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I ' A COMMON CASE.
mm
1. i We . wero all sorry for her I am sure ,
II' and as Jdim and I talked the matter
II * ovec a raoatl1 affcor sno MQd become a
| -widow , ! could hardly keep the tears
HS Lack.
II A vision of my husband carried
HI homo on a stretcher , dead , when life
I "was so sweet , camo to me and I said :
Hit"O , John , I feel just like going and
HI putting my arms around her and
HI crying-with her for a time.aud then.
HI asking her to tell me all her troubles
B Y f ° rI know she has them , great
j ones , too. "
Hj | "Do , dear , " answered John , "that
Hip is just what Ithinkyou ought to do. "
HI' "Perhaps overy one of her old
1 friends feels just as I have felt about
1 it , and so the poor thing may be
1 longing for a word of advice and en-
1 couragemerit and sympathy without
1 -ever hearing it. One can mind one's
1 own business too much sometimes ,
HIdon't you think so , John ? "
M He hesitated a full minute before he
1 -answered ( for John is over-cautious
H about accepting my assertions ) and
H then said : .
H "HardlyWhen a person is suffer
H ing , it becomes the business of those
H -around that person to relieve the suf-
H iering. "
H ; " 0 yes , but you know what I meani
H -John ; I don't care about analyzing
f so much. J am so afraid of seeming
M [ to interfere with what does not con-
J cern me that I have been so afraid to
f approach the subject , butlwillnow. ' '
H You see , John had that day learned
H that the § 5,000 insurance that the
H .young widow had received was fast
HE melting uway. Now that Clarence
j Thwait was dead , bills came pouring
j ' in , bills that she had never dreamed'
B ] & of , and , poor young thing , she never
K thought .of saying , ' no , " or wait , "
B "but paid every one as it came.
B John and I had been wondering
H ivhat she would do when the money
m -was gone , for it would not last long
j in Nettie's hands. She had never
B , known how to save , and as for that
B Clarence , her husband , had known
B jio better.
Hj They had lived like two children ,
B butwe all loved them * They were
H | so full of fun , so good natured and
HE .frank and so ready to do anything
H | for others that we never blamed them.
Hj "Then to look at Clarence one would
Hj ihave supposed that he would live [
B "thirty or forty years , but one never ,
H | -counts on accidents.
B "But Nettie is sure to find a way
H | to support herself and little ones , " I '
Hi said after a time. "You know , how ,
H often we have spoken of her intolli- ;
H -gence and brightness. Don't you i
H _ remember asking her one evening
E. "when she was here about six weeks '
H ago it there was anything : she didn't i
H " -know ? "
H "Yes , but a woman may be intel- ]
H "ligent and bright and pleasing in
H company , but still not know how i
H -to earn her living. I advise you to i
H go to her , dear , and find out what
H -she means to do. We may be able 1
H to help her. There is not the least i
H danger of her mistaking your mo-
H -tives. "
K- Well , that afternoon I went , and 1
H -was so glad afterward that I did. *
H I found her. sitting with her two
I little girls , and Oh , the stony 4.ook of •
w ?
H F * -despair on\her sweet face. Ihadbeen j
H wondering how I should begin , for I ]
H had never spoken of ways and means '
H ito her before , but there was no need
H of the speech I had made up. One l
H look at that drawn face was enough.
H I just took her iu my arms and cried *
H - over her as if I were her mother. Then l
H -I said : ]
H * * 'Nettie , my dear , I've come to see '
H * what you are going to do. You (
H won't mind telling me , will you ? " l
H "Mind ! 0 , if you only knew how
H good it is of you to come and ask *
H me. I've been feeling as if no one *
H -cared. " r
H < "They all care , Nettie , but I think x
H we all stayed away for the same rea- *
H • -son we did not like to seem officious. *
H We will all be so glad to help you in
H my way you like. " f
H "But what can I do ? " she said del
I qectedly. J
I "In the first place , you won't want *
H 'to keep this immense house , nor the c
I -horses. You can save a little fortune *
I - oy giving these up every year. Many f (
I" .a poor man with a large family earns
| . less than tho rent of this house a
I : .year. " ? c
| "Yes , yes , I suppose so. Yes , the < 3
| ; liorses , carriage , coachman and n
I' . house must go. I've thought of E
I that , but I can get no further. " s
| ; "We must find a pretty little ones
| . -story cottage loryou somewhere near a
| us , dear , and then you must teach
| ? something , " I said as cheerily as r
| ? - possible. x
| ; "Yes , but what ? " \
| . "You sing so beautifully , Nettie , " r
| I suggested.
| "I have a natural gift , I learn by a
| ear , I know so little. 0 , yon would I
B ; be astonished if you knew how very
ml tfittle information I reallyhaveabout 1
M -music , " she responded candidly. v
M > "Sewing is such drudgery , " I venr
B " tared again. a
* &
< * & % * > . "But I can't sew , dear Mrs ? Hill. I
m\ was married as soon as I left school , s
s -and I've had a couple of seamstress-
| p- es every spring and fall to come into g
\ ; , thehouse to make all that wasneeded i
L ' * ' for myself and children. I can buy t
. . goods " ? ery well , I believe I have good t
: . . -.taste , but I can't make them np. "
I thought a little , and then said : a
\ ' ' "Wouldn't you do well at feat v
- school where you went to learn , art a
" t
• meedlework ?
