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* , > ^,4 ^ >-. < * ww-tf-*, t- .r-»-<VJ.f.,. w.#*»v* ,; «j, ....> t̂|trttvi» glainflralcr J. VAN SLYKE, EDITOR AJSD PVBUSBCB. MCHENBY, a£s ILLINOIS OXTB JTTVENLLES, ~W I* \ « , Darling'* Question, • Vhm does the Old Year go, """--Mil When it has passed away? It was a good Old Tear. .1 wish that it could stay. -•O It gave us spring and snmm<% \ j The winter and tho fall; if-'. ' ':£ It brought n« baby sister, |, J- > And that was beat of all, , . jrb Where does the Old Year go, auuaat *\fi I cannot understand." • My love, it goes to join the jmm Safe folded in God's hand."" "From where will come the New Year, When the good Old Year is dead? ' Now all my birda and all my flowers g. r.ty] With the Old Year have fled. . ' ,'/t ;£j I do not think that I shall love , sir This new New Year at all." ...... "Yes, dear, it, too, will bring the sprtMt,' The summer and the fall. .... "Where will it come from, mamma? . ;,J> .. ,p /"Itcomesfrom where all coming yeapN • ' Are hidden in God's hMid." V -T^oouCamfMl. y* • •• • ^ ' ..Wi • One New FeorVJBtoe at Squamba. A great many of my young readers <Jo not know where Squambo is. It is not a city, for large places would not own such a queer name, nor is it a Yankee Tillage as its cognomen would suggest; but a tall, dark-looking light­ house, around -whose titanic base the waves lash themselves into fury. Sqnambo's light has been blessed many tunes by storm-tossed sailors, wh6 thought of the children who nightly Ht the great revolving lamps to warn them of breakers and danger. It was New Year's eve, and the light- keeper's grandchildren, five in number, were enjoying themselves in one of the queer-shaped rooms of the old light tower. Hie lamps had been lighted by their busy fingers, and the beacon was flashing over the stormy waters. The old man sat in his arm-chair telling storfes to the little ones, whose father wpp awpy at sea. They were not listen­ ing with much interest to the old man, for their papa had promised to be at home on New Year's day, and they had grown impatient and uneasy. All at once the mother rushed into the room. Her face was white, and, in­ stantly, the old light-keeper broke his story. The children started up and looked at their mother. HA vessel has struck the sharp rocks!" she said. "I hear the cry of distress and the boom of the cannon above the , ro«r of the wind." . "It may be papa's ship!" TJiese terrible words blanched the cheeks of every one, and the old light- keeper managed to rise. "Ring the bell, mother. Let them know that we hear them!" "I will ring it, mother!" cried a little girl* of 10, as she flew up the steps towards the belfry. "The wind is loudest between us and the shore, and the men there cannot hear the distressed. Is the water mad? " "It is white with foam," replied the mother. , "But a boat can live in it!" said pliiest lad, a ruddy boy of 16. "News must be carried ashore, and we can do it." "You, children?" ^TTcss ; we are strong, and papa may bt pn the rocks." Jhe sailor's wife gazed proudly upon children - and took them in her arms and kissed them. She knew something which she dared not communicate. Her husband was in the ill-fated ship, for she had heard his signal above the roaring of the storm. Her children were strong and cour­ ageous. They launched the boat, and four pairs of oars drove it out into the maddened sea. Charlie, Henry, Mabel and Alice knew how to handle oars, and the boat put out for the distant mainland, while Mtuy rang the bell with all her might. For a moment the waves seemed to in­ gulf the little folks, but they kept the boat righted, and seemed to laugh at the winds as their paddles sported with foam and wave. The mother watched her darlings till a gigantic wave seemed to swallow them, then ascended to the crest of the light house to await results. It was a fateful New Year's eve for the tenants of Squambo. They did not Jmow how it would end* % At last lights gleamed akmg the beach; they seemed to tell the watch­ ing mother that the boat and its precious freight had reached it in safety. 'Another hour rolled on. The signal , of distress had ceased, and shouts of triumph came from the shore. Suddenly a cry came up from the very foot of the light house, and the /Cour­ ageous mother, leaning over the railing, saw a boat flung high upon the rocks by the waves. She hastened below to be_ greeted 'with the cry: « Papa is safe I safe at home!" It was a happy New ^Year's eve at Squambo after all, for the sailor was on board the unfortunate ship. All had en saved in boats from the shore, and the people were blessing the brave children of Squambo light. I know that my readers love to hear about such brave boys and girls, and feel that on New Year's eve they will think of the denizens of the okl light house, and wish them a happy time. For they are there still, ready to succor and to save. ' God bless the brave little folks of Squambo! FACTS won'Hans ctrnfr&ffa. How is it that the species of ant which is taken in battle by other ants, to be made slaves, should be black or negro ants? No one knows. 