Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About The Oregon scout. (Union, Union County, Or.) 188?-1918 | View Entire Issue (March 5, 1887)
The Wolf-Charmer. Tlioro was sorrow and groat trouble in tho household of Michael Tronski, tho fiddler of Aruntra, a small villago in Austrian Poland. Ho had fallen that morning from a ladder In tho course of monding tho thatch on his cottage roof, and was now lving in bed, groaning and helpless, with a broken arm and collar-bone. Worse st 11, there had been heavy sickness and death in tJio fasily. Doctors' bills and other expenses had swallowed up all the poor violin-scraper's savings. Now that ho was laid helpless on his back, destitution and starvation stared him and his children in the face. Do not take on so father dear." said Marscha, tho fiddler's littlo daughter, as sho moistened tho sick man's lips with water in a vain at tempt to allay his burning thirst. Sho was only twelve years old, but hur mothcr'fi early death had niado it necessary to bo womanly very early. Sho had holpcd tho doctor that day. as lio sat hor father's broken limb, with a courago and quiet presence of mind that had won his highest praise. "No need of any oilier nurse so long as you aro with htm, my dear," ho said. Only sec that ho is kopt quiet and his mind easy." "His mind easy! Yes, that was eas ily said," thought poor Marscha, who know that there was no more food in tho house than would servo for that day and tho next, nor any money to buy more. Her poor father had, as sho know, reckoned on earning enough to keep them for weeks by playing that very evening at tho wedding feast of JanoszPutusta, the richest fanner in the neighborhood. Still the bravo girl re solved to do her best. My children! My children!" ho kopt moaning. "Every tiling gone! Neither foot! nor money in the house, and I ly ing hero like a log unable to earn more! My poor, helpless children, what will become of them?" Dear futher," said Marscha. "God nill prpvido for us, 1 am sure. Mothor always told mo not to bo afraid. And then there's Iwan." "Iwan, yes," said tho old man bit terly. "Iwan could havo taken my placo to-night if 1 had not been such an obstinate ass, and insistod upon him learning carpontry instead of fiddling. I was determined that my son should ho something bettor than a tiddler, for sooth, and never would let him lenrn. lie is well avenged now, and wo shall all starve." "No, wo shaVt," replied Marscha. I made enough broad yesterday to last us for two days yet, and neighbor Hrig atta gave mo somo mlk this morning. 1 am going to get you somo now." "My poor, inothorless child!" mut tered tho man. "May (5od help us, as you say! Whuro is Anna?" "Bngattu took hor homo with hor to lw outof tho way. as she is so littlo. Drink, dear father," and sho held the enp to his mouth. At this moment a tall, handsome boy entered tho cottage, with grief and dis may on his face. Marscha made him a sign to controlo himself. lie mado an answering sign and slowly approached the bed. "Dear fnthor," ho unid, "I have just Iieard of your terrlblo accident, and my good master let mo come to you tit onco to see if I could help." "No, my boy; there is nothing to bo done unless." ho corrected himself, Carlovit. would lot you go over to Jauosz Pnttistn, at tho farm, and toll liim that 1 cannot play the violin to night at tho wedding. There is nobody in the village whom I can send in my placo. Wo shall soon know wluit starv ing moans. "Father," said tho boy, oagorly, and with a certain Confusion of manner, 'lot rao go instead of vou." "You.n said Miehaol "you! What could you do! 1 never allowed you to learn oven how to handle the bow." "Hut I learned for all that," replied Iwan. blushing deeply. "Don't be an gry with mo, father, but 1 used toprao tico in the evenings, after work was over, on Carlovitz s old liddle. 1 was o unhappy after you sent mo away, and I could not hear any more music." "My poor boy!" said Miehaol. "Hut lot ino hear oil play." Iwan took his father's violin, and played, a slow, plaintive air upon it. Then he changed the key and rattled ofTa lively datieo tuno. Hoth wero ex cellently done. 1 could not havo bolioved it possi ble." said his father. "You will bo a better player than over 1 have been, lean see that, les, you may go to Pntusta's, and tell him 1 sent vou to take my place. 