TO COMESPOWWXra.
fa* tw» mpy ihirnH
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tftbawrtto WtiUoclronoMiUMiofUmpaper. B«
wM.ta »Wm a«in— and J*U*.to bm
Uit 1b«— B(1 i|BW« pUta and dkttnct.
A MADRIOAL.
Baton nw, carelesa lyinf,
foang Lov* hi* war* come# crying
Full saw the elf untrMiurw
His pack of pains ud pleasantr-
Wlth roguish «y*
Ht bid* nw bay
from oat hit puck of trtasun*.
His wallefs stuffed with bllMos,
With true-love-knots and kliues,
With rings and rosy fetters,
And nnnd vows and latter*—
Ha hold* th«m out
With boyish flout,
And bid* n» try tin fetters.
If ay, Child (I cry), I know themi
fawn's Uttla need to show.thtml
Too wall for new believing
••ai know their past deceiving—
•ss I am too old
h. (I aay), and cold
/To-day, tor naw believing I
But atlll the wanton pressed
With honey-sweet caresses,
And atlll, to my undoing,
Ha wina me with his wooing,
1V buy his wart
With all Its care,
Its aorrow and undoing.
—Austin Dobson.
"Dear air," ran the letter, "owing to
the fact that we are maictng consider
able reductions in our office staff, we
regret to inform yon that we shall not
require your services after this day
month, the 27 pro*. We shall of
course be pleased to give you any tea
tlmonlals y#S may desire In the fu
tore, and you have our best wishes for
your subsequent career."
Klmber read the note three times
before he was'able to realize exactly
what it meant. At first, he had be
-, Ueved that It was a sort of joke on the
part of the correspondence clerk the
fellows were always having what they
-called a "game" with him, because he
happened to be the oldest man In the
-office. He had reached the critical age
of dfi, and the Inverted values of the
twentieth century demand that the
last thing on earth to be respected
•hall be the dignity or age.
Bnt although. In the beginning, he
had been Inclined to regard the letter
aa a Jest, further observation. proved
that he was quite wrong. The note
bore the signature Of "James Skinner,"
the head of the Arm, and even1 Dixon,
the correspondence clerk, would hard
ly have had the audacity to forge that
august gentleman's name.
"So I'm to be kicked out," he mur
mured, "and I can guess the reason.
.I'm too old. That's It. Too old!
I'm punctual, I'm quick, I'm every
thing they want, but my hair Is going
gray, and people don't refer to me any
longer as that "young fellow' I"
A feeling of violent resentment
seized his soul, shutting out the milder
sensation of sorrow. That would come
.later, of course, but Just now he could
only feel enraged. It was scandalous,
brutal, altogether unjustifiable, he re
flected. What right had' they to use
the best years of a man's life,. and
tlieu fling him away on to the dust
heap when the whim seized them?
He glanced round the deserted office,
whence the clerks had departed to
their Saturday afternoon football or
music-hall. Jove, how attached he
had become to the place 1 The clock,
the dingy desks, the ricketty stools
all these things were part of his life,
and had twined themselves Into tue
routine of his days. Somehow, he
eould not imagine himself working in
any other room. It was true that be
had often disliked the monotony of his
toll, but now that there wus the pros
pect of something new and strungc, he
shrunk back Into the memory of that
happy monotony with something like
the gratified shiver with which the dis
turbed sloeper returns to the warmth
of the sheets.
It was Skinner's doing, of course.
The manager had always liked him
(Klmber), and would never have sug
gested his removal. Skinner, however,
was prejudiced In favor of young men
doubtless that trip to New York lust
year had developed his prejudices.
Often had he heard Skinner suy that
young blood was what the modern
business man wanted. Yes, It was
Bkinner's doing, and a feeling of pas
sionate resentment agalnts the smooth
faced, brutal bead of the firm rose In
Klmber's soul. If Rklnncr had enter
ed the office at that moment, he would
not have been answerable for what
happened.
Suddenly he conceived the idea of
going round to his chief's private
house and demanding au Interview.
On Monday, at the office, It would be
Impossible, for the stream of callers
was Incessant, and at most he would
be able to snatch a few minutes only
of the busy man's time. But If he
went to the bouse, be could say hi*
say undisturbed.
"Yes, I'll do It," he resolved, and.
having brushed his bat and straight
ened his tie, he climbed on a 'bus go
Ing westwards. His heart beat more
swiftly thau usual, but his face was
calm. He was even able to listen with
a vague Interest to the conversation
of two men who sat In front of him.
