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About Ochoco review. (Prineville, Crook County, Or.) 1885-1??? | View Entire Issue (April 7, 1888)
A. MORNING SONG. 6weetheart, tho night is over, the mists hav shrunk sway: The morning iK'anis are gatherlugdow dropi from thcnpray, And every leaf Wil h a rapture like to grief Is a quiver with the kisses ot the summer wind! at play. Forth let us stray, dear, while 'tis summer time; All the world is gay, dear, tit for love and rhyme. Bweetheart, come, let us wander; the paths art blossom strewn; There are daisies for your tresses, there are pop pies for your shoon. Let their beauty and their glee Make a tender thought for me Ere the summer day has floated to the golden pates of noon. Why should we part, love? when true lovers wed 6uuuner8 in the heart, love, when their bloom is dead. ISaiuuel Minturn reck in Home Journal. THE P.IMLEYS. I found mvself, one September morning, standing by the shore of a beautiful little sheet of water anions tho Sussex hills, in the northern part of New Jersey, in a sort of Kip Van Winkle study. The metamorphosis bad been sudden and complete m my sur roundings. An hour or two ago I bud been in the whirl ami bustle of aetive city lite. Now I wns in the midst of peace ami quiet, anions rural scenery that was restful to the eye, heart and brain. The sheet of water at whose edge I was standing was dignified by the mime of Lake Wanayanda an Indian appellation, as I af terward learned and was a diminutive piefe to bear the name of lake. But it was very beautiful, as I recall it, on that bright September morning, nestled among the towering hills and f ruined by the foliage of the trees, am with a uiargin of green formed bytjj low grooving bushes and gross.' ItTwas early in the day, and tins ". first rays of the suit had begun to look over the ragged tops of the uneven ridge to the eastward, ami with a blaze of glory they presently flooded the bosom of the crystal lake lying in peace before me. Rocks cropped out from the surface of the ground everywhere, and loose bowlders lay on the side of the precipitous hill whose feet were laved by the clear waters of the little lake, Theso bowlders, by their precarious tenure of the ground, suggested to me the idea that Sisyphus of old bad been engaged here, and that the huge stones, seemingly ready to topple down into the lake, were evi dences of his herculean and incompleted task. These verdure clothed foothills, immedi ately surrounding the sheet of water, were but Liliputiau pickets, thrown out in ad vance of the towering mountain ridge, and contributed pleasingly toward the pretty atid imposing landscape. As I relumed to the little' red farm house, about 100 yards from the lake, I saw for the first time Kate Bimley, the pretty blonde daughter of my host. She seemed a girl of about 1$, with a rather sad expression upon her attractive face. As I raised my but to salute her she gave me a nod and a smile, but that smile was a forced one, and there was no spontaneity in her greeting. It was not diffidence that checked her attempt at a courteous and friendly return of my civility. There was evidently a cloud over her ynung life which she was trying to illumine by a forced ray of pleasantry that it might not be noticed by a stranger. She was a pleasing contrast in her plain, neatly Lilting gowu to the maidens I bad been accustomed to see at the fusbionablo re sorts. It was beauty unadorned; purity and simplicity combined; a picture of innocence that would have been so very bright but for the sadness that tinged her face. After breakfast I went out in quest of amusement of some kind to while away the hours that would prove tedious without some sort of activity. Strolling' over toward the huge barn, I notice! two figures sitting on the immense fl it rock in front of the great doors. One was John Bimley, my host, and the other was his brother-in-law, Tom E.kins. Bimley sat moodily watching the other man, who seemed engaged in chiseling some initials in the hard tiaprock. This rock was flat and smooth, and was on a level with the ground surrounding it. It was, perhaiw, a square of about ten feet, and formed a natural pavement in front of the huge born. The tw o men were conversing as I sauntered up, and, after acknowledging my presence with a nod, they seemed no way loth to con tinue their conversation. "Tom, you've got your initials cut on that corner, now cut my name in full iu the center of this stone," said Liuilcy. Tom looked at bim for a moment sharply, and seemed to discover something in the man's tones or looks. "Pshaw! what do you want to advertise youi-self in thut way forf" "All right; if you don't do it I'll get some one else to cut them for me," replied Bimley, in an unsteady voice. Just then Kate passed the barn on her way to the spring, casting an anxious look at her father as she passed. "God pity that poor motherless girl when I'm gone!" Bimley uttered these words in a low tone, half to himself; but I caught them, though I think Tom did not, as he was busily pounding away in the finishing touches to his engraving a little farther off. But Tom had evidently been thinking of Bimley's request and the probable motive. He ceased bis work, and, facing his