r
She tripSTio raoro
With Ispht foot o'er
The ball-room floor ;
Bur daily wcara 7
A look austere , * - .
Aiul Bays her prayers , *
Tor Lent ia noro. .1
Bho pnU away - " "t
Her flno array t " *
Till Eaeter Day.
No inoro Ihrtation , ' ,
Bui contemplation , " r-
Solf-abncgaiion.
And fervent piety , ' " . *
To maids becoming , <
And for variety.
A little "alummlng. "
With this to cheer her
On her way ,
AB eho draws near
Easter Day.
This pleasant thonght
To cheer her heart ,
Whene'er her mind dwells on It ;
On Easter Day
She'll come out gay
And wear a daisy bonnet
bonnetBoston
Boston Courier.
"If I had been born poor , instead of
neb , I firmly believe my life would
have been much happier , " said Richard
Manr with a sigh.
! Eichardwas sitting with a friend on
ia bench overlooking the sea. He woul
| have been a remarkably handsome fel
( low , were it not for the discontented
'expression , which always clouded his
jface.
j On the other hand , his companion
> Arthur Benmore , was a plain-looking
'man ' , with nothing to redeem his wan
of comeliness but a bright pair of eyes
| and a winning smile.
'
. At first sight , women were struck by
iRichard's appearance , but after a tim
ithey gradually began to feel a pref
.erence for Arthur , because ho talked
amusingly , and made himself so agreo-
4ablo.
To tell the truth Richard was too
(
proud and reserved a fault for whicl
his parents had been to blame , for he
had been a spoiled child ,
j ' 'Do you really believe what you say
or do you only make that assertion to
startle one ? " asked Renmore in answer
to his friend's remark.
"I really believe that if I had been
' born to poverty I should be far happier
than I am now , " returned Richard
gravely.
, "Then I'll show you a way out of your
trouble , " said Renmore with his cheer
ful laugh. "Hand over all your wealtli ?
to me , retaining only a pound a week for
yourself. I fancy I should get on com
fortably with the gold you despise , not
to speak of being able to marry Susie. "
"Your offer to relieve me of my.
wealth is extremely kind and consider
ate , " _ said Richard , unable to repress a
smile. "I appreciate the sacrifice you
are willing to make for me , but on consideration -
sideration I find I cannot do with out }
money. If I had been accustomed to
poverty it would have been a different
matter ; but , having been reared in lux
ury , I cannot resign niy gold , even if it
leads me to destruction. The luxury I
have spoken of is necessary to my exist
ence. "
' 'I thought yon would draw in your
horns , old boy , when I mads the pro
posal. Like most Englishmen , you
.dearly love to grumble. "
I ' 'I have something to grumble about ,
I fancy , " said Richard.
"I don't see if ; you ought to be the
happiest follow in the three kingdoms. "
' "Ought I ? "
, "Decidedly. "
"Just let me know why ? "
I "lou wish me to answer frankly , and
'won't take offense if I give you my real
opinion ? "
"Speak on. I promise I won't take
'offense at anything you say. I should
; like to see myself as others see me. "
j "Well , in the first place , you are too
proud , and think yourself superior to
everybody. You fancy yourself iil-
] treated because the world doesn't value
you as you value yourself. To tell the
jtrutli , your conceit stands in your way ,
Richard. "
: "Conceited and proud ! " exclaimed
; Richard Maur , coloring with auger.
) You have utterly misunderstood my
character. I am shy and diffident. "
I "Shy and diffident ! " cried Renmore ,
interrupting him. "You are nothing of
jthe kind. Your sole reason for remain-
ling silent is that you would rather refrain -
| frain from making any agreeable re-
imark than be lead to deliver a foolish
| one. Now 1 rattle away , sayiag the
| first thing that comes into my head ,
'and ' yet I am regarded as a very pleasant -
, ant companion. "
'
"That'is what puzzles me , " returned
JRichard. "You say nothing very wise
'or witty , and yet you always manage to
'interest everybody. "
! "Because t try to please others and
i forget the existence of Arthur Ren-
} more , " said his friend ; "but , joking
.apart , .old fellow , what is amiss with
'you this morning. "
Richard sighed more heavily than before -
fore , digging holes with his cane in the
'ground.
