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1 SETS DEERE BHU8T DEB 8AXEL BY JAWCOB STHAUE8. Old JEeop -wrote a fable, vonce, Aboudt a boastful bare, Who say, "Vhen dhere vas racing, You can alvays find me dhere Und bow a tortoise raced init him Und shtopped hees leedlegame, Und say: "Eef I don'ed been bo ebbry I gets dhere shust der same 1" The girl dot makes goot beeekiti, Ut;d can vas > und iron dings, Maybe don'd been so lofely As dot girl mit dimondt rings; Budt vhen a vife vas vanted, Who vas id dot's to blame, Eef pot girl midoudt der sbewels Should get dhere shust der some? Dot vas der cases efer rwbere, In bolidics und rade; By ber->biration off der brow Vas how soocksoss vas made A man, somediine, m y Bhtrike id rich, Und get renown und fame; Budt dot bsrebiration feller, too, Be gets dhere shust der samel Der man dot leafes hees beesnis Und hangs roundt "bucket shops," To make den tollars oudt oil von, Von grain and oil 6tock drops, May go a ay from dhere, somedime, Mooch boorer as he came; "Der mills off God grind Bhlowlv"? Budt dhey igetslohere shust der samel . Dhcn nefer mindt dhose mushroom schape Dot shpriDg oup in a day, Dhose ronuda'ioiis dhev vas made By vork, und not by blay; Bbust poot yoar shoulder to der vheel Eof you vould vin a name? Und eef der Vhite House vants you? You'll get dhere ahust der same I I Lost Lina; -OR,THE BITTER AND THE SWEET. A. Tale of Two Continents. a? i BY MRS. NINA LAWSON. <' - CHAPTER V.?[Continued] As Lina spoke she sprang from the bunch of straw to the heartless woman's fide, and pressed the large, rough hands in her cold, soft, trembling pplms, and, gazing straight in the eyes j 1 x .1. - M . oi ner capwjra, sllu hhiu . "Will you not please be a little considerate and treat me as you would want to be treated were you in my El ace? Can you not open your heart a ttle and do something for me?" Mrs. King, for that was her name, gruffly answered : "No!" And with a dark frown on her brow, roughly pushed the pale, pleading girl from her. She was but a paid tool of Swarthy Jim's, aad if she should now allow her fair prisoner to escape, she would not "T"" receive her money. Poor little Lina had dene all she could to obtain her release, for she knew she could not unfasten the dcor, neither could she get through the heavy stone walls. "Oh, H( avenly Father, the only father I have ever known, will you not look down in mcrcy on me now." And turning with tear-stained face to her foe, she said: "You seem heartless, for you will not even tell me why I am so cruelly imprisoned here. You must be like the wicked persons I have read of In books, vet I did not think snch neo plo existed. Oh! please relent land | free me." 1 Sut Mrs. King was silent and unmoved. In utter despair Lina threw herself upon the hard straw bed, while low, deep sobs of agony broke from her lips. The poor, helpless girl laj there for some time; the sobs had ceased, but occasionally a deep moan would sound through the room. "Oh! What can I do? What shall I do? What have I done, to be so cruelly treated? "Mamma! My dear angel mamma! Can you not see me now, and do you not know I am in trouble ? "Oh, why was she taken from me, for I need her every hour of my life! What will my poor aunt and uncle think when I do not come home ? Oh, why nave tnev Drougni me iiere.' i Know i nothing. " I am not rich, neither am I handsome." "Oh, yes, my becity! but there you are mistaken; for > are handsomebeautiful beyond description. "There is nothing in this vide world that is equal to your lovely face and form." The voicc continued: "I have traveled the world over; paid mv court to queens and princesses; but they, in all their grandeur, could not compare to your strange, bewitching loveliness." Lina still lay on her bed, trembling like a leaf in a tempest, with her face buried in her bands; the tears had Ceased to flow, and she did not hear a!) "that -was said, for every particle of hei now shCCi with lear. Sne was afraid to move, to look tip, | for she knew that a man stood in front ! of her. "What shall I do? I am powerless to escape, but I will not be insulted bj that coward in this manner." Like an arrow from a bow she sprang np from her crouching position and confronted her foe with angry, flashing eyes. "Who are you, and what do yon mean by insulting me in this manner? Why have you brought me to this miserable place, and held me here a prisoner? You are a coward and a thief!'1 Lina's hot, angry b.'eatli fanned the cheek of the man in front of her, who had now become silent, and a strange look of wonder and admiration lighted up his dark, sparkling eyes. This man was none other than Swarthy Jim, the rag peddler, whom Lina had so often seen, but now she did not know him. ror some reason or otber the bump on his back, that all supposed a gift of nature, had disappeared; so also had the long, shaggy beard and rough, uncombed hair. The man that now stood before her was tall, muscular and handsome, with a heavy, dark, silken