Such a dear
old home- It
was. Nestling
down In an
old-fashioned
garden, with an orchard full of old
rough, weather-beaten appletrees be
hind it, while an outer circle of ancient
elms leaned reverently over It, like
faithful guardians. The Lw red house
with its broad wings made you thiuk
of a mother bird brooding over her
well-filled nest. But the nestlings
were all gone now had wandered from
the old home which seemed to tliem
shabbier and more cramped every time
they came back for a short visit.
Only mother clung to it closer and
closer as the years went by. . When
the busy sons and fashionable daugh
ters called It lonely and the grandclijl
dren wandered all over Its queer little
nooks and corners, and remarked with
open contempt upon the stiff old furni
ture and the tiny paned windows, the
good old lady listened and said noth
ing, but her heart throbbed with pain;
as though she heard the maligning of
some dear friend. "They don't know,
of course," she thought, excusing them
in her own gentle way. "Though to
other eyes it may seem poor and old
fashioned, to me it can never be so,
for it Is the first and only home that I
ever had." And after the sad, tender
manner of the old, who only have a
happy past and an empty present with
out a luring future here, she fell a-dream-ing
of bygone days, when her faithful
John had brought her, a bride, to this
dear old home, which seemed so grand
and beautiful then. How could it ever
seem lonely and humble to her when it
was so rich in a thousand happy, bless
ed recollections? Had not that been
John's favorite rosebush? Had not
she and John planted that very moun
tain ash together? And could the rooms
ever seem empty and cramped to her
when every nook and corner spoke to
her sometimes of the living or of the
dead as eloquently as tongues could
do?
Here Is where she used to sit and
watch the fire on winter evenings,
rocking the cradle as she knit. This
dark spot on the worn floor is where
baby Mary had spilled the Ink while
she sat there writing to the soldier
father far away where the battle raged
on the long, dreary march. And here
beside the old-fashioned table, on
which still lay the well-thumbed Bi
ble, she had knelt and prayed for twen
ty years with John prayed for her
little ones in tearful grief when he
was gone prayed for them when they
one by one slipped from her arms into
the cold world,, and where she still
nightly bent her stiff old knees to pray
for them and theirs. .
Mother only loved the old house bet
ter a. the years rolled on, but when
grim old age had slowly crept upon her
it was decided in family council that
she must make up her mind to come
and live with one or-the other of them,
for it wag altogether out of the ques
tion for her to remain in that gloomy
old house alone. So, one sad day,
WITH HER OLD GKAT HEAD
overpowered by the sons and daugh
ters who meant to be kind, mother
-went softly to and fro over the old
bouse, taking leave of it all, and the
last farewell was the visit to the two
mounds under the drooping elms where
John slept and the first born little son
lay. Then, with a feeling that the
worldjCan never quite understand, she
was driven away to the fine city resi
dence they don't call them homes now
where Alfred and his wife, who for
all their kindness rather overpowered
mother with their fine ways, had
given her a stately room, and, what
was the most dreadful,' she was sup
posed to keep in there alone by her
self. Yes, they meant to be kind to
her, but the city ways and style gave
the old lady the feeling that she was in
an asylum, and, in spite of all the
grandeur, mother's wrinkled cheeks
lost their soft pink like that of a half
wilted rose! and she began to grow
feeble and worn, though every one was
so busy that it passed unnoticed. She
-was pining for the old home, though
she felt that it would seem ungrateful
to say so, and then, somehow, to pray
in the magnificent church, where she
sat in a velvet-cushioned pew, did not
seem to give her the help she prayed
for, for God, as it seemed to her,- was
not as close as when she used to pray
at 'home, kneeling by that old table.
If she could only go back and tell her
friend all about it, just once kneeling
where John used to seem to come and
Join ber. This feeling grew and grew,
though, aa there was no one to tell it
to, she shut It up in ber, lonely old
heart.
One summer morning she was miss
ing, and she could not be found, though
they all searched everywhere they
could think she would be likely to wan
der, but in vain. She was gone. Then
Alfred recollected all at once that he
had rather neglected his mother of
late. His wife forgot her cultured
calmness, and joined in the search
weeping bitterly. Henry left his desk
for once and got telegraph wires to
work, and confusion and grief reigned
supreme, while the- sons and daughr
ters found their thoughts running back
aimIh trtl111iu1 anil fnnrhna na aVrtAw
had not done for years.' Honrs passed
and so nevra cam from the missing.
( I (().
Then their fears and grief grew greatei
and stronger. Mother was gone.
Perhaps she had gone home. The
thought was sudden, and, too impa
tient to wait for trains not due for
hours yet, they set off across the coun
try in their carriage. As they drew
near the old home they found news of
the lost one. She had passed only
about an hour before, plodding wearily
along the familiar road, and, with
lightened hearts, they hurried on.
When they came to the leaning old
gate, through the wet grass they could
see a solitary pathway trodden by
one who had first visited the low
mound, with the tiny one beside it,
and from there it led straight on to the
house. So, with tearful eyes, and not
ashamed of their tears, either, the par
ty tiptoed like children up the low,
'rickety steps, through the hall and
paused reverently at the door, with re
morseful hearts that longed to tell the
gentle old mother, as they were wont
to do over some childis-i disobedience,
that they "were sorry, liiorher."