I "While staying at the seaside ho had
fallen hopelessly in love ; but his natu-
iral suspicion had prevented him from
declaring his attachment.
1 "Arthur , " lie said , "how can a wealthy
.man ever believe in the disinterested at
tentions of a woman ? "
"Oh , "said his friend with a whistle ,
$ "sits the wind that way ? I had my suspicions -
picions , old boy. But you don't mean
[ to say that you entertain such ungener-
lous ideas I I could not think so badly
'of Susie. "
.
, ,
"Because you know she is - only wait-
"ing on you to make a home for her.
The case is utterly different. A man
without inoney has the satisfaction of
knowing that he is loved for himself
'fll ° ?
Bah ! "
n
| oitsly. "You either do not love the
girl , or you ar6 a bigger fool than I take
you for. Strange how people who have
no troubles will go out of the way to
make them. Well , I am off to get some
luncheon ; are you coming ? "
No , Richard would stay whore ho
was. He felt rather glad to be loft
alone with his thoughts.
Young , rich and handsome , ho was as
utterly miserable as any mortal with
such advantages could bo. His money
seemed to stand between him and hap
piness , and yet ho would not have
parted with it for any consideration. He
prized it so much that h ; ? Beared that it
might have the same value in the eyes
of the girl he loved. What if.it induced
her to give him her hand without her
heavt ?
Edith Palmer was comparatively
poor , and he knew she loved pleasure.
She had often told him as much , and
complained of the dullness of her life.
He remembered how her cheeks had
flushed and her eyes sparkled with ex
citement when he had spoken of the gay
world of fashion , or described the differ
ent places he hod seen.
"No , I will not ask her to be my wife , "
ho told himself with intense bitterness.
"My money is to great a temptation for
any woman to resist. She would accept
my offer if she didn't love mo , and I
should discover it afterwards , and b
wretched for life. I will leave S as
soon as possible , and try to forget her. '
Ho had risen now and turned his
back upon the sea , and some children
who were playing in the sand gazed af
ter him in surprise , wondering what
made that big man look so cross. He
certainly had anything but an agreeable
expressipn on his face as he walked
along nibbling the ends of his Ion
mustache.
"Hallo , Mr. Maur , " said somebody
at his elbow , in a clear , young voice.
"Oh , is it you. Jack ? " returned Rich
ard. "Where are you off to now ? "
Jack was Edith Palmer's brother , and
Richard had shown him many kind
nesses , completely winning his boyish
heart.
"I was looking for you , " said Jack.
"Come up to the house and sue Joe
will spoil ? Father says he does not like
the look of him. Do come ; there is no
body at home ; Edith has gone to see
Susie Brown. "
"All right ! I'll come , " returned Rich
ard , relieved and yet disappointed that
he would not see Jack's sister.
The Palmers lived in a small house
near the sea , and Jack dragged Rich
ard into a small back parlor , commu
nicating with the drawing-room by fold
ing-doors.
"Wait here , " he said , "while I go and
look for Joe. "
And he dashed out of the room in
search of his retriever before Richard
could utter a word of remonstrance.
The young man sat down on one of
the shabby chairs , and relapsed into
thought. The more he saw of the pov
erty of the Palmers , the stronger grew
his conviction that his money must
have some influence on Edith.
Presently he began to grow impa
tient at Jack's prolonged absence , and
the next moment he heard a sound of
voices.
"I am so glad I persuaded you to
come back with me , " it was Edith
Palmer who spoke "I should have felt
so dull all by myself. "
"I am very glad I came , " said Susie ,
for he instantly recognized the voice as
belonging to Arthur Renniore's sweet
heart. "What on earth is the matter
with you , dear ? You are not the girl
you were. "
"There is nothing the matter with
me , " cried Edith , and to prove it she
burst into tears.
