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About The new Northwest. (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887 | View Entire Issue (July 12, 1878)
MSB. A. J. DEJIWAT, EJIIor ant Proprietor 0 FflOB OOB.rBOKTfVASHISOTOK8TBEKT TZRM9, IN ADVANCE: One yftr, .tsoo - 1 78 JU ORtBS. T"r months.. - 1 60 AIJV K RTI8KM ENTS I nuertod o a Reasonable HER LOT OB, IVna How Hlie l'rotecteil. Br MBS. A. J. DUNIWAY. ADTHOE OF "JCIHTK RBIB," "moi Down,' "AM IB AND HKNKT LEE," "THE HAPPV HOME," "OKB WOMAN'S Bf-HEBK,'" "NAME MOKBISOX," ETC., KfC, XTC. ( -terad.MeonilBKto AetafOOBerww,in the year 187S, by Mrs. A. J. IkifflwBy, 1h the offleeof the Uhtarlaa of Goner s afWasblneUm City. CHAPTKR XXIIL My kinsman looked at me wonder iegly. Ttie old Impetuosity of my ohiidhood was again upon me, and I was ready, on the impulse of the mo meat, to say and do almost anything tbat was desperate, "You do not mean to say tbat Elder Chalmers killed my favorite cousin?" be exclaimed, in a deprecating way. "Yes, I do. He was bard, sinister, sanotimonlous, suspicious, and unscru pulous. She was gentle, loving, un selfish, ingenuous, and wholly incapa ble of coping with his stern, unyielding disposition. Had she beeu less scrupu lous, sbe might have deceived, cajoled, and flattered hlui into yielding many a point through the belief that be was displeasing ber by so doing? but she was incapable of deception, so sbe turned her weary head aside and died, dis gusted. I loved her, and I knew in stinctively tbat she was my kinswoman, but tbe old hypocrite who ruled over her and tbe young tyrant who lorded over me forbade our intercourse, so sbe died, leaving me in ignorance of every thing, save only tbat I could not help knowing, for I could see It with my eyes shut, tbat sbe bad loved Lord Both wiak, and ought to have been bis wife." 'Then you do believe there is some good in marriage, despite your bitter unmV "Who said I didn't believe In it? and who said I was bitter?" I asked, my cheeks tingling. My kinsman did not reply. Evidently his thoughts were far away, for be looked abstractedly through the half-open- door, aud seemed to forget my "Poor Ethel ! poor Ethel 1" he said, at last, heaving a long, heavy sigh as be poke. "You'd have said 'poor Ethel' with a ytt deeper meaning bad you Been ber die, as I did," I replied, thoughtfully. "Bet then it was better so. Sbe did not, otild not love the old monster who Wined and owned her, and the quicker jfce was dead tbe better. But I did so aot to know all about her. Malcolm ra e, was not you in love with her?" Jfjr kinsman blushed, and did not awwer. You need not fear to confide in me," 8aW, "for I shall find it all out" "fltoere is no secret, little cousin. I did love Ethel Graeme, and I should v-ade ber my wife but for our eM iosblp. And tben there was Lord Bothwick, and the love he bore ber, with whloh I could not interfere." "I never beard of such a family to fall la love with cousins"' I exclaimed "One would think there was no other fatuity in tbe whole earth to whom one of yon might pay court. Cousin Mal colm, I do not believe in cousins' mar rtegee." ".Tor do I, on general principles. Bat love laughs at kinship. And people love because they cannot help it." "Cousins ought to be thrown so much in each others' society that tbey may be always so well acquainted that there shall be no danger of them looking upon one another as diviuities. Do you know, Malcolm Graeme, that T some times believe there never could be any such thing as conjugal love If nobody ever imagined any one to be what they are not?" "I have never considered that prob lem, little oousln." "Well, it is useless for us to theorize upon It, lam very certain of one thing, though, and that is that the longer we 'hedge about upon the edge of my fun) ily's mystery, the longer we shall be in reaching a point where we may be able to solve It. Malcolm Graeme, can you tell me why aud how my mother, who was of gentle birth, was related in tbe ties of consanguinity to my father, who is a plebeian by birth and intuition? And were tbey both the cousins of Lord Bothwick?" AMr . . --iwur inner question I can answer affirmatively, though only in part. Your momer was Lord Bothwlck's cousin, and a daughter of Clarence Orasme, twin brother to Egbert Graeme Id'- father of the other Ethel Graeme who. though many years younger than your tody mother, was born to a her-1 Use even sadder than hers." ' 'But who was, or who is, my father ?" "One of the offshoots of tbe family, aoeh as every lineage produces in some of iU branches. His father, Malcolm, waa tbe oldest brother of the lot, and was disinherited by tbe Earl, his father, for marrying a buxom loss, the daugh ter of a laird, whose pretty features and voluptuous body charmed him." "Tbat, then, accounts for his want of education and culture. Children take their mental status from their mothers. Refinement is not innate in men." "You say truly, little cousin. Your father grew up under the curse of pen ury, induced by bis father's disinherit ance aud consequent dissipation," t " Khee Speech, Free Press, Fkee People. VOLTOIE ro-.TI.