The Abbeville press and banner. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, December 25, 1878, Image 1
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ABBEVILLE PRESS & BANNER, fj
BY HUGH WILSON AND W. C. BENET. ABBEVILLE, S. C., WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 25, 1878. NO. 29. VOLUME XXYI^J
The Coining of the Snow. in
The clouds were oopper-dyed nil day,
And struggled in each other's way, j .
Until the darkness drifted down j
To the summer-forsaken town.
Said people, passing in tha lane, | M
"It will be snow," or "'Twill be rain th
And school- bairns, laughing in a row, j 01
Looked through the panes and winbed for |
U'
enow. I
an
The ewollen clouds let nothing full bo
But gath'rirg gloom, that covered all ; ex
ThAn r>#mA thA wind ?nd nhnnk liin wincrF. Stl
And curled the dead leaves into rings. j otl
inj
He made the shutters movo and crack, |
And hurtled round the chimney-Btack ; i tir
Then he swept on to fhake the troeB, i to
Until they moaned like winter seas. vo
Boon he went whietling o'tr tho hill,
And all the trees again stood still; ?
Then, throngh the dark, the snow camo ^
down. be
And muffled all tho slerpmg town. an
The keen stars looked out through the
night, |
And fleoked tho bought* with fltkes of j
i an
light; |
And moving clouds revealed the moon, j
To make on eaith s f'iry noon. , ]a^
! Itl1
Then winter went unto his throne, > p*
That with a million diamonds shone ; ^
A crown of stars was on his head, ( pe
And round him his rich robes were spread j
At morn the bairns larghed with delight |
.. ... .. .. ! Uo
To see the fields and hedges white ; :
And folks e&id, as they harried paBt, : ^
"Good morning?winter's come at last." j
j ha
A Rescue From Cannibals. ! ab
j pr
I mt
A STORY FOR CHRISTMAS. ,
Hulda cnme down into the bowels of J
the earth to find me, as Hhe usually was i ha
oompelled to do. There was 110 necessity ;
for her remaining amid the rust and ! 11
roaches, the gloom and interminable
steam, of that cavernons kitchen floor , ca
of ours on Brooklyn Heights. We had j ^
kept boarders now for years and years, ; *o(
or perhaps the boarders had kept us, or ; en
it might have been a mutual eking out j 'u:
of existence. But I took care of the : 8P
oooking, because in that the main :a 1
strength of success lay, and I didn't ! J?
want to keep boarders all my life.
When wo began it was to please Bro- r?l
ther Bob. He was a well-to-do sales- "e
man then iu the city, and used to come Sb
down to tho dear old homestead with so j bi|
many airs and graces about him that |
we grew to look upon him with a sort of on
awe, and wondered if this prinky he
gentleman in the high hat and linen rai
duster could be our Bob that used to
kick all the bottoms out of the chairs, be
and never had a whole knee in his fa
breeohes ; that robbed the birds' nests,
worried the schoolmaster, was nearly
drowned in the millrace and had his leg an
broken by a fall from the bay-rick. No- *a'
body would dream he had ever a kink T1
in his leg, now that he had got to be a Mi
commercial man. He was as straight ; B<
and tall as the finest of our scarlet-run- I
ner poles, and butter wouldn't melt in I be
his mouth, he was that_ Bmooth and j fQI
sleek and soft- spoken, How surprised WI
we were when he proposed himself to : bj
go Kid hear David Devine's first sermon, ^
holding the hymn book all the way, and : bo
oarrying Hulda's best shawl on his arm! j a *
I used to be his favorite in the good old 1 ?f
days when he didn't know a Bnub nose j
from a Grecian one, and Bob found my j a 1
oarroty hair and freckles mnch finer ! be
than the silken locks and delicate com j 0D
plexion of Huldo. He used to call Hulda i
a milk-and-water baby, and 1 -was the j an
one he came to in all his scrapes and j eQ
short-comings. But, somehow, after he H
got to the city I never could find much j B0
favor in his sight, and had no relish for J"
a dead delight. The boy was gone from 1 ou
me as utterly as if he lay in the old I to
church-yard by Sister Betty's Bide. The !
memory of him was far sweeter than any *h
present delight in his prosperity. a 1
I was always opposed to giving up the th
homestead when father and mother died, i th
and going to the city to keep house for j be
Bob. But Bob persisted, and won over
Hulda, as he always did. I think he had co
a Breaking design from the first that ac
Hulda should win the admiration of one ne
of his employers?the bachelor member ! tie
of the Ann of Marley k Brothers. He ag
came out with Bob in one of the vaca- j pc
tions, and certainly seemed to admire an
WriMa ad mn mi0V1 f on-u rftTrpnnnalv > fVi
He ate more in a quiet way than any per- H
son I ever saw; and it seemed a very ; wi
high oompliment, in Bob's eyes, that | dr
while he was eating, his grave, owl-like j E'
eyes were fixed upon Hulda, though why ! eh
I oan't say, as I always did the cooking. j th
I used to tell our young preacher, Davy no
Devine, that he couldn't expeot the hot j an
plaoe would have the terror for me it of
had for others, seeing that I was used to se
the hottest corner, and rather libod it. i la<
David made some kind little reply in his j w(
})leasant way; and I must say my choice j pe
or Hulda had always been this hand- ru
some, fair-worded, pure-hearted, God- ' a {
loving young neighbor of ours. He had | er,
always cared for her sinoe they were ! 11c
children together; and I knew father and ! as
! ninth AT* wnnlrl Kava VkArm woll nAnfnnf frt i Tf
have Hnlda the parson's wife in the old i ye
Dutch ohnroli where they had gone to- I im
gether yef^r in and year ont, and now lay oL
resting oiose by. th
Hul'ia was little more than a ohild, It
but vas taking kindly to the wonderfully j lai
plOteant ways of Providence just then; j of
>ind after mother died she clung more ! en
and more to me and David. He and I j be
xued to talk the matter over, even to the ; m
furnishing up of the old parsonage, :
f never dreaming but that all would be j be
I right. It seemed as natural to me a? : ai
' seed-time and harvest that Hulda should ; or
marry David, and walk up the aisle in i to
her plain silk gown and close bonnet, |
and everybody should say what a sweet | ds
wife was the young pastor's.
But in the meantime Bob married a ! h<
lashionable city girl, and in the het sea- th
eons he brought his wife and children in
home. I couldn't find much fault with d<
the girl, though I tried to hard enough; M
Bhe spent too much time distorting her 01
pretty hair out of its natural oomeliness, st
and pnt as many queer artificial humps te
about her as a camel; but she had a win- bi
some, cheery wav with her, and I always or
had a weakness for beauty, be it in man,
woman or beast; and, besides, she al- lil
ways had a good word for the young at
parson, often luring Marley away with a\
her ooquetry and wiles, so that David a
could nave a word with Hulda. fu
"He's worth a dozen of that bald, ol
blinking Marley," she would Bay, " and gc
I'll do what I can Magda, to foil Bob's m
plans." th
She was such a good-natured ereature nc
1 wish it had been God's will to spare di
her to her young brood, of which she bi
waa over-fond ; but while they were jii
three manikins the gay young mother of
got cold and died, and nothing would do I
but we must go to the city to keep house re
for Bob. Hulda's tender heart was si]
wrung for Bob's widowed and lonely bt
oondition, but I could see under his stifl, gs
hard, melancholy a bitter quantity of ni
worldly forethought and speculation. at
I knew what was ooming, and, indeed, tb
was prepared for anything. What did a
it matter now that the blessed old H
homestead was out of our hold ? I had n<
i skept some of the mahogany furniture, sh
H much to Bob's disgust, who seemed to I
HL cheapen the richest acres we had, and th
: our dear old apple trees that every j
xly knew made the fruit all the sweet- j
; Bob sniffed with disdain at my hold- |
g the mortgage for my share of the
tate.