1 am sure he will make no difficulty If you play to him half as well as ou did to mo just now. You nru not afraid of tho long walk?" "IP No, ludeed," Mulled Iwan. "Keep your mind easy, Marselia," ho continued, turning to his pale, anxious littlo sister. "HI lu back to-mght sonic-what late, perhaps. Willi my pock ets full uf coppers, with a littlo silver mixed Willi Ilium 1 nope, nut it s a good bit of a road, and I must tell Carlovita not to expect me to-night. bo goou-oyo, lamer; good-ovo, aiar Bctia!" And off tipped the light-hearted boy. At l'atusta's farm all was bustlo and excitement, Ihu first feelings of tits appointment ou learning that Michiel could not como. nim-oil to tlio wedding, and had sent so young a substitute, were quickly allayed on hearing the lnastorly manner "with which thu lad handled' Ins father's bow. The most of tho truest had hoard of the accident and knew of the great troubles that one after another had fallen on tlio fiddler's fain ly. Uonoral sympathy Ira roiued. '1 he diinoliig. tho happf- himli and above all lwun's lovelv music. oiNinud thoir hearts. When the ball ended, about two lit uio morning, wio boy was dismissed with not unly tho promise of payment for his night's work, but tho pocketful of money of width ho had spoken to Marsoha, of which the gtoater part was not coppur, but shining white silver. Who bo charming now as Iwnn, strld. . . . . .i. i I lllir Milieu iikiihj . .ii "I oil Un UllCo m.lo walk.'h.s violin slung lightly over Ins shoulder, and his hands in ins pockets rattling his gains? Ho kept wlrstling from time to time to give ex pression to his pleasure, as ho thought of his father and Marscha and wee tod dling Anna. "Oh. if mother wcro only alivo!" he thought, "how pleased she would be! Poor father need not want anything now. There's enough hero for that clever littlo sister of initio to keop house on for a long time. She is thinking of mo now while she is sitting up waiting forme. 1 am later than I thought I should be when I left home. This wood will cut off a good quarter of a milo if 1 cross it." With a boy's thoughtlessness ho loft tho beaten track, anil turned aside into a pine wood near. The stiddon dark ness startled him at lirst, as tho faint light of the waning moon could not penetrate through tho thick branches. Hut confident that ho could find his way and regain tho high-road again at the other side of the wood, his eager ness to rcaeli homo prevented him from turning back, lie contented h tn sclf with picking his slops carefully. Suddenly tho ground seemed to give iway beneath nun, and no was pructp- ated into a deep nit. Ho was stunneil for a moment, but the earth at the bot tom was soft and no hones were brok en. Picking himself up Ins first thfught was his father's precious violin. II that wero broken, then indeed would tho measure of their misfortunes bo full, and his carelessness would have done it. To his great joy it was unin jured. Then ho began feeling about the walls of tlio pit tor a means oi es cape. Suddenly something mot his eves that nearly froze his blood with lorror. Two blowing points liko red- hot coals glared upon him out of the darkness around. J wan comprehended ho matter now. Ho had fallen into one of tho pitfalls dug to entrap wild annuals, anil was now Hopelessly itn- irlsoucd with a wolt! The creature. to felt, was confounded ami terrified for tho moment bv tho no so of his fall. Hut ho was convinced that it would soon recognize the helplessness to do- ... t . ti I. i . i- lend nimscii oi ins eouirauo in imsior- tune, and would make a breakfast of him In shorter order than it took to think of it all. I wail's breath caino thick and fast. but ho was not ono of those who easily csign hope. He called to mind the old ballad of how a valiant Danish chief was taken i in battlo by his enemies 1 a cavern full of serpents j ind thrust into and other deadly reptiles: how ho had boon allowed, as a last boon, to tako with him his harp of seven strings; land how ho had played upon it tor a nigut :ind a day using his feet when his fingers failed him. So long as ho play ed, not a creature attempted to do h.in hurt, so groat is tho power ot musio over oven tho dumb brutes. At bust h s enemies were moved and openod to him his prison doors. "Why may not I tako a loirf out of that old Danish book?" thought Iwan, quickly unslingiug his fiddle and bow. "A violin is as good as a narp any day. If 1 can manage to keop the bruto off until