"Don't cry , " said Susie , wiping away
the bright drops with her own little lace
handkerchief. "I do believe you have
some secret you are keeping from me.
Have you seen Mr. Maur lately ? " she
added abruptly.
"Do you think I am crying about Mr.
Maur ? " askelEdith , coloring Avith an
ger.
ger."I don't know , I am sure , " returned
Susie. "I could cry if I was in your
place. The man ought to propose
after all the attention he used to pay
you. "
"Susie ! "
"Don't look so cross , " cried her
friend. "You know it is true. He did
take up your times , and led people to
believe he waa serious. It is shameful
sf a man to treat a girl as he has treat-
ad you , I will say what I think there !
Ee is a mean thing , and I would like to
tell him so to his face. "
Now it happened that Miss Susie
was sitting opposite a looking-glass ,
ind happening to lift her eyes , she saw
Mr. Richard peering in upon them.
She was a very quick-witted young
[ ady , and did not regret at all the allu
sions she had made to him. As she sai
looking into the mirror a plot was be
ing formed in that youthlul little head
of hers within soft golden curls.
Her own engagement was such a hap
py one , in spite of its lengthfcfor she
liad been engaged eight years , and had
two more to wait until Arthur would be
in a position to marry , that she longed
for her friend to experience the same
happiness.
Perhaps a few judicious words would
bring the laggard in love to the point.
She hoped so , for he had looked veiy
affectionately at the back of her friend's
liead.
She felt strongly inclined to indulge
Q a fit of laughter , but she resisted the
impulse , feeling that it would spoil all.
She resolutely averted her eyes from
Richard's reflection , after satisfying
herself that he was waiting eagerly to
hear what they had to say , and said , in
a preternaturally solema voice :
"Edith , I do believe you love the
man. "
The words almost caused Richard to
betray himself. He trembled like a
leaf , for on Edith's next words depend
ed the joy or misery of a lifetime.
There was a deep silence for a few
minutes , and then Susie lifted her
friend's head and looked at her tearstained -
stained face , which was suffused with
blushes.
"It is but too true , " said Edith , "Ido
love him. You "have discovered my
secret , and I know you will not betray
it. I would die with shame if he knew
I had crivon mv love unasked. "
2SSES
"But , Edith , he loves you , " said Susie ,
coloring at her friend's words , for slid
could see the delight in Richard's eyes
as he listened to Edith's avowal.
"Ho loves mo ! " cried Edith , almost
contemptuously. "Why , Susie , he
might marry a'uybody with his wealth
and position. "
"Bother his wealth ! " cried Susie.
"You don't love him for his wealth. "
"Heaven knows I don't ! " said Edith.
"If ho were to lose all his money it
would make no difference to me. "
" ! "
"My darling
And Richard pushed open the fold
ing-doors and caught Edith in his arms ,
while Susie discreetly retired to the
next room , and took up a book , leaving
the ardent lover to make his own ex
cuse for phvyiug eavesdropper.
"Oh , Mr. Maur , " cried Jack , dashing
into the room. "Why ; where is he ,
Susie ? I left him here just now. "
"He is engaged , " said Susie demure
ly. "Why , what's the matter , Jack ? "
The boy walked over to the window
and put his hands in his pockets , whist
ling ; but there was a suspicious moist
ure in his bright eyes , and Susie anx
iously repeated her question.
"Father had Joe shot , " ho said.
"He was sullen and fidgety ; but I
know Mr. Maur would have put him
right if he had seen him. Poor old
Joe ! "
"Don't grieve , Jack , " said Susie ,
putting her hand on his arm. "You've
lost your dog but you've found a broth-
er-in-lanr "
- - ,
"What ? " cried Jack , "is it true ?
Where are they ? Let me go to them. "
And he dashed unceremoniously into
the next room , the loss forgotten for
the moment in his delight at the unex
pected news.
Susie smiled and sighed as she fol
lowed him into the presence of the hap
py lovers.
