Pontypool Free Press and Herald of the Hills

TO A WOOLLEN DOLL. Ah Joey, ancient friend of mine, 'Tis years indeed, since last we met; But, 'spite the knocks and rubs of time, Thy limbs are perfect yet: Scarlet thy cheek, and still unchanged Thy locks of jet. That smile, too! Ah, that I could smile As thou hast done, thro' foul and fair. Those woollen legs unbreakable! That shock of hair! Thy tiny nose! thy one bland eye Of earthenware! All this I see; but more than this: For in the mem'ry. as I gaze, Arise the thoughts of other times— The happiness of other days. Strange, the droll features of a doll A tear should raise! But, Joey, I'll not envy thee; Thou feelest nought of earthly woes— No human pain. But where the gain? Thy breast no pleasure knows. Forgotten is the envious thorn When plucked the rose. H. S.

BREES TON HALL. BY "LIONEL." CHAPTER V. Oh, Love, requited love, how fine thy thrills, That shake the trembling flame with ecstacy; Ev'n every vein celestial pleasure fills, And inexpressive bliss is in each sigh. Her virtues, graced with external gifts, Do breed love's settled passions in my heart. AT no great distance from the lodge-gates of Breeston Hall there stood a small but pretty house, known by the name of H The Cottage," whose gently-sloping lawn extended to the full- grown hedge skirting the roadside. For a long time the cottage had been tenanted by an elderly maiden lady, whose brother had for many years been steward to the Baronet. About the time that Arthur Egmont proceed- ed to the University of Camford, Mrs Oaklands suddenly died, and the house remained for some time untenanted. At last two strangers took up their abode at The Cottage." Vague rumours were afloat amongst the lady gossips of the village concerning them. Many were the expressions of opinion uttered over cheerful steaming cups of tea; but none seemed to know whence they came or why they came to so se- cluded a spot. The new inmates consisted of two Italian ladies—a widowed mother and an only daughter. Signora Grazziani had recently lost her hus- band, who had been an officer in the army. A comfortable competency had been left her, with which she sought to bring up her daughter in such a way as should make her life good, use- ful, and happy. Sorrow had not made her forget what was required of her to make her life truly noble and useful. She did not suffer her mind to become selfish; she allowed not the sympathies of her heart to become con- tracted. No She felt an interest in the earthly woes of others. She loved to do good; nor were the humbler villagers round her slow to perceive this fine trait in her character. They showed their gratitude in many little but pleasing ways the bonnic little village lasses would bring round to the cottage tokens of love in the shape of bunches of wild flowers, with other acceptable gifts. When, then, Arthur Egmont came down from Camford to spend the Long Vacation, it was only natural that they, who had become objects of interest to others, should be- come objects of interest to the young heir. He was not long finding his way to the cottage, where he became a constant and welcome visi- tor. From the first interview, a mutual friend- ship sprang up between the three. There was something in Signora Grazziani's face—a face bearing traces of deep sorrow—which greatly interested him; whilst he could not but admire the grace and simplicity of the gentle Italian maiden. One could not observe the tender looks of the mother, as she fondly watched her daughter's every movement, without feeling that her whole life was wrapped up in her. As she, from time to time, gazed upon her daughter, her eyes would lighten up with admiration. Indeed, she had reason to be proud of her, for Margherita Grazziani was as pure and good as she was beautiful. As time passed on in its rapid flight, the friendship of these two young beings ripened into love. How happy they were in those days of joyous youth, free from the harassing cares of life's hard and protracted struggle How noble and lovely each appeared as they walked to and fro along the lawn, in the cool of the summer evenings, in that Long Yacation How little they recked of the future heartaches and heavy trials which were to be endured! In her you saw one upon whom Nature had lavishly bestowed her fairest gifts. Her face was of a rich and dark complexion, with delicately- formed features; her peerless black eyes, large and expressive, whenever their H lids with jetty fringe were raised, shone with the bril- liancy of a. diamond; her jet black hair fell loosely around her stately neck in long and wavy tresses; her form and step might have belonged to a Diana. In her you might have perceived something of the beauty which were found so conspicuous in an Amy Robsart or an unfortunate Mary, Queen of Scots. In Arthur Egmont, you saw one with a tall frame, full of physical vigour. You read in his face candour, intelligence, and honour. You at once judged him to be one of Nature's true gentlemen, and felt that, apart from the privi- ledges of his position in life, he would still have towered far above the heads of vast num- bers of his fellow-mortals. It was impossible that two such beings, having tastes in common, should pass so much of their time in close communion without mu- tual attachment growing into that most mys- terious and yet sweetest of passions—true love! Cynics and misanthropists may ridicule tha thought of love They may contemptuously affirm that there is no such thing in the world. But they may scarcely be said to rank among human beings. They are to be pitied. They have yet to learn that love is the highest beam of divinity which has ever shone upon man That Long Vacation of Arthur Egmont quickly and happily passed away in the society of Margherita Grazziani. They walked, they talked, and rode together. Often they would return to The Cottage," looking the very picture of happiness, after some exhilarating canter over the soft green turf. In-doors, the hours passed together never seemed wearisome, for in the comfortable sitting-room of The Cottage," they could always find the means of enjoyment. Some favourite author or poet would, for a time, occupy their attention, from which they would turn to music—of which both were fond. Arthur would sit at the maiden's feet when she took up her favourite guitar; and, as she produced the beautiful strains of some well-known air of her native land, a strong feel- ing of delight would steal across his soul. And, when after her rich and melodious voice had warbled some long-remembered song, she would allow her guitar to hang carelessly by her side, whilst she gazed admiringly into his upturned face, she did, indeed, appear as Love's young dream." The time came for Arthur to return to Cam- ford, which seat of learning he would shortly leave for ever. When at last he left Alma Mater he stood high in the list of honours-men. He could feel that his college career had not been a blank. Sir Charles and Lady Egmont gave him a hearty welcome when he reached Breeston, on finally leaving the University, whilst Marghe- rita felt no less interest in her lover's success. Still he was far from happy. His mind was ill at ease, for he feared serious opposition from his father whenever he should make known to him the position in which he stood towards the Italian maiden. The more he thought of such a declaration the greater the difficulty | seemed to be, whilst in his mind he suffered keenly. o s o n 0 How great is the power of the mind upon the body It may either prostrate it with disease or restore it to health. A word or a look may prolong life, whilst words and looks may, and have, hastened death. By grief the faculties are paralysed, the face becomes wrinkled, and the eyes become dull. Whilst "Hope deferred maketh the heartsick," love and hope fill the soul and body with ener- gy and power. Men feel life's struggle to be so hard, their weaknesses so great, and their crosses so heavy, that even the most helpless of crip- ples and the most morose of men pause and for- get themselves while they watch the playfulness and listen to the cheerful shouts of innocent children. o 4 0 0 0 0 At last the suspense of the young heir be- came unbearable, and he resolved to seize the first chance which might happen,of speaking in private to the Baronet, concerning the being upon whom his strongest and truest affection had been centered. Nor had he long to wait before an opportunity presented itself, and he found himself alone with his father in the library. None outside that room ever knew what passed between father and son during those two hours they were together but there were those of the servants who, in after life, spoke of having heard high-sounding words as they passed by the door, as of men in a passion. From that meeting there was an enstrangement between the two, each parting with feelings of anger. And why, it may be asked, should such a rupture take place? We may tell the inquisi- tive reader that, though the Baronet had much to raise hitu in the good opinion of all who knew him, he had also a weakness which often warps the judgment of men, and leads them at times to make foolish TT cssive fondr auJ was too apt to mb. w uy the length of his pedigree but the age in which he lived may have caused, in no little degree, this great partiality, for caste then prevailed to a far greater extent than in these modern days. But we would not declaim against rank and distinction, for when they are accompanied by character they ensure an easy passport amongst the galaxy of the distingues of our land. We simply protest against those who, possessing good birth alone, needlessly parade it before those of humbler origin for this can only be looked upon as a cowardly way of asserting one's superiority. As the Baronet heard from his son's lips the story of the fatherless maiden of a sunnier clime, he was deeply mortified, whilst his bosom swelled with anger at his son's choice of a wife. He saw little to commend her in his esti- mation, and in that of the grandees of high life. With little pretentions to birth, with equally small claims to wealth, and quite unknown to those around her, save for her goodness and many acts of kindness, her qualifications were inadequate to meet the demands of so august a personage as Sir Charles Egmont. He had an ambitious spirit, and had long and anxiously looked forward to the time when his son and heir should make the acquaintance of,afterwards form an atachment for,and ultimately marry the only daughter of a deceased baronet, who had resided in a distant part of the county, in which she was the richest heiress. She was a ward of Lord Skeffington, then possessing great influence at Court. Sir Charles had fondly hoped that nothing would arise to prevent the realisation of his expectations, and when he dis- covered how strongly bent his son wasoncarry- ing out his intentions regarding the idol of his heart, his ire became aroused, and he expressed a wish that his son would never again intro- duce that subject of conversation in his presence. He felt that all his hopes were dashed to the ground, and merely through what he deemed the foolish, sentimental, and rash conduct of one unskilled in worldly-wisdom's ways. Tho' a sweetly simple, natural, and blushing young maiden have the noblest mind, the rarest beauty, and be as pure as an angel in heaven, yet these qualifications are not suffici- ent for one who possesses a perverted judgment and looks with distorted sight upon that which ever ought to be held most sacred—the union of hearts, on which depends to so great a degree their eternal destiny. Oh ye austere and senseless fathers, how many sons and daughters have ye bartered away for filthy lucre and position in the world How oft have ye acted selfishly in seeking to add to your own happiness in life at the sacri- fice of the tenderest feelings of your own flesh and blood How meny hopes of faithful lovers have ye for ever blighted through your efforts to form grand alliances How many lives have ye blasted and made miserable through your blind and infatuated policy in bringing toge- ther those who could never respect, much less love, each other. It has been said that mar- riages are made in heaven but have we not felt that too often they savour of that place which we are taught to believe is the reverse to an abode of bliss. The conduct of many worldly-minded and scheming fathers and ex- cxedingly precise mammas, may justly be com- pared with that of the Scribes and Pharisees, who paid tithe of mint, anise, and cummin, but yet omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith. It is true that many parents lay claim to refinement of mind It is true that they profess a belief in a strict code of morality 1 It is true that their feelings of propriety are outraged by,& thattheyjhold up their hands in virtuous indignation at, the bare mention of any union of hearts effected by other means than those set forth by the law of the Church and the land But they seem to lose sight of the holy principles by which true marriage can alone be ratified. If those who take this most solemn and important step in life are actuated by other feelings than those of love, surely we are right in declaring that, strictly speaking, such marriages are null and void in the sight of Heaven. Those who simply make" marriage a convenience" may carp at such a declaration. They may aver that such an assertion is ill-adapted to the present age of progress. These would do well to consider that true principles are subject to no change. It would be well for them to remember that the conduct of a man who acts upon principle will ever bear scrutiny, and prove shch as no storm can shake. (To be continued).

