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Sfe; ;4 THEMY5TI jtlgggjp > Author. ofu The Mouse l Copyright, 1895, by I CHAPTER XIX. Continued. "So, you've been a-vlsiting, have you, 'sir?" she said, in a deep, gruff whisper, glancing up at the gloomy windows of Shingle End. "Aye, they want a few lively folk to come and see 'em and cheer 'em up, for sure!" And she gave him a series of nods . and shakes of the head, all of which were meant to carry weighty meaning. "Well, this isn't the best place in the worlil fr?r nponlo who are fond of 'company,' is It?" said Clifford. "I dare say you ' feel lonely yourself sometimes, don't you ?" "Well, I get some I don't expect sometimes, sir," she answered, with mystery. "Two nights ago, now, I had a young lady In 'ere?a young lady you may know, sir, who was very much talked about last year, poor dear " Clifford's sudden start Into vivid interest made her break off and look at him attentively. She smiled know4ngly. S ' - v "Maybe you know who I mean, sir?" "Miss Claris?" asked he, with as much apparent indifference as he could. ' y "Aye, sir. She was in my cottage over an hour, and sorry enough I felt for her, I must say, whatever people think." v And the old woman, who probably knew more than she affected to do about Clifford and his feeling toward Miss Claris, gave a sigh, and again found relief In her feelings in a~shake of the head. "Where is sne now? Do you know?' asked Clifford, no longer disguising his interest "If it's a secret," he went on, as the old lady said nothing, "I think yon will not do wrong in confiding it to me, as I wish her all the good in the world." "It's well there's some as do, sir," said she, with a suddenly lowered voice. "And I don't know as I'm doing harm in telling you she is staying at Courtstairs, up Paradise Hill, No. 45. And you can tell her if you see her as I wouldn't have told nobody but you." Clifford was overwhelmed with joy at this unexpected piece of good for tune, and he promised at once to give her message. "By the bye," he said, just as he was about to start off in the direction of CourtstaJrs, "are you at liberty to * tell me what she was doing here? Was the visiting the Bostals?" "You mustn't ask me any more," die said. "There's things one mustn't bo much as guess at," she added, enigmatically, as she retreated to her own doorway. Clifford did not trouble his head about these, hints. It was enough for him that Nell was now within (liis reach. And he set off for Courtstairs " with a set purpose in his mind. The walk along the straight marsh road, with the wind in his face, and the sea a misty blue line on his right hand, seemed never-en<fing. Clifford had no eyes for the effect of sunset an,the chalk cliff to his right; for the picturesque little farm perched up high above the water's edge, as he drew near to Beach Bay. Past the Shooter's Arms, the way side inn which happily forms the limit - of the explorations of the devastating hordes from the East End of London with which benevolent railway companies have ruined one of the pleasantest spots in England. Past the tiny village of Beach, with its picturesque, steep miniature street, and Its hideous Convalescent Home and waste of brand-new tea-garden. Up on the Beach road, in full sight of the sea and of the fishing fleet coming in upon the breast of the tide. Clifford saw nothing, thought of nothing but how to save a yard, a minute, so that he might lose no time in reaching his darling. He had to inquire for Paradise Hill, which proved to be one of the innumerable back streets of mean houses of which the town chiefly consists. He found No. 45 easily enough. It was one of a row of small, yellow brick houses, with bay-windows on the ground floor, which would formerly have been called cottages, but which, since the School Board brought in pretension, have become "villas." Clifford's heart sank a little as he asked for "Miss Claris." This stuffy little dwelling, after the fresh air of the rambling inn by the shore, must be a torture to the girl. ' The woman who opened the door looked at him sulkily. "I'll see if she's in," she said, as if the nroffererl service wns n crpnt con. descension. And then she disappeared into the front room. When she came out again she was followed by Nell herself. Or was it Nell? This thin-faced, white girl, with the dull, frightened eyes? For the first moment Clifford was hardly sure. But she started violently, and the expression of her face changed. The look of alarm gave place to one of such joy, such comfort and radiant delight that Clifford was too much moved to speak. They both stood silent until the woman had reluctantly disappeared into the back room of the house. Then . Nell went into the front room, inviting him, still without a word, to follow lier. He did so, shut the door, and seized her in his arms. He could scarcely see her face for the mist before his eyes. "I' didn't know you, Nell." "Didn't you? All, well, It doesn't matter." She spoke hopelessly, her first Impulse of joy at the sight of him seernv ing to have died within her already. 4 "No, of course it doesn't matter, for " . ' ER.T-orTtt^ Va-rd^n,'1*' j on flic Aarsh," ercj lobert Bonner's Sons.' I mean you to look your own self ; again immediately. Do you know why 1 I have come here, Nell?" 1 She was silent. "I have come to marry you." j Nell shook her head, but she drew a ; long sigh of satisfaction. "I like to hear you say so. It is good \ of you," she said, in a gentle, timid i voice, "although it is impossible." 