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About The Telephone=register. (McMinnville, Or.) 1889-1953 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 24, 1886)
down the brown leather pocket book which cvuiuined th ’ all-important dispatch. Qu ck as thought Tom snatched it up with the flask and runout; once out-ile, he threw tue l-tv-ik to the winds and mudu fur the out fit was not difficult for him to pass them; on the contrary, in truth, he sin ply threw himself flat upon his stomach, and, Ly means of the snake trick on which ho had so .riled himself of old, wriggled past the various jentries with the stealth and uoiso Its-ne-iS of aii Indian scout Having passed the last ono he took the pocket book from between hi« teeth, whore ho had carried it for safety, and folding the precious dispatch neatly to half its former «ize, cons.good it to a little pocket within tho breast of his scarlet and black striped waistcoat, one which had been put there by Capt. Ferrers’ oi-ders, so that the la-1 might carry a few shillings in safety, and without fear* of being relieved of it by pickpockets. Then bo threw tho book away, and with a last look in the direction of tho camp, turned his face towarl tho five miles of difficulty and danger which lay t>etween him an I the mission vhich ho had taken upon himsdf— ray, which be had in reality stolen from him to whom it had been intrusted— difficult, because of tho inky darkness of the night, and of his ignorance of the surrounding country (an ignorance which his master would greatly have less ened by means of a com pas? and a plan, two articles of which Tom had not thought); danger« us, because almost every yard of the way bristled with rebel muskets, every post and point was guarded and wat-hed by vigilant n'liel troops. But the lad’s brave spirit never failed him for an instant. He had not stood upon the trapeze platform and looked grim death bard in the face to be faint of heurt now, when he needed all his courago. lie never thought of the harm be might be doing, still lass of tho risk he was run ning—only that his master, tho captain, had been sent on this errand of danger and that he, owing to bis small size and elasticity of joint and muscle, and the particular form of training which he had undergone in the circus, could easily go in safety where his master ccul I not expect to escape detection; nay, whore lie very well knew bis master could not escaj» with his life. It was on.y for a moment that he stood looking back upon the camp, whirh shel tered all he loved on earth; he cou.d hear the steady and measured tramp of tlin sen tries close at hand; ho could seo the more distant lights. Then a mist of tears blurred tho picture. He dashed his band across his eyes, plunged into the darkness, and was gone. ________ CHAPTER V. Meantime, having seen that his revolvers were in perfect order, Booties set about dressing himself for his expedition, He discarded bis spurs and sword, and, in deed, everything which might serve to attract attention to him or make him an object more easily discernible in the darkness of the night. There were among other things lying upon the makeshift table, a tin of milk biscuits, a jar of potted game, and a bottle nearly full of sherry, lie poured out a tumbler full of tho wine and hastily spread some of the ported game upon tho biscuits, ttnu con tinu'd his preparations, eating as he moved about tho tent. “What a long timo that boy is,” he thought, impatiently. Tom was not usually so long about his master’s errands, and his master, not un- naturallv perhaps, wondered at his being so then, when there was so much need for haste. However, he pulled on his long cloak, which covered h m up from bead to foot, and slipped a dark blue cloth polo cap upon his head—this was safer than to wear tho gold-lace 1 forage cap of an officer. And then, just as ho was going to button his cloak, he remembered tho pocket book, and turned to take it. But it was gone! But it was gone! Booties stood for a moment sinring at the place whore he had lail it down in the stupefaction of intense surprise. He had put it down just there, beside his flask, and with h s gloved He was certain of it—he could positively swear to it. What on earth had got the thing! He roused himself Irom his bewilderment, and turned all bis pockets out, ran to ths bra;s-boun<i revolver case and examined it; back to the table, and tossol everything that was upon it over and over. Made quite ssire, in fact, that pocket book and dispatch were alike > missing, and not to be found. He felt it was no use staying there, wast ing his precious time in ransacking boxes and turning out pockets which he ha I not