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Dabney was her son, a lank boy of fourteen years old, and the other boys were his friends Frank Hurley and Ford Foster, with the latter'e musins Joe and Fuz Hart. “ Send ’em for some greens to ri the lor with,” suggested Ham, rs. inser's son-in-law. “Let ’01:: take the nies.” _ “ 0 you think the ponies are safe to drive just now ?" " Oh, Dab can handle 'em. They're a trifle skittish. that's all. They need a little exercise." " Miranda,” said Mrs. Kinzer, a well- to-do widow of Long Island, to her min-tied daughter, on the morning of the day she was to give a grand party, “ all the invitations are sent now, and we must at rid of Dnbney and the boys for a few ours." So they did, but it was to be doubted if the best way to secure it for them was to send them out in a light, two- neated wagon, with a load of five lively boys. H Nam Rm‘u um. I“; A..- -0 n...“ An. Dab’s promise to that effect was a hard one tokeep, for Joe and Flu: al- most tried to take the reins away from him before they had driven two miles from the house. He was firm, however, and they managed to reach the stri of woodland, some five miles inland, w ere they were to gather their load, without any disaster; but it was evident to Dab all the way, that his ponies were in un- usually “ high " condition. Ila took them out of the wagon while the rest began to gather their very liberal har- vest of evergreens, and did not bring them near it again until all were ready forrt_h_e start homeward. Very full, certainly, nor did Dab Kin- zer know exactly what the matter was, torn minute or so after he seized the reins and sprang up beside Frank Har- ley. Then, indeed, as the ponies reared and kicked and plunged, It seemed to him he saw something work out from under their collars and fall to the ground. An acorn burr is just the thing to worry it restive horse, if putin such a place, but Joe and Fuz had hardly ex- pected their "little joke ” would be so veg successful as it was. he ponies were off now. “ Joe,” shouted Fuz, “ let's jump l” " Don’t let ’em, Ford,” exclaimed Dab, givin his whole energies to the horses. “ ey'll break their necks if they do. Hold ’em in I" “ Now, don’t you let one of them oth- 95. boys touch the reins,” said Mrs. " Now, boys," he Edi-d, "you et in. Joe and Ford and Fnz on the bee seat to hold the greens. Frank, get up there, forward, while I hitch the ponies. These lell_ows are full of mischief.” " I must' reach the bridge before he does. 110': just stupid enough to keep right on.” Ford, who wnsin the middle, promptly seized an arm of each of his panic- strieken cousins, while Frank clambered over the seat to help him. They were all down on the bottom now, serving as a weight to hold the branches, as the light wagon bounced and rattled along over the level road. In vain Dab ulled and pulled at the ponies. Run t ey did, and all he could do was to keep them fairly in the road. Bracing strongly back, with the reins wound around his tough hands, and with a look in his face that should have given courage even to the Earl: boys, Dal) strained at his task as bravely as he had stood at the tiller oi the “ Swallow " in :29 storm. No such thing as stopping em. And now, as they whirled along, oven Debi: facq paled_a limp. _ 'I'he flereet’s Nut. “ When I wee young," eeld Cousin Tom. "At the old house lhet I ceme (rem A honeysuckle need to grow, Thet clembered round the portlco. Bow eweellv, I remember well. Its yellow blossoms need to smell; And how. one summer. in its ehsde. I‘helr greet, grey nest the hornets msde. ‘ Around the room they buzzing new. And wondered ell the gerdeu through, And elweys knew precisely where Grew 'Iwceleet plum end choicest peer. With their dull drone end cruel allege, They seemed such ldle, spiteful things, To drive them on, I eeld, one dsy. ‘ I'll teer their ugly nest ewey !' ‘ Re, Tom.’ my mother seld ; ‘no, no 3 You muet not think of doing eo ; You {colieh boy ! 't is never beet To meddle with s hornet‘e neet.‘ “ Her good. advice away was thrown ; The moment that I was alone I climbed, and hold of it I caught To pull it down ; when, quick as thought, Out flew the hornets, great and small, And full of fury, one and all ; About my neck and lace they clung, Nose, eyelids. ears and month they stung; I tried to beat them 01! in vain, And ahrieked aloud with fright and pain. The startled household hurried outâ€" ‘ What could the outcry be about?