-N, OREGON, FRIDAY, JY 18TS. JS'TJrOEIg. 43. "But, cousin, con you tell rae why It Is tbat men, who claim to be Euperlorto women in mental as well as physical strength, so often sink into dissipation under the misfortunes that bring out the better elements in women's na tures ?" "I suppose it is because tbey are, as compared to men, what refined steel is as compared to pig iron." "Then why are they so often rendered helpless and powerless because of the law and custom that makes them de pendent aloue upon tbe will and caprice of their husbands?" "I will not attempt to answer that question, little cousin. Your mother was an angel, born and bred. She met your father at tbe old abbey beyond tbe Scottish border, and being young, ar dent, and imaginative, fled with him to Gretna Green and became his wife, as many another noble lady has done, to her sorrow." "But my father is not a bad man." "I know be Isn't. He's simply a good, easy-going, good-for-nothing sort of an animal, a splendid animal, in fact, aud there's precious little more senti ment or sentience about him than you will find in a Devonshire bull." I had been so long in America, where mock-modesty affects airs of supreme sensibility over tbe name of a perfect bovine that I blushed, though In truth I was modest enough to feel ashamed of myself because of the blushing. J knew my kinsman bad spoken truly. Baok through the vista of tbe bygone years I looked and saw my hopeless mother, as she tolled and drudged and suffered. Then the vision of ber dying day passed before me, and again I heard tho words, as she caressed ber dead baby with her dying fingers, "It was a girl, aud it is better so. It will never suffer as I have suffered." Now, patient reader, pause with me, and let- us ponder this question well. Why is it that woman's life Is so full of suffering? Is it not becauso she is un der a human curse? Do you consider God the author of her misery? I do not. A few years ago a young girl was placed in my care by ber father, under peculiarly painful circumstances. She was soon to become a mother, and had never been a wife. Her father was a plodding farmer, well-to-do and incon siderate of everything save disgrace. Her mother was a bow-backed drudge, such as you so often see in farm-houses that tbey fail to awaken surprise or sympathy. I had long been compelled to act tbe part of an acooueltese, to earn bread to keep the wolf from my rum- cursed door, aud this girl was placed with me for the double purpose of hav ing care and hiding her shame. She re mained with me three months before and as long a time after tbe advent of her babe, with nothing to do but to take care of ber health, aud tben her mother came by nlgbt, when she was quite well, to take her away. In spite of the mental and physical agony the girl had endured, sbe was as thoroughly .strong and well when her mother came as though she had suffered no Illness. If I could have been half as well cared for in bearing children In wedlock as my daughter has been cared for in ber disgrace, I should not be tbe broken down creature I am to-day," said tbe mother, with a sigh. "And then," she continued, "there is consolation in tbe thought that my daughter will not be compelled to submit again to the man dates of maternity at least, not with out ber own consent." Good reader, pardon me. I am re solved to let no opportunity escape to Impress upon you my utter detestation of tbe popular and almost universal sub jugation of wifehood. Motherhood, properly respected, honored, and eon suited, is an honor and a glory. But, alas! alas! it is a crying shame tbat matrimony is so often used to crush out all that Is desirable in It, How long, O, Lord, how long shall these things be? And how many of you who read these columns can look back understanding upon the lives of your own mothers with a knowledge that their record was a happier one than my mother's, or very much happier, but for the drunkenness, than even my own? Ah, me! "Will men continue to impose these unjust conditions upon legalized mater nity to tbe end of time? But I forget myself. I was telling you about my mother, and solving, little by little, tbe riddle of my Imme diate ancestry. "Why was I never allowed to know tbat Lord Bothwlok was my mother's cousin, while I lived in England?" I asked, suddenly. "How do you know it now?" was the ready reply. I sense it. And then I am sure you have said so." My kinsman laughed. "You women are strangely Intuitive," be said, musingly. "X feel certain tbat Lord Bothwick's momer. waa a uraeme, and that my rawer was given a better living than Iha Allior (nnnta in