Nebraska Newspapers

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HE ADVERTISER
Published every Thursday by
FAIRBROTHER & HACKEE,
Proprietors.
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100
BKOWNVILLE, NEBRASKA.
ii i r
Legaladvertisements atlegalrates: One square
(lOllneof Nonpareil space, of-lesaj) flrat loser tlon-
l.CC; eacksubsequentlnsertlon, 50ii. , . t , .
3Alltran3Clcnt advertisements must be paid
orlnidvance.
Terms, in Advance:
,ecopy.oneyear
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1 0e copy, six months
ne copy, three monins
E VlilXG HAT TEROX EVERY rAGE
SOCIAIi DIRECTORY.
..,,,lor LoACc No, I?. 1C. TWtfn
vi- own ran in uu"----; i: .
rotn?enm'Ic)4eeK.lnt
xac". .Y'rrmVmnn's store VlsiiinK uro
:W-l'rtralV invited. A.G.GATE8.r,.u. "
CocaBAS-.Secy. ofTcm.
rVUVe"IeverV Friday evening in Odd
.jr-ce, Ie.1 v;' r vickeirs druc store. Main
f 'ngen "border vWUne thec.ty
S n Itdto meet HI i us. B.3L Bajlu . .
ws&fifrf:
rnCoTloniarin fcu month.
It. rnrmclCo."SnnrKVh'mVnth.
'? d c'" at MoSJnlc llaU onlhe fifth Mon-
uavw- o xTr l:. IV. 1L L U
yjkSsioS&thGd Monday In each month.
iijn .. -. rt.onttlifilixsternoiar.
wnnrilKS.
.. o,r!rM each Sabbath
IeiIiodltE. t-l'TS? sanaay School at
tli-a. mj SZAng Thursday
evening.
J.SL1 nAitw. Pastor. c . &abbBth
P 1 : 5:i.ni 'hbath school at 2 o'clock
pfm. J. T.Baibd. Pastor-
f-TTV OFFICEKS.
hir rounrll-Meets the Flnt gg
m".th. Major, f. A. T.sdel Ai Warfl p.
ro'VceJudge.J..Stull.
COUNTY OFFICERS.
GRMGE DIRECTORY
Offlccr- of the National Gmnee.
n w. Adanw. Master. Wankon. Iowa. O. 11.
K".cy.?crretery, Washington. D. C.
oniccru of the State Crnncc.
Wra.U.Porter,Ma8ter; Wm McCatg. faccretary:
Unci n. ... .1
Nrinaha County Central Association.
rv?n-'i HTne. President. Sherman : W.G wnn.
Rro" pvllle: S.KoberUon. Howard.
Git AN (5 ES.
OBAKfrB. UASTBR. SBCBETABT.
Am ty
IJ'Vtjn
t ft jn
UiartrOak
I jr. tt.row
FtlUne
Orand Prairie .
II ;!..and
II i y Crock. .
II viiB Ha:id-I-ji!
Ian- -
L'bertv
Larayette. ..
NetnuMa
tie naliaCntre
Vemnha Valley
S.rma'
Church IIowe..wm. r.n .
O. P. Avery-.
B. II. Bailey
J.Gilbert -;
It. V. Black G. Watban
Wm. Uannaford A. a Leeper.
X. J. I larmes , Mrs.! . Schnyder
tit Wond Itobt. Skillon
V P "Weader. CMeader.
f ..'Uliusow WW. Smith
Ttiii- S.Webber
J.'ir.Peery W.1L Harris
ILCuilds.
F. Patrick.
J.HIgclns..
S. Itobertson
w.M stokes
T. C. Klmsey
ITho3. IJurress
Wm. Watklns.
A XJnltT
B. F. Senior.
T. J. Majors 'J. M.l'ettu
C Campbell I Itobt. Coleman.
Wm Jones IJ. Mnrlntte
Lellov Mason .. U. L. Mason
JolmStrain C. Barrus
O. B. Hew ett ' J. B. Piper.
Perry Buckelsi -.-.-
Wm. Bagley. ' W. Bridge
A. J.Skeen Gpo. Crow-
Wm. F. Paris 'll. O. MI nick .
S.Cochran 1 J. Maxwell
Chas. Blodgett O. J Matthews.
J. A. Glel C.M.Glel
PieatantlUdge
PlcasantValley Plcas-.r.t II in
Vi t -'.en
PrjrT1C"-t .
ItCW3fd
It sin? Star
lUstne Sun..
Se-ar.ty
I'lity-
trash -:-ton
Zion
TIME SCHEDULES.
RAILROAD TIME TABLES.
Burlington &. Jllssonrl River Ratlroail
In NcljrnsUa.
LVIN LINE.
1 1 25 a.m. jeave. I .PIattsmoutn I 2.-05 p.m.arrlve
i4p.m . Lincoln ll:ir.a.m. leave
'0 03 p.m. arrive J .Kearney Jiinci oho a.m n.
OMAILV BRANCH.
1 n m. leave I .Plattsmouth 1 12:15 a m. arrive
i W p.m. arrive 1 Omaha 1 10-.50 a.m. lea e
BEATRICE RRANCH.
3i5p.ru. leave Crete I 7: a.m. arrive
6 05 p.m. arrive I Beatrice. I 5:lia.m. leave
Chicago fc NortU AVcstcrll itallway.
