r
* -
SAVED ONTHE BRINK.
(
C wan wmted in my office ono nfter-
: -noon in October , 1881 , when an uc-
t -quaintiince , a merchant of thin city ,
* * 'Called- had then
- ucquired a fair ex-
f . perience in my calling , but my income
\ irom that source had been quite
\ limited ; hencu my extreme gratifiea-
-tloa when my visitor announced that
the purpose of his visit was "busi-
xiesa. "
The gentleman said that a friend
of bitf , Mr. B , a merchant doing
jslu extensive business on Lake street ,
"Stad requested him to suggest the
aiame of a reliable man to undertake
a private investigation ; that he had
promised to comply with the request ,
and therefore came to me. I asked
lum if he knew anything about the
• character and details of the case.
lie replied that he did not. At my
instance the gentleman wrote a let-
tier of introduction to Mr. B ,
I which he handed me , and after re-
I -ceiving my promise to deliver it with-
I out delay he departed.
I I lost no time in communicating
I -with. 3Ir. B . I sent my messen-
jgar the letter ofintroduction inclosed
I in a not * * of my own , requesting an
I interview , and in reply was invited
I "to call at his residence that evening
I jot S o'clock.
I I was promptly on hand at the des-
ignuted time , and was ushered into
I a. comfortably and well appointed
.little library room.
Sir. B received me cordially ,
> nt bis face wore an expression of
.aiucli concern.
For what specific purpose is my
B service required ? " I asked , making a
I < iive at the business in hand.
"I wish you to investigate a little
I matter for me , " he said , "and will
I -give you the cause and details in a
lew words. " After a moment's hesi-
cation , which seemed devoted to
I -deep thought , he said : "I presume
I j-ou are aware of the character of
our business ; we require a large
H - .clerical force in our counting room ;
I we reward our efficiency and zeal
B | with merited promotion , and many
I I of our clerks have acquired their
B I present advanced positions through
B I ibis system. Among others in our
B counting room is one who has se-
B -cared his desk
by gradual promo-
B tioa , a young man who seems pos-
B sessedofthe required qualifications
B -and who has always , so far as I can
B J00 * , properly performed his whole
B < iuty. I speak of our cashier. He is
B young , intelligent , with a kindly dis-
B position , prompt at his post , and in-
B < Ie tcigab e in his work. Because of
B ibee qualities and the fact that he
B. ; "has exercised economy I have felt
H : myself gradually drawn toward him.
H I have taken deeper interest in him
H than in many others in our employ
H ! and was much gratified to find that
H ie had to his credit a neat Kttle sum ,
H : -saved out of his salary. Recently ,
H Iiowever , 1 have noticed that he
H I rears a haggard expression , and the
H I discovery has disturbed me. "When
H I rst I observed this change it was
H I * 3 > ufc slightly depicted on his counte-
H -siance , but it has grown more pro-
H siounced from day to day until now
H lie seems little more than a shadow
H of his former self , and though prompt
m at his post and in his work , the old
1 * raile seldom lights up his genial face.
B J Have taken occasion to look into
m "Ms personal account in the ledger and
M xhid that from time to time he has
m drawn upon it until now very little
B jremains of the $1,900 to his credit a
B .month ago. "
B "What is your idea of the cause ol
B 4his condition of things ? " I asked.
fl "I have no fixed idea , " Mr. B
B replied , and then added : "What
B puzzlesand pains me is the fact that ,
B -chough he has authority to pay out
B -money standing to the credit of any
B employe's account and had a right to
B - draw ms money , he had several times
B in vested in shares of building and loan
B associations , but never without first
B [ .consulting me as to the advisabiUty
B of . Of I have
; * doing so. course , been
B -more than pleased with this mark o
B confidence , and was so favorably im-
B j pressed with his worth that I had al-
Bl ready determined that he would be !
B | 3&e next to be admitted to a junior {
Bl -copartnership interest in our estab- j
B : lisnment. My recent discoveries and
B | jthe cashier ' s reticence have made me
fli uneasy. I am determined , if possible ,
B. to learn the cause of this change , and
B > - - therefore I have sent for you to look
B ; Jzito the case for me. I desire you to
Bi o ascertain what influence has caused
V the change in his appearance , and
B | -what he has done with his money ,
B- : The only condition that I interpose
B ; is that you must make no move that 1
B > > vill disturb him until you shall have r
B ] reported to me. You may adopt t
B | -your own time and method to reach c
B ( che end in view , and you may call I
B ; Jipon me for such assistance as you i
B | may require in the case. " e
B | * 'Do you suspect financial trouble
B | in any form ? " [
Bl ' ' 'I have no data upon which to i
Bi ground a suspicion ; his trial balance 1
B | sheet made three days ago proves 1
B | thebooksandaccountsingoodshape ,
B | - -and the cash balance on hand at I
B | Ahat time was correct. "
B | -"Does he complain of illness or (
B | overwork ? " t
Bf * 'He does not ; in fact , when I quesJ
B | - tioned him concerning the cause ol 1
Bj his appearance , his answers seemed 1
B - -rather evasive. "
K After a few moments' further con- <
B ] -versation I bade my client good night <
Bj nd departed. The next day I en- (
B tered the counting room of Mr. B
K and asked the clerk at one of the 1
B 'windows to give me silver coin for
B a. $20 note. Pointing to another
B -window he said : "The cashier will i
B mve it to you. " I was about to 1
B Save a view of the cashier. This was i
UM -the purpose I desired to compass. I 2
B iad not up to that time had a glimpse <
B , of that gentleman's face. t
B Approaching the aperture designat-
m d tasked : "Are you the cashier ? " c
B deceiving an affirmative response I t
B requested chaDge for my paper cur-
HI jency , whkh request was silently I
B granted. r
H > The few seconds required by the
H < cashier in which to gather up the coin
H -and pass it through the window suf- <
H ijgcedmeto "take in" that gentle-J c
man's face that I might know it when.
