Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About The Sunday Oregonian. (Portland, Ore.) 1881-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 17, 1902)
29 STOftU OF TWO OR EG ON FI"R trees HOW A LASTING FRIENDSHIP WAS FORMED BETWEEN THEM THE SUNDAY OEEGONIAN, PORTLAND, AUGUST 17, 1902. ON THE TOP of a mountain that rose, from a broad, clear stream, away rom whose further bank a valley swept to other distant mountains lying soft and green against the deep, blue sky, a long, long time ago, a flr cono lay on the coarse grass, wo'nderlngly gazing at Its surroundings. It had been there only c. short time. A 6torm was raging and a rude wind had tossed it from the branch of the white flr tree where it had swung all Summer long. It had often wished it might be down on the ground where there were so many strange things growing, but now it found it very lonely bo far away from tie mother tree. Besides, the rain was beating down, "making the earth all sticky, and holding the cone fast. This was a new experience, and one it did not like a bit, for it was accustomed to swaying and rollicking about on feathery boughs, so it was out of humor, like some people, who, after they leave the parent roof-tree, aro out of humor with the world, because it is not what they'thought it would be. So, when another cone dashed down upon it and then bounced off a little way, it explained, quite roughly: "Can't you watch where you are going? It is bad enough to be down here In all this mess without being whacked in that fashion." "I beg your pardon. I am very sorry If T hurt you," replied the other cone; "but the wind was blowing so I could not tell where I was going to land. It 13 uncom fortable down here, isn't it?" "Well, I should 6ay so," said the first cone, somewhat cheered by the kindly spirit of the newcomer and glad of com panionship. "Can't you roll over here a llttld nearer," he said, "and be sociable?" "I wish I could, I should like to." said the other, "but I lit so hard In a muddy place that I cannot move, even with the help of the wind." "That is just my fix," answered number one. And then they both laughed over FROM LADDERMAN TO DEPUTY - 1yAN, me boy. I'm proud of ye." I j This wan Danny Hale's greeting E-whcn he turned up for breakfast the morning after Mrs. Callahan's rescue. One hand had been slightly scorched by the flames, but he had not been reported sick. The elder Hale held In his hand a morn ing paper, which gave a full account of the rescue, and praised the young fireman warmly. "And ye but a month In tho depart ment," murmured Mrs. Hale, fondly, as she leaned over his chair. "Dan, when I heard the firebells ring at night, I did think, 'It's my boy going into danger,' but now I'll think instead. 'It's my boy going to the help of the helpless." Nothing more was said, but as he sat In the front room after breakfast Millie Francis rushed ' into the room like a whirlwind, a paper in her hand. "Danny," she almost sobbed, "you're a hero," and her eyes glowed as Dan never had seen them before. Dan felt very milch as he had 'when, a small boy, he sat In state on a birthday, enjoying a temporary Importance that both pleased and awed him. It was even worse when Jack Callahan, "Pink Callahan," they used to call him at school, came In to thank him. "It's many a time I've licked you, Dan," he said, brokenly, "but you can call me 'Pink' now If you want to, and I won't say a word." "Then what's the use?" retorted Dan. "The fight was always the fun." Even the men of No. 9 were Inclined to 6how him more attention. It was like the college man when he passes tho first year and cease to be a "freshie." There was a disposition to treat him as one of them selves. Nothing was heard of Cross' report till Dan's probation ended. The three months had just elapsed, and Dan. had been for mally appointed a fourth-class fireman at SSOO a year. No knight, winner of the golden spurs, ever felt greater elation than was. Dan's when for the first time he put on the brand-new uniform with the shiny buttons and the maltose cross he had so coveted when a youngster. He cut his breakfast short to go over and show himself to' Millie. When she had duly ad mired his appearance, he went , across' the street, proudly conscious of the staro of the people. Burton, who had the desk watch, grinned as he entered. "My, ain't we grand!" he called out, then dodged the parcel Dan shied at his head. "Bet your coat is too tight for you," he continued, seeing that -Dan had no more ammunition. "It's not too tight to keep- me from punching your hoad," retorted Dan, good humoredly, and as he went up tho