'
"
mm
Iq .
I HOW HE FORGAVE HER
H , Tlioso unfortunate people who '
havo never corrected their first
H • proof-shoot ; , or cut the leaves of their
H "first book , or on opening a news-
H * papcr havoneversuddenlydiscovered
'their first favorable review , can havo
but a faint notion of what happiness
"really isl Afterward ono writes bet
ter , and probably looks on one's first
! "book as very poor stuff , to be forgot-
/ten if possible , or at least ignored on
' • title-page or advertisement sheet ;
tout when that book first appeared
h -what untold joy it brought with it !
H ' Many years ago I was one of those
H perfectly happy persons. My first
H ; -book ( poems of course do we not all
H to n with poetry , because it is so
H | 'easy , before we venture to attack
H -the difficult prose ? ) had lately ap-
H | -pearedin a charmingly , pale bindingj
BJ suggestive of hope and spring ; my
H J' 'first notices had been swee.t , with
11 Just that dash of acidity necessary
* to jnake the draught more stimulat
ing ; " amiable friends hinted at a rising
genius , and fond relatives began to
i build airy palaces of stupendous
slight and uncertain foundationwhen
-one morning I received a letter for-
mt warded through my publishers. I
9 -opened it in blissful excitement ( the
9j commonest things seems to veil fair
9 I. mysteries of delight when one is a
Hi ! .ytfong poet ) and found a short note
I .and several poems.
HI "Dear sir , " the letter ran , "your
| "book , 'Mosses and Midges , ' delightful
9f -and original title , has been given to
J - * me to reviewforthoBIackpoolChron-
I acle , andtI.findso.much.iu it that is
1 : sympathetic and true to the instincts
II -of nay own nature , that I venture to
I -write you as a friend to a friend ,
11 feeling that we are kindred souls and
B , should become better known to each
• ' , other , that our hands may meet , as
KJ -our spirits already do. „ l venture
9 | -also to inclose ono or two poems of
K. my own , suggested by your book.
B They , with others , and some essavs ,
9j will shortly bo published. May I
9 -dedicate them to you ?
9 "Vburs faithfully ,
K Cyril Brow.nkigg. "
9r , . ' 'Dear sir. " How delightful ! He
9j -took me lor a man , as indeed most
j ot my reviewers had done. My
91 i feminine senses of mischief and mys-
tery were roused , and I determined I
9j would continue to be "dear sir" as
9j Hong as possible ; so I read the poems
-and found they were very beautiful ,
1 ' and far , far above anything I could
j y
j * -do , and wrote a few lines • to my un-
} Ifcnown correspondent , telling him
• how flattered I should feel at his
dedicating his book to me , and sign
ing myself by the nonde plume I had
-chosen , Earle Oakhurst.
a Earle was really my own name ,
" "
H "having been given to me , I always
m thought , as an attempt to impart a
% dignified sound to my other two ex
's tremely insignificant ones. Amy
ji t Smith. But - whenyou saidi Amy
It Blowly it sounded rather literary , or
1 .so I flattered myself. Oakhurst was
i rtlie name of our house , so for love of
V ; it I dubbed myself Earle Oakhurst ,
) - and really it sounded quite im-
-1 , portantand dignified.
A few days afterward I recived half
- a dozen copies of the Blackpool
'Chronicle containing "Mosses and
Midges. " It was Tery flattering and
tcenerous , with a sort of half tender
half humorous criticism which show
ed me the weakness of my work far
.more clearly than the severest censure
• would have done. Ofcourse , I wrote
, "to thank my reviewer , and after this
> -we constantly corresponded , our let-
\ ters gradually-growing warmer and
\ -ompreconfidential.
. Xhadfnever known what it was to
\ ' shave a friend in perfect1 sympathy
! \ -with my own aims and objects in life ,
\ -and yet so far above me in. intellect
I and-power a man who evidently
( never gave self or any personal ad-
1 wantage a single thought , but stead-
' fastly followed his ideal through
} most unideal surroundings , for he
was poor he told me , and had to
i rwork hard all day , having only the
a yearly morning and late evenings to
write those beautiful winged poems
-which delighted me so much.
At last his book , "Stray
Thoughts , " appeared , and at once
tmade a great sensation. It was " dedi-
-cated to "My God-given brother and
; friend , Earl Oakhurst. " How proud
I was as I read the words , and then
-suddenly the terrible thought flashed
-across my mind that I had deceived
K > -.him , and made him appear ridiculous
I to every one who knew that I was a
| woman. It was , characteristic of him
[ ' • that he had never inquired or trou-
[ 'bled about the sex of his friend , but
\t \ . Zk * his own great honesty had taken
r it for granted that I should not de-
r , ceive him even in a trifle , and this ,
-alas , I now felt was no trifle.
