For Boys and Girls. THE LOST OPAL OF MYSO E , OE THE SECRET OF THE GHANTB. lly vrilllnm Murrny Ornjtlon. ( Copyright , 1S3I , by William Murray Orajnlon. ) CHAPTER III , UNWELCOME VISITORS. \ The fugitives realized at once that they had entered a part of the rajah's menagerie. The cell was really the den of some wild beast. Again the angry snarl was heard , blended with a queer , clanking noise. "Wer must get out of this , " exclaimed Myles , In trembling tones. "You'ro In the way. Jack , Move aside , quick ! " "Slop , lad , " I'lnk sternly whlsporoi. "Don't open the door , the creature Is chained. Our lives depend on silence. " Mylea obeyed , and a few seconds of fearful suspense slipped by. The dungeon was twelve feet long , and far up In the rear wall was a grating that probably opened on the back garden of the palace. Through the bars fil tered a dusky beam of light , showing the un couth form of the beast squatted In the middle - dlo of the floor. Its eyes were two bolls ol flre. flre.Nearer Nearer and nearer came 'thq noisy tread ot the rajah's soldiers. The animal snarled Incessantly , as though bent on betraying the Intruders. "If this keeps up wo are lost , " muttered Jack. "I'll fix ' 1m , " replied Pink. "There's time enough. " Ha stepped forward , and the beast sprang to the end of Its chain to meet him. Then , by the dim light , Pink drove the spear deer Into the tawny breast , and the animal rolled over In the throes of death. Before It could utter more than a wall or two Jack's tulwai nearly severed Ita head from Its body. "Well struck , lad , " whispered Pink. "Ah "ore they come. Not a sound for your lives. ' The danger had been averted just In time Already the gleam of torches was flashing under the cell door. With boisterous speccl and tread the guards went by. The soum came from farther and farther away until I was only a dim echo. "Now Is our chance , " whispered Myles "no time to lose- . " "Walt a lilt , " said Pink , stepping towarc the rear of the cell. "No , we can't get ou by the grating , " he added. "It's too narrow Bay , this 'un's the biggest leopard 1 eve : saw. " "It's a good thing It was chained , " repllei Jack. "Corue on , quick. " An Instant later the fugitives wcro In thi corridor , and moving through the darknes toward the staircase. For fear of missing th way they presently ventured to relight th lamp. "There's only a minute or so to sparo,1 warned Pink. "It won't take those 'eathci rascals long to crawl over the rubbish Int my cell and find It empty. Then won't the ; kick up a rumpus ? " "Hark ! they are pulling the stones down,1 whispered Jack. "Hero's the stairway Just ahead , " cheer fully replied Myles. "If we can't find th spring we'll kick the panel to splinters am dash through the " His voice ended In a gasp of fright , fo just then the burly flguro of Moteo Mn stalked out of a cross corridor. The Hlndo Instantly recognized the party , and the horro depleted on his face was something awful , Pink lifted his spear for a deadly thrust but Paltu caught the weapon just In time. "Spare my father , sahib , " he Implored. "Your father ? " gasped Pink , seeing , gleam of hope In tha discovery. "On my head bo misfortune , " walled Mote Mai , tossing up his arms In despair. "Sahlbi you are all lost. Alasl that my first bor should perish by the tulwar. " "Plead with ' 1m , lad , " Pink whispered t Mylea. There's some chance if V don't kno- of this private affair ot the rajah's ; otherwl : 'tt'Jl , bo torn apart before 'e'll let mecscapi Quick , or I'll 'ave to use the spear. " "Tho tall jsahlb Is the prisoner ot his hlgt ness , " resumed the Hindoo. "Him I inu ; seize , but the others I will aid It there I " power ' " "Never , " exclaimed Jack , fiercely. "Sat all or none. Wo won't escape without Pink. "Help us , Moteo Mai , for Paltu's sake , Implored Myles. "Have you no fear of tt resident ? De quick , or the guards wl come. " Paltu threw himself beseechingly at h parent's feet , and Just then a burst of angi voices was heard In the distance. Moteo Mai tore his hair In a frenzy of r morse. "Brahma , forgive me ! " ho cried. ' am accursed among men. Yet surely I mu bo faithful to my vow ot gratitude , even ; the risk of my head. " He glanced at Myles and Paltu , Indlcattr that the latter's rescue from the tank was his mind. "Swear by the holy Ganges , sahibs , " 1 added , quickly , "that ye let no word of wh I am about to do como to the rajah's ears. " Without 'hesitation the fugitives took 11 required oath. Motee Mai scanned each fac and was apparently satisfied ot their si cerlty. "This way , " ho muttered , snatching tl lamp -from Pink and dashing Into the si corridor from which he had como. He n at such a pace and turned so many angi THE RAJAH DISCOVERED AN OLD DOC MBNT. that It was difficult to stick at his he < Far to the rear the clamor of the soldi rose and fell and died away In silence. But Moteo Mat did not lessen his ape He pushed on through a maze ot nan corridors , wbero the .walls were damp i alliny and the air was tainted with i smells. His knowledge of the labyrinth was firing , and finally he paused before'a rut Iron door. Ha pressed 'a knob and the d pened slowly on creeklnc hinges. Pi lh black darkness beyond a hoane tun was berne in on a wave of fresh air. "Yonder lies the garden , " whispered M ( Mai. ' , ' ' CQU * W y ° u no further. II ra quick ye can slip through the forti gntM bolora the Alarm U given , lloniem your oath , eahlbi , and may Urahma gt you , " The door grated shut and the fugltl were on the outer side amid a dense copi ot shrubbery. Crawling through this t teed erect and found themselves near Iqwror end ot the tank. The flre was under control , but treamt were still playing on the imoli Ing ruins of the explosion. A noisy en looked curiously on. "There goes an engine , " salt ] Pink. ' ' muit allp out behind It. Come on , I n land the chances off being recognized , another mlnuto It may be too late. " They hurried across the garden and 0' ' took the engln * just as It wu rolling thro tk mala gale , The s atrlca paid