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TVK SONG OP THK k minstrel am lot a single lav, 11 stag: the wboteday lone; lathe crowded coop or the breezy wa# ' *•. t mrUt my simple wan, .Onj^raa tfg. with its dear white shell, [ mrblc my rimple th its i i hath no pearl more lair-- '-A»dOTW t.liaf spheroid I cackle and : 1 hallo and wrestle Mid rear. F :4*. a frail weak, thing is my ovate gent/ •4jL As H LLM In BIT straw-line<) nwt: It raketh the orator, stern and stem, (ft, -i ; 'W When it caichfth him on the cve«t. r • > & "Jss^Tfcere la ml*ht In its weakness, and wUeaitfOee ,; Down the afternoon of life, »> at «* lead a stmns man by the noise, ' < .£•&- '.,u When it mixeth itself in the strife. m no slugger; the hawk that swoopq - •*• ifoat hunt for me nnder the thatch; And yet In the Held or the noisy oooopl̂ 'A _ I always oomenu to the scratch. ting the only lay that I k <ow, awabers beoomlngly m «k; \, ';Beoaaae, though "my son never sets," I know That my life will be ended necks weak. V'-: SOXKKTS. . 16tn STRONG AS DEATH. mother watched with many a silent TOW, e, restless, lay her child, with bwming brow, *1 sPevwred, yet weak, too ill to recognise •»'« mother's anxioos care and yearning eye*. "Due hoar's neglect, and Death's cold, stiff em- bcaoe Had toached with icy chill the little fnMS' ' ; JS«t one onlsefon of each needfnl care. 'And the dread angel had alichted ttaer<J. • l-itet still the mother at her post was fountt ' •j/ffhile days and nights dragged on their weary round; on the infant fell a restful sleep, happy tears the mother's heart conld weep: straggle o'er, in peace the babe drew breath. .VgjjUtd life returned--for Love was strong as Death. r? IiOTB STRONGER THAN' DEATH. ijFhe wailing inrant grew to man's estate; ' J5ut here again Death's ansrel lay in wait, Und when life's rainbow shone most bright and clear. to colors faded as the foe drew near. »ek nnoonscious child might now await, worldlings idly call the stroke of Fate;. :y judged it best the tonbe had lost the strife, in lived to fade, when clinging most to ife, r /;:••••<• t'nknowing how the voune, lmt. Christian soul face In hope and trust Heaven's distant goal. * Bnch faith had he--though mother's love was vain, - > i6h( would not now recall her boy again; '»•' 4 her mourning heart his memory saith, * «. • *Thc Love and Life bevond shall oonquer Death." •\-yM£.**-Chamber«' JovmaL '• *4% si •ve*" WRU AIL OLD-TIME LOVE STORY. Tbeflne old mansion of the Alberghi family near Gluckstadt -was brilliantly ; ' lighted, and the sound of music and jtvdancing was borne on the evening air j^^cross the rolling, sparkling waters of 'N'^he Elbe. That night a grand ball was Ifiven by Count Frederick Alberghi, the ;%nly remaining representative of the , tioble family whose name he bore. The vfrailding was massive stone, high and (dark, protected by moat, drawbridge iituid battlemented towers. It WAS a fine . oldfeudal castle, built in the time of r , Frederick IL Outside it looked grand and gloomy; inside it was ablaze with lights and redolent with the perfume of choice flowers which were scattered i--In profusion, not only about the large * ^reception saloon, but in all the smaller apartments which were thrown open to / Che guests. • • v« -'J In a little room, far'removed from t^^he rest, in the eastern tower, stood Is 1 two persons--a young man, remarkably ' iiandsome, though there was an ex- impression of deep care upon his face, and f/ lady. The lady was not remarkably •"0: "liandsome just now, and she listened to "». her companion with drooping eyes; in­ deed, most people would call her simply .pretty, until she raised her expressive, blue eyes and the brilliant sylph-like smile broke over her face. The two %ere standing talking carelessly to­ gether, the lady leaning against the heavily-carved oaken window frame, Jrnd the young man standing nearly V, opposite her, caressing a bright-eyed > t ,y falcon perched upon his wrist. "So, Count Alberghi, you will be re- anembered for along while as the young f '/ noble who gave the most splendid ball yet ever attended." The lips of the \ v>-young man curled, and he answered , .-Contemptuously: ' ^ , "That is surely a name worth gaining anJ l>rice-" * "Of course," said the lady. "But iwhy so scornful about it ?" i' "You know, Lady Lena, that I care Al^wdy for your approbation; then the ball ,-|a given only in your honor and to - * please you, whose slightest wish I would at any expense." P "Alas, Count Alberghi, J amfeold that *sm doien times a day!" ^ "Probably; but the words do not Hcome from the heart as mine do.' ^ "Pooh!" said the lady. "They all SlBwear that F' "Very well, Lady Lena; I may some y.-time be able to prove the truth of my • wor^s- I have been a fool. vears I have hung upon your accent, f4 - fulfilled your every wish, as far as lay »• * in my power. My fortune--which was - j, r ample--I laid at your feet that you '" might have every possible want sup " • ^ , plied; and in return for this devotion ] * ",*xr.: have received nothing but coldness and i 4 - scorn! You know that I love you as few men love--with my whole heart ' and soul--yet you scorn me. Yon are rich and noble. I still love you as V; madly as ever, but to-night is the last ~ 't 'l time I bow before you. This once I * * plead, Lady Lena, to be shown some kindness. For the last time I offer you # iJ 1 ' myself. Will you accept me?" '} ,, f*tr Lady Lena turned very pale as she 4 A'%': " * f L listened to the rapid, passionate words uttered by the passionate young man who knelt before her. Her eyes