touched that day. The colonel must be told Rt once; so, with a mighty effort, Booties pulled h mself together, and went out with a sinking heart to tell the tale of his own shame and dishonor. For thus di 1 he, in the agony and distress of mind which overwhelmed him, designate the cat elessness, or the unsuspiciousness, which had allowed him to trust tho honesty of others. He never for a moment suspected young Tom of beirg the thief, but he did think it j ist within the bounds of possibility t at, wh le he hid been bending down over the case of revolvers, some one had quietly crept in and carried off the pocket book. But it came out after a wh»le—after Booties hal got through that terrible inter view with the colonel—terrible because of ’he pain it gave to both of them—after he ba 1 given up his sword and his parole of honor, and then had j awed the night in his tent alone, lying miserably in his hammock with hi9 arm flung across his eyes. Then it all came out! How bis flask, a handsome Stiver thing, with crest and monogram em blazoned upon it, bad t een lound as s >on as morning light broke over the camp, not twenty yards away from his tent, how young Tom had never been at all to g‘t the brandv for which his master had s nr him. then how you g Tom was missing, a id bad never been seen by any one in the camp wnce the se ury on duty outside the colonel’.-' tent had accosted him with “’Eiio, youug Oup La, and what mav you be a-doing off Lastly—and werst confirmation of all—ho» the missing pocket book had been feund just ouUide the most advanced outnost«. There could be no further doubt that Tom Snow wa» tb8 delinquent—nobodfhal ibu slightest doubt about it. not ev?u Booths himself thou jh he stoutly deola«.-1 his be lief m the lud, and maintains I that nothin ’ could make him think youn ’ Tom was S traitor, except the most ab-oluto urd post- live ptoof that such was the case. Forouce Lacy was absolutely angry with Lu best triond. Aly dear chap,” he said, in tones which n010 tones of remonstrance, though he tried to make them those of calm reasonableness, “what-er—moi* pwroof can you want or have! The boy was sent to get your flask tilled with bwrandy; he did not get it tilled with bwrandy cr anything else, but it is l’ouud instead only a few yards irom your own tent. The ,bov is gone—the er -dispatch is gone too. Nobody else in the whole camp is , ssing. It is wreally, Booties, perfectly absurd to twry to shield the young wiascal any longer. The dis- patch—oi —could not go by itself—it’s ab surd—it—er—isn’t in wreason.” In leasoa or out of reason, I don’t and won t Lelieve that the boy lia-j sold me.” Booties asserted obstinately. “But he hus stolen the dispatch,” Lacy persisted. “Oh, nonsense! What on earth should ho do with it when ho had got itf’ ... Land it over to Awrabi, of course. VV hat else should he do with it J” retorted Lacy, sharply. Oh he has never done that, though some one else mav. That is likely enough,” an swered Bootle? carelessly. But Booties knew very well in his heart that it must have been Tom and no other who ha l taken the pocket book from off his table, though he did not for a moment be lieve that tho lad had sold him. The true solution of the mystery was that ’ the bov, by listening cutside tho colonel’s tent, hud, according to his idea, gathereJ the object of tho mission with which his master had been chargaj, and with that knowledge had also gleaned a very correct idea of the danger which must attend it— that he had g.olen tho dispatch, and was now in hiding, with the ignorant idea that I if it wero not there to bo taken, his master j could not tako it. That young Tom had j actually set off from the Scarlot Lancers’ camp to cariy that paper across the five I miles of difficult and dangerous country I which lay between tho two British camps | was an idea which never entered for a mo ment into Booties’ calculations. But his opinion was not shared by any one | else, at least uo one elso hit upon that idea j as a solution of tho mystery of Tom’s con duct, anl Booties did not tell any one what he thought; he only stoutly maintained that he did not believe, and that he never would believe, short of positive proof to the con trary, that the lad bad sold him. So that miserable morning dragged its slow length along. What a long, long day it was! The ent.ro campseemed paralysed by tho loss of that paper, which had contained instructions for a simultaneous attack upon the city anl the rebel forces on the third day from the date of sanding the despatch. It was useless to send out a dupHcate; for not only was the cypher probably alrea ly in the hands of Arabi, but the vigilance ol the rebels would be greatly