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-.. . My Winter Girl. When wraps unfnrl My winter girl, In downy wreaths of fur, I know my eyes But ill disguise The pride I have in her. ' The flakes that fly "' winter’s sky azzling, crystal whirl, not so fair, 0r re, or rare ‘ As my sweet winter girl. And I know this, That ev'ry kiss On her rose lips that sleeps, Is all my own. And mine alone, And she is mine for keeps. ____._â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"â€"-â€"' l SlSliB’llllNfiilNBi. . “ Do you love him so much, sister Cora!" “ Love him! love him, Madge! better than my youth, my lifeâ€"ay, sometimes I fear better than my hope of heaven ! And I am to be his wife little Madge, this good man's wife, when the beautiful Spring comes. I shall leave you, and auntie, to be all his. But this is our secret, and only you can share it.” Then her hands relaxed their hold, and drawing the light scarf over her shoulders, she tripped silently on. They were almost thereâ€"nearing the edge of the wood, and the stile was huts. step away. Another step forward, and then“ Madge held her! sister back. “ Wait l" she whispered: “’I can see two men on the seat, Cora. We do not want to meet strangers there.” " No," she said, drawing back in the shadow of the wood ; “it is Neil’s friend, I Willis Dean. I n for I do not like to meet him. Even as she spoke the figure arose, and the sound of his voice came on the twilight air, distinct and clear. . _ “And what of this love affair, friend Neill When-is it to end, and how ? Are you really in earnest, arid do you really in- tend to marry the girl? Cora Smith’s hand closed upon the arm of Madge till she shrank in pain while they waited for the answer. Neil Rowan laugh- ed'iiiiifiy her!” he repeated. “_She is just the subject for a grand flirtation, and I assure you I have done the thing well. But for anything furtherâ€"bah 1 Iain go- ing back to town to-morrow, and this is our last meeting; so be off,t pld fellow, for I her ever momen .. ' 8x332: for 0nd moment Madge} Smith’s heart stood still in awful fear, for she thought Cora was dying. That white We will wait until he gas ghastly face there in the twilight, that mo- . tionless figure, those tightly lucked hands, it surely was not the fair, sweet maiden of a moment before. But the spasm passed, and, without a Word, she arose and glided noiselesst away, and Madge followed her ' silence. mNeil Rowan waited until the light had all died out of the west, and the dew lay like Summer rain on the grass at his feet. His cigar was smoked down to ashes, and his lazy reverie was broken by the cry 0f the whip-poor-will. _ n _ “She isn’t coming to-night! he said, mentally; “ that is certain. The scheming auntie up yonder managed to preventit this time. Oh, well, it saved a scene i . I Will drop a lovin farewell note, and so it ends -a Summer 3 amusement. Ha, burn!” and Neil Rowan strolled homeward ; singing, half unconsciously, “I Won’t have her, 1 knowâ€"I won't have her, I knewâ€"TI don’t care a straw who has her, I know. ’ _ The farewell note came to Cora Smith the following nisht, but the everbright eyes never rested on the creamy page, for, are the insane light gave place to. reason again, death sealed the white eyelids. To such natures as this girl's, love is life, and ‘ihe rude blow that woke her from one bright dream of her youth snapped _the slender cord that bound her frail spirit to earth, and out of the depths of her awful grief, the kindly hand of death ied her to the mountain top, where is builded the city of the New Jerusalem. Da by day, week by week, 'month by month, sosped the time until eight years were counted. . Wonderful changes had the ci ht years brought. Side by side with t is grave were twoothers, and the headstones bore the names of good aunt and uncle Smith. They had rested there six years ; and every Summer beautiful Madge Smith came down from her city mansion, and lingered in the old home a week. trimming the grasses and planting bright flowers on the mounds. right. beautiful Madge Smith, the heiress of all Uncle Smith's hiddenhwealih, the wealth he guarded so well during that toil- life. 'Thnferrezrs before, Madge Smith left Beauti- ool to reign nent of society. fill: st'rangely libsutiful, with that cold, white, high-bred face. these wide. fathom- less, glittering amber eyes, a figure match. leas in symmetry and grace, accomplished polished, and the heiress of great wealth no wonder that lovshrs, und‘young salt at hlad Smit 's I use. trangs :ondsr, the arid saida that all were scornedâ€"not gently and with words of pity - try, were forgotten things ‘Iprang to their feet, and apology, but spurned from her very feet With scornful lips and blazing eyes. Ay, Madge Smith was an enigma and mystery to all who knew her. No warmer friend, no brighter companion did those of her own sex seek for. But never were these wonderful lips seen to smile, or those wonderful eyes to soften, in response to any lover’s ; no glacier was more frigid than she to all men. ‘ All, did I say? Nay, Dame Rumor had plenty of gossip. just now Only a few weeks since a new rival ap- peared on the scene of action