mustache and a rich complexion. This strange man's eyes were dark and passionate, yet firm and expressive. A dark shadow crossed his handsome faoe as Lina confronted him in the fearless manner that she did, yet he had not yet answered her qjuestion. "If you dare lay claim to the title of gentleman, answer me, sir I" The baffled man mentally remarked: MAh! you arc shrewd, and I thought you knew nothing. I plainly see you are more than a mere country lais; but, thank fortune, you are in my power, and I am a lucky dog." For a few moments the two stood facing each other. A light of a terrible jlread and fear of the man in front of fier shone in Lina:s eyes, while Jim's were bright with admiration. The spell was broken by the excited man, for he advanced a step toward Jam with extended hand and parted lips. .._"J)on'tyou dare touch me; yog axe I not a gentleman, ana cannot ten me why I am so cruelly detained here." Instantly her persecutor saw that he was not pursuing the right course, and that he ought not to have spoken as he did. He therefore changed his manner altogether. "I beg your pardon, Miss," bowing very low;. "I did not intend to insult you, neither do I intend to hurt you in any way; and, since you insist upon knowing why I brought you here, it is because I love you; and why I am keeping you here is because I want you to become my wife. I can give you all that money can buy; I can make you happy, and shall live and die for you. Will vou not consint?" ".No; 1 could not smne upon you were it to save your life! No; I will never be your wife, for I hate you. I would prefer death upon the gallows to such an awful fate." Lina -was gasping for breath, i\nd was pale, like death, from fright, as the realized the horror of her position. "Madam, you will repent of those words eome day." "Never, sir, while 1 live." "We will see about that, you peerlees beauty. You shall remain with me until yon do consent.'*? "No, sir; Lina Rice will never accept your hateful name." "Ah, now," thought Jim, "I will try another card if that won't work. "I presume that you are not aware, Miss, that if in the future you will not accept my name it will be advisable for vou to take some other name than Lina ftice, because you are now and shall be entirely in my power, and if you are known by that name you now have, anyone that had heard it before would, of course, recognize it and then inquire into the matter. I would tell them that you eloped with me and as yet it had not been convenient for me to marry you, but I intend to do so soon. You see you are powerless, and by accepting a different name there would be no danger of being disgraced. I will give you a name; a very beautiful and good one?Lenora Churchill. Isn't that beautiful?" TT/M?Tr TTTol 1 Till f T cllflll 1UO UlUliO uuc? not accept it. That is your name, no doubt." "No, it is not." "Well, what is it, then? If yon are going to make me a prisoner, I should like to know the jailer's name." He gazed in silent wonder at this queen of beauty, so young, so ignorant of this wicked world, yet so able to defend herself; so calm and brave. "You are silent; aren't you possessoi of a mind ? you are certainly not worthy of one." Still he gazed in silent wonder. Mrs. King readily sa-n that Jim scarcely knew how to answer, so she relieved him. il AT _ /1.1 "iUiss juenora, mis gentleman is ^oi. i Sylvester Noll; lie is your friend and you should trust him." "No, never! Colonel, is he ? I nevei saw one before, but have read of them. Those men -were not cowards, but he is. Colonel ? Yes, no doubt he hr?s a whole regiment of poor innocent prisoners like myself. God have mercy upon them if he has." Those few short hours of suffering and imprisonment 6eemed to change Lina from the timid little girl she had been into a brave, strong-hearted woman that was determined to help herself or die in the attempt. All was now silent in this gloomy underground prison; nothing could be heard but the cracking of the fire. Each one was busy with her own silent thoughts. "Oh, what can I do, what shall I do? One thing is certain, I shall be firm, and will never yield to him. There ;s some mystery back of all this. I will wait patiently and will watch. "If there is a possibility of my escaping, I shall do so. "I will then go back to my dear, dear home, where the only parents I have ever known are now searching and weeping for me. "Oh! this is too much! My Father in heaven, how can I bear this torture longer! Why will you not listen and set me free!" The tears were now fast falling from her great, beautiful eyes, down upon her soft, dimpled, trembling hands. As she looked down through hei tears, she caught a glimpse of a bright j sparkling ring upon her linger. It had been her mother's, and was very valuable. It was gold, with fifteen diamonds. As she saw this, a faint smile flitted across ner nanasome, tear stained face. "This ring is very valuable, so Uncle Cristo says, and as dearly as I love the memory of my