IATK'8 BTOnt
JT wns nobtaBhe wnslonlr,
"Twr a dream nil pure and holjr;
Khf hiiii llkii the lilj. fnJr,
Handsome- lis beyond compnra
Oh. tlmt tiilonoolil In story,
Life's first rnpture, love's Oral Rjoryl
Wlie n the early flowers were Browing
Condlp nlld and primrose- blowlnff,
First they met, Ahl golden dajl
Pint, so (ant. It sped away,
Oh, that tula bo old in story,
Ufa's first ropture, love's first glory.
IVrish bod, and perish blossom,
Anjrrr wind, of Autumn toss them;
lire tho Inst leaf qui v'rinR Ml,
1-ore had lost Its mnRln spell.
Oh, that talo so old in story,
JOto's lost rapture, life hut's glory.
HAL'S ROMANCE.
Tho ball wns over. Carriago after
tfirriage rolled up to tho mngniflceufc
portul, and each in its turn rattled
offntnid tho clatter and laughter of
its occupants.
Leaning on the arm of an elderly
gentleman stood n beautiful girl
hooded and cloaked. Tho two wcro
evidently awaiting thoircarriago, for
the old gentleman muttered irritably:
"Well, well, will our turn never
come? 1 told Joseph particularly to
bo here on time."
Tho girl paid little attention to
licr companion, Jlcr eyes were di
rected toward u finely built young
fellow, who was talking earnestly to
n friend.
"Will ho not oven bid mo good
night?" sho thinks tears starting to
her eyes.
At this moment thogcntloman and
liis friend walked out into tho strce
arm in arm.
At this juncturo their carriago
drove up, and after administering to
Joseph a reproof for his tardines8,tho
old gentleman handed his fair com
panion into tho vehicle, followed, and
slammed tho door to. Joseph spite
fully cut tho off groy with tho whip,
nnd they were whirled rapidly awny.
At tho next streot they passed tho
beforcmentioncd gentleman and his
friends; but ho did not see tho whito
face, with its quivoring lips, nor tho
tear-laden eyes thntlookod out upon
him for a second as tho carriago How
past. And yet, strango to sny, tho
young men were at that very moment
speaking of her. Tho younger was
saying:
"Hal, why the doucedid you act so
coldly I might say, almost rudely
toMiss Thornedalo to-night? "Why,
St was tho talk of tho wholo room.
Bo you know that in tho lobby Bho
trailed for you to say good night to
her, when you dragged mo off so pre
cipitately?" A sigh was Hal's rejoinder.
"Can it bo that you don't caro
for hcrl tun t you Bee,
man, time
she's head over ears in lovo with
yon?"
A pained expression passed for a
moment over Ilnl's handsomo facoas
lie answered:
"Yes, nlaB, I have seen it."
"What!" exclaimed his companion.
"You'vo known it, and still treated
her like a brute? llnlsted Mooro,you
havo a heart of adnniunt!"
Pluicfni. lrnnlrl f ni. 1 liflilivmllfl
that I hndi"
There was something in his tone so
indescribable that his friend looked
nt him for a moment in astonish
ment. "I say. Hal, what's up with you to
night? I've never known you to bo
like this bclore."
No niibwcrto this. Tho question
was not pushed, and so they walked
on in silence, until Hal's compunion
suddenly (stopped.
"Well, hero 1 am at home. Will
ll utnn ill fnl. ,1 H'lillfiO'
Hal ovidently did not hear, for ho
returned no answer.
"Hnl, you'vo symothing on your
mind. Now don't deny it; your faco
shows it only too plainly. Mind I
don't ask your confidence; but if I
can be of nny use in extricating you
from nny trouble, pecuniarily or oth
erwise, command mo, and if it's in
tov power it will bo done."
Hal grasped his companion's out
stretched hand, and said fervently:
"Thanks, old fellow, thanks! You
have been a truo friend to me Chester,
and therefore why should you not
have my confldenco? Yes, I have
something ou my mind, something
that is making mo miserable, and
life well nigh unbearable."
Giester led tho way to his appart
raents, and soon both were ensconced
in easy chairs, pipes in hand.