The stillness of the cM house grew
oppressive while they stood -ncertain
and, though they listened, there was
no faint footfall as of one going about
after the fashion of one just getting
home.
They softly pushed open the door of
the old family sitting room, and there,
with her old gray head bowed on the
family Bible and a smile of joy and
peace on her dear dead face, knelt
mother, who had gone home to find
rest and content with John already
there. San Francisco Post.
The Raisin? of Vanilla Beans.
"The greatest industry in our neigh
borhood," said Mancos Quedalia, of
Papantla, Mexico, at the St. James, "is
the cultivation of the vanilla bean."
"The cultivation of this plant dif
fers from the general idea of agricul
tural care, for it consists entirely in
cutting away forests to give it room
to grow. The vines are naturally
grown from cuttings, just as the grape
vines, but they can also be grown from
seeds, in which case it is much longer
before they begin to bear. The vine
is very hardy in its native element,
and sometimes takes root, even if
thrown carelessly on the ground, pro
viding only that it has shade and mois
ture. It grows best In virgin soil
where streams abound and where the
soil has a slight intermixture of sand.
"After setting out the plants, if they
thrive, they will begin to bear fruit
in three or four years. The yield of
beans Increases each year after that
until about the fifth, when it begins
to dwindle. In about the tenth year
there is little or no yield, and the plant
is cut down. The vines yield, when
they are in their greatest development,
from 85 to 200 beans. The beans are
not ripe until they become yellow,
which occurs in January or February,
but they are cut prematurely on ac
count of the depredations of thieves,
and on account of the great demand.
"Taking the average for the last ten
years the number of beans gathered in
" 1
BOWED OK THE FAMILY BIBLE.
each year's crop has been above 15,
000,000. "As a rule the planters do not know
how to cure the beans. This is a mat
ter which requires much experience,
and persons making a profession of it.
buy the beans from the planter and
cure them themselves. Vanilla beans
are also grown in subtropical climates,
but they are much inferior to the Mex
ican product." Washington Times.
Amusement for Hens.
There will be many days "this win
ter when the fowls will have to be
confined to the house and shed, so be
sure to provide amusement for them
In some shape, for "the devil finds some
mischief still for idle hens to do." - Idle
ness is the father and mother both of
feather pulling and egg eating, besides
allowing the fowls to get too fat, and
that means loss of eggs altogether, or
soft shells or apoplexy. A handful of
grain among the litter, a cabbage hung
up, or some sugar beets or turnips on
the floor, will keep them busy. As sat
isfactory a plan as I ever tried was to
rake the litter In a heap, scattering a
handful or two of grain through it and
let the fowls spread It again. This
they would do several times In the
course of a day. The same plan work
ed well in the brooding house with
the chicks, when chaff was used for
litter; it was fun for me as well as
them. Orange Judd Farmer.
The Very IV fe.
Mr. Cahey Y' lead me a cat and dog
lolfe, y do.
Mrs. Cahey Ach, it's thot werry
thing Oi do. You layin' and loafin'
aroun' th' house an' me workin' hard
th wholle t feed ye. Harlem Life.
And Still He Slept Mot.
Cumso Have you tried anything for
your insomnia, Cawker?
Cawker Of course I have. I've tried
all the Infallible cures. New York
World.
Logic
"Wasn't that dinner we Just bad
great?"
"Elegant! I don't know when I have
felt so uncomfortable." Brooklyn Life.
The pol'tlcal problems of this year
may be the chestnuts of '96. '
AGRICULTURAL NEWS
THINGS' PERTAINING TO THE
FARM AND HOME.
The Winter Featon a Good Time to
Rebuild Fences Farmers Advised
to Stick to the Farm Procuring the
Winter Fuel Storing .Potatoes.
Remake the Old Fence.
There. are many farms bearing old
rail fences that their owners have felt
for years would be better torn down
and rebuilt upon the same'.or other loca
tion, says Uural World. They have
been built upon and added to until they
contain at least enough good rails to
construct a good straight fence. The
undertaking is not a big one. and when
it is finished the satisfaction of seeing
the neat, newly constructed fence, in
addition to the firewood, will repay the
farmer for time and new wire. There
is no more favorable time than Just
after the ground has frozen and before
snow comes. A pair of bobsleighs can
be used, even if there, is no snow, when
the site of the new fence is to be some
where else than that of the present one.'
If the ground should be too much froz
en to break the crust to set the stakes
or posts, everything can be got In readi
ness to rebuild in the spring, and that
will be found a great advantage when
the building time comes. The sorting
of the rails, cutting and sharpening
stakes or preparing posts and sawing
up the "done" fence timber into fire
wood, can all be finished in the slack
seasou, and the putting up of the fence
will be as nothing in the spring before
seeding operations' commence, when
the ground will be so 6oft that the
stakes can all be driven with a sledge
hammer. If possible, do not put this
work off. The commencement of such
jobs that have stared one In the face
for years, probably, is more than half
the undertaking. The -old snake fence
is an eyesore and a harbor for rubbish
and weeds, while the new straight one
will save land and give the farm a tidy,
prosperous appearance.