stairs Burton shouted after him: "The Cap'n wants to see you, Dan. He's in hlB room." "Sit down, Dan," said Cochrane, "I've Just had a letter from uptown (headquar ters). Chief Cross recommended that yod be transferred to a truck company, be cause we need good ladder men. Cross supposed that you would bo assigned to No. 4, where he makes his headquarters, but I am Instructed to order you to report tomorrow morning at 8 o'clock at No. 6. It looks as Jf Chief Corbyn had his eye on you. Six is the crack house. I am sorry to- have you go. We will all be sorry, but it 4s a great boost and you deserve it. Remember, lad, we are all your friends here, and will watch your advancement." No. 6 had been built but a few months, and was one of "the finest fire structures In the country. Located In the heart of tho "business section, it was what Is known as a double company. In addition to the truck, there was a water-tower and a double forco of men. It was alsoHhe sta tion of Gore, one of the Deputv Chiefs, who rank between the Battalion Chief and the full Chief. Gore was one of the old-timers, and his thorough knowledge of the business made him a favorite with Corbyn. who sent him the best men. To be promoted to the house was a mnJ-k of merit, and until Dan received his assignment tho lowest man was a second-grade fireman who had gained especial distinction in the three years lie had served. The lower floor of the house was of tile, the walls white-glazed brick, and the ceil ing stamped metal. Above were rooms of the two Captains and the Deputy, in ad dition to the large dormitory. Even the men had needle baths and all modern Im provements. It was one of tho few houses lighted by electricity, and when the ball on the telegraph dropped It turned the lights full on In the dormitory. When Dan reported to Captain Franks the next morning that veteran regarded him curiously, but with evident satisfac tion. "So you're tho young fellow who got on the roll of honor before you were fairly on the payroll, are you?" he asked. "Well, you keep it up. That's the sort of men wo want," and, taking him to the door, their funny predicament, which made them feel more comfortable. , It was realfy very fortunate for these two cones that they had each other for com pany way up there on the lonely moun tain top, for they were tho only ones that had been blown such a distance. As the wind continued to blow a hurricane and the rain was pouring down in torrents, they kept rolling back and forth till it grewrery dark and the wind tossed some leaves along that covered them and smoth ered their voices. Thus they lay in the dark-earth, beneath tho leaves all Winter, each unhappy and longing for the sunny days and dancing boughs they had known before. And so, when the sun shone out nice and warm In the Spring they felt its warmth .down in the ground and began to grope for it. Just as many people feel the influence of something higher, better, nobler than what, they find around them, and keep groping, groping, till they find It and then, we have a poet, philosopher, lnvontor or maybe a better citizen or kinder neighbor. Finally, up through the brown leaves two little green heads were peeping. "Hullo, there," cried the first cone only now he was not a cone, but a tiny tree as he caught sight of the other shapely little green head, "I think I met you be fore, only then your gown was brown and now it Is such a nice green." "Oh. yes, I remember," she answered. "I hurt you when the wind blew me about so.' "You didn't hurt roe any. I was Just out of humor "because I was uncomfort able!" "Well, I am so glad of that, and isn't it lovely to be out in the sunshine again?" "Yea, only I feel that If I have-to go it alone I shall have to see that my under plnings are good." "Yes, indeed, if the wind blows as it did -when I first came down here. I hope I shan't have to bo rolled over and over again like I was' before." "Well, take a good, strong hold with your roots and you will be all right." "Oh, lhank you for telling me. It is Just what I will do, I had not thought of that. It was so much nlcor high up where I grew that I am going to try to got up there again." "So am I, and I believe we can do it, too." Thus they began together to grow up STORY OF A FIGHTER OF FIRES BY EPES WINTHROP SARGENT - THERE "WAS JUST ROOM :iLdPASS BETVEEN THE GAR AND he turned him over to ono of the men. Dan was put on the "one-swing" list now, which meant that he took the full three hours, vand visited home but once a day. He missed the home meals sadly, but this arrangement at least enabled him to take dinner with the folks, and