Tho friendship oftheso two men
had originated nt Florence, where
both were studying pninting. Their
support depended entirely on their
calling, both being special artists on
u popular weekly. Halstcad 'Moore
lived with his mother in a neat littlo
cottage in tho suburbs. Littlo or
nothing wns known of tho Moores or
their past. On this subject Hal had
never opened his heart to Chester,
and tho latter, with uncommon deli
cacy, foreboro embarrassing his
friend with questions.
After a fevf nervous puffs Hal
plunged abruptly into his recital.
"Chester, you asked mo awhile ogo
whether or not I cared for Helen
Thornedale. I do caro for her; na', I
love her, I idolize herl By day, by
night, she is beforo me; my thoughts,
my dreams, aro but of hcrl In view
of this fact, you will wonder moro
than ever at my treatment of Miss
Thornedale. I will tell you thosecrot
of my trouble."
Ho had overcomohis agitation nnd
now spoko with duo deliberation.
"My parents' marringo was tho re
sult of an elopement, in consequence
of which my paternal grandfather
cursed his own son on his deathbed.
Ho prayed that ruin might follow all
his endeavors and those of his chil
dren. This dcath-sccno nffected my
father dcoply. Ho becamo moroso
nnd unloving. Ono night, six months
later, a neighbor broke tho torriblo
intelligence to my mother that her
husband was dead, drowned while
crossing the ice-covered l'iver on a
homeward journoy. His body wns
novcr recovered. Among his effects
wnB found a sealed letter which was
to bo dolivcred to mo (I was then 2
months old) when I sliould attain
my majority. My mother carefully
preserved that lettor unoponed, and
on my twenty-first birthday delivered
it to mo. It contained u sketch of
what I havo told you and concluded
with tho injunction novcr to marry,
as tho conscqucnco must bo unhup
pyness. Thatinjunction Hook upon
nsa message from tho dend, and ono
that I must hold sacred. Now you
know why I dnro not declare my lovo
to Helen Thorncdnlc."
Chester has become dcoply inter
ested in his friend's recital. At tho
conclusion of tho narrative ho settled
back in his chair and exclaimed:
" WoU.woimVho would havo thought
such a romnnco mingled with the
matter-of-fact Old Hal's life!"
Two months later saw Hal and
Chester on their way to tho north of
Scotlnnd, where they hnd been sent
to sketch apictures(uesericsofruin8.
Thoy had letters of introduction to
a part owner of tho paper, Hugh Mc
Leod, who cordially invited them to
mnko his dwelling their headquarters.
Only too happily did they accept this
kind offer nor had cither of thorn
cause to regret tho step, ub wo shall
see.
HughMcLeod, ofBonnioPnrk, was
a gontlomun of leisure, living in quiet,
unostentatious stylo with an only
daughter, Laura, a sweet unaffected
girl of eighteen summers. Tho old
gentleman was delighted with his
visitors, offering them every atten
tion, cvon accompanying them on
their skotching tours.
They hnd beentheronboutnmonth
when ono morning Mr. MacLeod pro
posed a littlo excursion to some old
ruins that would mnko a capital
Bubjcct for their pencils. Tho friends
acquiesced, and Laura wns forthwith
instructed to order luncheon. Thoy
urrived at their destination, and Hal
and Chester were soon busy trans
ferring sovcrnl picturesque views to
their sketch-books, whilo tho old gen
tleman stood 1)3 chatting. Laura in
tho mcantiino had wandered off
through tho woods in search of flow
ers.
"Now, boys," said Ma?Leod. pres
ently, "when you'vo sketched your fill
here, I'll tako ye up to Vulture's
Nest for a fine landscape view."
"Vulture's Nest!" What an omin
ous name!" ejacuiutcd Hal.
"Yes, and it's had an ominous his
tory, too. It deserves its name from
tho number of vultures that used to
llock there. Many is tho torriblo ex
perience tho people herenbouts havo
have had with the creatures. "Why,
it was only two yenra ago that
Donald Stuart's daughter was at
tacked on Vulture's Nest, by two
of the vile creatures, and beforo help
could rench her she was so terribly
torn about tho face as to bo disfigur
ed for life. It's never safe to venturo
up there unnrmed, for oven yot "
A picrcemg i-hnek, lollowca by an
other and unother, hero rent the air,
and tho three men simultaneously
started to their feer. Onco more
that terrible cry for help rang out.
"My God!" shouted MacLeod.