Stick to the Farm.
History proves that prosperity has al
ways followed times of great depres
sion, and history will repeat itself. No
matter what comes, let us stick to the
farm. We may work a few years for
nothing, but what matters it so long as
we retain in our possession the old
farmhouse? We shall not always re
main at the bottom of the wheeL In
timei matters will adjust themselves.
Then let us have a firmer determina
tion than ever to know the details of
our business, and make the coming
year conspicuous for having made prog
ress In- reducing the costof production,
the curtailment of unnecessary ex
penses, and, above all, let. us never for
get that ours is one of the noblest call
ings given to men, and the little spot
of ground we occupy is part of God's
green earth, and let us manfully and
hopefully till and care for it, lhat those
who shall succeed us may point with
pride to the work of our hands. New
York Tribune.
The Winter Fuel.
Every farmer who burns wood even
partially for heating and cooking
should, as early in the winter as pos
sible, cut and pile enough wood to' last
a whole year. This will save many
complaints during the "summer, and be
much easier done now than in warm
weather. ' Besides, dry wood burns,
without the waste of. heat, afways lost
in turning its sap into steam. When
using green wood, chips and small
limbs will dry out more quickly than
will the body of the tree, especially if
the small limbs are split.
Storing; Potatoes.
Strictly speaking, no one should slore
potatoes in the house cellar. But as
hundreds of thousands do every year,
and will continue to do so, a word may
not prove amiss. First, potatoes should
be sorted vfhile in the field. It saves
the housewife much work, eaves stor-age-room
and the work of extra han
dling. Potatoes for the cellar are best
barreled, as they are then -movable
when the accidents of time bring frost
or water. Above all, they shonH be
kept dark. Canvas sacks make good
curtains to set off a portion of the cel
lar, and also good covers for the bar
rels. Light will ruin the flavor, and
half-light will cause them to sprout.
Best Food for Poultry.
.The very best use of shrunken wheat,
some of which will be found in every
crop, Is as food for poultry. The grain,
being shrunken, is deficient in starch,
but it has all the greate'r proportion of
gluten, which Is the chief element of
the- egg. while the outside husk, or
bran, is rich in phosphate, which helps
to make the eggshell. The poultry
dealer can usually buy shrunken wheat
at a lower price than the perfect' grain,
while for feeding fOwl' it is really better
for being shrunken. Germantown Tel
egraph. ' -
Apples for Cows.
I do not think there is any better food
for milch cows than ripe, sound apples.
I am aware that the prevalent opinion
is that apples have a tendency to make
cows sick and dry them np. As con
firmatory of this I have heard of nu
merous " instances where cows have
broken into orchards and eaten their
fill of apples and have been made sick,
and In a few instances have died as the
result.. 1 also knew a case where a
man ate an unreasonable quantity of
baked beans, and it killed him. Now,
the one case no more proves that ripe
apples are not good cow food than that
baked beans are not good human food.
The proper way to feed apples to cows
is to have them ripe and sound. Green
or rotten apples are not good food for
anything. The cows should never be
given a full feed of them at first or
given them on an empty stomach. At
the first the cow should have no more
than two or three quarts once a day.
Rural New Yorker. V
Workinsr Butter. .
The object of working butter is to rid
it of the surplus moisture, to distrib
ute the salt, and to unite the granules
and give the butter consistency; and it
should not have any more chap, will ac
complish this. One of the advantages
of salting In the churn and allowing
the butter to stand until the "salt . is
wholly dissolved is, that much working
is not required, as the butter only re
quires to be worked until the color Is
uniform, or when the streaks caused
bythe salt disappear.
The Cow to the Acre Plan.
Can the dairy be made to pay? We
believe.it can, but it must be done on
the cow to the acre plan better and
fewer cows, better and more feed to ttie
acre, and cows better looked after.
There are men making money to-day
from their dairies. How are they doing
it? Condensed dairying. As fast as
cows are demonstrated not to be mak
ing a profit they go the way that all
poor things should, and leave their food
to the cow that hath from two to. five
talents already. It does not pay, nor
did It ever, to feed a cow 5-'0 worth of
food to get $lfi worth of milk, let alone
her drying off soon after the county
fair, let the time of year be what it
may. Think this matter over. An acre
of corn fodder, anotn ; oats, and a
third of mixed crops, will keep two
cows a year. ' Can corn, oats and the
like be as well sold as to a good cow,
her produce sold, and the fertility re
turned to the farm? Cor. Practical
Farmer.
Some Cbod Ideas,
judging from the enormous produc
tiveness of our common field corn. If
anyone should ask me what is best to
grow to fill a silo, 1 would say the best
thing to grow is corn. The second best
is corn, and the third choice In the sec
tion would be corn. Like the cow, ev
ery part of it Is useful, and it is a forage
crop, the lazy man's crop, the ignorant
man's friend. On hillside or valley It
brings a profitable return. It will do
well with half a chance, even on a hard
seed-bed, or with roots torn and bleed
ing it Is a great forager, and when
nursed it responds with great possibili
ties. We have only half appreciated its
wealth of helpfulness in the past. The
silo and fodder machinery are giving a
double value to it with a meaning of a
large profit on our season's effort. E. C.
