'0T MISSED.
If yea or I
jn-'iav iliould die,
1 V veriiil ipring,
Hr ri'iwrt would bring,
,j f,., would tliiuk of u with sorrow.
Yet. he I dtii"
.... 1.1 tlin ha mid!
.Mr ',", A'""' toogrw yield hay,
And iiuntner go,
I f, wnuld lw I ui p away
JInw awB pass I
ii.. ffW. ila t
..urf.utwfih'' wholum to mold,
With imumn'Mhada
Kiib tl "Wen churchyard cold!
Yi-i, it i o
e.. anrl ffn !
Wr biil "r 'i'1'1' ,heT mourn us Jeail;
Tim winter o'er.
Li,,r tak "H'' I1'" instead.
A PiJll a ITOtt 1" SUES E.
It was in Kentucky. "Tho Camp of
.n " irn Oiriutonnil if. n-liAH vn
i . , . I iiitnlliAiiaof l1 n-in ry.li An an
ir IldluS
on
tho camp-meet premises.
white
single beds, with Bpring
Uttre'sueB and good hard pillows; four
fiili driven into the joist of each head
Lard, to hang up petticoats and bon
Ar i'lean piue floors, sweet pine walls,
pme raners, uuovu wuiua mo low
. ... ruf suroad protecting hands, with
iinirer-tips toucbiug on the ridge-polo,
Imong the upper treo-bougbs. Ihero
kind had been banished to outer dark-
liesS, and wu uuuiiuuiibu uuiHivt-a bu
llut delightful "we-can-do-oa-we-please"
feeliug, which the presence of the
masculine clement invariable destroys.
"Oceans ol space, cuirrupou tue trim
Hie woman next door. She put her
wteli in one shoe, and Her switch and
net in the other, and pi iced them both,
like little soldiers on guard, under the
lad nil; her long, bright hoso fluttered
from the post, nor uusue wascoiieu
trimlv under the bed; her skirts, that
rittled liko emmes oi iaint ueiis wueu
she lifted them over her head, were
nng, with their dainty rutlies and rick
nick, on the pallid wall. "Ocoans of
ipace! Isn't it jolly to.crowd into close
quarters, and get along witu six leet in
stead of twenty?" .
"Yes, ma am. It reminds me of the
Centennial," says a shrill voice from the
farther corner. "We had to roll up our
clothes in bundles and lay them on the
floor, and but one could move about and
drees at a time."
The time is ten o'clock; we are ready
for the lights to be turned out, when up
the stairs, all talking at once, as only
women, Southern women, know how to
do; without discord, conies a bevy oi
girls from a neighbors cottage six,
eight, ten, eleven, we count, as their
heads appear above the floor, from the
uulwxed stairway.
All cousins, Kentucky cousins, mot by
ipnoiutment on the old camp-ground.
Elevon girl consins! And how thoy did
rattle on! "
Cousin Hallie, Cousin Tom was
mightily provoked."
rooul Cousin ueitie, l reckon its
Snllie you mean. Cousin Sallie is per
fectly devoted, to Cousin Tom, so Cousin
Billy says.
"Why, Cousin Hallie, you don't know
what you're talking about me! Why,
Cousiu Tom is paying his addresses to
Cousin Henri "Woolfolk; didn't you
know that? Yes'm."
"Cousin Mettie and Cousin John are
coming to-morrow from Lexington; they
stayed for the frolio at Crab Orchard
Springs. They say Consin Mettie was
the prettiest girl on the floor. I reckon
she was."
I don't doubt it, as these sample
cousins disrobe. Luxuriant hair, silken
and soft, about their shoulders; exqui
site arms, tapering, slender, white, and
shining as ivory, gleaming above their
heads, as they brush their loosened
locks; white foreheads, all alike, all
with dark eyes; such pretty embroidered
clothing ruffles and lace fand snowy
pulld, which Watterson asserts or laments
'that only the angels see." Such harm
less, innocent girls, all bound by inter
laciugs of family ties, all with marked
family resemblance.
After all the hair is plaited, and all
the shining arms are hidden under mus
lin sleeves, they take their stockings
this queer band of girls and going
close to the lump, examine them for holes
as if tboy were to road their fortunes on
the dainty hose. Every left hand is
thrust in the foot of a long-legged stock
ing. Some of the cousins discover wee
holes in the toes, and they stand darning,
with their heads bent toward the lamp,
while the other cousins press oround.
"Nonsense, flaming stockings after
eleven o'o'.ock; some women in this dor
mitory want to get asleep before eleven
o'clock," growls an elderly lady.
