Newspaper Page Text
Poetry.
WISHING.
BY JOHN G. SAXE.
Of 11 the amusements of the mind,
" From logic aown to fishing.
There Isn't one that yon can find
- 80 very cheap as "wishing
A very choice diversion, too.
It we but rhihUy nse it
.And not, as we are apt to do.
Pervert it, nd abuse it.
A wish common wish indeed .
My par? warsonrewhat fwter,
That I might cheer the child of need,
And not my pride to flatter I
That I might make oppression reel,
asonly gold can xnake it,
And break the tyrant' rod ofeteel,
as only gold en break it.
I wish that sympathy an 1 love.
And every human passion
That has its orl.in above, .
Would eome and keep in fashion ;
That scorn, and jealousy, and hate,
And every base emotion,
Were buried fifty fathoms deep - -
. lieneath the waves of ocean.
I wish that friends were always true,
And motives always pure;
I wish the good were not so few,
I wish the lad were fewer;
I wish that persons ne'er forgot
To need their pious teaching;"
I wish that practicing was not
80 different from pre-icuing.
I wish that modest worth might be '
Appraited with truth and candor:
I wi h that innocence were free
From treachery and slander;
I wish that m n their vows would mind;
That women ne'er were rovers;
I wish that wives were always kind,
And husbands always lovers.
Selected Story.
LOST IN THE SCRUB.
An Australian Adventure.
From Cassell's Magazine.
I.
It might hare been at home here in one
of the midland counties, the scene was 60
calm and peacefuL The roughly built cot
tage, with here and there its familiar ob
jectsthe loud ticking Dutch clock, the
cleanly scrubbed three-legged table, the
big old family bible, the cage of white
wicker, with its ragged-tailed thrush hop
ping from perch to perch ; while 6eated in
the middle of the humble room, before a
tin bucket of water, was an elderly man
with Englishman written in every feature of
his rugged, ruddy, 6un-taaned faoe as he
bent to his task that of washing out the
barrel of an old rifla, and making the water
play fountian like from the nipple as he
forced down the cleaning-rod, to the intense
delight of a couple of rosy children. It
might have been here in some sunny coun
ty, but there was something about the
brightness of the afternoon sun which
streamed in at the open door, in the blue
ne6s of the sky, the clearness of the air,
and the scenery around that was not Eng
lish. The fiowera.that clustered about the
door and nodded around the rough window
frame, and the objects that peeped here
and there from some corner, too, told of a
foreign land; while the huge pines that
shot up arrow-like toward the sky were
such as could be seen nowhere but in Aus
tralia. -The poor brutes have been calling you
lass, for the last half hour," said the man,
looking up, as a tall, fair-haired girl enter
ed the room where he was busy, niilking
pail in hand, and stood to watch the talk
with as much interest as the children.
'They shan't wait any longer, father,"
said the girl, as she passed slowly through
the door, humming a cheery old country
ditty, and was gone.
The gun barrel was taken from the water
and wiped out, and then Samson Harris,
who had left the old country and settled in
the wide, free lands of Australia, set to
work oiling the lock.
"Hallo, what are you back for?"" he ex
clamed as a roughly dressed, heavy faced
man came up to the hut door at a trot, his
forehead streaming with perspiration,
which had marked its course - in lighter
hues through his dust grimed face. Di
rectly behind him came at an easy loping
Bing, ii tall, thin, fleshless lookiDg native
whose dingy skin did not even shine as he
came into the hut after his companion.
Blacks out," panted the heavy faced
man, seizing the door as if to fihut it, at the
tame time examining the cap upon the rifle
he carried "Blacks out, master."
"Blacks out, Tom?" said Samson;
"Blacks out? 'Pon my word, Tom, I never
saw such a coward in my life. Now what
in the world were you lagged for that your
conscience must make you see a nigger in
his paint behind every tree, or peeping up
above every scrub? Blacks? Poor inof
fensive beggars. Why, you had your rifle
hadn't you, ready to scare off a hundred ?
This makes six times you've run home
to cry wolf. And you've left those sheep to
take care of themselves," he continued,
forcing the ramrod into its place as he rose
as if to leave the hut
"Taint wolf this time, master; 'taint in
deed," cried the man earnestly; and then
seeing his master's smile of incredulity.he
relapsed into a look of sullen injury, and
stood leaning upon his rifle barrel.
Here come along," said Samson. '
"Load up first master," 6aid Tom. "Tis
true, indeed," he exclaimed, once more
seeking to obtain credence for his story.
"I saw scores. A6k Teddy here."
Now Teddy or, as he was known in his
tribe, Bidgee-bidgee stood spear in hand,
showing his white teeth, and apparently
listening intently.from the way his nostrils
expanded and twitched. That sorHething
was amiss was evident, for leaning his
spear against the wall, he now took off the
ragged blue shirt he wore, unfastened his
girdle, and set free a formidable looking
waddy, or club, before throwing himself
upon the ground to listen.
Samson paused, startled, and though un
charged, he involuntarily cocked his piece
as Tedd,the black shcpherd,leaped up and
exclamed:
"Black fellows all a-coming one two
ten hundred."
The next instant he threw himself into
an attitude of attack, poising his spear
ready for hurling it at the first who should
cross the threshold.
"Get out." exclamed Samson, recovering
himself; "here have I lived now two years,
and only seen a party or two of the poor
wretches begging, and -"
"But they burned Eiley's hut and butch
ered his wife and chilidren," eaid Tom
earnestly. "
"Don't believe it," said Samson sturdily;
"only a bugbear made np by some of them
pioneering chaps to frighten new-comers
from going np country and taking claims,
so that they may have the best choice for
themselves."
"Wallace's boy's head was battered in,"
"Gammon," said Samson, who however
could not help looking uneasily lowaros
(ha hloplr
"Then there wa3 Ellis' poor gfl; you
j t. n . ,
Know now mey serveu tier.
TT.-J1 trnnr fnnrtnA will YOU ?" STOWled
Samson; "do you want tofrightheu the wo
men to death t ana as ne spoKe uo tm(r
ped his hand over the - convict eervant's
mnnth STul crlfinrP.1 rinpftflilv toward the
door which led into the interior of the hut
one that was unusually large, for dur
ing Kimgnn'ii rtlpaMTit Roionrn in this smil
ing wilderness, matters had prospered with
him, and bit by bit he had added to his
inrr and Innnd himseif compelled to
make fresh arrangements for his flocks and
ever multiplying nercs.
"Did you call ?" said a pleasant voice,
and then the door opened, and Samson's
comely wife made her appearance.
"No," said Samson, "I didn't call but
"Here a come," said Teddy, and all
heard the rapid beat of feet, audible to the
black's keen sense some time before. Tom
cocked and raised hi&ifle, Samson snatch
ed down a revolver from a hook over the
f re place, knocking down and breaking a
little china group of the children in the
wood, aa ornament brought from the far
ofl English home. ,
Bat the next moment arms were lowered
and Teddy's spear was not thrown, for two
men, whose faces were known to all pres
nst, dashed panting into the hut
"Lock out," one of them gaasped, "The
blacks are out."
