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Jnradatj (Slotrc. Delivered by Currier, $2.00 per Year. Sent by Mail, Post-vaii\ for S!.K) per Year. Calendar for 18SJ fs If lit {Iff 5 iFilf H| | $ llisglß B,lßllllli • ■ 910111213 II 15 101112 131415101 s JC 17 IS 1!) 20SI •_>.:! \I IS It) £0 21 22>23 j I 23 34 2520 27 20 . 24 25 26 27 28 20|30 I f-, M 5i....: i , 31 .. .]... i I ! Few 1 el 3 4 5 At".. ... )"j;hh I <; : S 910 ii 12 7 8 !• Mv 12 13 i £ 13 Ml IS IC 17 IS 1!) I U\i:> Hi 17 ISJIH 20 I -iKUI 22 2321 25-20 2] 22 23 84 23 26 27 „ aaJU ...... ->*)sii3i_ i Mar 12 2-15 Sept 12 3 i 1 C 7 S 9 10 II yi 4 « V, 7 X 010 i ; 13 14 15! 1G 17 19 19 II r2 13 14 15 1G 17 ! 20 21 2283»* 23 2G ISIO '20 2 i 22 20 21 | 27S2S^a31 > 25 t2C*7 2&2a3U... i April...--..X1.. 12 0ct.... 1T....- i; 3 4 ra 61 7 s 9 ! 3 4 ft i, ; 8 i ] ID U 12 13 It 15 10 0 10 11 1-2 13 II 15 i ] 17 18 19,-. >(). L2|f2'. > zi 10117 is i:» 20 21 £> | 14 25 20,27>2S 2MO '•23,2 i 23 20 27 s- ■-•s! 3 ~ J... 1.. 30i31._ .] Day., 1"i 3 4 6"« "7 lIOV "1 "2 3 "4 5 j Sf»10 II 12 V l3 14 C7BOIOII 12 {I IS IK 17 IS l'J 20,21 13 1-1 15 10 17 18 1!) i t*2tTs 21 25 '26 '27 23 '20 >l a 8U25 26 J• " , , 29 M3l _ 27 2S 29 30 ......... I 1 Jan«.. L l '> s 4 Dee~. J .. l » 3!; 5 C 7 8 JMOlll 4 5 6 7 8 910! i 12 1314 15 Hi 17 19 11 P> 13 14 15 16 17 j 6 I3h» 21 2223|24 25 IS l'J 20 21 22 23*24 : I {26;27 iKi{eal3oK..U 2VG 27J25t29 < 0<V3l j Are Your Closets Ventilated 2 There is nothing so handy in a house 08 an abundance of large, roomy closets; but because they axe handy and extreme ly useful they are apt to be abused. There are many things ■which, as a,mat ter of course, arc always put into a closet, of which the articles of outward -wearing apparel make a largo part. There are always things which ought not to go into the closet, i. c, a closet adjoining c-r closely connected with a living or Bleep ing room. Of snch are all soiled nnuer gannents, the Avash clothes, -which ehould be put into a large bag far the purpose, or a roomy basket, and then placed in the wash-room or some other well-aired room at some distance from the family. Having thus excluded one oflhe fertile sources of bad oders in closets, the next point is to see that the closets arc properly ventilated. It mat ters not how clean the clothing in the closet may be. Any garment after be ing worn for a while will absorb more or lees of the- exhalations which arise irom the body, and thus contain an amount of foreign—it may be hurtful—matter which free circulation of pure air can soon remove; but if this is excluded, as in many close closets," the effluvia in creases, and the clothes closets and ad joining rooms in time possess an odor that any acute sense of smell will readily detect Every closet in daily use in which the night clothes are hung by day and the day clothing by night, should have an airing as well as the bed. If the closet can be large enough to admit of a windowand it is in some cases an ample provision for sunlight and the circulation of pure air is provided in the window, which should be left open for a short time each day. In the case of small closets a ventilator could be put over the door or even in it. In many cases such precautions for pure clothing are not practicable, and the next-best thing is. to see that the door of the closet is left open for a half hour or so each day at that time when the windows are thrown up and the large room is purified with fresh air from out of door?,. In this way, first, by keeping out clothes intended for the wash, and second, daily changing of the air, the closets may be kept comparatively pure. A Discriminating- Pickpocket. Dickens was the owner of a watch, which he prized very highly, it having been a present to him from the Queen. He would not accept an empty title; but he could not refuse to accept a simple token of his sovereign's friendship and esteem. One evening, while at the theater, in Paris, that watch was stolen from him. guard-chain had been worn very conspicuously, and on his way out through the lobby and crowd, the inestimable souvenir was adroitly taken from his pocket— seal. and After leaving the theater, Dickens spent an hour, more or less, with some friends at a cafe, where he told bis loss, being free to confess his grief and dis^ gust—grief for the departure of a prized token of friendship, and disgust with himself that he should have allowed a French piokpockct thus to despoil him. Hit had been a pupil of Fagin's— an art ist from the historic precinct of Tom all-Alone's—he wouldn't have minded it bo much. M I wouldn't have believed a Frenchman could do it," he de clared. But a surprise was in store for him. On returning to his hotel, Mr. Dickens was met by the concierge, who had a package fcr him, which a gentleman had left there half an hour before. On taking it to his room, and opening it, he found his watch, with the following note, written in a very fair hand, laid on top: Bib : I Lope you will excuse iqo for the lib erty I took. I thought I was relieving a Jfceßchman. I never dreamed that I was deal ing with a countryman. But the inscription on your watch told to me my mistake, and that mistake I hasten to repair so far as it lies in my power. 