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r\r . ... a . . -. --* . - -~. -... -.. .". ... -. --. .- -.-..- . . .-ti.- -.- . . . .- - ~ - - . - . . . . TILlI-W EEKLIY EDITION.W:.N.101US.C,AY,i8 BETlTER LUCK ANOTH1 Ell YEAR. Oh, never sink 'noath Fortunes frowp, But bravo her with a slout of clu-or, And front ier fairly-face her down Rho's only Ntern to those who fear ! Hero's "Bettor luck another year Another 3 oar ! Aye, bette luc k another year ! We'll have her smile instead of sneer A thousand smiles for every tear, With home made glad and goodly choor, And better luck another year"- ' AndtLer year l The damsel Fortune still denies The plea that yet dolights her ear "fie but our manhood that she tries She's copy to those who doubt and fear hho 11 grant the _ nit anotlher year Anothcr year ! Horo's Better luck another year !" She n .w denies the golden prizo sbut, spite of frown and scorn and'sueo-r, Be firm, and we wi I win and wear. With home made glad and goodly choor, in better luck another year I Another year ! Another year ! Scientific Suicide. "l an a miserable man," said Cyrur 1laddox, gloomily, "and it is hest that th< world should be rid of amy presence. N< one cares for mec." "Oh, don't say that, uncle," said Lizzi Silver, beseechingly. "You know I love you. You are the only friend I have In the world, and if you were to die what woulh become of ie. ?" "I suppose young Guy Cheevers wouhd console you for my loss," said Mr. Maddox grimly. "At any rate I don't care. I will end mny troubles and sorrows to-morrow at twelv< o' clock." And with these fearful dvords he strodc out of the room, leaving Lizzie sobbing, with her curly black head resting on a din uer-plate. "''Wht's the matter now, Bess? las the milliner d.aiappoitied you in your love of i bonnet ?" asked at warm, hearty voice which was the property of "young Oliev ers," as Mr. Maddox called hin-as (itt ? ". gentleman strode into the room. "Oh, Guy I" sobhed Lizzie; "Uncle Cyrut is gc.ing to die to-moirow at twelvt o'clock." "How do you know ?" asked Iny. "He said so.' "lnt hiow~ does he know ?" "lie's going to kill himself.' "5o as to mnake himself at true prophet, oh ?" a-ked (uy, laughing. <" Oh, Guy, don't joke! !" Lizze, tearfully. Ile wll--I know he will I" ? " I doubt it I'' said Guy, skeptically. "Bit he tried to condt suicide severa times," persisted Lizzie, tearfully. "Once he tried to smother himself with hurnin. eharcoal; but he forgot to stop up the key hole, and I smelt the smoke and got soi neighbors to break openi the door, ain ssaved.hiim. Then he tried to hang limiself but tlie cord broke, and he tired a pistol at himself but lie forgot to put any hall in it, so that failed, and then----' "Gracious !" cried Guy, as Lizzie stop ped for want of breath; "what a leterin ed man he must be! Such perseverance de serves to lie rewarded. Ilaveyou any ide what pluan he wd'il try next?"' "I'm sure I don't know," said Lizzie imournfully. "Something dreadful, I sup. poseo." "But what. does he want to make away with himself for ?" asked iuy, wondering ly. "Why, he says he is a miserable man, a burden to every one, and that life has in -joys for him, andt that ith is weanr of thi: world ---__" "And so wotuld like to try the next staidi Guy. "Perhaps he won't 11nd it a: pleasant as the one lhe is qunitting. Whal an unreasonable man lie must bel Ilie ii rucha, talenited, healthy, and hasan a vera p)retty niecee"-here, ini a momient of ab - straction, he allowed his arm to wondelc arouind Miss Silvers waist.-'- "and what moir< can lhe want?i But some people never ar< satisfie'd. It seems he is determined to pry into futurity, and it seems a Pity to disap, -point so laudable an ambition; butduty duty to myself-compels mec to interfere, I dislike scandal or excitement. A coronm cr's jury would Cause both, therefore w< must balk his little game. "llut how?" asked Lizzie, curiously. "A p)rude#General," said Guy, haught ily, "never confides is lans151 to his army, particularly when that army is of the fem. inine gender-so excuse me; muum's th< word; bait rest assured, my dearest Eliza biethi, that, unless your worthy uncle shufflec off this mortal coil In a surreptitious man. ner before t welve o'clock to-morrow, lit will not do it afterward-of comnso 1 mear lilegally. F~arewvell till to-morrow." flaving. concluded- this 'address, Guy) strode oft mi a tragic mainer, leaivinig Li. zie greatly surprised, but still reassured, for-i her opinion whait Guy could not d< was not worth dlolng. -The next morninig Air. Maddl(ox made hhi appearance very saturnine andI gloomy andit ate his breakfast with a mournful ait thaat'was terrlibly Iimplressivye. HaIsving tIn Ished, lie then took leav'e of his niece in a feeling mann*r. "'I am clbout to leave youl," he anid, mournfully. ''lamn about to endt this lift of mils ry. I hop,e you maay 1)0 happy." "Oh, don't go," saitd Lizzie, tearfully, clinging to him, and lookig up into hit face pleadlIngly. "It's useless," said Mir. Miaddox, firmly. - "My mind is fixed, anid nothing you mayt say cain persuade me to relinquish miy putr pose. But you, my dear child, shall nol lie unp1lrovided for. 1Iintend to make m13 will in the few hours that are loft me, ain you will not lbe forgotten. Good-by, m3~ dear child-farewell! "-anti then aftei embracing his nicce fervently, Mr. Araddos rushed from the roomu frantically anm semee!y locked himself in lisa own room, and began to'prepaire. him8elf for lisla Isi 4 journey. "Nine-o'clock !" lie sai to himself look ing at hie watch. "Three hours yet. Enotugl to do.all. I have to do. F~irst, to make mu3 will." 