THE SIMPLIFIED EXISTENCE. Everytlirig fa ready-made In this progressive day, The hat and shoes, all that we use, are sold in auch a way That all you need to do ia walk along and take your pick ; It only takes a very little while to do the trick. When gome fond youth would send Inns a captivating line, He doesn't waste his mental force: he mails a valentine; And when he fain would lenve some small impression as a wit. He buys a comic postcard and a at amp, and makes a hit. The dealer small need not compute the profits he ahall take, The trust will tell him just how much he is allowed to make. The statesman for opinions need no longer rack his brain; He can go straight to headquarters and secure them, brief and plain. So what's the use of sighing in a prosperous time like this, When all is neatly prearranged and cennot go amiss? It's a very simple program, and we point to it with pride. There is not any doubting, lite is vastly simplified. Washington Star. ne e The! Lace Medallion. u By Loiiis ! nl U iH55J552J "I don't know as I enn ever fx V.:h right, Lucella. it's upside Sown sow." The large kindly face of M-s Graham wrinkled Into a troubled frown as, standing first on one foot then on the other, like a schooler! caught In some misdemeanor s.e surveyed her handiwork, han-i'i-limply against the small glass win dow of the new front door. Lucella put down the pink mus lin waist she was finishing and came out Into the hall, her dafntv pretti ncss contrasting strangely with the dull, old-time surroundings. Bits of coarse netting lay on the floor, mid she stooped to picked them up before answering. "I guess we might as well give it P." she said, after a hurried glance I spent all day yesterday and d.iv before on it. It's not fit to be seen," he burst out; then, as if ashamed of her petulance, "It's of no account, anyhow. The house'll be fine enough without lace medallions, ru just roll the thing up, and put it back in tho drawer, and no one'll ever know we thought of the door." Mrs. Graham pulled the lacv fail ure this way and that, trying to bring the medallion to tt . the centre. A little pang smote her at the thought of asking assistance, yet the task was clearly beyond her powers. She made a last stand for Independence with the deprecatory remark: "It's not In the middle einc.lv Lucella, but It's pretty good. Any how, I've seen worse." "Well, I don't know as I have " Bald Lucella. "Everybody'll be look , Ing at it, and maybe criticizing, just When I want everything to go oft V especially well. My land!" she said . the lovely color Bweeping up to the roots of her soft, brown hair. "I wouldn't have Tom see it for the World!" "Well, I should think not.'" hor mother upheld her, loyally. "And your engagement party, too." A figure of Indecision she stood perplexed for a moment; then the . lines of care were swept awav by a saving thought. "I'll tell you what," she said. Now," and her voice grew more cheerful with each word, "we II ask Mrs. Blumm to tea, and maybe she'll help out. I don't know as I like to do it just that way, but the time's so short. You run right back to the sitting-room, Lucella, and I'll get my things on, and go see Mrs. Blumm Sakes alive!" she ejaculated, looking up into the girlish face, grown sud denly radiant with expectation. "I should think Tom'd run off with you to-morrow, instead of waiting till Christmas!" She stepped Into the kitchen as Lucella went back to her work. She looked at the fragrant loaves of cake lying in a row on the pantry shelf, and gave a sigh of satisfaction as she tested the hardening frosting with her finger. She drew the steaming kettle to the back of the stove, pulled the shades to the middle of the south Windows, and put her husband's rocking-chair in its place beside the weekly papers, where it would com lortably invite him, should he hap 'pen to return before dinner. "I'm more than thankful I can do everything but the, medallion," she Jiaid, brightly, taking a last look round the room before going for her bonnet and shawl. , "I may be gone quite a spell," she said, looking into the sitting-room on her way to the front door, "if your pa comes in before I come back, tell him where I've gone." She walked briskly along, her mind intent on her mission. The morning sun shone brightly down on the snowy road as she climbed the hill toward Mrs. Blumm's. "I de clare," she gasped, pausing to rest beside the Carters' hitching po3t, "if It had been anything but th' medal lion that Lucella's got her heart so set on, I don't know but I'd let it go!" A pung came over. the hill, with Jangling bells, and stopped beside " her. "Well, If It's not Mrs. Graham, sure's you live!" exclaimed the loud voice of Mrs. Walker, the village grocer's wife, and, Incidentally, the gossip of the town. "I said to my