T
NONE BUT MOTHER.
Volxxly knows of the work ft makes
To keep the home together:
Noltody knows the steps It takes,
Nobody knows but mother.
Nobody listens to childish woes
"Which klffcs only smother;
Nobody's pained by naughty blows
Nobody only mother.
Nobody knows of the sleepless earo
Hcstowcd upon baby brother;
Nobody knows of the tender prny'r
Nobody only mother.
Nobody knows of the lessons taught
Of loving one another:
Nobody knows of the patience sought,
Nobody only mother.
Nobody knows of the anxious fears
Lest darlings may not weather
The storm of life In after years,
Nobody knows but mother.
Nobody kneels at the throne above
To thank tho Heavenly Father,
For that swccteitglft a mother's love;
Nobodv can but mother.
II. (J. JJoJye, in Detroit Frtt Prm.
THE LADY OF LONE LAKE.
Ono beautiful summor evening I was
rowing with n friond on ono of thoso
romantic lakes in the west of Ireland.
The clay had been a iiot one, and tho
midsummer sun looked like u ball
of fire, sis It slowly sank behind tho
horizon. It was a boautiful scene. The
lako lay lileo a slicot of silver. To tho
right were high banks fringed with
dark trees, and perpendicular cliffs al
most hidden by clinging vines. To tho
loft stretched level meadows, dotted
witli grazing cattlo. Abovo us was tho
mellow sky, whilo from tho oast arose
tho full moon to roplaco tho fiorco rays
of tho day-god with her mild radiance.
In tho dlstnnco wo could sco tho dark
outlines of an old baronial castle,
almost hidden by intervening trees.
This, my companion informed mo, was
Larrimoor Ilali.
Wo lay asldo our oars, and for a time
floated silently over tho glassy surface
of tho lako, enraptured by tho beauti
ful scene. I was ti young artist, living
In London at that time, and now taking
my summor vacation. It was my first
visit to tiio "Emorald Isle," and I had
been wandoring with delight among tho
romantio mountains, glous, and lakes,
lilling my soul with beauty and my
portfolio with skotohes. My compan
ion was tho young Lord of Glondalo,
whose acquaintance I hud mado while
traveling on tlto contlnont. Happening
to moot him in my wanderings, ho hail
insisted on my accompanying him to
his country seat, assuring mo that tho
ficonery around it surpassed anything I
had yet seen.
Tho sconory was indeed charming;
but as yot I liavo boon more charmed
with my host's fair .sister, Nora, who,
ns their parents are dead, and tho heir
yet unmarried, was acting !is tho lady
of Glondalo.
As wo floated t ho glow faded, and
the soft moonlight bathed tho lako and
rocks and meadows with silver. Tito
lako was quite isolated, being on tho
border botweon tho estates of Glondalo
and Larimoor, and was holdcm visited
by anyone but tho members of these
two families. To-night wo wore its sole
visitors, hnagmo my surprise after
floating for some time in silence to sou
u small boat rowed by a figure in white
glide swiftly over tho surface. "Wo
tiro not alone." said 1, pointing to it.
Ah," said my companion, "that is
only a spectre. Did you novor hoar
tho story of tho 'Lady of Lono Lake.' "
"No, said I, "but motliinks she rows
remarkably well for a spirit; lot's give
chase" 1 soizod tho oars and rowed
rapidly after tho rocedlng boat. As
soon as tho rower perceived that she
was followed, she turned her boat
towards tho high banks, and in an in
stant disappeared mysteriously among
tho ivy-clad rocks. Out of breath 1
dropped tho oars and said, "Tell mo
tho story of which you spoke." My
companion, who had sat silent during
my rapid chaso, smiled sadly as ho
began:
"Tho present Lord of Larrimoor, who
lives in tho hall yonder, is n very hard,
storn man, and ho rules o vary thing in
his power with an Iron hand. His
wife, a beautiful woman, has been dead
thoso many years. Ho married her to
gain possession of lier largo estate.
While wooing lior ho overcame his
harsh manners as much as his nature
would ponnit. Hut after tho prize was
fully his, ho relaxed into Ids natural,
lev sternness. Shu lived a most soelud
oil life, and died in a few years, had ono
child, much llko Its mother, only moro
highspirlted, lior father Idolized lior,
and, until slio nvas twenty yours old,
novor crossed her by word or deed.