grew dark with some inward feeling, but her •words destroyed the faint hope which had risen in his heart at the gentle ex­ pression on her face. "Oh, rise, Count Frederick, for < know this is all nonsense--instantly, To-morrow you will be beside, me as usual, and the next, and every day, just as you have been for years." The young man rose, and in answer to her taunt, only bent his head and tenderly ? "'! , stroked the glossy head and neck of . the bright-eyed bird on his wrist, that i, looked from one to tlu> other, as if in •as- I • \V i / ' ' ' \ r\rF^* ^ A* - *3 . i quiring what was going on. Piqued at his silence, the young lady exclaimed "Where now is your boasted love ? I say a bitter thing*to you and yet you do not retaliate." "I cannot forget myself so far as to retaliate to a woman." "No," she said, "but you can sneer, You sneer and stroke your falcon, who I know possesses more of your boasted love now than I do." " Jeanette never wounds me," he re- Slied. "In return for my caresses she oes not give me bitter coldness." "Perhaps she would if she could •peak," persisted the lady. "Actions, Lady Lena, speak louder than words," said he. The girl's eyes i&shed, and ahe turned to the door, but paused as she reached it, and, looking over her shoulder, said contemptuously: "I suppose the cause of your love 4or that bird is because she once bo- longed to some iormer lady love." The tone was very insulting, and this time the young man raised his flashing eyes, and his words were rapid and indig­ nant; . "You are right," he replied. "This falcon belonged to a noble lady, whose kind, womanly heart scorned to inflict a wound upon the meanest creature; who never trampled under foot hon­ orable love offered her, as if it was a disgraceful thing, one that I loved de­ votedly, and who, had she been unable to return the affection offered her, would yet have rejected it with con­ siderate gentleness." "Why, then, don't you return to this paragon of tenderness and virtue?" sneered the lady. "She would willingly soothe my wounded spirit," he replied, "but she is dead." Without another word Lena sped from the room, brain on fire, her eyes filled with tears. Could Fred­ erick have seen her as she, leaning far ont of a window, wept bitterly, he would have forgiven her the bitter words. As it was, they parted in anger. Left alone, Frederick paced up and down the room. In his despair he mur­ mured aloud, I have been a driveling fool--a madman! For three years I have devoted my time, heart and for­ tune to the servioe of this heartless woman. One day rewarded with smiles the next with frowns. To-mor­ row when ttoe bills are paid for debts incurred for this night, I shall be abso­ lutely penniless--all my fortune spent upon this vain flirt, who is undeserving the name of woman. Yes, to-morrow my furniture, horses and plate will be sold, my servants discharged, and all that will remain to me is this old castle and my faithful nurse, Margaret, who will not leave me, and my falcon. This building now ringing with the sounds of music, dancing and merry laughter, will be closed, to become the sanctnary of rats and owls. For myself, I shall withdraw from society "and in this small, gloomy tower, support my pov­ erty and despair as best 1 may. I have been worse than foolish--I Lave been wicked. But this repining will not do. I must rejoin my guests. So saying, Frederick replaced th® falcon on his perch near the window, and forming a gay smile and careless air, sauntered into the ball-room, and from that time till the company left he was seemingly the gayest of the g»y- ' "Quick, Susan! fasten this boddice and bring me my hood and mantle and the thick shoes!" exclaimed Lady Lena; then added impatiently: "Youll have to pin this handkerchief and apron- string, for my hands tremble so I can­ not do anything." The maid obeyed, and soon the young mistress stood before the elegant mirror laughing to herself in complete peasant's attire. "Will anybody know me, Susan?" she asked laughingly, as she drew the hood over her face. "No, indeed, Lady Lena," replied the maid, "if I hadn't seen you dress I should not know you myself." "Then I am off." And suiting the action to the word, the graceful Lady Lena, ran out of the room and down stairs in a very undig­ nified way. In the garden she was met by a lover of Susan's who ex­ claimed : " 'Pears to me we are in a monstrous hurry, Mistress Susan. Can't you stop to give a fellow a noontide kiss?" "Away with you!" she exclaimed. You shall have two kisses when I oome back, if you won't stop me now." "Good bargain, Susan," said he. "I have not much to do, and will wait by the gate till you come back." Away sped Lena. After a pretty long, rapid walk, she reached Castle Alberghi, and entering by a low post­ ern door which she found open, made her way to the door of the tower, where ahe saw old Margaret seated. "Good noon, Dame Margaret," said Lena. The old woman raised her head and, recognizing Susan, Lena's waiting maid, she returned a very sulky greet­ ing. Don't be cross, Margaret," she con­ tinued, "I've got a beautiful note for your young master from my lady." "You needn't come here with it then," said Dame Margaret "Your lady's notes have brought sorrow enough to this house." But, Margaret, I was sent to deliver it and receive an answer and I dare not go back without it; it would cost me my place, and you wouldn't be so cruel as that to a poor girl who has never done you any harm." Here Lena began to sob, and Margaret rose, saying: "You have never done me any harm, so give me the note and