1 herewith rotnrn year property, and with it allow mo to tender my sincere respect and regard. Trusting, my honored country «Lin, that I may have your forgiveness, 1 am Toor humble and obedient servant, A London Pickpocket. Dickens went to bed feeling very thankful that he had his royal souvenir back again ; and, moreover, thankful tfiat he had not been toyed with and despoiled by a Frenchman ! Commercial Courtesy. There ai'e some merchants who regard drummers :is a nuisance, and refuse to talk to them, or if they say anything at al, it in only a, request to look at a con spicuously posted pictnrc of a man in a coffin, with the legend underneath, ** This man waa talked to death by a drummer." But old Twopercent, whose place of business is on Galveston avenue, 18 not that kind of a merchant prince! A New York drummer was passing his place of business, when he called him across the street and asked to look at his samples. The drummer could hardly believe his senses. He had never been treated that way before in Texan. It was hardly a minute before he had his samples spread out in anticipation of a $5,000 order. Old Twopercent got the Tery bottom price of everything in his line, but when the New York drummer asked him if he didii't want to order some of the goods the reply was : "Not mooch. You do not shupposo dot is vot I called you in for ?" " What did you call aao in for, then?" asked the drummer. MI only wanted to see vot your figgers jos, so ash to find out if I vas not sell ing my own goods too low."— Galveston News. I'ATIK.M WlilCr>\' JONES. Ny jam ks t. viklixs. Let us venerate the bones Of patient Mercy Jones, ■\Y'ho lies underneath these stone This is her etorv, as,_om<e told to me By him who still loved her, as all men mifjlii eeo— Darius, her husband, hia evenly yeare, A man of few words, but, for her, many tears. I>arius and Mercy wore born in Vormont; Both children were chrintenetfat baptismal font In the very same place, on tho very «uno day (Not much acquainted just Uiou, 1 dare Bay). Tho minister sprinkled the babies, and eaid, " Who knows but this oonple 8008 time may bo wed, And I be tho parson to join them together, For weal or for woe, through all sorts of weather! ' "Wei], they were married, and happier folk Never put their heads in tho Game loving yoke. They were poor, they worked hard, but nothing could try The patience of Mercy, or cloud her bright eye. She was clothed with content as a beautiful robe; - Hhe had griefswho has not op this changeable globe? But at such times she seemed lite a sister of Job. She was patient with doginse, where light never dawns, She was patient with people who trod on her lawns; She was patient with folks who said blno skies were gray, And dontiets and oxen that pulled the wrong way; She was patient with phrases no husband should utter, She was patient with cream that declined to be but ter; She was patient with buyers with nothing to pay, She was patient with talkers with nothing to Ray; She was patient •with millers whose trade was to cozen, • And grocers who counted out ten to the dozen ; She was patient with bunglers and fault-finding churlß, And tall, awkward lads who came courting her girls; Bre was patient with crockery no art could mend, And chimneys that smoked every day the wrong end; She was patient with reapers who never would sow, And long-winded callers whenever would go ; She was patient with relatives when, uninvited, They came, and devoured, then complained they were slighted; She was patient with crows that got into the corn, And other dark deeds out of wantonness born ; She was patient with lightning that burned up the hay, She was patient with poultry unwilling to lay ; She was patient with rogues that drank cider too strong, She was patient with sermons that lasted too long; She was patient with boots that tracked up her clean floor?, She was patient with peddlers and other smooth bores; She was patient with children who disobeyed rules-, And, to crown all the rest, she was patient with for The neighboring husbands all envied tie lot Of Darius, and wickedly got up a plot To bring o'er his t-unshine an unpleasant spot. " You think your wife's temper is proof against fate, But we know of something her smiles will abate. When she gets outof wood, and for more is inclined, Just send home the croolxdcst lot you can find ; Let us pick it out, let us go and choose it, And we'll bet you a farm, when she comes for to use it, Her temper will orack like Nathan Dow'e comet, And she'll be as mad as an elderly hornet." . Darius was piqued, and he said, with a run:, " I'll pay for the wood, if you'U fiend it hum ; Bat depend en it, neighbors, no danger will come." Home came the gnarled roota, and a crookrder JOJid Never entered the gate of a, dhristian abode. A ram's horn was straighter thaa any rtick in it; It eeemed to be wriggling about every minute; It would not stand up, and it wouid not lie dovrr.; It twisted the vision of one-half Uie towc. To look at Kuch fuel was really a idn. For tl)e chance was strabismus would surely «et ic. Darius said nothing to Mercy about if; It wot crookod wood—even site txmld not do^bt it: But never a harsh word escaped the sweet lips, Any more than if the old snags were smooth chips. Bhe boiled with them, bakc-d with them, washed with them through Tho long winter months, and none ever know . iir.t the wood was as straight as Mehitable Drew, Who was straight as a die, or a gun, or an arrow, And who made it her business all male hearts to Lar fow. When the piie was burned up, and they needed more wood, " Sure, now," mused.l>arius, M 1 atiall catch it good; She has kept her remarks all condensed for the spring, And my ears, for the trick, now deserve well to ting. She never did scold me, but now she will pout, And cay with such wood she is nearly worn out."' But Mercy, unruffled, was calm, like the stream That reflects back at evening the Run's perfect beam ; And she looked at Dariup, and lovingly smiled, As fthe made this request with a temper unriled : " We are wanting more fuel, I'm sorry to say; I burn a great deal too much every day, And I mean to use leas than I have in the past; But get,,if you can, dear, a load like the last; I never ha/1 wood that I liked -half so well- Do see who ha? nice crooked fuel to Bell; \ There's nothing that's better than wood full of knots," It fays bo complete round the kettles and pots, And washing and cooking are really like play When the sticks nestle close in so charming a way." — Harper's Magazine. The Extorted Kiss. To the north of Europe, at the en trance of the gulf of the Baltic sea, stands a city, resembling in its site "the Queen of the Adriatic." This second Venice is known by the name of