Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About The Oregon scout. (Union, Union County, Or.) 188?-1918 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 22, 1887)
ObSUS, MY KING. Jtlng of kltip, and yet to mine Own heart snylnp, "Iara tlilnel" Klnc of klnps, ami Lord of Jon!, Yet lliy sweet and tender words, "I have call d tllco bjr thy name," Echo tlirouli all years tho tams, .Never losing power divine, "Fear not, Soul, for thou art mine." KInp of klnRg when wild and strong unsri me waves 01 111c aiontr, Reaching out thy hand to bless, Having by thy righteousness, Thou dost lift upon the Hock Whence the tempest's rudest shock No'er shall sever us from thee, Christ, Iminauucl, Oun In Three. King of klni's nwt ropl guide, Tiepure words In us a hide; "Follow me," thou sayest, "'and win Victory o'er crcry sin; Turn not hark from conflict drear, Watching, praylug, persevere; Then when 'Pence' tho angels sing, Trluinnh In vour Saviour Klrer." Marlon J. PMpju, in Gulden Jlule. HIS M YMS HORNING. There was rcvolry in tho village bar- oom. Sluco nino o'clock in thu jiiorn mg, when tho stranger inaugurated tho jrocccdings by making everybody mol- ow, there had boon a general desire to imitate him, and now, at tune o clonic h tho night, the motley group of vil sigcr., surging in and out and swaying jo and fro in tho barroom, indicated Ihat, whatever might bo tho condition if their intellects, their spirits woro lighly clcvatod. Every man in tho crowd had a local reputation, and in ovary case it had jeen gained by tho practicu of some jart.of tho thing which is called rullian- sm Just now ovoryono was bent on ia7ing a good time, which, in tho vil- age vernacular, meant getting drunk. Whether tho choice of Now Year's Evo Tor this purpose was in good taste, need aot 1h) considered horo it was the cus tom there an old hnbU which was sus- iaincd by public sentiment. Perhaps novor boforu, oxcept, possi jly. on tho occasion wiicn it was chris- ;oncd with that pormmsivo title, liad l'ho Gontlo Tnllueneo sholtcred at onco 10 noisy and so thirsty a crowd. It wns truly a curious name lor an inn, and provoked many an inquiry as to its meaning. 'You call j'our tavern tho Gentlo In Sticucc; tell mo win? ' had said tho itrangor when ho first came, only a :ouplo of days before. Hut tho wise landlord only smiled and shook his aead in reply, and tho stranger was loon g von to understand that that was i matter which could not be extracted Trom the landlord. Conjecture, indeed, bad long been busy With tho subject without solving It. borne averred that .ho namo was for luck, some that it re ferred to tho landlord's wife, some ioubtod whether tho landlord himself tucw what it meant. Howboit, tho aiyslery about it advertised tho house, ind Ihat. perhaps, was moaning enough for (ho landlord. Tho night was clear and cold, and, as each new-comer ontorod tho door, tho various topers shrank closer to tho jpon liroplace, whore a groat log lay muttering anil glowing with gonial tioat. Having warmed tho outer man, they strung themselves again busido tjip" bar, seeking to warm tho inner (mm, while wait ng for tho appearanco of tho stranger. Somehow it was joncrally understood that tin) stranger ivoulil spend tho night with "tho boys." Therefore, as tho door oponed from .line to tlmo to new arrivals, admitting tcon currents of frosty air and disclos ing momentary glimpses of tho far-off lorrowful stars, many an oyo watched md waited with growing inipationco for tho stranger's coining. .Among thoso pro3ont worn a consta ble and a Just ee of tho Peace, who warmed their hoarts with froquont potations. Beside thoso, tho chief arntunonts of tho gathering comprised i gentleman known as tho Colonel, un Dthorwho boro tho name of Old Gripes, (or tho habit of alleging a constant pain as a reason for an unquenchable thirst, another who was familiarly designated as tho Kid, and another as Pap Tunpor, a man advanced in years, t reprobate and senile victim of tho (lowing bowl. Possibly thoro was that in tho gather ing, tho people, tho occasion, and tho uirroundlugs, to Impress ono not alone With ropuls on, but also with pity and indues. Certainly It was a degraded tml reckless scene. And a rockloss tnnn Is always ti pathetic spoctaelo. Not loss wanting in pathoo was tho iceno when viewed from without and in its exterior frame and sotting. Tho iilcnt streets of tho humble village, thu