mamma, yet I will offer this for my release." And she took it from her dainty white finger and pressed it to her lips. Then, looking at her captor, with t!iO?o great, sad, pleading eyc-s, she said: "Sir, this ring was once my mamma's, so an uncle of mine told me, and it is very valuable. "I love it dearly; it is the only tiling I have to remember her by, yet, as dearly as I love it, I will give it to you if you will but set me free." "No, Lenora, I can not do that. Itis not the ring I want, but it is your own beautiful self." "Oh! pity, mercy, please, dear Father!" she cried, with clasped hands and up-turned face, but her pleading 6eemcd all in vain. "I see you are entirely merciless; your heart is harder than the stones of this prison TYftlli" ">o. Mv heart is bleiiditig, bursting with pain for one sweet word, one 6mile from those rosy lips." Lina, like a broken lily, sank limp and lifeless to the floe# rihe saw there was no hope for i^eedom, and had given up in despair. CHAPTER XI. Noll turned to Mrs. King, with a somewhat disappointed look upon his /ace, as Lina fainted. "Take her, Mrs. King, and do all for her you can, but do not, on peril of your life, let her escape. We hare but little time now to get away from here. Unfortunately tney aro on our tracK, and I fear may discover us. I will go and prepare everything for departure, while you must restore that girl as much as possible. "Dress her in that long black dress that I brought yesterday, and veil lier closely. She must not bo recognized by any one in this vicinity or all i" lost. . member, TuIIy, warn lier to make no effort to escape, and to make no noise. "I am in fearful pain, and must get relief. One of those weak-minded, low, scheming farmers has shot mo in the arm. "I am now going to get a carriage, and will be on the main road about dark. You come to the end of the path ancTstart slowly on down the road. 1 will meet vou somewhere. ' *.' " - > ' V' * * ' '' 'T- ' ..." -.A;.... . ' _ . ? -.now, ?uiiy, you win rememDer am You know you get good pay if you help me out of this V" "Yes, sir, I will attend to everything. You need have no fears." Our reformed "Swarthy Jim" silently disappeared through the long, dark passage, and stealthily stole his way out of the thicket into the main road. A shrewder man than Sylvester Noll could seldom be fouud. He knew it would he poor policy for him, even after throwing off his disguise, to now go into Jonesborough for a carriage, so he prudently walked on to Anna- a small town but a mile from old Joneatx When he arrived at Anna he quickly sought a surgeon, and after concocting a plausible story, succeeded in getting his arm dressed. He then ordered a carriage and driver for the night, and as it waa growing dark they started immediately for Jonesborough. "You see, driver, I am in very much nf a linrrv fnr T wnnt to rfaeh Cobdett V* ~ ? for the midnight express. My wife and E have been visiting friends here in the country, and you must now quickly drive down after her. Here, this will payfyou for your trouble." And he handed the driver a crisp ten-dollar bill. "Thank ye, sir; I:*J get ye there in time, V0 bet." .Fortunately Tor iff oil, just as lie reacn- ! ed the path Mrs. King appeared, half carrying, half dragging the poor, beautiful little Lino. A gag was in her mouth. She had struggled and fought with her strong captor until she was entirely exhausted, and so weak that she could not walk. "Oh, cousin, how glad I am that it Is you! Your wife was so afraid that something had happsned to you, that you would be detained and we should then miss the train. She was determined to come and meet you, and, to save time, she insisted upon coming through this thicket. What a horrible mistake we have made; the snakes were so thick in there they kept hissing at us all the while, and it frightened her so that she has fainted." "WW Tnllv! Whv did vou allow it? But. I suppose you meant all right. She isn't hurt, I hope ?" "No; only she seems thoroughly exhausted. She is so frail, you know, that the least little fright causes her to faint." "Yee, it is too bad; I must take her to a doctor as soon as we get to Cobden. How fortunate you were in meeting me; we might have very easily missed each other, and then we should have been too late." The innocent coachman, presuming everything was nil right, was soon on his way to Cobden with his precious passengers. Ab they lifted the limp, weary form of the beautiful girl into the carriage a chloroformed handkerchief was placed to her nose, and she soon leaned back against the cushions as if dead. On they went, rattling over the stones, the hills and through the valleys until they reached old Cobden, a few moments only before the train was due. Lina had not made any trouble, for she was yet under the influence of the chloroform. As the cajriage stopped at tlie depot, tne wnistie oi tne train was heard in the distance. "Just in time, Mrs. King. Now raise her a little and in some way get her into the