let me take it upstairs quickly." The note was pro­ duced, and Margaret took it upstairs, muttering as she did so: "Much good, much good it will do my young master. It isn't sealed very closely, and if I could read it I would open it, and then if there was anything to wrong him, I'd sooner put my hand into the fire than give it to him." By this time she had reached the second story and knocked at the door. "Come in," said Frederick, who was seated by the window reading. He looked up as the woman entered, and asked what she wanted. A note for you," she replied. The young man's face grew a shade paler, and his hand slightly trembled as he took the delicately performed note. A moment he paused, overcome by his feelings, then impatiently tore it open and read the following words: Lady Lena Erfurt, being about to visit England for several years, desires to have the pleasure of meeting once more her old friend, Count Frederick Alberghti, who has so mysteriously withdrawn from society. She will do herself the honor of dining with him this day at 5 o'clock." A s)>asm passed over the young man's face, and he mur mured, "Once more." Then turning to Margaret, he said: "What is there in the house to eat ?" As good as nothing, sir," replied the faithful woman, "for there is only the scraps left from your breakfast." "That's bad, Margaret," he said, "for I have no money; not a single kreutzer and here is a note irom Lady Lena in forming me that sho will dine with me to-day." "She can't come, dear air! There is nothing to give her." Frederick seemed lost in thought-- quddenly he raised his head. "I have it now," said he. "You must serve up poor Jeannette here. It is all that I can do." "Oh! master. What, roast the poor bird you have loved so long, and which belonged to " "Hush, Margaret, not another word only do as I bid you. Serve the bird up as best you can. Have the table laid for two; have it ready by five. When the lady arrives summon me, and serve dinner immediately. I shall be in my chamber, to which I shall now retire." Margaret dare not remonstrate. but, sobbing and wringing her hands, she went down stairs. Lena had waited her coming with anxiety, and when Margaret entered in suon distress of mind, she sprang np. "What is the xhatter, Margaret? Has anything happened to your master?" "Deed there has!" woefully answered Margaret. "What?" said Lena. "Speak, woman!" "Oh, only he's gone clean demented. You bring a note from your haughty mistress, who ought to be drowned in the Elbe, for she always makes trouble for my dear young mAster, one of whose fingers is worth more than all her body; made him waste all his fortune, so that now he is as poor as Job, nnd now makes him kill his beautiful falcon." A triumphant smile now flashed into the eyes of the false waiting woman, and she asked: "How so?" "Why, you see, Mistress Susan, your lady is coming to dine with him, and there is nothing in the house, neither victuals, nor even a kreutzer, so he has ordered the falcon to be roasted for your wicked lady's dinner." "I have no doubt it will make capital eating," laughed the girl. "Out upon you!" Bait! Margaret. "You are as heartless as your mistress. Go back to her and tell her that she is welcome. I hope the bird may stick in her throat and choke her, unfeeling woman that she is." "On, don't take on so, Margaret. I am sorry that your master is so poor, but he will offer my lady a dish valu­ able for its rarity, for I warrant me she has never tasted roast falcon before." Margaret's only answer was to throw herself into her chair and sob. The disguised Lena approached her. "Don't feel bad, but tell me why should Count Frederick care so much for the poor bird?" "Don't you know that ? Why, it be­ longed to his blessed mother, who is now an angel in heaven." Tears filled Lena's eyes, and she said; "Well, I didn't know that, and it's a real shame to roast the bird, and if you will keep it a secret I'll help you. Give me the bird and I'll take it home and 111 take it home and send you another in return. Your master will be none the wiser." Margaret's face lighted up, and earnestly thanking the girl, she left the room and soon returned with the falcon, closely hooded, which she gave to the false Susan, who went off with it. * * * * * * * Punctual to the minute oame Lena, and never had she looked more lovely or been dressed with so much elegance or taste. Margaret, with a sullen air, ushered her into the,'dining room, where Frederick came forward to meet her. He was struck with her fre^h, winning appearance--a bitter change to be wrought in so few weeks. His greeting was frigidly polite, and her's particu­ larly genial and kind. The dinner was soon spread, and Lena shuddered as she glanced around the long, dark, unfurnished room, seen last brilliantly lighted and decorated and filled with sprightly guests, and be­ fore whom groaned a table covered with every luxury the season afforded and money could buy. What a con­ trast ! Now all the gorgeous hanging, furniture, pictures, silver, glass and lights were gone, and in their place stood in the empty room a small deal table bearing two covers with one dish of meat. With all his old grace of man' ner, Frederick led Lena to the table and took his place opposite to her. The meal was a silent one, for Frederick was abstracted, and Lena so nearly over­ come by everything around her that she could hardly repress her tears. As she rose from ths table the count said: "I am sorry, madame, to offer you so poor a repast, but--" 1Don't speak of it, Count," hastily terrupted Lena, affecting