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TBB BTSTEMOUS GONNEB; I XXOCOCOC An Exciting Story of the War of 1812. j BY JOHN R. MCSICK. CHAI'TER XIX. THE PROPOSITION. Tho boat was but a few cables' length from the Bhip when the white flag was | raised. "Dam her! It's well enough the white ; flag was raised," said the irrepressible ^ Yankee, Simon Kinman. "Ef it hadn't a been, we'd blowed her eout o' water." | "Oh, dear, oh, dear! Tbey are comin* s rieht here now to put the yoke on our necks," groaued Zeke Gross. The Yankee turned his eyes upon the j discouraged Zeke, and said; : "Doan't j!e be so pesky feered o' that ; ftr long na'ik o' yourn. Ye'll find it 6afe enough for the hangman when the time | comes." , "Be sure your neck ain't broke, Yank." "UU, mine s insured, rexnrueu oiaiou. j "What 're they goin' ter do?" asked a j big boy coming forward and gazing at the i boat. "They are coming here to cut our < throats," the Yankee answered, with a > face which was gravity itself, although there was a humorous twinkle in his eye. j "Oh, ber gosh!" cried the boy, seizing t *- *- i i -?l. l.:~ 1 ur j ? CIS liii UUL in CUIU Ultf UUUU3, X UUU I I want my throat cut." "Can't help that, neither do I," said | the Yankee, with a mock sigh; "jit I < guess the rascals intend doing it." "Oh, ber gosh! what'11 I do to git i ont'n it?" f "Go and hang yourself!" ? "Oh, ber gosh!" and with this meaningless expression, he ran away to the ex- { treme northwest corner of the fortifica- t _ tion, ana would have leaped the parapet, had cot someone told him there were red j coats on the other 6ide, ready to impale him with their bayonets. Then, with another shout: 9 "Oh, ber gosti!" lie ran under me noor of a house. There -were 6houts of laughter at the 1 expense of the timid boy, who had fled from the flag of truce. Ii "He is big enough to handle a musket," ( said Alton, who had noticed his ignomin- v ions flight. ""Where was he during the ? bombardment?" ? "He was hid either under t?)e house or ? in the bomb-proof buildin'," said Si ^ Cole. "He is the biggest coward livin'." The boat came steadily in, and the offleer stood in the bow holding the flag of o truce in his hand. Capt. Alton turned to the deserter of 1 the Xenophon, who stood at his side on 0 the parapet. He was ttari led to *ehow pale his face had grown. "Mr. Brnuett," n he said, "hadn't you better not be seen?" p "It will make no difference, the desert- a er answered. "They know we are here, 0 and why need we conceal ourselves? if ^ the village surrenders, we must surrender f, ~ With it" a Capt. Alton could now understand why 0 the deserter had grown 60 pale. To be k captured would be death to the deserters. "Can you surmise the cause of this flag C of truce?" Capt. Alton asked. "Yes, sir." "What is it?" "There can be no other object than the capitulation of the town." "I do not know," the young Captain j ' returned, walking back and forth on the ' top of the parapet "There may be some j " other object, one which ve caunot sur- | 13 mise at first. I believe Major Bridges j went aboard tiie snip last nigut. "Would we not have seen him?" 6 "The pickets on the northeast of the ! ? works say they saw a small party pass down to the beach anil a boat put oil for c the vessel." ? "Then this flag of truce may be the re- J suit of a conference." P "I think it is." ? The boat came slowly and carefully to . shore, as though it was altogether not certain of the reception it would receive. ^ It is said that traitors are always susfticious of troachery. Those who in vioation of all manhood and honor had ' been so cowardly as to abduct a helples3 . ; young lady to hold between themselves and an enemy need hardly expect a flag of ; truce to be respected. "Ia not this another cheat, another .a means to deceive us?" said Captain Alton to bis companion who remained at hit; Q ?idg, his white face turned upon the ap- f1 j* ' proaching boat. ; 11 "I have had that in mind myself," the | . deserter of the Xenophon answered, "and ; b am now watching the scoundrels, trying ! to discover their intent. By all means, j captain, ao not auow mem 10 come whd- : in vour works." "ilow will I arrange that? Go down to ? the beach to meet them?" ,"No; they m'ght have a plan to capture . you and dragyoQ away. Those who were i w treacherous enough to abduct a young p iuiu rir! V? treacherous enough to abduct an army ofECei", even . under a flag of truce." "Then what would you suggest?" "Let all the correspondence be carried bn by your officers in writing. Captain f Montieth or Major Bridges, or peichance ! 1 both, have sent an officer to treat with . you. Send some one to receive whatever a communication he has brought." "Your idea is an excellent one, Mr. Burnett, and I shall adopt the plan you sug- <v i gost." r He then called to Simon and told him to choose six men, armed with muskets t and bayonets, and go down to meet the E officer. ( "All right, Cap'n, an* ef ye say the word we'll jist drap the last mother's son o' t them Britishers, afore they kin put in to lanrl " "No, Simon, yon must not harm them. You are sent to trer.t with them " < "Treat 'em?" cried Simon in amazement. 1 "Naow ye don t tind me treatiu''em, by a long shot. I'd ruther a plaguy sight sink . 'em in the sea then to go to treatin' 'em." , "You don't understand me, Simon," Griffith said, withal.smile on his pale face, i V "Those men have come with some proposition for me, and I am goin^ to send ' you to receive the message, and bring it to me. You are my officer, just the same as the man in the boat is the officer of Cap- , tain Montieth. Leave your men a few rods behind, and advance yourself to receive whatever information they may hav9 to send me." "I'll do it Cap'n, I'll do it, yeou kin jest gamble on't. I'll foller tout your instructions to a T." < The six men were selected, and Simon at the head of them started down to the Vipnoh. "Ob, dear, they'll havo the yoke on oar I seeks eartin," groaned the despondent 1 Mr. Oro6s, who Bat upon a gun carriage, : bis face bowed in hiB hands. "When the boat containing the officers with the flag of truce touched the beach, Binion, who was but a short distance away, calle.l out: "Jes-t