car without any fuss. "Then put that handkerchief to her nose again." "Very well; I shall get along all right." And she did. As the train pulled out the chuckling driver slowly left the depot, while Mrs. King was endeavoring to make little Lina as comfortable ?b possible in her berth. After Noll saw that everything was all right, he went on into ute smoker, where he remained most of the night. They reached Chicago safely early fchfl next moraine, where thev found a closed carriage waiting for them. [to 3e continued.] What is known as Leghorn utraw is raised on the hills which rise on each side of the rivers Pisa and Elsa, soutb of Florence, Italy. Its adaptability tc the uses to which it is destiued de pends principally on the soil on which it is sown, which soil, to all appear ances, exists only in this small district, out of the bounds of which the industry is unknown. Any variety oJ wheat which has a hollow, flexible stem can be used for seed. The soil must be tilled and prepared very much as it is for corn, but the seed is sowd five times as thick as is usual for othei purposes; this is done in the months of December or February. When the straw is full grown, and before the grain begins to form itself iu the ear. it is uprooted and firmly tied in sheaves the size of a handful. Each sheaf or menata, as it b called, if spread out in the shape of a fan tc dry in the sun for three days, after which it is stowed away in the barns The harvest being over and the field? empty, it is again spread out to catcb the heavy summer dews and to bleach in the sun, during which process it is carefully turned until all sides an equally white. Miss Martha Coyle, of Sharon. Pa., stopped the runaway horse o! David Xnnlfov father of the evangelist. and now comes into court at New Castle with a judgment note for $10,000, whici she says Mr. Sankey gave her as a re ward for risking her life to save hi* own. David Saul ey has been dead foi five years, and his family say this is th< first they ever knew of the existence of such a note. The throes of inventive genius have resulted in the birth of another scheme for utilizing the power of Niagara. 1 4 Jl'iic last projectexpiuin>ut:unioiuj>i".itv. transmitting the power of the falls to New York City through an electric cable about the size of a barrel, ancl at a roughly estimated cost of $15,000,000 a niilo fcr plant and operating expenses. The police rules of London forbid an ollicer to arrest a drunken person unless the latter is trying to do some one an injury, and it is not an uncom- j mon thing for an officer to have six or eiylit "drunks" asleep at interval! i along his beat. They may all sing, whistle o?- shout, but he canaofc arrest them. 7 . - V K v.- mIpleTugaE OLD-TIME AND PRESENT WAY OF MAKING THE SYRUP. The Sugaring Season in Vermont is the Farmers'Carnival Month ?Sugar Parties in the Woods. t SHORT time ago the youug and old of Vermont realized that sugar season was at hand, and the long looked for picnic was within their grasp. In this, like all others, things are not as they used to be. An age ago the farmer and his boys, in the fall of the year when the harvest was ended, would take their axes and hie to some hard-wooded locality well -i _ .1 i 1 nm/-1 loir niif fnr a srocsen wiui maj.ies mj .. spring campaign. Headquarters would be established near some mammoth rock; oft-times this was so located that it furnished shelter iu time of storm and gave a bed for the night. A plan of operations was then decided upon. Young trees about one and one-half feet in diameter were cut down, cut up about two feet in length, and then dug out, making troughs holding not far from four or five gallons. When 200 or 300 of these had been manufactured large maples were selected, and by the side of each was placed one of these troughs. Then a cord or two of wood was gathered and piled up against a rock, two big logs ?called back logs?were placed in position to support the kettle, and some large tree near by was cut down and that dug out into one immense trough for storage. This work would use up the best part of a week, one of the number goiDg home at night to look after the stock and bring j back in the morning tnc brown Dreaa, pork and beans. In those days these articles constituted the staff of life and an age ago there was no dyspepsia, chronic complaints, or loss of appetite among the averse Vermonter. To be sure they sometimes died, but died healthy. STARTING FOR THE WOODS. About the middle of March the old "five-pail kittle" was unearthed; the hand-aled which had been doing service all winter was ordered up; pork, beans, a few potatoes, and several loaves of homemade bread, with a few dozen of eggs, were gathered together, placed on the sled, and the kettle turned over them; and two young men, with snow-shoes, an ax, two or three pails, the family flintlock, some powder and shot, and a good supply of "punk"?an article found in decayed wood, which is about as combustible as tissue-paper or