OHAVKS WITHIlf TUB HtCART.
BY CLAUD! RAFaCL.
', AImJ all of Lift's Joys art. brief.
1 Tlia bet of friendi root meet to part,
r And leave behind a weight of grief,
' To make a rav wlthlu the heart.
The foodet hopea may fade and die,
And they In turn oe burled there;
And wery heart mut breathe a lgh,
1 Uuder the luad that It mum bear.
And bitter teura will often flow
Uunhlnft out with a audden atari,
Over the Jojri of long ago,
That now lie allent (n the heart.
And while the aoal In weeping, moanl,
Kond memory will do her part,
In erecting monument tlonea,
Over the grarea maue In tbe heart.
But Ion Joya will never return
All of thoee thalaorrow baa wed
Until lime haa destroyed the urn,
And the heart given up lta dead.
THE JilXIE OP THE ISLAXD.
Years and years ago, when people be
lieved in miracles and fairies more than
they do now, there lived in Arnak, a
smull village in Albania, a young man
whose namo was Nicolaki and a pretty
young maiden whose name was Euranio.
They had grown up to gothor, thoy had
played around the same fountain, gone
to church togother and had always hud
the idea fixed in their minds from their
earliest infancy that they were destined
for each other, and that as soon as they
reachod a marriageable ago they wero to
be united. ,
Hut thoir parents diod nnd thoy woro
both left orphans, and had to work for
those who wore able to hiro. Thoy wero
Tory unhappy at being separated, but
still, as tlioy could seo each othor at
church and feast-days, whon there was no
work, they did not complain. But the
separation mado thorn desire more than
,pvor to marry, that thoy might always be
togother.
"If 1 only had enough to bny a httlo
cow and a loan pig," said Niooluki, "I
would take a pieco of ground and the
good father would marry us, and wo
would go and live togother."
What on, Nicolaki did not mention.
"Ah," sighed Eurunie, "but it is bo
'difllcult. Tho cows and pigs are dearer
than evor at the fair, and I have almost
given up hopo."
"I am afraid, too, that wo will have to
wait a long time. Homebody has suroly
put the evil eye on us. I can nover see
tho moon ovor my right shouldor any
more."
"And I never soo a cricket any more,
said the maiden, sadly.
Day after day, month after month, it
was the samo, and thoy grow more and
more weary. It soomod as though as
fast as they savod money toward their
COW ailU PK lluB,J Bmmwnwuuiivvu i
price accordingly, and they loHt hoart,
and many a time littlo Euranio wept her
self to sloop and then dreamed of tho
littlo homo sho so desired, bo ono morn
ing he catno to Euranio as sho was at
work and told her that he had made up
his mind that lio would set out on his
travels to seek his fortune.
Tears and prayors did not avail, for ho
was determined not to spend the best
yoars of his life before ho could accomp
lish tho littlo ho desired to muko his
happiness.
"Tho birds," said lie "fly from coun
try to country, till thoy find their field
of corn, and tho bees till thoy meet with
ilowors that yield thorn honey. Is it for
me to bo less courageous than thoso tin
reasoning creutnresV All I want is tho
price of a little lean cow and pig. If
you love mef Euranio, you will not op
pose my project."
"I do not, Nicolaki, but I deplore tho
necessity of our separation. Think how
lonely I shall be without you."
"(lod will sustain you until I como
back," said tho honest follow, suro of tho
girl's hoart, lot unfaithfulness to vows is
unknown among thoso simplo mountain
folks.
"Go, then, Nicolaki j but beforo you
start I will give you something that will
be of service to you on your long jour
ney. Thoso are heirlooms that have noon
in our family from- timo forgotten. This
is tho bell of your patron saint, St.
Nicola. Us sound can bo hoard at any
distance, howover far, and will ring till
your friends hear it ami know your dan
ger, Tho knifo onoo belonged to St.
(Jorontino, and its touch dissolves all on
chantmonts, even were they mado by tho
evil ono himself. This is the staff of bt.
Olga. which will load its possessor whom
ever he would go. I will givo you tho
knifo to defend you from enchantments,
and tho little boU to let mo kuow if you
are in any danger. I will keep tlio Btaff,
ao that I may follow you if you need me."
Nicolaki aeceped the priceless gifts,
wept bitterly at parting with her, and at
last sot out toward tho high mountain
which stood let ween him and the great
world beyond. Ho climbed tho moun
tain aud descended into tho pretty valley
below, where nestled a little village by
the sideof a river. As tho sun sauk
behind the mountain, Nicolaki overheaid
two men talking as they unloaded
their patient donkeys of the Nixie of tho
island.
