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OlIAUA , '
TWO HEABTB.
A TALE OF THE CHEAT MIIlAMICni PIRE.
fly Maltolm Thackeray ROM in tfie Epoth.
There arc , no doubt , millions of people
n America to-day who have never even
heard of the Mlramlchl fire , yet it was atone
ono time the talk of both hemispheres ,
rhaps there never was such > confla-
; rntlon in the world before ; other great
fires were mere rush light * in compari
son with It , for it burnt over an urea of
'orcet land as large as the state of Massa
chusetts , consumed million of dollars
vorth of property , and destroyed , alas ,
lundrcds of human lives.
The story of the Mlrnmichl fire never
iag been fully told , and never can be
told now , for nearly all who witnessed it
arc dead.
I was a very young man at this time
and made my homo nt the house of a
married sister who resided at Chatham ,
the principal town on the Miramlchl
river. For three winters I had worked
in the lumber woods , and my savings ,
which were considerable , wore safely
lodged in a , local bank. In summer I
wont to school , for my sister was ambi
tious and wanted mo to be a lawyer or
doctor , and during spare hours I helped
my brother-in-law m his store. But the
sight of ono pretty face speedily put an
cud to this routine of duty and to my
sister's ambitions wishes.
It was at Newcastle , a town six miles
farther up the Miramichi than Chatham ,
that I first saw Grace Prentiss. With me
it was a case of love at first sight ; aa for
Grace. I do not believe that she saw me
or noticed mo nt all. Iiut I looked upon
her then and I think of her still as the
fairest of women , with her lovclv brown
hair , her clear , hazel eves , her fresh ,
blooming complexion nnd her graceful
form. She was just eighteen , and as un
conscious of her beauty aa she was beau
tiful , for most of her life had been spent
on a little farm that nestled in the midst
of the vast forest.
This first view of Grace was had in
the autumn , a short time before I took
my departure for the lumber woods. All
that winter , as I worked in the forest. I
thought of Grace and wondered when I
should have the opportunity ot seeiueher
again. 1 did not even know her name
nor whore she lived , and. therefore , it
seemed as if nothing but some lucky
chance would again give me a sight of
her. 1 hud hardly left the woods in the
spring when the chance camo.
1 was setting in the store at Newcastle ,
which was owned by the man who em
ployed me in the woods , when Gruco and
her mother entered to make some pur
chases. I saw that she was dressed in
black and I learned afterwards that her
father had died during the winter. But
she was as beautiful as ever and oven
more so in my sight. Her entrance was
so sudden and unexpected that it almost
took my breath away , but to the lively
young clerk with whom I had been talk
ing a moment before it seemed a very
ordinary event. I soon saw that ho was
acquainted with both mother and daugh
ter , and to mo , who was all impatienc
to get his ear for a moment and learn
their names , it seemed that he expended
an unnecessary amount of time in wait
ing upon them. Perhaps he was in love
with Grace also. 1 could not endure the
thought.
For fifteen minutes or more this young
gossip of n clerk kept up a constant flow
of talk with mother and daughter , and ,
what was worse , I was too far away to
catch any part of the conversation.
I thought , however , that I heard my
own name mentioned once or twice , and
and it seems that my ears did not deceive
me. for a minute or two later the clerk
called mo over and introduced me to Mrs.
1'rentiis. "Thia" said ho. "is Joe Har
well , the young man I was telling you
about , " and then addressing me , ho con
tinued. "Mrs. Prentiss wants a man to
help on her farm and I told her 1 thought
you would go ; you must be pretty tired
of school by this time. "
"You will find it rather dull with us. "
said Mrs. Prentiss. "we don't see much
company , but we'll try to make you com-
torlabla if you come. "
All this time Grace had not said a word ;
no one soemcd to think it necessary to
make mo acquainted with her ; I don't be
lieve she even bestowed a glance on me ,
and yet 1 would have seen Mrs. Prentiss
wanting help a long time before 1 would
have gone to her solitary farm to work
for her had it not been for Grace's sweet
sake. As it was , I was very willing to go
and I made bargain with Mrs. Prentiss
for the season's work so very favorable
to that lady that she must have had but
an indifferent opinion of my business ca
pacity. But what did I care for money ;
was not love enough for mo ?
