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About The Eugene City guard. (Eugene City, Or.) 1870-1899 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 21, 1882)
THE BROff JI5QV CHRISTMAS. Quo week before Christmas, Join frowning and his wife sat by the waning e in the grate after all tboir dildren d gone to bed." Tier enjoyed its urmtb and their own relaxation from il, and were talking over their affairs general. Mr. Browning was a good ocbanic, and in reasonable good times ays made a comfortable living for his fe and Cvo sturdy children; bnt the iignation of business and frequent ces' tion of work during the past five years J cramped them greatly in money af lrs. me children grew so lust, and ted new clothes so often, and needed many books, and bad such healthy jletiU's mat tneir straggle to supply tern bad, lor a long time, been a hard o. Mrs. Browning had done all her fcrk and taken in sewing besides. Mr i-owning had worn his old clothes and , lots until they were scarcely respect- &lo, and left no stone unturned to get prk, and yet withal, tbe grocer and ptcher were pressing him, and things 1 inked discouraging generally. As a re- t lit of a general survey of the situation Irs. Browning said: , J" Well, it is evident we can't have i nich Christmas, yet I do think we 4 ight to make the children as happy as t can. tl does no Rood to nave them fiel the weight of care, or realize the i iirdens and difficulties of life as we do; i jd so, if you can collect enough money 4 1 the small bills due you, I think we t ight to get them each some small pres et, and that we bad better get a turkey ifyte possibly can." With this conclusion her husband f reed, and they began to count np iat money they might probably depend i on. Mr. Browning took out his ao- aint book and pencil and commenced I f figure: I'Col. Randall owes me $3 20 balance fixing Lis porch. He is able to pay i id 1 think I oun depend on that. Mr. i nith owes 50 cents for a fire board; I rs. Jones, the milliner, owes me $1 ( t i screen for ber window; the new g oeer around the corner owes me $1 25 ( I making him a seat for his wagon, a id perhaps some other piece of work may be found between this and Christ mas. But even if I get no work we can depend on $5 with a good deal of cer tainty." All good is comparative. Having tl ns concluded to have a happy Christ t as as possible, and also that they had i to be happy on, John Browning and 1 wife went to sleep with a feeling of i mtentment and happiness which many riou family planning for costly expen iures might envy them. iThe next morninir the around was cov fed with deep snow, and while they sat 1 1 their frugal breakfast a loud knock 4is heard at the door. On opening it (r. urowning was met by a portly and odsome man with a great overcoat and tly fur collar and gloves, who asked im ii ue was J oun crowning, me car nter. "That is my name and trade, sir," said r. Browniog. " Well, I want to get you to make a imper' for me right away. We don't ten have such a snow as this in the west; iy wife and children want to enjoy it. n you come over to my house right ay after breakfast and see how I want made Then l want a small stable Axil fc this week. Could you go on and mild it immediately." John Browning a eves glistened and !i fuce fairly glowed with pleasure at is unexpected good fortune. He agreed come at onoo, and when he sat down finish his breakfast he could not for ar saying to his wife and children: "I iess we are going to have a jolly good uristmas. Mr. rotter is a rich man, e people say, and will pay wejl and romptly for the work done. I can earn tO this week if he gives me the work he teaks of. The effect of the good news of work itaineil was felt hv the whole family. ho children were exultant and good inipered as they went off to school. Mrs. rowning went around with a light step id cheerful heart, singing at her work, t is wonderful how hope lightens toil. ii she sang and worked she thought what mfort and pleasure the coming $20 ould bring. They could nearly square II with the grocer and the butcher and )uequently enjoy Christmas muoh bet r. She thought of her husband work g away so cheerfully in the cold, is heart full of what his wages would ring to his family, and her heart blessed im us a good kind husband, and life emed very bright and sweet to her. I Air. drowning came borne at noon veu more full of good cheer and hope ban when be went away in the morning, jlr. Potter seemed to be a man to whom honey was of small consequence. He fas having a wonderful