Nicolaki inquired what that was, and
they told him that was what thoy called
a celebrated fairy who inhabited tho
island in tho midst of a lake, which he
would find just over tho next range of
hills, and who was as rich as all tho
kings of the earth togothor. Many per
sons had gone to her court in order to
gain for themselves some of her riches,
but they never returned.
Vi.wiluLi thnnirlit at once that he Would
like to try tho adventure. The travelers
- . . nit 1. . 1
tried to dissuade mm. iney oeggea
nd even pleaded w ith him to abandon
the idea, but Nicolaki told thorn that all
he wanted was enough to buy a littlo
cow and a lean pig, and if thoy would
make a collection and give him Uo
means, he would not go. The people
unanimously declared that he was a pig
headed follow who must go Lis own way
to destruction. They had warned h im
and so done their duty.
Ho Nicolaki went on the next morning,
and after traveling until noon he came
to the banks of the lake, and there he
sat down to think of a means to reach
the island. He did not know bow to
swim, and was pondering what a boat
wonld look like. Lot while he was
wandering along and imagining by what
means he might reach the island he saw
green, mossy log close to the bank, and
he sat down uKn it. At once it com
menced to glide through the water and
carried him smoothly along until he
"hed the shore of the island. Here
he vsA, along mechanically, his eyes
wide open ith amazement and his eyes
bewildered br the strangeness of the
beanty around him. He followed an
avenue of the most beautiful trees,
covered with starry flowers. The road
was covered with mother-of-pearl, laid in
ourionsand intricate designs, and invisi
ble birds mado the very air pnlsate to their
blithe songs. Btill on lod the avenue,
and each step disclosed aome new
beauty, which Nicolaki saw with ever
increasing wondor, until at last he
lifted his eyes, he saw in the distance the
Nixie's palace gleaming white among the
Nicolaki still advanced till he came to
the polished steps and slowly mounted,
thinking the while: "Hurely the owner
of this would not bogrudgo me enough
to buy a littlo cow and a lean pig," and
as he thought this he stepped upon tho
piazza, and before him, carelessly re
clining, was the Nixie, upon a golden
hammock that was swinging from the
columns. Her goldon hair swept the
floor with its hundreds of curling ten
drils, and her soft, brown eyes were like
two deep pools in the heart of a forest,
her complexion like tho interior of a sea
shell so pink and peurly it was. Her
form was exquisitely moulded, and her
white arms wore bare and dimpled. She
0 ArauanA in n ailverv. white silken
nun WJVmivM ... j ,
robe, Unit enveloped her like a flimsy
y i cl.n Iwilsl in liir Tiarwl a Vinmifi-
WlUilU OHO nun. iu m i v. v...
ful fan, mado of sea shells and feathers,
and at her waist, hold by a dainty silvor
belt, was a tiny steel not.
Uazzlod by tho sight of so fair a
vision, Nicolaki stood spollbound.but tbo
fairy roso to greet him.
"WAlonme." said sho. "We are al
ways glad to see hundBome young mon
like you.
Nicolaki at once becamo sure that he
nrna luiniianmn thnurh he had never
thought so beforo; but in very truth he
was, for tho Albanians are neariy uu
i,o,,,iunmn mnn with tall, straight forms.
bold and courageous mion, and their
dress also sets ott to great advantage
thoir physical appearance.
So Nicolaki took hoart and wont nearer
the fairy, and then sho asked:
"Who aro you? Where are you from?"
"My namo is Nicolaki, and 1 come
from Arnak, beyond tho mountains, in
search of tho means to buy a littlo cow
and a lean pig " ,
"Well, como in witn mo, anu uisinie
vnnr anxietv. for vou shall have every
thing to make you happy."
blio lod him to an inner cuumuur, mu
walls of which were docoratod with
superb paintings, Bet in frames of gold,
and statues that soomod to Nicolaki to bo
replete with lifo and motion. There was
a tublo spread, on which stood numbor
loss vessels of gold and silvor and crys
tal. Tho fairy set beforo Nicolaki eight
. "'t . . .lift" L
glasses containing as many uworoiu
kinds of wino. Ho was niodost and did
not drink until she urged him with great
i iln an niul liv tlio time ho
had drank them all ho senrooly know
what ho was doing.
"T ,lr nf ivnmlor twiiv." Haid Nicolaki.