"Xes." said the elder of the two,
"It's what I've always said. Every
man has a skeleton In his cupboard.
Sometimes It's the skeleton of a wom
an, sometimes of a drunken father,
sometimes of a lunatic brother. But
there It Is, and although he keeps the
key of the cupbonrd In bis most care
fully buttoned pocket, somebody steals
the key at lest. That's what happened
to poor Bennett."
His companion acquiesced, and then
attempted a feeble joke. This led the
conversation Into a lighter vein, and
the subject of skeletous was dropped.
On the brain of ICliuber, however, the
•banc* words bad made aa Impression.
Agleam came Into his eyes, and a spot
ot color glowed In his cheek. His mind
worked with feverish energy.
imm
1 bf tki mm of th* mAmi sot pibi—fily foa
•iMtnattiT. V** r*"1
ltth
The ,*bus~ paused at Lancaster Gate.
He alighted, and walked swiftly to
Westbourne Terrace, where the great
man lived. He hesitated for a mo
ment at the door, asking himself
whether he should knock or ring, for
he was not used to visiting at "swag
ger" houses. Eventually, with a touch
of bravado, be resolved to do both.
A man In quiet livery opened the
door.
I* Ur. Skinner at home 7" he asked,
boldly.
The servant stared at him, guessing
thst he waa from the office, and ac
cordingly favoring him with the con
tempt which all right-minded flunkeys
feel for mere clerks.
Don't know, I'm sure," he replied,
carclessly.
'Then be good enough to inquire,"
said Klmber, sternly.
The tone was brutal, and produced
tho desired effect The man asked
him' to step Inside, and Inquired .his
name.
Klmber took out his card, and wrote
ou It: "May I see you, sir, for a few
minutes on a very urgent matter?"
"You will please give this to Mr.
Skinner," he said, "I am sure he will
consent to see me If he is at home."
The servant went away, and return
ed a moment later.
"Just step In here and wait a bit,"
he Observed, as he pointed to a room,
the door of which was open.
Klmber obeyed. There waa a mir
ror on the mantelpiece. He walked
to It and surveyed himself. Jove'
how wonderfully young aud well he
looked. The yesrs seemed to have
rolled, from' him during the past ten
minutes. The dominating Impulse
which bad seized his brain'bad bright
ened his eyes, and brought a glow to
his cheek. He felt that he was ready
to achieve anything. Anything I
"Er—what do you want, Klmber?"
asked a voice, rousing blm from bis
reverie. Facing round abruptly, he
saw that Bklnner bad entered the
room.
"I took the liberty of calling, sir. In
reference to this letter," he replied, as
lie took the note from his pocket and
handed It to his employer.
Skinner read- the letter as though
he was not aware of the contents.
"Well I" he said, as he returned It,
"Well! What about It?"
"I have come here to ask you to re
consider your decision, sir," be answer
ed, "and to tell you that I think you
have no right to dlBmlss me after my
long service."
"Indeed! Such things are done ev
ery day. You must excuse my saying
so, but—er—you are getting a little
too old for us. We want younger men."
"Yes, that is what I thought But
all the same, sir, I don't admit the
justice of It. I can do everything that
a younger person can do, and perhaps
do It better. As to salary, I'm only
getting five hundred dollars a year,
und I doubt If even a man half mj
age would take much less."
Skinner shuffled his feet Impatient
ly
"My good fellow," he said, "I really
can't waste time arguing with you
about the ethics of commercial efflcltu
cy. I suppose I have a right to do as
I choose In my own office. Now, be
sensible and take your gruel like a
man. Otherwise, I may change my
mind about furnishing testimonial's
wbeu you want them!"
Klmber 1-eaJUzcd that the hour bad
struck for action. He pulled himself
together, and approached bis em
ployer.
"Mr. Skinner," he said, "you are an
ambitious man. I know tkat you have
just been elected to the directorate of
a City Company, and I believe that
you contemplate running tor Congrercf
at the next election."
Skinner stared at him as though be
believed his clerk had suddenly gone
mad.
"What the mischief has all that got
to do with you and your dismissal?"
he asked, abruptly.
"More than you think," replied Klm
ber, as be fixed his eyes upon the otli
mon with a very acute glance, "much
more. For you must remember, Mr.
Skinner, that I have been In your of
fice twenty years, and that during that
time I have kept my eyes and ears
opeu"
"Well?"
There was just a touch of uneasi
ness In the exclamation. Skinner again
shuffled bis feet but, this time, anx
iety and not impatience impelled the
mechanical action.
"Well, an observant man can learn
many things In twenty years. He can
learn other things besides matters
which concern the office. You under
stand?"
