Hemingford herald. (Hemingford, Box Butte County, Neb.) 1895-190?, May 15, 1896, Image 4
"Tf' ST - ? H .1 n H w ft If! t I p jiuag wim HOLES. Ituvt Pratt sat In tho south win 4km of the kitchon, knitting. Bho 3mhIh right to sit there, for alio paid Iter board punctually, having mtBnan as tho neighbors said. Wh&t tho Potters would havo 4om without her board to help thorn i&eycoakl.&ot think now they had it. Yet before Mrs. Potter's Undo Sbesczcr died they had lived just as 3Mbj other poor people- live. Undo ZlMncjEer had never helped his nicco at all Binco ho gavo her a modest cmtfit and a hundred dollars in cash irhen she married Itowloy Potter, a jormg fellow who was gotting good -wages in tho great riflo factory at JI. Zxroieo was pretty, capable, bright girl then; but that was twenty years ago. Now sho was a thin, sallow, freUVd woman. Potter still worked in tho riflo shop," as they called it, &et bo had only $1 a day, more wages -than when ho was married, and thcro ttoto four children. Lottie, 18 years &&, pretty, pert and vain, worked in ji hosiery. Tom, 10, waB in a nut and holt "shop;" Idnllu, a girl of 14, was a "cosh girl" in Holmes & Har per's great dry-goods storo. Tom and Lotty paid thoir board, "Idy" clothed herself, sho could got bargains id remnants so cheap; when sho should be promoted into a "sales lady," sho, too, would pny like tho others. Tho fourth child, little Davy, -was only 10; ho went to a publio school. "When Aunt Pratt was loft a widow, she made up hor mind to Bell tho Jarxn and board somewhere; sho had so children, but sho did havo rheuma twm enough to t.irohcr with its aches sad stiffness more than a family of the aoiscst boys and girls could lave tired her. Tho farm was a good tmc, well improved, tho houso and tarns in thorough repair, nnd there were Bix cows and two horses, as troll as plenty of farming imple ments. Sho got 4,500 for tho whole Tiio noighbnrs said it wus worth more; tho buyer said it was worth less; bo shrewd Aunt Pratt considered tho prico fair. Then thoro was $1,G00 in tho Dalton Bank, tho slow accumulation erf butter monoy, egg money, tho sale of poultry nnd calves; 0,000 in all, and every cent of it her own. Squire Hart, of Dalton, who was ex ecutor of tho will, invested tho money hi saJo ways at 0 per cent, and Mrs. Pratt began to look about her for n home. Sho knew that Louisa Potter had felt hurt about hor Undo Pratt's trill;ho.only left to her her grand mother's mahogany furniture and tho savings bank book in which ho bad deposited tho profits mndo out oftboFrieslnnd beusand tho white letter calf sho hnd left in his hands when sho marriod a sum amount ing to $100 now. But Louisa und her husband had Kcpcctcd more, and Mrs. Pratt was a oet woman, capable of understand ing other peoples feelings; so sho did aot wonder. After much thought and without any suggestion from them, sho proposed to como into 11. and board with Louisa. So they gave up to her Lotty's front bed room, and put Lotty in with Ida; mad as they cooked and nto in tho samo room where they sntnt evening. Aunt Pratt's rocker, her foot-stool, lier small round tablo nnd her work basket were established in tho sunny south window, whero sho could look down into tho sky, for this tenement -wns on a corner, and the Potters had the third story flat. It was a great change for Aunt Pratt, but Bho whb a woman brought up in tho old Now England fashion, to do what sho perceived to be a du ty, however unpleasant and nainful. without shrinking or complaint; and ihe had made up her m ind that it was her dutv to help the Potters. Sho missed tho fresh nir of the farm, the quiet of her own house, tho new milk, the sweet butter, tho good liread; but sho said nothing as slio at, day after duy, in her window, laiittingor mending, her big Bible open on tho stand, and her thoughts very busy with tho things around Jier, as well ua with tho things that are above For Aunt Pratt bad made a resolution to lenve her money in tho way it would do her relatives tho most good, nnd sho irnmt tudy them and their customs before alio could discover what that way was. Sho soon found out that tney wero in ways in debt. Potter liad good wuges. Lotty and Tom were off his hands, Ida had only her iourd given her, and Davy was in heritor to Tom's