brother-in-law, said: "See here, John, I'll cut your name for you on one condition, and thut is that you will stop moiling and brooding." "Agreed," said the elder man, but I detected a cynical smile on his face that contracted his assenting mood. Having nothing else to busy himself with, Tom proceeded to mark out the design for this memorial tablet at once, and his skill surprised me when I examined his lesser work In the corner, now completed. Bimley, apparently satislled that he had gained his iji;it, went off toward the lake in a listless, moody sort of way. Kate suddenly appeared around an angle of the barn ami said: "Uncle Tom, don't put the name on the rock! Don't please!" There was real terror in her tones that startled Tom into examining her face. It was blanched, and her lip quivered as she stood there with one deprecating hand rubied. "Why not?" demanded Tom, surprised. "Oil I I can't tell you. But please don't cut the name there !" "But I've promised I would, and Joon will be furious if I refuse now." "Well," said the girl, sadly turning away, "perhaps you're right." From Tom I now learned the cause of Bim ley's depression. It seems he was soon to leave his farm driven out by the inexorable mortgage. Failure to meet his payments of in teres', short crops and a combination of misfortunes bad culminated in the less of the property. My heart ached as I looked after this motherless girl, left not only destitute by the withdrawal of a mother's loving care, but left ulso with the fearful burden of a father's living, double sorrow pressing very heavily upon her young shoulders, and veiling her youthful face with premature sadness. High up on one of the veudura clad foot- bills T saw the bowed figure of John Bimley moving slowly toward the summit. He pnused at the top, and, looking back with ono seaivbiug glance, be disappeared down the further side. I was uliout turning my atten tion to the carver's work near me, w hen I saw the form of Kate pass swiftly and noise lessly out of the undergrowth at tho top of tho hill and also pass out of sight down the other side. "John's guardian angel," said Tom Elkins, without stopping the thuds of his mallet, in reply, apparently, to my questioning look, turned up in him. "John's terribly down in the mouth since Mary died," ho continued, aiming some heavy blows at the bright steel chisel for a deeper cut. "I think he takes on more about Mary than he does about the farm." It was clear enough now. The girl's repug nance to having her father's name cut in the rock; her constant solicitude about him; her stealthy pursuit of him over the hill. She read more in his eye mid his silence than Tom Elkins did in his short sentences. Life was a burden to him. and not even the strong cord f Kate's love would be able to bind bim to ;aith for long. That snnio ttfternoon John Bimley viewed Tom's nearly completed work in the wider of the flat rock. He smiled sadly as he said ; "Tom, put the date underneath it." -It ieemed to dawn on Tom's mind that bis Drother-iu-law meant this work to be a posthumous tablet a gravestone. "Si-e here, John," bo said, jumping up and nying a hand on his arm, "you have no call x be brooding; about your grave yet. I'd chip ut the whole business if I thought" "No, no, I don't do that !" said Bimley, forc ing a laugh. "I was joking. Say, Tom," said le, suddenly changing in tone and looks, "if inything ever should happen to me you mow what I mean I want you to take care )f my girl." His voiwe was broken and rifely nudible, and bis hand trembled vio ently as he grasped the ono extended to him y Tom Elkins. "Sow promise me that," he idded, with his whole soul in the words. "So help me heaven, I swear it I" said Tom, wringing the band he held. "Don't you worry l bout that. John." At the near aude of the great bam, toward rhich the men's backs were turned, I caught nit one glimpse of a fair white face, and I .bought I heard a stilled sob as Kate quickly h-ew back into concealment. This sort of thing was getting too painful md somber for me, and yet I was held to the ilaee irresistibly. I could not tar to leave he girl with no other comforter and pro- iector than this good natured but unobservant Ym Elkins, with the sword of Damocles sus- lenuod over bee young life. I wished to get away from the gloom that 3imley was crenting in this quiet, rural re- reat, and yet I longed to lie near, and, if jossible, avert the blow from Kate's head; or, ailing in that, I, perhaps selfishly, thought I night find a place in one corner of that gentle leart, and cheer and comfort her in her great nisery. Notwithstanding her solicitude and such oust a nt watcbfuluess, I had several times in- luced this gil l to accompany me on short flsh ng excursions out on the lake. We rowed mt nearly to the bank farthest from Bimley's arm, where the pickerel were always abuud tnt and hungry. Kate, tiefore leaving her ather, would insist that Tom Elkins should emnin close by bim, and, in a vicarious way, ake her place as guardian angel. One day, however, as her father was asleep, (xhausted and tired from having sat up all be night before, she consented to permit Tom to accompany us, somewhat against ber tislies, and very much against mine. I hnd, n our excursions