1 "Why?" i "Oh, you don't want me to go over the old ground again. Can't you be i satisfied that it is Impossible?" \ "No, I can't, unfortunately. My f darling, you can't hold out any longer. ] It was dignified to reruse oerore; now it would only be foolish. Who Is going to take care of you now, Nell, if you won't have me?" But he had touched a tender spot, and she begah to cry softly. "Poor uncle!" sobbed she. "It nearly broke my heart when he did not know even me. And then when they took him away " "Was he harmless?" asked Clifford, interrupting. I "Yes; he was quite harmless, and would let me manage him always. And the police came and?and took him away." "The police? Do you mean that?" "Yes. they have haunted us both ever since we left the Blue Lion," whispered she, earnestly. "And I know they are trying to find out the mystery ?you know what ?through him. Isn't It dreadful!" Clifford did not answer at once. It seemed to him that tbe chances of bis being able to save the girl were growing small indeed. Her own utter hopelessness, her nervous dread, had affected him during the short silenops hetwpen their Questions and an- i swers to each other; she seemed to be always listening, straining her ears for any sound outside. The cry of a street urchin made her staxt, a cart passing quickly -at the corner of the street sent the blood to her forehead. Her nerves, poor child, were altogether shaken. Clifford looketf at her in dismay. Even the strong love which had stood every test was apparently powerless to give her more than momentary comfort. \ "My darling," he whispered, "let me take you up to town to-night I will take you straight to your aunt's, and in the shortest time possible I will marry you, and take you out of England altogether." Nell drew back and stared at him. "You don't understand," Bhe said. "This case is., really coming on now. The police don't disguise that they know enough to go upon now. I have the strongest reason, the very strongest, for believing that they will come for me to-day." "To arrest yon?" cried Clifford, hoarsely. She began to tremble and to look at him askance. "No,.not to arrest me," and she shuddered. Then a look of terror, more acute than ever, came into her eyes. "Perhaps that Is it. Perhaps that is really what they mean to do," she whispered doubtfully. "They said ATrt/lon /*?-? +V\AT7 T*TO n+flH / 11 W?0 UUAjr MJLAJ KliUVUWC fcUVJ TTUUVVW, V but?but?" She hesitated?stopped. Clifford's ( heart was wrung. Surely no jury that ever sat could convict this poor, help-. ( less, gentle girl of anything but unconscious crime. He would have staked his life that she was as inno- t cent of these mysterious crimes in in- < tent as he was himself of them in- ( deed.** ' 1 "My darling!?my poor darling!?of i course they only want your evidence." i But his own voice shook and his < eyes were dim. He tried to cheer her, ? to encourage her to say words which s he could hardly feel, but the girl scarcely seemed to hear him. Sud- ] denly, in the midst of his vain efforts ( at consolation, she stood up. . s "They are come." said she. Clifford started up. He had heard < Unf Vnll'o no Dflrc 1 AiV lUJUgl A^UW 41 W ^/MVAVMV w 4 were keener than his. In another moment there was a knock at the outer door. And then a knock at the door of the room. He lobked round wildly, and, seizing her arm, would h&ve < had her hide herself behind the little ] sofa, but she smiled sadly and shook ^ her head. < "Come in!" she said. ( And as th% girl had foretold with ( uncannily correct prophecy, a ser- 1 geant of police from Stroan, very 1 civil, very apologetic and humane, 1 presented himself. ' "Very sorry, Miss, to have to in- ' trude," said he. "But I must ask you 1 to come along with me as far as 1 Stroan, just to tell the magistrate 1 something that will help' us on a bit." ' "This is not an arrest?" said Clif- 1 ford, trying to hide his anxiety,. . "No, sir." But Nell's white face seemed to betray the belief that it was. CHAPTER XX. There was just one ray of consolation for Clifford King in the misfor- 1 tune which had befallen Nell. She | seemed to him, in spite of the trem- ( bling of her limbs and the pallor of j her face, to be more relieved than de- j pressed by the arrival of the police. It was with perfect' self-possession , that she turned to the sergeant and j said: "May I speak to Mr. King alone be- : fore I go?" ( "Certainly, Miss. Perhaps you would like to walk as far as Beach with Mr. j King, and we will have a cab waiting there to take you on to Stroan." , This course was agreed upon, and ( Nell and Clifford left the house to- < gether. They walked in perfect silence until they had passed through the unlovely back streets of the town, and had reached the contiguous vil- i lage of St. Mary's, with its gray old church on the high ground. They stopped for a moment In the shadow of the tall tower. Clifford looked at the girl by his side, and was amazed to see that the gloom which had hung over her on his arrival had melted away. "Why, Nell," said he, with a puzzled Bmile on his own face, "I told you that you would soon be your own self again, but I didn't guess how quickly the transformation would take place." Her face clouded a little, but the sigh she gave was one of more relief tnao pain. "Can you imagine what it would be like," she asked, gravely, as they turned and continued their walk down the crooked village street, "to live for months in perplexity and dread of you didn't quite know what? And then to find yourself groping your way to a dreadful, shameful secret, which was bound to bring misery and disgrace upon