‘ My burning, smarting hands they swathed With linen cloths, and gently bathed My swollen face and throbbing head, And laid me tenderly in bed ; And then my mother talked with meâ€" ‘ You‘ve been a naughty boy,‘ said she ; ‘I told you that it was not best To meddle with a hornete nest. “ ‘But all your pain to good will turn, If you will now a lesaon learn, And keep it, when you older grow Whetem you my chance to go- To aid the wronged, to help the weak, One should not be afraid to speak ; But every wise and prudent man Keeps out of quarrels it he can ; For in thin world ‘t is never best To meddle with a hornet's nest.‘ " ~Hartan Douglass, in 6!. Nicholaa. FOR THE YOUNG PEOPLE. Dab Kluzor nd the Ponies. And it was very stupid indeed (or the driver of that onoerno “ truck wagon ” to try and reach tha narrow little un- niled bridge} Apt. Byway an old, used- Dab loosened the mine a little, but could not use the whip. “ Why can't he stop I’" It was a moment 01 breathlees anxiety, but the wagons: kept etolidly on. There would be barely room to pass him on the road itself; none at all on the nar- to: bridge. There were more wagons to pass as they plan ed forward, and rough places in the 1-03 for Dabney to look out for, but even Joe and PM were now getting confidence in their driver. Before, long, too, the ponies themselves began to feel that they had had nearly enough of it. Then it was that Dab used his whip again, and the streets of the village were traversed at such a rate as to call for the disapprobation of all soberâ€"minded peopleâ€"St. Nicholas. The ponies did it. They seemed to put on un extra touch of speed on their ow_n_ account, jusyghen. " Let's begin with the puddings, and make sure of them," as a little boy onee remarked. Well, then, in former times, frangipani puddings were of broken bread, and their queer name is made from two words,-â€"frangi, meaning “to break," and panus, “ breed ;" but, after some time, these puddings were made with pastry-crust and contained cream and almonds. There was a rattle, a faint crash, and then, u the wheels at the two vehicles almost grazed one another in passing, Ford shouted : “ The bridge is down 1" Such a narrow escape! One of the rotten‘ girders, never half strong enough, had given way under the sudden shock of the hind wheels, and that truck wagon would have to find its P39! across the brook as best it could. Frangipani scent. however, was named after a great marquis who first made it, getting it from the jasmine plant. And the marquis got his name from an an- cestor whose duty it has been to break the holy bread or wafer in one of the church services, and who on that so- oonnt was called “ Frangipani,” or " Breaker of Bread." upgqrt 9! Ibrixjgg, at bgat. Now, this way of explaining how words come to be formed, sounds well enough, no doubt. But how are we to know, in this case, that the marquis didn't invent the pudding as well as the scent ?â€"St. Nicholas. Russian marriages are generally ar- ranged through priests. A well-bred bridegroom must present a gift to a monaste and another to his srish chute : the bride, through her riends, is expected to clothe some statue of a virgin with a gown of silver brocade, enriched with more or less jewels, wording to the piet of the donor; and in some parts of uthern Russia she adds a gift of two white doves to the pope. The consent of parents is necessary for a marriage until the age of thirtyin the case of men, twenty-five in that of women, but young people are at liberty to appeal to the aim! authorities if consent be arbi~ trarily withheld._ In this _event the parents are called upon to show reason for their refusal. The reason must not be mercenary, unless one of the young people be heir to a landed estate ; then the question is referred to the marshal of the nobility in the district, whose decisions are based upon expediency rather than upon fixed principles. These appeals are rare, because the Russians are a marrying eople, and dis se of their children ear . In the mi dle and lower classes men marry at twenty, when not drafted by the con- scription. 