increised, and so render it impossible for a messenger to pass between the twTo British camps. Towards evening, when tha shades of night were gathering around, an attempt was made to signal to the other camp by means of electric light?. Hitherto their trials in this resp?ct hail be n but dismal failures, and it was as a last resort that the Scarlet Lancers attempted it now. To their intense surprise, however, ihe answering flashes came back with pro ision and evident understanding, very different from the confused answers they had received before. This time there could be no mistak ing their meaning, and apparently those on the distant shore were experiencing tho ame enlightenment. liAll r ’qhtl^Got your message.—Will act as you direct." The signalist put the message together, and the group of officers who were standing round him stood staring blankly into one another’s faces, struck dumb with astonish ment and surprise. “Are you quite sure?” askel Hartog at length of the officer who was in charge of the signal«. The signalist—a very smart engineer- laughed. “Yes. Quite sure,” ho answered. “Then that boy carried the message to save Booties!” Hartog exclaimed. “B—y Jove!” ejaculated Lacv, “anl I’ve been vigorously blackening the poor little fellow’s character al—1 day—evewry time I had a chance. I—er—feel beastly ashamed of myself.” “Ask again—ask who took the message, anl if he is there nowf’ suggeste 1 Har og to the engineer, who com pled willingly enough, and sent the inquiry flashing across the rapidly darkening sky, in which the brilliant stars wero beginning to shine out one by one. d hen the reply came back in a series of vivid flashes: “A boy left camp on return journey with reply before dayliyht." “Then the rebels have got him,” Hartog cried, excitedly. “Poor little chap, they’ve got him sure enough.” The news spread through the camp in next to no time, an 1 within half an hour, young Houp-La had as manv good nord? spoken for him as during the dav ha bad ha i bad ones. Everybody had some bing plea - ant to say in favor of the brave liitle lai, who had thus heroica’ly risked bis life, and, poor fellow, had probably already lost i% for the sake of the master whom he loved with the fidelity of a dog. As for his master, he went straight to the colonel and askeii, with a strange hu?kine?s iu h s throat and a blaza in his blue eye?, that a searching party might be sent out at once, and as far as was safe, in case th • lad had teen disabled and could not reach ,he camp. “Cer’ainlv, certainly—and go yours If, if vou care to do it, Ferrers,” said the colonel, hurriedly, brushing his hand across his eyes, “Goyou.se >•* f, if you care to doit. I have mu h pleasure in returning your sword. I am sure I sincerely hope the lad has come to no harm. ’Pon my soul, he is the hero of the campaign—pon mv soul he is,” and then the kindly colonel shook his favorite by tba hanfl, ami brushed the other across his eyes one s more. Booties said “Thank you, sir.” and went out without another word, chiefly because there was a lump in his throat which made speech difficult. It was not long befor? a party was readv to start, with Booties at ite head, to search fcr the missing boy. Nor was it very long before they found him—perhaps a mile from the rebel outposts—lying behind a clump of tree«, faint and ghastly pale, his month parched anl dry, and his hyp, young foes drawn and distorted with pain. Booties was the first to hear his moan, and turned the light of the bull’s-eye be carried □pon the place whruce tho sound came, la another moment be was down upon h.s fd es beside the prostrate form of the half unconscious boy. Young Houp-La vagudy recognisei his master as be tenderly raised h s head upon his arm. ^Wateri' he gaaped, painfully. Booties filled the cup which formed the ower half of bis flask with water, which one uf the searchers had brought* end held it tv I the poor parched lips. It -e-me I to put ue-.v life into him, for be lilted his bead uud looked wildly round. "Tell the capt’n I got the o snfs. The •wer is in my we,’cotit p ckot. I couldn't got back as well. One o' them Araj^ devils pottU mo. 1 craw io I as far's 1 c*T.,l, but I couldn’t get no further, though I so•• the camp lights jes’ ahead.” Then lte perceived that Booties was bending down over him, h s kind face ciuvulsed with grief and emo tion. “Is that yon, sirf' he said, in a tone of gentle relief and satisfaction. “Don't take on about tne, sir. I ain’t worth it.” “Where are you hurt, my boy!” Booties asked in a choking vo ce. “Somewhere about tho groin, sir. It’s no use trying to move me," seeing that two of the men had opened a stout blanket an l wero preparing to