Stock holm, where in former days reigned two of the wisest and best of monarchs, by name, Gustavus the Great. The first, because of his patriotism, skill and gen ius, had rescued his country from the subjugation of the Dane, and the second, by his indomitable energy and military knowledge, had exalted her to the first rank among the nations of the world. The latter, dying in 1643, the crown de volved upon his daughter, Christine, then scarcely lo years of age. It was a morning of July, 1G45, in Stockholm. The air resounded with the merry ringing of bells, the roaring of ar tillery, and the shouts of the populace ; for it was the natal day of the youthful Queen. Nobles, squires and the learned of the land had congregated to pay their homage to their youthful sovereign, and the very peasant' from the most distant regions of Sweden had contrived to make his way to Stockholm to gain a glance of the fair creature, whose fame was sound ed throughout the world, and whose learning had been extolled by Descartes and Samaise. The court of the palace was thronged with anxious spectators, and the (|oops were ranged in duo order to greet the appearance of the Queen, when suddenly the windows were thrown open, and the flower of Sweden, ladies, nobles and offi cers, appeared in the most gorgeous uni forms ; all eyes were directed to one point, and a universal cry arose of "She comes!" but Christine was not there. It was the young and handsome Count La gardie, the favorite of the Queen, who appeared, and, having waited till the en thusiasm of the populace had subsided, read as follows: "A bold and insolent peasant having dared to insult her Majesty, it is deemed expedient that he should suffer punish ment ; but in consideration of the day, and that no cloud should max the festivi ties, the Queen ordains him to receive fifteen blows in the presence of the as sembled multitude, as a warning to fu ture offenders." The Chief of Police, with his assist ants, having conducted the prisoner into the center of the court, executed the sentence. The poor fellow, with diffi •dv qi *!jviouiqsiuTid v enonmnouSi put? uoppns os qu A^id put? quainazcureq^iM. no po^ooi 9[dood etR pmj *62mj9nns Bjq o; !JU9A SumS uiojj p3UXßaj9j''i4[nD peared that this man was a poor young miner, who had come from Norberg to Stockholm, to share in the sports and pleasure of the birthday of his Queen. His crime aroso from his ignorance of the laws of etiquette. It had been told him in the province of Westmanland, that on this day it was the custom of the sovereign to be not only accessible to her court and the nobles of the land, but also to the meanest of her subjects —that all had the privilege to approach and kiss the royal hand. Kiss the hand of a Queen ! ike hand of a Christine— that was the idol of his life—whose portrait was the only or nament that graced bis smoky cabin was a happiness which he had never liopod to enjoy, and tlio young miner re- Kolvocl, at all hazards, all trouble and fatigno, to journey to Stockholm, and nhare iv the royal condescension. From Norberg to Stockholm was a long and fatiguing journey, and his means were not the most ample. But this was noth ing—the image of Christine was to liim as the lodo star to the mariner, and he reached Stockholm the evening before the royal birthday. Having azrived, he directed his steps to the church of St. Nicholas, to ask of heaven many years of glory and happi ness to the youthful sovereign, and then, with ti portion of his little menus, pur chased a Kmart costume, in which hav ing attired himself, he rambled about the city, feasting his eyes on the many wonders, which for the first time he hail beheld, and now to him Appeared almost as creations of f airy land or romance. The morning dawned bright and beau tiful, and the forts of FrederickFliurg and Waxclm announced that Christino had reached her 16th year. Awakened by the roar of artillery, Oarl started from the ground, where, like many oth ers, he had passed the night in slumber; and, although yet early, found the streets thronged with thousands of inhabitants, evincing their enthusiasm in every pos sible manner. As tho day wore on, Carl mingled with a train who were proceed ing to the palace, and, from his smart attire and handsome figure, contrived, although unintentionally, to pass the guard and enter the vestibule. The poor fellow, bewildered and delighted with the magnificence which on every hand surrounded him, kept wandering about, regardless as he was ignorant of all etiijiiette, jostling and pushing aside nobles, ladies, officers and other func tionaries, in short, all who impeded him. At length, having entered the great gallery, his simple costume attracted the gaze and called up the astonishment of the assembled multitude—murmurs upon murmurs rose all around, but Carl kept advancing—he was ignorant of the storm then gathering, and had pro ceeded as far as the door of the hall of audience, when the officer iv waiting demanded his name and business. He was about to reply, when, catching a glance of Christine, his enthusiasm knew no bounds, and, pushing the offi cer aside, he rushed into ths royal pres ence, seized the hand which at that mo ment was extended to the President of the Senate, and pressed it to his lips. At sight of Oarl, and his boldness, Christine uttered a scream and withdrew hei hand, while a hundred arms were in a moment raised to chastise the peasant slave, who had insulted the officer and aspired to an honor reserved but for the tided and the rich. And such was the crime for which he was thus disgraced, a crime arising from his ignorance, and •which merited not so ignominious a pun ishment. "When the last blow had fallen, he bounded from the hands of the guards, and, casting his eyes toward the palace, exclaimed: "I swear before God, Christine, that the day will come when I shall kiss thy royal hand!" Then, regarding his punisher with a look of ferocity, he dashed wildly through the crowd. The