VS.
WHEN MOTHER SITS DOWN BY THE FIRE.
Ob, the 5 o'clock chime brings tbo coziest time
Tlmt is found In tbo whole of tbo doy,
When Lnrry nnd Gus, nnd tbo others of us,
Come In from our study and piny;
When we push the big cbnlr to the hearth over thcro,
And pile the wood higher nnd higher,
And we mnko her n space in the very best pln"o
And mother sits down by tbo Are.
There's u grent denl to sny nt the close of the dny,
And so much to tnlk over with mother;
There's n comical sight of n horrible plight,
Or n ball giimo, or something or other.
And she'll laugh with Lnrry and sigh with Harry,
And smile to our heart's desire
At n triumph won or a tnsk well done
When sitting down then; by the fire.
Then little Mio'il enro for tbo clothes that wo tear,
Or the havoc we mnko on her larder;
For the toll and strife of our every day life
She will love us a little bit harder.
Then our lady Is she, and her knights we would be,
And her trust doughty deeds will Inspire;
For we long then anew to be generous and true
When mother sits down by the fire.
OS
THE FAILING MANTLE
pro, PVJ pro pro
jiu LiiU mJ utu
TERESA TiltOWEN, whose
Irish grandmotber was also
our own. descended upon us,
nome weeks ago, for her annual visit.
Jim says she Is more like a real friend
'.ban a relation, and although, con
trary to her usual custom, she bad
notilled us In this Instance of her com
ing, ho assured her that she was none
the less welcome for being expected.
"You do talk such nonsense. Jim!"
bubbled Teresa, happily as we escort
ed her into the sitting room. "Oh,
how glad 1 am to be here! How dar
ling the old place looks! How cozy
and shabby!"
"He more tactful." Ted said, severe
ly. And In the midst of her .laugh
ing, Teresa sent him a little nervous
plance of compunction, Poverty Is
full for her of vague and pitiful ter
rors. "I don't care. I love this room."
she protested. "And you all look Just
the same, only nicer. Ted, you are
terribly handsome in glasses. And,
Julio, you little rose, how is Paul?
When Is lie coming V And here's my
chair! Now teli me tell me tell me
all the news!"
And, Hinging off a coat that caused
me a painful wrestle with the last
commandment, and tossing uside a
hat that Ju, with a sharp sigh, carried
nway, she took "her old chair, held
her'shlnlng boots to the lire, and gave
& long sigh of content.
"No no I'm not tired," she pro
tested, in answer to .lu's hospitable
ruggestlons. "Truly, I'm not nor
hungry, either. That's it," as we
pulled our chairs into a ring, "let's
talk. How are the Winchesters? And
ilo you see the Hmioighs any more?
And has .Mm really got the O'Connor
ease?"
"The Winchesters are away," said
I, "and we see the Huiieighs very
often. We're all going there to some
sort of party Friday nig":it. You, too.
And Jim really has the ca-se."
"And now, about you," said Ted.
"What spasm of charity made you
come so early this year? Confess,
Tessle. We know there's a reason.
Mary Jane here the unspeakable
vixen read you letter, uttered a sharp
groan, and then, with an inscrutable
eye, announced your visit "
"Only that and nothing more?" said
Jim.
"And burned your letter," said
Julie, triumphantly.
"Mary Jane is a duck!" said Teresa.
"That letter was only nonsense." Our
eyes met, however, and I saw In hers
n Hue reservation.
"You are keeping the subject until
you two are doing your back hair, to
night," Jim remarked, disgustedly.
"I wisli you would get over that
silly masculine notion, Jim," said Ju,
warmly. "There is nothing so extreme
ly significant In one's doing one's
hair."
"Impersonal pronouns nre effective,"
said Ted, rapturously, behind his hand.
"Hut every novelist," pursued Ju,
"seems to feci quite triumphant if lie
can only get his heroine that far. Then
the deepest secrets of her soul seem
to come naturally to her lips."
"Well, we will talk to-night, won't
wo, Mary Jane?" said Teresa, inno
cently. At which there was a heart
less shout.
"You have not yet mentioned Mr.
George O'I'ellloy Winthrop, Toss,"
suggested Teresa, briskly. "He Is
Avvll.' I haven't mentioned dad,
cither."
