The Montgomery County Times and Shropshire and Mid-Wales Advertiser

xne proprrt-.or oi nie putce uau wen extremely rude and the tourists were indignant. Who is that man, anyhow?" inquired one of tlivin.. Oil. he's the lord of the manor, sir," was the deferential replv. "Lord ill-iiiitiiier, I A-oii mean," said the indignant tourist, and marched out. When a man leaves our side and goes 'to the other side he is a traitor, and we always felt that there was something wrong about him. But when a man leaves the other side and comes over to us then he is a man of great moral courage, and we always felt that he had sterling stuff in him. Miss had a strange dream the other night, Mr..Tones. I dreamed—only think —that you and 1 were livuried and on our wedding tour. You don't know how real it seemed. Did you dnalll the same tl;il) -Nir.. Tciies "No. Miss Oldgirl, I did not; in fact. I haven't had nightmare for a good many years. Mrs. Hayseed: What does this IIwall on your niece's card what lives in th" city?'' Mrs. Meadow: "She said that meant she was at home to her friends on Thursdays." "Only Thursdays?" What does she do with the rest of her time?" "I'm sure I don't know, hut I gue-s. from her ta-k, she spends most of it ill the SC'IT:11,t registry office." A -traveller on the continent, visiting the cathedral of was shown by the sacristan, among other marvels, a dirty opaque glass phial. After eyeing it some time, the traveller said, Do you call this a relic? Why, it is empty." Al I retorted the sacristan, indignantly. "Sir. it contains some of the darkness that Moses spread over the land of Egypt-" A school inspector, having some minutes to spare after examining the school, nut a few que.-ti mis to the lower-form hoys on the common objects in the M-hool-room. "What is the use of that map?" he asked pointing to one stretched across the corner of the room and shrill voices answered, in measured articulations, "rieasc, sir, it's to hide master's bicycle!"

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED BY A LADY JOUIlNAFilST. AN EARLY AUTUMN DRESS. Is the subject of this wepk's illustration, and it is very necessary after the great heat of this wonderful summer, to include in one's wardrobe a simple costume of some light, but sufficiently wa.rm material to prevent one taking cold now when slight frosts sharpen the morning air. Great heat such as we have experienced ever since March- more or less,—renders people very sensitive to the early approach of cold, because having had to acclimatise ourselves to so high a temperature it takes a little time, to go to an opposite extreme without suffering in some way, though this may- be effected if only due care is taken; So 1 give you the design of a pretty little dress, that is as simple as it i.s pretty. Please imagine that you have a pretty grey brown oarmelite. nun's veiling or "mousseline de laine," or any one of those ir r umerable useful textures that come under the Irench name of "lainages." This is made into ,quite a plain skirt, as you see, and I may tell you that at present there will be no change in the shape of the present popular "bell skirt." Tho bor.jce ls simply fulled in front at the neck and waist, and fastened up the side under the butterfly bows. The sleeve has the tight part made entirely- up to the shoulder, in fact. the whole sleeve is chjse-fittirig, with the triple row of deep frills quite separate. This is the latest change in sleeves. The whole dress in banded with satin (or. if preferred, silk) ribbon laid oil quits flatly and terminating, as if tied, in butterfly bows. This ribbon niay be of any colour desirea, but lo mv taste I prefer it in a rather deeper shade of tlie same tint as the material of the dress itself. A PRETTY CAPE Will be very welcome to the summer dresses that we shall be unwilling to discard so long as the leaves 011 the trees remain at all green. The present fashion in Paris is much in favour of moire—black -iioire-capes. But as just evervone cannot go to the expense of such costly material, we in England may reproduce their designs lJ1 less expensive textures. This model will look equally well in- two shades of thin cloth, edged with a plisse of the same. In blaok the upper pointed cape may be_ of velvet, and the under one of cloth with plisse frill, of silk. Or the upper cape may f'- ?m J silk, and the under one of clotn. with frills of plisse satin. The ruff, which is. and has hf'^n all this summer, so very fashionable, is of black gauze. These ruffs give a finish to ar.y costume, or mantle, and are particularly becoming. Another way of reproducing this little cape, which also would make it correspond very prettily with the foregomg dress, might be as follows: Instead t li 1\leated friH let the capes of the material of the dress be bordered with the satin ribbon m three rows round the lower and two round the upper one, and a, row of butterfly bows at intervals down the front and back, this would make a charming toilette. OUR RELATIONS TO OTHERS Is a matter for deep consideration, and yet it is such a common, everydav affair that few people do more than tacitly accept their position towards otners of their acquaintance. Now, there are very few families or assemblies of people wherein may not be found one or more persons who, by some unfortunately inherited quality, or undisciplined temper, or habit of mind, do' not prove a thorn m the flesh, and a perpetual aggravation like the terrible water-dropping torture, to those who by the conditions of life, are compelled to live with them. Such people as these thoms are seldom really happy, poor things—though