IjJllwI HW % . HI ) < § ® 8N& / H Y ' ? New Year's Duck. A "Oh ! Nellie , you should see the love- H ly duck I got as a present this morn- H ing it's a perfect beauty I am going H to have it for our New Year's dinner , " H said Mrs. English to her friend Mrs. H Lane , v/ho had come in to see her dur- H ing the afternoon and talk over the H Christmas celebration of a few days be- M "Is your duck dressed or alive , B Kate ? " asked Nellie in some haste. m "Oh ! it's alive , I am going to dress H it myself , " answered Kate , "it's not B much trouble to dress a duck do you H think it would be ? " H "Well , Kate , I really pity you. I M must tell you what a dreadful time I H had with the one we killed last week , H it yet makes me shiver all over only H to think of it , it was such a terrible B day the memory of it will never fade H awayI really think my back has not H once stopped aching since I picked that H .duck. " M "Do tell me , Nellie , won't their fcath- m ers come out , or what was the trouble ? " H nsked Kate. "I am beginning to feel m alarmed. " M "I'll begin by telling you how we got H the duck , " began Nellie. "One night B after I had gone up stairs with the M baby , and John was smoking his pipe m it must have been after 12 o'clock H there was a faint knock at the kitchen m door. I heard John going to the door M and speaking to some one. and then he m and the some one went into the garden - < den to the chicken coop , and presently B I heard a loud noise and fuss among 1 the hens. It. was Jim Peters. He had M won a duck at a raffle at a tavern and H asked John to let him put it in our 1 hen coop until further notice. H "Now , either the duck did not feel H very comfortable or the hens did not M feel as much at ease as formerly , I H don't know what caused it , but there M was a constant war going on among H them. Why , I didn't get one egg while H that fowl was in there. So I told John H to tell Jim to remove it or we would H kill it. At last John bought it from H Jim and killed it , and said I should H roast it for dinner. H "Now , John killed it before he went H to work , but I thought if I woud begin H to dress it after 9 o'clock I could soon H get it in the oven. Then I knew noth- H ing about ducks ; now I am much wiser. H "I asked ma you know ma just came H the day before from the west ; it's the H first time she had been to see us since H we were ' keeping house. I asked ma H whether I should scald the duck or pick H it dry. She said she had always picked H -hers dry and had saved the down for H ' , er feather beds. So I began to pick it ffl ry. I iyfSl < H I PICKED AND PICKED AND PULLED. H "I picked and picked and pulled until H my fingers ached it seemed as though M the feathers were grown in to stay , and m .it took so long I was beginning to get M nervous , so when ma wasn't looking I M poured some boiling water over the M duck to hurry uf matters. fl "But , dear me , then the real trouble m began. The hot water made the skin B so tender and greasy that it tore off in M large pieces , and the down stuck like 1 wax. I really think if I had saved all M that down it would have been enough ' m for at least four large pillows. When m I thought one side was nearly done it m wouid be all covered with another coat m of down and fuzz and pinfeathers , and I don't know what all that duck didn't have to cover itself with. "No wonder ducks never get wet when they go into the water. Why , this one's skin was one sheet of fat and feathers. "When the clock struck 10 that duck looked perfectly dreadful. I wish you could have seen it. I felt so disgusted I almost cried. Then , when ma saw the tears in my eyes she said if I would hold the baby she would pick awhile. So I sat down to rest why , really , I > felt so faint I could scarcely stand any longer , just fussing with that horrid fowl. "Now you know how fretful the baby is she is teething , and it takes one of sL. # i III I PUT IT IN THE OVEN. us to entertain her all the time or she annoys the family on the other side of the house every time she cries some one comes over to see 'what ails that baby. ' . "When John moves again I am going to have him move into a single house , and then I can let the baby cry all she wants to. "After ma had picked until she was tired a bright idea came into my head , and I told her I would skin the duck entirely then no one