'I'll en his avaricious nature got tho bet
ter of Ids ulleotiou. lie desired her to
marry a baron nearly as old as himself,
but possessed of vast estates. The
high-spirited girl rebelled. The father
insisted and, in spito of liur ronton
Btranco, preparations wore made for tho
wedding. Tho daughter said no moro
and tho father thought ho was going to
huvo his way. Tho wedding night
came. Tho guests wore assembled.
The bridegroom was waiting. Tho
hour camu but tho bride camo not.
Complaining of weariness she had re
tired to her room boon after dinner,
promising to appear at tho unpointed
time if they would not disturb her- At
last her father sent for her. She was
not In hor room. Tho houso was
Benched, tho grounds, tho neighbor
hood: but alio could not bu found.
"Noxt day a shawl belonging to tho
girl was found down bv this lako. As
It was tho only trace of her, people con
cluded that, to escape a fate so repulsive
to her. she had drowned herself. A
little after that tho spectre you have
hut seen began to frequent those waters.
Alanv have tried to overtake It as you
did, 'but it ahvavs vanishes amoiitr those
rocks; and so they think it U Luciu, tho
lost hulross of Jnurrlmoor."
The young lord seemed greatly mov
ed by tiio sud story ho had jimt related,
nd I could not help but feel Unit he
IhmI token more than a musing Interest
lit the UHfortunMu girl. After n mo
itieHt of silence, during which ho began
to mill for the homeward shore, 1 saldt
Jlnd tho Judy no other admirer?"
01, ye WHHy," he lepllodj "but
few dared to approach, and tiieso her
father repulsed. After a minuto ho
continued: "It is useless for mo to trv
to conceal my feelings from you, for
I feci that you have already' divined
tlicin. I. also, loved the beautiful lndy,
though she know not of my affection.
My parents wcro tho only people in tho
country with whom Lord Larrimoor
was on friendly terms, and during Ins
lady's last sickness my mothor attended
her constantly. After her doatli sho
took great interest in tho child, who
was about tho ago of my sister, and
used to bring Lucia home witli her to
stay a week at a time. Then we three
would have grand times romping about
tho hall and playing in tho park. Some
times wo were allowed to accompany
Lucia homo and stay to tea; but I never
enjoyed tiieso visits. Tho old hall seemed
so dark and gloomy, and its maslor so
stem and taciturn. As we grew older wo
were together even more. Cantering over
tiio hills on horseback, or taking rambles
in tho woods. But most of all wo
liked to row about on this very lake.
My father taught me to row as soon as
I was largo enough to liandlo an oar,
and I instructed tho girls. Lucia bo
cahio very skillful, and could outrow
both of us. Afterwards my mother
died, and my sister and 1 wore sent
away to sclwol. As long as my father
lived wo spent our vacations at homo.
Hut ho survived my mother only two
years. After his dcatli wo mado our
homo witli an aunt in Dublin, and
Glondalo Hall was closed. After I
finished my course, wo spent three
years in travel. After an absence of
live years 1 rolurnod to Glondalo to
find my playmate, whose memory I
had cherished during all tho years of
our sopcratioli, a beautiful and accom
plished young huly. Sho and my sis
ter resumed their former friendship;
but sho scorned shy of me, and before I
had an opportunity to opon my heart
to her, sho sought refugo from hor
father's cruelty in a watery grave."
During this "recital wo had left tho
boat, and wore now picking our way
along tho uneven path wnich led to the
house. It was quite late when wo
reached tho hall, and we soon separated
for tho night.
I lay down, but not to sleep. Tho
occurrences of the evening filled my
mind, and banished sleep from my
eyelids. I longed to fathom tho mys
tery. 1 had no faith in the supernatur
al, and I no more believed tho boat wo
had seen was rowed by a spirit, than I
bolioved myself to bo a ghost. I could
not help but think that it was tho un
fortunate girl, whom my friend was
mourning ns doad; and that she was in
hiding somewhere among hor nativo
rocks, though how she managed to
ovado pnsuit and vanish so suddenly,
was moro than 1 could make out. My
convictions were .strengthened by tho
fact that the body had never been re
covered, though the old lord had offer
ed largo rewards, and every poasant in
tho country had been on the lookout.
Before 1 went to sleep 1 had formed a
plan, and determined to investigate tho
mailer tho next night; with my friend's
hull if lie wero willing; if not, alone.
