. ( j I ' ouoied by her nieces. Belle made her appearance presently, in a faded calico wrapper,rubbing her eyes after a drowey fashion. “Where’s breakfast?" Baid Aunt Leah. “Where’s Saidee? ’ counter-questioned Belle. “Oh, I know the svliiali thirur! fuU of romance as^ She has got ud early, and gone dotni with buttercups, and into the woods to get some pink azalb* for her hair before the other girls think 0t it. She wants to astonish us all at the picnic. But I think she might have told me!" “I'm afraid Saidee thinks more of her­ A recent numlier of the Celestial Em* i self than she does of us,” said Aunt Leah pire, referring to a dfccovery of Boma'i I ancient graves near Shanghai, gives,say« And Belle, in a very ill humor, began Nature** n interesting account of a Chi­ to prepare the breakfast—a task gener- nese burial in former times. A man of ally assumed by her elder sister. means purchased his coffin when lie While Saidee, hurrying down the path reached the age of forty. He woulil by the swamp, took the short cut across then have it painted three times each the clover meadow, and was presently year, with a species of varnish, mixed knocking at the door of the brick house with pulverized porcelain—a compos« g where the load of furniture had stood tion which resembled silicate paint or < the day before. enamel. Thee process by which the ar- The old lady with the crooked cap and uish was made has now been lost to the the cherry cheeks came to tbe door. Chinese. Each coating of this paint' “Have you yet engaged any one to was of some thickness, and when dried | help you get settled?” said Saidee,blush- had a metallic firmness resembling eu- • inh very prettily. amel. Frequent coats of this, if the "We’can’t hear of a soul!” said the owner lived long enough, caused the' old lady. Every one is engaged just coffins to assume the appearance' now, and—” of a sarcophagus, with a foot or more' i “If you thought I could be of use,” in thickness of this hard, stone-like faintlv began Saidee. shell. After death the voins and cavi "Bless mo, child!” said the old lady, ties of the stomach were filled with i “you are too slight and small. Besides,” quicksilver for the purpose of preserving looking closer at her, "you are a lady.” the body. A piece of jade would then “But I know how to clean house for be placed in each nostril and ear, and in all that,” said Saidee, valiantly. “I’ve one hand, while a piece of bar silver done it every year at home. Wo are would be placed in the other hand. . ladies, but we are not people of means. body thus prepared was placed upo^BJ. It is neefessarv that I should earn a little layer of mercury within the coffin; > money, *nd—” • latter was sealed,and the whole then j ‘‘Come in, my dear,” said the old lady signed to its last resting place. sK'f ~ c°me in and have a cup of coffee some of these sarcophagi were op^Bl | with us. I am Mrs. Hartwick—and this after the lapse of centuries, the I hj ^H r * is my daughter Kate.” were found in a wonderful state of pr2*i “Saidee Lynn!” exclaimed the soft ervation; but they crumbled to dust 2i voice of a pretty young girl, lying with exposure to the air. The writer a sprained ankle on the sofa. that the ---- employment of nietort showing that hi* sr.w A BRANCH HOUSE. tk down, engin^i ) man« giving your onlw Saw Mill TRIMMINGS wajin his Btudio—a griz- iluy old gentleman, in a l^fcajHid n, faded velvet * yot^inilfor’isi»"'*’’,^5iy success I have returned to do » little white-washing myself.” / “Oh, have you?” said Saidee. “I know such a nice recipe for kalsomine—as white as alabaster, and it won’t rub off at all.” “Let’s make it,” said Mr. Hartwick, That a Velasquez?” said Mr. Bruner, promptly. No picnio could ever have been more temptfously. “My dear, there isn’t lictnre dealer in the country who delightful than this day among dust, lid give fifty cents for it. It’s a men- white-wash, scouring-sand and brooms. Kate, on her sofa, hemmed curtains; iou* imitation, and a wretched one Mr. Hartwick bustled to and fro; Saidee, bat. b Saidee tied up the poor picture and with her curly hair tied up in a handker­ it house again shedding a few tears as chief, secured paint, and Harry whitened walked under the whispering trees. ceiling; and at twilight they had three My last hope is gene!" she thought, rooms in perfect order. “We have achieved wonders,” said nt i’ll not tell Aunt Leah or Belle that an iribontnre. They have