strange to relate, tikey occasionally derive a curious amount of satisfaction from the annoyance thev cause othei. vr confess I agree with those who find it erv c:-itult to know how to live at peace with the thorns of life. They are rarely lovable persons—not such some we know, whose very faults are dear to us—but strnn^e, warped, cold—hardened natures, with low ideals and consequently an unworthy opinion of others nidging bv themselves, from their own sadly deficient standpoint. Poor souls, they include so many cantankerous old men and women, disappointed, embittered, middle-aged people of both sexes, rough, coarse illiterate, and uneducated persons. In the higher walks of life we find them all just the sa!ne.with mere education, and rp- finement of malice and uncharitableness. hat is to be done with them? They have no right to make everyone-near them wretched and uncomfort- able by their ungoverned rages, their sharp, mischief- making tongues,"their suggestive glances and shrugs of the shoulders, and persistent method of alvi avv, crediting others 'with, the worst motives, nor with the wily way in which they can work on trusting and unsuspicious minds. Well, how would you treat them, being compelled to live with them? It is hard. I grant you. not to answer them indignantly t4 repel their mean insinuations, and their entirely mistaken conceptions of men, motives, and numners. Be very sure of your facts ill speaking to them, and adopt sweetness and patience, remembering that persistent kindness and though tf,.r]-ness for others is a hard thins: to withstand. The faculty of forgetting things said a.nd done by people in fractious, irritable. perverse, or blinded moods, is a golden—all golden rule. But should it happen that even all this should prove useless, then there is one thing I would bid you remember at the supremest moment of your vexation with them. Imagine for a moment what you would do, how ..treat them, if they had but two or three more days to live; or, further still, imagine if this man or this woman lay dead before you. Would you not then reproach yourself when it was too late that vou had not lxirne more patiently, that you had not more persistently forgiven what may have arisen after all with /hem from brain irritation, or some irregularity of health, if not lack of proper early training. My kind and many readers, haye p-tience (try and resemcle the divine pationce) and courage to Lear and to smooth matters before it is—too late. TO CLEAN nLAS UTENSILS Is really very simp e. ana most housekeepers have each their own special pbll. Nothing is more un- inviting than to drink out of a tumbler or wine- glass that looks dull, or grensv: oil which there are finger marks, or the bluish.brown look that ill- polished glass has when insuffic:ei)tlv cleansed dishes also that have a cut pattern Oil them should sparkle like crystal to look rightly. Manv people put shot into thei. Ixitties to clean them, but that is a great mistake, for it retillv scratches the surface of the glass, and those scratches will never come off. Cut up a raw potato and drop the pieces into your bottle with a little water, and shake them so that they rub the sides then with a slrlootll (,lot]l wipe the 1-11 side carefully. an,1 I think voii will be pleased with the result. The same mav be used for glass dishes. BUSY BEE. RULES FOR CORRESPONDENCE. NOTICE.-Owing to the increasing number of tet.ters that require immednte private answers, which r.re necessarily longer than those in this column, and entail considerable tirnu and work, a small charge will be made in future f')r such answer. In tuture addresses of tradesmen or manufacturers will not be published in this paperj bur, will be sent on receipt of a stamped addressed envelope. Letters tor inquiry oil Jashion or other it-i--titors should be addressed to "Busy HEH," (are of the Editor, and should reach Ili.! office not latel- than Tuesday, if an ans-ver js desired in the following week s edition. If an earlier answer is desired, a stamped addressed envelope, conta'ning a fee of one shilling, must be euclosed. Letters once answered^ are not kept-. Therefore, if further information is required, the original questions must be repeated. Paper patterns of only I hose design-; given can be supplied on the following terms :— Complete Costume to given measures. 4 0. 1 6 Bodice 2 0 0 9 Skirt 2 0 0 9 Short Mantle. 2 6. 1 0 Long Mantis 4 0. 1 6 Jacket 2 6 1 0 Child's Complete Costume 2 0 1 0 Apron 1 0 0 6 Each application must haVe Postal Order and tar,ins for postage enclosed. Ladips are requested 1 o cut otit and enclose the- picture of the rjarment required, and tlie pattern will be forwarded in about a week' time. «^T™?SWERS 10 CORRESPONDENTS. • not kno\y 0f aily special place where stamps can be disposed of, but if you bought a copy of the (vueen" newspaper, or tlie "Ex- change^ and Mart, you are liear]y certain to see requests for stamps. ESMLL. 1. Did you read what I said about a week or so ago about "The morning glass of water?" Because rr y0ll try that Avitli some bi- carbonate of soda in it I think von will filui your tongue much better gri(iiiiliv tliail taking such violent remedies as (.astor* oiJ) KrPsorr powder. 2 Instead of bav runl which is simplv useless get some tincture of cantharides at vour chemist s, and rub about half a teaspoonful m'ixed with the same quantity of spirits of wine into the roots of your hair twice a week, adding some macassar oil to it. A small hog"s hair paint brush is the best to uSe for the purpose. I regret « mnJ WPai>y°nr third question. THE MISSIS THANSVAAL.