" Ready money would be much better, ,
ag.la," *he said; but I had my way, i
auk God ! And I told Bob up and J
wn I wanted it understood that there ;
is to bo no obligation on either side? j
alda and I would take the city house, j
d he and the three children should
>ard with us. To help along with the
penses 1 took a few more boarders, and
11 a few more, for one bronght an- i
her. I had a sort of faculty for cookand
if there's one weakness in the
iman race more prevailing and beset- j
ig than another, it's gluttony. I used
do my beet to tempt the jaded yet i
racious palate of that yellow dyspeptic <
arley, anJ gave him many a grim hob- i
blin for company after he'd left my '
eet Hulda, for I couldn't forgive hie !!
nning her consent to marry him, when !:
i knew the core of her heart was ;
other's. The coming to the city and j.
<licg ont how pretty she was had j1
"Jja Hold a'b head.
Bob's will and cunning were strong i
d untiring, and anyway Hulda gave 1
i poor David Devine, and agreed to | ]
irry that grim and greedy Marley. I 11
7 awake at night worrying about it? i
7 heart was so sore perplexed for poor 1
ivid, and wrathful against Bob, and i
jtrustful of Providence. I grew des- <
rate and wicked, but David stuck to I
3 faith, dear fellow, though he hadn't 1
rength to stick to the old spot where j
had been so happy and so miserable, i
3 went out as a missionary to some of I
ose cannibal islands, where I wonder <
e women didn't eat him?he was so <
ndsome and so good. i
The very name of Marley became an <
omination to me, and I forced a
omiBe from Hulda that she wouldn't 1
irry for a couple of years, during i
lfch time I hoped for heaven knows j
lat that was strange or remarkable. I 1
d small doubt but that poor David was i
--3 f ^r.V*o /\* A5r?r?iV>ola tf\r* I (
JU 1UI tuo UDUtO V/JL uuw vuumwwu, ?
iad heard no -word from him; but I
pt on praying and hoping for a hurriae
that might sweep every Marley off
e face of the earth. Whenever Marley
ok Hulda out he brought a carriage,
d as it wasn't Bob's way to waste any
tury, he used very often to occupy the
are 6eat?he and a sister of Marley'e,
ligh-nosed, high-colored, big-toothed
ung woman called Judith. I saw
lat was coming, and I told Bob he'd
?ret it to his dying day, but he mar>d
Judith Marley within that year,
te disliked the trouble of housekeep
j, so he brought her to board 1
th me. They took a suite of rooms
the second floor, and before she had
en in the house a month she began to
ise Cain, as I knew she would. Of
lich I was very glad. I should have
en sorely disappointed if she had
reed me to love her, as did the fond,
jhty first wife of Bob ; for to hate the
arleys had become my soul strength
d tonio during the days of endless
x>r and weariness of body and soul,
le spite I had against the whole j
arley race, that had spoiled my j
)b for me, and wheedled my sister |
to a perfidy that broke the manly
art of David Devine?the spite I held
r them one and all kept life in me
len I should otherwise have fainted
r the way. Bob saw that we couldn't
re together, and toot a furnished 11
use down the street; for Bob was i
jig man now, and one of the partners
Marley & Brothers ; but before Judith '
>nt away she gave me what she called 1
piece of her mind. By the grace of i
aven it so happened that Hulda said 1
e little word or two in my defense, j
len the termagant turned upon her, i
d, among other insults, accused her of ]
trapping her brother into a marriage. !
alda did not reply, but there was
mething in her face that frightened ,
idith. She tried to eat the mischiev- (
s words, but I knew that the Marley (
ik waB broken. Poor Bob took up his |
fe's quarrel, though one could 6ee (
is second honeymoon of his had rather (
c>itter flavor. I felt sorry for him and j
e three poor little step-ohltdren as (
ey went soberly down to their flue new
mse. ]
I had Hulda to myself now, and will \
nfess that I left no stone unturned to !
complish my purpose. I spared
ither her suitor's age nor his inflrmi '
iB, and repeated, with many a shy ex
geration, the taunt of Judith. So all 1
or Marley's entreaties, and the threats i
id wrath of Bob, were unable to mend
e mischief of one woman's tongue. <
nl.ln r?om nn ATq* !ott orw? oofflo/1 /Innm i
UIVIU O C ? **?v* uvvuvvi wv/nu <
th me to old-maidenhood and the '
eary monotony of keeping boarders. j
?en Hulda was past middle-age when 1
e came down to me that morning on 1
e kitohen floor. As I said, there was
) necessity for Hulda's remaining <
aong the rust and roaches, the clatter i
the dishes, and the bustle of the black
rving-maids. I had kept Hulda the j <
3y manager of the house. Her laces 11
ire real, while mine were any two- 1
rnny cheatery that came to hand ; she 1
stled in her silks, while I got about in i
jingham gown; but we worked togeth i
, Hulda and I, and the time had come i
iw when we could shake the dust and |
hes of this drudgery from our feet, i
was growing hot for that season of the
ar. I had been thinking all the morng
of the budding larches out on the
i homestead, and the tender green of
e willow slips down by the meadow,
seemed to me I could hear the young
mbs bleat, and catch the milky breath
the cows as they chewed their early
id. It might have been the steam of the
>arding-house breakfast that dimmed
y eyes as I whispered to Hulda:
"It's all settled. Tue boarders muRt
s told to-day. We're rid of all this din
id drudgery. I've paid the last cent
i the homestead, and it's ours, dearie,
have and hold forever."
" And shall we live there alone, Mag- j
if" she said?"only you and I?"
"I shall take Cliloe to help about the
)nse," I said ; " but as to living alone,
at's what I thought we'd been workg
and praying for. You certainly j
>n't want to take any boarders along ? j
tb. Post wants to bring her sick baby i
it for the snmmer, and that young !
udent on the second floor back is pes- ;
ring me to spend his vacation with ub; j
it surely, Hulda, you would not begin
ir new life with boarders ?"
" No, Magda, no," she said, with that j
;tle melancholy, deprecatory, exasper- j
ing smile of hers ; and as she went;
ray she left thegerm after her of rather j
bitter misgiving, which ripened into |
11 maturity when we got settled in the j
d homestead, with all our household i
x3s about us. These deities wore a !
leful and rusty air. There was Rome- i
ing out of joint. It was Time himself, j
> doubt The tall clock in the corner :
dn't tick in the old ohoery way, !
it put Hulda in mind of some weary j
jgle she had read, with the one refrain ;
"Never, forever?forever, never."
never could see, myself, the use of
ading rhymes?either they are too
lly or too grave?but Hulda had always
what, thfiv railed roraantin. I he
in to hate the approach of a moonlight
ght, for she would sit out-of-doors
id run the risk of the ague ; and when
.e air grew chill enough to have
comfortable fire on the hearth,
ulda spoiled it all by begging me
>t to light the lamps, and there
16 would sit in a blindman's holiday,
began to get the rickets myself: and
ough I wouldn't have owned to it for
oat with mo Mrs. Post and ber baby,
and the young stndent on the second
floor back. For one thing, I hadn't
enough to do. Chloe did all the kitchen
work, Hulda attended to the bedrooms,
and the cooking that was left to me
wasn't worth mentioning. It was
enough to break one's heart to see the
dishes come and go untouched and nntasted.
I would almost have been glad
to see that greedy Marley come in for
one henrty meal. There was nobody to
brew or bake for ; nobody to mend or
make for; and, ah me! what a bitter
cry 1 iina one uay wnen 1 siupiajy stumbled
into Bob's 6nuggery up under the
eaves of the garret, and saw there the
broken fishing rods, the old rabbit
hutches, the bird traps, kites, marbles,
and heaven knows what and all I I
couldn't get the boy out of my mind,
and began, now that I had plenty of
time, to think that I might have been a
little hard myself, and grew to wondering
about the children of Bob's first
wife that I'd given over to the clutch of
Judith Marley without one word to cheer
or comfort.
