A FOKKST HYMN. The clowlng sun Is rfdlna ; high Amid the arches of the sky , Thc dreamy air lies stilt. Ubsound disturbs the leafy glado Save tbat by busy woodhlll made Up fcome ancient trunk , decayed- Calm broods o'er vale and Mil. In such an hour I love to stray From haunts of tolling men away , 'Mid forest depths profound ; There , In a bliss of eolitude. "Where no dull cares of earth Intruda , And Jfatuie breathes sweet quietude The grand old trees around The heart by dally cares oppressed , The weaned splr.t findeth icst , " As , pillowed on the sod , "With nought above but leaf and sky , And loving Took of Heavenly Eye , Perchance with angels hoverlne nigh , I dream of Nature's God. Edward JV. Richards , In The Current. A CHINAMAN OUTWITTED. "Look at that fellow , Ralph , " said Charles Powell , designating with his finger a slim Malay , who stood a little aloof from the gang of noisy laborers crowding the/pier at Batavia. "Did you ever see a thinner specimen ? Looks as though it had been some time since he had even heard the men tion of iood. " Charles Powell , a young New York er , and his friend _ Ralph Somers , an Englishman , had , just the day before , met in Batavia , the former being on his way to Hong Kong , while the lat ter , after a two yers' service in China , was returning to England on leave of absence. The Malay in question fully quali fied by his appearance the remarks of the young American. Ho was a thin , spare man , half-clad , and with a tur ban wound around his crisp , black hair. hair.He He stood for a moment gazing moodily into the water , and then , as if understanding the jocular remarks \ of the young man , he turned toward him with a look upon his face half- half-frown and the in sneer , - , next stant sprang from the pier and disap peared beneath the surface of the muddy water. In an instant Ralph cast aside his coat and sprang after him , and in two minutes the man lay upon the wharf. At first he preserved a dogged silence when questioned by his rescuer. "Come , come , now ! Brace up , coolie ! I say , now , don't get so dreadfully hipped , man , " said Ralph. He finally confessed that it was pov erty that had led him to an attempt to take his own life. It was the old storj" ! A } , : iir of willing hands , but more applicants for places than there were situations to fill. Out of work and out of money , with a sick wife starving before his eyes , despair had driven him hero in the hope of getting even the poor em ployment that would earn a few cents a day , and failing in this , he had mo mentarily lost his reason. "Cheer up , man , " said Ralph , hand ing him a silver coin. "Here is some thing for your present needs. Don't try to feed the fishes again. " The poor fellow but half compre hended the words the Englishman spoke. He gave one doubtful look at the coin and at the giver , and then murmuring a blessing upon the young man , turned and disappeared. Ralph , dripping wet , sought the nearest house , which proved to be that of Chan Fong , a rich Chinese mer chant of Batavia. As our friends entered Chan Fong was seated upon one of the porcelain stools in front of the counter. He half turned as they entered. "Yung Fan I'm sinner ! " , as a ex claimed Ralph , as his eyes fell on the ChinamanVho , however , returned his gaze with an unmoved counten ance. "Are not Faa ? " you Yung question ed Rulph. "No , " said he ; "I am Chan Fong. " And cooly asked : "But who are you ? " "Well if not Faa " , you are Yung , said Ralph , disregarding the inquiry , "You are his ghost. " "I am Chan Fong , " sententiously replied the Chinaman. Ralph apologized for his hasty ex clamation , and dismissed the subject. He called for a draught of brandy to keep the cold out , and the young men departed for the Hotel Buitenzort. ' That man is Yung Faa , " Ralph earnestly said to his friend , when out of ear-shot of the Chinaman. "But for heaven's sake who is Yung Faa ? " asked Powell. - "Young Faa , " said Ralph , "was about a year ago the shroff , or paying clerk , for the house of Gilbert & Ma son , of Hong Kong. His bond was $30,000 , which was deposited in tank , according to custom , when he first received the situation. He was intrust ed with the expenditure of large sums of money , and also had charge of the Hong stamp or seal of the firm. About a year ago ho disappeared. A week afterward a body was found floating in the harbor , which the Cor oner decided was none other than Young Faa. The firm of Gilbert & JMason , deeply regretting his loss , gave him a magnificent funeral , and the bond was returned to his distress ed family. "You 'can imagine the chagrin of Gilbert & Mason when they discover ed afterward that Yung Faa had been guilty of numerous thefts. The credit of the firm demanded silence on the subject , and many debts , contracted in the name of the firm by Yung Faa , were paid , rather than to allow the damaging truth to be known. The firm's losses aggregate nearly ยง 100,000 , and none now mourn more sincerely the death ot Yung Faa than his too confiding employers. "You can imagine how astonished I was to see him here for if that is not he , I will eat my hat ! 