4
TRUE LOTE.
, r seated in Agstha
.UrMiiui Vnrtosene. lurffe
''osiers , . "
"k ,ni of uncertain age, who tnonopo-
Yred'tba roost comfortable arm-cbuir;
frs Jjscker, shrunken and saudy, who
''constantly sliding ofl the sofa tod
muting herself with a jorlc, and Mi..
..tba herself, who sat apart from the
.tiier glancing nneasily out of the win
ow as if distressed by their garrulitj.
V.: i,ri.ha was a fair young woman.
L,jtbanoble lioaJ and a countenance
..inressive oi an gnico uuu ijuuuu.
. '. . .1.:. mnmant uliA Bntnrlttinflil fiwd.
I v., g( U1 - - - -
,bm deeidedly hostile to her callera, who
fellow-boarders iu a family hotel, to
. . ha afternoon. At heart thev
Lure immensely aorry that Miss Nannie
X Oil"' -"
fcuburb where she had gone the day be
Ln. Mian Nannie, Agatha's cousin,
tompanion and chaperon tn one,
.wr bad uOh Jfv ruiurneu iruui a
lromi)nu"' i
i .- ..im tn thmr biota: Rlin was mnrn
was ii ""- " --- -
'attentive, more easily impressed, more
Lrnipatbetio, they thought. She never
Cut looking out the window when they
Nrere retailing their choicest bits of
Vandal for her especial benefit. But
f.i.n alia was a woman of years. How
ever, they still lingered; it was a pleas-
'aut place, The rosters uau mo uanu
Uraeat suite in the building and fur
'uinhed with .uch taste! Such carpets!
Sni-b decorative art! And the Fosters
were tip-top people. There were four
of thex Miss Agatha, her two bachelor
brothers, teu and a dozen years her
senior, and Miss Nannie, who, since
their parents' death, had kept the chil
dren together. The winter day drew to
a close, ana tuo room grew ausky, and
itill the ladies lingered.
Agatha could endure it no longer; tins,
if all ilavs. she was without patience.
She roso quickly.
"Ladies," she said, with an indignant
(iuiver in her sweet contralto voice, "yon
must excuse me. I cannot listen to such
conversation!"
There was silence a moment; men
iliss Fortesoue lifted her cumbrous
frame. "Oh, certainly, 1 quite- under
stand. Wo will withdraw. We do not
ish to offend."
"Oh, certainly," faintly echoed Mrs.
iwtor. flliilinor from the sofa for tho
list time and preparing to follow.
"And allow me to Bay," she exclaimed,
with no compunction, "that I think
hHam might lie better employed thau
with their neighbors' affairs."
"Good afternoon." said Miss Fortes
cae, savagely.
"(jooU afternoon, sneered airs.
Becker.
"ftnnd riddance!" cried Agatha.
sharply, ere the door had closed.
"To-day of all days, sue said, as sue
walked to and fro in the dusk. Presently
the door opened.
"All in tlie dark.Againa.' said a cheery
voice.
'I thought you would never come,
Xaanie," was the swift, unnerved reply.
Then she lit the gas.
"Why, what is the matter, dear?"
"I have just put Miss Fortesque and
Mrs. Becker out of the room, and it
it has anuoyed me.''
"Deur me! What had they doner
"Tho sttine old sickening gossip. Miss
Bruce flirts on the street; Mr. and Mrs.
Brown have shown no marriage certifi
cate; Mrs. Gray holds hor step-obild to
the Are to burn it, and so on and bo on."
"They get their ideas from the morn
ing papers," said Nannie, calmly, un
clasping her fur-lined circular. "The
stop-mother holding the child to the Are
is a favorite paragraph when the news is
scare. Sometimes she heats the flat-iron.
For my part, I would never go to that
trouble."
But Agatha could not respond to her
staid humor. She helped to put away
the wraps, and inquired after the subur
ban friends.
"You look rather pale; aren't you
well?" asked Miss Nannie, wlion they
were seated.
The girl dropped her eves. "Nannie.
I havo some news for vou," she said with
in effort. "I last night I promised
Mr. Peters to to marry him."
men sue sighed u relieved of a great
burden.
The room was still, utterly still. If
Hiss Nannie was surprised or shocked
sho gave no token, bho only sat quietly
looking at the girl and taking time to
colloot hor thoughts. Agatha never lifted
tier eves until, after tome moments, her
cousin oleared her throat and tranquilly
inquireu:
"Well, dear, are you satisfied that you
will bo happv?"
