VOLUME II. ^tUfad ^iscelhttQ. THE WIFE. BT JOHN O. WHITHER. FROM school, and ball, and rout she came, The city's fair, pale daughter. To drink the wine of mountain fair, Baeide the fiearcamp Water. Iler step grow firmer on the hills Thai watch onr homesteads over, On cheek and lip, from slimmer fields, She caught the bloom of clover. For health comes sparkling in the streams From cool Chacorua stealing, There's Iron in our Northern winds— Uur pines are trees of healing, She sat beneath the broad-armed elms That skirt the mowing meadow, And watched the gentle west wind wcayo The grass with shine and shadow. Beside bcr, from the summer heat, To share her grateful screening, With forehead bared, the farmer stood, Upon his pitchfork leaning. Framed in its damp, dark locks, his face Had nothing mean or common. Strong, manly, true, the tenderness And pride beloved of women. She looked up, glowing with the health The country air had brought, her, And, laughing, said You luck a wife. Your mother lucks a daughter. To mend your frock and bake your bread You do not need a lady Be cure, among these brown old homes I- wnne one wailing ready— Some i.tir. »w o' u' 11, with skillful hand And elm rful heart for treasure, Who r.c\t p'.ayn' uilh ivory key. Or danceu the PO.K.I'S measure." He bent his black brow- to a frown, He set his white teeth lightly 'TH well," he caul, "for one like you To choose for me so liglnly You think, because my life ie rude, I take no note of sweetness I tell you love has naught to do With mcctncsH or unincetncse. Itself it« best excuso, it asks No leave of pride or fashion When silken /.one or homespun frock It stirs with throbs of passion. Yon think me deaf and blind you bring Your winning graces hither Ac free as if from cradle time We two had played together. Yon tempt me with your laughing eyes, Your check of sundown's blushes motion as of waving grain, A music as of thrushes. The plaything of your summer sport, The spells you weave around me You cannot of your will undo. Nor leave me as you found me. You go as lightly as you came. Your life is well without me What care yon that these hills will close Like prison walls about me? No mood is mine to seek a wife, Or daughter for my mother Who loves you loses in that love All powe. to love another I I dare your pi'y or your scorn With pride your own exceeding I fling my heari into your lap Without a woid of pleading." She looked upon the waving grass So archly, yet so tender, And I will give yon mine," she said, Will you forgive the lender? Nor frock nor tan can hide the man And sec you not, my farmer, How weak and fond a woman waits Behind the silken armor? I love yon on that love alone, And not my worth, presuming, Will yon not trust for summer fruit The tree in May-day blooming?" Alone the hangbird overhead, His hair-swung cradle straining, Looked down to see love's miracle— The giving that is gaining. And so the farmer found a wife. His mother found a daughter Tiicrc looks no happier home than hers On pleasant Bcorcamp Water. Flowers spring to blossom where she walks The careful ways of duty O ir hard, stifl' lines of life, with her, Are flowing curves of beauty. Our homes are cheerier for her sake, Our door-yards brighter blooming, And all about the social air Is sweeter for her coming. TONY HARDSCRABBLE'S WIFE. BY WM. H. BUSBEY. TONY HARDSCRABBLE was carpenter, blacksmith, mender of tubs and barrels, and Jack-of-all-trades for the rural neigh borhood in which he lived. His little shop in which he made horse-shoes, shod the farmers' horses, sharpened plowshares, made tables, doors, desks, cupboards, bureaus, and occasionally coffins in which he pounded away at wonderful pork and vinegar barrels, and tightened up dilapidated old tubs and casks—this little shop was situated at a point in the woods where an old road crossed a new one, and was in itself a queer, patched-up, new and old building. Tony owned no corner lots, but no one intruded upon him. His little house, the gray, hewn logs divided by seams of white plaster ing, seemed cosy and comfortable and while the shop opened on the road the house stood back among the trees. North, south, east and west were neighbors with in a quarter or half mile range, and the neighborhood was thickly settled. But no one saw the advantage of corner lots near Tony's shop, not even the speculators and wise men of the village three miles distant, and Tony was sole resident at the Corners, where he had a garden patch that did not flourish and a family that in creased rapidly. Tony had a fair skin where it showed above his elbows and be low the collar-band of his shirt (collar he disdained to wear), but his face had a dark, grimy look. He was strong with out being stout, and was fond of display ing his strength and prowess. Hia face was that of a daring, resolute man, and his neighbors never took much comfort in looking at it. Tony was a handy man and, as the country people said, was not afraid of work. He never received much ready money, but he got his pay in shape of corn or flour or pork, or money in good time. The people who patronized him did not neighbor with him, however. They knew little about the family, but they inferred that Mrs. Hardscrabble had a hard time of it. She was a good natured, round-faced woman, who was always busy indoors, and who seemed to take great comfort with her children, all of which was a mercy, the good old women of the neighborhood thought, as she had little comfort in her husband. Tony's wife in those days did not make