, i-r-"
'-, t
: "B?
h t
.
'ie,.ft
I 1 4,-. '.
B 1 :
Pi
I
ii '
.
A'k
Qchrn!ikn $dvcr finer
O.'W, FAIRBnOTIIER k CO,, FtoprleUri.
AUHUIIN, "1 i NEHUASKA.
2VJB LITTLE MAIDEN.
Her fret wi'ro exquisitely mnli.
(How wildly tny lionrt used to Iwnt,
When I wn ii tiiiMsloiinto lioy,
At tho sound or her delicate feet I)
Hor hnnd wnn pxtinMltoly anvdl. ,
(Ami I, hor lihnil slave to eommnnd.
Would Imvn died had h only ordered
With a wnvo of hor llttlo white h md.)
Her lips woro oxquMtelysmHll. 4
(Their cold word yet rnnklo nnd smnrt!)
Exquisitely Kinnll whs hor head.
JliitHinaflor thnn nil vrns hnr heart!
WHAT OXK MAX TAX DO.
Von fow of the thousands who enter
nnd leavo Now York through the broad
portals of tho Grand Central Dopot
know that tho arrival and departure of
nil trains tiro rcpulatod hy th prossuro
of a finger upon electric buttons, ar
ranged Hi thrco rows on a key-board
less than three fcot square.
That key-board is in a llltlo glass ob
servatory which hangs forty feet above
tho outer entrance-gates of tho building,
and which is about tho size of an nvor
ngo bay-window, having just standing
room for thrco persons. Tho northern
outlook comminute a bird's-eye vlow of
tho noUwork of tracks forming what is
known as tho yard, anil from the south
ern side ono is able, at n glanco, to tako
in the dopot.
"First of all," says Mr. Disbrow, tho
depot-master, pointing tn n clock having
tho portrait of tho late Commodoro
Vantlorhilt, "Isupposo you would like
to know how wo keep time up hero. It
is done by an oloctrio wire which is con
trolled by tho clock in tho Superintend
ent's oflloo.
When the hands of thatnro moved
forward or back, the hands of this go
tho same way. The Superintendent's
clock, in turn, is regulated by tho West
ern Union TolograpTi Company's time,
and that is kopt straight by observations
at Washington, Cambridge and Alle
gheny." During this explanation, Mr. Vandorn,
tho train-dospatchor, was noting on a
tlmo-bill the arrival of one train, nnd
giving tho signal for tho departuro of
another, running his iingors over thu
key-board with something of tho grace
of an accomplished pianist. Ho stood
at his work-table, having an ordinary
telegraph apparatus at Ids right hum!,
nnd the electric buttons to his left. Tho
clock hung upon tho wall in front of
him, and atoithor sido of it woro tell
tale electric bells and indicators.
Now," continued Mr. Disbrow, "ho
will show you what ono man can do in
controlling five nnd a half miles of rail
road tracks."
"Well," said Mr. Vaudorn, as ho
pressed an electric button to call a
switch-engine to duly in some part of
tho yard, "I will begin by telling you
that 1 am in toloirrnnTilo connection with
the station at Spuvton Duy Vil, twelve
miles distant, 'lho arrival there of
ovory Now York bound train is notiiiod
to mo by tolog.raph. but my duty proper
does not bogm until u train arrives at
Mott Haven Junction. That is live and
n half miles from whero wo stand, and
ovory train, inward and outward, on
tho New York Central, tho Now Haven
nnd tho Harlem Road pusses it.
"There uro thirteen trucks in tho
yard, and from Fifty-Third street to
Ono Hundred and Thirty-First street
thoro uro four tracks. Hundreds of
trains eomo in and go out ovory day,
' and from this little box of mino I can
control each ono. I know oxaotly whero
each ono is at a given minute. I can
stop it or start it by a touch on this key
board of mino.
"Hero, for instance," ho continued,
"is a button marked ln-Traok.1 A
slight prcssuro upon that notifies tho
switchman at Forty-Sixth stroet what
irncic to use lor an in-cominc train.