The hard northern winter came on
apace. All the little brooks froze tight,
the tonler green of the larches and willows
had given way to red and gold,
and at last there was no color or substance
left them but their skeleton
branches against a leaden sky. The
mow came down in whirling drifts, and
3ay in, day out, the clock ticked the doleful
refrain. I got out some patchwork,
but put it away again?for who would
inherit my handiwork ??and made up
my mind we'd have no Christmas dainties
that year to stare us dolefully out of
jounfcenance. Poor Chloe was getting
iTonpntio nlrondv with overfeedinc. and
^"fvr*lw *> or
aven her wool didn't tighten np in the
)ld vigorous way.
It was the third day before Christmas,
when a storm set in of hail and snow and
sleet, so that it was all we could do to
;et the dumb creatures about the place
boused and fed. When all was done, I
set the logs to blazing upon the hearth,
ind happily kept a warm drink in the
iahes for Chloe, who was still fussing
ibout the kitchen. The wind roared
iround the house, swinging the branches
:>f the trees against the weather-boarding
; and said I, " Hulda, God save any
poor creatures at the mercy of this storm
to-night!"
" Amen I" 6aid Hulda.
At that moment we both heard something
like a human voice strained to the
utmost, and Hulda started to her feet.
" Be quiet, Hulda," I said, myself far
From easy ; "it's only the shrieking of
the wind."
But again we heard the voice, and
igain we heard my name. I reached for
my cloak and hat, and buckled on my
rubbers, while Hulda stood trembling
by, when suddenly the door flew open,
md a great gust of storm and sleet came
pelting in, driving before it a man and
some young children he was huddling
before him like sheep in a tempest,
rhey were blinded with the storm and
balf frozen, but the boy dragged his sister
by the hand, and poor Bob held the
pouDKefet child in his arms.
" Don't you us, Aunt Mag ?" said the
little fellow. "I'm Bob, you know,
rhe wagon all broke down, and we're
jolly glad to get lio-ome." Here the
little man began to cry, for his brave
bearfc was over-burdened, and the child
in Bob's arms took up the refrain. Bob
himself was white as the snow outside,
md seemed dazed and bewildered.
"See here, Mag," he stammered out,
"I've brought the children to you to
board for awhile. Everything's at sixes
ind sevens in the city; Marley <fc
Brothers have gone to smash; but I'll
jet something in the way of a clerkship
igain, and pay the children's board, you
Snow; tney suan t oe a Duraen to you,
Map."
A burden ! It didn't seem much like
\ burden. Such a glad commotion as
those little ones created, Hulda and
Ohloe putting dry clothes on them, and
tricking tbem out as if for a baby masquerade.
The hot posset was poured
iown their little throats, and a bountiful
supper was given them of hot miik
ind buns.
" There'll be something grand for
breakfast," I said, looking upon them as
crreedily as ever poor Marley did upon
Hulda. How the old kitchen echoed
with their romps and capers! They
were all handsome, every one of them,
with Bob's fine make and build, and
beautiful eyes like their pretty dead
mother's.
"Bob," I said, choking yearningly
aver the thought, "if you'll give them
to me, the whole three, I'll spend my
whole life in making them happy ; and
ifter I'm gone, they shall have the
homestead and every penny I've got in
the world."
" Yes, yes," said Bob, who had never
3saeed shiveriDg, and was now as hot
and red as he had been white and cold,
"I'll pay their board, Magda ; this is
n fomrinrnrv iron hi a T Jinn a to cat,
fi clerkship, quite a lucrative clerkship ;
but little Bob will never get through
the storm?never! Keep hold of your
sister, Bob," cried my poor brother, in
a loud voice, "and keep the tail of my
coat firm in your other hand ; don't let
go, my son, for God's sake, Bobby?
don't let go 1"
He got upon his feet, and seemed to
be plodding through the storm, and as
be made his way to the kitchen door I
coaxed him on up to bed in his own old
room, that I had kept aired and comfortable
to lighten my own aching heart.
When the morning dawned and the doctor
could get to us, poor Bob was wild
in delirium; the only words he muttered
or called aloud were about bonds and
bills, dollars and fractions of dollars.
His long white flng6rs seemed to hold a
pen, and scratch, scratch the weary figures
upon the counterpane till my eyes
and brain ached for very pity.
For two wretched days and nights he
struggled with this sordid misery, the
fiend of commercial fret and disaster
never letting go hiogrip; but Christmas
morning dawned clear and bright, and
before the eastern sky had quite lost its
giory jboo ieu iuto a aeep, untrouuieci
sleep. How white and wan he looked 1
How thin and bloodless were the once
busy fingers that now lay limp and still!
At noon-time the sky was all one blaze
of cloudless sunny blue, and to keep the
room dark I strove to fasten an extra
Bhawl over the window. Suddenly I
heard Bob whispering my name in such
a strange voice that I got clown quickly
and went over to the bedside, and was
puzzled to hear a low laugh from his
trembling lips.
"Say Mag, he whispered, " don t
let mother know. I crept in through
the window, and left some of my pants
on the gooseberry bushes below ; you'll
patch 'em up, won't you, Mag ? And
keep mum about it. Such a lark as we
hud last night! Dave Devine and I
painted the deacon's horse white and
red ; but keep mum, Mag?not a word
for your life 1"
I kept mum. God knowB I oouldn't
speak. I had got my boy Bob back
again, but there was a sore tugging at
my heart-strings. The doctor came and
lingered long, then he turned to me?
"My work is done," he said. "I was
afraid from the first it would be useless ;
a higher and better work has begun.
There is some one down stairs?a stranger
in these parts, but no stranger to
you or me, or this dear lad lying here.
I wcroldn't like to bring a new face
among yon just now, but this one will
do. Bob/ lie laid, leaning over my
liUflHMH
friend to pray with na on this dear day
that Christ was horn."
Then there came into the room a man
j with brown skin and lusty growth?his
hair was almost white, but his eyes had
J a familiar loving glow dear to the olden J
time. I did not care to question who I
he was or whence he came, but knelt i
silently at the bedside while he prayed, j
Bob's lips moved, but only with some i
It ' 3 1 I
i uoyiHii inemury, uiiu uuui unci uuiu
: went by. The day was at last waning ;
i I was alone with my brother. I heard
the light breathing of his children, and
I mine now, in the room cloBe by ; the low
j voices of David and Hnlda reached me
once in a while from the lower floor. I
might have been a hard and bitter
woman, but as at last the day went ont
and took Bob with it, I felt a grim delight
in my sore and aching heart that
he was beyond the reach of the Marleys.
?Harper's Magazine.
John Jennings' Snake.
John Jennings, of this city, says a
recent issue of the Reading (Pi.) Eagle,
has returned home with a black African
boa constrictor sixteen feet in length.
He is residing with his mother on Cedar
street, near Walnut, and the snaka is
stopping with h'm. Yesterday afternoon
Jennings exhibited the 6kin <"f the reptile
that had been shed during the
course of the day. It was damp, fatty,
and in two parts, having been accidentally
torn. One piece was about twelve
feet long and the other six. The skin
was a net work of square meshes, finely
wrought, and the lighter Bbades of it resembled
the thin, knit texture of which
ladieB' " olouds " or nubias are made of.
Jennings rolled the clumsy substance
into a ball, and was not at all alarmed
in handling it. " It is not poisonous,"
said he, and he put one end of it in his
mouth and bit into it.