together, made no little irogress, I flattered myself, in the task of lispossessing her troubled mind of the idea ;hat her father meditated any harm to bim lelf. I bail succeeded, I admit, in this work jy adopting methods that seemed best and ileasantest to myself; methods that were im neusely self satisfying to the comforter. Hence I was averse to the presence of a third Jarty; but I could not help myself, so 1 fielded gracefully. tt'e were having an exceptionally good Mtch this day, and Kate's face wore a flush )f excitement, and her eyes were brighter lian usual, I sat watching her animated and jretty face while Tom was unhooking a fine jiekerel from her line. It was a very pretty picture, and I was revolving in my mind lome expedient for getting off with ber next ;ime, unknown to Tom Elkins, that I might save an opportunity of speaking about some thing closer in my heart than shiny, scaly ah. "Bang! bang!" came two sharp (reports of i pistol, which tho tall, rocky mountain's face replicated with so distinct intervals that 'hey seemed like four shots. "Merciful God!" screamed the girl, at tempting to leap from the boat in the direc tion of the Bimley homo. I seized her as Tom seized the oars, and as ire flew over the still water Kate clung to me n a terror that made her unconscious of her letions. She did not faint. Her eyes wre riveted to mine as the boat skimmed toward the shore. I saw then what made me happy iven in that tragic hour. I read in her gaze 1 look of love. Not that floating, airy blise f happiness that comes to lovers under more luspicious circumstances, but a deep, appeal ing, clinging love; a helpless love that be leecbes an echo to its sadness, a partaker of Its pain. I pressed her more closely. Tom would suppoe, if he supposed anything about it, that I was trying to keep her from flinging herself into the lake. We were soon flying up the slope toward the house. We rushed in together. Not a oul was there. Out we went and toward the barn. A wild cry of pain from Kate, who aod outstripiied us in her great baste, told the itory of the rash deed. Two forms were lying prone upon the flat rock in front of the great barndoors. One was Biinloy's, the other was that of his guar dian angel. His guardian angel had relaxed ber vigilance just long enough to permit the consummation of this deadly deed. Two ghastly holes in Bimley'B body revealed the outlet of bis tired life. Poor Kate, orphaned, shocked, senseless, clasped the nerveless hand of ber father. We took her up tenderly and carried ber into the house, where she soon recovered. A low moan was the only reply she made to my comforting words. , On the flat rock I read these words graven there. John Bimley had scratched the date with an old knife: "John Bimley, September 17,1S0." The sun was going down behind the ragged ridge of the mountains, just tinging the lake with its departing glories. We three stood by the edge of the lake talking over the plans for the future. "You will go with me, Kate, and you shall have a home as long as I have one," said Tom Elkins, heartily. Kate glanced from Tom to jne, and back. "I don't know, Uncle Tom," she answered almost in a whisper. Kate and I hod a short conference, unknown to Elkins. "What!" said the latter, fixing bis eyes in tently on her. "Don't know?" "I don't think she will accept your kind oOlces, Mr. Elkins," I interposed. "Kate has given me tbo right to put iu a much better 'claim than yomu, if you are ber uncle, to tabl care of John Bimley's girl now." Kate corroborated this statement by put ting her bund in mine. THE COTTON PLANT, i ITS NATURAL HOME IN ASIA! TROPICAL REGIONS. India Said to bo the Mont Ancient t, ton Growing C.mntiy Cotton Found the Western Contlnr ut The First I Island Cotton, I The cotton plant is a child of tbo sun, I" natural habitation is iu the tronionl recion-l of Asia, Africa and America, but it has iJh'" acclimated and successfully cultivated as ar north as the thirty-sixth degree of north In tl- tude. Its cultivation cover a very lurire tion of ourglolw. In tbo eastern heniisph the range of its cultivation extends fr -re in southern Europe on the north to the Cape ,of Good Hope on the south; in the west. n hemisphere from Virginia to southern Bra It has been most successfully cultivated, Ik ever, between the thirtieth and tbirty-il J". kv- 1. degrees north latitude. Humboldt fouir it growing in the Andes nt an elevation of IU no feet, and in Mexico at 5,500 feet. Boyle lrts it cultivated nt nn elevation of 4,(ii feet in the Himalaya. Such elevations, hof ever, are not favorable to its liest develop meiit. liotaiiicnlly, cotton belongs to tl natural order nmlvacen, genus gossruiuir Botanists differ us toils proper classilieatio" into species; some enumerating as ninny f ten species, others seven, mid others onlV three, as necessary to a clear diseriiiiiiii.tioj1 between the distinctive luu-acterisUes recofr nizuble, after mukingdue allowance fordilf-v; ences resulting from soil and climatic J . fluonces. . ANCIENT COTTON flROYtjflO COO;' 1f ... auw iairr.'i7- tue i-niiou piani auteunips ill its beginnings the commercial annals ot tho human family. India seems to have been the most ancient cotton growing country. For fivo centuries before