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GERTRUDE'S DREAM.f
GERTRUDE'S DREAM. f A Sketch of a Wife's Jealousy and its Consequences. Pale and wan, jast recovering from a severe illness, at Huldah Duncan, in her lowly chamber, trying to ply her needle, but her nngars did not move as was their wont, and at length, with a heavy sigh, she allowed the work to fall npon her lap. "Dear mother, yon are not strong enough to work yet. Oh, I wish you would take more reet. If you knew how sad and sorrowful ib makes me to see you suffer so! The speaker was a delicately formed girl, with soft brown hair and large blue eyes, and with a face I yvhich, if not really baaaMM, was lovely in its childish innocence and affection. As she spoke she went to her mother's side, and wound her arm about her neck, and kissed her upon the cheek. "Dear mother, do- take time to geb well. If you will put away your S37,ung I will find something to —something from which I can earn enough to help us on until brighter days come." "Brighter davs! uttered Mrs. Duncan, mourn- fully. Ah, Gertrude, when shall we see them ? When you get well and strong, dear mother. Sarely the days will be bright then." "Alas, my ohild, the brightness of earth has faded away for ever from me. I shall not be strong any more." She saw the shadow of pain that her words tad called to the face of her daughter, and she presently added— "Bat you, Gertrude, will yet be joyous and happy. You are a blessed, child, you are so good and true, so kind, and 80 affectionate, and soseK-sacrifising. There is much happiness in store for you." "And why not for you, mother ? cried the child, again kissing that pale cheek; "surely ycu ought to be happy. God will not let you suffer always." Gertrude," said the invalid, after a pause, I must meet my doom. You would urge me to take more reatP East from what? East from physical labour, that I may suffer moreiiiantally. What have we in the house that we can call ou: ows ? Where will we find our next loaf of breadP" I have mosey enough for that, mother." "But how can we pay ths dcslor f He will wait, mother." "Gertrude, I must ply my needle. I will rest to-day, and to-morrow I will go to work. I shall feel better to-morrow. You must not interfere with me in this." The pale woman leaned her head against the back of her chair, and pressed her hand upon her brow, and the child, taking a seat not far away, re- garded her mother with a. wistful, anxious look. Gertude, what is it ? Why do yon look at me eo ? Have you been dreaming again. P "Yea, mother, I have drsamsd again, but ib was the same old dream." As the invalid covered her faoe once more, the child drew her low stool softly to her side, and rested both her hands upon her knees." "Dear mother, you do not trust me fully." Gertude!" Ob, mother,, if yon knsw how much I conld help you, if you knew how my heart yearns to share all your grietp, you would not keep anything from me. You asked me if I had been dreaming again. I might truthfully tell you that I am dreaming ail the time. That face, once so strangely fixed upon my mind, is never absent from me. Oh, if you would tell me what I feel that 1 have a right to know." "My child!" Do not put me off again, mother, I am no longer the child of other years. I am fonrtaen now:, and I ana going to speak plainly. I know you will not forbid me," Go on, Gertrude." The child took one of her mother's hands, and said, in a low, quivering voice— "You have never told me, in plain words, that my father was dead." Mrs. Duncan started as though she had received a sudden and sharp blow from some unseen hand; and before her daughter could speak further she arose from her chair and walked to the window. She stood there some little time, watching the lengthening shadows of the closing day, and when she came back she had her hands folded and pressed upon her heart. "Dear mother, if it pains you so muoh-" No, no, Gertrude. It is time that you knew the truth; and BOW, before I again commence my toil, I 'Will give to you the leason of my life. I have not kept the tenth from you because I would deceive you. Far from i.t. I have simply kept it because I would ;taste the full cup of my great sorrow alone. Do you -remember, my child, that you -once asked me why I had marked with my pencil a certain passage of Sariptnre r Yea. mother." And do you remember what it was ? Yes, for I have eften read the verse since, and wondered why you were so strangely affected by it." Read it now, Gertrude." "I ean recite it, mother. It is the sixth verse of the last chapter of Solomon's Song: 'Set me as a seal upon thine heart, as a seal upon thine arm for love is strong as death; jealousy is cruel as the grave: the coals thereof are coals of fire, which hath a most vehement flame. Oh, Gertrude, my dear child, may you never know the truth of this. One moment-one moment. Fear not: these tears will do me good." Ere long the woman wiped her eyes, and then, drawing her child nearer to her. she said- Gertrude, you shall know the whole story now. I was only 18 when I became the wife of Henry Dancan. He was handsome, and well-educated, and good; and I won him for my own while many others were anxious to find favour in his eyes. He was not wealthy, but he was steady and industrious, and was able to give me a good home. For a few months I was the happi- est among the happy; but at length a dark-visaged monster orept into our home, and instead of turning t!h!e