old clothes and his .father's too. It seemed to Aunt 2ratt that there must be n leak somewhere that she did not discover at once. 6he was reading her biblo of course, sad pne day came upon a verso in the prophecy of Haggai that seemed to explain the situation to her, nnd opened her eyes. Tho next day Lot tycumeis shivering, Bhe had caught severs cold and huddled over the cook-stovo wrapped in an old Bhnwl. coughed and sighed and scolded all day, till eho was too hoarse to spenk. "Havo you got on your winter flannels?" asked Aunt Pratt, for it was now November. "Flannels? I guess not. Ihaven't got any." "Whv. Lottvl" "Well, poor folks can't have every thing. I'd got to havo a winter suit, and there was such a lovely ono at tho Boston store; a satin petticoat, with drapery of camel's hair imita tion, I mean, but awfully pretty and a real splendid basquo with satin vest and gilt buttons; only 20. I tell you, Aunt Pratt, it was a swell and no mistake; but I couldn'taflbrd soft flannels after that." "Is it a thick dres87" queried Aunt Pratt. "No, not so very; not so thick ob this filiopdrcss; but I don't mind that Inin'tcold-hlobdod;"' "And yourshoen, nro they thick?" "Oh, thoy'ro just choap boots; thick soles do cost so. My bcBt ones nro French kid with lovely high heels. They can't havo thick soles." "And have you got a warm petti coat?" "Mercy! I don't want to bo all humped up with things. I've got an old felt skirt and a striped cambric for ovory dny, and four white ones, trimmed with edging." Aunt Pratt shook hor head. "A holo in the bag! A holo in tho bag!" sho said sadly. "Why, what upon" but a fit of coughing stopped tho words and left Dotty's chest so boto sho did not fin ish her question. Sho was so ill that night a doctor was sent for a young man round tho corner, just bnginning practice, there fore cheaper than a man of experi ence. Ho ut onco proceeded to blister his putiont and givo hor antimony. Low delirium set in, nnd for six weeks Lotty was unublo to leavo her bed, and for a month moro sho could not go to work. Bills camo in to twico the amount of tho bluo dress's price, and could not be paid. ''Oh, what a holo in the bng!"Bigh ed Aunt Pratt. "When Lotty wus a littlo better, her father enino in ono noon with a hand bill given to him in tho streot a flaming advertisement of tho "Black Crook" performance. "Say, Lou, don't you want to go to this to-night? It's a month o' Sundays since wb've had a lark; let's go." ho said, tossing tho play bill in to his wife's lap. "Oh, pa," screamed Idalln, "tako mo. On, do! Now won't you?" "'N'mo too," screamed Davy, who had a hoarso cold. "Oh, shut up!" snapped Potter. "I don't wnnt two babies taggin' at my heels. Somobody's got to stay with Lott." "Why; there's Aunt Pratt," said Ida. "Maybo sho'dliko to go; would you Aunty? asked Potter, blandly. Ho had a mind to keep the right side of a woman with "means." "Mo said tho old lady with a stern reproof in her voice nnd face. "Mo go to such a place? No indeed!" "Well, well! everybody to their mind. I liko a bit of fun first rate, now and then. We go quite con siderable, first and last; a body must bo amused." "O, father!' put in Mrs. Potter, urged by tho whispered tensing and cross faces of Ida and Davy, "dotake them children nlong! Ida hasn't been nowhere sinco Lott wns took Bick; and Davy's only a boy. Lot him havo a good time while ho can; his troubles will come fast enough beforo long. Now, do let 'em go." 'Well, I guess they cnn. Lott won't wnnt 'em if Aunt Prntt'a here." So at night ho enmohomewithfour tickets to the performance, a bag of peanuts and a paper of cundy, nnd they set out to enjoy themselves, Tom had announced atnoon that ho was "goin' to tuko his girl." AuntPrattgroaneditispirit. "At other holo in tho bag, anil n big one!" she Bald to herself. When would tho doctors's bill and the debts at tho drug storo and tho grocer's ever bo piid? Aunt Pratt had nhvays lived in the country and been honest. Sho had no experionco of the class who crowd our theaters, minstrel show halls und cir cuses, who buy cheap finery nnd ex pensive, poor peer nnu niui nutter, nut never pay their rent or lay up ono penny in all their lives. As spring came on Aunt Pratt noticed one day that Potter looked disgusted with his dinner, nnd