gen erally there was an hour to spare after ward. To Dan this seemed the- sweetest of the day, as he sat in the familiar front room with his parents and Millie. No. 6 was one of the busiest in the city. Dan's delight was to take tho tiller. The heavy truck, large enough to carry the huge E5-foot extension ladder, was too unr wleldy to be steered by the horses, and the rear wheels were guided by a tiller man, lashed to a seat directly over the hind truck. It was considered a great feat, however, to guide the tiller. Credit for a successful run was always given to the driver and tillcrman. Hansen, who held tho reins over the powerful blacks on C truck, was the crack driver of the department. Wlthv his 10 years experlenco he was a bit Jealous. He had heard how Dan had gained his place by his daring ride in the butcher's cart, and he did not relish the predictions freely made that some day he would supplant him. Smith and Cole, both experienced drivers, WHEN THE LAMB DOES THE acutcness of the sheep's ear is most remarkable. A ewe will distinguish her own lamb's bleat among a thousand all crying at the same time. Besides, the dis tinguishing of voice Is perfectly reciprocal between the ewe and the lamb, which, amid the deafening sounds, run to meet each other. . There are few things that ever have amused folks more than sheep-shearing. The sport continues the whole day. The nock is put into a fold, and the ewes are sent out 1 to them as thoy are shorn. The moment that a lamb hears its dam's voice It rushes from the crowd to meet her, but instead of finding tho rough, woll-clad, comfortable mamma which It left an hour or two ago. it meets a poor, naked starveling, a most deplorablo looking creature. It wheels about, and. uttering a loud, tremulous bleat of perfect despair and fright, flees from the alarming vision. The mother's voice arrests its flight; it returns, flees again and returns again, doing this often 10 or a dozen times before Itla reconciled to the change in ita mother's appearance. ward in the sunshine. Each year they gained a little height, and, from the dark green of their 4last year's growth pushed tender green branches further out. Their trunks grew larger doily and their roots took hold more firmly in the soil, so that they stood very straight and firm, only bending when the wild winds blew, then quickly springing back and standing straight and upright. Tis true, that when the blast was fierc est, one of them was fearful lest those roots might not hold fast and flutteringly reached out toward the one that stood so firm and fearless, and he, wishing to re- S aid. and thus it chanced that presently their branches met and intertwined. Then they know no fear, no lack, but when the gale was highest, together rocked, tossing their branches, laughing, whistling and gaily fdnglng defiant songs at It. When tho mists came down arid closed around them so that they seemed quite apart, they murmured softly to each other through Its folds. And on the nights when the moon hung In the starry heavens and her silvery light glistened on their gloss needles, they gently Tockcd and swayed, whispering and softly humming sweet melodies and lullabys. In their boughs, many birds found shel ter, building their nests there, rearing their young and singing happy songs. The wild Indian often rested In their ample shade, and slender-footed, soft-eyed deer would pause ln their cool shadow to rest their panting eides, then "with their an tlered heads high In the air, sweep lightly on to where the drinking water .gushed. And the mountain lion, fiery eyed, stealthy, noiseless, would crouch beneath them, watching for prey. Presently more cones fell around them, and gradually a young forest sprang up. Thus, for many long years they grew, she tall and straight and stately, he sturdy, strong and stalwart. Of the- ugly knot upon his trunk, he never told her. It grew around upon the other side away from her. How camo it there? It may be. when the young sapling was quite tender a playful squirrel sharpened Its teeth upon the bark and bit too deep, or an Indian lad In passing struck it with a stick, or, some insect may have stung It. At any rate. It grew there, a great rough bunch. , When they came to be of quite goodly CHIEF - HOW DAN HALE "WON THE "THREE TRUMPETS" also served with 6, Smith drlvlnc tho water ptower while Cole took the place of either man at meal hours. In this way there wore always two good drivers In the house: A driver la supposed to know not only about the best streets, but to keep posted on all excavations, builders' piles and ob strlctlons. Dan tried to