The monster snake is kept in the second
Btory of the house in a glass case.
Jennings is a circus performer, and he
brought the reptile with him at the
close cf last season's traveling through
the West and South. "When you buy
these snakes from Bnake dealers in New
York," said he, "you buy a cat in the
bag. They arrive in this country in the
boxes they are packed in in Africa.
From the time the natives catch them ;
and box them until the retail customer
purchases them, the boxes are not unpacked.
On the outside of the boxes
are marks indicating the kind of snake
and its length. When it is bought the
dealer sells it for what he purchased it.
vr 1.~~ : 11..1
nu guuruiiiee la jjiycu burn tuo ouoat 10
alive, and there is no telling that the
snake does live nntil the box is unpacked.
"When this snake of mine was ;
unpacked it jumped wildly from the box
and it was some time before we could 1
secure it. Tt still has its teeth and j
fangs. On the second joint of the middle
of this hand the snake bit me, but i
there iB no danger. They do all their
execution by crushing. The muscles in 1
their body are very powerful.
" It eats once in about every three j
monthB. TheD it sheds its coat. Its
feeding time was this week. I gave it
j live pigeons. All I do is to put them in
j the glass case. The snake watches its
| chance and crushes the life out of the ;
| pigeon against the sides of the glass. I,
This snake is modest in its way, and
won't do much killing if anybody stands
near to watch. After the pigeon is ]
crushed the snake swallows it whole, ;
feathers and all. The snake gets into a ;
coil and has the pigeon's feet pointing
toward its tail. The bird is swallowed 1
head first. From five to seven pigeons
make a meal. When the snake once j
! commences to swallow the pigeon it
, won't stop, no matter how many people ,
j are near it. After it has eaten enough ,
j it will lie still for nearly three months, ,
i scarcely ever moving. They have a
good time of it in their own way. All
! they want is plenty to eat at tho proper
! time, and the snake is all right. It
sneus us coat wuu every meai, or, iu
other words, gets a new suit about four ,
times a year. That's more than a good ,
many get; and it don't cost the snake
anything. Just now its skin is as soft
and glossy as black velvet. When it
sheds its coat I sometimes help to take
the old skin off. When its feeding time
comes around it becomes lively and
angry. Jt is as thick as a stove pipe,
and weighs nearly one hundred pounds.
I will keep the snake here until we start
again on the road next season."
Removing Iron Rust and Stains*
A writer in the Country Gentleman
says : " My practice for years is this :
Roll a fresh lemon so the juice will express
freely ; dampen the spot with the
lemon juice, then spread a thin coating
of fine salt over it, and lay it aside for
twenty-four hours; then riEse off in
lukewarm soft water. This always
moves the rust, bnt it is rather a lengthy
process. A friend told me another
method, that I have tried successfully
this summer, and it is less work and
care. Dampen the spot with cold rain
or spring water, and spread a thin coating
of oxalic acid over the spot ; use
either a penknife or a teaspoon handle
to spread it on ; let it lie either in the
sun or in a warm place by the stove fifteen
or twenty minutes ; then rinse in
pure water and the stain will be gone. ,
It will also remove the Btains from
tablecloths and napkins, or ink spots ,
from clothing. It is always convenient, I
and an ouuce kept in a tightly-corked I
vial will do a great amount in the cleaning
line. It is an important item to |
have it carefully labeled and kept where j
children cannot possibly reach it. Spir- j
its of tnrpentine will remove mk trom
thick fulled cloth and broadcloth, without
damaging the goods, For removing
wheel-grease or paint, either kerosene
oil or spirits of turpentine rubbed on
the spot and left a few minutes, then
washed off with hot soapsuds, will take ,
off the substance entirely. On goods
that will wash, apply lye soap to the
spots, after soaking a few minutes in
the kerosene or turpentinej and it will
rub out without any trouble. For paint
stains, clear boiling water, poured on
the spot, will, with a slight rinsing, remove
them entirely. For grass stains,
warm sweet milk to soak in a few minutes,
will take it all out; rinse in pure
| water. For leather stainB on hosiery,
| spirits of ammonia will be found very
j effectual."
How He Got the Sermon.
The Watchman tells this sermonRfcflftlinc
Kt.nrv nf fi vonntr mnn who strwid
before a presbytery in Scotland asking
ordination. Principal Robinson was
moderator. The young man was rigidly
examined, and asked to preach. The
examination and the sermon were both
satisfactory. The candidate retired,
and the moderator said : "I feel com
pelled to say that the sermon which the
young man has preached is not his own.
It is taken from an old volume of sermons
long out of print. Where he
found it I do not know. I supposed
the only copy of the volume to be found
was in my library, and thft candidate has
had no access to that." The young man
was called in and asked if the sermon he
had preached, was his own. > "No," he
frankly said. " I was pressed for time,
and could not make a sermon in season.
The sermon I preached was one which
I heard Prinoipal Robinson preach some
time ago. I took notes of it. And liked
it so well that I wrote.it out frdpa memory,
and have pre&ohed: to-day."
A Corsican Custom.
The Corsican vendetta is the theme
of an interesting article in the Paris
Temps. There are two sorts of vendetta
?the direct (as the eon avenging his
father or the brother his brother or sister),
and the indirect or transversal,
where the fend is kept np by distant relatives.
So long as there remains one
member of the two contending families
the field is open to reprisal. One writer
estimates that in thirty years 30,000 men
were sacrificed to this barbarous custom;
another places the murders between
1369 and 1715 at 300,000. A report to
the council-general in 1852 stated that
since 1821 nearly five thousand assassinations
had ocourred in that island, and
the situation was so serious that Prince
Bonaparte w.is the only person in the
island allowed by law to carry a gun.
Toward the end?of the second empire
the prohibition was removed, and the
vendetta broke out again wiih renewed
force and barbarity, the murderers being
absolved and even encouraged by public
opinion. If the man who falls leaves
an orphan in the cradle, hiB wife or sftter
will keep for twenty years his bloodstained
olothiflg to nerve the orphan's
arm. The most crushing reproach that
can be afforded to a Oorsican is to have
failed in his obligation. In the middle
ages any one who backed out was tined,
and if he remained contumacious for a
week, banished. In 1581 the person
guilty of rimbeccare had his tongue
slit. Sometimes the quarrel extended
to villages. From 1815 to 1848 the RocaSeras
and Ortolis of the village of Sarsene
had their houses loop-holed like
fortresses, and at timeB their inhabitants
would have to stand a siege for months,
when the man who ventured to the window
or opened the door was likely to be
potted from the premises opposite.
Not long ago a priest, who never ventured
out save with his gun on his
shouliier and accompanied by his armed
sexton, was shot dead at mass by his
enemy, who was hidden in the oonfessional.
The eminent Paoli studied during
the last century in a darkened room,
where the window shutters were lined
with cork. He was besieged in a convent
in 1756 by his enemies, and wonld
have been killed had not the mother of
another foe sent her son, Thomas Cannoni,
to his rescue, sacrificing her hatred
to her pattiotism. In 1794, Andrea
Romanetti shot dead during the carnival
festivities the son of Marrianna Pozzo
de Borgo. The mother dressed herBelf
in male attire, and, with a posse of
friends, hunted the murderer so closely
that he offered to surrender if allowed
i--l- 1- A _ Al_ _ I
to C0D1688 nimeeu. sue toon mm tu
priest, knelt and prayed with him during
his shrift, then tied him to a tree,
and drew up her platoon, with their
(funs aimed at him, end suddenly relenting,
unbound and pardoned him. The
action lives in Corsican tradition, less
because of its generosity than for its
singularity. There are Parolanti, a
sort of peace-making magistrates, whose
province it is to arrange such feuds, and
their decisions once pronounced are
tisually obeyed; but a meeting for purposes
of reconciliation as frequently
widens and intensifies the quarrel. The
Dumber of men in a famiiy gives it an
importance greater than the amount of
wealth. Recently a young man declined
to marry a rich girl, preferring to wed a
poorer one who had " seventeen muskets
in the family"?i. e., seventeen male
relatives, who would be bound to defend
the new member of the household in an
emergency.