I doze from sheer fatigue, although
the lights are bright, and the talking
unabated. ' From time to time I ronse
enough to see that the cousins are
grouped three and five in a bed, sitting
upright, with their arms about each
other, and their heads together. Their
talk has grown lower, but anon spouts up
the little giggles and exclamations.
Ihen they flit up and down the long
room, back and forth, mysterious and
mischievous. Their moving forma and
the white clothing hung up on the walls,
and the rafters towering above, to
heaven, upon which the angels ascend
and descend. When I am roused by
silence, I suppose I find each bead
reverently in prayer, in the sweet, child
ish fashion Of the past, and the old lady
ho resented their darning in sitting up
right, her arms clasped grimly about her
knees, her nightcap in a frenzied peak,
ner spectacles awry, muttering, "I won
der what them gals will do next! Twelve
o'clock, and they've been a chatterin'
Straight alone. I reckon they'll nop UP
from their knees and begin a war-dance;
uey ve done everything else.
But at last everything is still. The
lantern is turned low. Mrs. Brannin,
the janitress, is tip-toeing about, when
scream brings friend and foe to their
elbows.
"Oh, Mn. Brannin! do yon think
wre are ant snakes in here?"
"Snakes, mus? Shore and there
conldn't be."
Then the whole eleven appeal to Mrs.
Brannin to tell them that there are no
rats around; they are "so afraid of rata."
My distracted neignbor pnta on her
pec again, aits np in bed, huga her
knees, and wagging her ghostlv night
cap declares plaintively that she is "a
stranger in these parts," and thn an
nounces her intention of arising and pre
paring to be burned at the stake.
Toward morning it is quiet in "the
camp of the women." The. stars slip
along and peep through a knot hole near
the roof. An owl hoots in his wide-eyed
dreams, and the railroad trains rumble
and grumble along the track a mile
away. Then the stirs tremble like dew
drops amid the pink cloud-blossoms of
the dawn. A mocking bird takes np the
sou;r the whip-poor-will has dropped. A
fresh breeze springs up to moet the sun,
and the chattor of the cousins recom
mences. They all tell their dreams, and
have a sign for every dream.
When I return from morning pravera
in tllA Minimi 0.-.1 r.C:
themselves before the looking-glasses.
mey sit in tue breezy upper room when
they are ready for chnri'h, waiting for
CoilBin Mettie and fVinnin TaIi n frnm fK
disMputions of Crab Orchard. Cincin
nati Commercial.
Abstract f the Report of the fomuil-
Bioner or Education for ISHl).
The eleventh annual report of the
Commissioner of Education, covering
the year 1HH0, has been issued.
The Commissioner states that the pres
ent year bus been marked by a great iu
creaso in tho amount and value of the
information received at tho olllce with
reference to the conduct of education in
our own and in foreign countries, and
by a corresponding increaso in the pub
lic demand for the distribution of in
formation. The means allowed the oflice
for carrying on the interchange of intel
gence are entirely inadequate, whether
regard be had to specitlo inquiries or to
information which should bo published
in tho general interest of this department
of public affairs.
Seven circulars of information and six
bulletins have been published during
the year, comprising among others the
following subjects: College libraries at
aids to instruction; rural school archi
tecture, with illustrations; English
ri.rul schools, with illustrations; a report
on the teaching of chemistry and physi?s
in the United States; vacation colonies
for sickly school children; the Indian
school at Carlisle Barracks; industrial
odncution in Europe; medical collegus
in the United States.
The number of American correspon
dents of the olllce, including officers of
the State and local systems and institu
tions of learning, is'8231, or more than
four times the numbers at the beginning
of tho present decade. To the material
derived from these sources must bo
added the foreign matter, reports and
periodicals, all of which must be ex
amined and summarized for the report.
Thj total school population in the
States for 1880 ia 15,351,875: number
enrolled in public schools, 9,680,403;
average daily attendance, 5,744,188, four
States not reporting. The school popu
lation of the territories is 184,405, Idaho
and Wyoming not reporting; enrolment
in public schools, 101,118; average daily
attendance, G1.154, two territories not
reporting. The pbroentages of enrol
ment and average daily attendance are
highest iu Massachusetts and lowest iu
Louisiana.
Thoreare sixteen different school ages
in the States and territories, 17 being the
longest period and 0 years the shoitest.
The earliest age at which children are
admitted to the publio schools in any
State is four years. In ten States and
one torritory, the sohool age is 6-21, and
iu seven States and three territories 5 25.
The number of teachers employed in
the publio sohools of the States in 1880
was 280.034; the same for the territories,
2,(J10. The average salaries paid to men
ranged from $2,524 a month in South
Carolina to $101.47 in .Nevada, and the
same from $17.4t in Vermont to $77 in
Nevada.
