Bs. the Kingd r the Kingdom of Love jeir Faces Steadily Toward It. =| , r will let him take of the of life treely,""--Rev., xxii, In: important conviction that ne fo any man is this, thal it is in his own power to determine The freedom of the will 's 'than an abstraction of philoso- t is a working fact that has, by ation, brought man to self-re- |. lot weal and woe, is just the call of » freedom and salvation, ward and the weakling may sfuge in heredity and in envir- but none will escape respon- for his own life by blaming his dfather or his neighbor, If cir- f es mold you it is because you pliable; you are the willing clay *e you should be the sculptor. yan who waited for winds of cir- ce ever found himself wafted to "skies. Character never is a wind- . Ideals and oportunities offer them- S ym without, but we must up 3seso 22m for ourselves. We shall enter the desirable land of would be by any other way an deliberately setting out for it. many are going ees all their , drifting, wailing for some favor- de or heavenly wind to swell the ails and carry them to any desirable haven. 'They would be good if they uld be good without the investment of energy; they would be willing to, be wound up and made to run in the right 'ay if some one else ~ WOULD DO THE WINDING. Supposing goodness could be confer- red from without, how much would it do us? Nothing becomes the posses- sion of character except as a result of determination and endeaver on the part of the individual. Beauly of life never j the product of passivity. Character admits of no external compulsions. No power of heaven or earth can force us to be good either against or even ithout our wills. The only good we have is that we will to have and to be, There is no power that wills our ill, nor any', outside ourselves, that can fake from us the power to choose and to achieve the highest. Any other view ef life finds its source either in super- stition or in sloth. The creature of circumstances is a pitiable object, a piece of driftwood where a strong swimmer ought to he, crying for merey where the courageous rejoicing to find strength and 'the prize through struggle should he. We ought to make this world 80 that the weak can develop their wil's 'and find their salvation; but we never 'can wisely make it so that the deliber- 'ale derelicts all can find fair havens. Life with all it brings of joy and care, a craven elernity to man, crying out to the soul to set itself free, to gain the high prizes, fe will to do and be and overcome. Everything is decided by how you face your life, whether with complainings and fear or with rejoicing and resolu- tion for its struggle. In a world where character is devel- cped by freedom of choice and by ex- ercise of will THE GREATEST CURSE that could come would be to have no need, no trial, no sorrow, no difficul- ties, nor disappointments, to be free from the strenuous choices. These are the challenges of fate, the ways to pcwer, the paths to salvation. What, then, has religion to do with realizing the full life? Does it not of- fer divine aid which, regardless of our wills, can carry us on to perfection? If it does, it offers that which is value- less because conferred and _ therefore erly external, a robe of righteousness where we need the righteous life with- in. This is what religion offers; ideals, cpportunities, sympathies, inspiration, environment, and nurture for the rea- lization of the best life. Yet all these wait for our wills. The kmgdom of love and peace is thrust on no one. Yes, says one, that may be good gos- pe! for the strong; but my will is weak; that is the way of the mighty; I an- not walk in if. If your will is weax {t is because it is unused. Your wt! is as strong as you believe it to be. With what strength you have seek the best, endeavor to breathe the air of hea- ven; every high thought will be a tonic; in all things will to do the best; your wil! will respond to the exercise. will find harmony with higher will, end you will find the way of strength. HENRY F. COPE. THE S. S. LESSON INTERNATIONAL LESSON, MARCH 29. ' _ Lesson XIl. | Temperance Goiden Text, Prov. 23. 32. 1E LESSON WORD STUDIES. ( (Based on the text of the Revised Version.) The Book of Proverbs.--The great 'master of Hebrew proverbs was Solo- mon, "son of David, the king of Israel. M him we are told that he uttered more than three thousand such say- ings. The canonical book of Proverbs, however, in the form in which it has come dewn to us, is of composite au- 'thorship; that is, in it are collected the wise sayings of a number of different persons, This is Clearly indicated by the superseriptions of different groups of verses, as, for instance, chapter 2g. Ff to 24. 