the Christian era her inhabitants were clothed in cotton goods of domestic -"-iufacture from the filler grown upon k. m soil by her own crude methods. Notwithstanding ie proximity of China to India, it was not until the Eleventh century that tbo cotton plant became ait object of common culture in China, The first mention made of cotton in tho records was titXJ years before the Christian era. From that time down to the Seventh century it is mentioned not as an object of industry, but one of inter est and curiosity ; an oceuimnt of the flower garden, the beauty of its flowers being cele brated in poetry. In the Eleventh century field culture of cotton commenced in China, but owing to the opposition of the people, es pecially those engaged in growing and manu facturing nool and flax, it was not until i:M8 that the cultivation and manufacture of cot ton were well established. Central and South America and the West Indies grew and manufactured cotton long before their discovery by Columbus, who found the plant under cultivation, and the people using fabrics mcde from the staple. At the conquest of Mexico by Cortes, in 1519, he found that the clothing of the Mexicans consisted principally of cotton goods; the na tives of Yucatan presented hi u with cotton garments and cloths for coverings for his huts, while Montezuma presented him with "curtain, coverlets and robes of cotton, fine assilk, of rich and various dyes, interwoven with feather work, that rivaled the delicacy of painting." FLAX INSTEAD OF COTTOW. Egypt seemi not to have either cultivated cotton or used its fabrics nt a very early date, since the cloths in which the mummies were enveloped were of flax instead of cotton. In deed, it appeals that those nations which were early celebrated for their manufacture of fine linen were slow to substitute the cotton for the flax. Spain was first of the Enronenn ctnla t, I grow cotton. It was introduced her by WieO1 T , . .I. fPl. r,., . v. moots in mo ieuiu ceniury. ine urst cotton was planted in tho United Ktutes in 1(131. "Carroll's Historical Collections of South Carolina" mentions the growth of tho cot ton plant in thut province in HUM. In 1!6 it was planted in gardens in Talliot county, Md., latitude 31 north. At the commence ment of the revolutionary war Gen. IX-lagall was said to hav iiad thirty acres planted in cotton near Savannah, Ga. Is is stated that in 1748, among the exports of Charleston, 8. C were seven bags "cotton wool, valued at 3 lis. 5d. a hag. jther small shipment was made in 1754, and in 1770 three more, amounting to ten bales. In 17h4 eight bales shipped to England wero seized on the ground that so much cotton could not be produced in the United States. The first Sea Island cotton was grown on the coast of Georgia in 17, and its exporta tion commenced iu 1788, by Alexander Bis sel, of St. Simons Island. In 1791 the cotton cropof the United States was 2,(JOO,000 pounds, of which three-fourths was grown in South Carolina and one-fourth in Georgia. Ten years later, 1801, 48,X,(X)0 pounds were produced 20,0u0,OOO pounds of which was exported. Prof essor J. S. Newman in Ameri can Agriculturist. The Lives of Longshoremen But, however much of adventurous inter est there may be among these more weird forms ami expressions of Now York harbor life, the truer inlerest centers iu the thou sands of toilers whose lives are passed on the docks and in the holds of vessels where the countless products of labor and art leave us for the old world, or are first set down for the new. Theso are the longshoremen j and there are 18,000 to 20,000 of them necessary to handle the outgoing and Incoming freight of the harbor. That in a largo numlierof ien. Dependent upon these alone ure nearly enough human 'lieings to populate a large city. Their yeorly earnings are from tlO, 000,000 to 112,000,000. They are rough, hard and uncouth, I nt are marked by such a geniality of nature that the key to !wi difJJ cuib lU uisuovt;! w iiuii uju ntsveiiiyoi iuer labor is considered. Their vocation is not a trade; but you will seldom find any class of men requiring any mora actual animal strength, constant dexterity and downright skill. As a rule they are uneducated men, the Irish race largely predominating, but if you will for one day watch the loading of un loading of any great steamer, the marvelous endurance, alertness and brightness you will discover them possessed of will give you a better Judgment of the, importance they bold to the intricate and large au"nirs of any great seaboard city, while you will be filled with a genuine respect for the sturdy accomplish ment in their unregarded calling. Nor would it be an unpoetio experience. For every flag of every nation is above these vessels as they are taking and giving. Every race inny be studied in swarthy seamen. Every object that the mind cun recall or understand Is taking its placo for the hither or farther destination. And the fancy eusily courses all seas and lands with the going and coining, the gainings that arei involved, und the pleas-' uresof the human lives that are risked in these mighty outreachings of the purposes of men. New York Cor. Globe-Deiiiocrut. The die was destroyed after 3,000 of tbe jubilee 5 gold pieces had been coined, and