'Why does the lonely woodpecker, when he descends his tree and goes to drink, stop several times on his way, listen and look round before he takes his draught? No one knows. A carriage comes suddenly upon a flock of geese on a narrow road, and drives straight through the middle of them. A goose was never yet fairly run over, nor a duck. They are under the very wheels and hoofs, and yet some­ how they contrive to flap and waddle safely off. Habitually stupid, heavy and indolent, they are nevertheless equal to the emergency. A cloud of 10,000 gnats danoe up and down in the sun, the minutest interval between them, yet no one knocks an­ other headlong upon the grass or breaks a leg or wing, long and delicate as they are. Suddenly, amid your admiration of this matchless' dance, a peculiarly high-shouldered, vicious gnat, with long, pendant nose, darts out of the rising and falling cloud, and, settling on your cheek, inserts a poisonous sting. ' What possessed the little wretch to do this? Did he smell your blood in the mazy dance? No one knows. The greyhound runs by the eyesight only, and this we observe as a feet. The carrier-pigeon flies his 250 miles home­ ward by eyesight--namely, from point to point of objects which he has marked; but this is only our conjecture. The fierce dragon-fly, with 12,000 lenses in his eye, darts from angle to angle with the rapidity of a flashing sword, and as rapidly darts back, not turning in the air, but with a clash reversing the action of his wings, and instantaneously cal­ culating the distance of the objects, or he would dash himself to pieces. But in what conformation of the eye does this consist? No one can answer. The power of judging of actual dan­ ger, and the free and easy boldness which result from it, are by no means uncommon. Many birds seem to have a most correct notion of a gun's range, and, while scrupulously careful to keep beyond it, confine their care to this caution, though the most obvious re­ source would be to fly right away out of sight and hearing, which they do not choose to do. And they sometimes ap­ pear to make even an ostentatious use of their power, fairly putting their wit and cleverness in antagonism to that of man for the benefit of their fellows. We lately read an account by a natural­ ist in Brazil of an expedition he made to one of the islands of the Amazon to shoot spoonbills, ibises and other of the magnificent grallatorial birds which were most abundant there. His design was completely baffled, however, by a wretched little sand-piper that preceded him, continually uttering his tell-tale cry, which at once aroused all the birds within hearing. Throughout the day did this individual bird continue his self-imposed duty of sentinel to others, effectually preventing the approach of th6 fowler to the game, and yet manag­ ing to keep out of the range of his gun. CHINESE CHAMMS* I •HE SCRAP-BOOK. Every one who takes a newspaper which he in the least degree appreciates will often regret to see any one number which contains some interesting and important articles thrown aside for waste paper. A good way to preserve these is by the use of a scrap-book. One who has never been accustomed thus to preserve short articles can hard­ ly realize the pleasure it affords to sit down and turn over the pleasant, fa­ miliar pages. Here a piece of poetry meets the eye, which you would long since have lest had it not been for our scrap-book; there is a witty anecdote-- it does you good to laugh over it yet, although it may be for the twentieth time; next is a valuable recipe you had almost forgotten, and which you found just in time to save much perplexity; there is a sweet little story, the memory of which has cheered and encouraged you when almost ready to despair under the pressure of life's cares. Indeed, you can hardly take up a single paper without reperusing. -Then hoard with care the precious gems, and see at the end of the year what a rich treasure you will have accumulated. A MBIT a Noam Minnie tried to catch a chicken, but the mother biddy flew at her and pecked her unmercifully. Mamma ran to see what was the matter, and the little girl explained in this wise: "I just tried to catch that little chicken, and the old hem opened her nose at me." FTEHF /KR Drivisy IMSY JPMWSI. It may be said of the Chinese that, from the cradle to the grave, from tl*a highest