hold on thar, Mr. Redcoat. Ye can't come any o' yer games over me. \Ve want to know what yer abeout. so >est .eave yer beef-eaters in the boat and tome eout. Naow be 6pry, and tell us yer business." The officer commanded the oarsmen to rem iin in ttieir plat es, and le iped ashore with the flat; of truce in his haud. Tho Americans. unaccustomed to mili tary courtesy, cocked their mnskets and brought them to bear on the officer. The Englishman turned deathly pale, &nd in a qnt^king voice said: "Sir?, i-i-i-i* it p-p.p-possible you are |0'ng to tire on a ting or truco? * biiLion, discovering the war-like demonitrations of his followers, commanded Ibem to put up their fire-locks. " Ve ain't to be hurt, Mr. Bedcoat," he returned. "As logg as ye behave yereelves I ?e'll come through ail / Tight, pot ye I .. . . . Dustn't be goin' to playin' crooked." I aI "I-I-I-I came with a'flag of truce," said I P he officer. "Where is the commande??? i he post?" , ^ "He's up in teown.'" " "I want to Be? him." ?i "Guess ye can't do it, fur hers busy *> ixin' up a Yankee notion to upset the | 11 Atlantic Ocean and drown all you Brit- I Bhers." | 61 "I must see him; I've a message tof | B lirn." I "I'll take it to him," flaid Simon, "but 1 rer not goin' to poke verdarne"d ugly lace nside o' them works.h tJ "Tell him to 6end an officer." "Ain't I an ossifer, ye darned suoker, ^ re simpleton, greenhorn? I'm Cap'n ilton's Great Lieutenant Brevet Bricadier ^ Mineral, at yer iservice; naow, whatever ** re want tu "send tu teown I'll take it. rhat'fi all. Ef ye've got no business , lere the ltest thing ye kin do is to .git ^ tooara yer nine crait, ana gn eoui o his ere port or ye may git in business." 111 The oiKcer, finding thathehad no other iltemative than to submit, drew from bis ? >reast pocket a package, and handing it X o the undaunted Yankee, said: d< "Take these to the commander of the I 'ort. and tell him that Lieut. Berkley C1 raits hie answer." w "All right, Leftenant; jist wait right jt iere, an'the Cap'n will look over these ire papers and let ye know in mighty Li ihort order what he thinks on 'em." h With this, the irrepressible Simon, oc- "*1 >ompanied by his guard, returned to the di ort. "Well, Simon, what do they want?" tsked Griffith, as the faithful Yankee and ; i< lis half dozen brave followers climbed rj >ver the parapet. "Dun know, Cap'a; here's somethin' bat maybe ye kin understand. I dun know rhnt it is."* w The Captain broke the seal and drew ta orth a paper. He glanoed at it a moment md then at the deserter-of the Xenophon, I ] rho was nt his eide. fe "Mr. Burnett, I never read a more in- is! amou? proposition, nor do I think one j oe core infamous wa6 ever put on paper." j "What is it?" the deserter of the Zeno- j to ihon asked. "Listen, and I will read." j ar And Capt. Alton read the proposition, riiicJa was us iouqws; ?u Auoaiu) Ship-of-Wab Xejjophon, i September 14, 1814. t 'o Captain GrifHth Alton, Commander of the I>ort of ilanoa: 1>eab Kie?Having your town completely fa qvested, and your guns ae pood a? spiked 'or you dare not fire at the Xenopbon xn> chile Miss Gatrell is aboard}, and having re our town and your people completely at ly mercy. I make you the following terms t surrender which, if you will accept and Te eturn herewith in writing, hostilities will n o at an end. l'ou are to run down the inierican flag and hoist English eolors. wi hen with all your men, unarmed, save the ]ij fflcers. who may retain their side arms, pj o march outside the works and surrender o a combined force of land soldiers and larines. On these conditions we agree not to in- eti are or destroy private property, and all tii len save commissioned officers shall be th aroled at once, save and except 6uch men th s may be found to have deserted the ajmy wj r navy of his Britannic Majesty. These re shall reserve the right to punish acording to the articlos of war adopted by ?u tie army and navy of his Britannic Majesty; bo nd you are to report as soon as possible ne n board his Britannio Majesty's man-of- Bi rar the Xenophon. en [Signed 1 Isaac Moxtiith, no nptain his Britannic Majesty s inan-oiwar Xenophon. . Seth Beidoes, *" Major of Infantry. Pa For a few moments after reading the i to, roposition as submitted bv Copt. Monietn and Major Bridges, both Griffith Be; .lton and the deserter of the Xenophon fere silently gazing at each other. Grif,tb w is firs't to speak: "What do yon think of it?" 7 " I have but one thing to say?for oar elves it means death." re' "Yes, and for myself it means the same. 'here is on my pait nothing but an unonditional surrender. But there is omething very significant about paroling be rank and file at once, and refusing to or arole the commissioned officers." "I know there is," replied th$ deserter, and I cannot ' understand it, unless it is I a 1 h it they have received some very unfa- ! ^ orable'news from Baltimoie, which I bink possible." n13 " The firing there has ceased." "Yes." 66 "Well, Mr. Burnett, what must we do 3 gain time?" said our hero. "I feel like reating this matter with the indignation "e "* --- ? ?-'it- al. 11 ; deserves, ana yei wnu inn uuuou board their vessel, they really have our m ands tied; so that -we"are not able to do at nything toward defending ourselves gainst the ship. What can we do to gain as nieV" For a moment the deserter bowed his ch ead thoughtfully, and at last 6aid: "Demand time to consider." *i< "How long?" "Three days." "Had I not better parley with them first, i'? sk them if they will consent to release liss Gatrell?" ca "They might evec agree to that, and ar hen they had done so, you were b prisoer and the troops disarmed, they could Ux?. " ti< "That :6 very true, vet if we Can j ??': it ey with them a day or two it will be betM." Mr. Burnett thought so too, and conequently our hero sent back the followeg: 10 What will vou do with Hi*s Ola Gatrell. Vill you release her and allow h'T to como ihore to her relatives and friends unlarmed ? Simon took the message and they m vatehed the boat as it rowed back to the pi nan-of-war. v? It was an hour before it was seen re- it urniug. The same officer was aboard it, md when Simon had brought the reply, I th