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(dealer tnntLYKc. WH»r and PuMMMT. ILLINOIS THB WITCH MA1PKN8. : i a » m o o n l i g h t l s 6 « i I i o c h N a v e r . >.I .IMttiBptfratnage•»<? stiUj . AM the stan am twtekling coldly , v, Above the Clebrig hill. t .lUSd there by the Bide of the watil »/; O what strange shapes are the#ef • OtheMare the wild witch maidies • » X>Oim from the Northern seas. la AnttU&aef stand in a magic circle « "n Mj Pimm the moonlight sheen; • JkM& t>nh has over her forehead T A mr of golden green. ^ fs, " O what la their aong? Of nallcrtP' 4,-5,: .That never again shall sail Andthe music sounds like the sobbing i • that brings a gale. '*rt» is she who oomes yoodarf * - And all in white is she; . iv^ Aedlwr eyes are open, but nothing •!':t / Of the outward world con she Na ** I • Q haste yon back, Meenie, haste yon* "->h And haste to your bed again; •d> War these are the wild witch mwiljps , <%£«"' ' Down from the Northom main.t! * ' They open the magic circle; jV £ " Thev draw her into the rl»g; M?i ' ®hey kneel before her, and slowly • * A strange, sad aong they sing; • fi " ' A strange, sad song, as of sailors ijM t ; >, That aever again shall sail; • And the music sounds like the BObolOg "Smf:*'. ' And signing that brings a gale. A O haste you back, Meenie, haste yon, : i , « ' And Mate to your bed again ; ' - Vor these are the wild witch maiden! • Down from the Northern main. • V- 'Vi^ , s1 - oome with ns, rose-whit© Meonie, < • To our aea halls draped with green; '* V ';<& oome with us, rose-white Meenie, And be our rose-white Queen I roix shall have robes of splendor, . ,* a With shells and pearls bestrewn; »" ' Amd a sceptre olden and golden, ; : , 4W And a rose-white coral throne. , \ \f r j1 fAad by day you will hear the m| ySthe ocean come nigher and n _ jJSnd by night you will see your palace }j ^ % Ablaze with phoBphore fire. V' *0 come with us, rose-white Meenie, To our sea halls draped with green; jt Avf UUl Dm llano \UUr^»-U " (MW* O come with us rose-white Meenie, And be our rose-white Queen !~ - #ut Clebrig heard, and the thunder , i|; Down from his iron hand sped; «Aind the band of the wild witch mswmi / One swift shriek uttered and (ML . And Meenie awoke, and terror !»i And wonder were in her eyes; yi Aind she looked at the moon-whitSnrSB#y. , •. And she looked to the star-lit skiee. ; O haste you back, Meenie, haste you. And haste to your bed again; itch maiMljy "!|br these are the wild witc - Down from the Northern main.' O hear you not yet their singing . •* Gome faintly back on the bree; >2)4, *r; . , ) song of the wild witch sisteri " •• 1 1 As they fly to the Iceland seas jh ' P <0 hark, 'tis a sound like the Bobb|)§§ t And sighing that brings a gale | ^ - A low, sad song, as of sailors •iff,- " \ That never again shall sail! fc; •r1' **WUliam Black, in Harper's Bazar. < WHAT JOHN FOUIK. .JsMeu was nearly over. The boys and girls gathered in the playground outside of the log school-house, but no play was going on. Most of the boys had their books in their hands, and were poring over them as if to make up for all the idle time of their lives; the girls sat on the wood pile, whispering and looking at the boys with a kind of awe. a The school-house was built just out- aide of a mountain village in North Car­ olina. The boys were dressed in but­ ternut, or blue cloth, the girls in a kind of linsey, all of which their mothers had spun and woven. Outside of the fence was a gang of little negroes whom the white children ordered about with an air of authority; lor, poor as they were, their fathers were all slave ownera There was a row of shiny black faces at the top of the fence. "Gony! Look at Mas'Willi Itink lie get it" "Pshaw! Glong, you Victory I Our Mas' Bob's twist as good a scholar. See how he's pokin' into dat book." The others volunteered no opinions but shouted: "Hooray! Which of ye gwine to be de sojer? Mas'Bob Sevier he gwine 1 Cunnel Bob Sevier! Hooray 1* Never had there been such a day known in Uncle Job's school. Bob Sevier, a fair, thin boy, with round blue dyes, sat on the steps, turn­ ing over the leaves of his "Historae Sacre." He knew every word and line; but he turned leaf after leaf with his cold shaking fin gera. When the little negroes shouted for "Cunnel Bob !n he felt a lump in his throat choking him. If he should not win! Bob had always been head boy in the school, but during the last month he had worked harder than ever. The cause was this: Judge Peters, who Was now congressman from this district, • had paid a visit to the village a few weeks before, and had dropped into the school one morning and made the boys A little speech. *1 was a pupil here," he said. "There is the very desk at which I sat. Uncle Job taught me pretty much all I know. My father could not afford to send me to college, and I am sure neither can your fathers afford to send you there. But I want to give some boy here a chance such as I did not have. I have the appointment of a cadet to West Point, and 1 propose instead of giving it to some rich man's son, that the boy In this school who passes the best ex­ amination a month from now shall have it. This was the speech. It made the boys as wild as if he had put fire into their brains. Not a boy there who did Hot see himself a colonel in full regi­ mentals, preceded by a brass band, riding up the street of the village in , triumph. They fell to stud v ing, most of them for the first time in their lives. They never had done anything but lounge about