I wont back to Chatham that night in
great spirits , but my sister , when she
hoard of my intentions , hardly shared
my enthusiasm. The fact is that I did
not tbfnk it necessary to tell her any
thing about Grace , and so she rather
wondered at my choice of n residence. A
week later I was in Mrs. Prontiss's farm
and engaged in the regular routine of my
duties , wTiich embraced the whole range
of farm work ; in fact , I had to lake the
place of the late Mr. Prentiss so far as the
management of farm affairs went. I had
plenty to do , but I did not spare myself ,
and I was soon on the best pos
sible footing with every member ol
the family. Grace was the eldest
and next to her were two boys , John and
Charlie , aged respectively fourteen and
twelve. Then came little Mary , who wes
only four years old , but who promised
to be the very image of her sister Grace.
Mary was the dearest little creature pos
sible and she and I soon became fasl
friends. She grew so fond of me that
she was hardly content to bo out of my
eight. Every ono laughed when she de
clared that he would marry me as soon
as she got to be a big girl like Grace.
In the meantime my love aflair with
Grace progressed favorably ; I need nol
relate its various phases ; it is enough to
suy that I won her simple honrt and that
she plighted her troth to mo. No diffi
culties crossed our path , and no opposi
tion came from any quarter ; her mother
wus favorable to our union , and only
asked us to delay it for a year or two
until 1 was better settled. It was a reasonable
sonablo request , and we were willing to
wait , there was not a happier youth in
the country thaa I was then *
The Prentiss farm was some ten miles
above Newcastle , on a tributary of the
northwest Miramichi. The house , which
was of lojzs.was about one hundred yards
from the rrver , which joined the Mira-
michi a mile below , passing in that dis
tance over a sharp , rapid and running
with a very swift current. The clearing
was quite narrow and extended along the
edge of the smaller river for some dis
tance. The house was close to the forest
and the barn closer still ; the whole extent
of the cleared farm did not exceed ten or
fifteen acres.
It was autumn ; our little harvest had
been safely gathered and the barn was
full to overflowing. All the regular
work was done and I was engaged chop
ping up a huge pile of firewood for the
winter. I was very anxious to have thitt
job completed , for I had agreed with my
old employer to go to the lumber woods
again and wished to have everything
comfortable lor the family before I left.
I had the prospect before me of a six
months' absence from Grace , but after
that we would never be separated any
more , for in the following autumn she
was to become my wife. How little either
of us knew what the future had in store
for us.
The 7th of October came , a day never
to be forgotten by the residents of the
Miramichi district. For some days the
smoke of distant firofl had been observed
in the woods to the north , but such
hlngt were too common to excite notice.
That morning was unusually warm for
ho sonson and the air heavy and close.
Un. Frentlnf thought It a good oppor-
unity to go to a little barren stretch ,
throe miles from the farm , to gather n
winter store of cranberries. It was ar
ranged that Grace and the boys should
jo with her and that 1 should follow
with the horse to bring back the baskets <
about the middle of ' .he afternoon , Little'
May declined to go with the others and
said she would ntay with me.
Grace nnd I parted that morning with ,
aa little show of feeling aa two people
might exhibit who expected to meet
again in a few hours later. She was in a
ncrry mood , and. aa she went off with
ler basket on her arm , she turned and
cissed her hand to mo gaily with n
iloasant smile. Down the dark vista of
pears I can see that smile on her bcr-.utf-
tiful face as I then saw it for the last
time. When they were gone I resumed
my work at the wood-pile , and little
Mary sat close by and prattled to me in
tier childish way. At noon we had din
ner , and then work was continued as bo-
fore. It was between two and three
o'clock when Mary , who had been verv
quiet for some minutes , suddenly
atartled me by exclaiming : "O , Joel look
at the big , black smoke. "
I looked up instantly and beheld a
sight which froze me with horror. The
whole sky to the north was black with
smoke which seemed hardly a mile away
and every moment drew nearer. I saw
that the danger was imminent and that
there was no time to bo lost , if Grace and
tier mother were to be saved. In lets
time than it takes to tell the story I had
the bridle on the horse , and with Mary
sitting in front of mo was galloping
lown the forest path which led to the
barren.