-1. Make a paste of vinegar and .hite});pO'. eoI' pumice stone powdered, and leave it on the rnarlile some time then wash it off with 8oap and water. 2. P.P.C. means pour prendre POIlff8 » (to take leave).' i am VHY g-lad you fOUnd mv answers useful. COnIJ IL FALT.—You must certainly return all calls in the course of ten davs time, whether S*ds from >'ou or n°t. HERBERT WEST.—Pour four gallons of boiling ^vater on four gallons of sloes in a large pan. i',r ai'\ f°r Jour °r five days.. Strain it. and sugar to each gallon of Tj'l'ii • this is dissolved put it in a cask. rsottJe it in a year's t^pie. stan-1'^ addressed envelope I win give you fjie name ot a pla-- ",llel" ycu Loul get a cure for fr'tY'kle¡.¡ A -Your, b(- i-i to send your stories to any 01 .c jmli'i of Christmas papers and magazines, with n Wamyied addressed envelope for their return if not accepted. Address your letter "To the Editor/' MRS. STEPHEXR-If yon like to comply with the rules for corresponding I shall he happy to reply to your queries by letter. You would hardly like me to do so here even if I had the space. J.F.. nRAEIAR.-It was not in my column that su'phur ointment ^vas recornn>en.1od, 1,or has any correspondent of the name Exaspt written to me. .J.w.-Yolir best nlan is to send the hop to a kiln to be pronerly dried, when they will be ready for the i)ill'v use. KATY MATTHEWS. H should think vmir blood is out of order. Take as much bicarbonate of Roda. as will cover a. two shilling niece, dissolved in a good half tumbler of water twenty minutes after your breakfast and dinner of a claro for three days, ^ets Soine nf Boro-fllvceride from dissolve a teaspoonful of it in a pint of hml 'S? Water, and when cold bottle it for use Wash >0 pnnp T 3 t with nihhin!T h»rd. and when you have dried it ith a rough towel dab it over with some of the boro-dy nau WHITE HKATHICr^ spn(i me stamped pressed envelope T will "ive vou the OVF WTIO TTN BOOK °" RHANPTTP' ^J^ERED.—Please read my answer to Mrs. Stephens" ,>x»ve It is the same as to vou. I jrrpati,. A •+>, ,-mi greatly sympathise with vou. M,, A.. v Trv»>; Musselburgh; J. p Belfast* E. -T. W., abT £

The WTf»e'*Chinesr>Missioa—Wa tb" Took the cake.—She, yawninc "T do like a man WIth some t' up and go abo'1t liim." get' -tip =d go ;-Ibolit fish^ft6 i^not ^"C^ieij a man dri11^8 a swims wondered at that his head exfent°wheilgth? 'jV^vated to almost any nature exists. °n.g,Ml fo,,1'd»tion of an unselfish lind a husband who had to make a living by arrn around S! 7^ ^pudent. He put his shonM the- first leSsOIls that ssusra dav) • G £ nt\ i 0^ to enter tramcar on wet 111 lJ\ e^ahs ar.k (^te full?" Passenger: T ri donkey; step m, sir." youl'"cev,v.+-a quarrel with inucii nl««' 1Di1 i i*0' S don't seem to have i 1 ab°Ut theLm; JUst a"y kind suits her." time L m°^ ,thau™le kind of trouble at a hail »li « 6 ?e°ple bear th.ree kinds—all they have 1 ave nmv> they expect to have, beffi XV o wonder ^11Ileil's hair turns grey i„ A^ t,hcir whiskers should remember that there aire1 years' difference in their respective Pretty Sunday school teacher: And so vou iry,e °,lder brother, Jmnny? How old is he?" ar: "I dunno; but lie's just started swearm." Persevere in whatever calling you adopt. Your progress may be slow, and your results seemingly he^t'd' that is no reason for growing faint- Somebody says: True happiness is found in pursuing something, not m catching it." The heHer"^10 Pursues *'ie *as*1 car at night knows With all respect to the proverb, it may be r»ted that it is not necessary to give tiie devil !s due. He is quite competent to collect it with interest. Judge: "Can you give. an instance of inciting xPersou, to commit perjury?" Law Candidate: -.j es; f°r instance, when you ask a female how 01d she is." "hy is the name of a new advertiser like the answer to a fresh conundrum? Because it is not known. The answer is simple enough. Then why not advertise? Priest: "Well, Biddy, so Pat has been fighting I I see." Biddy Malorie: "Begorra, yer enee, it's himself that's niver at pace widout •'oiirhtin'

THE CHILDREN'S HOUR AND OHUEH OF THE ROUND TABLE. CLOSING ONE'S EARS JUDICIOUSLY.—THE PUXKAH WOHKHR.—PROUD BOUHREK.—How A BOY PLAYED WITH ELECTRICITY. FISHING FOR MESSAGES.— SYOXEY SMITH'S HOME.—A GOOD CONDUCT MARK. —WJL1 IE AXD THE WAFER.—BETWEKN FRIENTS.— THE BONE OF CONTKNTION.HOW BIRDS BUOUGHT A CnDfE TO LIGHT.—MAC'S OCCUPATION.—THE GREAT PUFF B.\LL. A HORSE SHOE Cot- MAKAKT.— CHILDREN'S HYIINS. "Bo-i ]"IUR NICOLE."—THE Sour, OF A HERO.—A STRANGE CRADLE. POST-CARD PRlZE AWARD.— AT THE ROUND TABLE. HOW TO CLOSE ONE'S EARS. Some or nv damsels tell in- they find it very hard to keep the vow of the Round Table which enjoins them not to listen to a wrong thing, nor repeat one." Perhaps a little story 011 the art of judiciously closing one's ears may help them. Once there was a poor dark fellow in India who got his living by working a punkah. His mistress called him Bouhree. A punkah is a hug-e fall hung from the ceiling, and worked by a pulley and rope, so as to cause the air to circulate more freely than it does in hot countries usually. The who works it sits outside in the verandah, and pulls the rope. So monotonous is this occupation that he cften falls asleep ever it, and yet coes on pulling. Bouhree was accused by the tailor who made the mistress's clothes of stealing some clith. This caused much talk in the house, and it was decided that Bouhree must be flogged. T'.e mistress defended him, and becrged that the sentence might rot be carried out. Her husband told her to make her mind easy. because Bouhree mu<t have overheard what had been said, so he