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.----STREAKED WITH GOLD, i…
STREAKED WITH GOLD, i BY R. E. FRANOILLOX, Author of "Earl's Dene," "Queen Cophetua," National Characteristics," &c., &c. CHAPTER IV.—(CONTINUED.) THE BLACK WITCH OF LLANFAWR. "'Dead women tell no tales, said one of the fcien. Twasyou said that, Captain Dunn." "And 'if 'twas your own flesh and blood, began another. "Stand back, all of you shouted Matthew, x his arm round Rachel, who, though it was her own father that had come to her rescue, instinctively recoiled. "(10 to your work, or It must have been an almost miraculous organism, both moral and physical, that had enabled one man to control, with no authority be- 1 Jond what was inborn in himself, a band of men like these for so many years to set not. only the law. but the chances of rebellion and treachery at defiance, to mould men into willing instruments, to keep them subject to voluntary discipline, to ensure .their secrecy, and to impose his own will as law upon those whom he had trained to break the law. It may have been partly, no doubt, that vil natures are mostly feeble matures and submit easily to those that are not only evil but strong- Evan Roberts himself had felt in no small degree the personal fascination exercised by the mere pre- sence of Matthew Dunn. But, at this moment, his oWn weakness where Rachel was concerned im- paired so much of his influence as was dne to his sUperior recklessness and supreme indifference to ,n things but the work he had in hand. We caught a girl spying, Captain Dunn. Ask her what she knows and what she means to do, and then say what's to be done with spies. As I said but just now, me and my mates aren't going to noose our necks for you-and what's sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander." Rachel hardly thought of the death that still hung over her, now that her own father had turned out to be the leader of these men. That's a lie." he said hotly. Sauce for you is not sauce for me. you hounds. Rachel a spy Why, we are one." Just so, Captain Dunn. And a man who's one With a woman isn't fit to keep a secret, anyway. And if you two are one, we four are four." If you were a hundred—go to your work. I'm here." It's not our shift, Captain Dunn." Make it yours, then. (xO below and relieve." You're not treating us fair, captain. That girl fIf yours is Evan Roberts's young woman, as Everybody knows. She spies on us to-night and §°es to Caer Groes to-morrow. And I'm not sure Ctlptain Dunn, after what she's Jet out about you lld your friend,' as she calls her young man— not so sure that' gossip's hole isn't the place fol' all three in a bundle-he, she, and you, too." Mutiny said Captain Dunn, sharply. u Just so, captain," said the other, growing- hitler. And, as I said but just now, we're four to one." And I'm six to four!" said the giant, drawing rorn his jacket something that shone in the moon- llght like polished silver. Rachel heard the click Of a pistol as her father withdrew his arm from and stood between her and the men. There's a bullet, for each of you," he added, lightly, "and two to spare!" It was clear that the prestige of the then almost ^bijlous six-shooter bad not been spoiled by any devious unnecessary displays. It had been kept ts a. last resource, and now was the time. One of th men, indeed, made a half step forward, but ^Uin covered him. Then, suddenly bringing all h tbe force of his commanding voice to bear, he Sundered OUt:— To your work! and a. bullet for the last back I Bee to There was no last back, for all disappeared ftether through a door.that formed an adit to the ,Dunn laughed shortly and scornfully, and tetJ, at last, the father and daughter were left &are and alone. Rachel was unable to utter a word as her father led her from the secret worfeS among the hills. (}elart ran by her side, barking and jumping up at her hand, to congratulate her upon her escape from the fate into which his own wretched habit 01 blundering had led her, but he did the talking \1,11. At last, however, her father said:— Rachel, you have found out what I would have ven IniUions to keep from you It can't be t<¡ Ded now, though—and, after all, the gold of the la l'th, like the birds of the air, is free, let mining *s, and game laws, and all the other devices for ^king black, say what they will! And, "'e or black, it's too late to turn back now." And Evan—who trusted ou think I've been playing the poor lad a dirty ,j.. I suppose v No I like Evan Roberts—he's only real. man in the parish, and he shan't lose t he's fairly won. I don't mean the trumpery *^ard he'd have got from Caer Groes for filling eir pockets with what they have no more real gbt to than he. But. as one of us, he'll be paid as a good gold miner ought to be paid, and life besides." Q ee father! surely there is but one right thing to is good now—would you ruin-" I don't want to ruin any man. Rut beforeyou like that, Rachel, Evan Roberts must be one whether it ruins him or no. You know now "at I am you shall know why—and then tell ,.e'~—Yes, you yourself shall decide. Are you I can't tell my story within four walls." Mer heart sank deeper and deeper; but bodily eaMness was out of the question. She listened IJetJ.tlv and with all her beating heart, while her her what she longed and feared to l1ow,
: CHAPTER V.
CHAPTER V. PHILiP THORN-FIELD'S FOLLY. «( >> j es; there can be no doubt about it—I am a 0()1 said Philip Thornfield, gravely and softly, s he stood over a cradle. t ),J0St men, when they call themselves fools, are l'thest from thinking so. But when one who is j. the full enjoyment, all at. once, of youth, ^tune, and fame gravely makes that most JaO\eful 0j- a]j confessions in the presence of a he may be taken to be more in earnest than f tents usually are. 1 lie held the lace curtains back and looked with f :1 t).)ot timid tenderness upon the child that was ?eping under them. Not only was the new-made already distinguished for brilliant scientific £ eQi«s, but, he was even more famous as the aQdsomest man of his day, and the group— turne apart—would have passed in marble for POlIo himself watching over the cradle of the Helen, and reading in her dreams something fh; sorrows that were to come. < > j." I am a fool! an.p the only coirifort í that 133 3°. far wser. than the people Who think me y vthing bettei\ Why even my own wife doesn't f "nlt me that, whatever else she thinks me in that fozen nerve that she calls her soul. Heaven keep ou, you poor little unwritten book, from turning Uta new edition of your mother-without a blot, £ a blunder, because there's not enough red ink in pen to make one. stop! Didn't I this moment 5 myself a fool. And here I am, grumbling on v. e stjle- 1 I take her for anything tter when I married her ? Have I not had from r:r all I wanted, and more-not only a safe income r hfe, but—yes, miracle as it may be. I do want j ^y own little girl! If I was a fo'ol to think ^ise to marry without a chance of love, l am ne to think she has now given me love into the it is not her own. Ah, one Jnist Vefor somebody after all, I suppose-so you tell e, httle one, and so I will live for you. But how ? bere's the question. Then, if it's a question, ) it and face it, Philip Thornfield, like a man. 18 Hot by living a life that will one day make 01'0 •\v llr daughter ashamed of you—for whatever other o may be, she must be as pure and innocent is now. It is not by turning her future (<^rc'e into a den of discord, so that she will have a side against her mother or me. It is -'Ot in short, by my being a fool. Well, I suppose eas3" to l'-ve one way as another for a man t. a will of his own. Some people I know may y. 1 Philip Thornfield'* reform to a nine days (v but it isn't there the shoe pinches- fcl. tnust. I put my neck under the slipper of a 'il1n t) stupid woman—must I shut my nature in ^0ve~b°x, and let her crow over me and lead Vf^°llt in triumph like a tame bear—my own th Poor soul! it isn't her fault, thouah *iot S^e^as neither heart nor brains. After all,it will b<\b e 111 y wife that I submit to it Rhallbe my Mother. Yes; from this moment hence- fca, for your sake, little one, I will conquer Vl)l0ri' swallow pride; I will be a good a good husband, and a good man. I swear "^nd he bent down, and with his lips just to ed the child's^ forehead, without waking her. be <\d now to make peace with your mother," Who knows-perhaps it may end in he COtning real friends! She loved me once, if T A never loved her—I will try if I can't paint a halo round her, to hide the empty back- ground.—Ah, here she is, too With the zeal of his new resolve still upon him, he let the lace curtains fall and crossed the room to meet a lady, elegantly dressed for out-of-doors, who was then entering. I must apologise for saying "elegantly," though—unless by the time these lines are read fashion has made our grand- mothers young again. She was a graceful and rather pretty woman, in a negative style, with small features and a pinched expression, that told of many cares and of considerable superiority to Philip Thornfield in the matter of age. "I managed to get from Wales sooner than I expected, you see," as he kissed her cheek. "Everything was doing so well that I have taken a whole holiday to see baby. How pretty she grows already! You have taken good care of her, I see." I'm glad you think so. I'm glad there's any- thing you care to come home for sometimes," said Mrs. Thornfield coldly as she went to the cradle. Her husband shrugged his shoulders; but only said pleasantly, I mean to be at home a great deal now, Anne. I think the mine will take pretty good care of itself, now." It is impossible to describe the tone of contempt in which, without looking at him, she exclaimed, "The mine!" He coloured, for he knew as well as she that she meant, as if it was only the mine that takes you from home!" This tone of hers had been the call to many a battle; but now he had made up his mind to eat humble pie, and kept his temper accordingly. Come, dear Anne," he said," don't welcome me back like this after so long. What will you say if I own that I've given you lots of cause to complain and hope to give you no more Hush For goodness' sake don't wake the child —you always talk so loud," she said, as she rocked the cradle diligently. Was there ever such a woman?" he said to himself. One might as well try to milk a pump —never mind I'll try till I do and by Jove, I'm right enough tlHJre-she has had cause to complain —I'm very sorry," he said in a lower tone. But she seems to sleep very well." So used I, when I was her age. Perhaps s11e won't, if she ever gets old enough to have a child of her own." I liope she may—then and always. And how've yon been getting on, Anne?" It's very kind of you to ask me, I'm sure." The devil!