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TIRED. Would I were lying in a field of clover-- Of clover cool and soft, and scented sweet, ? v * .With dusky clouds in deep skies hanging over, And scented silence at my head and feet-- Just for one hour to slip the leash of wptry • In eager haste from Thought's impa­ tient rush, And watch it rushing in its heedless hurry, Disdaining wisdom's call, or duty's r-r' hush. Ah! it were sweet, where clover cfumps are meeting, And daisies hiding, so to bide aqd rest; No sound "except my own heart's sturdy beating, Rocking itself to sleep within my breast-- Just to lie there, filled with the deeper breathing '» That comes of listening to a wild bird's song; Our souls require at times this free un- . ° sheathing-- All swords will rust if scabbard-kept too long. And I am tired--so tired of rigid duty, So tired of all my tired hands find to do-- J yearn, 1 faint for some of life's free beauty, , Its-looser beads with no straight string run through. j, laugh, if laugh you will, at my crude » _ ' s p e e c h ; , i . 1 ; But women sometimes die of such a greed- Die for the small joys held beyond their . reach,-. And the assurance they have all they heed.' . : * : --Mary Ashly Towtneend. QUESTION OF EXPENSE When a "new man" came to town to start u paper, occupy a pulpit, practice law or open a grocery store he became the talk ot the place. You must bear in mind that Williamsburg is a small town and in appearance just like scores of oilier towns in Missouri. Prairie counti v ou one side, woods and a "crick" on the other, with hills between. The roads that are dignified by the name of streets are yellow in Williams­ burg. In summer they are ankle deep in dust, in winter knee deep in mud. The walks, where there are any at all, are made of two planks laid about a foot apart--the plank itself too narrow for two, so that when particularly in­ teresting pairs of young people walk home from meeting or the opera house under the Williamsburg moon they wonder what could have been the pur­ pose <>; the inventor of that sidewalk in put;mg the boards so far apart. Williamsburg has a "square," with a rickety court house in the center, to­ ward which equally fallen-down stores face lach other from each of the four s.des. A few trees lean about the court LOUSL losing limbs in every wind­ storm--limbs that hang there until they die ana the town boys pull them down and a poor darky takes the branches home for firewood. "Hines' grocery house' was the biggest store of the kind in Williamsburg several years ago. It sold more Yandalia flour than all the other stores put together. Old Hines was a man whom nobody liked, but always kept a good stock. His clerks were three bright young men. who made friends and kept them as patrons of the store. "I've heerd." said the old man, one evening after business was over, "that some dern fool is thinkin' about start- In' another paper here. Lord knows the Banner's doin' poor enough." "Yes," said one of the clerks. "I heard the same thing this morning. Young fellow from Kentucky's going to start it. Over at the Merchant's Hotel last night he told some of the boys that he was going to call her the Champion." (• **Huh." grunted Hines. "That's a good name " Here he blew out the lamp on on > of the counters and moved forwaid toward the door--"and I'll dou­ ble all your wages if it's runnin' this time next year." The quartet moved toward the door, blowing out the lamps as they went They stood in the darkness under the wooden awning just a moment. "Yes," went on the old man before Baying good night to his clerks., "Let's see, this is the first. Just for luck I'll pick the 29th of February next year, it hein' leap year, an' if the Champion, as you call it, is runnin' then I'll give all of you boys §10 raise apiece March 1!" The "boys" said nothing. Old man Hines said good night and started for home. After he was well out of hear­ ing tho young clerk who had mentioned a knowledge of the Champion re­ marked: "The old man has been losing money on the Banner wer since he bought part of it. No wonder he doesn't want any fresh opposition." "Sarah Meruer has been setting most of the paper, too, at $0 a week," sug- • rested another of the boys. "He could r.'ot hir- a man to do the work for $1.">. it would be tough on him if the new ; aper'd get Sarah." With a few more words concerning the prospects of the new journal the three clerks separated for their homes In the morning all of Williamsburg was talking about the new paper that was to be started. The editor had been . "around the square" at an early hour, 4 receiving hearty encouragement in nearly every store. Some of the iner chants contributed small advertise ment*. nearly all subscribed for tb( Champion, a few paid in advance. Hick man Arnold was the name of the new editor. lie was a tall, handsome fellow of 20, with a small, curly, light mus taehe that he twirled and pulled almost constantly. His hair was light and curly, too, massing closely about a high, broad