"How is the rich uncle?" Jim asked,
dutifully. "Arid Jiow did he happen
to consent to ynw coming to see how
thc other hn'.r lives I And when Is
"Winthrop going to earn a marriage
able salary?"
Teresa's smile died suddenly. For
m
m
ffl
1 m
nil fcaLi tfkl tM uki uKi liiu fc&J
pro m run
utu uiu uw.
some reason coherence deserted her.
"He he his plans nre all " she
began, uncertainly. Then, abruptly:
"Tell mo nbout the I'.urlelgh's party?
Am I asked? Are we all going?"
"Teresa, are you dissembling?" said
Ted. dramatically; "can you not be
frank with mer mer child?"
"I wish you wouldn't be such an
idiot," said Teresa. Her face was very
rosy. And after nn nstonlshed mo
ment Jim changed the subject ngnln.
"Didn't you sny Paul was coming.
Ju? Go to the telephone and hall the
bird in Spanish speech."
"Hero he is now," said Julie, with
relief, as ho ennio in. And In the
general greeting nnd stir, the awk
ward moment passed. When the wid
ened circle formed around the tire
again, Teresa was quite herself. She
clasped her silk-clad arms lazily be
hind her head, she crossed her silk
clad ankles In a froth of lacy petti
coats, ind she sent languid glances of
absolute content from one face to an
other. The spoiled daughter of many
millions, she loves to alliliate herself
with our petty financial cares. She
bends an intent and uncomprehending
brow to the awful subject of rent.
She frowns anxiously when we do
she breaks Into relieved laughter when
situations grow too desperate for any
thing but laughter.
I laughed quietly that night, when
she followed her soft knock, and came
"WHO WAS A I' NT SAUA. JIM?"
into my room, to find me busy with
my brushes.
"I don't care," said Teresa, laugh
ing, too, and alternately kissing me
violently, and holding me at arms
length for radiant Inspection, "this is
the time 1 want to talk, and Jim or
no Jim, I have come to tell you
things."
"Things," I assented, expectantly.
Whereupon Teresa, beginning on a
long braid, proceeded to a rambling
account of the past months, involving
every subject but one. With relative
and incidental contributions from mo,
1 1lls lasted until we had no further
excuse for remaining up nnd awake,
and not needing one, sat on and on,
wrapped In my Indian blankets, hot
as to cheeks and cold as to finger tips.
"Tess," said I, finally, when the
cuckoo clock on the landing had chir
ruped unnoticed the shortest hour, and
was, undlscouruged, going on to the
next In length: "What did you mean
by your letter?"
"Ah oh letter? Oh, yes, my let
ter! Were you surprised?" asked
Teresa, uneasily, coaxlngly, Innocent
ly. "Surprised!" echoed I. reproachful
ly. And I pulled a jilllow between
my shoulder and the uncompromising
mahogany of the bed-post, preparatory
to a fresh session.
"Oh, yes," said Teresa, a little con
fused. "Well, you see, dearest, I wrote
you I jvrote you that our engage-
Won,
now, It Isn't! Do yv- seo?"
"I don't In tbo least" said I. "You
wroto that you and Geonw had broken
it off forever, and tlmt you couldn't
face all tlio newspaper notoriety "
"And so I couldn't, Mary Jane."
"And you begged to coino here, to
try to live down the first hard
months "
"Oh well yes Mary Jane," as
sented Teresa, In a little rush. "And
I meant It. And cry why, I simply
howled one whole night. And the next
day I wrote you and that very after
noon Georgo came. Andand George
came, you know "
"Saw," I supplemented, "nnd con
quered?" "No, I conquered." snld Teresa. A
tiny thread of self-defense crept into
her voice. "I was In the right. Hut
It took Georgo two weeks to see It."
"Stubborn Georgo," said I.
"Just what I told him, the darling,;'
Hnld Teresa, Joyfully. "Walt until 'l
tell you nbout It. You know George
is a civil engineer. Well. And he's
been getting only a hundred and
twenty-five a month mind you,
Mary June."
"Not dally, then?" I wondered.
"No! oh, you'ro laughing at me,
pig. No. And so, of course, I couldn't
marry on that, could I?"
'No, I daresay you couldn't. No, of
course not!"
