hriwkii dvcrtincr.
0. W. FAIRBROTHER & CO., Proprietor!.
CALVERT, : : NEBRASKA.
THE MODERN BONNET.
Orlflitnhnt?
Dome of St. Peter's J toll mo Hint.
.Itis broadly conceived, crown, brim nnd bow,
It Is grand with a grandeur grand, you know;
Hut, somehow, I hardly soom mitdo on tho
1)1 im
Of tho grandest kind of n grand young mnn;
And this, porhup, If why lit tho phiy ,
My thoughts from Hiunlot or Lear will stray,
And why to tho bonnet In f ront I turn
With "thoughts that brcutho and word9 that
burn."
Tho teodorn bonnotl nh, who designed
This torment of torments to thoso behind?
For women may weep and men may rago,
Tho bonuot shuts out both player nnd stage;
And soon, with Its nrtless turns und Jorks,
Its nodri and dips and fomlnlno quirks,
Mnkcs tho poor wretch In tho scat bohlnd,
Who hud paid for his place, as good as blind.
And still Hfl olmltongo appears to bo:
" l'onh, for tho pWy I Just look at mot
My ostrich plumo. so long and haudsomo,
Is worth In lUtolf a young king's ransom.
Two fuet across and ono foot high
Is little enough for such as I."
Oh, It spreads Itself Hko u potontntol
And yot, do you know, I pity tho pnto,
Tho silly ptito, thnt Is under, or In,
1 And doesn't know It commits u sin.
" Sho novor suspects thnt tho rights of mnn
Aro all tit war with her bonnet's plan!
And to gaze for thvoi long mortal hours
At Its wide expanse, Its plumos, Its tlowors,
Is moro tlum n man will euro to do
Who hns come, ono may say, with a different
ricvf,
Not to speak of tho ticket's cost,
And tho tlmo mid tono and temper lost.
And now I think of a maiden fair,
Crowned with tho wealth of hor clinging hair,
Who wcareth a turban oloso and trim,
Her sweet face glowing benoath Its brim;
And I say to mysulf: " If ever I wed,
'Twill bo with a turban maid, Instead
Of tho poor, misguided feminine soul
Who llauntoUi a beaver aureole."
Uarpcft Iiazar,
THE
breaking up of the ice
hrimje.
Among the inhabitants of ono of tho
littlo fishing villages on tho south shoro
of tho St. Lnwrenco Rivor was a thrifty
French Canadian named Piorro Laval.
His family consisted of his rosy-chocked,
good-natured wife, Louise the eldest
hild, from her womanly ways nick
named " the little mottior," Jean, a
strong Iiul of thirteen, nnd tho baby,
whoso bright black eyes and white skin
mado one think of two huckleberries in
a oowi ot mtiK.
In summer there was no moio attract
ive spot in N than the cozy Laval
cottage, with its porch wreathed with
honoysnckle, and its littlo plotof ground
gay with beds and borders of bright
tinted ilowcrs; and in winter tho pantry
was always well filled, and tho wood
shed piled to tJie very rafters with great
logs; for Piorro was a good provider,
aud by working hard at fishing during
.itho. summer months and at lumbering
in winter, he managed to earn consider
able money, and instead of spending it
at-ihe village inn, he carried it home for
tho uso of his wife and liltlo ones.
On' the afternoon of a certain cloudy
day tho door of tho Laval cottage openod
every few moments, and Louise peered
anxiously down the road. At last sho
spied thu stout figure of Jean coming up
the street, and drawing her littlo red
shawl tightly over her head sho ran to
meet him.
"Hurrah, Lou!" he cried gayly; "tho
boat is almost done, and the boys aro
going to lot me havo the naming of it.
I think 1 shall call it ' Tho Louise.' "
But the girl did not scorn to hear.
. "Oh, hurry, Jean!" sho gasped, press
ing her hands together nervously;. " tho
baby!"
Then Jean, for the first time, noticed
how pale and anxious his sister's faco
was.
