4 * < vi" 'il S gjy SF ? ? Ik * iinfflq < > Sffi2 _
_ H v *
I Margheriia's Vendetta
H Rear tho French market in Now Orloans a
M .young Sicilian , Luigi KoshI , was killed on
B ? fcw Yenm'ovo of 1682. An American gen-
fl denmn who w _ arrested for tlio murder
fl proved by tlio tcHtimony of a compunion
fl dint while ho wan returning Into from some
fl * tivity , ho wjw nHHaulted by KoshS , and
H Stilled liim ( n self-defenne.
H lie was honorubly acquitted but remnm-
H hcrrtl with rcinorbo that he himself had boon
< lrinking freely that night , and , as ho wan
comlnj ? rupidly round u corner , Hobs ! had
m At urn bled ugaiiiHt him.
H Tic cursed tho Sicilian
, and ho wau by no
H .means certain in his own mind that ho did
H _ ot strike him with Ids his flat. At any rute ,
H an pito of his friend's testimony , tho city be-
flcame hateful to Charles Stunnurd after tho
H"nigedy , and ho settled in another purfc of
K ilio state.
fl The affair passed out of tho minds of poo-
H pie , Iiit anion * ? Sieilinnn it was-a vivid mem-
H < ry. Ov > r the body of her brother , her only
H rclutive , Murglierit a hud been led to tako tho
B oath of the vendetta.
H "Vou are only a girl , it is true , " said Mnn-
H _ el Snlcetti , the head of tho Silicians , "und
H you ure but fourteen ; but some day you will
H * * a woman , and on you , as Luigi's only
H Wood kin , tho vow ff tho vendetta is laid.
H Wherever you meet tho murderer , even if you
H inow that your own life will bo tho pcnulty ,
B you are sworn to avengo your brother. Do
H yon know what will happen to you if you
H jureak your vow ? "
B "Luigi's npint wiil curse me ! " sobbed tho
m ririXfy people will drive me out. and if I
H .starve , the ) ' will give mo no brcndiflum ;
H asirk , thoy will turn from me. They will cry
B llni-dicral' when they meet me , und when I
jjn nil , tl.ey will j-jiit on my grave , and say
j MaWcta ! ' over it. "
B "You know your lesson , girl , " enid Manuel ,
sternly. 'Ton have loht one brother , but we
will all bo your brothers , and help you to
.your revenge. "
fl Perhaps tho readers of the Companion
"think tho vendetta , or vow of vengeance , be-
i longs to un older day and a different country
H : iomours ? It hardly wms possible that in
, .the nineteuth century , and in an American
B c5.i7t nch a relic of a savage period can livo
< ond flourish ; but we in Now Orleans know
BMi "that it is as common among tho Corsican
S _ nd Sicilian population us it is on the soil
I hich originated it and made rcvengo a holy
: obligation.
! There are mysterious murders in their
BS ; quarters , where , ono by one , a wholo family
> _ rw killed. Law is powerless to bring theso
- , .criminals to trial or to identify them , for
1 ihey all band together to protect and hido
| the guilty. It is a point of honor , too , with
-the family and friends of the victims never to
Hi give information against their enemies , nor
H { appear in court as witnenses against them.
i They will bide their time und kill them somo
H | -day , but they would scorn to denounce them.
m : Margherita grew up a. handsome , high-
1 .spirited-rirl. she had . no relutives , but : her
M ; people never suffered her to want. She kept
jj ihe name of her brother's blnyer in a littlo
H | docket she wore round her neck , and would
Bf oot at it , grind her teeth , and renew her vow
mn of vengeance. The vow did not require
B * thtxt she should pursue Charles Stan
di > i _ ard into another country. She was too
1 T > oor for that , besides hhc needed tho help of
m I ier friends in her vendetta ; but she held her-
1 -self iti ttadimt ! s for him when ho should ro-
e * urn to the city , which he might do any day.
H | She learned Englibh , so that she could
H | make inquiries among the Americans , and
1 ; who noticed the handsome Sicilian at her
1 Iruit-stall in Canal Stn > et dreamed that she
H | , ? iad consecrated herself to 6uch a purpose.
BI She had never been ilr. Stannard , but many
1 fher people knew him well by sight , and
i , when he returned , there would be enough to
mfc " xdentifr him. So she waited in stern patience.
i 5\ie hot summer ofl88G brought fatal ill-
1 se s to the Sicilian quarter. Margherita was
Hi one of the first victims , and
Ri -3d the family in which bhe lived
Kw Pa ' " at lue argent request of the phy-
Jj iician who attended her. she was removed to
B a hotpttiil. As a rule , Sicilians prefer to be
il fick , aad recover or die , in their own quar-
| iers , but Margherita had no kinsfolk to re-
| | aionstratu. She was earned to a charitablein-
mm titution , which is vixited , and in a measure
HF3 supported , by the benevolent ladies of tho
H - ty , and the low fever which prostrated her
strength and clouded her mind did not abate
Blx for weeks. She was too ill to know or care
H - rhere she was , but one pleasant autumn
I saorcing her Iaguid eyes opened , and she was
M sconscious of the btrangeness of her surround-
Hs .frigs.
1S She watched the white curtain ? of the open
B -windows waving to and fro in the soft breeze ,
H e aad then her eyes fell on a lady who was ar-
H 1 ranging some roses in a glass which stood on
H a. email btand near her bed. A lady with a
H lovely face ; aud somehow to the girl tho per-
H iime of the robes and their delicate tints were ' ,
H -ever afrer always associated in her mind with
this first glimpse of Helen Carroll.
H Mibs Carroll looked up from her task and
H * satv the girl's eyes fixed upon her.
j I ' -Ah , you are better ? " she said , with a
H I pleased smile , advancing to the cot and lay-
I ing her hand Margherita's wrist. "Your
H I -skin is cool and moist at last. Do you un- ,
I derstand me ? Can you speak English ? "
H 1 "Yes , " said the girl , faintlj' .