tbey are now selling at a premium. One of them brought $10 in London recently. All ltlirht, Da Soto. One day lost week on old mini with a bald head, and obviously with a drink or two stowed away in the place where a drink dow an old ninn the moot good, boarded a JVi Bureii streetcar and looked around fof seat, Of coui-ao ho found none, and, on ap pealing to tho conductor, was told that he would lie able to find him ono by the ttuni the car reached Western avonuo. j "All right, D Soto," replied the aged, pas senger. The conductor finished his faro taking and resumed his perch on tho rear brake, but the old man's words kept ringing lit nis ears. "'All right. Do Sotol All rlghVDo Sotof What tho thunder did ho nieai by thittl" tho conductor askod himself, and au niiuily became so worked up about it tluw he wont iu and asked the old mail what it us he had been irlvinir him. li "Oh," said tho delighted old party-, with a chuckle, "in 1858, when the first KUlaiitlc cable was laid, they got a few word across, you remember. Ono of the iiiessagtil which came from Valencia, Irelund, in jusponso to an inquiry how the wlro was wkliig, was; 'AH right, Do Soto.' lie Soto wastlie opera tor's name, you know, and, by goshthat wan the last word they did get through jthat old cable lieforo she went back on 'in completely. For months that was all you could hear iu this country. It was in every man's "woutlu Whenever we wanted to say that a tiling frm P all right, when in fact it was all wrong, wttfd say, 'All riht, Do Soto,' socf I lint was vfjiat I meant when you told me I'd got a sent ot estern avenue. I know that this car doesn't run any furtlj-, and so do you, you young scounureit u,cago iieruiu. i" all the Growlers. Ul I'Wunt fr-fuj ' ' ' And cracked noino ancit-tit inits for me. He said that dour was as cheap on dirt, Thut his bank account was badly hurt Ily the profitless trade ot the dying year; That Hour was low and wheat was dear. Wng out, my merry chestnut bell, ItiiiH sharp and clear, and to him tull That this Hiune tale he told before, And bid him teil It nevermore. The builder of mills. In his easy chair, To me dot h often sadly swear That business to tho Jors must go, If prices keep so very low; That thins look darkly blue and drear, Ami says, "Oh, shoot the glad New Yearl" King out, oh. trusty chestnut bell, liiuu sharp and clear, and to him tell That this same tide he's told before. And bid him tell It nevermore. Now let me sit in mine office chair. With my (rood liig pen and my frowsy hair, And let "mo write thot "In eighty-seven Both millers and furnishers llnd their heaveni For prices will rise and proflts will grow," And then I can say, "I toll you so." But hark I do 1 hear a chestnut bell! No, 'tis only a card, with words that tell, As I lay it away on my dusty sliolt, "Somewhat of a liar I am myself." Northwestern Miller. Games tern I watched the smile on her rosy Hps As I bunched tho cards and she stacked the chips; "Oivo me the) pack, my deal." A flourish, a Hash, the sliulUinfc done, She dealt me a tumd, ami I said in fun: "This lime the 'pot' I'll steal." An ace, two troys, a queen, a Jack, Hut the card I wanted as (a the pack A "bob tailed Hush" I saw. "One card," I said, when the bets were made; I split the treys and drew a spade 'Twos a club I held before. With her card she tapped her snowy chin, And laui;him;!y said i " I always win, Come, I'll bet you all I've got." " I'll take you," said I and I saw her start " I'll 'raise' you one anil bet my heart " She " called " me and lost the " pot." Tld Bits. A nyrnnlo Joke. joh John Taylor, in his reminiscences, tells u h-waimich in the habit of visiting tbf green room of Umry I-ano theatre in order to cultivate au acquaintanceship with Lord Byron. "Ho always." says Taylor, "received m with great kindness, and particularly one night when I hail returned from a public dinner and mot bim in the greenroom. I had by no means drunk much wine, yet as I seemed to him to bo somewhat heated and appeared to be thirsty, ho handed me a tum bler of water, as ho said, to 'dilute' me," Detroit Free Press. He Knew Where They Unit lteen. De Hang Have you seen anything of my slippers, Johnny i Johnny No, sir. v Mrs. De Hang John Henry, mind what you say. Johnny I ain't seen 'm pop, honest. Mamma kep' my head downfo low I couldn't see a blamed thing. I ain't sayin' nothin' about feelin' 'in, though. Tid Bit A Dismal Failure. Sweet Girl And so you havo been on the plains for ten years? Handsome Cowboy Yes, this Is the first time I've lieen back Into real civilization. "Now please tell mo, in that lonely lifo, so far removed from the refining influences of civilization, you know, what did you miss mostr 'Oysters." Omaha World. (short Smiles. "I will now quit fooling," said the phy sician as he wrote out a prescription, "and proceed to business." Then he made out his bill. Philadelphia Call. Colored Hunter Hold on dar, Abol You'll strain dat gun fus' thing you knows, try in ter shoot dat duck so fur off, an' do weepon nebber will be no mo' 'count. Texas Hif t ings. When a man becomes firmly convinced that ho is a genius, it is then thut the fringe slowly tJpfHoi" to form on the bottom ot his trousers leg. Life. "There Is always sunshine