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Sffi^ THE TRIBUTE OF SILENCE. mB A poet read his verses, and of two Who listened, one spake nought but open eHS praise; SKI ' The other held his peace, but all his face Wfl Was brightened by the inner joy he knew. Mgj Two friends, long absent, met; and one had BS borne rag The awful stroke and scathe of blinding loss. 8||j " Hand fell in hand; so knit they, like a Kg| cross; Bp! With no word uttered, heart to heart was jaft sworn. SiS a mnt.hpp InfttraH intr? hpr haViv's STBS. As blue as heav'n aud deep as nother sea. By what dim prescience, spirit-wise knew she Such soul's exchanges never more wodd rise? D deep is silenca?deep as human souls, Aye, deep as life, beyond ail lead and line, And words are but the broken shells that shine Along the shore by which the ocean rolls. ?J. Buckham, in New England Magazine. PLTJ SHANHBS'SLUCK. STORY OF A WASTED LrFS. LL in all,Mr. Plug HankiDS Was '^8 most Phenomenally ||t^Ml?W//IJ un'ucky man who ever made a living h out of cards. How pIBi' ll he rnana?ed to m i make the liviQg not ' r:., illuM1.11 even mo3t iQtiw\ Jy V- mate colleagues in the black-Ice pro. j-?yp^rT fession could tell, r To be sure he sometiuie3 won, but he (Could not keep his winnings in his pocket ifor twenty-four hoursat a time. Healways jreturned to the table to lose them. Jusc as surely as Fortune kissed his homely Iface one day she would turn round and slaD it for the next four or five. Then Plug ( would, have to resort to the disagreeable ishift of borrowing from his luckier [brothers, and he did this so often that there were very few ind< ed of the palelaced, white-handed gentlemen of fortune, from the Atlantic to the Pacific, who did not have Plug Hankins on their ibooks for sums varying from one to one (hundred dollars. Another singular feature of the case was the fact that scientifically he was one of the best cardiplayers who ever sat before a green table. More than that, he was cool and brave. iHe never spoke of his losses, and never exulted over his winnings if he happened to make any. He was sober and free jfrom nearly every vice save the passionate desire to gamble that had ruled his life from boyhood. Other men made fortunes and lost them every month, but Plug Hankins w&3 always, to use the iphrascology of the sporting man, ' 'broke." In time his wretched luck became a jest among his fellow-gamblers. They often laughed at him openly, but plug himself had never been known to laugh. It was all dead earnest to him? Ifrhe onlv nrofeasion he knew, and he must bmake bis living out ai it or? U Besides his ill-fortune and hfts pluck [poor Plug was noted among his brethren aor ono other characteristic. He wa3 as (phenomenally homely as he was unlucky, ffhe gambler's pallor of his face, the [drooping eyelidB, the short hair, the Sunken checks and great ill-turned ears gnade him look almost corpse-like. And (then there was a long scar under his left jeye where he had been slashed by a knife I ion one of the few occasions where he had I fwon. This, too, was a standing jest. K But Plug bore it very meekly. ffi j) There were meny who predicted that P (gome day Plug would make a winning that would startle them all. It was sup- J posed that Plug himself looked forward . I (to some such event to compensate him j 1 ior ms uueen or twenty years oi patience. But the good luck never came, j and as ill-fortune was piled upon ill- | ( ifortune Plug's patience began finally to , , break down, and his natural moroseness , became almost mania. The fact was ( I noticed by the rest of them, but they are iaot tender-hearted men, as a rule, and ( they only made their jests at his expense jthe louder and more frequent. More j (than that, though, his fellow-gamblers , began to be very chary about lending him money. In fact, as a rule, they ' iad begUD to decline in no very polite 1 manner, and some even went so far as to ' iadvise him to quit the business and get It job somewhere digging dirt. * jt It was in a frame of mind born of Buch treatment at the hands of men who . \bad previously been more than kind to !him that Plug stood one midnight on the ( icuro at the corner of Twenty street 1 \ and Broadway. It was the first midnight \in many a year that Plug had not been ' Wated before a dirty green table waiting ior the luck that was to make all things ' , fight, and meantime losing what little * faaotey he could manage by hook or 1 crook to get hold of. With his hands * thrust into his great pockets and his ' hat pulled down over his eyes, he looked ' the very picture of dejection as he gazed 1 at the gutter under his feet. Even the 1 policeman on the beat had to smile when ' he saw him, and walked by with the n^ntal ejaculation, "Busted!" Indeed ' he was "busted.". He had gone with- 1 out his meals all that day and the day before in order that he might stake the money at faro. He had asked every one he knew to lend him money and had been refused, and he hadn't a cent. He had looked forward to this climax of illfortune for a good many years. It was a long time coming, though, and Plug had almost begun to believe that it never would come, when, behold, here It was! When he had first thought of the possibility of his present position Plug had grimly resolved that when that time came he would