I
The Home Circle.
The long winter evenings are here,
and the question of family amusement
and recreation is therefore a practical
one. There are many ideas and opinions
what games it is wise and morally right
for children to play ; and on these and
kindred points, people of equal intelligence
and goodness will differ. But
upon one point there need be no difference,
and that in each family there
Bhould be some sort of an entertainment
provided for the children. Books,
musio, cards, checkers, puzzles, not to
forget nut=cracking and apple-eating ;
take your pick, friends, according to
your conscience and the degree of ignorance
God has left you in ; but pick
some of them or invent something
11 J J-4.?
equally guuu tUJ tt uuty jrvu u vro w jviu f
children.
One of the very best games that can |
be introduced into a family of children
is chess playing. As a source of mental
discipline it belongs to the higher
branches of mathematics. The slowness
with which it must needs be played, if
it is played well, makes it a game that
lasts the evening oat, and often several
evenings. The chess-board and chessmen
are comparatively inexpensive.
Nearly every family can afford them.
And the best of all, perhaps, is the fact
that it oan be played in concert in a
family of four children; father and two
of the children taking one side, mother
and the other two children taking the
other side. After the tea things are
cleared away they can gather to the
table feeling that before them is a whole
evening's entertainment, of the highest
order. We have known a single game
played thus between six people?three
against three -where both sides were
equally matched, and as a result the
game was played cautionsly, to last three
successive evenings, and the excitement
and pleasure to grow stronger and keener
still, to the culminating checkmate.
Onfl of t,ho cood thincs in connection
with chess playing is, that it most be
played with the help of all the deliberative
faculties. Haste, impatience, reckless
smartness will easily be brought to
recognize themselves in their true light
at the chess-table. The reckless and
hot-headed player will soon be taught
to realize what a fool his impatience
makes of him. I f there is anything that
can put the brakes on feverishnees, and
teach a wagging tongue the admirable
art of reticenco, it is the discipline of
this magnificent game. The game is
readily understood ia its rudiments, and
haa this further excellent quality about
it, that it never "wears out," as the
saying is.?Qolden Rule.
A Complicated Case.
Herr Bohren lived in Switzerland and
married him a wife. He afterward left
both her and his native land and came
to this country. The wife heard nothing
from him until word came that he was i
dead. She then married Herr Zumbrunn.
But a few weeks ago Herr Bohren re-1
turned and claimed her for his wife.
By the law of that country it was not
perfectly clear whether she was his wife
or Herr Zumbrunn's. Herr Zumbrnnn
refused to give her up, and she refused
to go. A lawsuit wns begun, but,
while it was in progress, Herr Bohren
armed himself with a pistol and shot the
second husband in the arm and chest,
wounding him seriously. Thus a curious
situation may arise. A civil court
is engaged in ascertaining to which of
these two men this woman is legally
wedded, and a oriminal court will be
occupied with the trial of her first husband
for the attempted murder of her
second. In the event of her being declared
the wife of Bohren, and if, as is
likely enough, he should bo condemned.,
to imprisonment for life, she will bej&j
the unfortunate position of having m/k
her second husband, and found Ler wMkl
only to lose him, and without pos^bg
FOR THE FAIR SEX.
Fashion Note*.
| Slate-colored bine is the new shade
for gloves, ribbons and silks.
New fans are painted with figures f
only ; flowers are ont of style.
New vails are of black thread net, and <]
look as if they had been dipped in gold j
dust. j
Square silk handkerchiefs are worn f
around the ncck outside the cloak this a
winter. t
Plain satin is in great demand for s
dresses, and when used with striped
velvet is very handsome.
Velvet and silk are no longer combin- ?
ed in one co?tume ; satin is used with
the silk, and worsted material with v
velvet.
The fashionable street glove is of v
brown undressed kid. Embroidery on
gloves is pronounced to be in bad taste. e
Dogskin, which has long been in favor c
in England, is gradually ooming into 0
use here. p
The newest slippers have one broad t
strap crossing the instep and buttoning s
on the outer side of the foot with one c
button. Other slippers have duchesse
bows of ribbon which entirely cover the
instep. ^
Keys and snakes are just now the a
favorite designs for jewelry; it would be
rather hard to tell why. A fan chate- n
laine is a t nake which coils around the 0
waist, and being pliable, hangs down at ti
the side in very unpleasantly Bugges- d
tive twists ; while earrings in plain dull Cl
gold represent a look with the tiny key jj
of gold. ti
Amber is very fashionable. Amber g
i balls are used as earrings, or several cut
amber beads are strung together to form
pendent earrings. Out glass beads in o:
amber color are used to form a network a
to trim white evening bonnets, for orna- ^
ments in the shape of butterflies or "
flowers to be UBed with pheasant breasts fl
on white bonnets. f"
it
Lady Doctors In Rnatla.
The emperor of Kussia being an autocrat,
has a right to lay down the law a]
on that, as upon other social difficulties. ^
Not long ago he granted a oharter to a
university for women, which has sue- w
ceeded so far that the Russian war
minister has now under his official consideration
a plan for training lady tt
doctors for the ozar's vast armies. It p
is stated that, during the terrible war
of 1877, actual demonstration was given si
of the utter disability of the regular cl
(male) medical staff to cope with the fc
enormous number of sick and wounded, fc
Instead of commissioning an increased cj
number of dootors, it is recommended cl
to emDlov doctresses to the required ex- | ai
tent. With the least possible delay, so tl
the czar's command is understood to bi
ran, medical and surgical classes are to s|
be immediately established in Bt. si
Petersburg for the instruction of female b!
medical students, who, on the comple- et
tion of their term of knowledge-winning ai
(so the German phrase puts it) will be tl
regularly commissioned and attached to E
the army. If this be properly carried pi
out, the czar will be very popular?with ti
the ladies.? Philadelphia Press. w
A Sorry Fellow. ^
Girls, will you listen to a few words
of advice ? Do not marry if you cannot is
find a suitable husband, for a bad bus- jE
band is infinitely worse than none, cf
Never marry a fellow who is ashamed to tc
carry a small bundle ; who lies in bed fr
until breakfast, and until his father has k<
opened his shop or office, and swept it
out; who frequents taverns, bowling a
saloons, prize fights, etc.; who owes his a
tailor, shoemaker, washerwoman, jewel- L
er, barber, printer and landlady, and <]<
never pays hia debts; who is always T
talking about his acquaintances, and d:
condemning them; whose tongue is jr
always running about nonsense; who s<
thinks he is the greatest man in the ei
neighborhood, and yet whom every one ol
despises and shuns. We say never [e
marry a feLow with all or any of these b
qualifications, no matter how handsome e<
he is, or how agreeable he can make w
himself on occasion. He will make a si
bad husband.? Lady's Journal. h
b
Oplom. ^
Opium is the dried juice of the poppy. 01
I It is prepared in Asia Minor, Turkey, s(
Egypt and India, in which country the p
j poppy is cultivated for the exclusive fc
purpose of making opium. It forms a ai
I staple commodity of many provinces in
i India, in which the following is the
mode of treatment commonly used. It
is an object of careful attention to keep 01
the plants at a due distance from each P
other. If the seed happens to be thick- a]
ly sown, some of the young plants are P
{julled up and used as pot-herbs, the "
eaves of which when boiled have a flavor
of peas ; but when they have attain- 111
ed eighteen inches in height, they are .
unfit for that use from their intoxicating
nature. The plant flowers in February J1
and the opium is extracted in March "
or April, according to the period of sow- 01
ing. When the flowers have fallen and P1
the capsules assume a whitish color, P.(
four or five incisions are made in them n
with a three-toothed instrument which 7.'
is drawn from the top to the bottom- ?