would be sure to keep out of the wav. Not so, however. When the time arrived. Boohr-ee was brought up for punishment. Tire master called Bouhre» to him. "Did ym hear us say that you would have to l)e flo'ed?" he a.ske<l. "Yes, massa; Bonh.ee hear ebery sing} word "Then why did you not do as lilyone else would, and ktep out of the wav1'" The mn drew himself up proudly, and his dark che°k ftl1;;J¡pd. r:l. ]101!hrPe' ear t0n lH'lHl to hear what no meant for him to hear." The lxior feh w wouid rather be flogged than listen to what he ougii4- not to lie r. ELECTRICITY AS A PLAYFELLOW. Not a very good or "afe one I should say. but you shall hear and Itiige for yourselves. In a cer- tain old German town family lived in a cc-ner house to whom lietonged an et terprising little hoy. The Duke had telegraph going' in all direc- tions through that town to other towns, and nearly all thp vires passed the corner house be- neath the upper vindows. The boy had found out that by hanging a wire from the telegraph wires to the ground, the electricity would rnn off into the earth. So, with the help of hi« fishing-rod. he arranged co. wire which he could switch oil and off. But I am not f-ing tn tell you exactlr how he did it. for fear yon should want to follow his example. Tlier- was a great to-do in the town, for at certain times none of nil the messages sent reached their destination. The Duke was m a high state of mind,. I can tell vou. He e,.it messengers everywhere to find out thp reason why the messages never arrived when the jioles were all up and the wires in good order. At last, one policeman watching saw one little hoy citing Ins fislun<T-rod to fish fo»* mewjes, and the b'-ifl't idea occurred to him that thi" must hnve some- thing to do with the matter. TTe went right into tho mrner house, and arrocf/vj tho hov. "dm. i.-e-'n- inor no evil, w s not frightened, hr* l.1-1 the policeman straight in the face, and "1, Yor can- not :1rr,+ J"" ,yitl'f111f a \rr""t" T1- -va • -l1P. and whil" ,rr, "rn:1'1 bobbv went tn 1""+ '1 "ar:H1t. tl, hoy. aided b- 1,i;; frip!'r1". P;:(,:111(,,1 to France. All went right with the messages after that. THE BLACK WAFER. A very clever little boy of ^even vears once ,p""+ with his psi~ents to visif the witt. funn- 0',1 clergyman. Rev. Sydney Rmith, at Combe F'orev rectorv. near to Taunton. On no account is jitt1" Willie to be left hOhinrl." was said when the invita- tion W:1." triven. Willie and the dear old gentleum-i who could tell surh funny fairy tales were great friends. One of the ;nstihit:on« of the rectorv was a handsome china fiilnd with coloured w>fer\ such as were then 'FP'1 for fi^teni^? letters. TT +nod on the writinn- tab! in Sydney Smith's study. f)., tlw evening they arrived when bed-time o-ime. Wilb'e went ur to the old srentlemap to say good- night. He took the hov between his knees, and. picking out a white wafer frl- the bowl, stuck on his forplien/i. and said. "While you stay with us i snail mark your conduct through the day in this way. Tf I)el,oiir v-ri- -co(l. t be "warded with a. wlii" wafer: anv small fault- will be marked bv coloured wafer; a black vafer will mean that vou have done something TC;-r wrmipr. Now pi tn h1. dpRrr-HHrt: -") well. and if yon must drcm. let it be of white wi-fers." For several 11: Willie did nothing to merit anything worse than a pale pink wafer, ihen one mnrning the spirit of mischief entered into him. There. wlJj a huge tabby cat at lh« rpotorv called Patty. One morning before breakfast Willie found her sit!:ng on the sun dial in the and the ide:1 entered his head that would look better without her whisker, I i,, fetched com" seizors and cut them off. lIP had almost forgotten the dreadful deed when hiw-heon- time came, but as he entered the room ther- was a dead siunco, and ever*, eve v. as fived upon him, then an awful v"i, p asked, ,].0. I wonder, could have been so wicked r>nd cruel to cut off a poor unoffending cat's whiskers?" Willie burst, into tears, and sobbed out a. full confe-sion. That eypnin Lis. forehead received a coal-black wafer, and he went to bed the unhappiest child Christendom. lie kept that black wafer for years, ,1i. quite cured him of any disposition to bo cruel to animals. nons' FRIENDSHIP. Two dogs. Rover and Dash, belonged to a. great house. One day thev lay together under the kitchen window warming themselves in the sun. Thev had eaten about as much as they could stuff into them, and felt rather lazy, so preferred to lie there and chat instead of mounting guard over their master s house. "There can be nothing more delight- fill Dash." began Rover, "than true friendship, between dogs just as much as between men. When two hearts beat for each other alone, when one can rather sleep, nor eat. nor live without the other, when every hour spent together llies happily. Believe me. Dash, there is nothing better Sup- pose you and T strike up such a friendship?" Done!" cried I have long feit the need of such an agreement between you and Ine. Dogs who live in the same vard should never cpiairel and fighr Yet yott nd I have done this continually. I believe this is the common way with dog- but there is no reason why friendship should be only a name with them any more than with men. "No: let -Oil and I set a bright example to all other J^ve me your paw, old fellow." Here it eV affectionately embraced each oth^r.and then began to frolic almut the yard in friendly sport. Unfortunately, at that moment th° conic threw a bone to them from the kitchen window. Both seized it. and the very next instant they were snarling, growling, and biting -each other, each trv'ng