Upon this time-bill of mino Iseo how all
tho' trucks aro oecupiod, and net accord
mgiy. immediately on getting infor
mation from Mott lluvon, I signul tho
switchman, and tho' train nrrives aUtho
dopot thirteen minutes after. This
switchman bus charge of all the dopot
switchos, und knows by tho numbor of
strokes on tho oloctrio bell in his houso
which track is mount
" Tho noxt Jjutton is marked 'switch
ongino.' It controls tho onginos working
about tho yard, boing in connection with
a gong ovor tho depot gato-way. Tho en
gineers hear and know ovory Bound of
that. Ono stroke means to stop; two
strokes to go uliond; nnd thrco to buok
up. Yard or switch-engines aro usod
for making up trains, and getting thorn
ready to bo dispatched. Tho onginos
that uro employed for truillo purposes
aro switched oil' whon they enter tho
yard and go to tho round-houso to bo
cleaned.
"Tho third button is in connection
with tho waiting-room of passengers
intending to leuvoby trains on tho Har
lem Railroad. Twenty miuutos boforo
I start a train, I press upon this button
and it rings a bell twice. This Is thn
doorman's intimation to allow passon
gors to enter the dopot and take thoir
scuts in tho curs.
" Five minutos boforo tho start I ring
tho same bell three times, and the door
man thereupon informs tho passongors
that thoy havo only live minutes moro.
Whon tho ndvorlisodtimo Is up, Iringtho
boll onco, which means that tho door of
tho waiting-room is to bo olosod. Ono
lninuto is thou allowed for pnssongors
io gut io mo cars and take tnoir seats.
"Tho fourth button is connected
with the Harlem Railroad baggago
room. Fivo minutes boforo a train
starts I press upon this throo times, ami
the buggugo-mustor understands that ho
is to tuko no moro baggugo, and that
ho is to send down to tho cars all ho
has in hand.
"Tho tlfth button is in connection
with one of three bells situated ono over
cneh of tho thrco tracks enter' ng tho
lopot tho Now York Central anil Hud
son ltivor. tho New York & Harlem, and
tho New York Now Haven. They
are called tho back-in bolls. In order
to prevent smoke and noiso in tho dopot
the engines stand in tho yard, ono Hun
dred and twenty-livo feet from tho en
trance. Two minutes boforo tho train
starts I ring a boll to notify tho engineer
to back down. At tho same time 1 glvo
a signal for n brukoman of tho train to
couple tho engine.
"Tho sixth button is markod 'X
start,' and is used for giving tho Harlem
Road conductors tho slinml to go ahead.
"Tho net button," continued Mr.
Vandorn, "is in connection with tho
switch-cabin in Fifty-third Street. Tho
man in charge there is responsible for
tho working of fourteen interlocking
lover switches and signals, all of which
i work by the same power. Isy this but
ton he Is informed of my wishes ns to
tho trucks which trains tiro to puss
over.
"Tho eighth button is connected with
tho fly-up danger signal nt Forty-ninth
Street, on the main track coming in, nnd
works it by electricity. That signal
has two sides, ono red nnd tho
other whito. Tho red sido it pro
scuts to all incoming trains, and
the rule is that it must not bo passed
until I chungo it to whito. Tho yard
begins at that point. Thoro is a tell
tale wire attsi lied to tho signal, which
rings tho boll (pointing to ono beside
tho clock). When it does not do it, I
know there is something wrong, and
immediately signal tho emergency oloc
tri ian-in tho depot to go and set it right.
Tills button is also used to toll tho
switchman at Foity-sovonth street to
make the flying-switch, which moans
that when tho engine is disconnected
and running nhcad of the train, ho
switches it oil tr u siding, nnd allows
the train to go to tho dopot of its own
momentum.
"Tho ninth button is uso'd to change
buck tho signal from whito to red, in
cuso of necessity; us for instance, if a
yard-engine should got in tho way of an
in-coining train. IJy reversing tho sig
nal a collision may bo prevented."
" Have you had to mako this rever
sion very often?" tho writer inquired.
"Notonco since 1875. It w.ll pro
vent trains from colliding until they get
within about two hundred yards of each
other. For tho bettor protection against
such accidents there is a. switchman sta
tioned at Forty-sixth street. Ho is also
in communication with mo, and after
hearing mysignul, permits no engine to
So upon an in-coming track until tho
no train has passed m sufety.
