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About Nebraska advertiser. (Brownville, Nemaha County, N.T. [Neb.]) 1856-1882 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 16, 1882)
THE ADVERTISER, Subscription, $2.00 per Year, in Advance. OFFICIAL rAPJESK OF TMK COUrfTTt THE LINK OF GOLD. Lost somewhere n goldon hour Of this glowing luitmtm day; Blnco tho sunrise, oro thu sun sot, I havo lost it on my vrny. Was it when I snt niul loitered That Bhort chuiu of such grcnt cost Slipping idly through my lingers That my golden hour was lost? Was I talking of my neighbors, Weighing all their hopes mid cures, And too full of idlo gossip Well to mind my own nirulrs? Did I fret nway tho minutes? . Was 1 murmuring? Was I cros? Whom could nil my Pono hnvo llovrn to, That I mot with such u loss? For my hour was n Jewel, And with sixty small ones set: Itound each minute sixty seconds Mado tho radiance brighter yet. They could Imy me, oh, what riches I And what wisdom could they bring! Each was worth, In its truo value, All the Jewels of a King. For tho Iord would glvo mo something, (If I went to Him) lor each; Oh, how precious those short lessons lie can In u minute teach. Oh, how grnnd those vlows of glory Which a second can makoknowiil Oh, my hour! oh, my minutes! Novormorc, ulas, my own. Somo I might hnvo well invested, Other people's lives to bless; Those bright moments wisely traded, l'urouusu healing for distress. Oh. has anybody seen It? Seen my precious hour of gold? I would go to buy another, Hut such treasures aro not sold. r Ood prepared for mo a number Just how few I do not know; Did ho give them for no purpose, lint that I should lose them so? ISwUm Tramertpt. MORE THAN CONQUEROR. Winter than with iu Russia is more emphatic us. There is n steely glitter m the ice, :i barbed arrow in the hail. . ..'.-'. Eternal glaciers lie upon the hillside; at least it seems as if blossom ami leaf anil fresh green grass were gone forever. The sky, sparkling, bluo and cold as tur quoise stone, has only snowdrifts of clouds floating here and there, illumined by a golden light called sunshine, but totally different from the life-giving ra diance wo hail with delight, Hencuth such a sun we would imagine only snow ilowers could bloom. Yet a young man loiters along tho frozen road as if summer zephyrs were wafting tho subtle odors of ileitis of vio lets and roses to his senses. Ho is not nui filed in costly furs, yet there is some thing within that makes' life warm and ecstatic and full of rosy bloom, despite' theesolate iields about him, where tho snow lies pure and cold as a quarry of Carrara marble. Ho does not note tho beauty of tho scene, either; tho delicate penciling of the bare branches against the luminous sky; the dainty snowllow ers, pure bridal wreaths of 'white, that deck the trees for earth's winter festi val; the glitter of the ice, with its cold opaline splendor whore a sunbeam strikes it; tho crystal sheathing of twig and brush Hashing bravely like a coat of mail in the noontide light. Ho is a dreamer, and he is in love, so tho pres ent dqes not exist for him. It is noth ing that he has never spoken to tho lady of his dreams; that she is set far above hint; that his love is liko 41 The deslro of the moth for tho star;' Of tho day for tho morrow." Tt is enough that ho sees her every day and he lives upon that though her sky-blue eves have never rested upon his face. Ry-und-by he will want more thant glance, and 'the torment of love will begin. In the distance he can soo a glimpse of tho lordly structure that is her home, and in his mind ho contrasts it with his own humble abode. Hut he is a soldier of fortune, and who can say what tho future may have in store for him? Rus sia oilers prizes to intellect and zeal. Why should ho not gain one and make a name for himself; or, oh. ecstatic thought, for her for Vera! That is her name it sings itself to mystio musio in his dreams it is written on his soul. Yet he has only seen her whirling by him day after day in a sleigh fashioned liko a white swan. Sometimes sho drives herself, and he has been devising means to say somo word to her. to make her look at him once and speak to him. Ah! if she is only alone to-day. It is coming now. He stops with a sifd den Hash ot lire kindling his blood. A slim, girlish figure, in dark, wine-colored velvet skirt trimmed with sables. Her golden curls are streaming in tho wind; her bluo eyes are full of the sun shine of youth, that light that is cloud ed so soon; her lips aro