22, of which we are told !n the first verse of the passage that these are the words of the wise, and in chap- ter 30, in which we are given the words of Agur, and chapter 31, 1-9, where are recorded exhortations to Lemuel, king --f Massa, spoken by his mother. The central portion of the book, in which are found the proverbs, properly so called, constitutes the portion confri- buted by Solomon. When and by whom these wise sayings from differ- ent sources were collected and put in- t. their present form we do not know. - 'Thé verses which constitute the text for our to-day's lesson are a part of a group of verses belonging to the words »f the wise (comp. 22. 17). Verse 29. Who hath woe?--The word translated "woe' in our Bibles in the Hebrew is simply an_ interjection cr exclamation of distress. We might franslate it simply "O." The Hebrew liom reads literally "fo whom 0?" that is, to whom is there cause for ex- ¢laiming in distress? Who hath sorrow?--Hebrew, literally, "whom alas?" the word translated "sorrow" being again simply an inter- jection, though not the same inlerjec- tion as in the preceding sentence. _ Contentions--Quarre!someness such as results from indulgence in strong drink, and which consequently leads to pug- pacity and therefore also to wounds ithout cause, _ Redness of eyes--Tho actual meaning he expression thus translated is not certain, The word rendered. "redness" may also be translated "darkness,' or "dark flashing." Any of these transla- tion's would make good sense and be in harmony with the facts, that is. with the actual effect of excessive in- dulgénce in strong drink, though pro- ably the rendering as we have it in the English Bible is the preferable. 80. Seek out--The verb here used is ~elsewhere, as tn Job 28. 27, and Psa. _ 139. 1, used of diligent search for. wis- dom. Archdeacon Perowne, comment- fing on this verse in thé Cambridge ¢, points out the touch of frony 8 use of this word in this connec- ~ : ed wine--Not a mixture of. differ- ent kinds of wine, nor yet wine' mixed ith other forms of strong drink--not inks in the American sense-- mixed with spices of different to make it more pungent, Goeth down smoothly--Or, as our zed (or commen), Version of the translates the phrase, "moveth aright." The rendering of the d Version is, however, to be pre- and is in harmony with the of Song of Sol. 7, 9, "And thy ith like the best wine, that goeth smoothly," or, as in the Author- ersion, "goeth down sweetly" inal reading "stralghtly"), Strange things---Marginal- render- ae he Authorized Version, 'The thought {s that. Fu -- the imagination of the drunkard is haunted by strange and sinful visions as his mouth uttereth perverse things. 34. As he that lieth down in the midst of the sea--That is, as one ulterly fool- hardy, because of having been robbed of his powers bf reason and judgment by strong drink. As he that lieth upon the top of a mast--The mast and sails of ancient ships were more simple and clumsy than those used in modern times; usu- ally but one large mast supporting a large square sail fastened to a yard of great length was used. The drunkard is as foolhardy as one who would lie down to sleep on the top of such a mast, 35. Shalt thou say--Phe fact that 'these words are printed in italics in fpoth the Authorized and Revised Ver- sions indicates that they are supplled by the translators and do not occur in the original Hebrew. In_ translating from any One language to another ii is offen necessary to thus supply words tc give the plainly intended meaning of the idiom of the language from which ene is making the translation. Such supplying of words is not guesswor<. but a necessity. Not hurt--Or, "pained." The senses o; the drunkard are so dulled that he becomes unconscious of cold or mis- treatment, Seek it yet again--The antecedent of the pronoun "it" is left to be sup- plied in thought by the reader. Wine or strong drink fs referred to, and the evil influence of these so fills the thought of the writer that he neglects clearly to indicate the subject in this sentence. Riciaatie Nip i ot PAINTS IN A TRANCE. Swiss Girl Produces Wonderful Picture in Hypnotic State. Several medical experts from, differ- ent countries have been invited by a doctor at Geneva to make a special siudy of a Swiss maiden, Fraulein Smitch, who, although totally unedu- cated in art matters, produces oil paint- ings while in a hypnotic state, blend- ing the tints in a wonderful manner, The girl has never received drawing lessons, she has never seen any real paintings except the few that adorn the walls of her village church, and, moreover, she is color blind, being un- able in her normal state to distinguish clearly between blue and green and violet or any of the shades of red. As an experiment, the doctor, finding she was an excellent hypnotic subject, put her under the influence and command- cv her to draw a picture, one of those in her village church. Quickly and almost perfectly she drew a head of the Madonna. The doc- tor provided her with some colors and ordered her to color the drawing. This she did correctly. Under the hypnotic influence