self when I saw you standing here, TJome one to get poor Mrs. Blumm again to help out.' Then, 'No,' I said, 'If It's not Mrs. Graham!' What's the matter at your house? Nobody . sick, or anything?" "No," said Mrs. Graham. "Just a friendly call on Mrs.' Blumm, that's all." "Now isn't that too bad!" lament ed the shrill voice from the seat. ' Mrs. Blumm's gone to her dead hus D. Quincy.' band's cousin's place In Vermont to spend the holidays. Guess I was the only one in the whole place 'hat knew of it till she'd Been gone quite a while. Hop right in," she con tinued, affably, tossing the bundles .cumbering the seat into the straw on the floor of the pung, ' "and I'll take you down home. "Going to ask her to tea, were jyou?" she questioned, as she guided the horse down the slippery Incline. "Now isn't that Just like you, Mrs. I Graham! Most folks want her Just i to help out, or something, she's so handy. I shouldn't wonder if you and I are about the only folks in town that haven't had her in the house to work." I The pink spots on Mrs. Graham's cheeks turned a dull red as they neared the house. "I'm not going to ask yon in, Mrs. Walker," she said, a bit shakily, as she climbed out of , the pung. "We're upset this fore ' noon, getting ready for to-morrow I and all." ! "Well, If you aren't the kindest I person, Mrs. Graham," said the oth er, with wondering envy, "to thlnk of asking Mrs. Blum, who everybody knows isn't much to talk to, to tea, when you look tired t j about ready to drop. I declare," she aaaea, looking searchingly into the face of her victim, "I don't know's I noticed you were looking so tired when we started! I'll come to-morrow night," Bhe announced, cheer fully. "I declare, it makes me fell real. young again!" She slapped the reins on the back of the big sorrel and went on her way. "Did you get her. mother?" dbVoJ i the girl, anxiously, taking off the Donnet and smoothing the tumbled hair. "Well, if you haven't gone and fixed the sitting-room up real nice, Lucella!" said her mother, in pleased surprise, as she looked into the changed best room. "Pa did it," said the girl. "He's been indoors all morning, helping round. He did all the lifting." "Did he ask what I went for?" questioned her mother, quickly. "No. He looked troubled, and said you were working too hard." "Well, .I'm thankful he didn't ask," breathed Mrs. Graham, fer vently. "Your pa's overworked, Lu cella, 'and I've had no time to help him. What with that good-for-nothing man's leaving last week, and the gray mare's breaking her leg, he's got all he can carry, let alone two hysterical women." She turned to go up-stalrs, fol lowed by Lucella's questioning gaze. "No, I didn't get her," Bhe said. The next morning Lucella, putting the freshly washed vases on the man telpiece, heard her father's heavy step in the hall. "Where's your mother?" he asked. "She's up-stalrs, pa," answered Lucella, not turning. "You're not feeling sick, are you?" he asked, watching the flushed cheeks anxiously. " Twouldn't do to get sick now, with all the pretty things in the bureau drawer to fix up." "It's -not that, pa," she began, haltingly, then stopped, ashamed be fore the loving patience in the deep set eyes. She threw her arms Im pulsively about his neck: "Don't you worry about me, daddy." "There, there!" he said. "I'm none too clean, with these barn clothes and all. That you, mother?" he called, going to the foot of the stairs. "What's the matter, pa? Any thing wrong in the barn? I'll run right out and help," she answered, cheerfully, as she came down. "You stay where you are, Lucella!" sl' called from the kitchen door. Hiram shut the door. "Now, Mn rla," he said, quietly, as he led h.T to his own particular chair, "you it right down here; I want to talf What's the matter with Lucella?" "Why, there's nothing the matttj,'. wun ner; only a little tired, maybe. She'll be all right to-morrow. She's worked up over so much company." "She's not had any falling out with Tom, has she?" "Land sakes, no!" "There's nothing she wants. Is there, that she ought to have?" "She has everything she ought to have." Hiram looked out of the window for a time. Suddenly he turned to his wife. "It's not on account of the lace thing you were fixing for the front door, is it?" he asked, abruptly. "Seems to me I haven't seen It round lately." Maria gasped. "Well, If that Isn't the shrewdest ever!" she ejaculated, wonderlngly. "My goodness, Hiram, I don't know as I can tell' how you ever guessed the truth! We agreed to keep It to ourselves, Lucella and I, Just to give you a rest from the worry. We've been worried about you, pa: you seem to have more than your share." The tired look fell from Hiram's face. "Well, I'd like to know If we aren't willing to do all we can for Lucella," he said, warmly.