'rho last will andf testament of Mr. Cyrui Maddox was evidently not a lon~g oine, a It wais'inished in an hour, "Eleven o'clock I" said Mr. Maddox "and I have finished. Hlow slow the tima paisses to bo sure lI Now what shp11 . d until tu elve o'clock, for I aim de@tepnine 4 not to die until noon-" A knock at the, door, "Go away!" said Mr. Maddox, angrily. "You can't come in!" "I ai very sorry to disagree with you," said a voice outside the door, "but. 1 can come ha. I have a duplicate key here, and if you don't open the door I will." Mr. Maddox rose and unlocked the door savagely, and Mr. Guy Cheoves stalked into the room, carrying a oblong box under his arm. lie placed the box on the table, and then took ai seat opposite Mr. Maddox, and star ed blandly at him.. "What do you want ?" asked Mr Mad dox, fiercely. "Don't you see I'm engag ed ?" "Oh I know," said Guy, "what you are about to do. Don't think that. I'm going to interfere, not at all. But before you make your quietus, I wish to ask you a few questions. Have you provided for your niece's future welfare?" "'What's that to you?" "Uonsiderable. I am about to marry Miss Silver, so her interests are naturally mhme." -Then she is provided for, amply." ''hank you for your information. Very glad to. hear it. And now, px'nse the ap parent impertinence sof the question, but where is your will?" "Here," aid Mr. Maddox, layim his hand on It. "Suppose you give it to me to take care of?" "Give it to you I Why, pray?" "It might become misplaced," explained Guy. "I'll keep it myself," said Mr. Mad dox, roughly. ''Then just leave a mniltoraan:un ont he table,,' said Guy,. earnestly, "to tell where it is. It, will save trouble, perhaps." "Get out !" cried Mr. Maddbx, angrily. "Ala, 1 see !" said. Mr. Cheevers, coolly; "in a hurry to begin. Well,' I won't de tain you; but I have a lattle suggestion to offer." "It is this," said Guy. "Miss Silver in forms me that you have made several pre vious efforts to cut short your'trouble and your breath, and always, unsuccessfully. Now, it seems to me you don't go the right way about it. This box"-and here he opened the box before alluded to-contains several little plans that I think might please you. Here's one"-and he showed a little steel instrument. "W'hat's thatQ" asked Mr. Maddox, curi ously. "This," said Guy, "is an article that. you can place round your neck like a collar; then, by striking your hand on the left side of your neck, a sharp spike is driven right into your jugular vain- " "But that would kill me ?" said Mr. Maddox staring. '"Well, ain't that what you want?" do manded Guy, sternly. "Now, here's an other," he went on. "1lere's a wheel, you observe. You place this band around your neck, pass it around the wheel, and give it two or three turnt;; then let go. The recoil will twist your head almost of your should ers-kill you to a certainty." - Mr. Maddox stared at him with unfeign ed horror. "Then,'' went on Guy, 'lhcre's a little package-a torpedo. It contains nitro-gly cerine. You place it in your mouth, snap your teeth on it, and oil goes your lead, smashed into millions of atoms." "Good heavens !" exclaimed Mr. Mad dox, tearfully. What a terrible ideal" "Not at all," said Guy, soothingly, 'Beautiful Invention-I quite pride myself on it-scientific suicide, you see I Anybody can take poison, or blow their brains out; but to do it scientifically requires real talent. You have it and I am confident you will reflect credit on my inventive skill. Now," ho continued, confidentially, "if you could use all three of these Inventions at once cut your jugular, garrote yourself and blow your head off, all at once-why, I'd thank you." "What l'' criedl Mr. Maddox, fiercely, "(10 you think I'm going to use any of your infernal inventions? Get out of thmis room, you cold-blooded villain, before I 'throw you out of the window!" 'But I have a great many more to show you," demonstrated Guy; "and yon see I wvant you to try ais many as p)ossible. Well, we"he added, as Mur. Maddox graspedl heokrthreateningly, "I'm going. But Pii leave this box lhere, and before you get rid of yourmelf, jusat make a 'memnorandumn of whiat you will use, and leave it on the table, because, you know, there wvui l)rob)a bly be nothing left of you-to draw conchu slo,ns from, and ho H-ere~ any further speech was cut short by Mr. Maddox. seizing his visitor, andi hustlig lhim out into the paissage. "WVell," said Lizzie, anxiously, to Guy. "'I think it's all right." saidl Guy, grin. ninug. "Get the lunch ready, Your undle is all right. He'll be dlown." And sure einough, so lie was; and thaough lie spoke not, lie eat most voraciously of everythiug.. "Lizzie," said lie, suddoenly, after -an hour's pause, "did yon ever see an infordal oldfool and lodiot?" 