"Now then, master?" cried Tom tri
umphantly. . . "
"Don't see nothing about blacker than
your face, neighbor," Baid Samson dryly,
as he turned to one of his visitors. "Ain't
neither of you killed, are you?"
The man did not answer, but turning up
the sIeeverof"his" woolen shirt to the elbow
showed a Jong, ;jagged,'but superficial
scratch from the nper joint to the wrist,
with the Mood drying fast, but still stand
in beads npon the lips of the wound.
"I might have 'been," said Ihe new com
er grimly, "if the fellow who threw the
epear that made thatlohg scratch, had been
VOL. IV. NO. 52.
H
M'CONINELSVILLE, OHIO,
ERVATIVE
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER
9, 1870.
WHOLE NO. 208,
truer in his aim. The blacks are out
strong, well armed and in there war paint;
and if you don't want them here, Samson
Harris, you d better shut that aoor.
Half grudgingly the squatter made two
Rteps towards the door, then he stop
ped, for he caught sight of ins who Etand-
ing with a blanched and drawn face, hold
ing tightly her two children, She did not
speak; but as their eyes met, her lips part
ed to form one word which the father read
in an instant Thought after thought
rushed lightning like through his brain;
all the old colonist' tales and their horrors
seemed to force themselves npon him; the
burning of Riley's hut, and the cruel butch
ery of wite and children, and other barbar
ities said to have been committed ; the child
of a squatter named Wallace beaten to
death with clubs; the death of the bloom
ing daughter of Ellis. A mist seemed to
swim before his eyes for an instant; but
the next he had shouted, "come on, such
of you as are men;" for he had again en
countered the agonized face of his wife
again interperted that one word her lips
had parted to form, and he dashed to the
hut door, but only t be grasped tightly by
his convict servant, Tom.
"Let me go !" he shouted, "are you
mad ?" and he dealt the man a heavy blow
in the chest, and sent him staggering back
shouting
'Hold him, hold him."
"Let me go Anderson Jones ?" cried
Samson, again struggling to reach the door
but held back by the new comers. "Are
you mad, are you men, when poor. Mary
is out there in the scrub t
The wounded man gave more of a yell
than a cry as Samson Harris uttered these
words, and loosing his hold of the father.
he made for the -door himself, but only to
fall heavilv, tripped up by the waddy the
black shepard had cunningly thrust be
tween his legs.
The fall was heavy, but as he went down
two spears darted through the open door,
and Etruck quivering, one in the floor, the
other in the table. The next moment the
door was dashed to by Teddy.and its rough
wooden bar laid across.
'Better there than through you, master
Anderson," said Tom, dragging the quiver
ing spear out of the table and passing it to
Teddy.
The young man did not speak, but his
eyes glared, and the curls of his black
beard seemed to move and writhe as his
features worked. Then grasping the rifle
he held in his hand, he turned to Samson
Harris, saying in a husky voice
"Are you ready?
Samson forced a bullet down npon the
powder of the rifle he was r.ow engaged in
charging, and nodded his head by way of
reply.
There was no opposition made now, and
as Samson and Anderson prepared to make
a dash out to reach the scrub, Tom the
convict, Anderson's companion, and the
black made as it to accompany them.
"No, said Samson hoarselr, "stay and
protect then," and he pointed to bis wife
and Ihe twi astonished children. "Now
open the door."
At his words, leddy threw the door open
widely, but before any one could pass out,
he dashed it to again, while as he did so
Samson groaned, for ,:thud, thud, thud,"
rame the sound of three spears as they
stuck in the stout woodwork, one passing
right through; and he knew that had they
stood in the doorway it would have boon to
their death.
II.
"Frank Anderson," said Samson in alow
voice, holding out his hand, "I alwavR set
my face against your coming here, .far I ;
didu't think you were in earnest, my boy;
and now if it's come to that " and he
pointed to the spears, his voice shaking a
little the while, "I should like to make
friends first, though I have gone against
vou. Frank Anderson, I beg your par
don." The young man groaned as he took the
proffered hand, and then in tho same low
voice he whispered:
"But, Mary, when did she go? V men
way?"
"Heaven forgive me, exclaimed the
wretched father, "and I had lorgotten her
till she showed me my duty, and he nod
ded towards his trembling wife. "She took
the pail and went to the cows, half three
quarters of an hour ago."
"Hut we must go to ner, whispered the
young man.
Ihen vou 11 nave to go with your skins
as full of spears as a porkypine's back,
master," said Tom, who had crept closer
to them. "There; hark at that!" he ex
claimed as a burst of yells arose. "There's
good two hundred of the black devils danc
ing about."
"It would be madness to go, said sam-
son, "like sacrificing three more lives; but
she may have hid herself and escaped.
The young man shuddered, and then
raised bis rifle, lor a spear came crashing
throngh the window, but happily without .
staking any one.
"Here,"said Samson, rousing up. "Lend
a hand here!" and with the help of those
present he half carried his wife and chil
dren up a short ladder to a roughly form
ed loft, full of fleeces of wool packed against
the low-pitched roof.
"There, creep under them," he cried,
"and first pull up the ladder. Now hide
yourselves there, you'll be afe for the pre
sent"
"Look out," shouted Tom, as Mrs. Har
ris dragged up the ladder, and its last
rounds were beyond reach, while at the
warning cry, Teddy the black and Ander
son discharged spear and rifle at a couple
of blacks who appeared at the inner door,
having climbed in by one of the windows.
Then ensued a sharp struggle, in which
desperate blows were given on both side?,
and then the inner room was cleared; but
not before three of the savage assailants
lay writhing upon the floor, their life blood,
staining the white boards of the plain bed
chamber. It was a dangerous task, and more than
one spear flew through the window as the
bodies were hoisted up and thrown through;
then the opening was barricaded as well as
those of the other little front windows of
the hut, and one or two stood at each to
meet the next assault
The thin blue smoke of the discharged
pieces floated slowly upwards, and seemed
to wreathe about over the trampled blood
stains, when a cry from Tom the convict,
and almost at the same instant the report
of his piece, snmmoned help to the back
half kitchen, half wash-house whose little
window was the only opening in the rear
of the hut
The help was needed, for about a score
of the blacks had dashed up to the open
ing, and were trying to force their way in,
but a well kept up fire from rifle and re
volver drove them back, with several of
their number blecdiug npon the ground.
"It's of no use to be merciful," exclaim
ed Anderson. "They must be shot down.
or we shall all be butchered. Take a steady
aim, for your wife and children's sake; and
rd keep two or three 6hots left in my re
volver for the last"
Samson Harris turned and glared at the
wild countenance of the young man by his
side, as if to ak what he meant; but the
look was unnoticed, for as if thirsting for
blood, Anderson kept on loading and firing
whenever one of their enemies offered his
body as a fair mark.