intruder out I invited his stay. Henry was too gay, too free-hearted, and too social to settle down at once into the staid, sober life of a married recluse; and as many of those maidens with whom he had formerly been free and social still sought his pleasant company at our balls and parties, he laughed and joked, and promenaded and danced with them as of old. He was very oareful not to bestow his attentions on any parti- cular one; but, so far as he could, he treated them all alike. I did not see it then, however. I simply saw that he smiled upon others as well as upon me, and I, in the blind foolishness of my hnart, blamed him for ili. At first he only laughed at me, and told me how foolish I was; but I would not believe him. I had allowed myself to become jealous, and I found plenty of fuel ready to feed the angry flame. And I was not without companions to help me on in my miserable oouree. There were those who had been envious be- cause I had won Henry Duncan, and when they found how my suspicions were running, they failed not to whisper words of warning into my ear. I dare not tell you all that I did and said to my husband. He was high-spiritad and strong-willed; and when he had borne all that he eould bear- and God knows he bore enough-he turned upon me so fiercely that for a time he frightened me. You were then nu infant only three months old, and as the care of y kept me confined most of the time, I had plenty d opportunity to suspect that my husband was spend- ing his evenings in more agreeable company. And vet. before Heaven, I had no just muse for those suspicions. Only my own folly drove Henry from me, and then I w»s angry because he eft my side Matters went on in this way for a whole year, and at the end of that time I had become utterly insane upon that one subject. The social comforts which my huB- band could not find at home he scnght elsewhere, and When he did come beneath hia own roof, it was only to meet with pain and abuse. One day^mformaton came to him by mail that his cousin was nnl dan she might not live-and he told me that he should go and see her. His cousin was a bright-eyed, beautiful girl, between whom and Henry there had dwajEi b<?en a warm attachment, and of her I had bee distant jealous. She had then recently removed to a distant town, and if Henry went to see her, he would have to be gone over night. I told him I would not have go. He informed me that he had engaged a convey- ance, and should be gone within an hour. A few more words passed between us, and finally I told him if he went I should leave his house never to return. He looked at me a few moments, and then he said-it was the first time that he had ever spoken such words —and he was. very pale when he said it:—' Go, Exil- dah, if yov- wish. You and I shall both be happier to live opart!' He left me as he thus spoke, and within an hour afterwards I knew that he was on his way to visit hia cousin. 'I had saidthatlweuldleave my hnsband'shcuse, and 11 esolved to keep my word. I gathered up my clothing, and having seeured my scanty stock of jewellery and the Jittle money that I possessed, I sent for a carriage to come and take me away. I felt no pang when I took my child in my arms and went out from that house, I only felt that I would be revenged upon my "Not many miles away, in a neighbouring town, lived an aunt of mine-a simple-minded, good-hearted woman, who had loved me dearly when I was a child and to her I went. She listened to my story, and as she believed it as I told it, she felt that I had been deeply wronged; and she gave me a home beneath her roof. A few days afterwards I received a letter from Henry. It waf) very sbort-only asking if he might come and see me. Oh, it was not Huldah Duncan that answered that letter. It was an evil spirit that had possessed her. At that moment the spirit of the wife was with the father of her child; but the fiend sat down and wrote, and this was what was written: That I wished to see my husband no more for ever! In one short month from that time my child was taken sick, and by the couch of the little sufferer, worn down with much watching, my senses came back to me, and the foul fiend fled away. Amazed at first in view of what I had done, and then contrite and almost broken-hearted, I took my pen and wrote to my husband. I wrote, as I felt. I acknowledged my error-my sin-and I told him if he would let me come back to him that I would prove by a life of un- 1 deviating devotion how traly and deeply I loved him. I sent the letter; but no answer came back to me. When the first snow of winter lay upon the ground, an old acquaintance passed our door, from whom I learned that Henry Duncan had gone to Australia. Before the winter had passed my aunt sickened and died, and when the spring came I was foraed to seek a new hem*. I had a little money but I had no friends to whom I d,.t.