daylight, somebody is sure to bo passing on the road or tho owners of thu trap will como to seo a tlioro is any booty." Ho drew tho bow across tho strings and commenced a slow, melancholy tuno that would havo brought tho tears to his own eyes had not the sense of desperato danger been the fueling uppermost m his mind. J. no awtm beast gavo a long howl. "lou like musiof" tliouglit iwan. All rigid, Master Wolf, you shall havo plonty of it." ills oes wero now getting accustom ed to the darkness, and ho perceived that his dangerous fellow-prisoner was an enormous gray wolf whoso gaunt sides spoke of a hunger which would allord In in small hope ot escapo stiotild his musio not succeed in exorois ng the hoped-for charm over it. He played on with the energy of dispair. Although It was early spring, and the snow near ly all molted away, it was still bitterly cold. Tho poor hoy's lingers soon got so chilled that they could not long hold tho bow. still ho liddled bravely on, his terrible companion only giving vent from time to time to an unoasy growl, alternating with a long, melancholy howl. These sounds, however liorr.ble In themselves, wero pleasant to Iwan s ears, as showing him that his musiu was having tho desired elicit. Hut tho hours went past, the dawn was break ing, and tlio poor bows hands wero so benumbed that lie noticed, to his horror, that the tones wore getting broken and oven sometimes refused to come at all. Hod help me." ho thought, "If I get quite powerless before anyone collies to my Help! juy poor miner and Maibcha! what will they say if I never come home? And 1 tliouglit to make them so happy with tho money that I have earned to-night!" This thought nerved Ins arm once more. Hut ho felt it could not bo for long. His strength was leaving h m , fast. It was now broad daylight. Tho rtnnblo of a wagon was hoard from tho road. Hope put new life into lwun's bow. He drew It across the strings so as to produce the highest notes which lie knew would bo tlio most piercing, accompanying them by a shrill cry at the top of his voice. The rumbling ceased. In u few min utes a kindly, weather lieu ton face was seen peering over the mouth of tho pit. "Well, my lad," said tho man, recog nizing Iwan, whosu passion for musio and his father's ru.soivo not to maku lum a tiddler was well-known, "you'vo chosen an odd placo in which to prac tice forbidden arts. How caino you here?" "Don't stop to as. Look at my com rade. Hun for a gun," pantud the boy, still liddliug dopurat ly. "Moroj ou us.! You have an un chancy conipan uti, and no mistake," cried t he pian, now poreu.v ngtlio brute. "Hold on a bit longer. 1 will bo back tu a jiffy," He was turning away. At that mo ment another man appeared. He had a gup 'on his shoulder. It was Stephen llurlft. the owner of the pit. Ho came on with great angry (Urdus. "What is that?'" ho said. "Who Is fiddling down tluuoln my pit" "Now that Is what 1 will coming In tho ulok of time." cr.od tho wagoner. "Iwan Tronski is down thcro with a wolf. If you don't niako qu ck w rk of tho brute with your gun ho'll soon niako short work of poor Iwan." "Tho fiddler's son! How over did ho get down there?" W thout waiting for an answer ho ran to the pit and looked down. Tho bow had just fallen from the poor boy's nerveless lingers. Forgetful of tho danger of tak ng his eyes off the creat ure, ho stopped to pick it up. Freed from both spells that had held it hith erto, tho wolf gavo a wild growl and sprang at him. Iwan gavo himself up for lost. Then a shot from tho hunt er's gun, directed by bis practiced eye, made the monster harmless forever. Iwan was taken out of the pit nearly as dead as the wolf from sheer exhaus tion. A little brandy from tho hunter's ilask revived him. Then tho wagoner gavo h m a lift as far as tho village. It was a proud moment and a happy ono for him when, after telling his story, ho emptied tho enntonts of his pock ets into his wiso littlo sister's lap, and heard his father, with tears of thank fulluess, calling him tho staff of his old age. "And now, father." ho concludod, "you will not forbid mo any more to practice tho fiddle, I am sure." It is needless to say what was Mich ael's answer. My story ought by rights to end hero. Hut there is a s -quel to it, for nit that, which I think 1 must give, although Iwan never eiicoutcred another such thrilling adventure as that which fol lowed on his lirst entranco