At every discharge that took effect there
was a wild yelling, above which might te
heard the shviekrng and wailing t f the
blacks when somo famous warrior of the
tribe slackened his muscles, let fall spear,
waddy, shield or boomerang, that he should
hurl no more; but in spite 01 ineir losses,
the attack was kept up now on one side,
now on the other, ppear after spear flying
through the ltitle windows, or sticking m
f h beddinc with which they were barri
caded, to be dragged out and sent back by
Teddy the black, who in his excitement
had rpAuppd his costume still farther, only
wanting a little yellow, red and wkite paint
to emulate tho wariior uniform of hi3 ene
mies.
But at last the evening had set in. for
the short twilight was past, and the stars
were looking down calmly upon the scene
of the afternoon's bloodshed." Though but
shortly before, dusky figure after dusky fig
ure might have been seen gliding from tree
to tree or darting across some open spot,
yelling and brandishing spear or club, now
all was silent, save at times the distant low
ing of some of Samson's cattle or the ble&t
ii.g of sheep. Now and again, too, would
come the barking and howling of the dogs
that had been driven away by the fierce
native onslaught; one of those raids made
upon the settlers, whom they looked npon
as usurping their land.
Samson Harris seemed utterly prostrat
ed by his ogony of soul, for again and again
almost incessantly he Kept picturing to
himself the child he accused himseii of
neglecting, struggling in the bands of the
blacks. He would have gone to seek her
now, mad as the act would have been, in
the darkness of the night, surrounded as
they were by enemies, but for the prayers
of his wife, and their only hope seemed to
be that poor Mary had taken alarm and
sought for refuge in the scrub, which ex
tended fer some distance in one direction.
This, he knew would be but an act of folly
if she had been 6een, for they would have
tracked her footsteps to the place of refuge
with the greatest of case; their prayer was
that she might have taken the alarm in
time. Anderson and his companion had
had a very narrow escape at the station
they occupied some few miles from Sam
son's house, but a bold front and a daring
charge had enabled them to combine their
forces, so, as Anderson had hoped, to be of
some protection to Mary Harris, for whom
he had, in spite of her father's opposition,
long entertained a warm feeling of admira
tion. There was a chance that under cover of
the darkness, Mary might thread her woy
amongst the blacks and reach the hut and
in the hope Anderson stood at the open
door watching the eight through, hour af
ter hour, his senses on the stretch. More
than once, too, with Teddy for a comp in
ion, he walked for somo little distance
round the hut; but stumbling over the
body of one of their enemies, he fell
amongst the bushes with ro loud a crash
that he was glad to retreat and stand
watching once more at his post
An inspection after the afternoon's strug
gle had proved that beyond a few. scratch
es, the defenders of tho hut had escaped
unharmed; and but for the fearful anxiety
which oppressed all present they would
have hopefully looked for the morning,
ready to meet their enemy again with renew
ed eourage. Provisions they had in plenty,
if needs were, for weeks. Ammunition,
too, showed no signs of running short 'ill
Samson opened a little keg, to find that the
powder it should have contained was pow
der no more, but one hard mass, into which
it had been turned by the dripping from
the roof. The bad news was conveyed
from one to the other in grim silence, the
men examined their powder flasks, to find
that he who was most wealthy possessed
but charges beyond the one in his rifle.
"Will they attack again to-morrow?" was
the oft repeated question. One thought
they would for revenge, and never rest con
tent until all within the hut were destroy
ed; another was of the opinion that they
would be too demoralized and that the
morning light would find them all miles
away; but this last supposition was too full
of hope to be believed in. Anderson and
Harris rarely spoke, but while the others,
fearless in the knowledge that natives nev
er attack by night, stept heavily, they
watched on, repeating to themselves, as
they pictured the solemn silence of the vast
woods around, tho camp of the natives and
their savage cruelties, the same words over
and again
"Where was Mary?"
III.
Watching the long night through with
stminingeyes constantly directed at every
spot that seemed never so little darker than
the night itself. Bush, tree, farming im
plements, all in their turn were magnified
into enemies, performing the same duties
a3 the inmates of the hut and waiting to
spy out their weakness and the best place
for the morrow's assault But as tho night
wore on, and the watchful stars still shed
their peaceful light, a change came over
the wakeful ones, and the objects that had
before been looked upon as enemies, were
taken for the figure of her whose absence
had created such a void in more than one
heart But though Anderson started hope
fully again and again, and roused the sleep
ing black by his side, there was no rust
ling, gliding 6tep, no eager, light form of
the fair young girl, who, with beating
heart had threaded her way amid her sleep
ing enemies, and now bounded toward the
hut for shelter.
Anderson groaned, and could have torn
his hair; so, disappointed, feverish and
restless he once more walked round the
hut listening attentively for some sound
where all was still as in the vast region
around, even to solemnity. But in vain;
and could he have done so he might have
sought in sleep that rest and refreshing his
jaded body needed.
Morning at last; first the pale, pearly
gray; then the far up faint pink tinge;
then the blushing, glowing clouds; then
the gorgeous golden arrows darting to the
zenith; and lastly, as if with a bound, came
the glorious sun himself, to beam upon
the earth with smile, as though all were
peace, and sorrow was a thing unknown.
But there was neither rest or peace, for
with a series of frantic yells tho blacks
again showed themselves, crying, leaping.
dancing, shouting, partly to alarm their
enemies, partly to work themselves up to
the fighting pitch. Their faces were streak
ed with a kind of red ochre and pipe clay,
while upon the little bark shields they car
ried, grotesquely hideous human faces were
depicted, to intimidate those whom they
attacked. Nude, save for the opossum skin
strip knotted loosely round their loins, they
once more came boldly up to their attack
upon the hutt hurling spear and boomer
ang those singul ir weapons, which, fail
ing to strike the object aimed at, return to
the thrower s hand.
-There waa-notbing fUi ife BOTUrastho
inmates were concerned, but to fire till the
last bullet and grain of powder should be
expended, and then trust to such weapons
as they could muster for close quarters,
giving up being a question never once
mooted; and now, as shot after shot was
fired, it was pitiful to Bee the effect in the
bright red spot or long gash in tho flesh.
where a bullet had struct obliquely. But
when fighting in defence of life, men have
but little compassion for those who would
rob them of the gift and it was with a grim
feeling of satisfaction that savage after
savage was seen to fall, till a tall, daring
fellow had dashed up' to the hut clapped
his hand on his chest leaped into the air,
and fell motionless, when Anderson threw
down his rifle, sajing, "That's the last
charge." ,
A gloomy silence ensued. Men gazed
from one to the other; then fixed long and
anxious looks upon those who had been
their leaders in the fight, as if expecting
them to hit upon Borne plan of escape from
the death that seemed imminent Now
they swept the approaches to the hut in
hopes that some strong party of settlers
might be on the way to them, either bound
for a new station, or knowing them to be
attacked, with a mission lor their rescue.
But in a place where a fresh face was not
seen once in three months, they knew well
that such 6uecor was next to impossible.