lli. .!... . e uic uaru as it was because of tbe natural desire of ber kinsman to assist my mother." "You have guessed it, little cousin, but you do not know, nor can I tell you, bow nor why it was tbat Ethel Graeme, your mother's cousin, was compelled by ber father to become tbe wife of a man sbe detested, when Lord Bothwick could have given her position, power, and luxury." "Does my mother's uncle Egbert yet live?" "He does. But he Is old and rheu matic and gouty and cannot travel, so he sends me abroad on his errands. I came to America on purpose to ascer tain tbe whereabouts of my cousin." "And you have found that she is burled in tbe deep, deep sea." "I have found one to whom I will be a friend, stanch and true, if she will but permit rae," bo said, feelingly. "Alas! cousin. Your friendship comes too late to do mo any good. I am the wife of Gerald Grey, and my destiny is in bis hands." "Do you regret that you are his wife?" "I regret tbat be Is a drunkard." "But tbat reply does not answer my question. Y'ou should say yes, or no." "Then, no." Good reader, I told a lie. I did re gret, under all the circumstances, tbat I was auy body's wife. I had tasted of tbe sweets of liberty and self-ownership In tbe several times when I had been compelled to earn my own livelihood while hiding myself from my husbaud to do it, and I had drank the cup of physical and mental suffering to its dregs upon every occasion when my le gal lord bad re-appeared upon tbe scene; and I was false, as are thousands of other women, to every sense of wom anly integrity when I pronounced my self satisfied with my situation as Ger ald's wife. A man thus conditioned, who would prouounco himself couteuted with such a lot, would be justly stigma tized as a fool. Aud yet, I know there Is such a thing as happiuess for married women, even in humble life; for my own daughters are now happily married to husbands who, being honorable men, understand and acknowledge tbe Indi viduality of womanhood, aud my girls fairly worship their worthy consorts, thanks to the instructions I have given them tbe husbands, I mean who, I am proud to say, respect and honor their mother-in-law. But again I di gress. J really bellcvo I am getting old and garrulous. My husband had been absent an hour. and tbe time was drawing near for his return. I still loved him at times, al most to madness, but ob ! how I did dread his coming. I knew it boded me trouble. And yet, whilo he was sober j ho "was, or always had been, kind and tender with me. But It was evident that bis nature was changing. There is no truer maxim than tho very trite one that strong drink will debase a man. Whisky fills the blood and brains with real hobgoblins. Like insanity, it per verts tbe better senses, and renders Its victim tbe converse of his former self. When Gerald returned he affected to be jealous of tho friendship between myself aud my kinsman; and be acted tho donkey so completely that, for the first time In my life, I felt a fear that I would ultimately despise him utterly, even while wearing his fetters. I was mortified and humiliated beyond con ception. My wifely honor was, in my own estimation, equal to that of Ciusar's wife. I held myself above suspicion. and, of course, reproach, but I could not rise above the feeling of self-deprecla tion that naturally comes to a woman of delicate sensibilities wbo finds herself unjustly suspected. Had the ofiender been another than my husband, I should have been furiously iudlgnant. As it was, I was ashamed. Sometimes I think tbe women are all fools. Judging my husband by what I had known of his past, what right bad I to submit In meekness to his assump tion of censorship, even if I had been in ever so slight a degree deserving it? But I did not ask myself this question. It did not even occur to me. I felt that I must have been in some degree impru dent; and, woman-like, I exerted my self to tbe utmost to make what amends I mlghtby wifely assiduity. Aud, husband-like, the more I made concessions, the more exacting and hard to please did Gerald grow. He would absent himself all day long from tbe cabin, and sulk at meal times, saying be was not hungry. He would bullet and scold tbe children, and treat his guest with such incivility that, taking all together, I was absolutely wretched. And yet he would not attempt to work. He felt himself born to a station beyond his surroundings, and he seemed content to see me dig aud delve as bis body servant, To my great relief our guest at last departed, and then I hoped for a return of happier days with my husband, Vain hope ! Delusive expectation ! One of our neighbors bad prepared tbe logs for a much larger house than any of us possessed, or had yet aspired to, and at the "raising," a bee to which all the neighborhood was Invited, he had brought a keg of rum as a treat to his friends. now my heart sank when