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About The Corvallis gazette. (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899 | View Entire Issue (Oct. 15, 1880)
WEEKLY CORY 4 LIAS GAZETTE COKVALLIS. OCTOBER 15, 1880 BY " KLAINE. " Only some faded blossoms. On which my tears fall down; Only a lock of softest hair. Waving, and dusky brown. Only a heart that is breaking, Yea. breaking, day by day, All for an old, sweet lesson. Taught In a man's sweet way. Only a heart, rebellions. Struggling against God's will; O, why should you longer mnrrourT Peace! Peace! my heart, be still! You have had your dream ot love Why murmur because H is done? Other hearts have been broken, You're not the only one ! Only a life that la empty. Devoid of pleasure or Joy; Full of wild, bitter longings, And grief, without alloy. Only rome bitter mera'rles That will come surging oack, Along the bills and valleys Of Time's relentless track. Only a "bundle of letters,'' Tied with a ribbon, blu-; letters that drifted tnlo my life, And caused me to think htm Hue. Only a heart that is breaking. Thai is, if hearts cau break ; Only a life that Is blighted, All for a man's sweet sake! A FAIR EXCHANGE. '.'So your brother George and his bride have rteurned home from their honevmoon. How do you like her?" And as she spoke my old friend and schoolmate. Nellie Cranbrook, leaned toward me, and whispered the pronoun in a low, mysterious voice. It was a lovely summer afternoon Nellie had come over to have a long gos sip with me. We were sitting under the trees on the lawn that sloped from the front of the house to the river. My brother had gone out to visit some patient-. His wife accompanied him for a drive. Mv two younger brothers were off on a fishing expedition; so we had the house and grounds to ourselves lor some time to come. "Like herV" I answered, crossly; "like iuriirother's wife? Not at all. Has she aed me of mv brother taken jMrothe Sltt no' away all that made life precious, and left me homelass? "Homeless!" echoed Nellie, aghast "Whv. will she not allow you and Johnnv to live here still? Where will you go? Arthur is going to Edinburgh, I hear?" "Oh. ves. no doubt we may still live here," I answered. "My brother is our smardian. He must keep us here or and ns somewhere else to live. But I don't call it home with that hateful woman in it. I shall be polite to her, of course, for George's sake, but she will always be mv enemv "Is she so very horrid, then ?" asked Nellie. "Don t the boys get on with her?" "Oh, yes, very well indeed. That is partly what I have to complain of," I re plied, with a bitter laugh. "She has ev idently made up her mind to take every body's love away from me. You know George always promised that I should keep house for him when I left school. I have looked forward to that ever since papa died and left us in his six years ago. Well, of course, it was a great blow to me his getting married, but I put up with that. I knew quite well that I should never have left him for any man, but still I was patient, and submitted. But I did not think it would be so dreadful. She has only been home a week. George seems to worship her, and the boys really like her better than me, and leave me for her.' "How unkind! I can hardly believe it!" "It is true, nevertheless. Only this morning I asked them to go to the town with me, and they both refused. They had both promised to take their jolly new "Siss," as Arthur called her, for a row before luncheon. Of course she pretended to be very sorry, offering to give it up, asked me to go with them, and then tried to persuade one of them to go with me and one with her. But he only did that to make a show of self sacrifice. I could see; so I cut short the argument and left them, saying I would go alone. And alone I am likely to be. She has usurped my place in their hearts," and I burst into passionate tears. Nellie soothed me, and sympathized with me. I had represented myself as an ill-used martyr, and as such, in her faith ful friendship, she regarded me. "Poor Dorothy, I am so very sorry for you ! I wish your brother had never seen her. Where did he first meet her?" "At the Lyndons," I replied. She was governess to Nellie and Flora Lyndon." "Governess at the Lyndons!" answer ed Nellie, in a tone of great surprise. "Why, I have always heard such a good account of her! They said she was ex ceedingly clever and nice and amiable." "Oh, I dare say she was all that to them." I replied, angrily, "but that does not alter the case to me." And I returned to my complaints and refused to be either comforted or re futed. I did not want my bete noite to be white-washed by my favorite friend. - "Have you told Dorothy the news, Margaret?" asked my brother, a few weeks after at dinner. "No, dear, I have not," answered my sister-in-law, with what I thought a rather nervous glance at me. She had been growing in favor with my two youdger brothers; they like George, now idolized her, as lads will do with a handsome, amiable young woman some years their senior, who pets and sympathizes with them. Bat in propor tion as she gained their hearts, I reso lutely shut her out of mine. I was scrupulously polite, but repelled all her advances at sisterly intimacy with freez ing coldness. "Well, you have been kept out at Eden unnecessarily for the last two or three hours," said my brother laughing. "Now, Dorothy, listen: Your sister" I frowned at this word "has heard us say how fond you are