into public life. It was not long after this that a hand soino carriage drove through tho vil lage, and stopped at Carlovitz, tho car penter's door. A pleasant-faced, middle-aged gentleman got out. It was Count Forback, from tho castle, tho great man of tho placo. Ho asked to seo Iwan Tronski. Iwan caino forward with quiet self possession. Stephen Hurla," sad the Count, "has been telling mo a wonderful story of a boy who charmed a wolf into pa t ence bv playing tho v olin to him tho whole night. Is this true, and aro you ho?" Iwan bowed. "Not the whole night, my lord; only a few hours," ho said modestly. "And quito enough too in such grisly company," answered tho nobleman, smiling. "You must bo a plucky youngster. My daughters wero so do- Iwrlitml wifli llin Rtnrv when Stotilinn tJu jt thllt thpy avo ,uo no rost untn T .u.0,ujscd t0 try l0 pot you to play to them too. I don't think they will be more difficult to charm than tho wolf. What do you say? If you will como back to tho castle with mo, I will make it worth your while, for your sick fath er's sake." "I will como willingly," answored Iwan, "if my master will sparo me. Hut indeed, sir, I am but a very poor playor, as I havo had to learn all L know in secret." "I have heard of that too, my boy," said the Count, who was himself a mu sical enthusiast, "and I respect you for your energy. Carlovitz. will you give mo tlio boy for to-night?" Tlio carpenter's consent was readily given to tho great man. Iwan in his Sunday best and a very modost best it was rodo in a carriage for the first time in his lifo, scarcely able to realize his good fortune. On arriving at tlio castle ho was given in charge to tho housokcopcr, who petted and made much of him. and told him stories of her mastor's and tho young ledies' goodness. At longth ho was summoned to the drawing-room. Ho was dazzled at first bv the lights and the grand drosses of tho ladies. Hut thoy wore all so kind that ho soon took courage. A violin was now put in his hand. Iwan play ed his very host, ind h;s hoarers wero delighted. At tho end of tho ovoning tho Count took him aside. "My good lad," ho said, "it is plain to mo that you have a wondorful talent for music. It would bo a thousand pities to nogloot it. Should not you liko to bo a great player?" "Oh, yos sir!" cried Iwan, his eyes sparkling. "Then listen, said tho Count. "It would bo an easy thing for me to tako vou from your present employment, and pay for your teaching at tho Con servatory of' Vienna. Hut when I was a lad m father taught mo that it was of no uso being helped by others unless 1 should trv to holp myself. This 1 am suro you will bo willing to do. Hero is nu plan. Will you be willing to bo guided by mo?" "I w 11 do anything you toll mo," sa d the grateful boy. "It is this, then." Tho Count put a gold piece into his hand, "This .s your navniont for the pleasure you havo giv- ou us this evening. I see you havo a largo stock of national Polish inelodi s at your finger-ends. 1 take great in terest in thorn, and should liko to maku a collection of them. If you will come horo onco a week and play over to mo us manv as you can recollect, you shall have tlio sumo sum each time. Lay it bv until you havo enough to start upon, and your career is made. Is it a bar ga n?" Iwan kissed his hand, and returned homo a proud and happy boy. Every week for many months ho went to li s kind putron's castle, and played to him not only tho airs that ho had known all his life, but others which ho took pains, with his father's help, to collect troni far and noar. Soon ho had earned enough for his further mainten ance and studies. Ho entered tho Con jorvatory of Musio at Vienna, and wUh the best instruction that most musical of cities could give, became ono of tho lirst ylolln-playors of tho day. It Is red gold now. instead of coppers and sil ver, which ho sends from tlmo to tlnio to his loving and beloved slstor Mar ietta, to help to keep house with for his old and infirm father and sister Annie. fc M. Traquair, in Harper's lounn leople. H in II i Tho Ono Thing Needful. Tho mother was very slowly trying lo oat. Littlo Chap was oatmg with nit trying. Finishing his mual ho laid lown his fork, and with a look worthy f iinm tatlou, said to tils mother. 