Mrs. Harris patient and calmer than any
one present still lay with her little ones
hidden in the wool-loft; but as from time
to time, when she come to the edge, her
eyes met that of Anderson, there was a mu
tual reading of the agony each suffered,
hidden though it was beneath the sem
blance of stoicism.
The stillness that had followed npon the
excitement of the fight seemed at length t
have grown unbearable; men felt that
treachery was at work somewhere, aad mo
meutarily expected an attack from some
unguarded part They grew distrustful,
and more than once Anderson caught him
self going lrom window to window to see
that a proper watch was kept where he
anticipated danger.
At length, half maddened by the mental
pain he suffered, Anderson cast himself de
spairingly upon the floor of the hut turn
ing his face from those around, that they
might not see its workings.
The young man's action was noi without
its effect; for his companion, tho friend
who had escaped with him from the blacks'
assault upon the previous day, now broke
the silence, sayirjg in utter forgetfulness of
the women and children:
"It's all over, my man; we may as well
shake hands all around and make a rush for
it right into the black mob, as stop here
and be burnt out like squirrels in a tree.
I can't bear this standing still any longer."
But though he looked from face to face,
no man answered him, but on the whole
avoided his gaze, and watched on at the
dusky figures of tho savages as they moved
incessantly to and fro. When, Beeiog that
his words were of no effect coolly, laid
aside his rifle, rolled np his shirt Sleeve,
and opening a largo knife, began to rub
and sharpen it upon the hearth-stone.
The mental anxiety was frightful; for
let alone the thoughts of poor Mary's fate,
it was as though death was about to des
cend upon the watchers from moment to
moment, while they were debarred lrom
making a single struggle for life.
The morning fled, and noon came; and
still there was no further attack, and
wounded figures had been seen to struggle
and gradually stiffen into the rigidity of
death within their sight; others to crawl by
slow degrees into the shelter of the bushes,
unheeded by their savage companions,
but still no further attack was made, it
seeming evident that the blacks were hold
ing conaultatipn amongst themselves In the
shelter of the trees and bushes but a short
distance off.
Now a black figure would glide into sight
and look menacingly toward the hut before
darting out of sight once more. Then
there was a long interval before another
was seen, and then eyes were strained
amongst the trees in vain for a sight of
their enemies.
The heat had been excessive, and the
small supply of water within the hut being
exhausted, the men began to suffer terribly
what little they had having been nobly giv
en np to Mrs. Harris and the children. All
at once though, Teddy seized a pail, and
lolling his tongue out like a thirsty dog,
began making signs that he should be let
out to fetch water signs that . were quite
unnecessary, for he had no diflieulty in
making himself understood in his master's
language. '
Bat Harris was immovable, and ordered
him back. The black's fidelity had been too
often tried, and Samson felt that he could
not afford to risk the loss of one faithful
servant at a time like this. So Teddy put
down the pail upon seeing his master's
mood, seized again waddy and spear, and
dropping panting and tongue-lolling, took
his place at one of the windows to watch
again for his enemies.
His face was a study as he stood there
watching, his eyes half closed, mouth
twitching and nostrils working. Ho was
evidently perplexed, and more than once
made a movement as if to climb out of the
window; but at length his face changed in
to a fixed immobility, and he seemed wait
ing till his master should command.
Hour after hour passed by, and all was
still silent From watching, Samson took j
to examine the powder keg once more,
But it all seemed turned to a solid mass,
till with a hatchet he knocked off hoop
after hoop, cleared away the little staves,
and struck the block heavily with the:
hatchet to find, when the shell was
broken, that within were some pounds of
uninjured powder, at the sight of whose
grimy grains men a hearts rose, and nnes
were loaded, and flasks were eagerly filled.
In readiness once more, they awaited
the next attack; but the sun had long be
gun to descend, and for hours they had
neither heard a yell nor seen a single fig
ure gliding from amongst the trees.
"Dm all gone, "cried the black shepherd
suddenly; "here Juno."
And in fact frisking and playing about
in front of the hut one of Sampson's dog
had made its appearance, whining and
howling till it was admitted; but fearing
that the blacks might still be within reach,
Sampson kept his companions within doors
only yielding tc the appeal of Teddy, that
he might go out and see.
Teddy glided like a great snake out of
the back window and was soon lost to
sight; but before a long, a horse or two,
some sheep and the cows came bleating
and lowing about the hut affording abun
dant proof that the savages, of whom they
have a wholesome dread, fleeing rapidly
at the sight of their spears, had departed.
And now began the search for Mary, all
present knowing that sooner or later they
must find her living or dead.though almost
all felt &s they set about their search with
heavy hearts, that the wailing mother'6
tears were not without cause,
In case of a surprise, they all kepi to
gether, fearing to shout, but encouraging
the dog to hunt around, when suddenly
Anderson's rifle rose to his shoulder, and he
was about to fire, but perceived just in
time that the black figure rapidly approach
ing was that of Teddy, the shepherd.
"All gone right 'way," he said, nodding
his head sagaciously, as he pointed out the
faintly masked trail made by the departing
savages, while he was loud in his declara
tions that they were "too much fright
come back never never." When asked
what he thought about the missing girL he
only shook his head, and would not an
swer till pressed, when his reply was, "No
know try find;" and bending down, he
began to span every fbpt print in the di
rection she would have been likely to have
taken, till darkness put a stop to the
search, and all save Samson, and Anderson
returned to the Lut
No one saw the agony cf those two men
as now, 6lowly working their way through
the bushes, stumbling with utter weari
ness, they strode on till nature would hold
out no longer, and they sank down, worn
out to sleep for an hour or two beneath the
watching stars; bnt only to leap up re
proaching themselves for relaxed efforts,
as they hurried back to the hut to try and
hear some tidings of the lost girL
IV.
The haggard, drawn countenance of Sam
son Harris' wife saluted them as they hur
ried up to the door of the hut, and in that
encounter, where each sought for news or
hope, it was plain enough to read the bit-
. i ; r
ter uaings written ui eucu tmxious lace.
Anderson turned away with a groan, and
was proceeding toward the dense scrub,
when Sampson called to him to halt as he
kicked at the black shepherd to rouse him
from his deep sleep.
Ten minutes after, with Teddy leading
the way, they were examining the ground,
step by step, in the hope of finding the
track by which Alary had entered the scrub,
but the crass was so trampled m every di
rection that the task Beemed hopeless.
Footprints and trails there were lacing and
interlacing, one destroying the idantity of
the other; but though seeking as it were
entirely in the dark, they pressed on hour
after hour.. Ever and again, either the
father or Anderson shuddered when they
came upon some spot where blood Bullied
the green herbage with its crimson stains,
and when such a place occurred, they traced
the blood spots tremblingly, and in dread
lest they should stumble in their next step
unon the body of her they pought
But no soch harrowing eight met their
oaze: and still to and fro they searched.
shouting at intervals, till night again put a
stop to their efforts.