ever I should see it again.
I spent several dnj's in quiet inves *
tigation and then sought a private
interview with tho accused. After a
few commonplace remarks I took up
the matter in hand.
"I am a messenger appointed to
watch you and gain information con-
cerning your habits , " said I , looking
steadily in his eyes.
The young man assumed a calm-
ness , bur could not conceal his alarm
and deep concern. I had fully de-
termined that the cashier was not a
rogue at heart. I believed that he
was not confirmed in any vicious
practice , and if his conduct during
our interview warranted it I intended
to be his friend. I have always felt
that it was our duty , if possible , to
prevent crime. We effect a vast deal
more good in this world by prevent-
ing our fellow man from being a
criminal than by permittingthe com
mission of crime in order to "detect"
the criminal and punish him. How
many lives and happy homes might
be saved if this were more frequently
practiced !
Altera moment's pause my com-
pauion asked : "Who sent you to
watch me ? "
"One deeply interested in your weli
fare. Can you not guess who ? " I re-
plied.
"A lady ? " he asked , much agitated.
"No , " I answered , and taking the
cue , I added : "Miss , of
avenue , so far as I know , is not aware
of my employment , and I presume
she does not even suspect that
there is cause for it ; indeed , I would
deeply regret it if she did. "
lie turned his face full upon me and
there was a startled and puzzled ex-
pression resting upon it. "What do
you know about that lady , and why
did you mention her when I asked it
your principal was a lady ? " he asked ,
hastily. '
"I know that you visited her at
her home this evening , and have rea
son to know your feelings toward the
lady , " was my response.
I had been right in my conjectures ,
and now knew that I had sent a
shaft to a tender spot and felt as-
sured that this hit would prove a
valuable , though silent , adjunct to
the successful execution of my hastily
formed ; plan.
With a deep sigh of relief he said :
"I am glad of it ; " and then , after a
pause , asked ajrain , "Who sent you ? "
"Who else can be so deeply inter2
estedinyou ' ? " said I. " 1 will tell
you who authorized me to follow
your movements while away from
the office , but I will precede the in-
formation : by the statement that my
employer i is prompted by the deepest
concern > in your behalf. Mr. B is
the individual , " I said , buttheyoung
man's : alarmed countenance urged
me : to add. "Yet he does not suspect
what I have discovered ; he is espec-
ially : alarmed about the great change
noted in your appearance , and comc
missioned : me to adopt Kiy own
method : and time in making the in-
vestigation. To execute this com-
mission : I determined to keep you
under i my surveillance , though I
scarcely i expected developments so
soon. i "
"I presume you will report your
discoveryto i Mr. B. at once ? " he
interrogated : , with apparent alarm.
"Not necessarily , " I replied , briefz
Ij- 1
"Can my exposure be prevented ? "
he 1 quickly asked.
"That depends , " I answered. The
cashier < impulsively thrust his hand
into i the breast pocket of his coat and
drew ( forth a roll of bills. Turning to
me i , with extending arm , the money
in i his hand , he said , excitedly : "You
are J welcome to this , but , for God's
sake i , don't expose me ; it will ruin
me ] forever ! " .
Bestraining my indignation as
much as possible , I said : "Your
proposition ] is unworthy of you as it
would be unworthy in me to accept
it. i " My words s tunned him , and
an ! expression of dejection and lost
hope ] overcast his countenance. Seei
ing i the effect my speech had , I added ,
earnestly < : "I will be your friend and
save you if you will comply fully with
my ] demands. "
A gleam of hope instantty shone on
his 1 countenance and he added , rather
demurely < : What do you demand ? "
Looking him earnestly in tho eyes
I ] answered , "That you tell me truth-
full 1 } ' how you came to visit a faro
bank 1 ; how long the visits had been *
indulged i in ; how often and with what
result. "
s
To sum up this statement briefly ,
but 1 which he gave in detail , he said s
he went with a friend one night out
T
of curiosity ; that the game was fasr v
cinating ; that he commenced by buy *
ing § 5 worth of checks ; he won § 10 ; e
visited the palace again a few nights Y
after , and tried his luck , but this time c
lost § 25. He repeated his visit two n
nights following with a like result , Sj
then the fascination and a determing
ation to recover his small loss im-
0
pelled him to go again , each time 0
meeting with a loss and |
each succeeding loss being greater j
than the last , until he visited the
g
place almost nightly , and finally c
realized that he had drawn out near ,
ly all of his cash balance in the office3
besides having hypothecated some e
shares of stock owned by him. The
loss caused him much regret , but he ' y
had 1 spent mansleepless night be-
cause of remorse when it fully dawned ;
upon him that he was living a lie ' „
and that the confidence reposed in |
him by Mr. B and Miss would j
be instantly withdrawn andsummary j
dismissal from both follow , meaning , ;
of course , disgrace. He had used lus | j
own money ; he had not gone far .