'Why don't you put a littlo vim tuto .t ?" The Advance. WHAT SAILORS EAT. A Diet Mnde Up Lnrcelr "f "Sail Home" Tlio Luxury of a Prcsli Vlsli Dinner. Perhaps somo of tho young admireni of a "life on tho ocean wave" would liko to know how they fared aboard ship. There is no mother's pantry to visit Each sailor furnishes his own tin plate, coflee-enp. and knifo and fork, Ho has no tabic, with chairs placed for his convenience. When "grub" is ready to bo seivcd tho cook gives the signal. A sailor comes and receives a pan of bread; another takes a pan of beef, the third take3 tho largo coffee-pot, with hash or potatoes as tho cook chooses. Tlio bill of fare Is fixed by law. At tho beginning of the voy age the captain calls his crow aft and inqii res if there aro any who wish to havo their food weighed. They always prefer to cat as much as thoy can "stow away." Thu sailors eat in the forecastle. If they are disposed, thoy can rig them selves a table; otherwise they must sit around on trunks or tho deck in rough weather, and take thoir rations. The olliccrs eat with the captain in tho cab in, where a table is set and furnished as at home. A rack is used in rough weather to keep the dishes from danc ing If there is a good cook on board everything goes well, but an unskilled cook makes all hands miserable. During rough weather passengers do not attempt to sit at tho table, but tako whatever they require in their hands and eat the best way they can. Ono day a sailor was eating his rations dur ing rough weather, when the ship gave a lurch and a plcco of beef wont gal loping across the deck. Tho sailor raised his fork, and making a dash at the beef, shouted: "Stop that horse." The sailors called their bouf "salt Horse." Tho story which they tell is this: "Ono voyage, when the beef was particularly tough, a ltorseshoo was found in the bottom of tho beef barrel, whereupon ono of the sailors got up the following rhyme: "Old horsc.olu liorac, what brought you here? "From S.iccarnp to Portland pier, I was iln girhif; lumber for many a year, I was kicked nnil cuffed with sore abubo And faltcil down for sailors' use; lietwecu the mainmast ami the pumps I was salted down lu f;reat big chunks; . They hauled me out and picked my bones, Then shove me over to Davy Jones." The captain of a sailing ship was ask ed by his wife if sho couldn't give the sailors a good dinner. Ho replied that ho was affraid it would mako them saucy. She finally prevailed. A lino turkey was procured from shore and given to the cook, who served it up in good order and gavo it to tho sailors. Ono gavo a scrutinizing look and ex claimed: "What is this old bird doing hero?" Another said: "I wonder how old it is? Must have died of old age." The third remarked that if it had been good for anything they would havo kept it in tho cabin. Thoy finally hovo it overboard and madoadinnor of "salt horse." Tho captain's wife, after that, never meddled with her husband's housekeeping. Sometimes a dolphin is caught, and, as you watch the dying colors of bluo ami gold, as ho writhes upon tlio deck, visions of savory chowder and fresh fried fish oass before vou. With what an important air tho cook comes into the cabin and asks for a nicco of silver, which ho puts into tho frviiior.nan with the sputtering fish. If the silver turns black ho cons dors tho fish to have been noisoned. Ho says tlmv sometimes eat coppor from the bottom of a shin or from copper banks, How anxiously wo await the test thoso on shore, whoso thoughts aro filled with nolitics. tho temperance question and di voreo eases can never know. The silver is usually found to be bright and shining. and the luxury of a fresh-fish dinner is nntovod with unadulterated Happiness. Oftun a nornoiso is harpooned, and then there is great excitement. Tho liver and heart taste similar to those of a hosr. but one must bo exceedingly huiiPTV to eniov tho moat. It has ono virtue that of being fresh. The oil is usually saved, boing quite valuable, That found in tho head is much esteom- ed Tor oiling clocks, etc When a Span ish mackerel is caught a savory dinner mm- Im nvimeted. Sometimes thousands of Hying fish dart from tho water on all sides of tho shin. and. snread nir thoir gauzo wings, llv for a few soconds abovo tho water, ivhilo wo aro tempted to exclaim: Fish, fish nil around, And not one mouthful to eat For, although thoy aro most delicato eating, it is impossible to catch them at sea. Ofteu during tno nigni ono nies on board. On tho island of Harbadoes Hm fishermen aro verv successful in catching these