would find any pin feathers and it would look smooth and sleek all over. It only provoked me that I had not thought of doing it before. I don't know why it is , but somehow my bright ideas always come too late , "So I gave the baby to ma and told them to watch this interesting per formance. "But it was easier said than done. My , how greasy that skin was ! It was almost impossible to get a good tight hold I pulled and jerked and wished I had never had any bright ideas until it was finally skinned and the clock pointed to 10 minutes to 12 and no din ner. ner."Then "Then I had to run to the corner grocery to get some dried beef I very well knew John detested dried beef for dinner , but they had nothing else , and when John came home he ate his din ner ( ? ) in silence. But I promised to have the duck roasted for supper. "With this prospect in view I went to work more cheerfully , yet' not very satisfied , I fear. In order to have the duck well done I put it in the oven soon after dinner , and was surprised to see how small it got the longer it roasted the smaller it grew , and it looked so funny , something like a skinned cat ; when in comes John , bringing a friend with him to help eat the duck ! "Well , no one can imagine my feel ings. When they sat down to the ta ble I noticed John looking around for something , and finally when he saw the horrid little shriveled-up thii g he burst out into a hearty laugh , saying : 'Why , Nellie , is this all that is left of our beautiful duck ? * I never before felt so mortified. John tried to find a tender piece for our guest , but it was impossible to find anything tender on that duck it was as dry as chips , worse than the driest dried beef , and oh , so tasteless and so dark do you think I roasted it too long , Kate ? "I hope I may never , never again see another duck. " Some people never find out that there is joy in giving , because they never give enough. "I think it's a shame , Cyrus , that we've let Esmeralda grow up without trying to give her some kind of musical training. She can't sing at all. " "That's true , Emily but she knows | , , _ , - l pes her room in cozily. The /iP r clock on the mantel was < vl ? ' ticking the Old Year away rfc c as fast * as it could hurry hinio off. l was dusk and New Year's eve , and that was the time for the Pincushion Ceremony at Bartlett's. Fred met Alice on the stairs , and Belle and Arthur came along the hall. Belle carried Baby Letty in her arms , and they each bore a bristling little red tomato mate pincushion in their hands. Grandma had placed five hassocks in a row. "Come , dearies , " she called out , to Arthur's subdued knock. They filed in , laughing. "Stools of repentance , " crleS tall Belle , dropping into her hassock. * ' 0 grandma , my cushion is full of pins. I broke my resolution every other day. I resolved to keep my temper , you know , and I got so tired of poking in a pin for a slip , nights at bedtime. " "Look at my lazy pins , " mourned Fred. "And my behind-time stickers , " chimed in Alice. "I didn't think I did put off things so often , " sighed Arthur , and then Baby Letty stuck up her cushion. It was empty. "Now , dears , " said grandma , "pro ceed with the ceremony. " Solemnly they each tumbled their pins into a box on the table. Another stood near it. "Why , there's not half so many as last year , grandma ! " cried Fred. "Why , why ! And we all felt so bad ly ! " "Clean , cushions again , " said grand ma happily , picking up Letty to hug her. "Now for grandma's New Year's presents. " There were beautiful books and games. "I always feel as if you paid us for being naughty , " said Alice , looking up with a smile from her book. "But I wouldn't part with my Resolution Cushion for the world ! " Arthur looked at his empty cushion. "I'm glad those pins are gone , " he said. "A clean start for a happy New Year. I say , grandma , how we love you ! " And four impetuous pairs of arms almost smothered dear , gentle grand ma. Lillian L. Price. The Julian Year. The error of the Julian year was corrected in the Gregorian calendar by the suppression of three intercalations in 400 years. In order to restore the commencement of the year to the same place in the seasons that it had occu pied at the time of the Council of Nice , Gregory directed the day following the feast of St. Francis , that-is to say , the 5th of October , to be reckoned the 15th of that month. By this regulation the vernal equinox which then happened on the 11th of March was restored to the 21st. From 15S2 to 1700 the differ ence between the old and new style continued to be ten days ; but 1700 be ing a leap year in the Julian calendar , and a common year in the Gregorian , the difference of the styles during the ISth century was eleven days. The year 1800 was also common in the new calendar , and- consequently , the dif ference in the present century is twelve days. From 1900 to 2100 inclusive it will be thirteen days. Three Events of 1890. Eighteen hundred and ninety-six will always be memorable in literary annals as ending the lives of three great female writers Harriett Beech- er Stowe , the novelist , Kate Field , the journalist , and Gail Hamilton , the versatile authoress. The latter's sig nature was a nom de plume , composed of the second syllable in her Christian name and of Hamilton , the village of her birth-place. Few identified her spinster appellation of Mary Abigail Dodge. ferfi kn ° w a uttie tem- IH n ple- * * ? § LM Its walls are dim wtOffS an * ow m&PpM et UP an ( * down ' § | pg ? its darkened ( wwfiSaisles The blessed angels go. And he who keeps the temple Snould pray to God to-night , That Faith may light the altar flame , And Hope may keep it bright That Love may bring the sacrifice Which Love delights to give , And all the angels innocent May tarry there to live. And may no evil spirit Have in it place or part. What is this temple beautiful ? [ The tempJe of the heart. ; Ola Moore. wmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmjmmmmmm THE INTELLIGENT JURY. .Even the Court Himself Got Up uuO Svrorc. "I don't believe everything I hear about the ignorance of the average jury , " said an old lawyer in reminis cent mood , relates the Detroit Free Press , "but once , when I visited a backwoods court in the mountains of North Carolina , I did happen on an in cident that shook my faith for a time. The case was before a squire and the prisoner was up for hog stealing. It was the rudest court and surroundings I ever got into and I should not have been surprised at anything , but I was. After a couple of jack-leg lawyers had got in what they had to say the court turned the case over to a jury and it adjourned to a barn to decide the inno cence or guilt of the prisoner. And such a jury ! I can never forget what a motley gang that jury -was. In half an hour it came back and resumed its place in court. " 'Have you found a verdict ? ' asked the squire. " 'What's that ? ' responded the fore man. " 'Have you found a verdict ? That's what , ' replied the squire. ' "Why , squire , ' hesitated the fore man , with a foolish grin , 'we didn't know thaiwuz one lost ; did we , boys ? ' And even that court couldn't stand it , but got up and swore. " He Stopped the Car. He was young and neatly dressed , but ho retained the biggest half of a last night's jag. Making his way up the Bowe/y as steadily as he conl.l , he suddenly decided to take a cable car. Unfortunately , he was in the middle of the block , and cable cars stop only at corners , but the gentleman was too much absorbed in whisky and thought to realize the fact. The first car re fused to stop , of course. So the gen tleman retired to the sidewalk , and entered the car's number with great care and deliberation in a memoran dum book. Then he essayed a sedond car ( about four cars had passed while he had been putting down the num ber ) , but the second and equally a third car likewise did not stop. In each case he entered the number of the sinning car in his book. Finally , with an ex pression that said , "I'll make this car stop , " he clutched the hand rail os the rear platform of a fourth car and pulled back as if stopping a team of horses. The car went on. So did the gentleman with the jag , a sort of human pennant to the car. A passenger on the rear platform rang the bell wildly to stop the car. After the car came to a standstill the pen nant climbed aboard and calmly put down in his notebook the number of the conductor , gripman and car , then he dropped asleep triumphantly. The man next to him saw the num ber of the car , as he had written it down. This was it : "Carnumber 321,147770,811. " New York Sun. Fun at the AYhite House. The humors of the White House , it is the testimony of everyone