yourself and everybody you cared about? Supposing that you were forced to confess every thingforced to do it, mind?wouldn't it be a relief to you, even if you brought upon yourself a dreadful punishment?" Clifford was Bilent He was alarmed by her words, Indicating as they did that she was involved in the horrible story; yet he did not wish to acquiesce In the idea of her guilt, or even in the aotion of her having been a passive agent in the tragedy. Nell Insisted, however, on getting in answer from him. "I think, darling," he then said, rery tenderly, "that you Lave been :roubling yourself a great deal more ?an you need have done. And that rou will find plenty of other people as ready as I am to say that Nell Claris would never merit a dreadful pun-' shment, even it she tried." These words were not said merely to satisfy her. He began to feel, as she did, that the thrashing out of the (vhole matter, horrible as the process nust be, was better for her in every tvay than the suspense from which she had been so long suffering. Whatever her share in the affair might Have been, it had certainly been a passive and an unwilling, if not an altogether unconscious one. His answer seemed to content the girl, for she svalked on by his side without any further remark, while a more placid jxpression began to appear 'in her ivan face. It was almost in silence that they tvent on walking briskly in the direction of the bay, which they reached ?y the short way over the fields. A :ab was waiting, as the police Serjeant had promised, on the road outside the village. As soon as Nell saw t she stopped short and said: "I was forgetting what I wanted to say to you. I want you to go to Shingle End. And I want you to tell :hem there?to tell the Colonel? that ;he police, bav^ come for me." "To tell the Colonel?" echoed Clifford, stupidly, struck with a remembrance of the vague suspicions he had lad on his recent visit to that gentlenan's house. "Yes." He wanted to ask her more quesions. But 6he saw his intentions, and talked briskly on. A few paces farther she was met ty the police sergeant, who saluted her respectfully, md held.,ppen the door of the cab. Sell turned and gave her band in sience to Clifford . But as he pressed it 'or a brief-moment in his, she again ooked up In his face with the flicker >f a smile on her lips and in her eyes. "Surely," thought ne to himself, 'it Is hope, and not despair, which I tee in her eyes!" The cab door was shut, and Clifford vho had a long walk before him, valked briskly past It, in the direction tho Rtrnnn mud. Riir hpfnrp hp had jone many steps he heard the voice >f the police sergeant behind him. Clifford stepped and the sergeant >veftooK him. "Might I ask, sir, whether it's to Colonel Bostal's you're going?" "Well, yes." "Might I suggest, Sir that you ihouldn-'t say anything about Miss Claris to. the old gentleman and his laughter for the present? The poor' ady and gentleman have been in a 'earful state of nervousness lately; md 'if this new'S was to come on them luite suaden, It might bring on a stroke, perhaps, or something of that lort." Clifford hesitated. He had promised Sell to take her message, but, on the >ther hand, be quite agreed with the sergeant He temporized. . "Well, I shall be as careful as I ;an, and I shan't be in any great lurry." To be Continued. Farmer* Their Own Bankers. One of the great features of the cooperative movement which is doing so much to promote the welfare of the [rish people is to be found in the agricultural banks, or credit associations, ;onductea on tne system nrst introduced in Germany by Herr Raiffersen in 1849. Where money is scare a number of people form themselves into a society, and on their joint, unlimited engagement to be responsible for its liabilities, are able to obtain money enough for their needs. They borrow at four or five per cent, and lend at six per cent., the difference going toward expenses and reserve. On deposits from its members the bank allows four per cent.?considerably more than the Postofflce Savings Bank. There are now fifty-two of these banks at work [n Ireland, with a membership of over 1000.?London Express. Mother Always Won. They are not exactly bad boys, these two in a certain East ~j.emphis family, but they are invariably quarreling and Sghting with one another. Probably It was the fact of frequent parental Intervention that caused the few pauses In hostilities. At any rate, they are rather famous in their neighborhood. One day not long since one of the neighbors, who was fond of contests of any kind, asked: "Edwin, when you and your brother agnt so mucn, wno generally wuipsr Edwin gave a little wriggle as if in sympathy with memories of recent oc: curronces, and . said, resignedly: "Mother."?Memphis Scimitar. Blobbs?"The girl young Bjones is engaged to is quite intellectual, isn't she?" Slobbs ?"Yes; they say she never writes him a love letter without having It copyrighted."?Philadelphia Record. /. V - . . ' . , 1 A New Solution. r ? % HE world may become indebt- r I .J Dusclnfnro nQTtr mflthfld | t'U IU ivuooimviu uc u auv.