receive him. “It’s, all over with me now. Don’t you put yourself out about me, sir, I ain’t worth it” “Try anl drink a drop of this,” said Booties, holding the cup once more to his lip1. It had brandy in it this time. “It ain’t no good, sir," he persisted, but he swallowed the brandy and water, and then they raised him very gently and lifted him on to the rug. Not so gently, Jhouxh, but that ho groaned and moaned piteously w ith the pein, anl slippsl off into delirium again, talking wildly all tho way back to camp of tho succ ss ot bis expedition, and how the comman ling ofile r of the orher camp, who had received the dispatch from him, had patted him on the shoulder and ha l called him a brave lad, and bode him God speed and a safe return. An I the i, when at last they got him Into camp and on to on ambu'ance oot, he came to his own senses again for a little time, and 1 ado them send for the colonel that he might give the dispatch into his own hands. “You’re not angry, sirl’ he said, implor- ingly, as the colcnol took the paper. “I knew the capt’n couldn’t go safe where I could, and I thought as ’ow it wouldn’t matter so much If aught happen? 1 to ma. You’re not angry with me, are you, sir!" “No, my boy, certainly not,” answered the colonel, huskily. “You are the braved lad in the army 1 am proud of you, very proud.” Tom Snow drew himself up as straightly as be could against his master's breast, where he ha I been lying ever since they put him down upon the bed, end endeavored to salute the commanding officer. “I got there,” he said, looking round at tbs facei about him, “anl I got back ’ome again. It don’t any of it matter now," anl then hs slipp 'd off again and wanderei on about the heal an 1 the glare cf the sunshiue, of his awful thirst, and the pain of his wound. At last ho tried to turn his head round to lov. a Booties. “Are you there, sir?” be asked, in a cleir and sensible voice. I PITH AND POINT. —A man down East is lecturing on St'll he does not tell u- what is in it.— Oil Citi/ Derrick. — Wepresume that if General Frank | , Hatton journeyed to Ru«s;a he woulil . become General Frank Hattoff.— Cur j rent. > —A thief cati ht in the act sa d to tho ancient orator Demosthenes: '1 didn’t know it was yours.” “No.” wa« the reply; “but you knew it wasn’t yours."— Go'.dcu Days. I —The discovery ha« been made that i the world does not revolve with the same momentum it did a thousand years ago, but t still swings round last enough to satisfy the man w th a heavy bill confng due. — Chicaqo Trib une. —It is sa d that a successful type setting machine has at last been put in operation. We go right smart on ma chinery, but we want to see it trot around the office hunt ng sorts and stealing leads lefore we take much ! stock in it. — Chicago Ledger. I ' —A dude, who fell oft a New York I ferry-boat, offered anv ono who would save his life ¡81.60. The offer was final ly accepted by an old woman who wanted cap'tai to set up an apple-stand I but she didn’t make a move until this fact was fully exp'a ne 1 to her fellow- passongers.— Detroit b'ree Press. i —Nothing makes a man prouder than I to find when he has got his garden j nicely la d out and the seeds all in. that every hen within a mile of h m seem« j determined to have a claw in tho job, ! and show him how she would have ar I ranged matters if he had consulted her. —Fall B.eer Advance. —Then and Now. i ‘•Mince P.e.” I | i ; I VERY TRUE, SO MAY YOU. tnung man, you suy you want a wifo To bless j our borne aud cheer your life, A woman true tn every way. Who does her duty every dav: Whose love is strong ami good and pure. A love that wins and holds secure; A wife that will not scold and fret And make you wish you ne’er had met: Whose presence is a shin ng light; Whose counsel guides and keeps > ou right; Who tries to please in little things. And to your home rare comfort brings; A woman who knows how to m od Her own business, that's the kind; W ho loves her hoim>aml sia.r s r cht thore And does not run 'round everywhere To boss p and to idly chat Anu tell the no ghlmrs th s or that; Who, when you re troubled, cheers you up. And sweetens every bitter cup; Who, when you're sick, will nurse you through. As only loving hands can do. Young man, take my advice In this. If you're in search of porfeet bliss, In weigh ng girls sec that you place Good sense 'ga list beauty, wealth er grace. My trend, you th nk that y oil are w so, But some shrewd girl may shut your eyes; You think you know Just what you need, But your impressions may mislead. For other men have thought so, too. But they got fooled, and so may you. —Cuiadca Post. FARMING IN MAINE. Observations of William Nye, the Veracious Chronicler. Slelgh-Rlding and Corn-Hoeing:—A Great Stone Crop—The Wormless Railroad Pie -Gathering the Cran berry Crop. Tho State of Maine is a good place in which to experiment with prohibition, but it is not a good place to farm it in ▼ery largely. In the first place, the season is gener ally a little reluctant. When I was up He called me Popsey, Sweet, and Pet, When wo began our married life. near Moosehead Lake a short time ago His guiding .