young oratory? and two blankets, started out for nearly two months of "sugaring." Upon reaching the rock the first thing in order was a fire, but there were no matches then, so the old musket was brought into service. One man held the "punk" near the flint hammer and caught a spark. This he nursed, and soon had shavings from a shingle ablaze, and later a big fire, which was never allowed to go out until of no further use. At oncc the old troughs were looked up, an ugly gash was made in a line maple, then "gouged," and a spout was driven in to carry the sap to the trough, and when the sun shone sufficiently the tree gave forth its sweetness. Then the manufacturers of sugar saddled their neck-yokes and gathered in the sap, ofttimes walking one-half a mile to secure two pailfuls, which made about onehalf of a pound of sugar, such as it was. An early breakfast, dinner as near merid. ian as the eye and 3tomach could judge, and "tea" when work was done comforted the inner man. For Java or Mocha syrup was a substitute, for sirloin ot Deer a fine slice of pork or the best of ham broiled on coals, and an ample supply of brown bread and roasted potatoes made up a repast that would do the stomach of royalty good. For dinner a few BRINGING THE DINNEK. boiled eggs broke the monotony and "at t?ff ?.oa tea" most any tiling tnai wa? iu? catca. There is no place in the world where you can cook beans which equals the woods and this is how they used tc be cookcd in the sugar-bush: An old earthen pot well filled with beans, u good "hunk of pork," and some native molasses furnished the foundation. Almost beneath the kettle of boiling sap a pit was dug and the pot and contents were buried in it and in the morning out I came a dish that no hotel or restaurant in all Chicago can duplicate. At the end of six weeks, when the party took account of stock, they usually had, all told, 200 pounds of sugar as black as Ethiopia and flavored with Know, rain, everything that could come off the trees, with now and then the bo.Iy of a for. lorn mouse or uanug cuipmuuN. wnv nutured too near the trough. This was pure Vermont maple sugar something like 100 years ago. Another generation realized that the world moved, and we find a shanty in some fine grove of maples filled -with 300 or 400 buckets and sometimes more. Outside is an arch for a kettle, not built of cut stone, but of material easiest at command. This is not an isolated spot; people here come and go; the "sugarplace" is near-by home; the wife or daughter at noontime brings ap the dinner, and a good dinner it -r,_ ,r<; " < -' 'U.\ * *? ?.' ; r - :? _ .b ; there is a small kettle at command tnd a "sugar off" is then in order and in hour's sport that king, prince, or potentate might envy, but not covet. To .he assuming daughter of papa, to say sothing of the complacent manipulator >f the type-writer, the idea of a girl Tamping a mile or two in the woods, :&rrymg dinner tor men dressed in coarso :voolens, may not be pleasant, but could ;hey see that girl with her dinner-pail or "waxing sugar1' with honest, hardy men, ;hey would realize that there is such a thing in life as enjoyment. Ofttimes it is found necessary to boil sap all night in 5rder to catch up with the flow of sap, ind during a "big run" this sometimes lasts for a week. Then nearly the entire family moves to the bush. The A U IM lilt . MAKING SAP TROUGHS. head of the house gets a little sleep while the wife or some of the children keep the kettle full and the fire "a-humping." A. "humping fire" is what the sugarmaker always enjoys. Ofttimes these sugar orchards arc near each other, and family visits are in order and some lovemaking is indulged in. Lads and lasses play "high-low-jack," and watch the firo Iroftln nnrl oapVi ftfllflf UiV,J WAAW In the old days a very respectable quality of sugar was made, but only a little more than necessary for home use, although 100 pounds or so sometimes was exchanged for store pay. The farmer who then controled a sugar' orchard of 300 or 400 trees was then recognized as one of the biggest men in town. At the present time the farmer is not content with less than 1000 trees, and he holds them as precious as the owner of an orange orchard does his fruit trees. Every young maple is carefully looked after. If there is a scrub oak, beech or birch to impede its growth it is cut into firewood. Many an orchard to-day is so cleared of fallen timbers and under-brush that in the summer months one can drive over nearly every portion of it with a horse and buggy. The small streams are bridged and good roads are found on all sides. If there be a cheerful spot on earth during the summer months it's the farmer's sugar-place, flcre arc the finest songsters in the world and the squirrel is the prince of the field. Many farmers will not allow a gun to be taken into a sugar-bush, and ofttimes in the spring they place within easy reach of the squirrels near the sugarhouse a few ears of corn, because they enjoy the company