the sunny, hilly highland hamlet, listening to the interminable Stories of the hunters, who came in With pekry, or playing "sisty out" with he could go over the Oarlovingiaps, or any other Vingiaa, like a trotfcinr hone." "Oh, yes, I reckon he eould,* groaned Lou. "But only think of West Point, Jack! You'd be A gentleman and a soldier, and see the world. An' ef you don't get it, why, then * "Then Uncle Bill will set me to plow­ ing in the falL He said only this morn­ ing he'd wasted enough money on our tchoolin', and you and I better to go to work to earn onr salt." John took up the book and went at the lesson with a desperate energy, trhile Lou sat crying silently. The children were orphans and lived with their uncle, a farmer, on Mount Craggy. He was wretchedly poor, like all the other mountaineers, and was, beside, a coarse, liard-natured fnan. The school-bell rang. "It's coming now," said John, as lie got up and shut the book. "You're powerful on 'rithmetic, John­ ny, mind that. Jest you keep up," eagerly whispered Lou, running along beside him. The boys crowded into the hot little' school-room, and the girls followed, ex­ cepting Lou, who hung back, and final­ ly went back to the wood-pile again. She knew she should not be missed, and she could not bear to hear John's ex­ amination. The poor little girl had but one friend in the world, her brother. She •at down, her hands shaking as if in a chill. "He'll fail--I know he'll fail!" she aaid, looking np to the sky and talking out loud. "I can't stand it! Oh, Heavenly Father! I can't!" As with most southern children. Heavenly father" was very real to Lou. Then she began to prav, fast and hard, to this far-away Friend in the sky to help John. "Oh, dear, only get him over the Latin, and them Yingians! Hell man­ age the arithmetic himself." She sat there an hour or more, hear­ ing only a droning voice now and then from the open window. At last there was a hush. Uncle Job Was going to give his deeision. The little negroes crowded up to the school- house steps. Lou stood up and threw her calico aun-bonnet off her head. She did not know what she did. She was stifling with a sudden, terrible heat. Her strained eyes were on the door. Presently she heard Uncle Job's •oice in a few brief words. Bnt she did not catch them. They sounded to her like "John has won--John Fre- moy." Suddenly there was a cheer inside. Then the negroes took it up. "Bob Sevier! Cunnel Bob! Hooray for Bob!" Lou sat down and covered her face with her hands. Her brother came to her in a moment. "Get up, and come along home," he said roughly. She caught his arm and patted it. "Don't you mind it Johnny," she said; "You kin do lots of things Bob Sevier knows nothin' about," she cried, fierce­ ly- "No, Bob won it fair," he said, stur­ dily. "I'm a dunce; I didn't deserve it; that's the worst of it." His face was colorless, even to his lips, but he showed his disappointment in no other way. Judge Peters came to the village the next day, heard the report of the ex­ amination, sent for Sevier, and prom­ ised him the appointment He then went out to the farm which he owned, near to Cabel Fremoy's, John's uncle. The boy crept over, to­ ward night, to catch a glimpse of the great man who might have made him happy for life, but had not done it. He hung miserably about the place until evening, and then set out home­ ward. else. If I had net i&en t mwtt nave gone to Waat PoM" "Ye-es,* lookinft ipry thoughtfully at John. "Very well, Fipaqy, Pm wry much pleased with vour honesty. Good morning!" And the judge rode ab­ ruptly away. He rode direetly to Unele Job's house and was closeted with him for an hour. The next day the village was electrified by hearing that Judge Pe­ ters was going to take John Fremoy to Annapolis to pass an examination in the engineer's department of the Naval Academy, and that Lou was to be put to school in Baleigh by the same kind friend. * • • • • * • * John Fremoy is now a middle-aged man, ranking high in his profession. He met Judge Peters about a year ago, at his sister's house, for Lou mar­ ried a planter in Virginia, and is a hap­ py wife and mother. "I have often wondered, judge," he said, "why you befriended me as you did. I certainly was a dunce as far as Latin was concerned, and I am not at all sure if I am accurate about the Car- lovingian dynasty yet." "Honesty is a rarer quality than good scholarship, and more useful in the world, Fremoy." "And another question. Is not that the ruby I found, which yon wear on your watch-chain?" , *r: "Yes." \ ' "May I look closely at The judge hesitated, then laughed, and gave it to him. "Why, it is only colored quartz!" ex­ claimed Fremoy. "Yes, but it (s more valuable to me than any jewel, for it gave me an honest man for a friend." ffl A doctor from cities, who haa A Coming to the edge of Craggy Creek, just where it turned from the moun­ tain, he sat down on the bank, and put bis hot feet into the water. To-morrow he was to be set plowing-with the ne­ groes. "It's all yer fit for," his uncle said. "Ye'd a chance for West Point, an' ye didn't take it. So yer ken kennel with the darkeys for the rest of yer life. I'll feed yer no more." John sat moodily flinging pebbles into the water, until dusk came on, and an owl began to hoot. Suddenly the boy stood up, trem­ bling with excitement, holding a stone in his hand up to the fast-fading light. It shone with a brilliant luster, like a great drop of dew in the morning sun. As he moved it, it flashed a blood-red star in his dirty