A TALE OF REVENGE. BY H. L. S. "Ah, he was a queer old coon, old Dr McGin- nister was," said my next door neighbour Fisher, knocking out his pipe-ash against our mutual garden fencing; "a reg'lar old coon. Mel be you knowed him but there course you didn't. Left 'fore you come. Ha! Here Mr Fisher laughed in a private and retrospective manner, as if awaiting further question. How was he a coon, Mr Fisher?" I asked, for Mr Fisher's language, like that of the majority of his countrymen, abounded in vigor- ous metaphor. Look here," bereplied with cheerful alacrity, I'll climb over." He did so, and seated him- self in the chair which I had just vacated. "By a coon, Mr Spencer," ho continued, "I mean he was offish-like, cnr'us, got all sorts of notions about things, contrairy Eccentric I suggested. Wall, no, not 'zactly that, now but kinder peculiar. Ever heard of hersowerkop ?" Her what! Mr Fisher ?" Hersowerkop." "I thought you were speaking of the doctor. You said her sowerkop." Wall, thet's so." But you didn't mention any lady, Mr Fisher." Course not. Why should I ?" A pauso ensued. Hersowerkop," said Fisher, with emphatic deliberation, was a German." "Oh, I see!" Ah, wall, thet's right," he answered, evi- dently surprised at the levity of the interrup- tion. Wall, I'm jest about goin' to tell you a little anecdote as happened between the two of 'em. Square truth, you know, an' no fancy fixens for me. Thet's my sort." Having thus possessed himself of the posi- tion, Mr Fisher refreshed himself awhile with vigorous expectoration, pocketed the pipe, and instantly burst forth into the following wild and romantic narrative :— Old McGinnister wasn't what you'd call a real doctor; not in the docterin' line any way, but a sorter doctor o' learnin', with a D.L. after his name, an' a bald head, and a pair o' gold gogs over his nose. Quite a small little chap, too, but most awful clever leastways they all said so, and some of 'em's bound to be right. Writ books, you know, about logic and ph'lo- sophy and sechlike. I sed he was peculiar. Wall, the most peculiar thing about the Doctor was this yer—he couldn't stand no manner of noise. Dr Don said he'd got somethin' on his brain, irritation, or nerves, or somethin'wrong, and he must keep quiet and take care of himsef. Why, he changed houses three times 'fore he'd bin here more'n two months. Took the furst of Finises' round by the post-office with the wood bliuds up. Turned out in a week. Couldn't stand the traffic. Said it was the small noises bothered him worse'n the big uns. Then he went to one of Smith's Villas, back of the Tren- ton Road, an' when he'd got the things in an' was beginning to feel quiet and comfortable, Barnes' rooster began screamin' next door but one, and set the old man off jest as mad as could be. So the Doctor he writ a letter to Barnes an' asked him to kill that rooster, as he couldn't get any rest. Barnes said he could n't think of it. Bird cost him twenty dollars at the show, an' not likely he was going to kill him for nothin'. So McGinnister bought him— gave twenty-two for him, and got him home and banged him with a club. Then Murphy, next door the other side, got a fowl, quite by accident, an' old boy rushed round an' bought him off-hand in a state of despair. Gave Mur- phy fourteen dollars. Murphy said his was a prize bird, too, an' then he dragged it away and twisted its neck. Wall, now, its a most curious thing, but, you know, Murphy's bird was hardly gone when old Mully comes out with a smile on his face, and begins to raise a fowl-house at the bottom of his garden. Old McGinnister was round at once. Mully said he was sorry, very sorry but it happened he'd been to Tren- ton and bought some fine birds—prize birds, you understand, Mr Spencer—and he could not af give 'em av ay. If M McCinnister cared for them, he should have the lot for seventy-four dollars and a half, fixens encluded. Then McGinnister got awful wild, and he writ to the Herald about noisy neighbours and nui- sances and disgraces to society, and so on, and put his name to it quite bold and defiant-like. Old Mully was a bit of a wag, you know, & be- side that he was disappointed in the prize-bird speculation, so he put in another letter, all calm and polite, and he said no doubt the Doctor was a learned man, but he had overlooked one pint; that if he couldn't get his neighbours to slaugh- ter their prize-poultry for his convenience, he was quite at liberty to slaughter himself, and thus confer an equal advantage upon himself and his neighbours. When the Doctor read this, he jest packed up and quit, and come over here to this place as scared as an old torn cat with a tin of pebbles on his tail. Wall, he seemed pretty well off here, for my place was for rent and no other for some way around. He fixed up a study— lemme se, that'll be your smokeroom now, I guess—an' there he'd shut himself up all day, with his books o' ph'losopby and things, an' scratch away quite joyful to think he'd, so to speak, got the bulge on that prize-poultry nui- sance, an' seen his troubles through. Wall, now, ef you was to read this yer story in a book, its likely you'd scarce credit it; but there's things happen more curiouser out of books than in 'em—any way, that's what I say. You'd scarce believe that in about a fortnight's time there comes a tallyman with long hair along with the agent, goes over the other house —mine, you know—says do, pays in ad- vance, fixes his furniture, and sticks a brass plate on the door with these words cut on it— HErm SOWERKOP, PROFESSOR OF MUSIC, (VOCAL & INSTRUMENTAL.) When the Doctor crept round and read this door-plate, it was too much for him it curdled the milk of human kindness, so to speak, and all his logic an' ph'losophy quit in a wonderful short space of time but when the Professor got his pianner and ran it up agen the other side of McGinnister's writin' room, an' began to rush his fingers along it for five hours in the day re- g'lar, the Doctor wiped his perspirin' brow and began to look about for a defensive weapon. Better give him a chance tho', thought McGin- nister—a fair chance—an' he writ a letter say- ing as the pianner was perhaps the finest instru- ment he knew of, but that he'd feel deeply obliged if the Professor could allow him two clear mornins for writin'. If this couldn't be done, he'd thank him to confine his rheumatic exercises to his own side of the wall. Then Sowerkop writ back that a man could do what ho liked in his own house, and he did not see why the Doctor couldn't write while he was practising so long as he didn't mind practisin' while the Doctor was writin'. Then old McGin- nister wiped his pen, put his books and papers by, hired a man with a hand-cart, jammed his hat on