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UNT IIULDA sat under the
siiade of the apple tree paring the
'fruit that had fallen from the
imaried. overladen branches. She was
dressed in n fa od bine calico gown
nd a checked apron , and wore a home-
xnade sunbonuet upon her gray head.
At her right was the roadway leading
from the barn to the turnpike in fron
of the house. A few feet tb the lef
jras her back doorstep. It was a warm
afternoon , and the shade of the tre
fead tempted her from the hot kitchen
as it often did.
Aunt Hulda's meditations were no
.worthy of record. She was a simple
Id body , living a simple , circumscribed
life and thinking simple , uuimportan
things. For instance , she was about to
ake applesauce , and she knew hei
aaoce was highly praised by the farm
raf wives who now and then dropped
to for a visit and some tea. These
were memorable occasions with her
the reflected upon the evident enjoy
ment Mrs. Worrell had displayed only
last week , when she ate two full sau
era of Aunt Hulua's applesauce. From
ihe same tree , too. It was a gooc
tree ; she had used its fruit In sauce
for many years ; thirty maybe forty
It was hard to remember the exact
time. Probably It would keep on bear-
fag these rosy-cheeked apples as long
as her days lasted , and then
Then she looked up and saw the
thor. He had Just ridden up the turn
pike on his bicycle , and glancing over
jibe fence perceived Aunt Hulda seat-
ad under her tree.
1 He could not have said what made
him pause , dismount and regard the
Iwmely picture thoughtfully as he lean
ed upon his wheel. When he saw that
ihe observed him he took off his cap
and bowed to her , and she returned
abe salutation composedly. Then , af-
ier a hesitating glance up the road , he
trundled his wheel through the open
fates and came to where the woman
Aras sitting.
"Good afternoon , " he said , pleasant
ly. 'Will you let me lie here and rest
a bit ? "
She nodded. She liked boys ; and this
me was fresh and manly and good to
look upon. He wore a modest gray suit
nd cap. and stockings of brown worst
ed. There was nothing "flashy" in his
appearance , which could not be truth
fully said of all the bicyclers Aunt
Hulda had seen spinning along the
mootb turnpike.
, The boy leaned his wheel against the
tree , reclined gracefully upon the
grass , and resting his head upon his
albow , watched the deft fingers that
Iraslly continued to pare and quarter
abe apples.
"Tired ? " she asked , in a motherly
lone. She had never been blessed with
children , but had all a mother's tender-
Bess for youth still fresh in her old
heart
"Not very , " he answered ; "but it
looked cool and pleasant here , and
and I thought I'd like to talk with
jron. "
She nodded again.
"You see , I am not limited as to
time , " he continued , lazily stroking the
kitten that had crept to his side , "for
3 am taking a cross-country trip on my ,
wheel as part of my vacation. I never
know where I shall stop'at night ; that
it one of the delights of the trip. When
dark overtakes me , or I grow tireJ , I
atop at the nearest village. "
"The Highest place to here Is Mill-
Wnk , " remarked Aunt Hulda. "There's
a circus there to-day. "
"A circus ? Why , that's jolly ! There's
Nothing I love better
than to attend a
'country circus. Not for the sake of the
bareback riders 'and clowns , you un-
ierstand ; but to watch the people and
enjoy their enjoyment"
"Martin Is there now , " she said.
"Martin ? "
"My man. It's his year. We take
ilnrns. you know ; he goes one year , and
2 go the next Martin went early this
afternoon , so as to see the animals fed ;
but he won't see the show till the even
ing performance. It's always better a
* venlngs. He took his supper In his a
Docket" li
"But why don't you go together ? " lit (
asked the boy , sitting up. A
"It costs too much , " she replied At
frankly. "We really can't afford It at 6 !