forehead, under which shone "large blue eyes, full of honesty. "He acts like-a hustler," old Hines had to admit, after the young man had gone oubef'"Tais store without receiving a word of encouragement, "but mark my words, beys, you'll not get a raise of your wages next March first or a double in a year. He ain't the kin.l that'll last. Wait till he pays $ir, week for a printer for a dozen weeks he just won't do it, that's all." Each of the three clerks resolved tha it won Id he a good thing for them to do their best work, very quietly of eourso, to keep the new paper on its feet at least beyond March 1. The first issue came out In a week, full of bngb locals, but alarmingly deficient in ad Tprtiscments. "We are here to stay, was the announcement at the head of the editorial column, whereat old inaa Hines shook his head gloomily and murmured that he doubted it. The first thing that suggested itself to one of the clerks, as lie thought of schemes to help the young paper along, was to quietly arouse Sarah Merner's Interest in the Champion, so that she would go there for a small raise in pay. That would save Arnold at least five or six dollars a week, quite an item in the journalism of Williamsburg. But. he did not have tatfirouse that interest. Sarah Merner felrit from the moment she saw the handsome young editor stalking about the streets. Sarah was a bright-eyed girl, with rosy cheeks and hair that made their color stand out the more because of its blackness. Her hands were of the plump variety, so fat that her knuckles were marked only by dimples. The first fingers of the right hand were hard on the inside of the first joint, made so by the steady picking up of the type--not callous, but much harder than they would have been had thely touched piano keys in­ stead of long primer. She sat on the high stool in front Of her case in the Banner offico and looked out. on the street. Young Arnold was just passing. He involuntarily looked up, not at the girl so near the window, but at the office of his contemporary. His eyes met those of, the young compositor how­ ever, and he got to thinking--not of the pretty girl, but of the business stroke that she suggested. "That's the scheme," he said to him­ self, a* he walked toward the office of the Champion. "I'll hire a woman printer. She's just as good for a coun­ try office aud a good bit cheaper." With that idea in view he went into the store of a friend whom he had known for several years. He explained what he wanted. "Now," Arnold went on, "where can 1 get iier?" "There's no girl compositor in town except Sarah Merner," said the young editor's friend, "and she's working for the Banne\ where she learned her trade." One of olu Hines* clerks was in the store. "I heard." he spoke up, "that Sarah is going to quit the Banner be­ cause she's mad at Bill Cannon, the man >vho edits it. But of cotirse I don't know bow true it is." As a matter of fact, he had stated pure fiction. He was out of the store in a moment, however, bound for the office of the Banner. He went up stairs and into the editorial-room. Cannon was not there. He went through a door where .two cases of type and an old Washington hand press stood. "Good-day. Miss Sarah," he said, half out of breath. "Just heard you was go­ ing to quit." "What!" the girl exclaimed. Then she remembered that the young man was one of Hines' clerks. Still, that did not enlighten her. "Who told you?" she proceeded, diplomatically. "Oh. just heard Mr. Arnold, the new editor, say that he'd hired yo"a, or was going to." "Well." said Miss Sarah, "I don't know anything about it." Of course the young clerk did not say anything, but somehow the next day old man Hines was astonished by the announcement that he and Cannon would have to get a printer, while all of Williamsburg was talking about Sarah Merner's two-dollars-a-week raise by going to the Champion office. "You will not have to assist at mak­ ing up the forms. Miss Merner," the young editor said, as he came in with a bunch of copy. "I know enough of the art preservative to do that. I hope that your work on the Champion will be pleasant." She said "Yes, sir," or something like that, for in truth she was nervous under bis steady, blue-eyed gaze. She sat on her stool all day, picking up the new type and placing them, one by one, in her "stick." But when evening came she foand that her day's work was not up to the standard. She had not set as much type as usual. It was because it was new. she thought. But that was not a good reason. Then her fat hand twitched as she heard the door open. "No," she said to herself as young Arnold came in, "it is not that." "Still at work?" the editor asked, cheerily. "You are putting in long hours. You've set a good deal of type, too--more than your high-priced preue- cessor got up in twice the time." "Thank you," Sarah murmured, "but am afraid that you will find the proof very bad." Guess not," returned Arnold. "This one here seems to, be all right at a glance." The girl got down from her high