to the lowest, the life of each is an endless chain of superstitious ob­ servances, of idol and myth worship, and of perpetual effort to ward off the malign influence of evil spirits. Fol­ lowing are a few samples of the charms used for this purpose: As a general rule, anything red is.serviceable in this way. To mark the "stops" in a book with red ink will keep away evil spirits from the reader; so, also, will pieces of red rags or strings frighten them off As those wicked spirits very often mu­ tilate helpless little boys, unless duly armed against them, parents stitch a piece of red cloth in the pockets of the little fellows, and braid the queue with a piece of red silk, to prevent fiends from cutting it off. Yellow paper is also very efficacious. Slips of this paper, six to twelve inches long, inscribed with red or black ink, are suspended on bed- curtaine, or it is burnt and the ashes mingled with tea or hot water and drunk as a specific against evil influ­ ences. Vast quantities of these yellow- paper slips are burned in idolatrous cer­ emonies. Ancient coins are very good also. They are tied to the wrists of new-born babes, and put under the beds of newly-married couples. The small point of an old iron plowshare will do if the coin is nor convenient, for iron of any kind, is potent against spirits. . A knife that has been used in killing a person is very excellent. Iron nails that have been used in sealing a ooffin are not amiss, if carried in the pocket, or ided into the queue; or they may be n into a ring and worn in that ape until a boy is 16 years old, after ich age he becomes somewhat more impervious to satanic influence, and more alert to the wily practices of hob­ goblins. Yet, excellent as are these remedies, it will be seen that they are used only on the defensive; but, as the fiend may feel more or lees emboldened by mere defensive tactics alone, an ag­ gressive policy is often adopted, es­ pecially in the case of a man lying sick in bed. For this purpose a hempen whip is made in the shape of a snake, with which the bed and bedstead are well whipped, and the lurking spirits made to take a hasty exit. Evil spirits are much addicted to the malicious practice of injuring houses in course of erection. . To put a stop to their pranks, a piece of red or yellow paper, duly in­ scribed with the proper formula, is tied to the rid£e pole, or a small bag of "red silk or cotton is used instead, containing five kinds of grain in honor of five suc­ cessive Emperors, or five iron nails of different lengths. Another very excellent safeguard against evil spirits is a picture of a fly­ ing tiger, the spirits being much afraid of that ferocious feline. A lion grasp­ ing a naked sword is good, but two lions coming down a hill, the sun and moon between them, is much better. A cat, made of lime and burnt clay, and look­ ing at something at a distance, is effica­ cious, or three paper arrows, or a paper boy in the attitude of shooting an arrow, or an earthen lion--either of these is also good. Old fish-nets cut into strips, worn around the waist, by children, will protect them from pernicious in­ fluences. Women in a delicate condi­ tion wear these slips, because demons, afraid of being caught in the meshes, keep away from the net. The fiends are also very much afraid of a sword made out of two iron rods, some ancient or modern coins, the coins being tied to the rods with the red cords. This ormidable weapon is suspended out­ side of a bridal bed-curtain, or on the inside of a curtain, if the bed contain a sick woman. It is good for an only son to wear a small silver padlock as an am­ ulet round his neck, but the money to buy the silver from which the lock is manufactured must be obtained from a hundred families, not because the par­ ents are poor and can't afford to buy the silver, but because the hundred families, by the act df subscribing, be­ come7 security for the lad's good health and prosperity; but, above all, for his immunity from the influence of demons. The shell of a gourd is suspended at the bed of children who have not yet had the small-pox, on the last night of year because the god of measles will empty the small-pox into the shell if it be placed convenient to his hand. But the better plan is to cbver the child's face with an ugly mask, and then the god of measles, who is mischievously addicted to spoiling pretty faces, will not think it worth while to waste his small-pox upon so ugly a child and will pass him by. The fiend is thus tricked out of his vic- m. The combined pictures of a tiger, lizard, centipede, snake, and an un­ known animal with three feet, suspend­ ed round the neck, keep off the colic. A mirror, suspended to a bed-curtain, face outward, will keep the