"Well," proceeded Teresa, avIio was
enjoying herself. "Dad, of course,
wanted to do well, to do everything
for us. Hut George wouldn't hear of
It. He wouldn't consent to dnd's giv
ing mo one cent more than ho does
now, not including all the things I
ihargo everywhere. Fnncy us with
one servant, Mary Jane! So last month
I had a little talk with dad. I cried
a little, too. And what do you think
the darling did. He offered George
the position of manager of the fac
tories at a thousand dollars a month."
"Manager, Tess? Hut does George
know anything about paint, oil and
varnish?" said I.
"Ilo can leai'n," said Teresa, sharp
ly. I saw that she had used that
argument before.
"Hut manager?" I repeated, doubt
fully. "Assistant manager," corrected Ter
esa, flushing. "Hatoa Is manager.
George will help him."
"Mr. Hacon must he getting an enor
mous salary," 1 observed.
"Hut why?" said Teresa, crossly.
"What has that to do with It?" Then
suddenly: "Hacon gets six hundred, I
believe. A stupid old poke. George
will soon be worth more."
"George will," I echoed. "Then
(Jeorge accepted?"
"Well, there was the trouble. At
first lie wouldn't listen. The more
so," said Teresa, carelessly, "as some
old creatures near Costa HIca had just
written to offer him a lino position
down there four hundred to com
mence with, I believe. Isn't lie smart?
There's quite an English colony there,
nnd a very good house, ho said and,
of course ho was wild to go. "He came
racing to mo with the letter I never
saw George so excited."
Teresa's jaw squared, even as does
Uncle John's at times.
"Well, then, of course, wo quar
reled. Does he suppose I'm going to
an awful place like that, where I
don't know a soul black servants,
probably no electricity no theaters
no shops. Never! So Ave broke our
engagement, and then I wroto you.
And then Georgo caint at last. And
lie's going to cable them 'no' on the
first of tbo month.
"Ho really consented, did he?"
"Well," said Teresa, with a littlo
frown, "I shan't feel sure of him until
the cable has gone. Hut It goes next
week."
And she gave mo another violent
hug.
1 never have scolded her I never
think of It. Hut I could not sleep in
tho few hours before daylight, for
wondering if my cousin dreamed how
high a price one man was paying for
her favor.
"Hollo," sold Julio, at the telephone,
"Is this Main 2020? Is Mrs. Hur-
leigh oli, bow do you do, Mrs. Hur-
lelgh? This is Julia Hancock No,
Julio!. . . .Yes Oh, yes. . . . Wo got
them It was about that that I
wanted to speak to ....Oh, yes, in
deed, we're coming. .. .every one of
us.... We're having a dreadful time
thinking up costumes. .. .Oh, no, it's
fine!.. ..Yes oh, we're suro to....
Wo always do havo a good Uino at
your house And, oh, Mrs. Hurlelgh,
I wanted to ask you If I might bring
my cousin, Miss Tlrowen, you know?
....Yes, that's the ono!....Oh, truly
now, won't it?.... Mary Jane thinks
It's very cool in me to . .. .Oh, you'ro
very sweet to say that That's the
way we always do feel, I'm sure....
Thank you Then don't let me keep
you. Yes, I enn hiiu'..M) you uro.
Good-by, Mrs. Hurlelgh."
"There," said our youngest, turn
ing from the telephone. "That's set
tled. The old angel Is delighted to
havo you, Tess."
"Hut what about, a eoatune," Bald
Teresa In a panic.
"You told me on Sunder that you
thought of ouo during tiw uerjuon,"
ment vma broken, didn't 11
snld Jim. "CanH you remember It,
Mary Jnno?"
"Oh now what was it?" said I,
distractedly,
"Sojnothlng with n story, you
know," Ju reminded mo ,"whlch tho
wearer must bo prepared to toll."
"Oh, yes oh, yes," sold I. "Tess
ciui wear the famous Caslllon opera
coat I came across It In a trunk tho
other day. It's the very thing."
"That will bo good," said Ju, with
brightening eyes. '
"Hut has It a history?" objected
Tess.
"History!" echoed Jim. "Had Na
poleon? Why, It. belonged to mother's
Aunt Sara. Go get It, Infant. I don't
know how to find things In trunks."