The distance was three miles , but be
fore 1 had accomplished half of it I had
met the fire. It was in vain that I at
tempted to get round it. I was forced to
retreat , and it was only by the most des
perate efforts that I was able to return
3V the path that I had entered so rashly.
When 1 got back to the clearning I waa
rrimy with smoke and almost suffocated.
Little Mary , who had no idea of the dan
ger wo were in. had suffered from the
mioko also , but I had saved her from its
worse effects by wrapping my coat round
iicr head.
When I got back to our little clearing I
saw that it would not bo safe to remain
.here many minutes longer ; indeed , the
Ire had already reached the woods on
, ta margin , and I observed with dismay
; hat the trees between us and the Miram
ichi river was on fire. Yet our little river ,
now lined with burning forests , was the
only avenue of escape for us. Wo must
pas through that fiery portal or perish
where we stood.
I rushed into the house , took four of
the heaviest quilts from the beds , seized
a largo loaf of bread and a niece of meat
that was on the table , and picking up
Mary made a run for the river. The
lorse , as if from au instinct of danger ,
Followed us , and the cattle came running
down after us and bellowed with fright.
Our case seemed quite desperate ; wo nad
only a little skiff , and the double chance
of being upset in the rapids or roasted to
death by the firo. There , too , was the
horse ; what was to be done with that
mute pleader who looked to me for help ?
These thoughts passed through my
mind in an instant , but they did not delay
my efforts. I wrapped Mary up in the
largest of the quilts and laid her on her
Face in the front of the skiff' , enioininir
lior , as she valued her life , to remain still
where I placed her. Then taking the
horse by the bridle I got into the skiff
and pushed into the stream , which was
about three hundred feet wide and quite
deep. At this moment the whole sky
seemed on fire and the roar of the burn
ing forest was like the sound of continual
thunder. The terror-stricken cattle ,
when they saw the horse swimming , fol
lowed him , and by the time we had
reached the middle of the stream , all
were afloat and following us in a dismal
procession. For half a mile or so there
was no difficulty ; but then came the
rapids and the puss of fire.
1 knew the rapids well and on ordinary
occasions could run them in the skill'
without any difficulty. But now I had to
trust to Providence for guidance , for I
could neither see my way through the
smoke nor dare to look out when travers
ing that fiery furnace. So , when we drew
near , I let go the gallant horse's rein ,
wrapped myself up in a quilt and lay
down in the stern of the skiff , with a pad
dle dragging behind to keep its bow down
stream. In another moment were in the
rush of the boiling current and beyond
human aid.
.1 suppose wo could not hnvo been more
than three minutes passing the rapids ,
but it seemed to me nn ago. I never
realized before so completely the idea of
utter helplessness as during that brief
space of timo. Nothing I could do would
have any intlucnco on our safety. I was
but a waif adrift in the stream , nnd the
bark was guided by another Power than
mine. When from the motion of the
skiff * 1 know that the rapids wore behind
us , I poured out my heart in gratitude to
God for our deliverance. When I ven
tured to look up not ouly the rapids but
the fire was behind us , and a few strokes
of the puddle carried us into the Mirami
chi river. Neither May nor myself had
suffered the slightest hurt , and what was
more remarkable , all the live stock had
escaped. The horse was behind the
skiff' , swimming gallantly , nnd looking
up at me with his great , honest eyes.
The cattle had passed us in the rapids ,
and were swimming in front. All were
now bound to the same goal of
safety , a little grassy island ,
which lies in the center of the
Miramichi river , witb nothing of larger
growth upon it that an alder bush. Hero
wo landed , and looked back on the
wasted land wo had left behind.
Had I the pen of a Homer I could not
adequately describe the terrors of that
scene. All that my mind hud ever
imagined or my eye witnessed of destruc
tion fell far short of this dreadful reality ,
and every moment added to its horrors.