I knew not what to do , so like
f : most weak people , did nothing. I
-did not even acknowledge the copy
v-- . ' -of "Stray Thoughts" he sent me ,
. -with letter affectionate
; ; a even more
| : . thon usual. I was at this time stay-
? * ing in London with a married cousin ,
! • " c . and as my "Mosses and Midges"
? : had been somewhat successful , and
: * v . - Jbad managed to get talked
| * • -about , I had plenty of invita-
$ tions and enjoyed myself thoroughly
| " meeting pleasant and congenial peo-
* v v > fple , and being made of , for I was
| | ; ? r -young , fairly rich , and good-looking ,
WJ' and wanting nothing from anybody
&h-- . ( the great secret of popularity ) .
* & • One morning , some days ifter re-
p | * ' , -ceiving "Stray Thoughts , " Iwhile I
"
fete • ; * * . * wasstilidSbatinghowTshould make
[ | § * * my corifesaion , Igotafew nesfrom
n- % : tits author.
* ' "I " he "not
} • am surprised , wrote ,
i _ T-y : l"iliavea word'ofgreetingfroin you ;
fgT , % -but never mind , 'Stray Thoughts' is
m : - 4a.goirig so well that I have been
i disked to come to London to talk
feover a newventure "With "my putJlish-
ijg * - . er,60 shaUsoon , my ; brother and
Ba . t iriend make your personal acquairit-
p. ance ; until then , good by. "
jN | ; * I felt overwhelmed with shame ,
'M ' % * r nd yet absurdly happy at the idea
% 0&hof really seeing and talking to him.
P | i.What would he say ? "Would he for-
g. ' . . tgive nie ? I looked anxiously in my
W ' M tglass , and thought perhaps he might.
gfV ? " " Jot I could not help thinking I looked
> ? * * < • ' • - * .
---u ; - v--- , %
p ' • . . ' • * • * - * • * *
t
pleasant , if not pretty , as my friends
told me. I could nor guess how or
whoro I should meet him , but the
next night when my cousin and I ar
rived at a musical party , my hostess
said to mo in a pointed manner , with
a smile :
"Your friend is hero tonight ! "
"Who is my friend ! " I thought
lessly inquired.
"Cyril Brownrigg , " she answered
with a laugh. "How will ho greet his
brother and friend , I wonder ? "
1 felt myself growing scarlet with
shame and annoyance , for I had of
course , been unmercifully teased
about that unfortunate dedication ,
and had carefully explained to all
my friends that the author only
knew me from my book. I felt that I
could not stay and meet him
there with all those people
watching , and turned to tell my
cousin I felt ill and must return
home , but she had been claimed for a
duet , and was already standing by
the piano at the opposite side of the
room , so I slunk away to the con
servatory , where behind tall camel
lias and ferns I trusted to be unob
served until I could speak to my
cousin , and persuade her to return
with me. I do not know how long
I sat there , lost in a dream , when a
voice I knew well said quite close to
me :
"Have you seen your 'brother and
friend' hero yet , Mr. Brownrigg ? I
know shewith a malicious accent on
the she ) is here to-night , because I
have just spoken to her cousin , Mrs.
"Wrayburn. "
A grave voice answered slowly :
'
"I do not quite understand'you ,
Miss Gould. "
"No ! " she laughed. "No , I dare
say not ! It was a charming little
mystery , no doubt , but really
it is losing the charm of novelty
now , and ot course not many of us
believe in these quixotic impersonal
feelings. Ah ! there she is ; let me
introduce you , pray. Miss Earle
Oakhurst , Mr. Cyril Brownrigg.
Now I must leave you and sing my
little song. Au revoir. "
And Miss Gould floated away , and
I became confusedly aware of a pair
of very grave blue eyes fixed in
quiringly and somewhat coldly on
my face.
"I beg your pardon , ' . ' hesaid ; "but
your brother I conclude he is your
brother is a great and dear friend
of mine. Is he. hear tonight ? "
"I have no brother , " I murmured ,
and continued hurriedly : "I am
Earle Oakhurst at least my real
name is Amy Earle Smith. I wrote
'Mosses and Midget , ' arid , " I added
desperately , seeing how pale and
hard his. face was growing as the
first look of surprise changed to one
of cold displeasure. "I am sorry.
Forgive me ; I only did it at first for
a joke , and afterward I feared "
"lou feared ? " he inquired , quietly ,
as I paused.
"Yes , " I said , feeling my cheeks
burn and my eyes fill with tears. "I
never had a friend like you before ,
and I feared to lose your friendship ! "
"Yes no I don't know. I did not
think much about it until I saw the
dedication , and then I felt too
ashamed and unhappy to confess.
"What can I do ? I am so unhappy. "
"You can do nothing. "Will you
allow me to take you back to your
cousin , who , I believe , has been in
quiring for you ? " he asked , with a
sudden change to icy conventional
tones.
I rose without a word , but as we
entered the room I whispered :
"Can you forgive me ? "
"No , I cannot' " he answered , and
with a bow left me , and I saw him ,
after a few words with our hostess ,
leave the room , and was told after
ward he had pleaded urgent business
as an excuse lor leaving early.