H m "Ah , that is well. You will soon be strong
H again , but you must not talk , and you must
H B TTtrnii what I say. I'm your nurse , you see ,
II t. and yoTl must take some of this soup now. "
I - She raised llargherita in her btrong j'oung '
II amw , and fed her as if she was a helpless
H S infant ; then beat up her pillow , and turned <
H S i ± eni , and laid the weak head back. -
H m "Now you look ever so much betterl" said '
H S ILss Carroll , with her beautiful smile. "Try >
M to tdeep a little. " ]
M Margherita was too weak to feel surprise. ,
H S "Hour she came in such a comfortable bed , with
H S sneh. a lovely lady for a nurse , did not trouble ' '
li ierrn the least , and not until eke recovered i
I e co1T taat sne owed her life to Helen ]
x *
lie ( Carroll's faithful care.
II People called Miss Carroll eccentric. Young
HK rich and handsome , bhe cared nothing for !
HB | sodety , but , as people said , she was always i
n -taltng np some craze , and her latest was j
KL philanthropic work.
I
HB Her world prophesied that she would weary '
HE of it in a month , but a year had rolled by , 1
Infound her faithful to her self-imposed duties j
enlarging the sphere of her Ubcfulness. She ,
mjm 3isj& been attracted by Margherita's beauty
IBwhen the girl was first brought to tho hos- <
pital. and made her her special charge. As <
IS Xhe tdri grew batter , the interest deepened , i
IB until the thought of parting with her became
IB snore and more di ta > teful to Miss Carroll. ]
IB "You will soon be able to return to your I
IB ianuly , Margherita , " ? he said one day , as ]
BjB she supported the invalid to an easy chair
BHJ xtear the window. ' 'Several Sicilians were
IS here lost week inquiring ul > ont you but you '
BBE arere to weak too see them , and their English ]
BHJ r&s so bad I could not understand them. " ,
BJBJ "I haf ao famly , " Margherita said sadly.J J
BJB * So padre , no mud re , no nobody. " (
BBE " But whom , then , do you live with ? " 1
BjBJ ' 'My people is good to me , but no blood (
WMg iiie raiee in dis countn" . Some day may (
H iBsybe I go back to Sidly ; some day when I '
BB Iree again. " 1
HJ As saevpoka tfee last words.with a shudder <
HJ feer iaeds toaeked the Wack cord to which
BEwas baspeaded the small bras locket which. (
Jm , held the doomed same.
W "Frr4" * tvboed Mi s Carroll , with a laugh.
Wt "Everybody is this eountry is free. Ah , I un- ,
IS den-rand ! Thct is a love token , i n't it.Mar- -
sin-rrta ? YtMt heid o to that locket like
M pm death if any ose torched it , and now -
m ion naat to be free from the lover who gave
* ' '
it Trt yo .
S " 3frrfcerita. iMtgked j orsfeHy.
* * -A lore tokea , " che repeated , "yes , yes.
1 SLo e u l kate ? lore and hate ! But you uu- ,
m d * > rTand sot. Ah no. I caa tell not '
c < * * yo 4ryo are MketfceswiHtsia heaven. <
M Ah Dto bmo , 1 go away aad See you no more ! <
j § Wbar wiH Mar aenta do wkea dedays go .
x jaad de aights eosie. axul de sweet good face j
S looks at me so bmm * ? " •
fi Ite b r t iato tears aad wept vehemently , j
X To her passtoaate Soutaera aatare , adoring j
1 Eele = as the did , it beeaed as if she must die
* .deprived of the bight of the woman whose '
X iiad eyes had looked at her , aad wte > e sweet •
I voice aad pokea to her as no human being <
.ever did ber . ,
JK "VTiiat wiH I do ? " she cried. "I have no
mt iadae&s to be weM. wkea I beeyou no more ! " '
jBJ -Ltetea. " said Helen , toached to the soul. ]
jH - tace you care so nutch you bhall not lose j
Bat 23L too am s 01 atoHe in the world.
Bat AhoM auat Ures with me , and if you wish
As roe efcaK Hve with as. She is an invalid , and '
M Toa caft help me to take care of her. I'm ;
" make an excellent house- ,
EBEJ scst , to * . , yoall
Ba l heritadaspedherkand3notindelight , \
K Tt ia perplexity. Itiscountrarybothto th l
at -tmditsoas and customs of the Sicuiaas to j
aketcrTke. They wiU stanre cheerfully by-
BSlfew condescending to perform any domestic
B 4Ujtaea&rthe or. ButloTeforthefnendwho j
SawJB * # * ' &Sllf& B
.
,
stood before her triumphed overall obstaclos ,
for sho know that if bIio parted with Miss Car-
rol sho could novcr expect nor wish to boo hor
In tho Sicilian quarter. With a quick move
ment , sho took Helen's hand and pressed itto
hor lips.
"I gif myself to you , " sho said , simply ; "but
for money , no. You will novuir gif mo money ,
or I go. " Sho rasicd her proud littlo head
with tho hauteur of n queen.
' 'So bo it , " said Helon , with a smilo. "You
shall sottlo that question as you cIiooko.
Thero uro more ways of helping you than uy
wages. "
Margherita paid a short visit tohorSicilian
friondH before sho went to MisB Carroll's. At
first they tried to dissuudo her , until an idea
was suggested by Manuel himself.
"Lot hor go. Tho young ludy is American
nnd rich. Ho is Americun aud rich. too.
Perhaps thoy know each other , and ho will
go thero to oxisit. and Margherita's vendetta
will como to her hand. Ah yes , sho must go
thero. "
Murgherita heard , and shuddered. Ah !
when sho was with her young lady sho forgot
her vow. How could sho ossociuto it with
thoso kind oj'os which looked lovingly at her ,
and at ovcry ono who needed charity and
kindness. Would sho not shrink from a girl
who , like Margherita , held herbclf ready to
commit a crime ? Not that tho Siciliun cither
thought , or called "vendetta" n crime , sho
only felt tho iniluonco of love and kindness
upon her own savago nature , and know that
tho fulfilment of her vow would raiso nn
eternal barrier between herself and her bene
factress.
A year passed. Margherita grow moro and
moro invaluable in Miss Carroll's household.
Such a patient nurse for tho invalidand such
a capable housekeeper as she became ! Her
fiery nature was not changed , but sholeamed
to control it when sho saw Helen's grieved
and shocked looks at her ungovernable out
bursts of temper. One day , entering Miss
Carroll's room , sho found tho young lady
laughing and crying over a letter sho held in
her hand.
"Cougratulato me , Margherita ! " sho cried.