—How on earth am I to—my dear Anne, 1-" "Hush! For goodness' sake don't swear before the child." Why, my dear, I expect one word's much the same to her as another, yet awhile." But not to heaven, nor to me—if you care for that, which I don't suppose you do." I am very sorry 1 said a word to vex you—I can't say more. But," he said with a frown that all his determination to be meek and good- tempered could not keep away," I have not. a saint's temper, as you know." And I suppose you thir.k I have ? I suppose you think I am going to put up with your conduct for baby's sake if I cannet for my own ?" "May I ask you to explain what you mean ?" Certainly you may, Doctor Thorn field." Doctor Thornfield!" "Yes—Doctor Thornfield. A great deal has happened since you've been away amusing your- self-" Amusing myself! If you call spending weeks on the top of a. barren hill with nothing to eat, or shoot, or speak to-" Ah! Was she deaf, then ?" Good heaven! I assure you, Anne, on the word of a gentleman, that I have been at Caer Groes, and alone." Well, Wales is not elsewhere, nor this time else- when. It's other places and other times I have in my mind. I have been consulting with my friends, Dr. Thornfield, and have finally made up my mind that you are not a proper person to be the father of a well brought up girl." You have, have you ? You thought me fit to be the husband of one, anyhow." "Thought isn't think, Dr. Thornfield." I see—you have been keeping open house for all your aunts and uncles. They have been round the cradle like a wasps' nest while I was away." "And who has a better right, pray? Whose money bought this house, I should like to know f" Yours. But the taunt is not lady-like, all the same." As much as to tell a lady she isn't one is like a gentleman." Come, Anne-you don't know how hard I'm trying to keep my temper—how much I want to help you to make a happy home for the child." "You shall. Aunt Jane says it's high time we parted now that I've got some one else's morals to look after, and I think so, too." Good iIeaven Do you mean whatyou say f" Perhaps you will say this letter is not, addressed to you, Doctor Thornfield ? And this ? And this ? And this, too? And now, perhaps, you will say Aunt Jane is wrong:1II Who has dared to break open my desk while I have been away ii" "Nobody. You forgot to lock it—and Aunt Jane-" "Of course—Aunt Jane. I suppose, between you, you forgot that when' a desk is unlocked it is double-locked And you that a husband has no secrets from his wife——" And you that my wife is noUunt Jane. Well —take the letters and make the best of them. I won't look at. them. And what's more—1 will have no secrets from you from this hour. I'll own, if you like, that I have been both fool andscoundrel- and-" That's all very fine, indeed! If you'd wanted to reform you should have told me before. Go back to the creature that writes to you. Baby and I will go to Aunt Jane." The creature, as you call her, is nothing to m £ And let me tell you it is for me to decide whether you go or stay, and in any case Letty remains with me." You would rob a mother of her own child ?" "Listen to me, Anne," he said, very gravely and earnestly. "I own that I have been a bad husband to you, who are a good woman and to whom I owe so much. It is my fault. I have made you hate me. It was borne in upon me with a rush while I was looking at, Letty asleep but five minutes ago. But I swear to vou—J swore it to myself then—that for her sake I will lead a changed life-I will not rest till you forgive me, and even Aunt Jane approves." I understand your sneer at my aunt-I am not such a fool! So for Letty's sake-a baby's—you will do what you cannot do for mine ?" 1 I am speaking the plain truth—I won't pretend it is for yours now. Anne, won't you help me to make it for yours, too, in time ? Think—this is my last chance, perhaps; and I will not let it go. You had better think; for if we have to live together in hate all our days I will not lose Lettv I will not recognise my good angel only to let her go. I would lose my life sooner." After those letters, Doctor Thornfield, and the insults you are piling up on me, the same roof shall not hold me and you. And where I go, Letty goes too. She your good angel, indeed! You will be her bad one." So be it. Think what you like—you will stay with me." You seem to forget that I am mistress here. I shall go to somebody who knows the law. This is no new quarrel—I have been an injured woman ever since my wedding day, but I will be one no more. Oh, if I had only married any of those I could have had but you I won't say another word. Yott will stay, and you will consult nobody. If I cannot persuade, I will be obeyed." He left the room—he was in no humour to leave it gently, and it is very likely that he slammed the door. At any rate Letty woke up and cried, and the sound enraged him. It. was too bad that his good resolve should prove so terribly hard to fulfil- Of course he did not consider that the road he had followed hitherto had carried him too far to allow of a quick and easy return. He only felt indignant with the mother who, in truth, had only too much reason to fear such a father's influence upon her child, and was surely not called upon to believe his mere word when he said "I am changed." There may be women who never weary of forgiving, but she was not one of them. And yet it was bitterly hard—for his resolve was the most earnest ever formed by man, and he was not tempted to break it even now. s,) he betook himself for consolation, or distrac- tion, to his laboratory; for if pleasure had been the main business of his life, science had been its delight and pleasure. He was one of those great workers who can seemingly dispense with sleep or rest; he used to return from a wild night to refresh himself with a long day of hard study, which prepared him for a wild night again. Before he married an heiress he had become < r — r — distinguished as a physician at an age when most men are but, beginning to show promise, but since his marriage he had lived his own life, until this new and wonderful passion for his child filled his heart for the first time. He was interested in the scientific part of mining speculations at present, and in private was engaged in an exhaustive study of the old chemists and alchemists, deciphering the cabalistic formula; and throwing light upon the experiments of Geber, Albertus Magnus, Lully, Flammel. and the rest of the goldmakers. He was no believer, but his mind had a mystical tinge. and he held that more hints and suggestions might be reaped from them than their mere greedy disciples have managed to glean. It may be suspected that he was something of a rolling stone; but he was no such thing. He looked upon every science as a mere fragmentary sentence in the book of nature, and nothing would satisfy him but the entire volume. Even his passion for pleasure was inextricably blended with his grand passion for knowing all things, and with his belief that he knew nothing so long as one thing in the universe remained untried and unknown. To-day, however, not even a tough passage in the 7 Yactaius A ureus could engage his whole atten- tion. The transmutation of his own heart at Letty's touch was more wonderful than anytlHng that a fairy tale, nay, than even a. book of science, could contain. It was like a first love in its spring-like intensity. It was natural enough, secing that, the man who had been given over to the wildest study and the hardest dissipation from his boyhood had never experienced one perfectly innocent human affection till now. But because it was so natural it was so wonderful to him, who had, with so much truth, called himself a fool. The real change was that he was fool no more. He intended to stay at heme that, evening in spire of the quarrel that had driven him into his laboratory. On leaving his books at last he was met by a, footman in waiting for him upon the stairs with a note—for nobody dared to tip at his I study-door. He opened it—it was in his wife's prim Italian hand. He read it, and for a moment turned pale. But he recovered himself instantly. At what o'clock did your mistress leave" he asked the man. At five, sir, in the carriage." "She is stay at Mrs. Seymour's. I am goingback to the laboratory—I shall not dine." He went back, with a firm step, closed the door, and read his wife's letter again. You are a clever woman he said to himself almost aloud. Many a less stupid one would ha.ve been afraid-many a one that knows me better would not have known so well that, I am no whipped dog to go crying to the law to give me what I can't keep with my own hands. It is your money, as YOll said, and it shall be yours—not another penny of it will I spend or touch even. But —Letty!—This is the end." The strong man did not bury his face in his arms and give wav to sorrow. He drew himself up defiantJy tore the letter into shreds and threw them on the floor. "There is'fate in this, if there was never fate in anything before You narrow-hearted woman, so good that you will not let the angels do their own work in their own way—you might have turned me into one of your own respectable hypocrites after your own heart—if you had such a thing— with one word. A narrow escape from such a fate I have had, to be sure !—I a good husband—I a good father—I a good man—Bah What nonsense comes into one's head sometimes. I've been work- ing too hard for once, I suppose. 1 will make a night of it—a week, rather—before I open a book again. My poor little Letty! you very nearly turned me into a fool." (To he continued).