no tentlon , and a moment later the fugitives were oul In the street , "Where , now ? " asked Pink. "Uefore we're flvo minutes older the rajah will 'ave 'Is spies 'untlng the town for me. " "This will let us Into the rear garden of the residency , " replied Myles holding1 up the key. key."Just the place" exclaimed Pink. "Move faster lads and don't run against any one If you can 'elp It. " The latter precaution was difficult since many people were astir. Slowever the fugitives gained the English church without attracting attention and a llttlo later they entered the residency grounds and locked the wicket gate behind them , Pink made his companions sit down In a nook alongside the wall , screened by thick shrubbery. He began by questioning Myles about thu affair of the residency and quickly learned that Pershad Jung was In charge during the absence of Colonel Toversham and his secretary. "That makes this 'ero mission of mine a llttlo easier , " ho declared. The night's young yet , so I'll 'av tlmo to tpln the yarn If I niako It stiort. What would you say If I told you a. revolution was ready to burst on Mysore ? " Myles and Jack fairly gasped for breath , and Paltu opened eyes and mouth wldo. "Impossible ! " cried Myles. "I can't be- llovo It. You must be " "Crazy , ch ? " Interrupted Pink. "But spies report that I'm not to bo found , ami that no alarm 'as been given at the canton ments. Then they'll gobble up some Eng lishman In my place and send 'Im with a party to get the magic opal , and by the tlmo the stone could bo brought back they'd eve the mlno all ready to flre. But they ' ' the treasure because - shan't 'ave the opal or , cause I'm going to get them myself. " "Youl" exclaimed Jack and Myles , In credulously. "Exactly , " asserted Pink. "That's the only sure way to knock the plot on the 'cad. It's about midnight now , and I'll start In an hour or two. The rajah's party will 'ardly leave before morning. As llko as not the guards are still 'untlng for us In the dungeons , olnco. no one saw us como out except Motce Mai , and Vlt bo mum as on oyster. " The boys drew a long breath. Pink's logic seemed flawless to them , and they realized that his perilous mission would probably avert the * threatened bloodshed and revolt. Older and wiser heads might have reached the name conclusion , for the situ ation was Indeed full of critical complica tions. "How far away Is the opnl ? " asked Mylos. "Eighty or ninety miles to the northwest , " answered Pink , "In the 'cart of the Chants. I can got to the spot easy enough , but I'll not deny that It's a stiff task nt the end. You ! "YONDER LIES THE GARDEN. " I'm not , lad. This 'ere statement Is gospel truth and I'll prove It. In the flrst place , you'll bellevo mo when I say that a couple of the rajah's ugly soldiers kidnaped me Vrom the cantonment gate the other night. You've 'ad evidence of that. " The boys nodded. Already they were be coming credulous. "Well , " resumed Pink , "the rascals drugged mo. and the next thing I know I was In a magnificent loom In the palace , and there was the rajah and a lot ot Hindoo traitors , mostly officers of the Mysore regi ment. The rajah talked to mo In good Eng lish. First 'e begged my pardon for carry ing mo off. Then 'o said I was a brave follow and 'e'd taken a Bhlno to mo because I saved 'Is life. 'E asked me would I like to command 'Is army and 'ave lots of money and jewels. Well , I sort of let on I was willing , because I wanted to discover what 'o was driving at. So pretty soon I ooked 'Ira. and the whole plot come out. I tell you I was scared. I 'ad 'ard work to keep cool " "And what was the plot ? " Interrupted Myles. "As near as I can remember. It was llko this , " replied Pink. "It starts a couple of 'undred years back. In these days the Hindoo rulers of Mysore the ancestors ol this 'ero rejah 'ad a big family jewel. They called It the magic opal , and as long as the rajah were It on his turban no enemy could overthrow ' 1m. In 17CO a Mahometan named Hyder All got hold of the opal some how or other and became the ruler of My sore. 'Is son , Tlppoo Sahib , came after Mm , and as the opal was no good for Mahome tans Tlppoo was knocked out by the Eng lish In 1799. " . „ "That was the battle of Serlngapatam , o. "Kxactly. " assented Pink , "and before the battle Tlppo Sahib 'Id the opal and a lot ol treasure In some secret place. Tlppoo was killed , and the old Hindoo family went back to the throne under a British protectorate. Ever since the people of Mysore 'uve been looking for that opal , and 'oping It would como back to put on end to the. British rule. Mind you , the English 'know nothing about it , and never did. But the tradition 'an been 'anded down among the natives to this day , and every man Jack of them Is ready for revolt as soon as they know the opal Is In the rajah's turban. The rajah would never 'avo told me the secret If I 'adn't fooled Mm Into It. 'E said that Mysore would 'ave mutinied In 1857 llko the other native states It the opal 'ad been found then " "And you don't mean to say It's beer found now ? cried Myles , excitedly. "As good as found , " declared Pink. "A day or two ago the rajah discovered an old document under the palace. It was wrltter by Tlppoo Sahib , and tells the 'Idlng place ol the treasure and the opal stone. It's miles off , though , and they 'aven't gene after II yet But the rajah'a spies are spreading the news among the people and telling them tr be ready. " The boys were by this tlmo thoroughlj convinced that Pink's story was true , an < ! their horror and amazement can be bottei Imagined than described. Even Paltt seemed Impressed by the wonderful news "Do you know where the stone Is hidden ? ' asked Jack , after a pause. "Walt a bit till I flnlsh my story , " repllcc Pink. "You see there was a clause to thli letter of Tlppoo Sahib's saying that the epa must be dug up 'by an Englishman , or It ! power would be gone. To cut matters short that's what the rajah wanted with me. ought to 'ave parleyed with Mm , but Insteai of that I was fool enough to say no out right. Just then Pcrshad Jung came Into th la. room at least that's what they called Mm- iry and 'e flew Into a terrlblo rage. 