t
enough in his recklessness to filch. | \
"Are you satisfied now to cutshort j
this recklessness ? " I asked. j c
"Yes , " he answered , determinedly. J ,
"Pledge me your word that you [
will never again enter a gambling , <
house or gamble , and I will agree to j
make a report that will not expose • e
your recklessness. I feel assured that
otherwise you are reliable. I believe f
there is ample chance for you if you ' r
will be wise as well as correct in your j c
character ; but I will warn you ; t
that you will yet be watched , I
and if you prove unfaithful to your g
pledge I will see to it that you do , r
not escape tho logical consequences. " ! c
He extended hi3 hand , which I
s
grasped , and his moistened eyes , full
of gratitude , told me that he was in
earnest when he said : "I pledge my , •
word to never again enter a gam
bling ] house or gamble. I thank you
for j your more than friendship. Your
generosity will make mo a better
and j stronger man. " We parted on
State { and Madison streets , the cash
ier j going homo and I to my lodgings.
I ] put a shadow after him. His con
duct proved exemplary. I so re
ported from time to time during the
month j following to my client that I
believed j the young man made a tem
porary loan to a friend who was in
trouble j ; that he had rescued his
friend j , and that his friend had paid
him ] back the loan. To confirm my
report the cashier had deposited .the
money in tho office and credited his
account with the amount , tho hag
gard expression had vanished , and
\ tho old genial smilo was again en
throned in its place. My report was
accepted ; I was thanked for my ser
vices , , and well paid for the effort.
On tho 1st of January following the
cashier was admitted to a junior co
partnership interest in Mr. B ' 3
extensive ] business , and in October of
the same year he led Miss to the
alter , and a happier couple never as
sumed the responsibilities of wedlock
\ than did this ono.
I meet tho cashier occasionally.
Wo greet each other cordially , but
never allude to his narrow escape
from j disgrace. Blackstone in Chica
go Times.
A Kangaroo Hound up.
A reporter met a gentleman who
has 1 been largely indentified with pas-
torial \ interests both in Australia and
New j Zealand , and from him some in-
teresting \ facls were ascertained in
connection with the efforts of antipo
dean agriculturists to combat the
plague of tho long eared pests.
"The idea , " said the gentleman.
"is not entirely new to Australians *
They [ have for yeare employed a
somewhat similar method of riding
pastoral lands of the destructive
kangaroo. The usual way was to
build a capacious stock yard , with
very high fences , for your able bodied
is { no slouch at playing leap frog ,
Tho [ location generally chosen was
on the fork of a river , for kangaroos
are not extra partial to water. In-
vitations , to the round up would then
be 1 sent to neighboring farmers , and
on a specified morning the farmers
would all put in an appearance ,
mounted , an accompanied by what-
3ver kangaroo hounds they chanced
to { possess. Dogs and owners would
then { get away back and scatter out
in j skirmishing order until a large
section of country was covered , and
then circumnavigation was in order ,
the object point , of course being the
lofty \ stock yard.
"Pretty soon you would hear the bayi
ing i of scores of hounds , and then the
long j jumping marsupials would be
seen leaping like gigantic frogs , while
the skirmishers would advance and
close in steadily and systematically ,
controlling the hounds the while , so
as to gradually direct the hopping
kangoroos to the desired point ,
When \ the mob , which on occasions
numbered many hundreds/were finally
housed in the place of slaughter , some
one was sent to close the draw gate
on them , and the fun commenced.
The dogs were restrained and fami
ly relics in the shape of blunderbusses
and ancient flint locks were brought
into requisition until the last grass
and crop despoiler had bitten the
dust. "
"Kangaroos make it rough for the
hounds on some occasions , do they
not ? " asked the reporter. '
"Youbetthey do. .Anoldmankan-
garoo is just as tough a bit of me-
2hanism as ever a dog tackled. When
fairly cornered he will place his back
against a tree or rock and invite the
best dog in the pack to come on. Old
dogs are wary of them , and use their
best endeavors to get an ear or neck
hold from behind , but a young hound
will frequently rush into the bayed
jaarsupial's arms , so to speak , and if
he gets away alive he is lucky. The
kangaroo will balance himself firmly
on his tail , which is both powerful
and springy , and will clasp the dog
around the body with his hind legs ,
while he will utilize the sharp claws of
his fore paws to tear the brute's
stomach into ribbons and haul his
entrails out.
- & > o-m -
A Eehcl Gold Dollar.