Lotty left hers untasted. No wonder! Aunt Pratt could notentit herself. Tho potatoes wero poor and boiled to a watery, insipid mass: tho calves' liver fried to n black, leathery substance; tho bread old and dry, nnd tho turnips rank and unsavory. "I say, Pal" exclaimed Tom, "wo'ro all gettin' spring poor. I don't euro a imng lor my vittles. Let's have a dozen of lager, that'll set us all up." So tho lager came, wns used up, nnd another dozen ordered, und then another; but the appetites did not improve nor the cooking. At last tho beer seller refused to fetch more, unless what ho had brought them was paid for. "Oh, dear! Oil, denr!" sighed Aunt Pratt. "What a holo in tho bag!" Next day sho said to her niece: "Lowisy, will you let mo buy nnd cook the dinner to morrow? I'll make you a present of all thovittlesl get, if you will." Louisa consented, much nstonish ed, nnd Aunt Pratt camo back from market with two pounds of solid beef a course piece, it is true, but cheap and fresh: Sho bought a few onions, n carrot and ono small stalk of celery, tho whole cost 80 cents. Then sho prepared a stew, and par ing tho potatoes put them in cold water till it Eas time to ftdd them; the celery, two onions, half a carrot sliced thin, was put in with the beef, which eho had cut into pieces of per haps two inches Bquarc. Salt nnd pepper wero sprinkled in liberally, and ob sho put on her stew beforo breakfast and lot it simmer all morn ing, adding tho sliced potato at 11 o'clock, it wob well done by noon. "George! how good tho dinner jmcllsl" ejaculated Tom. "Got roast turkey Lou?" inquired Potter, sniffling and smelling. Even listless Lou wanted some din ner that day; the rest recovered their appetites without any moro lager! "1 wish tho land you lenrn c nriA&in' of Aunt Prattl" Baid Potter. "I wonder if I havo Bowed up that holo?" thought Aunt Pratt. But she hud not. Louisa was too old to loam nowt tricks, as wo say nbout dogB; sho continued to buy tho best meat and cook in theworstwny, and still tho money leaked from thut hole in tho bug. "Hullo, Tom!" Baid Potter ono Sun day morning, as Tom sauntered into tho room with a half-smoked cigar in hio mouth. "Ain't you toney? Whv. that rignr smells like n rol" Aunt 1'ratt wondorcu what sort of roso had an odor liko tobacco. AW U'. VllfllU IV) DLlllV'llillUUDiy remarked Tom. "Them fellers cost mo 5 cents upicco by tho hundred." "Well, I kin put up my pipe so fur; but you young fellers havo got to havo your fling. I reckon. By'm-by you'll fall back on brier wood and nigger head." "Another hole in tho bag," mur mured Aunt Pratt, who had patient ly darned Tom's threndbaro socks nnd patched his worn shirts for him every week for months. "Well, hero I bo!" shouted Potter as ho camo in ono Monday morning about 10 o'clock. "Why, what has fetched you home7" inquired his wife. "Oh, our fellows havo struck; wo'ro goin' to havo less work nnd moro pay; thom darned capitalists have overrodo us long enough: we're bound to havo our Bharo oT tho dol lars wo make, now I tell youl" "For tho mercy's sake!" ejaculated Louisa. Where are you going to work now?" dryly asked Aunt Pratt. "Why, back again as Boon as tho bosses como to terms." "But supposin' thoy shouldn't." "Oh, they've got to, can't loso their contrucks, no way; we've got 'om whero tho hair's short." "But supposin' thoy hold out for a month's or Bix weeks?" "Oh, wo got allowance out of tho assessments; wo ain't going to starve." "Who's paying them assess ments?" "Tho fellors what have got monoy laid away; they're taxed for tho gen eral good; so much a week till tho strike's over." "Be you ussessed?" "Lord! do you think I've cot n cent in the bnnk? Four children and starving wages. What's $3 a day with four in tho family, an' clothes na' rent, nn' vittles, an' light, an' fuel, an' doctors, an' Lord knows what all?" "A bag with holes!" ran through Aunt Pratt's mind as she looked back on tho pnst six months. Weeks passed on; tho "bosses" were not only firm but hired other men in tho Btriker's places and went on with contracts. Potter sulked, and lounged and swore, nnd mndo his pipe and himself a daily nuisance in tho house. Beforo long Aunt Pratt discovered that the assess ments were decreasing, and alarmed lest Potter should insists on sharing