"What do you mean?" v'
Skinner's hands were now engaged
with bis watch-chain. He was twirl
ing it nervously. A shade of potior
deepened In his heavy face.
"I think," said the other man, cool
ly, "you can guess what I mean. I
don't want to hurt your feelings and
to go Into needless details. But I dare
say you will call to mind that there Is
a certain circumstance which you
would not like to be brought to light,
either, now or In the future. This Is
a very censorious country, Mr. Skin
ner, and people Insist on their Con
gressional representatives having un
spotted records, or, at least, records
where the spots are decently covered
up. Need I say more?"
Skinner did not reply for a moment
Then, with a sudden anger, he burst
out:
"So you're going to for blackmail,
are you?"
"Pardon me, but I'm doing nothing
of the sort I'm not asking for money.
I'm asking for mere justice. All these
years I've kept silent when. If I had
liked, I could easily have wrung from
you by hinting to you of the exposure
which a few words of mine would
bring about."
"And had you done so, I should have
sent for a policeman," muttered Bkln
ner.
"Hardly, for If so, why don't you
ring that bell now, and call In a po
liceman?" observed Klmber, triumph
antly. "I can promise you that I
shan't try to escape. But, really, Mr.
Skinner, 1 doubt If you would have
been foolish enough to ask for police
assistance. There are cases where
compromise Is the
l)CBt
plan and the
safest. This case Is one of them."
The two men eyed each other, ns
though they were measuring their rel
ative strengths. Klmber stood the
gaze of his employer unflinchingly. Un
til that hour, he had never dreamed
that he possessed so much courage.
The hour had called It forth, and lo,
It had come.
"Now, look here," said Skinner,
after a pause. "AU this may be mere
bluff. Where ara your porofs of your
absurd statements?"
"The proofs," repllGf'jfeimber, calm
ly, "lis in the iMjtejjj- the person
who confided to ml^ene jitory."
Skinner swayed back, a alight foam
on his lip*.
"Great heavens 1" he gasped, "then
she
"Yes, she Is still alive, and very,
very anxious to be kicking as well,"
returned Klmber, quickly, "but aa it
happens, she does not know exactly
where to find you. I do. Now do you
understand?"
Bklnner sat down, and burled his
face in his hands.
"Confound you," he said, thickly, "I
thought It was all over and forgot
ten."
'-Most men do comfort themselves
with that belief," observed Klmber,
'but they find out their mistake soon
er or later. But, believe me, Mr. Skin
ner, I have no-wish to cause you any
distress. I'have merely' referred to
the eplaode to show that I speak of
what I know. The skeleton Is locked
In your cupboard, and I happen to
huve a key as well as you. Tbafs alii
But I don't want to use the key If I
can help It."
A panse followed, during which va
rious emotions throbbed through Skin
ner's poor, Bordld little soul. Rage,
fear, and surprise held the high place
there, and It was easy to see that the
words of his clerk had produced a ter
rible Impression.
Tbe clock struck 4.
"I'm afraid," said Klmber, "that I'm
taking up too much of your time."
"No, no, wait a moment"
Klmber amlled, and eat down again.
Presently his employer looked at
blm intently.
"Mr. Klmber," he said, and tbe fact
that he used the word "l£r." struck
the clerk as being significant "I sup
pose that you are not a vindictive
mau."
"I hope not™
"You cannot really have any grudge
against me except that you think you
have received an unjust dismissal."
"That IB my only grievance."
"Suppose that the dismissal were to
be withdrawn, the grudge, I Imagine,
would be withdrawn alao?"
"Of course I"
A deep sigh of relief Issued from
Mr. Skinner's throt He rose, and al
most smiled.
"Then," he said, "you may consider
yourself reinstated."
"Thank you very much, sir."
Klmber reached for his hat and um
brella, and went toward the door.
"One moment," murmured Mr. Skln
uer, "you told me just now that you
were getting five hundred a year. That
Is certainly not an inflated salary. I.
think I shall give you tbe charge of
an additional department and raise
the salary to $750."
"Thank you very much, sir," he laid
again.
The contemptuous-looking footman
showed him out wondering why tbe
caller smiled so expansively as be
went down the steps.
"I should like to know," reflected
Klmber, as be climbed on his 'bus,
"what Skinner's skeleton really Is?"—
Black and White.
TEA AND HOW TO 8EHVE IT.
Consumption of This BeTeraare Rap*
tdlr
Increasing Hera.