brilliantly-lighted barroom, whoso drawn blinds could not shut nut tho pizo of half-grown boys, who peered In where they woro too young to bo ad mitted, but old enough to loarn tho ways of transgression. This, to ono who rollouts on life and its dreadful rosponslbdltlos, was a sight inexpressi bly touching and sail, Jleanwhllo tho night crow coldor and tho lonely littlo village moro silent. About tho gay and brilliantly-lighted (nn aro scattered, horo and thoro, tho humble homos, deserted by husbands and fathers, where tearful wivos watch ed sleeping children, and prayed, por chauco, for drunken men. And all around these 1 ttlo huts uprose, like ghostly sentinels, tho mountain peaks, touching tho sky on thu dark horizon, while high over all, spanned above tho earth and far nidified from its shame and sin, hung tho canopy of heaven, beautiful in its calm, pure depths, ami blazing with stars. "It is a boautiful night," satd tho stranger, looking up to thu sky. as his closely-buttoned liguro drew in tho puru air and his quick step rang sharply from the pavomont. "It reminds mo of that night whon she gave up all for ,uie but I must not think of that now." Ho soon readied tho barroom, and paused at tho door. Ho 1 stono I n moment to tho revelry inside, Tho gloaming lamp overhead l.tiip his faco, where a sweet smile rested, curling his mustache and softening the cruel glitter of his pierculug black eves. Ills toft, gloved hand touched the lutoh mid bo tupped inside, There followed a UHit of welcome, Pressing his way among tho crowd, he walked up to tho finr. ntinlfTnrr linnrla trill, nil ntwl a.,!. I. "Landlord, set out tho liquor for tho crowu. As tho rabblo gathered about tho horo of tho hour, who exalted himself by quenching their thirst, it was ourious to note- the contrast botween them and him. Their coarse, repulsivo iaces, ineir ruuo uross and ruder man tiers, woro littlo in keeping with tho highbred looks and refined demeanor of this well-dressed, perfect gontloman His gracoful presence, his palo Greek faco and fine formed head, his delicato loniurcs aim uiacic. curiy nair, his ox- quisiU dross and soft, whito hands would have mado him a nollcoablo liguro in any company. But there was about tho man a curtain air of coolness and commarjd, a something of daring anu oravauo. wnicn aiwavs and ovorv whero singled him out from tho com mon mass of mankind and mndo him feared of men and, perhaps, loved of women. It is nothing, therefore, that. under tho influence of his presence, coupled with tho stimulants which Ills generosity supplied, the poor creatures about mm Uucamo lnlarous. Not for years had the been regaled with such a treat, whether ol rolmompnt or Iquor. It reminded not a few of Christ ian Armstrong, tho young gentleman of wealth and promise, a former resi dent, who'so sudden disappcarnnco several years before had filled all hearts With genuine regret. intox cation nliccts men dmeronlly. Tho Kid becaino merry, tho Colonel gravo and learned, Old Gripos anilablo ami boulgnnnt, and rap limner mourn ful and pious. Tho stranger alono re mained cool ami collected. Ho listened to Pap Topper's regrets over a wasted life, to Old Gripes prophecy that tho world would never bo regenerated un til tho tax was removed from whisky, and to the wisdom which flowed from tho Colonel, who. to his militarv prefix added the title of hnyyer, though how he became entitled to those distinctions, whether through simple merit or sim ple appropriation, may remain matter for conjecture. "I noticed a very pretty placo here. said tno stranger, addressing tho Colonel. "It is on tho brow of tho hill just behind tho town as handsome a residence as I ovorsawin the country." 'You mean Oris placer said tho Colonel. Why, I don't know whoso placo it is. It's pretty, though." 