who has re sided there , would fill many volumes. Many of them are found in the daily mail bag. At a dinner the other day Mrs. McKee told of a letter Mrs. Harrison risen received while first lady of the land. It ran : "Dear Maddam I would like a pres ent from Washington City , and so I will locate on you for it. Please send me a dress pattern and ( here followed a list of several other things ) please pay the express , as I have made a vow never to pay anything on an express package , as I never know what it is until I have opened it. " Mrs. Harrison , according to the relater , was much amused at this missive , and "I'll locate on you for that" became a standing phrase in the family ever after when some object was coveted. Another letter received by Mrs. Harrison risen ran : "Dear Madam Please send me som ? sheet music , as I have a daughter that has some tallents. " Ohio State Jour nal. Ever Popular. Shaded chrysanthemums , yellow and brown , have been used at one or two autumn weddings as bridal bou quets. JOSH BILLINGS' PHILOSOPHY * I A gentleman iz the party who iz alli i wuss honest , and allwuss polite , and keeps his boots shined up , and his finger - t ger nails clean. Mi dear fellow , yu kan't git enny- thing out ov this world unless you ask . for it , and yu ain't a going to git mutch eajtyhow , unless you insist upon it. When yu settle with yurself , insist upan 10 : ) cents on the dollar ; when yu aastle with the world , take haff price if yu kant git enny more. Mi de.ar boy , don't let enny man git the drop on yu. This iz a vulgar say ing , but if yu have got branes enuff , . yu will use it for a moral purpose. j There are no doubt plenty ov people ple in the world who are abuv sus- ' pishun , but I never hav known enny ' one ( not miself ) whom it wasn't safa to watch. ( Thare iz a mighty sight ov odds between - t tween knowing everyboddy , and baring , ing everyboddy kno yu ; but thare u ' lots ov folks who never diskover the < difference. \ There iz sumthing funny about this , i but I have notissed that yu could sell a < man a kake ov sweet scented sopn , * at the same price , with less talk , thr.n \ yu could a koppy of the nu testament The odds izz just what makes the difference to wit : Wnat yu learn hi < yuje own experience allwuss kosts si. i it iz worth , and sometimes a grate deal j more ; but what yu learn hi the expen- ( tnce ov others don't kost nothing , and * \z \ worth just as mutch. < I The Sacccx * of Henry O. Thorell. Henry G. Thorell , whose postoflico address is Iloldregc , Nob. , was at ono i time a carriage maker in Chicago. Ho removed to Nebraska in 1877. That ho has reason to bo satisfied is proven by the fact that ho is today worth SHO,000 , every cent of it inndo on his farm. Last ycur (1S9G ( ) ho had 2. 0 acres in corn,250 acres in small { Train , 20 horses , SO head of cattle and 150 hogs. In our "Nkiikaska Book" (10 ( pages with maps aud illustrations ) , are doz ens of statements like that of Mr. Thor- I veil. They are made by favmcrs who I have made a success of farming. They j show that Nebraska is as good a state i as any in the Union. The book in which they nppear is as different from the ordinary agricul tural pamphlet as day is from night. It is interesting , practical and truthful. In a straightforward , simple fashion , it tells you everything you need to know about Nebraska its climate , people , schools , churches , railroads , markets , soil and crops. It explains why the Nebraska farmer makes mon ey in spite of low prices and hard times. Why land is cheap. And how it is as easy for an intelligent and in dustrious man to BUY a Nebraska farm as it is to rent ono in any state east of the Missouri river. Every farm renter who wants to be come a farm owner ; every farm owner who is tired ot trying to make money off high-priced land ; every father who wants to give his sons a start on the high road to independence , should write for a copy. Free. J. FRANCIS , Geu'l Pass'r Agt. , Burlington Route , Omaha , Neb. A woman can pick out a bride as far as she can see her. Lions and tigers are too weak lunged to run more than half a mile. Piso's Cure for Consumption has saved mo largo doctor bills. C.L. itaker12 , 8 Ito- Kent Sq. . Phi.adelphia , Pa. , Doc. S , IS'J.n The fatter u ioman is the less hair slio bus. The best time for exercise is about two hours after a