fish, and a moal of boned Uvlncr llsh. is worth outing. Dunne sovoro storms tho cook has many trials trying to serve his meals, lu carrv ng tho dinner from the galloy to tho cabin ho is sometimes struck by i hoav sea. the basket washed from his grasp, the dinner and dishes wrecked. On one occasion tho cook of a bark was struck by a sea and washed Dverbof.rd, dinner, basket, and all. It was beyond the power of his shipmates to save'hlni. H orccstcr Spy. Pattl's Toilet. A pecul'arity In conucction with Mmo. Patti's toilet has been rovealod. It ap pears that when tho diva goes to her bath, which sho takes about 5 o'clock 3ti tho ovoning sho is to sing, sho never Ulowcs tho water to touoh hor nock mil face, although tho rest of her body is religiously immersed. Sho has a singular theor that hot or could water produces wrinkles, and it is certainly omo sort of proof, that hor theory Is orrect, that, in spite of be ng consld jrably over 40 years of age. tlioro .is not a wr nklu vis bio on her neck, throat or face. Of course she insists that sho keens ooually clean by moans of cold oreani, which sho uses In copi ous quant t es, genorally spreadlug It un her faoo and ne. k. and leaving it there while- hor maid goes through tho ha r.drostug proa ss, ofinn a or.od of an hour or so. Then thu cold oream is t .ken off vorv oarofiill.v with a towel, and Mmo. Paul considers horsolt wash I od. Jew York Mait umi i'xwrois. o ON THE ICE. ticencs In Mld-Wlnter nt Jflanrn A Thrill ins Advonturo lu the Kaptds. When, in tho spring, and sometimes during a protracted thaw in the depth of winter, tho vast fields of ice that border the shores of the great upper lakes aro detached from their moorings and set in motion by the currents that set toward tho sea, the great gorgo of tho Niagara, below the falls, presents a spoctaclo unsurpassed among icy won wonders. I say unsurpassed, because srediblo witnesses havo said that not even the mighty glaciers of Swdzerland (how more striking examples of nat ural power. Hugo cakes of ico como tumbling over the cataract in such enormous quantities that after tho movement has continued for a week tho whole bed of tho river below seems filled with them. The process is often aided by a strong northerly wind at tho mouth of tho river, which sets back the ice, and lit srally piles it into the wide, deep chan nel. It is difficult to convey to those unfamiliar with tho locality an ade- juato idea of the sight. Think of a tremendous flood of water fourteen mile3 in length, sometimes pent between lofty banks, the water rarying from eighty to two hundred feet in depth, sometimes raging in a aarrow channel, and then spread out in i tranquil flow with a width of half a aiilo think of such a stream or strait is this, so burdened by the ico that has wen poured into it, that only in occa lional places is the water visiblo at all! Sometimes the process of freezing com pacts it; but more often this wonderful ixhibition is seen in comparatively uild winter weather. For it must bo remembered that so deep and rapid a torrent as this is beyond the direct ac tion of the frost; nothing could bridge t with ice from shore to shore but the tiling of tho channel with the enormous vinter accumulations of tho upper iakes. Tho rigors of tho soason may some arhut diminish the How of water; yet in ill seasons the almost immeasurable lood of Niagra is there, and it must ind outlet. You may climb over huge ce-hills and pick your way among ice jowlders out to the middle of tho itream, where you can look down into lomo wido crevice and seo tho water .hirty feet below, struggling witli its ncunibrance. Sounds of cracking and grinding con Snually aro heard; tho impatient waters ire lighting witli their bonds, and tho jrcat mass is slowly, imperceptibly be ng carried into Lake Ontario while jedestrians, and even double sloighs, iro safely crossing over it- Meanwhile is the great blocks come dashing over ho falls much faster than thoy can find ixit below, tlio surface of the river, vhich Is now the rough and irregular cd of ice, rises and encroaches upon Jio banks. In some seasons this rise mis been as high as sixty feet. There s seen such an exhibition of the lowor of the forces of nature as per laps cannot bo witnessed elsewhere, in Switzerland, for example, the ma cstic glaciers creep along their ancient ods with a march that is irrosisUble; nit neither man nor naturo