quietly and with the norro hpnAminrr n namhlpr nnfr. himaplf t " => - e>- r out of this miserable world; but now that the time bad reaily come at last, be hesitated. His hesitation was not bora j of fear, however. Plug did not know -what fear was. It was merely the strength of ruling passion that is said to be so strong in death. He was merely revolving in his mind a problem. The jproblem was a simple one. In bis hip rpockt he carried the only bit of percor ' property he had not as yet pawned. It was a pretty little silver-mounted revolver that a girl had given him years [before in the. West. He had always [premised himself that if the day should ever come it would be this souvenir of jh>s only romance that should do the Ibusiness. But now he found that he was tempted to pawn the revolver, try his luck once more, and then, if he lost? well, the river wa? quite h?ndy. The \ " problem was never solved, however, for Plug was roused, presently, Irom his meditations by the happy voice of a child singing in a high key a silly but popular song. He looked around, almost wondering how even a child could could be so free from care as to sing, and he observed the little girl crossing the street toward him, swinging a tin pail in one hand and tripping an impromtu dance-step to the song she was singing. "Humph!" thought Plug, rushing the growler for some beastly I father or mother. That's what's the | matter with the world. That's what's been the matter with me. It's bringing up. No wonder we all go to the bad." He had barely concluded the philosophical thought when the child, a rather ? a? v ?i:j ragged little giri, even tnouga sub uju appear happy, reached the corner where he stood, turned and made for the side door of an all-night salcon a few doors away. She did not even glare at him, but tripped on under the gaslight, and as she did so something fluttered frotux her disengaged hand. Plug's quick eyes knew that it was a dollar bill, even before it reached the ground, and with an impulse that was absolutely uncootrolable he stepped quickly forward, picked it up, and was secure in the entrance to a gambling-den before the child had opened the door of the saloon. The time had been when he would tave felt disgusted with himself for the act. But that time had long passed. It had aone with hi3 old bravado and his old ideas about gamblers' honorit had gone with his youth and his remembrance of his mother and with his capability of feeling shame. He rushed up the stairs, burst into the smoke-filled room, and even before he thought placed the bill on the "high card." It won. The dealer laughed good-naturedly. An acquaintance cried out, jokingly, "Good boy, Plug." Another asked him where he had borrowed the money, and then there was a general laugh at his expense. He did not mind it. Perhaps he did not hear it. He looked stolidly at his u?4. loft- if rwn fho ?'h5t/h card." u ct auu iv.ii/ a v vu vuw ?G ? Again it won and now it amounted to four dollars. Again the dealer laughed and so did the rest. There are strange things about luck. Any gambler will tell you so. The "high card" won six times in succession, and Plug's stolen dollar bill now amounted to the respectable sum of sixAy-four dollars. The crowd ceased laughing. The dealer, out of pure charity, asked Plug if ho wanted toflet the bet stand. Plug had been playing such a small game for so long a time that the dealer hardly believed he had sufficient nerve left to take 6uch a risk. He received no answer, however, and as silence give* coosent in a gambling-room he proceeded to draw the cards. Again the "high card" won. It was one hundred and twenty-eight dollars now that Plug: had on the table. An irreverent youth burst out laughing and said: "Plug's luck must have been turned at last." But Plug was still silent. The next turn made his original dollar two huudred and fifty-six dollars. The "high card'' had won eight times in succession. It was becoming so interesting thai the other players forgot to make their bets until sharply reminded to do so by the dealer. Even he was a little nervous as he drew the next two cards. He muttered something under his breath, too, when he saw that Plug's money had doubled again. "Great guns!" said the irreverent youth, "who had been figuring for a minute with a pencil, "he's wou five hundred and twelve dollars." The dealer is in a hurry now. He was afraid that Plug would wake up to a realiza. tion of his phenomenal luck and depart with his winnings before the housd could get a chance to win them back. He drew the two cards quickly. Plug had won again. "One thousand and twenty-four dollars," exclaimed the youth with the pencil, "Only one thousand dollars," replied the dealer, gruffly; the limit is five hundred dollars." Still Plug was silent. A gam bier near liim toucnea mm on xne sieeve rod said: "Wake up, old man. You've tvon the limit. What are you going to io with it?" "Won what?" asked Plug, almost Ireatnily. "Won a thousand dollars?are you isleep?" Plug did not answer. He reached jver and picked up the pile of money rod turned from the table. The dealer jwore. The proprietor of the house, who had been watching the play, callcd Dut, "You ain't afraid, are you?" but Plug paid no attention to him. The deal went on, and in Plug's mind ;here continued some thoughts