I Im 1 MANS FAITHFUL FRIEND Bobby loyod me Bobbyfi dead Whu fchnll iy no heaven holds liiin -Who hiill daretlny that Gods All embracing love enfolds him - -While the ineniyjx of true Jove Clonals till iliIitioluriijli sr AT Who shall nay that such a fond Faithful heart as his shall perish 4 Who shall say nosoul loolud out Frojn those vyoa that eer seemed asking Me to recognize soniewhat More than flesh and bloods mere mask ing Dear dumb Bobby tried ami true Faithful friend and stanch defender Heaven were nearer to us were all Human hearts as true anthtender Many a mighty son of earth t Might have gone and scarce havemoved me - He was but a dog andyer Bobbys dead and Bobby loved me Boston Post A- w ror MR BOFFIN AND - WE BAILIFFS Well ver wosl zs r Qf all the croolest things as ejaculated Mr Bofhu the butler Its a wicked shainp thatlFfttw i is Mr Polfin chimed in Mrs Asprey the Ijpusekeeper Couldnt have blievedMt of the guv iior Xerlr till this minnit fcnqwd him to do anything but wot yaj puffick ly genteel All Mr Bolliii Que dont i know whereto trust - If hed a told me I wouldnt have taken it so crool But to let us in for the ba illffs Hke4his AvffiiouY a- Avovd of varning1Tind liiin a kicking up is eels on Well is a dirtier triol than I knows ow to express Mrs As prey AudLirjTa serecirhitu faithful too for twenty yqarsP t I ope that whenyoure writing to him Mr Bqffin youll put it to him quite straight You may trust me mem I shall be puflickly candid Oh yes nell fidget in his chair when he reads my letter to morrow If the posthorfice wouldnt be shut before a messenger could get there Id send him a wire But as it is theres no chance of his getting back ere till termorrowjiight If he comes at all Mr Boffin 0li I think hell come menu HeU ave the proper feeling to come when he gets my letter Mrs Asprey Dont you count upon his proper feel ing Mr Boffin If hed have had much proper feeling hed never have served us this nasty trick Borrowing fifteen undred from a Jew I never And him always pretended to be rollin in money Weli He dont owe us much wages rhats one comfort Xo mem Heve always paid our wages to the day That we must al low Just his artfulness Mr Boffin A cheap way of keeping up his credit while he was running into debt I can sjeellirough it now Aifd only last week mem if youll believe me 1 brought him in a wine bill for seventy odd pounds and he set tled it as easy and casual as a lord Ah -Mr Baffin Brazening it out to the last If anyone said the butler oracu larly had told me an hour ago that the guvnor wosnt as safe as the Bank of England Id have said to that man Youre a liar and you knows it And now to have thcrbniliffs iu As Mr Boliin spoke a footman popped his head into the housekeepers room when- the above dialogue was taking place Beg pardn Mr Coffin sir but one of Them irents is irskimr for ver Thank you William the folier that Ill attend leesure said Mr Boffin disrnity Very good Mr Boffin sir And William departed with the nies sasre To think of- your being bordered about and colored over by those low chaps exclaimed the housekeeper with sympathetic indignation Beggiu your pardon Mrs Asprey but Im not being bordered about nor yet ectored over mem Mr Boffin drew up his short obese person to its full height And I sent em that mes sage on purpose to em see it But 1 am going to see what their is not becos they borders - SSESEEE you may tell lo him at my with extreme next move me for I knows better than to take borders from such vermin but becos Im the guv uors representative and shabby as he hasibe flvefttome after twenty years service I still considers myself the trustee so to speak of his h interests a ndhiswproperfy With this speech delivered in his most impressive manner Mr Boffin quitted the housekeeper and went to join the sheriffs officers in the large front hall There were two of them The one a squa re built bow legged tmwhoJesomeiT faced man seedily dressed and of vul gar aspect the other a far smarter more pleasant looking and more pre sentable individual who might easily liavp passed for a well-to-do clerk or collector From the first he had taken the lead indeed the bow legged man iiadscarcely opened his mouth and was evidently the boss and spokesman or the pair Sorry to trouble you lie said to Mr Boffin quite civilly but liefore I go and leave my man here in possession I shall have to take an inventory of your masters effects and I thought that you might like to go round with me while I do so Certainly I shall wish to keep nly heye on you young man retorted the butler with distant frigidity Yes Of course1 Quite so remark ed the other carelessly as he prodTced a notebook from his pocket Now -then We ueay as weli begin here eh ribk Umph writing Front hall Turkey carpet oak table four oak chairs ecclesiastical pattern fancy ha track case stuffed pheasantsoak stand for same etc until he had joited down all