From the Duluth Tribune'
Jerry Johnson , a negro boy , was
standing on a trash pile , running his
toes turough the debris. He noticed
something bright in the pile , and
when he picked it up , found it to be a
very small yellow coin. At first he
thought it was copper but as he fing-
ered it his native sense told him it
was too heavy for copper , so he at.
once conjectured that it was made of
gold. He had some business with
Mr. Walker , and while in his office
showed him the piece of money. He
asked the lawyer how much he would
give him for it. Walker's attorney
thought it was a gold dollar , and , as ]
he , was particularly anxious to get
such a coin to wear on his watch
chain , he offered the boy one dollar
for it , which ho gleefully accepted , g
Mr. Walker gave the coin a careful i
examination , and became convinced 1
that he paid too much for it. He
was in Colonel Bedwine's office , andv
took the coin out and exhibited it to j
the great financier. "What will you j
give me for it ? " he asked. 111 give ' ]
$1 , " was the reply. "And I'll give ]
you § 1.25 , " interrupted a man whot j
had come in to renew a note. 1
"Done , " exclaimed Mr. Walker. ' 1
here's your money , " was the quick !
answer. The buyer left the office with i
his coin , and the lawyer thought he ]
had madeagoodbargain. Hurrying •
off to a man that buys coins , the I -
purchaser exhibited the piece. The ' 1
dealer scrutinized it closely and said : [
"What will you take for it ? " "What [
will you give ? " After a little considi
oration the dealer said : "Will vou j
take § 25 for it ? "No but I'll take § 30 1
for it. " "It's a go ; here's your \
money , " and the happy man walked 3
out of the office. The coin which fig- I
ured in these transactions is a Conc
federate gold dollar. A gentleman ]
said to a reporter. "The worst sold 1
man of the four was he who sold the j
coin for § 30. If it be true that it is 0
as represented a genuine Confederate c
dollar , it is worth § 650. I am told J
that there are only six of these coins t
in existence. " J
1
A
_
1
* r
t
Tho Snn's Energy.
Tho most satisfactory way of ar
riving at an idea of the enormous
energy of the sun is by measuring the
amount of heat which his rays are
capable of generating ; nnd further ,
l > 3r our knowledge of the relation
which exists between heat and me
chanical work , we are able at once to
estimate the amount of work which
the sun is capable of doing , and'also
tho quantity of energy he must be
'osing year by year. By suitable ar
rangements we can cause a certain
quantity of his radiation to be ab
sorbed by water or other substance ,
and note the rise of temperature
which results , and as we know tho
mechanical equivalent of each degree
of temperature in water , for instance ,
it is only a matter of calculation to
arrive at a knowledge of the sun's
total energy. Like everything else
connected with this wonderful body ,
figures gives us , says tho Scotsman ,
no adequate conception of his energy ,
and various illustrations have been
used by difl'erentinvestigators. . Thus ,
Hershel considered it in relation to
the quantity of ice which it would
mejt in a given time , and states that
the amount of heat which the earth
receives when the sun is overhead
would melt an inch thickness of ice
in two hours and thirteen
minutes. From this it
can .be calculated that if
the body of the sun were entirely sur
rounded : by a sheet of ice on its sur
face ; of more than a mile in thickness ,
the sun's heat would entirely melt
this coating of ice in the same time-
namely ; , two hours and thirteen min
utes. 1 Prof. Young uses and even
more : striking illustration. He says :
"If ' we could build up a solid column
of < ice from the earth to the sun , two
miles ] and a quarter in diameter ,
spanning 1 the inconceivable abyss of I
ninety-three : million miles , and if the I
sun 1 should concentrate his power up
on 1 it , it would dissolve and melt , not
in i an hour , not in a minute , but in a
single 1 second ; one swing of the pen
dulum < and it would be water , seven
more : and it would be dissipated in
vapor. " Of course , of this enormous
quantity < of heat the earth receives
but 1 a very small fraction. The re-
mainder j , except , of course , what tho
other < planets receive , passes away in-
to 1 space and is lost forever , so far as
can < be ascertained , to the solar sys1
tern. i If we estimate in mechanical
power ] what we do receive , we find
this 1 to be on each square foot of sur"I
face f equivalent , on an average , to
about t fifty tons raised a mile high
yearly ; , or to one-horse power con-
tinuously i acting , to every thirty
square f feet of the earth's surface. It
is i by this enormous supply of energy
that 1 the whole world is kept alive
and j active. It keeps us warm and
drives ( our steam engine and water
wheels , it circulates our atmosphere
and 1 brings us rain and snow in due
season ; it grows and nourishes our
plants ] and animals , and , in a word , is
the source of almost every earthly
blessing. 1
m bii
The "little Breeches. "
It was 'during Governor Ben For-
aker's schoolboy dajTs that the inci
dent occurred whose relation in the
newspapers years afterward won for
him in his first gubernatorial cam
paign 1 in 1883 the sobriquet of "Lit-
'tle 1 Breeches. "
One very busy Summer when Ben
was eight or nine years old and going
te a Summer school , his pants gave
out. They had proviously been
patched by his industrious mother in
the late evenings after Ben had gone
to bed. But now they had given out
beyond the possibility of any more
patching.