Neil Rowan, merchant and millionaire, entered the list of Madge Smith’s adorerrâ€"not for he wealth, surely, Madam Grundy acknow ledged, graciously. He had enough of his own. It was genuine love that this blase man of society felt for beautiful Madge. And a wonderfulchange had come over the fair lady since his appearance. Bright be fore. she was nrillant nowâ€"sparkling, witty, bewildering; and the world looked on in amaze to see the flush stain her white cheek,and the bright smile that lighted her eyes at his approach. ’ And did he not recognize her, you are wondering? Nay, how should he? Sweet Cora Smith, and the Summer in the coun- with this man. He had broken ball a dozen silly hearts since then, and left them all with Time, the great healer. He had flirted With society’s queens and village maidens in- numerable. and left the past all behind him. And now he came and laid the first pure, real love of his lifetime at this woman’s feet. So he told her, one Autumm night, in the grand parlor of her stately home. How her hands trembled and her eyes shone as she listened ! H \Vait," she said: “ I will give you my answer to-morrow night ; it is my birth- night, and I shall give an entertainment. You will come ; I will answer you then. Be in the library at 10, and you shall hear my answer ." And the night came, and he was there waiting. He paced the room impatiently. W'ould she ever come, this girl that was dearer than his life? Ay, she was life to him. The world had seemed old, stale, flavcrless, until he met her, the woman who, alone of all her sex, had ever stirred the slumbering passions of his heart. How bright the future seemed ! He was so sure of her answer ; had not she given it all but in words ? “My beautiful, my queen l" he V said, softly. And just then be heard the light ripple of a. woman’s laugh in the adjoining room. Her laugh ; he knew it among a thousand ; and her voice; she was speaking loud and clear. ' “There, Guardie; you must let me go now. Mr. Rowan is waiting for me in the library. You know I am to give him his answer tonight.” And the guardian’s voice, speaking ten- derly, replied : “And that answer, I can guess it, little Madge. You are going to marry this man, and leave us all.” She laughed softly. “Marry him? No, indeed, sir ! He is just the subject for a grand flirtation, and I assure you I have acted my part well, but for anything furtherâ€"bah ! But he is ex- pecting me, so by-by till I come again,” and she tripped lightly through the. half open door, ere the amazed guardian could utter a syllable. n. A white, ghastly, shivering figure, stood by the library window. “For God’s sake, Madge Smith, tell me you were jesting l” he cried, as brilliantly, glowineg beautiful, she glided into the room- “Not so, my friend," she answeredglight- ly. “I spoke the truth. If you overheard my words, I need not repeat them. It is my answer." . “But you gave me hope ; you led me on; you have given me reason to think you Ac. " ~ ’ . “It is the one love of my life i I have centred every hope in you. Madge Smith, . and for God's sake, do not wreck my happiness. She was very pale now, and her eyes were black and glistening, “Neil Rowan,"she said slowly, “I have prayed for this hour for years, but never in my wildest dreams did I think my prayer would be so fully answered. \Vheu I saw the hue of death,the white agony on my only sister's cheekâ€"when I saw her writhe in speechless agony at the words she heard eight years ago to-night,l vowed to avenge her, God being my helper. Again, when I heard the thud of the earth upon her coffin, I vowed that vow. God has brought it about even sooner ; more complete than I had thought. If I have givenyou one hour of such agony as she suffered, I am.con- tent. If you could live and sufier it for countless ages, I should be better content. Good night i” _ Two heiffs afterward, the sharp ring of a pistol rang with startling distinctness through the crowded drawmgroom. ‘All save Madge Smith. Perhaps her cheek paled a little-I cannot tellâ€"but the light of her eye neverchanged, her smilin lips never relaxed, as'she gazed upon the lood-siained corpse in the li- brary. Neil Rowan had taken his own life and Cora Smith was avenged. “â€" Regret. One kiss was all I asked. I said; That speech I sadly rue, For now she's wedded to a man \Vho did not stop at two. loved me,” he cried, passionately. The king of the Belgians offers a prize of $5,000 for the but plan of supplying Brus- sels with drinking water. The competition is open to all the world. PRACTICAL 1= ‘ .iiNG. ‘ W‘\“\\“\~w A Barn for All Kinds of Live Stock. Somefarmers would be glad io build stock kept ona place devoted to general farming may be gathered under one roof. This plan has its advantages and its dis- advantagesâ€"more of the former than of the R.