moo "jtmper" bade for fhe children, and had given or ers for Mr. Browning to go right ahead ud build the stable. The children all kjoiced again over the good news of rork, and exulted in the thought of onerous gifts and a turkey for Chnst iias. ! Dunns: the week both the grocer and nitcher called around to see about their ills, and were both assured by Mrs. frowning that they would receive some aonoy on Saturday night, inasmuch as Jr. Browning had been so fortunate as o have steady work all week. Christmas day came on Sunday, and it rould be necessary to get all the good hings for the Christmas dinner on Sat irday. The day was very cold, and John frowning found it was going to push lim very hard to get the little stable lone by evening. As he wished to have little time in which to enjoy spending lis hard earned money, paying what he iwed, and in the happy employment of ;oing with his wife to buy Christmas ;ifts for his children, he Employed a fel ow workman to assit him on Saturday. Lt noon he made out his bill to Mr. 'otter, and carefully placed it in his ocket, feeling that it was as good as so such money. Abont 5 o'clock the last mil was driven, his tools were gathered ip, and Mr. Browning went around to be front part of Mr. Potter's house to all for his employer and get his pay. ust as he raised his hand to ring the ell, Mr. Potter came out, followed by fife and children, all heavily wrapped ip, and evidently just starting on a ng journey. A carriage stood at the root gate loaded with trunks and raises. "I have finished the stable," eaid Mr. Browning, "and I called to ask you to see it, and to present you my bill." "All right, all right, Mr. Browning but we are just starting to the city to spend tue holidays, and I cannot pay your bin tin i return, which will be in two or three weeks." "But my family are needing and de pending on this money, "said Mr. Brown tag, vim a sinxing neart, "ana it wonia be very inoonvenient to wait. I really must insist." "No use at all in insisting, my dear follow," said Mr. Potter, in a tone half gay, half insulting. "I need all the money I have, and more too, now that I am taking my wife and children to spend tiie holidays in the city. Anger and disappointment flushed John Browning's face crimson as a said "Mr. Potter,! depended on your prompt payment of this bill or I would not hove" "I have no time to narlev ." said Mr. Potter "here, wife and children, jump in, or we shall be too late for the train. I tell yon I can t pay you now." With this he sprang into the carriage himself. and giving an impatient ordor to the driver, the carriage rapidly carried them out of sight to catch the train already whistling in the distanoe. How suddenly was the bright sky of of the Browning family darkened by this Sieoe oi thoughtless, cruel injustioe. r. Browning stood for few moments irresolute, while feelings of anger, hu miliation and disappointment struggled in bis heart. The fellow workman whom he had employed also waited for bis small pittance, and when Mr. Browning informed him of the state of affairs, with an expression of profanity be threw down the tools he held in his hands and walk ed away. But to break the news to his family was the hardest of all. How could he blast their hopes and chill their hearts and on Christmas eve, too ? But it was growing nearly dark, and something must be done. The butcher and the grocer would both be looking for him. and altogether it was too hard to ondnre- Mrs. Browning saw her husband com ing up tue walk, and she knew by the expression of his face that something was wrong. She opened the door to meet him, exclaiming anxiously: "What i it?" "Mr. Potter has gone off to the city to spend the boliuays and did not pay me. and he will not be back for three weeks," said Mr. crowning. "Well, if that isn t outrageous 1" said Mrs. Browning, with a sudden flush of anger. "Wiry did von let him off? If I was a man I tell you people couldn't trine with me that way. When I earned my money I'd collect it." There was danger that in addition to the loss of the expected money, there would be the loss of that more precious thing in the family, affectionate har mony and sympathy; for Mrs. Browning was human, and had that human instinct which leads us to try to find some one on whom to blame misfortunes and dis appointments. Her husband, with an equally natural instinot, was inclined to resent this for he only knew how hard it was to collect money even after it was earned. "If you think you can collect better than I can," was his