'Never, that I know of," saud Lizzie. "Why?'' "Because, just look at me, and you'll see one," said Mr. Maddox, gaimly, and lie stalked up-stairs.. Up to the present time of writing, Mr. Cyrus Maddox is still alive, enjoying re markably good health, and lie seems to be on friendly terms with Mr. Chicovers and his wife Lizzie. He probably forgave that gentleman on account of a discovery that he made that .the ultro-glycerine torpe(do contained nothing more dlangerous than salt, and the other "infernal inventions" were infersal in about the same ratio; but I u'my still maintains that when a person is Sweary of life they shaould ease their troubles by scientific suioide. To drop your knife meaans, "I am badly bored." To eat with your kalife mens, I am not posted." .To drop your fork means, "I am dlesper ately in love." . To wipe your knife on the table. cloth means, "All right." To st,ir your -coffee with a fork means, "How sweet you are." -To eat sotup with a fork means, "You are very beautiful." To whet your knife onu your fork means, ."You seeo- am sharp." To cut your miouth with a knife means, "1 am very impatient." , - . -. To pick' yo {*tyth with a fork moans, ii "I anM thie pic of the lot." To wipe you noeop,akn,nt "I am mk?un e n t sma ki," nt~ Our lttt-Tandi Neghbormj. The house is a comfortable-looking brown house, nearly surrounded by veran dahs. . It is situated in a large yard, %viere there are many fruit trees. As you enter the door you find yourself in a large, pleas ant room. 'There are easy chairs before the windows, inviting you in their qiet way to repose. Betveen the windows there is a pretty little table which is neither ma hogany nor rose-wood, toward which your eyes always wander, for there is always to be founc on it au old-fashioned silver basket, tilled with fruit varying with the seasons; in winter rosy appiles and galden oranges, in anutuinn purple grapes. Behind the tire is an o'toman whereoni a large, lie nevolent-lookng c, is generally to be found. Te fanily con its of thre persons, a man, his wife and a daughter. The man is about middle height, amnct looks to be on the shady side of iorty. ills greatest aim In life seeis to be to go it fishing. ie is a person of whom we say "out of ight, out of mind.'' The lady looks you.inger than her husband. She wears her hair in the fashion of twenty years ago-t wo curls be hind her respective car's, and the remailmng two or three hairs in at ml4111l-sized net. on the back of her head ;. it calls up the thought that possibly there may be a door somewhere there,and that is the knob. 11er teeth, of which she hars but few, look older than she is. One of thret has i par tieularly downcast expression, ats it drops despondently over her lower lip. Shi dresses peculiarly, looking as if she had never cote to the end of her wedding (ros seau. Site is generous and open-hearted. Also, she is se(ri1uly inrclinec"d to gauip,and irresis ibly given to exaggeration. When you are in need of advice she can always supply you, on any and all subjec:ts. She has been heard frequently to boast that there is no man she is afraid of ; and her husband never argues the point with her. Some people know when they are well off. Her daughter, i girl of nineteen, is her self moderated. Sie has a retrousse nse, and sily hair, inclined to a carroty shade. She has what, is called vegetable bieauty. 'his family have a dog. It is not a vie Ions dog, for, Judging from the large amouI t of bark, there can be very litle bite. The family think everything of the animal the mianh because it is of sugh a fine breed, the ladies because it keeps off burglars. It, does keel) ofi burglars, by keeping the neighbors on the alert. Several obituaries have been written, in case 1is dog should die. This clog occatsionally gets away. This is the signal for a commotion. 'Ihe lady drops her knitting and runs after the aii mal, 111and all the'sall 11boys and girls follow. Jumping fron curbing to road and from road to gutter, heated and excited, scolding and exhorting. this left-hand neiglbor gives earnest chase. The number of pursuers in creases at every block. The policeman stands oil tie corner, wonderitag whether the dog is mad or the people are. Several baby carriages have fallen Into lite ranks, and all tie dogs for three miles around. The neighbors, thinking of fire and other dreadfuil things, rush to the windows and see one dog gambolltng along, followed by a very excited wonian, and the jamvenile portion of the neighborhood. They hear abova the din causcd by drivers, babies and (logs, a sharp, thrill voice, telling Jennie, the, dog, to perambulate gently home and expatiating on the animal' waywardness. Finally the dog is caught and the procession files peacefully home. A hush settles down. and the only sound that disturbs this se renity is the barking of the dog. Killed at a Tourna,nout.. Hlenry the Second, of France, who ex celled in every exercise of chivalry, was pecu'iarly fond of tournaments, and gave a splendli succession of them on. the mar riage, by proxy, of Elizabeth, to Philip 1., at Paii. Th'le lists extended( from the Pazl ace of the TVournellen to the Bashtile, across the streets of Sant Antoine. In the frst t wo (lays the king broke several lances with Joo(ds of his court, in all of which lie shiowed ek'traotrdmary vigor and1( addresa. On the third day of the toutrntaisent, Jun 30, 1559, toward the close of thie eventhug, and the conclusion, Henry showed a great In c.ination to try his prowess agains~t the Count (Ie Monttgomeri, cap)tain of Is Life GAuards, who hiad fortnerly wounided .Frantcis I. so (dangerously on thte head, at Romio.. rentin in ieri, antd was distingutished for is supierlir a(ddress in t hese combhats above anly noblemtan in the kingdom. Calherine de Medici, as if by a secret presage of th'e event, eintreated the kiing not to re-cnter the lists ; but lie resilted