-red apply for assistance. For a time I lived comfortably, considering my mighty gnet; at the end of two years my money had gone, a.nd my friends also. T "Gertrude, you know the rest. You know now i have laboured, and how scanty has been my board; but you do not know how I have EuSered, and I pfay God that vou never may!" Huldah Duncan bowed her face upon her hands, and sobbed aloud, while the child threw her arms about her mother's neck and kissed her. "Harve yon never heard from my father amce tie went away ? Never, Gertrude." "Bit he may come back." Hush! Oh, wake not such a t h ought within m He is dead, Gertrude—dead to you and me. But see— it has grown dark, and you have not yet had your supper. Speak no more now. God bless you, my child bless you always." Late in the evening, when the mother and child: were ready to retire, Gertrude, who bad been strangely thoughtful and reflective, gently whispened-- I thiak I shall dream again, mother. Hush, darling I shall dream again, mother. j) Dreams are idle things, Gartrude." Not when they make us hopeful and, happy/' Perhaps not. And yet if we build too maeh upon such hope it may be worse for us." We can hope and pray." "Yesi my child." Then such hopes will I cherish." Ah, Gertrude, your-eye is bright, and your tace is stamped with eagerness. You are hoping too much. Alas, poor child! your dreams are leading your thoughts astray. Pray for strength to support you in the trials you are destined to endure while travelling through this vale of tears." I will pray, mother." And may the God of the fatherless hear and answer your prayer." „ In the morninsr, when Mrs. Dunoan awoke, ahe tound that Gertrude had got breakfast almost ready. 64 Ah, my child," said she, with a faint smile, I think you had no dreams last night." Dear mother, you aro mistaken. It was a dream that awoke me. (i And was it; the same old dreamB" Wait, mother—wait until our work is done -nntil. we find time to sit down-and I will tell you all about my dream. I think I have never yet told you how strangely things appeared to me in my phantasy, but since I have heard your story they affect me more wandrously than before." A h mv nhilfi ■ 99 Hush, mother. Say no more now. Let us eat our breakfast." When they had partaken of the simple meal, and the few dishes had been washed and put away, Ger- trude put on her hood and shawl. We have money enough to purchase a little more food, mother, and I think I can find something to do to help yon. At all events, we will not despair. And without waiting for any reply, the girl took her little basket and left the chamber. ml_ It was near noon when Gertrude returned, ihere was a bright light in her eye, and upon her fair cheek was a tinge fresher and more ruddy than Huldah Duncan had seen there for years. Gertrude Oh, dear mother," cried the child, winding her arms about her parent's neck, "I have had such excellent fortune. You must put your sewing away^now, 1 shall be able to help you until you are strong. "Gertrude,—what mean you? You ramble—you are excited. What has happened ?" "A strange fortune, mother. I shall have work enough—and such pleasant, easy work, and such mar- vellous pay. I will tell you all about it by-and-by. I But first I am going to tell you of my dream. i pro- mised you that I would tell it, and I shall not. rest until it is done. Will you; listen to me now ? "Yes, my child." dertiudehad already removed her ana shawl, and taking a seat close by her mother's side,, and drawing one of her hands within her own, she said— "Let me tell you my dream, mother, as though it was all dreamed in one night; for, though it came in many parts, yet they all fit together so regularly that it makes one complete whole. Dear mother, I dreamed this I was in the street, standing before the window of the pastry-cook, when a man came along and stopped by my side. I looked up and I thought I had never seen so handsome a face, nor one so kind. I went into the shop and bought some cakes, and when I came out the man went in, and as I stopped a moment to look back, I saw him talking with the cook. On the next day, at the same place, the same man met me again; and before I knew what he would do he bent over and kissed me upon the cheek, and I thought his eyes were filled with tears. He drew me away into the shop; he asked me what my name was, and he asked me about my mother, and when I had told him all, I thought he drew me upon his bosom, and held me there a long time; and it seemed to me as though he was some kind, saving spirit come from the better world, for I rested upon his bosom with a thrill of wild delight, and I thought I could rest there for ever. By-and-by, he asked me if I knew the story of my mother's early life, and when I told him that I did not, he made me promise that I would get the story from her, and that when I had heard it, I would tell it to him. "Dear mother, waa it not very, very strange^ After you had told me your story I knew I should have more of my dream. And I did. I dreamed thus: The same man met me again, and resting upon his bosom, with both his arms wound tightly about me, I told him what you had told me—told him how you had wronged your husband-how you had fled from his home-how you had repented in grief and shame- and how, from the bedside of your sick ohild, you had written him a letter-and I told him what was in that letter-and how that your husband had gone away to Australia before the letter could reach him. And then I told him how you had suffered since. And when I had done, my face and my hands were wet with tears— Lot my tears, mother-no, they were his tears. And by-and-by, when he had thanked God many times, and had dried his eyes, and become calm enough to speak plainly, he asked me if he might go with me and see my mother. And with a glad cry I took the man by the hand and led him-led him to your own door-It I Gertrade! Gertrude Oh, God have mercy! Why did you tell me this iniother-dear mother-look np." Huldah! My wife:" And the woman was oaught in a fond embrace, and held