keep -track, too, for he was frequently at tho tiller. One afternoon Cole fell on a grating and broke his arm, while Hansen was at din ner. The ambulance had Just driven away when the telegraph sounded and men and horses dashed to their placea Gore, with hla light buggy, was out of tho house first, and Smith sprang to the- dnver's seat of the tower. Captain Franks stood In front of the truck horses, and as the rein snaflle was snapped on the bits he looked up to see that Cole threw them oft the cords supporting the harness. Tho drlver'a scat was empty. Then for the first time Colt's accident was recalled. "Hale!" "Yea, elr." Dan ran up. "Get up there!" Dan sprang to the seat and caught the driver's belt to the ring at the further side. Reaching for . the poar-shaped pull he gave It a Jerk, the harness was free and 6 swung out of the house. NOT KNOW ITS MOTHER girth and their branches hung so high, nothing could reach them, she- said one day: "I think we are quite as high as when our mothers tossed us on their boughs." "Yes," said he, "we are, but I think we can go higher." "I think so, too. Perhaps we can xeach the stars that show so brightly when the sun Is gone. I would not peek to r,each the sun that Is so dazzling, nor the moon so sweet and gentle, but we might reach those kindly stars,that come so close when the sun and moon are gone. So star w.i rd they commenced to climb, getting higher and higher and higher, till often passing clouds would brush their topa Then they were glad and would whisper: "Wo are almost there." Presently white men would sometimes camp beneath them, and after awhile steamboats came to pass up and down the beautiful river that flawed at thebase of the mountain. But still they kept on going upward. On- cloudy nights their goal seemed far away, but on clear nights, when the heavens sparkled like a gem-set dome, they felt that their Journey was almost done. And they mlghf, be thus, still reaching upward, had it not happened that one day into the forest came two men and all the trees of goodly size they smote twice with an ax, leaving them marked with a white gash. When they came upon those two great trees standing side by side, so high upon the mountain top, they paused and walked around them to judge their girth, and turned their faces back to see their tips. "Those are grand trees," said one. "They must be very old." "Yes," said the other, "there 13 lota of lumber In them." , "That straight one. without a blemish, would make a fine mast." "Well, wc arc not after masts ncr lum ber now, but we will cut them down." So Into their sides the ax cut the mark for the choppers. When the choppers were busy despoil ing the forest, they, too, paused at sight of thosa two grand trees, standing alone, so tall and straight upon the mountain top. But soon sharp blades were busy cutting and tearing, till, with an awful crash, the one with the blemish fell, mu The tower already had gone half a block. Dan gritted his teeth. If the tower reached the fire before the truck it would be tho first time In the history of. the new 6. Tho sensation was exhilarating. He had three of the best horses in the depart ment, and he could depend on them. He eased up a little on the reins and the speed increased. He had turned the corner into Broadway, and tho horses were gal loping on the smooth asphalt, dangerous In wet weather even to the rubber-shod horses, but the heavy apparatus rolled along as easily as a toy. express wagon. Skillfully guiding his steeds through the maze of traffic, he made the half-mile run to River street, from which the alarm had been sent in. Just beyond he could seo the heavy black smoke rolling out of the burn ing building. Suddenly the tower turned down Henry street, one block this side of the river, and as the turn was made Smith waved his hand and pointed ahead. Be tween Henry and River a sewer excava tion blocked one sldo of tho roadway clear to the car tracks. The track was blocked at that point by cars going both ways, and a heavy dray with three large safes stood at tho curb Jit the other side. Thero was no chance hero to take the truck to the sidewalk, but there was Just room to pas3 between tho car and tho dray. ' To get -through and avoid circling tho block would mean a full minute saved. In the early stages of a fire seconds are minutes. He would also beat Smith to the fire and save the record. His Jaw set firm ly as he swung across tho car tracks. The gap was only half a block away. The men clinging to the step saw that he was going to tako tho risk, and they clung close to tho side. The tiller man kept the rear wheels