-wm ] of overland transportation. The device in question is that of Prince Khllkoff, the Czar's Minister ] of Ways and Communication, and is so simple that one is inclined to wonder that it was not thought of before. The plan contemplates the employment of automobiles of from three to six horse power for hauling ordinary carts over tramways made of boards, sheet iron, cement or any material that may be found readily at hand. Stone, Iron , and wooden tramways have been used for transportation from time Immemorial; traction road engines are not new, nor can the idee of drawing farmers' or carters' wagons In trains from farm to factory to the nearby market towns or railway centres be regarded as a novelty. The traction engines hitherto thought of in this connection, however, are comparatively dlow, expensive and so heavy that a considerable portion of the power generated by them would be required to haul their own weight. Moreover, a prerequisite for their successful employment is a hard, smooth and costly road. Prince Khilkoff's Initial experiments were conducted in the park surrounding his home. Ordinary sleepers were laid down, and upon these two lines of planks were nailed, Instead of rails, at a distance apart corresponding to that of the automobile wheels. Wooden combings were placed on the outer sides of the planks as guards, to prevent the machine , from leaving the track. With an ordinary three and one-half horse power carriage a cart laden with bricks, and weighing with Its contents nearly two tons, was easily hauled over the wooden tramway at a speed of twelve versts an hour. The estimated cost of a tramway constructed like the foregoing Is less than 2000 rubles per verst, while tj}e cheapest macadamized road would cost five times as much. The first practical experiment of the new system is to be made between Tsarkoe-Selo and the new water works, which are being built a few versts from that city. The line will be laid over swampy ground, where an ordinary road could not be built. Various substances will be tried for the new automobile rails, such as iron, cement and different kinds' of wood. In the event of the success of this j experiment, of which there.is no reasonable doubt, the system is to be ex- ' tended throughout the empire as a supplementary means of transportation between points not reached by railways. Another consideration moving the Russian Minister to extend the system Is the impracticability of ordinary Russian roads for carriages and carts in the spring and autumn, when the wheels are apt to sink hub deep into mire. The considerations are as valid in the greater part of this country as they are in Russia, and It Is quite possible that the general adoption of Prince KhllkofTs plan would be the solution of the haulage problem in the rural districts of the United States. An automobile can be bought at a price but little exceeding that of a team of horses, and costs incomparably less to keep. The cheapness of the timber tramway would lay the road tax bogy, which fills farmers with apprehension whenever Improved roadways are mentioned. The point which would count most heavily in favor of the tramway principle is Its adaptability to all locations. On any sort of soil the sleepers and board rails could be laid "with equal celerity and ease. No clay would be too soft, nor sand, too deep for It; the road could be made to follow the rubble stone bank of dry river, and it would not be necessary t6 make long detours around marsh lands. On grounds of economy and general utility, the plan appeals to one so strongly that it would be surprising if some of the freeholders or supervis- i ors of our progressive rural communities should not give it an early trial.? Philadelphia Record. New Method of Boad Building. A noyel system of road construction has been successfully resorted to in Monmouth, 111. The ground was pre- , pared for it by grading and being al- i lowed to remain so for two months. It was treated to an occasional scrap- < ing.so that it would pack evenly, being thus rendered hard and even for the laying of a surface of brick, the chief constructive feature. The first 1 thing was the setting of a curbing, \ made of two by six inch planks seven I feet apart, held by oak stakes eighteen inches long and put down every foui feet. Inside of this was a five-inch ( bed of sand, all evened up, and a single . course of No. 1 paving brick then put i down, a fine roadbed being thus ob- 1 tained. Outside the curb two feet of crushed rock were laid, graded up to make an easy approach, this plan in- i suring a way of eleven feet in width, ' and, as the earth on each side was J graded and worked, there was altogether a width of some forty feet, affording tracks on each side for use in dry weather. Such a brick road costs ? about ninety cents a running foot. Handling Farm Products. j An item in the report of the Industrial Commission, at Washington, shows that the cost of handling farm products over the country roads is estimated at $900,000,0.00 a year, oq j more than the entire cost of operating ; all the railroads of the United States, i which is placed at $S1S,000,000. That ! seems inconceivable, but no doubt it is approximately true, except in the fact that the farmers don't pay in money for the use of their teams, but | in unestimated labor. ' i I The Industrial Discoverer. , It is not the boy who is surroundea ( by the best implements and tools that ingenuity can manufacture, but an Eli Whitney making a cotton gin in a eel-, lar in the South with the simplest! tools, or a Cunard whittling the model of a ship with a jackknife, that makes, great Industrial discoveries?Success, jIOD'S message to man 'REGNANT THOUGHTS FROM THE WORLD'S GREATEST PROPHETS.' ?oein: Thou Enoneit My Life's Deep / Story-There Come* a Time When ETery. Man Can Do Something to Make Tlilr World Better. ' Thou knowest, Lord! Thou know'st iny life's deep story, And all the mingled good and ill I do! Thou see'st my shame, my few stray gleams of glory; Where I am false, and where my soul rings true. Lord! I am glad Thou know'st my inmost being, Glad Thou dost Bearch the secrets of my heart; [ would not hide one folly from Thy seeing, Nor shun Thy healing touch to save the smart. Like warp and woof the good and ill are blended; Nor do I see the pattern that I weave. Yet in Thy love the whole is compr& hended, And in Thy hand my future lot I leave. Only, dear Lord, make plain the path ol duty. .. Let not my shame and sorrow weigh me down, Lest in despair I fail to see its beauty, And, weeping vainly, miss the victor'j crown. ?H. W. Hawlze* The World Beantlfnl. There will come to every manly man times in his life when he will see thai there is something which is legitimate!