'it must bo Oris place. ' said tho Colonel. "A large throe-story mansion, , veranda all round, trees', lawn, garden, consoriuVory? Yes, Cris' placo." And f ine uotonci notified in answer to mo nods of tho stranger. That place must havo cost monov, Colonel?" "Nigh on to $20,000. It's a pity no body lives there." "It's unoccupied, then?" "Clear deserted, said tho Colonel. "Owner dead, oh?" "Why, no; at least 1 think not. Ho's been gone, though, thoso two years, and never heard from." "That's strange." "Yes .maybe 'lis to you that novor know him; but to us hero, who knew him all our lives, it's as natural as lifo." And tho t'olonol, having found his illustration, drank his Honor and turnod upon I ho Kid, who broke in up-j on tno conversation with tho romarlc that ho had known Old Cris from a boy. "l mi!" exclaimed tho stranger, in credulously. "Why, you are still only a hoy ami ho Is an old man. "Old?" laughed thu Kid. . "Why. yes; didn't ou call him old Cris?" Tho Kill and tho Colonel laughed in chorus. "It tickles us to think of Old Cris its an old man," said tho Colonol. "Why, ho was a young man, not older than yoiirsolf. Perhaps thirty or there abouts, oh? turning to the Kid. "Yes: two'nty-scving or thirty when ho wont away, ' replied that young and promising individual. "I hen why do you call him Old Cris?" demanded the stranger. "Ueoatiso," explained tho Colonel. that is the n'eknamo tho boys gave him when ho became one of us. He was a haudsomu follow," continued tho Colo nel, relleetively; "a tall, line, brown haiivd, blue-eyed Anglo-Saxon, with backoono and brains. Kdueated, rich, talented, and he had tho world at his feet, and yet his life was ruined in a day." And tho Colonel paused to mas-: lor his emotion. The stranger called for another, round, ami tho Colonel proceeded: "It was tho loss of his wifo that broke' mm uowii. aii, sue was too handsom est woman In all tho country round! wnai a laeo nors was! bo beautiful, so: womanly, so pure! I can shut mv oyes I .urn sue ni'rjii.si us ii u was now instead i ol two years ago." Hero tho Colonel shut his eves to illustrate his thought: but. whether bv reason of tho depth of his relleotions or tho strongth of tho liuuor. ho was unable to stand up with his oyes shut ho swayed and staggard, and would have fatten had not his friend sunnort- cd him. Straightening himself, ho took a grip on tho bur and wont on: ii was a wook or so alter sho was gone that ho came into the barroom, I whoro ho had novor sot foot before, Ho called us all up to the bar and treat od. Ho drank hoavilv. and talked I wildly about his wife, and acted, :is If ho was a littlo oil" in his head. That night xi a carried him homo, and laid him on ! tho soi In tho parlor of his grand. nouse. anu next uav ail tno o d gran nies in tho village male and female, woro horrified. Ho got no sympathy from the people of his own class. Hut he came to us. and wo became his friends; and thoro isn't n man hero to night but loves Oris, and would risk his life to do him a favor." Thoro was a pause. The utraniror emptied his glass in silouco. "And whun his wive tiled ho wont to tho dogs, cli!" snlil tiie strangor, ludlUoronUy. "DiodJ Hid 1 say sho died?" ex claimed tho Colonol. "I gathered that from your story, Colonol," "You gathered it," said tho Colonol, after tho manner of a lawyer cross-examining a witnesi. "You may have gathnred It, but 1 didn't say it." "Why. I can't say that vou did: but I so understood you." "No, sir; I said he lost his wifo." "Lot her?" ' "Exactly. Now how do you suppo3o no lost norr Tho stranger couldn't guess would doubtless have beon d Mcult for an utlor stranger to the event to hazard a conjecture, lie invited tho crowd anothor round, however, and asked tho Colonol to proceed with his story. "It would have boon well if sho had died," went on tho Colonel, feelingly "for they woro so happy. It just seem sit as it heaven had oaon let down to sarin for them. Thev woro aiwavs to gethor, and wero so loving and tender, ind ho built that liouso on the hill to pleaso her. and hail no thought but for aor nappmoss. Ann then, onasumnior thoy went to tho seashore: but after : month ho returned alone, all pale anil broken. Ho was not tho same man. Ho said nothing, but walked about dazed like, with black rings under his eyes and a trembling of tho lips, which touched one's heart to see. Somehow it leaked out it always leaks out in v lingo that they hail mot a man it the seashore who had won his w fo's allcction a handsome, black-eyed, curly haired gambler, with tak.ng ways among women. Why, I should say, from his description, that, he was a man somewhat of our appearance stranger " Iho stranger was i list lifting ins glass to his lips, ami as the Colonel said the words, "somowhat of your appearance. stranger, his tcolh mado a clicking sound on tho edge of tho glass and it fell to the lloor in nieces. Perhaps vou know the man?" said tho Colonel, look ng sharply at the stranger. i.'" exclaimed that gentleman. " know him?" Well, you seem agitatod." I am," said tho stranger, coollv "ino landlord put too much bitters in that cocktail. If ther's one thing dislike, it's too much bitters in a cock tail. Landlord, some whisky. Well, Colonel, go on." W hv, there isn t much more to ten. Cris' wifo oloped witli tho handsome gam 1)1 or." 