"Yes , as well as most of the scholj v
• XV. n-arg , I learned to make cat-tails and
vwiter-lfliee , and then spmethinghap-
; vpesed .to prevent my going and then n
K * th # term ended. But supposing I k
I eovld gtt • • ougn orders for cat-tails t
% ad-w tot > Iiiit , now much a day do d
E
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you think I could earn workingeight
hours I know I could not do more
than that ? "
"I'm all 'lost there , " "T'said , " 1
haven't nn idea. "
"About two' shillings , " she an
swered flushing. "You see , ray
friend , I've been over and over it all
in tho night when I can't sleep I
But tho poor little thing broke
down there and had to cry awhile. It
does do a woman so much good to
cry.
cry."Ihavoitl" Icried at last triumph
antly. How silly not to think of it
before. "You can tench school , and
get seventy-five dollars a month ! "
"But the examination ! "
"Tho examination ? " I said inter
rogatively.
"Yes. I could not pass an exam
ination. "
"Not pass an examination ? Why ,
John says you are one of tho best in
formed women he has ever met , and
you know we meet a great many.
That's all ridiculous modesty , dear ,
I shall begin to scold you soon , " 1
answered.
But she shook her head sadly.
"You and your husband are vesy
good to think so well of me , and per
haps I can talk well , but when it
comes to arithmetic , geography , and
all the other studies I'm Bure I could
not answer a quarter of their ques
tions. You know , " sho said apolo
getically , "for six years I've been
only too glad to forget everything
dull and uninteresting. Clarence
only wanted me to think of being-
happy ; and we were so happy. "
"My love , you could give lessons
in 'being happy' and there are many
illnatured people who could take
your leRsons with profit , but I'm
afraid you could not get scholars.
I'm sure I don't know what to ' sug
gest now , but we have not gottoset
tle the matter to-day , nor for many
days , for I am going to have a long
visit from you and the girlies before
you go to housekeeping again. John
thinks he knows someone who will
take the house , so when you give it
up , you must come straight to us ,
and there will be plenty of time
then to talk this all over , and we are
sure to find something you can do. "
She kissed me and thanked me as
well as she could with her sobbing ,
and I went away.
I confess I felt puzzled as I went
home , but 1 was glad thatlhadgone
to her. She knew now that loving
friends ' wereintrestedin her welfare
and would not cease their offorts
until she was placed in an indepen
dent position. I felt that her waking
hours that night would be less ter
ribly burdened with woe than they
bad been before.
I told John all about it when I
reached home , aud he said :
"I was afraid that you would find
bhings just in that state , wife. The
sooner she comes here to ns the bet
ter. The house can be let in a week
md it will not take long to find a
ittle cot somewhere near us. I'm
nuch afraid the future troubles will
: onquer her. "
"Indeed you need not be , John , " I
mswered almost indignantly , for.
nen hare so little faith in woman's
steadfastness. "She seemed only anx-
ous to find something that she
: ould do , I don't believe she dreams
) f shrinking from that thing when it
s found. "
"Not if it is somthing pleasant , "
le returned.
"Not if it is something , unpleas-
int , " 1 answered , for I was uphold-
n < r not Nettie alone , but all woman-
and. "John , men shrink from un-
) lea # sant things more than women ,
jeca use they haven't such a high
dea of dutv. "
He did not look convinced , but
visely kept silent.
"Don'tyou think we might get her
lere next week ? " 1 asked presently.
"Yes , as I said before , the sooner
he better. When all js settled I am
ure he ycin'lj haye jo , thousand dol-
ars leftr Bow Clarence cbuld have
et so many bills run on when he had
uch a splendid salary I cannot im-
igine ! "
"Well , don't blame him now ,
Fohn , " I said , for I h ave a foolishly
oft feeling for the dead. I have al
ways felt that the great emancipa-
or , Death , carries a mirror in which
> ne sees one's faults aud follies im-
aediately upon being set free.
John laughed a little at me men
ire so callous but agreed with me
hat Nettie must come to us. We
nade many plans for them that |
ight , and when I communicated i
hem to Nettie the next day she wilI I
ingly assented to all.