} his, something which he has a right to, something which nobody can blame him if he takes and enjoys to the fullest, and yet something by whose voluntary and uncompelled surrender he can help his fel low-man and aid the work of Christ and make the world better. Then will com# that man's trial. If he fails and cannot make the sacrifice nobody will blame him; he will simply sink into the great multitude of honorable, respectable, self-indul. gent people who take the comfortably things which everybody owns they are en titled to, and Jive their easy life without a question.- But if.he is of better stuf?, and makes tho renunciation of comfort for I higher work then he goes up and stands^ humbly, but really?with Jesus Christ. Ht. enters into that , other range, that othei sort of life where Jesus Christ lived. H< is perfectly satisfied with that higher life He does not envy, he does not grudge, the self-indulgent lives which he has left behind. He does not count up what he hat lost; he does not ask whetner he is bap pier or less happy that he would have been if he had kept what everybody says he had a right to keep. It is not "a question ol happiness with him at all, but gradually, without his seeking it he finds that the soul of the happiness which he has left behind him is in him still. Like fountain; of sweet water in the sea it rises up. and keeps him a living soul. He has left the world's pleasures and its privileges onl> to draw nearer to its necessities, whieij are its real life. So what he gave he keep! a thousandfold even in this present time, and eternity is still before him. in the end everlasting life.?Phillips Brooks. Daily Trials. Trials have no meaning-unless they mt means to an end. The end is the inheritance; and sorrows here are the earnest oi inheritance. Measure the greatness of the glory by what has preceded it. If a fail measure of the greatness of any result be the length of time taken for getting it ready, we can dimly conceive what that joy must be for which seventy years of strife and sorrow are but a momentary preparation; and what must be. the weight of that glory which is the counterpoise and consequence to the afflictions oi this lower world. The deeper God plunges the comet into the darkness, the closer does it come to the-sun at its nearest distance, and the longer does it stand glowing in the full blaze of the gjoi^ from the central orb. So in our revolution, the measure of the distance from the farthest point of our darkest earthly sorrow to the throne maVhelp ue to the closeness of the glory above when we are on the throne; for, if so be that we are sons, we must suffer with Him; if so be that we suffer, we must be gloriiied together.?Dr. Alexander Maclaren. Sympathise With Others. Because we have sorrows of our own wt> must not be indifferent to those of others. Grace removes all selfishness out of personal grief and develops a fellow-feeling for another's afflictions. True Christians are drawn all the more closely through common trials. As we need sympathy and help in what we endure, so do others in their tribulations, and it becomes us to give out, as well as take in, kindly consol-, ation and assistance. Our Saviour suffered, but it was that He might be all the more able to sympathize with and aid | His people.?.Presbyterian. Salvation. Salvation is not secured by obedience tft a rite, by the observance of a code of rules, or even by obedic-nce to a creed, pronounced orthodox. A man may be praised in all.these and yet be under the wrath of God, and his character be scarred by passion and self-indulgence. The only condition of salvation is faith which believes in Him that justifies the ungodly and receives into the heart the very nature of Jesus to become the power of the new life. "He that bath the Son hath life."?F. B. Meyer. Sympathy. Sympathy is one of the most practical in all the catalogue, of the Christian 'graces, md without it our profession of faith and love is as sounding brass or a tinkling uymbal.?Rev.. Charles E. Nash, Baptist, New York. The Be?t Prayer. The richest men in heart and soul are those who have no rating in Bradstreet's. rhe best prayer is a prayer for independ>nce, neither riches nor poverty.?Rev. .harles H. Eaton, Universalist, New York. Religion's Dm. Religion is of the highest use in enrich* i'i)? life, instilling hopes and raising the iignity of work and giving a sacredness :o patient drudgery.?Bishop William Lawrence, Episcopalian, Massachusetts. Rely on God's TTord. The thing that makes your life and nine divine is the fact that God keeps Sis engagements. His word is to be aejended upon.?Rev. Frank W. Gunsaulus, jentml Church, Chicago. Practice What Yon Tray For. Pray modestly as to the things of thib ife; earnestly for what may be helps to rour salvation; intensely for salvation itself, that you may ever behold God, love 3od. Practice in life whatever