Julie ran off, and Teresa began to
be Interested.
"Who was Aunt Sara, .11 in 7" said
she.
"Hear her," said Ted, from the piano
bench, "as If she didn't know."
"Well, but I don't," said Teresa.
"Here It Is Isn't It dear," said Ju,
coming In breathlessly, with the old
cloak over her arm. She made a
sweeping display of it In tho firelight
"Look at the old wadding, Teresa I Ami
feel the silk how thick! And look,
pockets you could put n dress Into!
Here, stand up, Tess.'1
She slipped It over Teresa's Blender
shoulders. The effect was wonder
fully quaint and pretty.
"Hut who was Aipit Sara?" persist
ed Tess. "and why havo I never heard
of her?"
"She's in all the histories of early
days," Ted said. "Tell about her,
James."
"Know, then, Ignorance, that she
was one of the women who crossed
tho plains in forty-eight," said Jim, as
Teresa settled back In her chair, still
wrapped in the coat. "She was a
beauty, and had Irmmi a rich girl a
Treniayno, of Haltlmoro. However,
the poor little thing married against
every one's wishes married this Dick
Caslllon, you know a dandy fellow,
but without a picayune. And, In tho
course of a year or two, they started
for the land o' gold. Her baby was
three months old. Well, Just about
everything that could happen happen
ed to tho 'Honney' party. They got
separated their oxen died Indians
robbed them they lost their way!
Finally, when their half of the party
consisted of five men, three women,
and the baby, the Indians attacked,
and one of the men, an old one, was
horribly hurt. Water had given out
or nearly. It seems that Aunt Sara
was the heart of the whole party
always hopeful, always brave sing
ing when she hadn't the courage to
talk and so on. Would you bellevo
that she ioisuadod them, In this crisis,
to leave her to take care of the old
man while they pushed on for water?"
"Well, but they didn't!" whispered
Teresa.
"Oh, but they did. And there she
was, two nights and a day, with a
baby and a sick old man, in tbo des
ert. Uncle Dan had to go they were
so short-handed but they sny lie
hardly spoke until they got; back to
her." '
"And she was dead," said Teresa,
with calm certainty.
"Oh, heavens, no," said Ju, cheer
fully. "She lived through worse than
that. She was quite calm when they
came back. The old man was asleep.
She didn't stir until Uncle Dan was
dose' to her, and then she' said: "Don't
wnko them unless you have water,'
and the next Instant Uncle Dan, who
was crying like a baby, put the can
teen against her lips. Slio used to
say that to the end of her life she
dreamed of that drink."
Teresa had risen. She stood staring
into the lire with unseeing eyes.
"It It makes one rather ashamed,
doesn't it?" she said, half aloud. "It
makes me ashamed! What a selfish
what a selfish cat you must think
I am."
"I don't understand," said I, at a
loss.
Teresa laughed, but not very gayly.
"I was only thinking," slio said,
"that Aunt Sara wouldn't be very
proud to have me wear her coat. Why
why I'm too big a coward to even
go to Costa HIca with George."
She fought tears for a moment,
while we others, uncomfortable and
puzzled, stared at her. Then she was
suddenly on her knees, with her wet
face buried in my lap.
"Oh, Mary Jane, I know 1 ought
to give him liis chance!" she sobbed.
"I know I would bo sorry If I didn't.
I'm so ashamed of myself. I've been
so miserable about It. Poor old Georgo.
I don't see how ho can care for mo
at all! Oh, won't you boys stop star
ing and go wire blin to como and
take mo home! And that I'll marry
him next week If he wants mo to
and g-g-go with him t-t-to to tho D-d-desert
of S-s-sahara!" San Fran
cisco Argonaut.
Morn t It ii ii Ouo Dollar l(trt,
HurrougliB Sal, old man, there was
a time when you promised to share
your last dollar with me.
TUcL.ey--Thafw till right; I haven't
got dowu to it yet. Catholic Standard
No ono over nto as much nilnco plo
us It weighs uftorwurd.
RAILROAD BUILT TO MU3I0,
It (Iiip in Ahontn-, In I)nlioitm ,Once
llu .Scctto of Jliimnit Bncrinccft.