'E pltchei Into the rajah for blowing the plot , and th sd. rajah got mad and pitched into Mm. Pershai ownd Jung said I couldn't be trusted , and I'i vll ave to lose my 'ead. They talked I Hlndustanee , and I took good care not t in- let them know I 'ad picked up the ling ined [ when I was stationed at Calcutta. By an and let out where th > or by 'they ' cooled down , am opal was 'Id and 'ow to get It. I always 'a ult a good memory , and you bet I made use c It , Then the guards ran mo down to th tee dungeon and told nto my 'cad was to be cu ye off at the second sunrise , meaning tomorroi ess morning. And Its owing to you chaps tha tier I'm out ot that scrape. " tdo Pink drew a long breath and wiped th perspiration from his face. vcs "Something must b done at once , " ei Ice claimed Myles excitedly. "We can tell ley graph to the resident and alarm the car lha fonfnents " "Not a bit ot It , lads , " Interrupted Plnl "It our soldier * try to arrest the rajah an : er- erwd hit minister now , there'll likely be a blood massacre. The resident's absence la Wo downright streak of luck. You don't see I ust eh ? Well , 'ere'a the situation In a nu In shell , Pershad Jung 'as the upper 'am being In charge of British Interests , and ' er- and the rajah will trust to that to englnee > erEh their plot through In iplte of ray eac p ttt- No doubt they'll keep ihady until the. see , old Tlppoo Sahib chose the toughe : place 'o could flnd , and " "Then you need help , " broke In Myle I'll go with you. " "So will I , " added Jack , and Paltu chime In with a shrill "me , too , sahibs. " "I've been sort of counting on that , " ai mltted Pink , tugging reflectively at h mustache. What we went through tonlgl showed that you chaps are made of ster stuff and can stand 'peril and 'ardshlp You're better away from 'ere , anyhow. It' ' worry your frjends , though , for you won dare leave any messages. " "My father .and Captain Dundaa are bol In Nellgherry' hills .and won't leave for week , " replied Myles. "That's good , " said Pink , "we'll be bac long before they will , and as for Pqrsho jung why , the old rascal can think wh : 'e pleases. And now about an outfit , lad We need fast horses , arms and ammunltlo : blankets , provisions , a long rope and a coup ot spades. " "I can furnish them , " eagerly volunteer ! Myles , "that Is If we take proper prccai tlons. I know where the key Is to Colon Toversham's arsenal room , as ho calls It. " "Good for you , " approved Pink , "th makes plain sailing. And now , my lad , would suggest that you got what stuff y < want from the 'ouse right away. Persh : Jung Is likely at the palace , but 'e'll soon 1 back. " "All right , " Myles assented , "I'll tal Paltu along to help carry. He can crei about like a cat. " Just as the two boys rose to their feet z angry growl was heard not far away. "Lassa ! " Lassal" called Myles In a lot whisper , and Instantly a hugo Thlbeti mastiff bounded to the spot. The Intell gent animal seemed to understand his yout master's command to bq silent. After sniff or two at Pink , who was the on strange member of the party , ho crouchi contentedly down In the shrubbery. "I forgot about the dog being loose. " sa Myles. "He won't give us any troubl though. Hold him by the collar , Jack , ho'll follow me. You then , Paltu " , "Stop , " Interrupted Pink In a .sha whisper. "I 'ear voices beyond the wa I'm afraid we've been tracked. " "And I forgot to lock the gate , " e claimed Myles. "Tho key Is outside. " "Too late , lad , " whispered Pink. "Ke down for your lives. Ah , 'ere they come. " Myles dropped flat , and took a double gr on the mastiff by tils collar and long nose. "Bo quiet , old fellow , " he breathed soft ! "wo'ro In danger. " Lassa bristled Ilka an angry porcupine , b made no eound. Creak ! creak ! The wicket gate slow opened and two dusky figures crept throui Into the garden. They advanced six fc and halted In a broad-streak of silvery moo light that clearly revealed their faces to t anxious watchers. ( To be Continued. ) THE SONG "JOHN BROWN'S BOD1 Soldiers Ilcgnu It In n Joke nnd U Ore Into a National War Sotig. BY JAMES BE ALE , Late Twelfth Massachusetts Volunteer 1 fantry. ( Copyrlsht 1891 by McClurc. ) About forty years ago the Sumter Hi company of Charleston , S. C. , comm sloned a Philadelphia musician to write "chantez" for their use on a proposed , ( curslon. They received a song , the opt Ing words of which were : "Say bummers , -will you meet us ? " Acting on John Wesley's maxim , " , ways Eteal a good tune- from the devil wl you flnd him vrlth one , " the Method ! appropriated the tune , and with modlflcat the words , the new version being : "Say , brothers , will you me t us ? " This became very popular as a camp me Ing and revival hymn , and by 1861 It v quite generally known. The filing on Sumter and consequ rally to arms caused Fort Warren , Bos harbor , to be occupied by the Second b tallon of Massachusetts Infantry , comino known as the "Tigers. ' ' They found ' fort in a very unfinished state work on Laving been stopped when Jefferson Da was secretary of wnr and as a natural suit "fatlguo parlies" were very numerc After the day's work was over a favoi amusement was singing , for there were so excellent voice * In the battalion , notably < quartet , Charles B. 7 ] . Gdgerly , Jan Jenkins , Newton J. Purnette , John Brown. The iat a Scotchman was the subj of many jokes , owing to the similarity his name to that ot tha famous Osai tomle Brown , then recently executed. 