much of an impression. People caught only glimpses of her, but they knew she was a comely woman. While other women of her age in the neighbor hood were sallow and broken down, Mrs. Hardscrabble was fresh, plump and strong. The face was attractive, but had little character and Tony's wife was classed among the simple-minded drudges, and was frequently referred to as a woman who thought the world and all of her children, but who had not an atom of spirit. And Tony was good to her. That was all people could say about Tony's wife. Tony had never been seen at church. He had certain loose ways and inde pendent notions that the people did not like. He considered that there was no harm in taking a mess of roasting ears from any man's cornfield whenever he wanted them. He thought the carrying off of fine watermelons from some old farmer's carefully-guarded truck-patch was good sport. He would take a fine walnut rail from a fence whenever he needed seasoned walnut for frame-work in his shop. He shot game in season and out of season, on Sundays as well as work days. He had been accused of shooting fat young hogs and wringing the necks of other people's chickens, but only ac cused. He would take his boys and go on nutting expeditions on Sundays, and always had an abundant suDply of wild grapes, berries, nuts, plums, etc. He was the freebooter as well as the Jack-of-all trades of the neighborhood, and was con sidered a suspicious character. So, when it was announced that 'Squire Prim's house had been broken into aud over a thousand dollars in money taken, and that the smoke-house had been broken open the same night, and that the hams and shoulders taken had been found buried in the woods near Tony's house, no one was surprised. Tony was arrested, had a preliminary examination, was bound over to court, could not procure bail, and was sent to the county jail. His trial came off in due time, he was convicted, and sent to the penitentiary forfiveyears. People were agreed that he got what he deserved, but they were sorry for his wife. She was left with six children, and it was too bad. Many of the good women of the neighborhood' could not find it in their hearts to help her, as she persisted in asserting her husband's innocence. She clung to the man with what these prac tical women considered a nonsensical, romantic affection, and they had no pa tience with her. Others honored her for her faith in her husband and for her affection, although they doubted not for a moment that Tony Hardscrabble was guilty as charged. The wife and her boys and girls kept close to their home, grieving as for a husband and father dead. After a few weeks Mrs. Hardscrabble was seen abroad, then at the county seat, and then, wonder of wonders! this woman, who had never been a mile from her home since her marriage, went to the State cap. ital. Few of the men would undertake such a journey. Tony's wife received the compliment of being a plucky woman. In due time a notice appeared in the county paper that an application would be made for the pardon of Tony Hardscrabble. This the people deliberately and emphat ically frowned upon, and comparatively few signed the petition, although it was presented to every man in the neighbor hood by Mrs. H. herself. Everybody was now talking about Tony's wife. She was constantly going. There were hints that she or her lawyer had found new points of evidence. Dur ing the year she went to the Governor twelve times with her plea for pardon, and was met with refusal every time. And yet she persisted. She went out washing, went out in butchering time, worked even in the fields for money, and spent it in going to and from the State capital. People reasoned with her and tried to convince her that there was nohope that all this effort was worse than useless. She rarely made any reply except to protest that her husband was innocent and she would never rest until she had proved that he was not guilty and until she had secured his release. The old ladies pro nounced her crazy, but their grandmoth erly old eyes were tender as they said it, and they thought it was a shame that such a man as Tony Hardscrabble should have such a fine woman for a wife. And while they praised the wife they abused the husband. Mrs. Hardscrabble had been to the Gov ernor's office eighteen times, carrying each time some new atom of evidence, some new suggestion from her lawyer, some fresh concession from the Judge or prosecuting-attorney, an additional name from the jury before whom the case was tried. She haunted the Governor's office and the offices of the prison authorities. She always had a personal interview, and aroused sympathy even while her facts were considered unimportant. She went the nineteenth time with a sealed .etter from the prosecuting-attorney. She was received with the old smile at the Governor's office, but waited patiently for her interview with the Governor him self, who had almost declined to see her. Her letter produced astonishing results. The prosecutor withdrew the charge. The real thief had been arrested, and had sub mitted statements in regard to the theft that showed that Tony Hardscrabble had not been concerned. The affidavits and other documents were inclosed with the formal recommendation for pardon by the Judge and prosecutor. They joined heartily in praise of Mrs. Hardscrabble, and hoped the Governor, in view of the persistent efforts of the woman, and in view of the extraordinary circumstances of the case, would waive all formalities, grant an immediate pardon, and allow the woman to take her husband home with her. The proof of the man's innocence was so plain, the statements were so clear, that the Governor hesitated not to join in the plan to surprise the woman who had so worked for her husband's release. She was asked to wait a moment in the audi ence-room, and, sad and almost disheart ened, she waited while glad news flew in the other room. When the Governor came to her he held in his hand a parch ment, and unbent to say: "Mrs. Hardscrabble, the documents presented today establish your husband's innocence. 