"My dear Brother Charles you havo heard
mo speak of , my only brother , is coming
homo , to live. Ho will novcr leave mo again.
Oh , how perfectly happy I ami"
Murgherita knelt by Helen's side , her fav-
orito attitude when alono with her friend , and
raised tho lady'B hand to her lips. Her bril
liant oyes shone with reflected joy , as sho
said : "I am glad with you. This brother ,
why stay ho away so long ? "
"It is a sad Btory , " her faco clouding , "I
could never bear to speak nor think of it
when ho was nway. But j'ou arc moro like a
friend than a servant , Margherita , and I will
toll jrou. Pivo years ugo ho killed a man. It
was in self-defence , but Charles nover ceased
regretting it. He thought perhaps ho had
been to blamo , so ho went awuy and settled
in another part of tho State. "
"Fivo year ago he kill one man , " Mnrghcri-
ta repeated , with a quick catch in her breath.
"But your brother namo Charles Carroll ? "
"No ho is half-brother moth
, only my - , our
er was tho Bame. His name is Charles Stan
nard. Why ! what is tho matter , Margher
ita ? "
tho girl had sprung to her feet , her eyes wild ,
her faco ghastly , and her hand clutching tho
black cord which held the locket.
"Your brotherl , sho repeated. "Ah , Dio
mio , your brotherl"
"Are you ill , Margherita ? " asked Miss Car
roll. "What excites you so ? Go and lie
down and I will bring you some ether. "
Without another word Margherita tottered
to tho door like a blind person feeling her
way , while Helen Carroll was searching in a
closet for the remedy she prescribed. When
she went to tho girl's room expecting to find
her there , thero was no sign of tho Sicilian.
It was a most mysterious disappear
ance , and for a month Miss Curroll
looked confidently for tho return of her way
ward protegee. Nothing had been heard of
her amongst her Sicilian friends. She had ns
completely disappeared as if the ground had
swallowed her ; and more than a year rolled
by without tidings.
One morning Miss Carroll was summoned
to the parlor.
"It's a nun , Miss Helen , and sho says sho
won't keep you a minute , " the servant said.
The nun rose from her chair as the lady en
tered , but did not advance , and kept her
hands tightly clasped before her. Tho white
frilled cap and sweeping black veil for a mo
ment confused Miss Carroll , but tho next in
astonishment , she cried out :
"Murgherita ! Oh , whero have you been ,
and what means this dress ? "
The nun retreated from Miss Carroll's out
stretched hands with a repellunt gesture.
"Ah ! I cannot touch you , " sho said.
"Listen ; the man your brother murdered was
my brother ; and 1 swore the vondetta against
him. But how could I hurt you , break your
heart , who was an angel to me ? I must keep
my vow ordothis" touchinghernun'shabit.
" 1 hato do convent , I hate de life , but for you
I make myself dead to de world. My people
say not 'maledicta' to a nun. nnd dey spit not
on her grave. For you , all for you. but I
touch not yovr hand. I gif my life for you.
Addiol Addio ! you vill see your poor Margh
erita no more. "
Before Miss Carroll recovered from her as
tonishment tho nun was gone.
She is still living in a convent on the coast. .
a 6ombre-faced nun who does her daily round
of duty mechanically , but whether she regrets
the act of belf-sacrifice which consigned her to
what she considers a living tomb , no one will
ever know from those silent , resolute lips.
Makie B. Williams , in the outh's Com
panion.
English XoTel "N'ritiiiff. .
London Letter , Philadelphia Times.
A well-know novelist , hearing the
excess of psj'chological lore in her
latest publications eulogized by a
learned critic , replied with noncha
lance : "Study , delving , laborious
scholarship , patience ! O , bless me ,
no ! I picked it all up at Mr. Chela's
at homes , " referring to the standard
bearer in occultism. Not by dint of
any one of these cliques is society
jiven tone , but in their "incorporated
strength lies its value. Novel writ
ing is pursued as a more lucrative
business than in America. The
ivhirl of life scenes provides material
for the fiction writing world. Those
ivho have a career prepared for them
lforetime , in state department or
uty office , go after 3 o'clock to a
suburban house , where for the re
mainder of the day and night they
ire devoted to the trade of word-
inking. And for those who find the
sweet village environs the only spot
supplying the charm of restful retire
ment are annexed to London by a
private chamber , to which they come
laily to accomplish five hours' unin
terrupted story writing. This pro
cess of flitting to and fro from fire
side to desk , from busy town to the
tranquil valley of the Thames , keeps
ane ever within hearing of the Ora
cle of civilization.
A Colossal Catalogue of the Star.
London News.
It is not from America but from
France that the colossal proposal
comes for preparing a catalogue of
2,000,000 stars. This bold concep
tion emanates from Dr. Gill , whose
astronomical observations at the
cape and elsewhere have produced
some notable results , and who has
put forth his scheme for a star cata
logue on this gigantic scale in the or-
spun of the bureau of the permanent
international committee for the ex
ecution of a photographic map ofthe
heavens. Dr. Gill contemplates the
establishment of a central office un
der the direction of a chief , with as
sistant secretaries , and a staff of
measurers and computers. The work ,
it is calculated , would occupy twenty-
five years. Admiral Mouchez , who
defends the proposal against some
rather fierce opposition which it has
provoked , says that astronomers
estimate the average cost of observ
ing and calculating each star at 10
francs. It follows that the proposed
catalogue would cost 20,000,000
francs , or 800.000.
gjgfl t il JSiiimSa _ i " " ' ' . * g" ; L' .
_ _ _ Mfa _ _ _ M _ _ _ MlMllfiCI _ _ _ _ _
The Hardiness of American Half-
Breeds.
The experience of tho teachers
of tho Lincoln Institution confirms
tho views hero oxprcssed , that the
mixed Indian is moro exempt from
pulmonary disease than tho pure
Indian ; and , further , that if the for
mer are attacked by disease they of
fer greater constitutional resistance
to it than tho latter. This view is
also confirmed by the largo experi
ence of Capt. II. H. Pratt , superin
tendent of tho Carlisle Indian School ,
who says in his last report : "Our
experience is that tho mixed bloods
resist disease and death from pul
monary troubles better than the full
bloods , and our best health condi
tions are found among those we send
out into families , due , I think , very
largely to the regular occupation
and varied diet. " Similiar views
have been expressed by others who
have resided among the mixed or
half breed races in the northwestern
part of Canada. These people are
said to be strong and hearty , long-
lived as they remain in their native
climate. They regard themselves as
the equal of the whites , and lose in
a patronizing way on the Indian.
