over from the holiday sea
son and marked down to less than
half price. 'I have about $20 worth of
things in there for which I have paid
less than $10,' she said. 'I'm going
to put them away and bring them out
for Christmas gifts next December.
They'll be quite as good then as now,
for you know the fashions in glove
boxes,, handkerchief cases nnd such
things never change, and for these
lovely hand painted calendars, which
I bought for a mere sang, I shall sim
ply put a new block of dntes on them
Instead of the 1U03 blocks which they
have now it's only a matter of a
small amount of Ingenuity and a less
amount of glue.' "New ork Tress.
For the saving of would-be suicides,
the municipality of Rome has decided
to employ police motor boats on the
FoMke
Younger
Children....
NURSERY TRAVELS.
Mary went to France,
Betty went to Spain,
Bobby went around the world
Twice and home again.
Mary took a doll,
Betty took a shawl,
Bobby took a shining sword
And a rubber ball.
What seems very strange,
Though it's true, I've heard.
Is that on his journcyings
Bobby caught each word
Mary spoke in France,
Betty upolio in Spain,
And they heard him, whether he
Talked in Greece or Maine.
Elizabeth L. Uould4 in Youth's Com
panion. A CURE FOR CARELESSNESS.
"And white frosted cakes, Dorothy,
with baked apples in the little pink
saucers!" Mllly sighed blissfully.
"I will come early, Mllly," said her
little cousin, positively, "and I guess
that I will wear my little frock with
tho bows. Mother said I might.'
"Dorothy!"
"Yes, mother."
"Now, dear, do be careful. Put on
your hood nnd run down to the store
and get a spool of blue silk for me. Be
sure that it matches."
"Yes, mother." And Dorothy, look
ing in her red coat and hood not unlike
a flighty red-bird, was off like a flash.
Dorothy knew what her mother meant
in her caution to her to be careful, and
she pouted a littlo as she ran down
the narrow street.
"I know that lam not always care
ful," she whispered to herself, "but I
do not think it Is nice In mother to be
always reminding me of It."
"What can I do for you, Miss Dor
othy? A spool of silk? What color,
please?"
But Dorothy hardly heard him. She
was searching everywhere for the
scrap of silk which her mother had
given her. She was quite sure that she
had tucked it In her mitten. And then
She took the next wrong step. '
"I guess that it don't make any dif
ference," she said iu a low very low
voice. "I guess that it doesn't, either," said
tho man, pleasantly. "I have only
one shade of blue."
How dreadfully ashamed Dorothy
felt as she walked home!
"Why, Dorothy, what a long time you
have been gone, child! It is almost
dark. Did you get the thread? Run
along nnd got your bread and milk,
dear. It is, growing late."
But Dorothy was not hungry. She
scarcely dared breathe while her
mother opened the little package.
When she did so, she did not say any
thing, however. So Dorothy decided
that it was all right, after all. After
supper she had to play with Betty
Baby until bedtime, while her mother
sewed.
"It is very late, Dorothy," Raid her
mother next morning. "I sat up so late
last night that I overslept I wish
that you would take Mrs. Watson's
waist home. She will want it for tho
reception this afternoon, and that was
why I was In such a hurry last night
to finish it You will find the bundle
on the table. Yes, you may take Betty
Baby If you like."
Two hours later Dorothy's mamma
called her. "Come here, Dorothy," she
said in a strange voice. "I have some
thing to show you."
Dorothy's little cheeks grew hot.
Her mother was holding Mrs. Watson's
waist np to the light. It was a light
blue silk waist stitched with lavender.
"Dorothy, what shall I do to help you
to remember to be more careful?" her
mother said. "I trusted to your eyes,
dear, and after night I could not tell
the difference. And now Mrs. Watson
is disappointed and offended, aud I
must do all the work over again."
It was a very forlorn little voice that
answered her. "I am truly sorry,
mamma."
"I don't like to punish you. little
girl. Can you think of some way by
which mamma can help you?"
"I am sorry, mainmn, nnd I will star
away from Mllly's parry if yon think
that it will help me to 'member."
And that is the true reason why Dor-
otliy and Betty Baby 6tayed away from
the party with the little frosted cakes
and the baked apples on the little pluk
saucers. But she was never quite so
careless again. Mrs. H. J. Tompkins,
In Christian Register.
TOOK TIME TO DO HIS BEST.
The boy who is in too much of a
hurry to reach results is not willing
to take the long, uphill road leading
to them, but tries to find a short cut
by using other people's brains. An
Instructor' in a prominent Eastern
school tells a story of n lad of another
sort, who made a success by a very
different method.
