.HELEN LAKEMAN;
on,
The Story of a Young Girl's Strug
gle With Adversity. (
,
BT JOIIK' H. MUSICS,
Airrnon or "Tub Hanker of Hedi-oiid,"
" Walteh IJuow.sriELD." Etc.
Copyright, 1SS6, by A. X. Kellogg Xtstpaper Ct.)
CnAfTEH I.
WAllKEN STUAItT'S HETUIIN.
X old -fashioned
cozy farm- house
stood at tho road
side, upon a hill,
surrounded by ma
jestic oaks and
elms. There was
nothing about this
particular f a r m
liouso to distin
guish it from oth-
the PEUDi.nit. ors, save that it
perhaps po.-sosed more of an air qf
quiet neatness than any other in the
Sandy Fork neighborhood. The house
T as one of those odd specimens of
frontier architecture, fast fading
from the landscape, before tho sweep
ing strides of a better civilization.
Not. however, that it was mean in any
particular. Thirty years ago it was a
palace compared to the other rude loV
huts in the vicinity. It was built of
hewn logs, and made what is called
double. It was weather-boarded with
out and plastered within, giving it an
nil of neatness as well as comfort. The
front yard was covered with a sweet,
tender coating of ' early spring blue
grass, and the oaks and elms had begun
to assume their summer garb. The
front gate was closed and standing by
it, leaning over aud looking down the
Newton road, was a woman. She was
beautiful, possessing real charms. She
was not young, not one of those radiant
beauties who dazzle the eyes of silly
Hociety swells, but possessed of a sweet,
lvatronly, home-like face, the beauty
only found in mothers.
Perhaps a passer-by or casual ol
ervor would have discovered nothing
attractive, much less beautiful, in that
commonplace woman standing by tho
gate gazing down the "big road" with
eagerness in her face. But had he
paused ho would havo seen that, plain
as those features were, they were very
regular; that, although sho had lines of
oare, they were almost obliterated by
lines of pride; that her brown oyes, too
dark to bo blue, and too light to bo
black, were filled with tho eager joy of
ti mother expecting tho return of a
child.
Mrs. Stuart was nearly forty years of
nge, and, had it not been for her
matronly appearance, might have
passed for several years younger. On
this mild May evening she "stands by
the gate with all a mother's fondness
and pride, awaiting tho return of her
oldest, son from college. Ho has grad
uated and is expected on the evening
train at Newton, whither his younger
brother has gone to meet, him with the
'spring wagon." His father had gone
a week before to the city where Warren
was attending the medical college to
hear his sou's graduating oration.
Mr. Stuart was tho model farmer
of the Sandy Fork neighborhood. lie
was not tho wealthiest nor tho most
aristocratic, perhaps, but then he was
what is called well-to-do in the world,
very quiet aud pleasant, having but
few enemies and many warm friends.
Perhaps ho was not as wealthy or influ
ential as either Taylor, Evans or
Arnold, whose farms were near or
adjoining his, but his word went as far
as either, and he never gave his note.
As Newton was west of the Stuart
farm, the rays of the setting sun fell on
tho woman's face, and she was com
pelled to shado her oyes with her clean
white apron.
"Oh, mother, arc you looking for
them already ?" asked a bright, cheery
voico from tho house, and the next
inomont there came bounding down
the gravel walk a beautiful girl about
fifteen years of age, with large dark
eyes and hair. She pushed tho gate
open and took a look down tho road,
shading her eyes with her hands.
" Is it time, mother ?" she asked, for
her mother had been too busy with her
thoughts and watching to answer hor
first question.
" Yes, dear, it is almost time," tho
TOother answered, her very tones denot
ing kindness.
"llow long havo you been here,
mother?"
"Not long."
"Oh, mother, I know you would bo
watching for Warren long before ho
came. Do you suppose ho has grown
much ? "
"No, not since wo saw him."
"Ho has boon gono so long; oh so
long."
"Yes, he's been gono all winter."
"And now he'll bo a doctor, won't
ho?"
"Ye3, I hopo so," tho mother
answered, as if sho knew that every
diploma does not mako tho man whoso
namo is written therein a doctor.