When I disclosed my project to Lord
Glendale, lie shook his head dubiously,
and tried to tllssuado me. assuring me
that lie had tried many times to capture
the mysterious rover; but always in
vain, but seeing that 1 was determined
to go. lie was too gallant to refuse to
accompany me. About sunset wo took
our way to the lake, and embarked in
separate boats. I fell, that little could
bo accomplished by pursuit. It was
this mysterious vanishing wo must pre
vent if possible. So 1 determined to
take my place noar whore tho boat
disappeared. Lord Glendale, who was
a rapid rower, was to wait on the op
posite side and, at the right moment
givo chase, whilo I would stand guard
liver the mysterious rock. The evening
was not as bright as tho preceding ono
had boon, for the sky was overcast bv
filmy clouds which partially obscured
tho moon. I pushed my skill' ns much
into tlto shadow as possible, and waited
in silenco, In a few minutes I hoard
tho sound of splashing waters. It
seemed to come from behind the rocks.
Presently a boat; rowed by tho most
boautiful creature 1 had over seen,
parted tho vines wh eh had hung down
over the rooks noar by, and shot away
across the lake and down tho stream. I
statlonod myself at the exact spot whence
tho boat had emerged, and waited anx
iously for my friend to act. At last it
came slowly hack. Lord Glondalo was
on the alert and immediately gave chase,
and pursued nuil pursuer shut towards
mo with incredible rapidity. I tried to
keep down 1113 rising excitement. I
felt that now or novor was the time,
and I crouched low, fearing that sho
might seo me and dart olVin somo other
direction. Sho was evidently woarled
witli hor long row, for my friend was
close upon her. Sho did not see me tin
till her skiff touched mine. Quick as a
Hash sho turned but wo wore both close
upon hor, and, by some unlucky move
ment, her frail bark was overturned,
and, with a wild cry for help, sho sank
out of sight.
Glondalo was in tho water in an in
stant Ho caught hor tho first time she
rose, and wo .soon had her in the boat,
Sho was no ghost, but a dripping, half-
drowned, frightened girl. Sho re
proached us for molesting her, and
pegged pltoously to bo released. Glen
dale wrapped tho dripping form in my
coat, assuring her that wo wore friends
ami would be most happy to survo nor.
Sho Koonied to recognize him, and 1 felt
sure from their conversation that she
was indeed Luciu, the lost heiress of
Larrimoor. As the other boats had
floated away, Glondalo oxplniucd to her
that it would bo necessary for us to con
voy her to hor place of abode, and that
wo must go quickly, for both of them
wero dripping wet. To tills sho scorn
ed reluctant to coitsont, but, being re
assured of our good-will, sho showed
tii un opening in tho rocks entirely
concealed by overhanging vines.
Through this wo passed into a shallow
channel. It was a very singular place.
This channel, enclosed between two
highruud rocky bank, was about three
roils lout' and, perhaps, half as wido in
thu middle, narrowing at each end. its
inner wall became continuous with the
shoioof the lake. Our fair guide di
rected us to tho upper end. where we
found a natural lauding, which led us
up ton door In tho rooks, in answer
to her call this door was opened by an
ngod woman. Sho seemed vorv much
frightened on seeing us; but after a fow
words from Lucin, sho bade us enter,
and busied herself making a firo and
othewiso ministering to our comfort.
Tho nppnrttuent was low, but roomy,
and divided by scrccncs Into parlor,
Mccping rooms and kitchen. Whilo
(ilondalo dried His drenched garments
and wo drank tiio cheering cup of tea
prepared for us by tho old woman,
Lucia told her story, which was briefly
tills:
Despairing of cscapo from tho hated
alliance in any other way, sho had ap
pealed to her old nurse for aid. This
woman, then nearly eighty years old,
was living with her son in "a cottage on
a neighboring estate, having quarrelled
witli Lord Larrimoor some years before.
Sho and her husband, now dead, had
been servants lo Lucia's grandfather.
Tho old woman readily espoused Lucia's
cause, and, tho day bo fore tho wedding,
sho entered tho "hall unnoticed and
found her way to Lucia's room. Sho
disguised Lucia as a beggar, and in tho
bustle of preparation they managed to
escape.
Tho cave had been discovered and
occupied by some English fugitives dur
ing tho troublous times of Cromwell.