Captain Alton broke the seal and read: wi Trie terms of capitulation wore substun- ar lially stated in our first proposition. ^ Isaac Montieth. Captain. j, Seth Br.rDGEs. Major Infantry. Our hero'B course was now all mapped er ?ut before him. He wrote upon a blank sheet of paper the following: ?8 It you wiil crant an armistice until tha b< :erms of surrender can be agreed upon. ] [ ledge my honor as an officer to faithfully ?omply with my part. "What think you of that?" ho asked, banding it to the deserter of the Xeno- sn [ihon. h< "It will precludo you from attacking b1 the vessel during the armistice." }'< "The armistice, as I shall arrange it, cl R ill expire at midnight and we will attack nt daylight. I have asked but tforee days, S but 6hall take but one." v "Tour plan may work." I,, The proposition was sent to the British m >fficers by the boat. jj CHAPTER XX. Ql the sheli* The Deserter of the Xenophon and Captain Alton waited with no little an- 0I cietv the return of the boat. B] The Captain feared the British officers 0 wo*ld come to the conclusion that the Americans were trifling with them, and put an fend to the conference byBaildown the harbor and bombarding the fort. But after an hour or two, the boat was _ in tf'l anil Ktnrt in for the f. siiore. . > "I think your plan to delay is -working well," said the deserter. "lne day nas almost been spent, and there has been nothing done." Griffith glanced nt the sun and discovered 4hat it liad lon<j since caused the meridian. He was 60 far succeeding 1< well. a The boat palled steadily in and the bi officer sprang ashore. Simon, who had gone down to receive w the message, brought it back. t] With trembling Sneers Griffith Alton seized the document, broke the seal and } read it aloud to his officers and counselors, who were gathered about him. The answer wrs brief antl to tho point, bi It simply stated that if the command6i of Manoa would fiend his terms for no1 rmlstice it would be considered and re. i orted on. I Three days' time was asked in which to ansider the matter. During that time ae man-of-war was not to approach a i able's lencth nearer, nor were the land i orces to leave their present entrench- i lents. i Several times the bo.it plied between tiip and shore before the armistice was greed upon. Then the agreement was that they were ] ) remain as they were and the armi6tica j , as to extend twenty-four hours from tie coming midnight. "One thing inpaiticular I insist upon," , rote Captain Alton in his lsst response ( > the English officers' demands; "the | enophon during this armistice must not j reak ground, slip her cable, or come earer than she is at Dresent." j When he had read this to his officers ha ( ispatcbed the faithful Simon with it to ie Briton who was waiting for the j lessage. * t "What advantage do you expect to de 'Kof tho dpRprter of the > C iiuiii KUItV ViMV* enqphon asked. "If they see lit to sail own and bombard us they will do so." "It may have the effect to hold the uiser to her present anchorage, and then e shall have the advantage of knowing tst where she is." "It may have some effect in that way. i fact, the British do not seem in a urry just now," Mr. Burnett answered. [ think they must be hesitating and unecided in the matter." "\Vhv should, thev?" "I know not. They can not as yet havo 3ard anything from the siege of McHenr and Baltimore." "Aye, the tiring thoie has ceased?" "Yes." "Then the day has been decided on? ay or the other. Gen. Boss has eithei ken the city or been defeated." "These can be no question of that, and have fancied that I noticed a sort o 1 verieh anxiety on the part of the Brith all the morning. J think they are unirtain." Capt. AJton turned about and returned bia Vipftdnnnrters. The groat anxiety was wearing on him, < id he found himself decidedly weak. i "Griff," ?aid Si Cole, "won't ye hev Ltbin'toeat? I'm blest ef I believe ye've ? bite since early this mornin'." "I don't reonember myself, Si," he an. rered. "yon may bring me some break- t st." J The shoemakar had the accomplishent being u good cook. He soon I turned with hioiled steak, bread, pota- c e?, and a cup of coffee, which was ry essential to cur hero in his weaK- e ??. While engaged ijj supplying bis body j th nourishment sufficient to sustain :e, Griffith's mind was busy forming t ane for rescuing Qla^Gatrell from the c ritish man-of-war. "WKaf Trnnlrl lm thfl raanlt of Rndden 1 artlingnews from Baltimore?" he aeked mself. "Suppose it should be reported t at Genera] Ross had b?en defeated and o British army were in full retreat, i iat would be the effect? Would it not [ use the Xenophon to set sail and leave r coast?-~Great heavens!?And Ola on 1 ard. I would almost as soon have iws of the defeat of our owu forces! c it I am selfish. I am thinking at pres- t t too much about my own affairs and nf A mari/"> n | 'V CiUVUgU VTA. A He started np from the table, and with i s brow in a knot of wrinkles, began ciug the apartment. 6i Cole came in ?t remove the dishes. i "Griif, ye ain't et very much," said the i If-constitnted cook. t "I am not hungry, Si." "Well, yer jest got to fill up, or yo are j in' to break down; now, that thing is a t od SlU+fMntV." ? "Si, have y'ou heard from Captain Gat. II to-day?" "Yes, I was there." "How is he?" r "Very porely, Griff. Doc don't thini e i*3 goin' to "weather through mor'n two t three sich nights as last was." ] "Is he conscious?" > "Don't know anything, Griff, only jisl iittle at a time. He comes to hissell ] d talks fust rate fur a while, an' then goes off a r&mblin' an' don't know j ithin'." 