"Laura's voice! Tho Vulture's
Nestl"
Witli blanched faces tho men hur
riedly grasped their rifles and dashed
off toward tho spot whence the cries
seemed to eome. Suddenly, as they
issued from tho thick undergrowth,ti
terrible sight bmst upon them. Far
above, on an overhanging rock, her
figure clenrly outlined ngainst a
background of azure, anguish dc-
Jiicted on every line of her face, stood
..aura McLeod, whilo above her cir
cled an immense vulture.theuncnnny
neck outstretched and tho small
oyes sparkling witli greedy expect
ation. Tho men stood spellbound, and
then, with a shout, Chester led tho
way up the incline, his eyes fixed on
tho girl ho hndlearaedtolove sowcl 1
At that moment tho monsterccased
circling nbout its victim nnd pre
pared for attack. Just as it poised
itself for tho Inst fatal swoop, the
sharp report of a rifle rang out on
still air, and tho crenturo fell dead at
tho feet of its intended victim.
Tho next moment a man emerged
from tho shubbory near by, with a
rifle, still smoking, trnilingnfterhim.
He ran to tho now prostrate girl,
and kneeling besido her, chafed her
wrists and held to her lips a small
flask. By this time Chester and his
two companions, breathless and
speechless, reached tho spot whero
Laura lay.
"How can I thank you, sir? You
have saved my dnrling'o life," cried
Mr. MacLeod, sobbing with joy.
Laura soon returned to conscious
ness and Chester explained to her
what had taken place. During tho
excitement that followed, her strange
savior was entirely forgotten. When,
howevor, thoy had regained calm
ness, they found that he had disap
peared as silently and suddenly as ho
hod come. They searched the sur
rounding ground for some trace of
him, but Avithout avail.
It is needless to state that no
more sketching was indulged in that
day.
Onoovening, a week after tho ad
venture on Vulturo's Nest, our
friends woro all congregated i tho
drawing-room at Bonnie Park, when
a servant mado his appearance with
tho announcement that a man had
called and desired to bco Mr. Mac
Leod. Tho old gentleman im
mediately roso and followed Benja
min out of tho room. Soon his voico
was heard in tho hall extending a
hearty welcomo to his isitor, and
tho next moment ho re-entered the
room, arm in arm with none other
than their elusive friend of the Vul-'
turo's Nest incident. Ho was a ro
marknblo looking man, tall and
erect in carriago, with a sad hand
some fuce, golden brown beard, and
deep blue, penetrating eyes.
Laura thanked him with her own
Bweet simplicity, and Chester and Mc
Lood were loud in praise of his cool
ness nnd bravery. Hul stood a littlo
aloof from tho group und concentrat
ed his gnzo on its central figure. For
him tho stranger had an explicablo
fascination.
After they had thanked him to
their heart's content tho stranger
mado known tho object of his visit.
He had found a locket on the scene of
tho encounter, and thinking one of
party must have lost it, took the
first opportunity to return thetrink
ot a small, oddly-shaped affair on
Bceing which Hnl exclaimed:
"My locketl lou nave innuo mo
your debtor, sir, for lprizo this trink
et very highly. It wns a gift from
my father to my motlar beforo I wns
born."
Tho strnngor started slightly and
a deathlike pallor overspread his
faco.
"Would vpu havo any objection to
my fi(S3t the interior of that
locket?"
Hal loot a! surprised, but silently
opened tho trinket and presented it
to tho stronger. Tho latter guvo a
hasty glancoattho picturo within
nnd started back, almost dropping
tho locket as he did so.
"1 beg your pardon for my awk
wardness. And is this a picturo of
your mother?"
"Yes, taken a short time utter her
mnrriago,' answered Hnl.
"Strango, strange!" muttered the
other. "Can it be a mero coincidence?
No, it is impossible! Loving sir. 1
know not who you are, but the pic
turo you havo shown mo is that of
my wife."
"Your wife?' gasped Hul.
"Yes; she is dead. Sho and on on
ly child woro killed in a railway acci
dent." Hal turned ghastly pale. It flashed
through his mind that his mother
and ho had a narrow escapo from
death in a railway accident soon
after his fathor's demise. Astartling
suspicion was dawning on his mind.