1 thought you might like to carry the pardon to him yourself. Here it is, and I only hope he is worthy of his wife." The good woman's face trembled like her own baby's when about to cry. She dropped on her knees, caught the Gov ernor's hand and covered it with kisses, as she had often, in her loneliness, kissed her baby. Then came an outpouring of thanks. "Your husband is innocent. I do my simple duty. No thanks are due to me." But I must thank some one." Then, clutching the pardon, she flew to the penitentiary. In less than an hour she was dragging her dazed and awe stricken husband through the Capitol cor ridors to the Governor's office, to present him to that officer. Tony was overwhelmed by conflicting and tremendous emotions. He was free. His wife had done it. He knew that. She had held, the pardon under his eyes, and he had taken her in his arms and had given her the first genuine, full-meaning kiss of his life. He had- always liked her and had always been kind to her, as he understood kindness. But he had never known her. She pulled him along as though he were a boy. She, who had never been a mile from home, knew the Governor. This, to Tony, with his prison experience before him, was a tremendous fact. What would happen? The Governor took him by the hand: Now, my man, I am glad this is as it is. And I am glad that you have such a wife. Try the world again, and let me hear from you." That night Tony Hardscrabble's chil dren clambered about him and awoke in him a hundred new sensations. He had never seen such a pretty baby, such sweet little girls, such well-formed, healthy boys. And they were all his. He would try the world again, and he laughed as he thought how he would astonish the people. The shop was open the next morning and Tony was at work. How his veins swelled over the motion of a free man! The story had been told and retold, and Tony was the hero of the hour. Every body had something to say about his wife. She was clearly (judging from the evidence offered, which Tony accepted without question) the best woman in the neighborhood, and Tony was very proud of her. For a few weeks affairs moved in the old way at Tony's. Then, one Sabbath, there was a departure. Tony and his wife and children went to church. This was their first appearance and Tony was complimented. He declared they needn't make any fuss over him. He didn't care for church, but his wife did. She had remained at home a good many years to please him, and now he was attending church to please her. He was a hard case himself, but he wanted his children to be like their mother, and he guessed they would be anyhow. But he was going to help her now. And then Tony would drop his voice: "Just think of it! She made nineteen trips to get mc out of that scrape, and spent ninety-five dollars, all of which money she scraped together herself. By jinks, I get to thinking about it some times when I am at work, and I pound a horse-shoe all to flinders before I know what I am doing. She's a wonderful woman, sir, and—and she's my wife. She can run the boat to suit herself now, sir." Tony meant what he said. His wife's individuality was the controlling one at the Corners. In time there was carpet on the floors, and then, wonder of won ders to Tony! a common but pretty pat tern of paper on the walls. Tony be came Jack-of-all-trades to his wife. Couldn't he make picture-frames, brack ets, and other ornamental and useful articles for the house?" Of course he could, and he took great delight in it. He couldn't sit down and tell his wife, in words, how much he was surprised at her better self, nor how grateful he felt, nor how much he loved her, but he could work it out, and all his spare time was devoted to doing things that he imagined she wanted done. He was simple and awkward in springing his surprises on her, or in discovering what she desired, but the very simplicity of his action made his acts the more pleasant and touching to his wife. Tony became proud of his house. He would shoe a horse with the old skill and carefulness as to details, and would talk as much while doing it, but now all the talk was about nis own home and when the work was done he would maneuver to have his customer go in and look round, as he expressed it would take him in to show him a newflour-barrelhe had made, or anew rat-trap, when all the time he meant to show him the paper on the walls, the carpet on the floors, and the general features ofhis cozy little home. He was always inviting people to dinner now, too. He made a childish parade of his wife and her accomplishments. This became a habit wrth him, and, uncon sciously, people encouraged him in it. Tony was no longer a freebooter, and made no more raids on Sunday. He "hooked" no more roasting ears or watermelons. He carried off no more rails, and was never accused of shooting other people's chickens or hogs. As the improvements at the house as sumed decided shape, improvements were inaugurated at the shop. The rambling