'And so that's how ho lost his wifo. eh?" said the stranger. "That's a real romantic storv. Colonel, and quite in teresting. This 'Cr;s' had another namo, 1 suppose?" And as ho askod the question the stranger looked keen ly at tho Colonel. "Yes; Christian Armstrong," said tho Colonol. And tho stranger started agajn. while his soft white hand played nervously with his h p-pockol. The Colonel, not noticing, added, sorrow fully: "lint wo always called hint Cr.s, poor fellow! And wo all know that whon she wont o!V with tho hand-omo gambler it broke his heart. It wouldn't bo well for tho gambler to show his face here. Tho boys would hardly for givo him fordlstroying the happiness of tho noblest man we ever knew; and it's my opinion that Cris is searching for his wife over tho Wide world. If ho should over meet tho gambler" Tho Colonel hesitated. What then?" asked the stranger. "He'll kill him." "Hump was tiie stranger's reply, as ho shrugged his handsome shoulders. The revelry was now at its lieighl, and, as tho Colonel ended, tho noise Ijl caino deafening.. Above tho babel of tongues could now and then bo hoard an intelligible utterance and an oceas I ional reference to tho morrow, and I lie proper mode of spending Isew l car s Day. rap l go to church, and Old Grilles averred that he would go along to " keep Pap straight," while tho Kid declared his intention of hunting rabbits if it snowed before morning. Moanwhilo tho stranger turned from tho bar anil walked to the window. He looked out upon tho stooping village, lying so calm and still under tho pale moonlight. In tho pauses of tho con versation ho could hear tho wind whistling round tho eaves and the twigs of the trees scratching aga nst the win dows. Ho glanced sideways at the crowd, and mentally confessed that in n certain contingency it would bo a dangorous crowd for him. H i turned again to the window, muttering to liini solf : "This, then, is the village where fcho lived with liiiu! I am almost sor ry, for ho was worthier of lior love than L" Ho peered out into tho night. Tho silver disc of the moon was just oinerg.ng from a littlo cloud, and Ihon he received a shock. A faco was look ing at him which made him start as if shot. It was only for an instant that he saw tho face. When ho looked again it was gone, "it can not im; i ..?.,., i... ,i,,i7'i i.,. muttered. "And yet I could havo sworn that was his face. gain and again ho peered i.nu i. wt,i.v. hnt. nil w nhvif ,nvi,.i,f ..iwi. I'm iinink-1" i.. said, and turned, and as ho did so he noticed a man sitting near tho stove. Ho had just ontorod and taken a scat. Thoro was something about him which sooiuod familiar, but his groat coat cov ered him, and his faco was biu'led in the folds of a scarf, which concealed his features. Tho stranger kept an oyo on him as tho man proooodod to unwrap hlmsolf, removing first his groat coat, and then unwinding, fold by fold, the senrf from his nook and face. As the Just fold was romovod, and ho stepped forward Into tho light, tho stranger knew him. "Armstrong!" ho cried, bohind sot tooth. Ho stoppod ba-k to tho wall and put his hand to his hip. There was a niomontarv mini, then, "It's Cris!" shouted tho IC d "Old Cris! Old Cris!" at onco ro sounded through tho barroom, and the crowd surged forward about tho two men, who regarded each other- keenly. Armstrong quite failed to respond to tho grootlngs of his friends. His oyes woro rlvited on tho palo Greok faco of the gambler. Tho dangerous light in tho oyos of theso two caused tho crowd to shrink away, leaving a clear space between them. At onco a pistol gleam ed in the soft wlnte hand of the stran gor, and, in clear tones, tho cry came: "Stand back men. and fair play!" Hut ho had soarcolv uttorod tho words when tho oUtol was strlekon from his hand and his arms hold from bohind, while tlio now comer, hailed as Chris, advanced towards him, grim and silent. "I have found vou at last," his eyes aid, hut lua lips wero dumb. "Armstrong, you are a bravo man; don't murder ine!" pleaded tho gam bier. "Give tug a uhance for my life. )on't slav mo, myself dcfonsolcss, my Ifo In your hands. bull tho wronged man spoko not a rord. He stood there, tall and com nandlng, his faco and sad eves full of latlios, and his whole person haggard Jo looked upon the handsome stranger ts ono might look upon a rare, though leautiful animal, whoso cruel naturo ;ives a hideous ciiarm to tho beauty of ts skin. It was for this man that she tad deserted him and made his life a torrid waste! And yet he loved her .till. Strange fact, which not all theso voary years of search for her, and ighting against hlmsolf. could change. 