Fraulein Smitch on another eccasian was ordered to paint a large' picture, which included many figures, in the presence of a number of artists brought together specially to watch her, She handled the palette and mixed the colors as if lo the manner born. ie Jar eee Discévered it Wouidn't weep. Marold--Mother, I bought © sister's birthday gift today. Mother--What did you buy? "Harold--A cream puff. Mother--A~ cream | puff? Why, the + ad won't be here until one _ Harold--Yes'm; J found that the cream | pur wouldn't keep all that time, so I oe sal fs = As op But sister'll) a ust the same, won't sh mother? , sia 'A Difficult Feat. Ask two persons to kneel, and have each of them hold up his right foot by means of his right hand. This will necessitate careful balancing on) the left knee. t Then have one hold in his left hand a goblet filled with water, and have the other hold in his left: hand an empty glass. Tell them to face each other and to pour the water from one glass into the other. Simple as this- ma. "will find it a feat ex- ay sound, fase _ cee lingly sificult of accomplishment, ys Who Set| 'COMMISSIONER PERRY REVIEWS WORK OF THE PAST YEAR. ~ 4 x . '4 ss -- % 7 The Men Patrol a Vast Territory ina Spirit Indifferent to Difficulties : and Hardships. The report of the Royal Northwest tober 31st last contains.a most interest- ing account of the arduous work done by the 600 men of the force scattered throughout the Canadian west from the international boundary to the Arctic Ocean. "Whether in taking relief to isolated settlers in the bitter cold and i mail to distant Hudson's Bay posts, to the Arctic seas or to detachments in- terned in northern' British Columbia, our men do not fai} us, They under- take the work with-cheerfumess and carry it out in a spirit indifferent te difficulties and hardships." STRENGTH OF THE FORCE. The Commissioner points out that the force now at his disposal, totallin, 639 and allotted to twelve divisiona pests and 154 de'achments, is not near- ly sufficient to meet the demands of the western country, now populated by up- wards of 600,000 inhabitants. Applica- tions have come in from all parts of the new Provinces for police protection, and these he has been unable to meet. "In the Northwest Territories,' he says, "the strength of the force is not suffi- cient. Posts are required at different points on Mackenzie River. In the Kee- watin district inhuman practice among {he Indians have come to light, and in the interests of humanity more police posts ought to be established. In Un- gava the same practices are said to take place. There are no police station- ed in that district at present, but some men should be sent there." There is a marked increase, according to Col. Perry's report, in the number of cases of crime reported. Last year there were 5.685 convictions, as compared with 4.256 for eleyen months of the preced- ing year. There were eleven charges of murder and six of attempted murder, ASSISTANCE FOR SETTLERS. Speaking of the patrol of police last winter sent under instructions from the Interior Department to carry assistance fo any settlers in need through the un- usual severity of the winter, the Com- missioner says: "Some of the settlers in the country west of Saskatoon and south of Battleford had pushed out 100 miles from the nearest railway station. Wood was very scarce, and in some cases settlers were obliged to travel sixty miles to obtain it. Some had only oxen, which were quite useless in deep snow, others had no sleighs. As an instance of the helpless condition of more than one, our patrols found a Scotch family which had gone in dur- ing November, having only a yoke of oxen and one cow. They travelled 100 miles on foot to their homestead. On their arrival there the overtook them. They were without a supply of fuel, fodder for their animals, and, in fact, were without any of the necessities of a winter climate. The police patrols have gone over the coun- {ry recently, and I have reports that for this winter nearly all are fully pre- pared, and no anxiety need be felt for their safety. CLIMATE NOT DANGEROUS. "Many casualties occurred last win- ter, but not nearly as many as were reported. Story after story was pub- lished with great detail, of tragedies which never happened. The epolice made a very full inquiry into all, and I was able to report that in every case the casualties resulted from a want of knowledge of the climate, from rdrun- kenness or other preventible causes, To show that the climate is not danger- ous to those who know how to care for themselves the record of this force is sufficient. Our men were travelling last winter from the boundary to the Arctic and from Hudson's Bay to Alas- ka in all sorts of weather, and medical returns for the year show only three frostbites." The total number of casu- alties to the force during the year was forty. Twenty-six of these occurred during