Within a week the pale young wjdi i
w and her two little girls were with ,
s. I wouldhave no talk about \
rhat she was to do. for two weeks , I
old her. She was merely to accept i
fthe rest , the freedom from care , •
he love and sympathy that were of1 1
sred her , and to try to get well. 1
Poor young thing , she did try i
er best to be cheerful , but her hours '
f weeping and sorrowing were fre-
uent and severe. It had been such i
n unlooked for blow. There had I
ot been a moment's time in whichto *
chool the heart for its load or \
trengthen the courage for enduri i
nee.
So a month passed by , and one '
lorning as we sat cozily together in
xj morning room , she told me sho '
; ould not put off the discussion of
er future any longer- . ;
"I must face it , and Ifeel that I am
cting the part of a coward by dei i
lying it , " she said resolutely.
Howl did wish that John could |
ear her talk to me. "There is no ;
reakness in that quarter , " I said \
lentally. "She is a noble woman •
nd thinks only of duty. "
"Well , we will talk it over if youde- ; _
ire it so much , " I answered. " ' ;
Then we went all over the old
round again , and she convinced me ,
men against my own inclination , i
bat she could do none of the things
bat bad been suggested. I
We. talked of typewritings but
greed that there were more typei i
Titers than could get employment
Iready , and even if she spent the i
ime and money to learn that there
as no assurance of a position. i
At last I said : , " 1 am going to \
aggest something , Nettie , that may I
ot be pleasant toyou , but you I
now it is only with the best inten- \
on that I do it , and you , will not I
o it , of * course , if you . N think you . \
. "
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couldn't bring yourself to it. I al
ways told John that you gave the
nicest teas and lunches of any jpnc
of bur friends. I always said it was
because you attended the cooking
school and learned just how things
should be done you. know John
didn't want mo to go. Now yon
could easily makeup your fine dishes
at home and hire a boy t6 carry
them down to tho Woman's Ex
change. " I saw her flush , and added
hastily ; "You know , this would
only be for a short time. I'm sure
something better will present itself
after a little. "
She hid her burning cheeks and
commenced to cry softly. I confess I
was a little annoyed , much as Iloved
her , for I think one can dignify labor
and make it lovely if one chooses ,
but that idleness is never dignified
nor to bo respected in any one.
"Why do you cry at my sugges
tion ? " I asked in a moment.
"I am so ashamed , so thoroughly
ashamed , " she replied , "to have
to acknowledge that I know al
most nothing of cookery. Iwenttc
the cookingt school it is true , just be
cause it was the craze and the fashion
for ladies to interest themselves in
that art at that time ; but I never
tried to do at home what I was
taught there. It was too much
trouble , and , dear Mrs. Hill , the nice
lunches and teas that I'va given you
why I sent my orders into the Wo
man's Exchange and they were all
filled there and sent to me. I made
nothing. "
I was very much astonished , and
could not answer for a minute.
" 0 , it would be so nice and pleas
ant to do it if I could if only I
could , " she wailed forth. "If I had
but known what was to befall me if
I had dreamt of this happening but
I did not and now I must fight the
battle of life without a weapon. "
"Why are girls brought up as they
are ? " i asked rather severely. "Life
is a much more serious thing for a
woman than for a man on account of
her physical nature , but a man is
equipped with a knowledge of how to
provide for himself and others , while
a woman , who very often has to pro
vide for herself and others , is not
equipped at * all is just brought up
as if nothing of the kind could ever
be expected of her. I think a woman
left suddenly to provide for herself
and children very like a ship without
rudder , anchor or sail. "
"Yes , she is , and I wonder so now
that I could have gone on year
after year without even thinking that
this might happen to me , " she an- ,
swered sadly.
"Well , just try quietly now for a
few moments to tell me whatyou can
do best , for there must be some
thing "
" 0,1 can't do anything but just
love and take care of my babies , " she
burst out impulsively , while the tears
rained down afresh.
"But thatis just the thing ! " Icried ,
a light suddenly dawning upon me.
"To love and take care of babies
what sweeter occupation could any
one want ? Now there are my five
or no , Neddie and Ella are too old ,
There are my three , Mrs. Johnson's
two , Mrs. Edwards' little girl 0 , we
can easily find fifteen or sixteen close
around here , and you can love and
take care of them. That is just
splendid ! I've been longing for a nice
kindergarten near by ! "
She began to look interested and
did not object as she had to oth
er proposals of mine , so I went on to
enlarge my idea.
After talking it over for an hour
she felt that at last something had
been found that she could do. She :
knew nothing of kindergarten work , '
proper , but as we were not .
particular about that and as
there were many things that
she could easily learn before the
time arrived to open , she consented
to try.
J-You can teach them kind , sweet
ways , and forgiveness and gentleness
and truth , at least , my love , ' ' I said
kissing her , for she was very timid. .
It was conscientiousness , not cow
ardice , for she thought she ought to
be thoroughly competent for what-
sver she undertook.