I saw that keg of devil's elixir, and how I longed to attack it with an ax ! When I saw that demou'sbaltl well knew what was coming. Ab, me ! Gerald had no command of his appe tite. I almost believe be did not try to exercise a shadow of self-denial. Cer tain it is that when night came he was In such a condition that, If I had not been his wife, the community would have had no more thought of trustingme alone in bis power than If he had been a wild beast uncaged. ButI was married to him, and I was expected to accept the consequences. Ah! that awful night! But It was only the counterpart of a thousand similar ones that after ward followed. He allowed me to put the children In their bed, and then he drove me from tbe cabin and compelled mo to remain out all nlgbt long in the cool, damp air. I was afraid of wild beasts, and the hooting of an owl al most drove me wild with apprehension. But for my little ones, I would have courted death and rushed frantically Into Its very jaws. But my babies. What will not a mother endure for her darlings? Ah, me ! By morning Gerald's frenzy had cooled, and he wa3 fast asleep. Tben, my very marrow chillUl -with the cold night air, and oppressed by tho fright and dread tbat were upon me, I crept like a criminal into the hut my own hands had builded.and with my aching fingers lit a fire upon the adobe hearth. Tii be continued. Tie Beason "Why. Mott lK-onIe are cros, and mint people are unusually hungry on Sunday, rtoonecan tell why It M. but If we observe our acquaintances, we Khali 11 nd It to be true, Uoldeu Itule. Now it seems to me the easiest thing possible to know the reason of this Sun day crossness aud hunger. Almost everybody sleeps later on mac morning, most persons from two to three hours. A great many parents are driven up at last by noisy, hungry children clamor ing for breakfast. They rise hurriedly," themselves faint from a longer fast than usual. Tbe breakfast, where servants are employed, has been kept waiting so long as to be nearly unfit to eat, aud often the poor servant is blamed for It, aud tho "crossness" of the mistress rouses crossness in her. All having had their usual habits broken in upou, are ailected more or less by it, especially tho children. When servants are want lug, and the late risers have to prepare breakfast, what a hurrying and "scurry ing" takes place. Then there is the fire tbat won't barn, the muddy coffee, the underdone bascuit, tbe crying, quarrel some children, little animals as they are, like any other animal deprived too long of food, reaJy to snap at anything, while father wonders that they are so cross. Mauy a child lias nad a Sunday whlnnlnc when the real fault lay with those who compelled it to wait too long for its accustomed bath anil food. Just here I bethink me of a child who used often to be chastised on Sabbath morn ing, not exactly for crossness, but for skinning out of bed, waking up two sis ters aud a baby brother, and getting them all uproarious with laughter at her antics. Ah. me! how tbat child subsided as mother, driven from her bed bv the noise, appeared at Hie door, i took the whipping, but to this day am In doubt whether l deserved 11 or not. i wasn't tired with work. I roso at the usual hour, and if only tho rest of tbe family had, what unpleasant memories I should have been spared. "Xo one can tell wby people cat more on Sunday 1" Becauso they've fasted longer. And men, overloading tlielr stomachs and having no usual labors to engage in to work it off, but Idling about, stretching themselves to rest again, or dozing over a book or paper, who wonders tbey are cross? Some of these late risers moro's the pity are church-goers; and then there are tbe hasty or neglected baths, the clothes that won't bo found, tbe missing but tons, etc. When found, mothcris called all ways at once, and at last has her brood dressed only as the bell strikes for church. Throwing on her own clothes, snatching parasol and fan, and marshal ing her troops, she hurries forth, and, panting and heated, enters that house that "holiness becomes forever," quite unfit for worship. And just hero 1 must say it seems to me that i'rotestaut churches might with great profit adopt one custom of Ilomau Catholic ones, by appointing an early morning service, at least in summer. As it is, tbe hottest hours of tho day, half-past ten In tbe morning and at three In the afternoon, the bell sum mous out the faithful to drag through tho heat bodies which, however willlug tbe Bplrlls they may carry, do often succumb to it, I have positively envied the Irish girls as I saw them walking cool to church in tbe fresh morning hours, while I. miserable woman, my self up at tbe same hour as on week days, was waiting breakfast for sleepers, But l hear some worKtng man or woman, some overtasKeu latuer or mother, ask : "Is not Sunday a day of rest? Do you grudge us