Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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|kI_ I POIP \ ?\ < 5 | ANNIE ^ j EDWARDS. \ A ffcbv:- CHAPTER XVII. 3S pr" Continued. * But however desirous for truth n man Or. .-woman may be, no process disenchanting us of the last illusion of our dead youth is,, in .reality,-a. pleasant one. Miss Grand assured herself that Matty's advent had been to her a mer ciful event, as tending to set right the ierror which had so long made her own Sot a miserable one; but none the less . - Jdid Matty's fair face oppress her eyes, and Matty herself grow day by day a more intolerable invader of the peace amd stillness of her home. i "The week is over. Gifford, and Miss (Fergusson has said nothing as yet about her plans. I wish you would find out from her whether she wishe* to Slave inquiries made among the ladies Of the neighborhood or not. I ana not ,very strong, and a visitor weighs upon me." "M"** HTstTiiirt -fnnnorT <1 Tt7f)xr intrmvl thf* rwindow, thrust his hands rather helplessly into his pockets, and attempted Sthat noiseless description of whistle in iwhich so many men are prone to seek ifoj* refuge under a direct feminine attack. .He had just arrived on his daily .visit to the cottage, and, Miss Fergusson not having made her appearance, Jane was summoning up courage to fcroach the subject which had been so constantly in her thoughts during the 3ast few days. "Yes, she weighs upon me. I may as .well say it out. We have nothing in common; and as I don't see any way in which I can help her, I really think it is time she should begin to think of going home." Gifford turned around with something faintly like -spirit. "What do you mean by having nothing in common, Jane? What is there against the girl? She isn't very much trouble to you, I should think. I don't know what you mean by weighing on you, and?all that." "I mean," paid Mjss Grand, in a tone whose calmness contrasted strangely with Gilford's Japk of self-possession, "I mean that Miss Fergusson comes up exactly to the account of her that you gave me, Gifford. I can well imagine her the daughter of such a mother as you described Mrs. Fergusson to bo. I can distinctly see in her the effects of such a bringing up?running wild upon the streets of foreign towns, as she herself tells me of. Her ways and her thoughts are not mine; and however gladly I might have helped her if her first story had been true, I do not feel myself called upon to have my little, plain, quiet household disturbed any more by such a very fine young lady as Miss Matty Fergusson!" ' "If her first story had been true! You make out that Matty's an impostor, then! You don't believe in tbe poor girl's povertv. and her wifch -to help herself!" Gifford looked really indignant, and Jane felt her heart become more and more calm and still, her words more chosen and icy and to tbe point. "No, Gifford, I do not believe her first etory. When Miss Fergusson is off her guard I hear of balls and picnics and riding parties at Cheltenham; and 1 do not believe her mother has ever?as tbe Jetter stated?been in want'of the necessaries of life. From things Miss Ferwicccin "hns toiii mp. i rather believe they live from hand to mouth upon rwhat they can get out of Mrs. Fergusson's old friends, and from their own scanty capital, but extravagantly, and denying themselves nothing. I think" ?very cold and slow came this final stroke?"that tliey are adventuresses. I think that the plan of the girl's coming to Haughton, in the first instance, ,Tvas a scheme?a preconcerted scheme" ?Jane did not know enough of modern 'English to say, as Matty would have <lone, "a plant"?"and 1 believe that the very last intention Miss Fergusson Las in her mind is that of becoming n governess?a situation, truly, for which ?er birth, her bringing up and herself inost utterly unfit her!' There was a look in Jane's eyes, a strength shining through their calmness, which Gifford Mohun had never seen there before, and it exasperated him horribly. When a very patient and long-suffering brute creature does at length resist, its former patience will, you know, incense a cruel master but the more against its present resistance. He broke out fiercely, and speaking loo quickly to notice the immediate effect his-works took upon Miss Grand. "I tliink you are very unjust in your suspicions of poor Matty! I think her a very nice girl, indeed; and she's always most amiable?most amiable, by Jove! in th? way she speaks of you: and if you don't like to keep her any longer you had better say so, and. by?! I'll