"Well, what of tho babyP" ho asked.
" Sick, oh, so sick! he never was like
this before."
"And you wanted me to go on some
errand ? 1 am sorry now that I staid all
night, but mother said 1 might if tho
boys wanted mo."
"Your staying was all right, Jean,
only everything has gone wrong this
time. Word came this morning tjiat a
gang of men was wanted at tho big lum
beryard, and father and tho neighbors
wont away early and will not bo back
before thu end of tho week,"
" Hut whoro's Mother Barbot? Can't
slio euro thu baby?"
Louise shook her head sadly. "For
once, Jean, hor medicine don't scorn to
do any good; but sho says sho has boon
with tho great doctor over tho rlvor.two
or three times when ho has had throats
even worse than the baby's, andthatho
uses a now kind of medicine a littlo
white powder and it always holps peo
ple right off. Ho gave her tho name of
the powder, but I couldn't find it nt tho
littlo shop in tho village, ami mother
didn't dare trust mn to go across "the
river with Jet. Ho hasn't been out of
tho stable for four or live days, and ho
is us wild as a wolf."
N was too small a town to bo able
to afford tho luxury of a physician all
for itself; besides, tho people took so
mut'li Qxereie in the open air, and ato
such simple food, and kept such early
hours au'l were so strong ami healthy,
that a doctor would have found but lit
tle to do. In cases of severe sicklings
the people of N always sent for; tho
learned physician across tho river; but
on till ordinary pecasions they depended
entirely on " old Mother Barbot," tho
fame of whoso skillful nursing and sim
plo remedies hud spread far and wido.
It was toward tho close of tho long
and bitter Canadian winter. Already,
in some localities, littlo shallow pools of
water standing hero and there on tho
frozen surface of tho St. Lawrence
River showed that tho sun was getting
back some pf its summer heat aim pow
er; and thu'inltahitaiits along the shores
prophesied tho speedy breaking-up of
tho ico, tho clearing of tho river, and
tho re-appenrnnco ot tho long procession
of stately ships sailing by on av way
to Montreal. But as yot not a crack
had disfigured tho glittering mass of ico
which for two months had stretched out
as level as a iloor, making a firm, Bafo
bridge between tho littlo village on tho
south shoro and tho largo town of V.
If tho people of tho little village wanted
anything from tho largo town, all thoy
had to do was to harness their horses,
and "whiz." across tho ico and back
again in a few moments. It was a thou
sand times bettor thau tho slow, unre
liable summer ferry: and, too, during
tho clear, calm moQulight nights, you
could hoar tho tinkling of tho oells and
tho sounds of tray laughter as ono sleigh-
load aftor nnothor of young peoplo spoil
over tho ico, bent on some merry-making
or frolic.
As Jean and Louise entered tho cot
tage their mother mot them with a
sobor faco. How still and lonosomo it
scorned without tho bright baby, who
always laughed and put out his littlo
hands tho moment tho big brother came
in sight! Jean folt conseionco-smitten
when ho remembered how often he had
said: "Bother take the baby!" when
his mother had left tho Hltlo'follow in
his charge for a few moments. In fact,
it was but two or throo days sinco he
had boon wicked enough to wish tho
baby dead, when ho had been called in
from play to rock tho cradlo. And
hadn't tho good priest told tho boys
of tho parish school only that very wcotc
"that a murderous thought was almost
as bad in tho ovbs of God as a murder
ous blow." If tho baby should die
tho boy's heart gave a groat thump as
ho thought of it how could he, Jean
Laval, over look any ono in tho faco
again!
"Tako courngo, mother!" ho said,
bravdlv. " I'll harness Jet, and havo
him at the door in a moment."
Mrs. Laval wiped hor eyes with tho
corner of her apron and looked anx
iously out of tho window. "Aro you
sure it is safe to cross, mysonP I don't
like tho looks of that sky. and tho weath
er has boon warmer lately, and there
havo been signs of the breaking up of tho
ico above us."