his head, and marched off to town with a cur'us smile on his countenance. He rousted about all the morning thro' the small streets and dirty districts, till he found a dusty-looking broker's store, and he stopped the hand-cart and stepped in. I want an organ—a hand-organ," said the Doctor, in a fierce and terrible accent. "A band-organ, sir?" said the storekeeper. A hand-organ," said McGinnister, an old hand-organ—a bad one—a sorter crippled organ with plenty of devilry inside of it, you under- stand—a kinder disreputable hand-organ, that's what I want." I've got an article here," said the man, lead- ing the Doctor into a sorter lumber room— bought it off a man in the grindin' line. Said he'd had enough of it, and thought he'd take to burglary in preference." Rush it out," said McGinnister. So they propped it up, and turned the handle. That'll do," said the old man, with a reckless laugh. So be bought it, and carted it off to the scene of action. When they got home, about dusk, he set it in the garden and disinfected it with a waterin' can. Then the two of 'em, him and the nigger, hoisted it up-stairs into the writin' room, and planted it close agen the wall. That evenin' the Professor had a little musi. cal party, & the pianner was goin' in fine form. Now then," shouted McGinnister, "a man may do what he likes in his own house, yon wooden- headed old ruffian j" an' he shook one fist at the wall, and set to work with the handle. Then he'd stop awhile, and listen with his ear at the wall. There was an uproar in the Professor's drawing-room somebody was beatin' the fire- irons agenst the wall. Still old McGinnister ground at his organ, and when his arm grew weak the black man took his place and went ahead with real goodwill. In a short time the guests cleared away, and the door of the Pro- fessor's bed-room was heard to close with a bang. Gone to bed, has he," said the Doctor, with a ruthless smile. Here, Joseph, help me with this machine upstairs." Then they dragged it up to the Doctor's bed-room, and set it up agen the wall. Sowerkop's bed-room joined McGinnister's, you see, just the same as the music-room. And then they set to work afresh. And all through the night at times that poor old Dr. McGinnister would rise up out of his bed and grind out all about the Two Oba- diahs," and What is the us eof repinin' and the Old Hundredth," and "Yankee Doodle," and half-a-dozen other engagin' old melodies an' on the other side of the wall theProfessor was buryiu' his head under the pillows, an' cussin' an' groanin', an' kickin' his legs in the air. Golly you never see such high old times as those were, I reckon I Wall, next mornin' they had that organ down into the study betimes, and the Doctor got in an extra hand to help at the turnin'; and all day the pianner was goin' one side and the organ on the other, and people stood out in the road an' wondered what on airth could have come to old McGinnister, and where in the name of thunder all the noise was comin' from. And so it went on for 'bout a week, and when Sunday come round McGinnister laid on the "Old Hundredth' at express speed. But o' course this sorter thing couldn't go on for ever, you see, so McGinnister writ a letter and said he was willin' to recog- nise the fact that a man's house was his castle and all that, and did the Professor see bis way clear to oblige him with two clear mornins in the week? But Sowerkop writ back to say he considered the doctor a monkey, a pig, and also an Irishmanthieforganman, an' if the Doctor should go from within his bouse out then would he take the pleasure that he shall punch to him the nose, pull to him the ear, and box to him the bleckeye. So McGinnister shouldered his um- brella and strode out into the road. Then came the Professor jest the colour of a tomater with fury. He approached up to McGinnister with his fingers stretched out as if he wanted to claw somethin', and at the same time he exclaimed, with a wild shriek, Ireeshmanteeforgan- grend-r-r-r Heugh You durns mit dat teufel inschdrument. Hegh! You ooms hieransdat I shell pe praten. Hegh? Peeg! govaymit- you and he flung his long arms around like a windmill. Now this was too much for the Doctor, so he viewed at him a moment, and then he walked up to him and broke three ribs of his umbrella again his shin. You cur," yelled old McGinnister, "you sneakin' cur, git back to your kennel, or I'll jerk your head off I" Then, with a final effort, he introduced his top hat into the centre of the Professor's person, and bntted In in wildly again the garden railings. As the Professor didn't seem inclined to make any further remark, McGinnister proudly shoul- dered his umbrella, walked bact, slammed his door, and struck up the Old Hundredth" in honour of victory. Next mornin' came a sntnmois for assault McGinnister replied with a crots-summons for thaeats and abusive language, and many crowded into the court, you bet, for you see it was a funny business, and old Pitnan was jedged to be quite as good as a theatre whenever the laugh came in. But just before the case some on Sowerkop's solicitor whispered with MjGinnister, a sorter composition was made, and the summonses withdrawn for you see it wouldn't have bin hardly respectable for professional men to have got fined for butting one another about the pub- lic road, however jest the cause or weighty the grievance. But after all there was a hitch somewheres peace was male, you understand, but without conditions. So when these weary men got home again, instead of having made any sorter compromise between the pursuits of music and litterature, Sowerkop's pianner began to rattle as it had done before, and old McGin- nister again ground his miserable organ. But it was too much for the Doctor. Brought on the brain business agen. Dr. Don said he must go away somewhere keep quiet. So the old man packed uy ot out of it, and bought a house a few ".A.v<.lT. of New York. Sowerkop found we'd had just about plenty of his infernal old pianner around here for some time, so he went off as well. Dessay if old McGinnister dont look out Sowerkop will get that pianner against iis study wall again. Queer story, aint it ? Vail, suppose I must go. Drop into my place whtn you like. Got plenty more of 'em I can tell pou. Ever hear of old Jedge Pitman's patent wig fastener?" "No, Mr Fisher," I replied, for it was getting dark and chilly. Ah, a good one now. Old Jedge Pitman," said tin voluble Fisher, climb- ing over the railing, was a fightin' man, you know. Don't suppose here was any man 'bout here could match him, any way." Here, by great good fortune, Fisher caught his trousers in the fence and fell over on the other side. Seizing the occasion, I bade him good night and suddenlyretired.