The incisions are always made in the
evening, as the night-dews, by their
moisture, favor the exhalation of the 11
juice, and the opium is gathered fnext ni
morning. The wounds in oach capsule
are repeated for three successive days,
and in general, fifteen days suffice to tc
gather all the opium in a field. From jj(
the incisions a milky juioo exudes, which
thickens upon exposure to the air, and _
is carefully scraped off with a shell, or jj.
a small iron instrument previously dipin
nil Tf. in afterward worked in
an iron pot in the heat of the snn, until ^
it is of a consistency to be formed into jj
thick cakes of about four pounds weight.
They are then covered with the leaves a
of the poppy or some other vegetable to jc
prevent them sticking together, and in a]
this condition they are dried and packed ^
away for exportation. ^
i ei
Revised Cook-Boob. p
Sea Bass?A bald-headed trombone j
player in a brass band. ' ft
Indian Maize?United States troops j
advancing on Sitting Bull. j "
Hard Bake?Place your pastry in a ^
hot oven and forget all about it. ^
Open Tarts?Insert your knife care- w
fully aDd lift up the upper crust. c.c
Jam Tarts?Place your tarts in the tl
hinge of the door and close briskly. p
Honey Drops?Place your honey in a ir
colander and watch the effect from beneath.
~
Corn Dodger?Husking for red ears jj
to get a kiss. See if yon can make the ^
corn dodge her. jg
To Collar Beef?Watch your oppor- 8i
tunity, snatch up briskly, and carry jj
home under your coat.
Preserved Pears?Two couple of a vi
fifty-five years' vintage " sitting alone
on the sofa at night."
Sausage Roil?Carry your sausage
carefully to jbe^op of the nearest hill p
- ^flrst ingredient o
FOB TIIE YOUNG PEOPLE.
Christmas Gifts lor 8mali Hands.
RUSTIC EASEL,
This pretty, simple littlejornament 1
i bracket or mantel is made of sev
wigs or branches abont the same sia
ind covered with gray bark and moi
Che two nprights should be about eig
nches in length, and the two crc
rieces for top and bottom six. The r?
or the picture should only extend as t
a the frame crosses?not project li
he cross pieces. Another twig makei
upport, and is tacked to a strip abo
wo-thirds of the way up on the bac
Hue upon them, when fastened togeth
irmly with beads, bits of moss, tii
ones, sheila, beeohnuts and the se
'essels oi the maple that look, aft
>eing exposed to the sun and rain i
ummer, like some kind of a dainti
pinged insect.
Supporting a picture?one of Prang
xquisite bits of forest or meadowlump
of woodland violets, or a bum
f bright-faced ox-eye daisies?this sii
tie, easily-made ornament might be usi
carry sunshine to many a chamber
ickness, or home of poverty and di
ouragement,
TBEPOD
f the same material is easily arrange
y using three twigs of the same si:
nd length, fastened near the top by
it of wire, and ornamented in the san
lanner as the easel. From the cent
f this is suspended, by a silver wire,
iny basket of moss, or a small gla
ish for cut flowers. Sprays of the de]
ate smilax or poet's ivy will keep fret
1 the water for weeks, and may I
rained about the mossy twigs wil
raceful effect.
CORNER BRACKETS
f this same rustio work are very pretl
ad easy to make, as you have only 1
lake a triangular frame of the twigs I
t the corner of your room. Then tac
few pieces across to make the shel
ad exercise your own taste and ingem
y in making a fanciful top and bottoi
I the same. Drape it with the lonj
ray moss with which our pine foresl
re filled, and you hav?, if tasteful]
rraDged, one of the prettiest brackel
) be found.
For the special benefit of the girls, ^
ill try to describe one of the daintiei
HANDKERCHIEF OASES
lat we have ever seen, as simple as it i
retty.
Cover a piece of stiff pasteboard, aboi
x inches square, with common whlf
oth, wadded upon the upper side t
irm the bottom of the case. Then cr
>ur pieces of white or silver perforate
irdboard, each in the form of a half ci:
e, five inches long on the straight edgi
id two and a half at the center. Lin
tese with bright-colored silk, an
Ind with a narrow ribbon of the sam
lade?this is for the cover. For th
des, a yard of ribbon five inches wid
lould be gathered at both edges. On
Ige is sewed to the bottom of the cas<
id the other to the straight edges c
le four pieces designed for the cove:
ach of the cardboard flaps must have
iece of ribbon sewed to the center t
e them together in pairs, and if yo
ish it more elaborate a quilling of rit
on may be Bewed about the flaps ov?
ie binding.
A TABLE-LINEN BASKET
something that any girl with commo
igenuity and taste can make, and whic
innot fail to be an acceptable presei
> her mother or the yonng marrie
iend who has "juBt gone to hous<
eeping."
Secure a large box for basket, two an
half feet long, twenty inches wide an
foot deep, made of bookbinders' boar*'
line Hub with pint camoric over a wac
ed bottom scented with sachet-powdei
hen cover the outside with bands of wid
ress braid?green and white?wove
i and out like basket-work. The gree
juares should be crossed with whit
mbroidtry cotton; and butterfly bow
f green ribbon are used to hide tb
istenings of the cover, as well as tb
atton and elastic with which it is seem
I. For the top, crochet a cover c
hite tidy cotton, which, after bein
retched and tacked over the top, shoul
e stiffened with thiok boiled starch rul
ed over the surface. When dry
lould have several coatings of sheila*
hich will make it look like bamboo. ]
m be washed as easily as cane whe
)iled or dusty. This basket should 1
laced on the sideboard or dining tabli
>r the accommodation of the table-clot
ad napkins in use each day.
cloth cleaner.
Here is something for the very lifct]
aes to make, which, if not particalarl
retty or fanciful, in bo useful that pap
ad the big brothers will be sure to aj
reciate it, even more, perhaps, tha
ley do the embroidered slippers an
noking caps that the grown-up girl
ave taken so much pains to make.
Boll a straight strip of black clot
>ur inches wide, over and over, ver
ghtly, till you have a roll about a
lick as your wrist. Then sew the edg
?er and over very firmly, and with
air of sharp scissors trim the ends oi
srfeotly smooth. Sew a loop or larg
ng at one end to hang it up by, am
ju have one of the nicest things h
ean gentlemen's clothes with that cai
9 found. Dip the end in a little am
onia and water, and you will find tha
removes spots as by magio, leaving
0 lint or specks h?ind.
For the little knitters there are
knitted napkin-holders
1 keep the baby's napkin in place, abon
er chubby neck.
Oast on ten stitches in blue worste<
knit six times across in garter stitch
len knit four in blue, two in white am
ie remaining four in blue. Next tim
iross on the right side, knit four i
hite, and so on, increasing two eac]
me, until the whole ten are white, the
screase in the same ratio, thus makin
white diamond on a blue ground. Kni
inr times across between, of the blut
-J onnHiai. ^iamrmrl Anrl nr? n
iU II1C5U aUVVUVA ?
atil the band is as long as you wish il
line with bine silk, and finish at th
ids with the clasps sold for that pui
ose.
A SHAVING-BOOK
>r papa is easily made, if one of th
[der ones will cut a heart-shaped pal
srn for the little fingers to use as
aide.