"Tho other buttons havo similar
uses, nnd with thorn I can communicate
instantly, not only with all parts of tho
vast dopot, but. als6 with tho switch
tenders and signal men botweon hero
and tho Mott lla-von Junction. In brief,
as 1 havo said, by silently touching
thoin 1 can completely control all tho
trivns of throo of tho most important
rilUways entering Now York
n,,,,,,,,,,,,!,,,.!,, ,m ninJniv iw l
1 can
with tho ongincors of trains thatnro
making thirty miles an hour."
A boll opposite to him suddenly
i rnmr. "Jiioro. no sniu. "a irain
passing sixty-iourin street announces
itself to mo by touching nn oloctrio
communicator on tho track which
sounds thu boll; and lioro," ho added,
pointing to un instrument on tho Avail,
"is an indicator for 'btocking,' Avliich
mo.ins sotting a signal behind trams
half n milo apart botweon horo and Mott
Huvon. Thoro is a man stationed at
ovory half-milo, so as to proyont ono
train from entering a soction .boforo
tho othor has passed out This makes
it impossiblo for trains to got into col
lision upon tho iivo and a half miles of
ronds."
"How many hours a day does this
AVorkcontinuoP"
"Nihotoon. I run half of it, nnd my
nssocinto, Mr. Fitzgerald, tho other
half."
" In cuso of illness, Avlmt thon?"
"Wo havo a substitute but avo novor
haA'o boon ill since 1871."
"If ono of you should got ill, or go
to sloop on duty, Avhat dift'oronco would
that mako?"
. -.. .... . ...
"It would bo knoAvn at my olllco in
side of a minuto," interrupted Mr. Dis
brow. "Wo tako no chances upon this
system. I think it is perfection itsolf."
And after Avitnossing it in operation
for noarly two hours 1 Avas obliged to
admit that I thought so too Geo. II.
Jlassclt, in Youth's Companion.
The Spare Hoy.
Tho hunting season is about to sot in,
and tho average- Austin boy begins to
Avorry tho lifo out of his parents for a
gun, wmi AViiion, in an unman prouiv
lllly, tho boy Avill oitlior oripplo him
solf,or somobbdy olso.
"Fnthor," said Johnny Fizzlolop,
" can't you sparo money enough to got
mo a gun?"
"My son, Avhon I can spare a hoy, 111
got you a gun."
Johnny olosod tho dobato by saying
that ho Avas a spare boy anyhow, and
that his spuroness avus caused by his not
getting enough to out. Texas Sitings.
No moro touching complimont
could bo paid thnn that of tho child
Avho had overheard a conversation at
tho tablo on tho qualities of a Avifo. As
ho stooped ovor to kiss his mother ho
remarked: "Mamma, Avlion 1 got big
I'm going to marry a lady just 'zactly
like you." N. Y. JlcraM.
All attempts to invent a spark ar
rester for locomotives havo failed, sim
ply because no genius lias thought of ty
ing a pretty Avoinan on tho top of tho
smoko-stack. UreckinrUlgc News.
Work on tho Washington Monument.
A cluster of bcos seemed to havo lit
this morning on tiie summit of tho tall,
plain, whito shnft of tho Washington
Monument. These, to a clearer vioav,
woro fccon to bo busy lutmnn laborers,
Avho, after a sumnior of rest, Avoro
again at work placing tier on tier ol
marblo on Avhat is already ono of the
tallest and what is to bo tho tallest arti
ficial elevation in tho world. To-day
tho Avorkmen Avcro laying the blocks
Avliich mako tho height 2U2 feet. The
stones ate each two feet in perpendicu
lar diameter and thrco tiers can be laid
each week. Tho monument Avill, there
fore, bo raised about a foot higher ev
ery day for tho next two months. The
plan is to build at least fifty additional
foot boforo cold weather.
Tho work proceeds very quietly and
scientifically. The masons aro evident
ly skilled a't their craft. Tho blocks
,aro cut at tho base of tho column, nnd
carried to tho summit in a strong ele
vator. Avhioh slides up and down tho
great dark funnel Avhich extends in ono
smooth abvss from tho summit to tho
ground. Tho olovator is Avorked by a
stoam-ongino in an adjacent build
ing, and seems to bo provided with
every upplinnco to insure sufet. It is
probably, even now, tho higliest ele
vator in existence outsldo of mining
shafts, and as it consists of n simple
platform tho trip is not nn agreeable one
to a nervous person. Tho winding
staircase is however, not nn improve
ment in this respect on tho hoist Not
to speak of tho latigue of mounting and
descending (500 steps, tho stairs look
fragilo if thoy aro not, and tho glimpses
of fight one catches in tho proA'uiling
obscurity are not reassuring, its thoy
(Hsclose tho fatal depths into which
ho Avould bo precipitated by a fulso
stop.