the work on the Peace River- Yukon trail, and were inevitable on that service owing to the difficulties of the ecuntry, the hard work and:the poor food. ARP eaaers ocean edt How to Use Kindling Wood N ALL the great United States | there is a cry for kindling wood, No hougekeeper seems to think that' a fire can be started without burning up all the wood in sight and buying still some more "just to keep it going.' In reality, kindling is not ab- solutely necessary in lighting a fire, and when it is used, only three small pieces are required, which should be arranged like the rails of a fence, leaving plenty of space for alr to create a draught. Extravagance in kindling wood is a rather serious matter nowadays, for wood is growing scarcer and searcer. Fire-lighting is an art, and the only needful thing to know is that a full draught must be created, which means that the wood should be quite small and that it should not be placed closely. By economizing in kindling, an {tem of no mean importance in the house- hold, the fuel account may be re- duced by half, and surely that is. worth trying. , Economy in Cutting Bread RANCE and Italy have the reputa- F tion of being tho least expensive countries in which to live, and this is owing not only, to the price 'of foodstuffs, but also to the extreme care with which everything is used. ; An example of this studied economy, which, In time, becomes second nature, is their use of bread. In both countries mentioned only enough bread is cut to provide the family with cne piece each: Should'any one else wish for bread, two pieces are cut, and this process is re- peated until the meal is over. By this method there is no bread left cut from the loaf to dry in the box, and one baking lasts four full days, not two days and a half. Perhaps it sounds too economical; per- . haps the generoug hostess might think that {t was net true American hospital- ity., Indeed, it is the best treatment for guests and family alike, for bread that stands but a short time in the dish is sure to be just a little dry, while bread just cut Js sweet-and fresh. 9). pon et I a rma as He~"Woman isn delusion." - She-- "Yes, man is always huge lusien or olher!" Mounted Police for the year ending Oc-} over the deep snow of the open plains," | says Commissioner Perry, "carrying. cold weather } {it there. ing some de-| me ent t bas + + ox + ss Bee ; * is eas Se yute SHFt tH tt 4444 t+ tots etee "So that's wot takes you to the bottom o' the garden a-lookin' after the 'oney- suckleses |" said Sally, a smile spread- ing over her good-humored face. z "Yes," answered her young misiress, locking down. "When he found thet our garden wall ran along the edge of the wood, he made me promise----" "As you'd meet 'im there." he throws a pebble over. about I throw one back, and then----" "He knows it's all right. Why, miss, that's just wot my Tim does--only he fome-like." Sa "And now the secret's out you'll keep it, won't you, Sally ?" . "Lor bless you, miss, I knew il all alcng. When I see as you didn't eat your egg reg'lar for breakfast--'Love, says I. 1 remember whep I was fifteen an' the young gentleman from the green-gro- cer's fust made his avowals, I quite went till missis used to shout to me to 'stop playin'? with the bellows." - "I hope," said the young lady, with a laugh, "that I shall not be betrayed into such extravagances, for if uncle guessed--" ee "The fat 'ud be in the fire, and' there'd be a rare flare-up." "And yet I sometimes wish he would find out," said Rose. "He's a dear old man, and | hate to deceive him. But--' "He's set his heart on keepin' you shet up like a pearl in a hoyster. But, lor' bless you, a sharp young blade comes along, an' out you pop." "After all," sighed Rose, 'jt 1s hard that a girl mustn't have a sweetheart, and--oh, Sally, he's such a dear! And so good looking. See," she said, pro- ducing a photograph, "Isn't he hand- some?" ¢ "Scrumptious !" replied Sally, regard- ing it with approval. "An' his moustach- ers--don't they twiddle? I should ha' knowed he was .a capting by his mous- tachers." : "Eh! What's all this?' exclaimed a voice from behind, causing both girls to start guiltily. "What's this, eh? What's this?" demanded Mr. Peppertopp, snatching the portrait from Sally's hand. "What is it D'you hear? What is it?" repeated the old man. "Can't you speak ?" "Please, sir, it's my young man," re- sponded Sally, nervously fingering her apron into little pleats. _ "Oh, indeed: And what does a fellow like this want with you, eh?" "Please, sir; I don't know," Sally. "Don't know? I should think not! rascally----" "Oh, uncle, I'm sure----" began Rose, hotly. "Eh?" said Peppertopp. tend to know better than I do? lainous-looking face !" "I'm sure it's very handsome" broke in Rose, on the point of tears. A glance from Sally stopped her, and she hastily quitted the room. The old man, however, paid no heed to the interruption, being