Oat two pieoes for the outside <
lick white or tinted paper, leaving
hole space of an inch at the top, thr
jnnecting the two parts. Ornamer
le outside of eaoh with a pretty colore
ictnre; then, with a small pinkinj
on, pink all about the edges, not onl
I the covers, but of a dozen leaves <
ifferent colored tisane paper, that, ct
y the same pattern, are to be faBtene
iside by a ribbon that, passing beneat
le whole space left at the top of eacl
i tied in a bow, leaving a long loop 1
ispend it conveniently near the dresi
lg-case in its owner's room.
There are few things that the bat
onld enjoy more than an
INDESTRUCTIBLE FIOTUBE-BOOK,
ad all the family can club togethe
ad find rare fun in the making of il
'rocure of thick undressed can
rio a yard eaoh of pink and gray. Ct
ut the leaves for your book of the su
bat you wish them to be, and work tl
a pink and gray leaf to suit him or hei
self, with pictures of animals, birds
people, flowers?anything and everj
thing that will be likely to please th
!qt eye of the household pet. Sew ther
en together when completed, and faste
,e them inside a cover made of thre
thicknesses of the cambric pasted neal
kj ly together. Tie it at the back with
m bit of pink ribbon, and you have
!8t book that the most " destructive " bab;
'ar that ever lived will find it next to im
ke possible to destroy.?Oof den Hour a.
9 & '
_j. Brains' Worth Once and Now.
Ul/ - ? k.
'Milton received $26 for "Paradip
er Lost." Pope received 810,000 for hi
ay translation of Homer, by the popula
ed mode of subscription. Tennyson wa
er paid $65,000 down and $15,000 a yea
ill to write exclusively for Strahan. Som
ly years ago Mr. Bonner, of the Ledger
paid Tennyson $5,000 fora single poem
l's Edgar Allen Poe received $10 for " Th
-a Raven," his most famous poem. Di
uh Holland has been paid $12,000 for hi
n- " Bitter-Sweet," about $8,000 for " Ks
ad trina," $5,000 for " Tbe Mistress of th
of Manse." Dean 8wift was paid $1,50
is- for " Gulliver's Travels"TbeVica
of Wakefield " brought Goldsmith $300
Dr. Johnson was paid $500 for " Raa
- selas." Fielding" received $5,000 fo
" Amelia," which is said to have beei
ze "the only work published in Eaglarn
a of which a second edition was called fo:
*?- on the evening of the day on which th<
er first was issued." George Eliot is saic
a to have received $50,000 for " Danie
p8 Deronda." Mrs. Radcliff was pau
V $2,500 for " The Mysteries of Udolpho.'
and Miriam Ooles Harris made $8,00(
Jr out of "Ratlege." Augusta Evam
Wilson, the author of " Beulah," hai
made $100,000 in eight years ont of he:
'novels. Fielding received $3,000 foi
;y "Tom Jones." and Mrs. Mary Agnei
? Flemming $6,000 for "A Wonderfu1
Woman." Hawkesworthwas paid $30,'
,ir 000 for his account of " The South 8e?
jf* Expedition." and Stanley haa already
j! received 850,000 for "Through th<
rjj Dark Continent." Murray paid Byror
* 8"15,000 for his poetical works. 8h
ta Walter Scott made 8259,000 by hit
[? novels. Dickens received 815.000 foi
^ the oopyright on "Barnaby Budge'
for six months; Goldsmith was paic
r6 8500 for his " Deserted Village." Brel
}t Harte received 810,000 for "Gabriel
Oonroy." Charles Lamb contracted t<
write for two years for the Londor,
18 Magazine for 8850?not that much ?
year, but that much for the two. Brel
" Harte contracted to write for James R,
16 Osgood & Co. for 818,000 for one year,
? if I am not mistaken. Let us look a!
the remuneration of play-rights,
" 8hakspeare got 825 for "Hamlet.'
r" Boucicault received 8150,000 for " Th(
9 Shaughraun." Ben Jonson receivec
| 855 for " The Page of Plymouth;" Brel
Harte received 86.000 for " Two Met
6 of Sandy Bar." Gray received 87,55(
6 out of "The Beggar's Opera," whicb
6 was one of the most successful piecei
e ever produced; while Rioh, the mana
ger, made 820,000. Thomas Heywooc
" received 815 for " A Woman Killed witl
r* Kindness." H. J. Byron receivec
a 85,000 for the American right to " Ouj
? Boys." And so it goes. Literary re
u muneration is better nowadays thai
' when Jonson lived in the garret ii
)r Grubb street.
An Artrnl Rascal.
A unique and thorough rascal hat
? lately been on trial in a Brussels court,
h His name is Eugene T'Kindt Roodo
if i l?-1- ~ - ????? tttIia fain vaari
"" UtJUiiC, U J\JUJJg uiwi nuu u ?v/T. jw?..
" ago started in life as a clerk in the Banl
*" of Belgium. The crime he is chargec
with is having embezzled or stolen n(
? less than 84,600,000. He had not beer
d loDg in the bank before he found a weal
spot iu its system. When securitiei
were deposited there no accurate not*
r* was taken so as to enable them in eacl
6 case to be exactly identified with th<
n names of the owners. It is related ii
n the Telegraph (London) that this young
e man, with a salary of 3800 a year, hac
8 sole charge of these securities, amount
6 ing in value to many million poundf
6 sterling. When he wanted money, h<
r" merely took scrip or any valaable secur
ity deposited in the bank. When a de
8 positor asked for the delivery of sorip,
" ne blandly handed him scrip similar ir
?* kind and amount that had been deposit
" ed by somebody elBe. As nobody tool
'? note of the numbers of their shares, anc
^ as the bank kept no record of anything
n but their amounts, nobody knew or
16 withdrawing his property that what h<
got was not identical with what he had
k lodged. One day tho bank was startled
by an eminent financier who complained
that 1,358 shares of railroad stock be>
1- longing to bim, the numbers of which
1 - 1 1.?J mfhnnf. Iti'a lrnnnyl.
lie uau UUteu, uau, n?uvu.
* edge, been taken from the bank and deposited
in another establishment ol
^ which he was a director. Bnttbe young
j clerk managed to recover the shares and
> retnrn them to the financier as if nothing
had been wrong in tbe transaction.
So^woSjdid he defend himself before the
directors and so artfully dwell on the
^ recbrd of the bank, that instead of having
his accounts examined he was ac?
a corded a vote of thanks. But he did
not deem it wise to remain in the bank,
0 and took flight, intending to come to
3 New York. At Liverpool be was cap0
tared with 81,600,000 of other people's
a money in his carpet bag. It never occurred
to his worthy chief, remarks the
1 Telegraph, as odd that a clerk with
8800 a year could live like a lord and
? eDjoy life with the prodigality of a
prince; that he could have a town house,
a rural villa, a picture gallery, a box at
the opera, a racing stable, and all sorts
t of expensive lnxnries. Belgium is a
cheap place to live in, and his chief
3 seems to have thought that his clerk had
if a genius for thrift, aud could make the
j income of a beggar go as far as the revee
nue of a king.
? Words of Wisdom.
a We become familiar with the outsidef
g of men as with the outsides of houses,
it and think we know them, while we are
)f really ignorant of all that passes withir
u them.
t. As when we are in prosperity wo art
e ready to think our mountain will nevei
r. be brought low, so when we are in adversity
we are ready to think our vallej
will never be filled up.
Honest and courageous people hav<
A ?aa-o ahnnt AlfftAr fllAlP fWir,
j YCijr HtllD VK' atmj MVWV*. ?
| age or their honesty. The sun has n<
a i need to boast of his brightness, nor th<
| moon of her effulgence.
j It is when oar budding hopes ar<
a ) nipped beyond recovery by 6ome rougl
l? wind, that ye are the most disposed t<
^ pioture to ourselves what flowers the;
** might have borneif they had flourished
Every man takes care that his neigh
y bor shall not cheat him. But a da;
>1 comes when he begins to care that hi
does not cheat his neighbor or himself
'j* Then all goes well. He has cbange<
111 his market-cart into a chariot of th
sun.