The wind , which until then had been
light , now grew to a violent hurricane ,
and the fire rushed on almost with the
speed of a race-horse ; huge burning
brands borne on the wings of the storm
foil on every side of us and threatened us
with destruction. The river was lashed
into fury by the gale and rose in huge
waves , and through the black pall of
smoke which hung over all the shoots of
flame seemed to pierce the very sky ,
As I sat and gazed on this awful scone
my courage , which had sustained me
while struggling for life , now seemed to
fail mo , and I burst into tears. I bad
saved myself and little Mary , but where
were the rest ? Where was that fond
mother and her two brave sons ? Where ,
above all , was Grace , my love , ray life ?
I looked toward the blazing forest for an
answer , but I saw written there nothing
but death. And when little Mary .aid
her head on my shoulder and weeping ,
said : "Joe , dear Joe , where is ma ? " 1
could only reply by tears.
The long , weary night passed , but the
morning sun Drought no cheer. Our lit
tle group of cattle wore still with us , and
hiding among them was a huge moose ,
who had fled from his torest haunta and
sought refuge with his enemy , man.
Poor wretch , who would have the heart
to do harm to him ? Was ho not a fellow
sufferer with us all ? He remained un
molested , and was still on the island
when we left it.
My first care was to take little Maty to
n place of safety , but where should 1 go ?
Every human habitation for miles was
destroyed , and tor all I could see , the
whole region was swept of living men.
My sister s bouse in Chatham was the
only place of shelter I could think of for
Marybut oven Chatham might have been
destroyed. If so our case was bad in
deed.
deed.We
We set out on our melancholy voyage
down thu river , both banks of which had
BENIN IS ON BROS.,1
i
: Grand Reunion and Gala Week.
WELCOME TO THE G.A.R.
Grand Souvenir Memorandum Given away to each G. A. R. , visiting our store. Grand Display
of Fine Dry Goods. We will place on sale the coming week , some of the greatest values
ever offered in Omaha , simply to unload our immense stock of new goods just air
' "
s' rived. Next week , only. "
it
4O pieces 40 Inch Serges , as , worth t > 5c. SILK DEPARTMENT
33 pieces 4i inch , all wool Scrgest 5Oo , worfh 75c. ,
29 piece * 44 inch , all wool Serges , 09c , worth 8Gc.
42 pieces a ! ) Inch all wool Serges , 9Oc , worth $1.25 ,
100 pieces 30 inch very flne cashmere , 25c , worth 4Oc.
FOR ONE WEEK
ONLY.
100 pieces 36' Inch extra flne cashmere , H9c , worth GOc , .
60 piece * 4O Inches , all wool ladles'cloth , 48c , worth Gffc.
25 pieces 54 inch ladles' cloth , SOc worth fl. 75 pieces elegant gradcflne Surah Stilts , in all shades , SOc per Mrtfcl
Remember will show the finest assortment worth 31.25. < \
we you 23 pieces Mack Gros Grain Silk. This number beats all competition d\
ment in fine novelties , in silks , velvets and 7fic per yard.
1O pcs Mack Ores Grain Silk , SOc per yard , worth $1.25.
dress seeds , ever shown in Omaha. C " 2O pcs black Gros Grain $1.25 per Hard , worth $1.75.
25 pcs Faille Gros Grain Silk , elegant shades , $1.38 yard , worth $2.
100 dozen fancy Turkish towels , 25c each. 2O pcs fancy flowered silks. In tinted shades , for evening wear , our prlct
.
for one week , $ J5O yard , worth f2.
100 dozen knotted fringe towels , 18c each , worth 35c. 1 bale ejctrc heavy unblcarhed muslin , 16 } yards for $1 ; great value.
100 dozen knotted fringe towels , 25c , worth 50c. * 1 case , ' { ( ! , inch veH flne bleached . muslin- much better quality thanfruU
or lonsdale 12 yards for $ I.
10 pcs 69 inch bleached table damasksfor , 1 week,68c worthSSo 1 case white Shaker Flannels : greatest value ever shown , 14 yards for $ Ji
J.OO dozen gents' scarlet all wool underwear , ffOc.