next day the miner had quitted Stockholm, but he was never again heard of atNorberg. Five years after this, two prisoners, the one a young man of some 26 years, accused of robbery, the other, the head of a hang of highwaymen, together con fined in a dungeon of the fort of Frede ricksburg, were thus conversing: "Ah," said the young man, ""'what I regret most is, that I shall never again behold her that I love." "Child," replied the robber, "in a few years thou wilt be liberated; do not despair, for if she thou lovest is really faithful, you may yet be happy. Lis ten : Our young and beautiful Queen once ordered fifteen blows to be admin istered to the shoulders of a poor fellow, who, struck with an unconquerable pas sion for her, dared to respectfully press his coarse lips to her dainty fingers— and for whioh he was disgraced as if he had committed a crime of the most dar ing character; but ho swore before God that a day would arrive when the hand which had been refused him should be pressed to his lips, and the mouth which commanded his punishment would sue him for mercy. "That day, so much desired, seemed as if it would never arrive; but it came at last. It was during the chase, when the Queen, in her ardor, became sepa rated from her companions,- and she found herself alone in the middle of a deep forest. Suddenly she was sur rounded by a band of robberswho seized her courser, ignorant of her qual ity. 'Respectme,' she cried, 'I am your Queen!' The words fell like lightning on my heart. The hour of retribution had arrived. ' Look on me,' I said. 'I am Carl, the poor miner, who once presumed to kiss thy pretty hand, and for which you ordered him to be scourged in the face of all Stock holm on thy natal day; but I swore be fore God that a day would arrive when I should press it to my lips ; it has ar rived, and my oath will now be accom plished. I advanced toward —but my heart failed me, and I wept like a child. " ' Prostrate thyself !' cried she, re covering her wonted dignity and cour age. ' Those whom I permit to salute my hand must approach on bended knee.' " She extended to me her hand, and kneeling I pressed it to my lips, proud and happy that I had fulfilled my oath. I departed, first having conducted her to the right path. The next day I and my companions were surprised and taken. But, never mmd—l still hold it as a truth, for experience has proved it, that in love we should never despair. There is always a favorable moment, and all that is necessary is to be watch ful, and when it Joes arrive, permib it not to escape us. Do not despair ; I hope yet to Bee many happy hours." The jailer opened the door of the prison, and pronounced the name of Carl. •' Along my lad!" cried he to the pris oner. Carl was about to reply, but was pre vented by the keeper continuing : "Hush! it is useless —the gallows is ready, and the executioner awaits you." Wolves are threatening large districts within hail of populous towns on the northern shore of the Gulf of Finland. Eleven children have been carried oii" by those ferocious maraudarß, stealing down from the neighboring woods to the very thresholds of the peasants' houses. The Finnish authorities have offered a reward for the head of every wolf killed or captured. Two kinds of dogs are in dicated as mast serviceable in wolf hunt ing. These are sheep dogs and bull dogs ; the former to drive the game and bring it into a circle, and the latter to pull it down. A Biiiij introduced in the Vermont Legislature forbids running railroad trains or locomotives on Sunday. A WOISJkTfi'S COWCIiTWSIONS?. BY ITHKBE OAKY. I said if I might go back again To the very tutor and place of my birth ; Might have my life wlwlover I choso And live it in any part of the earth; rut perfect sun*hino into my eky, Banish tho shadow if sorrow and doubt, Have all my happiness multiplied, And all my suffering stricken out ; If I could have known in the years that are gone, 1 he best that a, woman coition to know; Could have had whatever will make her blest, Or whatever buo thinks will make hex co ; Have found the highest and purest bliss That the bridal wreath and ring inclose, And gained the one oufaof all the world That my heart m well as my reason chose; And if this had been, and I stood to-night Uy my children lying aitleep in tlwir bode, And could count in my prayers for a roß»ry The whining row of golden heads; Yea, I f-aid, 'A a miracle such as this Could be wrought for me at my bidding, stil! I would choose to have my past as it is, And let my future come us it will! I would not make the path I have trod More pleasant or even; more straight or wide; Nor change my course the breadth of a hair, This way or that, to either Hide. My past it mine, and I take it all; Its weakness, its folly—if you please ; Nay,.even my Bins, if you me to that, May have been my helps, not hindrances ! If I saved my body from the flames Because that once I had burned my hand, Or kept myself from a greater sin By doing a less— will understand ; It was belter I suffered a little pain, Better I sinned for a little time. If the smarting held me batik from death, And the sting of sin withheld from crime. ■\\ ho knows its strength, by trial, will know What strength must, be set against a Bin, And how temptation is overcome He has learned who has felt Its power within, And who knows how a life at last may show, "Why, look at the morn from where we stand ! Opaque, uneven, yon 8»y; yet it Rhraes; A luminous sphere, complete and grand. Bo let my past stand, ;nst as it 6tand«, Aad let me now, ac I may, grow old; I am what I am, and my life for mo Is the best—cr it had not been, I held. Besieging His Heart. "A clergyman hasn't any business to bo a single man," said Mrs. Brushby. "Certainly not," acquiesced Miss Foxe. "But I dare say he's engaged," slyly remarked the plump widow, with a side long glance of her green eyes, which seemed to dilate and contract, like those of a middle-aged cat, with the