" But that was far up tho rivor; and
as for tho clouds, thoy do look pretty
squally, that's a fact; but we shall be
back long before the storm breaks."
" Louise knows what to tell tho doc
tor. If ho shouldn t bo homo, leave
word for him to come a,s soon as possi
ble, and then hurry to tho drug-storo and
get tho powder, and be sure and buy a
double portion for Mother Barbot. Sho
is coming" to tay with mo while you
aro away. Yes,"l suppose it is best to
S;
In a fow moments Jean and Louise
were snugly tucked inside thu littlo
sledgo under the warm wolf-skins, and
tho black pony with his head down, g6
ing at Ids best pace, brought them in a
short time to tho river's edge. Tho
ico was soon crossed, and, aftor a short
drive up tho main street of the largo
town, Jean pulled up in front of tho
doctor's office. Finding him out, ho
scrawled a message on the slate, and,
stopping at the drug-store, ho bought
two bottles of the white powder, which
he carefully placed in Ins inside coat
pocket; and then they started for
home.
" How dark it has grown!" ex
claimed Louise, as they reached tho
crossing-place and saw a crowd of men
standing looking out on tho frozen
rivor and gesticulating earnestly; " and
that sky, Jean! it frightens mo to look
at it." Sho pointed to a writhing mass,
ot huge inky clouds rapidly climbing
up from the horizon. Tho wind, which
had been blowing steadily all day, had
entirely died away, leaving a stillness
which was almost oppressive
ominous silence was broken only
This
by an
occasional moaning which seemed to
vibrato along the frozen surfaco of tho
river.
As the bla6lT)ivjiy stepped out upon
tho ice,-some mon motioned Joan back;
and, Jindmg him determined to go on,
two or three of them sprang forward
and seized tho bridle. "You're young,
my master, but you're old enough to
know better than to venture across in
tho faoo of Hiicii a sky as that. And
haven't you heard tho news from up the
river? tho ice lias already weakened in
spots!"
" Let go!" said Jean, tightening his
lipid on the reins., "Weak ico or not, I
vi Across."
But several other men had gathered
in front of the pony. "Back, back, I
say!" shouted one. "Wo havo had
orders to stop peoplo from crossing;
but in truth, I didn't think there would
bo man or boy fool enough to attempt
it. Don't you know tho meaning of
those clouds? The tornado may bo on
us lit any time oven now while wo aro
talking."
" But I tell you I murit cross, and you
have no right to keep mc hero losing
time," returned Joan, Hushing angrily,
whilo Louise turned hor faco imploring
ly toward tho men.
"Wo must try to cross," she said,
witli trembling lips. "My littlo brother
is sick perhaps dying; wo have been
for the doctor ami are taking back tho
medicine. Father is away, aud mother
is waiting for us."
The men looked irresolute. "Bottor
to lose one child than three," said tho
firstfypoakor, still keeping hold of tho
bridle.
" Lot tho youngsters go, neighbor
Tyrrel," oxclaimedn new-comer. "It
is Pierre Laval's pony, tho best traveler
about N . Perhaps he can get them
across before the storm bursts. Think
of your own wife loft.alono with a dying
baby, and waiting for medicine. Spare
not tho whip, 1113' boy, and may tho
good God put such speed In your pony's
legs us never was there before!"
Jot,, glad to bo reloaded, thirtod for
ward on his way. Tho samo oppressive
stillness continued, still the black clouds
mounted higher and higher, and 'there
was tho siuuo 'peculiar moaning in tho
ico beneath. Tho children hail already
crossed more than two-thirds of tho dis
tance, when there camo a littlo puff of
wind, followed by two or threo violent
gusts which caused tho light sledgo to
swerve to ono sldo. Tho noxt moment,
thero was a heavy boom in the ice di
rectly underneath them, and tho air was
filled with a succession of sharp reports
like tho rattling of musketry.
Louise, too frightened to speak, turn
ed and looked in her brother b faco, but
sho found little there to ro-assuro her.