stool, and went to a basin in the rear part of the room, where she washed her hands. She took her apron off and put on a pretty, round, all-season hat. Then she said: "I'm going. Mr. Arnold, good-night." "Good-night, Miss Merner," the young editor responded, as the girl reached the door. Just as she was passinsr out he looked up suddenly. "I say," he called, "where do you live?" "Oh. only a little way--about half a mile south." "Let me go with you, then. It's get­ ting dusky." Sarah hesitated in the open doorway. The youn^ editor was looking at her, waiting for an answer. Then she said: "Thank you, Mr. Arnold, but I win go alone." Then she pulled the door shut. Arnold opeued it in an instant. "Miss Merner," he said, "I hope that you did not think me impertinent in offering my company, for^urely I was honest in feeling that you should be escorted." "Oh. that's all right," the girl answer­ ed, lightly, "Williamsburg is a little place and there's no danger. I'm used to it. And " She stopped. Her heart was beating so louiiy that she almost heard it. "Yes, Miss Merner?" "And--well, you know I've only been here a day. and--but, you oughtn't to go home with me, Mr. Arnold, that's all. "Not for the world, let me assure | you, if that's the view you take of it. I beg a thousand pardons for offering myself." The door closed and Mary went home alone as she had done scores of times while working at the Banner office. This lime she was thinking very seri­ ously. Had she made a mistake in changing from the old well-established paper to the new one? But the confi­ dence of youth buoyed her and she concluded that everything was right. Mr. Arnold was. surely a gentleman, and If she conducted herself as she had in the past there could be no gos­ sip, even in Williamsburg. Many of her friends congratulated her on the change that she had made. In fact, she soon felt sure that there was no mis­ take in it. The next day passed as pleasantly as the first. Arnold worked hard and was enthusiastic. "I get new subscribers every time I'm on the street," he said to Sarah. "If advertisements were a trifle more plen­ tiful there'd be no trouble ahead for the Champion." The girl's eyes spajrkled. "I hope not," she said: "there's room In Will* iamsburg for a good, real newspaper." "Something different from the Ban­ ner, eh? Arnold laughed. "Well, we'll try to give it to 'em." "Walt till spring opens and we'll be all right," he said, "but in the mean­ time it's uphill work. I'm sorry to put you off this way for your salary, but I've got to pay the paper bills first or the agent will come out from St. Louis and take the press. We couldn't get out much of a paper without the press, could we?" he laughed. "Don't worry about my pay, Mr. Ar­ nold," she said "Any time within a week will do me." „The Banner was having an equally hard time. It was a more expensive paper than the Champion. Cannon, the editor, drew out enough money to main­ tain h!s family, and the $15 a week printer haa to be paid, too. Half a dozen times did old man Hines have to go down in his private purse for money to maintain the paper. "It ain't this dead loss that bothers me," he muttered. "What I want to know is, who's backin' the Champion? If that thing hangs on till the roads break up and dry out I'm a ruined man." But the Champion was not backed Arnold brought a little money to Will­ iamsburg with him, but he had spent ,it in equipment. By making explana­ tions to his landlady he secured an ex­ tension on his board bill and by the hardest kind of hustling he raised enough money each week to defray the expenses of his little paper. In Febru­ ary, however, matters began to look very blue. He had collected every avail­ able cash subscription and every adver­ tisement was paid a full month ahead. One day near the end of the month Ar­ nold came into the office looking very gloomy. He. knew that the Champion's days were numbered. "Mlns Merner," he said, "I am sorry to say to you that our next issue will be our last." "What!" Sarah fairly screamed. Her "stick." half full of type, fell on the case. "It's too bad," she said, more calmly. Then she bent her head down on her arms and began to cry. ' "There, there, Miss Merner," Arnold exclaimed. "Don't. I'm sorry enough, myself goodness knows, but I don't see any way of avoiding It. I'm sorry for you too--it's all my fault that you left a good situation on the Banner." "No, no, Mr. Arnold, I came because I wanted to, and--and I'm glad I did." "Wreil, to tell the truth, I am, too," Arnold returned bluntly. "But there's no use crying over spilled milk. I've written a little editorial here explaining that this field is too small for two pa­ pers. When you set it we will be ready to go to press." The tears were still running over the rosy cheeks of the girl on the stool. She wiped them away with her apron and, picking up the copy that Arnold laid before her, she began looking it over. It told the usual story of hard times, poor appreciation of honest ef­ forts and a limited field