all , now times are so bard ; but we're
jtwo old folks , living all by ourselves ,
and we thought as we'd divide up , and al
Jake in the circus every year. When ale <
I go , I tell Martin all about it ; and tl
/when / he goes he tells me. It gives us tl
something to talk about when we're tlai
alone in the evenings , and it's almost 01
as goo3 as going yourself to hear Mar- 01ft
iin describe It" ftst
The boy lay back and looked at her
curiously. He did not laugh. It seem in
ed to him he was nearer tears than
laughter , although he could see well ai
anougb the comedy of it
"How far is the tovrn ? " he asked. P <
"Two miles. " se
"Have you a horse ? " in
"Yes , indeed. Old Piebald Is In the inai
aarn now. Martin nerer take * him ai
io the circus ; no more do L We walk. aih
Piebald gets scart at the steam piano , b <
bo
tnd it costs a quarter to put him rap o\
In the hotel barn. " oth
"Let's go , " said the boy , suddenly. fr
"Where ? " demanded Annt Hulda , "t
dropping her knife in amazement "tffi
"To the circus. Be my guest Tre Pi
Plenty of money more than I shall fa
know bow to § pend on my trip , and ei
like U take 700 to the circa * . Well cl
see it all sideshows and eveything :
and we'll have a real jolly time ! "
] She stared at him stupidly a while.
The audacity of the proposition almost
took her breath away. She saw hevaa
j in earnest , however , and she glance I
from her coarse blue gown to his neat
gray suit with a puzzled air. Strangers
had been polite to her before , but none
had ever offered to take her to a circus ;
nor , indeed , anywhere else. But this
was a boj' ; a nice boy , too. He had
risen to his feet and was standing be
fore her , cap in baud.
"Do let's go ! " he pleaded.
"I I can't , " she answered ; "I've got
to make the applesauce. "
"Let it wait , " he said , with a wave
of the hand ; "the circus only comes
once a year. "
"There's the supper. "
"I'll help you get It and eat it , also.
Antl I'll help do the dishes. "
"There's the stock to be fed , " she
continued. Her tone was growing more
irresolute , and he noted it
"Two of us can feed the stock in no
time , ! ' he declared ; "so come , please ;
let's get to work at once. "
"I I don't know what Martln'll
think , " she protested , as a last resort
But she rose from her chair , neverthe
less , and stood with the pan of apples
under her arm , a look of pleased anti
cipation spreading over her wrinkled
face. He took the pan from her and
carried It Into the kitchen.
"We'll surprise Martin , " he said , eas
ily ; "but It will be easy to explain the
matter. I'm sure he won't object to
your having a good time. "
"Oh , no ! Martin's real good to me , "
she answered.
The next hour was a bright and hap
py one to them both. Aunt Hulda's
heart was not nearly so withered as her
face , and there was a charm about this
youngster , who had taken direction of
her affairs in such a masterful way ,
that delighted her beyond measure.
She was almost like a girl. Her laugh
came freely and as sweetly as if she
had been eighteen instead of fifty , and
she answered his jokes with full appre
ciation of their fun.
The boy was enjoying himself , also.
He filled the kettle , helped set the ta
ble , cut the bread and talked contin
ually. Then when the simple meal was
ready , and the apples were simmering
on the stove , they sat down opposite
one another at the rude table and
feasted merrily.
He afterward tied a checkered apron
around his waist and wiped the dishes
while Aunt Hulda washed them.
"We must hurry , " he said , "for I
don't want to miss a bit of the fun.
Now for the stock ? "
He carried water , climbed the loft to
throw the hay , fed the pigs and the
chickens , and did It all so handily and
quickly that Aunt Hulda was amazed.
Next he led out old Piebald , harnessed
him to the wagon , and had the equip-
age waiting beside the apple tree bei
fore the woman had finished putting
on her "best dress" and smoothing her
hair.
"I guess everything's 'tended to , "
she said , as she climbed to a seat be
side him. "I put your wheel in the
kitchen , and left the apples to slow-
bile , and put the lamp handy for use
when we come back , and fed the kiti
tens. "
"So there's nothing on your mind to
keep you from having a good time. " he
commented.
They drove through the dusk to the
village , where the boy promptly put
up old Piebald at the hotel stable.
Fhen he walked with Aunt Hulda
lown to the tents , where they first vis-
ted the sideshows and saw the fat
ady and the snake charmer and the
iving skeleton and all the other won-
lers.
There was a tremendous crowd. Ev-
ry farmer and farmer's wife for miles
irouud seemed to be there ; and now
ind then Aunt Hulda would nod proud-
y and happily to an acquaintance , and
lelight in the curious looks that were
lirected upon her escort They were
ill country people all but the boy. His
ippearance rendered him wholly un-
Ike the others ; but he did not seem a
o know it He chatted gayly with
Lunt Hulda , and called her attention
o everything he thought would Inter-
ist her.