1 "I hope he has not discovered the ab? i nee or fate of h'.s daughter." i "He don't know a thing about it, Griff.' At this moment Mr. Burnett put hii t ad in at the door and said: "Captain Alton, there are some Strang* i ovements going on which demand your j tention." "What are they, Enrne.t?" oui her' ] ked, starting up abruptly. "Come quick; the ship is heaving an- t or." j "Then it iB in violation of the armis< < :e." 3 "Of course. Captain; there is no under- ? finding what is meant by it. I thiuk u had better come out and look at her/ t "When our hero cane out, he found the t pstan manned and the sailors walking j ound and around, heaving up the an- r or. r "It is in direct violation of the armis- c :e," he said. "I don't un-lerstand what aenn." M Ida the rrlacR.n pnid Mr. Burnett. Our hero banded the glass to him, nn-.l i placed it to his eye, gazing off across e water nt the vessel. Then he turned ward the shore, sweeping the horizon. "See?6ee; I have discovered some. ! ins else B?at ^ "Where?" asked Captain Alton. "There she goes, pulling aft the vessel, t id standing in to leeward. It has just illud out from under the stern of the , ?ssel, and she is heading toward land. < has been aboard with some message." ' A white flag had been kept flying above j e national colors on board the roan-of- . sir and at the fort, indicative of the 1 mistice, and when Captain Alton saw ie conduct of the British vessel he or- r ired tho white flag above the fort low- j pd. "They pay no attention to it." he said, i the anchor broke ground and came up rneath the bow. y "No; Bte, she is trimming her sails." . "What is her course?" Evidently she is going to stand in." "And we dare not fire a shot at her," < lid Griffith, with a groan. "Oh, < javens, if Ola waB not on board that iip we could beat her away. What do >u suppose has caused this iadden ( tiange in affairs, Mr. Burnett?" ' "There can be but one cause, the way 1 gure it," 6aid the deserter of the Xenohon." "What is that?" ] "The boat that you see pulling away 1 [is just earned some news aboirdthe ] lan-of-war, doubtless from the siege of altimore. Now, if the news was good ews, they would be in no hurry." 1 The sails of the vessel filled and she < radually wore into the harbor. The 1 eserter fixed the glass for a long tune q the man-of-war aB sbe tacked back ad forth, laying first one and then anther broadside to the shore. 1 At last he said: I "Captain Alton, I can stop this!" "I see the young lady. She is in n Bafe lace in the cabin. cud I can send a shell ito the fore part of the deck which will I e a warning not to approach nearer." "Con you dt> i* in perf<></ safety, with | at in any wiy injuring Ola?" "I can. "Then do it, but for heaven's sake b. * - | ireiui." The deserter of the Xenophon had the )Dg gun loaded with a shell. He meas- i red the fnse, weighed the powder, and aperintended the loading himself. "Are you ready?" nsked Griffith, who as restlessly pacing back and forth on be^parapet. "Are you sure sfbe is out of danger?" "I am." "May it not be some other woman you je?" _ "There is but one aboard." Ike.deserter of the Xenophon began to ? j siRbt the long gun, and oar hero buried his face in his hands. "Fire!" Simon applied the match, and eea and shore shook with the explosion, and the shell went soaring through the air. Griffith's face was 6till buried, when a second shock at sea was heard. CUAPTEIt XXI. THE DYING SEA CAPTAIN. Captain Alton removed his hands from iiis face when he heard shouts of joy irise from his friends. "Where did it otrike her?" he asked. Little i:eed to n6k. The bow of the rossel, even from where he was, showed tin morlfo nf the exnloded shell. "Look cout; here Bho comes!" shouted he voice of Simon. In a moment every man hnd Bprnng ironi the paropet into safety behind the litches. "What does she mean?" asked Captain Vlton of the deserter, who stood at his iide. "Can sho mean to surrender?" "No; she still keeps her colors flying." "Then, what does she mean?" "I cannot tell?she still seems to want he armistice kept " "But she breaks it herself." "They ar9 lowerine it boat?see, it is :oming ashore," said Mr. Burnett. The boat was seen to lower, a dozen >arsmen were at their places, and then an >fficer in a far more gaudy uniform than he others was seen to descend and take lis place in the boat. ? ' ? 1-;- T "1 Know DIIO. tapuiu ibUiw luuuwiiu i coming ashore himself," said Mr. Burnett. i "There must be something important o communicate, as the captain of the ihip comes to bring it in person," said >ur hero. The boat came steadily in, and Burnett, irho was standing at t>ur hero's side, said: "Captain Alton, she is coming nearer md nearer to shore, nnd soon they will :all for you. Go down and inform Capaiu Monteith that you will not change he agreement, inrorm mm mat you vill continue to fire upon the 6hip until ihe retires. Make him believe that the 3resence of the young lady will have no iffect, so long'as he violates the armstiee." "I understand yon." "I think it best for me to remain bo{*d." The boat touched the shore, and Capniu Monteith, without leaving it, aeked 'or the commander of the post. "Are you Captain Alton, commander of Hanoa?" asked the Briton, as that inlividua! advanced to meet him. "Yes, sir. What do you want?" Griffith isked. "Why are von firing at us daring the >eriod for our armistice?" "Because you have violated our agreenent. You have left your anchorage and :ome down into our fort." "But I had no intention to besiege ron/' "men wny aia you come auwa imv he harbor?" Captain Montieth seemed not to like to nake answer to this. For a moment he lesitated, and then stammered: "We had no intention to bombard jonr tort." "But you violated your contract. Why lid you do it? You had an object. What yas it?" "We wanted to get behind that bit of leadland, where we could not be seen far ;rom shore." Inadvertently, perhaps, the Captain iad admitted "exa'ctly his object in comng to port. He paused in a confused nanner, and after a moment's hesitation, idded: "If you will allow us to stay here, we'll lot move any farther, and not a shot ilmll 1,o flrorl nntil thft terminition of the irmistice." "I canuot agree to this." "But, Captain, von are unreasonable." "Xo; I am not. There was a plain igreemcnt under which hostilities were suspended, and we will make nonewconract. You must do just as we agreed, 01 [ shall order fire to be opened on yoar ressel." "Surely you would not, with the yonng .adv cn board?" "Yes, I will. Your object shall fail rou. Yoa have given us twenty-foui lours from midnight to consider and arrange terms of surrender, a-nd I am deternined to have the full time." "You cm have the full time; only allow is to remain in your harbor." "I will not consent. You had 6afe incborage where you were, and you must jo back." "Copt. Alton, be reasonable," began the Briton, losing his patience. "I will hear no more, Capt. Monteith," laid Capt. Alton, sharply. "I will give I'ou thirty minutes to get beyond range )f our guns; when you have retired to four position I will consider any proportion of surrender you may submit." Wheeling about, our hero returned tq he fort, nlthough Capt. Monteith called igain and again for him to listen to other >ropositions he bad to submit. Having eaohed his works he ordered the guniers to reload the long gun, which Tas lone. [TO BE CONTIJJUED.l WORDS OF WISDOM.