1 Scot rather resented these quiddities , t this , of course , made them mora conste The story coea that ono evening when I of this Quartet were returning to the foi John Brown and" Ino other being seated neai the BnllypottS-tlre query was shouted "What'a theUnerti ? " Promptly came tin retort : "Why , John Brown's dead. " Soim ono added , "You ] ! ! still goes marchlnp round. " iln i o Unlike a rolling ) utone , those Ideas gathered as the clmti M < wUro sung on them , and b ) dark the camp -meeting tune had undergone gene revision , for itho "Tigers" were chant Ing : , . : M John Itrown'silxxly lies n-moulderlng In tin grave , 9 , , , . , llut his Joul ! , o < ] < < inarching on , ONCE BBOUN THE SONQ GREW. On May 25 , 1861 , the "Tigers" loft Forl Wnrrcn , but ; VuT'on May 7 the Twelfth Massachusetts Vottmteers ( Webster regiment ] had reached the fort , many of the "Tigers" enlisted In thfs re-gfment. Jenkins and Hrowr joining company1' 'A , Purnette and Edgerly joining company E all four being sergeants Of course they carried their song wltli them , and ns the * regimental dress parades wore In "heavy marching order" knapsacks nnd all accoutrements * It became the fashion nflor dross parade for the regiment to in arc I : around the parade ground , singing the secoiu verso : John Urown's knapsack's strapped upon hit tmck , And we go iniirchlntr on. Chaplains In these days styled the volun teers "Tho Army of the Lord , " so the third verse : He's gone to be a soldier In the army of tin Lord , The regiment had the soubriquet ol "Webster's Cattle ; " this U referred to Ir the fourth verso : Ills ( Colonel Webster's ) pet lambs will mec him ( Sergeant IJrown ) on the way , which they used to do every evening whlli making the march nround the parade ground The unfinished state In which Fort Warrci had been found and the great amount o labor thereby entailed naturally caused sonu vlndlctlvcness toward the author thereof who , as president of the Insurgent states was then an object of universal attention So In the flfth verse the "Wcbstcrs" pro posed to Hang Jeft Davis to the bough of n tree. which eventually became "a sour apple tree. ' HOW THE SCORE WAS WRITTEN The air was wl.lstfcd to the bandmaster William J. Martland , the score written b ; Samuel C. Perkins , a member ot the band and very soon the tune was played on dres parade , as accompaniment to the 1,100 voice of the regiment. Copies of the score wer given to Gllmore and the Gormanla band then Dltson published It , and so the Join Brown song became common property. The "Webster regiment" flrst sang It li Boston on July 18 , 1861 , when Its colors wer presented by Hon. Edward Everett ; Heavlni Fort Warren on July 23 , on the next day I electrified Now York city with the woln chorus ; Baltimore heard It on July 26 , amen on March 1 , 1862 , at Charleston , Vn. , on th spot where Osawatomte was hanged th "Websters" sang : John Brown's body lies n-moulderlng In th grave , Ills soul goes marching on. THE "WEBSTERS" CEASED TO SING II Regiment after regiment adopted the sonf and so It ceased -to be the special propert of the "Webstors , " who gradually disused I Perhaps the fate of Sergeant Brown , who wn accidentally drowned ut Fort Royal Juno I 1862 , may have had a deterring Influenci Some think the death of Colonel Wehste ( killed at Bull Hun August 30 , 1862) ) ha much to do with lti-but whatever the caus the fact remains' that the song was neve more used by the "Websters. " In July , 18C4j asjl made Its return marc through Boston-5-elghty-flve men In all , con pany A being represented by three an e fort was made by Its colonel to revive the ol chorus. It was promptly frowned dowi and silently , but" 'With soldierly tread , tl "Webster regiment" ! passed into history , The question ot the orlcln of the Joh Brown song wns discussed at a reglmcnti reunion some years ago. Twoof the qua ) let , the bandmaster/ some of .the ban were present , ajid the statements then mad are embodied In this paper. There are many , versions of the origin < both words ondimusfc , but 'none' ' that I hai seen give nny reasonable- explanation of th rather singular .phriseology of the soni Turnette and Eagerly declared 'they took tl tuns from the camp meejlng hymn , andthi Is.knownrto . haverbacn borrowed nfiiomIt fireman's .ojiqr.w. to Sure It l that the 'Joh .Brown song rwas nfost enthuslastlcall adopted by all who heard It , and that' ' whi was originally a Joke became a Uteri prophesy. > ' < THE JOSISSAUIES. Christ lit u Hoyi Who Worn Mbde1 to FRI a * Mnslain S. The mighty Ottoman empire which at 01 time threatened the civilized world , sprur from a band ot 4K ( ) wandering Turkman fam lies In the central part of Asia. Led by tl sultan , Othman , they swept down throuj the southwest , gathering power as they wen crossed Into Europe , .conquered Greece , ar took the city of Constantinople , making their capital. In thd year 1360 the sultt Orcan , by the advice of the dervish , Blae Hal ! ! , decreed that all the captive Christie boys under 14 years of age should be orgai Ized Into a band of''soldiers to support tl government. From that time until the ye ; 182G , where the tldo ot Ottoman battle ragi most fiercely , there , savage , dark , Jnvlnclb stood the Jonlssarlos , boys suckled on Chrl tlan breasts and algned with Christian ba tlsm , now flinging away their lives for i alien cause and an alien creed , flghtlng wl the Irresistible courage of fanaticism again their birthright and their kindred. In order to recruit the ranks Shrall , IIu gary , Servla , Bulgaria and all the countrl under Ottoman sway 'had a most Inhum : tax ImposeJl on them. Every flfth year cai family was required to yield up a vlctlt Only the- stoutest and most beautiful bo : were taken. Torn from their parents whi mere children , they1' were carried off to t ] palace of the sultan and put In charge ot tl Aga , n military ofllver of supreme powe New names were given them and they we < lally Instructed In the rights ot Mahom danism. Their physical development w perfect , they being required to exercise co tlnually In wrestling , boxing , running and t : arts of war. The best teachers In Euro were engaged to Instruct them , and some them became noted ncholars. Those me conspicuous for birth , talents and beau constituted the prince's body guard and i celved enormous pay. . Eventually Imbu with the faith of Islam , they became great favorites than the Turks themselves. Having no ties of frlendshp : , family faction , they