Then the girl rose and threw herself
npon the sofa. "Oh, Nannie, I don't
know; I can't tell."
More silence; then Miss Nannie asked
if she bad told the boys.
To these women George and Lewis
would bo "the boys" as long as they
nveu.
"I told Gooreo at noon." Agatha re
plied, in a voice heavy with tears.
"Lewis was not bore. I wish yon would
tell him."
"And what did George say?"
"He only said, 'I congratulate Mr.
Peters."
Miss Nannie leaned back in her chair
and meditated, bringing Peters up for
mental review. Poor little whiffet! To
be sure, ho had money, some standing
socially and a fair education. They had
known him a long, long time, and even
felt for him a sort of distant relatives'
affection. They would do anything in
the world for him. He often took Agatha
about, to places of amusement, to church
or riding. But he was at least fifteen
year, her senior, and they never thought
of his aspiring to marry her.
His appearance was pitifully against
aim. Miss Nannie reviewed his bad build,
bis bow legs, his "wild eye," as she
called it a suspicions eye that seemed
to skirmish about the room while its
ate regarded you with steadfast respect.
Then she tarned her thoughts to Agatha
Agatha, perfect in face and figure and
nnobled by education and advantages
Agatha, for whom a senator had pro
Posed, and congressman languished,
say nothing of her lesser adorers
Agatha, who had rejected the senator
because he lacked principle, and the
Congressman becanse be was a widower.
nsnnie remembered tbat the girl bad
ttaerej and abed tears over refusing
west and others. She had a curious
POi,.ion, as the boys had said.
-At length Nannie roused and spoke,
i wlil tell Lewis; and bow, yoa had
better dress; U'a near dinner-time.
little Florida water will cool your
CUBHKl
"Hark!" cried Agatha, "there lie is,
now gone into bis room."
Nannie recognized the nlumsv Mien
Lewis had never yet come np those
stairs without tripping at the top; the
mailing, inipetuons way of bis boyhood
would always cling to him.
"I am going at once to tell him,
before George comes," said Nannie,
rising.
as V i . a .
if, uo, saiti Agatua. And when
her cousin had goue out across the eorri
dor, aud her tap had been welcomed by
a careless "Uorae ml tbe young girl
stoio alter and listened at the crack of
her brother s door.
"Lewis, I have news for yon," said
Nannie, geutly, and there was a hidden
sob in her fond voice. "Agatha has
promised- to marry Mr. Peters.
"Ob, Lord!" cried Lewis, in open
mouthed disgust.
Agutha cropt away from the door: hor
face was burning and her heart beat
hard.
But Miss Nannie remained awhilo in
her cousin's chamber.
"Lewis," she said, quietly, "I sup-
poto we all I eel the aame over tuis
matter?" Agatba says when she told
uoorge he remarked tbat he 'congratu
latod Peters.'"
"Well, this is too bed," said Lewis,
indignantly. "It is a shame if a girl
with her luce and brains can t do bettor
She is ultogether too soft hearted. Sho
would have married all the men who
ever proposed, if we had let her, and out
of s ieer pity, not because she cured for
them. That is why she accepted Peters;
couldn't bear to bnrt his feelings didn't
want his straight eye to Butluse with
tears! We must do something to pre
vent." Nannie smiled doprocatinzlv. "We
mnst be very careful. Agatha has a
curious disposition, and if she thought
we were all against bun, she would only
pity him the more.
"If there wero only some way to dis
pose of him," exclaimed Lewis, grimly;
"if we could send him out with tho next
Arctio expedition "
Nannie rose. "Yon will be very care
ful what vou say, Lewis?"
"Ob, of course."
She lingered at the door. "Agatha
has not a forceless nature by any
means,' she said; "sho can get angry if
she carea to. Sho tells me she put Miss
Fortescue and Mrs. Becker out of our
parlor to-day, because of their vile gos
sip. 1 have no doubt she did.
"Humph!" .
Agatha came down to dinner with her
face composed and her manner gracious
as ever. Hor inward defiance was not
outwardly manifest. Of her family,
George was a shade more dignified than
usual, and Lewis appeared, annoyed,
wbilo Nannie put ou a regretful look
and -occasionally sighed. W hen they
left the dinirg-room Agatha swept
haughtily by the table, at which sat the
Fortesoue and tho Becker. She was
done with the twaiu and intended they
should Bee it.