«tar, his loved Am ite, people were driving across that body of His hope, his Joy, Ills darling wife. water on tho ice with perfect im These fond ondearmente are all o’er. And though 111« heart no doubt la true, punity. That is one thing that inter I hear those pretty names no more, For now he calls mj “Say there, you!’’ feres with the farming business —Judge—“Did you witness the acc'■ in Maine. If a young man is sleigh dent?” Vr tne«w-b«‘I d d.” Judge riding every night till midnight he “At what distance?” Witness—“Six ty-seven feet and nine inches.” Judge —“How do you know so exacth P Witness—“Well. I knew that I would be summoned-, and I prepared mys< If for all the foolish questions that I knew would be put to me in a court of law.” —N. Y. Telegram. —Tenant (to owner ot East Side Har lent flat): “Some of the plaster in my kitchen fell down last night, and 1 want you to fix it.” Landlord: “What caused it?’ Tenant: “The man win occupies the floor above sneezed.” Landlord: “Well! Some people think w because they pay twenty-two dollars a month rent they can carry on just as if they lived in a Roman citadel.”— N. F. Independent. AN fitted out with Yale time lock, make the l’e-t tire and burglar-proof wormless pics of commerce. They take the place of civil war. and as a promoter of intes tine strife they have no equal. THE WAY TO BREAK TltE WORMLESS RAILROAD VIE OF COMMERCE. The farms in Maine are fenced in with stone walls. 1 do not know why this is done, for I <1 d not see anything on these farms that any one would naturally yearn to carry away with him. 1 saw some sheep in one of these in closures. The r steel-po'nted bills were lying on the wall near them, and they were resting their jaws in the crisp fro-ty morning ar. In another in closure a farmer was planting clover seed w th a hypodermic syringe, and covering it with a mustard plaster He said that last year hs clover was a complete fa lure because his mustard plasters were no good, lie bail tr od to savo money by using second-hand mustard plasters, and of course the clover seed, missing the warm stimulus, neglected to rally, and the crop was a failure. Here may be noticed the canvas back moose and a strong antipathy to good rum. I do not wonder that the people of Maine are hostile to rtitn— if they judge all rum by Maine rum. The moose is one of the most gamey of the finny tribe. He is caught in the fall of the year with a double barrel shot-gun and a pair of snow-shoes. He does not bite unless irritated, but little boys should not go near the femalo moose while she is on her nest. The mascu line moose wears a hare lip and a hat rack on his head, to which is attached a placard, on which is printed: •........................................................ . : per-pi.KASB Kau* Orr the O bass . : •............................................................... . This shows that the moose is a hu morist. ECUADORIAN CITY. Some of the Peculiarities Which Distin guish the City of Guayaquil. "Are you there, sir?" he asked, in a clear and sensible voice. “Ye-, my boy,” answered Booties, press ins the lad’s head against his cheek, anl holding him quiie tight against his hea t, as if ho could not bear to let the all-powerful enemy, who w is fast stealing upon them, wrest that faithful youug life away from him. The minutes passed slowly away and in tense silence reigned throughout the tent* suddenly Tom spoke again: “I tln’t in no pain now, sir,” he said with a satisfied sigh; “but I’m orful tirel.” “Try and sleep a little,” said Booties. “Yes; I think I’ll try. I’m orful tired.” Then there was silence again—a silence longer, deeper, more profound than that which had been befcra—broken, indeel, only by the sound of the boy’s sharp-drawn breath. Then that, too, grow fainter and less labored, and Booties held the slight form yet closer in his arms—held it till the list faint sigh bad fluttered through the whit ened lips—held it, ev n though be knew per fectly well that the brave hero-soul had slipped away—i.eld it closer and clo er still, because he did not dare to look on the brave white face which had been faithful even to the very end, and had paid a debt of gratitude even by the sacrifice of life. It was Lacy w bo approached