of the sea, and, by some magic, has secured you an invita tion to go down to Hastings with some relatives of hers next week." "Mr. and Mrs. Shirley, with their two sons and daughters, Frank, Blanch and Sydney, my uncle and aunt of Belford Hall and their family. I think Dorothy, you have heard me speak of them," said my Bister-in-law. "Yes, I have heard of them, and I am much obliged for the invitation, bnt I do not wish to go. I thank you," was my ungracious answer. "She wants to get rid of me now," I thought. "Not wish to go ? Why, Dorothy, what an absurd, changeable girl you are!" said George. "Last year you were aw fully disappointed because I could not take you, and because we could not find any one else that was going. I thought you would have been overjoyed at this prospect." "1 do not wish to go away with Strang- ers," I answered, pettishly. And Oeorge got almost angry because I so persistently refused the invitation, and for the first time in his life, spoke hastily to me. After dinner I went to my room, that I might be alone with my own melancholy feelings. "It is quite plain to me ueorge, too, wants me to go away. He has a wife whom he loves. He is happy with her, and I am in the way. Well, I will grant their wish. 1 will go to these people; A can't be more unhappy than I am here, and when my visit to the seaside is end ed, I will go away altogether. I will not live where my presence is only a re straint upon the happiness of others." With these resolutions, I returned to my brother and Margaret, and coldly in formed them that I would accept the in vitation. "Why, what a book-worm you are, little cousin. Always reading reading. I see you are resolved to be one of t) e shining lights of the age. But may I suggest a change just now? Will you come with me for a walk ?" And before I could object, with one hand Frank Shirley had taken my book, and with the other he had raised me from my favorite nook, the shade of a large, disused fishing vessel on the beach. I had now been with the Shirleys a week, and I could not help liking them all, though I had arrived at Hastings with the full determination that, as rela tives of my hated sister-in-law, though they might be ever so gracious, I should never feel anything but cold indifference towards the whole family. But that was impossible. I was naturally of an affectionate disposition, and could not keep up the role I had proposed. They received me with a warm welcome, and tried to make me feel at home, and I soon thawed under their genial influence. "Cousin Margaret told us all about you how fond you were of books, and how you had carried off all the prizes at Queen's college," said Frank as we walked along. "Margaret told you that?" I answered, surprised. "Yes; she gave us such an account of your talents, your good housekeeping, and your love for your brothers, that I can assure you we were almost alarmed at the thought of entertaining so talented and charming a lady. Blanche was quite afraid of yon at first." I looked up at Frank Shirley tfs he spoke; 1 felt sure he must be joking; but no, his face was serious as his tone. I felt humiliated. "You must have been dreadfully dis appointed when I arrived." I managed to say, coloring to the roots of my hair, as I thought how different had been my description of his cousin to my friends. We walked along almost without a word from me after that. I allowed Frank to do all the talking until we ar rived at the Lover's seat. Here we found Blanche and Sidney, and an old college friend of Frank's, Norman Montrose, who had just met them accidentally, of course, we were told, though Blanche's happy face re futed the idea on the beach. I was introduced to the new arrival, we all found seats, and commenced that desultory chatter about nothing in par ticular which a company of young people bent on enjoyment generally indulged in. "By the way," exclaimed Norman, suddenly, "where is cousin Margaret? Isn't she spending her holidays with you this year?" I started at this question, and Blanche answered: "Why, didn't you knew she is mar ried?" "Married? No, I have not heard of it before. Where is her husband, that I may shoot him? I always meant to marry her myself!" "Coxcomb! she would have scorned you," said Frank, dramatically, with an amused smile at me. "You great stupids, do hold your tongues," exclaimed Blanche, 'laughing. "She is married to Doctor George Ver non, and this young lady" indicating me "is his sister. We have not our cousin Margaret with us this year, but we have our cousin Dorothy instead. I call that a fair exchange. " How I thanked Blanche for that kind, graceful speech! And how mean my own conduct to Margaret seemed now! "But we have been shamefully robbed, none the less," grumbled Sidney, who was lying at full length on the ground at Blanche's feet, and throwing stones into the sea. "No one else is so jolly as cousin Mar garet; she was the kindest, cheerfulest girl that ever lived ; she could make the time fly, I warrant you. Coming to the seaside is awfully duffing without her." "Syd, do you want to be pitched after those pebbles ?" whispered Frank, stoop ing over him. He had seen the vexed flush that rose on my face, and with that quick sympa thy which already made me half in love with bim, he divined the unpleasant feeling of being depreciated, which the boy's hearty praise of his cousin awoke in my mind. "We were all very fond of cousin Margaret. Will you make my compli ments to her