- "I'll tell you what we'll do. You get 'your best things on, and tell Luceila we're going to Pitman. We'll maybe get one of those things all made up." "All right, Hiram. I'll' Just tend to the cream before we go, In case we shouldn't get back till late," she answered. The dusk was beginning to settle when the colt came to a stop by the front steps. "Well, If I'm not glad to have you back!" Lucella greeted them, Joy- ouBly. "Just see what Tom sent over." "O my! A whole dozen pinks! Just like the color of your dress, too, Lucella!" exclaimed her mother, hid ing the large package leaning against the front of the sleigh as she steeped out. "There's nobody come yet, la there?" she questioned, apprehen sively, hurrying Into the 'darkening hall. Her cheeks were abloom with their old time freshness, and the sunken, grny-blue eyes shone with a light that made her face look young. The pleasure 'of going from store to store during the long, busy after noon, In eager search, had driven her cares from her mind. She pressed a long, slender bun dle into Lucella's hands. "What is it, mother?" Lucella asked. "Something for the barn?" "Maybe you'll use it in tho barn. Lucella," answered her mother, "and then again, maybe you'll use It out-o'-doors about the time I get the new black silk made that your pa bought for me to-day." Lucella's trembling fingers tore the paper from one end of the bun dle. "My gracious, ma," she fal tered, hastily unwrapping It all, "If It's not a new pink parasol! How did pa know I wanted one more than almost anything else for next sum mer?" "I don't know. Perhaps he Just knew It, the way he did about the silk." Mrs. Graham turned briskly to ward the kitchen with a tremulous laugh. "I declare," she said, "if I'm not sniffling over getting a thing I've wanted for ten years. Now you run up-stalrs, Lucella, and lie down a spell. I have a lot of things to do here before the folks come, and you'd only put me back, child. I declare, I don't know what Tom'U say if he sees you looking pale," she added, as Lucella hesitated. "Oh, well!" said the girl, and re luctantly obeyed. A momerit later Hiram cautiously thrust his head in at the door. "She gone, ma?" he asked. "Yes, she's gone. We must hur ry!" was the reply. A moment later two figures stole guiltily through the dark hall, and paused beBlde. the new door. One coughed dutifully loud and long, while the other wrestled with tacks, hammer and the fruit of the after noon's quest. Late that evening, when the guests were beginning to enjoy the good things Mrs. Graham had prepared, Lucella burst Into the kitchen. "Where did you get it, and when?" she questioned, eagerly. "They're all talking ahout it, and I only just saw it," she added, rue fully. "Tom and I've been so taken up with the folks and all.- I declare, I don't know as I'll ever be as happy again as I am to-night!" she cried, gaily, her words tumbling over each other in her eagerness. " 'Twas the only thing needed to make it all complete. I don't know as any 'girl ever had bo much as I have this night. Taking all together, I mean, pa, ma and Tom and all." Her father and her mother glanced at each other In shamed embarrass ment for a moment; then a light of happiness sprang to their faces and rested there. "Here, Tom!" called her father to the smiling young man in the doorway. "Suppose instead of standing there grinning, you help Lucella carry some of this cake in. We'll come right along with the cream." From the Youth's Com panion. Wonderful South American Cataract. The falls of Iguazu, near the meeting-place of Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay, seldom visited by foreign ers, are among the most wonderful cataracts In tho world. They are particularly interesting on account of their greater extent and far more varied character than those of Niag ara. They are also much higher than Niagara, their first plunge be ing 210 feet, followed by two others of 100 feet each, while between the two series of falls there are cata racts and rapids covering a vast ex panse and surrounding picturesque islands. It is estimated that the horse-power represented by the falls is no less than 14,000,000. Youth's Companion. Writing Backward. A case of mirror writing has been brought to light in the Great Bar rington public schools which is at tracting considerable attention. Vera Coster, a five-year-old girl who at tends the primary grade, is the vic tim, and at first the teacher was unable to make out just what the ohlld was doing. When any copy is given to her to write she starts at the right hand side of the paper, ani Then she finishes one would thftik thet the work was a mere scrawl. Placing the writing before a mirror, It caL be easily read and the copy is surprisingly plain. Springfield Republican. Foftfhe Younger