After "that miserable evening ,
though I frequently sawCyrilBrown-
riggatmusical or literary gatherings ,
he never spoke a word to me beyond
what mere politeness rendered neces
sary , and yet I always felt a strange
new joy in his presence. It was a
pleasure to me to hear how popular
he was becoming , and to watch his
grave eyes light up and his whole face
gleam when he talked about any
thing that interested him. The sub
jects we used to discuss in our letters ,
the aim of art , the supreme necessity
of leading a noble life in order to win
power to do the noble work how
well I knew his thoughts and feelings
about all these things ; and after an
evening like this I would go , home
filled with a kind of rapturous pain ,
and read over again those precious
letters " whose noble words I already
knew almost by heart , until I could
hardly bear the bitter thought of
what might have been. Even if he
forgave , I knew he could never care
for me with the only love I would ac
cept even from him the love which
is a mingling of personal worship
with impersonal admiration , and
which alone is worthy of the divine
name.
One night a large party of us were
dining together , Miss Gould , Cyril
Brownrigg ; my cousin and myself
being amongithe number. " After din
ner we were all going to the theater
to hear a celebrated French actress
in one ofthe mostpowerfulimperson- .
ations. By chance Cyril Brownrigg
was my neighbor at the meal , but ,
as usual , beyond the necessary polite
formalities , did not speak , nor did I ,
of course , though I was longing to
break down this icy wall that separ
ated me from the man I had grown
to love so deeply. Presently the lady
sitting on the other side of him said :
"I suppose I may congratulate you ,
Mr. Brownrigg , and I do , very heart
ily. I really think you have been as
successful asCj-ou could wish , and
everyone is spyingjhow entirely you
deserve your good fortune. "
"Thankyou , he answered , quietly ,
with , I fancied , a half glance at mej
"Idb consider yourself very fortun
ate , and hope to be even more so be
fore long. "
"Ah.1" she said with a little laugh ,
" we shall even have to congratulate
you on your marriage , I suppose ? "
I could not catch his answer , as
just then our hostess rose , and I had
to follow ; but as we went up stairs a
girl I knew said :
"I suppose Miss Gould ' is to be con
gratulated. Have you heard of her
engagement ? A case of love at first
sight , I hear. By the by , when will
Mr. Brow wijgyV sr aw book appear ?
*
"
"
- . * '
i ' -
* - v-
iHlMIIHHfiHH HHHHl
'
v -
Is it also to be dedicated to hia
brother and friend ? "
The old joke had not died out even
yet , and now came as a keener shamo
and pain than over. I made no re
ply , and though I heard afterward
that Mme. Sophie Lenoir surpassed
herself , everything that night seemed
a blank to mo at the theater. Voices
and faces mixed themselves up to
gether in torturing confusion , and
the brilliant light seemed only to
show mo more clearly the utter
blackness of my heart and life. My
cousin , perhaps , guessed something
of my misery , for she said :
. "Don't talk to Amy ; let her dream.
No doubt sho is composing Bonnets
on the actress or the play ! "
So they laughed and left me alone.
Suddenly my apathy was broken by
a cry of "Fire ! " repeated in louder
tones and again and again , and peo
ple sprang from their peats , as thin
streaks of smoke were seen curling
round behind the stage. In vain the
manager came forward and tried to
speak ; in vain Mme. Lenoir , who
was dying in agonized contortions ,
rose , and spoke in rapid French , as
suring the audience there was no
danger ; the people grew deaf and
.blind to everything but the increas
ing roar , and the smoke and flame ,
which were now pouring into the
theater itself. The curtain fell , but-
only for a moment served to deaden
the advancing fire.
Under ordinary circumstances it
would have been perfectly easy for
us in the stalls to hurry out , but for
some reason thelights suddenly went
out , and at the same moment a rush
was made from behind , the people in
the pit becoming frantic in the dark
ness , and finding their own entrance
quickly choked , tried to force their
way over the stalls.
The confusion was terrible. Wom
en shrieked and sobbed , men swore ,
and when every now and again a
flickering flame " blazed higher than
before , it showed a sickening scene of
struggle and despair.
I felt so miserable that I had never
thought of leaving my seat , but sat
staring stupidly , as if the frightful
scene was no concern of mine , when I
was aroused to tingling life again by
Cyril's voice close to my ear.
"Take my arm , " he said , in low ,
hurried tones , " and for heaven's sake
hold fast ? "
I clasped it with both my hands ,
but without a word. He forgave
me , then ; ho cared for me ; he
wished to save me , and the thought
.took away all fear. At the same
moment the curtains in one of
the boxes near blazed up for a few
seconds , and by the light I saw my
cousin's agonized face , as she strug
gled to keep on her feet , and was
pressed back by the surging , mad
dened mass from the pit ; she saw us
too , and reached her hand out to us.
"Amy ! Mr. Brownrigg ! " she cried ,
"help me ! do not leave me ! "
He turned to me.