'But come , I must get rid of these wet clothes , and we'll take a turn through the Bo tanical Garden. " n No soouer had Ralph disappeared than the Chinaman followed him , Keeping well out of sight of the young inen , he satisfied himself where they were stopping , and then made all possible haste "toward the Malay portion of the city. Threading his way through one of the narrowest streets , he finally paus ed before a wretched hovel ; then ab ruptly pushing back the mat which did duty for a door , he , without furth er ceremony , entered this house. A man arose from a corner of tho room and advanced toward him , with a threatening glance , as if to question this rude entrance. "Quiet yourself , Nablar , " said Chan Foiig. "I mean you no harm. " "Sho shall not be troubled , " said tho Malay , huskily , pointing to the corner , where , upon a mat , lay his sick wife. "She shall not be troubled , " echoed the Chinaman. "I come to give you money , Nablarnot to demand it. You shall be well paid. You shall get enough bright silver dollars to place yourself and her forever beyond want. Can I trust you enougJi to explain what I wish of you ? " "The Malay's eyes glistened. Ho knew that "what was wanted of him" was some rascally enterprise. "Tell me , " he said , brieily. "A man has injured mo and you must kill him ! "That , " pointing to the long , wavy Malay knife which Nablar wore in his girdle , "will bo sufficient. " , "Tho money ? " demanded tho Ma lay."I "I will give you five hundred Mex ican dollars , " said Chan Fong "half now , and tho remainder when you convince me that the man is dead. " As ho spoke he produced from hi3 voluminous gown two roJJs of silver , which ho placed in the bewildered Malay's hand. "In ten minutes I will return , " said he , "and will then be able to tell you where to find your man. " Chan .Bong disappeared , leaving tho Malay doubting whether he was awake or not. Nablar touched tho rolls of money. This was real. Opening one of the rolls , ho allowed the bright silver to glide from one hand to an other. Ho thought little of tho crime to bo committed. Hard as his life had been for years , he believed that he did not owe much to society. At any rate , hero was health and happiness for her who lay helpless before his eyes. eyes.He He was still plunged in thought , when Chan Fong hurriedly entering , said : "Quick , Nablar ! Your man has just to the Botonical Garden. Come ! fone will point him out to you. " The two had proceeded but a short distance , when the Chinaman touched his companion , and said , pointing to a small carriage , that was passing at break neck speed. "There he is in that carriage. Your man is the one with the blue ribbon on his hat. Make no mistakes They 20 to Botanical Garden ; you must fol low. " A strange look settled upon tho Malay's face. In that rapid glance ho had recognized the occupants of the carriage. He sped after them , and was soon out of sight of Chan Pong. "That is finished , " said the China man as he returned to his store. The jingle in the Botanical Garden slightly stirred , as our friends stood gazing at the antics of some half-dozen caged Javanese monkeys. ' Master ? " said Nablar , softly. "Hey , coolie ! " said Ralph , "what brings you here ? " "Master , " said'the Malay , "I speak little , I speak true. Chan Fong will kill you ! " Ralph started. "And you have come here to tell me this ? " he said. "Chan Fong has paid me to kill you. Had I not come , he would have sent another. " "I see It all ! " exclaimed Ralph , to his astonished friend. "He is Yung Faa , and but for the gratitude of this man he would have carried out Epor designs upon my life. Thanks , coolie ! What is your name ? " "Nablar. " "Well , Nablar , you shall be no loser by your fair dealing with me. How much were you to get from the China man ? " In brief terms Nablar informed him of the promise made by Chan Fong. "The scoundrel ! " muttered Ralph. "But come ; we must denounce the fellow. " "Stay , Ralph. " said Powell , "that course will never do ! You must die. In fact , you are dead already , " and taking the blue band from Ralph's hat , ho handed it to the Malay. "Here , you have filled your contract ; present this and claim your money. You will not see us again. " The Malay disappeared in the jun gle as suddenly as he had appeared. Powell hurriedly explained "his pro posed plan , and they too. disappeared in the'thick undergrowth , and skirt ing the main road , made their way back to the hotel. It was dark when they reached the city. Immediately , Ralph embarked on a steamer leaving that night for Hong Kong and the next day Batavia was astir over the death of the young Englishman. Powell , when inter viewed , could give no clue to the murderer. He had been for a short time separated from his friend , when he