It was afterward occupied and enlarged
by a wizard hermit. But lie had been
dead for half a century and tho cavo
deserted. Its entranco had boon over
grown by vines, and thoso who hud
known of its existence, except tho old
nurse, wero dead or gone away. Even
.sho had not thought of it for years, un
til hor anxiety quickened her failing
memory. Hither she hud conveyed
her charge, and hither they had lived
in soclusion for iivo years. A lonely
life indeed for a beautiful young
woman; but she clioso it rather than
soli herself for gold. Sho besought us
not. to reveal her hiding place. Wo re
assured her of our friendship, and
nsked permission to visit her again.
Tliis was readily granted, and wo wero
invited to return again next evening
and bring Nora with us.
Groat was Nora's surprise when we
recounted our adventures to her. At
first she could hardly beliovo us; but,
Boomer wo wcro roily in earnest, sho
gladly accepted tho joyful nows, and
oxprcsscd herself anxious to visit lior
old friond in her sirango auouo. Alter
that we frequently visited tho cave, but
always witli great secrecy. Indeed, it
was seldom that the gathering shadows
of evening d d not find Lord Glendale
thither, and his radiant countenauoo
gave us assuranco that his visits wero
vain. As for Nora and I, wo loved
better to walk in tho fragrant garden, or
u-imilnr nninnir thn fraud old trees that
surround the Rail.
lhadalreadv extended mv vacation
to unprecedented longtli, and was bo
ginning to think seriously of returning
to my work, when uionunic, one even
ing, informed mo that on tho morrow
ho would wed tho fair Lucia. It was a
ipiiot wedding, in the rocky cavo which
nan sheltered ine uoautmw uriuo ior so
many weary years. An old priest per
formed tho ceremony, of which Nora,
tho nurse, and I wcro tho only wit
nesses. A few davs lator I look my departure
with a light heart, for Nora was my
promised wife. Tho Lord and Lady of
Glondalo passed tholr honeymoon quiet
ly at Glondalo Hall. Iho hard old Loru
hud long looked upon his daughter as
dead, and was so overcomo to receive
her again that lie forgave hor entirely,
and became from that lime forth a
changed man.
All this happened years ago. Nora
and I are married now, and' our home
is in London; but overy summor we
spend our vacation with tho Lord and
Lady of Glendale, at their beautiful
country seat.---Mary Kcim, in The Cur
rent, An Edwin Forrest Anecdote.
When Clark Mills was casting his
statue of Gen. Jackson on a balancing
horse, now in Lafayette square, Edwin
Forrest, then playing au engagement
at Washington, asked perm ssion to
witness tho casting of a largo part of
it. On tho day appointed for casting
tho statue Mills notified Forrest, who
w.tli other gentlemen and ladies as
sembled within the Inelosuro. Tho
party gathered around tho pit, while
Forrest placed himself 011 a plank laid
directly across tho pit. At a given sig
nal Mills removed tho plugs from the
furnneo, and the molten bronze began
to pour out from the iurnaeo into tlto
mold below. Unfortunately, some wa
ter had got Into tlto mold anil a terrible
explosion took place; tho earth, sand,
and molten metal flow in all directions.
Mills was knocked heels ovor head; 0110
of tho sides of tho inelosuro was blown
out; half tho guests wero knocked
down or covered with earth; some wero
scorched, tho others lied in dismay.
When the smoke and steam had cleared
away Mills rose from tho earth and
discovered Forrest still standing on the
plank across the pit. "Great heavens!"
exclaimed Mills, as soon as he could
get his breath, "Mr. lorrest, 1 hope
vouj aro not hurt." "Hurt," replied
Forrest, "what is there to hurt nnv
bodv?" "Thank God." er.ed Mills.
"Hut ain't you frightened?" "Fright
onod," replied Forrest, "why should I
bo frightened? 1 thought this was a
part of the performance." Boston
lluilget.
Hultiuu in Purva
A bachelor's niisj-shuu is not a miss
take. Oaths aro passwords to Hell's outot
door.
A falso-hood novor covers un honest
head.
Memory Is tho storehouse of nincb
mental rubbish.
Elasticity of imagination often gov
erns tho grade of merit,
In life's great army you can find the
bupimors at tho front.
Klud words aro like an oasis to a nun
in tho troubled desert.
To think you can do another's task
better than 'another is human.
Hope Is au Incentive to notion and
tho froth on thu cup of life.