reply, "just try it, iou can taae tnat bin lor the balance Col. Bandall owes me, and see if you can get it. We have nothing to fall back on except those little bills we counted over last week, anvwav." The children bad gathered around and listened iu silence and dismay to the conversation. "Can't we havo any Christmas now?" was their tearful querv; and when their mother sharply told them "No!" re-echoing in her voice and manner the anger of her spirit, it was but a few minutes till they, too, were in spired by fie same discordant feelings, and quarreling and angry words were heard where but an hour bofore all was good temper and pleasurable excitement. John Browning moodily waited while his wife placed the supper of oatmeal and milk on the table. She herself was almost faint for a more substantial meal, and Mr. Browning in the earlier part of the day had Baid to her: "We will have a good steak for supper this evening; working in the cold makes a follow fear fully hungry." He was so full of cha grin now that lie soarcely noticed what he ate, and a gloomy silence fell upon all as they sat around the table. When the meal was through he said, as he put on his hat: "I wish, Mary, you would take that bill over to Col. Randall's: it is but a step, and I have got to go clear to the other side of the village to see if I can get those other small bills. Perhaps he will pay it to you even quicker than he will to me. Then I must call and see the grocer and butcher. Dear me, I'd rather be lashed than meet them now." With this he handed her the account against Col. Bandall and went out. The original account had been $32 30, and there was only the balance of $2 30 due. Mrs. Browning washed np the tea things, hor mind filled with bitter and complain ing thoughts. She disliked to go to Col. Bandall with a call for so small a bal ance; she f erred he would think them mean to ask for it. Then she fell back to her mood of trying to blame some body. John was a kind husband, but he was too easy with people. It seemed to her if she were a man that in some way or other she would managfe money matters better. They would never get ahead at this rate of doing things. The early moon was shining brightly when she was ready to go to Col. Ran dall's with the bill. Giving the elder children directions to put the younger ones to bed, she muffled up warmly for it was bitter cold, and passed along the short distanoe that lay between their lit tle home and Col. Randall's fine resi- dence. Ringing ushered into tbe waiting while the gentleman out. "Good evening; the bell, she was hall, and their left servant called the what can I do for you?" said that severe looking gentle man, not recognizing her as a near neighbor as he came into the hall. "Mr. Browning, my husband, wishes to know if it would be convenient for you to pay the small balance on this bill this evening?" CoL Randall took the bill hesitatingly, turned it over, and hemmed and cleared his throat, and then said: "I've paid 830 on this bill, and I should think Mr. Browning need not trouble me for the balanaa on Christmas eve." 'But he has been, disappointed in. f getting pay for work, and need the money." "So do I need money. People seem to think I've made of money. I resllr can't spare this trifle this evening. Be sides, I told Mr. Browning the last time he asked me for the balance and he has bothered me about it a great deal that when I got ready and could spare the money I would j.ay him. Good-evening, ma'am." And with this the Colonel turned on his heel, and while Mrs. Browning waited for the servant to let her ont, ahe heard him say to his wife in the sitting room: "It is one of the annoyances of having work done bv starveling workingiun that they are always dunning one for the pay. I am sure Joliu Browning has bothered me more for that little balance than the whole bill is worth." And so that is what poor John has to sland when he trios to collect his bills, said Mrs. Browning to herself as she hurried home. "Starveling working men, indeed! And then to think I am ready to blame him in the bargain." Over and above all her feelings of dis appointment now rose the feeling of love and sympathy for her husbund. Uow she did regret her sharp words at the news of his failure to get the money from Mr. Potter. Whon she cot home she found only the two cider children Btill awake, and them she consoled cheerfully, telling them she thought they could not have much for Christ mas, yet must they be kind and cheerful and not add to dear papa's troubles by fretting. Her own spirit was reflooted in theirs; kind and affectionate feelings were inspired bv her uheerful words anil talk; and although before they went to bed they hung up their stockings by the nre, in cose any good luck should come, yet their little hearts wero bravely pre pared for disappoint Jieut It was nearly au hour before Mrs, Browning heard her husband's footsteps on tue walk, bhe burned to the clpor, and as he entered she looked lovingly and sympathizing!