Their families are usually very large ,
and the female sex is said to be very
handsome. Quite recently I had oc
casion to investigate the question
whether pulmonary consumption
tends to exterminate the American
Indian , and then I found that nearly
all those Indian agencies which show
the lowest consumption rate are pre
cisely those which contain the largest
number of mixed bloods. Of course ,
it is just possible that the presence
and the absenco of pulmonary con
sumption in certain tribes is purely
a coincidence ; yet I think from what
has been said concerning tho im
proved physical condition of the
mixed Indian , it is quite evident that
the greater immuuity of these tribes
from consumption is due to the fact
that they comprise a large element
which has a superior power of ward
ing off disease. Popular Science
Monthly.
Tlic Problem of Electrical Executions.
Electrical World.
As the time approaches for the go
ing into effect of the law passe 'd in
this state for the electrical execution
of criminals , the advisability of this
mode of execution is again being dis
cussed , and experiments on living
subjects have been undertaken to
test the new method of punishment.
That electricity , when properly ap
plied for the purpose , will cause death
has been established beyond doubt ,
but it has been recently pointed out
again that there is some probability
ofthe victim being only temporarily
deprived of the signs of life , and thus
meeting a more terrible fate later on.
It is , therefore , suggested that , to
prevent any possible burial alive , a
postmortem examination be made.
This somewhat novel question in
troduces another factor of uncer
tainty , for a case might thus arrive
in which death might be due to the
postmortem instead of the electric
shock , supposing the latter to have
only stunned the victim for a greater
or less time. Regarding also the
question of the spilling of blood at
electrical executions , a recent experi
ment at Mr. Edison's laboratory ,
where a dog was killed by electricity ,
shows that under certain circum
stances , too high electro motive
force for example , blood may be
drawn from the victim by the burst
ing of a blood vessel. While we be
lieve that executions by electricity
can be made as sure and as painless
as by any other method , it is to be
regretted , in some respects , that it
has been chosen to replace the office
of the hangman , if it is to be at
tended by grim and ghastly incidents
or accessories. That may meet the
views of those who wish to make exe
cutions horrible , but we sincerly trust
that electricity is to be free from such
recommendations.
Children's Lunches.
From Good Housekeeping.
A child at play from morning until
night , in the open air , will make way
with an incredible amount of food ,
and be healthier for so doing ; but let
it rely upon the regular hours for
taking it. Itwillthen enjoy the bless
ing of coming to the table hungry ,
for that certainly is a blessing , as
those deprived of an appetite can
heartily testify. Nor is it any sign
of distress that they are clamorous
for their meal to be served , their keen
appetites only assuring you there is
not much probability of complaints
being made of the dishes set before
them , provided there is always
enough. A prominent physician and
surgeon once said of his three children
who were then well grown youths ,
and the picture of health : "We never
allowed our children to lunch be
tween meals , and they were all good
eaters ; Ave never allowed tea and
coffee , and they were all good sleep
ers. " All those same children have
pince graduated from colleges and
are holding high positions to-day in
the professional world , robust and
of excellent habits , though inheriting
a frail ronstituation from a mother
who died young. The annoyances and
discomforts arising from this habit
of lunching must be innumerable ; the
interruptions of your time for read
ing , sewing , or socials calls , by a
.hungry child , demanding attentions ,
that will not be set aside ; the untidi
ness that must follow the prepara
tions of even plain bread butter , for
one , two , or three children ; the extra
step required from either servant or
parent , these .alone make a strong
plea against such a habit ; but when
we consider the violation of the whole
dietary system , and all the evils that
of stands waiting to give them a grip
their punishment for their indulgence
we cannot help crying out against
the evil and urge a better under
standing of all laws of digestion , and
what is quite as important , of indi
gestion.
_ to J { WBB , - r . . _ _ trrf
• •
I II I I
A lO-Ycar-Old Named Porn.
"Tea , sir , " Bnid old Jack West , reflectively ,
"I'vo been shipmates with many a nut'nl
born brave mun , but thobrnvest unlovor
shipped yet with wus a 10-ycar-old namo'
rem. "
"Namo' what7"
The old tnr deliberately knocked the ashes
from his clay pipe and , having performed (
that maiKcuvro with tho calmness und dig
nity becoming a bouts wain's mate , ho glanced '
coolly ut his interrogator.
"Namo' Peru. "
"How came 'im namo' Peru ? "
Old .luck luid his pipe in his lap , and draw
ing his jackknifo and navy plug , slowly be-
gnn shuving of strips of tobacco , until his
critical glanco measured a pipeful. Then
crumbling tho todarco in his left hand until
it was almost powdered , ho tucked tho knife
back in his belt und emptied tho tobacco in
to his pipe.
"Who took my matches ? " nsked tho old
man , as ho fumbled in his pocket.
A light was hauded him , and presently ns
tho smoke curled upward , Jack settled his
broad back comfortably jigainstaconvenient
chest and looked thoughtfully upward.
That was his invariublo way of announcing
ready , and they all knew it.
"Lot's havo tho yarn , Jack. "
"Well , boys , it's like this : It was buck in
' 30 , w'en I was younger 'an I am now , an'i
down yero on the South Pacific with the llng-
Bhip , Marion. I wus the spryest man in tho
gig's crew in them days , an' pulled for ole
Admiral Lane : long time ago it was , too. <
Well , onoevenin' in April tho Admiral wanted i
to go ashore , and they sung out for the gig's
crew , an' in a shake or so we wero nlongsido <
tho quay in Callao. Tho boat's crew was left ,
in the gig , and I'll boun'they was all snoozin' '
w'en the ole Admiral stepped in an' piped
sorter quick like : t
"Cast off there , boys nnd pull for the ship. ' " ,
"An' thero ho was with tho tiller-ropes in •
his hand , with a basket cr bottles handy , and '
crouched down between his feet like a scared
houn' was one of the cutest chips of a lubber
you ever lay your eyes on. " }
'I heard tho Admiral sny presently : " j
" 'What's your name , nigger ? " and the lit
tlo Bhaver piped back , sorter trcmbliu' : " I
" 'Peru , senor.