deepily en- grossed with the portrait. "Can't think who the fellow reminds me of," he muttered. "I've seen him somewhere. What's this rascal's name?" "Tim-o-the-ous Spraggs, sir; but I calls him Tim for short." "Pshaw | Never knew anyone with a name like that,and yet the face----" "Please, sir, he can't 'elp it," ventured Sally. "He was borned with it." "Ugh! I suppose so," grunted Pepper- topp. "Perhaps you'll be good enough io put your young man in your pocket. And, mark me, if I again catch you put- ting such rubbish into Rosie's head, out you go, bag and baggage." : "Lor', sir," said the girl, "there ain't no call to be so put out. I s'pose you 'ad a young lady once?" "Never, girl, never !" he roared, as Sal- ly flounced from the room. "Now, why on earth," he muttered, "does that idiot confide her love-sick no- tions to Rose? Not bul what the minx will learn them soon enough for her- self." Musing thus the old man wandered from the room. Scarcely had the door closed on him than Rose returned, at- tired for walking, and bearing a letter in her hand. Summoning Sally, she asked, "Where is----?" "The capling, miss? safe under my piller." "Sally----" "It's all right, miss. there." "Fetch it. I want it. I'm going to make a clean breast of it all to uncle." "Lor', Miss Rose, the 'ouge won't 'old him. He'll go off like a pop-gun " "Yes. I expect he'll be angry, and so I've written a full confession, and I shall leave it on his lable with the por- trait, and then, like a little coward, I'm going to run away till the explosion's over." "Run away?" cried Sally, in alarm. "Bless your dear little heart, where will you run lo?" "Not far, Sally," said the girl, smiling. "Only back te school. I know dear old Miss Mimms will give me a shelter, and perhap's she'll intercede for us. On 'se- cond thoughts, Sally, I think Vl] give you the letter, and slip off before he misses me You can put the leller and portrait on his table, and when he finds them---" "Up I go--sky-high! It's no use, miss. T can't do it; I really can't." "Oh, Sally! And I so depended on you," said Rose, putting her arm around the girl's neck. "You're a dear, good- natured soul. You won't forsake me, now, will you? I know you wont--and there--there's a kiss for your pains," "Lor, miss, of all the coaxingest--I don't wonder the capting's in love wiih you. I s'pose I shalt have to do it." "And, Sally, 1 want you to find: an opportunity to "pass this note to the ceptain. It's just to.explain to him=---" -"Rose--Rose, is that you?' cried: Pep- pertopp,. "Oh. dear !.-l must. go," whispered Rose. "He Liston (4 see dying T shall hiveats dewn and -spailalls". Réenienite and without waiting for a reply Pried away, her heels. ; Presently the latter returned, bearing the photo carefully wrapped in tissue paper. . # "There," she said, placing it with' the | note Rose had given her on the corner of the table. "Old Fizz-gig can't 'lp seein' On second thoughts, though, I'll see the capling fust." : So saying, she' slipped out, and keep- ing out of sight of the study windows made her way to the end of the garden. Arrived under. the shadow-of the wall she heaved an exaggerated sigh: "That ought to feteh 'im," she said. Presently her efforts were rewarded by a small stone falling at her feet, and a replied A "Do you pre- A vil- Oh, he's. quite I allus keeps Tim - . + ie Sally following closely upon oe i ry - "So When he hears me in the garden If uncle isn't) mes round by the pigsty. He says it's | off my vittles, an' went about sightn' | ' . "that's me," > yertopped the wall, stantly turned to one of annoyed aston- 'ishment on beholding Sally below, and its owner-was about to Withdraw when Sally arrested him with: "It's all right, ¢apting. Miss Rose has gone away. bul she left this Billy for you." "Thanks, awfully !" said the young low, leaning over to reach the note which Sally held aloft. -- ""Do you know," he said, "If I could good-humored face as a reward." "Lor', eapting," said Sally, blushing, "s'pose I stood on this water-can----" low, laughing; and, leaning farther over, he planted a sounding kiss on the girl's cheek, ' : : Z He was about to repeat it when an angry "Confound it, sir!" caused Sally arms. é ; 2 : : "These are nice goings-on," he ex- claimed, angrily, thrusting her from him. "Twice--twice in one day have you an- neyed me with this tomfoolery. have no more of it. Pack up and go! To you hear? Pack up and go!" & "Il beg, sir----" began the captain, but Peppertopp would not hear a word. | "Look here, Mr. Timotheous What-the- Dickens-is-your-name, you'd better be off before I summon the police." : "But, sir----" "T'l]| not hear a word. I presume T may be master in my own house. You go, madam. I'll give you half an hour to pack, and out you go." "Ugh! 