" Oh, I want to see brother Warren
so bad," said tho anxious sister, swing
ing upon tho gate and humming a
tune. "
Tho youngest brother, who had
remained at home to plow in tho
fields, now came by riding one plow
horso and lending the other, and asked
-"if it was not time for them to come?"
"Almost, William," said tho mother;
go and put your horses away and feed
them ; by that time they will bo here,
I expect,"
William, who was only thirteen years
of age, was rather young for a plow
boy, but he was largo and able to "man
ago a team" almost as well as Clar
caco, who was four years older.
'MP?
"Don't yoii lfear the wagon, Hose ? "
Mrs. Stuart asked.
"Where?" queried tho dark-eyed
girl, breaking otV the air she was hum
ming and ceasing to swing on tho
creaky gate.
"Down at the bridge."
The mother had evidentlyasked Rose
the question to draw her attention and
stop the noie sho was making.
"Yes, I do; they are crossing the
bridge now," cried Rose, letting go thf.
gate and ready to lly down the road tc
meet her father and long - absent
brother.
"No, no. don't," said her mother,
"it may be some stranger crossing the
bridge, and you will feel somewhat em
barrassed to be running to meet him."
"O, I'd just pretend the pet lamb had
got away, or the calf was out of the lot,
and I had been sent after it," said
Rose, with a merry laugh.
Mrs. Stuart smiled as sho gazed into
the happy face of her daughter. Hut j
the attention of both were fixed upon
the road. The sun had now kindly
dipped behind the tree-tops, so there j
was no need to sliadc tiieir eves '
longer, though the light was yet brill
iant and glorious. There was no
sound after the wagon had crossed the
bridge, anil mother and daughter knew
it was crossing the sandy strip at tho
foot of tho hill. Soon the light rattle
of a wagon could he heard. There is
something in the chucking of a wagon
by which we can almost recognize ono
from another.
Mrs. Stuart felt sure this was her
husband's vehicle, you for fear sho
might be mistaken, she d.tred not say so.
To have expressed even a linn belief
would have sent Rose bounding toward
it. Rut now it. comes up the hill
around the bead in tl road, aud there
is no mistaking the tall gray and roan,
as well as the large fine figure of father
and husband in the back seat. And there
too, at his side, is the Li-other and sou,
with Clarence before, driving up the hill
atasweepingtrot. Rose uttered a scream
of "there they come!" and was half
way down the hill before her mother
could utter a word. Sho met tho wagon
down the hill much to tho annoyance
of Clarence, and springing in kissed
her father and long-absent brother, and
then sat. down between them, like tho
child she was, to ride to the house.
" THEIiE TIIEV COME!"
Warren sprang from the wagon and
was clasped in tho anus of his proud
mother.
"Oh, Warren, how you have grown;
but. you are only taller," said Mrs.
Stuart. "You look real pale. I fear,
my son, you havo studied too hard this
winter. Did you get through all
right?"
"Yes, mother," said tho young M.
D., with a smile, "I am through with
college now, though 1113 preceptors say
I am just, prepared for study.
"0 dear! I thought when any ono
went through college Ihoj never had to 1
study any more," said the giddy Rose, j
" I thought they got it all at once." i
Warren laughed at his sister, and '
told her she would learn better when I
sho was older. He then offered to help 1
his brother Clarence carry tho trunk to
tho house, but the young farmer said I
that doctors wero not lit persons to
handle luggage, and, throwing the
heavy trunk upon his own broad shoul
der, he walked in tho house with it.
Tho return of a youth to his home
after a long absence is always pleasant.
There was so much to talk about on
this evening that Warren was kept
busy. The college, the graduating
speech ho had delivered, which Rose
wanted him to repeat for the "edifica
tion of tho crowd," his classmates,
boarding house, city and even journey 1
home had to be thoroughly discussed, j
Then with supper came Pete, tho ped-,
dlcr, who, in traveling around the
Sandy Fork neighborhood, always made
it convenient to stop over night with 1
farmer Stuart. Pete was an old and
intimato friend of the family, and Mrs.