just ride over to Draycot this afternoon and get Mrs. Tennant to ask her there. Her birth?her bringing up!" and Jane's unflinching eyes, and the sound of his own angry voice, had now worked Gifford up to a white heat. "By the Lord! I think this is the last liouse in the country where birth .should * * tr 1 r>?.V oe SyUKVJl Oil 11 ItKllljr mien ?.u, haps she'd be no more anxious to stay .here than you are to keep her!" And with this noble speech upon his lips, Mr. Mohun dashed out in a rage through the open French "window to the garden, where ho was very speedily joined by Miss Matty herself. .Standing on tiptoe at the door of her own apartment, this young creature had already guessed at, if she had not actually overheard the greater part of the conversation between Jane arid Mohun; and she knew that if Yatton was ever to be gained by a sudden and determined stroke, now was the time. If <Jifford were once allowed to cool, and to think over Jane's words, who could say how much of the truth might not remain even upon his most hopelessly ?tupid mind! % - ' * \ FOR HER fe ry \> FATHER'S I b IT \ SIN. I J Vv o ?KW* 8 0 3F \ ^ I: HONOR; \ ; V t And Jane? Reader, hare you ever T seen a small, unoffending child struck ?, dumb with passionate parn by ;i sudden f clow from one coarse and brutal arm (] that should have shielded him? To a c child's agony?so unwitting, so utterly , without hope, so helpless, so mute?I t can only liken Jane's under tliis blow r that slie had newly got at Clifford's hands. Matty Fergusson, and her feel- j ings toward her, and her disappoint- jment?her jealousy, if you will?were j forgotten. She remembered nothing; ^ she felt that she could never again re- jmember augbt but this?Gifford's hand r had struck her; Gifford's hand had wantonly smitten the poor quivering j wound, so barely healed over at any t time?the dishonor of her birth! s She could not have spoken?to have 3 saved her soul, she couldn't have shed a tear; but she walked to the glass and j, looked at h'erself, and saw that her j mouth was white and set as it had T been that first night on her return from 3 Mr. Clithero; and then, standing there ^ and looking on her own face?a ghastly t companionship!?she began slowly to 3 think, to think as a free human soul, r just set loose by a single blow from its 3 long slavery; and as the mists cleared from he> she knew (but with intensest ^ agony) that she had wasted her life on j a mistaken idolatory; and that Mohun j was. and had been from the first, un- , worthy of her; and that it was better to be that man's daughter whose she f was, than his wife whoso, coward hand j. now so cruelly smote her! t Jane Grand saw and felt all this in f about the space of five minutes?for the 3 great crisis, the death agonies of our 1 lives, take p'.ace mercifully quick?then j she walked cajnijy upstairs (irom me window of ber room she could see Gif- t ford and Matty walking up and down j upon the lawn? Gifford evidently con- p strained, and Matty's face, bright as a i sunbeam, tenderly upturned to bis), i put on her plain village bonnet and ^ shawl, ar.d started alone for ber usual j Saturday walk to visit those outlying parishioners of Chesterford who lived t far away beyond Yaiton woods upon \ the moor. It was a delicious spring v day. The birds were exulting in low } strains over the few crossed twigs and j straws upon which they were laying c the foundation of their future domestic bliss in the stiil leafless hedges. The j smell from the new-plowed fields was j fresh upon the sharp air. Every pool j of water along the lanes gave back the c reflection of a blue bright as <^ver shone i on an Italian sky. "Oh. God, Thy word is good!'' cried 'j poor Jane's stricken heart, "Thy word f is good! Thy creatures rise up and ] thank Thee after the chill of their win lor is gone, but l mourn lorever: n \ shall be so no more. This day I cast 1 out earthly love from my heart, and i give myself wholly to Thee! Disap- r pointment and cruelty shall I never ? meet with from Thy hands." f And then, walking along, she wept; N scalding, but still very wholesome, j healing tears, different tears to any a that she had ever yet shed in the Mo- ^ hun cause. s She paid her visits on the moor, en- i tering with more warmth than she had ( felt for years into the poor, common 1 troubles of those hard, uncared for 1 lives; then, swayed by I know not what t feeling, she returned home, not, as was 1' her custom, through Yatton, but by the ?i bigb street of tbe village, and past the t vicarage gates. The windows of the a little study