Up in thoir own parlor, George sat
down by bia sister. "Agatha," he said
slowly, and with an evident distaste for
tho subject, "do you think vou did well
toengige yourself to Mr. Peters before
consulting your family.'
"I was of age three years ago," sho
said, regarding him with serene dignity.
"Yes. yes. of course. But there is
such a thing as advice. Mr. Peters is
cur good friend, but is he a suitable hus
band for you?"
"What is there against him?" she
asked, unflinchingly. She was not
blind to her lover's bodily imperfec
tions. She had lain awake all night,
mentally eudeavoring to straighten his
crooked limbs and control his recreant
orb. But with daylight tbey had
dawned npon her as uncompromising as
over.
But George would not stoop to per
sonalities. "Nothing," he answered,
quietly. "Only we have looked very
high for you. We want you to be
happy."
"Then do not speak against Mr.
Peters," she said, in a way that seemed
to dismiss the subject.
George betook himself to his own
room, and Lewis took his place by
Agatha. "I suppose I am to congratu
late," he said, with a careless disregard
of Nannie's injunctions.
"You do not seem very enthusiastic,"
responded bis sinter, calmly, recalling
his secretly heard ex.lamation upon first
learning the news.
"I can't help it if I don't," he an
swered, half impatiently. know
how proud we are of you, Oath, and we
can't bo expected to think any man good
enough."
She smiled.
He went on recklessly: "I don't be
lieve you know what you are doing.
Ton don't love rotors; yon only pity
him, just as you used to pity the Sena
tor aud all the rest. This orooked little
curmudgeon! Why, ho is older than
George and cross-eyed "
She sprang up in a rage. "Lewis,
you have said quite enough. Never
speak bo again to me; I forbid it."
Then she songht her own chamber and
threw herself upon the bed.
Nunnie came to her after awhile. "My
poor darling! Why are you feeling so
bad?"
"Lewis has been saying such awful
thing!"
"And are you quite sure you have
made no mistake?"
"(juite sure."
She rose aud arranged her toilet; Mr.
Poters was to come that evening.
He arrived early. Nannie endeavored
to be gracious, but soon excused herself,
leaving Agatba to hor lover, the boys
having both gone out. And Agatba,
with Lewis' crnel criticism still ringing
in her ears, felt as if in a dream. For
tunately, Peters made no inquiries as to
hrotber's opinion of the marriage. Miss
Nannie had congratulated him aa though
all were satUfaclory.
A ir it ha accosted bis adoration quite
passively, and at last, when be had gone,
retired to hi r own room to pity bim and
weep for him, and tell herself bow mncq
she loved bim.
Bnt as tbe winter slipped away the
engagement was announced, and, having
remained unbroken, Agatha's brothers j
even began to feel nssigoed.
Tbe quiet, intense devotion of Nor
man Peters was touching. He wor
shipped his betrothed; to bim she was a
yery goddess.
"If," thought Nannie, with a softened
regret, "if he wore only not quite so
small! If he wore only a half-inch
taller, to be of even heigbth with
Agatha!"
Meanwhile poor Agatha was fretting
herself to death. A tnonsana littl
hoartless sarcasms and glances of
ridicule, to which Peters, in his great
bappiuttatt. was utterly oblivions, wore
constantly stabbing her. Night after
night she passed in wakeful agony,
the idea of breaking the engagement
never once occurnus to her. hue
was sure she loved him, and she
realized the death cf his devotion.
She endeavored to rise alove morbid
ssnsitiveness, telling herself that people
would eouso their cruel ways when they
saw that she was determined to stand by
him. Bnt she grew thin, and her face
wore a hunted expression. Mcsdames
Becker and Fortescue now began to cir
culate pretty little stories about her
iugoniously constructed but untruthful
romances.
Nothing very bad, for Agatha was a
woman to whom no doubtful mist could
cling for a moment; but whispers of
"coquetry, "blighted hopes, "girlish
folly," and "last i esort," which, blown
from lip to lip on the dubious breath of
friendship, came at last to vex tho cars
of the Fosters. Agatha only grew more
pale. Stormy Lewis, however, con
fronted Miss Fortesoue in tho hall before
his sister's room.
"I tell you, madam, that you must
discontinue your talk of my sister," ho
cried, angrily.
Agatba came out. "Ob, Lewis, dear."
He took her by tho arm. "Go back.