to a wildly throbbing bosom; not the embrace of a child—not to the bosom of her daughter. They were strong, manly arms that held her, and the bosom was one whereon her head had been pillowed before her child had being. Huldah! my wife! Look up. Tell me—oh, tell me-has the sunshine come again P Haldah Duncan spoke not then. She. could only cling to the neok of her long-lost husband, and weep, and sob, and pray. But by-and-by, when she could fully comprehend that Gertrude's dream had been all a day-dream—and that her huaband had been seeking her for a long, long time, and had at length found her through their child-and that he had come to her with all the love and devotion of the heart that was wholly hers in the hoar that saw them made one at the holy altar—and that he could forgive all the past, and take her to a home where every comfort of earth should be hers-then, when she comprehended all this, she gave him both her hands, and, with a loving look, --he said- Henry, if you can take me back to your home and to your heart, every energy of my life shall be yours, and I will preserve your love as something so pure and sacred that I would rather die than that it should be snatched from me! Onee more, my husband—upon your bosom- thus. Oh, thank God!
EPITOME OF NEWS. --
EPITOME OF NEWS. At Pymore, in Dorsetshire, four swarms of bees have been obtained from one stock within little more than a fortnight. Withdrawal of the French from Mexico.— The Var, transport, has arrived at Brest with 600 French soldiers from Mexico. Mr. Gooch (saya Eerapath), the chairman of the Great Western Railway Company, has been induced to go out in the Great Eastern. G-reat Heat at Liverpool.—The thermometer at the Liverpool Observatory on Monday registered up to 82.5, being 20.3 above the average on the same day during 20 years. The examination for candidates for the Ebon College Foundation is fixed to commence on Thursday morning, the 26th of July, at 7 a.m., and the election will be declared in the following week. At the Liverpool Police-court, on Tuesday, two men named Softy and Meadows were charged with setting fire to the private stables of their em- ployer, Mr. Lane, a brewer, with whom they had had a dispute about wages. The prisoners were remanded. An auction of hair of young girls who have taken the veil since 1810 was recently held at a convent in Paris, when 8001bs. of hair was sold for £ 1,200. A London correspondent says:'—The latest style of bonnet has turned up. It is described as con- sisting, of two straws, tied together with a. blua ribbon on the top of the head, and red tassels suspended at each of the four ends of the straws. The papers announce the birth of a. daughter to Sir James Duke last week. Sir James is 78 years, of age, and he had one child, also a daughter, who was. born two years ago. He is still without an heir to his baronetcy. The screw steamer West of England, in passing through the Channel, came into collision with the schooner Saphael, of Exeter, off the Start, on Monday at noon, in a dense fog. The schooner went down with all bands. The Jamaica Disturbances—On Wednesday morning another ponderous blue-book of nearly 500 pages, relating to the labe events in Jamaica, was issued to both Houses of Parliament. Itscontenta are "papers laid before the Royal Commission of laqairy by Governor Eyre." Death from Sunstroke.-Philip Wylde, about five years of age, became insensible on Wednesday from sunstrske, while in a field near Hackney-wick, and died in a few hours. Serious Accident at Tyne Docks.-On Mon- day afternoon, about half-past five o'clock, a serious accident befel a latbourer named Wm. Jackson, while engaged in discharging a grass ship lying in the dock. The unfortunate man waa busy shunting some wagons when he was caught between the buffers of the wagons and was seriously crushed on the lower part of the abdomen. He was ta.ken to his lodgings in Bede-street, and attended upon by Dr. Fraine. Dunmow Flitch.-A happy married couple resi- dent in London have sent their claim for the Dunmow Flitch. They are most respectable people, but at their request their names and residence will not bs divulged until the morning of the gala day, when the prooes. sion takes place. The public (says a local correspond- ent) may rest assured that when the day comes the happy couple will put in their appearance and go through the ceremony. Receptfon of Lord Russell and MJ?. Glad- stone at Windsor.-A large number of the Liberal electors of Windsor met at the Great Western R¡¡,H- way station, on Tueadsy, to testify their eoafidence in the Ministers, on their arrival en route to the Castle to meet her Majesty. The train reached the station at half-past twelve o'clock, and as it drew up the Ministers were loudly dteered. With the cheers there were several calls made for a dissolution rather than a resignation. There was a similar manifestation of feeling on their leaving for London at half-paat two o'clook. A sad accident occurred the other day by which Thomas Booth Atkinson, aged 13 years, SOil of Mr. Atkinson, beat-builder, of Stockton, wag drowned. The boy, in company with two others, got into a boat, on the river Tees, at Robinson's Wharf. Atkinson was sculling, and when in the middle of the civer the oar slipped out of the rowlock, and he was thrown into the water. The other boys could render no assistance, and, after struggling in the water for eoma timo, he sank and was drowned. The Strike of the Birmingham Bricklayers. —A meeting of the master builders of Birmingham was held on Tuesday evening. The meeting resolved to abide by the resolution passed last week: That, until the men have redeemed the pledge publicly given, by returning to work under the rules settled by arbi- tratisn, no further proposition from them can be con- sidered." A return was presented by the secretary, showing that the number of'men who were at work was considerably in ex,coas of the number a few weeks ago. The Knaresboroagh Rioters.