heard loud cries and struggles. He saw , only a short distance away , a Malay running at full speed toward him. him.Fearing Fearing for his own life , he fled , and made his way as best he could to the city. A search was instituted , but no trace of the bodycould be found. That evening , Chang Fong received an anonymous letter , informing him that his share in the murde'r was known. His conversation with Nablar was repeated , sufficiently to convince him that he had been overheard. Chan Fong was warned that both he and Nablar would be brought 10 jus tice. tice.At At dusk a steamer was to leave for Bombaj' , and Powell , having con cealed himself on board , kept a close watch upon the embarking : passen gers. gers.As As he had expected , one of the first to step on board was Chang Fong , quite plainly dressed , and booked for Bombay. No sooner had the steamer left the harbor than Powell announced to the captain the crime for which the Celes tial was wanted. The captain , advancing to that part of the vessel where the Chinaman sat , inquired his name. "Ah Ming ! " coolly replied the manj lamed individual. No attempt was made to control his movements until tho steamer was nearing tho port of Bombay , when a private signal from tho masthead an nounced to authorities that two police officers were wanted. Before the vessel had yet anchored , a boat came alongside , and two police men stepped on board. "Arrest that man ! " said Powell , showing himself for tho first time to the astonished Chinaman. Yung laa , alias Chan Fong , alias Ah Ming , made an attempt to leap into one of the numerous small boats that were now surrounding the steam er , but the officers were too quick for him , and soon , sacurely handcuffed , he was transferred to tho prison at Bombay. Two weeks later Powell with his prisoner , appeared in Hong Kong. The first man who met them upon their landing was Ralph Somers. "You ! " gasped the Chinaman. "Yes , me ! " responded Ralph , un grammatically "and also you , I per ceive , " he added , coolly. Again in Hong Kong , Yung Faa was speedily brought to justice and the firm of Gilbert & Mason were repaid their losses by the sale of the property of the Batavian merchant. Nablar was not forgotten , and is now the proud possessor of a hand some carriage of his own. He can any day be seen , shouting as vocifer ously for a "fare" as any of the hun dred hack-drivers of Batavia. Ralph Somers visited England after all a little later , but with a handsome reward from Gilbert & Mason for con senting to bo a dead man for awhile , and very proud of having been the means of outwitting a Chinaman. The Capture of John Brown. From an account in the June Cent ury of John Brown at Harper's Ferry , written by one of his prisoners , who was in the engine-house during the in surrection , and afterward h"eld tho rank of captain in the Confederate army , we quote the following : "When Lieutenant Stuart came in the morn ing for the final reply to the demand to surrender' I got up and went to Brown's side to hear his answer. "Stuart asked , 'Are you ready to surrender , and trust to the mercy of the Government ? ' "Brown answered promptly , 'No ! I prefer to die here. ' "His manner did not betray the least fear. "Stuart stepped aside and made the signal for the attack , which was in stantly begun with sledge-hammers to break down the door. "Finding it would not yield , the soldiers seized a long ladder for a bat tering-ram , and commenced beating the door with that , the party within firing incessantly. I had assisted in the barricading , fixing the fastenings so that I could remove them upon the first effort to get in. But I was not at the door when the battering began , and could not get to tho fastenings until the ladder was used. I then quickly removed the fastenings , and after two or three strokes of the lad der the engine rolled partially back , making a small aperture , through which Lieutenant Green of the marines forced himself , jumped on top of the engine , and. stood a second in tho midst of a shower of balls , looking for John Brown. When he saw Brown he sprang about twelve feet at him , and gave an under-thrust of his sword , striking him about midway the body and raising him completely from the " ground. Brown fell "forward with his head between his knees , and Green struck him several times over the head , and , as I then supposed , split his skull at every stroke. "I was not two feet from Brown at that time. Of course I got out of the building as soon as possible , and did not know till some time later that Brown was not killed. It seems that in making the thrust Green's sword struck Brown's belt and did not pene trate the body. Tho sword was bent double. The reason that Brown was not killed when struck'on the head was that Green was holding his sword in the middle , striking with the hilt and making only scalp wounds. " Some Characters at the Exposition. From an illustrated paper on tho New Orleans Exposition by Eugene V. Smalley , in the June Century , we quote the following anecdotes of some of tho types seen atfthe fair ; "The odd char acters at the fair are the terror of ex hibitors. A Cincinnati furnitnre-mak- er discovered a countryman from Arkansas whittling a handsome ma hogany cabinet 'to see what the wood was like. ' The man's knowledge of furniture was evidently limited to articles which could not be damaged by a seasonable use of the jack-knife. Another exhibitor , who had fitted up a room with the finest specimens of his art , was horrified to find an old lady eating her lunch of fried chicken seated in one of his satin upholstered chairs. 