Gath. I've a matter to settlo with this
lady. Sho knows what mischief sho has
boon trying to work, and I intond tbe
talk shall cease, or I will take measures
she may not admire!"
Without a word Miss Fortescue turned
and fled.
"I was sorry for her." said Agatha,
"she looked so guilty and helpless."
"I doclaro I haven't much patience with
you," exclaimed her brother, "to thiuk
that you would dofeudber, and she every
day assailing your good name. But all
your ways of late are provoking. Yon
aro going to marry a man you dan't love,
because you pity bim. For God's sake,
why don't you pity some one suitable"
She trembled tfith exoitoment and
passion.
"Lewis, if yon have the least partiole
of love or rcspeot for me, you will never
speak so oirain. I do love Norman, and
it would kill mo if anything should
break the engagement.''
Lewis quit her presence crestfallen.
Tho days slipped by. There had been
no date fixed for tho wodding, nor was
the subject discussed by the family.
Nono but Nannie knew the terrible
tremor in which the girl existed. She
was ever moving about, her hands con
stantly occupied. Day after day, rain or
shine, tbe two women were out of doors.
They had always an errand, usually one
of mercy. . Nunnie, howexer disinoliuod,
would have felt it a sin to oppose, aud so
Agatha dragged her off through tho flit
ting sunshine, the moodiness, 'the chill
or the storm of the springtime, until one
last morning.
It had been raining for threo days,
and so steadily tbat the sidewalks flags
were cleaned and whitened.
Agatha said tbey would not be ham
pered with a carriage, and they took a
car for a milo or so, alighting to walk a
few squares to another line, lue storm
had abated, and the rain was but a list
less drizzle.
Aaatha slipped and slid once, and
Nannie gavo a frightened exclamatiou.
"My overshoes are useless,' said tue
girl, carelessly. "I must have another
pair. I have a good deal of shopping to
do soon.
"Your outfit ventured Nannie,
and stopped.
Agatha sighed, bnt her sign was iobi
ni the noise of the street.
A poor little yellow dog limped out
from a passing vehicle, holding up ono
paw and yelping pitifully.
"Oh, see!" criod Agatha, with her
eyes wet. "Poor, poor doggie! I am so
sorry !"
The yelps died away in tne distance,
and the ladies went on.
A bliud man crying "Cough loz-
engos!" npon the corner deUiuod them
for a moment.
In the next blook an old building had
been torn away to give place to a new
one. (Jureloss workmen uau leu tue side
walk ununarded in one place, a step
from which would have landed one in a
deep cellar, where lay a number of loose
foundation stones.
Just as they had reached this spot they
were brought to a sudden halt by loud
cries and confusion. Down tho street,
and directly toward them, came a run
away team, dragging a splendid carriage.
Agatha took an irresolute step iorwaru
and then sprang back as tbe horses
dashed up against tbe sidewalk.
The women were thus separated, ami
in a seeood Nannie was reaching forward,
cold with horror.
'AKfttba!" she cried, but too late.
Tbe girl had lost her balance and had
fallen backward from the unguarded
sidewalk down into tbo deep cellar, and
lay there upon the stones limp and un
consciofis. K1a wnnM live, gadlv crinnled and
helpless: the spine had been iojured and
one hip dislocated. So said the best of
surgeons. She wonld henceforth re
quire all care and tenderness.
- . .... . . i
"Thank uod, sne is not poori crieu
Nannie. As for the boys. Georce was
criinpnletfll crnRhed. and Lewis paced
tbe floor for hours, crying for "his poor!
poor sister.
Agatba insisted npon bearing tbe
worst, and when it was made known was
very silent. By and by Nannie could
see great tears trembling under the long;
dark eyelashes.
"I wonld not mind, u.tereu tne sni-
ferer, "but for him. Who will love and
care for him now?"
Then she asked that be be sent for at
once. When he arrived, ftannie and me
boys were in tbe room, bnt they with
drew to tbe window. Peters' fare was as
pale as Agatha's own.
"Norman, dear," she said without pre
face, "I am a cripple for life. I may
never valk again. I sent for yon to
give yoa back your freedom.
K IriffhtenM expression overspresa
his countenance; bis lip qniverid, and
ha sank on his knees by tbe bed and
buried his face.
"Affstba. darling!" be cried, witn
realpaloot, !don't, din't cast me off.