stood open to the bright i March sunset; and in his accustomed i place beside the hearth was the vicar, c his head bowed upon his book, and a \ look of untroubled, quiet interest upon ? his face. Jane's steps lagged, and in- a voluntarily she sighed at this glimpse c of a life that she felt to be so far bet- t ter and happier than hers. c "If he only knew my sorrow be would t come to me," was her thought as she a wistfully lingered by the garden gate, e "If he knew what I had suffered this t day, he would come and speak to me, n as he did in my first troubles, as he a used to speak to me when I was a littl? child!" But the vicar read on. and the sunset faded from the study window; and as some feeling distantly akin to shame kept Jane from boldly ringing at. the 1 vicarage bell as she would once have j done, nothing remained for her but to ^o home?home, bearing her own burden of unaidfd care, and to learn what- f ever news Miss Matty Ferguson might have to give to her. When she reached the cottage it ? struck her as in some way looking dif* 11 " ^ /."nw /1/inA IlilfAvn ^ it I fill IU W !!?( t Jt 11UU C*U UVilC uvxv* v. It Jay cold and shadowed over by the neighboring Yatton trees (also it held Matty Fergusson), and the little vicarage had shone so warm and tranquil iu the bright March sunset! Her heart beat nervously as she passed the parlor window, but she was sensible of intense relief, on entering the lipuse, at linding that Moliun's hat and stick j were not in the passage. She felt that she could bear whatever she had sot to . hear, better from Miss Fergusson's t own lips than from his: and. without r stopping to think, and so lose her newly-gained courage, she opened the siting room door, and walked deliberately in. I JJI.'li il IU? urivic uir Ui v ...... J| her face bowed down between her p bands was Matty. She started round d as the door opened, and being. I sup- e pose, off her guard, displayed fully a a face stained with tears. Tears from i< Matty Fergusson's eyes were phenom- f ena Jane was wholly unprepared for; f and the si?i!t of thr-m softened her. ii After all. the girl liad not wilfully in* ii jured her. She was young: she was d actinp only as she had been trained to act: and something in Miss Grand's e generous nature cried out that she had p been too hard upon her rival. tl 11 ''Matty/' she had never .caU.ed her bo s ????i cforo, "I don't like lo soo you crying, have been obliged to leave yon to-day. had troubles ol my own 1 i<;jt 1 was orced to escape from. Tell me wbat. ou cry for. child, and if I can I will dp you.'' And she bent forward and laid hor and kindly on .Miss Fergusson's sbouler. But flatty, sincc ?l:o was two years Id. bad lived "her band against every nan"?suspecting every one, believing o one. confiding in no one?not even er own mother. She could understand ane Grand, cold. distrustful, jealous, s she had known Ler hitherto; but his eounterboiuid of a generous heart, his trembling hand, thcte softening yes from one who so lately had spoken inrshly of her. Miss Matty regarded as okens of the very deadliest species cf voraen's warfare?a masked battery, gainst which her own strongest deenses must be brought to bear. No loubt the woman wanted to worm a onfession from her, to be repeated vith additions (and her undeniable ears made much of) to Mohun to-morow morning. "There are such things as tears of nv Miss OrftTid. I should have dried ny eyes if I bad known you were comug, but I never bran] you till you vere in the room. It is very foolish, (Ut I can't help it. 1 am so happy tolight!" Jane drew ber band back as ibouph t bad been stung. Slip knew Matty's ears were not those of happiness, but he also knew what it meant that Jatty should say so! "I am glad you are happy, Matty," n a fearfully trembling voice this. "It s good for some one to be so in this vorld, and you are very young, child? roung to know as much of life as you lave known; and whatever cause it is hat make? you glad to-day I wish ou joy. Matty, and I hope your happiless will prove true, and will abide by rou!" Whatever it cost her to say them, hose words did not come from Jane's ieart, and yet she knew perfectly well hat she was wishing this girl joy .ir dohun's love. Matty looked up sharply into la vieillt ille's face, and little as she felt dis>osed to be confidential, something in he expression of its quivering white eatures touched her?as much as datty Fergusson could be touched! ?or even in tne cnnureu ui suu jj<-u ile as Warren Fergusson and his wife -children who have run wild among he gamins of half a score of