of operation. After Sara-i had read it through she let the sheets drop. They floated off the case and fell about the floor. She was dreaming. For a quarter of an hour she sat without moving a muscle, looking straight into the little type boxes before her. Her face was red from the roots of her raven hair to the simple bit of edging that filled the neck of her dress. Her heart beat loudly. Her hands were feverish. She picked up the "stick. Then she began to pick out the type, one by one. She dropped them into their places faster than ever before. Her eyes flashed an& her hands trem­ bled as they worked. In a moment she was through. Again she let the "stick" fall heavily to the case. She looked over the lines that she had just set They were full of mistakes. Little matter. Sarah got down from her stool and taking the type she got a proof of it on thj little roller press near at hand. Then she slipped off her apron and donned her hat. She took the proof into the front room, where Arnold sat, with his face burled in his hands. "I'm going out for half an hour," the girl said. "Here is a proof of your editorial." "Doesn't matter," returned Arnold, "I guess it's all right." Sarah went out. After she had gone Arnold looked up. "Poor thing," he muttered. "She's as badly disappoint­ ed as 1 am. No, that can't be, either, for I not only lose the Champion, but I lose her, too. No use talking, old man, I'm In love!" He reached across his desk in an absent-minded fashion and took up the proof slip. He didn't look at it at first, but tore off bits of the paper and chew­ ed them. Then he chanced to look at the printing on the long white sheet. "H'ru," Ije muttered, "she made a mistake. This isn't my editorial. He looked at It again. Here is what he saw: . "To whom it may concern: This is leap year, and with a feeling that I am doing something utterly unwomanly I offer to you my hand in marriage. It will reduce expenses and besides keep­ ing the Champion alive will, I trust, make both of us happier." Then Arnold got up from his seat and whistled one soft, l<fng note. He went to the door and looked up and down the street. "She said that she'd be gone for half an hour. Th.^t will give me time." Arnold went back to his desk. For ten minutes his pencil flew over the paper. Here he took the article up and hastily scanned it. "That will do, he said. He took it into the back room and placed it on Sarah's case. It was a leading editorial and this was its title: "We Are Here to Stay."--St. Louis 'Republic. TOPICS FOE FARMERS A DEPARTMENT PREPARED FOR OUR RURAL FRIENDS. the Russian Thistle in Illinois-How to Use a Crosscut Saw-Sign of Progress in Ohio--Good of Corn. Varieties The "Rnssian Thistle.". The -so-called "Russian thistle," or "tumbleweed," has found its way to the vicinity of Chicago, as it was sure io do sooner or later, and is causing no flttle annoyance to the farmers of northern Illinois and Indiana. It came, of course, along the railway lines with the stock cars, and great patches of it are now found on the outskirts of the city. It first got a foothold in this country oyer twenty years ago, having been broifglit by some Russian colo­ nists who settled in the Northwest. It soon took firm possession of the Da- kotas, and began to spread itself over a dozen other States and territories. It Is a pest that promises to make more trovlble than the Canada thistle ever did. Already it causes a loss of several millions annually to the farmex*^ of the Northwest, and its ravages are increas­ ing every year. Thus far science has been appealed , to almost in vain for some effective means of getting rid of this extremely unwelcome immigrant. --Harper's "Weekly. . ' ^ - ^ " How to Use a Crosscut Saw. Hold the saw in position square across the log, the center of the saw di­ rectly over the center of the log, says The Agriculturist. Stand so that you face the line of tflifr'cjttfc with the handle directly opposite the center of your body. Keep close enough to let the saw freely miss your body and clothing. Get the stroke with your arms and the bend and turn of your body. Hold the handle loosely in both hands, with the Outside hand below. Pull the saw straight through the cut both laterally and perpendicularly. Practice so you can change sides and draw either right or left-handed. With a little practice this can be done more rapidly and easier. • :i A Sign of Progress. A new law in Ohio permits the use of the Torrens system of land titles, by which it is made as simple, safe, sure and Inexpensive to sell and transfer real estate as it now is to trade a horse or sell a cow. Like its sister, the Aus­ tralian ballot, we believe this reform is destined to make rapid headway in America. It is proving satisfactory in Chicago, has long been in use in British Columbia, and is the sole method in Australia. It does away with the whole army of lawyers that now thrive on the business of land transfer and title. --Farm and Home. ; : four gallon cask of .