him first. “You’d better come away now, Booties, old fellow,” he said persuasively. “Y oj can’t do the poor little chap any good now.” Booties allowed one of the doctors to un fold his arms and take tho little body from him. Thea he stood up and looked down upon it as it lay stil. and silent upon the be 1, the sharp, young taco r.t rest and peace ful now. “I knew he hadn’t sold me,” he «aid in a shaking voice. “Gol bls? him! be loved me better than him clr;” and then be turned away and strode out into the darkn. ss alone. THE END. Mrs. Treat, in her “Home Studies in Na ture," says of bluebirds: When a pair of bluebirds succeed in rearing three brood« in a season, in the autumn these broods unite and s ay with tho parents, making a little flock of ab mt fourteen. All the au tumn through they keep together, feeding from the same bushes—poke, ampelepiis aid other wild berr.es—and upon stray insects. The first cold da's of December s nd tU.-ui to the cedar swamps, where great numbers congregate. Hero, too, large flocks of robius keep them company. But each mild day briugs the bluebird« from their retreat back to tboir unforgotten home, and there is nothing more fascinating iu bird life than to see the frolic« of the young birds and the grave demeanor of the parent». The young visit th: various houses in which they ware reared, sometimes two or thre: entering at the same time, and all th) while keooing up their low, sweet twitterin , ns it conversing. Speakingot Georga Woelbiry’a “Life of P e," a critic says: Anl yet a sadder or more disheartening story could not well be told. There is hardly a gleam of brightness to relieve the sotnb- r shadow of a I f, ’hat might ani ought to have been so full ot beauty anl of worth. Poe was certairiy one of the divinely gifted, and yet moral weakn as and feebleness of purpose mad? him a wreck from the start He was ma le up of the most contradictory el -mente: hs nature wa- many-si led; but there was a fatal flaw in it all. Th * mes: charitable thing to thina of him is that if not actually insane, he al wavs trembled on the verge of Infinity, and was often irrespot^ible both for his words and actions. Thera is no fresh water in town, but all the people use is brought on rafts from a plaeo twenty m les up the river, and is peddled about the place in casks carried upon tho backs of donkeys or men. The donkeys all wear pantalet tes—not, however, from motives of modesty, as the native children all go entirely naked, and the men and women nearly so—but to protect their legs and bellies from the gadily, which bites fiercely here. Bread as well as water is peddled about the town in the same way, but vegetables are brought down the river on rafts and in dugout«, which are hauled up on the beach in long rows, and present a busy and in teresting scene. Guayaquil s famous for the fine t pineapples in tho world, great r ju ey fruits, as white as snow and d as sweet as honey. It is also famous for its hat« and hammocks, made of the pita fiber, a sort of palm. The well-known Pi n ama hats are all made in Guaya u 1 but get their natno because Panama merchants formerly cotitioled the trade. They are bra'ded under w i er bv ra’ivo women, of stiand« often twelve and fifteen feet long, and tine ones are very .expensive A woman often takes two and three weeks t<> braid a single hat. wh ch sells for five or six dollars, and wears forever, saw a hat in 1 which s st to be worth 11 was made of single straw or fiber, as fine as thread and as soft as silk, and the woman who made it was engaged four months in the work. The qu'nine trade has almost died out. as the forests of Ecua lor have been stripped of the bark, and the tn c- havethus been deal roved. In the mean time, the trees have been int odu'eil into the East Ind es bv he Br t sh Gov ernment. where they have been culti vated with great stic< ess, tnu« securing a better quality of quinine with less trouble. Quinine or Peruvian bark, was discovered bv the Jesuits in Fcua dor in 1630. and was named • chin- chona,” after th'- Countess of Ch n chona, the w fe of the Viceroy.— Guay aquil Cor. Chicago ini' r-Ocean. Clews All Around A boy about twelve years old re ported to a policeman the other ft ay that a robbery had occurred at the house under very mysterious circum stances. The sum of twenty-five dol lars, which was in a china-vase on a bracket, had taken wings. “Were any of the doors or windows found open?” asked the officer. “No.” “Any visitors in the house who might have taken it?” “No.” “And you haven’t picked up any clews, eh?” “That's the trouble, sir—-there's clews till you can’t rest I want to go oft' and camp out, and dad think» I cribbed the money. Dad wants to go to Ch cago, ami marm thmks he's got the boodle. Marm wants a new sum mer wrap, and dad savs she clawed «■ ---- a ducat« ... <— hired girl them for — sure. The 1 to be married next ----- week. .