1n the higher aristocracy a young man goes the “grand tour" before settling down, but he is often betrothed, before starting, to a young lady not yet out of the school-room. There is no country that has so few old maids as Russia. When a girl has reached the age of twenty-five without finding a mate, she generally sets out on what she calls a pilgrimage, if poor â€"on around of travels if rich. and in either case she turns up some years later as a widow. Widows are lentiful as old spineters are scarce, an widows whose husbands were never seen are more numerous than the rest. Etiquette forbids any allusion to a lady's dead husband in her presence, and this is sometimes convenient. When soon is are engaged a betrothal feast is he d, and the bride-elect has a lock of her hair cut 01! in t"e presence of witnesses and given to the bridegroom. who in return presents a silver ring set with a turquoise, an almond cake and a gift of bread and salt. From this moment the twoare plighted, nor can the relatives break the match except with the consent of the arties themse ves, which is sig- nified y aretnrn of the ring and lock of hair. So much importance is attach- ed tothe ring that among poor people who cannot afford silver and s turquoise, tin and a bit of blue stone are substi- tuted. These betrothsl rings are kept as heirlooms, but must not be made to serve twiceâ€"a son cannot give his bride the ring which his mother received, for instance, thou h wh this should be so is a mystery w ich t e clergy, who sell the ring, could best explain. On the wedding day the bride comes to church dressed in white ; but it is only among the highest classes that the bridal costumes are entire] white and that a wreath of orange ower blossoms is worn. “ How long,” said a crushed tragedian to a ticket clerk in a de t, striking an attitude, “ how long wil it take a rat. class actor to get to Podnnk?" “No longer," to lied the clerk, “than it would any at or firstâ€"01m blmed tool I " Frunllnull Scout and Puddlum Russian Marriage Customs. A trove!» through 5 duty rend “rowed scorn- ou (halo: 3 And one took root And sprouted up, and grow into n tree. Love sought It: undo, st evening time, to breotho its only vow. ; And use was pleased, in boots of noon, to but bonenth its boughs; The dormonu loved it: dueling twigs, the birds sweet music bore 3 It ntood o glory In m place, obloulng over- A little spring had lost its we: unid the gnu end fern, A penning etnnger scooped 3 well, when weer, men might turn ; He welked it in,-md hung with are e ledie et the brink ; He thought not of the deed he did, but judged tint toil might drink. He penned again, And lol the well, by summers never dried, Hed cooled ten thouund perobiug tongues, and saved I lite beside. A Imp of life, . bacon my, I monitory flame. The thought was 31ml] , its issue great; a A dreamer dropped 5 rmdom thought; has old, and yet 'twas now ; A simple fancy or the brain. but strong in being true. It shone upon a. genitl mind, and lo ! its light wsmhfiro on the bill; It sheds its "dimes hr sdown, sud cheers the valley still ! A nameless mm, smid s crowd tint throngsd the dsily mart, Let Isl! a word of Hope and Love, unstudied, from the heat; A whisper on the tumult. thrownâ€"L trmaitory It rained brother from the dust; it saved n soul from dealth. 0 germ! O fount! 0 word of love! 0 thought :t rmdom cast I Ye were but little at the first, but mighty a the lust. â€"0harlea Mackay. After Doctor Reid died, Mrs. Reid very sensibly sold out the big house with its lawns around it, conservatory on the terrace, and stables behind the clump of cedars, and moved into a small- er, though not less pleasant house, on Academy Avenue. People were not surprised at this, but when they heard that Kate Reid was going to teach mathematics at the Female Seminary, then the public was amazed. It be- gan to pity Mrs. Reid 3 little. The doc. tor must have been terribly in debt, or the place mortgaged, for otherwise it would not have been necessary for Kate to teach school. Too bad for her. poor thing, just twenty, and so bright and good-looking, to be obliged to toil from nine to twelve with a parcel of stupid girls at the seminary. In reality, however, Kate was not obliged to do it at all, but being a young woman of inde- pendent ideas, she fancied that to have six hundred dollars a year all her own, would not be a disagreeable sensation to experience. She was not needed par- ticularly in the‘domestic department at home; in fact, like a good many other bright and agreeable unmarried women, she was not needed anywhere to any ex- tent. So it came about that she taught the seminary girls arithmetic, algebra, and