Children... THE BIRTHDAY CAKE. What does it take to make The birthday cake? "Sugar and spice, and everything nice," And snow-white frosting as smooth as ice, And little pink undies all round the edge Oh, who wouldn't like a generous wedge Of the wonderful birthday cancel How many candles all. alight Must stand on the cake to make it right, To make it a regular birthday cake? Two of pink and two of blue, And one little shining white one, too,' Right on the beautiful tip tip top Of the wonderful birthday cake! Whom does it take to ent this cake? Father and mother and Grandma Gray And Robbie and Rosie nnd Kleanor May And the dear little girl next door, And a piece for teacher in basket small, And a piece for Norah 1 think that's all Who eat the birthday cake. There's a little gold ring inside the cake, And, Btrange to say, it is Eleanor May Who wins the piece with its golden prize For Eleanor May is five to day. And the birthday cake with its little sur prise Was made and trimmed by Grandmother Gray The beautiful birthday cake! Harriet Crocker LeRoy, in Youth's Com panion. THE LOST MONEY. Doris' papa gave her a five-dollar bill, such a lot of money! Doris went to a big bank and asked if they could give her smaller money for It. The banker said he thought they could. So he gave her two two-dollar bills and a big silver dollar. How much did that make? Doris wanted the dollar changed again; so the banker asked If she would have two fifty-cent pieces, or one fifty-cent piece and two quarters or perhaps four quarters or ten dimes or twen ty five-cent pieces or a hundred pennies. Doris thought a hundred pennies would be a good many to count and to carry, so she said she would take two quarters, three dimes and four five-cent pieces. She laid away four dollars In the bank, those were the two bills, and put the change In her purse. When she went to the shop, she had such a lot of money that, she thought she never could spend It. So she bought a paint box with two little saucers in It, for ten cents; that left her ninety cents; and then a big rubber ballon for twenty-five cents; that left sixty-five cents; and a little one for ten cents; and then Doris bought a whole pound of candy for thirty cents. Out of the twenty-five cents Bhe had left, it cost ten cents to go In the car. When Doris got home she opened her paint box. What do you think? Of course It was only a cheap paint box and the paints were so hard that they would not paint at all. Doris cut out the dolls, but they were no better than those In any news paper's colored supplement. Doris' mamma said that the candy was too bad to eat at all, and the rubber balloons got wrinkled and soft in the night, because the gas went out of them, Doris cried when she saw them. "Now," she said, "I have nothing loft of my beautiful dollar but fifteen cents." "I'm sorry, Dearie," Doris' mam ma said, "but it's bad enough to have wasted one dollar without cry ing about It too. When you and I go out we'll try to get such good things for the next dollar that it will make up for our mistake about this one." The next bright day they went to the bank and got another dollar. Now Doris' mamma was a pretty wise person (mammas often are). So they went to a store where there were some books that had been wet a little by the firemen when the store caught fire. There they found a large, fine book of animal stories with pictures In It, that had been fifty cents, but the bookstore man soJd It for ten cents, because the back cover and a little bit of the edge were stained with water and smoke. That left how much? Ninety cents. Doris' brother had told her he wouAl teach her to play marbles, so she bought six glass marbles for five cents and a hoop with a stick for five more. That left eighty cents. Then Doris asked It her mamma thought she could buy a pair of roller skates. Her mamma said they could ask how much roller skates cost, but the shopman said they were a dollar a pair. So Doris said she would save up the eighty cents that was left of her dollar and wait until she had enough for the skltes. However, a little boy was look ing in at the window of the top shop and he looked so sad and so longingly at the tops that Doris spoke to him, and when he said he wanted one of the red balls she bought it for five cents and gave it to him. That left seventy-five cents. When they got home they told papa about the skates and he said he could get then downtown for seventy-five cents, and he did. So Doris learned by losing her first dollar to get a lot of good things that would be more useful and wonld last longer with her second dollar. Bolton Hall, In St. Nicholas. OLDTIME CELEBRATIONS. The files of old newspapers are a priceless record of the history and manners of their times. In the Bos ton papers of 1706, and, Indeed, in any