of the lively creatures, wmcn often are quite domestic. THE 0LD-TIME SUGAR-HOUSE. To-day the maple sugar-bush is in every way truly home-like. Near the center of fifty or more acres of hardwood timber land?mostly maple, a few beech and birch?you find a commodious sugarhouse, one room of which is much larger than the entire house of seventy years ago. In this well-floored room are stored the buckets during the summer, and in the springtime it is used for kitchen, reception room, parlor, or dance hall7"~In it "you" will see a fino brick arch, aD evaporator, and ample storage-room for the sap, while outside is a thrifty pair of oxen yoked to a gathering sled, on whieh is a tub holding from twenty-five to forty pails. Like the rest, the oxen take their dinner in the woods, and five or six "rounds" are considered a good days work. Three hundred pails a day is called good work. Thie can ic rJrfiurn thfl SIltrar-hoilSG. and from a long spout is conveycd to large storage-tubs, and thence to the evaporator, or pan, kettles having long since been discarded. The evaporator is of malleable iron partitioned off. The sap, entering at the head of the arch, ( meanders acro3s the pau a dozen times or so, and on reaching the foot a heavy, clear, pure syrup is produced. This is carefully set aside until "sugaring-off day" comes, when it is cooked still more and is ready for the tub or cakiug. About twice each week the owner of a sugar bush has a sugaring-off party. First all the old folks for miles around come in on ox-sleds and on foot, and a good old-fashioned time is enjoyed. No one seems to realize that they arc growing I old. Later ou the coming geucration are on hand and buxom girls, hopeful young men, maidens, and boys gather at the sugar-house. They Are in for a good time. First there may be a tug-of-war, with snow-balls, in which the girls take on nart. and a Vermont girl cau throw a snow-ball with hitting effect. She uses more precision firing at a young man for whom she has no admiration than when she tries to "sho'o a hen'' off the garden patch. When the war is over the manufacture of paddles is in order. To cat sugar with a spoon in the woods would be regarded as a violation of all the rules of etiquet. So the young mau takes his "best girl" one side, and selecting a sofa?usually a large log, or if lighter furniture is required two buckets are inverted?they sit down and commence work on their paddles. T'.e paddles being made, down to the sugarbouse they go, secure a pint or more of the syrup, and start for a snowbank,upon which they pour it. This at once hardens and furnishes a sugar repast that can not be excelled. For a quarter of a mile about the sugar-house you will see these pairs cooing and eating maple sugar in its primitive state. The pure Vermont maple syrup is an entirely different article from that vended ^ ^ jjgg - 1 THE MODERN OUTFIT. about the streets of large cities, which is * mostly made of glucose and foreign sugars. Pure maple syrup to-day readily brings $1 a gallon the woods, and when it reaches Chicago it is sold for seventyfive cents and often less. The first make of maple sugar sells for fifteen cents a pound, and here you get it for seven or eight?a reconstructed article but not improved.?Chicago Herald. Made Him Listen. , nepresentaiive mason, 01 Juunois, .'knows of a lawyer, a friend of his, who joften addresses himself to individual ^members of the juries he confronts. He ,once appeared for the plaintiff in a suit 'for damages brought against a street railjroad company. He made a most eloquent appeal, but was unable to hold the attention of one of the juiors, who appeared [to be an old sailor. At last he stopped directly in front of the sailor, and, addressing him alone, said: 'Now, mate, I will tell you how the accident happened. The plaintiff was in command of an outward bound car, and stood in b/sr starboard channels. An inward bound car came along, and just as their bows met she jumped the track, ikeeled, sheered to port, knocked my cli lent overboard, and ran over him." ; The sailor listened attentively, and 'promply joined in a verdict of $5000 foi the plaintiff.?New York Tribune. The Bitter T**nth. "Who was the elderly lady I saw you walking with the other day?" "My wife." "You're joking." "Oh, no! It's the bitter truth."