the like )f which had not troubled him for nany a year. He walked slowly up and iown the room sieveral times, paying no lttentiou to the remarks of the men who jnew him, and who were either congratllatinor hiua on his extraordinary luck or O joking good-naturedly about it. And aone of them heard him mutter, as he lid several times, "Stolen?stolen? stolen!" Presently he walked to a winlow and threw it open. He leaned out tnd looked down into the street. The ragged little girl was standing under the street lamp, just where she had dropped the bill, sobbing with great hysterical sobs. Sho was wringing her hands just is an old woman would, and in the strange light looked like a dimiuutive old bag. He heard her cry out, "They'll beat mc?O Lord, they'll beat me!" His ugly lips quivered a little bit and a great tear fell from his eyes. He waited a moment, then drew down the window very gently and walked out of the room. "The high card's still in the deck, Plug," shouted the dealer. But he did not hear the words. He was talking to himself. "I've played it through from soda to hock, and it*s no good?no good." ? "The child was still weeping under the lamp when he reached it. He said nothing to her. He clasped her in his arms, though and kissed her. Then he gave her a great roll of bills. It seemed to her as though it was all the money in the worlc, there was so much of it, and she quickly ran home witk it?even forgetting ttv thank him for it, if she knew how. He did not mind that, though. He was thinking of a worthless life and the end of it. When his body was discovered, the next morning, he looked uglier than ever, lor a ouuet naa torn a terriDie hole in his forehead.?Frank Leslie's. A copper rod projecting from the face of a clifl in Saline County, Missouri, indicates that at some date in the far West, beyond the ken of man, copper mining was carried on in that vicinity. i, ...... . ... " r J ' . . , jREPUBLIC OF CHILE. THE MOST WARLIKE NATION OF SOUTH AMERICA. A Narrow But Extensive Territory? The Country's Progressiveness? A Splendid Climate?Enormous Natural Wealth. HBggjROM an article or Chile in the New YorkSunwetaketh< following: Perhaps ifflf news tc most Americans that PViilp iq in snmft TP spects the greatest I I nation in South V America. That she I, is the most powerful will stand undisputed. That she is universally feared by her neighbors is a fact. That she is hated follows naturally. Chile is strong, aggressive and warlike. She is to South America in many ways what Russia is to Europe. No southern nation will risk a quarrel with her, and her neighbors eje her askance, doubting her intentions. Perhaps it may be news to most Americans that Chile is a large country. She is small on the map, because her sisters are enormously larger^ but her territory is extensive. She is larger than auy country in Europe except Russia. She ha3 ?500 miles of sea coa9t. If she were plucked loose from her Andes ahd laid A A* ? V*nv mnof flown over our Atlantic uuaoi. mw? northern part would cover Maine, and her rock-bound southern extremity would blot out of existence the peninsular of Florida. With that length Chile has a breadth of fifty to 200 miles. Perhaps it will further surprise most Americans to know that Chile is probably the most advanced nation on her continent. Her railroad,telegraph and telephone systems are of the best. Her method of government is superior to any. Her schools and universities are in the van of education. In methods of farming she equals the United States. In manufactures she far distances every South American country, and she is a model for any new nation in the world. Her mining operations are modern and extensive. Her commerce is far extending and increasing. Chile is not a tropical country, it must be remembered. She occupies the same zone that we occupy. The onlj South American rival which she has in matter of civilization and progress is that amazing republic of Argentine, just across the Andes, a republic which is surpassing in growth the best efforts of our *wn wonderful country. And now comes another surprise. Few Americans will be prepared to believe that Chileans are a pure white race, strong of body, sturdy of will, bright of wit, a people of great courage, determination and patriotism. They are unlike any other South American people in these respects, and that is why they are feared. They are smaller in stature than Americans, but larger and sturdier than HARBOR i their neighbcrs. The masse:, those who make up the bulk of the population and the rank and file of the .irmy, are of mixed race, largely Indian. They are people of great strength, endurance and ferocity. These common soldiers, of the blood of the warlike Araucanian aborigines, make Chile terrible in war. They have no fear of death and do not know Tirtion tVlOW !?rn Tn thfi WflP with Peru the enormous proportion of dead to wounded left on the field of battle has gone into history as a memorial to the ferocity of these dark skinned warriors. Imagine the entire eastern coast of the United States, with from 100 to 200 miles ot breadth, cut off from the rest of the couutry. Imagine the Rocky Mountains, largely increased in height and capped with eternal snows, set close up againBt the western edge of that strip of land, their sides pushing down abruptly