'What's the cheer good for if it ain't to set down iu1 she placidly remarked , in reply to his earnest re quest that she would go somewhere else with her victuals. The same ex hibitor one day found that some visitor to his alcoves had left a token of ap proval on the polished surface of a costly mantal , in the words 'This is pretty good' scratched with a knife. "The Turks who sell olive-wood , beads , and other trinkets 'from Jeru salem' all made in Pari * are pic turesque additions to the i ermanent personnel of tho fair , thugh their genuineness , like that of their wares , will not always bear inspection. An amusing scene occurred one day at one of these Oriental bazaars. A tall man , with a rural air , stopped before the stand and appeared to take a live ly interest , not in the goods but in tho features of one of the salesman in scarlet fez and baggy trousers. He surveyed tho Oriental in front and in profile , and then , slapping him on the shoulder , exclaimed , 'Hello , Jake , when did you come from Indiana ? ' The turk from Indiana acknowledged his old acquaintance and begged that he would not 'give him away. ' " A bid of , 5 cents more than his competitoi secured a house and lot for a man at a rcceiil sheriff's sale in Bartwell. Ga. HOUSEHOLD HINTS. To prevent the under piecrust from oaking , glaze it with beaten egg. 'Nasturtium blossoms resting upon > the beautiful fern-leaVed parsley are a pretty garnish for butter. Beautiful tidies are made by paint ing flowers in bright colors on black satin ; trim tho edges of tho tidies with white lace. The juice of half a lemon is to the taste ol many a delightful addition to iced or warm tea. Of course no milk is used with it. A good method to clean painted walls is to pulverize some Bath brick , and after rubbing a little soap upon a woolen cloth , dip it in tho brick and with it rub the walls. This will re move dirt without detriment to the walls. In buying heavy rep furniture cre tonne be careful that it has no stiffen ing. If it is not quite soft it cannot be used to ad vantage , for unless it is quite pliable it looks very badlj' and is apt to crack and tear when manipu lated in upholstering. Lap robes with ecru open work and colored damask stripes , as well as those with colored embroidery on plain surfaces , are now used as table- covers for country houses. They are quite serviceable and are well adapted to tho purpose for which they are used. used.Never Never serve sardines in the tin boxes in which they are packed. Lay them carefully in a pretty majolica or porcelain sardine dish , to be had in every china store , or serve them in any small flat dish. They may be garnished with endive leaves or the small heart leaves of lettuce. Watercress sandwiches are very ap petizing. Wash tho watercress well and dry it thoroughly with a fine nap kin , so that no moisturo remains. After detaching the leaves from the stalk chop them fine and spread them upon slices of thinly-cut buttered bread from which the crust has been removed. A nice breakfast dish is made as follows : Cut in strips four mush rooms , one small onion and one clove of garlic. Fry them in two ounces of butter ; add a tablespoonful of flour ; stir a moment , then add half a pint of broth and tho same quantity of white wine. Boil gently until reduced one- half , and then put in the pan eight or ten hard boiled'eggs cut m dice ; boil one minute and serve. The yolks may be left whole and only tho whites cut in dice. A pretty wall pocket ia made of a large ' palmleaf or Japanese fan , cov- ere'd smoothly with silk , serge or .pretty satteen or cretonne. The pock- ret part is made large enough to al low of being gathered or box pleated and to have a heading above and be llow. It is then fastened securely to tthe fan and edged with fluffy balls ol silk. The fan is suspended by a silk cord fastened securely to the point 'where the handle joins tho fan and either end is finished with a ball of , silk like those about tiie edge. Young carrots cooked in this waj re very delicate : Boil a quart of car- 'rots that have been cleaned and cut ; in fillets or other shapes and drain . 'them. Mix together in a saucepan 'two ounces of butter with a tables- Spoonful of flour ; add one pint ol milk , set the saucepan on the fire and stir until it boiles , then put in the car rots and stir for a minute. Add a little salt , two yolks of eggs , mix well , .boil once and serve hot. If liked , a 'little finely minced parsley may be sadde d just before serving. 