Vrainsat Council Bluffs nrrlveanddepartasfollows
OOIVO WEST
Day Express
Night Lxpreia
AnniVE 1 aoiso kast pepakt
10An.ui. I Da v Express &40a,m.
. e.l5a.m. I Nigtit Express. 4-05 p.m.
Ex. Freight 10J0a.m.
W. H. STENXETT. Gen. Pas. A gf .
Kansas City, St. .Toe. fc C. B. Railroad.
Trains leave Phelps Station as follows:
Coin? Xorth,.
'Joing Xorth
.5 30 a. m. I Going South, frJB a. m.
.4; p.m. I Going South, CAo p. m.
A. C. DAWES. Gen. Pass. Agent.
Miaiand I'acllic Railway.
jvim 5 05 p m
2fi)pin STpm
()pm s.5jpm
J 40 pm lu-.tapm
Nebraska City 1 2;00 p m -1 50 p m
VLlncoln'( , uvSfim io-io n m
I iir..
Seward I 90 am 8.30 am
J. N. CONrERSE, Sup't.
BUSINESS CARDS.
ATTORNEYS.
B. C. Parker,'
AT LAW. LAND
AND TAX
A raying Agent. Howard.Neb. Will xtr U
gent attention toany legal business eBtraatgg to te
Ward -W. 1 . ie. .- - ---n 7 TW d u'ard-
wSuFreJricuVrkeMa
Sn tJ.l). Docker. Treausrer.J Binke.
e -
care. ji
E. E. Enrlght,
TTORXEY AT LAW, Notary public aBd Real
A. Estate Ag&nt. Olllce in Court House Bulld
"w; I!roMiille Neb.
T. L. Schlclc,
A1
TTORXEY AT LAW.-MAY BE CONSULT
L ml in tho fZormtn lnnirnnire. Office next
door to Countv Clerk's OOlce. Court House Bulld
ias.Brovruvilie.Xebraska. 19-6y
J. S. Stnll,
vn fYinXKETXiR AT LAW.
TTORXEY
Office.iio.fo Main street.(upstalrs,)Brown-
viiie.Xeb. 18-Cy
v
J. H. Broady,
I TTORXEY AXI) nonxsELOR AT
LAW.-
- Office over State Bank. Brownville.Neb.
E. W. Thomas,
TTORXEY AT LAW. OfTice.front room over
J. tvenson & Cross's Hardware Store, Brown
ville.Xeb. V. T. Rogers,
TTORXEY AXD COUNSELOR AT LAW.
-- Will cive diligent attention to any legal
amjinessentrusted to his care. Office in'Cotirt Huse
Building, Brown ville. Neb.
PHYSICIANS.
K S. HOLT. AD AY, M.D.. Physician. Surgeon
-fi. and Obstetrician. Graduated. In 1S5I. Loca
ted in Urownville 1SS5. Office. Lett & Creigh's
Prug Store. McPhcrson '.Block. Special attention
psid to Obstetrics and diseases or "V omen and
Children. 10-6al
HL. MATHEWS. Physician and Surgeon. OIHce
in City Drug Store, No. 32 Main street, Brown
vilie, Xeb.
NOTARIES COLLECTION AGENTS
A. Bergmann,
tr.TC AXD CONVE
VOTARY PrBLIC AND CONVEYANCER.
,
Oftlce, No. 41 Main street, Brownville. Neb.
LAND AGENTS.
fILLIAM H. HOOVER, Real Estate and Tax
' Paying Agent. Office in Dbtrlct Court Room,
will give prompt attention to the sale of Real Es
tate and Payment of Taxes throughout the Nemaha
taa .District.
n
BLACICSJnTHS.
.T. IV. Gibson,
BLACKSMITH AXD HORSE SHOER. First
strfefnet.veen Main and Atlantic, Brownville,
Aeb Work done to order and satisfaction guaran
d. HOTELS.
A 2IERICAX HOUSE, 1 D.Roblson. Proprietor.
p-Front street, between Main and College. Good
Hou an Uvery Stable in connection with this
,etter"heads,
, i98 BILL HEAD
rc?Uyprintedat thlsofllce.
ESTABLISHED 1856.
Oldest Paper in tho State
.
A REaUIEM.
BY PELEO arkwkioht.
That dorg ras every Inch a dorg,
He knowed his duty straight;
He never ihlssed a light or fire,
Nor never turned up late.
2Iy heart is broke, I'm much diturbed ;
He was the steadfast pup
That ever spoke for scraps of meat,
Or chawed a liver up.
There's many dorgS that useless is,
Could better have been spared ;
But though he's dead, my comfort Is,
I think ho was prepared.
My heart is broke I'm much depressed ;
Ho was the earnestest pup
That ever eot upon his tail.
And cocked his left ear up.
He took his part with other dorgE
He never shirked, not he,
His comrads to Investigate,
4 .-
Nor missed a post or tree'. ,
2Iy heart Is broke, I'm much annoyed ;
He was tho check lest pup
That ever growled about a bono,
"When other dorgs come up.
He never failed on no account,
Old women to annoy ;
An organ-grlnder.to torment.
Was his especial Joy.
My heart is" broke I'm much distressed ;
He was" tho cheerfulest pup
That ever tared a lady's skirt,
Or chawed a slipper up.'
For cats he had grcai sympathy.