-Too Knares- borough rioters who were committed for three months to prison by Justice Shea, at Leedg assizes, for assert- ing certain public rights in Knarasborough Castle- yard, received a perfect ovation on Tuesday-afternoon on their discharge from prison. They were entertained to dinner in the Towa-hall. and afterwards were pre- sented with silver caps. The bells were rung and a band of music paraded the streets. The Formation of a New Mimmtry.-ihe Evening Standard. of Wednesday says: l?he Earl of Derby proceeded to Windsor this afternoon, in obedi- ence to her Majesty's commands. In the-event of the duty of forming an administration devolving upon his lordship, the responsibility will be accepted. We are glad to be able to announce that there wiu* be few diffi- culties in the way of the formation of a strong Ministry; and that the noble tori has received assurances of general support from many gentlemen not hitherto numbered among his adherents. Terrible Catastrophe to a Detachment ox Artillery.-A letter from Trent, T-,Trol, in the Pays, savs" Within the Ust day or two some persons un- known have destroyed part of the road leading from Roveredo toMonte-Casale, where Austrian Engineers had prepaid some provisional works of de- fence. During the night half a battery of large guns and three artillery wagons, conducted by guides, who were ignorant of the damage done to the road, were precipitated from the summit of Mount Casale into the abyss with horses, men, and munitions." Supposed Suicide.-Mr. Humphreys, coroner, held an inquiry at Shad well, on Monday, respecting the death of Mr. Chailes Alfred Pallas, an Italian mer- chant in London. The evidence showed that for some time past the dooessal had bien in peouniary diffioul- ties, arising from lossea by speculation. He had in tended leaving Englaid to join Garibaldi as avolun- teer, and had got his Jassports ready signed. He was last seen on Monday Yeek, when he stated his raten- tions to a friend. On Saturday last his body was drawn from the Thanes by a seaman. The jury re- turned an open verdict. The Marquis of Salisbury, as Lord-Lieutenant of Middlesex, gave a grand entertainment at Hatfield. house, his fine old family seat in Hertfordshire, last week, to the offioers ot the several regiments of county militia and the county magistrates. The invitations were for from four to eight dclock. A special train from King's-cross to Jatfield conveyed alarge number of the guests. The full band of the South Herts Militia, of which regiment the noble marquis is colonel, performed a. varied Selection of music on the lawn during the entertainment. "Moving in the Matter." — An American paper has the followiagA gentleman residing near Bogton drew the attention of the town council to a slough in the road as a nuisance, but no notice was taken of it One day lie found, to hia amusement, that two councillors had Walked into it by accident, and were floundering aloat in tea mire, when he addressed them thus: Gentleman of the Town Council of Bog" ton, I have often petitioned to your honourable body against this slough, but I never had any attention paid, to my petition. I now come forth to express my delight to See you at last moving in the matter." Mr. Peabody, it is said, is almost bored to death by the thousands of begging letteis he receives on behalf of schools, churches, and charitable institu- tions. Surely there ought to be some better way than this of showing a nation's gratitude for the gift, by a stranger, of half a million of money for the benefit of its poor. The Late Sir A. B uller.-On Saturday the death of Sir Anthony Bailer was announced. Born in 1780, he was called to the bar in 1803, and after having practised in Eagland for some years, he having made Indian law a special study, was nominated to a judge- ship at Madras in 1815. The year after that he was made a juoge of Bengal. He occupied that position many years, and then retiring from professional life, he returned to England. It is rumoured that an eminent Scottish baronet recently promised that in the event of a gratifying domestic contingency he would present £ 500 for the completion of the Wallace Monument. That contin- gency having since occurred, the expected fulfilment of the promise will enable the committee to complete the undertaking. Msnament and baby are both doing well. The Queen's train was in great danger at For- far. A wagon and horse were standing on the up-line, when a gentleman rushed on to the line and signalled the driver to stop, when fortunately the train was drawn up, but only within three yards of the obstacle. well. The Queen's train was in great danger at For- far. A wagon and horse were standing on the up-line, when a gentleman rushed on to the line and signalled the driver to stop, when fortunately the train was drawn up, but only within three yards of the obstacle. What is the name of the gentleman? we should be glad to make it known. A German newspaper gives an account of the following "terrible scene—"A carpenter, returning home from a long journey, found his wife dying, his child dead, and an order to join the army pinned to the door. This combination of .misfortunes so overcama the wretched man tha.t he fell to the ground in a fit, and died in a few minutes after. His wife's body soon i, followed him to the grave." State Ball at Buckingham Palaee.