straight, and with a rattle the horses were In the gap, then tho truck lurched forward. On one side the button of Captain Frank's coat sleeve rattled against the woodwork of the trolley car; on the other there was an inch and a half to spare. Now they were free of the crush, and as they swung up In front of the building the men set up a cheer. Thirty seconds later Smith turned tho corner and to his utter surprlso saw a 25-foot ladder being raised. Filling his pall at the hydrant, Dan washed out the mouths of the panting horses, and as. he did so ho kissed them on the forehead. When the fire was over the men crowded round to shake hla hand. Best of all. Chief Corbyn came up, saying: "That was great driving, Hale. I was right behind you. and I never saw better. Keep up this gait and you will be wearing ono of these some day," as he touched his five-trumpet star. Ready to Supply Them. "I can give, you a few points on. that sign," said the schoolboy td the man who had just finished painting It. "Well, let's hear them," said the painter. "Why, that's all," rejoined the boy: "It needs punctuating.' tilating many other trees as It went and leaving the blender, one-mournfully sway ing and rocking alone. She. too, waa soon laid low beside her companion, her beau tiful branches all crushed and torn. Axes and saws then cut away the branches and sawed the logs up Into lengths and spilt them into pieces. The pieces of the one with the blemish were hauled away first and sent flying down the mountainside in a chute filled with flowing water. At the foot of the chute they were piled up on a deck and then were quickly loaded on a boat that was lying 'on the water there. "When they all were In the boat was full and It turned and floated down the stream till it reached a place on the shore where wood was stacked lp long rows. There it left its burden. Presently wagons came and carted this wood away to homes and mill3 and factories. The other log was destlnedi to a more surprising experience for when Its plecea ended the Journey down the mountain and by boat they were among many harsh sounds, unlike the melodies of the forest. But from way off somewhere there 'came the sound of rushing water, Ilk the brook that used to babble down tho mountain side, only the sound was mightier and It was comforting. Soon the sticks were taken and all the bark roughly shorn from them, then they were sawed up Into small lengths and cast Into a terrible machine that cut and minced them Into little chips. These were car ried up, up, la little pockets faotencd to a belt and thrown Into vats of torturing chemicals that ate and cut and burned them Into a pulpy mass. In this new form the mass found Its way down Into great, oblong tuts, where It was kept turning round and round amongst blue tinted water to make its color while and the pulp of even consistency. Next It was sent traveling Into a very long room, down the whole length of which stretched a wonderful machine, equipped with sieves and massive rollers, and over this machine the formless pulp commenced to Journey. First. dt passed In a thin stream through a long, narrow crack the width of a coarse sieve, that carried It on to a finer one. the water meantime escaping from It through the coarse perforations. When It arrived at the finer sieve, bubbles had commenced to form upon ,lts surface, so WHY THE LITTLE MAID STOLE SHE WAS AFRAID THAT HER GRANDMA'S GRAVE Y MAMMA know a little girl who stole a' tombstone!" said Baby BIsbee. "Oh. dear me, suz, what did she want of such a horrible thing!" cried Baby Brown, who was visiting at Baby BIs bec'o, celebrating their sixth birthday. "I bet she wanted to give It to her mother for a molding board!" said Brother Bob BIsbee. "Cook says marble makes the very best kind, and she heari of a woman down East who took her grandfather's gravestone to mix her bread on." "Oh, how sickening!" chorused tho hor rified twins. "Why, I couldn't eat any thing made on an old tombstqne!" After the flutter had subsided,, Baby BIsbee continued: . "I am going to tell you a great qrxret! Now, you know Dr. Marie Annette Mi chel, who 13 so awfully good to the poor people in Chicago. You remember she told uo such interesting stories of the time when she was nurse in an African hospital! Well. Dr. Mlchol was tho lit tle girl who. stole the tombstone!" "My! She don't look a bit Hkp a thief!", gasped Brother Bob. "Oh, I don't suppose It was really stealing. You. sec, her grandma was dreadfully sick, and one morning Dr. Michel only of course she wasn't a doc tor then Just a little 10-year-old girl waked up early and ran across the