to g-t the bone for himself in a manner wholly destructive to friendship. BIRD DETECTIVES A detective is a man employed to find out things, ofte-i very wicked things, that other people have done. In the year eight hundred and some- thing. a famous saint was living in Switzerland, as øa;nts used to do in those days, in a retreat 011 tha n.ountains. People used to come to him from all parts asking advice and help; so, although he lived in the barest way possible, some men thought be must have gold stored away in his cell. They attacked and murdered him. meaning to carry ojf this gold. lhe holy man had two friends, com- panions of his solitude, whom he had petted and loved. They were birds, ravens. When the mur- derers fled, t!w"e ravens followed them and remained in their neighbourhood. Some of the pilgrims who used to visit the saint in his cell recog- nised the birds, and so the bad men were arrested and punished. Although the birds were not really to detect the crime, their faithfulness to their dead master was the means of bringing it to light. A great convent, still one of the richest anil most frequented in Switzerland, was after- wards built 011 the spot where the holy man was slain. PUGILIST BY PROFESSION. A lady w^s (>ut v-aHcing one day in London, accc— Danied by her faitnful collie dog, whose name w lac. A grj-at, strange dog came up to them an I instantly fell upon J1' To the lady's great distress a severe nglit followed, and before it was possible to the oogs a carriage driving vapidly past rav over AJac. He was badly hurt, and his mistress carried him to the nearest hospital, w Happened to be tlie big one of St. Thomas, iiere chloroform Mae's broken b as set in sprints, and his wounds dressed. Of course he had to be entered on the books of the rrsrrital as a patient, for it is of no use to make regulations unless you keep them an(] this is tlie ntry that was made in iiiis case:— occu- pation, pugilist. IY SCRAP BAG. fc'ast Growth.—Mushrooms glow very quickly, "Prin'-ing to maturity in a single night but a fungus known as the "-IP:l t puff-ball grows more ouiekly ,-till.-it will reach the size of a punnikin during the night. This is really magical growth. A Curious Coin.—It is said the Gauls u--ed cuo rbout two thousand years ago that was shaped 'ike a horse shoe: and that specimens of this coin have been found in Ireland. The S. B. would like to hear from any small Irish people who knew any- thing about this. Decorative Grasses.—A great painter named Hans I/Iakart once decorated his salon iu C:iris with dried palm leaven and-Pampas grass. It was so ich admired and imitated that decoration with leaves and grasses became fashionable, and the art "'•e cplled Makart. after the orieinator. Hymns for Children.—Mrs. Alexander, wife <rf the Bishop of Derry, is considered to -have written the best known of these. Some of her loveliest are T> ?>reenJhl«1.1Jlar awav'" "Once in Royal iWeak" but Little Childrai Pumpernickel.—When the French soldiers at the beginning of the century were in Germany, they were given bread to eat. They did not think much of German bread, and said it was only bon pour Nrcole," meaning that it was only good for Wiei- horses; every Frenchman calls' his horse Nicole. The German peasants, in trying to pro- nounce the French woIds, made out of them pumpernickel. MEASURING TIME. When we say "measuring time" what we reallv mean is, measuring eternity." because the measure- ment of eternity is time. Really and trulv time is nothrng but the division into periods of that which always is. Our King Alfred the Great, as vou all must remember, I think, found out a clever wav of measurrng time, or eternity or both, perhaps. We all know something about King Alfred's famous candle clocks. Ihey were m sets of six. Each candle had twelve divisions marked upon it, and burned a day and a night. But as they flared and wasted in the draughts from badly fitted doors and windows, he invented lanterns for them. well-con- constructed out of the wood and white ox-horn. Bv this contrivance the six candles exactly measured twenty-four hours. This good King Alfred, what a lot of.troub'5 he used to take to add to the com- forts of his people! And vet he himself suffered greatly from some internal disease from his twentieth to his forty-fourth vear. He used to get up at cock-crow and throw himself on the ground in church, rmplorrng God to give him strength to bear the great pain. and yet he could put the thought of pain aside, and fill his mind with cares for the comfort and well-being of his people. He possessed the soul of a. true hero, you see. A FAIRY CRADLE. There is a beautiful lily. the name of which is Victoria Regia, which has very big, strong leaves often a yard in breadth, with an inch high border standing up all round, like the rim of a tea-trav These leaves rest so solidlv on the water that in South America the Brazilian peasant women take their babies to the water and use these lily leaves as cradles for them. A regular fairy cradle, is it not ? POST-CARD PRIZE AWARD. TT^TI Winner; Alice Muriftl Cox, age 11. Highly commended: Alex. J. Campbell, ELIZ Vea.rs. Gerty Peatrome. Annie Griffin, Ethel Gert- rude Mountain, Thos. W. Phillips. Jessie Chadwick Ann re Lillian Holmes, and Claude Edgar Rushbv' Books of the Order have been sent to these and all other competitors. The Order of the Round Table is a Big Society of little folks in connection with the above column. It has now 19,500 members. Watchwords: Conscientiousness, Kindness, Cour- tesy. Motto: We must do the thing we ought before the thing we may. VOWS AND PROMISES. Knights