4 1. a .inmili, uiinnlr un IllirMlllv of
vou, for I now soo that it is envy and
jealousy. For my part, if I had the huu
dretli part of your fortune I should bo
perfectly nappy,
lliu i.L.fia liml advanced from a little
cow and lean pig to a hundredth part of
. . . , , i ; nil.
the inoxlmustiDlo ricncs ueioro mm. mu
wino was taking effect.
"It shall bo yours, u you wisn, saw
tlio fairy.
"How can that oe? sain no, wonder
ing.
"My husband has boon dead thoso two
vonrs." said sho. "Marry mo and you
'shall have all."
Nicolaki caught his breath. To marry
this beautiful creature, and to drink
such wine every day I Trno, ho was eu
Euranio. but ho did not think
of hor now, and if ho had, tho poor inno
cent girl would nave suuorou ny too con
trast, for sho was poorly drossod and
,1 iirnnrant. although 80 pure
and gentle; but Nicolaki, without a
thought of her, consented gmuiy.
The fairy then arose ami saui sno woum
i.n.imm tlm weddinu- feast. Sho spread
a table with hundreds of delicacies that
Nicolaki had never heard of, and then
sho went to a littlo pond at tho end of
the garden and began to can:
"Como lawyer, come miller, como
tailor, now doctor!"
At each call swam up a nn, wnicu suo
mwumuuf 11 liv omiL'lit in the steel net.
When tho net was full sho carried it iuto
tho uext room and throw it into a fryuig
pan. It seemed to Nicolaki that tliore
was a whispering and murmuring and at
last a cry from the frying-pan.
"What is that cry?" said he.
"The butter in tho pan spattering, or a
cricket," said she, and she began to sing
so loud that Nicolaki could not hear any
thing olso.
But ho commenced to think, and at last
to fear, and then to repent.
"Alasl" said he, "is it possiblo that I
have so soon forgotten Euranio for this
fairy, who is, no doubt, a child of satan?
I would never daro to say my prayers
and shall bo sure to go to hell. '
Then the fairy brought in the fish and
pressed him to eat, whilo she weut to
fetch twelve new sorts of wino. Ho
aiirlmd took out tho knifo Eurauie had
given him and prepared to begin, but
scarce had ho liuou mo noiy rouo wueu
all tlio fish cried out:
"Save us, Nicolaki, if thou wouldat bo
saved thyself."
"Holy mother! who are you?" said he.
"Wo are Christians liko thysolf. We
camo here to seek our fortune; we, too,
consented to marry the Nixio, and the
day after the wedding she did with us as
she did of our predecessors, of whom tlio
fish-pond in the garden is full."
"What!" cried he; "a ereaturo so
young already so many times a widow?"
"And thou wilt soon bo in tbesauie
condition, subject to another man's ap
atite."
Nicolaki gave a jumpastiiougu ue mui
folt already the hot fat which was to fry
him, and ran toward tho door that ho
might escatx before the Nixie should re
turn, but bIio was already there and had
thrown her net of steel over him and
transformed him into a frog and threw
him into the pond.
At thia mniu.'iit the little silver bell
that was hung around Nioolaki'a neck
tinkled its warning of danger, and
Knranifl heard it at Arnak. where she WAS
at work weaving linen for a new f usta-
nelle for Nicolaki, and tbe sound struck
her like a funeral bell. Without a mo-
tnnnt'a Hlav aha il muivl herself in her
Sunday clothes, her shoes and ajlver
cross, and sot ont from the farm with her
magio staff. She took firm hold of it,
and it suddenly changed to a beautiful
horse, which she rode with ease, and he
first trotted, then galloped, and then ran
so swiftly that she lost sight and breath,
but still kept on, feeling that she was
nearing her lover to deliver him. He
ran till he came to a solid wall of rock,
and here he stopped for a momont, and
two enormons wings sprouted out of his
sides, and he changed completely into an
eagle and bore Euranie, still on his back,
up to the summit.
On alighting a curious sight met her
eyes, for there, upon a nest of moss and
twigs, sat a tiny dwarf, with a hideous
face and long, pointed ears. As soon as
he saw Euranio he cried out:
"Praise to the Tama, here is a pretty
maiden come to save me."
"Save thee?" said she. "Who art
thou, little man?"
"I am the husband of the Nixie of the
Island. She who has sent me here Las
the power to do all evil."
"But what art thou doing in that nest,
like a hen?"
"I am sttting on six stone eggs, and I
cannot be free until they are hatched."
Euranio laughed aloud.
"Poor littlo creature," said she; "and
how can I deliver theo?"
"By saving Nicolaki, who is in the
Nixie's power."
"Tell me how I may do that," said the
poor girl, "and not a moment will I lose
in commencing, though it bo to make
the circuit of the world on my bare
knoes."