a gaiety she was far from feeling. "It was charm­ ing--so new; and I never tasted a more delicious chicken." "I am happy to find that I have >leased you," said Frederick;, "but al­ ow me, in all deference to your taste, to correct one mistake--the bird yon have partaken of was not chicken, but my falcon." Your pet falcon!" said Lena in af­ fected astonishment. The same, madame," he replied. Frederick," she exclaimed, and the tone in which his name was uttered caused Frederick to start. He was dumb with surprise when he saw the haughty Lena burst into tears, but be­ fore he could recover his self-possession Lena stood before him erect and pale. "Frederick, to-day we part forever," said she, "and before we do so I must obtain your forgiveness. You have al­ ways treated me with respect and love, and I--I have repaid your devotion with coldness and scorn. Will vou forgive me?" "Most certainly," coldly answered Frederick, making great effort to sub­ due the passion her unwonted gentle­ ness had roused. "I loved you, and, probably by unceasing devotion, wearied you. I needed a lesson, and have learned it. I could not expect one who did not love me--" Stop there and listen to me," said Lena, "and if my confession, made in this hour, seems unmaidenly, let my ex­ cuse be that is the only reparation in my power. I am wealthy--the wealth­ iest woman in all Germany, it is said. From my cnildhood I have feared to be loved for my wealth, and, with my earnest nature, I know that a marriage without love would be death. People whom I counted my warm, sincere friends, told me that my riches were all you cared for--that you lavished your comparatively little wealth upon me only the more surely to gain possession of my princely fortune. I did not be­ lieve them, but I wished to try you. In my cautiousness I went too far, too far, for I lost what I valued more than life--your love." "Lena, Lena, be careful!" said the young man. I am past care for anything now," she replied. "To-morrow I leave for England, never to return. I could not go without asking you to forgive me; without telling you as the only balm I can offer, that if I made you suffer, I suffered also, and perhaps more acutely, for I was called heartless, cold, unprincipled by the only being I ever loved in the world, that* I " She could say no more for she was clasped in eager arms and covered with passion­ ate kisses. A few minutes she lay there, then freed herself, all blushing and tearful from her lover's embrace. A moment she left the room, then returned bearing a basket, which she gave to Federick: On opening it hia falcon flew tout. Besting her beautiful head on Federick's shoulder, she said: "Take me, dear Frederick. I yield Mi tfce Forger. . of a (Gpvernor's duty wiida coiits a conscientious man so>nroehr tofl and anxiety as the use of the pardoning .power. The pressure brought to bear on him to pardon prison­ er* of the educated class, who have in­ fluential and wealthy friends, is some­ times almost beyond the power of hu­ man nature to resist. Instances have recently occurred which call the subject to mind, and give peculiar interest to au incident related by Thurlow Weed in his autobiography. When he was a poor boy in a new settlement of Western New York, there was a young man who kept a store near by, named Benjamin Rathbun, whose handsome figure and fashionable style of dress made him an object of admira­ tion among the plain people who fre­ quented his store. In the course of a few years young Rathbun moved to Buffalo, and entered, with great enterprise and too much dar­ ing, into the movement which rendered Buffalo the wealthy and magnificent city it now is. His business operations and the blocks of building which he erected excited general astonishment, and he was regarded by men as the fore­ most man of business in the western pait of the Empire State. Becoming eihbarrassed through the vast extent of his operations, he resorted, ir. an evil hour, to the fatal device of forging the names of business friends upon the back of his notes. Like many others who have done this, he had no thought of injuring them. He expected, and had fair reason to expect, to cancel the fraudulent pajjer in time to avoid discovery. He failed. The forgeries were of course discovered, and they proved to be of enormous extent. The first false step had compelled him to take another and another, until he had coiled about himself a net-work of infamy and ruin. He was tried, convicted, and sentenced to a term of years in the State prison. He had scarce assumed the convict's dress, when a movement was begun to procure a pardon from the Governor of the State, William H. Seward. Thousands of respectable men in western New York signed the petition, and among them were seven noted citi­ zens of Buffalo, whose names he had forged upon his notes. Extremely plausible arguments were offered the Governor and published in the news­ papers. The innocence of the man, the good he had done to Buffalo, and his onaracter previously, were strongly urged by his friends and admirers. Governor Seward resisted the pres­ sure, and Rathbun served out his term. Upon his release oame to New York, where, in course of time, he es­ tablished a hotel, which he con­ tinued to keep until he was past 80 years of age. This hotel was at the corner of Forty-second street and Broadway. By many years of strict integrity and orderly living, he recov­ ered his standing as a oitizen, and en­ joyed the respect of the community. Among those who occasionally visited him was Thurlow Weed, who had looked up to him With boyish admiration, sev­ enty years before. This is what Mr. Weed says of him: "In referring, as he did without em- barrassmdht, to the unfortunate ter­ mination of his Buffalo speculations, he commended Governor Seward warmly for his firmness in denying the strong appeal made for his pardon. Anxious as he then was to be released, time and reflection, he said, had shown him, not only that his punishment was just, but that the Governor would have done wrong in showing a leniency to. him which was refused to hundreds whose offenses were much lighter."