Hits In Churches.
Jewish congregations worship with
their heads covered; so do the Qauk
ers, although St. Tad's injunctions on
the matter ore clearly condemnatory of
the practice. The Puritans of the Com
monwealth would soem to have kept
their hats ou whether preaching or bo
ing preached to, since Pepy's notes hear
ing a simple clergyman exclaiming
against men wearing thoir hats in the
church and a year after (1002) writes:
"To tho French Church in the Savoy,
and thero they have tho Common
Prayer B:ok, read in French, and which
I never saw before, the minister do
preach with his hat off, I suppose in
conformity with our Churoh." William
III. rather scandalized his church-going
subjects by following Dutch custom,
and keeping his head covered in church,
and when it did please him to doff his
ponderous hat during the sevice he in
variably donned it when the preacher
mounted tho pulpit stairs. When Bos
suet, at the age of 14, treated the gay
siuners of the Hotel de IUmbouillet to a
midnight sermon, Voltaire sat it out
with his hat on, but uncovering when
the boy preacher had finished, bowed
before him, saying: "Sir, I never heard
a man preach at once so early and so
late." f All the Year Round.
Rattlesnake Pets.
There is only one thing about Profes
sor Bell, Florida agent of the Smith
sonian Institution, which bis neighbors
do not like, and that is the pleasure
which he takes in the companionship of
venomous snakes. A countryman called
unon the professor, the other day, and
as lie eniereu mo ruum n u6 -snake
dropped off a sofa pillow which
commodation, glided into a corner,
... . : 1. hnnA l.anlr ami
coiled, ana waviug wo
forth, shook hia rattles viciously at the
luiruuer. u'" -
the intruder. "Come in," said the pro
fessor, cordially, handing his caller the
chair just vacated by the snake; don t
. . . i nnt mail n atran7Ara.
mind mm; ue uui . D -.
that's all." The snake obeyed an order
. ... f. knt atill Wpilt
. . . . v,n .;, inr in nnder
lant waicu uoi mo .... , ,
the circumstances, did not care to make
a long stay. Doubtless the reptiles
fangs had been drawn, but that did not
transform nim inw -
for contemplation.
To the long list of English magazines
. ha tlrlwl. Macmillan I
IWO UXOTV ' " w " " -
English Critic, with John Morley, as
.j:?. .a rnimu'i Mairazine. The
Utter will be old for sixpence.
A SKETCH.
Even if Tom Bayne did ouly get a
salary of one hundred dollars a unu!li,
that fact alone did not biuticr him from
mingling in the best society of the town;
for he was not a base mechanic or re
tailer's clerk, nor yet a street car driver.
Nol he was not by any means engrossed
In any of the callings I have recited ; on
the contrary he stood proudly at his
disk in the bank-like offioe of one of the
huee distilleries (which emit fire and
smoke heavenward all day and night,
and heart-buruing lava awl ashes to
thousands of williug and holplesss vio
linn.1 thn mnrkv river hunks
realizing fully that he, Tom Bayne,
..... V i N i. i .1... f
uui inueeu rana wgu in i "oi u
the oftlce hands.
"Position is everything!" cries a well
established adage, consequently T. B.
took his place iu socioty and kept it be
cause he had a position a position iu
the fulfilling of whose duties lie 'lid not
soil his hands, though the money he
handled might be bloud money.
Of course he belonged to tho "Oentlo-
man's Club," aud bore up his end iu tho
manifold expenses or mat very expen
sive concirn; he attoiulft tuo same
church as his emploj ors.and contributed
freely and ostentatiously, fifty cents euch
Sumlav. And iu spito of all this, long-
tongued people would insinuate that
perhaps the balance of his bank account
at the end of the year was like the num
ber of days reniaibiug in the year in
finitesimal surely.
But when with Dou Alouzo. John
Hightoneand Joe Abrum the flowing
bowl was quaffed, or the "chiuipagne,
you know," his tongue dealt iu flowery
elomienco. and he was unauiiuously
crowned laureate, because of his at
tractive, polislietl maimers una (lie
abuudauou of spicy stories always ut
command.
Tint, tliin .livnrceneo has been mado as
a text to be, and as a baso for tho story
OI Tom, 8 trOUUlO ami wuui camu uuuuv
through an evening party.
Ou this particular morning, at about 9
o'clock, the sun broke through the veil
ing clouds, aud a roy of his weloome
light cuttiug its way down through the
smokv atmosbhere disclosed to fom's
eagor eyes an envelope bearing the
laminar monogram oi a souiuiy uuo
lying before him on tho dusty desk. It
requested his company, etc., but why
enlarge?
"Were you invited.' ' uei a oiur
These woro the ouly remarks or replies
of Mr. Tom for tho customary saluta
tions of his fellows. Then on Thursday
evening he made his glad way oloue ami
in a high priced carnage, to the scene of
action to tho evening party. He was
attired in full dress, regardless of cost
(altliougu uis tailor inrcawuuu
the collateral.) And as oarrioge followed
onrrlnira In tll tlriHlitlille JoOT 8ml tllO
"expected" did not come, Tom, whose
bosom uad long been auuiou nu
it. whieli this vorv niuht
ho had resolved to fathom, grew more
am? mom dixnirited. And the cool, sar
castic Fred Orayner, sitting easily in a
tilted-back chair, ana mnine.i ciau m a
wtltiin t ir nail Rtiir. lv several opoortuue
remarks added to his disoomposuro.
"Tne aemnea touowi quuiu uur umu.
"TliinltH liinis? If niv enual. I do bolieve,
and iu that miserable suit!"
All of which reflections were lost on
Fred, and byT. B.'s particular intention,
for ue assi'reaiy respeomu wu iuumi
phvsiquo of this huted critic.
. The utterances of a fellow who is iu
love may bo overlooked, especially when
that lovo is at the fever heat, and we
overlook and are charitable with T. B.
tt.imnd saviufirs concerning
Mr. Grayner who, all tho town kuew,
was a rival lor iuiss uriuuiuiucn o
hand. ....
The reflections of the rivals glaring
at each other under under the bright
gaslight:
Fred "Won't Agnes give bim blazes
this evening if he conies noar her again
with his sickening pleading for mar
riuge and blatant tales of bis own ac
quirements? If she doesn't, I'll take
tue job out of her hands and rid her
presence of the shallow-brained cub.
What a miserable air of utterly-utter!"
"If that young jackanapes in the
tweed suit dares to approoch Miss Ag
ues," thought T. T., "won't she start
him.though? The idea of him daring to
danco with her she clad in white satin,
he in that fall business suit!"
A rustle of rich, heavy satin on the
staircase.and through the half open door
our gentlemen witness the entrance of
"the expeotod;" and with a little further
description of Mr. Grayner, wo leave the
amiable and well-wishing pair, and
make the acquaintance of a few of the
asserablod just to fill in the corners of
our drawing.
lie wasn't notoriously well-to-do, but
ho came from a respectable family, and
being a hard ond willing worker, had
rapidly risen in the estimation of his
employers and acquaintances. He was
only a hwarehouse hand in a wholesale
crockery bouse, and unostentatious in
all things. Being such, he had gained
Miss Bartholomew's esteem, and the re
ciprocated feeling had become so iutense
that this evening was to be a red-letter
evening of his young lifo, an assault on
cupid's battery (a forlorn and hopeless
combat sometimos) having boen re
solved. v. innna iflip nnlv knew it. reallv
loved hira and despised the blatant Tom;
not knowing tuis ne leu tue usum nu
iety, and, poor fellow! was trembling in
hia boots.
I said that Tom made his "glad way
to the party, wtiich was perfectly true.
Now if I added that at the door of the
dhabbilr dressed
girl had handed him a note, and earlier
a gentlemanly dressed person uau uuuueu
i .nnii,0 hnth concernim? bim
uuu ' , .
deeply, I might have been thought to be
again diverging, xuewj uuie umu.
but did not trouble the almost iinpertur
able Tom. What does it matter to him
if ha owes his washerwoman for ttiree
months' work, and tailor for a year s
clothes? Why, nothing at all.
ti,..o unaA of such a deliKbtful
freedom in the society of these western
towns! In the east mere is as near one
grade as possible present, and no people
who are particularly ueiwr
ira invited. iadicioQS COn
sideration and tact governing the whole
matter. In the west every one is invited,
..j tv,. mntt nf them manure to come:
uuu w m. v. " .
the grading being done not by those
who give tbe party, oui oj mo iiv,
fMliniri of the invited. Conse-
a w q-
quently that deliehtful sonse of freedom,
haid a western Uiv of high standing:
"We are In j:it m'u ud very frte with
atraiigerj but e,,n tell quickly aud
easily u' - nt-iuH impuwu ujnu,
And the answ-r mi.lo to the assertion
that thev wtr. t . t to misconstrue tho
approaches of siraugers afterwards, to
repudiate their familiarity, and thus do
ooeoaionally irretrivablo harm.
Owing to this freedom and to tho di
vision of the gucbta in their respective
cliques, Fred (irayner was Bble to isolate
Miss Agnes quite soon after her coming,
only to get the poor sutisfactiou that he
must escort her homo, her carriage to bo
sent on ahead, l.ut Fred had noticed
and so had T. 11., with failiug hourt.that
she had detached tho rose liayue gave,
and woro his humble spray of miguon
otte. Ou fluishing a waltz aud prounading
gayly over to an alcove, T. B. 'a spirits
rose" cheered with the exciting dance,
aud then he began. Uhyut this juncture
should these notes thut had bt ei) given
him drop from his pocket, unfolded and
open to the keen glance of Miss Agnes?
This we cannot divine, aud ascribe it
like oil mysterious witlings of the Un
known, to fate cruel fate. Ouo glance
sufficed her. "W. W. Fashion k Co.,
clothes; ono hundred and twenty-five
dollars." "Mrs. Murphy, three mouths'
washing eighteen dollars.
Mr. Bayne's protestations as to his en
tire independence of tho mercenary
tvnrl.l mnnl v nlmiKil for her breach of
etiquette, and sho determined to give
UUU a lasung lessou lueu ami mere, n
woman quickly decides with an im
poster. "What are those, Mr. Bayne?"
"Ah! letters from friends invitations,
I suppose."
"invitations, yes! To what.'
The dire truth was revealed to T. B..
hiu game was over; ho saw ruin in her
stern yet nmusod face; ho was beaten;
the floodgates of shame opeuod, and
hastily excusiug himself ho gained the
open air, and vented his excited feelings
under the cold and unsympathotio light
of tho stars.
Father Time has been busy for nearly
u n ilenilea now Hilled Fred Ibivncr ami
his amorata took their gay homeward
walk under tue Bympatiieiic eiariigui,
mul liia rAznr.nffotl scvtlie has during
" " ------ L- - , 1
these cycles reaped more than ouo of tho
sheaves which lornied pari oi me oacK
ground of tho "sketch of the party. It
is at least ten years since an entry op
posite Tom Bayno'a name in the Club
honk rend: "Unable to uav dues." And
at least five since he was summarily dis
charged from tue omco oi me Rrent uis
Tlion nftr that "Black Fridav"
of his, he subsisted through the modium
of odd uud miscellaneous jobs; forming
all the while, however, the main
flgnre of the group that every evening
occupied the spacious arm chairs under
the oak trees of a well known sample
room. Finully his familiar face, with
his scarlet nose, aud the rag-clad form,
were missed altogether. On our voyage
of inquiry we ended in on obscure cor
ner of tho city cemetery, and by looking
at "No. Forty-three" on the head board
of a grassy mound, and comparing with
tho guide book, we found that the name
was that of Thomas liayno.
Fred. Grayner did not marry Miss Bar
tholomew after all, and is comfortably
settled with a cheerful, warm-hearted
little wife. He possesses large business
interests, interlinked with the duties of
a prominent publio olllce. His well
stocked and well-used norary, and me
iinn.knmn fltehincs. paintinits and ar
ticles of vertu which his housto contains,
betoken the full enjoyment of the higher
nlaoinnu nf tlllH trutlHltnrV hllUlllU life
of ours. Ho has attaiued tho respect of
. t IM1 1
all, and retained wnoi is sun greater
his self-respect. When he folds his lov
ing wifo in his arms he realizes that in
giving up tho match with Agnes Barthol
omew marrying a woman not money
bagsuniting with ono who loved him
and would continue to no so wueiuor ue
raiwlimi a ninaelo of fame or no. ho did
tho wisest of all possible things. Ho
.... , - .1 1. .1...4
has reached that pinacie, and uiiukn umt
iiml im mnrried Mini Asnes and not ao-
quired fame, th re would have boen an
everlasting pionio in mat uonseiiom.
Mv sketch is now done, but tho colors
not haviug all dried in, a few touches
here and thero Becm to be in oruer. in
nritinor if. T iliil not propose tho rendi
tion of a homily on tcmpernnoe though
I incline thut wuy out rouior nove
to show the offect of early
companionship in tho formation of char
acter. Many others nave none so ueiore
in a and ninvlm will SBIlin. but tllO fact
remains and always Bhall, that the more
care a young man exercises in cuoosing
and ocouoation. the
surer he is of ultimately getting a high
a .1 I I ... 1
place on a stout rung ot tne ceieoraieu
ladder which wo all climb more or Joss.
Annie Hiirrati.
Annie Surratt, the poor girl who suf-
tom.l un forrililv 111 to IllllkO llOr old
while yet young in years, lives near her
brother John, sue is ma who ui x ru
fooonr Tnnrv iv Im is now the leading
chemist of Baltimore. After her mothor
tia.l hoon l.onrro.l And her own lucntul
faculties wero shatterod by the agonies
she had undergone, tuo innocent gin was
ostracized and persecuted to an extent
that is a disgrace to oar so-cauou cons
tian civilization. Years after, when Mr.
Tnnr.. ilmn n crnvnrnment clerk dured
to marry her, he was dismissed from
oflice for the offense. For a time they
imnr lint tminfr turned out of
CIW "-I j i , I o
the government grind proved to be the
making oi mm alter an. inej ere uuw
.n..,uniiu punnirh in wnrlillv Doint of
view, but the once blithe and beautiful
Annie is a wreck, both mentally and
physically, with hair as white as driven
snow, tho'ugh but littlo more than thirty
..... f arro Rim nnvnr recovered from
the shock of that awful day, the last of
her mother s life, and is subject to dm oi
extreme neryouHue, uuiucnun uiuu
delirium. Baltimore Letter to the Cin
cinnati Commercial.
Colly Cibber'a views on the Civil
Service were: "Until tnennmoer oi roou
!a AMnnl tn (m nnmber of those
1HIM.C1 i .iw" w "
who think themselves qualified for
them, there must be a cause oi cuuwu
tion among US."
i .o.i aata AnuUr advertises in a
Umujim iwwwiTO.
either in the Gold Mine playing 'freeze-
oat, at Mitcneu r.ieuasB wvuug wu
' with Brown, or at
iu ft v
my residence on Oak street perusing tn
Scriptures.
I bud loved BelU for more than a
year. When I nay that I was over
twenty-five, my roadurs of the storner
Bex will, I am sure, be impressed by my
constancy.
Bella had money. Not that this bad,
of course, anything to do with my extra
ordinary devotion, but it served tor a
I i mo to bo the barrier to our happiness.
I first met and fell a victim to Bella's
charms when her mother was alive,
llor father hud then been dead several
years. The old lady took to tne. I have
a kuaek ot gettiug on with old ladies.
This is a very useful gift when they are
well off, ami are the mothers of lovely
daughters. I advise all young men to
cultivate it. The muin point is always
to bo more attentive to the mother than
the daughter. It is well to throw in oc
casional remarks about the degeuoracy
nf tin mm nml nllll.lil to the H 11 lienor
constitutions and characters of tho pro-
ceding geuorauou.
All was working smoothly for ltella
and me. when fate, in the shape of a
drunken car-driver, crushod the mother
under its luggernautian wheels. we
ii-w..f nt..,l tl,n ilrivor. and nn intelligent
jury, largely influenced by the wealth of
i ho car ooinpunv, decided mat pedes
trians have no rights which cur-drivers
are bound to respect.
It turned out that, by her father's will,
Bella, iu the ovcut of her mother's death,
was. until her twenty first year, to bo
placed under tho guardianship of an
uncle, who was a farmer in ermout.
This same uncle was on amiable speci
men of tho typical Vermonter. He could
freeze to the chance of making a dollar
harder than a lobster's claw to a sinull
bov's investigating linger. Ho had two
groat hulking soue, and determined that
Bella should many cue or tuo oilier.
Iii.li,,! tin lii'linved lie was acting most
kindly iu giving her n choice, iustead of
insisting on uer iiikiiii wo unmuiu,
When old Green found out that I had
come into tho ncig:iiosiood and was
hanging around tho premises, he stonily
warned mo oil, aud even muted at too
fierceness and number of dogs w hich
liiln.l In's Timl ut niirht. I took his
word for the dogs it was about the ouly
thing I would have taken it for.
Bella was .rtually a prisoner, ine
nl.l rrni limine was tl lee stories high
a very unusual thing in that part of the
country and sue was locueu iu ut nigui
in Imp mom ni the top floor. With
great difficulty I managed to get one or
two letters to her; but so cioseiy was sue
watched and guarded during the day
that speech with her was impossible. I
was in dospair. more was yet a year 10
run before :he could claim release from
this guardianship. Was thero no means
of escape possible?
While 1 was pondering over mis quuti
tion in tho littlo hotel whore I had now
been staving some weeks, I heard a
strange voice addressed to the proprie
tor in loud tones, and 1 distinctly caugnt
tho words "portable, fire escapo." In
stantly an inspiration flashed through
my mind. I joined tue party, and iu no
ing so hoard these words:
"Tt'o iiwt Mm KimulMt tiling in 1110
world. A two-year-old baby couldn t
iit iiunir Kn air. it 'iid like to have
ono for a plaything, and 'ml arauso itself
all dnv hauling itself to tho top of tho
houso and lotting itsou uown again.
TKnv'rn an linllt and eaSV. that When
fMira iinn't to int nsflniies I often sells
them as baby-jumpers. Jest try one; it's
nnlv four dollars and a nun. mane it
four n nn. as an advortisomont. seem
vou keeps a hotel, and you'd ought to
have one lor tue protection oi your
guests.
"Oupm not. Mv place is only two
storios high; and if we have a Arc, they
cun jump out or burn up just as tuoy
iinrn 11 oimo. And uio cureiui uotui-
UniiA a!iillnil n(T
"AVhat have yon thero, my inendf l
asked of the stranger.
"A nnrtnhle fire-escape. Simplest
tliinir in the world. But I was a fool to
oome to this sootion anyhow, more isn t
a house high enough for a man to hurt
if Im fell off the roof, and
a Vermonter 'ud sooner tako chances on
his life thnn Hpond a dime, any day.
"T'll lull vnn linnr Toil Can Boll 0116
osoape for twenty dollars, and no trouble
either.
"You will? I'm your oyster.
T iinfnl,1nd mv plot and found a syra
pathetic listenor. Ho was to go np to
Bollo's unclo's house and try to boh an
uo..ni.o Of ine run wn know that would
be perfectly hopeless. So, after boing
rebnffod, he was to insist on leaving ono
on trial for a week or two, till he came
.nnn,l itriin IIa U(l ttlsO to trV tO
ai ui.iiit .
srauggloa letter to Bella, explaining
that sho was at night to get possession vi
tho escapo, attaoh it to hor uonsiood anu
uii.i,. .inuin in mv wnitinor arms, which
would be waiting os near as too uop
would let them. On the night sho was
rniulv. ulio was to signal in a certain way
with a candle at the winnow.
Tim t,i.i,uir ktn-.-tid off. and soon re
turned.having boen successful in getting
ti,o inttn tn rtnlln ami liavinir civon an
exhibition of how lo use tho eBoape. For
several nights I watched in vain tor tuo
l,nf it nonm at lust. I did not
hear the dogs about, and I gently crept
nni.rlv lin der tho window. It was
:::.i
"Are you there, Bella?'' I whispered.
"Yes."
Vn' tint afrai.l 1llAr?"
Knt vrv T'vn tied one end around
the bedstead, and don't think I can slip
out of the loops. Have you got a buggy
matrinftl"
"Yes. dear: at the first turn of the
,nA
"Very well.- I am going to try now.
nut"
She had launched herself off from one
side, and was descending beautifully.
"Don't come too fast, dear. Use the
check rope if you feel you are coming
too quickly."
She had got as far as the second floor,
whon there was an unaccountaoio stop
page- . . .
"What's the mBtter?" I cried.
"It won't work."
"Shake the rope."
"I have."
"Loosen the check."
"It is quite loose."
"Try to pull np a bit."
'I can't; I'm stuck fast."
"Let me shake the rope."
"Try. Ob! oh! It's no use; it won t
move. ... .
"Can't you ilip out of the loop ana
slide down the rope? I'll catch you."
i "No, I can not; I am sitting in them,
and can't getvout.- Oh, what'a.to ly
done?" t . ' 1
"I'll try to climb up and see."
Bella sut dangling in the air, like Mo
hammed's ooftin, between heaven and
earth. . M
I tried to Bliuib, bnt the rope was not
half an inch thick, and I slipped back.
Then came tho tragic sequel. There waa
a rush of something behind me, and a .
bulldog seized me in that part which
had been nearest to him as he ap 1
preached. I have heard of soldier rid
dled with bullets, or almost cut and
thrust to pieces by swords and bayonets,
who have still advanced upon the enemy.
I don't believo thoy could have done it
with a bulldog hnngiugon rearward. If
any one of my male readers doubts this
asiiersion of man's courage lot him get
an angry bulldog and try.
Other dogs began to give tongue.
Bella screamed. Lights were seen
moving in the house.
"Go "she cried: "they win kin yon
if thoy find you."
lint 1 cau not leave you, ieua. i
must own this was not true. I was
leaving her iu small sections down the
dog's throut, and I felt I must run
awuv.
"Go; save yourself.
By a oonvulsivo effort I shook off tho
il.ur a. I'linuiilnrnhln portion of mv
trousers aud a couple of good mouthful
of my anatomy, and uounciou over a
fonoo aud up a tree, l rom there I
walchod the triumphant Vermonters
haul Bella into a necond story window.
Then they canio out, and with muoU
cryiug ami swearing begun to look for
me. 1 am happy to Buy tuoy were un
successful. About two hours afterward
I ventured to limp home.
Bella never tried to elope ogam, ono
remained proof against all tho argu
ments of her uncle and tho charms of hia
Green Mountain boys, and when sho be
came legally her own unstress sue be
came mine legally too.
Never saw thut Ure-escapo man again.
PorhntiH it was bettor for hint I didu't.
Ho never called for his iu ochino. Possi
bly ho heard something of the story in
his travels.
I ilon't know that there is any moral
to this tale, except never to uso a rope
fire-escape for au elopement. mere
must have been somotliing propnetio in
tho instinct of the author of tho old
song, when he wrote:
Whun lulv AlOfiel
I'owu a InUuir of rope.
h im fit U lliiugkoug lor me.'
A small Hoy onl'.e.
A nin un a nart of Biioecli. i a pro
noun, ns it stands in tho plaoe of a noun,'
not vorv obieotive. most alwaya neuter,
unless too old, and agrees with any por-
son who is not sick.
Thoy are generally roaud one way and
very Hat the other. When they are out
thoy assume a triangular shape, until
they are eaten, and then we uon l know
what shupe they have. They are about
tho only three-cornered ertieloB of food
we have except beech nuts.
A tliree cornored piece of uio is about
as convenient a thing to eat as one evor
cloBod tooth on, aud licked. one's lips
afterwards. That is, sharp end foremost.
The only trouble is you don't know whon
to bite it off, lor too moutu uuiuruuj
widens as the wedge goes in. Tho com
position of pies ia dough and something
nil wlint tlint Rnmatliing else is or
should be has never boon definitely set
tled.
tliem of anvtlung that
grows in the garden except thistles and
burdocks. A boy told me that his aunty
mado a thistle pie. but the boy said a lie
one day before, and I cannot trust him
since. . .
I have seen pumpkin pies made out of
apples that I liked very much. I re-
mnnilmr nnn that I saw OOCe. It WUS not
a very large pie, but it was got up in
great stylo, it was manu ou m uiw
it win, IiIha Ailun. The undor crust
was made of dough, and waa very thin;
the iuwards wore just lovely, ineywere
mado of what they oall mincemeat and a
i;tiin .ni, irinltlnil nvar it. The top
or upper orust was made of dough rope
yarn, Juid across liko the slats oi a uuu.
Oh, it lookod lovely I Arouuu me ougo
a a iinmi nf ilniiuii. laid partly on the
edge of the plate, and about an inoh over
the lrogmoutary meat, it : was la
mented around the outer pnrt of the
hoop with an impresion made by press-
1. -tl . 1 .Jit. m .nl r9 tn 1 lUk lufllll
ing It ail aruuiui wim "
beforo it was baked. It woa a groat op
iwitimi If nil liutinr ImlLivo I Tbov oaori-
flced it'at a tea shrine, aud it sold readily
.a . - i : . I .. ......I. n. jtnlivnrv
at iour cents a iriuugio, uou wu uunv.ji
There ure a great many people who
like pies but seldom eat thorn, 'tis be
cause thoy can't get them. I don't think
the common apple pio is very uuru w
n,aln fur T iiiailn nnn mien Ollt of CT8U
borrios, and all who tasted it said it was
very nioe. 1 tasted tue most oi it my
Bolf. I know one boy who was very fond
of pies, in fact, rathor than do without
them he would uook mem irom m
mother in-luw, if he had one, but he
ii.i.in't Anvwuv. he was fond of them;
he was very apt to take a bite out of one
if it wus iu bis way. une uay wieie w
a pie made on purpose for bim, and put
in his wuy, and be put it out of his own
way and everybody clso's. I never liked
cayenne pepper since; it's too warm.
Ten TuousanuAches or Ovbtebs. The
joy caused iu gastronome and epicurean
circles by Olsen'e paper on "The North
Sea Fisheries" and the great oyster dis
coveries there will be shared by the
whole oyster eating world. Two hun
dred miles of oyster-beds, thirty to sev
enty miles wide", that is to say ten thou
sand acres of splendid oysters within
easy distance of the British coast, is a
discovery to which all those of Stanley
and Livingstone sink into insignificance.
Ono curious feature about it is that
the oysters lio in a depth of twenty-one
fathoms, thus disposing summarily of
the prevalent idea that oysters cau only
lie successfully raised in shallow water.
The man who inventa a new dish.accord
ing to the Mohammedans, deserves well
r.i ...onUn.i- imt what is the reward of a
man who discovers 10,000 acres of oys
ters? And yet all this is tinged with the
melancholy doubt whether oysters will
lie cheaper in consequence. I Pall Mali
Gazette.
She laid her head on the easy chair
against his bead and murmured: "How I
do love to rest my head against your
head, Augustus." "Do yon, dearest?"
said he. "It U because you love me.
"No, because it ia so nice and aoft."