Contilental cities?even in natures of which etty intrigue and sordid, selfish deceit lave become the daily meat?the comuon elements of human nature remain rery mucli the same, reader, as in ours or mine. Matty "was ready to marry any genleman possessing means sufficient tc ;eep her. Matty had played a hold, mwomanly stroke to gain Mohun ol catton, and rather disliking than likng him. had entangled him in an offer >f marriage not iwo hours ago. But Matty Fergusson also had been n love; yes, in true, honest love, with m exceedingly handsome, unworthy lersonage, attache to one of the numerius Russian ambassadors who were vont to visit Baden- Eaden?the 'Alexis" of her letter to her sister, ["his young Russian gentleman had *l,A vnmcinti^ Iiassioil of tllO Ellg WUUU U1V 1VUIU??.V x isli girl, or child, as he regarded cor, in innocent refreshment for him in the ntervale of roulette playing and the lundred other distractions of Baden ife. In her shabby little frock, barelj eaching to her ankles, Matty Perfusion haunted him as he took his breakast in the noonday shade of the Conrersations-Haus Gardens, haunted him. ealous and miserable, when he walked ibroad after dinner with tlie grandfs lames .of his acquaintance, whose plendid dresses made her, in her poor, nean frock, look and feel more than vev like a beggar; haunted him 011 lis way to the theatre, to the casino, launted him everywhere. Matty, at his epoch, was in the transition state rom childhood to womanhood, lanky, iwkward, large-eyed, freckled, and alo?ether (fortunately for her) not neai vell-looking enough for the count te Iream of taking the trouble of falling n love with her. But to a man of the a liber of "Alexis" adoration from any voman, even from a little, plainish jirl of sixteen, is not without tlavor; md so he actually met Miss Fergusson moe or twice by appointment in tne ???iH-bkcpgaiten. and wrote her twc >r three little French notes?she had hem still. I do not doubt?and'gave hei ; ring (iiiexpensive. and that some one 1st had given hiru) with a minute porion of his hair within it, upon the oornii.g that the Russian ambassador nd his suite quitted Baden. (To be continued.) A Prompt Man. A certain merchant in Boston is loted for being a stickler in the mater of promptness to the extent that ic has been known to walk out of hurcli because the services did not be;in promptly, and to leave his sister lone in a strange city because she wis four minutes late in keeping an ngagement. Not long ago he overleard a forceful exposition of his leculiarity. lie had walked out of his stable, and fas about to go in when lie heard the e\v groom within say to the ccach1:111: -Is it true. Dolan, that the boss 5 cracked about doing tilings on time, nd goes into a lit when anybody is ;ite?" "Tlirne? Thrue?" cried Doian. "Let le tell yon, Ryan, how tlirne it is. f the boss had promised to mate himelf at iliven o'clock and was late, e'd find himself gone when he got here. That's how thine it is."?ludeiendent. Insurance Up-to-llate. The drop a nickel in the slot machine as been adapted to various and divers urposes from selliug collar buttons to i.spensing gum and fortune, but an nterprising bathing pavilion manager t Coney Island has brought in a new lea by providing an insurance policy or the nickel. The policy is for $500 or the day issued, the date being regstered by an automatic stamp. It usures the bather against death by rowning. The proprietor reports that the mahine has been showing a handsome rofit on the investment. Thus far here have been no claimants for ia? urance. Illllll III! New York City.?Ei'ery fresh variation of tbe blouse is sure to find its welcome. Ilere is one of the smartest and best that tbe season lias to otter 1 and wlilcli is adapted to a variety of materials and to a great many com1 binations. In the illustration white > taffeta is stitched with beldlng silk 1 and combined with a little chemisette of tuckud mousseline, but this chemlsetet can be of lace, of embroidered material, or, indeed, of almosf everything that may make an effective coni trast with the waist. Again, if liked, i the little turn-over collar can be of i. velvet or of moire, both of which are greatly jn vogue this season. Also the waist will be found equally well -Misses' Bos Pleated BI 1 adapted to the separate one and to tlie gown. The deep scalloped yoke ! collar makes a ci^bicteristic Seatur* [ and the sleeves arCqnite novel as well as exceedingly becoming, while at the ' waist is worn one of the deep girdles . that mark the latest style. ( The waist is made over the fitted