-swill, you would want about half a bushel each of vege­ tables and corn-and-oats. Put the grain In the cask and scald thoroughly with boiling .water. Pour in the boiled vegetables, well" mashed, and feed warm when properly thinned. Pigs, as a rule, do not like thick swill, and a sloppy article seems to be best in every respect. Sugar beets, raw, are an ex­ cellent winter feed, and will go a long way toward supporting pigs If a little swill is allowed. If cattle are fed corn in the ear and pigs have the sun of the manure, they will do first-rate with a little swill only. Pigs also do well on a mixture of chopped beef and warm water, with a little grain. , Best Breeds, of Geese. The result of the second season's ex­ periments at the same station in cross­ ing geese have been quite satisfactory. Various breeds and crosses have been raised and compared with each other as to growth and quality, says Farm Poulttry: Pure black African, Embden and Toulouse geese have been grown, as well as crosses from Embden and Toulouse, Embden and Black African, black African and Tou­ louse. and Wild Canada and black African or India. The goslings were hatched on or within a>day or two of April 30, were fed and pastured alike, and the weights of each kiifd and cross were recorded at regular intervals. Ac­ cording to the results, the black Afri­ can is the best pure breed for profita­ ble productiopu^ while the Embden, as regards early growth and1 quality when dressed, is mpre desirable than the Tou­ louse variety. First crosses from the best breeds gave better results than the pure breeds. Few Stock, but Good. It is not the number but the quality of the farmer's stock which determines whether he is prosperous or otherwise. In olden times mere numbers were counted, as there was probably less difference in the specimens than there is now. Probably the thousands of sheep and camels owned by the patri­ arch Job would not to-day be worth as much as one thoroughbred animal of the present day. It is sometimes eaid that having Loo-valuable animals is risky business, but it will be recalled by those who read their Bibles that Job lost his entire stock, and from a position of affluence became a poor man. Varieties of Corn. J. L. Hills, in the Vermont Station bulletin, gives tabulated data of the characteristics and composition of thir­ teen varieties of corn. The largest yield of dry matter was made by Vir­ ginia Horse Tooth, Learning andcEgyp- tian Sweet. The dry matter of the Egyptian Sweet corn had a larger nu­ tritive value, pound for pound, than that produced from any other variety. Skilled Farm Laborers. That the farm laborer should be or indeed can be a skilled workman may seem to some a contradiction in terms. Yet there can be no doubt that in modern farming qnite as much de­ pends upon skill as upon strengtl of muscle, jfrore than this, the unskilled person intrusted with the handling of expensij^e farm implements will be more tli'fin,likely to injure them beyond the amount of his Wages. Even in doing ordinary farm work skill counts for more than muscle without it. Above all, the worker whom the farmer hires ought to have intelligent comprehen­ sion of the business that his advice will be worth asking and taking. There are a great many farmers who think they know it all. who might profitably receive counsel from their hired help. Two heads are better than one, even though one be a sheep's head, is an old and true saying. There is an advant­ age which some intelligent hired men have over many farmers in a wilder experience nnder changed conditions. The man who has worked for a number of good farmers and has gained some new ideas from each becomes an in­ valuable assistant. His counsel may need to be modified sometimes, but he will make many suggestions that can be turned to good account. Keep Up a Steady Pull. The object in farming should not be so much to increase production for a single year as to strive for a permanent increase of the fertility of the soil, which would necessarily result in a di­ minished cost per bushel or ton. The attempt to cultivate too large areas, too many acres, in an indifferent man­ ner is yet by far too common. Many a land-poor farmer would do well to begin at once and lessen the area in acres, and devote the capital acquired by the sale to the better culture of what remains. Sorghum Seed as Food* There is a great deal of nutriment in sorghum seed, and In China and India, where it originated, it is largely used as human food, especially by the poor­ er classes. Wheat and rice in those countries are considered delicacies to be used only by the wealthy. Some peo­ ple in this country have ground sor­ ghum and used it for making griddle cakes. It is coarse after most of tho hull has been separated from it, but some people prefer the sorghum flour for griddle cakes even to buckwheat. EGYPT'S, NEW ARMY. Prejudice Against Military Service 1 Being Rapidly Overcome. In one sense the Egyptian army is being tried in the field for the first time. True, it has already its record of victory. The men