scarlet as a pomogranato-blossom; on her cheeks the keen wind has brought vivid roses. Nicole loses his head at tho sight. He does not boo tho thin, gray -haired old man at her side, half-buried in his furs, and shrinking from tho icy blast. This man's face is cold and hard us if carven from stone; his lips aro stern and compressed; no kindly light warms his palo eyes. A man with an iron will, you would say no prayers or tears would avail with such an ono. Nicole, blinded by the splendid vision iOf tho girl, supremo in her young bcaiity, sud denly stoppod forward and took, off his hat. , An idea'had come to him a frenzy to hear her voice. Sho had a heart of heavenly pity, ho know, and so ho would como as a mendicant. Ilo'Velt, indeod, liko ono who was willing to kneel beforo her, if he could win ono smile. Hut ho morely hold his hat as ono that .asks for alms and ho looked poor enough liko npoor scholar whoso In tellect Ja his only wealth, and Avho finds it is worth nothing in oxchango for bread and butter. Tho girl had no timo to act. In a second her father had noted tho move ment on the part of the young man, and at tho same instant tho lash of tho whip was laid across his face liko iv living line of lire. Tho Count Semiloff had stopped long enough for that, and to hurl a half dozen oaths at tho young man's head, then tho sleigh dashed on liko the wind. Nicolo staggered back. Ho grew cold and sick from head to foot cold as a stone; and with no life in him, savo wliero tho scarlet lino on his face throbbed and beat liko a wound. Ho slowly steadied himself at last, but ho was deadly pale, savo for tho crimson band, and he shook from head to foot as if with tho palsy. 44 Curse tho aristo crat!" ho gasped; 44ono day wo will bo quits for this. If I lived a hundred lives I would never forget Hiis moment. h! fool that I was to forget for an in stant that 1 am ono of tho pooplo that my hand is against such as he and his. He has brought mo to my senses with a vengeance. That blovr ought to kill my love and it will. Henceforth I live for revenge, and when that day comes, Count Seniilolf, I will remind you of this." The sleigh, skimming iilou" tho frozen ground liko a bird on tho wing, was a mere speck in tho distance by tills time. Not a word had been spoken since tho oaths that tho Count had thundered forth with his blow. There was not a sound savo a little gasp from tho young girl, and afterwards a muilled sob. 44 Vera, what do. you mean?" in a stern voice. 44 Look at me." The girl unwillingly turned her face towards him a sweet face, with tho color gone, and lips that quivered a lit tle, and eyes that met his own undaunt edly, though they were as misty jus tho bluo of showery skies. 44 You have tears in your oyos, girl!' cried, stormily. ,413y 'he infernal tho legion, do you dare towhino about my just chastisement of that fellow's impu denc.e?" 44 IIo had a good face, papa, and looked poor and cold." 44 Hah the beggar! Well, I wanned him a bit! Resides, I've a shrewd idea that ho was a sham beggar, after all not but what he wouhinavo been right ly served if he'd been genuine! There's work enough iu the Empire for all. Only with this man I've happened to notice one thing for tho last month wo have mot him every day. I Hatter my self wo will not meet him again." 44 Hut why should ho sham beggary?" asked tho girl, wonderingly. Sho was very young, only sixteen, and she did not dream that it was her own sweet face that had made tho poor youth mad and blind. Her father gave her a penet rating glance. He would have been wise to nave spared her, but ho was too angry. 44 1 thought women were keen enough to see these things," ho said, scornfully. 44 It's my idea that he wanted to attract your attention at any price! Hut if he comes in my way again, I'll sot tho dogs on him." At these words a quick Hush mounted to the fair face of themrl. It was the first timo a thought of! her power over any other heart had been projected into her mind, and sho could not help think ing a little of this man this iirst lover, who had dared so much for one look into her eyes. Ho must be very roman tic, then, this poor young man; and hor heart softened a little as she remem bered his dark, eloquent eyes, with their appealing glance. It was not strange that the thought of this young man took possession of her fancy for a few days. She longed to lot him know that her father's barbarous blow had wounded her as well to show him that her heart was not so hard that she had not inherited tho cruel