Chestnuts.
The American chestnut has the sweet
est kernel, but is smaller, and the
trees must be some fifteen or more
years from the seed before they bear.
The European, or Spanish chestnut, has
nuts nearly double the size of the Amer
ican, but tamer in flavor. But the
seed will bear at about ten years from
the seed. The dwarf Chinquepin Chest
nut will often bear the second or third
year, from "seed, but "the nuts are so
small that they are not in general use.
The Japan chestnut is a comparative
dwarf, though a stronger grower than
the American Chiquepin but the nuts
are as large as the European chestnut,
with about the same taste. Like the
Chinquepin, they bear early. But all
the kinds bear early when grafted from
bearing trees. Meehan's Monthly.
The Advantages of Sheep.
They are profitable.
They weaken the soil leasts and
strengthen It most
They are enemies of weeds.
The care they need is required when
other farm operations are slack.
The amount of investment need not
be large.
The returns are quick, and many.
They' are the quietest and easiest
handled of all farm stock.
Other farm, products are made more
largely fro'm cash grains, while those
from the sheep are made principally
from pasture.
There is no other product of the farm
that has fluctuated so slightly in value
as good mutton.
By comparison wool costs nothing,
for do not the horses and cow in shed
ding their coats waste what the sheep
saves?
Value of Bran.
Wheat bran or shorts contain a little
more flesh and milk forming matter
and a little less fat than middlings.
There is not much difference In the
average feeding value per ton, but the
shorts being more bulky is to be prefer
red to middlings for mixing with glu
ten and other heavy concentrated
foods. Careful analyses and digestion
tests made at the State Experiment Sta
tion have failed to note any material
difference in the feeding value of se
lected winter wheat bran. Massachu
setts Plowman.
K lline White Grub Worms.
Meadow lands infested with white
grubs should be plowed and thorough
ly cultivated in the fall, then planted
to some crop that requires thorough
cultivation the next season. The fall
cultivation will destroy many of the
insects which are then in a very ten
der stage in little earthen cells in the
ground, and the thorough and frequent
cultivation of the following crop will
soon 'discourage the grubs. Rural New
Yorker. ,
Poultry Tard.
Broilers shrink about a half pound
each when dressed.
Ducks average ten dozen eggs in
about seven months' laying.
Forty dressed ducklings are packed
in a barrel for shipment
Feed chickens frequently, but only
what they will partake of with keen
relish. Never surfeit them unless at
the last feed in the evening, then they
may be allowed to have about all they
-want . '
Look to the chicken-house windows,
for a draught is deadly. This ques
tion of proper distribution of air is an
important one. Let the houses be open
every sunny day. Keep them cosy,
clean and comfortable, and the reward
will surely follow.
The fowl's comb is an indicator of
good or ill health, and can always be
relied on. A full, bright red comb de
notes health; a' withered, faded or
black comb is a sure sign that the fowl
Is sick. The hen that lays the most
eggs in a year is always the one with
the large, bright red comb.
European Study for Vocalists.
"For the average singer America of-
j fers most excellent teachers; she can
find all she needs at home," writes
Madame Melba In an article on "Tho
Vocal Student" in the Ladies' Home
Journal. "For operatic singers some
foreign training Is practically neces
sary so long as Impresarios consider
Europe their market, and retired art
ists make it their home. But
no girl," ' she adds, "unless she has
money to throw away I mean by this
a large fortune to spend should go.
abroad for vocal Instruction until she
has been passed upon, musically, by at
least two or three artists people who
value the glory and fair name of their
art, and the life, and perhaps the honor
of the would-be singer too highly to ad.
vise her to enter upon a career of priva
tion .and hardship where there is for
her, by Nature's fixed decree, no possi
bility of success. If possible, these art
ists should be strangers to the singers
people who will not be moved nor
swayed by any personal interest, and
will, therefore, speak only truth. But
bnly those so passed upon, and those
others who can afford to indulge a hob
by, should ever go abroad for instruc
tion." ''
Less than a Farthing.
The smallest coin now current in Eu
rope, and the one having the least value,
is the Greek lepfbn. The lepton is, ac
cording to the decimal monetary sys
tem, current money In all countries be
longing to the Latin union. Some idea
of this valueless little disc of copper
may be gathered from the fact that the
lepton is the one-hundredth part of a
drachma. The Greek drachma usually
passes for the same value that a franc
piece does.
Nortb Carolina the Early Bird. -
It Is claimed that North Carolina
must henceforth hold the highest place
pn the production of early fruits for tha
Northern markets.
"PICK UP" FOR UNCLE SAM.
KlUions of Dollars of Unclaimed
Money in the Tresaury.
There are millions upon millions of
dollars in the treasury paid in from dif
ferent sources which belong to citizens
of the United States. To this' wealth
the postoffice department,, through the.
money order office, contributes largely.
A few years back the postmaster gen
eral deposited with the treasurer nearly
$3,000,000, the money from nncashed
orders which had accumulated since the
offlccwas started in 1SS3. At first no
effort was made to restore this nn
claimed money to its rightful owners,
but the letters of advice, turned in as
unpaid by the postmasters from all over
the country were kept, in case a de
mand should be made for their pay
ment. - This money remained to the
credit of the money order office, show
ing a large profit for the service. This
policy was subsequently changed, and
bow the office endeavors to refund the
money to the remitters by a draft
drawn on the treasury. This rule ob
tains in case of money orders less than
ten years old. Letters of advice older
than this are destroyed.