Tea Is a term which has had some
curious applications, according to lead
lug authorities, says the New York
iVorld. A great variety of beverages
and decoctions made from herbs and
plants unknown In China" have been
called "teas," in Imitation of the genu
ine article. In early tea-drluklng days,
when fragrant Bohea was sold for
twelve to thirty shillings a pound, poor
folk, who could not afford such a lux
ury, endeavored to content themselves
with a drink from less expensive tea,
which was regarded "not on|y as a pleas
ant but a particularly yholesome, bev
erage. Another popular drink was gin
ger tea. In revolutionary Aaygji^tlils
country various substitutes for "tea
were
UBod.
Some New Englanders
drank tea made from the leaves of.
rib wort, strawberry plants, sage and
other herbs.
It Is said tbat no Englishwoman Is
happy without her tea and that Amer
icans are the great coffee drinkers, but
the consumption of tea Is constantly
on the Increase. An afternoon tea is
a pleasant way of entertaining one's
friends. An advantage Is that a larger
number of guests can be entertained
than Is usually possible at a dinner
or luncheon. All teas are similar, as
the form of extending this hospitality
Is much tbe same everywhere. Some
times a collection of small tables Is
used, distributed here and there about
one or two rooms, but as a rule one
large table Is most popular, and from
this the tea and refreshments are
served. This should be covered with
a spotless white linen cloth, prettily
decorated with flowers and sliver a
tea service Btands at one end and a
chocolate set at the other, each pre
sided over by some fliend of the host
ess. Sandwiches, cake, bonbons and an
Ice are sufficient complements. A maid
should be In attendance to remove
soiled cups and plates. ..
"Fix Your Old Hoof."
Milles Flnley, the rich Montana cop
per miner, visited some relatives In
Bay City, Mldh., recently. He attend
ed services In an old wooden aburch,
and while die
re a rainstorm came up.
The roof leaked and some water tell
on Ftoley's nock. After the sen-Ices
had ended be asked one of the church
officials: "Why don't you give people
a decent place to worship In?" "I
suspect It's because we haven't tbe
money," was the suggestive reply. Next
afternoon material for a new roof be
gan to arrive In front of tbe chun-h
and Flnley walked Into tbe pastor's
study with a dheck for $750. "Fix up
your old roof," la all he sold.—Even
ing Wisconsin.
Ingreia aud Bvrui,
The Old Man—The easiest way., to
get Into society Is to nmrry for money.
The Young Man—Suppose you ara
In society and want to get out?
The Old Man—Then marry for love.
—Illustrated Bits.
A Martyr.
"Mamma, have I got to take a bath
to-Light?"
"I'm afraid you have, my dear."
"But I haven't done anything all th
week to deserve It"—New York Life.
A girl of 16 walks as though shi
owned the earth, and after she hat
been married a few years, she walks
as If she were carrying It on her
shoulders.
Some people's Idea of being sincere
Is to show it when they dislike some
on*
THE LA POBTE HURDEB FARM.
Grewaonte Revelations Thar* Resl
Like a Starr ot tfce Mld-Centarles.
Like a chapter from the bloody rec
ords of the mld-centurles 1b the ter
rible story unfolded by the authorities
of La Porte, Ind., where wholesale mur
der was done for years 'without anyone
knowing or suspecting It Criminal rec
ords contain no parallel of the grew
some story revealed In the finding ot
the clearing house for murders kept by
Mrs. Belle Gunness near the Indiana
town. Just how many persons met
their fate in connection with the bloody
business carried on there will perhaps
never be known. The skeletons dis
covered on her premises and the fact
that expressmen had many times de
livered to her boxes and trunks now
believed to contain human bodies form
the chief materials for the construction
of the strange story of her career." She
is supposed to have lured rich men to
her den by matrimonial advertisements
and then made away with them for
their money, and also tj have run a
murder "fence" for tho benefit of her
partners In the awful trade of human
slaughter, the latter operating In Chi
cago and sending tbe bodies of their
victims to her for burial. It Is the
theory of tho prosecution that Mrs.
Gunness deliberately lured men to
her farm by means of an advertisement
in a Chicago newspaper. In which she
represented herself as an attractive and
amiable widow looking for a mate. She
alleged tbat she was the owner of a
valuable farm and sought a well-to-do
former as a husband. After a
from such a candidate she generally In
duced him, It appears, to sell his farm
and come to Iter with the proceeds of
the sale, at which time she would de
liberately murder him and bury his
body cn the premises.