and tell her it is like her kind thoughtfulness, being unable to cheer us with the light of her counten ance, to provide us with so bright a sub stitute ?" said Norman, with a profound obeisance to me. I blushed, and the others all laughed at his florid compliment. We were soon engaged in merry bandinage, and the golden hours passed away only too swiftly. From that day I altered my conduct. I exerted myself to please my friends who had been so kind to me, and soon won the good opinion even of Sydney. I wrote long letters to Margaret, describ ing my happy visit, and received an swers from her, full of sisterly af fection. And a sweeter happiness soon became my mine. Frank Shirley loved me; I read it in every glance and tone, and in every pressure of his hand. And then a new fear arose would not Blanche be jealous? She was very fond of Frank; they had been inseparable companions. Wonld she not resent another girl taking her place, and ab sorbing his a 1 Mention? True, there was Norman, who was unmistakably in love with her, but he was very busy in Lon don; and could only come down for a day at a time now anu then. But I need not have feared. Blanche seemed pleased rather than annoyed at her brother's preference, and went off contentedly with her father and mother or Syd to leave us together. "So you are going to be my cousin as well as sister," exclaimed Margaret, com ing into the room where I was sitting a few days after my return, with an Open letter from Frank to my brother in her hand. "Naughty girl, why didn't you tell me all about it?" "Oh, Margaret," I answered, "I was so ashamed of my own cruel conduct to you. Will you forgive me?" "Willingly, my dear little sis. I know you were jealous, but it was only excess of love for the best brother that ever lived. Well, I took your pet brother, and now yon take my favorite cousin so we will consider it, as Blanche says, a fair exchange. Mark Twain on the Gold-Bearing Water. I have just seen your dispatch from San Francisco, in Saturday's Evening Post, about "Gold in Solution" in the Calietoga Springs, and about the proprie tor's having "extracted $1060 in gold of the utmost fineness from ten barrels of the water" during the past fortnight, by a process known only to himself. This will surprise many of your readers, but it does not surprise me, for I once owned those springs myself. What does sur prise me, however, is the falling off in the richness of the water. In my time the yield was a dollar a dipperfnl. I am not saying this to injure the property, in case a sale is contemplated; I am only saying it in the interest of history. It may be that this hotel proprietor's pro cess is an inferior one that may be the fault. Mine was to take my uncle I had an extra uncle at that time, on account of his parents dying and leaving him on my hands and fill him up, and let him stand fifteen minutes to give the water a chance to settle well, then insert him in an exhausting receiver, which had the effect of sucking the gold out through his pores. I have taken more than $11, 000 out of that old man in a day and a half. I should have held on to those springs but for the badness of the roads and the difficulty of getting the gold to market. I consider that gold-yielding water in many respects remarkable; and yet not more remarkable than the gold bear air of Catgut Canyon, up there toward the head of the auriferous range. The air or this wind for it is a kind of a trade wind which blows steadily down through six hundred miles of rich quartz croppings during an hour and a quarter every day except Sundays, is heavily charged with exuisitely fine and impalpable gold. Nothing precipitates and solidihes this gold so readily as con tact with human flesh heated by passion. The time that William Abrahams was dis appointed in love, he used to step one doors when that wind was blowing, and come in again and begin to sigh, and bS brother Andover J. would extract over a dollar and a half out of every sigh he sighed, right along. And the time that John Harbison and Aleck Norton quarreled about Harbison's dog, they stood there swearing at each other all they, knew how and what they didn't know about swearing they couldn't learn from you and me. not by a good deal and at the end of every three or four minutes they had to stop and make a divi dend if they didn't their jaws would clog up so that they couldn't get the big nine syllabled ones out at all and when the wind was done blowing they cleaned up just a little over sixteen hundred dol lars apiece. I know these facts to be ab solutely true, because I got them from a man whose mother I knew personally. I do not suppose a person could buy a water privilege at Calistoga now at any price; but several good locations along the course of the Catgut Canyon Gold Bearing Trade-Wind are for sale. They are going to be stocked for the Mew York market. They will sell, too; the people will swarm for them as thick as Hancock veterans m the South. Mask Twain. A Monster Sewing Machine. The largest sewing machine in the world, a Singer, has recently been finished. The machine weighs over four tons, and is in some respects of new design, uniting much simplicity of construction with great strength of parts. It is adapted for general manu facturing purposes of the heavier sort, although specially made for stitching cotton belting, an article which is just now taking the market, as a cheap and servicable institution for the gearing and the