geometry, and though it was rather trying to the patience once in a while, on the whole, she very much liked train- ing the young idea. A... jn._ .AA One day in December, she walked home as usual at twelve o’clock, and proceeded directly into the parlor. Sit- ting by the window she saw Howard Winslow, a middle-aged gentleman of gleasant appearance, who rose and shook ands with Kate cordially, and stood and talked to her as she warmed her feet and hands. You never would have guessed from the greeting that these two people were laboring under the sentimental bonds of an engagement, but such was the fact. They had been engaged over a month. To be sure it had been a very prosaic afi‘air, for they had known and liked each other always. Winslow final~ ly came to the conclusion that he might as well get married. He had money enough, and was old enough surely, being nearly forty; and as he and Kate had always been very good friends, he sat down in his New York ofiise, one day,“ and wrote her a_ proposal. When she received it, she was a little amused and a great deal surprised, but as she liked Howard, she sat down straightwsy, also, and wrote an accept- ance. Nothing romantic about this, you see; but I have a heretical idea that very happy marriages are often the re- sult of such e‘ngsgements. “No, I dizln’t come up from New York merely to see you,” said Winslow, in answer to Kate’s question ; “ but on business about the new railroad. And, by the way, one of the civil engineers, Ed. Kasson, at work here, is an Old friend of mine. He’s very, clever as to his profession, and is a gentleman through and through. He isn’t much of a ladies' man, but I should like to give him a note of introduction to you, if yo_u wonlgln't mindfi’ "I should be glad to meet him, of course,” replied Kate; “and mother and I will tryto cure him if he is boorieh or bashful. Now I must go up to my room, Howard, and renovate myself a little for luncheon.” With this she left the parlor. About a week after, Edward Kassou called one evening. He impressed Kate with a sense of squareness. He was tall, and had square shoulders. His forehead was s nare; his eyebrows arched very litt e; his chin and jaws were s nared off rather heavily, and his mustac e stood out nits straight at the ends, instead of rooping over the straight, firmly-closed lips; Hemmer, WAS IT UNWOMANLY ? Small Beginnings. graoe. Kate took a fancy to him straightway, and after he and she had talked together about a little 0! every- thing. an be had gone home, she wrote 9 letter to qunrd containing the follow- he had a little, straight cleft in his chin. He was neither bearish nor bashful, however, though he was a trifle clumsy and luul very little iglea of glancing-3013901 inn magreph : “ our mend. Mr. Reason, called this evening ; and both moths: and I liked him very much. He seems so pleasant- tempered, and is certainly a very agree- able talker." And not only was Kate pleased, but so was Keenan, and though he did not write many letters to his married sie- ter, when he did honor her with an epistle he devoted a few lines thereof to Miss Reid: So you see it was all a sort o! ‘mntual admiration society in the beginning. It did not last, however, for a very long time. “She is very good-looking and sensi- ble, and has introduced me to several pleasant people; It is elm to whom Winslow is engaged, and he has chosen with excellent taste. Hope I shall have the entree of their New York house." Kasson became disgusted with Wins- low flrst. He was such an ass to be en- gaged to so charming a girl, and instead of living in her smiles, go 011' to Florida to get rid of the cold weather. What was cold weather, compared to the ten- der passion ? Then Kate: she was so happy without her love that she surely could not care very much for the absent one, although they did a pear on such excellent terms with see other. Kas- son leveled a great deal oi unnecessary vituperation at the heads of the engaged people, but, nevertheless, he went to the Widow Reid‘s on every excuse he could devise, and a good many times when he had no excuse at all. Along in February, however, he put himself through a severe course of self-examina- tion. What was he going to the Widow Reid's for ? To see Kate. What busi- ness had he to devote himself to a girl who was engaged ? And thereupon he shook his wicked inclinations fiercely, and did not go near Kate