But her own happiness was not so
far off as she thought , for Arthur , com
ing into an unexpected legacy , insisted
that it should be a double wedding , and
in this he was auled and abetted by
Edith and Richard. '
"To think that all my liappiness is
owing to these folding-doors , " said
Riclmrd to his friend.
"And Susie's diplomacy , " muttered
Arthur.
"What ? " asked Richard , enquiringly.
"Nothing , " returned Arthur. "We
are two lucky fellows , old boy P
"Indeed , we are , " said Richard.
And up to the present time neither
of them has had cause to alter his opin
ion.
IKE'S BSFESTTAWCE.
An Amusing Reminiscence of Hampton's
Cattle Bald.
Hampton's celebrated "Cattle Raid , "
in the rear of Grant's army , was regard
ed by Lee's starving soldiers as a triumph
of genius. The 3,000 tall steers that
were brought back as the spoils of vic
tory , were stared at with as much de
light as ever a triumphal procession
along the Appian way.
The achievement was not without
bloodshed. For a brief space the fight
ing was sharp and decisive. It is known
that Hampton planned the expedition
only after having "scouted" over the
ground himself. The writer of the fol
lowing was one of the raiders.
As the gray morning lifted its cur
tain , and the smoke of the conflict floated
away , revealing the wounded and the
slain of friend and foe , there lay at full
length the apparently lifeless form of
" . "
gallant "Ike.
His friend Jack was first to discover
and approach him. "Ike , my boy , are
you dead ? " said Jack , with feeling.
The slow response wis a long sepul
chral groan. "Ike , old fellow , are vou
much hurt ? " repeated Jack , taking
him by the hand.
Ike , with languid , half-open eyes ,
drawled out : "M-o-r-t-a-l-l-y wounded ,
Jack ; I'm shot through the body "
The country through which our troops
passed the day before , abounded in
large orchards , the fruit of which had
been distilled into apple brandy ;
and our boys , being good foragers ,
had secuied a fair supply. Both
Tack and Ike were fond of a "nip"
and like many others of the command ,
had passed the canteen freely the night
before the attack. Jack had some left
in his canteen , and raising Ike's head ,
said to him : "Take a pull , old fellow ,
it will do yon good. " Ike motioned the
uanteen away and said , with a reprov
ing look : "Take that canteen away.
Jack , and don't be offering liquor bo a
lying man. Take warning by me , Jack ,
take warning by me , and let liquor alone.
0 , if I only had a Bible. "
Jack thought that Ike's voice was
rather strong and well-sustained for a
naan about to depart this life , aud be-
cjan to look for his wound. Finding
neither blood on his jacket , nor bullet
hole through it , he opened Ike's clothes ,
ind lo ! nothing erse than a bruise on
his side from a spent bullet , which
bad stunned and unhorsed him. The
shock and pain had impressedhim with
the idea that he had been mortally per
forated.
"Why , Ike , " said Jack , "you're not
hurt much ; there's no hole through
JTOU at all. Sit up and see for vour-
self. "
Ike , reassured by the confident tones
of his friend , and with his assistance ,
raised to a sitting posture , and looked
for himself. Seeing was believing , and
30 elated was he at the discovery that
he straightened his vertebra } to a bolt
upright position , and said to Jack :
"Old fellow , I think I wa-j out of my
head awhile ago. Didn't I talk a heap
of nonsense ? What were you saying
about some apple brandy ? "
Jack , seeing there was to be an in
definite postponement of the funeral ,
regained his own spirits sufficiently to
perpetrate a joke at Ike's expense. So ,
instead of replying to his inquiry about
the brandy , with a mock-serious air , he
took out a pocket Testament , aud turn
ing the pages , asked Ike if he hud any
favorite place ha should read from to
comfort him. Ike could stand it no
longer , but rising to his feet said :
"Jack , stop your blamed foolishness ,
and hand me that canteen. " Southern
Bivouac.
Personal Gossip.