------KAGGLES, THE BURGLAR
KAGGLES, THE BURGLAR Miss Sophia Brindleton was a by no means un- attractive spinster of thirty, who was independent in her circumstances, and lived alone with her youngest sister Phcebe and three female servants, in a pretty villa of St.. John's Wood. Undesirous of matrimony, Miss Brindleton devoted herself to in- tellectual pursuits, and took an enlightened interest in politics. She thought herself entitled to a vote, and belonged to an association which agitated for women's rights. Her favourite hobbv was the development of strength in woman. She herself, though graceful and handsome, was a per. son of strong mind-firm, judicious, brave; and she was of opinion that the so-called weakness of women is, for the most part, only affectation, which the fair sex put on under the mistaken idea that it renders them interesting. Miss Brindleton's friends were far from all agreeing I in these opinions, and many doubted whether Miss B. her- self, if placed suddenly in a position of great danger or difficulty, would be able to act with the same fortitude as a man. But an opportunity arose for putting her to the proof, and it will be seen from what follows how well she stood the ordeal. One summer night, or rather about two in the morning, Miss Brindleton—who had imprudently opened her window (it looked on to a garden at the back of her house) before going to bed, on account of the heat—was awakened bv a noise, and start ing up, saw a burglar in her room. The starry sky gave just light enough to enable her to perfljeive the outlines of a man's figure without seeing his features. He was a tall, powerfully built man, and he was helping himself to Miss Brindleton's watch, her purse, and some trinkets which she had left on the toilet table. Disturbed in his occupation by the slight exclamation which Miss Brindleton uttered when she awoke, he lifted a dark-lantern which he had laid on the table, un- masked the bull's eye, and turned its light full upon the lady whom he was despoiling. b Undaunted, Miss Brindleton—though she could no longer see him now for the glare—stared straight before her and asked, Well, what are you doing ?" No answer being vouchsafed, the advocate of woman's rights continued: "That watch of mine is .not a valuable one to any one except myself, for it is a gift; but I have a much more precious one down stairs which I will give you if you will leave me this one, and I should like you to leave me those rings, too; I will give you the worth of them in monev." "Yes, 1 dessay," grumbled the burglar, "you want me to let you get- up that you may raise an alarm and have me nabbed." 1 give yon my word of honour that if you go out. of the room while I put on a dressing-gown, I will take vou down stairs, and raise no alarm at. If you did, I'd mighty soon quiet yer with my jemmv," growled the burglar. If you feci so strong, what, have you to be frightened about?" retorted Miss Brindleton, logically. Well, you're a well plucked 'un, I must say," remarked the burglar with involuntary admira- tion and with noiseless steps (for he had taken his shoes off) he stole out of the room and waited on the landing while Miss Brindleton glided out of bed and put on a peignoir. So far our heroine had acted with a perfect mixture of courage and prudence. She had seen at a glance that it would be madness for her to try an$grapple single-handed with the burglar; and she had reflected that if she raised an alarm she would scare her younger sister Phoebe, frighten the maid servants, and possibly exasperate the burglar into breaking her head. On the other hand, she did not like yielding to this armed aggression in a spiritless way, and as she dressed she was much tempted to take up a revolver which lay in one of her drawers and to invite the burglar to step out into the garden with her and exchange shots according to the etiquette of the duello. She was restrained by the consideration that the burglar was at this moment relying on her honour, so she simply lighted a candle, walked out of the room with it in her hand, and passing the burglar, requested him to follow her downstairs. The burglar did so obediently as a servant; but Miss Brindleton had noticed, as she went by him, that he had put on a mask, so that his face was now hidden. Miss Brindleton used to keep her cheque-book, money, and othar valuables in a desk that stood in her study on the ground floor. As she made her way to this receptacle it occurred to her that she was doing a. very rash thing, for what was there to prevent, the robber from knocking her down and stealing everything she possessed, including the watch she desired to keep. Thinking, how- ever, that it was best to show no signs of fear, she walked straight to her desk, unlocked it, and was about to hand the man a massive gold turnip watch set with diamonds which had belonged to an uncle of hers when the burglar addressed her thus in a low, sheepish tone: "Look here, miss, I doan't. want to take yer watch I'm alone in this job, so I'll be satisfied if yer pay me off with twenty pounds—that'll do for me." Twenty pounds, you say ?" returned Miss Brindleton calmly, and taking up a small gold bag she began to count a number of sovereigns. Five, ten, eighteen, twenty." "You've made it. twenty-one," said the burglar, honourably pushing back a superfluous coin while he pocketed the rest. And now, miss, I'll go, and I'm much obliged to you." I think I had better let you out through the front door; that will be more convenient for you than climbing out of the window," said Miss Brindleton; "allow me to add that I am sorry to see a man of your size and strength engaged in such dishonest work as this. You ought to be ashamed of yourself." Ah, miss, it isn't everybody that can be honest by merely wishing it," replied the burglar, as he followed Miss Brindleton into the passage and he made the lady a respectful and rather mournful bow as she ushered him out. I shall remember you, my man," muttered Miss Brindleton to herself, as she closed the door a.nd put up the chain and presently she returned to her room to reflect on what had just happened, and to ponder as to what she ought to do next. Her nerves were somewhat unstrung; and she would have Hked to indulge in the feminine luxury of a good cry, but, surmounting this weak tempta- tion, she decided that the best thing for her to do would be to go off to the police-station and give information against the burglar. Accordingly she dressed, stole quietly out of the house and, undeterred by the fear of walking through the streets alone at night, she betook herself to the station and made a full statement of her adventure to the officials on duty. Now, it so happened that about half-an-hour before a policeman on his beat had noticed a man answering to the description of the burglar count- ing some sovereigns under a. lamp-post, and he had afterwards seen this man enter a low lodging- house, presumably to sleep there. So it was sug- gested that Miss Brindleton should remain at the station while the police repaired to this lodging- house. Miss Brindleton consenting, was accom- modated with a seat and a cup of coffee in the inspector's room, and in about 40 minutes had the satisfaction of seeing her burglar brought in, securely handcuffed, between two constables. The man gave a start when he saw her, and as she dictated her charge in a clear, composed voice, he muttered: I shouldn't have expected this of you, miss; no, I shouldn't." You did not expect that I would leave you unpunished for breaking into my house, did you?" asked Miss Brindleton, with some scorn. I have acted square by you, miss," said the burglar. I might have took yer watches and other things, but I went, off quietly with the money yer gave me and 1 never laid a finger on yer. 'Taint handsome of yer, miss I thought you was a better sort." For the burglar's good opinion of her Miss Brindleton cared little. She turned her back on him, and accepting the politely proffered escort of the inspector, who offered to see her home, re- turned to her house, rejoicing that she had done a very clever thing in a prompt, satisfactory manner. Not a soul in the house except herself had been disturbed by the night's events, and, as Miss Brindleton let herself in with a latch-key, the first intimation which her sister and servants got of the burglary was when she told them of the facts herself at breakfast. Of course her communication caused some ex- citement. The servants uttered exclamations, trembling; and the younger Miss Brindleton screamed but presently, when Phoebe had be- come more composed, she fell to thinking, and all at once said: Sophie, do you think it was quite right to give that burglar in charge after he had behaved so well ?" Do you call it good behaviour to break into my house, and steal twenty pounds from me ?" in- quired Miss Brindleton, in grave surprise. Well, but, Sophie, he had your life in his hands, you know; and if he had stunned you and then made off with all your things he might never have been caught, whereas now he will be sent to prison for years." That, is a weak sentiment," retorted Sophie, in her primmest tone. I was bound to get this man apprehended for the protection of others." Phoebe said nothing-just then, but she remained unconvinced, and oftiWi afterwards she alluded to the burglar in pitying terms. The man's name turned out to be Haggles, and Phoebe would speak of him as poor Raggles." This poor Raggles' was in time arraigned at the Old Bailey and sentenced to penal servitude for seven years. As he left the dock he once more turned to Miss Brindleton, who was in court with her sister, and said: It, warn't kind o' you, miss; you don't help a chap to be honest, you don't. If you had let me alone after giving me them 'ere twenty pounds I should never have forgotten it, and it might a' been the saving of me." Oh, Sophie, how dreadful," muttered the soft- hearted Phcebe, nestling close to her sister. Don't you think you might ask the judge to take off some part of the poor man's punishment He has not got a day more than he deserves," replied Sophia, with her lips set. Her heart was quite as tender as Phoebe's, and it felt very sore just then for the wretcnedRaggles; but Miss Brindleton thought that, any outward display of sentiment was undignified, so she kept her feelings to herself. She was not at ease, however, and when she returned home she catechised herself as to whether she had truly, according to the lights of her conscience, done her duty in getting Raggles sent to penal servitude ? Her answer was that she had done her duty, her plain duty, nothing but her duty. and she curtly silenced Phoebe next time the latter alluded to poor Raggles." Raggles became a forbidden topic. Nevertheless, Sophia Brindleton did not feel quite happy about the man when she thought of him all alone. Six years passed. One night-a summer's night, as on the first occasion—Miss Brindleton was again awoke by a biirglar. She sat up in bed, rubbed her eyes, and recognised Raggles. I've got a ticket of leave," said this fellow, gruffly; you know me, I dessay. Now, just come down and give me all you've got in your drawers, or I'll smash your head in. Look sharp." "Why, you're Raggles!" stammered Sophia, unable to say anything else. Yes, I'm Raggles, and a. nice trick you served me six years ago," answered the burglar, with a curse. Now, turn out of bed and come down I've got your purse, watch, rings, and other things in my pocket, but I'm not going to leave the house till I've got all your money* and silver plate, and if you squeal, by golly, I'll wring yer neck." Poor Sophia sat up in her bed bereft, of speech. Her sister Phoebe was married now and no longer lived with her; she had only two female servants in the house, and it would have been useless to scream. But. on the other hand, she happened to have £2,000 in bank-notes, and £3,000 worth of j ewellery in her desk—valuables which were to have been sent next day to the banker's. I'll give you a hundred pounds, Mr. Raggles," she stammered in her agony. I'll take everything you've got," was Raggles's blunt answer. "And now look alive." Half-an-hour later a queer scene might have been witnessed in Miss Brindleton's C> parlour. Raggles had packed up in a small portmanteau, which he had purloined from Miss B., every article of value which Sophia possessed, and fatigued by his labours, he was lolling in an arm-chair, while Miss Brindleton, with trembling hands, poured him out a glass of sherry. "Now go down on your knees and swear an oath to me," laughed the ticket-of-leave man, who, having tossed off his first dram, was holding out his glass for a second. Swear that you won't peach against me, or I'll cut off all your hair and your ears afterwards." I swear," faltered Sophia, who, seeing Raggles's face so terrible, ha.d dropped on her knees. That'll do," said the ex-convict, I know that you're an honest woman and wouldn't tell a lie. If you did, though, one of my mates would find you out and do for yer." Saying this, Haggles shouldered his lootings, all tied up in a bundle, and walked out of the house. He has been living at large ever since. Miss Brindleton has not dared to inform against him, not even to speak about him to her sister Phoebe.