WIT AND HUMOUR. A BIRD with a broken wiig is in soar distress. MOTTO FOR BAKERS.—Dare to dough right. GOOD doctors are liable to be rapped up in their business. WHAT is the greatest curiosity in the world?—A woman's. ONE never ex pects to lighi his cigar with a swim- ming-match. 'Tis little trouble to brew beer; but beer brews much trouble. WHAT is taken from you before jouget it?—Your portrait. WHAT do the sailors do with the knots the ship makes a day ? The moquitos evidently regard traasfusion of blood as a success. IN a fight, take your friend's part, at a feast, let him have it himself. BULLETS can sing and whistle, 1u they are not pleasant musicians. WHEN there is a Count about, muriageable-girls want to be counted in. Ix a naval battle the work of death's scythe is often best done by a rake. 'Tis better to go on foot than to always ride on a horse behind someone else. IF you want to be suited, go to a tailor if you. want to be non-suited, go to law. IT is fortunate for a country when its men of prin- ciple are not its principal men. IF a scolding J'NMG WIFO :1 ill, she PUIGOXURY to her husband—if in healtn, a bride well. IT is comforting forthe prematurely gray to reflect ihat whom the gods love dye young.' NEVER take a nap in a railroad carriage. Why?— Because the train always runs over sleepers. THE pigeon is the best bird for a carrier, butwhen it comes to a carrion the crow can beat that. THREE feet make a yard, very true but two reet unmake it mighty quick, providing they are hen's feet. THE young man who prides himself upon look- ing spruce should bear in mind that the spruce is ver gieen. DRESS makes a man presentable in society, but it takes considerable address to ensure his popu- larity. IF a lawyer is in danger of starving in a small town or village, he invites another, and both thrive. GENERALLY the office-seeker who gets nothing jets what is good for him, and exactly what he is good for. IF a lady's sottish husband is scolding her, let her tie a flour-bag over his head,and he will get mealy- mouthed. A YOUNG poetess pathetically inquires, Can love die? We don't think it can, but it is occasionally love-sick. WE don't suppose the man lives who can tell whether Mother Eve stubbed her toe or stepped on her dress when she fell. AN Ithaca little girl, attempting to describe an elephant, spoke of it at being that thing what kicks up with its nose.' IF a man talks insolently to you under the plea of candour, you may knock him down under a plea of an infirmity of temper. THE oldest paper in Kansas is thirteen years of age, and the editor has been shot so many times that his wife utilizes him as a sieve. HAVE you a mother-in-law?' asked a man of a disconsolate-looking person.—' No,' he replied;' but I have a father in gaol.' WE have heard of an Irishman who enlisted in the Seventy-fifth Regiment, so as to be near his brother who was in the Seventy-fourth. A PREACHER should not have a beam in his eye but, if he looks around him in his sermon, he will be sure to have a good many sleepers in it. THE man whom you saved from drowning, and the man who never pays you what he owes, you may consider as alike indebted to you for life. THE young lady who rushes between her duelling lovers, just as they are about to fire, shows as good care of her own safety as she doe\ theirs.