Day after day passed of indefatigable
search, and tho thought occurred again and
again to Samson that tho blacks must have
dragged the poor girl off with them in their
retreat; but Teddy would not hear to it
saying. "Wait a bit find urn soon; black
feller no take white girl away." Ander
son, too, seemed of opinion that Maty was
still near at Land, and with torn and bleed
ing hands and face, he still kept up the
weary search till long after it was certain
that if the poor girl wero found in the
schrub life would be there no more.
Dense impenetrable almost the fcrub
extended mile after mile, to an indefinite
distance, presenting ever the same features;
so that if the poor girl had been alarmed
by the savages and hurried for safety into
the wilderness, guide there was none; and,
like many others, she might toil on, till she
fell exhausted to perish of inanition. To a
dweller in England the idea ot being lost
in the bush seems absurd; but out in the
great Australian wilds, where everything is
on so grand so apparently illimitable a
scale, strong and ardent men have been
before now known to wander from the
beatean track to where pathway there was
none through the untrodden wild, and to
wander on and on till death put an end to
their sufferings.
But bad Mary wandered away la dread,
fleeing for safety through the thorny waste?
They could not answer the question ; and.
in spite of making an ever-widening circlo
to try and discover the trail; all seemed
vain. Samson would havo pushed off by
the track taen by the savages, but for the
persuasion of Anderson; and thongh so far
disappointment had attended his efforts,
Teddy seemed pleased at the trust reposed
in him, and often, down upon hands and
knees, he examined every blade of grass
and leaf.
The traces left by the marauding party
extended round tba hut and for some dis-'
tance back into, the wild in every direction;
and it was beyond that circle that the prin
cipal ellorts of the seekers were directed;
bnt days wore on without any success, the
difficulty growing greater each hour, in a
land where vegetation is rapid and crass
would soon spring up where the foot had
pressed, as was very apparent; for on the
eighth morning, when they again started
upon their apparently hopeless task, the
tracks of the savages were in many places
hardly to be seen. All dread of their ene
mies seemed lost in this great trouble, and
they wandered on, hour after hour, heedless
of danger, till on this last day they were at a
spot many miles from home, where was an
opening in the dense scrub the rough head
of rock and huge boulder being thrust here
and there through the sod to form a deso
late wilderness, far as the eye could reach
mile after mile of rugged stony undulation,
upon which the sun beat down with a heat
that was all but unbearable.
For days past Teddy had been taciturn
and moody, hunting on still, and apparent
ly examining every inch of ground; but he
hardly answered when spoken to, appar
ently under the impression that Samson
and Anderson were disappointed in his
track.
Evening wss fast approaching, when it
Beemed to Anderson that the black had
made some discovery, for he was pressing
on in one particular direction, though when
shouted to, he took no heed. Tired and
worn, however, and sick at heart with
many disappointments, father and lover
sat down to rest when at the end of about
an hour they heard the well-known "cooey"
of the black, reiterated again and again.
So, desponding, they rose and proceeded
in the direction of the sound, to meet the
black at last looking eager and yet start
ledapparently afraid to communicate his
intelligence to Samson and turning in his
track to retrace his steps for a couplo of
miles, when, just as night wa3 falling, he
halted, stepped aside, and pointed on
wards to where there was a little eminence
visible in front of the father.
"For Heaven's sake push on, cried An
derson huskily; but Samson grasped at his
arm, and would have stayed him had be
not thrust him aside and dashed forward,
to be out of sight in a few moments
amongst the bushes which here grow
thickly.
Five minutes passed and he did not re
turn, when staggering like a drunken man,
Samson followed in his steps, with eyes
bent upon the ground, and brain apparent
ly stunned, feeling that some dread horror
was about to be revealed to him, but only
in a numb, helpless way. The black came
close behind, watching him intently, till,
parting the buvhes, he came in right of
Anderson, kneeling by the figure they had
so long songht; for, lying, as if peacefully
sleeping, beneath the scanty 6 bade of a
stunted bush, through whose thin sharp
leaves the evening breeze sighed mourn
fully, was the sleeping girl, whoso torn
garments, laoerated feet and arm bent be
neath her head, showed that she had in
deed fled from the approach of the savages
and wandered on and on hopelessly till
she had laid down, as she imagined, to
sleep her last long sleep. The band which
Anderson grasped was tightly clutched ;but
in spite of its coldness, the thin, blue lips,
sunken eves, and the unnatural pallor of
the face, it was evident that she lived. The
father, thongh, knew it not neither did
Anderson; for, weeping like children, they
knelt on either side, dreading to move
her, for she seemed now doubly sacred in
their eyes.
"Better than that we should never have
found her," said Samson in a broken voice.
"Teddy sure a find her some day. JNow
fetch a water, and give her drink," ex
claimed the black; and taking np what
neither of the others had noticed the
milking pail that the poor girl must have
carried from day to day in her many
wanderings he went off and soon returned
with water.
KeeD back, fool," exclaimed Anderson,
as the black pushed np Mary's head, and
scooping up some water in the hollow of
his hand, he made as if to pour it over the
reclining form.
"No dead." exclaimed Teddy; "give her
drink. Dah ! ' he ejaculated; for at that
moment Anderson gave a cry of joy on see
ing a slight quivering in ens eyelid, while
the thin blue bps parted to emit a sigh,
iaint as that of the wind above their heads.
w. V A - " 1
They had reacnea mo poor gin in
time; but so near had she been to her last
bieath that weeks elapsed, during which
she lay almost insensible npon the borders
of that unknown land to which she had 60
nearly traveled before she could be said to
be out of danger.
Hers was a simple story one that she
often told in after years to Anderson's chil
dren, as, a happy wife, she sat beneath his
prosperous roof a story of how she had fin
ished milking a cow, and was carrying her
pail to the next when the gliding form of a
black in his war paint attracted her atten
tion. Her first idea was to nee to the hut;
but that she soon saw was utterly impossi
ble, for figure after figure appeared be
tween her and safety, and all she could
do was to go back quietly into the scrub
and then, with the pail she carried catch
ing in the bushes, so that the white milk
splashed out from time to time, 6he fled
on hastily always viith the impression
that she was being tracked.
How it was she clang to the paiL seem'
ed to her a mystery; but it was her salva
tion, for, utterly worn out at List she had
fallen on her knees in the dense wood as
darkness came on, dreading to move, and
now for the first time she remembered the
milk, and drank eagetly of the remainiug
but sadly diminished supply. The next
dav she wandered on and on, helplessly
lost eTfr changing her course, and fleeing
in dread from the blacks she felt assured
were on her traiL The milk gave her l:fo
and strength that day and the next as she
husbanded and eked out the failing drops
with water, till tho time came when ail
seemed a feverish dream, wherein 6he was
struggling on through thorny wastes with
the hot sun pouring its fervid beams upon
her head.
She knew no more, for her next recollec
tion was waking in her own old bed at the
hut as from a long end troubled dream.till
a glance at her wasted hands, and an at
tempt to rise, told her that the dream was
true.