Then they visited the animals , and
ic told her many wonderful things
bout them that were both strange and
difying to the simple old woman. But
he band was now playing fiercely In
he big tent where the circus perrorm-
nce was held. Indeed , nearly every
ne had already entered , and they tl :
tla
onnd themselves alone with a few a
tragglers.
"I believe the grand procession's go-
ag to start" she whispered , nervously.
"All right ; let's go in. " he replied ,
nd led her to the entrance.
The big tent was literally lined with
eople , from the canvas roof to the :
eats at the very ringside. It seemed 11
nposslble that it conld hold another ic
erson. The boy looked anxiously icC
round. On each side of the band stand it
discovered that a * small box had
een built with a flowing red canopy
ver It and cushioned seats. One of if
hese boxes had been taken by a party
rom Squire Meldrum's house the
big man" of the village and a merry
roup of young and old people occn-
ied it But the other box was vacant ; n' '
ar who beside the squire had money
Dough to fay a dollar a Mai at the
Ircua ? tl
The boy stopped an usher , and ai'tei
a whispcreJ conversation was escorted
with Aunt Hulda , behind the tiers of
seats and through a narrow passage
into the box. Their appearance caus
ed a murmur of surprise from the sur
rounding benches. Many knew the old
lady's pleasant hopiely face , and mar
veled at seeing her thus occupying the
position of honor opposite Squire Mel-
drum himself.
Martin was seated "away down near
the ringside , but he looked up with
the others , and his astonishment was
intense when he saw Aunt Hulda fram
ed by the crimson curtains anJ can
opy , and a strange youth beside her
who was pa3ring her devoted attention.
All during the circus the poor man di
vided his gaze between this remark
able vision of his wife and the antics
of the clowns and jugglers. He saw
her drinking red lemonade with her
companion , and that her lap was load
ed down with peanuts and candy and
popcorn ; for the boy would do nothing
by halves , and bought everything that
was offered for sale.
Martin shook his head , and sighed ,
and looked again. It was certainly
Aunt Hulda , but how she came there
was a mystery he could not fathom.
He waited outside the tent while
they heard the concert , after the circus
itself was over. Martin was not given
to solving problems ; time would ex
plain everything , he thought He knew
when they were coming by her laugh ,
and such a laugh he could not remem
ber hearing from Aunt Hulda since the
happy days when they were first wed.
He put out his hand and touched her ,
almost diffidently , as they followed the
crowd from the entrance
"Huldy ! " he said.
"Good gracious ! " she cried ; "If it
Isn't Martin ! We've been looking for
you everywhere , for the boy wanted
you to stay with us to the concert
It's his fault , Martin , " she ad Jed , more
soberly. "He would have me corne
as his company , you know and I
couldn't well say no. "
"I'm glad you had the chance , " said
Martin , simply. Then he plucked her
sleeve. "Who Is he ? " he whispered.
"I don't know , " she answered , be
hind her hand ; "but , O "Martin , he's
been so good to me ! "
"Well , are we ready for home ? "
broke In the boy. "I expect old Piebald
is anxious to get back and munch bis
hay. Shall we go ? "
They drove home almost In silence ,
with Martin sitting in the back of the
wagon box and the boy driving. Only
once did Aunt Huida speak , and that
was to say , with a contented sigh , "I
dont' think we missed a single thing ! "
While Martin put up the horse the
boy got his wheel from the kitchen. "I
shall sleep at Mlllbank to-night , " he
said , brightly ; "for the hotel there
seems like a comfortable place ; but be-
ore I go I want to thank you for a
very happy evening. "
Aunt Hulda leaned down , and taking
his round face between her hands , kiss
ed him tenderly.
"What made you do it ? " she whisper
ed. "Why were you so good to an old
woman like me ? "
The boy stood looking into the night
for a moment before he answered.