FROM PONTYPOOL TO CALCUTTA BY THE REV. T. R. EDWARDS, (Late Student of Pontypool College.) OCTOBER 29th.-This morning came as usual, with its bright, warm sunshine, its cool, fragrant breezes, and its heaving, flashing waves. It came finding us all alive with excitement, and indulging in joyful anticipations for we knew that at about 12 o'clock we should arrive at Malta, where for the first time since our depar- ture from England we should set our feet on terrafirma. From there, too, we could send our first letters to our friends at home, containing an account of our sea-faring life. So what with letter-writing, preparing to go on shore, and watching eagerly for port, the time passed ra- pidly away. Ere long Sozo, the first of the Maltese Islands, came in view. It presented an uninviting appearance, except where the ste- rility was relieved by large patches of dark green, being either vines or olives. Soon, to our great wonderment, we came across the very spot where the Apostle Paul was shipwrecked. We could scarcely believe our eyes. Can it be that the Apostle gazed upon the very scenes that we gaze upon now ? What time has elapsed since then How all is changed How widespread and powerful the religion he sought to establish has become Do you wonder we felt proud at the thought that we were crossing the same sea that he crossed, and on the same grand mission ? Though feeling weak, as he was weak, yet strengthened by the same God, we humbly hope to imitate him in blessing mankind. And now as we skirted the shore we soon became con- scious that we were rapidly approaching Valetta, the capital of Malta. Glasses were used pretty freely, but all that could be distinctly seen were three bright lights, like flames of fire, with all the colours of the rainbow. Doubtless they were the reflection of the sunlight from the roofs of the houses. We had not long to wait before everything came distinctly to view, like the works of enchantment; and as we steamed up into the harbour the city appeared more like some fairy place than the abode of mortals. All were, without exception, lost in wonder. No ad- jectives, and all in the superlative, would give an adequate idea of the place. The city is built of soft stone, something like our freestone, only whiter; and it rises in terraces one above the other, so that the streets are almost successive flights of steps. The fortifications at the mouth of the harbour were something tremendous. Here and there we could see a giant gun repos- ing like a snail on the white, glittering walls, while high up on the parapets commanding the harbour we could make out the red uniform of the English soldier. No sooner were we in the harbour than we were amazed at the number of boats that quickly gathered around us, some coming to offer, yea rather to fight, for the pri- vilege of conveying us on shore,—others bring- ing all manner of fruits, birds, lace, and orna- ments of every description and variety for sale, and, clambering up the ship's sides like a band of pirates, the owners brought on board their respective merchandise, and commenced a mer- ciless siege upon the purses of the passengers, asking not only twice the value of the articles they offered, but even three or four or five times that amount,—while other boats came laden with fruits aud provisions for the vessel. But one boat in particular amused us it contained two urchins, almost naked, and no sooner were they near enough to make us hear than they commenced crying out in such a queer tone, Trow something down, sir I dive, sir trow something down, sir; be a lady, sir; I dive, sir; fight the fishes, sir." They meant that we should cast a piece of silver into the water, and they would plunge in after it. This, with a little practice, is easily done, on account of the slow descent of the coin and the transparency of the water. Judging from the number of plunges they made, they must have realised a fair sum. By this time the din and confusion on board were beyond description, and we were only too glad to get away into the boats. After a fierce debate with the boatmen about the amount to be paid them for their services, we soon found ourselves skimming swiftly through the har- bour to the landing-place. The number of boats gliding over the harbour greatly delighted us, and they were all painted so prettily, much pret- tier than English boats. When we got on shore we had another fierce wrangle with the guides offering ustheir services; and this over we com- menced our journey, and truly we did feel queer, after our long sailor-life. We wanted the ground to roll and pitch like the vessel, and be- cause it would not we found ourselves assuming a rolling gait, and felt dreadfully clumsy, but we soon got over it. And now we were sur- rounded by excitement of the wildest confusion. Shopmen came rushing upon us, thrusting into our hands tickets of address to their respective shops, where they were prepared to politely pil- fer us. Cabmen came poking themselves right before us, crying out, Here is a carriage, sir ride all the way, sir." Fruitsellers came forcing upon us their delicious, tempting fruit. Match- boys came offering their lights. Beggars came begging, extending their bare shrivelled arms until they almost touched us. And others came with large bunches of flowers of every variety, and of the most delightful perfume. And it was useless to take no notice of them, or refuse to buy they would follow us up until we bought in despair Then add to all this, the rushing to and fro of men shouting and bawling in a lan- guage to us quite unintelligible, and you will have a pretty fair idea of the^cenethat met our view and the noises that confounded us. And now the wonders of Malta broke forth upon us in all their rich profusion. The streets were unlike anything we had ever seen before, rising in successive flights of steps to a very great height. They were narrow enough at the base, but narrower still towards the top of the houses, on account of the windows projecting outwards, so that but very little of the blue sky could be seen above. The ornamentation is profuse. The windows and doors seemed to have been made expressly for exhibiting the skilful and fantas- tic adornment of Maltese architecture. This, together with the general whiteness of the stone of which the city is built, made the bouses beau- tiful to gaze upon. We could have spent hours admiring their beauty, but were hurried on by our guides to the Grand Palace. This massive edifice was formerly the residence of the Grand Master, when the Knights Templars were in possession of the island. Malta belonged to them from the middle ages down to the year 1798, when it was taken from them by the French. It came into our possession in the year 1800. We were courteously admitted and shown over it by one well versed in its history. First of all we ascended a broad flight of marble steps, polished like glass, forming a stately en- trance to the grand room into which we were conducted. The first room we entered was the dining room. Here wealth and art had done their utmost in rendering the room a marvel of magnificence. Around were some of the finest productions of art, paintings of many of the Grand Masters of the Order who had lived there in royal state. There were, too, several paint- ings of French and English monarchs, among which was a splendid one of our most gracious Queen. The furniture, also, was of the most choice and expensive kind. (To be contillucdJ