Jiuing, which is closed at the centre front, I and itself consists of the fronts and back with the yoke collar, which is finished at the lower edges and extonriu siii>iitiv over the sleeves. These ' sleeves are full and tucked to fit the i arms below the elbows nnd are finished ( "with becoming roll-over caffs. The quantity of material required for the medium size is: five and one-fourth yards twenty-one, lour iind one-half yards twenty-seven or two and onefourth yards forty-four inches wide, with five-eighth ynrd of tucking for the chemisette and seven-eighth yard of silk for belt. Derby Haiti Popnlar. Of the derby hats brought into special notice were those here mentioned. A model in black felt with an exterior coating of thin black satin (this method of manufacture being referred to in our advices of last month), has the crown encircled at the foot with a folded band of bias piece of black velvet, the band terminating in double bow, nnd the bow holding an ostrich plume which passes across the front and around the left side to the back.? Millinery Trade Keview. Modlhli .Simplicity. The rage for the .simpler life con tinues. So compie.tciy averse irom os- i tentation is tlie woman of taste and discernment, says liio Loudon Mail, that the favorite form ?f decoration , her note pappr is give* is merely a gem-cipher placed at the left-hand side of the page. In its very latest adaptation it is a heart-shaped design, overlaid with mother-of-pearl, inscribed across with the writer's Christian name, and surmounted by a scroll of metallic green ribbon work. OHI-Fa&liioiiert Bracelet*. Now's the time, girls, to bring onl I Tour old-fashioned bracelets Willi { (Vimoo tops. Make your mother ?! . < one more look through the half for cotton treasure boxes and see if they can unearth one. If so, you liave just the very latest notion in adornment. I saw 0110 Sun day that a pir! was wearing, sr>t in the quaint fashion of half a century npo, just such a one ns you will see in the portraits of the belles of ''just before the war."?Boston Herald. Medium Lar^e Turban. A medium large turban, with pointe front, having the brim turned up on plane with the crown, but not attache to the crown at its upper edge, has th crown covered with black royal ve vet, and facing of velvet, and abov the facing on the brim, two puffs c black satin ribbon divided by a ban of silveV galloon. Folds of the b!ac! satin ribbon encircle the crown; lai on the brim at the right side is full rook's nlume mounted with feather cocknde set with a fancy m( dallion; and set on the bandeau unde the brim, at the right of the back, is white velvet camellia blossom, moun! ed with green leaves.?Millinery Trad Review. The Turban. A medium small turban, slightly ovr in contour, is covered with miroir ve vet in a lively tone of moss green. Th covering of a single piece, laid smoott ly over the flat top, is draped in seven folds around the brim, the folded mat< rial being set with tiny blossoms < green satin hung by silk thread. Catcl ing up the folds at the side are tw American Beauty roses mounted wit green leaves; and a single rose, wit leaves, is set high against the brim i the right side.?Millinery Trade R view. Waist For Evening or Day Wear. The square neck evening waii makes a feature and a novelty of tf season and is very generally becomlc and attractive. Illustrated is one < the best possible models that Lnclud< sleeves of the very latest Bort ex s onse, 12 t? 1C years. which is adapted to the entire range < soft aud crushable fabrics of fashio In the illustration pale pink messalh crepe is trimmed with ecru lace, Di colors as well as materials are exceei ingly varied this year and trimminj are almost numberless. Lace is alwa: pretty aud attractive, but einbroidert bandings can be utilized if bett< liked. In addition to all these adva tages the waist allows of making wil the yoke and long sleeves, so becoinli adapted to daytime wear. The sleevi with the short puffs and fitted uud< portions are among the latest desigi noted on imported models and are 1 be much commended. In this instnm there are frills which add largely the cffect. The waist is made with a fitted II; ing and itself consists of fronts, centi front and backs. The fronts are lucKt and joined to the plain centre, whi the closing is made invisibly nt tt back. The trimming that finishes tl neck is arranged on indicated lines an effectually conceals the edges of tl frills,- which are arranged over tl sleeves and waist. When high n&c and long sleeves are used the plai portions of the sleeves can be mac to