old building was straightened up and brightened up, the fences were made new, the garden flourished in proper season, and an air of comfort pervaded Tony's Corners. Tony went to church regularly and al ways took the whole family and at church he made much of little things. He devoted more attention to keeping his children quiet than to the sermon. The children always had their pennies to put in the contribution-box, and the day the baby accomplished the feat of dropping a bright five-cent coin in the box without grabbing for the other coins already in was an hour of triumph for Tony. There was something pathetic about these little oddities that appealed to all the tender ness there was in people's hearts. In time, Tony would have been indig nant had any one asserted that he was not a member of the church. He wasn't clear in his mind as to when he "joined," but new customs had crept into his home, new thoughts into his mind, and new senti ments into his heart. People said there was a great change of heart, and, as Tony was proud of the evidences of such a change, the people were probably right. The movement with Tony was steadily progressive. He groped* blindly at first, but in time the resolution of the man and his versatility of talent showed in good works. He was now spoken of as Mr. Hard scrabble, and he neighbored with all the people. He didn't get above his work, but he took his work up to a higher plane. Mothers never objected now to their sons lounging about Tony's shop. The boys liked to be with Tony, and even the men were rather glad when circumstances made it necessary to go to the shop. The great change in Tony's life was at first attributed to the reformatory influ ence of prison discipline. But, in good time, people saw with clearer eyes. He commenced living a better life, not so much as a matter of conviction as to please his wife. Under this influence his convictions were reached and the man was aroused. He liked the better life and clung to it. The people now understand that the instrument used to work the great change in Tony Hardscrabble was his wife, and they speak tenderly of her, re membering what she was and what she is.—Hearth and Home. —A little four-year-old girl went run ning into the house the other day, ex claiming, Mamma, mamma, I've seen Jack Frost I've seen Jack Frost!" "Where did you see him, my darling?" queried the mother. Oh, I saw the tip of his tail hanging over the eaves." She 1 had seen an icicle. A.N I N E E N E N N E W S A E WORTHINGTON, NOBLES CO., MINN., SATURDAY, MAY 23, 1874. Trying to "Sell":* Banker. THE San Francisco Chronicle tells this tale: A curious-looking individual presented himself at the Bank of California and de manded to see Mr. Ralston. From the dress and appearance of the man one would scarcely be led to suppose that he came in for the purpose of engineering a financial negotiation. On his right arm, however, was a large basket of remarka bly fine and small spotted pupa, whose heads stuck out in all directions from the edges of the basket. In a few minutes a man with nicely brushed hair and soft, gliding step came out and Informed the man that he might come in. In a mo ment more he advanced with a quick step andmoved within the sacred and charmed circle where thousands and thousands of clinking gold twenties jostle and make music with their fellows. But the noise occasioned by the clink of wealth did not seem to attract his attention, and without seeming to think that the place on which he stood was "holy ground" he walked into the private office of the millionaire and deposited his basket of spotted bull pups on the floor with the re mark: There's them pups, Ralston." At the sight of the canine beauties the eyes of the banker glistened with pleasure, and he leaned over to inspect them. Then the pup-fancier turned the basket upside down, and in an instant the whole litter were running over the soft carpet and gamboling with delight. Now, just look at 'em," remarked the man, waving his hand over the group the finest strain, barrin' nun, that iver yelped in this town, you betcher. Now I want to sell ye the whole lot, and know in' that you're a little hard up, and strug glin' to keep a large family runnin', I'll put 'em down where ye can reach 'em without straightenin' your elbow. How much for the lot, the whole of 'em, just as they are?" Well, Jack," replied the money king, you know how I'm situated now—times mighty hard stocks down money mar ket depressed, and this new issue of greenbacks, you know, takes the under pinning out of things, you know." "Yes," replied the dog-seller, with considerable deliberation, I took all 'em things into consideration, ye see, and concluded I wouldn't put the screws on ye very heavy on that account. I'll slam the price down and chuck ye the whole lot for, say, a—a—." Here the man paused and hesitated, while he looked the banker in the eye and seemed to wait for him to say something. There was an unpleasant pause. "Well," said Ralston, "I guess the price you named is about the thing, don't you turning to a Chronicle reporter on his right, who had been waiting for some time to negotiate a trifling loan of $100, 000. The reporter thought so, too. Well, all right, so that the whole lot of these fine bull pups go for the low bedrock price of $75." 