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About The Sioux County journal. (Harrison, Nebraska) 1888-1899 | View Entire Issue (July 26, 1894)
C HHI KK XI. AFTEH THK STORM. .'"cxt morning the day broke b "ight am: calm, as if the teniea: hud leen but an evil dre im of the night, and now paft forever. The birds nans loud: the har Is pme fort h from their holes in the walls and backed, green and eo'd. in the warm, dry sunshine. Hut though the sky overhead was blue and the air cleiur, a usually happen after tliffe alarming trupictol eye. ones and raiiisiorms. the memorial of the treat wind that had ruged all night long; fmorig t' e forests of the Island were neither few or far between. Every where the ground ws strewn with leaves, and branches, and huge stems of cocoa palms All nature was drag gled. Mirny of the trees were strioied cleunof their loliago. as completely a oaks in an English winter on others till! stran 1 of twisted filters marked the sears an 1 ointti where mighty fioughfi had tiecn torn away by main force: while, elsewhere, hare stuins alone renin neti to mark thu former presence of some noble dracoena or home gigantic twnyan. Bread-fruits and cocoa null) 'ay tc.ed in the wild est confusion on the ground; the ba nanna and plantain patches wero lieaten level with the soil or buried deep in the mud: ninny of the huts had given way entirety: abundant wreck age strewed every corner of the island. It was an awful sight. Muriel shud dered to herelf to see how much the two that night had passed through. What the outer fringing reef had suffered from the storm they hardly knew a yet. but from the door of the hut irlix could see himself how even the calm waters of the inner lagoon had been lashed into wild fuiy by the fierce swoop of the tempest, jjound the entire atoll the solid conglomerate coral t'oor wax scooped under, broken up, chewed tine by the waves, or thrown in vai-t fragments on the boach ol the inland. Hy the caster shore, in particular, just opposite their hut, Fe lix olmerve I a regular wall of many feet high, piled up bv the waves litre the familiar Chest! Reach near his old home in Dorsetshire. It was the shel ter of that temiiorary barrier alone, no doubt that had preserved their huts lust niifht from the full fury of the gale, and that had allowed the natives to congregate in such numbers prone on their faocs in the mud and rain, upon thu unconsecrated ground outside their tahoo lino. Hut now not an islander was to be seen within ear-shot. All had gone away to look after their ruined but or their lieaten down plantain patches, leaving the cruel gods, who, an they thought, bad wrought all the mischief out of pure wanlonesu, to repent at leisure tiie harm done during; the night to their oliedient votaries. I'eli wan ;ut about to cron.s the tuboo-iine and walk down to the shore to examine the barrier when Toko, his iShadnw, laying his hand on his shoulder with more genuine interest and affection than he had ever yet shown, exclaimed, with some horror, "Oh no! Not that! Don't dare logo outside! It would be very dangerous for you. If my people were to catch you on profane soil just now there's no saying whut harm they might do to you." "Why soy" Felix exclaimed in sur prise. "Last night, surely, they were all 1 M ayers and promit-.es and vows and entreaties." The young man nodded his hoad in acquiescence. "Ah. yes: last night," he answered. "That was very well then. ows were sore needed. The storm was raging, and you wero within vour taboo. How could they dare touch you. a mighty god of the tem pest, at the very moment when you were rending their banyan-trees and napping their cocoanut stoma with your mighty arms like so many little chicKen-bones? Kven Tu-Kila-KiUi hirnseli, i expect, the very high god, lay frightened in his temple, cowering by his trees, annoyed at your wrath; ; he gent Fire and Water among the worshipers no doubt, to odor up vows and to appease your anger."' Then Felix remembered, as his Shadow spoke, that, as a matter of fact, he had observed the men who Usually wore the rod and whitefeather cloaks among the motley crowd of groveling natives who lay llut on their fares in the mud of the cleared space the night before and prayed hard for mercy. Only they were not wearing their robes of office at the moment, in accordanc e with a well-known savage custom; they had coma uaked and in disgrace, as IkiIIU all suppliants. They hail left behind them the insignia of their rank in their own shaken huts, and tiowed down their bare backs to the rain and the lightning. "Yes, 1 saw thorn among the other islanders," 1- elix answered, half-smiling, hut prudently remaining, within the tabo -llno, as his Hhadow advised blm. Toko kept his hand still on his muster' shoulder. "Oh, king," he said. U'Hoccbingly, and with great solemnity, "1 am doing wrong to warn you: I am breaking a very great Talioo. I don't know what harm may come to me for telling you. 1'erhaps Tu-Kila-Kila will burn me to ashe with one glance of his eyes. He may know this minute what I'm saying here alone to you." It Is hard for a white man to meet scruple like this; but Felix was Isild ono igh to answer outright: "Tu-Kila-Kila knows nothing of the sort, and can nover find out. Take my word for it. Toko, nothing ".hat you say tome will over roach I u-Kila-Kila. '' The Shadow looked at him doubt fully, anu trembled as he spoke. "I like you, Korong," he nld, with a gen uinely truthful ring in his voice. " Yoi com to mo so kind and good ho dltfuc nt from other gods,who are vorv cruel. You novor beat me. Nobody I ever served treated mo as well or as kindly ri you aavs dona. And fur your salco will even dare to break taboo- If Tu-Kila-Kila will neveruiseover it. "I'm .uite sure." Felix answered, with perfect confidence. "1 know it for certain. I swear a great oath to it." "You swear by Tu-Kila-Kila him self?" the young savage aked. anx iously. ' I swear by Tu-Kila-Kila himself," Felix replied at once. "I swear, with out doubt. He can never know it." "That is a great Taboo, "the hhadow went on. meditatively, stroking Folix's arm. "A very great Taboo indeed. A terrible medicine. And you are a god; i cat. trust you. Well, then, you see, the secret is this: you are a Korong, but you are a stranger and you don't understand the ways of Bouoari. If for three days after the end of this storm, which Tu-Kila-Kila lias sent lire and Water to pray and vow aainst, you or the (,lueen of the t 'louds show yourself outside your own taboo lino why. then, the people are clear of sin whoever taken you may rend you alive: they will tear you limb from limb and cut you into pieces." "Why so' ' Felix asked aghast at this discovery. They seemed to live on a perpetual volcano in this wonder ful is and: and a volcano ever break ing out in fresh places. They could never get at the bottom of its horrible superstitions. "Be ause you ate the Btorrn-upplo," the Shmiow answered conlidoiitly "That was very wrong. You brought tho lemnest Ukiii us yourselves bvyour trespass: there 'ore, by the custom of lioupari, which wo learn in the mys teries, you become full iorong for tiie sacrifice at once. That makes the term for you. The people will give you all . our dues: then they will say, 'We are free; we have lsmglit you with a price: we have brought your cocoanuts. No sin attaches to us; we are righteous, weare righteous. Ami then they wi,l kill you, and Firo and Water will roast you and boil you." "Hut only if we go outside the taboo line?" Felix asked anxiously. 'Only if you go outside the talxH lino," the Shadow replied, nodding a hasty assent. "Inside it, till your term comes, even Tu-Kila-Kila iiim self, the very high god, whoso meat we all are, dare never hurt you." "Till our term comes?" Felix in quire. I, once more astonished and per plexed. "What do you mean by that, my Shadow.-"' Hut the Shadow was either bound by some superstitious fear, or elso inca pable of putting himself Into Felix's noint of view, "Why, till you are full Korong," he answered, like one who sneaks of some familiar fact, as who would say, till you are 40 years old, or, till your beard grows white. "Of course, by and by, you will be full Ko rong. 1 cannot help you then: but, till that time comes, I would liko to do my best by you. You have Iioon very kind to me. I tell you much. More than this, it would not Imj lawful lorine to mention." And that was the most that, bv dex terous questioning, Felix could ever manage to get out of his mysturious Shadow. "At the end of throe days we will be safe, though?" he in jUired at lust, af ter all other questions failed to pro duce an answer. "Oh. yes, at the end of three days the suirm will have blown over," the young man answered, eally. "All will then be well. Yon may veutare out once trioro. The rain will have dried over all the islaud. rire and Water will have no more power over you. " I e'ix went back to the hut to inform Muriel of this new peril thus suddenly sprung upon them, t'oor Muriel, now almost worn out with endless terrors, received it calmly. "I'm growing ac customed to it all, Felix," she an swered, resignedly. "If only I know that you will keep your promise, and never let mo fall alive Into thes wrotchus' hands, I shall feel quite safe. Oh, Felix, do you kuow when you took mo in your arms like that last night, in spite of eerythlng, I felt Ki)itively