[No title]
"Johnnie, here you are at the breakfasttable, and your face is unwashed," said his mother, with a sharp look. I know it, ma, I saw the animalculoe in pa's microscope last night, and I ain't going to have those things crawling all over my face with their funny little legs." The youth who parts his hair at the equator, sucks the head of a rattan cane, squints with dreamy-looking eyes through airy glasses, wears No. 5 boots on No. 6 feet, sports a double breasted watch-chain to which is anchored a 54 watch, wears a horse's hoof scarf pin and sporting dog studs, and says deuced," "aw, yes, damme," and don't you fail to remember it," has a soft thing in this world. He wears it in his hat just beneath his unusually thick skull. THROAT I RRTTATION.-Soreness and drvness, tickling and irritation, inducing cough and atfccting the voice. For these symptoms use Epps's Glycerine Jujubes. Glycerine, in these agreeable confections, being in proximity to the glands at the moment they are excited by the act of sucking, becomes actively healing. Bold only in boxes, 7,w. ad Is. I Jd., labelled "JAMES Epps AND Co., Homoeopathic Chemists, London. A letter received "Gentlemen,-lt may, perhaps, interest you to know that, after an extended trial, I have found your Glycerine Jujubes of conside- rable benefit (with or without medical treatment) in almost all forms of throat, disease. They soften and clear the voice..—Yours faithfully, Grnnox HOLMES L.B.C.P.E., Senior Physician to the Municipal Throat and Ear Infirmary." In Cardiff, Treharne and Duck Bute Docks, supply Epps's Medicines. c FOR LADIES' DRESS, COURT TRAINS, CHILDKEN'S Burrs, &C., the "Nonpariel" Velveteen is the Climax of Improvements, possessing in perfection all the advan- tages claimed for other Velveteens without their-'defects. Superb in make, dye, and finish; fine in texture rich full-toned colours; great depth of Immovable I Pile. Pre-eminently the only real substitute for LYON3 SILK V RL YET. C;i n ùe worn with all kinds of dress materials. Jaùies shonldinsist on having the" Nonpareil." Of all Most Ladies, no doubt, use RECKITT'S PARIS BLUE at home, but they would do well to insist 011 their Laull- dresses doing the same, as the purity arid brightness of the colour of 1.110 linen is largely dependent, upon the quality of the BJu used. 2 The Dome differs from the ordinary kinds of Black Lead from the fact of its adhering once to the stove or grates, thereby avoiding injury to the furnitnre from dust. "13ronze, Silver, and Gold International Medals awarded for excellence erf quality and cleanliness in use." Sold by Grocers in 6d. and Is. boxes. Hor.r.owAY's PILI,S.—The Greatest Boon of Modern Times.—These Searching Pills act directly on the liver, correct the bile, purify the system, renovate the debilitated, strengthen the stomach, increase the appetite,!invigorate the nerves, and reinstate the weak to an ardour of feeling never before experienced. The sale of these Pills throughout the globe astonishes everybody, convincing the most sceptical that there is no medicine equal to Holloway's Pills for removing the complaints which are incidental to the human race. They are indeed a blessing to the afflicted, and a boon to those who suffer from any disorder, internal or ex- ternal- Thousands of persons have testified that, by their use alone, they have been restored to health after other remedies had proved unavailing. THE ENGLISH HOMESTEAD.—It was a fair picture, a true type of an English home. The surrounding scenery was lovely, and excepting the Vale of Llangollen as tine" a" could be seen anywhere. A substantial house stood 011 an eminence, children romped gleefully 011 the undulating lawn. Their laughter could lie heard afar, Indicating health, animal spirits, and a full measure of en ioyment. Alas! that, it should be otherwise—that disease should stalk into that fair spot—that those happy faces and sparkling eves should become pinched with pain and feverish through that affliction common to all children—'worms; and yet, unless Williams's rpontardawe) Worm Lozenges are given them as directed such must inevitably be the case. Loss of appetite will ensue, and the bloom will leave the cheek and the limbs will lose their comeliness and roundness. The little ones love these Lozenges because they are nice to the taste and palatable. They are sold by most chemists at 9d., 1ald., and2s. 9d. per box. It should be observed that the Government stamp is on each box. MB. JOHN HUGH MARTIN, M.E. (who was for many yArs with the late Edgar Wetton) is in daily attendance at. his Consulting RDoms and Depot, 272, Recrent Circus, London, Wand may be consulted gratis onfall matters relating to Health by Magnetism, Martin's Magnetic Curative Appliances are now known and appreciated all over the world, and a 48 paged Pamphlet, entitled "Magnetism, or Nature's Aid to Health," may be had gratis on application. Seven years'experience, practical, scientific, and professional, enables me to advise with tha.t success which has so signally attended my labours during the past 18 months. All who value health should see the above Pamphlet, which contains abundant Welsh testimony. 5790c A CARD—To all who are suffering from the errors and indiscretions of youth, nervous weakness, early decay, loss of manhood, &c., I will send a recipe that will cure you, FREE or CHARGE. This great remedy was discovered by a missionary in South America.—Send a selt-Suldressed envelope to the Rev. JOSEPH T. IN MAS, Station D, New York City, U.S.A. 6035c TOOTHACHE WOOL, 6d. Instantaneous ease, and destroys the nerve. Post free, seven stamps.—Mr. Gregory, Chemist, Bristol.
1 FEMININE FOIBLES, FANCIES,…
FEMININE FOIBLES, FANCIES, AND FASHIONS. By A LADY. (All Rights Reserved.) The sight of the watercress sellers in our etreets agreeably reminds one that the delicate salad is once more in se&aon—a dainty addition -to our bread and butter, and bread and cheese, when eaten pure and simple; as also a most welcome ingredient in the mixed salad bowl, which, during the winter months, and in the early spring, but for watercress and endive, would be but indif- ferently furnished with green supplies of any kind. My readers may, possibly, remember the mention I made a while ago of the white porcelain baskets which, if the watercress be served alone, are such dainty receptacles wherein to bestow the succulent weed and when the immature beef, of which it is the frequent ac- companiment, is in season, the salad looks particu- larly appetising if brought to table in these baskets, the. deep, darkgreen of the water strongly contrasting with the unsullied white of the delicate china. Desirous of making a trifling gift to a friend, who has a special taste for dainty table arrangements, I went into a fashionable porcelain shop in the Old Courtsuburb, and selected one of the baskets to which I have been draw- ing my readers'attent ion. The shape is that of a large and delicately veined vine leaf, so curled as to leave an opening at either end for the introduc- tion of salad, flowers, kc. The long representative stalk forms the handle, and, being turned across in an oblique direction, apparently pierces the folded leaf and pin", the extremities together. Two hue slits are made in the ware immediately beneath the handle these are for the insertion of a few sprigs of cress, or a blossom or so. After making my purchase I loitered some time looking round the storehouse of so manv exquisite specimens of old and modern china, together with useful household articles made in less costly material, but moulded in artistic shapes, that give quite a. classic air to jugs and bowls 01" small price intended for ordinary domestic use. 1 noticed a special improvement in the designs for toilet ware, The ewers and basins sold fo:- about. 10s. or ]4s. might be presumed to be relics some time or other had been dug from those pari ally excavated cities that lie at the base of Vesuvius, so quaint their fashion, so unlike the forms of the jugs and basins we are familiar with in ordinary homes. I remarked a large variety of the divi- sional dishes, without which., at this time, no china closet is considered completely furnished, for they are very useful, and serve quite a multiplicity of purposes. Those of pure white china may be utilised as vegetable dishes, and when the company of diners is large and the waiters are few to be able to present three kinds of vegetables at the same moment to each guest economises time, and greatly facilitates the business of serving. The same divided dishes are useful to convey cake, bread and butter, sand- wiches, and similar kinds of light re- freshments to visitors at afternoon tea, or at any time and gathering, when the buffet. is not set out with more substantial fare, and some slight refec- tion is considered needful prior to the departure of the guests. Pilled with flowers and placed in halls or reception rooms the sectional dish fulfils another of its manifold purposes. Protean are the forms as well as the uses of this modern device in earthenware. A shamrock leaf with the edges of the several sections turned slightly upwards is one of the most popular shapes. The shop assistant who took me round the show rooms told me her Royal Highness the Marchioness of Lome, accompanied by her Grace the Duchess of Edinburgh, had visited them less than a week before and made sundry pur- chases, among which were several divisionaidishes that will be used in more than one royal domicile here in England, and a consignment of them will be forwarded to the Dominion for in the house- hold of his Excellency the Governor-General of Canada. The Duchess of Edinburgh purchased a small hand painted sectional plate, a duplicate of which was shown to me. In the centre of each section there was a gaily plumaged bird, of the macaw tribe ap- parently. The Royal sisters-in-law showed their interest in the exhibition bv remaining more than two hours. When in residence at the adjacent palace the Princess Louise is a frequent visitor to this shop, whither she walks simply attended by one of her ladies, so as to avoid notice and possible intrusion. Her Royal Highness generally elects to pay her visits during those hours when persons likely to recognise her are rarely abroad, i.e., early in the_ day, before the fashionable world is astir, or during the luncheon hour, when, presumably, everyoody who is anybody is indoors. As for the Duchess of Teck, in one sense, no one takes any notice of her that amiable lady goes to and fro so freely among the people that, her presence excites no notice ^ikelv to be embar- rassing or inconvenient to her giace. But there is always a. deferential quiet display of loyal affection when the hushed murmur runs from one to another, "Hero is the Princess- Mary," whom Nature has taken care no one shall mistake; and, in so doing, has beneficently made her an object of strong and loyal affection. Were she a mark of hatred and persecution instead, the Princess could hardly hope to escape her enemies by successfully personating another, as some, according to history, have done, for y&u recognise the Duchess in an instant, with her beautiful beaming face—for it is beautiful, spite of her fifty years. Her conspicuously large, but by no means ungraceful, figure, and her singular gait, such marks of a striking and special individuality, none can by any possibility mistake. We meet her as calmly, or apparently as calmly, unconscious of her rank and dignity as the very lowliest of her admirers Tho) Duchess moves about the grounds and suburbs of her palace home beloved by all. I am acquainted with a gentleman, of whom, if asked his political opinions, I should unhesita- tingly reply red-hot Republican, who says his hat goes off in spite of himself when in the presence of the Princess Mary. It was to her Royal Highness that .the w atercress basket mentioned at the beginning of this letter owes its name. During one of her shop- ping expeditions the Princess turned into the porcelain shop I have referred to above, and, after admiring the novelty, said, Oh, Mr. what a charming watercress-basket it would make." "It shall be called one. your Highness," said the ven- dor "henceforth 'watercress-basket' shall,-J>e its name." During the season the Princess Mary, as a graceful social act, is accustomed to purchase num- bers of these porcelain vine leaves, and, filling them with fruit or flowers, to send them to her friends as a special mark of her grace'e personal regard. In the suit of rooms occupied by tho Duke and Duchess of Teck, in Kensington Palace, there arc, I am told, not a few china baskets to be soen. Some are painted with roses to indicate the floral uses to which they are applied. And when it is in season I believe the Royal breakfast table is rarnly without the customary basket of watercress. We know the great preference her Royal Highness has for blue in all things appertaining to the toilet, a preference that extends to other matters. The colour is conspicuous in nearly all her grace's surroundings, and in the choice 'of crockeryware, whether for use or for decoration, Princess Mary is conservative still. During a recent visit to one of our large drapers' establishments my attention was arrested by the sight of a great number of ready-made costumes, the style and material being so good as to seem quite inadequate to the very smU prices asked for them severally. To escape from the region of puzzledom, I inquired how it was possible thus to carry on the ordinary system of trading— viz., that of getting adequate labour bestowed and material used in short, I wished to know how the dresses could possibly b$made for the money, and was rather pained, by the explanation given to me. Tiig^ material with patterns for catjfcjng- %,nC taking ;ire, I hear, bought at cost price and sunvQut of this country to the German tailohl, who wofk for such extremely low wages that I was forcibly reminded of Kinjfslev's dismal relation of the miseries endured by the English tailois during the great Chartist riots, under that iniquitous manner of trading known as the sweating "system. The cos- tumes shown me are puttogether in a way infinitely superior to the work done by any ot our second- rate dressmakers. When the tailors have com- pleted the costumes they are returned to xhis countrj-, and can be sold for fabulously small prices. Surely, if my modiste charges me 10s. 6d. for merely fitting and making a bodice alone with- out paying out of the sum for the cotton with which it is sewn, to be able to purchase a dress complete of excellent material and fashionable pattern, which mav be altered to suit an ordinary figure, tor the inclusive sum of 49s. or 50s., one is justified in asking if the sweating" system • is as utterly extinct as one could wish it to be. Here, it seems to me, is just another illustration of the old saying- Man's inhumanity to man Makes countless thousanrls mourn. Some time back there was an astonishing rumour that glass was about to be spun into clothing, a i-eport that excited many conjectures as to the probability and manner of it.! fulfil- ment. 1 am beginning to think that if all other materials failed us we might really utilise glass in the manner referred to. As a. birthday offering from a nephew of mine to his sister I saw to-day a charming necklet made of plaited glass, so ductile that the meshes might, be stretched apart and drawn together again, like a strip of very loose knitting or crochet. There were tassels to finish the ends, curled in strands like ringlets of shining silver hair. So flexible is tho pretty band that it may be knotted round the neck like a ribbon, and the beautiful ornament is one that a duchess might envy. When it becomes soiled, a detriment, that the polished surface of the material defers to a remoter date than the glittering white- ness would lead one to expect, wash, using soda. in the water, and pass through the gas flame. Such were the instructions for its renovation sent with the gift. The long-deferred bitter weather has come at last. and set us looking up every appliance likely to contribute to bodily warmth and comfort. I cast longing eyes at some extra-long white sleeping socks that I saw in Oxford-street to-day; they were lined throughout with fluffy white wool, nearly two inches long. Anything more sug- gestive of comfort to sufferers from cold feet it would be impossible to imagine. Many persons whose circulation is not good go to bed with warm extremities and wake to find them cold as icicles, thus murdering the gentle god of sleep as effectually as the Thane of Cawdor did. Old persons whose vitality is low will find in these sleeping socks a source of comfort that they will not lightly appreciate.