-By com- mand of the Queen a state ball was given on Wednes- day evening at Buckingham Palace, to which a party of upwards of 1,700 was invited. Their Royal High- nesses the Prince and Princess of Wales, attended by tho Countess of Macclesfield, the Hon. Mrs. F. Stonor, Earl Spencer, Viscount Hamilton, Lord Harris, and Lieutenant-Colonel Keppel, arrived at the garden entrance of the Palace from Marlborough- house soon after ten o'clock. His Royal Highness the Duka of Edinburgh and his Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge also attended. Singular and Fatal Explosion.—The Courrier de VAin gives details of a. strange accident which recently took place in the commune of Poncin, France, at some works set on foot for improving one of the vicinal roads. A man named Garbolino had just charged two mines for blasting a rook, and had re- placed on his shoulder the box containing the remainder of the powder, woigchinll about 101b. He had then lighted the slow match. communicating with the mines, and was hastening off to be, out of reach of the explosion, when suddenly the powder on his shoulder, by some mischance, exploded with a loud detonation, hulling the unfortunate man to a considerable dis- tance, and killing him instantaneously. The inquest, so of ten-adjourned, to inquire into the circumstances by which John Buahby, a farmer, and his two brothers died by poison at Ponteland, was again resumed on the 20uh inst. On this as on former occasions1 the evidence appeared to show that arsenio became by some means mixed up with the food of the Buahby family, resulting fatally in the three cases mentioned, and being attended with the most serious results in several other caaes. Some of these unfortu- nate persons were completely paralysed, and others could; only move about by the aid of crutches. Not the least evidence tending even in a remote degree to indicate how the poison became mixed with the food had been obtained, and the coroner announced that the affair had not advanced anything esnee the last meeting of the jury, and again adjourned the inquiry to the 30tlrof Augu&t. The Chinese Princes in a Coal Pit.—On Saturday week the Chinese Commissioner and suite desoendesl the coal-mine of Messrs. Bullook" near Bir- mingham. The pit is 400 yards deep. The Celestials betrayed much nervousness darina its I--& <><■>-•'•• The miners-were evidently mush puzzled to, know of what sex the foreigners were, and one of them in a whisper asked, Bean't two of them women, sir?" The shaft was 400 yards deep, and, considering the character of the visitors, it was a- most extraordinary undertaking for them to descead. On reaching the top they declared, one and all, that a. coal-pit was a very dirty place, and expressed their determination never to go down another. Alleged Manslaughter by a Huaband.-An inquest was held on Friday in Qaeen's road, Dalston, on the body of Ann Taylor, aged forty-seven years. It was stated that the deceased had' a violent quarrel with her hooband, a shoemaker, on Monday night, and that she had cried out in a manner appearing to indicate he was beating her. Early in the morning she was found bruised and bleeding, and died in a few hours. A p&sPmortem examination showed e:ats and contusions about the face and headj thighs and body, and the cause- of death was extravasation of Mood on the brain, resulting from the excitement of the quarrel operating on a diseased heart. The- injuries were not very- severe. The jury returned a vazrdiou to that effect. Working Men's Invitatism to Mr. Glad- stone.-At a-meeting of the general committee of the London Working Men's Association held on. Thursday evening, at the society's rooms, Bolt-court, Mr. G. Potter in the chair, the following resolution, proposed by Mr. Upshall, and seconded by Mr. Bligh, was unani- mously adopted s—" That the London Working Men's Association invite the Right Hon. Mr. Gladstone, M.P,, to meet the working men of London at a public meeting, that they may tender to him publicly their thanks for his manly and generous defence of the working classes from- the calumnies heaped upon them during the Reform debates in the House of Commons by members of the Tory party and apostate Liberals." The secretary was instruoted to convey the above re- solutions to Mr. Gladstone, and to request hia accept- ance of the invitations as soon aB the Ministerial crisis was at an end. All the metropolitan members (with one exception), and the leading members of the ad- vanced Liberal party, are to be asked to attend the meeting, which it is intended to-be held, arrangements permitting, in one of the largest of the theatres. Cholera Precautions. — Her Majesty's ship iEolus, 42-gun sailing frigate, arrived in the South- ampton water on Friday. This vessel, upon the solici. tation of the local authorities, has been fitted up by the Government as a. hospital ship for the reception of cases of cholera, nhould that disease unfortunataly break out among the ships in port, or be brought there by any of the vessels daily arriving from foreign stations. At present, however, there appears to be little probability of any use being required for bar, as the town and port are singularly free from sickness and disease; but it is nevertheless no matter for regret that so necessary a precaution has been taken. Should even a suspected case appear, the patient will be at once transferred to the iBolas. By adopting this precaution vessels, in the event of an outbreak, will be enabled to leave the port with a clean bill of health, which they could not do were the cases located on shore. Greenwich Hospital and its Church Pro- perty.