and joining the level by slopes not easily traversed. Now imagine the Alleghanies pulled from their bases and planted along the eastern edge of the coast, so close to the sea that there i9 only room lor some narrow plains and a few towns here and there between the surf and their abrupt slopes. Suppose the long narrow strip of country between the parallel mountain chains a fertile plateau, blooming with vegetable wealth, dotted with cities and villages and crossed by innumerable torrents carrying the drippings of the snow-capped mountains to the sea. That is Chile reversed, of course, for Chile's coast is bathed by the Pacific, and the sua rises over the white summit of her volcanoes. Following out the comparison a little further we tind that Chile's territory would cover the States of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, a third of JNew iork, all of JNew Jersey, natt or Pennsylvania, most of Maryland, nil of Delaware, nearly half of Virginia and North Carolina, three-quarters of South Carolina, half of Georgia, u corner of Alabama, and all Florida. Chili or Chile, as she spells her name, runs from the fifteenth parallel of south latitude well below the fifty-sixth. The northern provinces grow hot under a tropical suu and bring forth the fruits of Southern California in profusion and perfection. The wild and rocky territory which she pushes southward to within twelve degrees of the Antarctic zone is cold and cheerless, given to ice in spring and fall, and little productive of vegetation. Between the two limits the fertile valley brings forth the products of every zone by turn. It brings forth its produce freely, too, under the spur of perfect irrigation and enlightened methods of agriculture, and the country eats its fill and sends a large surplus of grains and other produce to its less energetic neighbor*. Chile is more blessed in scenery than Switzerland. There is no spot in all her great territory which huge mountains do ? not overlook. They are among the highest in the world. Aconcagua rises 22,427 feet into the air. The two dozen other volcanoes, not so ambitious, are of enormous heights also. Below the summits the rugged and notched ridges of the mountains glisten whitely till they subside into pale blue below the 3now line. i The Andes are the eastern boundary of r Chile, in more sense than one. There is i an imaginary line drawn along their sumi mits which divides the country from ? Argentina. Few people cross the Andes. ; The passage requires from four to six . days. There are a few so-called passes, ; but they cannot be traveled except on i mule back. The passes are simply i slight indentations in the mountains. The best known is Dona Ana. You . have to mount 14,770 feet above the level to pass through it. New Yorkers i look upon Mount Marcy in the Adiron CHILEAN LADIES. . dacks as a very high mountain, and boast of having climbed it. It is 5200 feet in height. The lowest of the passes over the Andes is Planchon. It has 11,455 feet of altitude. Chilean enterprise 1 L-J :t J - A?^r, uas projccmu u ramuuu over mo auura, which is now under construction. With or without the railroad the mountains are a natural boundary, and Chile and Argentina will never quarrel over disputed territory. But traveler* tell us that the beauty of the country passes all description, that the country from end to end presents a magnificent and bewildering spectacle, a glorious panorama of brightr ness and shadow, of paradise and desert, i Travelers also tell us that the country is wonderfully inspirating. Its climate is i everything one wants. If you want ' warmth, go north, to the land of figs and oranges. If you want cold, move south to the vast pine forests. If you are not particular, settle anywhere between these extremes. In Santiago, the capital, the t?mperature is never higher than seventy degrees, and never lower than fifty-two degrees. It ne*er rains there except ?- ? ? /?? MAmiUn ! always keep the atmosphere moist aud pleasant. There is no country more healthful than Chile, the travelers say. (1 Chile has enormous natural wealth. ' ? OF VALPARAISO. In the mineral belt gold, silver, copper, lead, antimony, cobalt, zinc, nickcl, bismuth, iron, molybdenum, and nitrate are found in great quantities and the mining operations are extensive. The Germans and English have flocked there with capital to work the mines. Chileans also engage in the work as principals, but not to the same extent as foreigners. The country profits enormously by her mines outside of the employment it gives her laboring classes, through the fee3 she exacts of the mine owners for privileges and tbo expDrt torpo TcViir>h oho nlnnpq nnnn tH?? rmtntit. ?-.v- ?- r?"