-- Youth's Companion. The Signal Servioe for The project of making the United States weather signal service of more direct use to our farmers has been much agitated. There is not one inducement for sustaining the signal servioe for its pro­ tection to shipping that cannot be urged by farmers in asking that it be extended so as to give them ample notice of approaching storms. In point of importance, agriculture has no superior among industries; and there is no industry more completely dependent upon the weather for success than that of the cultivation of the soil. The scheme is an entirely practicable one. A system of signals by flags to be used on trains has already been devised. The farmer who wishes to plan his farm operations according to the prob­ able state of the weather for the next day, could get within sight of some train that carried weather signals-- signs of danger or of safety to the crops--as it goes dashing along. Dr. R. C. Kedzie and others think that these signals ought to be under the management of a State weather service bureau similar to those now flourishing in Iowa and Ohio. This State bureau could take the weather predictions of the National signal service in connec­ tion with independent observations, and telegraph the probable state of the weather for the next thirty-six hours to all parts of the State, employing such means to spread the news in the rural districts as study and experience may suggest. There can be no doubt that such a weather service in Michigan would be of immense value. In July, 1881, the farmers lost more than $1,000,000 "be­ cause their wheat was not secured be­ fore the well-remembered storm of that year. That famous storm, which lasted nine days, was partially expected by meteorological observers three days be­ fore it struck Michigan, but no warning could be sent broadcost over the State to the easy and confident farmers because there were no systematic means. There is a vast amount of prejudice against any kind of weather servioe, simply because there is a vast amount of ignorance in regard to what has been accomplished in the science of meteorology. The atmosphere above und around us, it is now believed, is governed by fixed laws, and all these laws must be discovered before storm predictions can approach perfection. Much is already done in this direction, and it is hoped that the people will furnish means for its further progress.-- Lansing Republican. • Flesh-Eating Heroes and Sheep. In all the colder regions of Europe, says a French writer, cows and horses near the sea-coast occasionally vary their diet by eating fish. Some horses which about a century ago were taken from Iceland to Dunkerque were fed during the voyage as well as during their stay at Dwkerque, on nothing but salt fish _ At Saint Waast-la-Hougue fish ia given myself to you, overcome by your love u domestic animals, which eat it with and selfish devotion, actually brought great reli8h> According to M. Valen- to hand by your falcon." A 17-YEAB-OLD darkey at ̂ ayette^fiy.. weighs 347 i pounds. clennes, a certain kind of fish which is found in great abundf*nce on some part* of the Indian coast serves, both fresh and salted, as Sood for the horses. Kamtohatka dogs, of eoUrse» are noto- rioU«fl«heaters, Jbrat not even the au- thonff of Fnuburates can induce us to believe in hia ftih» eating sheep, al­ though Ellen backs him up in guaran­ teeing that their flesh acquired the fishy taste of marine tods. In Lydia and Macedonia sheep were said to be fat- toned with fish, greatly to the detri­ ment of thair mutton, but it must be admitted that the whole story has a very ancient and fish-like smell. Three Million Swallows/ In the little town of Westerly, R. I., there has been annually occurring for several years past a peculiar phenome­ non of great interest;. The phenome­ non consists in the fact that millions of swallows and other birds are accus­ tomed during each summer season to congregate every night in a certain grove in the town of Westerly, making the trees their roosting-place, and their movements as they come and go about this resort affords a basis for much comment and speculation. When we first reached the scene we noticed sev­ eral swallows flitting here and there in the air, but about seven o'clock theii number seemed legion. One could think of nothing but a snow-storm, with large black flakes. From the plainest outlines of the lowest flying birds to the merest black specks of the most aspiring wanderers, the picture was that of constantly moving, interming­ ling millions of little winged creatures. It was a sight never to be forgotten. At times no two birds seemed to be fly­ ing in the same direction, though, as a whole, the vast company would sway from side to side above the grove. Again, a group of hundreds would take a cotnmDn direction, circling around the inner circumference of the general company, now descending. towards the tree tops with a symmetrical swoop, then rising in the air till amost lost to view. Then