one nay or sleep ?" Yes, dear friends, I do grudge you the morning hours, because I know it hurls you more than it helps or rests. A celebrated physlciau tells his con sumptive patients even: "Never go to sleep after you wake in tbe morning. Every nap you take drains your life." Judging ray own feelings when forcing my sell into tailing a second nap that I might not disturb those who wished to sleep, I believe this to be true. Try ris king at your usual hour through the week, take breakfast at tbe usual hour, bathe and atteud church In the morn ing let us hope the hour for service win soon bo appointed earlier ere the sun is hot then in tbe afternoon, ob. workers, stretch tbe tired limbs on the lounge, on tho cool grass under the lilac bushes, or tbe great, glorious elms, and rest body and mind until eveulnsr. A short service of prayer and praise you will surely wish to join in ere sleeping, and will come home refreshed, and, as .Fanny Fern says, "with something wherewith to fight the devil through the week." Phrenological Journal. The day is not far distant, murmurs the Elko rosl. when tbe housewife will glance Into the wood-shed, and, fiuding tbat the husband has gone off without splitting the dally allowance of fuel, win taKo uown mo pnonograpu, uowi into it a volley of epithets that will register 1G0 pounds pressure to the square inch on tbe safety gauge, and tben call out to her boy: "Here, John, go down town and grind tbat out to your darned lazy old father, and see that you turn tbe crank lively, too." Good company and good conversation are the very sinews of virtue. Good character Is above all things else. Chl-llng-sl, an empress of China, was the inventor of silk. OUB WASHINGTON LETTEB. Tothe Editor of the New Northwest: Hon. Edward McPherson, superln tendent of tbe government bureau of engraving and printing, in his argu ments before the committee on banking and currency, last February and March, resisting the efforts of private corpora tions to again secure to themselves a portion of tho printing and engraving of the publlo securities, pointed to the continuous improvements in our cur rency, and tbe high rank It has taken among the nations, yet scarcely led us to a full conception of the consummate art displayed in the new silver notes. We called upon him recently, and It was with a Justifiable pride he exhibited to us the $600 and $1,000 notes, yet in proof. Since the world began, no na tion has given to its people, as the In signia of its indebtedness, so fair a "promise to pay," and In whose perfec tion is shadowed tbe permanenco of its Institutions. As it is yet some time be fore these notes will appear, a Bhort description of the S500 denominations may not be uninteresting to your read ers. If there Is auy difference, this one, taken altogether, is, perhaps, the finest of tbe two. As if to add that sense of security which comes from looking ou a great man, the embodiment of bold aud puro principles, the artist has "Set tbe face of Charles Sumner In tbe upper right corner of the note, where it looks from a most perfect likeness into tbe depths of his own seriousness. Upon tho extreme left coils a beautiful oval "counter," tbo work of the wonderful geometrical lathe, wbicb so successfully defies the counterfeit. Embedded in tbe center of this are the figures "500" iu fine artistic design, each of whljh has the appearance of having a recess, in which mythological characters have stationed themselves In tbe attitudes of their peculiar significations. In tbe lower center Is a series of five joined geometrical lathe "counters," in each of which appears a letter making the word "silver." Just above this traverses the denominational words "flvo hund red," which, to the naked eye, show only an artistic blending of lights and shades, but, under a magnifying lens, discloses In each letter tbo words, "Tbe United States of America." These, with the additional necessarry wording, repe titions of the "500," and handsome bor der, made from woven flowers, vines, and scrolls, make up the face of the note. But if the face be a culmination of art and beauty, not less so Is tbe back. Here the artist, seeming to free himself from tbe restraint of a business contract, fairly leaps Into the open fields of flowers and vines, and tho poetry of architecture, and blends together in a border, twined vines, and flowers, and scrolls, upon which the eyo may feast. Then from the word "silver" be takes the sound of coin, and leaves, instead of the freshening kiss of flowers, and tbe cool shades of twining foliage, as across tho note from left to right most exquis ite chase, the ample floral letters. A bed of flowers and scrolls Invite tbe eye to the upper left corner, in wbicb is a shield bearing the motto, " pluribus unnm." Just above this, and belonging to tbe group, as If not to be entirely for gotten of tbo commercial