"Thou must present thyself to the
Nixie as a young man, and then thou
must possess thysolf of the steel net she
oarrics in her belt, and Bhut her up in it
till the day of judgment."
"Whero oan I get a suit of clothes?"
"Thou shalt see, my maiden."
With these words the dwarf pullod out
four hairs from his shock head, and,
muttering some strango words, blew
thoni into tho air, and thoro stood four
tailors, one of whom hold a web of the
finest linon and a cabbage; the second
scissors and neodles, nnd the third and
fourth thimbles and a tailor's gooso. All
four sat down at once and commenced to
sew.
In a twinkling tho web of liuen was
transformed into a snowy fiiBtanelle and
a shirt with wide, flowing Blooves, and
the leaves of the cabbage were made into
a vost, jockot and loggins of greon vol
vet, all thickly embroidered with gold;
two fox-glove bolls were turned into two
shoos, with a tassol on each pointed toe;
a red tulip mndo a charming fez with a
long bluo tassol, and a couple of loaves
of grass were made into a knifo and
sword, and a honeysuckle flower becamo
a pistol. AWith thoso elegant clothes
upon hor id the belt stuck full of thoso
warlike weapous, Euranie would have
passed anywhoro for a handsome Al
banian youth of tho highest family.
The dwarf gave her a few more in
structions and bIio mounted tho eagle,
who flew straight to tho Enchanted
iulniul Thorn he took acrain the form of
a stuff and sho entered the presonce of
tho fairy, who soomod at onoo to bo
charmed with tho sight of so handsome
a youth.
Wall " ani.1 thn fnivv to herself. "I
do believe I could love him a week."
The Nixio mado all possible ceremony
to enchant tho souses of Eurauio in her
niv nlniriu'fnr. and when seated at the
table she found the knifo that
Nicolaki had let fall there. She
hid it iu her bosom and followed
tho Nixie, who wished to show her
all tho gardens and fountains of por
fumed waters, and above all the fish
pond, whero swam fishes of a thousand
colors.
Euranio protended great curiosity to
seo thoso fish and Bat down quite close to
the edge.
The Nixio now took occasion to ask if
tho youth would marry her, and Euranio
consented, only saying that she would
liko to catch ono of these beautiful fish
first. The Nixio unsuspiciously handed
her the not and said: "What would yon
liko best to catch ?"
"Theo, enchantress!" cried Euranie,
throwing tho net over her head. "In
tho namo of tho Punia and all tho angels,
accursed sorceress, become in body as in
soul!"
With a stifled cry, tho Nixio shriveled
up to a hideous toad. Euranio drew the
not aud as quickly as possiblo threw it
,1mm unol and thereupon sho laid
a great stono and marked the sign of the
cross thereon, tnas it nilgai remain
closed until tho Judgment Day.
Sho then hastened bock to tho pond
and all tho fish woro coming out of the
pond aud wriggling forward to meet her,
'"Behold our deliverer, who has saved
us from tho net of steel anil tho golden
frying-pan."
n,i who will restore vou to vour
proper forms," said she, drawing out of
her bosom tho kniio. nut as sno was go
ing to touch the first, a little frog, with
tl,n mnnrin llilll hlllU' Around his HOl'k.
sobbing bitterly, knelt bofore her, his
two tiny hands held np in suppucauou.
She looked and cried:
"Is it thou. Nicolaki, my love ?"
"It is I, iudeod, Euranio."
At the touch of the knifo he recovered
his own shape and the two embraced
tenderly, ho begging and reoeiviug par
don for his unfaithfulness. So then she
touched all tho fishes, who were immedi
ately released from their enchantmout
and restored to their proper forms.
Hardly was that done when up came the
little dwarf husband of tho Nixio, drawn
iu his nest, as if it were a coach, by six
crickets which had just been hatched
from tho stone eggs.
"Here I am, pretty maiden," cried he,
"and I am glad to be a man again in
stead of a hen." v
He then led tho lovors to the Nixie's
trersure-room, and loaded them with
gold and jewels. Euranio then com
manded her staff to become a winged
chariot large enough to carry off all the
enchanted people. She and Nicolaki re
turned to Arnak, and instead of a poor
little cabin, with a little cow and a loan
pig, they built a castle and village out
side, and there established all the people
she hail saved. The ruins of that castle
and village are to be seen yet in Albania
near Arnak, where the villagers tell this
tnrr lii,h tliov sav was every word
true in the time of it. PhiUtdtlfhia
It is said that so overcrowded are the
the avenue of industry in thia country
that a large share of onr young men
have no other means of exercise than is
found in the base ball field and the row
boat, the dumb bell and the Indian
club
A Happy Purchaser.