^ A face that cannot smile is never jood. Good company and good discourse are he very sinews of virtue. Patience is tho strongest of strongIrinks, for it kills the giant despair. Some temptations come to the indusrious, but all temptations attack the die. Those who live on vanity must not uncascnably cxpect to die of mortificaion. Society is Mkc a large piece of frozen vater; and skating well is the great art )f social life. What is defeat? Nothing but educa;ion: nothing but the first step to some :hing better. Whenever a man dissuades you from loing well, because perfection is "Utopian," beware of that man. The pleasantest things in the world are pleasaut thoughts, and the great art in life is to have as many of them as possible. Every street has two sides, the shady ride and the sunny. When two men shake hands Qjd part, mark which of the two takes the sunny side; he will be the younger muu of the two. Don't regret anything. Remorse is a -'-A ~ /info oxroiF tVlA Till PA CUITUSIVU lUktc cuuw uuio c*?f %%J t [jolil of vital purpose. Transform regret into resolve, and make the future noble where the past was ignoble. The reason some people never change their minds is bccause they have no minds to change. To-day oilers a new point of view, and it may well change the vista from that discerned yesterday. Do not seek happiness in what is mis named pleasure; seek it rather, in what is termed study. Keep your conscience clear, your curiosity fresh and cinbracc svery opportunity of cultivating youi minds. No wave on the great ocean of time, when once it has floated past us, can be recalled. All we can do is to watch the Dew form aud motion of the next, and launch upon it, to try, in the mannet aur beat judgment may suggest, our itrength and skill, _ v--.4: .. - .. v ' :* I-.- . . ???????? ; -- v*: > . RELIGIOUJjJEADlNG? RESIGNATION 'Since thy Father's arms sustain thee, Peaceful be; When a chastening hand restrains thee, Is it He. Know His love in full completeness Fills the measure of thy weakness; If lie wound thy spirit sore Trust Him more. "Without murmur, uncomplaining, In His hand Lay whatever things thou canst not Understand. Though tiie world thy folly spur^eth, From thy faith in pity turneth, 1'eace thv inniixt soul shall fill, Lying still. "Like an infant, if thou thinkcst Thou canst stand; Childlike, proudly poshing back The offered hand: Courage soon is changed to fear, Strength doth feebleness appear, In liis Jove if tliou abide, lie will guide. "Fearest sometimes that thy Father Hath forgot? "When the clouds around thee gather,? Doubt Him not. Always hath the daylight broken, Always hath lie comfort spoken. Better hath Jle been for years Thau thy fears. ''Therefore, whatsoe 'er bctideth Night or day.? Know His love for thee provideth Good alway. Crown ol sorrow gladly take, Grateful, wear it for His sake,? Sweetly bending to His will, Lying etilh "TG His own thy Saviour givctk Daily strength; To each troubled soul that liveth, Peace at length. Weakest lambs have largest share Of this tender Shepherd's care; A?k Him not. then, 'When?' or 'How? Only bow." CTTAEACTEB VS. E!TV1R05ME*T. A human will, firmly set on a life of holiness, may makethe most untoward environment only a means of progress onward and upward. In short, in 6pite of environment we find that man is what he wills to be; that outward circumstance determines character only so far as it is permitted to determine it. by impelling a man on in that course tliat be has more or less consciously determined to pursue. The more we consider the teaching of experience, and the conclusions of science, the more we discover the Scripture to be profoundly true that says, ''As a man thinketh in his heart, so is "he." It is the deepest current of man's nature, far below the surface, and unaffected by outward circumstance, that determines the essential character. To the development of this self-determined nature environment powerfully contributes, and to one unacquainted with" the hidden springs of action its effect may well seem to be omnipotent. But by one who knows VtA* nn/1/ii.nflafK onrfaP/> /?nrrAr?f*i thp flflp f\f a man's nature is setting from or toward God and good, the effect of those things that merely touch the surface will not be exaggerated. "Man is what he, in the depths of his heart, wills to be, not what his surroundings make him. This, science, experience, and the Word of God unite in testifying.? (.Golden Censer. AN OLD-FASniONEn GIRL. "I've been watching an 'oid-fasMoned girl' for quite a Ions while,'' says a writer in the Fitchburg Sentinel, "and I want to tell you something about l:er. 4 She had graduated,' yet she did not think because of that fact that the kitchen was not good enough for her. Oh. no. She was so much behind the limes that she actually washed the dishes, made her bed, dusted, and then beg8n preparation for the pudding for dinner. Now, wasn't she absurd, when she (following the accustomed rut) should have been lying on the sofa, with the latest novel in her hand, and her pug dog beside her? "When her little brother came in crying because hi* kite was broken, instead of call'ng liim a 'horrid bov,' as it is the 'fashion' to do in some homes, she helped with her own hands to mend it. How could she be in such a small business? "After dinner had been cleared away, she produced a small workbasket. and proceeded t > mend the family stockings. Shocking! Aft?r her task was completed, she accompanied her mother on a shopping expedition; and. although she met many fine looking gentlemer, she did not flirt with any of tliVtii. fo". don't you know.she was so antiquated she