- in his face. His ieeiing also had evidently been moved by reflections of a gentle and tender kind, for as soon as he closed tho door and noticed the kind look ou his wife's face he held out his arms towards her, She threw her amis loviugly around his neck aud pressed her cheek to his. "Never mind if we do have hard times and bad luck, John," she said, "we have each other and the children, and we will be Happy ih spite of nil. " "My dear, good wife," said John, hold' ing her olose to his heart, "If I could only give you what you deserve, you should have every comfort and pleasure in life." And then in a few moments they sat aown ana oompared notes. Mary told her ill-success with Col. Randall. John had got no money except the $1.00 from Mrs. Jones, the little milliner, but the new grocer wanted to pay for the making of the seat for his wagon in trade, and they could get two chickens and a few groceries there. The $1.00 would get a small Christmas gift apiece for the ohil dren, and so they would make the best of it. "Well, let us go out and buy the things for Christmas," said Mrs. Brown ing, and, a few moments later, closely bundled up from the oold, John Brown ing and his wife walked cheerfully and lovingly down the little village street. They got two plump chickens and enough material to make a substantial dinnor, at the grocer's. Then they, went to a store where there was a good five-cent counter and had muoh amusement and pleasure in selecting a lot of little articles suita ble for putting in the children a stock ings, not forgetting a pound of stick candy. Coming h6ne, they busied themselves for awhile in wrapping each article in a separate piece of paper, and deciding which should go into the differ ent little stockings, not forgetting to put in two or three sticks of candy, all wrap ped in separate papers. Very early Christmas morning, Mr. Browning got up and put on a good fire so that tho room might be warm when the little folks should discover the stock ings, which they did early in the dawn. It was a joyful surprise to the children. who were just as happy as though the gifts had been costly. As for Mr. Browning and his wife, the blessed al chemy of love had transformed thoir dis appointment into affectionate sympathy for each other's trials and disappoint ments, and they listened with happy hearts to the gay ohatter of their chil dren, saying to themselves and to each other, "We are having a good Christmas after all." What was lacking in mate rial good was made up in kindness and love, and earnest effort to mako the best of things, and to cause their children to have a happy day. And when at dinnor they sat down to partake of the two nice ly browned, stuffed chickens, instead of the expected Christmas turkey, their happiness and enjoyment might well have been envied by the two inconsider ate employers, whose injustice and dis regard for the honest claims of those whose labor they bad enjoyed, came so near spoiling the Browning's Christmas. Tbousaud-Dollar Shawls. Few of the real Indian shawls are called for. One of the larger houses sells not more than a dozen such shawls iu a year, and these are tbe cheaper ones; that is, the shawls the prices of which are under a thousand dollars. One good reason is that the wearer of a real Indian shawl does not get the credit of it. So few are worn, and so many imitate so well, the real Indian is not recognized. It is said that in the manufacture of In dian shawls not the slightest improve ment bos been mode since Napoleon in troduced them into Europe by sending one to Josephine. The wool of the shawl is obtained from the inner hair of the Thibet goat. It is cleansed in rice water to add strength, and spun by women. Each loom produces about five sliawls in a year. Victoria rings tribute from these poverty-stricken weavira in a certain number of shawls yearly. It is said that native Indian shawls have been imported to repair shawls and change centers to suit the wearers. The shawls are ma-'e in pieces and put to gether so deftly that the seams cannot be found, exoept by an