1 This apple charlotte is easily made and is very good. Peel , quarter and core six apples ; put them in a pan with two tablespoonftils of water , a little stick of cinnamon and stew un til done. Add three or four ounces of sugar and mix gently , taking care not to mash the apples , and let them 'cool. Butter a mold well and line the bottom and sides with stripes of stale bread an inch wide and a qiiar- terofan inch thick. Fill halt full with some of the apples , put a thin layer of any kind of preserve or jam on the apples , cover with strips of stale bread and bake twenty minutes in a hot. oven. Turn over on a dish , remove the mold and serve hot. This recipe for "mock hare" makes a dish that may be eaten hot for din ner or cold for lunch or supper. One pound of lean beef and one pound of lean fresh pork chopped very fine and thoroughly mixed together. Add two teaspoonfuls of pepper , a table- spoonful of salt , one small onion and six leaves of parsley finely minced , a little thyme and half a nutmeg grated. Then mix with four raw eggs and half a pint of very fine bread crumbs. Mold the mixture into a loaf and place it in a buttered dripping pan. Put little pieces of butter on the top of the loaf ; bake in a good oven , bast ing it occasionally with tho melted butter. It should bo a rich brown. Farmers' Vacations. At this season of the year when the farmer is "up to his eyes" in work , thousands of other folks are either taking their annual vacation or plan ning for one to bo presently enjoyed. A large portion of these pleasure seek ers are residents of hot and dusty cities or large towns from which they are glad to escape during some portion of the heated term. We are glad to observe , however , that during later years it has become a growing fashion among the popula tion of rural districts to follow the example of city folks and take a change of air and scenery. This is as it should be. Tho rural citizen will find just as much benefit as his "city cousin" by changing his surroundings for a few days or weeks every year. Therein lies the whole secret of the annual outing. It is of course a difficult matter to convince farmers that a summer vaca tion is possible for them. To some , perhaps , it is almost out of the ques tion , but in thousand of cases farmers , if they are so minded , can snatch a few days from the active duties of tho farm and hie away to the seaside or to some other favorable locality and de vote themselves to the task of physi- cOl recuperation , social intercourse and intellectual growth. Forest , Forae and Farm. A , Jk \ SOME CURIOUS BIBLES. Volumes of Sacred AVrlt That Are Valued Only for Misprints. Tho interest prevailing just at this time in the subject of biblical accuracy will render interesting some facts re garding curious bibles which have ap peared siuce 1611 , when King James' version was first published. Several JSSUPS of tho bible , says The New York Herald , have become famous for curious misprints. There is , for instance , tho "Placemakers' bible , " "Blessed are the placeinakers , for they shall be called che children of God" Matt. v.t 9 is an extraordinary mis print occurring in tho second edition of the Geneva bible , published in Geneva in folio form in 1651-2. Tho mistake was soon discovered and cor rected , and never occurred again. Then there is tho "Vinegar" bible. "The parable of tho vinegar , " instead of "the parable of the vineyard , " ap pears in the chapter-heading to Luko xx. , in an Oxford edition of .the authorized version wnich was publish ed by J. Basket in imperial folio , and is said to bo the most elaborate and sumptuous of all the Oxford bibles. The printing is very beautiful , and some of the copies were printed on vellum ; but , unfortunately , tho proofs were carelessly read , and the book printed by Basket was called "a basketful of printers' errors. " Tho book is now highly prized on account of its typographicarfaults. There is also tho "Wicked bible" In existence. This extraordinary name has been given to an edition of tho authorized bible printed in London by Robert Barker and Martin Lucas in 1631. The negative was loft out of tho seventh commandment , and William Kilburn , writing in 1659 , says that , owing to tho zeal of Dr. Usher , tho printer was fined 2,000 or 3,000. In Laud's published works there is a copy of the king's letter directing that tho printer bo fined 3,000 , but Dr. Scrivener asserts , without giving an authority , that the real fine was one of 300 , inflicted by Archbishop Laud , "to be expended on a font of fair Greek type. " Only four copiesuf this scarco bible are now known to exist , as the edition was destroyed and the copies called in as soon as the mistake was discovered. Dr. Scrivener de clared that a copy existed at AVolfen- buttcl. This led to a search being