you pray or, and God will give it to you more abunlantiy.?E. B. Puasey. Man's Privilege and Hope. A-t ~C U ??? ,'o rnon'e nnaif inn r VUW UI law W ????? ? ^ lure. In Christ is his position by grace, ro live for Christ is man's earthly privilsge. To reign with Christ at least is his iope through the gospel.?Rev. W. Rightt. Methodist Protestant. Pittsburg. Shower Baths For Boy Pupils. The experiment is being tried in a large jublic school of New York City of giving 3oys shower baths in the basement. The :quipment is such that each boy can have t bath once in two weeks?a good deal of:ener than the boys would bathe othervise. The baths are taken in recess time, ind the institution is said to be Dopular. Washington Position For Parker. Parker, the negro, who savs he struck 1 the murderer of President McKinlcy jus1 after the shooting, has been, through Sen ators Hanna and Mason, appointed a Sen ate messenger. He says his appointment will silence the detectives who disputec the truth of his actions. - ?. jm .. -? THE, 'SABBATH SCHOOl / ?? INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS v* FOR JANUARY 19. _ Subject: The Early Christian Church, Act* 11., 37-47-Golden Text, Acts zl.t 47Atemory Verses, 37-39?Commentary on the Day's Wesson. . 37. "They were pricked." These earnest -words delivered by the apostle "pricked" in their hearts. This word de notes to pierce or penetrate with a needle, and thus to pierce with grief or acute pain of any kind. They were stung with remorse and alarm; convicted of sin and deeply distressed. 'Hen and brethren.'' i nis -was an expression-denoting anecston-. ate earnestness. "What shall we do." How can we escape the wrath that seem* certain to fall upon us because of having crucified the Messiah? This is the question asked by every penient sinner. See Acts 9: 6; 16: 30. They had a sense oi guilt and danger and a readiness to yield to the claims of God. Every door of nope seemed shut in their faces, but a great deal is done when men begin to inquire the way. 38. "Peter s^id." Peter does not act as superior to the other apostles, but as BDokestaan for all of them. "Repent." Evangelical repentance is, first, contrition; second, reformation. 39. 'Tor the promise." The promised influences of the Holy Spirit, and of pardon and salvation through repentance and faith in the Redemer. "Unto you." Even the murderers of God's Son Srere included to the invitation to come and repern, and ODenly confess Ohrist, and live for the glory of His name. 40. "Many other words." Thus we see , that this account is only a brief report of Peter's discourse. "Testify." The same word is translated "charge" in 1 Tim. 5: 21, and might be so rendered here. He bore witness-to the promises of Christianitv; to the truths pertaining to the danger of sinners and to the truth respecting the character of that generation. * "Exhort." Entreating them by arguments and promises. "Save yourselves." Do those things necessary to your salvation. Forsake' your sins and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. "This crooked generation" (R. V.) They were, to save themselves from the condemnation pronounced against that wicked and backslidden nation, "which had upon it the guilt of special crime, and , a doom of special destruction." Many a man has lived in a crooked generation and has kept straight. 41. "Then." Immediately, at the close of the sermon. A prompt acceptance of the word'is the beginning of trne conversion. "That received His word" (E. V.) While "gladjy" is omitted in the E. V., yet it is true that those who come to Christ should come gladly, "rejoicing in the privilege of becoming reconciled to God." "Were baptized." As a sign that they had accepted Christ as their 8aviour. "The same day." While 3000 were added < to the number of Christians in one dav, it does not say that this number was baptized in one day. "Three thousand." This was a glorious beginning for the infant church; the disciples would be greatly encouraged. "Souls." Persons. This was the first effusion of the Holy Spirit under the preaching of the gospel, and it shows that such scenes are to be expected in the church, and that the gospel is fitted to work a rapid and mighty change in the i hearts of men. This was an amazing draught of fishes on the part of Peter.1 42. "They continued steadfastly." Perseverance is the result of a fixed purpose. Peter was definite in his preaching. The people were definite in their decisions. "In the anostles' doctrine." In the doctrine taught by the apostles, which .they | received of Jesus and preached under the inspiration of the Holy Ghost. Any attempt to edify without instruction and doctrine as the basis, is neither in accordance with the example and command of Jesus, nor with the practice and "principles of the apostles, and is therefore unevangelical. "And fellowship."' The Snirit united them in the bonds of p^ce. "In breaking of bread<" \ In token of their love and unity as the family of God, the brethren of one Parent. "In prayers." United prayer strengthened the tie of Christian brotherhood, and kept them baotized into one Snirit. 43.. "Fear came." Awe and reverence took the place of human philosophy. No frivolous conversation nad place among them, but rather a pious, devotional attitude possessed them. "Many signs and wonders were done." Not human experiments, but divine operations through men devoted to the service of God. 44. "All things common." Themselves and all they had belonged to God, to i whom also belonged their poorer brethren, | and they held what they possessed in trust for God and His saints. There was no community of goods absolutely and universally enforced as a necessary and permanent arrangement of the church. This is plain from Acts 5: 4; 9: 38; 12: 12; 21: 16: Heb. 10: 34; 13: 2. 