Savas Pacha, the Present Minister of Foreign Affairs in the Turkish Ministry, was a few years age i physician in practice in Constantinople, in the 3mploy of the Government, and formerly attendant Jn Sir H. Lytton Bulwer when he was amhassadoi there. He displayed good organising powers and was made governor of a province, and from that position has risen to the responsible post which he now holds. The Kolnisclie Zeitung reports a Zulu incident from Prague, where a band of South Africans is being exhibited. While they were passing through a street a boy threw a snowball and struck one of them, whereupon the whole band set off in pursuit of the boy. The pursuers were brought to bay by the police, from whom they received certain sword wounds, which resulted in one or two of them requiring medical treatment. Roman Catholic priests are prohibited from marry- ing. To the surprise, therefore, of the War Office (says the United Service Gazette) an application has been sent in for a pension by the widow of a military chaplain of a Roman Catholic persuasion who recently died! Though opposed to the regulations of the church to which be belonged, in law the marriage is recognisable, and the law officers have reported accordingly. The London cabmen seem to have a considerable number of thirsty souls amongst them. Out of eleven charges for hearing on Friday, at the Marylebone Police Court, five were against cabdrivers for being drunk while employed in tho streets. SubstantIal liuca were imposed in most of the cases

A LICENSING QUESTION. The railway traveller is not uncared for by the Licensiug Acts, but it is in the railway refreshment room that the Legislature intends intoxicating liquor ;0 be sold to him. Thus, by the 45th section of the Licensing Act, 1872, the railway refreshment room is exempted from the provisions which require other licensed premises to be of a certain annual value, and oy the 10th section of the Licensing Act, 1874, "nothing in this Act contained as to hours of closing shall preclude the gale at any time at a railway station jf intoxicating liquors to persons arriving at or departing from such station by railroad." It seems jlear that these saving words will not include the ease of a sale by a seller accompanying the traveller in the railway carriage itself. A nicer question might, however, arise if the sale were made on the railway platform, and in order to ascertain whether this sale is or is not illegal, the license of the keeper of the refreshment room would have to be inspected. If that license contained large general words as to the place of sale, probably th e sale on the platform by tho refreshment room holde r would be protected, butnot otherwise. —Solicitor's Journal.

EXTRAORDINARY OCCURRENCE AT A COTTON MILL. On Monday morning, a remaikable occurrence took place at the Swan Meadow Mills, Wigan, belonging, to Messrs. James Eckersley and Co. (Limited). The gas is turned off separately at each mill and also at the main pipe, but it appears that the supply to the weaving ehed was not stopped at the same time that the main tup was turned off. The gas was turned on at the meter, and the escape was not discovered in the weaving shed until Monday morning. This was not too great to prevent the gas being lighted, and the girls commenced work as usual. Shortly afterwards one of the operatives was seized with a fit, and several others followed suit, about a dozen being affected, and all had to be carried out of the shed. Medical assistance was procured, and the girla promptly recovered. The general opinion was that the girls had been struck down by the gas present in tho shed but the doctor said he failed to trace any effects of gas, and considered that the hysteria was brought on by nervousness and fright on seeing the condition of the first girl, who had previously been under medical treatment for hysterical fits. In proof of this it was stated that one of the operatives, who had been in a different part of the mill, seeing the crowd, rushed to the place to find what was the matter, and, learning the state of affairs, was imme- diately seized with a similar fit. Whatever the cause might h ive been, the affair created no little excite- ment in the neighbourhood of the mills, and work was stopped in the weaving shed for several hours.

ALARMING ACCIDENT AND EXCITING SCENE. An accident by which some thirty or forty men were in imminent danger of being drowned took place on Monday morning, at the new landing-stage which is rapidly approaching completion, at Seacombe. From information which we have been enabled to procure with considerable difficulty, owing to the reticence of those having chaige of the works, it ap- pears that shortly before eight o'clock a gang of seventy or eighty workmen were engaged in letting down the bridge which connects the pontoon bridge with the pier. A large number of the men were working upon the deck of a "camel" or barge, be- longing to the Mersey Docks and Harbour Board, which had been placed under the river end of the bridge as a support. In order to remove the "camel" from underneath the bridge it was necessary that it should be partially sunk, and for this purpose a quantity of water was pumped into its hold. The pumping had been paitly accomplished, when the "camel" suddenly heeled over, and shortly af- terwards sank. A large number of workmen, es- timated at between thirty and forty, were thus pre- cipitated into the water, and a scene of great confusion followed. It was about high water at the time, and the tide carried many of the men towards the centre pier. Some of the man were saved by clinging to the columns of the pier or to logs of floating timber, whilst a few were rescued by means of boats, and others were drawn out of the water by means of ropes and life-buoys which were thrown from the steamtug Hotspur and from the river wall. A number of the men, who appeared to be suffering severely from the effects of the immersion, were taken to the Abbotsford Hotel, where restoratives were applied. We have not been able definitely to ascertain whether any all lives have been lost, but it is supposed that the men who were engaged at the stage have been saved. yYe are informed that directly after the acci- dent a diver was engaged to try to discover if any one had been drowned, and fortunately his search was a fruitless one. No damage has been caused to the bridge or stage.—Mercury.