The axe of the woodman, and fire, have
lone since cleared the desolate scrub, where
herbage, the pasture of many a herd and
flock, has sprung up; the advance of civil
ization, too, has dotted tho wide plain
with homesteads and shepherds' hntwhose
frequency would now render eucIi a citas
frophy almost impossible, save further up
the country, where claims are new, and
civilization and savagedom still battle for
the pro eminence; but the story u well
known, and there were, not long since,
many who were willing to point out the
spot where Mary Harris was found Lost
in the Scrub.
How to Carve.
Carving is a very desirabla accomplis h
ment for both ladies and gentlemen, and
should be taught Oae cannot learn it by
tuition, but by practice, joined by a small
slice of theory. It is tiuo that the French
style of serving the meat 6liced is fast ban
ishing the necessity of carving at the table
of the rich; but in middle lite, where such
elegancies are not practised, a knowledge
of carving should be a part of a boy's or
girl s education. How often do we hear a
rrson say: "Oh, excuse me, I can't carve;
never tried." Or, if it be attempted,
one soon finds himself sadly embarrassed.
He grasps the finite and fork desperately.
He has learned that a slice of a breast cf a
turkey is a dainty; that a wing is good; the
second joint also; that the leg id not so
good. But it is not an easy task to sepa
rate them, and he thinks he would rather
chop wood than dress turkey. He does
not know that on tho back lies a delicate
morsel called the opstor, and the side
bones below the second joint are consid
ered tit-bits. This must be taught him.
Ladies ought especially to make carving a
study; at their own home the task often de
volves upon them, and they should
be able to perform it with ease
and not be forced to accept the
assistance of visitors, who would prob
ably dread the opreation. The platter
should be placed so near the carver that he
has fall control over it; if far off, nothing
can prevent an ungraceful appearance. A
sharp knife is requisite, and a thm and well
tempered blade. In carving turkey, cut off
the wing nearest to yon first then the leg
and second joint: then slice the breast until
a rounded, ivory-shaped piece appears, in
sert tho knife between that and the bone
and separate them; this part is the nicest
bit of the breast; next comes the "merry
thought" Alter this, turn over the bird a
little, and just below the breast you will find
the oyster, which you separate as you did
the inner breast The side bone lies be
side the rump, and the desired morsel can
be taken without separating the whole
bone. Proceed the same way with the
other side. The fork need not be removed
daring the whore process. An experienced
carver will dissect a fowl as easy as you can
break an egg or cut a potato. He retains
his seat, manages his hands and elbows
artistically, and is perfectly at ease. There
is no difficulty in the matter; it only re
quires knowledge and practice, and these
snould be taught in the family, each child
taking his or her turn. Chickens and
partridges are carved in the same way.
Well Paid Women.
The New Tork correspondent of the Boa
ton Post writes:
"Working women, as a class, that is
shop girls, 6 tore girls, etc, are not e'
course, so well paid as men, but some re
ceive very good salaries nevertheless. Fe
male telegraphers, for instance, are paid
from $15 ts $20 a week. A first class sew
ing machine operator can earn $15 a week
though the majority do not earn more than
half that Good female teachers in private
and public schools get from $600 to $1,000
a jear. The better class of dressmakers
and forewomen in sewing eslablishments
avearge $800 to $000 a year, and some re
ceive as ranch as l,20O. lbere are several
women employed aa book keepers at salar
ies of from $16 to $20 a week, and their
places are just as secure aa those of men.
Bat all these women have had to learn their
business thoroughly. Most ot them count
enough years to be considered old maids
from twenty-eight to forty but taev havo
not given up the hope of getting husbands.
And I can say, from observation, that those
who do get hasband J make excellent wives.
There is no giddiness about them and very
little extravagance, and the moment tbey
settle over a household they make ' every
thing tidy and comfortable and keep it so.
I don't know any class of women more de
sirable as wives for men who want agreea
ble homes and a chance to hava something
for a rainy day than the 'old maids' of
thirty, or thereabouts, who have responsi
ble positions aa employes in stores and
wrokshops. There are several hundred
women in New York who earn more money
every year than an edual number ol fairly
qualified men, and they do not have to
work vcrv hard either. Iut what tccv co
they do well, having learned their calling
thoroughly and drilled themselves into
system.
American Hyperbole.
A natty little book has just come over
from London, entitled "llemiuiscences of
America; by Two Englishmen, which de
scribes the manner in which the twain
rippled through the country,-what they
saw in the country, and what they heard
in the streets. As instances of the "hj per
bole of the country thej record the fol
lowing:
In describing the large trees of the
Yosemite Valley, one said that "it took
two men and a boy to see the top cf
them." One being asked by a friend if he
saw a certain mosouito on the weather
vane of the State House ( !) at St. Louis,
answered, "Yes, I see it winking. A
third, in describing the prices ot carnages
at Niagara, asserted that the "hackiares
are so high that the Falls are insignificant
by comparison."
Another story is related, with the ap
pearance of truth, of a boy who was
watching his school-fellows as they snow
balled an old gentleman's windows. The
old gentleman rushed out of his house,
determined, if possible, to inflict somo se
vere corporeal punishment on the offender
saying when he ciught tho boy, "Now,
you rase al, I'll thrash you within an inch
of your lite!" Accordingly he began to
beat him, when the boy immediately com
menced laughing, and continued so until
the old gentleman stopped beating him,
with the exclamation, ".boy what are vou
laughing at ?" "WeU,said the boy, "I'm
lanching because you are awfully sold: J
ain't the boy I" Blitor'f Drawer, in Iorer'a
Ala-jaiinejor ixptemoer.
A Powfrfui. Insect. The tendency of
soldiers to grotesque exaggerations 13 well
illustrated by the remark of one of them
concerning that greatest pest of the camp
which the dictionaries denominate a "small
insect of the genus lediculus." I presum
every army in history has been annoyed
by his atomy, but I think none suffered
from it and made it the subject of habitual
jeat before the armies of our war. As in
the case of every other source of vcxatioj,
the men grumbled at it philosophized over
it and lar.hed at it :
"I could bear the little fellows, and say
nothing about thm," I heard a dry joker
in blue say to comrades at reveille roll-call
one morning; "but snch monsters as there
are in this camp ! Why. I woke up last
night and saw one of these creeters sitting
at the foot of my bunk. He had his back
to me, and there was a great U. S. A. on
it; but when he turned round great Scott!
what d'ye think he was doing ?"
Eating hard-tack,-' snggosted one, with
awiuk.
"Smoking vour pipe," put in another.
"No, he wasn't; he was picking his
teeth with my bayonet" iron Mro's
from Field, Camp and Garrison, in Lippin-
cjUs Jl.i-jizme for ivpltmber.
The Chinese learu fast and welL Quite
a number in uaiiiornia have oecome ex
pert professional burglars, and can "crack
a crib" with a3 much dexterity as the best
London cracksman. The Chinese in Amer
ica wii! soon became thoroughly civilized.