2vcn now.standing before his enemy, io confessed ho could spare him for her :ako. Shu had so entered his lifo that lothing could altar his love, nolh ng ihango his devotion, which was death ess. "God help me," ho had often laid. "Whatever sho is, or may bc jonio. I cannot help but love her." And low ho felt that ho would givo all that le possossed, cvon life itself, to guard lor from the slightest pain, to minister nor siigiuost wish, remaps somo neniory of oilier days, when tliov wero lappy m cacti other s love, crossed his nind, softening his heart toward her itill. Perhaps the worthlossness of lifo vithout her who had once mado for lim a heaven of cartli weighed upon inn; perhaps the impulse ol the 3iomonr, an outgrowth of heroic .bought, impelled him to tho deed; but Christian Armstrong in that moment jhanged his purpose wholly, and throughout his after conduct there was 30 sign ot tailoring seen to lniiicato hat ho regretted, or wished to escape tho doom, which, in a spirit of solf sacr lice, ho then, and there imposed upon himself. "Let him be released," ho command d. And tho gambler was at onco set (roc; but the crowd watched him nar rowly. They only waited a sign from Armstrong to destroy him, which ho well know. Armstrong continued to look upon him, and, calling the landlord, ho spoko live words. They mado the gambler blanch, cool and bravo though ho was, md caused a shudder even among tho hardened crowd: "A room with him alone." In some communities tho voico of ono man is as a voice irresistible, and there was no thought ot denying his demand. They passed upstairs together and en tered tho room over tho bar, and tho sound of locking the door on the inside was distinctly hoard below. When the landlord returned, palo and trembling, there was no longer any doubt as to the identity of tho stranger. Ho was the gambler who had robbed Armstrong of his wife, and Armstrong had found him it last. iVnd now a breathless anxiety Der ailed every breast, and a hush, in marked contrast with tho previous com motion, settled down upon the crowd. l"or live minutes thoro was utter silence overhead. Then sounds of moving feet wero heard, and the iloor was unlooked, but it was only to call for pen, ink, and paper. It was thought that tho men meant to make t heir wills. Af- ftcr a long silence there was another movement. Perhaps thoy woro going to light now. Hut'all was sdent once more, rive minutes passed, no sound; ten minutes, and still no sound; litteen minutes, all silent. Iho suspenso was becoming painlui. Another live nun utes elapsed it soemod liko an hour still no sound; ami .someone proposed to break in tiie door, and tho Colonel started on that errand, but turned and came back, for thoy wero coining down stairs. A moment later they entered tho barroom, Armstrong, fair, tall, and noble, leading, and tho gambler, dark, sleudor, and humbled, following. Tho crowd looked and wondered; but they wero still as death as Armstrong spoko": "This man must not bo harmed," he said, firmly. "Ho is going away. Who will drive him to tho station for tho midnight train?" "I, "cried a voice, ami tho Kid stepp ed forward. "Hero is your man. Good-by," said Armstrong. "Good-by," said tho gambler. Good by, and God bless you! Tho life you have saved to-night was worthless" be fore, but now it shall bo worthy of your mercy." Thoy shook hands again and tho gambler was gone. Then Armstrong drew a paper from his bosom and gave it to the landlord, requesting that it bo opened tho noxt morning, then shook hands witli all tho crowd, bado them good-night, and passed out into the silent street. Now Year's morning dawnod cooi and fair. The sun crept slowly up tho mountain side, crowned its h ghest peak with splendor, and throw a Hood of glory on the sinful village Tho frosty air was tilled with tiny suow llakos, through which tho snowbirds