While John was having the cottage
ie had found repaired for her , I went
among my near neighbors and found
bhem ready and glad to put their
ittle ones in her care.
Enough of her furniture had been
javed to furnish the little cottage
Drettily , and it was not long before
she was comfortably established with
ler sweet babies.
The little school was open and we
ill felt so glad to have the children
n the care of so good and kind a
voman as Nettie Thwait.
I pictured to myself the little girls
is yoimg women teachers or writ-
irs , cashiers or bookkeepers , taking
he burden from her shoulders , and
. ' saw her in my minds eye , passing a
leaceful and intellectual old age ,
lappy and beloved.
I said something of the kind to John ,
rat he only smiled. ( When he doesn't
hink as I < 3o he smiles. I wonder if
) ther men have that habit. At all
ivents it's better than contradicting , )
md said :
"Do you think that is to be the fu-
; ure of Nettie Thwait , wife ? "
"Of course , John ; how could it be
) therwise ? "
The burden of will
self-support con-
mer her ! " he declared positively.
" 0 , John , how can you think such
: ruel things ? " I asked sharply.
Then he turned and faced mo and
rat his hands upon my shoulders and
irdered me to look in his face , and
vhen he had forced me to do that he
mid : "Now truly , love , do you think
he is eon tented ? "
"Yes-rthat is contented she
- > - ; , as as
an be , having been bereft of'the one"
ihe loved , " I answered.
"Do you think she wiH go on keep-
ng a babies' school for fifteen years ? "
"Why , yes , of course , unless some-
hing better offers , " I said.
"Something easier for a woman-
nil offer , "he said , letting me go.
Then I opened the vials of my wrath
ipon him :
"You cannot deceive me , John , " T
aid , with intense scorn ; "I know
rhat you've been thinking of all this
ime. I wonder if you picked out a
tusband for her before poor Clarence
ms buried. But yon are mistakem
fcttie is Jar above thinking of such
hings. She is a noble woman and
\
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she wouW nevor mnrry unless her
whole heart was givon to "
"Nonsense ! She mustjive , and her
* ' *
-childrenmustlive ! " -
"What a trivial thing marriage is
to men ! " I exclaimed with great
dignity.
"Women should have a business or
profession tho same as men , and then
there would not be tho need of mar-
' riage unless the 'whole heart' was in
it , " ho said. "But Nettio was not
brought up or taught to labor either
with hand or brain and so it is an
awful burden upon her. I wonder
you have not noticed her tired , de
jected look ; it is very pitiful to me. "
I forgave him then , and went to
call upon Nettie the next day. She
did look thin and tired , but it was
only four months since Clarence's
death and they had been so devoted.
I believe I should have resented it for
• him if she had looked blooming and
happy. I encouraged her all I could
and went away quite satisfied that
John's very worldly thoughts had
no foundation in truth.
Tho winter wore on , Nettie still
kept the little school , but there was
no brightness in her face and her
troubled look seemed to deepen.
.She could just keep the wolf from the
'door. We would so gladly have
helped her in many ways , but she
was sensitive and proud and would
not let us.
I often took occasion to remind
John of his foolish predictions.
} "Ifever awoman's heart wasin tho
grave with her dead husband Nettie's
is , " I said very emphatically one
morning.
"Nevertheless she is married , " he
replied , looking up from the paper on
his knee.
"Married ! " I screamed.
"Yes poor girl , " he said choking
ly , "the burden of self-support has
proved , too great for her. We ought
to toll a knell now in reality , wife ,
but it's a very common case here is
the paper , read it for yourself. "
Just then a letter was brought to
me from Nettie. It merely said :
i "Deabest op all my Kind Friends What
can I.Bay-to you now ? The simple truth is
best. "With such ignorant hands , 6uch an
ignorant mind , life was too difficult for me
work too dreary to one who had never learn
ed to love it. I thought I could bear up , be
independent , and resist , but could not. An
easier , pleasanter lifo is promised'me ' I hope
it may come.
Always your loving and grateful
Nettie.
! "She does not love him , " I said
bitterly , passing the note to John ,
"and how could she marry him ? "
"It is sad , " he replied comfortingly ,
"but it is a very common case , my
dear. "
i > ifc
Late Attempts at "Wits.
"There is such a thing as carrying
a choke too far , " as a Colorado horse-
thief remarked to a necktie-social.
There is something touching in the
way in which a man seated on his
front door-step at 3 o'clock a. m. can
sing "Out in the cold world alone. "
Little Girl If you came for the rent ,
papa forgot to leave it when he went
out. Collector How do you know
he did ? "Because he told me to tell
you so if you came. "
Young Clergyman The great hope
of my life is to marry you one of
these days ! Miss Nellie Certainly
you shall , my dear Mr. Primrose , just
as soon as Charley proposes. Town
Topics.