Every year about 1 per cent of the
money orders issued are not cashed,
leaving from $80,000 to $100,000 un
claimed, which Is deposited in the treas
ury. There are many reasons to ac
count for this lat-ge number of money
orders not being cashed. J-n some in
stances orders are filed away with oth
er papers and forgotten. More fre
quently the letter containing the order
is lost or stolen, and the order never
reaches the addressee.' This is true of
the orders made out to the large shops .
which do not receive the order or the
accompanying letter containing orders
for goods to be shipped, owing general- j
ly to the dishonesty of employes. There j
are cases, too, where men have used
the money order office as a bank and
have made out orders to tbemsehes
which, owing to sudden death or other
cause, have never been claimed.
! It is difficult, however, to explain why
such large sums remain unclaimed, for
in case an order is lost a duplicate is
easily obtained. Application is made ,
by either the remitter, the payee or the j
office of payment and a duplicate is is
sued with only the delay necessary to
comply with the forms. A year ago
the department made a ruling that du
plicate money orders could not be is
sued in less than three months from the ,
time when an application was filed, bnt
this was found inconvenient and this
order was rescinded.
The Temptation.
i "Whatever induced you to marry me,
anyway, if I am so distasteful to your
he asked, fiercely.
"I think it was the advertisements,''
he said.
"The what?"
"The advertisements. The household
bargains, you know. I thought it would
be so lovely to go to the department
stores and buy ice picks for 9 cents,
real 8-cent dippers for only 1 cent, and
all that sort of thing. Of course, I had
no use for that sort of stuff as long as I
remained single." Cincinnati Enquirer.
Aimed at Chicago. .
"Once, for all, girl," he hissed, "onca
for all, will you marry me?"
"Yes," she said, "I'll marry you, but 1
don't know about the once for all pari
of it. I guess you haven't lived here
long enough to catch the spirit of oui
enterprising city."
. And all was still, save the sound ol
the lake breeze and the moaning of a
delegate who had been buncoed and
was unable to get away. Cincinnati
Enquirer.
Hakina Sure.
"Dennis, did you mail that postal card
I gave you?"
"Yis, sorr, an' o' tuk the liberty, sorr,
of puttin' a 2-eint shtamp on it, sorr.
Ye wrote so foine an', got so much on
th' cyard oi tought It moight be over
weight sorr." Harper's Bazar.
Much Trouble.
Mrs. Musicus Did you have much
trouble in learning to sing so beauti
fully? Miss Frankly Yes; especially with,
the neighbors. Standard.
TARIFF AND TAXES.
Whatever the new order of things niaj
be in tariff and taxes, business is already
better, and there are sure signs of its being
rapidly improved. Infirmities and. ail
merits are the tariff and taxes on physical
strength. Lumbago is a complaint thai
taxes our best endurance. It cripples and
limits one for anything like active exer
tion. It is a sudden backache, but no
matter how sadden, St. Jacobs Oil is quicj
and sure enough in its prompt cure t
break it np and restore strength. In pay
ing the taxes on our health the best cur
rency is the best remedy for pain, and it)
prompt use the surest way of getting back
to business. .
Missionary Work Needed.
The State Grange and Farmers'
Clubs of Michigan are opposed to anj
change In the road laws that will in
crease the Immediate burdens of thi
taxpayer. As the farmer is the real
beneficiary of the good roads move
ment it would seem as If some mission
ary work was needed among the agri
culturists at once.
TO FAT A PENALTY FOB DINING
Is rather hard. Isn't it? Yet how many art
compelled to do this after every meal. Dys
pepsia, that inexorable persecutor, hevei
ceases to torment of its own volition, and
rarely yields to ordinary medication. But
tranquility of the stomach is in store for tho
who pursue a coarse of Hostetter's Stomach
Bitters. This fine corrective also remedies ma
larial and kidney complaints, rheumatism,
constipation, biliousness and nervousness.
A codfish recently caught off Flam,
borough Head, England, had inside it
fifty-nine fish hooks.
CATARRH CANNOT BE CUBED
With LOCAL APPLICATIONS, as they cannot
reach the seat ol the disease. Catarrh is a
plond or constitutional disease, and in order toJ
crre IS you SUM taite) internal remvuies, ximi a
Catarrh Cure is taken internally, and acts di
rectly on the blood and mucous surfaces,. Hall's
Catarrh Cure Is not a quack medicine. It was
frescrlbed by one of the best physicians in this
ountry for years, and is a regular prescrip
tion. It is composed of the best tonics known,
combined with the best blood purifiers, acting
directly on the mucous surfaces. The perVeot
combination of the two ingredients is what
produces such wonderful effects in curing
Catarrh. Send for testimonials, free.
F. J. CHENEY & CO , Props., Toledo, O.
Sold bv druggists, price 75c.
Hall's Famuy Pills are the best.
Fiso'i Cure for Consumption has been a
family medicine with ns since 1865. J. R.