41 Seventy-five dollars! Why, man, such a sum, in these times, for six spotted paps! Ain't you joking?" "Now, look here," pleaded the dog trader. If you can git any such pups as them for the same amount of coin I'll pay forum and eat um raw yes, eat urn raw." But dogs, my man, ain't in the demand they used to be. Dogs are quite common now, you know, and getting cheaper every year." That's so, for the common breed o' pups but for this yer kind of spotted pups, not snatched up on every bush— the finest strain, as I said before, barrin' nun, that ever wagged his trotter in the town, for coin—all the coin you can put up," roared the man, quite excited. "I know but these spots are not regular spots, are they? But it strikes me there is something of an artificial cast about these spots," and with remarkable deliberation the banker lifted one on his knee and began to examine it with great deliberation with a magnifying'glass, such as are generally used as a counterfeit detector. "It strikes me, Jack, these spots are dyed—put on with a brush." The dog-fancier did not remain after this announcement, but got down on the floor and began to scramble about under the chairs after his spotted pups, which he caught, and, replacing them in his basket, started oft". "Hold on, Jack," yelled the banker, laughing heartily, "you go over and sell these pups to Sam Butterworth, and I'll pay you all he does for 'em." "Sam Butterworth! Do you s'pose Sam Butterworth don't know a painted pup the minute he sees one I tried him about half an hour ago, and he sent me round to you." In another instant the man had vanished, taking the painted dogs with him. A Sane Man Confined in a Lunatic Asylum for Twelve Years. COVINGTON, our trans-Missouri neigh bor, has had a sensation of metropolitan proportions. For six years she has num bered among her residents a man named Thomas Carter and a woman named Mrs. Dracott, the twain, as it is alleged, bear ing relations to each other which it is in cumbent upon couples in similar circum stances to have ratified according to law. Twelve years ago they were residents of Oregon, the woman being the wife of a man by the name of Dracott, who was worth at that time the very comfortable sum of $95,000. By conspiring with a couple of the physicians connected with the Territorial Insane Asylum Carter and his paramour succeeded in kidnapping Dracott and having him wrongfully in carcerated in the institution on a charge of insanity, thereby gaining possession of his fortune. For twelve long years this villainous fraud upon Dracott had been kept up, depriving him of his liberty and compelling him to associate with luna tics and madmen. By some means he succeeded in conveying knowledge of his deplorable situation to persons outside, and an investigation of the matter was instituted. So strongly had the job been put up, however, that an expense of $40,000 on the part of the authorities was required in order to break up the toils by which Dracott was held. The efforts at ferreting out the iniquity finally led to the dis covery of the prime actor in the monstrous imposition. A United States detective was instructed to proceed to Cov ington and procure the arrest of Carter and Mrs. Dracott. Upon arriving at Omaha the officer learned that Carter had started for Salt Lake City. He tele graphed to Ogden, and succeeded in se curing the arrest of his man at that place on last Wednesday. Yesterday he went to Dakota City to examine the county records for the purpose of discovering what property the pair had, in order that proceedings may be instituted for trans ferring the title of it to Mr. Dracott, as a partial restitution for what he has been deprived of by the machinations of the guilty parties. Carter has invested some money in Covington and Dakota County, and was one of the principal capitalists who gave that town the impetus it had three or four years ago. We hope that whatever wrong has been committed may bring to its doers a prompt punishment, but it is out of the reach of possibilities for the unfortunate Dracott to ever realize anything like an adequate recompense for the misery and mental anguish he has endured while suffering as the helpless object of the cu pidity of a faithless wife and unscrupu lous knave.—Sioux City (Iowa) JfUrnal. Crumbs. THE only way to hold our own iz to keep advancing—no one can set still and do it. It duz seem that all mankind luv lies more than they do truth. How menny people do yu suppoze thare iz in the world who wouldn't rather listen to flat' tery they knu waz false than to reproof they knu was just? Wize men laff at most things in this life —it iz only the phools who gap and swallo. Yu kant allwuss tell how mutch a man iz really tickled bi hearing him laff. Thare ought to be a masheen invented to meazzure the joy in him, just az thare iz to find out how much water thare iz in milk. Honesty iz the basis ov all that iz good or even remarkable in enny man. The reazon whi everyboddy luvs a child, and pets a puppy, iz bekauze they are so natral. Whenever yu see a phellow who iz for ever and amen in a red hot hurry, vu kan make up yure mind that he hafnt got mutch to do, and but little kapacity to do it. Good breeding iz nothing more than the art ov knowing howtowaitpashuntly till our turn comes. A little child wont do this, and a little pig kant. Gossip iz more ketching than the meazles iz. The quickest way to take the humility out of a man who iz forever blaming him self for sumthing iz to agree with him. This ain't what he iz looking for. Book larnin iz all a man needs in this life, provided he spends hiz daze in a closet. Next to a bad man I am allwuss the most afrade ov a cunning one. Familiarity kan only be prakticed with safety amung the well