her solIcitations, say lug he wontid break . one lance mocre in her honor. Montgoimeri accepted tihe chal-1 lenge with great, reluctance. ilenry comn mandled hin to obey, and even fouzr:ht with his vir,,or raised ; but. theo authors are not (qute agreed whether it wits raised hritent tionally, or flew 01)0n by at blow from Montgomteri's.lance, In an encoumter which was so violent that the count's lance broke against the king's helmet;' lie then fought -with the stump)l whtich remained it his hantd, and with it hiad the misfortune to strike the king so violent a blow utnd(er the eyes which threw ihn to the groundi(, and deprived him inst antly of both speech and understanding, though heo lived eleven days afterward. TVhis circlnstaunce occasIoned the suppres.. sion of toturnamients it France. -Saugiesty orf t,he Dog. Johin Quincy Adams in a letter written to a fiend in Boston, says: .oln the suimmer of 1801) 1 traveled with my -family fromt Berlin bty th.ei way of Frankfort upon~ the Oder int(o Silesia, and returnedi in the Au tuon)i by the way of Dreen and Leipzig. At thtis latter city we halted and spent there three oi' four weeks. Whiitcomb aind lis dog Pincher wero with us through the whole tour. When we left Leipzig and re turned to Blerlin, Pincher was accidentally left behind, .an event which was not dis coveredh until we wore some seven miles ad vanced on outr way, and he was given over orf About ten dlays af ter we reached Berlin lost Pincher made her appearance, as ragged and gaunt as a wolf in Januiary, on a land coveoredlhvwrow and-wlth hlibs stiffened s that -Ihe could scarcely move, from which, however, lie soon recovered to his usual strengt.h and vivacity. . The distance from Leipzig to Berl:En was about 100 miles. How Pincher has found hIs way ,home we inever kne.v. The road by which we liad gone fronm Berlin was In the oppo,. site direbion, and lie never traveled the direct road fromn Leipzig to Berlin. This occurrence, thterefore, indidat~ a faculty in the dlog more o3mprobiensive than that of me ~nr,perhaps e oqutsjena of senof ytion ~ eyfo'na ocp A 'Tamns Otter. A recent writer luau English paper says: Not long ago, taking a wal4 down by the Thrum mill, near Rothbury on the Coquet, to exercise our dogs, on gettig to the top of the rocks one of tie pi.ippps gave tongue and out cane an otter with two whelps by her side, making for the river. lie got in front when the mother gained the rocks, but we secured the- two whelps, We took thema home and put tbeili with Bell, an otter hound, who had a htter of three pup pies: One of the whelps died, but thf other took to the hound, and throve famously; he mixed with the puppies, but fought- like ia demon, and was soon master of the situa tion. Wherever they went lie went with them, fighting everything he ipet with. He also became a pet with all the household, who never missedi a chance of f"eding him. Ils special: treat was bowls of milk and broth ; to get these he would find his way into dairies. larders, etc. Thus ho went on, until he had to enter the puppies for otter hunting. We had him fastened in a yard with high walls, as we felt sure, if we took him with us, he would join his own species. On our return he bullied and fought the entire kennel of yive. About a week after I had to go to 13rinkbaru priory, and took the dogs with me. "Sandy," the tame otter, would go, and into the Coquet they soon got on the lair of an otter. They swam him through a deep pool, when lie took to the bushes. Soon I saw Sandy side by side with itefus, close to the wild otter. I said farewell to Sandy, but. presently I heard the pleasant sound. "worry, worry;'' I thought Itefus had him, but, on coming in sight, to my astonishnent, Sandy had him fast by the neck and held him fast un til the (logs came up. From that time he was the leader in all our hunts, and was in at the death of nearly twenty otters. IlIe became, however, a perfect terror to all the (logs in the village, and district ; fighting was his motto. I well remember Mr. Wea thens had a big lurchler and greyhound, who took to ighting; a great, powerful animal, his long jaws turd qutick movements beat the whole (listrict. One day Ito was in lRoxhury, and soon had poor Refus dead beat. "'Let out, Sandy, Geordie." No sooner said t hia done. Sandy at once saw poor 11ofus's eondition, and flew at the luircher-got him by the foreleg, when the lurcher turned to bite. On seeing Sandy, however, he was terror-stricken, and, giv ing a most unearthly yell, bolted up the town with Sandy after him. The dog's master could never get him to pass through the town again. But, alas I poor Sandy soon came to his end. Love of broth led him into tie larder of the Star inn. The cook, finding him wallowing in the broth, struck him with the wooden ladle, more to frighten than to hurt him; but his skull was fractured, and after lingering for some (days, he (lied, to the inexpressible regret of all who knew him. "rhem.H ights or an Aumercmica I le was about. live foot five or therca bouls, sloutly built,lid dressed in a suit of faded black. His face was round and somewhat studious in expression, to which a heavy pair of glasses greatly added. lin either hand was a carpet bag of anelent style, while the high hat was of the kind which went out of date in the-Spring of 1859. lie came through the long hall of the Central Depot with the air of a man who considers no one his superior, but