papers of the time, the accounts public rejoicings show that these jere few in number, and that the method of keeping them differed Widely from our ideas of festivities. Washington's Birthday was perhaps the grsatesrholldny. "Industrlus citizens," we are told, "aDpr"0Driated the hour of noon for the congratulations of the day. Each family enriched the domestic meal with bountiful provisions, and gay spirits and, temperate and undls sembled Joy pervaded all classes." There were speeches and proces sions and illuminations for the less Industrious, who were willing to give something more than the hour of noon to celebration, but the most memorable observance of the day was that of the Harvard students: "Saying to each other that it would be disgraceful to pretend to honor Washington with Hot and dis order, they retired to their chambers before 9 o'clock, and by the time the bells ceased ringing there was not a light to be seen in any of the build ings." This Is equalled by the summing up of the celebrations of Fourth of July for the same year, a day ob served with great rejoicings. No ac cidents are reported, and the editor concludes: "In short, In every place we heard from, happiness was the order of the day, tranquillity of the night." Youth's Companion. TOAD'S HATCHING PLACES. Every tiny toad lays a stupendous number of eggs. Dr. C. F. Hodge, of Clark University, in Worcester, Mass., received 11,545 eggs from one toad, a necessary fertility, since the chances of an egg developing into a toad are less than one In a thousand. Within two weeks after the eggs are laid the young tadpoles being to appear and feed first on their gela tinous envelope. Next the slimy deposits common to ponds and swamps are attacked. Steadily grow the young wrigglers until their bod ies enlarge to the size of thumb nails by the end of June. The long tail now Is absorbed and the legs develop. They begin to hop on the bank and disperse, never to return save in the breeding season. It is at the spring of the year that the toads awake from their winter sleep below the rocks and scrub. They often have been literally frozen stiff, but they return to life as heal thy as ever and on the first balmy night migrate toward the nearest breeding pond. Usually this is the old homestead where they were born. For the toad is a domestic animal and will travel a mile or more for the sake of returning to the place of its hatching. Chicago Tribune. INDIAN PAINT LANGUAGE. When' an Indian paints his cheeki in scailtt lines and daubs a 'yellow square cn his forehead the world knows that he is In love. When he covers his face with zig zag black lines upon an ochre base it is his purpose to get just as drunk as he possibly can. When red circles are on each cheekbone and a rectangle of blue is on the forehead the young brave Is going to steal a paleface horse. When he paints white rings around his eyes he Is running for office, he is a candidate for medicine man or councilor, and the white rings sig nify that he ought to be elected be cause he has the wisdom of the owl. Cleveland Plain Dealer. BLUEJACKETS' MASCOT. Bluejackets of the Monitor Nevada have turned their backs on the billy goat and game cork as mascots and are now devoting their loving atten tions to a kingsnake, which has be come the pet of the ship's crew. It Is asserted that the new mascot eats out of the hands of the sailors and can brave the roughest seas without getting seasick, Just as though it were a hardened old salt The Nevada was recently placed in reserve at Annapolis, and the sailors during one of their jaunts down along the Severn discovered the snake and taking a fancy to him took him aboard in captivity. The snake is said greatly to enjoy his new life on shipboard. Washington Star. DRIVERS CARRY CANDLES. In Mexico , all vehicles, be they handcart, automobile or anything be tween, must carry a light at night. This rule or law is rigidly enforced. Even the drivers of the poor little burro or mule carts, on their two wheels, must carry a candle. So, rather than buy lanterns, which cost money, they take a dip candle, and, wrapping it in a bit of newspaper to shield it from the wind, carry it in their left hand as they drive along homeward from work after evening has fallen. The effect is striking, as the light, falling strongly on the Indian driver, throws the. face of the man into strong relief against the darkness. Modern Mexico. TEACHING THE PARROT. He who is condemned to this pen ance-Is supposed to be a parrot. He has to go round to all the rest of the players and ask each one "If I were your parrot, what would you teach me to say?" says Home Notes. The inquiry is answered as the play ers think best, and the parrot has to repeat every answer befone putting the question anew. Should the lady say "Kiss