the hall furniture in his notebook Well where next Dining room eh Very good Umph Turkey car pet So 2 Two fouisix eight ten twelve Chippendale chairs red mo rocco large mahogany table antique sideboard splendid piece too ten large portraits in oils ancestors I pre sume Ah fine painting that over the sideboard a Komney Thought so BeautiftiH bearu tiful Thank you young man Its really very kind of you to commend it most condescending as I may say re marked Mr Boffin the butler with sar casm Eh What laughed the annota tor good temperedly Come my dear sir dont look so glum You may as well put a cheerful face on it It cant be helped you know When I want your advice in regard 1o my personal appearance I shall prob ably arslc ypuTor it young man re torted Mr Bourn in a withering tone jiAJ bright -211 right Its no use get ting shirty my goodjellow And requestlugvyou will not again apply that vulgaTandbenstly ternrto me young man gasped Mr Boffin Xo offense no offense said the fit her indifferently as he continued to look about him and scribble in his note- I iT rxt lll c lfn - MMinfJo5Jll lltn Jl L -1 OWL 3 IVl Where now Dra wing room v Ah yes Axmister carpet etc Y And in an instant he was busy jot- ting down the contents of this apart ment also Mr Boffin looking on with a crushing and a stony store and the bow legged individual whistling or rather lnssings fTagments pf popular Umes through his set teeth - A hey next went- to the library -Here was a very fine collection of well bound books numbering- some 2000 or 3000 volumes The man withtlhe notebook moved -slowly round inspecting the shelves Ha he said as he scribbled away rapidly- I see your guvnor s a bibli ophile He has some splendid old books here I know collectors who would give their weight in gold for one or two of these Ill tell my master what you say ob- served Mr Boffin haughtily I am sure he will be gratified by your recom Uendafionsyoung man Ah well in spite of your sarcasms- said the other not in the least put out or abashed I do happen to know a good deal about articles of virtu and there are many good M tuiges 4vtyp set store by my opinion I can tell you Ho indeed young man was Mr Boffins comment - nd now said lie of the notebook as soon as the inventory of thejibrary a rather lengthy proceeding was com plete We had better finisiroff the rest of the ground floor beforegoing up stairs Will you show tlfeiNvayIV Very well yoimg inanrBntI oo this same under protest and thats did fa ck The inventory of the kitchen pantries and other servants offices was soon completed That of the cellar was a longer process Some of the wines were of line brand and of great age and value- and the aunotator was careful to jot these down accurately They then went upstairs and worked oft the by the inquisitive eyes of Hannah the head housemaid to wliom the character of the visitors had not been communicated and who was very curious to learn what was in the wind Xor should this Have been dif ficulty roiv although the aunotator him self was of no distinctive cut the air appearance and manner of his under ling simply gave him away A more typical baliiff never trod in shoe leather When the inventory was at length fin ished if was nearly 9 oclock The young man shut up his notebook with a snap and thrust it into his breast pocket He then said to Mr Boffin civilly and indeed throughout he had evidently tried to discharge his unpleas ant duty with as little offense as possi ble -I must be off now Of course 1 shall have to leave my man here in posses sion yery sorry But it is what I am forced to do Just a word in private drawing Mr Boffin aside Make him comfortable and treat him decently and youll iind him a most civil and obliging fellow If he is any think else he wont find it go down with me replied Mr Boffin with dignity rM f Xo perhaps not But its always wise policy to be on good terms with a man in I can assure you Our friend is used to genteel company That is why I have brought him here Good night Good night young man said Mr Boffin rather mollified by his ingspeech Xow thenmy good feller he re marked turning to the bow legged bailiff-after-duly shutting and locking the otrtsidp door I should say as the servants all with the bunder servants is about your fit eli Anywhere for me guvnor Im no ways pertikler answered the man with a befitting humility which still further mollified the butler Theyll be having their supper now continued Mr Boffin You had better join them at once Thank ee guvnor I could do a bit of vittles answered the bailiff This inventory business makes a bloke peck ish I cant say that it has had that effect on me was Mr Boffins answer I feel as if I should never enjoy my food again Ah you aint used to this sort of thing guvnor and so it upsets yer said the bailiff with a sympathetic shake qf his head Xo my man Iam not used to it answered Mr Boffin And the dis grace of it has