5, 16; 1 Cor. 16: 2. 45. "Possessions." Lands, houses. "Goods." Personal property. "Parted." Indicating that the sale ana distribution took place from time to time as called for. "Had need." They did not sell all their possessions or relinquish their title to all their property, but they so far regarded all as common as to be willing to part with i :* it -rrmo nosdful frt crmnlv the wants of the others. It is still the duty of the church to supply the needs of its poor members. 46. "In the temple." This does not mean that they were continually in the temple, but they did not forsake the tetaple services and were present at the hours of prayer?at 9- o'clock in the morning, at noon, and at 3 in the afternoon. "Breaking bread at home" (R. V.) This may mean that select companies ate together at their lodqings when they returned from public worship. This was probably an ordinary meal, eaten together, and closing with the Lord's suDper. "Meat." This means food of any kind. "Gladness." Rejoiteing. This is one of the effects of the grace of God. Gloom cannot exist in a heart where the Holv Ghost dwells. "SinrrTonooa <>f Heart." This means with a sin cere and pure heart. They were satisfied and thankful. There was no deceit or hypocrisy. 47. "Praising God." Their hearts were full of praise, it is as natural for Christians to praise God as to breathe. "Having favor." The common people heard them gladly. They were esteemed for their simplicity and charity, and for the purity and loveliness of their lives. The Jewish leaders had not yet entered into a systematic opposition to them. "The Lord added." It is the work of the Holy Ghost to save men and bring them into the church. "That were being saved" (R. V.) Only saved men are fit subjects to be received into the Christian church. When a church becomes filled up with unsaved, worldly people, it ceases to be a church and sinks to the level of a mere BOciaJ institution. Pearls the Tomb* of Worm*. That all large pearls are nothing but sarcophagi, in the centre of which rest the dead bodies of small marine worms, is asserted by M. Raphacfl Dubois^ a French naturalist. In a communication to the Paris Academy of Sciences M. Dubois shows from his investigation of a common pearl-bearing mollusk that the free pearls found in it are always crysts surrounding the bodies 01 tne marine worms known as distomes, during a particular stage .of their life. In the ordinary course of events the pearls decay in a year's time, releasing the encysted creature, but if the distome dies, the pearl may eo on enlarging until it has great value. The larger and costlier the pearl, then, the more distant is the date of the death of the creature whose coffin it forms. The facts observed by him, savs M. Dubois, leave no doubt regarding the origin of the true pearls. Belgians Invade Russia. Belgians have swarmed into Russia dur ing the last ten years, and now they control there twenty-two street car lines, thirty-seven steel and iron factories, fourteen coal mines, three gas works and several less important factories, the total capital being more than $170,000,000, of which $146,000,000 have been subscribed by Belgians. In these various enterprises 133< Belgian engineers are employed and most of the workmen also hail from Belgium. idol TOorahipera In Hawaii. In Hawaii there are 10,000 women an< children under the protection of the Amor ican flag who are idol worshipers. i THE GBEAT DESTROYER / . yJfj s > SOME STARTLING FACTS ABOUT # THE VICE OF INTEMPERANCE. , 8 V " ' J Poem: How T<mp?ruc? la E?wtrdM < Tbe Gr?TMt Chute Again at Alcohol if - -'$> That It la Dea tractive of All That 1* J Deik ia jaunt . t>> "Temperance," cried a rescued drunkard. "Saved me, body, soul, estate;" Then he put a gratfful nickel On the big collection plate. "Temperance," said a wealthy merchant, "Saves me thousands, year by year; Here's a dollar for your mission? ??. More I can't afford, I fear," "Temperance," smiled a happy matron,. . .S -J "Of my hut a palace made; But?subscribe a nickel weekly? 'J: Can't afford it, I'm afraid." ^ "Leave a legacy to temperance?" H Asked a patnot, doomed to die; "Many a worthy cause needs money!" So he passed poor temperance by. Men and women, you are bidding Temperance flourish and advance; Temperance will require more givitaf Ere you give the cause a chance! Misery's vast plantations flourish, Nursed by State and (enoed?Jby gold; . \ If you want their roots upturning. y*jP? Buy the tools that we must how! ' Soberizing drunken people; xiccuo muic buav utajrci auu ur Spreading light 'mong folks benighted Costa much money?but it pays! Every home has known drink's shadowEvery heart has felt its pain; ' ' Then to buy the best of weapons, Down most come the golden rain! Best of eloquence 'twill famish, Best of seed the field to sow; Best machinery for our working. - v ;..<j Best of strength to deal truth s blow.. Lightly sow, you'll reap but lightly, \ 3 Keep this mighty truth in sight; v Act, oh! act the generous giver, Furnish means to win the fight. -*National Advocate: Profit of Temperance. Rev. Alexander Jackson spoke at theEast Madison Avenue Presbyterian Church on the "Profit of Temperance."' In part he:said':' "The statistics of drink are a curious study. The tonsumptidn (of distilled -i V liquors in the United States has steadily . 