meadow to her grandmother's vottage and looked Into the window, and saw her lying propped up on pillows, and the nurse sound asleep on a cot. "She Just whispered 'Grandma ever so softly, but her grandmother heard her, and said very faintly, 'Oh, Annette! Come in, my child!' She Jumped through the window and felt of her grandma's hands, and, oh, they were so stiff and cold! Her grandma smiled so sweetly, and said a llttlo blessing, and In a minute sho was dead. "That was the first time. Dr. Michel ever saw anybody die, but sho knew all about the old. French customs, so sho stopped tho cjock, for time' had ceased with her grandma. She lit the llttlo wax candles which meant that she had passed from life to light. "Then tho stupid old nurse woko up MR. SQUIRREL TALKS ABOUT HIS FAMILY HE GIVES THE FARMER SEVERAL POINTERS ABOUT HIS LIFE HE farmer had been trying for half Ian hour to get a shot at the black squirrel with his old rifle, when tho sprightly littlo animal camo half-way down tho treo and said: "You aro only wasting your time, my old friend. It would take as much better shot than you are to send a bullet even near enough to scare me. Why don't you go and shoot at a goose?" "I guess you are too cuto for me," said the farmer, as ho sat down on a near-by log. "Yes; you might as well glvo it up. I cannot only bldo away from you In the tree top, but there's a hollow limb up there In which I have my nest. I camo down, however, to have a. little talk with you. Do you know that I wa3 of great benefit to you last Summer? "How?" asked the farmer. "By eating as many as a hundred crow's eggs. I" Hko tho eggs of all klnd3 of birds, but particularly those of crows. They aro large and easy to get at, and I have a feast whenever I "come across a nest. I also broke up the nests of three chicken hawks last year by eat ing the eggs, and I think you ought to treat mo well instead of hunting mo with a gun." "I didn't know you liked bird's egg3." "Woll, I do, and I also eat many grubs that prey upon your crops. Now, let me tell you something about myself. I havo four toes on my forepawa and five on the hind ones, and my hind legs aro considerably tho longest. This is to enable me to make long jumps from limb to limb. I can Jump much further through the air than the rabbit can jump on the ground. Perhaps you've seen me make my way from tree to tree?" "Yes, I have, and you didn't fall," said the farmer. A squirrel hardly ever misses his Jump, but if he does and falls to the ground ho Is not much hurt. He always strikes with W3 fe$t spread out and breaks the shock. As to my teath they are better than those of any dog. There Is no nut In tho forest that I cannot eat my way Into, and were I to bite your hand you would be crippled for weeks. I once turned oft a dog who had seized my tall and gave him such a bite on tho Jaw that he ran away yelping." "You must be a fighter." "I know how to take care of myself. Tint T am not as rrood n flsrhter as thr red squirrel. There arc black, gray and I red squirrels, you know, and the red is It was met there by a fine spray of cold water that falling, broke the bubbles up. Then on It passed over finer and finer sieves, growing thinner and thinner as the water passed out of it. Lightly It rolled over a piece of thick, revolving felt, which mddc It almost dry and very thin and It finished Its Journey between rollers, hot and heavy, that pressed and dried and polished it. and finally came out on a , whirling spindle, a large roll of white paper. Carefully wrapped and labeled it again Journeyed by boat; then was placed on a heavy dray and trundled over noisy streets and rolled Into another noisy place where there was machinery and inky smelis, not the sweet odors of pines and flowers that the forest had. People were going to and fro, and wires flashing mes sages which men put Into type and set in long rows, then placed them in a frame which they fastened In a great machine In which the roll of paper had also been placed, and the- machine began to work and throb quite noisily, rolling the type with the inky roller, then pressing It on the paper as It sent it gliding through, and as It came out on the surface of this paper was printed the record of the world's doings for .a day. There were stories of tragic deaths, of births and happy marriages, of nations falling, of storm3. disasters', heroic deeds. Intrigues and strife, set up In columns, side by side, sheet Upon sheet, printed and folded a modern morning newspaper. And so It happened one morning in a certain March, when a wood Are was burning cheerily on the hearth of a pleas ant home, the