for ten days. Finally she met him on the street. “Have you been away '1’" she asked, smiling up at him in a most friendly fashion. “Oh, no," said Kasson. “Been sick, then ?” persisted Kate. “I should think not," was the reply, given with a healthy man's contempt of illness. “Are you mad at me ?" added Kate, cleverly mimicking a child’s pout. “Goodheavensl No l” exclaimed Kas- son. “The fact is, I am a fool, and I have been busy, Miss Reid, and I’ll be down to see you this evening, if I shall not bore you.” In truth Kate's philanthropy was only skin deep. She liked Kaseon'e com- pany, and hardly deceived herself when she urged him to take time for social re- lnxation. Kasson obeyed her, and the result was they were left together more than ever. She stored up all the funny stories about her pupils to tell him. She made him read the articles in maga- zines of which she approved. She scolded him for shunning his political duties, and in short, treated him as an old and favored friend. As for Kaeson, he sat at the feet of his charming female Gsmaliel and learned not only to dis- criminate as to magazine articles and to know his whole duty as a free citizen of the United States, but also received avariety of other decidedly interesting information. He threw out a vague re- mark once about being fond of music, and Kate resumed her neglected prac- ticing again. When she woke up to the fact that she was practicing for Kasson’s express benefit. she was ashamed of herself, and took her turn at mental discipline, and wrote Howard such an afi‘ectionate letter that the recipient was nearly struck dumb_with surprise. _ “ You are never a bore to mother and me," said Kate; “and don’t overwork yourself, Mr. Kasaon, but take time for social relaxation.” Kasson was miserable, also. He was a gentleman, and therefore would have chopped his ri ht hand off rather than show a spark 0 his love for Kate. He kept his secret well, but it came out one evening, accidentally. Kate had been puzzling him with a mathematical problem to solve, on which he had used some old letter~backl that he had in his pocket. After he had gone, the scraps of paper were strewn over the table. Kate tossed them in the fire, one by one, absently, but as she lifted the last scrap, she was caught by seeing her name written thereon. She read what was written, as any one might have done, for Kasson had said that the papers were‘nothjng. “This was what she read: He’was to return in the latter part of March, but long before that time Kate realized verv keenly that she was in love with Edward Kasson. She felt mu‘ch distressed thereat on Howard Winslownsaccount for thou 311 she had told him frankly she did not8 love him, nevertheless to love some other man wag certainly dishonqrnble.‘ “ I am heartily sorry for you, Ed. It seems hard that the only women you ever cared for should be engaged to an- other man. As you any, the only thing you can do is to mp away from Miss Reid before any one can guess that you love her ." “So he loves me," she thought, ex- nltantly. Like a dash of water on a hot coal came the memory of Howard Winslow. Kate dropped into the nearest chair. and cried a little. It seemed very hard, in- deed, that she and Winslow must marry each other when neither cared a great deal for the other. , Kate held the scrap in her hand for a secoyd;_t-hep tossed i_t_ it; therflret 7 After oonaiderhblo reflection, Kate came to the conclusion that she would not marry Howard; it was an imped- pility now. I}ut_oopld she tell him the The evening slter she sent that note, there came in {or s cell the minister’s wife, Mrs. Van Vleck, and a little islet, Edward Kasson. Kate had just written a letter to her bosom friend, Millicent Sheppard. and the elem of 110% pa er, the pen and ink, still sy on the te lo. She fingered the letter impatiently“ Mrs. Van Vleek meander-ed away about some {air that the church people were getting up. Finally, she turned to Kate, and said: ‘V.. wâ€"‘ v..- â€"-â€" 'uv reason why she had changed her mind? and min. Kueon we: going to leave in 3 week or ten days, and he would not any a word to her, except iriendl anal. while thinking her eng :0 W 510'. Then the result woul be. Km would have no lover at ell. A vision 0! oldv meidhood rose of before herâ€"4 vision of lonely you: 1 whool-leeohinghover which she would w myendon bed. She could not so ve her rohleln et but she finally did send owerd e In friendl note telling him she could not inert-y him because she loved some one “ And we want you to aoteeseoreta . my dear. We went ydu to write 3 no to Mrs. Morse, asking for flowersâ€"but just take that piece of paper, and pt“ dowp the lint of your dutLOB." There win no Escape. v 7K5“ drew the sheet of paper towards her, and made 3 11“.