In an unnatural voice ho spoke:
"Havo you undoubted proof that
thoy wcro really killed in that ncci
dent?" Tho stranger took from his
pocket a time-stained newspa
per Ho pointed silently to
a paragraph describing a fatal
railway collision; and thoro in tho
list of dead Hal saw "Mrs. Julia
Moore, widow, and her baby boy,
Halstcad Moore."
Tho paper dropped from thoyoung
man'o lifeless hands.
"My God! man whntisyour name?"
ho cried.
Tho stranger's foco wob whito with
suppressed excitement as ho answer
ed: "Archibald Moore."
"Father," cried Hal, "I am Hal
stead Moore, your son."
Tho next moment tho father and
son wero locked in their first embrace.
But littlo moro remains to be told.
A weok later tho husband and wifo
whom fato had so cruelly torn as
Bundcr wcro once again united and
happy.
Somo months after, in a quiet littlo
Scotch church, a double wedding
ceremony was performed. Laura
MacLeod changed her name for that,
ot Chester Lawrence, and Helen
Thornedalo became the happy wifo of
Halstcad Moore. Boston Traveller.
Good Company.
Ono evening a
lady of Now York,
while on her way homo at a lato
hour, without an escort, was ap
proached by a lowd fellow, as tho
boat on which thoy rodo nenred its
landing, who asked:
"Aro you alone?"
"No, sir." was tho reply, and with
out further interruption when tho
boat touched, sho jumped off.
"I thought you woro alone," said:
the follow, stopping to her side again.
"I am not," roplied the lady.
"Why, I don't see any one; who is
with you?"
"God Almighty mid the angel's, sir,
I om novcrnlone!''
This arrow pierced the villian's
heart, and withtheso parting words,
"You keep too good company for
me, madnm," he got out of sight,
leaving tho heroic lady to enjoy her
good compnny.
Get Aboard.
Tho comments of an audience aro
often moro amusing than any effort
of thoso who are trying to interest
them from tho platform.
At a recent reading of Sliakspcaro
tho phrase "Go, get aboard," was
used with emphasis, and one, nt
least, of the listeners had some diffi
culty in understanding that tho
words wero to bo interrupted: "Go
on board the ship."
"A board!" repeated she, in audible
tones. "Get a board? What does
ho mean to do with a board?"
Youth's Companion
WILD ASTERS.
It was a Tory chnrming littlo shopping-bag,
and Sadie hod wanted
bucIi a one for a long time. When
sho discovered it on her dressing-table-
her birthday morning it pleased
hor moro than all her other presents
combined, though Borne wero more
valuable.
Later in tho day sho said to her
mother:
"Now, mother, you know and If
you don't, I do that the very first
time I carry this bog I'll leave it
somewhere as sure as fate."
"Yes; but Sadie, you're old enough
to bo moro careful."
"Very truo, mother, but then I'm
not; nnd I nover shall be, I very much
fear."
"Perhaps if you lose this it will bo
a lesson you will remember."
"But I don't intend to loso it, oven
if I do lea vo it; for 1 mean to hnvc
my full 'address engraved on this
sil vcrplote,iustead of simply initials."
Sho hod it engraved that after
noon, nnd displaying it in triumph,
said: "There, mother! sco that!
Now ho who runs may read: 'Sadio
M. I'ornhnm, PleosifctvihV, Me.' "
"Yes, perhaps somebody will rood
it whom you won't wish to," re
sponded the mother, sagely.
"0, 1 shall keep that side toward
me when I carry it."
, The last of September she wont to
visit her most intimate friend, Laura
McQuisten, lately married, and living
in Ohio. Lnura's former homo had
been in Sadie's own villnge: and know
ing Laura's fondness for the wildpur
plo oster which bordered all their
road-sides, nestlingbesidetho golden
rod, sho gathered a largo bunch of
them to carry to her friend, with but
one .gorgeous spray of golden-rod in
their midst.
Her brother Harry found a pleas
ant seat for her in the oar and, hand
ing her tho bag and flowers, lie said:
"There! tlieso are almost equal to
a big box, littlo box, hand-box nnd
bundle."
"Now, Harryl you know father
soys that I'm a finished traveler. 1
nover burden myself or any one else
with luggage."
"You'll got sick enough of thoso
flowers before you get there; they'll
be withered, anyway."