?t t The silver mines of Chile are anions the richest and most extensive in the world. The stories told by travelers of the percentage of pure metal found in the ores are considered preposterous sometimes, but there is evidence to show that the ores are wonderfully rich, surpassed,perhaps, only by a few ancient and celebrated mines in Peru. The great mineral wealth of Chile, however, comes from lier nitrate of soda deposits, and therein lies a story. Before the war of 1873, between Chile on one hand and Peru and Bolivia on the other, the northern boundaries of Chile were fixed indefinitely south of the Bolivian desert of Atacama. North of Atacama was the desert of Tarapaca, which belonged to Peru. Chile never questioned the rights of those countries to her arid regions till it was ascertained that they were stored with wealth. The ~:i ?: -c n.. ? J silver ill i Li us ui auuumguvtt auu uuuui Rosa, near Iquique in Tarapaca, had been known before, but it was believed that the desert3 were of no value. But when it was discovered that in Tarapaca and Atacama there were inexhaustible beds of nitrate and borax; that in Atacama were some of the richest silver mines in the world, and that guano deposits had accumulated on the rocky promontpric3 of the coast, Chile disputed the boundary lines. A pretence for war was found upon the flimsiest of evidence., Bolivia and Peru united in defence. But together they were no match for Chile, and both provinces have since paid their tribute into her coffers and form now her chief source of income. The yearly output of nitrate of soda is enormous, and hundreds of vessels are I engaged in the traffic of carrying it from the deserts of Chile over the world. British capital ohiefly is employed in the great industry. The nitrate is found from one to ten feet below the soil, mixed with extraneous izatter. In that form it is called caliche. The beds of caliche are four to six or eight feet in thickness, and extend over vast areas of territory. The Tarapaca desert is especially rich in it. The caliche is obtained by blasting, the powder being packed in deep holes, or tiros, extending through the upper soil and the caliche itself. It is then loaded on cars and taken to the shore by train, where it passes through r? i ' purifying processes of dissolution aud rccrystallizatiou. The nitrate is then readj for the market and is shipped in bags. The deserts which hide the nitrate beds are desolate in the extreme. It is probable that rain has not fallen on them for many years. Animals cannot exist there. Rivers miles away are deflected from their courses to supply drinking water tor the laborers, and all supplies are brought by railroad. The nitrate beds are supposed to be the dried bottoms of salt lakes of prehistoric times. Many thousands of Chileans are employed | there. Thus Chile derives her largest income from provinces stolen from weaker neighbors. The other minerals found in Chile pay largely also. Her deserts and mountains are full of wealth, and are making for tunes for those who work them. Her &uano beds are large and profitable, although her nitrate has of late curtailed the demand for guano, being itself a cheap fertilizer. It is believed that Chile's mountains are full of undiscovered fortunes. Coal of an excellent quality and of unlimited quantities has been discovered south of the mineral belt, and is being mined extensively and profitably. The agricultural belt south of the mining region is a delightful country, covered with farms and dotted with flourishing towns. It is crossed by railroads in many directions, and is as prosperous and delightful a country as can be found. The greater cities are there. But in spite of the fertile soil and climate only irrigation has mado agriculture possible throughout a large part of Chile. The Andes suck the moisture from the winds aad rain is light and infrequent. But the industrious Chileans deflect the rushing rivers from their courses and spread their waters in little ditches over the -country. The system, which travelers describe as very similar "Xl-J pi*'; rpMf r*! Mmm I Wrnrn m A CHILEAN H0U9H. to that used in our Western States, is carried to a degree approaching perfection. The farmers of a section combine to tap a river and ditch its water to their acres, where it is distributed, the expenses being borne in common. Under that system the whole country blooms like a garden. Oranges, lemons, and figs abound toward the north. Then comes the region of flax, com, grapes, olives and peaches. Farther south, where the climate is muoh like that of Great Britain, wheat, barley, rye, flax, and corn are cultivated with immense success in quantities sufficient to supply the nation and export largely. Peru and Bolivia depend to a great extend on Chile for their cereals. Travelers praise that favored part of Chile in words which seems excessive. The timber and fisheries belt, comprising an enormous territory, is almost an unexplored wilderness. Its forest wealth is declared to be unsurpassed, except by the British possessions of North America. The trees are of varieties unknown to us, but ju3t as satisfying to the needs of man. Capital is attacking the edges of the forests, and an export business has been begun with Europe. The fisheries are of immense value. They, too, are entirely undeveloped. The Government is trying to direct immigration into thjt part of the country, with the hope of realizing something of its possibilities. But it is slow work, for the country is wild and occupied by the Araucaniaa Indians, who, if not hostile, are lawless and unpleasant neighbors. The savages are fearless and physically powerful. They are coming under the domination of the Government, to which they have sold their territories little by little. Such is Chile, a country of large area, enormous natural wealth, wonderful physical beauty, and great possibilities. It is surely deserving of domination by a worthy race. The Snow Hut?A Comedy in Two Acts. I . 