bred—fools and puppys will run right over yu with the least bit ov encouragement. Thoze who never laff seem to hav died before their time cum. Every human being haz hiz own pri vate sorrow, and thoze who whissell arc wizer than thoze who weep over it. A conceited man iz a grate fraud, but he never cheats enny beady so much az he duz himself. He who dont want what he haint got haz got all he wants and iz happy, whether he knows it or not. The covetous man is like a sponge, which takes in all the moisture that cums near it, and lets out none until it iz squeezed. A cunning man iz seldum wize, and not allwuss honest. The man who never deceives himself iz the hardest kind ov a man for others to deceive. If mankind had been satisfied with the bare necessitys ov life, we should to-day be just about*az far advanced in the arts and sciences az Cain and Abel wuz. Double sixes area good throw with the dice, but thare iz one better throw than that—throw them into the fire. Prudence is a most necessary virtew it aint safe to be karless, even with an in timate friend. No man haz ever lived to be so old, and so wize, that he couldn't learn sumthing from experience. Thare iz a grate menny ginger-pop peo ple after they hav been unkorked for a fu minnits, they git to be dredphull flat. —Josh Billings, in N. Y. Weekly. A Toung Woman Unconscious for Five Days. The New Haven Journal of a recent Monday records as follows the case of a young lady in that city, about nineteen years of age, who had been lying in a cataleptic trance since the night of Wednesday of the previous week: She retired on that night in full possession of health, and in the morning she was found, body and limbs perfectly rigid, and has remained so ever since, last evening show ing no change in her situation. Respira tion and pulsation are regular and nat ural, but she has been unconscious and has taken but a very trifling amount of nour ishment. The lady had been subject to catalepsy for eighteen months past, and has at times, without a moment's warning, become perfectly rigid and remained so for longer or shorter intervals, sometimes for hours, sometimes for only a few mo ments. She has been seized when about reaching her hand for an object, and in a moment would lose all control of her mus cles. Another singular circumstance at tending this case is that about a year ago she lost all power of speech for twenty four hours, but being at the time con scious, making known her wants by signs. When regaining her speech she could articulate nothing but the German language, a language which she had not been in the habit of using, and which her parents were not aware she could speak, except simple words. Her parents are both of German birth, but the daughter has not been in the habit of conversing in the language, but while in this state she spoke it with great fluency, greatly surprising her parents, who had never heard her use the language to any extent. The disease of catalepsy, or trance, it is well known to medical men, is a disease of the nervous system rarely met with, but not necessarily fatal." —A lady in the country was unwise enough to fit out her boy of five with fish ing tackle. Soon she heard a shout from the barn-yard, and found one of her very best hens had swallowed the hook and was fast winding up the line in her crop. Of course she was greatly troubled, but all the comfort she got from the young fisherman was this: "Don't worry, mother, I guess she'll stop when she gets to the pole." —The best absorbing substance for easing the pain of bee-stings is fresh lean meat. This will relieve the pain of a wasp sting almost instantly, and has been recommended for the cure of rattlesnake bites. It is also used with marked effect in erysipelas. VIRGINIA boasts of a blue horse, the only one ever heard of. CURRENT ITEMS. THE New York detectives are success ful in only one case out of nineteen re ported. WTOMING has finally decided to call its female Justices Justices of the Peaces," and to fine any one who growls about grammar. A KANSAS girl wouldn't be married without a yellow ribbon around her waist, and a boy rode eight miles to get it while the guests waited. IT is said that if women didn't talk so much mo9t of them would live to be ninety years old, but what object would life be if they couldn't talk A KENTUCKY farmer says that three good bull-dogs roaming the yard Bights will do more to keep a man honest than all the talking in the world. A YOUNG, unmarried clergyman, of Brookport, Pa., offers twenty cords of wood for a good wife. He retains just enough for crematory purposes, in case she isn't a success. MRS. WILLIAMS, of La Crosse, talked too much, and her husband filled her mouth with wafers, but the court decided that this wasn't no wafer to stop her and fined Williams $25. ONE-HALF the world doesn't know how the other half lives. For the benefit of the first half it may be stated that John Giddey, of Illinois, has eaten nothing but boiled eggs for six months past. He is yolked to his idol. THE town of North Providence, R. I., has only one pauper to support. This in dividual has a farm all to himself, with carriage, horses and cattle, food provided by contract, and a poormaster and family to take care of him. THE Brunswicker, of Missouri, says: There is an undefinablc something about some men which commands our respect whether we see them heading a conquer ing squadron or bending in lowly toil over an onion bed." A PITTSBURGH man sold his wife the other day for five dollars and a second hand suit