and Esquires must pledge themselves to strive to be brave, true, and honest; to be courteous and obliging; defenders of all weak children and dumb animals, and helpers of those who need: to refrain from bad language; and to sav a few kind words, or do a kind deed, every day of their lives. Damsels and Thimblemaids must try to be true, sweet, and helpful, modest and gentle; to be good and to do good: never listen to a wrong thing or repeat one; to be kind to dumb animals; and to say a few kind words, or do a kind deed, every- day of their lives. The Big Book of the Order lies always open for the reception of the names of new members. Every little reader of the Col. is lovingly entreated to join the Order. A penny postage stamp should be en- closed in a letter of application, for transmission of the beautiful blue and gold certificate of member- ship. If six stamps be enclosed, then a Book of t^Onier, a copy of the Song of the Round Table (full music size, with tonic sol-fa in addition to the ordinary notation), and illuminated Card of V OWl will be sent with certificate. Older People are particularly invited to join as Hon. Mems. Rules, &c., sent free on receipt of addressed halfpenny wrapper. Address— AUNT MAGGIE SYMINGTON; Hunstanton. Norfolk.

GARNERED GLEANINGS. *&■ MR. PETERS. OF SCHOHARIE. ON HIS DAUGHTER'S GRADUATION. My darter's been through college, an' I s'pose it's done her good, Though what's tl)e use o' some things I have never nnderstuod She's learned to play the organ in a noisy sort of way, An. tunes 110 man could whistle if he practised all the day. She's learned to dress her pretty hair in fashions stra.nge all' new Some's Greek, and some is Roman, but no old red- white-and-blne. Plain, simple Yankee fashion, wi' two little finger curls. That seems to me so dressy in our next-door neigh- lior's girls. She talks a lot about some thing- called physiology. Which tells her what effect plain meals will have 011 ma and me; But as for makin" biscuits, or a fine old punkin pie. She seems to think they ain't worth while, an' let's 'em all go by. She knows about a branch she calls the calis'.henic course, That sets her prancin' round the room just like an old lame hore An' mother says she told her that if she should slip an' fall The folks would think 'twas purposely gone an' done it all. She practiced tumblin every day from rules from off a chart. Made up by some professor with a name like Delsy-art But when I ask her how to m:Jke a bed, an' how to sew. She turned her nose away 'way up an' said lie didn't know. ■In course this eddieation does good work in many ..ays, But on the whole I cannot say I truly think ;t pays. I takes a sweet au' simple girl that's full o' life an' spice, An' fills her up with notions vain, an' makes her cold as ice. It makes her think the dear old home where she was born and bred Upon the whoie ain't notliin' more than just a common shed. It makes her think her brothers fools; an' as for ma an' me. When she's at home, why then we ain't, which I don't like to see. —" Harper's Monthly Magazine" for Sept. VILLAINS OF FICTION AND THEIR FATE. One might divide the rogues of fiction into certain classes, such as the hypocritical, the gentlemanly, the blood-thirsty, and so forth. Sir Walter Scott has several types of rogues—the learned rogue, like Rashleig-h Osbaldistone: the unscrupulous and scheming lawyer, like Glossin in Guy Mannerin^; the wild and lawless rogue, like Dirk Hatternick, the Dutch smuggel captain. Xo writer lias a more plentiful supply of villains ef all kinds than Dickens. The description of Fagin in Newgate awaiting execution is among the most thrilling in the pages of fiction the face of the old Jew retain- ing no human expression but rage and terror, haunts us ,I., that of Quilp or Ouasimodo. Hardly less terrible is the scene of Bill Sikes's death. The fiction of half a century or so ago produced such a plentiful supply of highwaymen, cracksmen, and other heroes of the Newgate calender, that Thackeray exclaimed The public will hear of nothing but rogues." Fielding had described the adventures of Jonathan Wild, and now Jack Shep- pard was made the hero of a tale. DickeTl". pro- duced "Oliver Twist." and Bui wer Lvt ton a series stories in which the harshness of the criminal bw and various other social grievances were illustrated in the careers^ of such a.s Paul Clifford. Among Wilkie Collins s rogues one of the most interesting is Count Iosco in "Tlie Womrm in White." He was compounded of two almost distinct individuali- ties. On one side of his character he is vain. fond cf music, a.nd of pet animals—white mice. a cockatoo, and a couple of canaries—on the other the calm con- spirator with the cold glitter in his unfathomable prray eyes. Charles Reade generally employs a principal and a subsidiary rogue of a more or less conventional type to show off the charms of the heroine a.nd the resou-oes cf his virile to the best advantage. Thus, we have Woodlaw and WYlie in "Foul Play," Richard ITardie and Skinner, and many other who suffer the just reward of their deeds.—"Chamber's Journal" for September. HOME LIFE OF TT-T-r, \GRTCULTUR 4.L LABOURER. •11 always been under the impression that a viLage wedding partook of the nature of a rustio fe-tival: that it was a pretty, pastoral scene, in which hearty rejoicing and floral display shed an appropriate halo over the union of the two fond hearts. Ifence, when William one morning suggested that I should wait at the post-otfice and BPB the wedding about to he celebrated in the church just opposite, I congratulated myself on the opportunity, and thanked the old man warmly for his notice. They be awaitin' said William, reassuringly. "That'; hur and hur fa-ai-tber in the ca-aliiier. They be awaiten' for the groom." His finger directed my eye to a corner of the churchyard, where, upon a flat tombstone, sat a young man and an elderly man. Ten minutes passed, and the clerk came to the church door to enquire if the party were not ready. 