when the man at. the gate said, "ticket, sir," he looked rather wild. "What ain l; a hog?" ho muttered, dropping both carpet bags in the doorway. The dOorkeeper quietly pushed the carpet bags aside, and tne crowd went in and out, while th ol( mtan raised both han<is and delared he had been twenty-seven years in this country and had "the rights of an American." Th'e passage-way was blocked in a m..om.ent, and then D)etect ives Kavanaghi and Brown camne, bumt Ihe wvoul go ino way save to the train, lHe had a ticket for Buffalo, but wvould show it only to tihe condluctor. The oilcers saw at once thaut it was a peculIar case andl at once seized his bags and him self and rushed him into tIhe depot, he at ill time.s p)rotesting about his long residence in America and Is rights. Th'ien lhe was placed oin the train, b)ut, with some difli anit.y, his loud tone and active gesticulia. ions affording amusement to the crowvd at tracted to him. Onco inside the car lhe juietly sat dIown beside hmis carpet-baigs, tmuttering over and over, "My ticket, yes, i keep auy ticket all right." Wood0( and Iron in Fires. Captain Shaw of the Fire Brigade of London, writes as follows in relation to the respective utility of .wood and Iron for in ~ernal supports of buildIngs. A fewv mionths since a fire occurred In one of the muormous warehouses for which the docks f this 'metropolie are remarkable, and raged with great fury from a little beOfore six in the morning utii abomut eleven In the Lorenooni, when It was ext.inguished, and a ver'y large proportion of the building and its contents saved. The warehouse wvas constructed of brick walls ; it had wvoodien floors, suupported on wooden beams, which La their taun were carried on \vooden story posts, ab)out twelve Inches thick ; and, al hough so i>uts damage was done, not one portiont of the heavy woodwork was (de mtroyod. After the fire we was allowed to remove one of the story-posta, with a sec tion of the beams and other parts surround Lag It above and below. Ti'Ns post hiad been subjected to the full action of the fire cluring tl.e wvhol,i of its duirationb as already mntionedt, or, miaking full allowance for averythinmg, nicitiding the dlelay of the fire tttacking the particular spot on which it itood and the time .at which the cooli' i p:ocess commenced certainly not less thtan rour and one-half hours. As we had used Large quantities of .water, at\d it was pro bable that the wood might have been somne what saturated, I had It carefully dried for several days before a strong fire, until not a trace of muoistutre remained in It. I thea set It on end In tan open yard, exactly as it mad stood in the warehouse, with thme pe iestal underneath, the cap above, and the beami across the cap, placed more than a ton of shavings, light wood,' and heavy wood round It, and, after saturating the. whole heap with petroleum, applied a light' torch. A fter this I kept -men pumping pe troleutn anid turpentine on it'unatih my stock was exhausted. At the end of two-and-a haif hours 'I withdrew the poet, .beauin and other:parts from the firo, and wilthin a fow minutes from the time at which they were withdrawfi thef coased 'tu barn, I then sawed off hotitnaly a few feet at:that p art which had sa o)ost ftom the fathet and afttaw ' spnlts the am piece longitudinally with steel wedges In order examine Its condition. 'l'he post was phteh pine, about the most htillammal wood I know, and yet, after exposure I seven hours to fire the fury of which coi not be exceeded excet>t in blast furnaces, contained and stil contains within it quantity of perfectly uninjured and appi ently fresh wood, probably capable at tl moment of supporing the whole weig the ot iginal post can have beeii designed curry. Aimediately after the saw-cut, a again after the cleaving with steti wedg< I carefully examined the centre, and fou it just perceptibly warm to tho touch, i nothing more, thus proving that the flbi in which the strength lies, must have be qinte uninjured. 'Jhe lesson to be drai from this I take to be as follows:-A nn sive story-post of even the most inflamin blo wood is absolutely and perfectly pre against any heat which can be applied it, wilb not of itself burn at all, but requh a continual supply of highly iulanmal substances to keep it burning, and, wh this supply is withdrawn, ceases to buri and lastly, after being exposed for eev hours to flames of very great latensity, not injured to a greater depth than abo two inches from the original outer surfac and still shows a centre as clean and fre as when it was first put in. There may other materials suitable for this purpc which are capable pf resisting the effects heat; anct, if so, 1 hope we may one L hear of them ; but in the meanwhile 1 ve ture to submit what I consider to be stro1 practical testimony in favor of massi timber for the internal supports of hc'rvl loade<l buildings. An nt oligent Dog. He was a pure Newfoundlhnd; with nice, broad head and beautiful light. brov eyes, and such a sweet exprpsion at t :orners of his mouth you would be sure think lie was smililg. A more affectiona heart never beat than that beneath tl shaggy breast of our dog Custer. V trained hini .to hold the halter in his mou and lead the horses away, and lie was ve proud to be allowed this honor, and wou wag his big, bushy tail in a satisfied wa and hold his head high in order to look dignified as possible, I suppose. His tric