stealthy intensity of her interest. "No, he's no*;" said Miss Foxe. "At least I heard him tell Col. Copley that he was entirely fancy free." "Humph!" said Mrs. Bru&hby. "Then there's no reason why heshouldn't marry and settle here at Exmar.'' "Exmar, indeed!" said' Miss Foxe,who had accepted her own old maidenhood as a foregone conclusion. "There's no body here for him to many—only fac tory girls and Col. Copley's six daugh ters, the youngest of whom is three and-twenty, to select from." The green eyes scintillated sharply. "Why shouldn't he marry either you or me, Felicia Foxe?" asked Mrs. Brushby. "Why, he ain't thirty," said she. "Neither am I," said Mrs. Brushby. "Now, Cornelia Brushby, there ain't no sort of use coming that game over me," said Miss Foxe, fairly aroused at last into antagonism. "You weroeight and twenty when you married Brushby. and he's been dead and buried these ten good years." Mrs. Brushby lavghetL "Felicia," said she, "you're worse than an oM famift record. Don't you see there's peoplotitde* 1 than their years, and peoples younger? I am one of the latter ; and I-<lon't see why I can't mar ry Mr. Selwyn if I once make up my mind to do so." So Mrs. Brnsiiby took ap the three pounds of brown yarn that she had been buying at Felicia Foxe's thread and nee dle store, and went homo. Her niece, a tall, pale giri, with yel low hair, like braids of dead gold, a transparently-pale skin, ajQd sad hazel eyes was setting the table. " How slow you are, Olara," said Mrs. Brnshby, snappishly. "I supposed, of course, tea would be all ready by the titno I came back." "I'm sorry for the delay, aunt," said Clara, timidly, "bubl was detained at the factory. ' There was extra work, and—" "There, that'll do,'" interrupted Mrs. Brushby. ''I don't see why yon need be flinging the factory in my face all the time. Oh, it's bad enoagn to have n niece obliged to drudge for her living without hearing of it forty times a day." The deep scarlet glow mounted into Clara Cone's transparent cheeks. "I could not pay my board, annt," said she, "if I did not earn the money within the four walls of the factory. But if the subject is disagreeable to you I will endeavor to avoid it as much as pos sible for the future." It was now six months since Olara Cone had arrived, a homeless orphan, with all her worldly belongings packed in a shabby little leather traveling bag, at Mrs. Brushby's door when the even ing stage rolled up tho street. "Aunt," she said, trying to repress the risk-g sob in her throat, "will you give me a home'? lam your sister's orphan daughter." Mrs. Brush J>y had received her as cor dially as a fish might have done. '* I suppose you'll have to stay," said Mrs. Brushby, surlily. " But I didn't die and leave a swarm of orphans for my sister to take care of. Oh, yes, yon can stay, and perhaps I can find you a situation as dress-maker's apprentice or shop-girl, someAvheref Because, of course, one cannot expect me to keep a great girl like you for nothing." Upon wlxich Clara bestirred herself ac tively and had been heartily thankful to obtain a place in the pin factory, in the glen below the village, where half a hundred other pale-faced operatives worked for a scanty livelihood, and Mrs. Brushby charged her a high price for board, and got a servant maid's work out of her before and after hours into the bargain. " I should like to go to church, aunt," Clara had ventured to say one Sunday morning when the maples in the glen were all blazing in the autumn colors, and the crisp autumn sunshine turned the village spires to gold. "That's just like your selfishness, Clara Cone !" said Mrs. Brushby, acidly. "And let me stay at home; for, of course, one of us must remain at home, to see that we are not robbed by tramps, and to cook the dinner.'' " But couldn't I go in the evening, aunt?" " Certainly not ♦" said Mrs. Brushby, with emphasis. "I belong to the ' Re becca Band,* which always meet in the chapel on {Sunday evenings, and Deacon Halstead calls for [me in his box wagon. If you feel so piously inclined," with a covert sneer, "you can read your prayer book at home." * And so Clara found herself gradually degenerating into the merest household drudge under her aunt's iron rule. She went nowhere and saw nobody. " Pretty !" Mrs. Brnshby would scorn fully remark, when a neighbor chanced t<\ hazard an opinion concerning hor niooe. "Nonsense! Just exactly like a colorless celery sprout that has grown iv tho cellar, and nowr a word to say for herself!" And if by chance Olara was invited to join in any of the neighborhood festivi ties, Mrs. Brushby made haste to decline for her. •'Clara never goes out," she said. '' She has no taste for such tilings, poor dear." Until people began actually to believe that Clara Cone was cither a recluso or an idiot. The pale iactory girl had just taken the teapot off the stove, upon this espe cial evening, when Mrs. Brushby uttered an exclamation of surprise. "Whisk tho things into the closet, quick, Clara," said she. '' Put the bread behind the family Bible. Don't leave that bottle of pickles on the mantel. Mr. Selwyn is coming." A minute and a half later Mrs. Brashby, in hex best black silk apron, greeted the clergyman with her sweetest smile. "My visit is intended to your niece, Mies Cone, as well as to yourself," said Mr. Selwyn, after the topic of the weather had been duly discussed and exhausted. k •• O, Clara,"' said Mrs. Brushby, siAj l>ering—"Clara wislies to be exensv™ Clara sees no company. I really regret the. dear girl's eccentricity, but—" And she rolled her green eyes heaven ward, with a deprecating motion of the hands. "She never comes to .church," said Mr. Selwyn, gravely. " Ah-h-h-h !" groaned Mrs. Brnshby, "her heart is like the nether millstone. If you knew, dear Mr. Selwyn, how I have striven with her !" Mr. Selwyn looked concerned. "I am beginning a series of sermons to young people this next Sunday evening. Pray use your utmost en deavors to induce this young girl to at tend." And Mrs. Brushby promised that she would, and the young clergyman took his leave. "You must," said Mrs. Brushby. "Please, please, aunt, don't ask me.! " said Clara, with tears in the dark limpid eyes. "What a goose you are ! " said Mrs. Brushby. "Asif *it made any earthly difference ! And I must have the dress to wear to church to-morrow evening. Mr. Selwyn is to preach the tirst of a series of sesmons to young people, an^ I'm specially interested in 'em." "But I never sewed on Sunday in my life." "The dress-iaaker has disappointed me, and I must have the dress. A few seams and flounces more or less—what do they matter ? 