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That's what I call a finished sermon, said a lady to her husband, as they wended their way from church. Yes," was the reply; "but, do you know, I thought it never would be ?"
rijl INTERESTING DISCOVERIES…
rijl INTERESTING DISCOVERIES IN PALESTINE. (By MOBIEN.) The report of the result of the explorations by the Palestine Exploration Society, which recently appeared in these columns, contained tbj following remarkable statements — The great feature of tho country (Palestine) just explored is the prodigious number of cromlechs, and these not scattered about, but grouped and referable to certain centres, which represent the old sacred places of the primitive inhabitants." "In addi- tion to the cromlechs some very interesting menhirs were found, and ancient stone circles." "Crom- lechs surrounding a large cairn were found on Mount ebl)." It is interesting, in the first plsce, to note the number of pure Welsh words the above paragraph of the report contains. Here they are-Cromlechs menhirs, and cairns, but their correct spelling is as follows :—Crotbiechs (ark stone), Maenhirs (loug stones), and carnedd (a heap). The very fact that the names given to such stones by all nations are Kymric is sufficient to prove that they are Kymric erections. It is true that the learned author of the Indian antiquities states that the Hebrew form of the word crothiech is ch&r&mluttch, and means a devoted stone; but we know that they are called to this day in Ireland, in the Ersc language, which is a dialect of the Kymraeg, carrey croth, which sinifies the same thing as cruthlech. But, above all, we who are acquainted with the mystic lore of the Druids are certain that the Kymraegand Erse words describe faithfully the religious idea associated with these ston", erections. The inference, therefore, is that the Hebrew word charepmluach is simply the Kymric compound name of a rmbol with which tht ancient Hebrews associated the idea of devotion, and not because it signified it literally in Hebrew. In the Biblical account of the origin of nations we find Moses, in Genesis x., 1 and 2 verses, stating that Noah's eldest son was lapheth, and that hi eldest sop's nam was Gomrr. Ahbé Pezron writes :—" The most ancient name the Celtae ever bore while they remained in Higher Asia was that of Comerians, or, rather. Gomerians, by some authors called Gamerites. That wastlK-ir first and true name, being that which they had from the earliest times of the world, or, rather, from their first origin. They took it from Gomer, the eldest son of lapheth" (Pezron, c. vii., p. 48.) Josephus. speaking of Tapheth's son, Gomer, says, He was the founder of the Gomerites, who now, bv the Greeks, are called (cauls and Galatians." "The author of the Celtic Researches writes (p. 124-) as follows. in reference to the above: "Then a people descended from Gomer might be callad Gmrim or timri. Gomeri, and as the C or K iH the Celtic and other European languages occu- pies the place of the Hebrew G, or Gims!, Cymri, or lvimmerii, may be nothing but Gomerii." Higgins points out that Eustathius. of Antioch, in the commentary upon the Hexameron (p. 51), confirmed the statement of Josephus. He, after the Septuagint, calls Gomer Gamer, and sass. "Gamer was the founder of the Gamerians, whó. we now call Galatians or Gauls." Posidonius says that the Greeks gave the Cina- brians the name of Cimmerians. Herodotus says that the Celtae are the most re- mote inhabitants to the West of Europe, except the Cyneaet. The old Britons, of whom the Welsh are the descendants, called themselves Cvnmru- Cyn-mru-that is. the first of the womb. Abbti Pezron says:—" The name Kimber signified a warriorprobably, one may think, for the reason that those who bore that name were a war- like race. M. Dutans has made it more than probable that long before the epoch knowledge flourished in Greece a learned nation existed among whom knowledge hud attained its present perfection. ¡ The learned Baillie comes to the conclusion that the ancient people who brought the sciences to perfection, a people who succeeded in the great enterprise of discovering the exact measurement of the earth, dwelt under the 49t,h degree of lati- tude." This, of course, means the British Isles and the ancient Kymry. ir William Drummond says,' in his work on "The Zodiacs," in reference to the learned nation of antiquity whom Baillie beiievss dwelt under the 49th latit ude, they were mathematicians and astronomers who knew that the sun is in the centre of the pla netary system, and that the earth, itself a planet, revolves round the central fire; who calculated, or, I like ourselves, attempted to calculate, the return of comets, and who knew that these bodies move in elliptic orbits, immensely elongated, having the sun in one of their foci; who indicated the number of the solar years contained in the great cycle, by multiplying a period (variously called in the Zend, the Sanscrit, and the Chinese, wn, van, and j■ehen Welsh, in various mutations, ban, men, van, and w/ittt) of 180 years by another period of 144 who had measured the circumference of our globe with so much exactness that their calculation only differed by a few feet from that made by our modern geometricians, and who reckoned the length of the tropical year within three minutes of the true time." What we find in Babylon and Egypt," savs a great author," are the ruins of a mighty philosophy, which later philosphers endeavoured to re-construct, and amongst whom Pythagoras found beautiful fragments which he brought into Greece, and which the vanity of the Greeks soon tempted them to claim as their own." M. Baillie adds the following important observation —'• Everything in China, India, and Persia tends to prove that these countries have been the depositaries of scieEce, not its inventors. The things alluded to do not assimilate to the climate or the countries; they appear in a.n un- natural state, like the elephant in Paris. Thus it is with many of the incidents in the systems of the Hindoos"; they suit not to the climate nor to the heavens they are daily dying away they barelv exist—hence 1 conclude them a race of foreign growth." Thus"we find modern researches, made by the most brilliant intellects that have adorned the annals of science, tending to confirm the testi- mony of antiquity that the Kymry, the Cimmerii of Homer, were the first among the nations of the earth at a remote period in the history of the human race, and that really from the ruins of their philosophy have been obtained fragments which have served as hints to those who in modern times have entered the temple of science, and have made discoveries there. It is profoundly interesting, therefore, to us Welshmen, descendants of the mighty learned nation of antiquity, to remember that we have one tlung, which barbarians and the fall of empires making the whole world tremble have not deprived us of, namely, our language —the Kymraeg. It has come down to us through social hurricanes which have swept over the earth, untarnished, and with its words and phrases, loaded with philosophy, dropped from the lips of our ancestors! We were driven to a corner of the Blessed Isles of the West, by overwhelming hordes from the Conti- nent of Europe for ages we had barely existed; for centuries our little monetary wealth had been absoibed by others, and even schools which were jjrantcd lavishly to the other divisions of the United Kingdom were denied to the Cimmerii, and their language was ignored by the Church and the State. But, thank God, better times are sSawningupon this oldsacredrefugeof philosophers and heroes. Waies Thy yc-uth are of the cele- brated old Gomerian breed, and, give them but a fair start, and the shades of their ancestors will answer for the result! But, from an archaeological point of view, these discoveries in the Holy Land are the most inte- resting which we have met with for some time in r«lition to the past history of the Kymry, Cimbri, Cimmerii, Gomerii, Gomerians, or whatever name the world choose to call us. The statement made by the authority of th? PalcstineExplorationSocifety is extremely interest 1115, that "a prodigious number of cromlechs," in circiei," hive been found in the land of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and that evon on th? summit, of Mount Nebo traces indicating th".t the Druids had been there before Moses ascended it on his way to Pisgali to view the Promised Ltnd. Now, do not the 01.1 and New Testament proe that the Most High God was worshipped in Palestine bafore the Hebrew nation had an existence, except as far as Abraham represented it ? Does not Abrahana acknowledge that Gentile priest Melchisedec, as repre5nting an order of priesthood superior to tho Aaronical one, which he, as the primogenitor ef Levi, represented ? The Lsvitical priesthood was exclusively a Hebrew one; that of Melchiscdec was the priesthood of the whole human family, and it was after this order of priesthood that the Grtat Teacher nvulo hi1;h priest for ever. It appears to mc, speaking with great humility, that the old priesthood which the C&naanite king priest Melchisedec represented, and to which even Abraham bowed and with him all Israel, was re- vived by the great Xszxrene, and that He is a high pr.&st for evpr after a Gentile and not a Hebrew priesthood. Áll American writer states: — The careful student- of the Old Testament is amnzed at the antagonism apparent between the examples of the Hebrew patriarchs and the teaching of the pro- phets in regard to the erection of the monolithic pillars and other structures, for votive memorials and other religious purposes." Abraham erected "altars" wherever he made a residence, and planted a grove or pillar in Seer- sheba, as a religious emblem. Jacob is twice mentioned as setting up a pillar calling the place Beth-el—pure Kymric word—and making libations. On the occasion also of forming a treaty of amity with his father-in-law, La-ban, the Syrian, he erected a pillar, and directed his brethren to pile up a cairn, or a heap of stones to which was applied the name Galeed, or circle, and Mizpeh, or pillar. Samuel judged Israel at Gilgal,or the circle. Joshua set up a Dillar under the oak of Shcchem, by the sanctuary. Very many in- stances could be pointed out in the Old Testament indicating the reverence of the patriarchs for the Druidic form of Divine Worship. It appears, however, that in the time of King Hszekiah the patriarchal form of religion had become terribly corrupt, and that, by humanising what the ark and the Shechinsh of the oldpatnarcha) creed symbolised, tho most abominable praoticos bad been introduced into the "high places." Hezekiah broke to pieces even the serpent of brass made by Moses because, M it appears, the people burned"incenss unto it." Josiah was even morr severe against the abominations which had crept lis than Hozakiah. Be it understood that the said Kings simply proceeded against the corruptions which cisgraced the Hebrews, and not against the patriar- chal religion. I hold that the tabernacle—tho ark and the Shechinah, with the twelve sons of Jacob surrounding it—wers identical with the Tflthlech, the Eye of Light, and the twelve Druiutf patriarchs around it, of the descendants of Gomer. I cannot, however, discover that the Lovitical altar had anything to do with th<3 Druidical roli- vion; neither can I find that circumcision was •srer found among them. It is clear that down to the last moment the Hebrews dwelt in the land of Canaan they vene- I rated the crothlcchs, monhirs, and cairns of the patriarchs, otherwise they would have been de- stroyed by them. It is an extremely interesting fact that Row- lands, author of the "Antiquities of Mona*'and Bujh Tcgai have traced an immense number of pure Welsh words in the Hebrew language, Let me add that the greatest scholar in the world r the lore of the patriarchs is this day languishing. neglected and forlorn, at Pontypridd. MelehisedM and Abraham, Moses and Aaron would have givea him the right hand of fellowship and the kits of ?**cs. Many years ago he sang of the Drui: Swyncb dacar gysegrasant, O v/lad i wlad A rbyw dfrnlau syn godasant, o wlad i wlad tyndod p&Avbyw eu cromlechao, rcllst ctwri yw eu oylchau, I t'hnf¡(I n ewyll rLo nty creigiaa, Mewn t,yth parhad!