"It is impossible to save you both , /
he said , hoarsely. "Good God ! what
can I do ? "
I saw what he could do and said :
"Press forward ; think only of get
ting out of this horrible place. "
Theinthe ' light died away , again ,
and with''ia smothered sob of intense
thankfulness I slid my hands from his
arm , and taking my cousin ' s gently
slipped them into the same place and
pushed her forward , saying :
"Keep firm hold. I will follow close
behind. "
She was half dead with terror and
scarcely understood , but clung blind
ly , and he , in the struggle and dark
ness , did not notice the change , and
pushed his way forward , shielding
my cousin as well as he could.
I kept close to them until we
reached the passage leading to the
door of exit into the street , but then
somebody seized me by the shoulders
and'dragged me roughly back , * slip
ping into my place. I lost my balance
and fell , and for one horrible minute , . ,
felt a sickening sense of suffocation
as the rush passed over mo ; the next
I struggled on my feet again. For
tunately I had fallen close to the
wall , so was able to support myself
against it , and felt my way by its
guidance through the blinding smoke
in the direction of the door.
I was nearly crushed to death , and
very sore and bruised , but I felt the
still glow of that great joy in my
tieart , and thanked God with all my
soul that I had been able to show
[ Jyril I was not entirely frivolous and
tieartless. Death seemed nothing to
me in comparison with the knowl-
; dge that he loved me , for I had seen
the love I longed for in his agonized
jyes , and heard it in his voice , during
bhat momentary flicker.
I suppose I fainted after this , for I
iave a very dim remembrance of see-
ng lights appear , as if through a
fog , and of feeling strong arms help-
ng me on , and then a total blank ,
mtil I found myself in a carriage
iriving slowly along a dimly lighted
street.
"Wrhere is she ? " I asked faintly ,
ooking around for my cousin.
"She is safe , " answered Cyril's
roice , "quite safe at home by this
time ; but.you. Amy ; are you much
iurt ? How could I have missed you ?
[ shall never forget my horror and
nisery when I got outside the theater
md found your cousin clinging to
me , and you , I knew not where. I
: u8hed in again , but was helpless in
the darkness , until at last I found
pxm , quite close to the door ! "
"Haveyou quite forgiven me ? " I
isked.
"Yes , my dearest. I forgave you
ong ago , and loved you , too ; but
after that evening , when I was so
lard and merciless , I feared to tell
pou what I felt , and you always
seemed to avoid-me , and treat me so
: oldly.
"Oh , " I said , between a laugh and
i sob , "I thought you never meant
; o speak to me again , and I heard a
ady congratulating you on your ap-
) roaching marriage to Miss Gould. "
"Miss Gould ! " he exclaimed. "Why ,
ihe has just b ecome engaged to Thorn-
: on" , theartisfrwhtj painted herpor-
; rait in the K. A. this year. What
" '
: an j'ou mean ?
"I thought , " I stammored "I heard
ihe was engaged directly after hear-
ng you congratulated , and so 1
; hought "
"You were entirely mistaken. * * he
laid , gravely. "That lady was con
gratulating me on-the announcement
) f the speedy appearance of my new
_ - _ .i , - , . . - • { ; & ' _ : _ . .Jl „ J |
book , and suggested that probably
my marriage would be the next sub
ject for congratulation. But there is
only ono woman I would marry , Amy
the 'brother and friend' I" know so
well and love so dearly. It is my turn
now to ask forgiveness. Can you for
give me Amy , and let my new book
be dedicated 'To the God-given wife
and friend' I hope to have always be
side mo henceforth ? Can you , Amy ? "
"Yes , " I answered , and that "yes"
has been the key to my earthly par
adise , for surely no other woman can
ever have been so happy as I am.
There is no doubt one is absurdly
joyful over one's first proof-sheet
and first review , but Cyril and I al
ways say , after all the last'is better
than the first , and we ought to know ,
for we have just finished correcting
what will certainly be our very last
proof-sheet. We have grown old to
gether , sine that terrible yetjo3'ful
evening , and as we sit hand in hand
by the fire and recall the past , we
felt that though the first book was
a beautiful preface , yet the deepest
joy and holiest content came after
ward , when the glamour of poetry
and passion being past , we still feel
the glory of art and the unselfish
beauty of love grow clearer and more
divine with every day we passed to
gether , and every line we wrote.
Once a Week.
Grimes Committed by Series.
Another curious phenomenon re
vealed by French statistics is that
certain classes of crimes occur by se
ries. We had not long ago a series
of murders in which the victims were
cocottes , and just now we are having
a series of old women murders.
There are those who say that each
author of an original crime produces
a sort of hypnotism among the mass
of criminals who appropriate and
imitate his manner. This strange
influence exerted over temperaments
which seem to have been predestined
to commit crimes has nothing ab
normal about it ; its workings have
been noticed in persons who wore
perfectly honest. A year or so ago a
lady was caught stealing in one of
the large stores ; her honesty was
aboye question/and her means were
ample enough to permit her to satis
fy any caprice.
WThat she had stolen were lit
tle trifles of no great value , and she
has declared that as she was looking
at the articles and on the point of
speaking to the salesman whose
back was tnrnedto , ask their priceshe
perceived a handsomely dressed lady
standing alongside of her who was
hiding something under her cloak.