were awarded the highest ml tary , civil and ecclesiastic positions In t empire. Their barracks 'were separated frc the rest of the city and they received strict monastic training. Rich new band w consecrated by celebrated . dervish , wl holding out his hands ; prayed as follov "Let their counteVianpd bo ever bright , tin hands victoriouselr ! ) | word keen ! may thi spear always hang , over the heads of th enemies and wheresoever they go , may th return with a wj tq fa e ! " They were not by their enemies on account of their alien sobriety , patience , , mpdjty and Implicit obe eace. Owing (91 thje extreme youth a beauty , It Is recorded > tlv > t no such Impressl scene was ever witnessed in the annals war as that of iS&OQOl Jonlssarles going battle. They weru nevsr known to surreiu and were rarely Sdefeited. In the course several hundred yeari they became OT bearing , corrupt blfll 'formidable. ' Wo flnd long list of emperolh , deposed , appointed a murdered according' t& helr whims. Finally. In 1828 , Iter two futile nttemi to break their potferj'the sultan , Mahon II , , brought In a 'toFtjIm army and for th days poured grap ' anH .canister Into the b racks of the Jonl'sVarlb. Out of 20,000 i even one was left to tell the tale. NEGKO HEAD DRESSES. lie The African lAits ornaments In his h as we more civilized mortals do , but : ls > tastD Is different. For where we decori te with gold and sliver pins and combs , proudly uses little balls and discs of cl hanglne to the end of his braided locks e8 long braided beard. Sometimes he plaster ct great crescent shaped , lump ot clay on i of back of hi * head , and ono old prince , parti ofa ahe larly vain and loving of ornament , rolled he beard Into ball and entire a to plastered nd it. with mud tba ( It hung , a great clay b ; from his chin Juit fancy how pleasant mutt have been to wear a five-pound well on ono'a chin ! It would bo n great dis courager ot conrcrsotloa , for ono certainly would not wish to lift that weight any ottencr than was absolutely necessary. Borne of the women with long hair weave It over and over nnd nround little reeds stuck In nt right angles to the head , so that It final Iy looks llko a great straw hat or basket all around their faces , much like the pcko bonnets that our grandmothers used to wear. The ladles of the lower Congo , whose hair Is much wooller than these of the other tribes , part their hair In three great thick lockM , one an each side ot Jho face nnd ono In front. These they grcaso nnd twist until they look like wire , then they curve them until they look llko short cows' horns stickIng - Ing out on both sides nnd In front , The natives ot Rim braid their hair In two or three long braids right on top of the head. These they stiffen with clay until they stand upright exactly llko the funny little horns the unsociable snail sticks out as he saunters along with his house on his back. It the man of Hua happens to have short hair ho braids In false hair until ho gets tt to what he considers a fashionable length , that Is , about twelve or fourteen Inches , They likewise share the fondness of so-called civilized nations for changing the color of the hair , and arc particularly addicted to the use of red clay , which makes their hair a brilliant red. They also use n , preparation of henna for the samn purpose , and when they want to hide the gray hairs they mix hennn and Indigo , which makes a fine black , und unlike Eomo European dyes , does not affect the brain , A CIRCUS SCHOOL , Did It over occur to you to wonder how the small boys nnd girls who go around with country circuses from one town to another learn to read and write ? They don't stay long enough In any one place to go to school and their parents usually have no time nor Inclination to teach , even It they knew how , which Is very doubtful. A quick-witted Frenchwoman has solved the difficulty by taking the school Into the circus , and traveling around as part of the show. Whenever the show comes1 to a halt , there they put up , along with the big , round tents and booths , her school house , which Is merely a piece of canvas drawn over a light wooden frame. A floor which can be taken te pieces at will Is laid right on the ground. Two long tables with holes for Inkstands resl on trestles , and the benches- beside them arc equally primitive. Then there Is a kitchen cupboard where the books and slates arc stored , and at one end of the tent hangs n blackboard with great white- capitals painted on It. Not very luxurious Is it , compared with the well-fitted school rooms the most ol us know ? Thcro are no rules In this school against looking out of the window , for there are no windows to look out of. The onlj light comes gentle , pervasive , througl the canvas. And when you wlsl to como . In or go out you raise om corner ot the c-rtn'ln , and have no door U slam. Hero the small peanut vendor am embryo rope dancer learn to read and wrltt and cipher. The school has been In existence abou three years and Is partly paid for by th < parents of the children and partly by : mission. From spring till autumn when the bac weather puts nn end to traveling circuses tin little school tent lends Its nomad life. Abou November the tent Is folded away am through the winter "school keeps" In an ol < disused caravan with a glass roof and i tiny stove. IMPROMPTU MAPS. The "cat" ard the "pig" books , deslgnei to rcqord people's Impressions of those In tercstlng animals ( each person to draw hi ; own without being allowed a glimpse of an ; one else's work ) , has an amusing compaiiloi In a geography sketch book. In this one's friends arc to record , In i rapid off-hand drawing , their best recollec tlons 'of certain very familiar outlines , sue ! * as the coast of Massachusetts , or Italy , o England , or North America. To be evei fa'lrl correct Is difficult and rare , If one i long past dally geography lessons. The flvo great lakes of North America I one of the best tasks to sot , tills to b drawn Iri outline with at least the large bays and connections Indicated , all to