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* The Bores. ' Tftiero's the man who lets you shake his limpy hand? He's a bore. ? And the man who leans against you when you stand? Get bis gore. There's a man who lias a fear That the world is, year by year. Growing worse?perhaps he's near? Bolt the door. There's the .fellow with conundrums quite anf innn? He's a bore. And the man who ask you "What ?" whene'er you speak, Though you roar. There's the man who slaps your back AVith n button-bursting whack? It' you think he's on your track, v liolt t ho door. "There's the punster with his everlasting pun? - ' lie's a bore. And the man who makes alliterative "fun"? \\Tr . -.1 Y ? ? v>i oc auu uiuiu There's the man who toils the tale i'huta year ago was stnle? .Like as not he's out of jail? Boll the door. ? Eugene Field. i MY PROPERTY. V * . Aunt Fanny had just come to make Aer usuaP summer visit and I had proudly taken her through the house to have her admire the improvements made since her last visit. 4,It is all very nice and convenient, > dear," she said, as she seated herself in the easy-chair I offered her "but did you never regret giving thoae bonds to jour husfcand, May ?" 4,Most assuredly not, auntie. Why?" "Because I thought it very unwise and that some day you would, bitterly regret it. It was your poor father's property and should have been re<tained in your own name I am sure." "Now, don't worry, auntie, please. You came to have a pleasant visit with us. Ella has been nearly frantic with delight since I told her you were coming." "The child, yes. She is a dear little thing, to be sure ! But do you know that If your husband should die to-day >she would inherit the property you #ave him. If she were your own child it would be different." "But she is mine, all I have, certainly. I love her dearly, and I hope to be a good mother to her, notwithstanding all the bitter things written and said .attainat stpn.mnt.hpra " "Yes, and you are a good mother to tier. But to suppose still farther. If -she, too, should be taken away then jour property would not revert to you, but go to her relatives, of whom you know nothing, would that be right?" "Perhaps not. But why do you say these dreadful things? She and her father are as likely to live as L And > a wife is entitled to dower." "Yes. the interest from one-third of what her husband leaves. Just the in. ; terest, mind you. And you gave him the means to go into business. You know he failed once, and mav, possibly. again." '7 "But he paid up every penny," 1 flashed back, proudly. ; , I "I know, and it was right; but, conV* -aequently you married a poor man \ /V* with a child as well as a wife to sup' port on a clerk's salary." "You forget, auntie, that he still . Tiad this beautiful home when all his r. creditors had been fully paid; the home in which Ella was born and wnere nis poor wife died." > "I forgot nothing ! and what I re;V, member with the greatest bitterness is " " ydur unadvised act of yielding up your v little patrimony, intrusted to me by v your dying father for you, and that ?: ' ' you took no obligation for it what<ver"' "But," I replied, "he invested It in -a business which supports us nicely. - besides, it was not his fault. He A wanted me to have interest-bearing 7' A notes. Or to be the comnanv In ?h? I J * ' ? ?~ , y"business, as if I wouldl and I told him never to mention the subject to me again, and he never has." "Then all I have to Bay is you "were -very silly as well as imprudent." But it Was not all she had to say, . -even to telling me that a certain jL tnatch-muking mother had said that tny husband would have preferred one ?>.;< -of her daughters if she had held prop| ?erty in her own right as I did. That | he needed the money and married me . aiuipty ui ouiaio 11. "Don't, aunty, please." 1 said with :$ a little Bhiver. "Nor would I, but to convince you that he should have secured your little &> .-property to you, if only for the opinion -of others." j / ' !' "It is all right just as it is. Ah! here comes JElla," and my dear old WAl*/11?r ? **A A ~ 1 1 * ? , nvtuaj nicc nuuii lO 1CCLUI"? 