prejudices of caste. Sho found out his name from her maid, who knew the peo ple df tho village; and she heard that ho was educated and ambitious. Day by day sho watched tho roads as tho sleigh skimmed along, but sho never sw tho face she half-feared, half-longed to see. After a timo stern realities took her away from these dreams. Her am bitious father had a suitor for her a contemporary of his own against whom her whole soul revolted. Count Semiloll found to his surprise that his daughter had inherited ono thing from him namely, his iron will. Sho dared to rebel against parental authority to vow that she would never say tho fate ful words of assent, even if sho were dragged to tho altar. ""You aro my only child," said the Count, in his hardest voico; "but as sure as there is a God in Heaven X will cast you off you shall be as a stranger I will forget that you live unless you obey me in this thing." 44 So bo it," answered Vera, with a white face, and eyes full as cold as his own. Ho did not dream of tho self-contained power iu tho girl. IIo had seen her among her flowers and birds, sing ing as carelessly as a bird herself, and so hu had not fathomed tho depths of being, tho possibilities of passion anil pain, of fortitude and high resolve, that were in her. Only tho next day, when they came and told him sho was jjono, o one knew whore, it was a terrible shock to him. IIo had been quite capable of dis owning her; but that sho should bo tho lirst to cast off her allegiance was an inexplicable thing, and a terrible blow. All (lav tho lonely old man sat silently as ono who has been sore smitten. Ho won dered that his heart had such capacities of pain iu it, and ho was surprised at his utter desolation without Vora. Now that sho was gone, ho realized for the first time how much ho loved her, and that life was an aimless thing without hor. Ho half-wondered at him self tlml ho had boon so ready to glvo away the only treasure of his life. How hard ho had been to hor how seldom had ho been softened into caresses or shown her his heart. If ho had mado her love him she could not have loft him thus. So, after long weeks of loneliness, his life seemed to center into ono object to find her again. All his inquiries so far had boon in vain; but ho would go out him self; and what could elude u father's vigilance? He had waited with a vague hope that sho would come back to him. A girl of eighteen only, how could she oattlo with 1110? mil, nit) slow ilays oamo and went, and she made no sign, and at lost tho Count Seniilolf went forth with hope iu his heart a hope that failed day by day. For tho days grew into' months and the mouths to years yes, four years and ho had not heard from her, not one worth So as a balm for an aching heart, the. Count threw himself into hard work. His old prejudices grew strong again, ami with tho vigor of a young man ho took up a service for the Czar; a secret service that needed fidelity, courage and even recklessness of life. And who was so indifferent to life as the Count Semiloff, the last of his lino save for tho unnatural daughter who had forsaken him iu his old ago? What did the few remaining yours liold for him. that ho should be careful to preserve thorn. Nay, he was ready to iling them away, if by so doing ho could render a serv ice to his master. Therefore, ho gave himself up to ferreting out tho crea tures who were plotting against that master's lifo, and tho well-being of all Russia, according to his convictions. It was with peculiar actuations of tri umph, therefore, he read ono day an anonymous note that some ono had left for him: 44 Whereas tho Count Semiloif's vigil ance for the Czar is well known, an op portunity is now offerctl for the defeat of a Nihilist plot of the first magnitude, anil tho arrest, among others, of a cer tain Sophie Posenski, who is a powerful member of tho party. This woman has for two years been a leader and an in fluence in tho band the most subtle, tho most dangerous to all lovers of peace and order. Sho has an infatua tion, an insanity, it might be called, to redress wrongs; she is eloquent, and sways men's minds at wi.l; sho is beau tiful, and she rules men's hearts; sho is tho most malignant enemy tho Czar can find, and you can deliver her into his hand. Ho at the Horsolf Warehouses to morrow nightatten o'clock. The watch word is 'Public Safety;' the place a cel lar under tho first house." The Count felt a sudden enthusiasm for his work greater even than he had ever experienced beforo. Ah! if he could but