her Bmall property nmonghis brood, on communistic principles, she quiet ly withdrew herself ono day to an Old Ladies' Home, where the payment of a small sum insured her pencelul nnd pleasant homo for life, nnd from her retreat sho gavo much uid and comfort to tho women of the Potter family, but refused any to tho two men. "I can't waste my pittanco on beer nnd tobnccol" sho said Bharply; nnd sho mennt what she said. When sho died, her monev was all left to tho Homo whero sho lived, to en dow two freo admissions, tho three women of the Potters to have tho preference "I hnve lived, said the document, after the terms of the bequest." to seo what tho Biblo meant whore it soys in Haggai, i. 0. "Yo ent, but yo havo not enough; yo drink, but yo are not filled with drink, ye clothe you, but there is none warm; nnd ho that enrneth wages enrneth wages to put in a bag with holes;' and I will not leavo behind mo any dollars to fro intn thnt li.-mv" "Old crankl" said the disappoint ed Potter, when tho lnwyer finished rending. "Who? Haggi?" politely inquired that gentleman. Roso Tcrrv Cooke. i - A Great Philanthropist, On tho last pngo of his interesting recollections George W. Child's writes; "If asked what, as the result of my experience, is the greatest pleasure in life I should say, doing good to others. Not a strikingly original remnrk perhnps, but seemingly tho most difficult thing in tho world is to bo prosperous and generous nt tho sumo time. During tho wur I asked a very rich man to contribute some money to a certain relief fund. 'Childs,' ho said, 'I enn'tgiveyou any thing. I havo worked too hard for my money.' That is just it. Being generous crows on ono just as being menn does. Tho disposition to give nnd to bo kind to others should bo inculented and fostered in children. It seems to mo that is the wuy to improve tho world and make happy tho people who are in it." " A DETECTIVE'S STOBY. Two men sat togother in tho reni Beat of a smoking enr on ono of our railroads nnd chatted familiarly o thoups and downs of a miner' b lifo the topic being suggested by a land scape dotted with coal-broakcrs and furrowed with coal roads. Tho freedom and interest of their conversation did not seem to bo dam pened by tho fact that the younger of the two carried a revolver, whilo his companion wore a pair of those uncoveted articles of jewelry which nro known in criminal circles us "bracelets." Tho few persons who had observed them learned from tho confidential brnkeman that they were a noted de tective and his prisoner on the way to trial. As far as ages went tho pair might havo been taken for father und son, tho fine gray head of tho ono contrasting strongly with tho crisp brown curls of his captor. " hat crime had been committed tho brnkeman did not know, but haz arded a conjecture that it "must havo been a pretty hard one, or George Munson wouldn't have took tho trouble to put thom things on his wrists." Presently tho brnkeman and tho conductor satisfied the joint demands of etiquette nnd curiosity by stopping to exchange n few wordB with the de tective; tho former then perched him self up the coal-box directly behind tho prisoner, and tho latter dropped magnificently into tho seat in front. Tho train was sweeping nround a curve nnd pnst a ruined trestle on tho hillside nt which both of the pas sengers looked with some interest. "I remember that place," said tho older man. "So do I," responded tho younger; "I was born there. Cume near being buried there, too," ho resumed alter a moment's pause. ' How wns that?" It's a protty long story," said tho detective, "but I guess we'll havo time for it between this nnd the next sta tion. Way up there on the slope is the littlo settlement whero I made my debut, so to speak; from it to the bottom of tho hill there used to bo a gravity road a long, winding track renching from tho settlement down to tho top ol a bank wnllofeurth whero a shdo occurred the year I was born. On both sides of tho track grew saplings thut had Bprung up Binco tho disaster (what I am telling you occurred fivo years later), and they crowded the road andhungover the old rusty rails on which tho conl cars used to run. You must remem ber that the houses wero built near the mouth of the pit that was ono of the first mines worked