"No, they won't for 1 shall put fresh
water on tho cotton ovcrv littlo
while."
"Hero aro your tickets. Take rare
of yourself, and don'd get into any
scrapes. Good-bye, littlo sis; remem
ber mo to Laura."
Tho car was empty, sovo for n few
passengers behind Sadie, whoso faces
sho could not see. She loved dearly
to study faces, herself unobserved,
and began to wish the car would fill
up. It did with a rush at tho next
station, every seat soon being full.
Just as sho was wondering who would
occupy tho scat with her, o rather
elderly lady, with a slightly troubled
expression, entered tho car, and
looked anxiously up nnd down the
rows of seats. She approached Sadio
somewhat timidly, but Sadie lifted
tho flowers from the seat beside her,
aod said brightly: "You con sit hero
if you like, modom." The lady that
she was a lady was written all over
her, though evidently unused to
traveling olono thanked her with
a very relieved face, and sat down be
side her. The lady's eyes fell at once
on tho flowers and lingered .there.
Sndie, who was watching her new
traveling companion, sow from tho
hnlf-sad, half-tender smile which
curved her lips, and the abstracted
dreamy look on her face, that sho
was for away from her present sur
roundings, and busy with memories
which the asters and golden-rod had
stirred. As she looked up with a half
Bigh, Sadie said: "You lovo flowers?"
"O, very much! Wild ones par
ticularly. I used to gnther such as
those when 1 was a little girl. 1 used
to trim my sun-hat with them, and
up by the old school-house on tho
lull my girlhood's friend and 1 had a
plot of them walled around with
stones.
"I haven't seen them in ages before,
my home having been m tho tar
West."
"I am taking these to a friend
whoso favorite- flowers they used to
be; but you must pleaso accept half
ot thorn."
Tho lady thanked her but declined
the gift saying she could not rob her
of them.
"You will not rob her, for 1 can
send her a box full," separating the
flowers as bIio spoke.
Tho lady's lip quivered, and her
eyes grew moist, as sho gracefully
accepted them. She told Sadie that
she was on her way back to her homo
in the West, having made a trip to
hor homo in tho East to see her son,
who had been quito ill, but now con
valescent. Her immediate presenco
wns required at homo, and sho was
obliged to return alone, tho friend
with whom bIio had como not return
ing for somo weeks. "I am so unused
to' traveling ulono that I am quito
timid," sho said, with a deprecating
look and smile.
Sadio did all in her power to mnko
her comfortable as for their ways lay
together, and enjoyed her companion
ship, since sho was very intelligent
and cultured, as further conversation
revealed. "When thoy reached K
thoy ported with real regret; Sadio
wishing tho lady, whose nameshedid
not know, a Bale and pleasant jour
ney. Laura was delighted with the flow
ers, which had kept wonderfully fresh,
more than delighted to see her friend,
nnd in tho happy, busy days which
followed all remembrances of tho lady
with whom sho shared tho flower's
gradually faded from Sadie's mind.
One day thero came a letter from
home in Harry's handwriting, which
contained the following paragraph:
"Tho other day the expressman
brought a box addressed to you.
Mother was dying with curiosity to
know what was in it. Of course. I
had none, being u man, but at her
solicitation I opened the box. It
contained a boautifl panel, painted
in oils, of wild asters, witli a spray
of golden-rod. Underneath lay a
card, on one side of which was in
scribed; 'George L. Cranstoun. Bos
ton, Mass.' On the other: 'Will Miss
Farnham please accept as a slight
token ofgratitudo for kindness shown
my mother whilo traveling.'
"I wrote to Charles Livingston,
inquiring in a casual way if ho know
him. When he replied, ho spoke
very enthusiastically of him, and
asked where I had met him. So
father wrote to young C, acknowl
edging receipt of box, with thanks
for contents.
"Now, I should like to know, al
though, as you know, I've no curios
ity, what you've been up to? Wasn't
my last charge to you a solemn
warning not to get into scrapes?"
Luura said it was most romantic;
quite like a story: and when Sndie
left for homo declared she knew her
depnrturo was hastened by a desire
to sco that panel.
Sadie hod no adventure during the
homeward journey, having a seat to
herself most of the way. The re
mainder of it was occupied by on old
gentleman, who took snuff and hod
catarrh, saying "1111! urn!" in tho
most emphatic manner after each
application ol his hand kerchief.