made. No such English bible was discovered , but a German bible with the very same mistake was found in its stead. There is also the "Persecuting Printers' bible. " "Princes have per secuted mo without a cause , " Psaluis cxix. , has the word "printers" used instead of ' - " and has ofprinces , given occasion for this name. All that is known of this edition is stated by Mr. Henry Stevens , in the catalogue of the Caxton exhibition of bibles , where he says that these words were put into the mouth of Cotton Mather by a blundering typographer in a bible printed before 1702. There is also the "Ears to Ear bi ble. " "Who has ears to ear let him hear" Matthew xii. , 43. This adapt ation of London cockney is found in an octave bible published by the Ox ford press in 1810. The same book contains a more serious blunder in Hebrews ix. , 14 : "How much more shall the blond of Christ , who through the eternal spirit offered Himself with out spot to God , purge your conscience from good works to servo the living God. " Among others may bo noted the "Standing Fishes bible. " "And it shall come to pass that the fishes shall stand upon it , " etc. Ezekiel xvii. , 10. The word fishes is used for fishers in a quarto bible printed by the king's printer in London in 1806 and reprint ed in a quarto edition of J 813 and an octavo edition of 1833. There is also the "Breeches bible , " which , like the other is out of print. "And tho eyes of Adam and Eve were opened , and they knew that they were naked , and they sewed fig leaves to gether and made themselves breeches" Genesis in. , 7. The word "breeches" in the text in of " was put place "ap rons. " It is found in a quarto bib'le printed in London by Robert Barker in the early part of the seventeenth cen tury. Bishop Dudley on the Negro Question. Bishop Dudley , of Kentucky , has a paper in the June Ccnturij , entitled "How Shall we Help the Negro ? * ' We quote the following : "Still the problem remains , how shall these alien races dwell in safety side by side , each free and unhampered in the enjoyment of life and liberty and in the pursuit of its happiness ? The } * are thedecend- ants of one father , the redeemed chil dren of one God , the citizens of one nation , neighbors with common inter ests , and yet are separated by the re sults of centuries of development , physical , mental , and moral , separa ted by inherited traditions , by the spirit of caste , by the recollection of wrongs done and suffered , though it may be in general as innocent in the perpetrators as in the sufferer. How shall the rights of all be duly guarded ? How shall the lower race be lifted up to higher stages of human develop ment , for only so can the rights of the superior race be made secure for the present and for the future , and thi ? is the chiefest rights of them who are now cast down ? "I answer , by the personal endeay- ors of individuals of the higher race ; .oy their personal contact with these , their ignorant and untaught neighbors , exhibiting before their wondering eyes in daily life the principles of truth and justice , purit } * and charity , honesty and courage. Perhaps this may seem to be but the veriest platitude , the gush of sentiment , the twaddle of a maudlin religion , but in all truth and soberness I mean exactly what I say. Let me try to explain more full } ' . "These people need help , that they may be lifted up. I mean , then , that in my judgment that help must be personal and not official , the hand of a friend rather than the club of an officer , the patient counsel of a neigh bor rather than the decree of a court , the enactment of a Congress , or the proclamation of a President. The solemn sanctions of the organic law are thrown round about this liberty , and the robe of citizenship , full , per- feet , and complete , with nevor seam nor rent , has boon put upon it. Tho courts have declared its inviolable character , and this decree affirms tho negro , tho liberated slave , a citizen. But does tho declaration make him such ? I mean does it , can it impart tho intelligent life , the moral con sciousness which shall vivify the dead mass and make it a helpful member of \ \ tho body politic ? We have had decla- , | rations from every department of tho < | Government that the negro is a citizen ; but they are as powerless to eflct their purpose as were tho oft-repeated acts of the Confederate Congress to mako tho paper dollar worth more than two cents ; as nugatory and vain as tho old-time legislation of Virginia that there should bo a town at such and such a designated cross-road. Tho negro is a citizen , and ho has tho rights under tho Constitution and tho laws that anv white man has ; and yet lie needs help , though it may bo tho black and white demagogues would dislike him to think so , ho needs help , personal , individual , patient , loving help , that ho may bo fitted to exercise his covenanted rights , and to do tho duties which these rights impose. " Chicks Dead iu tho