"I knew a boy who was preparing to
enter the junior class of the New York
University," says this teacher. "He
was studying trigonometry, and I gave
him three examples for his lesson. The
following day he came Into my room
to demonstrate his problems. Two of
them he -understood, but the third a
very difficult one he had not per
formed. I said to him, 'Shall I help
you?'
" 'No, sir; I can and will do it if you
give me time.'
"I said, 'I will give you all the time
you wish.'
"The next day he came Into my room
to recite another lesson in the same
study.
" 'Well, Simon, have you worked that
example?'
"No, sir he answered; 'but I will
do It If yon give me a little more
Urns.'
" 'Certainly; you shall have all the
time you desire.
"I always like those boys who are
determined to do their own work, for
they make our best scholars, and- men,
too. Tho third morning you should
have seen Simon enter my room. I
knew he bad it, for his whole face told
tile story of his success.
"Yes, he had it, notwithstanding It
had cost him many hours of hard
work. Not only had he solved the
problem, but, what was of much great
er importance to him, ho had begun to
develop mathematical power, which,
under the inspiration of 'I can nnd I
will,' he has continued to cultivate, un
til to-day ho is professor of mathemat
ics in one of our largest colleges, and
one of the ablest mathematicians of
his years In the country."
FRIENDS OR ENEMIES.
There was so much whispering in
the cornfield we supposed the wind
was blowing, making the long blades
rustle. Wo did not understand their
martial spirit.
All stood In ranks like soldiers. Each
wore a tassel proudly on the head,
and carried a blade and pennant In
deed some carried many which made
the rustling so much like whispering.
As they all had ears, they could easily
hear what was said; we at a distance
could only guess.
Some of the tallest stalks with
largest tassels nnd silvery plumes at
each ear looked like officers. They
asked: "What are these green strag
glers in our midst? They don't stand
up nnd face the music like soldiers, but
creep slyly over the ground." "They
don't wear plumes or carry banners."
"Now and then one has n big yellow
trumpet, but It makes no sound; it
looks like a big yellow flower."
Some replied, "They are spies."
Some said: "They are deserters from
our enemies. AVe must watch them.
If they increase iu numbers or show
light, we must nttack them."
Time passed. The corn ranks thinned,
the tassels withered, the long pen
nants dried aud sounded husky. At
last they all stacked "blades" and
"ears."
Then behold, on their parade ground,
great yellow balls! "What are these
great things like cannon balls?" husk
ily asked tho seedy corn-stalks. "Are
they mines, dynamite bombs, or what?"
And they nil shivered In the twilight.
We could hear them, like the sound of
dry leaves.
These dangerous yellow perils were
soon piled high by the old stone wall
like a fort well supplied with ammuni
tion. One night some boys made fierce
looking jack-o'-lanterns of some of
them, marching about the field, strik
ing terror to all who did not know
them.
Some one cried out, "See those fel
lows among the corn stacks with pump
kins on their heads!"
So it was all explained, and these
"enemies" found out they were akin,
as both were of the vegetable family,
each brave in its own line of march,
each humane in giving food to the
hungry, even to "Insurgent" boys.
So there was "Peace." Christian
Register.
WRONG SIDE UP.
Jack was cross; nothing pleased him.
Ills mother gave him the choicest mor
sels for his breakfast and the nicest
toys, but he did nothing but fret and
complain. At last hl3 mother said,
"Jack, I want you to go right up to
your room, and put on your clothes
wrong side out."
Jack started, He thought his mother
must bo out of her wits.
"L mean it. Jack," she repeated,
looking earnestly at him.
.luck had to obey. Ho had to turn
his stockings wrong side out, and put
on his coat and trousers and his collar
wrong side out. When his mother
camo up to him, there he stood a for
lorn, funny-looking boy, all linings and
senms and ravelllngs before the glass,
wondering what his mother meant;
but he was not quite clear in his con
science. Then his mother, turning him around,
snld: "This is what you have been
doing all day, making tbo worst of
everything. You have been turning
everything wrong side out. Do you
really like your things this way so
much, Jack?"'
"No, mamma," answered Jack,
shamefacedly. "Can't I turn thein
right?"
"Yes, you may if you will try to
speak what is pleasant You must do
with your temper and manners as you
prefer 'to do with your clothes wear
them right side out. Do not be so
foolish any more, little mau, as to
persist In turning them wrong side
out" Ohio Work.
Rat Hunt In Favor In Knglaml.