Abomey, tho town In which Hchnn
zln, King of Dahomey, lived, was in
famous slxteon years ago for tho
slaughter of human beings that took
place there annually. Some thousands
of men and women were killed evory
year to win tho favor of the gods or to
bo companions of deceased persons In
the other world. All prisoners of war
were thus sacrificed, and many slaves
were purchased from neighboring
countries for tills purpose.
Then the French overthrew tho
monster Hehanzln and brought peaco
of mind to tho million people whom
he ruled with a rod of Iron. Five years
ago they began to build a railroad,
which has now reached Abomey, tho
scene of their human sacrifices.
The completed part of tho railroad
Is seventy-five miles long, and ninny
hundreds of the natives are now grad
ing the roadbed for its extension to
the Niger Hlver. Tho French havo
had some funny experiences In bulld
lug this road.
It starts from the port of Cotonu,
and the French had no dilllculty In
getting the coast natives to work on
tho road, because they had been train
ed to work for nearly ten years, had
become used to labor, and liked Us
substantial roftults. There was trou
ble, however, when the roadbed ap
proached the large native town of
Walda, which Is filled with delighta
that, are dear to the natives.
Few Dahomeyans when they go
near thin town can resist the tempta
tion to make a holiday there. When
the railroad came within sight of Wal
da tho workmen had Just received
their wages. They deserted to a man,
and It was certain that they would do
no more work till they had spent nil
their money.
No effort was made to get tho men
back, but messengers were sent
through tho country to ring bells In
every settlement, and proclaim that tho
French would pay good wages to wom
en and girls to work on tho railroad.
Within a day many hundreds of wom
en and girls were carrying baskets
of sand on their heads to dump Into
a marsh across which the track was
to be laid.
The roadbed for the rails was thus
built across the marsh, and the wom
en were retained In the service until
Walda was reached, when tho faith
less men suddenly came clamorous foe
re-employment.
While the coast section was being
built the Inland part of tho lino wan
also started, but under different labor
conditions. In the Interior tho natives
had not learned to work for tho whlto
man, and they would not enter his ser
vice until their chiefs brought prcssuro
to bear upon them.
A goodly sum was promised to each
chief if lie could guarantee to supply
a certain number of men. In this way
sufficient labor was procured. Tho
chiefs were held responsible for th
faithfulness of their men. Tho labor
ers were well paid.
Hut It took some time to trnln tho
men for this hard work. Their natlvo
music seemed to provide the stimulus
they needed, and so scores of musicians
with tam-tams, or drums, horns, nnd
other squeaky instruments wero em
ployed. They distributed music all along tho
line. The blacks seemed to forgot their
fatigue when the music struck up, and
so the tam-tams and horns helped
railroad extension ail tho wuy to
Abomey.
Itulluhlllly In WiiiiIciI.
The great prizes of llfj do not fall
to the most brilliant, to the cleverest,
to the shrewdest, to the most long
headed, or to the best educated, but
to tho most level-headed men, to tho
men of soundest Judgment. When a
man Is wanted for a responsible posi
tion, his shrewdness is not considered
so important as his sound Judgment.
Reliability Is what is wanted. Can
a man stand without being t lipped j
and, If ho Is thrown, can he land upon
his foot? Can he be depended upon,
relied upon under all circumstances
to do the light thing, the scnslbjo
tiling? Has the man a level head
Has lie good horse sense? Is ho llablo
to fly off on a taugont or to "go off
half-cocked?" Is he "faddy?" Has ho
"wheels In his bead?" Docs he loso his
temper easily, or can ho control him
self? If ho can keep a levol bend
under all circumstances, If ho cannot
be thrown off J. is balance, and Is hon
est, he Is tho man wanted. 0. S.
Marden In "Success Magazine."
Sunt of lllniMi'If.
"I'll glvo you a position as clerk to
start with," said the merchant, "and
pay you what you nro worth. Is that
satisfactory?"
"Oh, perfectly," replied tho collego
graduate, "but or do you think tho
firm can afford it?"
Xot a (Sooil CliJiiill'eur.
Slio (petulantly) What made you so
late?
Ho (plaintively) I came up In myi
motor ear ni:d passed hero three times
before I could manage to stop. Ally,
Sloycr.