nearly settled me 3CIZ iiggTsrsaraatfcw c - - Disgrace ejaculated bowlegs Well now that is a funny way to look at it Lord Jove yer I was in at a hearls only last week and at a dooks back in the summer They didnt think it no disgrace And why should they J t s downright fashionable it is really Which in that case heaven preserve me from wot is downright fashiona ble rejoined Mr Boffin fervently But ere is the servants all my man Ill take you in and interdooce you Thankee guvnor Mr Boffin opened the door and usher ed the bailiff in Heres a guest he explained as is going to join j ou unexpected at supper and I leave it to you to see that hes looked after and has his food prop er and comfortable With that and with a gracious wave of his hand to signify that they might again be seated for all the servants had arisen at the entrance of that great Mr Boffin he withdrew to take his own supper in the housekeepers room with Mrs Asprey The bailiff bowed very politely to the assembled menials and seated himself in a chair which Martha the scullery maid placed for him The company eyed him curiously but coldly forlthe nature of his calling and the reason of his presence were now pretty clear to them all But he was so civil and pleasant spoken and behaved so deferentially to Mrs Holly the cook and to Miss Hannah the head house maid and so affable to the Misses Sarah Jane Eliza and Martha subor dinate domestics and so respectful to Mr William the footman and so pa ternal to Walter the buttons that they were all on good terms with him almost before they knew where they -were His conversation too was spicy without being improper and amusing without being vulgar Nor did he ob trude his remarks unduly As Mrs Holly whispered behind her hand to Hannah The man knowed his place and kept there Mrs Holly and Miss Hannah were pleased to smile at his funny anecdotes Mr William to snig ger languidly as for the four under maids and the buttons theyJ giggled without reserve The servants Ball waxed altogether quite jovial It was ouvious mat our Dow ieggea nainrr in his social capacity had scored a dis tinct success Supper concluded he addressed him self to Mrs Holly with an insinuating and a deferential air at the same time producing from one of his capacious pockets a large flat case bottle You would be doing me a great honor mem he said ef you would allow me and hoping you dont think it a liberty to brew the company a leetle bowl of something hot Beally sir replied cook regard ing the ease bottle with a shocked yet rather inquisitive expression that is a kewrioue request of yours upon mj word The fack is mem 1 cant get on without my glass o sperrits And I orlways carries it about with me But it seems selfish like to drink it orl bv myself especially when youve made me so comfortable with my vittles and if you and the rest of the company would be so kind as to join me in a brew of punch you would obleege me extremely mem Mrs Holly hesitated and looked at Hannah Hannah hesitated and look ed at Mrs Holly The Misses Sarah Jane Eliza Martha looked at each other and tittered Mr William looked at the ceiling Master Walter at the wall ppposite The truth was this Only beer limited in amount and re stricted in strength was allowed to the servants hall And the prospect of a glass of something hot was attrac tive But here as at other polite boards apparent eagerness for food or drink was out of the question And so from sheer good breeding everyone hung back Come now mem pressed the bailiff insinuatingly Well sir said Mrs Holly at last I wont say you mustnt but I could nt touch a drop Hannah couldnt touch a drop either Xor could Sarah Jane Eliza or Martha William however was understood to say that he didnt mind if he did While Walter gathering courage from Will iams example expressed an opinion in favor of nightcaps and volunteered to fetch the kettle So the kettle was fetched and a bowl and glasses and a soup ladle Also at the bailiffs request lemons and loaf sugar Then he compounded a frag rant jorum with no unpracticed hand And right insidiously delicious did that jorum smell But the bailiff and Will iam and Walter were all too gallant to drink unless the ladies gave them a lead So not to disappoint them Mrs Holly tasted a drop Hannah a drop and Sarah Jane Eliza and Martha a drop apiece And then William and alter and the bailiff several drops And everyone became pleasant and af fable and jocular so that the servants hall presented quite a rollicking scene While this jollity was in progress Mr Boffin walked in The mirth was in stantly checked upon his entrance and everyone affected to be unconscious of the punch bowl The bailiff however stood nip and addressing Mr Boffin with great deference explained the cir cumstances under which he had taken upon himself to brew the punch and ventured to hope that Mr Boffin would condescend to pronounce an opinion upon it Mr