match the yoke or of the oiaterii of the gown, trimmed as liked. Tlie quantity of material required f< the medium size is two and thre fourth yards twenty-one, two and on* half yards twenty-seven or one an one-fourth yards forty-four inch< wide, with one and three-fourth yard of lace nnil four and one-lialf yards o applique to trim as illustrated, one ani one-fourth yards of all-over lace "wbe: lilgh ueck and long sleeves are used. ua 1 'TH'M^ IS THE CLORY." c Alen climb to glory; tfep by step they reach Unto the summit of their hearts' desire, To earthly heizhta of splendor and renown All eagerly their restless thoughts aspire. < But He, the eternal Lord of life and light, ( Laid all aside to bear a Cross of shame, . And, stooping to the depths of mortal woe, , d Built for Himself an everlasting name! * "Come, follow Me," the Master says to- i d day, 1 e "Deny thyself, some greater good to win; " ]. Go forth, and seek upon the world's high- j way e Some lost and wandering soul for Me to . f win." 1 d 0 Saviour! may we rise at Thy command, * I. With hearts aflame, Thy bidding to ' k fulfil; I " For poor and vain the fairest earthly oueBt 1 a Beside the glory of Thy perfect' will! I a ?Annie E. Woodcock, in London Mission- ( ^ ary Chronicle. !r The Good Kortmie of Integrity. a The mouth of a righteous man is a well of life?Proverbs, x., 2. i e Without water life cannot be. Take i water from the earth and the fevers of death burn their fires. j Where deserts blight, a well of , tl water is a possession beyond price. , i. To the Hebrew of the Psalms and e Proverbs, therefore, who knew the Leat and the distress of scorching ( sands, who knew water as the syno- ( ^ nym of life, no more powerful lan- ] "f guage could be used to set forth the ,r value of righteousness1 than the brief sentence which says ''The mouth of ( o a righteous man is a well of life." He li 6peaks the truth always, and his word i 1) is like water from cool wells. It rert freshes. It vitalizes. e. Man builds jy> thing that is not 1 builded in truth. The hands of his daily toil move in truth. This is the j reality from ore to engine, from quarry to house, from forest to furniture. In st dealing with things he is dealing with , ie truth. If he.-deals truthfully, the uni- ! iji verse conspires to bless, him with. jf achievement. If untruthfully, gravi- , tation,' iron, wood,water, fire, the * truth of tb'r.js. presses the bitter cup' lcl of failure to his lips. In man's rela- 1 tion with his fellow man great civili- i zalions, as great worlds, can only be , built upon righteousness, upon every , man's speaking truth witk his neigh- 1 bor. Every great State is builded in truth ( and goes to ruin in falsehood, in disloyalty to its moral ideals. Notwith- j standing appearances to the contrary, this is the fact which the universe in its every atom sanctifies.. Through the mists oi the apparent look with clear eyes into the reality. Build your ! career on the integrity of the universe, mastered in friendly wise by the in- ] tegrity of yourself. Then are you building so wisely that every atom of ] the universe worts witn you, -wining ( your success.- "Beauty is its own excuse for being." Righteousness is its 1 own justification. Truth is .-ts own bliss. Whether the eyes of men see or not, the joy in which God loves and lives 1 enters into the heart of the righteous. Within the snul of the righteous is life. In that life is the abundant good fortune with which righteousness rewards its own. When He expresses 1 that righteousness it is like the bills expressing themselves in streams which run among the valleys, giving ; life to bird and beast, to grass and tree, making farms possible aud the human life free of the fevers of death. There is nothing so fine as a righteous man. No beauty can equal the beauty of holiness. It has a loveliness more gracious thai} flowers. It has a charm beyond the enchantment of birds. It has a grandeur outdoing mountain and sea. Not sunsets are so .splendid, nor suns, nor stars, nor | ( dawns; not music, nor Shakespeare; not canvase?. not cathedrals; not anything built by >nan. The chief passion of the soiil should be Ihe passion Cor holiness; for in its beauty all other achievement has -worth, and in the ^ soul of the achiever ibe eternity God is awake. Things pass. A brief while nnd the * places of earth will know us cj more . forever. Even while here things.cannot satisfy. They disappoint. They ?9 , enslave. The greatest good fortune rs nny one can achieve is integrity of heart. The diviuest welfare is that jr J conscious rectitude the peace of which n< never forsakes a man tlirougn all years ./ ami all worlds. The imperishable riches of God are his good fortune whose month is a well spring of life.? rs John Milton Scott. New York City, in er the Sunday Herald. 