happy.'" Aliout II) oclock they weio fuddonly roused by a so ind of raanv natives, coming in quick succession, single tile, to the huts, ana shouting aloud. "Oh, King of the Italn, oh, tueen of the Clo .ds, oome forth for our vows! Keceive your prosonts!" Felix went forth to the door to look. "With a warning look in his eyes, his Shadow followed him. The native wero now coming up by dozens at a time, bringing with them, in great ' arm-loads, fallen coooanuts and bread j fruits, nnd branches of bananas, and largo draggled olustors of halt-Hue i plantains. "Why, what are all these?" Felix ; exclaimed in surprise, j His Shadow lookud up at him, a If amused at the abna-d simplicity of the ; question. "These are yours, of course," j he said; "yours and the Queen's; they , are tim wlndiulls you made. Did you nol knock them all off the trees for ! yourselves when you were coming I down in such sheets from the sky last evening?" Felix wrung his hands in positive j despair. It was clear, Indeet, that to ; the mimls of the natives there was no distinguishing personally between j himself and Muriel, and the rain or ! the cycioue. i "Will they bring them al in?" ho asked, gazing in alarm at the huge pile of Iruits the natives were making ! outside the hut. 1 "Yes, all," tho Shadow answered: ! "they are vows; they are godsends; 1 but if you II no, you can give some of them back. If you give much back, ; of course it will make my peoulo less angry with you," rulix advanced near the lino, hold- I ing his hand up before him to com mand silence. A be dia so, he was absolutely appalled UlaoseJf at the nor- t feet storm of eiearatlon and aoqie which his appearand excite. The foremost native bMndUblng their ' oluh and atone-tlppad spear, or soak- ! tog their flat by the Una, poured forth ' upon hi devoted head at one ail the I most frightful curse of the Polyoealan I you're quite sure vocabu ary. uh, evil god," they cried aioud with angry faces, "oh, wicaed spirit! you have a bad hoart See what a wrong you have puruotely done us. If your heart were not bad, would you treat us like this? If you are indeed a gou, come out across the line, and let us try issues together. Ion't skulk like a coward in your hut and within your taboo, but come out and fight us. We are not afraid, who are only men. Why are you afraid of us?" Felix tried to sneak once more, but the din drowned his voice. As he paused, the people set up their loutl shouts again. ". Jh. you wicked god! You eat the storm-apple! You have wrought us much harm. You have sjsiiled our harvest. How you came Uown iu great sheets last night! It was pitiful, pitiful! We would like to kill you. You might have taken our bread-fruits and our banauas. if you would; we give you them freely; they are yours; here, take them. We teed you we.l; we make you many offerings. Hut why did you wish to have our huts also? Why did you boat down our young plantations and break o ir canoes against the beach of the island? That shows a bad heart! Yo i are an evil god. You dare not defend yourseb. Come out and meet us." CIUPIKK Xlt a point of Tiimwwy. At la-t, with great diltlculty, Felix managed to secure a certain momen tary lull oi silence. The natives, clus tering round tne lino lib they almost touched it. listened - with scowMng brows, and brandished threatening spears, tipped w.th ooints of stone or sharks' teeth or turtle-lsme, whi.e he made his speech to them. From time to time, one or another interrupted him, l eaving und wheedling him, as it were, to cross the line; but Felix never heeded them. He was licginning to understand now how to tretti this strange people. Ho took no notice of their threats or their entreaties either. Hy and by, j.urtly by words and part ly by gesture-, he made them under stand that they might take ba;k and keep for themselves all tho cocoanuts and bread-fruits they had brought as windfalls. At thiB tne people seemed a little apuea-od. "His heart is not quVte as bad as we thought," they murmured among themselves, "but if he didn't want thorn, wnat did he mean? Why did ho beat down our huts and our plantations?" Then FeJx tried to explain to them a somewhat dangerous task that neither he nor Muriei were really re sponsible for lat night's storm: but at that the poodle with one accord, raised u great loud sho it of ucmixod derision. "He is a go.l," they cried, "and yet he is ashamed of his own acts and deeds, a'rakl of wha: we, mere men. will do to him. Ha! ha: Take care! These are lies that ho tells. Listen to him! Hear him!" Meanwhile, more and more natives kept coming up with wind alls of fruit, or with objects they had vowed In their terror to dedicate during the night; and