Tho view from tho summit is suporb,
und tho ofl'oot is heightened by coming
upon it suddenly. Tho ubsonco of any
object to break the height of tho look
out also adds to tho impression. Ono
seems suspended in tho clouds, AA'hilo
tho capital, in all its beauty, lies far be
low him. Tho elevation is already
creator than tho higliest point on tho
ilonie of tho Capitol to which a visitor
can ascend, and the situation of tho
monumont is moro favorablo than
that of tho Capitol for a vieAV of tho
city.
The masons are too busy to feast their
eyes Avitli the scenery. Thoy aro rolling
tho grout blocks of marblo into position,
and fastening them securely and
properly with plumb lino, mullet and
cement. It is exciting to Avatcli a
laborer stand on tho nqwly plncod
block, and swinging tho hugo Avooden
mullet over the edge of tho precipice,
pound tho stone into its oxuet position.
Wore it not for tho netting, this stop in
tho Avork would bo hazardous in tho ex
treme, and as it is good nerves aro
necessary.
This horizontal' netting is ono of tho
important features of tho work. It is
mado of strong rope, and is stretched
out from ami surrounding the sides of
tho shaft to a distance of nearly ton
feet. To afford greater security, it is
bent slightly upward from tho horizon
tal, so as to throw backward toward tho
stonework any Avoight falling upon its
surface. The net has already saA'cd ono
life, und its valtto ns tho monument
reaches still moro giddy heights than
that now uttahffcd Avill constantly in
crease. Apart from its chief usefulness
in all'ording protection to tho masons, it
helps thorn in their Avork by takiner
iiAVay from them tho senso of constant
dnngor and tho neeossit' of Avorking
Avith cautious slowness. At times tho
Avind swoops over tho summit Avitli ter
rific force.
"Do you sco that young man
yondor?" said tho master mason, point
ing to a laborer Avho stood pulling at a
ropo a few stops distant. "He Avns
Avorking on tho edge ono Avindy day,
much as you seo litni hoav, avIiou the
Avind caught him right off his feet nnd
flung him over tho brink of tho monu
ment, lie lauded in tho net, held on,
and so avus suved."
"That Avas a pretty oloso call," said
ono of tho party of visitors to tho young
man. Ho avus sitting on tho outer odgo
of tho lauding, Avith his logs hanging
doAVii OA'or tho smooth surface of tho
precipice, no smiled pleasantly and
noddod assent
"What did you think of," nskod nn
otlior of tho party, "as you lost your
foothold and loll?"
"Woll," said lho quiot young mun,
"I romombored that tho notting avus
undor mo. I fell nbout six foot boforo
I struck. You seo, avo don't mo vo up
tho net till avo build nbout eight or ton
foot of Avail. When I hit tho not I
grabbod tho meshes, nnd thoy pulled
mo up."
The notting is comparatively a recent
dovico, and is very ingeniously con
structed under designs patented by the
master mechanic. Nono Vas in uso
Avhilo tho old part of tho shaft Avas
building, and its absenco cost tho lifo
not of a man but of nu adventurous cat
Avliicli ascended tho winding stnlroaso
ono night soon after tho Avork on tho,
monument hud boon rcsumod. For
soma reason tho cat tumbled over tho
odgo and fell 1G5 foot to tho ground. In
hor tliglit she spread hor tail and logs and
landed Avithout vital injury. Sho broko
ono log, howovor, and in this disabled
condition, Avhilo limping aAvay, avus at
tacked by a Avateh dog, Avliich is kopt
at tho baso of tho shaft, and avus killod.
Sho now lies in state at tho Smithsonian
Institution, wlioro sho dlvidos attention
Avith tho skoloton of tho mastodon and
tho cage of snakes as tho cat Avliicli foil
1G5 fcot in safety, only to bo Avorried to
death by a dog. Washington Cor. N. Y.