Mr. Sims Reeve was lately mulcted
in 50 damages for not singing at a
concert got up by a local music seller
in a small English town. His defence
that ho was disabled by hoarseness from
performing his contract was net satis
factory to the special 'jury which tried
the case. Man ; verdicts like the above
would prevent hoarseness from attack
ing singers at the wrong time.
Lord Bramwell recently , in giving
judgment in an important Scotch luw-
Huit took occasion to review briefly the
celebrated case of Shylock vs. Antonio
( Shakspere's Reports ) , and snid : "I
am quite certain that I would have de
cided that case in the way fair Portia
did ; not , perhaps , upon all the same
reasons , but upon some of them. As a
matter of fact , Shylock never had the
pound of flash which could be called
his it had never been appropriated to
him ; and he could only get it by a con
siderable crime , no less than murder.
But if the pound of flesh had been ap
propriated to him , I should have given
the pound of flesh to Shylock. "
This is from a private letter from
George Eliot : "Dickens' death came us
a great shock to us. He lunched with
us just before wo went abroad , and was
ielling us a story of President Lincoln
having told the Council , on the day he
was shot , that something remarkable
would happen , because he had just
dreamt , for the third time , a dream
which twice before had preceded events
momentous in the nation. The dream
was that he was in a boat on a great
tver , all alone , and he ended with the
ords , 'I drift I drift I drift. ' Dick
ens told this very finely. "
Strange sights are to be seen in our
large cities. The other day , in New
York , a richly dressed , handsome woman
about thirty years of age , was found in
toxicated in a street car. She was re
moved by a policeman , and placed in
the alcoholic wacd hospital. Diamonds
sparkled in her ears , and her sealskin
sacque open at the throai displayed si
gold pin. Her dress was of silk. Three
rings glittered on her hands , aud she
wore a handsome watch and chain. In
her pocket book was found a newspaper
clipping stating that "Eliza Hall lias
received an absolute divorce from John
Hall. " She answered no questions , but
it was evident that she had a pathetic
history.
A pleasant little episode occured on
the occasion of the call of the Justices
of the Supreme Court on the President
the other day. Justice Miller , Avhose
Republicanism is of the stiiunchest
character , and whose name has fre
quently been mentioned in connection
with the nomnaitionfor the Presidency ,
took Mr. Cleveland by the hand and
said : "Mr. President , Mr. Benton once
said of the Court , 'in politics we are
none. ' We are not quite so far unsexed -
ed as that , but I wish to say for my as
sociation , as well as for myself , that w e
cordially welcome you to the Capital ,
and wish your administration every
success. "
The Islystery of Price Slarlcs.
From the Pittshurg Times.
The system of marking prices on
goods in general use among retailers is
for each to adopt a word or teim which
shall contain ten unrepeated letters to
correspond with the numerals. Tlitis ,
for instance , the word :
Anchorites
12345G7S90
The cost of an article has been usual
ly marked on it , the salesman knowing
what to add ; but this plan is losing in
popularity and is being replaced by the
better method of marking the selling
price. Employing the key word "An-
jhorites , " an article marked say "ai , , , "
would indicate $1.75. Some merchants
liaveboth cost and selling rates marked ,
in which case the two are separated by
i line , the cost being on top and the
selling price under. Humorously in
clined individuals not frequently get Tip
i key word or term which AV ould make
Bustomors smile were they aware of the
joutrast between the mysterious cost
marks and that from , which they are
lerived. No little ingenuity is display
ed in the selection , but after the essea-
; ial of ten unrepeated letters there ia
lothing wanting but the simplest or-
ihography that the foot of the spellers
in the salesmen class may have no in-
lucement whatever to go wrong.
rhe Wiles of Kentucky Candidates.