"Them wasn't' " the dnys w'en a lubber ,
could boast about like he owned the ship , nor
yitthotimo w'en coward folks wasindemnnd ,
but somehow or other they all liked tho littlo
shaver. He would tremble if the wind bio wed ,
but ho was so humble like an' handy that
they all had a kin' word for tho littlo Peru.
Jos' tell 'im an' ho would go , an' a better
shoeblack for Sunday inspection I ain't seed
yit. The Admiral hud a littlo gal 'long with
'im , er orphan , an' she was a mighty pretty
one. Maybe the Admiral didn't love that lit
tlo gal o' his'n. Bless my soul , there warn't j
anything good enough for her , and if any- j
body besides tho Admiral khowed it ,
that feller was littlo Peru. •
W'en skies was good that little
gal would como on deck , an' littlo Peru was
happy ns a king , an' the ole Admiral would
ust smoke his big pipe an' pace tho quarter I
eck an' look as if he didn't care whether * it
ained or snowed. You never seed apiettier'
Tictufe in tho chaplnins's book than them I
little shavers made way bnck in 'J19. Peru |
he would look as trim an' happy as you ,
please , an' that little gal with long hair an' a
laugh why theso yer mermaids ain't no cir
cumstance. "
"Well , ono might the storm came on sudden
like , an' you can shiver my Yankee timbers
if it warn't a storm. Boyal and to'gallants
was down and topsails to tho las' reef , but
tho old ship pitched an' rolled an'
heaved like you never seed. I lowed
as how me an' Davy Jones would be
shipmates if that thing didn't stop fore
long , with the mast a swayin' an' creakin. '
Tho water rolled over her bows an' swept tho
decks as clean as a whistk chicken-coops ,
kegs an' all. Thero was the old Admiral
with his arms wrapped in the riggin' gear an'
sheltered like by the mast , and Peru , with his
big eyes a Btiinin' an' stickin' like a leach
alongside the Admiral. It was wuss and
wuss , an' along 'bout w'en it was gettin'
dark already , 1 heerd the little gal say :
"Papa ! Whero is papa ? "
"She must er got scared down in tho
cabin , an' there she war at the cabin ladder.
Jes' as she started fur tho Admiral the ship
gave one big long lurch , an' the green seas
rolled aft like a flash of lightnin' . "
"I heerd one little scream , an' seem like I
can sorter remember a white face as the
water rolled past , an , ' then it was over. Tiie
little gal was gone. An' tho Admiral ? It
beats me to see a woman cry , but I never
want to see such agony again. Ho was crazy ,
an'if mean'Toin Bo wen an'old Ben Towns
hadn'cr grabbed 'im the Marion wouldn't
er had no Admiral sure. It was so quick.
"Little Peru ? Thero was an old cracked
life preserver stra pped there to the mizzen
mast w'at I'd use for a pillow ever since we
left 'Frifcoo. And before you could wink the
life preserver was gone and Peru wus
gone. Bight overboard an' tho waves like
the hills. I jes shuddered all over.
"The sliip was put aback and the lifeboat ,
lowored an' manned. They knew that little
Essie was gone , an' Peru was gone , an' not a
man flinched as she dropped into the foam.
"I watched the brave fellows as they pushed
oft , an' I felt mighty solemn , boys , for they
don't git back often in a storm like that. In
a little while they was lost ia the dark , an' .
yon couldn't hear them hail any longer.
"It was awful. We must have been half a
knot from where the little gal wont over , an'
driftin' in spite of all wo could do. Them
minutes was mighty long ones , an' I jest
knowed if tha 't back
crew ever got they i
wouldn't bring neither Essie nor Pern , an' it
would kill the Admiral. Thero he was with
his glasses a peeking into the dark , an' the
lads a watchin' an' a hopin. '
"Sudden like he threw down the glass nnd
yelled :
" 'BoatahoyF
"I thought tho braTO Admiral had just gon
crazy from grief an' anxiousnessbutI listened
an' it seemed like I heerd tho hail returned.
It was faint an' mist like , jes as thoy say the
Flying Dutchman hails you at night.
"The old Admiral clasped his hands an'
said :
' • 'Thank God ! Thank God ? * ' :
"Then he put his hands to his mouth , an'
veiled again :
"Boat , ahoyl'
"An' the answer came back faint :
"Aye aye sir ? '
"And the Admiral cried an' laughed , an'
laughed an' cried till the tears came into my
eyes. • ;
"I knowed , you Bee , that they never could i
pick up a baby even if sho could a lived
through it all , an' I pitied tho Admiral , fur
tho disappointment would kill 'im. He never
seemed tp imagine that the littlo gal might j
not be there.
'
"The water was calmin' down , an' the , .
wind , too , an' the hails kept gettin' clearer
an' clearer , till presently you could make out ! '
a boat pullin' for the ship. An' w'en wo was j
erbout a dock's length off , tho coxwain ' .
dropped his oar an' got up in tho boat an' •
said : . '
" 'Admiral , we've got the little gal , sir ! ' j '
"And every 60ul on that ship cheered. It • .
came natural an' altogether. They didn't | ;
need no feller to start 'om over together by i
wavin' his cap it jist come at once like , an'i i
such glad hearty cheers as I never heard the >
like of. They tlirowed 'em a rope , an' they >
cased up alongside an hooked on. The old j ;
Admiral was there a cryin' an' a laughin' , ,
and' as tho boat was hoisted they handed j ;
him tlio gal. Tho Admiral just got on his I
knees an' folded her clost an' kissed her again J
an' again. Let me tell you right now , lads , j
there wasn't a dry ere in that ship's crew. j \
"Boys , the little gal was wearin' that old '
life preserver. I was holdin' tho lantern , an' I ;
maybe my hand was a tremblin' or maybe , ;
my eye was dim , for it seemed to bo sorter
wavy like to me.
"She wasleanin'herhead'on his shoulder ,
an' he was holdin' her hand in his. I don't
think the Adminvl could have noticed
the life preserver till she tried to unlaco it.
The Admiral unlaced it for her , nn' it seemed
like he was puzzlin' hard as he did so.