"Where can we get a wrench ? "
shouted a Bath fireman who was un
able for want of such article to set
the hydrant going while Gen. Hyde's
foundry was inflames. An ex-mayor
of Bath stood near and dryly obser
ved : "Advertise for one in the pa
per. "
Englishman "You ah live in
California , I believe ? " American
"Yes , sir. San Francisco is my
home. " Englishman "Quite so. _ Ah ,
I presume you frequently coinef''in
contact with my friends the Court-
neys in Arizonah an adjoining state ,
I believe ? " Harper's Bazar.
A doughnut received by Josiah
Tillotson , of Yermonti in his Christ
mas stocking , sixty-five years ago is
now on exhibition in a town in that
state. Josiah reached a ripe old age ,
and attributes his longivetyto the
fact that he didn't eat the doughnut
he found in his stocking. Norristown
Herald. '
The other day a couple of little
girls came to a Canadian physician's
office to be vaccinated. One of .
them undertook to speak for the ]
other , and explained : "Doctor , :
this is my sister. She is too young '
to know her left arm from her right , '
bo mamma washed both of them. " i
Dogs and men are alike in '
some things , and not in others (
Thus , if a dog grOwls over his food.
you may know he likes it and does ;
not want other dogs to toitch it. ]
But if a man growls over his food , it '
is certain he does not like it. j
It was at an Austin hotel table \
bhat a child attracted considerable
attention by saying repeatedly
"Mamma , I wants a cake. " "You
have had five or six already , replied
bhe mother. "Them's not the ones I
j
want. I want a fresh cake. " Texas
Sittings.
"Su-hum Day , Su-hum Day , "
3angthevouthina voice that was {
irivingthe neighborhood into the '
svoods. .And the old man in the cor- .
ner murmured : "Yes , some day , l
some day , may be you'll fall down
i coal hole and break your blank
deck. And that will be so joyful. "
Carper : "Are you making notes of *
tvnat you will touch upon to-night ? " *
Wyley ( a political speaker ) : "No ; I
im making notes of what I musn't '
touch upon. The successful orator is I
iie who knows what not to say , and (
aas brains enough not to sav it. " I
"
Puck. - *
"My son , " said a mild parent , "it <
grieves me very much to see you r .
keeping the company of worthless e
poung spendthrifts. You should rej
member , my boy , that a fool and his i
money are soon parted. " "Yes ,
father. " replied the prodigal , "Iknow t
til about that. But don't the fools c
3tin seem to have the most money in i
this world ? " New York Evening Sun. [ t
< jt 'i t.l ii j. . * M" " > " * "w' l" ! wf1
; - - ' - V" --tJ . i V " > F * < P s . % , > ? . , V
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? . ' , " * " " 5 < * " "c ' •
THE HOUSEHOLD. .
Hints for tlia Horaa
V
A salt ham should bo soaked over
night in plenty of soft water previous
to boiling.
After washing a wooden bowlplaco
it where it will dry equally on all
sides , away from the stove.
When watering potted plants in
winter do not pour the water in the
crown of tho plants , but simply
moisten tho earth in the pots. Too
much moisturo will do moro injury
than benefit.
For a cough boil one ounce of flax
seed in a pint of water , strain and
add a little honey , one ounce of rock
candy , and the juice of three lemons ;
mix and boil well. Drink as hot as
possible.
To remove stains from marble , mix
a quantity of the strougest soap lees
with quicklime to tho consistency of
milk&y ; \ it on the marble , and let
it be lor twenty-four hours , then
clean with soap and water.
If butter is kept covered tight when
put in the ice-chest , it will not absorb
the odor of any food lying near.
There is nothing so sensitive as but
ter , and yet you may see it at any
time placed near to meat or veget
ables.
To keep lamp chimneys from break
ing put a cloth in the bottom of a
largo pan , fill the latter with cold
water , and place the new chimney in
it ; cover the pan and let its contens
boil one hour , then take from fire and
let the chimney remain in the water
until it is cold.
An inexpensive and good desert is
made of one quart of sweet milk , two-
thirds of a cup of uncooked rice , and
a little salt. Put this in tea or coffee
cups.set them in the steamer over a
kettle of boiling water , Let it cook
until the rico is almost like jelly ;
When cold turn it out of the cup.
Serve with sugar and cream , or with
pudding sauce.
The secret of making good tea is
that the water should be poured on
the instant it boils , and that every
thing should be well heated. If you
have a little water boiled in a kettle ,
and pour this upon the tea in a cold
teapot , the water is chilled , the
strength of the tea not properly ex
tracted , and , after standing the
necessary time , it is , when poured
out , but little more than lukewarm.
HoiT To Sate tho Eyesight ,
Neither colored goods nor flannels ,
should be boiled.