11l risk your soul! And nobody need ever know. And only think, Clara Cone, what I have done for you." " Oh, aunt, I can't!" cried Clara, in a choked voice. "It wouldn't be right." 1 'And who sat you up as a judge of right and wrong, I'd like to know ?" almost screamed Mrs. Brushby. "Now take your choice; either ■finish up this cash mere dress for me by Sunday noon or leave this house." Clara was silent for a moment, then she spoke: "I will leave this house," she said. "And I fully indorse and approve of your decision," said Mr. Selwyn's voice, as he stepped in from the open-doored portico, where Ms knock had been drowned by the high accents of Mrs. Brushby's vituperation. "Leave the house, Miss Cone, and I will see that a refuge is provided for you at the home of Miss Foxe." Mrs. Brushby stood startled and dis mayed. Clara Cone, pale and silent, laid her band on the minister's arm, and left the room and the house. Honest Miss Foxe was amazed when Clara Cone took refuge "with her. "Well," she declared, "I always knew that Cornelia Brushby was a regular grinder, but I did suppose she had some Christian decency abouther. Yes, child, you are welcome to my spare room, and I shan't charge you any -board. I dare say you will lend a hand now and then, when I'm busy; and your company will be a deal of comfort to me." But Miss Foxe didn't have that "com fort" long. Mr. Selwyn had become deeply interested in the pale, clear-eyed factory girl, and, before the -wild roses blossomed along the verge of the woods, the parsonage had a mistress, and Mr. Selwyn no longer came under the head of "unmarried clergymen." Mrs. Brushby's tender aspirations were blighted in the bud; bnt a bald headed old bachelor bought the factory just about that time, and Mrs. Brnshby transferred her attentions to the new comer—and, with many nods and winks, she gives the public to understand that Mr. Selwyn is her rejected lover. "You see," says Mrs. Brushby, with her green eyes of confiding artlessness uplifted, "I never could reconcile my self to the trials of a minister's wife. " The Frigate Bird. "I tee," saysMichelet, "a small, blue point in heaven. Happy and serene re gion, which has rested in peace above the hurricane J In that blue point, and sit an elevation oi 10,000 feet, royally fioats a little bird with enormous wings. A gull ? No, its wings are black. An eagle ? No, the bird is too smalt. It is the ocean eagle, first and cliiei" oi" the winged race, and daring navigator who never furls his sails, the lord of the tempest, the scorner of all peril—the man-of-war or frigate bird. We have reached the culminating point of the Bezies, commenced by the wingless bird. Here we have a bird " which is virtually nothing more than wings; scarcely any )>ody—barely as large as the domestic cock —while his prodigious pinions are fifteen feet in span. The great problem of flight is solved and overpassed, for the power of flight seems useless. Such a bird, naturally sustained by such sup port, need not allow himself to be borne along. The stomi bursts; he mounts to lofty heights, where he finds tran quillity. The poetic metaphor, untrue when applied to any other bird, is no exaggeration when applied to him; liter ally, he sleeps upon the storm. When he chooses to soar his way seriously, all distance vanishes ; he breakfasts at the Senegal; he dines in America." 3iasai raraiysis. A candidate nsked a man, who was working against him, if there was not something the matter with liis nose. " Not that I knows of," was tlio reply. " Isn't your nose paralyzed ? " "Why, no; what makes you think so?" responded the other, feeling his nasal organ. "Nothing, except that my opponent has been leading you about by the nose for the last four or five years, and you don't seem to know it, so I thought you could not have much feeling in it." Bsterminaiuig Hats and Mice. Mice and rats seem to increase very rapidly in the haunts of civilization, es pecially in largo cities. Seaports are particularly infested with them, as New Yorkers know but too well. These ver min 'have grown to be a supreme nui sance there, notably in old houses, which aro fairly overrun. They multiply every year, appearing in numbers where a short time ago they were hardly Been. How to get rid of mice and rats is a se rious problem with householders, who are often forced to move on their ac count. Even an entirely-new house is apt to be invaded after a few months, and to be seriously hurt as a place of residence by the ravages of the nox ious animals. Traps, however ingen ious of contrivance, do little or no good after a brief while, as the cunning creatures detect they* purpose, and either avoid them or Secure the bait without danger of captivity. Cats get lazy. A good mouser will in a few months become indifferent to %bat has been its favorite pursuit. And any or dinary cat is.afraid of rats, as well it may be, and will seldom venture to at tack them. They are generally, too wary for a terrier, which, with all his vigilance and ferocity, is deceived by them. It is thought that the introduc tion of ferrets into houses would miti gate the annoyance. They are often I employed in Europe to destroy such ver min, and were bo employed by the old Romans. If kept from the cold they are readily taken care of, and, al though not docile or