and accomplishments were many. I could carry two eggs in his huge mou and never break one. lie could turn knob as well as any one, and on entering roonn would always turn around and p his paw on the door to close it. If tiL failed lie would jump upon the door, takii care not to scratch with his nails. lie w more intelligent than many men I ha seen, and if any one sat down in the hou wthout dolling his hat Custer would stc stealthily up behind him and pull it o then dropping it on the floor at the side his chair would walk quietly away and I down, ats one who ltad.performedi a dut We would wrap a few ptunies in a papi and send hin with it in his mouth to store for candy, of which he was very fon Ile would never give it to any one but of clerK, with whom he was acquainted, at 'would bring Ilie candy home untouche hut after delivering It to us would stat expectedly by, wagging his tail and waithi for the sweet mrsel he knew lie was su to get. He was fond of milk, too, b would carry it faithfully to our pet laml and though he would glance lovingly in the pail occasionally, he was never kuov to betray our trust or steal one sip, of ti coveted beverage. We could send him a remote part of the house for any artici and Ie would be sure to understand at bring it to us if he could find it, and 1 generally found whatever ie searched fe 1 would say: "Custer, bring my oversho from the hall." le would get up at yawn, perhaps, and look up in my fa with a dog-smile, as though ne said: "Y< lazy girl, wvhy (lid you dilsturb my pleasa dream't" theli turn the knob of the hi dloor and in a moment return to me wvi both rubbers in the cavernous dtepths of 1I great red m-Juth. I would say: "13rii mec my thimble. *It is upstairs on the wI dow.'' Ie would turn his grand, glosi head 1irst on one side, then on the othc ant look at me in alpuizzling way, as5 the; trying to fix it upon his memnory, then tu slowly away to do his errand. Somnetim on the way lhe wvould seem to forget ai come back to me, looking very mu< ashamned, dlropp)ing his wide, curly ears al peerIinig at me from the top of his eyu Th'Len 1 wouldI rep)eat my demand, and] would run friskily away again, and cosa back wvith the thimble hidden in his mout Often lie would tantalize me playfully a. refuse to give it to me, shaking his head a mischievous way, aiid keeping just o of nmy reach as 1 ran toward him. >hiaoed by a Water spour.. William H. Hlallock, who not long a; was a passenger on a steamship of the 1 cull Mall Company, tells of an exciting e porience while the slip was off tihe coast Gautemala. A wa.or spout of tromendo power sudidenly appeared near the si In the midst of thie consternation the ea lain ordered his course reversedl and so the steamer was driving along, wit,h t water spout in pursuit. Its crest was hi don in a (lark mass of cloud, its base seo: ing to operate like an inmense revolvii culloader, while the entire external pei phery .formed a cushion of foam, ov which the sea bird sqreanmed, occasional seizing upon the dead fish which cam within reach. Trhe spout itself formed sort .of spiral cylinder, streaked wi opaque parallel lines through Its wh< length, from the surface of the sea upwar These lines were evidently ascending c< unn of water, for afterward, when 1: upper and lower sections became detache the accumulated volume of water overhei immediately began its descent within I body of the spout, as though it had be the valve of an immenee syrInge. T1' water thus released must have lycen eqt to several tons,.as it was solid and aim< black and returned to the sea . with a 101 roar, all the other parts of tihe serial btrt ture gradually dissipating. Perhaps mo t singular of all was the serponti lo -m assumed b)y the section nearest I c.ouds, .which moved oft at llrt- aim horizontally, and then turned upct itself a perfect co?l, so that for a moment, wh the end of the aqueons rope-Qr whato' it was.,wl ohed around squarely tot eye of the obsferver, ahiowing a section, resembled a ball of tak. -When the apt was.in its-finet conidition lIghtning sovel tinies flew ttrxotg theo)hw1r iiat s 4oil~~o sti6 Ofpower,,1 soitui). - to Queer Cats. There are very many - anecdotes told r horses, dogs and birds, but very few abo ifd cats ; and as this is hardly fair to the c creation, the following Instances at least d serve a mention: There is a certain truel ar man residing In New York, wko owns cat with some very uncatable peculiaritie She is a Malta, and about three years ol lt 11er feature of attraction is the manner i to which she greets every person that ente ac her owner's abode. No dog, on the ret,iu ad of a long absent master, could appear mo d joyful or frisk and caper about with greati agility than this extraordinary cat o:i t appearance of a v.sitor. If her dan lr en and frisking about do not at once att al n their attention, she gives a succession < s calls peculiar to her kind, that are certal A- to have the desired effect. ''hese stranf of actions and cries she generally keeps up f to (oie or fifteen minutes and then quietly r le tires to her place inder the stove. H1 Ole owners say that she differs in no ?ther wa from the generality of cats, but that sl will leave her dinner or her kittens on ti appe.trance of a stranger and never ceat until to her thinking the rather noisy we <t oUe I complete. And should twelve dil ferent persons call in one day, twelve timt e would pussy go through her