How, while church bells rang out their glad grootlngs. Littlo children tripped lightly by. happy as tho bright Now oar, and all seemed still echoing tho half-ml. half-joi ous peals that rang out tho old and chimed u greeting to tho now. Christian Armstrong did not appear on tho streets, though the paper loft by him was duly opened and tvad. It was his will, in which ho bequeathed all his cstato to his wife, including his once delightful homo, whore thoy, as man and w.fc, had passod two sweet voars of joy. "I understand it all now," said the Colonul. "Ho loved her. thoiiL'h sho dosortod him, and hosparod the stran ger because she loved him. The stran gor was right when ho said, sitting in tho buggy last night: "I'll koop my oath and change my lifo. Ho was worthlor of her love than I," Perhaps out of rospoot. perhaps be cause it seemed lonoly to spend tho day in tho big house on tho hill alone, a party started to visit tho returuod wan derer. As Ihoy turned from the village Into the country road tho grand liouso eamo Into fuller view, towering high on tho hill, its long veranda was extended, and its gilded cupola sparkling as with diamonds in the sunl ght. nut as thoy approached thev noticed something laying across tho great stone stops. Coining nearer, thoy saw what seoiuod to bo tlia form of a man. Thu Colonel stoppod forward and lifted tho man s hat. ami lol the face of Christ an Armstrong lwl;il up tit them with siglitlosi eye. Fr there, with a bullet in his heart, stark dead ho lay, this Now Year s morning, at peace with alt the world, his arms embracing and h cold lins touching, as if to less tho ston-s. which, in tho happy da.s, hor feet had trod. John C. Wullsi, tn the Current. Jlillet As An Art Student. One of M Hut's boy friends and com nanions knew him lirst in the city of Cherbourg, a few miles from the art ist's birthplace, tho city whero ho ro ceived his first lessons in art. Ho had heard how the voting peasant Millet tried to imitate tho engravings in his IJible during the noonday rest, how ho drew tho figures about him, and cover cd tho fences with sketches, until his father took him to Cherbourg "to sco whether ho could make a living by th business," When the artist to whom they went saw Millet's drawings, ho said to tlu father: "You must bo jok ing. Ihat voting man there did not make theso drawings all alone." And when conv nt-o I that thoy wero rcallv tho boy's work, he exclaimed: "Ah, you have done wrong to keep him so long without instruct on. for your child has in him the mak ng of groat artist." Presently the Municipal Counc'l of Cherbourg awarded Mdlet a meager pension that he might study art in Par is. Hut tho cmiiicilmen expected tho artist, in ivturn to send back largo paintings to tho city museum, although ho could not live upon tho pulsion Thev became angry at this delay; and he, finally bought an immense can vass, and in thrco days pained : picturo of Moses breaking the table of stone. Ho varnished itonco and sont it to the museum. Hut as the picture was varnished before the paint had dried, it soon began to crack. Now tho picturo looks so old that some of tho good people take it for a paint'ng by Michael Angclo. 1 hen tho counc linen tsked Millet to paint a portrait of the mayor, who had recently died. Millet had never scon him; but from an old miniature l.keues.s ho painted a b-auti ful portrait, tho faco seen in a thrco quarters front view. Wishing modols for the hands, Millet found a man in tho no gliborhood who had finely shaped hands. This man as it happened, had been imprisoned for .some olVense. Whon tho portrait was finished and shown to the councilnien, thoy sont for Millet ami lolu him that thev wero greatly d spleased. Tho likeness was good, "thev said, but there were two grave faults: The art ist had painted only a three-quarters view of tho lato mayor, whereas his Honor invariably entered tho Council Chamber facing straight forward; and secondlv, it was shameful to have used the hand of a man who had been in prison as the model for the hand of a man so good as tho lato mayor. Poor Millet! There was nothing for him to say to people so s tu ple and ignorant :w those. Hipley Hitchcock, in St. Nicholas. Eton iloiitcin. Any old Eton bjy would loll you that you might as well never have been born as not to know about Mouteni. Whv. Montem was as old as Queen El zabeili, an 1 Q.ieen Victoria was very sorry to have