All goods in barrels apples , beef ,
potatoes , etc. keep better when laid
down on their side.
Paint the kitchen floor with boiled
linseed oil , and you won't have much
trouble thereafter cleaning it.
For cleaning brass use a thin paste
of plate powder , two tablespoonfuls
of vinegar , four tablespoonfuls
of alcohol. Bub with a piece of flan
nel ; polish with chamois.
Next to the sunlight the incandes
cent light gives the best illumina
tion for reading , and all notions of
the injurious effect on the eyes of the
electric light ; are erroneous.
The vast majority of people who
wear glasses can see well without
them. They use them to avoid a con
stant strain on the eyes. The act of
focalization is a musclar one and uses
up nervous energy.
The nearsighted child should wear
spectacles , because they are the best
preventive againsb increase of near
sightedness , . aitiU also .ibecause he
loses a grsat part of his education in
not being able to see more than a few
feet away.
For the eyes in a healthy state
there is but one safe wash pure cold
water. When the eyelids are in
flamed the best lotion is a weak sol
ution of salt water. Never apply
poultices to the eyes or use "eye wa
ters" without the advice of a physi
cian.
An Artistic Ra ? Rn ? .
The prettiest rugs which are made
; n this country are the home-made
: ag rugs woven of different colored
ivoolen rags. These rugs are usually
ivoven in stripes at either end. and
n a medley of varied colors in the
: entre. The weaver also introduces
l lengthwise striped effect by using
lifferent-colored warp. Very pretty
effects are produced by stripes of dull
jrellow and dull rad warp in alternat-
ng bands about two inches wide.
Hie warp is knotted , and forms a
ringe at either end of the rug.
Small rugs , 34x70 inches and 34x48
nches , are suitable to strew about a
small room over matting. Rugs of
• ags woven in this manner , but large
snough to cover the center of the
• oom , are often seen in artistically
urnished rooms , where the paintings
ind bric-a-brac suggest the cultured
aste of the owner. These rugs when
veil selected in color approach near-
tr in beauty to the blending tones of
he costly Eastern carpet than any of
he various imitations of them made
n this country. Chicago Ledger.
A Word for the ' 'Old Maid. "
A thoughtful writer , speaking of
he growing willingness of women
o go through life unmarried , saj-s :
'Once it was onsidered a bad thing
o be an old maid , and light-minded
> eople made fun of one. Now it is
lifferent. Some of the highest and
pettiest women become so much in-
erested in the serious work of life
hat they regard husbands alto
gether unnecessary inconveniences.
Chey are satisfied with the state of
ingle blessedness and appear to be
ust as .Jmppy and useful as their
narried sisters. It is all right. If a
roman remains single it is her own
iffair and out siders need not con-
ern themselves about it. As a rule ,
m old maid is an intellectual and in-
eresting woman. "
•
i
Blown Fron a Gm ,
From KaycB * IIlBtory of the Sepoy "War.
- Duringtho Sepoy rebellion of 1857-
58 many of tho mutineors were
blown away from the guns. It was
a terrible punishment , ono which had
been inflicted a century before at tho
*
first mutiny of tho B engal army in
1764. A battalion of Sepoys had
seized and imprisoned its English of
ficers and vowed that it would servo
no more. A strong hand arrested
tho mutiny at its beginning. Twenty-
four Sepoys wero tried by a drum
head court martial , found guilty
• sentenced to bo blown away from the
cannon.
On the day of tho execution the
troops were drawn up , English and
Sepoys , tho guns were loaded , and
tho prisoners led forth to suffer the
terrible penalty.
Tho word of command was given
for the first four criminals to be tied
up to tho muzzles of tho guns. As
the men wero being bound four tall ,
stately grenadiers stepped forward
from among the condemned Sepoys ,
saluted the commander. Maj. Hector
Munro , chief of the Bengal army ,
and asked that as they had always
had the post of honor in life , they
might be givon tho precedence in
death , as it was their due. The re
quest was granted. The grenadiers
were tied to the guns and blown to
pieces.
A murmur ran through tho Sepoy
battalions , who greatly outnum
bered the English troops , and it
seemed as if they wero about to res
cue their companions , tho twenty
condemned men.
Tho officers of tho nativo regiments
approached Munro and told him
their men were not to bo trusted , as
they had determined not to permit
the execution to proceed. The chief
knew that on the issue of that
parade for execution depended the
fate of the Bengal army. The En
glish troops were few and there was
scarcely a man among them not
moved to tears by tho fearful death
of tho four grenadiers. But the com
mander knew that they could .bo
trusted to defend the guns , which ,
turned upon the Sepoys , would de
feat any attempt to rescue their
comrades.