Madison, 2409 42d ave., Chicago, 111.
Three copies of the Bible, written on
leaves of the fan palm, are in the Brit
ish museum. -
'Schilling's Best tea gro
cer gives your money back
if you don't like it
It 's one thing to say
money back, and another
thing to do money back.
We say it, and your gro
cer does it: and we pay him.
4 Schilllaa ft Coatpur V " "V
la. FwmIih ;.r-v..'i"- "-"''S-'."',-'-
) '":' v "';r y. ' . 'f ' ,
HAD A TERRIBLE EXPERIENCE
Thought There Were Bsrgrlars, but a
Lawn Mower Solved the Mystery.
"Yes," said the man with, the blonde
mustache, "that was a terrible expe-r
rience I had that night" '
"And was it really burglars?" asked
one of the young women with a shud
der, and she looked over her shoulder
with a glance of terror, as though she
expected to see behind her a ruffianly
looking fellow, with a black mask on
his face and a cocked revolver in his
hand.
"I'll tell you all about it," replied the
man with a blonde mustache. It was
evident that he understood his busi
ness and did not intend to give away
the denouement (that's French, you
know, for "snap"! until he couid do it
in true dramatic fashion.
"I'll tell you all about it," he said.
"Everything was as still as death, or
I suppose it must have 'been, for I was
sleeping like a log, when I was sudden
ly aroused by a peculiar rumbling
sound. It was like the noise of an ap
proaching carriage. It grew louder
and louder until I knew it was close
at hand.
"It suddenly occurred to me that it
was burglars, and that they had come
in a wagon, the better to get away in
a hurry in case of a chase by the police
and for convenience in carrying off
their plunder.
"I leaped up on end in bed and sat
there listening and yes, trembling, for
the situation was not pleasant."
"Oh, it must have been horrid!" ex
claimed the young lady who had
spoken before. "I know I shan't sleep
a wink to-night."
"I sat listening and listening," con
tinued the man with the blonde mus
tache, "but not a sound did I hear. All
was still as the grave."
"I wish he would not talk about
graves," murmured the young lady
aforesaid; "It is ghastly enough with
out that"
"All was still as it could be," resum
ed the story teller, intuitively chang
ing his simile, for he had not apparent
ly heard what was said. "All was still
as it could be, but all of a sudden my
ears were pierced by a sharp click."
"And so it was burglars, and they
must have been . right in your room,
too," remarked the young chap with
the big-headed cane. "Did they kill
you? No, of course they didn't do that;
but did they what did they do, any
way?" "Hush!" exclaimed the young lady
with the fluffy hair. i'Oh, dear! It
makes me crawl all over. I can see it
all; one of the horrid creatures was
outside with the horse and . wagon and
the other, the biggest and most fero
cious one, had got into the house with
a billy or jimmy or one of those awful
things they give pet names to, and
there he was standing over you with a
pistol in his hand, and "
"Not exactly," broke In the man with
the blonde mustache. "After a little I
began .to understand the situation."
, "And you leaped out of bed and laid
the miscreant dead at your feet?" sug
gested the girl who had aspirations for
the stage.
"No. why should I?" replied Blonde
Mustache, "017- indeed, how could !?
When I heard a second click I got onto
the racket. It was Urliburd's con
founded lawnmower. He is the great
est fellow you ever saw for getting up
hours before daylight and pushing that
beastly lawnmower of his all over his
place."
"And so it wasn't burglars after all?"
murmured the young lady who a while
ago had felt herself unequal to hearing
the story.
Another young lady expressed the
opinion that it was "real mean," and,
take it all around, Blonde Mustache
would better have kept his yar'n to him
self. Boston Transcript.
Pride's Penalty.
Quite recently, into a railway car
riage at Oldham, stepped a young man
fresh from school evidently, and
wearing his first watch.
The very many proud glances which
he cast on the gold chain raised a smile
on the faces of his fellow passengers.
' Apparently by accident, though mis
chief might have been at the bottom of
It, the subject of watches was."brought
on the .carpet."
"Ah!" sighed an old farmer, giving
the watch back to the young man, who
had handed it round for the inspection
of the company, "that theer watch
'minds me o' my own son."
"How's that?" asked several passen
gers. "Why, I gave Mm a watch when 'e
wur 15 year owd, and it wur th' ruin of
im."
Being asked for an explanation, the
farmer continued:
"Afore I gave it Mm, 'e wur the
straightest built lad for miles round;
but 'e 'adn't 'ad that watch above four
months afore 'e growed 'umpbacked
wi lookin' at the chain so much," Tid
Bits. ." V
"Mulberry Bend."
As to the moral status Of the streets
west and north of Chinatown, I need
scarcely do more than mention that
these, are Mulberry, Baxter and Bay
ard, and that within a stone's throw of
Mott street is the notorious "Mulberry
Bend," for many years past the hiding-place
of criminals, and the last
and lowest resort of the abandoned
and vicious of both sexes. The tales
of "Mulberry Bend" that until re
cently assailed the ears of the mis
sionary are absolutely unrela table, and
to be comprehended only by one used
to the sight and knowledge of the
lives of criminals and outcasts of the
lowest possible character. Within the
last few years- the police have driven
out the worst dives of he region, but
the evil effects of those once-abounding
evils are still to be seen there, and
unfortunately tell sadly upon the Ital
ians who have filled up the quarter.