'E baint a-coom yet, replied Papa. 'Bo I to go and letch e along?" The clerk approved; the proud parent shuffled off the tombstone, and, advancing to the churchyard gate, looked up and down the read. The missing link was not in sight, so, with an impatient grunt. Papa turned in the direction of the Whtte Hart." Presently he returned, followed by a young labourer, whose delay was doubtless due to the difficulty he had found in persuading two double dahlias to stick in each button-hole. Arrived at the church door, 1'apa paused, shouted IIi to his daughter, and ushered the pair into the porch with his hat, much as though folding wayward sheep. The ceremony was soon over, and the last I saw of the wedding party was the procession in Indian file into the White Hart." There was a crude simplicity about the whole affair which was more original than attractive, and I am loth to believe it a representative example of a rural wedding. But, after all when we lift a corner of the curtain which hides the home life of the agricultural labourer, so prosaic an entry upon the married state appears only in harmony with the future. Are the clash of wedding-bells and feasting of neighlwurs the fittest beginning for the new life of harder toil upon which he enters almost at the church door? No gentle gliding down the golden strand of honeymoon launches the hind upon the treacherous sea of matrimony. He goes to the altar to-day. and to-morrow's sun rises upon him trudging back to the fields to earn for two the bread it has been hard enough to find hitherto for one. Work in which he can take no interest, alternating with idleness lie does not ciioy, make up the sum of his colourless existence;' but he asks no sympathy; his word is bounded by the horizon, and he is blind to all beyond the con- fines of his own parish. A rare visit to the market town, and the half-yearly apj>eara.nee of the travelling cheap-jack, with his ven-load of varied wares, form his landmarks of time. Given enough tn eat and drink, and a corner in the White Hart" on his missus's washing day. lie is content. Knowing little he wants little: and surely wisdom on ten shillings a week were Folly iiidppd. Mv Nursery Revisited" in the Cornllill Magazine" for September. MICROBES. POTATOES. AND SUNSHINE. Many microbes are able to elalxirate vlien grown on various culture media, such as gelatine or slices of potato, most brilliant and beautif il pigments ranging from intense blood-red to the most-deli lata shades of pink. and embracing everv gradation of yellow, as weli as browns, greens, and violets. Now it has been found that some of these pigment- producing bacteria-, when exposed to sunshiie on the *ze nutritive materials, fail to exhibit their char- acteristic colo ir. although the duration of insolation may not have sufficed to destroy their actual vitality. One of these organisms originally ob. tained from water has been especially studied in this respect by M. Laurent. If slices of potato are streaked with a smill number of this particular bacillus (bacille rousre de Kiel) a magnificent patch of blood-red colour makes its appearance in the course of a day or two, but if. on the other hand. simdar slices of potato are exposed to c. hours' sunshuie. a colourless growth subsequently devi lops, evcent where here and there a feTV isolated spots of v'e are visible. When the insolation is prolonged for five hours nothing whatever anpears "11 the potato, the bacille having been entirely de- stroyed But this is not all. M: Laurent found 'hat ?f he took some of the colourless growth and inooiiPife;] it ou to potatoes lie obtained again, but I without insolation. a eolo.urle-s vegetation -n ■fact, three hours' insolation had «o modified tlie physiological character of the bacillus that a new race had been generated, a rare permanently de- prived of its power, of producing this red pigment. in "hat numerous directions the character of microbes may he and are being modified, even bv simp e exposure to sunshine. oneus -1 a wide field for speculation and re-^a^l,. whilst tractabdity or tnese minute and most primitive forms <f life.- if wi, only approach their education with sufficient Hisig.it and patience, mav enable m- t° mrke them y* 'KTP- they now are masters. P' ei'o->inna of t.iis k:nd, moreover, clearlv indicate that thorp may r,e around us numerous forms of inicro-or-ranisms or t"e potentiality, of which we are still route icno- rant. It is surely exceedingly probable, therefore,- oat many of the micro-organisms with which we are already acquainted may he possessed of numerous important properties which are lying dormant until brought into activity by suitable caltirat^'on. The power of modifying the characters nf bacteria, is of th" highest importance in connection with tho problems of evolution, for in these lowly form of l;fe in which, undor favourable eireum-tances generation succeeds generation in a period of :<8 little as twenty minutes, it should be p-ssible through the agency of selection, to effeot metamor- phoses. both of morphology and physiology, which would take ages in the 6ase of more hig-hly ((""nni-ed September about- Lon^man's Magazine for