"Mother and I , " he said at last , softly ,
"were always good comrades , and had
many : jolly times together ; and when I
saw i you sitting under the tree this
afternoon , my heart grew hungry for
some i one to go with me , as she used
to i do , and have a happy time. She's
dead < now , you know. "
His voice broke with a sob , and the
woman gathered him into her arms and
held ] him close to her for a while. Then
she i kissed him again , with a sweet
motherly i caress.
"Good night" he said.
The next moment he had mounted
his wheel and disappeared down the
road ; but she stoo.l looking long after
his figure had faded Into the darkness ,
and listened until the last muftled
sound had died away upon the soft
night air. Youth's Companion.
Past His First Youth.
The swan is said to be excellent eat-
big when young ; but as it is one of the
longest-lived of all creatures , it is well
to learn If possible how old your bird
is before you cook it
A gentleman m Linfolnshire. Eng
land , sent a dead swau to the Athenae
um Club , addressed to the Secretary.
A special dinner w.ns to occur that
week , and the committee without ques
tion turned the bird over to the cook.
At the dinner the swan , resting on
great silver dish , was a delight to
the eye ; but when It came to carving
and eating the bird , no knife seemed
sharp enough to cut it , and of course
eating it was out of the question.
A few days later the donor met the
Secretary and said , "I hope you got
my swan all right"
"That was a nice Joke you played on
as , " returned the Secretary.
"Joke ? What do you mean ? "
"Why , we had the thing boiled for
hirteen hours , and even then we might h
is well have tried to cut through the
Rock of Gibraltar. "
"You don't mean to say you bad the
rwan cooked ! "
"Why , of course/ ' ird
"Man alive ! I sent it to be stuffed d
ind preserved as a curiosity in the
lub. That swan has been in my fam-
ly for 280 years. It was one of the tlV'
dentical birds fed by the children of V' '
Uharles I. you've seen the picture of
My ancestor held the post of 'mas-
er of the swans and keeper of the
ai
xing's cygnets. ' Well , I have no donbt
was a bit tough. "
Q ]
First Maps of Detroit.
It is claimed that Joseph Gaspard
jhaussgros De Dery , a French engi-
leer. made the first maps of Detroit in 11 !
749 and 1754.-
' .V
Ever bny anything from re
kat yon really tl
SUPPOSE WE SMILE.
HUMOROUS PARAGRAPHS FROM
THE COMIC PAPERS.
Plensant Incidents Occurrinjr the
World Over Sayings that Arc Cheer
ful to Old or Yoiinu Funny Selec
tions that Everybody Will Enjoy.
"Say , " queried Fanner Elnyrix ,
"what dew they raise in them tliar
roof gardens di-own tew th' city ? "
"Peaches , uncle , " replied tiio city-
bred young man. " Chicago News.
Mutual Compassion.
"Oh ! my poor woman ! My heart
bleeds for one in your condition ! "
"Thanks , sor ; Oi was thinkin' the
same of the likes of you ! "
Putting Him Right.
Tommy Mamma said you only come
here on account of the lunch.
Rev. Fiddle , D. D. Hereafter , my
dear child , I shall come for dinner , too.
"Wnnted to Turn He- .
"Lot's wife wuz turned Inter a piller
er salt , " said the old colored citizen.
"en ef de ( lays of miracles wuzn't pas'
en gone I'd lose my temper some day
en ax de L wd ter turn mini * inter a
week's groceries ! " Atlanta Constitu
tion. /
Cnusc of JTis Sa
Mr. Goodman Your little playmate
seems sad.
Willie-yes , sir. He had ter stay
home from school yestid'y -
"The idea ! And he's sad on that
account ? "
"No. sir ; it's because he had ter come
back ter school ter-day. " Philadelphia
Record.
Villains 1 Vipers !
Mrs. Ruthven It's a shame that re
porters are permitted to put the names
of society people in the papers.
Mrs. Siiiythe indeed , it is. my dear.
They always spell mine wrong. The
Smart Set
Expected to Exchange It.
Customer I want to buy an um
brella.
Dealer Yes , sir ; something for about
$5 ?
Customer No ; something aboutfl. .
I'm going to a party.
A Good Catch.
Tom When I went fishing down at
the beach this summer I lauded a twen
ty pounder.
Dick Oh , I landed a 130-pounder
there.
Tom What a fish ?
Dick No , a girl. Chicago Newa ,
In the Book Store.