they would return to the common crowd and resume their sepa­ rate courses as before. The individual flyers would tilt and joust with each other, or play at cross-tag in the air. It was a constantly moving kaleido­ scope. All the while newcomers were still streaming from all quarters, and at 7:15 o'clock the multitude had become dense. About this time there was a sudden cessatian of the various flights and a general circular motion of the whole company was apparent. Round and round a broad-sweeping circle over the grove they flew for several minutes, until all had joined in the common di­ rection. Then they began to draw closer and closer together in a con­ stantly narrowing circle, and the center of th© mass was observed gradu­ ally to sink in funnel shape toward the tree. Suddenly, with almost the rapidity of thought, the whole host vanished, circling in the tree tops with a whirling of wings distinctly heard, and soon the. air was almost stiil; broken only by the greeting chirps of the now late-comers, who were still straggling in small groups and singly. These last arrivals did not pause to circle about in the air, but flew in toward the grove as straight as an arrow and vanished among their settled brothers with lightning rapidity. As we now grow still nearer the edge of the grove the rustling and chirping of the birds among the leaves and branches as they settled themselves in comfort for the night, could be distinct­ ly heard. To say that the cubic space occupied by the birds in this nightly flying to and fro, after all had gathered, does not ex­ ceed 500 feet dimensions each way, and to believe that, compressed into this space in their close flight, the birds would not exceed twenty-five in each 1,000 cubic feet of space (ten feet each way) is to make estimates which all who have seen the birds will most certainly call within bounds; and yet these esti­ mates would give a total of at least 3,l'25,000 birds.--San Francisco Chron­ icle. Tennyson's Birthplace. There is a place called Somersby, in Lincolnshire, Avliere an old white rec­ tory stands on tho slope of a hill, and the winding lanes are shadowed by tall ashes and elm-trees, and where two brooks meet at the bottom of the glebe field. It is a place far away from us in silence and in distance, lying upon the "ridged wolds." They bound the hori­ zon of the rectory garden, whence they are to be seen flowing to meet the sky. I have never known Somersby, but'l have often heard it described, and the pastoral country all about, and the quiet, scattered homes. One can pic­ ture the rectory to one's self with some­ thing of a monastic sweetness and quiet; an ancient Norman cross is stand­ ing in the church-yard, and perhaps there is still a sound in the air of the bleating of flocks. It all comes before one as one reads the sketch of Tenny­ son's native place in the "Homes and Haunts of the British Poetsthe vil­ lage not far from the fens, "in a pretty pastoral district of sloping hills and large ash-trees. .... The little glen in the neighborhood called by the old monkish name of Holywell." Mr. Ten­ nyson sometimes speaks of this glen, which he remembers white with snow­ drops in the season; and who will not recall the exquisite invocation: Come from the woods that belt the fray hill­ side, The seven elms, the poplars four ( That Rtand beside my father's doer, And chiefly from the brook that lories To purl o'er matted cresH and ribbed sandu ' ' Or dimple in the dark of rnshy ewes.... • O! hither lead thv feet I », ! , , Pour round mine ears the livelong bleat Of the thick-fleeced sheep from wattled folds. Upon the rid Red wolds." --Mrs. Thmekerav-ttitebde, in Harpers Maa- Cerebral (Muttony. Lord Strathnairn once said' that he could tell by a young man's manner of ordering his breakfast in a coffee-room whether he was likely to make a good officer; and Lord Palmerston declared that the best way of getting a supply of efficient attaches for the foreign office would be to leave the selection to ladies. Without indulging such fan­ cies, one ma ask that competitive ex­ amination should be directed to ascear^ taining whether a candidate has a gen­ eral fitness for the position which he seeks, and not to the finding out how much ill-digested knowledge h» can cram into his head. The brain is an or­ gan more delicate than the stomach, and yet the same men who preaeh tem­ perance and abstemiousness to boys for their healths' sake will unhesitatingly urge them to the wildest course of cere­ bral gluttony. Cases have been cited in which pupil teachers, after working all day at schools, have had to pass their oveaditgs in reading for examina tions, and many of them donbtleBs take, no Sunday rest. These unnatural calls upon tho brain lead to Exam. Fever-- that is, a form of brain-fever with a complication of neurosis--a most diffi­ cult oomplaint to treat, and one which way become chronic if the patient can not get perfect rest. --London Graphic. EDUCATION ia EnglandcoatlU a head ou the avocagQ, Ifcat Atrfk! •uitfttl* Boy. Young Mnllrittlo to school lor the first time the other day. He had been carried through a "course of sprouts" at home to prepare him for the heavier duties of sehool life, and his examination had been so satisfac­ tory that Mrs. Mulklttle congratulated herself on her skfll as a teacher. It was decided that he should attend a private school, taught by a pious maiden lady with angular shape and a blue wart on the aide of her nose. "Now, Miss Ray," said Mrs. Mulkit tie, when she presented the l>oy to the teacher, "I want you to make him mind you. I don't think that you will find him self-willed. He is easily governed by kind treatment, and I think *Tiat ho will become very much attached to you, and I feel that you will learn to love him. "Oh, I am quite sure," replied Miss Ray, who had been much more sucess- ful in her love affairs with children than with men. "All of my scholars love me. Don't throw paper wads Tommy Peters. They all soon learn that though I am gentle I will be obeyed. Johnny Ames, don't rake the wall with that nail." "Well, I will leave him with yon. Miss Ray. Willie, be a good boy. "Yessum.