Felix all tne time kept ex plaining at the top of his voice, to all as they came, that he wanted nothing, und that they could take all back again. This curiously In otisistent action seemed to piw-le the wondering m lives str,.ngely. Had, he made the storm, then, thev asked, and oaten the storm-up do, for no use to himself, but out of pure pcrverseny Ir he didn't even wunt the windfalls and the ob jects vowed to him. why had he beaten down their cro s ana broken their houses? They looked at him mean ingly: but they dareu not cross that great line of taboo. It was their own superstition alone, in that moment of danger, that ke t their hands off those defenseless white peoplu. At lost a happv idea seemed to strike tho crowd. "What he wantB is a ch'ld?" they cried, effusively. ' "lie thirsts for blood! Iet us kill and roast him a proi.or victim!" Felix's horror at this appalling prop osition knew no lounds. "if you do," ho cried, turning thoir own supersti tion against them in this last hour of need. "I will raise up a storm worse tiian lout night s: you do it at your peril.' 1 want no victim. The people of my country eat not of human flesh. It is a thing detestable, horrible, hate ful to God and man. With us, all hu man life alike Is sacred. vVe spill no blood. If you dare to do as you say, will raise such a storm over your heads to-nlrht as will submerge and drown the whole of your Island." The natives listened to him with profound Interest. "We must spill no bhKju: they repealed, looking aghast atone another. "Hear what tho King says: vve must Dot cut tae victim s throat. We must bind a child with cords and roast Itallvo for him!" TO Bit OONTINt'ER The Chaplain's Cane. The Rev. E. K Hagby, chaplain 'of the House, has received a novel present It is a walking stick on which are drawn tho heads of half a do en members of Congress in addition to that of the reverend gentleman him self. It was tho work of a convict In the Montana penitentiary, who writes thai the beads were drawn from pictures of these gentlemen wh ch appeared In an illustrated paper T.,e only Implements at his command war a broken penknife, a bit of win dow glass and red Ink. The heads are drawn In relief, and tho work is highly creditable from an artistic standpoint The faces of Mr. Caruth, of Kentucky: Mr. Outhwa'te,of Ohio; Mr. Mbley, Pennsylvania; Mr. Kverett. oi Massachusetts, and Mr. Mauulre, of California, are among tlMe reproduced. Those of the th ee gentlemen lirst named are es pecially good, and would be recognized even without the name-t which appear in raised letter ljoneath. The cane li surro'.ndod by a handle of horn. A Curious Pact In Ilolanv. It If) a remarkable fa t In botany that no species of llownr ever em brace, Id the colors of U eta Is. the whole range of I he s;cctrum. Where there are yellows ami reds there are no blues; when blue and red occur there are no yellows, and when wo have blue and yellows there uro no reds. Tullpi come nearer to cover ing the wttole range of the spectrum than any other spuo.es. They can lie found ranging through reds, yellow, and pu plea, hut a blue one has never been found. Popular Suieore Monthly. PRAIRIE CHILDREN. IM Is the Daott of l.tUabr I sad XId uImb an lib vJty sward : VbM Is sa Indigo Cow to i.or band, fyvtaal enblMii of rank mod command, j mull herald of ladjr and lord. that U bar brotber aslasp at bar ilde Ha Is a duke, aad iiia lull red baod OrapplM tba ral c4d rope that te tied Iau tiie colia - of Kotbc the guide Hunr, the bero of Laileby iaud. f tabes oome oat of I be water and walk: Cblumunks play trmrb.ea In Lullabv IADd; Rabbf't riae ui oo the p.airie and talk ; Goellus go forward aul giggle and gawk Everything cbattera. and all understand. after awblls be will tail on tbe i LltUe red duke, on the prairie asleep. Darlug tbe shot and tbe tbell, be knull be Admiral, fighting for you and for uie. Flying t o dug o'er tbe dangerous deep. Down at the Lido, where billows ire bite. Back through tbe vineyards to Florence and Koine. That Is our duchess whom both of us knew; Tl.at is bar husband, so tender aud true, lakmg her far from ber babyhood home. Children at plar on tbe prairies to-day era.ely to-inorrow will en er tbe race, Trutirjg the future whose promises any, "Courage ami vllort will work out a way -routine nnd ftttie ae not matters of place " &lcClure a .tiagaJne. C UR E I ) OF BO R RO WING There was a meeting of the Grange. The farmers came in one afier an other, and soon thelittlecchoolhou.se was tilled with an anxious, haupy as sembly. .Jonathan Fuller, the chairman, rapped for order and called the roll, iwery man answered to his tame, with the exception of Mr. ilaynes. .Mr. Fuller