seize this woman, of whom ho had heard much, but whom ho had never been able tt) see or trace beforo if ho could deliver her into the hands of jus tice, then, indeed, ho might be able to soy "Anion" to his weary life. Somehow ho had conceived an intense hatred against this Sophie Posenski this areh-traitfess, as ho thought her, who led men into treason with smiles, and made them willing to cast their lives away for a word of praise. No stain had over sullied her name, yet it pleased him to think of her as a Circe who lured men to their ruin a Mossu- lina , 44W1kwo hand wero blood-sta'lned, (ho' as whlto As carven snow or winter from, ' Itetl with tho souls deceived and lost." And a thrill of triumph oamo over him as ho thought that he was to be tho in strument of delivering Russia from this curse. Siberia would he the place for this ardent, soaring .oul. In the mean time tho object of his wrath, uncon scious of her danger, hut knowing that she walked umiu ceaseless dangers traps and plots and pitfalls--wus making reatly for the meeting. Her toilet was siniplo, as befits a woman sworn to be long to the cause of the people tho poor, the downtrodden and oppressed yet her beauty bloomed through all, us n rose might tlo in a neglected garden. Her hair was cut short, that no time might bo wasted in its arrangement, but it disposed itself in bewitching little in fantile curls all over her head, anil low down on hor broad, white forehead. Tho f.aco was full of force, tho mouth impressive but it looked as if it might 'bo eloquent of hive and passion ns well and tho dark-blue eyes that could. Hash In scorn at an ignoble action, or angor ut n tyrunous act, were soft and limpid now with momcries. Her room was plain and baro as a cell. She was one of tho workers, and her slim fingers wero hardened with toil; but sho did not grieve over that. A strange en thusiasm filled her heart; she wusliving for a purpose, and that is tho secret of happiness. Once in a while there came up beforo hor suddenly, as if some one hold tip a portrait, the memory of a faco she had seen at the meetings lately a new member who seemed to hang upon her words, yet whoso eyes betrayed a sin i. ui ummosiiy sue count imtl no other word for it. Sometimes it seemed its if hatred and love struggled together in thoir expression, and sho felt a cold. creeping sensation - as she caught tlto glance. She had grown somehow to look for his coming, and his presence affected her in an inexplicable jnanner. It seemed to touch somo chord of memory, toe, and sho vexed herself with attempts to understand it. To-night, as usual, her eyes sought him out, and thou us sho met his glance the hot blood surged into hor face. Tho next moment ho was nt her side, and with him a person whom sho know. 44 Let me introduce my ft hind Sergius," said hor acquaintance, "and X wlllloavo you togother to talk. Two such ardent disciples must bo friends." "I lmvc heard much of you," ox- olaimod Sergius, bowing, "and hnvo longed, but scarcely dared, to bo pre sented." "Dared!" exclaimed Sophlo, with n laugh; " it is our religion to dure!" 44 Hut I am a novice. Perhaps I shall learn to dare everything in time." There was a significance iu the words which made the girl blush again. 44 It is a long tune since tho cause of the people became tho dearest thing to me." Then sho said; " Some one used to send moNihilNt pamphlets, and I bo eumo a convert when I was u more child, I wish 1 knew that person. 1 would like to meet him." A peculiar smile came to tho lips of her companion. " Aro you grateful to him?" J 44 Yes; I look upon him as my upos- 44 Suppose I could point him out." 44 You!" 44 Yes. Pardon me, I am tho un known. 1 owetl your family a debt. I began payment in that way but I shall not end there.1' 44 Ah!" exclaimed the girl, "I four they will not be as grateful as I. Hush! they are going to speak. It is Demitrl. Ho is one of the bloodthirsty ones." It was an odd crowd that was gath ered together in tho great damp, cob webby cellar. Men, with fanatical faces and lurid eyes that seemed to peer into a wonderful future when, all barriers burnt away, a new world should sprlug up on tho ruins of tho old a world of free thought, freo speech, free action, and, it must bo confessed, free morals. There were women there In uncouth dresses, with clipped hair and strange bonnets women who eschewed all the frivolities of fashion as sins against tho great cause who were ready to sacrifice their rank, their money, even their heart's idols, for their work. They hail sworn to give all even themselves ac cording to tho mandates of this strange power. Demitri, a muscular man with a pas sionate faco and fiery eyes, was denounc ing the tyranny of the Czar in burning words. Then he passed on to a vivid picture of Siberian exile. "Wo aro in Dante's Inferno!" muttered Sergius to the young girl; 44 first a hike of lire, and then a sea of ice." At that moment the door sprang open and an old man entered, lie ilid not seem at all bewildered by the noise, but took his place quietly anil looked about him. Sergius drew nearer to him stealthily. 