And showed It in a way
That made 'em glad to see him 'round,
'Most any time o' day.
My henrt is broke, I'm much concerned ;
Ho wasthe liveliest pup
That ever treed a Thomas-cat,
Or chawed a kitten up.
For settin' hens.his.feelln's wd
Jocose to a dVgteo;
Ho made 'em take new Interest in
This world of misery.
My heart is broken, I'm much oppressed ;
He was iho pcrsistentest pup
That ever chased a rooster 'round,
Or chawed a chicken up.
He's gone! The world is darknd drear,
I'm sad and lonely now,
And gloomy retrospection bits
Upon this achin' brow. t
My heart is broke, I'm much cllagrired ;
He was the aOectlonatest pup
That ever wagged a friendly tail,
Or coughed n breakfast up.
TAFFY WHITE'S CHRISTMAS.
BY CHARLES E. HURD.
It was the twenty-fourth of Decem
ber. A sharp, stinging Bort of a day,
that made the boys on their way to
school pull their capB down tighter
over their ears and stick their well
mittened .hands deeper into their
pockets. The icicles which hung
from the eaves were brittle with the
cold. The snow looked whiter and
the ice in the meadow bluer and
smoother. There was not a breath of
air stirring. Theemoke rose straight
up from the chimneys, and the half
dozen withered leaves that still clung
to the scraggy limbs of tiie maples in
Deacon Washburn's door-yard hung
aB still as if they were only parts of a
painted picture and had never moved
at all.
On the front steps of the Washburn
mansion stood a sturdy little fellow of
four years, vigorously kicking the
lower panels of the door and endeav
oring by shouts to attract the atten
tion of the inmates. He was" well pro
tected from the cold ; his warm fur
cap and heavy woolen comforter
showing hardlv more than the tip of
Ills little nose, which tile slrarp air
had painted a bright pink color.
"'Emme comein! 'Em me come
In!" he shouted, impatiently, as he
ceased kicking for a moment, to rat
tle the door-knob.
The door Sucfdenly opened.
"Now, Taffy Whito, go right away
from the front-door, this minute.
Your feet are all over snow and I ain't
going to have you stomping through
the front entry all day. There's
enough to do in the kitchen, without
keeping a girl to run 'round after you
with a broom. If you wa'nt to come
in, go 'round the other way."
"But I want to oome in thia door,
Gran'ma Was'bun. I got some busi
ness.'7 "Your business ain't very driving,
I guess. Why don you go and stay
with Silas, in the back kitchen? It's
nice and warm there, and maybe he
will tell you a story.'
"I don't want any story. I want
to come in tho front door, and I want
my papa's letter."
"Bless the boy," said Mrs. Wash
burn, impatiently, "he will have his
own way, and there can't any of us
help it. Come in, then, and don't
keep me standing In tho door, with
my bare arras, air day."
Taffy's point was gained, and he
marched behind his grandmother in
to the kitchen, consoious of having
achieved a signal victory.
Such a delicious whiff of mince
meat, and spicea, and plum-cake, and
hot pies and doughnuts a satuted his
nostrils as he entered the room!
There was flour over everj' thing ;
raisen-stems and apple-pairings were
scattered about; and paper bags, with
mysterious contents, fresh from the
grocery, nlleu tne side-table. .Piles
of plates stood in the chairs, and the
great brick oven sent forth Its hot
breath every time it was opened for
the inspection of its contents.
"There," said Mrs. Washburn, wip
ing the flour from her fingers on her
apron and taking down a Jettcr from
behind the clock. "There's your let
ter. And now what are you going to
do with it?"
"Keep it," replied Taffy.
"But 3'ou can't read it. I should
think you'd' want to keep it nice, to
show papa, when he comes."
"I want you to read it tome, then."
"I've read it to you, over and over,
and so has every body else
the
Go
house. I can't spare the time.
and get Silas to read it."
"I want you to read It," and Taffy's
chin quivered and his voice grew
louder.
"Don't cry. Mercy on U, child,
don't you see how busy everybody
is? Your papa'll be Here to-morrow,
perhaps, and that'll be ever so much
better than your letter."
But taffy insisted.
"Well, then, do read it t6 him,
Jane. It's the quickest way to get
rid of him. We aba'n't have any
peace till you do."
So Jane stopped chopping mince
meat for a moment, leaning on her
knife while she read the letter aloud :
My Dear Little Boy : I shall
leave California by the 1st of Decem
ber, and hope to bo with you Christ
mas. I send this inside Grandma
Washburn's letter, so it will go safe.
I hope to find TafFy a good boy. You
must come with Grandpa to meet me
at the station, Cbristma3 Eve. With
ever so many kisses. Papa.
Taffy listened as intently as if he
had never heard a word of it before,
and as soon as it was thro' demanded
a second reading.of it.
Jane was obstinate.
"Well read on the outside, then,
you didn't read that."
"'Taffy White, Esq.' That's all.
iSow don't plague' me any longer.
Run out, like a good boy."
But Taffy knew his power too well
to be go't rid of so easily, and it re
quired the combined bribe of two
Baldwin apples, a stem of raisins, a
doughnut, and two figs to get him in
to the back kitchen, where Silas was
boiling potatoes for the pics. Here
for ten miutes ho watched the kettle
and questioned Silas; and then, get
ting restless, insisted upon being let
out into the dooryard again.
"Now, don't ye go to fussin' with
the ax," said Silas, as he lifted him
down the slippery step. "I knowed
a little boy once 'bout asbig as" you
be 't cut all his toes cri one foot olean
off, jest playin' with bis father's ax."
The ax had been Taffy's objective
point; but this bloody precedent,
manufactured out of whole cloth up
on the instant, by tho ingenious Silas,
rather stagcered him, and he turned
his attention in another direction.
"I shall skate some on my little
sled, then," he said in a disappointed
tone.
"Well, sbate-away," returned Silas.
"Only don't get under the bosses'
feet in the road; Why don'tyego up
back of the house, an' slide down
hill? I would, if I was 3'ou. The
wind cuts awfully down in the road
and ye'll freeze to death in ten min
utes." This advice was given with' chat
tering teeth and was lost on Taffy,
who dragged his sled into and along
the road while Silas retired to his
warm quarters in the back kitchen.
Hardly had the door closed upon him
when, with a prodig'ious jingling of
bells, a big double sleigh dashed
along the road past the house, toward
the village, scarcely a mile away.
Had Taffy been a size smaller or had
the driver not been looking directly
at him, he might not have bet-n seen,
and the horses might have gone over
him before he had Known they were
there. As it was, the team was pull
ed up just In time.
"Hallo, Taffy!" shouted one of the
party. "Aren't you getting lost?
Jump in and have a ride. We're
coming right track."
Taffy waB only to willing.
"Let me tie your sled on behind,"
said the driver, one of the' neighbor's
boys and a great friend of TalTy's.
"We're just going to the store, after
some cooking things, and the folks
won't know you're gone till you get
back."
So the sleigh skimmed along the
ground after the ' horses, till the vil
lage store was reache'd and the boys
got out. t
"You'd better stay in the sleigh,
Taffy," said one of the boys, the larg
est. "Wesha'n't bo more than ten
minutes, for the women folks are in
an awful hurry for their stuff."
Five minutes passed. It seemed a
long time to Taffy. He tried to crack
the whip ; but It was too long and
heavy and every attempt was a mel
ancholly failure. He stood upon the
seat. Then he formed the idea of
climbing upon the horses' backs.
Whether he would have successfully
accomplished this feat will never be
known, for at that instant the shrill
sound of the approaching train
struck his ears.
"It's the cars," said Taffy to him
self. "No body ever lets me see the
cars, much as I want to ; and gran'pa
Was'bun always pulls my hands so
when they go by.-"
In an instant he was out of the
sleigh, and going as fast as his little
Iega would carry him to the station,
which was hard by. When" the train
rolled up to the platform, Taffy was
there awaiting it; and hardly had it
.stopped before he was on the steps of
the rear car.
"I'll jest peek in" he thought.
"Gran'pa Was'bun won't let mo see
nmitlilnir ol'OP "
The brokeman opened the door for
him' and closed it behind him, and
the DText instant the train was off
again.
Taffy wasn't frightened. Far from
it. He clumbered into a seat by .the
side of a fat old woman and looked'
around him very composedly.
And now, while Jie is sitting there,
trundling awaj from home at tho rate
of'twenty miles an hour, we will
selzo the opportunity to tell the read-
BROWFVILLE, 3TOBRASKA,
er who Taffy was. In the first place,
his name wasn't Taffy at all; only
plain Johnny. fancied likeness to
the pictu'ee in "Mother Goose" of the
legendary Welshman gave him the
name, while he was yet in arms, and
it stuck to him. Taffy's mother died
before he was two years old, and he
was left in the care of his grandmoth
er, who spoiled him, pretty much as
all grandmothers spoil their child
ren's children, when the opportunity
is given them. His father, unsettled
by his loss, went to Australia, and af
terward to California; and now, after
two years' absence, was on his way
back again. He was, according to
his letter, to reach homo on Christ
mas Eve, ttnd here was Christmas
Eve coming tin as fast as the hande'of
the clock could scramble roune the
dial plate.
By and by the conductor came
along. "Where are you going, my
little man ?"
"California."
"California?"
"Yes. Goln' to And my papa."
"When do you exDect to cret there ?
Are you alone? Where did you get
on the train?"
To all these questions Taffy only
looked straight at the conductor aud
nodded his head.
"You're a runaway. I'm afraid.
Where's your ticket ? How are you
going to pay for your rida?"
Very delibertely and slowly Taffy
put his hand in his pocket arid took
out tho remaining Baldwin apple,
which he laid in tlie lirfrtd of tho con
ductor. .
"You'll do," said the ofiicial, laugh
ing. "I'll look orit for j'ou when we
get to Springfield."
And he passed on.'
It was four o'clock wheu""Tafly com-,
menced his journey, and it was half
past six when the train rolled' into
Springfield station. Something un
usual ha'd happened, as was evident
from tho excitement among the
throng of people upon the platform.
"What's the matter?" asked one of
'the passengers, as he stepped from tho
car.
"The eastern express has run Into
a freight train, a mile out, and the
track will be blocked till after mid
night." Taffy heard the question and reply,
but understood neither. Ho had o
vague idea that he was in California,
and, undismayed, set out in search of
his father. It was bitter cold; but
he pulled on his mittens and walked
into the street. The shouts of the
hack-drivers and the glare of the
lights confused him somewhat ; but
he kept on, looking into all the stores
and shops where the lights were the
brightest.
"I guess my papa would be where
'twas awful warm to-night," said he
to himself. "I just wis he'd come
out!"
Just in front of one of the largest
and most brilliantly lighted stores on
the street his foot slipped and he fell.
One of his mittens came off and his
cap rolled into the street. Somebody
stooped to pick him up, and said
"Boor little fellow!" and his heart
gave way all at once. He was carried,
loud in lamentation, into the store,
and set in the warmeBt place, in the
midst of a sympathetic din that con
fused him still more. The most in
genious questioning and cross-questioning
failed to extract any further
information than that his name was
Taffy, that he lived with Gran'pa
Was'bun, and that he had come to
California on the cars to find his
papa.
By and by he was left to himself,
after having been furnished with a
superfluity of buns and candy, and
his tears were soon dried in contem
plation of the ever varying crowd of
visitors which thronged the various
departments of the establishment.
After a while he got to wondering at
the big pile's of blankets which tower
ed high above his head on the count
ers, aud what they did with them,
and where all the beds were they be
longed to ; and at the long shelves of
clothes and calicoes and little square
boxes ; and at the rows of ribbons and
big and little stockings, and "many
queer things ho had never seen before
which hung above the counters.
Then he began to .feel very comfort
able, and all the things and clerks
and the people he had been watching
gradually seemed to mingle and melt
together. His eyelids dropped slow
ly and Taffy was asleep.
How long he slept he could not
have told ; but.he was awakened by
voices talking, it seemed to him, In
his ear. Ho lazily opened his eyes,
aud saw close by the pile of blankets,
against which his back was leaning, a
tali, pleasant-looking man, with big
whiskers.
"You may put in two pairs of the
nicest ones," he was saying. "With
the dress-patterns and the roll of cot
ton cloth, they'll make something of
a load. The acoident on tlfe railroad
has delayed my journey home for a
few hours; 'and, as I have the chance,
I may as well take something with
me to make my welcome warmer.
Christmas, too, you know."
"Where will yox have them sent,
sir?" asked the clerk.
"There," said the tall gentleman,
handing him a hotel card. "Send
them In any time before ten o'clock.
Ishall remain until the first morning
train, I presume, though I'd glvo a
hundred dollars If T could get to my
jonrney's end to-uight. I have plan
ned getting home Christmas Evo for
six months past, and its hard to be
disappointed,"
THURSDAY, JANUARY 28, 1875.
"Yos, sir. Must be, Bir," said the
busy clerk. "Here, Tom 1"
Tom came.
"Get down that long basket and
put in those packages, on the counter
and two pairsof those best Middlesex
blaukets."
Taffy's eyes closed again, but open
ed when Tom reappeared, with a
huge basket, something like a cradle
in shape, in into which the goods
were carefully deposited, the blankets
on the top, aud overall a white cotton
covering, to keep them froni being
soiled.
"How much its looks like a bed,"
thought Taffy.
It did look inviting, truly. And it
wouId.be so much warmer and nicer
than sitting on a hard box with cap
and boots on. The basket was near
him so near he could put his hand
on It. The clerks were all busy and
and none of the orowd came near to
that corner of the store, which was
quite in the shade. The longer Taffy
looked the more Irresfstable was the
temptation, untillat last he pulled off
his boots and put them deep down in
basket; then his cap aud comforter;
aud finally, after making sure that no
one was looking, got in himself, bury
ing himself out of sight between the
two great blankets. In another min
ute he he was fast asleep a3 he ever
was in his own little crib" at home.
Half an hour afterward the basket
was seized by a strong clerk, tossed
into the express sleigh with a score of
other baskets and bundles, and a few
minutes Inter was tossed again upon
the hotel piazza, whence it was taken
up by the porter to the room of a tall
gentleman, who was impatiently
awaiting it. Two or three huge
trunks were in the room, one of them
open, apparently ready to receive
the newly made purchases.
"Boy'll call for the basket in half an
hour," said the porter, and went out.
AS soon as tho door closed the tall
gentleman move the basket 4to the
side of the open trunk. Then he took
off the cotton covering and threw it on
a chair. The he lifted the top blank
et; but no sooner had he done so
than he let it fall again not back In
to the basket, but upon the floor and
stood staring with all his might at
what it had covered. There lay
Taffy, his arm Under his head, his
brown curls knotted and tangled, his
eyes shut, sleeping away as peacefully
as if he had been in a real bed; and un
der tho direct eye of his grand
mother.
The longer the tall gentleman
gazed the more he wondered.
"How on earth, " he t thought to
himself, "did this HttlV chap get
mixed up with my purchases? He
couldn't have been packed in by
mistake, and I certainly don't re
member buying a boy. He may be
able to tell me some'thing about him
self. Here, Tommy, JacKy, Billy, or
what's your name, wake up!"
Taffy opened his eyes not very
wide at flrs ; but in a minute or two,
becomming concious that he was no
longer In the store, but in strange
room, he grew wide owake, and sat
up in tho basket. Then he felt for
his boots and" very deliberate- drew
them on, keeping his ej'es all the
while fixed on the tall gentleman,
who, in return, watched him with a
sqrt of amused astonisnm'ent. Then
he pnton his cap and wound his com
forter twice round his neck.
"Well," said the tall gentleman, in
a pleasaut sort of voice, "and what
are you going to do now?''
"Find my pa'paVsaid Tafiy, stout
ly. "Your papa?, What's his name."
"Papa. 'At's all his name."
"But where is he?"
"California."
"You've got a7 some ways to' go, my
dear little fellow, before you find him,
then. Where did you come from?''
"Gran'pa Wa3'bun'B.'
"Wbat!,i said the tall gentleman,
quickly. "Say that again. What's
your name?'
"Taffy White."
Tho tall gentleman caught him up
under his arms and held him under
gas light.
"Are you sure you're Taffy
White ?" he asked earnestly so earn
estly that Taffy thought he tvas scold
ing and' began to cry. "Where were
you going? How came you here?
What were you doing in that bask
et?" "I guess I run away. I just peeked
In the cars, and theu they kept going
till I got to California. 'Em me
get down! Papa! I want my pa
pa !"
He pulled his little haukerchief
from his pocket, as he found his feet
again, aud with it came his treasured
letter. The tall gentleman caught
sight of it, glanced at the Inside, and
then snatched Taffy up for the second
time; not, however, to examine him
by the gaslight, but to hug and kiss
him over and over again.
Don't you know me.'my dear, dar
ling, precious liltle boy ?" he said at
lost.
"Don't you remember Papa? Of
course, you don't; but I am your,
papa, for all that. How did you come
here In that basket? I can't under
stand It."
Taffy was too much bewildered at
first to make any explanation, and it
took some minutes to make him duly
appreciate the fact that he had found
his papa; or, rather, that his papa had
.found him. Then, whenhe had lit
tle by little related the main faots
of his journey and his subsequent ad
ventures, there was more kissing arid
hugging and a little crying; but it
i, was' t for eorrow.
"We'll send Grandpa Washburn
a dispatch right off, Tffy, boy," aaid
his father.
'For I've no doubt
they've offered a reward for you al
ready. Then we'll have supper, for
for you must be empty as a tin can by
this time. And after supper, If you
are not too sleepy, weli take a run
round among the toy stores. They
won't shut up till late, and it's only
nine o'clock now."
It wasn't too late, and they did take
a tour among the toy shops, Taffy
coming home so loaded down with
brown-paper parcels and packages
that he looked like a miniature St.
Nicholas; but not more so than the
lad who toiled on behind, covered
from-view, all but his legs, with! a
choice selections of rocking-horses,
go-carts hand sleds, and other miscel
laneous articles, enough to set him up
In a very respectble hussiness
That night the little hotel bed-room
was a chamber of peace; and when
the church-bells rang in the blessed
Christmas no heart with their sound
felt the benign influences of the time
more deeply, or swelled with a purer
gratitude toward Him whose birth it
commemated than that whlph beat
against the tired little head of the
wandering Taffy. The Independent
EAtlTUUIN,, SCENE.
E. A. B. STREET.
The squirrel chatters merrily,
The nut falls rips and brown.
And Jem-like, from the jewelled trco
The leaf comes flattering down,
And restless in Its pfumage gay.
From bush to bush, loud screams tho jay.
SENSUALITY.
Make his reason serve his passions,
That Is what man never should;
To the devil's kitchen angels
Never carry wood.
o
OLD JIMSjDRATTOX.
How He Happened to "Swcsr-Off."
From the Detroit Free Press.
He came up town last night to drink
the old year out and the new year in.
There are menTLwho can remember
when he had a cottage of his own ;
when he was well-dressed and hud a
frank, honest face; when his chil
dren went to Sunday school and his
wife was well clothed and carried a
happy face. Old Jim found" himself
going down the hill, and most in a
year he had changed from, a hard
working, respectable man to a ragged,
lazy sot, aud no effort on the part of
those who joved him could stop his
descent. His home went, his furni
ture went, good clothes aud happy
faces disappeared, and wretchedness
and poverty moved into the old tene
ment house on Beoublen street with
him.
Do'vou remember when h'is child
was run over and killed ? Old Jim
was dead drunk while the body lay
In the house. Were you""ever at the
Central Station Court when he was
sent up for drunkenness or beating
his wife? Have you never seen him
sleeping his druuken sleep in the al
ley ? Haven't you heard the police
speak of "Old Jim Drayton?" A
red, wicked face, having not one soft
line in it red eyes, looking" stupidly
and vacantly at you a battered hat
ragged clothes you surely must have
met him at some time.
Old Jim meant to haveabfg.drunk.
That was a good way to wind the old
3'ear up. He had been drunk Thanks
giving he had staggered home drunk
Christmas night, and when his boys
were heard wishing that Santa Claus
had not passed them by, the father
became ang'erecTond beat them. The
bar-keeper knew him as he entered
tho saloon and called'for drinks. He
had called there dozens of times be
fore, and his face was as familiar as
the sight of tho big decanter from
which he poured his drink.
"Wait a minute," said the bar
keeper, who was wiping off the bar ;
and old Jim eatdown at one of the
tables.
Two young men oame.in and sat
down near him. Jim was in the
shadow, and they did not know who
It was. As they drank their beer
they spoke of the dying year, and of
their resolves to break off some of
their bad habits,; and finafly one of
them said :
"Some one was saying that old Jim
Drayton had'eut his throat!"
"It's good news, if true," replied
the other. "No one will miss the old
sot not even his family. His wife
and children are in rags, his home
hasn't a comfort, and if he'd only die
folks would feel like helping them.
He's the lowest drunkard in Detroit."
"Yes, I've often wondered why he
didn't jump Into the river," rejoined
the other. "If I ever get as low and
ragged and mean as old Jim Drayton
I'll shoot myself."
Old Jim heard every 'word. If he
had had a glass of whiskey down ho'd
have loaped up and cursed them, but
he wasifober as sober as he had ever
been for ten years, and he made no
move. Wo3 he low ariii mean ? Did
everybody feel that way toward him ?
Did everybody ifotlco his poor old
house, his ragged children, his red
face and watery eyes? Did men
spe tk to each other of hia degreda
tlon, his neglect of his family would
hia death be good news to the publio?r
"Do you want whiskey or gin?''
asked the bar-tender, but old Jim did
not hear him. He had leaned back
against the wall, pulled his hat over
his eyes and was thinking. Drink
had robbed him of his honest look,
his frank tone and his strength and
skill, but it bad not robbed him of
memory. He could go back over tho
VOL. 19.-N0. 31.
decades and remember his pleasant
home, his happy family and his own
honest, independent frellng. Shame
oame with memory. He had not got
so low but words could stride him.
Two or three other men came in.
and while they were drinking one of
them aslled ;
"Isn't that old Jim Drayton in the
corner?"
"Yes, that's the old sot,' answered
another.
"Wonder if he Isn't going to swear
off ha! ha! ha!" laughed the third.
The words stung old Jim again.
They called up something of his old
spirit, and he sprang up out of his
chair aud exclaimed :
"Yes, I am going to swear off!"
" You swear off you ha! ha! ha !"
laughed tho men.
"But I wUl.'I know I'm a drunk
ard, and that I'm ragged and low, but
I can reform !"
"That's good !" they laughed, "big
gest thing out! Old Jim Drayton
swearing off ha. ha!"
"I will with God's help, 1 will!"
he replied, striking the bar with his
fist.
Their shouts of laughter followed
him as he went out, but they strength
ened hia pudden resolution. He walk
ed directly home. He stopped for a
moment at the gate and wondered
why he had never before noticed how
gloomy and wretohed; and lonesomp
tho old hovel looked. It was a fit
home for a drunkard""and d wlfe-beat-er.
Ho opened the gate, paused, then
turned and went to tho grocery on
the corner, and with the money he
meant to get drunk on he purchased
a few little toys for. the children and
returned and entered his desolate
home. He stood in the door for an
instant and looked around at the bare
aud battered walls, the bare floors, the
wretchedness and poveriy. His wife
crept away, fearing his drunken
wrath. He knew what moved her,
and it cut him like a knife.
"Mary, como here!" he said, as he
closed the do'or aud held out his hand;
"lam not drunk; to-night I"
She slowly approached him, won
dering if drink had not crazed htm.
"Mary," he said, as ho clasped her
hand, "I haven't drank a drop to
night!" "Oh, James!" shesobbed, breaking
right down in an iustant.
"They call me old Jim Drayton ;
say I'm a sot; wonder why .1 don't
die ; say I can't reform," he went on,
"but I'm &oing to stop drinking I
have stopped!"
She put her arms around his neok,
butoould not speak.
"From to-night, as. long as I live,
I'll be James Drayton again sober
steady a kind husband aud a good
father! Go'ali'd wake up the chil
dren, Mary, and let us all pray to
gether!" "Is father going to kill us?" they
whispered as they were aroused from
their wretched beds.
"No no, he's sober he's goiug to
be good again,'" she sobbed.
At midnight the voice of prayer,
broken by sobs, was heard in the old
hovel, and old Jim Drayton, kneeling
at his cliair, said :
help me to be a" better man!"
So may it.
THE 5U5TOiI OPJDUXJIOW.
One sunny autumn day, hundreds
of years ago, when tho religion of
Rome prevailed in England, the pri
or of the old Convent ofDunmow, a
gentle and holy man, was told that
two young strangers were at 'he door
and solicited an Interview with him.
He rose, and accompanied by two or
three of the'brothers betook himself
to the portul of the convent, where he
found a very handsome young man
and a fair young woman kneeling
reverently on the stones. They were
dressed like peasants, but the youth
had a stately'air, while the beauty of
his companion shone through her
coarse dress likea,star from a cold,
gray cloud.
"What is it you desire, my children
and why do you kneel here so
humbly?" asked the kind hearted old
prior.
The young man looked up with a
happy smile most beautiful to see, and
replied :
"Father, twelve njonths and a day
have passed since we- were wadded
and from that blessed hour we have
lived In perfect peace, confidence and
love. Not one word of bitterness,
uukindness or dissention has passed
between us. We have gone on,
growing more and more happy, grate
ful and loving day bj' day, and now
we have come to this holy house of
our blessed Lady of Dunmow to crave
your ble-sing on the wedded love that f
has stood so good Rte6t."
The prior smiled benignly, and,
stretching out his thin-, white hands,
he blessed them fervently, rejoicing,
devout old monk though he was, in
their beauteous youth, their faith and
joy and tender love.