would have been shocked at the idea. As if it was not elevating to the intellect to l>e on the watch for some masculine person to f:.s-mate! ' The girl of whom I am telling you was pretty look in with a bright, fresh color in her fliee. brought on by plenty of exercise in the i.ven air and in the kifchen. Hut I cannot begin to tell you half this queer girl did: for. you know, she was so old-fashioned th t she did whatever good deed came l.i.of? /? ,1,* on.) V?nr \\onrt tvna cnch an a tii|iie alFair tii.it only pure, noble t > cute ret I it. Her home was made bright .m<l sunny liy lier presence, and yet she was u?t so perfect iliat she 'died young.' Oh. no. She lives today a girl wlio has 'no secret*' from her mother.'' r>sr STITCH AT A TIME. "What is the secret by which you do your work so beautifully?" The questioner held in her hand an exquisite picce of crochet work, wrought by the lady to whom the question was addressed. ' "There is no secret about it," replied the lady: "I only 111 ke every stitch as perfect as 1 o.'n. and am careful to put it exactly in the right place. There isn't one wrong or careless stitch in all that work. If I make a mistake I ravel it out and correct it.'' One perfect stitch at a time!- So the marvelous fabrics of lace at fabulous prices are .^u lUC JlllUVcili; aiJU VAVJujr-4iv \ IXMbroiderie* are wrought. So the costly garments of men and women are put together. One perfect stitch at a time The noblest lives are lived?one moment at a time. No moments wasted; no moments careless!v spent; no moments viciously spent. ^Vron* stitches in crochet can be picked out and put in again right. But who can reverse tins tide of time, aud undo a wrong act, and make it right? Some unknown friend left a card on oui desk on which was printed this: "I shall pass through this world but once! Any good thing, therefore, that I can do or any kindness that I can show to any human beinir, let me do it, now, in His name, and for His sake! Let me not defer or neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again.*' Is there a better secret than that for making the whole fabric of life perfect? "Any good thing that I can do:" that covers all our duty to God and to ourselves. "Any kindness that I can show to any human being;" thrt covers all otir duty to our neighbor, love to God and to our neighbor is the fulfilling of the law. One stitch at a time! Sometimes we allow ourselves to become confused with the thought or feeline that we have a dozen tlungs to do at once. But this is a mistake. We cull do but one thing at u time, think one thing at a time, speak one word at a time, see one thing at a time. For every duty really required of us, we have time given to do it in. We may pnss rapidly from one task to another, we may construct enginery by which much of our work may '?e ilonn simultaneously, and we thus multiply our executive power, but to live two minutes at once no mortal can (to, any more than we can recall one act or one moment of the past. "Lot us th^n be nr> and <Wng. Heart within and God o'erhead." Ix a breach of promise ca?e in New Hampshire the lover put in as offsets all the candy he had bought, the miles he had walked, the rigs he had hired and time lie bad wasted, and when footed up and allowed the girl had only $2.GO left out of her verdict for damages. "Marshal von* Moltkk, the German Generul," says Edmund Yates, "spends a portion of each day in the mausoleum of his English wife, Mary Burt, standing in profound meditation beside her tomb." THE NEWS EPITOMIZED. , . ? Eastern and Middle States. Charles H. Murray, Supervisor of the last census in New York City, refused, on orders from Superintendent Porter, to give i information about it to the Assembly Inves- | tigating Committee. Governor Abbett, of New Jersey, addressed the striking spinners at the Clack Thread Mills, Newark, at their invitation. The delegation of Sioux chiefs visited the Indian School at Carlisle, Penn. Mrs. John Mackay went into the cellar 1 of her house, at Lenox, Mass., to fill a kerosene lamp, taking with her a candle. In some way her clothes caught fire and she rushed up the stairs in flames. She was i burned so badly that she died. Nicholas Staub, D?mocrat, took control at Hartford of the Controller's office of Connecticut. An unknown man and woman were killed at Cohoes, N. Y., on the railroad crossing. Auejr were strucit Dy a locomotive. Dr. J. S. Messersmith, Medical Director, United States Navy, with rank of commodore, died in Lancaster, Penn., aged eighty- I one years. He was commissioned in 1837 by President Jackson and was a member ot Commodore Perry's first expedition to Japan. Much damage has bean done by floods in , Pennsylvania. Edwin S. Stuart (Republican) has been elected Mayor of Philadelphia, Penn., de- , feating Albert H. Ladner (Democrat) by an estimated majority of 40,000. John Jacob Astor, the millionaire of New York, and Miss Ava Willing, of Philadelphia, were married at the bride's home. Their bridal presents were valued at $2,000,000. Three explosions caused by water breaking the pipes of natural gas occurred?two in Pittsburg, Penn., and one in Allegheny, Penn. Several persons were injured ana much property was destroyed. South and West. The Windsor, Commercial, City, Wichita and Depot hotels, five wooden structures of Wichita, Texas, were burned, together with six business houses. Ex-Secretary of the Interior Alexander Hugh Holmes Stuart died at Staunton, Va^ in the eighty-fourth year of his 0 age. By a boiler explosion in the flouring mill of Churchill & Owsley, at Windsor, Mo., 3 xiugn Ju. omiiQ ana rom ruioerry, oouer- t makers, who were at work on the boiler, t and Walter Beaman, engineer, and Charles . Sturtevant, a miller, were instantly killed. Ihe large mill was blown to atoms. t Italians stopped work on the World's Fair site in Chicago, 111., through fear of jthe mobs of unemployed workmen. ^ Mrs. Hedwig Wend land, wife of an Illinois phvsiciaD, is the first victim of treat- r ment with Koch's lymph in Milwaukee, Wis. She died at Jfassavant Hospital a few , days since, but the matter has 'been kept quiet by the physicians. ? Private Albert Flackman, of Battery B, Fifth Artillery, shot