His oyes were riveted on a largo crack
in tno Ico beforo tliem through which
could bo soon thu dark waters of the
swiftly moving current. Obeying 'tho
sudden sting of tho whip, tho pony
gathered himself for a spring and clear
ed the crack Just as it witlonod to an
impassable chasm behind them. A sec
ond craok was crossed in the samo man
ner, and then -Joan saw that their floats
ing platform was surrounded on all
sides by wator. " Wo must loavo tho
sleigh, Louise," ho said. " It will bo
safer lying fiat on tho Ico." Ho took
his knife and cut tho pony loose from
tho sledgo. "It is only fair to give
poor Jet a chance for his life," ho mut
tered: and then seizing his sistor by tho
hand, ho dragged her to tho strongest
part of tho lloo just as it parted in th
middle with a sudden snap.
The littlo rod sledgo slipped into tho
wator, ami the pony, neighing pitcously,
drifted rapidly from their sight Jean
heard tho shouting of voices, and
through the driving rain ho was nblo to
make out tho figures of men on shoro
running to and fro. " Hold fast to 1110,
Louiso," ho said, as sho gavo a littlo
gasp when tho lloo tilted to ono sido and
tho ley waves tlasiiou over their laces;
" wo aro Hearing tho stationary ico by
thu shoro. If you can but hold out for
a moment longer!"
The noxt instant tho huge blocks of
ice, as they camo crashing down tho
river, forced tho littlo Hoe on the firm
ice, and strong arms carried tho children
to a placo of safety.
Tho doctor was not able to cross tho
river for some time; but tho white pow
der saved tho baby's life, and tho littlo
follow was crowing and laughing as
usual several days beforo .lean and
Louiso recovered from tho effects of tho
cold and tho fright. .
Tho morning after tho rosouo of tho
two children, tho black pony, with his
shaggy mane and tail fringed with
icicles, was found allvo and well on a
littlo capo where ho had safely drifted
ashore Wide Awake.
4
Helping a Constable.
Ono day a Michigan Constable who
had long boon trying to collect a claim
of forty dollars against a sharp citizen,
went to a worthy burgher and said:
"Sec here. Jones. I've got a plan to
collect forty dollars of that sharper Per
kins. All I want is a littlo help from
you, and if you grant it
I won't
forgot
tho favor."
"I'm willing what's your plan?" re
plied Jones.
"Why, I want you to bet him twenty
dollars that he doesn't weigh 120
poujids. If you'll do that I can fix tho
rest."
" Oh, I'll do anything to help yon
out," said Jones, and tno two walked
around to the grocery where Perkins
was known to hang out. Aftor a little
talk, tho Constable keeping in tho shade,
Jones began bluffing, and when ho
stated his fiendish desire to bet twenty
dollars that Perkins wo'nldn't tip tho
beam at 120 pounds, his greenbacks
were covered before a mule could kick
throo times. As tho money was put up
the Constable slipped out for a gar
nishee, and was back in time to servo it
on the stakeholder, I'orkins weighed
148 pounds, and tho forty dollars in tho
hands of tho stakeholder eventually
paid a claim against him, but it has
never yet beou mado plain to Jonos
how he mado anything out of it. It
has always seemed1 to him that ho was
twenty dollars out. and for fifteen long
years no has refused to walk on tho
samo sido of the street with that Con
stable. Detroit Free Press.
Tho Blind as Actors.
On a recent occasion at tho Institu
tion for the Blind at South Boston thoj
performed a play, on an actual stage,
with twenty characters clothed accord
ing to their several parts, making no
mistakes, and doing better with it, gen
erally, as a whole, thau thoir sharp
eyed confreres of the sock and buskin.
So perfectly were thoy drilled that in
their stage intoroour.10 not a sign win
visible that thoy did not sou each other,
aud thoir conversation was as naturally
directed as though tho person ad
dressed was palpablo to- tho sight.