poor Polly," the parrot will at once act upon the suggestion. Farm Topics. flf CARE OF HEDGES. Where there Is a box of privet hedge, or hedge of any sort, any gaps or uneven plnces should be made good Immediately. Otherwise a very unsightly appearance will be presented all summer. PLANTING WALNUTS. Those who are tempted to plant English walnuts as an experiment In the Northern States will be Interest ed In the statement of a writer In the American Agriculturist to the effect that English walnut trees were plant ed in Niagara County, N. Y., In 1876, and that at the present time some of the better trees" give an annual yield of twenty bushels of nuts. ACTION OF LIME ON SOIL. The Ohio station gives this simple explanation of one action of lime: "If the lime Is mixed with manure r. Tl nrlnt nf n nnuniiln wtll hnnnmA An .... - u.iit.iuilIU "111 UCVUIIID A J 7 parent. This means that the lime Is 'Jlberating the ammonia from the manure and that It Is escaping into the air. If lime is mixed with the soil similar action will take place. ii u crop ue growing upon sou it may ' absorb part of the escaping ammonia and a larger crop will result; but this larger crop is made at the ex pense of the soil stores of plant food, and If these stores are not main tained by manuring or fertilizing, the soil will soon refuse to respond to lime, because all the material in It upon which limo can act has been drawn out, and the soil Is poorer than if no lime had been used." PRODUCING CERTIFIED MILK. A New York producer of certified milk gives these requirements for the production of high grade milk. Clean stables that are easily kept clean, a healthy herd and careful, cleanly men. He says his cows are always fed after milking. Just be fore the milking the cows are brushed, and floor, walks and air of the stable are sprayed. A man with warm water then washes the sides and udder of the cattle. A second man repeats the operation, after which the cows are milked into cans covered with sterilized cheese cloth covers and the milk Immediately re moved from the stable to the cooling room, after which it is bottled. This man gets twelve cents a quart for his milk, thus being handsomely paid for his extra care and expense. Weekly Witness. ABOUT CHARCOAL. Charcoal is used to keep poultry and pigeons in a healthy thriving condition, and this is done by the charcoal absorbing all the foul gases and sourness that may arise in the ' digestive organs, and preventing di arrhea. When the dropping are too soft Is the time" to guard against diarrhea by giving more charcoal in the mash; then you will notice that the drop pings harden and the bowels resume their natural and healthy condition. Poultry is frequently overfed (even by practical poultrymen) and in nine cases out of ten this will result in bowel disorder, which is guarded against in a measure by the use of charcoal. More little chicks die of diarrhea than any other pomplaint; the use of charcoal Is of assistance in rearing the little ones, and if kept before them constantly it will help them to reach maturity at an early age. Charcoal Is not a drug; it is a nat ural purifier from which no bad ef-fects-an result. Feed in the mash and in the hoppers same as grit and shell. Farm Poultry. A TALK BY THE HORSE. The following "Don'ts" which the horse gives to his owner are well worth heeding. We reproduce them direct from the Farm Journal: Don't leave me hitched in my stall at night with a big cob right where I must lay down. I am tied and I can't select a smooth place. Don't compel me to eat more salt than I want by mixing it with my oats. I know better than any other animal how much I need. Don't think because I go free un der the whip I don't get tired. You would move up If under the whip. Don't think because I am a horse: that weeds and briars won't hurt m? hay. Don't whip me when I get fright ened along the road, or I will expect it next time and maybe make trou ble. Don't trot mo up hill, for I have to carry you and the truck and my self, too. Try it yourself sometime, Run up hill with a big load. t Don't keep my stable very dark, for when I go out into the light my eyes are injured. Don't say "whoa" unless you mean t.- Teach me to stop at the word. It may check me if the lines break and save a runaway and smashup. Don't forget to file my teeth when they get jagged and I cannot chew my food. , When I get lean it may be a sign my teeth want filing. Don't run me down a steep hill, for If anything should give way 1 might break your neck. Don't be so careless of my harness as to find a great sere on me before you attend to it. Don't forget the old book that Is friend of all the oppressed that says: "A merciful man is merciful to hii beast" American Cultivator.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers