DiASt MOTHER'' GBOWJKO OLD.
WW A " ' onc" ' U ,,,gM
l)Jr mod""' stowing old.
nor rnffpifih" 1ot h3lr glory,
. Iie U Muh of morn:
at, twiw uo A .wo tut nwd to blc
The hrt when larrow worn.
, when I mark her ileo hat
Wubiir.yntom e and bold,
mother' e'J"l "'J-
Turn bark the yean, 0 Father!
nl make hr your, on more.
.,. a my oii romsmbj her
lu happy dHy of yoro
Whriifti birdmrlKfllrt
full nlfc.iiie'" 'H unfold.
Aod I, a lltllecMM, drained not
Ixar mother would grow old.
BnTond f hew hniira ao flellntr,
I'rti.nd ear h'i loll" and tatn.
In thai w;t Uud I hope to gala
Heyond taw-e inorial yean,
Sr ililng thall waote ber pure life,
Hul beauty nwillold.
k lib bappliH shall crown brlot,
Aud inother ll uc'er grow old.
THE SEW MINISTER.
Scragg EqiI suddenly docided that
instead of ocoaBional preaching by the
p0Bknpawket minister, it was entitled
to a "stated supply." No longer would
it go without the "regular gospel priv-
'AJoniram Hewott, whose father had
bot'D a doiicon, was deputed to mako
application to tho proper authorities in
that dunotnination to which Soragg End
almost universally belonged for a minis
ter to supply the Scraag End pulpit, or
rather tho school desk until a church
should be built.
Adoniram Hewitt roceived an encour
aging answer to his application. A very
earnest and talented young preacher,
lately graduated from a theological sem
inary, would at once be cent to Scrogg
Tho minister was to board at Adoni
ram Hewitt's, tho Howitts being well-to-do
beyond tho majority of Soragg End
peoplo.and being regarded as possessing
booHoarning.which qualification would
make them congenial companions for a
minister.
Adoniram Hewitt a house presented a
holiday oppoaranoe on that summer
afternoon when Lysander drove over to
Ponkapawkot station to bring back the
minister.
As night dame on Lysander drove up
with only a girl beside him. What
conldbe tho reason that the minister
had not come? The young lady was a
stranger. She had probably eome to
visit some one at Soragg End, and as
thoro was no ono to meet her at the sta
tion, Lysander had brought her over.
But be was helping her out at their
own gate. She was walking up the path.
Mrs. Hewitt adjusted her glasses, and
satisfied herself that the face was unfa
miliar. She was a grave and dignified
young woman, with a self-possossed
manner, but with a bright flash on her
face. Why didn't Lysander come up
and introduce her, instead of attending
to the horse. , '
"I suppose yon wcro expecting me,
said the younc lady, extending her hand
in a friendly way. "I am the new minister-Miss
Barton."
As Mrs. Hewitt afterward declared,
"You could have knocked me down with
a feather." And her overwhelming as
tonishment was so plainly shown that
the new ministor bocanio very much em
barrassed. "Ofcouso you know certainly you
ought to have been told that that I was
. a woman."
"We didn't know. Why, we nevor
thought of such a thing. They didn't
say a word about it," exclaimed Mrs.
Hewitt, and in Lor astonishment and dis
may she utterly ignored the outstretched
hand. , , ,
The young lady had a strong ana res
olute face, but Mrs. Hewitt suddenly
became aware that tho oorners of her
mouth were drooping, and there was a
hurt as well as a weary look in her face,
and all her mother compassion was
roused. ,..
"But it don't make any difference,
child I moan ma'am. I have no doubt
yon can preach as well as half the men.
We know what is going on in the world,
if we do live a good ways out of it, only
there never happened to be a woman
preacher any whero about here.so it took
me by surprise. Webeliovein giving
women a fair chance herein ScraggEnd,
loan tell you.
"I was afraid you might have objec
tions," said the young lady, a smile
chasing the weariness out of her face.
"Oh, we shall think everything of
you, I've no doubt after a while. You
don't know what it is to be without
regular preaching as long as we have.
Come right in and get rested, and have a
enp of tea, for I expect you've had a
bard journey."
Before escorting her guest to hor room
Mrs. Hewitt managed to slip upstairs
and slyly abstract Lysander's new shav
ing seYfrom tho toilette tablo, where
she had placed it for the convenience of
tho new minister.
It is undeniable that at the first receipt
of the news a general dismay overspread
Scragg E'd. Tho older people were
disposed to consider that a trick had
been playod upon them, and were angry
accordiugly, some oven going so far as to
wish to have Miss Barton told that her
services could be dispensed with. But
nobody seemed willing to toll her, and
there was a great curiosity to hear her
preach.
There were a few courageous spirits
ho openly avowed that they saw no
reason why a woman should not preach,
and were glad to have one for a minis
ter. Many complained of Miss Barton's
youth, but acknowledged that they
would not have objected on that score to
young man of twenty-six or twenty
seven, which was her ago.
' There were b Dmo who thought she was
too handsome for a minister, and others
who thought that since she was going to
set horself up for everybody to look at.it
was a pity that she was not handsomer;
some who thought women ought not to
preach at all, and others who thought
some women might be allowed to, bat
a woman minister as a stated supply was
Hot what was wanted.
But in two Sundays Miss Barton con
quered Scragg End, except a fow of the
most prejudiced, who would never own
themselves conquered. She was so sim
ple, so earnest, o sympathetic. There
were no long words, no far-fetched
analogies, such as Mr. Erieson used;
there was no rattling of the dry bones of
thoology; she touched the chorda that
vibrated iu their every day life."
"She comes right home to you, that's
a faot," said Joshua King, "8ho's scrip
tooral, too, and she makes as feeling a
prayer as ever I heard. I don't like to
see a woman in the pulpit, aud I ain't
a going to say I do, but she's edifyin',
and no mistake."
"I never went to nioolin' boforo whon
I didn't have terrible hard work to keep
from noddiu', but somehow hnr talk is
kind of plain and sensible, and keeps me
awake," said Luke Pottiugill, who was
woat to disburb the congregation by
audible breathing.
Peoplo flocked to Scragg End from far
and near to hear tho new minister, at
first with much tho same curiosity that
thoy would have shown to see a wbito
olephant, but soon for tho sake of tho
preaching. Nobody could quite ex
plain Miss Barton's popularity. Perhaps
old Mrs, Simmons camo as near to the
truth as anybody when she sid "she
wasn't any smarter than anybody else,
but someway she seemed just like own
folks. And she kuevr just bow folks felt
without boing told."
Ponkapawket wasscandalizdd. It was
a disgrace to tho whole town to have a
woman preacher holding forth every
Sunday, and drawing such crowds
drawing half tho congregation away
from tlie Ponkapawket ohurch, tool The
deacons requested Mr. Erioson to preach
a sormon from tho text: "Lot your
women keep silence in the churches."
Mr. Erieson was known to hold the
Woman's Rights movement in ooutempt;
but he had been twice to hoar Miss Bar
ton preach, when thero were no services
in bis own church, and he had also
called upon her sevoral times, and when
the deaoons conferred with him about
preaching that sormon they found it im
possible to obtain any satisfaction; ho
wus very polite, and he did not say that
he would not, but "ho bmiling put tho
question by.-'
One day ho surprised Miss Barton by
inviting her to nn exchango of pulpits
for the following Sunday; but that was
in harvest-time, and she hod come to
Scragg End in June. Even Ponkapaw
kot had become accustomed to the idea
of a woman preacher, if it did not ap
provo of it.
He had found hor sitting on the piazza
on a warm afternoon in lute September.
She had a large basketful of stockings
besido her, and was darning them dili
gently. Some were her own, some were
Adoniram Hewitt's and Lysandor's, for
Boxy had gone away on a visit, and Mrs.
Hewitt's hands wore more than full. She
looked as housewifely as if she bad never
aimed at any wider Bphere.
The shadow of a smilo thickered about
Mr. Eriosou's mouth as he observed her
employment. Although Miss Barton
looked up only as much as politonoss re
quired, she saw the smile, and it
brought a flush to her cheek. Though
she lcoked so strong and resolute, it was
evident thut Miss Barton was keenly
sensitive.
He sat down beside hor, and immedi
ately proffered his request, perhaps us
an antidote to the smile.
"Your people would be shocked.
They don't approve of me," said Miss
Barton.
"I never suspected you of any want of
courage," said Mr. Erieson.
"I am a dreadful coward. I don't
think I fully realized it whon I began.
If I had boon sent anywhere but to
Scragg End, I don't know what I Bhould
have done. Hero they are humble
minded people, without strong preju
dices, and I do seem to havo found the
way to their hearts. But I am afraid I
should nevor dare to enter anothor pul
pitcertainly not yours at Ponkapaw
kot." "Yon would soon conquer thoro as
you havo conquered here, said Mr.
Erioson.
"I couldn't endure their unfriendly
gaze. I should display all my woman
ishness. I should blush, I should trem
ble, I might faiut. I should be a stum-bling-blook
to the women who are fol
lowing in tho same pathway. I don't
mean to be that. My work in Scragg
End sulllccs me, and I am bo thankful
for it."
"I am sorry you feel so about Ponka
pawket, because I have a proposition in
my mind much more audacious than the
one that I made," said Mr. Erioson. .
Miss Barton raised ber eyes inquir
ingly, and dropped them again instantly
under the minister's gaze.
"I thought we might unite the
churohes." Mr. Ericson's voice trembled
a little, as if he were afrcid.
"I don't see how it could be done,"
said Miss Barton, frigidly.
"Of course there is but ono way," said
Mr. Erieson, quietly. "I dared not ark
you to be my wife without suggesting to
you the fact that your work need not be
given up."
The girl rose tj hor feet. Lysander's
stocking fell from her hand, and was
blown away by tho wind, unheeded. "I
don't know what I havo done to deserve
this this insult. I thought that at least
you respected me, and I thought my
calling made mo sacred from such such
attacks altogether."
"1 om sorry that you should think it
an insult. I tan hardly see how a man
oould give you a better proof of his re
spoct than to ask you to bocome his wife.
And as for your calling making you
sacred, we don't believe in the celibacy
of the clergy, you know." In spite of
his evidcut mortification and distress,
there was a sly twinkle in Mr. Ericson'b
eye as he said that.
"Butl--I am a woman," said Miss
Barton, sitting down again, and covering
her face with ber bands.
"The more reason why you should bo
married," said Mr. Erieson, calmly.
"Yon need a protector."
"I am perfectly sufficient for myself.
And I shall nevor care for anybody
anvthing but my work."
Mr. Erieson arose. "I am sorry to
have troubled you," he said gently. "I
love you, and I have never known what
U was to love a woman before; that is all
my rxcuse."
Miss Barton watched him as he went
down the road, with the yellow leaves
falling upon him. She observed, as she
never had done before, how finely his
bead was set opon his broad shoulders,
what a monly grace there was about his
strong, well-knit figure.
"But he baa no business to love me,
she said, drawing her brows into a tight
Then suddenly she remembered Ly
sander's stocking, and went down in the
grass to look for it. It bad blown over
the fonce into the field. She itrotohod
her arm botweon tho sluts and drew it
back. As she did so she caught sight of
Lysander. Ho was gathering squaHhoa
and pumpkins on the little south bill;
she aw hi Ugure in eilhonotto against
the bky. Ho started to come toward the
houso, and she waited for him waitod
until a sudden thought sent a fl.iuio of
color over her faoo.
"It can't be" sho said, half aloud,
inquiringly. "I will keep that out of
my life. I won't bo a failure! I won't
be!" And she rushed up to her room
aud locked herself in.
She camo down as calm aud grave as
ever whon tho tea-bell rung, and after
tea she and Lysander read their daily
quantity of Greek, for Lysander was
pursuing his studios with renowed avid
ity sinoe he bad a companion to help
him, and had not yet given up bis long
oherishod hopo of studying for tho min
istry, though thero seemed no prospect
of his being ablo to leave, the farm.
After that day Miss Barton dovood
herself more zealously thai ever to her
work. She darned no moro stockings.
When she was not writing hor scrmous,
she was visiting tho sick aud the poor,
and making, or suggesting and inducing
others to make, improvements, sanitary
and moral as well as roligious.
"She was practical and eilk'ient as if
she was not a woman," many people said,'
and old Jeremy Grimes, who had wished
to tell her when sho came that they did
not want a woman preacher, said: "Thoy
couldn't havo had such women in St.
Paul's timo, or be never would have
written what he did."
But Mrs. Hewitt had a grievance.
Miss Burton didn't seem to make herself
one of the family as she used to. She
was shut up in her own room almost all
the time now, and she and Ly
sander didn't seem to get along together
as they used to. Sho never came into
the kitchen and wantod to holp make
cako now, or sat with them around the
fire in the evening whilo Lysander read
aloud. Sho "didn't seem to have any
thing against them, but she wasn't free
and sociable any more."
Lysander was teaching school this win
tor and attending to the farm work in
his leisure time. His habit of studying
witti Miss Barton had gradually died out.
To his mother's persistent questionings
Lysander repliod that neither of them
had any time for it now.
Mrs. Hewitt could not make it out.
"Pa," who prided himself on being long
headed, hinted that he oould, but bo
would not say outright what he thought,
and his wifo regarded hints with lofty
scorn.
One afternoon, after school hours, Ly
eandor went down to the woods back of
the house to superintend the operations
of some men who were outting timber.
Just at dusk Miss Bartou, coming home
from a visit to a sick parishioner, en
countered four men carrying on an im
provised stretcher Lysander's apparently
lifeless body. He was lying white and
rigid, and there were scarlet spots upon
tho ground all the way that he had come.
Down on ber knees in the snow full Miss
Barton, and threw her arms around him.
"Oh, my love! my Jove! haveyou gone
so far awoy that you cauuot hoar me say
I do lovo you?" she criod. "I was cold
and hard because I thought it was mv
duty, but if you could only come back"
And then they bad to raise Miss Bur
ton nnd carry her into the houso, for sho
had fainted.
"That's just what I could have told
you a good while ago if I had hail a mind
to," said "Pa," as ho rehearsed the scene
to bis wifo nn hour afterward. "Sho's a
terrible Bight like a woman if she is a
minister. And Lysander well, I calou
lato ho wou't complaiu of having bis foot
out, if it does lay him up for a whilo.
I can't say whether she'll lot him do the
preaching, or whether they'll both do it,
but you'll see them married before sum
mer." "I don.t want anybody to think it's be
cause I'm a woman," said Miss Barton,
rather inconsequently, when Lysander
led ber, blushing and tearful, to his
mother's arms. "But I didn't seem able
to help it. And Lysander says I needn't
give up my work." Harpor's Bazar,
The Power of Suppressing Pain.
There are cases which I doubt not are
very familiar to you, in which we can
withdraw ourselves, as it wore, from
even severe physical pain by determin
edly fining our attention upon some
thing elso, either external objects or in
ternal trains of thought. A very admir
able example of that kind was presented
not long since by a well-known physician
of this city, Dr. Edward H. Clarke, with
whoso case I have become acquainted
through my friend Dr. Oliver Wendell
Holmes, who wrote a charming little no
tice of bim affixed to the work on
"Visions," which has been published
since bis death. The fatal malady from
which he suffered during the latter
months of his life produced the most
agonizing pain; and yet be could deter
minately withdraw his consciousness, so
to spoak.from that pain by fixing it upon
another object, that object being the
working out of his own neutral train of
thought in the composition of this book.
This is well known to have been the case
also with regard to Sir Walter Scott,
who, during u very severe and painful
illnsss, dictated the "Bride of Lummer
moor." And the most remarkable fact
about its composition was that, after his
reoovery, he entirely forgot all that he
bad done, the book on its publication
coming to him as on entirely new work
with which he had bad nothing -whatever
to do. He only remembered the
general outline of the story upon which
be bad composed his novel; this he hud
heard in early life, and it remained with
him; but of the working up of this story
into the novel, while he lay on bis sofa
contending with paroxysms of agony, he
had no recollection. Thus, in the case
of Walter Scott, as in that of Dr. E. II.
Clarke, we see the effect of determined
fixation of the attention npon a train of
ideas in mastering physical pain. And I
shall give you another most remarkable
example of the same thing in the case of
Robert Hall, one of the most celebrated
preachers of my early years, of whom, I
suppose, most of you have heard. Ho
used to go into the pulpit suffering tho
most agonizing pain, which was found
after his death to have resulted from a
large calculus in his kidney, with pro
jecting points, the terrible suffering pro
duced by which every medical man will
at once appreciate; and was obliged ha
bitually to take some of the largest doses
of opium that wero ever administered in
order to keop this under at all. But from
tho moment ho begun his extempore sor
mou (tbo introductory service having
been performed by bis colleague) be
scorned utterly nncomciou of it. During
the latter portion of his life, which was
pusod ut Bristol, I was often bis hearer,
and, liko everyone olno, was most doeply
interested in bis discourses, whilo at
times qnito carried away by tho torrout
of bis eloquouce. I was assured by eyo
witiiosses that whon ho went down into
tho vestry he would sometimes roll on
tho floor in agony, though during bis
pulpit address he had ceased altogether
to fool pain. Dr. Curnentor in Medical
Journal.
Freaks uf Forgetfuliieiis.
Of all the ills to which flesh is hoir
forgctfulnosj is tho ono thut furnishes
tho groatest numbor of luughablo epi
sodes; and while many of them are very
annoying, the mirthful featuro which is
their invariable companion affords a cer
tain degree of compensation.
Near one of our Atlantic sea-ports
there resides an old whaling captaiu
oommonly known as Undo (lurdon. To
keep from getting rusty, ho made his
homo on the river bonk, whero bo could
keep a boat, fish and paddle about as ho
liked. The plaeo was about five miles
from tho city, and, as occasion required.
Uncle Qurdon would jouruoy townward
for tho purpose of shopping. Reaching
tho city, tho horse and wagon would be
loft at the watering trough on the Pa
rade, cud each would go in different di
rections, carrying their bundles to this
oommon receptacle, tho first through
waiting for tho other. On one of these
shipping excursions Uncle Ourdonmade
several trips to the wagon, finding that
each time additions had been made to
his stock of bundles a sign that his
wifo was busy. Having completed bis
purchases, he unhitched his.horso, and
the ferry boat having arrived, climbed
into the wapou. and drove on board.
While crossing tho river one of bis ac
quaintances steppod up and asked how
he was getting on.
"Well, I'm getting on nicely, but I'm
bothered just now."
"Why, is anything going wrong?"
"No, nothing special; but I came
down to do some shopping, and I have
forgotten a package I was to get," and
the old gentleman scratched his head iu
a perplexed manner.
"Well, I wouldn't worry. You will
think of it next time," said tho neighbor;
and the boat having reached the landing,
Uncle Ourdon drove ashore and went on
oward home.
When nearly half-way thero he me,
anothor friond, who stopped to have a
chat.
"How do yon do to day, Uuole Our
don?" be asked.
"Oh, nicely; though I'm a lit worried
just now."
"Worried? what about?" continued tho
neighbor.
" Well, yon see, I've been to town
shopping and thore's a pareol of some
kind that I've forgotten. I can't think
what it is, and it bothers me."
"Oh, never mind it! Yon will recol
lect what it is beforo you go again. By-the-way,
Uncla Ourdon, how is your
wife?"
"Jerusalem!" criod Undo Gordon,
slapping his knee with great energy. "It
is my wifo that I've fornotton! She
went to town with me to do some shop
ping, ami I was to wait for lior.
And Uncle Gurdon turned around
and went baok to the ferry for the par
cel ho bad loft bohind. Harpor's Muga
zino.
Sew Way of Marrying Tor Money.
The proverb which warns us that it is
possible to have too much of a good
thing reoeived a probably uniquo illus
tration in tho recent conduot of a French
couple of the name of Chctoo, who aro at
present occupying cells in two of tho
prisons of Paris. Thoro exists, it seems,
a religious society in the French ' capital
callod the society of St. Francois Regis,
the object of which is to encourage
oouples bolongingto the poorer classes
to supplement the civil marringo before
the Mayor, which is deemod sufficient ii
a great many oases, with the religious
rite in tho churoh; and small prizes are
given to stimuluto the bettor foolings of
the lukewarm. It occurred to Cheton
and his wifo, who wore regularly mar
ried last December, both by priest and
Mayor, that they oould make a few
francs by representing to the society
tbat they had not invoked the blossing
of tho church on their union, and offer
ing to do so for a consideration. Tho
society then mado them a grant of five
francB, and tho religious ceremony was
duly solemnized iu the church not tho
saras as that iu which they wero first
married and at the time appointed.
Unfortunatoly for this ingenious oouple,
their fraud was disoovorod. They were
proseoutod for obtaiuing money under
fulso pretenses, and they have just been
sentenced, tho husband to eight, tho
wifo to six mouths' imprisonmont. St,
James Gazette.
For tho KIcIi JlanV Amusement
This, I take it, is tho worst and dark
est count in tho wholo indictment against
professional scribblers that they aro
Loribblinj? not for tho odvaocemont of
tho world as a whole, not for the enlight
enment of tho struggling macsea, not
even for the more innocent am'isoniont
of the peoplo who feed and clotho them,
but simply and solely for the gratifica
tion of a class who have probably no rea
son wbateve to exist, and whom the sea
green incorruptible, if ever he comes,
will educate out of existence with all
convenient expedition. Gun a scribbler
be considered as sinning against light if
he deliberately goes on scribbling for
the classes iu point after bo has onco
clearly arrived at this fundamautal eth
ical judgment?
When one begins to apply the rulo, it
becomes obviou, I think, that it cuts
quite too widely for practical guidunce.
For, after all, in the world o now con
stituted, with the majority of tho wealth
concentrated in the handsof useless, idle
and s lfisb people, (which, in fact, we
all admit in our sober moments,) it is
difficult to see what else the proletariate
can do but just silently perforni the
tasks which wealth demands of it. Con
sider, for example, tbat it is not only the
pcribblers who are included in this con
demnation, but wholo thousands and
millions of laboring men who spend
their lives in making expensive article
of useless luxury for the very wealthy.
Indeed, it is but a relatively small por
tion of tho world's population that is em
ployed in providingor distributing really
useful things -bread, meat, clothing,
aoionco, pootry. Tho remainder aro
oliirily occupiod in turning out mother
of pearl card-cases, maluchito boxes,
ivory handled brushes, crests and mono
grams, or papior-roaoho ruountrofiilioi;
in preserving game, breeding bull dogs,
inauufucturinp; lawn-tonnis bats, or dress
ing young ladies' hair; in growing cham
pagne, bunting sealskins, diving for
pearls, grubbing for diamonds, ihooting
humming-birds, or pulling ostrich feath
ers all the world over. II wo ro iuto a
big houso, inhabito I by ono of Mr. Ar
nold's greater barbarians, wo see nothing
around us on every side but intinito pro
ducts of wasted and misdireotod human
labor, for the most part not evon beauti
ful, but owing tlioir wholo valuo nnd
wUatevor paltry mtorest they may hop-
pon to possess to tho amount cf time
ami paius that has boon unhappily ex
pended on proonrinRtbem. The obioois
are mostly of what wo call precious ma
terials; that is to say, matoriuls for tho
obtaining of which many individual mon
havo backod their luck against tho pauc
ity of supply, and havo wasted their days
in an ineffectual Bcareh, only ono out of
a hundred ever getting a fair roturn for
ins timo and labor as in diamond mm
iug. The wholo pluco reeks of gold, sil
ver, ivory, jade, agato, onyx, piuphyry
and tortoise Bholl; it slides and glistens
with polished granite, marble hud lao
quor; it dazzles us with mosaic, buhl,
velvet, Russia leather, porcelain, breeze
and ormolu. If we tuko n turn round
ono of our greut mauufuoturing towns,
we find it wholly given ovr to tho mak
ing littlo electro pluto bhrinrs for tho
goddess of fashion, to tho inunufucturo
of jewelry, bloom of Ninon, opera-glasses,
artificial flowers, photographic albums,
or blue satin covorings for chairs with
gilt legs and plaster mouldings. If we
drop canally upon nuy distant colony or
dopoudency, we find black mou and
brown men shootiug birds of paradise,
hunting for rubies, extracting elephant
tusks, growiupr dios, cutting down ma
hogany, or fishing coral, all for the sup
ply of the groedy, lazy, gr&Hping.tributo
exacting European market. I don't say
that all theno trades are necessarily bad
in themselves, but I do say they are not
a whit bettor than thetradoof a scribbler
who writes sooiul loaders for the daily
press. Coruhill Magazine.
Leap In tho Dark.
"You are actually going to get mar
ried! You! Alreadyl And you expeot
me to congratulate you, or perhaps not.
I admire the judiciousness of that 'per
haps not.' Frankly, I wish you all hap
piness in tho new life that is opening to
you, and you aro marrying under good
auspices, as your father approves of the
marriagos. But congratulations on such
occasions seems to me tempting Provi
dence. The triumphal procession air
whioh in our mannors and customs is
given to marriage at the outset that
singing of "Te Doum" boforo the battlo
has begun has, ever since tho rellou
tiou camo to mo, struok mo as somewhat
whut senseless and somewhat im-
pius. If over one is to pray, if evor ono
is to feel grave and anxious if over ono
is to shrink from vain show and vain
babble, surely it is jut on tho occasion
of two human beings binding themselves
to ono a tother, for better and for worse,
till Ucotli part tliem, just on that oeca
sion which is customary to oelebrato
only with congratulations and rejoicings
aud trousseaux and white ribbon. Good
God!" "Will yon
think me mad whon I tell you that whon
I read your word, 'I am going to be
marriod,' 1 almost scroamod? Positively
it almost took my broatu as if 1 saw you
tuko a leap into infinite space. You bad
looked to me suoh a happy, happy littlo
girl I lour futuor s only daughter, and
ho so fond of you as bo evidently was.
After ho bad walked out of our
bouse that night, and I had got to my
room, I sat down in tho dark thero and
took 'a good cry." You had reminded
me so vividly of my own youth, when I
was an only daughtor, an only child, bad
a father as fond of me, as proud of me. I
wonderod if you knew your own nappi
ness." Mrs. Carlyle's Letters.
There's So Use Bucking Against Solid.
facts.
A farmer oamo into a grooery store the
othe day and exhibited to the eyes of an
admiring crowd an enormous egg, about
six iucheB long, whioh he avowed to have
been laid by one of bis own liens. HO
had it packed in cotton and wouldn't al
low anyono to handle it for fear of break
ing the phenomenon. The groceryman
examined it with the rest, and, intend
ing to chaff the countryman, said:
"Pshaw! I've got something in tho egg
line that will beat that."
"I'll bet you five dollars you bavn't!"
saw I the couutryman, petting exeneu.
"Tako it up." replied tho grooorymun,
and going bohind tho counter bo
brought out, a wire egg-beator. "Thore
is Hoiuotblnein tho eoi? line that will
beat it, I guess," said ho, reaching out
for tho stakes.
"Hold on thero," said the farmer;"lot'i
see vou beat it." and ho haudod it to the
grocer. The latter hold out his hand for
it, bat dropped it in Burprise on tho
counter, where it broke two soup plates
and a pluttor. It wasol solid iron, painted
white.
"Some folks think they're darnation
cuto," murmured the farmor as be pock
eted the stakes and lit out, "but tain't
no use buckin' against tho solid lacts.
Detroit Chaff.
Siagara Revisited.
All TPnArrn of "Their Weddinir Jour
ney" will keenly relish the sequel to that
episode entitled "Niagara Revisited,"
twelve years later, in ma iiay miaono,
Mr. Howell's opening paragraph show
ing how Basil and Isabel had got on in
t!,,. (wnlvn vcars. mav be o noted:
"Lfe bad not used them ill in this
timo, and the fairish treatment they had
received was not wholly unmerited. The
twelve years past bad mado them oldor,
as the years must in passing. Basil was
nnw i'l and liix moustache was well
sprinkled with gray. Isabel was 39, and
the parting oi ner uair uau minnou ana
rptrnatad : but she'manacred to (rive it the
i .(T.f nf vnntlifnl ftbnndunce bv combiner
it low down npon her forehead, and
roughing it there with a wet brush. By
gaslight she was still very pretty; aha
believed that she lookod moro Interest
ing, and she thought Basil's gray mous
taoko distinguished. Ho had grown
ktouter; be filled nis doubie-breastod
frock ooat compactly, and from time to
timo he had tho buttons sot forward; his
bands wore rounded on the backs.and ha
no louger wears his old number of glovea
by two sizes; no amount of powder or
manipulation from the young lady in
tho shop would indaco thorn to go on.
But this did not matter much now, for
ho seldom wore gloves at all. lis waa
glad that the fusbion suffered him to
snare in that direction, for lo was.
obliged to look somewhat circf nlly after
tue outgoes, me insurance business
was not what it had been, and thouzh
Basil hud comfortably established him
self in it, ho had not mado money. He
somotimcs thought that he might have
done quite as well if he had cone into
literature, but it was now too late. They
had not a very largo family; they bad
only a boy of eleven, who "took aftor"
his fathor, and a girl of nine, who took
artor the boy; but with the Araorioan
feoliug that their children must have the
best of everything, thoy mado it an ex
pensive family, aud thoy spent noarly all
iusii carnod.
The Effect of Age on tho Eye.
It is found on an average of observa
tions, that at 10 years of age the crystal
lino lens in the eyo may bo rendered so
convex as to give a clear tmae of an
object throo mohos away. At 21 it will
accommodate itself to an objeot four and
a half inches from the oyo. Anything
nearer will be obsoure, becauso the Ions
will not assumo a form sufficiently con
vox to rofraot to a fooas on the retina
rays of light so divorgent as any nearer
objeot will radiato. At 40 years of ago
the "near point" hairoachod to a distance
of nine inohes, and at 00 to thirteen
inches. At 00 yoars of aire tho Ions has
so far lost its flexibility, and therefore its
power of responding to the musclo, that
it caandt ordinarily give a clear objeot
less than twonty six inchos from the eye.
At 75 tho powor of accommodation is
wnolly los',; light still passes turongb the
eyo, aud is focused on the retina, but
only when it comes iu parallel rays.
Parallel rays can oonverogo on the re
tina, but divorgent rays roqnire that ex
tra refractive power whioh the aged eyo
has lost by the hardening of the lens.
Hot as a matter of disease, thou, but in
the ordinary oourse of yoars, and in
every eye aliko, is the bodily sight
woanod from the soruples of near ob
jects around, and pormittod to turn a
oloar vision upon things far off. Cham
bers' Journal.
Let Them do,
Ho had livod six months in Europe
and met iu tho street car. Sho, too, had
been abroad. The oar was orowdod, and
be held on a strap while he leanod for
ward cracofullv and talkod to ner. Tuey
did not mind that all in tho car hoard
them. They rathar enjoyed that. She
said sho was so anxious to cross again.
Ho said bo was he. bhe said it waa just
horrid bore, uud ho agree J.
"There is nothing ut all for a follow to
do," and he wont on, "nothing for him
to see, nothing for him to buy. I put
fifty dollars iu my pocket a. week ago
aud I have it thero yut. J. actually
couldn't spond it."
It was not pnlito, but tho oar roared.
I think even tho horses smiled for the
front door was opon it was a Bpring
liko day aud tho words of the idiot
must liuvo reached them. Thore was a
look of unutterable oontompt upon the
faces of the man and woman, but thoy
spoke uo moro. Likely thoy dotost thoir
country and their country poople more
than over. Tno mission of Henry James,
Jr., is not yet fulfilled.
A Royal Same fur a Common Drug.
At Croton common drugs aro sold at
all tho stores. Rocontly an Irish woman
entered one of them and said to a new
olork:
"Would yeos be after putting up for
mo a pound of Queen Annie's powdor?"
Tho olork took down a package of bak
ing powdor and was doing it up when
sho exclaimed:
"Not at all, at all; mo Patrick is siok
wid the African favor."
"What fever?" inquired the clerk.
"The faver 'nagur,' replied the woman.
"And yoes should soe poor Patrick shake.
He hasn't a tooth loft, and but for the
ohaponcss of shad we would not be ablo
to kapo his oiothes on."
The woman got the quinine which she
wanted.
It is a fact vouched for by tho oldest
inhabitants that during the shad season
many of the people cannot ohunge their
clothes; not from tho arduousncss of the
work, but becauso of the number of fish
bones that puncture the skin.
A Philadelphia woman invited sales
girls from tho stores to joiu her class in
Sunday school, and a number of them
did to. At tho closo of the regular
services tho supoiintsndont announced
that a season of prayer would follow.
"Tho young ladies' mooting will be held
as usual in tho ante room on tho loft,"
he said, "and that of tho shop girls on
the right." Tho woman lost her now
pupils immediately.
First dude, with an embarrassed smile:
"Soy, Augustus, I really believe I've
broken a corset lacing. Have you an
extra one with you?" Second dude, with
an expresMOU of horror: "Really! why,
Algernon, where eonld you fix it if you
had one? The gynrla aro all looking at
us, you know."
Bcrthold Oebhardt, a German, was
found dead in tho parlor of the Fremont
house, Oakland, May 81st. He waa
very wealthy, nnd owned the premises
on whioh he died, aud also owned soma
property iu San Francieoo. His aggre
gated wealth is about 8 100 .000.
Tho world is soon to see the first col
ored tragedienne Henrietta Vinton Da
vis of Washington who is said to pos
sess special talent for the stage. She ia
very fine looking, a mulatto, and has a
good voico.
Jefferson Davis is growing oranges on
bis Mississippi plantation, and believes
the conditions there more favorable than
in Florida.
In New York 10,000 children attended
At.. I),,'..! waawlv'mAAlitifT fi Rail
j tist Sunday icbooU recently.