For years this- strange woman "is
•aid to have conducted her murder mill,
while her neighbors remarked upon her
good humor and her children mingled
with others of their age In the neigh
borhood. And the end of this record
of crime and mystery is shrouded iu
uncertainty. Afire which destroyed
the Gunness bome also disclosed tbe
fact that her three children had either
been murdered before tbe lire or that
they bad perished in the flames.
In some respects the methods of Mrs.
Belle Gunness seem similar to those
of tbe infamous Bender family In Kan
sas. Yet it Is doubtful if the blood
thirsty Kate Bender In her palmiest
days was ever equal to the awful
crimes that are laid at the door of the
Gunness woman. The story of the La
Porte murder farm recalls the noto
rious dolngB of the Bender family In
Montgomery County, Kan., about forty
years ago, and the famous cuse of
Henry H. Holmes, who swindled InBur
lnce companies and was held respon
ilble for the murder of quite a long list
)f persons. He was hanged In Phila
delphia. The Benders, husband and
wife and son and daughter, were sup
posed to have murdered nine or ten
persons and burled the bodies In the
vicinity of their home, robbery being
their motive. The Benders mysteri
ously disappeared and their fate la un
known, although rumors were nbroad
at tho time that Indignant citizens put
an end to their Infamous careers.
SCENES AT THE GTTNHESS "DEATH FAEM" NEAB LA POETE, nm,
"3
DR.Z.H.MLLIMM /fSrEIl_.
COFFEE AS WEDDING GIFT.
Peculiar Castom Which la General
In Coffee-Raisins Countries.
"We have a custom in the coffee
raising countries," said Senor Joaqulm
Nabucco, the Brazilian ambassador to
the United States, "which Is unknown
In otber parts of the world. When
a child is born in the coffee country,
a sack of the best grain Is set aside
as part of tbe Inheritance, to be re
ceived on attaining Its majority. Usu
ally the sack is the gift from some
viBit
4 -V
Sjg & M-
*-v Of
:£.
r*
s&Si
close friend or relative, and It Is
guarded ss sacredly as If It were a
gift of gold or bonds. No stress would
Induce a Brazilian parent to use cof
fee which was made the birth gift of
a child.... As a rule It Is sealed with
the private seal of the owner and bears
a card giving all particulars About the
variety of grain. Its age ou being sack
ed and. the blfth of the child to whom
It Is given, and otber details which
are very Interesting when the gift la
due.
"Generally tbe coffee is opened for
tbe first time when the child marries.
The coffee for the reception or mar
riage feast is made from the legacy,
and, according to precedent this must
be tbe first time tbe sack Is opened.
After the coffee Is mnde Tor the wed
ding feast the sack Is carefully closed
nud sent to the new home of the young
couple, and should keep them In this
staple for a year at least. When both
-bride and bridegroom have tbe birth
gift of coffee they have started life
under very hopeful conditions, so far'
as one necessary Is concerned. Few
people know thst the older the un
parched grain of coffee Is tbe better
tbe flavor. Like wine It grows with
age, and that which is over twenty
years mellowing under proper condi
tions will bring from $1.50 to f3 a
pound from connoisseurs. The giving
of pounds of green coffee Is com-
1
.C^/HpWrKC? THAI HCLffGLta
3U or Htr nvixar.
mon practice In the coffee belt Friends
exchange these gifts and compare re
sults. When one cannot afford to give
stick of coffee ft frequently la tbe
case tbat ten pounds of tbe best green
is packed In a fancy case and bestow
ed oh a newly born child, wtlh direc
tions tbat It must not be opened until
the wedding day."—New York Press.
,J'-
THE UNIVERSE.
Man's Plea In This Eternity
Space and Matter.
The solar system Is but a fragment
of the universe. Every star Is a sun
with a solar system. It Is possible that
there may be millions of planets In
habited by beings higher or lower than
ourselves. What we see going ou Is
what we call the process of evolution
—from broken fragmenta to' coherent
masses and to Inhabited worlds, from
chaos, to cosmoB, a struggle upward of
the universe- from something lower
and disorganized to something higher
and organized.
As to how life originates on these
planets science Is Ignorant at present
It Is an entire mystery. I would not
-have you think It wllLalways remain a
mystery, nor would I have a theologian
sliaken in his views If science should
discover something about the nature
and origin of life. I want you to real
ize that this process of evolution ts
not a. process which negatives or ex
cludes the Idea of-divine activity. It
Is, I venture to eay, a revelation to us
of the manner of. divlne..acttvity. It Is
the way the Deify, yorlui,
The' attempt tp ,show that evolution
la ahguMcS, that It is the result of ab
solute ehange,'falls. What Is pointed
to is not ungulded random change, but
guided change. The other could not be
done ln-time.