peculiar greel ing. Among other "queer cats" that hav come under the writer's notice, was an Isl of of Wight or tailless cat. Dick, as he wi Y called, was not only atillicted with an e. I trenely gensitive disposition, but with tI g faculty oT expressing his feelings in hi we face. le never had been what is terne 13 a sociable cat, no one save his master ev< ventured further than to gently stroke hi back, and not even frotu hu would Die put up with much. One morning befor breakfast his master ordered hin, riattu a crossly, from the centre of the hearth-rug en and his own description of the look thu he Dick gave him in return, as lie slowly r< to tired froa the room, was that it hIaunte ho him for days after. Some time after thi lie he again had occasion to scold the cat, an 'o he disappeared for more than a week an ti presented a most dejected and forlorn al ry pearance on his return. A month later ti kd1 same gentleman, on entering his breakfasi y, room perceived Dick with his paws on th as table and his whiskers in the milk, f< ks which he gave hii a box on the cl ie Dick, unlike cats when caught stealin ti sl>wiy walked from the table to the ope a door, and after giving his master a long, r< a proachful look, walked out of the hout ut and towards the woods, and was novc is- again rem or heard of. ' Another Nei g England cat, known as Debby, formed as life-long attachment to a canary bird, an te at one time actually fought and chase so away another cat that was meditating tih al bird for a dinner. Incredulous persor [1, were allowed to place the bird c ige on th of floor, with no other company than Debb3 to and watch the proceedings from a chink I y. the door. She would generally sit dow or by the cage as If on guard, but never i a any way molest her helpless little c'omnpat d. ion. Another cat In the neighborhoo ae used to annoy her mistress by constautl id catching pigeons, young chickens and bird) d, and bringing them directly to her feel id No matter if she were receiving - a roomft ig of company, puss, with a peculiar purr < re satisfaction, would lay her prey before th ut lady and there leave it. Another of the ft ); line tribe, with wonderfut persistence, fo to lpwed benacith his owner's carriage, afg 'i the manner of the Danish carriage-doo to This cat would never be touched by an to one but his master, and by whom he wu e, tatuglht a number of little tricks. 10 "Time Gal's Ynurni." ' It Is not Intended that some men sha ed marry peacefully. .Bill Skittles lives i South Arkausas. For the past. six months h1 m has been studying for the ministry and it oc curedtoBill several days ago that just bc fore latuting a revival it would be a goo midlea to get married, iIe mentioned thi s ubject to a young lady and asked her to share his ministerial melancholy and hila: it,y, but the young lady said she had pron seld tomry Zeb. Monik, the professions r,wl cleaner of the neighborhood. "O01 rmwell." said the minister, "1 am pretty wve acquainted with Zeb. and I don't belley she'd kick," The young layfInally agree -h Grand preparations were mnadle. Ths idgirl's brothlers had caught a couple of 'pos asums and the old lady had baiked an in ense0)8 sweet poetato pie. The justice c the peace arrived. The parties took thel h. laces. The justice proceeded with th Id ceeoy when Zeb. Monk walked in an in deomandedl:. ut "Let upj thair, boss. Say, capn'n tut that gal loose." "1 reckon I wont," rep)lied Bill. "Weolh, then," said Zeb. drawling a r< .volver, "I'll kinder resort to extremities. "See here," remarked Bill, "are you I earnest about this thing?" O"I reckonlIami." S "Do you mean hog's head' and turanl greens ?" "I reckon I do." S"Right down to corn bread and cal bages?" 1 "I reckon it Is." "Well, then, you can take the gal.] d-was only sweet milk and pie with me. I': in fun. I had a new pair of trousers an didn't know what to do with 'eml. Con a little closer. Is it spar ribs and baci bones?" orly " reckonits. no "Then I know the gal's your,"~ and, wit aa slight change in thme lhcense, thme marring mprbceedled. dle A Lively corpse. >1- A stock owner'*ent out the other (lay OVa hie the divide m' Nevada, to see how his bul (r, were standing the rigorous weather, an md found a large, fine steer, ini his last los he sleep. The stock man had to roll him.ove en to see' the brand, and ho has regretted h me curiosity over since. He told me the bran ual 12oked like a Roman candle making aboi >st 2,000 revolutions per minute and with 16 tid .more prismatic colors than lie'thought wei 10- in existence. Sometimes a steer . is n he dead but in a cold sleepy stupor whic ne precedes deathl, and when stirred up a litt he and irritated because he cannot die witho: st turning over and showing his brand 11 in musters his remnaining strength and eil en the inquiaitive stock inan so high that I rer can see and recognize the features of' h he departed friends. That was the way It happened on-thib occasion. The stock mm ht felt in the branches of- a pino tr@e on Jac ral Creek, net dead but very thoughtful. Il Ig' said he was neak' enoug to hear the rut yof wibgs and was itst gon to ref stet itn utx eq apn I$ m whrua BRIEFS. at --The regular charge for cremating a st body is $35. - -1)uring the past year 10,000 per . sons loft British India for British colo a nief. s. -/''ho estate of the late A. E. Borie, 1. of Philadelphia-, is valued at- $1,150,. n 000. rs -If we didn't have any government - officials in this country, we would save re $32,000,000 a year. ar -Mr. 