Shell. Iu tho opinion of those who hatch many chickens , and give them thought ful attentiou , there are often many chicks found dead in tho shell , at all steps of growth by incubation. Thoro ; are degrees of fertility in the animal * as well as vegetable kingdom , and tho same results are experienced in tho j growth of fowls , as in the growth of vegetation. By degrees of fertility in vegetation , we mean that a plant may havo a por tion of its seeds well developed , plump and well proportioned , containing tho for the production of strong and form plants , and , when planted , will germinate and produce its kind in strong and vigorous plants. On tho I other hand , there arc seeds from tho } same plant which are shriveled and | deformed , as it were , and when plant ed will not grow , and many of them , , to all actual appearances , are but littlo ; inferior to tho best ; but , if they germ inate at all , they will produce a weak , sickly plant , and while struggling , as [ it were , for existence , in a little while ' will droop and die. This is the result , of different degrees of fertility ; those having strong and healthy germs ' produce strong and vigorous plants , i and those with frail and sickly germs produce the sarno character of plants , until we come to those with insufficient strength and vigor even to germinate. The same principle holds with tho egg as with the seed , and while to all appearances our heiis may be strong , healthy and vigorous , yet there may bo lurking back something that will render them incapable of producing eggs with tho full degree of fertility. On the other hand , it may be the fault of the male , and it makes no difference how strong and vigorous our hens may be , if the male is deficient iu that respect , tho result will be the same a failure to hatch a failure of the germ to mature. Then , again , our hens ' and cocks may be allrigh't ; be strong , healthy and vigorous , and there will be some conditions in their life , neces sary for tho full development of tho generative process , and a failure in that respect will cause the same re sults in the degrees of fertility. Unfor tunately , we are unable to understand all these causes , which operate against the production of the young , and can only on general principles select the strongest and most vigorous to breed from , and not at any time hatch a chick Irom an egg laid by a hen of which we have any doubt. That there is this degree of fertility and strength in tho egg , there can be no doubt , as reason and common sense will con vince us that if all the conditions are the same , and all the eggs are subject to the same conditions'in hatching , ii one egg will hatch , all will. We see this demonstrated more chiefly with incubators , when each and every egg placed in the hatcher must of necessi ty be subject to the same conditions all thu way through , and yet we will have them in all stages of incubation. Some eggs will produ3e strong and vigorous chicks , others weakly ones , and some with chicks dead in the shells , at all periods from the twelfth up to the twentieth day , when tho chick is ready to break through tho shell and come forth to enjoy life with the balance. We can see from tho above how unjust to blame the breed er , for he cannot by any of the light er experiences of others , tell the fact beforehand , or the cause afterward , of such results. Texas Farm and llancfi. Riel's Inspiration Racket. A Canadian volunteer writing home from Duck Lake after the recent col lision with Riel's rebels there tells how ' the half-breed lender the - plays inspira tion game on his Indian and French folldwers : At the battle of Duck Lake he had a cross with him , and he scratched it in three places and showed it to the In dians , and told them the cross was struck three times with bullets from the enemy and he never got a scratch. A few days before the late eclipse of the sun he called all the Indians to gether and had a council with them , and told them he was inspired by the Big Spirit. He told them that on a certain day and at or about a certain hour the sun would get dark. This was the eclipse , and he got his inspira tion from the almanac. Bill Nye at a Military Banquet I am not much of a military man. I once undertook to hold a claim in the North Park , but a bitterness sprang up between m\'self and the Indians , and I lost uly front hair. Cholera , chief of the Utes , came to the * Boomerang mine one day and said ho would give me two sleeps to get away in. I didn't want any difficulty with him. and I thought one sleep was enough , and so I hurried right awaj * . I said to him : Noble warrior of the knock-kneed Utes , take my mine , you can-have it , it's already salted ; it will keep through the hot weather all right. Help yourself to anything you can find ; take my grub , take my whisky ; drink yourself into a premature grave at my expense , fire up with my nitro glycerine and drop on yourself. And then I got out. BostonGlobe.