A very oasnmi youtn is said to have proposed as follows: "Carrie, if you liked somebody else about the same as you like me, would you care to marry him?" Mother: "Johnny, I'm shocked to hear vou swear. Do you learn that at school?" Johnny: "Learn it at school? Why, it's me what teaclies the other boys. "If there is one time more than another," says an experienced married man, 'when a wonun should be left alone, it is when a line of clothes comes down in the mud." Colonel, how 111 thunder did you capture vour military tit el?" "I married it,* err." "Married sir, married it. I married the widow of Colonel omrtli, sir, last spring." Pedestrian: "You should be in better business than begging. A great strong fellow like vou cught to look for work." Beggar- "What, throw up a sure thing for an uncertainty?" Opportunities never come a second time; nor do they bide our leisure. The years come but once to us and swiftly pass away, bearing the inefface- able records we have put upon them. Whnt a very disagreeable thing it must be to be disappointed in love." said Miss Shattuck. "Yes." replied Mr. Hen peck, "but it is infinitely worse to be disappointed in marriage." Mrs. b latliunter: "But the rooms are so dread- fully small! Really, they are only closets. Land- lord: "Ah, but then, you know: there's nothing like having plenty of closets in a house." This parrot I can recommend. He has only one fault; lie makes a terrible row if he does not get his dinner promptly." Widow: "I shall take him. He will remind me of mv late husband. Jieggar \\onian: "Can yer assist me, kind lady. Me poor 'usband can't git out and about." Lady: W hat's the matter with your husband?" Beggar Woman: "He's in prison, kind ladv." f( 1 t explain the success of that singer. Nor can I." "She sings through her nose most atrociously." "Perhaps that is the reason why everybody is waving a handkerchief at her." Miss Lilian (about to marry a widower): Mona, dear, I am going to be your new mamma." Mona (aged eight, with dignity): "Oh, poor papa! Thank you, Miss L, liaii, I prefer to be my own mother." Hostess: Miss Brown has no partner for this waltz; you will not mind dancing with her in- stead of with me?" He (anxious to be very obliging): On the contrary, I shall be delighted." w She (quizzingly): "Pshaw! I'll wager you'll be tired of marriage within twenty-four hours after you've bought me my first new dress." He (heroically): "Well, then, I'll never buy one for you." Little Girl: "I can't make it out why ever-one wants to see your ma's baby. Babies is plentiful enough." "I expect it's because my ma's one is a new one, and they want to see the latest style in babies." "Auntie." said Milly. "do you know what I would do first thing if I had millions of money?" Auntie confessed her inability to guess. "Well," said Millv, "I would hire somebody to listen to pa's old stories." "Ia. said a discouraged urchin, "I ain't going to school any more." "Why dear?" tenderly inquired his mother. "Cause ain't any use. I can never learn to spell. The teacher keeps changing the words every day." Coiiiii.ere"n I Traveller (to country shopkeeper): Hows business, Air. Sharp?" "Can't complain. Just made a sovereign." "How was that?"' "Man wanted to get trusted for a pair of boots, arid I didn t let- him Irave 'em!" Cashier: "I can't honour that cheque, madam. Your husband's ak-count is overdrawn." Lady: Ah! Overdrawn, is it? I suspected something In9 was i wrong when lie signed this cheque without waiting for me to go into hysterics." Famous Scientist (excitedly): Something must be done to stop the spread of the opium habit among women. Great Editor (calmly): Very well, sir. 111 put in a paragraph saying that a hanker- ing for opium is a sign of old age." woman must consider it a dreadful fate to be an old maid," mused Mr. Chugwater. They do, Josiah," said Mrs. Chugwater; "what terrible sticks they sometimes marry to escape'" And Josiah ruhbed his cliin and said nothing. Mamma," said Jamie mysteriously, did I ever have a little brother that fell into the well?" X 0, said his mamma. "Why?" "Why, I looked into the well this morning, and there was a little fellow down there looked just like me." Young Housekeeper (to a peasant woman who brings her eggs every week): "I cannot understand why your eggs have'been so small lately. Peasant: Nor I. But what can I do?" Young House- keeper: Why don't you leave them a little longer in the nest ?" Father: In olden times children used to marry in accordance with the wishes of their parents. Son: Yes; but the world wasn't pro- gressing so rapidly then as it is now, and, as a rule, children don't know any more than their parents did." Waiter: "I expect you to pay in advance." Guest: "What do you mean, sir?" Waiter: "No offence, sir, whatever; but the last gentleman who ate mackerel here got a bone in his throat and died without paying, and the guv'nor took it out of my wage: Algernon (out with Gwen, his loved one): Pardon me for bowing to that shabby old codger, but I'm obliged to do it." Gwen: Who is he. Algernon ?" Algernon: "Oh. simply the head of our firm, and one must be civil to him, even out of office hours." Hon- did you come to be married ?" asked a man of a very homely friend. Well, you see," he replied, after I had vainly tried to win several girls that I wanted, I finally turned attention to one who wanted me, and then it didn't take long to arrange matters." Papa: "Well. Tommy, and how did you like it?" Tommy (who has been taken to church for the first time): Very much, inded. Every one had to keep very quiet, but one man stood up and talked the whole time, and at last we all had to ae- up and sijig to keep him quiet."