Oregonlan fell with a thud on the porch outside. Some one got it, and as he stdod by the fire unfolding It the blazo from a log with .part of a large knot upon It, shot up so brightly he paused to look at It, then said to himself: "It seema to me this paper crackles very noisily." Then some one from another room cried out: "Oh, come here quick, and see; the baby's tooth Is through." So the paper with Us burden of news was dropped for a while When they came back for It, no paper was to be found, though back and forth they searched, till some one cried: -Why, there it 13'." Sure enough, there on the glowing coals She dragged over to her grand ma's other grnve. and everybody came In, and do you know that they let that little girl comb her grandma's beautiful hair that fell almost to her feet. Finally they burled her In 'an old, old French graveyard, and Dr. Michel used to go to the cemetery every Sunday. Thero was a dreadful epidemic that Summer, and lots of peo ple died, and there wero so many new graves that Dr. Michel could hardly find her grandmother's. "Ono day sho came home crying that tho best fighter. He has a hot temper, like a red-headed boy, and he will even fight the coon or possum. I have seen a red squirrel get tho better of an owl who wanted to eat him, and ho is not very much afraid of a dog. The gray squirrel, however, is a great coward. I have known him to be driven from a tree by three or four blackbirds." "I have read that you store up bush els and bushels of food for the Winter," said tho farmer. "That la an old woman's story," laughed the squirrel. "In tho Fall when nuts are plentiful, we store up a few, but nothing Hko bushels or even quarts. We are out In the Winter a3 well as other times, and we can always find food, but we storo the nuts up against bad weather. When the snow Is extra deep, or there comes a rainy, sleety day, then wo have food at hand and don't havo " to leave qur warm nesta It Is true that I eat a few ears of your corn Little Jaclc Hornet. No more I'll prod a hornet's nest. I really do not think It best. rhe creatures don't know how to play. Though sharp In ev'ry other way. I merely took a little goad Ami merely tickled their abode. "When out they came like anything. And made me feel like one large sting. And though I truly am not slow. They showed me points 1 did not know. I really do not think It best To meddle with a hornet's nest lay the white wraith of tho morning papen "I see' said the man; "the draft must have drawn It Into the fire when I dropped It. I thought the fire was burn ing very briskly this morning." Ajfew weeks later, down In the office of a fictory where the furnace fire glowed all 'day, a man said to the janitor who j was clearing up: picre. Jim, x wisn you wouta ourn these old Oregonlans; here Is the file for the whole month of March; they take up too much room." "jfYnd just, as the fireman had thrown florae sticks into the furnace among them one with part of a great knot on it. the janitor tossed in the file of papers and again there was such a roaring and crack ling the fireman turned off the draft and listened closely at the flues. And it also happened that on a time a3 two comrades journeyed together over the top of a mountain they came upon a spot that overlooked such a beautiful view of river and valley, with mountains beyond, that they decided to tarry there for the night. Said one, pointing to two large stumps that stood but a little way apart: "There is a capital place to build a fire. We can swing astick between the two stumps and roast our game upon It." 'That is so," replied the other, "and that brushplle will make first-class fuel." From the fragrant heap of brush, sticks were brought and piled between the stumps, then one of the men thrust a newspaper beneath them to start them burning. "Don't burn today's paper!" exclaimed tho other; "It may be a long time beforo we see a later one." "Oh. this I3 not today's paper; It is an old one that came around some lunch. We shan't need it any more. Let's see, it Is March 16." So the match was' touched to It and It lit the crackling sticks. As the evening wore on the two comrades piled the fire high, placing on it the last branches from the brush heap, and as the glorious blaze shot up. the stars came out in the deep, blue heavens and kept a vigil, while all that remained of the two trees that began Ufa side by side and helped each other to climb skyward burned till they glowed like one small earth-star, then sank down and faded till there was only a heap of whlta ashes. EDITH I. NILES. A TOMBSTONE "WOULD BE LOST if they didn't put up a tombstone pretty quick they would certainly lose grand ma. But nobody wanted to bother with It one said. "You mu3t buy grandma's tombstone, because you got most of her money; and another one said. 