in this country,- nnd ono of tho first to bo abandoned. Timo I am telling about some men wero walking up the truck, and a lot of children piayingnear tho top, climbing in nnd out of an old car which had lain there sinco it made its last trip with tho broken spraggs still in its wheels. "The men were miners, all but ono of them, who questioned his com panions about their work und tho country they lived in. He was evi dently n stranger. "Presently, us they.tulked, a shout from tho top of the slope attracted their attention, andihey looked up just in timo to see tho car begin to move slowly down the grnde. "There was an impatient exclama tion fromthooldest man in the party. 'Them brats is alway up to somo mischief,' he said. 'They have started that old thing off ut last; I've been oxpectin' to see it go at any time this five year. They'll bo break ing their necks yet with their tom fooling.' And another of tho group ndded: 'Wo must dust out of this lively, unless wo want to get our necks broke; she'll either jump the rail or go to pieces ut tho bottom; lucky there ain't no ono aboard of her.' "The stranger was looking anx iously up nt tho r.pproaching runa way. His quick eye had caught sight of something round nnd golden ubovo "the car rim. " 'There's a child in thnt car,' ho Baid quietly. "It was n second or two beforo his compnnions renlized tho awful mean ing of thnt statement. A child! That was us if ho said that in a few moments some one perhups ono of themselves would be childless. "With one impulse thoy turned to look nt the broken rnils at tho edgo of tho fault. Shuddering, they fixed their eyes ngain on tho approaching mass, then hopelessly at each other. They could not dream of stopping tho.progress of tho car. But, quick as thought almost, tho stranger took hold of a supling nnd bent it down till it nearly touched the track. 'Hold on,' ho Baid to ono of the men, 'it will help to check her.' A rod further down another nnd then a third and fourth wero held in the same way. So four of tho party waited for a few breathless seconds, whilo tho two remaining ones hurried further down; but one more effort and tho car was upon them. Tho first obstnele was whipped out of tho hands of tho strong man who lipid it and the car rushed on to tho Bccoud with hardly lessened force. Again the barrier was brushed aside, but this timo tho Bpeed of tho old wreck was perceptibly less. By tho timo tho fifth obstruction was reached tho newcomer was ablo to clamber aboard and throw tho child into tho nrms of his companion, but beforehe hnd timo to save himself the old truck had regained something of its momentum nnd was plunging on to ward tho precipice. "Well, tho man jumped Justus thoy reached tho edge, just beforo his vehiclo shot over into tho air, hut ho had very littlo timo to chooso his ground, nnd bo landed, na luck would nave it, on tho only heap ofstones in sight. The others picked him up for dead and carried him up to tho set tlement, whero tho miners held n reg ular wako over him. But ho camo to lifo In tho middlo of tho festiv tho obsequies, I menn and found that ho was only crippled for lifo. "Tho minora folks not easily moved, wero enthusiastic about tho affair, and gavo such testimonials as they could to show their gratitudo and nppreciation. Ono of these ex pressions took tho form ofnBouvenir signed by every mnn in thoplnce.hnd stating in very grnndlloquet lan guage what the poor fellow had done. His quick wit seemed to them moro wonderful than his courngo and de votion, in a community where neith er quality is unusual at all. "The man who tukes his own life in his hand every day, and has fre quently to fight for tho lifo of somo companion values a 'brainy' action. In tho box of the tcstimonml wns a purso of fifty dollurs nnd a curious old gold cross, that had been treas ured by the brother of tho lnd who was saved us his ono piece of finery. On it was rudely engraved these words: " 'Given by the minors at tho Notch to the man who risked his lifo for a child.' "That was all. Tho poor fellow went tiwny nnd would have boon for gotten, only thnt tho old miners told tho story Bomotimes to their children." Tho prisoner was looking out of tho window. Tho conductor rustled around ns though ashamed of tho interest he hnd shown