?Flic aende Hiaetter. Catting: and Selling- Tnrf in Ireland. In the county of Kerry in Ireland an Irishman pays twenty-five cents to the landlord for the privilege of cutting a strip of turf nine feet long, three foet wide, and from six to nine feet in depth. He cuts the turf in the summer months, so that it will dry out during the hot I weather. It is cut with a narrow spade, called in Gaelic a "slan." When cut the turf is piled in little heaps, so that the mosture will evaporate. These heaps of turf have to be turned usually three times before the fuel is dry enough to be carted away and piled into ricks. As a rule, after drying, the turf must be carted from four to six miles to the home of the peasant. This is done with the aid of ' donkeys and horses. If the peasant happens to be a speculator, he carts the [ turf into Tralee, or some other market ; town, and sells it. Turf is measured by what is usually called "rails." This Trnrri indinAt.fis a donkev or horse load. j The load is held in place on the cart by [ means of wooden frames, set into mortises on the sides and ends of the cart. [ The turf is piled to a cone on top of the cart, and is held in place by "sugj ganns." A suggann is a rope made of straw. These ropes are also used in some parts of Ireland to hold the thatch ir> ; place. Peculiar Headgear. Not far from charming Lake Bourget is a place seldom visited by travelers. Bourg-en-Bresse is a pretty and wellbuilt town occupying the centre of a fertile plain on the left bank of the Reyssouzc in France. The streets are clean and well made, with air and water circulating iu abund.r** X riCTrRESQUE BOUKG WOMEN. ,mce. Spacious and beautiful avenues lead from the interior of the town to the environs. The women in the neighborhood of Bourg and Macon arc most picturesque and pretty. Their headgear is very peculiar and gives them the appearance of wearing a wedding cake on their heads. Trials of n Grocer's Life. Stranger?"Do you keep chccse here?" Grocer?"Ye3, sir; can I put you up a few pounds?" Stranger?"Is it rich and strong?" Grocer?"Yes, sir; will twenty pounds be sufficient?" Stranger?"That's rather too much." Grocer?"About ten pounds then?" Stranger?"Well, no; I just want enough to bait a mouse-trap with." . . -. v. r'"* - ,/f ' ... > ' '; ; - ~ * SABBATH SCHOOL. INTERNATIONAL LESSON FOliJ^jj APRIL 27. . ',.jA -m Lesson Tex(: "Tlie Parable ot theSower,"Luke viif., 4-10?Golden Text: Lake viil., 18? Commentary. v>' "'% According to the first tbree verses of this ; s chapter, after bringing joy and peace to the poor women in .Simon's house. He went through all the cities and villages showing the glad tidiugs of the kingdom of God, the kingdom foretold by all the prophets, when the Lord shall again choose Jerusalem, com- . fort Zion and restore Israel, never to be ' . plucked up or scattered again (Zech. i., 17; ii., 10-12; Jer. xxiv., 6, 7); that through them He may establish His Messianic kingdom in all the world. He was accompauiea by the twelve aDd certain women wnom He had healed and who now ministered unto Him. Returning, probably, to Capernaum, He I healed one possessed with a blind and dumb demon. This drew forth from the Pharisees the accusation that He was possessed by the devU, and thus did these might)* works, Jesus, in reply, warned them of the sin that can never be forgiven, whether committed in this age or the age to come. He also foretold His death and resurrection and pointed them to a coming judgment. They receivenot His teaching, but determine to kill Him (Matt. xii.). 4. "And when much people were gathered together, and were come to Him out of every city,He spake by a parable." Matthew saysr "The same day went Jesus out of the house and sat by the seaside; and great multitudes were gathered together unto Him so that He went into a ship and sat and the whole multitude stood on the snore."- If the rulers ^ would not listen to Him the common people foeard Him gladly (Mark xii., 37) ;and it is still ^ true that "not many wise men after the flesh, V not many mighty, not many noble are-' called" (I Cor. i., 'i6). In Matthew this pap-? able is one of a series of seven spoken at one time, in Mark it is one of three, while here it V stands alone. It is the only parable spoken V at this time which is recorded by each of the three. The others had, no doubt, a parti en- ? lar reference to the respective objects which Matthew and Mark had in view in writing fl their gospels, while this one alone is sufficient H for Luke's purpose. It is a foundation para- H Vila on/1 /lac^nkoo flia trootniflnf: wVlif?n t.ViA glad tidingsof the kingdom will receive during the whole of this dispensation, the period of Christ's rejection, until He come again to bring the kingdom. 5-8. "A sower went out to sow his seed,"" etc. 4 'He that hath ears to hear, let him hear." It is a simple story of what may have been ? taking place before the Saviour's eyes at that moment. On the hillside a fanner may have been actually sowing his seed, some falling on the beaten path, some on thin soil beneath which was a great rock; some where the thorns had already preoccupied the ground; and some on good ground. The Saviour an- i ticipates thenarvest, and speaks of that which fell on the good ground as the only portion accomplishing anything. He was in the habit of using the most familial* things ; with which to illustrate His teaching. A candle, a woman baking, a woman seeking a ' lost piece of silver, a shepherd seeking a lost * sheep, a good or bad foundation for a house, children playing, a hen and chicken?, a door, * a vine, each and all afforded Him a topic from which He taught concerning things eternal. 