The English army is .being rapidly and
largely recruited lrom unemployed labor
era. The navv is also havinc its force in
creased, moro by boys under 1G years of
age than by men, the object being to tiaia
tip a new crop oi seamen.
CURRENT PARAGRAPHS.
Miscellaneous Items.
Salt water ruins the hair.
A pousd of ice weighs six ounces.
Eed Cloud hats are the latest rage.
Nose blenching is a Parisian trade.
The FhEXcn Situation A dye-nasty.
Gaelic butter is a delicacy in Spain.
Albany is now anxious for free baths.
Geoegh is to be geologically surveyed.
Noefolk is anxious for a public library.
Business is very dull along the Missis
sippi An Omaha firm rivals Babbit in soap
boiling.
Louis Napoleon's illness is eaid to be
only a faint t
A "Grein-gbocxb" is described aa
who trusts."
'one
Leopold is called the flower of chivalry
the primrose.
New Orleans has small pox, but no
yellow fever.
New Yobk's greatest "pets just now are
its fvee-baths.
A Pari doctor advertises to amj Ktate
hump-backs.
Baltimore wants a good bank. Others
would not object.
Sous of the omnibus routes in London
are II miles long.
Eepented penitence wearies the soul.
Madame de StaeL
The "Sun" has been known to shine
with borrowed rays.
A sew railroad is projected from Ithaca
to Cayauga, New York.
The 994 trades-unions in this country
have 12G.775 members.
These has been a German daily paper
started in Toledo, Ohio.
Mazeppa is being converted Into an
opera by a P is composer.
A cynical old bacbelor says that matri
mony is the root of all eviL
The buckwheat crop in Southern New
York is unusually promising.
They are forming "old maida' societies"
in several counties out in Ohio.
The Prussians are said to be troubled
with the ("Mizzeries") Mezieres.
"An Ohio murderer declined to be inter
viewed," unless he. was paid.
The Prussians are taking a Metz-otinto
view of Napolon and his army.
Punch thinks that just now the "pipe of
peace" is "contraband of war."
A peo position is on foot to change the
name of Cincinnati to Hamburg.
The Cafe Napoleon in Berlin changed its
name as soon as the war broke out
Fbench agility in leaping ditches is as
cribed to tho national diet on frogs.
Who doesn't envy tho people in Wall
street who have bo much gold that they
can't carry it!
"Parting is sweet pain," as the curly
headed fop said when he tried to part his
hair in the middle.
Wanted, fcy every soldier in the Prus
sian army, "The Lite of Louis Napoleon,
with or without cuts.
Gen. Splvneb is called "the man that
writes a name on the greenbacks that looks
like a string of eels."
A JiaisET editor, commenting on the title
of a new book, "Only a Girl," asks, "Well,
what did they want twins?"
If postage on paper's is reduced to one
cent there will be two sent where there is
one sent now.
The returns from the Boston public baths
6how that there were nearly a million
bathers in July.
Maj. Powell is about to enter upon an
other expedition to explore the great canon
of the Colorado.
Two hundred bales of silk recentlv nasa-
ed through Omaha, shipped direct from
ni. : t i
The Petersburg (Va.) Index report that
the sumac trade in that section is becom
ing quite important
Down East for weeks past many of the
mills have been running by steam, owing
to the scarcity ot wattr.
The friends of tho Pound Gap Railroad,
in Southwest Virginia, are making earnest
efforts to build the road.
A man being dissatisfied with the bill of
an expressman, was allowed to express his
feeliDgs without charge.
It is currently reported that several of
ine AiODertson county (Ky.) distilleries will
resume operations shortly.
Galveston, Texas, is ambitious for a
public library, and would like a dictionary
and spelling book to begin with.
Tna city cf Cohoes, N. Y.. which was
granted a city charter about a year ago,
now has a population of 18,000.
The people ol Denver. Colorado, t alk of
forming a vigilance committee to rid them
selves of the thieves and assassins.
The Hartford Post says there is a porter
in one of the hotels in that city who can
read Homes' Iliad in the Greek,"
A correspondent says the people who
spend the most money at the watering
places are the old men with young wives.
It is said that four presidents of the Uni
ted States never visited New England
Madison, Harrison, Taylor and Buchanan.
Nails, whose points have been dipied in
grease, can be driven easily into hard wood
which would otherwise bend or break them.
St. Catharine, Canada, has a girl eight
year3 of age who weighs 12S pounds, and
takes a four-mile promenade before break
fast The latest thieving trick in New York is
to approach a street car and snatch throagh
the windows hats from the passengers'
heads.
An incendiary attempt was made last
week in the New York Journal of Com
merce otnee, but tae nre was soon extin
guished. The first steamer ever seen on the Stan.
ton river, in Virginia, was launched at Eo
auoke station on Friday. It i3 called the
Charlotta.
The census taker of Monroe county Miss
issippi, Las found sixty pairs of twins less
than twelve months old, and one township
yet to hear from.
It is maintained, as an evidence of Mor
mon progress, that the Deseret News has
beon printed from types cat in Salt Lake,
and npon paper made in the same city.
The examinations for admission to col
leges this season have revealed the fact
that a large number of lads of sixteen or
seventeen years are deficient in spelling.
Cooper and She riaan two horse thieves
have been found guilty and sentenced to'the
penitentiary from Halfax county, Virginia,
one for eighteen and tho other for ten
years.
The Virginians are making a good busi
ness of gathering and drying srunasa for
drug houses. Petersburg received, in one
day Lvt week, 100,000 pounds ready to be
sent cu.
A New York tailor was started, the oth
er day, by the return of a bill which he had
sent to a magazine editor, with a notice
that the "manuscript was respectfully de
clined." At one of the watering places the scenes
witnessed at the "feeding hour" are said
to be asgood os a play and one correspon
dent goes so far as to call the dinner "a
great gastronomical circus."
Any one who is under the delusion that
"it is only the first step that costs," would
do well-to exam'ne the building accounts
of the New City HalL
Why is the figure nine like a peacock?
It is nothing without its taiL
A Columbus, O., paper tells of a biave
girl who pawned not only her boots but
her stockings, and went noma Dareiooieu,
all for money to buy a new cniguon.
For the Boys and Girls.
THE CHILDREN.
BY CHARLES DICKENS.
When the hvsoas sod tasks are all ended.
And the school for the dj is dlsmhvtd.
And the little ones gather around me,
To bid me good nlht and be kissed:
Oh, the In no white arms that encircle
My neck in a tender embrace I
Oh. the smiles that are haloe of heaven,
bhed ding sunshine of love on my face f
And when they are gone, I sit dreaming
Of my childhood too lovely to last;
Of love that my heart will remember,
Wbenit watss to thepnlse of the past
Ere the world and its wickedness made me
A partner of sorrow and sin, ,
When the glory of God wasabont me,
And the glory of gladness within.
Ob, my heart grows weak as a woman's.
And the tonntain of feeling will flow.
When I think of the raths. steep and stony.