in tho story a story no doubt was pure fiction. Only tho brnkeman gavo away to his sympathy, nnd risked whether tho man had ever been found. "Not that I know of," replied tho detective. "And waB you the boy what ho saved?" "I wob the kid." "And you never heor'd tell whntbc camc of tho man what would you do if you shu'd come ncrost him some time." Evidently the brnkeman had un imagination which was trying to assert itself. "Oh! I'd try to even the thing up somehow. I suppose common decen cy would demand that. I'd treat him ns well as I know how." "Look here." said tho prisoner, turning from tho window with un op paront effort to change a conversation which for somorensonhadnotsecined to interest him "look here., old man, I've got a little keepsake that your story just reminded me of, nnd if I could get at it I'd ask you to tako charge of it for me till till this thing is over. If you'll put your hnnd in there nnd pull out that bit of ribbon; so" The conductor almost jumped out ol his seat. "Blamed if it ain't tho cross that you've just been telling nbout," ho shouted. A month later the dectective was under a cross-examination by the conductor and brnkeman. "Yes, ho was a bad lot. Oh, yes, ho didn't have a leg to stand upon. lho facts were all ns clear as day. All true about the cross and the rest of it? Just ns true as gospel. What had ho been doing? Throwing bombs tho Inst thing. Punished? Well, to tell, you the truth, they won't benpt to punish him till they catch him again, I guess. Fact is he got awuy from me somehow that same night. Who, me? Oh, no, I'm not on the force any more. I've been bounced." Lowell (Mass.) Courier. A Forcible Preacher. Whilo it is doubtful if Sam Jones' sermons will go in Boston, there is no doubt that his stylo hns a certain degreo of force. For instance, in Charlotte. N. C, tho other dny, ho said, umong other things: "I'd rather bo a lowdown chnin pang negro thnn one of your littleinfldels. You won't bo in hell two minutes beforo you'll bo hoppinc nround in tho firo and velliug: 'What a mistnfco 1 made.' I havo somo respect, for Bob Inger soll, because he can get 200 a night for his lecturing. But somo of theso littlo fellows are infidels for nothing, pay 2 to hear Ingersoll nnd board themselves. I understand you nro nil running 'society' here protty live ly. Society! A pair of 7f cent slip pers nnd a 1.25 wasp bonnet lots you into it. There is no manhood, no womanhood in it. Tho fruits of society, so-called, ore tho dudo and thedudine. If you don't liko what I'm sayinc, just get up on your hind legs nnd slide out." Adding to Death's Horrors. "Civilization has added n new hor ror to death," a gentleman whose daughter died recontly remarked tho other day. "Tlio mi inner oi men in New York City whose livelihood de pends upon how far a mourning fami ly can be impressed or can bo badgered into nccediug to their demands grows constantly, The very moment we fiut tho crnpo upon our door-bell tho louse was besieged by agents of li very stables who wanted to furniah us with carriages at Icsb than tho regular rates, by runners for undertakers' supplies, and venders of tombstones, nrtificinl wreaths, obituary verse, and every other conceivable device bearing upondeatli. People are par ticularly sensitive inn moment of be reavement, and on that account thoy shouid bo in some measure protected from tho attacks of thono sharks. You cnn havo no idea of the amount ol misery they cause. I suppose noth ingcnii bedohe about it, but it seems tomethntit ought to be a fit subject for legislative consideration." New York Sun. Women In The Treasury. About one-sixth of tho six thousand clerks employed in tho Government offices nt Washington aro womon. There nro n greater number omployedi inthoTreosury than in uny other de pnrtment. In 1801, a Miss Douglas was ap pointed, through Secretary Chaso's influence to a position in tho Treasu ry. Sho was put to cutting monoy nnd handled tho scissors bo skillfully that regular appointments of women wero mndo in 1802 whilo genera j Spinnerwns Treasurer. Miss Kellarv who was appointed at that timo still holds her position. Aboiitl8G4amachinowns invented for cutting tho money, and then the women wero put to counting money. Thoro wero one hundred nnd eighty employed in this