palm. John had heard of the ruby which had once been found in the next gorge. "It was worth thousands of dollars!" he sobbed, rather than spoke. "I heard Judge Peters tell my uncle there was a corundum on his farm, and a ruby is a kind of corundum. I am rich for life." He sat down breathless, carefully rubbing the brilliant lump in his hand, as Aladdin might have done his lamp. What was West Point to this? Money, beautiful houses, a glimpse of the world, an easy, happy life for himself and Lou. "Poor Lou! I was so cross to her to­ day ! I'll go and tell her." Then he stopped as if some one had struck him. The ruby was not his; he was on Judge Peters' land. The boy sat down again, and for one whole hour the tempter strove with him. If there was one quality strong and dominant in John Fremoy, it was his honesty; but this was a temptation such as seldom comes in the way of any man. The next morning Judge Peters was mounting his horse to go into the vil­ lage, when a boy came across the yard. He walked quickly as if driven by some force from behind. The judge waited, one foot in the stirrup. As long as John Fremoy lived, he remembered, like a sudden, terrible picture, the glaring light of the little muddy yard, the starring negro boy holding the horse, and portly, kind-looking old man awaiting his ap­ proach. When John reached the judge, he stopped and was silent He had his the little negroes. / John Fremoy, the shabbiest of them nil, »t apart from the other boys with his sister Louise. "Now. Lou, just hear me this page," "he began: " 'Charlemagne, other- via e C h a r l e s t h e G r e a t , w a s t h e s o n o f , -- U 1 B Pepin the Short, the first of the Carlo- little speech all ready, but his tongue ~ * was stiff and his throat parched. "Well, my boy, what is it?" asked the judge kindly. John thrust out his hand. "A ruby, sir. It's worth a great many thousand dollars. I found it on your land." Judge Peters took the stone and ex­ amined it eagerly; then he turned to John, and looked at him as curiously. "Why didn't you keep it, if it is worth so much?" "I had a mind to, but it's youra." He turned away. "Stop my boy! Who are you?" "John Fremoy, sir." "Oho! Uncle Job spoke of you to me. You are uncommonly quick at figures, eh?" "If I am, I'm a dunce at everything jingian -- Carlovingian' -- oh. what oomes next?" fv:"Pynaaty," prompted Lou. "Aid what's the meaning of'dynasty,' ilke to know? Such rubbish! I lipn't understand a word of it! There's House to try, Lou!" Lotf s eyes filled and the tears rolled 4own her flushed cheeks; but John Oaly sh«t his jaws a little firmer, and fixed his dark eyes on the ground. They were honest, kind eyes, but dull; Tery different from Bob Sevier's, which glowed like lamps. MI might as well give up, Lou. Uncle Job says patience and hard work will take any boy through. But there's a difference in boys. Now, Bob Sevier don't work half as hard over his books as I do; but just look at him. I reckon V, ~ . Behavler of a R<$eet«d Lever.1 The situation of a man who has been "winged" is muoh better than that of a girl under the same circumstances. At first he takes it very hard. He rails against marriage, sneers at woman in general, and becomes for the time be­ ing a second Diogenes. Ere many months have elapsed he emerges from his tub and his sulky fit. He now begins to realize that he is "interesting." A halo of ro­ mance encircles him; others may bear away the .palm in literature, science, or art, but there are some kind souls by whom the dejected hero is at once placed on a pedestal, owing to the mere fact of his having been badly treated by one of their own sex. "Poor Edwin! so clever, so amusing; and broken­ hearted!" says Angelina to herself. She at once sets to work to repair the damage done by the unappreciative rival. It is her pleasing task to guide the wounded spirit through the succes­ sive stages of pique, cynicism, desire for sympathy, and platonio .friendship; until Edwin is gently but firmly led to the alter before he well knows where he is. Sometimes, however, the young man is too wide-awake for this, and while making a very good thing out of his broken heart, he prefers confiding his sorrows to more than one Angelina, deftly "sheering off" when pity is be­ coming inconveniently like love. Thus one disappointment may prove a foun­ dation for many flirtations, and Edwin consoles himself, and ia consoled, by an ever-varying procession of good Sam­ aritans, till at last he really forgets how it all began, who jilted him, and whom he jilted. He has the proud sat­ isfaction of feeling that he has amply avenged his wrongs by the number of blighted beings whom he has "wiifged" in his turn, continues his triumphal Progress until it is brought to a close y a well-dowered widow in "the roar­ ing forties," from whom he fails to escape, and finally settles down to "peace with honor" and a comfortable income.