'her head. "I ¢an go. But before I do there's something for you," thrusting Rose's letter into his hand, "and I hope you'll like it." = Peppertopp gazed after her for a mo- ment; then, turning, he exclaimed, "Hark'ee, young man----" : But the captain had disappeared. "Gone !' said he. "The fellow's a good- looking rascal. I wonder how that jade 'gol hold of him? His face worries me. I'rr sure I've seen it before. What's this, I wonder?" as he opened the _ leiter. "Perhaps she's given me notice. Eh? Why, this is Rosie's writing. 'Dear Un- cle, I feel I ought no longer to keep the secret from you. I have written to Charlie to ask him to call on you and explain.' Now, who the deuce is Char- lie? 'I am sure if you look at his. por- trait your prejudice will disappear, for Tus face hespeaks him all that a gentle- man should be.' Ah! and this is the ras- cal's portrait, I suppose," he muttered, as he tore it from its wrapper. "Well!" he ejaculated, as he looked af it, "of all the vulgar-looking---- My Rose tf fall in love with a thing like that! If the fellow calls on me ['ll--I'll horsewhip him, as sure as my name's Peppertopp." Presently, as he paced to and fro in angry mood, he was startled by a pebble striking his hat. "Hang me, if I don't believe that fel- low's. after Sally again," he muttered. The next moment a grinning face ap- peared, but, seeing Peppertopp, its owner was about to withdraw. "So. sir, its you!" exclaimed the old man. "yes, sir, it's me," said the other, sheepishly, scratching his head. "So, you are Charlie :" "No, sir, 'm----" "No prevarication, Charlie." "No, sir, 'm--~ "Charlie, I say, Charlie! I have it here in black and white." "Oh, very well, sir,' said with an air of resignation. own way." "So you are the fellow she's fallen in love with?" "Why, yes." said the olher, grinning foolishly. "She is rather gone on me." "Rather gone----" cried the old man, ii disgust. "Gone on you? And pray what may be vour intentions towards her ?" "Oh, we mean business, sir, both of us." "Very nicely put. Your mode of ex- pressing. yourself bespeaks the man of breeding, Pray, sir, may I ask how you prepose to support her?" "Well, we thought a nice little way- side pub----" "As what?" shouted Peppertopp. "Or a ealing-house. You see, sir, she could do the cooking while I "Has it never occurred to you that I might have a word to say on this mat- tee?" "Well, we did think--secing as you was partial fo her--as you might stump uy a bit when we was spliced." "Stump----- Not a penny, sir, not a penny. And as for her money----" "Oh, you can't stop that--thal's rub- bish." "What, sir, what?" cried Peppertopp, flaring up. : "Rubbish, Mr. Pepperpot." "Topp, sir--topp. Peppertopp with two p's." "Well, everyone knows there's two p's in pepper. And as for your interfering-- heng me if I don't marry her this day month in spite of you!" and the man strode away, leaving Peppertopp to re- {urn to the house in no enviable mood. As he paced to and fro in his study, mentally rehearsing a lecture to be de- livered to Rose on her return, he was annoyed by a repeated ral-tat. "Sally !? he cried, angrily. Again the knocker was plied, this time more vigorously. "Sally," he roared, "why don't you at- tend the door?" "Busy packing," came the reply from above. : "Qpen the door, or I'll discharge you." "You. iean't--you've done it." "Confound the girl, so I have,' he muttered, as he proceeded to open the dcor himself. "Now, what the dickens--" he began, as on the doorstep he espied the young fellow he had surprised in the act of kissing Sally. "What do you mean by coming here, sir? Aren't you afraid 1 may kiek you" "Not a liltle bit," replied the young fellow. calmly. "And let me point oul ihe fact that the doorstep is hardly the spot to settle an argument, Suppose we retire to your study ?" "Well, of all the cool--- Very well, sm, very well; come this way," and, in- wardly, raging, he led the way to his study. "Now, sir, now !" he said. when he had tsken up what' he considered. 2 com: roanding position, ' "T have called, sir, because I feel that ful: explanation is due-to you." . "Very considerate, young man, ~ buf your conduct explains itself." - : "You refer to----" "The disgraceful see a wilness." : "A mere you sir! You are ? the man, "Have your a fie of which I was thful indiscretion, sir. 1 me on that account." : "Oh, certainly not," said Peppertopp, sarcastically. ge ett "T admit. that T Wught to have proached you before, But the lady plead- ed for secrécy----", : * "pray, sir, why do you bother me with your love affairs ?" a = "You are, of caurse, aware that she has left your house?" : SOS: sen z expression of pleasure was in-| fel- | reach I should be tempted to kiss that} "Come, along then," said the young fel- to fall from her perch into her master's | Th I ean go," said Sally, tossing' trust you will not be prejudiced against ap- heart you will be glad to welcome her "Oh, no doubt I ought to be deli I shouldn't wonder if you expected 1 to give the girl away, and stand god- father to your