ordinary leather belting. The material used is of great strength and toughness, and is sewed together in piles or layers up an inch in thickness. The belting in being sewed together is passed through heavy feed rollers some nine inches in diameter, and more than eighJ feet in length, getting stretched and pressed in the process. There are two needles at work with two shuttles which can be removed from the bottom without disturbing the overlying piles of belting. The rollers between which the work passes are actuated by reversible worm and cam motions, and the machine has in addition to these roller feeds, what is known as a top -feed motion, suitable for a lighter class of work. The stitch, as in the ordinary sewing machine, can be adjusted from one-eighth inch upward, and the pressure of the rollers on the work passing through the machine can be regulated at the will of the operator. The machine, which is driven by steam, has been made for a manufactur ing firm in Liverpool. Lieut. Schwatka's Discovebies. New Ydbk, Sept. 29. The Herald's Lon don special says: Schwatka's discover ies and Polar matters generally continue to be the leading topics of discussion in the English journals. Among the latest contributions to the literature on this subject is a letter from Commander Cheyne in reply to an article in the Standard. "It was not the Arctic re gions," says Commander Cheyne, "that sent Franklin's men to the next world. They were murdered by the contractor who supplied the expedition with pre served meats. The same contractor fur nished Sir James Boss' expedition, to which I belonged, and the tins la belled 'Beef and 'Mutton' contained nothing but offal Some of the tins when opened contained nothing bnt big knuckles of bone. Everything belong ing to the animals was put into the tins, except the horns hoofs and hides. The very entrails were there, and when they ate them, having nothing else, they had to hold their noses so offensive was the stench. If Sir James Ross and his party had been out another winter they would have starved. I have repeatedly, in my lectures throughout England, denounced this contractor as a murder, and dared him bring an action for libel. I should be glad to have him do so, for I could establish the truth of what I say." A baby lately had the misfortune to swallow the contents of an ink bottle. His mother, with wonderful presence of mind, immediately administered a box of steel pens and two sheets of foolscap paper, and the child has felt write inside ever since. Saved by the Doctor. The episode I am going to relate oc curred not far from the township of Horsham, Victoria, Australia. Where the exact locality is I have no intention of divulging; but if any of my readers are acquainted with the part of the world I refer to, they will remember that there exist one or two large streams within the wide radius I have named. Beside one of these rivers there was standing, about twenty years ago, a hut, which was known at the homestead as the Deep Water Station, and it was here that my lot placed me as a hutkeeper. I lived at the Deep Water Station for two years. I remember I was sitting at the hut (the Deep Water Hut) one summer af ternoon, looking for the coming of "Long Mat." The sun was passing away blood-red behind a range of dim bine hills; long shadows were fast spreading; the deep water-hole had lost the light; the hills behind the river were just tipped with a crimson glory, and stars seemed dropping like silver specks on the paling sky. Long Mat, the shep herd, was later than usual. The darkness had not quite fallen be fore I recognized the bleating of the flock in the distance, and soon after the white fleeces of the sheep slowly ap peared from out the somber shadows of the trees. I had just walked inside the hut to prepare supper, when the quick, muffled fall of horse's feet became audi ble. I knew the canter well, and came to the door to await the arrival of Mr. S , the owner of the station. He galloped up to the hut, with a cheerful "Good evening, Bill;" and as usual came inside to ask me if I wanted anything, and to light his pipe. "I can't stay long with you this time, Bill," he said pleasantly, but with a lit tle anxiety; "the black fellows are about again. I hope your gun is in order. Do you want any powder or lead?" "We have quite enough," I replied, "both Mat and myself; bat there's no bullets; I'll run them to-morrow. Mat's rather late this evening; but the flock's not far off; they'll be home in a quarter of an hour; I saw them pass the belt be fore you came." At this instant the shadow of a man darkened the door and Mat entered. "Good evening," he said quietly to Mr. S and myself. "The sheep's feedin' home all right, sir, but there's a few missin'. One of my marked ewes is gone, and I can't see two of the crawl ers." "You'll pick them up to-morrow, Mat," replied the strong, pleasant voice of the cqnatter. "Bill says you've enough Sjwder and lead. The blacks are about; o you know that?" Without waiting for an answer Mr. S proceeded to undo his horse and was about to mount when Mat (who was an American) said: "I guess you had better stop to-night, sir." "Why?" "Injuns is close up. One qf the sheep I spoke of was speared." "I herd there were black fellows about, said Mr. S , delaying to mount; "but the rice is safe enough; I've got my rifle with me." "They're too close," responded the shepherd, after filling a panikin of tea, and, contrary io his