"As he dropped it on the deck she said :
"The old Admiral didn't say nothin. '
" 'When is Peru coniin' back , papa ? '
"The Admiral bowed his head liko ho was
prayin , ' and the little ono said :
"Don't cry , papa. Peru will come , for he
promised to meet mo again. ' "
> - -
Judgo Jnmieson of Chicago refused to re
lease Mrs. Bawson , who wiH have to serve out
her contempt sentence of sixty days , imposed
by Judge Jamieson on the day of the Bhoot-
ing of Attorney Whitney in the wr * room.
A special from Manitou Springs , Col. , says :
Mrs. Henry Moore , wifo of tho managing Ed
itor of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch , received
a telegram informing her of hor husband's
elopement with Mrs. John Norton. She was
completely prostrated by tho news , and re
fuses to be 6een by any ono Mrs. Moore ar
rived at the springs recently. It is understood
she will start on her rotura to St. Louis.
" ' ' ' ' * - * "
niinrr ir.in-i-r-i-iiii- iiV'T
. - - - - - i
Things That Cannot bo Bought.
"I would give a thousand dollars
if I could play liko that , " said an at
tendant at a concert , after hearing
a brilliant musician. But ten thou
sand dollars , or a million , or all the
gold that has been coined since money
was invented , would not havo pur
chased tho skill. Tho musician was
not exceptionally great. Tho hearer
had probably as good natural abil
ity , but the success he coveted could
only be won by months and years of
arduous practice. All that money
could do in this or other cases would
be to furnish opportunities for in
struction and leisure for practice. A
certain great millionaire could not
write a legible letter , could hardly
write his own name. lie would have
given thousands of dollars Into in
life to have boughtthe privilege , but
the skill was not to be found in the
market. As there is no royal road to
learning , so there is no financial road
to tho same goal. "When we hear a
man say that he would give a large
sum of money to be able to do a cer
tain thing which is within his reach ,
if he would only take time and pa
tience to acquire it , we doubt the
genuineness of his desire.
There are other things that money
cannot buy. It cannotbuyaflection.
There are homes that are enriched
with all that wealth can furnish , bub
they have never been consecrated by
love. A marriage for money is the
most shameless of all bargains. Gold
may encircle the finger , but it cannot
girdle the heart.
Another thing which cannot be
bought is character. The heart of
Luther was stirred within him by the
shameless sale of Eoman indulgences.
Release from the penalties of sin , it
was assumed , could bo bought by
the dross of gold ; and the bold monk
raised his voice against this wicked
form of gambling. Equally delusive
was the assumption that the merits
ofthe saints could be applied to liq
uidate the debts of sinners. A great
fund of righteousness , it was said ,
had been laid up , upon which the
penitent wicked might draw. And
yet the law , we declare , is as absolute
ly true in tho moral realm as it is with
intellectual values. Righteousness
cannot be transferred in a bargain ,
any more than a knowledge of music
or the art of penmanship. It is
something which the individual soul
must acquire. It must be wrought
out through the process of experience.
Christian Register.
Boxing Their Ears.
The champion fish-story and a
fish-story it is , in every sense of the
word comes from Cape Breton Is
land , and is quoted in the American
Magazine. Do we believe it ? We be
lieve that it is what we have called it.
the champion fish story.
One-half the stories which are told
ofthe catches at the fishing-grounds
in the vicinity of Whycogomah ,
would fill volumes , but none of them
have reached the sublime height of
what is claimed for a small lake near
Guysboro. The narrator's hero is
himself.
He says that one winter , being
tired of salt beef , and wanting trout ,
for a change , he cut a hole in the ice
on the lake. He had evidently selected
a good day , for the fish took his
bait so rapidly that itwas downright
hard work to keep pulling them out
So eager were they , indeed , that
they would often jump for the bait
before it had even touched the water.
Our sportsman was an inventive
genius , and decided to profit by this
phenomenal appetite. Getting down
on his knees , he dangled the bait
about a foot above the hole , and
awaited further developments.
Almost immediately a fine trout
jumped for it , and promptly received
a dexterous box on the ear , which
landed him far out on the ice. So
numerous and so hungry were the
fish that the angler's hand was kept
constantly busy slappfng them , as
they jumped for the alluring bit of
pork which hovered over the opening
in the ice. Every slap yielded a fish.
This continued until sheer fatigue
put an end to the novel pastime , and
the quantity of fish taken was esti
mated at somewhat over fourbarrels.
i
The Young Girl and Her Bean.
He "Isn't Mrs. Maydupp's black
" " don't think it
hair pretty ? She "I
half as becoming as her light brown. "
She " Sir ! what do you mean by
gutting your arm around mv waist ? "
[ e "Do you object ? " She "Mr.
Arthur Gordon , I'll give you just
five hours to remove your arm. "
San Francisco Post.
Capt. Sternof the malitia )
"Laura , Iloveyou. " Laura "Capt
ain , I can't believe it. " "Silence , {
Laura ! No insubordination. Ke-1
member that I am to be your superior J
officer. " Life.
A busy Chicago banker was to be
marriedto an Omaha girl , and tho
day fixed was July 4 at high noon.
The day came , but the groom did
not materialize , and at 9 a. m. this
telegram was received : "For heav
en's sake tell us what is the matter.
This is your wedding-day , and the
hour approaches. " He was scared
half out of his wits , and bounced
around like a hen with her head cut
off. Then he rushed to the telegraph
office and sent this answer"Thought
I had three days of grace. Don 't let
it go to protest. Coming on the
next train. " The wedding was kite ,
but it was a merry one , and all was
forgiven. "Washington Critic.
nOC ii
A Coon with a Taste for Music.
When Pomp Robinson , of Monte
zuma , Georgia , was a young man he
and another fiddler were on their
way to a dancing frolic on Shank's
mare. They stopped and sat down
on a log near a branch in the moon
light to rest , and while resting struck
up "Billy in the Low Grounds" on
their old "Betseys" to pass away
the time. Soon as the music started
an old ring-tail coon came down out
of a tree by the light of the moon
and proceeded to waltz out in the
road in front of them. Pomp made
for him with a stick and up a sapling
he went. The fiddler started out and
the coon came down again. A large
stick was procured and old zip des
patched just because he was fond of
good music ,
_ _ _ _
• - fc * > r -
_ . _ . . 'ifci
* - * i j\ „ i li r i i - -
"
• • w '
> -
_ , _ _ _ _ _ _ _ hM - _ v r _ _ 't _ _ TTirr _ _ nM _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ - _ _ . _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ .
HE DRANK HASHISH.
Hfmarknbft ) Kxpcrlcneo of it Drag Clerk nlio
Blundered In Taking Medicine.
Manchester Union.
But a few miles from this city lives
a man who was once ns fino a drug
clerk as thero was in tho city of Bos
ton. But that was some time ago ,
and no doubt he is forgotten by the
fraternity in that city , nis name is
Rolphio R. Sanford , and he is at pres
ent residingwith his widowed mother ,
who owns a fine rcsidonco not far
from Manchester. Sanford is some
overdO years of age , and is a com
plete wreck , nis hair is as white as
snow , and his left side has been para
lyzed from the crown of his head to
his feet. Besides this , while mixing ,
chemicals at the last place in Boston
where he worked , an unforseen com
bination ensued , and an explosion
was the result. This explosion proved
most disastrous to Sanford. He got
the bulk of the flying liquid in his
face , and his nose was fairly
eaten off. He was ill for a
long time , and during his sick
ness his whole left side was ptir-
alyzed , as stated above For a num
ber of years he has resided with his
mother. "Within tho last three years
he has partly recovered the use of his
afflicted side and in tho summer time
manages to get around and do a lit
tle garden work , the Sanford place
being noted for the quality of the
vegetables raised and the beauty of
the floral plants. Sanford is a most
interesting conversationalist , and is
full of stories regarding the life of a
drug clerk , in whose existence there
arc many times crowded incidents
alikeludicrous , serious and full of the
terrible. His experience with hashish
is worth reproducing. Hashish is the
foundation of the same wonderful ex
tract that figures in Monte Cristo.
The name by which it goes among
druggists is "extractum cannabis
indica ? , " or extract of Indian hemp.
The liquid preparation resembles ink
in appearance a dark green ink. Its
fragrance is of a narcotic odor , and
in taste it is slightly warm , bitterish
and acid. In Hindostan , Persia and
other parts ofthe East , hemp has hab
itually been employed as an intoxicat-
ing agent. Tho parts used are the tops
ofthe plant and a resinous product ob
tained from ifc. The plant is cut
after flowering and formed into bun
dles from two to four feet long by
three inches in diameter , which are
sold in the bazaars by the name of
gunjah. The resin obtained is formed
into balls by the natives , and is
smoked like tobacco , with which it is
said to be frequently mixed. An in
fusion or decoction of the drink is
sometimes used as an exhilarating
drink.
A representative ofthe Union saw
Sanford some time ago , and as it
was just after dinncr.and he had par
taken of his meal with unusual relish ,
he was just in the mood for talking.
"Why , my boy , " snidjhe , "drugclerks
of course have secrets. You want
me to tell you a little story , eh ? If
I should tell yon some ofthe secrets ,
of course thoy would be secrets no
longer , but 111 tell you a little of my
experience with hashish. It's a stuff
that no one wants to meddle with
with impunity , allow me to assure
you. If I had not been careless 1
would not now be able to tell you my
experience with hashish. It was
some 8 or 10 years ago when I was
at work with a prominent druggist
in Boston. For some little time I
had been suffering with dyspepsia ,
and the ailment bothered me so that
life became unbearable. I at last '
mixed up a decoction that gave me ;
great relief. I was to take it before
meals and placed the bottle on a
shelf behind the prescription counter '
among other bottles which are usual
ly found in that place. One noon I '
went to take my medicine. I took '
down what I thought to bo the right
bottle , and discarding the iise of a
spoon , I placed the orifice to my
mouth and took a large swollow. I
Horrors ! The taste told me that I
had made a mistake ! I looked at tho ;
bottle and well my friend , I had
taken a large dose of Indian canna
bis , or otherwise hashish. I knew !
what the results would be , I stag
gered back to the rear part of the '
store. How queer I felt. How light ;
I was growing. Up. up , up I went
until my head bobbed against the ceil
ing. I was like a cork floating on !
disturbed water. I glided along and ;
could look down and see the huge
bottles , each one with a hideous face !
laughing at me. The stool on the ;
marble floors seemed to want to keep
me company and their click , click , on '
the marble floor sounded like thun- "
d r in my ears. Suddenly I was
plunged into inky blackness. From
the black nothingness flashed out 1
bright balls of light. I reached the • '
sofa and sank down upon it.
My tongue seemed to swell and 1
I tried in vain to scream , but ]
no sound issued. I seemed to
know that there was a long , long
hour before my fellow-clerk would be (
back from his dinner , and then he
might not come into the rear room
and discover my condition. Tho <
events of days and weeks came before
my mind in all the details and I saw i
fares beautiful faces angelic in their (
divinity , which seemed to beckon to ]
me and then vani > h with a hideous i
laugh. All normal conditions and <
relations seemed to be presented.
Again was I tossed to the coiling and <
thon thrown by some invisible foroo 1
from ono side ofthe room to the oth1 1
er. I felt no concussion , but bounced 1
about like a huge foot ball. Thon I
fell back into dreamy contemplation :
and cars seemed to pass by. Fanta.s- ]
tic pictures wero worked , my limbs i
felt weighted with load , just the op1 1
positeto my experience of what seemed 1
to me years ago. I heard some- !
bodv say , why Bolphie , old follow , ]
what's the matter ! Kolphie ! Rolphie ! '
The words reverberated like thunder. ;
My shopmatehad returned. Again <
he * tried to shake me to myself , and I :
never hated a man so cordially as I
hated him at that moment. He got !
a doctor , and I tell you , ciy friend , <
tliev had no easy timeto bring me to
myself. Every word they uttered
surged into ray brain and seemed to
_ ' , % - - - "
*
•
- ; * > ll .