111 Tier delight at seeing the little fairy who nearly smothered her with kisses. I . But 1^ had received a hurt that rank'i; % led like a thorn in the flesh. And so j ^ ;> ;.'Mrs. Jones thought he married me for ray money? And perhaps others have the same opinion? Of course I. knew lie ; did not, and said it over and over again to myself at 1 helped our one .servant to prepare tno evening meal. And when my husband came with his hearty^ cheery welcome for Aunt Fanny I looked wistfully in his face for an answer to ray mental question, for question it would become in spite of my firm determination to ignore it as such. Once more during Aunt Fanny's stay did she attempt to renew the conversation interrupted by Ella's entrance. But I only said: "If you please, auntie, I would rather not say anything more about that." And she who thought she was only striving for my interest, replied, coldly: "Pardon me May, I shall not offend again." "Offend ?you, who have been father, luuuuor ana aunue an in one r" ana 1 kissed her as I had ever done since she drew me away from her only brother's cotlin, hiding her own grief to assuage mine. "Do you remember, auntie, dear, when I used to have sulks and you would take me out hunting?hunting sunshine, you called it?" I often think of it when things go wrong, as they must occasionally, and wish you with me to go hunting sunshine." "Yes, I remember. You were a great comfort to me, and I am afraid I have never quite forgotten the man who coaxed my brother's only child away from the lonely old maid." "And the best friend a wayward girl ever had," I replied. But somehow, after Aunt Fanny's visit my thoughts and feelings were not the same. Had I been unwise, as 1 J t? J-i * sue Bam, in giving up everytning to my husband? And hud he been too eager to accept it? I was fearful it was even so. He should have made me understand that I had reserved rights and not taken my property to control unadvisedly,especially to invest in a business subject to all the flunctuations of the market. And now he never spoke of it only as his own, and I had helped him to it all, and he had forgotten it. In my morbid state of feeling I fnnn/I an monw 1 ? avumu uv Uiauj unloi tuiugs U1 niUUU to complain to myself. We had been married four years and during that time many Improvements had been made in the house and around it, incurring an expense of some thousands of dollars. My slightest wish in regard to a convenience or modern change was satisfied almost as soon' as expressed. And it was, as I said to my aunt: "a beautiful home." T?,,f i# J* o ti ?J" x-ruv n iiai/ 11 ii/ >v?i3 r it wuij wnamy money it had been embellished and made more valuable, and he could easily afford to be lavish in expenditure. "My money used to beautify his home," I said, bitterly, glancing at my handsome surroundings. When mine and thine are having a a battle, love and flea frnm the contest. And at times J was frightened at the hard, bitter thought I was hiding from my husband, or fancied 1 was hiding from him. "What is it May?" he once said with a look of wistful tenderness. "Are you quite well?" "Never better," I replied, lightly, too thoroughly ashamed of the imp I tw no uaiuuuug LU j^lYO 11/ U UUIUQ. It was just a month since AuDt Fanny left us?a wretched month to me?when one evening my husband came in and gave me a folded paper. Look, dear, and see if it is all right I It was a certificate of deposit ia the bank for just the amount of the bonds T ?f?- ? LI * m. udu givou uiui lour years ago. If you prefer the bonds 1 can obtain them for you, but the interest !s V8ry low now. and that reminds me. you will have to trust me awhile for your accumulated interest. This is all I have saved from my business, but you are to have the interest, every penny." 'But whatever am I to do with itv" i asked, in amazed bewilderment. "Why, keep a check-book and spend your own money as you please," he ranllfii) lauKaqwH 1 *? A J ? ~ ? * V|/??VM IMUg Utug UU'*L \Jkl J 9 illlU I1U vy is the embargo removed, and may I ; tell you how grateful I am for the use of the money, and how much more for ! the loving confidence displayed in tending it?" 1 could not reply, for the little good left in me was groping, dismally, in trfie valley of humiliation. "1 will consider silence consent, then. Have you never suspected how J secured your patrimony to you in case anything happened to me before I could repay you ?" "But 1 would not have any security,* you know that!" I said, Eagerly, snatching at the last ray of self-respect "But you did all the same. This house with its two lots was deeded to you and the deed recorded the same day 1 received your bonds. So you see I have not only been using your money, but living in your house?Etta and 1 ?for the past iour years." "Oh ! why did you?" 1 asked. "Why did I live in your house? Because I had nowhere else to live, and, besides, I rather liked it." You know what I mean. "Why did you deed the place to me?" 