and killed Gottlieo Nonneman, second cook of tha company, at Presidio, Cal. J Stephen Harding, aged eighty-seven, ex- c Governor of Utah, ex-Chief J isnce of Col- J orado and ex-Consul to Valparaiso, Chili, j died recentlvat Milan. Ind. Mexico bandits attacked the ranch of Victoriana Hernandez, near San Antonio, Texas. Oscar Duke, an eight-year-old boy i living at the ranch, was killed, and Victor* iana Hernandez, who is nearly eighty yeare old, was fatally wounded. One of the bandits was also killed. ^ The World's Fair Directory at Chicago, 111., passed a resolution creating the office of 0 Solicitor - General. Congressman Butter- e worth, who is now Secretary of the local E Board, will assume the duties of SolicitorGeneral and attend to the legal and legislative affairs of the Board. E S. B. Cowle3, President of the Pacific q Bank of Clarke, Neb., was arrestad, charge! v with the murder of his wife. George J. Gibson, Secretarry of tho L Whisky Trust, was indicted in Chicago. Ill, for conspiracy to blow up Shufeldt's aistil- a lery; the directors of the trust issued a state- , ment discrediting charges of conspiracy. The Democrats and Farmers in South ? Dakota made a combination which resulted * in the election of I. H. Kyle as United States 8enator to succeed Senator Moody. Kyle Is a former Congregational preacher, and a b resident of Aberdeen. a A mixed passenger and freight train -o jumped the track on the Smyre trestle at Newton, N. C. W. W. Ross, of Chester, .. S. C., and H. M. Morrow, of Cleveland 11 County, were killed. J. Hoag. fireman, of a Chester, died two hours later from his in juries. The steamer Thomas Sherlock collided * with a floating pier at Cincinnati, Ohio, and -1 immediately sank. Mrs. McLean, of Pitts ?] burg, was crushed to death and many of the crew perished. The ammonia tank in the ica factory in P SuiYolk, Va., exploded, killing the Superin- ti ten dent, Thomas B. Baldwin, and fatally injuring two colored m?n. Teller Ritter, of the First Nationa' ^ Bank, Evausville, Ind., has be=n arrestee " and held in bonds for trial on a charge oJ misappropriating $77,000. Just as the St. Louis express was pulling out of Bald Knob Junction, Ark., a passen- a ger named J. W. Graster, of Vincennes, Ind., deliberat?ly shot Isilor Meyer, a drummer. The murderer next turned his weapon on E. W. Laaeh, the Pullman conductor. Both men were instantly killed. Greater * then threw his weapon out of the car window. The shooting was wholly unprovoked, aud it is quite evident the fellow is crazy. ft Washington. ni The President has approved the act foi | n the construction of a "tunnel under the it waters of the bay of New York between hi Middleton and New Utrecht. 01 The Postmaster-General bas establishe! ?' an experimental system of free delivery t? among twelve towns and villages, for which purpose Congress hal appropriated $10,000. f The intention is to have free delivery taste J ^ in different parts of the country. A code of punishments for enlisted m?n convicted by court-martial has at last been V( prepared at the War Department. ' The Commissioner of Labor has made a In report to ths President on the cost of pro- nj duction of steel and steel rails. . Hi Admiral Porter's bo.ly lay in State at T his home and thousands embrace! the op- in portunity to take a final look at the faca of re the naval hero. The body, which was inclosed la in a velvet casket, rested in the center of ?e the drawing room. It was guarded by a r? squad of marines. In* the United States Senate the credentials 1E of Senators Jones, of Neva ia. and Mitchell, of Oregon, for their new Senatorial terms, ^ beirinnine March 4 next, were placed on file. 0 The Senate Committee on General Laws began an investigation of the Sugar Trust. r< During the past s?ven months the actual tt payiiwe^for pensions has been $60,698,193; ** there will be required for the old law cases for the next five months, $55,436,000- and for the cases allowed under the act of June 27, " 1890. during the balancs of the fiscal year, , $9,634,000; making a total for the year of ( $125,769,093. There has already been appro priated for this service $97,090,761. The de- j* tlciency which is asked for is $28,67S,332. Marcus a. Smith, Delegate from Arizona. slipped and fell on the marble floor of the Riggs House and broke the small bono of his right leg. ? Se.vator Quay, of Pennsylvania, left Washington tor a trip, lasting about six weeks or two months, to the east and west coasts of Florida. He is in ill health, and g goes South by tue advice of his physician. b Foreign. p Mil. Parnell has abandoned hope of ai coming to an agreement with the McCarth- is ites; Sir. O'Brien has issued a statement c< concerning the reason for the failure of the ir negotiations. b The Kliediva of Egypt has accepted the resignation of his Ministry. " Messrs. Dillon and O'Brien, the Irish ? agitators, were taken from Loudoa, England, to Ireland, and lodged in Clonmel Jail. * The Newfoundland Legislature has up- 1 braided England for not ratifying a re- n ciprocity convention with the United States, 0 and there is talk of annexation. The German General von Braun com- v mitted suicide in Berlin by shooting himsslf o with a revolver. t 'v Dispatches received in regard to the ttlt* II olation in Chili say that the boose* in th? towns of Pisagua and Iquique have been Mb 1 on Are by shells thrown during a bombardmeat by the insurgent fleet. A woman about twenty-five years old, known as "Carroty NelJ," was found dead is the Whitechapel district of London, Ess land, and is supposed to have been murdefeq by "Jack the Kipper." She was lying do her back, with her head nearly severed from kam t\y\/jTT |? , uci iaa4j? . ' ;- ' Mrs. LaFrance and her two children were burned to death in their chvelling-hooM at St. Albert, Canada. An important engagement has taken plae# in Tarapaca, Chili, between the rebels and the Government forces, and the latter were completely defeated. A native ot the Shan States in India eently ran amuck and shot Major Nixon, Lieutenant Jameson and two Sepoys dead. < During the burning of the Romscheid Theatre at London, England, threo actresses i were burned to death and several seriously