ITHE CHURCH AND NONCONFORMISTS…
I THE CHURCH AND NONCON- FORMISTS IN THE DIOCESE OF BANGOR. I THE LARGE GRAVE IN THE CHURCH- YARD OF LLANAELHAIARN. (BY MORIEX.) To us, who have the good fortune to dwell under our own vines in a diocese where, to employ a Welsh aphorism, there is neither iladd na lld," where the utterances of a "Xoncon." are hailed with pleasure by politicians on both sides the question," and where most agree, it is much more pleasant to watch a fight from a safe distance than engage in it. It is rather interesting to watch an encounter which is now in progress among the classic mountains of Arfon, which is the ancient name of Caernarfonshire, and which means the Border of Mona. It appears that Llanaelhaiacn. which seems to mean the Grove on the Iron Brow, is, or was until recently, an obscure locality among the thousands of Israel. Whether" the iron Brow" refers to the physical I aspect of the place, ur that it derived its name from the sternness of the dwellers thereof, I am unable to say, but the following narrative, which I tra.nsla.te from the (ienedl, seems to imply that the inhabitants love sword and buckler; in other words, that they love war:— We have something to say titis week." says tho Genedl, "in refcience to the Rev. Hugh Edward Williams, vicar (ebrwyad) of Llanaelhaiarn, Arfon. We do not suppose it is necessary for us to offer an apology to our readers for abandoning the political world and taking them with us to the obscure and rural neighbourhood of Aelhaiarn. We are often reminded by wise and thoughtful men that the world' does not know one-half of its noted characters, and, no doubt, these people are right; for it is impossible to journey far without coming in contact with its variety of heroes, either on the path of peace and self-sacrifice {kvnern-aberth), or on the crimson paths of the political and ecclesiastical robbers. Had we not accidentally heard of the courage of the Rev. Mr. Williams, we fear that the like fate would have befallen him that has befallen a host of similar people before, viz.. desoend to the world of forgetfulness (byd etnyhnf) without the country which nursed him and tue nation that gave him suck knowing anything even about his name. However, we rejoice not a little at the fact that we shall perform our share honestly to bring the name and the deeds of the zealous vicar before the Welsh world, for, unques- tionably, he is, in his own particular way, one of the 'celebrated heroes' of the nation. We scarcely think that Mr. Williams will object to our going back a few steps in the history of his life, for to his youthful courage and his implicit obedience to the calls of conscience' (aymhellion cydtcyboi) he is indebted to-day for his position as a reverend vicar of one of tg parishes of his native county. It is unnecessary for us to state that as regards his public character as the clergyman of his parish we shall dealin this article. "In Bethesda, in Arfon, he first opened his two eyes there he began to think. There was not a vouth more zealous and bril- liantly enthusiastic than Little Hugh of Hirdir' —for by that name was he formerly known among his neighbours—for the Nonconformity of his fathers, in the wholp country. He sustained that character during many years, and faithfully attended the services of the Methodists; and we would not be surprised to learn that some of the simple people in the neighbourhood asked them- selves occasionally, 4 What will be this son r' (Pa beth a ft/dd y bachgea hwn ,ri We are told by credible people that the small youth of Hirdir was like the youth of Tarsus—a great persecutor of the episcopal sect. And. like every honest man, he derived much enjoyment from that thankless task. Scarcely, however, did Little Hugh of Hirdir create a deep impression on the minds of his acquaintances with all his Nonconformist zeal and Methodistical fire that his Nonconformist convictions were deeply rooted, for when the news flashed through the neighbourhood of Bethesda and Chwarel-y-Cae, one Monday morning, that Little of Hirdir'—the fiery Non- conformist and ^on-Episcopalian Methodist—had gone to St. Aiin'c, on a Sunday evening, and had received a light from heaven' upon his former errors, it appears that no one was at all surprised at the deed (»/ we it herd) We heard of a youth from the neighbourhood of Snowdon who, after he became the husband of a wife, as the people of South Wales say, turned (drodd) lately to Mother Church for the sake of a crust, groping (y.nbalfalu) for days pitifully in darkness until he obtained light from a book that presented to his view the Episcopacy of the Old Testament, which sight gave him instant peace. But we prefer believing that it was from heaven and not from a 'bnok' Little Hugh of Hirdir" obtained the light which, from that Sabbath evening forward, made him an opponent of Nonconformity and Methodism without his second in the country. "We ca.n understand the philosophy of the fiery, persecuting zeal of Little Hugh of Hirdir' con- verted into white heat in the Rev. Hugh Edward Williams, clergyman of the Church of England. "From Dolyddelen Mr. Williams came to Llan- aelhaiarn. There could not be anger or ill-feeling in the bosom of any of the parishioners towards him when •• came to the parish, though he was appointed over the heads of the parishioners. We cannot, find that any of their number grumbled, because they had no voice in the selecting of the servant of the parish' (' fftcas crefyddol y plwyf'). But this 1 evident-Mr. Williams went to the parish with decided views respecting his 'vested rights." And it seems that there remained in the minds of the peaceable parishioners misty notions also as to their ancestral independent rights. Somehow, Mr. George Osborne Morgan opened lately a new way into the parish churchyard, which way made Mr. Williams, as well as many of his clerical brethren, terribly angry, and by traversing this short new wav into tho churchyard a few davs ago the vested rights of the clergyman and the 'ancestral independent rights of the parishioners came into conflict. We regret the calamity (irych/neb), ahhough no lives were lost. But what will happen after this we do not know. We are unable to guess whstwas Mr. Williams's object in ordering the sexton to open a large grave fight feet deep and of gigantic width if he did flot intend to bury all the Nonconformist brood in it, through fear that their ashes might contaminate the churchyard, which has been purified and sanctified with the salt of the Right Rev. Father of Bangor. For all we know to the contrary, the conscientious clergyman feels some- times an inclination, a desire, to bury all the Dissenters in the parish together, that they may no longer disturb his religious rights.' Scarcely, perhaps, that the old godly people in the neighbourhood of Amana and Bethesda could have imagined that Little Hugh of Hirdir' would open a large grave to bury Noncon- formists and, thereby,the Nonconformity of Llanael- haiarn out of sight. As for that, we do not think it impossible, in the face of this event, for that or any other locality to nurse a Popish Cardinal. However, it is our duty to chronicle how 'the large grave of Llanaelhaiarn came to be dug. "Like the rest of his brethren, Mr. Williams's notions respecting the monetary value of the churc!1VOlrd are rather loose. After the Burials Act came into oporation, that gentleman drew up rules with new price3 to his parishioners. Prior to that the old custom wa to pay by offertory (the word used is was seen by the parishioners from tinn. immemorabls, with two or three exceptions in the case of people from oilier nnrishes. As an exhibition of his great hatred of the new law, Mr. Williams laid a rule that 10s. must hI. paid him for an ordinary grave for a tombsterc, 7s. ed. in addition; and for a walled grave (kixt- fedd) 21s. Of course, none of the parishioners had ever seen such sums charged before. In addition to the above, this courageous clergyman claimed to decide, according to his own whim, the spot where a burial should be made. which caused much pain to many people. "Last week and the one before Mr. Williams refused to bury without a payment of 10s. before- hand. Payment was refused, and the result was that lie ordered 'the! large grave of eight feet' to be opened. In this, it is supposed, it was intended to deposit the relatives of the disobedient, who might happen to die. without the rites of the Church. When the relatives saw the large grave they paid the fees under a strong protest, and it seems that the parishioners are a.t last fully awake, and will assert their rights." The article then goes on to state that the Caer- narfon Monthly Meeting and Mr. Williams are a.t daggers drawn because the latter removed the tombstone of a family from a place where it had been for fifteen years, because a relative of the dead had been buried in accordance with the Burials Act. The (,e„cdl admits that this is in- credible, but adds—"would it not be better for tho parishioners, rather than be at war with the clergy- man, io petition the bishop to remove him to some other part of the vineyard. It is hinted, however, continues the article, that his conduct is due to pressure from a higher quarter. He has said, we are told,' You must recollect there are some above me: I am not allowed to do as I It is stated that the Rev. William Edwards, vicar of iaanbarris, is in a worse fix with his parishioners, and that law proceedings have com- menced between them in reference to the mode of paying for the graves in the churchyard.