Boffin did condescend and was kind enough to say as he set down his glass that he had tasted worse But wot I come in to speak about the butler went on is about your sleeping accommodation to night my man There aint no bed aired ready so youll have to make shift downstairs on one of the sofas in the all If wed knowed that you was coming this with sarcasm wed have got the best spare room ready for you you may be sure Oh anything i do for me guvaor Ill be quite satisfied to sleep on the floor if you like We wont ask you to do that s id Mr Boffin condescendingly Hannah see that this good man is provided with a blanket and piller and snow him the way to the front all And having wished the tinder-servants good night and suggested that it was time they were going to bed lie re tired to his own apartment Which he had previously said to he House keeper its the first time iu my life Mrs Asprey mem that I shall have laid down under the same roof with a bumbailiff I know I shant sleep a wink for thinking of it But the circumstances did not after all affect his repose For he slept just as well or better than usual And when he awoke at a late hour next morning ah what an awakening that was For first it was Hannah then William then Sarah then Jane who rushed to him with such items of appalling news as made poor Mr Bof fins gray hairs literally stand on end He huddled on his clothes in terrible agitation and went downstairs to see for himself Alas It was all too true He now realized with a dizzy sense of horror how he had been imposed upon how those two knaves had so artfully schem ed it that they liacl made an inventory of all his masters most valuable curi osities under his Mr Boffins very nose and how for the fact that both he and all the other servants had slept so much longer than usual now had an obvious significance the household had been inveigled into partaking of drugged punch The Bomney had gone cut out of its frame some priceless curios from the drawing room had gone twelve rare volumes from the library had gone ten dozen of the choicest wine in the cellar had gone and so had the bow legged bailiff London Truth How Lover Worked 1 Samuel Lovers daughter Mrs Fan ny Sehmid writes her recollections of The Author of OMore for the Century Mrs Sehmid says His industry was such that in the busiest years of his life he did not even grant himself time to look at the daily pa pers or to read any new book that was much talked of His wife always read the papers and the new books for him giving him in conversation a resume of the news of the day and the con tents of the books so that he was al ways well informed of everything that was going on If anything exceedingly important was on hand in the political world or if any part of a book was par ticularly interesting or well written these she would read to him while he was painting Many artists are as dumb as fishes ax their easels but he could converse charmingly while he was painting which was a particularly pleasant qual ity for his sitters In painting or in writing he worked indefatigably and seemed to be independent of the moods to wbich many artists appear to be victims As to his songs he used to say himself that he never wrote a song in his life except when he couldnt help it The songs used to come to him generally words and melody simulta neously so that he had only to write them down Frequently the idea of a song would come when he was occu pied with something quite different as for instance while painting He would then leave his easel write down the idea and return to his work After ward he would return to the idea and work it out Sew Yorks Composite Personality Mrs Schuyler Van Rensselaer con tributes to the Century a paper enti tled Places in Xew York in which she gives a picture of interesting phases of life in the Xew World me tropolis Mrs Van Rensselaer says More than 70 per cent of those who people Xew York to day were born of foreign mothers more than 40 per cent were born on foreign soil them selves and many of these aliens brought from many different lands continue here to live in clusters with their own kin after their own kind Yet while each of these clusters and each of their wandering offshoots modifies the Xew World metropolis all of them together do not destroy its cohesion they simply intensify its cu rious composite sort of personality They make it multifariously diverse but they leave it an entity They touch every portion of it with pungent exotic flavors but as flavoring an American whole They play their sev eral parts in a civic life that is cosmo ramic beyond the belief of those who have not studied it well but they do not turn Xew York into a cosmopoli tan town for this means a town which overwhelmed by its strangers has lost or has never possessed a character of its own Honesty Rebuked After a cable car conductor had pass ed me several times without asking