Century.
Thread-Making Mice.
A Scotchman has invented a thread
spinning apparatus, and Is said to
have trained two mice to work it The
mechanical principle of the contrivance
is a small mill which is operated by the
paws of the mice. They can each wind
on and off from 100 to 120 pieces of
thread per day, and to do this they
must supply a mckor power by which a
course of ten and a half miles could be"
traversed. It Is asserted that the mice
perform this task every day without
apparent fatigue, and that a half
penny worth of flour furnishes them
food enough for five weeks. During
that time the little animals have spun
about 3,850 threads a yard and a half
In length.
To Raise the Roman Vessels.
Italian engineers have found that the
two Roman vessels discovered in the
Lake of Nemi can be raised without too
great difficulty, and the Government
has taken measures to have this done
soon. - ' :- ' - 1 '-. ,"-";:,
Friend I understand that yon advis
ed Mrs. Jones-Brown to go abroad. Doc
torYes; It won't do her any barm, and
it will relieve me for a few months.
Puck. - - " 1 ; -'
fl Happy Couple.
'Squire Hoore and His Estimable Wife
Interest at Reporter.
From Tribune, Greeley, Colorado.
Among the many good, people resid
ing " in Greeley, Colorado, 'Squire
Moore and his amiable -wife are the
best known and the most respected.
This happy couple were born in West
Riding, of York, England, in 1820. In
.1848 they emigrated to this country
and settled in Derby, Conn. , where they
resided for a number of years. While
there Mr. Moore, who was highly
respected by his neighbors, was elected
a member of the state legislature in
1867. . - "
A reporter -called on them recently
and was received cordially and in re
sponse to his inquiries, Mrs. Moore
said: "For Jour years I was miserable,
hardly a week passed during that time
bnt what I suffered from extreme lassi
tude. The least exertion fatigued me.
At times when I was sewing or read
ing, I would be troubled with tingling
sensations, like the pricking of pins in
hands, feet, arms and legs. Occasion
ally I would suffer from profuse per
spiration, the water fairly running
from my face and hands. Then for
days it would seem impossible for me
to enjoy a minute of warmth. I -would
sit in a rocking chair alongside a roar
ing fire in the stove wrapped np in
blankets, yet while my face would be
scrorched, the rest of my body would
be chilled.
"Finally, despite my opposition, my
husband called in a physician, who
attributed my ailment to rheumatism
and prescribed for that complaint A
day or two afterwards he changed his
opinion, saying I was attacked with la
grippe; also changed his medicine, bnt
to no purpose. I was going from bad
to worse. The tingling sensations
were resumed. At times I would be
incapable of doing anything with my
hands and my husband was fearful that
I was suffering from partial paralysis.
"One evening, while reading the
New York Triubne, he read to me a
statement of a wonderful cure perfected
by Dr. Williams' Pink Pills. He and
I had at times read similar testimoni
als describing the great powers and
virtue of these pills. Bnt this night
in particular, I was impressed with
what he read and told him it wouldn't
do. any harm to try a box. The next
morning he purchased a box of the
Pink Pills and I commenced taking
them according to directions, three
times a day. Within a week I felt
better, and when I had finished that box
I asked my husband to get me another
and he laughingly complied, saying,
'conceit is as bad as consumption, but
even if you think they are doing you
some good there is a great relief ex
perienced." After that he purchased
for me about a dozen more boxes, and
for nearly two years I continued taking
them. The result was I regained my
strength, the tingling in arms and legs,
hands and feet ceased and the freauent
sweats which I had been subject to '
left me. In all truth, I am forced to '
state that the Pink Pills made a new ,
woman of me. That is," she laughing
ly remarked, "as new as you can make '
a woman who is now in her 76th year. " j
And in truth, Mrs. Moore's closing re-.
BLACKWELL'S
Ton will Had coupon
inside each two ounce baifji
and two coupons Inside each
tour ounce bag of BIkcIc
well'a Durham. Buy a bag
of this celebrated tobacco
and read the coupon which
gives a list of valuable pres
ents and how to get them.
REASONS
Walter Baker & Co.'s
Breakfast Cocoa.
a cup.
Be sure that you get the genuine article Blade by WALTER
BAKER & CO. Ltd., Dorchester, Mass. Established 1780.
Cheapest Power
IN GUARANTEED ORDER..
1-1 H. P. Hercules, Gas or Gasoline.
i'2 H. P. Hercules, Gas or Gasoline.
1-2 H. P. Regan, Gas or Gasoline.
1-3 H. P. Oriental, Gas or Gasoline.
1-4 H. P. Otto, Gas or Gasoline.
1-4 H. P. Pacific, Gas or Gasoline.
1-6 H. P. Hercules, Gas or Gasoline.
1-10 H. P. Hercules, Gas or Gasoline.
State Your Wants and Write for
405-7 Sansome Street
San Francisco, Cal...
Gas, Gasoline and Oil
WHEAT.