19 [O Oninc and Owned. :c Unlimited ownership is what God | to offers us, upon one condition; that we surrender all.* This J9 only another of n. the many startling and helpful pnra,.0 <loxes of life and of the Word of lil'e. : It was brought out at Northfield when i I Prebendary Webb-Peploe took as his le "text two "contradictory" texts, "all ie things are yours, and yet ye are not ie your own." But there is greater coraid fort and hope in this twofold unlimie ited ownership that God promises, ie "than there could be in either form of possession by itself. The resources of n the world and of heaven are at our t'uiruiisuiu; anu ?f, btrjn^ jjui, vui vuu, i , but God's can refer every question of j their use to Him. What greater freedom of power could God offer us than )r that??Sunday School Times, e C- The Wisdom That Comes from God. id 1 should be the veriest shallow and ?s self-conceitea blockhead upon the footIs stool, if. in my discharge of the duties that are put upon me in this place. I should hope to get along without the wisdom that comes from God, and no* < from men.?Abraham Lincoln. Gad's Best Gift. Blessed is the man who has the gift , of making friends; for it is one of God's J best gifts. It involves many things. , but above all, the power of giving out ' of one's self and seeing and appreeiat- ( ing whatever is noble and loving in another man.?Thomas Hughes. Passion For Salvation. Give me three hundred men, give ' me one hundred men with a passion for the salvation of this city, and I will i answer for if, Boston shall be saved.? ' J Phillins Brooks. . 1 To Regnlat? Marriages, The Secretary's Department of the Province of Ontario is endeavoring to prevent the issuing of marriage licenses ' at frontier points in that provinep to < persons from the American side, which ] is a flourishing business, particularly i at Windsor. A "War Automobile. A new weapon which is about to be ' added to the equipment of the French d Army consists of a thirty-horse-power n automobile completely encased in 1 armor and mounting a machine-gun in 1 a revolving turret. 1 ' C: %" DEE SUNDAY SCHOOL I NTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS FOR FEBRUARY 25. iabject: Jeans* Voxrr.r to Kor*iref M?rtt ii., 1-12?Golden Text. Mark, II., 10-? ; Memory Vene, G?Topic; Forgtw ifcil / of Sin?Commentary. I. The multitude gathers to hear Christ (vs. 1. 2). 1. "And agalu." A# he close of the missionary tour in Gallee. "Into Capernaum." "Which wa? flis home or headquarters. "AfteE iome days." Some days after the lepefl lad been healed and the excitement iad quieted down. "It was-noised.'* rhe news spread very rapidly. "In he liouse." Either the house whichi t Be occupied with His mother and His brethren (Matt. 4:13), or possibly that )f St. Peter. Whep Christ i3 In the louse, 3. <4ood men will be attracted" to it. 2. Bad men will be benefited in t. 3. Divine benediction will rest :ipon it. '4. Beneficent ministries will flow from it. 2. "Mnuv were gathered." The audience included PhariM sees and doctors of the law who bad , * J- 'j : ome irum uie lowns ut uumet, uuuca and Jerusalem (Luke 5:17). They ha&. forne to inspect and criticise this uewV Teacher. It was lite the gathering o? Israel on Carmel to witness the issue between Elijah and the priests of Baal. "About the door." There was a great concourse of people so that the house nnd court were both filled. "Preached (he word." The doctrine of the Sob of God. They had come partly to criti- , ruse and partly out of curiosity, and now Jesus seizes the opportunity te preach the Gospel. II. A palsied /sinner brought to-v Christ (vs. 3. 4). 3. "Come unto Himif Access to Jesus, seemed impossible. There were many obstacles in the way. Should they have waited for a convei^ ient season? No. They must forcnfl their way to Christ. "Bringing one.^H| He was young for Jesus calls him sonJ^H hut he was full grojvn for it required* four men to carry him. There are^J many so weak and discouraged that * they cannot go to Jesus without assist- I unce; we should always be ready to I help such. "Sick of the palsy." I. It I iniroc ottjit flip rpnsp nf fppHnsr. 2. It H weakens the will bo that when tnea would do good evil Is present- witibf them. 3. It produces a fixed condition :>f evil, -with intense suffering. "Borne Df four." Each one holding a corner )f the "pallet" or bed, which was mere* ly a thickly padded quilt or mat. There was co-operation in this work. One r'ould not have done it; it needed fopr. In the union of hearts and hands there is strength. 