? The recognition of virtue is not les
8" valuable from the lips of the man wh<
hates it, since truth forces him to ac
^ * J? 2L * 4U/mt/yU Ua mni? Vv
> Kuowieugu n; uuu
I unwilling to take it into his inmost soul
j he at least decks himself out in ita trap
r, pin(?s.
;; Gratitude is the fairest blossom whic]
i- springs from the aonl, and the heart o
it man knoweth none more fragrant
:e While its opponent, ingratitude, is
ie deadly weed, not only poisonous in it
le self, the very atmc
I passed a pretty cdtaje on my homeuPMMH^B
path one night, '^H|
6 And its windows flowed like cryatal In
n mellow evening light; UMG
D And between the crimson curtains stood airJj^H
,e infant bright and fair,
a With my own dead darling's hazel eyes ao&|fllEJ
a waving, sun tipped hair.
J I paused to gaze npon him, and my heart wtl ^HHj
l" filled with woe
At thought of my dear one lying 'neath tht.g^H
winter's frost and snow ;
And I longed to kiss the sveet lips
;e pressed against the pane, J9H
? Pnr sakfi of tViA hnrinri 'nahv-lina that I MM
,r shall kiss again.
'8 MB
r Ob, babies with happy faces, and ejM
e tender and trne, H
*, May Qod in Hia mercy guide^you life's derlou*v|fl^H
L windings through! IB
e May never a shadow of sorrow, and never a &BH
thought of guile, H
8 Chase the angel-light from your sunny ?yea, :nH
? nor darken your baby-smile! gj
r Items of Interest. '
A muddy country road is something ~^9H
to add mire. 10
T Sleight of hand?Refusing a changyflggj
j ing young lady. fiB
r A bouquet is a good soent-pieoe
E the dinner-table.
1 Sunflowers originally came from Pani^jj fl
1 and were a sacred emblem with tajM n
1 devout. JH
The highest navigable water on flrfMal 9fe
) oontinent is Chatauqua lake, Kev^ M
? It is claimed that paper barrels can ;'i H
be made for one-third the ooet of good :JfWB
wooden flour barrels. B
"Do fishes go crazy?" Is a oonun->| x9
dram proposed by Seth Green. Sonte* ^^H
times they get in seine.
Students flnd_ it easier to graduate..'? B
from college tban to graduate eitfatepg ISI
their appetites or petty expenses. . % H
" A 'tie wbioh is all a lie
Can be met and foa?ht with outright; oH
Bat a lie whioh is half a lie
Is a harder matter to fight." :
The Parisians have introduced M
umbrellas. They'll be just as bad
the other kind?never 'round when
The heat of the earth increases rapidly '<%|jB
as we descend into its depths. At 4,QC0
feet deep the temperature is 105 degrees
Fahrenheit. M
The repartee of a mule is said to he | fl
un equaled, and the way to draw him .9
out is by pulling out one little hair; / ; B
from the tip-end of iiifl stumpy tail, % B
Chan Put Nam is the name of the fgH
Chinese consul general who is to watAyK B
over the interests of his countrymen in B
California. He is no relative to old '; B
Tsrafll Pnt Nam. -
3 Aunt Prudenoe, in the Palaaki Demo.
orat, Bays: There is not a particle of 9
1 satisfaction in telling a man he i* ir
2 liar; for if he is he knows it, and if lie
| isn't who does the lying?
i The first time we ever ran for offioe $
we were beateu. It was while we were B
i serving as "devil," and our employer ;
i fonnd us playing marbles, and caughtue : fl
before we reached the office. We were > :.'hB
beaten badly, too.?Oowanda EnterA
German paper asserts that prussfo >J?
acid only causes suspension of life afr'JSM
first, and that one who takes it can be- 5
restored to animation by the pouring of
acetate of potash and salt, dissolved in
water, on the head and spine. Babbits
have been so recovered. 9
The magnificent recreation ground of .
Epping Forest, 6,000 acres of green- '.'>39
sward and noble timber, within half an . n
hour's rail of the poorest districts of
London, is now secured to her citizens forever,
mainly tlirongh the public I
spirit of the corporation. 9
Three hundred and forty distinct 8
species of humming birds have been fl
classified. These little feathered creatores
are found only in America and its
islands. These are humming, birds > irW
which, when stripped of their fea^n^WPV
are no arger than a humble bee. I
i A rod of bnckworK is 'ZTJ snpernciai
feet, one and a half bricks thick, or y $
c 4,850 bricks average work. One yard H
I of paving is thirty-six bricks flat, or
; fifty-two on edge. There are 884 bricks ^2
t to a cubic yard, and 1,C00 bricks closely
' stacked occnpy about fifty-five cubux ,5h3
1 feet ?
TBAcia or HrrcHiKo.
1 "Suppose," said he. in accent* aoft, '\~i
" A felloe, jaflt like me - . s
Should axle little girl to wed?.
What woald the answer b? ?"
The maiden drops her liquid eyes?
Her smiles with blashen mingle?
" Why seek the bridle halter When
Yon may live on, Sur, cingle ?" ' * .
' ' >
And then he spoke?"Oh, be my bride," V"
I a*k you once again ; - * "*
You are the empress of my soul, .* %
And there ahall ever rein. ? f"'
" I'll never tiro of kindly deedn . . .
To win your gentle heart, / .
An/1 uorMh* fha uhftff thufc TftTldl
Our happy lives apart!"
* *\ *'
Upon her cheek the maiden felt * v
The mautlin g blushes glow? .1
She took him for her faithful hub? ' S a
To share hia wheel or whoa. vjfi
?M'Kean Miner. + ^
The Humming: of Telegraph Wires.
As to the cause of the sounds frequently
heard to proceed from telegraph
wires in the open air, it has been cus-\ , %
tomary to accept the wind?producing '
the sound by direct vibrations, similar to
those of the M >lian harp. A writer in
an Australian journal, however, calls at- ?
> tention to the fact that one who gms
close observation to both the wire and"
sounds will find that the latter maKfe
themselves obvious likewise when there . \
is a total absence of wind; and in u quiet
i morning in winter, when the wires ap- ? J,
pear covered with frost to the thickness
) of the finger, they nevertheless carry on -? * >
i lively vibrations and swinging, while the
air is totally quiet. According to this ?
) writer, therefore, the vibrationp are due, :>#
: not to the wind, but to the cnanges of
atmospheric temperature, and especi'
ally through the action of cold, as a
lowering of the temperature induoes
) shortening of the wires, extending over +.,
11 - 1 1 ' *' IUA AAn/ln/i^nr A .
Tiio wnoie jengm ux iuc uuiiuuuw^* ?
) considerable amount of friction is pro- ,-\i
3 daoed on the supporting bells, thus in- I
dnoing sound both in the wires and the1'
3 poles. "y Y|
3 - That's So. ? .^sal
p The turkey is possessed of one gis- fiS
. zard, though sometimes it has been * ^
- known to have two, and in rare instanoAg A
j three. This is accounted for on scien- ;
b tifio grounds, as follows :
1. The aggregation of bioplastic germs
I evidence an irresistible tendency to cor- v
e rellate their molecules in inverse ratio* * -J
tc the capillary processed of differentia- .
s tion. *
o 2. This differentiation, when interi
sociated with diatomic depl'logistication, , *
e tends indubitably *to atrophio degenera,
tion. Hence :
3. The formative processes are contraacted
upon by the abnormal retardation
a of the bathybianprotozoa; which *'
f 4. Oircnmlocates and re-evolves in
- polyformons superficies the corpuscles
a in indurated and semi-gelatinous matter,
its functional attributes rehabilitated;