You are a thousand times dearer to roe
now. Ait i ax m the right to care lor
yon" bis voice broke and he foil to
weeping.
JJy the window three persons heard it
all. Tbey looked in silonco at eaeh
other; then Le is strode swiftly aoross
tho room.
"Peters," he said, "we haven't done
right by you. I, mys)f, have acted
despicably. But if you will f.irgive and
forget, it will bo very different in tho
future."
Then Pi'teis, Lo Lud iib u, stood si
lent and bewildered till, through tho
mist, the room grew suddenly bright,
for they had eneijeled him and were
clasping his hand with loing warmth.
Aud as Agatha lay watching.she raised
afeble baud to nUy the tears that
coursed her cheek.
"I never thought," sh sobbed aloud,
"I never dreamed I couid bo made so
happy."
Sw r au4 their Habits.
Swifts eat on the wing, drink on the
wing and collect materials for their
nest on the wing. Henoe, like all other
creatures, they produce extremely small
broods, for the material used up in. mus
cular motion cannot also bo devoted to
genesis as well, Loug ago Gilbert
White was much puzzled with the diffi
culty suggested to him by the swifts to
what became of the annual increase
which must take place even among such
small breeders as these, for though
they lay but two eggs at a timo and sot
but ouco each summer, instead of twice,
like the other swallows, yot they must
give a constaut increment of population
at the rato of about double every year,
even after allowing normal deaths of old
birds. What becomes of such iucreaso?
Tbat was the question that puzzled tho
naturalist of Selboruetaud if lie had been
a Darwin or eveu a Multhus, it might
have led him gradually on to tho great
discovery of the principle of natural se
lection, which has siuca revolutionized
all biographical soienee. As it was, he
came ouly to tho lamo and impotent con
clusion that they must disperse them
selves over the remainder of tho world,
as though Selborno church tower wore
the central Ararat of an unpeopled and
vacant continent, whence endless colo
nies might go forth to iucrea.se and mul
tiply and replenish tho earth. I n sober
fact, one-half of them fail to pick up a
living at all; the other half just keep up
tho standard of the race to its fixed nu
merical average; for everyone who has
watched the swifts closely knows that
each year just the same number of pairs
return punctually to just the sumo ac
customed station iu just the samo ances
tral towers. Indeed, that is the rule
with the vast majority of species, animal
or vegetable. There are a few which,
like man, the Colorado beotlo and tho
Canadian pond weed, aro rapidly increas
ing and overrunning the world; thoro
aro a few others, which, like tho great
auk, the beaver and tho edelweiss, are
rapidly dying out before thoir enemies.
But by far the greater number seem to
continue absolutely, invariably 'from
year to year, at least within the range of
ordinary haman observation. Out of
40,000 seeds of ono common English
weed, only a single seed on on average
produces a full grown plant every sea
son. St. Jamos Gazette.
Hints fur Homes.
Think as well as act. Use your en
ergy wisely; tbe constantly active are
not necessarily tbo most energetic. Mis
directed labor is sometimes as- great an
evil ns idleness itsolf. What is the use
of firing unless you aim at the target and
learn the skill of a good marksman? So
tbe owners of humanity aro but wasted
nnless your industry executes with cor
rectness and promptitude each duty as it
arises.
Pleasant looks, protty clothes and
jolly speeches are as good at home as
elsewhere, only the latter cannot boar a
too frequent repeiition.
Tbat woman is wise who chooses for
her partner in life a man who desires to
find his home a place of rest. It is the
man with many interests, with engross
ing occupations, with plenty of people
to fight, with a struggle to maintain
against the world, who is the really
domestic man, in the wife's sonse; who
enjoys home, who is tempted to make a
friend of his wifo, who relishes prattle,
whom he feels in tho home cirole, where
nobody is above him, and nobody un
sympathetic with him, as if he wero in
a heaven of ease and reparation. The
drawback of home-liiH. its contained pos
sibilities of insipidity, sameuesa and con
sequent weariness is never present to
such a man. He no more tires of his
own happier moods. He is no moro
plagued by his children man wuu ins
own lighter thoughts. The man always
at homo has not half tho chanco of tbe
man whose duty is outsido it, for he
must sometimes be in tho ay. Tho
point for the wifo is, tbat he should like
home when he is there; and that
livinir. we contend, belongs, first of all
to the active and strong and deeply on
gaged, and not tbo lounger, or even to
the easy-mindod man. Sunday Re
view. J. F. Soloman. of Chicago, has been
corresponding with a young lady in
Kacine who signed herself Miss Camp
bell, which correspondence bad cu'
minated in a proposition and acceptanco
of marriage. Now, Mr. Soloman had
never seen his betrothed, and on Thurs
day morning he started off with tho in
tention of calling upon her at her home.