Interest, is a denominative "500." Continuing this same thoughtfulness to the right band corner, an inimitable "counter" presents the numeral "I," which seems to smile in the utmost sense of security. At tached to tbe left border are three circles containing stars, while corresponding on the right are three hearts, enclosing each an oak leaf. These, with much more equally fine, make up this real piece of workmanship, which is .the crown of the bank note engraving act, and sets at defiance tho highest skill of the counterfeiter. The engraving-room, In charge of G. W. Casaller, Is the fine art department of tbe bureau. Here is collected the finest skill in the country In the engraving art, tbe result of many years of "culling" and education. This is one of tbe divisions of publlo affairs not affected by political changes. The passport here is talent which politicians cannot afford to tamper with. Vener able gray-haired men, and youthful faces, alike feel the glance of the visitor, which again suggests tbe two avenues to tbe upper rounds of tbe ladder labor and genius. One of these is a young man whose aptitude as an engraver of heads astonishes thelrolder artists.. Al though but twenty .years of age, three of bis heads have been sent as a part of tbe exhibit of national currency to Paris this year. Tbe most interesting feature of this department Is the geometrical lathe, which Is separated from the main room by a screen, and requires a special permit to see. It would be useless to attempt a description of It In a letter. Suffice to say, it is more simple than one would suppose, considering the work accomplished. By referring to any piece of our present currency, your readers will understand tho nature of tho work of this machine by examining tbe beautiful "counters" in which are tbe denominational numbers, made up of fine lines. When it is set in motion, it works out some beautiful patterns, partially independent of tbo operator. He can only give it a general direction, and never can exactly reproduce a pat tern. It Is tbe work of tbe machine tbat counterfeiters cannot imitate, and is looked upon as tbe most valuable feature of the bank note engraving act. There Is a tendency, as wo stand, watch lng this machine weave its beautiful thoughts into the hard steel, to exalt it near to the level of those busy minds on the other side of the screen, as tbey carve human emotions In the tedious metal. Mr. Casaller Is himself a fine en graver, combining with ills artistic rare executive ability. All tbe government engraving is first designed and modeled by him. He has been in this capacity for many years, and is largely instru mental in bringing it to Its present per fections. Mr. McPherson's stall consists of O. H. Irish, assistant superintendent, T. J. Sullivan, accountant, and G. "W. Casaller, superintendent of engraving, and the efficiency, economy, and great success of his bureau is due to the large and executive ability of bis associates. Feljx. Washington, D. C, June 21, 187S. The Election in Jonesville. MRS. HELEN- 1UCII. Jos i ah looked up from the New York World, and says he : "I am coin' to Jonesville to 'lection blmeby, Samantba. You'd better ride down and get the stuff for my shirts." Says he, "The town hall, 03 you know, is beln' hxed, and the pole is sot up right in the store. It will be handy, aud you can go jest as well as not." jjui l looKeu my companion in me face with an icy. curious mien, and says I, in low, strange tones, "Wouldn't it be revolt! n' to tbe finer feellu's or your soul to see a tender woman, your com panion, a -crowd i u' and elbowin' her way amongst tbe rude throng of men surround in' tbe pole; to have her hear the Immodest and almost dangerous language, the oaths and swearing to see her a-pluugln' do wn in the vortex of po litical warfare and tbe arena of cor runtlon?" Savs I. "How Is tbe shrinkln' modesty and delicacy of my sectagoln' to stand firm, a-jostlin' its way amongst the rude masses, anu you there to see it?" Says I, "Ain't It a goln' to be awful revoltiu' to you, Jo siab Allen?" "Oh. no!" savs he. in calm, gentle accents, "not if you was a-goln' for shirt buttons." After we got to the store, Joslah left me. and I called for the shirt buttons and cotton flannel. Just then a man came up to mo tbat I never laid eyes ou before. He handed me a ticket, with an awful dirty hand, everv linger nail of which was seem- In'ly in the deepest of mournin' for the pen-knife and nail-brushes they bad never seen: and says he : "Will you tell me, mom, whether that ticket is a DImocrat ticket or tbe t'other one?" I put on my specks, and says I, "It is the t'other one." "Good gracious !" says he. "Chris topher Columbus !" But I interrupted of him coldly, and says I, "Stop swearln', Instantly aud this minute! If you want my advice, proceed." Says he, "There I have voted that ticket