custom, standing his gun against the table. We looked at him inquiringly. He kept his eyes want.e'ring over and around the flocks while he explained, "Wall, you see, sir, after seein' the spear wound on the crawler, I looked about me purty sharp, but couldn't see nothin' till I was leavin' the belt there, when I sighted one of the varmints wrigglin' through the grass like a snake. I was goin' to give him a pill, but I saw another wrig gle in his wake, and then another; and," continued the narrator, with something Mke a glow of expectation, "they ain't fir off now, I reckon." He had scarcely uttered the words when he lifted both hands and struck Mr. S full on the chest with enough force to drive him to the extreme end of the hut. At the same instant a spear whizzed through the open doorway, and quivered in the slabs behind. More remarks werb drowned by a loud quivering snort from the poor horse ; a moment after,' and he rolled heavily across the hut door, completely blocking up the entrance. Mat muttered away: "First-rate for us coons! Ye'd better bar the door, Bill! Doctor! Doctor! Doctor! Pst! Pst! Here lad." The dog leaped on the shep herd. "By gum," he said, "I thought he was outside." By this time Mr. S was coolly recon- noitering through the loopholes. He had let down the window, and was pre paring for action as unconcernedly as the shepherd. These quiet, brave men inspired me with confidence, and I remember think ing, as I threw water on the fire so as to extinguish the light, that the black fel lows had met with their match. By this time the moon was up and the light was gradually growing on the landscape. At first we could discern the outlines of the trees, and then, as the" night gathered, the white seared grass between the shad- There was a long time of silence Mat, Mr. S and myself had our barrels through the loopholes and were closely watching for any movement out side. The convulsive shudderings of the horse had ceased, and there was a painful silence. The squatter and Mat were-like two statues, and, notwithstand ing the quiet breathing of the dog and the croaking of the frogs along the river, there seemed to be a frightful signifi cance in the silence that was brooding above these sounds. Every instant I was expecting a rush from the outside, but there was not a sign or sound to be tray the presence of any enemy. The b jeep were camping quietly around the hurdles. Silence the bright moon the white fleeces mingling with the color of the grass the still shadows of the trees the far black forest the spectral tracery of the branches in the moonlight. The silence was terrible. One of the outside wethers rose and walked forward a few yards, then commenced stamping quickly on the ground. "Darn my eyes," said Mat, for the first time breaking silence, "if de 'Ole Parson' ain't sighted one of the niggers! ' The "Ole Parson" was a patriotic wether that was afflicted with the foot rot, and usually fed on his knees. "So he has, and by gum there's a crowd; the whole tribe hev come to visit. Not enough in shade, boss," concluded Mat, after another interval, and in a half whispering tone. The next moment the first report rang out into myriad echoes. A shrill death shout followed, as the dark figure of a man leaped with a sudden force from his ambush and fell prone, gurgling out blood and broken words. "Now, boss," said Mat, looking out, bnt still charging, "fifty yards to the right of the hurdle." Boss (Mr. S.) ohanged the position of his gun and fired. The human figure seemed to sink down so quickly, so calmly, so helplessly, that I felt a strange thrill of pity. "He's fixed as safe as houses; let's physic another or two, and maybe they'll make tracks," again muttered the shep herd, in a tone of suppressed glee. "Cook, why the devil don't you slioot ? Squint around that first block to the right of the wattle." Looking in the direction indicat' i by Mat, whose eyes seemed everywhere, I saw the figure of a man partially visible against the ground. He was evidcatlv sheltering himself from the other tv t guns, but, owing to my silence hitherto, hemmst have been of the opinion thai the portion of the hut where I stood waj unoccupied, if or an instant I could see nothing through the the smoke, but it cleared almost instantly. Just as the shepherd said "Don't shoot again he's fixed," I saw the poor wretch staggering wildly towards the hut, and then falling with a dull sound. God forgive me, it was very like murder. This was the the first life I had ever taken. The next thing I remember was Mr. S- asking me if I had run any bullets. "Not one." "Have you any in the hut?" "Not one." Mat informed us that we were "tree'd," much in the same way as he would tell the overseer that the rations were short. He quietly pulled his gun from the loophole, saying, "I've only one more pill to keep our skins whole. We'll hev to trust to Doctor." "Mat's dog Doctor was partly a Smith field and partly a Newfoundland. He had been trained by him to all sorts of tricks. Amongst others, he repeatedly took written messages to the station, when attached to his collar, and I pre sume this was the object Mat had in view when referring to him as capable of procuring relief. "Mister, d'ye think you kin rite a missage in the dark, or by the moonlight, askin' the hands at the Homestead to come this way ? No time to lose; I see the darkies dodging round the hut. Bill, knock away the low part of the rotten slab behind your