'Because it was right to do so. I was acting as your guardian, and had no right to use your property without giving security. Don't you see?" "l'w, nud now I ara to deed it back to you ?" "No, I like it just as it is," "I must write to Aunt Fanny, tonight," I said more to myself than him. lie indulged in a low whistle. I had unwittingly betrayed myself, and compromised with a full confession, even to the grievous report that he had only married me for my little fortune. "Did you believe that?" he asked, gravely. "I tried hard not to believe it, but just now I seem to myself such a perfect type of total depravity that I wonder you took me under any cirPlimfltannoa " T A -JUU>I,7 J. m Xk//tCOf lIlJLItLCI Ocean. Greatest Diamond in the World. Oar Amsterdam correspondent tails the story of the immense African diamond?weighing 457 carets in the rough?which is in process of being cut by Mr. Jacques Metz, one of the largest diamond cutters of that icity. The stone is said to have a somewhat curious history, and, though its exact birthplace is only a matter of conjecture, it is known that it was found by somebody in one of the four mines of Kimberley, in the Cape Colony, South Africa. It is said that in June or July or last year one of the surveillance officers of the Central Mining Company in the Kimberley mine found the stone, and, beiDg exempt from search, carried it through the searching house unperceived and sold it to four irregular dealers for $15,000. Before leaving the province the new owners had a night of drinking and sramblinor. which ended in two of them becoming its owners instead of four. The two owners escaped the secret police and reachedCape Town, where they found a dealer who readily paid them $95,000 for the stone. There is an export duty on diamonds shipped from Cape Colony of one-quarter per cent., but it appears that this stone was smuggled out of the colony by a passenger on the mail steamer and brought to London, where its presentation at Hattoa Garden created a great sensation. A. former resident at the Cape mines managed to form a company of eight persons, who bought the stone between them for $225,000 cash, on condition that the seller or sellers should receive a ninth share of the eventual profits. The real value of the stone has bben estimated at London at above $1,000,000. According to the rules of valuation of the famous Tavernier diamond, its value would be $4,166,980. The correspondent says that the art of diamond polishing existing in AmsterJon. mox. *? l ? - - ? uaui 1U1 U1U1C vuau liiuoa countries DBS been brought to such perfection that it is expected that this stcfne, weighing in the rough 457 carats (and said to be whiter and purer than any of its historical predecessors), will lose in working much less than other famous stones; that it will be more rapidly finished, and it has every chance of remaning the largest and finest diamond of the world.?Manufacturing Jeweler, \n Afghan Omen. In Afghanistan, when two families are nearotiatinff a marriacrn an r?irmn la consulted in the following manner: Several slips of paper are cut up, and on the half of them is wriiten, "to be."l and on the other half "not to be." These pieces of paper are placed under a praying carpet, and the anxious father devoutly raises his hands in prayer to God for guidance, and ex* presses his submission to the all-wise [ decree of the Almighty in the matter of his son's or daughter's marriage. Then, putting his hand under the carpet, be draws out a paper. If on it should be written "to be," he thinks the marriage is ordained of God; if "not to be," no overture or negotiation will be listened to. Sometimes, however, the interests of state, or the value of the dowry, or the termination of a long-standing blood feud, will induce the pious chieftain to put aside the Iuiiiou ?.i uHviug ueeu louueaceu oy the powers of darkness. A Trusted Citizen. "Who is that old duffer?" asked the new groceryman of the milk man, as a well-dressed man went by. 'Why, he's one of our most trusted citizens," was the eloquent reply. "How do you make that out? Be has been owing me a bill ever since I came here.*' .That* juafc how we make It out*" laughed the milk man gleefully, and the grocery man aoratched hla head till be caught on.?Merchant Trawl** rr ,> *"' 4&'fN *\ ' .*?? " ?.>' >.