Maj. Munro closed the English on
the battery the grenadiers on one
side , the mariners on the other and
loaded the pieces with grape. Then
he sent the Sepoy officers back to
their battalion and gave the native
regiments tho word of cammand ,
"Ground arms ! "
"They knew it would be madness
to disobey in presence of the loaded
guns and laid down their.arms ! "
"Right about face ! Forward-
march ! ' " ' was the next command.
The Sepoys marched a distance
from their grounded arms , and the
English soldiers , with their guns ,
took ground on the intervening
space.
The danger had passed away.
The native troops wero at Munro's
mercy , and the execution went on to
its dreadful close. The sacrifice of a
few lives saved thousands.
. . .
- B -4 < n >
The 3Iotlier-in-Law.
Perhaps to-day there is no relation
in life in which a woman is so persist
ently abused and misunderstood as
in that to her daughter's husband ,
says the New York Press. It has
been made the theme of the jest book ,
the circus clown , and the topical
songster ad nauseam. In the vulgar
and witless warning against matri
mony , sung by Nadjy , it is encourag
ing to note that the hit at "mother-
in-law" extracts only a sickly smile
from the audience. No doubt this is
due to the staleness of the subject
quite as much as its false sentiment ,
but let us hope itumarks a revulsion
in public taste , no 'twithstandingthat
fair bride , Amelle Rives , who makes
Herod say :
Methinks that Satan was a married man ,
and his wife's mother egged him to rebel , pee
ing Heaven would not hold them both.
People are beginning to find cut
that when a man vilifies his mother-
in-law it is generally safe to assume
that he ill-treats his wife. A young
girl , when she marries , takes it for
granted that her husband's love and
devotion will continue to be hers as ;
much as the sunshine and air. The
mother , from her wider observation
and perhaps bitter experience , is full i
of fears and alarm. When her daugh
ter stood at the altar she trembled.
She was losing not only her child , but
her power of insuring that child's
happiness. Her maternal eye , keen
as eagle's , seeks to pierce the future ;
but no . , she must fold her brooding i
wings and wait with beating heart
to learn if this marriage meant the (
highest happiness or the greatest
misery that comes to woman.
In the former case the mother joy- '
ously feels she has not been robbed of a i
but been . Her J
daughter , given a son.
heart turn3 in gratitude and love to '
the man in whose hands her daugh- ]
ter's lot is secure ; indeed , it is do • bt1 1
ful if she feels more tenderness for her
own son. As to the young husbands , 1
he regards with reverence and filial " *
affection the mother of the woman '
he adores , and who has made her
what she is. . ]
On the other hand what intolerable '
anguish comes to that mother who , l
condemned to gee the child she has so ]
tenderly reared , so carefully sheltered ]
from every rough wind and word ,
now the victim , or the servant , of a
man whose "love" expired with pos
session , or whose cruelty or neglect
is sapping the life of the young wife.
If the mother l
interposes to reason ,
remonstrate , or save her daughter , 1
the floodgates of abuse are opened , 1
and in that portion of society in 1
which the master of ceremonies is the c
police justice he accepts the excuse of c
"mother-in-law , " when he should ask : I
"Why was she driven to interfere ? " t
Of course there are weak , foolish i
and even tyrannical women who f
would like to rule their sons-in-law c
as they do their husbands , with hyst
terics or rods of iron , but these are i
the exceptions , not the rule , which i
should permit a large clas3 of wornj
en , mothers in the first place , to bet
come a target for cheap wit and an e
excuse for martial brutality. I
Catfcolic-rrotestantJfiHTiase. M
Tho results of tho intermarriage of j
-Catholics arid Pfetesfcfri'ts are being %
investigated by tho Catholic author- Jf
iticsof this country under orders §
from Homo. Archbishop Ryan , in 1
common * with all archbishops and Jj
bishops , is engaged in tho work , and | | ; '
tho result ofhis inquiries will betrans- g ,
mitted to Rome. While tho Catholic | i
church permits such marriages un- > ; • ,
der certain circumstances , its priests |
always do all in their power to dis- lfi
courage them , because of trouble *
that frequently arises betweon father {
and mother as to how tho children
shall be raised , and for further rea
son that oftentimes tho Catholic ?
husband or wife is lost to the church
altogether through neglect to obey
'
its laws.
Archbishop Ryan said ono ovening
that he was engaged in collecting
data relative to thenumber of mixed ,
mariages in each parish during the
past 10 years , whether tho promises
exacted by tho church that tho chil- r
dren shall bo reared in tho Catholic * i
faith havo been faithfully kept ; in ii
how many cases tho Protestant part- " jf -
ies havo been converted ; if any cases' , r - * >
haveocurred wheretheCatholicapos- ls5jvuit4
tacized from tho faith , and tho num- * , * - 4
ber of children who have boon lost " " " •
to tho church through mixed mar
riages. Tho Archbishop stated that
he presumed that similar efforts were
being made to collect tho same infor-
mationin all thedioceses of the United
States.