44 How goes tho cause, friend," ho said at last. The Ciwnt Semiloff smiled calmly. 44 Never better! Shall we have a speech from the renowned Sophie to-night?" 44 1 suppose so. Sho is cogitating it now, probably iu tho shadow of that wine cask!" The Count's oyos followed his com panion's. , "Wlcit, that girl!" he cried. 44 Did you expect to see an old wom an?" 44 Excuse me. I como from tho prov inces," tho Count stammered. " I must see her nearer." Tho next moment his hand was on her shoulder. " Sophie Posenski, you are my prisoner!" ho cried. ,4 No es cape, gentlemen, tho place is sur rounded!" Tho girl turned, and tho Count ut tered a cry. "My God, Vera! my child!" ho moaned, anil staggered back, then fell heavily tt) tho ground. Tho lights wore t put" out, and there was utter confusion. "Now's your chance, gentlemen," some one cried. 44 He is insensible; ho has not made the signal." Vera stood for a moment as if par alyzed; then, stooping, sho liftctl her father's head in her arms. There was a sound of retreating steps, then silence. Suddenly a torch flamed out on the scene. She looketl tip ami saw Sergius standing near hor. 44 You have not escaped?" she asked. 44 No! I told you I owed a debt to your family. I want to settle it now!" he said, with a strange smilo. Tho Count raised his head, faintly. 4 My girl, my poor child!" he moaned; 44 your father did not know; come! I have you at hist. Let us fly. They shall not take you now, savo over my dead body." 44 Aha! Monsieur le Count. High treason, is it not?" exclaimed Sergius. The Count stared. " Vera, my love, who is this man?" "He is a friend," stammered the girl. 44 So you tlo not recognize mo, most noble Count?" began Sergius, in a mocking tone. " 1 am Nicolo Sergius, the man whom you lushed for pastime ono lino day. O! 1 carried your auto graph on niy face for a long time, and then I curried it in my heart! I told your daughter I had a debt to pay to your family. Well! I pay it to-day. Sho will be sent to Siberia as a Nihilist; and you, Heaven knows what fato will bo yours. Hut I havo my revenge," Vera sprang up with blazing eyes. "Coward," she cried, "what are you? Whatever my fate, you will not escape you aro one of us!" lie smiled, mockingly. "Whutuml? I am a spy! Yes, although 1 am your apostle, that was part of my game.' 44 Good Ood!" exclaimed Vera, hid ing her eyes on her father's breast, "and I cared for this man!" At these words tho face of Sergius changed suddenly as if he had cast asido a hideous mask. His eyes were illu mined by a strange fervor, anil his mouth trembled. "1 havo been a fiend!" ho cried. "I have been possessed by a devil! Vera, my angel, you have cast it out. I loved you. 1 dared to lovo you, and it made mo a fiend. I will die for you! Only say again that you cared for mo, and I will go through flames straight into tho jaws of death into tho mouth of hell for you!" At that moment nrmed men burst in tho doors, and all three wore secured iu a moment. Sergius was liberated as u spy, but the Count was convicted; traitorous papers had been found in his trunk. In vain Sergius confessed his plot; there was no pardon, oven after he stated that he had introducod tho damaging papers among tho Count's elfeets. Hut when the oxilos marched in line through tho streets on their way to their living death, a man oamo out of the cm wd and stood by Voru's side. 44 r am going with you," ho said, "ami thus may 1 expiate my crime. Where you live, 1 will live. Whero you die, I will io."FraAh Leslie's News paper. . rood Equivalents. It scorns to me that the great majority of fanners need a good deal more knowl edge, both practical and scientific, iu tho matter of the values of different kinds of food for stock. Such knowl edge will enable the farmer to fcetl his stock with greater .economy and at thu same time keep them in bolter condi tion. The practice of fanners in footl ing stock varies iu different localities, and