** V vgaSr '* *V? v^iV ^ 4 :"''.?K WITH A SILVER PISTOLT How the Editor Killed the Colonel In a Duel. A. Valuable Eelio and the Tragio Story that is Connected With It. Mr. "V. K. McElheny, of Forty-fourth street, has in his possession a valuable relic. It is a silver-mounted pistol which in a celebrated duel fought in 1815 at Pittsburgh, was given Mr. McElheny by the eminent Judge Wilkins, who was secretary of war and minister of the United States to Russia. The weapon is of old style, using powder and ball instead of a cartridge. When all the arrangements were made for the duel the seconds of -he contestants ordered the pistols to be made there not being anything suitable to be found. The order was given to a gunsmith to have them made fifteen inches long, one-fourth-inch bore, silver-mounted, with name of fighters engraved upon the protectors of the triggers. The protector, trigger, and hammer of this weapon are made of solid silver, and, being large add to its value. The one in Mr. MeElheny's possession has engraved upon it: 4*E Pendland, Pittsburgh, Pa? 1815." The weapon is certainly of a curious make to those of trie present tlay, and it is also supposed that there Is not another of the same pattern in existence, having been made in a different style from those that were even then used. When Gen. Anthony "Wayne was on nis way to the northwest* with an army to settle a dispute with the Indians they stopped at this city for rest. Col. Bates, one of Gen. Wayne's staff, was criticised by Elijah Pendland, ediitor of a Pittsburgh paper, saying in the article published that he was not fit to be an army officer. CoL Bates, reading this, naturally wished to be revenged. He decided to watch for him on a principal street of the city and horsewhip him. He also chose the time when there would be a?crowd on the thoroughfare to witness the chastisement. It happened on a Saturday in the latter part of December, 1315. Stationed on the corner of two leading streets, about 5 o'clock, with arms folded, was CoL Bates, in uniform of the United States army, looking around as though just idling his time, but some person must have told the secret, for as soon as he stopped a crowd began to collect, and in about five minutes the street was blocked. Editor Pendland was walking slowly down the street when he saw the crowd gather, and, always on the lookout for news, he hurried down and was soon making his way through, asking what was wrong, when CoL Bates loosened his cape and produoed a largrf whip. He shouted: "This is what is wrong 1" at the same time striking Mr. Pendland across the skoulders. and crmt.innori tr* w ? WW UAUIUIOU himself in that way till the crowd interfered. Then Mr. Pendland, with a smile and a "Thank you/' left as did also CoP Bates. When Mr. Pendland reached the office he sent a challenge to the colonel, but it was refused, with the reason that the colonel never fought with a person whom he had horsewhipped. Mr. Pendland was not to be put off with such an excuse, but sent the second challenge. telHncrhim i?? toqo ? coward if he then refused to fight, but again the answer was the same. Frank Smith, who had taken both messages and who was a firm friend of Mr. Pendland, then sent a challenge, saying that he would fight, and, there being no reason why he should refuse, it was accepted, Mr. Smith giving Col. Bates choice of weapons. When Mr. Pendland heard what Mr. Smith had done he immediately offered himself as a second. Col. Bates secured as his Becond Judge Wilklns, who had just at that time been admitted to the bar. Ail arrangements were made. Mention is made above of the name of Mr. . -11 > t- -* - *.ouumuu uemg engraved on one of tbe pistols. The reason is that he was one of the most interested parties. The day on which was to be decided which of the two men was the best shot was cold and wintry, the snow being six inches deep. Sleighs were secured and the party of six retired to the field of conflict, which was back of Herron hill, in Minersville, there being very few residence? in that sec tion then. Ten paces were measured, and the duelists took their places. The word was given to fire, and two sharp reports rang out on the air, followed by a groan from Col. Bates. His docto? stepped quickly to him and pronounced him dead, navlng been shot through the heart. He was taken to the city and the next day was buried. The same day Gen. Wayne's army moved on. The gentleman who now possesses this valuable relio has had large offers made for it by curiosity-seekers several times, but refused to selL~-i*fttjburgh Commercial QatitU, V - Jf." , 'i J V-' -V<,k.' sf ' ' v V' '' . j . " ;;f .' /' Terrapin Farming. Over $1,500,000 worth of diamond back terrapin are taken out of the Chesapeake Bay and its trlbuaries every year. As the price averages $30 a dozen, this represents 600,000 terrapin annually. During the season 500 men are engaged in catching them. They are found on both sides of the bay, from its month t.n it.