The request for this infomation
comes from the sacred college of the !
inquisition at Rome , but it is not i
publicly known what the authorities i
there propose to do in tho matter. )
The marriage of a Catholic and Pro-
testant is not permitted in any dio- V
ces unless a special dispensation from j
thobishopshallbegranted. Thereare J
different rules in vogue in tho various , J
dioceses underwhichdispensntions are {
allowed. In certain dioceses the rules 1
are more stringent than in others ,
because of the various views enter- * •
tained on the subject by tho different \
-bishops. Philadelphia Record. j'
' 3' ' > Bn IS * ,
Soap ts * law. ] '
A Missouri constable rode out to a i' '
farm near St. Joe , armed with a sub- i |
poena for a woman who was wanted I ;
as a witness in a case in court. He , i
found her in her back-yard , busily en- j
gaged in stiring a boiling , bubbling !
mass in a large black kettle. He [ i
stated his business , and she said : , \
"I can't go to-day. "
" " ' '
"But
you must. •
"What's the hurry ? " | j
"Why , court's in session , and the j. '
case is now on trial. They want you j
by noon. " / "
"Well , I ain't going. You think j
I'm going off and leave this hull kit- it
tie o safb soap to spile , just to please * ] \
your old court ? No sirreel" fti
"Why , my dear madam , you must. * I
You really don't seem to understand j. !
"I understandthat I've got a big i ji
kittle o' splendid soap greese on the > i
bile , and it'll make thin , sticky soap > !
if it ain't finished to-day. You go , '
back and tell the jedge so. " • - ' /
"You'll bo fined for " ,1 ,
"Pooh ! I'd like to see the Missoury , ji
jury that'd fine a woman for not ij !
leaven' her soap bilin' when it was .1 j
at a critical p'int , as one might say. V
Tell the jedge I'll come to-morrow , ! ! r ' \
we don't butcher our peegs then ; an *
if we do , I'll come some day next * |
week. " * j I
"But I tell you that won't do. You j
must come now. " , - c
"Lookee , young man , vou think ; H
I'm a fool ? I rekcon you never made ,
any soap , did you ? If you had , you'd / * '
know that " \
"What does the judge care about
your soap ? " i
' 'Well , what do I care . 'bout , the * i
jedsce , if it comes to thatf Law's law \ f
and soap's soap. Let the judge 'tend
to my soap. The good book says
there's a time for everything , an * , ,
this is my time fer a bar'l o' saft !
soap. " \ \ \
"Well ; madam , if you want to be • (
fined for contempt of court , all right. '
You will be fined sure as "
"Bah ! I know all 'bout the Jaw , I
an' there ain't anything in it , nor in T :
the Constitution of the United States ,
aor in the Declaration oflnjeepend- ' .
snee , nor in nothin' else , that says a , ;
woman's got to leave a kittle o' half- \
cooked soap , and go off to court (
when she aint a mind to. I g ess I ' |
know a little law myself. " Tid-Bits.
mm )
Saved From the Blizzard.
f
Capt. Grozier , a watchman , got , i.
: aught in the snow-storm while on \
his way from his ranch on Diamond • /
Creek , Tex. , to Chloride , asmallmin- '
ing camp. He was mounted , but ' .
30on lost his way. He had neither a i <
jun with him to discharge and thus ; '
ittract attention and help , nor [
matches to start a fire. All he had j
tvas a pocket-knife. When he found \ \
that he was fast getting benumbed r
ie killed his horse with the knife , . ' . }
: ook out the entrails and crawled in-
: o the warm carcass. Completely J'j j
covered with snow he remained in f \
; his retreat for three days. When he i j
vas missed a party went out to hunt f
or him and was successful in its | " ;
search. He was taken to a nearby • '
niningcampand was properly at-
ended to : He was badly frost-bit- ' If
: en. + .
Hi a iq.ii 7 '
Fans an Old lnstitntion. \ }
The Hebrews , Egyptians , Chinese. \ * >
tnd the miscellaneous population of ' r
ndia all used fans as far back as * ' ' .
"
listbry reaches. Terence , a writer of. - ' r . . * •
-.atin comedies who lived in the sec- , \
md century B. C , makes one ofhis j
haracters speak of he fan as used/- * | j
> y ladies in ancient Rome : "Take I
his fan and give her thus a little ' * J ,
dr. " From this Roman origin the , * ij
oshion of carrying fans wns handed f
lown to the ladies of Italy , Spain , 'e-
md France and thence introduced \ >
ato Britain. Queen Elizabeth , when j C\ \
a full dress , carried a fan. Shakes'j | | !
> eare8peaks of fans as connected with \ I & j
l lady's bravery and finery : "With ' * la * j
carfs andfans , and double charge of ' ' % § i )
ravery Dry-Goods Chronicle. * fp j
* - iif * J
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