b done without seeing , flrst , any other sketc ) or map. A correct map should accompan ; the Look for easy reference and comparlsoi with the amateur work. The curlousl : vague , droll , mental maps that one's friend carry about with them , thus revealed , ar funnier than even the sea serpent's portrait In the "sea serpent His Album. " I have known more than one person t stop short at a mcro "round 0" for the flrs lake , which seemed to lead nowhere , th other four having neither shape nor sub stance In the puzzled artist's vision. BLOWING UP A SHEEP. Among the gypsies ot Bosnia there Is i curious game called "the game of the sheep.1 You know they skin a sheep or goat In th east by dragging the skin off whole over It head. This skin the Bosnians drip am grease most carefully. They then tie u the four legs and the neck and blow tt fill of air , so that It looks llko a very greasy badly shaped sheep. This Is thrown In th middle of the ring and each man In tur ; jumps on tt with bare feet , until one sue ceeds In bursting It. The lucky one the ; gets a purse. Such a funny sight as It Is t see them jump and sprawl ! for , of course If they do not strike It at just the rlgh angle they slip on the greasy surface a If It were a toboggan slide and go sprawl Ing. P11.1TTLK OF TllK c Auntie What Is It you are embrolderln on the tidy for grandma ? Little Nellie Th good die young. Maud What Is the trouble between Allc and Kate ? Ethel Why , you see , Allco aske Kate to tell her just what she thought c her. Maud Yes ? Ethel Kate told her. Friend What Is your father doing nov Jimmy ? Jimmy Father ? Doln' ? Los seo- thls Is Sadderdy I s'pect he's tryln' to boi rer a $5 bill about now. At Prayers : Minnie ( In loud whlsper- ) Jlmmy , wet makes Uncle Ebon shct 'Is eye wen he's prayln' ? Jimmy ( In loud whlspci Mebbe he's 'shamed ter look the Lord 1 th' face. "You must go to be < l , now , deal You know the chickens all go to roost wit the sun. " "Yes ; but then their mamm always coes with them. " Teddy I wish I hadn't licked JImrn Brown this morning. Mamma You see no how wrong It was , don't you dear ? Teddy- Yes , 'cause I didn't know till noon ( hat 1 was going to glvo a party. Phyllis Little brother told papa that yc kissed me over one hundred times last nigh Alphonso How did your little brothi know ? Phyllis Why. It's the llttlo thlm that count , you know. ' * "I say , Jen , " called little Tommy. "What" lQ returned his sister. "Why , I was Just thlnl jn' you've always had to wear ma's o dresses made over and I've always be < stuck with pa's old clo'es which of us d'yt s'pose'll have things made out o' ma's blcyc bloomers when they get old ? " "Suppose. , Hobble , that another boy Bhou ' strike your right cheek , " asked' the Stindi school teacher , "what would you do ! "Give him the other check to strike , " sa ' -That's " said the teaclic Dobble.That's right , "Yessum , " said Dobble , "and It he strut that I'd paralyze him. " r- rot I efriKlml llnr < In I in Mint Fashion. News was received at Perry , Okl. , of duel between a woman and a man In tl upper part of the county. In which the mi was shot three times by the woman , and tl latest report IB that he will die. Ir Miss Agnes Jones , at the opening ot tl Cherokee strip , took a homestead twen te miles -north of Perry In the Perry land dl trlct , and built a home on the same. Son weeks ago Miss Jones went to Kansas visit , and drulng her absence Sam Barti jumped the claim of Miss Jones and mov Into her house. Yesterday Ml Jones a rived home and found Bartell living her house , and she cave orders for him leave Immediately , but Bartell did not e whereupon M.na Jones pulled from under h apron a pistol and shot nix tlmei at Hurte three shots taking effect , Bartell hot on at the woman , but missed her. Nelghbo came In , and Kartell uked to be carrl from tb claim. THE PRAIRIE A SEA OP FLAME tccollcctlons of the Baptism of Tire Re ceived by the Oitj of Lincoln. BATTLE FOR LIFE AND HOME lu > Inviulnr'i irorclilnp 1'rnnt Turiu-il After n Uotpcnitn I'ljht I'lm I'lro'g lltiick Trull Tritnsforaiml Into Vlvl l ( Irotu. I was very young when I experienced my flrst prairie flre , writes A. S. Cody In the Now York Independent. Wo lived on the very outskirts of the city of Lincoln , Neb. , which wus also very young In Its city maidenhood. The fact Is , the city and I had been born In the same year. Our house stood to the southeast , Ucyond us , to the east and south , wns a broad , level expanse ot grassy prairie , which rose gradually In the distance nto what looked llko a mountain , but was In act only one of the giant undulations ot a oiling prairie. On the west , at some ( Us ance , was a small river or creek , skirted by roes and shrubs and bordered by a broad , crtllo valley. There were numerous trlb- tary smaller creeks and the main creek , alt creek , wound around to the north , hold- ng the city In Its bond. Ucyond the creek i-ero more lilllf. , vast , seamed waves of solid urth , rising nnd falling or breaking suddenly n an abrupt preclplco where a small stream ad cut Its way throush. Hut there were 0 rocks to speak of , and one could Imagine mt those great hills had been made by the cashing of the glacier which In olden times ast d over this plain , rather than by the pheaval of the earth from Its Interior. In the spring nnd autumn , especially the lirlng , after the snow and lee has all gone , ml before the grass has begun to grow gain , one cannot go out of n clear , warm Ight without seeing long lines ot flro on every orlzon , nnd at Intervals down every undu- atlng hillside. The farmers are burning of ! lie old , dry grass of the year before , so thai he new will come up fresh and free , anil omohow the flrc always has a way of getting ooso and having a romp over the plains , lut one needs something for excitement. So urc Is the pralrlo flro to pass over the whole Country that the wise always provide flrc- rcaks about their stacks of hay and their omcs and barns. A rod or so back from the tack a furrow Is plowed , and several rods nrthcr back still