who are now con­ centrating on the Upper Nile are a dif­ ferent army from the wretched slave soldiers who broke at El Teb in Baker's disastrous fight, and who followed Hicks to destruction in Kordofan. These were the days when recruits were dragged in chains to the quay or the railway station, the days when parents destroyed their children's sight or crip­ pled a hand or limb that they might escape impressment into the army. Now--a new sign of the times--the reservists are coming in without any difficulty, even though they are order­ ed for service in the once dreaded Sou­ dan. The army is now regarded as an honorable career, and the general feel­ ing is that the Egyptian regiments, if called upon to face a mahdist force on the Upper Nile, will behave as well as they did when they attacked and put to flight Nejumi's fanatic followers at Toski or broke with steady volleys the Harendowa charge at Afafit, a charge delivered suddenly at close quarters out of thick bush not 200 yards away. But in this sense the campaign is a new experience--that for the first time since Khartoum fell an Egyptiau army is not merely holding back the inahdist invasion, but acting- on the offensive and boldly pushing southward the out­ posts of the khalifa's ill-compacted em­ pire; This will be a higher test of the military organization built up by Brit­ ish officers than any mere guarding of a frofltier line. That the test will show how well our soldier, countrymen have done their work, I have not a moment's doubt. There are two elements in the new Egyptian army. The Soudanese battal­ ions have already made themselves a reputation which rather eclipses that of their comrades of the Egyptian, or fel­ laheen. regiments. The Soudanese are keen for a fight; if anything, difficult to hold in. so eager are they to blaze away their cartridges or break into a premature dash at the enemy with the bayonet. But the fellaheen under good leaders. thouglT^not loving fighting for its own sake, are soldiers of a very ser­ viceable type. Obedient, made for dis­ ciplined action, trusting their chiefs and waiting for their word, and then acting without hesitation, they are men who under had leaders might break and give way, but under, good officers are more than a match for half-savage enemies. I have heard it said that though they are good behind ramparts they have uot yet befn tested in the open; bnt is was a fellaheen battalion (the First Egyptian) whose bayonets turned the scale in one of the fiercest moments of the fight at Toski. I hear on good authority that the Khedive is specially anxious that the Egyptian bat­ talions should have the opportunity in this campaign of showing that they can do their duty as soldiers as well as their darker-faced comrades of the Soudan­ ese battalions.--Letter to London News. In the Orchard. The orchard trees are all ablow; w v Like downy drifts of mimic snow Against the clear blue sky they show. The fleecy clouds that hurry by Half pause, as if they spy Some comrades wandering from the ak^ Beneath the beauty of their bloom,. In fleckered space of light and gloom I rest,o and breathe the swQi't perfume. Down drifting from the laden trees, Stirred by the ltfhg'rous southern breeaV; That many a snowy petal frees And wafts about, as if in play. Till, tired out they fall, and lay Upon the grass their "milky way." The merry birds call down to me, And looking up for them, I see A flush of pink through yonder tree. Methinks at first it blushed with shame To hear its poorly chosen name; How fair its blushes all the same! O balm of beauty everywhere! > - O Lethe fount for fretting care If I but bathe my spirit there! So blest is he who owns btit sight, His heart may pulse with new delight From blushing morn, througH starry night! --Boston Transcript. Pruning Tomato Vines. Comparatively few people prune to­ mato vines mainly because it is too much trouble. The crop seldom sells for high prices, and to put much labor on it lessens the chance for profit. Some recent experiments show that the prun­ ing is not a benefit but rather an injury. It lessens the crop and does not make it earlier as is claimed. The tomato needs all the leaves it! has to perfect its fruit. When It is injured by potato beetle larva the fruit is watery and In­ ferior. The Quality of Rgtrs. There is much difference in the value of eggs apart from their size and fresh­ ness. It depends in a great degree on what the hens are allowed or forced to eat. All have noted the fine quality of eggs in winter and early spring, when the hens,have, mainly a grain diet. As warm weather comes and the hens go on range for grass and insects the quality of the eggs becomes nnorer, partly because the food is inferior. When meat Is cut for hens, care should be taken to see that it is not tainted. The hens will eat meat that is half rot­ ten, but it will certainly affect the qual­ ity of their eggs. The same Is true about the-water they drink. It should be always pure and protected from being infected with filth. On no