What we haveL, to realize In regard
to our place In the universe is that we
are Intelligent helpful and active parts
of the cosmic scheme. We are among
the agents of the'Creator. One of the
most, helpful Ideas is co-operation
helping one another. Co-operation
this in a new and stimulating sense—"
co-operation with the Divinity Himself.
—Sir Oliver Lodge,
-.j: .--- irr
..The
Doctor Habit.
One of the tendencies of 111 health Is
to make one morbid. People who are
constantly thinking about their ail
ments, worrying about their troubles,
suffering pain, often develop a morbid
passion for sympathy. They want to
tell everybody of their aches and pains,
to describe their symptoms.
Have you ever known' a woman who
has acquired the doctor habit a wom
an who loves nothing in the world
quite so well as an opportunity to tell
the doctor of her ailments I She has
poured them out to unwelcome ears, to
forced, listeners, till she longs, for some
one who can really appreciate It all,
who sympathizes with her In her trou
bles so Bhe sends for the doctor, or
goes to see him.
This becomes almost a mania with
some women, who have few outside ac
tivities to divert them. Tbelr minds
naturally revert to themselves and
they think of their, unfortunate condi
tion until they become saturated with
tbe poisoned thought—Success Maga
zine.
America's Art Possibilities.
With such a broad basis to work on,
It Is not-Impossible that the artists In
America are going to keep us pretty
well Interested In their future work.
No other band of men has worked so
hard to overcome obstacles. The art
ist .feels bis triumphs when be Is
young—when a mere boy, In fact
just as Funk felt-them when he drew
little sketches on his mother's table
cloths. This burning desire to some
day sVvlng some mighty thought on
canvas cannot be kept down. It be
comes the embryo painter's .master,
and In Its power be Is a slave.
I do not Include here the vaat army
of daubers who persist In calling them
selves artists and who ought to be sup
pressed by a kindly but firm law. It is
of men of Ideas and IdealB angl origin
ality tbat I speak.
Funk 1b one of that new American
school that Is exemplifying this indi
viduality. He shows It In tbe force
and orlglnnllty of his work.—Success
Magazine.
Practice KUkcc Perfect.
At the appointed time Edwin Jones
had called at his best girl's bome, but
somehow Miss Wrinkle was not there
to greet him.
He seated himself In -tbe drawing
room and anxiously awaited her ar
rival.
Presently the door evened but, aiasl
It was only her eight-year-old brother.
"Hello!" exclaimed Edwin, "u your
sister busy?"
"She seems so," replied tbe young
ster, "but I don't know just what she
thinks she's doing. She's standing In
front of the uilrror, blushing Just awful
and whispering to It, "Ob, Mr. Jones,
this Is io sudden I"
GR10AT GRANDMOTHER'S
TRIPLETS.
When I've been as good as a little
boy could,
If I sit as sLIll amd not stiffs#
My mamma will tell a taJe I love
well,
That her grandma used to tell her.
Of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
Three babies" to dress, to soothe and
caresBl
But grandmother's heart did not
fall.
And the triplets soon grew -to be boys
Just like you j—
Pour years old at the time of this
tale
Were Aibnafhttm, Isaac and Jacob.
Blue home-spun their suits,—no stock
ings or boots
In summer the triplets, would w«w.
As like as their clothes, from tfie tips
of their toes
TO tihe tops of their brown heads of
hair,
Were Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
A minister, great In garments of
state.
At the lonely log bouse stopped one
day.
Amazed at Ms gig, hia hat and MB
wig,
The triplets Md close by the way:—
Peeped Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
Determined to see this wonder, the
three
Stood near the front door, out of
sight-.
Through the room darted on«1 then
the Boconil—and soon
Tbe -fblnl! Like a streak of blue
light
Ran Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
"Boar madam, I swear," cried, the
pastor, "I ne'er
Saw a child fun -like thait one be
fore!
As soon as his head tbroogh tin back
emtry sped,
like a flash he's around at this
door!"—
?l
Sly Abraham, Isaac and Jaodb.
Half In fun, halt chagrin, grandmoth
er called In
The triplets, their heants beating
eore.
Tour manners," said she,—and ea£h
of ,the three
Scraped a little bare foot on the
floor,—
Bowed Abraham,. Isaac and Jacob.
The mlnteter laughed as If be were
daft,
When he saw they were three, and
not one!
Then-to each little w4gEbt a sliver (piece
bright
He gave, and away -theiy did run,
Glad Abraiham, Isaac and Jacob.
THEIR NEW HOME.