PAWNBROKERS AND THEIR LIABILITIES' A curious question affecting the liability of pawn- brokers has been raised in a case tried at the county court, before Ur. Collier. Charles Jones, labourer, Wolfe Street, Toxteth Park, sought to recover £ 1 from W. S. Cruickhilnk, pawnbroker, Sussex Street, fnr ih!t.a¥c> "1 tc. hnvo bocn aone to a coat while it was in thi defendant's custody. Mr. Rupert Brunner sppeared for the defence. The plaintiff's case way that he pledged a coat with the defendant. He went to redeem the coat, and took the garment home. On Sunday, when he put his coat on, his Wife said. Oh my, what# s the matter with your coat P" and ■jn examination it was found that it had been moth- paten and much damaged. The plaintiff alleged that this was done while the coat was in defendant's pos- session, and he claimed j61 for the damage thus done. The defence was that duo care was taken of tho oat, and that pepper was sprinkled upon it to pre- vent moths eating it.—His honour said there was a difficulty in these cases, and it was this—that it was impossible for the plaintiff to say that the moth eggs were not in the coat before the garment came into n!6 ?°?ses.8ion of the pawnbroker. It seemed that ndanl had made an offer to make the coat *r T>°Uld advise tbe plaintiff to accept that offer, ilr. Lremner said his client was willing to make that oiler again, provided that it was not taken as a precedent of the liability of pawnbrokers in these cases.—The plaintiff accepted this offer.

SAD AFFAIR NEAR ORMSKIRK. An inquest was held at Aughton, on Monday, on the body of James Bold, thirty years of age, and the evidence adduced the following:—On the 10th November the deceased, who was a clerk in the employ of Messrs. Fryer and Conway, agents 38, Victoria Street, Liverpool, arrived at the Little Moor Hall Farm, which is kept by his cousin, iud stated that he had come to spend a few days. On the following morning he went out with the intention of shooting birds with a six-chambered revolver which he had with him. As he did not appear at dinner time it was supposed that he bad returned to Liverpool. Nothing more waa heard of him until Saturday last, when a boy named William Bold, found him seated at the edge of a pit, covered with snow, and quite dead. He had a re- volver in his hand, and there was a shot wound in his temple, showing that a bullet had entered his head. There is no doubt that deceased had been dead for nearly a fortnight, but the cold weather had tended to keep the body in a good state of preservation. In a letter to his wife—written in pencil in a memo- randum book—which was found upon the body, the deceased makes some reference to difficulties at the office. He had been drinking more or less for the past twelve months, and an empty bottle, which had contained brandy, was found beside him. A verdict was returned to the effect that the deceased had shot himself, but as to the state of his mind at the time there was no evidence to show.

ihe Directors of the North British Railway com- pany have given notice that they intend to reduce the salaries of all clerks in their &nploy by 20 per cent. f orty-eight ot the passengers by tno Arizona, which recently collided on the Atlantic with an ico- bergh, arrived in Liverpool tho other day by the Allan steamer Caspian. They speak in tho highest terms of the conduct of the captain and the officers of the Arizona. Several of the friendly society lodges at Exeter, having about 2,000 members, have wisely amalga- mated for the purpose of securing medical attendance. There were forty candidates for tho post of medical officer, and Dr. Cheese, of Newport, Monmouthshire, was elected.' A horrible crime is reported from Lens, a small commune in the Nord. A thief strangled an old widow lady in her bed, under the eyes of her nephew, a boy ot eight years, who was so terrified that he was un- able to shout for help till the murderer had robbed the place and escaped. PONTYPOOL: Printed by HUGHES &)SON, at their General Printing Offices, for the Proprietor and Publisher, HENRY HUGHES, Junior, of Penygarn, in the parish of Trevethin, and published at the FBEE PRESS Office, Market St.—Nov. 29,1879.

M. Leon Neoh, a landscape paiuter and author, who studied under Charrioux at Brest, has died at the age of 62. The first stone of the Roman Catholic University at Lille was laid on Saturday by Monsignor Lequette, Bishop of Arras. The city o. raftS authorities have just laid down 15,000 yards of telegraphic pipes, by means of which the official hour of Observatory is to be made known in all the kiosques on the Boulevards and principal thoroughfares. The men employed in various branches by tho master builders in Cardiff have received notice that the rules now binding on the two parties arc to be altered. This is supposed to indicate a reduction of the wages of nearly 1,000 men. Light-coloured clothes, tho Lanctt peasonably re- minds us, are best and warmest at this junction of the year. Snow may fall, and cold winds blow but colours approaching to white ought still to bo worn in defiance of mud and smoke. As an alternative to the lately broached scheme for tunnelling Mont Blanc, it is now proposed to con- struct a railway by the Jarentairp and through the Col du Mont, by which it is computed that a saving of seven kilometres might be eliectcd. The earlysnow of this winter has driven tho wolves out of the forests of the Marne. A flock of sheep at Chausson is said to have been entirely devoured by the invaders the other night. The peasants have organised midnight hunting narties to meet tho enemy.

FARMING AND THE CORNTRADE. The Mark Lane Express says—" Recent falls of now have stopped wheat sowing and carting of mangels, but fortunately wheat sowing had made considerable progress. Fears are, however, expressed that in seme districts the prospects of the future crop have been to tome extent jeopardised by the quality of the seed corn, really good samples being difficult to obtain. Mangles are yielding badly, and indeed it may be said of roots generally that about half an average crop will be all that will reward growers this year. In Scotland agricultural affairs are more backward, but every exertion isbeingmade to regain lost time, and if the weather only prove propitious for another fortnight, we may expect to hear of a fair breadth of land under winter crops. Outstanding cereals have now be<.n secured, and by no means of the choicest quality. Supplies of English wheat at the country markets have been on a rather more liberal scale. Dullness has been the prevailing feature in the provincial trade for both wheat and spring corn, a decline of a shilling per quarter having been quoted on the former in many important exchanges. The imports of foreign wheat into London have been unusually heavy."