It was a strange spectacle, but not a
melancholy ono, for it showed that
tho blind could see through organs
not of sight, and read intellectual
results with a keener zest than those
who attain them moro easily or aro in
different us to their requirement. Tho
Tapleys who might havo room for jollity
011 tho old sum hopeless condition of
blindness, nowadays, would bo in de
spair at tho innovations of the melan
choly custom, but though so grand a
progress lias been made in amelioration
of the loss of sight, the privation is bad
enough, and few would exchange even
their bleared and rheumy optics for en
tire darkness. The Institution for tho
Blind is ono of Boston's most prized es
tablishments. Boston Cor. JMwtford
Evening Pout.
Joaquin Miller is devoting his atten
tion to the prevention of forest fires. His
idea is to havo tho forests all burned over
every autumn beforo a groat mass of in
flammable stuff accumulates
Youths' Department.
D0LLT8 DESPAIIt.
Fin only a last year's dolly I
I thought I was lovely nnd fair
But nlns, for tho cheeks th-it wt rt rosy,
Alas, for tho once (lowing halrl
I'm sure that my back Is brokon,
For it hurls mo when I rlsol
Oh, I'd cry for very sorrow,
But I've lost out both my eyes I
In comes my pretty mistress,
With my rival In hor arms
A fine young miss, inost surely,
Arrayed In hor borrowed charms!
My dresses, and my slippers, too,
Hut sadder, oh, sadder than all,
Bho's won tho dear lovo I hnvo lost,
Tor I'm only a twt iem' tUMl
Oh. pity me, hearts thnt are tender,
I'm lonely and battered and bruised,
I'm tucked out of sight In tho closet,
Forgotten, despised and abused I
I'm only a last year's dolly,
Alouu with my troubled ho art;
Sweet mistress, still I lovo thee,
Inconstant though thou artl
Mid. II. N. Turner, TotiWi's ComjMtifoi..
THE LONGEST DAY IN THE YEAR.
I don't know what the almanno man
said about it, but Dan said it was tho
longest, and Dan was certainly the ono
who understood tho matter best.
It began pretty much Hko other days,
ouly that tlioro was a heavy fog, and
Dan know that It was bad weather for
haying, nnd tip-top for fishing. Ho
mado up his mind to go fishing. Per
haps, if his mind had not been already
mado up, ho would not havo minded so
much when his father said at tho break
fast table:
"Wo must got tho scythes In good
order, so's to tako a fair start at tho
lower meadow to-morrow. Don't lot
mo havo to waste timo hunting aftor
you, Daniel, when I'm ready to go at
Daniel's appetite was gono at onco.
Howlio hated to turn that heavy creaking
old grindstone! and how sure his father
was to find a dozen thintrs to do first.
pud keep him waiting alt the morning!-?
lie went around by the sink (train, and
dug his bait; ho examined his fishing
pole; ho put up his lunch; ho oven tried
a worm on tho hook; and then ho wan
dered disconsolately around, wishing
grindstones hud never been invented.
Ho wont to the end of tho garden, and
leaned sulkUy over tho low stone wall,
eating the half-ripe 'harvest apples, and
throwing tho cores spitefully away.
Down tho road a few rods lay tho mill
pond, and in the middle of tho road
near by stood Deacon Skinner's horso
ami chaiso.
Old Whitoy had his noso down, and
ono leg crooked in a meditative fashion.
Tho Deacon was over in tho Hold, mak
ing a bargain with Solomon Murray for
somo young cattle. What fun it would
bo to start the old horse up, ami set him
trotting home! Dan could almost hit
him with an apple core. Ho tried two
or three, just to boo, and then ho picked
a smooth rounil stone from tno wall,
and sent it singing through tho air.
Old Whitoy brought up his noso with
a jerk, straightened his fore-leg, and
started oft at a brisk trot, tho chaiso top
tilting and pitching back aud forth.
Dan laughed at least tho laugh be
gan to grow, when ho caught ono
glimpso ol a frightened littlo faco at tho
chaiso window, and know that Nanny
Dane, tho Deacon's little lame grand
child, was in the chaise.