expert. In the ag gregate a great many Indian shawls are imported, but are sold chiefly in the large cities, where they are kept in stock, and the purchaser in a smaller city will go there to buy them in order to select from number. Generally tbe demand baa been active this year and a great many hav been sold. Intel-Iran net-Ma England. There have been uuny curious inui dents connected with the retail sale of American bef in Loudon. The greater number of the dealers noil the article as English beef, while some of the poor kinds of tbe home-fed are bought as imKrtod American, 'flio only place where American beef u sold as such at the Metropolitan Market, but lately the consignees of the Amer.can Hillock have tried to secure stall, for their sale at New Leadenhall Market. Another curious fact which has long been without explanation is the price for which American beef in sold in the British Metropolis. It suems strango that the meat of American fed cattle can be sold iu London, after the expense of transatlantic shipment, for 10 and 17 cents a ponnd, while in this city the housekeeper bus to pay from 30 to 50 cents for tho same amouut of native meat. Mr. M. n. Gillette, of M. H. Gillette & Co., of Jorsey city, who ship large quantities of beef to the other side, said in reference to the above facts: "When I was in England a short time ago, I saw a butcher sell a piece of American beef as English beef. I asked him why he did not tell his customer that it was from America, and be told me that the cus tomer would not have bought it. "Our customers want 'good Uenglish beof,' " he said to me, "and I have to sell it to them as such. That man just gone out wanted a pieoe like that which he had last week. If I had told him the piece he had last week was American beef he would not have believed me. I know that meat hung in a cool place for ten or twelve days is better than that which was slaughtered yesterday, for sale to-morrow, as our English beef is, but you could not make my customer be lieve that. There is no English beef as good as the American article that comes to us, but I dare not say so or I would lose my customers; so when they cull for the cheap American I civa them poor British beef, and they do not know the difference. " "Was there ever any efforts modo to prevent such ideas spreading among the people: said the reporter. les. Tbe creator part of the meat shipped goes to the Metropolitan Msrket. it was advertised as American beef and a good trade has been aeoured, but what is one market in a city like London. This beef was bought by retail butchers and muob of it la resold 'good, bold lleug lish beof,' you know." "lor what prloe is American beef sold in XiOndon? "For from 15 to 17 cents a pound, or a cent or a cent and a half less than the English beef. This is quite suflloiont to control the retail trado. "What is the reason the meat is sold so much cheaper than in this oity? What causes the diuorence in price? Ihe diuorence is more apparent than real. In this country meat is cut np nndor the rules of the Butchers' Arsocia tion. The result is that if you want a piece from the sirloin, or the round, or tbe shoulder, yon ask for and get it. But in England meat is cut up in the most curious way you ever saw. A side of beef is cut into nieces of five. ten. fifteen or twenty pounds weight. Neither bone nor fat is removed except the fat about the kidneys. People when they bey meat do not ask for a piece of the round or the sirloin, as we do; they ask for so many pounds of beef, it does not seem to make any difference what part of the animal the meat comes from. Beef's beef in their opinion. I have seen a line of people standing outside of a butcher shop waiting thoir turn. Inside' woro four men cutting meat up into pieces of given weights and outting without any reference to the part the piece came from. There were two men selling and taking tho money. All tbe beef, bone and fat, was sold at the same prioe. You must re number that thore is not very much fine meat in a bullock take one weighing 800 pounds and from it you will not get much more than 125 pounds of fins meat. Now, while the butchers in this country charge 30 to 50 rents for fine beef, they are obliged to take out part of the bone and a part of the fat, and they sell the course meat for muoh less than it is sold iu England. You can buy first-class corned beef from 8 to 12 cents or a shin bone for soup for 5 or 0. In England you would have to pay from 14 to 16 for these. Of course, if a man knows how to chooBe meat he can