Neither of these stories is so good as
some which illustrates the wiles of can-
lidates before the people. The best
me , we think , is that reported of Laz-
irus Powell and Humphrey Marshall ,
nrhen running for governor of Kentuc-
iy. If it relates to spine other two
Kentuckians , well enough ; the two
lamed will suffice. They were sturnp-
ng the state together. One night
; hey put up at the house of a man who
jontrolled the politics of the country in
ivhich lie lived and whose spinster sister
lotoriously "controlled him. " Being
like the considerable Miss Summervillo
in "Adonis , " "a simple mountain maid ,
she did the milking herself and the
iousework generally. Both candidates
lid their best to please her. Early in
; he morning after the night in question ,
Humphrey Marahall arose , and seeing
ihe lady milking a cow near the honse ,
lie broke off the branch of a tree and
began brushing the flies off the animal
ivith much effusion. After several
igreeable words hud been exchanged
lie remarked that he did not see his
triend Powell around aud supposed he
nras sleeping late. "Oh , " rejoined the
juiet sarcastic woman. "Mr. Powell ,
tie's been up and about this half hour ,
ind I sent him back o' the barn where
lie's holding the other calf. " Marshall
aever wholly understood the remark ,
but Powell got the Tote of that sounty.
, . , , V
r *
A STORY OF MIKE PWK.
Clio riattooatman of ttao Ohio Valley In
Early Times.
Washington ( Ky.J ItUor in Phila. Times.
Clustered about Washington ro as-
eociations of the most interesting histor
ical character. Nearly every one of its
old houses was once the homo of a man
or woman with a national reputation ,
and a volume of reminiscences might bo
gleaned here. Its history belongs to
the past and there are but few living
reminders of that glorious period. In
onn of the oldest , quaintest and most
picturesque houses lives Uncle John
Zeigler. Ho is ninety years old and
every morning , rain or shine , ho rises
with the lark , seizes his long hickory
staff and trudges sturdily down the
broad pike to Maysdalo , returning before -
fore night falls. He is a majestic physi
cal wreck uotyet gone to pieces six feet
five inches in height and still erect.
Time has shrunken and Aveakened his
thews and sinews , but in the days that
I speak of no arm was so strong , no eye
so keen , no courage so sublime as his.
WarmecLby the generoua fire of his na
tive Bourbon he loves to talk about the
past and to a newspaper man his stories
are always interesting. Ho was the
partner of Mike Fink , the "Eing of the
Flat-boatmen. "
"I linked fortunes with Mike at his
own request , " he said to me , "and
there's an interesting little story con
nected with the partnership. "
He dropped his head forward , reflec
tively , and without disturbing his rev
erie I pushed the bottle and a glass to
ward him. Mechanically he filled th
latter and for a moment held it to th
light , admiring the warm , rich color o
the liquor. Then he tossed the contents
off at a gulp.
"It is good liquor , " he said , smack
ing his lips , "and the taste carries mi
back to the old days when I ran a fla
boat on the Ohio. I was a good man
then , a very good man , and had no fear ,
I used to winter at Maysvillo and one
season I don't remember the date I
ran my boat into Limestone creek ant"
miide all snug for cold weather. Th
ice come early and a great many flat-
boatmen made their quarters here
Mike Fink's boat lay just below mine ,
I had heard of him , but we had never
met. We flat-boatmen worked hart
and made money during the summer , ant
we spent it right royally when we laid
off for the winter. We had frolics every
day and dances every night. This sea
son's fun had hardly begun when it come
to mv ears that Mike Fink had boasted
everywhere that on his boat was the
best rifle shot , the best fist-fight
er , the best runner and the
best wrestler in the Ohio valley.
It wasn't long before a chance was giv
en me to partially test the truth of his
challenge. I met his runner , his Avrest-
ler and his fighter all in one day and I
'downed' the three. This made Mike
pretty matl and he arranged it for us to
try our skill with the rifle. About a
w eek afterward AVC met at a bam raising
out at Kenton's Station , and after the
work Avag finished we settle : ! down to
solid sport. Finally Mika challenged
me to shoot with him. I accepted and
everybody gathered around to watch
us. You see. Mike didn't belong in
Maysville , ami a great deal depended
on the result. If lie Avon it won Id dimm
ish Mayville's glory , and if I was suc
cessful ( having already defeated the
champion fighter , Avrestler and runner )
she could lay claim to the proud distinc
tion of owning as her son the all-round
champion !