Josh Wsyback Gimme a lot ot
French novels I hear so much about
Mrs. Wayback What do you want
them for , Josh ?
Josh Wayback Well , Mandy , we got
a lot o' space to fill in the flew bookcase
and tliey-teH me them French novels is ]
very broad.
IN THESE DEPARTMENT STORES.
Customer ( at book department ) I want to get "The Last of the Mohl-
cans. " )
New Clerk Well , I guess you'll find that at the remnant counter. E
Ignorant , but Not Blissful.
Miss Citybred ( in country ) What
kind of a tree is that ?
Uncle Ilayrix That's an apple tree.
Miss Citybred Why doesn't It blos
som ?
Uncle Ilayrix It's a little too late.
Miss Citybred Oh , then I'll get up
real early in the morning and see it
hlossorn. Chicago News.
Most Assuredly.
"Do you know that Tom kissed me
ist night ? "
"Well , I declare ! I hope you sat on
im for it"
"Oh , I did ! Most assuredly ! "
The Truth of the Matter.
Mr. Faintly I wouldn't think of read-
ig Christmas ghost stories to my chil-
ren.
Mr. Biggs Why not ?
Mr. Faintly Well , It might scare
lern , and er er they make me ner-
ous. too.
Innocent Woman.
He They are making a lot of fuss
bout these "sweat shops. "
She Indeed ! I wonder If they'll
take them close the Turkish baths ?
Its Origin.
P.odrick 1 wonder who first origl-
* ted "rummage sales ? "
Van Albert Probably some man who
cut to hunt for something in his bu-
; au drawer after his wife bad been
trough it Chicago Newa >
Heavy Returns. lih lih
"What business brings the heaviest h
returns ? " asked the man who wanted
to know.
"The literary business , " sighed the t (
struggling author , as he opened a two-
q
pound rejected book manuscript Phil- qit
adelphia Record.
tc
Equalizing Matters. laai
Ivnox Don't you believe In telllnj ai
your wife everything that happens ? aial
Proxy Well er I can't say that but alal
I do believe in telling her some things al
that don't happen. Philadelphia cim
Record. ciP'
P'
The European Plan.
cr
Landlord ( after fair guest has faint ;
fo
ed at sight of her bill ) Jean , I have
sent the boy for a glass of water for
the lady , and I wanr you to see that 10
cents is added to her bill. Understand ? .
pc
Fliegende Blaetter.
fie
Consoling. st
She I believe you are marrying mo lo
for my money alone. fu
He Oh , no ; that'll be gone soon. loi
thmi
The Aftermath. mi
Husband Come , sit on my lap , my
dear , as you did in our old courting Ot
days.Wife th
Wife Well , I declare ! I haven't re
ceived such an invitation for
an age. ou
Husband And er bring a needle be
and thread with you , my love. New in ;
York Weekly. fn
Didn't Give 'Em Away , of
Mrs. Justwed Do you sell turkeys ? Jii
Poultry Dealer Well , I don't look
like a philanthropist do I ? ao
Answered the Purpose.
Her Niece And this , auntie dear , ii
a real old master.
Aunt Tabitha Don't you fret child- erg
it's just as good as some of the new me
ones.
coi
A Snsrseation. *
The Angry Father What do you er
pect me to do send you all the money
you ask for , or calmly allow you to gel
into debt ? 'J
Life.'J
The Son You might do both. Life. bet
one
Some Worth Cultivating ,
He What do you think about the mi it
crobes In kisses theory ? . it.n ?
She ( cheerfully ) I've heard that w
couldn't get along without certain kind * E
of microbes. Puck. art
Bta
All in That Clam.
ba\
SlllicuB Have you noticed that moat
heroes are married men ?
Cynicos Sir. every married man li
a hero , Philadelphia Record.
i '
\
* * * * r * _ _
ffii&///P
& /
J/J
I England has American 'phones.
Elwood. Ind. . has a doctors * union.
! Cincinnati schcol teachers will form
i union.
i Toronto carpenters demand an eight-
liour < ay.
Worcester labor unions Jmay adopt
the union label. \
Denver's plumbers * strike Is OTCT.