-The soheme for the sale of advowsong, Ac., belonging to Greenwich Hospital has just been pub- lished. The following is briefly the proposal of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty under the 44th section of the Greenwich Hospital Act, 1865:—To seek for purchasers for each of these advowsons by public advertisements in the newspapers. Their lord- ships to require from each incumbent a return of the gross income. Before accepting any offer for the pur- chase their lordships will seek the advice of the Ecclesiastical Commissioners. When the sale of aJlY of these advowsons shall have been completed, the purchase money will be applied in the manner pre- scribed in the before-mentioned Act. The livings, and tory, < £ 200; GreysteadRectory, £ 150; Fabstone Kec tory, £ 219; and Alston Vicarage, i-iJU. Attflmntine to Set Fire to a Woman.—At M^oSer^ a woman named Mana Lumm was charged with assaulting awldow named Mary Meeham by attempting to set fire to her.elothes. The prosecutrix stated that on Sunday mormng PA. e wag at Patfioroffc, near where theplsoner lived, and observed tfes latter running after her. fha prisoner had in her hand Boise matches, and with of them, lighted, she tried to light witness's dress. Assistance was at hand, the matehss were taken from her, and no more damage than a little scorching was, fortunately, done. The prisoner had so Conducted herself at times as to prove that she was totally unaccountable for her actions. The magistrate said she was undoubtedly insane, and remanded her. Poisoning by Arsauic.-A rather singula.r oaas of poisoning has just occurred at Faversham. About noon on Friday, a respectable labourer's wife made, as she alleged, some magnesia, and, giving part of it to her two children, the woman took a dose herself. Shortly afterwards the ehildren were taken ill, and, although medical assistance waa obtained, both died that evening, and exhibited all the symptoms of poisoning by arsenic. During the evening the mother also fell ill, and died on Saturday morning. It is said that the previous tenant of the house had left a partly- used packet of arsenic behind, and the supposition has been that the poor woman had taken the arsenic for magnesia. This is scarcely reconcilable with the statement made just before her death, that she had before drank magnesia taken from the same packet. An inquest was opened on Saturday, and adjourned for a fortnight. The stomach of the defceasad has been sent to London to be analysed. The Royal Scotch Piper. At the grand banquet given at Liverpool on Thursday, in honour of the Duke of Edinburgh, the local papers state that con- siderable interest was excited by the devoted attendance upon his Royal Highness of her Majesty's piper in full Highland costume, but he was generally regarded M more ornamental than useful. When, however, his Royal Highness's health had been drunk and the enthusiastic cheers of the company had subsided, and all ears were attent upon the expected Royal accents of acknowledgment, the almost forgotten piper sud- denly struck up a barbaric air of triumph, and aa he played paced up and down the avenue in front of the Royal table like? an o'erproad turkey cock, brushing the astonished waiters out of his way like so many flies. Mute astonishment for a few moments fell upon the company, and then followed an uproarious burst of merriment, in which the strains of The Gathering of the Clans were completely lost. Railway Compensation. -la the Court of Queen's Bench on Saturday, before the Lord Chief Justice and a special jury, the ease of Roche v. the Midland Counties Railway Company was tried. This was an action to recover damages for injuries suffered by the plaintiff in consequence of a collision which occurred on the defendants' railway. The plaintiff is a picture cleaner and restorer residing at Aahby-de-la- Zouche. In August last he took a return excursion ticket to London and back. When near the Walling- ford station, on the return journey, a collision took, place, which resulted in serious injuries to the plain- j tiff—the chief injury being that hia nervous system j was so completely deranged that he had not been aole to earn a shilling at his business since the accident. Previous to that his income was < £ 600 a year. The defence was that the plaintiff's nervous derangement was owing to his intemperance; but the medical gentlemen examined on both sides deposed that there was no doubt that the plaintiff received serious inju- riea from the collision in question. The jury found a. vardiet for the plaintiff—damages, J350. The late Mrs. Carlyle.