Stuart purchased many ribbons, laces, j
handkerchiefs, and also table linen, 1
from his pack. j
Pete unfitting his wares and merehan- j
diso at tho door with as much freedom
and familiarity as if he were a member
of tho household. Ho greeted War
ren's return in a hearty manner, de
claring, In his laconic way:
"I'll bo doggoned, boy, if you don't
begin to look like a doctor, sure
enough. All ye lack is some beard on
jer face. Noxt timo I git the rheumat
ics I'll furnish you a first-class pa
tient." Warren was tho center of attraction
at supper, and all tho evening, but his
mother, seeing how tired ho was, in
duced him to retire early.
cnAPTKit ir.
TItr. IJTTI.K CHlI'l'I.B.
Warren Stuart aroso early the next
morning, and, as ho had not been en
abled the night beforo to pay tho dumb
animals of tho placo a visit, ho con
cluded ho would do so beforo breakfast.
The sun was up shining brightly, and
Clarenco and Will wero feeding the
horses and getting readj for tho day's
work. There wero many familiar
creatures for him to seo. Rally and
Bess had to be patted, caressed and
made to know that their former master
I .'I I HH-Wll "I I frill I m iy 1
had come home. Then ho paid a visit
to the goats and sheep in tho pasture.
Some seemed to recognize him, and ran
bleating toward the outstretched hand
that so oft had fed thorn. When he
came to gaze about on tho beautiful
landscape, the fields and pastures of
his dear old home, ho was almost sorry
that he had that diploma with the de
gree of M. I).
"I could live happier here as a farmer-boy
than anywhere else on earth,"
ho sighed. Rut ho remombered that
he. could not always be a boy, and all
the boys could not be farmers. Rlessed,
indeed, is the lot of the boy who is a
farmer, untrammeled by ambition,
holding sweet communion with nature
tho year 'round wo can but envy tho
farmer. Thus, he toils, but when night
comes he sleeps without harrassing
cares or annoyances of the morrow.
No troubled brain and vexatious suits,
fall in price of goods, tottering banks
or dangerous patients disturb hi sleep.
And while ho sleeps the corn and cattle
grow in value.
All these reflections came to the mind
of the young M. 1). as he gazed about
over tho old homestead. At last he
turned about to enter the lvousc. He
had wandered around to the rear of
the farm-house, and was eeuning up to
the kitchen when he discovered some
one sitting on the back porch who
attracted his attention. It was only a
little boy. not over six or under four
years of age to judge by his face, though
nis body was dwarfed and his little
form misshapen. He was a little hunch
'iack, with a sweet patient face, which
bore evidence of suffering, and yet the
largo blue eyes were clear and bright.
He sat in his little rocking chair enjoy
ing the warm sunlight which streamed
in upon the latticed portico.
"Where did the child come from ?"
he asked aloud, though heviilentlydid
not expect an answer, for he was too
far away from the child for it to hear,
and he saw no ono else. Some one else
3aw him, however. Peddler Pete was
an early riser, and on this morning, as
was his usual custom when at farmer
Stuart's, ho lit. his pipe and took a
stroll " about the placo" before break
fast. "Yo never saw that littlo feller
beforo?" he nsked, stepping from
behind a cherry bush witliln three or
four feet of Warren, ami nodding to
ward the little cripple.
"No, I never saw him, nor heard of
him before."
"He's well known all over Sandy
Fork," and Peto pressed his linger in
his pipe bowl.
"That may be true, Peto, and he still
bo a stranger to me. Yon know I have
not been about Sandy Fork very much
for the bust five years. Three years in
college and then two in tho medical
school have taken considerable from
my life."
" That's so, why doggo 11 it, I'd forgot
that," said Pete, pulling away at his
pipe.
"That is an interesting child."
Pete shook his head sadly and said :
"Ys, he's a good child and will never
be at homo any plnco save in Heaven.
He's just one o' them good little boys
tho Sunday-school books tell us about
who 'aller's die; he's got to dip, -and
then I guess some one will writo a book
about him."
"Who is he, and why is he hero ?"
"Didn't yo ever he.ir of Mr. Lake
man, Renjamin I believe, who lived
down on Sandy Fork creek on the old
Plumber place ?"
"1 think I heard of tho name a year
or so ago when I was home during
vacation."
"Well, that's his child."
" Where is Mr. Lakeman ? "
"O him ? he's dead."
"And tho boy's mothor?"