The wage scale is $4.2,1 a day. ;
The Baltimore Federation of Labo *
\viil organise a ladies' auxiliary.
Los Angeles lumber handlers gained
a uiue-hotir day without asking for it
Thirteen hundred employes of Lip-
ton , the cup chaser , struck for an In-
i-rcase of wages.
Pittsburg's United Mine Workers ar
jousideriug Carnegie's offer to con
struct a workers' hospital there.
Worcester's building trades , with tht
exception of the s loam fitters and help
ers , have won the eight-hour day.
Typographical Union , Winnipeg.
\vants the number of hours of labor
per week reduced from fifty-four to
forty-eight
The United States and England
the only two countries in the worlfl
that now have exclusively private rail
road systems.
Troy has twenty-seven factorie *
where collars , cuffs an.l shirts art
made. They employ 15,000 persona ,
four-fifths being women.
The Trades and Labor Council of
Quebec is urging on the provincial gov
ernment the establishment of a bureaa
of labor stitistics similar to the On
tario bureau of labor.
New York has 1.8S1 labor organiza
tions , with a total membership of 201-
b"23 men and 14,018 women. Of thhi
total of 27G.141 trades unionists 174-
022 are in the city of New York.
Pittsburg's $1,000,000.000 steel com
bine is to introduce automatic macbim-
ery in its tinplate mills , similar to thai
In operation in the steel plants. It if
expected that hundreds of skilled work
men will be gradually displaced.
San Francisco labor people having
carried the city , are planning to spread
out and carry the State. In Connecti
cut a State party is to be formed , and
the Colorado unions are preparing to
take the field along Independent polit
ical lines.
AS TO DESERTED WIVES.
Apt to Be Forjjivinjf , Even if The ;
Make Complaint to the Courts.
An odd statement emanating from
the Chicago Bureau of Associated
Charities casts an interesting sidelight
upon the divorce question. According
to this statement the burden upon tb
bureau of women who have been de
serted by their husbands Is out of all
proportion to a civilized society. In
ne way and another it has been esti
mated that there are in Chicago 8.500
roinen who have been thus left alon
n the world. Some of the recreants
lave disappeared , but many are stin
langers-on in the household , leaving ? '
heir wives to earn the bread. Whaff
hen. the Chicago courts are asking , hi
o be done with these offenders ? Tbt
juestion would be s'mple enough wert
not that the deswtr-d wife is loata
o set in motion the machinery of thl
aw , or If she has done so , is generally
inxious to stop It.
A Philadelphia lawyer , when asked
ibout this , was of the impression that
.ffairs were not much better in this
ity. says the Philadelphia Press. "Yon
nust , " lie said , "devise an effective
punishment before you can stop a
rime. When a husband Is to be tried
or Ill-treating his wife the latter must
encrally be the prosecutor , and If she
ets as far as taking the oath he *
pirit generally leaves her at about thai
oint She leaves the magistrate's ot-
ce , and by night she is back at th
tation house begging to see the fel-
w. I believe that in Philadelphia
Lilly 75 per cent of these arrests are
ist through the default of the wife as
ic complaining witness. Besides ,
iaiy a woman who would be only too
lad to be rid of a husband in any
ther way will refuse to take a step
lat would land him In jail. "
The Chicago society is now looking
nt for about fifty women who have
Jen deserted. These women are clean-
ig , cooking , sewing , and scrubbing at
om $1 to $1.50 a day , but an office *
the society expresses the opinion
lat fully 40 per cent of them are shar-
ig their earnings with their good-for-
thing husbands.
Millions in the Milk Trade.
Outside the business of supplying
ew York City with milk , the farm-
of New York State have an invest-
ent of $43,450,000 in cows , and a
responding amount in dairy fannt
id fixtures , the total being not lew
an $150,000,000.
A .Royal Painter.
rhe Empress Frederick has aJwayi
n an admirable artist At WindBOF
room is entirely
hung with ex-
lisite water colors done by her , and
a great charity bazaar two paint-
gs done by her sold for 1,000 apiec * .
EIow many really know what all tL
tides in a manicure box are forl
and up and be counted. You really
ve grounds to organize an exslusiv *
rfery.
iVbat has become of the old-fashion-
ones wb went to bed 2a the dark ?