announced, at the con clusion of the preliminary business that there was no patticulur theme for discussion and moved that John Hangs make remarks up' n any sub ject he miKht choose. The whole meeting seconded the motion with a roar. Mr. Hangs aro-e and looked at the cobweb In the corner of the room as If he thought the e was an Inspira tion In its dusty drapery, lie then glanced at the i.oor and said he t-e hosed he had nothing to say. The crowd stamped and yelled, and amid the discord could be. heard cries of " .o on." -'You must say some thing." ' Hurrah for Hangs" and so lortli, all of which quite took the old farmer by surprise, and before he knew it he was standing an I balanc ing himself against the desk. The uproar ceased and Hangs cleared his throat "Well, I'm not that sort o' citizen as wants to make har.l feelin's 'uiontr each oUier, but when I sees a screw loose 1 wants to take a screw driver and tighten it. The audience tit tered aud stamped. Hangs (i,ed his eyes on the cobweb, then glanced at the chairman, who acted as if he had been s ot, and turned his eyes from the speaker to a crack In the ceiling. Now it is a good thing to have a Grange, it Is a Useful thiu to have it made strong; in fact, it Is the best screw-driver we ever had. il.oud laughter There has been a screw loose for a long time In our neigh borhood, beep silence It is lime to co iu me rice turnin' your screw driver on it, Yi u all know what a botheration it is to bo .ow, and w at a still disarceabler thing it is to lend. Loud clapping and stamping. As I said, I don't want any hard feel in's, but if any of you have been bothered as much as I have, you'll not blamejiue for saying Caleb Haynes is the worst hinsarico we have. He borrows everything. His wire is getting into the same habit, and the joungsters too. He is thescrew that's loose. Now let's talk up some way to cure Caleb, for we all know he is uood at heart; besides that, I want to get a screw-driver he borrowed of me not long ago, for my woman is about to take up the carpet." This brief, extemporaneous address was followed by wild cheering and excltod stamping till the whole room was one cloud of dust No one minded it but the spider, who scamp ered over his swinging mansion's del icate carpetings and settled himself down iu his Lack chamber In per.ect disgust at the behavior of the grang ers. The plans suggested for curing Caleb Haynes of borrowing were numerous, none of which i-eemcd en tirely satisfactory but the one set forth by Mr. Hanas. It was unani mously agreed to begin the tightening of the screw the next day, and that the novel method should be started by Mr. uungs. The ,iecting then dissolved and the grangers dispe Red to their homea Caleb Haynes was feeding the pigs. Looking toward the hill his eye caught the wagon of John Hangs, loaded with something. "(iood morning. Caleb," said John. "Good morning, John. Going to market?" "Oh, no. I lut merely thought I would bring you over a few thinirs You weren't at the Grange last ulght?" "No, I couldn't come. Had to go to town last night with my old woman's- cousin Ann, io borrow a (lut ing machine. I knew there was no such thing around the nelghtiorhood. " "Wish I had one. 1 would loan it to you. Hut I guess there is some thing here you will like. Now, ho c Is a new ax I will let you have till you get ready to return it, and" j 'Oh, you are too kind " , "Aud acolfee grinder, and a flrst rate grind-stone. Yes, aud her Is a doui le-shovel plow, just what you want for your new corn." "John, you are a Christian. If everybody was llko you, this would be a happy world." Hut lielo.e he could say anything more, John whipped up his horse and , started for home. .Mr . Ilaynes was delighted with the cotTce-iirlnder, and declared that she would not 'j6 in a hurry to re turn It. While they were breakfast ing they heard the clatter of wheels, and soon after some one kno ked at the door. "Come In," said Caleb. "Good-more nir,"sa!d Jacob Fuller. "1 am on my way to market, and I thought I would atop aud loan you a few tbiDg." "How clever y. u are," said Mrs. Haynes. "Here in some sugar aod nutmess my w fe put in, and a bottle of vin egar. " "How thoughtful she is. Why, I was just coming over after those things for we want, a dumpling, and we can't eat lettuce without vinegar, you know." "Of course net," observe! Mr. Fuller. "And there Is a spool of thread: she said she thought you were out." "Yes, 1 am. Now 1 can finish Hobby's pants." Mr. Haynes smiled and remarged that Mrs. fuller woula have a brikht spot in Heaeu. Mr. Fuller drove on and wondered what sort of a nook Mrs. Haynes would have in tbe same place. William Boynton was none the slower tor