meal. Gladness Comes With a better understanding of the ( transient nature of the many physical - ' ical ills , which vanish before proper efforts - I forts gentle efforts pleasant efforts | rightly directed. There is comfort in the knowledge , that so many forms of sickness are not due to any actual dis ease , but simply to a constipated condi tion of the system , which the pleasant family laxative , Syrup of Figs , prompt ly removes. That is why it is the only remedy with millions of families , and is everywhere esteemed so highly by all who value good health. Its beneficial effects are due to the fact , that it is the one remedy which promotes internal cleanliness without debilitating the organs on which it acts. It is therefore all important , in order to get its bene ficial effects , to note when you pur chase , that you have the genuine arti cle , which is manufactured by the Cali fornia Fig Syrup Co. only and sold by all reputable druggists. . If in the enjoyment of good health , i and the system is regular , laxatives or , other remedies are then not needed. If afflicted with any actual disease , one j may be commended to the most skillful physicians , but if in need of a laxative , I one should have the best , and with the well-informed everywhere , Syrup of Figs stands highest and is most largely used and gives most general satisfaction. : kSSSsQUAK-TER. OF CENTURY OT.P. No UUST nor IIATTJ.K. Out7aiti tin or iron. A Durnbtcsiibstitutr for Pla tt > rni tvnlls. Water lroof icatiin of amo materia ! , the best .t cheapest in the market. Write forsamplps.ftc. fheFAY31AMI.I.A ? HFiyO CO..CAJ1DKJT , S.J. _ P | AtfCOJ BUSINESS ANDSHORTHANDCOLLEGE ULrltvLO Actual Business From Tun Start Teaches business by doing business. Also thorough Instruction in all branches by mail. Life scholarship S4" . six months course 530. Corner 16th and Capitol A venue , > Omaha , Nebraska. ' I A F V Manager ana Ag-ents wanted In&mJ 1 for Dr. Kay's Uterine Tonic , no money required until k'oods are sold "Woman hood. " a valuable booklet on female disease free. Dr. B. J. Kav Mcdica ! Co . Onv hi. Xeb I OMAHA STOVE REPAIR WORKS \ 8tote Repairs for nnj kind or itoTe azd . 1 1207 SOUGLA8 ST. , OJIAIIA , SEB. Vl HWBaf9onrcdinlOta20IBrc. NoPnytlU Cnred.PR.J.L.STEPHEHS.I'SBAHOX.OflXO. 'iff jg& jTOompsciTs Eye Watsr. Life J Is misery to thousands of people who ltavo the > J H talntof scrofulu in their bloou. For this ter- Z B rlblo alMlutlon therols norcmody equal to „ H Hood's M Sarsaparilla < fl flip Best In fact the Ono Trno Tlloml Purifier. H Hnnrl'c Pi He euro Uvcr Ills ; easy to H 11UUU 2 > trlils > tuko , easy to operate. JJSc. M Sharing u Lop With u Hear. H Incidental to the recent great storm , | many stories will undoubtedly get into H circulation that will exhibit heroism , H romance and ludicrous incidents dovetailed - H tailed with the accounts of loss of prop * H crty and the wreckings of fortunes. H John llakcr came down Miller river on H a big fir tree. Mr. linker seated him- j H self at the butt end of the tree , and after - H ter going down about a half a mile ho H had company. A huge black bear , H swimming for his life in the seething V l water , climbed on the tree and stationed - ' H ed himself about thirty feet from the H man. In addition to his already prcca- H rious situation , that bear nearly frightened - H ened Mr. I laker to death , hut Mr. H Bear was about as badly frightened an | the other fellow , and when the current H finally drifted the tree to dry land , the - M bear took to his heels with as much H alacrity as I laker. Seattle Post. H A fiO-Ont Ciili-iular I'rcf. H Perhaps the most licnutlful cacnilir ! 'x ! if < l for H the yrur'UT I * Tiik Youth's Comi-aniov Art Cal- H lfiiil.ir. which Is Klvt'n to i-nch milis.