40 pcs 60 inch bleached and unbleached table damask , all 5O dozen gents' Scotch grey shirts and drawers , SOc , worth 75c.
in one lot at 50c per yard , worth 75c. 5O dozen gents1 very fine grey shirts and drawers , $1 , worth 91.00 *
75 dozen gents' wfiita shirts antl drawers , 25c ; no competition ,
25 pea striped linen crash , 6c per yard , worth lOc. SO dozen ladles' white rests and pants , SOc : best in town.
60 fancy curtain screens , 7c , worth 15c. GO dozen ladies' scarlet vests ana pants , 75c ; beats them all.
pcs 1OO dozen ladles' white knit vests , ( Hc ; worth ft.
50 pcs cream curtain screens , 9c , worth 20c : 1OO dozen ladles' fancy colors , knit vests , $1 , worth 92 ,
1OO dozen gents' fine clouded hose , 20c worth 40c ,
. .
10-4 scarlet blankets 3.00
20Q prs - per pair. 100 dozen ladies' lisle thread hose , 35c , worth 50c ,
Great Cloak Sale. Don't ' fail to Visit Our Cloak Department the Coining Week : i
300 Ladies' Fall Jackets , $3.50 worth $5. . rt
100 Ladies' Fall Jackets , $5 , worth $7.50 ; in checks , plaids , etc.
100 Ladies' Seal plush coats , 42 in. long , for 1 week. , $18 , others ask you $25.
40 Ladies Seal plush coats , 42 in. long , for 1 week , $25 , really worth $40.
100 Ladies' short wraps , fur trimmed , " " $3.50 , just for a flyer.
100 Ladies'short wraps , fur trimmed , $7.50 , worth $10. j'
Don't forget we carry Ladies' and Children's Wraps of all kinds and at prices to suit you all < I
Como one , come all , and see the fun at j
Bennison Brothers.
been completely swept by the lire. Until
ws reached Newcastle we did not see a
human face. But that place no longer
existed ; the lire had swept It away and
its distracted inhabitants were wandering
in silence about the ruins of their homes.
They looked upon mo as one risen from
the dead , for they had thought , that all
the inhabitants up the river
had been destroyed. Douglas-
town and all the villages
north of the Miramlcht wore burnt , they
told mc.but Chatham had escaped ; thanK
God for that I still had a homo I
It was late in the day when I reached
Chatham and my sister was almost wild
with joy when I appeared , for she be
lieved me dead. She took little Mary to
her kind , womanly heart , and I may say
here , that lor the next fourteen years
that noble woman and loving child never
were carted for a single day. Mary had
indeed lost her mother , but It is seldom
that the loss of a mother is so generously
replaced.
That very night 1 returned to New
castle to obtain assistance to search for
the Prentiss family. I felt that they could
not have escaped , but I could not endure
the thought of their remains being
exposed to the chances of the wilderness.
Accompanied bv two stout lumbermen
I started off on my melancholy mission.
1 would gladly omit or.forgct this part of
mv story , the thought of wnich oven now
fills mo with unspeakable sorrow. Mv
fears were only too sadly realized ; all
had perished and we found the four in a
group together near the edge of the bar
ren whore they had fallen in their at
tempt to escapo. Burnt beyond recogni
tion , mother and daughter , could only
bo distinguished by some remains of
their clothes. That lovely face that had
smiled on mo so tenderly a few , hours be
fore , was now a blackened mass in
which not a feature could be discerned.
And this was all that was left of my dar
ling Grace , my wife that was to be. It
was many a long year befoie I got over
the shock of that discovery.
Wo buried the 1'rentiss family to
gether in the churchyard at Chatham and
a handsome stone tells the sad story of
their death. When this last duty was
accomplished 1 felt that 1 could no
longer live in a place where I had en
dured such misery. Nor did my sister
attempt to detain me , for she felt that
change of scone und active employment
were the only'mqdicines that would be of
any benefit to me. So I kissed Mary and
my sister farawuU and wont to sea.