children aflerwards." | "T sincerely hope you may, sir," re- plied the young fellow. ~ "Well, of all the---- Hang me if I don't like you for your impudence." "May I assure her that you no longer fohject to our engagement?" asked the yeung man, seizing Peppertopp's hand. "{ may bring her back ?" ~ I'll look over it. On condition, 1 that there is no repetition----" <o "A first and last offence, I assure you, BIPLE SE ge Se ee Ge ss "Took here, young fellow, I rather like you. What are you es : : A SORHEN, SINS "Ah, that accounts for it. My dearest friends have all been in the Army. Now, suppose I take the girl back until you ? trifle towards housekeeping, are you in- "J shall be delighted to be of use to Ou." - 3 2 "Well, there's an ugly, vu rascal who hangs about the place, pes- tering my niece with his attentions." "mdeed, sir! I have never heard of this;? = "Nor I till to-day." "Strange she has not mentioned It." "She would hardly be likely to do so to you." ; "Perhaps not," said the young man, with a look of. vexation. "Horsewhip him till he's glad to give the house a wide berth and I'll----" "My dear sir, I shall be only too glad to resent any insult-to Miss Rose." "That's the rascal," said Peppertopp, handing him the portrait he had received from Sally. : "Why," cried the other, with a look of astonishment, "it's----- Excuse me, sir; li: bring the scoundrel here and make him apologize," and without waiting for a reply he hurried from the house. "That's all right," cried Peppertopp, rubbing his hands gleefully. "A cad like that to aspire----" : At this point his medi turbed by Sally poking her head in at the door and saying, "Please, sir, before I go, you've gol my young man." ingly. % "Yes, you 'ave, sir, in your pocket." "why, the girl's mad. In my pocket, indeed! Not I. But he's been here, Sally. He's just gone off to thrash that scamp that's been annoying your mis- tress." "My Tim? der." In her haste to follow she bounced in- to the arms of an elderly lady who ap- peared in the doorway. : "Hey-day! Hey-day! Nice carryings on!" said the lady, as Sally pushed past her. "Are you as mad as your master? The front door wide open, and no one to care who comes or goes. Come in, Rosie, dear. Now, Mr. Peppertopp," she said, as Rose entered, "what have you been doing to this poor child? Driving her to run away." "Tt drive her away?" said he, wonder- ingly. "Yes, sir. the child afraid to confess she sweetheart." "A sweeiheart!' moaned Peppertopp. 'Look at him !" A look of disapproval flitted across Miss Mimms's face as she gazed at the portrait; but before she could speak a tumult was heard in the hall, and pre- sently the captain entered lugging in the unlucky Tim, while Sally clung to his other arm. "Now, sir.' said the captain, giving him a jerk that threatened to dislocate his arm. "Is it true that you dared to annoy Miss : "-Tain't true, is it , Tim?" cried Sally, jerking him the other way. "Say it ain't true as you've been a-makin' eyes al Miss Rose." "Look - 'ere,' said Tim, breathlessly. "strikes me this is a bloomin' loonatic asylum. Fust. old Peppercorn insists on calling me Charlie. Then the captain wants to 'orsewhip me. And now you---" "I see what it is," said Peppertopp. «This all comes of that foolish girl's in- fatuation. | wash my hands of it, She must have her own way. Mr. Charles"-- approaching Tim--"hang me if I know your other name--lake her and make her happy." "Oh. Jook 'ere," cried Tim, "will some- one tell me who I am?" "There js some mistake here," said Miss Mimms. "It is Captain Heatherton who is in love wilh Rose." "THeatherton !' cried Peppertopp. "T thought I knew his face; son of old Bob Heatherton ?" "The same, sit," said the captain. "Then why the dickens didn't you say so before? Rosie, I congratulate you, if he's like his father he's a deuced fine fellow. As for you, sir----" turning to Tim. "But. sir," was. after." "rhen how dare you fell me----" "por, sir, it were all through mixing 'em under the piller."--London Til-Bits, Lor', sir, there'll be mur- Your voléanic temper made had a said Sally, "it were me he -- ~~~ -- man who thinks original thoughts. ghted.|¥ R "Well, well, she's not a bad girl, and are ready to marry her and give you & clined to render me a Service in return 7" Igar-looking tations were dis-. "Your young man?" he said, question-. Once in a great while you meet a} " Dr. A. Hulme Griffith, who, with his -- wife, has been conducting a medical mission among the people of Mesopo- jamia, gives a remarkable account © pis odventates. 