<* anrl tViov are particularly abundant in the numerous riv*rs and inlets which branch off from the Chesapeake. Like the canvass-back duck, the terrapin feeds ehiefly on water celery or watercress, and the place where this grass grow9 thickly is always a terrapin feeding ground. It i3 a fact well know that this celery is found in greater luxuriance in the Chesapeake than in any other body of water in the world, and t Hid prnloina wKv A nnlr on/1 ..w f* IIJ uuv/iv auu toi la^iu frequent it3 waters more numerously than anywhere else. Terrapin farming is an undeveloped industry in Maryland, but where it ii judiciously followed it yields fair returns. The first farm was started in Somerset county by United States Senator Dinnis, who began the enterprise for his personal accommodation. Thd biggest farm is in Calvert county, on the Patuxent River, and it consists of a large salt water lake, many acres in extent, and spacious enough to accommodate thousands of terrapin. In this the proprietor placed a number of terrapin and they multiplied rapidly. Th<j hatcheries consist of boards partly filkd with sand, and are so arranged that when the females enter they cannot get out until taken out. The young terrapin are kept in the nurserj for ton months or a year, because the old musculine terrapins are said ta have a bad habit of eating the tender young members of their tribe. Th* curiosity referred to by Uncle Epli has enabled the proprietor of the farm to train the terrapin so that they re? spond when he calls them at feeding time. Another farm, in which soma New York gentlemen are interested, has been started in Talbot county. It has a sand beach for laying and hatching, and it is surrounded by a well built board fence to keep out muskrats. -New York Herald. 4 Whale and Thrasher Fight. The following are extracts from a private letter from a Connecticut gentleman to a friend in this city: My sea voyage from here to Victoria, British Columbia, was more than usually pleasant, as the George W. Elder (sometimes known as the Tallinn. ? P- -' Anvittu^ luuoca, I1U111 U1C ItlUb til tit 9116 will roll at all times and under any circumstanced) kept an even keel' all of the three days. "The only feature of interest was the very uncommon number of whales, which for two days surrounded the ship. It seemed that there was a convention of whales met for some fishy purpose, and they were not only disposed to display their dimensions, but to show us some other characteristics they have in common with all created things. We also saw one of those fights which the whale has with the thrasher, a fish with long, sharp jaws and keen teeth, who fastens himself into the mouth of the whale and then beats him with his long-drawn-out body, resembling a tail, until the poor monster is worn out with his efforts to shake him off, and gives up the 6ght. Then the thrasher leisurely eats out his tongue and departs for pastures new. 'Tho Klnura r?iiran kt? f Ki? 4 xuv Wfty ff o TUU VIJ LU13 ILI1 asuui could be heard for two miles, and the whale made the sea boil Id his vain efforts to shake off the murderer. He would dive, but it was of no use, for the thrasher could stay under water any lengtn or lime, while the whale must come to the surface to breathe. The last we could aee through the glass the thrasher was pounding and the whale rolling, pounding the water with his flukes, and sometimes throwing his huge body almost entirely out of the water.?Hertford Times. The Oldest Living Thing What is said to be the oldest living thing upon the globe is the cypress of Santa Maria del Tule, in the Mexicaq State of Oaxaca. This venerable monarch of the forest, still instinct with apparently strong life, probably spans the whole period of written history. It is still growing. Humboldt speaks of it in 1851 as measuring 34 feet in diameter, 146 feet in circumference and 282 feet betwepn the two extremes. The Keasoii Why. Jones (just returned from a threeyears' tour abroad^?I in at met Robin. r m " V / 7- " 800. How pale and thin he looks. When I went abroad he was the picture of