Before my departure , 1 placed the few
hundred dollars I possessed in a bank in
Mary's namej and told my sister to use
them for the child's maintenance ana
education. To tjils uurn was added the
price received fof , the horses and cattle
rescued fromthelire , , and also the money
realized from the § ale of the farm , of
which Mary'.waa solo heir. This fund
mv sister , never would touch ,
but constantly added to it , so that
at the end of . iho fourteen years I
have spoken pf , It had become a consid
erable ium and Mary was quite an heiress
in n small way. , Aad she was endowed
also with a , ripher inheritance than
money can buy a pure and honest
heart.
J need not linger long over ray career
at sea ; I was verv successful , and rose in
due time to bo mate and then master of
a fine vessel. I saved money and bought
a share in the vessel I sailed , and took
such good care of my savings and profits
that my money accumulated rapidly. 1
hud , in fact , no temptation to be other
wise than temperate and saving ; the
Miramiohl fire had burnt all the youth
and hope out of mo. Although I did my
work as well as any man , I lived wholly
in the past , and at night as I stood on
my vessel's dsck ana peered into the
darkness , or lay wakefully in my cabin ,
the sweet face of my lost Grace was al
ways before mo , and she ever wore the
same kind smile with which she bade mo
farewell that last sad day when we
parted forever. . .
Little Mary wont to school and the very
first letter ho ever wrote was sent to mo.
From the day she could use a , pen no
month passed that she did nut write tome
mo , and , at the end of many a lone voy
age I hnvo had enough of Mary's letters
to make quite a little volume. How much
they interested mo ! They were for many
years almost the entire solace I knew in
my lonely life. I have them all now , the
notes made up of printed letters when
she was five or six years old , then the big
childish hand , and so through all grada
tions to the perfection which she at last
attained. I was not so good a corre
spondent as Mary , yet I did not neglect
her : I wrote from every port at which I
touched and took care to keep her well
supplied with clothes hndjowelry as well
as monov , which , dear soul , she never
spent , iiut all this time I had never re
turned to Chatham ; I had never soon
Mary's face , und when I thought of her
it was as a child.
Fourteen years had elapsed since I loft
my home in Chatham and it seemed as if
every day was making the prospect of
my return to it more remote. For what
should I return ; had not my heart died
nnd been buried there ? No , 1 thought to
mvsolf , 1 will not co back.
11 was again the night of the 7th of
October , but this time I was at sea , in my
own stout ship on my return voyage from
India , and but two or three days' sail
from my port of destination , New York.
The sea was calm and the weather line ,
so I ratlrctl early to my cabin and soon
fell a sleep. Then , in a vision of the
night , all the past seem to coma back tote
to mo ; I again lived through that dread
ful October night of fourteen years be
fore , nnd out of tbo burn
ing forest the face of my Grace
seemed to rise and I thought she
beckoned mo and called tome. "Como
home. " Her voice scorned to sound so
full and clear thai I awoke , but the cabin
was silent , save the ticking of the clock ,
ana again I fell asleep and dreamed.
This time I thought 1 was on my own
ship and that 1 had been aroused by the
terrible cry bf "fire. " I heard the sail
ors rushing overhead and the orders of
the mates , as they encouraged them in
their struggle with the ilaraes. All , I
thought wus in vain ; the fire could not bo
stayed ; it advanced aft , the sailors were
driven to the quarter deck ; horror of
horrors ! they were leaving the vessel and
I , imprisoned in my cabin , could not
escape ! I straggled to gain my foot , but
1 seemed to bo hold down by some super
human power ; the exit from the cabin
was barred ny the flames ; all hope
was gone , and I could only die. Again ,
in the midst of my struggle , the face of
Grace seemed to raise calm and serene ;
she waved back the flames with her hand
and they disappeared , and again she
called to me , "Come homo. "
I again awoke and was conscious that
something was wrong. I rushed on deck
and at the head of the cabin stairs mot
the mate with a pain face.