11 D* '^r'.^jSwi. , ** I I 1 ?Harper's Young People. The largest broom-corn market in Kansas and the third in the United St ites is at Sterling. RELIGIOUS READING. THE SWEETEST WORD. One sweet word of holy meaning Cometh to me o'er and o'er And the echoes of its music Linger ever?evermore. Trust?no other Word we utter Can qo sweet and precious lie, Turning all life's jarring discordB Into heavenly harmony! Clouds of thickest blackness gathered O'er the soul's dark sea of sin, And the port of heaven was guarded From uiv euiltv entering in: Then came Jesus, walking to mo O'er tbe surging waves of sin, Calling, clear "above the tempest. ' He that trusteth, heaven shall win?" Now, through all the sacred pages. Where my woe and doom had been. Gleam those golden words of promise, " He that trusteth, heaven shall win!" Blessed, sure, the blood-bought promise, Let me drink its sweetness in: He that trusts his soul to Jesus," "He that trusteth, heaven shall win!" Trust?0 Saviour! give its fulness To me at thy feet in prayer; Grant my dying lips to breathe it. Leave its lingering sweetness there? Sweetness there, to stay the breaking Of the hearts which love me so; Whispering from my silent coffin, 'Trust the hand which lays me low!" Loved ones, as ve rear the marble Pure above my waiting dust. Grave no other word upon it But the holiest, sweetest?Thust; For this password know the angels, Guarding o'er the pearly door,-4f ass word to His blessed presence, Whom I trust for evermore. gratitude to god. Whatever we may say about man's in gratitude to his fellowmen, there is no question about man's lack of gratitude to God. We are continually receiving mercies and favors from him. and yet, are there not days and days with most of us, in which we lift uo heart and speak no word of praise? Our prayers are largely requests and supplications for help and favor, with but little adoration and worship. We continue asking arid asking, and God continues giving and giving; but how many of us remember always or often to give thanks for answered prayer? The angel of requests?so the legend runs?goes back from earth heavily laden every time he comes to gather up the prayers of men. But the angel of thanksgiving, of gratitude, has almost empty hands as he returns from his errands to this world. Yet ought we not. to give thanks for all that we receive and for every answered request ? If we were to do this, our hearts would always be lifted up toward God in prai?e.? [J. R. Miller, D. D. THY WILL, O GOD, BE DONE. Tliis is a most difficult prayer to utter with heartfelt sincerity; for the grace of submission to a chastening Father is the hardest and the rarest, perhaps, of all Christian attainments?there is such a temptation to any rebellion when the blow cuts <leep. A little 0119 is taken and a "cradle deepens into a grave." A noble and lifted son iateut off in liis sinewy prime?a son who was the whole world to her who leaned upon him. A lovely daughter withers and droops; her beauty falls off like the rose leaves, and presently she goes down to darkness and the'worm. Beside such new-made graves, unbelief mutters its reproaches,'not loud but deep." But submission whinners with falterinz line and choking utterance, "Thy will, o God, be done," A celebrated divine in New England tells us that, soon after the death of his wife, his two lovely children were taken from him, within a few hours of each other. '*My cup of sorrow," he says, "was filled to the brim. I stood a f*w moments and viewed the remains of my two darlings, who had gone to their long home, never to return. I felt at first as if I could not submit to such a complicated affliction. My heart rose in all its strength against the government of God,and then suddenly sank under its distress in a wav that greatly alarmed me. I sprang up and said to myself, 'I am going into distraction; I must submit, or I am undone forever.' In a few moments I was perfectly quiet and resigned to the will of God. I never enjoyed greater happiness t.'iau during that day and the next. My mind was full of God, and I used to look over toward the burying ground, and long for the time when I could be laid beside my departed wife and mv little ones." Vr u. ?... i^OW, I Li 19 VYR9 UCttUlllUi. I1CIC WOO UUC submission. Here was a kissing of the rod until it was found that it bad honey in it. The exccllence of this spirit of submission is. that it quietly permits God to hold the sceptre. It refers everything to him. It leaves everything with him. Sucb faith makes a Christian as quiet "as a child that is weaned of its mother." Such faith sinks the mountain to a plain. It transforms an beir of siu into a marvellous likeuess of bim who, amid the darkness of Getbsemane, cried out, "Nevertheless, Father, not as I will, but as thou wiit."?[Christian Intelligencer. LOVELINESS 07 CHRIST. <lHe is altogether lovely."