health. Was he orossed in love? Did the girl to whom he was engaged jilt him? Brown?No. She married him.?New York Sun. Mtiil A Hirer l)ream, I The blue, blue sky above,. The blue, blue "water under, Two eyes more blue, and a heart that's true, And a boat to bear me with my lovo To lands of light and wondor. The sunny fields around, The rivor rippling by ui, A smile more bright than noonday light, Our brows with meadow garlands crowned, And never a core to try us. A drifting with the tido, A wind that whispers greeting, An isle of rest in the fadod west, With only the wavos on the shore besido And two hearts fondly beating. ?Harold K. Bouillon in Casscll. HUMOROUS. Always ready to take a hand in conj versation?Deaf and dumb people. I A small leak may sink a great ship, and a raw onion break up a court-ship. Why is a weathercock like a loafer? j Because it is constantly going round I doing nothing. "Well, you can tell us if he is young?" "I should think he was. He hasn't got any hair yetl" A sportsman, returning from the marshes, when asked if he had shot anything, said: "No, but I gave the the birds a good serenading." "Looking at your drawings imbues me with an artistic fever." remarked Smithe to Miss Lulu. "It ought to; it's sketching," quietly replied Lulu. Why is it that the man who whangs an old copper cent into the contribution box generally leans, back with a twenty-dollar look of benevolence? Teacher: "What is an engineer ?* Boy No. 1: "A man who works an engine." Teacher; "What is a pioneer ?" Boy No. 2: "That man man that works that piano." A ...U ~ U-J J-1 iv umu wuu uiHi uLvunuea me performance of "Hamlet" was asked how he liked it. "It's a good play," he replied, "well written, and all that sort of thing, but it's full of old jokes." She: "I don't like my bonnet now that I've got it. It doesn't match my hnir of oil " TT?. 4?V^? ??U* * - t I ....... .... ..... J11C. J.UU UUjJUt uavt) | thought of that before you bought it." She: "My bonnet ?" He: "No, your hair." A man wrote to a scientist that he ' had an apple which he had preserved for fifty-three years, and on being requested to forward it for inspection. he replied that he could not, as it was the apple of his eye. Orchids. The orchid family of plants is peculiarly interesting on account of the strauge forms assumed by its flowers. Many of them imitate in perfection the butterflies and bees and the curious winged insects that inhabit the < tropics. The plants themselves in tropical climates are frequently .dry stems, parasitic upon the trunks of trees; but in the flowering season they burst out into the most superb and gorgeous blossoms, that set a whole forest afiame with their colors. For these reasons they are most highly prized by the florists, and a fine group of orchids is considered one of the choicest treasures of great botanical collections. In our own country we have about seventy-five species, some of which are very showy and handsome. But the orchid fancier goes fartliap nfiol/l tt_ ?>?w? Muvavt uto uuaubiu9t JQLO must have fcheru from the wilds of Australia or Van Dieraan's land, or from the jungles of India, from the banks of the Amazon or from the islands of tropic seas. Linnseus knew . only 100 species of orchids; Persoon, in 1806. knew 477; Sprengel, in 1830, had enumerated about 800; and in more recent times the number has risen to nearly 3,000. The genera, | also, are very many in number, but [ those which are most popular with cultivators are comparatively few, ] although they contain a great number of species.?Utica Herald. The Crow and (he Bam. An old Crow was watching a flock of sheep grazing in a valley, When a large Eagle suddenly flew among them and carried off a young Lamb. "It seems to me that 1 ought to be able to do that," remarked the Crow; "111 try it at any rate." With these words the Crow flaw down, lit on the back of a large 6am, V and after violent exertions succeeded in flying away with him to the top of a neighboring mountain four miles high. After being deposited, the Ram remarked in a tone of playful nonchalance: "Well, having gotten me up here, what do you proposo to do with me, you blaok pirate? If you don't get down this mountain in a hurry, Til knM ' " ksiiuv juu ftubu 1uiuc6" meat.'' Tne poor Crow, accepting the situation* flat* 'v^'J tered sorrowfully down the mountain side, and supped in the valley on a belated fishing-worm. Moral: Don't undertake an army oontraot before carefully estimating1 the probable net profit*.?Life.