seventeen times, and I was paid to vote tho DImocrat." Says he, "I am a man of my word. I am a poor man, but an honest one. And here 1 have," says be In a mournful tone, "here I have voted tbe wrong ticket. Ob, wbat would the man say wbo hired me, If he Knew it " "What did he give you ?" And, as I said this, a btrange, horrible suspicion came over me. "He gave mo this coat," said be. Tben I knew it all. It was Farmer Allen's coat tbat had fallen to Joslah. Then I knew the meaning of his myste rious plottiugs and crafty goin's on. "Wbat made you vote the wrong ticket?" said I. "Can't you read ?" "No," says he; "We can't none of us read, and by not reading we get cheated. There Is so much corruption in politics now-uays." "Yes," said I, bitterly; "there couldn't be much more corruption, even if women voted." "WImmen vote !" says he, In scornful tones. "WImmen don't know enough to vote." Just then Elder Minkley came into the store with Senator Vyse, as if he had the whole corpse diplomatic in tow. And says he to his wife and me, draw ing himself up pompously, "The Sena tor and I have just been talking of Woman Suffrage, and he agrees with me tbat such madness would introduce an element into politics that would topple it down from tbe foundation of justice and purity on which it now firmly rests." I did not say a word, but oh ! what agitated feelln's I had. For he knew, and I knew, and so did all Jonesville know, that Senator Vyse was a disgrace to tbe very name of man. A meaner, more licentious villain, a more cow ardly, cruel hypocrite, never trod shoe leather. Hs lives in a perfect palace, a few miles from the village, has thou sands of acres, servants, horses aud car riages; but I and Joslah scorn and loathe him. Tben Elder Minkley introduced the Senator to bis wife, as if he was settling a great dowry on to her, and Sister Minkley, she looked perfectly awe stricken and admiring upon him. The poor womau was completely overcome with the honor of touching the white hand of this scoundrel. Then Mr. Minkley introduced bim to me. But I was nerved up by lofty principle, and never touched his baud. gripped hold of ray brown nlapaca over skirt firmly, and jest looked at him with a calm, rebuking mien. His band was jeweled, but It was stained with crimes black as murder. He felt It, His handsome, false face turned red as blood, as I remarked to Brother Mink ley significantly : "I agree with you, Brother Minkley, iu husijou ouiu. i iuiuk impure peo ple ought not to be allowed to make laws for innocent women and child,. It would thin out the voters some, but i. ........ i ii .t , .. mo tuuuuj nuutu uu me gamer." They didn't seem to enW mr? r. marks, aud shamefacedly walked off to voie. bister Minkley and I looked out of iue winuow, anu says sbe: "Look there, Joslah Allen's wife, look at that critter across the street I What would become or this nation ir such things were allowed to vote?" She pointed to a girl across tbe street, a girl that, everv time T lnni.? t uar made my cheeks flush with shame for uer, ana my eyes brim over with tear for ber. This verv olrl. wlmn una little child, -was given into tho care of A JoarnairorthePeople. Devoted lo the Iaterestsor Humanity. Independent la Polities and Illtlon. Mive to all Live Issues, and Thoroughly KadIHnOpposlDgaBdEiposlnethe"WrongB ol the Masses. Correspondents writing over assumed slna toree most make known tbetr names to the Editor, or no attention will be given to their communication,. this Senator Vyse by her dying mother, and she grew up, a9 pretty as a half blown rose-bud, and jest as innocent; an orphan, unbekuowin' to the world, Its glory and its wickedness. And he earnt it all to her, all its glory and all its wickedness; for sbe thought, inno cent young lamb, that a new world of light and glory had swung down from heaven a-purpose for him and her, In them days when he ransacked heaven and earth to find tender ways and ten der words enough to tell his love for her, and Ills admiration for her beauty, her brightness, her grace, her sweet eon fidin innocence. And so he held ber heart, her life in his hands, and she would have been thankful to have laid them down for tbe bandsum villain, if he bad told her to. And hold In' her heart, as he did, he broke it. Holdln' her life, as he did. he ruined it. By every hellish art tbat could be called to aid him, he deliberately committed this sin. He brought her down from inno cence and happiness to ruin, wretched ness, disgrace, despair, drink, tbe streets ! Aud tben he was unanimously chosen by a majority of the people to make wise laws, such as legalizing sin and iniquity, aud other noble statutes for the punryin' or the nation. And she? Why, as she is too low and worthless for anything else, she is used as a capital illustration of tbe fact that wimmen like her are too sinful to vote. Says I, "Slater Minkley, as