A ship Is often saved by its anchor,
but men are as often lost by tholr ran
cour. Tho person who speaks a kind word
to u fellowtiuttit in trouble sticks u pin
lu thu duyll.
A MUSEUM FOR THE BLIND.
A Curious and Intcrrsttnc Exhibition
Tliat was Opened ltcccntly lu
I'nrls.
A museum for tho blind was opened
;o-day in tho lino de Rous3olct, writes
1 Faris correspondent of The London
News under date of Nov. 12. It lias
jccn established by the blind Dr. Guil
3cau, ono of the professors in tho Insti
:ut des JcuneS Aveugles, and contains
specimens of nearly all the objects in
vented for a long course of years for
schools (primary, technical and others)
for sightless pupils. Persons having
blind relatives or friends will on Tues
Jays obtain any information they may
want without books, maps, writing ap
paratus, teachers, and so on, foi their
special benefit. Not tho least curious
part of tlto exhibition is what is con
ia ncd in tlto book cases. Tltero is
there a largo collection of quarto vol
umes, all the printed characters of
which are raised on the Bra. lie system.
This is now more in uso titan any oilier
in Italy, Prussia. Alsace, and fhe'United
Stated. It is said that it lias the merit
of boing very s nipie; but to au unac-'
sustained cyo it is as hard to make out
as shorthand. Tho English blind al
uhabet is quite different, looking liko n
Nniovito inscription. The letters, nc
sording to the Braille system, are made
liko tho French sign for the acute ac
2ont, and are set in squares. The rela
tive angles at whk'h they arc placed
3ito to another givo them alphabetical
meaning. Blindness is much moro the
scourge of tho poor than the rich. If,
therefore, charitable societies did
not bring out books for the blind it
would bo impossible for this unfortunate
ilass to obtain them. Most of those in
the Braille typo are for school classes.
There are already oight volumes of
Littro's Dictionary" some works of ref
srence, La Fontaine's "Fables," Flor
lan's "Fables," Boileau's "Lutrin," se
lections from the great French authors
in prose and verse, and a bible which lias
been printed by a society to further ed
ucation among tho blind. But tho ef
forts made in this direction in Franco
aro poor when compared with tlto re
sults won in England, although the al
phabet used there seems less easy to
earn and covers moro space than tho
Braille one. In England there have
been as 'many as a Tutndred thousand
volumes printed for sightless readers,
including tlto bible, tho "Pilgrim's
Progress," Milton's works, and all
Shakspcare's plays, but, as Dr. Guil
beau says, these facts should not dis
courage him and his fellow-workers,
bocauso the English-speaking peoples
form the most reading nations in tho
world, or, at least, the nations who
give the most business to tho printer
and publisher. An encouraging fact is
the existence in France of threo peri
odicals for tho blind. One Le J. out's
Braille, is monthly, and costs 51 francs
a year. Its fortnightly edition costs 7
francs, and 0 m braces a" great variety of
topics, which enter into the common
range of journalism. Lcs Trois Monties
is the second. It appears at Marseilles,
where the number of sightless persons
is great, and there appears in the same
city a weekly paper chiefly devoted to
musical topics. It lias a circulation of
about six hundred, and 480 blind per
sons subscribe to it. When sight goes
in youth tho sense of hearing be
comes intenselv acute, and music is a
source of tho deepest pleasure. Tho
sense of touch acquires such delicacy
and power that the blind may bo said
not only to seo with the tips of their
own fingers, but with their wltolo
bodies. Those who recover sight aro
a long timo learning how to uso
their eyes. According to Dr Gudbeau,
wjto to-day was at tho museum
of tho Hue Konssolct to givo any
information visitors might want, such
persons often, whon told to fetcli
objects which they liavo already seen
and learned the names of, instinctively
shut their eyes and feel for them. A.
variety of maps for the blind shown at
this museum display great ingenuity,
and the cost prices of them aro low.
Among them aro celestial atlases.
There aro no more steady and ingenious
bonefactors of tho blind titan tho
brothers of St. Joan do Dion, who de
vote theniolves to the sick and infirm
of tholr own sex, and liavo won a namo
for tho intelligent care with which they
attond to eye diseases. When M.