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The class list of the recent examination at the London University shows that nearly 300 students htive matriculated, and a large proportion,in the first class. There are thirteen names in the honours list, of which the first is that of Alfred Carden Dixon, of the well-known Wesleyan School a.t Bath. The jubilee fund of the Congregational Union is growing apace. The first, list of contributions, published last week. showed a total of £B6,000. It is now over £100,000. This is exclusive of what is being done in Wales.
AR WELY CYTFDD.j
AR WELY CYTFDD. Neath, January, 1882. DEAK SItt,-Since I wrote lti., r. you 1 have been on the borders of the "Spirit hal.1d,"13Dguiàly and unregrettingiy watching the earthly. co ls gradually unloosening their fretting dasp, My oft-tried spirit in joyful anticipation of its coming release shook out its wings prepai ..tory for its homeward journey. But "Not Ybt" was the decree of my Father in Heaven, and wearily I once more return to the cold, hollow worJd--to the petty cares and strugglings of every-day hfe- its shifts, itg grovelling littleness, its ingratitude and selfish ness, its pitiful attempts at self-justification: its- pomp, parade, and empty vanity; its tinsel' painted pleasure, glare, and sickening din. Faint- ing, my spirit fain would turn aWa but far and wide stretches the great arma, where Migh* wrestles with Right, to the va.nq\lis,;ng. alas, of the latter; where men ard wamen indulge In every possible vice, reg-ard1f'c3 of all moral and social ties; where, to the sinking, t>rring, fellow being, no hand is stretched forth, save but the hand that gathers in seif-riglieeous garments f*-om contamination: where the paropfo!,prl worldling, in his gilded, pannelled, and emblazoned vehicle (bought with sin-stained gold, gold gathered at the grinding wheel of cruel extortion, robbed from the infirm widow and orphan), contemptuously drives over the sweat-begrimed, but honest, toiler; where gaunt hunger stalks in unseemly ragg and where miserable, shivering frailty is pounced upon and rendered victms to lust and pampered villainy; where youth is trained into infamy, and where men like devouring wolves prowl, seeking the defenceless and unwary. Mv Hod! mv God- Why ? from the high pinnacle where Thou didst, and in "Thy Own I mag-I?, o. set him, does he, Oh, Man! descend to degrade the god-like attributes Thou has conferrd upon him't Why. Oh, why? But 1 am wandering forgive me, farewell RaIA:O1\
| I BARDDONIA ETII. I !-
BARDDONIA ETII. I IX MEMOR.1AM. Evan Roberts, Esq., Warren Hill, Briton Ferry. The Angel of Death hath borne the decree Of Omnipotent Wili, and obediently we Mnst bow to the Wise DispenBatioh above. Tho' wrecks aJ1 our ties of terjderest love He wills it, suffice, receive on vonr knees, 111 humble submission, that which He decrees: Tis Ht'. alld not we, who knows what is best, Our lov'd oneS He takes that 011 Him w^ may rest The Angel of Death hath borne tue decree From Heaven to earth, Evan Roberts, to t,hee; The message is borne, art thou reaiiy. 'tis well, Wife, sons, and daugh1ers. take your final farewell; Kay, weep not tor him. untrammelled he fiies, Homeward anel heavenward, far "nd the skies. It is but the day you place 'neath the sod. Ris spirit exultingly fets "it1l his God, For twenty-five years he his duties discharged Ably and kindly, which for him enlarged A circle of friends, in whose heart s still revered, Will be the kind. acts which in IHe had endeared. The Angel of Death will eome to us all. And the shadowy gloom unrelentingly fall O'er the heuths where OUT id01s we lo,j ngly raise. I YetOh: tho'1Jere:1\'ed. His Decree we must" praise. Neath. RHIASOX. A BROKEN HEART. Companions surround her, yet-she is alone. Her yoiee full of music, bur sad is its tOil", Her soft, rippling accents, once merry and gay, Are shadowed, 'tis twUight ha3 followed the ùay. Her grief deep and silent 'r's mist, on the lake, How could he have loft her, why did 111' forsak»; Her form howing downwards, hke II reed in a gale, ] have turned the pages; have you read ihe tal", ? Love's romance is ended to her love was lif". Her trust is dishonoured and bitter the strife; He owned her whole beiJJg and thrst it, aside, And the tenderly nut-Lured plant withered and dipù. Mountain Ash. E. T. J. PHARAOH'S HOST. EntllTlgled in his chains of gold, Upon his martial chariot lain, DOl1J Pharaoh of the days of old Eeneath the lied Sea stili remain. Hi warriors round about him lie, And each d'¡1.!J grasp his rusty spe2.r; YVivhfaees upturned to the sky~ AnJ J¡e:J.ring still the giance uf fear. The charger, mid the shaTtered mass, In attitude of wild affright, Bears £1 iI] the broken links of Lrass, Tht could not curb bis fearful might. The debris of a ruined bost, Remains beneath t.lie rolling tide, Until the God of Israel's trust, Those wat-ers shall again divide. JOHN TllOS. D"KXOLLT, I LEFT MY HEART IX -6.. "ALLEY FAIR. J left mv heart in a valley fair. And a pretty maiden keeps it there BUI L'IL gc. nù. fetch it. hack again, Âll i 11 steIl her own, and keep the twain. When 1 first beheld her eyes of blue, That she misdlief meant 10 mi', 1 knew ButIuever guessed, till we came to part, That this cunning maid WOUlJ steal :I.ly heart. But 1'11 iP and fetch it buck ag,1.in, And III steal herown, and keep the twain. j I han: ùeen away to that verdant vale, And I bring 10 you a joyous tale; For to iind InV heart 's hot all I've done, I have stolen hers, and made them one And she does nut want it back again, Awl we each keep one. and we each keep twain. John THo. DO!\OLLY. WHEN SOLOMON IX GLORY REIGNED. When 8nIomon in glory reigned Upon his throne of gold, And aJl the world's submission gained. And wealth and power untold The Queen of Sheba:douhting came, His SpleIJdour to survey, She saw-helit"ved the voice of Fame. And wond'ring went her way. JOH.,1'HOS. Do:oL1;r. MAN. At first the baby ape, the man, And. then the man the baby apes; And so, liS thro' llis life you Scan, Man is an ape in all his shapes Â1Jd thus in reasonings smart, if few, We find that Darwin's tale is true. Johv THOS. GALAR GWR AR OL EI WRAIG. I'r b-ad i orwedd vr aeth-f, anwyl Wraig fwynaf, vsywaeth Terryn ei hoes ddaeth Oï cholli, Ow I 1" archyllaeth Roedd hon yn goron i'w gwr,-ei gysur A geisiai'n mhob cyflwr Yn nyda dig bu iddo'n (hH-a bu hi Yn nycid ei !4'!edi ei nawdd di glvdwr, Ei synwvr diwyr a.'i deall-rGesa.i lieswm cryf a diwall; Aur coeth oedd ei geiriau call. Yngan lli wnai air anghall. Ei rhinwedd oead orhynod,—pur wiredd Per eiriau ei thafod, Sathrai i lawr gas athrod,- I' gloew wir hi ddyrai glod. Cyhhen na migen bvth nis magai,. -byw By wvd 0 llüd wnelai; Hyd fedd ge1yn nis meddai, Anhawdd tid Cilel ynddi f;¡i,- 'Uoedd miloedd Ii. anm()1ai Ei 11eshíi.d rhad i bob rhai; Diroores oedd lies el Uaw,- Estyn ei rhodd w1ll\.ïn distaw. Mewn ffydd wrth grefydd y groes-hi ddaliodd 1'n ddilwrf am hiroes Buchedd 0 rinwedd a roes lddi eIw dedwydd eiloes. 9, St. James-street, Monmouth. IEUAS GKTG.
.T'Û MRS. GARFIELD.
T'Û MRS. GARFIELD. Mr. Theodore Watts contributed the following touchin sonnet to a recent number of the Athtn<r(>m. UnsuUjed days with toil and Rtruggk rife Wiii win :it last; yea., God had given hun all, A seat above the conflict, power to call Pence like a zephyr o'er men's turbid strife Home, music, toü, children anq heroine wife,! "K God gave-then gave Death's writing on the wall. And on the road the asagsin badp him fall Death-stricken at the shining crest of life. And yet our tears are sweet. God bade him taste Honey and milk and manna raining down; Clothed him with strength for good, whose sweet renown Touched wind and wave to music as he passed Then crowned him thine indeed-giving at last Heroic suffering, the true hero's crown.
PRESENTATION TO THE ISTIPENDIARY…
PRESENTATION TO THE I STIPENDIARY AT PETRE. Just as the stipendiary magi1\t.rat wa leaving the bench on Monday, a working man stepped forward and presented him with a beautifully- carved walking-stick. Among the carved text upon it was the foJJowing engfyn: — Yr wï 'n eilido gwr a wenddeetj1-gv.T 0 ddysg, Gwr o ddawn a ch,foeth Gwir enwog ddyn, cawrddyn coeth, Wych bynod, goruweb anuoeth.
MR. GLADSTONE AS AN OBSTRUCTIONIST.
MR. GLADSTONE AS AN OBSTRUCTIONIST. The Daily Telegraph of February 6. in dealing editorially with the many causes which unduly prolong debates in the House of Commons, say" Mr. Gladstone, who, n grat occasions, can ex- pound an elaborate Bill without using a super- 1iuous word, ordinarily uses a maze oJ 1Lnnere"ar.v words, and takes a quarter of UTi. hour to exvress what Mr, Disraeli informer tunes. 0)' ,7' CJuxrles Dine to-do! could pvt mta. a t}¡ru-mil1lJte. speech. We believe that a regulatlOn of the river of talk would be better than the présent weak, washv. ever- lasting flood, or thE- new proce, suggesied for dammmg It up a)together." The full force of this admission will be appre- dated when we state that. during the last. SeSSIOn, of Parhament Mr. Gladstone spoke no less than one thousand one hundred and fifty-three tiøJes.