always Kate, looking around at the neatly in such innocent pride in the Velas- tacked carpets—the soft, garnet plush hangings—-the pictures on the walls— the crystal brightness of the windows— while Mrs. Hartwick took Saidee myste- riouslv on one side. “My dear.” said she, “I do not know how to thank you sufficiently. But I am ashamed to offer you a dollar and a half although—” “Bn t I shall not be ashamed to take it,” said Saidee, smiling. “Why should I? That is, if you really think I have earned it.” ’ “My dear, you have more than earned it,” said the old lady; “and if you could possibly come to-morrow—” “Of course I will come,” said Saidee. Weary as she was, Saidee went around “are you the young by the village to buy some Young Hyson .ppointed us yesterday tea for the old lady before she returned to tbe Gothic cottage. .idee, crimsoning to the “Well,” she cried, brightly, to her sister, “what sort of a day did you have at the picnic?” “Awfully stupid!’ yawned Belie. “And tbe handsome young gentleman from Locust Lane didn’t (tome at all “Didn’t he?” said Saidee. “And where have you been?” de­ manded Belle, in an injured tone. “Oh, s|>ennd foxf neeeGslfies WWb*mind the tea; f * can drink cold water, I dare sayl” Saidee wrung her hands iu despair. How could she tell this woak, feeble old j lady above whose declining .years hung ; the"threatening Damocle^word of heart t disease, of Hie narrowin^Wnrcmnstauces i of their empty exchequer, the clamoring , creditors, the pitiful straits to which i they were reduced. “What shall I do?” she asked herself, as she went slowly back to the little i kitchen of the ruinous Gothic cottage, which they had obtained for a ridicu- I lonely low rent because it was ruinous. “I’ve borrowed of the rector’s wife twice , I and I'm ashamed to go there again, and I I’ve sold everything I can lay my handB Ion. But,” glancing up at a picture which hung in the hall beyoud, “there’s I the VeJsM'iez still. A Velasquez is al­ ways A money. Belle will scold „l out p»t with it, and Aunt Leah **zill moiirp, }but w0 oan’t live on air like the tines. I’ll take "a Bruner, the ■ ¿ist, thia i ask him to gt |ne a pui people such as we saw £111 tain family relics." And so when AuntMui ill was indulging I in her afternoon nap, and i Belle, the beauty of the family, w /as ironing out I the flousoos of her whit e muslin drees por the morrow’s picnio, valiant Saidee I climbed on a chair. ' ook the unframed _____ I picture down (it was the head of some [old Spanisli'gramlee, with a stiff pointed I ruffle, and an evil leer in the eyes), [wrapped it up in a newspaper and crept ■across the meadows with it to the vil- ST AND BEST ASSORTED ON THE COAST. FURHIT EDDING & UPHOLSTERY. e us a Call Before Purchasing. at.. 1T8 «*4 AT® Fro tat at., corner ambili, Portland, Oregon. J. I. CASE THRESHING MACHINE COMPANY’S NEW SHORT APRON STAYER Ar W \ìd< Lnoh taP’nm few lesson^Wbui him; | when abet'displayed the canvass he *k his heejd. How iuuc|li do you think it is worth?” id Saidee wistfully. S'mbiiig!”> said Mr. Bruner. But,* cried the girl, “it is a Velas- Well. I neverr h.i tom . i/P.’iT: STANDARD MINeTRELN. A Tettlmenlnl to » l>e>erv>n< Artist. W. H. T owne , San Francisco Gallery, corner of First and Morrison streets. Portland, Oregon.—We, the undersigned MAKE USE OF THIS VEGETABLE KINGDOM mem tiers of the Standard Minstrels and A SPUE remedy fob Muldoon Picnic Party, take pleasure in tendering this testimonial to your talent BLOOD and LIVER COMPLAINT as a first class photographer. We have had work done by eminent artisis in all the leading citieB of the United States, but never have we had photographs made that has given us such complete sat­ SEWING MACHINE STORE isfaction as those procured at your gal­ lery. For perfect finish and life-like ex­ pression, they excell all others. JOHN B. GARRISON, Proprietor, C harlie R eed , P ete M ack , B urt H avebly , A dd R yman , G eo . W. L awless , J. W. F beeth T. B. D ixon , S am C. M ott , W. F. B ishop BOOTS AND SHOES STURGES. IjRSEN ICO Frank G. Abell, the Portland medal photo* grapher, has remodeled his gallery and largely increased his facilities for doing good work. His large country patronage shows that the people of this mnnty anpreojatc good work When you go to Portland call in and see Frank and exam­ ine his gallery An hour cannot be spent any more pleasantly. Any book in the S-aort«n sad SON al Slnlrfkr Flotta, ptvtnMi LlaenJ