* "Don't let ma hear any bad reports of you." "Nome." "Come here, my little man, and let me see how far you are advanced," said Miss Ray, when Mrs. Mulkittle had gone. "I'm way past Baker, an' Shady, an' Lady," said the boy, when Miss Bay opened a spelling book. "I can read and write easy words," and looking up he caught sight of the blue wart. Now, any other kind of a wart might have been over­ looked or excused without investigation, but a blue wart was something new to the boy and could not be dismissed. "What's that on your nose?" "You can read some, can you?" --VH Miss Ray, pretending not to have heard the boy's question. "Yes, some. What's that on nose?" your Now pay attention to IRfhat A titter went around the room, and Miss Ray turning to Mulkittle said rather sharply: "It's a wart. me." "It'a a mighty funny wart. kind of a wart is it?" - v "I don't kUow. Now pay attention to me." "You know it's blue, don't vou?" "Yes." *• "Thought you didn't know." "Hush now, and let me see how far you have gone." "Does it hurt?" "No." "Why don't you pick it ?" "Hush, now. , Children, keep quiet. You are enough to drive a body wild." "Don't you wish it wasn't there?" "No. Now look here." "I'm lookin' there. Why don't you Eull that hair out of it. No; it ain't a air. I thought it was." The lady became embarrassed and then angry under the boy's scrutiny. "If you don't stop asking so many fool­ ish questions, I'll send you home." "But I want to know what I want to know just as much as I want to know what you want me to know." "Well, now, what do you want to know ? I'll satisfy you if it is in my power." "How long has the wart been there ?" "Ever since I can remember," re­ plied Miss Ray, settling herself back with calm consideration. "Has it been blue all the time?" "Yes." "Will it always be blue ?" "I think so." "Did you ever try to take it off?" "No." "Why haven't you?" "Because I haven't." "Why because you haven't." < "I don't know." "Why?" "You are enough to niU a person crazy." "It keeps you from getting married, don't it.? 'Cause nobody would want "You leave here, this minute, you good-for-nothing little rascal. Go'on, and don't you come back here again."-- Ark. Traveler. A Smile in the Haase ef Lords. The following curious scene is de­ scribed by the present Lord Albemarle, who was witness to it* A debate on the clergy reserves iu the Canada bill in April, 1853, was the occasion. The late Lord Derby made remarks, from which Bishop Wilberforce expressed his dis­ sent by shaking his head and smiling; The noble Earl took exception at the gesture. The Bishop admitted the smile, but denied all intention of there­ by imputing anything offensive. Lord Derby--I accept the explana­ tion offered by the right reverend pre­ late ; but when he says that it is impos­ sible for him to say anything offensive, because he has a smiling face, he will forgive me if I quote, without intend­ ing in tho least to apply the words to him: "A man may smile and snUs, and be a villain."' Lord Clarendon (in a voice of thun­ der)--Oh! Oh! Oh! Lord Derby--What noble peer ia it whose nerves are so delicate as to be wounded by a hackneyed quotation ? Lord Clarendon--I am that peer, and protest against any aoble lord apply­ ing, even in the language of poetry, the epithet of villain to auy member in the House. Peacemakers arose on both sides ol tho House. The reporters had left the gallery previous to- a division. Lord Clarendon, who was greatly excited, drank off a glass of water. LordiDerby at the same time filled another bumper of water and called out across tlte ta­ ble: "Your good health, Clarendon," and so the affair ended.-^-London So- tciey. Tarbato. A new fuel has been invented in Mex­ ico, called "turbato," consisting of bog peat, of which there are large quanti­ ties in the country, and which is mixed with a proper- proportion of bitumen, or '"ehapopotoe." The fuel is made ol five different descriptions, for locomo­ tives, stationary engines, smelting pur­ poses, smiths' fires and household pur­ poses. It is said to burn freely and without much smoke, giving a higher dynamic equivalent of heat than the same amount of wood, and one very nearly as great as the best English coal. It can be manufactured and sold in Mexioo at a price considerably below coal or wood. - Boston Transcript. THERE is an unfortunate disposition in a man to attend much more to the faults of his companions, which offend him, than to their perfections, whicV v--firer.iUfi. • (From the Fort Wfcyaa] SIDE ISSUES--cash from pocket. ISH'T it strange that wfcfltawaf a W<& man goes her corset stays? Two tramps in a bushel basket rep rent two-four time ill music. Two beat to the measure, you know. WHEN Greek meets Greek there mafl be a tumble in Greeoe, but the oleomai! geriiie market will remain uUchatif As exchange says "it's comforting ttt; know that a bee oan only sting once.