—j. anti 1 marni and me believe she raked in the 'take to go on a bridal tour. Tell you whaL m ster when 1 see how many clews can be p eked up on a little case 1 ke this it makes me anxious to know wh ch of ns w 11 come out on top.”— Detrod .free Pncss.. SLEIGniNG TILL MIDNIGHT. don’t feel liko hoeing corn the follow ing day. Any man who lias ever had his feet frost-bitten while bugging potatoes will agree with me that it takes away the charm of pastoral pur suits. It is this desire to amalgamate dog days and Santa Claus that has in jured Maine as an agricultural hotbed. Another reason that might be as signed for refraining from agricultural pursuits in Maine is that the agitator of the soil finds when it is too late that soil itself, which is essential to tho suc cessful propagation of crops, has not been in use in Maine for years. While all over tho State there is a magnificent stone foundation on whieh a farm might safely rest, the superstructure, or farm proper, has not been secured. GATHERING THE CRANBERRY WITH A STOMACH l'lJMl’. CROP Near l’ea Cove I saw a strange s:ght. A farmer was rowing around over hid cranberry orchard in a skill*. I stood up on the stone wall ami watched him for some time, because I am greatly in terested in farming, and dearly love to watch any one eUe who may be engaged in manual labor. It was a long time before I could make out what he was doing. At last, however. 1 figured it out, and 1 was very much surprised, indeed, for I had never seen horticulture carried to that extent, and, as Mr. Say- ward would remark, *‘I thought he was earning that thing too far.” Many will doubt my word, ami I would not have believed it myself if any one eLe had told me, but the man was actually p eking cranberries out of his submerged orchard with a stomach pump. 1 have one of the cranberries at home iiow .-M Aye, tn Boston Sunday (¡lobe. He Knew the Climatu Commercial Traveler’s Wifo —“Now, my dear, what coat will you tako with TAKES A WAT ALL DESIRE TO HOE COKN you? It is almost June; your linen THE NEXT DAY. duster w.ll be enough, I guess.” 0. T. —“Lav out tr.y fur overcoat, my If I had known when 1 passed through heavy cloth overcoat, my spring over Minnesota and Illino's what a soil coat ami inv linen duster." famine there was in Maine, I would T.’s W.—“Why. my dear!—You have brought some with mo. are joking, ain't you?" The stone crop this year in Maine ('. 'I'. “Certs nly not. I'm going to will be very great. If they do not travel in New England.”— Boston < our- •rack open during the dry weather ier. there will bo a great many. The stone ntise is also looking unusually well — In tho Bernese Olierland a parrot for this sca«on of tho year, and cliil- one dav made ilsescajie and perched on .la ns wero in full bloom when I was the rain trough of a farm house in tho there. tii igliborhooii. The fanner, who had In tho neighborhood of Pittsfield the probably never been out of hia native country seems to run largely to cohl village, brought a ladder to cauture the water and chattel mortgages. Some strange animal. When he hail -cached li nk that rum ha« always kept Maine tho top and was reaching out his hand, back, but I claim that it has lieen wet tho perrot called out: ’-W hat do voti want? What do you want?” The feet. The agricultural resources of Pitts astonished peasant at once took oil' his field an<l vicinity are arc not great, the prin- prin cap and laid: “O, I beg your pardon. 1 cipal ex] |K>rts being spruce gum and thought you were a bird!"— Mitzelheill. Christmas trees, Here also the buckle- —Tho Bank of Spain, on a capital of berry hat h her homo. But the country «eetus to run largely to Christmas trees. 160,000.000 peseta». had, by a report 1’hcy wore not yet in bloom when I vis just ¡»«tied. a deposit »ccount of over ited the State, so it was too early to 280,000.000 peseta«, besides notes in gather popcorn balls and Christmas clrenlat on to the value of 418,417.600 peseta« and a total liah llty account of presents. Hero, near Pittsfield, is the birthplace itl»,T70.110 peseta«. A Spanish peseta of the only original wormiest dried- equal« 13.3 cents in American money. apple pie with which we generally in —In tho course of a recent Montana sult our gastric economy when wo lunch along the railroad. These pies, when cattle case a cowbov testified that "a properly kiln-dried ami riveted, with maverick is someiiody els«’« calf that german silver monogram on top, if you get your brand on tiriU”