"Its all right , captain , " said he , "tho
iiro is out and no harm done. "
"What fire ? " I asked. "Has the ship
been on fire ? "
"Why , " said he , "tho boy stupidly
upset a lamp in a lot of cotton waste and
it made a nasty blaze , but it is all out
now and no one the worse. "
'Thank God11 ! exclaimed and with
out another word I returned to my cabin ,
but before I went to sleep again that
night I made up my mind what I would
do on my arrival In port. It wus the
first accident of the kind that
had ever happened to a ship of
mine and I vowed that I would never
give fate another chance.
Wo reached Now York in a couple of
days , and the other owners wore very
much surprised when 1 told them that I
would go to sea no more. They were sin
cerely sorry to loose me , for I had mudo
money for them , as well as for myself ,
und , when I expressed my wish to sell
out my shares in the vessel , they mot mo
in a liberal spirit , and purchased them
on favorable terms. Mv good Miip went
to sea again a few weeks later , and whuu
I saw her depart so staunch and gallant
looking , I almost regretted the step 1 had
taken. But I thought better of it as week
and month nnd year passed on without
any tidings of her arrival in any friendly
port , for from that hour to the present
she has never been seen by living man.
Did she perish by fire , or by the violence
of the tempest ? Who can tell ? But I
shall always firmly believe that my good
angel sent me the midnight warning
which hindered mo from sharing her
fate.
fate.My business in Now York had detained
mo for some weeks , and Christmas was
approaching before 1 set out for Chatham ,
I had written to Mary alter my arrival ,
but gave her no hint that I intended to
give up the sea. So , when I arrived in
hatham on Christmas morning , no one
expected mo and no ono knew mo. How
should they , indeed ? I had left the place
a slim , smooth-faced youth ; I returned to
it a strong , full-boarded man , with the
marks of a hundred conflicts with the
storm stamped on my face. I put up nt
the hotel , nnd , although I wrote my name
on the register , it was in such a tremendous
deus hand that no one could read it ; and
if they had , how much wiser would they
have ueon ? Who was likely to remoni-
bnr .loo Farwoll when oven the great lire
was beginning to bo rather an old story ?
I took my breakfast at the hotel and
turned my steps towards my sister's
dwelling. I approached it with a tremb
ling heart ; as I passed the window 1
caught a glimpse of a matronly looking
lady , whom I know was my sistor.but she
did not see me ; I reached the door and
knocked. In a moment or-two it was
opened , and then I saw in real flush and
blood the face and the form that had
haunted mo for so many years those
features which had appeared to mo MO
often in the night watches , and which
had risen from the midst of the llnmo to
warn me to come homo. I started back
and almost fainted.
"Good heavens , who is this ? Grace !
Mary ! " I cried , "is it you ? "
I had hardly spoken when Mary , for it
was indeed she , with a loud cry fell into
my arras , and the whole household came
running to sue what was the matter. My
sister rushed to embrace mo , nnd when
ray worthy brother-in-law made his ap-
pcaranco on the scene ho thought for a
moment that the females of his family
had lost their senses. But when ho learned
that the lost brother had indeed returned
ho was as much delighted und flurried as
the most hysterical woman of them all.
That Christmas , I think , was the hap
piest day I ever spent. My old love
seemed to be alive again nnd my
withered heart beemcd to have been
bathed in the fountain of youth. 1 could
hardly take my eyes oIT my beautiful
Mary , who in form , face and expression ,
was the exact counterpart of her sister
( Trace. Surely , all that I had passed
through was but a dream and this was
Grace herself.
That night when all the others had re
tired , my sister , Mary and myself giith-
cred round the wide hearth. We talked
of many things , but there was one which
gave mo some concernyot which I feared
to aprouuhas ; Mary's heart free or
not ? "
At length I mustered courage enough
to say :
"Sister , it is a wonder you hnvo been
able to keep Mary so long ; 1 should have
thought all tiie voung men would have
been dying about her.
"Mary , " replied my sister , "will not
listen to lover's vows ; she tolls all the
young men fiwho make advances to her
that it is no usofor , Mie has been engaged
ever since she has been four years old ,
and she will never marry any one else. "
"Is tlmt true ? " said I to Mary , who
was blushing deeply ; if it is , you have
but to say HO and this hand is yours , for
I swear to you that .sinco your dqar sister
perished 1 have never spoken of love to
any other woman , or felt my heart glow
for any other oxciipt yourself. "
Mary bowed her head , plnci-d her hand
in miuo nnd said in agintk : tpnu :
"It is true ; I will wed none but you. '
This was our declaration of love an (
our betrothal ; my good sister wept tearf
of joy that two whom she loved so dear ! ]
were to bo united.