"She's dead, too, died fust,", said
Pete, sadly, refilling his pipe.
"And tho child is heir to the Plumber
farm ? Well, it's very valuable, and ho
has ample support."
"Not much," said Pete, striking a
match and applying it to his pipe.
"Why not?"
"Tho little fellow was euchred onto'
it some way. Ho hasn't notion' but 11
hundred and sixty acres o' brush and
hills not worth ten o-nts an aero."
"Then father keeps him ns a matter
of charity?"
"No, boy, yer wrong agin I should
have said doctor, bnt I forgot," and
Peto laughed. Rut Warren was too
much interested in the littlo cripple be
fore him to heed tho littlo joke of his
friend, the peddler.
i"You s;y my father docs not keep
him?" ho asked.
"No, yer father does keep him; but
not as a matter of charity," said Pete.
"Ho has other means then?"
"Not a dollar."
"Why, Pete, what do you meanP"
Warren askwl, in astonishment, "you
talk in riddles; pleaso explain your
self." "Haw, haw, haw, I likotosco ye puz
zled, boy no, doc, I mean but I'll not
keep you on the ragged edge o' sus
penso any longer. That boy Is sup
ported by his sister."
t"His sister?"
5-"Yes, Helen Lakoman. There wero
only two o' them when the old folks
died. I didn't know much about the
family cos' I'd never sold 'em numb
goods, they bcln' out o' my rogular
range, ye know. Rut when Lakeman
died it scorns overy body, even his own
gal, thought he was well-to-do in tho
world, hut some debt come agin his
estato and took OTery thing oxcept that
brush and hill land, too poor to sprout
beans. Wa'll, there wero the gal, thon
fourteen, for it was two years ago, and
hor crippled brother only four. Sho
had some cdgccatlon an' tried to keep
school, but couldn't pass muster, some
uruv tlwji sho hired out: she's been
hero I believo for the laac six or seven '
months."
The story was a simple one, and told
with but very littlo feeling on the part
of Pete. It was simply tho struggle of
a young girl trying to do her duty.
Warren received it as Pitch. He saw
nothing especially grand in it then.
There was nothing noble In a girl hiring
out to earn a livelihood for herself, or
herself and invalid brother, much less
any thing romantic. What romance
could there bo in iv girl hiring out. It
was too common, anil a romance to bo
a romance in the world's eyes must be
very unnatural, very uncommon.
"He's a nice little boy," said Pete,
after n few moments' silence, still look
ing at the child. "Though he's awfully
crippled and can't walk without bavin'
his hands on his knees: he's just as pa
tient as kin be, an' Helen she's mighty
good to him. She never scolds him an'
alters looks to his comfort, though she
be tired out. I sometimes think death
to that child will bo a blessin'."
Pete's tones wero sad. This no
madic man, with all his bad grammar
and pronunciation, was something of a
philosopher. He had traveled consid
erably in his humble calling, and, hav
ing a keen perception, picked up many
truths not U- bo found in text booki
In fact, he was an educated man. not
from the standpoint of books, but from
nature.
"Why do you think the death of that
child would be a blessing, Peto?" War
ren asked.
"Did ye never see a bird with a crip
pled wing, and seo how tho poor little
thing tried to lly and couldn't? Well,
this child, good as he is, holds down
that. gal. Every cent, sho makes goes
to support herself an' tho child"
The breakfast bell rang, and Pete did
not. complete his sentence.
That morning Warren noticed that the
eyes of the hired gfvl, who was sacrificing
herself for her crippled brother, were
very large and blue, and her forehead
was broad and high, and her features
were regular. She was neat and tidy, and
did not look at all like the sloven
kitchen girls he had seen. Her hair
was golden and neatly gathered in a
net. There was a sweet sadness upon
her face, which touched him not a lit
tle, when he remembered that all hor
earnings barely supported herself and
her brother.
chapter m.
at cnimcii TIIK mooni.it walk.