She wasabout to denounce the thief
when the latter fixed her eyes on her
in a strange , half commanding , half
smiling way , and , completely fascin
ated , she imitated her , followed her
about , taking things whenever she
did. Presently she lost sight of the
woman in the crowd and at once
came to herself with a start and was
about .to pay for the articles she had
taken when she was searched she rec
ognized the woman whom she had
been imitating and who , likelier , had
been watched and arrested. I am
exceedingly skeptical on the subject
of magnetism , hypnotism and the
other tricks with which jugglers are
so fond of imposing on the public ,
but in a case like the one just cited ,
where the lady's past was irreproach
able and where the theft committed
was insignificant. I am ont inclined
to doubt her assertion that she was
acting under an influence she was
powerless to resist. Her excuse did
not save her from prosecution and
she received a trifling sentence.
HenryHaynie in New Orleans Picay
une.
" * ' * "
• Quack Watch Doctors. * * ' -
I sometimes compare a watch with
a human body. It is just as sensitive
as the most delicate child , and needs
more care and protection than it
jver receives. It is affected by clima
tic influences , and its vital arejust as
iable to derangement as those of our
oodies. Its heart-beats govern and
! ts action , and its hands and face tell
its condition at all times.
If I were to classify the diseases of
watches I should say that the one
where the works are clogged with dirb
and the oil has become stiff is analo
gous to our biliousness. This is the
most common complaint we watch
Joctors find , and unless the owner of
bhe watch makes it a rule to take it
to a reputable store he will probable
oe , victimized , just as human patients
are when they consult quack doctors.
Dishonest watchmakers will not
hesitate to pronounce a watch dirty
jvenwhenit is not so , and I have
known cases where this has been done
directly after a watch had beenclean-
2d by another watchmaker. They
acton the same principle as the quack
doctor , who always prescribes for the
patient , even if he has to give sugar
and water or bread pill , and the quack
watchmaker regularly prescribes for
bhe watch brought him , even if it only
needs winding Jeweller.
"ThemEzIIcz. "
A village in NewEngland came '
into poseession of a neat and much .
needed town hall , the gift of public- ;
spirited citizens. When completed ,
a meeting was held to dedicate the i
new building. Speeches where 'made
by prominent citizens , an d. special
reference was naturally made to the -
chief benefactor , and to those who ;
had been most active in forwarding . :
the enterprise.
One speaker mentioned the names ' .
of five or six of these citizens , and
suggested that a vote of thanks be <
tendered them. This was done.
A moment later a little wizen-faced :
old man arose in the back part ofthe
hall , and , in a sharp penetrating ;
voice , called :
"Mr. Cheerman ! Mr. Cheerman ! " i
The speaker being recognized , he i
proceeded :
"I jist wanted to say that there's
them ez haint been mentioned , ez
bez done ez much ez them ez hez. " i
\ . - ,
* " * \ - o
THE FAIRY CUPBOARD.
" ' " " " '
•
BY JULIA CX.AKK-CHASE.
In the school yard at Westbury
stood , a big maple trco , green and
thrifty with a square holo in the
trunk , about three feet from the
ground , and about two feet deep.
Of course it was dark as night inside ,
and it was hollowed out of tho body
ofthe tree to thesizeof half a bushel.
The children had a superstitious
awe of the dark hole in tho tree * and
various stories were told of it. No
ono knew how the holo was made , or
how long it had been there , but it
was called the "Fairj * Cubboard. "
Tho school house was built a quar
ter of a milo away from tho village ,
in a beautiful maple grove , and the
nearest house was that of Mr. Stanley
the only druggist ofthe place. He
had three children a baby 5
years old and twins of 9
Nell , a girl and Dell , a boy.
Now their names were so mucn
alike that it might have caused some
trouble , only for the reason that the
twins were always together. They
never could boar to be apart for a
moment , and their parents had sim
ply to shufe them up in separate
rooms , for any misconduct and they
were sufficiently punished. But 1 am
happy to say that they did not often
need to be parted.
It wa ' s the vacation between the
summer and winter school terms and
the children had plentj' of time for
play ; but they could not romp or
shout or make a noiso about the
house , for their papa had been very
ill for several weeks , and was only
just out of danger , the doctor said ,
and it would be a long , long time be
fore he would be able to go back to
the drug store again.
Their mother was > in close attend
ance upon him , so the children had
ta depend upon themselves for amuse
ment. They were very sad , too ,
sometimes , for if their dear father
should die they felt that they could
*
ner be happy any more. He had
always been so kind to them , and
they were so comfortable in their
pretty home , but with sickness , and
trouble and expense and death so
near , the sorrow and worry had en
tered their young heartsand shadowed
bheir young lives. We are always so
careless of the blessings that fill our
lives untill they are hidden from us ,
bhat sorrow and trouble are very
2ood ; things , once in a while , to teach
iis to appreciate our everyday happi
ness.
ness.The children were wandering about
the wood , one day , picking up the
! irst bright leaves that had fallen to
the ground at the touch of
iutumn ' s fingers , when Dell said :
'Oh dear , I wish we could do some
thing we have never done before
something that would make us for
get about papa. "
Nell looked up with honest surprise
n her big brown eyes : "I don 't want
: o forget about papa. "
"Well , I mean forget about his be-
ngsick and having to suffer so , " said
the boy.