get good beef cheaper in England than he can bere.be cause if he sees a good piece hanging np he can tako it for tbe same price he would pay for a poor pioce. But suppose a lady here wero to send to her butcher for, a nice roasting pieoe and ahe were to re ceive a cut from the shoulder, she would say that the man had treated ber shame fully. Now, an English lady in such a cose would not think anything about it. x on can easily see that if you can sell the whole bullock for 15 cents a pound you will make . as much as you will when you sell a small portion for three times as much and the rest for one half or one-third." "What is the extent of the boef trade now?" "Five years ago, when the businoss be gan, they could not sell twenty quarters week in Liverpool. Now Liverpool takes between three and four thousand quar ters a week. The whole trade amounts to from ten to twelve thousand quur tors a week, which at 200 pounds to the quarter wonld make say 2,200,000 pounds of American beef sold each week in Great Britain, or 114,400,000 pounds a year. This trade has grown np from nothing in the past five years, and from present indications will grow a great deal larger as tbe years roll on." "Are many cattle shipped alive? "Abont five thousand a week in sum mer. They cannot ship them in winter. The rough weather knocks them about too much. The trade has affected the price ot American cattle somewhat, but not enough yet to do much more than give a slightly upward tendency to the market.-New York World." . t At breakfast a remarkable light omelet souffle is served at a moment when every one is engaged in a deeply interesting conversation. The omelet is neglected, and begins to settle down from iu appe tizing airiness, to the enormous disgust of the little daughter of tbe bouse, who exclaims: "Ob,, ma, do hurry t The omelet is eating itself I" How tbe Buttings were Filled. Pussy got into the house somehow, just as the least little streak of rooming light was beginning to peep through tbe window curtains, and stolo up stairs She jumped upon the bed and rubbed her cold nose against Lill's face and awakened her. Lilt sprang np in bed, for it came to her like a nosh, "It s Christum day." "Bessie, wake ui! Merry Christmas! sho cried, and in half a minute four little baro feet wore pattering down stairs to the sitting room ufter tho Christmas stockings. They hadn't a doubt of finding them full. Santa Claus had nover forgotten them yet. Yon can imagine then, thoir dismay when each little girl clasped a limp and empty storking, with not ao much aa sugar plum to till out the too. luey ran to mamma s bedroom to pour ont their complaints. "Santa Claus forgot ns! cried Lill with starting tears. "Ue tlulu t bring us anything! said Beanie, throwing herself across ber mother's feet in an agony of grief. "l think it s too bod," said LU1. "He's real mean! I'll never like him again! said Bessie, "Oh, go back to bed. said mamma "You've got up too early. How do you expect Santa Claus oan always get round before daylight? There are such num bers of little boys and girls, tho wonder is that he gots round at all. He'd never forgot you, I'm sure. Go back and curl down in bed till it'a really light. Then got np and dress yourself nicely, bofore you come down, and you 11 see what you 11 see. lUthor disconsolate, the little girls went back to bed. "You needn't fool ao bad, Bessie Brad ley. Haven't you found out more'n i hundred tlmes,that mamma knowa about things hotter n we do? said Lill. "I ain t feeling bad, any more n you are I and Santa Claus is comin' in about niue or eight minutes," said Bessie. While waiting for daylight tbey talked of the presents tbey Hoped to havo. aud as soon as tho sun peeped above the eastern horizon they were up, and put ting on thoir clothes as quickly as i sible. went down stairs. There was nobody in tho sitting-room. A fire was burning in the grate, and the stockings hung against the mantle, but thev still looked limn. They were not near enough to be sure they were empty, when a loud "Toot! toot! toot!" sounded from somewhere with a jingling of bolls and a tramping of feet. "He's coming! O Lill Bradloy, old Santa's coming!" said Bessie, clinging to ber sisters skirts. Lill held her breath And said nothing. The door new open, and in bounced Santa Claus, sure enough, lie wore a very furry ooat, and a red cap, high and no.nted at the top, and bound witn fur. His eyes were hidden behind great ail- ver-rimmod spectacles, and His uair and beard were long and white as snow. Mamma eamo