Warren Stuart regarded the girl as a
commonplace mortal, and yet tiicrc
was something a little more than com
mon about her. Ho seldom saw her,
save at mealtime, when she came in to
wait upon the table. She know a serv
ant's place, and kept it. She was mod
est almost to shyness, and seldom spoke,
never unless compelled to do so. Com
monplaco as ho supposed her to be. he
one day thought he discerned a poetic
sadness in tho largo, dark blue eye,
as she stood like one in a reverie. Tho
kitchen work at Stuart's was no very
small matter, and it required all her
time and energy to accomplish her
part. Sho was nearly always busy, and
frequently when ho saw that sad worn
face, aud tired littlo form, ho felt a
sympathy for her.
One evening after tho day's work
was done, ho was passing tho kitchen
where Helen would insist on staying,
and heard her engaged in an animated
conversation with hor brother. It was
a simple conversation such as a child
might understand about Heaven. Lit
tle Amos was asking his sister If ho
should bo relieved of his infirmities
there, aud whether or not ho would see
his mother and father. Tho answers of
the girl were low and sweet, assuring
tho littlo cripple that ho would stifl'erno
pain there, and would mcot those who
had gono before. Simplo and common
place as tho conversation was, it had
something about it which affected War
ren. It was Warren's-Intention to remain
at homo during tho summer, and early
in tho fall seek n location to enter into
tho practice of his profession. It was
now tho busy season for farmers, and
ho did not meet many of his former
friends and acquaintances. Tho second
Sunday after-his return was tho day for
preaching in tho Sandy Fork school
house. Tho Methodist had takon this
in one of their circuits, and sent
Rev. Allen Rla.e, a famous "gospol
pounder" to preach there oneo a month.
The school-house was about three
fourths of a milo from Mr. Stuart's and
down the creek known as Sandy Fork
It wns well hidden in tho trees and tho
road to it led through tho forest. Tho
new prcachor was very popular and his
audiences wero always large. No;
unfrequoiitly tho school-house failed to
hold them and many stood outside at
tho door and windows.
Peter Stair, tho peddler, had boon his
rounds and "dropped in" at tho Stu
art's the night beforo tho Sunday on
which Mr. Rlazo was to preach.
"You'd better go'n hear him," said
Peter to Warren. " He's a regular
stormer, I tell ye. Ho can make
things blaze, too. His sermons are all
wool, haud-mado and warranted not to
fade. You can hear one on Sunday,
and it'll keep a ringin' through yer
ears all tho rest o' tho week just like
one tune nt a dance. Resides, some
times he fairly lifts a feller out o' his
boots. Ho .raises yo so high yo can
most git a blrtl's-eyo view o' tho Now
Jerusalem."
Warren consented to go, and tho
next morning tho horses wero hitched
to the wagon, himself, his father ami
mother and sister got In and drove off
to tho Bchool-houso. Tho other two
boys wont on horseback, preferring a
gallop through tho woods to tho ease
and comfort of any wngon or carriage.
"Why, holloa! Wnrron, how are you?"
said Mr. Arnold, tho moment ho
alighted from the wagon in front of tho
school-house. Mr. Arnold dropped tho
stick on which ho was whittling to take
Warren's hand. Ho was a man a little
over medium height, somewhat slender,
with sandy hair and whiskers, which
wero only on his chin, and cropped
short,
"I suppose you havo como back
among us a full-tledged doctor?" ho
went on to say.
"I BUITOSK VOL' HAVE COME BACK A
ri'I.I.-Fl.KlHlED nOOTOU?"
"That remains to bo seen, Mr. Ar
nold." said Warren.
He was now surrounded by tho old
men and young men of tho neighbor
hood, each extending to him a kindly
greeting.
Warren was a sort of favorito in
the neighborhood, and all were glad to
seo hint back. Mrs. Arnold, and evAi
her daughter. Miss Hallie. a sprightly
littlo creature with a somewhat florid
complexion and hair, and a face con
siderably freckled, came to him and
insisted so earnestly that, ho should go
home with them for .dinner that ho
could not refuse. Thero was to bo
preaching at night .tint he. could go
home with his parents then, so after
tho sermon was over he got into Mr.
Arnold's carriage and sat down by the
side of Miss I Initio, whom he had known
nince childhood. Miss llallio did her
best in her shallow way to entertain
him, but a conversation on beaux and
dress has but littlo attraction for a
young man whose chillies still havo tho
college smell upon them.