A month later Mary and I were mar
ried and for tivc-nnd-thirty years she wa
the best and fondest wife that ever man
had. When she died there ceased to beat
the purest , tendcrest heart I ever know ,
except that other heart which was stilled
on that awful October day.
IMPIETIES.
When a circus pastes Its bills on a church
It should at least send the trustees free tlclR
ets.
ets.A
A DCS Molncs minister , who Is a great basf
ball enthusiast , divides his sermons Into five
Innings.
A Brooklyn church fins a lady doctor
amongst its members , and the pastor is on
trial lor putting his arm around her waist/
Ho should atnrni his right to support a pillai
of his church.
Dominie Johnson Now , 1 hopes whond *
plate am passed round di\t all do bredron andrt
slstern dat have experienced Mlglon , will re *
member dat dnt kind of experience has to be
paid for just as well as any other.
"We all have our burdens to bear , " sal6\ \
the minister. "There arc nmny trials In this *
life. " "Yen , f suppose there are , " replied i
the poor lawyer ruefully , ' 'but 1 don't seem
to hnvo much luck nt getting mixed up In
'em. "
Wong Cliln Fou , in a magazine nitlclo.aski
"Why nm 1 a heathenV" Wo nivo it up. .
Alter living lifttt-n years or more In this land
of churches , boodle nlacrman , free schools.
Sunday base ball games , and autl-povettj
cranks , ho ought to bo ashamed to confess ?
jthat he Is still a heathen.
A minister who Is at present sojourning
amid the verdure-clad hills ot Uremibusn ,
tells the following : Somewhere In the coun <
try a number of ministers wcrewont to meet
together on stated days for purposes pertain *
ing to their calling. AH in In hi be supposed ,
each meeting was opened with prayer. Bat
ono day they met at the house of a brothel
who had a stock of excellent cigars , which ni
passed around froelv. Soon nil the nrnthreu
were punine nway , and before they knew If
they had taken up the business ot the meet- <
Ing. Suddenly ono of them remembered the
forgotten prayer and suggested that some
body make up for lost time. But ono of thi
brothers was equal to the occasion : "Never
mind now , Urother X , " he paid , "w <
have opened this mooting by offering up ln
oense. Let that sufllco. "
Horrible OniiiuballBin.
WiNNiPF.o , August 27. A terrible story
of the ravages of forest fires , destitution
and cannibalism comes from Northwest
Territory , letters dated July 5 hava
been received from Colin Fm/.ier unit
Charles Stewart , who left hero for Fort
Chipewain , in the Northwest Territory ,
more than three months ago. These
letters give the first news of the terrible
destitution prevailing ainonc the few in
habitants last winter. Cannibalism was ;
resorted to to avoid starvation , but thq
full details of the horrible story probably
will never be known. One woman , a
half-breed , who lived in a hut with her
three children , on Little Red river , a
few miles from the Fort , admits having
killed her whole fmnilv and eaten them.
The always scanty crop was unusually
poor last year and the general suliering
was great.
The woman who nto her children is of
n very low grade of intellect and mani
fested but littlu reinorso for her unnatu
ral deed. Shu suid .she killed them ono
by ono us the pangs of hunger grow un- '
bearable. 1'nrt she boiled and the rest )
, -iho rousted. Shu suiil that thu bodloa
"wore poor awl not very good eating.1' '
Nothing him been done to punish tha
woman. This is the only case known of
in thu vicinity , but others are reported up
the Mackenzie river. Still further north
forest lircs have done great iliunago this ,
summer and the approach of winter is ;
dreaded because of the destitution cold
weather will bring.
Fort Cuipowian is about 600 miles
northwest of Winnipeg nt the outlet of
Athabasca Luku. Thu region is very
settled.