somewhere," says an exchange. If it were not for such little bits of information as this bow stale, flut and unprofitable thii world would bo! Bos ton Courier. Lawyer Now, you say you've known this couple for years. Witness Yes, sir. Ever seen them quarrel? Never. They've always lived together in unity, eh? No, sir; in Swampsvlllo; that's about four miles from Unity. Judge. A clergyman relates that on one occasion, after marrying o couple, an envelope was handed to Win, which he supposed, of courso, contained the marriage fee. On ojionlng it ho found a slip of paper on which was writ ten, "Wo desire your prayers." Now York Daily News, Tommy was taken very sick. Ills mother discovered that be had been eating too inucb preserved stuff, and while awaiting the doc tor's visit, implored him to toll bor the cause of it. "Mother," he said, finally. "Mother, Murne Duffy rejected my suit, and," hoarsely, "it drove me to jam." Tid Bits. Pittsburgh Tramp Madam, if you'll fill me up with a good dinner I'll saw some wood. Tm willin' to work. Woman (shortly) You know very well we burn nothing but natural gas. Pittsburgh Tramp Well, gimme suthln' to eat, an' I'll turn on thq gaa for you. Har per's Bazar. ' AN ALLIGATOR MARKET. A DESCRIPTION OF A NEW OR LEANS SAURIAN EMPORIUM. I'rlcea Hangs from Fifty Cents to 'JOO. How They Aro Hunted Fed Twleo a AVeeli Sent to Europe as Ciii-bxllles. An Old Fellow. "How do you sell ths benst, madam?" nskeil the Inquisitive reporter of a quiet look ing woman, who was the one peaceful object in the screuinlng, noisy world about her. "Well, I bnrdly know how to answer that question," she responded, her voice pitched high enough to penetrate tho chirping, squeaking, cawing and crowing of tho con giKgntlon of feathered folk fluttering about. "You see, they como at most any price, mid when I tell you we get all the way from fllty cents to ttW apiece, you can understand how prices vary." As Is well known, sugar, oranges und ulllgators form throe Htuplcs in Lmilsinuu evporis nud internal revenue, and it wns t'l.'if cover the exact ciiudii Ion of tho crocodile 'fiiurket, iuul whether the spring cateW hail been good, that a visit was paid yesterday t)o the big tanks on Clin I t reH street. is a lavish iilierulity and a f ree, mi st. irWignliiy in the way ono of theso it. . iivs eggs that would discourage any thing abrt or a patent Ineiiliutor, It hy, n lUiout I'uilf putt inn her mind to It, ami in n poAr season at that, she wilP HH tier nest w ith sovWity-flve eggs and crawl Bwy,'eoiii-j foKtahly assured every last one will prude' nf y iittlo yellow and black wrigf Jil4ieAo itisfnat thoex frt lAnv WW. Iii fin- a. soft tiling. lie knows the favorite laying grounds of the alligator hens as thor oughly ai Johnny does his bantam's nest in tho luirii, anil wbon tho time cornea for the exhausted mother to censo from ber lalioi-s, he simply paddles out, fills his canoe with tho thick skinned, pearly globes, and reels sure of a line return later on. Alligators are brought Into town in every stage, from nil embryo state in tba egg to great, angry nionstein a dozen feet long, tip ping the scab's hundreds of pounds. Men hunt their hideous game after dark, stalking the swamps, dragging lagoons and wading through low, oo.-.y marshes, whero vast num bers of niligiitom libido. Hevernl methods of capturing them are resorted to. Those caught with biHiks are only lit for immediate killing, as they sicken ami die in short order. Tbe big ones are lnsaned and smaller fry snared in a heavy seine ninde for this pur pose. The hunter realises he is after danger ous game, with lots of vicious habits, mid so besides blinding thcrr stupid eyes by a Inn worn in bis cap, he is pivpared to send a soothing bullet whenever necessary. After bringing in his find of eggs, tbe croc odile farmer heaps them In boxes and simply depends on time to do its wfect work. In tho coui-se of weeks the infant gnaws and claws at the luird shell until he dually squirms his way into the world. There is as much difference in the skin of the young and old ones as in a babv's complexion as compared with a grown iersou's. Their hide Is as nril llant as if ikIi-Ihi1, a bright black and yellow, which grows dingier and rustler every year they live. l'aslng through the hlj bird store tbe alli gator region Is l-cached. It is a pretty, gar den like place, with tender, lacy vines trained In delicate festoons up the lattice against the dark brick wall. Great red pots hold rich foliage plants that lend a tropical air to thegt. lining tho Inhabitants of the long cemented tanks. Tln-so troughs nro built six iu a row, the occupants being care fully graded according to sije. There Is vory little family affection among them, parents rarely hesitating to sacriilce their ofTsprlngon the altar of abeulihy pwtite. 