The day this happened , while poor ,
blushing \ Benny was studying at
school and trying as best he could to
hide j the rents in his pants , his loving
mother was planning and contriving
how \ she could rig him out with a new
pair.Her
Her sister , Julia Scott , had come
over that morning to help with the
day's work. So Julia Scott and
Maggie Foraker put their wits to
work \ to see what the3 * could do in
the matter of breeches for poor Ben-
ny.
ny."Haven't you any cloth at all in
the j house ? " asked sister Julia Scott
. "no old thing you could make over
- no nothing. "
"No ; nothing but that jeans in the
loom l , and I have no time to weaA'e. "
"Now , Maggie , just think , " per-
sisted Ben's sympathizing Aunt Julia ,
"haven't you any old bag that we
could cut up ? "
'Why , we bought a new sack ( i
coffee whra. the men were coming to
fix the dam. The coffee sack is
double , and the inside sack is pretty
strong , good stuff. " J
"Get it , " said Aunt Julia , "and I'll
help you make the breeches. We'll
make it do somehow. "
That night , when bushing and hont
est-hearted Benny came home from T
school , he was told that he would
have a new pair of pants in the •
morning. *
The next morning Ben put them on
with some disappointment in his *
and heart countenance.
While his mother was putting up -1
his dinner for him to carry to school , I
Ben sidled up to her , and , with tears v
in his eyes , a tremble in his voice , T
and d ep sorrow in his sensitive soul , x
he said :
"Mother , I can't wear these breeches *
to school. All the boys and girls will v
laugh at me. "
"Oh , never mind , " said the cheery- }
voiced mother , kindly hiding a l
motherly sympathy that was painj j
ing her own heart. ! a
"Never mind. Let'em laugh if ?
they want to. You just study hard , J
and when you get to be a smart and v
learned man nobody will ask you I
what kind of breeches you wore when 3
you went to school. "
So Benny went to school Avith his "
coffeesack breeches and "let 'em
laugh. " 3
The B + ate department received a dispatch
announcing the death at Kingston , Jamaica , J
of J. Harvey Bingham. He xrna consul at I
Paso del Norte , ilex. , at the time of the Cutr
ting incident , and was subsequently promoted '
to Kingston. .
I' '
/ . " -
nowrrmrrKXED.
I got to thinkiu' of her , both her parents
dead and gono ,
And all her HisterH innrried ofT , and nono but
but her and John
A-livin' all ulono there in that loncsomo sort
of miy ,
And him a blamed old bachelor , conflrmder
overy day.
I'd known'em all from children , and their dad
dy from the time
He settled in tho neighborhood nnd hadn't
ary a dime
Er dollar , when ho married , for to start
houBekeepin' on ;
So I got to thinkiu' of her , both her parents
deud and gone !
I got to thinkin' of her and a-wondern what
she done
That nher \ \ sisters kep' a gittin married one
by one ,
And her without no chances , and tho best
girl of tho pack ,
An old maid , with her hands , you might say ,
tied behind her back !
And mother , too , before bIio died , sho used to
jet' tuke on
"When none of'era was-left , you know , but
Evalino nnd John ,
And jes' declare to goodness 'at tho young
men must be bline
To see what a wife they'd git if they got
Kvaline.
I got to thinkin' of her ; in my great affliction
she
AVah hieh a comfort to us , and so kind and
neighborly :
She'd come and leave her housework fer to
he'p out little Jane ,
And talk of her own mother 'at she'd never
see again :
Miiybebomctime.s cry together , though , for
the most part , hhe
Would have the child so reconciled , and hap-
] y like , 'at we
Felt loncsomer'n ever ; she'd put her bonnet
on
And say she'd railly haf to be a-gittin back
to John !
I got to thinkin' of her , as I say ; nnd more
and more
I'd think of her dependence , nnd the burdens
't she bore ;
Her patents both abein' dead , and all her
sisters gone
And married oil" , and her a livin' there alone
with John ;
You might say jes' a toiliu' and a-tlaviu' out
her life
For a man 'at hadn't pride enough to get
hisself a wife ,
'Less some one married Evaliue and packed
her oir ome day ;
So < I got to thinkin' of her , and it happened
that a-way.
James Whitcomb Riley.
HIS STEPMOTHER.
"Hush , Doras ! is that rain ? It
sounds , as if some genii were dashing
pails of water against the casements. "
"It's rain , Guy. The equinoctial
storm t , you know. "
"And that dreaiy moaning down
the 1 chimney is it wind ? "
The boy shivered a little , and drew
the "I bedclothes up around his chin ,
The red flames from the blazing log
on the hearth danced up and doAvn
,
like a magic lantern ; the shaded lamp
burned 1 steadily on the table. Dorcas
Wynter stitched quietly away at her
sewing without looking up.
"It must be an awful tempest ,
Dorcas J , " uttered the lad , as a fresh
gust { of wind seemed to shake the
octagonal tower to its very founda
tions.