to consent to havo it broken up. Tho senior colleger was captain of Mo. item, and ho sometimes made jClO'Jii o.it of it. On I lie morning of Montem day, tho captain gave it grjat breakfast "in Hie Hall to trie fifth and s.xtli forms. Then tho boys marched twice around the school yard, tho ensign waved the great flag, the corporals drew their swords and tho possession started through tho Playing Fields to Salt 11 ll, in a long line, accompanied by two or thrco regimental bands. Tito oliicers wore red-tail coats, whito trousers, cocked hats with feathers, and regi mental boots; and the lower boys woro blue coats with brass buttons, white waistcoats and trousers, s.lk stockings and pumps, and carried slender whito poles. Hut before this, long before sunrise, tho salt-bearers and tiie r twovlo assistants had gone, some on foot and soiuo in gigs, in their places on all the great roads leading to Eton, to bjg "salt" from every body thoy mot. Salt meant money; and oven bo ly had to givo them salt. George tlio Third mid Queen Charlotto always gave liftv guineas apiece. Tho money went to the captain of Montem, to help him pay his expenses at the university to which ho was to go after leaving Eton. Tho salt-bearers carried satin money-bags and painted staves, and as receipts for .tlio salt that they secured thoy gave littlo printed tiekots with tho date of the year, and a Latin motto. Everybody wont to Montem, King George always used to go. anil Queen Victor. a went There was always a "Montem poet" who dressed in patch work, and woro a crown; and ho drove about tho crowd in a doukoy-cart, ro- CJting his odo and nourishing copies of it for sale. When the procession camo to tho top of Salt II II, tho ensign wavod his Hag a second t me, and that ended the celebration; only tho bovs and the visitors ail wont to tho inns at mdsor for a big dinner. Edioin D. Mead, in St. Nicholas. Forethought of a Dying Man. Itov. Hugh Cull is still well roinom- bored in Wayne county, wli u-o ho lived for mora than half a century, and died at tho advanced ago of 10 1 years. Dur ing tho last four years of his lifo he was atllictod with a, sort of hypochondria, and ovory onco in a while imagined he was dying. Ou ono such occasion he mounted his adopted daughter on a horse and sent her to notify tho mom- bo rs ot ins iaiuiiy, who lived at somo distance, that ins end was near, and if thoy desired to soo him die they must come at onco. Whilo sho was gone on this errand ho happened to flunk that thoro was no wood cut and that his children would bo cold when thoy got to his bedside, as it was in the middle of winter; so, forgetting about ills near approach to death, he got up and went to tho woodpilo, and wlion they arrived in uastu in ooouiuuco to uts summons, found him outting wood to keop thou, warm while thoy watched him die. Indianapolis Journal. A Yonng llnn'a Mistake. When a young man starts out with tho firm determination to do all in hu power to assist and make happy his fellows, and tlicn receives a sot-back, it does moro towards hardening his heart to tho woes of ihi world than anything else. Ho no longer dorives pleasure from the happiness of his fellow crea tures, and where, at one time, ho would havo been glad to havo lent a friend a street car tiekel, or his umbrella, ho now carries a stony expression on his face and coldly refuses. A sad e;tsc of this kind has rco n'.Iy developed in our quiet littlo city, and tlio party in ques tion is as much changed os a suit of clothes. Naturo blessed him with two lovely little pink shell-liko ears.but frail and delicate as thoy look.thoir owuer is wont to placo a great deal of conlidenco In them, and oven in the coldest weath er has, until recently, never been known to cover them up. It might b:i well to say right bore that ho is one of llio.s- mA-callod cranks, who docs not believe in bundling up with superfluous clothing. So when tho mercury has crawled away down into tho bowels of tho thermometer, and everybody else is freezing as still" as a Thanksgiving turkey, our friend starts boldly out. overcoatlc-i, cravatless, goloshlcss. and with a derby hat, sitting jauntly on his wealth of brow. If askcil if ho docs not feel th-2 cold, his expressive faco is instantly wreathed in smiles, and ho proudly answers: "Oh, no, I am very comfortable, thanky you," while his friend gently murmurs something to himself, which sounds vory much