Rat catching ns a pastime Is fast
bounding Into popularity. It Is claimed
by the u'any fresh devotees of this
peculiar hobby that it provides excite
ment and sport, while as lis aim is the
extinction of vermin its usefulness is
beyond question.
Mr. II. F. Wllloughby Greenhiil. a
stoci broker, and a party of friends,
with the assistance of' four dugs,
bagged ninety-two rats on Saturday,
nnd nearly as many durins the preced
ing week. The sport is general nil
over the county of Surrey, aud 'the
services of those who follow the pas
time are in requisition In all rat Infest
ed, quarters. London Express.
SAVINC A COMRADE
A Flock or Trrns Keicue a Wounded
Mate From In Hunter.
Stories of affection and apparent rea
son among wild animals have divided
the "nature writers" into two schools.
One believes that animals net merely
from instinct; the other holds that the
dumb brute feels and reasons. In
"The Life of a Scotch Noturnllst" Mr.
Smiles quotes from the journal of
Thomas Edwards the story of how a
little flock of terns rescued a wounded
companion whom the naturalist had
shot. .
I fired, aud he came down with a
broken wing, screaming ns he fell into
the wntcr. The report of the guu, to
gether with his cries, brought together
the pnrty he had left, In order that they
might ascertain tho cause of the alarm.
After surveying their wounded broth
er round nnd round, as he was drifting
unwittingly toward the shore with the
flowing tide, they came flying In a body
to the spot where I stood, and rent the
air with their screams. These they
continued to utter, regardless of their
own Individual safety, until I began
making preparations for receiving the
approaching bird. I could already see
that it was a beautiful adult specimen,
and I expected In a few moments to
have it in my possession, since I was
not very far from the water's edge.
While matters were In this position
I beheld, to my utter astonishment, two
of the unwoumled terns take hold of
their disabled comrade, one at each
wing, lift him out of the water nnd
bear him out seaward. They were fol
lowed by two other birds.
After having carried him about six
or seven yards they let him gently
down again, nnd the two who had
hitherto been Inactive took him up.
In this way they continued to carry
him alternately until they had con
veyed him to a rock et a considerable
distance, upon which they landed him
In safety.
. I made toward the rock, wishing to
obtain the prize which had been so tin
ceremoniously snatched from my grasp.
I wrfs observed, however, by the terns,
and instead of four, I had in a short
time a whole swarm about me.
On my near approach to the rock I
once more beheld two of them take
hold of the wounded bird ns they had
done before, nnd bear him out to sea In
triumph, far beyond my reach.
.Hawk nnd Jack Babbit.
Two weeks ago a correspondent
asked lor reports on the action of
small game In dodging the assault of
hawks and other birds of prey.
Some years ago two of us were hunt
ing quail nnd rabbits in the northern
part of Kansas nnd were walking
along the railroad track when we came
to a section gang, and Inquiring of the
foreman if he could direct us where
the other party could get n jack rab
bit to tako to his homo In Chicago,
he pointed to r.n adjoining field nnd
stated "there was a largo one that
lived in the field, if a hawk, that had
been after him for two weeks, had not
got him." While talking -he pointed
to a large hawk in the distance and
said: ' If he comes this way we can
soon tell if he has yet caught the
Jack." The hawk came sailing on, and
when over the field made a swoop down
upon tue ground, and rs he rose in
the air a jack rabbit darted out of the
stubble ana ran in our olrection, nnd
the hawk made two darts at the jack
lu plain sight of us. As it would
near the jack he would flatten himseif
out upon the ground and as the hawk
passed over him he would spring up
and run toward us. Thus eluding
he nawk, he came quite near ns, try
ing to get into some very tall rank
grass and weeds by the side of the
railroad. As the hawk was making
his fourth dive, a load of No. 4 shot
from my 12-gauge Parker ended the
destruction of game by that field rob
ber, and before I could object my friend
had killed the Jack.
We noticed that the jack would
squeal whenever the hawk darted at
him, but a close examination of the
back and ears of the Jack showed
that he had not been touched by the
talons of the hawk.
This being the only time that I was
ever close enough to carefully note
the action of the hunted I look for
ward with anticipation to the reports
of other brothers of the Held who have
had more and better opportunities to
note the acts of self-defense on the
part of the hunted. Correspondence
in Forest and Stream. '
Too Impressionistic.
Of John 8. Sargent, who has been
accused of painting a Baltimore physi
cian' beard blue, a Bostonian said the
other day:
"Mr. Sargent will take this fling
about the blue beard good humoredly.