Tf a nWiiiTit aftamnnn. and hun
dreds of people were on the streets. The
stores, too, were iuu ot Dusypurciu.
and ours was not an exception, for my
Vvntlini- nml T nwnnil T must saV With
pride, the largest fancy goods store in the
' i T 1. - 1 liAitn Annnniml flllWltlff 10-
dies the way to the counters, where their
fancied articles were kept, when my at
tention was attracted by the entrance of
a man into the store. He was a fine
looking fellow, and was dressed as a far
mer, in a flannel shirt, open at the neck,
and wearing a great broad-brimmed hat.
Wnmlarincr vrliar. lm ROIlhl want in OUr
line of business, I stepped np to him and ,
anKeu mm wuun x uuuiu uu
"Wall, now, mister, said he, "I was
wonderimr if ye kept on hand any little
tiny people's clothes?" The thought
Hew across my Drain, iJiiiipuiiaiiiro uut
nf Info sn what can he mean? I merely
replied, "I do not understand what it is
you want.
"Why, man, don't you see ; I want
anmnflnniT in fit. mv little babv Only
about so big," and he measured off the
distance on his great uig nngor.
T lol thn vs.? to an infant department,
and told the woman in charge to wait up
on the gentleman.
"What do you wish to see, sir ?"
"A tiny little round hat for a baby."
The girl smiled and lifted down a box
of baby caps, containing every variety
and color. She picked out a white one,
and, holding it up, asked if it would do.
"Oh, no," he quickly respondod; "its
for a little gal ; so it must be blue."
Tho cirl selected one of the desired
color, and held it up for inspection. He
took it from her, and looKing it careiuny
over, asked, "Whore be the strings that
ties under the cunning littlo chin ? "
Another was chosen.
"How will this do, sir?"
Ho looked It carefully over, and then
asked, "How much ?"
"Five bite is the price."
He gave a low whistlo, for probably
the thought had never occurred to him
before that wee people's clothes could bo
so expensive. The big hat was lifted,
and he gavo his head a scratch with one
hand, whilo he attentively regarded the
cap which he hold in tho other.
"Will that one do, do you think?"
"Are you sure it's for a little girl?"
"Certainly, it's a girl's cap."
"Are you sure it's blue?"
"Oh, yes," replied the girl, quietly
smiling.
"Then I'll take it."
"Is there anything elso you would
like?"
tlm front hit camo off. and tllO
head was thoughtfully scratched. "Yes,
I want a pair of socks to match." Tho
socks wero chosen, blue, of courso, and
the question asked again: "Anything
else, sir?"
"No, I guess not."
He walkod slowly out, looking around
at tho different articles, and wishing, I
know, that he was a millionaire, so that
he could buy lots and lots of things for
his darlings. He paused over a show
caso, and looked intently in, I heard him
remark: "Wouldn't Sallie liko one of
them, though? Yes, but Sullie's got a
poor husband, and ho can't spend ono
lmmlrfiil dollars or more for kowksws,
for that's what Mike Hawloy paid for the
one ho cave his wife last Christmas time;
think I will just inquiro the prico, and
porhaps I can save up enough bofore the
noxt littlo gal comes. How much, gen
tlemen, might this chain bo? Tho one
with tho pretty tassol on it?"
I told him tho prico was ono dollar
and a quarter. "One dollar and a quar
ter! There! I knew Mike Hawloy was
lying when ho said he paid one hundred
and ten dollars for a chain not one whit
prettier than this 'ere. One dollar and a
quarterl Why, I will not have to save
very long. By jingo! I wonder if I
could not surpriso Sallio with it to-day?"
Instantaneously he turned both pockets
insido out nnd counted his change. "Two
dollars and seventy-five cents that's
all. My ticket homo costs mo one dollar
and a half, and I have got to spend two
bits for something elso, and so I guess I
can't get it to-day, thank ye," and his
faco assumed a disappointed look as he
spoke.
I mado up my mind that Sollies face
should brighten with tlio possession of
that chain, so I asked him if he could
afford one dollur for it.
Sunshine immediately overspread his
eouuteuouce, and ho said, "Now, that's
real good of you of courso I could
afford one dollar for Sallie, because I
have it. My motto is: Spend all you've
got, but don't spend more than you've
got." He mado his ehoico among tho
chains, and while I put it up in a white
box with pink cotton, ho went on to tell
mo how lie met Sallie Black at a ball,
and fell in love with her right off.