“ x, -’ var , FIG 1. PERSPECTIVE VIEW OF BARN. latter perhaps, if one places its proper value upon ease in doing one's work. The illustrations given herewith may adord suggestions for those desiring to build general purpose barns. The barn is of the ordinary shape, with a wing on either end, as seen in Fig l, the main or feeding flow u no ‘2. caensn run. The floor plan (Fig 2) leaves little to add by way of explanation, except that provi- sions may be made for feeding the young stock from the second floor through chutes at the end of the barn proper. It is intended for the young stock to run loose in the pen providedâ€"which should have a cement floorâ€"and that the manure from the cattle and horse stalls should be wheeled daily into this pen, spared and covered with itter. It will thus be firmly racked and kept in the best condition. If such a barn could be built where it could have a dry cellar, the manure could be dropped into the cellar, where also could be stored roots, while thesilocould extend down through the cellar, the root room being, of course, parâ€" titioned off from the space devoted to the manure, Good Feeders. When the profits of feeding at best are small, every advantage must be taken if they are maintained or increased. One __.__.â€"â€"_â€"._____â€"â€"_._â€"__â€"â€" those being fed for market, is to secure good feeding animals. Every farmer who has given his cattle that attention necessary to secure the best gain at the lowest cost understands that there is a very considerable difference in the feeding quality of different cattle, not only of different breeds, but of the same breeds. for taking on flesh must always be consider- ed, and in connection with this, the amount of food required. In growing and fat- tening cattle for market, the profit depends upon their value when ready to sell, the cost of production, and the time required to produce. The calf must be well fed from the start, so as to maintain a steady growth. A quick growth and an early maturity being essential, the animal must have these qualifications, or, in a measure, will prove a loss. To aconsiderable extent with cattle, quality, in connection with good size, largely determines the profit, and any animal that, with good treatment, cannot be depended upon to grow reasonably rapidly and to fatten readily should be dis- posed of as soon as possible. One of the principal advantages in the better breeds is their ability to make a quicker and better growth for the amount of food required. It seems rather poor economy to feed out the products of the farm to long, lean fiat- ribbed cattle that make a slow growth and are hard to fatten, and when they are ready to market must be sold at a low price,when the same food, care, and shelter given a better animal will secure a better and more rapid gain and a quality of product that will sell at a better price when put upon the market. The difference in time required for growth and to fatten with the best quality of pro- duct and the better price make it an item to look after good feeding animals. In many cases the difference in the price that can be realized often determines the ques- tion of profit or loss in the feeding, and profit is the principal consideration in feed- ing cattle, as with other stock. Barn-Yard Manures. It is but recently that our farmers are beginning to see the great necessity of sav- ing and applying manures. They are be- ginning to see that they are continually taking from their farms year by year plant food and not returning any. Now, how- abuudaut supply of proper food is furnish- ed. So progressive farmers are searching for the most,approved methods of securing and applying barn manures. We find there are three points which must be considered in the handling of manuresâ€"the making,‘saving, and apply- in . l dVe find from the various reports of chemists and experimenters that there are three ingredients which are necessary for plant growth. These are ultra en, phos- phoric acid, and potash. We fin also that our barn manures contain to some extent all these elements. Now, the question comes to us, how can we produce a stable manure that shall contain the cutest amount of these plant foods? e know that these substances which enrich our feed are the ones that give value to the manure. So if we feed those things which are rich in the necessary plant foods, then the man- ure will be correspondingly rich. Manure from fattened stock is always richer than from other, because, as a rule, they are fed those things which are rich in the elements named above. 1 contemplated barns so that all kinds of] being across the middle of the barn proper. item with all classes of stock, and especially y In feeding for profit their capacity a The saving of the manure is but little under the barn eaves, where the snows and rains can beat upon it and wash out the soluble portions of it. The valuable part of the manure is the liquid portions- three-fourths of the value of manures is the liquid. The manure pile is oftentimes placed on a side hill, and as the rains and snows wash upon them the liquid portions run out and escape to the culverts and are lost. Some go so far as to bore holes back of their stock so as to give the liquid portions of the manure a chance to escape, not knowing that the most valuable l per- tions of the manure are being wasted. There is no fixed method of saving manure that will apply to all farms. One method may be suitable for one situation, another for some other locality. Use any method by which