devil away, be­ cause, on approaching the room, he will see himself reflected in the glass, and, shocked with his own ugliness, will run away and hide himaelf in some deep cavern until he forgets the fright, when lie again makes his appearance on earth. Such are a few nostrums of great po- tenoy out of hundreds more that might be cited. SHE wovzmri XBLT. A d»y or two ago, when" a servant-girl opened the side-door of a liouue on Sib­ ley street in response to a tramp's knock, her face looked so kind and be­ nevolent that the hungry ™«w hail no doubt that a good dinner awaited him. He had, however, laid out a cer­ tain programme, and he therefore be­ gan : / " My dear vofan, I< haven't had any­ thing to eat for two dJtyfe^affd I wanted to ask if you wouldn't spare me one of these icicles which have fallen from the eaves?" * Well, I dunno,* die slowly replied, as she looked out. " I suppose we might spare you one, if you are really suffering, but of course you WOnt take the largest and best? " He stooped down and selected an iciole about two feet long, and in a hesi­ tating manner inquired: * If you would only sprinkle^ a little pepper on this I would be forever grateful." " It's rather bold in you to ask it, but I suppose l ean sprinkle on a little--a very little," she replied, and she got the pepper and dusted his "luncheon" very sparingly. He started to move away, but seem­ ing to recollect something he turned and said: " You seem so benevolent HI ask you to sprinkle on a little salt as well. I like my icicles seasoned up pretty high." " You are a bold man^ sir, and it's plain that you have the appetite of a glutton, but 111 give you a bit of salt and then you must be gone," she re­ plied. When the ioiole had been duly salted the man exprossed his thanks, but didn't move away. - His game wasn't working to suit him. Some folks wouldn't have stood there and seen him bite off the end of a big icicle, but this girl did. And further, when he hesitated togo, she indignantly called out: "I know What you want. You now want me to warm the icicle in the oven for you and then put on some mustard, but IHnever, never do it!" The man moved slowly out of the gate, and as he threw his icicle at passing dog he gave utterance to his disgust in language punctuated en­ tirely with slung-shots.--Detroit Free Press. AkKcnorna or NOTXD ACTORS, John McOullough was at one time playing Virginius in Syracuse, N. Y. In the drama occurs the line: " There is no public virtue left in Syracuse." Scarcely had the tragedian sounded the words, when a man in the parquette sprung to his feet, exclaiming, " No, by jingo, nor in Utiky either." Theodore Thomas at one time con­ cluded to give an orchestral concert in a Michigan village. The advance agent, with a great flourish of trumpets, her­ alded the approach of the musical or­ ganization. He paid his respects to the chief editor of the local paper, and in­ quired of him whether the chances were good for large audiences. The editor replied: "Well, sir, unless this Mr. Thomas has two first-class end men, he won't draw much in this town." The proceeds of the entertainment were very light. f Charlotte Crampton in her day was one of the best actresses on the stage, and by many was regarded as the peer of Cushman. She was a woman whose dissipated habits were the general talk of the profession, and with which the public was more or less familiar. She died in Louisville about two years ago. Her last appearance was at Macauley's Theater, supporting John McCullough, and playing Queen Gertrude to his Hamlet. The last words she uttered upon the stage were the expiring ex­ clamations of the Queen: " The drink! the drink!" etc. She died within the next two days at the City Hospital. Edwin Forrest was at one time round­ ing the Horn on a voyage to San Fran* cisco. He was dreadfully seasick, and was storming up and down the deck, berating " life on the ocean wave" in his most sulphurous style. The Captain' of the boat, thinking to mollify the trage­ dian, approached him and began ex­ tolling a sailor's condition. " Why, Mr. Forrest," said he, " I love the sea; I find everything congenial about it. Indeed, as a youngster, I took to it as a matter of choice." " I don't believe you, sir," ejaculated Forrest in reply; " there never was but one man who went to sea as a matter of choice, and that was Noah, for if he had remained on shore he would have been drowned." A CONUNDRUM. " Sir," said a weary tramp to the gen­ tleman who stands behind the counter at the Barrett House, " Sir, I am a so­ cial conundrum." "Then," exclaimed Bell, pointing sadly toward the d6or, " Then nevermore be guessed qi saiae." --Burdette, * THK city of Nice is turning the house in which Garibaldi lived into