4. "The press." It seemed quite impossible for the crowd to make an opening sufficiently larger for them to pass through. "Uncovered! the roof." Luke say, "through the tiling." "Broken it up." Oriental roofa were made of different kinds of material. Luke says they let this man down through the "tiling." They appear ttfvhave broken up the tiling or thin stof" slabs, sometimes used at this day. III. Christ forgives sins (vs. 5-7). 5. "Saw their faith." Many of the gifts of healing and restoration were ob tainetl torougn tae iaun ana prayers ?*. the friends of the sufferers. See Matt. 8:13: Mark T>:36: John 4:30. Jasufl "saw" their faith. Real faith acts.* Christ always notices and commends faith. "Son." He spoke with tenderness. Matthew adds, "Be of goo?l cheer." "Thy sins are forgiven." (R. V.) Our first great need is the forgiveness of sins. Jesus rightly puts this ahead of the healing of the body. 0. "Certain,of the scribes." Tbe^ scribes were the leaders of the nation, the theologians. "Reasoning in their heart's." Our word "dialogue is derived from the same Greek word. 7. "Blasphemies." "But God only." They, rightly understood that all sins ar? sins against God, and therefore onlfl Hp could forgive them. See Psa. 51:4. IV. Christ heals disease (vs. S-12).3. "Jesus perceived." Jesus knew their thoughts (Matt. 9:4). When Bar Cocar declared himself Messiah, the rabbins * quoted Isa. 11:3, and examined him to see if he could reveal the thoughts of their hearts. He failed and they slew him. "Why reason ye?" Mattbewi says, "WherefCTe think ye evil?" 9. "Whether it Is easier to say," etc. Some* Li. To die id I LI ill Jv UiUt 1J1 mirac CA[urcoivuu ? merely asking which is the easier claim to make. But He evidently ^mea?a more than that and uses the term "to say" with the farther thought of "doing." H6 then shows that He has the! power to forgive sins by at once healing the palsied man. {' 10. "That ye may know." "Son of Man." This is the title which Christ most frequently applied to Himself/" sometimes interchanging It with the! "Son of God." This title Is never applied to Christ by the writers of the Gospels. Jesus appropriated to Him-| self the prophecy of Daniel (Matt. 26*1. (>3, 64; Dan. 7:13). It is applied to Christ more than eighty times in the New Testament. "Power on earth.", They were thinking of God as being id I Heaven, and Jesus calls attentionutc^J the fact that there is power on. eart^^H now to forgive sins. 11. "Arisei'^H Here is the test. Christ shows HioH ability to forgive sins by His ability to^B heal. > V 12. "He arose." "Before them all."- I *r> o /inrnor H 1 111S 1111 Jl?? >\?? iJUL uuuc 111 ?. V.V1UW4. Christ's miracles were performed in the most public manner and were neven questioned by those who witnessed; them. "Amazed." Luke adds. "They, wove filled with fear." "Glorified God.'* They had (i high degree of reverence^ for God and were filled with admira-'" tion for His power and goodness. "On' this fashion." Christ's works are , without precedent. He acts independ-' ently and Advises with no one. They]; had seen three marks of His divinity:) . 1. Forgiving sins. 2. Perceivings thoughts. 3. Healing disease. Tba! ' works of Christ are astonishing the. world to-day. He is the same might/, fciviour, and Is still able to forgive. ^ Manhole in Mlo-Alr. The unusual sipht of a manhole standing like a tower, with its top thirty-five feet above the ground,' is to be D seen in Washington, D. C'.. on the site H nf tht new Union Station, where an I enormous fill is to bo made. The de sign contemplates a large |?!;i?.a stretch- u ing out for some distance in frout of the beautiful building, and it is herej that the greatest amount of filling to be done. The sewers mid conduit^^H through this land have been laid. On^Hj of these, as stated, is thiriy-five fee^^H ftbove the surface of the ground. Blood Poison in Her High Heels. Mrs. Abraham Stabler, of Allentown, ra., was confined to the house "witb. blood poisoning, the effect of an accident that came from weiring higblieeled shoes. She was a member of a camping party last summer, andl stumbled while bringiuu" in corn, spraining her ankle severely. She ba^ since been an invalid, in great pain. ; ItHUroari Across Borneo. It has been decided to construct ffi railway across British North Borneo, to form a continuous connection between the east and west coasts. . -1