Surooy, the famous theatrical critic,
was threatened with loss of sight ho
placed himself in tho hands of his
brotherhood. 1 should not forgot the
various means for enabling the blind
to write and correspond with each
other and with persons who see. In
tlto former ease they uso tlto Braille
characters ai.d in the latter tho ordinary
Roman characters, but the pencil with
an agate or other point moves from
right to left. Its courso is marked by
lines of strong thread stretched on "a
piece of cloth, beneath which tltero is a
shoot of papor. When the paper is
taken out and turned the words that
have been traced aro in relief, and to
bo read from loft to right. Tho chess
boards differ little from thoso used at
sea by naval ofllcers. The playing
cards have all tiny marks in relief on
the inside corners, which on boing folt
by a blind player enable him to under
stand his own hand, and know what
his partner or opponent has played.
Tho sightless thus can play rubber's of
whist with persons who aro not sight
less. Marseilles, because of its hot and
glaring aspect, ami perhaps Its fre
quent rohttious with Egypt, is greatly
utllioted with eye diseases. So is
Prussia, for different reasons. Alsaco
is the region on tills side of tho Rhino
whore tltero aro tho most sightless
children. The cities of Italy most un
fortunate in this respect are Milan and
Florence and in thu United States the
'large New England towns.
Another Lockout.
Editor's wlfo (from second story
window) "You can't gel In this house
at any such hour
ihK''
of the morning us
Editor (appealing')') "Rut, my denr,
I was uiM'ossnrily detained at tho olllce.
You sue wo had lutw news of ti truiuund
wis big look-out and"
Wife "All right, jou'vo got news
of another now,'' slumming down thu
window. CSiui'iimf TtUmmu
THE REPTILE GERANIUM.
A Slimy Horror or tiio Vcectnblo
"World Hideous, Ilepulslvc, Yet
Strangely Attractive.
"A snako goranium?"
"Yes, that is what I call it," said tho
doctor.
I stooped down to examine tho flower.
Hideous, repulsive, and yet strangely
attractive, tho snake geranium seemed
to hold mo under a spell.
To describe litis flower one would
have to paint life and motion. Mere
color is not enough. As I looked tho
evil thing glared at mo with sinister in
telligence There was nothing remark
able about tho stalk and tho leaves of
tho plant. The blossom was what riv
eted my gaze Black, sinuous and slimy,
it looked more liko a snake than any
thing else As 1 changed my point of
view the thing changed its aspect. Its
scales wero a purplish black, then a
dirty brown. Two little glassy beads
in tho monster's head "littered with
prismatic hues and looked straight into
my eyes. Was I mistaken? I could
have sworn that this awesomo bloom
turned and twisted with the uncanny
freakisliness of .a reptile
"You know something of botany,"
said the doctor, "how do you classify
it."
"It is not lo bo classified," I answer
ed. "It is a monstrosity. Tltero is
nothing like it. Is it poisonous?"
"I think so," was the reply, "tlto old
African who found it called it a 'pizcu
plant,' but I renamed it."
I have seen nearly every thing worth
seeing in tho floral world, but this sin
gular plant blooming unnoticed in an
obscure corner of a country doctor's
garden amazed me beyond expression.
From tho first the sickening odor of
the fiowor hud been terribly oppressive.
In fact, it had prevented a closo exam
ination. Suddenly my brain seemed
to be numbed, a cold chill seized me,
and, with a face of deathly pallor, I
reeled and would liavo fallen to tho
ground but for the doctor's strong arm.
I was half sick, or rather in a dazed,
half stupefied state, for days after my
return to town. One evening a negro
called atmy houso with a note from my
friend the doctor, and a covered basket.
Tho messenger was gone before I could
road thu note. I glanced at tho paper
and then opened the basket. I did not
know whether to hiugli or bo angry.
Comfortably fixed in a big jar, the
snake geranium gave a flirty twist and
snapped its wicked eyes in my face
To have this floral honor in my house
was out of tho question, and yet 1 was
proud of the monster. I mado a ser
vant carry it to a sunny nook in the
back yard. She returned with chat
tering teeth.
"Do Lawd ltab mussy!" she ex
claimed, "dat ting's alive. Hit'U bite,
sho's ver bawn!"
Sotuetimo I carried my friends to seo
my pet. 1 invariably had the satisfac
tion of hearing them swear, and gener
ally I had to send thoin itway in a car
riage. One whiff of the snako gerani
um was enough to make a totter-wrcck
of tho strongest man.