affectionate, they are ranked as domestic animals. They are natives of Africa, and dependent on man, both here and in Europe, as with out his aid they would perish. They will soon rid a house, it is said, of mice and rats, which have a natural dread of them, and have been known to desert premises . that they occupy. They are a terrible and unrelenting foe. They are noc turnal, sleeping nearly ail day, and very watchful at night, when the household pests commit most of their depredations. Their smailness and slenderness enable them frequently to follow rats into holes and kill them in a trice. The general belief that they destroy life by sucking blood is erroneous, notwithstanding the statements of naturalists, from Bufion to Cuvier and Geoffrey St. Hilaire. After death they, like other members of the weasel tribe, doubtless .suck the blood of their victims, but they kill too quickly for so slow a process. It has been shown, by repeated experiments, that they often inflict but a single wound, which proves almost instantane ously fatal. They then, as a rule, quit their victim at once and kill another in the same way. The simple wound is under or behind the ear, and may or may not pierce the large blood-vessels. The canines enter the spinal cord be tween the skull and the ursi vertebra of the neck, destroying the victim as the matadore destroys the bulL They pierce the medulla oblongata, the very* center of life, and immediately extin guish motion, consciousness and sensa tion. This is one of the many instances in which the instinct of. animals has an ticipated the tardy deductions of sci ence. The ferret is so masterly a rat slayer that there seems to be every rea son for introducing him into our domestic economy, as he will accomplish what trap, poison, cat and dog have not and cannot. Stocking's. Few of the ancients had any clothing for the lower part of the body, and must have had extreme difficulty in sheltering themselves from the severity of the sea sons. The northern nations first had hose or trousers; their stockings were made of pieces of cloth sewed together. We cannot say with certainty in what country the art of knitting originated. France, England, Spain, and Scotland respectively claim this useful discovery. Some believe it originated in Scotland in the sixteenth century, because when the French Stocking-Maker's Guild made choice of a patron saint they selected St. Fiacre, a native of Scotland. On the other hand the invention is attributed to a Spaniard, on the strength of Maze rai, who asserts that silk stockings were worn by Henry 11. of France at the mar riage of his sister in 1559 ; but before that Edward VI. had graciously accepted a pair from the merchant prince, Sir Thomas Gresham, who imported them from Spain, the land where they were first manufactured. The story goes that a loyal grandee, the happy pessessor of one of the first pairs - made in Spain, thought he could not do better than pre sent the novelties to his Queen, and%o that end placed them in the hands of the first Minister of the crown, greatly to the discomposure of that modest man, who astonished that innocent-meaning noble by returning him his stockings, and bidding him remember that " the Queen of Spain had no legs." Queen Elizabeth of England, not ashamed to own that she had legs, received a simi lar gift in a very different manner. In the third year of her reign (1561) her silk woman, Miss Montague, tendered her as a New Year's gift a pair of black silk stockings, the first of the kind made in England. Elizabeth lofet no time in putting the gift on her limbs," and was so pleased with the result that she sent for Miss Montague and inquired where she procured such comfortable foot-gear, and if she could get auy more of them. "I made them very carefully of purpose only for your Majesty," re plied the silk woman; "and. seeing these please you so well I will presently set more in the hank." Do so," said the Queen; "for, indeed, I like silk stockings so well, because they are pleasant, fine, and so delicate, that henceforth I will wear no more cloth stockings." It is not improbable that she displayed her silk-stockinged feet to the best advantage during her flirtations with Sir Walter Raleigh. Origin of National Nominating in ventions. Previous to the year 181G the custom was to hold a Congressional caucus, can vass the 6ubject, and name the candi dates ; then the several State Legisla tures selected the electors, who voted for whomsoever they pleased for the Presidency and Vice Presidency. We discover in May, 1812, when the " Con gressional caucus " was called, that the members again assembled "in their in dividual character," which clearly indi cates the drift of the opinion of the day. It is time that Madison was unanimous ly nominated, but the "caucus"wont further x and appointed " a committee on correspondence and arrangements of one from each State, to see that the nomina tions were duly respected." In the Congressional caucus of 1816, Mr. Tay lor, of New York, offered a resolution to the effect that "Congressional caucus nominations for the Presidency were inexpedient and ought to be discontin ued." This was another move, and, al though tho motion did not prevail, yet the subject once started in that manner in the caucus itself was not to bo talked down. Up to 1824 the electors were usually chosen by the several Slate Lcg islatnres, as had been the custom in South Carolina down to a very recent date. In tho year just named the Fed eralists had ceased to be of political im portance as a party, and the Republi cans were not held together by any out- Bide pressure. Local preferences en tered into tho canvass, and candidates multiplied. Nominations were made by Legislatures, and by mass-meetings throughout the country. The power of King Caucus was broken. It is a fact that William H. Crawford, of Georgia, was nominated in the old style by the caucus, and backed by the home con ventions, but John