Sun.
-.-
Wot or damp matohos, Avipod a llt
tlo dry und run through tho huir, Avill
ignite as good as now. SI. Louis Qlobe.
Youths' Department.
TUB JACK 0' LANTERN.
Ted wont to tho field ono ntitumn dnv.
AVhe.ro pcnttercd In henna tho pumpkins Iny,
And ho choRuono round nnd yellow ns gold,
And us liltr its ever his arms could hold,
And In It ho cut wldo open oyoH,
And n mouth with tooth of dreiulful slzo.
Ho marked nnd gasliod nrtd carved with glco;
Tho voro It looked, why, tho morrlor ho.
And thon wlthi nourish what noxt ho did
AVas lo flllco olT tho top llko ft kettlo lid,
And to dli tho seeds out curufultv,
Till It nil wna clenn ns clean could bo.
Then n fow Inst touches upon tho fnoo,
To ndd to Jho horrible Rrlnmco;
An extrn Hlinh with tho Jnck-lcnlfo blado,
Till oven Ted himself wus afraid,
And It wns llnlshcd oxccpitho bit
Of candlo ho lltted Into It.
Thon twlllitlit enme, nnd soft unfurled
A shadow Imunor nhove tho world.
Tlio moon wns old nnd Into to rlso,
And tho ilnrk brimmed up to tho vory skies.
Somebody somtehod n match, nnd Tod
On tho guto-post set tho pumpkin-head.
It looked llko n horrid Rohltn mnn,
Mko u llcry tflunt Cormornn;
Its Krcnt round oyes wcro burning conli;
Ms nose and mouth weio tlntnlmr holes:
It seemed to nay, though It had no voice:
" I could swallow u hundred llttlo boys."
Wero tho pcoplo frlghtcnod nlmost to denth?
Did thoy lleo in terror nnd hold thoir breath?
Did thoy think n dragon had eomo to town,
With n throat of lire o gulp them down?
Ah, no. thoy said, with smile sedato:
"Hoo llttlo Ted's lnntf m nt tho gatol"
Mn. Clara Dotu Uatcs, in Youth's Companion.
AN UNDER-GROUNI) ESCAPE.
Snap, my littlo fox-terrier, avus tho
most affectionate and devoted dog 1
ever remember. It mattered not where
I Avcnt, ho Avas sure to bo close to my
heels, and tho thicker the crowd, tho
closor ho kopt to them. For tho thrco
years that 1 liA'cd in London, in all our
Avauderiugs 1 novor oneo missed him or
had any trouble Avitli him.
As far as possible, dogs aro prohibit
ed from traveling on tho under-ground
railway; but ns I had constantly to
travel by it from King's Cross to Pad
dington, nnd Simp's hnbit of keeping
close being avoII known to tho olliciuls,
they winked at his accompanying mo.
On a certain afternoon, being, as usu
al, on. my avhv to Paddington, and a
tram being duo at King's Cross, 1
mudo a rush for it, and reached tho plat
form just us a train was coming into tho
station.
Jumping into a compartment, I
looked to sco if the dog avus Avith mo,
hut to my dismay, as a porter slammed
tho door nnd tho train begun to move,
I observed Snap on tho platform, run
ning wildly up and down looking for
me. Suddenly he suav mo at tho Avin
dow, but it avUs too luto; und us wo en
tered the darkness of tho tunnel, I
heard him givo a despairing bark.
1 felt angry with myself for not look
ing after him moro carefully, and re
solved to get out at tho noxt station
and go bade for him. But how had ho
missed mo? I could not understand it,
for ho had novqr done such a thing be
fore. Five minutes brought us toGower
street, nnd a train then duo took mo
buck in another livo minutes to wlioro 1
hud started from.
"Have you soon my dog?" I asked of
a porter there who knew inc.
"Your dog, sir?" answered tho man.
"Oh yes, to bo sure. You left him bo
hind, didn't you? Woll, us tho train
Avont into tho tunnol, I suav him jump
from tho platform and follow it."
"What!" I said; " ho Avasn't following
it Avhon avo reached Gowcr strcot."
" Wasn't ho? Thon I expect ho's still
in tho tunnel. Tho train Avcnt too fast
for him to keop up with it."