A little girl living next door took a
wonderful fancy to tho flower. Fre
quently she came over when I was ab
sent and spent tin hour at a time fond
ling tho plant and looking at it. Of all
the persons who saw it sho was the
only one not nllocted by its peculiar
odor. Sometimes I fell into a deep
study over the mutual attachment exist
ing between my monster and tho girl.
1 call it mutual because it was impossi
ble to view my snake geranium without
giving it credit for life and intelligence
Tho girl was a queer iittlo creature,
with midnight hair and velvety eyes.
She had n certain impish beauty that
made me shudder. Between tho girl
and the geranium I came near being
deviled to death.
As the weeks passed on tho girl con
tinued her visits. Sho grow thinner
and paler, and her eyes grew larger
and blacker. Moro than once I oyer
ltcard tho servants whispering that tlto
snako geranium was killing the child.
Tliis alarmed 1110. and ono day I told
my young neighbor that tho plant was
poisonous, and that site must not go
near it. Site rather shrank from me,
and, with a sorrowful look, sped home
ward without saying a word.
1 camo home unexpectedly one dav,
and found tho girl paying a surrepti
tious visit to tlto flower. 1 went to her
full of wrath, but was disarmed by
what I saw. Tho poor tiling had faint
ed, and wr.ggling and squirming over
tlto sido of the jar was that ihabolical
geranium!
1 took my visitor homo and told her
mother all" about it. Wo spoko with
somo severity to tho Iittlo oflender, but
we thought it was for Iter pood. I
never once thought of destroying my
monster.
No words can express tlto horror I
folt the noxt morning whon 1 hoard that
my girl noighbor was dead. She had
been found lifeless and cold in bed at
an early hour. Her appearance, I was
told, was that of a person who had been
poisoned. On tlto pillow was a slimy
mark that resombled a serpent's trail.
When I hoard this I rushed frantical
ly out to tlto corner containing mv ger
anium. Ono of the servants divined
my purposo and followed 1110. In the
jar wo found the stalk of tho plant with
a few leaves attached to it, but tho hor
rible blossom, where was it?
The snako geranium was gone. I
could not utter a wonl. I had no In
quiries to mako, and I wanted to hear
no explanations, I ran back to thu
house, but I heard tho old negro cry
out:
"Hit's gono! Hit done crawled obor
Into do next yard. I seo hit's track.
Atlanta Constitution.
Wouldn't Help 11 Fool,
Mendicant. "Could you help a poor
man with a fow conts, sir?"
Old Porter. "Woll, I don't know
but 1 might. Am you married.9"
Mendicant. "Yes, sir."
Old P. -"Poor devil I I guess I'll
have to give you a half dollar.''
Mondhiant.-"Yes, n r, I have boon
married twice"
Old P. "Woll, than, you Just My
along. Pin not waiting !Uy o
blamed fool." UhiouQQ 'wi,
Birds, of Paradise.
Mr. liarwin has said: "Birds appear
o be the most tcsthctic of all animals,
xcepting. of course, man. and thoy
uavo ncany tho same lasto for the beau
tiful as we" have. Tliis is shown by our
nioymont of the singing of birds, and
ityVur women, both civilised and sav
ige. docking their heads with borrowed
pinnies and using gems which arc hard
ly moro brilliantly colored than the
laked skin and wattles of certain
jinls." With civilized men. at icast.
.ho rule of personal adornment is tho
'eversu of that followed by nature in
.lie birds. Among civdizid peoplo it is
.lie female who is elaborately ornament
al, but with birds tlto male wears the
most gorgeous plumage, the most ele
gant ear tufts, tho most brilliant wat
les. the most splendid topknots, and
iven the iris of the cyo is sometimes
.note highly colored in tlto male thau
n the female. The object of this is,
without doubt, to attract tlto female.
In other cases tlto mule deprived of
oeautiful adornment, is otherwise pro
vided. He is. 11s a rule, the sweetest
songster, and whon he lias neither
local powers nor attractive plumage.
:io is provided with formidable weapons
tvith which to win his bride (or brides)
.10111 his antagonist. Titus tlto males
Df gallinaceous birds aro provided with
spurs and some even have single and
loublo sots of spurs upon their wings,
as is tiio case with the pulamadea.