When he got as far as Kenosha he left
the train and hired himself taken to tho
postofiice and inquired who owned box
No. 785, and npon being toll he started
itb a happy heart to a well-known resi
dence on Park avonue, where he in
quired for his affianced. No such per
son was known there, and after several
inquiries he went to the postofiice and
(old them they had made some mistake,
"for," says he, "I have been writing to a
young lady for over a year to box 785,
Itacine, Wisconsin." Upon being told
that he was in Kenosha and not llaoine,
he was thunderstrnck and only asked tbe
time the next train left for IUcine.
As Attorney's Last Hope. A certain
harp attorney was said to be in bad cir
cumstances. A friend of the nnfortnnate
lawyer met Jerrold and said: "Have
yon heard abont poor R ? His busi
ness is going to the devil.". Jerrold
"That's all right, then; be is sure to get
it back again'
Suprrstltloni About lore.
From the carliet times no event in
human lifo bus been associated with a
more extrusive folk lore than luarriuge.
Beginning with love divinations, tboao
are of every conceivable kind, tbe anx
ious maiden apparently having left no
stone u nl limed in her anxiety to ascer
tain her lot in tbe marriuge state. Home
cut tho common brake or fern just above
the root to ascertain the initials cf the
future husband's name. Again, nuts and
apples ore very favorite love tea's. The
modo of procedure is for a girl to place
ou the bars of a grate a nut, repeating
this incantation:
It h lorn in, pnp uj Of;
i b ttu mo, lire mil ditk
Grout is the dismay if the anxious faco of
tho iuquircr gradually perceives tho nnt,
instead of making tbe IioikhI for pop,
die and make no sign. Ono means of
divinatiou is to throw a lady bug Into the
air, relating nieauwhilo the subjoined
cuuplet:
F'j iwtr mi ami flr mv (-t.
fnow me wbsnt Utm inn one I like tx-tt.
Should this little insect chanco to fly
in tbe direction of tho bouse where tho
loved ouo resides, it is regarded as a
favorable omen.
Auother species of love divination
once observed consisted in obtaining
five bay leaves, four of which the anx
ious maiden pinned at tbo four corners
of hor pillow, and the fifth iu the middle.
If she was fortunate enough to dream of
her lover, it was a sure sign tbat ho
would bo married to hor in tbo course of
the year.
Friday has been hold a good day of
tbo week for lovo omens, aud iu Norfolk
the following Hues are repeated on three
Friday nights successively, as on the
last one it is bolievod tbat the young
lady will dream of her future husband;
TixuiKhl.to-Dlichl l FrMtr umht.
Die down Indlrw wlnu-;
lnin who mj hiui'tud l hi be,
An.4 Uy uiy rhlMn-n by uiy UlJ,
If I'm lu lire to lie tali butle
In seloctiiiK the timo for the marriage
ceremony procantiona of every kind have
generally been taken to avoid an unincky
month and day for the knot to be tied.
Indeed, the old lloman notion that the
May marriages aro unincky survives to
this day in England. Juno is a highly
popular month, l'riday, on acootiut of
its beiiii? regarded as au inauspicious
and evil day for the commencement of
aur kind of enterprise, is generally
avoided.
In days cone by Sunday appears to
havo been a popular day for marriages.
It is, above all things, ncoossary that
tho suu should shino on tbe brido, and it
is deemed absolutely nooossary by very
many tbat she should weep ou her wed
ding day, if it bo only a few tears, the
omission of snob an act being considered
ominous of hor future happiness.
In Sussex, a brido on hor rotnrn home
from cbnrch is often robbed of all hor
pins abont her dress by the single
women presont, from tbe belief that
whoever possesses one of them will be
marrio J in tho course oi a year, ana evii
fortune will sooner or later inovitubly
overtake tbo brido who keeps ovuu ono
pin used in the marriage toilet. ,
l'liniiiiir ) utnnkinir" was an old
" O f " -n
marriairo custom in England. The
young men took the bride's stockings,
and tho girls those of the bridegroom,
each, of whom, sitting at the loot of the
bed, threw the stocking oyer their hoads,
endoavoring to muko it fall upon that of
the bride or her spouse. U tue urine
groom's stockings, thrown by the girls,
fell upon the bridegroom's head, it was a
sign tbat thoy themselves would soon be
marriod, and similar luck was derived
from the falling of the brido's stockings,
thrown bv the vounu mou. There is a
superstitious notion in some places that
when tbe brido retires to rest on nor
wedding night her bridesmaids should
lay hor stockings across, as the act is
supposed to gnarantoo her future pros
perity in the marriage state. f Some
thing to Bead.