back. Here, Doctor." The message was scrawled and fast ened to the dog's collar in little less than a minute, and the noble brute, who seemed to know th danger, stood anx iously trembling till the preparations were completed. As I before stated, the hut stood close to the stream, and from the rear the bank sloped abruptly toward the water. The American for the first time seemed affected. When the man fell under our shots, there was not the slightest change perceptible in his voice; but the words he spoke to his dog were broken and singularly soft. I'll be sworn there were tears in the man's eyes. Everything being at last prepared he spat upon the dog's muzzle, held his head close to his cheek for a -moment, and then pressed him quickly out of the hole and away flown the shelving bank. We listened anxiously for a time, and then there arose a wild jabbering for a minute; the next instant we detected a yelp of pain. "My God!" said I involuntarily, "the Doctor's speared." "No, he arn't, darn ye!" snapped Ben. "He's jist touched, and no more. He'll do it." "He must be quick, then," said Mr. S ; "the black devils have struck a light somewhere, and they're going to burn us out. Look!" Our eyes were now intently scanning the movements of the savages through the loopholes, and we saw a naming brand whizzing through the air and scattering sparks in all directions. It fell on the stringy bark roof above our heads. Another and another came, but it did not appear to us that any of them had taken effect. - By this time the black fellows had gathered courage. Believing that our wasfcpended, many of them er and might be seen tutting .Bcters. They had kindled a lstae off, and across its ws were almost, constantly 4 e fire brands were thrown rdHtmn-e; e fresh mode of attack was prepaf- g. Our suspense continued for a long period (nearly half an hour) , -during which time not a word was .epoHpn by any of ns. Our soul dependence was on the Doctor; and if help did not soon ar rive it was certain we could find no es cape from the demons who were trying to compass our destruction. "Now, look slick," whispered Mat. "I see their game; they're goin' to give us ms. How's the moon? well aback of th hut, I guess. Bill, stick your cabbage tree on a pillow, and hold it at the opetn window when I tell you. I'll just go out and bid them good evening. Don't bar the door after me, mister, but when I show them my heels open it. You see we can't spare ammunition." While speaking Mat unbarred the door. He slipped out noiselessly as he concluded the sentence. Through the slabs he said to me; "D'ye see that devil with the blazin' log? When he gits close to the wattle, open the window and prop up the pillow. Take care ol their spears yourself." As soon as the black fellow came to the point indicated, I opened the long little shutter with some noise and held up the dummy. In a moment a dozen speai's passed through the aperture, and I let the window fall as though one of us was mortally wounded. There was a wild shout without. At this time the black fellow who carried the log was within a few yards of the hut, and I heard Mat preparing for his move outside. Looking out as quickly as I could, I had just time to see his tall figure emerge beyond the shade as the butt end of his gun fell crashing on the head of the fire bearer. The door was opened as Mat turned; it required but one or two bounds to take him to the door, but the savages were too quick for him with their spears. He staggered through the entrance and fell just as he cleared the threshold. "Caught in the thigh, I guess," he exclaimed, as he slowly recovered him self, and painfully , struggled to the window. "Don't mind the spear," he remarked to me as I approached him ; "its better as it is, till help comes." "If it ever does," thought I. The American's sortie, I believe, had rather a disastrous effect, for the black fellows seemed to conclude at once that our ammunition was all expended, and they thronged around the hut without caring to shelter themselves. An a short time the crackling flames on the roof put an end to our trouble. The hut was on fire, and there was nothing left for us but an attempt to dash out and clear the aborigines. I proposed this, but Mr. S would not try without Mat, and underneath the blazing roof, with clubbed guns, we grimly awaited the final attack.- The ammnnHUi had reitf about tire softBd si are bbbbbbT fallinlaassf American's rifle rested in the loophole where he had first taken up his position. "There's the worst of them," Mat said, looking along his weapon; "he's coming up with a log to stave the door. He'll never do it f and our last bullet brought down the ringleader. There was consternation and a hurried consultation. After a lapse of about five minutes, the whole force of the be siegers rushed shrieking on our little garrison. A moment's surge outside, and the door fell back as Mr. S 's gun swung down on the crowding savages with terrific force, felling two of the foremost like oxen. I remember a wild struggle with our guns and fists. Mat and the squatter towered above their op ponents like giants, fightingwith terri ble energy. The black fellows had forced me to the ground; one was shortening his grasp of the spear to drive it through my body, when I felt a gush of blood spouting over my face and chest, just as the savage fell on me mortally wounded. Then I remember a hurrah outside and the cracking of rifles. "that was a good backhanded