a monu­ ment to that patriot's memory. MAXIMILIAN, Aw s Brow Man ZHrt. Hie morning of the 19th of June, 1866, arose clear and cloudless, and the brilliant sun shone over all the beautiful hills of Mexico. No cloud, not- even a speck of fleecy vapor, cast a flitting shadow on the face of the clear, serene, crystal, blue heavens. Nature seemed in lovely repose, while the fierce pas­ sions of man were preparing to enact one of the bloodiest tragedies of modern history. Truly the doomed Emperor, as he gazed upon the sunrise for the last time, exclaimed: " Upon so lovely a day I have always desired to die." It was 6 o'clock, and silence still reigned over the city of Queretaro. The troops, un­ der command of Gen. Escobedo, formed a short distance from the city, where the execution of the captive Emperor was to occur. Thousands poured out of Queretaro to the scene, all eager to catch a glimpse of the distinguished prisoners. At 7 o'clock the bells of the city tolled. The solemn chimes echoed against the walls with a deep and omin­ ous clang that sounded like the notes of fate. It was the signal that the prison­ ers had left their prison for the last time, and deep silenoe fell on the ex­ pectant multitude as the cortege con­ taining the Emperor and his late Gen­ erals appeared. The carriages in which they sat were surrounded by a strong guard. Maximilian came first, Miramon next, lastly Me jia. The carriages stopped and the prisoners alighted, while sobs burst from the crowd, and there was not a dry eye in that vast assemblage. The three doomed men were neither bound nor blindfolded. The Emperor, in an easy and graceful manner, made a regal bow to the multitude, and, with a light step, led the way to the fatal spot. The Emperor, like the other prisoners, was at­ tired in a plain manner. He addressed the crowd in a clear voice and firm manner, which partook not of bravado. He stated that when first waited upon at home by a deputation of Mexicans, who came with credentials offering him the thronfe of Mexico, he refused. Subsequently the proposition was renewed. He re­ plied that, if eonvinoedthat a majority thought it to their interest to place him at the head of the Government, he might consent. Another deputation brought him additional testimony, and upon advice of the powers of Europe he Jjiad accepted the call. Said the Emper­ or: "I deny that the court that tried me had the power to do so. Mine has been a case of good faith. The nations of the world have pledged their faith to me. I would never have done the act had it not been for the good of Mexico. I hope my blood will stop the effusion of blood in Mexico." Mirasnon read from a paper: The only regret he felt at dy­ ing was that should the Liberal party retain the Government, his children would be pointed out as those of a traitor. He asserted he was no traitor, but had always opposed Liberal princi­ ples as well as the disorders of the country. As he had lived, so would he die--a Conservative. His acts would live in history, and posterity would judge whether he was right or wrong. He ended with Vive la Empereur! Vive la Mexico. Mejia made no talk. Having, how­ ever, sent for Escobedo, he told that hypocritical Judas Iscariot that he would die poor ; he had never tried to make money. All the riches he had consisted of forty cattle in the mount­ ains. He said he owed a good deal to the merchants and business men of Matamoras, but it was his request that they would not press his wife for the payment of his debts when she had come into possession of the money left her by the kindness of the Emperor Maximilian. Gen. Miramon ceased. There was a murmur and a buzz among tthe crowd. The guard were drawn up in line. The prisoners faced them. The Emperor called to him the sergeant. He then drew from his pocket a handful of $20 gold pieces. Handing them to him he requested that, after his death, the money should be divided among the sergeant's companions. In return the Emperor requested as a favor that the sergeant would aim his bullet at his heart. A moment of deep and dreadful silence ensued. The officer was about to give the signal. The military figures of the prisoners were erect, motionless --not a muscle quivering--their faces calm as though death were still far off. Maximilian, the central figure, main­ tained to the last an imperial composure which eminently became that unfort­ unate Prince. The soldiers' pieces are aimed. The word is given. Bang! The Emperor, Mejia, Miramon havs fallen to the ground, on which each lies stretched. Miramon and Mejia were killed at the first volley. Four balls entered the breast of each. The Emperor did not instantly expire, though he had fallen unconscious. Five balls had pierced his bosom. There were