The panel was almost tho first
thing shown Sadio on her arrival.
"And how did you happen to give
your name and address to an cntiro
stronger?" chorused the fnmilv.
"Why, I didn't."
"How did sho know it. then?"
.lust then Harry's eyes happened
to fall on the pretty bag with a
silver plate. In 11 voice brimming
with mischief he rend: "Miss Sadio
M. Farnham, Pleusnntvillc, Me.,"
and added: "I suppos you labeled
yourself with that all tho way, didn't
you. hatiie, hue a package sent by
express.
"The idea! T kept the plate out
of sight all the way; but 1 left it on
tho scot when I went out to get some
lunch."
"it's wonderful to me," said Horry,
"that you didn't leave it somewhere
altogether, that being your usual
custom."
Autumn passed, and early winter.
With tho holidays cnino another
package to Sadie in care of her
lather. The box, when opened, was
found to contain a beautiful lace pin,,
tho design a spray ot asters, from
Mrs. Cranstoun. Later come a very
charming letter from tho lady, beg
ging Sadie's acceptance of the' gift.
All thoyoung readers ore saying:
"Why doesn't she hurry up and tell
when Mr. Cranstoun como to son Sa
dio, made lovo und was accepted?"
My dear girls, I leave von to imag
ine that part, and I will dimply tell
you that Mr. C. camoup with Char
lie Livingston in tho winter, nnd
when tho asters bloomed again there
was fi quiet wedding, in which Sadio
Farnham and George Cranstoun
were central figures.
.And the bride wore asteis instead
of orange blossoms how odd? Ana
bel C. Andrews, in "Woman s Maga
zine. Bogus Krjjs.
Artificial eggs hove been sold
in
Pittsburg and offered to the public
instead of real ones. A woman
walked into tho olliceof tho board of
health on 7th street with a basket
containing four dozen eggs.
. "All theso eggs have been manufac
tured and not 0 single one has been
laid by a hen!" the woman oxclnimed
to 0110 ol the health officers. "What
am I to do about the matccr?" sho
then asked.
Tho gentleman took up ono of tho
eggs, looked at it, and gazed at the
woman in astonishment, saying
" hat is wrong with tho
(?
eggs:
Thoy look all right, ana 1 aon c seo
any differenco between them and nny
other eggs. You mean to say that
thoy aro manufactured? Thoy may
bo rotten, but I don't think that this
egg was mado by tho ingenuity of
any human mind."
"Well, then, you are just a little
mistaken, thnt is all," said the wom
an, "and 1 will prove it to you.
Look here, new, at this egg."
Sho took ono of them" from the
basket and broko it and when the of
ficers observed the yelk their faces
bore the evidence of unmistakable
wonder.
In shapo tho yelk wns similar to
that of a real egg, but its color dif
fered somewhat from thnt article, be
ing darker and of a browner tint
than tho ordinary egg. Besides that,
however, tho yelk ot the falso eg;g
consists of a more jelly-liko sub
stance. Its composition appeared to con
sist of gelatine, syrup, and starch.
The whito of this manufactured arti
cle looked exactly like tho white of
tho real egg. It had tho same trans
parent appearance, and tho imitation
seemed to be perfect.
But tho most puzzling thing isthe
shell. Thero is no differenco notice
able to tho eye at all, and it is not
wondered that any one should buy
such an egg as real hen fruit.
Tho entire article, outside of tho
yelk, is a porfect counterpart of any
thing wo seo in tho real egg. Th
woman bought them in the market
atSOcents a dozen.
Dreamed ho wns a Horse.
There nre dreams and there nro
dreams dreams which are as vague
as thin nir and drenms which make
and leave an impression on the mind
which days cannoteradicate; dreams
which make us laugh and drenms
which make us cry; dreams which are
foolish and simple; drenms which are
profound nnd mysterious; butit was
left, for good old Parson Squills of
Florida to dream that he was a
horBc one of your masculine, notey,
neighing, kicking kind.
The good old parson hadmnnynp
pointments far and wide apart and
somo days he rodo as much ns four
teen hours to reach the more remote
ones from his home. Ono night n bout
dark he rode up to a good brother's
house to spend the night. Tho broth
er had been killing hogs, and at sup
per the table was laden with spare
ribs, sausage, hog's-hend cheese, etc.