"It is , Guy. I heard old CaptLake
say that the tide had not been so
high ] since the year the Boyal Victoria
was * wrecked off Paine Point. "
"It is better to be here , even with ar
broken leg , " said Guy Paley , slightly
lifting ! his eyebrows , "than out at sea
in such a blow as this ! "
"A good deal better , Guy. "
"Not that I am a coward , Dorcas I"
cried the boy. "There are worse "
| things than a storm at sea , and I
have an instinct that I shall be a
sailor yet ; But this sickness has
taught me , this sickness and you ,
Dorcas , that it's better to go for a
thing in an honest , straightforward
way } , than to try to reach it by sneak
ing. But I always supposed it was a
fine thing to run away to sea , or else
I shouldn't have tried the get-out of-
the-window by-midnight dodge , and i
broken my leg. I'm wiser now ! "
Dorcas smiled at him with melting
hazel eyes and rose-red lips , revealing
a line of pearls.
"Poor Guy ! " said she. "It was a
hard lesson , wasn't it ? " 7
"I think I need it , Dorcas. If ever g
there was a thorough-paced young
ruffian it was I ! " groaned the boy.
"But , you see , nobody ever talked
to me. Scoldings without end I got ,
I grant you , but no one tolhed com
mon-sense to me before. You are the
only one who seemed to think me D
worth reasoning with ; and you shall
see , Dorcas that , I am worth the
trouble. Once I'm up from this a
scrape I'll tackle my lessons in real F
earnest , and try to do something s
better. And I say , Dorcas. "
" " t
"Yes , Guy ?
"You're the prettiest girl I ever e
" °
saw.
"Nonsense , Guy. "
"Oh , but you are ! and the sweetest r
and most sensible. I can 't think how s
you ever came to be a housemaid in
a place like this. " d
Dorcas colored a little. K
"Shall I tell you , Guy ? I came as
governess to the primary depart-
mont , but I had no discipline , they
told me. The younger boys did ex
actly as they pleased. I've always f
thought ; that Mrs. Tall , who sue- "
ceeded to the position , had some
thing to do about the bad reports of a
my management that reached Dr.h
Delfer ' s ears. But that can 't be
proved , neither can it be helped. I n
was alone here and friendless , and "k
was glad to accept a vacant position f
under the hou > ekeeper to mend linen , Si
care for occasional cases in the in
firmary , and make myself generally d
useful. " '
"I knew you were a lady ! " exulG
tantly cried the boy. "I could see it
in your face. * ' " t
"I would rather you would call me a
true woman , Guy , than a lady , " si
said Dorcas , moving the lamp a few w
inches farther back , so that the light a
would not shine in Guy's eyes. fi
"Butlsav " , Dorcas , how old are I
you ? " If
"Bather young , I am afraid , Guy I
only nineteen. " a
"And I am fourteen , Dorcas. Will
you wait seven * vears for me ? " a
"Guy ! " p
"I shall be twenty-one then , and
my own master , " eagerly added the
boy ; "and I'll work like a slave to
get a good profession , and if you Trill I
marry me , Dorcas , I'll make the best n
husband that ever was to you , for | s
I'm desperately in love with you ,
that I nm. "
Dorcas burst into laughter.
"Guy , " she said , "what a child yon
are. "
"But you do lovo me , don't you ? "
"Yes , of course I love you ; but not
a bit more than I do Cecil Parker 01
little Frankie Gaines. "
"Dorcas ! "
"Well , a trifle more perhaps , be
cause I've had all the care of you
these four weeks , and you'vo really
behaved very decently , but "
"I won't , Guy. "
"We're engaged , all tho same , "
said i Guy , with a deep sigh of relief ;
"It's a bargain. And now you may
get ' mo my gruel. "
"Yes , Mr. Paley , " said Dr. Delfer ,
with a nod of his spectacled brows ,
"that wild boy of yours is a different.
And the infirmnrj' nurse has done it
all. J Not to mention the credit the
doctor 1 gives her for keeping down
the fever and managing the trouble
some j splints. He was tho worst boy
in the school. I don't mind admit
ting to you now that I was contem
plating expelling him from our mem
bers. 1 " I
"Gtry alwaj's was a wild sort ol
chap , " admitted Mr. Paley. "But |
his 1 aunts spoiled him. He never had
any j bringing up to speak of. " | I
"But this illness seems to have
exerted ' a wonderful influence over his
moral ] nature. " added Dr. Delfer. '
"And < I really think Dorcas has done
it j all. Her influence has been won
derful. < "
, "She deserves a greae deal of credit !
I am sure , said Mr. Paley. "I should
like to see her and thank her. I've
brought ] a few presents for her a
warm shawl , a silver snuff-box and a
black ' stuff gown. "
Dr. Delfer gasped a little.
"She I don't think sho takes j
snuffl" said he feebly. !
"All these nurses do. " | I
"Yes but there she is now. " I I
. The door opened and Dorcas Wyn-1 j
ter ' came in , carrying a student-lamp , ' I
which she had just filled and trimmed
anew.