Where tbe foet of the dear ones mnot go:
Of the mountains of sin hanging o'er them.
VI the tempest of late blowing wild:
Oh I tnere is nothing on earth halt so holy
as ine innocent Heart or child!
They are idols of hearts and of households ;
They are angels of God in disenise :
His sunlight still sleeps in their tresses,
liis glory stul gleaois in their ejes:
Oh I those truants from home snd from heavea
lney nave mace me more manly and mild 1
And I know how Jesus could liken
The Kingdom of God to child.
geek not a life for the dear ones.
All radiant as others have done,
Bnt that life may have just enough shadow
To temper the glare of tbe sun:
I would pray God to guar J them from evil.
tmi my prayer would bound back to mjselr,
Ah I a seraph may pray for a sinner.
imt a sinner must pray for himse-f.
The twig is so easily bended.
I bave blushed the rule and the rod :
I have tanght them the goodness of knowledge,
iuey nave tangni me tne goodness of Uoa;
My heart is a dungeon of darkness.
wnere I shut them from break in 2 a rule:
My frown is sufficient correction;
Aiy love is the law of the school.
I shall leave the old house In the Autumn,
To traverse its threshold no more;
Ah I bow I shall sigh for the dear ones,
Taat meet me each morn at the toor I
I shall mi?8 the "good nights" and the kisses.
muuuie gusn ox tneir innocent glee.
The group on the green, and the flowers
lhat are brought every morning to me.
I shall miss them at morn and at eve,
T.heir song in the school and the street;
I shall mif s the low hum of their voices.
And the tramp of their delicate feet
When the lessons and tasks are all ended,
And deatb says. "The school is dismissed!"
May the Uttle ones gather around me.
'lo Did me good nixht and be kissed.
THE NEEDY GRASSHOPPER.
"Good morning, sir," said an idle and
unfortunate Grasshopper to a very busy
Bee. "Can yoopgive me a few hints as to
the best way to make honey? I suffered
very much last winter from hunger, and
am determined it shall not be so again.
Besides, I am fond of honey, and would
like to learn to make it, if only for the
pleasure of eating it now. What is the idea
in goin? into flowers head first, as
you do ?"
"I have no time to tell you. said the
Bie, "and there are already too many in.
the business. And then you are not fitted
for it. Your knees and elbows are too
sharp." And he flew away.
"Very polite, to make comments on my
personal appearance I I mean to try to
make honey at all events, said the Grass
hopper, watching closely another Bee, who
went buzzing into a flower. "I see how it
is done, and I can buzz with my wings, if
it is necessary. So he made a leap from
the wail where he sat into a little harebell
that grew near by. The delicate flower
was torn in pieces.
"I'oor, perishable thingr said he, as he
hopped back to the wall in disgust.
Just then he saw a bpider industriously
spinning his web in the heflge.
aood morning, neighbor, said the
Grasshopper.
"Good morning, said the bpider, rather
gruffly, for he never liked to be disturbed
at his work. .
"I would like to ask one or two ques
tions about making a web," said the Grass
hopper. "I have often watched you at
your work in my leisure moments, but can't
exactly see how you manage it. I am very
tired of grass and things. Are flies good?"
Uiather! said the bpider.
'That looks easy," said the Grasshopper.
"I wonder if I could do it."
'Nothing like trying," said the Spider.
You go backward and forward quite
steadily, I see. I am accustomed to go on
the jump. That would not do as well,
perhaps."
'io straight ana seep your line taut,
said the Spider.
"Thank you for the information," said
the Grasshopper. "I hive a gredt mind
to try."
"Not on this side of the hedge," said the
Spider; "This belongs to me."
"Oh, certainly not," said tie Grasshop
per. Then the Spider went into his den, and
the Grasshopper hopped over the hedge
and began to go backward and forward as
he had seen the Spider do.
A gay Fly came flitting by. "If this
web were only done, I could catch him,"
thought the Grasshopper; but he said,
"What do you do for a living, my friend ?"
"Do I" said the Fly "nothing ! I am a
gentleman. I amuse myself. '
"How about the cold winter ?" said the
Grasshopper.
"Oh, I creep into a snug hole and sleep
till the warm days come again," said the
Fly.
"That a a new idea, said the Grass
hopper. "Though I'm afraid I could not
sleep so long I am rather nervous. Even
in the short summer nights I sing as much
as I sleep. But pray tell me if you see
anything like a web here. I have been
going backward and forward and across, as
the Spider does, for as much as ten min
utes, but I fear I shall not succead."
"There's no sign of a web, said the Fly,
who knew all about such matters. "That
reminds me; the old Spider on the other
side has been making one on purpose to
catch me. I must go and have a little sport
with him. Did you ever try it? Full at
one corner of his web, slyly, and he comes
running out of his den with his mouth
open to eat yon, while you soar gracefully
away.
"Then you are good to eat, said the
Grasshopper, smacking his lips, for he was
hungry.
"Oh no! Far from it, said the riy.
"It is only his whim;" and he flew over the
hedge.
Ihen the Grasshopper jumped flown n
despair, and walked along the garden path,
thinking what he would do next.
An Ant came to her door to see which
wav the wind blew. A bright thought
came into his head. "Good morning, mad
am," said he. "You take lodgers, I be
lieve. I want to hud comfortable quarters
for the winter, and am willing to make my
self usefuL"
"I thought you were a dancing-master.
said she.
"I was, madam, said he, "but that
business is dull, now the times are so
hard. Though perhaps you would like to
learn. You have just the figure for it.
"No, I thank you, said she, "i don t
approve of dancing;" and she shut the
door in his face.
"Of course not. I might have known
it," said he; "a Grasshopper never found
a friend in an Ant since the world began."
Just then he saw a notice by a doorway
under the rock, "Tailoress wanted."
He rapped at the door and a striped
Snake put his head out.
"Do you want a tailoress t saia tne
Grasshopper.
"Yes. said the Snake, "the times are so
hard that I mean to have my cast off
snake-skins mended and wear them again.
A stitch in time is worth two in a bush.
you know ?"
"Yes, I fcnew it," said tne urassnopper.
"Are you good at the needle ?" said the
Snake.
I am good at everything, sa"i the
Grasshopper, "excepting at making honey
and spinning webs. But I am not sure
that I know exactly wnas you nieaja u j -mo
needle. "
"Begone then, said the aa e, "i sea
yon are an imposter.
Tee autumn wina Diew coia au tuuvp as
the poor Grasshopper turned sadly away.
"Am I then an imposterr tnougu ne.
"lly father taught me no trade, and left
me no inheritance. Every one else has
some way of providing for himself. Even
the silly Fly seems to be a favorite of for
tune. Well, then, if I can do nothing else,
I can at least try to tak e a long nap as he
does. But I will eat some poppy seeds
first. My mother used to eat them, I re
member." So he took a strong dose of poppy seeds,
and crept inta a little hole in the wall to
sleep away the long, cold winter, if h
could. The Children's Hour.
Customs reoeipta last week, WW $V