his gray hairs He rushed into the yard like an antelope. "Why, what's the matierr" asked Caleb The fact is," said the old man. "I'm in a sort of a hurry, and I thought 1 might as well be a little livel . Here is a string of dried ap ples my wife thought ou would like to try: and I thought J'd save you tbe t ouble of coining after the weekly pa er. There is a iood d al of news in it. An here Is a sc.. the to cut vour grass. Good day." Hoytiton was off as quick as he came, and had not got ten steps be fore young Kobert lanvers came rid ing down the road on a gallop and leading another horse. Caleb handed the string of dried apples to his wife, and went to the gat to see what was wanted. "Pa sent me down with the bay mare, Mr Ilaynes," said Dan vers. "He said he knew you didn't like to borrow, but he thought you needed a horse or a while. " Kefore Caleb could utter a word the young man had galloped away. Caleb led tbe animal to the barn, and then walked slowly to the house "Tell you what it is" said he to his wife, "I'm growing 'spinous!" Ot what?" she said. ";:f the neighbors. I can't tell what's the matter with them: they're getting too good, besides " He was Interrupted by Hen Top ha:n yelling at him fro n the front gate. Caleb left his wife and asked his friend what was up. "I'm goln' to town to see to some business. My wife told me to be ure and call at your house as I came along, for she w ,nted your woman to try our dcw coffee gr nder. " "We've already borrowed one this morning," said Caleb, with a puz zled face. "That won't make any dlfTerence. You can use hot lb Let me see. Oh, yes! here is the weekly pater. I thought, perhaps you would like to read the news." 'Hut I've got a copy already. Hill Poynton brought me over one not long ago." Oh, that doesn't matter! Y'ou can read one while the woman is read ing the other. I must go. Good-by!" 'iiood-by " returned Caleb. The coffee-grinder and news paper sat Mrs. Haynes to think ing. Low these two articles should have happened to have been dupli cated the same clay was a mystery she couldn't seem to make out. Mr. Haynes was, thoughtful, also, and he hitched the borrowed horse to the borrowed doubled shoveled plow In a manner that would lead any bystander to th nk that Caleb had committed some act of which he was deeply ashamed. He worked hard and ate but little dinner. The ofliciousness of his neighbors troubled him more than the probability of a short crop of corn. When the sun set Caleb ce ised work and wea-ly started for home. ' "Well," said he, coming into the backdoor, "has anyboly else been over to loan us a paper?" "Caleb, vou're a fo jL" 1 The farmer's hands dropped 1 1 his lap as if they had received an ele -trie shock, and he ga.ed at his wife in mute astonishment. "Y'es, Caleb, ou're a fool. 1 am a fool, and anybody that bor ows Is a fool! Do you hear?" "1 hear. Hut what has come across you so suddenly?" "I don't think it has come so su ! denly. If we had not been fools we'd seen It before this." "Sav, Susan, 1 wish you'd explain your nonsense, and stop acting so much like a fool! I'm hungry." The most sensitive point of Caleb's feelings was touched, and he arose fiom his chair and walked the room impatiently. "I'll give vou to understand," saiil his wife, that you shan't have a mouthful till I have had my say!" "Well, hurry up," said Caleb. "All right. In the first place, neither you nor I were at the meet ing last nlhht, were we?" "No " "Well, now, to comedown to busi ness, I Know very weU they talked about us and our habit of borrow ing." "Don't believe it" "I do. 1 know it. I've been think ing about it ail this afternoon. How could it happen that they'd bring us so many things the same day? And think of it two co.iee-grlnders and two newspapers!" ".Susan, I begin to believe you." "You'd better. It's just as pla n as beads on a string. " "What can wo do?" "Do? Why, take everything back as sooo as you get through siipr-o.r." "Hut don't wo need the things?" "What of it? Take them all back, : and say we can buy our own things." i "Hut, Susan, it will cost a good deal." "Can't help It We must act In dependent. We'll buy our own things rterthls." i "Why, of coune we can; and if we can't, we can go without," said Caiek brighten ng. "Thai's right. I'll louod up tbe coffee with a hammer before I bor row another grioder." A new feeling came over Mr. Haynes. His manhood seemed to have returned, and bis heart seemed to be lightened of a heavy load. After supper be bitched bis old mare to bis wagon, and started on his journey to return everything that was brought to b s home in the morn ing. Harry, the oldest son, rode tbe borrowed bay. The neighbors were dumfo inded. There