8.:rvivil of tho biggest is an unanswerable law to which ull must succumb; consequently they are class! fled into two and three year olds. Twico a week tho water must tie changed for tho salu brity of tho utmosph-i-e. There is a notorious untamable odor aUnit an alligator that must bo regarded. It U tbo perfume ho brought from bis wild, free lifo in tho forest, and bungs aliout bim with unvarying steadfast ness. Twico a week refreshment nro handed round, bocf lights as a rulo, a delicacy for which alligators have a very pronounced pen chant. Tbo half grown variety eat from five to six at a meal, dmtendiiig their uncomely, shapeless stomachs until the receptacles) return) to hold another jsu tlcle. I hey rood only at intervals, but have voracious apimtitwi then. They are vory ugly creatures, with wretched dispositions, as the reporter had 5 fair oppor tunity of discovering. Hanging over the Bids of the tank in playful, almost Intimate, rela tions with tbo beast, his sheltering umbrella gave a tip too far and touched the extreme wlntcf tho things snout, it was enough; with a terrifying bellow and blowing off of steam the Infuriated being rose two inches out of the water and sent bis observer exactly three feet in the air. It was a severe shock, ' and has generated re km-t, if not ndmiralion, for tbo alligator sensitiveness, Lying in ths sunshine, every grizzly feature is accentuated. Their great shovel heads float on tbo water with stupid, evil eyes that blink bko yellow excrescences on a mud colored surface. A tiny, minute slit in the snout admits enough air to enable them to make a sound frightful enough to scare the stoutest hearted. The keeper of the tanks said hundreds worn sold yearly to traveling showmen, numbers being sent to Kurope as curiosities, besides many that were bought by northern visitors, Bnloon owners buy thorn constantly to keep on their counters as an attraction to jiossemi, Chicago and Ht, Louis being noticablo among tho uumlier. An artist here in town sits them up with nil sorts of comical devices. Ho stuff them up with cotton, and fashions preachers, lawyers, gamblers, organ grinders, cotton handlers and duelists out of tho ridicu lous little figures. (Inn, a burlcsquo scone in court, was very particularly amusing. These are sold very cheaply and a pretty fair trade is driven. The saurian merchant has a perfect treas- uro that he keeps In close quarters and guards as the fairest jowel of his entire collection of beauties. It is a huge, evil smelling, sluggish reptile, measuring twelve feet, whose age is calculated at 15U years. He lies sprawled out on tho door of bis trough iu a state of torpid stupidity, Tbo creature looks bored to dentil, and with enough impotent malignity In his depraved yellow eyes to devour every visitor who studied his unhandsome proportions, The tropical boost is entirely out of place surrounded with fresh air and the perfume of flowers. One fancies him crawling slowly from the lieut and slime of some low lngoon, lying in wait for prey thut bos no chance bo tweeu those wolghly jaws. Little niggers and crocodiles are indiasoliibly connected ill the ordinary imagination, and one instinctively looks round for the black juicy morsel tu gratify bis hungry, homesick heart. New Orleans Times-Democrat. Origin of the Hustle. Women will bo interested to know that the bustle is of Persian origin. Nott, in his notes on the "Odes of Ilaflz," defines the "refaigbt" as a kind of bolster which the ladles fix to tho under garment to produce a certain roundness, thought by thorn to d becoming, Chicago Tribune. OUR OWN. The little child that sits bcslile our feet !ilsy roll us of our strength and rest so sweet, And cause our way with earn to be thick strewn) And yet wo love our ow n. There niny ho fairer lands and brighter skies, There may he friends more faithful or more wise, Than any we have ever seen or known; Hut each will love his own. -Mrs. Clara I). Heath. rice throwing; AT WEDDINGS. Origin of the Custom as (liven by the (illness The Winn Soreerem. Iii the days of tho Hlinng dynasty, sopie l.MIOyeiirs before Christ, there lived in tho provlneo of Hhaiisi a must famous sorcerer called Cbiio. It bnpiieiieil one day that a Mr. P'nng eiinie to consult to oracle, and Clino, having divined by moans of the tortoise dia gram, informed the trembling P'aug that ha had but six diiys to live. . Now, however much wo may trust the wiguoity and skill of our family physician, we may bo excused If, iu a matter of life and deulh, we call in a second doctor for u consultation, and ill such a Strait it is not to be wondered nt that P'lilig should repair to mud her source to uiiiku sure there wns no mistake. To the fair Teach blossoin bo went, a young lady who had ac quired some reputation lis asnis'enws, and to the tender feminine heart unfolded the story of his woo. Her divlimtlnii yielded the siiino as ( 'liau's; Iu six days l"iing should die, un less, by tho exercise of Imr'iiingionl powers, she could avert tint eatiiKtrophe, Her efforts were successful, and on the seventh day great wns ("liuo' astonishment, mid si ill greater bis """llllcnt.ion and rage, w lion ho met fang 'iff hi evening Hlrnll nud learned that lived a greater magician than hn. Thn ,.,jf would wmj get .shwitatid unlssh ewild quickly put nu end to his fair rival's" existence Ids reputntloii would he ruined. And this was how C'hao plotted against the life of Peni'libliwsom. Ho teiitt n go-ln-twiii to Peaeliblossom's parent In inquire if their daughter was still uiiiuiirried, and receiving a reply iu the affirmative, he liefooled the simple parent Into Indlevlng that he had a sou w ho wns seeking a w ife, and