C. Calhoun, Andrew Jackson, Henry Clay and John Quincy Adams also had homo support, and en tered the field, leaving Crawford away out of sight in the race. In 1828 local conventions multiplied, and the spirit of the movement manifested itself when (Sept IG, 1831) the United States Anti- Masonic Convention met at Baltimore and nominated William Wirt for the Presidency. That was the time of the excitement in relation to the abduction of William Morgan, and the Anti-Ma sons made the first great mov<;. Then the National-Republican 'Adams and Clay's) party met as such for the first and last time, at Baltiniciv, Dec. 12, 1831, and Henry Clay was nominated. In the same city, in the spring of 1832, the Democrats held their first National Convention, and nominated Jackson and Van Buren. From that campaign dates the National Political Conventions in the United Stated, which have become BUCh an important factor in our politics. Esquimaux Carpentry. The builder selects snow of the proper consistency by sounding a drift with a cane made for the purpose, of reindeer horn, straightened by steaming, and worked down to about* half an inch in diameter, with a ferule of walrus tusk or the tooth of a bear on the bottom. By thrusting this into the snow he can {ell whether the layers deposited by succes sive winds are separated by bands of soft snow, which would cause the blocks to break. When the snow is selected ho digs a pit to the depth of eighteen inches or two feet, or about the length of the snow block. He then steps into the pit and proceeds to cut out the blocks by first cutting down at the ends of the pit and then at the bottom afterward, cut ting a little channel about an inch ox two deep, making the thickness of the pro posed block. . Now* comes the part that requires practice to accomplish successfully. The expert will, with a few thrusts of Mb knife in just the light places, split off' the snow-block and lift it carefully ont to await removal to its position on the wall. The tyro will almost inevitably break the block into two or three pieces utterly unfit for the use of the builder. When two men are building an igloo, one cuts the blocks and the other erects the wall. When sufficient blocks have been cut out to commence work with, the builder marks with his eye or per haps draws a line with his knife describ ing the circumference of the building, usually a circle about ten or twelve feet in diameter, The firs-trow of blocks is then arranged, the blocks placed so as to incline inward and resting against each other at the ends, thus . affording mutual support. When this row is com pleted, the builder cuts away the first and second blocks, slanting iv from the ground upward, so that the second tier, resting upon the first row, can be -continued on and around si>irally, and by gradually increasing the inward slant a perfect dome is constructed of such strength that the buildei can lie flat upon the outside while chinking the interstices between the blocks. The chinking is, however, usually done by women and children, as «the building progresses, and adtmional protection secured from the winds in very cold weather by banking up, with a large wooden snow-shovel, the snow at the bane often being piled to the depth of three or four feet. This makes the igloo per fectly impervious to the wind in the most tempestuous weather. When the house is completed the builders are walled in. Then a small hole about two feet square is cut in the wall on the side away from where the entrance is to lx> located and is used to pass in the lamps and bedding. It is then walled up and tfi% regular door cut about two feet high and niched at the top. It would bring bad luck to carry the bed ding into the igloo by the .same door it would be taken out. Before the door is opened the bed is constructed of snow blocks, and made from one to three or four feet high, and occupies three fourths of the entire space. The higher the bed and the lower the door the warmer the igloo will be. — From an Arctic Explorer*B Reminiscences. A Uonbtfnl Apotogv. Not many yours ago, iv the village of Eatonton, Gii., a man made hw appear ance and stopped at the tavern. He was possessed of a remarkable noec, one which ;dmost monopolized his entire face—red, Kornau, enormous. So great t -a show was it, that it attracted universal attention. The glances cast at it. and the remarks made about it, hud ren dered its owner somewhat sensitive upon ihe subject. A half-grown negro boy was summoned by the proprietor to carry his baggage to his room. Cuffeo was much taken with the no.-v . As he came out of the room, unable to con tain himself longer, he exclaimed ; "Golly, what a nose !" Our traveler overheard him, and went to his master with a demand for punish ment. Cuffee wa.s called up, and, at the sug gestion of some bystanders, was let off on condition that he would apologize to the offended gentleman. This ho read ily agreed to do. Walking to the room where our traveler was, and touching his hat and humbly bowing, ho said: "Massa, I was tulkin' nonsense. You ain't got no nose!" Flattering a Monarch. When the Emperor of Germany was hunting in the Hartz mountains, he tired sixteen shots at the deer, which appeared in large numbers wherever ho went. In the evening tho Chief For ester, who had conducted tho hunt, showed him twenty-three of them dead, which he said the Emperor had shot. "Are you quite certain about that?" asked his Majesty. "Yes; positive." "Well," said the Emperor, laughing; "Chat's very curious, for I tired only sixteen shots." The duty of l>eing cheerful, Bays a contemporary, is one which is at all times binding upon us. We li&ve no right to l)c morose or suller, or accus tom ourselves to look on tho dark side of things. No rense of the solemnity and importance of life can excuse us for giving way to a kout and unhappy tem per. Thh paragraphed uanK there is little probability of having clear weather in tho future, with Hazen doling it out