?Solomon's Song 5.10. Lovely in'his person, in the glorious, allsufticiency of his Deity, gracious purity, and holiness of bis humanity, and authority, and majesty, love and power. Lovely in his birth and incarnation; when he, though rich, for our sakes became poor; taking part of flesh and '.lood,because we partook of the same; being made of woman, that for us He might be made under 1*** l??f ni*an frw nnr fliil'ou IUC IUH J oigu *W4 vu. Lovely in the whole course of his whole life, and the more than angelic holiness and obedience which, in the debt of poverty and pjrseeution^be exercised therein; doing good, receiving evil; blessing, and being cursed, reviled, reproached all his days. Luvcly in his death, yea, therein most lovely to sinners; never more glorious and desirable than when be came broken, dead from the cross. Then be had carried all our sins into a land of forget fulness; then had he procured life and immortality for us. Lovely in his whole employment; in his life, death, resurrection and ascension; being a mediator between God and us, to recover the glory of God's justice, and to save our souls; to bring us to an enjoyment of God, who were set at such an infinite distance from him by sin. Lovely in the glory and majesty wherewith he is crowned. Now he is sec down at the right hand of the majesty on high, where, tho' he is terrible to his enemies, yet he is full of mercy, love and compassion toward bis beloved ones. Lovely in all those supplies of grace and consolation, in all the dispensations of His Holy Spirit, whereof his saints are made partakers. Lovely in all the tender care, power and wisdom, which,he exercises in the protection, safe. guarding and delivery of his church and people, in the midst of "the opposition and prosecution whereunto they are exposed. Lovely in all bis ordinances; and the whole of tint spiritually glorious worship which he bath appointed to his people, whereby they draw nigh and have communion with Him and his Father. Lovely in the pardon he hath pnrchased and doth dispense, in the reconciliation he hatb established in the peace he communicates, in the consolation be doth administer, in the peace pnd joy he gives bis saints, in his assumed preservation of them unto glory. What shall I say? There is no end of his excellencies and desirableness. "He is altogether lovely.'' This is our Beloved and this is our Iriend, 0 daughter of Jerusalem.? [Owen. German newspapers are printing the assertion that the weight of the World's Fair buildings will cause them to break through the crust of the earth, with the result of precipitatln the entire city of Chicago forty feet and submerging it under r XfinViifTon 'Rut, nnhnriv nppri uatvc stay away from the fair on this account. It is probable that the German papers are mistaken, but if their prophecy were fulfilled the city and the show would go on just the same. Chicago is not only a phoenix In a fire?it is a duck in a deluge. vq? ^?????????WM?> SABBATH SCHOOL INTERNATIONAL LESSON FOR FEBRUARY 21. Lesson Text* "Jehuiakim's Wickedness," Jeremiah zxxri., 19-31? Golden Text: Reb. Hi., 15 ?Commentary. 19. '-Then said the princes onto Barucb, Go hide thee, thou and Jeremiah, and let no man know where ye be." tfaruch was Jeremiah's scribe, ana bad just been reading in the ears of the people, in tne Lord's house, upon the fasting day, the words of the Lord, which he had written from the mouth of Jeremiah (verses 6. b). Ihe Lord gave these words to Jeremiah in the hope that the people might turn and be forgiven (verses 3, 7), for He is ever seeking to save, fiarudt having read to the people is sent for to read the words to the princes, which, having heard, they are afraid,\ inquire further, ana then give counsel as in this verse, being friendly to the prophet. 20. "And they went into the king and told all the words in the ears o* the king." Jehoiakim was the son of Josiah the good king, but was very different from his father. He was preceded by his brother Jehoahaz, who reigned only three months, and was then carried captive into Egypt (II Chron. TTTVj., 1-5). 21. ''So the king sent Jehudi to fetch the ..n 3 r?i? i i- 4l. .< luii, auu ocuuui icou iu iu tuo cars kjl uki king, and in the ears of all the princes.* This is the will of 'God, that kinzs, princes and people in all the world should hear Hia word This is the responsibility of all who bare the word, that they should give It or read it to others; and if we are only willing He will set before us open doors. All results are with Him. He will see to it. 22. "Now the king sat in the winter houso in'the ninth month, and there was a fire on the hearth burning before him. Winter and summer houses, and houses of ivory are spoken of to indicate the luxury and self indulgence of the people (Amos iii., 15). If the fasting day of verse 6 was the fast of atonement, in the seventh month (Lev. xvi., 29), then some little time (over a month) elaosed between Baruch's first reading and this read-. tag before the king. 23. "He cut it with the penknife and cast it into the fire that was on the hearth, until all the roll was consumed in the fire that was on the hearth." This was his treatment of: ' - rp^;' the word of the God of Israel upon whoso throne he sat (I Chron., nil., 23) and whow representative he ought to have been. Coo-, . trast his father's treatment of the word oC; God (II Kings, xxii, 11). And Jehoiakim did dot do worse than the professors and preach- " '?? ers of our day who in the name of "higher $ criticism," or "science," or something else; penknife the Bible, cutting out what ther please, refusing us anything supernatural, and assuring us that even Jesus Christ was v not