of clothes. She heard of the transaction before the delivery took place, and his neighbors say it will probably cost him about fifty dollars to get well again. A MAN in the Philadelphia insane asy lum imagines himself a woman. He dresses in female attire and parts his hair in the middle. During the day he asso ciates with the females and does sewing and embroidery of the finest kind. A DANBURY house cat was cremated the other morning. She had crept into the kitchen oven during the night, and in the morning got accidentally shut in. When the oven was opened to bake the break fast rolls her remains weighed but thir teen and three-quarters ounces. IN Lawrenceburg, Tenn., a tax-collect or named Weaver killed Justice of the Peace Green when the latter wasn't pre pared." On his death-bed Green vowed that he would haunt his murderer night and day for taking his life without fair play." And sure enough the ghost of the slain has driven the slayer crazy by its constant presence. Such is the story. —We observe a tendency among news paper writers to indulge in redundant ex pressions. For instance, the Louisville Courier Journal says: "Two physicians are in attendance, and it is thought he cannot recover." It would have been sufficient in this case to have said simply Two physicians are in attendance."— New York Mail. A GENTLEMAN connected with the press of this city celebrated on the 2d of May his birthday, his wife's birthday and his wedding-day. It was the twentieth anni versary. When married, the joint ajjes of his wife and himself were fifty years. On the last 2d of May the joint ages of his children were fifty years. These coinci dences are rather remarkable.—Cincinnati Enquirer. CONGRESSMAN LAMAR spoke like a true patriot when, in tendering the South's tribute of respect to the memory of Charles Sumner, he exclaimed: "My countrymen! Know one another and you will love one another." But, granting that we possessed that knowledge, how many of us could put our hands in our pockets and respond to the request for the loan of a quarter with unhesitating confidence?—Brooklyn Argus. TnE Chicago police have found a den where forty boys are kept in charge of an old scoundrel who is training them to beggary. He sends them out in the morning with the understanding that each boy returns at night with fifty cents or partakes of a flogging in default. The ages of the boys range from seven to ten years, and most of them are hired out by their parents for one dollar a week to their intellectual employer. THE girls of a California seminary late ly developed a singular fancy for using three one-cent stamps instead of the reg ular kind upon their envelopes. The letters were so very plain and matter-of fact, and the attempts at evading surveil lance in the old-fashioned way grew so scarce, that one inspecting teacner inves tigated this whim. Audio! the cunning creatures had taken to writing tender, emotional little epistles to their lovers under the stamps. A courLE of facetious drummers who were on a train of cars that was going very slowly up a sharp erade near Bur lington, Vt., the other day, made consid erable fun ef the conductor for the slow ness with which the cars were moving, and began to amuse themselves by jump ing off from the rear car and running around the train. Soon, however, the cars reached the top of the hill and began to spin off at a rapid rate. One of the men succeeded in jumping on, but the other was compelled to walk four miles to the next station. THE Secretary of the National Associa tion of Veterans of the Mexican War has issued a circular calling the attention of those interested to the fact that an ob stacle has been thrown in the way of obtaining pensions for the surviving vet erans of the Mexican War by the probably extravagant estimate made by the Com missioner of Pensions of the number of such survivors. The circular calls for a thorough canvass of every State and Ter ritory of the Union, through the instru mentality of the town, county and State organizations of the Association, and the enrollment as soon as possible of the name of every known survivor, or widow of a veteran of Mexico, the postofflce address, his rank, the company, regiment, com manding officer of each term of service, when and where enlisted and discharged, and the same to be forwarded -to the First Secretary of the National Association of Veterans of the Mexican War (address, A. M. Kenaday, Lock Box No. 37, Washington, D. C), to enable him to pre pare the rolls for the inspection of the NUMBER 37. Committees of Congress before the close of the present session, if possible. The Secretary says: In this way only can a reliable estimate be arrived at for an appropriation and it is confidently hoped, if our case is to be fairly consid ered and public sentiment regarded, that Congress will promptly vote an amount sufficient to cover the applications thus presented." Mysterious Demonstration. A RATHER tough story, and one to be taken with many grains of allowance, comes from Oakland, Cal. A few nights ago the residence of Mr. Clark, the paying teller of the J*ank of California, was the scene of an extraordinary ghostly demonstration. The family, consisting of Mr. and Mrs. Clark and three young gentlemen boarders, retired about 11 o'clock. For a time everything was quiet about the house, and its inmates had all fallen asleep. Suddenly from the lower part of the house came a long, loud wail of anguish, as of some one in terror or pain. Louder and louder grew the noise, until the infernal