ultimately he induced them to engage 1'eachbliMNom to him In marriage. The mnrriiigH enrds were duly Interchanged; but the crafty C'huo bud chosen the most unlucky day he could select for thn wedding, tbe day when the "(Job leu Pheas ant" wns in the ascendant. Kurely as the bride entered the rod clmlr the spirit hint would destroy her with his powerful beak. Kilt tho wise renchblossnm knew all them things, and fen re. 1 not. "1 will go," she said; "I will fight and defeat him." When the wed ding morning came, she gave directions to have rut-thrown out nt the door, which tho spirit bird seeing made haste to devour, and w hile bis attention was thus occupied, Peaeh blossoui stepjieil into tho bridal chair and (Missed on her way unharmed. And now the Ingenuous render knows why he throws I li-e after the bride. If any interest has been engendered in bis hreust by this bile of the fair Pcni'hbloNiioiii, let bim listen to what bn fell her nt the bouse of themiigirinn. Arrived at ('lino's house, no brldegnsun was there, but an attendant was given her, and the two girls prepared to pass the night iu the room assigned to them. PoitchhliMNoiu was wake ful, for she knew that, when tho night insMsl, the "Golden Pheasant" would lie siici-ecdcd by tbe evil Mar of the "While Tiger," whw Kiwer nud ferocity w ho can tell! "(lo you to tied first," she said to the inuld. The girl wns soon asleep, and still her mistress slept not, hut continued to pace the room, and at mid night the tiger spirit ciniin, and the morning light showed Peiich!hKiim still pacing the room, while on tho bed lay tho lifeless body of the little maid. Thus who the magic Un tie of Peacbblossom and Chao, and ninny more were there, lint il they took their flight to heaven, where now tliey reign as god. And on earth thonclor have not idols more prized tliiiu those of Peachhlnssom and Clino Kuiig. Chinese Time. The I'rlnre nt Wales' Hair. in everything except tbo Imlisoensnbln tmvny Is'iird that falls liken roll,of dead gold silk to the extremity of a massive chest, Prince Alls'rt Victor, tho eldest son of tho Prince of Wales, model himself on Ouida's heroes. He is ns fond of kuickknai-ks as a luily. His private apartment are the near est approach to tho talented but vulgar au thoress' ideal of a young guardsman's room, lie would not brush his hair otherwise than with an ivorybneked brmli to save his lifo. Knu du Cologne and other K'rfumes have their place ill Ills but li. To writo a note on pnT that wns not the triumph of ths sr fumer's art would iu hi own imagination tie unworthy of It's InsU-s and podtiun. Ha has started in lifo iu fact as an exquisite of tho Ocorgo IV tyie; but luckily for himself and for the nation he Is preserved from some of the most objectionable trulls of tho "Pint Gentleman's" character by the sensitive shy ness of bi disposition. Hn differs again from most exquisites in having a praiseworthy desire to pity prompt ly for the luxuries in which he indulges, jn-ibx-d he worries his attendants to worry his t.rades)eop)e to send In their bills sharp, and frets and fumes if tbo astute shopkeeiers alive to thn value of having tho future king of Knglnud upon their bonks within decent limits delay in delivering their accounts. Like his father ho gets bis clothes and plenty of them from Poole. Prince Alliort Victor' Idea of dignified mufti Is a frock coat and lavender or gray trousers. He seldom wear a culnwuy coat, and even when traveling hardly ever apjienrs In a suit of dittoes. On tho whole be may he doscrilied as a very stately and solemn young man. London Letter, The Life nf a lrahopper. As overy one knows, it Is a rule of nature every winged Insect shall dio within the year (t.ho occasional Individuals that survive the twelvemonth only proving tho rule), for the stage of wings is tho lust third of tho crea ture's life. After all, it would be very absurd if we did not recognize among ourselves the stages of childhood, youth, middle age and old ago, which together cover the span of our "threescore years and ton." An Insect's; stages proceed in a far smaller compass, and tho winged one Is thn last. It la really tbe old ago of the caterpillar or grub. Thus a grnsshopier may bo two or three years a grub, for another six months a hob bledehoy that Is, a wingless thing, half grub, half grnsshnpiM-r and then for a further space a winged grasshopper, In tho last) stitgo it marries, und there is an end of it purjKise. Nature has no further need for it and does not care whether It dies or not. The slender fragility of the insect's appearance may havo suggested a foolilo hold of lifo; some grnsshoppem look like the mere specters of Insects. About others, too, there is a vego tublo, perlslinlilo look, as of thin grass blade that a frost would kill or heat shrivel up; a suspicion about their sere and faded edges thut they are already bcgftiiilng to wither, lint the grasshoppor has nothing to complain of as to Its length of life. It slugs the sum mer in and t he autumn out, and goes to sleep with the year. Ueiitleman's Mngiizina. The oldest general of ths United Btatei nrmy Is William Bolby Harney. He wa born near Nashville, Tenn., iu 18(H), and entered the army In 1818. Ho was bravotted major general on March 13, 18(15.