oven in tho same locality. One fanner will winter his cattle entirely on hay, and often, beforo spring, they will become so constipated that their excre ment is voided iu hard balls; they fall, off greatly in flesh, and spring finds them in bail condition. I remember tho time when it was a common practice to winter cattle at a straw stuck-, with no food except tho straw to which they helped themselves. Cattle confined for a long time to a single article of diet which, like this, is deficient both iu flesh formers anil fat anil heat producers, were generally in a terrible condition to endure the March winds. Many of them died, and many more were so run down that it took all the best part of tho season to get them buck to as good condition as they wero In the previous fall. In the great corn-growing States many fanners run to tho other oxtremo, and feed too lavishly of corn, which contains an excess of heat and fat-producing elements. 1 have known farm ers to feed a horsey thirty largo ears of cord a day equal to twelve or fifteen pounds of shelled corn all through tho winter when the teams wero not work ing, and often they were not taken out of the stable for a week, except to water. We havo seen inuu keep hogs shut up in a close i)en or muddy yum, obliged to sleep on a dusty floor, and for months not feetl a mouthful of anything except corn. It is little wonder that with such management our western horses break down early; or die of colic, or that chol era keeps' our herds of swine out of existence. Common sense teaches that the more comfortablu and contented our stock is kept, the bettor they will thrivo and generally the more profitable they will be tons. An animal cannot bo comfortable when suffering with hun ger, or when gorged and clogged by too great a quantity of rich food. Tho an nual wintered on straw or a poor quali ty of hav, will stiller both with hunger and cold; for there is not enough fat in tho food to maintain vital heat, or enough of the flesh formers to replace the waste. Tho animal that is fed too much corn meal loses appetite, and all the digestive and assimilative organ.' become deranged. Tho knowledge which the farmer should havo, and which science can help him to gain, will enable him to so combine the different articles of food as to make tho propor tions of flesh and fat formers what they should be. Millions of acres of corn stalks, iu our Western" States, are left in the fields and fed off after tho rains and winds havo bleached them until I hey aro nearly worthless, and tho land is damaged by tramping more than all tho food is worth. Straw stacks, by the thousand, are left to rot. All this material can be fed to stock profitably, and will ho relished by them if combined with somo of tho richer foods. Cor. Country Gentleman. m m Jlllntl Men as Wooers. As a rule a respectable blind man has no difficulty in getting a seeing wife, and very often with good looks to boot. Am1 when we consider tho delicacy of touch in the finger tips of the blind, tho latter is not to bo wondered at. Hlintl men, however, do not always marry wives who see. We know of many in stances in which both husband and wife are blind, and have managed to rear families without tho .occurrence of any serious mishap cither to themselves or the children. And tho cases are rare iu which tho latter are defective iu sight. Only lately tho marriage took place of a blind couple somewTiat ad vanced iu years, she being his second wife, and hu her third blind husband. Tho marriage was not wanting iu tho elements ot romance, for in their young days they hud courted and parted, blind in a double sense. Wo will conclude with a courtship, but iu this case will not vouch for its truth. A blind man on several occasions met a widow, who was not, however, like himself, blind, and latterly concluded that shu would make him a good wife. IIo resolved that he would "pop tho question" with out loss of time. Accordingly, ono evening found him in tho widow's house for that purpose, when his suit was en tirely successful. Hut so elated was ho with his success that, on loaving hor door, ho forgot ho was up ti flight of stairs. Tho staircase window being very low, and happening to bo open, ho felt tho air i)n his heated brow, and t onco stopped out without thinking whore ho was, ami so fell into the court below. Tho widow, hearing tho noise, ran down, greatly alarmed, but was fully reassured that no bones wero broken by his re mark, " Maggie, yo hue a big stop to your door!" Chamber Journal. I