"Ouess it was mutual, too," laughed he,
"so wo decided we'd tackle together.
Farmer Sutton, he that brought Sallie
up, gave us a big weddin', and made
Sallie a present of a watch, but she's
never had a chain. How her eyes will
snap when she sees this ono," said ho, as
I handed him the bundle He opened
his coat aud placed it in an inside
pocket, so that he could not lose the
precious present.
Happy man! Happy father! How
big his heart is. Can yon not see the
little house, all surrounded with fields
of grain, and perhaps a rosebush climb
iug over it, that he calls home. He enters
the room with a quiet step, where his
wife and baby lie. How her eyes
sparkle as she puts tho watch-chain
around her neck.
"Something . for the littlo gal, too,"
says he as he dives down into his pocket
and brings forth a bundle; she nnwraps
it, and exclaims over the beauty of the
tiny, tiny things.
lie then gives Sallie a detailed account
of his day's experience, and when the
baby wakes, together they try on the cap
and socks, and both decide positively
that no other persons were ever blessed
with such a lovely little "gal."
A noBst's Foot. Those who will take
pains to examine a horse's foot will find
it a set of elliptical springs, separated
from each other by a spongy substance,
and the frog a cushion to rest the foot
upon, the whole being admirably con
structed for a heavy body to resist jars,
from which the natural inference that
cutting and paring the hoof and frog is
not only nselees but positively in
jurious. Gravity is the twin brother of stupidity.
Learning In the German Army.
A recent circular of the German
Minister of War haa exhorted Colo
nels to urge their subalterns toward
the study of modern languages. An
advantage which the German
army -or at least the Prussian sec
tion of it-has over the armies of
other countries is that studious hab
its are the rule rather than the ex
ception among officers, because it is
Lrnnwn that, nrnfieienov in an v branch
of knowledge whatsoever is almost
sure to bring its recompense. This
does not apply to languages only,
but to science, art and even to accom
plishments which, from a military
point of view, are generally consid
ered of minor importance, such as
musical taieot anu iwmij " v.
tion. There aro some ledgers at the
Berlin War Office in which hundreds
nf nfflenrs are entered as being pos
sessed ot special gifts, so that when
. -iTi n C
the government wants wen v.
any particular service it can always
lay hands on the proper men. If, for
instance, it were desirod to have the
military resources ot Persia exam
ined, the records would be searched
for tho names of officers having ac
quaintance with tho Shah's domin
ions; or, to tako a more familiar ex
ample, if Louis II of Bavaria were to
visit Berlin the staffchoaon to attend
him would probably be solectod from
among officers noted for their great
love of music. A German Colonel
who remarks special aptitudes in one
of his officers is bound to tako note
of them, and make a note of the
same to headquarters. Meanwhile it
is his duty to encourago the officer
to perfect himself in his attainments.
It is not too much to say that if tho
War Office ' wanted to compose off
hand a staff of good fellows for the
entertainment of somo captive poten
tate, it could dosignato at once a
batch of officers skilled in comic act
ing, singing, or endowed with a
knack of turning society versos. In
deed, something of this kind was
effected when Napoleon III was a
prisoner at Wilhelmshohe, for all
the cflicors appointed to Attend him
spoke French with a fluency that
astonished him, whilo ono ot them
hurl hoen chosen Dumoseiv Docauso
he had written a number of treatises
on tho conquest of Gaul, and was
likely to prove companionable (as ho
did prove) to tho imperial author ot
the "Lifo of Ciesar." Starting from
tho idoa that thoso who have to work
a complicated machine should know
nil its capabilities, this German sys
tem of cataloguing tho divers talents
in the army is most piacticai. ror
ono thing, it insures that any work
which tho War Office undertakes
shall bo done by competent hands.
London J cws.
Desolation of Palestine.