clatter had awakened every one in the house. A desire for companionship seized the boarders, and they all gathered together in one room, and were soon joined by Mr. and Mrs. Clark. The noises still continued, but changed in character very frequently. An exploration was at length decided on, and, leaving Mrs. Clark in charee'of one of the boarders, the party carefully de scended the stairs. Each had a revolver in one hand, and with the other nervously clutched the bannister. The hall was dark as Erebus, though when their eyes became ace istomed to the dim light tney could perceive any object that might be in the rooms below. The noise con tinued, and now and then a note would be struck on the piano. Just as they reached the foot of the stairs a chair came glid ing out of the parlor and took up its po sition in the doorway, bowing and nod ding as if to reassure their fears. Rush ing past the chair one of the party en tered the parlor and lit the gas. Here they saw a strange sight. Every article of furniture in the room was in motion. The chairs and tables moved about like animate things, and appeared to take no notice whatever of the intruders. Grad ually the noises ceased and the furniture became stationary. After waiting awhile the party returned to their respective rooms. In a short time the noises began again, and again the boarders descended the stairs. To their inexpressible surprise they found the parlor door taken from its hinges and deposited on the floor. After that there was no sleep in the house. In the morning the furniture was found to be disarranged and much strained. The outside bars and bolts were perfectly se cure and there was no trace to show that any one had entered the house. An ex planation of the phenomena is awaited.— Chicago Inter-Ocean. Doubtful Land Titles. PEOPLE in the North who think they own land on what is known as the Cum berland plateau in Tennessee—and we are informed there are a good many such— will do well to have their titles thorough ly investigated by competent and trust worthy lawyers before paying any more taxes on them, according to a correspond ent who writes to the Sun from that re gion. These lands lie on the top of the Cumberland Mountains, and the State law allows one man to enter 5,000 acres in his own name, and no more, either direct ly or indirectly but many persons have entered as many as 100,000 acres or more, using the names of other persons, and afterward having assignments of entries made to them selves. We are told that large quan tities of these lands have been sold or traded to people in the North, the pur chasers receiving quit-claim deeds. It would appear that the traffic must have been pretty extensive, as the records show that county surveyors have in some in stances certified to having surveyed as many as twenty 5,000 acre tracts in a sin gle day! The great drawback to the value of these lands is that in many in stances the owner of a claim for 5,000 acres finds on investigation that there are several older claims for the same prop erty ahead of him, while there is nothing to prevent any enterprising citizens who feel so disponed from putting two or three more entries on top of his, and as likely as any way the last one will hold good against all its predeces sors, so defective and fraudulent have been the practices in relation to surveying and selling these lands. Besides, under a State law, any person who has a color of title and has enjoyed seven years' peacea ble possession of a tract of land thereby acquires a possessory title to all within his bounds, no matter who owns the bona fide title, provided there is one. It would appear that filing claims one over the other upon the same land has been rather encouraged by the authorities. The county receives taxes on all the acres which are supposed to lie in layers several thicknesses deep various officials receive fees when they are bought and again when they arc sold for taxes dishonest lawyers get well paid for making pre tended searches and. fraudulent reports while the surveyors make money every time they survey the same piece of ground for a new claimant. In addition to all this there is the chance that a non-resi dent owner may have sent the money to pay his taxes to a dishonest agent, who has pocketed it and permitted the land to be sold for the benefit of common schools. On the whole, real estate situated on the Cumberland plateau appears to be very uncertain property.—JIT. £. Sun. THERE is a man in Iowa who is thought to be a lunatic from the fact of his declar ing that his wife is a witch, and that he can see her flying around the room astride of a broom. It is sad, indeed, to contem plate such a wreck of mind in a fellow man. And sadness is intensified until it borders upon unutterable apprehensions when one reflects upon the awful conse quences that sometimes arise from so trivial a circumstance as the suggestion on the part of a husband to the partner of his domestic joys that perhaps—only per haps—that last spring bonnet could be made over into one that might do this season. —The production of lumber last year on the upper Mississippi and its tribu taries is estimated at 1,032,163,628 feet, both logs and lumber being included. The supply of logs on hand for the season of 1874 is estimated at 815,500,000 feet. —The production of wool in the United States during the last four years is thus set down by the Commercial Bulletin: In 1870,125,000,000 pounds 1871,112,500,000 pounds 1872, 135,000,000 pounds 1873, 148,500,000 pounds.