"Mike had been drinking , bnt I knew
what was coming and hadn't touched a
drop. When I stepped to the mark
it was my first shot I A as as cool as
ice and my muscles were under perfect
control. I made two bull's-eyes out of a
possible three. When Mike stepped up
and raised his rifle he tossed his head
scornfully , but the liquor had affected
his nerves and his first shot Avas a bad
one. He loaded his rifle nervously and
raising it took a long , steady aim. When
he pulled the trigger a greut shout Avent
up and everybody crowded around me.
He had missed the bull's-eye and I was
the champion. I Avas ricjht proud of my
achievement and celebrated the victory
by drinking more liquor than Avas good
for me. Mike felt his defeat keenlv and
accompanied by his friends left for
town. When I returned I Avas told that
he was still unwilling to acknowledge
that I was the champion. He admitted
that I had distanced his fleetest runner ,
thrown his most expert Avrestler , whip
ped his ablest fighter and fairly defeated
him as a marksman.
" 'He can beat me shooting , ' he said ,
"but I can Avhip him Avitli my fists. "
"When I heard this you may depend
upon it I was pretty mad. I Avould
have hunted him up and settled the
matter that very night , but my friends ,
knoAving my condition , prevailed upon
me to go home. The next morning Avas
very cold. I came into town at about
10 o'clock and went to a boatman's
supply store , kept by a JOAV where I felt
pretty certain I'd find him Mike , sure
enough , he was there , with three of his
mates the three I had already defeated.
They were seated around a great big
woodstove , and , entering the store I
locked the door behind me and put the
key in my pocket. Fink and his friends
started to their feet and I bowed to
them very politely and Avished them ail
V pleasant morning. Stepping to the
counter I called for fiVe gill bottles of
rum and when the storekeeper set them
out I invited the ex-champions to drink
with me. All came iorAvard , and ,
knocking the neck oft'one of the bottles ,
I poured about a thimbleful of rum in tea
a glass and , raising it. said :
' "Gentlemen , I am the champion
fighter , the champion wrestler , the
champion runner and the champion
rifle-shot in the Ohio A-alley. I drink
your health. '
"Fink's eyes flashed fire and raising
his own glass he replied :
" 'I beg your pardon , sir , vou're add
d-d liar ! '
"With thathe dashed his glass to the
v
floor and we clinched. Never I reckon ,
vras a battle more stubbornly contested.
Around and around the store wo fought ;
casks and barrels Avere overturned ,
boxes emptied , bottles and jars broken
und their contents scattered in all direc
tions. The store-keeper began to yell
murder and cry for a constable , but the
door was looked , the key waa in my
pocket and he couldn't get out. I reck
on we must have fought an hour ,
our clothes Avere torn from our
bodies and blood streamed from our
faces. Finally , seeing an advantage , I
seized Fink around the waist and seat
ing him on the great stove that
was noAV rod hot , hold him thero.
It was not until his flesh began
to sizzle that ho cried 'Enough 1' and I
released him. He had received the
I
worst of th e fight. Two of his ribs were
broken his Avrist was dislocated and ho
was bruised and gashed from head to
.foot. Ho fell to the floor in a faint , and
picking him up I carried him across the
street to a hotel , laid him on a bed and
sent for a doctor , to whom I became
responsible for the bill. When I came
out on the street the whole town was
there to receive mo , for the news that I
had Avhipped Mike Fink had spread like
Avildfire. I requested three responsible
citizens to appraise the damage done by
us in the supply store and then asked
the storekeeper to make out hia bill. It
amounted to forty odd dollars. I paid
one half of it and got his receipt. Then ,
with the bill in my hand , I went across
the street to where Fink was lying prop
ped up in bed.