has placed iny impediment in thoir couro to provo .hem irresistable. Hut on tho banks of he lower Niagra. I have seen the vharves crumble like cgg-sholls before ;he pressure of tho great ice-hills; I lave seen large houses and store louses, built so high abovo the water ine that no dangor was dreamod of, rn from their foundations and borno ff among the ice-hills, and I have soon tall oak trees, two feet in diameter, mapped off liko pipe stems, and even rn up by tlio roots, by the slow, nu jcrccptible, and yet irresistable press- lro of tins American giacior. Almost any winter, bevond whore tho nife round ico mountain rises well to ward the brink of tho American fall, int in the middle of tho wido channel n-hiiro in other seasons the waters toss mil swoll from a depth of two hundred loot, you may see great lce-liumiuocKs, lccorated with tho Hags of both na tions. ou mav no out there by a well-defined and safe path, through rallovs and over hills of ico always co: if hungry, vou may buy refresh- nents there from a pine-board booth, vhcro you will seo a cook-stove; and if 'cry ambitious ot unusual experiences, foil mav actually havo vour photograph aken on tho ice, in front of tho witaract. hi this tremendous winter aspect of Niagara, it might bo expected that occi lonts and perilous adventures would laimeu. I will relate the most re- liarkablo that occurs to to mo. In tho month of December, many rears ago, an American whom wo may all Clarke was engaged in buying and shopping timber m the Canadian woods. oack of Chippewa, which is two miles ibovo tho Horse-Shoo Fall. Tho river s here two miles in width, and Hows with a strong, smooth current, which, aardlv a in lo bolow. is brokon by tho irst abrupt descent which beg ns tho irnri' ratiids. Hut steam-tugs and itcainboats como down to Chippowa, mil the river is safelv navigated hero bv oarsmen of strong arms.cool heads, and knowledgcof the stream. Clarko was ono of theso. Ho had lived all his lifo in sight of tho river, knew as much of It as any man could know and had rowed a boat upon it above the falls from his boy- lisod. Ho would havo laughed at any one who had told him that ho could bo in danger while rowing his boat across from Chippewa to tho Ainorican shore, The short December day was nearly done, but tlioro was &till half an hour's daylight, when Clarke camo out ot tho woods where ho had boon overseeing his choppers, and nulled his skiff out into the stream. He knew that better point for crossing was opposito Navv Island, a littlo abovo; and ho rowed up toward it. Tho weather was mild, and had been for some days, and Clarke found the river filled with Uoatiii!r ice. As ho turned fioin tho lower end of tho island and unshod out into tho current he saw that tho cakes of ico wore large, nml tli.it fiiimn ilnvtnrltv WOllld l ro- nnlrixl In nnil n'rollitil Mill! alUOUg tllOlll lint tliU did tint trouble him; he tlinitcrlit In, litul been ill illst Slicll II sit uation before. If anything did trouble him, it was tho fear that daylight might bo spent before ho could reach the opposite shore. He had not rowed ten strokes when he, found himself in a narrow channel between two great blocks of ice. Men who use tho oar upon this river aro quick of observation and Clarko sud denly suspended his rowing, as ho saw these ice-cakes slowly closing togcthor by the action of the current. He unshi'ip d an oar, and tred to push one of' m off. Tho oar was forced out ol hands, tho blocks closed together 'ion tho boat and crushed it between them into a shape less pile of kindlings. Warned of tho disaster, Clarke leaped in time, and found himself safe for the present on the ice. If he had not thought and acted quickly in that awful moment, no earth ly power could have saved him from de struction. Ho did not know what ho was braving when ho left the shore no row boat could float amid the torriblo washing and grinding of this ice. Ho knew ho could expect no aid from tho shore, and he knew that he had begun the fearful journey over the falls. He looked toward the island. It was not lar away, ine leo-otock on which ho stood was very large; between it and tho one abovo was a space of clear wa- er; beyond that stretched the next ico- akc; and then there was anotner spaco f water between it and the island. The feat that he performed to savo himself was a daring and desperato one, and probably nothing but desperation led