--London Standard. Blemishes on the Standard Dollar Morgan, the English engraver of the die for the standard or "buzzard" dol­ lar, animated perhaps by an ambition similar to that of the youth who fired the Ephesian dome, smuggled into his work in two places the initial letter of his surname. Although microscopic in size these M's" are plainly discerni­ ble on the coin even to the naked eye after a careful search. An eagle-eyed Wall Btreet man recently discovered one of the letters and started among his acquaintances the following puz­ zle: "Find three letter M's on the standard dollar." Two are readily found--one in the word "unum" and another in "America," but the third is not so easily found. An interview with Chief Drummond, of the United States secret service, showed that there are four M's instead of three, and the fourth, hitherto unnoticed even by Wall street men, was pointed out to the reporter. Mr. Drummond laughed when liis attention was called to the matter and said: "The presence of these extra letters on the standard dol­ lar was first brought to my notice by one of my clerks. They were of course cut in the die by Morgan." The chief of the secret service acknowledged that they had not escaped the attention of the counterfeiter, who had placed them on the false coins.--New York Tri­ bune. A Solemn Question. A distinguished Boston divine ̂ of unusually solemn and impressive ap­ pearance, went out to a country town to lecture. He arrived early in the afternoon, and all the town, of course, "spotted" him within fivo minutes as a very great and very saintly man. He went to a drug store, and, in tones that froze the young blood of the celrk behind the counter, said: "Young--man--do--you--smoke ?" "Y--yes, sir," said the trembling celrk; "I'm sorrv, but I learned the habit young and haven't been able to quit it yet" "Then,"said the great divine, Without the movement of a muscle, or the abatement of a shade of the awful sol­ emnity of his voice, "can you tell me where I can get a good eigar?"--Bos­ ton Record. The Mother-ln-Law Catches It Again. Hello, Harry, where you going?" inquired young Smith, as he saw young doctor hurrying along. "Going over to Charley Sanderson's; his mother-in-law was up at the rink last night, fell down and fractured her skull; don't think she will live," replied the young M. D. "You don't say! Gosh! I wonder if I could prevail on my mother-in-law to try the rollers," and Smith started off on the double-quick to try the experi­ ment--Brooklyn Times. On the basis of 44 per cent, of the population, as constituting the agricul­ tural classes, it makes the average wealth of each individual $5,60. This compares well in the scale with the Other classes. THE class in German grammar is on the subject of genders. "Miss Flora, why is 'moon' masculine in German?" --"So that she can go oat alone at night, I suppose." tL WBlw VPWMP one of tbe western wide priMioe as an ocoulist and auriat, entered * drug stove and purohased a email bottle of cocaine, the new anassthetic used with such suc­ cess in eye operations. He aaid ha had prescribed it fof A diseaaed ear. The tiny bottle half-fall of whitish powder cost him $5. "Provincial physicians in this coun­ try are very enterprising," said the druggist when the doctor had gone oat "They have already begun the use of cocaine in all sections of the country, and it is to many druggist a profitable drug, because they can charge a fancy price for it It is quoted at over $800 an ounce." "A well-stocked drug-store most be supplied with a great variety of medi­ cines now if its proprietor fills pre­ scriptions for all schools," continued the druggist "One day we had a call from a homeopathic physician for rat­ tlesnake virus. The doctor had been called in to see a patient who was soon to die of cancer and who had taken or­ dinary opiates until they aeemed to have but little effect. We did not have the medicine, but the next time I saw the doctor he said that he had obtained it, and that twenty minutes after taking a very low dilution of the virus the suf­ ferer sank into a sweet sleep. The old­ en days, when ali Borts of insects and animals were used in medicine, were fruitful of some beneficial discoveries. The poison of a bee, when applied ex­ ternally by a bee, is not particularly beneficial; but I know a doctor who claims wonders for it in cases of scarlet fever. "The be*ver furnished a remedy known as ca«or, used to quiet spasms, and the musk-ox provides musk. It comes in the form of a coarse black powder, and the best of it is quoted at about $40 an ounce. We sell consider­ able quantities of it to the Chinese,who are said to use it for burns. It is be­ lieved that the Chinese have a knowl­ edge of many valuable remedies which would-benefit science, but, although we have been able to purchase some of their mysterious looking drugs as curi­ osities, they have refused to impart the secret of their properties. Some idea of their notions with respect to medi­ cine can be gained when it is known that they regard the wild ginsen-root as sacred to the healing of royalty, and as a spiritual body, capable of vo­ lition and of concealing itself to escape capture. Its guardians are the/ tiger, wolf, leopard, and snake. When, a member of the royal family falls sick, as did the Empress some time ago, a party of heroic men go in search of the root, whose presence is finally revealed at night by a halo over the spot of con­ cealment, which is marked, the root being dug on the following day. The cultivated ginseng, or jen alien, is not believed by the natives to be endowed with the properties of the wild, but it is used freely by the subjects. It is be­ lieved that its chief value lies in its wonderful recuperating power, pro­ longing life when a patient has begun to sink into his last Bleep, and in giv­ ing him time to arrange his affairs. Among the expensive drugs is ergo- tin, which retails at the rate of about $20 an ounce. It is a fungus growth found on rye in Normandy. A similar growth on rye in America contains very little ergotin, less, indeed, than the smut on Indian corn. As there are several growths which