The Eov. J. W. Starcey writes to the
London Times of the dcplorablo condi
tion of the Holy Land, which he has re
cently visited, ne Bays :
" Nothiniz can well exceed tho deso
lateness of much of it. Treeless it is for
twenty or thirty miles together, forests
which did exist thirty years ago (e. g.,
on Mount Carmol and Mount Tabor)
fast disappearing, rich plains of the finest
gardon soil asking to be cultivated, at
best but scratched up a lew incnes aeep
in patches, with no hodges, or boundar
ies, mountain terraces, natural or artifi
cially formed, ready to be planted with
vines, as the German colony are doing at
tho foot of Mount Carmel ; the villages
nothing but mud huts, dust, dirt and
squalor; tho inhabitants with scarce
clothing enough for their decency, their
houses ovens ; largo tracts without a
horso, cow, sheep or dog ; no pretense at
roads, except from Jatla to Jerusalem,
and this like a cart road over a plowed
field, the rest, like sheop-walks on the
Downs of Sussex, but for tho most part
like tho dry bed of the most rocky river,
whero, amid blocks of stone, each makes
his way at a footpace as best ho can, or
on smooth, sloping rocks or over loose
stones thrown down from the old walls
on either side, which no ono offers a
finger to remove ; nothing upon wheels,
not so much as a barrow, to bo met with
in a ride of 300 miles. Everything taxed ;
every fruit tree, so none now are planted;
every cow or horso, etc., every vegetauie
sold out of a private gardon. Every
eighth egg is not taxed but taken by the
Government. Nothing like a small farm
house is to be found far or near. If
there were, the owner is liable to have
sol.liprs or revnnne officers auartercd
upon him, to be boarded and lodged at
i T mi. - l - 1.1... :.. i 1. -
uis expense, mo iuwiis ure unuj iu me
extreme. None more so than Jerusalem
itself, where, however, taxes are levied
from every house for lighting and clean
ing the streets, while a sprained ankle or
a splash into a hole of blackest dirt is
sure to be the result of a momentary
carelessness. Nothing is done for the
good or improvement of the people or
the land by the Government. Aot only
so, but every offer, and I heard of several
made by private individuals, or by com
panies, is at once refused, or refused un
less a bribe be first given to the authori
ties.
This is a picture, I believe, in no way
overdrawn, of that land which was once
flowing with milk and honey. What
might it not become again, with fair
usage and good government? But there
is no hope of Palestine while it remains
in the hands of its present rulers.
Palestine is worthless to the Turkish
government. The whole revenue is
stated to amount only to 10,000 or
200,000 per annnm. Capitalize this at
5 per cent., and it comes to but four mil
lions of money. If it were six, or even
ten millions, what would that be for
Europe to raise for the purchase of Pales
tine? A sum sure to be repaid a thou
sand fold in a few yean' time. And what
would not 10,000,000 in hard cash be to
the Turkish government at this moment?
Every time two women meet on the
street and kiss, the thermometer sinks 17
degrees and people hustle around and
bank np their cellar windows.
Gathering Wild Flowers.
Yonder on the wooded slope fk,
feathery shade-tree blooms, like a
pended cloud of drifting snow lingerim
among the gray twigs and branches;
chasing across the matted leaves beneath
a lively troup of youngsters, girls
boys, make the woods resound wia
their boisterous jubilee. A jolly baJ
nf fiirritivps fronh from tlio
- o 1 oturiflvl
week's captivity spring buds bnmti.'J
wUl. lifn with a Twnt.nn etnM ftf .'A
that finds escape in an effervescence ol
ringing iuukub m a uiu ui lneeswu.
iabber. How well I know the kn.!
exhilaration that impels them on in J
11 .1. 1 . WCl.!
. .. .. .... ... .-"jaiij
reciuess ironu, as mey saip irom ston j
to stone across the rippling stream J
utntYiTi" 0nh nthpr An Hia a..i.-.
O.uaufr . H I- I ULTTjr, 1
crossing poie wuicn spans uie deep, 8ti!
current. Now I see them Luddlj
around the trickling grotto anions J
mossy boulders in the steep gully T0E 1
UI1, D11G1V UIUHU1MH, DAUg UllUDll'd
into a crystal pool. Alas! how qoiclw
ll U1UD HWIUD1 Ul UCjJUllCUS j
rilled by the ruthless mob! Now .
elamber up the great gray rocks beneatl
tne drooping iiemioc&s, stooping m
headlong zeal to snatch some tremble
cluster of anemone, nodding from its
velvety Ded 01 moss, aow plnngind
aown un intuitu ttuu uncus, 8ueuUin
innocent blood among an unsuspectin!
colony of fragile bloom these clowir
blossoms so welcome in the early spris
V no does not snow uie oioouroot tL.
shy recluse hiding away among tl
mountain nooks, that emblem of chay
purity with its bridal ring of pun
gold? How oiten nave i seen its tend
loaf-wrapped buds lifting the matt
leaves and spreading their galaxy J
snowy stars along tne woouianu path!