for my fare I touched his arm and gave him a nickel A few moments later as I left the car I found him on the rear platform alone Dont ever do that again he said If a conductor misses you dont hunt him up He doesnt want youito do it If I miss a passenger the chances are about even that no one will notice it except the fellow himself But when he rushes up to pay a fare I have missed everybody notices the fact that I have been negligent and if there is a spotter aboard I lose my job The next time save your nickel it may help me save iny position Chicago Times Herald All the Better He Yt e seem to have got here rath er too soon the house is quite empty She All the better every one will be able to get a good view of me as they come in Pick-Me-Up A VISIT TO SCOTLAND Laurence Huttons Recollections oi His First Trip to That Country Laurence Huttons recollections of his boyhood are appearing in St Nicholas under the title of A Boy I Knew He says His earliest visit to Scotland was made when he was but four or five years of age and long before he had assumed the dignity of trousers or had been sent to school His father had gone to the old home at St Andrews hurriedly upon the receipt of the news of the serious illness of The Boys grandmother who died before they reached her Naturally The Boy has little recollection of that sad mouth of December spent in his grandmothers house except that it was sad The weather was cold and wet the house even under ordinary circumstances could not have been a very cheerful one for a youngster who had no com panions of his own age It looked out upon the German Ocean whicli at that time of the year was always iu a rage or in the sulks and the house was called Teep o Day because it receiv ed the very first rays of the sun as he rose upon the British Isles The Boys chief amusement was the feeding of flour scones and oat cakes to an old goat that lived in the neighborhood and the daily walks with his grandfather who seemed to find some comfort and entertainment in his grandsons childish prattle lie was then almost the only grandchild and the old man was very proud of his man ner and appearance and particularly amused at certain gigantic efforts- on The Boys part to adapt his own short legs to the strides of his seniors long ones After they had interviewed the goat and had watched the wrecks with which the wild shore was strewn aud had inspected the castle in ruins and the ruins of the cathedral The Boy would gaze upon his grandmothers new made grave and his own name in full a common name in the family up on the family tomb in the old kirkyard all of which must have been very cheer ing to The Boy although he could not read it for himself And then which was better they would stand hand in hand for a long time in front of a candy-shop window in which was display ed a little regiment of lead soldiers marching in double file toward an im posing and unconquerable lead fortress on the heights of barley sugar Of this spectacle they never tired and they used to discuss how The Boy would ar range them if they belonged to him with a sneaking hope on The Boys part that some day they were to be his very own At the urgent request of the grand father the American contingent re mained in St Andrews until the end of the year and The Boy still remembers vividly and he will never forget the dismal failure of Auld Lang Syne as sung by the family with clasped hands as the clock struck and the New Year begun He sat up for the occasion or rather was waked up for the occasion and of all that family group lie has been for a decade or more the only sur vivor The mother of the house was but lately dead the eldest sou and his son were going the next day to the other side of the world and every voice broke before the familiar verse came to an end Friendly Mooking Bircl Who would not live in Florida to have a dooryard neighbor such as is described in the following paragraph from the Savannah News A mocking bird serves as a iiight watehman at the residence of R F Bettes at Tampa Florida and notifies the family of the coming of dawn ev ery morning by pecking on the window pane Often when the doors are left ajar the bird comes inside and perches on the chairs and about the room It will allow the to come very close and shows marked attention to Mrs Bettys and her little daughter When they start out for a visit it fol lows them some distance and then re turns to the yard When they return it appears very glad and will fly all tbout them and gives evidence of its joy in other ways The children feed it and when the family meal is to be served if the win dow is not raised it makes its presence known by pecking on the window During the clay it gets into a neighbor ing bush or tree and sings for hours at a rime Chinese Divorce In Cochin China the parties desiring divorce break a pair of chopsticks in the presence of witnesses and the thing is