blow, boss," said Mat faintly; "I guess the cook's got another squeak. D'ye hear that? Hooray I Knowed the Doctor i'd do it," said he, with renewed energy; "take that;" and I heard the dull sound of another blow, and a low moan of pain as the station hands rushed in. The Doc tor soon recovered. So did Mat, who is now one of the richest men in the colo nies. I well I have a large scar across my breast. A Wonderful Feat of Memory. The history of the celebrated conjurer, Eobert Houdin, furnishes a remarkable example of the power of memory ac qui: :d by practice. He and his brother, w" Hie yet boys, invented a game which Siey played in this wise: They would pa . : a shop window and glance into it as they passed, without stopping, and then at the next corner compare notes and see which could remember the greatest sum ber of things in the window, including their relative positions. Having tested the accuracy of their observation and memory, so that after running by a shop window once, and . glancing as they passed, they would enumerate every ar ticle in it. When Bobert became a professional conjuror, this habit enabled him to achieve feats apparently miraculous. It is told of him that, visiting a friend's house where he had never been before, he caught a glimpse of the book-case as he passed the half-open library door. In the course of the evening, when some of the company expressed their anxiety to witness some specimens of his power, he said to his host: "Well, sir, I shall tell you, without stirring from this place, what books you have in your library." "Come, come," said he, incredulously, "that is too good." "We shall see, replied Houdin. "Let some of tOT company go into the library and look, and I shall call out the names from this room. They did so, and Houdin began: "Top shelf, left hand, two velumes in red morocco ; 'Gibbon's Decline and Fall;' next to these, four volumes of half calf; 'Boswell's Johnson;' 'Basselas,' in cloth; 'Hume's History of England,' in calf, two volumes, but the second one wanting," and so on, shelf after shelf, to the unspeakably wonder of the whole company. More than once a gentleman stole into the drawing-room, certain he would catch Houdin reading a catalogue; but there sat the conjuror, with his hands in his pockets, looking into the fire. Mde-HIll Chicken Houses. An Iowa correspondent writes to The American. Poultry Yard.' I have built several chicken houses in my day .having pitched my tent from time to time in sev eral different States. I first used the south end of a barn cellar as winter quar ters for my fowls, putting in windows to give plenty of light and heat. I have seen barn cellars very ill-suited for the purpose, being too damp for the confine ment of any animal, and I would not use one for this purpose unless the site was dry and afjended a good southern expo sure. W. The next best chicken house that I am acquainted with is built into the south side, of a hill. The front side is nearly all glass, with board shutters to close ovef the windows at night. Last winter when the mercury stood 22 degrees be low zero outside, it was 2 degrees above tHle freezing point inside this house. Another building was banked up to the eaves on the north and south sides and west end; four large windows in the south side of .tie roof, and door in east end. At night the windows were covered with straw mats and board shutters. In side, the building was lathed and plas tered, and the floor covered with gravel. This house would be just the thing for a flat country, but where hills are plenty and handy, I should build a side-hill house if I could not have a barn cellar. But whatever style of house you may conclude to raise your chickens in, have it constructed so that it will be warm enough without the use of artificial heat. Stoves in poultry houses are a nuisance any way, and in the long run will do more harm than good. Put in plenty of window glass, and the sun will warm your chicken houses cheaper than you can do it with wood or coal. I Rupture From a Merchant. Dayton, W. T., Feb 10, 1879. W. J. Some, Proprietor California Elastic Truss Co., 702 Market street, San Francisco Sir: Tbe Truss I purchased oi you about one year ago bas proved a miracle to me. I bave been ruptured forty years, and worn dozens of different kinds of Trusses, all of which bare ruined my health, as they were injurious to my back and spine. Your valuable Truss is as easy as an old shoe,and is worth hundreds of dollars to me, as it affords me so much pleasure. 1 can and do advise all, both ladies and gentlemen, afflicted, to buy and wear your modern improved Elastic Truss imme diately. I neyer expect to be cured, but am sat isfied and bappy with the comfort it gives me to wear it. It was the best $10 I ever invested in my life. You can refer any one to me and I will be glad to answer any letters on its merits. I remain, yours respectlullv, b. B. BUNNELL. Latest Medical Endorsements. MAETiNEz.Cal., Feb. 17, 1879. W. J. Ho. ne. Proprietor California Elastic Truss Co., 702 Markei, street, S. F. Sir : In re gard o yo.' California Elasi ic 1 uss, t would say that ! iiave carefully s.'udied its inecbao'sm, ap plied U ia practice and do rot hesitate to say that lor aid purposes lor which Trusses arc worn it is the oej Truos ever offerer1 to the public Yours truly, J. H. CA BOTHERS, M. D. Endorsed by a Prominent Medical Insti tute. Sah Fbahcisco, March 6, 1879. W. J. Borne, Esq. Si: You ask my opinion of the