yield ergotin in a greater or less degree, so there are several Sonth American plants that produce jaborandi, the drug now used sometimes to produce sweating. "In the list of expensive drugs the products of the Calabar bean may be mentioned. Physostigmine, which is rated by many as the best remedy in spasmodic affections, retaiU at over $200 an ounce. Apomorphine, while not to be compared with the drugs that I have mentioned, is expen­ sive. It was discovered by a man named Wright,who subjected morphine to a treatment that entirely changed its chemical qualities, so that instead of being an opiate it is one of the most powerful emetics known, and is given only in extreme cases like poisoning. As I said'at the outset, an enterprising druggist has to keep an extensive va­ riety of medicines, the cheapest as well as the most expensive. Pumpkin seeds are frequently sold as a remedy for tapeworm, and with the male fern as a vermifuge. A doctor came in here the other day and called for some everlast­ ing life. Singular thing for a doctor to prescribe, wasn't it ? In medicine it is a North American plant Job's tears is another queer remedy."--New York Sun. ' Lincoln and Stanton. One incident will illustrate Mr. Lin­ coln's ingrained honesty and tenacity in the observance of his promises. At its extra session in July, 1861, Congress had passed a law authorizing the ap­ pointment of additional paymasters for the army. Before leaving Washington for home I asked Mr. Lincoln that I might name one of these. He promptly assented, and directed Ms Private Sec­ retary to make a memorandum of it I desired the place for my old boyhood and lifelong fiiend, Major John A. Sa- bin. Some time in the following Sep­ tember I received a letter from the President saying he had sent the ap­ pointment of Mr. Sabin to the Secre­ tary of War, who would notify him to appear for muster into the United States service. October had passed and no notice came. A letter written to Secretary Stanton failed to bring a response. In the latter part of Ncvein ber I went to Washington to attend the regular session of Congress, taking Mr. Sabin with me. The day after my arrival I waited upon Secretary Stan­ ton and called his attention to the ap­ pointment He had no recollection of the matter, but told me in his brus­ que manner that Mr. Sabin's name would be sent in with hundreds of others to the Senate for its considers tion. Earnestly I argued that Mr. Sa bin had been appointed by'the Com- mander-in-chief of the army, and that it was unjust to ask him to wait, per­ haps the whole winter, the tardy action of the Senate upon his nomination, and that he was entitled to be mustered in at once. But all in vain. I got but this reply from the iron Secretary: "You have my answer; no argument," I went to the chief clerk of the depart ment and asked him for Mr. Lincoln's letter directing the appointment, lie ceiving it, I proceeded to the White House, although it was after executive hours. I can see Mr. Lincoln now as when I entered his room. He wore a long oalico dressing-gown reaching to his heels, his feet were incased in pair of old-fashioned leathern Blippers --such as we used to find in the old time country hotels, and which had evidently seen much service in Spring­ field. Above these appeared the home made blue woolen stockings which he wore at all seasons of the year. He was sitting in a splint rocking chair, •I ^ » h , <.? #, • % ^ * i \ , r ist, Everyday Goods, New and CASH, tfe want to move it quick. 5000 yards Standard idard Lawns (fast colors) 41-2 •, $1.25 each; 1 Job Lot Coats tts half price; Light Weight Pair Ladies Gray Bros*. Fine ) Ladies Shawls at nearly half and 1C cents; also fine Bal- urs Mens Suspenders, worth »u your choice for 50 cents. |k ends nnl rapt eeven years attending oi in Tokio. During this time his father died, and his mother came to the capital to live. When she arrived the son, who had made the greatest prepar­ ations, went out a distance to meet her. I expected to see tears and kisses and enthusiastic greetings, but instead saw only the regulation three bows apiece, ana heard both son and mother say some very proper and respectful words to each other. These two love each other devotedly, but it is not just the thing to show excessive emotion, and so custom has laid down a law for all proper people to observe in meeting relatives and friends. Among the bet­ ter classes the same scrupulous exact­ ness is observed in serving meals. At one of the high-rank dinners as many as fifty courses will be served. They come in just such on order, and when a line of food is exhausted they com­ mence over with a slightly different class of dishes. At suitable times there is a cessation of the meal, and you may stroll out into the garden and smoke or otherwise en­ joy yourself. At the ordinary hotel yon pay a few cents for a room, and you may take a half-dozen rooms if you choosa> When the meal is ready you are called by rap­ ping together two hard sticks. On the ground floor, nearly in front, is the kitchen, while the rooms usually open to the rear, where there are cool veran­ das, beautiful gardens, fountains, and lakes. Many times the fronts of these hotels or "yadoya," as they are called, will be found dismal and dreary in the extreme, but after running the gauntlet of the kitchen and piles of wooden shoes a transformed scene meets your view. Trees in the form of animals, birds, boats, houses, fish, and dragons, with a thousand other things, delight the eye and please the sense.