"He'll bo run OA'or!" 1 oxclaimod,
vory nnrvous for Snap's safety.
" Toll you Avliut, sir. I'll go nnd get
permission' if you like, from thu inspec
tor to tako a huitorn und seo if avo can
find him."
I thanked tho man, and ho stnrtod off
to got tho nocessary permission, Avhich
tho inspector gave, alter saving some
thing about peoplo having no right to
bring dogs into tho station. Together
tho man and I then went into tho tun
nol. Tho unaccustomed darkness, to say
nothing of tho perils of such un expe
dition, inspired mo Avitli considerable
dread, and I kept tight hold of my
guide's arm. When avo hud advanced
somo two or thrco hundred yards along
the under-ground higliAVuy, or rather
"low" Avay, tho lights of an up-truin
beennio visible. As it Avont by and Avp
stood still for a minuto, tho roar nnd rattle
woro not calculated to dispel my
nervousness. Thoy Avoro terrible
donfoning. Immediutoly it hud passed,
tho porter cried out.
"Look there, sir look; thoro ho
goes!"
Ilo was pointing toAA'ard tho rod dan
ger light at tho tail of tho receding
train, and there, sure enough, avus Snap
scamporing aftor it at a paco Avhich no
ono could havo given a fox-torrior credit
for. 1 bogan to call and Avhistlo as
loudly as 1 could, but my A'oico Avns
drowned by tho hissing Avhir and rattle
fjoing on. Just thon anotlior engine
iovo in sight on our lino of rails, und
avo had rapidly to stop back into ono of
tho recesses, or mnn-liolcs, us I believe
thoy aro culled. Whon this socond train
had shot past us, thoro again, to our
astonishment, avus Snap galloping after
it. Ho lind not observed us. of course.
Wo then Avulkod on somo littlo Avay
further along tho tumiol, and in a min
ute another up-trnin passod us, and
thoro onco more aa'us tho dog behind it.
"How ridiculous," 1 crioil, "and yot
how painful, to sco tho poor littlo boast
tearing to and fro for doar lifo in this
wliy! Ho will surely bo run ovor boforo
long."
lint tho reason Avns obvious; ho could
not keep up Avitli tho speod of tho train,
and by the time it luul distuncod him,
another probably passod in tho opposito
direction, Avlien, confused by tho noiso
nnd turmoil, ho turned immediately ami
pursued that. It seomod to mo simply
marvelous that ho hud oscuped the
Avhccls even so far in these agonizing ef
forts to find me.
As tho lights of tho noxt engino carao
in view, 1 resolved to gho tho last car
ringo just timo to pass, and then to rush
out, and, if possible, to intercept my
poor pet, for I expected him again to
return with that. I avus not mistaken,
nnd as I slipped from tho man-hole in
front of tho dog, tho porter hold his
lantern so that its light fell full upon
my form. Snap instantly recognized
me, nnd Avith ono bound and a breath
less yelp lauded on my broast, and
clasping me tightly round the neck Avith
his tAvo fore-legs as if thoy hud boon tho
arms of a loving child, ho tubbed his
Avet nose excitedly against my face
Terrified Avoll-nigli unto denth, gasping
nnd exhausted, and all tho timo utter
ing a pluintivo littlo wail of dolight, ho
lay almost motionless in this position for
several minutes, Avhilo his ull'cctiortuto
heart beat liko a small slcilgo-linmmor
against mino. This simplo but intenso
demonstration of ennino devotion, in
tho gloomy depths of tho undor-ground,
Avitli only tho faint rays of tho porter's
lump to llluminuto tlib scono, Avas very
touching.
"You havo got a noblo littlo chap
there, sir." saiil tho man, as ho led tho
way cautiously back to tho platform.
"Ho avus worth a bit of trouble to find,
and no mistake."
"Quito truo, my friend," Innsworcd,
"and I'll tako good care for tho future
to pop him under my arm avIicu I travel
on the Metropolitan Raihvay again."
"I reckon ho won't givo yo the
chance, sir," said the man. " I know a
bit about dogs, und I shouldn't Avonder
if ho fights shy of tho stations altogeth
er after this."
Tho mun Avas right, for noA'cr sinco
that day havo I been able to induce
Snap to conic Avithin. yards of tho head
of the railway station stairs. Coax and
cajolo him us I will, ho always resists.