8 oo 'During two years' ministration he -- and his wife came in touch with 348-- towns and villages, received over %- 000) out-patients, and performed over -- | 600° operations. aes cee : _ The doctor spent a week with the 'Sheikh of the Yeaidis, or devil wor _ shippers, who inhabit the mountains -- round Mosul. He says:--"This curious 'tribe numbers about 20,000. They live -- among the mountain fastnesses, and Owe allegiance to the sheikh, They are very -- hostile to the Turks, who are unable to subdue them, owing to the inaccessibll--- iy of tear home eco "There is a great deal of mystery -- about their religion, and they will not admit that they worship the devil, al- 'though there is ample evidence to that -- effect. Their priests are all clad in -- white, and carry with them a wand of office surmounted with a brass pea-_ "These are regarded as most sacred, and it is the boast of the Yezidis that none has ever been lost, ge ; SERPENTS SACRED. ; "At the entrance to their chief tem ple is the figure of a serpent. This is looked upon with great veneration, and is kept black by means of charcoal, Each worshipper kisses this serpent be- fore entering the temple. Thelr relig- | fous rites, which include the use of hypnotism, are kept very secret, and are only practised between sunset and sunrise, ' "Some time ago the Turks captured 'their shrine, but were quite unable to make any progress with Moslem teach- ing, and lately handed it back to the Yezidis. afraid to venture into the towns, al- though numbers used to come down to | me from the mountains for medical treatment." se : VISION OF EZEKIEL. The doctor describes how he saw & phenomenon which was practically the vision of the prophet Ezekiel. When "by the river of Chebar"' Ezekiel "saw the heavens opened and saw visions -f God." The prophet describes the whirl wind and the bright colors which ap- | peared in the sky, followed by the ap--- pearance of wheels working "as if it were a wheel in the middle of a wheel." Dr. Grifith said: "We had just pitched. camp on the banks of the Khabur, a tributary of the Euphrates--the same river as is mentioned by Ezekiel as Shebar--when we witnessed a wonder- ful display as we were watching the. setting sun. During the afterglow the sky was Ht up by rays of varied hues, projecting like the spokes of a wheel from the setting sun. WINGED WHEELS. "From either side of the sun there appeared to issue wings, and the whole appearance gave just the idea of the winged wheels within wheels described by the prophet.- The period of the year was the same as that referred to jin Ezekiel. ' : "After the phenomenon had lasted for some minutes the sun disappeared from the sky, which had the deep violet hue of the eastern heavens. J cannot account for the phenomenon, but after I had witnessed it I recalled that I had some time previously received a letter from England suggesting that I should look out for such a display." Dr. Griffith states that the region be- tween the Tigris and the Euphrates only awaits the employment of capital to become one of untold wealth. ich cecil pitta To Wash Fine Laces HEEREST fabrics and fine laces may be easily washed at home by slicing good white soap into little pieces and putting them in cold water together with the lace, Then ~ it is all put on the fire and brought to a boil, Thus the washing may be done with no rubbing whatsoever, for when the lace is taken out it is found, after being ringed, to be as good as new, To dry it should be pinned ie) a towel stretched on a smooth syrface and left there at least a day. if the material is white it may be placed in the sun; if colored, the towel should (be left {n a dim light. Chafing Dish Aprons OR one who wishes something F especiaNy dainty in aprons for chafing dish suppers or cozy lit- tle fancy work parties, there could be nothing prettier than one made of sheerest handkerchief linen, Cut about the aa of the average center- pigon, it had an élaborate scallop, ut the upper part is hollowed out to fit the 7 of the wearer and long sagh ends held jt in place." The tiny pockets ate embroldere spray 0 ed-robinas wit re i pinky Breen, while seVv- ral large @ 8 a ty the same were sirewh along the lower edge, ransnevs Ogio' HAT queer and puzzling sorts of : things ~ These girls are, anyway; I seem to hurt their feelings In all I do and say. They don't at all enjoy my games, They say I am too rough! And should I chance to test their strength, ' They soon ery. out "cnough!" They much prefer to sit aside And nurse a@ foolish doll, And if I sneer and laugh, I'm calle& A brute--it does beat all! When I asked my big brother why "Cis so, he sheok his head, "You'll find the puzgle harder still AS you grow up," he said. 4 Mary§ Opinion} BOYS |. HAT roogh and silly animals These boys all seem to.be! Why they should so delight t@ tense I really 'cannot see! - They're never happy or conten Unless they're playing games That put their valor to the test, -And only failure tames, Then at our peaceful play with dolis -- They love to jest and sneer; ig Tn fact, they always ridicule The things we hold most dear, --_ + T-asked my grown-up sister 'The boys are fashioned 80. "You'll find the men are still m ' . queer," <2 : ae ' { Ske smiled, "as old you gro - The devil worshippers are