sure as there is a God In heaven, such injustice win not be permitted to go on lorever I" Preserved Plowers. I took fronvits safe-keeping plaee the other day, n, small box containing, amougother littlemementoes of my lost children, a couple of little sprays of ilowers, now withered and yellow and dry, but which were fresh when I took them one from out the little baby- bands which clasped it, the other from near the soft round cheek against which it nestled, and I thought bow many such sprays there were kept by sorrow ing motner-uearts, made dear beyond all price, because thev were the last earthly tilings touched by the tiny hands of little ones gone before. Although carefully and sacredly kept, these precious relics of a joy known and lost must soon crumble Into dust, and little by little be lost; and I thought of a plan of which I had beard for keeping these mementos, and, perhaps, it may be as new to some of your readers as it was to me. Not only can these flowers from olT the still bosom of some loved lost one be kept fresh and bright, but the sym bols of happier occasions as well. The flowers should be fresb, and of white or delicate colors. The green leaves should be separated from the blossoms. Place in a perfectly clean vessel a quantity of the best quality of parafilne, and put this vessel in another containing hot water. When the paraf fine Is wholly melted, dip each flower separately Into the wax, taking care that each part is covered with tbe mix ture. A coating is thus formed, wbieh excludes tbe air, and still allows the flower to retain its freshness. Leaves should be treated similarly, but the wax should be colored green, as near in shade to the natural color of tbe leaf as possible. Chrome green, lightened with chrome yellow, Is, I think, nearer than anything else to the desired tint. The ilowers aud leaves can then be arranged In clusters or crosses or wreaths, and placed secure from dust and flies, either under a glass globe, or in a deep frame marie for tbe purpose. Flowers are said to be preserved by merely smoklntr them with sulnhur. after tbe mode of bleaching hats, that is, to suspend the flowers in the fumes arising from burning sulphur, which should be confined by means of an air tight box. To photograph leaves, procure a little bichromate of potash, with which make a strong solution. Soak a piece of letter-paper in a little of the liquid, and place in tbe dark to dry; It should tben be yellow iu color. On it place tbe leaf or fern to be photographed, and aud under It a piece of soft black olotb, and several folds of newspaper. Place all between two panes of glass, and se cure well, and place In bright sun raya. In a few hours a perfect impression will have beeu received. The paper must then be held under the Vater-tap until the yellow ha9 become perfectly white; when this is carefully dried, the process is complete. A pretty and novel receptacle for ferns, dried grasses, or autumn leaves, can be made out of a cow's horn by boring a bole through the ends, in which put a couple of brass rings; suspended by a brass chain or a ribbon, it makes a very pretty holder, either for articles named, or for a little vine growing in earth or water, iue norn should be boiled to cleanse it properly. American Home. Pkactical Joking in Norway. The presentation of Christmas gifts In .iuiay is tne cuiei inversion oi iue season, and in this many strange cus toms are observed. Thus, in some dis tricts, tbe gift is bid In a truss of bay or straw, or sometimes it is placed in a bag of chaff. The donator then watches bis opportunity, and slyly fixes tbe truss of hay above the door or his mend's room. V hen the latter enters, the bav falls on him, to tbe great enjoyment of the kindly conspirators, who are probably watching close at hand. Then ensues au eager andexcitiugsearch. The truss la rippeu open, nanus thrust In and out through the straw or hay till the gift is found, at which moment the donators generally djsclose their presence by shouts of delight, and tbe expressions of good wishes for the season and the year to come. The bag of chaff is also a source or endless and innocent merri ment. In its fall from tbe top of the door, it covers the receiver with a cloud oi uu8i, and small particles that adhere to bis beard enter the fur of his coat, and make him feel as uncomfortable and look ridiculous as can well be de sired by the mo3t ardent promoters of practical jokcs. ut as he opens his eyes, he at once notices lying In tho mess around him a welcome present which has been secreted iu tbe ohofT. It may well be imagined with what de light children join in this rough play, and how it materially assists to pass the long winter season. Thirty widows and 'pbu daughters of deceased Congregational la . beneficiaries of the M8mfiVters. elation of Cregatlona What holds all thesnufl In the world? No one nose.