Ho looks up at mo Avitli such a pitiful,
expression, ns much as to say: " Why,
you wouldn't risk losing mo again,
would you?" That I havo at lust con
ceded tho point to him you Avill readily
understand, for I need hardly add that
it i liad a strong regard lor my dog bo
foro, it has groAvn into a real and strong
affection now. W. W. Fain, in Uar
pcr's Young People.
Jiro nnd the Snake.
I onco knoAV a littlo boy A'ho aa'us not
at all liko the littlo boys Avliom vou aro
accustomed to sco ovory day. Ho did
not have bluo oyes nnd curly brown huir,
nor did he Avcnr gray trousers and short
jackots.
No; his oyes and hair Avore jet black,
ho avus troubled with no other cloth
ing thnn a loose, Avrappor-likc garment,
which lie bound about his Avaist Avith a
long sash, using its Avido sleovos for
pockets. Perhaps, from the description
of his dress, you -will think that ho
looked liko a girl; but ho was a roal
boy, and Avould ha'o felt indignant if
you had taken him for anything elso. '
In fact, Jiro for that Avas tno young
gcntloman's name avus an inhabitant
of that country somewhere, down undor
our feet known us Japan, and some
times culled tho "Children's Paradiso."
2STow, Jiro was very proud of his coun
try, and believed, as did all his country
men, that the inhabitants had desconded
from tho gods. Although ho avus only
eight yours old, bo auso his father avus
ono of those' terrible follows culled sa
murai, or retainers (avIio Avould lop
your head oil' in a minuto and think
nothing of it), littlo Jiro avus allowed to
curry in his bolt u real sword. lie avus
not ignorant of its use, either, as ho took
lOssons in fencing twice a Aveek.
Jiro's eldor sister, Miss Koto, Avas
learning to handle tho lance und spc.tr
an accomplishment of Japanese ladies
of position, Avhich is considered as nec
essary as loarning to sow, or road, or
paint; and Jiro longed for tho timo to
eomo when his own hands Avould bo
strong enough to lift theso heavier
Avcupons. Ono day, as our littlo friend
Avas returning from fencing-school, ho
thought that, instead of making his Avay
homeward through tho crowded streets,
ho Avould tako a shorter cut he know
of, across tho Holds, whero ho AA'ould bo
able to find somo tall lotus-llowors for
his sister's deft iingors to arrange in
tho parlor lloAvor-A'tiscs.
On reaching tho pond whero tho lotus
grow, ho found that soveral children
Avoro already there, somo busily engaged
in collecting the sweet lotus-roots for
eating, and others, who wore moro fond
of play than of Avork, strutting about,
holding up tho great lotus-leaA'os for
parasols, or Avcaring them ns jaunty
sun-hats. Jiro did not euro for tho
roots (us his mother frequently bought
them of tho vegotnble-mun), nnd, us ho
felt too busy to play, ho set manfully to
Avork and cut down somo of tho most
beautiful buds growing high above his
head. When ho had cut enough ho
started for homo, sturdily trudging
along with his arms full of tho rosy
llowers nnd thoir groat, Avido leaA'ns.
Ho had not gono very far, hoAvover,
boforo ono of those long snakes Avhich,
in Japan, inhabit trees or Ioav shrubs,
lifted up its ugly head right in Jiro's
path, and mado him drop his fragment
bundlo nnd grasp tho hilt of his littlo
sword. The serpent looked vory ugly,
seeming to say: "No! no! Mistor Jiro,
you can't puss hero until 1 liuvo a bito
of you!" and I rather suspoct that Jiro's
first impulso avus to run away. Hut, ro
memboring thnl his fnthor Avas tho re
tainer of a great Princo, and that somo
duy ho Avould bo a rotninor, too, Jiro
folt braver, nnd ns tho snnko continued
to rear its head right in his path, Jiro
cut ut it Avitli his sharp littlo SAvbrd and
, lopped its head right oft'; giving it un
, other cut to mako quite sure it Avas
dead, tho lad picked up his llowers and
Avont on, feeling vory proud of his
triumph. St. Nicholas.
wsssssnssser-"
wrwiMiiirrwinjT,wetg!iiaciniiWinriiri
.-?f-.