--Takio letter to Chicago Times. A Chinese Luncheon. We adjourned to the apartments of the younger ladies, and had luncheon of confections, fruit, pastry, salad, and tea. Only the old Tai Tai (or lady) ate with me. The young wives and daugh­ ters ate afterward. The divan on which we sat, and on which was placed a small dining table, was covered with a mag­ nificent wadded quilt The centre piece was yellow silk, -with crimson brocade pattern, richly mixed with gold The opposite divan was cov­ ered with a quilt of greater beauty-- white satin embroidered in pink and gold and green While at luncheon the whole household of women came in and partook of melon seeds and sweet­ meats. Some of the nieces of the old Tai Tai came in with the children. There were many very fine-looking wo­ men among them.... Just at sunset dinner was served. None but the old Tai Tai and I dined, although there was ample provision for the thirty or forty women and girls who sat around about the room talking and amusing the little ones.... The viands were deliciously cooked, and as course after course was sent in I became quite be­ wildered .... The decorations on the various dishes were highly artistic. When dinner was ended two beautifully lacquered basins were brought in with hot water and a small napkin, which the lady wrung out and handed to me. Old Highways in China--Isabelle Williamson. > Sound Advice, Jim Webster was brought up before an Austin justice of the peace. It was the same old charge that used to bother him in Galveston. After the evidence was all in, the judge, with a perplexed look, said: "But I do not comprehend, Webster, how it was possible for you to steal those chickens when they were roost­ ing right under the owner's w'ndow, and there were two vicious dogs in the yard." "Hit wouldn't do yer a bit of good, jedge, for me to 'splain how I cotched dem chickens, for yer couldn't do hit yerself if yer tried hit forty times, and yer might get yer hide full ob buck­ shot de berry fust timo yer put yer leg ober de fence. De bes way for you to do. jedge, is fur yer to buy yer chick­ ens in de market, and when you wants ter commit any rascality do hit on de bench whar you am at home."--Texas Siftings. A Scientific Fact About Wood. Wood, when subjected to a heat of from 400 to 800 degrees, is resolved into three distinct products: Charcoal, pyroligneous acid, and gases. The process is thus described: A cord of fairly seasoned wood weighs, say 4,000. pounds. This cord of wood, placed in a charring receptacle and subjected to a proper temperature for, say, five days, entirely disappears. In its place we have 1,000 pounds of charcoal, '2,000 pounds of pyroligneous acid, and 1,000 pounds of uncondensed gases. The aggregate weight of these products is exactly equal to the original weight of the wood. By the agency of heat the constituents of the wood have been dis­ associated, and the immediate recombi­ nation of these constituents results in the charcoal, the acid, and the fixed gases. XIOKISCE! BTB*»:W*t*tfoonx. The 19th of April, 1861, was an event- nl day at Washington. The telegraph irooght word early in the afternoon hat the Massachusetts Sixth, on its '•y in response to the call from Presi- ent Lincoln, had been ahot at and toned as it passed through Baltimore, almost every loyal son of the Old Bay -tate in Washington was at the station rlien the train arrived, and gave the >ixth a cordial greeting. The regiment tad lost its band and field music, and vas thus forced to march without even ap of drum to the Capitol, after ar- angements had been made for the con- eying the wounded men to the infirm­ ary. The sun was just setting over the firginia hills as the column moved lto the area before the eastern front nd filed up the broad steps of the lajestic portico into the rotunda. The north extension, occupied by the . enate, was allotted to the Massachu- ;tts resiment an "quarters," and at 9 clock presented a novel aspect Col. >nes occupied the Vice President's air, his colors hanging over his head fom the reporters' gallery. At the erk's desk before him. Adjutant Farr *d Paymaster Plaisted were busy with eir evening reports, while Major atson, with Quartermaster Munroe, ere seeing^ that the companies were stributed in the various corridors and ^taining their rations. After a four- id-twenty hours' fast the men had Jlch one ration of bacon, bread, and flee, which they had to prepare at £e furnace fires in the basements. Vie moment hunger was appeased, the shioned seats in the galleries were cupied by those fortunate enough to ttain such luxurious sleeping accom­ modations, while others "bunked" on ale floors, with their knapsacks for Hows, and wrapped in their blankets. ~ Stationery was provided from the committee-rooms, and every Senator's desk was occupied by 10 o'clock by a "bould sojer boy." indicting an epistle to his friends. Hon. E. B. French, of Maine, exercised his "franking privi­ lege" most acceptably, and those who saw the huge pile of letters noticed that nearly all of them were direoted to ladies--sweethearts or wives. At midnight I came away from the Capitol and reached the telegraph office just in time to see the National Bifles take military possession and stop work. This was a Napoleonic and probably proper movement, but I could not think that the "public good" would be in­ jured by the transmission of long dis­ patches filed for the Journal and other Northern papers, giving lists of the wounded, with assurances that none of those in Washington