"I think we ought to feel just as
Dadly as we can , and not let mamma
iave it all to do , " insisted Nell.
She rarely differed with Dell , but
• he sight of her dear mother's tears
md pale , tired face made a great im
pression upon her tender heart.
"Well , I wish there were real fairies , .
md I would get a fairy god mother
; o come and nurse papa , and make
lim well , and then mamma could
• est. "
"Let's go to the Fair3r Cupboard , "
said his sister , "maybe we can find
something there. "
So off they went hand in hand , and
veered into its sable depths with .
solemn , wistful faces.
"If there were faries we couldn't
see them by daylight , they only come
jut at night. "
Nell put her hand cautionsly into
she hole and drew it back exclaiming ,
'There might be something in there
; o bite me. "
Dell laughed , and with a boy's
jravado thrust his arm into the tree
mly to draw out with a startled
scream.
"What is it , Dell ? "
"I don't know ; something with fur
md it moved ! "
"Oh , Dell , it's a squirrel ! "
"May be 'tis let's see ; " and he put
lie hand in , very cautiously this
ime , soon to be followed by the oth-
fr , and then he brought out , not a
iquirrel , but a young rabbit.
The children were delighted with ;
iheir prize , and laughed and shouted
mtil they frhrhtened the poor timid ,
hing nearly to death. They took it
lome and made a house for it of an I
) ld birdcage.
After they had provided it with ,
bod .and water , they went into the
louse , remembering for the firsttime
n half an hour that they had both !
ictually forgotten their poor sick fa- :
herNell was remorseful at the I
; hought of it ; but her brother declar- i
d that the faries had put the rabbit I
here for them , intending thcra to I
iave something pleasant to think- I
ibout. :
"And mamma told us to enjoy our- •
elves and not worry about papa , or I
re would get sick , too , don't you rei i
aember , Nell ? " . \
.K
It seemed so dreary in the house at ;
wilight with no mother in the sitting \
oom holding Bennie in her arms all ;
eady to. tell them a story as. washer
ront before sickness had entered the i
lome. i
The girls had supper waiting in the •
lining room , hut thechildren waited
ill Mrs. Stanley came out to eat a
ew hasty mouthfuls , before they .
rent to the table ; then they told her
ibout the rabbit. :
"Well , dears , I am glad you have :
omeshing pleasant to think of ; but =
lou't let the poor thing suffer in cap- ;
ivity. " i
They talked about it until they I
rent to sleep that night and wonI I
lerei if they had not better let the
'
'
V ' -
. v - * - • -t - -
Hs •
y - .
vfT ; ,
littlo creaturo go back to tho wood ;
then they wondered if it would find
its mother.
Bright and early Nell was up and
dressed , and ran m to Dell's room
where he and Bennio were still sleep
ing ; but tho former was soon ready
to accompany his sister to tho house
where they had left bunny tho night
before. What was their surpriso to
find the ca go empty , though every
thing was just as thoy had left it the
night before.
"Whero can he bo ! Lot's go to tho
wood and seo if he is there. "
And off they ran wlnlo puss sat
meekly washing her fnco after her
breakfast of young rabbit.
They didn't find their pot , but they
found quite a quantity of walnuts.
"Let'sleavothorn hero and . como
every day and got a few , " said
Dell.
Dell.So
So they each took a handful and
after eating them they wont to look
for red moss cups in the wood.
Thenextmorningfound thorn again
at their store-house with glad voices
and happ3 * hearts , for their futhor
was a great deal better , and their
mother looked happier than she had
dono for a long time.
"Let me get the nuts out this time ;
I'm not afraid anymore , and I want
to see what the fairies havo put in
for us this time , " said Nell.
" It was the squirrels that put tho
nuts there , " answered Dell , "but we
can call it faries , it seems so myste
rious. "
As the boy pronounced this big
word the3r reached the tree and. the
littlo girl thrust in her hand and
drew a handsome gold watch with a
heavy chain attached to it ,
They looked at each otherin constern
ation , and thought the fairies must
really have something to do with tho
wonderful cupboard.
After handling the watch and look
ing it over , almost expecting it to
vanish , Dell put his hand in and
drew forth some silver spoons
of different sizes , and table forks ail
mixed up in the dead leaves , nuts
and pieces of bark in the dark
heart of the tree , lie saw some
thing glitter and found it to be a
couple of large diamond rings. Then
ho took out a case with a necklace of
pearls and diamonds in it.
"We can't carry all those things ;
let's go and tell mother and get
Bennic's wagon to take them in , "
said Dell.
Thoy ran all the way home and
knocked at the dooroftheirmother's
room , out of breath , thinking tho
grand discovery of sufficent impor
tance to warrant their coming to
their mother , now that their father
was somuchhetter.