LONDON CORRESPONDENCE. Tho employment of women in printing offices has given grave offence to the London Society of Compositors. An order has recently been issued by that body forbidding its members to touch work on which women have been employed, or to remain in offices in which they are engaged. The result of this very arbitrary edict has been to throw a number of women out of employment, the only alternative being a strike on the part of the men. # # Depression of trade has touched the lowest rank of all. The metropolitan costermongers are suffering severely. Unable to obtain cheap vegetables for sale, they took to sweets, but it did not pay, and to miscellaneous wares, which the public is not used to buy. Many of them at last have sold their barrows for a song, and gone to other occupations. Of course, this means that the poor cannot buy vegetables at all, which is something more than a serious matter. The death of Mr. Delane, late editor of the Times, is an event of considerable interest in literary, and especially journalistic circles. Mr. Delane took up the work of editing the Thun- derer on the death of his chief, the eccentric Tom Barnes, and undoubtedly he succeeded alone in raising the paper to the position which it held for so many years. Mr. Delane possessed rare administrative skill, and an instinctive capacity for doing the right thing at the right moment. He did not believe in his writers working too hard. Write four days a week, sir," he used to say, in his quaint latter-day manner, and read three read the Times, sir," He was author of the mot d'ordre in Printing House Square that nothing was published until it had appeared in the Times. # I have received a letter from an officer on board the Bacchante, giving an account of the voyage. It describes the weather as beautifully fine in the Mediterranean. The young Princes who look all the better for their cruise, have now got quite accustomed to life on board ship. A fa- vourite amusement of Sprat and Herring is a tug of war, in which Prince George especially is a very good hand. The afternoons are pleas- antly spent in playing lawn tennis on deck, an amusement much affected by the officers. Occa- sionally in the evening there is a concert by the men, at which the officers and the Princes are present. Everybody, adds my correspondent, is looking forward to Christmas, when there are to be theatricals on board. It is now definitely arranged that Piince Victor of Wales should enter the Royal Military College at Woolwich, in May, when the Bacchante concludes her cruise. Mr. Mackonochie again appeals unto Caesar. Hitherto he has defeated Lord Penzance; now he intends to rout him. He has two points against him. Lord Penzance accepted as official the advertisements of 1562. It is very doubtful whether those advertisements ever, received the royal assent; and if they did not, ) the law may tolerate Mr. Mackonochie. At all events he claims, as defendant, to have the benefit of the doubt. But that is not all. Whether he destroys the authority of these advertisements or not—and he cannot prejudge —he believes he can overset Lord Penzanco. With something like a fatality towards blunder- ing, the men who made the arrangements for putting in motion the Public Worship Regu- lation Act committed blunder after blunder, They blundered in the manner of arrang- ing Lord Penzance's appointment. Did they so blunder that he is no judge at all? Mr. Mackonochie's lawyers answer in the affirmative; and it is quite possible that, instead of Lord Penzance suspending Mr. Mackonochie, Mr. Mackonochie will suspend Lord Penzance. Whatever happens will be better than a riot in a church. The Rev. Carr Glyn, vicar of Kensington, is beginning to find out that earnestness and de- votion are clerical virtues not always appreciated by his "dearly beloved brethren of the cloth. He is lessee of a house in Kensington, nearly opposite the barracks. The lessors are the vicar and curate of another London parish. Mr. Glyn has turned the house into a boys' coffee palace. Tea, coffe, and cocoa are supplied to young lads, who sit here quietly reading or playing draughts and dominoes, instead of beating the streets. The work is eminently oiviliaing. Outi you Re- lieve, then, that the dearly beloved brethren aforesaid have begun an action of ejectment against one of the most hardworking of London clergymen because he supplies coffe and has erected a little lift from the kitchen to the coffee room ? If he had stuck to questions of candles, ornaments, and vestments, he would have been free from annoyance; but trying to do some real good in the world, he meets at once with parsonic opposition. One could forgive the publicans for objecting to music in these coffee palaces. The publicans have a vested interest in preventing brightness from being associated with temperance. But that clergymen should be jealous Things are getting lively for certain journal- ists. One who is a disgrace to his trade is already in prison. Another is being charged with libel at Guildhall. A third is being charged with libel at Bow Street. A fourth was on Monday sent to prison. Mr. Mortimer, the proprietor and editor of Figaro, was persuaded by Mrs. Weldon to take up her case. She charged certain well-known doctors with desir- ing illegally to imprison her as a lunatic; and Mr. Mortimer accepted her statement with very little qualification, and denounced the doctors. He denounced also Mr. Weldon and Sir Henry de Bathe for conspiring against a beautiful and accomplished woman. The husband and his friend have taken action, and so effectually that Mr. Mortimer will spend the next three months in prison; his banking account will be reduced £100 by way of fine; and he will have to be especially careful for nine months after his release. This sentence may be regarded as evi- dence that the judges intend henceforth to put their foot down very firmly. There has lately been a kind of epidemic of libel. A warning was necessary. Mr. Mortimer is the unlucky person who has been made the frightful example. # # Another great lady has passed away in the Countess of Montijo. Few people seemed to know that through her the Empress Eugenic boasted of English blood. She was the daughter of an English consul. Her life was full of ad- ventures. At one time she was suspected in Paris, by the very empire which afterwards acknowledged in her an imperial mistress, of being a diplomatic spy. Her doings were in- quired into by the police; she herself was warned to be careful. Then scandal began to whisper about her name. So graceful a mother of so graceful and beautiful a daughter could not, it was thought, be living in such simple poverty without a reason. But it came out at length that nothing was known against her, and we know now that nothing could be said against her. She educated her daughters as few women were educated in those days. The elder married the Duke of Alba, who, had the Jacobites, not died out, would have been their champion. The younger became the companion of the throne and of the exile of Napoleon III. For her the heart bleeds. Her rank taken from her, her husband dead, her son killed in inglo- rious battle away from her, and now her mother dead before she could reach her. Eugenie is truly now alone in the world.