him to attempt it. He ran along tho ico upon which ho food, and made a frantic leap. He said afterward that the distance, what ever it was, seemed to him greater than any man could jump; but he struck tho next jxt iceberg a foot from tho water. Not pausing an instant lie ran on to tho next block. It was at least twenty feet from the shore of the island. Never stopping to pull off coat or boots, he plunged into the icy stream, and breasting tho cur- en t, swam rapidly to tlio snore, ins knowledge of the locality enabled him to find the house of the only occupant of the island at that t me, before whoso blaz ng log-firo ho was soon warmed ml dried. Clarko owed his preserva tion to a presence of mind and prompt ness of action which few would exhibit n the face of such a peril. James Lkanmclin Fitts. Safe Car-Heating. Public indignation against tho rail oad men who persist in tho uso of car stoves has reached a point whore ic will not bo wise to trifle with it. Tho plea that no substitute for stoves has been found is now generally recog nized as false an mendacious, llio spreading of the knowledge of this fact leaves no loophole ot excuse lor the railroad companies to crawl out ot. Lhoy aro probablv mistaken, oven in their cold-blooded calculations of economy, a heir pecuniary tosses oy lire would doubtless more than pay lor safe system. I hero is nothing to show, indeed, that a safe plan would cost any more than the present murder ous one. But, even if it would, the weighing of burning humanity in the balance with a few dollars and cents by public corporations is not to bo toler ated. There is another point of view for railroad men to regard this subject from, and it is singular that some of them havo not been koon-sightcu enough to profit by it. Tho company, having competitors, wn en nrst supplies travellers with trains of safo cars, so far as fire is concerned, will secure vir tually all tho passenger business be tween its termini, it will unu us gain in actual travel and in tho good will which brings freight business. Tho people aro in a frame of m nil to boy cott thoso roads which cling to tho stove, just as soon as they can got tho opportunity. There is no room lor any more pala ver about iliiiicuities. inn saio ueai- ing cart bo accomplished. It is accom coinplishcd in a few instances, and tho people know it. Where thero is a will there i3 a way. If tho companies do not do their "duty without, the con straint of a rigorous law should bo put upon thotn. Let us have no moro burnt sacrifices to corporate greed. New York World. Fern Culture. Ferns aro easily cultivated if a fow practical details aro observed. Grow ing in their native habitats thoy are, for tho most part, found in shady posi tions, where, during their growing period, thoy have abundatico of mois ture at their roots; therefore, under cultivation, a shady window is for most kinds moro suitable thau a sunny oue, and during their season of growth a good supply of water at the roots is demanded. Whilo it is necessary for their success to havo an abtindanco of water, thoy aro at tho same t.mo impa tient to stagnant so l, ami to provout anything of tho kind occurring, perfect drainage is indispensable. Not only is drainage necessary in the cultivation of ferns, but it is also needed iu tho cul ture of all kinds of window and green house plants after thoy havo attained a certain size. No plants do I know, except aquatics, that succod iu a soil from which tlio water does not pass off freely. Plants growing m pots six inches in diameter and over, should havo good drainage. This may bo douo by placing over tho holo in tho bottom of tho pot a piece of broken pot, over this placo moro of tho samo material in small nieces, instead of this pieces of charcoal answer well. Fill about one-fourth of the hot in this manner, and over the top placo some moss or other rough material to prevent the soil from mixing with tho drainage, and thoreby preventing tho water from passing freely out Tho most suitable soil for ferns is a mixture of garden loam and the black sod found in tho woods, about equal parts of each, then with a good sprink ling of sharp sand through tho whole, giving more if the loam is olayoy aud less if sandy. Vices Magazine. There are mauy people lu this world who, not havlni; the slightest knorlwlpe of sculp ture, nevartheltss are notlcuble for cutting very Rood figures. lNim Uudgtt.