Make money by suc
cessful speculation In
Chicago. We buy and
sell wheat there on
margins. Fortunes have been made on a small
beginning by trading in futures. Write for
full particulars. Best ol reference given. Sev
eral years' experience on the Chicago Board of
Trade, and a thorough knowledge of the busi
ness. Downing, Hopkins & Co., Chicago Board
of Trade Brokers. Offices in Portland, Oregon,
and Spokane, Wash. 1
ntnn For tracing and locating Gold or Sliver
n I III A ore, lost or niaaen treasures. m.ii.vw-
LER, Box 337 Bouthlngton, Conn.
RUPTURK and PILKS cured: no pay until
cured: send for book. Drs. Mansfield St
Pobtbbpixld, 838 Market St., San Francisco.
FOR PEOPLE THAT ARE SICK or
"Just Don't Fool Well,"
f&lSLIYER PILLS
re the One Thing to tss.
Only One for Dose,
old by Druggists at Mo. a box '
Beaaplee Basiled freo. eVidsaas
IV. IwiflM Use. cTralia. fa.
marks are well founded, for she is a
hale and healthy looking as any woman
could be who has lived her great age.
(Signed) ANNA MOORE. '
Subscribed and sworn to before me, a
notary public, this 23d day of May,
1896.
My commission expires May 14th,
1980. -Milton
A. Lyons, Notary Public
Dr. Williams' Pink Pills are sold by
all dealers, or will be sent postpaid on
receipt of price, 50 cents a box, or six
boxes for' $2. 50 (they are never sold in
bulk, or by the 100), by addressing Dr.
Williams' Medicine Company, Schenec
tady, N. Y.
Water in Wood.
It has commonly been estimated that
green wood, when cut down, contains
about 45 per cent of its weight in mois
ture, but In the forests of central Eu
rope wood cut down in winter Is said to
bold more than 40 per cent of water at
the end of the following summer. Kept
for several years In a dry place, wood
retains from 15 to 20 per cent of water,
while that which has been thoroughly
desiccated will, when exposed to air
under ordinary circumstances, absorb
5 per cent of water in the first three
days, and will continue to absorb it un
til It reaches from 14 to 16 per cent as
a normal standard the amount fluctu
ating above and below this standard
according to the state of the atmos
phere. It has been found that by ex-,
posing green wood to a temperature of
212 degrees, F., the loss of weight equal
ed 45 per cent; and, further, on expos
ing small prisms of wood one-half inch
square ana eignt incnes long, cut out
of billets that had been stored for two
years, to the action of superheated
steam for two hours, their loss of weight
was found to be from 15 to 45 per cent
according to the temperature .of the
The Drama at the Vatican.
Theatricals in the Vatican! - The an
nouncement though strange, Is true.
Pope Leo has hitherto allowed no the
atrical representations to be given with
in the walls of the Vatican. He has,
however, lately made one exception.
The historic Swiss guards from the
canton of Valais, who, in their yellow
and crimson uniforms, are on sentinel
and escort duty within the palace, suf
fer, it seems, from homesickness and
ennnl. To these human weaknesses
the pope has made the concession of
allowing short amateur pieces with
orchestral accompaniment to be acted
during the coming winter. The enter
tainments are to take place in the small
private theater within the Belvedere
gardens. The performance is to con
sist of harp and violin music, mono
logues and short pieces In French. So
here is one more link between church
and stage.
The Turtle.
;" Formerly the turtle was taken bj
Imeans of harpoons or spears; but this
iprocess injured the creature. It is now
taken in nets or captured upon tht
beach. Certain fishermen prefer to
dive and take the animal by band, bnt
when the reptile is powerful .this is not
accomplished without some diffleultv.
SURE CURE for PILES
Itching and Bllod, Bleeding or Protruding Pi let rteld at mm tm
DR. BQ-SAN-KO'S PILE REMEDY. Hiop. Uek-
tut, absorbs tumor. A psMUive curs. Circulars wnt tro. FiiM
KM. UrattUu or miL DR. UOBAMiO. Pa.
yii ..- ...
SEE?
FOR USING
Because it is absolutely pure.
Because it is not made by the so-called Dutch Process in
which chemicals are used.
Because beans of the finest quality are used.
Because it is made bya'method which preserves unimpaired
the exquisite natural flavor and odor of the beans.
Because it is the most economical, costing less than one cent
Rebuilt Gas and
....Gasoline Engines.
.FOR SALE CHEAf
Prices..
Hercules Gas
....Engine Works
Engines. 1 to 200 H. P.
EVERY HEN
Hatched in potaluma
laeabatora start
a right, nd to boner
prepared to profit,
able retarae because tbeee
mechlnee excloeivelr em
body thefeatQTva which pre
dace the greatest number
of vigorous Caiebana,
incauaiora rrom sie up.
Petalgma Incubator Co., IPetalnaaa. Cal
Caret. DR.J,L. STEPHEN 8 LKBANOM.OH10W
Jill
Sliii'iS rVHfcRE Ali'tisi f MLS. I
Conch, BrruD. Tastes Good. Cas I
la tbnq Bold by arnygiats.
V. P. 5. TJ. No, 684.-8. F, N. TJ. Ms), 761
B
JjiM' 1
M IL tlltntrsMO lB
lip ffiir Csulneas "
Free.