Monster r'Ug Mono.
An immense flan stone, which is said
to be tbo largest ever quarried in Ameri
ca, is destined for tho sidewalk in front
of R. L. Stuart's new brown-stone resi
dence ou Fifth avenne and Sixty-eighth
street, stretched across avenue from
curb to onrb yesterday, and made it
necessary to close tbe street between
Sixty-eight and Sixty-ninth streets. Tbo
great slab is of river bluestone, and
measures twenty-six leot six incnos uy
fifteen feet six inches. It is nine inohes
thick and weighs over thirty tons. If
raised on its Bide it would make one side
of an average seasido cottage. It is
perfectly smooth with tue excep
tion of a slight ridge through the
center which will bo removed
arter it is in position, Tho stone was
cut from the samo quarry in Sullivan
sonnty as the great flag stouo now oom-
. " m .1. -1 - U. . I L
posing pun oi tuo suiewni iu iruu ui
tho Vanderbilt msnsi n, but it is muoh
laiirer. It was brought down the Hud
son from tbo quarry on the dock of the
barge and unloaded at tho foot of Four
teenth Htreut bv boms raised high
enough with jack screws for two heavy
flat stone wagons to be placed nnuer it,
when it was drawn to its destination by
eight powerful horse. Thou it was
raised again with jacks and lowered by
tbo same means and placed on rollers.
The operation of moving the groat slab
and getting it on the rollers in ironi oi
its final resting place ocenpiod three
days. Six men wero at work one day
moving it with jacks into its position di
rectly in frout of the main entrance to
tbe new bouse, whore a four-foot stone
foundation had been prepared for it. It
is moved at the rate of a foot an hour,
and tho masons expect to get it in po
sition in a day or two. lew xork
Times.
Apple Jelly. Make a syrup of a pound
of sugar, putting in suflicicnt water to
dissolve it. When boiled enough! lay in
it the peeled and cored halves of some
large sonr apples. Let them simmer
till tender, then lay tuem caremuy id
dish so they will remain unbroken and
in good shape. Add another pontid of
sugar to tbe syrup, lot it boil, skim it,
and when partly cool ponr it over the
m.tna Whrn the ilinh got Cold each
piece of apple will be surrounded by a
delicious jelly. XM who oresm.
Mrs. John Mnrpby. of East St. Louis.
111., awoke the other night to find a
hnrtrl&r in her room. She atUcked him
with a pillow and drove him from the
noose.
Hood Talkers la ftoclrtr.
Thero are few women, not well suuued
and ripened, and perhaps toughened,,
who can stand apart from a man and sny
the true thing with a kind of genial cru
city. Still thero are some and I doubt
if there be any man who can return the
compliment. Tbo class of men repre
sented by Vernon Whitford in the Egoist
says, in i Iced, the true thing, but ho uys
it stockishly. Vernou is a noble fellow,
aud makes, by tho way, a noblo and in
structive contrast to Daniel Deronda;
his conduct is tbe conduct of a man of
honor; but we agree with him, against
our consciences, when he remorsefully
considers "its astonishing drynoss." lie
is the best of men, but the best of women
manage to combine- all that aud some
thing more. Their very faults assist
tuem; they are helped even by the false
ness of their position in life. They can
retire into the for titled camp of the pro
prieties. Tlicv can touch a subject, and
suppress it. the most adroit employ a
somowbat elaborate reserve as a means
to be frank, much as they wear gloves
when tbey shake hands. But a man has
tho full responsibility of bis freedom,
cannot evade a question, can scarce be
silent without rudeness, mnst answer for
1 is words upon tbo moment, and is not
seldom left face to faoo with a damning
choice, between tho more or loss dishon
orable wriggling of Deronda and the
downright woodeuness of Vernon Whit
ford. To two classes we pay court: women
and the aged. But tbe superiority of
women is perpetually uionaoed; thoy do
not sit throned on infirmities like the
old; they are suitors as well as sover
eigns; their vanity is engaged, their af
fuctioua ar too pt to follow; and heuce
much of the talk between tbe scion -utr-
generates into something unworthy of
tho uamo. The desire to please, to shine
with a particular engaging lustre, to
draw a fascinating picture of oneself,
bauishos from conversation all that is
sterling aud most of what is humorous.