'Tish Smart, one of the cham ie pion skaters of the world, has wade ig twelve miles in 28%-ninutes. t t -A medal is to be presonled to all )f the men engaged in the St. Gothard n tunnel. - -The late RWchard Frothingham of Boston, left $203,000, mostly in personal property.. -Arkansas has received a larger im y migration within the last t,reo years than it did in seven preceeding. -The Union Pacific Railroad is go . lug to provide emigrant sleeping cars, without increase of rates. s -Hawkins has of late years been re - vived in England, and finds a few en e thusiastic votaries. e --C. Bazaine, nephew of the French . marshal, is keeping a liquor ship In Minneapolls, Minesota. C -The wool clip of 1879 amounted to s 133,500,000 pounds, the lar4est ever id shorn in this country. - r -The Ciuliese Governiont have do s cied on establishing-aeompldte system k of telegraphing through China. 0 -The total number of fires-in Paris r in 1879 (climnieys excepted) cas 1.049. The loss was a little over $1.000.000. -There were 6,147 nariages in ' Philadelphia in 1879. Of - 3,648 hoth parties were natives of this. country. d -A practicing lawyer of Mobile, Mr. tLi Jona A. Cuthbert, was an ofilcer in the war of 1812 and a Congressman -lit e1810. -The Duke of Ifamnilton offers all his dogs for sale, having given up r coursing. -Mr. Jolhn 1. Blair, of New Jersey, is President or main stockholder In a fourteen railroads with a mileage of 1.759 miles. e Professor Peirce, of Yale, expresses r the-opinlon that the comet recently dis , covered Is the wonderful comet of 1843 a on its return. d -Tihere are 60,000 locomotives In the d United States, and each contains 2,800 e dif'.irent pieces, requiring renewal s every ten or twelve years. e -The average life of a paper wheel , under trucks of locomotive engines n ranges from 300,000 to 1,041,880 miles u and under dining and palace cars frou u 79-1,000 to 878,336 miles. 1- -Kansas promises a wheat yield of d 30,000,000 bushels, this year. The y acreage is 20 per cent. larger than last. , year, and the condiion of th.e crop 50 per cent. better. i . -Four great-grandchtildren of John f .0. Calhoun are now living-Andrew e Pickens Calhoun, of Texas, James Ed - ward Calhoun, of Arkansas, Ed ward Noble Calhoun, of Florida,. and 1s'1 , bella Lee, of New York. -A French veterinary surgeonl has y discovered that vaccinnaton may be s usefully applied to dogs. It apparent ly prevents the developmnent of those diseases thaf in many cases prove fatal to pups. 11 -A new mnuseui has been opened at -i nI Paris, which contitns all tilhe artistic e furniture belonging to the Kings of -iPrance fron the time of Louis X11I. up to tile p)resont day, and wvhich was ac Icumulated- in that uniqne -building a known as tile "Garde-Meuble."'. -Some time ago Miss Hlestor Parker, of B (ugor, Me., p)ressed a numiber of -very prett.y autifnnt leaves and sent Li them to tile Queen of Spain at Madrid. , Recently Miss Parker got an ahatographm Il letter from thle Queen, ackno.wledging e the receipt of the leaves, ci -Bstonl is carrying pnm the manu facturo of i8inglass quite 'extensively, c glvi ng employmenlt to nlmtny tldhermnan 's - wives, whlo collect the sounds of the lake. Roelned islinglass ls 'used in the I manlufacture of varnish andc in the set r Ling of lager beer. e -Tile first organization of colored d G rangers was recently 'perfeeted at D)allas, Texas whieni a large numbor of n negroes met and formed what they call "Theii Texas Farmers' Associotion." . Nonle butt coloredi families are adimitted, .and the object 01- the orgamiidtlonm is to p)roculre Ifomesteadls. n -A hlouse buIlt in 1639 still stands In D)edhan, Mass., and is the oldest in Newv England. 1t is beautifully situ p ated unuer heavily branleling elms, with a moss-covered roof. Muchl of tile original furniture, 24a1 years of age, ~. still remains, and 1has been, in the pos session of one faimily, named Fair banks, 'luring all of thlat time, t -half-breed Indian girls are used In nI Montana as domestics, because, being d cast out b.y their tribes, they are will te ing to work without wages. A move.. .ment ia On foot in Helena uid see that they hereal ter shall be given proper schooling. hi -The late Daniel Fish, eh Lansilig e burg, N. Y.. gave $l0,000 ,to Boston UnIversity, $5000 each, to Syracuse Unlversity, Tfroy Con fereriebAcademy, anId the MethodIst Churck ahSaratoga, and $2000 each to the Methet.jstCI urch ir in Lansimugburg and the Baptgst Churcch is In 1ra, Vt. ils estate wvas' valued at d $210,000. -. g-The following are - the fIgures of a rfe w of our staple . productpe for 1879. dCotton, 5,216,00. baje.s; ,yw}eat, 448, it55,000i bushel ; eo n ,44,S808,000 7ley, 40,'184,200 bushels; oa , 80,253, 0 000 bushels ;'. ptatoesm :48,809,0000 >t bushels; hay, 85; 8,000 t4ong; tobacco, h 88,050649pounids, le -V-ie leength of the actu St. Goth. ard tunnel is nine miles a brtree hr Sdred and seventy-five yair' , hile that Sof tile Mount Cenis is rathQff,more than 1'4 e n1 a halt less,. . ' e rate at awn,oi th i-e as bore betweenm i li oendBat'onec'I azed me nl chaniciabs as dozen years since. :But k th daly rogrmss mede delr the St. 0o GothgrG ti -been. m!e t,n dottble. h The contraeto ag redth the work d should 11e filshed #fhi ght~ yor. n Th!Ie aental intoshg10 tMfl44n rnong)s eost than tho sti ulaW0d t9flb1.