Tho sermon at night was far moro
impressive to our hero than tho one in
the morning. Mr. Rlaso (old Rlaze,
blue Rlaze and many other blazes, as
ho was called ) took his text from
Matthew the XXV. and fortieth verse:
"Aud the King shall answer and say
unto them : Verily I say unto you :
Inasmuch as ye have done it unto tho
least of these. My brethren, yo havo
done it unto Mo."
His thenio was charity, nud overy
word seemed like an arrow sent homo
to Warren's heart. When ho alluded
to "tho least of these," tho youth
thought of poor little Amos, crippled
and helpless, and there seemed to raise
above the minister a mist, which took
the shape of an angel, tho faeo of
which was Helen's. Ho alluded to tho
sacrifice mado by some noble women of
tlio earth whose names wero now known
not to fame, but inscribed in Heaven,
and whose crown would bo brightest
there. The sermon from beginning to
end soetned inspired by the acts of he
roio self-sacrifice of that girl. Mr.
Rlazo did not know thero was such
a person in existence, yet, to uso ono of
Peddler Pete's characteristic expres
sions, his cloth was cut for any meas
ure. Why had ho not before noticed that
this real heroine was wasting her lifo
for her little brother, was tho thought
that canio to Warren's mind; "I will
soo my father and mother about it."
When preaching was over Mr. Rlazo
and his wifo consented to go homo with
Mr. Stuart, and Peddler Peto being
Chore, tho wagon was full without War
ren. "Nover mind mo, father," ho said,
"It's only a nieo walk and tho moon
sliines brightly." Tho truth is, our
young doctor preferred lo walk alone,
that ho might tho hotter digest tho dis
course ho had heard.
Peto insisted on walking In his stead,
but ho would not hear to it, and tho
wagon rolled on with its hitman freight,
leaving Warren a-foot and alono. He
started briskly down tho wooded road,
but had gono only a short distance
when ho almost ran against somo one
who was tripping lightly along before
him.
oorrivuo.
William Ulysses Scott, a seventeen-year-old
public-school boy of Now
York, has developed the genius of a
lightning-calculator. Young Scott can
answer any question in mathematics
almost as quickly as it is put to him,
but ho doesn't seem to know how ho
does It. Ills teachers havo racked tlioir,
brains to find problems 00 hard for
him to solve, but ns yet he has entirely
baflled tsuni. To their inqulrlos as to
how ho docs It he only nnawors, "I dun
know.",
A lady teacher of inuslo in Ontario
County, N. Y inserted hor profes
sional card in one of tho county news
papers. It was seen by an old lover in
Chicago, who at onco hunted hor up,
explained his absonco of a quarter of a
century, and murrlod hor. It pays to
advertise.
A colossal stick of lumbor from
Paget Sound has been contributed to
tho Mechanics' exhibition at San Fran
cisco. Its length is lot feet, and It Is
20x20 inches through. It Is bolleved to
bo the longest piece of lumber vei
turned out of wj auwuilll
CHINESE MASONRY.
The Mooting I'tiion of n Curious Lmrigs la
Jftw York City.
Old Masons wore, until late, of tho
opinion that no such a thing ns a Chi
nese Mason ex stod. One gentleman
said ho had soon Arabs and Turks who
wero good Masons, but, to tho best ol
his knowledge, no Chinaman was in
tho order. Nevortholosss, there are
not onlv Chinese Masons, but right
hero In Now York thero Is a Chinese
Masonic lodgo in full blast with a
nieniburship of ovor throe hundred.
It is a native organization, not allied
directly to tho Free and Accepted Ma
sons, but said to be founded on princi
ples vory noarly akin.
The lodge-room is at No. 18 Mott
street, second floor, front, and has re
cently been romodolod and refitted In
very good shape, all nowlv painted
and cleaned. The lodgo furniture is
of Chinese design, and imported
from China expressly for tho
society at n givat oxponse.
A tall llagstatV with a ropo for
running up colors is on top of tho
building. Above tho door as ono en
ters tho lodge-room is a red sign in
native characters signifying "Chinese
Masonio Society," aud down tho
sides aro two long "dips of red paper
bearing 1110' toes. O 10 of these is "Do
good to one another." and the other
relates to the business of tho order.
Tho Interior is like most Cliinese
quarters, only lighter, and not full of
odd turns and uususpoctcd corners.