you can save, without loss, both the dung and liquid portions. Probably the simplest and cheapest way is to use absorbents, using anything in the stables that will absorb the liquids and hold them. From experiments we find that it requires twenty-four pounds of dry matter per day as feed for a 1,000-pound animal, and that it requires one-fourth of the amount of dry matter fed, asbedding, to absorb the liquid portions of the manure. Or, six pounds of dry matter per day as bedding for a 1,000- pound animal. Short bedding is probably best, as it absorbs the moisture better. In order to understand just where and how to place the manure that the farm crops may derive the quickest and the best results, we must understand something of the nature and growth of our crops. As a rule, those roots which extend the deepest in the soil are the moisture-supplying ones, while those which are found near the sur- face are the food-supplying one. By this we may readily see that in order for the plants to receive the benefits of the manure we must place it within the reach of the food-supplying roots. If we place the manure near the surface it is then within the reach of the young plant when it starts growth; where, if we plowed it in deep” before the young plant had time to send its rootlets down, the manure Would be wash.~ ed deeper in the soil and lost to the young plantsâ€"J. L. Herbst. _â€"-â€".â€"â€" . ' Anything in Reason. A traveller who was going in leisurely fashion about Ireland, many years ago,says that the smaller inns there were wretched places, where one could find nothing desir- ableâ€"but courtesy. At one of them this dialogue took place between a guest and a waiter : “What can we havo for dinner?" . “Anything you please, ma’am. Anything on please l" “Well, but exactly' what can we have 2" “You can have ii. pair of ducks l” “1 am sorry to say my father cannot eat ducks. What else ‘2” "They are very fine ducks ina’am.” “I dare say. But what else '3” “You might have the ducks boiled, ma’aml” “No, no 1 Can we have muttdn?” “Well, not mutton to-day, ma’am.” “Some beef ‘2" “No, ina’am.” “Some veal 2” “Not any veal, I’m afraid.” “Well, then, a fowl.” “We haven’t got a. fowl.” “What on earth have you, then 2” “Well, then, ma’am, I’m afeard if you won't have the fine pair of ducks, there’s nothing for it but bacon and eggs l” studied by our farmers. Many of our farmers throw the manure out of their stables, on the open ground, as a rule, Anecdotes of Dr. Holmes. In the older days of the Harvard Medi- cal School, when funds were scarce and professors scarcer, Dr. Holmes was the lecturer on anatomy. physiology, medical chemistry, and a few other subjects. One day the President of the college met him in the street and congratulated him on his' then recent election to a professional chair of medicine. “Chair 3” flushed out the doctor. You’re mistaken, my dear sir; it isn’t a chair of medicine that I occupy, It’s a whole settee l ” The second. tale is also a medical one and relates to a meeting of several of the leading physicians of a. bygone generation. They were all except Holmes, big man physically, and mentally,und for some time the little doctor walked disconsolately about amid his six-foot colleagues. Then, jing- ling the loose change in his pocket, he said camly: , “ Do you know, gentlemen, I feel like a 3-cent piece among a lot of pennies ‘2" â€"_â€"â€"â€".â€"â€"_ Open Fires Injure Eyes. If there is an open fireplace in the house and it is the delight of either the head of the house or the small ones in the family to sit before it and watch the flames play, don’t let them do so too long. The flashing flames are fascinating, but they are rough' on the eyes and burn the sight so that ‘many a painful pair of eyes may be traced ever. they are beginning ‘0 "Nile that'lio ioo earnest devotion to an open fire. good crops can not be grown unless an Keep plenty of handscreens ready or else have longhandled paper fans hanging beside the fireplace. Left~llanded Praise. An exchange reports another of those amiable criticisms that one hears sometime between friends. Jones has come into Brown’s studio, and is looking about the walls. Suddenly he pauses before a sketch. ' “ I say, Harry." he says, " where did you get that 2" “ Why, I got it out of my head.” “ Well, it’s lucky for your head that you got it out. ' A Man Worth Knowing. A strangermistaking John Boyle O'Reilly for a friend approached him from behind, slapped him on the shoulder, and greeted him as ,lack with all the warmth of a life- long friendship. O’Reilly turned to face a very embarrassed man, and said, holding out his hand: “ I'm not Jack, but I'm glad to know and be the friend of ' any man that is as glad to see his friend as you seem to be." ~â€"â€"â€"â€"_â€"â€"_.