'You ought to get It. because I spent It all on tho mortgage and you are rich while I am poor.' "And all thlstlme her grandma's grave was sinking and sinking as if it wa3 ashamed of them and wanted to get her mound out of sight. At last they prom ised that some time they would take her to anbther graveyard where their grand pa was buried, but Dr. Michel was so worried about it that she hunted around and found an old gravestone like a cross, that was dirty and stained, for it was about -00 years old. "It was all worn smooth, except Just for tho faint figures 'lfi4j,' and she shook and rocked It until It was loose. Then one moonlight night she hid In the ceme tery until the gates were locked, and then she pulled and pulled until she got It out of the ground and dragged It over to her grandmother's grave. She dug a deep hole with an old spade, and pushed the cross into it and stamped the dirt down, and In a few days you would neycr have dreamed that It was just planted. "After It was all done, she was so ter ribly afraid that she almost died In that awful graveyard all alone by herself. But she had to stay there all night, be cause she was locked In, and after she went home she was sick a long, long time. "When they were ready to move her grandma they couldn't find her grave. The cemetery folks said the mound under the little cross was hers, and the others said it wasn't, because they hadn't put up any gravestone. Dr. Michel was aw fully scared, and didn't daro to tell that sho had stolen the tombstone, so they gave up trying to move the body. "When Dr. Michel grew up. she went one night and carried the cros3 back to its old place and bought her grandma a beautiful new monument. So I don't think it was so very wicked for her to steal a tombstone! Do you? Because if she hadn't marked her grandma's grave, she couldn't have found It!" "Well." said Brother Bob Bisbeo. "I bet God could!" In the course of the year- but I make good the loss in many other ways. The red squirrel does the same, but tho grays do you tho most damage. They visit a cornfield by the hundreds sometimes, and will pull down or destroy two or threo acres. The black squirrel will make hl3 home in one place for years, unless driven out, but tho gray never stays beyond a few months. He is a good deal like a tramp always wanting to move on and get somewhere else." "I'd like your tall to put on my cap," said the farmer as he raised his gun. "Well, you won't get it!" chattered tho equlrrel, as ho whisked It about. "I wouldn't look half as pretty If I lost my tall, and you can Just as well stick a feather in your cap. My tall goes with my skin when I am dead. "Let me tell you that squirrel skins aro made Into rugs, robes and overcoats with out being dyed, but a furrier will oj them and prepare them so that they look like mink. Many a boa and cape worn by a young lady are only squirrel skins, though they call them by other names. Two skins would make you a nice pair of gloves, but you won't get mine, all the same. I need It myself." "We'll see about that!" chuckled tha farmer as he aimed his gun and fired. "Ah there you there!" cried the squir rel, as he ran up the tree on tho other side and peered over a limb. "Say, now, you'd better do as I told you go shoot an old goose! If she won't hold still while you shoot, tie her up by the leg." Mahogany Hunters. In Central and South America the rev enues of many districts depend on tho skill and activity of tho mahogany hunt ers. Mahogany trees do not grow in groups: much less are there whole for ests of them. They are scattered, usually concealed In thickets. It requires skill and experience to find them. To fell a tree Involves the work of two men for a whole day. On acconnt of a. thick, thorny growth near, the base of the tree, a scaffold Is erected around It, and above this, at a height of from 10. to 13 feet, the tree Is cut, so that the best part 13 really lost. The felled tree is then freed of branches and hauled on a rough wag on by oxen to the nearest river, whera rafts aro mado and floated down. July 5. at the llttlo town of Viner-CoUercts, In the Department of AJne, there was unveiled a monument commemorating tho 100th anni versary of the elder Dumas' birth. "The Min ister of Public Instruction delivered an address and a number of artists from the company of the Comedle Francalso presented themost fa mous scenes from the best-known plays of Du-CiaSx