As soon as a stroug current of mutual
admiration begins to flow, the human
interest triumphs entirely over the in- .
tolloctnal, and tho commeroe of words,
consciously or not, becomes scoondarv
to the commercing of eyes. Each
simply waits upon the other to be ad
mired, and tbo talk dwindles into plati
tudinous piping. Coquetry aud fatuity
are thus tho knell of talk. But even
where this ridiculous danger is avoided,
and a man and woman convorse equally
and honestly, something in their nature
or thoir education falsifies the strain. An
instinct prompts than to agree, and
where that is imposaiblo to agree to
differ. Should they neglect the warning
at the first suspicion of an argumont,
they find themselves in different hemi
spheres. Abont any point of business
or couduct, any sotual affair domanding
settlement, a woman will speak and
listen, hear and answer arguments, not
only with natural wisdom, but with can
dor and logical honesty. But if the sub
ject of debato be scmolhing in tbe air,
and abstraction.-1 H. L. H. in the Corn
hill Magazine. .
Groccrj-Storo Talk.
Tho articles in aoountry store got mad
and had a little talk over politics, re
ligion, etc., in a most spirited manner.
"I'm no sucker," said the muokorel.
"You are a mighty scaly sort of
party, though," said the sugar, "and I've
got sand enough to tell you bo to your
face."
"I'll run oountor to that," remarked
a piooe of woodwork lengthwise of the
store.
"Lay the question on the shelf," said
another portion.
"Lot us have peas," cried ont tho cof
foe, "Bah! you must be green," said the
staroh, "look at me and got a little stiff
ening to brace you."
"Lard help ns," said the butter.
"Hholl out and lot's got from beneath
this volk," oacklod the eggs.
"Hit him with a London olub," said a
bottle on tho top shelf.
"None of yonr sauoe, wait till you , k
catchup with the times," fired up the
peppor, in hot temper.
"Shut up, or I'll sonr on the whole of
you," snapped the vinegar.
"Taffy, taffy," whispered the molasses,
lot's get into the thick of it."
"Let us call it a draw," simpered the
toa. .
"We are too strong," howlod the
cheese.
"How have tbe mitoy fallen," replied
the knifo, as it slung the oheoso on to the
floor.
"Aw, you shut up," answered Ihe
choose as it dosed the blade and chucked
it out of sight behind a barrel.
"Lot's soap forbottor things," said the
lye.
"How oan we in the presonoe of a
lye?" said tbe soda.
"Well, if I'm a lye you are an alkali,"
came the answer.
"I rise to a point of ordor," snng out
the yeast.
"Salt bim down, squealed out a nam,
"for I'm smoked out.
"You can all be bought," said tho
candf.
"Ah, you sweet thing, came back tue
response, "what aro you giving us?"
"Well. I'd be darned." ripped out the
coffee sack, "if 'his must stop."
"Tuat s ourignt, gnrgieu me aero
sene. "Blast you all," roared tbe powder.
"I cm match that," fumed the aul
phur. "I'm shot," shrieked the load over in
the comer.
"I'm out," groaned the meat, "and
will have to be mustered out of service."
"I'm killed," chorused tbe oyster, the .
lobster, the codfish, the mackerel, the f
pork, tbe bead and in the midst of it
tbe grocor walkod in sod everything
was hushed, snd trade went on as usual.
Steuben villa Herald.
Pbbsebved Cbab Afplm. Rub each
crab apple with a clean bit of flannel,
and prick each one in several plaoes with 1
a needle to prevent bursting. To every ,
ponnd of frnit allow one and one-half .
pound of sugar and one pound of water.
Make a syrup of tbe sugar and water,
boiling it in a porcelain kettle and
skimming it until clear. Pnt in the
orab apples, adding for each ponnd the
joioe and grated rind of a l'tnon. Sim
mer them slowly nntil tender enough for
a broom straw to pieroa them. Put them
warm into glass jars; fill tbe jars half
full of them, and ponr tbe syrup over
them.
f !