* But the deuoe of it is, there are so manjf bees. "WHEW!" exclaimed a visitor enteiV ing the editor's sanctum, "this room is as hot as an oven." "It is one," was thia: reply, "for here I make my bread." MB. TAUKENPHA8T sometimes has P very supercilious way. The other day ' he entered a grocery on Berry street and asked: "How are these apples are they fit for a hog to eat?" "Donl know, I'm sure; try 'em and see," the grocery man. THIS is terrible! New York society* . in wondering why Miss Carrie Asto| should marry George "Gould, seems t# lose sight of the fact that it ia probably because Gould Astor. (Readers who cannot see that Astor means "askea her" may send us cigars.) '-MM iTrom Carl Pretzel's Weektr.1*- - A FOOT rule--Keep you toe-nailii trimmed. A DWELLING house in this city was re*' cently gutted. The liver went out took the lights with them. WHEN the average condemned mur­ derer goes to heaven, we suppose it is aot improper to say that he is roped in. "LIVE and let live" is the motto of the robber who is always willing to le| vou live in some other world if he is le| live in this. A WOMAN just before marriage is blushing bride. One year after mar* ringe the blush appears on the end of the husband's nose. "My father has something on hi# house that you father aint got," said a little boy to his companion. "What if it?" he earnestly asked. "A mortgage.^ MANY delight in reading Bunyan'a Pilgrim's Progress, but he never mad# half the time that a certain Little Rock1 Eilgrim made from a neighbor's henp ouee, propelled by a bull dog's loco­ motion. - "WHO'S that man and woman acrosf the street ?" asked Jones of his frien& Smith. "Man! Woman! HeavengL Jones, don't parade your ignorance! In this age of progression we have np man or woman! That is our nurse lady and our errand gentleman."--Olin Ophir. A GENTLEMAN of this oity recently lost his wife. Soon after he was taken very ill and he narrowly escaped the grave. Upon his recovery he was mar­ ried, and on being congratulated by hia friends for having recovered his health replied that "a widower naturally re- • fj Swearing at the Mules. "" A good deal of attention has recently been paid among students of animal in­ telligence to the power of com prehen­ sion of human speech shown by certain of the lower order of creation. The foregoing anecdote is told in support of the theory that understanding is due to the effect of tones rather than words, and that such is the case would seem to be indicated by the behavior of mules under the stimulus of a professional "swearer." Who that has heard a western plainsman "swear" a mule team out of a slough can forget the cumulative effect with which the climax is reach­ ed. It is said that on some much-trav­ eled routes there are certain drivers who are sent for in case of trouble sim­ ply because they can "persuade" more work out of a mule team than the com­ bined lashings of all the rest of the train can whip out of them. • It must be admitted, however, that the scope of English in the way of pic­ turesque swearing is vastly wider than that of any other language of civiliza­ tion. We do not say this in apology for tho ungentlemanly and wholly inex­ cusable vice of vulgar profanity, but because it affords an example of the su­ perior flexibility of English as a form of Bpeech. We doubt if there is any other language whose current coin of ex­ pletives can be used with any effect on a western mule team. The oaths of French, Germans and Italians are com­ paratively harmless, and are capable of but few variations. English, therefore, may possibly be the most comprehensi­ ble to the animal creation, simply be­ cause of the readiness with which it lends itself to what may be termed the denunciatory scale.--The Continent. A Prayer Which Will Wear Repetition. Characteristic prayer offered by El­ der Littlejohn in 1850: "Oh, Lord, there is great wickedness and much drunkenness in our young and rising towns. Therefore, O Lovd, we crave Thy blessing. Now, Milwaukee, just sprung up, is bad; Chicago, another mushroom, is worse. Yet do Thou, Lord, bless and improve them. Then there is Michigan City, a land of sand and whisky, and La ^orte, of mud and wickedness; and, indeed.they need Thy blessing. And there is Sooth Bend, and also Niles, which think themselves, righteous, but are full of rumholes and rottenness. Lord,they need Thy bless­ ing. And here, is Misliawaka, which boasts itself something, but has noth­ ing but self-righteofisnes& Good Lord open its eyes, that it may receive thy blessing. Then we have Elkhart, and Bristol, and Mottville--little things, bot wicked. Do, Lord, bless them." Then,, pausing for breath and raising his voice to its highest pitch: "And lastly then, dear, good Lord, even bless Constan­ tino, where Governor Barry sells whis­ ky at three cents a glass! Amen." ONE of the most striking features of modern, French life is the rapid increase of insanity, the number of oases of wliieh, and especially those indneed by alcoholism, is becoming larger each year; During 1882 there were 13,434 admissions into the asylums* of which 10U84 were new cases, the total num­ ber under treatment in the year being 58,760, in which about 27,000 were men and 31,000 women, showing that femalea are the most liable to the disease. THE American women are acknowl­ edged the world over to have emails well-shaped feet. The Russians havo enormous feet. The English have flat feet, while the Parisian worn At are noted for tiny ones, with slim' PJAII and arched insteps. THE grimlstone ia the one piece of mechanism m lase by all nations, and 'with all it iflpfientical in fofrm and prin-,' oipl°- fiT r̂vbody has some axe to gri"d, - . ,^/JI