out of the bedroom lust then, and Bessie and Lill sidod np to her, and caught each one oi ber bands, feeling half afraid of the queer, "jolly old elf," aud then stood, silent and watching. The great pack upon Santa a back didn't soom to be empty yet, and there were packages peeping out of every pocket, ont of the breast of bis ooat, and evon out of his sleeves. He seemed in a tearing hurry. "Whew! whew!" said he, "this is the first obanoe I've had to take breath since started out last night. So many oungsters to visit this year! I thought never should got round. Whew! how hot it is here! Well, let's see!" He whirled the pack from bis back, down on the rug, and began rummaging vigorously among the packages witbiu it. "Only two stockings to fill here.and little ones at that. I've lots of presents loft over." He drew out a paokago, held his head on one Bide with a funny little grimace as he peeped into it, and then thrust it into Lill's red stocking. 'That's a doll, I know," said 111, squeezing her mother's hand. A similar package went into uossio s blue one. Then othor, smaller pack ages, till tue stockings would Hold no more. All tbe time he worked he kept jerking out funny little speeches about the chil dren and their wants, as if ho know all about them. Lill and Bess wore in a state of joyful excitement. Lill thought thore was somothing familiar abont the voice, or the motions, or something; she couldn't tell what. "I believe I've seen him before. Else dreamod I did. Else he's some like father," she whispered. Her mother laughed aloud at this. It made old Santa Clans look np from his work, and he seemed to espy the little group in the corner for the first time. 'Bless my stars! he ejaculated, bo- ginning to gather np hastily from the rug the parcels that hod fallen out of his pack. 'Bless my stars and stripes! Persons musn't see me abont this business." lie throw his pack over his back, anu putting bis hands deep in his side ockets.drew them out mn.and a shower of sugar-plums pelted the little girls, as he hurried out of the room. Just as he was going out be threw a big package at their mother saying: That s for the old lady, there. (Jams pretty near forgetting her." Lill knew the voice in which mis was said, and cried out: "It'a father, it's father I" They sprang after him and led him back into the room in laughing triumph. They took off the pointed cap and tbe blue sectacles. They brnshed the flour from his eytbrows, and rubbed the red from his cheeks. They robbed him of the pillow that made him look so chubby and plump," and the gray hair and beard which made him look so ven erable. And when they came to examine the oon tents of their stockings they were more than ever delighted to have for a Santa Claus their own dear father. The Boston School Committee has made an order providing that the course of study in the high schools shall be three years, with an advanced course of one year, optional to those who Lava completed the tbrew-years' course. Abont A Bey, There has always been more or less ill feeling shown against the modern boy be cause he can't be sent after anything without dallying along by the waysldo, and doing some kind of damage either to the article lie went after or to something clue ho wasn't sent after. lis ttory goes to show that whon a boy is sent after a hatchet he always uses it along the road to peel shade trees or chop down picket fences. If yon send him for a hammer, be generally batters up some-, thing with it so that when the balance has bovn struck, you find that it would have brvn cheaper to buy several new hatchets and a coflln in tho first place. Last wiutor, however, thore was an in cident occurred in Colorado which cliacgod tbe opinion of several people rel ative to the juvenile with one suspender, and a tin box of caterpillars in his pocket. An old miner askod bis little worthless son to go np to the gulch and get a pick that had been left sear the trail and bring it to where the old man was work ing on a prospect hole. The old man was a little agitated over the fact that he could not And the lead, and swore at the boy in an impulsive kind of way that was calculated to make the youth fly around and got back during the summer. But he was one of those perverse kids who are not appalled muoh by profanity and hen he got tbe pick be began to whack it into the ground and tear np the virgin soil, partly for f nn and partly to kill time. By and by be dug out the corner of a clinuk of rock that aroused his cariosity, and, after spitting on it and wiping