Immediately on entering one is tod
into a sort of ante-room and thoneo
Into tho main or lodge-room. Ac
tho lowerond of this room is tho altar,
and a verv valuable ono it is. costing
in China $1,600. Abovo It is an alcovo
in which a colored drawing is sus
pended. It is not tho least ciirioti.t
thing in the plnco, tho dositrn buing
three figures, 0110 stated and two
others bending ovor his shoulder.
Tho seated figure represents the von
irablo father of Chinese Masonry. Tho
lace is heavy, placid aud adornod
with a long black beard. Tho
other two aro respectively tho spirits
of light and darkness, who aro sup
posed to bo giving hi 111 uounsol. In
front of tho altar a lamp is hung. It
Is nover extinguished, and burns in
commumoration of tho dead of tho
order. Anothor oinblom Is two sticks:
of sandal-wood punk thrust Into a box
of sand. They koop smouldering away
and fill tin) air with a faint but sweet
pi'rfuine.
On tho wall is a long board, and on
this aro pasted a great number ol
sheets of paper eovored with Chinose
hieroglyphics. Those aro the lists ol
mombors voted on in tho Now York
. lodgo. Near the roster hangs two
hooks. O 10 of those is smt out from
the Supremo L idgo at San Francisco
and gives a detailed account of a num
ber of cases of tin so in distress and
sickness, and the wh ereabonts of each
0110 who needs help. Tlio other
Is a s ibseription book in
which tho various amounts subscribed
aro entered. At intervals these twe
books and tho nmqiiut raised uro trans
mitted to tlm Suproino Lodgo, from
which tho dependent members aro re
lioved. Mootlngs aro not hold upon rogulni
nights, but at intervals decided upon
by the dignitaries of tho order, as the
necessities of busbies may domain!.
The members nro notified of meetings,
hold generally on Sunday nights, bj
tho appoarance of a triangular flag nt
tho top of the pot on lop of the house.
This Hag is whito, and bears tlu
ploturo of a lingo rod dragon with it
tnil towards the point- Thero are
grips, signs and passwords, oxactly a
In an American lodgo. "Tho traveling
card" of this socloty is quite a curiosi
ty in itself. It Is a square of red silk
inscribed with Chinese aluiracton, and
Is a doouinont highly prl.od by all its
possessors. N. Y. World.
An Erulto and Able Negro.
Edward Wllmot lily don U pornapi
tho ablest negro In tlio world. He can
rend the Koran ,in Arabic, the Riblo It.
Hebrew. Homer In Greek, Virgil In
Latin, Shakespeare in English, and
Danto in Italian. Though a native ol
tho Island of St. Thomas, ho wm
brought up In Monrovia, Liberia, ami
there, by his unusual lltornry nbility,
ho has attracted attontlon to hlmsel'
ns tho chnmplon of a negro clvlllzatlor
that shall bo coterminous with tin
limits of the Dark Continent. Rlyder.
controverts tho Idea of Wiuwooc
Road that tho natives in Africa wil!
disappear before the whites, as tht
Indians, did n America, Tho cllmat
will save them, and, Instead of boIn
destroyed by tho Eiiroponns, they wlh
bo civilized by tho efforts now bcln;
nindo to opou Africa to commorcn uno
sottlomont To Rljdon tho Anglo
Saxon Is hard of heart nnd strong ol
will, whito tlio negro Is tho child o;
lovo and stifloring. Ulydon is a con.
ploto know-nothing, and his cry ii
"Africa for the Africans." lie h
likely to havo few to oppose him h
this 11 ntli r, for not even thochtldrer
of Africans raised In America, can br
induced to roinnln thero If tley hnr
tlio moans to got txwny.St. Lou.t
QloleVemocrut.
A Monumental Snob.
Clork (to
Rrnwn, the
lust now?
follow clerk) What did
head 0 ork, say to you
Fellow Clerk Ho gave mo down Uia
banks for marking some goods wrong.
Ho thinks because he Is n littlo higher
up than I am he can say what ho likes,
Ho's a monumoutnl snob. (To office
boy): Hero, youlaay rasoal, Jump live
ly, now, and got thono shelves dusted
offt 2'iJ -Bits.