an infallible authority in ail things. All $ such had better heed Isa., viii., 30, B. V. 24. "Yet thev were not afraid, nor rent their garments." And no more ore then unbelieving critics of oar timee, who are thus hastening on to their own dectraetiea and leading multitudes with them. 25. "Nevertheless Elnjithan made Intercession to the king that he would not bam the roll, bathe would not hear them." If anyone will not receive the truth God will . let them believe a lie (II .Thesu. ii., 10-12), but fearful will be the result (chapter xlii.. 151?). Elnathan and the others did well .to plead for the word, even though they pleaded in vain. Ood will not forget it. 26. "But the king commanded to take . Barucb, the scribe, and Jeremiah, the prophet. but the Lord bid them." Not only did he not fear to destroy the Word of the . . } Lord, bat he feared not to kill His servants also if he could lay hands on them. Rebellion fearfully hardens heart. How safe are those whom God hides; see how securely He hid Elijah (I Kings xviiL. 10). Compare fs. xxvii.. 5, rxxu., 7, ana give gooa neea to Zeph. ii., 3; Luke xzL, 36 that yon may I rejoice in Col. iii? 3. 27. "Then the word of the Lord-came to Jeremiah after that the kinz had horned the | roll." The Lord had seen it all and observed it; He had now more work for Jefaniah and ? k lew just where to find him. The prophet , h 1 only to hold himself ready for anything - > I tli t Jehovah might require, either to app 3 ir or to be hidden, to speak or to be quiet, tj do or to suffer. - % 28. "Take thee again another roll, and < write it in all the former words that were in the first roll." In verse 8-2 it. is said that many more words were added. It is impossible to destroy the word of God All efforts to do so have only increased the number of copies. The Bible has been compared i ,'y. to a man who has been shot and hung and drowned and burned in the fire and scattered to the wind?, and yet in some wonderful way id more alive than ever. 29. "Thus saith the Lord, Thou hast burned this roll, saying. Why hast thou written therein, sayin? /' The king hated the book because it told of a coming judgment; so the Bible is now hated by many because it tells o! a lake of Ore for tbe ungodly, and of everlasting punishment, an4 of coming judgments. But though many may penknite these things out of their Bibles, and hate those who preach them, yet the s ' facts stand. 31, 33. "Therefore thus saith the Lord of Jehoiakim, king of Judab, I will punish him, and his seed, and his servants, for their iniquity, but they hearkened not." His miserable death and wretched treatment of j his body, with evils upon* his seed and king. dom are here foretold, and all came to pass*. The beliver not only has a redeemed soul now, but will have a renemed body, too, just like the bodv of his JLord, and shall sit with Him on His tbrone, and no evil can befall him (1 John iii., 2, 3; m in., -m, zi. Rev. iii., 21: Ps. xci., 9, 10). Bat the prospect before the unbeliever is as indescribably awful as the other is glorious. (See I Thess. i., 7-10; Math, xxv., 41; Rer. xlv., 911.) God has provided salvation for all and is not willing that any should perish, s .> but how shall any escape who neglect so great a salvation* And what a fearful responsibility rests upon all who in anv way. add. to or diminish the word oi God (Rev. audi., 18, 19; Deut. iv? 2; xii., 32; Prov. xxx., 6). With many today the whole book of Revelation is completely set aside, and preachers tell their hearers not to read it; whereas in this book all the other books of the Bible end and meet, and in it is the consummation of all previous prophecy. It is the only book of all the sixty-six that contains a special blessin? upon reader and hearer (Rev. i., 3). I myself have heard ODe oC the most popular preachers and Bible teachers of to-day say that he would not think of taking a text from either Daniel or Revelation if he could Tielp it. I do not wonder that the same man said that the Jews were no more to God than the Indians of our country. What difference is there between such a man and the king of Judah who cut and burned the word of God? Is not this man the worst of the two.?Lesson Helper. it is now time to call John Chinaman to a halt. The Chinese "rebellion" appears to be another name for a deliberate wholesale attack upon civilization, wherever it has taken root in the miscalled Celestial Empire. If China expects to escape punishment for such misdeeds as the slaughter of more than a thousand native Christians, the massacre of missionaries, and the spreading throughout tha or?inirr> nf rlrvMimpntfl rAvllinor C!hrif^ tianity, she will find herselfc vastly mistaken. Let us hope that th? United States will be represented in Chinese waters, when the time cornea to bring John back to his senses, by at least two or three good war shipa. John is anything but Celestial Just D0W* ? France has lost no time in moving Into line with Russia's policy, and has picked a quarrel with Bulgaria because that plucky little nation has expelled a French journalist, who was maligning all things Bulgarian. Will France now take the liberty of going up past the Sultan's forts into the Black Sea, with a view to giving Bulgaria a lesson? This would be pretty certain to bring about a disturbance in Europe.