way until the frac tional currency wns discontinued, nnd thoy were gradually discharged, until now there nro but forty in this de pnrtment. Thoy receive salnriea rnnging from 1,200 to 1,800. Mrs. Uosonburg who camo into this Department in 1803 still retains hor position, which is ono of tho best, and sho is nn expert at tho work of put ting into shapo mutilated money. Mrs. II. L. Wright nnd Miss Iloey arothemost efficient experts in coun terfeit money. Mrs. Fitzgerald, has been nt the desk twenty-five years, in tho Comptrol ler's office, where nil tho bank notes, como for redemption. Miss VanVrnnken and MissTtnlston, both of New York, aro employed in the law division, and among other duties they prepare briofs in compro mise enses. Miss Seavey, who is also in tho law division, receives n salary of 1,800, and directs tho work of a number of clerks. Sho is said to havo dono much to ndvanco the condi tion of women in tho employment ofthogovernment. She believes that, work dignifies women, nnd that wom on must tako that ground who wish to improvo the state of their Bex; theroforo those under her immediate care aro among tho best in tho Treas ury. The daughter of Corporal Tanner occupies tho position of privnte sec retary to Mr. Huston and receives 1,800 snlury. i Snakes in the Capitol. Pes Moines Register. Tho night watchman at tho state house was tho victim of an attack of snakes a few days ngo and mnde lowa's beautiful marble hnlls ro sound with his horrified shrieks. Tho thing happened in this wise: The watchman carries a master key and makes it his duty to inspect nil of the stuto-houso offices, carrying a lantern with him on his rounds. It wns near midnight when ho entered the oflico of the agricultural society. When he got to tho middle door ho sawohugo snnko stretched out before him. The fierce eyes and the darting tongue struck terror into the heart of the man who was looking for burglnrs. He rushed out and informed his part ner of the night-watch. Ho told tho story to tho second man, who did hot believe a word of it, or pretended not to. "Thero nro no snakes here; you must be drunk." "I tell you I saw him bnsking on the carpet, nnd if the beast is an inch long he is six feet und over." Tho two men, hugging encli other close, proceeded to tho spot. "When two rido on n horse ono mustrido be hind," says Dogborry. In this case each mnn wns anxious for tho other one to go first. Hut they went in, nnd, after hunting for a while, they found the rcptilo coiled up under un oflico lounge. Tho men wero horrified nnd rushed out of tho office to call Secretary Shaffer. "You fel ows must bo drinking,"" replied tho seqretary; "thoro is no snnko in my office." Other men wero rnlled in to ex plain tho mystery. Finally ex-Chief of Polico Bcull was found, and he ex plained that ho had captured a large bull snake, nearly six feet long, and, knowing that Mrs. Shaffer is in the habit of collecting Iowa curiosities, ho had put tho roptilo in a box and set it down in the oflico nfter Mr. Shnffer had gone home. The snake tired of imprisonment, hnd broke open tho box and escaped to strike terror into tho hearts of tho watch men, "ItisHiicli an odd place to find asuako," said tho watchman, niter ho got over IiIh norvousnoss, "that really I didn't know whether I hud tho delirium tremens or not, but I guess 1 hadn't," An Audacious Thief. For audacity, tho record of James Johnson, alius "Jersey Jim," "11. B. Harton." "E. A.Hobbs," and several other aliases, will probably equal that of any other notorious criminal known to tho police. Last week he entered one of tho largo hotels in this city nnd stolo a pnekago of letters, including one belonging to Alfred H. Torreceli, general agent of the Michi gan Central railroad, and containing his annual passesovernumerousrnil roods and a frank which entitles him to tho freo uso of tho Western Union Telegraph company for ono year. Theso useful articles Mr.Johnson placed in his wnllet, which ho lost, however, whilo on his way from Phil ndelphia to Trenton. Ou'discovering his loss ho deliberately inserted num erous advertisements requesting their return, and offered a liberal reward to tho finder. It was these notices that led to his arrest by tho Trenton police. Philadelphia Kecord. ?! i x - i UrnA i 1