were in any danger. The next day it was ascertained that all communication northward, by mail or by telegraph, was cut off, and the correspondents found their occupation gone. One of the most prominent of them, Mr. Simonton, contributed to the amusement of the press men hang­ ing around the telegraph office--idle for once--by quietly receiving a drub­ bing with a cane from a young nephew of Gen. Butler, who first whacked away until he broke his stick, then drew a revolver and "run" the offending scrib- bler.across Pennsylvania avenue. It seemed that Mr. Simonton had spoken offensively of the young man's father during the contest for the California offices, and that he had been cautioned that California "satisfation" would be taken. The Massachusetts regiment were in their quarters all day, writing home, making out muster rolls for Uncle Sam's service, and initiating themselves into the mysteries of "messing." But just before sunset they paraded, and marched down Pennsylvania avenue by platoons, route step, without music, presenting an imposing and soldier-like appearance, which attracted loud plau­ dits from Union men, and made the secessionists evidently uneasy. When it was known that the regi­ ment had lost all of its baggage, and that the wounded were especially in want of underclothing, etc., a "Massa­ chusetts Association" was at once or­ ganized, which, with the aid of a fow friends, relieved the most pressing wants. Any one who was so disposed could contribute to the funds of this association, instituted "to secure, by or­ ganization and mutual co-operation, proper care for the wounded and disa­ bled, and decent interment for the dead of the Massachusetts troops whioh are now or may be on duty in this vicin­ ity." A committee of this association was on duty every day to visit the wounded and to transact "outside business" fpr the regiment, attend to their mails, etc. Ca^sius M. Clay, on learning of this movement from one of the officers of the association, said "I have only $10 in my pocket, for I have spent my money for arms and ammunition, but you must take $5 of that for the boys." The disclosures, in the Autumn of 1875, concerning the "Whisky Ring," gave rise to many rumors concerning officials at Washington. The theory that the combination was able, without the intervention of any higher power at Washington, to defy treachery with­ in its own circle, as well as any and all interference from without, was simply preposterous. A giant conspiracy to de­ fraud the Government of millions annu­ ally through the production and disposi­ tion of illicit whiskey, could not have lasted during four years without the con­ sent and connivance of higher officials at Washington than a mere clerk in the Internal lie venue Bureau. The prin­ cipal conspirators, who alone had much to lose, would have been at the mercy of scores of low rogues. A dissatisfied storekeeper or gauger, or a discharged engineer, distiller, or bookkeeper, could at any time have brought the whole combination of thieves to grief by sim­ ply making an affidavit and sending it to Washington. Without the friend­ ship and protection of the highest officers of the Government at Washing- ton there could be no long-continued immunity for conspiracy of this magni­ tude. Gen. Babcock, the President's Private Secretary, was tried and ac­ quitted by civil and military tribunals, and public opinion, always uncharita­ ble, was almost unanimous in affirming that the President had indirectly se­ cured^ the verdicts. Too Strong for Him. A good deacon of one of onr city churches meandered along one of the docks Sunday, and, noticing a crowd of boys fishing, he commenced to reprove them for breaking the Sabbath. In the middle of his harangue he stopped suddenly to ejaculate: "Look out, bub, you've got a bite," to a small boy whose attention had been distracted from his line. Human nature _ was too strong for him.--Saginaw {Michigan) News. . THE official bulletin of a great vic­ tory over self is written in indelible ink on brain and heart.--Barbers' Ga- says an'" ̂ fy*« " " " : »| V Oimu says: "£ §&% love never be begged, but eonqtoAred." I*ar- ; adoxical as it may seem, the girl aan- , not be conquered unless she oonenrs.-- ..... Exchange. > •> , "HAVE a piece of lemoa pie, Mr. "i*""" > 1' Caution ?" asked the wife of his bosom last night at supper. "No, dear," said ' ** he; "I would rather go by some other < route."--Exchange. "IF bees come after yon," exchange, "stand still, with head, bowed." That's a pretty way to gives in! Swing your hat and run like blazee.̂ --Burlington Free Press. BLUSTER--I tell you, sir, that Bangs is a liar and a thief and a rascal. I say it to you, sir, and I say it to anybody,^ I don't care who. Fogg--To but Bangs.--.Boston Transcript. JINKS--"I see that in 60,000 schools " j ^ r i n J a p a n t h e E n g l i s h l a n g u a g e i s ^ v i - \ taught" Minks (a purist)--"Indeed!« ' ^ Well, I hope the schools in. this ooun- t ry wi l l adop t the same cus tom."--, f ' J P h i l a d e l p h i a C a l l . > • \ ~ j "A FINE morning," said the judge, upon entering the court room. When, < he retired he looked at the prisoners in the dock in a comprehensive way before, : again remarking, "A fine mourning."--" Boston Transcript. , s NITRO-GLYCEBINE is perfectly harm- J. , ^ less until exploded by ooncuBsion. A' • very bad boy in Sharpsburg recently - * drank a large amount of it and now . defies his mother fb spank him.