_ _ _ _ _ _
! ' 3
\ \
i
- _ ,
larmoto pieces. That was apecu * tj
Jiarity of tho stuff. I suffered from thab - ! ( |
cxperioncolong afterwards , and ifc ap- I
pears oven at this day , when I think < 1
it over that I have that fooling com- _ 1
ing on , so powerful was tho impres- ' |
sion made on mo at that timo. " f
Tlio Sense of Pro-Existing. \
American Notes nnd Queries. §
Perhaps , after all , if history la ' j |
ever to bo verified , that verification \ •
may bo found in our own minds. Ifc j
has always been a favorite specula- * \
tion of poets and metaphysicians j
that man is a microcosm , contain- U ;
ing within himself the history of tho j
race and of tho universe if only wo 4- *
had wit to read it. Do Quincey com- \ \
pared tho human brain to a pnlimp- f
scst. Now , a palimpsest ( tho word f
means "twico rubbed" ) is a roll of f |
parchment cleansed of its manu- i.
script in order to make room for new I
manuscript. The rude chemistry of i I
the ancients could efface the old sufli- ] I
cientlyto leave a field for tho new , , 1
3'et not sufficiently to make tho < I
traces of tho elder manuscript ; irre- • 1
coverablo for us. Palimpsests havo j I
been found that yielded many succes- 9
sive layers of manuscript. Tho jfl
traces of each handwriting , regularly 1
effaced , have the inverse order rcgu'J 'J I
larly called back by the magic of • 9
modern chemistry , nnd ns tho * m
chorus ofthe Athenian stage unwove _ m
through the anti-strophe every step m
that had been mystically woven • .
through the strophe , so , by our mod- I
orn conjurations of science , secrets of '
ages remote from each other have I
been exercised lrom the accumulated M
shadows of centuries. "Whab elso '
than a natural and mighty pnlimp- J I
sest , " continues De Quincey , "is tho j
human brain ? Such a palimpsest is
my brain ; such a palimpsest , oh read- i
er , is yours. Everlasting layers of i M
ideas , images , feelings , havo fallen up-
on your brain softly as light. Each I
succession has seemed to bury all .
that went before. And yet , in reality ,
not one has been extinguished. " Tho |
comparison is apt and fine. Every ' * I
one has experienced the strange tricks ' M
that memory occasionally plays. ,
You are engaged in reading , in writ- • •
ing , in serious occupation which en- , 9
grosses your mental powers. Sud- H
denly there burstsintoyourthoughts ' I
some recollection of childhood , some , H
trivial circumstance that happened jl
years ago and was forgotten immedi- ,
ately afterward. Not the minutest ' fl
analogy need exist between your pres- j
enfc thoughts and the unbidden recol- <
'
lection that starts , goblin-like , from '
thesealed-up vaults of thepast. Does ' jH
this not indicate that experience in V
life , no matter how frivolous , leaves ,
an indelible print on the mental
organism , and that , though this
print may seem to fade , it. is still H
there , like writing in invisible ink , fl
or the effaced manuscript on the
palimpsest only waiting for some
exciting cause to bring it. out clearly H
and legibly ? The truth is enforced by H
the experience of death. Those who H
have recovered from drowning or
hanging say that previous to the ad- f H
vent of unconsciousness ihey have i H
seen a sort of panorama of thoir whole H
previous existence , with not the ' 9
smallest incident , thought , or feeling H
omitted : and it is thence inferred H
that all human beings at the moment jH
of dissolution experience this awful , jfl
resurrection of the dead past. Again |
it is well known that very aged people { H
are used to throw back and concen- fl
trate the light of thoir memory ujjon fl
scones of early childhood , recalling |
many which had fadedeven to them- t v |
selves , in middle life , while thoy often t j
forgot although the whole inter- M
mediate stages of their existence. , fl
"This shows , " says De Quincey. "that ' fl
naturally and without violent agon- " * fl
cies the human brain is by tendency M
a palimpsest. " But our brains are M
inherited from our ancestors. Why , M
then , may it not be that the human | H
brain is a palimpsest , conta ining more M
or less faded , yet recoverable , records , M
not only of our entire past life , but' , jfl
of the lives of our ancestors to the 9
remotest periods ? JH
A Child Held for Its Board BilL ' 9
A singular condition of affairs re- M
Guarding the custody of a child was M
brought to light in the supreme ju- H
dicial court recently in the hearing fl
by Judge Allen on a petition for a fl
writ of habeas corpus. The petition- _ fl
3r was Daniel Lucy , a resident of jfl
Lynn , who sought to regain posses- fl
sion of his daughter , Nellie Lucy , , fl
aged oJ years. The little girl has fl
been in the custody of Michael Welch , , fl
who resided at 7(5 ( Harvard street , 'fl
since the death of her mother some H
time during the latter part of last | fl
December. Welch was in court , to- H
Ejether with the child , to show cause M
why the writ should hot be granted. H
He had no counsel , and amazed the H
court by the statement that , a I- H
though no relative of the child , he - fl
proposes to keep it in charge until ' M
tier father liquidated an alleged debt jH
to him of § G0. due for the mainten- , |
mice ofthe little girl since the death H
of her mother. Judge Allen lost no |
time in granting tho writ. This is |
probably the firsc time slavery was , |
abolished in Massachusetts that a H
auman being has been held as collat- | |
jral security in this commonwealth. M
"Progress and Poverty. " | |
Contemporary Kt-view. H
The hazy idea that one man's 9
tvealth involves another man's pov- | |
irty still induces a good deal of M
preaohingagaiiist "culpable luxury , " |
without any clear idea of what the M
iulpablbeness con.ists in. This un- * 1 |
iiiarded condemnation of luxurious j |
expenditure is a heritage of simpler | |
times and of simpler moraK When | H
the world was y'o ° r > wealth had the M
[ brm of a store of goods. From this jH
store a man was always subtracting |
something for his subsistence ; to ia M
lie was bound to add. on the whole , M
more than he withdrew. There was M
littlo command over nature ; man had ' H
to do the hard work , with only his ! |
strong arms for tools ; and , as no one • iy M
had a right to waste much , Luxury - | |
was culpable. But our wealth , ' |
and our manner of gettingwealthare tH |
satirely changed. Tho hand of a | | H
man is now known to be a very weak ' } M
tool , although a very cunning one ; ' < B
so we hand over the. artistic work 1 1
ofthe world to be tfone by it. but * ' _ |
the work we get done for us by the il l
forces of nature wc Uaye pressed into jl l
our service. ' | _ |
< U
'fl '
'lfl '
If Ml
- - . _ _ J I