Mr. and Mrs Bronm Sparrow had
for a long time felt -very uneasy in
Art- different 3iomes 4hey had made
each. year.
Their first great trouble came-when
(hey built a beautiful nest In a little
bird houjie perched high in a large
-maple.tree. The place seemed so tmt
from dogs and caits they felt quite
safe But one day, wtren Mr. and
Mjis. Sparrow hod flown away for a
little exercise, some naughty hoys
climbed the tree and took1 away the
neat,. wtor-four little oggs Inside.
When iMr. and Mrs. Spanrow
hack they found they no longer had
a home, for. only the ooM, "bare bird
house was left
T-hey next tried a snug place under
a piazza near toy, where Chey .were
sure tto one jrouM find them, and
that on the morrow they eould begin
a new nest. So the little birds talk
ed -together and helped eaoh otiber to
bear the loss of their bome, and when
daylight came they started tbelr neat
In a quiet corner under a vlazta POOI.
When tbe meet was nearly finished,
they flew amray to find some soft wood
to line H, said when they were flying
back they saw a -man with a long vole
poking and-pushing theJr MtWe home,
umttil at laat It was loosened from Its
place amd fell to the ground.
Tbe little birds (hardly knew wbat
to do after tills last misfortune, but
Hk» brave little birds,
itjhegr
started
coice more, and eocm bad aaotter
nest 'But time after time their home
was destroyed, until they were almost
discouraged. -Sometimes It would be
many maathir when they would he
happy, but something was sure to
come aoid tear down tbe nest or de
stroy the eggs.
Try as hard as .they could, they did
not seem to find a place of safety,
and one of the little bird** bad always
to stay at home when -the other flew
away tor food, to'guard as far aa pos
sible the inedt and Httle ones.
On© day Mr. Brown Sparrow took
a lHtle longer trip than usual, and
^fleK over the trees and houses, and at
laat lighted on the -roof ot a -little
railroad station. At the same time a
train came pulling dowm the track,
and the huge engine, .width its notee
and smoke, frightened poor little Mr.
Brown Sparrow. He stanted to fly"
away, but could only get as far as
tbe weather vane aa the station, he
was so weak from fright -He olung
to the iron rod until the train disap
peared tbeot when'the smoke bad
cleared away and he oould see round
a little, be -found a tiny engine—just
like the big one which had frightened
him so—directly In front of him. Ho
sat very still, and waited to see if this
engine would, like the big one,''dis
appear with a rush but It remained
quite still, and moved only when a
breeze blow against It
Finally he mustered courage enough
to alight on the nigine, and when the
breeze came and swayed first one
way, then' another, be found the mo
tion delightful. On bopping about,
he found a little car fastened to the
engine. He flew through -the door, in
to what seeaned to him a little room
and all at oooe tbe Idea came into
his head, "What a beautiful .place for
a meat!"
He flew back home at once, and
when he told Mrs. Brown Sparrow of
the fine place be. had found, she was
very much delighted, and flew back
with l-im to tak« a look at the mew
quarters. They found tbe oar a safe
and Sheltered place, and tbey cud
dled down -together to wait until a
train went by, to see it ww really
j*
I
quite as good a place as they had
thought it for a nest.
Mrs. Brown Sparrow did not mind ....
In the least tbe rumbling sod rat
tling of tbe trains, so they at once
began to gai'Jher strings and straws
for this last home. So clever were
the Httle bills and so fleet their lit
tie wings, the new dwelling was ready
in a few days, amd when the fir^
warm days came .chey moved Into ....
tbelr new home.
Both Mr. and Mra. Sparrow wonder
again and again why no other Httle
birds never thought of this place to
live in, for tbe gentle swaying of the
car .always lulls the Btltle sparrows
to sleep at night, and even Mr. and
Mrs. Sparrow find the swinging boms
a very restful one.
This weather vane is on ithe top ot
a little station, not many miles from
Boston, and the little Sparrow fam
ily is still living In the little car, as
cozy as cozy can ibe.—'Mary W. Car
pemter. In Youth's Companion.
BEAR STORY FROM -MAINE.
Belated, but delightful is the story
told of how a Christmas entertain
ment ait the Juniper Corner school
bouee In Aurora, Me., was rescued
from wbal seemed overwhelming dte
aster. The night stage had brought
a big box of cpndy, nuts and sudh
things from Batogof, paid for by the
savings and -beggings of -the children,
but the precious box was left in a^g^f
woodshed, ami during that night a Wg
black bear came down from itbe blue
berry barrens and found K. He
Smashed the box, ate up most ef the
candy and spoiled the rest, and sev
eral porcupines gathered up tho
crumbs. Here was tragedy indeed!