It was only a glimpso, and thou tho
bank of gray fog swallowed Whitoy and
tho chase, and it scorned to Dan that
thoy had gono straight into tho mill
pond. "Daniel! Daniel! Como on, now, and
bo spry about it!" called his father, as
ho moved toward tho grindstone; and
Dan obeyed, though ho felt as if his feet
had all at once turned to lead.
Round and round and round; his
tough littlo hands wore blistorod on tho
handle, but ho did not know it; his
mouth and throat were as dry as tho
stono, but ho did not think of it. " Crrr-crrr-crrr,"
rang tho rough, wearisome
noise, until his ears wero so deafened
ho did not even hear it. For ho was
perfectly sure lie had killed liltlo Nanny
Dane. What would peoplo say? What
would thoy do to him? Hang him, of
course; and Dan felt in his heart that ho
deserved it, and that it would bo almost
a satisfaction.
"There," said his father at last, "1
reckon that'll do, Daniel. You've boon
faithful and stiddy at your work, and
now you may go fishing."
Dan novor know how ho got to Long
Pond, or how ho passed tho slow hours
of that dismal day. Tho misery seemed
intolerable, and beforo evening ho had
mado up his mind Unit lie could bear it
no longer. Ho would go home and tell
his father, he would tell everybody.
They might hang him, thoy might do
anything they pleased.
Tramping desperately homo with his
empty basket in his hand, ho heard the
sound of wheels behind him, dragging
slowly through the deep sand. Perhaps
that was tho Sheriff coining to arrest
him. Dan's heart beat harder, but ho
did not look around. Tho wheels came
nearer; they stopped, and somo one
said:
" Hullo, Daniel! been iishin'P Fish
erman's luck, hoy? Well, jump in here,
and I'll give yo a lift."
Before Dan know it ho was over tho
wheol and sitting beside Deacon Skinner
in tho old chaiso, witli Whitoy switch
ing his tail right aud left as ho plodded
along.
"Get up, Whitoy," urged tho Dea
con; "it's getting along toward chore
timo. Wliitoy ain't so spry as housed
to be, but he's nmazin' smart. This
mornin' I left Httlo Nanny in tho shay
whilo I was making a dicker with Sol
onion Murray, and a keerless thing it
was to do, hut I'd as soon expected tho
meetin'-houso to run away as Whitoy.
I reckon something must scart him; but
ho just trotted oil' homo as stiddy as if
I'd been driving, and waited at tho door
for mothor to como nnd got Nanny bo-j
fore ho went to tho bam."
"Oh, Deacon Skinner," burst out.
Dan, " It was mo; I scart Wliitoy." '
"Did yo now, sonny? Well, theroj
wuzn't any harm done, aud I know 'o;
didn't moan to."
" I diil, I did," said Dan, sobbing vlo-;
lontly from tho long strain of excitement.
"I didn't know Nanny was in tho chaise,1
and I throw a stone nt him."
"Well, well," said tho Deacon, rub
bing his stubbly chin, and looking curi
ously nt Dan. "Boats nil what iroaks
boys will tako, but I know yo won't do
it agin."
" I novor will," said Dan, solemnly. ;
" This has been tho awfttlost longest day
that over was in tho world." Emily
Huntington
People.
Miller, in Harper a Young
A Word lo tho Girls.
What! detest tho caro to bospotloss as
a Illy, sweet and fresh as lavender, a
blessing to thoso who seo hor, a part of
ul Hair and comely scones, instead of!
something discordant, marring thorn?
I refuse to boliovo it of any girl who
reads this. Now, lot tho Wise Blackbird
drop a bit of wisdom in your oars which
.will tako tho harshness out of overy dis-
agrecablo duty in wo. in Dr. .Joiin
Todd's "Letters to a Daughtor" ho
wrote: "Whatever ono does woll she is
suro to do easily," and words to tho ef
fect that what ono goes at thoroughly
ceases to bo disagroeablo. I know a girl
of twenty years ngo who took thoso
words into hor heart, and thoy havo
mado work tho pleasuro of hor life. All
tho careless peoplo who watoh hor cry
out at tho trouble sho takes with every
thing she does; but thoy aro very apt
to say, aftor all Is through: "You havo
such an easy way of turning off tilings.
and tilings always slay tloiio ror you."