The parson had missed his dinner nnd
had a keen appetite, and he could
not resist the tempting, steaming
bites ot choice meats beforehim,nnd,
unmindful of dyspepsia or v1it not,
he ate very heartily.
At a seasonable hour he wag shown
to his room, and ho retired for tho
night. Tho good farmer brother was
also wearied from his day's labor,
and he also retired early.
About midnight, says the Valdosta
(Go.) Times, tho former was nrouscd
from a peaceful slumber by a consid
erable noibo somewhere about the
premises. He lifted his head from the
pillow, and he plainly heard a horse
neighing, whickering, and kicking
violently against tho stable door,
and assuming at onco thnt tho visit
or's hoie had gotten out of tho sta
le, and was creating a riot ninong his
own stock, ho bounced out of bed,
hurriedly dressed nnd stepped out of
his bedroom doorintothehnll. Then
his nttention was drawn to tho par
son's room across the hall, where he
heard the horse squealing und neigh
ing, and kicking bom bam bam!
and puzzled beyond measure, heiore
ed into the room, and ns the farmer
opened the door ho sow the outlines
of the good man standing erect in
tho middlo of the floor, and he heard
him panting for breath, which was
followed by a long-draw sigh of releif.
'Strike a match my good broth
er," said theparson, between breaths,
nnd then he ejaculated: "Pshwhcw!
Good snkes alive, I must bo a fool!"
The brother struck u light and lie
found tho bedstead scattered and
broken up. The footbar was shot
tered and the moss of bedstead and
bedding had como down upon the
floor in a heap. "Pshwliew! ' ejnenl
uted the parson again. "I n ut be
a fool 1 dreamed 1 was a horse and
I thought I wns kicking at the barn
door. Fetch tholightthis way, broth
er. I don't believe thero is any skin
left on my heels!"
The bedstead wns post further ser
vice nnd the brother hod to spread
the parson's bed on the floor.
Addicted to the eert.
A "Waterbury man drove into An.
souin, Conn., a few dajs ago with .m
aged and apparently gentlo horse
On his return, in going up Foundry
lull the horpo balked. Everything
wns done that a numerous helpful
crowd of bystanders suggested, from
blowing in his nose to building a fire
under him, but tho beast would not
move.
At this point an Ansoniaman hap
pened along, and, looking at the
horse, he recognized it as one he had
known many years ogo and ho vol
unteered to start him without diffi
culty. Telling tho Waterbury man
to get into tho carriage, he borrowed
a big chew of fine-cut tobacco from
ono of the crowd, stopped up to the
horse, and inserted it between his
teeth. The horse actually seemed to
grow younger. Ho chewed onco or
twice, gave a blight whinny, and
started off, and no further trouble
was experienced on tho homeward
trip. The man said the horse learn
ed to chew tobacco when a colt by
nosinga paper out of his owner's
pocket, and the habit clung to him.
Up in Waterbury, says tho New
York Sun's correspondent, a father
and son each smokes a pipe. The
father uses ono kind of tobacco,
while the son uses nnother. Ono
morning recently the father said to
his son: "John if you have got so
you like the Turkish brand why
don't you buy it?" Tho son roplied:
"Well, father, 1 was just thinking
that if you are so well pleased with
tho Virginia mixture you sliould use
it altogether instead of yourown."
Tho father and son thereupon,
camo to an understanding. Each
denied using tho other's tobacco,
and its mysterious disappearance
from their respective jars was tho
causo of much suspicion. Sunday
afternoon the father lay On a lounge
in tho sitting-room, nnd, by chance,
glanced through on open door just
in time to see the family cat jump on
the table where tho tobacco-jars were
kept.
It exceedinsrlv surnrised him to
see the cat put her paw first into ono
jar and then tho other and paw out
a big wad of tobacco, which she
eagerly devoured. This sho did for
norlmns fifteen minutes, and then
jumping on to tho floor proceeded to
tho back of tho store and lay down
calmly.
Later in the day tho same perform
ance was gone through with, and the
entire family saw it, though they
could scarcely believe it. Tho cat
has been stolen several times, but
has always como back homo oguin
in a famislied condition, but began
to fatten up just as tho tobacco be
gan to disappear.
f-
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