\ Dr. Paley dropped the silver snuff '
box in astonishment. | I
"I beg your pardon , I am sure ! " 1 ,
stammered he. I I
And when the doctor suggested .
that the nurse had better accompany ,
young Guy on the journey home she 1 I
assented without remonstrance.
"Nurse , indeed ! " said Miss Sophro- ,
nia Paley , a guant high-featured
damsel of fifty. "As if a pretty sim-j'
pering chit of a thing like that could.
understand anything about nurs- ,
ing ! " I
"She does , though , " said Guy.
"She's a brick , Aunt Soph. And I
don't believe I should be alive now il
it wasn't for her. " !
"You aro quite well enough by this
time to dispense with services , " said
Miss Sophronia. "A boy that eats
the quantity of muffins and plum-jam
that you did at tealast night cannot.
call himself an invalid any longer.
She has been here a month , and "
"But she's not to go away for all
that . , Aunt Soph , " said Guy , who
was devouring roasted chestnuts like
n dragon. "Ask papa. She's to be
Mrs. Paley one of these days and " 1
"Mrs. Paley ! " Aunt Sophronia
turned , green and yellow. "It's come
to that , then , has it ? Well I've sus1
pected it this some time. And all
I've got to say is " j
"Seven years from now , " said Guy ,
with his mouth full of chestnuts , "I
shall be twenty-one , and she will be
twenty-six. Not enough difference
to signify. And , " he uttered with a
grin , as his aunt flounced wrathfully
out of the room , "you'll get your
walking ticket , old lady , when I'm
married ! I'd as soon have a death's
head and bones around the place any 1
time. " I
He was sitting curled up in the '
easiest chair in the library , reading a
book , half an hour afterwards , Avhen
the door opened , and lus father came
in. ; j
Something in the paternal glance 1
and movement struck the boy. j
"I never saw father look so young
and bright before , " he thought. ]
"Something must have pleased him
very much. Perhaps aunt Soph is
going to marry some old fogy or 1
other , and the coast will be clear. " '
"So you knew about it , Guy ? " said
Mr. Paley laughing.
"About what , sir ? "
"About my engagement. "
The book fell with a crash to the
floor.
"Your what , father ? "
"At least you told Aunt Sophronia '
about it. Well , I'm glad you are
pleased , my boy , and Dorcas says
she will always love you as if you
were her own son. As a general "
thing , I don't approve of stepmoth-
ers , but you and Dorcas love each t
other so dearly that Why. Guy , 1
what is the matter ? " forthe boy had 1
rushed out of the room with an odd "V
suffocating sensation in his throat. ; 1
He met Dorcas coming up the gar3
den path with a bunch of scarlet hoit
ly-berries in her hand. . i
"Dorcas , " he cried , "Dorcas , you J.
are as false as the serpent woman ! t
Ycm beau " g
She comprehended him in an inc
stant , though his voice was choked t
into silence. ' f
She flung away the scarlet clustor i
and put her arms tenderly about s
him. t v
"Dear Guy , " she whispered , "I love t
him ; but if you are unwilling if it
takes away any of the home feeling I
for you , it only remains for you to 1
say so , and ' . . 's
Her voice died away , her head n
dropped on his shoulder. e
There was an instant's silence , and *
Guy said bravely : ; t
"Well , so let it be. My father is a a
trump : , and you are the only woman .
alive who is worthy of him. And I v
suppose people would say six years |
was too much difference in our ages , '
although how they ' re to get over the i I
fifteen years between you and father '
don't know" he added , with a forced
g
laugh. And then and there Guy c
Palej * learned his first lesson in self- j
abnegation. i s
Dorcas picked up her holly berries .
and went into the librarwhere her .
promised husband stood. . .
.j.
"I have just seen Guv , " she said. n
"Isn't he pleased ? " T
"Yes , I think he is , " hesitated j.
Dorcas. "Guy is a strange boy a
noble nature. I am not sure , Horace , " •
she added , with a dimness in her t j
,
-A
eyes , "that I would have married Vjf |
you if I could nob always have had
Guy with mo. " ZS\ \
"And my truo wifo will bo Guy'a * , '
true mother ! " said Mr. Paley , draw- ?
ing Dorcas tenderly to his side.
m -m * < 1
Tito Wedding Present Nuisance.
Tho most expensive evil which so- g
called "society" has latterly inflicted
upon us is that of giving wedding „ ; 1
presents. Like death , it has all sea- I
nons for its own , and , bowing to the j
dread monarch , we aro compelled "to
give up and weep. " • .
As with overy other useful and prot- ,
ty custom , "shoddy" has laid its
vandal touch upon it , nnd the hard
earned dollar of many a bread win
I ner , instead of purchasing presents
lor proper persons and at tho proper '
time , or flowing into tho legitimate
channel of household needs is extrav
agantly expended upon trashy brie- I
a-brac or useless ornaments. 1
It is universally acknowledged as a
great and crying evil and yet no one
has the courage to put his foot down s j
and refuse tribute to this social high-
woyman.