But Guy P. Soule, tbe scboohnastsr,
redeemed the situation. He dismiss
ed his school for the day, and told
tbe ttoys in the first arithmetic to
go home and get their guns. Taking
his own rifle tbe schoolmaster and
his young hunters took up tbe trail.
They followed it tor several hours,
and finally came to the bear's
under a big.hemlock, half-way up the
side of Thwings Hill. The problem
of how to get tbe bear to come out
was solved by 'Hud" Sanders, who
got behind a bush and imitated to be
life a squealing pig. The bear took
notice, came out with a rush, and
as. he made for the bush reared on.
his hind legs, which gave'tbe school
master -tbe opportunity wbfcb he
coveted, and that sure shot ipuf a but
let squarely through bruin's ear. The
bear -pitdhed and rolled down the
8tope, whence he was hauled to Auro-
Ellsworth man for $18. A telephone
message was sent to Bangor to dupli
cate tbe candy order,, with generous
additions, just to time to get tbe
stage. That Is how the. Christmas
tree exercises in Juniper Corner
schoolhouse came off on time.—Ken
nebec Journal.
lJ$#
8HARK IS GOOD TO EAT.
Tons Could Be Sold at New York
Dally for a Few Cents a
Pound.
An American writing ftam Italy
suggests an addition to our list at.
table fish.
"A fish plenteously distributed up
"and down our coasts from Maine to
Fanan|p throughout the 7-ear, and one
as palatable as bpnita, sturgeon or
halibut, Is systematically cast out at
the ipound net fare'at every haul and .,
thrown away' wiih a malediction by'^r",
the doryman.
"Here In Rome," be says In the
Medical Record, "It fluids ready sale
at the price of fifteen: soldi a kilo
weight equal to about eight oenta a- -,
pound.
"Any one who has watcher a shark -vi
—for it Is this fish with which the
writer is dealing—romping In a school
of -blues need have uio fear that it is
not a cleanly feeder. Tbe color of
the meat resembles tbat of Ibe shad,
but is at firmer consistency and has
comparatively few bones beyond the
central spinal column.
"At a price ot two or three cent*
a pound tons of these fish varying
In size tram twx* to six feet In length
could be landed dally at Fulton Mar
k-et with a fair proftt. Fbr a sea
son or two or until tbe corner man
ipuiator in food staples began his ...
work of price boosting the Ash would
prove a worthy addition to the poor
man's market "Gasket"
BLE88ING8 ON NEW BUILDiNQS.
Russian Custom That Gat- a Scoffer
Into Trouble.
It is a custom la this country to
open all new buildings and Instltn
tknjs, public or private, with a rs
Uglous dedication.
Even the proprietary builder of a
small cottage or workshop wbo can
not afford to pay for the attendance
of a priest to bless and sprinkle with
holy water a new structure always
hoists a wooden cross, nailed to tbe
topmost pole in the scaffoldlag, as his
dwelling or workshop approaches com
pletion, symbolic of an appeal for
God's blessing upon tbe -new prean
i«03.
This custom appealed somewhat in
congruous an the establishment of
tbe government liquor monopoly,
when every vodka store was solemn
ly opened with a religious ceremony.
A* Ktshlneff (last week, wfeen a
mew opera house was opened with the
usual religious function, the local
journal, BessaraMan Lite, made some
scoffing remarks, for which 44te pro
prietary editor 'has been sentenced
to four months* imprisonment
MAN WHO MAKES CORK LEGS.
Helps Along His Business If Hs Nay
pans to Wear On* Hlmaelf.
"A manufacturer or dealer in arti
ficial Hnrtw who wears a oork arm
or leg himself is much better equip
ped for business than his competitors
who are sound," said a man who uses'
a coric leg. "In fact, it has became
a sort of unwritten law among uf
to patronise such men when noat
ble.
"Sentimental reasons may hanre:
something to do with the case but
I guess tbe. chief reason is tbat we
consider tbat if a man can snake a
limb for himself thait fits like tbe"
paper on the wall be can make them
for others.
"Manufacturers ot artificial Hubs'
know this and frequently you win find'
an advertisement like this: "The 8a
andso Artificial Leg is buHt by a man
-who is wearing one and who knows
from experience what you want tor
comfort.'
"This Is a Strong argument, for it's
no easy thing to get an artificial limb,
that just fits. Persons wfao have trou-'
hie getting shoes tbat are just light"
are in great luck compared to us.