--Pitts- • j burgh Chronicle'Telegraph. • ,. „ 1 Is" your heart with love is laden 'r For the girl across the way, ; r 'vSj And you wish to win the maraan, ^ i • * Take her riding in a sleigh. " k ' ; -i It will p«t her in aflutter, *' * S K,;| And you'll make an easy r-:- M Fqr within a dashing cutter ' .jh- 5: You can surely cut a dash. Besides, in a sleigh, wherever you go j You needn't have fear of the beautiful's "No." « THE dress-coat is generally worn by the groom at the city wedding; "but.- j, for an elopement," says the Boston J Transcript, "there's nothing like the cutaway." On such occasions the bride | should be, and frequently is, provided | with a pall-back.--Norris town Her- f aid. A PATENT medicine advertisement ? propounds the startling question: "Do you know why your liver fails to act?" We do. Our liver has no legs to dis- SI play in fascinating tights, and does not' ^ yearn for the applause of the multitado t or the triumphs of the stage.--Through Mail ^ "WHY don't you address theprofes- 1 sion with Mister?" inquired a long* | haired German of an American friend. who had just greeted an acquaintance j with "Hello Professor!" "Now in my i| country we always say Herr Pro­ fessor 1" "Hair Professor! well, by jove, that accounts for your Professora v | being so well supplied with it"--Texas Sif tings. S "MR. SMITH, is ague catching, just like the measles?" "No, my little dear. J What made you think so?" "Coz, when you was here the other night, yon I know, petting sister Jane, when she had the ague, ma said, after you'd gone, that you was no good and hadn't got any money, and that Jane had betted give you the shake. I thought maybe it was catching."--Exchange. TEMPTATION. Upon my arm she placed her hand, So soft and white, I longed to seize it. • Would I offend? I took it, and What could I do but gently squeege it? Her waist was then within my reach. And, when so near to ine I found it, I spent no precious time in speech, But softly put my arm around it. This brought quite near her ripe, red IfpB-- ; l | Sweet lips 1 Could mortal man resist 'am? I trembled to my Anger tips, And drew them nearer and I kissed 'em. ^ --Bottom Courier. v WHAT HE SAID. 1 The old man snoreB oil his corn-husk bed, , J And dreamed of rails an^todder and gmB, 'v| But his daughter watched by her window-sill ' >|j For the guy young man to come up the lane. ̂ Oh, love is mighty and bolts are weak f:| To restrain a fellow that believes in cheek. "Hither, my dove," in soft tones came From under her window. Out in the night ' Sho slid on a clothes-line ull prepared, And in less than a minute was out of sight, . • .. g "While the rowdy old owl sang out "too-toot" •;$ As they both skedaddled to Kalamazoo. The sun was up and the old man woke-- . || He misaed his daughter and saw the racket, | As ho spied a note in her vacant room £ Stuck in the crack of a walnut bracket. j » He read it slowly and quietly said: "Doggon good thing that I went to bed." MEDICAL advice by telephone: Has- band--"My wife has a severe pain in the back of her neok, and complains of a sort of sourness in the stomach.'* Physician--"She has malarial colic.** Husband--"What shall I do for her?" >' [The girl at the "central" switches off to a machinist talking to a sawmill man.] Machinist to Husbands--"I . think she is covered with scales inside about an inch thick. Let her cool down during the night, and before she * fires up in the morning take a hammer 1; and pound her thoroughly all over, and then take a hose and hitch it to the fire-plug and wash her out" Hus­ band has no more need of this 4flQtor» --Leonard's Medical Journal. ^ Spiritual Manifestations. - A number of scientific men about Boston have associated themselves for, the purpose of investigating psychical' pheunomia, and naturally their first object of study is that large class of facts, real or imaginary, known as spir­ itual manifestations. We trust these gentlemen will go wisely as well as thoroughly about their inquiries; that they will take nothing for proved until the demon­ stration is irresistible, and nothing for real that is the product of trick, or credulity; and that, when they finally report, their conclusion may be so for­ tified that no impartial person will be able to dispute it. The most important thing for them to determine is whether these manifes­ tations are genuine or not, that is to say, whether they are caused by an un­ questionable force outside of the me­ dium and his assistants, and are the work of intelligent beings not living in the fiesh, yet possessed of power to move and influence living men and nat­ ural objects; or whether they are in all cases the result of imposture or de­ lusion. This is the prime question of all; and if the Boston savants can shed light upon it, their labors will be enti­ tled to grateful recognition and lasting applause.-- New York Sun. Errors Corrected. Bheem, of the Smithsonian Institute, has contradicted much of the popular belief concerning snakes. The veno­ mous hoop snake, which takes its tail in its mouth and rolls along like a hoop, and the blow snake, the breath of which is deadly, exist only in the imagination. The idea that serpents sting with tha tongue is erroneous. An impression prevails that the number of poisonous snakes is great, but in North America there are but three species--the rat­ tlesnake, the copperhead or moccasin, and the coral. Snakes do not jump; they reach suddenly forward--perhaps half the length of their bodies. How DOES a fire, when full of coal, feel in these oold days?--Grate fulL • i . JS?. ..ktik d.