—The following affeo- tionate and touching tribute to the memory of the late Mrs. Carlyle by her bereaved husband has been by his order inscribed on a smalltablet of plain: white marble by Mr. Gaffin, the monumental sculptor of Regent- street, and, as will be seen, is to be placed beneath a stone which records th0 death of her parents at Had- dington, Damfriesshire: Here likewise now rests JANE WELSH CABLYLS, spouse of Thomas Carlyle, Chelsea, London. She was born at Haddington, 14th July, 1301; only child of the above John Welsh and of Grace Welsh, Caplagell, Dumfriesshire, his wife. In her bright existence she had more sorrows than are common, but also a soft invinoibility, a clearness of discernment, and a noble loyalty of heart which are rare. For forty years ahe was the true end loving helpmate of her husband, and by act and word un. weariedly forwarded him as none else could in all of worthy that he did or attempted. She died at Lon- don, 21st April, 1866, suddenly snatched away from him. and the light of his life as if gone out." ba formed for the purpose of awarding the prizes at the Universal Exhibition of 1867 is 570, and a reserve force of 00 is prudently kept-on hand. The juries are divided between the'different States according to the l space which they will ooaapy in the Exhibition. France will have altogether 200; the Low Countries, 4; Belgium, 25; Prussia, 30; the Secondary States of Germany, 30; the Austrian Empire, 30; the Swiss Confederation, 12; Spain, 8 Portugal, 4; Greece, 4 Denmark, 3; Sweden and Norway, 9; Russia, 13; Italy, 22:; Pontifical States, 1; Roumain Principalities, 1; Ottoman Empire, 6; Egypt, 1; various States of Asia, 3; Persia, 1; various States of Africa and Oceania, 2;; United States of America, 10, variousi States of America, 6; Great Britain and Ireland, 85. A Goods Train Precipitated into a- Lake. -An aceident of a very remarkable kind, and though involving considerable destruction of property, fortu- nately unattended by loss,of life, has just osourrod on the Cookermouth, Keswiok, and Penrith Railway, The goods train leaving Keswick abont eigdrt o clock in the morning broke down at Bassenthwaite Lake m consequence of the snapping of the axles of a wagon loaded with pig-iron. After travelling for about 100 yards, smashing all the sleepers on the road, the whole train, with the exception of the break-van and engine, were thrown over the embankment on each side, some portions of it being projected into the lake. The smash-up was most complete. The pig-iron was scat- tered about in all directions, partly on the Kne and partly. in the water, and the wagons were utterly destroyed, not one being left with the wheels on. AJShurch without a Clergyman.—In one of the districts of Sunderland, that of All Saints, in Monkwearmouth parish, a most anomalous state of things exists. The inoumbent of the parish, says the Manchester Examine*»,- embracing some 5,009 or 6,000 people, is the Rev. B. Kennicott, who lately appeared in the Divorce Court at the suit of his wife for cruelty. For some time past the whole of the duties have been performed by the Rev. Mr. Bennett, curate. The latter, however, haa for three weeks boen absent on leave, and during that time no provision has been made for carrying on the service. The first two Sun- i: day mornings the congregation, a miserably small one, waited for a Ions time for a minister, but none appear- ing a Sunday-school teacher read a. portion of the prayers. LaWa Sunday morning five persons alone were present, and waited in the church, but no one appeared to conduct the servioe. The church is a handsome stone building erected only a few years ago, and the present occupant of the lining, a compara- tively young man, is the only clergyman who has filled the offioe. The living is worth JaM a year. Repre- sentations are about to be made to the Bishop of Durham in order that some steps may be taken to remove the present lamentable state of things. Alone in the World.—Two wretched-looking boys, apparently about nine and seven years of ago, were charged at WoMMp.&tBeetwithboggmgin th& London«atreets. Polioe-cosstable 445 K said: On Friday evening I saw these lads knocktog at the doora of houses in Bethnal-green, and when I asked them what they wanted they at «nce said> We were asking fo? a bit of bread." I o*d not notice that any was givien to them and as they oouM not tell me where thav lived I thought it was the best way to take them Slusto'dy Mr- <*> the. eldest): Whati, vour name?—Boy: Derbyshire, sir; father lived at No. 4 Tapp-street, Spitalfields, Ibefore last Christmas, but he's gone away now; and mother went away before that; she died, sir.—Mr. Ellison s And what have you been doing since r Boy: Been getting a job now and then, cleaning knives for people, or anything of that sort.—Mr. Ellison Do you know anything of this boy p-Constable: He has been locked up before, sir, for sleeping in enclosed premises, that is all.— Boy: That was when the cold weather oame -Con- stable I believe, that his father did live In Tapp- street. The boy ia very badly off, sir; he hasn't any ehirt on.—Mr. Ellison: You had better take him to the parish in which you found him. What is the name of the other-that child ?- Boy Gibbs, sir; my name s Gibbs. I ain't got no father, no mother, no home.—Mr. Ellison: Where are they?-Boy: All dead. I am alone except him (Derbyshire). I oan'fc do nothing.—Mr. Ellison: When did your parents me P—Boy: Ten months after last Christmas.—Mr. Ellison: No, not last Christmas.—Boy (nodding his head): Yes it waa.—Mr. Ellison: Some better way of life than that of begging must be foand for these poor boys. I^st tt.epj be taken to tjie