Mrs. Stanley was astonished at
what the children told her. and sent
bhem to ask the doctor to come to
bhe house , as she wanted to see him.
When he heard the story he said that
i burglary had been committed in
bhe city , ten miles away , und that a
reward of § 1,000 had been offered for
the stolen goods , as the silver was
ralued as being a family heirloom.
Inother § 500 had been offered by
the police for the robber.
"Don't let any one know these
things have been found , and we may
: atch the burglar , too. You were
rery sensible , Mrs. Stanley , to send
" or me. 1 will secretly inform the
: onstable ; we will take possession of
; ho plunder and then watch for the
; hief to-night. "
Everything was managed so quitrt-
y and quickly that the unsuspLious
; hief was taken when he come to
ook at the contents of the Fairy
Cupboard and lodged in jail in the
: ity next day.
The Stanleys received the § 1,000 ,
md the doctor the § 500 which he
livided with the constable.
Mrs. Stanley told the children she
lad been wondering where the money
: o pay the doctor bill and the drug
ilerk from the city was coming from ,
> ut that she never dreamed they
rould earn it for her.
The family in town which had been
obbed were very glad to get back
heir possessions , for many more
hingswere found in the hollow tree
md they as well as the children had
ause to bles3 the Fairies' Cupboard.
-Wisconsin.
A Story About Jfilsson.
When Christine Nilsson first ap-
leared in public twenty or more years
igo , she was a bony and freckled ,
Scandinavian lass , like scores one ,
ees in Western towns. Now she is a JI
oagnificent woman , commanding in
arriage and countenance. Occas-
onally her temper gets the better ot ,
ler on the stage and once , here in
Ihicago , sho knocked over the piano ;
tool and stamped angrily because
omething had gone wrong. If she
iroved herself ungrateful to former
lenefactors , retribution came quickly
a the treatment which she met at
he hands of her first husband's re- .
itions , upon whom she had lavished ,
irinccly donations. ,
She is a woman of noble impulso ,
rhich was once illustrated at the :
ouse of a retired Chicago million- i
ire near New York. A distinguished
ompany had been invited to meet {
er at dinner. On entering the din-
ig-room she dropped her host's arm , <
urrying in amazement to the state-
f young butler , and seizing him e 'f- \
isivelj' by the hand , engaged him in \
nnversation , while the other guests t
tood waiting and the entertainer
Doked on in astonishment. "That .
mn , " she explained to tho group ,
'hen they were seated , "is thoson of I
kind old : nobleman on whose estate [
iy father worked as a day laborer l
'hen we were children. Fortune has =
miled on me , while it has frowned on t
iy old playmate , whom I find here
onder such changed circumstances. " $
-America. c
- • - • t
"Say , father/'saidtheEditor'sson i
is there anything in the world that c
ever gets lost ? ' ' * "There is only 3
ne thing that I know of , " solemnly ;
nd sadly replied the weary father , ' '
s he continued his occupation of fill- =
lg the waste-basket with contribu h
ions from the "funnv men. " "What's i ;
hat , father ? " "A"'chestnut. . ' my f
on. " . - f
k *
*
; ji.-j * . * - - . .1A if' ' t0TTTrr 't 1 1 n
* j • . i ' _ - s > . - - .i < .
- * > ST * - le' * > L *
A Christmas Dinner In * "Wash. ; p
ington. . c : ;
Tn was dlnnor thno on Christmasrvi ; " ; ; <
day. The senators , representatives ' rk *
und secretaries of legation , we. 'irlcd ' . - .
with tho buslncHS of tho special session : J >
of congress , together with many pthor ;
distinguished visitors to tho capital. ? ? :
wore nastoning to tho Alexandria Hotel . ' 5 , i
*
todinnor ; for Washington was then j | > ' * . *
* *
"tho cltyof magnlflcont distances. " and j
its only good hotol was in tho adjoining
town.
As tho music of tho gong was hoard' y&
and tho doors opened , tho woll'dressed * ,
und highly intelligent ossomblugo
quiotly and soraowhat haughtily seated i
thomsolves at tho two long tablos that j
filled tho dining-room ; somo ono in a |
white cravat pronounced tho words. j
• • For theso Christma3 favors wo are all I
truly thankful , " when a waiter's voico 1
wus heard : "Walk right up this way , 1
gontlomon , " und aftor considerable 11
noiso and shuflling.tho two now-comers jl
were soatod near tho contra of ono of J
tho tables. No hayseed was visible In ; |
their hair ; no caoklo-burrs fringing 'I
their now clothcs.yot thoy wore evldont- il
ly from Wuybuck county , ami 11
hud never before seen a city.