Our rabbis , says the Hebrew
Standard , have kindly given us signs
whereby to recognize approaching
Messianic times , but with all due def-
erence to their prophetic discern- I
ment wo can only consistently hail
tho advent of tho millenium , when in- I
vitations to weddings will bear upon
their face , in large , cold type , the j
welcome legand , "No presents re
ceived. "
Then we can have the inward as
surance ! that wo are invited for our ' 1.
own personal worth , and not for the .
value of our gifts ; then the ghosts ol I
departed checks will not appear at •
the wedding feast and taunt us with J
our ' servility to fashion ; then , when
tho \ bride sweetly thanks us for our (
lemonade set , conscience will not ask j
us whether she is guying us or not ; |
then ; , when at the request of Mrs.
Katzenstein , wo look at Rachel's | -
presents ] on the second floor , no far- ' <
away J look will haunt ours eyes , no jT
-weary smile freeze upon our lips , as 1
our ' better half silently nudges us or *
' presses ! her No. 5 gaiters on oui
favorite corn , while wo count seven
> other { lemonade sets of exactly the
same ' pattern , evidently purchased \
from the same store , minus only the } ,
§ : 4.98 tax.
' Hail the happy day of deliverance 11
from J this Egyptian social bondage ! I j
Hail the noble , patriotic deliverer. ' |
whether his name be Obermeyer or .
Ganscmeyer ( , Cohen or Isaacs , whe )
will set the noble example ; families J
by 1 the wholesale shall ping thy J.
.praises ; heavy-hearted , light-pursed k
husbands J shall call thee blessed , and \
thy "I name shall be known at the j
gates { through Israel's countless gen- r
orations < ! Selah ! <
' In former days/when diamonds were ' '
worn by those only who could afford
to 1 indulge inexpensiveluxuries , when r <
J our daughters were easily initiated \
into i the useful mj'steries of "The An
cient < and Honorable Order of the
Darning } Needle and Scrubbing I
Brush , " when ourwivesbenttheir en-
ergies < toward making our homes I
pleasant ] , domestic and Jewish , in
stead of centres ofscandal and gossip ,
when our mothers ( God bless them ! ) '
used to say their prayers and go to - I
"school" instead of attending kaffee-
klatches 1 and betting on "bobtail I
flushes" f then wedding X'i'esents were
timely , and the gifts were confined tc .
such articles only as were useful , ser- ,
viceable and necessary. Spoons from 4 ]
one , tables , bureaus , pots and pans ?
from f another , were the "costly , mag- j
nificenb and expensive" presents
which the happy pair received. They & *
were aids to housekeeping , and only /
intended as such ; they were presented
in a spirit of affection ; they were re
ceived with grateful thanks. Nowa
days society clutches everybody by '
the throat , and regardless of their ' {
inclination wrings their hard-earned I
drachmas from their pockets by an
imposition diaphanous yet vile. '
There is one thing certain that , .
with the exception of near and dear
relatives , everybody in giving a wed- '
ding present wants to make the big- j-
gest possible show forthe smallest t
of money , and the rabbinical maxim ; j
"Examine not the pitcher , but its + „
contents , " is often reversed , for the *
satin-lined , plush-covered box some- , \ , j
times costs more than its plated con- , 1
tents. j j
"What shall we send , " asks Mrs. fj \ j
Silberberg of her husband , "and how % 1
much shall we spend ? " Mr. Silber- j
berg knows by former experiences I
that any suggestion he might give ]
would only be poohpoohed , that any I
offer he might make to "buy some- • *
thing down town" would be speedilj
ruled out , for Mrs. S. does not be- j
lieve in the metzeeas you get in the i " " ,
wholesale houses down town , so he 1 '
meekly sighs and says : "Anything { ;
you please , my dear , only don't spend ' ;
too much money , for I cannot afford
it. " Mrs. S. looks over her unused 1
presents to see if she can spare any-
thing , but finding them all too good j ' '
goes from shop to shop trying tc j
collect something , and * after a day's j
tramp and an outlay of § 2 for car j
fares and lunch for herself and ter- j
in-law , buys a half-dozen cups and /
saucers for § 2.99 and a plush box for j j
§ 7 for a wedding present ; a cloak for I I
the baby for § 12 , half-dozen hose for 1 ,
Silberberg for § 1.50. and a lovely •
bonnet for herself for only § 18. "You I
know we have to be economical , " she • , " -
Tsays , "and I guess our present will 1 f
make as good a show as any one • *
else's. " { 1
Why don 't people permit the prin- . 1
ters to make a truthful "typograph:1 {
ammatical" error ry printing : { /J
"Your presents is cordially solic- j < k
ited , " &c ? " f
.
sewi 1
Weather Prophets. ;
From the Toronto Mail. 1
The prediction that the present j
summer would be a cooler one was [
on the verge of verification when the ,
hot , spell set in. Now the scientist
say it is going to be terribly hot. and
they give as their reason the theory <
that heat follows the practice of hard j •
times and comes at regular intervals. | i
The summer of 18G7,1874 , and 1881 J ,
were unusually warm , and if excessive 5 '
heat really presents itself every seven ] 1
years 1SS8 should be a scorcher. It J f
is wonderful how easy it is to arguo j I
in favor of any kind of weather. j k
\ %
C 4
% I