some convul­ sive movements of the muscles and quivering of the flesh. Seeing this, two soldiexs were ordered to step from the ranks. They each aimed their pieces at the fallen Emperor. Two more balls were sent into his prostrate body. Then he wasstilL The physician who wa§ to ' " V. * embalm his body approached and threw a sheet over the face of the dead mon­ arch. The troops returned to their quarters, but the multitude for some tune, and as if toy a supernatural in- remained rooted to the spot. CURRENT ITEMS,- M ^ 'if. J" ", % r. V t - New OUIEakb has 824 liquor fT . THE world's production of gold hi one-third less than in I860. INSECTS are proving just now a great scourge to Australian vineyards. WE venture to say that some men who have seen a good deal never saw wood. IH the past two jean 10,000 new buildings have been emoted in Phila­ delphia. THE salary of Sir Edward Thornton, the British Minister at Washington, is £6,000. GEO. W. MATCHETT, of the Jrkan**8 Traveler, has Iwen stieking type flfty- eight years. A GEORGIA minister rode 140 miles, married a couple, and received $2.50 for the job. THE Indians never fete eaoh other, and, having aeen a few Indiana, we opal blame them. IN the Spanish provinces the hotel cooks use the same style of pots used by theBomans before Christ. THE State, county and municipal debt of New York State is $205,000,000, and of Massachusetts, $92,101,673. THE Catholics have 239 convents for women in England, and over 400 female academies in the United States. THE -joining wheat-field of thia conn- try seems to be the valley of the North­ ern Bed river. Its wheat commands the highest price. THE New Zealand Government baa sent to New York for thtfee palace cafea» to be used on a through route and as models. RUSSIA, France, and Italy have built monuments in the Crimea to the mem­ ory of their soldiers killed during He war there in 1854-'56. THE total endowment of the public schools of the United States iB $8,000,- 000, and it is estimated that tJhe average daily attendance is 4,500,000. THE Okefenokean favors the bell- punch in Georgia. The Jimplecute, ^ PeeDee Bee, Whangdoodle and Baaoo> t ^-> have not taken sides in the matter. 1 h AMERICAN street cars are now run- v' ning in nearly every large city in the world, and horses continue to be ex ported from this countiy to Europe!. A CAT finds its own -tail by looking around for something! to play with. f \ From just such trifling greatest discoveries of all been made. A TEXAN having been fined $25 carrying a concealed deadly weapon, the Louisville Courier-Journal says; "Were that law simultaneously and uni­ versally enforced all over this country, it wouldn't take three hours to pay the national debt." n-i u' LAST BOSEBTOY < - > (formerly Mil Bothschild, of the famous family) is in- ̂ - formed by a London synagogue that she %;; is no longer one of the " chosen people'.'* l- Her annual donation of £20 has been returned to her from the synagogue. She married a Gentile. , THEY have on exhibition in St. Louis a cloak made of the feathers of quail, prairie chickens and wild ducks. There are said to be 38,880 feathers, and each feather has from five to eight stitohea* It took a lady nearly seven months to make it, and she values it at $500. THE wood of the apple-tree is very fine-grained, and, when green, weighs" from forty-eight to fifty-six pounds per J cubic foot, and, when dried, loses about one-tenth. The wood is used in the manufacture of shoe-lasts, plane-han- t dies, cog-wheels and the like. , BOSZA LANDOR, the Hungarian «eb» ber, whose exploits from 1836 to 1870 gave him a romantic hold on the popu­ lation, lately died in jail. He is the 4 man of whom it was said: "He stole % an Archbishop in 1868, a railway train ? in 1869, and a nunnery in 1870." i A CURIOUS natural telephone is re ^ ported by a California paper to exist at a certain point on a ridge high up on Kearsarge mountain, where can be heard the rumble of trains on the . Southern Pacific railroad as they cross ^ the ranee to the west of Mohave. 140 v. miles distant •' * +•'&% ̂ } XNN>X£S8I» ̂ A little word in kindness spoken, '. Amotion or a tear, . 'V*: Has often healed the heart that's ^ " And made a friend einoere. Then deem it not an idle thins " ^ ^ A pleasant word to speak; The face yon wear, the thoughts JM V • The heart mar heal or break. " r5, A QUEER ease springs from the failure of the City of Glasgow Bank. A lady died recently having no heirs and leav­ ing no will, and her property went to the Crown. Among her possessions was some of the stock, and, as each share­ holder is individually liable for all the debts, it i» proposed to hold the Queen t ages have $ < <" rf, ; W'k: -V f \ I'RWS; S \ • . .i* • „ ' J _/»' J-1 mnapif*