another furrow or two Is urned up. Then the grass In between s burned off carefully , and so your haystasli r your barn or your homo Is protected agalnsl Ire by a broad , arid belt , on which no flre an flnd fuel. Hut now and again , with the iclp of a good wind , a lusty lire will Jumr iver your arid belt llko a boy playing leap- rog , and then your hay makes n flno blaze , have seen many a hundred ton stack ol iay , protected by a firebreak , too , servo the purpose of a lovely bonfire. At the tlmo of the particular flre I air rolng to describe the warm south winds had jeen blowing steadily for some weeks , the rest was quite out of the ground , the grass was as dry as tinder , and the soli was hanl and parched. Haln was needed , nnd rnlu would como soon. As soon as the grouml should be softened the garden would u plowed , though now It was a forest of tall Iry weeds. On that bright spring mornlnj , a child , played hldc-and-seek delighted ! ) imong the weeds , little thinking that a feu lours later the place where I sat on th < ground would be hot as a smoking furnace. At noon they said there was n lire coming ) no could smell the smoke In the air , and fly- ng cinders floated overhead , borne on tin itrong , fierce wind that -was blowing fron he south. Away on the- crest of the dlstani illl waa a long line ot smoke , with now ant hen n gleam of flame. It was miles away If teen or twenty ; but they said It was com ng toward us , right on the city , faster that 1 horse could gallop. Over there was nn ol < white farm house , and down In th& hollov yonder was a llttlo board shanty and scvora Ino blacks of hny. There were scant flre breaks around them ; but their owner hoi ; ono away , and his little shanty was locked IVo were protected by no firebreak , and thi Ino of march for the flre right Into the cltj waa unbroken. In some way the flre musi 10 stepped , and there was not too much tlrm o do It. The alarm had gone forth. Ovei at the white farm house the old grandfathei jrought all his valuable papers In a tin trunl down on the piazza , hoping that In some waj 10 might escape with his treasure : and tin grandmother brought down several bundle of useless old magazines , which she though ought to be saved If possible. The mci Drought out the horses and plows fron every possible , source , olo\ rusty plows sroken whlpplotrees , harness tied up wltl a string. They turned up a furrow or twi and set the back flre , while the women li liystcrlcs drew water from the well lnt < .ubs and barrels and palls , and the hook am adder company , anxious to test their ne\ apparatus In some way , came out from th city with all their paraphernalia to stop th > ralrlo flre , and were much laughed at. In the meantime the air had been grow ng hotter nnd was filled with smoke am light , black floating cinders ot grass. Thong eng line of smoke over on the side of thi ; reat hill rose higher and higher , and tal lerce flames burst through the smoke man nnd more often , leaping for rods Into thi nlr. It seemed Impossible that grass scarci a foot high could scndi flames rods Into tin air ; but so It was ; and the emoko curled U ] .0 high heaven. The men worked and sweated , the womei cried and rushed about , the hook'and laddci company waited In dumb silence for some thing to do , and on came the fire , rushing roaring , llko a tornado , sending its spaiki ahead on the strong south wind llko avant couriers , and RO galloped over the prairie Now It was beyond the little creek , but li ten minutes It would bo here , and our pet ( : Urcbreak might not hold tt. In flvo minute It was on the edge of the hollow , mid wltl a fiendish laugh It roared and clasped li Its embrace the llttlo board shanty and thi three great haystacks. What was a lire tireak of two or three rods to such a flro a that ? Simply nothing. It did not evei Etumblo at the obstacle , but wrapped It arms quickly and completely about tbo un Fortunate fodder and ate tt up. It made i beautiful blaze , however , sending broai sheets ot flame , red and glowing , up to thi zenith , and ! crackled and roared and made i heat that scorched our faces a quarter of i mile away , llut on the flro came toward us , and In i moment we would bo In Us rushing midst Over the house wo dashed the water by th barrel , until the shingles smoked from th steam that the heat made. On came th lire and Jumped over our llttlo break as I It were only a small boy stumbling at furrow. The forest of tall weeili In the gar den Just before the houee blazed magnlfl contly fifteen or twenty feet high. Hut her It stumbled and fell. There were otho breaks beyond , and an army of peopl with old coats and petticoats soaked In watei with mops and blankets and palls of watci The enemy was met with decision and iesolu tlon born of desperation. The flro thimble and fell , leaped up , sighed , and went oul Here and there , under fences and In llttl tufts ot grass by the wayside , It clung te naclously still , till a wet rag whipped It ou Over the black prairie It smoked an smoldered and leaped up now and then. Ta columns of smoke rose and wore wafted eve upon us. The stacks In the hollow wei a glowing heap of fine embers that woul smoke far days ; and no Uoubt tome of tli hay at the bottom would remain unburne altogether , save-d by the Ore's lack of air an oxygen , the fierce flre being smothered b Its own fierceness. The little shanty we only a pile ot woll'Charred rafters , but tl white farm house , by tome miracle , w : CLAIRVOYANT : 8 ud Wctntlwith full fff. wi n < J Um > ii4 reclv.buroi op0 i f luluro Uf * . r Y. uoorc , grptr , drfcd tranca intdlua jTenth dauehur , tcnt wllh Tell and vroi iltrfulKlffofiMondilthtiKlUpait.pmrr > na ( utiirti fall immp of when TOM w I 'uiarrr , adricoonbiidntM , lor * , ranrrlairi rpocuUtlon , ch r.e. . louoi. divorce. lululuir friend" . ! arutloiu , ilckntM. wliu. tottmt. He . clmlleicti th world , It l > well-known throughout tLa world th. medium ) rt tba ouly rtlltblii w ri , wid their chiru ctuM lore , iptcdj inarrlttfei nail tucnn In tiuilnm. " SECURE A CHARM