" 'Fink , ' I said , ' 111 pay your doctor's
bill , for I bruised you up. Here is a
bill for the damage done by us in the
supply store. 1'vo paid half of it , and
if you don't pay the other half I'll give
you a worse whipping than the one you
have just received. '
"Ho promised to pay and when he re
covered from his wounds we became
good friends. When spring opened we j
joined fortunes. ' ( r
" ' I've been king on the river a ] on
time , ' he said , Avlien AVO drew up jtno
partnership agreement , 'but I've l/een
whipped on all sides. I'm no loiiger
champion , but I'll bo the champion's
partner/ and AVO remained together
until Mike died. "
A HEW STAKES FOE IT )
How Technical Terms Secured an ffriwiH-
ias Soldler'a Discharge.
Grand Army Scout and Soldiers' MaiL
In the spring time of ISGlthe frontier
diA'ision of the Seventh Army Corps ,
General John M. Thayer commanding ,
was encamped at Fort Smith , , Art-
Communication being most entirely cut
off , supplies Avere low and the army did
considerable in the foraging line. On
one of these expeditions a clerk at de
partment headquarters , "Wiley Britton ,
who Avas a very fine Avriter and apt
scholar , went out Avith a party of scouts
south of the Poteau , a stream that
empties into tlie Arkansas just above
Fort Smith. They ran a com
pany of Texas Rangers , and in a skir
mish with them he got shot through
the left Avrisfc. Retreating he reached'
Fort Smith and A\as laid uj for some
days before his wound healed and hej
Avas fit for tlnty again. He then got if }
into his Lead that fighting was not particularly - !
ticularly his forte , and , since his wound , '
neither was writing , and he desired to
get back to his old home in Missouri.
He went to General Thayer and.
asked for a discharge , bnt the general ,
thinking he was too valuable a man tq
let oft' for so slight a wound , refuseti
to let him go , saying he did not
see how he could dispense witbj
so valuable and apt a clerk. "Wiley
kiiOAVing I had some influence with
the general , I beiug at that time
on detached service at headquarters ,
enlisted me in his service to pro
cure his discharge. I got out a set oS'
papers and took them down to the sur
geon , who was , like myself , originally , '
a. Pennsylvanian. He made him out a
certificate and strongly recommended
hi1 } discharge , couching the certificate
in terms peculiar to surgical science. I
took the certificate , got Britton's com
pany officers to indorse it and then5
went Avith him to the headquarters to
see General Thayer. As AVO entered
the room the general , who was sitting
by the table , said to Britton : "You are
still Avanting to go home , are you ? " He
replied affirmatively , I then presented
the certificate The general looked at
it and said : "Read it. " I read : "This
certifies this soldier is truly entitled tea
a discharge. I certify it on examination ,
after due consideration , a caseof necros
is of the right radius of the forearm. "
"What is that ? That beats my timen
said the general. "If I had thought ,
young man , the half of that Avas the
matter with you , I would have let you
go before. Hand me my pen , so I can
write your discharge , quick. That is
the d name for shot through the
wrist I ever heard. " To say he AVOS
discharged after that would be but paint
ing the lily.
Average Annual Cost of
From the Philadelphia Bulletin.
How many persons have even a rough
idea of the average sum upon which by
far the larger part of the citizens of the
United States are fed , clothed and
Iioused ? A recent statistician estimates
that 80 per cent , of the population of
this country is supported by from 45 to
[ > 0 cents per capita a day. At the lat
ter figure this makes $164.25 as the
iverage annual cost of Ii\'ing ; bnt , as by
iverage AVC mean the balance between
extremes , there must be many persona
ivho have not e\'en this sum to live up-
an. That oO cents a day is a generous
estimate will be admitted Avhen it is re
membered that many mill operative ?
sarn only from $ o to $7 a week , and tKit
the wages of farm hands run from $20
to $30 s. month , and that on these sums
several persons are often supported.
When it is remembered , too , that some
other human beings have a yearly in-
some equal to what is necessary for "the
subsistence of 500 or 1,000 of these
"average" mortals , the startlipg con
trast between the extremes of our mod-
2rn society must be most evident.