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- 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 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<>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 .msr 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 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