injured. . J The invitation of the United States to Prance to be represented at the World's Faif in Chicago has been formally accepted by the Frencti Government. New Westminster, British Colombia, ' was visited by a Are which destroyed property worth about 1500,000, and caused the death of John McCannon, a member of the volunteer fire brigade. : A fatal duel with pistols has been fought < at the village of Krasno-Selo, Russia. The participants were Prince Vabolsky and Lieutenant Tomonossow, W,a officers of the Imperial Guard. Tomonossow was killed. In the British House of Commons Mr, Morley moved to censure the Irish Execo* ) tive for its action in the Tipperary prosecutions; the motion was rejected?830 to 245. A conspiracy to murder the principal mentbera of the Argentine Government *t* discovered at Buenos Ayre3. Two hundred Chinese perished by th? _ burning of a steamer at Wuhu, China. LATEB NEWS. Mrs. Julia Douglass Hyde died recant 7 at Bangor, Me., aged ninety-eight yearn. Thx American Loan and Trust Company, if New York City, closed its doors. The on- }. ipectod presentation of three checks from avings banks aggregating $390,000 precipiated the collaps?, there being no cash to pay hem. Its affairs were taken possession of >y Superintendent Charles M. Preston, of he State Banking Department. i The new steamer Havel, of the North 1 " German Lloyd line, ran down the bark lascotta in New York harbor and two boys rere drowned. The .2Stna Coal Company,of Chattanooga, ,'enn., made an assignment. Liabilitea I 100,000. d. Good and Ford Johnson had a terrible utting duel at Bluff ton, Ala. Good cut > . . ? .Ai * _ a.. lit _ lit .' oimson a len eye out witn a n&ccaet ana ut into the bones of his faco several times. | ohnson cut Good's throat with a knife. . loth were fatally injured. They were drunk nd alone. A fieb in Wadesboro, N. C., a town of 500 inhabitants, destroyed th3 largest parion of the business center of the place. Supervisor w. "W. Handlky, of th? /ouisville and Nashville Railroad, was run ver and instantly killed by a passing switch ngine while crossing the track at New >ecatur, Ala. The legality of the election of Rev. 1L [yle as Senator for South Dakota is tob? uestioned, as he received only seventy-five otes. and a majority of the Legislature is iofhty-five. . U . . : Speaker Reed was confined to his rooms this hotel by a ssvera cold for several ays. For this reason the House was. O' ompalled to elect a Speaker pro tempore. Ir. Payson, of Illinois, was selected. The annual Assay Commission, appointed y the President to test the coinage reserved t the mints during the calendar year 189fy mnleted their labors in PhiladelDhia and 5 Dund all the coins reserved far within th? mit of tolerance as to weight and fineness, nd they reported the test satisfactory. Smallpox prevails in Belfast, Ireland, to ^ n alarming extent. The municipal author!- \ ies are doing their utmost to check the pread of the disease. Fifty well-known French artists will sen4 ictures to the Berlin Exhibition for the flrsl imp* sin^e the Franco-Prussian War. : The Egyptian ravenua for the past year J ras $53,750,000, and is the largest ever col- I Whitelaw Reid, United States Minister fl o Franca, is recovering rapidly from an J ttack of pleurisy. n FIFTY MILLION HOGS, I 'lenty of Swine Left Notwithstanding: 1 the Large Number Slaughtered. 1 The estimates of numbers and values of E irm animals, made at the end of each year ad returnable in January to the Depart 1 lent of Agriculture In Washington, have I ist been consolidated. There appears to I no >?on Httlo rhanco in numbers, ezcent- B i the Pacific coast and in certain portions- [I ! the Rocky Mountain area, where the win>r of 1889-90 was unusually severe. Losse* x < ere especially heavy on the Pacific slope, he number of horses on farms, as reportedly 056,750, and the average price of all zes $57, a decline from last year of 81.84. he number of mules is 2,296,532, having an vorage value of $77.88, a decline from last jar of thirty-seven cents. The number of milch cows is 16,019,591, ail icrease of 66,708 from last year. The averse value per head is ?21.62, which is less by fty-two cents than last year's average. here is a tendency to increase of dairying t the South, especially in the mountain :gion, which offers inducements of cheap uds and abundant grasses. Other cattle jgregate 36,875,648, including those on inches. The highest value is *28.64 in Conjcticut; the lowest $8.46 in Arkansas and i Texas $8.89. The estimated number of sheep is 43,431,. (8; the average value $2.51, or an increase i twenty-four cents or more than ten per int. All other kinds of farm animals have ?clined slightly in pri*. e. A tendency to insase of numbers is seen in most of the States lough the heavy losses from the severe win>r or last year on the Pacific slope have de eased the aggregate. The aggregate of numbers of swine is 50,55,106, showing a decline of nearly two per >nt. The average value is $4.15. a decrease f fifty-seven cents per head. The scarcity : corn caused a slaugnter or stock nogs iu xir condition, tending to glut the market id reduce the price temporarily. CONVICT STATISTICS. nperiutendent Porter Takes a Census of Prison Inmates. Superintendent Porter, of the Census ureau, has issued a bulletin upsn the sub>jt of convicts in the penitentiaries. The ulletin was prepared under the direction of . ?,! W Wines nf Rnrinirftalrl 111., grwial jeut and expert for tbs statistics of pauper- 9 ;tn and crime, and shows the number of 8 juvicts in State prisons and penitentiaries H 1 the United States on June 1, 1890, to have een 45,233, against 35,53$ in 1880. 9 Of 43,127 penetentiary convicts whose H irthplace and parentage are known the I jreign born element of the population fur- Bj isheJ 14,725, the colored population 14,687 H nd the native white population, which Q robably outnumbers them both, only 13,715. -fl n other words, each of these elements fur- 5 ishes about one-third of all the inmates of 9 ur State prisons and penitentaries. 9 In respect of sex, 43,442 penitentiary con- H icts are men and 1791 are women. The per- H entage of women i9 somewhat less than it) ras ten years ego. H