1 declined during the last fifty years from' 2.52 proof gallons per individual to one proof gallon. The consumption - of wines has remained about the same, fluctuating about one-third of a gallon for ewh in<h' vidual. But the consumption of jaalt : -';'^ liquors has mutiplied. tremendously. . Ia 1840 the per capita consumption was 1.38 gallons, while in 1866 it had risen to 15.JS gallons, more than eleven times the quan- ?j tity used fifty years ago (11.14). Each jpear ' there is an average consumption of liquor* i .A at the following rate: One ^roof gallon of distilled spirits, 0.26 of wines and 16.10 gal Ions of malt liquors: or a total consumpr tion of all kinds of alcoholic liquors for each individual of 16.42 gallons. "The charge against alcohol is that it i?" destructive of all that is best in man. It interferes with the , ordinary-processes- of the bodily organism, and so. tar forth i? prejudicial to health, happiness, usefulness and long life. One of the first' effect* of alcohol is seen in the loweriM pf the . moral tone. Men, who when perfectly sor ber, are reliable, no sooner get a little stimulant than they lose their balance and act and talk imprudently. And the ' large use of alcohol results in Crimea against which the perpetrators revolt. when free from its demoralizing power. "The mortuary statistics rive the follow ing: In selected healthy districts/ where . v*there are 804 deaths of ordinary men ottfc 1 of a riven number, there are 2205 jdeath* out of the same number of hotel servant?, bartenders, etc.; 1521 deaths among deal*, era in alcoholic beverages and 1361 death? among brewers, etc. "The testimony of insurance experts Sr in the same 3ine. One English companytested the life-shortening effects of. alcohol ' for twenty years. In the class of moder- -'..VI ate usere the expected deaths from I860 to 1886 (that, is, according to the average - ' death rate in selected lives) should have *; been 6430, while the,actual deaths were 52$4?only a trifling difference. In the : total abstainers' class the estimated death rate was 3484, while the actual loss wa# only 2408, so that .the dearth rate amonr the moderate drinkers Mjas twenty-eigl^k per cent, hieher than among the total aBv tainers."?Cleveland Plain-Dealer. Alcoholiim imooc Easibh Ifonea. ' ' There is a growing tendency among women to the indulgence in alcoholic beverages. Among the wealthier and higher classes the habit has become almost universal, and this pernicious example has." . ' f rapidly extended through the various .so* r,: :ial substrata, for it is human nature toimitate the actions of those who are better favored. The exha&sting effect of the demands of society upon its devotees creates a desire for a stimulant, and hence the ever-present and generous punch-bowl is . often the most popular feature of the social event. It ?das a sparkle to the-eye, ' -jt color to the cheek and a zest to the spirit ^ of the maid and nvitron, a delightful feeding of bien aise,' and its alluring seductiveness bids its partakers to return again and - , again. Among the less favored classes the ' causes that obtain among the wealthy operate necessarily to a smaller extent, but here other conditions act no less power* fully as causative agencies in the formation of the habit. In England the habit of alpoholic indulgence among women of the lower classes is mucn greater man w America. Dr. Heywood. .Smith gives as J reasons for alcoholism among women the increasing independence of women?a lib' erty which some of them interpret as license for self-indulgence in accordance with their inclinations. In the struggle 4 for life which this independence engen^ ders there is often the element of failure or overstrain, and women, too weak in ' many instances to bear the strain, resort to 6timu]ants.?Loadon Doctor. Th? Drunkard. American specialists have declared that drunkenness is a disease, and should be an such. This idea does not. how ever, bar moral treatment, which ha* been found to be efficacious in dealing with many distiftct maladies. While the condition of the confirmed drunkard may be pathological, there is no doubt that in a vast number of instances it depends on the man's environment whether he shall become a victim of the disease?inebriety. ' This i9 the teaching of every day expe- ' rience.?Weslevan Advocate. The Crusade In Brief. A prominent physician has recently made public the fact that out of 1500 people applying for admission to an inebriate asylum. 438 were physicians. The State liquor license law of South Dakota prohibits the sale of liquor habitual drunkards, any violator of the law being liable for damages incurred by the drunkard while intoxicated. Heretofore a plebiscite on prohibition has been taken everv parliamentary election in New Zealand. To carry the vote against prohibition has been deceased every election. In no State are the friends of temperance more watchful than in Massachusetts, nor more united. < It is unquestionable that the influence of education is great, but who are better educated with regard to the evils of drink than the doctors? What becomes of the alcohol which is absorbed into the circulation? Some of it passes to the liver, and some circulates . .1 j i *1 i j? T*. in tne oiooa to cvcr.v pan ui iuc uuuv. is only an inference to say that alcohol is oxidized; this is not proven. The postal director at the city of Doubs. France, has issued an order forbiddipjj ail letter carriers accepting alcoholic drinks from their customers while on and of! duty. He says the importance "f serv? ice demands total abstinence.