done Two kinds of divorces are granted in Circassia By the first the parties can immediately marry again by the second not for a year In China divorces are allowed in all cases of criminality mutual dislike jealousy incompatibility of tempera ment or too much loquacity on the part of the wife Among the Tartars if the wife is ill treated she complains to the magistrate who attended by the principal people accompanies her o the house and pronounces a divorce What He Had Heard Of Do germs wear any garments ask- ed Benny Bloobumper What are you driving at Benny asked his papa Well I have heard of mic robes Xew York Tribune Willinjr to Accommodate Him Bounderberry I am very sorry Miss Rosebud is out You wont forget to mention that I called Inexperienced Housemaid No in deed sir Ill run straight upsMirs now and tell her Tit Bits A Rejjular Artist She Why do 3 ou insist that Jenny See is particularly accomplished He--Because she can fry a tloughnut so it will taste like angel enke Buffa lo Times L Tho Blue DanuDc It was the linen cuff and he quick thought of woman who wore It that gave us one of the prettiest of he tune ful Strauss waltzes says theLondon Mail Jobann Strauss and hi wife were one day enjoying a stroll in the park at Schonau when suddenly the composer exclaimed My dear I have a waltz in my head quick give me a scrap of paper or an envelope I must write it down before I forget it Alas After much rummaging of pockets it was found that they had not a letter about them not even a tradesman3 bill Strauss music is considered light but it weighed as heavy as lead on his urain until he could transfer It to paper His despair was pathetic At last a happy thought struck Frau Strauss She held out a snowy cuff The composer clutched it eagerly and in two minutes the cuff was manu script Its mate followed still the in spiration was incomplete otrauss was frantic and was about to make a wild dash for home with the third pat of the waltz ringing uncertainly in his head his own linen was limp cocred calico when suddenly Mr frau be thought herself of her collar and in au instant the remaining bar of The Bluu Danube decorated its surface THAT SPLENDID COFFEE Mr Goodman Williams County Ih writes us From one package Salzerg German Coffee Berry I grew 30v pounds of better coffee than I can bu3f in stores at 30 cents a pound A package of this and big seed cata logue is sent you by John A Salzer Seed Co La Crosse Wis upon receipt of 13 staniDS and this notice Effects of Severe Cold Travelers in the Arctic regions say the physical effects of cold there are about as follows Fifteen degree3 above unpleasantly warm zero mild 10 degrees below bracing 20 degrees below sharp but not severely cold 30 degrees below very cold 40 degrees below intensely cold 50 degrees below a struggle for llf Uascarzts stiinuate lver kiunejs and bovrela Nbt r sicken wpaij nor grlre 10a A Cold Water peal May How do you get George to leave so early every night Agatha At 1030 sharp papa comes into the room lights four blazing gas jets and then raises all the window cur tains You dont suppose for a moment a fellow has any pluck after that do you New York Journal Mra Wlnsiovrs Bootiiwo sihcf tcr Chldre tee tiling sortem iie anion reatice i iuflcranintiuu tla8 pain fnr jrti tottl When Ovid was in love with Nesbia he hoped that this flesh would dissolve to dust if he did not love her more than any man loved woman which was a good deal to say - mm is the season for new life in uatuie new vigor in our physical systems As the fresh sap carries life into the trees so our blood should give us renewed strength and vigor In its impure state it cannot do this and the aid of Hoods Sarsaparilla is im peratively needed It will purify vitalize and enrich tne blood and with this solid correct foundation it will build up good health create a good appetite toue your stomach and digestive organs strengthen your nerves and over come or prevent that tired feeling This has been the experience of thou sands It will be yours if you take arsaparilla The Best Surinsr Mall- fine and BIqq1 1nnfler Sold byaUdniRBlsls Hoods PHIS VVi nisea IildizestJon biliousness 9Sw lll foB BBfe Mil I WILL KEEP YOU DRY I Dont be fooled with a mackintosh or rubber coat If you waatacoat that will keep you dry in the hard- rjest storm buy the Fish Brand if notfor sale in your town write for catalozue to J 1 UWEK Boston Ma ALABAST1NE PERMANENT WALL COATING Alabastine docs not require to be taken oft to renew does not harbor prerms but destroys them and any one can Sold by all paint dealers samples ALABASTINE CO brush it on f Write for card with Grand Rapids Mich jggrlUAKTEK QF CENTURY OLD untiiH uiMTrnnnnrt ryjr nor RATTTK OutlU tin or Un fatter on tthIH - iltf - u TfcoAl HAMLLAK00HGOCA Jinvv v 1 lENSIONS PATENTS m AIMT 3jm m It war 15 adjadiotiaj claicu atty rial M I1KIS1 M BestcXh Syrup- Taates Good Use W A J J L x fl