ac­ count should dishes be allowed to stand with water for fowls where they can get their feet in the dish, as they most certainly will, and drink from the same just as if nothing had happened. A hen has no sense of neatness or taste either as regards food or drink. But as the quality of her eggs depends on what site eats and drinks, her owner should see that she has nothing that would make her product either offen­ sive or injurious to himself. * Making Whey Profitable. Whey is not a perfect ration and it is often said by farmers that a pig fed on it exclusively will starve. But so, too, would a pig fed on fine wheat flour. The difficulty with both foods Is that they are too exclusively carbonaceous. The carbon in the whey is mostly sugar. When this ferments it is turned to al­ cohol and has no nutritive value. Fine wheat middlings or ground oats cooked and mixed with fresh whey make a good ration either for growth or fat­ tening. Retail Your Milk. For a solid, safe cash income, what Is better than a milk farm, with a high- class retail milk route us a market for the product? Vendettas in Sicily. In Sicily, young men who are eligible partis have to exercise extreme care in their demeanor toward young un­ married ladies. To dance with them so often as to be remarked, to attempt to talk to them alone, is, to use the ingenious expression of an Italian friend of mine, expected to make you their future-in-law. In the lower class­ es a vendetta results if a man pays attention to an unmarried girl without marrying her. Vendettas are quite prevalent still. I heard a characteris­ tic and rather amusing story about one the other day.7 A gentleman's coach­ man did his part in a vendetta and was sent to prison for a term--there being no capital punishment in Sicily. His master went to visit him in pHteon, and asked if he could do anything for him. "Yes, siguor; if you will pay half a franc a day for me I can have a better room and better food, and a shave." lie attached most importance to the shave. If a man sees his brother being murdered, not more than anyone else in the crowd will lie do anything to bring the offender to justice. He may not even interfere. Bnt he will take it upon himself as a sacred duty to kill the murderer whenever he has him at his mercv. For My Love. What shall,I give my love? Violets? Ah, no! The violet droops and fades and dies, And violets the color of her eyes, - And so, Not violets for my love. What shall I give myvJ6ve/?> Ah, well, ! * v Her neck is your rival^lily queen; Her hair, like your stamens, ha*' goldeo sheen, Ma belie- Not lilies for my love. What shall I give my love? Roses? Ah, see How the petals pink are scattered there, Sweeter I find not anywhere, So she Needs roses not--my love! What shall I give my love? Pansies? In a day The beautiful, tender flower face Will lose its richness and form of gr&Ofc Nay! nay! Not pansies for my love. Violets, lilies, roses, pansies, None will do. Even these tiny heather bells, I pass them by for immortelles, And you Are crowned with them, my love. --E. C. L., in New Orleans Picayune. Springtide. Now April yields the wand to May And spring's old spell is on the air; With what delight of sound find sight, It tingles, flushes everywhere, Till green has conquered gray! This lively miracle of spring, I view it with an alien eye; Applaud the show; my pulses grow, Responsive--I, 'twixt earth and sky The only thinking thing! The curtain's up, the play's begun-- Man, the spectator, sits aside. His pride of thought seems dearly bought At seasons of the gay springtide, His earth disowned her son! Perhaps, although the words of flame Still flicker round our Eden-gate, She half withdraws her own hard laws. One splendid minute; ah! too late, For have I dared to claim My portion of a right divine, And sent regret the way of dreams? Alas, not so! But this I know, Earth smiles on me sometimes, and seemiR To lift her mouth to mine. --New York Tribune. As a rule, there is most justice in tho side of the story that is not told. Raisins; Pius Without Milk. Milk is the perfection of feed for ^-oung pigs, but they will thrive on other material, when properly pre­ pared. Boarding house or city swill, so called, says the Agriculturists, seems to be the best of anything aside froni milk, probably because of the variety of the material of which it is composed. If this is used, add just enough hot water to warm the mass.- If this can not be obtained, you can rekort to the more expensive method of cooking up small potatoes, odds and ends of vege tables generally--the greater the va­ riety the better--and mix in some grain, such as best wheat, bran, corn and oats, ^ground together. To.