____. A NEW muons GAME. HAND TENNIS THE INDOOR RAGE IN NEW YORK. It Is “client Without Being lonah. l‘nrorâ€" clses all Perils-s orihe Body. In Well Sllied [or Ladies. and Promises to be Popular. Members of the New York Athletic Club are enthusiastic over a new ball game, called hand .tennis. Every afternoon the gymnasium is filled with mem- bers of the club, both young and old, who go there to play this game. Boxing and wrestling have been practically abandoned, and most of the gymnastic paraphernalia has been removedto make room for this latest sport. Hand tennis promises to become even more popular than lawn tennis or golf. It. is an excellent and absolutely harmless game, bringing all the muscles into action and quickening and strengthening the eye. It is admirably suited to the tastes of the gentler sex and it affords an opportuinity for boys and girls to obtain HEALTHFUL EXERCISE WITHOUT EXPOSURE. to cold or danger. The game is played at. the club on a floor thirty-eight feet long by fourteen feet wide. The floor is resined and is divided into halves by a act, which is two feet six inches high. The floor is." marked by chalk lines. Three feet from the end line, which 18 called the toe line, a line is drawn across the floor. Ten feet from the net is another line, called the short line. The contestants toss for choice of sides before beginning the game. Play commences by one player taking the ball and standing between the toe line and the end line. He then “hops” the ball against the floor behind the toe line and hits it With his hand. over the net to the opposite player. Should: be fail to send it over the net or drive it over his opponent’s cud line his hand would be “out” and the ball would be given to the opposing side. The game is played ALMOST PRECISELY LIKE LAWN TENXIS, but the balls are delivered and returned With the hand only. Both hands may be used in- playing. When a player standing betwoen the_end line and the 'toe line de- livers the ball to his opponent and his oppo- nent fails to return it or drives it over the end or side line, he scores a point. Twenty points decide the game. ' If a player in returning the hall touches the not With any part of his body it is afoul. The opposing side can then claim one point. The ball may be struck before reaching the floor and after only one bound. Men at the New York Athletic Club play in their gymnasium suits, wearing rubber shoes. Mr. E. J. Giannini, who introduced hand tennis, is physical instructor of the club. When asked as to the origin of the game he said : " Well, I suppose I .am in a measur responsible for it. Ten years ago, while I was at \Vood's Gymnasium, I found a. good deal of enjoyment in throwing a ball to the floor and striking it against the. wall with the palm of my hand. Some oi‘ my companions would join me in trying to- hit the ball, and I conceived the idea of making a game of it. , “ I realized that great physical benefits could result from an indulgence in ihis sport, and the first step towards developing the game was to stretch a rope across the floor. Then came the idea of using a net and establishing rules. The exercise, while violent, is NEVER- action, It can be attended only by the best results, so far as physical condition is concerned. It is an excellent flesh reducer, and I recommend it to all the ‘ heavy-Weight? members of the club. These gentlemen play in ‘sweaters.’ ” “ Are the ladies interested in tennis 2” “I hardly think they know there is such. a game,” was the reply. "Oh, yes ! I had forgotten. Last summer Miss Lucille lluil, teacher of physical culture at Wellesley College, came to me to learn how it was. played, saying she had heard of it and wished to introduce it to her pupils. But I don’t think the ladies in New York know anything of it as yet. In my opiiiion,they could not find a more delightful indoor exercise nor one better adapted to the pro- motion of health.” “What costume would you recommend in the event of the adoption of this sport by women ?” ' “I should say," was the reply,“the short shirt and high gaiters would be the most satisfactory dress, as freedom of motion is. essential.” Hand tennis should become a fad ameng the New York girls this winter, since it is. pleasurable and health-giving and affords an opportunity of donning picturesque at- tire. liaiiil â€"â€"â€"-â€"-.â€"-â€"â€"._ An Amusing Mistake. An English paper tells the following. story about Dr. Holmes. When he was in England, in 1886, he found himself on one occasion at a “crush” in London among a great mass. of people, including several royal personages. lie sat quietly in a corner, but presently, feeling alittle faint, and observing refreshments in the distance, be turned to an elderly personage standing near, whom he supposed tobe a butler or something of that kind, and asked for a harmless beverage. The sup servant brought this with alacrity an remarked : “I am very glad to meet you,l)r. Holmes." The Autocrat of the Breakfast Table was a little taken aback, and the stranger added: “I am Prince Christian." “Dear ms."said Holmes, alive at once to the joke, “I have not had much acquaintance with princes. and, do you know,l tank you for the wait- er!" At this Prince Christian went off into a burst of meriiment. “Where is my wife?” he said. “I must tell her this. She admires you immensely.” 06 went Prince Christian ~ to fetch the Princess,and the genial Ameri- can philosopher was soon the centre of a circle of royalty. greatly delighted by the- incident. ' 1...“. '.‘.. ,‘ i . ._ . «gum-raw; Cast-n l l .31 l