9. "And His disciples asked Him, saying,' "What might this parable be?" The Holy Spirit interprets spiritual things to spiritual : men (I Cor. ii., 13, R. V., margin), and these men had not yet received the Holy Spirit in " - *i I i.1 3 nis iuimess, inereiore taej uuuwsiuuu uv? this parable. 10. "And He said, Unto you it is given * to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God; but to others in parables.1' By comparing Matt, xiii., 36; Mark ivM 10, we see H that Jesus sent the multitudes away and went into the house, and that then He gave. the explanation of this parable. That He in the house when He interpreted the parableappears also from verses 19 and 20 of this chapter. mB 11. "Now the parable is this: The seed is jM the Word of God." Mark says: "The sower H soweth the word." The business of ?very Christian in this whole age is to be a vessel in the hand of the great Sower with which He may scatter the seed of the word. Jfl 12. "Those by the way side are they that >IH hear; then cometh the devil." We have now four kinds of soil on which the word falls and will fall till the kingdom comes. There is . I the hard beaten heart of the so-called gospel 8H hardened. He has gone to church all his life, perhaps is seldon absent on Sunday morning, but he is too weary in body to hear with profit, or, if not, the business of the week* so crowds in upon him that while apparently he is listening to the sermon he is in nis mini JD| going over yesterday's business transactions or anticipating those of to-morrow. Occahonally something that is said or sung or utsered in prayer seems to take hold of him, but test he snouid believe and be saved the devil quickly takes it away. If he is called upon. for a subscription for the work perhaps he B9 givescheerfullyandiiDerajiy. iaiu u?uu<s credit to himself for his religiousness, which' consists of beins regularly in his placc in church (as to his body) and giving liberally of his means, but all the while he is a lost man, and a step from time into eternity would place him with the lost rich man of whom Jesus told. Andwhoc&ivs where his soul goes if the church only gets his^noney? j^H Do you care, and how much? '' 13. "They on the rock are they which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and theso have no root.'' Hero is another jlass of churchgoers, for observe that each kind oC soil represents those who hear, so that this parable does not touch those who have never heard the gospel. It shall be far more tolerable for them (Luke HB xii., 47, 48) in that day. This is a hearer BB r.'ho pays attention, and actually enjoys the public worship, or to talk of the E9| things of God, when it does not cost, uiucu ?that is when the weather is fine and there are no difficulties in the way, none opposing. Such may probably make a profession^^^HH faith in Christ, and for a time giv<s joyfn^^^H testimony, but as soon as there Is anytllintc^^^H to be endured for the word's sake (Mark iv.. 171 immediately they are offended and -^H| fall away. These, like the other, give us no solid encouragement. . i. Dfl 14. ' And that which fell among thorns are RH they which, when they have heard, go forth ISC anil are choked.'' lneso hearers may possibly be saved; the see I has taken root weli^^^O and there is quite a growth, but the thing lacking here is fruit, ripe fruit, that which glorifies God. But can any one be saved who does not bear fruit, and who allows care?, riches, pleasures anil lusts of other things to choke tne word? We must stand on the word of God, even though it may seem to some a dangerous place. 15. 4 'But'tha t on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it. and bring forth fruit with patience." Matthew and Mark add "some thirty, some sixty, and some an hundred fold." Thank God for such hearers. Even a few like these are an inspiration to^^H ? ,i ? o flAmfrtrf. thfiT any pastor, una n u?n ? wu..v.. ?? must bo to the Lord Jesus and to^^H the Holy Spirit. The difference between those and the others is that thece have^^H truly accepted Jesus (not simply the truth about Him) and have firmly believed the^^H truths concemiug the kingdom and tho gloryHfl to be revealed at His appearing. They arOj^fH therefore, weaned from present tilings, ore^^B not seeking to convert this world in this dis-^^H| pensation, out, believing this parable, are discouraged if their labor seems largely vain; content to have it turn out as He said^^H for the present, sure that in His timc^^H and way the kingdom will come.? Lessoi^^^m Hetycr. MB A GENTLEMAN at Poona (India) re^^H centlv received a letter that had beei^^H posted at a station twenty miles awa^^JH two years and four months before, companied by the explanation from postal authorities that the delay owing to the fact that it "had beefl^H posted by the wrong train." Instea^^H of being grateful for the explanation is mean enough to insinuate that ti^HH train the letter got on must have h&|^B r.n uncommonly long run. S H '-J&