“ the things she must do for the "And now,” added Mrs. Van Fleck, finally, with a patronizing smile towards Kasson. “ You must write notes to Mt. Weeks and Mr. Kasson, asking their aid in some heavy work, such as putting up tables.” Kate laughed. “ I'll write Mr. Kasson’s note right away," she said, beginning to do so in fact. “ I have time but for a few lines, but they are enough to tell you a secret; 15 secret which I have just diaoovered my- ;elf, and which is making me very np~ EDP]. n Kaseon read this in amazement; then brushed a look of hair 03 his forehead, and continued: “ While {on are doing that.” said Mu. Reid, “I’l take Mrs. Van Vleok in the dining room to look at my home-made lagbrequins," 7 Mr. Kasson. It took but ‘a second to thrust the letter to Millicent into the envelope directed to Reason. Then she handed it him with a smile, saying as she did so: ’ “ Here are your commands.” As she went out of the room, Keenan opened his note and read thus: “ Can you perform your multifarious duties ?” She saw that he had his own note in his hands, and she understood and loved him for what he had done. This square- faced, clumsy man had something of a woman’s delicacy and quick-witted tact. “ I rarely have received orders 60 pleasant to perform,” he said, with o double meaning] to his wordsâ€"n double meaning which 0 had no idea Mm Reid understood. They went out of the parlor, leaving Kate writing an absurd note to Kauan. She had hardly finished it, when her mother called her. “ Come here just a minute, Kate.” Like a flesh there entered a thought into Kate’s brain. 0n the table lay two notes}, one to Millicent Sheppard, one to “You know very well that I didn’t love Howard Winslow when I engaged myself to him, and Itold him that {rank- 1!.- We wgrg simply qxogllent friengla; The rest of the evening passed quietly, and not until two days later did Kasson perform his “pleasant duty. ” In spite of the hnowledg a he had that Kate Reid loved him, he 3hardly knew how to ask her to be his wife. He was not going to tell her that she had handed him the wrong note. and that he had thus dis- covered she loved him. No. indeed. He would never lisp a syllable of he: fortunate mistake. Thesey thong hts ran through his brain as he sat near Kate, and talked with her absently. The first lull that came in the conversation he took advantage of, saying: “Minn “131.1 In 1} Me .ln ‘n no‘. â€"“A- But now I love somebody else, and I wrote a letter to Howard to-day, break- ing on‘ the engagement. I could not marry him while I loved Edde Keaâ€" aon, the gentleman of whom I have written you before.” Kasaoh read no more. He understood now that Kme had handed him the wrong note. He glanced on the table and saw the other note. In a second he had put the letter to Millicent in the right en- velope, and was reading his absurd “commands” when the ladxea mentored. ' "I 11de RBI {lairâ€"d 663788 for over a week," she answered, the color coming into her cheeks now. It was a hard minute for Kate, but she was a good actress. Not. a. dash of color reddenged her cheek as she turned to Kasson and said : A short silence followed. Then Ku- sou Enid bravely,â€" “Miss Rail? is. it 'nu‘ferto ask when yap)?“ beqrdjroq Winslpyr ?'f “You are go'ibgto marry him next spriyg! age you not ?" ‘ ‘ “I Shall n'ever marry him,” answered Kate. They were not a sentimental boy and girl, but the rest of the Meâ€"a-tetc I do not pm 036 to chronicle, on sooount of its inoo erency. However, it resulted in satisfaction for them, and bewilder- ment for Mrs. Reid, and (subsequent! ) for the gossips of Shatemno Oitg. for Winslow, he took it philosop (call, and married another young lady last fall. “is something of a__p_roblgm in my mind whether or no Kate Keenan will ever confess her stretsgem to her husband, or whether he will confess to her that by mistake ?) he saw the let. ter she wrote to her riend Miss Shep- pard. 80 hr, neither has hinted a word of their respective secrete. It is my be. lie! they never wilLâ€"Golden Rule. The evening ugter ahe_gu_apt thgtpotg.