Then there was the shy arbutus, to:
Wherehn all the world s bouquet is thei
another such a darling of a flower? Aii
where in all New England does tL:
darling show bo full and sweet a face 1
in its home upon that sunny slope Ik
in mind, and know so well? Was evs
such a fragrant tufted carpet spread bt
neath a hesitating foot? Even tun
along the bchen-dapplod wall upon tJ
summit, i see tne lingering strip
snow, gritty and speckled, and at
very ediro, hiding beneath the coveriij
leaves, thoso modest little faces lookiiJ
out at me faces which seemed to llnJ
a deeper pink at their rude discovery. -t
Harper s Magazine.
Moths.
A word in season, if it is the ri
word, regarding moths, will be equivalt
iu utility to the old adage, "A stitch
timo onvnH nine." An obscure student
economic housewifery, who hasattentiv
lir rptrnrilo.l for a aeries of venrs theiiL'ti'
of ditl'erent vegetable substances on til
life and destruction ot insects, lias disco
ered the proper food for the greedy mo'
ail mount, it is ciieaper iiiiut luuuraj
camphor, has no smell, and is mw
available. A pound or two of black
per, ready pulverized for table use, t
t,.i-u.l front v mrionir vnnr furs nnd wooli
nan ousilv lie fthnkp.n all out In the autu
by some hand willing and happy to
lined to sneeze, anu tne gunueuw n
fnimrl nniniiircil. A IaiiV who nacked
her personal effects in the loose coufus;
01 ICO Utile lime anu sirenijui to uev
thereto, hurnea tnein ou to one oi
great store-houses, and left them untoo
u,l ilnriiiir ft n iihHence of three venrs. !
hurl tnasnil thn nenner with random lavi
ness through each trunk, box, and defeD
less bug ot Duniues. one louiiu ner
trimmed and all-wool garments perfec
unharmed after their three years cf ei
exposure among the quantities oi ot:
f. initios' ironila nnenmiihiteil in the nro
moths' boarding-houee. Not only t
triumph; another divuigea expene;
brings to light a handsome mutt', wlii
kuln,r ulllipmoill'll llV Ot.lliT fllTS tO UU'
suits, eecaped use for 15 or 20 years, a
was seldom looueu at. neu peppei
and without other extra care, it is clc
fresh, and undaniaeed to-day. A" tc
runic ntiipct attained, better a few eace
atory occasions, and a funny confusion
sorrowless tears, or an hour's huim
cough, in looKingvyer a iruns, u u
f.iutorthnn it run be earned i
ol her way. In fact, this is the ciiiaf ;
in which pepper should be used, ui.
one wants to scare tbe moths out of o:
stomach at the cost of wearing oui .
burning up the delicate tissues of the
ner man. Pepper to be trodden ue
foot in the shoes on a cold journpy, li
the case of a constitution where the I
needs to be coaxed down to the feet,
indeed, useful also; but the evident c.
object of nature in providing black m
is to defend mankind from powerful r
bers, of form and color so indefinite t
even in the matter of identity they o
deceive their most familiar victims.
Arab Auguries. The Bedouins t.
auguries from birds. A single raver
one's pnth is a very bad token, but ;
are extremely lucky. They say Ail
rorrn Fnlan inin t.WO preen t. t. Dl
ones a fair omen. The Bedouins u
ninny other snperstitions about ania
The superstition as to the flesh of
rock badger, which Falmor noted m
Peninsula of Sinai, is unknown here:
there is a similar idea about the mon.
which frequent Mount Kara,
is said, were once men who came to '
the Prophet. He set before them s
a n.l irnlur 1irnrtino' them to dnn
former and perform their ablutions
IUD JUklCl. AUW jjv.iu. ... J
lit, Trnf.ni- unil wrmliprl with the BluK, I
were transformed to monkeys for
disobedience. As they were ou -;
Tint oaton This leges
closely akin to what one reads m tn v
Uions nistory oi eariy atum
nas and the Wabar in the great st
desert. Both these words are mo.
names, quite current in the present
thongh not recognized by the 1
The latter is an ape, the formers mo:
with a tail. Except in this mot
story, I could find no trace of the sr..
stitious rejection of the flesh of any
-..I i). vin.u nf rle-sh b1
,;..i ;na ottaha.t to them. 11
who suffers in any member of w .
seeks a cure oy eating a r
part of a hvena. The byena is also -t
in the neighborhood of Suez, for i
of mine who shot one near the
r .r.Aa.1 hv the Bedon-
givo them a leg. A similar r I
tacnes w tuo umu t "
(Wndheyhy) .rare species of ant
ujuuu tar in iuo - . .j
it draws an obstinate bullet UH
wonnd. The Scotsman.
If nature ahonld one day bpk
to reveal her secrete to ns, on. n
what errors, what mistakes anal' r
in our paltry sciences!
r