>make a foriy- Odds and Ends. To whiten the teeth take a leaf of "common or garden" sage and rub well on the teeth. It has a wonderful ef­ fect. Silverware will not tarnish as quick­ ly if wrapped In blue tissue paper. Wash silver In soapsuds and wipe, without rinsing, with soft linen. To clean marble, use common dry salt, which requires no preparation, but may be rubbed directly on the soiled surface, leaving the marble beautifully clean. Dandelion leaves are said to be a sure cure for Insomnia. Before going to bed chew two or three of the leaves, aud they will always induce sleep, no mat ter how nervous %nd worried a person may be. In planting the large flower beds for the lawn remember that cannas and riclnus give a tropical effect, and should be freely used for the center of large beds and as a background for other plants. Before putting down the carpet wash the floor with spirits of turpentine or benzine, and you may be sure moths will give them a wide berth. This must not be done with a lire in the room, or with any matches or light near. A lady remarks that, old-fashioned though it may sound, there is n* better bed for a baby than a bag of clean oat chaff laid in the basinette, which should be emptied, aired and refilled onee a month. This, she says, is cheap and clean and sweet. Carpets Will wear years longer if never touched with a broom, but wiped with a wet cloth. Tills is as bad for the worker's life as it is good for the car­ pets. Ox gall put into the water will tone up the colors, though they may have been dulled by time or service. Food for Children. No solid food of any kind should be given to a child until it has the larger share of its first teeth. Even then it must not be supposed that because a child has acquired its teeth, it may partake of all kinds of food with im­ punity. The digestive apparatus of a child differs greatly from that of an adult in its anatomical structure, and in the character and amount of digestive fluids, and it is by no means proper to, allow a child to eat all kinds of even wholesome food which a healthy adult stomach can digest with impunity, to say nothing of the rich, highly seasoned viands, sweetmeats, and epicurfan dishes which seldom fall to form some part of the bill of fare. Children are not likely to crave un­ suitable foods unless a taste for such articles has been developed by indul­ gence in them. To Read Old Coins. To read an inscription on a silver coin which, by much wear, has be­ come wholly obliterated, put the poker in the flre, when red hot, place the coin under it. and the inscription will plainly appear of a greenish hue, but will disappear as the coin cools. This method was formerly practiced at' the mint to discover the genuine coiu when silver was called in. Fjim h ion able Billiard Match. A model match at billiards was played recently at one of the west end, London, clubs. One player was at­ tired in a full suit of armor and wore on his hands ten Berlin wool gloves; the other wore boxing gloves. The game was 1,006 up, each player giving the other 080. The man with the "mit­ tens" won. „ Used to Be an Oath. "By the holy poker" is a popular ab­ breviation of an oath that became com­ mon during the crusades. "By the holy sepuleher" was in the mouths of all Englishmen during the two centuries that the crusades went on. Don't marry a man who makes a boast of his goodness. Such a man makes a better Sunday school superiii tendeut 'than a husband. Scotia's Robin. Gie's a sang in Robin's praise, Scotia's Robin! Darling Robin! Wearer o' fair Coila's bays, Scotia's darling Robin! Man! at singing wha sae tine? Scotia's Robin! Lilting Robin! Nane can match his Doric line, Scotia's lilting Robin? Sangs o' his hae inair than soun\ Scotia's Robin! Rhyming Robin! Rin our gamut up an' doirn, Scotia's rhyming Robin ! Humor, wit, an' pathos true, Scotia's Robin! Bardie Robin! M:ik' his sangs a famous brew, Scotia's bardie Robin! Man ail' singer baith were gran', Scotia's Robin! Matchless Robint Men to him were a' ae clan, Scotia's matchless Robin! Lived an' loved an' gane to rest, Scotia's Robin! Darling Robin! Ta'en his place amang the best, Scotia's ain dear Robin. --Hunter MacCulloeh, in N. Y. Horn® Journal. - ' Ariette. The tears are failing in my heart. E'en as the rain falls on the town-- Whence may this grief of mine upstart. This weary languor of my heart? O gentle patter of the rain v '1 Upon the gables and the ground! How kindly to a heart in pain Comes this soft singing of the rain! These tears upspring without a cause In my poor sorrow-smitten heart-- . Have they no reason, think you? PauseF Nay, they are shed without a cause!, It is a dreary sort of fate To know, forsootlj, in no wise why, Unloving, yet unl yuehed by hate, My heart is doomed to this sad fate! --Paul Verlaine. ^ A Song of Karly Spring. There are shadows out under the maples. Sunlight on the breast of the hills; And a robin come back from the south­ land Is whistling his earliest trills. In the voice of the wood-stream is laugh­ ter, Broken free from its frost-fettered brink, I*ruler brown, withered leaves there is moisture For tendrils of wind-flowers to drink. lu the breath of the wind ther^ is fra­ grance, There are dreams in the cloud-drifts above; In the world there is promise of summer, In the heart there is love, there is love! -Clara Wood Shipmau.