AND WEAR DIAMONDS . _ . . . Your t'ulur. U.v U4 I" l d lr < e. lU ( < with th OB * von lortictuMi jrooj lac * In ail ( him bjr uroptrlulflc * . K r l < ? .r lhtu tnUllnlr no In JTlloE Mr. . Dr. H..r. , II. * T B. JH.wy.tt , Kj eft untouched. The flro Imd swept by on oao ildo. Ju t as a tornado will gem tfnic ak oft a corner of a 'houce and leave th rest quite Intact. Thnt night there was a great rain. Th Ire hail brought a storm. On the plains ol Nebraska U always rains on the- Fourth ot iuly , the atmosphere btlnft tllwcvl up by he firecrackers , I suppose , and a great iralrlo flro has much Iho same effect. The next morning wo might see the. wide. lack pnilrio looking as If a death pall wcro aid over It. so sooty black were the ashes eft by the burnt grass. All the wceMls In ho garden were gone , 'Thrro were the uowed furrows filled with ashes , and ther * vas the long line of burned fence. It was lesolatlon. llul the- warm south winds drlcj the black whes that day , and blew them nw.iy , leaving irownncRs liutead of bl.ickness. In a week -hn grass was growing out of the soot III eniler blades , and In a month the black nnntlo had been chanRM for a vivid green. -nta with Violets and yellow wild pea * -dandelions , which wore nil the fresher having the old brown grass hurnod away. Hi U > Oil V ( I / . CO Vlt T. \ Ilralnard exchange tells this story on Colonel Colby of lleatrlce : The colonel wal ucrenillng n man against the clmrcs of mur dering his wife who died suddenly and my . erlously after a brief Illness. The body ot he woman was exhumed utter It had bcn mrled several weeks , the- stomach removed 'laced ' In alcohol and brought Into court. i\hllo the colonel was closing the argument for his client he stepped forward , dipped up several s | > ooiifuls of the liquid nnd uwallowcd t. Uverybmly fn the court room expected .o see the wlloy lawyer topple over and fall o the floor n corpse ; but ho didn't. Instead. lowover , h continued his argument nnd ( wused the Jury to "agree to disagree. " Tha itomnch , In tilcohol , was forwarded to 1'rof. Nicholson of the state university at Lincoln for analysis , and It wns found to contain a lulllclent quantity of n drug to produca lealh. but as It was heavier than the alcohol t settled to the bottom nnd the llttlo "nip" .ho colonel took was harmless. Had ho aken the trouble of stirring the mixture , low ever , ho might now bo singing songs of llory with the angels Instead. Some tlmo ago , at Darnell County , North Carolina , superior court , Judge Shlpp presiding - siding , the trial of n case had been protracted till nwr midnight , relates the Atlanta Con stitution ; The Jury was tired and sleepy and showed flagging attention. Wllllo Murchlson , who was addressing the jury , thought to arouse them , so he said : "Gentlemen , I will tell you an anecdote. " Instantly , the Judge , the Jury and the few spectators pricked up their cars nnd were all attention , us Murchlson was admlrabjo In : lmt line , had a fund of anecdotes , nnd no one could tell them better , llut ho soon pro ceeded to tell one of the dullest , prosiest and nest pointless Jokes possible. Everybody ooked disappointed. The Judge , leaning over , said , In an unmistakable tone ot disap pointment : "Mr. Murchlson , I don't sec the point of that Joke. " "Nor I , cither , " replied the witty counsel , "llut your honor told It lo me on our way down hero , anil , as I thought the lack of appreciation must be duo to my obtueeness , I concluded to give the Joke a trial by Jury. " The book peddler had called at the law yer's nfflcc , says the Detroit Free Press , to sell him a book and the lawyer very per emptorily didn't want nny book. The ped- iller Insisted and the lawyer continued to decline. At last the lawyer rose In wrath. "Now , look hero , " bo said emphatically , "I've told you I don't want your book , nnd I meant what 1 said. Furthermore , my ad- vlco to you Is to get out of this promptly , or I'll throw you out. " The peddler was about to make a remark. "And , " Interrupted the lawyer , "let me also say that If you hesitate , I shall chnrga you for that mlvlce , nnd levy on your books to satisfy Judgment. Now git , " and the sup pressed peddler got. Ephralm Flint , the veteran lawyer of Dover , Me. , who died recently , was once flned by a counlry Justice of the peace for contempt of court In telling tbe magistrate * too bluntly what ho thought of ono ot hla decisions. Mr. Flint was not taken back by the Justice's orders to his clerk. "All right , " he said , "I have got a note In my pocket against you which I have been trying : to collect for the last ten years , and I'll endorse the fine on U. I never expected to get that much , " and , suiting the action to the words , he pulled out the note and made tbo Indorsement. _ Injurmt In the Accident. Somervllle Journal : Sufferer I suppasa wo shall BUO the railway company for itbout $3,000 damages. Lawyer Three thousand dollars damages ! Nonsense ! Thirteen thousand ut Ihoory lowest , man ! Sufferer ( Surprised ) Why , I llilnk I should be quite content if I got ? 3,000 dam ages. Lawyer Yes , probably you would ; but I want at least tlO.OOO for myself. The Congregatlonallst says there Is no truth In the report that Ilev. Dr. J. H. Kcob , formerly of Albany. N , Y. , has been called to a professorship In Andover seminary. DR.HUMPHREYS' NKW FOU 77 will lira.ik U | > " uliililmrn Colrt that "lumen on. " A small Iwlllc of pl inant pclletn-rUs your , or tciit tin re- drttgulHlH vent iiurkct Sold I/ l"t l" o ? pilce. 2Dc D for l HUMI'IUIUY'S M1JU- KJINI3 CO. , Cor. William anil Jotin Ulrccti , Now York. 'RANGISGAN ' Purely Vegetable. Prepared from the orlslaal fo mula pr * erred In the Archlrcuof tbo Holy Lpnrt , hinn agan authentic bUtory datlnHbtutiCOOyeara. A POSITIVE CURE for all Stomach , Kidney and Bowel troubles , especially CHKONIC CONSTIPATION , Price BO cent * . Sold by all drnr < rUtt the Franciscan Remedy Co , , UI VAT -UUE.I ST. , OHIOAOO , HI. . ' for Circular i.i-rt lllamraUd Oalendir. For sale by Huhn& Co. , 15th& Dou0l/ /