liko "I am something of a liar myself." Well, tho other day when tho weather was about fifteen or twenty degrees below, tho young man turned out as usual in summer clothing, with his aforesaid shell-liko oar.s laid bare at tho mercy of the frigid atmosphere, and had got but a short dislanoo from I lie house when lie fell in witli a friend. Thev proceeded on together talking on different subjects, when tho friend sud .leniy looked up and exclaimed: "Why, Frank, vour ear is frozen! ' And sure nuough, he had trusted his organ of hearing a 1 ttlu too far. and it had bo- ome congealed. Tho usual remedies were instantly applied, and after it had been rubbed with snow for a short time, tho frost finally disappeared, but that ear was a sad wreck of its former grandeur. Once a thing of bctitity, it now resembled a kidney, but instead of causing its ownors' angry passions to ri.se, it had moro tho elleet of teaching him a lesson, and ho dec ded to be on the look out dur ng tho rest of tiio day, and warn everybody whom ho chanced to meet whose noso or oars appeared to bo froal-billcn. About ton o'clock in the forenoon, our young friend was again out on tlio street, and tho vorv lirst sight that greeted his eyes, was a noso whoso dealhliko whiteness plainly betokened frost, and loons startling to relate, behind that, nose was a very in teresting young lady. Her chocks wore mellow and rosy as tho Hin-kissed s:do of a ripening poach, but the cold hand of death had seemingly laid its icy fingers on iter saucy little probocls, -and tho contrast was at onco both amusing and startl'ng. He immediate- summoned up all his courage for a modest young man to address a ntrangu young lady, and tr'pplng lightly to her side, inform.'d her in low and" tremu lous acceuts that her noso was friz. I'lio shriek that she let escape from her rosebud lips, was so heart-rending and harp, that ittoolc his breath completely away, and caused his oyes to cross in his head, while ho glanced hastily :iround, expecting to seo tho palrolt wagon como tearing around the corner. "Oh, sir," said tlio frightened voting lady, "what can I do to save my nose?" tnd then sho fainted in his arms. jtickily, thoy stood iTt front of a drug tore, and dragging his burden inside, :ui out and got a handful of snow. This ho daubed on tlio lady's nose. whilo tho druggist kept the crowd back with one hand ami administered restor atives with tho other. Whon- sho inio too, tho astounding discovery was mado that hor noso had not been frozen at all, but on leaving tho house she had put about nino lavi r.s of powder on it to keep it from getting red. When the young man parted with the lady, it did t take a very close observer to seo that thoy wero not on the best of terms. Ho tried, in his poor, weak way. to pologizc, but sho turned a deaf oar and said that she had been grossly in sulted, that ho was no gentleman to play such a contemptablo trick on an orphan whoso father and mother wero both dead, and that sho had a groat mind to suo for damages. As they parted, a thoughtful expression camo into his fawn-liko oyes, and ho was ab sent-minded all the rest of the day. Ho hasu t been himself smco, and wan ders about in an aimless sort of way, but ho has made a solemn vow never to befriend anothor human boing, oven if he finds them witli their own faco frozen. This should bo n warning to ladies who go out on a cold day with thoir noso powered, for it will bo only a question of time whon thoy will got caught in tho sumo trap. I'cck'a Sun. Just tho Mini Ho Wanted. A burglar, who was doing a noat job on a largo safe, was horrified, on looking up to soo a man standing quietly bosido him. Ho was about to retire, when tho gontloman said: "Go ahoad. I am Interested in that job." "Why?" asked tho astonishod bur glar. "Bccauso I havo forgotten ttio com bination, and no living person know it but mvsolf. If you can got that safe open, I'll mako it worth your whilo." Burlington Free Press. Heforo ami After. Before marrtago: "Excusonio.Georgc, did my parasol hurt you?" "Oh, no, my dear; It would bo a pleasure if it did." Aftor marriage: "Great heav ens! There novor was a woman under the sun who knew how to carry an um brella without scratching a fellow's oyes out." "And thoro novcr was a man who know enough to walk on tho right sido of a woman with a parasol." There isn't auy right sido to a woman with a parasol." Hartford Post.