"Gosh ! Dad , did you ovor sua such a f * * M
table us this ? " said tho youngoi * of tho / M
two , a thin , gawky lad of seventeen , M
"Theso vittles lias got to be paid for , 'I
Zeb , an1 you can oat all of 'era you'vo M
a mind to , " said the older man , as ho
drank tho water from tho finger-bowl
and put a napkin into his pockot. >
For tho noxt half hour thoso two wore M
tho centre of attraction. It was mys'M '
tcrious us well us amusing to watch tho .1
sudden disappearance of turkey , chick- 9
en pie , vegetables , pickles and jellies. jl
and an audible smile wont ' round tho {
room , when u grinning waiter ut lost H
found tho old man's plate ompty , and ;
started to curry it away. '
"Hero ! Where in timo uro yoli goin1 jfl
with my plato ? I ain't dono yot.
"I'm just going to got you a clean ifl
plate , sir , for tho dessert. " tl
"Clean plato bo hangod ! This un II
ain't dirty. Lot his ulono , too , " us tho Jfl
'
waiter touched tlte boy's plate. 9
Near the old man was a bottle of 'fl '
wine ordered by his right-hand neigh- '
bor , but just us ho wus going to 1UL | 9
Zeb's glass and his own out of it , tho 9
gentleman moved tho bottle and said ' 9
icily , "Stop ! sir. This is private wine. 'fl '
Order some for yourself if you wish it. " jfl
Tho old man glanced around in a | H
puzzled way , then reached across the 9
table to another glass of wino. 9
"Guess you'd better lot this alone , " > 9
suid its owner ; "it's private wine , sir. " i9 |
"Gosh , Dud ! " said Zeb , "don't thoy ' 9
beat all creation ? Seems to mo they're 9
awful uppish. " 19
"Hev some pie , Zeb ? " said his fath- ' 9
er , quartering a mince-pie and putting * 9
a piece on his own plate. Tho gentle- 9
man across the tublo reached for 19
somo. Tho old man jerked tho plate j 9
away. "No you don't ! " said he , "that 9
is private pie , un * you lot it nlone. " j 9
There was little eating and much ] 9
laughing at tho tables , while thoso ' 9
two , blissfully unconscious of tho notice j 9
Lhey were attracting , continued to ( 9
itow away all the food within reuch. J 9
"Dad , " at last said tho boy , in a 19
loarso whisper , "don't you reckon yon 9
jould eat half o' my plum puddin ? " i 9
"Don't be a fool , Zeb , " growled tho { , 9
rather , "eat it up an' havo some more ; y - 9
ive've got it to pay for. " * 9
"Well , Dad , I know I'll bust , but I'll 9
But when the fruit and nuts wero . 9
jassed to him he gave up. Can't como j 9
t , " said he to the obsequious waiter 9
vho insisted on his taking an orange. 9
'I couldn't swallor one o' thorn things ' fl
f they wasn't any bigger * n a pill ; but 9
? 11 take two o' them biggest onos homo H
0 Mary Lizbeth , an' Dad can fi 11 his 9
) ockets with nuts for the young 'uns. | 9
! do hate to leavo 'em. " 9
"That's just me , Zeb , " said the old 9
nan , with a sigh , "I'd be proud to take 9
ome o' these pies an' chicken-fixin's ' ' 9
lome , but I don't reckon we could I B
tarty 'em. " ' M
Zeb gave a loving , lingering .look at f H
he table , and as he followed his father l 9
rom tho room , said spasmodically : " | 9
' 'Twos the boatin'est dinner I ever ' M
ee , but gosh ! Dad ! / do believe I M
hall die ! Mary A. Benson , Texas M
liftings. | M
Beware of Antipyrine. fl
If one half of what the doctors are < t jH
aying is true , there may soon bo a M
greater need of a temperance reform > M
.mong the women than there ever has M
teen among the men. Strong drink , ' M
towever , is not the monster by . M
rhich the women may be enslaved , but ' H
1 strong and poisonous drug equally | | 9
tuneful in its effects. j M
This drug is antipyrine. The chemi- j fl
al name for it is "dimethyIoxyqu ; nzi- I fl
i , " but as it is rather long and might i B
ot be easily pronounced by ladies who M
re not orthoepical experts it has/been ' j |
iilled simple antipyrine , and appears { M
s such in the medical books. M
It is a white powder , slightly bitter , M
nd soluble in water. Until about a j M
ear ago it was prescribed for fevers ' M
hly , but a French medical college re- J M
nmmended it for headaches and other | M
a ins and disorders and in this wav it , Wm
as gained its grasp on so many | H
loughtless and nervous women. M
In Chicago and many other places it * M
is said that the habit is gaining with { M
kyrming rapidity , for the woman take i M
. 'foi evcryJll , and can not believe that. , ' M
s soothing effect can hnve-aiivevi ! rei' ' ' Wm
ill until the habit is thoroughly fixed M
nun them. { * |
f H
-
Jt produces different results under H
iffercnt circumstauces , and , like many M
ther preparations , varies according to M
w s-ize of the dose ; In largo doses ' |
has been known to produce complete * " * M
daxation. and at .the same time a loss ( M
I reilex action and death. In moder- J M
: e. or tonic , doses it often produces I |
invulsions. Its effect as a stimulant j M
jems to be much like that of quinine. | H
id the physicians say that they do not M
uderstand why it should get the hold M
u women that it does. Buffalo f M
ouricr. M
1
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