He likes flings at artists. At a din
ner here during his late visit to Amer
ica. I heard him tell n pretty good
anecdote at his own expense.
"Ho was visiting, ho sai a country
family, near Woodstock, and one morn
ing by n lake sid he set up his easel
nnd began to paint. His subject was
the stretch of water and the rolling
hills behind.
"As he-tainted away, a house ser
vant came to tell him that luncheon
was ready.
"As Mr. Sargent slowly cleaned his
brushes, he noticed that the man was
lingering to study the wood and water
scene upon"the canvas.
"'Well,' said the artist, 'what do
you think of my picture?'.
" "Why, sir,' the servant faltered, 'I
can't say as it's such a very good
likeness of tue master.' "Philadelphia
Bulletin.
A man in Portland, Ore., proposes to
purchase fir logs which the sawmills of
British Columbia will not use, build
them into enormous rafts, and 'tow
them to San Diego, to be there cut Into
firewood.
GUESSING.
A man will struggle hard and long
To gain what he esteems success.
He wins it; feela that ho was wrong.
And str.rta in on another guess.
Boston Courier,
MONEY IN IT.
Knicker "Strange they didn't name
the baby after its rich uncle."
Booker "No; he looked at it and
said he'd give them $10,000 not to."
Harper's Bazaar.
A SURE CURE.
Puffenbdrg "I'd give anything to
know how you managed to reduce
your weight."
Thlnow "I have made It impossible
tp get much to eat, by Joining nn Anti
Tlpping Society." Brooklyn Life.
IN HONOR BOUND.
"I ain't dirty by choice, ma'am," the
hobo explained. "I'm bound by honor.
I wrote a testimonial for a soapmaker
once an promised ter use no other."
"Well, why don't you use that?" de
manded Mrs. Goodlcy.
"Because, ma'am, dat firm failed in
1SS7." Philadelphia Ledger. .
A MAIDEN PHILOSOPHER.
"I suppose you will marry when yon
grow up!" said the visitor, pleasantly.
"NO," replied the thoughtful little
girl, innocently. "Mamma says papa
is more care than the children, so I
guess the care of my children will be
enough for me without the care of a
busbnnd." Chicago Journal.
A BAD BREAK. '
"My husband could never write any
poetry unless he was smoking," said
the one in black.
"I believe your husband is dead,"
said the man, with a far-off look.
"Yes, he is."
"Do you suppose he is writing any
poetry now?" Yonkcrs Statesman.
OLD FRIENDS.
The Wife-"What luck?"
The Husband (wearily) "None what
ever." Tho Wife "Were there no servants
In the intelligence office?"
The Husband (sadly) "Lots of them,
but they had all worked for us be
fore." Woman's Home Companion.
FRENZIED FINANCE.
"I made money to-day all right I
sold our piano for $150."
"Made money? Why, you told me II
cost you $350."
"I know, but I never paid for it."
New York Evening Mall.
THE CIIUG3.
Mrs. Chugwater "This paper says
the rassengers escaped on a raft. How
could they make a raft at sea?"
Mr. Chugwater "They could use the
chip's log, couldn't they? Why don't
you use your own reasoning faculties
once in a while?" Chicago Tribune.
TOE CENSURER.
"I heard yon swearing at an awful
rate this morning. What was the mat
ter?" said the first flat dweller.
"Why, I was mad at that coal man
for swearing so at the poor horse he
was trying to back into the court!" ex
plained the other, with flashing eyes,
'it was awful!" Detroit Free Press.
CIRCULATED SOME.
"Have you a library In your town?"
asked the New York man.
"Oh, yes," replied the Westerner.
"A circulating one?"
"Well, It wasn't intended for that sort
of n library, but we had two or three1
cyclones out our way that circulated it
considerably!" Yonkers Statesmen.
MORE TO THE POINT.
"Ef yer real Interested," said Deacon
Skinner, "I'll tell ye what I want fur
thet horse."
1 "Oh, I wouldn't be Interested in
knowin' thet," replied Farmer Shrude.
"No?"
"No; but I wouldn't mind knowin
what ye'd take." Philadelphia Public
Ledger.
. AS REVISED.
"A horse! A horse!" exclaimed King
Rlchasd. "My kingdom for a.horse!"
"There Isn't one in the building, your
Majesty," said one of the snpes behind
the scenes in a husky, agouized, stage
whisper. "Society is using all of 'em
for a horse show!"
Realizing his mistake, he called for
an automobile, but it was too late. A
moment more aud Richmond was upon
Dim. Chicago Trlbnae,
city, na walked Into the auis-(UM
oar
Tiber.