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o utterly utter" kind of talk has infected the gtreet gamins, one of whem, after pIcking Up a more than uullv fraD cigar stump, exclaimed to hi friend "Jack, tblS IS quite too Positively bully." Thfrk is nothing more nourishing and warming I Id weather than a oup of really good Cocoa, but the difficulty has bn to obtain it purp. This can be secured at.a cost of one half-penny for;¡, large breakfast CU. by using Cadbury's Cocoa Essence, which f,oes three times as far as tbe adulterated and 9tarchy compounds ordi- narily sold, the smallest packet making 1'oiirteen break- fast cubs of strong Coeon.
I ODDS AXD ENDS. ..--,"-",....--------,--------.---""-----'-"'-------
I ODDS AXD ENDS. An Upper Flat-An aristocratic noodle. A good meal for a fast man—Hasty pudding. Next to clear conshience for solid tumfort cumg an old shu. Fritz has named his dog Non Secjuitur, becausa it does not follow. Solomon was the first man who wanted to part the heir in the middle. Onions fourteen inches round the waist are said to be raised in Minnesota. If « iellow goes skating for the first time he can never tail what 's going to turn up. The clock strikes without stopping work. This keeps the hands employed, and enables them to go on tick. To remove superfluous hair-Send vour well- filled mattresses to be done un bv a cheap upholsterer. A robber who was seized for stealing snuff ssad ihat tic was not aware of any law that forbade a man taking snuff. The t has succeeded in maintaining absolut e s lxion. chy. But he is afraid to come out and see how n is getting alone. Josh Ivli.ngs has invented a pocket jack-boot. i ou pl." your foot in your pocket, give a spring in the air. and off comes your boot. V hen a bee is humming about vou on a sharp key he means mischief, &Uù you should just make a bee flat of him with anything handy. The difference between a man who digs in the ground and one who digs in books is the iormer uigs for hire and the latter for lore. It seems that competition has forced the price ot talse teeth down so low that it isn't really worth a body s while to cut, his natural ones. Freshman « Wajer, what time is it. please Waiter— Je ne 8aIS pas, m'sier." Freshman— Oh, is jt as late as that ? I promised to be hoIDt. before ten. An inquiring man thrust his finger into a horsed mouth to see how many teeth it had, and the horst, closed its mouth to see how manv fingers the man had. The cunositv of each was fullvsatisfied. In struggling to make a dull bov understand what conscience is, a teacher finally asked, What makes you feel uncomfortable after you have done wrong y Father's leather strap," FEELINGLY replied the boy. The Lord lovcth a cheerful giver," but there's no use in chucking three coppers into a contribu- tion-box loud enough to make the folks on the back seat think the communion service has tumbled off the altar. A sarcastic Georgia editor, in noticing n fair wnicn recently came off in Macon. savs:—One of our contemporaries took a very valuable premium, but a resolute policeman made him put it where he took it from. A Bad-tempered Man.—He had lost his knife. and they asked him the usual question Do you now where you lost it ?" Yes, yes," he replied." of course I do. I'm merely hunting in these other places for it to kill time." Wh;?n vou Sec a fruit-peeling on the •■idc-wtiik push it off into the gutr it will not take long, and there is no telling but that the first person tobe disabled by it if it remains there may be » poor man who owes you monov. Amanthe." he murmured with pathos in his voice, why do you quiver at my touch? Why do you shrink from mv embrace as the startled fawn trembles at the rustling of the autumn leaves ?" "I've been vaccinated." she said. I A small boy testified in an American justices* court that the affray took place on a Sunday. "How do you know it was Sunday ?" '• Bedause that I day 1 had to go to the back door of the beershop to get beer instead of the front door." A miller fell asleep in his mill, and bent forward till his liair got in some of the machinery and almost 2 handful was pulled out. Of course it awakened him. His first bewildered exclamatioa was, Hang it, wife, what's the matter now ?" Do. for gracious sake, waiter, take those nut- crackers over to that ni;in," exclaimed a nervous old lady sitting opposite n parry who was cracking nuts with his. teeth. '■ thank you. he said, politely returning them;" mine 'arc not false teeth." "o," said the gilded youth of the lady to whom, he is dryoted she isn't suh a remarkably charw- ing girl I don't care so much for her on that account. Hut th2r,"s the pleasure of knowing that I'm keep- ing her from six or seven other fellows who adore her. It's grea t An Irish doctor recently reproved a friend foi his too liberal use of absinthe. Bah said the latter. drunk of it since 1 was a bov, and I'm sixty." Very likeJy," replied the doctor" but if you had never drunk of it, perhaps you would now be seventy." "I see the constitution rights of the pepple being trampled on by the mailed hand of authority'" exclaimed an Irish agitator the other day to the people of Tralee. Afterwards he exhorted land- iordlism to take off its wrinkled skin, and breathe out its detestable life. Scene—Sixteenth century ruin. Two Paisley "bodies" are standing in admiration before it. First "body": "That's simply grand," Second "body" '• It's a' that, man, whaur d'ye see a ruin o' the nineteenth century like that First "body Whaur, indeed When your wife asks you to post a letter to her mother inviting her to visit her in a week. èarr the letter in your pocket for a month, a.nd post it without putting any stamp on. This will ensures clear conscience, as you posted the letter, and H ensure a glad heart, as your mother-in-law will not arrive. The father of the family examines his watch witl' perplexity. I can't understand, my lovec" hf says to his wife, "what's wrong with this watch, I suppose it wants to be claned." Oh. no, pa,' replies one of his olive branches," it can.t be dirty for baby and I were scrubbing it all the morning in the bath-tub with the hair brush, and we used plenty of soap." During a trial for assault in Arkansas, a club, a rail, an axe-handie, a knife, and a shot-gun wera exhibited as "the instruments with which the deed was done." It was also shown that the assaulted man defended hiuioelt with a revolver, a scythe a pitch- fork, a chisel, a. handsaw and a dog. The jury decided that they'd have given a dollar apiece to have seen the fight At the time when milk was generally adulterated, a ruilkman delivered the usual quantity of so- calied milk one morning to a new customer, and I was met with the accusation, found the milk composed of about half water." The milkman uttered an apology of some sort., and hurried away. Next morning the customer looked very serious, and said. "I found the milk you left yesterday had a great deal of chalk in it." The man tried to look astonished, and went away saying he would see about it. Next morning his customer met him with, I found the milk you left yesterday largely composed of some earthy matter." "See here," said the man, and he closed his can what sort of family are your" I've given you three kinds of milk in as many days, and yet you are no nearer being satisfied than at first. I've only got one morekind; and, if you find fault with that, you'll have to get a new milkman." A debating society out in Michigan had lately submitted for discussion the subject—"Do*s the world go round, or dOf" it not?" The chairman b remarked that he did not propose it because there was any doubt on the subject, but to fetch out the orators. After the first speaker had occupied about ten minutes in the discussion, he sat dnwn, and was succeeded by one of the lights tnwn. who delivered himself thus If the world was round, it wouldn't be reg'lar and even as it is After you'd travelled a little ways, you'd begin to slide, and slide, and bimebye tumble of at the- edge if you didn't a hold on something to hold on by. And then they talk of sailing round the world I Why, if the world was round, and went round as they say it. did, the capting'd have nothing to do but to tie his ship to IS Iree. and it'd go round of itself My opponent has asked, li the world does not go round, how does the sun git round to the rigiit j place again T In answer, for a very plain reason, it's go dark yon can't see it." Time said the chairman, and the young man sat down; and it wa several minutes bdore he recovered from the sudden shock his imagination had experienced. A gentleman who was standing in front of tha Opera House, in New York, was approached by a. tramp who seemed to have tears in his eyes as he said, Say, mister, my wife is dying, a.nd I want to get 25 cents to buy some medicine." Before any answer could be made a second tramp cama from the other direction and halted, and asked, Say, mister, can't you lend me a quarter ? I've got to get something for my cough, or I'll be dead before MOW flies." Here you arc—one wants a quarter to save his dying wifctand the other wants a quarter to cure his cough. Now, what shall I do about it y Is your cough very ba.d asked tramp No. 1 of No. 2. T-i errible coughed No. 2 in reply. "Well, there's nothing mean about me," continued No. 1. Tiiis is my second wife, a.nd no great shakes at that, and maybe the medicine wouldn't help her any. waive all claims and he may hand you the quarter." Oh, I c-couldn't t-think of it," coughed the other. Maybe I'll get over this, while your p-poor wife certainly needs medicine." Well, here's a quarter for each of you." eaid the citizen as he witnessed their un. selfishness and while he halted on the next corner to tell a friend that the worid was growing better, the two philanthropists halted on a block the other way to play pigeon-hole for the drinks. No. sir! I should say you didn't. You come into this car and force yourself on the attention of a stranger, and begin to talk to me about the weather. jus* as though you owned it, and 1 find you don't know a solitary thing about the matter vourseif selected for your topic of conversation; you don't know one thing about meteorological conditions, I principles or phenomena you can't, tell me whv it is warm in August ana cold in December; you don't know why icicles form faster in the sunlight, than they do in the shade vou don't know why the earth grows colder as it comc-s nearer the sun: you can't tell-why aman can be sun-struck in the shade; you can't tell me how a cyclone is formed, nor how the trade winds blow vou couldn't find the calm centre of a storm if your life depended on it: you don't know what a sirocco is nor where the south- west monsoon blows; you don't know the average rainfall in the United States for the past and current year you don't understand the formation of fog. and you can't explain why the dew tal¡ *-t night and dries up in th day you don' know why a wind dries the ground more quickly than ahot sun, you don't know one solitary thing about the weather, and you arc just like a thousand and one other people who always begin talking about the weather because they don't know anything else, when, by the caves of Boreas, sir, they know less about the weather than they do about anything else in the world And the man in the corner glared up and down at the timid passengers in th* South-hill car, but no ma.n durst ever answer him And a., for the man in thin clothes, he didn't know for the life of him whether he had a sunstroke or an ague chill. He only knew that it seemed about twentv-seren miles to the Jefferson-street crossing.