-rlli'T to the ' H p.iper for thr year'U7. ItHntixIc iixr | four charm- i- * J' M ink'I'Irtiiri-H. beautifully ri'in | > iltircil In tn-elve Imr- . ' _ H monloiirt color * . It Ik In form a four pu e foliler. ' M u hlell , when ctteiidci ! . Is IDVJt Inchi-i > In lzt' . Thn H subjects arc delightfully attractive. This calendar M makes a desirable ornament for si man tie. centre- H t.il > lf or writing iIchIc. It Is orterei ! for yule only M by the publishers of Tiik Yocth's Comi'xniox at fli H lit cents ncreopy. Only lireiuisc of the mormons 7 W niimher puhllslied Is It ikiskIoIc for the ; nil > ! tahers J of Tiik Companion to slwkI It fro ; to all Con- H 1'a.mo.v subscribers. H A Clneat KI.sk. I H Two impecunious Scotsmen came upon - ' * H on a saloon. They had only "sax- M pence" between them , so they ordered H "one nip o' whusky. " They were hesi- H fating who should have the first drink , H when an acquaintance joined them. i H Pretending that the } ' hud just drank , ( H one of them handed the whishy. re- l H questing him to join them in a drink. fl lie drank , and after a few minutes of H painful and silent suspence , said : H "Xow , boys , vou 'll have one with H me ? " M "Wasna that weel managed , monV" H said one to his pal afterward. H ' • Ay. it was. " said the other solemn- J B ly , "but it was a drcadfu' risk. Argo- | | H YOU WANT A FARSVS and we have , H ; ' 0 miles west of Houston , at CHESTEnviLLE. < H the host tract in Texas. High prairie , well H drained , abundant rainfall , t oed soil , low H prices and eny terms. Don't fail to post H vourself. "Write and receive our hook "For- H tile Farm Lands" FREE and information n-s JM to cheap excursion and FREE FARE. Address J Southern Texas Colonization Co . John M LiuderhoIm.Mgr. , llOItialto i' .Idg..Ubicago j H A Slippery Spot. Y" l A short time ago an old lad % went on H board Nelson's ilagship. the Victory. H The different objects of interest were H duly shown her. and , on reaching the H spot where the great naval hero was H wounded ( which was marked by a H raised brass plate ) , the ollicer remarked H to j | "Here Nelson fell I" H ' • And no wonder ! " exclaimed the old H lady. "I nearly fell there myself ! " H Louden Answers. | Merchants Hotel , Omaha , H COI' .Nr.I ! FIFTKr.NTH AND IWUNAM STS. d H Street cars pass the door to and from B both depots ; in business center of city. AVH ] Headquarters for state and local trade. flHVH Kates § 2 and S3 per day. SBWJ I'AXTON & DAVEM'ORT , f'rjp's. To Keep VioletH Krvsli. HHH | To keep violets fresh when wearing BVHl them on the person , wrap the stems flBVJ first in cotton dipped in salted water , AVJ the tops sprinkled and the whole HBVJ 1 covered closely with confectioner's pa9HHl per , and put in a cool place. In this 9VBV ' way the blossoms may be preserved for jHHBV saveral days. New York Tribune. 9HVH ] Cheap r.inds ami Homes H HH Are to be had on the Frisco Line in flHHH Missouri. Arkansas aud Kansas. The AVHVJ best route from St. Louis to Texas and VHVH ] all points west and southwest. For HHVJ maps , time tables , pamphlets , eta , call JBHB ] upon or address any agent of the comflVHS pany. or , D. Vishart , Ueu'l Passenger 9HVJ Agent , St Louis , Mo. HBV Dr. Kay's Lung l'a m is the safest , surest ShBHJ and pleasautest cure for all coughs. flBVB ] Naturalists s-ay that a healthy swallow flHBVJ wiil consume at out li,0i:0 : swallows a day. ' lHHBfll FITS Stopped free ntiil permanently cured. > o3M k after first ilay's use of Dr. feline's Grout \uno H Kesior > T. Free ? 2 trial bottle and trratim * . H tend to li : . Kli.nl , 'J31 Arch .St. . Philadelphia , I'a. H It is youth , not learning , that makes H young ; eoji 'e smart. H Hcscraan' Camphor Ice with Glycerine. H The original and only genuine Cures Chapped Hand-j H and Face , Cold Sores , Ac. C.G.Clark < tCo..IIavenCt. J H No one can fee ! a man as easily as he H fcols himse'f. H A Thumbscrew Torture to the BIGGEST NERVE is * H $ | SCI ATICAo St. Jacobs Oil | rfl A Itturns back the screw. It unwinds ths twist. IT SOOTHES. IT CURES. X H X NO FURTHER PAIN. X J H ilip @ Sl ( ® s * j s [ / Sgk I'HAT Listless , Aimless , Dull , Lack- ? H f retfft * a " " ) L , 'JStre e2 " 1c yours shows that your C H ? JW { W0f2&ninterna machinery is running too slowly. S H fmti LIVER IS LAZY > M JffirlraPW YOUK BOWELS are languid \ M ' > H S f BLOOD is sluggish \ I t& R l Ml 'Sl Get amove on without delay , or you'll be a very sick ) H k l < 5 ? fSVr/Ss person. Cascarets Ccndy Cathartic matce your liver \ H I WESSB3g5Qf # > 5v § ? ti-Ml ' 'vev y ° ur bowels regular , your blood pure , move your \ H 1. w < % \ \ P Ii sacchinery. Buy a box to-day.any drugstore. ioc , 25c , C „ M f > 3 fL g f VJi ? ' / / 50c. , or mailed tar price : JS'-Write for booklet and free 2 jS I I m SSS * ' CANDY I M y liF S&iBt cure chronic > - H J < & BB" ' tts 5 % s CONSTIPATION. % H L ABCRESS STERLING REMEDY COMPANY , CHICAGO ; htZCTREAL. CAN. ; NEW YORK. 233 S - | . 1 . . _ _ _ * H