relative merits o " your Pater i Elastic Truss as compared with oi-hei kinds that have been ested under my observa'or; ana in rep'y 1 trank ly state that from the time my attention was first called to their simple, though highly me chanical and philosophy construction, together with easy adfust bihty to persons of all sizes, ages and orms. I add tb's testimoiy with spe cial nleesare, tar t toe several persons" who have applied to De o a:ci a tae'u especial cases of rup ture, a;?d wood iiave adv:sed to use yours, all acknowledge tbei: en-ire satisfaction, and consid er themseive highly invored by the possession of one Oi the ioiji-oved Elastic Truss. Yours truly, BARLOW J. SMITH, M. D. Proprietor Hvgenic Mdical Institute, 635 California street, gan Francisco A REMARKABLE CURE. San Fkakcieco, Oct. 26, 1879. W. J. Home, Proprietor California Elastic Truss, 702 Market street, San Francisco Sir : I am truly grateful to you for lae wonderful CURE your valuable trus" oos eflected on my little boy. The double truss f purchasec from you uas PER FECTLY CURED aim o; his painVul rupture on both sides in a little ovc s;x months. The steel truss he had before aough't yours caused him cruel torture, and ii, was a hanpy day for us all when he 'aid it aside far t'ie Caliiobnia Elas tic Tkdss. I am sure that all will be thankful who are providentially 'ed to give your truss a trial. You mav refer any one to re on this sub ject. Yours truly, WM. PERU, 638 Sacramento Street. This is to certify that I have examimed the son of Wm. Peru, and find him PERFECTLY CURED of hernia on both sides. L. DEXTER LYFORD, M. D., Surgeon and Physician. Trusses forwarded to all parts of the United States at our expense on receipt qf the price. Bend Stamps for Illustrated Catalogue and Price List. Giving full information and rules for measuring. California Elastic Truss Co. 702 Market Street, S. F. xke rice crop of Louisiana this year was one of the largest and best ever grown there. JOB PRINTING. SAFE AND LOCK CO. CAPITAL $1,000,000. General Office and Manufactory, CINCINNATI, OHIO. Pacific Branch 211 and 213 California St., San Francisco. CH44.H, DOOfi A CO., PURTLaHD, Agents 1'or Oregon ana Washington Tor. HtLl.'s PUENT COKcHETB ! FIRE-PROOF SAFES. ! H:ive been tested by the most disastrous con fla- ! gratinns i the country. They are thoroughly fire prorf. They arc free from dampness. Their superiority is beyond question, t Alllioti''h about 150,000 of these safes are now in use, ami hundreds bave I en tested by soma of the must disastrous conflayrjiions in the country, there is not a single int:r..ce ou record wherein one of them ever failed 'o preserve it contents perfectly. HALL'S PATENT DOVETAILED . TENON AM) GROOVE BURGLAR-PSQS Have never been broken ojen and robbed by burglars or robliors. Hall's burglar work is protected by letters patent, and hie work cannot be equaled lawfully. His patent bolt is superior to any in use. His patent locks cannot be picked by the most skillful experts or burglars. By one of tbe greatest improvements known, the Gross Automatic Movement, our locks are operated without any arbor or spindle passing through the door and into the lock. Our locks cannot be o)ened or picked by bur glars or experts, (as in case of other locks), and we will put from $1,000 'o $10,000 behind them any time against an eoual amount. THEY ARE THE BEST SAFE Made in America or any other country. One Thousand Dollars To any person who can prove that one of Hall's Patent Burglar-Proof Safes has ever been bioken open and robbed by burglars up to the present time. C. W. POOL, TRANELING AGENT. Office with C. H. Dodd A Co., Portland, Oregon. C. S. PARCEHg. Manager, m. F. THE Gazette Job Printing House IS NOW PREPARED TO DO Plain and Ornamental Printing, As neat and Cheap as it cat. be Hone by any Office on the Coast mn Hea, Letter Head Mote heads, Stm earata, P. oxrammea. Ball Tickets.. Invitations Circular, Bnatine-a nrls. Visiting t arda, ! Dodgers. snail Paaters. fcnvelwnea. t.eical Blank' tea, Unpins; Receipts, Order Kouks, luu, Toe. , i to. Kta $66; A WEEK m your own town and no capital risked. You can give the bus iness a trial without expense. The best opportunity ever offered for tho3 willing to work. You should try nothing else until you see lor yourseit wnat you can do at the business we oiler. No room to explain here. You can devote all your time or only your spare time to the business, and make great pay tor every hour you work. Women make aa much as men. Send for special private terms and par ticulars, which we mail free. $8 outfit tree. Don't complain of hard times while you have such a chance. Address H. BALLET A CO., Portland, Maine. l6:31yl $15! sT-Orders by mail promptly filled. Es nunuuieu. TO $6,000 a year, or $5 to $20 a day in your own locality. Sio risk. Wo men do as well as men. Many make more than the amount stated above. No one can fail to make money fast. Any one can do the work. You can make from $50 eta to $2 an hour by devoting your evenings and spare time to the business, it cost nothing to try the business. Nothing like it for money making ever offered before Business pleasant and strict ly honorable. Reader, if you want to know all about the best paying business before the public, send us your address and we will send you full particulars and private terms free; samples worth $5 also free ; you can then make up your mind yourseii. Address utUKUfc B'1'i.NBO.lN a ., Portland, Maine. 16:31yl.