it carefully on bis pants, he looked at it with one eye closed, like an expert who is paid $5,000 to guess at the value of a niiue. He took the rock back to the old man and when thi cruel parent was about to attack him with an iron drill, the boy showed bim tbe specimen. The old man lookod at and ohanged his misd about knocking the boy gaily west. as lib first intended to do. He went np the gulch and opened np a mine that ho sold lately for 8150,000. Ihe boy is red-headed and has freoklos on bis nose aa big as a moss agate, and bis eyelashes are white and hiB tooth are ut in crooked, but be is the idol of a appy borne. When he puts a split stick on the tail of tbe family dog. or fills tho cream pitcher full of young frogs, or makes an aquarium of the soup turoon, the parents simply pass it by as aneoocn- tricity of genius, and be does almost as he likes. The parental heart is warmed toward him, and his life is now one broad avenue of golden sunlight, and down its vista he softly steals, and tbe bright and beauteous universe holds not in all its mighty grip a boy whose warty and freckled be-spattered fuce is lighted with joy more peculiarly potent than his own. Laramie Boomerang. A Harrow Escape. It was Saturday night, and Mr. and Mrs. Jones were shutting up house pre- Jiaratory to retiring, when thore oame a oud ring at tha front door that startled them both, as it was too late for either business or callers. Who could it bo? Mrs. Jones declarod she wonld not open the door for the world, and begged Mr. to arm himself with the umbrella- stand or the hat-rack, for it might be. masked robbers, or something of that sort. At which Mr. Jones pooh-poohed rather faintly and nervously, and marched valliantly to the door, threw it wide open and next fell back over Mrs. Jonos, who bad kept cautiously in the background. Tlion tbe two reconnoitered tbe situa tion. There was no human being in sight, but on tho doorstep, there waa some kind of a mysterious looking ob ject. Mrs. Jones looked at it for a mo niont, and then burst into tears. "HV AAvaia linalrnf. Oht.TTAnAa yon wretch, how could you? and I-I-f trusted you so7 "Mercy on me, Marie, what are you crying about? I don't know what it isl Maybe it a an infernal machine, to blow us up," gasped Jones. "Olijon know what it is well enough. Mr. Jones I Don't add falsehood to your other baseness. Oh, Jones, Jonos, how how o-could you deceive me so," and she wiped away another flood of tears. "1 U throw the thing into tho middle of next week," shoutod Jones in a fury, III " "Stop, atop, wretched man!" cried his wife, grasping bis coat-tails. "Don't add murder to your other accomplish ments; and to think I have tr tr-trust- ed " 'Maria." said Mr. Jones, with the calmness of desperation, "unhand me! I will find out what this means. That's our old market basket," he exclaimed suddenly, and, and the next moment he bad dragged it.into the hall. "Why, it's our diuner for to-morrow. I forgot all about it, and left it at the butchers, and he has sent it home then! I hope you re tinned." "I never saw such a careless man in my life," said his wife, in a relieved voice. 'We might have had to go without our dinnor for all of you." Jones says it waa the narrowest escape ever he had. Goon ExEitnsE. We clip the follow ing from the New York Tribune, which may be of interest as well as prove valu able to some of our dyspeptio readers: "Some years since, tbe wife of a Ten- noses banker, after trying a variety of remedies for dyspepsia and other ail ments, consulted a physician noted for plain, common sense and small doses of physio. He told ber if she would split the wood for tho fumily it would oure her. WoodhousoM are unknown in Ten nesee, or were at that time, and of course tho wood-splitting must be done in the open air. The lady procured an ax suited to ber hand, and applied herself to th task, beginning with a few sticks each day, and increasing the number as sho grew ttrongor. Gradually her ailments all disappeared, and her health became exbuberant. When we knew her twenty- five years ago, with a house full of ser vants, snd practically unlimited wealth at command, she did all the wood-splitting for the family, and bid fair to make double the half century in age she had already attained. Donbtless, taking her exercise in the open air bad quite aa much to do with ber recovery aa the mere muscular labor had." The electric light has been success fully introduced in the Mathilda colliery in Upper Silesia. The work waa done, by Siemens k Halske of Berlin, e