Of course thoy do. Thorough is tho
Saxon for through, nnd anything that
is thoroughly done is through with. It
is a queer paradox that If you try to do
tilings easily, to shirk and slur thorn
over, you will always find it hard to get
along"; while if you put all sorts of pains
into your work, and novor think how eas
ily it can lie done, but how woll It can
bo, you find it growing easlor day by
day. - Wide Awake.
Colored Schools in South Carolina.
In a single school in Charleston thero
aro fourteen hundred negro children.
The teachers aro all whito tho princi
pal is a mnn; all tho other teachers are
women, many of thorn ladles of great
refinement, themselves onco mistressos
of slaves, whom necessity has compelled
to seek employment. Thoy aro work
ing in good faith, and with an Infinite
patience, and thoy undoubtedly make
the best teachers for thu blacks. From
thoir intimate knowledge of them, thoy
know when it, is wise to insist and when
to yield. Numbers vary. Ono primary
teacher has had one hundred and eighty
pupils under her chargo at onco. Tho
first class in tho intermediate grade av
erages fifty. In this class thoy are of
every size and ngo, from boys of eleven
to women of twenty-two and twenty
throe. In this class thoy learn long di
vision. Arithmetic is tho thing thoy
caro most for. Tho boys aro brighter
and quicker than tho girls, but tho girls
aro moro docilo and moro attentive
which makes good tho difforonco. Tho
girls can bo managed without corporal
punishment; tho boys not, for a rattan
ing is a small matter to them, since many
of their fathers aro likely to uso either
a ropo or a club upon thorn. So fow
havo books that tho classes must bo
taught as if thoy had none. Of school
work as such you hoar only prniso. It
is frequently said by whito parents of
ovon such studies as algebra: "It would
bo a good thing if our childron of the
samo ago could do as woll as thoso dark
ies do. Tho doubt, either logically or
f Tactically, comes in tho stop beyond.
t cannot bo denied thnt so far, for al
most all, oven thoso who go through the
whole school course, progress ceasos at
fourteen and fifteen. More than half
who can write and spoil creditably on
leaving school cannot do it in two years'
time. Tho reasons aro obvious. Al
though it is universal that tho parents
caro to havo tho children go to school,
and make willing sacrifices to keep them
decently clothed, almost all must go to
work, and that mainly in employments
which offer yery littlo stimulus to the
brain. Thero aro no homo associations
whatever to keep up tho school intlu
mico. Not only are there no books, but
very, very few havo good lights in thoir
houses at night. Thero aro evening
schools, but thnt at best moans only a
small fraction. Charleston (8. C.) Cor.
N. Y. Post.
Extravagant (Jeiicrosity.
Ono day last week a New Bedford
lady lost a diamond ring in the cars
while on her way from lioston to this
city. Sho informed tho conductor of
hor loss1, and ho instructed tho person
who swept tho ear to watch carefully
for the article. The ring was not found,
and tho conductor offered to make a
careful search. He accordingly lifted
tho cushions and after a most thorough
examination found tho missing dia
mond. Upon returning it to tho lady
sho took out a woll-hlled pookotbook,
and, selecting a ton-cent pieco and a
live-cent nickel, offered it to thu finder.
Tho conductor informed hor that ho
was paid by tho railroad company for
his services, and tho money was re
turned to the pookotbook. New Bed
ford (Mass.) Mercury.
A wild Indian will bo a curious
relic to tho noxt generation of Ameri
cansnot that thoy will have been ox
tormiuatud; thoy will havo been re
claimed to citizenship by tho education
of the present crop of Indian children.
,