Male birds of paradise are. without
picstion. the most highly favored by
way of adornment of all. The elongat
ed " and golden orange plumes that
spr ng from beneath the wings of the
paradisca apoda (and which is not thu
most beautiful of tho species), whon
vertically erected and mado to vibrate,
aro discribed as forin ttga sort of halo,
in tho center of which the bead "looks
like a little emerald sun, with its rays
formed by the two plumes." lu anoth
er most beautiful species tho head is
bald, and of u rich cobalt blue, crossed
by several lines of black, velvety feath
ats. Many birds of elegant plumage,
such as egrets and herons, retain their
nuptial plumes only during tho sum
mor; birds of paradise, tho peacock,
and Angus pheasant do not cast their
plumes during the winter. Whether it
is tho result of their surpassing beauty,
or to other causes can not be said, but
birds of paradise aro great polygamists,
the initio having generally fifteen wives.
There was formerly a superstition that
theso birds lived solely in the air, but
that has long since been exploded, in
common with the lncdiieval notion that
a curtain species of the goose grew' up
on trees. S'cw Orleans Picayune.
Irish Whisky Stronger than Scotch.
Thoso who aro partial tc statistics
will find food for reflection in a parlia
mentary paper recently printed "giv
ing the number of arrests for drunken
ness within tho metropolitan police dis
trict of Dublin, the cities of Cork,
Limerick, and Woterford, and tho
town of Belfast, on Sundays, between
April iiO, 1885, and Apr 1 UO. 1886, tho
arrests to be given front 8 A. M. on
Sundays until 8 A. M. on Mondays."
Till tho appearance of this return it
was a popular belief that Sunday tip
pling was Scotland's prerogative; but
this is a mistake Irish whisky is
stronger than Scotch, especially in
Dublin, where (in tho police district)
there were 1,01)2 arrests for drunken
ness during tlto year. The return
supplies no 'information ns to tlto numb
er of Irish inebriates arrested in tho
district beyond the police supervision;
but Hint "may bo safely left to tho
imagination and the whisky-dealers. In
Cork there wore 1)51 arrests, in Limer
ick 134. in Waterford 10G, and in Bel
fast US1.', whilo in all tho Irish counties
combined there wero S.i'JlO arrests from
May 0, 1883. to April 30, 188G. Tito
favorite period for getting arrested is
that from 7 P. M. to 12 P. M. Titer
is no favori'.o titnopf year for indulg
ing in tho luxury they drink straight
on regularly, and as regularly aro
they arrested. Pall Mall Gazette.
The Utility of Hobbies.
With a hobby the poorest clerk or tho
wealthiest millionaire is supplied with
a defense against depression and wory
which is priceless. Take tho case of a
bookkeeper wiio is confined to his desk
oight or ten hours n day. If ho can
cultivate a taste for botany or geology
it will givo him an opportunity for rog
ular excursions into the country, whilo
he can analyzo and arrange his speci
mens during his liesure hours in tho
evening. If ho has a talent for mechan
ics, woodcarving, carpentry, pottery, or
any of the hundred pursuits into which
enter deftness of hand and quickness of
oyo are open to him. Tho hours which
would hang heavily on his hands wero
ho without any hobby seem all to short
for tho pleasnnt work that lie conies to
with a feeling of relief. Ho has a re
source against business worry that will
add ten vcars to his life and that will
stand in'good stead should misfortune
or loss of loved ones couio upon hint.
It is tlto sa;no witli tho rioh matt, save
that ho has opportunities to develop His
pastimes ontirely beyond tho reach of
the poor clerk. Practically, howover.
tho two must stand on the same foot
in". Thoy must cultivate a tnsto lor
simplo and wholesome pleasures winch
do not depend on money for their grat-ltication.--i,
Francisoo Bulletin.
Another College Rebellion.
Omaha Girl "And so tlioro is a real
robelliou in tho Highstono Seminary?''
Returnod Pupil "Yes, indeed. "The
"iris just made up thuir minds thoy
wouldn't stand it and left in a buuoh."
What was tho trouble, duar?"
"Why, you know last term ookm
Bohool was added to thu dopartnimits,
"Yos, 1 romunibor. You sjwko yury
highly of it." , ,
Yes, everything was jtut sphiudid,
and we did have biioh fun. I eiujU buo
what got into thu principal, but I glu"
ehe is a Iittlo orim'." . ...
"Why, what did sho dor"
"Would yon biilluvo it, euliml'j
listed thut this tuiin m mM, W
lugs we cooked!" Omm mm
insl
f