The wedded Iovere bowed their fair
heads yet more humbly, seeming to
feel that gracious benediction falling
upon them like an invisible celestial
shower. Then they rose up, mur
mured their thanks, and were about
to turn away from the door when they
caught sight, of the convent cook
coming down into the court bearing
on his back a huge flitch of brown
bacon. The cook was a fat, lazy,
short-breathed old fellow, and he
seemed so overwhelmed by hia bur
den that the happy young couple, be
holding him, laughed out right mer
rily. The old prior laughed also, and
OFFICIAL PAPER OF TIIE COURT
even the solemn monks behind him
seemed glad of an opportunity to'
stretch tho stiff muscles about their
mouths and smiled grimly at the liit
dicrous sight. . y
All at once a pleasant thought;'
seemed to strike the venerable priory
and he said to the pleoeant young;
couple : ,
"My children, take yon that mlgti--ty
flitch of bacon aa a testimonial foe'
your fidelity and tender affection tb
ward one another. Math inks such
love as yours maketh the whole w,c.2lflj
better and brighter, "the oto7jrbf"ifr
hath given a sweetness to this sum-'
mer morn beyoud the sweetnessof'
summer roses. So take your lovely"
gift feast your friends upon it, and
think sometimes on tho Convent ''
Dunmow, and on the old man who
has done with the life of the world
but not with the gentle, human sym-'
patnfes." ' ,t
The j'oun$ man seemed greatly"2
touched, and smiled solfty as h're-
plied: ,
"We thank thee, good prior, for tby'
gift. -It is dear to us, not for its val-i
ue, but because it proves that thouea
teemetft our love a good and beautiful
thing, and that the blessing of the
priest came from the heart of the
man. I now give in return, to that
Convent of Dunmow, certain broad'
lands near by, which will yields th.ee
and the holy brothers a thousand
marks a year. But'to this grant Tan-'
nex this condition : Whenever a wed",
ded pair shall come to the convent
and swear by tho blessed Lady, o
-. "Si
Dunmow that they have lived as w
have lived, in perfect love and con
cord for a year and a day, they shal,
receive a goodly flitch. of bacon .So;,
reverened fatnet, out of a simple
chance a useful and pleasant custom
shall grow and as long as hungry
folks Bhall relish'good baoon the ex--ample
of our love shall endure, and
our names and thine be blessed,
mote it he I"
Scy
pThe prior and the monks looked at
the speaker in silent astonishment,
and it was noticed that even the pret'7
t3T young wife stepped a little back
from her husband and gazed at him
fixedly, like one bewildered.
"My son," at length spoke tti.B pri
or "th oh art light-hearted 'as be-
seemetb one of Jhy ypars, but thou
should'st not jest with""reverned men
like us if so be thou dost jest if not,
who art thousand of what degree ?'
"Nay, father, replied Ihe young
man gravely, "I do not jestC In me?
thi u aeest thy neighbor, Sir Begin-,
aid Fitzwater. I am, as thou know
est, rich enough to fulfill my promise
to the convent. I am Indeed the
richest of men, "'slncej Heaven hath
blessed me with this priceless treas
ure" and he drew to his breast the
beautiful lady, who still gazed on him,'
in blushing bewilderment;. Then ber
continued : "It wa3 by a happy
chance, while journeying Idly, far
from my own domain, thafl first say?
my love, the sweetest ilower of wo
manhood, blooming Iivra cottage gar
den. In the disguise"! of a peasant I
woed and won her, crd'noYJt' oftet
our trial of a year and a day I am
conducting her In pride and joy to
the noble halls she is to crace and
brighten. Dear love, pardon me that
I did play a part.J" I have been happy
in sharing thy lowly condition, may
you be happi' in sharing my higher
estate. Holy prior and my good
fathers, I will send a man and a mule
for the convent's gift mine may you
all live many years to enjoy."
There was great rejoicing afc thfj
convent but greater at the castle,,
when SirRegiuald, who had been;
sorely missed, came walking quietly
and smilingly through Its great arch
ed portal, with his gentle bride and
when the rare JJaeaufy of the young
couple came otifa from under t"Se
eclipse of their rude peasant dresB,
and shone resplendent in the rich
costume becoming their station. But
all said that the light of love and con
tent in the young husband's eyes-was
a rarer aud more beautiful sight to.ses"
than the diamond circlet Be placed on
the fair head of his bride and that
even Chose costly jewels seemed' tct
pale in the radieucu of her sweet;
Sjmple graclousftess the "ornament
of a meek and qulet spirit." which
she always wore.
It is said that Sir Reginald, and
Lad3' Fitzwater lived many happy
years, end died on the same day, and
were bnrried in one grave; Grace
Greenwood.
A Band, of Robber Brokea Up.,
A band of robbers has just been
broken up in Paris. They called
themselves "Chevaliers des Cravattes
Verges," and were known to eaclu
ofhef Oy" a peculfar green necKtit
which each wore. The band contains
143 members, all young men of gooof
fhmi.Jy connections, and were com
manded by 3 former captain of thp
commune named Gbdard. Early ir;.
December one of the band, Gassnrr..
was arrested in the act of commitlirtc
a- robbery. He showed the whM
feather, and told the agent of the po
lice where to- find some of hiscou-.
rades. Godard, the leader, and fiftc
of his associates in crime were arriv
ed, and the detectives were put on 11
tiail of forty-nine others. In U
pocket of each of the robhera w..-
found the green necktie, the badgv v
the order.
One by one the roses fade. It L
now boldly denied that men wh
wearlong hair are possessed of an;
more talent than men who have i
snipped close.
1
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