was not one member who thought the trick would be f und out before a week. No one had an op po tunity to question him. He merely announced that he had come to re turn the articles borrowed, and that he hoped to never get .n the misera ble habit again. It was ' o'clock before he returned home, and by the time the chores were finished the clock struck lo. The next morning was a bright one, and Caleo declared he telt better than he bad for many months. "it seems so much better to use your own tilings " he remarked You are right," assented his wife. By the time the month had passed Mr. Haynes had bought another horse, subscribed for the weekly caper, and furnished the house and farm with the necessary implements and con veniences. At the next Grange meeting Mr. and Mrs. Haynes answe ed promptly wneii Jonathan Fuller came to their names on the roil, and when there was order and quiet Caleb arose and said he would like to say a few words. The whole audience was silent. Tbey seemed to think they were in the p esem e of a man whom they had In jured. "Ladies and gentlemen," began Caleb, his voice coming with an ei lort, "I was not present at the last meeting, and I am glad of it You have done a great good. 1 don't want anybody to leel bad because he might have ta ked about me behind my back. 1 am cured of the miserable, beggarly habit of borrowing; and that is enough. I move to speak upon another niib ect. " At the conclusion of this brief speech, which was uttered with a great deal of leeling, Mr. ioynton btepped forward and pressed Caleb's hands. Every one In the room fol lowed the example it the agile old man, and Havnes !elt that he was honored beyond his merits.j At the end of tne unusual perfo m auce some one suggested that singing should be the next thing in order. Not an objection was offered, so Jon athan Fuller hunted around (a wh le for his tuning loik and started, "There is Kest for the Weary." :n as high a key as he could maintain without lupturing his windpipe. To be s ire some said "we-ar-ry" and others let melodious sounds pass through their no es, but their hearts were enraptured, and their souls as piring above the sordid earth. Even the little black spider came out of his dark chamber with three other little spiders and listened intently to the music, and did did not seem half so disgusted as dur ng the last meet ing, when they raised suh a dust Waverly Magazine. MODERN AMERICAN NEWSPAPER it lny Have Faults, but It Is a Powerful Influence for (iootl. The development of the newspaper has been something phenomenal. The whole numter is nearly l:, uou, a out one in ten published every day. They have many faults, has the newspaper which is only the history of each day, written before its close must have. The faults are, perhaps, some what exaggerated with us, owing to the wider range of news topics. Their sensationalism, scrappiness, and dogmatism produce something of mental dissipation in cases of over indulgence. Hut the major ty of newspapers everywhere and ol everv grade, are condu ted with honesty and conscience by men who have leained loth what the public wants and in what they can hope to lead it The influence of this history of a day read by millions of people Is incalculable, aud, in general, it is good. It leads many persons further into the study ol some questions about which they had received a hint or a scrap of information. Nowhere is this great engine of modern civil!, zation better used and appreciated than with us. In addition to the news it pours Into Its columns day by day, it publishes every year thousands of articles on the most Important and Interesting topics. Nowhere is it thoroughly eucyclop die. It was once the fashion to insist upon the truth of Pope'i line, "a little learn ng Is a nangerous thing," but the Held of knowledge has become so vast that we must recognize tho llmita tions of time and ins:st that If a lit tle be a danger none at all Is fatal. Our newspapers give thousands of persons lirst a faint Idea of the exis tence ot something berore unknown, then a little insight, and, last of all, the thirst that can enly be quenched by deep draughts at the fountain of knowledge. In brief, they draw out the faculties of uncounted millions who otherwise would neither learn nor have the desiro to learn. Defrauded. A short story, but very much to the po nt is one t Id ol' John Alien, an English clergyman. He had heard that a brother minister kept his con gregatlon waiting, and kindly re monstrated with him. "it was only ten minutes," said the offender, apologetically. "How many people bad yoa la church?" asked Mr. Allen. "About :i00." "Th:ee hundred? Well, tnen, you wasted 3,000 minutes!"